The Alpha King's Mate novel Chapter 28

"What?" He asks nonchalantly, clearly not caring about his nudity, scars, or bath-time theatrics. We both look away, and Irene says goodbye to me and walks toward the door.

"Make sure you lock the door," Sir Hugo tells her.

Irene nods and leaves the room, and we both hear her key turn in the lock. I exhale sharply, knowing an escape would be impossible while he is in the wooden tub and the door is locked.

"You might as well nap on that bed before we go. We have a long ride ahead of us, yet," Sir Hugo says. I look at the bed, never having slept in a proper bed before, and hastily accept the offer. I wrap my arms around myself and fall asleep.

Alpha King Damon

In Wellmore village, we shift back into human form and quickly dress before walking through Wellmore market and taking in the happenings around us.

"I can smell her scent here," I tell Troy and Zayden.

"I can smell something wonderful... rosemary and lavender. Mmm…' Troy says, sniffing the air.

"Uh, no. Her scent is violets and honey..." I correct him.

Troy is a little off, and his eyes dart around, searching.

"Are you okay, Troy?" I ask him.

"I'm not sure. My wolf is hyped up. I'm trying to calm him down," he says.

"Ok. Let's focus and pull yourself together," I tell him.

"Is it me, or are all the villagers talking about Maia?" I ask them, and we pause and listen, with our wolf hearing.

"She is so beautiful. I wish I had her eye colour," a young blonde girl of about fifteen, with a pale blue shawl over her shoulders, tells her companion at a wooden table as they nibble on apricots.

"We are so lucky she has come to help with the war," her blonde-haired, blue-eyed companion says.

"I can't believe she is real!" The first one says, gushing again.

"I wonder if she will marry the knight she was with or King Fenris?" The second girl says, and the two friends are giddy with excitement. Everywhere we turn, someone is talking about her: middle-aged women are whispering about her in groups, middle-aged men comment on her looks, and children tell their parents they've seen her.

I mind-link Troy and Zayden so no one else can hear us.

Why are they saying she has come to help fight the war? It doesn't make any sense. Who is this knight she was with? I ask them.

I have no idea, but I'm struggling to control my wolf. I need to follow this scent. Troy says before leaving Zayden and me and following the scent that has him captivated through the village. Zayden and I follow him up a street and stop in front of a row of quaint little cottages. Troy is standing on the doorstep of one particular house.