Chapter 17 - The Ceremony

HADRIAN

The straps of my bow tie hang loose around my throat and the collar of my shirt digs in the side of my neck. I loosen the top button and I pick up the tumbler of whiskey from my desk. I take a large swig as I peer outside through the windows in my office. The palace is filled to the brim with people. I can see the stream of people walking through the entrance from the solidarity of my rooms. Every single one dressed to the nines. This is all about see and be seen.

At times like this, I don’t feel fit to be King one day. I’m not good at the social aspect of it all. Pretending to be someone I’m not. I want the people of my kingdom to live a happy life and have lands that flourish, but I don’t want to show off my wealth to the world. I prefer to spend my free time in the forest or on top of my mate.

I take another deep swig of the amber liquid and I savor the smokey burn in my throat.

I’ve never really envisioned myself with a mate. I knew I would eventually choose one, but could never picture it. Now that the night has come, I find myself longing for it. My father wants me to choose the human and I will, but Lela is right. Something else draws me to her and when I try to picture myself with a mate now.

It is Emma I see.

*“Finally.”* Nero grumbles.

My muscles tense when I hear the sound of my wolf. *“It’s just because you’re forcing your feelings for her on me.”* I tell him.

I place the tumbler back on my desk and the glass makes a dull thud on the wood. I hear whispers out in the hallway. The sound travels through the cracks of the doors. The sound is faint but audible for a werewolf, like me. I’m alone because I send everyone away, there shouldn't be anyone in this wing. I walk out of my office towards the hallway. I’m careful not to make a sound.

There is a lone figure walking in the hall.

*“Human.”* Nero growls.

I grumble in agreement and walk towards the human with soundless footsteps. “If you're here to kill me, then you're going the wrong way,” I tell the human, keeping my voice low.

He turns around and reveals the four deep scars on his face. Definitely scars he received from a werewolf. His eyes are threatening and filled with hatred. For a second I think the human will attempt to kill me anyway. The human is large for his kind, but I still tower over him.

*“Someone behind you.”* Nero warns.

Something cold and sharp presses to the center of my back. I take a deep breath and the burning, pungent smell of silver is the first thing I notice.

"If you want to walk away alive, you’ll do as we say.”

Silver can severely hurt any werewolf. They can heal if the injury is small enough, but the scars are permanent. If they manage to pierce my heart, then no healer can recover me.

“What do you want?” I growl.

“Leave Emma alone, choose someone else.”

*Mine.*

I don’t wait to realize who the thought is from. I move in a flash and before he can do anything, I have my attacker pinned against the wall. My underarm is pressed against his chest. Hot fury burns in my veins.

The human off the side moves. A loud growl from the animal inside me crackles through the hall like thunder crushing a tree in the dark forest.

“Move again and your friend here dies.”

The face of the human turns into a deep scowl, but he stays still. I turn my attention back to my attacker. “What do you want from her?”

“What do you mean, what do I want from her? You’re the one who has her locked up in your palace.” He struggles in my grip like I don’t have him at my mercy.

His hands grip around my bare wrist and a jolt shoots through my forearm. The eyes of my attacker go wide. “Wait, do you like her?”

I step back and pull my arm away from him. He falls to the ground and catches himself just in time. The question still hangs in the air.

“I don’t.”

He chuckles, his gaze cast to the floor. He shakes his head and looks up with a frown. “You want to protect her.” He mutters. It's not a question this time.

“Who are you?” I ask with narrow eyes. Morana probably sent him to manipulate me.

He straightens and runs a hand through his blond hair. His eyes are blue, which is unusual to see. He sends me a crooked smile and scratches his jaw. People don’t smile at me. I can’t remember anyone other than my mother ever doing it. It leaves me baffled about what's going on.

“Don’t worry about it buddy. This was all just a misunderstanding.” He puts a hand on my shoulder and I send him a scowl. Pushing my aura out to make him bow down to me. The guy just laughs it off as if he’s immune to it.

*“Beta.”* Nero barks.

I blink. *“What the hell?”*

*“I think he should be our beta.”* Nero explains.

I shake my head. *“You have lost your mind.”*

Normally the next in line of the throne chooses the son of the current beta as his beta. The son of Beta Marcus is a certified asshole and would probably stab a silver dagger in my back, first chance he gets. I haven’t found anyone trustworthy enough to even consider as my beta. *And some random guy, who tried to attack me, is not the kind of trustworthy I mean.*

Nero whimpers with a pout and I roll my eyes.

One of the guards appears in the hallway and scans the area before he bows down. “Sir, your father is waiting for you. It’s time to choose.”

—————

I’ve left the guard to escort the two men back to the ceremony. I spot them at the side of the ballroom, away from the other guests. They scan the room and I do the same as I take a seat next to my father on the dais. I didn’t pick up her scent when I walked into the room and now I can’t spot her in the crowd. I barely notice when a row of females presents themselves in front of me.

*She’s not here.*

*“What have you done?”* Morana thunders through a mind link.

*“Maybe she’s hurt.”* Nero worries.

*“I expected better from you.”* My father accuses.

The accusations and questions fly around in my head and for the first time in my life, I block everyone out, including my father.

“It’s time for you to choose, Prince Hadrian.” Beta Marcus says.

All eyes are directed at me, but I don’t see the faces of the woman in front of me anymore. For a moment everyone is quiet as they wait for me to choose. I use the silence to think. I can hear other sounds coming from the palace, like the hustle and bustle in the kitchen. My hearing is better than most werewolves. I close my eyes and the sounds that were overshadowed before come to life in my ears. It’s a trick I’ve learned from Cecile.

“This is outrageous,” Gaia mutters. The sound of her voice thunders and it grates my ears when I listen this closely.

More whispers follow and I grind my teeth. “Quiet.” I bark and every single one shuts their mouth.

Dull thuds sound in the far distance. *Help. Please. Help.*

I immediately stand up and step down to follow the sound of Emma’s pleas. A hand wraps around my shoulder.

General Zeno holds me back. “Do you really want to make a fool out of yourself?”

I shrug off his hand and walk out of the ballroom.

*“Your father is right, you’ll amount to nothing. You are a disgrace.”* He says through a mind link.

I follow the sound of hollow tuds out of the ballroom and to the second floor. The sound stops when I walk past the guest rooms. I beat down on several doors, hoping one will respond.