Chapter 6

Meanwhile, back at the residence of Beta Lucian, Elowen was making a scene that drew the attention of Beta Lucian. 

“What happened?” Beta Lucian asked the lady that stood outside Elowen's room 

“She has been acting out of place since morning. She threw anything her hands could touch at people who entered previously. She is really furious right now and it's not a good time.” Eleanor said. 

After listening to what she had to say Beta Lucian walked in. 

“Go away.” Elowen yelled throwing a pillow at Beta Lucian, however, she didn't know he was the one. Beta Lucian dodged the pillow as he saw it coming. 

“Elowen!” Beta Lucian yelled. 

“Father.” Elowen said, her voice soft and subtle. 

“What are you doing? Why are you creating a scene?” Beta Lucian asked Elowen who now looked like a mess, a nasty one. 

“Father you promised me, you told me I would end up with Alpha Adrian but now he is getting married to another and Arielle of all people, a rogue and an outcast.” Elowen said as she broke down in tears.

“Is that why you're crying and making a scene?” Beta Lucian asked. 

Elowen was surprised by her father's statement as she stared at him in confusion. 

“I told you I would handle it, why don't you believe in me?” Beta Lucian asked. 

“Believe in you? Arielle and Alpha Adrian are getting married tonight. Once her carriage arrives then it's over for me.” Elowen said, drying her tears with the back of her hand. 

“And who told you her carriage would arrive?” Beta Lucian asked, a devilish smile crept on his face. 

Elowen was confused. 

“What do you mean?” She asked, sniffing in. Her face worked up. 

“I told you that I would handle this. It's sad you don't have faith in your father again.” Beta Lucian said, walking towards Elowen. “Her carriage would never return and you would be the one to marry the Alpha of our pack.” 

“Really?” Elowen asked. 

“Yes.” Beta Lucian said, pulling his daughter, Elowen, into a hug. “I promised you that and I always stick to my words. By nightfall, Arielle or her carriage wouldn't arrive at the pack and you'll be the one to marry the Alpha in her place. Trust me.”

“I trust you father. I'll be the one to marry Alpha Adrian and I'll become Luna of the pack.” Elowen said, her confidence and ego resurfacing. 

“Good.” Beta Lucian said. 

Few Hours To Midnight 

The council of elders sat in the meeting hall with Alpha Adrian sitting on his throne, presiding over the pressing issue that could sabotage his union with Arielle. 

“Our dear Alpha, it's barely five hours till midnight and Arielle is nowhere to be found.” One of the elders, Elder Elwood said, his voice hoarse, a testament of old age. 

“Maybe she ran away because she doesn't want to marry our Alpha, what a pathetic loser.” Elder Elf said. 

“Your statement is equally as pathetic as her. Who wouldn't want to marry the Alpha, our Alpha or have you forgotten so soon that our Alpha is the leader of the Dreadmoon Pack? One of the most powerful packs in our world.” Elder Zion said. 

“Yes, I agree with elder Zion. I'm sure there are thousands of women outside these walls that are willing to give an eye for a place with the Alpha.” Elder Mikleus said. 

“So what are you two insinuating? Are you trying to say something bad happened to Arielle?” Elder Odyssey said. 

“I didn't say that, but it might be true. It takes three hours to get to the estate from here and another three hours to get back. It's been seven hours now since we sent out the royal carriage to go and bring Arielle but they're not here yet.” Elder Zion said. 

“Exactly, don't you think we should take that into consideration? What do you think, Elder odyssey?” Elder Mikleus asked. 

“My opinion wouldn't matter when we have a superior opinion among us. Let's ask our Alpha what he thinks.” Elder Odyssey said as all eyes turned towards Alpha Adrian who sat on his throne watching the development before him. 

“Elder Zion is right. It takes six hours to go to and fro from the pack to the estate Arielle was kept in. It's seven hours now, the royal carriage is running late by an hour. Let's send out another carriage with double forces to go look for her.” Alpha Adrian said, his fingers tapping the armrest of his throne. 

“That's a good idea….”

“I don't think so.” Beta Lucian said, interrupting the elder, Elf. “Alpha Adrian, the wedding is in three hours and we have distinguished guests from across our pack and territory wide, far and near. Sending another carriage to look for Arielle would take six hours for them to journey to and fro. It's not necessary for us to waste resources, let's sit back and wait.” Beta Lucian said. 

“But we're running out of time, sending another carriage like Alpha Adrian suggested is a good idea, at least we would know some efforts were made.” Elder Elf said.

“I think Beta Lucian has a point now. Let's sit and wait, sending another carriage after her would not buy us time would it, Elder Elf?” Elder Zion said. 

“Yes, it won't buy us more time but what if Arielle doesn't show up before the wedding?” The Elder Elf asked. 

“Then we apply other options.” Beta Lucian said.

“Other options? What are these options you speak of? Are you suggesting we cancel the wedding?” Elder Odyssey asked. 

“Yes. We would have no choice but to do so unless the Alpha is willing to marry someone else.” Beta Lucian said. 

“Hold it Lucian.” Elder Orion said. He had been sitting there watching the whole scenario play out. “The Alpha is not going to marry someone else, Arielle is his mate and he would marry her. I believe she's fine and she will return safely to the pack.”

“But “belief” is not enough again right now. We need assurance that she will return and if she doesn't I guess we have no choice but to go with either of Beta Lucian's suggestions.” Elder Zion said.

“Enough of all this!” Alpha Adrian yelled. “Arielle would return back to the pack safely and nothing would happen to her.” 

“Alpha Adrian, I understand that you…..” 

“ARIELLE IS DEAD!!!!” 

A loud voice echoed through the room as a young man entered with his clothes stained with blood. 

“How dare you enter the sacred meeting ground of the council of elders!?” Elder Zion yelled, standing on his feet as he clenched his feet. 

“Our elders and our Alpha, I apologize for my intrusion, but Arielle was brought back dead. She was mauled to death by some beast.” The young man said, his head lowered as he fell on his kneel. 

“What?” Alpha Adrian said, standing up from his throne as he walked towards the young man. “Stand up and speak. What happened?”

“Yes…yes. I'll stand up and speak.” The young man said, shivering. 

“A group of hunters found her body at the river side. She was mauled to death.” The young man said. 

Immediately he finished talking, two men walked in with a wooden stretcher and on the stretcher laid Arielle. She was still wearing her royal paraphernalia that was now stained with blood. Her face was disfigured with claws of an unknown beast. She was beyond recognition. 

“She's greatly disfigured but we could tell from her royal paraphernalia which has the emblem of our pack on it that she was Arielle.” One of the men who brought in Arielle on the stretcher said. 

A devilish smile crept on Beta Lucian's face. 

“This is outrageous, who could have done something this mischievous?” Beta Lucian said. 

“Cover her up.” Alpha Adrian said. 

“What should we do about your wedding? We can't possibly cancel it right now.” Beta Lucian said. 

Alpha Adrian turned, his gaze landed on Beta Lucian. “Is your option three still available?” Alpha Adrian asked. 

“Yes. She's very much available.” Beta Lucian said. 

“Good. Make a change of plans, prepare her as my bride. I'll marry her this evening and present her as my wife to the rest of the pack and wolves from outside my pack. We must keep the event going.” Alpha Adrian said. 

“Your wish is my command.” Beta Lucian said, a devilish smile on his cheek. 

“Good.” Alpha Adrian said as he walked out of the meeting hall. 

“Ensure she's buried at a comfortable place.” Beta Lucian said, placing his hands on the shoulder of the young man. 

Elder Orion watched and listened in shock. Was Arielle really dead? He was finding it hard to believe that Arielle was truly dead, he had blamed himself for convincing Alpha Adrian to marry Arielle and for making him keep her far away from the pack. He had done that with the intention of keeping her safe, little did he know that he had sent her to her death.