Lycan's Affection
The Dreadful Hour

"Conaan!" Alpha Alexander yelled, his eyes wide with anger. He immediately grabbed Eleanor's hand, then Matthew's and stood up. "I should have known everything about your hospitality was false. We are leaving now."

He hadn't even moved an inch when a single arrow swished through the air, hitting the wall behind Alpha Alexander, and missing his hair by less than half an inch.

Eleanor gasped as Alpha Alexander stayed rooted on the spot.

"Sit." Conaan said, raising his eyes to them. "I hate people standing above me."

Slowly, knowing there was no way out, the three sat back, Eleanor's eyes wide. She had always thought he was too good to be true, and he was proving it.

Conaan broke into a smile as they sat. "My hospitality does not include peace, Alpha. I am hospitable to everyone, including the packs I intend to conquer."

"What do you want?"

Conaan shrugged. "Just choose. That's all I want. Choose one and leave the other."

"I can't leave any of them behind. All of them are very important to me and..."

Conaan gave a small scoff, then pointed to Eleanor. "She is the delta, right? But is she your mate? I don't think so."

"I love her with my life."

"Then I guess I should just take the brother, then. He, after all is such a weakling and has caused more trouble than good. Am I right again?"

Alpha Alexander bit down on his lips as he turned to Matthew.

It was true. Matthew was a very weak child, but he was still his brother nonetheless. His weakness may have caused trouble, but it also made Alpha Alexander so fiercely protective of him, and had, over the years, endeared him to Alpha Alexander.

"I can not leave my brother behind."

Conaan shrugged. "How about you check outside to see how dire your situation is?"

Alpha Alexander turned to Matthew, who slowly stood up, his body quaking in fear. He walked to the large door and opened it, then let out a gasp and immediately closed it back.

"Soldiers.. They are everywhere."

"How can you do this to us when we simply came to seek peace?" Eleanor said, her voice rising, causing her pitch to go higher.

Conaan's brows furrowed as he turned to her. "I am sorry, Eleanor, but this is my territory. I am not sorry about your distress either."

Alpha Alexander sighed. "Please let us go. I am willing to do anything."

"Then leave one of them behind. It is that simple."

Silence fell on them as Matthew came back to his brother. After a while, Conaan slowly straightened.

"Maybe I should give you time to deliberate. But I do not have all day, as much as I wish to spend it with you. You have an hour."

Eleanor gasped, and Matthew struggled to keep his tears at bay.

"Please, Conaan." Alpha Alexander said again, and Conaan stopped n his tracks, his breaths slow.

"I noticed you dropped the honorifics, Alexander, so I will do the same. In an hour, if you still haven't made your choice, I will assume all three of you are willing to sacrifice for your pack. Besides, Alexander. You didn't come here just because you wanted peace, did you? You wanted the recognition that came with being protected by the lycans. Then give something up."

With that, he turned away, feeling exhausted with everything he had to say.

Alpha Alexander let go of Eleanor's hands, his hands coming up to cover his parted lips.

"What will we do now, brother? You can't leave any of us. You and Eleanor's marriage is only a month away."

Eleanor swallowed, then turned to Alpha Alexander. "What now, Xander? What will we do?"

"I can't leave any of you behind. I just can't."

Eleanor sighed, her eyes filling with tears. Matthew was literally trembling, and all three sat in silence, deep in thought.

"Your highness,."

"What is it?" Conaan said, turning slightly towards the door.

"It has already been an hour. I have notified them already."

Conaan gave a small smile and nodded. "I will be there shortly."

Eleanor held on to Alpha Alexander's hand in a death grip. She could almost see him choosing Matthew, her heart beating wildly with lack of certainty. She wasn't sure she would be fine with even being chosen, that is if he chose her.

"Xander," she said, and he turned to her.

He cupped her face in his hands, and the tears flowed freely. He brought his thumbs to her face to slowly wipe it off.

"I am sorry to walk in on such a private moment. Have you made your decision?"

They immediately went silent, the room filling with the nervous pounding of their hearts.

Conaan watched the three of them, humor dancing around his eyes. He didn't need to ask, he already knew what the weak alpha of the werewolves, Alexander gave up.

"Conaan, can we give up something else? These two..."

"Should I wait for you to give me the thing that is most useless to you, Alpha? If you really want peace between the lycans and the werewolves...I trust you will be able to give up one of them. Besides, I could kill all, including you."

Alexander bit down on his lip. They were at his mercy, and him choosing just one of them was a way to extend mercy and establish just how powerful the lycans have become. Eleanor tightened her grip on his hand. He looked down at her, her sea blue eyes that contrasted with her fiery red hair , the plump red lips that offered a taste he had never found anywhere else.

He swallowed hard as Matthew whimpered. His very own brother and beta. He couldn't leave him.

"What are you going to do if I leave Matthew behind?"

"Brother!"

Conaan smiled and gave a small shrug. "I will kill him."

Alpha Xander's eyes widened, his breath faltering. "And if I leave Eleanor behind?" It was something he didn't want to think of, but it felt even more realistic. His brother was not...someone he could leave behind. With Eleanor, he believed he could make excuses

Conaan's eyes drifted to her. She is still like he remembered, just helpless in front of him now. He gave a click of his tongue. "I will kill her."

Eleanor swallowed as Xander's eyes darkened a little. He had made his choice, and she knew he wasn't choosing her. Conaan too knew it, and his smile widened, sending ripples of evil to his dark green orbs.