Naya looked away.
Kael stared at her for some more before he let out a chuckle and let go. By now, he already figured out Naya's personality. In fact, she was so easy to read. There were times she almost showed her true emotions but most of the time, she would hide them.
Even though she didn’t say anything, Kael could hear her thoughts.
Just like now, when Naya was worrying about her dream. Although Kael couldn’t see it clearly, he sensed the confusion, shock, and somewhat longing in Naya’s head and heart.
Still, these were things Kael didn’t like to speak about. He proceeded to his wardrobe, casually stripped naked and took whatever clothes he wanted. As he did so, he sensed Naya started to move. When he turned around, Naya had already gone to the bathroom.
Kael smirked, but his smile dropped as he couldn’t help but think, “What was she dreaming about?”
Suddenly, there was a knock, interrupting his thoughts.
“Come in, Jed,” he ordered.
Jed immediately walked in, carrying an anxious expression. “Alpha Prince, Alpha requested for your presence. It seems it has begun!”
Kael raised his eyebrow. “This early?”
“Hurry and get dressed, Alpha Prince!” Jed urged. He looked around and wondered loudly, “Did that rogue leave already?”
Kael walked up to his desk, took the amulet from the drawer and wore it while uninterestedly saying, “She’s not going anywhere, but I’m leaving her here.”
Jed was stunned, then he quickly said, “Grizel is still in the South Border and won’t be home for the next three days.”
“And?”
“Who is going to watch her?”
“I’m not running away,” Naya said suddenly, startling Jed.
He gave her a look as she emerged from the bathroom. He could never get used to this woman’s appearance at all. But when he turned to his prince, he realized Kael was wearing a smug, proud look.
“You heard her,” Kael said, eyes glinting. “She doesn’t need supervision.”
His eyes were a natural wild forest shade of green but sometimes, they would turn lighter, as though they would spark like fresh water.
It wasn’t the fact that those light moments only happened rarely that surprised Jed, but it was that lately, Jed would find this kind of look on Alpha Prince Kael whenever he looked at Naya.
What was worse was that Naya also looked at Kael with the same intensity and emotion.
Witnessing this kind of scenario, Jed inwardly wished to disappear. He cleared his throat, “We should get going, Alpha Prince. Alpha Jake is waiting.”
If this continued any further, he was afraid it would take a long time to convince Alpha Prince Kael to leave again.
. . .
Alpha Princess Margaux sat with Luna Sierra and Elder Soledad. Wearing a soft green dress and her long brown hair decorated with butterfly pins, her beauty was enhanced and was sure to attract people wherever she went. Even Luna Sierra couldn’t help but give her a stinky eye, seemingly jealous of her beauty.
“Alpha Prince Kael must have woken late,” Elder Soledad said, breaking the silence in the room. “I hope you forgive him, Princess Margaux. Just yesterday, I heard he encountered a mishap at the border and had to get treated.”
Margaux bowed down slightly, “Of course, Elder Soledad. I understand. I am willing to wait for Prince Kael.”
Luna Sierra fought her urge to scoff. It seemed Margaux truly was obsessed with Kael. She looked intelligent but she had feelings for that unhinged prince. To Luna Sierra, anyone who liked Kael romantically was considered unhinged themselves.
The door opened and revealed Alpha Jake along with his men. “He is on his way.”
Elder Soledad let out a sigh in relief. She gave a gentle look at Margaux, stating, “You are going to meet your arranged mate. Are you ready?”
A flicker of excitement flashed through Margaux’s eyes, but she tried to keep herself calm, following the rules as she said, “Yes.”
Soon, Kael arrived with Jed.
A few greetings and pleasantries were exchanged before they proceeded. Jed had to do most of the talking on behalf of Kael. In fact, Kael had been silent the entire time Alpha Jake spoke about the union between the Night Ridge Pack and the West Wood Pack. Afterwards, Alpha Jake ordered everyone to leave the room except for Kael and Margaux.
“We will let the two of you talk and come with a final decision,” Luna Sierra said. Deep inside, she knew it was going to fail anyway. Whatever setup Alpha Jake was pushing, it surely wouldn’t happen.
Kael was a very difficult person to deal with. And right now, even with the beauty Margaux held, he still didn’t look her way even once.
Seeing this, Luna Sierra was more confident that there wouldn’t be a union between Margaux and Kael. Once that was declared, she would bring up Alpha Prince Felix to Alpha Jake. She may not like Margaux that much, but she was still a good candidate and came from a powerful pack.
“Whatever you decide will be passed to the leaders of your respective packs,” Elder Soledad added. “That’s why, please decide carefully. We’ll leave you two alone then.”
Just as she said that, Kael stood up.
“There’s no need for that,” he said. Uninterestedly, he glanced at Margaux once and turned to Alpha Jake, his tone filled with boredom as he said, “I have decided. I’m not going to take her as my mate.”
Everyone froze. Margaux also lifted her gaze, eyes wide while looking at Kael.
Jed almost choked. “Alpha Prince–!”
Fumes of anger came out of Alpha Jake. “Alpha Prince Kael, I command you to step back and think this through.”
“Alpha is right,” Elder Soledad said. “You haven’t even spoken to each other yet.”
Before Kael could reject everyone’s words, Margaux spoke, startling everyone despite the softness of her voice, “I didn’t come here to get rejected.”
She looked at Kael with tears about to come out of her eyes.
Alpha Jake sensed the tension and demanded, “It’s best to talk about this first. Everyone, let’s give them space.”
Finally, alone by themselves, Margaux faced Kael with a soft but determined expression.
“Why are you being like this, Prince Kael? Have you actually forgotten about our promise?”
Kael looked down at her and raised his eyebrow. “?”
Seeing his reaction made Margaux’s expression stiffen, her heart cold.
Did Kael really forget about it? Did he not remember that time when they were young when they promised to each other – that they would choose each other as mates and unite their packs?