Chapter 10

The air was chilly, and the clouds lingered across the sky. Embracing her cloak closer to her body, Amelia sucked in some breath as she gazed ahead.

Winter had taken a stand that season.

Winter was exciting.

Winter meant hunting.

Hunting was one of the biggest events to ever occur in the country. In a few weeks, the Alpha king was going to declare the seasonal hunt.

The wolf that kills the biggest prey would be awarded a royal reward. It was a blissful season; even women were allowed to partake in the hunt and race.

“Lady Amelia, Meredith, and Sophia,” Madame Collins intoned. “You shall buy the materials from that shop,” she ordered with her left hand planted on her hip and her right hand pointing at the shop in the front. “Elizabeth and I will go ahead to get the other materials.”

Amelia sighed in relief. It was better for Beth to stay far away from them.

Twice every month, the ladies trooped to the market, shopping for materials needed in the workshop.

The shops in the market were lined in the same level and line, all painted in a soothing beige color. Carriages rumpled their wheels on the ground, and some passengers stuck their heads out, gazing at the surroundings.

Despite the crowd, the streets weren't as rowdy as they used to. The sidewalks that used to be a war zone were low on Lycans. It was extremely strange. The absence signaled some kind of bad omen…something sinister, something she couldn’t seem to place her finger on.

“My mother almost found me with Henry at the ball…” Sophia said as they began their stroll to the shop. “It was awful. I had him pretend he was a messenger. I hate it here!” Her eyes shimmered, and a drop of tear fell down her eyes as she spoke.

“Nonsense! Why can’t I marry whomever I want? Henry is my mate; if I do not marry him, I shall not birth a child. This system sucks! And it’s all because of social status; I’d rather be poor than marry a man I do not love.”

Amelia clamped her hand on Sophia’s shoulder. Life was cruel to women—her country was cruel to women.

“One day, the system will be fixed, I promise. Even if it’s the last thing I do,” she muttered, her gaze serious and transfixed.

Women deserved to make whatever decision they wanted.

“Luck will shine on us one day!” Meredith squealed as they went in for a group hug.

When they withdrew from it, Sophia tilted her head in Amelia’s direction. “You know, you frighten me sometimes.”

Amelia chortled. “You’re always frightened.”

For a moment, the ladies stood still, inhaling the fresh, crisp air.

“Still speaking of the ball…” Meredith broke the lingering silence. “Sophia and I searched all over for you that night.”

Amelia tucked the wisps of hair that was dancing across her face.

“Where were you, Mel?”

Amelia didn’t utter a word, but when she did, she sighed and said, “I left earlier.”

Meredith and Sophia glanced at each other.

That was usually their gesture whenever they were not quite convinced. “You’re hiding something, Mel. We know you.”

Candidly speaking, God help her, Amelia adored her friends, but sometimes…just sometimes, they were unbearably annoying—a pain in the neck.

Revealing the truth was only going to put their lives in jeopardy. To kill their curiosity, she decided to reveal something equally big, something that would divert their attention—something that’d erase their suspicions.

“I spoke to the prince,” she revealed like it was the most normal thing in the world. The lady’s eyes bulged out.

“How?” asked Meredith.

“When?” asked Sophia.

“Calm down, ladies,” Amelia smirked, “I happened to run into him.”

“Tell us everything!” Sophia’s eyes sparkled, and her tail appeared.

Typical.

“I didn’t know he was the prince when I ran into him. We went to the garden and chatted for a bit,” she sucked in some breath, trying not to give out too much information, “it was nothing serious.”

“That is incredible!” Sophia exclaimed.

“You’re one lucky—” Meredith began, but her words were immediately cut short by a group of soldiers that passed by them.

The ladies took a brief glance as the men marched forward.

Of course, Amelia was the first to speak. “Something strange is going on.”

Meredith heaved a sigh. “Some dead bodies were found around the woods,” she whispered to them.

Amelia took in some breath. Why had her father not said a word about it?

The voices she’d heard that night. Was it connected to the case?

“The king and the council suspect the humans are involved…” she lowered her voice when she mentioned the word ‘human.’

She was well enlightened because her father was among the council members.

But it wasn’t possible. The humans didn’t seem to know about the Lycans’ existence.

“But they’re just rumors, and no one is certain yet,” Meredith completed.

“Why would they suspect the humans? This is absurd! Nobody knows how to get to their country. That is if they even exist.” Amelia rolled her eyes and jerked her head. “What about the southern packs? Don’t they loathe us? This is probably another plot to destroy the Alpha king.”

“But a treaty was signed with the southerners years ago, an alliance for peace”, Sophia imputed, but Amelia squinted her eyes in a way that revealed she wasn’t too convinced.

“Yes, you’re right, but still, something is not adding up. Why bring up the humans when the southern Lycans should be topping the list?”

The word ‘human’ had never come up in years, so why that moment?

“We don’t know, Mel,” Meredith shot back. “You are just overthinking,” she said with a hint of irritation in her voice.

Amelia opened her mouth to speak, she—

“Ladies!” Sophia bellowed.

They gazed up, their eyes connecting with the fuss.

People had gathered in the street, and many were glancing out of their windows. A herald was on the street, accompanied by carriages and soldiers.

An announcement was about to be delivered.

“Hear now and hear clearly. Do not miss a word! The crown prince has called for a ball on the next fourth night in which everyone is cordially invited!”

The herald mounted on his horse and rode off. Different heralds had their designated location to deliver any message from the king.

“This is wonderful!” Sophia’s eyes brightened. “I shall see Henry once again, such luck!”

“You shall see the prince again!” Meredith straightened, facing Amelia.

Amelia couldn’t help but reason. Her friends had suddenly forgotten about the deaths.

The fretful period didn’t just seem like the right time for another ball.

There was chaos in the land.

The people were in jeopardy by an unknown force.

Amelia tried to connect the clues.

The strange thuds at night, the voices from the woods. The passage she’d suddenly discovered.

It was no coincidence.

Something was happening—someone was planning something…something big.

The more her wolf warned her about the dangers of the human world, the more she was determined to explore.

Amelia had two lingering conclusions.

Someone was definitely planning something…and the most obvious one continued to ring in her mind.

She was in danger.