CHAPTER 230: SPECIAL INVITATION

I looked at my family. I looked at the Lycan triplets, whose faces were also ridden with surprise—they hadn’t seen this part of the congratulatory visit coming.

I looked at Naomi and the rest; they were all ridden with surprise, and their faces were all ridden with the same question—why was the king inviting me to a party, attended only by werewolves? What was the business of the witches with the moon goddess?

Witches didn’t understand the moon goddess, since they had theirs to celebrate, so why invite one? And wouldn’t that invitation trigger the ’anger of the moon goddess’, as the pack would always love to put it? Was that notion being broken because of me?

Wow, I never thought I would see the day where a protocol as huge as that would be broken because of me. My gaze reverted to the king again. He had a tentative smile on his lips, like he was half expecting me to reject the next words that would come out of his mouth.

"Part of your reward includes traveling to places you wish to, in the period of two years; spending holidays wherever you want, in a span of two years. So, I was hoping that you would put that card to use sooner than later. I was hoping that you would spend a while at the pack. I was hoping you would consider the pack as your first place of visit." He said, and for the first time in my life, I saw a plea flit past the eyes of the Lycan king.

It lasted less than a second, but I had seen it. Was he that desperate to have me in his pack, to have me in his family?

’Well, do you blame him? Seeing you in the beauty pageant had triggered his desire to have you, but seeing the fabled beast bow before you, had sealed your fate in his books. What are you going to do?’

What was I going to do? I didn’t even know. I only knew that I wanted to eat and sleep, before thinking about the wholesome rewards I’ve been offered for winning the competition.

"I will think about it."

The Lycan king seemed satisfied with my answer, because he nodded with a more open smile, and then left the tent, without waiting for his companions.

Talking about companions, Naomi screamed in delight, immediately Mr. Brekan was out of sight, and hugged me tightly, laughing boisterously.

"Geez, Dora! You are the bomb!" She screamed, causing Diana and I to chuckle. I knew then that Diana wouldn’t have a problem being friends with Naomi. Levina though, was another case.

Stealing a glance at her, I saw that she was nursing a frown, whilst watching Naomi fawn over me and retell what she had seen in the field, as if we all hadn’t been there. But this was Naomi, my best friend, and she was still the same.

"You should have seen the look on the Queen’s face." She cackled again, holding her stomach, unbothered that Claire and the rest weren’t joining her in the laughter. They were nursing smiles though, howbeit little.

"So do you think she would be dethroned?"

She asked after a while, her face taking on the mask of seriousness. I shrugged my shoulders, and looked at Mr. Lethon and Peter.

"I don’t think so." Mr. Lethon finally said with a shrug. "Yes, the people wouldn’t trust her anymore, and would start praying to the goddess for another queen, but basically nothing would be done to her, so long as she has the white hair, not until someone else comes up..."

"But Dora has the white hair..." Adam said, speaking for the first time since he came in with his father.

"Yes, but we are not sure of her lineage yet. But don’t worry, we will find out soon enough, we are working on it. Until then, I am afraid that the Queen retains her throne, that her daughter retains her position too. I doubt the little one will be punished unless her mother wills it."

Laura and Diana scoffed simultaneously, obviously angry at the blatant display of injustice and tyranny. But I wasn’t drawn to that, not really. Something else had captured my attention. They were already searching for my family?

My query must have shown in my face, because Peter sighed, took steps forward and placed his hands on my shoulder. "Of course, we had to do that. Even though we are at the risk of losing you, we just believed it would be better for us to know. Who knows? A kingdom elsewhere might be high strung, going maybe crazy because you are not there..." He chuckled, a sad chuckle that made my eyes water.

So emotionally strung up was I that I hugged him fully, before I could think twice about it. "Thanks Peter. I am really grateful for this."

There was a pause.

"Anything for you... Dora...."

I sighed, and disengaged from the hug. "I had actually thought of asing Raul for help, you know with finding my parents..."

Daniel and Noah snorted at that, bringing themselves under the limelight, bringing their foul attitude underneath Peter’s nose and memory.

From the flaring of his nostrils, I knew that he was angry. Oh well ...

"I think the congratulatory party is over, you all can leave now."

Well, there it was.

Naomi dropped a kiss on my cheek, and waved me goodbye. Claire dropped a half hearted congratulations with her brother before leaving. Timothy, Noah and Daniel only nodded at me before leaving. Or rather they all stood by the flap of the tent, waiting for Adam.

Adam took all his time, covering the distance between us. I had a feeling he was about to do something spontaneous. I only hoped it wouldn’t bring another war between the communities.

"Please, come to the party in a month’s time."

I said nothing.

"I will keep trying to convince you though."

I wouldn’t have expected anything less.

"Congratulations on your win..."

I remembered the scarf then. I tried to remove it, but he was having none of that.

"Keep it, you can give it to me when you come to the party..."

The audacity of this male! His words had his people at attention. Then he went ahead to do the worst; he dropped a kiss on my cheek.

"See you next week."