CHAPTER THREE

Alex's POV 

(...a surprise welcome)

He parked the mini white car at the garage— one he purchased the previous night. Some guards stood alert at strategic corners of the palace, in their usual attire—khaki brown suit with a black garrison cap. The weather was fair, but a stale aura hung around the building. It was few minutes past one, everyone should be fast asleep, he thought. The guards bowed as he gained entrance into the great hall. It was large and empty, as Alex expected. He mounted up the stairway, motioning towards his furnished room, situated on the first floor. 

“My Prince”, a woman spoke from across kitchen. It was one of the woman servants. 

“May I prepare another meal? Your dinner was discarded two hours ago, since my Lord wasn't present.” 

“Life is more than food and delicacies, Margaret. Save yourself the stress”, Alex responded in a cold tone as he continued his way up. Truly, food was the least of his problems. Although, he had barely eaten anything the previous day, the weakness he felt stemmed more from the next possible encounter with the Alpha, should in case he heard of his sudden disappearance and late night arrival. He turned open the large entrance into his room. He jerked, as the figure sitting on his bed dragged his consciousness back to the very present—his dreaded imagination displayed in 3D reality. 

“About time, Xander. Have a seat“, she tapped the space beside her, motioning for him to sit. Alex was stunned. He could feel his heart pushing blood aggressively to his head. He jammed the door together. To think his inquisitive mother would be asleep after the noise she heard last night was a major flaw in his impulsive action. How wrong he was? She retained a mischievous smile on her face, as Alex assumed a tensed position beside her.

 “Goodness, you smell like burnt leather. Did you go hunting in the woods again?” she chuckled softly, “That's by the way.” 

“What keeps you awake, Mother?“, he asked, ignoring the supposed humor thrown at him and the unusual deduction in her words—woods? How could she easily tell?, he thought to himself. “It is so unusual of you”, he added.

 “You now call your mother names, Xander?. You might as well call me a bear”, she smirked. The queen had a thing with sarcasm.

 “Mother?”, Alex was becoming uneasy. The tension building up inside him was becoming noticeable from his facial expression. She laughed again. 

“Now tell me, Son. Serious business. What happened tonight?, or I might as well alert your father. You wouldn't like that, would you?” 

His heart skipped two beats at the Luna’s words. She knows? How? his mind clanged in confusion and terror. 

“What about tonight?“, he asked, pretending to be lost. She laughed again, 

“You don't think I know everything that goes on around here?, Save yourself and tell me everything.”

 “I've nothing to say. I've nothing to hide, Mother” 

“Oh…Hide? Who spoke about hiding anything? Or are you hiding something from us?” 

“Mother, stop. Tonight is the worst of all nights to inquire unnecessary details about things that don't even exist”, Alex lost slight control of his temper. He stood up angrily, and walked towards the large window, backing his mother. 

“Very well then. A good night it is. You shall hear from your father by dawn.”, she spoke in a subtle British accent that spelt irony in all its shades. Alex forced himself not to believe his mother knew anything. It was a trap to make him speak, he thought. But he wasn't sure. Taking chances was dangerous, at this point. He responded as the door knob clicked open, 

“Mother?“ 

“Yes, Son?”, she replied, still facing the entrance.

 “Do you think I can hide anything from You?”

 “You tell me, Xander. A simple question got the better of you. Goodness knows what else you're hiding from your mother”, she left without a reply. 

“What else? What does she mean by what else?”, he mumbled after the door shut. He slumped down onto his large bed in exhaustion. It was enough pain for him that Sherlyn was no longer part of his life. He needn't any of his mother's additional threats. What a disaster it would be, if he lost his future kingship along sides his love? He sunk deep into thoughts till his eyes couldn't hold on any longer—embraced in the arms of distressed sleep, he passed out.

 ***

 It was a bright colorful morning, but not enough to melt the burden inside of him. He prepared a hot bath—ready to face whatever the day had in store. There was a clang of metal by the door. 

“My Prince, the Alpha sends for You”, a guard reported behind the door. Alex paused in front of the mirror while he adjusted his collar button before responding,

 “Come in”. It was Harry. He held him slightly by the shoulders, “Do you have any idea why?”, Alex inquired. 

“None that I know of, My Prince. But a guest dropped by early this morning. A royal guest, I presume”

 “Okay. You may go. I'll be out soon.” 

Harry bowed and left. He flipped the message over and over but got nothing close to a clue. It was probably a meeting with some delegates of the region, he assumed.

 The Alpha sat at a large spread of dishes set up at the balcony—a stone throw from the pool.

 “Looking so radiant, child”, his mother complimented. Alex wore a navy blue royal mantle, with his hair neatly arranged in such a way that most of his forehead went hidden underneath. He assumed an upright posture beside the Alpha,

 “Thanks, mother. I meet you both well.”,. 

 “Did I hear you call a full-grown man “child” Aurora? . Have a seat, son. We've a special guest.” 

 The Luna rolled her eyes with a subtle smile at the Alpha's remark. 

“The dishes couldn't be a coincidence, I suspected”, Alex replied, as he grazed through the display of cuisines. He felt strangely lighter—less worried about himself. The Alpha was in a radiant mood. That was more than enough for him. Mother and her empty threats, he was relieved.

 The Alpha gestured to one of the guards, who bowed and left. 

“Son, Your mother and I have been worried. Can you guess why?” “Except I am favored with a hint, I'm afraid, a wrong guess is inevitable”, Alex replied with his usual glossy baritone, as he helped himself with an empty plate, ready to dive into each mouth-watering display.

 “The only son of the greatest Alpha has stayed celibate for years. It's high time you got a mate for yourself, don't you think?”, the Alpha asked rhetorically. 

For a split second, Alex cringed at the Alpha's words. He was far from being a celibate—to as far as being a father, in few months to come. She must be in her second trimester, he thought. 

“I don't suppose that to be a valid worry, Father. The Region's integrity and safety is of utmost priority to me, and …” 

“Relax son.“, the Alpha interrupted, with a tap on Alex's back. “I still remain the Alpha of the region. In as much as I appreciate your devotion to the affairs of the state, I wouldn't have you neglect other aspects of your Life. The bulk of the weight still lies on my neck. Take a break. Work on your love life.” 

This must be a joke. The Alpha never talked this way. Take a break?, Alex wondered what had come over his father. 

“The princess of Alvarez Kingdom is here.“, the Alpha continued. “Her father stopped by to introduce you both. But unfortunately, an important meeting demanded that he left. She's here, with us.” 

“Father, I don't assume you called me out to plan an arranged marriage?”, Alex asked, feeling embarrassed. He had a heated conversation with his father previously, before Sherlyn’s breakup with him. 

 “No, son. Listen. There's no princess around this region that befits your status. Alvarez has lots of resources. Think of the benefits, if their princess is betrothed to ...” 

“I refuse to marry for benefits…” Alex got up, irritated. 

“I forbid you to go against my order, son. Sit!”, the Alpha snarled at him. Alex, still standing, searched his mother's eyes for support, but was disappointed when she spoke, 

“You heard your father.”