C1 Chapter one

"My Lord, you haven't touched your food yet. You've been gazing at it for over an hour now. Please talk to me. What troubles the heart of the Alpha equally concerns the Luna,” Zendaya, the Alpha's mate, raised concern after detecting his pathetic condition. All he did was pace about with his hands positioned behind him and huffing like a ruthless wolf on its way to devour prey. Without being told, Zendaya could discern that her Alpha is disturbed. But she can't seem to decipher the situation.

Zendaya hasn't seen him this disturbed before, let alone disregard his favorite meal. All indications suspect foul play, but no matter how hard she tried, Alpha Gideon wasn't willing to discuss it. Alpha Gideon would rather go to the grave with his thoughts than divulge to his wife. Now, trust has become a taboo, and too bad his beautiful mate isn't worthy to be his confidant.

"Diana!” Alpha Gideon called out his maiden after nodding his head for several minutes as if he were articulating with an invisible being.

"My Lord, you sent for me.” With a blink of an eye, Diana showed up and went on both knees, awaiting orders from the alpha.

"Return this meal to the kitchen. I've lost my appetite. I chose to retire to my chambers in starvation,” he steered in a baritone voice and stormed out of his Luna presence to his chambers. Zendaya pursued him, immediately obstructing his entrance.

"Your stillness breaks me, my lordship. It pierces my heart like a burning furnace. Your refusal to utter a word worries me. Am I going to fold my arms and watch my Alpha retire to his chambers in starvation? Of course not.” Zendaya engaged him regardless of his terrifying disposition. Alpha Gideon got the body of a warlock with a broad scar on his left chin as a result of the injury sustained on the battlefield. The wide scar on his chin gave him a terrified look that could frighten kids at night and cause them nightmares. He oftentimes has axiomatic demonic differential, like inhuman strength, and the proficiency to acclimate to any situation, pace, and a virtually Imperfect appearance.

"Depart from my presence, woman. This is way beyond your grasp. Spewing out my heart to you is synonymous with replenishing the basket with water. It's pointless!

Now if you would excuse me, I've got more important things to attend to,” He spoke emphatically and made his way to the castle, leaving Zendaya completely bewildered.

The castle is a gigantic fortified building structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the sovereignty of royalty and by military decrees. Zendaya could not believe her eyes. Her alpha's impulsive attitude frights her for the worst that's about to occur. She thought it was a sheer hallucination. She thought of pursuing him to his chambers for more interrogation, but anxiety won't permit her.

Since they got married, Alpha Gideon hasn't laid his hands on her before. Today might as well be the first time if she keeps intruding. With the manner he articulated to her tonight, it's all apparent that he won't hesitate to strike a thunderstorm puncture on her face if provoked further. “I guess I'll just let it go. Tonight isn't just right,” Zendaya finally accepted and retired to her bed, irritated.

Alpha Gideon isn't a man of numerous utterances. He detests pestering and infuriation. His turmoil is like a consuming fire. No one steps on his toes and gets away with it. His appearance instills fear and menace. At the mention of his name, his enemies bow and worship the ground he walks on.

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What a beautiful morning it is. Another day for Zendaya to keep up with her Investigation of her husband's sudden irritating attitude. She stayed awake all night, scrutinizing her husband's sleep and reminiscing the genesis of their love story. Nothing much has adjusted, despite Gideon being an Alpha werewolf. He was still that vicious, ruthless man she married that soared higher in greatness and dominance. He ruled his people with care and devotion. He's got their best interest at heart. The best ruler Nyria ever birthed.

Just as she reminisced, Gideon fiercely jerked off the bed and shrieked, “No, that's never going to happen. Not under my watch!”

"My lordship, were you hounded by a ghost in slumber? You have tensed already,” Zendaya clasped onto her mate passionately.

"It would have been better to run into the arms of a ghost. Quickly! Run to Andrew. Instruct him to summon all the elders at the pack right now. I must have a brief meeting with them urgently,” Gideon instructed, panting heavily and sweating profusely. One would think he just finished a 100-meter race.

Andrew is Gideon's most trusted aide and right-hand man. Alpha Gideon lost count of how many times Andrews watched his back on the battlefield. Only Andrew is in the best position to become the next ruler of the Kingdom of Nyria because he got all it takes.

Zendaya was dumbstruck. She stayed glued to the bed as if a spell had been cast upon her. Everything just doesn't add up. First, Gideon starved to bed the previous night, and now he's demanding an urgent meeting after a terrible nightmare. He didn't greet nor kiss her forehead as he normally does each time he wakes up in the morning.

"Woman, I wasn't talking to myself, was I? Or have the ancestors suddenly struck you with partial deafness?” Alpha Gideon yelled at Zendaya and almost frightened the living daylight out of her.

"I'm so …sorry, my lordship.”

she stutters and quickly exited the chamber searching for Andrews.

She stood in front of Andrew's room asking him to come out. It was quite early in the morning, and no one would ever think Alpha Gideon would choose to hold a meeting at that hour. Andrew could hear the Luna speaking, but he paid no attention and focused more on his slumber. He hasn't had enough rest for the past few days and now that he wants to, here comes the Luna with the spoiler. Zendaya could not go inside and fetch him, and would rather wait for him to show up. A few minutes have gone by and there was no sign of Andrew anywhere. Zendaya got worried and hit the roof of Andrew with a stone. This time, he rushed outside, holding a sword and ready to pounce on the suspected intruder. When he saw Zendaya, he lowered the sword and bowed to welcome Luna.

"What brings the Luna to my abode at this hour?”

"The alpha wants you to set up a meeting with the elders of the pack immediately. Do that now, he awaits your feedback in his chambers,” Zendaya instructed. She was delighted that her message had been dispersed to the appropriate receiver. Originally, she desired to bribe Andrews into disclosing the outcome of the meeting, but she considered it taboo. Andrew would never betray the trust of Gideon, not even silver nor gold could replace the love he has for his Alpha.

Zendaya returned to the royal chambers only to find her husband already dressed and devouring a plate of food. She wasn't surprised though because he starved himself last night for an undisclosed reason.

"My Lord, I did as instructed. As we speak, Andrews Is on his way to summon the elders at the pack,” she reported and sat beside him.

"Is there anything you want me to do?” Zendaya asked after the feedback.

"Call the maid to clear the dishes. I'm off to the pack,” Gideon ordered and stood up after washing his hands.

"I want to come with you, my Lord. I wish to be right beside you. Please permit me,” Zendaya's request was turned down. Gideon would rather go alone.

"Stay back and kept an eye on my son, Jayden. He's the future of this Kingdom. He's the heir apparent to the throne. I won't forgive myself if anything happens to him.”

"The maiden would take care of…" Zendaya didn't complete her statement before she was interrupted by a yell from Alpha Gideon. He was becoming so infuriated by his mate. He is quite aware of the increasing number of foes queuing for his downfall.

"I won't be so foolish enough to allow a common maiden to watch over my son. Stay back! Jayden needs you. You know how much I hate to be questioned. Please, don't push me to the wall.” Gideon warned and almost stapled her against the wall. She was practically unleashing the beast in him. His eyes became so red, like a burning furnace. He doesn't joke with Jayden, who would one day ascend the throne as the new Alpha werewolf of Nyria kingdom.

Just as the argument ensued, Jayden quietly walked in and caused a major distraction. “Dad, are you stepping out? I wish to come with you,” 10-year-old Jayden requested and tingles his head. He had just woken up from sleep and wasn't conscious of the occurrence.

"Hey, Jayden. You know Daddy loves you, right? Go stay with Mom while Daddy takes care of business. I'll be back pretty soon,” Gideon succeeded in discarding his son and left immediately, only for him to see Andrew drawing near his direction. “Is everyone present at the pack?”

"Yes, my Lord. They all await your presence,” Andrews bowed in response. Without wasting time, they both drove off to the pack to meet the elders seated patiently waiting for their arrival.