Four

Golder’s POV

“Phew”

I sighed as I flung myself on the bed and raised my head as Ari also jumped on the bed too.

“So tell me, how was your date?”

Ari asked, placing emphasis on the word ‘date’. I gave her one of those bombastic side eye looks as I sat upright and said

“That wasn’t a date at all! We literally ate our food in silence after he reminded me that we were just there because of our individual packs!

Ari stared at me for a while and burst out into mad laughter

“Oh my darling, what did you expect? For him to just begin to chit chat as if he’d known you for

ages? You know that’s not how this works!”

“Don’t tell me you’re on his side Ari! You also know how difficult this is for me. The fact that that’s who I’m supposed to get married to just irks me!”

Ariana was about to answer when my phone beeped and immediately I saw who messaged me, my countenance changed immediately into surprise mixed with shock.

“What’s the issue?”Ari asked. I was too stunned to speak, so I passed the phone across to Ariana who then read the text aloud

‘Hi, Golder....ummm, I just wanted to apologize for my attitude earlier today... I realized I wasn’t supposed to behave with you the way I did. After all, none of this is our fault and we don’t really have a choice. I will love to make it up to you by taking you out again. So if you don’t mind, please reply to this with whatever venue you pick...Simön.’

“Golder, this is goo...”

“Oh please Ari, the fact that I’m surprised doesn’t mean I’m going to just accept his apology. Can I have my phone?”

“There’s no way you’re having this phone back! And weren’t you just complaining that he’s stuck up? You are going and that’s it!

Ari decided to reply on behalf of Golder and the text read

‘Oh, hi....I honestly hold nothing against you. I guess you were just overwhelmed by how fast everything is going.. About the venue, there’s this really nice restaurant here in A****n called ‘The Cassadora’. We could meet there if it’s convenient for you...’

“Here you go.... And you’re welcome too”

I was about to reply when an attendant came in to tell us that dinner was ready. So with Ari’s help, I got out of the complicated mess of a gown I was putting on, wiped off my makeup and changed into a tank top paired with a cute short and then slid on my slides. I took one look at myself and then we went down for dinner.

As soon as we dished out our food, my mum began to question me as usual.

“So tell me sweetheart, how was your date with Prince Simon?”

“Oh well mum, it didn’t quite go according to how I envisioned it... Simon is a really stuck up prince that thinks the world revolves around him! I’m not sure this whole thing is even going to work!”

“I forbid you to speak such words about your future husband! Whether or not it went well, He is your chosen mate!”

“Mum” Ari said, “You don’t have to be that harsh. She was only voicing her opinion. And you didn’t wait for her to tell you that Prince Simon has requested for another owww”

“Thank you Ari, you’ve said enough.” I said after pinching Ari “Well mum, you’ve heard it all. I’ll be going on another date with him to The Cassadora on Friday.”

“Well, well sweetheart, that’s perfect! I always knew you were a pro when it comes to taking life changing decisions. You’ve always been a smart child and I’m guessing that’s why Ari is also smart”

After the discussion, we continued eating our food in silence until I asked after the whereabouts of my dad. Mum said he was having a meeting in the throne room with the generals and also told me that he would love to see me after his meeting. I was surprised because only important meetings were held in the throne room so I just knew that whatever he wanted to discuss with me must be extremely important.

Before we finished our meal, Mum had to leave to attend to urgent queenly matters, so the both of us were left on the table. Ari told me that she would be stepping out and asked if I wanted to come along, but I declined saying that I wanted to be around when the king was done with his meeting. That meant aside from the guards and the maids I’d be the only one home. Or would I?

I was up in my room when Ari left and boy was I glad that I had time with my thoughts. There were a million and one things running through my mind as I listened to Sia’s Elastic Heart. Top of the list was how I felt Simon was putting on and act and I needed to find out if I was right. If I did expose him, it would mean I MIGHT be able to get back with Joseph.

At that moment, I realized that it wouldn’t still make any sense if I exposed Simon just because I wanted to get back with Joseph and besides I had already rejected him in the presence of all the Amazonians. And if I do get back with Joseph, I would become queen of the Amazonians but they’ll probably think my decision making skills are poor.

My thoughts ranged from the mate issue I was having to my upcoming birthday. One might think that I shouldn’t be thinking about my birthday because it sounds so superficial, but the 21st birthday of any female wolf was the most important as it marks the beginning of her journey into womanhood..... Apparently, I was so into my thoughts that I didn’t hear someone come into my room.

“Goldie” the person called, No response

“Goldie?” still, no response

“Goldie?!” It was at that moment the person realized I had on my ear plugs, so the next line of action was to tap me.

Startled, I jumped from my bed and was about to scream when I realized it was Joseph. “Oh my gosh, Joseph! What are you doing here? ”

“I needed to see you Goldie, I need closure” He took a step towards me and I took two backwards

“Since when did you start stepping away from me Gold?”

“Since I rejected you as mate in front of the whole pack”

“That’s why I’m here! I need to know why you rejected me. Remember we promised to grow old together? And you made me believe nothing was ever.... ”

“Joe, it’s enough!” I said as I turned to face him “This was inevitable Joe! I am a princess, and I have duties and obligations to perform. I had to do what I needed to do!”

“Did that include embarrassing me in the presence of everyone that knows and respects my family? You are not one to do stuff without thinking, so I don’t understand all this.”

“Whatever decision I made, I made it for the well being of this pack! This includes you Joseph!”

“And what fueled that decision? Your mother? Or is it because the Prince of Athens seems to be richer than I am? ”

“I’ve had enough of this conversion already! Decisions taken by the royal family are of no concern to non members of the family except the palace cabinet! And I would appreciate it if you left already.” I turned to face the wall after I said this.

“That’s alright Goldie! You’ve said it all! I just want you to know that I’m always going to be here for you. You’ve made your decision and I’ll stand by it. I have and will always have your back. I wish you the best with your new found mate”

These words broke me so much that as soon as he left, I broke into a round of uncontrollable tears. I couldn’t believe I just spoke to the only man I had ever loved in that way and manner. And the fact that he was understanding and didn’t try to make a scene broke me further. And as I was still in that state an attendant knocked at the door and said

“Princess Goldie, the King requests your presence.”

Ginny’s POV

I had never been as angry as I was when I found out Simon would be getting married to a she-wolf that wasn’t me! We've always talked about how our lives would be after we get married and how he would run the kingdom with me by his side. I paced up and down my room as no amount of tequila I drank could calm me. I loved Simon more than my whole life and I would have given anything just to be by his side, to just be his arms and inhale the scent of his clothes. Neither did I mind sitting all day staring at his sweaty face while he was doing his workouts.

Simon practically knew everything about me and I also knew everything about him, especially about the façade he’s putting on. And me knowing that much gave me an edge! I sat on the bean bag in my room trying to strategize and make plans on how to keep my man when I heard a loud crash downstairs.

“Mom!” I shouted from the kitchen

“I’m down here honey”

Her voice came from the basement and I wondered why she would be down there as I descended down the stairs that led to the basement. On getting in there, I saw mum rummaging through an old box and I wondered even more.

“Sit” she said, cutting through my thoughts and so I sat “What’s that little box in your hands for?”

“This box was a gift from your father to you and he said I could only give it to you after you turned 18” My eyes widened with surprise and shock at the mention of my father and that was because mum rarely spoke about him. It was as if speaking about my father was a taboo. And she wasn’t the only one who refused to speak about my dad, my elder brother and my grandparents refuse to speak about him either.

“You mean dad wanted me to have this?” I asked again to make sure I heard her properly the first time. She nodded her head in the affirmative as I took the box from her hands

“But where’s the key?” I asked

“let me tell you a little about your dad” I felt like I was in a little dream because I was always shushed up whenever I asked about him and here I am, sitting before my mother and about to hear what I’d always wanted to hear

“We aren’t Amazonians, at least not I, your grandparents or your brother. We belong to another pack but we had to move here after being expelled by the Alpha male of our pack”

“Why were we expelled?”

“Your father was a very powerful sorcerer, he could conjure any kind of spell and his spells always worked. One thing your father never did was use his powers for evil but as you know, any successful and powerful person will always have haters and we did. ”

“Who were the haters?” I asked my mom

“The rest of our pack members. They told their own children evil things about our family and as a result, your brother was always getting picked on. It didn’t stop there anyways”

“What do you mean” I asked

“Your dad was a part of the royal cabinet and he was special advisor to the King, as a result, the cabinet members didn’t like him so they were always feeding the king with lies concerning your father. And when he realized we were gradually entering danger zone he begun to make preparations for our escape from Zaandam

“You had to go through all that and dad was a sorcerer?”

“There was little to nothing your father could do. And amidst all these, I found out I was carrying your pregnancy. He was extremely happy when we found out you were going to be a girl! I forgot to mention that it wasn’t only your brother that was getting picked on. I was also receiving insults and I was always the subject of gossip for any gathering where they were females”

“So how did this box come into the picture?”

“As I said, your dad was happier than I was so he began to make preparations for your arrival. Can I have that amulet around your neck?” I looked down at it and then gave it to her. She stared at It for a while and then rose it up to my eye level and said

“This was placed around your neck by your dad the night before we left Zaandam and then he went inside and came out with that box in your hands”

Mum fiddled around with the amulet and it opened! I was surprised because I didn’t know it could open. After opening it, she handed it over to me.

“Is that dad?”

I asked with a shaky voice and mum nodded her head in affirmation and at that moment, tears

rolled down my face because that was the first time I would see dad and I saw I was really my father’s daughter.

“Ginny, my sunshine,” I looked up at mum and she wiped my tears and continued.

“I’m about to give you something that would either make or mar you!” I looked at her with awe and wondered why something in a box that little would either make or mar me.

“In response to your earlier question” She took the amulet from me and did something else and a key came out of one of the sides with which she opened the box. Inside the box was a vile with red substance in it.

“What’s that?” I asked

“This is called a blood vile Ginny, It has been in your dad’s family for ages and it’s a very powerful vile! Your emotions and feelings control the power of this vile and that’s why I said it could make or mar you.” I was about to touch it when it came out of the box on its own, and a strap appeared from nowhere, attached itself to the vial and it hung on my neck. I looked down at the vile and touched it and smiled because I could already feel my dad’s presence.

“Where is dad?”

“Sunshine, I honestly don’t know where your dad is...” mom broke down in tears immediately she said that. It also broke me to see her that way.

“As I said, he gave you this the night before we left Zaandam and very early the following morning, he woke us all up and told us to gather up the little things and go outside. When we got outside, there was a chariot waiting with our main belongings already loaded up. We got into the chariot and he gave me the box with that note attached to it and that was the last time I saw or heard from your father”

I looked over at the direction she pointed and I saw the note so I went over to get it and it read

‘ I never thought a time would come where I would be separated from you and our kids my love, but the situation is growing out of hand and I can’t put your lives in danger, especially now that you’re pregnant with the daughter I’ve always wanted. But I’m sorry I won’t be there to raise her with you. You’ll have to execute our escape plan alone but I’ve made all the necessary arrangements so the journey would be smoother. I want you to name her GINNY so whenever you call her name, you’ll think of me and the love we share!

Inside that box you hold is the BLOOD VILE and I want you to give it to her after she turns 18 because by that time, she would be wise enough to take proper decisions and in the other box is the enchanted sword for Zeeb and he can have that after he turns 15

You are and forever will be and mean the world to me. This chariot is headed for the place of the leader of the Athenian pack. From there, more instructions on what to do will be given to you. You and the kids will be safer with them..

I will forever love you RALPH .

“I hope I was able to tell you everything you wanted to know and if I have not, I’m sorry because

I’m stopping here tonight.”

After she said that, she got up and went out of the basement. I still sat down to process everything mum just told me.

There I was wondering how to not mar myself with this vile I wear around my neck and how to also keep my man from marrying another wolf. I sighed and got up to leave the basement when an idea struck me like lightning.