Richard
We were all gathered by the lake under the dark sky while the palace maids gathered wood at the center of the gathering to make fire while we waited for any of the old alphas to address us.
They had already assembled, each one sitting in the order of the rank they held and since it was a meeting for everyone and not only the males, every werewolf and of course, each with their mates.
The pack was often divided into segments but today, everyone sat together except the oldest members of the pack who were referred to as elders as they have fought many wars before us and even before our fathers.
"Greetings my dear family," King Harold, my father, greeted as he began. It was his signature way of welcoming the pack together and making them feel closer to him by calling then his family.
"It's been a long time since we all sat down together under the dark sky to discuss, I can't even begin to express how excited I am about how large we have grown since our last meeting, little cubs are made everyday yet you all look innocent as though you don't do it." He said, which caused muffled laughter to erupt from the crowd.
After the laughter had died down, he continued, "Without much ado, I'd like us to have a few moments of silence for the safe journey of the Queen into the other realm." He said and lowering his gaze, thick black fur sprouted on the side of his face and he let out a long howl while facing the lake which was my mother's favourite place, letting out a sigh, I joined him in howling and so did my brother.
The loss of a mate can be very depressing and the void can never be filled.
After we were done, he gently shook his head as if he recalled a memory before raising his head to continue speaking to us, "It is no news that King Kenneth has invited each one of us for a ball in his palace and asa matter of fact we would be leaving for Odyssey in a couple of days." He continued as his face began to radiate with smiles, "The ball is for everyone but not everyone would be attending because we have to protect our land, our cubs, and our homes. Therefore, I would like people to volunteer to stay back, I wouldn't want to force any of you into staying while the others leave with us, I want volunteers." He said before taking his seat between the elders.
A few minutes of loud chatter had passed when a couple got to their feet, "We volunteer to stay back," they said in unison while holding their hands and quickly turned to stare at each other, "I have found my mate and that is all that matters to me, my fun lies with her." The man said without looking away from his beloved.
"Awww, they're so cute." I heard Marta whisper from beside me as she sat with Charles.
"We would be staying, to defend our territory," the leader of the knights announced and then a many couples got up and said that they would be staying back as well.
"I would be staying back," I found myself on my feet, uttering those words and silence fell on the pack.
"No, you would not." Charles was the first to disagree but I had already said it and I turned my eyes to see my father and the long face he wore while staring at me made me know how unhappy he was with my decision.
The only thing I could hear from the pack was how bitter my futile journey had made me. Elder Rufus' objection caused the pack to become silent, "You cannot stay back." He said, and I turned in the direction of where his voice came to see him sitting at my dad's right hand while gradually getting on his feet. The old man who had just married his nurse years after the demise of his mate seemed to look a lot more disapproving about my decision than my dad did.
"You would go to Odyssey alongside your father and brother," And then he paused, smiling happily, "And of course with my child, Marta, you would go there and have fun." He started before sitting back on his seat.
Biting down on my teeth, I said in a firm voice, "Father asked for volunteers and so I am volunteering."
"Can't you see that everyone who volunteered has their mate with them or do you want to stay back and ogle at them?" Charles asked in annoyance and I swept my face to the side to glare at him.
"It's my dec–"
I saw my father raise his hand and swallowed back the words I was about to say before sitting back down. Father let out a sigh and stood on his feet, "For those who would be attending the ball, it is customary that you bring a gift to present to the King of Odyssey." Hé reminded them, "That would be all for now, you may leave." He dismissed us but not with the same energy as he had at the start of the meeting.
I got on my feet, and gently bowing to him, I turned around and headed towards the castle, "Richard!" I heard my father call out to me and I stopped on my way, "I want to have a word with you." He added and I breathed heavily. It was almost as if I knew the topic of this discussion.
Hesitating for a little while, I turned around and began to walk back to where he stood. He didn't have his seat nor did he say a word until everyone had left the meeting ground. Once there was no one in sight, he left his seat and began to walk closer to the lake until he was a foot away from it.
"Come here," he said softly and I did just as he said. He threw his two hands behind him and held them firmly.
He was silent for a long while doing nothing but stare at the water, "Father,"
"Do you remember how your mum would bring us here? Just to stare and feel the peace that comes with this lake." He asked and I began to wonder if it was the reason he called me back.
"Yes, father," I replied, recalling how she would speak so highly about getting comforted by this lake whenever she was troubled by any of us, "She would bring us here after dinner and ask us to share what we felt and how our day went." I said through a sad smile as my eyes began to tear up.
"Hmmm," he let out a sigh, "You and your brother are the reason I haven't joined her yet, else I would have loved to go to her. I want to ensure that the throne is safe and you both do not fight her and that you are both happy." He said.
"Father, I have left the throne for Charles. We both agreed that the one who first finds his mate inherits the throne and let it be so." I stated. I was not going to lie, I was sad that he found his mate before me but I am not the type to go back on his utterances.
"And you think your brother doesn't feel sad that you agreed to it after seeing the outcome?" He asked.
"Father," I said in a dismissive tone and he sighed.
"If you insist." He shrugged, moving further so that his leg was gently brushed by the waters.
"I heard you had another futile search," he began, the real cause for my presence and I shut my eyes, "I want to make you a promise right here and before this lake," He said and I felt his warm hand on my shoulder, "Under the sky and in the presence of the moon, that if you attend this ball and you do not find the one, bring to me any woman of your choice and I would bless your union?" He started and my eyes grew wide in shock.
"You would?" I asked, I wanted to find my mate but if she wasn't going to be found, I could take this option and set my father free so he could go to my mum.
"Yes, I would. Vampire, wolf, witch or shape shifter though they're very tricky," he whispered under his breath, "whichever you deem fit, I would bless you." He reaffirmed.
"Your mother wasn't my mate after all," he shrugged and my eyes grew even wider. No, no, no, this is too much of a surprise for one day.
"She wasn't your mate?" I asked in disbelief, "I thought you both loved each other?"
Richard "Do not get me wrong, son. That she wasn't my mate does not mean that I did not love her." He corrected, and gently lowered himself so that he was sitting on the dry land and I did the same. "I lost my mate long before I met your mother. My mate was an unhealthy wolf who died just two weeks after I had found her while your mum was the princess of this land and her mate was an arrogant brute." "Hmmm, this is getting quite interesting." I whispered. "I had a soft spot for your mum's innocence, her care, large heart and soft voice and especially her beauty." He smiled, "Have you seen any woman around who is built like your mother or whose wolf matches that of your mother," he asked, laughing shyly and chuckled still paying full attention to him. "Her mate was quite bossy and would hit her on some occasions." "One faithful day, she smiled at me as she always does, I saw the pain in her eyes. Her eyes weren't so cheerful so I requested a meeting with the King and asked for a fi
Henrietta "Your bath is ready, my princess." The maid servant said upon stepping out of the bathroom. My personal maid, Chloe, was out to get me lunch as I'd rather have another maid prepare my bath than fix my meal. "Thank you," I said in appreciation for her time before dragging myself towards the bathroom. I was about to reach for the bathroom door when I heard a rush of wind in my room and stopped at that exact moment to see who was in my room. "Princess Henrietta," one of my father's palace guards said as he became visible to me, "The King requests your presence at lunch." He informed me and I tightened my brows in such a way that a fine line formed between them. "Is there a problem?" I asked, it's been a while since my father called us all to lunch and I think a while meant a year since that was how long mother has been ill. "I hope not, my princess." He replied and although I raised a brow as if asking him how sure he was, he politely looked away, bending low his head and
Henrietta "Gwendolyn!!" Father slapped his hand hard on the table, startling both of us. "I didn't give you permission to interrupt me neither are you done with your punishment for trying to hurt or turn your sister!" He growled, hot air flaring from his nostrils. "How did you turn this cold?" He said in a soft voice, "And to your own twin! How did you two even grow this distance!!" He shouted while looking from me to Gwendolyn. In annoyance, he picked up the knife and stabbed it on the table while grinding hard in his teeth. At this point, I wouldn't dare speak. The silence in the room was beginning to suffocate me and even though I wanted to raise my head, I just couldn't. My head had gone heavy and my palms sweaty, "Well, Odyssey needs a Queen who is strong an…" Gwendolyn dared to speak but a loud crash caused me to jump in my seat and abruptly raise my head. I searched the room using my eyes to see what must have caused the loud noise until my eyes landed on a badly destroyed w
Richard I found myself standing before a gigantic castle and right in front of its magnificent doors were two guards. One of them went in to make known our presence and walked before us into the palace. My father went before us while I and Charles stood on his sides, walking along with him while the servants carried our gifts behind us. The throne room was well decorated with tall marble walls adorned with rare jewels of different kinds. I took a moment to admire the room and all it had, then I noticed that it had no windows. I guess to prevent the sun from getting in but the room wasn't dark either as there were huge bulbs in the room and a chandelier right before the throne. "Harold!" I heard a deep excited voice say my father's name and I looked straight ahead to see an oval face with a sharp jaw and blue orbs which shone as he spoke. He was gradually rising to his feet as he was seated on his throne and once he was fully up, I must say I might just be looking at the most hands
Henrietta I was taking a walk around my mother's garden, accompanied by Chloe as the cool breeze of the evening graced our skin while bringing the mixed smell of flowers and fruits to out nose. It was soothing and comfortable. "My family couldn't come for the ball," Chloe stated as she plucked a few flowers, on either side of the path we walked. "Why didn't they come?" I asked and she shrugged. "I learnt from a member of the pack that they were part of those who volunteered to stay back." She said in a sad voice. "Don't be sad, Chloe, you'll see them soon." I said, "Have you seen your mate yet?" I asked in a bid to cheer her up and bright red patch formed on both sides of her face "Why weren't you there to welcome the werewolves?" I heard a voice belonging to Gwendolyn and jumped in fear when she appeared right in front of me. She was so close that I could feel hot air coming from her nose. That smile, the smirk on her face which showed just how satisfied she was with my reac
Richard "I noticed how someone almost got stripped off their clothing, right in front of everyone in the palace today." Charles said as he dropped my bags in the room which was assigned to me before sitting on the bed. He had left Marta in their room to accompany me to mine while our father decided to spend some time with King Kenneth before retiring to his room. "Who and what are you talking about?" I asked, while admiring the beauty of the room. "I'm talking about you and the princess, Gwendolyn." He blurted out and I was taken aback by his words. "What's that supposed to mean?" I sighed, holding my waist with both hands. "How do you even come up with these..these stupid ideas." I slapped my hand on my forehead. Taking my hand down and placing it under my jaw, I moved closer to the bed. "Do you even see anyone else when you're with Marta ?" I asked but all he did was remain silent. After a few minutes, his voice came up again, "I saw how she had her eyes all over you in the pa
Henrietta It's been a whole day since I got restricted because of Gwendolyn. The fact that she out smarted me triggered something in me, a very hard feeling I didn't want to access. She was beginning to make a place for herself in my life, a place of hatred, the kind that runs through the vein. Although Father had sent a guard to escort me to the study where I had classes with Gwendolyn, I was still sad because I wouldn't be able to go anywhere else aside here and my room. Not even to see mother. The moment the guards walked me to the door that led to the study, I let of a long sigh before turning the knob and opening the door. Upon entering into the room, I noticed that our chairs have been moved to different locations in the room. Gwendolyn was seated very far from me, unlike the last class where we sat side by side. This time, we were opposite each other but at a great distance almost at the rooms walls while Sir Bernard had his desk at the center of the room, and whenever he
Richard I didn't know anyone around here as I've not really had the time neither could I speak to anyone around except my family and pack members. It was not because they were hostile, no, as a matter of fact they were really accommodating and nice, I was just being careful and needed someone to show me around, like a tour. As I stood in front of my room while resting my back on the wall beside its door, I watched numerous maids and guards pass by carrying heavy bags and clothes, some of which I assumed were for laundry while the others were in preparation for the ball. My eyes were beginning to feel strained and I was getting tired of staying in the same position. I would have called Charles to keep me company but then he was with Marta and I didn't want to interrupt. I was very sure he would readily accept and his readiness to do whatever I ask of him sometimes makes me uncomfortable it was like he felt guilty that I was no longer in line for the throne and that was exactly how