The Alpha's Temptation

With a frown of worry on her forehead, Tania bowed to him.

Eltanin smoothed the crease on her forehead and said, "It's nothing. Don't worry so much. Take care of yourself, and I will be right back."

With a sigh, she walked inside, and Eltanin closed it behind her. Now that he had safely hidden her away, he could leave his room in peace.

The stairway was shrouded in darkness. Tania got scared as moved down the stairs, trying to get her eyes to adjust and see through the darkness to find a handrail, but there was none. She was flustered that he had left her without a candle. Did he lock her in a room? She brought her hands to the side to feel the wall. As soon as she touched it, that spot glowed. The glow spiraled down the staircase and curved to the right, illuminating it brightly. She found that the glow was an orb of yellow light that danced inside a groove, traveling at a high speed, oscillating from top to bottom. She had never seen such beautiful magic before. A smile came across her lips. He hadn't locked her. She descended the stairs and the moment she stepped inside, the room glittered with lights that sparkled on the roof. It was as if a thousand stars had shone upon her. The walls of the room were surrounded with water on all sides. She gasped. Various kinds of fish swam all around. She turned around to soak in the beauty of the room. A large bed for two people was set in the center. A plush azure carpet was spread on the floor. There was a small love seat couch in one corner where one could sit for the entire day and watch the fish swimming around. There was a small closet on the left, which opened into a bathroom.

Tania was amazed by the luxury of the bathroom. There was a large tub of marble in the center with several faucets. There was a shelf loaded with scented bathing soaps and lotions. And Tania needed a bath. She giggled at the guilty pleasure that she was going to experience. Quietly thanking the king, she stepped out of her clothes and into the tub, immersing herself in the hot water she loaded with bathing lotions.She took in a deep breath and then closed her eyes, resting on the edge. She had never had the luxury to take a nice bath under a shower stall, and this? This was surreal.

---

Morava was pacing the main hall as Ivy watched her from the side. She was flushed with anger. Her shoulders were drawn back. As soon as she saw Eltanin entering, she paced up to him. "Your Highness!" she almost growled. "Why did you kill my friend? All she demanded was that the servant girl be punished, one who assaulted her and one who was showing her naked body out in the open. Who knows if she was seducing men around her? How could you—"

Eltanin snarled and lips peeled back showing his fangs. "Shut that fucking mouth of yours!" he hissed.

Morava blanched. She snapped her mouth shut. She was a princess and an alpha of her own right, but Eltanin's power was far stronger than hers. It was exponentially stronger than hers. The wolf was the king of an ever-growing empire; she couldn't even imagine the kind of control he had on his people. So, she became quiet as she stopped herself from trembling.

"I had already passed my judgment about the complaint and yet Giada and Orna went to the servants' quarters anyway. The gall?" he said, almost shaking with rage. "Who are you to tell me what to do in my kingdom? Who gave you the authority? And who gave authority to your female companions?"

Eltanin's muscles bulged in anger. He encompassed darkness, itself. His eyes flickered silver as if his beast was about to show. A dark rumble escaped from his throat as he took a step towards Morava.

Ivy, who had been watching him from the corner, sank onto her knees, her face as pale as a ghost. Her hands started trembling. She had never seen anyone so threatening. There was so much rage in his features that it appeared angular.

"I should have ordered your execution, as well, for disobeying me," he growled. "Had it not been for your father, I would have."

Morava started trembling, frightened like a mouse in a thunderstorm. She couldn't believe Eltanin was threatening her to this extent, over a servant girl. She wanted to confront him for his choices, but she recalled what her father told her earlier. It was important that he married her so that the two kingdoms could come together and her father could gain more power over others. So, she changed her stance immediately. "I— I am sorry," she stuttered. "I shouldn't have stepped out of line. What Giada did was not right."

She had to cut ties with Giada and Orna. Giada was killed by Eltanin, but Orna was still here. She had to send Orna away, not because she wanted to save Orna, but her presence would be viewed in a negative light. If she didn't sever ties with the sisters, she was sure that Eltanin would find a reason to throw her out of the palace. And in severing the connection with them, she would show him that she was loyal to him and had realized her mistake and was ready to rectify it. She would definitely find out this servant girl later covertly and kill her.

Morava bowed to him and said, "Your Highness, please forgive me. I was blinded by Giada's false information. Both she and Orna deserved what happened to them. In fact, I will ask Orna to leave Draka today, never to return."

Eltanin narrowed his eyes. If Morava had a little bit of dignity, she would have left, but she persisted. She didn't even offer to leave the kingdom. And worse, she distanced herself from her friends for selfish gains. She was like a viper up his sleeve.