35

Maxwell had an emotionless face on as he looked at Desmond. After looking at the alpha stripped of his titles. He has nothing left to wager. Maxwell smirked upon the convict.

"I King Maxwell of Alpha's and werewolves, I accept your challenge," Max booms and my heart drops to my ass.

"Max," I whisper out of fear.

He ignores my plea and looks upon Desmond. "Send him to his cell till I decide when I'll take on his challenge. Till then guard him, heavily." He grins, "if you lose Desmond, I'll kill you without any hesitation."

"Of course, your majesty," Desmond responds sarcastically and with an evil grin before allowing the guards to whisk him away. He didn't even fight them.

Max didn't even watch Desmond being taken, he made a swift exit. I didn't even see him leave the bench. I rise and assist my father before we leave the court room. Out in the hallway council members swarm their king. They spit out advice and encouraging words. In a way it was a pep talk for the storm to come.

As much as I love Maxwell, I didn't love this side I was seeing of him. Yes, this is his kingly side, but I don't like how he's risking his life. What if he dies get killed in this challenge? He just risked the well being of every single werewolf out there. I can assure you if that weasel becomes king everyone's life will change and for the worse. He was completely confident in the choice he made as the dominant male in the room. But at what cost?

"Here, dad, sit," I order. "Did you forget your cane again?"

As young as my father is, he has trouble walking on certain days.

Dad looks up at me with a cheeky smile and laughs. "Yes. I love how caring you are being towards your old man," he teases. "You should go talk to him. You are his queen and the queen is the kings most trusted and listened to when it comes to advice."

I shake my head. "He wouldn't want to hear what I'd have to say. I'll just scold him for accepting the challenge."

"And? It may be the words he needs to hear. Hearing the plea come from you, his mate, he may listen."

I shake my head. "He'll never listen to me. He'd rather listen to those old men than me. No offense."

Why does he have to be such an idiot? He should've killed Desmond the other day on the spot for revealing who the king was. Who knows how many other people he revealed this info to?

And besides, Max doesn't want to hear my opinion he just wants to hear he is right.

My father struggles to stand and shuffles to the little gaggle of members around Max. He motions me to follow him in which I do. I absolutely hated what they were saying to him, I hated how they were praising him. All of this was getting to his ego, he didn't even look at me. He was enjoying this praise and attention in this moment.

"Your majesty," they all say once they notice me. That seemed to take Max out of his trans.

"May I speak to you- alone," I ask Max in which he nods.

He follows behind me each stride filled with confidence until we are alone in his study. Where that strong exterior deflates. He leans back on the desk with his arms crossed against his chest. Worry and regret fills his eyes when he sees me full of rage and anger.

"I already know what you are going to say," he tells in defeat.

"Good, because I am pissed! I am so mad at you! How could you? You are probably going to lose! He's a snake and a traitor. You don't know what he has planned!"

He lets out a sigh and nods. "I am aware of all those possibilities. And I know that outcome for both scenarios, but it's a risk I am willing to take."

"Why?"

He shrugs. "I am king and I must prove I can defend and uphold that title. To show I am worthy and the king my people believe me to be."

"You should've killed him the other day! It would have been easier than me now stressing and worrying over my mate's wellbeing. Which may I add he doesn't seem to care about it like I do."

Max pushes himself off the desk and comes to me. I send him a threatening glare in which he ignores. His arms wrap around my figure and pulls me close. His chin rests on mine.

"I am doing this for us. Besides I don't have to do it right away. While he is withering away in the cells I'll be training to the max. Okay? Does that make you feel better?"

"No, it doesn't," I snap. "You have to uphold the law of the challenge, if you don't you will not be king anymore."

This man is lucky. If I couldn't feel his pain, I'd kill him right now.

In all honesty I thought what I was doing was good. I thought Natalie would be proud of me and happy I was going to destroy her ex. I'm excited to destroy him for the pain he put her through and breaking the oath. I'm going to take great pride in it.

The following morning the place was buzzing with life. The maids rushing around the make final preparations and moving in Natalie. Yeah, she is still upset with me, but I can't help but be around her all the time.

I stumbled into the kitchen where I found her preparing herself breakfast. Sneaking up behind her I grip her hips and drop my head into the nape of her neck. She didn't even look up from the skillet.

"Good morning, my Queen," I whisper.

"Morning," she snaps.

"Ah, babe, you can't still be mad at me? I'm doing this for us," I tell and scrape my canines along her neck.

She wipes around, her pony tail smacking my face. "Put those canines away," she barks with glowing eyes.

My shoulders slump. "If I knew how much you didn't want me to do this, I would've denied it. I don't want this to tear up our relationship."

Her eyes soften now and go back to normal. "I don't want it too either. I'm just upset you acted so quickly without consulting the council or I."

"Well we know how they would've answered, but your answer is much more valuable than there's."

She grins. "I am aware."

I shift my attention to the food on the stove. "What are you making?"

"Breakfast," she tells in a duh tone and rolls her eyes. "And you get none." And taps my nose.

I pretend to be hurt which earns a giggle from my little mate. Following her like a lost puppy to the dining room table, I take my seat next to her. She eats in silence and steals a few glances at me before clearing her throat.

"I'm still mad at you," she finally says.

"I know," I mumble.

"I mean what were you thinking! I understand you are King Alpha and need to establish that and keep the population in line, but this is Desmond. He is dangerous and sneaky and conniving!"

"And he isn't going to hurt me. As I grow stronger, he grows weaker wasting away in that cell."

She shakes her head. "You don't know him like I do. He's going to try something, he always has a trick or two up his sleeve."

"So I'll dodge his tricks."

She shakes her head. "I'm rooting for you, but you won't know what you'll need to be dodging."

I rest my hand on hers. "I'll tell you what. I'll wait. I'll wait till we mark and mate. Okay? I'll wait till all the ceremonies are over and after the honeymoon period. Okay?"

She shoots me a glare. "Seriously? After all those ceremonies of getting closer and pronouncing our love? Then I'll definitely be mad if something happens to you. Newly marked and mated female."

Ah, nothing I can do satisfies this girl. I could see a wildfire blazing in her beautiful eyes as she burned holes into me. I am doing this for her protection and my packs. Can you imagine what would happen if he becomes King? This gives my pack a chance of not falling under his control. If Natalie is marked and mated she is Luna. An Alpha female can run a pack without an Alpha male, but also there is chance she could have an heir at that time. He can't remove her no matter what. It's law of the land to honor and allow a widowed Luna to continue rule her late mate's pack.

If he becomes King the whole population will be screwed and fall into chaos. There will be no order and we'll return to our savage urges, like our ancestors. Which is not a way to live and he'll be known as the man who caused all of this.

I shrug at my mate. "If you are with child he can't take over. It's law to honor a widowed Luna to continue to run her late husband's pack till their child is old enough."

She raises a brow. "You truly are sneaky, Alpha King Maxwell."

I chuckle. "That I am," I tell and kiss her forehead.

Whatever to save the werewolf community, I can't control it if I die, but I can prevent something.

"Why are you staring at me," Natalie barks.

"Just thinking."

"Of?"

"I guess of our future."

"Are you scared of what it holds?"

I nod. "I am. I am scared of what my happen if I die in that challenge. What if I have a pup but I am not around to get to know them, see them grow. They won't know their father."

She lays her hands on top of mine. "Think positive, my love. You are going to see your pups grow and thrive. I promise you. I'll kill Desmond if it comes to it."

I smirk. "That's my girl."

"I would gladly be the one to end his life, you don't know the joy and honor it'll bring."

Once again I shake my head in amusement at this sudden boldness and fiery personality. Truly this was a perfect pairing and I couldn't wait till she was fully mine.