The Cruel Prince of Wolves

22

"Your highness." Bellona made a deep bow as she burst through the door. From the tension on her voice and body, Val could tell she brought bad news."

He dropped the map he'd been studying in favor of the wolf general. "What is it?"

"There was a large package that was dropped by the front gate." She reported.

"Have the courier take care of it!" He barked irately. He doesn't have time for interruptions.

"It is very important, your highness. It needs your attention as soon as possible."

Then all blood from Val drained from realization, his knees buckled and stumbled. He had to catch himself on the table to avoid toppling on the floor. He prayed to the goddess Luna that it's not what he was dreading about.

Bellona rose and rushed to Val for support. "You're highness? Are you alright?"

Val was far from alright. He had been a breathing meat of stress and anxiety the past couple of days. Why does it take so slow to make something happen? Lucian has taken off in search of a witch or warlock that would be willing enough to help them while Renin was scouring the library for written accounts of travel to the underworld. So far, they've found one but it's in the middle of the ocean on the other side of the world.

"I'm fine." He waved a hand. "Tell me what's going on."

"A package was delivered at the front gate addressed to you, your highness. I think you may want to see it for yourself."

Val stepped out of his office trailed by Bellona at his side. He could already scent the stink of turmoil and despair in the halls. The palace has been in tumult ever since the princess disappearance, everyone was scared and Val's mood didn't help either. Servants scattered away in fear and guardsmen were unusually watchful. Val had a reputation of letting his temper get the best of him. He turned to a corner and to another down the halls and out the main palace to the courtyard leading to the gate house. It took a good long fifteen minutes of racing footsteps, nearly jogging to get from the main palace to the gate house that by the time he reached the area, sweat trickled down his temples and his breathing ragged. He soon ran into Renin who somehow made it to the post before him. Val noted his brother looked pale and distressed, leaning on the stone wall swallowing half breaths and wiping his mouth with his sleeves. Val thought it was odd because he should've been in the library. "What's the matter, Renin? Are you sick?"

When Renin turned to see Val, he knew he had to try and stop him. He pushed away from the wall and staggered towards Val throwing himself at him. He wrapped his brother in an arm lock. "You don't want to go see what's in there, brother."

Val stopped, irritation in the line of his brows. "You must be drunk. How much did you have to drink?"

"I have not had a drink at all in days, Val. Trust me, please. Don't go in that room."

But the begging made Val even more determined. He didn't like the way Renin prevented him from getting to the room. It made him scared and nervous only fueling his fear. He pushed Renin away breaking his hold on him with ease, with help of his alpha strength, it made him much stronger than his younger brother. Renin fell back, he was already disoriented from throwing up, he tried to steady himself but Val was already way ahead on his way to the gate house.

Val soon noticed a stronger scent of post mortem blood. His heart pounded harder on his chest, he begged Luna again, praying that he was wrong. His strides got wider and quicker and he found himself running to get as fast as he could to her. When he finally reached the gate house, he slammed the door open and was immediately assaulted by the sight of a mutilated body laying on the table like torn pieces of a doll. He recoiled at all the sudden senses assaulting him at once. The strong smell of blood, the beginning of rot, and the unmistakable scent of death. His empty stomach came up at once, throwing up on the floor before he could swallow a breath. And as if his sanity left him, he screamed and screamed Ramona's name like calling her could bring her back to him.