^^Luna when Michael cooes at him lol xD^^

"Be like the wolf. The lion and tiger may be more powerful however the wolf does not perform in the circus."

Chapter 59

Alastair's POV

I sat still by the bed, allowing the wolf to rub itself across my lap. Its muzzle brushed against my stomach as a low purr vibrated past its thick-furred neck. It had been nearly an hour and I feared a maid would come in and see it. I contemplated leaving the room for a mere moment just to declare for none to come to our room but I was unnerved by the idea of such a beast being left unattended in a closed space.
Perhaps he would rip it apart in my absence.

Though beside that, I wondered if such a declaration would be a cause for suspicion. It wasn't unusual for me to ask for no maids when River and I were having our private time. Yet this was going to last longer than a mere day or night. I hoped for this to be a brief problem but I knew better than to be overly optimistic.

For a moment my mind flashed to my dungeon down below, away from prying eyes. However, it was a brief thought. Though I feared the beast, I feared the thought of my gentle River waking up in a blood-painted cell far more.

He was quite a soft soul, my sweet River. I wondered if that's why this was happening. If perhaps my mate was too weak to reign in his wolf. Perhaps the medication given to him wasn't enough to contain a ferocious beast in such a fragile flower.

It worried me. Since finding out River's secret, I had thought about speaking to Michael about it. Though I held back, nothing had happened as of yet and I wasn't willing to risk another knowing unless there was a definite reason for it. Yet now, it seemed like a definite reason had risen. It was more than just a pair of ears and claws at this point. The wolf had completely taken over and I wasn't about to sit back and watch the beast take complete control over my mate.

It had been strangely docile as of the past hour but I couldn't be sure how long that would last. I reasoned that its state was merely because I was River's mate and it knew I was no threat.

Could I say the same for another?

I couldn't. It was unclear how he would react to someone else. If a maid were to enter the room right now, there was no telling whether the beast the initiative to claw her face open. I couldn't risk it.

If it attacked another, River could understandably be executed. The thought of my beautiful mate being dragged to the gallows sickened me. I wouldn't allow it. No, I was going to put the beast down before the possibility could even arise.

Michael would find something. Surely he could make a formula of a sort that would bring River back and subdue this creature back to its previous nonexistence.

Suddenly, the wolf's ears pulled up. It's head whipped to the door. My brows pinched before a light knock chimed behind the door.

"Your Majesty, breakfast," a feminine voice called behind the door.

The creature's mouth pulled back, revealing a row of sharp teeth as it crouched, growling low in its throat. I cleared my throat loudly, attempting to drown out the wolf's lowered rumbling as I kept my voice even.

"Leave the breakfast by the door. There should be no servants by our private quarters for the rest of the day. Tell the rest of the maids," I repeated the same words I did every time I requested private time with River, hoping she'd come to the right conclusion on her own. "Also call for Master Michael," I added.

The last part seemed to throw her off by the quizzical tone to her voice before she left to fetch the blond physician.

My head pivoted to the creature as the maid's steps grew near-silent. Its icy eyes met mine and the intensity behind them unnerved me. I immediately turned away and lifted myself off the floor. I desperately needed to shower but feared to leave the beast alone.

I let out an exasperated breath as I stood, cross-armed by the bathroom door. Though as I thought about it, It was too early to bath now anyways. I doubted the maids had heated the water yet. Lest I bathe in ice.

I shivered at the thought.

A hard knock pulled me from my thoughts as I jumped from the wall and hurried to the door. I turned the knob slowly and nearly got whacked in the face as Michael slammed the door open.

"What's the emergency, king man?" He announced.

I quickly peered out the door, thankful that no one was in the hall before slamming the door shut.

A loud gasp fell from Michael's lips as he locked eyes with a growling golden wolf. Its teeth practically vibrated from the sheer volume of its snarling as it took a defensive stand beside the large canopy bed.

"What the bloody hell?!" Michael yelled before rushing back to the door, "Call the guards-"

I blocked the door as his hands wrapped around the knob.

"Let me out, moron!" Michael fidgeted with the knob but I shook my head and held stance.

"It's not what you think, Michael," I rushed out, "that's River."

He froze, head turning slowly to me with widened eyes. I nodded. He slowly released the knob, though remained in place as he eyed the beast once more.

"You're telling me, that-that thing is River?"

"Yes."

His hand rubbed his forehead as he let out an exasperated breath, "what the fùck," he breathed, "is he a rebel?"

"No," I quickly snapped to which he raised a brow, "No, he's not."

"Then what?" He rose his hands, "he just woke up this morning and miraculously turned wolfman?" His face lifted slightly as he told what he thought was a joke.

I nodded.

His face fell.

"You're serious?"

I nodded again.

Michael looked from the baring-teeth wolf to me with an exasperated sigh.

"I can get killed for merely being here, for not reporting on him immediately. You know that." Michael played with the back of his neck as he sighed again.

"Will you?" My voice came out calmly though on the inside I was swimming with sudden uncertainty.

"Report him?" Michael cleared his throat, fingers pressed against his chin as his eyes roamed the furry beast that had now become silent as if waiting for Michael's response as well.

He didn't wait for any indication, he merely continued speaking.

"No. I won't." His words came out chipped. He took a few steps forward, eyes still on the wolf. "River?" His voice came out uncertain.

"It's not him," I clarified as I turned to face the beast as well.

"No?" Michael rose a brow as he slowly bent down and raised his hand forward,  toward the wolf.

My eyes widened, shocked.

What is he doing?

The beast raised its muzzle slightly, nose perked in the air as it tilted its head. Its eyes roamed Michael's hand from afar, paws unmoving from beside the bed. Slowly, its icy eyes rose to inspect Michael's entire form. Michael's previous unnerved demeanor seemed to disappear as it was immediately replaced with mild curiosity. His eyes were blown, watching the wolf's movements like one does a circus animal, bewildered.

Gradually, the golden wolf took a few small steps forward, each movement timed and cautious. I remained still, careful not to make a sound and frighten the creature back to my bedside.

The room stood still, air whooshing in from the open window being the only sound in the room as we both watched in awe as the careful creature stood merely a centimeter from Michael's hand. Its nose turned down, a slight breath fell from its muzzle as it took a quick sniff of Michael's palm.

How?

I couldn't understand what was happening. How had Michael done that? How had he gotten the wolf to come to him so easily? Sure, the creature had easily taken a seat by my side mere minutes ago but that made sense. I was River's mate and it recognized that. However, Michael wasn't. He was a mere stranger in the beast's eyes. Yet he managed to pull the wolf to him so easily, with a mere outstretch of a hand.

Michael looked just as bewildered as me as he crouched down on his knees before the wolf. His movements must have frightened the wolf as its ears perked up, paws skidding back so that there was now a good few feet between them.

"I didn't mean to scare you, Wolfy," Michael's voice came out playfully, "I just wanted to see you better. That's all."

The creature made no indication to moving forward again, it merely watched Michael.

"Oh well," Michael rose up from his knees. Nails skidded against hard stone as the wolf took a couple more steps back.

And just like that, Michael's eyes were on me again.

"So why did you call me here? To add more excitement to my already havoc-filled day?"

"Havoc-filled day?" I rose a brow.

Michael, always the dramatic one.

I let out a sigh.

Michael ignored the sigh and instead raised his arms, "You try being the only physician in the palace. One guy nearly killed himself cleaning the palace windows this morning, fell off the ladder and broke both his wrists and legs in the fall. Then, get this" he started waving his arms to which pulled a growl from the creature but Michael didn't seem to realize in his state of usual dramatics, "a girl came crying to my office this morning demanding for a potion to force some man to fall in love with her," he let out a breath, "Like, darling, I'm a physician not a miracle worker."

That pulled a laugh from me.

"Now, what were you saying?" asked Michael.

Was I saying something?

I always did get lost in Michael's waves of dramatics.

"Why you called me here," Michael waved his hand in a circle.

"Right," my eyes peered back at the wolf. It seemed to be quite occupied just watching our conversation, "I was hoping you might be able to fix this." I indicated to the creature.

Michael let out a breath, "Alastair, I was only trained in how to contain someone's beasty side. I've never dealt with a case where someone was already..." his eyes peered across the room to the wolf that had now perked its ears up, head lifting from the carpet beside the bed where it had laid across, "it."

"Is there anything I can try?" I pressed.

Michael scratched at his neck as his eyes wandered, thinking.

"Did you try giving it your medication?"

Mine? The powder?

"No," I shook my head, "would it do anything?"

"I have no clue but it doesn't hurt to try. Do you have any left from this week?" Michael turned to peer around my room.

I scoffed.

As if I'd keep it sitting out where River could see it. He hated the idea of me taking it. Out of sight, out of mind.

Michael rose a brow, crossing his arms.

I realized I hadn't answered him. I cleared my throat, "I should have two days left. I'll go get it."

As I approached my bed, I realized that the wolf had taken a seat right in front of the night table where I kept the powder square. I took to trying to round the creature but its low threatening growl stopped me in place.

After seemingly wresting air for a few minutes to attempt to get around the wolf without being dismembered, Michael let out an exasperated breath.

"Forget it," he sighed, "I'll go make you out a new one. Wolfy seems quite content in annoying you," he laughed. "Funny one, huh Wolfy?" Michael cooed.

The creature's head tilted to the side.

I pressed a palm to my forehead with a sigh.

"For such a dangerous creature he's still such a cutie," Michael continued to coo. The creature's ears splayed the side. He wasn't enjoying how high-pitched Michael's voice was getting and neither was I.

There was nothing cute about this creature. His patterns were quite beautiful but that was only because they matched River's hair. River was beautiful, adorable. Not this thing.

Its head turned to me as Michael's cooing raised an octave. Its ears splayed to the side, icy blues locking with mine as it let out a low whine. My heart skipped.

Definitely not cute.

"Cry Me a River" just hit 150k reads!! Craziness! O.O Thank you guys so so SO much for sticking around throughout this long journey and for all the love and support that you've all shown throughout this book. It means so incredibly much to me. I love you guys so so so much!! *blows kisses* <3