The Alpha's Temptation

As soon as Okab stepped out, the crowd cheered for him loudly. He raised his hands up to acknowledge them with a grin on his face. He took his sword out and raised it up and the audience went mad.

When Rigel walked outside to join him, the crowd cheered all along but there were few who jeered at him. They started passing demeaning remarks. Rigel knew that they were all strategically planted by Meissa and Okab. He ignored all of them and focused his energy on Okab. He came to stand next to him, a few feet apart and faced the podium where the king was sitting on a red cushioned high chair flanked by Meissa on the left and a vacant chair on the right. His mother chose not to come.

Meissa was leaning forward as excitement surged in her eyes to see Okab. When her gaze locked with Rigel’s, her orbs turned into cold ice.

The king stood up and let out a growl. The growl was so loud and dangerous that every man and woman present in the stadium became absolutely quiet.

The king started speaking, “Today we have assembled to witness a monumental fight. Princess Miessa has challenged Prince Rigel for the position of Crown Princess. Since she couldn’t fight with him, she has appointed her fiancé, Prince Okab, of Aquila Kingdom to fight against him.” He looked at both the men standing in the center of the stadium. A flicker of sadness passed through his eyes when his gaze landed on Rigel. He took a deep breath in and in a heavy voice said, “May the best win.” As soon as he sat down, the crowd roared all over again.

Rigel rotated his shoulder as the pain shot through his arm once again. He closed his eyes and prayed to the Moon Goddess. After that he started walking towards the center of the stadium where Okab was already going with a grin plastered on his face.

The General of the Orion Kingdom, Deneb, was present. He watched Okab coming in his direction with tight fists and pure hatred radiating off him. But who was he to speak anything in the middle of the royal games. However, he didn’t bow to him. When Rigel walked and stood in front of Okab, Deneb bowed to him in submission to his Alpha. “May the best win,” he murmured, looking at Rigel much to Okab’s irritation.

“Swords!” he shouted.

Both Okab and Rigel pulled out their swords. Deneb lifted his hand and waved it down. “Begin!” He cleared the place by striding back to the stadium where he would sit behind the king.

Rigel and Okab circled with their swords pointing towards each other. Okab knew that Rigel’s right arm must be weak after he had plunged the dagger in him and so he attacked first. He lunged at Rigel and as Rigel stopped him, a sharp pain shot across his body. A gasp left his lips as sweat broke out. “Don’t worry,” Okab hissed. “Your pain will hardly last a few minutes. I am going to kill you and claim the throne soon!”

Fury blasted in his chest. “I know that you have instigated my sister!” Rigel seethed. “These are your ambitions that you have fed to her.” Their faces were merely a few inches closer and their swords were crossed. Each of them was exerting tremendous force. “Meissa was never the type who would go for the throne. She always wanted to marry and have children and settle down.”

Okab pushed him back. He jumped in the air and spun. When he landed, he let out a growl and lunged at Rigel. Rigel stopped him with his sword. “What’s the fun in that?” he hissed.

Taking advantage of his distraction, Rigel kicked him in the knees and he stumbled back. “The fun begins now!” he growled and charged Okab, but Okab dodged him.

Every time the swords clanked the crowd would cheer. It was as if they were watching an entertainment show.

They continued to fight for an hour. At every opportunity, Okab would slash his flesh. Rigel would do the same. Both of them were bleeding but none of them wanted to stop. Okab was beginning to get irritated. He needed to plunge his sword in Rigel’s shoulder that was now bleeding badly. If he did that, he was sure that in a few minutes he would be able to overtake him.

Okab pushed him away and started circling again. He was looking for his weak point. Suddenly, he attacked Rigel and Rigel responded. But Okab cleverly dodged him. He spun and came behind Rigel. This was his opportunity. He lifted his sword to plunge it in Rigel’s shoulder when an arrow came flying in the air and struck him in the back. He spun wildly to look from where the arrow came.

And he saw a chariot driven by a warrior whose face was covered in helmet and was pulled by two black stallions, nearing the center where they were standing. It was driven by a woman with dark hair and dark eyes, wearing the armor of a soldier. On the chariot, the flag of the Draka Kingdom fluttered. The woman’s bow was taut strung, holding another arrow, her gaze locked on him.

The crowd audibly gasped when the chariot came near them and started circling them. Mintaka and Meissa were too shocked. They got up and held the ledge of the rail of the podium. “Who are you?” Mintaka roared from his place as everyone became quiet.

Rigel let out a gleeful laugh as a bewildered Okab stared at the occupants of the chariot, especially the woman. “You are late.”

The charioteer pulled his helmet out revealing his face.

“Eltanin!” Okab rasped. But his gaze darted to the woman behind him. When she took her helmet out, a beautiful face was revealed. Her back hair fluttered in the wind around her face. She looked… feral.

She looked at Mintaka and said aloud, “I am Princess Lerna of the Draka Kingdom, sister of King Eltanin.”