“Here you are, my King,” Miles said after lunch, shuffling up next to the king at the meal table with handful of papers. “There's only been six such surgeries performed on alphas. One was a case of the glands being damaged during an accident.”

“What kind?” the king asked, flipping through the papers. Each person had information relating to their hospital stays.

“Something involving a horse.” He leaned over the king's shoulder and pointed to a page. “I believe it was patient number three, my King.”

“Most of these people are older when they had their surgeries.”

“Yes, my King.” He lifted up onto his tiptoes to reach around the king's shoulder to the pages. He pointed to one of the pages farther back. “All except one of the last ones, my King. It was a little boy. The information does state that it was an alpha. It seems to be tied to some kind of impact he suffered – a cracked collarbone – or something of the sort.”

“And the doctors are still practicing successfully?”

“Why, yes, my King, I would assume so.”

“I see.” He flipped to the page about the little boy. “Do they need any kind of medication?”

“Only if for some reason all of the glands were removed.” Miles nodded. “Which was the case for one of the patients. She needs to take a special pill formulated for her. She's effectively a lab rat in case others suffer the same fate as hers.” He sighed, shaking his head. “Hers sounds truly tragic. A tumor or something had started to grow in that area of her body – her lymphnodes, I believe.”

“I see. Thank you, Miles.” The king nodded to him before taking a sip of his hot tea. “This will be most enlightening to read.” He took another sip before resting back in the chair. “Any kind of surgeries performed on beta citizens?”

“I... I am not certain, my King.” Miles shook his head with a perplexed look. “I didn't look into it. My King, you're not... considering this surgery for yourself, are you? Are you perhaps ill with something I'm yet unaware of?”

The king chuckled. “No, no. I simply wish to become more educated on topics my citizens care about.”

“Of course. In so doing, you shall certainly continue to blossom and grow into a better king.” Miles nodded proudly.

“Indeed. Do you have the file for the alpha that I interviewed this morning?”

“Yes, my King.” Miles riffled through the papers still in his arms. “Here you are.” He passed a small stack of pages over.

The king glossed over them briefly before returning to the first page. “Very good.” He eased up out of the chair. “I'll go to see him personally to continue our discussion.”

“My King!” Miles nearly squeaked in a panic as several knights immediately shuffled over to escort the king. “You simply cannot walk commonly through the city – as the king – you must travel with escorts, and knights, and a recommended retinue. We must close streets and have proper decorum for your descent!”

“I want none of that.” The king shook his head. He looked over to one of the knights. “Find me a change of clothes suitable for the walk.”

“Yes, my King.” and the knight hurried out of sight.

“My King!” Miles stepped into the king's line of sight. “I urge you to listen to me – this alpha lives a fair distance away – it is not just a quick brisk walk!”

“I understand not everyone lives close to the palace, Miles.”

“He might not even be at home!”

“Then I shall wait for him.”

“My King, you cannot just – go – to someone's house when they are not home and wait for them inside it. It is far too impolite!”

“Then I shall wait outside.” The king shook his head with a smile. “Miles. I fail to see your point in discouraging me. I told you.” He straightened up and smiled in a delusioned confident sort of way. “This is about me trying to woo my alpha.”

Miles sighed until his shoulders sunk. “Very well, my King.” He groaned audibly. “Is there anything you need before you leave?”

“Hm,” the king peered out around the room, pondering various thoughts for a second. “Yes.” His attention returned to the deflated assistant. “Get me a small bouquet of chamomile and vanilla flowers.”

“Of course...” Miles said the words by moving his jaws overdramatically to show his irritation without being rude. He turned and left sulking.

“My King!” called the knight as he returned with a basket of clothes. “I found various things that should all pair together no matter which you prefer in combination!”

“Very good. Let's take a look at what you brought.”