The Alpha King’s Last Regret

33

Kade King

The soft laughter of Mrs. Uriah filled the air, and Drizzel chuckled along with Lief. I didn’t bother to move a muscle or even pretend to smile as I sat at the circular table in the fanciest restaurant in the Wolf Empire.

Mr. Uriah, as usual, sat silently, his sharp eyes scanning the room with calculated patience. He rarely spoke, but when he did, it was always the truth, cutting and precise.

I didn’t want to be here. Not tonight of all nights. I was angry, no, I was jealous. Blinded by something so primal that I swear, had I stayed another second, I would have driven a knife straight into Xerox’s chest.

It burned. It boiled. I nearly lost my mind with it.

Why did I feel this way? She’s just a secretary. Nothing more. But I couldn’t lie to myself.

Five years ago, a similar situation arose. That was the reason I have to make use of Pearl Gem in the first place. There had been a rumor about Xerox and Drizzel, headline gossip suggesting they were dating. It nearly triggered a full-on war between the Majesties and the ThornCrests.

Xerox, being in charge of the Empire’s entertainment department, often traveled with Drizzel on her modeling tours. That one time, the headlines had nearly pushed me to the edge. I was angry then… but nothing like today.

Xerox didn’t even touch her, just handed her flowers and I have lost it. The way she looked at him, the way she smiled… I couldn’t bear it.

Her eyes were supposed to be on me. Only me.

I had left the room, expecting, no, needing her to follow. But she didn’t. Instead, she stayed behind.

So I turned to Drizzel. I kissed her, hoping it would chase Pearl Gem from my mind. Hoping it would numb the ache in my chest, only that it didn’t.

By closing time, I watched Pearl Gem grab her bag and walk out of the Majesty Corporation. No car. No glance back. She left without a word, and it tore something out of me.

Was she angry? Jealous?

I don’t know. But she saw me with Drizzel. That much, I know.

I shut my eyes to block out the thoughts, trying to focus on the present, on this suffocating dinner when Mr. Uriah’s voice broke through the noise.

“Your Majesty, are you alright?”

I opened my eyes slowly. Everyone was staring at me, even Lief my Beta, who is Drizzel’s older brother. I gave a small shake of my head but responded,

“I’m fine.”

“You seem lost in thought,” Mr. Uriah pressed.

I met his eyes and swallowed hard.

As the High Chancellor, essentially the Prime Minister of the Royal Court, Mr. Uriah was respected. I once admired him. As a boy, I’d listened to every word he said. But age teaches many things. Now I know his words are poison. Deadlier than any dagger.

“I’m fine,” I repeated, this time firmer. I turned toward the balcony where Riven stood, speaking into his phone. I had ordered an update on Pearl, but none had come. The wait made me restless. Anxious.

“Your Majesty,” Mrs. Uriah said, her tone light but pointed, “I heard you haven’t visited the Tower Chamber yet. I’m curious. When will you step into it? Aren’t you even curious about what lies inside?”

I looked away from Riven and turned my attention to her.

The Tower Chamber. The sacred abode reserved for the Alpha King and his Luna. She was speaking in riddles, of course. This was her way of asking when I would finally marry her daughter.

It was overdue, wasn’t it?

I leaned back in my seat, assessing her carefully. Mrs. Uriah was elegance incarnate, polished, composed, and cold. Head of the Omega Regulation Bureau. A woman who believed omegas were born to suffer, to serve, never to rise.

I didn’t respond. I knew they were used to my silences by now. Kade King Majesty speaks only when necessary. And when I have no answer, I stare. Hard enough to force them to lower their gaze.

“Kade?” Drizzel’s voice came softly from beside me. I turned my head toward her as she reached for my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "What’s wrong?”

I didn’t answer.

That’s when I heard the urgent footsteps approaching. I turned, and Riven was already at my side, his pace too fast to ignore.

“Your Majesty,” He whispered near my ear, “I have an update on your omega.”

“Tell me.”

“She took the public bus after leaving Majesty Corp and got home… but she didn’t make it inside.”

I stiffened. My jaw clenched.

“How do you mean?”

“She passed out on the doorstep. Her body rolled into the backyard. She’s been lying there unconscious for hours.”

A chill slammed through me like a punch to the chest. Cold sweat formed on my brow. I shot to my feet, reaching for my phone and dialing Pearl Gem immediately.

No answer.

I tried again. Still nothing.

“Bring the car around,” I ordered, my voice tight with panic.

Riven didn’t wait for another word. He rushed off to obey and with that, I stormed out of the restaurant without a second glance. No one followed. No guards, no motorcade. Because of course, no one expected the King to leave his future in-laws over an omega.