WHAT SAY YOU?

CHAPTER 4: WHAT SAY YOU?

RAYA'S POV.

Releasing Jamey's hand, the Alpha King took me by the hand and drew me close to himself, looking right into her eyes. My eyes were widened as we locked gaze for a while. 

My heart fluttered. The person I loved in secret for the past ten years - Jamey, never made me feel this way. 

I suddenly felt a reaction in me, and the King furrowed his brow as he looked at me. 

"Your eyes - they've turned blue," he said, revealing what I couldn't see. True to what he said, I felt my wolf which was long silenced awakening for the first time after the night of her first shift. 

The surprise of the the people who knew me was palpable in the air. 

"Your Majesty. You can't be serious, right? Raya is just a lowly omega, unworthy of such bestowment," Victoria dared to say, but was nervous. 

King Barakar turned, glaring at her, his golden eyes evident with fury. The atmosphere got really tense for Victoria.

"You dare lecture me on what I can and cannot do?!" King Barakar's voice thundered, as he growled. Victoria quivered, and fell to her knees in fright. 

"Your Majesty, please forgive my wife for talking out of turn. She is unschooled in the mannerism required when addressing a man of your caliber. Please, forgive her," Jamey pleaded.

"No more shall she be regarded any less than I esteem her. Anyone who does so will have their head on a pike," King Barakar declared and they all bowed in acknowledgment.

I still couldn't wrap my head around what was happening. This was the total opposite of what I feared. 

"Well then. You were about treating us to some delicacies, weren't you, young Alpha?" 

"Y- Yes, Your Majesty," Jamey stuttered, forcing a smile. "This way, please."

He led King Barakar, myself, and the King's retinue into the palace. The elders, Priestess, and all the lords of Ravenhill followed as well. 

Looking back, I saw Victoria sulking as she got up and followed behind. She found what was happening unbelievable and beyond her comprehension. It was beyond everyone's comprehension, even for the Alpha King's retinue. 

Word quickly spread like wild fire about what happened, and the city was abuzz. Both the werewolves and humans who witnessed it bore the tale, to the amazement of some, and disbelief of others, raising speculations. 

Meanwhile, in the palace, I found herself in the great hall - the same place I got rejected and utterly embarrassed the previous night, dining with the same people who shattered my heart. But this time, I was untouchable.

My father who had not been present with the rest that received the Alpha King later joined them as they had just began eating. He was stunned to find his so-called good-for-nothing daughter seated beside the Alpha King himself.

Sighting him, I looked away fuming. I hadn't had a taste of anything since they began eating. Infact, everyone at the table aside the King barely tasted what they were served. 

King Barakar noticed the exchange between the two of us and could tell who he was. My father then walked toward the King, but was stopped a few meters away from the King by his soldiers.

"Your Majesty," he bowed.

King Barakar ignored him. Embarrassed, he walked away and sat at the table, being a beta and the Advisor of the former Alpha of the Greyhound pack.

"I thought I was coming to meet an atmosphere of celebration. Why do I see the contrary?" King Barakar asked.

Jamey, Victoria, and the council of elders of Ravenhill couldn't answer, afraid of saying something that would upset the King. Thy all threw glances at each other. 

"Um, Your Majesty, if it pleases you, I'd like to take you on a tour of our mill. I believe you haven't seen it after it was refurbished six years ago," Jamey humbly requested. King Barakar nodded in acknowledgment. He wiped his mouth and got up and turned to me, offering me a hand. 

I cracked a nervous smile, took the King's hand and stood up. Just as our hands made contact, I felt a surge of electricity in my body and a deep connection to the King that words couldn't describe.

It was the mate bond. That was the most vivid confirmation that my wolf had awakened.

Victoria sulked, infuriated seeing how we looked at each other. 

"Please, this way," Jamey requested. Then myself and the Alpha King followed him. I walked beside the King. I felt safe and protected in his presence - what I never experienced when I was around Jamey. 

Jamey talked to the King as they walked, explaining a couple of things, while the King simply nodded. Jamey did good job covering how he actually felt about me being there with them. But not Victoria.

Following behind them, all Victoria could do was glare hatefully at me, but she was totally unable to do anything about it. 

The path they took was cleared as soldiers were positioned at various intervals. Citizens of Ravenhill scrambled and struggled to get a peek at the King to confirm what they heard. And true to it, they saw me with the King.

Seeing I dressed differently like a member of the Iron Claw Pack would, they drew conclusions. 

I looked around and saw how some of them whispered among themselves, throwing glances at me. 

Arriving at the mill, King Barakar was impressed at what he saw. 

"Your father was quite a visionary. I truly respected him," he said. 

"That respect should have been extended even after his death, Your Majesty," Jamey said, looking forward. King Barakar acted as though nothing was said. So Jamey pressed on.

"He was your distant cousin, and yet His Majesty didn't see it fit to honor him one last time," Jamey dared to say. Still, the King was expressionless. 

"He was killed just after his visit to the Iron Den, and had a discussion with you - a discussion no one else knows what it was about, but just the two of you. Yet, you were absent at his funeral, Your Majesty." 

"And despite that, we have not stopped fulfilling our obligations to Winterhill, Your Majesty." 

King Barakar turned and looked at Jamey at this point, but was stoic. I noticed he was a hard man to read. 

"What exactly are you getting at, young Alpha?" 

"I'm just curious as to why," Jamey shrugged. The Alpha King's eyes peered at Jamey as he stood towering over Jamey. 

"Whatever transpired before your father's unfortunate demise shall remain as it is. And Ravenhill shall keep on fulfilling its obligations, not missing a month of supply to the Iron Den!" 

Jamey gulped, seeing how serious the King had gotten. 

"Forgive me, Your Majesty," Jamey bowed. 

"It has been a pleasure visiting Ravenhill," King Barakar declared. "And congratulations once again, young Alpha. Have your men come take my gift to you." 

"I am greatly honored, Your Majesty," Jamey bowed. King Barakar turned and took my hand again, leading me away.

"But, Your Majesty," Jamey stepped in front of him. "You're not serious about what you said earlier, right?" 

"And what would that be?" the King asked lackadaisically. 

"H- Her," Jamey said, gulping. All the leaders of Ravenhill were tensed as well.

"Raya shall be with me at the Iron Den. She is my mate," he replied, to the surprise of everyone once again.

"Except she chooses otherwise," he added, then looked at me. "What say you, Raya? Do you accept me as your mate?"

All eyes were on me at this point. I got a bit nervous as everyone looked expectantly at me. 

"Yes. I accept you as my mate," I answered, mustering some courage. 

Victoria boiled with rage, the others sulked. Except the Priestess, who sighed in relief.