Chapter 13 Chapter 12
Duke Ethan
The discussions that followed were measured and deliberate, focused on the upcoming meeting with other Alpha Kings and the need for a united front to maintain peace and security in our territories. "Do you have any plans on how you will win their favor now?" I asked and he nodded, his lips pursed.
"Rest assured, I have made plans as regards that. You don't have to worry about it."
"Good, because the last thing we want now is dispute between these greedy Alpha king's. It's no testament that they've been eyeing us lately." I said and he nodded, agreeing with me.
"Anything else you'd like to add?" Keiran asked and I thought for a while before answering.
"The moon goddess festival has been on my mind lately." I cautiously admitted.
"It is still months away. So it's not at the top of my priorities at the moment."
"It is, indeed. And such matters should not concern you. If you had a Queen and Luna, that is. She would have concerned herself with those preparations. But you're yet to marry another." I stated.
The room fell into a heavy silence as my words hung in the air, and I could see the Alpha king's eyes darken as they flashed multiple color. Eventually, his silver eyes returned and he let out a sigh.
"It's not that easy, Ethan." He muttered, calling me by my first name. "How am I supposed to find the woman that will rule by my side if my destined mate didn't?"
I thought about it for a while before a thought crossed my mind. "What about Princess Evelyn, Her sister? I heard she's yet to have her mate and be married."
"Evelyn?" He repeated."She's already my slave." He answered, his voice coated with bitterness.
"Why?"
"She was at the scene of my mate's death and all the evidences pointed to her as the killer. I suspect she's the one who killed my mate and queen."
I gaped at him, surprised. "Why would she do something like that? That's her sister."
"I wonder too. She was supposed to be beheaded but I changed my mind..." He trailed off, furrowing his brows as he frowned. "Anyway, she's my slave now and I vdtn even make her my queen. It won't be possible."
"This is serious. Still you have to hurry. If you don't find a new queen soon, you risk growing weaker and this kingdom will be vulnerable to attacks." I said.
"I won't let that happen." Kieran stated, his voice filled with determination. "What about you? I heard rumors about your failed marriage. Is it true?"
"Sadly, it is. I have been...cursed," I admitted, the word heavy on my tongue. "By the Moon Goddess herself."
A murmur of surprise rippled through the room, and I could sense the Alpha King's curiosity and concern.
"A curse?" he repeated, his voice tinged with intrigue. "Explain." He said.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself before recounting the events that had led to my curse. How I had rejected my mate, a neighboring princess, and how the Moon Goddess had prophesied that if I were to marry anyone other than my true mate, I would be killed.
"And... Who is your destined mate?" The Alpha King asked.
"Amaris Silvermoon." I answered and Kieran looked at me with a confused look on his face. "She's a Duke daughter of a smaller kingdom. I had rejected her because she was wolflless so I thought she was useless. Apparently, the moon goddess doesn't share the same sentiment with me as well. It is a fate that I cannot escape," I concluded, my voice heavy with resignation. "I must find my true mate and marry her to break the curse."
The Alpha King's response was measured, his expression thoughtful. "And have you found this mate of yours?"
I shook my head, my doubts and fears resurfacing. "I have been searching for her, but I doubt she would accept me after what I did. she already ran away from home and no one knows where she is."
"Well, Good luck on your search. May you find her."
"Thanks, your majesty." I answered, grateful for his words.With those words, our personal conversation drew to a close, and the council room once again became a place of diplomatic discourse. But in my heart, I carried the weight of my curse and the determination to find my true mate, a quest that would take me beyond the palace walls and into the unknown.
.
.
.
Hours passed as the council room's discussions ebbed and flowed, but eventually, the meeting drew to a close. With a final exchange of pleasantries and diplomatic agreements, I rose from my seat, ready to take my leave. Exiting the council room, I continued to walk out of the palace, flanked by my soldiers and personal guards.
But as I stepped into the corridor beyond the council room, heading to my carriagw, my thoughts were suddenly interrupted. My footsteps faltered, and my heart skipped a beat as I spotted a woman in the distance, walking together with another lady—a woman who bore a striking resemblance to the one I sought, Amaris.
My breath caught in my throat as I tried to confirm her identity, but before I could take another step, she disappeared from view as if she had never been there at all. I peered around, hoping to find a glimpse of her without success.
A sense of urgency surged within me, and I knew that I had to find her, to search the kingdom for the woman who held the key to breaking the curse that bound me. I'll find you, Amaris. And when I do, I'll make you mine once more.