Schemes

Roy's POV

"Your majesty, allow me to give you a rundown of the blood that was shed on this ground today," Riven said.

We stood on a raised dias, a wooden railing around, and my eyes were fixed on the battleground below us. Yes, I saw blood, someone's vomit as well, and some missing teeth. It was all part of the violence and I was pretty sure that more would come.

What irked me was that I hadn't been around to watch the first round of the Trials, one which I had thought it wise and smart to instigate. I had my own reasons for doing so, and they didn't involve giving anyone my throne.

I held out a hand before Riven could say anything more. "I feel nostalgic all of a sudden."

"How so, your majesty?"

I glanced at the man. People called him Master Riven, but not me. I didn't bear that title but he couldn't beat me in a match. So why the title? It only made him look important and respected. But the truth was, there were only very few Alphas he could take down in the pack.

I inhaled sharply, and the smells from the battleground below wafted into my nose. I didn't cringe but welcomed it. I was a beast, after all.

"There were times when I fought so hard for survival, for my throne. This ground reminds me of that."

"And you were victorious in every one of them, sire," Riven said.

The ones he had heard of or witnessed, rather. The man could be patronizing at times. I had lost some battles to my enemies, but after a regroup, I always took back what should be mine.

Victory.

"Yes, yes, I was," I said nonetheless. "And I wasn't around for this."

"It was only day one, sire. I can put the rest of the matches to align with your free schedule."

"Is that so, Riven?" I asked.

He bowed. "Yes, your majesty."

"Then how come I hear that you have scheduled tomorrow as the next match up?" I asked, brushing my palm against the collar of his shirt.

He looked guilty at once, and when he opened his mouth to speak, I couldn't make out the words.

"What do you want? You want to explain?" I asked.

"I only told the fighters that the next games were tomorrow, but that doesn't matter, sire. For you, we can always improvise."

Always the patronizing fool, Riven was.

"Hm. I'll love to see how that would happen."

"Do you have something specific?"

"Tell me what you have told them, Riven."

"That they could kill those who were better while they slept," Riven said boldly, proud of that scheme.

I had to put my hands together for him. "Brilliant. And have you found him yet?"

Riven shook his head in the negative. "He wasn't part of the fighters and neither was he part of those that were marked."

"That depends, Riven, and you know it. That man has eluded me for ten years now. We don't know what he is planning. And that is why I started the games, to bring my enemies closer. To identify them, and have them killed without raising suspicion. The Alpha Trials is a farce to those who think I'm handing over my position as Alpha King to some stranger."

"I understand, your majesty."

"Oh, do you? Because you are supposed to be doing that very job for me Riven. Why aren't you?"

"We aren't going to let him get to you, sire. I have kept that promise for a decade and I am not going to break it now."

I sighed, grabbed the railing and squeezed until it snapped. Then I threw the splinters to the battleground. As they fell, an idea came to mind.

"Riven?"

"Yes, sire."

"Barricade the battleground in the next match and give the fighters weapons. Wooden weapons, with edges sharp and jagged."

"Yes, your majesty."

"Stand from this height and drop the weapons, don't give them the luxury of choosing a weapon for themselves. Make it look like they're animals scrambling for tools to survive. Do not make them feel like warriors."

Riven smirked and said, "I get what you mean, your majesty. Is there anything else you want me to do?"

"I'll think of something else," I said, and walked down from the dias. I headed for the mess hall, hoping I would see his face. Would it be scarred or not? I wondered.

The man had been a warden, so I was told. And he'd been there for over three years. So why the hell would he think to come at me with blades?

I mused over this thought after I was attacked that night and found one answer. Alexandria had probably been sleeping with him. While I kept her away from me, she was letting another man, a warden, boink her.

That thought gave me headaches. To realize that another man was inside the mother of my child. A child he had saved from my dungeons. There was no other explanation there. So I wanted to kill him.

And the only way to do so was give men the platform to come at me with all they had. It was Freya's idea and I was surprised she could be so smart. By the time there was only one man left, I'd find out if he was still my enemy or if he wanted my throne.

Either way, any of the choices made one my enemy so I'd kill him. I would rest knowing that no one out there would think to attack Silver Pack as long I was was king.

But that man wasn't here.

"Do you want to see the fighters?" Riven asked me, as he came to my side.

I looked over. Two of my elite soldiers blocked a young man who was trying to approach. There was something familiar about that face.

Yes, I remembered.

The face of a young man who has lost his family to my army. That forlorn look. It would never stop and I was far from being bothered.

"No, I don't want to see them alive. I want to see them dead as soon as possible. All of them. The next match for tomorrow remains as scheduled."