Chapter 36

Chapter 36
|| CEDRIC's POV ||

" Report, Your Majesty!"

Ares made his appearance in haste. He looked anxious and seemed in a rush. I nodded my head to permit him, his eyes darkening slowly,
" The werewolves! They have broken fifty eggs of our dragons in the forestry. Even someone claimed that they had seen them eating the dragon eggs."

" WHAT!"
A sharp pitchy growl left my mouth. No one dared to do such a thing ever since I became the king. The whole werewolf tribe was under my feet when I took Vanessa as my slave. I shouted in rage, rising from my seat,
" HOW DARE THEY!! Do they wish to die? Give me the names, Ares. I must burn one pack to show my judgment."

Ares responded negatively, even anger radiating from his face as well,
" I don't have any names, My Lord but I promise you that I will find each single person. Then we will punish them together."

I cursed under my breath. For a moment, I thought that it was a big mistake to give them a chance. But remembering Vanessa's face, I let go of the matter for the time being. I gave him my final order, calming my rage down slowly,
" I believe in your judgment, Ares. List their names. I won't let my people suffer in vain."

Ares departed after understanding his duty. As soon as he left, the Godmother entered the room. We've been in a cold war ever since I made Vanessa my Royal Slave. I had no intention of apologizing for that. After all, I was the king and it was my choice to choose my partners.

Godmother smiled faintly, the look in her eyes said that she was here for a purpose,
" Son, are you free tonight? Forget about the silly fight. I have prepared something grand for you. You can't ignore me this time."

I decided to forget about our previous misunderstandings. No matter what I did, I couldn't deny the truth that she took care of me and my sister when our mother died. I allowed her with a faint smile, harboring no bad feelings for her,
" Go ahead, Godmother. Even I am eager to know about it. Please don't take my behavior to your heart."

She shook her head with a big smile, taking the seat in front of me,
" No way! I am not a kid. I shouldn't have meddled in your decision. I was thinking about tonight. It's a full moon day and a sacred one for our tribe. Can we rearrange the engagement between you and Tiara this time? I promise that it won't be so grand. I just want it to happen as soon as possible."

A deep uneasy feeling wavered in my heart. Ever since Vanessa became close to me, I felt inseparable from her. But I couldn't forget my vows to Tiara. Perhaps I would distract myself if I gave my commitment to her. I agreed reluctantly, hiding my true emotions with a fake smile,
" As you wish, Godmother. I...I have no objections."

She left with a big smile and didn't look back anymore. As soon as she left, a deep inhale came out of my lungs.

How could I feel such an attachment to my slave?
______

" I am glad that I have finally taken you here, dear sister!"

I stood in front of my sister's grave, remembering the day when I begged my father to give her a Royal place for burial. He insulted me in front of the whole court that we were bastards and had no position in the Royal family. I returned to my village crying helplessly and swore to myself that one day I would give my sister the highest honor in the palace.

I made it happen and gave her the closest place to my castle. Still, the insult burned like a wound in my heart. I kept staring at the graveyard until I heard a yelp from the nearby bush. Vanessa fell with flowers in her hands. She was possibly coming back from the flower garden. She gasped looking at me, her sweet face hardening me again,
" Your Majesty! My apologies...I didn't know that you. You are here."

I smiled a little, again the matter of engagement wrenching my heart uncomfortably,
" It's fine, Vanessa."

She bit her lips down and I swore that I wanted to bite those rosy ones. Taking a glance at the grave, she asked curiously, rubbing her dust off,
" Whose grave is that, Your Majesty? This doesn't seem like a graveyard."

I replied with a heavy sigh, the death of my sister was a heavy blow to me,
" She...my sister... Liliana..She was murdered. I brought her here to keep her close to me."

Her eyes teared up sadly. I knew that she was far different from other werewolves. Without any more questions, she held a flower and walked to Liliana's grave. Placing it down slowly, she whispered, her small gesture melting my heart,
" I heard that dead people are fond of flowers. This one is for her."

Then she stood next to me to mourn silently. I passed her another glance to see any reaction. She looked genuinely upset and so pure. How could Alpha Diego hurt someone like her?

Watching her again, I had the impulsive desire to see her feelings for me. So I couldn't hold back the temptation of checking her reaction. I ended up informing her,
" I am going to get engaged to Tiara tonight."

There was a thick silence between us until she smiled awkwardly, her eyes having no affection,
" Co.. congratulations, Your Majesty! I am glad to hear that. The last time it happened, it was my fault."

I looked back at the grave again without saying anything. Perhaps it was my illusion because werewolves had a soulmate. If she had her soulmate already, why would she feel affection for me?
______
|| VANESSA'S POV ||

" Are you okay, sister?"

Aria's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I was watching the full moon growing up absentmindedly. I didn't agree to become part of their arrangements in tonight's feast. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't ignore the painful feeling swelling up in my heart. Did I want the king?

I replied with a shrug, tearing my eyes apart from the moon,
" Yes! What will happen to me?"

Aria hesitated a little before she spoke of her mind, coming close to me,
" I heard that you share affection with the king. Are you not hurting that he is getting engaged officially tonight?"

She was more than mature at her age. I was never good at expressing emotions. I shook my head with a fake smile, looking down at my lap,
" Who am I to complain? Their marriage was fixed even before my arrival. I am just a slave, Aria."

A long sigh passed my lips as I looked outside at the moon through the window. The full moon was special for us werewolves as well. Each werewolf with their mates howled at the moon today and went on heat. But as a weak Omega, I never experienced such a burning passion. Besides Diego never wanted me from his mind.

Aria didn't question anymore but she stayed by my side. When the clock ticked at midnight, I felt something warm coursing through my body. It began to make my body uneasy. My body started itching as if thousands of prickles were poking my skin.

I got up and paced through the room to ease the feeling. Nothing worked out as I heard a beast growling at the back of my throat.