Chapter Thirty-two: The Banquet

In the end, even if I wanted to get away from this gathering, I was ordered to come by the Alpha King himself. All the high socialites, nobles, and part of the royal family were all here gathering in the banquet hall.

This gathering gave me a dull impression that I couldn't last to stay here. I was in the very corner, hiding from the eyes of the nobles. I am already tired of making social interactions with them. I knew that this was the start but I could have wished General Cairo and General Benedict were also here with me. But they chose not to go here for some reason even though they were invited. Maybe they found this very dull just as I am having a thought right now.

If I wasn't ordered to come here, I wouldn't be here in the first place.

I silently clicked my tongue, holding a glass of white wine as my eyes swarmed around seeing them chit-chatting and some of them were dancing on the floor. I tried to look for Storm and spotted him with the Crown Princess Cassandra. Until now, I am still surprised that they were part of the royal family. The descendants of Grand Alpha King and the late Luna Queen.

I wanted to approach Storm so that I could have someone I knew. I hate to be by the side of the Fleet Admirals because I am not close with some of them. Unfortunately, I think Casey needs him more than me.

As for the Alpha King, I couldn't believe that he pretended to be someone and didn't reveal who he was when I was still his subordinate. He was with the other noble ladies who kept on giggling and chuckling with him.

"Ladies killer," I said and huffed.

I wonder why he didn't come with Duchess Amelia. I couldn't even spot the duchess. Aren't they supposed to be together?

I hissed silently as I felt my heart being pricked for some reason. My wolf was howling in annoyance as to why I am still thinking about that duchess.

For some reason, I suddenly felt a shiver down my spine like someone was staring intently at me. My eyes flew to the person who I had been on my mind.

It was the Alpha King Claudian.

His stare was on me but he was smiling and laughing with the other noble ladies. I knitted my forehead as I felt a faint communication from his wolf. His wolf stubbornly wanted to approach me.

I looked away and approached lots of food delicacies of the Waevalon Kingdom which were laid on the long table. I ignored his gaze which was intending on following it.

I was confused as to how I could feel his wolf again after he awarded me. It was as if the withered bond had suddenly bloomed.

Would that be possible that even after you rejected your mate, there is a chance the bond would be awakened on its own?

What made everything confusing for me was seeing the portrait of the late Luna Queen. I heard two voices exchanging a conversation about the pact and someone who will protect it. This wasn't meant for me, right? Or was it meant to someone else?

"Why are you alone here, General Rachelle?"

I flinched on my ground upon hearing his voice. His usual smell lingered on my nose. I turned my head to see Alpha King Claudian whose eyes were darted on the Waevalon food dishes. I bowed my head.

"Pardon me, Your Majesty but I am not good at socializing," I lied. I just don't want to make a discourse with anyone in this banquet hall. I don't even want to say I don't want to be here because telling that would mean beheading myself in embarrassment. "What's His Majesty doing here?" I tried to ask as formally as possible without giving an inkling that I don't want to be around him.

My heart was betraying me for pounding so fast so I needed to get away before he could hear it with his vicious ears. But I could hear His Majesty's heart pounding so fast.

With his stoic expression looking at the food, his eyes transferred to me. "I need some time alone. Then I will get back to speak with other nobles." His sharp, icy-cold tone made me want to curl up like a furry kitten.

"I shall take my leave then." I bowed so I could give myself space to be alone. I don't want to be around him. It was hard to hear some gossip if I kept on staying here with him.

"I did not say you need to leave, didn't I?"

His Alpha dangerous tone pricked my body. It meant I offended him. Shit... "My apologies for misunderstanding it, Your Majesty," I said as politely as possible.

Then the atmosphere thickened and became awkward. I had to divert my attention by picking some food and quietly ate them. It was awkward because the last time we saw each other ended unpleasantly. I understand if he would act hostile to me since I was the one who rejected him after all. But he needed to be mindful that it was his fault that I was pushed on the edge.

"I heard that you and General Cairo are romantically linked with each other. Is that true?"

I stopped, perplexed. Why did he bring up General Cairo? Romantically link? Like I'm dating General Cairo?

"With all due respect, Your Majesty, it is not my obligation to answer that."

"So it is true then." There was bitterness on his tone. I furrowed my eyebrows with the sudden change of mood. "You looked for a potential lover to be with you. You even accepted him when you can't even accept me. You even rejected me even though you knew I was your mate." His whisper came to a harsh one but only we could hear what he was saying.

I clenched my hand with that kind of accusation he was spouting. He was trying to test my patience. Why did he have to bring it up in our past? What does General Cairo have to do with it?

"It's not my fault that you ended up rejected, Your Majesty," I said in a bitterly cold tone. "I was hurt when I caught you. Do you expect me to believe you even if you explained things?" I said through gritted teeth which earned him a silence I need to leave now. I couldn't stay here in the same room. "I shall take my leave, Your Majesty. I have to go."

Without even looking back, his wolf faintly wanted to stop me. Even my wolf was trying to stop me but I cut her off so I could leave. I immediately ran down to the hallway as I felt the corners of my eyes getting stung. The image of him kissing Duchess Amelia kept on replaying in my head.

I made the right choice to end things between him even though I hadn't told him that I accepted him. I couldn't just accept a mate without even knowing who I was. Just what if I came from an unpleasant world that my mate couldn't even endure from where I came from? It's fine that I put it ambiguously before but things changed when he pushed me to the edge.

It was not my fault.

It was his fault.