Wolfsbane

Back in the Findara empire, Duke Augustus got up from his seat in shock, "What are you talking about?"

Peter wore a sad face and repeated, "Grand duke Wulfgur is no more your grace. He peacefully passed away in his sleep yesterday night"

Augustus sighed, "It is a great loss for our empire to lose him. I can't even think about prince Cassian's grief, his grandfather was the only real family he ever had"

"And we can't even break my lady's engagement now" The butler murmured.

The duke raised his brows, "Why is that? I'll still discuss annulling the engagement, it will be easy now that the grand duke is no more"

"Your grace?" the butler asked in surprise for which the duke smiled bitterly, "I don't have enough time to pity someone else when I already lost one of my daughters because of this wretched engagement"

Yes, he felt bad for Prince Cassian, but not as much to sacrifice another of his daughter for that sake. It was enough being ignorant once, but he would never commit such a mistake twice. He didn't discuss this with his wife because he knew that she had soft spot for her late friend's son and would waver. On the other hand, his son Clifford readily agreed with his suggestion, he too didn't want to lose his little sister again.

"Get me some white flower bouquet, I have to attend the funeral" he announced getting up from his seat.

Butler Peterson went on to complete his task.

****

Wulfgur grand duchy in the Findara empire was filled with a sorrowful air. Servants moved in and out of the villa carrying the required things for the late grand duke's funeral.

The butler of the grand duchy, Robert knocked on prince Cassian's study, "All the arrangements are complete my lord" he didn't want to mention him as his highness because the royals never accepted him as their own, He belonged to Wulfgur grand duchy now.

Cassian pulled himself away from the window and opened the door, "Did anyone from the royal family arrive"?

"Not yet my lord"

"I hope they do not come," he remarked as he started walking out of the villa. His azure blue eyes swept at the guests and landed on duke Augustus.

The duke noticed his stare and strode towards him, "I'm sorry for your loss your highness"

"Thank you for attending my grandfather's funeral your Grace " Cassian replied.

"It is my duty as a citizen of this empire to honor the late war hero"

Cassian smiled faintly, his raven locks flying through the cold breeze of winter, "I want to discuss something with you in private your grace, hope you wouldn't mind it"

"Not at all your highness," the duke said, "Should we go inside the villa?"

"That would be good," Cassian remarked.

Both of them sat opposite of each other in the drawing-room. Cassian sipped his tea and said, "I want to annul my engagement with lady Kenworthy"

"What?" the duke left out a surprised yelp hearing his words, "I apologize for my poor manners, I was just surprised by your words"

"It's fine your grace. I understand that it may come as a surprise for you"

"That's right, I was surprised" he nodded his head vigorously, "Can I ask the reason for breaking your engagement with my daughter?"

Cassian put his teacup on the table and replied, "I don't have enough power to protect her. Her life will be a danger if she is affiliated with me"

Duke furrowed his brows and his face turned dark, "Sorry to say this but she already faced a life and death situation not long ago"

Cassian straitened in his place, "Can you explain more?"

"There was poison found in her body, only yesterday did she recover from it" he lied. His daughter was dead because of that poison, but he wanted to make sure to break this engagement for this reason.

"How is the Lady now?"

"She is fine for now, but I have to say that annulling this engagement now will keep her fine in the long run"

Cassian frowned and bent his head hearing his words, "I'm sorry for causing this, your Grace"

"Raise your head, your highness," the duke said sternly, "Don't apologize for the mistake that you have not committed"

Cassian smiled faintly, "Thank you for your words"

Duke Augustus smiled in return, "Get up, we have so many works to complete"

After the funeral rites, all of the guests left. Cassian's civil face turned dark as he summoned one of his aides, James "Any movements from the empress?"

"Nothing from her but Archduke Helio invited to meet you in private, he said that it is important" his aide replied.

Cassian frowned, "I can't go out today, they are watching all of my movements from shadows"

James glanced at his surroundings and understood his words. Many servants were pretending to do work but were instead spying on them, "How about tonight, Alpha?"

"I can work with that," he remarked, "And don't call me Alpha in public"

"Yes Alpha" James replied earning a glare from Cassian.

Later that night, Cassian jumped off of his room's window and slipped out of Wulfgur duchy. He looked up to the full moon in the dark sky and closed his eyes, blue light engulfed his body, and his clothes ripped off his body as he turned into a gigantic black wolf. His black fur shone in the moonlight and dashed towards his destination.

He entered the vastest forest in the Findara empire and started scrutinizing his surroundings. Something felt odd and he could sense it, and in the next instant, an arrow flew towards him grazing against his forelimb, "Grrr..." he gave out a growl from his throat. He was not able to smell the Archduke or his men, it was someone else.

Cassian's question was answered when dozens of hunters came out of their hiding. He could take care of them but spilling blood was not on his agenda tonight, so he took a step back and sprinted out of the forest.

The hunters were surprised by the wolf's abnormal speed but continued shooting their crossbows. Some of the arrows grazed Cassian's skin but he ignored them as they would heal themselves in no time. But he was alarmed when he felt wolfsbane in his system, he was unable to comprehend the fact that normal hunters possessed wolfsbane laced weapons.

He struggled to keep himself alert and sprinted his way not caring about the direction. After some time, the hunters lost sight of the wolf, "Are wolves that fast?" one of the hunters asked.

"I'm just as surprised as you" another hunter commented.

"Let's go back, we lost him" everyone dispersed into the forest after that.

Cassian halted his steps as he faced a huge fence. Taking a stance, he easily jumped over it to take some shelter for the night. His vision turned hazy because of the wolfsbane inside his body, and he slumped on the ground.

Suddenly he heard someone stepping on a twig and became alert. He narrowed his eyes in that direction and saw a small figure striding. His wolf which was trying to push off the poison out of his body opened its eyes inside his mind, "Mate!" he was jumping around and shouted in his mind, "It's our mate!"

Cassian was still processing his wolf's words when he caught sight of the most beautiful woman he had ever seen staring back at him.