26. Rejecting the King

Kathleen's POV

"It's nothing. He is just asking me to reject a marriage proposal," I made up, not even understanding why I would lie like that when I hate liars the most.

"Oh, anyway, how are you feeling? You have been down for more than 16 hours. Don't you think your immunity and body are kind of weak given how you have fainted two times in three days?" King Alvin said, and I looked at Henry, who just rolled his eyes before leaving the room, banging the door along his way, making Alvin raise his brows as he looked at me.

"Don't mind him. He is just moody like this," I said, and he nodded before looking at me seriously.

"Take good care of yourself. Didn't you say today is a big day since you need to accomplish many things? How will you do all of that if you'll be down like this?" King Alvin asked me as he neared me, and I sighed.

He was right. How can I handle everything, including making a grand appearance, letting everyone know who is the deserving and fated Alpha of my pack, stealing that girl’s limelight while interacting with other alphas and Lunas to get them on my side if I am going to be down like this?

This isn't going to work. I have to make myself stronger and find a cure for this mark thing soon, or it will become the bane of my existence given how badly it hurt me this time.

"Don't worry. I will surely find a cure to my weakness," I said with a faint smile.

"What do you mean? Are you hurting somewhere?" He asked, and I shook my head.

It isn't like I can exactly tell him where I am hurting, nor do I think he has a cure for my mark.

"It's nothing. What I mean to say is, I will train myself to become stronger," I said, and he nodded his head before placing his hand on my cheeks.

"Just take care, okay? It's a big night for you today, and you have a lot of work to do," He said, making my heart flutter at the gentle look in his eyes.

It's the same look my father used to have when he used to enter my room to say goodnight when I used to sleep.

"I'll take my leave now. I'll come back when you are ready. Give me a call. Let's go to the party together," He said, and I squinted my brows.

"Together? How is that possible? You are a King, Mr. Donald, and I am nothing in front of you. What will people think? They'll start making assumptions," I said, and he smiled.

"Isn't that exactly what we want? You said Robin would come to you and strike a deal since he is under the impression that you have a good friendship with me. Won't our entering the hall together strengthen his presumption? Besides, you want to make a strong and grand entry, no? Will there be an entry grand than entering with the King himself?" He said with a smirk, and I looked at him observantly.

"Why are you trying to help me so much? Since our first meeting itself, I never did anything to appease you. In fact, didn't you make it clear that I wasn't even worth your friendship?" I asked curiously, and he shrugged his shoulders casually.

"Well, didn't I say it earlier? Your life and ways are quite adventurous, and I am too bored at the moment. Anyway, I'll come later to take you. Wait for me," He said before pulling my cheeks softly and leaving the room, leaving me in a state of confusion.

~~~~Evening ~~~~

"Miss Kathleen, you look beautiful," The maid said as I stood there looking at my reflection in the mirror with a faint smile, trying my best to make my smile look natural and not forced.

I was wearing a peach and baby pink color ball gown with golden frills on my shoulders. The train of the gown was making it look more bridal than a normal ball dance gown, and I liked the way it was making me look. The maid did my hair in a loose bun with some loose strands of hair falling on my face and back. Since I am not a big fan of make-up, she added a little blush, eyeliner, and mascara to my face with a baby pink gloss.

I won't deny the fact that I was indeed looking beautiful, and I guess this gown chosen by the king was indeed bringing out my features and curves in the best places.

"Mam, please pardon me, but I don't think this jade bracelet goes well with your outfit. The bracelet has golden, blue, and jade colors. Should I pick a bracelet with peach, pure gold, or pink color?" The maid said, and I looked at my bracelet before sighing.

"It's okay. This bracelet is something that I got for free, and I like the vibes that come along with it. I feel calmer with it," I said as I looked at the bracelet.

Though it was strange, and maybe my assumption was wrong, I feel like I have become a hell lot calmer since I wore this bracelet. I haven't even mass-killed rogues, or done anything that could be considered illegal. This might be something bad for me too as killing rogues is part of my plan, but the calmness that it brings is what makes me keep it on my wrist.

"Cali, do you think it's a good idea to go with the King and make a grand opening?" I asked the maid, who has been staying in this council chamber for more than twenty years and knows everything about my life and mishappenings.

"Miss Kathleen, I don't know if I should be speaking in this matter or not, but according to me, you shouldn't go with King Alvin. Pardon my words, but that bast*rd alpha has left you because of another woman who is his mate. Now you want to go to the ball and show everyone that you are not a coward and not everyone can walk over you. That you are strong alone, but do you think it will make that much of an effect if you go with the king? What if people start gossiping that you have no right to say anything in the matter when you are looking for a new man?" She asked, and I nodded at her.

That's something that has been bugging me for quite some time, but now that she has mentioned it too, I guess I was thinking right all along.

I am going there to make an impression, and people might inevitably gossip about my character if I appear with the king.

"You are right. That's what I have been thinking too. Can you do me a favor? The ball started an hour ago, no? Most of the guests had already entered. Tell the Lycan King that I already left. I want to make an appearance after him," I said, and she looked at me awkwardly.

"Miss Kathleen, won't it be equal to lying to the King?" She asked me, and I chuckled at her.

"Don't worry. With me around, no one will be able to touch even a strand of your hair," I said, and she nodded before bowing and leaving, making me sigh as I looked into the mirror one last time.

Dialing a number, I waited for the person to pick up the call.

"Hello, Woods," The person said, and I looked and twirled my finger around my hair before taking a deep breath.

"He is here. Take action now. You know where to go exactly. According to the blueprints I gave you for the pack and the plans we made, the girl should be locked in the Lakewood house. Ask your men to check the basement of all the locations.

My informer said they have been changing the girl's place, again and again, to make sure that Austin doesn't know about her real location. They can hide the girl with the pack members too, but only with the most trusted ones. So I am giving you the ten locations that are used most to hide the girl. Be careful and alert. I don't want any mistakes," I said, and he sighed.

"You have an informer in the packs too now? How big is your social circle, Woods? And how the hell do you get these people to work for you?" He asked, and I sighed before looking at my eyes that glimmered with a golden light.

How can I get these people to work for me? I can get these people to work for me because I can control these people. I thought before shaking my head, squinting my brows when I realized how weird my voice sounded in my head just now.

'Caris, was it you?' I asked her, and she shook her head.

'It wasn't me, I swear. However, I know who it was. You'll know everything once you find yourself, Kathleen,' She said, confusing me, and I was about to ask her what the hell was she talking about when I heard Henry's voice.

"Damn, you look gorgeous. You have swooned me with your beauty," He said, and I rolled my eyes at the praise as I applied lip gloss to my lips one last time.

"Kathleen, I know coming late to the party is considered fancy, but it's already one and a half hours. Even King Alvin is there. He has been asking about you. The guy looked a bit angry, to be honest. Tell me, what did you do this time? He looks like you rejected his offer to go together or something?" Henry said jokingly, and I looked at him with a blank face.

"What? You really did? No way. You have got some guts, Kathy," Henry said as he slung his hand on my shoulder, and I scoffed.

"I didn't know politely declining someone's offer needs guts," I said, and he sighed.

"Yeah. Yeah. You should put yourself in our shoes and then say these things. Nothing matters to you anymore, right," Henry said.

"Yes. Now back off. I need to make a grand entry in the ball, and I need to do it alone," I said, and he looked at me observantly for a few seconds before coming closer to me and kissing my temple.

"All the best, Kathy. I know you are hurt, but we all are with you," Henry said, and I smiled.