The Crown's Entrapment

Meanwhile, Gideon, Bartos, and the rest of the Moonlight Knights chosen to escort Darius continued traveling by horses as caravans carrying gifts for the bride and groom followed behind them.

"Something is weird, Gideon. I can feel it," Bartos grumbled before shooting Gideon a threatening glare. "You seem to know something, so you better tell me now or I won't stop bugging you."

Gideon gulped but casually replied, "You're overthinking things, Bartos. Nothing is weird. Just focus on our journey."

"Our Elders back home assumed that the Kingdom of Ebodia might propose a marriage alliance between our King and the second princess," Bartos pondered.

"If that were to be the case, do you think His Majesty would agree to it or still proceed with the Selection for A Queen? Either way, he doesn't believe in soul mates or Mate's Pull so I guess accepting a Princess from another kingdom will be possible."

"Well, we all know how our King is someone who is very hard to read. We'll find out eventually once the King of Ebodia has a private talk with him after the wedding ceremony," Gideon neutrally answered.

In all honesty, he, too, was curious about what would happen next and how their King would actually handle such a proposition.

"It is exceedingly rare for him to heed a request… I mean, he hated shapeshifting, but he did it willingly just so he could accommodate his new warrior-servant Xen," Bartos continued.

"I truly feel that something is off. Is he that fond of that lad? I mean… Ah… I don't know. Our King is really acting peculiar, don't you feel the same?" Bartos scoffed.

It was simply patently weird. Gideon also couldn't fathom that their King would travel in his wolf form and leave them behind just because a lad asked him to.

He let out a sigh and said, "Stop thinking nonsense, Bartos. I was with him and personally witnessed how well the lad fought all those rogue werewolves off alone just to save the innocent. He's really skillful, and you will be amazed at how strong and agile he is despite his small frame."

Bartos didn't comment, but the doubtful expression on his face showed that he was far from convinced. Looking at his unconvinced face, Gideon eventually decided not to say anything more.

Among the Kings' Moonlight Knights, Gideon was the closest to the king. Thus, Gideon could easily read the King's mind just by watching his expressions alone.

If Gideon was right with his interpretation, he understood why their King wanted to keep the lad beside him. Pursing his lips, he tried not to make a meaningful grin while knowing why their King acted so grumpy over anyone who wanted to approach the young lad.

Their King's possessiveness over Xen was showing, and it was certainly not because of the fact that The King had claimed Xen as his.

However, something still didn't sit right with the whole situation. Was their King's wolf mistaken? Or was that stubborn wolf pranking their King?

He didn't dare open his mouth regarding this sensitive topic, or else the King would probably punish him severely.

Well, the King may not physically punish him, but Gideon was sure that he would still suffer so much that it would make him wish for death. As such, there was absolutely no way that he was going to say anything!

He was sure that Darius's wolf, Zeus, convinced their king to only ride on one horse just so he could smell Xen's scent more. Gideon could not help but chuckle, imagining the dilemma that their ruthless King might be experiencing right now.

And sure enough, back with Darius and Xenia, Gideon was absolutely right.

Currently, Darius and Xen were back to traveling by horse with Xen sitting in front of him. It was devious, but it was an inconspicuous way in which he could hug and breathe in Xen's scent to his heart's content without raising any suspicion.

Darius was slowly getting aroused for reasons he couldn't understand. Somehow, looking at Xen's naive expressions a while ago when he shifted back to his human form, made him hard as heck. He simply blamed his wolf, Zeus, for it. Although, what if Xen turned out to be a man and saw his erection? It would be so embarrassing and shameful.

[I already told you! Xen doesn't smell like a man! Didn't you feel how supple her lips were when you accidentally kissed?] Zeus growled.

Ah, that smack of their lips had indeed turned him on so much that his body craved for more of such interactions with the lad... Wait…

Catching his thoughts once more, Darius mentally scolded himself. He was struggling hard because of Xen's closeness.

Darius growled as he tried his best to control the beast within him. He wondered if he had been celibate for too long that his lust would instantly flare up just from a simple biting of the lip by this seducing ingrate.

So many perverted thoughts ran inside his head. Oh, how he wanted to bite those lips and wet them with his own saliva when Xen smeared the sauce on her face a while ago. He unknowingly even let out a lusty growl that Xen heard.

The struggle to control his wolfly instincts and refusal to act on them was the worst dilemma in his life. Darius instantly chastised himself when his thoughts turned into that of a pervert in broad daylight! It was ridiculous.

Before, he used to tease and make fun of some of his men who couldn't fight off their urges when it came to their mates. But right now, since he was experiencing the same thing, he now knew full well that he was wrong to tease them. He wondered if it was karma biting him in the ass.

Cursing himself in his mind, he lamented letting Xen sit in front of him, not that his body seemed to mind at all.

[Tell me Zeus… Are you somehow playing a prank on me?] Darius helplessly asked his wolf.

[How long will you be in denial huh? It's the Mate Pull whether you believe it or not. Just admit the fact that you desire Xen and please this will be the last time I will say this. She's our mate and she's a woman!]

[Hmmm, let's have that benefit of the doubt. Still, to see is to believe is more logical, don't you think Zeus?] Darius scoffed and was answered simply by an annoying and impatient growl from Zeus.