The Alpha’s Mate And The Vampire King (The Alpha Series Book 3)

Alec taps his feet anxiously as Magnus, Yiselda, and the other witches approach the final door that keeps Alec imprisoned.

‘Are you certain you want to proceed, Alpha Magnus? There is no going back once I remove the sigils,’

‘Do it,’ Magnus commands unequivocally.

Yiselda brushes her palm across the door, obscuring the symbols, and trudges down the steps miserably. Magnus follows closely behind Alec as they walk through the mirror and continue out the front entrance of Pandora’s box.

Alec falls to his knees, touches the ground, and raises his eyes to the sky. ‘I never imagined the day would come when I would be delighted to see the day,’ he says.

‘Doesn’t the sun harm you?’ Magnus asks.

‘No, but we aren’t fond of it either. Vampires appreciate just one type of light: moonlight. Otherwise,’ Alec continues, ‘We prefer to be out and about at night and inside during the day.’

Reaper pecks at the dirt near Alec’s hands nonchalantly.

‘Hmm, that’s intriguing,’ Magnus says.

‘Let’s waste no more time, take me to Shadow Crest so I can reclaim our Luna,’ Alec says as he stands.

Magnus and Alec enter the circle, following the witches and appear at the packhouse.

‘Alpha Magnus, I will not participate in your destruction of humanity. My immediate concern is for my sisters here, and I want to remain and defend them until Luna returns,’ Yiselda informs him.

‘I understand,’ he replies.

All of the witches retreat to the basement.

May informs Magnus, ‘I’m going with them,’

‘All right, I’ll mind-link you if I need you,’ Magnus says.

‘Sure,’ she says, frowning as she walks away.

Alec takes a step toward Magnus.

‘How do we get in contact with the wolf council?’ Alec inquires.

‘They reside in the north. It will take most of a day to get there,’

‘Let us go to them. If we can eliminate the wolf council and save Nina, we can avoid harming the humans.’

Magnus nods, shifts into his wolf, and dashes towards the woods, followed by Alec and Reaper.

After a night’s travel, they arrive on the territory of the wolf council just as the sun rises. Wolves in the dozens approach us, growling and snapping to keep us at bay. Alec stands unconcerned and smiles coyly, revealing his fangs. The wolves are taken aback and confused about what to do. Some turn and flee in fear. Most wolves remain put but are unsure if they should stay or run.

‘I’ve come to retrieve my blood flame. Step aside or die!’ Alec cautions.

Boisterous laughter comes from the wolf council’s residence.  The door swings wide to see Alpha Bennet chuckling. Alpha Theaton stands beside him. Alpha Amir reappears alongside Nina, holding a knife to her throat. A cloaked figure accompanies them.

‘Alpha Magnus, I’m glad you kept your half of the agreement. Now Alec must do his share and kill the humans,’ Alpha Bennet says.

Nina gasps, ‘Alec, please don’t do it,’ she yells. Alpha Theaton smacks her hard against her face.

‘Touch her again, and you will die!’ Alpha Magnus yells.

Alec speeds ahead but comes to a halt when the hooded figure’s enormous ball of flame spirals towards him. Alec is unable to react quickly enough, and the flame strikes his arm, severely burning him. Alec hisses and tightens his grip on his arm. Alpha Amir puts the knife softly against Nina’s neck, causing a trickle of blood to drip.

‘Any closer and she dies,’ Alpha Amir warns, ‘I won’t hesitate to cut her throat open. She wouldn’t be the first she-wolf I’ve killed.’ He smiles.

Alec takes a cautious step back, keeping his gaze fixed on Nina, who alternates her gaze wistfully between Alec and Magnus.

‘Alec, he will kill Nina if we get any closer. Do you know who that hooded guy is and how he made that ball of fire?’ Magnus asks.

‘No idea. I’m just as stunned as you are,’

‘Alpha Magnus,’ Reaper corrects him through mind-link. Alec scoffs and rolls his eyes at Reaper.

‘What is it?’ Magnus asks.

‘I think he might be a mage,’ Reaper mind-links.

‘Reaper says he could be a mage,’

‘What? They exist too?’ Magnus says.

‘Yup.’

Alpha Bennet takes a step forward.

‘I suggest you leave and not return until the humans are all dead,’ Alpha Bennet yells. He steps towards Nina and hits her hard against her face causing her lip to bleed. ‘The longer you delay, the more harm your precious Luna will sustain,’

Magnus and Alec exchange worried glances.

‘If we approach Nina, Alpha Amir will kill her, and with the mage shielding them, we will be too late to stop Alpha Amir,’ Magnus adds defeatedly.

‘Then there is only one thing I can do to save her,’ Alec says. He holds his hands out and summons the Shadow Reapers and Grimghouls. They arrive in droves, ascending from the earth around us.

‘If we approach a human city, they will deploy the army and all it possesses, including soldiers, tanks, and jets. What if I destroy their city without harming the civilians and lure the army to return here? The wolf council and the mage would be caught in the crossfire, forced to battle for survival. Perhaps this will provide us with an opportunity to rescue Nina while they fight? Additionally, they forget that when I attempted to exterminate humankind hundreds of years ago, they lacked the armament they possess now. Therefore, even if I desired to wipe out humanity with their bombs, chemical weapons, and arsenal, I would be unable to accomplish so,’

‘You are right. None of this occurred to me. Why did you not bring this up earlier in the dungeon? You might have been released sooner if we had considered the strength of humankind now in comparison to centuries ago,’

Alec shrugs. ‘I guess I was waiting for one of you to figure it out and realise I’m no longer as significant a threat as I once was. I hoped I would get the benefit of the doubt from someone, and I did, from Nina. She knew in her heart she could trust me.’

Magnus’s expression transforms into one of remorse. ‘She pleaded with me to release you, but I refused. I’m… sorry,’

‘I’m sure you are,’ Alec smirks. ‘Now, let us proceed to make our presence known to humans.’

Magnus nods, shifts into his wolf and joins Alec, the Grimghouls and the Shadow Reapers in their pursuit of a large city.

Magnus mind-links May their plan.

‘That might just work, Alpha. I’ll put the television on and mind-link you to what the humans are planning. Yiselda has somewhat relaxed that she now knows you are only planning on destroying some buildings without harming humans. I’m worried, Alpha Magnus, even if we get Nina back safely. What will happen to us if the humans don’t back down?’

‘I’m not sure, May. We will worry about that part when we get to it.’