"Alpha ! You're getting worse by the day" Jackson, Lyon's beta, spoke, worry weighing down his tone as he noticed the dark bags under his eyes while helping him put on a tailored black coat,the intricate silver threading catching the light of the sun which reflected to the mirror they stood before.
He fastened the silver cuffs at Lyon's wrists, ensuring the symbol of the pack was perfectly aligned. The ceremonial dagger at Lyon's side was secured, its hilt gleaming with a subtle light.
As Lyon adjusted his coat, the pendant around his neck – a silver wolf's head with glowing eyes – settled into place, shining with an inner light. Jackson stepped back, his eyes scanning Lyon's attire with a critical gaze. "You look every bit the Alpha" he said, a hint of pride in his voice.
But Lyon only gave a nod.
This was yet another morning visit he pays to his Alpha where he gives report on the night watch of the pack.
"The mate's bond is making me weaker by each passing moment, unfortunately, I'm busy with Kingdom duties" Lyon uttered, his deep voice laced with frustration.
"Yeah, you're too busy, but I guess when you die, you'll get less busy and find your mate" Jackson scoffed at his Alpha.
Lyon suddenly remained quiet after the outburst, his cold aura permeating from his body, his claws itching to grow and sink into the fellow beside him, but he kept them under control. However, the color of his eyes flashed to a golden pair.
It was only when he heard snapping, sharp sounds that made his Beta weak to the knee before falling to his feet did Lyon return to normal.
"Argghh" Jackson growled in pain. "This is too much for me to bear" he spoke weakly, knowing the source of his agony.
"You've grown weak to a measly reminder, and you heal faster" Lyon said, still choosing to tease him as he stared down at him, his eyeballs changing to their real colors.
Jackson rose an eyebrow, his face pale. "Not when 'you' break my bones; it hits different" he noted his dissatisfaction.
Lyon sighed, his broad chest rising and falling with the motion. "How long does it take to heal?" He asked.
The Beta stretched out his hand and began explaining, "In cases where you replace the bone in my body with fluid, it takes a bit longer than you heal."
Lyon wore a small smile, bent, and gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Take your time to heal, buddy."
Jackson eyes narrowed, his gaze following Lyon as he walked away.
"Uhn ?! Wait...Alpha!" Jackson called out, but Lyon had already left the room.
"Don't cut off your thoughts too!" Jackson shouted after Lyon, but...
"Ahhhhhh" Jackson yelled, holding his ears as he began hearing distorted sounds in his ears. He had just gotten disconnected from the Alpha's telepathy!
The silence that followed was oppressive, punctuated only by the sound of his own ragged breathing.
He blew hot air, still on the cold marble floor, exhausted, from his mouth, which moved few strands of his ginger hair that stood out by his forehead.
His ash eyes then roamed the room, taking in the elegant furnishings. The space was beautiful, but it lacked the warmth and color a mate could bring.
Jackson's thoughts turned to the mate bond, a mysterious and powerful connection that linked two souls together.
But his Alpha...
"Creeeeeeeaaakk"
The sound of the door opening puts his thoughts to an end, as he stared at the figure stepping in to the room, with an uncomfortable observation, he noticed the person was carrying a tray of what he couldn't figure out.
Without choice, Jackson pulls himself into a sitting posture, his hand on his knee as he let out a gentle "Ouch ".
"You are at the wrong place"
He told whoever it was without taking a glance at their face.
"The kitchen staff are at your service, Beta Jackson"
A masculine voice echoed which caused him to stare at the bowing entity with amusement, the contents of the tray drawing his attention.
Ah! Treats!
His security sense broke off and he moved his hands to the tray, wanting to try the mouth watering offers but it got withdrawn from him.
Jackson let out a low growl, his eyes peeling away from it to the one who held them.
"Have a death wish?"
He queried the terrified chef, whose cap was almost over his eyes due to shaking his head in disapproval of his earlier statement.
"Uhn?"
Jackson forehead creased in confusion as he stared at the chef who was beginning to stammer his message to him.
"T...The, The Alpha s...says you are a competent one"
The chef declared and carefully placed the tray containing baked treats on Jackson's lap, bowed and walked out of the door.
The Beta still puzzled about what was going on took back his gaze to the newly arrivals on his laps and took one happily.
"Competent? Isn't that too soon?
He wondered aloud as he took a crunchy bite satisfactorily.
☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾☾
Later on...
"The audacity! I will be available by then, let's catch the intruder together, overnight"
Lyon was pissed off by the update that was disclosed in the meeting room by his pack members who held vital positions, seated round the table, and when he planned to excuse himself after concluding, they whined instead.
He creased his forehead at them, with a questioning expression but it only caused them to cower in fear.
"Can't you all see I need your explanation for declining my presence tonight?!"
He asked irritated at them but he got no answer.
"I said..."
He banged at the finely carved wood table top and a dent surfaced, his green eyes shifting to the golden ones severally, a stance that shows he could reveal his beastly side soon.
Soon, someone stood up to speak up the mind of the rest, so as not to reel him up any longer.
"We didn't want you to appear before us in your difficult times"
Trav, the Omega spoke and that got him to appear gentle, his piercing green eyes losing some of their intensity, the sharp angles of his face relaxing as he gazed at his pack members.
Lyon sighed gently, opened his mouth, even when the words couldn't form and he could feel his surroundings get solemn, then closed them back and faced another direction.
His white knuckles from last night flashed across his mind, with his nails and palms oozing from the fresh blood that had splattered everywhere.
Oh! His eyes closed and opened right away.
How could he have forgotten that they knew about the pain he goes through every night especially during full moon.
"Keep your worries at bay, you all are seeing me tonight"
With that said, he walked out immediately.
"We all are lucky, we've got a strong willing leader"
Trav said to the six others that were present during the meeting including him and the Alpha.
"Indeed he is"
They all agreed.
"Anyways, we didn't see Jackson during the meeting, is he too busy to be by the Alpha's side?"
One of them asked the Omega but he just smiled.
"More reasons you should have observed the Alpha, your King, carefully, he was trying not to feel left out when his Beta wasn't near him and that's probably because he's either on an errand or taking punishment "
Trav explained and the others nodded in agreement.
"And by the look of things, we went with plan B, which was us gathering too early for a meeting that could have been between the both of them, so I guess we acted on Jackson's behalf"
Trav continued.
"Oh I see now!
One of the persons exclaimed.
🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Earlier on...
Immediately the Alpha walked out of his chambers and out to the throne room, he was met with different pairs of eyes greeting him.
Lyon stood stiff and sucked in air continuously, as he watched the chefs serving snacks.
You know that type of ritual, when someone waits for you and you serve them something to appreciate it.
"I should have known I was walking in on another trap when he didn't struggle"
He spoke to himself through the teeth, referring to his Beta and when he noticed all their gazes at him, he smiled and when they made to stand and show their respect, he waved them down to sit back.
"It's alright, feel free"
He had told them.
But before he got to take his seat, he waved a chef to his side, looked at the passage he had strolled from and sighed gently.
"Get him something nice...and a piece of word for him... He's a competent one"