Dimitriâs POV
I didnât like being away from her.
I was able to see her. I deliberately chose this spot because it wasnât as crowded and I was still able to see her. But she was still too far away from me. She wasnât within my reach and that was driving me crazy. I wanted her next to me. I wanted to be able to touch her and hold her close.
âI wonât take up too much of your time, my King,â Alpha Alistair said. âI can see that you donât like being away from your Queen.â
I looked at him and nodded.
âI donât like being away from her, Alpha,â I said. âWe are newly mated.â
Alpha Alistair nodded and gave me a small smile.
âItâs understandable, my King,â he said. âItâs been almost 40 years since I met my incredible mate and I am still nervous when I have to leave her alone even for a few minutes.â
He chuckled and shook his head.
âI sometimes still canât believe how much I love that woman,â he added quietly. âMate bond really is incredible.â
I looked at my princess and my heart skipped a beat. She was smiling and I just couldnât believe how beautiful she was. I loved her more with each second that passed. Being away from her was torture. I wanted to feel her. Seeing her just wasnât enough.
âI asked to talk to you alone because I didnât want your mate to worry,â Alpha Alistair said, making me look back at him.
My entire body tensed up. I had to hold back a growl.
âWorry about what?â I asked, clenching my fists.
Did he know something? Was my princess in danger? I was on the verge of running back to her. Why would he ask me to leave her alone if there was something to worry about?!
Alpha Alistair took a step closer to me and looked around. He took a deep breath and looked back at me
âI think that there is a traitor among your Alphas, my King,â Alpha Alistair said quietly.
My eyes widened.
âYou shouldnât trust them, my King,â he continued. âYou need to protect your Queen.â
My heart raced and I immediately looked at the crowd. Alpha Theodore was the closest to my princess. He was just a few steps away from her. I looked at Alpha Lucius. He was a bit further away, but he could still reach her. Alpha Rhys wasâ¦
âMy King,â Alpha Alistair called me, drawing my attention back to him. âShe is safe here. Whoever he is, he isnât insane to try to hurt her in a room full of witnesses.â
I gulped and clenched my fists. I could feel the fear burning my insides.
I glanced toward the entrance to the throne room and saw that Will just entered.
I am talking to Alpha Alistair. I mind-linked him. I need you here. Itâs important.
I looked back at Alpha Alistair and took a deep breath.
âWhy would one of my Alphas betray me?â I asked. âEveryone wants peace.â
Alpha Alistair sighed.
âNo, my King,â he said. âEveryone wants power. Everyone wants what you have.â
He looked to his left and took a deep breath.
âThey want your throne,â he continued. âThey want your mate. They donât want peace.â
I gritted my teeth.
âThey will never take her from me,â I said angrily. âThey will have to kill me to get to her and I will never let that happen. I live and breathe for her and that will never change.â
Alpha Alistair looked back at me.
âI know, my King,â he said. âBut that doesnât mean they wonât try. Your mate is the most direct way to your throne and that means that she is in grave danger.â
My stomach twisted. I knew that even before he said it, but knowing that the threat was even closer than I expected terrified me.
âAlpha Theodore and Alpha Lucius are surely on your side, my King,â Alpha Alistair continued. âI talked to them and they both agree that the traitor is among us.â
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
âAlpha Lucius?â I asked, my voice laced with anger.
I didnât like the way he looked at Maddie. I wanted him as far away from her as possible.
Alpha Alistair chuckled and shook his head.
âHe lets his eyes wander a lot, but he would never do anything, my King,â Alpha Alistair said, giving me a knowing look. âHe is harmless.â
I seriously doubted that.
I tightened my jaw and looked around the room.
Where the fuck was Will? I needed him here. We needed to start discussing the possibility of a traitor being one of the Alphas immediately.
Where the fuck are you? I mind-linked him. We have importantâ¦
I stopped mind-linking him when I saw him standing next to Maddie and her friend. He was staring at Ali wide-eyed and I wasnât even sure if he was breathing.
What theâ¦
They are mates! Maddie mind-linked me excitedly. Will and Ali are mates!
My eyes widened. Mates?!
âOh, wonderful!â Alpha Alistair exclaimed. âI am so happy for your Beta.â
I watched as Will cupped Aliâs cheeks and kissed her.
I was both shocked and happy for him.
âGo enjoy your evening with your friends and your mate, my King,â Alpha Alistair said and I forced myself to look back at him. âWe can continue this tomorrow.â
Well, I didnât want to do that. I wanted to continue this immediately.
âYour mate is safe,â Alpha Alistair assured me and gave me a small smile. âWe will talk tomorrow.â
Alpha Alistair walked away before I could protest. I clenched my jaw and tried to take a deep breath. I didnât like this. I wanted to investigate immediately. I wanted to know who the fucker was immediately. If something happened to Maddieâ¦
âDimitri!â My mateâs excited voice interrupted my thoughts.
I turned to my right and saw her approaching me.
âWill and Ali are mates!â she repeated excitedly.
I forced a smile on my face and grabbed her as soon as she was close enough. I buried my nose into her hair and took a deep breath.
âI canât believe this!â she exclaimed. âI am so excited for them!â
I gulped and tried to force myself to feel the excitement she felt.
It was so fucking hard, though. Someone wanted to hurt her and all I could feel was blinding rage and paralyzing fear.
I ran my hands down her body, letting myself feel her. I needed reassurance that she was really here. I needed to remind myself that she was okay. I needed to know that my princess was in my arms.
Nothing and no one would take her from me.
I would kill them before they even tried.