Chapter 41
“I would like you to learn everything, dear,” Dad said. We are in his office because he wanted to discuss the details of the next event.
“I understand, Your Highness,” Freya replied,
“As for what you said, princess,” Rapha said, and she looked at him. “I don’t need to tell you to look after yourself, right? We all have a feeling that someone didn’t want the prince to find his mate and hide the fact about the visitor in the palace on the day that the prince smelled his mate.”
“We also didn’t leave the possibility that someone wanted the prince for herself, whoever she was,” James added. I just keep quiet because something is bothering me. I couldn’t get her scent off of my mind.
“Is something bothering you, son?” Dad asked; he knew me too well. But I didn’t want him to know what it was yet. I had to be sure first.
“Nothing, Dad; I was just worried about Freya. What if I was not around and something happened to her?” I said, instead.
“You don’t have to worry about that,” said Calvin. “I had already asked His Highness to conduct a tournament.”
“What about it?”
“We will be inviting warriors from different packs. Whoever wants to join them will be staying in the palace for the duration of the tournament. Whoever wins will be trained with the palace warriors and will be absorbed by the palace after,” he explained.
“What does it have to do with my mate?” I asked because I don’t see any connection with Freya’s safety when they only become palace warriors.
“That is what they will know. But whoever excels will be assigned to the princess’ security along with James.” Calvin added, and I nodded.
“Only us who were inside this room knew about the real reason for this tournament, and I expected that no one would leak this. The possibility of the enemy being ready for this and plotting a chance to get into the princess’s security team is very high if we let this information out.” Rapha said,
“I understand that you wanted and were worried about my safety, but I don’t think that it was necessary,” Freya told us.
“It is necessary, dear,” Dad said and continued, “We couldn’t take the risk and let our guard down. It was also the main reason why we are only telling you this. Matteo will be crowned, but not until he’s 100, so until then, we have to make sure that you are safe.”
“Is this also the reason why you already wanted Calvin and James to take their positions?” she asked.
“I can see that you are very smart. We are conducting some investigations. While it is ongoing and things are uncertain, I don’t want you to leave without someone with you. Never fall for tricks like “I asked you to come or go to some place or do something” that will require you to be alone because I am not going to do that unless I tell you myself.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“We will continue our training because Ronaldo always asks about your safety, which is very unusual.”
“Why is that unusual?” I asked,
“He never even asked about how you were feeling when you couldn’t find your mate before, and now he was suddenly worried about the princess. He’s not on the run, but I know that he knew what the princess looked like when she shifted. Everyone in the palace was talking about it before I warned everyone to hide it first,” Rapha answered.
“Having said that the warriors that saw the princess fighting with the rogues were warned not to tell anyone about it as well. So besides us, no one knew that she could fight.” James said,
“Are you saying that Ronaldo was planning something for my mate?” I asked angrily.
“We are not sure about that yet; that’s why I wanted to do some investigations, and while we are waiting for that, you have to promise us that you will take care of yourself, dear,” Dad answered, looking at my mate, who was nodding her head.
“Camila will be with you always; she’s Rapha’s niece, so it’s good to say that I trust her too.” I told her, “Of course, that is only when I am not around.” I added.
The meeting had ended, and we all prepared for the tournament. We rushed the invitations to all the packs, and it was a success. They responded with enthusiasm and submitted their interest and the list of participants. I got myself busy with the preparations while Freya was with Rapha, doing her training. Three days in a row, she had been complaining about how her trainer drained her energy.
She never thought that Rapha was a monster; he didn’t hold back and made the training harder. After he saw how and what her abilities were, he was more enthusiastic to teach her more of what he already knew. He was worried that he couldn’t keep up with the princess’ stamina. Oh, if he only knew how much Freya had been complaining when we were in our bedroom.
Of course, I couldn’t tell him that, and I’m sure that she was only saying those because she was feeling tired. I just hope that she’s not saying anything to Camila because I am sure that she will tell Rapha everything.
On the fourth day, I was in my dad’s office while he and Calvin were together on the training ground. Freya was with Rapha as usual, and James was probably looking after her from afar. I was looking at the list of participants, and I couldn’t help but feel angry when I saw familiar names.
Why did they decide to join? Aren’t they supposed to take care of their packs? I saw them fight, and I knew that they were all good fighters, so I wondered what they were going to do when the time came. I was still thinking about those three participants when someone knocked and let them in.
“I knew that you would be here,” Eunice said. Even without looking, I knew that it was her. “What do you need?” I asked while my eyes were still on the list I was holding.
“I missed you so much, Matteo,” she said, and then I looked at her angrily.
“You are not supposed to tell me that if you have nothing important to say, you can leave.”
“What did you see in her that you wanted her so much? She has no scent at all; didn’t it ever occur to you that she was doing something for you to think that she’s your mate?”
“I was the one who acknowledged her, Eunice. And you didn’t know how I found out about her being my mate, so there’s nothing that you will say that could change how I see her.” I replied,
“What about your mate from years ago? Didn’t you tell me that you were going to look for her?” she asked. I think she’s not going to stop unless she continues spewing nonsense.
“What I do with that is for me to decide. I can just ignore it and be with Freya for the rest of my life.” I told her. Why can’t she just leave? I was already mad at the thought that Clay, Alec, and Joric were joining the tournament, and there she was making me more annoyed. She started walking closer to me, and I had a feeling that she was going to do something idiotic, so I prepared myself.
“I love you, Matteo! Since I was a child, I have only had my eyes on you. I did everything so you would stay with me, but because of that bitch, you left me and dropped me, throwing away all the years that we’ve been together,” she said.
“I am not denying the fact that we were together for decades, but I told you beforehand that I am going to wait for my mate no matter how long it takes. I didn’t, and I have never committed myself to you. What we had was pure sex and nothing more.” I told her, and that was harsh, but I only told her the truth. Whether she admitted it or not, I know that she knew that I was only telling the truth.
“No, Matteo. I am going to make you realize that you belong to me and not to her.”
“No, Eunice, I want you to stop whatever you are planning because, as you already knew, we marked each other the moment she transformed.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s already a Lycan,” I replied.
“No, that can never be. How can she become one when she doesn’t even have a wolf to begin with?”
“That’s where you are wrong, and no matter how much I explain it to you, you will never understand because you never want to understand. Now, leave!” I said with conviction,
“No, I rejected my mate for you! The moment I accidentally found him, I rejected him because of you! You can’t do this to me!” She started yelling.
“I didn’t tell you to do that! I didn’t know that you had already found your mate, and if I did, I would only encourage you to accept him and not reject him! It’s your choice and not mine!” I yelled back. She’s crazy about rejecting her mate; she knew that being with your mate would make you stronger, and what? She did that for me.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
“He’s nothing but an embarrassment; there’s no way that I am going to accept a guard for a mate!” She was shouting angrily, but the hell do I care?
“Then I’m sorry to say this. I am not going to leave or reject my mate for you or just for a fu**! Before I throw you in the dungeon for disrespect, get out and never show your face in front of me without reason. A very valid reason.” I said, and she was quiet. I already linked the guards, and they would be here soon to take her. Now, my day is ruined!
Matteo