CHAPTER FIVE
1134 Words
Louise could not believe what was happening. Everyone in the hall except Mary was astonished; they expected something entirely different.
The leader of the Royal Council seemed like she knew this play; she was Oliver's secret advisor and younger sister to his now-dead mother. So, she was not surprised at all. Robert looked at Oliver worriedly and distastefully.
"What is going on, boy? Are you making a fool of me and the Royal Council?" he said angrily.
Oliver avoided Louise's sorry eyes, shifting his focus to his uncle. She could feel all he felt—the connection, the yearning for his soul, the subtle voice in his head—but she could not understand his move.
"Uncle, I am sorry. I do not mean to make a fool of you or the council. The truth is, I have been secretly in love with someone else for a while now, and she is my fated mate."
He said this, staring at his uncle and looking slowly at Joseph, who was already visibly fuming with anger.
Somehow Louise could feel that it was a lie, but she was too disappointed to muster up the courage to say anything.
"Why did you not tell me? Why carry on this charade? Max, did you know about it?" Robert thundered.
No, my king, I am as surprised as everyone in this hall," Max responded quickly.
"No one knew; it is a secret affair that I wish to bring to light now. She's the daughter of Abiel, the leader of the Raddin Pack and they are both present here." Gesturing to the lady and man who had just walked into the room.
"Raddin Pack!" Robert shouted; he was past agitation; he was angry. He looked at Abiel and his daughter with disgust.
"You know how they opposed my ascension to the throne when my brother died? Oh, how would you know you were a kid? There is a reason why they aren't allies to the throne; our relationship is complicated, and you chose to frolic with them?"
"I'm sorry, my king; you have always advised me rightly. As regards a mate, you always told me to seek matters of the heart with my heart and not with my head. I think this is what my mother would have wanted for me too." Prince Oliver explained.
Everyone stared at him and the king, going back and forth, staring at each other, and making only eye gestures.
Louise was fed up with it all and ran out of the hall. Her heart was broken, broken by a man she had just met.
' I couldn't be unluckier; what have I done to deserve all of this?' She thought to herself as she hurriedly transformed into her wolf and ran straight into the forest.
Nobody ran after her because it was unlawful for the King and members of the Royal Council to be seated and anyone else to leave the hall.
Mary drew everyone's focus back by hitting her gavel on the table.
"My king, in the turn of these events, it is officially noted that the prince has rejected Louise as his mate and is, therefore to present properly his chosen mate before the Royal Council soon."
" Joseph," Mary called.
"By order of the King and the Royal Council, you have been taxed with the duty of finding Zadoc, the leader of the rogue faction, the 'Wolf Hound Rebels, and its members as well. As concluded in the meeting held earlier. Thank you for your service to the crown."
"Meeting adjourned." She added.
Joseph quickly ran out to chase Louise as everyone, including Prince Oliver and Max, stood up to leave.
Robert sat still, placing a hand underneath his jaw while angrily tapping his legs on the floor. It was obvious that he was fed up with Oliver and his shenanigans.
"Mary, wait behind; let's discuss," he ordered.
Everyone cleared the room, including the guards at each door. They all waited outside.
"What is it, Robert? Another wild accusation? What exactly did I do this time?" She said to him.
He laughed piously and immediately frowned, like a spirit had possessed him.
"Mary, Mary, Mary, here you are witch hunting again, already on the defensive like a naughty little child. I know Oliver seeks counsel from you; frankly, I did not care, as long as it didn't interfere with my plans for him". He said it sternly.
Mary wasn't surprised; instead, she smirked and moved a little closer to him.
He continued, "If I find out that you had anything to do with what happened in this hall today, any influence at all whatsoever, I will pluck out your fangs and leave you for the vultures to feed on."
The threat didn't seem to move her; she was well acquainted with Robert and his threats, and this was another one.
"I wasn't wrong after all; you are so predictable. All you do is threaten or kill those who do not cower to you. My mind is clear, I have no idea what Oliver is up to, he lives with you. If you have no idea either, why should I? I guess that's all. I will take my leave now."
Robert's wolf growled, but he had to keep it under control. There was no reason yet to slay the leader of the Royal council.
They had a history; she was aware of the love he had for Agatha, her sister, and Oliver had told her of what he had witnessed. She couldn't pretend; she hated the man, and he knew it. Although he didn't know the reason why and never bothered to ask.
Louise kept running like she had an idea where she was going. She was in despair, broken, and alone.
There was no explanation for this—being rejected twice? Even the strongest of Luna's couldn't handle it. She kept on running and wasn't looking until she got trapped in a bait set for the game.
She immediately turned back to human form; her ankle had burst. There was blood everywhere, and it was in the middle of the forest.
Joseph and Max, who ran after her into the forest, had long since given up; she had gone farther than the boundaries of the kingdom. Max was there by order of the prince.
Joseph left to get more pack members to search for her, while Max returned to the palace to report to Prince Oliver.
Losing a lot of blood, she heard her mother's voice in her mind: 'Louise, my child.' She struggled to open her eyes faintly, and then, she saw a woman, old and frail with long white dreadlocks, carrying a very ugly-looking walking stick.
"My child, you are safe now," the woman said. She instantly felt safe.
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