(Ethan’s POV)

Upon returning to the palace, I see Alpha Monk from The Surveillance Pack leaving and I strengthened my pace to catch up to him, “Alpha, may I ask why you’re leaving when you haven’t even seen me yet.”

The Alpha had stopped and looked alarmed for a moment, then smiled, “Ah, it is of no importance, Your Majesty. I had come to replace…Items and had only seen Beta Owen briefly. I was just leaving…”

“May I then speak with you while you are here, Alpha Monk, I also have some words to say.” Since I was now doubtful of Owen, I couldn’t help but test this Alpha out…

Who would he side with?

“…Of course, Your Majesty!”

I completely reverted into becoming ‘King’ and stood firm in front of him, with Damien to my side, “Alpha Monk, I’d like you to search for my half-sister, so that I can finally met her. I have never met her, and I can also tell her briefly to stay alert. Knowing now that the Elementalist’s are still here, her life may also be in danger.”

Actually, this was true, I had no anger towards my half sister and did want to tell her to stay safe, but I also did realize the connection to Owen that this conversation had…It really worked out well!

Alpha Monk didn’t look all that willing, “…Oh…Your Majesty…I have been looking for your half-sister…”

Excuses!

I interrupted him, “Then I see where your loyalty lies, Alpha Monk.”

I watched as he snapped his head to me and stuttered, “…Your…Your…Majesty!”

I turned to Damien then, “When we find evidence, it looks like we will have to change some of the statuses in the packs.”

Then I turned, firmly walking away.

To have brought this up in front of Alpha Monk was the test I nearly had no courage for! If Owen realizes that I was on to him, that would only make things worse! Yet…I needed Alpha Monk to realize that the King himself is questioning his own Beta and that I obviously preferred him to take my side instead…

Dam, I was just about to revert back to my natural Omega and run away!

Normally, being ‘King’ was a lot easier, but today…It was hard…

My mother, her letter, having doubts and now this with Alpha Monk…

Stand tall, Ethan, your mate is beside you!

Thinking of that, helped tremendously!

“Your…Majesty, please, I’m wrong, I’m wrong. I was…Just surprised by your questions!”

I turned, my eyes seeing a new light to probably half the Alpha’s that I’d met…

Owen…They are Owen’s Alpha’s…Not mine!

…It is about time I call them over to their King’s side instead!

“Surprised, Alpha Monk, or worried? Perhaps someone has a better hold over you then me, the current King of Shifters!”

Plainly, I spoke of his loyalty, already have threatened him also…Now, I was hoping I would not have to do anymore and that his loyalty will come back to me!

After all, I wasn’t a nasty person…I didn’t want to blackmail or take his family away, just to have him come to my side. What I needed him to see was exactly this, which I believed…Was enough…

…If and Alpha wasn’t loyal to the King of Shifters, then why should they stay an Alpha?

“No! Never, Your Majesty, I am your Alpha!”

Narrowing my eyes, I replied, “I don’t believe you!”

He took a small step towards me and then bowed his heavily worried eyes down. Suddenly, he fell to the floor, onto his knees and showed me his neck.

He conceded to me…But…Was this enough? Wouldn’t Owen try to obtain him back to his side before even the end of the day?

“And how long does this last? Until you leave the palace?” I mocked.

“No! I am your Alpha, my King!” Finally, I felt like Alpha Monk was serious…But was he completely sincere?

“Swear it, I want to see you do a blood oath!” Damien stated, using his own Alpha aura to intimidate the other.

I know Damien was being harsh here, but it is obvious to me that Owen has too many on his side, and at least getting Alpha Monk to my side will help tremendously, considering he’s the Alpha of The Surveillance Pack.

I couldn’t help but nod and state, “I agree, at this time, I think I need more evidence of your loyalty.”

“Your…Your Majesty?” Again, I saw Alpha Monk’s unwillingness and it made me angry!

Seeing him question me like that, made me sneer at him, “Then don’t bother, you will be replaced shortly.”

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Again, I walked away, hating the fact that he was not like Damien.

Someone so willing, someone so happy to make me feel at ease…

Hell, I’d do a blood oath in return if they wanted me too! I want both Damien and any other to know that I am willing to put my life on the line to keep people safe! To look after them all and do the best I could for all of the packs…But I need help to do that!

I needed Alpha’s ready to do as asked straight away, at least then I’d know they were loyal to me!

“I…I…Your Majesty…”

I continued to walk away, until I smelt blood, making me stop completely in my tracks.

When I turned around, I saw Damien take the other Alpha’s wrist and forcefully move him towards me.

It was not something another can do, I knew that…For one to make a blood oath, it reflects upon the willing heart and Damien couldn’t force it…So, this blood, it was made by Alpha Monk himself, Damien was just making it easier for me to consume.

I took a drop of blood in my mouth and Damien let him loose. “What did…That person have over you?”

Alpha Monk looked completely defeated and after a sigh, he stated, “…He…They said that you were an Omega and that he will bring someone else upon the throne who isn’t. He…They, told me that we needed you to help clear the threat first though, so I was not to make any strange movements.”

I didn’t get it, I was still shocked…

I knew that Owen had this over me, I knew that he would use it one day, I knew it!

But hearing that I was an Omega from a third party, someone who I’ve barely spoken too before…It…Shocked me…

“…How long?” I asked, after clearing my throat.

It seems both Damien and Alpha Monk had caught on that I had said no name. I had not stated ‘Owen’ this whole time, and neither have they…

The next problem was…Footsteps could be heard coming towards us…

“From the beginning, Your Majesty. Since your father, King Tailor, had died. That person then got hold of the King’s belongings…” Alpha Monk spat it all out, no longer the same unwilling Alpha as before. The blood oath was now working, and he was loyal to me…I could feel it…

His Alpha blood hadn’t worked straight away, but I felt it start to become one with my Omega blood and enhance my senses within the Surveillance Pack. I knew the connections to Alpha Monk, how many were connected and felt an ‘opened’ type of boundary into his mind. It wasn’t clear, it was blurry, I didn’t know his thoughts, nor names of his packs, but I was now a lot more connected to him.

But now, that he spat everything out so willingly, I finally caught on to what he had said…

“King’s belongings?” I asked, still somewhat stuck in my thoughts…

“…What is going on here!?” Owen’s voice interrupted us.

There was simply no time left!

I turned to Owen and wanted to turn away from him straight away. He looked angry, but to me he was the strange one and that I should be that one that was angry!

“Alpha Monk, what have you done to His Majesty!?” Owen yelled out.

Since having doubts of him, I never realized how firm his voice always was…Like he was the boss, the leader…The one in charge…

Keeping calm, I turn back to the Alpha, still bowed before me, and quickly came up with a reason for his release, “You may leave, Alpha Monk. Please be certain that you find a solution to how we can deal with the Elementalist’s. It is not just my safety to worry about, my son Chance, his life has been threatened too!”

“No, tell me now why he’s kneeling, did he hurt you?” Owen’s voice cut in as Alpha Monk started to stand.

I heard the want to know in Owen’s voice, the want to know everything! To be in charge…How could I have never heard it so much before!?

I turned to Alpha Monk, and then said, “You may leave, what are you waiting for!?”

Alpha Monk got up, quickly bowed and left, not giving Owen a glance. The test was now complete…

Turning back to Owen, I then shrugged, “What are you getting all mad about?”

It was hard to remember how I used to act with him…For so many years, I felt like I could call him my brother and father…But now…I just wanted to drag out some questions out of him and ask him, why!

“Why was he kneeling?” He asked once again.

“Can’t my subjects kneel to me, the King? Why make it sound like it never happens?” I couldn’t help it…It was showing! My rebelling against him was really becoming obvious!

“…I was just worried…That you were hurt.”

Doubt it!

I smirked, “Ah! I see.”

Then, without further words, I walked towards the palace.

“Your Majesty…”

Owen chased after me, while Damien walked behind us. I wanted him next to me, but I was still in ‘King’ mode and simply could not soften up right now with Owen right here. If I changed, I might let everything out of the bag! And as it was, I was worried that my rebellion against him had already been too noticeable!

Was it obvious that I felt doubtful towards him, that I wanted to ask him if he killed my mother! If he was going to use both me and Chance, just so that it was safe for him and his son to take the throne? I wanted to ask him why, why did he remove me from my mother…Was it really…Was it really just to use me as sacrificial pawn?

If his plans didn’t put our lives in danger, I might have just given the throne over to him! But no, we…We could be getting used! No, we are…

I couldn’t stop walking, and Owen continued to speak to me…

“Why are you being like this, Your Majesty!? Since you have met your destined mate, am I of no longer any concern to you!?”

His voice made me want to laugh…Because…When was I ever a concern to him? When did he really care for me!? Uh?

I stopped and turned to him then, putting my hands behind me, “And what am I to you, Owen? Have I not made you proud? For many years now, I have been King and we are now starting to travel out of the palace, soon we will find a way to protect ourselves and the royal family will be safe once again. We have gotten one step further and next time…”

I put my hand into a fist in front of him, and smiled.

Owen looked at my fist and smiled back, “Yes, Yes, my King, you are right. I am proud of you! I have made preparations for you to leave once again, to continue your last outing. It will commence in just a few days.”

I wanted to show him how disappointed I was to his answer. But…I, instead, smiled and nodded. “Then when you know for sure, tell me so that I can spend extra time with my son before leaving!”

Then I continued to walk off. I hoped I didn’t give away any type of doubt that I held in my heart for the old man, that he didn’t know that I will be looking for evidence from now on…That…As the time is moving on…I will be able to pronounce a judgement for his potential crimes and do it fairly…

Damien caught up with me, when Owen was out of sight, and I immediately lost my King act and put my hands around him.

“You did well.” He kissed me on the forehead and picked me up.

Snuggling into him, I took in his scent and calmed down substantially. Looking at the clock on a wall, I smiled, “Dinner time, do you remember how to get to the dining room?”

“Mmm.”

He didn’t put me down until we were there, and he took my hand in his as he led me to the ‘King’s’ seat. This time the Queen didn’t run away and just smiled at us. It really was a nice welcoming party this time and I couldn’t help but feel better after that confrontation with Owen.

Chance was also there, in his highchair and I got off my chair and played with him while we waited for dinner.

Going under the big table, behind Damien and the Queen, to hide and suddenly pop up out of ‘nowhere’, it made Chance’s laughter fill the room.

Thank you, my boy!

He made me feel even better!

And with Damien there, I felt full, so full that I was overflowing!

So many problems, yet, so many heart-warming memories that I can remember at any time!

Just as I went to sit down, as the food was finished being served, Damien pulled me into him and gave me a huge kiss, right in front of everybody!

“Geez, if you don’t want to eat, just go to bed!”

I turned to the Queen, red cheeks and all, seeing her teasingly smile at me and I sat down, leaving Damien’s embrace.

Before I could do anything though, his hand took one of mine, and I was eating with one hand once again…I guess, I might have to get used to it…

Well, something like this wasn’t a problem! I loved how he was possessive like this, I felt it in my very bones!

I was wanted…I was needed! And that felt so great to me that even if Owen had plans to do what I was told he might do and accomplishes it…I would still die happy!