Free The Alpha King by Vicktor Alexander Page A

change his mind. He wouldn't to do it anymore. Buck could growl, and sound upset, and feel rejected. He'd made the situation. He'd just have to deal with it. Percy wouldn't sit and wait for some crumb of affection from the other man, tired of waiting for Buck to pull his head out of his ass and finally claim him. He was done and Buck would just have to deal with it.
    Percy turned towards the bed, snubbing, dismissing, and ignoring his errant mate.
    "You know we don't consider you a servant, Percy," Blaze stated.
    Tal placed his hand on Blaze's elbow and slightly shook his head, stopping whatever tirade the Alpha had been about to get into. Percy could tell Tal advised Blaze to not get involved, but Percy could have saved Tal the effort. They had nothing, nothing to get involved in. Ignoring the re-breaking of his heart at the realization he would truly never be with his mate, Percy squared his shoulders and mentally put up walls around his fragile emotions to guard himself from any further run-ins with Buck. They were unavoidable. They both lived in the palace. The Beta Prince and the assistant to the Alpha, and the pack's…well, his secret role within the pack wouldn't be significant. No one suspected him of being such a precious member of the pack. Nobody had ever stopped to wonder why his presence would always be requested and why their feelings seemed to be controlled or tempered by it. They thought him an orphan, taken in by the royal family after the untimely deaths of his parents, and for the most part people pitied him. The pity and their own egos kept most of the pack from discovering his real value, which Blaze had discovered within five minutes of meeting him. Percy didn't care about the pack and their view of him, however. The only thing that mattered? His fated mate didn't think Percy worthy, and he would be destined to always be reminded of that fact.
    Every. Single. Day.
    "Thank you for the kind sentiment, Alpha King," Percy bowed, going overboard with the formalities, but using them to distance himself from the Roughshires.
    He would bide his time until he either met someone else or he could leave Tumaro. He couldn't stay, not now.
    "You know we consider you a member of our family, Percy, don't be ridiculous," Buck said in a tight voice, his hands clenched by his side.
    "And anyone that tells you different is a liar and I want you to bring them to me so I can deal with them," Blaze interjected.
    Percy struggled not to turn accusing eyes in Buck's direction. It would be so easy to tell Blaze how Buck had been the one to say those very words the night before. Given it as the reason why they couldn't mate. But Percy couldn't do that, because regardless of all of the hell and bullshit his mate put him through, he still loved him. He would do anything to protect Buck, even keep his pain buried as much as possible, as well as the secrets he held within himself. He'd planned on sharing the secrets he held with Buck when they mated, but that would never happen now it seemed.
    "You made it perfectly clear last night that I'm nothing more to you than just a lowly servant," Percy hissed underneath his breath so only Buck could hear him.
    Quickly composing himself, he turned to formally bow to Blaze and Tal. "I'll return shortly with a fresh breakfast tray for you," Percy bowed again before throwing an angry glare at Buck and rushing back through the door and out into the hallway.
     
    * * * *
     
    Blaze watched Buck when Percy rushed off. Blaze felt extremely sorry for his brother and Tal's own sadness filtered through their mate bond.
    He followed his brother's gaze when it swiftly turned towards Tal who couldn't contain his sniffles.
    "Baby, what's wrong?" Blaze asked, pulling Tal to his chest.
    Tal gulped and Blaze knew it was in an effort to soothe his wayward emotions. "How can you deny your mate like that?" He whispered in a broken voice, his eyes boring into Buck's.
    Hearing someone voice his suspicions out loud,