The King

A Gentleman?

Alexander's POV

I watched as she pulled her legs up to her chest in the seat beside me before wrapping her arms around them. She must have been asleep because, after our recent exchange, I was sure she wouldn't be revealing her panty-clad backside like she currently was to me. I took my suit jacket off and covered her with it. While I, of course, had no problem looking at her in the end, I was a gentleman. My jacket dwarfed her petite frame and really did show how small she was. When her father and I had been conversing before we realized she was gone, he had called her his runt. This had enraged me at the time, and I had instructed him to never speak of his Queen that way again.

Looking down at her, I found her size actually quite adorable. My brain and, more so, my wolf instantly jumped to the things we could do with her once she finally came to terms with being our mate. I tried to push those thoughts down quickly, but even a gentleman struggles sometimes. Even asleep, she was beautiful. The moon goddess had definitely blessed me. She had a small heart-shaped face with skin that looked so soft and pure I fought the urge to reach out and brush a finger over her cheek. Her lips were small but full, and currently, the bottom lip was pouting out every so slightly. My inner wolf was howling in frustration, and if I had left it up to him, he would have grabbed her and kissed her, not caring that she hated us right now.

It had pained me to see her big green eyes full of tears when we left the club. I did not want to hurt her, but she did not see this from my perspective. I had been waiting for my mate for 12 years, and part of me had thought it was never going to happen. Luckily my father, the King before me, had gotten rid of the mating rule and heir rule that almost caused him to lose the crown, or I would have definitely lost it by now. However, I did know that people had been worried that our family's reign would end with me. Things were hopefully looking up on that front. Her safety was the most important thing to me. I could not have left her with her pack to come to terms with being my mate and kept her safe at the same time. Once word got out that I had a mate, she would undoubtedly be a target for someone's rage against me.

When we reached that palace doors, Acelynn was still sleeping away. I opened her car door, picking her up gently holding her to my chest. In her sleep, she nuzzled into my chest, letting out a content sigh. I smiled. At least in her sleep, she submitted to the mate bond. I carried her to my private apartment in the palace, and all the while, she stayed asleep. I laid her down on my bed, well, I guess our bed now, and contemplated whether I should change her. In the end, I erred on the side of caution and had a maid change her into one of my t-shirts.

I stood at the end of the bed once she was changed. Again my wolf flooded my mind with thoughts of what we could do to her. He tempted me with images of things we had done with certain people who also needed it to remain a secret. Surely she wouldn't want to do those things. She was too innocent. Maybe she's more experienced than you think my wolf thought. Instantly jealousy filled me. Hypocritical of me, I know, but it was only typical for an alpha type like me to want to be her one and only. Only time would tell, but my gut told me she was still a virgin.

I got into bed beside her, laying on my side facing her. Happiness filled me as I watched her sleep. I had finally found my mate after years of thinking it would not happen. I know that currently, she didn't want me, but I knew eventually she would succumb to the mate bond, and I would wait for her until she did.

I must have fallen asleep watching her sleep because when I opened my eyes, the sun was now coming in through the cracks of the curtains. I hated to move at some point through the night she had cuddled up against my chest. Part of me knew this would be the only way I would get physical contact from her for a while, and I wanted to enjoy it. I looked at the clock. Unfortunately, I was due in my office thirty minutes ago. I grumbled as I tried to carefully get up so I wouldn't wake her up.

After getting ready, I entered the bedroom again to see that she was still asleep. I pulled the blankets up around her and left her to sleep. I was no dummy though I couldn't have her attempting to run again, so I stationed a guard outside the apartment door with strict orders to not allow her to leave. I could only imagine the reaction she was going to have when she did wake up.