Diamond ring.

Alpha Hades

"Did you have a look around here yet?" My Beta, Damon, asks as he makes his way into the cabin we share for the time being. 

I open one eye and cover my face, groaning in pain. We arrived a week ago to participate in the first round of negotiations with the old Alpha, and I haven't left the cabin since. 

My ribs ache, and I still have to change the bandages over one of my shoulders. Fortunately, the old Alpha didn't notice how badly injured I am. The old fart wouldn't hesitate to send out his assassins and finish the job Duke couldn't. 

Damon jumps into my bed, and I instantly hiss. "Holy shit, you couldn't be less gentle, could you? As for your question, I'm pretty sure it's clear I haven't left the cabin." I try to get up but fail. 

I can see concern cross my best friend's face, but he knows better than to bring it up. 

When it comes to me, I prefer to keep my pain and worries to myself- others shouldn't see me in moments of weakness. He's the only person who has ever seen me break, and I'll do anything to keep it that way. 

Who would follow a leader who's barely holding everything together? My people rely on me, and I have a reputation to live up to. 

"Nerves?" Damon chuckles. He's not the best actor. Even when Damon tries to hide his worries behind a mask of amusement- everyone can see it. 

I could question him, but I'd rather leave this conversation aside and try to get out of bed again. 

This time, my attempts pay off, and I finally sit up. 

After a moment of silence, I remember Damon asked me something, so I throw him a questioning look. 

He chuckles again, "The wedding."

Groaning, I throw my legs over the edge of the bed and stand up. I still have a few hours before the ceremony starts, so I can't exhaust myself, but I should work on walking around like nothing's bothering me. If any of those bastards notice something wrong with me, I'm as good as dead. 

I try to stretch my muscles, but the pain in my shoulder reminds me of itself as another agonised hiss leaves my lips. Damon's instantly at my side, supporting my weight. 

He takes one look at my shirt and instantly looks away. That's another thing I love about my Beta- he avoids reminding me of injuries or scars. If there's blood oozing from my wounds, he'll remind me to change the bandages, not fuck my mind about the severity of the issue, especially when we're out on a mission. 

"We need to change those bandages before you bleed all over the place." He helps me move towards the cabin's tiny bathroom. I swear to God, old Alpha didn't consider my size when he assigned the small living spaces to my men and me. As soon as I get comfortable, sitting on the edge of the bathtub, Damon grabs the first aid kit and helps me take off my shirt. Ever so slowly, he removes the bandages and focuses on cleaning the wound. "I got a black suit for the wedding, so they won't notice anything before the official part ends, even if you bleed through those. Once you exchange vows and rings, it's done. Don't stress out, brother; you got this in your pocket." 

I understand that Damon is doing his best to assure me this is a good idea, but all I can do is snicker at his words.

My eyes fall on the small, black box I left on the sink. Why did I take it with me? Why did I consider I might need it in the first place? Dropping the thoughts, I shake my head and chuckle, "I couldn't give two shits about the wedding; it's a business transaction, nothing more, nothing less."

Damon hums and tosses the blood-soaked bandages into the trash can under the sink. His gaze lingers on the box for a mere second, but that's enough for me to see that he caught me. "I see. Yet, you agreed anyway, even though this territory isn't a part of our plan." He points out the obvious. 

The safest option is to stick with the excuse I've been using to reassure myself for the past week. "It's not that, but since I was invited to come here and decide how they can escape the dangers of war, I did some research. We overlooked how perfect this place is for us to work on our next move- there's a tiny, barely noticeable part of the border that crosses the border of that asshole Dash. If we invade from here, they won't see us coming." I look up at Damon, just to make sure he's listening. Once he nods, I keep going, "Besides, the wedding is supposed to be a secret affair, and unless they want their whole pack slaughtered like pigs, they'll keep their mouths shut." 

A wide, bright smile spreads across my lips as the mere view comes to mind. Many call me a psychotic murderer, and perhaps I am, for there is nothing I enjoy more than the taste of war. 

I nearly lose myself in thoughts before Damon's voice brings me back to reality. "On the bright note, I heard your future husband is a sight for sore eyes. I didn't think of you as one of my team, though." 

Damn it, out of all the topics he might poke, he had to pry on this one. Who cares how good looking the young Alpha of Silver Moons is? Not me, definitely not me. I couldn't care less if he'd look like that damn bell man Quasimodo or whatever he was. Yet, since Damon had to bring this up, no excuse of mine will make him stop talking, so I better get over this conversation before we have to start getting ready. 

"Your team?" I raise an eyebrow. 

"Yeah, gay. My team."

Another groan escapes my lips. I hate it when people try to place everyone under something they've accepted for themselves instead of letting others live the way they want. "Since when do I need a label? I've never thought of myself as anything but, you know, me. Straight, gay, bisexual or whatever- it doesn't matter. I am me, and if I fancy someone, I just do." Shrugging turns out to be a bad idea because as soon as I do, one of the stitches rips open and more blood flows down my chest. 

"So, you are into the young Alpha, huh?"

"What do you mean? I've never met or seen the guy." Lies. Goddamn lies- I've seen him more than a few times, and he looks too good to be true even from a distance. 

"And what's the diamond ring for?"