Chapter 40
POV: Lamina Darkwood
She couldn’t help herself from smiling viciously as they ate their sumptuous dinner.
“I heard that the Lunar Pack is in the midst of panicking now.” Elder Courdamus, who joined them, smugly commented.
She let out a conceited smirk as she wiped the side of her lips with the table napkin.
“They aren’t just in panic, but they are surely in chaos.” Her voice was filled with pure arrogance, and she sipped her wine.
“Merelos informed me that their heiress and that Tamara whoever fell on the cliff, and until now, they still can’t find them.” Cessair coldly replied.
“Mother, what if they are still alive?” Leah worriedly inquired.
Lamina rolled her eyes at her daughter, then gave her a warning look that is, to stop using that worried tone of hers.
She slightly bowed her head because of humiliation.
“Stop being nonsense, Leah. You think, I am that stupid? Of course, I already foresee it coming. But I assure you that they are already dead. They fell at the rocky cliff. The rocks are sharper than knives. And I already asked Merelos to join the search party with the other packs who went there to help… that is, if they really are into helping.” She ruthlessly explained and let out a hearty chuckle.
“Lorenzo and Rania are still unconscious. They didn’t even know that their loving daughter and adoptive daughter were already dead. I’m sure, they’ll follow once they hear the news.” She ecstatically added.
“But how about the King and the Prince’ reaction? Aren’t they making a step now?” Elder Courdamus curiously asked.
Lamina smirked at him.
“Why? I don’t need any reaction from them. Besides, how can they do it if they still need to continue for the final test of the competition? And how can the King put himself into the pack with a missing candidate? Right, Elder Courdamus?” She wickedly told him making the old man roguishly grinned.
“It is your time to do your part, Elder Courdamus. And this time, do it swift and spotless.” Lamina sharply told him with a hint of threat in her voice.
The old man nodded his head as he swallowed hard. Surely, at his old age, he was certainly intimidated by the cruel mistress of the Dark Wood Pack.
With that tone of her voice, he must not make a mistake this time.
Or else…
He might be the one losing his head.
***
POV: Prince Raven Pierce
He was already exhausted but his determination to find Shahara was to the highest level that he couldn’t just give up.
Not in a million times he would never give up.
Every hour that passed and he hadn’t seen her… it was indeed a pure torture.
His heart was aching inside him, and he was trying to grasp the tiny pint of rational thoughts that he had in his mind. He wouldn’t let his animalistic side get in his way not now… not that he was still looking for Shahara.
But his hope was slowly burning out for every minute that passed… Shahara’s scent was slowly vanishing into thin air.
He knew what it could possibly mean. But he held onto the connection that they had built together. He was holding onto the connection that they had and was making Shahara in pain.
Prince Raven knew that he had regretted making her cry.
Her sadness was his weakness. Her cries were his deep wound. Her pain was his complete torture.
And it was killing him inside knowing that he hadn’t even told her his reasons for doing what he had done. He didn’t even give her the chance to decide for their relationship.
Was he being doubtful?
Was he being untrustful?
To her?
He wanted to smack himself for the wrong decisions that he had made. Now, he just wanted to find Shahara and asked for her forgiveness.
He might be the well-known virtuoso Prince of the castle, but when it came to Shahara, he was always becoming an irrational being.
Prince Raven suddenly sat on the pebbly ground, just beside the running river. He wearily leaned his back on the huge rock ignoring the fact that he was now getting wet.
He folded his knees and placed his elbows into it. He wanted to shout and curse the moon for doing this to him.
He thought that all of this could help both of them. He thought that keeping her his secrets was best for the both of them. He thought that if he kept her in the dark, she would be safe.
But now…
He knew he was wrong.
He frustratedly ran his fingers into his hair. He surely shouldn’t blame anyone now but himself.
He made this decision, and he was now bearing the consequences of his actions.
***
POV: King Hades Pierce
It’s been two days since Shahara and Tamara fell into the cliff and until now, no one had ever seen them or discovered where their bodies were.
He firmly closed at the mere thought of his people finding their body.
It never sank into his mind, and he usually dodged that possibility.
He let out a deep sigh as he let himself be lost in the darkness of his room while he was sitting on the edge of his bed.
It was one of the rare times that he didn’t know what to do anymore.
And again…
It was because of her.
Tamara.
It was ten years ago since he last felt this way. And it wasn’t a memory he wanted to think of.
Being the king was not his choice, but a destiny that he needed to carry.
It was all written in the prophesy.
He was sure to just give the throne to his brother… but that crimson red-haired girl entirely changed his mind.
Who said that he refused to be the king?
Who said that he wouldn’t be king?
He still remembered how his brother stared at him like he had just lost his head. Even he couldn’t believe that he was accepting that huge responsibility that he always tried to evade as long as he could. And suddenly, he was just so willing to study more about being a leader.
He pursed his lips together as his thoughts reminisced about the things, he manipulated just to see the Sacred Emissary secretly hidden by her parents in that huge tower.
That fateful night where the moon was in its full and brightest form, he sneaked in just to see her future bride… for the very first time.
He wasn’t expecting such beauty. The moon goddess had really blessed her with a stunning face that anyone could ever have mesmerized.
The very reason why he agreed to be the king.
From that very day, he would secretly sneak in at her room at night to watch her under the moonlight.
For the first time in his life, he found light in this dark world. He realized that all of his struggles and pain was worth it if he would have her someday.
Everything was settled. He would just wait for her to grow up and he could have her.
She was so innocent and her life in that tower never gave her that jealousy or anger or anything against her parents. She had a pure heart one thing that he secretly admired. Because it was the thing that he could never have no matter how much he tried.
He was ruthless and cold, but she was soft and warm.
She was the hope that he had been waiting for. Like his heart had been resurrected just for her.
But she was taken away.
King Hades clenched his hands into balled fists as he gritted his teeth.
He might have his own plans, but the moon had its own that needed to be fulfilled.
But was this part of its plan?
How could this have happened now?
He knew who his enemies were, but he should think straight and act accordingly.
But how?
How could he possibly do it if the one for her was still missing and didn’t know whether she was still alive?
His heart slightly clenched at that thought and the possibility that she might be…
He instantly looked away from the huge glass window.
No.
For the first time in his life, he would trust his instinct. Tamara was destined for him, and he knew that she was still alive.
For now, he needed to focus and play his cards well.
A loud knock from his door reverberated throughout his entire room and pulling him out of his reverie.
“Your Majesty, it’s me, Arlan.” His second in command announced himself as he let out a deep sigh and wore his plain stoic look.
“Come in.” His voice thundered and Arlan nervously went inside.
He simply stared at him without any trance of emotion making Arlan swallow hard.
“What do you want?” He coldly asked as he felt a tinge of fear from one of his loyal men.
Arlan cleared his throat before he finally found the courage to speak out.
“My K-King…” He stammered, and he could see hesitation cross his eyes.
“Speak.” He simply ordered and acted as if he was already losing his patience.
Arlan’s eyes widened in fear, and he let out a silent sigh.
“Uh, m-mostly of the members of the Were Elders’ Council are requesting for a meeting, m-my King. And I am p-positive that it is all about the c-competition.” He nervously told him.
King Hades let out a sardonic devilish smirk, then he straightened his back and Arlan could feel that his anger instantly intensified.
“Proceed with the meeting, then.” He simply replied with his voice screaming with danger and deep ferocity.
Arlan swallowed hard as he saw the King’s eyes turning bloody red under the moonlight.
The very same eyes he saw from Prince Raven a while ago, and it was making him tremble in fear.
His qualms were slowly coming true, and he just hoped that Tamara and Shahara would finally be found.
Or else…
The two Royal Bloods would surely be consumed by their own animalistic beings.