Royal Secrets & Beastly Desires

7. Igniting Passions: A Dangerous Game

Draiden finished his Skype call with His beta when Victoria entered the kitchen. "I'm heading out for a while; my wolf is restless with the new moon approaching. Anyone want to join me?"

Draiden shook his head. "Sorry, Vic. I have some Pack business to handle. Maybe later, sis."

Trying to hide her disappointment, Victoria turned to Dakota. "How about you, sweetie? You haven't let Aleera out all week! Want to go for a run with me?"

Dakota was torn; her wolf needed to be released, but she also wanted to see how far she could push her cold, sexy Alpha mate at the table.

Sensing his tension, she replied, "Not right now, I'm really into my book and just hit a..." She paused, glancing at Draiden with a teasing smirk, "really heated chapter! I need to find out how it ends. After dinner, I promise we can go, Victoria."

"Oh, that's okay, sweetie. You and your books! I'll be back later. Love you," Victoria said, shaking her head with a laugh as she kissed Dakota's cheek.

Dakota smiled back. "Love you too! Enjoy your run."

Once Victoria left, Dakota turned to Draiden. "All you do is work—no play at all," she teased, knowing he secretly enjoyed it.

He rolled his eyes. "I'm an Alpha, Dakota. I have a pack to run."

She rolled her eyes in response. "Yes, yes, the big bad wolf has big responsibilities. Blah, blah, blah. Why don't we sit and talk?"

Draiden smirked. "Talk? Fine, but just for a bit. I have important things to do."

"Okay, Alpha," she teased.

He sank onto the couch beside her, the proximity heightening the tension that had been building all week.

Dakota leaned back, her eyes sparkling with triumph as she settled into the cushions, clearly pleased with her victory.

"What are you reading?" he asked, trying to shift his focus from the charged atmosphere between them.

"Just a little romance," she replied, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You know, the kind filled with tension and unresolved moments—just like us."

She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice as if sharing a delicious secret. "It's all about that slow build-up, the longing looks, and the suspense of what might happen next. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?"

Draiden raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Are you suggesting our lives are some kind of romance novel?"

"Only the best kind," she teased, leaning back with a satisfied grin. "You're the cold, brooding Alpha, after all, and I'm just here trying to stir the pot. Can't you feel the tension?"

"I think you chase the thrill of Victoria catching us," Draiden said, a knowing glint in his eyes as he leaned back, crossing his arms. "You love living on the edge, don't you?"

Dakota feigned innocence, raising her hands in mock defense. "Me? I'm just enjoying a quiet moment with my Alpha. If someone walks in, that's not my fault!"

She chuckled, her playful gaze locking onto his. "Besides, it would make for quite the dramatic scene, don't you think? The cold, brooding Alpha caught in a moment of weakness."

Draiden shook his head, a grin breaking through his usual stoic demeanor. "You're incorrigible. Maybe I should keep you in line, so you don't tempt fate."

"Oh, come on! You know you love this," she teased, leaning in closer, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper that wrapped around him like a warm embrace.