King Adrian came out of the castle to think for himself.
"There's nothing to think about, Adrian. We've found our mate, what more is there to think about?" Kaelos said.
"I am not as enthusiastic as you are, Kael. I have no time for a mate." Adrian retorted.
"Alright. I need you to come inside while I come outside. I need to talk to my mate." Kaelos said with all seriousness.
Adrian would have given him the 'Are you an idiot?' look if Kael was standing before him.
"What are you talking about? Unless you want to talk to her in the wolf form and scare her away, I can't even transform if that's what you want to do."
"Close your eyes, Adrian." Kaelos ordered.
"What…" Adrian was about to say something but Kaelos interrupted him. "Just close your damn eyes."
Adrian closed his eyes behind the mask and waited, he didn't even know what he was waiting for.
Some seconds passed by and Adrian was struck dumb by what he saw.
He stared at the big black wolf suddenly transforming into a man. He was taken aback when the man looked exactly like him but with different eye color.
"Nice to meet you, Adri." Kaelos said from where he was standing. He walked over to Adrian who looked like he was in a trance.
"Wake up." Kaelos snapped his fingers.
"How? What?" Adrian was too confused and could not form his words properly.
"I am your wolf, Adrian. We will talk about that later, right now, I can't allow my mate to be hugged by another man." Kaelos growled and in an instant, Adrian was inside and he came outside.
"How did you do that?" Adrian asked. He couldn't explain but it felt as if he was underwater, not drowning but he couldn't swim up to the surface either.
He received no response from Kaelos and could only watch him walk towards their supposed mate. He watched as she was about to be hugged by another man and he could not deny that he wanted to break the hands belonging to the man.
He shook his head as if to clear whatever thoughts. It's probably because of Kaelos I feel this way. He thought.
••••••
The duo was about to hug each other, when suddenly, Arielle was dragged back and landed onto something firm and warm.
Kaelos dragged Arielle back to stop her from hugging the man. He eyed the man from behind his mask wanting to break those hands but he restrained himself.
A growl escaped his mouth when he noticed the man's smell was all over her and his eyes found the shawl on her shoulders, staring at it through his mask as if to burn it with his eyes.
Arielle felt a low vibration from the chest she was resting on. Did he just growl?
She didn't need to turn her head to know the person.
Davis was stunned before bowing slightly to offer his respects. "Your majesty."
Davis took it as his cue to leave as he felt a chill run down his spine. Why did he feel as if the werewolf king didn't like him and was staring daggers at him?
"See you tomorrow, Ari. Have a good night." Davis said.
"Good night, Davis" Arielle replied as she watched Davis walk away, into the castle.
Arielle did not notice that she had been in the King's arms since he dragged her back.
"Is he more appealing than I am?" Kaelos asked irritatedly.
Arielle stiffened when she heard his voice and became fully aware of the situation she was in and she released herself immediately, stepping back to put space between them.
She heard his question and could not help but find the King to be an idiot. Kaelos also realized what he said was a bit idiotic.
He cleared his throat before saying, "I don't think I have introduced myself properly."
Arielle looked at him and wondered what he was going on about. Why would he need to introduce himself? And she felt something off with him as if he wasn't the man she saw in the parlor room earlier, as if something had changed inside him.
"What's there to introduce, your majesty?" Arielle asked, confused.
"Ohh there certainly is. I'm Kaelos." Kael introduced.
Arielle blinked, trying to understand what he was saying. Maybe it's his second name. Anyway, she had to get away from him.
"Alright, your majesty. I have to retire for the night. Have a good night, your majesty." She curtsied and turned around to leave. Her steps were swift.
"Interesting." Kaelos said as he smirked behind the mask. He didn't do anything to her yet and she was already running away. "Let's see how far you can run, love." He said and walked into the castle.
••••••
Morning arrived quickly much to Arielle's dismay. From her bedroom window, she could see the palace's breathtaking view. The lush green gardens, and the distant sparkle of the water in the fountain. The sun was high up in the sky, shining brightly but Arielle's mood remained gloomy. She hadn't slept well, her mind racing with thoughts of her journey to the North.
Knock knock…
Arielle heard a knock on the door, which jolted her from her thoughts. "Come in." Arielle said.
Two women walked into the room, wearing maid uniforms. They bowed their heads and Arielle still could not get used to this.
"Princess Arielle, the King has instructed us to prepare you for your journey to the North kingdom." One of the girls said. "My name is Sarah and this is Mary." The girl said again then pointed at the other girl beside her.
"Nice to meet you, Sarah and Mary. Please call me Arielle." Arielle said with a smile.
"Alright, Princess. We are wasting time, we need to get you ready now." Mary said, directing her to the bathroom.
"We'll take off your dress first, Princess." Sarah said.
"Ohh there would be no need for that. I can bathe myself. I appreciate your help though." Arielle said with a small smile.
Sarah was about to retort but Mary pulled her outside the bathroom. "Okay. Please hurry up, Princess." Mary said as she closed the bathroom door.
•••••
Arielle stared at her reflection in the mirror, she was wearing a long robe, and underneath was a short black dress. Sarah applied makeup on her and Mary styled her hair.
"You have beautiful hair, Princess." Mary commented while styling her hair.
"Thank you, Mary."
"Which do you prefer, Princess? The red dress or the green dress?" Sarah asked as she raised the clothes for Arielle to have a better look.
The red gown was a bit complicated, according to Arielle. It was a long off-shoulder gown with intricate gold embroidery and delicate lace trim. The corseted bodice was adorned with sparkling beads, adding a touch of luxury to the overall design.
The green dress, on the other hand, was simpler yet elegant. It was a knee-length gown, with the neckline high and round.
Arielle pointed at the green gown, as it was simple and she didn't like wearing gowns that much.
"Excellent choice, Princess. The green gown complements your eyes." Mary said with a smile.
Minutes after, Arielle was ready.
Sarah and Mary opened the door of her room and led her to the dining room.
Arielle got to the dining room where she saw her parents, King Adrian, and his men with other royals already seated. All her eyes turned to her immediately after she entered the room and she wanted to just disappear because she hated this attention.
King William was the last person to enter the dining room and then they started eating when the King gave the go-ahead.
Soon enough, breakfast was done with and it was time for a new journey.
Arielle saw Anna and Belle along with their parents saying their goodbyes.
"Ari dear." Victoria called out to her daughter. She did a lot of thinking last night and still could not come to terms with her precious daughter leaving for an unknown kingdom.
"Why are you standing there?" Victoria asked.
Arielle smiled and went to hug her mother. Victoria returned the hug. "Don't worry about us, dear. You can still send us letters right?" She said as she released both of them from the hug.
"Don't cry, my dear." Victoria wiped the tears away from Arielle's eyes.
Arielle nodded, although her tears were gone but the rim of her eyes was still red.
"Don't I deserve a hug, big sister?" Natalie said with a smile.
"Of course you do, Nat. Come on in." Arielle said and stretched her arms wide to welcome the hug of her little sister.
Natalie hugged her tightly and she also began to cry. "I will miss you, Ari." She said when they released themselves.
"I will miss you too, Nat." Arielle said with a smile as she tried to hold back her tears. "Come on, big girls do not cry." She laughed as she wiped Nat's tears with her palm. "You'll always be my sister, don't you forget that, alright?"
Arielle knew Natalie like the back of her palm and she knew what she had been thinking just by looking at her.
Natalie froze at Arielle's words and then she smiled and nodded, crying again.
"I won't be getting a hug?" Arielle heard the voice of her dad behind her and turned to him to hug him.
"Of course not, Dad." Edmund returned the hug tightly and pulled back to kiss the crown of her head.
"Do well to write us letters, alright? At least once a month." Edmund said holding back his tears.
"Alright, Dad." Arielle nodded.
"I packed your trousers and shirts, Ari. I know you don't like gowns and it would be more convenient during the journey also I heard the North Kingdom is the coldest and I packed thick sweaters." Victoria whispered to Arielle.
"Thank you, mum. You're the best!" Arielle said and hugged her mother.
"Please take care of yourselves over there, okay?" Mrs. Simmons said to the girls.
"Don't worry mum." Belle replied to her mother.
Anna and Belle climbed into the carriage but as Arielle was about to climb into the carriage, she was stopped by a hand. She turned back and saw that it was the King.
"I know we've only met for just a day and I'm sad you're leaving before I can get to know you. Please do well to write to me and take care of yourself, alright?" King William said trying his hardest to hold his tears in.
Arielle reached out to hold his hands, "Alright, father." She replied with a smile.
King William was stunned and the tears he fought to hold in came rolling down. He smiled and pulled Arielle into a hug.
Arielle climbed into the carriage afterward and waved at her parents from the window. Belle and Anna did the same thing.
King Adrian and his men climbed their horses. The coachman who was one of King Adrian's men started the carriage and their jot began.
••••
Emma stood behind a tree as she watched the carriage roll out of the castle's grounds. The rim of her eyes was red and she clenched her fists.