XAVIER IS DYING

Xavier is Dying: 27

Chapter 27:

Xander's POV:

Bella and I walked along the halls back to the ball room, both of us giddy with excitement of her news.

"Wait!" Bella yelled before the guards opened the door to allow us back in the ballroom.

I turned to her, confused to her sudden mood change when I saw her staring at the top of my head. She had the most concentrated look on her face as she pointed for me to lower my height. Not questioning it, I crouched down so we were eye level.

"There. Can't have you looking a mess." Bella said as she fixed my squint crown.

"You are very right there, my dear. By the way, you really need to finish cooking that chocolate cake of yours in the royal kitchen soon." I mentioned as the last time she was here at the castle popped into my mind.

"Xaiv, sorry, Xander... you will end up looking round as a balloon by the time I'm finished cooking in that royal kitchen." Bella replied, glee radiating from her.

"Seems a fair deal. Now let's get back to this party before a search party is conducted." I told Bella to which she agreed.

I signalled to the guard to open the ball room doors, which they did, letting the music switch from a faint vibration to full swing songs.

Offering my arm to Bella like I was taught in training, she hooked her arm around mine gracefully and followed my lead into the room.

"You know, I could get used to this whole gentleman thing." She joked.

"Oh shush." I joked back.

Bella smiled up at me as if time were never lost before going to join Ricky and the others. Zac was busy with Aries who looked like he was going to lose it (I made a mental note to save him later), Ricky and Bella were now peacefully loved up with Ricky offering to dance and Dante stood there awkwardly staring down at his drink.

Approaching Dante, he glanced up from his drink, nerves running through his body.

"The king, huh. Guess I can't call you baby brother anymore." Dante chucked lightly.

"You always can." I smiled before embracing him in a long awaited hug.

"Sounds silly to say now but I'm really glad you're alive." Dante whispered in my ear.

"Me too." I whispered back before we separated.

There was a few seconds of silence before I realised a rather large elephant in the room.

"Um, Where's your mate?" I asked him, confusion filling my brain.

"Well, not everyone is as lucky as you little brother, I've not found her... or him maybe, you never know after seeing you and Aries." Dante drifted off before meeting my gaze again.

"Oh, well hopefully soon you will." I replied, not pressing further into the obviously sensitive subject.

"King, sir, Xander. May I borrow you for a moment to discuss the pack borders." An alpha explained, tapping my shoulder.

I turned to realise it was the red moon pack alpha who tried to pawn his daughter off on me the last ball.

"May I ask that all affairs be dealt with at the up and coming meetings or we can arrange a private meeting perhaps at a more convenient time?" I tried to explain nicely, gesturing to the ball around us.

"Of course your majesty, but..." And just like that I was whisked into work.

It would be another hour before I saw any of the blue moon pack again, including Aries. When I finally caught up to them again after untangling myself from the business element of tonight, I realise Zac and Aries were actually getting along.

"And then, oh you'll laugh at this, he just face planted the coach!" Zac exclaimed to which Aries burst out laughing.

"What are you guys talking about?" I asked them both knowing fine well what they were discussing.

"Oh just how you were a golden prince at training and Coach James would get his ass whipped by you. He's lucky you didn't finish your training." Zac rambled on as I rolled my eyes in amusement.

"Your highness, the queen requests the ball to finish." A guard told me subtly.

Nodding my head at my mothers wishes, I made a parting speech and wrapped the ball up for the evening. Mother hadn't made her presence known tonight as she was still grieving too much from the death of her mate. She would be okay in time but until then all affairs were on me.

I began saying goodbyes at the door and accepting the sincere regrets of those hearing my father passed. This had to be the most difficult part of the night as my once distracted mind fell back onto the topic I'd been avoiding all night.

My fathers passing.

By the time everyone was out the door I was ready to head to my room and get out of these constricting clothes.

"So, that's it huh." Bella said as her, Ricky and Dante appeared.

"What do you mean, that's it?" I asked her confused.

"Well, you're king Xander, I don't imagine you'll be around much." Bella explained, defeated.

"Bella, I'll be honest. I'm not sure how it's going to work but it definitely won't be the way you're thinking. Aries has his duties and I have mine, I'll be dividing my time up between the red moon pack and the castle."

At this, she brightened up more and gave me a hug goodbye. Just before she let go she whispered something:

"You'll always be my Xaiv, King or not."

I smiled down at her before they parted themselves to head back home.

"I guess I'll be off too, I have some more training to complete up at the grounds." Zac sighed, preparing to go too.

"You'll get there." I told him confidently.

"Eventually!" He sighed being dramatic as ever before wishing his goodbyes and leaving himself.

Maids had already began cleaning the mess in the ballroom so I began heading upstairs, looking for Aries. I ended up finding him in my room, sprawled out on my large king size bed. He noticed me come in and sat up as I closed the door and took my suit jacket off.

"I'm enjoying the view." Aries mumbled jokingly as I pulled my shirt off but I could tell he wasn't joking anymore as he visibly gulped.

Smirking a little, I chose to ignore his blushing and put a white t-shirt on along with some shorts for bed.

"I guess I best be off." Aries stated, hoping up from the bed once I was dressed.

"Off? where?" I asked him confused.

"To the guest room, I told you, I won't put myself in a position where I might do something you regret." Aries sighed, looking at me.

He looked so torn, I could tell he wanted nothing more than to just stay here with me.

"Aries, you're sleeping in here." I told him firmly, locking the door to prove a point.

"But-"

"I don't want to hear it. I'll regret if I let you walk out that door." I told him.

He kept his mouth shut but I could tell I won this dispute as he began getting ready for bed himself. I hadn't thought as far as him stripping to his boxers and crawling into bed leaving little to the imagination.

I could already tell, this is going to be a long night.