Chapter 6
Everyone eagerly awaited the prince's emergence. Enzo has always been an early riser, a trait that Queen Aurelia greatly appreciated. Her son Dante, on the other hand, moves at a snail's pace, causing him to frequently arrive late at Kingdom events and activities.
Today marks one of the most highly anticipated events for the Moonshadow werewolves in centuries. They have patiently waited twenty-one years for another battle between the Alpha prince and his Beta. With Dante now assuming his rightful role as prince, it's the perfect opportunity to display his royal lineage to all.
"Why is he taking so long? Alba, please fetch Dante and commence the battle," Queen Aurelia commanded her young servant, her throne already displaying signs of boredom.
Alba swiftly departed from the crowd to locate the prince.
Dante's POV
"I could tell that Enzo had arrived early. Of course, it's our duel, and arriving ahead of time is part of the Palace's rules, which I'm well aware of. I quickly rose from the tub, dried myself off, and wrapped a towel around my waist. Exiting the bathroom, I was relieved to find that this woman had prepared my clothes.
As I approached to retrieve them, my eyes were fixated on her. I noticed her swollen eyes, a longing for her family, but my decision was final; she would serve me for the rest of her life.
"Stay here, alright? My mother despised Omegas, so if you want to survive here, follow my orders quietly, understood?" I informed her, half-expecting her to mock me, but instead, she simply nodded without meeting my gaze."
I simply ignored her and went outside. "I asked Alba to provide you with an official servant dress! I'm looking forward to seeing you in that outfit," I said with a malicious smile before leaving her alone.
I locked the door behind me and instructed two soldiers to guard my room.
After taking a deep breath, I entered the hall and noticed my mom and Enzo engaged in conversation. I saw her laughing in front of him, but I wasn't pleased to see the queen interacting with my Beta.
It's not that I don't trust him, but I strive to excel in everything.
As I made my way through the crowd, I spotted a familiar face hiding behind the hall's pillars. She quickly covered her face with a red cloth.
I wanted to follow her when she blended into the crowd, and that's when the Queen called my attention.
"Now that the Alpha Prince has arrived, I will commence the battle. As we all are aware of this longstanding tradition, which determines the true Alpha King of the Kingdom, he and his Beta will engage in a contest of agility and strength, known as 'Taming the Beast,'" Queen Aurelia explained.
Everyone listened with excitement, eager for the upcoming challenge.
"It's called 'Taming the Beast,' she clarified.
"Enzo and Dante will embark on a multi-day journey to tame the formidable lion residing within the Caves of Death.
When they reach the heart of the forest, the beast will emerge, and both of them will employ their tactics, knowledge, strength, agility, and werewolf powers to bring it back here."
"Whoever did it, win!" Dante's mom briefly instructed them on the rules.
Ashina heard it, even though Dante had locked her inside his room. The window was her only hope to see what was happening outside.
"How about Mom and Maverick doing today?" she murmured and sighed.
She wanted to go home, but she didn't know what to do or how to break the prince's decision.
Dante and Enzo locked eyes, both determined to win the game.
"I wonder, my Lord, how will you feel if I win?" Dante asked, his tone tinged with sarcasm.
Dante burst into laughter, thinking Enzo was merely joking. "Of course, I'll praise you for defeating me, but it won't be that easy!" he replied as they returned to the starting point.
"As soon as the Queen counts to three, the game will begin! One, two, three, and run!" The Queen initiated the duel.
The entire Kingdom watched eagerly as the gate swung open to witness their incredible speed.
Dante took the lead while Enzo gave his all to catch up. Amidst the cheers from Moonshadow's Pack, Cora emerged from the crowd and surveyed the palace. Her gaze landed on Dante's window, where she noticed a girl concealed behind the curtains.
"So, he found another girl again!? Wow, he hasn't changed at all. I wonder who this girl is," she mumbled while sneaking inside the palace. She had returned for revenge. She had run away from him a year ago because he mistreated her as his slave.
She couldn't forget the moment when Dante choked her because of her one mistake—she had entertained one of the soldiers, and he got jealous. He ordered her execution, and it made her feel guilty because Cora thought it was her fault that poor Moonshadow had died. "I will do everything to make you pay," she said with a devilish smile on her face.
Cora hailed from the highest echelon of werewolves and was declared the Luna of their pack. She had escaped the clutches of their malevolent leader and had now returned with the intent to stop him. However, something troubled her.
"Whose scent is this?" she pondered, her presence infiltrating the palace. She managed to slip inside without encountering any hindrance. The aroma she detected was far from ordinary, compelling her to draw nearer to Dante's chamber. Her wolf, gifted with keen olfactory senses, helped her pinpoint the origin of this unfamiliar scent.
As she approached Dante's room, Cora concealed herself, spying on the three vigilant bodyguards stationed outside the door. Her heart skipped a beat when she recognized a familiar face approaching her location – it was Caleb, Dante's cousin.
"Why is Caleb here? The duel was supposed to take place outside the Kingdom," she wondered aloud, her expression reflecting her confusion.
Caleb's POV
I am concerned about an omega girl at the party. My cousin Dante chose her to accompany him for the evening, but I'm uncertain if he released her or if, worse yet, she might become a replacement for Cora. Cora's disappearance has left Dante craving any girl he fancies.
She was the only she-wolf who brought him happiness and love, but she managed to escape and never returned. My senses are on edge, and I'm hopeful to spot her here if she decided to stay. Unfortunately, I see no signs of her presence in the crowd. I find it hard to believe she wasn't here, as I detected an unusual scent, much like Ashina's.
I trailed the scent's direction, determined to identify it, until I unexpectedly found myself standing outside Dante's room in the Palace. Three guards stood at the entrance, guarding something within. The scent grew stronger, and I sensed my wolf trembling with fear. It was the first time he'd displayed such fear, akin to that of a frightened baby wolf encountering the scent of another wolf.
"Excuse me, my cousin was outside battling with his Beta. But who are you keeping inside his room?" I asked them. Three of them exchanged glances with each other. The big one cleared her throat and replied, "Prince Dante ordered us to guard the woman inside. He told us that she was his new pet." He told me, and I didn't know what to imagine or think. Was she a slave or his guest from last night? I started to panic when I realized that Ashina's scent was the one I smelled. "No way! Did Dante know that his servant was the same person as the one whose scent I detected? Or what if he found her last night but, to keep her hidden from everyone, he took and caged her here?" I muttered to myself.
While Caleb had learned that Ashina was Dante's long-lost mate, Cora, on the other hand, was eager to meet the woman inside her Alpha Prince's room. Even though years had passed, she couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. She had always believed she was the only one for him.
Cora couldn't help but wonder if this new girl was truly special, given that she had heard Ashina came from a family of lone wolves, the Omegas. "Dante is mine, and his eyes and heart will always be faithful to me. I wonder if he marked her?" Cora mumbled as she returned to the crowd.
Now that Ashina's scent couldn't be hidden any longer, what would Layla do to conceal her daughter's unusual scent?