Four

Matteo

"Why, all of a sudden, Your Highness, are you proposing the idea of organizing a friendly fight tournament?" inquired Alpha Daniel, his expression filled with confusion.

"I've been a part of the pack for months now, and I'm interested in observing the growth in strength among the pack members," I explained. "The king tasked me with reporting on the pack's abilities. He wants to ensure that everyone is capable of defending themselves when the need arises," I added, aiming to dispel any suspicions he might harbor.

"I understand. I take pride in noting that everyone is putting in their best effort, and we regularly conduct training sessions for all. When do you intend to schedule the tournament?"

"How about a week from now?" I responded.

"That works for me," he replied, and a sense of satisfaction filled me.

"I prefer to make the announcement personally, so I'll head to the pack school," I declared, rising from my seat and glancing at Calvin. He nodded and gestured towards the door.

"Before I join you, I'll instruct my beta and gamma to make the necessary preparations for the event," Alpha Daniel informed me, and I followed Calvin to the door.

"Since it's just a simple tournament, keep the preparations modest," I reminded him. He nodded, and together, we headed to school.

As we made our way to the locker area, we unexpectedly encountered Eunice. "There you are; I've been looking for you," she said, a smile on her face.

"I don't recall inviting you here. Why are you present?" I inquired.

"As your future mate, I believe it's my duty to be wherever you are and assist you in whatever you need," she replied. At that moment, I regretted becoming entangled with her more than ever.

"Don't hold onto false hope, Eunice. You know my stance regarding my mate. I'll wait for her," I asserted.

"Why wait for someone uncertain to come?" she asked, attempting to conceal her frustration.

"He has already arrived; I just missed him," I replied.

"Are you certain about what you sensed? For all we know, she could already be deceased," she responded, provoking my anger, leading to a growl escaping me.

"I apologize; I was merely suggesting that there's a possibility that—"

"Shut the f*** up! I know she's alive and calling for me. If you wish to keep your tongue, you better keep it in check," I warned her. I noticed fear in her eyes, but then she smiled. "Fine, if you want to wait for her, go ahead. While she's not here, let me make you happy." She said that and began walking with us, wrapping her arms around mine.

As we turned, I spotted the future beta with the she-wolf who had no discernible scent. They appeared joyful, teasing each other, and I sensed her tension. Could she smell me?

Throughout our conversation, she kept her head down, her eyes concealed. Such behavior was expected, given that I am the Lycan prince and their future king; I saw no issue with it.

The future beta spoke on her behalf most of the time, and I assumed they were intimately connected. Pondering this, I heard my Lycan continuously growling in my mind.

"I sustain the conversation to keep her in my sight. Suddenly, I sense her anger. She mentioned recalling something, and the future beta clarified that she had been bullied for not having her wolf.

Eunice did not contribute positively when she spoke, prompting my Lycan's desire to harm her. He would have acted on it if I hadn't intervened.

As they still had class, the future beta excused themselves to head to their classroom. While they walked away, I observed her resting her head on his chest. Using my Lycan hearing, I caught her expressing gratitude to him.

In that moment, I wished to be in the future beta's position, wanting to console and comfort her personally. We visited different classes to check on things and announce the tournament. My thoughts returned to Freya, and my Lycan purred. What's going on?

This was a behavior he had never exhibited in our 83 years together, and no Lycan or she-wolf had influenced him in this way. What significance does Freya hold for us?

Calvin and I, along with Eunice and the other Lycans in our company, continued the class visits. I wondered where Freya's room was. Since she lacked a wolf, I assumed she wouldn't participate in the tournament due to its potential danger. Fighting someone with a wolf would be challenging for her.

Whenever I announced the tournament in each class, I could see the excitement in their eyes. However, I was disappointed in the future alpha. I pondered what would happen to Midnight Pack when he assumed the alpha role.

After leaving the room, Calvin expressed his concern, saying, "I don't think it's wise for Alpha Daniel to make his son the next Alpha. I can't see even a trace of authority in him, no matter how I look at him."

I completely agreed with him, having harbored these thoughts since our first encounter. Clay seemed a much better fit, but I doubted Alpha Daniel would allow him to take the position, even though he should, given his responsibilities as a caring alpha for his pack and its members.

"Why bother thinking about this pack? They are beneath us and should be our slaves," Eunice remarked afterward.

"I don't think you understand your purpose as a Lycan," I responded, trying to maintain my composure. "We're here to protect them and ensure their well-being. Our role is to guarantee their safety, not to enslave them. Keep that in mind, Eunice," I warned her. She lowered her head and remained silent.

Her words are only good for causing trouble. I wondered why I got involved with her.

"Because you're an idiot," my Lycan remarked. And yes, I suppose I am.

We returned to where we encountered Clay and Freya, recalling they were on a different path to their class. My Lycan grew excited at the thought, and I hurried to their room."

"I had heard that the class was livelier compared to others, piquing my curiosity. In an attempt to remain inconspicuous, I tried to conceal my presence, but the professor noticed me and offered a greeting. Freya's body stiffened, prompting me to wonder about the reason. As the other students turned to look at me, they respectfully lowered their heads, contrasting with Freya who kept hers down.

Although I entertained the idea of issuing a royal command to make her lift her head and meet my gaze, I refrained to avoid appearing arrogant. Instead, I inquired with the professor about the class's vibrant moments, only to be dissatisfied with his response.

While Freya's thoughts were occupied with Clay, my lycan instinctively disapproved. Despite my reluctance to voice it, the words slipped out: "Perhaps he was her mate." This sparked teasing from the entire class, which I found distasteful. Seeking clarity, I approached Clay, relieved by his response.

However, my satisfaction was short-lived as he revealed his affection for her, a sentiment shared by the future Gamma. Freya's continued avoidance, seemingly fixated on Clay, intensified my frustration. Eunice aggravated the situation with her comments, further fueling my anger and my lycan's animosity towards her, prompting a growl and a demand to remove her from the scene.

"I'm sorry, I was just saying..." Eunice began, but Calvin swiftly escorted her away, recognizing the imminent emergence of my lycan and wanting to avert any potential disturbance.

Declaring my presence, I addressed the class with an announcement of an upcoming friendly fight tournament within the pack. While encouraging participation, I couldn't help but notice Freya's persistently lowered head. This fueled my skepticism, suggesting she might be concealing something from me and others. Meanwhile, Clay and Alec expressed concern for her well-being, and her response hardened my resolve to address the bullying issue.

A week later, despite my excitement for the event, I couldn't shake the anticipation of confirming something that had occupied my thoughts for over a week. As I prepared for the event, Calvin approached me with unexpected news – Freya had decided to participate. The revelation left me astonished, considering how she would manage without her wolf."