A small party was held amongst the circle after the treaty, and then a banquet, where the whole town was invited. While her mate sat discussing with alpha Jireh, Miranda sat with the red moon queen, Jireh’s wife, Priya. The older woman was a chatterbox, and you could tell she loved conversations, but Miranda just wasn’t in the right mood that night, she felt strange, like her heart felt something coming, the weather agreed with her too, as all of a sudden, a heavy downpour began, disrupting the banquet that was held in the large packhouse courtyard, everyone ran to take cover, the shades weren’t enough, but still, people found their way, before the party became over and the rain fell harder.
“I’m sorry that the celebrations had to end when it was just getting started,” alpha Jireh chuckled as he met Miranda in the hallway where they took cover, their clothes partially drenched.
“No need to apologize sire, no one has control of the weather.”
He nodded “yes, and…”
“Sire.” Jireh was suddenly interrupted by his guard; the king muttered a small apology to Miranda as he excused himself to attend to the matter.
“What is it, Baruch?”
“I’m sorry sire, but it’s urgent.”
“What?”
“The messenger has just brought some news. He was caught by the storm before reaching here, but thankfully made it safely.”
“Oh, where is he now?”
“Drying off in the guests’ quarters. He has some news to deliver to you.”
“Ok then, I’ll be with him shortly.”
The guard bowed, before leaving to resume his post.
Alpha Jireh nodded to Miranda, before finding Damian on the other side of the hall. She watched as the two alpha’s whispered to one another, with Damian nodding in between, before Jireh left with Priya.
Miranda realized her tiredness then, as all through the previous night, she’d been travelling and then today had been business as usual, she decided to go to bed to retire for the night, as from what she heard, there’d be more celebrations tomorrow and even a corporate ball, the one Damian mentioned. It was night time already, still raining, but for her, the perfect weather to settle into bed. If only there were someone she could cuddle with.
Her eyes took her to where Damian stood then, he was speaking with some circle leaders, didn’t look like he was ready to retire for the night. What did it matter anyway? It’s not like they’d been sleeping together since their argument.
Yawns*. Guess she’ll just have to be on her own then. She looked around, noting that most of the party guests had gone, finding their way through the stormy rain, while some remained to take shelter near the courtyard as the downpour was still so heavy.
As she left the party area, she couldn’t comprehend why her heart was still beating so fast, refusing to rest. Her wolf too, felt uneasy.
She ignored the funny feeling, and left to the guests’ quarters, and to the room she and Damian had been given. She didn’t know if Damian would want to sleep here with her. Back at home, he’d been sleeping in a different room because of you-know-what-happened, but now in this place that there weren’t much options for him, she wondered if he’d take the couch because she definitely wasn’t going to give the bed up.
About to take of her clothes and change into her nightmare. She heard a knock on the door. Damian wouldn’t knock before entering this room, and she was sure that she’d bid everyone for the night. Was something the matter? Did she forget something?
Dragging her feet to the door, she opened it, and was surprised to see a guard, the same one that had spoken with the king in her presence just now, Baruch.
“Good evening milady, sorry to disturb, but the king summons your presence immediately.”
She creased her brow, “I saw the king just now, is something the matter?”
“Unfortunately, I can’t answer that because I am unaware of the situation, he only sends for you.”
As she left the room and followed the guard to the kings’ chambers, her heart started beating loudly again, that funny feeling. She met Damian on the way, who was surprised to see the direction in which she was going and the one in which she was coming from.
“Where are you going?” He asked, stopping her.
“The king summons me.”
“Is there any problem?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’m coming with you.”
She didn’t stop him, as she actually wasn’t in the mood for any arguments, her mind could only think and ponder why the king wanted to see her so specially, and the manner in which the guard informed her gave the sign that it wasn’t just ordinary news. What could it be? What could it be?
She and Damian had now reached the kings’ quarters. They both waited outside while Baruch went in alone to inform the king of his completed errand. He came back out to meet them a few seconds later.
“You may go in now, the king awaits.”
Thank you, she muttered, opening the door and entering, with Damian following behind her.
Alpha King Jireh was in there with his beta, the red moon messenger, and Priya, whose eyes looked swollen, like she’d been crying. Jireh just wore a look of sadness, and something that resembled pity for the woman standing before him.
“I heard you sent for me sire. Is anything the matter?”
Jireh took a deep breath, not knowing where to start, until he found his words.”
“I’m sorry Miranda. I hate to be the one to tell you this. It’s a big coincidence that you are here at this time, but I felt my heart won’t rest if I let you return home without at least finding out. You deserve to know about this more than anyone, even before anyone of us here.”
Why was alpha Jireh sounding like that? What was it that she deserved to know before anyone?
Her wolf started feeling unease. Her heart beating. Louder. Faster… She began to stutter, her efforts to display self-control went futile.
“W-what is it? W-w-what happened???”
“Alpha Luther of the Lotus pack, your father is dead.”