Chapter 8

Mirage POV

At the hospital

In an empty and quiet corridor, faint and sorrowful sobs trailed from the restroom.

I looked up, to find it was the ladies restroom. Who was crying?

I stepped inside, to see a fragile looking lady in a red princess gown, she looked like she was in her early twenties. I couldn't see her face, but she felt too familiar to ignore.

"Do I know you?" I ask

She paused for a moment, then turned to me her tears-filled eyes made her look so pitiful I was speechless. She was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

"But why are you crying?"

She looked in my direction, but didn't say a word and suddenly the restroom door barged open and a young man in his thirties walked in.

"I thought I told you to apologize...?" The man asked in a scolding tone.

The woman bit her lips till it bled but didn't say a word back.

"Why are you doing this to me?... I'm your wife" The woman spoke as the man was about to leave.

"Stop playing the victim and take responsibility for your mistakes..Coward" He used a light tone and left the room, only then did I realize he couldn't see me as he walked right through me.

The woman immediately began throwing up and her gown was dyed a deeper color of red, as the smell of blood filled the room. She became motionless after a while, panicked that she was dead. I ran up to her, but I couldn't touch her.

Soon the man returned holding another woman by the hand.

"Don't worry she's going to apologize" He assured the woman as he pulled her into the restroom to find his wife unconscious.

Even a fool could tell, the man was biased towards his mistress and treated his own wife badly.

"I hate trash like this" I tried to leave but couldn't. Suddenly at that moment a blind light appeared surrounding an unconscious woman, then I saw a very thin red thread that connected the man to the woman suddenly snapped.

The thread then dangled freely, as if released from a cage.

Everything turned blurry and slowly faded. I found myself in an empty space void of light and sound.

"What's happening?" I asked.

"Mirage...Mirage wake up, we have to go!" I heard someone shouting in my ears, and I suddenly opened my eyes.

Our eyes met Lilah, a young female rogue my father saved on a trip. She was usually quiet, so I didn't bother with her.

"What's going on?" I ask, holding my throbbing head as it suddenly begins aching.

She filled me in on most of the details. I let her stay by myself because she was especially smart and knew her place.

"Is my Dad ready...?" I ask

"Yes and he requested to see you in ten minutes" She said and I dismissed her to get ready. As I know we are heading to the Levites Pack, a well-known pack filled with warriors. They were the only pack that took us in and protected us inside their territory after a fallout we heard with the Royals.

My father was very fond of their Luna , even adopting her as a younger sister when they were little. Everyone knew it was the sole reason our pack was saved even after being hunted for years.

I wasn't born then so I don't know the full details, especially when my father seems to be intentionally keeping things from me. In short, everything pisses me off

"Master, It's time...!" Lilah's voice echoed outside the door and I stepped out.

Her head was bowed when I passed by. I walked downstairs and met my father and his beta. They paused their conversation on my arrival.

I greeted as usual. For some reason, his beta seems to dislike me, but I don't care. As long as he doesn't cross the boundaries. By the way, I have been tired of seeing his face for a while and it's not something I would miss.

"Let's go..." My father took the lead into the forest, he shifted as did his beta and the few others that followed. I could only watch, I was blessed with superspeed and strength but I couldn't shift; that was something some late members used to tease me about.

I had some other secret abilities, like the night vision where I could see over two thousand miles away. Like how I could now see our least favorite pack in the world a few miles behind us.

I mindlink my father, informing him, as we formed a defense stand. Thanks to the fact we actually lived within the territory, we had the advantage of more wolf-power than them. As they slowly approached, we stood to welcome them. Their Next Alpha immediately caught my attention. I couldn't help comparing strength. I held his hand tightly hoping he would break free, as other Younger Alpha's choose to do. I expected better, but he didn't even try to budge, just staying steel. I could tell from the look of his eyes that he was in pain. But I didn't need to speak and just stayed silent.

I let him go, soon the Levites Pack Commander arrived with his soldiers as they led us towards the mansion. It was unique and mesmerizing in its own style.

The Alpha heir gathered at a table, I wasn't interested so I didn't attend, but, everyone's clothes are dirty.expect I and the princess, why was everyone else's clothes dirty, or was I seeing things.

I could feel the gaze of most of the young alphas as they patiently awaited the demise of their fathers.

I badly wanted to let them know that I was scolded to be here. My eyes roamed the table until it met that of a little girl, she was staring at me with wide eyes. I don't mingle with people outside my pack, so I couldn't have possibly met her somewhere.

I moved my gaze to the other end of the table, for once I saw something that actually interested me. The little princess avoiding a young Royal gaze, I could see the puzzlement on his face as he at most didn't expect it.

A smirk unknowingly formed on my face, I mean I then noticed her bending over. I tried to observe more, but my sight of vision was blocked.

The place was brightly lit and there was food and drinks except on the princess side. Then the Alpha of the Levites walked in. With one pull, he lifted her into his arms, she giggled happily and left the table. From start to finish, The little girl was still staring at me, it began to annoy me, I naturally would have just killed her, but to be in this table one must be the next heir and killing her was not an option.

I stood up and left the table. I walked outside the room as Lilah stood there waiting for me.

"We're leaving" I announced and walked forward with her following behind me.

On reaching our assigned wing, just out the room given to my father, I began hearing whispers. Upon entering the room everywhere went quiet. It was no surprise to me but that didn't mean I was comfortable with it.

Chapter 9

Nicolas POV

Since the gathering, we lived in the west wing of the mansion. It was beautiful and well decorated. From time to time Luna would check in on us. She is a great host, that no one can deny, not even my dad.

Though, she seems to be on edge with him in particular. And as usual he refused to tell me anything. It always had to turn to Mr Carter to explain, at a point it became embarrassing. But Mr Carter never took my disturbance to heart, one could say he was more of a father than mine.

Sometimes, I envy Elliot though his mother wasn't around. His father took on most of the roles, I watched them from time to time.

Today was an especially lovely day, as we were given permission to tour the various wings except for the north. I was very excited but couldn't show it. I followed the others as we moved around the various wings, it was both huge and glamorous. All the heirs were gathered here except the heir of the light pack, which I am most grateful for. Mingling with other pack members my age was a new experience, which I found enjoyable.

After about an hour, we were dismissed, on arriving at the west wing, the scene of a three years old hitting Elliot across the face came into view. A three year old shouldn't have been able to hit a trained amateur like Elliot.

I stood behind a pillar trying to hold back my laughter before going towards them, especially as Elliot looked like he was about to cry, I couldn't help but find the little bossy princess cute, after her little display. Mr Carter soon approached them, I was a little worried that she was in trouble, but he went on one knee and bowed his head in apology, now Elliot looked like he was about to faint.

It was a huge disgrace in the pack for a father to admit defeat for the sake of his son. I could understand Elliot. I went over to speak up for him, almost immediately the little princess also began walking away.

No long, Their Luna came out with the little princess in her arms.

"So she came for her mother?" I ask

"Not like she would come for you" A pack member beside Elliot replied to me.

They both worked past me, their princess not even sparing me a glance.

After they passed by, my father also walked out, I think following them, so did Elliot, and I thought 'why don't I go?'

As I walked alongside my father for the first time willingly, he gave me a weird gaze. I looked at the ground embarrassed, but when I looked up again, Mr Carter gave me a knowing smirk and winked at me.

I felt so embarrassed I wanted to hide.

There was a commotion ahead. Luna stopped and the Princess seemed to be dozing off. As we approached closer, the maid on site seemed to be from the royals, at least based on her attire.

It seems the maid got in trouble with a higher rank member of another pack. Luna interrogated the girl, and I had the murmurs and whispers from the crowd suggesting she was sent by my father.

I mindlink and asked him, but I received no reply, it happened a lot, I was used to it.

The princess was still dozing off, and Luna noticed it, she now had a worried expression. I resisted the urge to help. Suddenly, another voice echoed.

It was Morgan, The Alpha of the Light pack, following beside him was his beta and then, Mirage the person I didn't want to see, not at this moment at least.

My father of course tried to take the maid away for interrogation, or to be dealt with properly.

"What is a Royal maid doing in the North wing in the first place...?" The secret question was finally asked.

While the conversation was still heated, he took the princess out of Luna's arms, she seemed to not mind at least. Literally speaking, she was carried by her uncle so It was natural she didn't protest.

Then suddenly she was handed to Mirage, he looked puzzled, like he didn't want her but still took her from his father. She obviously didn't want him as she frustratedly tried to kick him when he carried her.

Her mother just wanted to get her out of the scene and just made Mirage leave with her. Unknowingly, my eyes followed them until they reached the corridor. The next scene made me seriously furious.

He dropped the baby to the group, she was obviously in pain with the way she rubbed her butt, but he didn't seem to care, just still focused on the conversation. I really wished to be in his situation. I almost went to her when my father mindlinked me to stop

The little princess stood up, obviously angry and turned to leave, but she returned from the other direction, to my surprise about three times, and then tried to run to her mother but seemed stuck. Now I'm sure he really did something to her and it provoked me to no end.

Just the thought that she was being bullied.

Our eyes met and he gave me his usual smirk, in which case I was already provoked, now my wolf threatened to act without my consent.

He just chuckled at me and picked her up with just a pull and she seemed to say something to him, as she disappeared behind the pillars.

I really wanted to go after him, but I have no right especially to take her away, already I just have the feeling that she disliked me, though I'm still unaware of the reason. I hope to resolve it soon, Maybe just like Elliot I offended her without realizing.

I was distracted for a while but returned to my senses on time as we were just about to leave.

On returning my father was very furious. From his reaction I could tell he was behind everything. Maybe he just wanted to get information but the maid went overboard. At most she was trying to please my father by giving him more than he asked so she could get into his bed. It would have worked if she had succeeded but as it is she even lost her life.

My father's anger was of course not for the demise of one of his lovers but for the fact his reputation was ruined by a careless maid, who wasn't content in her position. At this point I excused myself, giving him the privacy he needed to smash things.

The very next day, to no one's surprise after what happened, The gathering was said to have ended after a week of course out of courtesy. I was truly disappointed but there was nothing I could do.

Elliot was somewhat happy to leave. Which pissed me up the most, he was my best friend and should understand me, but he was so eager to return to the boring villa.

I began to see a point with him as the company had no one to manage it for a while and everyone was on autopilot, just working to be stable while waiting for their boss to lead them forward.

One week later

We were ready to depart. I would be lying if I said I wouldn't miss here, though it sounded off, but this place felt very familiar, since I first arrived, like I have lived here before. And until the end of the one week I didn't even get a chance to see her again. Not to even talk of resolving issues, I could only secretly hope that by the next time we meet she would be a little bit more friendlier.