An Alpha's Favor

Chapter 3: The Favor

-Hunter-

“Welcome, Hunter,” the king said as I stepped through the doors.

He was just coming down the stairs, his beta right behind him. Even from where I stood, I could faintly catch the scent of his queen on him. It seemed I had interrupted something, and that made me smile a little as I approached and took his outstretched hand. There was still a tension between us.

Despite our attempts at cooperation and peace, we were two powerful males, both descended from strong lines of wolves. Being alphas made us territorial and primed to assert our dominance.

“Come,” he said.

We ascended two flights of stairs, reaching his office on the second floor. More males waited there, but I didn’t take it as an insult. On the contrary, the presence of so many powerful allies signaled that the king recognized I was not to be underestimated. I had my own group of formidable males with me, and Archer was always close by.

“So,” Valerio said, settling into his chair across the desk.

I sat down in front of him, opening my jacket and leaning slightly on my cane, feeling the stiffness in my legs after the long flight. I knew he noticed my slower movements but clearly chose not to comment, and I was grateful for that.

“You called for this meeting. What can I help you with?” he inquired.

I smiled, leaning on the armrest and rolling my cane in front of me, tapping the wolf’s head at its end.

“I believe it’s time to cash in that favor,” I replied.

At my words, every one of his trusted males straightened in the room, a power-thick tension settling in that stirred my own men. Valerio remained composed, though I could see a hint of paleness in his face.

“Okay,” he said, his tone steady.

I knew he couldn’t deny me this. He owed me. The thought sent a rush of satisfaction through me. Having the king literally under my control felt intoxicating. I noticed his anxiousness as he waited for my request. He knew well that what I was about to ask wouldn’t be simple.

I opened my mouth, ready to voice my request, when suddenly the door behind me burst open. A male I hadn’t met before stepped in. He was clearly an alpha, tall with striking green eyes, but there was something off about him—he looked worried, almost anxious. His scent was unfamiliar as well.

Valerio, now visibly irritated by the interruption, just like me, shot him a hard look as he stood from his seat.

“What the hell, Lucian! Can’t you see we’re in the middle of a meeting?” the king snapped.

Lucian… Ah, he have to be the cousin of Kaytlyn and Madeleine, I thought. I had done my research, of course, but since the two sisters were now mated and no longer options for me. Yet as the alpha stepped closer, I not only saw the resemblance but also recalled a picture of him.

He stopped at my left side, not even glancing at me, his focus solely on the king. He appeared conflicted as he stood there, and suddenly, I found myself more interested in what he had to say than in asking the king for a favor. It seemed I had walked into something quite intriguing.

“I know,” he said, not bothering to apologize for his interruption. “But… I…”

“What?” Valerio inquired, growing impatient. It wasn’t surprising. Patience wasn’t a virtue often found in alphas. Yet his irritation seemed to fade as he noticed how scared Lucian looked. “What’s going on?”

His voice softened, and it seemed Lucian finally made a decision.

“She told me not to come,” he said.

“Who?”

Lucian slowly glanced at one of the other males—Chris, the one who had taken Kaytlyn from me. Chris looked back at Lucian, confusion etched on his face, before Lucian turned back to the king.

“She is back,” Lucian said.

“What?”

“Angela… she is back.”

Angela?

The room froze, a heavy silence enveloping us. I looked at the king, who appeared genuinely caught off guard, which said something—after all, he was king.

“My sister?” Suddenly, Chris stepped around some of the others and approached Lucian, grabbing his shoulder and turning him to face him. Ah yes, Chris has a sister. I remembered reading about that. Lucian nodded.

“How do you know this?” Chris demanded, anxiety evident in his voice.

“She… She called me.”

“She called you?” Chris echoed, disbelief coloring his tone.

Lucian nodded, looking towards the king.

“Chris, take a step back,” Valerio ordered.

Chris shook his head, still gripping Lucian’s shoulder, making him look back at him.

“Why did she call you? Where the hell is she?” he growled.

Oh, this is much more interesting. I had to admit, it was never boring here. First, I witnessed Madeleine being claimed, then I helped free her mate Evan from a k!dnapper, and now this. I was not disappointed at all.

“Chris!” the king growled.

Chris shot the king a hard glare, but his yellow eyes conveyed a clear warning not to push it, so Chris reluctantly stepped back.

“Lucian, what happened?” the king inquired.

“She called me last night, telling me to come pick her up,” Lucian said.

“And where is she now?”

“At Evan’s apartment. I thought it was best to take her there.”

“You took her there instead of bringing her here?” Chris interjected, his frustration evident.

It was clear he cared deeply for his sister. If I had heard correctly, Angela had been missing since last fall, and Chris’s protective energy filled the room.

“She demanded I do it,” Lucian replied.

“Why?”

He glanced at the ground for a moment before meeting Chris’s gaze again.

“She… was scared. She’s still scared. She doesn’t want to involve anyone.”

“I’m her brother!”

“Exactly,” Lucian replied. “And she knows you’re a father now too. She fears something might happen to you if you know she’s back. Your father isn’t done with you or the king.”

“What does that mean?” Valerio interjected.

Lucian looked over his shoulder, fear flickering in his eyes. “It means he’s having you all watched.”

A deep growl emanated from the king, causing everyone—my men included—to look at the ground. I felt the urge to do the same, but I wasn’t as affected as the rest. Yet that was why everyone called him king. That was true alpha power.

“Watched?”

Lucian nodded. “That’s what she told me.”

I couldn’t help but smile as the situation escalated, but I also knew when it was time to leave. Now I saw a small crack in their perfect lives. I know, I’m sadistic.

“Well, Your Highness, it seems you have something more urgent to address. Shall we continue this tomorrow?” I inquired, rising from my chair and buttoning my suit jacket.

His eyes finally turned to me, but instead of accepting my proposal, he said, “Please, just give me twenty minutes, and we can continue.”

“I’ll give you an hour. I’m that kind,” I replied, “and I’m sure some of your females can keep us company.”

That comment made every male in the room growl. Though my words had sounded suggestive, I said it merely to annoy them. I wanted to meet their mates, to delve deeper into their lives, and it was no secret that their greatest weakness was their females.

“An hour,” I repeated as I walked towards the door.