Adam walked away from that ludicrous woman, unsure if he should believe her. He had never trusted a witch for a very long time. He was not about to do it now, but he was still curious if this witch was capable of finding her.
But why would he want to find her again? Suddenly, questioning his rationality, he thought his interest was out of place.
"What was that all about?" The King immediately asked once he entered the vehicle, sitting across from him. His brows knitted in question, but he doubted his father was clueless about what just happened.
Resting his hands on the top of his lap, he looked outside towards the mountains, taking his time before answering his father.
"The witch believes she could find my bride." Finally, deciding to tell him the truth. Besides, he might have overheard their conversation anyway. So, there was no point in lying.
"Do you believe her?" His father eyed him sharply as if he was studying him. Nothing escaped his father's scrutiny, so he had to be careful not to give away whatever he was thinking.
Although he followed most of his father's wishes, still, he did not want his father to control his entire life. He believed he still had a right to his destiny.
"No, I never trusted a witch. But I will if it will suit your fancy." He teased his father, whose face scrunched up, not pleased with his words, still stuffy as the day he was born. That should distract him from pursuing this conversation.
Although his father raised him to be a soldier, his mother's sense of humor was still slightly evident in him. Besides, he had adjusted well to this new modern era, living just like any other ordinary young man.
His father never bothered to answer, leaving him to stare at the view outside and keep his thoughts to himself. He sat quietly in the backseat of the car as his eyes fixed on the mountainous landscape surrounding them.
"I want you to fly back home with me. So, we can discuss our next plans." His father's voice penetrated his mind, but he only nodded as his gaze kept looking ahead. His mind was already elsewhere.
He was thinking of the time they had arrived at the mansion of the Dumont when something else had caught his attention. His father missed it, but he did not. Compared to his father, his hearing was more intensified.
It was barely audible, but it sounded familiar to him. He strained his ears again and listened intensely to the commotion, focusing on the source where he last heard that similar tone.
It was not far, he could tell, her voice was more like a whisper, but the beating of her heart intensified as she gasped for air. He could tell it was her because of the distinctive sound. He knew who she was.
He concluded that she was now running in the bushes, hearing the ruffling of dry leaves and her frantic heartbeat. His eyes looked around him. He knew he could catch her if he came after her.
She was fast, but, at her rate, she was no match to him.
Nonetheless, why would he want to catch her? He should be thrilled that she made the decision easier for him.
Still, why was he disappointed? His mind wondered about the girl that haunted his dreams.
Then, he remembered entering the massive ballroom. Once inside, he stood beside his father, standing proudly among the crowd. Nobody dared approach their presence except for one man.
He scanned the place for their enemies among the crowd. But as he suspected, he never detected their distinctive scent. They could be anyone from the beautifully dressed women and the dashing men in their expensive tuxedos.
"Welcome to our home, King Charles and Prince Adam. I am Grego Dumont, the host of this celebration." The man who stood before his father introduced himself. Then, he extended his hand to him.
He remembered his name as the current Alpha of the Orsha Pack and the father of his future bride. He took his extended hand and shook it.
Sometimes the past still haunted him, reminding him of his sworn oath for revenge. But the present taught him to control his urge to kill this man in front of this entire assembly.
Instead of hostility, he smiled at the gracious host. "May I know where your wife is and when I will meet your lovely daughter." But the last part, he already knew the answer.
He automatically looked upstairs, sensing a movement. But he quickly shifted his eyes back to the man before him as he answered his query.
"My wife and daughter will be downstairs in a short while." Grego also looked up, following his eyes before returning them to him.
Grego quickly excused himself when he heard his wife finally speak in the middle of the grand staircase, moving toward her, leaving him with his father as they waited.
Looking up, he stared at the woman in her golden dress, seemingly maintaining her poise despite the turmoil in her heart. He sensed her fear, but her stance remained to exude confidence.
Adam smiled, admiring the woman in front of them. Somehow the matriarchal symbol of this family reminded him of his mother. Whatever his mind could remember of his memory of her.
However, as he stared at the woman up the stairs, unafraid to face everyone around her. His mind contemplated if this mother had any resemblance to his runaway bride. Was her daughter as brave as her?
"Adam, make sure to assemble your army because I want everyone to prepare for this battle." His father's words nagged at him, realizing that he was still in his father's company.
All thoughts of the failed engagement vanished in his mind as his father kept rambling in his seat, talking about his demands.
"Are you even listening to me?" His father's angry tone made him look up from his seat, acknowledging that he had heard him. But in truth, he only listened to the last part.
He took a deep breath to clear his mind, wanting this day to be over. "Yes, father." He finally answered, but his mind was barely listening anymore.
His eyes focused again outside, allowing his mind to search for her in his thoughts. What should he do? Was war the answer as his father was now suggesting?
Or should he find an alternative? Suddenly, the witch popped up to his head. Was searching for his missing bride the answer?