The Alpha's Temptation

"She must be somewhere around," Sirrah replied, casually waving her hand in the air. "She arrived earlier than us out of excitement, so I don't really know where she has gone."

"Shouldn't her guards escort her?" Eltanin asked, raising an eyebrow.

Sirrah was taken on a back foot. "Sh—she— they must have accompanied her," she said glibly.

Eltanin glared at her. Sirrah felt as if the air around them had charged with murderous energy. She lowered her gaze and when Eltanin walked away from them, she let out a breath. The man was daunting and she had to be very cautious if her plan was to go through.

Since the evening Eltanin could feel his whole body was on fire. His wolf was looking for his mate and wanted to come out immediately. He was finding it very difficult to keep him down. Moreover, dread rippled through him not being able to see Tania since the morning. Fear tensed him up and it was fear that was driving his wolf to come out. Transformation from his human form to his beast form would be terrible if the fear persisted, because it would make it last longer and hurt more. He had to shed his fears for an easy transformation. It was something that his father had told him when he shifted for the first time on his sixteenth birthday.

Accept your beast without fear and he will rip out of you without pain.

Eltanin was doing his best to push his beast down even though it was a full moon and he suffered from the mating fever. If he didn't mate on this night, his wolf would go crazy. Had his wolf not scented his mate, it wouldn't have been a problem, but his wolf had scented her the day he met her.

He walked to the biggest pile of firewood that was stacked. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Morava standing with a group of wolves. Everyone had stopped what they were doing and bowed to their king.

As soon as Morava saw him, she rushed to where he was, but she was stopped by his guards. Shocked, she gasped and then crossed her arms across her chest to hide her embarrassment. She smiled sheepishly at him. Eltanin didn't even acknowledge her presence. He took a torch that was burnt by his father and ignited the firewood. As soon as it was lit, drums sounded and some wolves howled from somewhere deep inside the woods.

Eltanin surveyed the men and women in front of him. "May the moon shine upon you and may you find your mates." Rice and flower petals hurled in the air and the celebration began. Eltanin started walking towards the cave. He really wanted to go inside it. He wanted to meet Tania and spend the night with her. His eyes flickered a wintry blue and his eather was surging through his body, trying to spill out.

Morava watched him leaving, feeling scared to follow him after the way he looked at her. Her eyes went to Sirrah as hesitation crept in. She mouthed what do I do. Sirrah jerked her chin in Eltanin's direction, asking her to go after him. Morava shoved his apathy towards her down her throat and then rushed after him. She had hidden the small bottle of drug in between her cleavage securely.

Sirrah too wanted to go to her daughter and help her with the plans, but Alrakis stopped her. "Would you like to see how beautifully they have decorated the festival?" he said, inviting her to walk with him.

Sirrah didn't want to, but if Alpha Alrakis had invited, turning down an invitation for no apparent cause was going to sound suspicious. "Surely!" she said with a reluctant smile.

"Come this way," Alrakis waved his hand in front. She gave a fleeting look to Morava who was rushing after Eltanin, she walked with Alrakis. As they traipsed, Alrakis said, "I am finding it incredibly  odd that Princess Lusitania is nowhere to be found. Didn't you ask her to stay for the opening of the ceremony? I hope she is well."

Sirrah took a breath of unease. "The girls…" she trailed off, shrugging. She didn't want him to probe any further. Alrakis gave her a tight smile and then started talking about their journey.

In the front of the cave was a large crowd. Music played and wolves were dancing, drinking and flexing their bodies in front of potential mates. The air was charged with seductive scents and arousals.

Eltanin stopped in front of the cave where a large number of dishes decorated half the area. Morava walked up to him and saw that Eltanin was very unwell. His facial expression was tight and it seemed like he was having a fever. She went to the counters where they were serving water and wine. Everyone bowed to her. All at once, Mizvah appeared. Her eyes narrowed at him. "What are you doing here?" she said, as she poured water in a tumbler.

"I wanted to be with you," he replied with lust in his demeanor. He was only wearing trousers. His muscles flexed when he said, "I would like to take you to that cave."

She clenched her teeth and then growled at him from under her eyelashes, "Stay away from me, Mizvah, otherwise I will ask the guards to take you away."

A flicker of frustration crossed his eyes. Mizvah's neck muscles strained. He turned and left. Morava watched him disappear in the crowd and then hurried to where Eltanin was standing. He was staring at the entrance of the cave with hope, with desperation.

When the soldiers stopped her again, she said, "I have only come to give him water."

Eltanin tilted his head and motioned his soldiers to let her in. Her lips curled up and she strutted to him. "I have water for you, Your Highness," she said in a honey-laced voice. "You look quite unwell."

Eltanin took a gander at the tumbler she was holding in her hands. "Thank you, Morava, but I don't accept anything from others unless it is tasted by my samplers. Since they aren't here, I would like you to drink half that water for me."

Morava gulped. The water was laced with poison.