THE ALPHA KING’S PRIDE

CHAPTER FOUR

The music floated gently across the ballroom, a slow, formal tune meant to fill the silence between polite conversations. The chandeliers sparkled above, casting golden light over the sea of gowns and tailored suits. From the royal table, I had the perfect view of grandeur, but grandeur had lost its shine for him years ago.

I leaned back in my chair, my fingers idly drumming against the polished armrest. Balls like this happen every year, always the same faces, the same small talk, the same forced laughter from people who would happily turn on each other at the next council meeting. Tonight was no different.

My eyes wandered over the crowd, more out of habit than interest, until they stopped.

Lina.

The shift inside me was immediate. The boredom faded like mist under sunlight, replaced by sharp, unyielding awareness. She was staring at me with those beautiful blue eyes that reminded me of the sea. Her dress was nothing like the glittering gowns the noble people wore, a plain, serviceable piece in muted tones, designed for practicality, not to catch eyes. And yet, it caught me every time. She feels the bond now.

Mate feels our bond now.

My wolf’s voice was low and eager in my mind. She is ours.

I didn’t argue. I had known it the moment I saw her weeks ago at Alpha Gerick’s pack. I had been on a routine visit, nothing more. Politics, territory updates, the usual. But then, leaving the meeting room, I saw her in the hallway. A brief conversation, polite words exchanged. No eye contact at all, nothing to give away the bond. But his wolf had felt it. I had felt it. I noticed my mate was tense and scared to look at me, which made me wonder if the alpha treats the servants well, especially my mate.

Now, here she was again, moving through the glitter and finery like she didn’t belong yet belonged more than anyone else.

Why is she still serving when she should be here beside us? Cael asked, his tone edged with irritation.

Patience, I replied, though I didn't like it either. This is neither the time nor the place to claim her outright.

But my eyes betrayed me, tracking her through the crowd. I watched the way she brushed a loose strand of hair back behind her ear, the way she shifted her weight carefully when the tray grew heavy. She didn’t try to be noticed. That made it impossible for me not to notice her.

“You have been staring at that maid for quite a while, dear brother.”

I didn’t need to look to know it was Amelia. I caught her smirk out of the corner of my eye. She sat poised beside him, her wine glass tilted delicately in her fingers.

Her voice slid easily into my mind. “She is the one, isn’t she?”

“Do not start, Amelia”.

“Oh, I knew it”, her mental tone was laced with amusement. “I knew the moment you looked at someone for longer than two seconds. Mother would be so…”

“Do not tell her”. My voice sharpened through the mind-link.

Amelia’s lips curved into a wicked grin. Across the table, she shifted as if to get her mother’s attention, fingers twitching in an exaggerated little wave.

Amelia. This time, my tone was colder.

She chuckled softly, covering it with a sip of her drink. “Relax. I will keep your little secret… for now.”

My attention returned to Lina, only for something else to catch my notice and instantly sour my mood.

Rafe.

Rafe leaned casually against a wall near the far end of the room, a drink in his hand, his gaze fixed on Lina with the kind of quiet intensity that made Lucas’s wolf growl. There was no mistaking it, Rafe wasn’t just looking. He was watching. Following her movements like a hawk.

“I do not like this”, Cael said, his tone dropping lower.

“Neither do I”. My jaw tightened slightly.

“We should remove her from here. Now.”

I'm

I forced myself to keep still. “Not yet. But I’ll make sure he knows she is not his to look at.”

When Lina slipped toward the back of the ballroom, I made my decision, rising from my seat smoothly, careful not to draw attention. The hum of conversation covered his steps as he followed her into the quieter corridors beyond the main hall.

I moved swiftly through the side corridor, each step echoing against the marble walls.

The lively music from the ballroom dulled behind him, fading into a muted hum. My chosen destination wasn’t far from the quiet corner near the tapestry hall, hidden enough for privacy, but not so secluded that anyone would question why he was there. It was the perfect place to finally speak with her, to ease the restless pull in my chest.

My wolf was a storm inside him. “Hurry”. My lips pressed into a tight line. I wanted to hurry, to let instinct take over, but appearances mattered. Running through the palace corridors like a lovesick boy would only draw attention. I forced myself into a measured stride, even as urgency burned in my veins. I had almost reached the narrow hallway when someone's fingers brushed my sleeve.

“Lucas.”

My sister’s voice. I turned sharply, meeting Amelia’s keen gaze. Her emerald gown shimmered in the torchlight, and her eyes gleamed with mischief or was it suspicion?

“Where are you sneaking off to?” she asked softly, arching a brow.

“The ball is in full swing, and Father is about to make another announcement. You vanish like this, and people will start asking questions.”

I forced my expression to be neutral. “I won’t be gone long. I have something to handle.”

Amelia’s lips curved in a knowing smirk. “Something…or someone?”

My jaw tightened. She was too perceptive for her good. He didn’t answer, but the silence said enough. Amelia tilted her head, studying me as though she could peel back my carefully crafted mask.

Before I could brush past her, laughter echoed from the other end of the corridor. A group of visiting nobles appeared, their velvet cloaks trailing and jeweled goblets in hand. They spotted me instantly, their expressions lighting up as if fate had delivered me.

“Your Highness!” one of them called, rushing forward with open arms. “We were hoping for a word about the border treaties.”

My wolf growled so loudly in his head that he almost let the sound slip into the physical world. “Ignore them, let’s go to see mate.”

But I couldn't ignore them. Politics in his father’s court was a game of knives, and these nobles, though drunk, were sharp enough to notice if he brushed them off too coldly. And if Lina’s name ever became tangled in whispers because of him, I refuse to put her at risk.

I drew in a breath, forcing composure. “Gentlemen,” he greeted curtly, my tone polite but clipped. “I’ll be available to discuss formal matters after the king’s address.”

One of them chuckled, oblivious to my tension. “Always the dutiful prince! A moment more, surely.”

Amelia cut in smoothly, stepping forward with a flash of charm. “Gentlemen, forgive my brother, but his time is already spoken for. If you value your treaties, you’ll let him attend to his duty first.” Her tone carried enough authority to silence them.I wasted no time. I inclined his head briefly, then turned on his heel before anyone else dared stall me. My stride quickened, the controlled prince slipping into a man chasing something vital.

My wolf surged forward, claws scraping against the edges of his control. My heart pounded as he reached the tapestry hall. I caught sight of the shadowed corner ahead of the place I had thought to meet her. For one tense heartbeat, my stomach dropped. The space looked empty. Panic clawed at me.

I strode forward, nearly breathless, until I caught the faintest scent, then a silhouette in the dim light. She was there, after all, her posture tense, her head tilted slightly as though she debated leaving.

Relief crashed into me, leaving my chest aching. He had nearly lost his chance. No more distractions. No more delays. This time, I would not let anything pull me away.

The air here was cooler, quieter. Servants moved briskly between storage rooms and the kitchen, their arms full of trays and linens. Lucas followed at a measured pace until he caught sight of her again, setting down an empty tray on a table near a side room.

She turned and saw me, stopping short. Her back straightened instantly. “Your Highness.” She dipped her head respectfully.

I stepped closer, lowering my voice so it carried only to her. “I was hoping to see you tonight.”

Her eyes flickered with surprise. “I am just here to work.”

“I know,” I said. My gaze didn’t waver. “But tell me something, are you with someone?”

Her brow furrowed slightly, caught off guard by the question. “No, Your Highness.”

A slow, satisfied smile tugged at my lips. “Good. Because you’re mine.”

Her breath caught, and for a heartbeat, the air between them tightened. I could feel her wolf stir beneath the surface, just as Cael pushed forward inside me with approval.

Footsteps echoed from the nearby hallway, breaking the moment. I straightened, his expression smoothing into one of royal composure. “We will speak again.”

Without waiting for her response, I turned and walked back toward the ballroom, though every instinct in me screamed to stay, to make her understand then and there. But this was a game that would require patience and I had already decided she would be worth every second.