Filed to Story: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel >>
Jaeden clicked his tongue irritably.
No one in the pack dares to act so freely in front of Dayson, but Jaeden and Dayson are childhood friends.
Of course, Jaeden will never show anything other than respect when others are present because Dayson deserves respect, even though sometimes Jaeden wants to start a brawl.
Dayson’s lips lifted into a mocking grin. “Did your duties got in the way of your time with Maya?”
“Why ask if you know?” Jaeden was irritated that Dayson was not looking at him. “I take my role as Beta seriously and I don’t skim on work, but there are things that could be avoided if you stop pushing unnecessary burden my way. Every minute of my existence is for Maya. Once you find your mate, you will understand.”
Dayson raised his gaze from the document he was holding, and he frowned at Jaeden. “I don’t need a woman in my life to obstruct me. A girlfriend is a nuisance, a wife would be a problem, and a mate would be a disaster.”
Jaeden rolled his eyes. ‘Dayson is such a drama queen.’
There are many she-wolves eyeing to be Luna of the Shadow Fang pack and despite Dayson’s killer looks, those women don’t care who the Alpha is, as long as they can climb that coveted position. Because of this, Jaeden understands Dayson’s aversion toward officially accepting a woman as his partner.
However, a werewolf can’t pick his mate.
Old Shamans tell stories of how the Moon Goddess creates werewolves and navigates their destiny so that every experience until one meets his mate is molding him into the perfect soulmate. When mates meet, they recognize each other, and the bond is formed immediately as they are halves of a wonderful whole.
But for a stubborn unmated male like Dayson, talking about that divine bond is like throwing pearls in front of a swine.
Jaeden waved at Dayson, indicating him to drop the topic. “Enough with useless talk. I’m here for important business.”
“If the important business is about the repeated emails that Elder Parker sent, that’s the reason why I shut you down.”, Dayson said casually, like he was discussing the weather.
Jaeden felt rage and dejection swelling inside him. Dayson did it on purpose! Somehow, Jaeden was not surprised by it.
“We are the biggest pack, and you can win against anyone in a one-on-one fight, but their influence is undeniable. If they unite to pressure us, we won’t be able to resist. You can’t avoid Elders, Dayson.”
“Watch me.”, Dayson spat.
Jaeden rubbed his forehead forcefully while looking at the stubborn Alpha in front of him.
He knew that Dayson will resist, but this time he seems to be more determined than ever.
The truth is that Jaeden handled numerous emails from Elders who are trying to matchmake Dayson with his next bride.
Elder Parker is unusually persistent in demanding that Dayson meets Marcy (aka the bride candidate) in person.
As much as one Elder doesn’t pose much of a threat, Dayson already offended quite a bit of them. If not for Elders’ public image of benevolent leaders, Jaeden is confident that Elders would blacklist Dayson and smear his reputation while pulling the strings for other packs to unite in a war against the Shadow Fang pack.
Both Dayson and Jaeden hate dealing with Elders who are a bunch of arrogant ex-Alphas, eager to prove that they still have the power. The whole council of Elders is a big mass of testosterone and over-inflated egos, ready to implode at the slightest provocation, and the scariest thing is that they have connections and the power to sway people.
The Shadow Fang are the biggest pack and they have capable warriors, but if several packs join forces, they would be at a disadvantage.
“It’s more than three months since you met your last bride. They are impatient.”, Jaeden continued persuading Dayson. “The rumor is that if Elder Parker is successful and Marcy becomes your Luna, he will gain enough support to be the next head of the Council. Will you allow him to climb over your back? Why don’t you show that you are no one’s pawn?”
“That’s what I’m doing by ignoring him.”, Dayson responded.
“They are taking your silence as a sign of fear. You need to step into the light and take charge.”
“Are you trying to manipulate me?”, Dayson asked in a dangerously low voice.
“No.”, Jaeden lied with a straight face. “As your Beta, I’m reminding you of the facts. Why don’t you handle this girl and shut them up? Or would you rather avoid that slight inconvenience of bedding a woman and risk causing trouble for the pack?”
Dayson cocked his eyebrow and pursed his lips. “You are saying that I put that snobby woman in her place?”
Snobby? Jaeden was not sure about Marcy’s character, but if she is willing to accept an arranged marriage to a man she never met, she is probably not the best example of a she-wolf who is fit to be Luna.
Luna needs to fight for what she believes is right, and not allow others to use her. How can Marcy be a good Luna and take care of the pack if she can’t take care of herself? No matter what her background is, a real Luna would approach Dayson personally and not use connections to win him over.
In this case, it’s obvious that Marcy’s father and Elder Parker are pulling the strings.
If the marriage with Marcy goes through, Marcy’s father (aka Alpha Edward) will also gain benefits even if Dayson ignores him because it will be undeniable that they are connected via marriage, and that will improve Alpha Edward’s standing. In addition to that, Alpha Edward probably made a deal with Elder Parker who recommended Marcy as the perfect Luna for the Shadow Fang pack.
It’s a whole web of leeches, waiting for Dayson to take the bait and Dayson is perfectly aware of that.
Dayson did this many times before. He would visit the prospective bride, explore her thoroughly and then announce that a cheap slut can’t be his Luna.
Other than insulting that woman, her father (aka the ambitious person), and their pack, that’s also a setback for the Elder who was matchmaking Dayson in that specific case.
No matter how much Dayson offended any of them, they can’t publicly admonish Dayson because (officially) he came to meet his future bride and he found her lacking.
Jaeden saw that Dayson is considering it, and he thought to give him a push in the right direction.
“She is not just any woman. Did you see the photo? Tall, blonde, a looker, and she has quite the assets…”, Jaeden cupped his palms in front of his chest, gesturing that Marcy has bountiful breasts.
Dayson pressed his lips into a line and typed on his keyboard. His eyes skimmed over the content, and he frowned.
‘What do you think?’, Dayson mentally asked his wolf.
‘She looks like trouble.’, his wolf responded.
Dayson groaned in frustration. ‘If I go, it’s trouble. If I ignore this summon, it’s trouble. Which trouble should I pick?’
‘Stop acting like it’s the first time. Why are you asking me when you know the answer?’
‘Because you are my voice of reason.’, Dayson responded.
‘Good that you know. But in this case, you figured it out without me. I’m aware that you don’t like dancing with snakes, but as a good Alpha, you should avoid direct confrontation when possible and use a softer approach. This bride-business aside, you might find out something useful while staying in their packhouse. They won’t dare act against you if you announce your location. Now let me sleep and don’t bother me unless it’s an emergency…’
Dayson felt his wolf slipping away as he retracted at the back of his mind.
Dayson is unique. Other werewolves can sense their wolf and exchange emotions. They can feel when their wolf is restless, angry, or happy, while Dayson can actually hold a conversation. No one knows about this, other than Dayson and his wolf.
Dayson’s wolf is one of the key contributors to Dayson becoming and staying the Alpha of the Shadow Fang pack when he was only seventeen years old.
His wolf is not very chatty, but he gives the right advice whenever Dayson needs it, and Dayson is aware that his wolf holds the wisdom of many lifetimes.
Dayson sensed his wolf, just like any other werewolf when he was in his early teens. And on the night when his parents perished, his wolf spoke to him for the first time.
‘Sorry, kid…’, his wolf said and Dayson jolted out of his bed in the middle of the night.
“What the…?”, Dayson mumbled while looking around in search of the source of that sound.
‘I’m in your head. Your father asked me to take care of you.’