Chapter 3 MYSTERIOUS PRINCE

ERICK

"Hooo!"

"Hooo!"

My carriage chauffeur howled and the royal horses that wheeled me and my delta halted in the wide aisle in front of a majestic castle in the kingdom of Oenothera. My back ached a little through the whole journey and I felt so bored to death along the way, almost losing my patience. I am not used to riding carriages as I am gifted with four strong paws to run miles after miles just to get where I used to be going. But yeah! My mother was adamant that I should use these damned carriages to visit my betrothed princess. She is a mere human and I assumed her to be less capable and no match to stand beside me. She's not worthy of the title of being my luna and the future queen.

My father, the king of Euratus is sick, barely breathing and my mother was there on his side filling all his needs from time to time trying to cherish her beloved king till the last hours of his breath. The throne was supposed to be passed to my elder brother who was born a few minutes ahead of me, who was my twin but a couple of weeks ago, he was castrated to death by a huntress. Now, I was the one left and soon I would be the one to sit on the throne after my father's possible death. Not that I was wishing for it to happen but I'm just trying to be practical and get ready myself for it.

You must be wondering how it could be possible that my father was barely breathing right? He is a human as well as my mother. But there's this certain situation that mostly happened when you accidentally pissed off a black sorceress. And yeah, the king does offend one. He had fallen in love with a woman unbeknownst to him that it was a warlock. But when he met my mother, he had that woman dumped out from his life. As revenge she cast a spell on him. An unknown illness took his health and made him bedridden. How and when would it be lifted was still unknown to us. The seers in our kingdom said that the right time was about to come but years had already passed and we're both losing the hope to cure him.

When my mother nursed us inside her womb, that evil witch paid her a visit and cursed us both to be wolves. Yeah! Wasn't content to rob our father's youth and she wants more! But not just that, she had her spell extended to me. My brother, Hendrick was lucky though, his appearance matched that of a real handsome prince and he can walk freely with dignity but mine was… I had the spell wrap in my face. I look hideous and scary. I had to wear a mask to hide it since I learned to walk and jammed with people in our kingdom until now. No one knows about it except for my family and of course my Royal Blood pack.

When I reached the age of 15 together with my brother, we were both surprised that we started to shift into our wolves which our kingdom sorceress found unbelievable. The normal shift of wolves should be 18 according to the ancient history of their knowledge. They couldn't explain it until now but one thing was clear, we weren't the only ones who got cursed by that witch. That evil thing did a lot of despicable things, turning mortals into wolves with just a little mistake. They gathered in our kingdom to seek refuge when they heard about us and stayed until we eventually formed a pack. As the years passed, we encountered fights against other packs and I as the alpha had won those fights with of course with my brother beside me. Too bad, he's gone and was killed by a huntress.

"Alpha, we're here." Zed announced, catching my roaming attention.

"Shut it! Remember to call me Prince and not alpha in this place. Do you hear me?" I warned him, staring at him sharply.

I would love to hear such respect from my delta but we're not currently in our place. We are in a human's place and we as wolves should mingle like humans do to avoid suspicions from them. Even if it gladdens me to tear them apart, I had to restrain myself because of my mother's stern command plus the whole palace is heavily guarded, I can afford to risk their lives to fight. We're unmatched against them this time.

"Oh, my apologies, Prince Erick." Came his curt reply and I nod.

Zed was about to open the door but something pleasant wafted into my nose. I sniffed hard from side to side trying to trace it but to no avail. Where did it come from? My expression turned puzzled as I continued to sniff on my royal robe thinking that the scent was just around me.

'Strawberries and almonds!' My wolf, Cirrus, purred inside my head.

Yeah and that smell reminds me of a short memory I had years ago when I just shifted into my wolf.

'The baby in the woods?' Cirrus narrated and I rolled my eyes in annoyance. Yeah, that incident was still vivid in my mind.

'Come on, don't you think it could be possibly our mate's scent? Smells freakingly good!' He added, sounding a bit enthusiastic while wagging his tail.

Shut it, Cirrus! I can't mate with a human. They're useless and easy to get hurt! We had Guilla, remember?' I reminded him for fucking sake that I had a she-wolf that occupies my heart and body. She also accepted me for what I really am and what I really look like.

'Dickhead! Guilla didn't occupy your heart but only your body and she doesn't belong to us!' Cirrus mocked me.

Enough! Stop prying over!' I growled at him and shut him off, raising the barriers between us to restrain his annoying insistence over my head.

"Al-... I mean Prince Erick, shall we?" Zed gestured his hand and I nod curtly.

We stepped out from the carriage gracefully and ethically that held dominance, superiority and authority like I had owned the whole kingdom. I looked around and I spotted their fully equipped guards in every corner of the castle. Well… they indeed had the guts to offer a marriage alliance to my mother. Not bad!

"The Prince of Euratus has arrived!"

One of the guards roared, making my brow raised in amusement. Shouldn't the Princess be the one to receive me? Why not her? Why the guards? I shook my head in dismay. How unethical! I stalked briskly towards the crimson red carpet with Zed trailing behind me. Arrogance emitted my whole body.

'Alpha, they're defenses are quite enough to deal with a little pack.' Zed, mind linked to me with extreme mockery.

'What do you expect about humans? They're good at nothing!' I retorted with an ironic laugh.

"Prince Erick!"

A middle aged man with a woman beside him dashed out from the castle and stalked towards me gracefully. This must be the king and the queen as they both wrapped in royal robes that symbolizes their high status in their kingdom but where the fuck is their daughter? The bitch must be busy throwing out a tantrum, isn't she?' I sneered inwardly but put on one of my best polite smiles I could ever have.

"King Rafael, Queen Zabelle," I greeted back wearing my hypocritical smile as I summoned everything in my will to bow to these people who didn't know I was superior to them.

Cirrus was silent which means he acknowledged bowing to these two human creatures! What the hell? I could feel him purring like a behaved beast inside my head. Traitor!

'They smelt almonds!' He groaned even more, making me annoyed. I ignored him and let him be. I won't be talking to him but still I'm the one who's in control of my body!

"Ah, my pleasure to receive the Prince from the kingdom of Euratus."

The King mumbled with a hint of pride lacing in his deep and baritone voice. He's good at flattering people, huh?

But what's with the absence of his daughter? I glanced in every corner of the hallway trying to spot her with my sharp eyes but to no avail. The smell of strawberries and almonds is getting stronger focusing in one direction. The north wing of the castle.

'Follow that delicious scent!' Cirrus commanded me which earned a slight wince from me. There's no place for being anxious in this kingdom. I can't let them know that something catches my attention in their place. I had to restrain him no matter what!

'Be patient! We'll find that scent later after talking to the royal couple!' I assured him and he just gave me a cold snort after shutting himself off. Good! Just good!

"My apologies on behalf of my daughter, Prince Erick. She's still getting ready to receive you. Come, let me take you to meet her." The Queen muttered apologetically.

I gave her a curt nod before I uttered the words. "Please…" through my gritted teeth. How dare this brat princess stood me up upon my arrival? I would soon let her know the consequences of offending an Alpha and a future king!

King Rafael and Queen Zabelle warmly talked to me while we headed to a certain direction where the intoxicating smell came from. I inhaled that scent greedily. Fuck! That smell didn't exist in our kingdom and it's fucking addicting for me. Who owns it? Was it a servant? I shook my head in horror as Cirrus flashed images of a servant inside my head. Between a servant and a princess. The latter is the better choice. That would be a big humiliation for me if that's the possible case.

As we walked through the vast hallway, a group of people caught my attention.

The King and Queen hastened their steps and I followed behind them closely. We headed straight to a certain group of people. There are female humans dressed in the same outfit and I assumed to be their castle servants.

There is also a male dressed similar to the guards' clothing but a little bit exquisite compared to them and I assumed he must be superior to them. He looked tense as he lowered his head.

I darted my gaze and it fell on a woman wrapped in a unique blue dress that perfectly hugged her torso. I scanned my eyes downwards and my throat dried up. Straps! Hell, she looks perfect and hot! But damn! Her long and slender hand is holding a sharp sword that pointed directly to the guard's massive part, his fucking tail! This is odd! I felt amused, which was rare for me!

"What happened here?" King Rafael questioned using his stern voice.

"Your Highness," the guard greeted respectfully.

"What's going on here Rafaella?" The Queen spoke in a soft and tender voice.

Ahh, so the amusing woman is my betrothed princess! But why the hell was she looking pissed while staring at the guard? Her head snapped in our direction. Her bluish eyes stabbed towards mine and our gazes locked in a few seconds.

'Mate!' Cirrus growled inside my head trying to take over my control. I was struggling to prevent him from coming out when her melodious and feisty voice rang in my ears.

"Do you permit this general to barge into my chamber without bothering to ask my permission?"

The King was silent and I could tell that he was displeased with what he heard from his daughter. That was rude, I understand! He motioned the guard for an apology and the asshole obliged.

"The next time you barge into my chamber I would surely cut the hell out of your precious little thing down there! Do you hear me?" She warned him wearing a vicious sneer in her beautiful face.

"I… I apologize for my rudeness."

Her feisty and furious warning sent delicious shivers through me. Cirrus purred inside my head and I grinned at her meaningfully.

"Nice to finally meet you, Princess Rafaella Lavel."