Chapter One
~Legend's POV~
"So tell me why you are not excited about your father's birthday?" Gael, my best friend and Beta's son, said and I exhaled deeply.
"It is not that I am not excited about it. Heck, I am so happy that he is aging fast and I will become the Alpha King but my wolf has been feeling jittery which is making me look stressed than usual." I explained to him and pinched the bridge of my nose. But instead this fool took it as a joke and grinned like a dummy. I snickered at him in annoyance and almost rolled my eyes at him.
I can't. As per my father's word, I am the Alpha Prince and I am supposed to act respectable in front of the entire werewolf world but I don't think that's how I behave according to the rumors going round in the palace. Yes, the rumors are about me but I don't give a fvck. I make the rules and call the shots.
Okay, yeah, not yet but soon enough.
"Am I good?" I asked as I looked at myself in the large mirror before me. Gael looked at me with admiration and smiled.
Dummy.
"You look so handsome and regal." He said with a flattering voice. I scoffed and hit him on the forehead.
"Ouch." He faked a wince.
"Shut up, you sound like a dummy." I said to him and picked my wristwatch and wore it. I had told the maids not to bother dressing me. Well, I don't like it anyways. I know if my father hears a word of it, he is going to make a fuss about it. Like being the Alpha Prince and all royal stuffs I don't care about.
I dusted the tuxedo suit and cast a last look at myself. I winked at the mirror and I heard Gael stifle a laugh.
What am I going to do with him?!
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Who's there?" Gael said, more like yelling.
"Alpha Prince Legend, your presence is being requested by the Alpha King and Luna Queen." A tiny feminine voice said.
"On our way." Gael replied and she scurried off just like that.
"Are you ready?" I asked him and he gave me a pointed look.
"I should be the one asking you that question since you are the one who will be giving off the impression of the good Alpha Prince." He said and I narrowed my eyes at him.
"And I guess you will be giving off the impression of the bad Beta's son." I teased him. He glared at me playfully.
"You don't need to think about how my father reprimands me. I am a good and obedient guy." He said, adjusting his suit and I almost splash the water I was about to drink. He snorted and looked away. I dropped the cup and started for the door. He followed behind me and we exited the room.
Then we saw my father's adviser, marching towards us with her heels clicking the floor.
"Oh, Legend. I was about to come and get you. It's time for us to make the appearance." She said with a warm smile. I nodded my head and walked alongside with her.
We got to the passage and saw my parents standing so close to each other. My father was whispering some things into my mother's ear and she was giggling.
Does love truly exist like theirs?
What does it feel like being mates by the way?
"Oh, son. You are here." My mother seemed to have seen me after her playful moment with my father. I almost rolled my eyes and walked towards them.
"Good day, father." I said with a slight bow while I planted a kiss on my mother's cheek. Gael muttered some greetings and my father waved him off. I looked around and saw Gael's father who had this stern or rather stoic and passive look on his face. I could say that he hardly laughs or even smiles. Not like I have seen one on him. And not to add, that he is trying to mould his son into the perfect son.
"Legend." My mother called out and I turned to look at her.
"Are you prepared? Don't make your father angry." She said, whispering the last part that made me smirk.
"Mother, I am not troublesome." I said with a faint pout and she chuckled. I am everything around my mother.
My father held my mother by her hand while I walked behind them into the large throne room. Gael had been summoned by his father so he could not accompany me.
Then suddenly, my wolf, Ryder purred. My eyebrows creased at the action.
"What happened, butterfly?" I asked and he seemed to come back to his senses.
"I told you to stop calling me that." He replied with an harsh tone. I scoffed.
"Why did you purr like a bitch?" I asked.
"She is around." Was all he said and he blocked me.
Who?!
Who is around?!
I yelled in my head but he did not reply. Hope it is not what I am thinking. I looked around, taking in everyone's faces. But my heart already accelerated and I could not calm down. I need to walk out of here as soon as possible.
"Welcome, Alpha King." The voices of the guests brought me out of my thoughts. I am sure I must have missed out the introduction part. I let out a shaky breath and curled my fist into a ball. We all sat down;my father sat on his throne while my mother sat down just beside him but his was quite taller than hers while mine is just below them.
"Thank you all for honoring the invitation." My father said which is his own way of saying 'you had better thanked your stars that you attended or else you would have been removed from that mighty position that you are in'.
I still felt jittery and my head was beginning to ache as people stepped out and started saying all kind of hypocritical kind words about my father. Some dropped gifts which I know that my father will definitely send to the orphanage in the city. He does not care about them at all. All he cared for is his respect. The guests may think this was just an ordinary birthday party but infact it is a party to show which Alpha still disagrees with him.
Well, they stood no chance at all.
I did not know I was beginning to sweat when my mother's voice came in my head. "Why are you sweating?" She asked and I almost jerk back.
"I don't know. Tell father, I need to get some fresh air. I feel suffocated here." I said and stood up. I looked at her out of the corner of my eyes, she nodded her head positively even though she still had that vibrant smile on her face. I slipped out from the midst of the people and came out in the deserted passage. I bumped into Gael.
"Guy, where are you off to?" He asked me as he looked at me from head to toe.
"I need fresh air." Was all I said before walking out.
As I got outside, I tugged at my tie and loosened it a bit. I breathed in the air and my stiff muscles relaxed. Then I breathed out and breathed in again. This time another scent mixed with the air and found its way to my nostrils. Ryder connected back to me and stood at alert. My eyes went wide and my head got into frenzy mode. My legs moved on their own accord towards the garden, sniffing the scent and there she was. She was looking around as if this would be the last time, she would be here. She soon started walking towards me but then she bumped into me and looked up at me.
"Mate!" Was all I could mutter.
