The Wolf King's Demand

9

For a moment, Addison and Tyler locked eyes. He sensed in her the same intensity that was in his heart.

“Children, how about you rest now? I have a visitor. We will finish the story after your nap.”

The children moaned and grumbled but did as they were told. One of the guards watching from the corner, Declan, handed out blankets he must have retrieved from somewhere in the camp.

Addison rose and came to her king. “Tyler, where have you been?”

Tyler held her chin lightly and turned her face to examine her wound. “Never mind about me. Look at your lip. Are you all right? Do you need the healer to visit you again? I can order her swiftly to meet us at the castle.”

Tyler now knew why he had smelled her blood so easily.

Tyler lightly ran his hands over her arms, feeling for other wounds. Thankfully, there were none.

“Addison, what happened? Who attacked you?”

When Tyler uttered those words, he saw the four resting children suddenly huddling together under their quilts, fear painting their faces where a moment before there had been none.

Addison cupped Tyler’s face and serenely smiled. “I am totally fine, Tyler. Now, if you’re asking about that woman tied up in the corner. She might give you a different response.”

Tyler scanned the small cabin. His eyes homed in on the far right corner on the other side of the fireplace. One of his enforcers stood guard beside the tied-up, but unconscious female splayed out on a wooden cot.

The alpha approached and gazed down at the wench. Addison followed.

“She might need the healer, Tyler,” Addison smirked.

The enforcer broke protocol. He couldn’t help himself. He chuckled and spoke.

“Your queen is one fine woman, My King. She can surely take care of her own. She took down the bear guard at the gate, then kicked some serious ass with this girl despite the wretched hag calling her all sorts of names and threatening the little one over here. I would have done worse if it were me. But your mate knocked her on the noggin to shut her up. Worked like a charm, as you can see.”

Tyler could have glared at the enforcer, ready to scold him for speaking out of turn, but instead flashed him laughing eyes and an approving smile.

The king looked down at his queen. She had left his side to attend to the children, calming them and returning them to their nap.

Hmm … who knew I had a fated mate who was a fighter in her own right? I’m not sure if I should feel pride or offense at feminine competition for my manly duties.

Tyler voiced no words, of course.

He left the unconscious woman and lightly put his hands on Addison’s shoulders. The alpha was too in love and too enamored by his beautiful gladiatrix.

ADDISON



Tyler smiled at the enforcer’s proud words of his queen, which made Addison blush. She never thought it that big of a deal to subdue a rogue female, but maybe it was to the shifter men.

“Addison, could I speak with you privately?” Tyler’s expression was somber. Addison picked up on it right away.

“Yes, of course.” But as soon as Addison uttered the words, the little waif, Cassia, clutched onto Addison’s skirts even tighter and hid her tiny face in the folds.

“Ah, yes. This is my little shadow. Tyler, Louis, meet little Cassia. This is the source of the friction that caused me to have a showdown with the nasty woman in the corner.”

Addison bent down and unwrapped her charge, then looked her calmly in the eye. “Now, sweetie, I need to talk to the king. You will be safe and sound here until I return, okay?”

Cassia’s face had a mix of trepidation and fear, but she seemed to trust Addison. The little girl nodded and peeked at Declan, who smiled and held out his hand. Cassia followed him to the fireplace, where he patted a blanket for her to rest on.

Addison smiled at the big, burly wolf shifter caring for the little girl. Then she followed Tyler outside to a wood-hewn bench near a wildflower garden overlooking another side of Turtle Lake. The cabin was only one room, so there was no privacy. Addison was still a little apprehensive about being alone with Tyler, but maybe having alone time, however short, was what she needed to get accustomed to her king.

Tyler brushed away fallen leaves and twigs from the bench with his hand, then offered a seat to Addison, who gracefully nodded. The two gazed out at the glassy surface of the water for a time. Addison waited to speak. She knew something was on the king’s mind.

After a time, Tyler cleared his throat and turned to Addison. “Addison, I know you’ve told my guards and enforcers you’re okay. But are you? Truly? You can be honest with me. That skirmish and rescuing the children, especially that little tot from her abusive mother. It must have been traumatizing for you. Not to mention your battle with that awful woman.”

Addison jerked her head to Tyler. Her expression was anything but sweet. She knew her immediate change in demeanor would shock her king, but no matter.

“What exactly are you inferring here, Tyler? That I’m too mentally and physically weak to hold my own. I’m not some sort of useless wallflower, you know? How dare you assume such a thing.”

Tyler leaned away from her, his face blanched with shock.

“Not the answer I expected. I’m not sure you understand why I care so deeply for your welfare.” Tyler grabbed both of Addison’s arms and looked straight into her eyes.

“In a nutshell, Addison, I simply can’t lose you to rogue attacks or by any other means. You are my fated mate. Maybe we have kinks to iron out in our relationship, but you, dear one, are my present and future. No one else but you. And, so, your life will be my primary concern until the day I die.”