The King of Wolves

Chapter 6 - Hidden Agendas

Caspian POV

I've been in this room for fifteen minutes, trying to get myself under control. My wolf wants nothing more than to rip this place apart until my mate is safely in my arms.

My insides feel like they are burning. As if I’ve swallowed bleach. The air feels thick and heavy, making it hard to breathe and even think clearly.

I must get control. And some answers about that girl.

A thin layer of sweat covers my body from my muscles being clenched to try and restrain myself from the moment she came into view.

Her image fills my head. Her eyes and the way her hair tumbled around her.

Her full lips, oh what I want to do to those lips, that mouth.

I’ve slept with plenty of women, but none compare to her beauty.

I feel myself get hard as I picture her slender body, looking fabulous in that thin dress she had on, her tight, toned figure easily seen by anyone with eyes.

Rage fills me as I think of other wolves who have spent goddess knows how long gawking at my beautiful mate.

Through my anger, I barely even notice Derek trying to connect to my mind link.

Hey man, I’m sorry. I didn’t expect it to play out like this.

I don’t answer. The heat and anger are making it hard for me to think straight.

Cas, maybe we should do business before dinner?

Derek knows how hot-headed I can be, so he doesn’t even suspect my outburst was because he told me my mate is an omega werewolf.

I let out a deep breath, calming the arousal from picturing my mate and everything I want to do to her. All the things I want to do with her.

No. Stop. I have business to deal with.

Yes, I think maybe we should. It comes out forced. I will be down in five.

I cut the link as I roll off the bed and head into the ensuite bathroom to turn the shower on full blast. It won't be the release I initially hoped for, but this will have to do.

Stripping my now-soaked clothes off, I open the door and step inside, letting the icy water run over my heated body. I wash quickly, but the fire still rages inside of me.

I let out a frustrated groan and turn the water off.

After getting dressed, I open the door to my room and find my Beta in the hall.

"My King." Derek nods his head.

"Where are we meeting Alpha Maddox? I want an explanation, and I want it now," I say menacingly.

He walks forward down the hall, and I follow behind him. "His office is on the third floor, this way." He waves his hand, gesturing to the left side of the hallway that leads to another staircase.

His face is expressionless. He’s in trouble, and he knows it.

We make our way up the stairs, and Derek walks me past a few doors before stopping at the end of the hall and knocking.

"Enter." We hear from the other side of the door.

Derek opens the door and steps aside, letting me enter the room first. Alpha Maddox is behind a large, brown desk, and another man sits on an oversized dark green leather couch. They both jump up as I stop in the middle of the room.

"King Caspian, I thought we were meeting after dinner?" Alpha Maddox’s voice is stern but confused.

I wave my hand for them to be seated as I sit on the other side of the couch, and Derek closes the door. He goes to a chair opposite me, taking a seat next to the Alpha.

Before speaking, I inhale a short breath and let it out slowly.

"We were. The plan has changed." My voice is strained as the mate bond courses through my body, begging me to get up and find my mate.

"You will tell me everything you know about that female, Morana. Now."

Even saying her name sends a shiver up my spine. Damn.

His eyes widen in surprise, and he runs a hand across his mouth—Alpha Maddox and the man glance at one another before sighing and settling back into his chair.

"Well, it's a bit of a long story. But the gist of it is, Morana is not from our pack."

"What?" Derek hisses.

My face hardens, but I wait for him to continue.

What does that even mean? Maybe the Moon Goddess isn't punishing me. My heart constricts inside my chest.

"It's not what you think. She's not a rogue or anything but was placed in my pack shortly after her birth by your father for protection."

"My father knows about this?"

"Yes, many years ago, a few still wouldn't accept defeat after the rogue war ended. They concocted a plan to steal away a particular child and raise her to their advantage, grooming her to hate the Royals the way they did."

"What are you talking about? The rogue war was nothing but some mutts who were pissed they were kicked out of their packs." I counter.

I can’t sit still. I get up and begin pacing slowly. Derek and I look at each other, confusion in his eyes.

"Well, that's not entirely the case. There are some among us who wish to rule all wolves under one kingdom, thinking females are weak and only exist for their pleasure. Morana is thought to be a direct descendent of the Moon Goddess to-"

“That’s bulls**t. That’s the old way of thinking. Wolves haven’t lived like that for hundreds of years. That’s why the kingdom split in two in the first place.” I roll my eyes and clench my fists to control my temper.

“Did you say descendent of the Moon Goddess?” Derek asks, making me look at him.

“Yes,” Alpha Maddox’s face is stone.

Is he for real?

I snort, "And how would you know that?" I cross my arms in front of my chest, my muscles bulging from the pain.

"From this.” He pulls out an old book, laying it on his desk so Derek and I can see.

"A prophecy."

"If that's the truth, why have I never heard of this before?" This has got to be a joke. I’ve never heard of anything like this and have worked by my father’s side nearly all my life.

"I can't answer that, King Caspian, because I don't know. Your mother, the Queen, instructed Rhodes to bring the baby girl here and keep her protected until she was 21."

"Whos Rhodes?" my Beta asks.

"He was Morana's father, not her real father, of course. He and I grew up together and was in line to be my Beta, so we had been to your pack many times in our youth. He was an excellent warrior, and we often would help your parents with the packs surrounding ours. When all hell broke loose, we were training with the Royal Circle, and your father asked for our help."

We both nod, following along. I still don't understand why I was never told this. I grunt and sit back down on the couch and close my eyes.

"After returning with the girl, Rhodes stepped down as my future Beta. He wanted to ensure that she was always looked after, and the chances of him not being near her grew as a high-ranking member."

"He gave up being your Beta... for her?.." The sadness is evident in Derek’s voice.

"Yes, that's when Jackson stepped in." Alpha Maddox gestures to the man next to me. "He was our friend we let in on the plan after Rhodes decided to give up his position. The story needed to be convincing, so the pack wouldn't question it and draw unnecessary attention."

Beta Jackson looks like he's been punched in the gut. His face is white as a sheet.

"Well, shouldn't Rhodes be here?" I say, throwing my hand up. “Where is he?”

"Wait. Before you said, 'he was a great warrior...'?" Derek questions, shifting forward in his seat. Wheels start turning in my head as I see what Derek is implying.

The Alpha's eyes twitch, and his lips line hard. "He was the wolf killed in the attack on my pack a few months ago."

"WHAT?" I roar, the veins in my neck straining against my too-tight skin. "The man who was a part of this and can provide answers is dead?" Control is almost a thing of the past at this point. My breathing is ragged, my airway closing.

Shit. s**t. s**t.

"Please calm down, my King. I know this must be a lot to take in." Beta Jackson shifts in his seat to look at me, speaking for the first time.

I run my hands through my hair, grabbing the back of my head as I lean over and stare at my knees.

Between the pain of being away from my mate and how this conversation is going, my self-control is hanging on by a thread.

Why does everything have to be so f*****g complicated!?

"Okay, let me get this straight. The female down there is of 'royal blood,' a child of the Moon Goddess herself, but was hidden away in your pack to protect her… because of a prophecy?" It comes out harsher than I mean, but I’m trying not to rip this office apart.

Alpha Maddox nods.

“Why you? Why Rhodes?”

“My pack is far from the Royals, and the surrounding mountains provide protection.” Alpha Maddox looks down at his hands on the desk. “And it was sort of right time, right place.”

“Who are her parents?”

He shrugs, “I’m not sure. I was never told.”

"So then, what's this prophecy?”

"Your elders believe her to be the one who will bring peace to the Northern and Southern Kingdoms."

A dry cackle escapes my lips as I lean back against the couch. "Moon Goddess or not. You expect me to believe that girl, an omega, will bring peace?!"

"That's just it. She's not an omega."

The flames erupt inside of me. Renewed tingles explode from my chest and radiate to my fingers and toes.

Cas, what's wrong? Derek asks through our link. Concern etched on his face. He can tell this is more than just anger from being left in the dark about the royal pack business.

A growl grows in my throat as I exhale. I’m using all my strength to hold myself together.

"As I was saying, the story needed to be convincing. The only reason for Rhodes to step down as my Beat was if the pack believed his lineage was tainted by boring an omega." Alpha Maddox ignores my outburst, pushing forward.

My breathing begins to pick up.

He continues, "Morana has a crescent-shaped mark on the back of her neck. It radiated a soft blue light practically a month after she was born. The Elders believe she was blessed by the Moon Goddess herself. On the day of her birth, the moon was in the sky day and night, almost glowing. Just as it's written here." He points to a line in the book laid out in front of him.

Every word he just said is true.

“That explains why she heard me..” Derek trails off, thinking.

“What are you talking about?” I look at him with my eyes wide.

“This morning after I arrived, I went for a run around the pack grounds to check things out when I came across Morana and another guy fighting.”

“She was fighting?” My eyes bulge, my heart pounding. My mate was fighting?

“Yeah, with that one guy who stepped in front of her when you were checking her out.”

“Ahh.” The Alpha leans back in his chair. “That’s her brother, Alex.”

“Oh, that makes sense. Anyway, I watched them for a minute before he left and she started to go back home or something. She suddenly stopped and turned around.”

“She felt you?”

“Yeah, I know, right? I’m one of the best concealers in the north. Even for a Lycan, I’m better than most. And when I asked her how she knew I was there, she shrugged like it was obvious. ‘I felt you.’” Derek makes his voice higher, imitating a girl.

My face falls. All I can see is her beautiful face in my mind. The room is starting to get fuzzy.

"She's my mate." I spit out. This wasn’t how I wanted it to go, but knowing she’s not some weak female sent to destroy me has my heart bursting.

Three pairs of eyes are now on me. It’s dead silent. Tension is rolling off me in waves I can no longer control. I will have to leave the office soon, or I will lose my mind.

"Morana is your mate?" Derek asks, his voice shaking in a harsh whisper. He can’t believe it either. “Is that what was going on in the hallway?”

I nod, starting to lose my senses.

“Cas…”

My mind is racing, but one thing is for sure. That beautiful creature is mine. The heat inside me is beginning to get unbearable, even painful.

"Who was after her all those years ago?" Rage takes over me, the thought of someone hurting my mate, my queen. It’s unbearable.

Beta Jackson is the one to speak up. "That's the one thing we don't know. Your father killed the leader of the rogues during the war, so we're not sure who it is or what they plan on doing next. We believe these attacks were to distract us from what they were really after."

"My mate." They are coming after the one who was made for me.

Beta Jackson's jaw tightens as he grunts in agreement. “They don’t know where she is, but I’m sure they’re looking.”

"One more thing," I sputter, "Why and how does everyone think she's an omega?"

Alpha Maddox sighs, visibly glad the conversation is almost over.

"Simple. A spell placed on her by a witch. However, it will be broken when you mark her as your mate. And I can't predict what will happen after that. The Elders may know more.”

Oh, they have much explaining to do when I get home.

I quickly stand up and lunge for the doorknob.

I throw open the door, not caring who sees me. I am teetering on edge; all I can think of is Morana.

“One more thing before you leave, King Caspian.” Alpha Maddox stands up from his chair.

“After you speak with your mate, we should meet again. There are a few more things I would like to discuss with you.”

After a quick nod, I’m gone.