Chapter 9 The sweet scent

Not staying for long, the Luna, female Beta and warrior took their leave immediately after having word with the seven boys. The Luna had suggested sending over a messenger wolf to be within range and could send any development back to the pack lands in no time.

Messenger wolves were believed to be the kind that could detect messages from miles away and they had been essential during wars but we're very few since it was normally a gift from the moon goddess.

The boys freshened up and went ahead to escort their mother out. Standing with her sons, one could mistaken her for being their sister. Jet black hair and a youthful like overall appearance, she was quite a charmer herself.

Walking alongside her, she communicated with them through mindlink.

"Make sure to let me know as soon as you find your mates, ok? And also, look out for yourselves at all costs. I'll be sad if you don't support yourselves during hard times." she said with concern. Now that her sons wolves had started fighting for dominance something she had been praying for to never happen, she knew there was a likelihood of them breaking out since they were all born on the same day. This was happening for the first time in history and she had done all she could to ensure that they grew up as one. She encourage them all throughout their lives to stand as one person and never let anything break them apart because the consequences could turn dire for the whole family and wolf clan all together.

"Yes ma, we understand." They replied in unison understanding the source of her worry. They too had promised never to fall apart and that had been the reason they stuck together at all time no matter what. Despite having had their differences, each one of them adjusted to fit themselves altogether just like a puzzle.

"I love you all!" she added to which the boys groaned. 'Come on!' they thought which made their mother laugh out loud having heard their thoughts. Their actions and thoughts still synced which gave her relief.

Returning from sending their mother off, the brothers each took a different route with intentions of searching for their respective mates.

........

Redpearl wore a beautiful simple green gown with floral prints all over it and her hair had been bundled up, half of it in a bun while the other fell over her back in waves upon waves of itself. She made literally no effort to look good but always came out looking regal and unearthly. Today was a sunny day and for the rest of the month, they were practically going to mingle.

"Your Highness, are you going to wear a cloak again?" Belinda asked as she moved over with two cloaks if different colours not sure which one will best suit her lady's green dress.

"I think putting on a cloak will only attract more attention." Risella said with a frown moving closer.

"But the vampires wear cloaks to protect themselves from the direct sunlight. She won't stand out that much!" Belinda defended her stand. She knew if Redpearl went out openly like that, she was likely to attract alot of attention to herself...and not so, good intentions by the way.

"Knight Rosewood is going to be with her Highness, there is no need to worry about that!" Risella continued to argue her stand. She knew what worried Belinda but Her Highness wasn't going to stay cooped up forever when once she returns, she is bound to be married off to some lord or warrior! She wanted to remind Belinda but not in the presence of Redpearl.

The princess stood at her window as she listened to her maids argue amongest themselves. She could only shake her head in resignation. "Call Knight Rosewood here." she said to which both miads stopped arguing and went to carry out the order from their lady. It was Risella that went to the door and called the knight whonhwd been standing guard all this while.

Hearing that he was being invited into the princess's room, he gulped audibly trying to calm his racing heart. He was honoured! Taking stiff steps into the room, his eyes briefly fell on the princess and he was enchanted. He fell to his knees to hide his hot face immediately as he wasn't allowed to harbor such feelings for the princess. "Her Highness called for me." He said to which Redpearl laughed. Knight Rosewood felt his heart melt at her sweet melodious voice.

"No need for formalities Knight Rosewood. You may rise." she said in her soft voice to which the knight first stole a look at Risella who smiled at him as acknowledgement for him to stand up. Clearing his throat, he stood up shyly still hunging his head low. He had not yet recovered from the attack of the princess's beauty and his red face was a testimony to that.

"I'm going to go out for a walk in the palace. Would you like to escort me?" Redpearl asked softly with a small smile wondering why the knight was red in the face.

Hearing her seeking his opinion and not ordering him, he grew flustered and fell to his knees once again. "I'll walk her Highness anywhere, lay my life if I have to. I live to protect you, Her Highness!" He said to which he was answered with silence, he waited for a while but didn't hear any response and when he dared to look at her, the three ladies in the room burst out laughing. Tue knight was red in the face making him look like cooked lobster and his worried yet innocent expression nailed it leaving the ladies laughing unreservedly.

Redpearl walked over to her knight and offered him her hand. "Get up." she said gesturing at him to hold her hand to stand up. He felt his throat go dry that moment but didn't take advantage of that despite having wanted do so desperately. The princess didn't have to contaminate her beautiful hands with his blood stained ones, hence he stood himself up immediately and stood akimbo.

"How old are you Knight Rosewood?" Redpearl asked curiously.

"Twenty three years old, your Highness!" he replied immediately.

"Well, you are older than me. Can I ask you for a favour?" Redpear asked once again

"Anything!" he replied ready to go do anything the princess asked of him.

"Well, since you are older than me, can you treat me like your younger sister?" she said to which the knight paled. "I understand your concern and I'm not trying to push you to do anything if you don't like but you don't have to treat me like royalty. I like keeping a close circle of those dear to me and I prefer when we treat eachother like family." she added.

"I...I really...I'm..." Knight Rosewood stammered.

"It takes a while, I know....but try to work on that." she said finally.

"I'll do my best Your Highness." Rosewood replied. He felt so touched that the princess considered him to be her dear one too, he was so honoured.

"Ok! Now that we have come to a conclusion on that, let's go out!" she chripped heading for the door right away. Giving light bows to both maids, Rosewood hurried behind his Ladyship but before he disappeared from view, Belinda didn't forget to stuff a white cloak in his arms. He looked on confused but Belinda smiles and whispered. "Just in case." Nodding, Rosewood rushed to catch up with the Princess.

"Where should I start?" she murmured softly. "Do you have any place in mind?" she turned and asked Rosewood's opinion.

Eyes widening for a fraction of a minute, he regained his bearings and cleared his throat. "Umm..well, I.... took a tour around the whole palace last night and I know of a few places. Would her Highness like to see them?" he asked avoiding looking her in the eyes.

"That's why I asked. Take me." she said happily.

"It a bit of a long walk there. I can get the horse for her Highness." he suggested.

"I'm fine walking!" she said showing him her shoes, flat and comfortable! she was also used to walking back in the kingdom.

Rosewood smiled at her childlike behaviour and nodded. "It is a beautiful place." he started. "It is at the back of the palace, a small lake surrounded by the colourful trees from ebonshire the whole place gives a feeling of tranquility."

"Ebonshire!" Reapearl asked in disbelief and the next second was her sprinting off. The ebonshire trees were famous for being homes to the wood fairies that produced the magical Pixy dust.

"Your Highness! wait!" Rosewood called out to the excited princess. Catching up, he smiled. good stamina!' he silently mused. "Let's take the less crowded route there!" he suggested.

"Okay. I'm fine with anything!" Redpearl said enthusiastically as she looked at Rosewood her eyes implying him to lead the way. Taking note of the message, he smiled and gestured for her to take the lead. This route went past the male's wing and few people, not only the males but the females too, the Princesses and a few palace maids who were cleaning.

Though there were few people along the way, they all looked Redpearl's way as she walked past them. Though dressed in simple clothes, her beauty made her look so unearthly to the extent of out beating the fairies and she elves in terms of looks. Redpearl on the other hand was way too excited to notice the looks she got while Rosewood had his hand on his sword slightly incase of any attack though he was sure they wouldn't attack but for him who had been in the battlefield for seven years now, his protective instincts kicked in.

They managed to make their way to the back of the palace undisturbed.

Caleb on the other hand who was returning to his room after an unsuccessful hunt for his mate, walked through the hallways feeling dejected but something invincible hit him making him feel drowsy for a short while till he managed to ascertain what it was. A very sweet scent! So sweet the his whole system was engulfed in that scent.

He snapped to the direction the sweet scent was coming from. It was a strong vanilla minty scent that assulted his wolf's senses that he was practically drooling in his mind. Caleb who was still frozen in place inhaling the heavenly scent rolled his eyes at his wolf.

Mate..Mate? MATE!!!! were the words rolling in his subconscious mind.

"Dummy! Let's go after her!" his wolf snapped and as if kick started, Caleb with haste steps made his way through the vast halls. With many other scents getting all tangled with his sweet delicious scent, he grew irritated forcing a growl to rumble through his chest showing his wolf's dissatisfaction.

Those present looked his way warily and some of the human princesses who were watching him shivered. Some found it sexy and appealing but that was as far as they could go since Caleb seemed to be in a really bad mood.

Following the faint trail left behind by his mate, he continued to take soft sniffs in the air only the end up in the palace gardens where the scent disappeared thanks to the breeze. He looked at the different directions but he just couldn't select which one to take. His wolf was not helping as he continuously banged in his head for being a failure!

"We would be cuddling our mate!" The wolf snapped.

"And you think that's not what I want?" Caleb growled back.

"Had you walked over this wing faster instead of crying over spilt milk at your failure, we would have caught her before she disappeared!"

"If you are so capable, why don't you go look for her!" Caleb narrowed his eyes at his wolf.

"Hey, what are you fighting over? We could hear you from that far!" Jack said pointing to the hills he had been at once he was close. He and his brothers could hear his mind buzzing. It only meant he was in a war with his wolf and had failed to conceal his thoughts completely.

"This incompetent fool!" Caleb's wolf sneered and all his brother's wolves gwaffed and howled.

"What's going on?" Morrison to made his presence feeling dejected for having not even caught a whiff of his mate's scent.

"Found our mate but couldn't catch her before her scent disappeared with the breeze!" Caleb's wolf grumbled.

"Well, atleast you should be happy, you had a chance to catch her scent. It won't be that hard the next time!" Ian consoled Caleb.

"Yeah, you should be grateful. Anyone else who found their mate?" Brandon asked among his brothers and the rest all shook their heads in a no. With a sigh, "well, we should go and celebrate on behalf of Caleb!" he said wrapping his arm over Caleb's shoulder with a huge smile. "Congratulations big brother!" he smiled making Caleb who was initially in a very bad mood smile.

Lots of love from Litto-ways ❤️

Hello guys, hopefully you are doing great. Author here had a very bad stomach ache🤒 that I had to go to the hospital👩‍⚕️. I tried my best to write this chapter and hopefully it's good enough😷. Be happy😄