Nicholas kept himself busy after he returned from Hauntingen. He spent the next few weeks in the capital to find ways to change the way things were done in Riga. He had met with the higher officials and the nobles in the capital, and most of them understood him and supported him.
However, the people of Riga, the commoners had been brainwashed for decades to hate lycans and consider them as monsters, the enemy. These people didn't understand that politics changed and the royal family's stance toward the former enemy had changed.
Nicholas knew he should approach this delicate issue carefully because during the decades-long war, there had been numerous victims fell on both sides. Many humans were killed by lycans, and so were lycans who were hunted, tortured, and killed.
Promoting peace between the two races would be one hell of a job and he would face a lot of challenges from both parties. However, he knew, if he wanted his children to have a good life in Riga and can be safe, he needed to make sure that lycans were no longer treated and seen as monsters like they were in the past.
Another consideration for Nicholas to do this was because he realized Armeria which was now overtaken by a powerful lycan pack was looking to expand their authority and it was only a matter of time until they would try to invade Riga, among other countries.
If Riga wanted to protect themselves from this invasion, they had to mobilize every power and resource they had and work together to fend off the potential enemy. There were many small werewolf packs scattered in Riga, in hiding, for fear of being hunted.
They stayed in Riga because this was the land they knew. The fact that they were not acknowledged as citizens because of their race only meant they had to hide their identities. They couldn't leave their motherland even though the previous king declared war on their race.
Nicholas knew these small packs wouldn't appreciate if Riga fell to the enemy, especially if the enemy was a powerful werewolf pack with a bad reputation, led by a ruthless Alpha.
From his spies and advisors, Nicholas found out that most werewolves were only loyal to their respective Alphas, except for the rogue werewolves. They didn't have a supreme leader or a king after the last one died twenty years ago.
Several Alphas were trying to take that leadership position by uniting packs after packs under their wings, but none was successful so far to get the trust and devotion of all members of their tribes.
So, without one sole leader, Nicholas thought he could still have a chance to fight the Obsidian Sand Pack from invading Riga.
He realized Alpha Elias, the Alpha of the Obsidian Sand Pack, wanted to be the lycan king and not all members of the tribe were supportive of this. Nicholas got some information that at least two other Alphas were strong candidates for the title. If he could convince them to work with him, they could stop Alpha Elias from becoming more powerful.
They could stop Alpha Elias, and Nicholas could save his kingdom from destruction. This was one of so many things that kept him busy for weeks, coordinating from the palace, attending meetings here and there, and visiting small packs within the kingdom.
It helped a little bit to distract his mind from Sophie, but not much. At the end of the day, after he ended a meeting and lay down on his bed, feeling tired, he would still think about her, so much that he couldn't sleep.
But at least a little bit was better than none. He could at least keep his mind from thinking about her when he was working himself to the bone. Had he not done it, he thought he would go crazy. Crazy with regret. Crazy in love. Crazy about her.
"Your Highness, the Alpha of the Red Moon Pack is willing to meet you," a spy came to see Nicholas in his study after the king ended a meeting with his advisors.
This spy called Jonah was sent to approach Alphas of smaller werewolf packs in Riga and he had been meeting and talking with so many people by now. He brought letters from the king to give to the Alphas to invite them to meet him, either in the palace or in their place, whichever suited them.
This work was highly dangerous because the lycans might see him as the enemy and instead of accepting the invitation, they would try to kill him. He had escaped death more than twice now. Nicholas really appreciated his work and rewarded him handsomely.
Today, Jonah finally brought the good news that one of the packs was willing to open a conversation with the king and they invited Nicholas to come and visit them in Friar Hill.
"However, to test your sincerity, they want you to come alone, Your Majesty," Jonah said worriedly. His face was filled with uneasiness. "I am sorry, I failed to convince them to—"
Nicholas waved his hand, "That's fine. As long as they are willing to meet, I am fine with meeting them alone."
He knew the Lycans must be testing his sincerity by demanding him to come alone. The war for decades had left both parties with so many lives killed. They couldn't trust him so easily now.
It was his father who declared war on their race and now Nicholas wanted to talk about peace? It must be so hard to believe. He couldn't blame them.
"But, Your Majesty, your safety is paramount," Jonah spoke haltingly. "The Red Moon pack is quite small, but they have fierce warriors. I fought with one of them and he was really good. I—"
"Johan, stop it," Nicholas furrowed his brows at his spy. "Are you doubting me and my capabilities? I can protect myself."
Nicholas didn't want to reveal that he was also an Alpha. Maybe it was the compensation given to him by the Moon Goddes. He was turned with the intention to hurt his family and embarrass them, but the evil Alpha who bit him didn't expect that the boy would become an Alpha, and now, he was no less powerful than an average Alpha.
Nicholas had even fought with Leland Salazar, and he could protect himself well. He could fight back and hurt Leland. That should say something about his capabilities. Now, Nicholas was convinced that he was powerful enough to deal with this small pack, the Red Moon Pack.
"What about letting the Royal Lycan Hunters come with you, Your Majesty?" Jonah asked again. "Ifanything happened to you... there will be no Riga."
Nicholas shook his head impatiently. "Jonah, they asked me to come alone because they are testing my sincerity. What do you think will happen if I sneakily brought the ROYAL LYCAN HUNTERS with me?"
Jonah went silent. He knew the king was right. However, he felt so worried and distraught. Was the king suicidal? Going alone to meet the lycans was the same as courting death!
Uf.. he could only look away and hide his distress.
Nicholas patted Jonah's back and spoke calmly. "Tell me more. What else did the Alpha say."
***
In the royal palace of Armeria, Eloise was sitting on a beautiful sofa, looking outside the huge windows facing the beautiful garden. Her lips pursed and she was in a bad mood.
Alpha Elias who just entered their chamber looked interested in what she was doing. He walked to her and rubbed her hair.
"Why do you look upset? Did something bother your mind?"
Eloise looked up and stared at her husband coldly. She just heard the news from a local witch in Hastings that Leland Salazar or Duke Romanov was preparing to welcome the birth of his child. The reclusive man threw a feast to celebrate it.
This was something unthinkable when Eloise thought of Leland. The man was so reclusive that she could never see him throwing a party or any celebrations. He didn't even like meeting people. So, did this mean he was now a changed man?
He must be super happy with the upcoming birth of that stupid child that he did such a thing. Eloise clenched her fists and tried to get rid of the man's handsome face from her mind.
Leland didn't learn his lesson, it seemed. He had lost his unborn children from Sophie because his own mother plotted to kill them. It was true that their initial target was that wench, but apparently, the poison was absorbed by the babies she was carrying. Those babies saved her stupid life.
And now she dared get pregnant again with Leland's child? This was unacceptable!
Eloise felt jealousy burn her entire being. She wished she could teleport and be in Hastings right at this instance. She would kill Sophie with her bare hands.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Alpha Elias furrowed his brows in displeasure. He could feel his wife was feeling angry and he knew she was filled with a murderous aura.
He touched her arm and tugged her chin to look at him. "Answer me."
"Don't touch me," Eloise snapped at him. She tried to pull her arm, but Elias was stronger than her. He gripped harder. Eloise winced in pain. "Ouch... that hurts!"
"You don't speak like that to your husband," Alpha Elias narrowed his eyes dangerously.
He hated it when Eloise acted coldly toward him. In the last few years, he finally realized that she didn't love him and that made him feel so angry.
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