Episode 25

"We have a problem, Father," said Damian as he took a glass of wine from a waiter and walked towards Lord Tristan, who was engaged in conversation with another lord.

"Excuse me, Lord Cumberbatch," said Lord Tristan as he walked away with an upset Damian to the balcony.

"What's the matter, son? You look upset."

"That damn peasant keeps getting in my way, even after all these years."

"Speak plainly, son. I'm not following."

"She is still in love with Ezra after all these years."

"Who is Ezra, and who is in love with him?"

"The princess is in love with King Aaron's chauffeur."

"What? How do you know this?"

"I saw them earlier in the garden, confessing their undying love. He had his arms around my fiancée."

"Oh no, we can't have that. Let me remind you what your marriage to the princess means for our family, our lineage! You must seduce her and remove this peasant from her heart."

"You have to speak to King Aaron. I can't make her fall in love with me if he is always around."

"Don't worry, son. I'll handle this Ezra fellow, Just focus on the princess and getting her to fall inlove with you." said Lord Tristan with great determination.

They both rejoined the gathering, awaiting the commencement of the ritual. After about an hour, all the guests were shown into another room where the initiation ritual was to take place. King Aaron was already there, awaiting the rest of the party as they poured in, and all took turns greeting him. Moments later, they were all settled in, and Esmeralda was announced. The entire room fell silent as they watched her. She looked absolutely beautiful in a midnight blue dress tantalizingly draped from her body. The gown clung to her slender curves, and the plunging neckline teased her cleavage. Her hair, a beautiful wild red afro almost the size of a cloud, was mesmerizing. Everyone present was stunned by how magnificent she looked. Ezra and Damian couldn't peel their eyes off her. Silently, battle lines had been drawn and war had been declared by the two men for Esmeralda's heart.

Trying to contain her nerves, she stared straight at her father, not daring to look around the room. She finally reached him and let out a breath of relief. There was a massive altar with a knife, a big bowl, and 13 goblets on it. Esmeralda stood next to her father, who smiled at her and spoke.

"Welcome, all of you, to this special day—the Princess Esmeralda's initiation ritual. Without further ado, we shall commence," said King Aaron as he picked up a goblet and a knife and nodded to the servants. They picked up a goblet and knife each and handed them to the 12 wolf lords present.

"May the goddess Celeste guide us, may the goddess Celeste protect us, may the goddess Celeste illuminate our way in the dark," King Aaron began to chant, and everyone present joined him. He cut his palm, and his blood dripped into the goblet he held, as did the other 12 lords present. Each of them took turns pouring the blood from their goblets into the bowl on the altar. Aaron picked up the bowl and kept chanting.

"May the wisdom and powers of the 12 clans flow through you," said Aaron as he handed the bowl of blood to Esmeralda. Her eyes sought Ezra in the room, and she finally felt relief once she saw his supportive and tender gaze.

"Drink it," said her father zealously as he watched her.

She nodded and drank from it. Suddenly, she started feeling strange. Her wolf was struggling to emerge from her skin, but it felt unusual. Suddenly, her head felt like it was splitting open. She coughed up some of the blood she couldn't keep down and felt her windpipe tighten.

"Esmeralda, are you okay?" asked her father as the rest of the guests looked on in horror. She clutched her neck as though choking and unable to breathe. Her mind was invaded by several images—memories and emotions experienced by all the lords and her father. She couldn't keep up with the thousands of images flooding her mind. She fell to the floor, fangs grew from her teeth, and her eyes turned a horrid red color.

"She is a monster!" yelled someone in the room.

"Calm yourselves," said Aaron as the wolves began to show their fangs and claws.

"What is she?" whispered another.

"Ezra, help me carry her to her room," said King Aaron. Ezra, without hesitation, was by her side. He lifted her in his arms and made his way out of the room.

"Hold on, Esmeralda," he whispered as he carried her to her room.

Esmeralda was lost in a particular memory. She saw her mother and father engaged in what seemed like an argument. Suddenly, her father's claws slashed into her mother, killing her. She was horrified as she watched on. Finally, overwhelmed by the tension, she collapsed and fainted in Ezra's arms.

Meanwhile, in the banquet hall, everyone present was in shock. They were all trying to figure out what had just happened and what exactly she was. The room was filled with chatter and an air of tension and anticipation that could be cut with a knife.

"Her eyes turned red like a vampire's," said Lord Cumberbatch to lord Marcus who was much too horrified to even speak.

"That's impossible, she is an abomination. Wolves and vampires can't procreate so whatever she is, is unnatural." added Lord Dominique.

"How is that possible? She is a wolf as well as a vampire." Damian whispered to his father.

"I have no idea son, I am as lost as everyone else," said lord Tristan.

"I knew something was off when I smelled her, she didn't smell like a female wolf." said Damian to his father.

"It seems King Aaron has been harboring a dark, shameful secret," added Lord Tristan.

"I knew there was something off about her. The royal family had never birthed a woman. And now we know why. She is an abomination, a disgusting monster. How could King Aaron deceive us like this?" whispered Lord Vladimir to his wife lady Alessandra.

"Where do you think you're going?" asked Lord Tristan, addressing Damian, who was already walking towards the door.

"To figure out what's happening."

"No, son. It's much too sensitive. This is a family matter," cautioned Lord Tristan.

"Well, I am her intended, and it's my responsibility to be there for her. I made a promise to her," said Damian as he left, despite his father's advice.

Damian made his way up the stairs and, luckily, found a servant.

"Please point me to the princess's room," Damian requested, and against the servant's better judgment, he obliged.