Part 3
1834 Words
Chapter dedicate to Angeldust! Haha the “bouncy part” made me laugh ;)
***
As Ellis stepped his feet into the Castle, he was informed that the rest of his family already gathered in dining room.
The meeting he had earlier went south, as expected, with one King refusing to show up and others contributing nothing. He almost lost his temper twice before Adam assured him they'd try again.
Why can't they accept him without a Luna? The age-old traditions of thinking that a wolf with his mate make wiser choices held others back. Not that he agrees with that. For the sake of his people, King Ellis has been trying to find a suitable Queen. Trying being the key word.
Dragging his feet to the dining room, he was faced with Claire, his aunt and her husband, Edmund. They took care of him after he lost his mother and had a sick father to deal with. Originally his uncle Edmund, his father’s elder brother, would have been the Pack Alpha if not for his notorious womanising and gambling habit. Years ago, he became sober and promised Ellis to get rid of that addiction.
Now he's happy with his wife and four kids.
Claire's smile widened as she spotted him; her long auburn hair was pinned back. Besides her, Sapphire, her eighteen-year-old omega daughter, leaned on the chair. His eyes then took in his youngest beta twin sisters—Emerald and Pearl, both aged six years as they began giggling about something.
The Alpha sidled into the empty seat in the middle. His uncle patted his thigh, giving him a curt nod. They all had at least one meal together to catch up. Everyone got busy the rest of the day with their work.
"Good morning, dear", Claire grinned, closing her hands around the napkin. "Sleep well?"
"Morning, aunt. Yes, I did thank you."
“Of course you did.”
The King pointedly c****d his eyebrow as he looked across the table.
Sapphire’s bored into him as her mouth twisted into evident disdain. She unceremoniously stabbed her fork into a chicken breast on her plate.
"No idea who you mean”
“Maybe we should ask the new beta you have thrown out today, brother.”
Ellis snuffed, his lips pursed as he chewed a piece of the chicken. His sister disagreed with his playboy lifestyle, always making sure to mock him about it. Unfortunately, he had no luck with courting the ladies. As they somehow find the truth (that anyone who takes place of his Luna faces an untimely death) and breaks the relationship. What can he possibly do? Not knot anyone?
Once he swallowed, the King picked up his goblet and tilted the glass towards his sister. "I'd rather ask Melvin about how you brutally rejected him."
Claire squawked next to him and held up her hands, her cutlery clashing against the plate set in front of her. “You did what?!”
His sister quickly jutted her leg out underneath the table and made contact with his shin. “Traitor!”
Sapphire has been rejecting Alphas left and right, not wanting to settle down at the age of eighteen in hopes of finding true love. Her sister truly got her head filled with garbage by reading those trashy romance novels. Who’s going to tell her that’s fiction?
To save her, Ellis changed the topic. “Where’s my brother? I haven’t seen him all week?”
Caden’s an Alpha, one of the most exemplary pack soldiers in the pack. He was only a year older than Ellis. They often didn’t see things eye to eye, but in the end, the King accepted him because…family.
His uncle cleared his throat. “Oh! Caden is out of town. He will be back in a day.”
Ellis hummed and they continued with their meal.
***
The Alpha King strode towards the front door, passing by different members of the staff late in afternoon. As always, he dismissed them with a nod, urgent matters pressuring him. Ellis had been waiting for this meeting a while now.
Every province had a council—full of Alphas and betas. Their decision was final, and no one could deny that. Just like that, no one could surpass the bill approved by Council, and he intended to get one of those. He has been trying to talk with the Council's Leader for a while now, negotiate the Shone situation. Adam managed to secure a meeting.
The butler hauled opened the door that led to stables, bowing slightly as Ellis walked through.
As the richest King in the province, Ellis had the luxury to take one of his cars, but he still chose to ride a horse. For reasons unclear.
Instantly, he rushed towards the stable. The soles of his shoes crunched against the pebbles that covered the ground. The wooden barn was situated towards the far end of the Castle, away from prying eyes.
“Your Highness, I didn't know you'd be riding today?" A stable hand exclaimed, bowing in front of him. His eyes kept shifting around as if he’s expecting someone else.
King Ellis cleared his throat, hands followed back. “I only need my horse. No one will be following me today.”
“O-Okay, my lord. Give a minute to get your Lady saddled” The beta trembled, turning around to run towards a stall on the right side of the barn. Ellis watched as the young man finally disappeared.
A black Arabian horse with longer lines was led from the stall, her whine making his ears ring. The King took a step towards the horse, biting back a grin as she whinnied in response.
"Ahh, there she is!" The Alphas hands immediately coming to settle against her thick neck. "Did you feed her?” He cooed an octave lower as his hands combed through her thick onyx mane, turning to the stable boy.
"Yes, Sir," The young beta answered as he secured the buckle of her saddle to Ellis.
"Good."
Lady. That’s what Ellis named her. Not very original or creative, but that's him. Once she was saddled, Ellis mounted her with an ease that came from years of riding. His father, Valerio Sr, taught him everything about horse riding, encouraging him merely from age four, maybe because his father loved horses more than anything and had a stable made right in the Castle.
Ellis firmly gripped the reigns and lightly dug his heels into her side.
Suddenly the doors to the stable were harshly pushed open as Adam barged in. Ellis squinted his eyes, holding his horse in place. What was going on? His breath stilled, waiting for Adam to deliver the news already.
"Your Highness!"
"What is the matter, Adam?”
The beta took a breath, the letter in his right hand now fairly visibly. Ellis audibly gulped, fearing it to be one of the bad news. He already got enough of those to be dealing with another.
“You have received a letter, your majesty.”
“Who is it from?”
“The Council”
Ellis shakily got down from the horse, securing a grip around the saddle. Judging from Adams tone, his lack of facial expressions, it did not sound like good news. Still, the Alpha managed to keep his head up. “What does it say?”
“I am afraid it’s a letter of rejection, my lord” Adam bowed his head down. “They don’t deem you to be fit to talk with their Leader.”
Ellis gritted his teeth. “And why is that?”
“Because of your unmated status.”
Of course. He bloody expected it! Still, he thought they would look past that. Then again, council members are the oldest, traditional scums to grace the planet. They never miss out on anything.
Cursing under his breath, Ellis loosened his grip around Lady. “I need to be alone. Ask the stable boy to take my Lady back.”
Adam opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something then thought against it. The beta bobbed his head, taking over the reins. Ellis was all too aware of what he must be thinking, the ability to read his betas thoughts coming in handy. As the King of his pack, he could read thoughts but only of common betas and omegas. Royal blood thoughts were kept a secret and for a reason.
His beta was mourning about Ellis not finding a suitable Queen which would solve half of their problems. He’s right, though.
Opening the doors to the outside, exhaling slowly as the crisp autumn air blew over his face, Ellis looked around. The gardens were one of his favourite places to slow down and calm his mind, organise his thought.
He sat down on a bench, staring up at the grey sky, shoulders slouched in defeat. He heaved out a sigh and removed the crown that was digging into his scalp, the metal glinting in the soft sunlight as he placed it on the bench beside him.
After quite a few hours of sitting on the bench and enjoying the quiet and the soft breeze, his little sister Emerald came into the gardens, causing his head to turn towards her at the noise.
"Have you not been hearing our voices, Ellis? My parents have been waiting to speak with you." She stated, scrunching her bright red nose at the chilly air and pulling the jacket a little tighter.
“What for?”
Emerald shrugged.
“Very helpful, dear sister” She burst into giggles before running back into the Castle. He shook his head at her before standing on his feet, knees crackling at the sudden movement. Ellis had been sitting for too long.
It turned out they were calling him for supper before he retreated to his Palace, trying to cheer him up. Adam might have told them about the meeting. Ellis wholeheartedly appreciated the gesture. Still, it haunted him that he couldn’t find a mate.
***
On the way to the Palace, he noticed a lump of shadow in the distance by the trees. Before he could take a good look, it was gone. The Alpha had a long day, so that must be a figment of his imagination. Shaking his head, he entered the Palace with a heavy heart.
Ellis asked the staff to take early leave, only allowing a few of his guards to stay outside. He was in a gloomy mood, barely managing to make it to his room before collapsing on the bed. Just like that, he closed his eyes, hands by his side and fell into a dark pit.
Minutes later, he heard some loud breathing followed by a sudden crash.
***
This chapter is longer (extra 300 words) because you reached the goals fam!!
Next target: 17 comments.
Again do your best in comments and get a chapter dedication.
- Writer
