Chapter 122


    Alpha King Damon


    In Ga Falls, we tie our horses up to posts in the sheltered, wooden stables behind the local tavern


    and go inside. We wait at the bar to be served, and when the bar-mistress is free, we book two rooms


    for the night.


    ‘We men can bunk in with each other, and thedies can have their own room.’I say.


    Vivian nods.


    It’ste, a storm is brewing outside, and we’re starving and exhausted. We sit in a quiet corner of the


    room, near the firece, minding our own business, drinking beer, and eavesdropping on the


    conversations between the vigers.


    ‘It was so rude of the knight to leave with her like that. We had gifts for her too, but she was a rude,


    entitled girl,’ a young woman with brown eyes, red hair in a messy bun, in a ck shawl, tells her


    | scull my pint to try and stop my wolf from letting out a growl at the woman’s disrespectful words


    towards my Luna.


    Vivian stands up and walks past thedies, and orders some pints. Thedy that made the rude


    and watches as she falls on her face.


    Troy and I try to stayposed and try to hold ourughs. Thedy stands up red-faced and turns to


    Vivian, giving her an angry look.


    ‘Well, I never!’ she says, stomping her foot.


    ‘Darling, please, be more careful of your surroundings. I’d hate for you to fall on your face like that


    again.’ Vivian says as she walks back towards us with the pints.


    Troy takes a sip of his pint, ‘We need to devise a foolproof n to save Maia. First, we need entry into


    West Wallow Castle. We need it to be quick, and we need to be able to golin undetected,’ he says, and


    he isn’t wrong. Vivian and I agree with himpletely.


    A plump bar-mistress walks around the tables holding a basket, handing out flyers. We take one each,


    reading them, and I exhale with relief, knowing we have just found our n. I read the flyer out loud,


    which announces a masquerade ball will be held in Maia’s honour at West Wallow Castle tomorrow


    night. The ballroom will be filled with disguised guests in masks and different facial coverings.


    This is it. This is our n,’ I say, grinning and swigging my drink.


    ‘What’s the n?’ Vivian asks, not following.


    ‘We go to this ball, dressed in formal attire and masks, we find Maia, and we bring her home,’ I exin.


    ‘I don’t have enough money for a ball gown and two dresses for the girls, ‘Vivian says, flustering at the


    notion.


    Vivian – not to worry. ‘ll cover the costs,’ I tell her, smiling.


    ‘Are you sure?’ She asks, relief written all over her face.


    ‘Yes, coin is not an issue for me,’ I tell her happily.


    ‘Oh, Darnon. How wonderful. You truly are wonderful. Thank you so much, ‘Vivian says, truly grateful,


    What’s happening, mummy?’ E asks, wondering.


    ‘We’re going to a bali, darling,


    What about me?’ Zayden asks, wondering.


    We’ll get you the finest tunic, breeches, and waistcoat fit for a King.’ I tell him, scuffing his hair.


    ‘Really?


    ‘Really?’ I say, winking at him.


    ‘I’ve never been to a ball, Zayden says, honoured and excited.


    You’re about to go to your very first one then,’ I tell him,


    ‘Well, that has solved that conundrum very quickly. We’ll go to the ball and find Maia,’ Troy says,


    smiling.


    Before bed, I tell the children their favourite bedtime story, which happens to be the story of Maia the


    Forest Princess. Afterwards, they ask for another fairy tale while Vivian and Troy chat in the next room.


    So I tell them the story I was told growing up about thend once having witches, orcs and sprites.


    Vivian


    I close and lock the door behind us, and Troy sits down in an armchair


    ‘It’s been a long time since I’ve stayed in a tavern,’ I tell Troy, standing on the bed and removing my


    boots. Just untying theces and loosening them from around my feet makes a world of difference. I sit


    them against the wall and flex my toes.


    ‘I can’t say the same,’ Troy says, having stayed in many taverns the past few weeks.


    ‘How long have you been alone?’ He asks.


    Three years now. You?’ I ask him.


    ‘Eight years,’ he says, a strand of his messy brown hair dangles in front of his face.


    ‘It’s a long time for both of us,’I say, biting my lip.


    ‘It is. And I honestly am so grateful to the Moon Goddess to be blessed with a second mate.


    ‘Can you exin the mate-bond to me? I don’t feel it. I mean I’m definitely attracted to you, but this


    bond sounds magical,’I prompt him, leaning back on my hands to listen.


    ‘It is magical. It’s the most magical feeling in the world. It’s exactly like love, except it’s so much more


    intense. I’m drawn to you. I feel protective of you, and I feel protective of your daughters. I barely know


    you, yet I can see a whole life with you, Vivian. I really can,’ he says, his eyes twinkling in the firelight.


    The mes are reflected in them.


    It’s so good of you to take on Zayden the way you have. What happened to him?” I ask, not sure if I


    want to know.


    “Well, long story short, I bought him from an auctioneer who was going to sell him as a ve. King


    Fenris’ soldiers killed his parents, kidnapped him, and sold him to this auctioneer. It was divine


    intervention. I was in the right ce at the right time, and I bought him. It was just meant to be,’ he


    says.


    ‘He is very lucky he has you,’ I tell him.


    He smiles


    Before I know it, all conversation is over because Troy has smashed his mouth down onto mine.


    My fingers grasp his hair while we kiss, and he holds the sides of my face. We ravish each other for a


    few minutes. I blush immensly when our lips part. Troy smiles and pats down his messy hair while I pat


    the crinkles from my dress bofore we return nonchntly to the other room with Damon and the


    children.


    Maia


    Waking up, I’m alone in my room. I think of Damon. Does he know where I am? Will hee for me?


    Has he really been


    lying to me? Or does he really love me? I miss him. I stare at the maroon-coloured walls of my


    bedroom and their gold wainscotting and revel in how luxurious my room is. The sun is shining through


    my windows. The maids didn’t draw themst night because they didn’t want to wake me.


    There is a knock on my door, and Jewel and Leah let themselves in, and stand near a chest of


    drawers, holding a basket with a washcloth and some salve. Leah holds an olive-green, floor-length,


    long-sleeved gown and ces it on the bed.


    ‘We’re here to help you bathe and salve your skin,’ Jewel says. I smile.


    ‘Please,e in,’ I tell them, and I sing the covers back off my legs to get up. Jewel pulls the nightie


    over my head and throws it on the bed before leaning over a wooden tub and pumping the water.


    Jewel is struggling with the pump. She stops for a moment while she catches her breath.


    ‘Here, let me,’ I say, staring at the chunky metal water pump, focusing on summoning the water out of


    it. Jewel is looking at me funnily and wondering what I’m trying to do before warm water gushes out of


    the pump and fills the wooden tub effortlessly.


    ‘Maia! How did you do that?’ Jewel says, her hand flying to her mouth in shock.


    ‘Is it warm?’ Leah asks, surprised too, as she dips her hand into the water to find it at perfect bathing


    temperature.


    “How did you do that?’ Leah asks, amazed.


    I’m an elemental sprite,’ I tell them, stepping into the wooden tub and sitting down.


    I tell the women the same story about the sprites, the orcs, and the witches Damon told me while they


    washed my back and covered my hair in soap.


    ‘Ah yes, we’ve heard this story before, haven’t we?’ Jewel says to Leah.


    ‘We have, yes. When we were little, mamma would tell us this story often. What she would do if she


    knew sprites were real after all!’ Leah says, in awe of my origins.


    ‘Are you sisters?’ I ask the women, and they nod.


    ‘Can’t you tell?’ Jewel asks, winking at me.


    ‘No, I can’t,’ I say,ughing.


    ‘I’m older than her,’ Jewel says, and Leah retorts, ‘yeah, but only by a year and a half. They snicker


    yfully before Jewel fills a silver jug with the bathwater, and pours it down my long hair a few times, in


    quick session, to rinse the soap out.


    ‘Are you looking forward to the ball tonight, Miss M?’ Leah asks, clutching the salve and unscrewing


    the lid from its tin. I stand up and step out of the wooden tub


    ‘I am, yes. Very much. I can’t wait. It will be so much fun,’ I tell them. As Jewel dries my body


    vigorously, she retrieves a fresh pair of undershorts from a drawer.


    I step into them.


    ‘Well, Miss Maia, I hear King Fenris will teach you how to ride a horse on the way to the training fields


    today and then afterwards, you will return, and we will get you ready for the ball, Jewel says.


    ‘Sit in front of the dressing table, please,’ Leah says, and I go over to the stool in front of the dressing


    table and sit down, facing the mirror. Leah massages some ointment into the skin where the cuffs were.


    My skin seems to be healing nicely. She wraps a thin bandage over each wrist.


    There. They shouldst the day,’ Leah says.


    Jewel brushes my hair into a bun. She secures the bun with several pins that dig into my head painfully


    as she pushes them in


    ‘Do all girls have to do this?” I ask, grimacing and cringing with every pin


    Yes. Pain is beauty, and all princesses must be beautiful’ Jewel tells me


    Leah retrieves the olive-green satin dress from the bed


    This is your dress for tonight’ she says, holding its skirts out and admiring the fabric it is Olive green


    satin, and it is embroidered with millions of olive-green flowers in olive green cotton Green beadwork


    covers the dress from top to bottom. I’ve never seen anything so exquisite in my life


    Sadness washes over me, thinking of Damon and how much I miss han I burst into tears and nt my


    face in FIY hands.


    “Miss Maia! Whatever is the matter?’ Jewel asks, worried Leah stops lussing over the dress and holds


    my hand tofort me


    If I tell you, do you both promise to tell no one?


    I promise,’ they chorus together


    I’m fond of someone, and I miss him terribly,’ I tell them


    They look at me, unsure how to respond


    Does this someone have a narne? Jewel asks, pulling the chair trom against the wall and sitting in it


    ‘Do you swear not to tell a soul? I ask.


    ‘I swear,’ they chorus again and look at each other, wondering who the object of my affections could be


    ‘It won’t make your king very happy. I am Alpha King Damon’s mate, and I am very fond of him. I tell


    them


    Oh, darling, King Fenris won’t be too happy about this, no. I think our king had nned to get to know


    you intimately This is why he wants to teach you horse riding and have this evening’s ball. But none of


    us can help who we love, so dry your eyes, pet, and cheer up. King Fenris will understand. I’m sure,


    Jewel says, patting my back maternally I don’t bother telling them about my previous conversation with


    King Fenris.


    ‘Let’s finish getting you dressed, hey?’ Jewel says.


    The dress isfortable and quite pretty, I breathe easier in this dress than in thest one I wore


    ‘How do you feel? You look like a real human princess! Honestly and truly. Jewel says, beaming at me,


    with her hands sped over her heart.


    They lead the way downstairs, and I hold onto the banister as I go, as I’m not used to walking down


    these stairs


    King Fenris sits in his chair at the table in the breakfast hall, patiently waiting for me to join hirn His


    mouth gapes open as I enter, and he stands up from his chair


    ‘Maia, you look.. breathtaking, my love.’ He says.


    I force a smile. ‘My love is everything alright if it’s about what I saidst night about Alpha King Damon


    1:


    ‘No, I’m fine, King Fenris, really,’


    Well then, my love, sit with me and have some breakfast then, he smilen. After breakfast, King Fenris


    stands up and holds his hand out for mine


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Come, Princess, you will apany me to the training fields


    I nod in agreeance King Fenris calls his footmen to get his horse ready We make our way through the


    castle, out therge front doors, and down the grand starcane.


    His horse is pure white, and he is very sweet and gentle.


    ‘Hi there, boy,’ say, patting his face.


    The horse gently nudges his face against mine.


    I see Nimble likes you.’King Fenris says and smiles.


    King Fenris hops onto the horse and reaches his hands out to lift me up onto the saddle sitting me in


    front of him.


    He puts the reins in my hands and holds his over mine.


    I’m going to teach you how to ride a horse on your own on our way to the training field.’ He says. I nod.


    King Fenris nudges the horse with his foot making Nimble gallop.