ALPHA LYALL.
The party was over in no time. For most of it, I was mostly distracted, thinking over and over again about the maid and the explosive kiss we shared.
It was the same thought and the same feeling a few days later. I dreamed of her in my bed, naked with silken skin all for me to devour. I woke up to the sound of her moans in my ears. It haunted me. With every passing moment, I yearned to see her again. I yearned to have her in my arms, to make her mine this time, to never let her go.

She ruled my thoughts. During council meetings, all I could think of was her. I had caught a glimpse of her on my way to a sparring contest with Trey, and it had taken a lot of self-control for me not to rip the bucket she'd been using to clean from her hand.
The way she made me feel couldn't be compared to the way Sheila made me feel. It was an intense feeling blooming in my chest, a yearning for her to be by my side every moment of the day.
Yes, Sheila made a good Luna. She was the best thing that happened to me five years ago, and I cared a lot about her, but I didn't understand why I had cheated on her. Why had my wolf been filled with so much uncontrollable lust, one that made me lose every ounce of control? Hell, I barely knew this maid. I didn't carry the identities of my slaves as there were too many, but I could tell that she was new because she was on that roof. I was the only one who went there, so seeing her where nobody crossed made me believe that she was also new.
The truth loomed above my head. It was a very simple truth I had to come to terms with. I had come in contact with my true mate after three fvcking decades when I already belonged to Sheila. Was the universe working against me or something?
For days, I remained in my study, pacing around. I was greatly disturbed by this discovery. As much as my wolf was pleased, I wasn't fully pleased. The desire was there, but I was living in denial all because I didn't want to hurt Sheila.
Cheating on her alone made me feel extremely guilty. We had pledged our faithfulness to each other no matter the circumstances and even if we hadn't seen this very avoidable issue coming up, it was part of the very circumstances we had promised to avoid. I had been on the verge of requesting the maid's presence several times as I had been tethered on the edge of losing my self-control and composure, but the respect I had for Sheila held me in place.

But that hold was starting to weaken. My self-control was starting to wane and each time I made a pass by the servants' quarters or inhaled a whiff of her scent, my walls broke down.
I wanted to see her again. I wanted to kiss her far more than I'd kissed her back on the roof. I wanted to kiss her and forget about the consequences of my actions, the problem this could bring with my marriage and the Kingdom at large.
"You look greatly disturbed, Alpha Lyall," Igor mentioned. "You haven't been hearing all I've been saying, have you?"
I blinked, suddenly realizing that I was not alone in this room. My Beta looked at me with great concern and if not for the mental shield I had used in blocking him out of my mind, he would have found out what I was hiding.

Honestly, I couldn't keep it in anymore. I wanted to talk to someone about it. Maybe act on it to see if this feeling in my chest was going to subside.
"I'm sorry. Come again."
He nodded. "I am talking about the annual revenue for this year and how it is double what we made last year. Though a lot of people have been complaining about the illegal slave trade and how you have been doing nothing but violate standard laws. They are thinking of bringing this up at the Lycan Confederate."
"Then let them do it," I scoffed. "They seemed to have not learned the lessons I taught them, right? Maybe they want more. Write a public note and ask everyone to mind their business if they don't want to get in my way. I'll stay out of their way, too. I force no one to trade with me, so they shouldn't make this a part of their problem."
Igor nodded. "I'll do just that."
"That will be all for today, I guess," I said dismissively, and waited for him to leave, so I could go back to my thoughts, since talking wasn't an option.
"Not all." He replied, remaining seated. "We need to talk about something else."
I curled a brow, making a quick guess of what he was about to say. "And the something is?"
"You. What's going on? You've been off for the past few days. Precisely after the party. I'm starting to wonder why. I believed you were just missing Luna Sheila as she was closest to you, but it doesn't seem so. There is something up and it is eating you up."
"I told you to stop reading me."
He shrugged. "I can't do that when you have your mental shields up to block me out. It has been that way since after the party, and I am worried about you more than I am worried about being locked out of your thoughts link."
I scoffed and leaned back on my swivel seat. "I wished I could talk about it, Igor. But I can't."
"Does it have to do with the classified meetings you have with the other kings?"
"You are always with me, so you should know that by now, it's the least of my problems."
He nodded. "I know you don't always talk to me about personal problems, but I'd love it if you did."
Nodding, I watched him leave the study. As soon as he left, I decided to distract myself with other things, trying hard to block a certain woman out of my mind.
By the time I looked up from my desk, the sun had already set and dusk was upon us. Sighing, I stood to my feet and gulped the last of my drink before she came to mind again.
My fists clenched, and I did everything possible not to think about her, but it was useless. Futile and I were unable to do anything else. My desire had grown stronger and my wolf was fighting harder this time. Seeing that I couldn't hold back anymore, I stalked out of my study and made my way towards the hall.
I was lucky enough to find the chief maid. "I'll be having dinner in my chambers tonight."
She bowed immediately. "Yes, your majesty."
"The lady who spilled a drink on a guest's dress a few days ago at the party? She should be the one to serve me. This is an order."