As Benjamin made his way toward the retired alpha quarters to meet his father, he prepared himself for a dreadful conversation. The guards had informed him that his father had moved to the retired Alpha's quarters, and Benjamin couldn't help but wonder what that meant.He knew his father would be disappointed in him, and it pained him to think about it. The maids' gossip about Drakken's proposal to his mistress had been the talk of the pack, and Benjamin had overheard it all. The weight of the situation was not lost on him; he had failed his father's mission, and his mother would never return to the pack.On top of it all, he also came to hear about Eleanor being a werewolf. Everyone in the palace saw her transform. Benjamin couldn't decide yet if that surprised him more, or Drakken's proposal. Too many surprises at once . It was all too sudden. Just when he thought he was two steps ahead of Drakken, he did the most bizarre thing.His nerves got the best of him when he approached the

Drakken's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as he drove through the winding roads leading to the palace. His eyes were fixed on the road ahead, but his mind seemed to be elsewhere. Eleanor sat beside him in the passenger seat, her eyes darting between the passing scenery and Drakken's stoic face.Eleanor decided to speak after minutes of silence. "I'm sorry for your loss.""Loss? What loss?""You can't be like that. He was your father."Drakken's grip on the steering wheel loosened slightly, and he turned to Eleanor. "That's why I'm going to give him a befitting burial instead of leaving his corpse out in the woods for vultures to feast on, which I'm very much tempted to do."She shook her head with a sigh and looked back at the road. "I saw Benjamin on my way out of the cemetery."He furrowed his brow, lost in thought as he tried to process what Eleanor had just revealed. "How could he have known our father was dead and at the cemetery?"Eleanor shrugged. "Maybe the guards gav

Eleanor's mind was still reeling from the funeral on her way back to the palace. The somber atmosphere had weighed heavily on her, and the fact that Drakken had been distant only added to her feelings of sadness. She couldn't help but wonder what could be happening with him that he would ignore her during such a difficult time.Lost in her thoughts, she was startled when Benjamin appeared beside her."I heard you got engaged," he said to her. "You must feel so eager about being the next Luna Queen.""How did you know about that?" she asked him, curious as to how the news had spread so quickly."I heard it from the palace omegas," Benjamin replied with a smile. "Congratulations, by the way. It's quite an honor to be proposed to by the King himself."The thought of becoming Queen was daunting to her."I bet you wouldn't have chosen my brother over me if I was the alpha king instead."Eleanor sighed, knowing what was coming next. "Don't start.""You know I'm right. I would've treated you

Drakken paced nervously in his chambers, his mind racing with troubled thoughts. He had never imagined himself in this position - caught in his own game and made to do something under duress. Gwendolyn's threats had him backed into a corner, and he knew he had to adhere to her wishes if he wanted to avoid Eleanor hating him forever.Taking a deep breath, he strode towards the door, steeling himself for the meeting that was about to take place. He had called for a gathering of the elders to announce Gwendolyn as his bride, and he knew it would not go over well. But he had no other choice.As he entered the grand hall, all eyes turned to him. He could feel their scrutiny, their judgment. Clearing his throat, he spoke."I have called you here today to make an important announcement. I have decided to take Gwendolyn as my chosen mate."There was a stunned silence in the room. He continued. "I must ask for your support in this matter. With my parents no longer here, I would need an extra h

Eleanor couldn't believe what Gwen had just said. Her heart felt like it had sunk into her stomach. Drakken, the only man she had ever loved, could not have killed her family. It was impossible, but Gwen's words had left her feeling shaken."What are you talking about, Gwen?" Eleanor asked, trying to hide the fear in her voice."He killed your family," she repeated. "He's been lying to you."Eleanor laughed, thinking that Gwendolyn was bluffing. "You know that's impossible, Gwendolyn. Drakken would never do something like that.""You think you know him so well, but you don't. He's not the man you think he is."Eleanor shook her head, refusing to believe what Gwen was saying. "You're lying," she said, her voice trembling. "You're just trying to hurt me."Gwen thrust her shoulders forward, her face inches from Eleanor's. "Ask him yourself," she sneered. "Ask him if he killed your family. See what he says."Eleanor pushed Gwen away, feeling a sudden surge of anger. "I don't need to ask h