The alpha, the sultan and the omega

Heat time.

—Noah wants a new child.

—But the sultan Reyham just give birth to a princess —Emma frowned again.

—Ah, yes —she smiled softly—. Her name is Agape.

—Cute name.

—Yes, Noah always chooses good names —her eyes were darker. Soleil wasn't ready to talk about it but she had to if she wanted to go that night—. I have agreed with Noah, you're going tonight to his chambers. If you're lucky and get pregnant, you'll become a sultan too.

—Why would I want to be a sultan? —she looked at the floor.

—The reason why you ask me this is exactly the reason why I'm giving you this honor.

—I don't get it —she said.

—I'm going to leave for a time and Noah will be in charge —she answered—. And I need to be able to trust in someone else, Idris and Gale can't be all the time with the sultan. But a sultan... well, she could be.

—So you want to use me —she complained.

—You know how I get into this throne? —she asked her.

Emma wide her eyes.

—My elder brother's name was Ezra, he was the alpha before me —she said, looking at the inside of the wood—. I challenged him when I turned fourteen, I was just a novice. Like six months after the bit.

Emma wide her eyes as plates.

—He killed the entire family after my dad's death —she told her.

—Oh —she didn't know that to say.

—I'm not gonna lie and tell you that we were the happiest family —she narrowed her eyes—. My father was the sultan and alpha of Autumn's pack, and my mother was his wife. Ezra and I were close when we were children, both with the same parents as well. But one day, when I was little, everything changed and suddenly, the pack didn't work like it used to. Maybe was Melek or Miriam.

—Who? —Emma was confused.

—My father was the sultan —she repeated—, he had four concubines and my mother was his wife.

Emma raised her eyebrow.

—They loved each other —she said with melancholy—, my brother Ezra was the proof. Then I came but this ruthless world that you can see... I dragged you in and I'm sorry for that.

—It can't be worst than the hell where I used to live —Emma didn't blame her at all, they saved her—, but let me ask you... Why are you telling me all this?

—When I was five years old I thought I was happy and all my family was it too —she shook her head—. I wasn't able to believe that there was a failure in the system. Although, not all my father's women —Emma looked at her—. My brother Isaac's mother, Milene, was a sweetheart and she loved my father so much —she said—, always caring about all my brothers. We were seven successors to the throne.

—A lot.

—My mother gave birth to three, Ezra, Ali, and I —she said—. Melek had two and Miriam one. Milene gave birth to my brother Isaac, maybe the only one who actually loved me.

—What... What happened with them?

—They all died... He killed them, everyone but me —she answered with the gaze on the floor and her hands playing with the grass—. He used to tell me that he wasn't afraid of a simple human like me.

That surprised Emma. She believed that because of having those genes, Soleil had lived her entire life as a werewolf, but now she made sense when she said she was just a novice when she challenged her brother.

—But if he killed them all, why is Isaac alive? —she asked her.

—Milene was a smart woman and she predicted that Ezra would do something like that when our father died so she made them believe that Isaac died a couple of years before and sent him away —Soleil answered.

Emma shook her head.

—Ezra kicked me out of the pack and took me to an orphanage in South Carolina —she said—. Isaac found me and took care of me, when I was thirteen I asked him to convert me.

—You asked him for this? —she couldn't believe it.

—Well, yeah —she sighed—, he was in love with Dianne and wanted to live a normal life so he wouldn't go back to the pack ever, it was too risky but I had nothing to lose.

—But...

—He agreed to convert me and teach me —she sighed—. I knew that the fate of our people would be over my shoulders in the instant he bit me, I saw him in his eyes. Even if that was true, I already knew how to use magic because my mother taught me —she added. Emma nodded.

—Then what? —she swallowed.

—I wasn't ready when I challenged Ezra —she frowned—, but I did it anyway. I knew he would try to kill me so I killed him first. I got the job as the alpha immediately and I named Noah the sultan. I loved him, I still love him, that's why I'm asking you this.

—Why?

—I need to know that he's in good hands —she affirmed, and shook the dirt from his hands and grabbed the steed's hair—. Kenneth and I will go for a while and I need someone like Idris and Gale. Someone that I can trust.

—But... Why did you pick me? I already told the sultan and you, I'm not special. Nothing is interesting about me, I'm just an omega in this impressive pack like yours.

—Reyham is trying to make her older brother take the throne —she said—, if she gets it, she will vanish or kill the others, including Khan, I bet he's on her site right now.

—Because he's the heir of the queen —she mumbled.

—Exactly, she always told me she would kill my son if I had one and now I do —another sigh—. While I'm here she can't do anything but I can't be here eternally. I... I just can not, that's why I need someone to get into the sultan's heart and stay there.

Emma stayed quiet, she couldn't understand what was crossing the alpha's mind, at least until she looked at her.

—Now that you're here... You must impede at every cost that she become a beta.

—Beta?

—She's trying to ascend, that way she can have more power on the pack. So you should ascend first and make Noah fall in love with you.

—Why are you telling me this? It sounds like you're going out for a long time...

The alpha smiled.

—I already told you, didn't I? I'm going out for a while —she passed a hand over his head, as he stood up and extended his hand—. If you accept, you will be my eyes and ears in the palace and the pack during my absence.

—Why are you leaving?

She didn't answer, just help her to get into the horse before getting off of her clothes and turned again. With a howl, the black wolf made Abbott start running with Emma above him and that was all. She found Kenneth a couple of kilometers near the palace, the silver-haired man was calm. Like he was waiting for her. They saw the black wolf get near to them like it was just a couple of meters and turning to see the silver-haired man.

He didn't say a thing but Emma knew that he was suspecting something bad was happening.

Even so, when they left the horses in the stables with food and water, she turned to see the silver-haired man but he disappeared along with Idris as soon as the chestnut got to see them. Gale later appeared in the harem and announced that she should go get ready to go to the golden hall, which made her nervous.

Idris helped her change, which certainly left her confused, for he was a man. Of course, the brunette seemed angry and certainly more concerned in his own life than in her, and he did not want to mention the reason for his discontent when she asked him, so when he put the necklace that Noah had sent her as a present, they settled the topic.

—You look gorgeous —was the only thing he said, and smiled with melancholy.

He and Gale ushered him into the hall, and although he wanted to ask where Kenneth was, neither seemed willing to have a conversation. He wondered, then, if it was due to the alpha's sudden decision to be absent from the palace and reserve.

—Very well —Gale cleared his throat when they get close to the door while turning to see her—. I have a couple of advice. First, do whatever the sultan tells you to, and second, don't ever mention any sultan or person of the harem, not even another man.

—Is that a rule? —she raised her eyebrow.

—It's also the question of manners —Idris made an angry noise—, Idris —Gale mumbled.

—Whatever —Emma was surprised about Idri's attitude but she didn't say anything—, let's finish this, I have to go watch my puppies, not like others.

—Okay —Gale rolled his eyes and looked at Emma—. Are you ready?

—Should I? —she was nervous.

The red-haired man put his hand over her shoulders and smiled.

—Don't worry —he knocked on the door, strongly.

Once the sound of his knuckles against wood ceased, the Sultan's voice was heard saying "Go ahead". From there she was alone, they wished her luck and with her head bowed, she entered that room thinking only one thing.

That night her life would change forever.

—Oh, you decided to finally come.

The Alpha turned to see him with a crooked smile, while with his hands he played with a feather. The silver-haired man stood in front of the door with a calm look that hid his thoughts from him. Seeing that the black-haired girl did not say anything, he decided to speak.

—I think that Idris didn't like the idea —he said.

That comment brought a smile to her face and he raised his eyebrow.

—He should know that you won't do anything that can make him angry —she shook her hand while approaching the silver-haired with a bored face—. Don't worry.

He knew well that Idris was jealous of his partner, which is why she had stopped fleeing the palace during the rutting season and used to stay in the reserve, but this time she could not take that risk.

—You'll just be a screen —she said—. I'll spend the night with someone and you'll be our guard.

—Really? After all this time...

—Bring Nathan here —the alpha looked at the landscape from the window of her penthouse—, and make sure that nobody finds out. If the sultan asks you don't know anything. I'll be waiting, by midnight, both of you have to be here.

Kenneth couldn't believe it but still, he just bowed and ran away.

—You look beautiful —Noah smiled while looking at her upside down. He was happy to see how gorgeous they left her for him and then squeezed his smile a little. He hated how Soleil knew him that well, still, he couldn't deny that he was so interested in Emma.

—Thanks, your majesty —she was blushed.

—Sit down —he ordered then—. I didn't know what your favorite food is so I ask for a little of everything, come here, dine with me and let's talk. I like to chat a little and meet the people before we... Well, I think it's a question of manners.

Emma smiled.

—Is it fun? —he asked her while sitting in front of a little table. Emma nodded.

—How do you get used to this life? I still thinking about what Gale told me —he looked at her. She already broke the law while mentioned someone else but he let it go—. It's not easy to have two different lives. You're the sultan here and in the human realm...

—I don't go out very often —he answered while tasting the juice and looking at the feast he ordered—. I like to be here. When I go out of the reserve it's because it's necessary and that's okay. I don't like the "human realm" at all.

—Why is that? —She rested her chin on her hand and looked at him with interest.

—Well, I don't know —he scratched his neck—, I like here and the town, it is comfortable.

—You're the sultan, I will be surprised if you weren't comfortable —she made fun of it with a smile and then covered her mouth when she saw his serious face—. I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking, I didn't want to hurt...

The shrill laugh of the blue-eyed made her stop and see him offended, he just shook his head as he tried to swallow the sweets that he had put in his mouth when he decided to tease her. He had played a prank on her and the karma had avenged her dignity, so she smiled triumphantly.

—Sorry —he apologized and then looked at her, confident—. Maybe you're right but I wasn't always the sultan. And since I lived here I haven't wanted to go out there.

She frowned.

—There everything is very changed, here instead ... Well, we have the technology and a hierarchy system that allows us to hide who we are —he shook his shoulders.

—I don't get it. A lot of people stay their normal lives and are part of common herds, like... Normal people, you know —she touched her lips, thoughtful.

—Actually, I don't know —he told her—. Tell me, Emma, how does behave a normal herd?

—Well —she looked at the food quietly—. In my former pack, we had a den and we used to meet there, it wasn't in the forest but enough to stay away from the humans. We all lived in different places but always meet in the den to talk and that stuff. With the counselors and that.

—Counselors?

—Yes, my stepfather, his son, three betas and I —she added—. Actually, that pack sucked but... I think it was organized like the others from these days.

—Well, that is it —the blonde laughed—, this pack is not from these days.

—Right —she smiled—, so... You weren't always the sultan. I think you already told me that before but the alpha told me something about it too —she looked at him and could see how his blue eyes darkened—. If you don't wanna talk about it... It's okay.

—No, it's okay —he shook his head—. If Soleil talked to you about it means that she trust you, which is actually surprising.

—It is, isn't it? I was amazed.

Noah remained quiet for a while and nodded.

—When I was little I lived in another pack, like... the normals one —he affirmed, making her wide her eyes—. My mother and I, well, we didn't have an easy life before we met Malvin, her husband. He found us and brought us here as his family. I was a seven years old boy.

He cleared his throat.

—We should eat now —he settled.

Then they started laughing and drinking. They were talking for hours and hours, drinking and laughing while telling anecdotes, she didn't even remember how they ended up in bed, looking at each other in silence and the blonde just smiled at her before kissing her.

—Are you out of your mind? —Idris complained—. Why do you have to go?

—Honey —Kenneth approached him with a smile—, she doesn't want me. Besides I can't be with anyone but you. You're my mate, my fate, my everything and I love you.

—Then why you? You told me that she would go back to the penthouse, I don't like it —he crossed his arms while pressed his lips. The silver-haired smiled and looking everywhere to make sure they were all alone, he mumbled something in the brown-haired man—. Wait, what?

Idris was incredulous.

—You heard me, but you can't tell anyone.

—Oh, my! If Noah finds out he will be destroyed —he complained without paying attention to his husband—. And I won't tell him.

—Me neither, I have to go tonight —he sighed—. I want you to inform the sultan that I'm going for a week, Soleil told him but I want you to remind him.

—Are you insane? He must be with Emma right now, I'm not gonna do that —he mourned.

They remained quiet after hearing someone's steps.

—Reyham —he mumbled when he recognized the smell of the omega.

They split away and saw her, she was looking at them with the hassle.

—Sultan Reyham —they bowed their heads.

—I want to see the sultan, tell him that I'm going to his chambers —she announced.

—I'm sorry, sultan but his majesty already has company tonight —Kenneth told her before turning to see Idris—. I gotta go. The alpha's heat scent is too strong and I have to get her out of here —he said.

The woman looked at Idris while watching Kenneth go away.

—So the sultan Soleil's heat is close? It seems she will be alone and away again —she laughed.

—Don't worry about her. A certain person will join her soon —he winked at her—. See you later, sultan. I hope you rest well tonight... Oh, and you should sleep in your chambers, far from the noises.

The green eyes were covered with anger.

.

The next morning, she had to be at least ten seconds in silence while she processed what had happened last night before the blonde opened his eyes and looked at him with a calm smile. Not the loving smile she expected to see, but not as much pressure as at the beginning of the evening, then they heard a knock on the door.

—Go ahead —Noah yawned while getting up with the sheets just covering his lower body.

The brown-haired one entered and she stood still with three blankets covering her, she was ashamed. She would be lying if she said she wasn't, but the blonde next to her seemed very calm, as did the brunette, of course, they would be used to that probably every night. She frowned.

—Good morning —he said with a smile and Emma shook his head—. Your majesty, Reyham sultan hasn't stopped to say that she wants to see you and she's outside waiting for you.

Noah nodded, yawning, but Idris didn't move. He knew that the blonde would probably ignore Reyham and he would make her wait as long as she wanted, which he obviously wanted to witness, but he had to inform her otherwise.

—There's something else —Noah said.

—Yes, my lord —he sighed—. Kenneth asked me to inform you that he is out of the palace for this week. As you already know, the heat of our alpha is coming and she preferred to stay away. 

Even if he didn't want to, Noah grunted under his breath at the memory of that, fully awakening this time. He wanted to laugh bitterly as he remembered the first time he found out about it.

—Ah, I see.

Soleil's first heats were from Kenneth, as she refused to let anyone else touch her, she was also with other palace guards and thus, she believed it was a good way to teach him what her heartfelt when he carried another omega to the bed, but ... he remembered the first time he heard about it one afternoon.

—So...

He had run like crazy in his wolf version as far as he could smell the Alpha, he found her in a cabin in the woods a few meters from the reserve, tied in bed, and Kenneth standing guard. They had explained that since Kenneth met his mate and bit him as his, he was unable to be with anyone other than Idris. That was why he had become the Alpha's guard this season, protecting her from other wolves and herself.

He had a bad taste in his mouth.

—When are they going? —he questioned while rubbing one eye and lowering the foot of the bed to find his pants. Idris looked Emma in the eyes for a few seconds and was silent—. Idris?

—Am, actually... They left last night, sir —Idris pressed his lips.

Noah had to hold back as he reminded himself they weren't alone in the room so he looked at Emma and then Idris, asking the former to come out so they could get dressed.

—I wanted to have breakfast together but it looks like I have some affairs to check because my second-in-charge has left me everything —Emma saw that he was hurt—. So I'll call you when I'm done here, I promise.

—It's okay —she said, putting on her clothes.

—Thanks for understanding —he kissed her quickly and tried to go out of the room—. If you want, you can ask what you wish to Idris or Gale, they'll bring it to you here or in your room. Where do you prefer to be?

—I'd like to stay here —she said—. I don't feel like running into anyone in the harem.

—Okay then, I'll ask them to bring you some food —he kissed her again and get out.

Emma wanted to convince herself that she understood even if she didn't understand quite all right. He was the sultan, plus she reminded herself of what her Alpha told him about Reyham and his absence. One season, she sat on the edge of the bed, how long was one season? One month, two months? One year? She wasn't sure how long her Alpha was referring to. "Don't tell anyone about it." She bit her lip, it seemed pretty serious.

—Reyham —Noah looked at her.

Her makeup was smeared, giving him to understand that she had cried all night, and she had a red nose with a very bad red lip blur that she used to wear, she also carried a box of Kleenex in her hands. At the time he wasn't in the mood to hear her complain about it so he evaded her.

—Noah?

—I'm sorry, sultan, but his majesty has important matters to attend —Idris apologized, holding back the laugh. The woman just fulmined him with her eyes.

—Isn't the mother of his children not important then? —she shouted. Noah looked her sideways. 

—There are more important things to watch, Reyham, go back to your chambers —he ordered.

He didn't like treating a woman like that but she was getting on his nerves. 

It bothered her that Soleil was close to her warmth and instead of facing him, giving him an answer to his request and passing it on the reservation, as usual, she had gone away without saying anything. Well, maybe he had announced that he would wait for Kenneth in the bell tower but ... He thought it was just to get away from the palace, he thought he had the opportunity to go with her, but she disappeared while he had been with Emma. It was irritating.

—Are you okay? —Kenneth stood quiet while looking at Nathan going out of the room. He smells lemon, lavender, and coffee as well. Even if he was sweating and didn't have a shirt, and he only turned to see him with tiresome. Kenneth laughed—. You know, this is only the beginning.

—Yeah, I'm afraid so —he mumbled while dragging his feet to the fridge to grab something to eat. Kenneth was able to notice the recent wounds on his back—. She is a beast —he complained while trying to ignore the stinging.

Kenneth smiled.

—You'll be fine —he told him. 

He knew it fine, in the past, he also became a partner of the Alpha in a couple of heats. She was passionate without a doubt, but she was carried away by her wildest instincts, her eyes turned red and although she retained the human version of her, it seemed that her mind lost all connection with her body. She wasn't aware of the damage she was capable of doing, as long as she was satisfied. Almost like a full werewolf, but stronger, the scent of her was ... magnificent, but terrifying at the same time. She breathed out pheromones so strong that they made you give in to her and lose control of her.

—Besides I know you've been in love with her for a long time.

—I don't complain —the longhaired man said while collecting her hair in a ponytail—. I like it. I have always loved her and I'm so attracted to her that having her is... Damn, I can't describe it. But I'm really tired and she will be awake soon and... Well, you know.

Of course, that had been about ten years before, so he marked his mate Idris as his own. By making the pact, they were both unable to be with other people, and thanks to this, his Alpha's relationship with him had greatly improved. Although he had been her babysitter for years after those hot spells of hers there were times when her Alpha fled from him in shame to accept that it had really happened.

—Don't ever doubt it, she has the stamina of a camel —Kenneth laughed.

Although she didn't seem like it, she was too sentimental and when she was young, her biggest love disappointment was her fault. Her sentimental insecurity is a serious imbalance for someone who was in charge of completely controlling everything. She had pushed that imbalance from herself by rising and taking control of the pack.

—Ugh —Nathan clicked his tongue when he heard the alpha's howling.

—It looks like she's awake now —he was having some fun.

Nathan looked at him calmly and after replenishing some liquids and food, he returned to the room with that beast with the red eyes and the stamina of a camel. It wasn't that it bothered him, he always dreamed of that moment. Sultana Soleil, his Alpha, was the most beautiful female in the entire reserve. Anyone dreamed of being between her sheets, and she had chosen him.

Impressive, Nathan couldn't stop believing that he was in a dream.

A nightmare. 

Noah felt that he was in a nightmare. 

—Why didn't you stop them? —he was growling to Idris. 

—Sultan, she's the alpha —he scratched the back of his neck—, I couldn't. Also, she got out early at midnight, I barely think she rested well or healed her wounds. Remember, her wounds wide when she healed prince Khan with her magic in that condition and...

—Her wounds... 

Sure, the previous time Soleil had been challenged to a duel, had been injured, and still had been stabbed when she saved Khan. He had exhausted her magic and also cured him, giving her a terrible fever. What if something happened to him in that state? In the heat and with injuries.

—She'll be fine —Gale shook his copper streaks—, she's strong.

—The hell she is strong! —he growled and both betas gasped with surprise, his blue eyes took an orange shade, and his fangs came out—. I'm sick of hearing that when you're trying to calm me down. I know better than anyone that she is strong but... Goddammit.

He knew she would defend herself to the death, he knew she was strong, and that she didn't have much to worry about but she did, she did. She was his wife, his main wife, and yet after the ceremony and the wedding night, he had never been able to have her. He hurt, he was always in love with her. Even if he believed what happened and his confession had changed his mind, it was not like that.