Bloodbound to the Beastly King

The festival has begun.

Blood Crest's courtyard had never looked more alive. The people were celebrating with cheers and laughter. The scent of roasted meats, spiced cider, and honeyed nuts filled the air. It was beautiful to watch and smell.

Adina stood near a booth helping the alpha and Luna's ten-year-old daughter choose between two flower crowns, smiling softly as the girl squealed excitedly, finally picking one that she liked.

"Thank you, Adina," the girl said before running off.

Adina straightened up, the smile she wore was now gone. Even as everyone celebrated the new moon, their excitement didn't rub off on her. She felt nothing.

Not the earlier excitement she'd felt. Not the nervousness that almost wrecked her soul. Not even anger or perhaps pain. All she felt was a deep bone-crushing sadness. And maybe a little stupidity.

She sighed, turning to the table and began stacking up the cups. It didn't matter though. She was the one who had begun to dream a little bit more and now she'd had this crushing realization of where she stood.

"Adina," Luna Veronica's voice reached her ears, and she turned to see the woman walking towards her with a couple of other servants. The woman smiled at her, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"Oh dear," she paused, turning to the servants and motioned for them to leave.

"His majesty has been asking for you. Haven't you tended to him yet?" She asked, and Adina blinked.

"He has?"

Luna Veronica looked around like she was searching for someone. She was clearly busy. She looked at Adina for a second. "Yes, dear." She looked like she was going to say more but didn't, and before Adina could speak, she was off talking to the next person.

Adina sighed, looking around for the man. Honestly, she'd been keeping to herself ever since, trying her best to be done with what he needs and out of his sight.

She sighted him from afar, talking to Gamma Mason and a couple of other men she figured were alphas. She waited for them to leave, and when they did, she inhaled deeply, rubbing her palms on her dress and walked towards them.

______

Thorne saw her coming, and for the first time all day, the tight nagging feeling in his chest eased.

She stopped a few paces away, bowing to him. "Your majesty," she said. From what he'd seen, she wasn't exactly a cheerful person, but this version of her was… blank.

No smile. No warmth. Just those tired, sad eyes.

He opened his mouth to speak, but she was already asking, "Is there anything you need, sire?"

He was taken aback. Sire? Beside him, he felt Mason stiffen slightly.

"Nothing… just umm…" he'd never been at a loss for words. This was really not him… or her. But then, how would he even know what was her when he hasn't taken the time to know her.

Thorne blinked, closing his mouth. "Water. I need water," he said.

She nodded curtly, and before he could say anything else, she was out of his sight.

Thorne could only stare at the now empty place she'd been.

"Wow. That was… awkward," Mason muttered.

"Shut up," Thorne snapped, irritation building inside him. This was going on for much longer than he liked. What can he say?

'So I was with a woman but I didn't do anything with her?' How stupid was that? He felt stupid even thinking of that.

Mason shrugged, struggling to contain his smile. He clasped his hand over his mouth. Never had he seen the king look so… desperate. It was funny and also worrisome.

What did they say again? Never meet your idols. Yes. To Mason, it was extremely weird and awkward to see a man he'd idolized and feared look like this… the worst part was he didn't even know he looked like that.

"Forgive me for asking, my king, but I could've sworn you said you didn't want her as a mate. Especially after what happened, or am I wrong?"

Thorne shot a sharp glare at Mason. "Keep talking, and I'll personally ship you to the north. Maybe playing dead with the rebels will sharpen your sense of discernment."

Mason's eyes widened, and the smile fell off his face faster than it came. He knew it, Thorne wasn't above doing it.

"Your majesty," a small shaky voice called, and his brows arched irritably. He wasn't in the mood for pleasantries. Again, what kind of king wasn't in the mood for pleasantries?

He turned slickly to see a small girl, a maid bowing before him, arms stretched out with a tray and a bottle of water.

"What?" he growled, and the girl fell to her knees, trembling. The people near them also flinched in fear.

"My king…" Mason whispered, eyes flickering around. Almost everyone was staring at them.

"Forgive me, my king. Spare my life," the young maid cried out.

Thorne grabbed the water off her hands. "Leave," he said, and the girl scampered away like the ground was too hot.

Mason exhaled, thankfully everyone had gone back to celebrating like before. "Well, that could've gone well," he muttered, but Thorne heard.

He grunted in response, taking a long drink of the water, barely tasting it. It didn't make sense.

Why had she sent another maid?

His eyes scanned the crowd restlessly until they finally landed on her. She was by the refreshment table, handing out cider to the people. Levi stood close beside her, talking to her with that easy, calm manner that always got under Thorne's skin.

"What exactly is Levi still doing in Obsidian, and why hasn't he left?"

Mason glanced at the direction he was looking at, and his mouth formed a small O.

"The reason for his stay hasn't been clear, but I don't think he's leaving anytime soon," he replied.

Thorne watched as Levi leaned in a little too close for his liking.

Adina said something back softly—but she didn't step away.

She didn't flinch.

She didn't look like she wanted to run.

Thorne's jaw clenched so hard, the veins in his face strained.

Every single time… Levi made it his life mission to hover around her. Was this what his father taught him? To be a nuisance?

He's never had a problem with the man, but now… it seemed he couldn't stop having problems with him. Was he jeal— No. That would require having to see Levi as a man.

Levi wasn't a man. He was barely a boy. A pest if he did say. One that was slowly but surely grating on his nerves.

_______

It's been hours, and Adina has successfully managed to avoid the king. It was stupid, she knew that much. But she also knew she wanted to be away from him… at least for the festival, and so she threw herself into any work available.

She didn't mind what it was. Be it cleaning the kitchen, or serving the beverages, or clearing the tables. She didn't mind whatever she could. Barely paying mind to the fireworks that were being lit. They were rare and so only left for important occasions like this one. And as much as she loved watching fireworks whenever they were available, this time, she couldn't find it in herself to be excited for it.

Not even with the many 'oohs' and 'ahhs' she heard.

"Until when will you continue to work yourself away? Aren't your fingers hurting?" A strange voice said from behind, and she froze, turning to see a woman standing behind her.

She was young, about Adina's age herself. The woman wore a warm smile, her gaze flickering to the rag in Adina's hands.

"I've been watching you for a while now. Washed all the dishes, cleaned the racks, served the food, swept, cleaned the kitchen again, dressed the pups." She paused, shaking her head. "You do know you're a guest even if you're a maid."

Adina's lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

The woman stepped closer and took the rag from her hands. "You're not the only maid here. Stop taking over their chores and get some rest. Have you eaten?" She asked.

"I- I'm sorry, who are you?"

The woman paused then smiled. "A friend," she said then giggled. "Another maid, but I'm mostly with Luna. We haven't had the chance to meet though."

Adina nodded, the woman was neatly dressed and looked well. Perhaps Luna did take care of her own maids really well.

"Say what? I'll take over from here. You can go rest and enjoy the festival."

"Ah, no. It's okay. I can do this with no—"

"Oh, it wasn't a question. Luna Veronica would have my head if I don't help out, and since you've been working so long, I'll continue from here," she said.

"Okay," Adina replied, she didn't feel it earlier, but she was tired now.

"Okay, thank you," she replied with a smile.

The woman nodded toward the steps leading toward the study hall. "There's a shaded balcony upstairs. No one will bother you there, and it has the best view of the festival," she winked.

Adina managed a tiny smile, and after a moment, she nodded.

She quietly stepped into the study room. The air was cooler here, the breeze drifting through the open balcony doors.

She moved toward the balcony, placing her hands on the rail. She closed her eyes for a second, feeling rather relieved. She'd only stay here for some minutes before leaving.

She shouldn't be away for too long. She closed her eyes, just for a second, taking in the cold air.

Then she heard it. The door creaked behind her quietly, and her eyes snapped open. "Callie?" she called out, but when she heard nothing.

She turned around only for her to see him, right behind her. Her eyes widened dramatically.

"Alpha Radek?"