Chapter 73
“This is insane; I never thought that the time when I had to fight the palace would come.” Calvin said, “My father had fought for it, defended everyone inside it, and here I am, fighting the king himself,” he added.
“Just as I never thought that the father I know and grew up with was not my father,” Matteo replied, “That I thought I was the king but wasn’t.” Everyone looked at him; they were in Marcus’ mansion, having their preparations for attacking the palace.
After they found out that Rapha had been captured, Matteo and the others went back to the mansion and talked to Marcus. He was furious and, at the same time, worried for the defense advisor. He called Caleb and asked him to gather their warriors. “Yes, my Lord,” he replied and left. Matteo followed him with his gaze, and so did the others. Marcus noticed it, so he said,
“He has been with me for a very long time now. Right after I left the palace, to be exact.” “And he never left you?” Matteo asked curiously.
“Never. He does what I ask him to do, and when he thinks it is not a good idea, he says it to my face. He is very good at gathering information, like a tracker too,” he replied. “He even told me to talk to you the moment Rapha told me about you. But I told him that you would not believe me. He told me that it would be the same. Why not do it earlier? He wanted you to be king as well,” he added.
“Are we going to attack the palace?” Camilla asked worriedly.
“We have no choice. Your uncle will be in danger if we don’t. I’m sure Marco has already figured out our plan because if he doesn’t, he won’t take Rapha and will still pretend that he knew nothing.” Marcus replied,
Just as Marcus said, King Marco was preparing his warriors for an ambush. He knew that they were going to attack, and they wouldn’t let anything happen to Rapha. But what Marcus and the others didn’t know was that Rapha managed to escape and was now recuperating. While the king asked some of his trackers to find the defense advisor after he learned that, he prepared his warriors for war.
“Matteo, we’re surrounded,” Freya said so as soon as they reached the border.
“I know that,” he replied. They expected it, too. That’s why Marcus decided to distance himself and his warriors, so King Marco would think that they were just worried and curious about Rapha’s treason. Matteo strongly believes now that the father he grew up with was not his father. They hadn’t even entered the border, and yet, there were already warriors surrounding them.
They were in the SUV, and it was unusual for them to be surrounded like that since they were on their way to the palace and he was the prince. It’s like they were escorting them or making sure that they were not going to do anything stupid. They knew that they had been to the Crimson Pack and were on a mission.
As they entered the territory, a patrol guard stopped them. “What is this all about?” Matteo asked as Freya heightened her senses. She wanted to make sure that they wouldn’t get trapped.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. But the king was very strict on every vehicle that came into the palace.” The patrol guard replied, “We have to check your car before you can get in.”
“You called me Your Highness, so you know who I am. Why do you need to search for my car? Luna is also here with me.” Matteo replied,
“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but that’s the king’s order,” the patrol guard replied. Although he was trying to be polite and respectful, Matteo and Freya felt his animosity towards them. The patrol guard couldn’t hide it since they were royals, and nothing can be hidden from them when it comes to their emotions. Their heartbeats will sell them out.
Matteo didn’t say anything and let the patrol guard do what he wanted. After checking everyone’s car, they let them in, and they went straight to the palace. Calvin and James thought that it was a bad idea to go there, but he insisted. He wanted to know what his father was up to, and he wanted to get Rapha out of the dungeon.
“Son, you’re back,” King Marco said. He was at the entrance of the main hall of the palace as if waiting for them.
“Dad, what’s going on here?” Matteo asked, “Why does everyone seem alert?” “What did Rapha do?”
“You won’t believe it, son,” King Marco replied. “He connived with your uncle. He had been allied with him for years, and here we are trusting him with everything.” He added with a sad and concerned look on his face. It seemed genuine, and he thought for a moment whether he was making the right decision or not.
“When did you find out about that?”
“Just recently. I followed him when I noticed that he was anxious and uneasy. He had never acted that way and was always confident, but all of a sudden he was like that.” King Marco answered, “Anyway, why are we talking here? Let’s go and talk in the hall. I want you to discuss with me what happened in the Crimson Pack,” he said, leading everyone.
‘Your Highness, something’s off.’ Calvin said,
‘Stay alert,’ Matteo’s mind linked everyone in his team before he looked at Freya, who was now looking at him as well, smiling. She was calm and didn’t want to give King Marco the idea that she had caught a scent the same as the one in the cabin where they found Camilla.
“Camilla, dear, why do you look stiff and tense? Did you do something?” King Marco asked after they took their seats.
“Nothing, Your Highness. I was just worried about Uncle Rapha. I heard what he did,” she replied with her head down.
“I am saddened by that, dear. But I want to ask you something,” King Marco said, which made her look up to him. The king smiled and continued, “Are you, by any chance, part of his plan? Do you know anything about it?”
“No, Your Highness!” she exclaimed. Freya told her to act shocked if the king would ever ask her about her uncle, and the princess was astounded by the way she did it.
“I feel sorry for you, but you had to be sent to the dungeon as well,” King Marco said.
“Dad!” Matteo exclaimed, “She has been captured, and yet you are thinking that she had anything to do with Rapha?”
“I am your king! Address me as such!” The king exclaimed as well. “You have no right to defend her; anyone who is a threat to the palace will be punished accordingly.”
“But she doesn’t even have any idea about what was going on!” “You are disrespecting me, your king!”
“Your Highness, I think we have a misunderstanding. Camila was shocked after she was kidnapped and then this. She had been crying in the Crimson Pack when we told her about Rapha, so please understand…” Freya said it in a low voice. She had a feeling that King Marco would like it if they were going to talk to him that way.
“Princess, I want you to know that I am only doing this for everyone’s safety. We may believe in her, but what about the others who lose their faith in Rapha?”
“Can’t you do anything about it, since you’re the king?” Freya replied, asking to boost the king’s ego.
“You know that I can’t do anything. I still have to follow and listen to the council,” the king replied.
“Dad, you know that Camilla has nothing to do with whatever Rapha has done. And speaking of Rapha, I want to see him.”
“Why?”
“So I could ask him why he betrayed the palace. I had been looking up to him and trusting him, and yet he did this.
“You don’t have to do that; I already talked to him, and he already admitted it. I can’t do anything about him either, because the council has already decided to punish him with his life.” King Marco said,
“No!!!” Camila screamed; the worry and fear on her face were evident, so Alec held her. He was very worried about what might happen to her.
“Silence! Calvin, James, take that woman to the dungeon!” the king orders. Since the two were his beta and gamma, they had to follow him. They took Camila, who was now struggling, while Alec was trying to stop them. Clay didn’t know what to do and was waiting for Matteo’s order.
Meanwhile, Marcus and his warriors were already fighting the patrol guards on the border. The guards thought that it was only Matteo who had come, so they lowered their guard and were surprised when they were attacked one after the other.
“Where’s Matteo and the others?” Rapha asked after he showed up out of nowhere. “They were in the palace trying to get you,” Marcus replied,
“Shit! Why did you let them? What if Marco did something to them or they got ambushed?” “What else can I do? Matteo is so hardheaded, and he wanted to save you.”
“You should have told him that I can take care of myself. I am a defense advisor, damn it!” Rapha exclaimed, then he remembered something: “What about my niece?”
“She’s with them; she didn’t want to be left behind,” Marcus replied before a patrol guard jumped at them but was caught on his neck.
“Who do you think I am for you to do that?” he asked before he broke the patrol guard’s neck. “You know he was only following orders,” Rapha told him.
“I don’t care about that; it’s their fault for believing that fraud,” he replied, joining the others in fighting.
“My Lord, we will hold them here; you can go ahead,” Caleb said, and he nodded, so he went his way with Rapha but moved discreetly. They didn’t want to make their presence known to those they might meet on the way.
In the palace…NôvelDrama.Org © content.
“Stop this nonsense, Dad!” Matteo said angrily. They had just gotten out of the palace as they tried to stop the king and the guards from taking Camilla into the dungeon.
“You are disrespecting me, Matteo. Are you trying to fight the palace as well? Guards take him as well,” said King Marco. And the guards who weren’t there before suddenly came out to take him. “Anyone who will help him will have to answer to me as well and should be taken to the dungeon with them.”
The guards were about to take Matteo, but Freya got in the way. “Take her too,” King Marco said after he saw what she did. Matteo got angry when he saw the guards trying to get a hold of his mate. King, his Lycan, was more furious.
“Don’t you dare touch my mate!” he said, growling, and the guards were all focused on him since they knew that he was strong. But Calvin and James came to his side.
“Clay, Alec, stay with Camila,” Freya said, preparing herself for the battle. “Calvin, James, Are you sure about your decision?” King Marco asked, “Tell us how our father died, and you will have our loyalty,” Calvin said,
“Explain to us why they died as well,” James added.
“So you have finally made your decision. Do you think that you’re going to win against me? Marcus couldn’t do anything before. What do you think he can do now?” King Marco said it mockingly.
“So, he’s telling the truth,” Freya said.
“You are already against me. As soon as I saw you, I could feel your animosity. It was very faint; maybe you were trying to keep it from me, but there’s something you didn’t know.” King Marco said,
“What?” Freya said, then faced him, “That you had a witch on your side? Your real mate perhaps?” she added, which made King Marco’s eyes widen. He never thought that she had an idea about his mate being there. She was hiding her presence but was watching and listening to them.
Freya had already informed Matteo and the others about it in their link, so they were ready just in case. “Get them!!” King Marco shouted, showing them that he was already pissed, and the witch showed up while they were fighting the guards.
Matteo is the future king, along with Calvin and James. They are stronger than King Marco thought. He knew that Matteo’s Lycan was strong, but he didn’t know that he was ancient, as was Pi, Freya’s wolf, and they were both ready for war.
Matteo