Dimitri’s POV
I didn’t like being away from her.
I was able to see her. I deliberately chose this spot because it wasn’t as crowded and I was still able to see her. But she was still too far away from me. She wasn’t within my reach and that was driving me crazy. I wanted her next to me. I wanted to be able to touch her and hold her close.
“I won’t take up too much of your time, my King,” Alpha Alistair said. “I can see that you don’t like being away from your Queen.”
I looked at him and nodded.
“I don’t like being away from her, Alpha,” I said. “We are newly mated.”
Alpha Alistair nodded and gave me a small smile.
“It’s understandable, my King,” he said. “It’s been almost 40 years since I met my incredible mate and I am still nervous when I have to leave her alone even for a few minutes.”
He chuckled and shook his head.
“I sometimes still can’t believe how much I love that woman,” he added quietly. “Mate bond really is incredible.”
I looked at my princess and my heart skipped a beat. She was smiling and I just couldn’t believe how beautiful she was. I loved her more with each second that passed. Being away from her was torture. I wanted to feel her. Seeing her just wasn’t enough.
“I asked to talk to you alone because I didn’t want your mate to worry,” Alpha Alistair said, making me look back at him.
My entire body tensed up. I had to hold back a growl.
“Worry about what?” I asked, clenching my fists.
Did he know something? Was my princess in danger? I was on the verge of running back to her. Why would he ask me to leave her alone if there was something to worry about?!
Alpha Alistair took a step closer to me and looked around. He took a deep breath and looked back at me
“I think that there is a traitor among your Alphas, my King,” Alpha Alistair said quietly.
My eyes widened.
“You shouldn’t trust them, my King,” he continued. “You need to protect your Queen.”
My heart raced and I immediately looked at the crowd. Alpha Theodore was the closest to my princess. He was just a few steps away from her. I looked at Alpha Lucius. He was a bit further away, but he could still reach her. Alpha Rhys was…
“My King,” Alpha Alistair called me, drawing my attention back to him. “She is safe here. Whoever he is, he isn’t insane to try to hurt her in a room full of witnesses.”
I gulped and clenched my fists. I could feel the fear burning my insides.
I glanced toward the entrance to the throne room and saw that Will just entered.
I am talking to Alpha Alistair. I mind-linked him. I need you here. It’s important.
I looked back at Alpha Alistair and took a deep breath.
“Why would one of my Alphas betray me?” I asked. “Everyone wants peace.”
Alpha Alistair sighed.
“No, my King,” he said. “Everyone wants power. Everyone wants what you have.”
He looked to his left and took a deep breath.
“They want your throne,” he continued. “They want your mate. They don’t want peace.”
I gritted my teeth.
“They will never take her from me,” I said angrily. “They will have to kill me to get to her and I will never let that happen. I live and breathe for her and that will never change.”
Alpha Alistair looked back at me.
“I know, my King,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean they won’t try. Your mate is the most direct way to your throne and that means that she is in grave danger.”
My stomach twisted. I knew that even before he said it, but knowing that the threat was even closer than I expected terrified me.
“Alpha Theodore and Alpha Lucius are surely on your side, my King,” Alpha Alistair continued. “I talked to them and they both agree that the traitor is among us.”
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
“Alpha Lucius?” I asked, my voice laced with anger.
I didn’t like the way he looked at Maddie. I wanted him as far away from her as possible.
Alpha Alistair chuckled and shook his head.
“He lets his eyes wander a lot, but he would never do anything, my King,” Alpha Alistair said, giving me a knowing look. “He is harmless.”
I seriously doubted that.
I tightened my jaw and looked around the room.
Where the fuck was Will? I needed him here. We needed to start discussing the possibility of a traitor being one of the Alphas immediately.
Where the fuck are you? I mind-linked him. We have important…
I stopped mind-linking him when I saw him standing next to Maddie and her friend. He was staring at Ali wide-eyed and I wasn’t even sure if he was breathing.
What the…
They are mates! Maddie mind-linked me excitedly. Will and Ali are mates!
My eyes widened. Mates?!
“Oh, wonderful!” Alpha Alistair exclaimed. “I am so happy for your Beta.”
I watched as Will cupped Ali’s cheeks and kissed her.
I was both shocked and happy for him.
“Go enjoy your evening with your friends and your mate, my King,” Alpha Alistair said and I forced myself to look back at him. “We can continue this tomorrow.”
Well, I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to continue this immediately.
“Your mate is safe,” Alpha Alistair assured me and gave me a small smile. “We will talk tomorrow.”
Alpha Alistair walked away before I could protest. I clenched my jaw and tried to take a deep breath. I didn’t like this. I wanted to investigate immediately. I wanted to know who the fucker was immediately. If something happened to Maddie…
“Dimitri!” My mate’s excited voice interrupted my thoughts.
I turned to my right and saw her approaching me.
“Will and Ali are mates!” she repeated excitedly.
I forced a smile on my face and grabbed her as soon as she was close enough. I buried my nose into her hair and took a deep breath.
“I can’t believe this!” she exclaimed. “I am so excited for them!”
I gulped and tried to force myself to feel the excitement she felt.
It was so fucking hard, though. Someone wanted to hurt her and all I could feel was blinding rage and paralyzing fear.
I ran my hands down her body, letting myself feel her. I needed reassurance that she was really here. I needed to remind myself that she was okay. I needed to know that my princess was in my arms.
Nothing and no one would take her from me.
I would kill them before they even tried.
