Those words hit Vaelor like a knife. "Chosen Alpha?" he repeated bitterly.
"Yes," Elowen said. "You know your brother carries the strongest blood of our line, the packs recognize him, not you! And we must help him heal."
Vaelor slowly stood up. "And what about me? I trained with Father, led hunts, and stood beside him when he faced the northern packs. I never once asked for more than my place! But you defend him even now, when he spits on everything we are?" he said angrily.
Elowen said nothing, and Vaelor voice rose again. "Why do you always support him? Huh! Why is it always Caelan?" He screamed with bitterness and anger.
The queen looked away. "We are done with this conversation," she said coldly.
Vaelor stared at her, pain burning in his chest. "I see..." he nodded slowly, "You always run away from the truth." He turned and walked out of the chamber.
His steps were heavy as he moved through the palace halls with anger burning in his chest. As he turned a corner, he suddenly saw Arin walking toward him. She looked pale but still beautiful.
Vaelor quickly composed himself and walked toward her. "Arin."
She stopped and frowned slightly, then bowed. "Prince Vaelor."
He studied her face. "How are you holding up?"
She let out a short laugh. "Since when did you begin to care about me?"
"I always cared," he said quietly.
She rested her hands in front of her hanbok. "Really?"
"Yes," Vaelor replied. "You were the one who refused to see it."
Arin shook her head. "That is not true."
"It is," he insisted. "Even now you refuse to see what is right in front of you."
Her eyes hardened. "What do you mean?"
Vaelor stepped closer. "Caelan is pushing you away," he said softly. "Everyone can see it. Perhaps now you might consider someone who truly wants you."
Arin stared at him in disbelief. "Are you serious right now?"
"I have always cared for you," Vaelor said. "From the beginning."
Her expression turned cold. "Listen Vaelor, my heart only belongs to Caelan, and I will not allow you to use his sickness to manipulate me," she said firmly.
Vaelor clenched his fists. "He is not even treating you like his wife anymore."
"That does not matter," she replied. "I will always belong to him, and it is none of your business!" She spat and tried to walk away, but Vaelor grabbed her wrist, not hard, just enough to stop her. "Wait."
She yanked free. "Let go!" He let go, and she walked away.
Vaelor stood still in the hallway, for a moment, a memory flashed through his mind.
Years ago, three children ran through the palace garden. Young Arin laughing as she ran between two boys.
Little Vaelor had just chased away a group of wild wolves that had wandered near the garden gate. Arin hugged him tightly. "When I grow up, I will marry you," she said happily.
Young Caelan stood nearby, looking angry.
The memory faded instantly as he snapped back, then Vaelor slowly returned to the present.
His eyes grew darker. "Caelan will pay," he whispered. "For everything he stole from me."
--------------------------
Far away in another part of the palace, Adrian sat at a small table inside his chamber. Lady Selene sat across from him, she carefully poured tea into a cup and pushed it toward him. "Drink, Your Majesty."
Adrian felt strangely shy around her. "Thank you," he said awkwardly, he lifted the cup and took a small sip.
Selene watched him with a gentle smile. "I heard you had difficulty during your last turning."
Adrian looked embarrassed, and set the cup down. "Words travels fast here."
"The palace is full of whispers," she said softly.
"It was… strange," Adrian admitted. "My body started hurting, and it feels like it wants to tear itself apart, and I did not know what was happening."
Selene leaned slightly closer. "You simply need practice."
"Practice?" he repeated.
"Yes," she said. "Hunting helps control the wolf."
Adrian frowned. "Hunting?"
"Yes, and racing," she added. "Running through the forest helps the body accept the change, it wakes up what's sleeping inside you."
He looked confused. "This world keeps getting stranger, okay. Let's try."
Selene laughed lightly. "Come with me."
Before he could refuse, she stood up and led him outside the palace grounds. They left the palace grounds together, slipping past the outer gates into the thick woods that bordered the eastern hills. Selene shifted first, smooth, quick, a sleek black wolf with bright eyes. She looked back at him, tail wagging once, then took off. At first, Adrian struggled to keep up.
"Faster," she called, darting between trees.
He pushed himself harder. Suddenly a loud wolf cry echoed through the trees.
Adrian stopped instantly. "What was that?"
Selene smiled slightly. "It's nothing, you will get used to it."
But Adrian suddenly felt heat spreading through his body again. Pain twisted in his muscles, like bones grinding. He stumbled, dropped to his knees, and fur prickled along his arms. His teeth ached, wolf instincts rising. "Not again," he muttered, his breathing grew heavier.
Selene quickly stepped closer and grabbed his arm. "Relax," she whispered. "Focus on me, let it come."
He gasped, the pain peaked, then eased. Adrian looked at her gratefully. "Thank you."
Selene's eyes softened, and without warning, she leaned forward and kissed him. Adrian froze, his mind screamed that this was wrong, but the strange warmth of the wolf bond clouded his thoughts. Her hands slid into his hair, then the wolf inside him settled, purring.
Not far away, hidden behind a group of trees, Arin stood silently. Tears filled her eyes as she watched them.
Selene suddenly sensed another presence nearby, and she realized Arin was watching. Instead of pulling away, Selene deepened the kiss slightly. A small smile appeared on her lips.
Arin turned her back and ran away because she couldn't stand seeing her love kissing another woman both of them once hated.
"We need to return to the palace," Selene said after seeing the way Adrian was looking around, like someone who wanted to run away.
Adrian nodded and when they returned to the palace later, something felt wrong. Servants moved quickly through the halls with worried faces.
Adrian noticed the tension immediately. "What's wrong?" he asked. Selene stayed quiet beside him.
Before anyone could answer, Vaelor appeared from the corridor. "What else?" Vaelor said bitterly. "The clan is falling apart."
Adrian frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Famine's coming," Vaelor said flatly. "The food stores are nearly empty. If the pack starves, people will begin turning against each other or worse, by running to another pack and selling our secrets. The borders won't hold if the pack starves."
Adrian looked shocked. "Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Vaelor's eyes flicked to Selene. "Maybe because you've been busy with your little plaything instead of acting like a king."
Selene stiffened, her eyes flashed with anger. "Watch your mouth."
Adrian raised his hand slightly, stopping her. "Enough." He looked directly at Vaelor. "I'm the king, right?"
Vaelor laughed once, cold. "You tell me."
Adrian nodded slowly. "Then I order you to apologize to Lady Selene right now."
Vaelor stared at him for a moment, then he suddenly laughed. "You truly know nothing, or your brain is truly affected."
Adrian's expression hardened. "What did you mean?"
"She is a concubine, brother! Low-born and far below the royal bloodline," Vaelor said angrily. "She is far below my rank!"
Selene's face tightened, as she bowed her head instantly.
"I will not apologize to anyone below me," Vaelor continued. He stepped closer to Adrian. "And next time you try to insult me like this, brother, you will regret it." With that, he turned and walked away.
Adrian watched him leave, anger rising inside him, and Selene gently touched his arm. "Do not let him upset you," she said softly. "I will help you stabilize the pack."
Adrian nodded slowly. "Good," he said. "Then I want full reports about everything happening in the clan, bring it to my chamber." He walked straight into the palace, as Selene walked behind him.
That night, when the palace was quiet again, Selene quietly slipped out of her chamber. She walked through a hidden path behind the palace walls, as Dorthane waited in the shadows. "Well?" he asked.
Selene smiled slightly. "The king trusts me, now."
"And?"
"He's angry," she reported. "Vaelor pushed him hard today, and he ordered full reports on the pack's stores, borders, everything. He's starting to act like he cares."
Dorthane smiled thinly. "Good! Let him dig. The deeper he goes, the more mistakes he'll make."
Selene stepped closer. "And if he starts remembering? Because it's obvious he did not remember anything about the pack, or the throne, I guess he truly lost his memory."
"Then we end him quietly." Dorthane looked toward the palace lights. "The throne will be ours soon. One way or another."
Selene nodded and slipped back into the shadows.