3. The Letter

I stood on my balcony and the wind gently blew through my long blonde hair. The silk shawl that was covering my arms didn’t really warm me up but it’s better than wearing only my night dress outside.

I looked up at the stars before I let out a soft sigh. I wonder what it is like to be in love, lady Iris always brags about the way my brother makes her feel, but I think that the description differs from the feeling. Emotions are difficult to define and the emotions that I have experienced were extremely powerful.

So, I suppose a mate’s love must be the most powerful of them all.

I spotted a bright light heading in the direction of our house and I gasped in realization. I immediately went back inside my bedroom I grabbed one of the candles in my bedroom before I made my way downstairs.

The front door of our house opened and in it stood my father, his coachman, and Mrs Cordelia. They were held up in a conversation, so I placed my candle down on the tabletop before I ran over to my father. He smiled when he saw me then he pulled me into a tight hug. Father was gone for a year; the last time I saw him I was seven and ten years old but he’s back now and that’s all that matters.

“Mia, why are you up this late? I thought you would be asleep by now.” Father said before he placed a kiss on top of my head, and I smiled before I linked my arm with his.

“I couldn’t sleep,” I said shortly, and Father smiled down at me.

“How about I prepare a cup of hot chocolate for you but only if you promise to not tell anyone about my arrival,” Father said, and I frowned lightly. This sounds like a bribe because oh, how I love chocolate.

“I want to surprise your mother in the morning,” Father said, and I smiled broadly.

“In that case, I promise to not tell a soul,” I told Father and he smiled at me before we made our way into the kitchen.

“You do not mind filling me in on what has been going on here at house Arcadius while I was gone do you?” Father asked me and I sat down on a stool beside the fireplace in the kitchen.

“I do not mind it at all, Father,” I said and he ruffled my hair up and I frowned at him before he grabbed two mugs from the left cupboard.

“I beg your pardon, love. Sometimes your father forgets that you are no longer a child.” Father said before he attempted to fix my hair and I smiled at him.

“Speaking of which, you are soon to meet your mate. I am sure that your mother has informed you of this.” Father said and I simply nodded at him.

“According to Mother he is rich and scary,” I said, and Father smiled at my words.

“Your mother is right, Eros is a complicated man, difficult to understand. But every man is different around his mate. And an interesting fact about your mate is that our pack is his first alliance because alliances are not something that he believes in.” My father said and I frowned lightly.

“Whatever do you mean, father why would he go against his beliefs?” I asked curiously as Father started heating some milk on the fire.

“The reason is because you are his mate, Mia. And that is the only reason why he has an alliance with us.” Father explained and I noticed the way he said the last sentence.

If I am to mess up this meeting with my mate, I might break the alliance between our two packs. I don’t want to mess it up but how does one even act around one’s mate?

Perhaps Mother would know. She has been married to Father for thirty years, so she must know. Perhaps I should ask her tomorrow morning.

“Onto more important matters how have things been going in my absence?” Father asked and I pressed my lips together. Father placed a cup of hot chocolate down in front of me and I thanked him before I picked the cup up into my hands.

I started telling Father about everything that has happened since he left but I left the part about Zion and Miss Charles out as well as the whole moonstone ordeal. Because the last thing I would want is for Father to go to bed angry. Besides Mother will surely inform him tomorrow.

Once Father and I were done conversating and drinking our hot chocolate he offered to escort me back to my quarters. When we finally reached my chambers, I hugged Father one last time and he placed a kiss on top of my head before I entered my bedroom.

I walked over to my bed before I sat cross-legged in the center of my blankets. I can already feel the difference in house Arcadius now that Father has returned. Perhaps he has been gone for too long.

I covered myself with my blankets before I slowly drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, I was woken up by Miss Laurel. She had started a fire in the far-left corner of the room to warm up my chambers and I thanked her for it. I carefully climbed out of my bed before I made my way into my washroom. I stripped out of my night dress before I climbed into the warm bath that was already run for me.

I laid down in my bathtub before I stared up at the ceiling. I listened to Miss Laurel’s soft footsteps before she sat down at the edge of the bathtub.

“A letter was sent to you this morning by a certain Alcander of the North.” Miss Laurel said, and I frowned lightly because I do not know anyone named Alcander.

“Please bring it down to the living area when we are done here,” I told Miss Laurel then I quickly washed up before I stepped out of the bathtub.

“I am also to inform you of your father’s return my lady.” Miss Laurel said, and I just smiled at her. I got dressed and with the help of Miss Laurel, my corset was fixed to perfection. I wore a light purple gown which was made from the finest of silk that our beautiful country could produce.

Miss Laurel gently brushed my hair and I decided to wear it down as I mostly do. I applied some cherry-flavored lip oil to my lips before I slipped my feet into my black slippers. I left my bedroom before I went downstairs for breakfast.

Once breakfast was over, I hastily made my way over to the living area. And when I got there the door was opened for me by Miss Laurel.

“The letter is next to your books, my lady.” She said and I nodded at her before I entered the room. My eyes landed on my father, and I smiled broadly.

“Father!” I yelled in excitement before I ran over to him, and he got up from his chair to spin me around in the air.

“My beautiful little girl,” Father said while he gently brushed over my hair with his hand.  He pulled back from me to look at me before he hugged me tightly.

“Sit down, love,” Father said, and I curtsied before Mother and Zion before I sat down on my usual chair. I grabbed the letter that was lying beside my books before I frowned lightly.

“You received a letter, sweetheart?” Mother asked as I was about to open the letter.

“Any potential suitors?” Zion asked teasingly with a corner of a smile on his face, and I blushed at his words.

“Mia has already found her mate,” Father told Zion in a harsh tone and Zion clenched his jaw.

“I have indeed received a letter thank you for asking,” I told Mother and she stared deeply into my eyes.

“Well go on then, read it aloud.” Mother said and my eyes widened for a brief second. Goddess, please do not let this be a letter from a suitor. I nodded at Mother before opening the letter.

“Dearest Mia,” I started softly before I cleared my throat. “You might not know me, but perhaps you have heard my name. I am Alcander Gartreides, son of Draven Gartreides the werewolf king. I am the prince of the north and all werewolves.” I read and both Mother and Father seemed to be in shock whilst Zion just seemed amused at my words.

“I am inviting you to the palace for a luncheon with me. I have a proposal for you. And your presence would be highly appreciated. You do not need to respond to my letter, just show up at the palace at noon on the next full moon. Yours truly, alpha Alcander.” I read before neatly folding the letter and placing it back inside the envelope it came in.

“The werewolf prince.” Mother said before she let out a loud gasp. “The werewolf prince wants to be a suitor for my Mia, and he wants to propose. The heir to the throne wants to propose to my daughter. Egad, wherever did he hear of you?” Mother asked me.

“This is just fascinating,” Father said, and my heart started thumping faster in my chest.

“I thought my sister was already spoken for. By her mate.” Zion said and both Mother and Father glared over at him.

“Seems like it was a potential suitor after all,” Zion told me with a clean smirk on his face.

“Never you mind, Zion. Your sister simply cannot ignore a luncheon with the prince. However, will she face him at the alpha conference?” Mother asked Zion.

“No Mother, by doing this how will she face her mate at the alpha conference?” Zion asked and Mother helplessly looked over at Father.

“Your mother is right, Zion. We want to be in the king’s good graces. Mia, you are to meet the prince, and tomorrow you will travel to the north and you; Zion will be her escort.” Father said and I started feeling nauseous. I do not know how I am to act around my mate now I must figure out how I am supposed to act around the prince.

“What does Mia have to say about this, are you satisfied with these- arrangements?” Zion asked me.

“Of course, she is, she will be doing this one good deed for house Arcadius. Our family name depends on this.” Mother said and Zion glared at her.

“Is that right, love?” Zion asked me and I nodded at him.

“Of course, brother. For house Arcadius.” I said with a forced smile on my face. I guess I will be meeting the prince on the next full moon.