Chereads / Feral Eclipse / Chapter 27 - 27. Wolfsbane

Chapter 27 - 27. Wolfsbane

Oh lord

Let me know love but never

Learn it's pain.

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"What could the King possibly have with you, Alexander." Vera couldn't stop the inquiry which she spat absentmindedly with attitude upon finishing the button up her teal crew neck sweater. She sported black dress pants to match as she turned on the balls of her feet behind the Alpha. Nervousness swept down the length of her spine, as a shiver raced down the hairs on her arm.

If it wasn't for the Alpha which kept her tucked securely into his side, It was the bone curdling power that encircled their auras which made Vera's nerves grow tormented. The surging bulletproof tension, that allowed her to know she was surrounded by higher entities. The tightness of the room, told her to escape before she didn't have the legs to run. Now was her chance, but she unavoidably fought it. She stood tall and rooted in place — not feening to leave.

Reconciliation set ablaze as she stares at the man before her in the corner, attempting to appear invisible. He doesn't bend to her level, only sighs awkwardly before turning the opposite direction to where she couldn't face him. Her gaze too penetrating.

What happened to that bold persona in the woods? His thumping heart against her backside that relished into her unbearable true weakness. The mate romantics which inspired a frenzy from her toes to her fingertips.

Vera hadn't know the male Adonis very well, she didn't know him at all for that matter, thanks to Alexander, but for their next meeting she didn't expect to see him like this again. Detached and tucked tail.. Especially after learning he had been conspiring a secret organization that had intentions of killing off Alexander. Thus, the Malediction.

She feels her other male shift beside her as the two distinct scents watered her mouth and flood her nose. One lingers around in the air more pungent while the other is tingling her sensibility, reminding her of a home. A home she'd never gotten while in the comfort of Bane.

There's so many particular quintessence within this room, colliding all around until she felt she couldn't breathe any longer, Vera's heart pounded harder against her rib cage. Had it not been silent, nobody would be able to hear or sense her agitation, and yet... it was awfully quiet.

The King's pervasive odor was the most suffocating. It was clearly some unresolved distrust between not only the king but his children, and it hadn't spared Vera as she hid from the sight of the royal family. The King wasn't anything like Vera had initially except, or maybe he was.

It was a granted, how enthralling his presence was... his natural scent reeked of untimely death and he had these bulky teeth that you could see behind thick lips which glistened pearly whenever he opened his mouth. Greying speckles of hair sprouted from on top of his lip and just below his nose. His hair was a shiny silvery blonde, nothing like the thickening black fleece that relied on Alexander's head. His arms were also large in size, substantially solid even for a man of his age.

Vera's eyes skim the King down but she never dared to look him in directly in the face, until finally it was him who had broken the unbecoming neutrality first with a wrinkling tarnished hand wavering in the hair, a forced grimacing smile.

Alexander reaches for his father slowly who grits his teeth before showing his own toothy grin. Usually a display of a disagreement, nevertheless he says, "Son." Alexander replies with a faint father in return, but he didn't bother to return the smile once it easily faltered away.

They share more words but Vera didn't care to listen, she trained her gaze on Adonis who refused to look at her from where he stood, void of emotion. Still, her gape was transfixed on him, as she gave her earnest regards.

So engulfed with the sight of her other male, Vera hadn't noticed another brooding force lowly growling at her in warning. Although she had only slept in a room located in the same manor Vera had, it was almost as if Clarity hadn't intended to make amends with them just the preceding night. It bristled Vera's inner wild hostility but she didn't react right away, she was much more smarter than that.

As if sensing her brother's discomfort, another low warning growl emits from the blonde who resembled her father more than Vera could muster, they were almost exactly the same with this beady swimming orbs, "Is something the matter brother?" Clarity sweeps her cerulean moon dimmed eyes over Vera as if surveying a threat.

Vera feels something throttle inside her stomach once challenged again by Clarity and there's nothing more she wanted to do than test those waters. Holding the gaze of convicting blue, Vera flashes a deepening red wine color, the same as her mate's being identical to them with a matched intensity.

She didn't stop until Alexander took his attention from his superior to his brother who stood rigid. "That isn't necessary Clarity." He spat towards his younger sister. "Have a seat in the dining pavilion, We'll be out with only a second to spare." Alexander declares before admitting Vera underneath his arm protectively.

Clarity gives Vera one last look over before following Adonis to the dining area. In her opinion no matter who Alexander laid with, spent his time courting, he would never be a suitable candidate for the throne let alone to control an entire nation of wolves.. Whereas she was promised queen if her brother Adonis seized the crown, but Alexander didn't know that. No one knew of their secret arrangement.

Augustus darted his eyes towards Vera, keeping them on her for so long she didn't even know he was staring. It was common for wolves to inspect their environment, but it was something hidden in his curulean orbs that resembled Clarity's, that disappeared faster than they were shown.

He shuffles side to side spacing his feet apart, he looked between Alexander and the brunette under his shoulder and shrugged it internally off yet it only appealed him further to remain cordial, just for the passing moment.

Vera notices how fair he dressed and clean shaven he was. If she didn't know any better she'd think he was some rich high ranking male with millions to bank but that' was too easy. Her second guess would've figured it out who he truly was, in disguise.

A menace who Prolonged battle cries.

A greedy tyrant who've killed, stolen, and manipulated.

A killer who ate his victims heart out their chest after stripping them limb from limb, he has stolen babies from enemy lands. He's killed on sight any rogue that entered his major territory of the West Indies. It was safe to say he couldn't be trusted. Not in the castle, not around her mate. Not around anyone.

Vera recalled the stories she'd heard as a child about the King before she knew who her mate was. She refused all beliefs of Alexander but his father... well he was an entirely different specimen with his own disputable share of fables that couldn't be denied or dismissed.

So Vera snarled at him with the most guttural snarl she could muster without fully calling upon the mongrel that awaited just beneath her skinny bodice. She raises her lip to show invisible canines but this only shocks her more when a deep whole heartedly laugh is heard from the King himself.  She winces, feeling down played.

"little one," His chuckles begin to grow louder, "Constraint yourself, I come by any means of maintaining neutrality. As of right now." He says this as his chest rose higher and higher until it fell out of grace being replaced by a scowl.

Before Vera could respond he clears his throat, turning toward Alexander once again. "Now Bane, as much as we'd like to stay," Vera watches Augustus drag his fingers threw his chin hair, "Be mindful of the time spent away from the dinner table."

"Do you hear me?" The King asks, the small playfulness long gone off his face as he turns to leave. Vera hears her mate reply with the wave of his palm and a faint I hear you, before the King nods.

He takes a few steps back until King Augustus was finally gone, leaving Vera and Alexander alone with their collective thoughts that would not be voiced until the menace was out of sight.

As soon as his feet steps were no longer heard Vera watches Alexander pace back and forth. "Something's not right," Vera says but Alexander answers with a slight agitated growl. "Don't you think I know that!?" He shouts in a whisper.

Vera grabs one of her mate's fist and she unfolds it while kissing his palm. In attempt to level his distress, the glower on Alexander face doesn't leave nor lessen as he sniffles inside the strands of her hair. He eyes the door to the dining pavilion, stealing heated glances at his family threw the window. It only eased him slightly as he noted Vera indeed smelt exactly like him, which appeased him immensely. "Where is Heidi?" Vera mused, "She would be here."

Sighing while twirling strands of Vera's hair between his fingers, "Don't you worry about that, she's working on something for me." Alexander reassured her by the kissing of the side of her mouth until his lips broke out into a slight smile. Yep, she smelt like all of him, like an alpha. Alike royalty. "Alexander, I think that neutrality bullshit was utter crap. As if that's really what he came for." Vera retorted sassily while rolling her eyes in the direction of the god forsaken man.

Augustus might've looked a tad older than his late thirties but truth was he was over roughly seventy years old. It was a reason he still ruled, the legends proceeds him greatly. "Hey...We don't need to talk about this right now." He sees the uncertainty written on his mate's face before he brings his knuckles closer towards to skim her sweet dampening cheeks.

Alexander delicately brushes her bottom lip with the padding of his thumb soon engulfing his mate into his body, his heat became her heat.

Vera doesn't push back the frown wanting to disperse, furrowing her eyebrows at the man caressing her cheek. "Can't you see, Alexander? He'll want to break you down until nothing is left. Until you'll be compressed into ashes!" She doesn't refrain from shouting this time only causing Alexander to press his thin finger firmly against her lips solemnly as he widened his eyes, although her pessimistic view intrigued him, it had only made his smirk extend as if he knew something she hadn't.

Visions of her mate's life slipping — being claimed by his father rocked her to the core. She was constantly hurting and could no one mend this panic that coursed threw her body except the one whose the very source behind her panic, gingerly. Vera shook violently when suddenly Alexander pulls her harshly in for a kiss.

His lips morphed into hers as their tongues danced on one another's. Their souls tasted, fought, soothed, and deemed each other of love that was stabilized from survival.

The kiss lasted for a couple minutes longer until Vera pulls back breathing ruggedly and loudly, her mate pushes her hair behind her ear and he chuckles at her large intakes of air. "Silly mate," His childish demeanor made Vera question had she mistaken the smile he was exhibited so vibrantly.

"Out of all the things you've chosen to look passed above me, what might've provoked your faith in my strength," Alexander gives Vera another peck on her lips reassuringly, and she couldn't help to giggle at his charming play on words, "Such little faith designed to your counterpart, you've shown me Vera."

Almost falling into orbs of wine one last time, Vera gave in, wanting all of this to be over with. She just wanted to dive inside the bed she once shared with her beloved when the night falls and the moon whistles."My faith is as tangible as your strength, mate." She mutters.

Alexander drags his fingers threw his hair rather quickly as he relaxes his shoulders. He presses down on the door knob, sliding its shaft open and pushes Vera behind him while they advanced into the dining pavilion in which is familiars sat. As soon as they entered with all eyes resting on them all with shallowed conviction, the question invaded the Prince's mind on where had his beta, Hector occupied himself to. Where was his beta female?

Vera readjusts  her eyes after closing them and she scans the room lightly like she did before, only this time her gaze hadn't lingered long on Adonis who sat at the end of the table with a fork twirling between his fingers. Adonis had never turned toward Vera even once, but had been fidgeting underneath the table impulsively, only flinching once Prince Alexander takes the head of the table.

"It's pleasant that you've finally decided to join us, brother." Instantly Vera is snapping her optics towards the smirking Clarity. She watches seeing the blonde lean over the table, as if she sought to lessen the distance between her and Alexander. "For a second there I thought you fled."

Vera feels the waves of aggravation leaking from her other half — when he finally answers back with a curt nod, "How could you have possibly assured yourself to that ideal?" Vera can hear the Lycan breaking out threw his tone but she listens carefully to the sound of the alpha's low guttural voice, "When are you ever thinking?" Alexander raises an eyebrow to which Clarity narrows her wits.

His hands shook slightly as his nails began to pierce his fleshy pinked palm, "I was positive. Sense we know your history of fleeing, brother." Clarity spat in response.

No one ever talked to Alexander like that— not even Vera could get away with it most of the time but it was obvious Clarity was digging up past roots in order to start a conflict. Nevertheless, here Alexander was battling to keep his composure. Instead of reacting the way Vera initially thought, he slides to edge of his seat. "You know Clarity... we used to be lovely siblings," He begins gaining the attention from Augustus who finally tries to intervene with the calling of his son's name. Augustus's raises a curious eyebrow.

Yet, Alexander ignores him as the red in his eyes begin to swirl, his lips are pursed into a intrusive line, "Now we're bloody enemies." He barks out, spitting.

"Alexander!" His father, the King booming voice shook every glass that resided on the table. He's so loud even Clarity jumps out of fright from sitting on side of him. "God damnit we didn't come here to engage warfare. We came here to bargain, to negotiate. For compensation." Augustus lets out a ear deafening snarl of his own.

To efforts to comfort her alpha, Vera moves to sit beside Alexander until their shoulders were touching.

As for Adonis, he watches her in this action but surprisingly he only smirks at the swift notion between the two. Vera hadn't noticed she was watching him until she lost all senses, being entrapped by his attention. She still felt the wavering feeling of something that was off putting unfolding inside her esophagus that she couldn't shake.

"I'm listening." Is all Alexander reinforces gritting his teeth behind his tight lip. "Go on."

Augustus receives the cue to continue finally satisfied with his son's approach. "Now. I know the family had been suffering for centuries. Since the death of Prince Achilles," He reaches over the table to grip Alexander's arm tugging it. "The lost of your mother, Our Luna," Augustus continues with his voice waning but Alexander pushes his hand away, slapping it.

"So I'll make an offer for all of this, Bane. For all of this to go away." At the proposal Vera could tell Augustus had captivated Alexander full attention. "There's nothing to negotiate or bargain to give," Alexander growls out of frustration clasping his hands together out of disinterest, "I intend to be King." He descends to reside at the back of his chair.

Something behind the poised riveting pools beneath The King's irises which flickered impatiently before it left almost instantaneously, He scoffs falling out of amusement. "And I couldn't want it any other way, I'm with you on that, Prince Alexander." For the first time in the night had the King himself, used Alexander's title. For a split  second, I almost believed what he said.

"Then what, what is that you want to make this happen." Alexander shouts, coming to stand on his feet, arms outstretched across the table toward his father who imposed a peaceable deed of an agreement. What he'd say next is far from what Alexander wanted to hear or even thought crossed his superior's mind.

"It's simple. I want..." time is deluded, bewitched and stolen by the swift pointing of a finger, Vera could see the King's censoring eyes look to her, pitch blackness over took his pupils which dilated,

"Her."

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