5

ISLA

Alpha Kian was one of the most powerful Alphas ever. He had amassed more wealth and an army of warrior wolves than any other in the kingdom. He was so revered that the Alpha King, who had waited for Kian to start the meeting had now come out to greet him. 

He’d been informed of the Alpha’s arrival and came out to pay his respects before the other Alphas swept him away. 

“Hello my dear friend,” King Nathan called out as he approached the car.

As he noticed me in the background, his steps faltered and he almost came to a halt. Instead, he snapped his fingers and had the guards surround me.

“Ah,” I cried out as they grabbed my hand roughly. 

It was that moment Alpha Kian stepped out of his car which had finally driven into the palace grounds. Dressed in a purple royal that announced his royalty, it made him look glorious.

King Nathan extended his hand for a handshake as he welcomed King Kian. “My dear friend, it’s so good to finally have you here. We’ve been expecting you.”

 I watched the great and powerful King snub him and head in my direction. This guy is really trying to get me killed. 

I stopped struggling against the guard’s hold, and they seemed to loosen their grip as soon as Kian approached us. Everyone was still, watching tentatively. Not knowing how to feel about this man who had left the Alpha King hanging.

King Nathan who was still fuming from the shock of being snubbed, also watched as King Kian walked toward me.

When he got to where I was, the king lowered his body so that we were face to face. With fingers as smooth as a lily’s petals, he took my chin and tilted it up so that our eyes met again. The effect this time was more mind-blowing. My breath faltered. My heart beat faster against my chest

“It’s you? You are the one?” He asked in a sultry tone, his breath fanning my cheeks.

I gulped as I nodded my head. I didn’t know if it was a question or if he was trying to convince himself. He smelled of sandalwood and affluence. It was intoxicating, pulse-stopping even. He was so close. I was glad then that I had taken a shower earlier. I no longer reeked of slavery and destitution. Those didn’t seem like really appealing scents to me.

At my response, Alpha Kian smiled satisfactorily. It seemed like he’d been searching for me all his life, and the gratitude to have finally found me was evident, and he picked me up bridal style.

“What is your name?”

His voice was deep and his chest resonated with its depth. I leaned against it, feeling secure for the first time since the death of my father. There were several things I wanted to ask. 

 I wanted to ask him where he had been all my life while I slaved away at the castle.

I wanted to ask him why he took so long to come. 

 But in that moment, I just let myself revel in his presence. In the fact that we had found each other surely things would be different for the both of us. 

“I’m Isla,” I told him, unable to remember the last time I had heard my name being called out loud. My voice trembled as I spoke and I was sure he hadn’t heard me.

But the king’s chest vibrated with the excitement he and I both felt as he laughed. “Isla…my Isla,” he said.

I liked the way he said it. His hold tightened around me and I wanted to tell him that he could loosen up because I would never dream of letting go.

Coming out of my daydream, I remembered where we were and what situation we were still in. 

King Kian glared at the guards who had held me down as he walked past them to his car. They retreated from us as we headed back to his car. I could not wait to rest my head against the leather seat of the vehicle. But our advance was stalled by the Alpha King.

King Nathan had a dark expression clouding his gaze as he watched me in Kian’s arms. He was still reeling from the humiliation he’d faced in the wake of Kian ignoring his greetings. His ego was deeply wounded and he was not going to back down without a fight. I braced myself for it.

“Kian, you can’t leave! You haven’t greeted any of the others. It’s not proper. King Nathan protested spreading his arms as if that would be enough to stop us. “The banquet began a few hours ago and we’ve all been waiting on you to begin the alliance meeting.”

He looked at me as if he were asking for my permission and I shook my head in response. He gave me a small smile and as soon as he turned back to Alpha Nathan. 

“You can begin. I’ve come and I’m going,” Kian declared matter-of-factly.

“You cannot go!” Nathan’s voice boomed and I shuddered in Kian’s arms.

He squeezed me to his chest reassuringly and I thought I heard his wolf whisper something. Don’t be afraid, I’m here. One day, I thought, I’d get to see him wolf out. I hoped his wolf was as beautiful and nicely-scented as his human self.

Alpha Nathan turned around. 

“You haven’t met my daughter, Riana. I was thinking your coming would give the both of you a chance to get to know each other and maybe, take things from there.’ 

Riana stepped forward with that creepy smile plastered on her face and curtsied. She looks like a rat in a dress. She gave me a dirty look and quickly wiped it when she noticed that Kian was looking at her. 

‘Alpha Kian, I've heard so much of you. I was hoping we could go inside and talk and you would see that I'm actually a very interesting person.” 

I wasn't the one being spoken to but I was feeling irritated on his behalf. She and her father really had no shame. I had something to say to her but I kept quiet for the meantime. When she saw that Kian wasn’t replying to her, she got angry and turned her attention to me. 

“What are you doing here? Get back here and go back to the kitchens, you dirty pig.” 

I scoffed. 

“I’m not interested in whatever it is you or anyone else wants to talk about. As you can see, I've gotten what I came here for.” Kian told him without remorse. His eyes were cold and challenging as he stared down at the Alpha King. “It is only a way to achieve all your selfish ambitions anyway. You can do that without me.”

Then he adjusted his hold on me and looked down as he added, “I am no longer interested in the alliance because I have found something more interesting.”  

We started to move again but King Nathan refused to back down from this fight. He began approaching us again, his gaze threatening. He ordered his guards to surround us and I watched them do so.

“Do not forget where you are, Alpha Kian. This is my kingdom!”

The guards brought out their weapons and aimed them at us, empowered by their master’s declaration of authority. 

Kian dropped me and walked towards King Nathan. I thought he was going to fight him, and I wanted to call him back and tell him how much of a bad idea that was, but I just stayed still where I stood. 

I don’t know what he was telling him but whatever it was that he said, it had an effect on him because as Kian walked back towards me, King Nathan told his guards to stand down. 

‘What did you say to him?” I asked but Kian didn't say anything. He just pulled me into the car.

“ I just said please.”