Two

M O N G R E L

🌷

The priest prayed for all the souls to rest in peace. By the order of the Elamite emperor, all the bodies had been taken to Elamite and had given a proper burial in the cemetery in the morning. 

Katherine stood next to her husband, while holding her daughter Arianna in her protective embrace and wondering where things were going to head from now on. 

"Mama, who's she?" Her son Elliot asked, while his gaze was fixed on the little girl.

Katherine looked to her right to see her son, curiously looking at the small life. Returning her gaze towards the girl her eyes softened and said, "She's your little sister, Elliot."

Elliot grinned after the words left her mouth, "May I hold her , mama?" He said offering his small hands in front to hold his newborn sister.

Elliot being the only son to the new emperor and empress was now very happy after he perceived the truth that he's not alone now, and got a little sister to play with her, protect her.

Elliot would provide the good care to his sister, Katherine thought, nodding her head. 

"She's very small now, take good care of her. Okay?"

"I will mama." He stated and Katherine passed her daughter to his son.

"My.... such a cute little thing. What's her name?" He asked, looking at his sister.

"She's Arianna Merlin Elamite," Katherine said while bending down to meet her pup's height.

"Such a beautiful name for a beautiful girl. I will protect you little one forever and ever." Elliot said as a pool of tears formed in Katherine's eyes after listening to what her son said, he will indeed protect her, she thought. 

Ronald and his first in command Ion walked towards them. "What might be the name of this beautiful girl?" Ion asked Elliot. 

"Arianna," he replied looking up at him.

"The carriages are here," Ronald informed them as he was informed by Sargent. 

One more carriage followed the first one. The very first one, the royal carriage stopped and the man who rode it jumped down to open the door for them with a slight bow. The four of them got into it and settled down comfortably. Elliot had taken the seat next to his mother while the Alpha sat in front of them and Ion sat in the other carriage. 

Sometimes the smallest things take the most room in your heart, Ronald thought, looking at his daughter asleep in his son's lap, he smiled.

As the carriage started, Elliot looked outside the window as lush green trees passed by as though each one running towards them. Katherine was deep in thought when she felt the Alpha's eyes on their daughter. She gave a small glance towards him and saw admiration in her husband's eyes for their daughter.

When they reached the castle, Katherine took Elliot and Arianna to their room while the alphas were gathered in the upper section of the vault. Most of the gatherings took in the main concourse but the important, urgent and secretive ones were held in the castle's vault, its entrance below the castle shed. The dungeon was divided into two sections, upper section and the lower section. The upper section was guarded with humans and wolves of omega ranks, while the lower section held prisoners who committed horrendous crime and the hostages.

"Beta Ion, why have we been summoned here?" One of the alpha asked, looking at the first in command, "It has been only three days since the last convention."

"Didn't you hear about the bloodshed that happened last night on the land of Merlin?" A woman alpha who stood against the wall spoke.

"What bloodshed?" A beta of one of the packs asked from the group. 

"I heard they were drained of blood. The humans, while their king was busy filling his pockets with money," a young gamma replied. Gasps and murmur filled the space at the given information. The voices got louder slowly asking questions on what had happened. 

It was when the loud growl of the Emperor echoed in the vault and everyone became still. He entered the upper section followed by Sargent, "Last night was the great loss for all of us, an entire village of humans was killed by rogue vampires. We have captured few of them and trial will take place in following week."

"Next week?" The alpha of "crescent moon pack" asked.

"Yes," replied Ronald. "Until then he shall undergo investigation. There is something else about the royal family that needs attention," he said looking towards the crowd gathered in front of him and everyone nodded. "When the incursion of vampires was at the end, we found a newborn girl underneath a tree in the basket. There was no clue of family around her, so we took her in as my daughter. The Princess of Elamite empire, Arianna Merlin Elamite."

After a long pause, the alpha of "grey moonstone pack" broke the silence, "We are not against your wish, alpha. But what if that girl brings complications in the near future." 

"I assure you alpha Balthazar, my daughter is the light of this Empire," replied Ronald and the alpha looked satisfied. 

It was true that Arianna was taken in care of Ronald but he doubted his empire safety. The sudden assault of vampires on humans was the one point to suspect. After the peace treaty, yesterday night was the first bloodshed and there has to be a compelling reason.

Although Ronald assured everyone about his daughter's presence and status, still few people got problems regarding the rescued girl.

In one part of the castle, Arianna gave birth to conspiracy against her presence and in another she was the luminescent life that brightened the lives of her loved ones.