Alpha Cowell sat gracefully on his enormous silver throne with his aura filling the whole hall in the pack building. On top of his head sat a golden throne to represent his status. Elders and his associates were also seated and they waited for him to make his speech which he had called them for.
"Great Lock Hearts pack!" He greeted them.
"Your highness!" They hailed and bowed their heads in respect.
The King made himself comfortable on his seat and cleared his throat. "We got a threat today." He announced and looked around over their faces to see their expression and as he already inferred, the faces in front of him had their mouths opened. "Surprise?" He said more like he wanted to ask a question. He continued, "The checkmate is from our neighbourhood pack."
"The Autumn pack?" The head of Gamma inquired and the King nodded.
"Yes, the Autumn pack. They explained that some of their pack members were here yesterday and they had been beaten up by some members of our pack."
A gasp escaped from some of the shifter's mouths while others who already knew about it kept quiet because it was the truth. The fight wasn't a rival fight but was a mere one with a deep reason.
"The leader of the pack fighters said the fight had happened because a member of their pack found his mate in our pack and_" The King paused when murmurs filled the air. He knew that it was going to happen, so he let them mumble to each other before he started his speech again, "His mate has been claimed by another pack member. The shifter got angry and created an argument which turned into a fight. Thankfully Sage and Aurora had gone to settle the fight but the shifter refused to leave his mate alone." The king stopped for some seconds, all shifters staring sadly at him. No one knew what to say in such a situation. Eventually, the shifter was meant to get angry. "Alpha Huston has gotten angry and sent a threat requesting the shifter's mate." The King delivered.
"Is the girl ready to go with her mate?" The head of the high court requested.
The King moved his gaze from the elders and it landed on both Sage and Aurora who were standing beside each other in front of the altar. "Is she?" He referred to both of them and they both shook their heads while Aurora answered.
"She refused stating she was in love with the shifter that claimed her."
"If she didn't want to go with her mate then, he should understand she wasn't waiting for him," Rae uttered and his word almost made Sage wolf flaunt out from him while he fisted his hands. The situation was almost the same thing as he and Aurora only that Aurora has not been claimed but he feared she might want to mate with another.
"The mate refused to let her go stating she is his real mate and accused the pack." Aurora conveyed to them.
"Was that why their King sent in a threat?" Rae inquired with a hoarse voice. He was already getting tense. The situation wasn't new. Everyone knew not all shifters are claimed by their mate. Some shifters might fall in love with another shifter that isn't their mate while some might not find theirs after searching for a long time and end up mating with someone else.
"I called you people here probably because I need you to make your suggestion on this case since it looks like their Alpha is ready for a fight." Alpha Cowell implored.
"How about we go and settle the case with their Alpha, maybe if he sees that we are serious about it, he might reconsider his threat." Beta Craig suggested and everyone said yes to his opinion.
"Fine, I believe everyone agreed with you, Beta Craig. So I will implore Rae, Sage and Aurora to go on our behalf and talk sensibly to their King but make sure you ask the girl again if she was right about her decision." The King divulged and the assigned shifters agreed. "You're dismissed," Alpha Cowell said, standing up from his throne and strolling out as everyone bowed to honour him. When he was gone, the elders and associates began to talk about the ligation.
Sage who had succeeded in pushing his wolf off turned to Aurora, "Do you agree she decides who she wants?" He asked, wanting to know her answer.
Aurora shrugged her shoulders and folded her hands over her bosom. "It's her choice, whatever she decides is what her mate would take. They can't be forced, especially when she's in love with her stranger mate."
"Is that what you also want to do when you said you don't want your mate?" Sage inquired. He was already pissed off by her answer.
Aurora gave a slight laugh even if his question had turned on her. "I have my reasons." She acknowledged and turned away to leave while he strode gracefully beside her.
"What reasons may I ask?"
"No!"
"Why?"
"I just told you I have my reasons, that means it is personal!" Her wolf growled at him but he didn't mind if she got angry and injured him like the other time. All he needed to know was why she didn't want him. Yes, him because he was her mate.
"You know, I could help."
"Enough Sage, Enough! I've had enough of your questions but come to think of it. Why are you so engrossed in my personal affairs? It's not like I'm your mate." She retorted and twisted her head over her shoulder and scoffed, returning it to place.
"Hmm." Sage hummed and breathed in to receive air so as not to lose control. He was already fed up with her closure.
"Sage! Aurora!" Rae called immediately after they stepped outside the hall. He was striding towards them with a smirk which Aurora caught surprising but Sage didn't bother.
"Hey Gamma Rae!" Sage called back.
"Good day, Gamma." Aurora greeted him and bowed her head at it.
"You don't have to be too formal. I'm not killing you." Rae uttered and his smirk spread wide into a smile disclosing his set of white teeth.
"You also knew that is what you're good at," Sage said and plunged backwards before Gamma raised his hand to hit him.
"Of course, I know. When do we start going?"
"We need to arrange some things. We'll begin our journey by late evening, right, Aurora?" Sage asked and she nodded, agreeing to his notion.
Author's Note: Kindly support my book with your votes and comments. Cheers!