Snarls of fury

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Hera paced around her room not out of panic or anger but curiosity. She felt someone new enter the palace. She had no clue how she knew or who it was but she knew whoever they were, they were here to cause chaos.

She should be agitated but she really wasn't. She was simply curious. She was still trying to figure out how she knew someone was here and she later blamed it on her new werewolf powers. Werewolves probably just knew stuff like this.

Her curiosity overwhelmed her to the point that she thought of breaking down the door but she held herself back from doing that and continued pacing around instead.

Suddenly, the doors opened and she let out a huge sigh of relief. She had never felt so glad to see the betas as she did at that moment.

“Oh, I'm so glad to see you two!” Hera exclaimed in relief as she rushed toward them, dragging them by the arms toward the couch.

“What is this all about?” Asha began. “Look here woman, I always knew you were crazy but I didn't know you were this crazy. If you don't get your hands off me, I'll—”

“Oh hush, Asha,” Hera cut her off without fear. “Just sit on the damn couch and tell me what is going on out there!” She commanded and Asha's eyes went wide as Knox chuckled.

“I have no idea what is going on at the moment but I'm loving every minute of it,” He smirked, turning to Asha. “Looks like you've met your match.” He said as the trio sat on the couch.

“Shut the f**k up, Knox.” Asha seethed and Hera chuckled, earning a glare from the left-hand beta. Hera gulped and her chuckle died down. She was just glad that the beta had not broken any part of her body yet.

“So why did you drag us here like a maniac?” Asha asked, glaring at Hera and she gulped once again.

“Is there someone new in the palace? I felt a chaotic presence earlier.” She said and Asha's lips curled up in what almost looked like a smile.

“Look at you. I always knew you were not so useless after all.”

“Hey!” Hera yelled, taking offense immediately and Knox quickly intervened.

“Calm down, Hera. That's the closest thing to a compliment you'll get from Asha.” He said and Hera let out a scoff.

“That was supposed to be a compliment?” She asked spitefully and wondered what on earth made Asha so f****d up in the head.

“And you're right. There's someone in the palace,” Knox continued. “But I wouldn't say she is new.”

“Who is she?”

“Her name is Leah and she's Rune's fiancée.” Asha answered coldly and Hera’s jaw dropped. Fiancée? The Alpha King was engaged to be married to someone?

For some reason, Hera found it hard to picture the king engaged to someone and for another reason which she couldn't explain, her heart sank at the news.

Her insides clenched and she suddenly felt the urge to go straight into her room and sob into her pillow. It was such a strange feeling and she couldn't explain it.

The betas kept speaking, unaware of her inner turmoil.

“If you know what's good for you, Hera, stay away from Leah at all costs. Trust me, you don't want to be involved with her. She's bad news.” Asha warned.

“Well, you don't have to worry about that. How could I possibly run into her when I can't even leave this chamber?” Hera asked dejectedly and before the betas could ask why her mood had suddenly changed, she kept speaking.

“How did the two meet? Is she his mate?” She asked through clenched teeth as she felt an ugly wave of jealousy ripple through her. She was abruptly taken aback by the insane amount of emotions she felt.

Why was she so bothered that Rune had a fiancée? Why was she so jealous? She didn't even like the man like that so what the hell was going on?

Knox spoke this time, jolting her out of her reverie.

“Rune has been without a mate for a long time and it was a bit concerning that the Alpha King of Blood-stone didn't have a Luna Queen. Rune's uncle selected Leah as the best candidate to be Rune's wife and the Luna Queen of Blood-stone. Rune has never really been interested in women but he has an insane amount of love and respect for his uncle so he obeyed his uncle's wishes whole-heartedly, no questions asked.”

Hera raised an eyebrow. “So this is just like an arranged marriage? A marriage of convenience?”

“Pretty much.” Asha answered and Hera almost felt sorry for the Alpha King. Hera was a person who believed in marrying for love and the fact that Rune had to marry Leah to please his uncle was just sad.

The fact that there was a possibility that Rune didn't love Leah did little to ease the ache in her chest. He was still going to marry her after all.

“Where is Rune's uncle right now?” Hera asked.

“He is currently out of the palace, on a trip and no one knows when he will be back.” Knox answered helpfully.

“But where's Rune's mate? Shouldn't she be here to stop all this from happening?”

“No one knows where or who she is and honestly Hera, we can't be talking about this. It is kind of forbidden to speak about all matters regarding his mate.” Asha answered and Hera let out a sigh, still in her sour mood.

“But why do you hate Leah so much? Surely she can't be that bad.” She specifically asked Asha who seemed to have so much grudge against her.

Asha scoffed at her expression turned ice cold.

“You’re kidding right? She once put the entire city on lock down and threw all the servants in the dungeons all because she couldn't find her favorite pair of shoes.” She said and Hera's eyes went wide as saucers.