Chapter 4

Ember's POV:

The ride back to the South was eerily silent. I had broken the hypnotizing spell on Sophie and she was now sleeping peacefully as if she had been hella tired after fighting the beasts of the North.

The other two packmates that I rescued today were over the moon and chattering to each other about how high their alpha, my father, thought of them to send ME to rescue them.

One deadly look from me and their mouths had been clamped shut since then.

But yes, I had also pondered over that more than once. When exactly did these two nut heads become so important to Father? As far as I know they neither possessed any extraordinary wisdom nor otherwordly powers to be of utmost importance. They were just two packmates who were foolish enough to roam outside the territory and were abducted by the warriors of the North.

And even if they somehow became so important to him, he could have sent an army of warriors to rescue them. Why would he go to the lengths and put my life in danger for this petty mission was totally beyond my understanding. As a way to test my skills as the future queen? Him and his crooked ways.

I let out a long sigh and sunk deeper into the seat. In order to catch a moment of peace, I closed my eyes. All I saw behind my lids was a pair of particular dark eyes. It seemed like they were now following me wherever I went.

I pinched my eyes and snapped them open, giving up on any hope of snatching a moment of peace when it was all chaos and mess within myself. Now more than ever.

A little later, the perched towers of the south castle made their appearance in the dark of the night, and a new wave of tiredness washed over me. I massaged my temples as the helicopter landed on the helipad.

Putting on the facade of the perfect daughter, I jerked the door open and readied myself to fulfill the duty of the future queen. Chasing all thoughts of the man clad in black, the owner of those dark eyes and even darker soul, I put them all in a box and pushed it to the back of my mind.

Heavy boots padded on the stone floor as the four of us walked through the corridors and made our way to the Council Quarters where King was already waiting for us.

As the guards opened the heavy wooden doors, we stepped inside. The King was perched over his throne. A slight frown appeared between my brows as I found that the governors were also present there.

It was past midnight. What matter was so important to discuss at that moment that couldn't have waited for the light of the day?

Wiping the frown away, I started taking confident steps and stopped at a little distance from the throne.

Bowing my head in respect, I said, "King..." and waved my hand toward the two packmates I had rescued from the North.

As I lifted my head back up, my eyes widened with the shock. I blinked several times to ensure that what I saw was true and not some deranged fragment of my imagination.

But no matter how many times I blinked, it was still there. Loud and clear, for all the eyes to behold. The little girl in me whom I have suppressed all my life was giggling at the sight of pride gleaming in her father's eyes. It was the only sight I had worked all my life to make true, to prove to him that I was, indeed, worthy of his trust and his Kingdom.

My father, the king of the South, rose up from his throne, radiating the mighty aura around him. His eyes rested on the two members of his packs that the North took as prisoners. Both of them rushed forward to show their gratitude and bowed, "King, we are utterly gratef..."

Father waved his hand in the air and both of the men halted in the mid-sentence. The King raised his eyebrow and a hint of a wicked smirk touched the corners of his lips as he remarked, "Save the thanks for your next life."

I saw as the harsh and heavy words settled inside them. Their eyes widened as they cracked the hidden meaning behind them. Pure and raw fear coursed through them as they opened their mouths to beg for their lives.

But it was too late now. Before they could utter a word, I heard the sword unleashing, cutting through the air, and slashing their throats. Just like mere footballs, they flew through the air and landed on the floor. It all happened so abruptly. 

I was stunned silent with shock. No, not at the barbarity, that was common here. But by the actual meaning underlying this action? Now more than ever, I was restlessly curious why he had sent me all the way to the North to retrieve them only to kill them the moment they set foot in his region. But I knew better to question the authority of King in front of everyone else.

Luckily, I didn't have to wait long to get the answers. But the answer was definitely not the one I had been expecting.

The King looked into the eyes of all the governors, capturing their attention, before voicing aloud, "As you all know those two weaklings were captured and taken prisoners by the North. And you all saw how my daughter, Ember Valdez, traveled all the way to the North and rescued them from the deepest dungeons of Alpha Nicholus."

His eyes rested on the lifeless bodies and their scattered heads and his expression turned into disgust, "Their rescue indeed served more than one purpose. First of all, it shows everyone, especially those who had any doubts, the resilience, wisdom, determination, and strength of my daughter. Who is now to question her position as the future queen of the South?"

He paused and waited for anyone to object but of course, no one wanted to share the consequences with those who were now dead on the floor. Continuing, he stated, "Secondly, it made it clear to the North Alpha to not take us as weak who are unable to protect our people."

His eyes once again raked over the dead bodies, "Thirdly, it will also give a message to my own people to refrain from being weak. I would never have a soft corner for the cowardly souls who fail to protect themselves. How dared they fall prey to the North? Totally unacceptable and utterly disgusting."

Straightening, he bound his hands behind his back, puffed his chest out, lifted his chin, and said with finality, "Today, in front of every governor, I declare my daughter, Ember Valdez to be my heir and the next queen of this territory."

Blood rushed to my ears, making whooshing sounds that were drawing away the hushed whispers of the governors. My heart was thudding loudly in my chest.

All my life I knew that a day like this would come but now that it was here, I was actually dreading it because it demanded far more sacrifices than I was initially ready to give.

The world around me dimmed and all I could think and see was a pair of storming black eyes, staring at me with full intensity.

A chill ran down my spine as one of the governors rose from his seat, "Apologies for interrupting, my King, but an heir cannot overtake the throne until they are mated."

Father cocked his head to the side, "I am well aware of the rules and traditions, Alpha Rick. And of course, before taking over the throne, Ember will have a mate."

What? !?!? My head jerked to the side and I looked at my father with bewilderment. How could he announce such an important thing regarding my life without discussing it with me beforehand?"

Another governor questioned the King, "The fated mate? Or the chosen one?"

Father snorted, finding the question stupid.

Walking over to me, he rested a heavy hand on my shoulder and squeezed, "Of course, the chosen one. I can't let fate decide the future of my Kingdom. Ember will have a mate who is deserving of her. The one who is powerful, resilient, and worthy to stand by her side while she rules the South territory."

In simple words, he wanted some rich and powerful alpha who'd be ready to bow in front of him, never question his authority, and serve the purpose of being a puppet. A mere toy who could be my mate just so I can take the throne.

I wanted to laugh at the whole situation. The mate that fate had actually chosen for me was completely opposite than what my father had in his mind.