PANIC IN THE PALACE

XANDER

Xander and his father stood in front of the court, they both looked tired and exhausted. The hall seemed to be in a panic. The Alphas wouldn't stop bickering and passing blames at each other here and there.

"I think you should all stop the bickering for once!" Beta Reynold barked, and immediately the hall went silent.

"I know you all need answers, but disturbing the peace of the Palace wouldn't give you the answers you seek or would it?"

"Beta Reynold, you know why we are here, correct? We need answers. You and your son aren't giving us any so why wouldn't the hall become rowdy," one of the Alphas stated. Reynold took his gaze to Xander who had been quiet the whole time.

"Xander, I think you need to say something. Don't forget it is your bride-to-be we are talking about," Reynold spoke through the mind link.

Xander stared at his father wide-eyed. He couldn't believe his father was pushing the whole thing on him now. How could he do that to him? What was he supposed to say? These few months he had been wracking his brain and going in search of the princess but still to no avail.

He took a glance at the crowd, only to notice that they were all staring in his direction. That was when it dawned on him that his father said what he said because the crowd was watching. This was harder than he had thought. He was never expecting that he will be questioned about the whereabouts of the Princess. They had no idea still that the Princess is missing and if words were to get out, then his ambition will forever be nipped in the bud.

Well, he will have to face it. If he wanted to be king, then he will have to start acting as one. He cleared his throat, thereby taking everyone's attention towards his direction.

"I know you all wished to know about the set date of my marriage to the Princess. Be rest assured, we are working on a date. I must tell you all that the Princess is still in a state of mourning and so, I cannot force her as her husband-to-be and the future king.

The Alphas all glanced at themselves, nodding their head in acceptance.

"Pardon me, Junior beta," another Alpha in the crowd spoke up. We all know that the Princess is still in the morning. But somehow, I heard a rumour about the Princess not being in the Palace. I heard she's missing."

Xander immediately went frozen. The Alpha's statement once again brought about murmur and chaos at court.

How on earth did he get the news after he had strictly warned those in the Palace not to say a word? How dare they disobey him and do exactly what he told them to do. How dare they be disrespectful!

"Brace yourself and defend yourself, Xander! I can't do everything for you."

His father said through the mind link. His father wasn't wrong at all. He can't chicken out now. Giving up is never part of what's happening. He had come a long way for him to let that be a bother to him.

"Listen to all, I don't know about the rumour of the Princess missing. I mean we all know the Princess is a filial daughter even though not everyone here likes her since she was a hybrid. But I can assure you that the Princess is in the Palace, so you all should stop asking questions too sensitive for an answer."

The hall went silent, as everyone seemed to be reflecting on what they had said earlier. Though e might have bought more time, he knew the Alphas are relentless and will not waste time to request another gathering. He needs to be fast with his search for Laura.

She couldn't have just disappeared without a trace. He knew she must be somewhere, a place he's not been looking. He had to keep searching for her. That is the only way out for him. He has to find her no matter where she might be hiding

She's a hybrid after all she cannot run away from the world as she pleases. She will surely be exposed. If his calculations were right, her wolf should be born by now. He was sure of it.

After Xander’s explanations, the meeting was finally adjourned.

Xander walked in haste to the servant's quarters in anger. He had to find the person.

"Xander, where are you headed?" He quickly paused and turned back around immediately.

"I need to find the traitor!"

"And I suppose you mean the person who leaked out the rumours?" His father asked while approaching him slowly.

"Yes, whoever he or she may be must surely be punished for what they did!"

"Stupid!" Reynold barked at him. Xander was taken aback by his father's outburst.

"What do you mean father?"

"What do I mean? Are you so blind that you fail to see the conspiracy Alpha Morpheus was trying to set? That Alpha is a smart man and I can assure you that Morpheus does not listen to rumour only to bring it to court. He knows something I tell you. And you trying to sniff out whoever told the rumour is his trap for you, get it!"

Xander froze, if his father was right about what he just said, then it would be so foolish of him to take on that part.

"Xander, it's been months already, do we have to go over this over and over again? Think before you act always. Don't just act on your own without thinking, it will lead to a disaster, never forget that. It will be so terrible if all of our plans just go down the drain. It wouldn't benefit us, so you must be wise in your actions at every point in time."

"I'm sorry father, I shouldn't have done that, I've learnt my lesson. What should we do now?" Xander asked. He knew that things can't be left just like that.

"You should continue your search for the Princess. From the look of things, I'm not sure she's still within our kingdom. For this reason, I want you to broaden your search. I guess it's high time to visit an old friend."