The Alpha's Temptation

Everyone looked in her direction. Ileus's golden eyes burned into hers, as his brows furrowed deeply.

Anastasia glanced at Ileus and said, "I will also be coming to Draka with you all for a few days. After that I will go back to Draoidh!"

Ileus's mouth dropped to the floor. "What?" he rasped in a gravelly voice. "What about the kids?"

Anastasia pursed her lips. She scratched the back of her neck. "I think their father can look after them for those few days."

A growl escaped his chest. "Woman, you are treading on dangerous grounds here. This wolf never leaves his wife alone, especially when there are so many wolves around. And especially when you are going into a realm that is dominated by werewolves!" He rose to his feet and chewed the last piece of fish angrily. "I will go with you or you are coming with me. The choice is yours."

Why did Kinshra feel that the mighty Prince Ileus of Draoidh, the legend of the Lore, the Dark Prince and a very powerful wizard, was acting like a… petulant baby? And to top it all, she heard the hums of all the men out there. They were all with Ileus on this issue. Strange world of men, she thought.

Anastasia shrugged. "Then you can come with me."

"Done!" Ileus replied as if he was granting a favor to her.

They all started the final lag of the journey by afternoon. Tania's magic was slowly troubling her all over again. From a happy girl a while back, she pulled back in her gloomy shell. Sitting in front of Eltanin, she buried her face in the crook of his arm and closed her eyes. "When are we going to reach?" she asked.

He tightened his arms around her, gathering her closer to his chest. "Hopefully by evening."

"I will ask my mother to create a portal to Draka. I just want to go to bed after this," she said in an irritated tone.

"I know, love," he said and kissed the crown of her head. He really wanted to relieve her of her magic, but at the same time, he didn't know what it would be for him. His father had said that by claiming Tania when she had read full Yunabi, he would become the strongest wolf of Araniea. He didn't know what that would entail. Anticipation had made home in his chest a long time back. There was not a day when he didn't think about it, but he never mentioned it to his mate. She was already handling way too much.

---

Alphard was pacing the perimeter of his unit's encampment for the tenth time. He hadn't heard of any unusual movement along the borders of Draka and Pegasii. His spies had informed that after the last war with Nyxers, the border villages were very peaceful. The Nyxers had shifted and watched around and didn't see anything that was out of order.

Discomforted, he leaned against a tree and contemplated going to Draka in a disguise. But a disguise for a Hydranian was very difficult. Some Nyxers had disguised themselves and gone to kill Dziban, one of Eltanin's Generals. After that, Eltanin had become extremely cautious. He wasn't allowing entry into the Draka Kingdom of anyone who was not a friendly royal or the citizen of the kingdom. He had issued metallic strips to every citizen with their thumb prints imprinted. Everyone had to enter the gates after showing those metallic strips.

It was already evening. The sun was hanging over the peak of Wolf Fang mountains that looked like a wide open mouth of a wolf.

His army was encamped in the Eslam Forest for the past two days. While all of them were doing their jobs according to his instructions, he was getting restless by the minute.

As he was brooding, one of his soldiers came running to him. "Your Grace!" he rasped. "The Commander of the fifth unit wants to talk to you."

Alphard narrowed his eyes. 'It better be good news,' he thought. He was growing impatient to the extent that he wanted to enter Draka himself. Along with the guard, he rushed to his tent.

The Commander was waiting for him over there. As soon as he saw Alphard, he bowed. "There is a strange movement on the common boundary of Pegasii and Draka. I saw a unit of Draka soldiers bearing their insignia going north. There were a few carriages traveling as well."

Alphard's instincts flared. He was sure that there were royals in the carriages. Lusitania could be in one of them. A wave of excitement crashed in his body. "Get all the units to the site, and take me with you over there. We have to plan an ambush!"

The Commander bowed. "I will get everyone ready."

Alphard was so excited that he paced in his tent for ten minutes. Then he went to look at his reflection in the mirror. He took a quick bath with cold water and changed into his expensive tunic and breeches. Even if the tunic would tear during the attack, it didn't matter. He wanted to look presentable in front of his fae. His fae? The thought made him all the more excited.

He shaved his five day old beard, applied fragrances and then stepped out. A soldier made him wear his full armor. The Commander had linked with his fellow via mind link and asked them to gather in the main area. Alphard waited impatiently for them and as soon as they were there, he marched to the northern borders. Some of the Nyxers shifted into their wolves. He had given instructions to every Nyxer to look for the carriages but not attack them if they saw women. But they could attack if they saw men.

---

As they neared the bend where Sgiáth Bio ended, Eltanin said, "We have to create two portals to enter Draka and Pegasii. "I have already instructed my men to come with a few carriages."

"How did you mind link?" Biham asked with surprise. "We are still in a different realm."