Unexpected: Forever His (Book 1)

Chapter 11: Denying Prophecy (Alexander's POV)

I stepped around my throne and slid down in it. I found no comfort in the smooth marble, but what I did find was a serenity for my thoughts. I leaned back and rubbed my face with my hand. I was frustrated with so much. Kayla thought I was blaming her, and I had played a good role in her thinking that, but the truth was just the opposite. I blamed myself for what had happened to her.

Aiden had bested me. I really had been foolish enough to believe that after everything my brother has done to prove that vampires are not trustworthy, any werewolf, let alone an Alpha, would hold to an alliance with me.

This realization was what forced my decision to marry Kathiana. It was strictly political. All I had to do in return for the hand of his daughter was give Dante my queen. He knew about the prophecy. It was the only explanation. He wasn't a dumb man. But of course, hybrids usually aren't.

This union was a great way to prove once and for all that I was the king who was trustworthy. I couldn't achieve that with Kayla's pack now. Aiden had assured that. It just seemed like the plan was smarter than I took him to be. I shook my head and groaned. "Kayla, you really have no idea."

"She will by the time I am finished telling her everything."

I immediately stood and turned to face Damen. "I would have thought you would have crawled into the catacombs by now, Damen."

"Oh, Alexander, why would I do that when your precious Kayla is a mere corridor away. I wonder how long it will take her to decide that her best choice is the one I have given her."

I shook my head. "She has agreed to marry Dante, Damen. It turns out you weren't quite as convincing as you thought you were. Did you think my beloved would forsake my advice to steer clear of you? She will always be influenced by my power."

"Unless..."

I reached out and grabbed him by his shirt. "You will not claim Kayla. There is no way in hell she will let you!"

His smirk served to irritate me even further and if my heart were beating I would have felt flushed from my anger. "I'm certain she will. In fact, I'm willing to place a wager with you that she will all but beg me to after tonight. She does not know that Dante is a hybrid. Once she does, she will see you for what you really are. A king more interested in his own self-interest than even his own kingdom."

I hesitated not. My anger past the point of holding back, I succumbed to it. My fist made first contact with his face but he only stepped back a couple of steps still holding the same smirk from before. "It will take more than a rage-filled punch to steer me off of my track. I told you I am not here for war. Give me the one thing I want and I will stand by your side for peace. I will convince Aiden to stand with us as well." His smirk deepened as I realized his implication.

"I knew Rafe was working against me." I felt a small amount of strength leave with the knowledge that I had been outsmarted. "You, Rafe, and Aiden?"

My brother shook his head. "No. Me and Aiden. Rafe was merely my decoy. It was easy enough to pull him. I used Kayla as bate. Told him he could have a taste of her blood if he played by my rules for a little while. He's not a strong warrior, but he can beat most in a game of wits."

"He won't be beating anyone at anything for long!" I turned and headed down the corridor past Kayla's room. Her scent hit me from even this distance, but I ignored it to continue on my current path of vengeance. Rafe would pay for his treason. It wasn't hard to find him.

I slammed open the door and alerted them all of my presence. He lifted his head from the neck of the human girl he was currently feasting on and her head fell limply back. She wasn't dead, but she would be out for a while. I glanced to the side of the room and motioned for two guards to apprehend Rafe. Immediately they were on him and had him bound with a silver chain. "What is the meaning of this?" He wasn't looking at me, but instead his gaze landed behind me and I knew Damen was there.