The Alpha's Temptation

Chapter 13 What Is The Plan?

The Elders were the oldest Shamans of every kingdom and they were a powerful body which couldn't be dismissed. Though they were supposed to only advise, they had their hands deep in every kingdom's administration. Under the façade of a religious body, they knew every secret of Araniea and could practically incite a revolution, but they were held back by the ruling Alphas after a war that took place between them a thousand years back. After that war, a pact was signed followed by a blood oath with respective rulers to curb their influence and activities. Yet they still made their presence known in one way or the other. And these days, Eltanin's marriage was the biggest issue to discuss.

Eltanin didn't know as to why the Elders had become so interested in his marriage, but he guessed that it was politically motivated. What was fate up to? He looked at Rigel and said, "Morava… She is coming here tomorrow." He gulped down the rest of his wine. He needed to drink more if he was ever to meet Morava.

"Well, you should meet her," Rigel said. "That's the last thing you could do. She is a princess, and protocol demands it."

"Fuck the protocol! I am not meeting her."

"Eltanin!" Rigel cried, chiding him like he would a child.

"You don't get to 'Eltanin' me!" Eltanin growled. "For all I know you have run away from your present situation which mimics mine!"

Rigel narrowed his eyes and snapped, "No it doesn't mimic. Felis is not after my beast. He wants yours!"

Peeved, as reality slapped him on the face, Eltanin gulped his wine down and got up from the bed to refill his flute. "Why do you think King Biham is so interested in marrying his daughter with me, who hasn't seen me before?" he asked, side-eyeing Rigel as he sat back on the bed.

"Because he would gain from this marriage," Rigel replied with a shrug. "So? That's what all royal marriages are for. We, the progeny of the royals, are supposed to marry for political reasons!" He scoffed. "But as far as you are concerned, you have enough suitors as it is. And they all know that ties with your kingdom would only bring them more riches and more power. They don't know your situation, but the Elders are aware of it. If you don't yield to their demands, it wouldn't be a wonder when your secret would be let out. And then do you know the repercussions?" Rigel shot back at him. "People will start seeing you as a weak Alpha. The reputation that you have is going to crumble sooner than the centuries you took to build."

"Don't you think I already know that?"

"Then maybe it is time that you accept Morava's hand. I have heard that she has extraordinary gifts. Once you inject your venom into her, she will be of great benefit to your wolf." Rigel went to fill his flute with more wine. He picked up cheese from an oval plate and popped it into his mouth.

"The hell I would do that!" Eltanin grunted. When Rigel went to sit back on his couch with the second flute, he found Eltanin looking at him with an arched eyebrow.

Rigel stared at him for a moment, narrowed his eyes trying to understand and then immediately rolled his eyes. "Oh no! Not again, Eltanin," he growled at his knowing look. _{ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​}

"Come on, Rigel!" Eltanin whined. He bent his head forward, showing him the faded scar on the top of his head. "See! I got this scar saving you from falling off a cliff. I bled so much, I put my life in danger, and yet you can't do this much for me?"

Rigel rolled his eyes. "You are a fucking woman! How many times are you going to shove that scar in my face for favors?"

"As many times as I can," Eltanin replied shamelessly. He had used it so many times that he lost the count. "It would hardly be much, Rigel. You just have to prove to Morava how pathetic I would be as her husband. Tell her that I slept with five women yesterday. Or tell her that I need a new woman every hour of the day. You know the drill."

"As if that would derail her," Rigel scowled. "Look, Morava is considered to be a beautiful woman with a strong wolf. At least meet her. Maybe you will like her?" He tried hard to persuade Eltanin.

"Are you my enemy?" Eltanin asked, narrowing his eyes. He cocked his head. "Have you aligned with my enemies? Are you my enemy in disguise?"

"Oh, fuck off!" Rigel said, rolling his eyes again, returning to the plate he had carried with him. He plucked more cheese and grapes from it and nibbled on them. "We can do this all day unless you have more important work to attend to." Sometimes, Eltanin behaved worse than a petulant child.

Eltanin was a stubborn Alpha. All at once, in his head, a plan shaped up. Rigel was supposed to meet Morava. He would talk down about Eltanin and then present Fafnir as the candidate for marriage. It was very simple, except… Fafnir didn't know about it. He needn't know about it, otherwise Morava would reject him straightaway.

Moments later, the conversation turned to Felis. "I am very worried about you, Eltanin," Rigel said after pouring the third glass of wine down his throat.

"Don't have your guts twisted, Rigel. I am not broken yet. And I have a plan."

Rigel lifted his eyebrow high. He slanted his head to the side and, amused, asked, "What is the plan?"

"As much I fucking hate the idea of asking for help from the Cetus Monastery, I need it. The circumstances have drastically changed." Eltanin hated Menkar, who returned the contempt in hidden ways. If they united, however, they could use one another in the common goal of defeating Felis. Though Eltanin knew that Menkar turned a blind eye to him because Eltanin was not particularly favoring the practices of the monastery, it was high time he asked Menkar for help.