The Alpha's Temptation

Eltanin was halfway back in the corridor when he saw five servants running with trays of food in their hands towards him. Relieved, he took one plate from a servant and started back to his bedchamber. The servant said, "Your Highness, let me take it." He grunted his refusal. He didn't allow the servants to bring the food in, taking the trays himself. Although extremely surprised, the servants didn't have the guts to ask why their king was acting so strangely. The king was used to being served. So, what made him change his mood so drastically?

As soon as Eltanin entered his room, he took the tray to Tania's room. He noticed that she had worn the baby pink, silk gown and was sitting on the bed. She yawned and looked at him with dreamy eyes, and Eltanin… melted. She yawned like a wee kitten.

"Your Highness!" Tania got up as her eyes went to the tray. The smell of hot creamy rabbit stew, bread with butter, mashed potato, an assortment of sliced fruit and lemon pastries wafted through the air, making her stomach growl all the more.

Eltanin placed the tray on the bed in front of her. "Have your food and then sleep," he breathed, which sounded more like a plea than an order.

A pale blush rose on her cheeks. She hesitatingly picked up a slice of papaya and chewed on it slowly, trying her best to avoid his gaze. Then she picked up another piece and ate it excruciatingly slow, too slow for Eltanin's liking. He pursed his lips. At this rate the girl would take forever for her to finish the food . He went to sit in front of her, picked up the bowl of stew, took a spoonful of it and brought it to her lips. Tania's lips quivered. Her eyes became wide like that of an owl.

"Eat, Tania," he said in a low, coaxing voice.

She parted her lips and in went the stew. Eltanin took a sigh of relief while Tania groaned, "Mmm…" And Eltanin—

The way Tania groaned it was as if someone had stroked his shaft. At first, he thought that he should cover himself with a pillow, but then on a second thought, he didn't. He wanted her to see the effect she had on him.

But Tania had closed her eyes, enjoying the exotic stew, it was the first time she had ever tasted it. The servants at the monastery only received the leftovers or very low-quality food. Tania finished chewing and then opened her eyes that were full of appreciation. Eltanin brought another spoonful next to her lips.

"I can eat—" the stew went in, halting her speech. She chomped on the meat and groaned again. Eltanin was entranced, bewitched, enthralled by her. He could spend every moment of his time watching her eat like that. It was so satisfying.

When she was wrapped in a towel, he noticed that she didn't have a tattoo that she was supposed to be born with. The tattoo indicated which kingdom you belonged or which bloodline you came from. But Tania didn't have any markings. He was curious. Was she a witch or was she from another realm?

This time, Tania placed her hand on her mouth and said, "I can eat, Your Highness."

Eltanin said, "I know that, but you won't eat well. If you don't eat well, then my work will be delayed, which in turn would mean delay in translation of the ancient book of arcana."

"Why don't you give me the ancient book of arcana now?" she asked. "I will translate it so that your work will be finished soon."

He grunted. He was going to make her stay for as long as possible even if it meant translating every damn book in the library. Moreover, she was too new to handle the arcana book. Its magic was dark and mysterious. He wanted to test her powers at first. Reading the arcana meant that one absorbed its powers in the process. Tania was too fragile. And she was his mate. He simply couldn't take the chances. What if she couldn't handle its magic? He was going to slowly let her develop her gift which he could feel was sleeping inside her. His wolf could feel it...

He didn't know which book of magic was going to stir her gift, but he was going to try it nonetheless. He had five months before Menkar interfered, and then… then he had another plan to never let her go.𝙛𝘳𝒆𝒆𝒘e𝗯n𝗼𝘷𝚎𝚕.𝒄૦𝓶

"That is not going to happen until I see your performance with the easier works," he replied smoothly.

She frowned and went to speak something again, but yet another spoonful of stew went in, stuffing her mouth. She mumbled something incoherent. When she didn't get a chance to speak, she thought that the king was becoming impatient. He really was very worried about the ancient book of arcana, so she would double her efforts to try to finish the work as soon as possible.

Eltanin gave her pastries to eat after the stew. When she ate it, cream smeared all over her lips. Tania darted her tongue out to lick it and then brought her finger up to remove the cream from it. And the king— he watched her, stunned. How could something like darting a tongue out could be so sensuous? His fingers reached her lips involuntarily and he wiped them clean, only to put his finger in his mouth. He sucked his finger, tasting her with the cream.

Tania watched him with horror. Was the king in a habit of doing such a thing? Did he do that with every person he fed? Little did she know that he never fed anyone. People fed him.

"Eat another pastry, Tania," Eltanin offered her the next one.

"Thank you," she replied with a smile as she took it from him. Once again cream smeared onto her lips and Eltanin got the opportunity to wipe her lips with his finger again. "You are a wonderful host," she admired him innocently.

"Oh, yes!" he breathed. "I am a renowned host. I personally feed people sometimes." Calman's horns! He really had to lie so much to coax her.

Once Eltanin had stuffed everything on the tray in her belly, he felt satisfied. "Do you want to eat any more?" he asked.

"No!" Tania said, shocked. What did he think she was? An elephant?

"Okay, good." He picked up the tray to take it upstairs.

Before he left, Tania said, "Thank you for taking care of me."

Eltanin's chest swelled with pride at her gratitude for his efforts. "Now you can sleep," he said as if ordering her politely.

"I will," she said and bowed to him. "You should also have some food and sleep, Your Highness."

"I will," he replied, a smile worming on his lips. His mate was so concerned about him. Eltanin was star struck. He sighed.

As soon as she heard the door close, she climbed into bed. She spread her hair out on the pillow behind her. This was the first time she was sleeping on such a cushioned bed and she couldn't help feeling how comfortable and cozy it was. Silently, she thanked the king.

At night—