I eyed the otherwise empty foyer and raised a questioning brow in their direction. “And where is thisperfectalpha?”
Their smiling faces never wavered as they turned and gestured for me to follow. I did, somewhat reluctantly, as if I was being led to my demise. They stopped in front of the first sitting room, then waited for one of the royal guards to open the door. It was the only position inside the palace that was occupied by alphas exclusively, since no omega would be able to stop an intrusion with our weaker bodies. I had to trust the magic would keep them from harming us, and after several decades with no incidents to us omegas, I actually felt safe in their presence. Not that I would ever seek them out for my heats. That would be too close to home, so to speak. Not like Elias had done. I shook the thought away and followed them inside.
The alpha sat on the vintage couch in the middle of the room, looking lifeless as he stared straight ahead, seemingly at nothing. My first impression was that he was massive. Likegiant,massive. Everything—from his head to his hands and thick trunk-like arms and thighs—was huge, bulging with layers upon layers of muscle. He was clearly a farmer; his blue overalls were well-worn and dirty, with a large rip down one leg. His blond hair was shaggy-looking and rested around his face, brushing his shoulders. And either he was allergic to something, or he’d been attacked by a swarm of insects, because his skin was filled with red, angry-looking welts.
I turned to stare at my advisors in disbelief. Surely this couldn’t be the alpha they deemed worthy of fathering the future king?
“Is this supposed to be a joke?!” I hissed through my teeth.
“Hal,” the alpha whispered, gaining all our attention. “Careful.” There was a moment’s pause, then he croaked, “Bees.”
The raised eyebrow I shot my advisors hopefully conveyed my question perfectly.Him?
They only appeared prouder at my reaction, which turned my confusion into anger.
“You cannot be serious!” I snapped at them, then shot a look at the alpha, who seemed to be in his own head as he ignored my raised tone completely.
Clive nodded eagerly. “He is simply the perfect alpha, Your Majesty.”
“Strong,” Jerold added, his smile just as bright and confident.
“Simple-minded,” Brennan agreed.
“Harmless,” Nicholai supplied.
“Handsome,” Elias quipped with a wink.
“Honey,” a hushed voice sounded, so quiet it took me a second to realize it came from the alpha. “I just… wanted honey. I’m sorry.” His head dipped, and his blond locks fell in soft waves around his face as he sighed; the sound filled with anguish.
I squeezed the bridge of my nose, inhaling deeply as I tried to stave off an impending headache. “Can someone fetch himsome…”—I waved my hand in the air—“honey?” I was so done with this day. Yes, the alpha was handsome and strong. He was also, as Elias had stated, the biggest alpha ever, but he was too… passive. I feared he couldn’t do what was needed, and I was in no mood to teach him how to breed me. It had to be instinctual, I knew that, but something about his youth and timidness made me fear I would have to take matters into my own hands. Something I very much didn’t want during my heat. Gods, I needed a breeder, not someone who looked like he could burst into tears the next second.
“Find me another,” I demanded, my anger rising.
“But, Your Majesty,” Clive argued. “He is perfect! I assure you. If you’ll only allow—”
Holding up my hand, I indicated that I’d heard enough. I eyed the alpha and found him shaking as he scratched absentmindedly at the insect bites. Nibbling on his bottom lip, he looked nothing like the pumped macho alphas of my dreams, but young and innocent, almost. Instantly, my anger dissipated, and I felt almost sorry for him. Was he forced here? Then a horrifying thought hit me: Did he not want me? Frustration and a strange uncertainty built inside me. Didn’t he realize what an immense honor it was to be chosen as my alpha? Theking’salpha.
“I want a moment alone with the alpha,” I declared as I moved to sit on the couch opposite him. He was still a stranger and so,sobig. I wasn’t going to take any chances.
“Is that wise, Your Majesty?” Clive countered.
“He will be fine,” Jerold stated, ushering the others out, with the alpha guards being the last to leave.
The room was suddenly much too quiet, so I figured I would act like the king I was and demand some answers.
“Did they force you here?” I asked, trying to keep my tone poised. Regal. The question seemed to confuse the alpha,because he just gaped at me. So, I tried rephrasing it. “Do you not wish to be here?”
His eyes snapped up to meet mine, the bluest blue I ever saw. “Hal,” he croaked as he blinked back tears, digging his teeth into his bottom lip. Who was this Hal?
“Is that your name? Hal?”
He shook his head.
“Is this Hal someone important to you?” I questioned, hoping to pry out further information this way.
He nodded. “Brother,” he whispered. “Like brother.” I knew many alphas formed communities in the countryside as a substitute for the families they’d left behind. Perhaps this Hal person was like that.
“And did he not wish for you to go?”
