CHAPTER 3

KING THANE's POV

"Is it necessary to attend the banquet?" I asked my beta, Hermes.

"It's thrown in your honor. Kaden is throwing this banquet for you"

"He wants to get on my good side"

"You should attend. You've kept away from the people for a long time and I think this would be a way to show the people Grace you still care about them. Other Alphas will be in attendance"

"That makes me not want to go at all" I grumbled and Hermes sighed.

"It's just this one time. If you won't go then can we at least have a party here in the castle?"

"No" my answer was instant. I hated parties, especially after what had happened.

They all knew it. There was no way I would be throwing a party in the castle for any reason.

"The people are talking"

"It'll interest you to know that I do not give a fuck about what they have to say"

"They are your people"

"Enough with the talk Hermès. I have no interest in attending a banquet but if I happen to change my mind, I'll let you know" I snapped angrily at Hermes. He didn't take that as his sign to leave.

"The banquet is in a week. We need to inform them of our acceptance to attend. I know you don't  want to hear this but please, let the people see their king"

I thought about it while he stood there watching me. I had no reason to attend. I didn't want to. But he was right. I haven't been seeing my people lately. I haven't attended any parties or events in the last few years.

"Accept the invitation but make arrangements. We would not be spending a night there"

"Of course my lord. And Hannah? Will she be accompanying you?"

"No. I do not need her. She is to remain in her father's home until I send for her again"

"She..." Hermes started but decided against it and just bowed before leaving my office. I had an idea of what he was about to say. She would be disappointed that she wasn't attending it with me.

But she wasn't anyone to be attending a function outside the pack, standing by my side. People would get the wrong impression and make assumptions. That I was going to take her as a mate. Which was completely untrue.

I had no desire to take a mate. Not even the one given to me by the moon goddess. The idea of mates sounded like a trap to me. And the fact that women were selfish, having an interest in only what I could give them. What they could be if they were by my side. I had foolishly let down my guard when I was younger and I was taught a big lesson.

I had learned and knew not to trust them in their entirety. They were all the same after all. Hannah tried to act obedient and pretend to be the perfect woman to stay by my side but she couldn't fool me. She had not realized that yet.

Hermes only returned to inform me that he had sent the message across and that we would be traveling by the end of the week for the banquet. There wasn't much to prepare for our travel since I wouldn't be spending the night but the servants still fussed about much to my annoyance.

The day of our travel came and we set out, arriving at the pack after mid-day.

The pack was sizable. Not as big as the other packs surrounding the capital or the capital itself. But it was large for a pack that was still developing.

"My lord, welcome to the pack" he bowed in greeting and I grunted.

"It's a pleasure to have you here" his mate curtsied, fluttering her eyelashes at me and acting coy. It was disgusting. She was already mated, with her mate just beside her and she was trying to make advances at me. The last thing I would ever do would be to get involved with a mated female.

"When does it start?"

"The decorations will be finished in a shirt while now. We prepared a room for you so you can wait until it's ready"

I looked at Hermès with annoyance and he instantly stepped forward.

"How many hours are we talking about?"

"Two hours" I walked past Kaden and Hermes followed.

"I'm sorry. I must have mixed up the time" I glared at him and he didn't bother to say anything.

Two hours flew by and we were sited at the banquet. For the second time that day, I regretted listening to Hermes and coming here.

There was nothing interesting to see or do. Alphas who were in attendance kept coming to greet me and try to make conversation. Halfway through the boring festive, Kaden disappeared, and shortly after, his mate followed him.

"I think it's time to leave," I said to Hermes.

"It's not finished yet"

"What else are you staying for?"

"The end of the banquet"

"Inform the guards. We're leaving now" I said to him and stood up.

I was waiting for the coach to pull up when a commotion attracted my attention. I studied the situation from where I stood and I could tell there was chaos.

I was ready to leave so it wasn't of any interest to me. But for whatever reason, my wolf wanted me to go there and see what it was all about. He was restless and I blocked him out but it didn't quench the desire he invoked to see what was going on there.

Hermes was delaying with the rest of the guards and before I knew it, I was walking in that direction. The closer I drew to the place, the more my nerves came alive. It felt like I was expecting something but I just didn't know what it was.

And then, the most intoxicating scent hit me. Lavender and wild roses. My mouth watered at the scent and I was itching to find the origin of the scent.

The crowd noticed my presence and they moved away. And then I saw her.

Battered and half-naked, sitting in the middle of the angry crowd was her. My mate.