Tangled Hearts - The Alpha's Baby Mama
Chapter 94: I do not speak to representatives...

Chapter 94: I do not speak to representatives...

Present Time.

Apex Hotel – Moon Whisper Territory. Room 4B

Selene POV

I came alive slowly to loud noise and the overpowering stench of sweat and cheap alcohol. My wolf, Bea stirred within me to show she was fine even though she was weak. Sighing, I tried to remember where I was.

Yeah, I was standing in front of Room 4B talking to a man who had followed me from the elevator to that floor and had been tying his shoelace right in front of the door. I was going to meet with the emissaries from the West as Kurtis has requested and try to figure out which one of them was King Tanner – Princess Jade’s father.

I was going to play the role of a distraught wife who was here to plead with him to take back his daughter and not let her marry Noah. Somehow, I had ended up being captured and here I was. My eyes were covered by a blindfold and I could feel the smoothness of the duct tape on my lips stretching the skin around it so much that I knew for sure that I would be getting a blister after this ordeal.

My wrist was tied tightly behind my back. I didn’t know where I was, I couldn’t tell if the bag that contained all the things Kurtis had given me was safe. Have they discovered that I was sent as I spy? I strained my ears again, trying to understand the conversation that was going on. Still, they were talking about going out later tomorrow to get women and someone was talking about how the receptionist at the hotel had stared at him flirtingly. So, he was contemplating if he should go and talk to her.

Suddenly, the room fell silent and for a moment, panic coursed through my body and I readied myself for the worst but what followed was a peal of laughter and then jabbering. It seemed the men were gambling. From everything I gathered so far with my senses – it seemed I was in an enclosed room with about seven to ten men but the problem was I didn’t know if I was with the right people or not.

Without a doubt, the King wasn’t there because if he was, they would not be making this racket of noise as they were. I willed myself to remain calm and focused as I concentrated on the scents floating in the room. I picked up stale beer, roasting meat, body odour, cards and gunpowder.

My body stiffened at the last scent but I brushed it aside. What was important now was getting them to notice that I was awake. Taking a deep breath, I tried to make any noise that I could with the duct tape on my mouth, trashing around. After what felt like an eternity, rough hands suddenly gripped my face and yanked off the blindfold.

I blinked against the harsh lights in the room... as my eyes slowly adjusted to it. Looking around, I took stock of my surroundings. Just like I had predicted, the room was filled with half a dozen men staring at me with smirks on their lips. From the expensive military clothes, they had on, I knew they were soldiers.

Their eyes ran the length of my body leeringly and some of them went as far as making crude gestures to me and catcalls in my direction. Slowly, I could feel the fear I had turn into anger as I stared at all of them with hatred. Mustering all the authority I could in that state, I made muffled sounds of displeasure against the gag. The men exchanged sinister grins before one of them sauntered to me.

"What was that?" he asked laughing "You were such an easy prey that it didn’t take us more than five seconds to put you to sleep. If the King wants to send someone to us, why didn’t he send such a weakling? We feel insulted.

My eyes widened in disdain as I made more muffled noise but it only got worse. The man that had walked up to me, grabbed my face in his hand, tilting it to himself.

"Easy there, girl, we got plans to keep you nice and occupied," he said. The rest of the men cackled with laughter as they threw themselves on each other. Just as quickly as the laughter started, it ended abruptly. The men lowered their gazes and their heads respectfully and I felt the aura in the room change.

Still trying to understand what was going on, a voice boomed from behind me.

"What’s going on here?"

Immediately, all the men scrambled to the ground, their gazes downwards. One of the men that seemed like their leader was already trembling.

"Y-Your majesty... we discovered that she was sent from the pack house and...".

"What did you say?" The voice yelled in incredulity and almost immediately rushed to me. Our gazes met and I froze... in front of me was a middle-aged man with grey hair and piercing amber eyes. Recognition shot into his eyes immediately and he turned to the men.

"Who did this?" he barked, his face turning red with anger "How dare you capture her? Do you have any idea who is that you have with a rope around her hands and her mouth covered? Untie her this instant!"

His voice boomed vibrating through the room. The men scampered to me and in a flash, the rope tying my hands was cut off and the duct tape on my lips was removed. I rubbed at my wrist as I stared at the chaos in the room, slightly grateful that the grey-haired man recognized me.

He stretched his hand to me but I ignored it and rose to my feet without his help.

"Your majesty, I’m so sorry about everything," the man said with pain in his voice. "I stepped out some seconds ago for some fresh air and I didn’t expect they would do this to you. I sincerely apologize".

"You don’t expect they would do this to me?" I scoffed "Who gave them orders then? Or you want to tell me that they catch random people and get their hands and feet tied up?" I paused as I remembered that man that had followed me from the elevator to this floor. But as my eyes ran through the men, I couldn’t find him.

Although, I didn’t see his face properly, I could still remember his profile and he wasn’t there.

"There must have been a mixup somewhere, Luna," The man said contritely "I would get to the root of this issue and make sure they’re punished. If I had been informed of your arrival, I could have made adequate preparation to receive you. Please accept my sincerest apologies again,".

The men were all trembling and for a moment, I wanted to know why they were afraid but I decided to mind my business. It was undignified for me to keep mentioning the entire misunderstanding so I brushed past the man and started for the door. I hadn’t gotten to the door when I felt urgent footsteps behind me.

"Please don’t leave like this," he pleaded "Can you at least share a cup of tea so I can be reassured that you’re not angry at us,".

"I don’t have time for this," I said coldly "Your reception to a guest is the worse ever, besides, I came e to meet King Tanner but as he isn’t here, I’d rather be on my way,".

"You came to meet King Tanner?" the man’s brows arched with surprise "Why? Or did your husband send you?"

"As if," I hissed straightening my dress "My husband is not aware that I came here. As I mentioned earlier, there’s an urgent matter that I need to discuss with the King but since he isn’t available, I may have to try again later. Goodnight mister," I turned to leave but he drew me back.

"I’m sorry," he said raising his hands in surrender when I glared at him for touching me "It’s just that King Tanner is not available right now. But I am his representative,". Then with the precision of royalty and respect, he came towards me and bowed.

"My name is Conrad and I am the King’s brother. Unfortunately, King Tanner was not disposed to come on this journey but I was sent in his place and you can trust me to deliver whatsoever message you have to seek his audience,".

My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at him hoping he wasn’t seeing my fear or confusion. Kurtis had sent me to Tanner and not his brother Conrad. I had not the slightest things to do. I didn’t know if I could continue with the smiley man in front of me. Even though he was smiling, there was something unsettling about him.

"W-Well," I shrugged "It’s of no consequence, it’ll be until next time. I wish to see the king and not you. Thank you for your time and patience," I said and made to pass but he blocked my path.

"Don’t walk out on me, Luna," he had a smile on his lips but his eyes were cold "What is it that you wanted to tell my brother. Tell me and I will relate it to him," he said quietly.

I was getting uncomfortable with his closeness and the chill in his eyes. I hated that I was trapped at the moment and what was so painful was the way he knew that his presence made me nervous.

"And I said it is meant only for the ears of the King. It’s not everything that a representative should be told,".

Before the words left my mouth, he grabbed my neck and pinned me to the door frame, his eyes narrowed with annoyance.

"How dare you talk to me in that regard?" He growled "Didn’t I just tell you that I am representing the King?"

He was choking me, blocking my airway. I thrashed in his grasp, my eyes watering with tears, with the ounce of strength I had, I managed "Release me at once, you uncultured lout! When Noah finds out about this, there will be hell to pay,"

"Noah?" the man’s expression changed to amusement as he held me even tighter and grinned wickedly "Noah cannot do anything. Even right now, if I ask him to make a choice between saving you or our friendship, I know he’ll choose me. Now, let’s hear what you wanted to tell Tanner,".

With a look of icy disdain, I spat out...." I don’t speak to representatives... I want to speak to the King immediately. If you cannot get to him then stay the fuck away from me!"