Filed To Story: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
They were taking turns in keeping Keith company while he was in the hospital, and Lulu was supposed to come at midnight, yet it was barely eleven o’clock.
“Shh…”, Lulu waved at Sandy to keep it down in order not to wake up Keith.
“He is not sleeping.”, Sandy said. “We were talking until a minute ago.”
“You can turn on the light. I was just resting my eyes.”, Keith said, and a second later Lulu flipped the switch that illuminated the room. “I don’t need company. I will leave in the morning.”
Keith was perfectly fine, and Doctor Travis told him that he can leave, but that was late in the evening, and Keith thought that there was no point in heading home.
Keith’s plan was to sleep in the hospital and from there head to the packhouse in the morning. Dayson told him that they will discuss the current dangers Talia is facing after breakfast. It was Keith’s first task as Talia’s head guard and he was taking it seriously.
Katya already brought him a change of clothes, he had an attached bathroom, the room was spacious and clean, the bed was fully adjustable and there was a button for him to call nurses to bring him food and whatever else he might need. It was like a luxurious hotel, and Keith would take this chance to relax and think about things, but somehow he ended up always in the company of people who thought that he needed to be entertained.
Keith paused at the outfit Lulu was wearing. It was a sparkly black tank top and a red miniskirt, and she had a black leather purse and matching shoes with stiletto heels that made her long legs appear even longer. Lulu’s clothes were tight and even though her important parts were covered, nothing was truly hidden.
“I think Lulu is here to tell you that there is a party, and she won’t come tonight.”, Keith said to Sandy with amusement in his voice.
Lulu needed a moment to realize that Keith was looking at her outfit. “No. No. I’m coming from Shifters, that’s all.”
“Did they close early? Or did something bad happen?”, Sandy asked. Leaving Shifters before two o’clock in the morning is considered early. “In any case, you had time to go home, change clothes, and come here before midnight. Or did you come here like this with an intention to seduce Keith?”, Sandy said teasingly.
There was a time when Sandy thought that something was going on between Lulu and Keith, but neither of them acknowledged it and Keith was no more than his polite self, so Sandy assumed that it was Lulu’s one-sided crush.
Lulu rolled her eyes at Sandy’s comment about seducing Keith. “Why would I change clothes? Is something wrong with this? I’m not going to exercise, and these are comfortable enough for the night. Not everyone is like you.”
“What’s wrong with prioritizing garments that don’t restrict movements? Can you even run in that skirt?”
Keith looked away from them. He didn’t care about Sandy’s sweatpants and a sporty t-shirt, nor about Lulu’s tight tank top and miniskirt. He wanted them gone. Or at least quiet.
Keith’s ears perked up when he heard Lulu talking.
“When I left Shifters, Alpha Dayson and Talia were dancing. They clung to each other and kissed like no one was watching. I was not needed, so I thought of coming here before I get too drunk and forget about spending the night with Keith.”
Keith’s irritation rose. Did she need to bring up the point of how Talia and Dayson were lovey-dovey?
“How much I know, we are off duty.”, Keith said dryly. “Did you go to Shifters to have fun, or to watch Alpha and Luna? Please, don’t skip an evening of fun on my account. Both of you can leave. I plan to sleep.”
Sandy was on her feet, packing her things into a small backpack, and Lulu plopped on the sofa that Sandy vacated.
“Why are you sending me away? Is it a problem if I crash here for the night?”, Lulu asked Keith with a pout while arranging the pillows for her to rest her head on. There was a blanket as well.
Keith didn’t want to talk about it. “Do whatever you want.”
On her way out, Sandy asked, “Should I turn off the light?”
“Yes.”, Keith responded.
“Let me know what happened after your meeting tomorrow.”, Sandy said, turned off the lights, and left.
“What meeting?”, Lulu asked.
“Alpha Dayson called me to the packhouse in the morning.”
“Just you?”, Lulu continued probing.
Keith was not sure. “I assume that Talia, Jaeden, and Maya will be there.”
“Does that mean you are our leader? Or are you in trouble?”
“From today, I am the head guard for Luna Talia.”, Keith said with pride in his voice. It was not announced, but it was not a secret. Soon, everyone will know.
“Who made you the boss?”, Lulu asked.
“Alpha Dayson.”
“Does he know about your feelings…?”
“Lulu!”, Keith exclaimed, not allowing her to finish that question. “My feelings have nothing to do with my ability to protect Luna.”
Lulu felt that she stepped on the invisible line, so she didn’t press this further. “If you say so.”
Keith placed his forearm over his eyes as an indication that he wanted to sleep. The room was dark, but he was confident that Lulu can see him.
Seconds trickled in silence, and Keith relaxed with the thought that Lulu gave up on chatter. When she came into Keith’s room, he picked up perfume and alcohol, so he assumed that she fell asleep on the sofa. He didn’t mind her presence.
Lulu was a hardworking warrior, but her mouth had no filter. She would say whatever was on her mind and sometimes it would come out crude. Lulu’s mother passed when Lulu was young, and she was living with her father who doted on her, hence she didn’t get much disciplining as a child. It was not that Lulu’s way of talking deviated from other werewolves, but she had a problem holding back when it came to interacting with superiors.
In a pack, talking smack about Alpha and Luna can be considered treason, similarly to how talking back to superiors in the army is considered insubordination.
Keith wondered if Lulu was jealous of Talia. Well, any she-wolf would want to be in Talia’s shoes and become Luna of the Shadow Fang pack. That position came with affection from Alpha Dayson, and Talia being Dayson’s mate meant that she was a queen. Would Lulu do something about it? Keith didn’t think so.
Keith’s thoughts wandered to the upcoming meeting. Dayson said how Keith will find out about the dangers Talia was facing, and Keith tried to think what they might be.
Was Talia in danger because she was the Alpha of the Midnight Guardians pack? Keith had difficulty wrapping his head around that information, but… don’t those guys have mystical powers? If that’s the case, wouldn’t they be better equipped to guard Talia? Suddenly, Keith felt inadequate. He will train harder to assure he can keep Talia safe.
Keith didn’t understand why Talia’s well-being became his obsession, but his choices were to go with it and see where it will lead or to fight back against the urge to stick close to Talia. He reminded himself many times to keep his distance and not act too friendly, knowing that Talia won’t approve, and Alpha Dayson will skin him alive, but staying away was creating painful knots in his stomach.
He decided to use this inexplicable urge as a motivation to keep Talia safe.
Keith didn’t get it. What kind of dangers could Talia face that Alpha Dayson thought she wouldn’t be able to handle herself or with him? Why would she need guards?
She was the Alpha of the mysterious Midnight Guardians pack!
It was common knowledge that Alpha females were coveted, but once mated, others would step back.
Everyone respected the mate bond because it came from the Moon Goddess, but the truth was that no one understood what it actually does to a person until they experience it. Love stricken is a mild expression for what a werewolf goes through when he (or she) meets his mate.
Keith remembered Dayson hovering around Talia in the gym, and how he chased away Keith during the Summer Solstice festival, and many things fell into place. Dayson was always indifferent or rude toward females, just as he was acting with Talia on that clearing before they dispelled the dark magic, but Keith couldn’t deny that when Talia and Dayson visited him in the hospital, Dayson was caring and gentle with Talia.
Another thing bugged Keith. He was confident that Dayson was aware of Keith’s affection toward Talia. Why did he appoint Keith as Talia’s head guard?

New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.