Alpha King’s Wolfless Mate by Scarlett Higgins

Chapter 80

**Nora POV

It was becoming far too common for Blake to sneak out of bed and leave in the morning while I was still asleep. I hated waking up alone and finding his side of the bed cold.

I drank my coffee in the library instead of my usual spot in the garden today. I didn’t want to risk running into Graham or Kelly, and neither of them seem like the kind of person who would be interested in the myria d of books available in the castle.

It was peaceful in the library, if a little dusty. The hot cup felt good in my hands and I sat for a while and just stared into the dark liquid without drinking.

I was having a hard time dealing with the presence of Graham and Kelly in the castle. They both made me uncomfortable for very different reasons. But, that wasn’t the reason I was so upset this morning.

It was Margot. Or more accurately, the way Margot trailed after Blake like a lost puppy.

I recognized the way she looked at him. She wasn’t the only one that had a crush on the king. What bothered me was the amount of attention that Blake was giving her.

He treated her like she was the visiting royal rather than a common girl.

I took a drink of my coffee and groaned. It was bitter. I was so distracted that I forgot to add sugar.

I knew that I was being self conscious and insecure, but it was hard not to feel like this. Blake was givingMargot so much attention. At the same time, he didn’t seem to care when Graham made passes at me and made me uncomfortable.

If he really was my mate, then why was this happening?

No, that was the wrong question to ask.

I stood and left the comfort of the library. I made my way slowly back to the kitchen. I added a heaping spoonful of sugar to my coffee cup and stirred it slowly.

The question that I should be focusing on is whether this was all part of Graham’s plan. Was it possible that they had brought Margot along to drive a wedge between Blake and I? Maybe they thought that they could cause enough strife in the castle that it would distract us and they could get the drop on us?

Maybe Margot was using some kind of magic on Blake. It wouldn’t be the first time Blake’s uncle used witchcraft to mess with him in an attempt to take power.

But I didn’t feel anything negative from Margot. She seemed like a genuinely sweet girl who just didn’t understand how to behave around royalty. She probably had no experience.

I didn’t fully understand the ins and outs of royal etiquette when I first came to the castle either, but I had the benefit of being raised in the household of an Alpha. That helped a lot when it came to knowing how to carry myself.

I was torn between feeling sorry for the girl being pulled into the middle of this, and being jealous that she was trying to win my husband over.I took a drink of my coffee to test it. I had added too much sugar. I sighed and drank it down quickly. I just needed the caffeine at this point.

I wasn’t working at the store today, but I wasn’t sure what I should do with my day. Before I could think too hard on it, I heard something from the hallway.

I listened closely and was able to make out footsteps and hushed voices. One of them was definitely Blake, but the other I couldn’t be sure about.

I couldn’t make out what was being said. I held my breath and focused, but it didn’t make a difference. The voices grew louder as they neared the door. Then they stopped and I was able to identify the second voice. It was Margot.

My blood went cold. Blake had snuck off to meet with her again.

I was torn between wanting to run away and wanting to confront them. I stood there unable to act and staring at the door. They were just on the other side.

I heard Blake laugh and it was enough to stir me into action. I walked across the room in quick strides and pulled the door open.

Blake’s head snapped up and he stared at me in surprise. Margot was standing less than a foot from him.

“Hello, Luna,”Margot said softly. She bowed herhead to ward me nervously.

I didn’t respond. My eyes were fixed on Blake in an open glare.

He didn’t seem to know how to react and his silence felt like an admission of guilt.Margot stepped to ward me and smiled nervously.“I was just thanking King Blake for arranging a university tour for me. I’ve always wanted to study at the university and now that it seems like our borders may be opening back up, I may get the chance to apply. I know that nothing is finalized yet, but it just means so much to me that I was at least able to see it.”

As she spoke, her face lit up with excitement. It was obvious that she wasn’t just making up some lie. I felt the anger melt out of me and embarrassment settled into its place.

“That’s great,”I answered dully.

She nodded and rubbed her arm uncomfortably.“I really hope that I can attend some day.”

“What do you want to study?”I asked. If she had aready answer, then I would have no reason to doubt her.

“Medicine,”she replied automatically.“My momwas a doctor and I want to help people the way that she did.”

“That’s great,”I said again, with a forced smile.

“It’s a testament to what wonderful leaders you arethat you would take the time to help someone like me. I hope that one day I’ll be able to repa y the kindness.”

“It’s nothing,” Blake insisted.“I just made a phonecall and arranged a driver.”

She smiled.“It was everything to me. I should find Kelly, she’s going to be annoyed that I’ve been gone so long. Thank you again,” she said. She hurried down the hallway and out of sight.Blake was staring at me expectantly. He was waiting for me to tell him what I was upset about or to accuse him of something. I could see in his bright eyes and the set of his shoulders that he was ready for an argument.

That was the last thing I wanted.

“I missed you this morning,”I said.

He looked confused.“I wanted to let you rest,”he said after a pause.

I nodded. I didn’t know what else I could say without things devolving into shouting or crying and I wasn’t in the mood for either.

“I’m going to town,”I noted.

It was a lie. I had no intention of going into town today. Before Blake could say anything further, I quickly walked pa st him. I could feel his eyes watching me as I steadily walked away from him.

I wasn’t proud of the interaction, but it was better than fighting.

The jealousy I felt over Blake spending time with Margot was unfounded. Part of me knew that. However, the knowledge didn’t do anything to ease the negative feelings that were bubbling up.

It was just that… it seemed so easy for Margot and Blake to connect.

When I thought back to the first time I met Blake, easy was the last word that came to mind. We had been desperate and fighting for our lives.

Everything between us had felt like a battle. He wouldn’t talk to me, wouldn’t explain what was going on. He didn’t even tell me that he was the Alpha King.The fact that he seemed so comfortable talking to Margot after knowing her for only a few days stung. It made me feel like the connection between us was forced. Maybe the god dess really didn’t intend for us to be together…

It didn’t bear thinking about. I would probably never be able to understand what the goddess intended. Only priestesses and seers could hope to understand her will and I was neither. I was too afraid to consult them, too, so that left me with no choice but to accept the situation.

I just had to trust that Blake was being honest when he told me that he loved me and that he believed we belong together.