Heartbeats -Part 2

Lily continued to run. Luckily, she was able to leave the palace gates because they were opened as carriages came in. She quickly ran out, catching the guards guarding the gates off-guard too. They had also thought of chasing after her, but after noticing the dress on her, they decided not to bother themselves. She was just a mere servant. She could run away, into the woods for all they cared.

Lily quickly left the palace, her legs thrashing against the ground. She didn't even bother to check if she was being chased by guards. She just kept running far away from the palace, into the woods.

She had no idea where she was running to exactly, but she knew she was running far away from the scary king, the palace, as well as Alpha Jederek and his family. She couldn't take it anymore, she knew if she ran back home, she would be severely punished for ruining their plan. But she didn't even want to be there in the first place! She had never at the least expected the king to walk up to her and speak the word 'mate'.

She wasn't even happy about it! She didn't want the king to be her mate! And the worst part was that she's just a wolfborn -a child who doesn't have a wolf and can't even smell or tell who her real mate is!

Lily brushed away the tears falling from her eyes as she kept on running, far away. Maybe she could run very far away and live alone as a lone wolf. She had heard stories about lone wolves who lived on their own. But the problem was, how?! Where would she even start from??

Lily finally burst into tears as her feet began aching and growing tired. She stopped and leaned on a tree to catch her breath, before sliding down to the floor. She was exhausted and tired, tired of everything. She just felt like dying. Lily continued to cry, placing her head on her knees as the breeze touched her skin. And before she knew it, she slept off.

*Back at the palace*

The king still stood root on the same spot, his hand mid-air. He remained motionless for a while. Until he slowly came back to reality and brought his hand down to his side after staring at it for a while. He could clearly remember how frightened the girl was when he was about to touch her. Of course…

He slowly turned around and looked at the people who were completely frozen, dread on their faces as they stared at the king, their lips parted in shock.

Torak knew they were wondering what was going on. However, he also didn't understand what the hell was going on with him.

Until, "hah!"

He suddenly began laughing, a forced sardonic laugh, echoing in the dead-silent room. He and his beast must have lost it, they just scared the little girl away for nothing.

Just as he laughed out, everyone gasped out loud. It seems they had finally confirmed the rumors about the king being mentally unstable.

Torak then stopped laughing and calmly walked back to his throne.

He sat on it and rested his hands as he stared at the people coldly, who didn't know what to do. Some had even fainted due to the tension.

He slightly waved his hand, urging them to continue with the event.

Slowly, the people moved their legs and finally pushed themselves away from eachother. They just couldn't seem to understand why the king had suddenly stood up and walked up to a servant girl. At first, they thought he was going to snap the poor girl's head into two. Especially when he lifted his hand. And when the girl had taken to her heels and ran out, they gasped in horror.

However, the family who owned the girl were silently burning in rage where they stood. Especially Alpha Jederek. He knew the girl was running away, but he wasn't going to let that happen.

"I knew bringing that cursed witch wasn't a good idea! Father you shouldn't have brought her here!" Tessa sneered.

"Shut it!" Jederek angrily snapped at his daughter. He turned, and when he saw that everyone had continued with the event, he left for the entrance.

The rest of the family turned to look at the king who had gone back to looking bored and cold. However, his mind which had always been blank all these years, was now occupied with thoughts, thoughts about the girl with the incredibly strange scent.

Had he really gone insane that he was beginning to imagine things? He chuckled, the goddess must be ready to have him as her new jester.

"Y-Y-Your majesty-"

Torak turned to the council members beside him, they were quivering as they looked at him. Torak glanced at them with disinterest in his eyes, his furrowed brows doing the job in asking them what the hell they wanted.

"I-It is time f-for you to pick a bride."

Torak finally remembered that he was to pick a girl tonight. His chin left his hand as he observed the females in front of him.

They all seemed boring to him, but his eyes caught one with black hair who seemed to be at least attractive enough. But not as attractive as the little girl who had ran away...

Torak frowned, wondering why he couldn't stop thinking about the girl. It was getting annoying.

He cleared his head and pointed at the dark-haired girl, signaling the council members that she was the one he had chosen.

They quickly told the girl to step forward. Tessa stepped forward, smiling confidently while the other girls growled at her. She knew she was going to win, after all, she was the most attractive among them.

The council members stared at her and smiled, she was indeed beautiful.

"Tessa Jederek, daughter of the Alpha of the blue moon pack. You have been chosen to be his majesty's bride."

Tessa smiled hearing those words, she glanced at the king who didn't even look her way once. But she was confident that he was going to be hers alone, soon.

The men turned to the king, who looked like his mind wasn't even there with them. They wondered if they should continue with the ritual. However, they needed his presence and attention.

"Ahem Y-Your majesty, i-it is time for the final part of the ritual."

The men smiled in relief when he finally spoke.

"Step forward."

Tessa took steps forward, closer to the throne. That was when Torak finally glanced at her, her eyes met his cold ones and she smiled as she waited for him to stand up and put his mark on her. At that moment, Tessa felt like she was the luckiest she-wolf alive.

Torak finally stood up and Tessa felt her heart race. The bite was supposed to be done intimately between destined mates, but right now, she didn't even care. Who knows? They could be mates after all, the rumors were just rumors.

Torak stared at her, his eyes looking dangerously chilling and distant. And the hall was dead silent as everyone anticipated, waiting for his next move.

"Tilt your head," he said.