Chapter 17
POV: Prince Raven Pierce
He was in the study room of the castle when Arlan suddenly entered the room. His face was dreadful and wearily plopped down on the couch just across from where he was sitting.
He mentally shook his head. He knew something was up with the King, but he still asked it, though. He was still his brother the only family he had.
“So, how was he?” A hint of worry crossed his voice.
Arlan shook his head and looked at him with gloomy and despairing eyes.
They both heaved a deep sigh one look, and they already knew that the King was still on the verge of his fury.
“All of his subordinates were terrified to be near him.” Arlan restlessly said.
“How did this happen? And when?” Prince Raven raised his brow and curiously asked.
“I don’t really know what happened to him. After he went to the infirmary, he just turned out to be in this maddening state.” Arlan disappointedly answered.
“Infirmary?” He absentmindedly asked.
“Yes. He went there and I don’t know why.” Arlan seriously confirmed.
A deafening silence engulfed them.
“Why?” Arlan suddenly asked.
Prince Raven just shrugged his shoulders, but his mind was still thinking.
Well, that was really what happened. He didn’t know what happened to him. He just turned out that way something that he was scared to happen.
Arlan heaved another deep sigh.
He couldn’t help himself but think of the possibilities.
“I’m worried that he might not control his emotions this time.” Prince Raven heard Arlan’s concerned voice that made him pull out from his drifting reverie.
He cleared his throat and looked seriously at Arlan.
“I think he just needed time for himself right now.” He suggested and opened the book in his hand to continue reading it.
He had this tiny little clue to why the great King Hades Pierce turned out into a cruel and ominous person.
Prince Raven shook his head as a small and concealed smile escaped from his lips.
You indeed hit it hard, brother. He mentally thought.
***
POV: Tamara/Tyra
Meanwhile, Tamara was finally discharged from the infirmary at that sultry mid-afternoon.
Benson fetched her and drove her to the Lunar Pack Mansion where the Vikesh family was waiting for her.
Finally, her boring stay in the sickbay is now over. She is now permitted to go out. She checked her arm, which was now completely healed. Kage and Doctor Dreyson did a very great job on her, that she actually felt like she was all new and kicking.
Alright.
She wasn’t that totally bored inside the infirmary. She learned a lot from Kage, who became her constant visitor during her one day stay there. She was so grateful, though. He was quite naughty but nice he jokes a lot, making her feel so much better.
He promised that he would visit her one of these days even during her training with Shahara. She was surprised but she couldn’t find words to say, so she just agreed.
“By the way, Benson err, what should I call you, now?”
From her trance of thinking she looked at the Beta of the pack, who once again turned into her chauffeur. She awkwardly stared at him as he continued maneuvering the car towards the mansion which was a few blocks away. It’s just a couple of minutes’ walk, but the Vikesh Family just didn’t want her to be stretched in pain.
“Just Benson, Miss.” He politely answered wearing his famous stoic and blank face as he took a glance at her.
“Alright, Benson. Uhm, look, I… I just want to apologize for what happened in the woods. That time, I was so scared and doubtful and…”
Tamara let out a downhearted sigh she absolutely felt awful for leaving him behind at that time.
“It was alright, Miss. You don’t need to worry about that. It is my duty to make sure that you are safe, but I failed. I should be the one apologizing.” Benson eyed her with that sorry look on his eyes, but his face remained stoic.
Tamara swallowed hard.
“I… It’s fine.” She hesitantly said.
The beta just nodded.
“Besides, you must not apologize to anyone, Miss. Especially not to me.” Benson seriously told her that makes her forehead creased because of confusion.
“What do you mean by that?” She was curiously baffled as she asked him.
He just remained silent and took a swift glimpse at her.
She was about to say something when he instantly announced that they were already in the mansion.
“We’re here, Miss.” He simply said as he parked the gray Cadillac Eldorado, and he went out of the car to open the door for her.
She was still in a state of bewilderment when Shahara welcomed her with her signature sweet smile.
“I wanted to hug you, but not in front of everyone.” She giddily whispered and chuckled softly, making her smile, too.
“Thank you, Benson.” Shahara gratefully acknowledged him and then looked at her.
“You’re welcome, Milady.” Benson courteously answered and bowed down his head before walking back to the vintage car and driving away leaving her with jumbled thoughts running through her mind.
“Hey, let’s go. They are waiting in the study room.” Shahara joyously called her as she led the way towards the mansion.
Her gaze dropped at the moving car, away from where she was, and forcefully sighed. She then, stared at Shahara who was patiently waiting for her. She hesitantly walked to her side as they keep their tracks towards where Uncle Lorenzo and Aunt Rania were waiting.
The moment Shahara opened the door to the study room, she knew something was off with the family. She could identify the adamant and tense emotions fluctuating in the air. So, whatever this was all about, she knew it wouldn’t be good.
Aunt Rania didn’t wear her sweet smile that was always plastered on her face, but she had this concerned look which darted towards her. Uncle Lorenzo who always wears his serious facade was now somber and stressed as he massaged his temples gently with his fingers.
Shahara sat beside her mother while she silently sat on the single couch just beside her.
Her heart was thudding fast she wasn’t any fan of surprises hopefully, a positive surprise at this one. Although she was sure it was clearly the other way around.
Uncle Lorenzo placed both his hands on his knees. He cleared his throat, making his wife and daughter dart a sharp look at him. She was now curious about what the heck was happening.
Something seemed odd to them.
Her eyes moved to Uncle Lorenzo, then to Aunt Rania and Shahara and get back to Uncle Lorenzo totally a confusing one.
“As I was saying, Tamara, you are here for a vital and most important request.” Uncle Lorenzo finally said and looked directly at her.
His face was serious but concerned was evident in the way he looked at her. She kept her silence and let the alpha of the pack continue as to what he was saying.
“You will be the Lunar Pack’s candidate for the new Queen.” He seriously declared, making her heart beat stop for a second and doubled its pace.
Her stomach tickled and her toes curled involuntarily. She didn’t know what to say nor to decide at that.
She was just… so shocked.
She?
A candidate to be the new Queen?
They got to be kidding her?!
“I… Uh, you’re joking, right?” She agitatedly whispered.
But no one answered her question. They all looked serious.
Tamara gasped.
She surely had a huge debt to the Vikesh family, but her hand in marriage?
She doesn’t know what to think.
But she couldn’t hide the tingling sensation creeping into her entire system. As if something was burning inside her making her wolf restless.
She swallowed roughly.
“B-but why me? I am just a servant Omega who was already an orphan. And I am not even an aristocrat…” Tamara reasoned as her voice faded and turned into a whisper.
She didn’t know why it came out sadly that she bowed her head.
“But you were not just a simple servant Omega, Tamara.” Aunt Rania gently told her making her raise her eyes and look intently at her.
“Your parents Winston and Ameia were noble wolves. That means you came from a high-ranking family.” Uncle Lorenzo seriously reminded her.
“But I am now Tyra Amaris, a servant Omega? How? I mean…” Tamara confusedly told them.
“With that, I think you will be safer being the candidate in a competition for the new Queen. With that, you may also discover lots of things that may lead to whoever killed your parents.” Shahara carefully explained.
Tamara’s eyes darkened by hearing about her parents. Her desire to get revenge on their deaths burned inside her.
She bit her lower lip.
Fine. She thought.
If this was to avenge her parents’ death, then why not give a try.
Besides, she knew deep inside her something was rejoicing just a mere fact that she would be the King’s Queen.
Tamara heaved a deep sigh.
“Alright then. But I wouldn’t be just a mere candidate.” Tamara seriously declared, making everyone in the room look at her with pure confusion.
“For I would make sure that I will win it. You need to help me to be the King’s Queen so would have the power in avenging my parents’ deaths.”
Her voice was full of pure conviction.