The Alpha's Temptation

"Why?" Eltanin was utterly confused now. Menkar was the last man he wanted to see or be anywhere near Tania.

Biham rubbed his hand on his chest, feeling extremely stifled and helpless. If only he could expose who Murel was or who Menkar was. Was Murel an alias of Menkar or was Menkar an alias of Murel? He tipped his head up to see Eltanin whose brows were furrowed. He turned to his daughter and said, "Why don't you and Kinshra go to learn more of Yunabi while we men talk about things?"

"Are you fine?" Kinshra asked, feeling nervous.

Biham nodded as he gave a weak smile to Kinshra. "I am fine. Don't worry." He loved the fact that she still cared for him. "You must go with Tania and teach her Yunabi as much as possible." The words came out like a plea from him. "We are here for a very short time. Lusitania must use all the time to learn it!"

Kinshra blinked at him with surprise all over her features. Her feathers rustled a little. She wanted to stay with him and spend the beautiful morning, but she also knew that she had to teach Tania. With a reluctant heart, she said, "Okay, let us meet up for lunch?"

"Of course!" Biham replied instantly. Ever since he had come, Kinshra was so reserved that he wondered that she even wanted to meet him. A lunch invitation from her was like a dream come true. How could he decline? He grabbed the invite in a second, lest she changed her mind. "I will be there as soon as you finish teaching Tania!"

Her lips curled up and Biham thought that she was the most beautiful woman in the whole world, in all realms and perhaps she was even more beautiful that Anastasia. In fact, Kinshra was nothing short of a deity and he wanted to worship her. Mesmerized by her smile, Biham continued to stare at her as the world receded into background. Could anyone fall in love all over again?

Someone closed his mouth and said, "A fly will get inside if you open it so wide!"

Eltanin.

Biham snapped out of his reverie with a growl rumbling in his chest. His useless son-in-law was always a thorn in his life. And a big one at that!

Kinshra's cheeks heated till the tip of her ears. She still got affected by her mate to this level. Maybe she would talk to her father and see if he would allow her to accompany Tania to Draka or Pegasii. That way she would be able to spend more time with him and assess the situation. Or her feelings. Or her heart. She let out a rough sigh and looked at her daughter. "Come Tania. There is a lot to do."

Tania grinned widely. She roped her arms in her mother's and they both walked back to the tower. Tania continued to talk nonstop with her as both Biham and Eltanin watched them leave. The two men wanted to follow their mates like puppies in love but they didn't. Yunabi was more important at this time.

Eltanin turned to look at Biham once the two women were out of sight. He growled, "What is it that you wanted to say about Menkar? And why would you visit him? I don't want him to be near Tania so soon." Eltanin went to sit on the bench beside him. "I am thinking of ways to get back Tania's soul stone from him and you want to push Tania into that filth all over again?"

"What soul stone?" A voice from the side startled them. Lord Krail came out from behind a pine and glared at the two werewolves.

---

Lord Krail was standing in his bedroom along with his wife, Jiada. She had handed him a cup of hot tea. He was looking outside the window, wondering when was the last the sun showed its face to the lands of Kral. The weather was in tandem with the moods of the residents of Kral. Mostly the family that ruled the lands. Since Kinshra was always sad, both he and his wife were also sad.

Suddenly, he saw that the clouds parted and the sun peeked from above. Surprised, he walked closer to the window. Sun had made its appearance after so many months. When he looked down, he saw Eltanin running after Tania. She was laughing and giggling. Eltanin bumped into a pillar in the garden that shattered on impact, but he managed to catch hold of Tania. The moment he held her, he spun her and she squealed. It was such a lovely sight that he was captivated. It had been ages since he felt so much love in his castle. The two went inside and he took a deep breath in.

Jiada walked to him with her cup of tea. "What are you looking at m'lord?" she asked as she turned her face up to feel the warmth of the sun.

Lord Krail couldn't help but curl his fingers beneath her chin and plant a kiss of her lips. Jiada was astonished. "Why m'lord, you are happy today?"

He sipped his tea feeling joyous. Jiada took his cup and went back to bring pastries for him.

He was about to eat it when he saw Kinshra come out in the garden along with Biham. And her arm was in the crook of his arm. A low grumble of anger vibrated his chest and he wanted to break them apart, but Jiada stopped him. "You have to let her decide. She is too old for you to impose your decisions on her. You have protected her for a very long time. It is time that you let go…"

"But Jiada, she—"

Jiada placed a kiss on his lips and stopped him from speaking further. "Biham is a changed man. I can feel it. Just let them be. Okay?" She took his hand and placed a kiss on his knuckles. "You have worried far too much…"