Alpha King and I

Chapter 17: The Bakery

Rei was the first person I'd ever met here who started off our greeting with a painful hug. I could feel my bones squeal under the pressure of her strong hold. Unlike the other guards, she wore no armor, just a thin cloth pants and top, loosely attached to her lean frame, that shimmered like the doctor's glass eye. The cloth stung too as it touched my exposed skin. I wondered why it did such. Like the door knobs. Did it hurt her? I squirmed a little as her grip tightened around me for a moment longer, before releasing. She stepped back and pulled out what looked like a set of tarnished metal knuckles from in between her breasts. As she put them on each hand she winked in my direction.

"Rei Kurse of the Amadi werewolf clan, 3rd officer for the Kingdom, guard as a hobby, your highness! Now tell me who you are formally, so we can get casual." Her hands rested on her hips now. I crossed my arms and swiveled on my heel in the direction away from the castle. I stared out at the violet sky, and thought of my answer. I guess I'd say what I know.

I whispered, "Selese Haerstone, I guess now? I don't know what clan I come from... I'm the Queen? Sort of? I don't really know much about formal introductions... or myself."

"I can tell. A little hint, you're human born, so you don't have a clan, just say the clan of the Kingdom, since you're the queen and all. " I didn't really understand, but I guessed I'd figure it out eventually. I didn't want to talk too much with her.

We began walking in the direction I could only assume was toward the bakery. She'd skip once in a while. Her dark hair moving like whiplash striking, with each bouncing step. Rei was faster than I; I started to speed walk to keep up. I didn't want to tell her to slow down.

After a while of walking, I could see bright blue pebble stones starting to form what looked like a road. That with the grass surrounding us and the trees around us created an ocean like feel, even if we were on land. There were some more of those odd colored flowers too on the side of the road. A black rose like bush a few feet up. It distracted me a bit, keeping my actions in control. My mind was elsewhere. Thoughts dashing around in circles. Afraid I'd mess up. I already liked Rei, but I was nervous about getting too friendly with her.

Cadeth killed the last guard, and I didn't want to get close if she was going to die too over a slip up of mine. Once I'm better at this, then we can be friends. Until then I'll keep my feelings to myself.

We were getting closer to the town, I could already smell the bakery. At least I think that's what it was. A nutty smell mixed with some type of warm spice filled my nostrils and overpowered any other scent around me. I heard a chuckle from Rei.

"Yep, almost there your highness! Prince Tei has the best loafs..." I glanced quickly at her. She was stone faced even with the chuckle. I mimicked her expression and nodded in acknowledgement.

Music was playing. We'd past the bush and suddenly a town became visible merely a few meters away. Not many people were out. There was a group of men to our left and a child to our right. Further up to our right were also some women and men mixed together arguing. Upon seeing us, the child bowed slightly then ran inside one of the buildings. Rei grabbed my arm with a bruising grip and pulled us to the left. I didn't mean to, but a small yelp of pain escaped my lips.

She shot her hand away from me.

"That hurt?!" She questioned. I bit my lip and looked toward the building the child had ran into. The walls, like the other buildings in this town, were a deep gold color, but the roof was an off red and tan peach color. Like clay. Finally I answered.

"Yes."

Rei sighed loudly and exclaimed, "Tell me next time your highness! I don't know many omegas like you, other than the prince. My clan doesn't have any and they can't join the military. So I don't know this stuff! Of course I'd never want to hurt you!"

"It's okay." I looked at her now, hoping she'd see my sincerity. Whether she did or not, I couldn't tell. Before I got the chance for a reassuring answer, the group of men started catcalling our way.

Loud whistling, yelling some type phrases in a mix of English and a foreign language I couldn't decipher.

I tried to step toward the right to avoid them, but Rei placed her arm around my shoulder gently and pulled me back to the left where they were. It was nice feeling. As her arm slipped away from me, she started to walk straight to them. I wasn't sure if I should follow or not. She lifted her hand up like a stop sign, indicating for me not to. So I stayed there. They got louder as she got closer.

I watched with my hands pulled together tightly, the letter between them. I'd almost forgotten I'd been holding it this whole time.

She started to speak too, but strictly in the foreign language. They laughed at whatever she had said.

Then, she clocked the biggest guy. Right in the cheek. Blood squirted out of his mouth like a broken fountain. The other guys laughed harder.

The guy tried to roundhouse kick her, but she just punched his leg. He yelped out in pain. One of the other guys high fived her. I crossed my arms again.

It was then I noticed the building behind the guys. Unlike the other buildings, the door on this one was made of the Porusae stone. It had some words on it, pictograph style. As I analyzed them, the door slammed open. It was so loud even Rei jumped a little. There stood a guy a little taller than me, with dark brown short hair and piercing purple eyes. He had a thin angry face, and a body almost as weak looking as mine.

His voice boomed as he yelled, "Who the fuck is doggin' in front of my bakery?! I need to get Ash to kick your asses?!!!!" His aura flashed a shade of red.

Rei shoved the guy she was beating up behind her and bowed.

She spoke monotone and quick.

"Prince Tei, the King sent me with his mate to meet you," Rei pointed at me, "Selese."

I sprinted right to where Rei was and bowed as well, but as I did so my head slammed into his. I shifted away from him and grabbed onto my head. Rubbing it to try and quell the pain.

Prince Tei yelled again, softer, "You're not supposed to bow dolt! I am!"

"Sorry..." Suddenly he grabbed us both and pulled us inside. After slamming the door again he started laughing. Really loudly.

I looked over a Rei. She was rolling her eyes.

Rei snorted as she turned her gaze to more of a glare in his direction. I was confused. He had stopped laughed but now he was wiping his face, smiling a huge grin. His smile dropped as he turned to me. With a straight face he spoke.

"Gotta keep my princely rep ya know?" I nodded, not really sure what he meant. He grabbed a muffin from behind the counter and threw it at Rei. Her face immediately switched to a more stone look as she bit into the muffin.

Prince Tei questioned, "You're here to sneak some questions hmm?"

"How did you know?" I blurted out.

"I'm smart. How else? Now spill the deets!" He whipped his hair back. In doing so he tripped over, almost falling, but Rei caught him with her free hand. Her other hand still pre-occupied with the muffin.

"Look at that, I tripped trying to impress you. So much for complimenting my own intelligence...Lawls." He chortled.

I did everything in my power to keep my jaw from dropping.

Their eyes were definitely the only thing they had in common.

Well, here goes nothing.