Twirling around I arched my back trying to get a good look to ensure the dress didn't have any embarrassing wrinkles, or god forbid rips in the back. The dress had been hanging in the closet for a while, and since I refused to allow Alaricus to get me another while I had countless I hadn't worn yet, I needed to ensure there was nothing wrong with it. The last thing a human mate like myself needed was to go out in front of many Alphas who'd look down at her while mis-dressed. Turning back around I smoothed the dress down from my waist, my fingers slipping over the soft satin of the dress and I revelled in the smoothness of it. I hoped my bold choice of a rich red coloured gown was appropriate.

"You look beautiful." His warm velvety voice sounded from the door. I looked up at him through the reflection of the mirror. My heart rate picking up in my chest and I whirled around to get a better look.

Alaricus looked like a true king, dressed in an all black three piece suit, tailored so finely it seemed to be stitched while on him. His raven hair styled back neatly but absolutely no gel appeared to be present, just the way I liked it. A man's hair should make you want to rake your fingers through it without getting gel in your nails. There was something a little different about him today, I could sense it even with the distance between us. Something almost darker, more powerful. Normally Alaricus was very genuine and affectionate but there was nothing casual about the man who stood in my door.

Grabbing the rose flower head from my dresser I made my way towards him, getting on my tiptoes I placed my hand on his chest to steady myself. A small smile coming to my lips as I heard his breath hitch, looking up to find his honey eyes gazing down at me intensely. I placed my palm flat towards the right of his broad chest feeling his heart pump rapidly under my touch, quicker than the soothing rhythm to which I fell asleep every night.

I tucked the flower into his pocket carefully keeping my gaze locked on his, satisfied that we now matched at least a little.

"You truly look like an angel." Alaricus whispers huskily.

"And you look like my king." I say making that adorable dimple appear on his cheek as he grins at me, his honey eyes glinting possessively as he wraps his arm around my waist pulling me to him tightly.

Alaricus' eyes fell to my red painted lips making my breathing laboured as he leaned down slowly, capturing my mouth with his own. There was a certain domination, a possessiveness to his kiss, but there was nothing suffocating about it, the way he kissed me was exhilarating. A king's desire for his queen rising to surface.

My toes curled against the hardwood of the floor as I melted into his embrace, matching his passion with my own. I move my lips against his, nudging my nose against his playfully as I feel his hands clench onto my waist, but even in his passion he's careful not to hurt me. The kiss was getting too deep, and we didn't have time at the moment. Curling my hand into the nape of his hair, I hold his head steady as I move my mouth away from his, my subconsciously closed eyes opening to see him jutting out his lips, looking for mine. I peck them lightly before tapping his hands that are on my waist.

"Our guests have surely started arriving, and it's time we go down to receive them." I say to Alaricus and he frowns but nods making a strand of his hair fall out of place and onto his forehead. Reaching up I tuck it back into place, fixing his hair with my fingers and he leans into my touch.

"Stand straight." I scold him making him smile.

"I think my suit's a little crumpled too." Alaricus says and I run my hands over his blazers surface, straightening it out for him tugging at the ends of it to make it sit right again.

"My face?" Alaricus says leaning down towards me and I narrow my eyes at him.

"You just want me to touch you don't you?" I ask and he nods with a childish grin making me laugh, leaning up I press a soft kiss to his stubble covered cheek.

"Perfect." I whisper against his skin hearing him swallow thickly.

"Are you alright?" I ask him absentmindedly smoothing out his already perfectly smooth collar. Alaricus wraps both arms around my waist tightly, holding me closely to his chest.

"Just stay by my side tonight, Eros is more restless than usual, we can't stop thinking of the last time we were in power. But you keep me grounded angel, so I'm really going to need you tonight." Alaricus says to me.

"It probably won't come to you needing to accept your position as king, many of them are related to humans by mating bonds, they'll understand." I say.

"Your optimism is admirable, but I know those Alphas well, I know the world I've created well. I hope it won't come to that, I fear what you will hear and see, but if this is what you want, you will have it. There's nothing I wouldn't do for my angel." Alaricus mutters darkly. There was a time when his love frightened me, when this passion suffocated me, but now it lit me up from the inside. It gave my own heart a reason to keep beating.

"Thank you, I know you're doing this for me despite how much you don't want to, and I want you to know I'm very grateful." I tell him, and Alaricus nods solemnly.

"How are you doing?" Alaricus asks me, one of his hands tenderly playing with the dark chocolate curls that fall down my back.

"I'm fine, I promise." I tell him and he presses a soft kiss to my forehead making my eyes fall shut.

"Lets go, Alpha Khan and his mate have arrived, I know you were looking forward to meeting her." Alaricus says and I nod.

"After you." He mumbles chivalrously, bowing slightly as he allows me to walk past him.

"My shoes." I mumble turning around immediately, hitting straight into Alaricus' chest. I rub my nose pouting as he looks down at me in bewilderment. Resting my other hand on his chest and his eyes fly down to it immediately, a soft smirk coming on his face that makes me mentally face palm.

"Are you trying to make me change my mind about this meeting angel?" Alaricus asks draping his arm over my shoulders to keep me pressed against his chest.

"No, I forgot my shoes." I tell him and he shakes his head as he looks down to see my bare feet, looking dejected. Horny wolf.

"I'll grab your heels for you." Alaricus says darting into my room and coming out just a moment later, my heels hanging off the tips of his long fingers. Bending down on one knee Alaricus holds one of them before my foot. Placing my hand on his shoulder, I slip my foot into the heel, before doing the same with the other. Alaricus grabs ahold of my hand, pressing a soft kiss to the palm of it, inhaling it deeply, startling me but I stay quiet as he stands back up. He was a werewolf so to an extent he always had a primal side, but it had been a while since I'd seen him act so inhumanly primitive.

We walk down the stairs, Alaricus' arm wrapped around my waist and he holds me close to him, his relaxed stance stiffening as we reach the bottom of the foyer. The palace staff had showed the Alphas and their mates into the grande ballroom they'd decorated just for the occasion. But I could make out the noise of their chatter even with my human senses from here. We walked towards the ballroom, silence enveloping the large room as we stepped in.

"Welcome to our home, thank you for joining us on such short notice, I hope your travels were comfortable. My mate and I are honoured to have you all here." Alaricus says stiffly his voice resonating in the silence.

"If you all would take your seats, Alaricus and I wish for you to dine with us before we begin the meeting." I say, receiving a few smiles from Alphas, and a few waves from the mates I'd spoken to during the last meeting. After careful contemplation we'd decided we'd have more of a help yourself dining style to keep the atmosphere more calm and comfortable. The last thing we wanted was the Alpha couples to be in a stern mood, we'd rather they loosen up, and think this to be a more casual meeting. Of course the serving style wouldn't fool the Alphas but the little details would help.

Alaricus grabs onto my hand, leading me to our place at the head of the table. The long table had assigned seating and as I look at the large brooding man that sits a seat down from me, I know immediately that it is Alpha Khan. He grips the hand of the tall tan woman seated between us, who tries to get her hand out of his grip but to no avail. She digs her nail into his palm and he reluctantly lets go of her hand sulkily. There's a thick tension between the couple that suggests they haven't gotten over a fight, or from what I've heard of the couple, they haven't gotten a moment of peace from all the fighting.

Surely knowing I wished to meet her, Alaricus had purposely placed her beside me. Beside Alaricus sits Alpha Lily and her mate, a slim green eyed boy who I'd gotten along well with during the last meeting. Like me, he too was quite young, only two years older than me unlike the other mates who were at least in their late twenties.

"We haven't met, my name is Amara." I say to the girl sitting beside me making her cease her hateful glaring at her mate as she turns towards me. The blank look on her face was a tad bit nerve wracking but I refused to turn away.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Nicole, and this giant is Adam Khan." She tells me, and he mumbles a quiet greeting to me, keeping his gaze trained on his plate.

"Will you be staying with us tonight?" I ask smiling.

"Of course." Nicole says at the same time as her mate grumbles out a no.

"I want to stay here." Nicole says to her mate and he shakes his head.

"You weren't going to get any regardless of where we are, so why does it matter?" Nicole asks her mate making my eyes widen and I glance at Alaricus from the corner of my eye, and although he converses with Alpha Lily, the amusement in his eyes tells me he's listening.

"Do not discuss our personal life in public." Alpha Khan scolds his mate, and she gives him a flat look.

"Forgive me grandma." She says sarcastically and he clenches his jaw tightly in anger, the metal fork in his grasp bending until it's handle is pressed to the tips of the fork.

"Catherine could you grab Alpha Khan another fork please?" I ask as she passes by, and she nods immediately, scurrying to the kitchen to grab him a fork.

"Please help yourselves." Alaricus says as the servers finish placing the lasts of the dishes onto the table. The smell of the food wafting to me making my mouth water in anticipation.

"Shall I serve you some?" Alaricus asks as he notices me eyeing the roasted duck. I always had trouble cutting myself a piece of any type of meat, and I didn't particularly want to struggle in front of everyone. I nod sheepishly and Alaricus gives me a charming smile, cutting a piece of it off with ease, and placing it in my plate, covering it with some cranberry sauce.

"Thank you." I mumble to him, and he presses a kiss to the side of my head, before leaning forward to serve himself some of the rosé seafood pasta. I pour some for myself as well, grimacing as I see a scallop. Picking it up I hold it out to Alaricus and he leans forward, eating it directly from my fingers before we both go back to our food. I look up from my plate only to see everyone staring at us silently, startled I drop my fork, alerting Alaricus and he too looks up.

"Eat." Alaricus commands them, glaring at those who stare at me, angered at how they're making me uncomfortable. The Alphas and their mates immediately begin eating what's in their plates, those who's plates are empty help themselves to anything that they see before them.

"Amara it's so good to see you again." Nathan says to me gently and I smile at him.

"You as well. How's your sister doing?" I ask him, last time we'd met, he'd told me about his sister who had been in an accident but was to undergo a surgical procedure.

"She's much better now, she was honoured to hear of your concern." Nathan says making my cheeks colour.

"No wonder Sire Knight adores you, you're adorable." Nicole mumbles from beside me.

"She is isn't she? She reminds me so of my sister." Nathan says smiling at me.

"There are few things that don't remind you of your sister. Did you not point to a flower on your way here and say that too reminded you of your sister?" Alpha Lily chimes in.

"Sisters are very special." Alaricus adds a faraway look in his eye, surely he was remembering his own little sister. Of course I'd never seen them together, but the way he spoke of her told me she had meant the world to him. Placing my hand over his I squeeze it reassuringly and he turns to face me, all traces of amusement having left his face. To others he'd seem blank, closed off, but I can see the sorrow in his eyes in the way they've darkened.

"My sister loves seafood pasta." Nathan says not having noticed Alaricus' mood.

"I'll have some packed for you to take to her." I tell him.

"No please I couldn't." Nathan says immediately.

"I insist, it's for your sister, you can't refuse what's not for you." I tell him and he chuckles nodding. Alpha Lily leans towards him pressing a tender kiss to his cheek, her blue eyes softening in adoration as she looks at her happy mate. Alpha Lily drapes her arm around her mate's chair protectively, as if physically attempting to contain his happiness inside of him. Alpha Lily was a cold, intimidating, beautiful woman, but it was very clear how much she loved her mate.

"Could you pass me a roll?" Alpha Khan asks his mate clearly longing for some affection after seeing the couples around him being affectionate with one another.

"It's in the middle between us, grab it yourself." Nicole tells him too concentrated on her steak to pay her seething mate any mind.

"I'll cut your steak for you." He offers immediately grabbing her knife from her and she closes her eyes in annoyance but holds her tongue. Seeing her reaction the Alpha cuts a bit too aggressively, cutting straight through the plate in his anger, and it breaks beneath his force. A small piece of the ceramic flying past his mates hand leaving a small scrape at the side of it.

Hissing Nicole stands up, pulling away roughly when Alpha Khan reaches out for her.

"Don't touch me." She seethes angrily marching out of the ballroom. Getting up I

press my hand to Alaricus' shoulder to alert him I'm leaving, before I make my way after her.

"Nicole." I call and she whirls around to face me, her shoulders relaxing as she sees it's me.

"Come I'll get you a bandaid." I say grabbing ahold of her other wrist and leading her to the nearest washroom.

I open up the bottom cabinet, pulling out a small first aid box, clicking it open and grabbing a small bandaid. I turn to face her, my eyes widening in panic as I see a tear stream down her hollowed tan cheek. Looking at her closely now, although she was strong boned with muscle definition, she looked a bit on the thin side. The type of thin people become when too stressed or depressed to eat.

The realization made me swallow thickly, in the beginning I'd begun to sunk into a depression, but soon after getting to know Alaricus, and beginning to fall in love with him I'd begun to recover. Soon the palace began to felt like home and I was no longer depressed, but quite satisfied with how things were going. I couldn't imagine what it was like to be living like that for years, that short period in the beginning of our relationship had been hell. Alaricus was easy to comfort because my presence calmed him, but when it came to others I was horrible at comforting them.

"W-what's wrong?" I stutter out. Surely it wasn't the cut, she definitely looked like someone with a high pain tolerance. It was the way she held herself, like a warrior, always on the defence.

"I can't believe I'm crying in front of you, I just met you. I'm not usually like this, I'm sorry." She says swiping his hand over her cheeks, only for more tears to trail down.

"I just can't take it anymore. I hate seeing couples like you and Nathan's, you guys are actually in love with your mates. They in turn love you, he doesn't love me, he just wants to own me. I'm so sick of it." She says tiredly, and my brows furrow as I stare at her silently.

Stepping forward I grip her hand softly, placing the bandaid on it.

"I hated Alaricus in the beginning but when I saw he loved me, the way he loved me, I couldn't help but to fall in love. I'm sorry, I can see you're hurting, but if this meeting goes well, you'll have your freedom to do as you please." I tell her and she nods.

"Thank you for not being like every other mate and telling me he loves me and that I should give him a chance." Nicole mumbles.

"It's not my place to tell you that, you seem like a smart person, you know what's best for you." I tell her.

"I don't say this a lot, so you should be honoured. I like you." Nicole says honestly and I let out a little breathy laugh nodding.

"I'll put this away, you go back." I tell her and she nods. Placing the first aid box back in the cabinet, I wash my hands quickly, stepping out of the washroom, only for large hands to push me back inside it.

My eyes fly up to meet completely black eyes. Alpha Khan's veins stick out grotesquely on his face as he stares down at me in anger, gripping my wrists so tightly that he'd surely leave a bruise.

"So you're going to tell my mate she can leave me. Who do you think you are?" Alpha Khan growls, pushing me roughly against the sink, and I clench my jaw in pain as my back collides harshly with the granite.

"Let me go, you moronic mutt. If you treat her horribly she's not going to want to stay with you. It's been years, if you truly loved her that type of devotion would be impossible to ignore. You're loosing her because of the way you've behaved, it's your fault, nobody else's." I tell him harshly, and his right eye twitches creepily as his grip tightens on my wrists, before he releases them completely. I inhale deeply as he takes a step away from me, but so he's still blocking the door with his bulky frame.

"Jay and Gloria Winters was it?" He asks, making my breath halt in my chest as a ragged breath escapes me. Gulping I look up at him in bewilderment.

"What about them?" I ask shakily, finding it difficult to breathe when I see the wicked look in his eyes.

"It'd really be a shame to see such a lovely couple get hurt, your poor mother she's so petite, she'd be so easy to break." He mumbles mockingly sympathetic.

"You touch them and I'll neuter you like the pathetic mutt you are." I warn him, and he cocks a brow at me provocatively.

"I'll give your castrated balls to your mate as a little housewarming gift when she moves into her own home." I tell him and a growl escapes his chest, his eyes darkening frighteningly. I bite my inner cheek trying to keep my fear from showing.

"My wolf loves the smell of your fear." He growls disgustingly, nearly panting making me grimace.

"You know it really wouldn't be my fault, your parents could get caught up in a little friendly crossfire, or maybe become victims of a hit and run." He says, tapping his cheek with his index finger.

"No wonder your mate hates you, you're very unoriginal." I mutter quietly and a deep growl grumbles through his chest in rage as he steps towards me threateningly.