It may have been the arrogance of the Lycan-kind for being one of the self-proclaimed strongest races of human-kind. Regardless, the palace of the Alpha King sat intimidatingly menacing at the top of a small hill, surrounded by vast fields and a beautiful man-made small lake. There was even an enchanting garden to one side, that which the Luna boasted about to other nobility.
『 Looks like nothing has changed. 』 Letitia watched as the small palace grew bigger as they reached their destination.
Back when they had first come here, the palace gates itself were menacing enough in the eyes of a small child.
『 Can you stop subconsciously smirking like that? It's unbecoming of a lady. 』
Letitia ignored her brother's remark.『 Such a farce. Do they honestly think that adopting such a high-class ploy would erase the fact that the Lycan-kind used to be the worst of barbarians? Nothing has changed from older times. The 'nobility' simply learned to hide their atrocity behind shadows. 』
『 Done with your rant, Lady Letitia? 』
Letitia's smirk grew into a wide grin, before she said, 『 Well, at least most Lycans have a sense of decorum now. It won't be that hard to shape their morality in the future. 』
『 You're right. 』 Letitia gave a curious look at Laris after his statement. 『 If one day the Lycan Kingdom can change into a kingdom that even I can boast about... 』
Flashing a sincere smile with her head slightly tilted.『 You'd have to work hard then, brother. 』
Laris gave an equally sweet smile in return.『 Stop practicing your charm on me. It doesn't work. 』
『 Even with praises you're stingy! Can't you be more of a siscon or something? 』Letitia pouted.
"Open up", a guard exclaimed, disrupting their conversation and, nearly knocking the carriage door broken.
『 It's not that I care about their sense of respect and all, but if the carriage gets broken, I bet they'll even blame us for it. Maybe make us pay for it. Exactly how much does the camo even have? 』
『 I'm not paying for it. 』
『 Like you'd have a choice, brother. 』
『 Let them die trying. 』
『 Spoken like a true miser~ 』
When the carriage door opened, the guard's eyes immediately narrowed. The scent of half-lycans had permeated through his nostrils, making him all the more want to show his disrespect, yet he can't. These half-pets are their Alpha King's... No, he can't even think of these leeches as the relatives of his Highness Vaughn. He can't do anything about them, but he can make their lives a little bit miserable.
"Half-Lycans aren't allowed inside the palace." The guard had a stoic face, but his eyes shone with fierce pride.
"Really", Letitia answered sarcastically.
"Don't think you're prestigious enough to see his Highness' wolf, much less enter the same palace and breathe the same air as him."
『 Oh, look. Another Vaughn fanatic. 』
『 Letitia. 』 Laris called in a scolding tone.
『 What? 』 Letitia pretended not to understand.
"Well, we can always go back. It's not like we care anyways who gets scolded when we were clearly summoned", Laris said without looking at the guard, but the carriage didn't even move. It wasn't them who called the carriage but it was them who was forced to take the humiliation. It's not like the coachman will defend them.
"Then", the guard replied as if he expected such an answer. "I'll take it as I've never seen you." He squinted his eyes.
『 Looks like they're planning to make us late, or worse, not to let us in. We'd be forced to take disciplinary punishment for not adhering to the summons at this rate. 』
『 They do whatever they like. 』 Letitia clenched her teeth, wanting to take a bite at the guard's neck to vent her bad mood.
Seeing her daunting, the guard her a more taunting look, not the least bit afraid to challenge her.
Just when things were on the point of erupting, the gates opened.
The guard gave an angry expression yet he was quiet. Laris glanced at him and guessed he was scolding people and asking who opened it. Well, it's not like I care, Laris thought.
The coachman took the chance and finally entered, but not until Laris caught sight of the earlier guard grab the collar of another Lycan-kind at the corner of his eye.
"...am following orders! Didn't you say to open the gates for Prince Vihan? That's what I did!" Despite the apologetic voice, the man who opened the gates didn't have a smidge of repentance on his face.
"I never gave that order! Are you hallucinating or something!" The guard was beyond angry for having someone rain on his fun.
They continued to bicker on who mind-linked the order until twins could no longer hear them. Only when they could no longer hear them did Laris reveal a small smirk.
It's not that the Lycan-kind in their camp particularly wanted freedom, Laris thought. It's more like they wanted to rebel against the unhappiness they felt; for the oppression of the weak undeserving nobles. But mostly, they probably thought it was exciting. It wouldn't be surprising for them to miss a bit of chaos given that territorial wars have been going on since ancient times until the merging of the three packs.
『 When the rebellion's over, we'd better find a way to exercise the Lycan's excess manic energy. 』 Laris brought in the topic.
『 Sure, but what made you think about that so suddenly? 』
『 Nothing in particular. Just thought that we'd need to keep the wolves busy if we want to run the whole kingdom smoothly. 』
『 Well, aren't those some big words. 』 Letitia finally broke into a smirk as they got off the carriage and entered the palace with the guidance of a maid.
The person briefly introduced herself as the head maid. "I'll be responsible for bringing you into your quarters." She bowed her a head a little, hiding the emotions in her eyes.
Taking advantage of the twins' unfamiliarity with the palace, the head maid took a few left and right turns. The hallways were long, with the floor made of marble. The Lycan-kind hated carpets. Why? It's a bother to clean them every other day with the amount of fur the maids harvest. But of course, the twins don't know that. They only see the cold gloomy hallways that looked almost the same. This was the second time they've been here.
At the third left turn, Laris felt uncomfortable because of the nagging feeling he had inside. They were twice as vigilant inside the palace at all times, and yet they just can't find a reason not to get out of there.
『 Laris. 』
Laris hummed in their mind-link. 『 I can't smell anybody around too. 』
Before they could question the head maid, the hall opened into a wide circular open-top garden. The garden had beautiful well-maintained grass with an abundant number of luxurious Juliet roses all around. There was a circular dome atop in the middle, held by five bridges that connected the higher floors in the palace. There was even a soothing fountain nearby, filling the halls with a soft relaxing sound.
The Lycans loved to lounge in such environment. It wasn't odd for the pack houses to have the same design as this, though Laris doubted that he wanted such a thing. Everybody on the top floors could just peek and see one's business at the middle garden below. Well, it's not like it matters if everyone in the pack was close.
A faint scent made Letitia look around the garden and the circular hall that lined around it. She stared at one particular column. Laris noticed it too and stopped walking. He turned to the head maid who was no longer there.
Quickly, the soothing atmosphere in the garden became eerie.
『 They found out, didn't they? 』 Letitia turned around and pressed her back to her brother's.
『 Vaughn's order? 』
『 This smells like something he'll do. 』
『 Isn't he afraid that mother's family would retaliate? 』
The currently Luna was the previous Alpha King's arranged mate, one that was from the Clearwater pack. The previous king was from the Blackshade pack, the strongest pack there was the three biggest packs of the Lycan-kind race. The new alliance was strengthened when Vaughn had been born. Ironically, when the previous king tried to coerce the Evergreen pack, who had the least wolves but the most resources, he met his true mate who was the pack leader's daughter. Thus, Lucille Ashraf was born.
When the previous Alpha King died of illness, Vaughn took the throne and through his guidance, the Lycan-kind prospered. But that was on the surface. There was still a fair share of oppression that was hid quite well upon the shadows, but who cares if the strongest Lycans are happy, right? Who cares if the other human-kinds, the Omegas, the half-lycans are abused and mistreated? It's not them who's affected anyways, and so the majority ignore it, while the minority choose to clump their mouths, frightened of speaking and earning 'retribution' for voicing their complaints. Such is the abusive nature of the Lycan-kind.
With that being said, the twins were more or less the grandchildren of who was now the Evergreen City's Overlord.
『 They're not giving Grandpa any face. Looks like it's 'kill now, explain later'. 』
Growling, Letitia pulled Laris into the center of the garden. Very soon, a handful of wolves were emerging from behind the columns and other hidden places.
A black wolves barked viciously. As if receiving orders, a number of wolves began to pounce. Laris sharpened his claws and was about to slash his opponents neck when a huge mass slammed it away. This gave pause for the rest. The twins saw the huge mass of a wolf turn back into a shirtless human.
"Thank God, I made it. Let's go!"
"Mitchell", the twins were surprised. Mitchell was one of the secret assistants of the head of the guards.
"There's no time, run away", he screamed before he shifted into his wolf and dashed.
The twins didn't think twice to follow one of their comrades. They shifted into two auburn wolves, leaving the tattered shreds of their normal clothes behind, along with the onset of rebellion.