Chapter 11 - You know the rules

HADRIAN

A guard approaches and bows down low. “My apologies for disturbing you, sir, but your father is waiting for you.”

I furrow my brows at the guard.

*For me?* I think to myself.

I rarely interact with my father, since I've rarely been at the palace for the past six years. The forest has been my home more times than not. I’m not involved in the day-to-day operation of the throne. My father has been clear that there is no place for me there until I prove myself worthy of it.

“He said, he wouldn’t start the audiences without you.” The guard clarifies.

———————

After I wash the sweat and grime off my body, I change into my royal uniform. I walk through the halls as I struggle with the last button.

The black fabric is detailed with golden insignias to show my status as the crown prince. There is a single star embroidered on the fabric of the shoulders to show my rank as the fifth general.

I walk into a similar situation as yesterday. My sister sits on my father’s left hand. Gamma Silvius and Beta Marcus are seated at the table. And Nero is growling in my head.

“Prince Hadrian, we’ve been waiting for you.” My father says.

I kneel before my father and I wait for the reprimand, for letting the King wait, but it doesn’t come.

“Take a seat.”

I rise and turn to take a seat at the table, but Nero stops me and I lift my gaze to see why. My father doesn’t gesture to the table but to the seat next to him. I can’t help but blink in surprise. It takes me a second to take the first step to my rightful place.

*“Yes it is.”* Nero says while sitting up tall and puffing out his chest.

I feel all eyes on me when I sit down on the dais. I cast a look to my sister and she cannot hide the fumes coming from her. Her aura roiles through the room.

“Morana, *behave*.” The King orders.

The royal aura is something we’re born with. The aura has a darkness from our bloodline that radiates out of us. Some call it a curse for the power we hold. It’s why the citizens fear us, they cannot help it.

Once a month the King gives out audiences to citizens of the kingdom. I listen to the praise for my father, for the kingdom and the army, but I can’t help having the words of the human running through my mind and how she views the world. Her words were not of praise but filled with hate.

The doors open again for the next audience and General Zeno walks in with his daughter, Gaia. General Zeno is the second-highest general. Somehow even higher than Beta Marcus and Gamma Silvius.

Five Generals oversee a total of four divisions. My sister is the highest general and oversees the whole army.

Second comes General Zeno, who operates outside the border of the kingdom. He deals with rogues and the expansion of the kingdom.

Then there is Beta Marcus, who deals with all that happens within the border of Sanguinem and everything under the direct jurisdiction of the king.

The fourth is Gamma Silvius, who governs the packs outside Sanguinem and regulates the coexistence of the different packs within the kingdom.

And then there is me. The fifth General and in control of the border. My battalion is divided into four border points. North, East, South and West. Together we make sure the kingdom stays safe from invaders.

General Zeno and Gaia bow in front of my father.

Nero is on high alert, ready to attack. We are on the same page on this. There is something eerily dark about General Zeno, that even leaves a chill on my spine.

General Zeno has served the army as a general for almost as long as my father has held his reign. There are secrets between him and the king that nobody else knows about.

“General Zeno, I’m surprised to see you’re back already.” My father says.

The General stands up and his eyes meet mine. “I wouldn’t want to miss the choosing ceremony of our beloved crown prince.” His voice grates. It’s painful to my ears.

“That’s very considerate of you.” My father says.

“If I might ask, who is the lucky lady?” He asks me, but I don't get a chance to answer.

My father chuckles and it's something unheard of. “You’ll have to wait until the choosing ceremony to see.”

General Zeno chuckles with him. “Of course, Your Highness.” He gestures to his daughter. “If I may be so bold. If there is still debate about the right fit for our future Luna. My daughter has every qualification necessary and would like to present herself as a candidate.”

Gaia is bowed down and every inch of her is perfect, down to the last detail. And still, I don’t see her as Luna.

“You know the rules.” My father says.

The rules are; A chosen mate is only official when they’re marked and mated. Any potential mates can present themselves during the choosing ceremony where the male wolf will pick his mate.

General Zeno gives a nod of understanding. I cast a glance at my sister. Morana has one leg draped over the other and is leaning her head on her palm. Her posture screams boredom and there is nothing that indicates that she feels threatened by this new turn of events.

If I choose Gaia during the choosing ceremony she cannot stop me. I will have a strong mate who can carry my heir.

*"No."* Nero growls.

*“I know what you're thinking, but it won't work.”* Morana says through a mind link.

I narrow my eyes at her. *“You can’t stop me.”*

She has her attention elsewhere. *“I don’t have to.”*

My father dismisses General Zeno and Gaia and they leave the throne room.

The audiences last for hours and my back is annoying me for sitting still for so long. I prefer to move and be in the forest. When the last audience is over, it’s already late in the afternoon.

Beta Marcus and Gamma Silvius leave the throne room first and then my sister follows. I’m the only one left in the room with my father.

“You did good.”

I unclench my fists and I turn to look at my father. I’m surprised because I am not sure what it is that I did well.

“I trust you’ll do good at the choosing ceremony too...” My father says as he turns to look at me. His amber eyes swirl with a cold darkness. “And choose the human.”

It’s a warning. A threat to not fall out of line and live up to his expectations. Or else there will be consequences. I don’t know why he wants me to choose the human, but he does.

“But father, the human cannot carry the royal bloodline.”

“Morana told me about your doubts, but this war has been going on for a long time, Hadrian.”

The war with the humans started seven years ago when my mother was killed in the dark forest by a human. The human was female and had ocean blue eyes, the color of a dark stormy sea.

The story is widely known around the kingdom and the people have grieved alongside the King. My mother was kind-hearted and beloved by our people. When my father wanted revenge and to find the human, people stood in line to join the army. But till this day, the human has not been found.

“It is time to end this war. You will choose the human.”

I swallow at the dark edge of my father’s voice. The hairs on my skin stand up as if my body warns me of a nearby threat.

“Of course father.”

—————

I find myself walking down the first floor, where I have no business of being. It’s busier than usual and people are surprised to see me. I follow the faint scent of vanilla, custard and lemongrass and realize what I’m doing. It leads me to the end of the hall where two maids are cleaning a room.

“Where is the human?”

The maid cannot be much older than sixteen or seventeen and still wolfless. She trembles under my scrutiny as I try to keep my patience.

“I-I d-don’t know, Your Highness.” She answers.

I take a deep breath when I see the maid shrink down. I don’t want to be feared like my father and sister. I walk away from them and back out of the hall. I will find her on my own.

I follow the faint scent of vanilla that leads me down the stairs, through the open corridor and out the gate of the palace entrance. The guards step aside for me when I pass them. Then the scent disappears.

I look around the open square in front of the palace, to give me a clue of where to go, but there is none.

*Shit.*

*“Maybe she took you up on your advice and left.”* Nero says.

*“We have to find her.”*