Chapter 13 - Unsettling feeling
1335 Words
Lex's POV
"Still no trace of her?" I asked as Zack came to join our table.
"No," he replied, and he sighed.
The witch, after giving her message, turned around and left my office. She ran out the back door and disappeared into the night. Zack pursued her, but she disappeared without a trace. She had blocked off her scent, and he couldn't scent her anymore.
"At least you have a mate," I remarked, savoring the dessert I had just received.
"Yeah," he said, rolling his eyes. "One that runs off at the first meeting. That's like being rejected, you know."
"She said she would be back," I reminded him. "Don't give up hope yet."
"I know, but Lupa is now howling inside my head and scratching for release," Zack groaned. "He wants me to find her now. It's driving me crazy!"
"I feel you," I replied. "Lotus did the same, and I was barely twelve at the time..."
I stopped eating and set my spoon down. That was a bitter and difficult time of my life. Lotus went crazy when we couldn't find our mate. I lost all control over him. He forced me to shift and destroyed everything in his path. It took all my strength to regain control again.
A whimper escaped my lips as my mind raced back.
I had no other choice but to inform my parents of my little issue. I couldn't afford to lose any pack members due to a royal wolf going mad.
My jaw tightened, my hands instinctively balled into fists as I closed my eyes.
The pain I had to go through to restrain my wolf was unbearable.
My father had to sedate Lotus until I was older and strong enough to control him.
My treatment was life-threatening—for both of us—but it was better than being locked away.
My father administered a daily low dose of wolfsbane to sedate my wolf. The pain was excruciating!
For five long years I had no other option, and it took me months to recover.
When Lotus eventually gained full strength, he was a shell of a wolf—and bitter at me. It took years to gain his trust.
"I remember," Zack said, shaking me out of my dark and depressing thoughts. "But I don't think I will need to take those precautions yet. Besides, my wolves are not as gifted as you are. I don't think he would create firestorms just yet."
Although I rolled my eyes at Zack, I was aware of the reality. I was blessed with the elements—fire, water, earth, and wind.
Water and earth came from my father's side, and fire and wind from my mother's. The elements themselves weren't difficult to handle—that came naturally. However, when we introduced our wolf into the mix, the situation quickly became chaotic.
Lotus knew how to manipulate all four elements together...
"Do you want me to order your wolf not to go looking for her?" I asked, raising my gaze toward him.
The order would be simple, yet effective. No wolf could refuse my orders. I had the privilege of communicating directly with an individual's wolf.
Zack turned quiet for a moment—deep in thought. He swiftly shook his head.
"No need," he said. "Lupa knows that she will return. He promises he'll behave."
"Very well," I replied.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Beta Luke called the ballroom to silence. He and his mate arrived a couple of minutes ago. "It is my pleasure to call Alpha King Alexander to the stage. He would like to say something."
My father took the stage, looking uncomfortable. He has made multiple speeches before, yet he never really liked being on stage.
"Evening, everyone," he said, his gaze shifting over the sea of people. "It's a great honor to be here tonight in celebration of my eldest son's birthday."
The ballroom cheered and howled.
"As you all know," he said, his gaze shifting toward me. "It also means that we will be stepping down as rulers and that he and his mate will be crowned as your new king and queen."
The ballroom erupted in excitement. Everyone was hoping I would find my mate tonight. So far, there wasn't a whiff in the air.
I sighed as I unwillingly raised my gaze toward the ceiling—it was opening to show the full moon sky.
My father installed the new ceiling a couple of months ago for this occasion.
A few moments later the ceiling was wide open, letting the full moon's rays shower down on the dance floor.
"That is a sight I don't mind getting used to," Zack mumbled next to me in awe. "Your parents did well..."
I shivered.
I could feel the intense power in those moon rays shining down on the dance floor—it was even more intense than on normal full-moon nights.
My gaze shifted toward my mother sitting at her table. She was smiling broadly, watching the show. She suggested changing the roof so that it could open and close.
The atmosphere quickly shifted inside the ballroom. Pack members started to gather on the dance floor to enjoy the full moon rays.
I internally sighed.
I was thankful that it wasn't time for the blood moon to rise yet—I wasn't ready to become the Alpha King yet.
I didn't hear the rest of my father's speech. I only saw him leave the stage.
"I'm getting a drink," I told Zack. "Want one?"
"Yeah. I'll go with you," he replied. "I need a stiff drink to calm Lupa down."
Usually, I would receive service from a server, but tonight, they were frantically rushing to serve everyone.
I didn't mind, of course; there was nothing wrong with getting my drink.
"Evening, Alpha, Beta," the young wolf greeted. "What can I get you?"
"Two bourbons, Jack, please," Zack replied.
"Coming right up!" Jack chirped, grabbing some glasses and filling them with ice.
Zack's gaze met mine, and I knitted my eyebrows together.
"What?" I asked, feeling a bit uncomfortable under his gaze.
"I haven't seen you dance like that in ages," he said, watching me.
I shrugged. "I was surprised that she knew the steps."
"And?" he asked.
"And what?" I muttered, reverting my gaze to the floor.
"What do you think?" he asked. "Is she the one?"
"I don't know," I honestly replied. "There were no sparks or anything of that matter."
Zack knitted his eyebrows together in confusion.
"Do you think you will be able to sense her later?" he asked.
What was it with Zack tonight? He never asks these kinds of questions.
"I hope so," I replied.
Zack nodded in understanding and turned his gaze toward the door as if someone called his name.
"Will you excuse me for a moment, Alpha?" he said, seemingly worried about something.
I nodded, and he quickly ran toward the door, leaving me standing alone at the bar. My gaze shifted over the people dancing and at their tables, unknowingly searching for her.
"Another one, Alpha?" Jack asked.
"Yes, thanks," I replied, still searching as I handed him my glass.
"Hallo, Alpha Lex," a soft voice made me freeze, and I unwillingly shifted my gaze down towards the sound.
A she-wolf, around 5'5, with blond hair and brown eyes, was standing next to me. She was tiny compared to my giant frame.
Who is this girl?
Do I know her?
I stared down at her tiny face, searching for any trace of evidence that I knew her. She looked so familiar, but I couldn't figure out from where.
"My name is Sade," she introduced herself sweetly, holding out her hand for me to take.
I hesitantly gave her hand a quick shake—out of courtesy. However, an unsettling feeling swept down my spine and settled in the depths of my stomach.
Why did I feel that this tiny she-wolf was the devil herself?
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- Writer
