THE FATE OF LOUISE

CHAPTER FOUR

After the conversation with his uncle, Prince Oliver pondered sleeplessly all night, seeking a bigger picture.

He knew to second-guess every move King Robert made. It was a new day, and he still didn't have an answer. He had promised to do as he was told: pick a mate, which he intended to do.

Prince Oliver walked toward the council room and was beckoned by a guard to wait. He decided to go and wait at the outdoor gardens.

**************

Louise's mood changed, what Agnes said to her got to her. It made Joseph worried and curious.

"What did she say to you, Lou?" as he fondly called her.

"It doesn't matter father, I'm just happy to be out of there," she said.

"It matters to me, tell me, my curiosity has the better of me." He insisted.

"In her words, ' If you do not change how you are, you will never have anything good. People will keep taking from you, they may even take the prince. Don't bring shame to this family, you are too weak a wolf.' she said."

" Well, she may not have meant it the way it came out, she's just trying to look out for you, my child, she has a strange way of showing that she loves you, picks the relevant advice, and makes waste with the nonsense, " Joseph advised.

He was used to always covering up for his Luna, with his daughters, and even with the pack. This was just another instance.

They arrived at the palace. To her, it was magnificent. Joseph has been here, severely.

She had never been here before; there were flowers lined up guarding the walls; there was a huge wolf statue in the middle of the compound; and every wall was tiled brown from top to bottom.

Humsbane Palace remained one of the finest places in all the land, it was a good place for her to start a new life.

Two guards walked over to their carriage and said, "The royal council is convening already, and your presence, sir, is required."

"Where can my daughter wait?" Joseph asked.

"I'll lead her; she will be at the outdoor garden, next to the council hall", the guard responded.

Joseph hurried in after kissing Louise on the cheek. She was led to the garden.

At the entrance, there was a chair in the large passage; she sat there, panicking and getting short breaths. She looked through the entrance and saw someone standing close to the roses, looking through the other window, very fixated outside, and didn't seem to notice anything else.

She decided to engage him to ease herself. She walked up to the gentleman cautiously and placed her hand lightly on his back to tap him.

"Hello, my name is Louise. Are you a gardener here? Or a guard?" She said,

At that touch, Prince Oliver already felt a connection. It felt like a sudden dose of electricity. 'Who is this, and why is my mind drawn to her?'

He looked back at her with affection. She was so beautiful that his heart could melt. Her voice sounded so soothing to his ears, and he had never been so drawn to anyone.

As he looked straight into her dark eyes, she looked back at his glistening golden iris; it was as though she could see his soul.

Oliver's heartbeat increased as his wolf whispered,' What is going on?'

For a moment, he and Louise were the only ones in the world.

She added, "I asked you a question, sir." Louise was somewhat drawn to this fellow; she did not understand why, and she didn't care to want to explore. She was here for something, and she had to be focused. She just needed to pass the time.

"No, I'm not a gardener or guard here; I just live with my uncle at the Palace," Oliver said. He could barely keep his thoughts in order. He snapped back to reality.

"Who are you, and why are you in the garden? Are you here for the council?"

"Yes, I am. I was asked to sit by the entrance, and I have been having cold feet. I decided to come in here to ease my breath and smell some roses. They are my favorite, and they look so beautifully grown."

She moved over to the roses, and her hair brushed through his nose. Her mother's perfume smelled so good, and it sent chills down Oliver's spine.

He moved away, as though to avoid contact. "Cold feet, why? The council doesn't bite, or did you do something wrong? Are you a rogue or a member of the popular Wolfhound rebels?"

"Well, I didn't do anything wrong; I'm here as a favor to my family and to see the prince. Do you know him? Is he useless? Is he as mad as the rumors claim?" She said this as she picked up a petal and inhaled it very closely to her nose.

Oliver laughed, "The Prince? I don't know much about him; I guess all these are things you have to find out for yourself."

He picked up a rose, handed it to her, and added, "Next time, take the entire rose, or you'll ruin the bunch. I have to leave you now; bigger duty calls."

She took the rose, sniffed it, and said, "Thank you". As the stranger walked away, she looked at him from behind, and his stature made her stomach warm.

"I didn't get your name," but he had already walked very far away from her. Well, it didn't matter anyway; she had no time for anyone acting mysterious. The rose helped her lift her mood. Oh, she loved roses; they were her mother's favorite too.

She walked back to the bench outside the garden in the hallway, just in time as a guard approached.

"You have been asked for". The guard said loudly.

She took a very deep breath, as though swallowing her worries: 'Why am I worried? He is to pick me.'

The council hall was a large room, so wide that it could fit two thousand wolves. There was a giant table in the middle, and there were seven huge wooden chairs at one end, then three chairs at the other end.

Aside from the door Louise went through, there were two other doors, with two Royal guards each guarding them.

The hall was intimidating, with fire lamps decorated all along the top walls.

Louise walked directly to where her father was; he looked like a man who had stepped on a nail. His meeting had not gone well.

'I hope mine goes better than his,' she thought.

The stranger was sitting by King Robert's hand, and Max was standing behind them, visibly shocked to see her.

The head of the council began speaking. Mary, the head of the council, was a pious woman, and that was reflected in her speech.

"Step forward, Prince Oliver. Do you take her as your mate?"

Turned to the prince and gestured like she was some property

' So, he is the prince; why did he lie to me? What exactly is he up to?' Her thoughts were running wild.

The prince stood up, adjusted himself, and gazed directly into Louise's confused eyes. He could almost hear her thoughts; they were everywhere. He took a bow.

"Council and my king, the lady presented before me are good-looking, perfect, and enchanting. We spent a few minutes in the outdoor garden together, and I figured she had a beautiful soul. There is just one problem.

Uncle, you have always taught me that I should go with my heart; my heart cannot rest with her. I feel no connection."

He said that as he looked away, tears rolled down her face.

' Why am I so unfortunate?' she thought to herself.

Immediately, the large doors to the council hall opened, and a lady and a man were led in by a Royal guard.

Everyone looked amongst themselves, whispering, 'Who were these people?'