chapter 39

__the mountain home

Inside the living room with stone furnitures, sat cas and malik sipping tea and eating biscuits that cas manage to bought from his little adventure to black moon.

Cas spoke *you know uncle, I'm just so happy for hunter, safia is so nice she brought me apples and grapes and even gave me a blanket at that disgusting dangeon, she sat there on the dirty floor with me in her princess dress, oh i can't wait for the wedding to happen!*

Malik stopped *hey who said anything about a wedding! She might be nice but don't forget, its always the nice ones that are the worst ones, and besides, kong is her father! The apple doesn't fall far from the tree*

Shaking his head cas sighs and spoke *come on dad, you know what i think is bothering you, you've grown too use to the battle field where no one can be trusted, that's why you think everyone nice is plotting* malik chuckles but agree *true kid, true. But you can never be too careful*

 Then suddenly Bursting through the door is hunter in his werewolf form, immediately he turn back to human, grabbing cas jacket he tie it around his waist, malik worriedly ask *what's wrong what happened!!?* while cas whine *oh come on! Not my favorite jacket!*

In a panic hunter spoke *we need to gather everyone, the hunters, the seniors we are going to black moon to rescue princess safia!* 

Malik let out *woah woah woah slow down son slow down, take deep breaths with me..* hunter shook his head *there's no time for that we have to go now* grabbing hunter's hand malik spoke *the worst decisions are made when scared or angry, listen to me son...calm down*

 Hunter sat on the stone couch next to malik, he took deep breaths then malik ask *now tell me, what happened?* taking another deep breath hunter explained *i told her the truth, the whole truth and she accepted me as i am, so did i but then that Antonio showed up....our..

Our secret is out, that she has been sneaking out to see a boy, me and Antonio got into a fight , safia told me to run and i shifted into my werewolf form in front of them all....while Antonio dragged her back to the palace*

Letting out a frustrated sigh, hunter ran his fingers through his hair and added *I'm afraid he'll hurt her, i need to protect her from him* malik assured *he is her father hunter, no matter how bad or evil a father is he will never hurt his own daughter*

Hunter shook his head *that might be true but uncle he's kong, i need to make sure she's fine, i need to check*  malik spat out a little angry *and how do you plan to do that, are you gonna just go there and demand to see her...hunter not just me but every single werewolf cares about you, you are a symbol of hope to our people, i can't watch you give everything away for a girl*

 Hunter softly spoke *I'm sorry uncle, I'll calm down....i will never endanger my people or break their hope, and safia, apart from my love for her she is the only safe way to end our suffering, if we truly don't want war then she's the way*

 Malik sigh then spoke *...fine okay fine, how do we get in then, we sneak in like cas did?* both hunter and malik look towards cas while cas quickly raised his hands and protest 

*nope! not gonna happen, i can't help you sneak into that place, the ball is over and Anthony is still there* hunter ask *what does the ball have to do with your sneaking in? shouldn't it be a good thing it's over, that way we have more chances of survival*

Cas reply *the ball was the whole key, me and jasper had been planning that for a long time but it's impossible to enter, everywhere is guarded, we couldn't even go an inch closer to the wall, but with the ball, the gate was wide open and carriages go In and out all the time, so we hid under one of the guest carriage, that was the only way in and out, safely*

 Hearing that hunter slumped back with a frustrated yet hopeless sigh, malik thought then spoke *hmm.....this is very risky and a terrible idea, but if i want you along with your senses it might be the only way....I'm thinking we send cas back there, he sneaks in and check on the princess from a great distance and come back here quickly*

 Cas quickly spoke before hunter could *fantastic idea! When do i leave?* hunter slowly nodded then spoke *...its too dangerous* malik reply *and that's why he won't be going alone, he'll take a senior with him*

 Cas refused *I'm not taking anyone with me, i myself is a senior and i...i have jasper's death to mourn for the rest of my life I'm not gonna add another, besides...I'll be more quick and safer alone....

 I'm not sure this will even work, i want to go but there is no ball, with the ball i can sneak in easily, but no ball means the princess will be inside the palace, and my Vivi safe from any stage fire thankfully*

The two adults ask *who's Vivi?!* with a dreamy exhale cas reply *my Vivian...* hunter smiles and shook his head while malik rolls his eyes playfully and mutter *young love...*

 After some time hunter finally agreed *okay, but be super duper careful and don't trust anyone, except Vivian...and about the carriage, everyday three people come out at dusk, they'd stay close to the kingdom, gather wood and wild flowers then head back in. I can distract them while you sneak under their carriage, for coming back...i dont know

      cas chirped *I can stay the night there* both of the adults screamed out *what!!!* malik said *you must be out of your mind kid* hunter added *not in this life* cas sat back, running his hands through his hair he spoke *its the only safe way in and out, Vivi will hide me somewhere and early morning I'll follow another bunch of people out, safely*

 After several minutes of silence malik nodded while hunter spoke *okay then, tomorrow night you go*

__safia 

As king Travis raised the long black cain above his head, painful memories which safia has spent a great amount of time burying deep inside her, resurfaced.

When she was just a child that lost her mother, little safia would go to her dad as he tirelessly work day and night in his office, she would take tea to him, mimicking her mother, but he would just dismiss her and her tea, but one faithful day she slipped and spilt the tea all over the papers he was working at, he was so angry he used a cain and beat the soul out of her.

 So he made it a tradition, whenever the young princess makes a mistake, no matter how little, like play with a servant, refuse to finish her meal or chase a butterfly through the kingdom, just anything a princess shouldn't do, he'd flog her with that cain, leaving behind bruises and marks that have now disappeared thanks to great treatment.

And not wanting her to join the kingdom school like other normal kids, he made all those lessons for her, to study at home and keep her away from disturbing him, and still then he'd occasionally beat her when she makes a mistake, the beating only stopped when she learns to put on her poker face, to pretend to be the perfect princess, for the public and for her father.

Kneeling on the floor as the cain decent down on her safia screamed, fear engulfs her as all the painful memories bubbled up, but the king did not notice any of that, the tears or the fear, all he knows is that she made a grave mistake and must be punished.

 Safia curl into a ball as the king mercilessly lash out at her, a loud whipping sound filled the room, along with safia's cries. The servants, the guards, the doctor attending to Anthony all stood still and silent, wanting to help the princess but are too scared of the king.

 Until brenda burst into the room and covered safia with her own body, king Travis quickly stopped before he lash at brenda, he shouted *move! Move away from here!!* brenda let out in a panic *please your majesty, let her be..it was a mistake, she will never do it again, i beg of you your majesty*

 King Travis raised the thick black cain again, with a whipping sound he hit the soft carpet then threw the cain away, he shouted *now! Get her out of my sight now!!* brenda quickly held safia up and rush away with her. 

While the king looked towards Anthony and ordered *my office, now* and he stormed away, leaving behind the utterly shocked guards and servants, they have never imagined the princess herself is punished like this, all of them took a silent vow never to speak to anyone about it, they will protect their princess dignity.

And Anthony, he sat there as the doctor bandage him up, from a distance he looks like he's about to cry out of pity for the princess, but it was just his creepy evil smile.

**

King Travis sat on the couch slowly sipping a drink, as Anthony limp his way in, his hand bandage up and tied around his neck, another white bandage was wrapped around his ribs too, with a little nod he spoke *i am here your majesty* 

King Travis put down his drink and spoke *Anthony...I'm ever grateful to you, thank you for bringing my daughter back home safely, i shall give you whatever you desire* Anthony bow his head a little, smiling he spoke *you've given me everything your majesty, i cannot dare ask for more*

 King Travis smiles, then sigh and spoke *she betrayed me, she betrayed her kingdom, all this time she knows hunter march! And dared keep it secret from me, i should have punished her more!..* 

 Hiding his smile Anthony spoke *your majesty, i have a solution....if you'd give me a chance* nodding king Travis gave a go ahead. 

Anthony clears his throat and start *it is clear the princess has known the werewolfs for some time seeing how...close they are, which means she knows where they are hiding, but of course she will never tell us,  we have to get the information out of her somehow, and your....punishment, seems to have broke her*

Raising his brow king Travis let out *are you suggesting i hurt my daughter more Anthony...* Anthony quickly reply *no of course not your majesty, i would never suggest that, what i meant to say was, we should easily get the information out of her with...love*

King Travis spoke *tell me..how* Anthony continue *hunter march, leader of the werewolfs is in love with the princess, and she loves him too, which is why i suggest my Engagement with her to be done quickly, that way we can have full control over her actions.

Otherwise i fear she might run to the werewolfs, decide to help them into black moon, like she did with the two pups, but if i wed her, it will not only ground her but also break hunter March heart, he will hurt...emotionally. 

And eventually i will slowly get the truth out of her, she will reveal where they hide, and you my king, will finally get to end the entire werewolf race...what do you think...your majesty* king Travis smiles and fondly nods, showing his approval to Anthony.

 _______

Down below is information I should've written long before, I'm sorry 🥺

 ( like any community or kingdom have schools, the werewolfs also have their own education system.

First they have the general school, every werewolf kid must attend from the age of five, where they are taught basic things, like how to control their forms and transformations, hunting of small animals, natural laws of the forest, how to fight using only their fists and paws, and basic training with harmless weapons.

Second they have the senior school, and the general school second, here the werewolf kids are allowed to choose which part they take.

if they choose the senior school their fate and destiny is already decided, they will be trained in a military like manner to become protectors of the werewolfs and their home, they are second in line to the hunters.

They are taught different fighting styles and how to survive when alone in the forest or surrounded by enemies, they learn offense and defense, killing and saving, protection and destroying etc. They are also taught other skills like, cooking and farming, medicine, forgery, but only the basic tier, enough for them to understand and use when needed.

 They are to chose and find their main weapon, a weapon they can connect with and master, ones a weapon is chosen it can not be exchanged with another, but they can chose more than one weapon if they can handle it, for example.

 Casteel is mastering archery and double edge spear, but now because of Vivian's obsession with swords, he decided to also master swordsmanship. While still being interested in and using his talent, photography

And hunter has mastered swordsmanship and archery, but since he's trained by malik, who is known as the weapon master, he has mastered almost all the existing weapons thus he also taught hunter, who is now threatening to surpass him.

They can be tutored outside of school if they want and by whoever they want or is willing to, like how malik tutored hunter and now casteel. Extra knowledge is always welcomed.

 But if they chose not to join the seniors, they will enter the next step of the general school, where they would be guided and assisted to acquire or figure out their speciality so they can also contribute In their own way.

 They are taught farming and cooking, forgery, tailoring, gardening, construction, Art and many other skills they can specialize in and make a living with it. It is up to them to decide which they take.

 The general school has no time limit, one can stay as long they want and learn as much as they can, but the senior school don't have that privilege of time, they trained for a specific amount of time then graduate, if by any misfortune one of them fails their final test, they are given a second chance to be trained again together with new set of seniors, but if they still fail to make it, they are dismiss and are allowed to join the general school second ).