CHAPTER TWO

"Lady Natalie, I suggest you let me handle this myself."

"I can see the much improvement you've made." I clap back at Beta Xavier subtly.

"On a more serious note, Lady Natalie." He pauses to look at me. "Or allow the elders to do their job."

"I will pass." Without as much as looking in his direction, I hop on the carriage and wait for him to join me.

He climbs in and sits at the extreme, giving me my honor. "You should reconsider." He suggests.

"Get the ride started already." I command through the small outlet in front of us.

In a few seconds, the rider whips the horses into motion.

"Lady Natalie, you can't keep mute in delicate cases as this." He grimaces. "And any bad decision you make will affect us all."

"Xavier, I'm quite enlightened." I sigh. "I will advise you to let me think."

"Lady Natalie, you ought to be conversant with the state of things and affairs of the pack. Politics doesn't function in isolation and we are at risk of..."

"I would very much prefer tranquility and quiet." I cut him off, my voice a low growl.

"Very well then." He concurs and sits mute.

Not giving him an audience, I enjoy the rapt change of scenery, moving trees and valleys. A road trip is something I find fun.

Beta Xavier and I arrive at the pack house of Scorpio Pack quite late. We climbed down the carriage after the rider parked it in a safe spot. Beta Xavier leads the way to the main gate as I trail behind. For a while, we wait for the servants to grant us entry.

"Good day, Lady Natalie and Beta Xavier." One of the guards greets.

I nod, too pissed to respond.

News of my parents' demise and my coronation in a few weeks has traveled across borders as well as raised dust, an uncommon occurrence to be specific.

"We're here to see your Alpha. We sent our word already." Beta Xavier speaks for the first time since forever. "Please, inform him of our presence." He requests softly.

"Alright, please follow me." The guard responds as he steps aside and allows us entrance. He shuts it immediately we get in.

He leads us to a spacious chamber, after long minutes of walking, and turns to leave when we arrive.

"Please make yourself comfortable, do you need me to get you anything as you wait..."

"There won't be a need for that, mister. And we don't intend to spend eternity here, just go get your alpha." Irritation is present in my voice.

"Right, I'll go get the Alpha shortly." He assures and leaves.

While Beta Xavier and I are sitting quietly, I access the large chamber. The high seats and gold-lined walls. A portrait hangs on the wall at the extreme, just by the side of the alpha's seat, and the image on it is made from precious stones and pearls.

Such luxury is at the detriment of poor lives.

"Look who visited." A deep voice reverberates in the hall.

I find myself almost leaping, not out of terror, but shock as to the hoarseness of his voice.

"Skies!" I whisper, not so loud enough to give myself away so cheaply.

The door through the inner chambers opens, revealing an older man.

Alpha Arthur is exactly as they described him, tall and huge and ugly, only that he's much uglier than imagined. He looks cold, and the wrinkles on his forehead sell the cruel image of him.

"Alpha Arthur, good day." Beta Xavier stands up and bows, but I remain glued to my seat.

"Lady Natalie." He whispers, gritting his teeth. He tilts his head to the side, giving me eye contact to show some respect.

Instead, I rolled my eyeballs at him, throwing fierce daggers. If his dumb mummies had succeeded in killing me, I bet his respect bank would be filled by now.

"You may sit, young man." He informs Beta Xavier after taking his seat at the high table. "Lady Natalie," he begins. "Good day."

I fake a smile... And that was it.

"You asked that we have a meeting..."

"Demanded actually." I chip in.

He hesitates for a while, looking at my petite frame. I bet he wonders where such audacity stems from... definitely not my size.

"Lady Natalie, please be composed." Beta Xavier whispers, hitting my forearm with his.

"Right. So, how may I be of relevance to you?" Alpha Arthur continues.

Beta Xavier adjusts to get up and speak.

"...To your pack, actually." I correct Alpha Arthur. "I would need you to call the members of your pack to order. Enough of the incessant attacks." I spill, making Beta Xavier sit back in his seat.

"Lady Natalie." His voice is a low growl. "You're making a fool out of me."

"How about you're kissing his stinking ass? You reverence him too much, it sucks." I reply, loud enough for Alpha Arthur to listen. "That's why we're here." I now direct my statement to Alpha Arthur. "Be of relevance to your pack and call them to order." I reiterate.

He scoffs and rubs his large palm on his thigh. For a few minutes, he keeps mute and just stares down at my figure. If looks could kill.

"Why, if I may ask?" His cold and blunt tone speaks up.

"We got attacked by your dumb mummies. The next time it happens, it won't be this peaceful." I warn.

"Oh, that." He dismisses it with a wave of his hand, climbs down his seat, and stands on the high step.

Seconds by second, he tramples on my last nerve.

"Your papa, the late alpha, and I had so much in common..."

"You're free to spew shit, but don't you dare drag my late papa to filth." My voice is laced with so many emotions.

He laughs scornfully. "I see his energy in you, quite unmatched if you ask me. He was quite the stubborn type. Anyway, we had an unfinished business on how to resolve this mess."

He stops to be sure I'm with him. Certain, he continues. "He has two options. The first is to annihilate the human boy or let our pack work in unity."

Of course, the second is favorable and seems easy. But then, there should be an underlying reason anchoring it. Seeing him for the first time, he looks too cunny for his good. Impatiently, I wait for the conditioned 'clause'.

"How will the second work?" I inquire, with no information forthcoming.

He doesn't respond as he walks towards the door.

"Daily, I can't help but imagine what it would be like to have the two most powerful packs become one." He rubs his fingers together.

I adjust in my seat, and the odd feeling of expecting the worst builds in me.

"I want our packs to become one, the strongest of all. And it will only be possible if you accept my son, Dante, to be your mate."

"What?" I whip my head in his direction.

Never have I imagined there was such a thing as matchmaking in our community.

"And what happens if we're not fated mates? The moon goddess intertwines mate for a purpose."

"Oh, Lady Natalie." He stops to access me. "I thought you were smarter than that. Fated mates are for the faint of hearts." He laughs. "You have just two days to get back to me. Or we go with the first option, and if you still don't agree... I hope you will be able to explain your ruin to the remnants of your pack."

He walks out, leaving me paranoid.

"The guts." I bluff.

Beta Xavier rises to leave but waits for me to catch up.

"Lady Natalie, what was that for?"

"I should be asking you what your odd display of reverence was for. Like you needed his validation to speak."

"He's the alpha."

"Okay?" I beg to grasp what he meant.

"Your coronation is in a few days, you..."

"And that makes me any lesser?" I scoff.

"That's by the way." He dismisses. "We were not here to fight."

"Neither were we here to bargain. Besides, the swords are still sleeping beautifully." I double my pace and walk past him. "He is clearly in the wrong, someone needs to scream that to his hearing."

I climb in the carriage, and it starts another trio back to our pack house when Beta Xavier joins in.

"If we hadn't accommodated Hendrix, there would be zero need for banter." He continues where we left off.

The thought of Hendrix infiltrates my mind. His well-built frame and hairy chest, and the soft smell of lavender and herbs resurrect. I feel the color of my eyes change and my fur begins to emanate at the mere thought of him.

"Lady Natalie, are you okay?" Beta Xavier's voice calls from behind, pulling me back to reality.

"Of course." I shake the wild thoughts off and walk out of the chamber.