I was escorted upstairs to the Conference Room. Both Alpha Kings were waiting for me to come in before they began the meeting. Both of them were deep in thought, probably about what needed to happen in order to avoid a war between our two countries. I bowed toward both of them when I entered. Alpha King Matthew was the first one to greet me.
“Good afternoon, Delta Melanie. How is Delta Anthony doing? I heard how he saved your father’s life this morning,” praised Alpha King Matthew.
“Good afternoon, Alpha Kings Matthew and Friedrich. Anthony is still unconscious. Dr. Adams does not know when he will regain consciousness due to the silver poisoning. However, he is hopeful that he will make a full recovery. I am grateful that he was able to protect my Dad this morning,” I sadly stated.
” I understand. I wish we didn’t have to have this meeting but we need to. I’m sorry Melanie for inconveniencing you,” declared Alpha King Friedrich.
“Thank you, Alpha King,” I replied with a bow of my head.
“All right let’s get started. Shall we? We need to figure out how to contain the damage when this becomes public knowledge which it will soon. I’m already hearing whisperings about it. Michael isn’t being quiet when or where he talks about it to Wendy,” explained Alpha King Matthew.
“Do you have anything in your pack’s By-Laws about rejecting your fated mate, Alpha King?” I inquired.
“Yes, we do. It’s complicated but I don’t see how he can get out of the consequences,” explained King Matthew.
“Where can I find the statue so I can read it Alpha King Matthew?” I asked him.
“If you go to the By-Laws, it is 6. Procedure of Fated Mates. Then you need to go to subsection 6. 2 Rejection of Fated Mates, subsection 2. So, look for 6. 2. 2,” answered Alpha King Matthew.
“Thank you, Alpha King Matthew,” I replied as I started to look up the By-Law relating to the situation we have and it relates.
Prince Michael has a chosen mate so he rejected his fated mate. According to the By-Law, he has two options since he is a Prince. He can voluntarily give up his right to the throne and keep his chosen mate. OR he will be stripped of his title and banished from the royal family. Those are his choices. I read this aloud for both Alpha Kings to hear. I waited for their response before I continued.
While I waited for both Alpha Kings to respond, I read further down in the subsection. It further stated in subsection 6. 2. 4 that the Alpha King could pardon or choose not to enforce the stripping of the title.
Hold on sports fans, in subsection 6. 2. 7, it states if in the rare cases that the Prince or Princess is mated with another Prince or Princess from another country, the reigning monarch from that country has the deciding vote on what the punishment would be in order to avoid a war.
“Alpha King Matthew, do you think Prince Michael is aware of your By-Laws pertaining to the rejection of your fated mates?” I asked him point blank.
“I don’t think he is. I don’t even know if he’s read the By-Laws. Why do you ask Melanie?” King Matthew asked me.
“Well, according to By-Law 6, subsection 2, subsection 4, you can pardon him or choose not to enforce stripping him of his title. Also, in subsection 2, subsection 7, Alpha King Friedrich could decide what Prince Michael’s consequences would be since he rejected Princess Sophia,” I answered him.
“I see. I cannot pardon him. He has to have some sort of consequences for his actions. He lied to everyone about his chosen mate. Then, he embarrassed Princess Sophia in a most inappropriate manner. I cannot dismiss that,” explained King Matthew.
“I agree. He needs to be disciplined in some manner. I wonder how many people truly knew his mate was chosen and not his fated? Was it just a few or was it common knowledge? That’s the question?” King Friedrich asked King Matthew.
“That’s a good question. I think we need to ask him. Beta Walsh, have Michael report to the Conference Room post haste,” commanded King Matthew.
“As you wish, Alpha King,” replied Beta Walsh.
My phone dinged with a text message from Captain Stewart asking me to call him regarding the ‘family.’
“Alpha King Matthew, I need to step out for a moment and call Captain Stewart of the Government Surveillance Job. I’ll be right back,” I advised them as I was preparing to leave the Conference Room.
“You don’t need to leave the room. You can make the call from here if you need to,” assured King Matthew.
“Oh, okay. I didn’t want to …” was all I could say before I was rudely interrupted by Prince Michael.
“Why don’t you watch where you are going? You need to learn your place,” bellowed Prince Michael to me as he barged into the Conference Room without knocking.
I was knocked into the wall and onto the floor from the impact of the door. As if he hadn’t already done enough, Prince Michael kicked me while he walked by me.
“Get out of my way, you female replacement,” seethed Prince Michael to me as he walked by.
‘Dad, Alpha Richard, I need you right now. I’m hurt. I’m in the Conference Room. Help me!’ I called out to him via the pack link.
“Enough! Stop! This instant Michael! How dare you barge in here and assault Delta Melanie! Betas Walsh and Yared seize Prince Michael. I want silver placed on him immediately,” commanded Alpha King Matthew. “Do you have any idea what you have just done?!”
Alpha King Friedrich was already attending to me. He was trying to assess my injuries from Prince Michael’s assault. Alpha Richard and my Dad knocked on the door and opened it slightly before they opened it to see what was going on.
“Excuse the intrusion Alpha King Friedrich. Delta Melanie reached out to us via our pack link that she was hurt. What happened?” inquired a panic-stricken Alpha Richard.
“Prince Michael is what happened. He barged in without knocking and knocked her into the wall and onto the floor. Then he kicked her into the abdomen,” explained Alpha King Friedrich to Alpha Richard and my dad.
“He kicked her after she was already down on the floor? Doesn’t … he know she’s pregnant with Twins?!” my dad growled menacingly toward Prince Michael.
Prince Michael paled when he heard that I was pregnant. “I didn’t know she was pregnant,” he screeched.
“It doesn’t matter. Your lack of consideration and manners toward her is apparent. You barged in without knocking. You knocked her down and then blamed her for being in your way. Then, you kicked her for being in your way. You assaulted Delta Melanie. You will be held accountable for her assault. You had better hope you didn’t hurt her Heirs,” declared his father.
“Take him to the dungeons. He needs to spend some time thinking about his actions. You cannot continue to go around and do as you please just because you are a Prince. Get him out of my sight, NOW!” growled King Matthew.
By now, Dad had helped me to a chair away from Prince Michael. I was holding my stomach because it hurt like a mother f****. I’m not supposed to curse, so I won’t. But dammit, it hurts and so does the back of my head where it made contact with the wall.
“Melanie, Mellie? I think we need to take you to the pack hospital so Dr. Adams can have a look at you. Anderson, get her laptop and things,” my Dad commanded as he gently picked me up.
“Dad, thank you,” I said as I closed my eyes and put my head against his shoulder. I knew not to argue with him when he used his commanding voice. Besides, I was worried about my babies after Prince Michael kicked me in the stomach.
“Delta Melanie, I am so sorry for the actions of my son, Prince Michael. We will talk later,” assured King Matthew as Dad carried me out the door to the pack hospital.
I couldn’t believe this day. I awoke to an alert/attack in which my mate is recovering from silver poisoning. Now, I’ve been hurt by an overly aggressive Prince who doesn’t think too highly of females leading or ruling in packs.
I just want my mate to heal and be better. I want my babies to be okay. I want to go home with my mate. But I don’t get everything I want. Instead, my Dad is carrying me to the pack hospital to be checked out. I can only hope everything is okay.