The Alpha's Temptation

Tabit looked at Fafnir incredulously. With trembling hands she touched the ring in his hand. "Fafnir..." she murmured his name as if it were like worship. And then tears pooled in her eyes. She wanted to hold them back. She wanted to freeze in time. She wanted to--

Tabit extended her left hand to him. As soon as he slipped the diamond ring in her ring finger, she launched herself on him and wrapped her arms around her neck. His arms came around her waist immediately and he embraced her tightly. She peppered kisses on his face, on his lips, on his neck and his hair, not realizing that she was also crying. Everything happened so fast that she didn't have the chance to process it.

Fafnir let her kiss him, reveling in her scent, her closeness and her body. He felt that this was all he needed in his life. "I love you, badly, madly," he murmured to her.

She seized his lips and kissed him hungrily, greedily. For the whole day she was fretting over him, angry at him, feeling desolate and was sure that she was going to scold him and then fight with him, but the moment he came and made her wear his ring, all her anger evaporated into thin air and she melted in him. She didn't know when but later she just snuggled into him and said, "Next time when you go, let me know where you are. It bothers me a lot."

He chuckled. "You missed me?"

"Badly, madly..."

Fafnir scooped up his mate, bridal style and walked to his horse. He could see how tired and tense. She needed to relax. "I am sorry, princess," he said. "I will always tell you where I am going now and that's a promise." Tabit bit her bottom lip.

He made her sit on the saddle and then in one swift motion sat behind her. Holding the reins of the horse as he curled his arms around her waist, he dug his heels on the side of the horses to coax it into canter. When they started going towards the palace, she relaxed against his chest and occasionally kissed him on his chin. She would check on her ring just to be sure that she wasn't dreaming. As promised, Fafnir gave her the biggest diamond she had seen in a ring. It was a beautiful seven carat diamond with a perfect cut and so clear that she could see how light ran through it. They rode in silence because none wanted to break the magic they were experiencing.

When they reached the palace, Fafnir helped her get down from the horse. He intertwined his fingers with her and walked inside. However, as soon as they reached the main hall, a guard came rushing to them.

"The King wants to see both of you!" he said, his voice urgent.

Fafnir narrowed his eyes on him. The guard looked like he had been scolded badly and then sent to fetch him. His jaws clenched. He had talked to Eltanin in the morning.

"What is it?" Tabit said, her heart squeezing with fear.

"Nothing..." Fafnir murmured. He didn't want to bother her so he said, "Why don't you go to the bedchamber. I will come in some time."

The guard coughed nervously. "The king wants to see both of you. He specifically asked me to fetch both of you." The guard looked so anxious that his tension was palpable. It was as if he was expecting to be killed any moment.

A growl emanated from his chest as he scowled at guard. The guard cowered. He lowered his head in submission. "I am so sorry, General, but it is my duty to convey the king's messages. He is sitting in the meeting chamber."

Tabit squeezed Fafnir's hand. "Come, let's see what Eltanin has in store for us." She encouraged Fafnir because she knew that he was only trying to protect her.

Fafnir gritted his teeth. He gave a tight nod to Tabit and then started for the meeting chamber. A thousand questions swirled in his mind as to why Eltanin would call him.

When they reached the meeting chamber, a guard opened the door for them as if expecting them. Eltanin was sitting alone in the chamber with his fingers steepled below his chin. He watched the two of them come inside with a hard expression.

Fafnir and Tabit bowed to him and came to stand on his right. Both of them were now pretty uneasy. "You wanted to see us, Your Highness?" Fafnir opened the conversation.

"Yes," Eltanin replied with a strained voice. He lifted a scroll in front of him and gave it to him. "Read it."

Fafnir took the scroll and started reading it. His eyes widened. "This is--"

"Yes, I know what it is," Eltanin said. He relaxed back in his chair. "Rigel is coming here. We sent him the message in the morning. I don't think the message is even delivered, and he is coming here on his own accord."

"Rigel?" Tabit sounded puzzled.

Eltanin could no longer hold his tense expression and he burst into laughter. When he stopped, he found that Fafnir was grinning while Tabit was looking from him to Fafnir with the same puzzled expression.

"What is going on?" she asked, a little peeved.

Smile remained on his lips when he said, "In the morning I sent a message to Rigel to come here as soon as possible and allow you both to marry." Tabit gasped. Her hands went to her mouth and Eltanin noticed the diamond ring. "Many congratulations for trapping my best man in the Kingdom of Draka!"

Tabit lowered her head as a blush formed on her cheeks. Fafnir couldn't help but drag her close to him. She was just too adorable. "Thank you," she said in a soft voice.

"I am going to get the two of you married by the full moon," Eltanin said. "I think there is no point in wasting anymore time."