Unspoken tension.

London:

The moment she left and shut the door behind her, I exhaled deeply, turning to pin my deadly eyes on my not-so-dearest brother. It amazed me just how boldly flirtatious he could be with what was mine.

I watched him with keen eyes, picking apart his elegance to have a peek at his inner thoughts. He smiled at the Alpha, who whispered something to him before turning, his mismatched eyes meeting mine. My lips tilted upwards, with my eyes peering at him with unspoken dislike, and he knew it because he was doing the same.

I chuckled before looking away, dipping my tongue to graze my bottom lips, and I shifted my attention to an Alpha that stood, talking about something that I couldn't grasp due to my body being irked by Jax's presence. Why the fuck was he here, and why did he have just a lovely smile while looking at my maid?

I rubbed my chin, mildly scratching the corner of my lips a little as my brows lifted a little over my head brusquely in amusement. Not only did I want this summit over as soon as possible, but the longer I stayed here, the more I got irritated because the only thing that I grasped was the fact that the asshole problem had worsened.

Attacks had been happening spontaneously in various critical parts, and I knew it was a message being sent to me. The wolf-hunters were also becoming a problem because they were now encroaching on land and abducting wolves. All of these were calling for my attention, but I knew I could let Reece, Cane, Va'dneuver, and Hosé handle the wolf hunters while I concentrated on finding that awakened killing machine that awaited to catch me off guard.

"Right, brother?"

"Hm?"

I was snatched from my thoughts and boredom by Jax's sudden words. I could see him swallow and grind his teeth as I sniffled, batting my lashes while I massaged the bridge of my nose. I shifted my position, sitting myself upright. If only I had my bottle of fucking vodka here, this would have been easier. And perhaps if I hadn't spilled my cup of chamomile tea too... oops

And now, I desperately needed something to relax my irritated nerves because I was so close to losing my temper.

"Come again?"

I saw Jax's right eye twitch before he cleared his throat and adjusted himself to lean into his chair, his index finger rubbing against his thumb as he rested his right hand on the armrest of the chair.

"I was saying that the killings have fast spread and I can affirm that wolf-hunters are not entirely responsible for them. I caught two spies moving along in the forest, on the border between my lands and Alpha Hunt's, while going for a run, and would you believe that they were children?" He tipped a brow at me, instantly making my brows scrunch.

Children? I did remember Mathias saying there were more of him.

"They were highly trained too; they injured my guards and patrol team. They were lucky I didn't kill them before choosing to take off their masks." Jax added, still rubbing his fingers together with squinted eyes fixed on me.

I exhaled, flitting my eyes around as I took into consideration everything that he had said. "Where are these children now?"

"They're being treated in my pack's infirmary. My doctor had reported a huge dose of Orkan and Josper, along with trace elements of a few herbs in their system, dominating their blood." He added.

Exactly what Miller had discovered with Mathias.

"Are they still alive?" I questioned.

"Yes, but I doubt they'd be for long. They aren't responding to treatment, hence my presence here."

I scoffed, taking down my left leg and crossing my right this time around while I leaned my back into my seat, rubbing my fingers together with my expression narrowed into one of faint interest. "Do I look like a doctor?"

Jax gritted his teeth in growing annoyance, "But you are the Alpha King, and you have access to materials and resources that mere Alpha's like us can't access."

I ran my hand over my face, cupping my mouth as I peered at him with amused eyes. "doesn't guarantee anything. I'm not the council."

A nerve popped on his forehead. "The council answers to you, my king." The sneer that dripped from his address was pungent.

"And what makes you think I control them?" I tipped a brow at him.

"Because I can't imagine you letting some people have power over you." He scoffed.

I hummed, "Well, the council has the power to deny my request."

He chuckled darkly. "What are you playing at, brother?"

Easy; I was just trying to probe him. Jax could be prickly, and it was very fun to strip him of his eloquence, calm, and collectedness.

Of course, the council answered to me, but upon noticing how I wasn't giving in to their whims and consistently turning down their invitations to meetings where they hoped to win me over, However, much to their dismay, I blatantly paid them no attention by simply ignoring them, so I wasn't surprised that they'd attempt to get rid of me.

"You know, if you had paid attention to the commoners, you'd have seen signs of these happenings before now. The Alphas claim to have approached you when the issue of the wolf-hunters first came to their attention, but what did you do, brother?"

I blinked at him with impassive eyes. He was trying to prick me and solicit an ugly reaction from me in front of everyone, but he'd be surprised at just how cunning and unpredictable I could be.

"I gave them a choice…" I guestured with my hand nonchalantly, "They claim to be all powerful, no? So I gave them a befitting choice: it was either they yielded to my request or handled it themselves. Am I correct?"

I made eye contact with the Alphas who had come to see me that day. Reece had told me who they were, and they very well knew they shot themselves in the leg.

"Why did you want the North-East, dear brother? You're not content with the ones you have so far?" Jax sneered.

My left eye twitched before a maniacal laugh tore through my throat. I pinned him with dark eyes that glinted in mischief, thriving in terror.

Fuyu snarled within me, growing agitated by the second-the more he heard Jax talk, "You sure you don't want me to kill him because very soon, I'd fuck your opinion and kill him either way if he's not careful."

"All in due time, Fuyu, so calm down."

I leaned off my seat, resting my hands on the table, as I raised my head to scan everyone seated in the room.

"I'm only the king to those who accept my reign and swear allegiance to me. You do understand that, right?" I tipped a brow at them, clicking my tongue dryly.

They looked away, unable to keep up with my harsh pheromones and intensity. They knew they were threading on thin ice, and one wrong move from them could end their lives.

I leaned into my seat, satisfied with their reaction. A grin grew on my lips, "exactly."

Jax licked the corner of his lips. "If you can just come down from your high horse and understand that people are dying, perhaps you'd take this more seriously."

His statement cleaned the amusement from my face, making a blank stare that served as a canvas to dislike and rage sit on my face. Deadly eyes stayed fixated on Jax, who was equally staring at me with hatred that seeped from his elegant pose.

"Careful now, brother, dearest... I'm still your king, and last I checked, you could be executed for treason. Disrespect for your king is equivalent to treason. So please, let's remain civil, no?" I rasped while rubbing my fingers together.

Cane looked between Jax and me, ready to take action against him, along with Va'dneuver. I saw Jax sigh in forced defeat, not ready to reckon with my forces that stood ready to act upon my orders.

I knew he hated my power over him, and to further spite him, with eyes still fixed on him, I leaned into my seat with a smirk, waving my hand mildly, making Cane and Va'dneuver relax in their seats.

Tyrone and Jeremy, who were both Alphas of packs in the south-west, drew into their seats. They were also ready to act upon my request.

"Gentleman, please, let's all remain calm." I turned to face Jax and three Alphas that had ticked my nerves, "do you want more chamomile tea? It's quite good for the nerves, yes?"

"No, my Alpha." One of them forced a smile.

"But Alpha, we did suggest a co-ownership." One of them, a blonde, dared to say. How courageously stupid of him!

Even Jax had to send him a disappointed side-glance and lightly shake his head, muttering something about their idiocy. I guess even he understood how dumb that sounded.

I grinned fiendishly at him. "It's a fine day to lose your tongue, isn't it?"

He visibly gulped before bowing his head, "my apologies, My King."

"Hmm." I hummed with a condescending gaze.

I turned to my adopted brother with undiluted disgust. His gaze was fervent, but his intensity couldn't match mine.

I was getting overly fed up with being in their stupid presence, and upon recalling that I had an appointment with my lovely rabbit, I smirked. I had a night of pure pleasure to look forward to, and honestly, I didn't mind exiting myself right now.

I perceived her soft scent once more, and the door opened again to reveal her carrying a cup of what I perceived to be tea on her tray. I squinted my eyes at her, scrutinizing her intensely on purpose. I wanted her to be aware that I was watching her. I wanted to feel her discomfort because I always enjoyed it.

I figured it was a replacement for mine that had 'accidentally' spilled.

She gracefully moved towards me, gently lowering the tea in front of me. I could feel Jax's eyes on her, and I ran my tongue over the corner of my lips, loving the situation more and more.

I ran my hands over her arms, noticing her shiver upon her touch, and I knew he saw it too. I could see his eyes on my fingers, feathering her skin.

She cleared her throat before facing me. "Is that all Alpha?"

I watched her keenly, nodding at nothing in particular. Actually, I was considering my options now because I had something straining in my pants and her soft skin was calling my name.

I adjusted myself slightly, carefully yet stealthily hooking my leg with hers, drawing her closer and making her tray slip out of her hands as she stumbled.

Her frantic eyes scanned around, Va'dneuver's low growl forcing her on her knees as she scurried to find her tray and skedaddle out of here.

As she bent down, my gaze remained fixed on the men, engrossed in their discussion. I alternated my attention between them and Jax, who appeared perplexed, blinking at me. I offered him a slight smile, causing him to avert his gaze and respond to the question Cane directed at him. With a swift maneuver, I positioned myself in a way that confined her between my legs.

A small, devious laughter reverberated in my chest as I felt her hands grip my thighs and a gasp escape her throat when her face landed on my hardness, making me stifle a groan as I looked down at her from my position.

Knowing that I didn't want to draw attention to myself, trust me, it wasn't because I cared or anything. In fact, I could easily take her right here and now if I wanted to; hell, I could bend her over this table right now and fuck the living daylights out of her. Why? Because she belonged to me, she was mine. Mine to play with and mine to taste whenever I pleased.

As much as the thought pleased me, it irked me to phantom everyone hearing what she sounded like whenever she moans. Her breathy moans and soft cries were strictly reserved for my ears alone.

I released her from my hold, watching her scamper to her feet and, with a bow directed at everyone, out of the room, leaving me sitting with a dreaded erection.

After minutes of sitting in my thoughts, I stood to my feet, damning to hell, this cursed summit. Adjusting myself a little to hide my erection, I cleared my throat, "it's been a pleasure having you all. Good day."

I marched out of the room with a cold shower on my mind. I needed something to calm my raging erection, and a cold shower was just what I had to do until 10 p.m.

"Horny much? You're going to give yourself blue balls with the way you're going." Fuyu grunted.

I shook my head with a dark laugh, recalling how her face had pressed against my erection when my antics took her unawares.

"It wouldn't be the first time, Fuyu." It really wouldn't.