Chapter 117

117 iv. King of Vampires

“Don’t be so nervous, honey,” he consoled her, kissing her shoulder as she tried to dress.

“Nervous is an understatement, Dom. I am scared, terrified even. Nervous means there is still room for hope, but we both know this night won’t bring anything good,” she felt her heart clench.

She had talked to him over and over, but he has insisted on bringing her to his birthday party. Instead of escorting his wife, the alpha will be escorting her.

The whole pack can pretend he was simply escorting his older sister, but the secret glances toward them will make her melt. Questions on why the alpha insists on staying by his concubine’s side all these years.

Alas, his attempt to breed her did not bear fruit. He has been quite insistent and diligent over making her pregnant, that he was beyond frustrated when she again failed for the hundredth time to conceive.

She heard him close her gown’s zipper. She was wearing a black evening gown that shows off her legs. Even wearing that has been hard for her to convince him.

He said they shouldn’t let the others see even a bit of her skin. She told him how she felt it was the only good asset she has to show, and frowned and kept silent a whole week to convince him.

He kissed her neck as he zipped her gown, “You are so beautiful, baby. Just thinking about how the eyes of others will trail over you makes me want to kill all of them.”

“It will be a shame to end the pack this way, don’t you think?” she teased him but was surprised as she felt his hold on her tighten.

.....

She can never get used to how possessive he is with her. There is even nothing for him to be worried about.

She is not beautiful, nor was youth on her side, surely all of this fear is just in his mind. He kissed her hair again and buried his face in her locks as he sniffed her scent.

“Promise to train your eyes only on me, my queen,” he said, refusing to separate himself from her as his embrace tightened.

“I promise,” she looked at the mirror they were facing, and saw how his smile widened hearing her answer.

“Then let us go, my queen. Our guests are waiting,” she couldn’t protest when he carried her.

Waiting outside was a black limousine, it will take them to the family’s manor. Whereas this cabin has been his home ever since he was forced into an arranged marriage, he still has to hold special occasions in his official residence.

Like the fact that he is married to Cinderella, that manor though he claimed to despise it, remains to be his official residence. She closed her eyes during their two-hour journey, wanting nothing more but to end the night.

But sleep can not visit her when her whole heart is in shambles. Just thinking about the hateful glare of the whole pack, his wife, and their grandmother... she can have no rest.

When he pressed a kiss on her forehead, she pretended to wake. Their eyes met and she forced herself to smile.

As if thoroughly please by her fake happiness, he took her hand and led her outside. The media already had their eyes on them, shocked looks not just on the paparazzi’s faces but the members of the pack itself greeted them.

Cinderella with her assembly came forward, their eyes meeting, as the latter curtsied. She curtsied as well, a formal greeting as is customary to the pack.

Cinderella’s face lightened up when she glanced at Dominus, as if it wasn’t true that she has not seen her husband for months as he chose to stay in another house doing what she knew he was doing with his concubine.

Another failed attempt at breeding the barren woman, she couldn’t even fake a smile even if she wanted to. No, it wasn’t fake at all, she tried to convince herself.

It was a celebratory smile taunting her enemy for failing to replace her son as the heir. The gods know what he would have devised if he had a child with her.

She walked closer and tiptoed, pressing a kiss on Dominus’s cheek and pretending to have lost her balance. With such an act, Dominus’s hand encircled her waist, steadying her up.

Mary excused herself, as the flock of people started to come over, separating them like how the tide of their miserable lives has always seemed to tear them apart.

Dominus was greeted by the council of elders, even by the powerful elders who has joined their pack. It has been afterall a united werewolf tribe after the day he married her.

She smiled bitterly as she hurried to take cover from the angry stares of the crowd who has belittled her ever since her entrance. She finally found a rather abandoned part of the garden, much to her joy.

She sat down and meekly lowered her head as she stared at the ground. The band has started to play, signaling the start of dancing.

“Why are you here?” a good-looking man with celtic blue eyes and silver hair sat across from her.

He was dressed elegantly and the smile on his face was friendly. She glanced around, trying to see if there was anyone behind her back.

“I was talking to you, my lady,” his voice seemed to hypnotize her. He looked quite familiar and his voice even more so.

She pointed to herself and asked, “Why? Why were you talking to me?”

“Should I not?” he asked her, leaning closer so their knees can brush.

She froze, “You are...” her mouth was covered by him as he smiled.

“Yes, it is I,” he let her go only when he became sure she has calmed down.

She rubbed her knees, against his cold skin she felt tremors run through her back. This in front of her is a vampire.

“Why are you here? Do you even know where we are at this instance?” her voice was low.

Somehow she could not forget she owed this vampire her life. He was the reason she did not become a feast to others of his kind.

“Of course I know, it is the alpha’s territory. His rather very lavish mansion, even I find it grander than I may have imagined for their kind,” the smile on his face grew, as if teasing her when he emphasized the words his kind, telling her she did not belong where they are.

“Then why are you here? Do you have a death wish?” she asked him, her heart thumping loudly in her chest.

“No, and you may think it is quite bold of me to be here. But truly I am not. I am just desperate. In desperate need to see you,” his blue eyes stared intently into hers.

“Why? Why will you risk your life to come here and see me?” she asked him, her voice serious and cold.

She is tired of games and second-guessing. She didn’t need another complication in her life brought by a vampire who insists on talking to her.

“What else but to see your face,” his eyes had mischief in them as he smiled triumphantly at seeing her bothered.

“Please get out of here. I do not wish to speak to a vampire,” she pointed out.

“And what of his kind? The one who has claimed you as his mate in silence and yet parades you as his elder sister in public? You can tolerate a wolf like that but not a vampire with good intentions,” he said calmly.

Hurt registered in her eyes, “Please get out now before I shout and alert the guards to your presence.”

“I offer you marriage and stability. A life free from judgment and opposition. A life fitting for royalty,” he continued.

“You think I will be tempted by what you said? You think I am in this position because of money?” she hissed.

“No, I just think you are tired. Tired of the pack’s politics which never accepted you for the mere fact that you are a human,” his voice was deep and comforting, and at that instance she felt peace just by listening to him.

“Come with me and I’ll make you my world’s queen. I will do everything in my power to protect you from the wolves and to separate you from the kind of life you have now. You deserve so much better than to be just a concubine,” he said, his hand holding hers, caressing her skin as coldness seeped into her.

“I do not mind being the alpha’s concubine. I do not mind the family’s anger, or being the pack’s laughing stock,” she said in a low voice.

“What did you say?” his voice was stern, as if wanting to hear her correct herself.

“I do not mind being the alpha’s concubine in secret and his elder sister in public. I do not mind the stares judging me every time I walk around with him. I do not mind not having the status or riches, or even stability in my life,” she said, each word was said slowly, letting the words sink into him.

“Why? I came here to rescue you from such a miserable existence. Can’t you see how I can offer you so much more?” his voice was laced with anger, he couldn’t believe what he just heard. Neither can he accept it.

“Don’t try to change my mind anymore because it wouldn’t change. Even if the whole world crumbles upon me or my restless existence comes to an end. I will never leave him,” she said, standing.

He held her hand and looked at her, “Why? Why wouldn’t you leave a miserable existence?”

“Because I love him. I will always stay by the alpha’s side even if that be in such a miserable capacity as his concubine. I wouldn’t mind the hateful stares and ill wishes everywhere I go for as long as he whispers words of longing in my ears. I do not mind being the fool that everybody hates, for as long as he is here with me,” she said in a clear voice without any remorse or hesitation.

“So do not show yourself to me any longer. Or I shall have no choice but to report it,” she removed her hands from his and walked back to the party, leaving the king of vampires by himself.