The Alphas' Pride Mate (The Pride Who Goes Into Heat)

POISON THE PRIDE.

Malta nodded, stealing one more kiss from his lover before setting him down. Both Malta and Floridia watched eagerly as the man reached into his bag, retrieving a glass jar with a Rogue-shaped cover. Inside the jar, a white liquid shimmered and glowed faintly, resembling water in its consistency.

Placing the jar on the table, the man produced a carved knife with a silver head. "If you manage to ensure that Dirk consumes even a small drop of this elixir, he will forget all about the Lycgers and will submit to only you. He shall obey your command, even if the command means that he kills the Lycgers. Remember, Dirk is not an Omega, so you must not underestimate his strength. The strength of a Recessive Pride is equal to that of a Lycan when they are provoked. But you still hold the upper hand since you have imprinted on him...

Therefore, find a way to administer this elixir to him, and all will proceed smoothly from there. Initially, he will lose all memories of the Lycgers as his mates, he will despise them, and this will result in him rejecting them once again. If he rejects them for the second time, their bonds will sever...

Once this is done, claim him as your mate and immediately end him by draining the blood from his body. Following this, your transformation will commence. But first, we will need a drop of your blood to complete the spell." He extended his hand, and Malta handed him his own hand.

He used the knife to incise sharply into Malta's palm and very gently pressed a few drops of his blood into the jar. The liquid bobbed and shimmered as if agitated by the sudden addition. The man promptly sealed the jar and handed it to Malta. "It is ready to be served."

Malta carefully accepted the jar and placed it inside a drawer next to the table, locking it with a protective spell.

Floridia stood up, grabbed her purse, and turned to meet Malta's gaze. "Make no mistakes this time, Malta. I'll be waiting for news." With those words, she sauntered out of the room.

"I should also make my way back," the other man remarked, calmly beginning to gather his belongings into his bag. "Be cautious; we cannot afford to miss this opportunity." He tenderly kissed Malta on the cheek, casting a reassuring smile. "Remember, you require his blood for the transformation. Remaining a Rogue indefinitely isn't an option. This path is my only means of achieving my desires. I've committed to this because once you ascend from being a Rogue and reclaim your father's throne, I will have fulfilled my end of the bargain. Consequently, you will eliminate Dirk for me... It's a mutually beneficial arrangement; you get what you want, and I get what I want... Nothing can prevent HIM from being mine alone." With that, the man left, closing the door behind him.

Malta slumped back into his chair and closed his eyes.

For so long, he had waited for this moment.

So long, indeed.

And now, finally, he would be free from this cage. This curse he had endured for many years.

But freedom always comes with a price, and Dirk's blood was that price.

**********

As Malta sat there, his mind wandered back to the night of his eighteenth birthday. It was a night that had forever changed his life and shattered the illusion of his purebred werewolf lineage. On that fateful night, he had discovered the truth about his origin.

He learned that he was not the product of a powerful werewolf union, but instead, he was born to an omega who was a rogue. His mother, a woman of strength and resilience, had caught the eye of the king, who had succumbed to the temptation of an illicit affair. The king's true mate, unable to bear him an heir, chose to accept the rogue son into the royal family as a means to secure the throne's succession.

However, life within the palace walls had been far from easy for Malta. The nobles and courtiers looked down upon him, treating him as an outsider and a reminder of the king's infidelity. He was subjected to constant scrutiny and whispers behind closed doors. The snide remarks and disdainful glances followed him wherever he went, a constant reminder of his tainted bloodline.

Despite the challenges, Malta had persevered. He had honed his skills, both as a warrior and a strategist, determined to prove that his worth extended far beyond his lineage. He had grown tired of the whispers and the judgment, longing for a chance to break free from the confines of his predetermined fate.

But amidst this darkness, a flicker of hope had emerged. Malta had encountered the witches. They revealed to him a tantalizing possibility—a chance to transform from a rogue to a true Alpha King. They spoke of the Recessive Lion Pride, a mythical Were that held the power to lift the curse of his rogue status and unlock his true potential as the Alpha King. It was a path that offered him the love and acceptance he had yearned for all his life.

For years, Malta had tirelessly searched for a Recessive Lion, but hope had seemed elusive. Yet, fortune had finally smiled upon him in the form of Floridia. She had entered his life, bringing with her promises and secrets. And now, her mysterious ally held the key to his ultimate transformation. Malta knew that he had to seize this opportunity, no matter the cost.

As his mind focused on the plan ahead, Malta's determination grew stronger. He couldn't let this chance slip through his fingers. The prospect of Dirk's demise, while unsettling, was necessary for his liberation. The weight of his desires—acceptance, love, and the throne—propelled him forward, driving him to do whatever it took to claim his rightful place.

With a resolute heart, Malta rose from his chair. The time for waiting and yearning was over. He would take destiny into his own hands and shape his future. Dirk's death would mark the beginning of his journey toward freedom and fulfillment. The Alpha King within him would rise, and the pack would finally recognize him as their true leader.