The Alpha's Temptation

The woman took her hood back down and when her face revealed, Felis forgot to breathe.

"I am Taiyi from Draka," said the woman. Her face was glowing with a beautiful aura and she looked at Felis with her lovely dark eyes. Her long hair cascaded like a fountain. Her long, slender fingers were holding her hood down. "And I have come to deliver Menkar."

Felis's heart stopped. It was for the first time that he saw his mother. She had concealed her full identity and it meant that she was ready in case of danger.

He had heard the tales of how his father forced her and then he was born. His heart wrenched with an unknown emotion. He was not ready for this kind of meeting. He wanted to meet her and know about the magic that she had and that Eltanin had, but why was it that he didn't have it. And if he did, why wasn't it unlocked?

But this— he wasn't just ready for it. He had waited for this moment for centuries. He had even thought out as to what conversation he was going to have with her. But when he saw his mother for the first time, every word vanished. He wanted to reveal himself to her, but he didn't know how to shirk the tattoos from his body. Suddenly, he felt extremely possessive about her. His throat dried as he tried his best to contain himself. He knew that everyone must be staring at him for his next step, but he was dead quiet.

Felis stared at his mother for a long time, studying her, committing her to his memory. His mind had become numb as too many thoughts swirled around. Did she know that he was her child?

Finally, when he was able to gather his wits, he dismounted his horse. How could Eltanin be so careless so as to leave their mother out in the open and face the Nyxers with nothing but fifty soldiers? He wanted to blast Eltanin for being so reckless.

He walked to her, taking each step carefully. When he was about three hands away from her, he said, "We—welcome."

All the soldiers were extremely shocked and glanced at their king. King Felis had never ever used such polite words with anyone. He had always been too harsh and if they were people from Draka, they ended up dying in his hands.

Taiyi was just as surprised as others by the words of the soldier from the Hydra Kingdom. She narrowed her eyes. "I am not here for your welcome, soldier!" she snapped. "I believe that you wanted Menkar, and I have come to hand him over to you." She waved her hand at the merman in the cage. "Though I wonder what would be his utility. He is a shriveled-up man, who can only survive if he is in water." She turned her face to the right and her eyes landed on the winding Eridani River, the black water of which sparkled under the stars that had just begun to pop out in the sky one by one. "If you like you can leave him in those waters."

"Nooo…" a feeble and scared voice came from the cage. Nerio knew that if he was left in those waters, he would end up dying instantly. Nothing survived in the Eridani River. "She is— she conning…" he said. "She is… she is…"

"Take the prisoner away to the camp!" Felis shouted, fearing that he would reveal the identity of his mother. "NOW!" If he revealed the identity of Taiyi, then he knew that there would be too many who would know what she looked like. That would be a disaster because then they would try to capture her and use it against him.

​ There was a hurried movement amongst the soldiers.

"What are you doing, Felis?" Nerio's hoarse, gravelly voice came. "She is—"

"Quiet!" Felis shouted at Nerio. "If you utter a word, I will throw you in Eridani now!"

The soldiers hurriedly took him away. Felis brought his attention back to his mother. "I can't believe that the Draka King has sent a woman for his work," he said.

"I am no ordinary woman," Taiyi replied, her chin up. "The Draka King has also sent you a message," she said, extending her hand out.

Felis's gaze went on her hand and he saw a scroll in it. He took it from her with his hands shaking. He didn't open it. He addressed her, "Would you like to spend the evening in my camp?"

"I am not a fool, soldier," Taiyi said. "You will butcher my people and me, but you should know that I am able to take a thousand men if need be. So please don't try those tricks on me. Tell you king that Menkar is useless now. If I were your king, I would throw Menkar in Eridani as soon as possible instead of trying to revive him." Taiyi wanted to throw Menkar in Eridani because that would be her closure. Ileus had already disintegrated his mind into pieces. The merman had caught up with his real age. He was going to die soon. But he was going to die in the worst manner. He would rot. Even if thrown in water, he won't be able to revive. Eltanin didn't want to send her, but she insisted that she go alone.

All these men were highly trained soldiers of Draka. As if that wasn't enough, Alrakis was ready with five hundred men in the Ivory Forest who were hidden at various places.

"I promise that I will not touch your men," Felis rasped. "I will not touch you or your men, but please stay for the night and you can head back tomorrow morning. It is not… safe."

Taiyi raised her eyebrow. She chuckled. "Since when have the Nyxers started being so good to women? Or is it some kind of a trap?"

Felis's throat bobbed. He really wanted to spend time with his mother. "In that case, how about I come to this side of the border under your protection?"