Under the Alpha King's Gaze

Chapter 10

Ariel- pov

After our delicious breakfast, Zeus walked me out of the private room and out of the castle's front doors. Waiting for us outside was Hephaestus, he wore black jeans, and a dark gray v-neck shirt and his dreadlocks were neat and pulled into a half up half down hairstyle. He looked in our direction bowing his head and returning his intense blue-eyed gaze to us. "Good Morning, your Majesty, and to you Luna." I froze, unsure how to reply, he just called me Luna again and I wasn't ready for all of that. "Ariel is fine, Hephaestus" I finally replied. He shook his head "Forgive me, but I can not call you by your first name my Lady. That is unheard of and it would go against my honor; besides, you are our Luna and future Queen." he stated a matter a factly. I just looked at him seriously while thinking of a reply. "If it pleases you I will call you my lady for now," he said calmly while glancing at Zeus and me giving us a small pleading smile. Zeus looked at me with a questioning look that was waiting for an answer, I nodded my head "Very well then". 

With that Zeus gently grabbed my hand and started walking around the pack grounds showing me everything. Hephaestus trailed behind us a few feet as our bodyguard (not that I thought that we needed one with Zeus being here) and I am also confident in my fighting skills but as his Beta, he was here. Zeus showed me the other pack house for the wolves that were single and did not come from noble families, the village area where private families lived, the elementary, middle, and high school, as well as the pack daycare center. There was a small human and wolf town right outside the gates that the royal family owned, Zeus said that on our next outing we would stop by and see the shops. 

After seeing so many different places I was getting hungry and anxious to visit their medical facilities. As if he read my mind, "Would you like to return to the castle for some lunch?" Looking up at him I smiled and said, "Yes, I would!" We were close to the territory's border along the side with no gate due to it being so close to a riverbank. We turned to walk back across the fields and towards the castle when Hephaestus run up to us "Your Highness, Zeus something is happening at the border, rouges".   

I froze, in shock, I wanted to help somehow. I have had more than a few run-ins with rouges overseas and thanks to my fighting skills I managed to survive each one. "Go to the gate and deal with them while I take Ariel back to the castle where she will be safe, then I will meet you at the border and we will decide their fate there." He said in a hurried and demanding tone, he then looked at me and picked me up bridal style while darting to the castle. 

"Put me down, I can walk, and defend myself, thank you!" I yelled while thrashing my arms and legs. He ignored me and continued to run. "You, have to stop doing this, I am a capable person and I do not need to be carried!" I continued to wiggle my arms and legs while yelling at him. This was getting frustrating how on earth was I supposed to give him a chance if he doesn't trust me as an independent person? "I believe that you can, it is my desire to keep you safe. So, you will stay in the castle until I return for you" he spoke so calmly and solemnly, it calmed me and I stopped hitting him. 

He stopped at the front of the Castle door and waiting there was a tall man, who looked about Zeus's age. He had spiky black hair, dark brown eyes, and light skin; he wore blue jeans, with a red v-neck shirt covering his tattooed sleeves. "Your Highness" he bowed low and waited for a reply before lifting his head. Zeus set me down on my feet and looked at the man in front of us "Yes, Theseus, I leave Ariel, my mate, and your Luna here in your care. Ensure that she is safe, or I'll have your head, understand?"  Zeus's voice was deep and had a hint of bloodlust that sent shivers down my spine. 

Theseus bowed his head once again and replied "Yes, my King, I will protect my Luna with my life." Satisfied with that answer Zeus took one more look at me and said "I will be back soon Princess, please stay with Theo, he is my Gamma and it is his sworn duty to protect the Luna." stunned at this new information I nodded my head and watched him run off to help Hephaestus.  Theseus looked at me with amazement and a smile as he opened the door "Luna please come inside I will have lunch prepared for you at once." 

I looked at him unsure if I wanted to follow him inside or ignore Zeus and run after him instead. "Please, his Highness will not be long I am sure." Reluctantly, I walked inside and followed Theo to the kitchen for some food. I entered the kitchen and saw five or so women working to prepare lunch and parts of dinner. The room was large and filled with the best equipment possible for them to cook and prepare meals with. "Please have a seat Luna, while I have Chef Lotus prepare something for you." I sat down at the empty bar table and just watched as they worked so seamlessly, and professionally.  Soon I had plates of food in front of me; there was a Caesar salad and a rich potato and bacon soup with a side of bread.  This wasn't the time to eat; how was I going to sneak out of here to find Zeus?