Tamed By The Lycan Prince

TRICKY SITUATION

CHAPTER SEVEN- 3

-KINNSION-

It had been a hectic day. I spent the entire night in my office, trying to complete my tasks before I had to depart for the wedding taking place in the Gravemaw Hounds' territory. Now, as dawn streaked the sky, I found myself battling the relentless fatigue. I rubbed my temples, trying to clear my head.

A few days ago, we received a letter from the Luna Mother of the Gravemaw Hounds. It was addressed to me, Antonio, and Alina. The wedding was in three days, but Alina and I were departing later this afternoon to ensure all the preparations for our arrival were prepared. Antonio would join us on the night before the wedding with Count Basia, Countess Basia, and Lady Basia.

I stood up and walked over to the window, looking out at the sun creeping over the horizon, casting a golden glow on the palace walls. I sighed, my breath fogging up the window pane, my thoughts drifting to the impending challenge that lay ahead.

There was a soft knock on my office door. "Come in," I called, turning away from the window. The door creaked open and in walked Grandmother Rafia.

She gave me a curt nod before closing the door behind her. "You look like you haven't slept in weeks, Kinn," she stated gruffly, crossing her arms across her chest.

I shrugged, not denying it. "Sleep is a luxury I can ill afford at the moment, Grandmother," I responded, my voice strained from hours of planning.

She studied me for a moment, her aged eyes tempered with a wisdom that only comes with years of hardship and victory. "You remind me of your father. Always diligently working, not caring for yourself."

"Only his path was saved by your mother." Grandmother Rafia continued as she settled into my desk chair. "From the moment Rasso discovered that Camilla was his destined mate, he seemed to transform into a new person instantly. The young man who used to work through the night without taking any breaks was no longer there. He was replaced by a man who knew how to balance his responsibilities."

"But I am not my father," I responded quietly. "Unlike Antonio, I was not chosen to become the next Emperor of the Empire. I have simply been appointed as the next General."

"And yet, your decisions will affect far more than just the battlefield. Your heart is as important in this as your mind, Kinn," she said gently, her gaze softening on me. "Rest, eat well, and do not forget you are a man before you are a general."

I glanced away from her piercing stare and sighed heavily, feeling the weight of her words on my shoulders. My fingers traced over the cool surface of the window pane, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and worries.

"You're right, Grandmother. But sometimes I wonder why Antonio was chosen by the Moon Goddess. He doesn't even want to be the next emperor." I sighed.

"The Moon Goddess works in mysterious ways." She said, her eyes distant as though recalling a time long past. "Sometimes, the ones who least desire power are the ones best suited to wield it."

I nodded slowly, understanding her point.

Even in his youth, Antonio displayed qualities of a remarkable leader. Mother had always believed that I was better suited for leading an army rather than a nation. She saw potential in me to command and guide others into battle.

I couldn't see it myself, but my presence in the Lycan Empire's army has brought about significant improvements. Though, I was not yet the General - as the current one was still alive - I knew my turn would come soon enough.

"The Moon Goddess chose Antonio, that is the reality we must accept. He carries the weight of the Empire on his shoulders, just as you'll soon bear the weight of our army." She continued, her voice carrying a certain warmth that managed to soothe some of my frustrations.

I contemplated her words, my chest tightening with the truth in them. "Did you come in here to lecture me, Grandmother?" I asked with a gentle smile.

"Lecturing?" Grandmother Rafia chuckled. "No, my dear grandson. It's called giving advice."

She slowly rose from the cushioned chair, her small frame belying the strength I knew she had. "I'm here because I believe I have found Antonio's fated mate."

The unexpected news took me by surprise. "You found his fated mate? Was it when you went to visit Lady Elina the other day?" I asked. It seemed like yesterday that Antonio had told me about his she-wolf mate in the Dark Woods.

"Yes," Grandmother Rafia nodded slowly. "And you wouldn't believe who the young she-wolf is?"

The curiosity was buzzing in my head like a swarm of bees. "Who is she?" I asked urgently.

"The soon-to-be Luna of the Gravemaw Hounds." Grandmother Rafia announced, the surprise in her voice bringing a sense of wonder to the declaration.

I felt my blood run cold. "The Luna of the Gravemaw Hounds? We are supposed to be at her wedding in three days! She's Antonio's fated mate."

"Yes, it appears so," Grandmother Rafia replied, her tone steady despite the explosive news. "It's a tricky situation, certainly."

I rubbed my temples, the implications of her revelation sinking in. "Does Antonio know about this yet?"

"No," Grandmother Rafia shook her head, "I wanted to tell you first seeing as you are heading to Gravemaw Hounds territory this afternoon."

"But Grandmother," I said. "What am I supposed to do? It's not like I can stop the marriage."

"You may not be able to stop the marriage," she smiled wickedly. "However, you can gather some intel on the Luna and Alpha. According to what Gravemaw Hounds' Luna mentioned, her marriage to the Alpha was not a consensual one."

"A forced marriage?" I asked. "Those aren't illegal anymore. I mean there are loopholes, but an outright forced marriage is against the law."

In the past, it was common for Alpha werewolves to use marriage as a means of establishing dominance among packs. But after the Lycan-Werewolf War, everything changed. The werewolves declared war on us and were defeated. As a result, they were forced to follow our laws and abide by our demands. It took some time for them to adapt, and even now, they still disregard our laws without consequence.

The werewolves are seen as a nuisance by my father and other nobles, but I don't share their sentiment. I believe that the werewolves should face consequences for their actions.

"If that's the case, then this would be the second time the Gravemaw Hounds have broken the law." I let out a heavy sigh, rubbing my temples in annoyance. "I must inform my parents about this. We can no longer keep it hidden."

"That would be for the best," Grandmother sighed. "But if you do inform your parents, tread lightly. Who knows how they would react when they discovered that your brother's destined mate is a werewolf."

I let out a sigh, feeling uneasy knowing they were unaware of all this information. "This just adds another layer of complexity to the situation."

"Indeed," she replied. "Before we involve your parents, let's try to handle Antonio's mate dilemma on our own using the information at hand."

I nodded, determination steadying my nerves. "Alright, Grandmother."