The Alpha King's Mate novel Chapter 24

"I need to sit by the waterfall and think about this.

Before I go, let me do one thing," she says, and pulls

my face to hers and smashes her mouth on mine. I wrap my arms around her body as tightly as I can without hurting her, and we break apart and stare into each other's eyes.

I peck her on the lips, making her giggle, so I peck her a few more times until she tells me to stop.

She leaves the cave and sits by the water, dipping her feet in. She has a lot on her mind. I stand away from her, just watching and admiring her. I'd love to hold her, to pull her close to me, but I know she needs her space.

Alpha. Zayden and I have arrived at the forest border, and we are following the river. Where are we meeting? Troy mind-links. No one could find this cave even with directions.

I know where the river is from here. I'm not far from you. I'm actually with Maia. She isn't afraid of me anymore. She just needs more time to process everything. It will be great to have you two, to reassure her we aren't bad like she has been told. I reply.

Zayden and I will wait for you then, Alpha. I can't believe we're about to meet our Luna. Troy mind-links. I crouch down beside Maia to speak to her.

"I have my Beta, Troy waiting by the river with a pup boy. I'm going to get them and bring them back here. They're very excited to meet you," I say excitedly. Maia

smiles.

"Okay. I look forward to it," she says with a beautiful smile.

Maia

I draw figure eights in the water with my feet while I'm deep in thought. If Damon is telling the truth about werewolves, why is there going to be a war? Villages have been told stories that aren't true! Would the war still happen if humans knew wolves are kind? Will I have to help defend Moon Crest Valley? What happens to all the innocent people like Vivian and her children?

A very broad, bulky man with black, dirty, scruffy hair appears in front of the trees. He is bigger than Damon, at least half a foot taller. He has brown eyes and doesn't look very friendly. I stand up, face him, focus and summon fireballs in my hands.

"You're definitely the Forest Princess with those flames and those violet eyes," he says with a husky voice.

"Don't come any closer, or I will hurt you!" I yell.

"No need to yell. I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to talk," he says, sitting down on a rock near the waterfall

"King Fenris is a fair and great ruler, and he isn't starving his people. He is protecting them by saving them from the wolves. They will wipe kill all humans if they win this war," he says.

"That's not true! They want to live peacefully, and they don't like killing anyone unless they absolutely have to," I say.

"You know this how? Have you met any werewolves?" He argues.

"Actually, I have. I've met Alpha King Damon," I say proudly. Sir Hugo's mouth falls open.

"You've met Alpha King Damon?" He asks. I smile and fold my arms across my chest.

"Yes, and he isn't how the stories paint him to be. He is sweet and kind and gentle and..." I feel myself blushing slightly, thinking of him—Sir Hugo bursts into laughter.

"Don't tell me you have a crush on him? If it's the Alpha King Damon I'm thinking of, I can tell you right now, kitten, he is putting on a façade and manipulating you so he can use your powers in this war. When he has won the war and wiped us out, he will forget about you or may even just kill you. He is just fooling you so that he can control you and use your powers to defeat King Fenris!" Sir Hugo concludes, hurting me deeply.

I look at the ground so he can't see how much he has hurt me.