Prescott’s POV
“She’ll be fine, the Queen will be fine.” Wharton groaned, a note of frustration in his voice. “Just stop pacing back and forth and sit down so we can figure things out.” His tone was irked, but I could see the pain etched on his face as he pressed his hand to his wound.
It was clear that he was trying to comfort me, but it was difficult for him to maintain his stillness. I felt bad for being the soul behind his wound, but my wife matters most.
“Prescott, please… She’ll be fine.” Wharton groaned out for the umpteen times as I continued pacing back and forth.
My fingers curled into a tight fist upon hearing that. I scoffed, marching towards Wharton who was sitting quietly on the couch in my office with his palm on his chest.
I leaned forward, my gaze burning into his eyes. I grabbed the edge of the couch he was sitting on, caging him in between my arms.
“She’ll be fine, you say?” I scoffed, my mind was running wild as I stared at the confused look on my Beta’s face.
He gulped, staring back at me. “Of course, she should…”
“No. She can’t be fine, Hart!” I hissed, moving away from him, “I think you’re forgetting something here,” I slapped my forehead, a slight pain surging through my head as my palm hit against my forehead.
“She was fucking captured by a rogue, right under my nose, and you’re telling me she will be fine, really? Do you not remember who we are talking about here? It’s that sneaking bastard Eruba!” my stomach churned as I mentioned that name that was giving me nightmares.
“Still…” Wharton scoffed, he threw his head back on the headrest before blabbing out whatever came to his mouth. “You have to calm down if you want to make a wise decision.”
“Your Majesty!” the door crept open, Dixon walked in, his eyes were on me as he made his way towards where I was standing.
“Yes, Dixon?” I raised my brows, watching my best warrior stand before me with a stern look on his face.
With a curt bow, Dixon intertwined his fingers to his front and said, “The oldest daughter, Tamsyn, has been found and she just left the Villa together with her family.” he announced with a smug smirk dancing at the corner of his mouth.
“Really?” I gasped, my eyes went shut as I let out a heavy sigh.
“Great! I’m so happy for His Majesty!” Wharton chuckled, his weird laughter filling the room.
I flapped my eyes open, staring at Wharton who had his head on the headrest with a dark grin on his face.
“Will you… Shut your mouth, stupid idiot!” I glared hard at him, my fingers clenched into a tight fists as I gritted my teeth in anger.
I still didn’t understand what he found amusing in the whole thing, the fact that I was being an incompetent King whose wife was captured right under his watch. Or the fact that I was being concerned about the oldest daughter which he claimed to have seen with my wife before her sudden disappearance?
“Oops, I forgot the lady in question is your pretty little in-law. My bad.” he chuckled, I shook my head and moved my gaze back to Dixon who was also staring at Wharton with his teeth clenched.
“Where do you say the oldest daughter was found?” I questioned, pulling Dixon’s attention back to myself.
“Oh,” he adjusted his posture, a faint smirk on his face and said, “she was knocked out in front of the old King’s building.”
“Do you get anything out of her?” I dragged my feet towards the couch and sat down on the couch opposite Wharton.
“No.” Dixon shook his head, “whoever took the Queen must have knocked down the oldest daughter before they went for the Queen. The only thing the oldest daughter could remember was following the Queen out of the banquet hall, and then, she stumbled on a brick and fell.”
“Oh, sounds like the poor girl must have cooked some weak excuse to sell, and our best warrior bought it like a saint he was. Sounds terrific!” Wharton let out a weird laughter as he buried his face in his palms.
“Make another annoying word and I promise that will be the last thing you would say before I chopped off your stupid tongue!” I growled, my inside was boiling with anger as I flashed him a deadly glare.
I understood he didn’t like the werewolf, but she shouldn’t have been like that when my wife was involved. What the hell was he thinking?
“I also think she was telling the truth. She seemed confused as to why she would be lying there on the cold floor, she claimed to not have tasted alcohol the previous night.” Dixon heaved a sigh, his shoulders moved up as he crossed his arms around his chest.
“How’s she now?” I gulped hard, wrapping my left palm over my clenched fist.
Even though she had wronged me before, the fact that she did it for revenge didn’t give me the right to loathe her. I would have done the same if someone had wronged me.
“She was like that till she left the Villa.” Dixon shrugged off his shoulders. It seemed like he also believed that the oldest daughter was telling the truth.
But who wouldn’t believe it? Nova was her sister for heaven’s sake and she wasn’t the type to mess with her sister for revenge.
“Does any of the family ask about the Queen?” I inquired, wanting to make sure that none of the family knew about the sudden disappearance of the Queen. The plan was to send every one of them back to their packs safely without giving them the fear of the rogues being amidst them all night long.
“Alpha Randale did ask about the Queen, I think he wanted to see her before their departure. But I made him believe she was with you, and that he wouldn’t be seeing her.” he puffed out air.
I nodded my head, his tale sounded convincing enough that even I would believe it if I was Randale.
“The other guests? Have all the other guests been evacuated from the villa?” I inquired, my voice steady despite the anxiety I felt building inside me. I couldn’t let them see how nervous I was, not when so much was at stake. I had to keep a cool head, no matter how difficult it was. My heart pounded against my chest, but I forced myself to maintain a facade of calm.
“Yes, your Majesty,” Dixon let out, nodding his head. “I saw the last of the guests leave the villa before coming to find you.” There was a note of relief in his voice, and I knew he was glad to have everyone safely out of the villa. But I also knew that the danger wasn’t over yet.
“What are you thinking? What do you plan to do?” Wharton asked, his back straightening as he moved his head away from the headrest. His gaze was steady, and I could see the seriousness in his eyes.
“Already done being an idiot?” I smirked, leaning back into the couch.
Wharton sighed, standing up from the couch. He took beside Dixon, both staring back at me.
“You may not realize it,” Wharton uttered with a touch of exasperation, “but I take the safety of our people and the security of our nation very seriously. I don’t joke around when it comes to matters of state.” He crossed his arms and fixed me with a stern look as if daring me to contradict him. I could tell that he was being serious and I had no plan to bicker with him.
“Your Majesty, I know that you’ve been trying to keep this quiet so as not to cause panic among the guests, but now that they have safely left the Villa, we need to decide what to do about the Queen’s disappearance and the rogue,” Dixon spoke carefully, trying to convey his concern without causing more worry.
“He’s right, We need to take action, but we also need to be careful not to put anyone else in danger. Remember what the note says?” Wharton chipped in, his brows furrowed as he stared at me.
“What note?” Dixon asked, his gaze snapped at Wharton who seemed to find the note a bit amusing.
“Apparently, Eruba wants the King’s head on a silver platter before he’ll let the Queen go,” Wharton announced with a grim chuckle.
I sat down there, staring between Dixon whose eyes were widened in shock, and Wharton, who seemed to be controlling himself from punching the wall next to him.
“Now, isn’t this absurd?!” Dixon growled, I could feel the heat spurting out of him.
“It’s absurd and yet also deadly serious, which is why we need to take a measured approach.” Wharton groaned, his voice was tinged with anger, and I could tell he was struggling to contain his frustration.
“Y-Your M-Majesty, please say something,” Dixon grunted, he was visibly shaking as he marched to my front with his fists clenched tight.
I heaved a sigh, my head was practically blank and I didn’t know what to say to address the issue.
“I…”
“Your Majesty!!!” a voice yelled from the door, interrupting me.
The door slammed open, the sound echoing through the room. Heavy footsteps approached, and I turned to see who it was. To my surprise, it was Aunt Velvena, Everest, and Ulrica. Their faces were red, and their breathing was heavy as if they had been running.
“Is the Queen here with you?” they panted in unison, their words tumbling over each other. “We can’t find her!”