"Alpha Nathaniel!"
Nathaniel heard someone yell his name from the crowd. Without letting go of Althea's wrist, he turned to see who it was and saw a young man dressed in royal clothing walking briskly towards him.
"Sebastian…" Althea mumbled, her eyes beaming at the sight of the young man. She maintained composure as she tried to wriggle her wrist from Nathaniel's hold but her effort were futile.
"Alpha Nathaniel!" The young man called out again when he got to where Nathaniel stood. His eyes briefly went to the Nathaniel's wrapped hands on Althea's wrist but he quickly redirected his gaze back to Nathaniel and streched his hand out for a hand shake.
"And you are?" Nathaniel questioned the stranger before him, uninterested in whatever he had to offer.
"Prince Sebastian, the future king of Ravenshore. I've been searching for you since I heard of your sudden visit," Sebastian revealed proudly, his hands still outstretched for a shake.
"Oh…" Nathaniel muttered completely ignoring the outstretched hands before him.
Embarrassed, Sebastian withdrew his hands. "I see you've met Althea."
Althea who has been standing quietly all along, blushed when Sebastian called her name. She once again wriggled her wrist from Nathaniel's hold so Sebastian wouldn't get the wrong idea but it was all in vain .
"Althea..." the name rolled pretty easy off Nathaniel's tongue. He frowned at her little struggle when he noticed her eyes weren't shooting flames like before. She was more docile and composed contrary to a few moments ago. He traced her line of sight and found her looking shyly at Sebastian. What was this?
"I would like to reintroduce Althea to you," Sebastian walked in between Nathaniel and Althea hands breaking the contact their hands shared, "Meet Althea, my betrothed and future Queen of Ravenshore." He said with a pleasant smile and wrapped his hands around her shoulders.
Nathaniel's eyes turned crimson red at the sight of the intimacy between Sebastian and Althea. A low growl erupted from his lips and a hand on his shoulder stopped him from snapping Sebastian's head off his shoulder.
Nathaniel turned around and saw Gideon staring at him seriously in his face. He calmed down and his eyes switched back to their usual black color. All these happened in a matter of seconds and barely anyone noticed, except Althea. She didn't ponder on it much and dismissed it.
"Let's go to the court room, my dad's waiting for you there…" Sebastian proposed and led the way to the courtroom.
'What was that about?' Gideon mindlinked Nathaniel. Mind linking is a secret conversation between werewolves who are members of the same pack. Only few people could directly mindlink the Alpha and Gideon was one of them.
'I can't explain now,' Nathaniel responded. He was still trying to place the pieces together but all he knew for sure was that his beast wanted Althea and Althea, his beast shall get.
They arrived at the courtroom and the king of Ravenshore was not present. He was unaware of Nathaniel's sudden visit. Sebastian, learning of Nathaniel's presence from a guard, had told Nathaniel his father was here just so he could take him away from the crowd before other kings caught wind of his presence.
"Please hold on a bit while I go see what my dad is up to," Sebastian said, excited to go break the news of Nathaniel's visit to his Father.
Gideon, Althea and Nathaniel were left alone in the courtroom. Nathaniel mind linked Gideon to leave and Gideon left without a word.
"Althea…" Sebastian sat on the throne meant for the king. Her name sounded so perfect to his ears.
Althea was dumbfounded at the audacity of the young man before her. Not only was he rude by holding her hand without permission, he also sat on the chair meant for her beloved king.
"I don't appreciate strangers calling my name so casually. Especially uncouth men like you!" Althea fiercely said with an eye roll. Her stomach suddenly grumbled loudly and she frowned in embarrassment, hoping Nathaniel didn't hear it. She didn't eat so she could fit better in her corset.
"Uncouth…" Nathaniel trailed before chuckling in mirth. It was the first time someone addressed him in such terms.
"Oh yes," Althea retorted sassily with crossed arms, "only an uncouth man touches a woman without permission…and who do you think you are sitting on the king's throne? I can see you don't like your head anymore."
Nathaniel's eyes gleamed with amusement at Althea's threat, his lips curling into a smirk. "I look forward to it," he replied,"But I assure you, my dear Althea, my head is quite attached to my shoulders, and I intend to keep it that way. On the contrary, the one who should be worried about her head is you."
"Why should I be worried about my head?"
Nathaniel stretched out one of his legs and got comfortable on the throne. "You see, you've said a lot of unforgivable things in the few minutes we've spent together, I will let it slide if you ask for forgiveness now."
"Hmph! Just wait for the king to come, we'll see who will be asking for forgiveness."
Just then the king came running in like a headless chicken. He frowned when he saw Nathaniel on his seat but quickly shook off the disrespect. "Alpha Nathaniel," he bowed.
Althea stood frozen at the king's mannerisms. Did her beloved king and future father in law just bow to this nobody? Or was he somebody? Either ways, Althea came to a realize and knew her sharp mouth has landed her in big trouble.
"You should have took your time," Nathaniel said distastefully, disappointed that his time with Althea was interrupted.
"Oh, how could I leave you unattended?" The king then gestured with his hand, "we would discuss better with the company of food."
"Lead the way," Nathaniel stood up from the chair. He wasn't hungry, but he knew Althea was. The sound of her grumbling stomach didn't escape his sharp hearing.
They walked a few feet before Nathaniel noticed Althea wasn't walking with them, "Aren't you coming?" He directed his question to Althea.
"Women don't join men in business matters," The king chuckled.
"I don't remember asking you," Nathaniel spat coldly before turning to Althea, "come."
Althea looked at her king for confirmation and when he nodded with pursed lips, she walked over to them.
Gideon walked into this scene and was confused about Nathaniel's sudden interest in Althea.
At the dining, Nathaniel sat at the head seat, the seat for the king. Gideon sat on his right and the king sat on his left. Sebastian sat next to the king and Althea sat next to Sebastian.
The arrangement irked Nathaniel because he had to look past the annoying faces of the king and his son before he could see Althea. She should be sitting right next to him.
"How's the food?" The king eagerly asked.
"Bland," Nathaniel answered. "Some undercooked red meat with the blood still dripping from it would have been better."
Someone retched and all heads turned to look at Althea.
"Is anything the matter, Althea?" Nathaniel asked, feigning concern.
"I'm good," Althea said unable to shake away the eerie vibe Nathaniel had. She wanted to leave and be far away from him as soon as possible.
"Alpha Nathaniel," the king carefully started, "I've been reaching out to you about this problem but it seemed to have never reached you. Our borders has been attacked by the neighboring kingdom. We are planning a full blown war to take over their kingdom by fortnight, your assistance will be very much appreciated."
Gideon skeptically looked at Nathaniel. Nathaniel was not one to involve himself in human wars regardless of what was in it for him. He expected Nathaniel to reject right away but Nathaniel's word completely threw him off.
"What do you need?" Nathaniel dabbed his lips with a napkin.
"Man power!" The king eagerly moved forward on his seat, "Soldiers and weapons. I promise you have of the kingdom when I conquer it."
Nathaniel chuckled mockingly. "I don't need any of that, I want something else." He said and his sight landed on Althea.
"What do you want? I would give you anything you ask for!"
"Her," Nathaniel said, his eyes still on Althea. "I want her. Althea."