Chapter 774 – Hidden Desires of the Werewolf King Novel

Filed To Story: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel

“We can stay here,” Dayson responded. He didn’t want to risk Talia getting upset again.

As much as Dayson was concerned, they could return to the Shadow Fang pack and leave all this behind.

But Talia insisted on them coming because (according to Cassie), Talia was the target, and rogues were coming for her. Talia didn’t want to stay home and hope for the best while their friends risked their lives.

This was the opportunity for them to ambush their attackers, get more information, and confirm if Cassie was telling the truth.

And also, even with her being pregnant, Talia was not a defenseless she-wolf. She could still use her abilities, and she had Liseli, and rogues didn’t know about those.

Dayson and Talia returned to the living room to see that Alpha Cristian was talking with General Arya, both with serious expressions while looking at the map that was spread on the coffee table.

“Are you feeling alright now?” Cristian asked Talia. “If you need to rest, you can go…”

“I am fine,” Talia interrupted him. Dayson needed to be here, and Talia didn’t want to separate from him. “Thank you for your concern. I guess this whole situation is making me edgy.”

Cristian nodded in understanding. “We are prepared for tonight. My pack members are moving into shelters so we won’t have innocent casualties. As for our warriors, that’s why Arya is here.”

Arya had a serious expression, and her gaze didn’t move from the map. “We found pack-link jamming devices here, here…” She was pointing at the black dots on the map. “They are the same ones used during the recent attack on the Blue River pack. Teams are watching those areas.” She glanced at Talia. “It seems rogues are using something to conceal their scent. To offset those, we set up infrared sensors that show heat signatures. They are not a hundred percent accurate because they get triggered by bigger animals, but at least we can confirm areas where we don’t have rogues.”

Talia listened to Arya talking, and she had to acknowledge that the female spoke eloquently with the confidence of a seasoned warrior.

When Arya finished with her status, Cristian asked Dayson and Talia, “Do you have any questions?”

Dayson glanced at Talia.

“No. It seems you covered everything,” Talia said.

Cristian grinned. “Of course. With Arya overseeing the security detail, we are in safe hands.” He looked at Dayson. “Now that the work is done, how about a drink? It can help take the edge off. I’ve got a new bottle of a hundred year-old scotch.”

Dayson was about to agree, but he changed his mind. “My mate is not drinking, so I’m giving her company.”

Cristian rolled his eyes. “You can have juice and give me company while I drink the good stuff.”

“How about you?” Dayson asked Talia.

Talia waved at him to go ahead. She had a feeling that Cristian called Dayson so they could talk about guy stuff.

“I will be here, sipping my ginger tea. Stay close.”

Dayson leaned to give her a soft kiss. “I won’t be more than three seconds away.”

“That’s what fated mates do,” Talia responded. “They care for each other unconditionally.”

“So I heard,” Arya said in a monotone.

“You don’t believe in fated mates?”

Arya paused and looked at Talia for a long moment before responding.

“The idea of unconditional love is something I can’t comprehend. Since I remember, people have been nice to me. They are smiling, eager to indulge me, but it’s all skin deep. Only one truly cared about me as a person and showed interest in what I could do, and that’s Alpha Cristian. He gave me a chance to rank up as a warrior while others said that a pretty girl like me shouldn’t get her hands dirty because I might break a nail.”

“You admire Alpha Cristian,” Talia said.

Arya didn’t deny it. “I do. He acknowledged my desire to prove myself, and he didn’t look down on me because I was pretty. I will prove he didn’t make a mistake by believing in me.”

“How is that related to mates?”

“People say that only mates can speak to each other’s soul, yet Alpha Cristian did that to me. He is not my mate, and he is not available. Isn’t that ironic? Among many who showed interest in me, I couldn’t determine which one was honest and which one was attracted to my appearance. Some say my face is my blessing, but I see it as a curse.”

Talia observed Arya’s features, and she had to admit that even without makeup, Arya was one of the prettiest females Talia had ever seen. Well, everyone had their problems. Too much of everything was a bad thing, even beauty.

Arya didn’t trust people, and that was the result of Arya’s experiences. Talia didn’t know what Arya went through, but it was obvious that Alpha Cristian held a special place in Arya’s heart.

There was a dose of arrogance in Arya’s tone, and Talia would usually let it pass because she was not the one to provoke others, but this time Talia needed to speak up.

“Alpha Cristian is a good Alpha who takes care of his pack members. He helped you just how he would help anyone else. Don’t mistake his kindness for something else. You should be able to see the difference in how he treats his pack members and how he treats his mate.”

Arya smiled wistfully. “Yeah. He is not fooling around like some other Alphas.”

Well, Talia couldn’t deny that some Alphas are fooling around even after finding their mates, but… “The bond is telling us who is our perfect match, but we have a choice to reject it.” Dayson told her that on the night when they marked each other (the first time). “Every relationship requires work, even the one between fated mates. But it’s worth it. Once you meet your mate, you will realize how wonderful is to feel complete, and your mate will adore you no matter how you look.”

Arya cocked an eyebrow at Talia. “I will believe it when I see it.”

“You will feel it. That’s the benefit of the mate bond. You will share emotions, and you will sense his sincerity.”

“I hope it comes with proof.”

“What kind of proof?”

Arya shrugged. “He should risk his life for me. Something that couldn’t be faked.”

Talia thought how that was extreme. But then… Arya was a warrior, and Talia had no idea about Arya’s past, but it seemed she didn’t have it easy.

“I wish you good luck.”

“I don’t believe in luck,” Arya said. “Tonight will be successful because we have a solid plan, and we prepared…”

“I meant about your mate,” Talia interrupted Arya.

Arya didn’t expect this. “Well… thank you.”

Talia stifled a laugh. Arya was visibly flustered. Somehow, Talia had a feeling that under that unapproachable façade, Arya was a good person.

“Arya,” Talia called when Arya stood up to leave. “About me leaving earlier… It was nothing personal.”

“I didn’t take it personally.”

“Good. I wanted to clear that up.”

“Why?”

Talia shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe we can be friends?”

Arya paused. “Friends? With me? Why?”

“Do I need a reason to be friends with someone?”

“Yes,” Arya responded without missing a beat. “I am a warrior, and I worked hard where I am while you… are not.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Arya gestured toward Talia, who was wearing a flowy dress. “You are like royalty while I…” Arya gestured toward her cargo pants and a tank top. “Am not. What do I have to offer in order to make you wish to be my friend? Or are you attracted to me?”

Talia felt her face twitching. This last question caught her off-guard. “What?”

Arya smirked. “It wouldn’t be the first time for a female to hit on me.”

In front of Talia’s flabbergasted expression, Arya got bolder, and she moved to sit on the sofa next to Talia.

“Did I get it right? You fell for me?” Arya smiled condescendingly. “Do you think that just because an Alpha marked you, you are something special? If you are not Alpha Dayson’s Luna, you wouldn’t be here.”

‘That does it!’ Liseli shouted in Talia’s head. ‘Let me bite her head off!’

Talia snapped to her senses. ‘No biting, Lis.’

‘Put her in her place, on the floor! Push her through it! I want her to eat dirt! … ‘

Talia tuned out Liseli, but Liseli’s hostility was still affecting her. The emerging violence got a boost from Talia’s pregnancy hormones, which made Talia’s Alpha aura leak.

“What did you say?” Talia asked icily.

Talia narrowed her eyes at Arya, whose arrogance was dwindling by the second.

Arya would blurt out things when she was angry, things she didn’t mean to say. And now it seemed that she said too much, and she crossed the line. Talia was angry, and Arya wondered if she could get a re-do of the last thirty seconds.

“You think I fell for you? Tell me, Arya, which part of you is attractive? The one where you are pinning for a mated guy who has a happy family? Or did I fall for you because you are looking down on others?”

“I’m not looking down on…”

“LIES!” Talia exclaimed, now leaning closer to Arya.

“You are making yourself a victim like everyone got things served on a platter while you had to work for it.” Talia touched the left side of her neck. “You think I am here because Dayson marked me? It seems you forgot to look at his neck.” Talia sneered, showing her elongated fangs. “My mark is right there, on his neck. I marked him first.”

Talia snarled, and Arya feared that Talia will bite her.

Arya wanted to escape, but Talia was above her now, and Talia’s aura paralyzed her. Arya was in many dangerous situations, but she had never felt that helpless before.

Talia pinched Arya’s chin, and Arya could feel Talia’s breath splashing on her face.

“If I want anything from you, I will take it. There is no need to ask because I am the dominant one. Just how you misunderstood Cristian, you misunderstood me as well. I am not kind because I am weak. I am kind because I choose to be. If I tell you to kneel and serve me, you will do so because I am an Alpha.”

‘CRACK!’

A sound of glass shattering was heard, and Talia looked in that direction to see bewildered Dayson standing at the door with juice dripping from his hand where a glass used to be.

“Stay away from my mate!” Dayson shouted, and Arya was slammed flat on the sofa under the pressure of Dayson’s Alpha aura.

Dayson turned to Talia and inspected her visually. “Did she harm you?”

“No, no…” Talia quickly said while trying to assess her emotions. What happened? “I think my temper flared, and I overreacted.”

“I apologize, Alpha Dayson, Luna Talia,” Cristian said respectfully while struggling to stand straight. Dayson’s aura was not to be trifled with. “Arya is a prideful general, and she is not used to talking to people who outrank her. I will make sure to punish her.”

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