Shadows Of Flames: Tales Of The Forbidden

Myra was shocked beyond words. Seduce? The Alpha?

She had expected many things from Henry. But not this.

“What?” she hissed sharply. “You expect me to do what?”

Henry tensed, prepared for another round of shouts. “You need to get close to him Myra. It's the only way”

“Only way?” she shouted, dumbfounded. “By being close to him? Are you mad?”

“Shh. You don't want to attract other people, do you?”

“I can't do what you ask of me. That is utterly disgusting”

The mere thought of touching Arthur and letting him touch her, made bile rise in her throat.

“Myra we don't have time for this. This is the only way considering what's at stake”

“At stake?” she repeated, her blood boiling. “So I have to let him touch me just because of what's at stake? You amaze me Henry”

“I.....” Henry trailed off.

“How dare you think of such? How could you even....."

Disgust filled her. She didn't dare think of such yet that was what was on his mind. The main reason why he was here, and not to plead forgiveness. “I'd rather die than crawl into his bed like some whore”

“Don't say that” Henry reached for her but she moved away. “You don't have to necessary sleep with him. You just need to gain his trust”

“How? By singing lullaby?” she questioned with a slight touch of sarcasm.

She crossed her arms, not at all happy. “What if that's what it takes to gain his trust?”

Henry didn't have anything to say and his lack of response was all she needed to tear him apart. “I can't even believe I was just warming up to you. If you truly love me, you wouldn't suggest such”

His eyes grew colder. “Do you think I want this? That I will enjoy seeing you in another man's arms? I've thought of every possible alternative but all proved abortive”

His words fueled her anger. “So I should just jump into his arms then? Allow that monster touch me?”

She remembered Arthur's mocking looks as he lowered her to a maid, disgracing her before her people.

All she wanted to do was carry out revenge even if it meant murdering Arthur in cold blood, so she couldn't imagine herself with him, even in her nightmares.

Henry's voice was pained and tired. “There's no other way”

Myra shook her head and began to pace. “There has to be another way. Anything but this”

It was his turn to be sarcastic. “If you have a better plan, let's hear it”

She paused to shoot him a glare. “Anything is better than your plan. For the life of me, I can't see myself in that Alpha's arms. The very same man who destroyed my life”

“But he's the only one who can unknowingly bring about his own downfall”

Myra was conflicted. Revenge was all she wanted but to sleep with the Alpha to get it?

She felt sick. “You're telling me to do something unthinkable”

“I'm telling you to do what's necessary” he corrected. “If I had any other way—”

“There's always a way” she interrupted with a snap. “I can't believe you would choose this one. You don't love me, I can see that now”

“I do love you. That's why I need you to do this. I feel horrible thinking about it but it is the only way to bring him down. You know it. I know it”

That was the ugly truth. There was no other way.

Her stomach churned as she stayed quiet.

Andrew tugged at her sleeve. “Please princess. You're our only hope. People are suffering in the dungeons. They're starving. Many are close to death”

She looked down into his big, hopeful eyes and felt guilt twist her chest.

“But I can't”

“Please princess" Andrew's voice had lowered to a whimper. “We need you please"

“Your people depend on you Myra. They are looking up to you, don't disappoint them” Henry coaxed her gently.

She remained stubborn. “You're asking too much of me”

“Then prepare to watch your people die”

It struck a chord, weakening her resolve. Her people needed her but did that mean sacrificing whatever dignity she had left?

She squeezed her eyes, navigating the storm inside her. Was there no other way?

Meanwhile, deep in the forest, Arthur moved through the trees.

His massive paws barely made a sound as he scanned for a lost deer that would become his prey.

Above him, high up in the sky, the moon hung low like a silver ball, emitting soft glows against a backdrop of a black sky.

The wind carried the scent of damp earth and flowers mixed with leaves.

Arthur inhaled deeply as he listened to every rustle, every twig that snapped under his paws.

He lived for this feeling. In his wolf, there was no burden of leadership that came with the throne. No politics.

Just him and his primal instincts.

When he heard a sound, his ears twitched and he sniffed the air. His prey was near.

Soundlessly, his paws moved him in the shadows to where a small, blissfully ignorant deer was grazing.

He lowered his body and moved closer, careful not to make any sound to alert it.

The deer straightened immediately, sensing something. Too late. Arthur shot forward with a low growl, his jaw clamping around the deer's throat before it could even move an inch.

The deer struggled, but he held it down firmly, sinking his fangs into its flesh. A second later, its heartbeat stopped and blood filled his mouth, warm with the metallic taste of iron.

He felt the thrill of the hunt in his veins, a desire that had nothing to do with food.

He let the taste linger before releasing the dead deer and lifted his head to the sky, letting out a low howl that echoed through the forest.

This was the sole purpose of his wolf. The howls, the hunt..... everything that lifted the heavy responsibilities that rested on his shoulders.

When the high of the moment faded, he retreated back into his sane self and wiped his muzzle against his forearm.

With one last glance at his kill, he shifted back into his human form and returned back to the palace.

When he arrived, something felt...off.

He felt a foreign presence, awakening his senses. Without hesitation, he walked toward the scent, alert and ready to attack.

************

“So, what's it going to be Myra? Are you going through with this or not?"

Myra inhaled deeply, pulling out of the storm that raged through her. “I don't know Henry. I don't know" she admitted.

This was just too much to take in. Seduce? The very word made her coil.

Henry's response was final. “Make a choice Myra. Or your people will pay the price"

Myra bit her lip hard. She was faced with an impossible choice.

Then she heard footsteps approaching and she froze. “Oh no, someone's coming"

“You haven't given me an answer yet" Henry said.

“Not now. Hide before anyone sees you" In a state of panic, she pushed Henry and Andrew behind a stone pillar, then straightened just as Arthur stepped into view.

His presence was intimidating, his voice smoothened with suspicion.

“Sneaking around here you don't belong princess?”

She held his gaze, summoning every ounce of courage she had left.“I walk where I please”

His golden eyes raked over her. “How strange that you prefer the darkness”

She stared at him blankly. “That's none of your business”

“That's where you're wrong princess. Everything you do is my business”

She crossed her arms, attempting to look bored. “I'm not really in the mood to entertain your delusions”

He hummed as he walked closer. “Why do I feel like you're hiding something?”

Her heart was hammering in her chest but she played it cool. “I have nothing to gain if I hide something from you. You're not worth half my sweat”

His mouth slanted in a smirk. “I can see right through you. I know someone is here”

Her breath hitched. “I don't know what you're talking about”

“Really? Then why do I smell a strange scent?”

She spun on her heels, eager to leave. “I can't believe I'm wasting my time with you when I have better things to do”

“Keep this in mind while you go princess. Not every corner is safe for you to wander. You never know what could be hiding in the shadows, waiting to strike”

His words sent a chill down her spine. She threw one last insult over her shoulder before she left. “Paranoia isn't your forte Alpha. Wickedness is”

He watched her go, knowing beneath all that toughness, she was hiding something.

His gaze flickering to the pillar as his mind ticked like the seconds of a clock.

He walked to the pillar and stepped behind it. Nothing.

His brows furrowed. His instincts never lied.

Someone had been here. And they had been smart enough to disappear.