A Suspicious Sniff

A Suspicious Sniff
The training ground was bustling with energy under the sharp glares of the morning sun.
Arthur stood at the edge, overseeing the activity. His arms were crossed, his gaze unusually critical.
Everything annoyed him today. The heat from the sun. The smell of sweat mixed with dirt.
Even the damn way the wind changed direction.
But worst of all were his thoughts. He couldn't think straight.
How could he? He had just been handed the worst fate in a silver platter.
Her warm lavender scent still tickled his nose and that infuriated him. Ever since he found out about the mark, his whole world had tilted.
Sleep had deserted him.
All that was left were those fking fragments of that cursed night. He resisted the urge to pull his hair out.
Instead, he blinked to get the thoughts out of his head, and refocused his gaze on his warriors who were sparring at the moment.
Two young ones circled each other within the field, their claws bare and their bodies slick with mud.
It was their weekly training for the young wolves, a test of their budding strength and willpower.
Yet, his mind couldn't stay away from thoughts of her.
His wolf was silent today. Probably gloating in victory over the worst fate given to him.
He snarled under his breath, itching to rip it out and beat it senseless.
'You can't' its voice came as a purr. 'You can't beat me. Accept that. Accept she's our mate'
"She isn't" he muttered darkly. "It's all a mistake"
'As you wish' it replied, indifferent .
Arthur swore silently. He was cursed to have this wolf of all wolves. He had just marked his enemy—a human— and his wolf had the gall to act indifferent.
He lowered himself to a rock, elbows planted on his knees, his head between his hands. Interest in the training had vanished into thin air.
He still couldn't believe it happened.
She was a prisoner, another slave beneath his feet. But now... she was his mate, a fact that could ruin him if the council even got a sniff of it.
He was ruined. He was doomed. And his blood boiled at the thought of her.
He wanted to kill her.
'You can't. She belongs to me' his wolf reminded him the painful truth.
Killing her would mean killing himself.
"Arthur" a familiar voice purred. "I've been looking for you"
He didn't glance up. He barely acknowledged her existence but his jaw tightened.
Another source of irritation.
Christine frowned at his lack of response. That was odd.
He was odd lately.
But she shrugged it off with a smile and settled in a rock next to him.
"I heard you were training some warriors" she murmured, leaning close. "So I brought you some food and water"
He raised his head up, his gaze hiding annoyance. "I didn't ask"
She ignored the sting in his words and handed him a flask, smiling sweetly. "But I knew you'd be thirsty. I can read you"
He gave her a blank stare, took the flask from her and chugged down the water. The liquid cooled his heated, irrational thoughts.
"I knew you'd be thirsty" Christine said cheerfully, then touched his arm. "I can cool you off if you want" she whispered in his ear.
Arthur stiffened and pulled his arm away. Her touch disgusted him, which didn't come as a surprise. "Don't touch me"
She arched a brow. "You've been acting off lately. Have you lost interest in me? What's going on Arthur?"
"Nothing" he snapped, shooting her a cold stare.
But she was stubborn and foolish. Her lips pouted. "You're suddenly cold and angry, like I've done something wrong"
"You haven't" he said tightly.
"Then why are you cold and rude? Are you hiding something?" She asked suddenly, narrowing her eyes. "Are you seeing someone else?"
His grip tightened on the flask. It almost broke under his crushing fingers.
"Choose your next words carefully Christine"
"Why? You can't keep behaving like a stone" she complained, grating on his nerves which were stiff already.
"I can and I will" his voice was flat.
"That means you're seeing someone" she eyed him, fishing for information. "Who is she?"
Jealousy burned hot in her at the horrible possibility that Arthur could have another woman.
He was hers. No one else's but hers.
"Remember your place here Christine. I am the Alpha. Do not ever try to question me again. Am I clear?" His words were cold, blunt and final.
Christine clenched her fists in her lap. He was hiding someone else.
She could smell it on him. An unfamiliar scent, faint enough to be invisible but soft enough for her to notice.
Gentle and warm, like lavender or honey. It wasn't hers.
Anger and jealousy clouded her face.
Arthur was hardly bothered. He tossed the flask aside and rose, walking back to the edge of the field.
She was nothing but a mistress. She clearly had no rights to suspect him.
His wolf prowled beneath his skin, wanting to claw her for touching him.
'Get rid of her. She isn't ours'
Arthur ignored it. He had better things to worry about.
His hands clasped behind his back, his attention focused squarely on the training, he became what he was: the Alpha of Silvercrest.
"You're being too slow" he barked at one of the young warriors.
"Move fast. Aim fast. Kill fast"
'See who's talking' his wolf snorted.
His fingers twitched but he kept calm.
When one of the warriors dropped to the ground, panting, Arthur barked again,
"Get back up and fight. Silvercrest does not train lambs"
The warriors stiffened. They could sense his hidden anger. Some sneaked glances at him but no one dared to comment.
They resumed the duel, fierce and feral, just the way he wanted it.
But Arthur still wasn't pleased. The sight of their excellent fighting skills failed to distract him.
So he hissed under his breath and walked back to the study. The only place that held a bit of sanity.
But the sense of sanity was disrupted when Lucien walked in immediately, with a scroll in hand.
"What is it?"
"Alpha Viktor has sent petitions to the Seven Elders" Lucien announced grimly. "He claims you're trespassing human borders, ambushing kingdoms and capturing humans as slaves"
Arthur's expression barely changed but his eyes darkened. "So what does that have to do with me?"
Lucien sighed wearily. "It has a lot to do with you. With me. With our pack. Viktor has a smooth way with words that can get the Elders on his side"
Arthur sank into his chair and began to massage his temples.
What a perfect antidote. Another bad news.
Yet he managed to pull his thoughts together. "I don't care about those wolves in flowing robes"
"You have to" Lucien dropped the scroll in his table. "The Elders have power. Power that can strip you of your title. Be careful Arthur. There's a lot at stake"
A slave girl—his enemy bearing his mark just raised the stakes to a dangerous level.
But Arthur didn't say that. He closed his eyes, wishing the Moon Goddess could reverse this all.....
Lucien walked to the door after that statement. But before he left, he sniffed then frowned.
"You smell different Arthur"
His body tensed. "It must be sweat."
"No. This smells.... different. Like lavender or something close" Lucien insisted, taking another sniff.
Arthur dug his fingers into his knees. "Must be Christine's perfume"
"Must be" Lucien shrugged then shut the door.
Arthur didn't even bother with the scroll. That was the least of his worries.
The scent was leaking off him and that was a red flag that could spark suspicions.
He needed to lie. To deceive. To hide it beneath layers of politics and duties.
But how long could a secret this dangerous stay buried?