Chapter 11 11
Denzel’s POV
Two days after the incident, a summons came from the Werewolf King.
I didn’t need to guess the reason. Jalisa must have run straight to her father, crying foul, and now he was calling me in to “settle” the matter. There was nothing to settle, but ignoring the summons would be seen as an act of disrespect something I couldn’t afford.
That morning, I stepped out of the shower and found Jalisa stretched naked across the bed, her body arranged deliberately, her eyes filled with invitation. She was trying to lure me into her arms.
I still hadn’t forgiven her for humiliating us before the pack.
“I can’t get pregnant like this, Denzel,” she teased softly.
I smiled, though there was no warmth in it.
“I suppose guilt is finally catching up with you,” I replied calmly. “Unfortunately, I’m not in the mood. Since you’ve chosen to report me to your father, reconciliation is unnecessary.”
Her smile vanished.
It was almost insulting that she thought she could do what she did and still crawl into my bed as if nothing had happened. I left her there and went to train in the garden.
As I walked, my thoughts drifted to Venessa. Since everything unfolded, she had kept her distance from me entirely. She was clearly afraid of Jalisa and didn’t want to ignite more conflict. I knew she could feel me the same way I felt her, and I wondered how she endured it. The bond was relentless pulling, whispering, refusing to loosen its grip.
At times, it felt as though the Goddess wanted us permanently tethered.
There was also something else something unsettling. A feeling that I had known Venessa before. Not just in this life. The sensation lingered like a half-remembered dream, as though our souls had crossed paths in another existence. It was absurd… yet undeniable. Perhaps the mate bond did that made you feel impossible things.
If I ever reached the point where I couldn’t endure this marriage any longer, I might have to let Jalisa go. For now, getting her pregnant was out of the question. But I would have to be careful diplomatic. I needed to be absolutely certain our union was completely loveless before I made such a move.
When I reached the garden, Tyrell wasn’t there. Rayon was training with the others, though his attention was clearly elsewhere.
He was flirting with Venessa.
I cleared my throat sharply. Venessa looked up at once, greeted me respectfully, then excused herself. She looked… breathtaking. It took every ounce of control not to stare.
“I’ll pick you up by six when you close,” Rayon called after her.
She nodded.
I could feel it she didn’t want him. So why was she encouraging him? Was she trying to force herself to move on?
Why are you leading him on, Venessa? I linked her.
She stumbled slightly mid-step, clearly startled.
“I’m trying to move on, Alpha,” she admitted.
Guilt pierced my chest. This was my fault. If I had waited, if I had made different choices, my mate wouldn’t be trapped in this painful limbo.
She hurried away, and I turned slowly to face my Gamma.
“Leave that girl alone,” I said firmly.
Rayon stared at me, stunned.
“I like her, Alpha,” he said. “It’s unfair to order me away. I plan on settling down with her. She’s an incredible woman.”
I clenched my jaw. Pushing the matter further would raise questions I wasn’t ready to answer.
“We’ll be visiting Fabian by noon,” I said instead.
Rayon lifted a brow. “Jalisa reported you?”
I nodded.
He shook his head in disappointment.
We trained for another hour before Tyrell finally joined us. He reeked of Jalisa. The scent hit me instantly, and suspicion stirred.
“Did you forget you had training?” I asked.
He shook his head. “The Luna held me up.”
Given how strongly he smelled of her, honesty was his best option.
“Goddess, Tyrell,” Rayon muttered, voicing what I was thinking. “Was she rubbing herself all over you? You stink of her.”
Tyrell fell silent.
I already knew Jalisa liked Tyrell. This was her attempt to provoke me to spark jealousy. It didn’t work. As long as they weren’t sleeping together, I didn’t care.
“You need to draw a line with her,” I said coldly. “I won’t tolerate this. You may not be sleeping with her, but this is still unacceptable.”
He bowed his head. “I’m sorry, Alpha.”
“She cried,” he added quickly. “Said you wouldn’t touch her. That she wanted children. She asked me to plead with you. I only held her to comfort her I swear it won’t happen again.”
I nodded once.
After a bit more training, we prepared for our visit to King Fabian.
We arrived at his kingdom just after two in the afternoon. He’d clearly been expecting us his Beta was already waiting at the palace entrance.
“Prince Denzel,” Jermaine greeted warmly.
“Alpha Denzel will do,” I corrected. “I’m not royalty.”
He smiled. It was no secret that I would succeed the Werewolf King one day and marrying Fabian’s daughter had never been a requirement for that.
Inside the palace, we were led to the guest lounge.
“Denzel, my boy!” King Fabian greeted, all smiles and charm. He pulled me into a hug, which I returned reluctantly.
“How have you been?” he asked.
“Very well,” I replied, forcing politeness.
He then smoothly guided me away from my Beta and Gamma into a private room.
The space was small intimate. A couch, a coffee table, shelves stocked with liquor. A television. A pole stood oddly in the centre of the room. Ever since his mate’s death, Fabian had become… indulgent. A player. I hoped one day he would heal.
He took a seat and gestured for me to do the same. I thanked him and sat opposite him.
“Jalisa says you two are having problems,” he said casually. “Something about you finding your fated?”
I sighed.
“Did she also tell you that my fated rejected me and that I accepted it?” I asked.
He fell silent.
Fabian looked around the room, exhaled slowly, and leaned back, clearly weighing his next words.