Chapter 282: The Alpha King's Rejected Mate

Thank you my dear readers for sticking with me this far despite the long storyline and no first kisses yet, I love you❤️❤️

Orian's pov

I let out a breath of relief from my lips as I carefully released a snoring Amara from my arms and laid her on the bed.

Her divine lips parted in a sigh the instant her body met with the soft white covers and she huddled closer to herself mumbling rubbish as she drew her legs up and wrapped her arms around her knees.

I stepped back taking in the sight before me and a smile graced my lips admiring her form, I am utterly whipped for this woman, the realization settled within me despite me knowing already and I think there should be a word for what I feel for her.

Her head was resting against the pillows, long blonde hair scattered across the headrests, her huge ball gown filling the space around her making her look like a blown-up marshmallow.

I reached down and released her knees from her hold, straightening her legs and she turned over murmuring my name and something about pie. I laughed taking her feet in my hands and massaging them tenderly knowing they were going to ache by tomorrow.

As I worked on her feet, my gaze rested on the diamond anklet that I had gotten her under the guise of a tracker.

I looked at it remembering my fear and distrust for her then thinking she would escape and leave me.

There wasn't a need for that now, I trusted her with every fragment of me. I reached out and removed the anklet myself as it had been built with the knowledge of just me knowing how to take it off.

"Sleep well lunny svet." I drew the covers on her, tucking her in to be as comfortable as ever and then I bent over dropping a long kiss on her neck right where my mark was and then my lips skimmed to her ear, brushing against it, "Dream of daddy, printsessa." I whispered with a groan as she reached out for my arm and clung to me. Her fingers wrapped around my arm squeezing tight and then she pulled me back making me fall against her.

"I promise to do anything to protect you grump." Her sleepy words floated through my hearing and they were immediately followed by a loud snore that made me burst out in laughter at how her actions during sleep never failed to crack me up, "Don't be scared of spiders, they are cute." She murmured again as I lifted myself from her and stood straight.

I reached out and placed my hand to her face, tracing the planes softly and memorizing every inch like I hadn't already had it engrained in my memory. I brushed her hair aside and bent to kiss her on her forehead and then her nose and after making sure she was well and comfortable, I left the guest room and made my way downstairs to where Nexus awaited me.

As I walked down the stairs, I thought about my predicament, our predicament.

It was already inevitable to me that I would die and leave her behind but still, I want to keep her and spend my last moments with her.

I wondered if that wasn't selfish of me, keeping her here and raising her hopes that we had forever together only to leave her after a short while.

A rough image of the life she would face after my demise flashed through my head and I could see her burdened with the responsibilities after my death, looking after the kingdom, mourning me, and as the case may be fighting for her life if the people suddenly didn't want her ruling over them.

I should send her back, and find an excuse without telling her exactly what was happening. It was the right thing to do, sending her back would be decent as she would have time to get over me and be with her loving family.

And I on the other hand would have to say goodbye to her, all the sunshine I had ever known and everything that had to do with red, her favorite colour.

apart from the red that would coat your cock if you do claim her before sending her off.

I closed my eyes as the voice whispered those filthy words about me having her for the first time as I fought between sending her away and keeping her here but I could not come to a conclusion and so I just continued on my way occupying myself with the thoughts of the meeting I had with Nexus

Nexus wasn't present in the drawing room like I instructed and I traced him to the kitchen only to see him licking at his fingers and gobbling down the food Aileen had gotten ready for my wife and me.

"Hope you don't mind?" He looked up with his mouth full and sauce stains on the corners of his lips.

"Of course, I don't, help yourself," I replied with sarcasm lacing my voice as I stalked towards him and his reply was a big loud belch.

"It looked so good and I was hungry." He began to explain as he reached out to put another piece in his mouth but the glare I directed at him stopped him with his hand hovering over the food, "If you don't let me eat I will go upstairs and tell Amara everything you are hiding."

"Are you fucking serious right now?" I growled palming my face and watched as he shrugged and reached out to the food shoving pieces in his mouth, "You didn't come here to eat."

"I can work and eat at the same time." He pointed out, "Besides what's my best friend's is also mine."

"Where the fuck is that written?"

"In the book of best friends, chapter- wait did you not read it and memorize every chapter like I did?" A look of hurt overcame his features as he was surprised that I didn't memorize all the words in a book he had written by himself, "I am hurt."

"Cry about it."

I watched as he took in my words and with a deep breath, he bent his head and began to sniff. I snorted and then his sniffs got louder with almost silent cries that got loud with each passing moment.

"What are you doing Nexus?!" It was a harsh whisper as I got around the counter to meet him, "You are going to wake Amara up." I gritted standing next to him and he faced me placing his head against me.

"I didn't find my mate today Orian, do I not have one?" He wailed aggressively, his shoulders heaving as he cried and I looked at him dumbfounded not knowing what to do, "I hoped to meet her at the coronation, at the ball and even when we had to depart but I couldn't find her, what if I do not have one?"

"Don't cry." I reached my hand over him and placed it on his shoulder, "At least you get to live a long life when you meet her, you aren't an idiot that gave away his mate before he even realized that he could have one."

"Don't make this about your misfortune."

"I apologize." I rubbed his shoulder, "She's out there waiting for you and you both shall meet when you are ready to open your hearts and accept each other. I know that she would cherish you knowing that you are an amazing person."

"You think I am an amazing person?" He looked up at me with a smile, eyes gleaming with tears and sauced stained lips baring stained teeth.

"I take that back." I released him from my hold and stepped away from him wringing my nose in irritation, "Pretend I never said that."

"His royal majesty thinks I am amazing, I am honored." He made a slight bow making me roll my eyes before turning back to the food, "You know sometimes I am scared of meeting her fearing the same thing that happened the last time will happen again."

I took in a huge breath not knowing how well to comfort him that his future mate would never abuse him or make his life difficult like the last woman he was with did, "You have to forget the past Nexus, and look at the future. The person meant for you is going to accept you with her whole being and never put you through hell like the last. I just know she's out there waiting for you, you both just have to be led to each other."

"Stop with the poetic shit." He snorted walking over to the sink to rinse his hands, "Thank you for listening to me now let's get to work."

We were in my new office pondering over Japheth's death, what I planned to do with my predicament, and what we were going to make out of the information that we found out from the book I once stole from Hector's hidden library.

"Whoever was out to kill him and his second in command surely didn't want them to survive," I noted to Nexus as we looked at the pictures taken from the scene. It was upon me now to find who had killed him especially now that the demons were solely under me and I am king, I owed them that.

"Stabs to the vitals which was unavoided even with evident signs of struggle, what if it's more than one killer?" He suggested.

"Could be possible." I leaned back against my seat, "It's not easy to take down two powerful men at a go all by yourself."

"This person came prepared Orian." Nexus leaned over, "And this person is powerful. A murder carried out with a 3-bladed knife, you know what that means."

What it meant was that even I was a suspect as well as Nexus and all the high-ranking officials not excluding members of the council.

Three blades knife is meant to destroy and cause serious damage, a weapon only possessed by people like us and they were to be used only in the case of war.

My sword, the sword rumored to be forged of the blood of my enemies wasn't entirely a lie. It was forged of their blood and carbon steel, it was possible with good craftsmanship and magic, and I remembered how I was supposed to have Lycus dead with his blood being forged into a special knife for me to carry around as a reminder that I had ended him.

How things have changed.

"With access to these types of blades, it's obvious that the killer is amongst us but catching them wouldn't be easy, no trace was left. Not even a scent."

"We can discuss it later with the rest of the trusted. Members of your court, I wouldn't advise us taking it outside because this person might know what we are up to and be more careful." He advised and I nodded pushing the pictures aside and jottings of what we had noticed as he slid towards me, the papers of the findings he had from the book stolen from Hector.

I picked up the clipped papers and began to study them, it must have been hell trying to decipher words from the book with the old writings and part of it being burnt and then I got to the main point that was our focus, "So Amara's mother is a silver wolf, one of the most powerful to exist."

"The last one to be exact. Amara is a silver wolf too by features but not in terms of mythical powers."

"Oh." I shook my head, "So what did that have to do with us?"

"That's the part I couldn't quite figure out, the burnt part. We need someone of greater knowledge to tell us the correlation but from studies, mythical powerful creatures are likely to be preyed on by people who seek more power."

"Helena and Akanther had dealings together that I can't quite figure out, Now Amara's mother is getting roped in this with no clue why she is here and Amara doesn't remember and even if she does remember, will her memories explain everything?" I dropped the papers and ran a hand through my hair from how stressed I was thinking about the issue, "Why was Helena here in the first place? What did Akanther need from her and why was Amara with her?"

"Maybe we should ask Emery." He suggested, "She could know even if she was not actively involved then."

"Yea maybe." I stood up and began clearing the table, "We should hurry up, we still have to go to the human world and be back before dawn."

"Do you have to get a new tattoo?" He groaned assisting me in clearing up the work space, "You can get it done later."

"It has to be today." I insisted with a smile knowing I had promised to make every moment count and getting my next set of tattoos was one way for me to live by that promise, "It's important."

"Fine." He placed the papers on the shelves, "I already called some of the soldiers and Aileen back to the castle to keep guard while we are away."

"Thank you." I appreciated as I slid open my drawer and brought out my gun tucking one in my pockets and handing another to Nexus, "You might want to carry that, you never know what might happen."

"Japheth's dead Orian." He whispered with his hand hovering over the gun, "That's one less person but two more that would determine your life."

"What? Should I hope that they get killed too or I kill them myself?" I laughed nervously reaching out for a blade and tucking it in my pockets.

"I kind of wish you could but I know the consequences of that if it's ever discovered that you killed them to escape the blood oath, let's just hope this murderer helps you out making the situation work in your favor."

"And when the murderer kills them, I am next. What makes you think I wouldn't be a target?"

"I trust my instincts but even if he comes for you, you are d'yavol, ending the life of this person is like a cakewalk."

"Let's go Nexus, we shouldn't be having this conversation." I ended the talk and signaled for him to pick up the gun while I languished in my thoughts of the possibility of all he said happening.

It would be a relief for me but it was a mere fantasy and nothing like that would happen.

He picked it up and followed me as we got out of the office and went we reached outside, Aileen and the rest were already waiting.

I gave them my instructions and turned to face Aileen, "If she happens to be awake while I am gone, tell her that I would be back shortly and please make something for her to eat, she has had almost nothing throughout today."

"I will." She bowed slightly, "Be safe."

I nodded and went to join Nexus where our horses were already prepared and waiting for us.

"Mind telling me what you want to tattoo and where you want it that is so important?" Nexus grumbled as we mounted the horses and snapped at the reigns.

"I mind." I frowned at him and set my gaze straight on the path as we began to leave the premises and heightening our speed so we could get to our location as quickly as possible.

And as we rode one, my ears were filled with Nexus complaining about having to follow me to the human world when he should be sleeping and dreaming about finding his mate while I thought about my future tattoos and worried about Amara's safety hoping to make it back in time and meet her unscathed just like I left her.