I cautiously paused and looked at Helene and was a little taken aback to see her smiling at me as a man next to her was gawking right at me, as if I had a sin that he could see in my face.
The man had features unlike anything I had ever seen. He had blank eyes, pale complexion, and emotionless expression. He had a colder stare than Jaxon had, and I wasn't sure why it made me feel uneasy and a little apprehensive that he might perhaps wasn't just another common wolf.
After giving him my full attention, I came to the conclusion that aside from Helene's skin tone and hair length, they essentially looked the same.
There was no doubt that they were twins.
When I focused again on Helene, I realized that she was waiting for my response. I couldn't even open my mouth because I couldn't bring myself to relax. I wouldn't be able to respond to her query if it weren't for the hands that slid around my waist and the one that held my hand and massaged my fingers to calm me down.
"We can talk about it inside, Helene."
Nonetheless, I didn't let Jaxon back me up and I answered, "Helene, it's nice to see you again."
She gave me a nod and meaningful grin before saying, "I assumed you wouldn't attend."
I refrained from reacting to what she said since I understood that her words meant something else. However, I couldn't help it. "What will be the reason for me not to? After all, Jaxon asked me."
Because of what I said, I noticed her palm clenching. I felt a sense of victory because of that. Nevertheless, I knew that it was a lie. Jaxon didn't invite me but rather, it was Gamma Betty!
I pinched my fingertip and just shook what I was thinking and observed her clothing instead.
Her hands were wrapped in white satin up to her arms, and she wore a blue dress with black heels. As I scanned more of her attire, I realized she resembled a Princess.
I tried to swallow the sense of retreating, but Jaxon's grasp around my waist instantly made it go away. I glanced up at him, but he was only giving our conversation partners direct eye contact.
When I faced Helene and her companion, I noticed that they were both staring at the area of my waist that Jaxon was squeezing.
"Alpha Jaxon, father has been waiting for your arrival. Let's go inside so we can get started," the man said coldly as he turned his back on us.
Helene just slightly bowed her head and chased after the man who was also dressed like a royal. When they disappeared from my sight, I was able to release the air that I had been holding in my lungs.
"Are you okay?" Jaxon suddenly asked.
I touched my chest to calm down before answering, "This is just an annual meeting. Why won't I be okay? You're just imagining things, I'm completely fine."
He read my face first before he invited me in, and as soon as we stepped inside, everyone sitting at the table turned to look at us.
Seven Alphas were sitting at the long table while in the center was a man in his fifties. On both sides of him were Helene and the pale man.
They were all dressed in royal robes, as I discovered when I paid great attention to their positions. The fact that the Alpha King was in the middle only became clear to me at that point.
When I remembered the pale man mentioned earlier that their father was waiting for Jaxon, it registered in my mind what he had said.
'However, some claim that the Alpha King is childless, thus how...'
'You are all aware of the purpose of this meeting, which is to talk about how to make our alliance stronger, introduce your chosen mates, and decide who should succeed me on the throne.'
The Alpha King turned to face those seated at the table. I was not sure whether it was just my imagination, but his visibly agitated gaze stopped on me and suddenly shifted to Jaxon with a smile.
And next, he looked at Helene and the pale man, "And you all know I have no offspring to carry on my bloodline, not until lately. Jaxon introduced me to my two children from a lady I once loved who abruptly disappeared—"
"Please excuse my lack of discipline for suddenly cutting you off, Your Majesty. But why don't you just focus on what the purpose of this gathering really is," a man spoke while the others nodded in agreement.
"Right, I don't want to waste my time with long storytelling."
"If there's no chance of the throne going to me, why would I waste my time?"
The comments came one after the other but all of them stopped when the Alpha King spoke again.
"Calm down everyone! I am here, Zeus Bizeveron, your Alpha King, and announce to you the change of my decision!"
The Alpha King shouted loudly, but nobody responded, and everyone was eager to hear what he would say next. Even I was restless because I was so afraid of what would come next.
The Alpha bent his head and stared at the pale man, "I have only two alternatives to inherit my throne. The first is my son, Vardon Bizeveron, but I wanted to nominate more of one who can take his position because I am not yet sure in his ability and fear that his action can loosen the sovereignty I have worked hard for."
To hear whose name would be called next, everyone was waiting with bated breath and appeared to be on the end of their lives.
"Jaxon Knight is the only person I trust. I am convinced that he can carry on the dominion that my forefathers started. However, I cannot hand down the power without conditions."
Jaxon was now the one who was perplexed by "condition."
"Only in your hands can I be sure that my daughter is protected before I die, and as a conclusion, if you marry her and pledge in front of the Moon Goddess, I will bestow the crown to you—"
"Zeus, you stated I was only going to find your children; that's not what we discussed!"
"Calm down—"
Jaxon interrupted the Alpha's speech by standing up and firmly pulling my hand, which made me stand up too before he could finish.
I noticed that everybody was watching us, and even Helene panicked. She hurriedly jumped up as well, but Alpha Zeus grabbed her hand, forcing her to sit back down.
The Alpha King's final remarks were heard before we eventually exited that room.
"Remember, Jaxon: When you leave this room with your choice made, it's like you wrecked your parents' dream for you. Their death will always be your nightmare. If you don't like my condition, there's nothing I can do."