KANE

Waiting patiently with Sora in what I suppose is the royal tea room. I look around and nothing has changed since the first time I came here, many years ago.

Paintings, pointless art pieces, the same dull red curtains I want to set on fire, along with everything in this room.

I was just about to glance at my watch, pissed off when the doors open, I stand making my mate join me and then we see her, we watch as The Queen enters.

"Her royal highness Lila Grinmorte of The Vale." Is announced and then our eyes connect.

She looks the same. Pale blonde hair, dull purple eyes, pale skin.

Her very being makes me want to reach over and squeeze the life from her as I watch her choke to death on her own blood.

"My my, I apologize as I am a little late." She says as she looks me dead in the eye than to my mate and I grow tense.

I hold my mate's hand and we sit when Lila sits.

"You're an hour late. But who's counting." I say sarcastically.

She laughs as she claps her hands excitable, the sound making Sora flinch. "Oh how I have missed you Kane!" She says with a devilish grin. "And this beautiful creature must be her." She asks me.

Before I could open my mouth, Sora speaks.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, your highness." My mate says sweetly.

To which Lila smiles amusingly looking in my direction. "My! A human!" She looks over to Sora quizzingly. "Tell me Human Sora, how did you meet Kane?" She asks my mate curiously.

Sora shifts in her seat uncomfortable. "Through a friend."

Lila hums. "How amusing! Let's have tea shall we?" She says as he looks between us with curiosity.

I sigh trying not to glare at her for constantly staring at my mate.

Servants enter the room as soon as she rings a bell with a horrible sound. The room is quiet and I can only hear the sound of my mate's heartbeat. Calming the beast and my wolf listening to the steady rhythm.

"Tell me, how long has it been since your last visit Alpha."

I mask my hatred with a smile as I clench my fists. "Not long enough."

Sora tenses beside me. "Did you know he declined all my invitations Luna? Very rude this Alpha." She says amusingly as she sips her tea, her pinky finger raised.

She sighs dramatically. "But now I do love seeing you in a suit." She says towards me with a wink.

I growl as a warning.

She smirks and shrugs. "Let's get to the point shall we?" She says seriously as she looks at me coldly.

There she is. "I was wondering how long you would keep up this charade."

Giggling she puts a piece of paper on the gold table in front of me and sits back.

I open it and sit back, watching her amusingly as she watches my emotion with interest.

"It's a treaty." She says.

I crumple the piece of paper and throw it in the pot of tea. Standing up I stand in front of Lila, my height intimidating her. "Tell me what you really brought us here for." I demand in my Alpha tone.

She shrinks behind my tone and is taken aback. No other can deny the command of the true king, she knows this as does.

"NOW!" I spat out as she flinched.

Guards enter the room with silver spears and I glance down at their pathetic excuse for a queen.

"You are no queen." I whisper with hatred.

"I wanted to play nice with you Kane, to avoid bloodshed." She says with no emotion and dead eyes as she stands up and stands in front of her guards. "But it seems you do not care for such luxury." She says quietly.

"Such a pity really." She sighs. "Escort them to their carriage." She says towards the guards.

I growl as they step towards my mate. "Touch her and I will rip your worthless head from your body." I snarl as the men nod and stand aside.

I take my mate's hand as I leave the room. I lean in to whisper in Lila's ear. "Thanks for the tea, Queen." I say deadly silent as I leave, leaving behind a red-faced Lila whose men just ignored a command. Not even her guards respect her.

That confirms my suspicion. She is not behind this tea invitation someone else behind the scenes wanted me to make a move.

My spies were right. Information has been coming in from the Vale that the palace has been quiet recently. This is more of a mess than I thought.

Lila is a pawn.

****

It has been a week since the invitation and things have gotten quiet again in the Vale. My men bring no information and no one has seen Lila, my spies inside the castle black reported that after my departure, Lila had simply vanished.

I have increased security around the border and inside the pack until I hear something indicating I can let my guard down.

But I know I cant.

There is a high chance Lila is dead or has gone into hiding and whoever is really in charge is planning something a lot more interesting than a tea party.

I did see this coming.

The Grinmorte family is cunning and vicious. Not afraid to kill their own to keep a grip on the power they have gained.

I sigh and turn off my car engine as I tiredly walk into my house. My mate is watching TV on low volume with Amanda and pup Troy, Lucas's son.

"Hey, babe." I say as she looks at me grinning. Beautiful mate.

"Shh, he just went to sleep." She scolds me and I smile. I watch my mate as she cradles Troy and I can't wait for the day my mate holds our pups with so much love and gentleness.

The more I see her around children the more the dominant side of me wants to take her upstairs and fuck her until she's carrying our own pups.

I want nothing more than to have that with her.

I go into the kitchen for some coffee. My wolf has been bugging me for a run since we made it home last week from The Vale, constantly on edge has made me and my wolf craving for some free time, but both too stubborn to leave Sora alone.

I lean against the counter with a mug in my hand as Sora comes in and kisses me. "Mm taste like coffee." She says as she licks her lips, making my dick twitch.

"Hi." She finally says shyly. "How was your day? She asks.

I click my neck as I let out a tired sigh. "Boring, I missed my mate." I say as I grab her by the waist and bring her into my chest.