ALFRED POV
I had been watching her silently from behind the trees. I watched her shift into her wolf for the first time, saw her anxious and scared…saw her wolf—beautiful, just like her and Geo purred, yearning for his mate…saw her laugh..saw everything.
Then I was done. I needed to be close to her, so I approached them, walking slowly so they won't be startled but she must've sensed my presence, because she turned to watch me coming towards them.
"Alpha." They both chorused.
"Hello Simone, how are you today?" I asked, trying to be modest before her sharp mouth takes the lead.
"Splendid" she replied, giving me a knowing smile as stood up from the grass. "Why are you coming out from the woods? And where is everyone?"
"Simone..." I growled, my voice very low as I'm still trying to maintain my composure in front of Hanni, but it's hard to maintain steeze when Simone is involved.
"I'm an Alpha, Simone, I don't need one's permission to do my buisness" I replied curtly and with a bow, I turned to my mate who had been standing silently, watching me, but this time with fondness in her eyes and my heart skipped a beat…or am I imagining things?
And we stood, staring at each other without a word and suddenly Simone coughed, swatting the strands of grass on her skirt, she said, "This is my cue, lemme go check on my mate…and Hanni, if there's anything you need, send a palace maid to my chambers."
Then she left, leaving Hanni and I alone in the garden.
Where do I start from? I always have a way with women but why am I standing staring at her blank with my hands behind me like a teenager?
"Hmm…sweetling how was your first shift?" I asked, with my face red wondering why I asked, but she looked at me and smiled.
"Wanna see?" She asked eagerly with her eyes shinning and without waiting for my reply, she turned back, running through the field with her hair dancing behind her and without a second thought, I found myself beside her, running side by side and then I shifted into Geo, who leaped happily with its tongue out and when I looked back I saw a gorgeous white wolf running towards me, it's white fur swaying in the wind, making me all dreamy and then I snapped…
I can't keep acting like this, though I am her mate, but I'm also an Alpha..I have to get my shit together.
I shifted back to a human and waved at her to shift also, which she did immediately with her blonde white hair flying all around her face making her look angelic.
"We need to return to castle" I said, offering her my hand which she took and fell into step with me and then I remembered…
"Heard any news from your aunt yet?" I asked.
"N…no" she replied in a small voice and looked away, making me realize too late that I had just made a mistake, for I felt her walls placed back on, putting her back on guard.
******************
"So tell me, what do you enjoying doing?" I asked as I sat on the sofa in my chambers, looking at her lie on the bed with the hope that she comes out of her shell.
She smiled and turned facing me, propping her right hand up to balance her head.
"I'm a physician" she said, "I enjoy healing injured or sick wolves and nursing them back to health."
I wasn't expecting that but I didn't let my
expression change
"Emergency? What kind of emergency?" She asked and sat up, obviously interested and I hesitated for I don't know if I can discuss pack matters with her just yet, but what could go wrong?
"Some rogues poisoned a large quantity of food and drinks, claiming the lives of twenty wolves last night" I replied, staring at her, searching intently for any expression that mirrored her thoughts, but all I saw was concern.
"What poison is that?" She asked, with her eyes wide with shock.
"That is what we are yet to find out, for it killed my pack members in hours."
She scrunched her face, clearly lost in thought for I could almost see the wheels whirring in her head.
"What were their symptoms?" She finally asked.
"That's the funny thing, no symptoms….they died clutching their stomach in pains." I replied wondering where this is going to.
She resumed her meditations with her eyes closed, as if searching for something, but was interrupted by a knock and a maid walks in…
"My king, your presence is requested in the meeting hall." She said with a bow.
"Requested by who?" I asked for I wasn't expecting any summons and the beta knows his way to my chambers.
"By councilwoman Michelle sir, the council head of food and drinks in the pack." She replied.
"Tell her to come meet me in my chambers, I don't want to leave where I am." I said impatiently, dismissing her with a wave of my hand."
"Ok my king" she said and left immediately.
"I hope you don't mind me having a little meeting here sweetling, I'm sure she wants to make a report on the poison case" I asked her for she should be getting used to this gradually as she will soon be my Luna.
"No Alpha" she said with a smile and my heart melted watching her.
"Ok. Watch and learn…future Luna" I said jokingly and l watched as she covered her red face shyly in the sheets.
I smirked knowing fully well I just got my groove back.
"Alpha?" Council woman Michelle's voice was heard from the chambers hallway, making Hanni quickly settle in the covers with her eyes closed as if asleep.
I grinned at her wittiness and shook my head, wondering what next I would be seeing from her for she is like a book with many chapters.
"Come in" I bellowed, hoping she heard me.
She opened the door and entered, sparing Hanni a glance and then directing her attention fully to me and bowed.
"Alpha" she said, "I'm sorry to come without being summoned, but this is urgent.."
"What is it?" I asked, knowing very well it has to be urgent for the council woman to appear before me right now.
"I believe the attacks are spreading to the upper region, my king" she said, "my squad confirmed a winery so close to the palace, contaminated with their drums of wine laced with poison."
"What?!" I exclaimed and stood up immediately with anger coursing through my veins. "Why don't we know anything about these rogues Michelle? Don't you think it's suspicious?" I asked in a deadly tone for I have had enough.
"M….my king, I thought so too…but what do I know?" She asked, waving her hands helplessly.
I turned to face her, looking at her directly and said, "Increase your task force and intensify your search, council woman, if there's anything you need, don't hesitate to let me know."
"Yes Alpha" she bowed and left.
I mind linked my beta to meet me in the chambers immediately and turned to see Hanni awake with her eyes wide open, staring at me.
"Are you ok?" She asked with concern laced in her voice.
"Yes, I will be fine" I replied with a smile, for I can't trouble her with pack matters, not just yet.
She sat up and looked at me, with a crease on her forehead and then she said;
"I think the only poison that's deadly than wolfsbane, in fact wolfsbane is nothing compared to it because it can kill a warewolf in minutes is….crystal salt."