-Vera-


    "Cecil," Noah shakes her hand, "thank you for hosting us, and for letting Violete with us. I promise you she will be taken care of." "Your Highness," Cecil bows, "on the contrary, thank you foring to meet us. It was very gracious of you."


    The entire exchange between these two strikes me as odd, but I make a mental note to ask Noah about itter; I don''t want to ruin the moment.


    We had both woken up at around six A.M and everyone else was already having breakfast and preparing to leave. To my surprise, Violet was already having breakfast too, right next to Lucas. The mark on her neck not going unnoticed. I had looked at Caleb in hopes for an exnation but he had simply shrugged. Considering we were all having a very peaceful breakfast, I didn''t think to question it, either.


    "How are you feeling?" Lucas asked me when I sat down.


    "Rested," I had answered with a smile.


    He returned one of his own but quickly returned his attention to Violet.


    I was genuinely happy to see this entire episodee to an end, and with such a happy


    resolution. Violet wasing with us; Lucas was going to be able to be with his mate.


    "Hey, what''s the next house we''re visiting anyway?" I asked after a while.


    William gives me a curious look.


    "We''re going back home," Noah had answered.


    "Home?"


    "Something hase up with the Council, we have to... sort it out... before we can continue," William exined.


    "Oh." I said simply, sipping on my tea.


    A moment passes and a thought crosses my mind.


    "Oh, Violet," I turn to her and she blushes, "I was hoping I could talk to your friend before we left, I''d like to extend an offer for her toe train with us at the Castle."


    "I- yes, Cassia. I''ll have her called," she quickly lowered her eyes to her empty te and not another word was spoken between us.


    And so here we are, saying ourst goodbyes to Cecil and this ce, before returning to the Castle.


    "Are we running or walking?" Eli asks, stretching out his arms.


    "I thought we''d walk for a while. I hear you guys have ake close by?" Noah asks Violet.


    "Ah, yes, Your Highness, it''s on a longer path than the original one but it''s still in the direction of the Castle," she says, lowering her gaze.


    "Noah, please," he says, "how long until we get there if we walk?"


    She quickly looks at Lucas, confirming that it''s really okay to call him Noah. He smiles back at her, reassuringly.


    "About a day''s walk," she answers, still refusing to call him by his name.


    "Well then, lead the way."


    "Very well," she smiles and takes Lucas''s hand, leading the party.


    Noah takes my hand as we begin walking


    "You''re a miracle worker, Noah," I whisper to him.


    He gives me a look.


    "Violet," I say, gesturing at her and Lucas happily walking in front of us.


    "Oh, that," he says, "I''vee to learn one thing these pasts months, politics is nothing more than figuring out what people want, and offering it to them in exchange for what *you* want." "And what did you offer her?" I ask, curious.


    I


    "Not her. Lucas. I gave him William''s Council seat,"


    gape at him.


    "And William just epted that?"


    "Surprisingly yes. It''s a mutually beneficial arrangement."


    "I''m shocked," I say, "even then, it''s hard to believe Cecil would allow this to happen." I gesture once again at Lucas and Violet.


    Noah smiles,


    "I think she also realized Violet would make her own decision. If she pushed her hand, I would''ve left her and her House with nothing, and Violet still would have chosen her mate, anyway."


    We stay quiet after this and I look at Lucas and Violet. They''re both chatting away with the biggest smiles on their faces. Even if I hated her when I first met her, she really does strike me as a sweet girl now; one that is deserving of Lucas. After only about an hour of walking, a voice is heard shouting from behind the bushes directly to our side.


    "Wait! Please! Wait for us!"


    We all stop, curious.


    Jeremy emerges from the side of the road, dragging a heavy backpack.


    "Please, please wait for us," he''s doubled over, catching his breath.


    "Did we make it?!" Another voicees from behind him.


    Cassia emerges from behind her brother. Both of them are covered in leaves, a few cuts, and drawing inbored breaths.


    "Cassia?!" Violetes rushing to her friend and hugs her, "I couldn''t find you before I left! Oh. Goddess, where were you?!"


    "We were... we were waiting on the road. Queen Cecil gave Cassia permission toe, but not me. If we left the manor with you guys, she would have known I was nning oning along, too," Jeremy exins.


    "But you guys never came! We figured after a while that you must''ve taken another road, so we ran all this way."


    When Cassia and Jeremypose themselves, they suddenly realize it''s no ordinary party they have joined.


    "Your Highness!" They both yell at the same time.


    "We are so sorry for the intrusion, and we are so sorry to dy your journey," Jeremy bows.


    Cassia has also bowed her head but they both peak at Noah when he doesn''t say a word.


    "Hmm... we......" Cassia begins, but gulps. I can hear her heart starting to beat very fast, "she..." she stares at me, "Lady Vera invited me toe and I... I couldn''t leave Jeremy behind, I...." she''s starting to panic and Noah still doesn''t say anything. He''s just having fun with them but I find it cruel to extend their worry; this girl''s chest is practically vibrating from her elevated heartbeat.


    "Of course, it''s okay for you two toe," I say finally, "I didn''t realize Jeremy would also like to join us so I didn''t think of inviting him, but it''s no trouble."


    The color returns to both of their faces.


    "Thank you!" they both say, bowing profusely.


    "Jerk," I whisper at Noah.


    He chuckles as he takes my hand again and we resume our walk.


    "I never knew I''d enjoy making people sweat like that, but it''s be the highlight of my days," he exins and I roll my eyes.


    Hours pass and we all continue walking in smaller clusters. Jeremy and Cassia quickly joined Violet and Lucas up front. Caleb, William, and Eli are also talking amongst themselves and walking in front of us. Noah and I are still holding hands and just enjoying each other''spany.


    "What''s the emergency that came up with the Council?" I ask, finally.


    He sighs.


    "We''re not doing this anymore," he says after a few minutes.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Doing what?"


    "Looking for a wife."


    I turn to look at him.


    "What?" I ask maybe a little too loudly as Eli turns to look at me momentarily.


    "It''s too dangerous, V. Look at how many unexpected issues we had here. Cecil tried to poison you, for fuck''s sake. What''s to say what the other Houses have in store?"


    "Noah, whatever it is, I can take it."


    "Well, you shouldn''t have to."


    "You know the Council will never allow this, Noah," I stop in front of him, "You can''t just throw away the negotiations, it took you guys months to even have these families to agree to meet with you."Visit NovelDrama.Org to read theplete chapters for free. Some sentences are iplete if you are not reading this novel on Job ni b.. "My decision is final, Vera. You will not put your life at risk for the pleasure of these decrepit old men. And so, what if they don''t like it? I am the King. I can make them disappear and they know that. This wife bullshit is *done.*"


    Noah walks past me, angry. Fortunately, no one else was close enough to hear our little argument.


    I keep walking behind the group, feeling defeated. There''s a reason why I didn''t want to be with Noah at first; I was afraid that, whatever I was, would put him in danger. So many monthster, who would''ve thought that my worst fear would be true; our mate bond is truly a liability for him and this Kingdom.


    Ie closer to Eli, Caleb, and William and realize the entire group has stopped. Eli is taking off his bag and cing it on the ground.


    "It''s time for lunch, doc," he says, taking a seat on the ground.


    I drop my bag next to him and walk a few meters into the woods. He looks at me questioningly, but says nothing; I need some time alone.


    I ce my back against a treerge enough to cover my frame, and slowly begin taking deep breaths. Eventually, with my eyes closed. I connect with my wolf.


    *Hi, pretty girl,* I tell her.


    Shees to me and whimpers lightly.


    *I know.*


    I ce my head on hers as we both takefort on each other.


    A few more moments pass until my concentration is suddenly broken by a ruffling sound behind me.