There were always disadvantages of traveling as the king.
For example, on my end, I needed to make sure that I had only carried James as my personal assistant and no other person. I did not need guards because then they would attract attention all through the way. I wanted this journey to be a secret and its mission to be something completely private. James is the only personal servant that I fully trusted. Other than this, I could only travel while inside the carriage.
I wouldn't risk anyone seeing me as that would still attract a lot of attention. the alpha of alphas' journey towards a pack of robes was something unheard of. these streets were filled with bandits. anyone would want to get their hands on the King and request her handsome from the Queen Mother. My hunt was set to start today and I had not anticipated that this journey would be this long. so far, it had been 4 days since we left the Castle and moved towards the dry land.
We had passed all four packs unnoticed. What however scared me was the bribes that James had to give so that the men would not search the inside of the carriage.
It pained me to see the world from such a different perspective. My government is corrupt. I had set up specific clauses that would facilitate the collection of taxes to anyone who wanted to cross Borders. Today however proved to me that there were people benefiting from these journeys other than the palace itself. These same people who are taking bribes from John had to be doing it everywhere else. I had several arguments where the people were begging my office is to give them an extension so that they would be able to come up with the high taxes that were imposed on them.
''James, did My mother raise the taxes? No my lord, it would appear to me that this happens off the books. '' he responds.
''So there are specific people in my government that benefit from the oppression of my citizens?''
James nodded.
''And why hasn't news been brought to me? Suppose one of the citizen, Got tired of being oppressed, they should have come to the Castle and complained. This is why I am king, this is what mother taught me to do. to look after our people and make sure that the lives they leave are comfortable. This is unfair and unjust.''
''My lord, I am afraid that coming into the castle and complaining is not as easy as you make it seem.'' he responds.
''And what do you mean by that James?''
''Permission to speak freely, King Alexander the Great,'' James poses,
''Of course, speak your mind.''
''Well you see, the places that are corrupt might not only be around these packs and their borders. back in the Kingdom, I myself had to pay a certain fee to be let into the castle when I was late. All I'm saying is that corruption has built its roots far into the werewolf community. this is not something we eradicate in one day. This is something that you have to take one step at a time. Identifying the masterminds of these must first begin with their sources. the people that they used to carry out the dirty work. Those are the only people who can tell us what is truly going on. if this continues on like this, then just like that warrior who declared herself A rogue, Park members might begin to do this in order to escape the imposition of taxes.'' James was right. Something needed to be done.
''We are here, my Lord.'' he speaks , making me sit up in excitement.
When the carriage stops, and the door is opened for me, I feel the fast beating of my heart.
Stepping out on the dry grassland, I almost gasp at the site of the deserted Forest in a walkable distance.
'' There is no one here,'' I say.
'' I suppose we missed them.'' James responds by taking further steps forward and towards a cave that was hidden near the trees.
''How the hell is there a cave at the beginning of the forest?'' I ask in curiosity and confusion. There were still Traces and footsteps of people, there were pieces of fabrics and clothes left on the ground clearly showing that the rogues were here but they left.
''Did we seriously come all this way for nothing?'' I ask in a low tone, Disappointment running inside me like a river.
''My king,'' James called out for me from inside the cave. I stand to stare at it for a moment, studying the exterior of the torn fabric that hangs lowly over the entrance. I am hesitant, I feel traces of a scent that I have never actually caught in my entire life. There is something beautiful. Something magical and utterly breathtaking about this place or whoever was inside it. One of The Perks of Being the King was that I was able to trace the scents of other wolves in seconds.
When I took a step inside, I finally caught the scent of what I had been feeling, …. my mate!!