Chapter 16
1650words
I was still in shock, but I could feel Fae’s breaths fanning on my nape as she looked over my shoulder, curiously trying to see what kind of gift Jackson had prepared for me this time that could suppress all of his and my father’s prior gifts to me.
“Open it!” Like a voice in my head, Fae urged me.
What could this be?
I couldn’t help but overthink as I slowly opened the confidential folder.
“Wahhhh! Oh, my goddess!” I squirmed back in shock and heard Fae’s ear-piercing squeal. I didn’t even manage to properly read what s on the folder yet, and she’s already rejoicing behind me.
Not content with blowing Jackson’s and my ears, she even stood up and jumped in delight.
“Fae!” I shouted, calling her attention before my ears bleed.
She jumped even more and completely ignored me. Instead, she excitedly pointed at the folder where a man’s picture could be seen. Looking at Jackson, she exclaimed, “You’ll introduce her to a new potential boyfriend, are you?”
Jackson furrowed his brows and was about to say something as he parted his lips, but Fae had already turned her back away from him and looked at me with conviction, firmly saying, “Jackson is right! The best way to forget a man is to find a new one! That man looks handsome!”
“I must say, you have great taste!” she happily praised him.
She said more, but that’s when I realized that with her overflowing excitement, it would take a bit more time before she completely calmed down. So, instead of wasting my time trying to get her attention, I looked down at the file on my lap.
Indeed, it’s the resume of a man.
With a raised brow, I looked at Jackson skeptically. What was he on about? Knowing how protective he was to me, there’s no way he’d just casually introduce a man to me and even call it an exceptional gift.
Instead of clearing things to me, he merely raised his brows at me like I did and smirked proudly.
Knowing there’s probably more to it, I flipped through the pages and found more resumes… and not any ordinary resumes.
All those resumes I’m browsing through had one thing in common: their occupation. All of them were warriors… famous warriors in the kingdom known for their outstanding skills. A few of them were even my classmates from the Academy.
Seeing their credentials, I could only imagine how skilled and powerful they were and definitely part of the top-ranking warriors in the entire kingdom.
Still, I haven’t connected the pieces yet to know what this was for.
But when I flipped to the tenth page, something struck me. It’s the resume of a young she-wolf warrior. Her brown eyes were glinting with determination, and her young and beautiful face had this unique demeanor that made her a strong and experienced woman. It’s like she’d face a lot of obstacles and still fought through it all.
I couldn’t explain it, but it’s like I’m drawn to something in her.
“Sapphire… A woman… Isn’t this a candidate for her new boyfriend? Why is there a woman?” Fae suddenly calmed down and curiously asked Jackson.
I laughed a bit. “Because you were too caught up to it that you went ahead.”
She scoffed and jokingly looked away. When I shifted my eyes to look at Jackson, though, it looked like something had hit him. He looked completely stunned, which was a rare expression to see from him.
“Why? Something wrong?” I asked when I saw how he clenched his jaws a bit.
And before I could properly process it, he was already on his feet and hastily snatched Sapphire’s resume from the folder.
“What the? Why did you do that?” I asked, bewildered.
In my peripheral vision, I saw Fae just as shocked as I was.
Jackson sat back down and glanced at the resume he tore off earlier for one last time before slamming it on the side table beside him. “I remember her. She’s that girl who got expelled from the academy after illegally hacking into the kingdom’s information system!”
I blinked my eyes several times out of disbelief. Hacked into the system? Kingdom’s system??? The supposedly most secure system in the entire werewolf kingdom?
Call me crazy, but if that wasn’t shouting impressively, I don’t know what it was.
“She managed to do that?” I voiced out, still stunned. Either the kingdom’s security personnel suddenly got dumb, or she’s just that skilled, and I had this high hunch that it’s the latter.
Probably seeing the hint of admiration behind the shock in my eyes, Jackson heaved a sigh and said, “I admit, Sapphire is, without a doubt, talented. In so many ways than one. And most importantly, she’s an impressive fighter, but someone with a criminal record isn’t fit nor worthy to be a Beta.”
At first, I indulged in listening to his views about Sapphire, but when I heard the word ‘Beta’, it was as though the world momentarily froze while I heard Fae gasp.
“Did you just say Beta?” I raised the folder on my lap and asked, “Are these candidates for Beta selection?”
Seeing that I finally caught on to what he was trying to say, he smiled. “Of course it is! Those are the finalists after the careful and strict initial selections for Beta have been made. Once you’re officially divorced, you’ll be the princess again and have your own territory, the Wakeland.”
Seeing I was still out of words, he continued, “Of course, a rule needs several excellent Betas. Are you satisfied with your gift?”
“This is way better! Della!” Fae shook my shoulders and added, “You’ll be the first female ruler in the Lycan Kingdom and the first to have a Beta at a young age! This is so cool!”
I intently stared at Jackson for a moment, tears swelling in the corner of my eyes as I was overwhelmed by it. Placing the folder down, I stood up and wasted no time to approach him, wrapping my arms around his nape to embrace him with excitement.
Nodding my head on his shoulder, I said, “This is indeed the best gift I ever received!”
I heard his muffled laugh as his arms wrapped around my waist to reciprocate my embrace and support me so I wouldn’t go out of balance. I was only bending down while he was still in his seat.
Having a Beta was one of the greatest privileges and honors a ruler could receive because it meant I wouldn’t just be a princess but an official ruler of a territory I could call mine. It’s a symbol of power, and therefore, as Jackson said, it was the most important gift I ever received.
Then, his laughter suddenly halted. With a serious tone, he interrupted the inner celebration, “Don’t be happy too soon.”
Letting go of him, I furrowed my brows and tilted my head in confusion. “What do you mean?”
Standing up, he held me on both my shoulders and deeply looked into my eyes. Seriousness was exuding all over him like a real elder brother he was. Solemnly, he said, “Everything has its prerequisites.”
“Before you can fully have this gift, you have to think carefully and make up your mind first. You have to be sure you’ll divorce Kylian.” Something glinted in his eyes, which brought chills to my spine. “I can’t hand over territory to a girl who only had a heart for a stupid bastard like him.”
“But…”
I was about to protest, but he immediately interrupted me. “This is also a request from Dad. You can have a Beta at a young age, but you’ll have to cut off those negative feelings lingering in your heart and sever all ties with Kylian. Act like a real and worthy ruler that you should be.”
Seeing my expression that probably exuded with a bit of fear and second thoughts, he added, “Being a ruler isn’t just about the title. It’s about responsibility. Great responsibility, above anyone else.”
Weighing everything in my heart, I understood what he meant.
A ruler must be strong and capable of difficult decisions. A ruler should be able to put the greater good above anything else. I shouldn’t let a wrecked relationship affect my capability to be a leader.
Besides, Kylian and I were already over. It’s just a matter of making it official.
Taking a deep breath, I met Jackson’s eyes and firmly replied, “I’ll do it.”
Although hearing the phrase ‘sever all ties’ kept echoing in my heart and causing me pain, I knew he was right.
I know… and so I could only blame myself because despite how much Kylian had hurt me and tore my heart into pieces, I was still like a fool who couldn’t stop loving him.
Feeling the pain in my heart that’s slowly crawling on every nerve of mine, my wolf, Trisha, furiously exclaimed, “Kylian made you suffer so much! Once he knows you’re the princess, he’ll surely regret it! Everyone from that awful pack will do! They’ll regret ever hurting you for that bitch, Flora!”
Well… she got that right.
Heaving a sigh, I replied calmly, “And that’s the very reason why I’ll never reveal my true identity until the divorce is finalized. I want to avoid getting more entangled with those people.”
Looking through the window in Jackson’s office, I looked far ahead to the direction leading to the Dark Moon Pack and silently wondered, ‘If Kylian knew that it was Flora who stole the necklace and spread rumors that I was the one who did it, would he stand by my side?’
If Kylian knew who I really was, would he regret what he had done? If he did, would it be out of love or...fear?
