The Alpha’s Mate And The Vampire King (The Alpha Series Book 3)
The Alpha’s Mate And The Vampire King: Chapter 29

The entire town of Shadow Crest has been abuzz with rumours about the vampire king being my second mate. We’ll be having Astrid, Ryker, and my parents around for dinner to talk about it all in more detail.

The moment they walk into the packhouse, we all meet and embrace one another, ‘Please take a seat in the dining room. It won’t be long until dinner is served.’ I smile.

The kitchen staff have laid out a feast along the table, and we have begun to pile food onto our plates.

‘So, dear, tell me all about the vampire king? Does he treat you well? Is he handsome?’ My Mum inquires.

‘Amelia!’ Magnus says with a snarl.

‘What? I think we’re all a little curious,’ she says.

‘You asked Nina about her second mate in such a casual manner, as if it were entirely common to have two mates,’ Magnus says.

‘Well, it’s quite natural. In my childhood, my grandmother had two mates, and another pack member had two female mates as well. I remember my grandmother giggling her way from one bedroom to the other in the middle of the night,’ Amelia recalls fondly.

Magnus is dumbfounded and looks at his parents for guidance and comfort.

‘Actually, son,’ Ryker adds, taking a bite of roast beef in his mouth, ‘Amelia is absolutely correct. My grandmother had two mates, as did her cousin, who also had two mates. In fact, most packs had at least one or two members who were blessed with two soulmates,’ he says with a smirk.

‘And they were completely okay with that? Sharing their mate?’ Magnus asks, completely taken aback.

‘Well yeah, Nina isn’t just your mate. She is also the vampire king’s mate. What’s his name anyway?’ Ryker asks.

‘Alec,’ Magnus grizzles, clenching the fork in his hand tighter. ‘I have no intention of sharing Nina with him, and she is just visiting him once a day until we can figure out how to break the bond between them,’ Magnus explains.

The cutlery clatters and crashes against the plates and everyone’s eyes are drawn to Magnus in surprise.

‘Mate, relationships are sacred. They should never be broken,’ Ryker asserts firmly.

‘Nina is mine!’ Magnus lets out a growl.

‘She is Alec’s as well, Magnus. Would you like him to keep Nina away from you every day and try to sever your mate bond with her?’ My dad, Leon, argues.

Magnus clenches his teeth at the concept, ‘No,’ he says.

‘Take a moment to consider what you are doing to Alec. He is Nina’s, second mate. Whatever you do to him will cause Nina sorrow, and anything he does to hurt you will also cause Nina suffering,’ Leon says.

‘What are you saying? I should be mutual with Alec and share Nina with him?’ Magnus laughs.

‘Well, if you want what is best for your mate, then yes,’ Leon says.

‘Has it not sunk in at this point that Nina’s second mate isn’t even a werewolf? He is a vampire, and he is the king of the vampires!’ Magnus argues.

‘Nina’s extremely lucky, an alpha and a king,’ Amelia says, smiling as Nina blushes in response.

‘I’m out of here,’ Magnus says as he rises from his seat at the table and proceeds toward the packhouse door.

‘So, sweetheart, you didn’t respond to my queries,’ my mother says with a smile.

‘He is quite sweet and gentle towards me, Mum. He is as equally attractive as Magnus is,’

‘Don’t worry about Magnus. He will come around. I forget with fewer packs now. It has become more uncommon over time to see anyone with two mates. He wouldn’t be taking it so hard if he had known earlier how common and natural it was back when we were young,’ Ryker says.

‘Do you all really think Alec and Magnus would eventually become mutual?’ I ask. Everyone smiles and nods their heads.

‘The fact that Magnus is opposed to releasing Alec from the dungeon means that it is unlikely to happen for a long time,’ I explain.

Magnus returns to the table, where he silently continues his meal.

‘Back so soon?’ I smile.

‘Well, I didn’t have much of a choice. Reaper kept trying to swoop me,’ he grumbles.

I laugh and lean over to embrace him with my arms around his waist.

We complete our dinner without saying anything about Alec, and then we escort our parents out of the packhouse together.

‘I’m going to tell Reaper off for swooping you,’ I say.

‘I’ll meet you upstairs for bed,’ Magnus replies and places a kiss on my forehead.

As I walk closer to the moon tree, I call out, ‘Reaper,’ He flies down and lands on my shoulder. ‘Can you tell me why you were swooping, Magnus?’

‘Because I could sense he was upsetting you during dinner,’ he explains.

‘I have the ability to fight my own battles, Reaper. Please don’t swoop him anymore, okay?’

‘I’m your familiar Luna, and we work as a team. It’s my responsibility to watch out for you,’ he says with a squawk. ‘However, I’ll make an effort not to swoop him the next time he offends you,’

‘You know, you never ended up telling me how you and Alec know each other?’

‘I haven’t lived my entire life in Silverfay forest. I enjoy venturing out into the world to explore what has changed since I was last there. I was resting in the woods one night when I was roused by Alec sprinting past the tree in front of me. He cornered a deer and buried his teeth into its neck to bring it down. I watched as he drank the blood till he finally fell to his knees, looking relieved. He looked around, sensing that something was wrong, and realised he was being watched. He stood up, turned around, and looked right at me perched on the branch. If you can cast me the vision spell, I will show you the rest,’

‘Visionous Memorias,’ I say, a large clear circle of magic appears, and I see Alec staring at Reaper in the tree.

‘You aren’t an ordinary raven,’ Alec says through a mind-link.

‘No, I’m not,’ Reaper replies to Alec.

‘What is a familiar doing roaming the world? Shouldn’t you be in Shadowfay forest with the rest of your kind?’ Alec asks.

‘I’m not like the other familiars. I’m the only Shadow Raven to exist. I’m more powerful than any other familiar, and I was bored,’ Reaper says.

‘The most powerful familiar, bored?’ Alec laughs.

‘Watching pixies prance around, tossing magic dust all over the place, all day, every day,’ Reaper admits, ‘Can be a little tedious,’

Alec continues to laugh, ‘I suppose it would be. What’s your name, bird?’ Alec asks.

‘Reaper, and yours?’

‘Alec, Vampire King,’ he proclaims with pride.

‘What is a vampire king doing in these desolate woods?’ Reaper asks.

‘I was on the verge of going mad. I needed to get some nourishment quickly before I lost my senses. These woodlands are lifeless and devoid of any form of life. With the exception of you, this deer is the first living creature I have seen in several days.’ Alec explains.

Reaper descends from the tree, a dark cloud of mist enveloping him as he falls on Alec’s shoulder.

‘That was a brave move, my little friend. Are you not afraid I will sink my teeth into you and take your life?’ Alec asks.

Reaper caws and stretches his wings, ‘No, you just drained the blood from an entire deer. I’m confident you are quite full,’ he says. ‘So, Alec, Vampire King. Now that you have your senses back, where are we off to?’

‘My home, the Realm of Shadows.’ He says as he and Reaper flash through the woods together.