The Alpha Princess and Her Enemy

Games

Wrenna POV

“Alright, now we’ll be doing an exercise in trust,” Counciler Elara said with a huge smile, clapping her hands together as if it was the most exciting thing ever. It took every bit of willpower for Wrenna not to roll her eyes.

As the groups split off, Wrenna noticed more of the Regional Council stepping in. Each circle had a Councilor hovering close — guiding, smiling too brightly, eyes sharp. She recognized a few by name from her father’s dealings, though never this many gathered in one place. This wasn’t a simple game.

It was a test.

But not all of them had moved. Councilor Morris remained seated at the head table, his fingers steepled, eyes locked on her across the room. The hair on her neck rose.

“Each couple decides who wears this blindfold first—” she said, passing out a red cloth to each couple. Brad took there’s staring at it for a long moment.

“Kinky,” one of the men said in a mock husky voice, causing everyone to chuckle.

“Okay, the ones going first can now put on their blindfolds,” Counciler Elara said, ignoring the remark.

Brad looked at her for the first time since she’d picked his name out of that damn bowl, before holding up the blindfold—sheepishly smiling—a question in his eyes.

“Give me that,” she scoffed, wrenching the cloth from his hands and tying it over her eyes.

“Okay, now the real fun begins!” Counciler Elara said in a high-pitched voice, “We can now make an obstacle course with the things we have in the room.”

The next five minutes, Wrenna heard scraping of chairs, tables and the quiet, “over here,” “No, not there, let’s do it like this,” until finally they were done. In the distance, she heard what she thought was one of the other groups playing charades. If she’d known they were playing stupid games, she would have worn an appropriate outfit.

“Okay, which couple wants to go first?” Elara asked, still perky.

“Oh, come on, don’t be shy!”

“I think…” Brad’s voice cut through the chuckles, “The princess wants to go first.”

Wrenna kicked her heel in his direction. Asshole.

“Feisty!” Brad rasped, causing more chuckles.

“Alright Alpha Bradley, why don’t you guide Alpha Wrenna to the start of the course,”

Wrenna held back a gasp when Brad took her hand with one of his, sparks shooting up her arm. The loss of vision heightened all her other senses. The fingers of his other hand gently skimmed her lower back, guiding her.

“Alpha Bradley…in the interest of future alliances, your job is to guide Alpha Wrenna to the best of your abilities, making sure she makes it to the other side unscathed,” Counciler Elara chirped.

“You maybe begin!” She sang, clapping her hands. Wrenna was glad she was wearing the cloth, since it gave her the convenience of rolling her eyes behind it.

“Okay, Princess. Straight forward,” She could just hear the smirk in Brad’s voice. Every hair on her head stood up—no way in hell she was trusting him!

She held out her foot and moved, trying to feel for any obstructions that might be in her way—obstructions Brad didn’t warn her about.

“What’s wrong?” he mocked, “Don’t you trust me?” the crowd laughed, but she thought she heard a tinge of annoyance in his voice.

She took one careful step after another, her wolf bristling at being so exposed—blind to any danger around them. Brad’s voice, low and maddeningly calm, murmured from behind her.

“Left. Now two steps forward. Good. Turn half a circle.”

The chuckles of the crowd faded as she tuned in to him—his hand ghosting at her elbow, the heat of his presence like a brand on her back. She was close, she could feel it—

“Now… just one more turn,” he drawled.

She obeyed, pivoting—and froze. The scents hit her first. Smoke. Cedar. Him.

Then the blindfold brushed her cheek as she realized she was right back where she’d started—standing before Brad, the bastard probably grinning.

“She just cannot take direction,” Brad announced with mock regret, earning another round of laughter.

The cloth ripped off her face as she seethed. “You did that on purpose!”

Elara’s cheer cracked for the first time, her smile faltering. “Uh—zero points for this team.”

The group erupted in laughter, but Wrenna’s glare could’ve set the room on fire.

As the first person of the couples had their turn, Wrenna couldn’t help but glare at Brad, who’s playful banter seemed to be appreciated by the other Alphas. But they didn’t know the backstabber he really was. And honestly, did they even want someone like that as their ally?

“Well done, everyone. Most—“ Elara had the audacity to look Wrenna and Brad’s way, as if this was her fault! “—did very well. Now, let’s switch.”

The seconds got blindfolded, waiting for the others to make another course.

“Okay,” Elara clapped in her hands as they finished. “Who wants to go fi—”

“He does!” Wrenna snapped, dragging Brad to the start. He chuckled.

“So eager to be near me, Princess,” he smirked, speaking only for her to hear. Wrenna clenched her jaw.

“Listen carefully, Bradley,” she grated, speaking slowly as if she were speaking to a child, “I want to actually get at least some points. So do your best to take direction.”

She poked him in the back.

“And….go!” Elara said.

“Two steps to the left and then just go! The path is clear!” Wrenna said, all faux helpfulness dripping from her tone.

The dumbass actually listened.

The crash echoed like thunder as Brad barreled straight into a stack of chairs, flipping clean over them and landing flat on his back with a grunt.

“Ooooooohhh!” the crowd jeered, laughter erupting across the circle. Someone even clapped.

Wrenna plastered on her sweetest smile, arms crossed. “Oops. I meant the other left.”

Brad ripped the blindfold off, his stormy eyes narrowing at her, dark with both fury and something else that curled hot in her stomach. He pushed to his feet with a predator’s grace, brushing off his suit jacket as if he hadn’t just been humiliated in front of half the Alphas in the region.

The smirk he gave her was sharp enough to cut glass. “Careful, Princess,” he rasped low enough for only her to hear as he stalked toward her. “Two can play that game.”

“Alright! Let’s not make this escalate!” Elara’s chirp pitched a little too high as she clapped her hands, trying to regain control of the circle.

But Wrenna held her ground, chin lifted, sparks still dancing on her skin from his nearness.

--

Soon after, the next horror appeared: charades.

“Alright,” Elara clapped, like this was the pinnacle of entertainment. “One person acts, the other guesses! And remember, no words or sounds!”

Brad grinned like a wolf who’d just cornered his prey. “Ladies first.”

“Fine.” Wrenna stomped to the front, tugging the card from Elara’s hand. She unfolded it—saw the words wolf howling—and groaned. Seriously?

She rolled her eyes, before tilting her head back, opening her mouth—and gestured with a hand in an up and down movement that sound was coming out of it. In the process, her skirt hitched scandalously high up her thigh. A ripple of laughter shot through the group.

Brad’s eyes went molten. “Goddess, Wren. If you wanted to give me a blowjob in public, all you had to do was ask.”

Her mouth dropped open. Gasps and snickers rippled through the circle, Wrenna frozen in mortified horror. “That is not—”

“And here I thought you weren’t into an audience,” he added, voice pitched low, rough and private. Heat scorched her cheeks. Without thinking, she flipped him off.

The Alphas roared with laughter. Brad clutched his chest in mock pain. “See? She admits I’m number one.”

Elara’s too-bright smile cracked, her voice sharp as glass. “Point… withheld. Next team.”

--

The third game was worse. Giant Jenga. Of course.

“In this game, you must work together in a team, against another couple. Think carefully—and work together—make a plan,” Elara announced, voice stretched thin.

Brad leaned in close, his breath brushing her temple as they approached. “Try not to screw this one up, Princess.”

She ignored him, staring at the tower. “What about that one?” she pointed to a middle block.

“Risky,” Brad murmured. “But then, you always did like danger.”

She shot him a glare but tugged anyway. Their fingers brushed, sparks racing up her skin. She tried to ignore it. Tried.

Block after block, they worked in tense, stubborn silence—until the tower finally crashed on their opponents.

“Yes!” The word ripped out of both of them at once. Before she could think, Wrenna was airborne, legs wrapping around him as laughter bubbled out. His arms locked around her instinctively, strong and sure. For a dizzy, endless moment, all she could smell, all she could feel—was him.

The world narrowed to cedar and smoke. His heat. Her heart in her throat. Then Brad’s grip went rigid. He set her down like she’d burned him, his smirk twisting sharp. His voice carried just enough for those around them to hear:

“Careful, Princess. Don’t forget you’re here with your mate. I mean… I’m game if you are.”

The laughter that rippled from nearby Alphas stabbed like knives. Heat scorched her face, but not from embarrassment — from fury. Without thinking, she snatched a block off the table and smacked it against his chest.

Brad only chuckled darkly, but Elara’s shrill voice cut through:

“Zero. Again.”

The Councilwoman’s forced cheer was gone, her smile tight. “Next two teams.”

The last game was pure torture: the balloon game. Each pair had to hold a balloon between their chests and make it across the room without using their hands.

She groaned. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Brad smirked, winking. “Think of it as practice.”

She wanted to smack him. Instead, she let him step in, his body heat swallowing hers as the balloon pressed tight between them. Every step was a battle—the latex squeaking, her wolf panting at the closeness, his stormy gaze never breaking from hers.

She noticed Elara hovering nearby, gaze wary, scared of what the two of them would do now.

They shuffled forward, the balloon squeaking between them, threatening to slip. For a terrifying second it wobbled low, almost tumbling to the floor— Wrenna’s hands twitched uselessly at her sides.

But somehow, pressed chest-to-chest, they caught the rhythm together. The balloon held.

They both laughed—short, breathless, unwilling but real.

Her heart stuttered. His stormy gaze dipped to her lips, softened, unguarded. For one impossible heartbeat, he wasn’t mocking her. He wasn’t her enemy. He was just… Brad.

“Say you don’t feel this,” he rasped, brows furrowed, voice raw and breaking rough.

“Ma-ma!” Brenley’s sleepy wail split the air. Little feet pattered across the floor, an omega chasing after him, flustered.

The balloon popped between them with a sharp crack.

Wrenna dropped to her knees just as Brenley crashed into her arms, burying his face in her neck. He was hot, flushed, fighting sleep.

“I’m sorry, Alpha,” the omega stammered. “He didn’t want to stay—he kept crying for you—”

Wrenna gathered him close, kissing his curls. “It’s fine,” she said softly. “I’ve got him.”

When she stood again, Brenley snuggled tight against her shoulder, Brad’s face was carved from stone. The rawness she’d seen a moment ago was gone, shuttered behind that cold mask. His eyes lingered too long on the boy before snapping away, his jaw flexing.

Wrenna turned to Elara, ready to explain, but the Councilor only muttered, “Thank the Goddess,” under her breath before briskly declaring the games over.