Filed To Story: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
“There are theories that rogues want to belong to a pack. People forgot that previous generations gave them land and resources, yet rogues used what they got and then resumed attacking. Rogues resist hierarchy and are unable to sustain themselves. There is a reason why no one likes rogues, Varya. They are the cancer of our society, one that can’t be cured, and we need to remove it. I know you grew up in Europe, but you should be familiar that there are people without a moral compass.”
“What do you expect me to do?”
“I want you to understand that I am giving you and Grady a way out. Did you see how people were looking at you? I am the only one who is willing to accept you. If you don’t cooperate, you will fall down to rogue status.”
“What’s wrong with living among humans as loners? I lived like that so far, and Grady did the same.”
Dayson couldn’t believe this. Didn’t they already agree that she and Grady will take a blood oath and join the Shadow Fang pack?
“Do you think I will let you leave after what you’ve seen? Do you believe that people won’t hunt your mate? The Blue River pack will want him because he came with the group that caused this.” Dayson gestured toward tables with corpses. “…and your sister won’t be able to stop them. Or do you want to put Tatiana in a situation where she needs to pick between her people and her family?”
Varya pressed her lips into a line, and Dayson continued, “Rogues will want Grady because he knows too much about them and about this place. And they will want you because that’s how they can control Grady. Wake up, Varya. Your only hope of surviving is to join my pack.”
“You talk like you are giving us a way out. But to me, it seems like another cage.”
“A cage? I guess that’s one way to look at it.” Dayson shook his head. “I can assure you that the territory of my pack is much larger than a dungeon cell. I am not saying it’s forever. Join my pack and follow my rules. You heard Talia; we won’t mistreat you. Give it one year. Two, at most. After that, if you still want to leave, I won’t stop you. How does that sound?”
Varya looked at Dayson warily. “But you want to harm Grady.”
“He is a werewolf. He will get a few punches to make it believable, and then they will drag him out while he fakes unconsciousness. Faking blood is not an option because others can smell replacement. Whatever injuries Grady earns, they will be gone within a few days. I would never harm members of my pack unless they acted against the pack.”
Varya heard all that already, but who will guarantee that Dayson will protect them if they are not members of their pack? “I believe you. I would be more at ease if you let us join your pack first.”
Dayson rejected the idea. “If we do it in that order, someone might notice Grady is not rogue. When you join my pack, your scent will change.”
Varya knew it made sense. And she also knew that Dayson went out of his way to talk to her instead of forcing it on them. “I don’t mean to be difficult. I am only concerned about my mate.”
Dayson’s expression softened. If anyone wanted to put a finger on Talia, Dayson would rip him into pieces, and here they were talking about hitting Grady.
“I will tell the guards not to go further than necessary. If you can’t watch, you can wait outside. But prepare to cry and shout how you hate everyone, and you are returning to Europe. Kalina and Tatiana will comfort you and…”
“I know, I know… I will make a scene. Everyone will hear Grady is dead, and I’m leaving, so people think I’m not in the area anymore because my mate is gone.” Just saying that made tears swell in Varya’s eyes.
“That’s good, but save it for later,” Dayson said while pointing at Varya’s red eyes, and then he led the way back to the room where Grady was with Maya and Jaeden. They needed to pick a few guards who would interrogate Grady and make it look like they killed him.
—
—
Dayson and Varya were walking down the hallway when Dayson heard a voice in his head. ‘Alpha, you need to come quickly.’ It was Keith.
Dayson froze. ‘What’s going on?’
Dayson felt the air around him stiffening. Unstable emotions came through the mate bond, but why were they so weak?
‘KEITH!?’
‘Talia is in heat. I am taking her deeper into the forest.’
Dayson’s mind exploded. What did Keith say? How could Talia be in heat? Doesn’t that thing take time to catch up? There should be signs!
It was happening! He will be a father!
Dayson’s moment of excitement went as fast as it came.
Everyone knew that when pheromones hit, unmated males are drawn like moths to a flame.
Why was Keith taking Talia into the forest instead of where Dayson was?! The wretched coach had a death wish! Would he dare lay a finger on Talia?!
And why was Keith struggling to talk? Was he fighting against his urge to mate with Talia? Damn it!
Dayson was outside, running toward the area where Talia should be with her guards and anxiety swelled within him.
‘WHERE ARE YOU!?’ Dayson roared at Keith through the mind-link. Keith didn’t respond, and rage overtook Dayson’s senses.
‘KEITH! If you touch her, I will rip your body into pieces and send them to Katya in small Ziplocks! DID YOU HEAR ME!?’
Silence.
Dayson was unable to focus on forcing the mind-link while running.
He cursed under his breath. ‘Old guy! You better start sensing mate, or rivers of blood will flow.’
Dayson shifted into his wolf form and followed the pull of the bond.
Faster.
Faster!
‘CADEN!’
Jaeden was startled to hear Dayson’s angry voice through the mind-link. ‘Yes?’
‘Talia is in heat.’
Jaeden was confused. Wasn’t Dayson with Varya? Right at that moment, the door opened, and only Varya appeared.
‘What? Really? Where are you?’
‘I am running to get her. She is… with Keith.’
Jaeden groaned. They all knew that Keith had an unhealthy infatuation with his Luna. ‘Do you think he will…?’
‘Don’t you dare say that!’ Dayson cut him off.
‘Sure, sure.’ Jaeden quickly said. ‘What can I do?’ He assumed that there must be a reason why Dayson was mind-linking him when he was in a rush to reach Talia.
‘I spoke with Varya, and she agreed to cooperate. Make sure she doesn’t backtrack again. Talk to Caleb and see what happened exactly for Keith to end up alone with Talia.’
‘What about Talia? Can I help there?’
‘Tell Max I’m on the run and that patrols should stay out of my way. If anyone dares to stop me, I won’t show mercy.’
‘Got it. Anything else?’
‘Ask Max if there is a place I can take Talia. It needs to have water and…’
‘Privacy.’ Jaeden ended for Dayson. ‘I’m on it.’ Jaeden turned to Maya. “You need to take over for a bit. Dayson and Varya worked things out, so get the ball rolling.”
“Where are you going?” Maya asked when she saw that Jaeden was already opening the door to leave.
“I need to find Max.” Jaeden said, and added through their mind-link, ‘Talia is in heat.’
Maya’s mouth formed an ‘O’ shape. That should be a good thing, but why was Jaeden not happy about it?
…
Talia was drifting in and out of her mental haze.
The arousal was causing her body to cry for a release, and she clung to the muscular body by her side, but somehow… it didn’t feel right.
Was that Dayson? Who else could it be? But the landscape his muscles created felt different.
Her mind was so muddled that she was unable to reach out to him through the mind-link.
She looked up to see Dayson, but then his scent was off, making her wonder if that was really him or if she just wanted it to be him.
Talia turned to the only person she could think of, and she focused mightily on the conversation.
‘Liseli? Liseli!’
‘What?’ Liseli responded after some time.
‘Can you feel Sapa?’
‘No. Why would I feel him in this situation?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘We are not peepers. Unless you didn’t notice your state, you are in heat. Sapa and I never look. And that reminds me that I should retract at the back of your mind also so that you can have your privacy. Enjoy!’
‘No! Wait!’
‘What now?’ Liseli grumbled.
‘Can you confirm if that is Dayson?’
‘Who else would it be?’
‘I don’t know, Lis, but… somehow… it doesn’t feel right.’
‘Of course, it will feel different. Heat is messing with your perception.’
Talia suspected that something else was off. ‘What about your perception?’
Liseli giggled. ‘Busted! You see… heat is impacting me more than you. So, my senses are not worth mentioning.’
‘But Lis… there must be a way to confirm if that is Dayson.’
‘You are barely conscious. What do you think I can do?’
‘Can we do something together?’
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.