5. Fragile Heart

Orlan ruffled his hair in frustration. Slightly disapproved of his destiny. He has been waiting for the presence of his mate for hundreds of years, and after meeting, it turns out that his mate is a vampire. He removed the glasses that framed his face and massaged his dizzy forehead.

"Orlan, don't worry too much about it. Come on. Why are you torturing yourself? I know you really want to meet our mate too. I told you, put all your ego aside. Trust me; nothing will happen."

Orlan leaned his back against the back of his oversized chair. Jay's right. Is now the time to meet his mate?

Actually, yesterday, he wasn't just thinking about 'why is his mate a vampire?'. There was something else bothering him.

He was worried. What would happen if he brought Noura to this pack and introduced her to the pack members? What worries him the most is how to convince Noura that she is his mate? He was sure, surely, Noura would not easily believe it.

Then what if the vampires found out that his and Noura's names were written in the witch's prophecy? Because so far as he knows, the vampire clan does not recognize and flatly rejects the witch's prediction in 1150.

To be honest, all this time, Orlan had also felt that his name was written on the witch's prophecy, but he didn't really care. Maybe his mate is a human? During the four hundred years, he searched for his mate among the werewolves and humans; not a single shewolf and human woman was his mate.

Orlan thought. Is it possible that his mate is not from this country? But Orlan went abroad only on business; there was no time for him to go around looking for his mate. What makes him and Jay worry the most is the possibility that their mate has died, and they have to wait for their mate to be reincarnated?

Yesterday, exactly three days ago. He met Noura, a princess from the Appalachia Vampire Kingdom. He smelled a very fragrant aroma of a mixture of lavender and jasmine flowers. Jay stated that Noura was their mate, and at that very moment, his heart was beating fast with a swish of warmth.

It means that it is true Noura is a mate given by Moon Goddess to him. Which made his heartbeat, and Orlan wanted Noura to be by his side.

"How can I bring Noura into the pack? How can I find her?" Orlan asked his wolf.

Jay smiled happily at Orlan's question. This Means Orlan will meet their mate. Jay knew Orlan was a hypocrite. Tsk, Orlan is stubborn.

"Think nothing of it. You still have the ring, don't you? Just give it to him." Jay reminded Orlan.

Orlan nodded in agreement with Jay's suggestion. He just remembered the ring his grandfather gave him. It turned out to be useful too. Wait a minute, why did Grandpa give a ring to him?

"Jay, does my grandfather know that our mate is a vampire?"

"I don't know. Just think positive; maybe just a coincidence." Jay didn't want to be dizzy because thinking about the ring. "You hypocrite," Jay muttered under his breath, sneering at Orlan.

"Jay, I heard it!"

Jay snorted.

"Alpha, you in?" Dafa knocked on the door.

Orlan replied, "Yes."

Dafa pushes the door with Arva and Alpha Leon behind him.

Orlan rolled his eyes lazily. For the past two days, Dafa kept telling him to see Noura. Dafa said that if Orlan didn't meet princess Noura soon, his mate would actually marry Vander's crown prince. Of course, it was only meant to scare Orlan. Where's the story from? He had never even heard that Noura and Vander were in an arranged marriage.

The three werewolves sat in front of Orlan.

Let's hear what Dafa has to say today. Orlan and Jay were ready to listen to it, even though it felt like Orlan really wanted to seal Dafa's mouth.

“Alpha, you don't believe that Princess Noura will marry the crown prince of Vander, do you?” Orlan nodded his head. "Ask Arva; she knows everything." Daffa turned to Arva.

Orlan glared. Does that mean that Dafa has told Arva and Leon about him having found his mate? "You ....?"

"I didn't tell Arva. Arva heard it herself yesterday." Dafa defended himself. He didn't want to die for leaking his Alpha's secret.

Orlan took a deep breath. It's all happened. After all, one day, everyone will find out that princess Noura is his mate.

"Princess Noura is your mate?" Leon nodded his head. "Apparently, the prophecy was not just a fabrication." Leon picked up the apple on the table and ate it.

Orlan looked at Arva, asking for an explanation of what Dafa said about Noura and Vander's marriage.

Arva, who understood her big brother's curious gaze, explained. "I've been hearing about this marriage for a long time. Originally crown prince Vander was to be married off to princess Lucia when princess Lucia was three hundred years old. But because princess Lucia died in the second war. The wedding has been postponed indefinitely." Orlan straightened his back, so that is right? "At that time, I received information from Aaron, King Carlen's personal bodyguard. Since princess Lucia died, princess Noura will take her place. The wedding will take place after the crown prince Vander is crowned king of Hamakua Kingdom."

Orlan had difficulty swallowing. He was most upset by political marriages like this. Can't be left; Noura is his mate! Only for him. No one can take Noura away from him.

"I'm right, aren't I? I've never lied to you," said Dafa. He admits he often pranks his Alpha, but sometimes the words he says contain seriousness.

"What are you going to do? Princess Noura is not easy to believe."

"Of course, I will meet her and make her believe," Orlan said confidently.

Leon raised his eyebrows. "You're going to allow a third war to happen? The vampire clan is very anti against us. Moreover, princess Noura is a pure vampire. Surely the vampire clan will feel their pride tarnished."

Arva gave Leon a sharp look. Meanwhile, Dafa looked at Alpha Leon, annoyed.

Orlan was silent. Leon's words were also true. He didn't want a war to happen again.

"Why? Am I wrong?" Leon asked, looking at Arva and Dafa alternately.

"You are not providing a solution. In fact, it is making things worse," Arva snapped.

"I will support Alpha with princess Noura. Calm down, Alpha. I believe there is a way out of all this. The Moon Goddess is never wrong." Dafa gives Alpha a boost.

"That's right, Alpha. I will always support you!" Arva smiled widely.

Orlan's spirit was burning. Noura belongs only to him! "I'll see him tomorrow." Jay cheered cheerfully when he heard Orlan's words.

***

Even though now it's modern. The Appalachia Kingdom still maintains the concept of ancient times in the interior of its palace. One example is lighting the light from candles mounted along the palace's walls. There was no renovation of the palace building.

Several interiors follow modern times. For example, chairs and tables in the dining room. Then there are clear white tiles that are installed on the ground and a sofa that is intended for guests who are in the throne room and also the workspace.

"Why do I always feel that princess Noura's like princess Lucia's?"

"Yeah. Me too. It's not just us. Even the palace soldiers feel that way."

"At that time, the head of the army general Nehan said that princess Noura's archery skills were excellent. In the past, princess Noura could only use a sword. Princess Lucia was the one who was good at archery."

"There are so many oddities."

Noura didn't move on the spot. She was standing behind the kitchen door. She had just come from the palace physician's room asking for the medicine she always took so that her abilities wouldn't weaken because she only drank animal blood.

Sayings like this, Noura often heard from all the residents of the palace. They said there was something strange about her.

Everyone wonders, who actually died on the battlefield? Princess Lucia or Princess Noura?

Everyone questioned the truth. Can't believe the news was circulating that princess Lucia died.

Noura took a deep breath. Let them think as they please.

"Princess Noura, what are you doing here?"

Noura was shocked to hear Vander's voice. She lifted her head. "Just standing." This is a ridiculous answer. She cursed herself for looking like a thief.

Vander frowned. His eyes turned to the kitchen; the maids stood still with stiff bodies. They didn't realize that princess Noura had overheard their conversation. Cursed are those who like to gossip.

Vander's red irises lit up brightly, provoked by his emotions. Vander heard everything the maids said, but he didn't realize that Noura was standing not far from him. "You'd better go to your room. Take a rest."

"Don't kill them. If you heed my request, I will hate you." Noura glared at Vander sharply.

Vander smiled. "Okay. I won't do it."

Noura ran as fast as the wind to her room.

Vander dropped his red irises to the floor. He also felt that there was something strange about Noura. What bothered him the most was that now Noura was good friends with Arva. In the past, Lucia and Noura were indeed friends with Arva, but Noura kept her distance from other nations, unlike Lucia. Even after the second war, Noura no longer wanted to interfere in political affairs.

***

Noura saw thousands of stars in the sky. That's what she does when night falls.

She always misses her father, mother, and twins.

If she could ask, she also wanted to die on the battlefield instead of living with constant feelings of loneliness and guilt.

"How long are you going to continue like this?" asked Carlen, who unannounced was already beside Noura.

"Until you tell me everything. Why do I have to do this?" Noura smiled sadly, and her heart ached.

King Carlen exhaled. He closed his eyes for a moment. "Wait for the right time. You're not a criminal. It's all for your own good."

"When is it?"

"Wait until we get all the papers containing the 1150 prophecy."

"Look for where? You won't even allow me to help. Always does everything himself." Noura sneered. Her voice sounded frustrated and desperate.

Carlen laughed sadly. But what can she do? In a situation like this, he could only rely on himself. "Do you believe Ferin has one of the papers from the prophecy?"

Noura shrugged her shoulders. "Possible."

Carlen smiled sinisterly. "Where is he now? Is prince Darren one of his subordinates?"

Noura was silent for a moment. Prince Darren? It had been a long time since she had seen prince Darren. "What if he finds out the truth?" Noura stared at the floor while biting her lower lip.

"That kid, huh?" Carlen chuckled. "I believe one day he will come here, and maybe Ferin will use the child."

"He's just hurt, but won't it be crown prince Vander who will be hurt later?" Noura rubbed her face. Oh my goodness, why is her life so complicated? Was she destined only to hurt other people's hearts?

Carlen smiled faintly. "Yes. Don't worry. I'll be in charge of all this."

Noura smiled faintly, but guilt still ate away at her heart.