The Fake Saint's Alpha(s) (BL)-Chapter 51. Wanessa’s relentless flirting

AT THE SAME TIME

MICHAEL

If morning had been chaos dipped in coffee, midday was full blown divine theatre. By the time I could finally stomach something more substantial than mint water and air, the palace had transformed into a battlefield of flirtation and panic starring, of course, Charlie.

He’d been cornered by Princess Wanessa three times already. The first time in the garden, she’d "accidentally" trapped him between a rose arch and a scandalously low neckline, the second at lunch where she spoon-fed him soup "to test his reflexes", and now... now she had him cornered by the koi pond, looking every bit like a majestic predator toying with its dinner. Zavier and I watched from our balcony seats, unofficial referees, coffee in hand.

"I give him five minutes before he dives into the pond." I said.

"Three." Zavier corrected dryly. "He’s sweating already."

Below, Charlie was backing up slowly, smiling like a man who knew he was doomed.

"Your Highness." He said weakly. "I just remembered I have, uh, saintly paperwork to do."

Wanessa tilted her head, her braid catching the sunlight like spun silver.

"Paperwork? How pious. Does it involve writing my name?"She asked.

Charlie made a noise that might’ve been a squeak.

"N–no! Absolutely not! I mean- not unless required by law!"Charlie said.

"Mm." She purred, stepping closer. "Then perhaps I should pass a new law."

I nearly spat my tea. Zavier choked on his.

"By the Goddess." I wheezed. "She’s unstoppable."

"She’s terrifying." Zavier said, trying and failing to hide his grin. "I’m half convinced she’s hunting him for sport."

"Half?" I teased.

"Alright, seventy-five percent."I sighed.

Down below, Terrence, Xavier, and Adrian had apparently decided to act as Charlie’s rescue committee... or at least moral support. They lingered near the veranda, whispering like conspirators.

"I say we distract her." Terrence muttered.

"With what?" Adrian asked.

"I don’t know, Xavier, use diplomacy."Terrence said.

Xavier scowled.

"Diplomacy failed when she offered to braid his hair mid conversation."He said. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Adrian laughed.

"Honestly, I’m starting to root for her."Adrian grinned.

Charlie heard that and nearly tripped over his own shoes.

"TRAITOR!"He screamed.

Wanessa, of course, looked delighted.

"Oh, don’t worry, Sir Charles. I’d never let you fall... without me."She smirked.

"Please stop flirting with gravity!" Charlie groaned.

From the balcony, I snorted so hard Zavier had to pat my back.

"He’s going to combust."I chuckled.

Zavier leaned closer, lips brushing my ear.

"You realize if she catches him, he’ll never be the same?"He said.

"Then maybe it’s about time he learns humility through terror."I said.

We both tried to keep straight faces as the scene below descended into chaos. Charlie made a break for it, darting around the pond, cape flying behind him like a banner of surrender. Wanessa followed gracefully, heels clicking against marble, entirely unbothered by the chase.

"Get back here!" She called, laughing like thunder wrapped in silk.

"NEVER!" Charlie shouted back. "I’M A FREE SAINT!"

"Not for long."Wanessa teased.

"I CAN HEAR YOU!"Charlie said.

"Good. I meant for you to."She said.

Terrence finally sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Should we stop this before she kills him?"He asked.

Adrian shrugged.

"Define kill."He said.

"Emotionally."Terrence said.

"Then no."Adrian said.

"If he falls into that pond, I’m not pulling him out again."Terrence said.

At that exact moment, Charlie’s foot caught the edge of a marble tile, and with a majestic splash, he fell straight into the koi pond. Wanessa gasped, though whether from shock or amusement was debatable. The three Alphas rushed forward, tripping over each other in heroic panic.

"Oh divine stars-!" Charlie sputtered, emerging soaked to the bone, koi darting around him like judgmental witnesses. "I HATE EVERYTHING!"

Wanessa knelt gracefully by the water’s edge, expression unreadable.

"You’re adorable when you’re dramatic."She said.

Zavier nearly fell out of his chair laughing.

"I can’t, he’s-"Zaiver laughed.

"Don’t- say it." I warned, already wheezing. "-the Goddess’s favorite soap opera," he managed between laughs.

I pressed my hand to my stomach, half from laughter, half because the little flutter returned again. It was stronger this time, insistent, a quiet reminder that life didn’t stop for divine comedy. Zavier caught it instantly. His smile softened, laughter fading into quiet warmth as he placed a hand over mine.

"Baby awake again?"He asked.

"Yeah." I murmured. "Probably laughing with us."

He kissed my temple.

"Or at us."Zavier said.

"Fair."I sighed.

Down below, Charlie was being helped out of the pond by three very exasperated alphas, dripping wet and muttering threats to the Moon Goddess herself.

"I swear she’s punishing me for something!" He groaned.

Wanessa offered him a towel, which, to no one’s surprise, was embroidered with her initials.

"Here, Sir Charles." She said sweetly. "Something to remember me by."

He stared at it like it was a cursed relic.

"You planned this, didn’t you?"He asked.

Her smile could’ve melted glaciers.

"Of course I did."She said.

Even Xavier cracked a laugh at that.

"Poor man never stood a chance." I murmured.

"None of us did." Zavier said, brushing his thumb across my knuckles. "The Goddess is having too much fun with her pawns."

Somewhere faint, distant, but unmistakably amused, the Moon Goddess’s laughter shimmered across the air again, like bells in silver wind. And for a fleeting heartbeat, I could swear I heard her whispering to us. "Oh, my dear saints... this is only the beginning."

I couldn’t tell if Goddness was playing with us or she truly wanted Charlie to suffer. It was clear that Wanessa was not going to let him go soon. I was just beginning to wonder if the Goddess had personally set up an entire amusement park just to torment Charlie when the air shifted. Not the usual breeze through the marble halls, not the faint scent of jasmine wafting from the gardens, but a presence that made the very sunlight pause mid flight. A hush fell over the courtyard, and even Wanessa, for once, seemed to notice something beyond her own game.

"Did anyone else feel that?" I whispered, clutching Zavier’s arm.

Zavier’s eyes narrowed, lips curling in a rare serious line.

"Yes. And that, Michael, is not Wanessa."He said.

The warmth of the air deepened, shimmering like heat on stone, and a voice rolled over us, impossibly clear and impossibly soft, yet powerful enough to make even the koi freeze mid swim.

"Ah... my beloved saints. And my ever-entertaining mortals."A voice said.

The Moon Goddess herself manifested above the courtyard in a swirl of silver light, wings of starlight unfurling behind her. Her eyes, twin moons, flicked over the scene with an amused tilt. She hovered effortlessly, her presence bending the sunlight and shadows, and the palace seemed to lean forward just to listen. Charlie, already soaked and trembling, fell to his knees like a man caught between terror and awe.

"M-Moon Goddess..." He squeaked, voice cracking as Wanessa simply tilted her head, curious.

"Yes, yes." The Goddess said, floating downward slowly, "I see my pawns are... lively today." Her gaze swept over Terrence, Xavier, Adrian, and, of course, Charlie, whose knees were visibly quaking. "And my dear Michael... growing life within you, is it not?"

My hand instinctively went to my stomach, the fluttering baby inside me making its presence known. A small wave of heat and warmth rippled through me. Zavier pressed closer, protective and grounding as always.

"Yes," I murmured, trying to keep my voice steady. "One... one healthy little soul. Thank you, Goddess."

She smiled, and it was impossible to tell if the warmth behind her smile was comfort or amusement.

"Ah... perfect." She said, voice like music and thunder at once. "One life. Precious. Fragile. And entirely yours... to worry over."

Zavier stiffened slightly at her words, his hand brushing over mine again, protective and possessive.

"That’s right. Michael, I-"Zavier started.

The Goddess interrupted, tilting her head as though the statement amused her.

"

Ah, Zavier of the strong arms and steady hands. You are as vigilant as ever. I approve. But do not let your overzealous protection of this child turn into... stagnation."She said.

I blinked.

"Stagnation?"I asked.

"Yes." She said, voice rippling through the courtyard. "Life moves. Chaos moves. You think you are safe up there with your coffee and your balcony? Chaos laughs at your tea, Michael."

I glanced at Zavier, who was watching her like a hawk, jaw tight.

"You hear that, little one?" He murmured, thumb brushing my knuckles. "Your life is... apparently full of drama."

Charlie, meanwhile, was trembling in place like a wet kitten, his eyes wide as the Goddess floated closer, her gaze resting on him now.

"And you." She said, voice lilting but filled with authority. "My little saint, you have quite the... harem of suitors already." She looked at Terrence, Xavier, Adrian, and even Wanessa with equal parts curiosity and amusement.

"How... entertaining."I asked.

Wanessa, as if sensing a new level of challenge, stood straighter, her smirk sharper, a gleam of competition in her eyes. The Goddess floated down slightly lower, closer to Michael and Zavier.

"Do not forget, Michael. This... life inside you is a responsibility, yes, but also a joy. And I will watch over it. And over you. And over the chaos you call... companions."She said.

Zavier exhaled, his grip tightening protectively.

"We can handle it." He murmured.

"Handle it?" The Goddess’s voice rolled over him like gentle thunder. "Oh, Zavier, I do hope you understand that what is coming... is far larger than you think. And yet, you will try. That is... delightful."

I felt the flutter in my stomach again, stronger, more insistent, as if the baby were responding to her presence.

"It’s... okay." I murmured, pressing closer to Zavier.

The Goddess’s laughter rippled again, soft, teasing, infinitely amused.

"Oh, my saints... I see great chaos, laughter, tears, and... everything in between. This is... my theatre. And you all are perfect actors."She said.

Charlie groaned from the pond’s edge.

"I’m a saint! I did not audition for this!"He said.

Wanessa giggled, leaning slightly closer to him.

"Oh, Sir Charles, the auditions never end."Wanessa grinned.

I pressed my face into Zavier’s shoulder, hand over mine on my stomach. The baby stirred again, a gentle roll, and I smiled faintly. The Goddess hovered above us still, radiance spilling over the palace, faint laughter echoing like wind through crystal.

"Remember... saints and mortals alike... I am watching. And I am enjoying every second."She said.