Sold by my Alpha, bought by my Mate Chapter 39: Behind the fog

Jeremiah

I knew how hard it had been for the king to come out of his chambers and face the real world and its problems.

It seemed to me that Maximus had spent years in hiding, wanting power but not exercising it. I guessed we all had our moment... or something else was going on... something he didn't tell us about.

"The king is waiting for you..." Ava told me.

She seemed restless, which was unusual for her. She was undoubtedly one of the most loyal to the king, although she didn't make any effort to persuade him to leave his castle either.

"Just a moment..." she said and started going through my pockets, touching all my clothes until she was caressing my whole body, especially my abdomen, chest, and even my legs. She had a satisfied look on her face and bit her lip.

"Was that really necessary?" I asked, my arms raised, waiting for her to finish her thorough inspection.

"I was curious, can you blame me? I wanted to see if that hard expression you always have... matched with other... hard parts of your body too. Mmmm, it truly does…" she said with a mischievous smile.

She had always been a minx, but I thought she was getting worse.

"Your Majesty..."

"He wasn't the king of vampires, but to me, he was someone to follow, the only one with the ability to bring order to the supernatural world. He was strong, legendary, and with a little will, he would truly be feared by all.

"Jeremiah...I understand you have managed to investigate something," the king said as Ava stood close to him.

"That's right...our enemies seem to be more organized than before, and they may be using outside forces," I replied.

"Is this true?..." he said and I nodded.

"Not only that, but I think our enemy is getting help from vampires, rogues... maybe other forces we don't know about. It wouldn't be strange; in the last war, the Rebel Alpha used forces we can't even imagine," I added.

"I remember... I need to make sure we can take them all out," Maximus said.

"Asher has informed me that they also found strange things during their visit to Red Moon, when they return they will tell us more," I said, and Ava pursed her lips.

"What do you suggest?" he asked."

"Against all odds, I support the idea of still having the Alpha Rat here. No doubt he's involved in strange things. I offer to keep an eye on him," Ava said.

"Agreed... I'd rather ask them to come back as soon as possible. Constantine will inform me about what he collects there," Maximus decided.

"I beg your pardon for saying this… but we should move forward, expose ourselves and try to find strategic information," I told him, and I could see that he didn't like what I was saying.

"I know it's not what you want to hear... but if you have me here in your close council, it's because you are interested in my opinion," I added, and he sighed.

"Explain..." he said.

"There are traces of a vampire presence... far beyond the border. I suggest we investigate, with a group of warriors we can make an expedition," I suggested. Maximus looked at me carefully and then said something I didn't see coming.

"Alright... I'll go myself," I was stunned.

"Master...you can't leave the castle..." Ava exclaimed worriedly.

"I'm fine...we'll leave at nightfall. You will stay here, my dear," he said firmly, leaving no room for further discussion.

"Understood," she said.

"I'll make the arrangements," I added.

"We're not going with big wagons or chariots, no major protection either, just a few warriors, armor, and weapons," he said firmly.

The night was cold, and the forest was dark; we creatures felt better in this environment.

"Tell me the truth, friend... what do you expect us to find?" asked Maximus.

"Enemy approaching... preparations, perhaps places with supplies, several hunters and trackers. Most likely werewolves. They are looking for a weakness to invade their territory, sire. I think they're buying wills... that bar in the Red Moon pack... it's no coincidence."

"You mean it was there to get information from other wolves and packs?" he asked as we walked, our feet barely making a sound.

"I think they're gathering information... preparing. They won't show their true colors, not yet," I answered, and he sighed.

"The waiting is killing me, I'd rather they strike now than have to endure another day without knowing anything, being a king lost in his thoughts," he exclaimed, touching his chest.

"Your Majesty should strengthen the kingdom," I suggested. It was a delicate subject, but as I said, I should deal with the difficult ones.

"You mean get a mate. Jeremiah… I know my mate will never come, I don't think she even exists. When the Moon goddess created me... she didn't think I would need a mate. But I don't like choosing one either... I don't want to share my power," he said, and I swallowed.

What would happen if the Moon goddess left me alone, forever?

"Over there... behind the fog," Maximus interrupted, and I ordered the warriors to secure the area. I had not even been able to perceive anything, but the king's senses were much sharper.

"We're under attack!" a warrior shouted.

Soon, I was charging forward, snapping necks, ripping out hearts, and beating rogues in what appeared to be a small settlement.

"A vampire! Get him!" they yelled.

I grabbed their weapons and charged them, stabbing them. The warriors positioned themselves near the king, the goal being that none of them reached him.

"The king! The king is here!" a rogue shouted, and I ripped his head off.

"There! Don't let them get away!" I yelled, finding a wounded wolf.

It tried to bite me, but within seconds it was on the ground with my foot on its head.

"He seems to be... high-ranking," I said as I lifted him up by the neck.

"Return to your human form..." the king commanded him, the man now shaking.

"The king..." he said.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" I asked, enchanting him.

"We... are just an outpost."

"What is your destination? What are you doing in this direction?" I asked. They had never been this close before.

"Just watching..." he replied, and I punched him in the face and threw him to the ground.

"Translation... you were waiting for a signal, from whom?" I continued to question him.

"I don't know... I don't know who they are... I just know you can't see them," the man said.

You can't see them... Could they be the creatures Miss Luna painted? This is all very suspicious.

"Where are the other groups?" I asked.

"In a few days the vampires will come... the rest... we know nothing," the man said before I snapped his neck, a quick death.

"Vampires... I don't like that," Maximus said.

I wiped my hands of blood and saw that the king had blood stains as well.

"We need to keep going...finish these vampires," I said.

"No," he told me firmly.

"But..."

"They're just bloodsuckers, weak and disorganized, for sure. They'll be no match for my army. I'll send warriors... we'll control the territory, they won't get close. I'll send trackers and hunters, we'll wipe them out before they even think of getting close," he said, his voice making the trees rumble. I sighed.

Sometimes you don't face your problems... and then they face you. I just hoped when the king understood... it wouldn't be too late.