The Alpha's Temptation

Platt was... shocked. "Unconscious..." he murmured, his throat choking with fear. And that too with Gordon?

"But you know that Twiny is such a twit. She had smoked weeds," the cook chuckled. "The ones she said she got from you."

"I-- I don't supply weeds!" Platt countered, his face heating up.

The cook laughed. "Oh, old Platt! Don't deny that. Many out here know what you do to get those extra monies."

The young girl started cutting lettuce in front of her and said, "It is good that the General doesn't know about it. You should stop selling them."

Platt was not in the mood. He just walked out of the kitchen with a heart that was now beating like that of a wild horse. His throat became dry and after a five-minute walk, he leaned on a column and started panting. Sweat trickled down his brows. Suddenly, he felt that it was getting too hot whereas the winds were chilly. He still had time to relieve the other guard from his duty, so he thought of going to the dungeons. Or should he go to the healer? That Twiny could have given false information to the cooks.

He decided to go to the dungeons first because when Gordon would come later, things would become suspicious. So Platt darted to the dungeons. As he had thought, the place was dead quiet. He looked at the soldier who was stationed there. He was napping already. The keys to the main door were in his belt. He took his weed stash out, burned it and put it in front of the guard's nose. As soon as the guard inhaled it, he took the keys out of his belt and. But he knew that this was just the first of the clearance. There were more guards down there.

There was a small door in the main gate. He opened it. It opened with a low groan. He closed it behind him. He walked a little inside and got into the main room where Jailer Gordon sat. His assistants were already on the guard.

"Platt?" said one of them. "What are you doing here?"

Platt was ready for them. He knew what to say and so he immediately blurted, "I-- I am on royal wing duty today. I was sent to ask about Nora."

The guard frowned. "Sent by whom?" he asked in a mysterious way, his eyes narrowing.

Platt wasn't prepared for that question. For a moment his mind went blank. He swallowed saliva down his throat and said, "By the guard who I am to relieve."

"I see," the assistant nodded lightly. "Well, Nora isn't lodged here. She hasn't been sent to the dungeons so far. But why do you ask? Surely, Nora hasn't done anything bad or has she?"

Platt was gritting his teeth. The man had too many questions. At the same time, he was relieved that Nora wasn't in the dungeons. That meant that Twiny was speaking a lie. Bitch. He turned back to leave saying, "How do I know? Ask that guard. I am just a messenger." Saying that he walked out of the gate, hooked the key back in the guard's belt and walked to his station. He was so relaxed that he whistled a tune all the way back. He would soon meet Nora.

When he stood there at guard, his mood was much better. As soon as Nora would come, he would ask her to wait for him and they would go back to their house together. He even planned on asking her to marry him. He would resign from his work and take her away to the kingdom of Eridanus along with Kypho. It was enough of a scare for him for a day.

He stood for the whole morning and then until early noon. The queen had come and gone with the king. He also saw the queen's new maid, Flora, but Nora was nowhere to be seen. He became anxious.

It was almost afternoon when two maids walked with food trays. "Did you hear about the head maid, Nora?" said one in hushed tones. They came to stand near the guards for them to clear their way by removing spears.

"What about her?" asked the other one.

"She is in the healer's room. I heard that she is not going to make it. She is very ill."

"Sad..." replied the second one.

Her words sent a bolt of terror in his bones. He wanted to ask more but he couldn't. That would raise suspicion.

The maids and the other guard glared at him for not clearing the way. Seeing his awkward position, he removed the spear. The maids walked past him, talking more about Nora. As soon as they were out of his earshot, he looked at the other guard and said, "I need to go to the bathroom to relieve my bladder. Can you cover for me?"

The guard nodded and Platt left immediately. The healer's room was in the south wing. He rushed there and arrived within ten minutes. The place was absolutely quiet. Cautiously, he padded his way to the room, his blood thrumming in his ears. He couldn't believe it when he heard that Nora was extremely ill. But how was that possible? She was pretty fine a day back.

He knocked upon the door of the healer's room. The door opened and the healer peeped out. "Yes?" he asked.

"I am here for Nora," Platt said.

"Come in," the healer said.

As soon as he stepped inside, he found the queen standing in the room and Nora was sitting on the bed, crying. Her eyes were puffy.

The queen turned to look at him and said, "How are you Platt? We thought that it would be nice to send you to the dungeon along with your friend here?"

"Wh-- What?" Platt rasped, panic exploding in him. "What have I done?" he cried.

Tania's wings bristled with anger. She looked past him. The door opened and Fafnir entered. He stood behind Platt.