"What is the meaning of this, Sid and Bran?" Gavin asked the two hunters before him, his own pair of eyes seemingly about to devour the two people.
Now it all made sense. Sid and Bran were hunters who knew the way. The waiter said that if one knew the right path, the illusions would appear per group and not per person. It must be the reason why they separated. Two people were working together to accomplish something and only by separating the group would they be able to do it. In other words, they intentionally chose another route while leading the rest while Gavin and Asher weren't looking.
Anger mixed with murderous intent flashed right into Gavin's eyes as he stared at them intently.
"Your Highness, we apologize if this harmed you in any way," Bran said, bowing to Gavin in respect.
Gavin's blood ran even colder. "Leave the princess alone."
Bran was about to say something but Sid stopped him as he took a step forward instead. "Second Prince, please don't get us wrong. We're only doing what's asked of us."
"And that is?" Gavin asked, voice becoming colder and darker. "To kill Princess Carrie?"
"Please understand, Your Highness. The rumors about the princess... the higher ups wanted to erase them once and for all," Sid said, bringing out his own sword.
Bran crouched down, one knee on the ground and with a bowed head. "We know how the Second Prince wishes for equality in and out of the palace but this has already been ordered by the Alpha King himself. His Highness should remember, you are going to be the next Alpha King if the First Prince dies. So naturally, our loyalty will go to Your Highness too. Please, Your Highness, understand our motives."
"The First Prince won't die," Gavin said, "And neither is the princess."
"Your Highness!" the two hunters exclaimed, eyes wide in shock as in a swift movement, Gavin had struck them down.
Immediately wrapping an arm around Princess Carrie's waist protectively, Gavin stared at the two hunters and said in a low, menacing voice. "If you wish to continue living when either my brother or my reign begins, you already know what to do."
With that, Gavin carried Princess Carrie, swiftly running out of the cave full of illuminating broken glasses.
The two hunters trembled as they felt their bodies slowly losing control, knees weakening as they fell to the ground. As they lay there, they slowly remembered one thing they had forgotten. The real power of an alpha werewolf, once angered, with their pheromones, they could control anyone and defeat anyone, most especially the members of their own pack.
The two hunters began to realize further, the connection between Prince Gavin and Princess Carrie might be deeper than they, and everyone else at that point, had expected.