Miles greeted the king as he returned to the dining room on his way to change clothes. “My King! How goes the adventure with wooing your alpha?”

“Poorly.” The king had a frown of confusion stuck to his face.

“Oh? Do you want to elaborate on it, my King?”

He fell into the seat the table, his hand pushing the papers of the young man's information away. He looked dizzy. “He accepted the flowers. Let me into his house. And we were talking, and then suddenly for some reason, he was all tense and panicking, and then before I knew it, I was standing outside. I don't understand it.”

“Hmm,” Miles mused quietly. “It would be no effort to bring him in here to talk with you.”

“I told you to leave him alone and if you suggest it once more, I will see that you're locked into a jail cell and gagged.” The king threatened immediately with a glare. The venom in his words were true.

Mile shut his eyes, apparently used to that kind of threat, though he never crossed the line. “I merely mean that it sounds like you need to talk with him more.”

“Obviously, but he led me out of his house.” The king sighed. “Isn't that the same as a final no?”

“Perhaps. What did you say before you were kicked out?”

“I was not kicked...” His words fell soft. “I was kicked out.” He chuckled a bit. “That was unexpected...” He mumbled, staring off into space. “Interesting.”

“My King, what did you say?” Miles asked after a moment of silence. “You said he was suddenly panicking?”

“He was talking about plants and a metaphor... Then he asked why I was there and I told him truthfully. Honestly. Is that not what you are supposed to be during negotiations with a future potential bedfellow? Honest?”

“You must be honest, yes, my King.” Miles nodded. “Do you recall your answer?”

“Yes.” The king nodded. “I stated I needed an alpha.” He rested back in the chair, that confused look still on his face.

Miles, eyed the papers, and then the king after a few seconds. “I have a very stupid question for you, my King, and I'm sure there is nothing to worry about at all – it's just a matter of course – but... Do you know... this alpha's name?”

“What? Of course I do.” The king chuckled. “It's...” His thoughts trailed off. “It's... I know I saw it... I read it on one of the,” he reached for the papers, to which Miles scampered them away out of the king's reach within an instant. The king glared at him.

“Without help, my King. Do you know his name?”

“What are you getting at, Miles? That I care so little for my citizen and future bedfellow that I didn't even commit his name to memory?” His words sounded prickly in tone.

“I just... think... That... Perhaps,” Miles shuffled the papers up, every last one with the young man's information, to his chest. “This alpha merely wants to know if you care about him as … him, and not his gender.”

The king sat back in the chair.

“I'm sure, you must, know his name, my King. You'll... think of it. Perhaps? Probably?” Miles backed away with the papers.

“Of course I'll think of it. I'm sure he told me.” The king crossed his arms and shut his eyes. “You may go. With those papers. I won't be needing them anymore.”

“Of course not, my King. You know all you need to know about your alpha, that you are trying to woo. Without his name.”

The king opened his eyes for a moment to glare at the assistant before rolling them and shutting his eyes. A moment later, he heard the door as Miles left. He opened his eyes, and looked at the knights standing around at attention. “Did any of you hear his name?”

The knights looked at each other nervously. One answered in a weak voice, “We are electing not to get involved in the affairs of our king in this particular matter. With... the greatest possible respect, my King.”

He groaned and threw his arms up, resting back into the chair defeated. “What was his name? I'm sure I heard it... I'm sure he said it when we started interviewing him...” He began to recall the events of the whole matter.

The more he thought on it, the more he realized, never once was his name stated, or even asked for. He was just always: The Alpha.

The king sighed, lifting his head up until he looked at only the ceiling. “No wonder he felt insulted.”