You Rejected A Silver Wolf
Tension

Chapter Twenty-Two - Tension

Chris's POV

"My Alpha!" Sasha ran to me as I sat on the ground, flipping through books.

I rolled my eyes so hard it felt like they got stuck behind my head for a second.

"My Alpha, you have guests," she said as she came closer.

"Who?" I asked, not looking up from the books.

"Beta Gaius from Red Moon Pack. He says he has an offer concerning the silver wolf. He got an order that you—"

"I will come to see him!" I barked, cutting her off. "I will come to see him and hear what he says. Don't speak for him."

She backed away slowly, looking dejected. I knew she had been working harder lately, acting like a maid, because preparations for Jaden's stay were disrupted. "Leave my room now!" I pointed toward the door. She stepped through but lingered just outside. I glared at her.

"I meant get out."

"You should see your guest. I'd like to be in my room once you leave," she said, with a barely-hidden eye roll.

Her room? She was back to her usual self. This was never her room. She was my Luna, not my wife.

And she wasn't even my Luna-she was the pack's Luna. I was still waiting for a second chance mate, if the Moon Goddess would grant me one. "Sasha, I'll break you if you don't get out!"

She stomped her foot. "And why? I'm your wife! Or is it because Jaden didn't stay that I've become less than a wife to you?"

"You've always been less than a wife to me, haven't you? I made that clear from the start."

Her breath hitched, and she hesitated. "For the last three years, you've treated me like a friend. I didn't know you never saw me as a wife." "You were stupid not to figure it out," I chuckled.

How could she be so clueless when her tongue was so sharp? Couldn't her brain keep up with her words?

"I never liked you. I never wanted you. Just focus on being my Luna and warming my bed when I need you." I stood up from the ground. "Maybe," I continued, stepping closer, "you'll find your own mate after I find mine. I'll let you go in peace. After all, you seem barren." She swallowed painfully, and the sound made me smile.

"Aren't you?" I added, my smile fading as I walked past her.

She slumped to the ground, sobbing, but I didn't care. I hadn't cared before, either.

When I reached the courtroom, I took a deep breath, forced a cheerful expression, and continued inside to meet Beta Gaius.

"What favor does your Alpha want from me, Gaius?" I asked as I sat on the throne.

He bowed, a smile plastered on his face as he straightened. Something foolish was likely brewing in his mind.

"My great Alpha King, may you live forever!" he said, spreading his arms wide. I nodded, urging him to get to the point. "Red Moon has achieved something remarkable, beyond anything you could imagine!" He chuckled.

I doubted it. There was nothing I couldn't command into existence.

I gestured for him to speak. "Surprise me."

He clapped his hands, and two soldiers entered, carrying what looked like a large banner-or was it a portrait?

As they drew closer, I saw the image more clearly. It was a wolf standing on its hind legs. A Lycan!

I leaned back on my throne as they laid the portrait at my feet. What did this mean?

"You look surprised, my King," Gaius said with a smirk.

I was. This was the last thing I'd expected.

"What does this mean? Is a Lycan near my kingdom?" I barked, demanding answers.

But Gaius and the soldiers remained calm, their expressions relaxed.

"This is the gift we offer you, my King."

"A Lycan's portrait?" I scoffed. "That's your gift?"

He shrugged. "Yes, but it's the portrait of the last Lycan to walk the earth. Our finest artist captured it."

I left my throne and walked toward Gaius, watching as the smirk faded from his face.

"If you don't tell me everything about this Lycan, I'll tear you apart," I growled, my wolf surging forward, my eyes glowing red.

Gaius stepped back cautiously. He should know better. A Lycan was a threat to my rule and my people's peace.

"Does Red Moon have a Lycan? Where is this Lycan from the portrait? How is a portrait supposed to be a gift to an Alpha?"

"I apologize, my King. I didn't mean to displease you. I only wanted to build some tension before revealing the details."

"Tension?" I rolled my eyes. "The only thing your requests ever give me is sleepless nights."

"Red Moon is willing to trade the silver wolf for a gift we believe you'll value," he said with a sly smile, gesturing for his servants to leave. He was still trying to build tension. What could be worth a silver wolf?

"We have the last Lycan on earth-Lycan Wolf Logan the Second!" he announced, his smile full of pride.

The room fell silent. Even the guards standing at the edges of the room were still.

"You captured a Lycan? How?" I asked. That was the only part that interested me.

Whether the Lycan was the last of its kind or named Logan didn't concern me.

"Our warriors found him sleeping in the northern part of our city. We captured him using sleep paralysis," Gaius explained with a casual shrug.

"Sleep paralysis only works on omegas and low-ranking hunters. How did it work on a Lycan?" I asked, skeptical.

"I don't know, but it did. The portrait is fresh. I wouldn't dare lie to you, Alpha." He dropped to his knees.

I exhaled. He wasn't lying-I could sense it. But that only made things more troubling.

And now he wanted to trade? Was I supposed to exchange a Lycan for the silver wolf, the answer to ancient prophecies?

Looks like I'll be losing sleep over this for another night.