SOULLESS

CHAPTER SEVEN

Alpha Ramon received information in the morning that duke Farad, the prince's right hand man had been attacked and poisoned by a pack warrior. He raced to the infirmary to find Farad in the company of prince Kohan, several royal elders and Ricard. Doctor Frank carefully made incisions into the scratch marks on Farad's back that refused to heal and applied a foul smelling paste on the wounds. The prince nodded at Ricard upon the arrival of his father and he bowed before leaving the room.

'Is this how you treat your guests alpha Ramon, you have them attacked without reason?', elder Wilson spat angrily.

'Elder Wilson, I'm sure there is a logical explanation for this', the alpha replied trying to calm the situation.

'Prepostrous! This is a disrespect to the crown!', the elder responds but stops when Farad hisses in pain as dark colored blood oozes out of the wounds on the duke's back.

'The antidote is working', Dr Frank said with enthusiasm. Kohan looks at everything going on in front of him with a poker face but the aura he emanated made even the royals around him keep their distance.

'I demand the perpetrator be punished, Alpha', said elder Wilson

'Uncle, I already told you the fault was mine. She thought I was an intruder. She did what she was trained to do', Farad responded to his uncle as Frank wrapped his wounds.

'How did it happen duke Farad?', Ramon asked

'My wolf needed to take a run to calm down. He's always agitated on unfamiliar territory. I took a moment to ease my bowels and the next thing I know, I am being attacked.'

'And why wasn't I informed when it happened?', Ramos asked looking at a nearby warrior.

'I ordered everyone not to because it was really nothing, she barely touched me. If it weren't for this poison business, no one would have found out about it', Farad responded

'I want to know which warrior it is and have him brought to me', Alpha Ricard said to the warriors in the room.

'Like I said, it's nothing for you to ...', Farad was saying but suddenly stopped, gripping the edge of a table, shutting his eyes in pain.

'What's wrong? What's happening to him!' , elder Wilson asked while Kohan stood at his full height growling at the sight of his only friend in pain as Frank led him back to the stretcher to sit.

'Where...is..the...girl? Farad asked one of the guards with difficulty as he showed suffered periodic spasms of pain.

'What girl?', elder Whitman asked looking between the duke and the warrior.

'Where...IS...SHE?', Farad asked again with more ferocity, scaring the warrior.

'Who is he speaking of warrior and where is she? Speak up', said Alpha Ramos

'It is Sinder sir, she saw him and mistook him for an intruder, so she attacked him.'

'Oh No', said the alpha touching his nose bridge.

STOP... HURTING.....HERRRRRRR!', Farad roared, flipping the stretcher over and hitting a side table continuously till it broke. Everyone stays clear of the raging duke except from the prince, who moves forward to control the situation.

'Alpha Ramos, I authorized the flogging of the perpetrator, you have my permission to stop it', Razan said.

'Thank you for your clemency', Ramos responded bowing.

' Elders, kindly go with him and report the situation back to me. The rest of you, out', he said in his deep baritone voice.

Everyone left the two young royals alone in the room. Farad's continues showing signs of pain but soon his face begins to calm down with his breathing evening out.

'You order the flogging?', Farad asked the prince

'I did', Kohan responded crossing his arms across his chest, ' there are consequences to disrespecting or attacking a royal, now that all of them see that, they will tread carefully', he finished.

'I need to change and be with the elders', Farad said standing up.

'If you go to her, you'll expose yourself and endanger you both. I'm sure some of the royal elders suspect already and are waiting for you to arrive, so they can report to my brother', Kohan said making Farad look at him.

'You gave yourself away, it was easy to deduce that she's your mate', Kohan said to answer the questions in Farad's mind. Kohan sat on the chair in the room while Farad pulled a table and sat on it.

'Can you talk?', Kohan asked and Farad simply nodded.

'So tell me what happened?', Kohan asked.

Not trusting the surrounding area, Farad sends the information of the nights event through the mind-link.

'So you saw the concubine?', Kohan asked through the link.

'Yes, she is a striking beauty with an uncanny resemblance with Ricards mate, except she has beautiful brown hair, but not as beautiful as my mate's fiery red hair', Farad stated returning to his care free nature, making Kohan roll his eyes.

'Describe her', Kohan said

'Who? My mate?' asked Farad

'The concubine', Kohan responded in frustration.

'Oh her, she's about five foot eleven with wavy dark hair she's,very fair and very curvy. She has a very distinct voice, soft but high pitched when angry', Farad responded.

'She was angry?, Kohan asked

'Apparently so, they were arguing about something Ricard said' Farad replied.

'Did you hear what it was?' Kohan asked again

'Not all of it, only that he called her his mate and she said she wasn't. She was quite emotional about it too.'

'The more we dig, the more none of this makes any sense', Kohan said to himself then looked to Farad and asked, 'Then what happened?'

'He ordered her away from his presence, treated her like she was property. I really felt pity for her', Farad replied.

'Why? She knows that by marrying a mated wolf, it is purely a marriage of convenience.' Kohan said

'I don't think she wants to marry him', Farad told him, making Kohan even more confused.

'You think she's being forced?', Kohan asked.

'I don't know that for sure but I did find something very odd. During their argument he ordered her using his alpha tone but she didn't react to it, she raised her voice back at him', Farad said looking at him.

'Impossible', Kohan said standing up abruptly.

'I know what I saw Kohan, I wouldn't believe myself if I didn't see it with my own eyes.

'Everything put together seems impossible to be true. Why would an alpha male want to eagerly marry a soulless female whom he cannot control?', Kohan asked looking at Farad.

'There must be more to the girl than we are being told', replied Farad

'Now all we have to do is prove it, before the alpha ceremony', Kohan responded back

'The ceremony is in three days', Farad exclaimed

'Then we better get started', Farad replied looking outside the hospital window.

'Do one thing, Go to the dungeons and let everyone know that you've found your mate and it's the girl, make it clear that she will be returning with us back to the palace', Kohan said looking at Farad.

'I thought you said to stay away to keep her safe.'

'That was before you gave your report. Now I need a distraction; the bigger, the better', replied Kohan.

'You want me to risk the life of my mate for this mission?', asked Farad

'Your mate was able to get close enough to attack you, while Ricard who is an alpha wasn't able to lay a finger on you throughout our training. I am told she just graduated from elite guard training, so she can obviously handle herself.'

'Don't patronize me Kohan, just a moment ago you had her flogged, don't think I've forgotten that.'

'Really? I don't care and I won't apologize for my decision. My future vizier was attacked and poisoned. Regardless of the circumstances, I couldn't allow the perpetrator to walk free, to do so would show weakness. Clean yourself and go to your mate, that's an order', Kohan responded and got up to leave the room.

'I won't get up till I get an apology', Farad said

'Suit yourself, your absence will make it easier and faster for the pack doctor to examine her naked b....' Kohan responded but didn't get to finish before Farad rushed out of the room, breaking down the door making the prince chuckle.

Kohan sat for a while going through the facts he had been handed but walked out of the room after he heard commotion across the hallway as doctors and nurses seemed to be struggling to revive someone on a stretcher while two males were arguing behind them. His guards stood on all sides around him to create a wall, watching the incoming crowd.

'What are you saying, Lionel? You cannot stop their union, everything is prepared and the guests have already begun to arrive', the first voice which the prince recognized as alpha Ramon said in an irritated tone.

'You expect me to allow this to continue, after what Ricard has done. He hurt and disrespected Cybele and I said nothing. Now he has led to Ari coming back to the hospital, yet still you expect me to take it lying down. The only reason he's still breathing is because he's your son!', the second voice responded.

'Mind your words Lionel', Ramos growled

'I will mind my words when your son stays away from my daughters', the beta growled back

'LIONEL!'

'ENOUGH!', roared Kohan making everyone around him to bow, including the two men. The scent of stardust hit his nostrils like a sledgehammer waking up the beast inside him.

'What has happened?', the prince asked walking closer to them, making the alpha and his beta to look up at him. In front of them was a stretcher and on it was a beautiful girl that lay on her belly unconscious with whip marks on her back. The moment Kohan saw her, his wolf roared in his head the words he never taught he would hear, 'MATE'. Kohan was clearly shocked and moved closer to her trying to see if his mind was playing with him and held out his hand to touch hers, causing sparks. His wolf tried desperately to communicate with hers but didn't get a response.

Kohan looked at her, with so many thoughts flooding his mind. She was perfect, her face, her skin, her body; everything about her was perfect, he thought to himself, taking in her features as she lay unconscious. He noticed her heart shaped face with almond shaped eyes, with her pink, full but small lips which looked so soft and tempting and her long dark brown hair braided to the back.Which meant this wasn't Farad's mate, he said she had red hair. Then why would anyone hurt his mate. It took everything within him not to kill everyone that surrounded her and take her away.

He growled looking at alpha Ramos, 'who is this girl?'

'She is my son's future concubine your highness', the alpha responded shocking Kohan

'Ari', he whispered softly to her but she didn't respond. He noticed a tear falling from her beautiful face making his wolf howl within him, seeking the blood of the one who dared to touch her.

'Why are you waiting? MOVE!', the prince ordered the medical personnel, who rushed her into the next room. He mind-linked his personal guards to guard Ari with their lives and allow no one to see her without his permission. He also instructed that the royal doctor should join the pack doctors in her treatment. Though the guards didn't understand the prince's interest in the woman, they knew better than to question him and simply bowed to him and left his side to stand at the door to Ari's hospital room.

'I will speak with the both of you privately ', said Kohan to the alpha and his beta trying to contain is anger. The alpha led them both to a board room at the top floor of the hospital, which was probably used for hospital board meetings. Kohan sat at the head of the table and order both men to sit. Alpha Ramos sat on the right side of the prince while Lionel sat on the left looking at themselves.

'Explain', Kohan simply said and beta Lionel began to give the details of what had occurred. The more Lionel spoke, the angrier Kohan got and growled bit still, he managed to hold his wolf in check.

'In the end, Ari took the blows to protect her friend, Sinder from getting flogged. If it weren't for the intervention of Alpha Ramos, I fear what could have happened', Lionel finished

'Alpha Ramos do you have anything to say on the matter?', the prince asked tapping his finger on the large mahogany table.'

'I agree that my son over-reacted your majesty, and I assure you that I will handle the case with fairness, but I cannot call off the ceremony. The reputation of my pack is at stake.'

'I will not sacrifice my children for the sake of the packs reputation', beta Lionel said to his alpha.

'You are crossing the line Lionel', Ramos growled.

'It is you who has crossed the line Alpha Ramos. How can you even think of a ceremony after seeing the state of health of that poor girl? Does she look like she will be ready for a ceremony in three days, physically or mentally?', Kohan asked.

'Your majesty regardless of the circumstances, there is no denying that they love each other', Alpha Ramos replied

'No man in love would ever hurt his mate, whether chosen or not?', Lionel responded.

'THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING BETA', Ramos roared.

'Beta Lionel, leave us', prince Kohan said looking at the huffing alpha before him.

'Your majesty, I...', Lionel says but holds his tongue when the prince gives him a look that saves no room for argument. He stands and walks out of the room.

'What is your fascination with the concubine, alpha Ramos?', Kohan asked looking back at the alpha.

'Like I told the king, Ari and Ricard have been together since childhood. They grew up together, played together and love blossomed. Despite finding out he had he real mate, my son insisted that he wanted Ari by his side.'

'And you simply agreed?', asked the prince

'I can understand your suspicions your highness, but that is because you don't know Ari. Wolfless or not she is special in more ways than one. You don't need to take my word for it, you only need to ask around to know how much people love her, how much Ricard loves her and why I could never refuse.'

'I want my mate, let's go to mate', Kohan's wolf kept repeating as he paced back and forth, making it difficult for Kohan to focus.

'I would rather find out about for myself by talking to her, and until I do, no one is to go near the concubine without my permission. Only her immediate family will be allowed to see her', Kohan stated

'But your highness, my son...', Ramos said

'WILL LOSE HIS HEAD IF HE EVEN TRIES TO GO NEAR HER!', Kohan's wolf roars back taking control of Kohan as he stands and bangs his fists on the table, shocking the alpha. His pupils turn black and his finger nails slowly grow into claws as his wolf resonates his dominance in the room, making the alpha uncomfortable. Kohan takes back control and sits back down.

'Your son will face the royal council for his actions today. The gathering will be summoned at noon tomorrow to decide his fate. That will be all', Kohan said to the man, who stood up and walked out of the room. Kohan heard rain drops falling on the large windows outside and stared helplessly as he tried to calm the storm in his heart.