“Job well done, General Rachelle, Sir Jack,” the supervisor of the Department of Tax Enforcement, Harry Tapley said. “You manage to get this done in less than four days.”
“Our pleasure is ours,” Jack and I said in unison.
Harry nodded his head. “I shall make a report to His Majesty. You may now go back to your post, General Rachelle and Sir Jack.”
“Very well,” I said and nodded. Then we decided to leave.
“General?”
“Hmm?” I turned at Jack who was beside me.
“I observed something with you. Would you mind listening to it?” He smiled, fixing his glasses.
“Of course. What is it?” I’m curious as well. What did he observe from me?
“Given the fact that we finished the task in less than four days, now I see your point why you wouldn’t like staying in the same place. It’s enjoyable moving around even though it is very tiring afterward.”
“I am not tired at all. But I got tired staying in my office for the whole day.” I stretched out my arms. “I just hope His Majesty will make me rule the brigade. He hasn’t made his decision yet.” I huffed, talking to myself.
We headed back to the Onyx House. Instead of going to my office, I went to General Cairo’s office. I knocked before I twisted the doorknob to open the door.
A pile of papers placed on his table was the first thing I saw while General Cairo raised his glance. “Greetings, General Rachelle. I see you have done your work. I know you are fit to go as a field agent.”
I chuckled and nodded. “Thank you for taking some of my paper works under your care, General Cairo. I see you are not done yet.” I smiled wryly just by seeing them.
Cairo looked at the piles of papers on his desk then he chuckled. “That? I have already done them.” I looked at him, wide-eyed. Then he looked at his secretary’s desk with a few bunches of piled papers. “Those are the remaining ones I had to finish for this week.”
“You’re quick!” I couldn’t help exclaiming.
“I had overtime with Asher so we can finish this by the end of this week.” He winked at me.
“I’ll take some of them,” I volunteered.
But General Cairo looked at me with his eyebrow arched. He was giving me a look of disbelief. Even my secretary, Jack, coughed from my words. I just frowned. Looks like they didn’t want to believe that I wanted to help General Cairo.
“I just hope General Rachelle won’t leave those papers to me,” Jack said.
General Cairo laughed a little. “I appreciate your volunteering on this part but I will just finish them, Rachelle. I’m afraid if I give you some papers to work on, you will end up finishing them next week.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “That is so mean…” I twitched my lips and rolled my eyes.
We looked at the door when it was opened. Asher has brought two cups of coffee. Then his eyes widened when he met my eyes.
He saluted me. “You’re here, General Rachelle! Greetings!”
I nodded and saluted back, smiling. I approached him and held his hand. “Thank you for helping General Cairo for taking the paperwork on my behalf, Asher.”
He looked surprised then his face flushed a little. “T-That’s nothing, General Rachelle. I’m honored by your praise.”
I stepped backward and made a little bow. Then I faced General Cairo who was staring at me. When our eyes met, he smiled.
“Generals, I have heard rumors circulating the palace today that it was brought here to the military.”
“What is it?” General Cairo and I looked at each other when we both said it in unison. We both chuckled at it.
Then I turned serious as I waited for Asher’s words. “They said that the Grand Alpha has been picking some ladies that have no mates found yet to be chosen as Alpha King Claudian’s betrothal and the soon-to-be Luna Queen.”
“What? That’s the rumors?” Cairo asked. His voice was masked in a shocking tone.
My world immediately crumbled down. Is this what Claude has been telling me? The Grand Alpha’s drastic move? He is putting His Majesty to marriage soon?
“That’s good news if ever!” I heard General Cairo say. “Right, General Rachelle?”
I snapped back and forced a smile. “Y-Yes.” I cleared my throat, feeling a lump on my throat. “We can finally have a L-Luna Queen soon,” I said and forced myself that I am happy about this news. But my heart was betraying me right now. My wolf was already on the verge of rampaging inside me. She needed to see Claude for confirmation but I cut her off.
“Since the Alpha King’s mate had rejected him, it is normal that the Grand Alpha will have to prepare the arranged marriage for His Majesty. If only Alpha King Claudian had not been rejected, probably His Majesty is already married. His mate will be our Luna Queen,” Jack said that made me silent.
I bit my lower lip, taking a deep breath. “I can surmise Grand Alpha will choose Duchess Amelia,” I said bitterly.
“General Rachelle, Duchess Amelia can’t be remarried because the deceased Duke Leon, her mate, has made a will that she must not let her remarry,” General Cairo said. “Yes, we think that the duchess liked His Majesty but that is her limit. Plus, according to Asher, the Grand Alpha is looking for ladies who have no mate yet so Duchess Amelia is crossed out.”
Of course, I almost forgot that information. Why would I keep on pushing Duchess Amelia for His Majesty though? Plus, why did they kiss before? “Y-You’re right. I was wrong,” I only said. Then I made a loud sigh. “Jack, we should head back. So many things happened today.” I laughed it out. “We will take our leave, General Cairo.”
He nodded. “See you later.”
I smiled. “See you.”
“That’s very surprising for the Grand Alpha,” Jack said. The tone of surprise smeared on his voice. “This is a big gossip for the whole kingdom. Isn’t that right, General Rachelle?”
I glanced at him and just nodded. “Whoever she is, she must be lucky to marry His Majesty,” I said, half-annoyed.
*”Father will tie me up to a marriage soon.”*
*”I need to have a Luna Queen to help me to run the kingdom and will also bear my pups.”*
His words echoed in my head as the bitter feeling started poisoning me. He was right. Grand Alpha already made a drastic move for him to get married.
I inhaled as my wolf begged me to see His Majesty.
‘Find him! Ask him if this is true! We can’t accept this!’
I gritted my teeth at her words. I didn’t follow her and returned to my quarters after Jack and I separated. I faintly reached my bed as tears started to fall.
*”Be my Luna Queen.”*
That made my eyes widened. Claude… Claude wants me to be his Luna Queen…
‘He is our mate! Accept him already! We can’t lose him for the second time around, Rachelle! Stop being so stubborn!’ she said angrily, howling.
“We still can’t find who we are!” I said through gritted teeth, clutching the sheets. Alpha Storm is still investigating it. “If he is going to be in an arranged marriage, then it is good for the kingdom.”
‘We will both suffer from this. Claude and his wolf will suffer from this! Talk to him… We can’t let his father do this…’
I harshly wiped my tears. “No. I am not going to confirm anything. I haven’t accepted him so it is easy to part ways with him…” I said bitterly.
‘I can’t believe you!’ My wolf blocked me as she howled in silence.
For the past few days, my wolf didn’t communicate with me as I was enduring the rumors that were becoming true as the Grand Alpha himself announced it to the people of the Waevalon Kingdom. People were happy to know about this because soon, Alpha King Claudian would get to have his marriage.
I watched Alpha King Claudian and the Grand Alpha in their throne seats, happily chit-chatting. All of the nobles, the court officials, some middle and high-rank officials, and numerous count of commoners were here as the witnesses of the Grand Alpha’s announcement. The Grand Alpha will be the one who will choose the soon-to-be fiancée of his son. His Majesty has no will to pick. It meant that it would be a surprise for him.
Only the Grand Alpha knows the list of the candidates. Even the Alpha King has no chance to see the list.
Whoever gets picked as the Luna Queen candidate has to obey. It is a royal order not to defy the werewolf who has the highest authority.
His Majesty must have felt my stare on him so his eyes darted on me. He had a smug expression before he nodded his head, acknowledging my presence. I nodded back with my stoic expression and a small smile. Then I averted my gaze away from him while secretly clenching my hand.
It was like he already accepted that he would be engaged soon. It didn’t look like it was bothering him at all…
*”Be my Luna Queen. You’re the only woman I wanted to be my Luna Queen…”*
I huffed silently. This would benefit him. I am not fit to be his Luna Queen even if I choose to accept him. I was trained to settle wars, not to stay and pamper myself.
I want to get to the war… I don’t want to stay here in the palace and know who will be his fiancée.
“General Rachelle, there is a meeting this afternoon for the middle and highest military officials. This is an announcement from Alpha King Claudian,” said Jack as we went back to my office.
“Very well.” I sat in my chair and leaned. Sighing, I felt myself being exhausted staying in the hall after the Grand Alpha’s announcement.
But that pained me… The wolf didn’t want to say anything as she was still mad at me. I think what I did is for our good.
I should divert my attention from Claude. I need to divert my attention and his possible marriage.
“Jack,” I called him.
“Yes, General Rachelle?” He put a few piles of paper on my desk.
I didn’t complain about seeing them but I started working on them. “Have you found your mate yet?”
Jack looked at me with a bit of surprise. He questioned me like he thinks I am making fun with this. Or perhaps he was surprised because I opened a personal matter which I hadn’t done a long time ago since he became my secretary. But in the end, he answered me with a soft smile.
“She’s at home, taking care of our pup.”
Oh… So, he’s already married. “The name of your wife and pup is?”
“My wife’s name is Santi. Our first child’s name is Tanner.”
“I see.” I smiled, nodding. “It’s a good thing that His Majesty doubles your remuneration.”
He huffed. “Because he saw how hard it is for me to keep on chasing you to do your work.”
I laughed at his remark. “Well, you can at least say ‘thank you, General’ right now,” I joked.
“Thank you, General,” he said with a snort. No sincerity at all which just made me chuckle. “How about you, General?”
“What? What about me?”
“Have you found your mate yet?”
I opened my mouth but no words came out. I averted my gaze and laid it on the papers I needed to take care of. “I did.”
“So, you’re already married as well?”
“What?” Married? Me? “No, silly.” I shook my head.
“Then what?” He tilted his head a little, baffled by my answer.
I stopped writing and leaned on my seat so I could look up at the ceiling. “It’s a complicated situation so I can’t accept him so easily.”
“That equals rejecting, isn’t that right?” There was a concerned expression on his face when I looked at him.
Looking back to the ceiling, I smiled bitterly. How am I supposed to tell him about what happened?
“I rejected him. Because I caught him kissing another woman.”
Jack took the finished papers. “That must be painful for you to bear.”
“Not really. I managed to get recovered from the heartbreak.” But it was painful, to be honest. No one knew that I had been dealing with a heavy heartache for that whole year. Then the ache I was feeling was gone the moment I saw Claude and our bond rekindled for some reason.
I heard his sigh and changed the topic. “Do you want me to take your meal here, General?”
I shook my head. “No need. I would like to take a stroll later. You can have my meal later.” I finished all the remaining papers before I gave them to Jack. I stood up. “I need some fresh air. Don’t wait for me here. I’ll go straight to the conference hall later.”
Jack nodded. “As you wish, General.”
I went out and left him. Then I went to the corridors to jump from the third floor. As always, I landed perfectly. Giggling, instinctively, I couldn’t help but look up at the Onyx House on the fifth floor.
I saw His Majesty from the balcony with a bitterly cold expression. It was the same expression I saw when I was out of the palace with General Cairo. His brows were furrowed a little with the intense glare pierced through me.
I bowed my head before him and turned around.
“General Rachelle!”
I turned to see General Cairo and General Benedict. The moment I saw them, I instantly ran towards them and hugged them which made them flinch a little.
“Did something happen?” Benedict asked, worried.
“Are you feeling alright, Rachelle?” General Cairo asked.
“Do you want to summon Colette?”
Sighing, I stepped back then looked at the fifth floor. His Majesty was silently watching us or rather, he was glaring at me. I turned to Benedict.
“Summon your mate. I need a loud companion,” I said through chuckling. I kind of miss one of my Captains, especially Colette.
“Of course. I will fetch her.” Benedict smiled. “I’ll be right back.”
I nodded. When Benedict left us, I looked at General Cairo who was silently watching me.
“What?” I asked, anxious to stare. He smiled and opened his arms. I gave him a weird look. “For what?”
He shrugged. “I just thought you needed a hug so I opened my arms. You know that I’m always here for you, Rachelle.” His gentle smile was enough to wash away my worries.
Chuckling, I nodded. “Don’t mind if I do.” I embraced him. Sighing, I felt comfort. Maybe this was what I had been wanting to have. I want someone who can embrace me.
“What are you two doing?” We heard a warning growl which made General Cairo and I separated immediately.
The smell of after rain and mint met my nostrils the moment we faced the intruder. Although I already knew that it was him, I couldn’t help releasing a gasp.
It was Alpha King Claudian who had a murderous expression.