Contract With The Alpha King by Brey Mitchylle

Chapter 35 "You should see your face right now," the King suddenly said, breaking the thick silence that had wrapped around them. His tone was light, almost teasing. It immediately threw Fiona off.

Fiona blinked, unsure how to react. Was he joking? The tension from earlier still clung to her, and she found it hard to shake the feeling that something more sinister lay beneath his words. Her mind spun, trying to process whether the King was playing with her or if this had been his plan all along.

The King leaned back in his chair, watching her with an amused smile. "Elijah can marry whoever his wolf desires," he continued, his voice casual now as if they were discussing something trivial. "At this point, I only want him to be happy, and if the only thing that would make him happy is you, then who am I to stop him?" Fiona felt the awkwardness settle in. She glanced at the food in front of her and, not knowing how else to respond, began to eat. The flavors were muted in her mouth as her thought continued to race. Was the King really joking? Or was there more to his words than he was letting on? She couldn't tell, and the uncertainty made her uneasy.

After a moment, the King's voice cut through her thoughts. "Tell me, Fiona," he said, his tone shifting back to a more serious one. "Do you know much about the Rite of Kings?" Fiona swallowed her food quickly, shaking her head. "Not so much, Your Majesty," she admitted.

The King nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly as he regarded her. "The Rite is a tradition. Only those who are ages 25-30 can join the Rite." Fiona nodded. She was at least aware of this rule as well as sbasic ones, like needing to be a son of an Alpha to join the Rite of Kings.

King Nicholas continued. "Elijah is nearly thirty, and according to the Rite of Kings, no wolf over that age can join. That is why I had to declare the Rite earlier than I would have preferred. However, winning or losing is still up to him." Fiona frowned, uncertain. "But, Your Majesty, what exactly does this Rite entail? And why is there a possibility Elijah might lose?" She thought Elijah would surely win the Rite of Kings. She'd heard rumors that he was the strongest contender and had the highest chance of winning.

King Nicholas sighed. "The Rite of Kings is more than just a formality. It's a test of strength, of leadership, and most importantly, it's a means of securing the support of the council. Without the backing of the council, Elijah's claim to the throne is weak. He may be my son, but the laws dictate that he needs their approval to ascend to the throne." Fiona's eyes widened in surprise. "But Elijah is your son, and the rightful heir, isn't he?" The King leaned forward, his tone growing serious. "Yes, he is my son, but the council doesn't answer toalone. They must believe Elijah is the right leader for the kingdom. Unfortunately, as of now, only two of the twelve council members support him." "Only two?" Fiona's shock deepened.

King Nicholas nodded gravely. "It's a delicate situation. The council has their own interests, their own ambitions. Sof them question Elijah's decisions, and others see him as a threat to their influence." Fiona felt her heart tighten. She hadn't realized just how precarious Elijah's position was. The thought that so few supported him filled her with concern for his future. "So.... what can be done?" Her thoughts drifted back to the reasons Elijah had given for their marriage. He had spoken of silencing his enemies' suspicions, and now she wondered if the council had been among those casting doubt. Could they have been questioning why Elijah remained unattached at his age? Had the marriage been a necessary shield against their scrutiny all along? The King's sharp gaze locked onto hers. "For now, we keep my blessing of your marriage a secret. The council must believe that I disapprove of this union. It buys Elijah tto consolidate power without the full weight of the council coming down on him." 1/3 20:50 Sat, Nov 30 G.

Chapter 35 62% +5 Fiona was taken aback. She had always thought of Elijah as powerful and capable, but this revelation made her see just how much was at stake. "You want them to believe you don't support Elijah's marriage to me?" "Exactly. And that's where you cin, Fiona." She blinked, confused. "Me?" King Nicholas nodded, his expression serious. "I need you to stay by Elijah's side as his healer. During the competition, accidents happen-sare more dangerous and fatal than others. Support him, no matter what. He trusts you, and you are his strength. You have a role to play in his future, whether you realize it or not." Fiona felt a surge of emotions, unsure of what to say. But she didn't hesitate. "I adore Elijah, Your Majesty. I'll do whatever it takes to help him." The King's gaze softened, his stern expression easing slightly as he nodded in satisfaction. "Good. That's what I needed to hear." Despite the rather comical start of their conversation, Fiona soon started to feel at ease in the King's company. She didn't know if it was because she was now fed or the fact that she was no longer lost in the maze. All she knew was that the King was different from all the rumors she had heard about him.

He was warm, always joking around. It was something that Fiona never expected from the King of the werewolves.

"It's already late..." the King said just as they started walking out of the maze. "I enjoyed your company, Miss Rosenthal. It was a pleasure talking to you." "The pleasure is all mine, Your Majesty," Fiona gave a respectful response.

"Now... go on. Elijah should be waiting for you that way..." the King pointed to his right. "I will go to the left. I believe you remember what I just told you?" Fiona nodded. "Yes. No one should know about this conversation. Not even Elijah." Fiona smiled.

The King gave her a smile and, to her surprise, he suddenly reached out and patted her head. "Good. Now... go on."

Fiona nodded. She did not hesitate as she followed the direction the King had pointed. She had been gone for hours, and by now, the sun had already set. She could only imagine Elijah's angry face. Would he scold her for being stupid and losing her way in an unfamiliar maze? Fiona sighed inwardly.

She ran through the maze, her feet moving faster with each turn. All she could think about was finding her way out. After what felt like an m eternity, she finally spotted what seemed to be the exit. Her heart leaped with relief, and she quickened her pace, eager to reach the end. But just as she neared the opening, a shadow suddenly blocked her path. She stopped abruptly, her breath catching in her throat. Before she could react, she was enveloped in a familiar warmth. "Elijah," she breathed, realizing who it was. His strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her into a tight embrace. She hadn't expected this-hadn't expected him to be here, waiting for her.

"You hadworried," he murmured, his voice soft but filled with concern.

head against his chest, comforted by the Fiona felt her pulse slow, her anxiety melting away in his embrace. She rested b steady rhythm of his heartbeat. For a moment, everything else faded, and all that mattered was this-being held by him. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible, Elijah pulled back just enough to look at her, his eyes searching hers. He didn't say anything, but the way he held her told her all she needed to know.

2/3 20:50 Sat, Nov 3U Chapter 35 And in that quiet moment, with the maze behind her and Elijah in front of her, everything felt right. 29027% 0 C