Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

Rayne walked across the pathway of the kingdom palace paying strict attention to the guards who walked past her or she saw, the way she had been granted access to the palace gate was one that still surprised her.

She had not hoped to be given this warm welcome at all, and since she received it, being surprised seems to be an understatement that explained her expression.

She knew her Father could only be the one who could command the guards to honor her that way, I mean what’s it with the royal bows she kept receiving from every guards she walked past, not to talk of being brought in to the palace by a white little baby horse, the signet ring given to her and even the royal clip attached to her hair. This all concluded that something was overly fishing which Rayne hoped to crack soon.

She stopped at the pathway leading to the throne where she knew her father was, she stopped at hearing a guards voice coming in her way, she quickly hid herself so as to eaves drop on their conversation.

“But do you really think, the Luna would love to be present at the ball?” Guard 1 asked.

“I see no reason why she shouldn’t want to, the king is her Father and she’s not bound to dis regard his order”

“Dis regarding her father asides, haven’t you noticed that the Luna hasn’t budged since the Alpha Dax proposal, I’m really not sure she has accepted the proposal” Guard 1 said.

“I can’t really say… … … …” their voices became faint as they passed through the stairs where Rayne was hiding oblivious of her and went their way.

Rayne heaved a sigh as she couldn’t hear their voice anymore, she wondered what Ball it was they were discussing… She really hoped this was not what she was thinking, “has her father accepted the proposal without her consent” She thought.

She walked hurriedly to the throne hall, half running and half walking, upon her presence the guard opened the throne door giving her access to her father.

The door screeched open as Rayne walked down the path to the throne. Her father Fred raised his head up from the council meeting he was having as he gave a smile, making Rayne to wonder.

“Here comes My Luna… The Alpha’s betrothed mate” Fred jeered, making the elders burst into laughter.

“Long Live the Alph a ! ! !” Rayne bowed in honor, as it was the custom of every one.

“Rise up my daughter, your joy is here” Fred said, rising from his seat to go meet his daughter.

Rayne wondered what was happening as it all looked strange to her, some few months back her father banished her from the palace, and now here she is standing in front of him with him all in smiles, she wonders what was wrong, but her instinct told her it was all about the proposal to the Lycan and this time she wasn’t allowing it as it would hinder her revenge mission.

She watched her father motioning towards her as he climbed down the stairs to come meet her all dressed in his royal robe. Rayne giggled upon seeing the robe her father was putting on, she could tell that something was really up.

“Alas ! My daughter, we have good news for you” Fred said, spreading his arms

“A news ? What’s that all about?” Rayne asked, not budging

“C’mon my daughter, don’t be a spoiler… You should give a smile sometimes dear Luna” Fred said, trying to cheer her up.

“Say it father” Rayne said in a rising tone, alerting her father.

“Well… the Lycan King of the maroon pack, Alpha Dax has decided to come and organize a ball here in our kingdom, so he could have an avenue of meeting with you against your mating parade” Fred spilled, not minding the shock on Rayne’s face.

Rayne's facial expression immediately changed, she was ready to burst up all again, but something within told her to remain still as it might hinder a lot of things. She paid attention to the elders council staring at her and she knew she had to say something as regards her father's speech.

She cleared her throat as she resumed speaking “Father…” She said “You know, I’ve not been in sup…”

“This is actually in favor of the kingdom and you as a Luna '' Fred cut her short, knowing what her words would be as he shot her a stern look as if to say “you don’t want to disgrace me in front of my cou ncil. Do you?”

"Father” Rayne beckoned. “Can I see you for a while?”

“Yeah, you can say anything you want here. I’m in no secret place, my eld…”

“No Father” Rayne stamped, “I want to see you in person privately”

With that she dragged her father by the hand to the corridor outside the palace, leaving the elders and the councilors in murmur.

“Dad, don’t tell me you went against my wish” Rayne asked.

“Well, the pack wish super cedes your wish” Fred bemused.

“What do you mean father, you want me to get mated with that ass hole of a king, do you u nderstand the implications of what you’re doing at all ?” Rayne said, already raising her voice.

“Would you get your voice low at this moment ?” Fred ordered, looking around for any eavesdropper. He continued his speech when he saw none.

“You won’t also refer to your future husband as an ass hole, have you got no respect ?” Fred asked, fuming

“Father, do you understand the implications of what’s happening at all… do you understand what you’re doing Father…” Rayne asked, with a pained look

“There’s no disastrous implication to what’s going on, no one is experiencing doom here” Fred said.

“No one is experiencing doom? But what about this that you’re doing Father … What is this called?” Rayne asked again.

Fred was already getting tired of her behavior and he knew he had to stop it … “Listen Rayne, you’re my daughter and I would want no evil to harm you, what I want is your destiny as a Luna to be a great one and that could happen if…”

“If I’m mated with him right …” Rayne cut in

“You would obey my order or rather get banished from the kingdom this moment” Fred said, pissed off.

Rayne looked deeply into his eyes and she could see with all iota of instinct in her that her father was being forced to do what he’s doing. She could tell this was not his decision, but he couldn’t place his hand on the right thing.

“You’d attend the ball by this week's full moon and you’re not to act like a dunce” with that Fred turned his back at her ready to move, but he was stopped by Rayne’s hand in his. He could feel the warmth of his daughter and right at that moment, he felt like turning back , giving her a sweet hug and telling her to do her wish.

He faced her again, expecting her to say something… "You won’t harm me Father that I know, but if your decision is one that would suit the kingdom and endanger my life, then my blood would be on you” Rayne said, and walked out of her father right into the palace leaving her her words hanging and her father wondering.

Rayne walked into the palace hall slowly as all the elders stood on their feet expecting the outcome of their meeting.

“I have agreed to meet with Alpha Dax, prepare the ball and prepare him for the meeting with him” Rayne spilled, getting some chuckling murmur from the elders who were happy.

“Long live our Luna ! ! !” They all cheered.

Alpha Fred walked into the palace. He was about to cancel the proposal and tell his elders he can’t continue with the proposal, but he was stopped by Rayne’s words.

His mouth was left agape, as he never thought she could say that, he knew fire was brimming whilst trouble was looming with her statement, but he decided to watch.

“Long live our Luna ! ! !” The elders all cheered again, except for the pack councilor. An old werewolf doctor who happens to be the eldest amongst all the pack elders. He knew the secret behind this mating between Luna and a Lycan and he could tell that things would really not work well.

The rest of the elders decided not to carry him along in their dealings because of his honesty and straight forwardness and he could tell that this decision was not pleasing to Rayne nor her Father Fred.

He shook his head sideways as the elders all bowed down , taking their leave. He was the last to leave the hall as he directed his gaze at Fred, who in turn took his eyes away from his gaze, then to Rayne who also walked out of the palace. He took a simple bow, before taking his leave.

Fred looked around as he could find no one, he knew this was really a bad omen as he had never felt this way before. He decided to cool off with some of the palace maids.

He walked out of the hall with some of the guards following him as he gave one of them an order.

Mean while somewhere around the corridor of the palace where Rayne and her Father stood to discuss was Sophia who was hiding and eaves dropping, she heard all their conversation ready to use it as a bait against her.

She came out of her hiding place, stretched her self before walking down to the throne, she walked down to where Rayne stood as she tried mimicking her. She gave a slight chuckle holding her laughter so as not to alert the guards, she walked down to the elders seat and saw a little book dropped down, she knew it must have fallen from someone amongst the elders as she took it up reading the inscription on it.

“THE ALPHA’S MATING BALL”

She knew this had to do with the ball coming up as she took it, wrapped it around her ready to leave.

She made an attempt to pass the corridor she came out from, but she was caught…

“Stop there” A familiar voice said.

She turned back and saw him with a trembling face and her voice, she kneeled…