3

Arthur’s POV

We reached the city at the break of dawn. Echo was still sleeping, and Nanna Avery was preparing Echo’s lunchbox. The principal of Oaklands Kindergarten informed me that my son would start there as his application was successful.

“What’s your next step Arthur?” she asks. We were in the kitchen. My penthouse was open space. Which means everything was interlinked with each other. The kitchen was linked with the dining room. Through the passage where two bedrooms and a bathroom. Mine and Echo’s. Both the rooms had bathrooms of their own, and small study desks in each room.

“My next step is find out who killed my guards and make him or her pay.” I reply.

“I don’t mean that,” She sighs. “I’m taking about the alliance. What are going to tell the counsel?”

“Nothing.” I open the fridge and take out bottled water.

“What do you mean nothing? You answer to the counsel Arthur. That’s what keeps the peace. Echo going to the other pack’s school. That was the alliance that was formed all those years ago. Are you ready to jeopardise that? Your father-,”

“Don’t mention him in front of me.” I open the bottle and start taking big gulps of the water to cool myself down. “He verdicted for my wife to be executed. The moment he did that, he wasn’t worthy to be called my father.” I continue.

“He is the one of the elders. He swore to protect the three kingdoms. That came with him being one of the elders.” she reasons.

“That’s no excuse and you know it. And you,” I finally look at her, “Your ex-husband sat there and let them execute her like she was actually guilty of what she was being accused of.” She immediately slaps me.

“Don’t you dare bring my personal life into yours boy. This has nothing to do with me, nor Alpha Claudius and you know it.” She was angry. Although she was human, I could feel her energy. “What you doing will start a war Arthur, and its best you stop it before it starts.”

“But they are provoking me.” I tried explaining it to her so she could understand things from my point of view. “They executed my wife in Windazare grounds, with the Elders backing them up, and now they break into my home, and kill my people and they still expect me to send my son to be trained by them like it’s the most normal thing in the world, does that sound right to you?” I vent out my anger, expressing my frustration to her.

“I know that this situation is conflicting to you, but you have to see the bigger picture her Grey.” She placed her small hands on my broad shoulders.

“Nanna, I am. Whatever I do, they will start a war, that much I know and have established earlier on based on their actions. And if that war starts, I need to know that you and Echo are safe. That is the only way I can fight for my people, knowing that you are out of harm’s way.” I smiled at her. She was shorter than me by a few inches, but I still could look down on her.

“Just be safe boy.” She whispered.

“I will nanna.” I utter, slowly caressing her cheeks.

“I’ll get Echo ready.” She informs me, leaving me alone in the kitchen. I also take my queue and go change. Within minutes I am done, and I go back to the dining room to finalise a few things before I get to work. Today I have to attend the annual financial meeting, and everything has to be perfect.

Echo comes out wearing a three-piece navy suit with black loafers carrying a black bag. He greets me with a smile, and I kiss him on his head. I pack my laptop bag, and we bid nanna goodbye and we leave. We take Echo’s favourite car, Mercedes Benz G-wagon as it’s his first day of school and he gets to pick whichever car fancies him.

The ride is quiet, yet comfortable as I am not much of a talker as so is my son.  But I think he isn’t a very lively kid. He keeps to himself mostly, and only gets hyper in front of people who make him feel comfortable. So going to a new school, in a different city, having to deal with humans would be a new experience for him, which I hope, would be one that he appreciates.

It’s not that we don’t have humans in Aquarius Waters Pack, but the humans in our pack know what a werewolf is, and they understand what goes on, but a human who knows nothing about us and our world is a whole different story. But I know that he will be able to handle it.

We reach the school, and I am told we would have a short meeting in the hall, afterwards, we can leave. Suddenly, my senses start to act weird. And when I say weird, I mean, I start feeling the same way I felt when I met Accalia.

I halted for a second. I then smell a very sweet, yet minty scent. It smells like lavender and vanilla cake with melted mint chocolate. My hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and my hands start to tingle.

I turn to see if I can track the scent, but it’s still faint, yet constant.

“What’s happening?” I ask Ares.

“I don’t know.” He replies.

“But you also feeling what I feel right now right?” I continue, still looking around,but going to my assigned seat at the same time.

“Yes.” He is also anxious. I can hear it in his voice.

“What should we do?” I ask, suddenly feeling nervous. This can’t be happening. Why would it be happening?

“Just calm down and play it by ear. We will see what happens.” He encourages me.

“You okay daddy?” Echo mutters, pulling my hand, bringing me back to the hall.

I look down at him, and realize I was a bit disoriented for a second.

“Yeah, I’m good son.” I catch my breath, as I sit down. Parents start to enter the hall with their kids, and the bell rings for everyone to take their seats.

When I looked at the podium, I could feel my eyes glowing a golden shade.

I see on the poduim walk up, the most breath-taking human creature of all times. She has dark chocolate flawless skin, platinum hair that is in a low bun. She has thin lips, and long thin fingers.

Her body is petite, yet ravishing. She is wearing a power pink skirt with a white shirt, and a white doctor’s coat, with white shiny heels. But what caught me off guard was her scent. She was everything I’d ever want in a scent.

 Hers was intoxicating. Sweet, yet soothing. Refreshing, yet comforting. She smelt like everything I would ever want in a home.

“Mate.” Ares mutters, confirming everything that I could ever want, but not have.

***