Help! Five Beast Alphas Want To Breed Me!!(BL)-Chapter 248: Peace Treaty

Lioran;

The palace halls feel different. Quiet... but not in the way I like.

It’s too quiet. Too still... Too large.

With everyone gone, the weight of the castle has been bearing down on me in ways I never thought it could.

I never thought I’d say I miss my brothers and Father, but I do.

When will they be back??

You really do not know what you have till you lose it, but I can’t wallow in all that right now.

With everyone gone, BeastHeaven’s affairs lay directly on my shoulders. Like this meeting I’m about to attend... on my own!

I rub the back of my neck as I make my way toward the council wing, the soft padding of my footsteps swallowed by the carpet.

Zethar left a few days ago... saying weeks makes it feel longer than I wish to acknowledge.

He left to help Zephan in Nagari... take care of Elien... who’s now pregnant...

That’s a thought I intend to avoid for as long as I can.

Even though I told Zethar I’d be fine... A fox left alone in a lion’s den can still get bored.

But today isn’t boring... Thankfully. This meeting is going to spice things up.

A break from the boring routine I have crafted for myself over the past few days.

I sense Balinar the moment I step into the corridor outside the conference room... his pheromones are impossible to miss. As arrogant as its owner. Heavy. Wild, and attempting to swallow and press down on everything beneath it.

The guards open the doors for me to walk in, and as they bow, I keep my head up.

Balinar stands up to welcome me. He tries to water down his arrogance, but how does one hide such an obvious birthmark?

"Alpha Lioran," He calls with a soft bow, and for courtesy’s sake, I bow softly too.

"King Balinar." I greet, and he smiles.

A smile too sweet to be healthy.

"Forgive my intrusion. I have been hoping for an audience with King Wilhelm, but since he is still away, and the matter can’t wait... I’ve come to you." He speaks as I walk further into the room.

As the door shuts behind me, I listen to his voice. It’s pleading, strained, hoarse, and desperate. Too desperate.

I walk calmly to the table as he takes his seat. Sitting at the edge of his seat like a gambler waiting to hear his fortune.

I sit across from him, folding one leg over the other as I watch him.

"You wanted to discuss something," I say lightly, like I didn’t just hear all he rambled about, and he smiles gently.

A smile that looks so out of place on his face.

"Yes!" He replies quickly, too eagerly.

"My people... my kingdom... we are in trouble. Dire trouble. I am here to seek an alliance with BeastHeaven. To save my people’s lives, and to restore peace." He begins, and my head tilts, motioning for him to continue.

He drags out a thick stack of documents... too thick for a simple alliance proposal, and my brows crease.

"I have brought all the necessary paperwork," he begins, and I raise a brow at him.

"According to the laws of BeastHeaven, your signature as an Ashfang is enough to set the agreement in motion. King Wilhelm can validate it later." He continues, and I let out a small scoff in amusement.

For an outsider, this man is quite learned about BeastHeaven’s laws.

A dangerous amount of knowledge for any outsider to have.

He pushes the papers over to me, and I run my fingers along them, but don’t open them yet.

"So eager for peace?" I ask quietly, and he exhales sharply and leans forward, with his hands clasped.

A humble posture that yet again... doesn’t suit him.

"My people are suffering. Famine. Raids. Illness. We cannot survive alone." He speaks, and his voice cracks slightly. A crack that sounds... practised, almost even theatrical.

"BeastHeaven has always been strong. Merciful. Fair. We ask for help... just help." He adds righteously, and I stare at him, while he waits for me to react.

I don’t.

Instead, I look away from him and open the first page of this... peace proposal.

My eyes skim fast.

The twelfth paragraph: temporary transport access for ’relief caravans’

Hmm.

The seventh paragraph: permission to inspect BeastHeaven defences for ’mutual protection’.

Clever.

The fourth paragraph: Elkhorn military ’support’ units stationed near BeastHeaven borders ’for cooperation’.

Oh, wow...

I flip the page.

Balinar watches me hungrily, sweating even though the room is cool.

"How does it look?" he asks. "Reasonable, yes? All terms fair?" He asks, and I hum distractedly as I continue reading.

The twenty-third paragraph: Elkhorn ambassador gets access to BeastHeaven’s treasury for ’joint budgeting’.

Why not just steal the crown jewels while he’s at it?

The thirty-first paragraph: Elkhorn may temporarily oversee smaller BeastHeaven towns to ’ensure proper aid distribution’.

Translation: takeover. Interesting.

Paragraph thirty-eight: full immunity for any Elkhorn soldier ’accidentally’ breaking laws while on BeastHeaven soil.

Of course.

I flip slowly to the final pages.

Paragraph one on the last page: Elkhorn reserves the right to request BeastHeaven warriors for ’support missions’ for an undefined timeline.

An extraction of BeastHeaven’s manpower. Hmm.

Paragraph four on the last page: BeastHeaven agrees to supply food and resources without limitation until Elkhorn stabilises.

Limitless supply until whenever?? How bold.

Paragraph ten: Either kingdom may dissolve the alliance only with mutual agreement.

Meaning: once BeastHeaven signs, they’re trapped.

And then...

Final paragraph: Should the Elkhorn throne be endangered, BeastHeaven is obligated to provide military protection without negotiation.

Ah...

There it is.

The real treasure buried under his mountain of pity.

This isn’t an alliance.

It is a takeover painted with tears.

Balinar clears his throat when I pause, clearly thinking I am touched by his sob story.

He leans forward again.

"Lioran... my people are dying." He says with his tone a miserable attempt at softness...

Begging with sincerity.

If sincerity had a scent, and the scent was rotten.

"We need BeastHeaven. We need you." He says, and I turn another page, even though I’ve already seen enough.

But Balinar continues rambling.

"We have suffered too long. I wish for no war. I want a truce. Cooperation. A future where my people can live together with yours without fear. You understand, yes? You... You are young, but wise. Your Father would also want this. This would make him proud." He pushes, and I almost snort.

Compliments. Flattery...

Misplaced assumptions.

He thinks the absence of the King has weakened BeastHeaven.

He thinks Zethar’s departure means there’s no one sharp left in the capital.

He thinks I am a soft target.

He should think again.

I close the documents softly, and Balinar straightens, hopeful.

"So? What do you think?" He asks eagerly with excitement he can barely contain, and I place my hands on the table, interlocking my fingers.

He thinks he’s hidden all his nonsense well?

He really thought u wasnt going to see them? Understand them?? Catch on!??

I lift my gaze to him.

Slowly... Deliberately.

And I smile.

A small, calm, almost sweet smile.

A fox’s smile.

Balinar’s aura trembles. Just a little. As confusion flickers in his single dark eye.

"...What?" he stutters, but I don’t answer.

I only keep smiling.

Smiling to let him know that he has been seen.

Unmasked. Exposed.

By a fox who never loses a hunt.