The Alpha King (Kingdom of Askara #1)(32)

Kit stopped near the field, heart in his mouth as he saw Luca pair off against Sam with a sword. Each blade was blunted, but could still do some serious damage in the wrong hands. Luca and Sam trusted each other though, he knew that. He sat on an overturned hay bale that doubled for seating and watched in awe.

Luca and Sam had stripped to their waists. Both wolves were hugely powerful, but all Kit’s attention was on Luca...the broad, tanned back, the powerful shoulders that dipped to a flat belly and a slim waist. His thick, brown hair had been tied back and his gray eyes flashed mischievously as he feinted and swiped Sam’s legs from under him. Sam landed with a groan and Luca laughed. Luca bent down, offering his arm, but quick as a flash Sam twisted his legs around Luca’s ankle and Luca landed on top of him.

All the gammas cheered and clapped. Sam and Luca were laughing and helped each other up. Some of the guards hid their smiles and Kit understood that they didn’t have the same confidence to be openly laughing at their King as the other wolves. Luca rolled off Sam and, still laughing, pulled Sam upright. He clapped him on the back and Kit glanced around.

Interesting. Asher had his eyes riveted on Sam. He knew Asher was one of the humans who would be competing, but the look on his face held Kit’s attention. Longing, mixed with a healthy dose of anger and frustration. Kit glanced in confusion at Luca and Sam. Luca slung his arm around Sam. They had been friends all their lives, and there was nothing sexual about the contact, but as Sam glanced over at them both he noticed Asher and his smile faltered. For a second, Asher’s eyes met Sam’s, and then Asher fisted his hands and looked away. Luca said something to Sam and he laughed again. When Kit looked back, Asher’s face was blank. Maybe there was another human lusting after a werewolf apart from him.

Kit looked back at Luca at the same time as Luca saw him. The smile was wide and gratifying and Kit was thrilled as Luca jogged over to him.

“How are you feeling?” Worry chased Luca’s words, and Kit tried really hard not to sigh. He was getting a little fed up of his delicate flower reputation.

“Wonderful,” Kit said, “but I could be better,” he added suggestively.

Luca laughed throatily and bent down for a kiss.

“Sire?”

Their lips didn’t even get a chance to meet as Luca jerked his head back up. It was Nial, the gamma that was responsible for the horses. Apparently, there were going to be some skills demonstrated using them and he needed to know if the humans were going to be allowed to ride. Luca was distracted immediately.

Kit swallowed his chagrin down. Luca was so involved by the time Sam joined them to give his opinion that Kit slipped away unnoticed. He couldn’t summon the enthusiasm to talk to Asher. Kit dismissed Asher as soon as they entered the pack house, and promised he wasn’t going anywhere except his room.

He huffed a little because his repeated offers of help had been turned down. There was a large banquet and visiting Alphas to organize. He was used to working in a kitchen after all, but not now apparently.

He entered the house and immediately heard the she-wolves laughing in the huge lounge area. It was the biggest room in the house, designed so that many of the pack members could come together. Kit knew it had been used as a war room previously, as Luca’s predecessor didn’t like socializing with any except his other Alphas and they didn’t need a large room for that. Kit slipped in silently and stood unnoticed.

There were six she-wolves, including Tara and Danni. One was an older she-wolf he had never seen before. Her voice was strident and demanding, her gray hair tied tightly in a knot on the top of her head. They were surrounded by at least four female servants and they were all oohing and ahhing over bolts of cloth. Two of the servants were pinning a dress to Tara. Kit watched admiringly. The blue and gold colors complimented Tara’s pale blond hair and she looked really pretty. Kit opened his mouth to say so when the older woman spoke.

“You will look so well in his Highness’ colors, Tara. You have made such a good choice.” Tara blushed at the praise and did a mock curtsey. Kit went cold all over. Luca and Kit hadn’t mentioned Tara since, but Luca had obviously spoken to Tara. He took a step backwards behind the door.

“You don’t think I’m being presumptuous?” Tara asked her the other she-wolf. “I am, after all, merely a breeder.”

“You are an omega,” she huffed, “and don’t you forget it. His Highness will take one look at you wearing his pack colors and forget all about his little toy.”

How Kit didn’t make a sound was beyond him. Pain lanced his insides so sharply he half expected to see the sword that Luca had wielded so expertly sticking out of his chest.

Danni made a small, distressed sound. “But Kit is a pure omega. His tattoo...”

The she-wolf smiled coldly. “Yes, I am aware. The boy has his uses, but he really needs to know his place, and that, I understand, is scrubbing floors.” She tittered along with the other she-wolves.

Kit put his fist up to his mouth to stop the sob that tried to work its way out of his chest. What was he doing, really? He did know his place. She was right. He had no talents, could barely read. He had no idea how to help Luca run a pack, never mind a whole kingdom. He had served his usefulness already and brought forward his King’s powers. He knew as omega he would now live as long as his Alpha. Could he really spend the next few hundred years or so watching Luca decide that Tara and the other wolves were right? She had looked every inch an Alpha queen in that dress. Luca had never even asked or offered to have Kit dressed in anything special. He didn’t have his own pack colors. He didn’t have anything.