Chapter 2

• Finja Longarm
• Overnight the Capital had gone from 510,000 individuals to 657,000 and was still rising. Erolzwald was surrounded by lush trees to the North. With a combination of Evergreen and deciduous trees. There was plenty of hard and soft wood that could be harvested and sold for profit. The West and heading to the South were Anglosperm trees. Farmers grew nuts and fruit that provided a good portion of revenue for Erolzwald. To the East were hills and green grass. This was the area where the manor farm produced a small fraction of the meat that many Erolzwaldarins would eat during the year.
• Erolzwald living locations had been cultivated and were designed with lavished homes. Even the lower ranking families had decent housing for the income they brought in. Most citizens ran their own businesses selling to travellers and traders and those who lived here. If talented and successful, one could make it big in the arts section. As a dancer, sculptor, musician, painter or even a writer. The Alpha King was known for employing the most talented of artists of Dorhellhound.
• With the glamour and colour, there were the downsides of Erolzwald. The crime was high, and those who could not afford the monthly taxes found themselves destitute and living on the streets. It was a regular occurrence each day to hear of a murder sometimes multiple killings. The Alpha King might have told others that the morale of Erolzwald was high in reality there were more who were frustrated and down in the dumps. Tapping out of the living had been more of a thing, bringing the population down rapidly of the Capital.
• The laws were strict and there was little lenience for those who dared to step out of line. For the majority of crimes, the death penalty would be given. Keeping the grim reaper well employed. Only during the Quarterly meeting would sentencing be halted. The Alpha King did not want the others to see what he was capable of doing. Though I was sure words reached their ears a long time ago. Many believed that the Alpha King had a taste for blood and violence.
• If you were in favour of the Alpha King, you would find yourself walking around a bit freely without the threats that dangled over all of our heads. I have to consider myself lucky, I was very successful in my short life so far. I would love to say that it had everything to do with my intelligence and performance. Yet I have a feeling the favouritism that is given my way has something to do with the Alpha King's wondering eyes when I enter a room that he is positioned in.
• Before the Quarterly Meeting commenced, my father had asked me to spend more time socializing and less time in my office. He believed this would be good for me, to be around others and interact with the Alpha King's guests. I translated this to, 'You might find a mate!' Something I did not want, I was happy with the way things were now!
• I would very much rather be behind my processor, working and not frolicking with others who would engage in mundane conversations. I try not to be hypercritical but when many situations prove my point it is difficult to step out of my social bubble. Too many portray a fake facade of pleasantry. Yet knowing in the back of their mind they are thinking about the next lie and ring of rumours to spread to the masses.
• When the conversation first was brought up, I declined my father’s request until I decided it was a great idea to argue with the Alpha King’s son Prince Zek. Even though I made a logical presentation to the dispute that we were engaged in. I found myself being ordered to all gatherings that required dresses, chatter and fake displays of loyalty.
• Prince Zek might have lost the argument that was going on, though, in the end, he had the last laugh. I might have been able to decline my father's request. I could even wiggle my way out of some of the social gatherings, but there was no way I could get out of the clutches of Prince Zek’s mate's hands.
• The second his mate Jezebel found out what was going on, not only did she agree with Prince Zek's orders but she agreed with my father. They all agreed that my social skills required practice. In their words, not mine, they said a toddler has better social skills than I do.
• Jezebel made it her duty to prepare me for all of the events. That there was a need for a different dress for each occasion. That was when I drew the line, I was not going to buy a dress that I would only wear once. I was willing to look at one dress. If a dress caught my attention I would purchase three tops. I was not going to be pushed further than that.
• I gave Prince Zek the death glare when he pulled out his black master card, "Now she doesn't have an excuse! One dress for each event!"
• Crossing my arms and stomping my foot, Prince Zek had won another round. I rolled my eyes at the ridiculous notion that I would find an ounce of enjoyment at these entertainments. I found enthusiasm with numbers, patterns and solving problems. Not listening to the chatter of falsehoods and desperation.
• Finding my mind in the past thoughts, I mentally jolted my head, carrying my thoughts to the current times. I waited in the grand hall close by the statue of our Alpha King. When Jezebel said mid-day, I figured she would be downstairs on time. Like her father Alpha Bluff's, she was just as tarty. I growled internally as I stood her like a nitwit waiting. When it came to getting tasks completed, she had no issues, but arriving 15 minutes early or even on time was not a thing she was capable of doing.
• I had been here 30 minutes when I pulled out my telecommunicator. "How much longer are you going to be?" I asked when I heard Jezebel on the other end.
• She had informed me that she was running late because one of the nobles had stopped and talked to her. Jezebel told me they were heading my way and would be there soon.
• Translation ... She got lost in a conversation, as she always does. Losing track of time, she is about to end the conversation. I was looking at another 15 minute wait, possibly another 30 minutes.
• "Arg!" I said out loud causing the guards in the location to glare at me.
• My attention was taken to the large doors that led to the outside world. I could tell right away that they were from the North. With the black dire wolf emblem, I guessed they were from Unnash. As the first males past the thrush hold, I turned my head in the direction I knew Jezebel was going to come from.
• The hint of campfire and Pine entered my nose. Exhaling roughly I internally was hitting my head on the Limestone walls. 'Not again!' I screamed in my mind.
• I did not find the fragrance combination irritating, actually quite the opposite. Without making it noticeable, I use my peripheral vision to see who it might be. I spotted a male wrinkling his nose, creasing his forehead, his eyes narrowed on me. I could tell by the subtle glance that he was most likely the intended mate for me. Calculating the odds, I came to a hypothesis that he was not pleased with this event. I could concur with him. What reasons he had to be displeased with the joke the fates had been playing, were his alone. I could tell things were not going to end well for me.
• For the briefest of seconds, I thought I spotted a white mist around the male. I inhaled slowly trying to meditate and calm the build up of rage. Between this new event, Jezebel being late and the white mist, I had a feeling this was going to be a long day.
• The Unnash were well known for their brutality first and asked questions later after the damage was done. I wondered if the rumours were true or was my father correct. The Unnash were brilliant in many areas. They had an understanding of a balance that needed to be maintained and cultivated. My father's words could be biassed, considering I have spent my whole life with him feeding me tales of our ancestors who came from the northern territories. My father longed to return to our ancestral lands.
• Yet, I had to wonder how much of the rumours were true. If looks could kill, the Alphas could rip the heads off the strongest warrior of Erolzwald, with their bare hands. And considering my father was ranked one of the top ten, I was kind of cautious.
• While his attention was on the scenery around him, I took a better look at who I believed to be my mate. His hair was pulled back with a leather strap. His brown hair landed in the middle of his backside. The white mist was surrounding him, sniffing the air, there was a hint of Jasmine perfume. Now I was more positive that someone had died and was tied to him.
• Whipping my head roughly, I began looking back down the hallway, so that he would not realize I was looking at him.
• I will do the sensible thing! I will have to observe the group first and analyze the male's temperament that had been intended for me as a mate. If he is ill-mannered, I will do what is needed. However, I had a feeling I would not have to worry about rejecting him. I just hoped that he would be reasonable enough to do everything out of the watchful eyes of others.
• Glancing over at the approaching footsteps, I noticed that it was my father. Introducing himself, he then brought me into the conversation. Against my wishes, I had hoped Father would leave the embarrassing act to a minimum or not at all. Yet his oldest daughter is unmated, what father would not want to further her prospects of happiness?
• I had never been so happy to see my friends. Excusing myself politely, I motioned my feet to my companions.
• I could feel the sight of the mystery man watching me as I aimed my feet toward my best buddies, possibly my only confidantes.
• Hugging Jezebel first then I aimed my embrace for Ire Likliss.
• "You're late!" I pointed at both of them, giving them my unhappy face. "We need to get going! I have a feeling this is going to take the remainder of the day!"
• Both of my friends started to giggle as we all looped arms together heading towards the front door. Again his eyes were on me, and with a great deal of effort, I kept my eyes forward and not wandering.
• My mind wandered as Jezebel and Ire chattered about their day so far.
• I thought about how mismatched this little group was. Many could not understand how a misfit like myself could be pulled into the ranks of high society. The questions that always round about this topic had been, how could the future Queen and Ire tolerate my existence?
• The answer steamed back to when I moved in with my father and his mate Cithra. Prince Zek and Morris had been told by their mothers to keep an eye on me. As the new kid in the metropolis, it would be easy for me to be picked on. It could be said that we did not become friends the second I was introduced to them. It was at the secondary academy that I found my footing with the group.
• During the last year of Prince Zek's education, he had been handed a pile of prospects to wed.
• When Prince Zek was introduced to Jezebel, she displayed jealousy as the original emotion. An emotion that I found difficult to comprehend. Over several interactions, it was very clear to Jezebel that I was not a threat to her future prospects.
• The other females who were looking at increasing their social status were quick to be dismissed upon my observation and report that I gave Prince Zek. I had observed their interaction with others and silently waited for their true nature to emerge. Doing a detailed background check. I knew that the others the Alpha King had wanted Prince Zek to show interest in were not a good match.
• Jezebel had been the perfect companion. Also, Jezebel was not someone whom the Alpha King could push around that easily.
• He might have been the possible future Alpha King, that would arrange his own council, yet he always came to me for advice. The majority of the time, he would do as I had suggested. For the most part, I gave great advice that aided Prince Zek.
• I thought about Beta Morris and Ire with fondness.
• I was 22 when Beta Morris and I started a sexual relationship. Though we both knew there was a ten percent chance he would find his mate, the prospect was low, yet still there. Six months ago, Morris found his mate had thrown me off. The second I was informed that our arrangement had changed. I believed that I had handled the original reaction respectively. Wishing the two a prosperous future, I removed myself from the sight to digest the reality that had arisen.
• I might have taken the news of Beta Morris and Ire being mates well. The aftermath was ugly. I had secluded myself from everyone but my daughter. On the third day of this behaviour, Beta Morris and Ire approached me with an arrangement.
• After Ire had heard about Beta Morris and my sexual interaction, Beta Morris and Ire wanted to change the dynamic of the relationship, which would allow Morris and Ire to continue with the mate bond. While Morris and I would be allowed to continue with our pre-arranged engagements.
• The three of us would be in a closed relationship. If I had found my mate, I was to inform them and things with the arrangement would pause while we waited to see what would happen with me and the so called intendant.
• As odd as this prospect had sounded, it was agreeable with all parties involved. I also found that Ire’s wandering hands were just as pleasurable as Morris's. We were all satisfied with our sleeping habits.
• Bouncing my mind out of my deep thoughts and memory lane, Jezebel clapped her hands together, “who is excited for a day's worth of shopping and gossiping?”
• Both Jezebel and Ire laughed when I groaned.