The Alpha's Temptation

"But I am not Eltanin's mate," Morava said in a dejected voice. "Will I be able to enter the cave?"

"Ancient magic recognizes royal blood. Once you enter with him, the magic will open for you as well."

"You know a lot, mother!" Morava said as she gave her mother a surprised look.

"It's my duty to know it, my dear." She patted Morava's shoulders. "Now be ready. Stay alert. We will be heading out."

Morava took a deep breath as her face flushed. "Here I come Eltanin," she said in a breathy voice and Sirrah laughed at her daughter's antics.

As soon as they stepped out of the room, they were surrounded by the Pegasii guards, who escorted them to the site, where the festival was held. It was a long winding walk towards the small mounds that stretched behind the palace. The palace itself was built in the midst of two craggy peaks and overlooked the entire capital. A stream trickled from one of the peaks and gurgled all the way around the palace and then suddenly veered to the west to meet River Eridani. The festival took place on the grassy mounds between the peaks.

Full moon lit their way and soft, powdery snow flew up beneath their boots when they stepped onto the soft patches of drift that showed up over the grassy mounds here and there. Dense oaks surrounded the area, their silhouettes dark against the moonlight. Several hearths were built, all waiting to be lit. Trees were hung with several oil lanterns and candles lit the main path that meandered over the mounds for a long stretch illuminating the patches of drift with their dull yellow flames.

Morava noticed an awful lot of wolves and she-wolves who were sniffing the air eagerly to catch the scent of their mate. Most of the werewolves were just wearing trews or a loin cloth as their upper bodies remained naked, while the she-wolves were all wearing their skimpiest clothes. No doubt it looked as if they were all out for their best dance of seduction.

Drum beats sounded in the air and some groups had even started dancing. She walked with confidence with her nose up in the air in their midst. Morava walked to one group where she noticed that Mizvah was standing.

"Luna Sirrah!" Alrakis welcomed them to the festival.

Sirrah snapped her head to the right to look at him and she bowed. "Alpha Alrakis," she said with a lilt of a charming smile. The man was still as handsome as she had seen him many years ago. He already had a mate who was a sea goddess, otherwise she would have gone for him. Sirrah was afraid that the sea goddess might turn her into a sea monster if she dared to flirt with Alrakis.

Alrakis looked at the servant on his left. The servant hurriedly offered her a tray of wine. Sirrah picked up one and politely said, "Where is the Draka King?"

Alrakis rolled his eyes. "He is getting ready. Will be here in a short while. Today was a busy day for him, he had gone with four units of his army to encamp in front of Pegasii."

A flush rose on Sirrah's cheeks and neck. "Men," she breathed. "They can have terrible egos!"

Alrakis chuckled. "I think sometimes women parallel men in that department!" He sipped his wine as he watched Sirrah's reaction. "In fact, I know of women who have destroyed homes because of their egos." What he meant was how Sirrah had ousted Kinshra when she found out that Biham was her mate.

Sirrah understood his sarcasm, but she didn't react to it. Sometimes for a greater cause, it was better to overlook small criticism, or sarcasm in this case.

When she didn't speak another word, Alrakis said, "Where are the princesses? I hope they are here when my son comes. Who knows, maybe one of them is my son's mate?"

This time Sirrah's face beamed with a toothy grin. "Morava is right over there," she said, pointing towards a group that was dancing to the drum beats. They were setting the mood of the place. Sirrah was amazed to see the number of people that had turned up for the fire festival. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to see her daughter Morava mated to Eltanin in front of all of them. So many would be witnesses and she was going to love it. It would be her blow on her husband and Eltanin.

Alrakis looked at Morava who was gyrating her hips with the group. "And what about Princess Tania?"

Sirrah knew that he would ask that question. She was prepared. "She must also be around. That girl was more excited about the festival and so she left earlier than us!"

Alrakis nodded. "I see…"

Silence stretched between them and then a few moments later, the guard announced, "Your Highness, King Eltanin."

Eltanin walked with four soldiers surrounding him. He wore tan fitted leather pants and boots. There was his golden crown on his head and vambraces on his biceps. His torso was naked. It was an outfit to show the musculature of a strapping king. The breadth of his shoulders was wide as compared to his hips. The cut of muscles on his torso was curved steel without a single malleable edge.

Women gasped as they stole glances at their king before bowing to him. He walked with an authority and a confident aura around him that made people cede to him.

Eltanin's gaze drifted to Sirrah who was standing with his father. He walked to them and bowed to her and his father.

Sirrah could see that he was not feeling well. Instead of the fact that chilly winds touched his bare skin, a line of thin sweat covered his torso. Was he down with the mating fever? If that was the case, then she had to move up her plans and push Morava towards him.

"And where is Princess Tania?" he asked.

Sirrah gulped the insult when he didn't even ask about Morava.