The Alpha's Temptation

“Tania detected that energy,” Biham said proudly. At the same time, he just couldn’t fathom Kinshra’s depression. Not only did he reject her, her father took her away from her only child.

At that time, he was even suffering from depression because he had rejected his mate. He was into alcohol. Sirrah would weave terrible stories about her all the time. And to ease his pain of betrayal from his mate, he drowned himself into so much alcohol that it was difficult for him to make sense of his surroundings. It was either alcohol or wars with Nyxers.

Kinshra’s lips curled up when she heard that Tania could detect the portal. “She had to. After all she is half fae.” She pondered a little and said, “I don’t know how Cordea survived after that, but I am glad that Tania made it. I am glad that Cordea hid her so well.”

“I do think that something is odd here Kinshra,” said Biham. Kinshra halted in her tracks and looked at him with questions in his eyes. He continued, “When Tania was five years old, she was bought by Menkar. How did Menkar come to know of her? I mean did he know that she was my daughter? There is something that is not fitting. I do feel there is a piece of the puzzle that is missing!”

“Father!” Tania’s voice from behind startled them both.

They both snapped their heads back only to find Tania with Eltanin. Her arm was wrapped around his and she was practically hanging from him. She was watching both of them with wide eyes and surprise written all over her face. Kinshra left Biham’s hand, feeling extremely awkward.

A knowing smile came to Tania’s lips and Kinshra blushed. “We were just strolling…” she said in a soft voice.

Tania pursed her lips to stifle a giggle. “Can I join you?” she asked.

Biham gritted his teeth at Tania. He was having such a wonderful time with his mate and she had to come now? He rolled his eyes. Children. Before he could voice his protest, Tania hopped in the middle of her parents. She snaked her left arm in her mother’s and the right one in her father’s and dragged them both with her for a walk.

Eltanin followed them behind with a wide smile on his face. He loved the way she was feeling buoyant. It warmed his heart. Right in front of him was a perfect family and he wished that Kinshra agreed to come back to Pegasii.

Tania started speaking all about her shopping with Kinshra. “You must come and see what all I have bought!” she said excitedly. “I went to all the shops that you recommended and ended up picking up everything I liked because I don’t know when I will be back in Kral.”

When Tania said that, Kinshra felt really bad. “Why don’t you stay here a little longer?” she said to Tania.

Tania’s lips curved down. “I wish I could, but there’s so much back in Draka to do…”

“Never mind!” Kinshra added quickly. She didn’t want her daughter to feel bad about it. She wondered if she could accompany Tania only for a week. Would her father allow her?

They walked for a short while. Biham earlier thought that Tania was interrupting, but he was growing to like that his family was walking with him. With Sirrah and Morava, he never ever walked like this and it was not because she didn’t want it, but because he didn’t want to. Thinking that, he tightened his arm around Tania. His chest squeezed with warmth and he hoped that the time would freeze for all of them. What if he stayed back a little longer to be with Kinshra? Surely, her father wouldn’t mind. _{For more chapters, please visit “There was something I wanted to ask you, Tania,” said Biham as they rounded a corner to walk beneath a canopy of trees.}

“Sure, what is it?” she asked in a cheerful tone. Tania loved the feeling of having real parents around her. She wondered if she could freeze this memory in her mind. So this was how one felt with parents. Protected and so… loved and cherished.

“Can you describe how Menkar smelled?”

His question threw her off a little. “Why?” she asked curiously.

Eltanin too was confused by Biham’s sudden unrelated question. “Why are you asking about that old bastard?”

“I will tell you, but for now answer my question,” Biham pushed her.

Tania scrunched her nose. “You know I used to find it odd whenever I was with him. He smelled different on different occasions.”

“What do you mean?” Biham asked, getting even more curious about it.

“Most of the time, he smelled woodsy and had this strong cinnamon kind of scent, but–” she bit her l*p as if thinking hard about it. “Sometimes he smelled of brine and seaweed. It was very odd because I would laugh on the inside if he had visited the sea.” She giggled. “When I went to the Jade Sea, I picked up similar scents. So yes, now that I think of it, it is really strange!”

Biham stopped walking as he stared from Tania to Kinshra and then to Eltanin. Eltanin was also looking at him with wide eyes.

“What is going on?” Eltanin asked, feeling an odd sensation going through his body.

Biham’s head reeled as thousands of possibilities swirled in his mind. Kinshra had said that Murel scented like seaweeds and brine. And now Tania was saying that Menkar scented like seaweeds on different occasions. Was Menkar a merman? He shook his head as b***d gushed to his mind. The puzzle got only more complicated.

“Biham!” Kinshra rasped. She held him and flicked her wrist. The snow on the nearest bench evaporated with a sizzle. She helped him sit on it. Biham was surprised that the bench was warm when it should have been cold. He looked at Kinshra and said, “I think we have to visit the High Priest of Cetus Monastery.” He looked at Eltanin.