Chapter 61 Sixty One
Ashira’s POV
I never saw the Alpha King in person, no one does. And seeing him now, his aura full of… darkness and power, I feel my knees trembled.
As if I snapped in my own thought, I bowed my head like Aiden did.
“A-Alpha King.” I uttered in a trembling voice. He didn’t even do anything to scare us but I feel this way…
“At ease, my wolves. I’m not here for harm, as I’ve said, I’m here to help.” his voice really makes everyone who heard it shake. I get it that his power is beyond anyone because of the combination of wolves of all continent under his reign but experiencing it right now in flesh is just too surreal.
We lifted our heads and I was welcomed by an oceanic blue eyes. I haven’t seen eyes like that all my life. Never. Some regular wolves do have blue eyes but not like his.
Those eyes seems alive, like it has a mind of its own. It’s shining, its too… bright.
“It’s a pleasure to have your presence in my pack, Alpha King.” Aiden said. I can’t hear any fear in his voice and I was mesmerize with his confidence. But really, why is the Alpha King here?
“Drop the formalities, Aiden.” Alpha King chuckled. “You can address me with my name since I didn’t come here for any business with your pack.”
“I can’t do that, Alpha King. Pardon me.” Aiden replied. I saw his jaw clenched and I don’t know what he was thinking right now.
“Oh well, if you prefer.” he chuckled again. He seems jolly inside but it also looked like he has two different face. “Is this your young wolf your Luna?” he looked at me and smile.
“Yes, Alpha King.” Aiden answered. I felt his hand found my hand and he squeezed my palm. What is he saying? How can he lie to the Alpha King about this? He is still at it even though the Highness is whom he was talking to?
“I-I’m not h-his Luna…” I corrected but my voice is slowly fading that I can’t finish my sentence.
I gulped.
Damn, calm yourself, Ashira!
“Oh, still under the curse as I see it.” His Highness said and I frowned but before I could say anything, he spoke again. “Well, Aiden, I’m giving you the option to choose whether we speak in private or with your Luna’s presence. I don’t mind the latter since she is the wolf involved with what I would like to discuss.”
I looked at Aiden and his eyes moved in the side of his eyes but he didn’t turn his head though I know he is looking at me. He seems up on his guard, not taking his attention away from the Alpha King as if the latter will do something dangerous.
“I believe the two of us is enough for this meeting, Alpha King.” Aiden said after a few thoughts.
I want to be here, too! They said its about me and I wanted to be here but I can’t oppose like I have no right to do it.
“Very well.” Alpha King looked at me and smiled. His eyes went to my belly and if I’m not mistaken, I saw those eyes narrowed for a bit. “Thank Moon Goddess for the blessing she vested upon you, Luna. I congratulate you both.” his eyes went back to mine and smiled again.
“T-Thank you, Alpha King.” Though its not Aiden’s but I don’t have any strength to correct His Highness.
“When did you received the blessing, if I may ask?”
Aiden answered his question. “Almost a month now, Your Highness.”
“Hmm,” is what the Alpha King uttered. “Well, I prefer to talk here, Aiden. This place looks secured and I like to speak with you in private.”
Aiden bowed as answer. He turned to me then and held my arm gently. “Go back to the house, Ash. Seth is already waiting for you halfway.”
I wanted to accused him of thinking I might escape for sending someone to guard me but when I looked at the Alpha King, I found my voice nowhere. I only nodded and in shaking knees, I walked towards where we came from earlier.
Not too far from them, I looked back. Alpha King is already standing in front of Aiden now, a meter away from each other. I gulped. I never thought that such an intimidating man ever exist.
“Ash.” I looked in front of me and saw Seth walking closer. With one last glance, I looked back to Aiden and continued walking away.
“Seth, right?” I said. “Can you please hold my hand? I feel like I’ll trip any moment. My knees are shaking…”
“Here.” he offered his arm and I took it quickly. Wew! This is true tension I feel right now. Even if I’m far from them, I can still feel Alpha King’s heavy aura at this distance.
“Wow. I never thought its like this when the King is around. I’m already graced just by feeling his overflowing power.” Seth said. “Okay, let’s head back to the Ancestral now.”
I wonder what it is they are going to talk about me though…
Aiden’s POV
“Well, now away from any ear other than yours, I will start. But first, let’s talk about your Luna.”
This is my first time to see him in person. The Alpha King only sent letters from the palace, no one knew where he resides and now he meet me in person. For what again, for help?
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“It’s Zeron, Aiden. Oh well, nevermind. I know your mate had the rare wolf abnormality, a stealer. Am I correct?”
I observed him for a second. What is it that he want? He never show himself to anyone unless needed or if he wanted to, so why?
I nodded instead.
“Stolen by the dead former Alpha of Ravenous pack, I can only imagine what you are going through right now.”
“Nothing I couldn’t handle, Your Highness.”
Alpha King arched his brow and smirked that I felt my nape turned cold. He is up to something and I can feel it. I shouldn’t lay my guard down.
“Brave. Very brave. No wonder you were bless with a strong pup.” he smiled but there is something hideous behind it. “Well, given that she’s a stealer, her pregnancy is earlier than of a normal wolf. A month and she will give birth to your child so I came just in the right time.”
I frowned and he smiled from my reaction.
“I can help you bring her back,” he continued, not giving me a chance to question his previous phrase. “There is no Enchantress alive at this generation that is strong enough to lift the curse but I can, I’m willing to offer my hand to help my people.”
My ears rings from what I heard. A chance to bring Ashira back to me!
Suddenly, pictures of the moments I had with Ashira, her smile, her warmth, the way she loved me, it all replayed in my head like a movie.
Yes, that’s what I want. I want it all back.
Alpha King smiled widely this time, I knew he could read my thoughts based on my expression right now.
“Yes, yes, I can bring all what was snatched from you, Aiden.”
But wait,
“With all due respect, Your Highness, may I ask something?”
His smile fades for a moment but he smiled again, one that creeps me out. I can feel some unnecessary power around me. He is surging his power for me to fear him, and it works well.
I gulped.
I need to hold on even if his mere presence is suffocating as it is.
“Of course.” he answered.
“I don’t think you are doing this without something in return, Your Highness.”
Silence surrounds us for a whole minute. He is still smiling and that smile no longer worked to ease the atmosphere.
“Clever.” he said as his smile faded completely. “You are right. I want something in return but I know you will agree no matter what.”
“Is that a threat, Your Highness?”
He stared at me and didn’t speak a word. Did I angered the King? What is he thinking? His face is too emotionless that I couldn’t read behind it.
At last, he chuckled. “Of course not, Alpha. As I’ve said, I intent no harm.”
I sighed inwardly. I don’t know if I can trust him but I stand powerless before him. Even if he wanted to assassinate my whole pack, I have no power to protect everyone. He can wipe my whole people in just a snap of fingers.
“May I know what you wanted in return?”
“The child in your Luna’s womb.”
My jaw dropped from what he said. No, no.
“W-What is it that you want from my child, Your Highness? Will you t-take him-”
“Don’t be absurd. A stealer child is untouchable, unconquerable, and I don’t plan to take an innocent life.”
I felt like a huge thorn were pulled out of my chest upon hearing what he said.
“Then what?” I suddenly felt the urge to use honorifics as I know he never came here to help.
I only think he came here for his own benefit though if he did gave Ashira back to me, I will benefit from him, too.
His brow arch and smirk again. A very hideous and evil expression coming from him. “I know, as the father of the child, you can feel it, too. Your pup is surging a great amount of power. Something different from all the stealer child given birth in this world.” He paused and watched me. His eyes are intense, like he is reaching through my soul. I did not bother to speak and let him continue.
“I will give you back your mate, fix her, lift the curse and in exchange, I will take the strength of your child.”
“It’s still a month before the child will be born.”
“I need to absorb the power before the fetus formed completely. Looking at the size of your mate’s belly, the pup is starting to grow faster and the more it grows, the more it get stronger.”
He wanted to acquire the strength of my child. But why?
The Alpha King is the strongest of all, he didn’t need more strength.
Unless…
“Is there something I should know, Your Highness?” I decided to act brave and ask before its too late.
“Hmm, you know enough and that information is all I plan to share. So, what do you think? It’s not too much to ask, right?” he smiled with his eyes but all I can see is a mask above his face.
This is the only chance to save Ashira from the hellhole Elon made for us. Given that my pup will live, I don’t care about the power he holds as a stealer child.
I know there is something more behind this power that the Alpha King is bothered by it but I can’t see any reason to choose power over my mate’s peace. And mine.
“I’m sure you won’t give me time to think.” I tested.
His smile faded slowly and I was struck by his piercing blue eyes that my head ached from looking at it, making me bow my head to him.
This is the power of the Alpha King. He is making me bow without uttering a command, he need not to speak.
“I’m afraid I don’t have the time to wait, Aiden.”
Ack!
I coughed as the atmosphere suffocated me more.
“Do you agree to my terms?”
I don’t think I have any choice anyway. And I will always choose Ashira.
“I agree, Your Highness.” I didn’t need to bow my head because he already made me.
I’m being selfish right now. I know I’m choosing the easy way of bringing back Ashira to his usual self but there is no other option either. And I can only think of one thing…
I will have her back again…