The curious cat does get killed

Limbs intertwined and lips just a few mere inches apart.

That's how I idealized my mornings with Jane all the time. Admiring her morning puffiness and disheveled hair, I proceed to flick my wrist to let the morning sun rays dance along the walls of my room.

Soon enough, Jane wakes up precisely at the dawn, looking around to see the dim sun light in the room and of course, my handsome face right in front of her. Her head falls back onto my numb arm and she smiles a goofy grin.

"Goo morning."

"Good morning to you too, baby." I greet her back. Quite opposite to our greetings, my face automatically moves to snuggle into her chest. Her warm, scent filled chest which drives me insane at any time of the day.

"Aw you look so cute like this." She comments and a voice is made from the back of my throat. She giggles at my behavior and cuddles me closer.

"How did you sleep, prince?"

"I slept well. Ignoring my cramped arm that is." Upon that, she realizes and apologizes hastily before grabbing my arm which was under her head to bring it back down to ease my sore muscles.

"Why didn't you lift my head and move away?? Jesus, my hair is practically imprinted on your arm Ron." I chuckle at her words and give my body a good kitty stretch, my joints shaking and vibrating awkwardly.

"Eh that's alright. I love it when you're against my chest anyways. So what are our plans for today?" I quickly divert the topic and laugh upon her disappointed facade.

She sighs and gets up to sit on the bed, pondering upon something as I admire her behind. Going along with my thoughts, I slap her bottom and earn a slap back on my chest. Her startled state amuses me until she speaks up.

"Hmm I was thinking about going back to the palace. I have something important to tell you too." She says monotonously whilst brushing her fingers through her hair. I think about it no more, brushing it off and highly expecting its nothing heartbreaking or as such.

—

[At the palace]

We reach the palace right at eleven in the morning under the crispy air of the season, large doors opening up and people bowing to us as we pass by. We were summoned directly by the king upon our arrival to the palace, and we are now here in front of the doors again.

Eventually, these doors open too and we enter hand-in-hand, my gaze jumps around and settles on a very annoying face.

Gerald.

Ugh. I just want him to disappear for no reason at all. His presence makes me so uncomfortable and unhappy.

Ironically, he stands up and walks forth to greet my woman. I clear my throat as a threat when he purges to kiss my woman's hand. He backs off, 'obediently'.

I smirk to myself, feeling like I've just won a battle and am in the presence of my beloved, but my imagination soon shatters and crumbles when the King addresses my name.

"Ron. My boy." He suddenly goes in for a hug that I couldn't help but participate into. I smile up at him, partially genuine, and get Jane under my arms again. At this point, it is basically a physical need to mine to always maintain the skinship with Jane. Don't ask me why.

"Ronald, I've just been discussing about something regarding the powers and general norms of the kingship. Now that you're already my daughter's mate, have you ever wondered that you are automatically the heir to the throne?"

Yes. In fact I did think about that, haven't I?

"Father, that has been a constant and stagnate thing in my mind since days. I would like to hear further about this." I say, urging him to let me know about the rules of this kingdom and what is ahead of me.

"Now that you are Jane's mate, you are legitimately the prince of the wolves. And I might really enlighten you with this, son. Every prince ever has a special category of tests to pass. It is a norm. A ritual for every prince to follow to gain the trust and loyalty of his future people. Only then might you be loved and cherished forever by the people." The king explains.

I swallow the humongous amount of fear down my throat and try my best to not lose my calm. I feel anxious, somehow. I decide to look into the king's mind but nothing about these...'skill tests for the prince' surfaces in his thoughts, for now.

Will I be stripped off my elemental form and my wolf and my human would be tortured? Will they send me off to the cursed alley and test my bravery against the Gridges? Or will they manipulate with my brain through A.I?

Oh boy the last one looks really uncomfortable.

Artificial intelligence of this generation is mind blowing. The technology which is used to bring back the life is also used to snatch those lives away too. The same technology which makes a man's life easier is the same intelligence which is the man's worst nightmare.

Quickly gaining my stance and trying to look confident, I acknowledge the king's suggestions and words with a nod. It was funny how I almost idealized him but then he drops the bomb like these which makes me insecure inside.

My mind starts to wander around and think about what all these...princely ritual has in box for me. They do realize that I'm an elemental, right? What can I possibly lose? I could use my powers anyway.

Suddenly, I'm reminded of my task in the palace.

"Jane, I have something to toil. I'll be right back." I quickly speak my mind and kiss her cheek, running off to a distance and swiftly taking a turn around the corridor.

Finally.

My elemental form is summoned and I change invisible.

I skim through rooms, the visitor's wing of the palace and find a similar scented room. Yes. I can never be wrong with my instincts.

I'm proven right when a familiar picture of the man named GERALD is pitched to the wall as if he was the king.

Is this guy from the medieval period or something??

Who even has a monochromatic schemed painting of themselves on the horse? He looks horrible anyway but the painting...he looks even worse.

Barf-worthy, I must say.

I wave my own thoughts off with a stank face and begin to look around in the room. I make sure I don't leave my scent behind, as it may arise more problems.

Personally, I have least to no criminal knowledge, because I was busy being the hero and didn't realize I would have to go through things like right now.

Firstly, why do I feel so suspicious about this man?

Secondly, there's footsteps shuffling outside the room in the hallway. Oops.

I catch a glance of a worn out, soiled piece of paper sticking out from a bunch of fresh papers.

The curious cat indeed, is killed after all.

"Ronald. I know you're here."

Shoot.