Royal Alpha

by Riley Storm

  “What would it matter?” she asked weakly. “You wouldn’t listen to it anyway. My opinion never mattered to you before, why would it now?”

  “No, come on,” Logan said, his voice dripping sarcasm. “Tell me. How should I handle the politicians?”

  Screw it. What’s the worst that can happen?

  “You can be who you are, Logan,” she said with cold fury. “Show them why you’re King. Show them the Logan that rose to become the leader of the rebels, who gathered a hundred shifters and more to his name, forming them into an army who stormed the gates of Moonshadow Manor. You’re an Alpha. Use it, especially now you’re sitting on the throne. Force them into line, and they will come along meekly. They’re only acting up because they can sense your reluctance.”

  Logan stared at her. “You want me to become the Tyrant King.”

  She rolled her eyes. “No, I want you to become King, Logan. There are many more members of this House than just the ones who follow Miriam and Leonen. Many more. Rule like the royal alpha you can be, but let your decisions show you are a good King,” she explained softly. “You don’t need to be soft to do what’s best for the House.”

  “I see,” was all he had to say. “I must admit, that’s not what I expected you to say.”

  “Of course not,” she said acidly. “Because you never thought my opinions were worthwhile.”

  With that, she turned heel and walked toward the door. “Get this replaced,” she said.

  “Get what replaced?” Logan asked.

  “The door,” she said, and kicked it even harder, this time in the opposite direction.

  Steel already stressed from before now snapped and the door flew into the hallway, sending the guards scrambling for cover as she walked out into the hallway and beyond, not turning back.

  For the first time in a long while, Heather felt comfortable with her decision, knowing she’d done the right thing in the past when she’d gone to Australia. There might be some tension and heat between her and Logan, but that was it. Purely sexual. Whatever sort of romance they might have had, it was gone.

  She could never be with a man who didn’t listen to her, who didn’t value her inputs and advice. And that wasn’t Logan. Not then, not now.

  28

  “Heather.”

  She was in a side hallway wandering aimlessly when he found her. It was the last person she expected to want to see, but his presence and the way he’d said her name piqued her curiosity.

  “Hello, Leonen,” she said gently, pausing as he caught up to her. “What can I do for you?”

  He came alongside her, still sporting a bruise on his face from where Logan had broken his nose—again. It was healing but the repeated breaks would leave it weaker until it healed properly and fully this time.

  To her surprise, he didn’t immediately take her arm or put his around her shoulder. In fact, he didn’t try to touch her at all. He was still close, but he was being almost…respectful?

  “You weren’t at the meeting this morning,” he said. “So, I wanted to come and see you, see if you were okay.”

  Another surprise. Caring for her wellbeing? What was going on here? Was Leonen changing? Could it be that this last fight with Logan had changed something in him after all? She’d thought it impossible, but the first thirty seconds of this interaction were the most pleasant she’d had with him—ever.

  “I’m fine,” she said. “Just got a lot on my mind. It’s a big change for me, this mating. I’ve lived with my family for so long, to now be going out on my own with you, it’s a lot to think about.”

  “I understand,” Leonen said, nodding, and to her utter disbelief, Heather found herself believing him when he said it. “It’s going to be a big change for me as well. I guess for both of us, it’s going to take some adapting.”

  Heather almost took a step back, trying to figure out what was going on. Had he really changed? Or was this some sort of lingering head injury that would heal up, returning him to his usual prick-like persona?

  “There’s a part of me that’s excited to get out and make my own decisions,” she said, deciding to test the limits of how far he’d been changed.

  “What do you mean?” Leonen wanted to know, gesturing down the hallway, indicating that if she wanted to continue walking, he was happy to join her.

  Doing as I want? Not what he orders? This is new…

  “Well, you know my mother. She can be a bit overbearing,” she said, and they both shared a laugh.

  “That’s one way I’ve heard her described,” he confided with a smile.

  Heather tilted her head, looking at him. “You know, you shouldn’t even worry about that bruise. It doesn’t look so bad. The nose is healing nicely I think.”

  “Thanks, but if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather it healed up.”

  She smiled, then faced down the hallway again abruptly. She’d smiled at him. Smiled. At Leonen. That had to be a first.

  “May I?” he asked, holding out an arm.

  Heather almost said no out of instinct, but she hesitated. He’d asked if he could have her arm. Not simply taken it like every single time before. Instead, he seemed ready to accept if she said no. Simply because of that alone, she linked her arm through his.

  “As I was saying,” she continued as they walked. “I’m really not into politics like you and Miriam are, but she simply won’t accept that. So, once we’re mated, it will be nice to be out from under that pressure to get involved. To perhaps go and do my own thing.”

  It was a test. A major test, to see just how this new Leonen would handle her desires for independence from politics, and just a longing for an independent life to begin with. His answer would show a lot.

  “If not politics, what is it you wish to do?” Leonen wanted to know.

  Heather evaluated his response. It wasn’t demanding, nor did he seem upset. In fact, unless she missed her bet…his curiosity seemed genuine. Maybe he was different. Could something Logan have said to him actually made Leonen wake up and realize how much of an ass he’d been?

  If this was the new him, this was a Leonen that she could perhaps envision herself being mated to. Maybe not her first choice, but she wouldn’t hate her life like she would have if he’d continued to be his old self.

  “I honestly do not know,” she admitted. “I’ve…nobody has asked me that.”

  “Well you’ll have time to figure it out,” Leonen told her with a smile. “As much time as you need.”

  She wasn’t hating her interaction with him. Not completely. He still had a slightly too tight grip on her arm, and looked at her a tad too intensely, but the overall change in his behavior was giving her hope. For once, she was thinking about the conversation the two of them were having, not looking for the quickest and nearest exit.

  “And what will you be doing during that time?” she asked, curious as to whether he would open up to her at all, share any of his plans.

  Leonen didn’t hesitate. “I’m going to get Logan off the throne.” He shrugged. “I know the two of you had a past and all that, but I think the House would better be served with someone else in his place. Someone strong and stable, someone who knows what needs to be done.”

  It took her a moment to realize Leonen meant himself. Her first thought was to be flabbergasted and laugh at the ridiculous notion of Leonen as King of House Canis. Her second thought was, if he could find a way to get Miriam on board, it might actually happen. That scared her. It also showed her that, underneath this new attitude, he was still the egomaniac from before. She stopped walking.

  “Leonen, listen to me,” she said, turning to face him. Slipping her hand free from his arm she put it on his shoulder. He was tall enough she had to straighten her arm to do so.

  In response, he leaned down closer, bringing his own hand up to rest on top of hers. It was a tender moment for him, not the standard creepy, but she was focused on what he’d said.

  “You’re right, Logan and I did have a th
ing. That’s in the past now and believe me when I tell you I dislike him as much as you do right now.” She saw Leonen light up, and for a split second, felt bad about what she was about to say. “But at the moment, he’s the one best suited to be on the throne. We, as in House Canis, we need stability right now. I’m telling you that as someone who interacts with the rest of the House more than either you or my mother. If you were to try and push Logan out, it would just result in fighting again.”

  Leonen was listening, and to her surprise, even nodding along, his eyes locked on her. “Thank you,” he said. “I value your opinion.”

  “You do?” she asked, unable to keep the words from slipping out.

  “I do. I’m not sure I agree, but I am listening. So, thanks.”

  Then he leaned down and kissed her.

  Heather was so caught off guard by what he’d said, that she didn’t react at first, one arm still on his shoulder. Leonen must have taken that as a sign of her being okay with it, and he tried to deepen the kiss, reaching up to cup her chin, tilting it up toward him a little more.

  A growl echoed down the hallway, startling her back to her senses. Heather pulled away from Leonen and spun to face the sound.

  Logan was behind them, standing at the intersection of hallways perhaps thirty feet away. He met her eyes and then looked away, but not before she caught the pain clouding them over, muddying the golden-brown. Hanging his head, he turned and walked down the nearest hallway, disappearing.

  She didn’t like how that felt. Not one bit of it. His face, the slumping of his shoulders, the wordless look of sadness he’d expressed upon seeing her kissing Leonen. Everything about it sat wrong with Heather.

  What is going on with me, she wondered.

  “That was rude,” Leonen said, stepping in close again. “But he’s gone now. So, where were we?”

  He leaned in toward her again, but she stopped him with a palm to his forehead.

  “Not now,” she said angrily. “Keep it in your pants until the ceremony.”

  Then she walked away, needing time alone to think now more than ever.

  What was she supposed to do? Her brain and her heart were giving her conflicting signs. Heather needed to follow one of them, but she couldn’t decide which one.

  Duty versus desire.

  29

  She’d let Leonen kiss her.

  There was nothing else it could be. Logan had watched the entire thing. She’d had her hand on his shoulder, pulling him down to her level, where she’d said something to him. Then he’d kissed her, and she’d let him.

  Heather had meant it, then, the unspoken words she’d said when she left his office the day before. His ears hadn’t heard it, but his eyes had seen the way she told him that there was nothing more between them. That she was done with him. For good.

  Now he had evidence that proved it. It wasn’t anger he felt. Not anger toward Heather, that is. Just toward himself. Anger, and also disappointment over what could have been if he hadn’t become King. If he hadn’t been bound by the rules. Maybe then he would be free to pursue what he knew in his heart he truly wanted.

  Want, but can’t have.

  “Just like I want to miss this meeting, but I can’t,” he muttered, then covered a yawn.

  All night he’d been up, replaying that scene in his head, watching Heather and realizing that finally, at long last, he really had lost her. She had made her decision and he would have to live with that.

  Now, he would be forced to live with the repercussions of his other decisions. Day two, and Miriam was back demanding a Council meeting, demanding the right to speak before her King. It was every shifter’s right to demand an audience. Most, however, did not use that right unless it was something serious.

  Miriam, it seemed, was determined to abuse it.

  What’ll it be today, he wondered as he nodded in greeting to the rest of his Council, all of whom wore the same annoyed expression.

  His supporters were pissed off by this as well, and Logan couldn’t help but wonder if that was part of Miriam’s plan, to try to drive a wedge between his allies on the Council by showing just what lengths she would go to until he caved to her demands.

  Thankfully, they’ve all expressed their support in private, and whether or not she continues to piss them off, they hate her more than they do these meetings.

  For now.

  “Miriam,” he said as she filed in, though this time without most of her entourage. “What urgent matter do you have to bring before us today?”

  Logan also noted as she came to a stop at the foot of the throne, that Leonen wasn’t with her today. So, whatever it was, this was a play by Miriam alone.

  I wonder if she realizes how this plays into my hands, because it shows that their blocs aren’t as united as she would have me believe?

  Not that Logan ever thought otherwise. He knew Miriam, knew she was stringing Leonen along until she could take sole control of their bloc, while Leonen was attempting to do the same. It was pathetically obvious to anyone but the two of them.

  “I come to you with issues that must be brought forth,” Miriam said. She tilted her head slightly more this time, but also notably left of any words of respect to his position.

  “Who do you wish to bring these issues before?” he said, knowing full well who. He just wanted to force her to say it.

  Miriam’s eyes flashed but then she smiled, granting him that point. “Before the King. So, I would speak to you about them.”

  He nodded his head, acknowledging the slight victory, which also meant not pursuing it any further. Instead, he would focus on whatever fictitious issue she’d developed this time.

  “You have my attention and that of the rest of the Council,” he said, giving her the floor once more.

  In his mind, he revisited the day before. He saw Heather tilt her head back, saw her accept the kiss and not shy away. Not until he’d been unable to hold back from making a sound. The shock and surprise with which she’d reacted told him everything he needed to know.

  As if it could ever have gone any other way. Logan had been an imbecile to think the two of them could ever have been together. He’d already defied tradition by becoming King without a mate. Only the very fact that the House had been warring among itself had allowed him to achieve that feat. Why did he think he’d be allowed to do as he pleased again and take the mate he longed for, not one that would better serve the House?

  “We need to talk about the Council,” Miriam said bluntly.

  Logan sat upright. Was she seriously thinking that if she couldn’t challenge his position as King, she would try and oust his supporters instead? She couldn’t possibly be that stupid.

  Could she?

  “What issues do you have with the Council?” he asked, trying to figure out just what was going on. He hated her for all the dramatics, but at least it would keep his mind off Heather.

  For now.

  “Namely, the fact that it’s only half-filled. There are numerous positions without anyone upon them,” Miriam stated, pointing to the empty chairs on the raised dais.

  Logan nodded slowly. “While I’m aware that not all positions are filled, I’m not sure I find it quite as worrisome as you. In time, the right individuals will present themselves and the positions will be filled. So far,” he said, his voice hardening just a fraction, “I have not seen any individuals fit to occupy them.”

  Miriam just smiled at his response. No protest, no fake indignation at his suggestion that neither she nor Leonen was fit to occupy one of those empty seats. Not that it’s a suggestion, it’s a fact. Neither of them will sit upon the Council while I am still King. They are precisely what we need to be rid of.

  “Of course, my King,” Miriam said, pouring on the false sincerity along with her obviously fake agreement. “May I introduce you to someone?”

  He outwardly tried not to cringe. This was her tactic? She couldn’t seriously expect it to work. Could she? That wasn’t how Council pos
itions were filled. Someone had to demonstrate they had the skills or aptitude to fill the position.

  “Of course. Who do you wish to present today?” he heard himself say, hating having to play the gentle monarch.

  A tall young man shuffled forward at her call. Logan eyed him and immediately cast him aside as being fit for the Council. Not only was he far too young, likely just out of his teenage years, but the slump of his shoulders and the way he all but shied away from Miriam told Logan everything he needed to know.

  This shifter had been beaten into submission so often that he didn’t recognize his own strength. Not to mention, Miriam probably had some sort of blackmail or leverage on him, forcing him to do whatever she wanted. A more obvious shill there wasn’t.

  “This is Link,” Miriam said.

  “Hello, my King,” Link said politely, dipping his head in a sort of bobbing motion.

  “Hello Link. What brings you before the Council today?” Logan asked.

  Before Link could respond, Miriam stepped in. “Link here is an expert listener. He can sympathize and understand people and their emotions better than anyone I’ve ever met. Why, he—”

  “He understands them so well that you must speak for him?” Logan interrupted, tiring of the charade.

  Miriam blinked, the first sign that his outburst had caught her off guard. Yeah, I bet she expected to have time for a nice long-winded speech here, but too bad. The entire Council has more important things they could be spending their time on.

  He remembered Heather’s advice from the day before. Become the Royal Alpha you can be. Let your actions show that you’re a good King.

  “My King,” Miriam backtracked, obviously sensing some sort of change in the power dynamic as Logan stood.

  “Yes,” he said, his voice rumbling like stone down the side of a mountain as he took a step down from his throne. “I am your King.”

  Miriam looked around at her support as he strode down to the base of the dais and then walked right up to Link. Taking him by the chin, Logan inspected him.