The Alpha's Temptation
The Alpha’s Temptation – Scene 48

“Why?” Tania asked, removing his arms and stepping out of his embrace. “Is there more work to be done?” She really wanted to sleep. More than physical exhaustion, she was mentally exhausted.

“No. But if you go back there, chances are that those women will come back looking for you. And this time it would become messy.”

Tania stared at him with wide eyes. “Then what should I do?”

This was the opportunity Eltanin was waiting for. His heart somersaulted inside, but on the outside, he had a poker face. “You can always stay here,” he suggested genuinely.

Tania’s eyes widened further until her eyebrows hit the roof. “You mean in your room?” Was the king mad? “I— I won’t!” The suggestion was absolutely ridiculous. What if someone came and discovered that she, a servant girl, was sleeping in the king’s chambers? Did he understand the gravity of the situation?

Eltanin blinked his eyes once and then twice, as if trying to understand her rejection. She was his mate. It was just so natural. Had it been a normal servant, she would have jumped at the offer and perhaps even shedded her clothes by now. Eltanin had never brought a woman in his bedroom before. This was his sanctuary, a place only he was allowed. Rarely, his father came and his mother visited even less. The only other person who he ever allowed was Rigel. If he had given this offer to a princess, she would have jumped at it. Hell, princess Eri gave him a poisonous powder to jump into his bed.

And Tania— she didn’t want to stay? What irony!

His mind raced to think of something that would bind her here, stop her from leaving. Hopefully forever. “You don’t have to stay in my room,” he replied after a moment’s pause.

“Then what are you suggesting?” she asked in a voice that was spiked with irritation. She was feeling so sleepy. Moreover, her wounds hadn’t healed completely. She needed rest.

“Do you know how huge the palace is?” Eltanin said. He clasped his arms behind his back and circled her.

“Yes, I know.” She stopped an urge to roll her eyes. She thought that the king was being really a pomp a*s to even ask such a question.

“And my room is the biggest chamber in this palace,” he waved his hand to show off his opulence to her as he continued to circle her.

“I am sure, Your Highness,” she replied. Did he plan to make her sleep in a corner?

He pointed to a small door with a golden knob that was right beside his study table. “There is a small room attached to this one. You can sleep there.”

Tania’s mouth fell to the floor. She spun on her heels to look at the door. “But, Your Highness, I can’t!”

“You have to, Tania,” said the devious wolf with all seriousness. “At this point in time, you cannot go back to your room.” Mostly because he wouldn’t allow Glenn to touch her again and also because it was impossible for him to let her out of his sight. “You cannot be seen by those vicious women.” Whom he had killed one of them. None of them would have the gall to come back so soon, but nonetheless, there could be more vicious women out there. “You are still secretly serving me as my scribe, and I can’t risk you getting exposed. So, you really don’t have much of a choice. You must stay in that room.” Which would be forever. No. He eventually would make her move into his room. His lips curled up at the thought of his mate living right next to him. Well, he could always move to her room if she wanted. He wouldn’t compel her to choose. _{ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​}

Tania worried her lips. She had never come across such a difficult situation. She really didn’t want to be a source of envy for other women in the palace. She was sure that all coveted the king and even though she had no such intentions, she might gain unwanted attention. “Won’t the servants come to know that I am staying there? Your secret would no longer remain a secret.”

“No, they won’t!” Eltanin said smoothly. “Because no one goes into that room.”

“Oh!” A shine crossed in her eyes. She won’t be disturbed then. She flashed a smile and Eltanin who was circling her, stopped in his tracks, stunned, thunder-struck by her smile. “I will stay but—”

Eltanin wasn’t listening.

“But I will be locking the door from the inside.” Saying that Tania spun and rushed to the door.

He watched her leave and he immediately missed her closeness. She started opening the knob of the door, but it wouldn’t even budge.

The wolf noticed her struggling with the knob with a grin.

“It isn’t opening,” she said in a defeated voice.

Eltanin chuckled. He traipsed to her with his hands still clasped at the back. She thought that she would flee from him? There were four secret rooms that opened from his chamber but he suggested this one in particular because only its knob was magically enchanted. His mother had done it for him and had forgotten about it.

“This knob listens to only me,” he said. He was about to grab hold of it when suddenly, there was heavy pounding on the main door of his room. He shielded Tania with his massive frame and growled. “Who is there?” he growled dangerously.

“Your Highness, princess Morava requests an urgent audience,” the guard informed him in a subdued voice outside the door.

Eltanin clenched his jaw. He had anticipated that this moment would come but not so soon. And now protecting Tania became all the more important.

“Ask her to wait in the main hall,” he growled. When he heard fading footsteps, he pivoted to face her. His hand slid past her. He placed it on the knob. The golden knob glowed under his touch and a moment later, the door clicked open. “Stay in here, Tania,” he said. “Don’t come out until I return, okay?”

Tania looked inside the darkness. The door opened to a stairway that curved down.