The Alpha King and the White Witch

Chapter 4

Phoenix’s bright blue eyes suddenly opened wide as he heard the snapping of a twig just right outside the room he was currently occupying. He stood still in bed as he listened for more movements to be sure. Not even a minute, the crunching sound of feet smashing against dried leaves on the ground echoed through the night. Confirming his suspicions, he carefully moved out of bed. His movements are precise and silent as he moves around the dark room.

In an ordinary human vision, it'd be too hard to move around, but not for Phoenix, he could clearly see every nook and cranny of the room. Werewolves have excellent night visions, as they usually run and hunt at night as a pack. No sound can be heard as Phoenix slowly moves next to the window of the room, hiding at the sides just behind a white curtain that is fluttering around due to the night wind. He purposely left it open a while ago as he was feeling hot before he went to bed. The window is facing Helena’s flower garden which is next to a forest where he came from before he passed out, so whoever was there had probably followed his scent or the stain of his blood when he got attacked.

“One…two…”

Phoenix counted the set of footsteps he could now clearly hear as the two intruders continued their way going towards the backdoor of Helena’s house. The sudden urge to protect his mate made his wolf on edge, snarling at the back of his mind and wanting to go out, but he couldn’t risk scaring his mate like this. Not when he’s still on the getting-to-know stage with her. Phoenix went out of the room as fast as he could and went towards the living room’s window, jumping off of it, silently as possible, making his way towards the intruders who still hadn’t caught his scent or movement.

He couldn’t directly go out of the window from the room he was in as the two intruders would notice him the moment his feet landed outside of it. Phoenix can hear whispering coming from them as he walks to the side of the house, but it’s not loud enough for him to make out what they’re talking about. As he got closer he could now clearly hear them and the voices of the intruders were so achingly familiar to him that he moved faster until he was standing just a few feet away from the two.

“What are you both doing here?” Phoenix asked, his voice as low as the human ear can hear.

The two shirtless men immediately snapped their heads towards him.

“Nix, it’s been a day and you haven’t returned. I can’t even contact you through the mind-link.” The brown-haired male who looks like he’s only just a few inches shorter than Phoenix spoke.

“And you decided to look for me by bringing a warrior trainee?” Phoenix asked his beta as he threw a glance at the smallest male among them. A blonde-haired teenager who has his head bowed down to avoid the gaze of the king and to show his respect.

“I actually did not bring him; he followed me all the way here. I was busy trying to contact you through the mind-link and giving orders that I did not notice him until I was half way. Besides, this kid has great potential at being a tracker. He helped a lot in finding you.” Nocturne, his beta and, at the same time, his best friend explained. Nocturne or Turne has been beside him since he was a child. The two of them grew up together. It was a tradition in the werewolf community to have the future Alpha and Beta share a room from the moment they learn how to walk to establish the bond between them as future leaders of the pack, then later on, as they become teens, the beta’s room is placed next to the alpha’s.

It was not the only reason why Nocturne is his best friend. Apart from being an outstanding beta, he is also someone who did his best to gain Phoenix’s trust and the only person who was really interested in getting to know him as a person. He never once used his rank in the pack to bully people, but instead he is the one who saves them and punishes the offenders. But like the night, Nocturne always looks cold and brooding from the outside.

“I see then it would be better to have him transferred to the tracking department for his training. That is, if he would like that. Would you?” Phoenix said as he looked at the teenager.

“Y-yes, your majesty.” The teenager muttered as he shyly looked up to him.

“What’s your name?”

“A-Alec...”

“That’s a nice name. Don’t hesitate to come to me if you want to go back to your previous department when the time comes.”

“T-thank you, y-your majesty.” Alec muttered, which Phoenix just responded with a nod as he proceeded to discuss some things with Turne, including finding his mate.

If only the Alpha and the Beta weren’t in front of him talking right now, Alec could’ve been jumping around because of too much happiness. It was a long-time dream of his to become a tracker, but when the admission test for it in the pack happened, it was also the day his father died and so his nose was not functioning well due to the crying he did and got rejected.

“…keep it a secret for now, Turne.”

“I will. You don’t have to worry about that.”

“You two go back now and I’ll be there later before lunch time.” Phoenix ordered, which Alec and Nocturne responded with a bow as the two of them slowly walked and disappeared through the dark forest.

Shaking his head, Phoenix went inside the house again but this time using the window of the guest room. As much as he wanted to stay there with his mate, he had to go home for a bit and discuss some important details with Turne, especially the incident about him being attacked. But what kind of excuse can he use to show up in front of her house the moment he leaves? Will she miss him even for a bit? Those were the thoughts that occupied his mind as he slowly drifted off to sleep.

___

“Good morning”

Helena jumped in shocked and almost spilled the coffee on herself when Phoenix suddenly spoke behind her. Placing her mug of coffee on the counter, she looked at him with a bright smile.

“Morning. Do you want some coffee?”

“Yes please, how was your sleep?” Phoenix said as he sat on a bar stool facing Helena, who pulled out a mug and poured some coffee for him.

The strong aroma filled the kitchen as the two of them silently sipped their coffees. It was a very sunny morning. A comfortable silence enveloped them as the only thing they could both hear was the sound of the birds chirping. Helena felt happy just by leaning against the counter and having her cup of coffee between her hands as her eyes slowly stared at Phoenix, with his hair all messed up from sleeping but nevertheless handsome.

“Helena, I have something to tell you.” Phoenix suddenly said, his eyes meeting hers.

Helena did her best to try and not to make it seem like she was just caught staring at her, fighting the blush that was slowly making its way to her cheeks. Biting her lips, she slowly looked down on her mug and cleared her throat.

“Mhm?”

“I have to go home today so as to not worry my family.”

“Wait, what? You’re married?!” Helena gasped. Her eyes widened as she stared at him horrified, which made Phoenix panic. Not wanting his mate to get the wrong idea and hate him.

“No, no, no. What I was referring to are the people who raised me-” Phoenix stopped explaining himself when he heard a soft chuckle coming from her.

“Seriously,” he muttered and shook his head as Helena’s laughter echoed in the kitchen. As much as he didn’t like her teasing him like that, his heart fluttered at the sight of her beautiful face. Lightening up with happiness as her shoulder lightly shook, his wolf purring inside him as he listened to his mate.

“I got you” Helena said in between laughter.

Phoenix couldn’t help but join in with her. He likes Helena’s energy a lot, making him want to stay and be around her twenty-four-seven.

“But I promise to visit you here as soon as I can.”

“Nah, you don’t have to do that.” Helena said, trying to brush off the sadness which was now slowly filling her heart. It was only been a day but she couldn’t help but realize how lonely she had been living alone for years until him. It was the first morning in years that she was laughing and enjoying the morning with someone, sharing the beautiful sight of her garden as the flowers basked in the sunlight.

“I know that I don’t have to, but I want to see you again, Helena,” Phoenix sincerely said, staring at her intently. As if to express what he truly feels on the inside for her.

“But you don’t have any reasons to see me.” Helena muttered and looked away, trying to keep herself busy by washing hers and Phoenix’s mug in the sink.

“Is wanting to get to know you more and date you a good enough reason?”

Helena almost dropped the mug she was holding, her heart fluttered and butterflies filled her stomach. Phoenix is too straight forward, she didn’t have any time to prepare herself!

“W-what?”

“I want to date you, Helena,” Phoenix said, and grabbed her hand, which was unconsciously shaking. The familiar delicious sparks ignited her body and made her heart beat twice as fast.

“A-are you always this direct to the women you want to date?”

“No. Just with you, besides, I have never dated anyone before,” He suddenly admitted, which made Helena’s jaw drop. Is he for real? He looks like God’s gift to women. A walking s*x on legs! What kind of bullsh*t is this?

“No way..for real? Like seriously?”

“Dead serious”

“Then that means…”

They both took each other’s first time that fateful night that they slept together and here she was planning to tell him to forget about what happened between them so they could be friends. But something inside her felt happy that she was the first woman in her life that there was no one before her. Just the thought of some random woman touching him makes her furious, wanting to burn that someone’s body to the ground. And that thought alone shocked Helena. She never once thought about hurting someone for petty reasons, but she’s doing it right now because of a man she only met days ago. This is insanity.

“Helena?” Phoenix asked, cutting her train of thoughts which made her space out a little.

“Y-yes?” Helena absentmindedly asked.

Phoenix took her right hand, which was still wet from washing the dishes, and took it to his left cheek. His eyes a darker shade of blue as his eyes dilated a little, staring at her eyes. At that moment she felt like she was staring at another person’s eyes through his, someone who was calling out to her soul. Making shivers run down her spine as Phoenix’s handsome face slowly leaned towards her hand.

“You took my virginity, Ms. Helena. You should take responsibility for me by letting me date you.”