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10.

-HIM-

I woke up with a sour mood in the early hours of the morning. I took some moments as I sat at the edge of the bed and looked out of the huge window in my room. The sun hadn’t risen yet and it was snowing outside. It was still dark outside but I knew that I had to get up and go out for a run before I join the warriors for training.

With a groan, I pushed myself out of the warmth of the duvets. I didn’t care to dress up because I’d be phasing in my wolf. As soon as I left my wing through the back door, the cold temperature hit me like a punch straight into the guts. Though the effect was soon gone as I phased into my wolf and broke off towards the woods.

The trees were left behind me in a blur as I ran through the forest. I was careful enough to avoid the parts of the forest with thick snow. I met some of the warriors who were out for a run too. After a good run, I was back in my wing. I showered and dressed in my gear before heading towards the training ground.

Augusta, my second in command was already present there. He greeted me before continuing his work. Slowly, more warriors started to come in.

“What made her do this all of a sudden?” I asked as soon as Augusta stepped beside me to practice some combat moves. His head snapped towards me. His eyes searched my face before he finally understood what I was talking about.

He simply shrugged at me before suggesting, “Why don’t you ask her yourself?” I aimed a punch at him which he blocked without breaking a sweat, “So, will you participate in the Calantha Ceremony this year?” He asked as he tried to flip me back.

“I am not sure yet but why are you so concerned?” I dodged him successfully before moving to his back and leaping at him. He moved away at the right time and I ended up on the floor but I did not waste a moment to jump back and face him before he could attack me.

Augusta sighed at me. Both of us knew I was very fast and had strong reflexes. It was one of the advantages that came with being a hybrid. “Why? Don’t you get it?” Augusta pointed at me as he said, “If you take part in it…” He aimed a kick at me but I caught his foot and pulled him towards me to make him lose balance. Though, he maneuvered from this quite efficiently, “then everyone from the future court has to take part in it,” He explained and the realization suddenly hit me.

This made me think about my mother’s decision even more. Why did she do it all of a sudden? I haven’t even found a mate yet but, if I even chose to ignore this for the moment then most of the people who would be part of my rein in the court aren’t even out of their training phase. Though they’d be well trained when I will be crowned in a few years but still, it was not rational. Heck, my third in command, Wikus is still a pup. My brother, Regulus has to regulate at his place sometimes.

“Did you tell him?” Celeste, my general came asking after training. We were currently outside the courthouse waiting for today’s session to start. I was talking with Augusta and Regulus about some important matters.

“Yes,” Augusta answered before my eyes fell on her. Celeste was a very tall, slender she-wolf. She was taller than all the she-wolves in Zaeris. Being almost six feet tall, she almost reached Regulus’ height but I and Augustus easily towered over her. She had dark skin but the same pale blond hair and hard grey eyes of her father, Lyco, who was the current Defense Minister and supervised the states’ army as well. Celeste was supposed to take his position when I become the king.

“And what did you think about it?” She cocked an eyebrow at me in acknowledgment. I, Regulus, Celeste, and August grew up together so there were no formalities between us. We were the pups who were born right after the curse of infertility was lifted from Zaeris.

“I’ll talk to mother,” I sighed, imagining the scene it would create in the courthouse. The fact that Calantha ceremony was going to be held in the next week, made things much more urgent. There were a lot of preparations that needed to be done.

“Today’s court session is going to be so interesting,” Celeste muttered lowly behind me as we walked into the courtroom. I heard Augusta let out a low wheeze behind me, while Regulus took a deep breath to control his laughter. I let out a low growl and it was all it took for them to burst out laughing at me. This claimed the attention of some of the wolves. The three of them instantly turned quite before going to their places and settling down.

I walked to the front of the courthouse where the two big thrones were situated. Beside them was another throne which was a bit smaller yet formal. All of them had the same emblem of Zaeris carved on the head of the throne. I took my seat and waited for the rest of the wolves to come in.

Father and Mother were the last ones to enter. Everyone stood up as soon as they stepped in and bowed lightly, except me. My father nodded at me lightly in acknowledgment while my mother smiled at me genuinely before they took their seats. The session began soon.

I waited patiently as discussions on important topics took place. I contemplated whether I should talk about this to mother in front of everyone or privately when the court session ends.

“Your Majesty,” It was the turn of the seer to inform the court about any visions from the future. The current seer of the court happened to be an old witch named Cynthia. She had been around ever since I was a pup. She was like a grandmother to me.

“Cynthia,” My mother smiled down at the witch. She held high respect for the old witch.

“The future has not visited me since the past few days but my daughters have read the stars and it’s their saying that we should not hold Calantha ceremony this year,” Her words were followed by several gasps from around the room. A low murmur instantly coated the silent air of the courthouse. I found myself sitting straight and looking at the old witch in front of me.

“What are you saying, Cynthia?” Father spoke up. His voice was loud and powerful. It could bring any ordinary wolf to their knees. I saw Cynthia shiver visibly. A deadly silence hung in the room while the air grew thick with tension.

I saw my mother place her hand on my father’s arm assuringly before she spoke gently, “Cynthia, I would like you to tell me further what else they have read in the stars,” Her aura instantly cut the tension in the room. Even though father seemed calm, deep down I had this feeling that the words that were about to fall out of Cynthia’s mouth would not help maintain his calm.

“Your majesty…” Cynthia lowered her head before she added, “They have read many things in the star and I am very much anxious to tell you that most of the things are not good,” I saw mother’s hand tighten on my father’s wrist.

“I would still encourage you to tell me more, Cynthia. I trust your words no less than the goddess’ herself. You have saved Zaeris from many ill fates in the past. I know that you only have Zaeris’ best interests in your heart,” As my mother spoke, I increasingly became aware of the aura my mother was using to keep everyone in the room calm. She had a very strong influence on the wolves.

“Your majesty, they have read that the evil will set foot on our land to claim the lives of several wolves. The alignment of the plants is very inauspicious. In fact, it has been considered the worst day that Zaeris will ever face in its whole duration of existence.” The courtroom was silent when she was done speaking.

“Your majesty,” It was the current Minister of Defense, Lyco who broke the silence before he added, “I will put my best warriors in the line and increase the security. I will take responsibility for the safety of every wolf in Zaeris but I insist that the Ceremony take place,”

“Thank you, Lyco but it’s the stars… we cannot change them!” My mother tried to reason.

“Calantha will be celebrated this year and I believe Lyco will stand true to his words as he has been always.” My father chose this moment to speak, “We cannot abandon a tradition like Calantha for the fear of the evil. Calantha is all about our faith in the moon goddess and the decisions of the pairer to help us lead a good life. It would certainly upset the two. The absence of our participation would only show them that we are not thankful for the mates they have bestowed upon us,” My father spoke the last part while looking at my mother. I did not miss how his eyes softened over her. It made my heart pinch. I am supposed to take part in the ceremony and I don’t even have a mate yet, “After being infertile for a long time, it becomes more important for us to celebrate Calantha. I hereby order that the preparations for the ceremony should continue,”

As my father finished speaking, I saw the people bow but my mother did not seem very pleased with his decision. I knew that there was going to be further discussions between them about the ceremony.

“Before this session ends, does anyone have any subject on which they wish to put their words in front of the court?” The court speaker asked. I knew it was my moment to speak.

“I wish to present the concerns of the future court regarding the very Ceremony that was in the discussion just moments ago,” I announced. I instantly felt everyone’s eyes on me. I did not miss how Celeste sat up straight amongst the crowd of delegates and officials. Her eyes gleamed with so much interest that I had to fight back the urge to roll my eyes in front of everyone.

“Your highness, the court has your attention,” The speaker spoke before he bowed and stepped aside. I took a deep breath before I put my concern, “Your majesty has ordered my participation in the Calantha Ceremony without the consideration that I am yet to find my mate,” I clenched my jaw when I saw some people smile at my words.

“Oh, my prince,” My mother spoke now. She had a smile playing on her lips as she spoke, “We understand your frustration,” Some chucked at this. I saw my father smile at me. I wanted to disappear from there right then but I kept seated to face the embarrassing situation that I had brought upon myself, “It is not only you who awaits the arrival of your mate. Every wolf of Zaeris is equally eager for you to find their future queen,”

I spotted Augustus and Regulus throwing me suggestive looks from the crowd. I didn’t even want to look at Celeste at this point because I knew that if I look at her, she would mouth something moronic at me or just throw an insult and I’d end up losing my calm in front of the whole court. I did not want that happening so I sat as still as I could manage.

“Now… now,” my mother waved her hand at the crowd for them to calm down a bit before she continued, “I surely have ordered your participation in the ceremony but I did it to fulfill the wish of the pairer. She wrote to me the previous week, requesting that you participate in it as well. I am aware of the state of the members of the future court. They are very young to find a mate yet. I hereby clarify that only you are required to participate in the ceremony compulsorily. Others can participate if they wish to do so” She directed the last bit to Celeste. I saw her cross her arms over her chest before sinking deeper into her seat and looking away. It seemed a bit odd to me. I decided to inquire about this later but for the moment, my main concern was to find out why Inanna was playing such an awful game with me.

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