"W-what?" Elena murmured as she used her left hand to cover her chest, protectively.
King Killian could not help but groan at her action, "First of all, I'm your husband, so there's no need to get all protective with your body because it's mine as well. Secondly, have no fear because I'm actually not in the mood to be naughty." He explained lazily, and in a very quick motion, he flipped Elena, making her lay on her stomach and her back facing him.
He pulled her shirt up, revealing a small wound. "I could smell blood." He muttered, still staring at her injured back. "How did this happen?" He questioned.
Elena tensed beneath him, her fingers curling into the sheets. "A book with an iron cover fell on my back while trying to keep it back on the shelf." She whispered. She sealed her eyes shut, her breath quickening.
Earlier, when Elena tried to leave the library, she got intrigued by a book made of iron and decided to check it out. She studied the cover for a while before keeping it back on the shelf. However, just when she was about to walk away, it fell right on her back. She whimpered, recalling how excruciating the pain was.
"And why is it not healing?" King Killian probed.
"M-my wolf has been binded, so she cannot help me heal. Also, even as it's been weeks since I left my former pack, there's still a small amount of wolfsbane in my system and it's making my healing process slow."
"Hmmm." King Killian voiced. He had known Elena's wolf wasn't present since they first met. However, he had only thought she was one of those very late bloomers. He simply did not care then…even right now, he did not care about her bound wolf, but he was curious, he wanted to know how her wolf got binded.
Knowing Elena might not feel comfortable, telling how her wolf got binded, he decided not to ask about it. Later, he would ask Gareth to check it out. He needed to know exactly how that old man who called himself Zade took care of her.
"Stay still." King Killian commanded and without warning, he leaned down, pressing his tongue on Elena's back, licking off her injury.
This time, Elena literally almost melted. King Killian's soft tongue on her back made her skin prickle with goosebumps, a shiver racing down her spine as warmth bloomed low in her belly. Her toes curled, and of course, her heartbeat increased.
She was dumbfounded, so overwhelmed with what was going on that she did not notice the mark healing. Not until she felt Killian rising up from the bed. "Be careful next time," He muttered, then walked away as if the whole thing between them didn't happen.
When it registered in Elena's head that the mark had healed, she gasped, her eyes widening in shock. She jumped down from the bed and rushed to the mirror. She lifted her dress up a bit and indeed, the mark had gone. Healed completely. "I thought only fated mates could do this?" She muttered to herself in awe, still staring at her back through the mirror. "I did not know chosen mates could heal with their spits as well." She added.
"Gareth, how are things going so far?" King Killian asked through the mindlink.
"I'm very close to Nightshade pack, my King." Beta Gareth replied.
"Good. Now, I'm adding another task to your mission. I need you to find out exactly how Zade took care of my wife. Every detail. I want to know how he used the money I sent for her upkeep," He paused to gather his thoughts before adding, "I didn't notice it at first, but my mate is too thin."
"Okay, my King."
After disconnecting the link, King Kiallin walked to the guards' quarter, and instead of just punishing the leader like he had intended, he banished him. A fate worse than death, as no kingdom or pack would ever take someone banished by King Kilian.
Incompetence .... it was something King Killian hated.
****
Soon, Beta Gareth arrived at Nightshade pack. He wasn't surprised to see that the pack had merged with another called moonshine as it was a common practice between small struggling packs. They did this either for survival or a simple union. However, what caught his attention was the eerie silence that hung in the air as if the trees themselves were holding their breath.
Whenever a pack got too quiet, it's either the Alpha of said pack fell sick, died, or could no longer connect with his pack members anymore.
Beta Gareth was supposed to sneak into the pack, hiding his identity but he realized that it was just a waste of time. He could get the job done in plain sight.
Of course, he was welcomed well by the pack's Alpha—Enzo, who praised him well before leading him to the living room inside the pack house. "It's such an honor to have the Beta of a great King come visit the pack." He voiced. His tone was firm and filled with respect. "If only you had informed me about your visit, I would have made a fest for you." He added.
"Oh, it's fine, Alpha Enzo. This trip was rather impromptu." Beta Gareth replied before gracefully taking his seat. "It was the King's order to come check this part of the pack." He added while taking in his small surroundings.
"Wow, it's such an honor. The King normally sends warriors here, but seeing you here…it means something good is about to fall on this pack." Alpha Enzo commented.
Beta Gareth nodded. He noticed something was off with Alpha Enzo but he did not let that get to him. Enzo wasn't even near their priority at that moment.
"Have you guys made your way in?" Beta Gareth asked through the mindlink, engaging with his warriors.
"Yes Beta, we have taken down some men and will be using their identities for the next few days," The leader in the group replied.
"Good. Be careful not to get caught." Beta Gareth mindlinked before ending the connection.
Although Beta Gareth could easily get every information he needed at the mention of the King's name, he decided to be sneaky about it as there was no fun in being straightforward.
"Now, where is your Luna, Alpha Enzo?" Beta Gareth asked.
Alpha Enzo raised a brow, seemingly confused. "W-what Luna?"
"Beta Gareth, it's such an honor to have you in our pack!" Luna Stella suddenly walked into the room, grinning in excitement. "Forgive me for not coming to greet you earlier, I was a bit busy." She voiced, bowing her head low in respect.
"Beta Gareth, met my wife and Luna, Stella," Alpha Enzo introduced as he walked over to his wife. He grabbed her waist, pulling her for a soft kiss.
"What is this?" Beta Gareth thought to himself as he stared at the duo. He could swear he had seen confusion in Alpha Enzos' eyes when he had asked about his Luna. It was almost as if he had forgotten he had a Luna.
Strange.