Chapter Four

Benson

 

 

 

Alphas are expected to be a lot of different things. We’re inherently strong, attractive, and masculine. It’s rare that we back down from a fight, even if it means that we might lose our lives as a result.

 

Nonetheless, confidence is a trait that doesn’t always come naturally to alphas. This might be surprising to a beta or an omega, but having power is one thing, knowing what to do with it is another. Still, most alphas learn to fake their own confidence.

 

I’ve naturally been pretty self-assured. I’ve never worried about becoming King one day or even losing my father. Still, now that both of these are approaching, I’m starting to feel doubtful.

 

What will it take for me to be King? How will I make the betas respect me? How can I keep a rebellion at bay? More importantly, how do I tell the entire kingdom that I’ve been fucking an omega—and that he’s carrying my child.

 

Dr. Kent sure laid a good guilt trip on me. I’m pacing in the center of my room naked. The sun’s been out for hours, and I didn’t get a wink of sleep last night after Oliver went to the medical room.

 

I haven’t eaten either. I keep thinking about the doctor’s words and how impregnating an omega was stupid idea without prior knowledge of the risks involved. Regret fills my mind.

 

How could I be so stupid?

 

Somehow, I chased my own primal cravings—something I’ve been trained not to do since I was a young boy. I’ve been given responsibility and gaining confidence in this situation will require a well thoughout plan.

 

Bzzzz…

 

Someone’s at the end of my wing. A screen on the wall flashes with a microphone on the display. I clear my throat.

 

“Activate… front door,” I say.

 

The screen flashes and I see Calius standing outside of the door at the other end of the wing. He stares back at me and blinks when he notices that I’m nude.

 

“Can I come in, Sire?” he asks.

 

“Anything pressing?”

 

“I’m just checking up on you.”

 

“Certainly,” I nod before tapping on a tablet and allowing him entry.

 

I find some clothes and dress before he enters. Then, I press the tablet again and unbolt my doors. I walk to a small bar at the corner of my room and pour a couple of glasses of water. I down mine fast and then a second glass right after.

 

Calius enters the room and is taken back by my scent. He sniffs again, and I wonder if he can smell Oliver. The beta clears his throat a bit and looks back at me.

 

“I heard about the omega,” he says. “I’m so sorry.”

 

“What have you heard?” I ask, worried that the secret will be out for the entire kingdom to hear.

 

“Just that he’s sick… is there anything else?”

 

“Yes, Oliver is ill,” I say. “But he’s also pregnant.”

 

“Pregnant?” Calius asks with his face lit up. “That’s great news!”
 

“Maybe,” I respond, “but only if he survives this.”

 

“What do you mean, Sire?”

 

“There’s a lot that I didn’t realize. Mostly, that omegas can have a troubling time carrying an alpha’s young.”

 

“Oliver is tough, isn’t he?” Calius asks. I don’t respond. I just go and grab another glass of water. Calius takes in a staggered breath and then exhales. I can feel his eyes on me. “You look ill, Sire. Have you had breakfast?”

 

“No,” I shake my head. “I’m okay.”

 

“Sire, I’m worried about you,” he says. “Maybe you should just take it easy for today.”

 

“NO!” I bark. “I need a plan to take care of Oliver.”

 

“You need to take care of yourself first.” Calius sounds a little too insistent.

 

“That may be how betas function, but not alphas,” I remind him. We’re in charge of too much, and my body can handle little sleep and lack of food. What I need is a way to fix this debacle.”

 

“He’s in medical,” says Calius, “so, there’s no need to worry. I’m sure that the betas there have him well taken care of.”

 

“You mean the alpha?”

 

“Wait, Dr. Kent? Isn’t he just in charge of your father’s health?”

 

“I suppose he’s in charge of the entire castle,” I growl. “Funny, because I didn’t pick up his scent until I saw him.”

 

“The maid staff cleared it out,” says Calius. “They’re all omegas, so it’s pretty tricky for them to deal with his scent. We give them blockers, but it really only works at keeping an omega’s scent under control. Could you imagine a castle filled with the scent of alphas and omegas? The rest of the staff would go mad.”

 

“So, it would be like on the ship,” I say, reminding Calius of what had transpired.

 

“Right,” says Calius. “But there were other factors at play there. Namely, your brothers.”

 

“I don’t miss them,” I say, grimly as I think about their lifeless bodies crumpled on the floor in my father’s room. “Still, my instincts tell me that I’m missing a piece of this puzzle. There’s another force at hand. Things are just going too smoothly.”

 

“Another force?” asks Calius. “Are you sure that it’s just not Dr. Kent, the other alpha? You know, this wouldn’t be the first time in history that an alpha within the castle has tried to take the throne.”

 

“Perhaps,” I say. “Better send him away just in case.”

 

“On your orders,” nods Calius. “I’ll take care of that now.”

 

“Thank you,” I say before staring out the window. The ship sways in the water with the long ramp still attached to the dock. “Are you sleeping on the boat?”

 

“Yes,” says Calius, looking a bit off guard. “Is that a problem?”

 

“It’s fine,” I say. “I suppose you like being with Emerald there, away from everyone else.”

 

“She insists,” Calius shrugs. “Otherwise I’d live on dry land.”

 

“Maybe I dodged a bullet,” I joke. “But I think I’ve also told you that before.”

 

Calius laughs nervously. “Maybe you’re right.”

 

“No,” I smile, “Emerald is a good woman.”
 

“That she is, Sire.”

 

“And a tough woman, too,” I add. “You certainly have a partner in crime, so to speak, with her. I bet that she’s more demanding than I’d ever care for. However, I’m happy that the two of you have found one another.”

 

“Me, too, Sire.” Calius looks down and grins wide. “Emerald is something else.”

 

“Okay, Calius, thank you again for your help.”

 

“Any time, Sire,” he says. “And don’t doubt yourself for a minute that you haven’t helped a nation. No matter the outcome, you’ve done your best.”

 

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I say as Calius heads toward the door.

 

My eyes feel heavy as I stare out the window. The waves crash beneath the cliffs but the windows muffle the sound well. A part of me misses life on the ship, hopping from island to island.

Bzzzz…

 

“What was that?” asks Calius.

 

“Activate… front door,” I say to my speaker system.

 

The screen displays Dr. Kent’s face. It looks long with drooping eyes. He appears rattled by something. Suddenly, I panic.

 

“Sire,” he says. “I have bad news.”

 

“Spit it out,” I growl with my heart pounding.

 

“Your father is slipping away.”