The king and queen entered the throne room, their footsteps echoing through the vast space. They stood at the top of the dais, facing their brother, whose posture was confident and assured as if he already knew the outcome of this meeting.
"Darius," the Alpha king said, his voice low and steady. "What brings you here?"
Darius smiled, his eyes glinting with cunning.
"My dear brother," Darius replied, his tone sweet and syrupy. "I am here out of concern for the pack's future, just as you are. I have heard of the difficulties you are having with Adela, and I have come to offer my assistance."
The Alpha king narrowed his eyes. "And what assistance do you offer, brother? We have made our position clear to our daughter, and she remains unmoved."
Darius' smile broadened.
"I understand your hesitation, Alpha. I would never want to overstep my bounds. But consider this—what if I were to help secure a suitable suitor for Adela?" Darius smiled, his eyes glittering with false charm. "Someone who would be an asset to the kingdom, rather than a political tool."
The king and queen exchanged a glance, their expressions uncertain. "And what kind of suitor did you have in mind, Darius?"
Darius' smile widened. "I happen to know of a young prince from the neighbouring kingdom of Asteria. This young prince, whose name is Maximillian, is well-educated, strong in battle, and even-tempered I believe that he would be a most suitable match for your daughter and would bring much strength and stability to the kingdom."
The king nodded slowly. "I have heard of Maximillian. He is the heir to the Asterian throne, is he not?"
Darius nodded. "Indeed he is. And I have no doubt that Adela would find him both charming and worthy of her consideration. And, of course, an alliance between our packs would be most beneficial to both of us." Darius paused, his eyes flashing with a sudden intensity.
"I am certain that with my assistance, you could persuade Adela to at least meet with the young prince."
The king and queen exchanged another glance, this time with a hint of intrigue in their eyes. "You make a compelling argument, Darius," the king said slowly.
"I should warn that my daughter can't be easily persuaded. She has a mind of stone. I would advise not to be too sure you can pull this off." The Queen added thoughtfully, the Alpha king nodding.
"I would merely like to arrange a meeting between the two young royals," Darius continued, his tone as smooth as silk. "Allow them to get to know one another, see if a match might be made. Surely, Adela would not begrudge a simple social gathering, even if the ultimate goal is political in nature."
The king and queen saw the wisdom in Darius' proposal, but they're still cautious about his motives. They tried to set some ground rules to protect their daughter.
The queen drew herself up, and her expression resolute. "Very well, brother. We will allow you to arrange a meeting between Adela and Prince Maximillian, but we are under strict conditions."
"Of course, my dear sister." Darius' smile never wavered. "Name your conditions."
"The meeting will take place in the presence of a member of our household, and the prince will be made aware of Adela's disinclination towards marriage." The queen's gaze was steady and determined. "And if Adela expresses even the slightest discomfort, the meeting will be terminated at once."
Darius nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "Your terms are quite reasonable. I am certain that Prince Maximillian will find them to his satisfaction.
In her room, Adela paced back and forth, her agitation palpable. "Mother, Father, you are being played by our uncle!" She turned to face them, her eyes blazing. "He seeks to use me for his own gain, and you are allowing it!"
The king and queen exchanged a glance, their expressions uncertain.
"Honey, I understand we've had our differences over these years, and he wasn't a good man, but I assure you he's changed. As a matter of fact, neither of us expected him to, but he's for real. He has the pack's well-being at heart. Let's trust him on this, Adela." The Queen said, trying to be as persuasive as possible.
Adela regarded her mother with scepticism. "Are you so blind to his machinations, Mother? He seeks not to strengthen our pack but to claim it as his own. Have you forgotten his attempt to overthrow our cousin, the rightful heir to the throne of Meridian?"
Adela's voice rose with desperation as the king coughed, a rattling wheeze that seemed to punctuate her words. "Do you not see that he seeks to usurp you, Father? The throne belongs to me, your only child, not to our conniving uncle!"
The king struggled to catch his breath, his hand clutching at his chest. "Adela, please. We will hear your concerns, but you must trust that we have the Pack's best interests at heart." He paused to take a deep, laboured breath. "Give your uncle a chance, for our sake."
Adela's eyes flashed, but she knew better than to press the issue further. She turned away, her anger simmering beneath the surface."As you wish, Father." Adela's words were clipped, her anger still simmering beneath the surface. She turned away, taking a moment to compose herself before Darius' presence in the room finally registered in her mind.
"Uncle," she said, her voice colder than the wind on a winter's night. "I trust your plans for the Pack are proceeding smoothly."
Darius' smile never faltered. "Your concern is touching, niece, but rest assured, all will be well. Your parents and I simply want what's best for you and the pack." His eyes glinted with hidden malice. "And trust me when I say that the young prince I've chosen for you is just the beginning."
Adela's lips thinned, her anger threatening to spill over. Adela glared at her uncle, her jaw set. "Cut the crap," she thought, her rage barely contained. "You can fool my parents, but you can't fool me." Her gaze bore into Darius like a dagger, as if daring him to challenge her.
"I've taken up enough of your time, my dear family." Darius' smile was as sharp as a serpent's fang. "I shall return in three days to introduce you to Prince Maximillian." He bowed low, the very picture of respect and deference, but Adela knew it was all an act. There was no way she was ever going to trust him.
"Three days," she thought, her resolve steeling. She sighed the size of her Pack, staring uncertainly at her parents.