3. Meeting Aurora

The beats of drums could be heard loudly as the giant metal door to the King's dining hall was pulled open by two hefty guards revealing King Kane Of Dakota and his beautiful daughter beside him.

Across the room was King Modrich and his family standing around the rectangular wooden table that had varieties of meals and there were maids pushing buffets that carried fleshy meats.

" Welcome to my Kingdom. Kane Lodragon, The Fierce " He hailed with arms wide open as the two stepped into the hall.

"It's an honor Modrich Hendrixson. Your people are welcoming" King Kane replied as he rolled his eyes on the painted wall.

"We are glad to have you here, they all want peace too, between our kingdoms"

"Well. There'll be peace now, my gorgeous Queen couldn't make it, she had a meeting with the Queens of the South but here's my daughter, you've met her before"

"Of course. Aurora, she's big now and beautiful, little the last time we met"

"Before the war?" King Kane inquired.

"That's right but I guess we'll be seeing ourselves more frequently now. Pardon my negligence, meet my family. Aurora, I believe you've met the queen during her visit to Dakota yesterday, here's my daughter, Mia Hendrixson..."

Mia threw her face away as she picked her nails while Aurora cared less, and gazed instead at the chandelier that was swinging graciously.

" Ladies, they'll figure things out with time " Kane Lodragon broke the silence and the Queen laughed with him.

"That's right"

"And here's my son, Zayn Hendrixson, you must have heard of him" He smiled placing his hand on the shoulder of the prince whose eyes were drooling over her.

Zayn didn't waste time as he approached and took her right hand, he kissed it gently and let it down.

"It's an honor to meet you. I will be damn if I fail to say.... you're fair to look upon"

He forced out a soft smile and Mia scoffed gently.

"You have a wonderful son here, Modrich"

"Zayn is always wonderful. You'll grow fond of him really soon "

"I think I am already" He revealed and they laughed.

"Alright..... Without wasting time, I guess our children will get to know each other better as time goes, let's get to satisfy our belly at this moment and then the celebration commences, It has commenced already "

"The people of your kingdom seems to be happier, let's get to it then"

..

..

..

Shortly after... the King's hall at the palace was filled with so many people and more still pumping through the open doors in their numbers. The band of drummers weren't relenting as they struck their drums as hard as they could.

A dark skinned man who was dressed in a wolf clothing climbed up the podium and raised his hands. The drummers halt their activities and silence ensured among the people of the kingdom who were in the hall.

"Today is a great day" He began.

"Today is the day that two rival kingdom come together as one for a common goal. Today is the day, the day that two powerful families strive for one goal. Today, the great Kingdom of Baridoki and Dakota shall be on common ground" The announcer yelled and there was a loud cheer from the crowd in the place.

"Alright, silence" He took a deep breath and raised his hands.

"And now I bring to you... The Royal family of Baridoki and Dakota" He let out his lungs with the trumpeters who blew their instrument as melodious as they could.

The giant metal gate behind him pulled opened revealing the two kings and behind them was their family.

"The powerful family" He let out and the drummers resumed their activities almost immediately rhyming with the trumpeters who hadn't had a break from their blow yet.

He tightened his fist and they all halt their duty at same thing bringing silence to the hall.

"My King" The announcer bowed gently before them with his left hand lowered to his stomach.

"It's just there" King Modrich raised his hand to the royal seats that were in front of the crowd.

Guards in black outfits appeared from behind the podium and let them away to the seats.

Aurora seems to be whispering to her father's ear and Zayn's were doing a great job at picking each sentence.

"I don't want to be on the royal seat" He could hear her say.

"You have to be ... this is a reunion, don't play stupid" King Kane replied rather sharply.

"I'm not. I just want to be normal with the crowd"

"You don't know this people yet " He came to halt and she stopped too.

The Family of Hendrixson was far gone to the seats already except Zayn who was lagging behind to eavesdrop.

"You talked about reunion father but you don't trust them. I'm not staying bored behind you, I'm sitting there" She points to the crowd whose attention seems to be focused on them now.

"Aurora, are you alright?" Zayn intervened and he walked up to them.

"Yeah, she's fine, she..."

He paused and shook his head.

"Is it safe for her among the crowd?"

"Do not worry yourself King Kane. I'll keep her close and have the royal guards clear the area a bit"

"Are you sure?"

"Trust me... I'll keep her safe"

"Very well... You stay with him, don't stray away"

She didn't reply him and instead she pulled away immediately.

"Trust me" Zayn assured him the third time and followed after with a call.

"Aurora! "

King Kane let out a deep breath and moved to join King Modrich family at the royal seat.

"Hey, Aurora" Zayn whispered and he finally laid hold of her hand.

She broke from of his grip quickly but he caught her again.

"Hey... Don't be stubborn, I want the same thing as you"

"You know nothing about me"

"I don't. Just listen to me, I'm your guardian now"

"Guardian?, I don't need protection"

"Alright... wrong choice of words, do whatever pleases you, I'm right behind you"

"I was never going to listen to you," She replied climbing up the stairs to the upper gallery in hall where a few number of spectators where seated.

He followed closely like a lamb led to slaughter until she finally sat at the front row.

Zayn beckoned at one of the guards and made to whisper into his ear but she interrupted.

"You're not sending anyone out of here, they stay"

The prince let out a soft smile and dismissed the royal guard who returned to his position immediately.

"How did you know what I was going to do?"

"Foolish people like you listen to my father "

He smirked and sat beside her.

"I wasn't listening to him. Just trying to make sure you're safe"

"I don't need protection"

"Fine. I see you love dominance like an Alpha King or should I say Queen, but you're not even an Alpha"

She caught him by his royal garment firmly and growled gently letting him see her sharp fangs.

"Aggressive. You attacked, I defended... we wouldn't want to draw much attention, do we?" He looked down to see King Kane who was gazing at them from below.

She let go of him and sat properly with a bitter face.

"I don't like him either. Believeshe's controlling, my father loves peace but you see, I don't even want the war to end"

"Your father is weak" She cursed gently.

"I won't attack this time. I'll do better when I become the King" He adjusted his garment.

"Alpha King?... All I see is a coward"

"Second blow at me, you're coming hot" She didn't reply as she was focused at the podium downward.

Dancers were now having a display in wolf clothing and the drummers beat their drums in rhythm to the dance.

"You love dancing?"

"I know you're striving to woe me prince Zayn. Don't waste your strength"

"You don't know me. You got a mate?"

"You got awful dancers down here" She dodged his question.

"That's a no. I can see it in your eyes"

"And neither do you have one. Don't make it a big deal"

"A difference... I don't need one, seems like you need one"

"Are you applying to fill the blank?"

"We can fake it but at the end we get exposed. I'm the heir of this kingdom, taking you as my mate will be confirmed through rites, damn rituals "

"I wasn't volunteering. Don't even have the imagination" She told him.

"Now I can't get it off my head. Maybe you're right, I'm here to woe you" He adjusted his garment one more time.

"You're seriously not embarrassed"

"I just got a slap from Queen Mother this morning for bringing two humans into the palace. What's there to be embarrassed of anymore? "

"You seriously can't keep secrets to yourself"

"Fine" He inhaled heavily and shut his eyes with leg crossed.

"You got slapped?"

"I'm keeping the secrets to myself now" He replied.

"Then I'm out of here" She made to rise to her feet but he held her down quickly.

"So aggressive... damn! "

"I believe my stay here is over"

"You want fun. don't you?, sitting at the royal seats is boring, you get to laugh at jokes that are not close to been funny or worse, you don't talk to anyone"

"I guess you're not dumb after all"

"I'm dumb and clever. It depends on the way you see me"

"Still processing that in my brain"

"If I'm going to tell you things... this wolves need to be out of here, they shouldn't hear"

"Are your secrets so grievous?"

"If there's something more than grievous. Pick it" He signaled to the guard to lead the spectators around to another gallery while she rolled her eyes.

As soon as they were out, he ordered the guard to leave too and they were alone at that gallery.

"I heard rumors about your sister who was banished" He began as she fixed her gaze on King Kane who was occasionally glancing at them.

"Can they hear us?"

"The sound of the drums disrupt the hearing ability of wolves down there. It will take total focus on us to hear"