[NOUR]
That night, the king and his son talked about a lot of things, and they ended up not sleeping, given their conversations were extended to daytime. However, that didn't seem like an issue for the two royals because they were in a time when they could do whatever they wanted.
There had to be an explanation as to why Nour was missing from his shelter and while the king had suggested that Ferhat tell the kingdom that Nour had been summoned by the king, the young prince had declined that idea.
Sure, it would explain a lot of things, but then it would raise questions of what had happened for the king to summon a nobody like Nour Abdallah. Perhaps that was also why they had unanimously agreed to spread the rumors that Nour had run away.
According to the Acrod laws, a mate who was evasive was always given a week to return home or face the consequences of being a defector from Acrod. If found guilty, they would be tried as rogues and officially banished from the kingdom.
Even then, that was what the young prince had chosen.
"Your grace, your royal Highness," Ferhat greeted the next evening. He had known that the father and son needed a lot of bonding time.
And he hadn't once interfered with that. Instead, he brought food to the duo and made sure that they didn't go to bed hungry no matter what happened.
No one would ever question the king's absence because they had no reason to, and that was the best thing that came out of the bonding session, of course, other than the father and son spending time together.
"Good morning, Ferhat. You look like shit," Prince Cass said as he turned to the loyal warrior's voice. His father was already awake and reading some of the old books in the young prince's room, books that the prince hadn't read yet.
"And you're charming as usual, Your Royal Highness," Ferhat said, his tone official even though the royals trusted him with their lives. He had made sure to maintain his posture and remind himself of who he really was and what was expected of him, always.
"Shit, I should be out there getting everyone's attention and being the charming Nour," Cass said as he rolled on his bed, covering his ears in frustration before letting out a frustrated sigh, he knew of the chaos that was waiting for him out there.
Granted, he and his father had an agreement, but the young prince couldn't help but imagine the madness and supposed rage that was waiting for him.
"Can't you wait for two days, son?" the king said as he put aside his book and looked at his son who had instantly sat up. He was thinking back to the last conversation he and his father had about Grant and he was worried for the sake of the warrior.
King Cassius Burda was known for his brutality when it came to protecting the people he cared about, and he had always gone over and beyond for them. This time he was coming to his son's defense, and that made Cass wonder what his father would do.
"Sure, besides, this is my home, isn't it?" Cass responded softly even though there was an ounce of worry as he watched his father and Ferhat share a look. It wasn't the good kind, but perhaps this was the young prince's chance to see what his father would do for him, right?
"Well, in that case, the operation is a go," the king said to Ferhat who just bowed and walked out.
Soon enough, the bells began ringing in Acrod, and they weren't just any bells, they were the bells of horror. They were the bells that the King himself had approved, but no one other than the King and Ferhat knew that.
The horror bells were the same bells that always rang each time that the beast of the midlands made a show, or each time there was danger in Acrod. Oh, but this time there was danger and it was the kind that the King had initiated himself.
"You can continue sleeping after you eat, son. I will handle this," the werewolf King said and Cass just nodded. He didn't feel like interfering with whatever karma his father had planned, and so he went back to sleep.
He was, after all, the safest when he was in his father's house.
Outside Cass's room, was a calm King, one who strolled casually into the throne room like he already knew what was coming.
Expectedly, the doors to the throne room opened, and through them, came the King's enforcer and the junior warrior. They looked worried sick and they looked like they were not sure of what they would be telling the King this evening.
"Officer Grant," the King stated, and the werewolf enforcer could feel the chills from the King's voice down his spine. He knew he was fucked.
"Sire. I'm sorry for bursting in, but we have a situation," Grant said and the King stared at him blankly, like he was waiting for the werewolf enforcer to continue.
He was looking at the man who had dared to disrespect his son and boy did he want to wring his neck. But then Cass had insisted on his father leaving Grant alive, no matter what they both decided to do with each other.
"Is that why the horror bells are ringing? What the fuck happened out there?" the King said coldly, his face still blank, even as his guard warriors and Ferhat looked at him worriedly. Oh, but Ferhat was loving how this had just started.
"Sire, the Ruby Wolf attacked again. Three hundred wolves from the south side were wounded terribly," Grant said and the King arched a brow at the statement and Grant added rushedly.
"No one died. All the wolves are accounted for, but the injuries are critical. We might need to transfer them to the larger infirmary."
"You told me you took care of the Ruby wolf months ago, warrior. I sent you on a mission and you came back saying the Ruby Wolf was handled. What is this I hear again?" the King asked, right before a growl was heard across the kingdom.
It was an all too familiar growl.
The growl of the unhinged ruby wolf, the same wolf that the werewolf enforcer had never been able to apprehend.
The Ruby wolf was the horror of the wolves and a creature of vengeance.
He always attacked when he wanted something and if he wanted people dead. But this time people hadn't died, making Grant believe that the wolf wanted to make a statement. But what statement could that be when the warrior didn't even know where to start?
"Seems to me like your friend is back, isn't he?" the King said coldly as they listened to the endless growls that had sent the wolves back into their homes.
No one had ever managed to get through to the ruby wolf. He was a myth, but then so had the beat of the midlands been to them. Turns out both creatures were very much alive and real.
"Sire, I can get him this time," Grant said and the King let out a scoff. It was the kind that told the warrior that he had had his chances yet failed each time.
"I need fresh blood on this. You are dismissed from your position for a month. Use that time to evaluate yourself and be at your best. If you fail in that too, I will de-rank you and give your position to the junior warrior beside you," King Cassius said and Grant felt all his life leave him.
He had always loved his position because it allowed him be there for the Acrod wolves.
There was no one better in his job than Grant had been. He was the perfect enforcer, one that anyone would want but then in his entire career as the King's enforcer, there was only one person that had challenged him to his core.
The Ruby wolf and once again, he was getting the rough end of the stick because of that damn wolf.
"Yes, sire," the enforcer responded before excusing himself.
"Come with me, Delbert," the King said and the Lycan just nodded before following the King to where the Ruby wolf's growls were being heard. He wasn't sure what the King was up to, but he was willing to bet on the fact that this was just the beginning for the Acrod enforcer.