"Well, what is done is done. And if we want to level up our arrangement, sooner or later, we will end up getting married. Both of us are mateless, so I supposed there's nothing that will hinder it," he said.
"But I would never agree to this!"
Rebel chuckled. He knew that I couldn't say no nor reject this idea.
"Bastard, you screw me!" annoyed, I exclaimed in frustration.
Here I am still mourning the death of Stacey. I couldn't apprehend her death and the things she left me in her blood, and this bastard made me sign in something I would agree to?
"Rebel, don't you feel remorse for rejecting your human mate? If you're going to marry someone, it should be her," I told him. To be honest, I'm not a heartless person to disregard his mate. I felt her pain when she slapped me last time. Human or not, she can still feel the connection between them.
"I already told you that I need a strong mate to lead the kingdom with me. Why do you keep talking about that human and me," he replied. "You're pushing me to her."
"And why not? Don't you like having a second mate? You'll be lucky if you're with her," I insisted, arching my eyebrows.
"Lucky or not, the kingdom comes first before anything else. And I'm sure with you by my side, we can lead the kingdom to its glorious days," he said. "Enough about my mate, and let's talk about our engagement," he dismissed the topic.
We ended up discussing it. According to him, the engagement will be held a few months after I am officially introduced to the wolves' society as his mate. Afterward, the engagement will follow, and then lastly is the wedding.
I tried to refuse a hundred times, but Rebel was persistent in his decision. We will get married even without love. The elders agreed about this. It seems like they go whatever the kings want. It was already four in the afternoon when I decided to bid my farewell to him, to which he agreed since he said he had something to do.
I passed through Onix's office when he suddenly grabbed me, pulled me inside his office, and locked it afterward.
"What the? What is the meaning of this, Onix?" I asked him angrily when I entered his office.
"I'm sorry, I was waiting for you to pass by," he said seriously before looking at me. "Take a seat," he said before taking the journal from his desk and then showing it to me.
My eyes widened when I saw that journal. How did this end up on Onix's hand? This is Stacey's belongings. Could it be he's the one who killed her? But it's impossible! In the memory I saw in her blood, the figure is a woman! But how about the wolf?
"I know you're probably suspecting me about Stacey's death, but I'm telling you that it wasn't me," he said faintly.
Suddenly Onix's stern face softened, and tears started to fall from his eyes.
Wait, what is happening to him? Why is he crying?
"Stacey is my human mate," he told me.
I look directly at his face. I wanted to process what he said. I want to see if he's kidding and wasn't serious about what he said.
"We met each other by accident when I was investigating. When I told her about me being a werewolf and that she was my mate, she instantly took me in because she said she knew about us and that she is friends with you," he said to me. "We were dating for a month, trying to get to know each other. She said she was helping you investigate your past and the murder of your clan. I tried to warn her that she might get killed, but she never listened. And then she told me that she has brain cancer and that she'll die eventually," he said mournfully.
I was speechless when I heard what she said about her. I never knew that Stacey had cancer. She never mentioned it to me.
"She told me that she'll help you before she dies," he said. "She even told me to help her and that if she died, I would gather all her investigation and give it to you," he said, still crying. "But when I checked on her, I saw you crying and shouting. And then I realized she was murdered. I tried to come and check the house after you left; everything she worked for has gone. I knew something would happen, and I told her to remember it. You're an elite, Raven. The vampire part of you can see the memory through her blood. One of the elite's abilities that neither of the two clans have, "he said. "So I decided to help you. Let's meet somewhere else, I think a traitor is living in this palace, and I feel like something is wrong. I don't want to tell you here. We need to talk somewhere hidden," he said, wiping away his tears.
"Wait, Onix," I said, a little confused. "You and Stacey were mates? Why didn't she mention this to me?"
"Because we kept it a secret," he answered before pushing the journal to me. "Stacey and I kept our life private. And when she told me about her cancer, I knew right then and there that I was fated to be mateless. And so I promised her to help you. I was starting to dig something up. And I found out something intriguing. Let's meet up tomorrow somewhere away from your pack," he said.
"Alright," I replied to him.
"I wrote the time and place in the journal," he said.
I stood up and then said goodbye to him. I was suddenly surprised when Ceona appeared behind me as I closed the door.
"What are you doing inside Elder Onix's Office?" she asked, smiling.
I was startled by what she said, but I immediately gained my composure and smiled at her.
"We talk about the engagement day, Maam," I replied, smiling at her.
"Shouldn't the king be with you when you're talking about the engagement?" she asked, unconvinced.
"He's the one who told me to reset the date," I lied, but I never broke eye contact with her.
After a few seconds, she heaved a sigh.
"Alright. I was wrong to judge you. I want to see this lucky she-wolf who captured the king's heart instead of his mate," she said before turning around and walking away from me.