“Don’t you have an envoy to greet in an hour?” I ask, glancing at the time on my laptop.
Fabian lets out a curse and quickly stands from his seat. I chuckle at this, telling him to have fun with the Nightstone pack tonight. He flips me the finger, and I burst out laughing, feeling my friend’s annoyance. He hates playing diplomat, preferring to be in his office planning training formations and hunting parties to fill the freezers.
Shaking my head helplessly at my friend, I return my gaze to my laptop, only for something shiny to catch my eye. Curious, I pick up a small silver-colored box and sigh. A small note is taped to it in Fabian’s messy handwriting:Happy Birthday, Han.
With slight hesitation, I open the box to find a set of car keys nestled inside.
You got me a freaking car?I nearly scream into the link between Fabian and me.
Yes. It’s in the garage waiting for you to take it for a test drive. Happy birthday, Hannah,Fabian replies with a smug tone. Before I can yell at him for wasting money, the link is shut down, and I growl. That idiot bought me a car and is blocking me from demanding he return it.
I know he will avoid me for the rest of the day, not wanting to face my lectures about wasting money. In the end, I can only accept my fate and take the gift. Tucking my laptop into its bag,I slip the finance book in with it and leave the library. Since I am the proud owner of a new car, I might as well see what Fabian got me.
“Wonder where that gold-digging slut is heading now?” I hear as soon as I exit the library doors.
Suppressing a sigh, I ignore the glares thrown my way and lower my gaze. The rumors are still going strong, even on my birthday. My throat tightens with sadness. Everyone used to be so kind to me growing up. I was praised for being diligent and intelligent. Yet now I have to endure these rumors just to keep my status a secret to protect King Julian and lay down my life if it comes to that.
4
Julian
Standing in the throne room, waiting for Fabian to bring in the visiting Alpha Blake Stone and his family, I stare out the window in boredom. Fueled by the knowledge that my mate is in my pack, I spent all morning rushing to complete the paperwork and read the reports sent to me by the many alphas of the nation so I could track her down and show her off at tonight’s ball. Unfortunately, she managed to evade me time and time again.
Her scent had led me to the library when I finally got a chance to escape my work. It was strong in the back corner, and I even detected Fabian there, but it seemed he only spent a brief moment talking to that she-wolf. When I linked Fabian to ask why he was in the library, all he said was that he went to bring Hannah her birthday gift and talked to a few wolves in the pack to ensure they were on their best behavior tonight. I was furious to know he was still friends with Hannah, and for some reason, I felt possessive at that moment. It took me a moment to clearmy thoughts, as the idea of being possessive over that little gold digger almost made me laugh hysterically in front of the many wolves visiting the library.
After that, I followed the faint scent of vanilla custard to the garage, only to find that it led to a parking spot that now sat empty. Before I could ask who the car belonged to in hopes of finding my mate quickly, Fabian linked me to say that the visiting alpha and his entourage would be arriving in thirty minutes, and I had to give up my search for my mate to freshen up.
“Your Majesty,” a guard named Adan calls out from the open door, catching my attention.
Straightening my posture, I turn to find a man who looks to be in his forties standing with an impeccably dressed woman and a she-wolf in a tight dress that hugs her curves. I frown , already sensing the scheming in that woman’s eyes as she scans me from head to toe. This must be Alpha Blake and his family.
“May I present Alpha Blake Stone, his luna, Hillary Stone, and his daughter Agatha Stone,” Adan proclaims, standing to the side. Alpha Blake and his family walk into the throne room, bowing as soon as they stand in front of the dais I occupy. I sniff the air, detecting nothing but the heavy scent of perfume, and my frown deepens.
“You may all rise,” I say, watching the three wolves stand straighter. I can feel Agatha’s stare; I sense the small amount of lust she has for me. She is not my mate, though, so I will do my best to stay away from this she-wolf.
“King Julian, it is an honor for us to be in your presence,” Alpha Blake greets, his voice filled with flattery. Fabian stands just inside the doorway, rolling his eyes, and I know instantly that this is how Alpha Blake has been acting since arriving here ten minutes ago.
“I am happy to help one of my subjects in finding their mate,” I reply with a nod, looking back at Fabian.
“As you can see, I am not your daughter’s mate, but perhaps one of my men might be. We will be hosting a ball tonight to welcome you and your packmates, and hopefully, she can find them either tonight or during your brief stay,” I continue in a dismissive tone. I notice Alpha Blake’s jaw clench, but he respectfully bows his head.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. We will be sure to make every moment of this opportunity count,” Alpha Blake says. With a wave of my hand, Fabian steps forward, instructing Alpha Blake and his family to follow him to the guest wing. I know the wolves of Nightstone were already sent there while their alpha family greeted me. They will need to be on their best behavior now until the Nightstone wolves move on to the next pack in search of Agatha’s true mate.
“Should I order one of our spies to keep an eye on them?” Adan asks as soon as the Stones are gone and the doors to the throne room have closed.
“Yes,” I answer, my eyes narrowing as I turn to look out the window at the summer sky.
“I have a feeling Agatha might try something at the ball. She seems like a scheming bitch,” I continue.
Adan nods, his eyes glazing over momentarily before returning to normal.
“It’s done. I have Misa acting as the maid to that whelp,” Adan confirms.
I thank him, deciding I need to get some fresh air before the ball tonight, and I leave the throne room.
As soon as I am outside the palace, I shift into my gray wolf, my paws thudding across the stone floors that give way to the forest behind. I can still smell that sweet vanilla custard on the wind and feel the urge to hunt it down to learn who my mate is, but I know it will be just a wild-goose chase trying to find the owner of that scent if I go by the wind.
She had gone out in a car earlier today, and only the Goddess knows when she will return tonight. I remind myself that all of my packmates will be attending the ball. Maybe she went out to buy a gown for the occasion. If that is the case, I take a deep breath and comfort myself with the knowledge that I will find my mate tonight.
