Chapter 119: LUNA'S BAGGAGE

After an intense match of rock, paper, and scissors, the winner happily ran to the throne room. He was at least bound to be rewarded, yes? "Your Majesty! Sire! I just saw that doctor on my phone!" Thoughts were, however, often different from reality. The king wasn't impressed with this information. The other guards who were sad about the missed opportunity rejoiced at the blessing in disguise.

"Why were you on your phone? Aren't you supposed to be on duty?" His good intentions weren't appreciated. He ended up having the heavy golden seal thrown at his face. The king had one rule: anything from him was a gift and should be received gracefully. If he threw anything at you, then that also counted as a gift. The unlucky guard couldn't dodge the golden seal and was forced to catch it even after it hit his forehead.

He wanted to cuss because of the pain but that would only make the situation worse. "Your majesty, it seems the prisoner may have escaped." Even as blood flowed from his forehead right into his mouth, he was determined to relay the information to the king.

"What prisoner?" The king's tone was dismissive, but that was the way he talked to everyone, so the guard didn't mind. He beckoned for the guard to give him back the seal as he listened to the report. Being in power did have its perks. Why else would people swallow such disrespect?

"The doctor, the one that was in the dungeons." How could the palace guards not know about Dr. Hann's imprisonment? The man used to be a frequent visitor to the palace. They had all witnessed the high-profile way in which he last entered the palace grounds. They were also there to witness his fall from grace when he was humiliated and thrown into the dungeons. The only reason why none of them had mentioned anything to the rest of the world was due to fear. There was only so much one could hide from the royal family considering their wide network. Why would any of them risk their lives for mere humans? Besides, they stood to gain more benefits working for the king.

"How did he get out? Did anyone see what happened?" He wasn't surprised at the king's sudden show of concern, he believed it was in his best interest that Dr. Hann stayed locked up in the dungeons. He knew too much after all.

"I am sorry your majesty, none of us realized he was gone until we were notified of the ongoing Livestream." the truth is, none of the guards could figure out how he had escaped. Wasn't the palace dungeon supposed to be the most secure of places? Had someone betrayed them?

The king was silent for a moment before dismissing him, "Go back to your post, I will get to the bottom of this." Was that relief in his voice? "Get me the head of security immediately."

"OK, your majesty." His heart only settled after he had walked further away from the throne room only to be ridiculed by his fellow guards.

"Serves him right for trying to be an ass kisser."

"Maybe he thought he would be promoted."

The other guards' voices only got louder when he showed no reaction to their goading. "Does your head hurt?"

"Why are you guys trying to act like you did not fight for this opportunity with me? Wasn't it you that suggested rock, paper, and scissors? I will not deny that I hope to get some benefits, but so did you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I was sent somewhere." Did it mean his fellow guards could humiliate him just because the king had done it? No! He had his pride too.

Everyone in the vicinity was asked to move away when the head of security showed up in the throne room. With the excuse of talking about confidential matters, there were only two people left in that wing of the palace. "Did you need me for something, your majesty?"

"Is there something you would like to tell me?" Most people that knew the king would tell you he was the most dangerous when he smiled.

The head of security, however, wasn't flustered. He had worked for the king for so many years he had gotten used to him."Nothing new, your majesty, I was told that one of the guards has informed you of Dr. Hann's escape. Sorry, I did not report it to y..."

The king only chuckled before interrupting him. "Did you think I wouldn't know it was you that let him out?"

"What! What do you mean, your majesty? I don't understand." The king must have been feeling very generous today because another person got to receive the golden seal.

"Do you take me for a fool? I have long known that your loyalty has changed. I just didn't think you would be bold enough to let a criminal go. That little hunter of yours must be so good in bed that you gladly betray your king for her." He actually broke out into a cold sweat, he could not maintain his well-trained emotionless facial expression.

"Your majesty!" He cried out in panic. "I- I do..."

"What? Do you think there is anything going on around here that I don't know about?" He hurled everything he could find near him at the now kneeling man. "I think I have been too lenient on you that you have forgotten how I got to this position."

"Your majesty! Please spare me, it was only a moment of weakness." Most people thought that the former king had died due to grief after losing his mate, but the head of security knew better. His father had sided with the current king after all. To take over the throne, a son had meticulously devised a sinister plan.

The queen was ambushed by 'rogues' on her way to visit her family, leading to the king ending his life as he could not go on living without his mate, or so everyone thought. While the queen died during the organized attack, there was a coup in the palace. The king had to go through the pain of losing his mate while locked up in a dungeon among prisoners he had sentenced there himself. While the werewolf community mourned the death of two great leaders, one was tortured and starved. "Most Alphas step down when their sons reach this age. How long do you want to hold onto the throne, father?"

He might never know that had he waited for his birthday, which was only a month away from the day he killed his mother, he would have gotten that grand coronation ceremony that he always longed for. Lust for power had ended up breaking the model family.

He was praised for stepping up and taking over the throne during the most difficult moment and he played the role of a barely hanging on son to perfection. After that, he slowly got rid of everyone that helped him with his plan, leaving only those he deemed loyal. I bet the former head of security would be turning in his grave if he had one when he realizes the man he helped get power was now gunning for his only son's life. Classic case of the farmer and the snake, isn't it?

"I can also get rid of your life and call it a moment of weakness." His voice was cold and sinister. Bold of him to try and plead for mercy from a man who couldn't even spare his own parents. Anyone who threatened his position faced the same fate.

With snot and tears streaming down his face, the head of security groveled at that king's feet. "Please spare my life, your majesty. I will do anything."

As if the king would spare a traitor, "Throw him in the dungeons!" While the normal guards may have been sent away earlier, they were at a distance where if the king shouted they could still hear him. "One of you should find me that bitch he has been seeing."

"She is innocent, your majesty! You can do anything to me, but please spare her life." His plea changed once he realized his mate was going to be in danger. No one felt bad for him, he often used his position of power to step all over the other guards. So when he fell, they were more than happy to reciprocate how they had been treated before.

It was only a few hours since he had been thrown into the dungeon but he somehow looked worse than Dr. Hann. "Where is she hiding?" After searching for hours on end, no one seemed to find where his mate had gone.

"I don't know." He really didn't know, but no one could believe him. "We only ever met at places she chose. I don't even know where she lives." He sounded pitiful, didn't he? She was gone as soon as he had landed in trouble and he was left behind facing the consequences.

He had found his mate during one of the missions the king had sent him on. He had decided to check out the mall in the human town nearby and there she was. He was one of the very few werewolves that didn't have a problem being mated to a human. But his human mate wasn't normal. She had another identity; a hunter. He only knew she was a hunter because she had ended up being his mission. Imagine his shock when he realized the group of hunters he had been sent to intercept was led by his mate.

She finally agreed to be with him after so many months of him begging, but due to them being on warring sides, they were forced to keep their relationship a secret. There was something about secret relationships, right? Everything was blissful, they were both supposed to quit their positions at the end of the year and elope.

When his mate asked him for a favor, even though it would be considered betraying his people, he was more than happy to oblige. "The king is protecting such a monster, he should be let out in the world so that every one that is looking for him finally gets justice!" Blame the mate bond for his lapse in judgment but he released Dr. Hann. He didn't even question her further.

What he didn't know was that the hunter wasn't even his mate and he had been chosen as a target by her because of his position. Hunters were known to use fake mate bonds to dupe werewolves into lowering their guards against them. Their target was king all this time, but since Dr. Hann had landed on their laps. They decided to use him to cause chaos.

"It seems that the little bi.tch you are hell-bent on protecting isn't as loyal as you." How laughable. But who could he blame for his foolishness? The milk had been spilled already, there was no use crying over it.

Mayhem!

This was a word that could be used to loosely describe what was currently going on. Dr. Hann's sudden arrival at Thompson Springs had caused more damage than anyone had anticipated. One man had single-handedly caused chaos between two communities.

"You did good today, we will give you back what belongs to you when everything is done."