Chapter 4 4

LUCIUS' POV

The meeting hall has never held as much serenity as it is holding right now.

I was back in my kingdom and immediately called for an urgent meeting with the elders. They needed to hear from me first before the rumors began flying.

But with how cautious their gazes were and the unsettling silence in the hall, it was obvious they already heard about what happened.

“I called everyone here to inform you all about the slight new changes that'll be enforced in the kingdom as soon as possible.”

They all turned their gazes to me, listening keenly.

“Firstly, I'm cutting ties with my nephews. Our kingdoms will cease from interacting. We won't trade together either. From hereon, the two kingdoms are now enemies.”

The whispering in the hall was just as I'd expected. I waited for them to weigh what I'd said and slowly digest it before I could continue.

It took roughly a minute before they all quieted.

“Also, Alpha Godric's Pack has never been one of our associates but we've never been enemies either. Well, until today. So it'd be wise if you and your loved ones refrained from treading on his territory. He's quite a bitter man. There's no telling what he's gonna do.”

Another session of chattering and uproar filled the hall. And then Elder Willson, the oldest, stepped forward and bowed.

“Is it okay if we ask what really happened, your Highness?”

That was a conflicting question. I adjusted in my seat, whilst keeping my emotions under control. I didn't want to give off anything that made me look guilty but at the same time, I didn't want to come off as defensive either.

I was aiming for neutral.

“What if I say it isn't okay?” I asked. His eyes held a slight shock but then he quickly got rid of it. “Something definitely happened but what if I don't want to disclose it to you all? Would that make me such a terrible leader?”

He sucked in a breath and cleared his throat in such an exaggerated gesture.

“I know you've heard things, Willson. I know you all have. News travels fast, too fast actually. But I'd love it if you kept what you heard to yourself and refrained from confronting me with it. I'm not interested in denying or affirming anything. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Your Highness.” He bowed. “Please forgive my manners. And be assured, we'll do as you've ordered.”

“Good.”

The meeting ended and I headed to my study. My Beta followed me.

“You've got a letter, Your Highness.” He showed the brown envelope to me.

I wasn't in the mood to handle political affairs. My mate…wait, was it even right to call her that? All I did was leave a mark on her. I haven't completely marked her yet so she's not officially my mate.

But yeah, her. She's still asleep in one of my guest rooms and I'm anxiously waiting for her to wake up.

I don't know, I just need to talk to her. Maybe get her name, and then…fuck, I don't know. But I know we need to talk. I've created a big mess. At the very least, I should know a little bit about the woman who skillfully manipulated me into creating such a mess.

“Drop the letter on the table. I'll check it out later.” I told my Beta.

“It's actually…urgent.”

“What makes it urgent?”

“It's from Alpha Godric.”

“What?”

I quickly snatched the letter from him and scanned the content. I reread it for the 49th time and the words sounded more ridiculous than the previous time I read.

“That greedy old geezer.” I eventually crumpled up the paper in my grip, sniffling down the anger buzzing through my veins.

“What does the letter say, your Highness?” My Beta asked.

“Godric is threatening to start a war against me over the girl I took from his Pack. The crazy part of it is that my nephews are going to be backing him up in his fight. Isn't that ridiculous?”

I wasn't surprised. Ryan and Knox already warned me of what would happen. I just never thought I'd see the day we'd be fighting against each other. Or worse, the day they'll be forming an alliance with a man like Godric.

“What are you going to do, your Highness?”

“I'm not sure,” I thought for a while. “First, find out if the girl's awake. If she isn't, wake her up. Bring her to me. She needs to answer my questions right now. I can't wait any longer.

My Beta bowed and left to execute my order. I tossed the paper into the waste bin and began pacing.

He was back shortly. “She's awake, your Highness.”

I held my breath as she slowly walked into my study. If I thought she was pretty in a wedding dress, then fuck me, but she looks ten times prettier out of it.

Her blonde hair was ruffled and fell to her face in disheveled curls, but somehow they made her more appealing.

Her eyes stayed on mine. My Beta shut the door on his way out, giving us the privacy we needed.

She seemed nervous. But still, she wasn't fazed by my eyes. Anyone else would have already looked away. She seems a bit too brazen.

“Where…am I?” She stuttered softly.

I cleared my throat and replied.

“You're in my Kingdom. In my house. In my study.”

She nodded, and there was relief in her eyes.

Now how do I feel bad about taking her when she's clearly giving me the impression that I did great by taking her?

“I have questions. You need to answer them.” I wasn't exactly ordering her. For the first time, I couldn't actually use my very terrifying bossy tone. She was making a man like me nervous. Isn't that crazy?

“Sure…”

“What's your name?” I should start with the basics.

“Valeria.”

Valeria. It's a fitting name for a girl like her.

“What exactly is your relationship with Godric?”

This time, it was dread shimmering in her eyes. “Please don't take me back to him…”

“I should. I mean, he already sent me a letter, threatening to fight me if I don't hand you over in the next 24 hours, he's gonna start a war against me and my kingdom. If I'm going to risk my kingdom for you, I might as well know your story. What's your relationship with him?”

“Nothing. He's just my master. I'm an Omega who has worked in the pack house all my life—”

“Right. But over two hundred omegas are working for him. Why does he have this particular interest in you? It doesn't make any sense.”

She bit her lips, like she was stopping herself from saying something. It was clear as fuck that she was hiding something from me. But I didn't want to force her to talk. At the very least, I didn't want her to be terrified by me.

Yeah, I sound stupid, I know.

“I'll do anything. But please let me stay here with you.” She pleaded in tears.

Her tears were hurting her eyes. Just at the same time, her words were making my heart leap in excitement.

She'll do anything? She wants to stay here with me? What words could ever be more perfect than these?

“Fine.” I breathed out. “Then would you love to complete the mating process? I only left a mark but we need to seal the process. If you officially become my mate, you'd never need to leave this kingdom, ever.”

She didn't hesitate. Instead, she nodded quickly.

“Sure.”

Such a quick reply…she was indeed desperate and she was willing to do anything for that desperation. It didn't make me so excited anymore. Because at the end of the day, she's choosing to stay with me to save her skin, not because she actually wants to be with me. Not because she acknowledges the mate bond.

I shouldn't let her use me like this. I should send her away. I shouldn't let myself become her little pawn. But I found myself giving in to her request instead. I didn't have the courage needed to reject her.

“Come here.” I gestured at her. She came closer. I patted the table and she slowly perched her butt on it.

“Spread your legs. Let's get started.”