"Weakling," I heard someone say. I looked and found Elodie who sat beside me, staring at me. I looked at her for a moment before looking away from her with disinterest.
Back on the arena, in the end, unsurprisingly the army won, having ripped apart the slaves quite literally.
After that first round of the whole army fighting a group of slaves. Now they were moving on to individual battles. With one army member fighting a bunch of slaves. It was so individual army wolves could shine and show their strength one at a time.
Most of the slaves of Teneb were captured wolves from the packs father had defeated.
My kingdom was currently the largest wolf pack in all the region. The reason my kingdom was so big and powerful was due to my father's work for more than two decades now to grow the economy and power of Teneb. Unfortunately, that work entailed him destroying other wolf packs by plundering their resources, driving them out of their territories and taking their people as slaves. Whilst our pack was relatively fine before now, it was completely rich and wealthy.
I will never forget the first time I ever witnessed one my father's raids. I haven't been able to get it out of my mind. It's haunted my dreams every night. I had no idea just how cruel the methods my father used to raid other packs were. Though I should have realized it earlier given how my father treated slaves in the kingdom. I still think of that son of that Alpha Andrea. I wondered if he survived in the end. I hope he did.
I was just a naïve sheltered princess, who knew nothing of the struggles of the world. I was ashamed of myself.
I couldn't stand it! Knowing that my life of luxury was backed by the fact that someone else was suffering was too much for me. I wanted to stop my father but what could I do? There was nothing I could do to stop it.
My father was too powerful. He had defeated pack after pack. Was it even possible to stop him at this point? For years I've thought of how I can defeat my father and stop all this, however, my plans always fall short. My father has evolved over the years only growing and more powerful. It felt like he was unstoppable now. Like there was no way to stop him now.
Even if I waited to become queen there would nothing I could change. There was no such thing as a queen Luna supreme, a female wolf couldn't rule on her own. She had to have a consort who would become the Alpha. So, unless my future husband agreed with my views, which most likely wouldn't be the case, nothing would change.
The games continued for a while as I watched slave after slave die. I just wanted to leave but knew I couldn't. Instead, I tried to avert my eyes to anywhere else but the arena.
It was early evening when the games were finally over. All that was left now was the small reception that would take place at the castle
I couldn't wait for the day to end honestly. The afternoon had been torture.
****
Back at the castle, those in attendance at the ball were nobles of the kingdom. The King, Queen, my sister, and I were seated in the front of the ballroom on our thrones. The nobles were in the middle of the dance floor talking amongst themselves. Some were dancing and others were eating.
One after another a noble came up to us on the throne area. They would greet us and then thank my father for how much their business affairs had improved because of him.
Many of the kingdoms' nobles had become wealthier over the years ad that was because my father had provided them cheap labour for their businesses in the form of slaves. This meant they kept more profits to themselves.
After a while Tagryn returned to my father's side and spoke to him for a while about something. I wasn't really paying attention. My father then stood up and stepped forward to address the crowd.
"Nobility of Teneb, I wanted to once again thank you for coming to celebrate this occasion today. Today was not only a celebration of our kingdom's many victories and the incredible prosperity it has reached but also a celebration of the kingdom's future. For I have chosen the man who will be my successor," he announced.
The crowd let out sounds of awe at my father's announcement.
My eyes widened in horror at this. 'What?!' I wanted to say out loud. Had I heard wrong? There was no way…
"I would like to present Tagryn, the strongest warrior in my army. He has worked well in my army and has led it to victory many times. He is truly a man fit to be an alpha and my successor. I will also give him my first daughter to be his mate," he further announced.
Why hadn't he told me this before? I always knew I would have no choice in my mate, but I didn't expect to find out who my mate would be like this.
My father then looked in my direction and motioned for me to come forward. I followed his order and went to stand next to Tagryn. He and I stood before the crowd presenting ourselves as the next rulers of the Teneb kingdom.
The crowd then clapped for us.
"I'm looking forward to our marriage Your Highness," Tagryn said to me and looked down at my chest once again. I wanted to roll my eyes. It was clear what he was looking forward to.
Once my father was done presenting us, I went back to sit down and found Elodie eyeing me furiously. I wondered what her problem was then remembered the crush she had on Tagryn. Honestly, if I could reject him and give him to her I would.
After a few formalities, the night finally came to an end.
With the celebration finally over I made my way to my room. I was mentally exhausted from having to pretend to be okay with everything that had happened today. The events of the day replayed in my mind as walked in the castle hallway. Finding out who my mate would be was had been completely unexpected.
"Good for you sister you get the strongest wolf to be your mate," I then heard a familiar voice say to me spitefully from behind me.