The Alpha's Temptation

Tabit was extremely happy when she heard her father's decision. She looked at her mother but she was just too distressed. Tabit knew that her mother was still reeling under the loss of Meissa's betrothed Okab and was too worried about her pregnancy. From the corner of her eye, she saw her father going and sitting on the throne.

"Mother, maybe you should go and take a rest," she suggested to Alina.

Alina shook her head. She got up from her place and took a deep breath. She said to her husband, "King Eltanin killed Okab who was Meissa's fiancé. Are you going to let this matter slide like this? Have you no guts to face that man?"

"Shut uppp!" Mintaka roared. "Because of you and Meissa I have put myself in this humiliating situation." He rested his elbow on the armrest and supported his forehead in his hand. He shook his head. "I have never been so insulted in my life. No one has ever pointed out to me that I did things because of ego. And King Eltanin pointed that out so blatantly!"

"That is more of a reason to go on a war with him, Mintaka!" Alina growled. "How can you sit like that like a wuss and not do anything? Fight for your honor!"

"Are you insane?" Mintaka yelled at her. "His army is already camped outside the kingdom. If he wants, he can quash us like ants. Did you not see how every damn king and queen wants to favor him or be his favored? The last time we went to the palace, didn't you notice all the drama of Princess Eri and Princess Petra? How were they vying for his attention?"

"So what?" Alina shouted back. "He came and insulted you in your own home! You must take your revenge!"

Mintaka was pissed. He growled, "Alina, go back to your quarters, else I am going to have to ask the guards to take you there!" As he said that, his aura spilled and Alina winced.

Her knees started wobbling and she felt like she had to sit down in submission to her husband. But she didn't like how Eltanin insulted him. She was going to take revenge and a solid one. With unsteady steps, she exited the throne hall, leaving father and daughter alone. Her first stop was the dungeons where Meissa was taken.

In the throne hall, Tabit said, "Father, it should be mother who should send the gifts. Why have you asked me?"

Mintaka took a deep breath. "Just don't argue with me, Tabit. Go to the treasure room and choose the finest jewelry and silks for Princess Lerna."

Tabit bowed and was about to leave when he asked, "Aren't you going to be angry with me about Meissa?"

Tabit gave him a soft smile. "No father. You made the right decision. Meissa shouldn't have encouraged you and mother into this mess. Her ambitions drove us all into this madness. In my opinion, if Princess Lerna is Rigel's mate, we can actually use her knowledge about the Hydra Kingdom and safeguard ourselves from the Nyxers."

Mintaka jerked his head back at his youngest daughter's remark. "But she is an... enemy."

"No enemy would be willing to sacrifice their life for others. Lerna rushed to save brother's life. King Eltanin has adopted her as his sister. Why?" she asked her father as she took a step forward. "The Draka King is not a fool. He must have checked and double checked her background. And from what I know, Eltanin also went with Rigel to rescue Lerna." She looked away from her father. "There is a lot between them, father. I believe that it was simply foolish to assume that she was our enemy."

Mintaka took a ragged breath. "Go with the gifts to their camp, Tabit. Leave me alone."

Tabit bowed to the king and walked out of the throne hall. She felt around her heart if she was feeling sad for Meissa. She wasn't. She was only feeling sad for her unborn child. As for Okab, she couldn't help feeling, 'good riddance'.

Alina was still stewing. Angered at her husband, she marched straight to the dungeon.

"Motherrr!" Meissa called her loudly. "Look what has happened? Father has been so unjust and Eltanin--" she sobbed. "He killed Okab!"

Alina curled her fingers around her daughter's as she too started crying. "I am so sorry, but now we can't do anything. Your father is accepting Lerna and he is sending gifts to her. Tabit will be taking those gifts!"

Meissa gasped. "Oh dear God! How could Tabit betray us like this? She is the mole. I am sure she went around talking about me to Rigel! She is such a cheat!" She grabbed her mother's hands in between the bars. "Mother, you must teach her a lesson. She's a traitor."

"I can't do anything, Meissa!" Alina shook her head.

"You can. You must. You have to stop her from taking those gifts to Lerna!"

"How?"

"I don't know. But do something before Orion Kingdom falls in the hands of our enemy!" Meissa was so jealous of her sister that she didn't want her to succeed. She was going to thwart her plans one way or the other. According to her, Tabit was trying to be in the good books of Rigel. Wait till she ruined her name. "Go mother!" she goaded Alina. "Do something before the situation gets out of control!"

Alina blinked through her tears. Her heart thudding wildly against her chest, she nodded. "Okay. Let me do something!" Alina came out of the dungeons. She went to Tabit's room, but Tabit wasn't there. She punched her fist in her other palm, gritting her teeth, scolding herself for wasting time in finding her. She decided to wait for Tabit at the exit of the palace. And in order to stop her, Alina gathered her personal guards. She formed a plan.

Tabit had asked the servants to bring large gold plates. In the treasure room, she quickly chose precious jewelry. She asked the servants to arrange it on the gold plates. Once done, she closed the treasure room and asked the servants to follow her. However, at the exit--