Chapter 101

• HAERA
• I heard his footsteps behind me and I could also sense his presence. The scent of someone I once considered a friend tricked my nose but I almost vomited at the vile fragrance of him. As much as I wanted to turn my face to him and give him every bit of my mind, I remained composed because I didn't want to make a mistake that might ruin the current agreement with the council. I had to be careful if not, they would use anything as an excuse to go ahead with Tybalt's coronation, which was nothing but a dream that wouldn't come true. His footsteps sounded closer than before but I kept walking without giving him the attention I knew he craved. I hoped he'd make the first move though so I could use that as an excuse to say everything I had to say to his face. He was nothing but a betrayal and a cunning bastard. "Come on, Haera. You can't ignore your old buddy for the rest of your life." Tybalt voiced, placing his dirty hand on my shoulder. I slapped his hand away from my skin and I slowly turned to face the betrayal and villain of my story. "That's Princess Haera to you." I growled at Tybalt who faked a shocked expression on his stupid face. I can't believe I once thought of him as handsome, kind, caring, and a good friend with listening ears and comforting shoulders. Everything about him was a lie from the pit of hell. "Ahn! That's true! You're a princess that was abandoned at birth. Pardon me, your highness. I didn't get the chance to congratulate you on your new status." Tybalt fringed ignorance and I was close to striking his face. Everything about him was weird and I honestly didn't want to be in his presence but at the same time, I wanted to show him that I wasn't that foolish girl he was able to fool anymore. "That reminds me if I'm to call you by your birth title, don't you think it's fair you regard me with respect too. I'm an Alpha prince." He pointed out, which I presumed was his way of making me look stupid although I was so unbordered by his useless talks. "Spare me the details." I declared, turning away from him. His scent had become rogue-like, probably because he had been in constant contact with them. He irks me. "Come on, Haera. That's no way to treat an old friend. We used to be best buddies." Tybalt announced and I halted my steps. Thinking back to those days we spent together in the kitchen broke my heart. Those days that I had no one to turn to and he was right there....but it was all a fake and he was a pretender. "I'm satisfied that you used past tense when you mentioned the fake relationship we had. It would have been awesome if It wasn't just a trick to get your evil plan in motion. You and I are nothing but enemies." I responded without turning to face him. Thankfully, the hallway was free of maids and guards which made me worry less about being seen with Tybalt. I wanted to believe that all pack members of the imperial pack were still loyal to my mate but sometimes our reality was far from our belief. "You've become so stiff. Becoming a princess must have done that to you a-" "Stop talking as if you know me. You know nothing about me so get out of my face!" I yelled. "Actually, I'm behind you, not in your face. That can only happen if you're bold enough to face me." He said, laughing as if it was supposed to be a funny joke. "Go play with the kids, Tybalt. They would appreciate your jokes better." I didn't allow his words to get to me but I regretted my statement as soon as I registered the meaning. The likes of him should be around young and innocent children. He would corrupt the pure minds by planting his vileness within them. "I didn't want to mention that but you leave me no choice. Are you certain I'm the right person for the job? Playing with kids hasn't been my cup of tea but I heard you have a grown man who can handle them better." Tybalt whispered. I understood what he was driving at but I didn't allow him to see the effect of his words on me. "Or is the rumor about my brother's mental health a lie? I heard he his back to being a three-year-old." Tybalt explained laughing afterward like the maniac he was. I didn't know madness had become flesh and blood but he was right behind me. "You bastard! You're to be blamed for his current condition and trust me, I'll never forget that nor would I overlook the fact that you are a criminal." I informed him as I swiveled around to face him once again. My patience was wearing thin at the moment and I didn't like him talking about my mate in such a manner. "Ahn! There must have been a misconception. Your cowardly mate is to be blamed for whatever happened to him and you also contributed to that by leaving him. He lost his mind after you left with your newfound parents. I merely helped him to achieve madness. He shouldn't have come to me in such a state-" "Shut your mouth, Tybalt!" I shouted furiously. The nerves of this bastard! His audacity annoyed me but I controlled myself. My wolf was growling in my head as she pushed me to shift into her form so she could teach him a lesson. "Don't raise your voice at the future Alpha of this profound pack!" Tybalt matched my tone. "Not on my watch, bastard!" I asserted even though I didn't know how to achieve my goals yet. He doesn't have to know that. "You can't stop me, Haera, not even if you run to your father to fight for you. You can never stop me from taking my rightful place on the throne! And to correct you, I'm not a bastard but if you craved the presence of one, the moon goddess had blessed you with the best of them." Tybalt gritted as the veins in his head bulged like it was about to burst. He was obviously calling Alpha Zachary a bastard. "Let me out, Haera! I need to draw blood from him.!" Dezra threatened but I didn't release her. I couldn't let her taste the blood of a betrayal. "You have no right to insult the Alpha of this pack!" I said each of those words with emphasis but I emphasized more "Alpha". Tybalt resumed his hysterical laugh and bit my cheeks to keep myself in check. I didn't want to play his games but he was really pushing my limits. "Alpha? He stole that post from me and I'm taking it back. The process should have begun if you didn't ruin it!" Tybalt bellowed and I snorted because his accusations were ridiculous. He must have forgotten that I was at the duel and I witnessed how Alpha Zachary won fair and square. He was a bitter sore loser. "You'll never take his place, Tybalt and you can't fill his shoes." I mentioned slowly so the words could sink into his rotten brain and mind. "As I said earlier, you can't stop me. Besides, why are you still siding with him after the hell he dragged you through? I heard he has been referring to you as his mum. Is that true? Tybalt questioned "That's none of your concern." Everything he was speaking about wasn't his business and I didn't appreciate his nosiness. "Of course not but you must be tired of clearing up his messes. Poor Princess Haera." Tybalt cooed, ruining the essence of that expression. I watched him pretend to care about how I felt and I couldn't help but think back to the day Alpha Zachary warned me about him. "I heard you broke down recently. Pity! But one thing you should know is that your mate has always been a selfish bastard who comes into people's lives to steal their peace. He did it to me. Don't let him get to you." Tybalt said and before I could even think of a suitable response he continued talking about how misfortune befell him. He blamed my mate for his incapacity. "Is this all you wanted to say to me? Can I leave now since you're merely looking for someone to blame for not succeeding in life?" I asked. "You don't get it, do you?" Tybalt asked stupidly. "Why should I listen to your crazy talks when I've other important matters to get to?" I questioned rhetorically as I walked away from him. "You're still as stupid as you were, Haera. You follow him blindly after how he treated you! Do you even know why he calls you mum?" Tybalt yelled after me but I turned a deaf ear to his cry because I assumed he was seeking attention again. "That bastard was born out of an unmarked relationship. He's an unmarked child who wasn't supposed to be born!" Tybalt barked but I kept walking. His words meant something but I was done listening to him. I didn't even understand his reason for telling me all of this. Did he want something from me? "His existence is condemnation and my father brought him to our home to curse us all. I remember how his mother died like a bitch! She deserved it though. For run-" "Shut the fuck up, Tybalt!" That did it for me. I mean how could he talk about someone's pains as if they meant nothing. I remembered how Alan said Alpha Zachary's mum was his darkest memory that hunted him to date. Maybe that was why his mind picked that age and time when he regained consciousness. I wondered how painful watching his mum die must have been for him. "She ruined my family by giving birth to a taboo. His mother could have just been my father's sex pet but she craved more and that was what got her killed." Tybalt continued and my heart broke for my mate and for the life he must have lived with these selfish people. If Alpha Zachary wasn't supposed to be born then our bond wouldn't be this strong. "Do you know why he has been hiding behind your skirts? He has always been a coward since the first day I meant him. I can't believe I tried to act like a brother to him but thankfully my mum straightened me before it was too late." Tybalt added, glorifying his wicked mother for making him the bad man that he had grown to become. Tybalt told me about how his mother maltreated Zachary which he called putting him in his place. I was pained. To think that, I had yelled at Alpha Zachary the other day. I was no better than the demons Tybalt and his mum had planted into his life. I was no better than those devils. "Are you done?" I murmured, holding my tears back. I wanted to cry for my mate and I wanted to run far away from Tybalt just to be with Alpha Zachary again. I should apologize for my harsh words. My life wasn't rosy but he also had it hard. "I won't let him win this time. I'll make sure he fails even if I've to kill him." Tybalt answered. "You'll have to get through me before you get your filthy paws on him." I attacked confidently. "Easy peasy. Killing you will even make it dinner because you are the obstacle at the moment." Tybalt supplied and I chuckled. "I'd like to see you try." Those were my final words to him before I turned my back on him once again with my mate on my mind. I needed to find him and keep him safe. "You're definitely dying before him. No one can save both of you from me." Tybalt's voice reached my ears as I kept walking toward Alpha Zachary's chambers. I promised myself to make sure that Tybalt doesn't succeed. No matter what it took, I'll bring my mate's memories back. Upon getting inside the chambers, I didn't see Zachary there as I expected. Usually, he awaits my return without leaving the room but he wasn't there today. I panicked immediately due to the thought that crossed my mind. What if Tybalt intentionally delayed me so he could send his minions to kidnap and kill Alpha Zachary? What if they killed him already? My heart thrummed loudly as I dashed out of the room again. I asked the guards at the door if they had seen the Alpha but they said they didn't. Where could he be? "Is something wrong, Princess Haera? You look disturb-" I heard Alan's voice before my eyes took him in. I didn't see him at first but when I did, I couldn't stop myself from asking questions. "Have you seen Alpha Zachary today? Where is he?" "I haven't seen him today, Princess Haera but I'll look for him right away." Alan responded. "Please do." I said, leaving Alan just to search for my mate on my own. I searched through the palace but I couldn't find him but my nostrils picked his scent and I followed the smell. Alpha Zachary's scent led me to the training grounds and right to the isolated part of the training ground where Alan brought the both of us the other day. I found him pacing the arena like he was trying to figure out a puzzle. I ran to him and hugged him without giving him the chance to speak. "What are you doing here? I've been looking for you." I asked, wrapping my arms around his torso. Alpha Zachary tensed up under my touch but I didn't let him go. He was clearly still mad about our argument. "I was doing some thinking like you...told me to...mum." My mate responded and my heart went out to him. I have to protect him at all costs.