Four - Be On Your Best Behavior

Four - Be On Your Best Behavior

“Does it still hurt?” he asked in a caring voice that made Debra's heart skip a beat.

“As the King's Shadow, you must make sure not to hurt yourself,” he enunciated, his voice tempting as he tenderly wrapped the white bandage on her palm.

“And if anyone hurts you, make sure to let me know,” He added, raising his face to meet her gaze, boring into his eyes as her heart pounded profusely against her chest as though it will explode.

‘What's going on with me?’ She mumbled to herself, her hand laced over her chest.

“Are you trying to seduce me?” She bluntly asked, her face filled with bewilderment.

******The Festival Of Moon******

The hall dazzled with a long table filled with different well prepared meals and expensive drinks that lined up in the table. Maidens dressed in different colors of dress that shimmered sparks under the yellow-white light in the hall.

The Fangors stepped in with their family into the hall, gently nodding to soothing music that filled the atmosphere.

“Remember, Madison, stay clear of Jewel's part,” Alpha Hugo warned sternly.

“Dad! Madison is my elder sister, give her a break,” Jewel squeaked softly, locking her hands with Madison's as they both took the stairs step by step, the doors to the Halls of the Moon opened to them by the Guards on duty.

‘I will make sure I win the Alpha King's heart, then I will show you whom you should have loved the most,’ Madison muttered under her breath, narrowing a deadly look at her father's back.

All Madison's attempts to get an audience with the Alpha King were in vain. Her face contorted with jealousy and rage as she always saw Debra standing beside him.

“Who is that lady beside the king?” She asked a maid carrying a tray of champagne, gently shaking her wine glass in her hands with elegance, viciously staring at Debra.

“That's the King's Shadow, my lady,” The maiden replied.

Madison scoffed, her face marred with disgust. “She looks vulnerable and weak to be one,” She spouted to herself, an evil smirk playing across her lips.

****(Few hours) Later in the festival****

“I heard you are the King's Shadow,” Madison spat, her heel clicking against the floor as she walked closer to Debra from behind, who was now standing alone by the food table taking in the beautiful scenery of the festival.

“Yes, my lady,” Debra replied quickly. She could tell that Madison was from a powerful family, from the eloquence of her speech and dress.

“A woman as the King's Shadow? That has never happened in the history of Silvermoon,” She sneered at Debra.

“I was…,”

“Don't bother explaining,” Madison shunned Debra.

“That is what ladies like you get when you give your body for a prize. I bet you won't last long in that position as you did in bed,” Madison squeaked, Debra glared at her with condescending gaze, her face marred with aggravation, fury boiling through her veins.

“I think you should mind the way you talk to people you barely know. They might end up leaving their fingerprint across your face,” Debra warned, her voice stripped of calmness. She couldn't let Madison talk down on her dignity.

She never wanted to be the king's shadow in the first place. A peaceful life was all that she ever asked for.

Madison gently walked up to Debra with a grin, she poured her crystal wine on her dress, and quickly dropped the glass cup to the floor, shattering into pieces.

“How can you do this to me? Why did you pour your champagne over me?” Madison yelled, grabbing Debra by her cloth.

“I didn't touch you!” Debra affirmed, struggling to break free from Madison, but Madison held tightly onto her, tears streaming down her face.

“Get your hands off her?” The thunderous voice yelled from behind Madison.

Madison smirked at Debra. “Let's see how long you …,” before she could finish, Alpha King grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her hand away from Debra's dress, and Madison crashed to the ground.

“My Alpha King, she poured her drink on me, and when I demanded an apology, she threatened to slap me,” Madison blurted, fake tears streaming down her face, her cheeks puffy red. She had intentionally pinched herself on her cheeks, making her lies seem so believable.

“She did that?” The king asked in a sarcastic voice, crouching to his knees.

“Yes, she did.” Madison lied, crying profusely, as the king leaned towards her ear.

“You know what? If you weren't my childhood good friend, I would have had your hands cut off for daring to lie to your king in the face?” He spat, with a trace of coldness marred in his voice.

Madison's breath caught, her face instantly went ashen. A wave of scorching heat washed over her. The feigned tears she had forcing suddenly stopped, as her eyes gently met the king's cold gaze.

‘I can't have even gotten through his mind? Why?’ Madison pounded in her thoughts, her gaze boring deeply into Alpha Steven's eyes.

“Brandon!”

“Yes, my Alpha King.”

“Escort Lady Madison back to her table,” he said, his voice tugged with disdain.

*****************

“What did I tell you?” Alpha Hugo burst out in anger.

“Daddy, calm down! Everyone is watching.” Jewel tried to hold Alpha Hugo, but he quickly brushed off his hand away from his daughter's grip, sending a harsh, thunderous slap across Madison’s cheeks.

Her cheeks burned crimson like a bee sting, as she held her cheeks with her hand.

“I warned you to be on your best behavior,” Alpha Hugo thundered, his eyes clouded with rage.