SOULLESS

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

'Kohan I understand why you were hard on Ricard but was taking his title from him in front of his family and pack elders necessary?' Farad asked as they both walked back to Kohans chambers surrounded by guards.

Kohan turned to him with a raised brow, making Farad keep silent with his hands raised in surrender.

'He should be dead by all accounts for touching her, it took every nerve in my body to control my wolf from killing him'. Kohan responded.

'I noticed, but I thought you would sentence him to a flogging', Farad said back

"Then I would be no different from him and it would not have the same result. Many would consider his sentence a clemency but it is actually a humiliation to his reputation. One he would have to live with for the reat of his life', was all Kohan said before moving forward.

'So what now?', Farad asks through their mind-link

'We need to get back to the hospital. My wolf is agitated and wants to go back to our mate, but I need to find a way without raising suspicion, but first I need to talk to beta Lionel. I need to know his stand in all of this' Kohan responds through the link as well.

'I can't imagine what it would feel like to be in his position. It must be hard on him', Farad says.

'Indeed, especially with Ramos still insisting on the marriage taking place. I dont know why it seems to me like there is more than what he is telling', Kohan responds.

'What are your thoughts? Do you think Ramos is lying', Farad asks

'No, he seemed sincere when he apoke about her, I saw the looks in the elders eyes as he spoke. They all hold her in high esteem, but I don't think he is telling the entire story. He's insistence makes the union even more suspicious. I am hoping beta Lionel can help me solve the mystery. Right now he's torn between his loyalty to the pack and his daughters safety, if he knows something; he'll talk.'

They reach Kohans quarters and find Lionel sitting calmly with Arnold talking to him. Both men stand upon sighting the prince but he asks them to seat, while Farad pulls two chairs for the prince and himself to sit. All four men face each other for a few seconds before Kohan begins to speak.

'I know this must be a difficult time for the both of you and do not wish to keep you away from your families far longer than I need to', Kohan said to them

'Thank you your highness', both men respond.

'Beta Lionel, I need to ask you a few questions to help my understanding of this situation, if you don't mind', Kohan asks

'Yes your highness', Lionel responds

'Ricard is your daughters mate, yet you agreed to give your second daughter to him as a concubine. Why?', Kohan asked

'Alpha Ramos didn't give my family much of a choice. Ari had only just returned from the hospital. She was nothing more than a pale bag of flesh and bones, when alpha Ramos came to our home and insisted that Ari either accepted to marry Ricard or she would be sent to the royals as a tribute. Ari initially refused the proposal but only accepted it because Cybele asked her to.'

'Why would Cybele accept her sister as her mates concubine?', Farad asked.

'Because Ricard refused to accept their bond. Cybele believed that by accepting Ari into their relationship, Ricard would learn to accept her. I told her she didn't have to sacrifice herself but she insisted, making Ricard happy was best for the pack and her daughter Oasis and Ari feeling guilty for her sisters suffering, accepted the proposal to make Cybele happy. She didn't do it out of love for Ricard', Lionel responded.

'Why didn"t you want to Ari to come to the palace? Didn't the marriage arrangement bother you? Kohan questioned.

'The entire arrangement did bother my wife and I but as a beta family, our loyalty is to the pack; and as parents we thought it was the best way to protect the both of them. All we could do was support them and hope it all worked out. But now...', Lionel said but stopped abruptly.

'But now what?', Kohan questioned.

'I want to protect my daughters, I want to protect the pack; yet no matter how I think about it, choosing one would mean betraying the other.'

'I assure you, it won't need to come to that. I made an oath to you before the council and intend to keep it. You are a remarkable man beta Lionel, showing a level of restraint very few men can attain. Your family and pack are very lucky to have you. I will not delay you any longer', Ricard said standing up with everyone else in the room doing the same.

'Thank you your highness', Lionel responded bowing before leaving the room followed by Arnold.

'Master Arnold, I wish to speak with you', Kohan said. The older man walked back into the room while Lionel shut the door outside.

'What can I do for you your highness?', Arnold asked

'I have been I formed that your daughter and my brother are mates. It gladdens me to know that duke Farad has a very strong and loyal mate from an outstanding linage of warriors. Regardless of the circumstances, I hope you will give them your blessing', Kohan said.

'I thank your highness for your thoughtfulness and your praises, however I must say that I only give my blessing as long as my daughter agrees to the bond. It is ultimately her choice, not mine", Arnold responded.

'Then we will patiently await and respect her answer, won't we Farad?', Kohan asked looking at his best friend, who looked back at him startled at the question. but quickly nodded unable to talk.

'I believe she is been released from the hospital today?', Kohan asked Arnold

'Yes your highness', Arnold responded with his attention on the young duke.

'Then we will meet with her this afternoon and if she agrees. we will announce the news officially to your pack', Kohan responded. Arnold bowed and walked out of the room.

'We will ask for her permission to accept the bond? Dude, my father nearly killed everyone in my mums pack, just because they delayed their departure by a day. It becoming difficult to control my wolf already', Farad said

'Which is why you need to wait for your mates permission. You need to show restraint, change the narrative and show everyone that you are not your father', Kohan responded looking back at his friend.

Farad nodded in understanding and both men left the room surrounded by guards to the pack hospital.

'Why didn't you tell beta Lionel that his daughter is your mate?', Farad asked through the link.

'Its not the right time', Kohan responded

'But you will announce your news officially over dinner as well?' Farad asked again but Kohan kept walking and looking straight ahead of him without responding.

'Kohan?', he asked again

'A girl was beaten by the duke she has known all her life and was set to wed tomorrow; and then the crown prince declares that he and the girl are mates. How do you think that will end?'

'How do you mean Kohan, this is your mate we are talking about; our future queen. It can only end one way, we take her with us, your union is granted by the king and you get the crown', Farad responded.

'She will be dead before she leaves this island', Kohan responded making Farad stop and stare at his back as he kept walking. Farad quickened his steps to catch up and responded.

'Kohan, I understand better than most that what you fear is losing her, but she is your mate. Even without a wolf she has shown the courage to face an alpha in defence of what is right and I think there is more to her than the pack is telling', Farad responded.

'And that is what scares me the most! The mystery that surrounds her. I am afraid to leave her here and I am afraid to take her with me because of it. No matter which way I look at it, the moment I let my guard slip, she's dead. If not by someone here, my enemies, my brothers or anyone else who considers her a threat or an easy way to get to me', Kohan responded.

'She is our future queen, Kohan. I have faith in her and you should too. I don't expect that it will be easy but she won't be alone, my mate will be with her in our absence and I am sure that she will win as many hearts as she has here. Don't be afraid to let yourself experience happiness Kohan, you've earned it', Farad responded.

Kohan stopped to look at his friend and smiled slightly before moving ahead.

'I need to find a way to take her with us without arousing suspicion', Kohan said.

'Leave that to me', Farad responded.

The duo arrived at the hospital and were surprised to find a large crowd in the hospital lobby, making the environment extremely noisy. The royal guards wanted to break up the crowd to make way for the prince but he stopped them to observe the scene. At the front, Cybele could be seen smiling and receiving gifts of flowers and fruit baskets on her sisters behalf while thanking the bearers. One little girl came up to her and handed her a worn teddy bear saying, 'mummy says aunty Ari is sleeping, can you please give her my teddy bear? It chases the monsters away.'

Cybele kissed the girls cheek in gratitude and said she would ensure it never leaves Ari's side, making the girl giggle. Seeing enough, Kohan nodded at the the guards who announced his presence, making everyone in the lobby bow as he walked through the crowd, headed towards the future luna.

'Rise', he said in his deep voice, stretching out his hand to help Cybele stand up.

'Thank your highness, we apologise for the disoderliness. The hospital was not expecting such a large crowd and this was the fastest I could think of to make the crowd disperse quickly. I also wish to apologise on behalf of my mate for the troubles we have caused. I hope that regardless of the circumstances, you will not hold our mistakes against the pack. We have wonderful people living here and it kills me to think they will have to suffer for our mistakes',

'Think nothing of it lady Cybele. I hold nothing against your pack and contrary to what you may think; I see the makings of a fine luna in you. I am confident that with you, Ricard will rule well.', Kohan responded making Cybele bow to him in gratitude.

'Have you seen your sister?', Kohan asked

'No your highness. my family awaits your order to allow us do so', Cybele responded still bowing

'Then I gladly give the order. You may come see her whenever you like', Kohan responded.

'Thank you your majesty', Cybele responded

'I will leave you to your task', Kohan said before walking into an elevatorwith Farad to Ari's floor.

'She deserves better than Ricard', Farad said to him when they were alone.

'They are fated mates. There is nothing we can do except she asks for help', Kohan replied.

Kohan found no guards standing outside his mates room and felt his heart pound. He rushed into the room to find it empty and stormed out trying to mind-link Gina whilst preventing his wolf from killing everyone he saw.

'Gina where the hell are you?', Farad growled through the mind-link as he followed Kohan who was marching towards her office but didn't get any response as well. Kohan emitted an aura that cleared his path but his anger prevented him from noticing the excessive number of royal guards standing outside of Gina's office as he marched past them and barged in to find his mate awake and sitting on an examination table dressed in only a hospital gown.

Kohan was instantly drawn to her puppy brown eyes, surrounded by rings of grey; adorned with long dark lashes. Her long wavy hair fell behind her like a dark curtain, exposing her long swan like neck, the spot where his mark would sit showing the world she was his.

Gina bowed down upon Kohans entry but Ari kept staring at him unaffected by his aura and oblivious of his title. Farad noticed this, but was more concerned about her swift recovery. Only a few people even among the royals couls heal quickly but none of them could heal as fast as this. There was something about Ari that no one was willing to tell and he needed to find what that secret was quickly. It suddenly clicked to him that his mate would most certainly know everything about Ari, seeing that they were best friends.

'Dr. Gina, we were worried about you. Why didn't you answer through your link?' Farad asked trying to diffuse the atmosphere.

'Forgive me your highness', Gina responded.

'I was checking the vitals of my patient who had just woken up. Ari, this is prince Kohan, the crown prince of our kingdom and his beta duke Farad. The prince spared no expense to ensure you got the best treatments', Gina said looking up at her.

Ari looked at Gina as she spoke and looked back at Kohan.

She struggled to stand but Kohan stopped her.

'You have been through alot, don't move', he said to her

'Thank you, Your Highness', she responded softly.

Kohan loved the sound of her voice and his wolf howled with joy in his head.

'Your highness, you wished to see me', Gina said to Kohan.

'Are you finished here?', he responded with a question.

'Yes, prince Kohan', Gina said to him before turning back to Ari

'Rest here Ari, your wounds may be closed, but you are still reacting like you are in a lot of pain , so I need to run more tests,' Gina said to Ari.

'Can I see my family?', Ari asked

'As soon as all your tests are done?'Gina responded before walking out of the room with Kohan and Farad in tow.

'How is she awake Gina?' Kohan asked through the link.

'You won't believe what I discovered', Gina replied looking at him.