CheckMate

Alpha Gabriel’s POV “Don’t f*****g touch that!” I snap jokingly, causing Rhys to immediately drop the shiny ornament in his hands. Luckily, his reflexes kick in just in time to save it from smashing against the hard marble floor. He looks up at me in annoyance as I grin in return. “Gabriel, give me a break. I’m sweating as it is over here!” he replies angrily as he replaces the trinket on top of the enormous fireplace. I chuckle in response to his flustered state. “Damn, our Beta is a f*****g wimp.” my wolf, Orion, states in the back of my mind, causing my lips to curl into a smile. “Yeah and tell that asshole wolf of yours to shut the hell up too. I just know he’s chatting s**t about me right now.” Rhys interjects, disrupting my private thoughts. I snicker as I sit back in the chair, examining our elaborate surroundings once again. Rich furnishings are carefully positioned against a backdrop of marble and gold. Towering pillars stretch up to the high ceilings, which are carved with intricate designs. On one side of the room, there is an entire wall filled with books of all shapes, sizes and origins. Renaissance art and colourful tapestries adorn the remaining walls, only broken up by the presence of a large window looking out over expansive and well-kept gardens. All of this grandeur merges together to declare the importance of this space we find ourselves in today. The king’s royal palace. “You don’t seem nervous at all… we are about to meet the werewolf king. It’s a pretty f*****g big deal!” Rhys states, as he begins to pace the floor again for the hundredth time. “Relax. You know the protocol. We went over it on the way here and anyway… he’s a man. Like you or I.” I shrug nonchalantly. “Like you or I? Are you serious? You’re a damn descendent of the Moon Goodess for crying out loud and he’s the king! I think it’s fair to say I’m nothing like either of you.” he states with a frown as he runs his hand through his hair nervously. “Clearly.” He stops dead in his tracks and throws me an exhausted look. Eventually, I decide to take pity, standing up from my chair and walking over to him. “Listen Rhys, we are here at his request. Remember it’s him who invited us here to meet him. Not the other way around. We are soldiers. We know how to speak to our superiors and this is no different.” It seems my mini peptalk seems to have done the trick as his shoulders relax a fraction before he lets out a slow breath. “Okay fine. You make a good point,” he says with a nod. “Good.” I knew that reminding him of our military training would do the trick in settling him. He’s my best friend and I’ve known him since we were kids. Sure, he’s a little skittish at times, but he steps up when it matters and there’s no one I would rather have by my side going into battle…. or going into strange, mysterious meetings with the king for that matter. “So why do you think he has asked to see you? Our pack is at the opposite end of the country,” Rhys states in confusion. “I don’t know.” I answer, stuffing my hands in my pockets and walking over to look out of the window. “Maybe he just wants to meet the famous Alpha Gabriel Knight. God amongst men and decorated army hero.” he states sarcastically. I snort in reply. I do in fact have an inkling of what this could be about. After receiving the invitation, I did some digging with my contacts at the Werewolf Military Council and found out that the Royal Region has been experiencing some unrest recently. There have been rumours of fights breaking out in the streets and it seems there is growing tension between the King’s Guard and a small but persistent number of rebels who have been threatening the royal family. I’m pretty sure that it’s no coincidence that we have been invited here in the midst of all of this. I haven’t shared this theory with Rhys yet though, I like to be sure about things before I state them out loud. I deal in facts. I always have. I’m straight down the line. I say what I mean and I mean what I say. I’ve seen and heard many a stupid Alpha run his mouth off without properly thinking things through. I can’t abide immaturity and foolishness and I vowed never to be that way. Since a young age, I took my future role as Alpha seriously. I trained my ass off physically, but I also studied my ass off too. Mainly by listening and learning from the two best Alphas that I know. My parents Annie and Kade Knight of Blackstone. When I was a little boy, they took my twin sister Grace and I in and welcomed us into their family. We had no one until they came along and I’ll be forever grateful to them both for everything that they did for us. “So what do you reckon he is like?” Rhys asks, a hint of impatience in his voice. “Who?” I ask distractedly. “King Stefano obviously,” he snaps. “Who did you think I was talking about? Mickey f*****g Mouse?” “Well, I’d like to think I have more credibility than a cartoon character,” a voice states loudly from behind us both. I turn around to look into Rhys’ wide eyes, a look of panic etched across his face. “ Your Majesty…I-I’m sorry.” he stumbles over his words, turning around to face the king who now stands before us in all his might and glory. The king only smirks in reply. The light wrinkles around his face crinkling as he does so. I step forward and bow my head respectfully. “Your Majesty.” He smiles as he stretches his hand out towards me. “You must be Alpha Gabriel Knight?” he asks, gripping my hand firmly. “I am Your Majesty. Thank you for your invitation.” “And this is your Beta, I presume?” I nod and Rhys steps forward to formally introduce himself. “Then you are both very welcome here to the palace. Thank you for accepting.” he answers, before turning abruptly to wander back down the long marble hallway. Rhys and I both look at one another and shrug, before taking the king’s lead and following after him. “So I’m assuming that you are wondering why I asked you here, Gabriel… may I call you Gabriel?” I nod my head in agreement. “Yes, I am wondering.” He looks at me side ways and smiles. “Simply put… I’ve heard stories about you…” “Told you…” Rhys mutters triumphantly through the mindlink. I ignore him for now. “The stories? Your Majesty.” “Yes… that you are descended from the Moon Goddess herself. That you possess some special abilities and that you have used these to your advantage in your military career.” he answers, stopping at the end of the hallway. He nods his head towards two palace servants who open up the set of wide glass balcony doors in front of us. We follow him out onto the spacious terrace and look out at the sight below. Hundreds of men and women in the throes of warrior training. I cast my eyes over the sight in complete awe as I take everything in. The level of skill and precision in their moves… the general set up and equipment that is on display goes far beyond anything I have ever seen. Even in the military. “s**t…” Rhys mumbles under his breath. Clearly forgetting where the f**k he is for a moment. The king only laughs in response. “Don’t worry. I still have that reaction when I come out here sometimes…The King’s Guard. The strongest army there is. Human, werewolf or otherwise,” he states as we fall back into silence. “That is a sight… let me get out there. I’ll show them a thing or two.” Orion, my wolf, states cockily in my head. “Does this not have your wolf itching to get involved, Gabriel?” King Stefano asks with a knowing smile. “Something like that.” I smirk in return. “Your Majesty… this is very impressive but I find it hard to believe you invited me all the way here because of a few stories.” I watch as the smile drains from his face. “You are astute, Alpha. That is one of the reasons I asked you to come.” I furrow my brows. “We could use your help.” he states, a hint of worry creeping into his voice. “My help?” I ask in confusion, looking back out over the crowed training field, which is filled to the gunnels with capable warriors. “With respect… I’m not sure what you mean.” “It seems that with all this wealth of mine, there is one thing that I am unable to buy…” I look back at him knowingly. “Loyalty,” I reply. “Correct.” he confirms, looking over his men with a critical eye. “The rebels that plague our lands are growing in strength and numbers. Their attacks are becoming more bold and their knowledge of our operation is damning. Someone here is a traitor to the crown and I intend to find out who.” I cast my eyes over to Rhys who already has his game face on. “So now you know, Alpha Gabriel. What is your response?” he asks challengingly. “Are you willing to find out more?” I shrug my shoulders. “Well, I didn’t think you invited me here for the view.” I answer in reply. He laughs heartily and sticks his hand out to shake mine. “Good… now let us walk and talk.”