Chapter 41

ANSEL POV

Ansel and Karin enter the manor and find Henry and Maggie waiting for them. “Where’s the fire?” Ansel asked sarcastically, looking around.

Seeing Karin’s disheveled clothes, Henry rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry boss. If it wasn’t so important, I would have waited until you were no longer occupied.”

“Mhm,” Ansel replied, enjoying the red forming on Karin’s cheeks. “Don’t worry about it. We’re here now. What’s so urgent?”

Henry lowered his voice. “I was on my way to the manor and happened to have overheard something that I’m sure I wasn’t supposed to.”

“From whom?”

“Your brother.”

Ansel’s face turned as hard as stone. “Let’s step into my office.” Nodding, Henry pecked his wife.

Maggie raised her finger. “Um, Sir Ansel?”

“Yes?”

“Before you go, I wanted to remind you that the Blue Moon ball is coming up in a few weeks.”

Ansel grumbled under his breath. “Must I really attend that? I’ve gone the past four years. You would think by now I’ve fulfilled my requirements.”

“Sorry, sir. Your father made it clear that the royal family must attend.”

“Yes, and with his health, I guess it would look horrible if neither of us attended,” Ansel replied, sighing. “Please put the notation on my calendar so I don’t forget and call the seamstress and have her work on my new robes.”

“Any particular color?” His eyes glassed over, and Maggie chuckled. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Thank you.” He paused. “Oh, and please have my things packed for my departure to Moon Shadow. Pack a little more than needed, just in case.”

“Of course, sir.”

Looking at Karin, he tilted his head. “Why are you so quiet?”

“H-huh?” she stammered, looking up at him. “Oh, no reason. I just hadn’t heard about the Blue Moon ball.”

He rolled his eyes. “Yes, it was the work of my father. Stuff the pack with food and good music and they will forget all the problems that we have.”

Karin bit the side of her bottom lip. “Oh, that makes sense. Dances and things like that are probably of little interest to you.”

“It’s all frivolous, in my opinion. There are so many other things I could do with my time than going to an event just to show face. The only silver lining is that by the time I truly go annoyed with the event, it’s over.”

“Right…”

Turning his attention back to Henry and Maggie, he saw that both their brows were furrowed. “What?”

“Nothing at all,” Maggie said, smirking. “Lady Karin, would you like to keep me company while I get everything together?”

“Actually, Maggie, I need to speak with you as well,” Ansel said.

Karin gave her a small smile. “It’s alright. I’m a little tired, anyway. I think I’m going to take a bath and rest. See you all later,” she said and walked away.

Ansel watched her for a moment and tilted his head again.

What’s the matter with her?

He thought to himself.

I’ll figure out later.

He beckoned for the two to follow him to his office. Reaching it, he opened the door, and the three went inside. He motioned for them to sit as he closed the door then sat. “Alright, what was it you heard?” he asked.

“Well, as I said, I was on my way here and I almost ran directly into your brother. He was on the phone and seemed to be having a heated conversation with someone who I can only assume was one of his gammas. He mentioned everything was going according to plan and that with you distracted, he could finally get things really moving. I couldn’t hear what the other person said, but whatever it was caused Sir Edwin to lose his cool. He shouted you weren’t going to find out anything because you were too preoccupied with kissing ass and your”—he coughed—“let's just say his words about Lady Karin weren’t the most flattering.”

Ansel grinded his teeth as he absorbed Henry’s words. “I have to say I’m honestly not surprised,” he said after a moment.

“Sir?”

He leaned back in his office chair and folded his arms over his chest. “Tell me something, Henry. What’s the status of the old casino building?”

“It has been knocked down and all of those running it have been imprisoned per your instructions.”

“Good. Hopefully, this is the last time I’ll have to deal with them. They’re worse than a roach infestation.”

“I agree. One is destroyed and two pop up. Seems like no matter how many we shut down, we are no further to eradicating the problem than before. But I’m not following how any of this relates to what I said about Edwin’s conversation.”

“I know Edwin has something to do with this, especially after what you heard. I just need to figure out how to prove it. One thing he’s always been is a slimy little toad. He can find his way out of any and everything.”

“Wait. Do you really think your brother would risk his title that way?”

“My brother would sell his kidney if it would help him distract me long enough for him to become Alpha. If my guess is right, he knows he can’t beat me fairly at being Alpha, so he’s creating distraction after distraction to throw me off my game. The busier I am with other stuff, the less time I have to catch the little worm inching towards the finish line.”

“Forgive me for saying so, sir, but you had some upbringing,” Henry said, grimacing.

“Yes. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but this is the life I was born into and with it comes responsibilities, including the crown.”

“Sir, do you not want to be Alpha?”

“Oh, of course I do. I know I can continue to make the needed changes in Blue Moon and hopefully those changes will trickle over to other packs and we can all be united again.” Ansel's eyes fogged over and for a moment he found himself in the past. “At one point in time, however, there were things worth walking away from it for,” he said absentmindedly.

Henry frowned. “Are you okay, sir?”

“Yes, I’m fine. It’s just been a hell of a couple of weeks. Anyway, this election that my brother pushed forward so innocently is just another one of his ploys, which is why I agreed to it.”

“I don’t understand.”

Ansel grinned. “The best way to beat my brother has always been to claw at his competitive side. He may have made this plan to throw me off my game, but the moment that he sees I’m winning, he’s going to do what he’s always done; reveal his hand before I even have to call his bluff.” His face grew serious. “I don’t know what he’s plotting, but whatever it is, I know the election is at the root of it, which is why I’m going to need your help with a secret project.”

Henry straightened in his chair. “Anything, sir.”

“Find out what my brother is plotting. Use whatever resources and tactics are needed as long as no innocents are harmed. Edwin will expect me to dig for dirt in the places that no one can touch but the royal court, so you will get to those places undetected.”

“With all due respect, Sir Ansel, I want to bring Sir Edwin down as much as you do, but do you really want to privy me to such information? You could be in serious trouble if anyone finds out that you provided someone who isn’t in the royal court with its secrets.”

Ansel nodded. “Correct, which is why before you accept the assignment, I need to ask you something.” He looked at Maggie. “The both of you. Henry, you have been loyal to me since we met. You have put your life on the line for me and you’ve done what is necessary to help reunite the werewolf world and help Blue Moon slowly return to its original glory. Because of this, along with the fact that you’ve been an invaluable friend and gamma, I am promoting you to second-in-command of the gammas and if I win…I would be honored if you accept the role of Beta.”

Henry’s eyes widened twice their size, and he looked at his wife, whose expression matched his. “Sir, I—”

“Don’t. Whatever you’re about to say to convince me I’ve made the wrong selection, refrain because it will not work. Now, regardless of whether you accept the role of Beta, I am still promoting you to second-in-command. I will announce this officially at the Blue Moon Ball.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“You earned it. Now, I will not lie to either of you. If you accept the role as Beta, things will change drastically for you. The target on your back will grow, and they will use anything against you, like Maggie, for example.” He turned to Maggie. “I’ve watched how close you and Karin have gotten. Your protective nature over her led you to almost disobey me and attack Cherry.'

Maggie looked down at her lap. “I’m sorry, sir. I don’t know what came over me that day.”

“Don’t be. It’s the reason that I asked you to be here. I’m not only offering Henry the choice of royal court status, but I’m also offering you as well. If I’m selected as Alpha, Karin will be my Luna. She needs protection in a way a Beta protects his Alpha. I want you to be that for her.”

“M-me? But I’m just a maid.”

“Exactly. To the outside world you are, and you will continue your role as her maid, but only to camouflage your true position. Maggie, as I mentioned if Henry accepts this role, your life will change as well. It will be uprooted and in a lot of ways put you in never-ending danger. This is why I am not ordering either of you to accept the roles, I’m asking. I want you to truly think about what it means before you make your decision.”

“Alright,” Maggie said, and Henry nodded in agreement. “We will think about it and give you a final answer.”

“Good.” As they rose to leave, Ansel leaned forward in his chair. “One last thing. Speak nothing about the royal court discussion, especially to Karin. You may tell her about Henry’s promotion if you wish, but nothing else. The less she knows until things are solidified, the safer she will be.”