News Have Spread?

Lucette yawned and rubbed her eyes. She looked at the clock displaying ten in the morning. Last night passed while thinking of a Plan B, but her brain seemed empty.

The droplet of water fell on the window, making a loud sound. Last week the weather was sunny and fresh, but it changed to rainy weather this morning.

Lucette smiled. She was going to spend the day under the blanket while watching TV.

She freshened up and walked down to grab something to eat. Suddenly, the bell rang, closing the fridge, she went to open the door.

"Good-" Lucette smiled, seeing Hannah at the door.

"Horrible. Something horrible happened," Hannah said, storming into the house.

"Morning," Lucette added, but Hannah was too distressed to listen to her. "Not good morning?" she said, walking after her friend.

"Can you tell me what happened?" she asked when Hannah walked back and forth in the living room.

Hannah slouched and signalled to her to sit beside her, "The thing is…"

Lucette's eyes winded. How could something like that happen?

"I told you it's horrible."

"Not just horrible, it's disastrous and… terrible," Lucette fisted both her hands.

Now the entire pack knew she was planning to arrange the spring festival!

She wanted to convince the alpha then, spreading the good news. But now her plan had been ruined! After the alpha's return, he would hear the news. Then, he would confront her.

If the alpha refused the idea, then the pack members would label her as a liar.

No, she had to stop it from happening.

"How did the news manage to spread?" Lucette asked. She didn't tell anyone except for Hannah and Jordan.

"I don't know. When I came here, a few women stopped me and asked if the news about the festival was true or not. I didn't know how to respond, but I shrugged them off by changing the topic. Jordan mind-linked me and asked me because the same thing happened to him," Hannah said, fidgeting and chewing her nails.

"Do you want me to find the one behind the incident?" Hannah asked.

"Nah," Lucette answered. If they found the person, what could she possibly do? The news had already reached the whole pack.

"What are we supposed to do?"

"Let it be for the time being. I'll think of a solution," Lucette said. She sensed a headache, a dreadful one was coming.

Even her plan of spending the day under her warm blanket got ruined.

…

"No! Tell me you're joking," Hannah winded her eyes and questioned her, Lucette confirmed she wasn't joking, but the latter didn't believe her.

"You want the news to be left like this," Hannah asked her, and she nodded.

What was wrong with the idea? She couldn't stop people from talking or go telling them the news was just a rumour.

"What about the alpha?" she asked her.

That man! He was the reason for all her problems!

"I'm not concealing it from your alpha. He will know, but after his return," Lucette said. She thought about it thoroughly on the last day. If she told him by herself, there was a possibility he would refuse. But, when all of his pack members demanded it from him, he would at least count his pack members' feelings.

She was using his pack to force him to agree. Using the news to influence the alpha.

He couldn't possibly object, discarding his pack's happiness. Right?

Lucette looked at the worried face of Hannah. "Don't worry. I know what I am doing," she said, smiling cheerfully.

"I hope you know," Hannah said, but couldn't hide her worry.

…

Far away in the vampire kingdom,

"Your majesty, the head of the council asked for a meeting with you," the servant said.

"Tell him I will meet him after ten minutes in the meeting hall," Arius replied. The servant nodded, walking out of the room. Arius stood from his seat after reviewing the documents. He went to the meeting hall.

"I don't think you can sit on that chair," Arius said, displeased by Igor's behaviour where he sat on the head seat waiting for him.

"Arius, you know, if I don't have the right to sit here, you also have no right to sit on it," Igor responded, tracing the edge of the seat with his finger.

Arius smiled coldly. "Maybe you forget I am the king."

"And you also might forget your wedding cancellation with the previous queen. If I told Valdo about this. What he will do, Arius?" he said, his plump face flashing with mirth.

Arius's fist balled. This damn old human! If someone heard this, he would have to step down as a king. His marriage with Valery was the reason for becoming one of the royalty.

If the dukes knew his wedding got cancelled before being the king, they would take action and dethrone him, then give the throne to his daughter. He wasn't ready to lose his post, not yet! Not when his awaited plan got started a month ago.

"Since I forgot how I helped you to be the head of the council. Forget my marriage cancellation too," Arius said. Forced to comply in this game.

Igor walked closer. "King Arius, pleased to meet you."

"Igor Castellain, the pleasure is mine," Arius answered, and then they took their seats. Things that were hidden for years should remain like that, for the best of everyone.

"So, may I know why you honoured me for this visit?" Arius asked.

"I heard the second princess is still alive," Igor said, "And you married her off as a peace token."

Arius tapped his hand on the table. "Go straight to the point, I have piles of work waiting for me."

"As you wish," he said, grabbing a black pen from his pocket. He put the pen on the table. Seconds later, Arius heard a voice. The voice of the maid who replaced the bride confessing her identity!

Arius's hand posed, hearing the record. "What is the meaning of this?"

He didn't expect such a thing to happen. What a cunning man!

"I was about to have this pen as a present to Ferdinand. You know his birthday is around the corner," Igor said, showing the pen to him.

Arius's smile vanished. "Are you threatening me?"

This lowly human dared to threaten him, not once but twice!

"How could I? You know our relationship is strong, and we always want the best for each other."

"What do you want?" Arius asked. For sure, he wanted something, or he could have this pen to the king of werewolves.

"I want you to turn me into a vampire," Igor answered.

Arius laughed and looked at Igor to see if he was joking, but failed. "You know, the law written by the council forbids this. Or the head of the council wanted to break the law himself."

"You don't have a choice," Igor's expression turned grim.

Arius stared at the old man facing him, he didn't know his reasons, but if he refused, he would have to face the consequences.

"As you wish," Arius said, showing his fangs.