Chapter 62: Alpha Xander
After ordering each elder to organize their best forces and supplies, Kai couldn’t afford to let the discussion veer off course any longer. Without another word, he strode out of the room, leaving the elders to their murmurs.
Elder Dean, the elder of the Bird Clan, furrowed his brows and drummed his fingers against the table. His eyes flickered with frustration as he exhaled sharply. "This Serpent Clan...and, more importantly, the Mountain Wolf Clan, insist that His Highness must have a shifter wife. May I ask why?" His tone was laced with restrained anger. "He is the son of..."
He stopped, inhaling through his nose as if forcing himself to remain composed. "Why can’t you just accept the princess?"
The elder of the Mountain Wolf Clan leaned in, lowering his voice. "Can’t you see it? That greedy king of Alvonia has his eyes on Thegara. I wanted my granddaughter to bear His Highness’s child, but that foolish girl ruined her own chances after what she did to the princess." He huffed. "Coran is already loyal to the dead and won’t even try to change His Highness’s mind. He’d never take a mistress from the Serpent Clan, either. The only ones left are the other clans. I suggest one of you select a beautiful female, just someone who can rival the princess in appearance, and when he returns, send her to him. The princess’s beauty had lured him."
"Don’t count on me for that." The Eagle Elder of the Bird Clan stood, his expression unreadable as he turned away. He wasn’t alone, Elder Dean rose as well, following him out of the meeting hall.
The Bear Elder hesitated but then exchanged a glance with the Deer Elder before sighing. "We can’t risk this. I say we give the princess a chance to prove herself."
Hearing that, the elders of the Cat clans also left their seats. "She needs a chance. They just got married." They growled as they left.
Only the four Wolf Elders and the two Serpent Elders remained, their discussion continuing in hushed voices.
"They don’t get it. We can’t end a war and start another one. We must convince the princess to accept a mistress, or better yet, have her choose one herself. Our women can handle it. Elaika can’t stay here. I’ll take her back to the mountain castle to find her a proper husband."
"He’s keeping the princess locked inside the castle, surrounded by guards. How in the hell do you expect a wife to change her mind?" one of them grumbled.
The Serpent Elder smirked slyly. "We could send her a letter. She wouldn’t reject an invitation to a lady’s tea gathering."