The Alpha's Prisoner

Duty Calls

Sarah

Loud banging on the heavy door woke me from my deep sleep. It was already light, I must have slept for a long time. Yawning I rose and slipped on a silk robe that lay with the garments that were now mangled on my bed. I opened the door to find a short elderly lady who quickly shuffled inside my room.

“Good morning Miss, Master Tyson has requested your presence in the garden. I have brought you appropriate attire for the meeting”

She turned around with a small courteous smile after arranging slick black clothing next to the messy garments on the bed.

“While you are out, I’d be more than happy to put away the rest of your belongings”

She gestured to the mess laid out on my bed and bowed her head.

“No, no it’s alright, I can manage those. Thank you though”

She bowed her head once more before shuffling her way back out of the room. I closed the heavy door and made my way back to the bed. The clothes were very tight, much tighter than anything I had worn before. I finally managed to slip the slim pants passed my hips. I was soon making my way out of the door when I glanced back towards the bathroom. The glass from my destructive sweep was all cleared, even the window had been resealed. It must have been done while I was having dinner with Tyson. So why was I being waited on when I am meant to be acting as the new help? I’ll have to ask Tyson again, and hopefully, now I can get a straight answer.

I started out the door. For the first time, I was free to venture wherever I pleased throughout the large house. I headed straight down the hall and soon passed the room where I had dinner with Tyson the night before. The house was even bigger than I had first realised, I guess I didn’t have enough time to realise that during the short trip to dinner or when I had been dangling out the window during Tyson and my first meeting.

I soon found the large entranceway. It was magnificent. White marble spread across the floors and rose into the roof in ornately carved pillars. Marble stairs curved down towards a sparkling fountain bubbling peacefully in the grand centre. I carefully studied the oil paintings decorating the walls. They were portraits of the royal family over the generations. It was typical for the Mayor’s home to have a portrait of the King but to have entire past generations of the royal family seemed like overkill.

Wait…

I froze suddenly as I finished my descent of the stairs and stared at the last picture in the line of family portraits. There sat King Jeremy; I recognised him from the picture at my old school. My mouth dropped as I recognised the woman that stood behind his chair, a delicate hand resting on his bejewelled shoulder. That same delicate hand had led me down the hall the other night. I knew I had recognised her, but I kicked myself as I suddenly realised who it was. Queen Mary.

That could only mean...

My eyes darted to the young man standing next to her. Tyson.

I stood back in shock. I couldn’t believe I had dinner with The Prince last night. I was in the home of the royal family. This was so much worse than I thought. I felt like running, my heart beginning to pound as I realised how serious this really was. He was waiting for me. The Prince was waiting for me.

I stepped back from the portrait and made my way towards large glass doors under the banister, that led into a lavish green pathway. Butterflies started to mess with my stomach as I became suddenly uncomfortable with the prospect of a meeting with The Prince. He was so kind and casual last night; I hadn’t even tried to be proper with him. Not that I knew how to be.

I opened the large doors with shaky hands. A cool fresh breeze washed over me as I started my way down the path. It smelt amazing. The stone path I followed was laid out under lavish ivy that spread into a large courtyard covered in beautiful vibrant flowers. My eyes were instantly drawn to him and my breath hitched as they did.

Tyson.

He was dressed in comfortable slick pants that highlighted his large muscles, a dark t-shirt that revealed tanned biceps and a sculpted chest. Wow. His eyes found mine and his face lit up in a beaming smile. I returned his with a small smile of his own, only causing his face to fall into confusion.

The closer I got to him the more comfortable I felt, it was strange. However, my new knowledge wouldn’t stop nagging my mind.

“Is everything okay?”

His voice sent waves of reassurance to flood over me. I smiled up at him.

“Of course. Your Majesty”

It came out more of a tease then sincere. I couldn’t help it. The cheeky smile that played over his face egged me to, and I felt too eager to please his playfulness. His face screwed up at my words, but the familiar beaming grin returned.

“Aaaaah I was wondering when you’d figure that one out. It’s not as big a deal as it is made out to be”

I raised my eyebrow at him.

“Come on I wanted to show you something”

Tyson held his hand out to me. I took it, the warm strength from his hand around mine sent shivers up my arm that settled in the back of my neck. He led me further into the garden and we were soon surrounded by a large thicket of fruit trees and overgrown shrubs. Upon meeting with Tyson again, I had completely forgotten the plagues of questions that nag me in his absence.

“So why would The Prince request the company of a lowly villager who is meant to be working to repay her debt? Why the nice clothes and the beautiful room?”

“As you said, you’re in my debt aren’t you. So, you promised to do what I request until I decide otherwise, this is what I request. Until I have decided otherwise you will have to abide by what I ask”

I shrugged, not nearly satisfied but eager to avoid his hypnotic gaze.

“And as to why I request you for this, well, maybe I just enjoy your company”

He winked before turning around and kneeling in front of an overgrown bench. I studied his muscled back as he quickly worked. He stood and turned; a silk parcel laid delicately in his hands.

“I believe this is yours”

I reached out eagerly, unwrapping the small parcel. I beamed as I looked down at the metal glinting in his large hands. My father’s knives.

“Oh wow! I can’t believe you have these, thank you so much!”

I gushed up towards Tyson as I took them out of his large hands. He smiled back at me as he brushed a strand of hair from my face and folded it behind my ear. I blushed as his fingers tickled my face. He quickly turned his back and headed to the other side of the small cove.

“Teach me”

He called, turning back around to meet my puzzled expression. His brilliant smile forcing one of my own.

“I heard your skilled with throwing knives, so teach me”

“Okay”

I shrugged as I made my way towards him, spinning the blades in my hand.

“Keep an equal balance between both your feet. Holding the blade between your thumb and two fingers bring it above your head. Keeping your wrist straight bring the knives straight down in front of you and let them slip from your hand. You should finish by pointing at your target”

I let the knife slip as I finished my explanation. It thudded pleasantly in the large twisted trunk of a large tree. I handed one of the other knives to Tyson. He began shuffling his feet into place attempting to copy my movements. Raising his arm, he sent the knife towards the same tree where mine had landed. It stuck for a second before falling into the dirt below.

“You make it look so easy”

Tyson c****d his head towards the tree.

“I have had many years to learn. You’ll have to put more power into it if you want it to stick”

I reassured him. He smiled as he headed toward the tree. Placing a knife back into my hand he paused as his fingers brushed down my palm. I instinctively stroked his palm briefly with my thumb in return before he turned towards the tree once more. His arm shot down and the knife sailed directly towards the tree and then promptly bounced off and headed straight for us. I ducked as it flew over my head, chuckling as I stood back up. Tyson rushed towards me gripping my shoulders, face shrouded in worry, studying me carefully.

“I am so sorry, are you okay”

“Relax I’m fine. Everyone makes that mistake. That’s why you must keep your wrist straight otherwise the wrong part of the blade will hit the tree. You have great power but maybe lighten up a little bit until you have the accuracy”

“Sorry”

His face cringed once more as he surveyed my face once again. I smiled in return trying to reassure him.

“Stop it. It’s part of the learning curve. Don’t tell me your majesty would give up with such a small setback”

I gave him a cheeky smile while I shook my head disapprovingly. His smile finally returned as his hands relaxed from my shoulders. I couldn’t help but feel disappointed at their absence. I turned to pick up the blade from where it had come to rest and placed it back into his large rugged hand.

We continued to throw knives for hours. When the sun became too much too handle, we rested under the large twisted tree and plucked fruit from the surrounding grove. We laughed and joked as we competed to see who could throw the pips furthest across the grove. I was no match. His sailed far across the clearing and over the trees on the other side. Mine didn’t even make it halfway across the flat grass.

“Haha guess we both have our weaknesses”

He gestured towards my pathetic throw. I poked my tongue at him but instantly froze as his hand came back to rest against mine, his finger gently stroked my pinkie as he hurtled his last pip high over the trees. I turned ready to make a snide remark at his boasting but stopped as he turned to greet my gaze.

He was so close I could feel his hot breath on my lips, his hand slowly began caressing my face. He brought me closer towards him until our lips touched. I gasped in response, my face flushing as warmth enveloped me. I pulled him into me as I slowly began to kiss him. Taking his lips into mine I tenderly traced my tongue across his bottom lip. He moaned as he pulled me closer to him. He stroked my face and slowly traced down my back with the other hand as his lips enveloped mine.

We finally parted. Our faces only inches from one another. Breathing heavily, I stared deep into his warm eyes. They were so vibrant in the afternoon sun I thought I could get lost there forever.

I slowly backed away; a soft smile still played on my lips as I relinquished in the tranquillity that had rushed over me. His hand slowly dropped from my face as he rested his head onto the dark tree trunk, never taking his eyes from mine. A comfortable smile spread across his face, his lips now glistening in the sun.

“I …”

Tyson trailed off abruptly, his smile disappeared from his face as he perked up, watching the end of the grove. I stared after him, trying to get a glimpse of what he was looking at. His face contorted as his brows furrowed. He slowly turned back towards me.

“I’m really sorry. I have to go”

He sighed, squeezing my hand before standing up. He looked down at me with a small smile.

“To be honest I feel like I could spend all day out here with you. I’ll have someone grab you later so you can join me for dinner”

He turned to head back out of the grove before halting once more.

“You should head back to your room; we tend to have guests over in the afternoons so keep your door closed and don’t leave until I ask for you.”

He didn’t face me when he spoke and quickly rushed out of view. I felt empty sitting there alone. What did he mean by that? After all his talk and dismissal of status, was he really that embarrassed to have his royal friends see me? The idea made my chest ache, especially after a kiss like that. I couldn’t bear the idea that what just happened mightn’t have meant as much to him because of where I was from, because of who I was. I slowly got up and made my way out of the grove from where Tyson had just disappeared. The heaviness in my chest consumed me as I decided I wasn’t interested in meeting his royal friends anyway. However, maybe the afternoon was the perfect time to do a little exploring instead.

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tyson

He felt awful for leaving her like that, but his father had called him through the telepathy link for an urgent meeting. On his way back inside, he stopped the old maid and requested that she saw Sarah to her room safely. He had told her to go straight to her room, but how could she understand the gravity of his request when she doesn’t know of his world? He just hoped she didn’t take it the wrong way. He hadn’t enough time to think of an eloquent way to explain it to her and was worried where her imagination would take her if she over thought his request. Humans were known for their strong imaginations.

He climbed the stairs and made his way towards the war room. Before he had a chance to open the door his mother burst out. She was all huffed; her face contorted in anger which quickly slackened into sympathy as she saw her son standing before her.

“I am so sorry dear”

She quickly caressed his face before moving past him. Confused, Tyson stepped into the war room eager to know what caused his mother to become so exasperated.

“Sit down, we need to talk”

King Jeremy’s voice was rough. He sounded tired. Tyson made his way to one of the leather chairs and slowly sunk down.

“I had to make an arrangement due to our unfortunate situation. You are to marry the daughter of Alpha Luther and take her as your Luna”

“Wai….”

“ENOUGH!”

King Jeremy roared, brushing a shaky hand through his silver hair. Tyson sat back, furious, but quietened to allow his father to continue.

“I already have enough trouble from other packs within our kingdom, other kings and queens even the senate of magic itself! For the generosity I have provided the humans in my territory! If it were to get out that my only son believes he is the mate of a human. It would be the end of everything we have”

“I don’t just believe. I know she is my mate”

Tyson responded sharply but received only a dismissive wave in response.

“They would take everything from us. The pack, the kingdom, maybe even our lives. We would become the pariah of the magical world all for one mortal girl. Do you want that for your family? Do you want your pack and your kingdom in ruins?”

Tyson’s wolf roared inside at the proposition of marrying anyone other than his mate. But Tyson slumped. Defeated. His father was right, it could destroy everything and hurt so many people.

“Okay. I have invited Alpha Luther, his daughter Isabella and the Blue Moon pack to dinner this evening to celebrate the occasion. We only have an hour to prepare for their arrival so tidy yourself up and meet me back here so we can discuss all the arrangements.”

Tyson got up quickly and hurried out of the room. He couldn’t stand being in there any longer with his father. He couldn’t believe it. He just couldn’t. The idea of meeting his mate was all Tyson could think about from a very early age. Now he finally got to meet her and have her with him, to feel her lips pressed onto his, to touch her delicate face. His wolf howled in agreement with the pain of his father’s arrangement but made no attempt to break out as he had before. His wolf knew as well as he did that King Jeremy was right, Tyson would have to follow the King’s orders. For now, that is, until he could find another way for him to be with his mate.