Eero's perspective
I nodded numbly as Claudius' eyes shot dagger at me.
“I know a dignified shifter from a prominent family. His name is Miguel. I see the two of you will make a good pair. Also, he'll be a sure help to ensure your smooth ascendence to the throne.” The Alpha King put down his knife and forks, proposing seriously.
I stopped cutting the pancake on my plate, my eyes fluttering up to Claudius and then bouncing to my expectant father.
"Tell me when you feel ready about it. I'll hook you up with him.” He continued, not intending to drop the topic unless I voiced out a positive response.
Left without a choice, I wetted my lower lip and beamed.
"I'm fine with it. I'd like to meet him and see if I want him as a second chance mate.”
I gripped on my knife as my heart thudded loudly. After breathing out slowly to keep myself composed, I chose to fix my eyes on my plate when Claudius stormed out from the dining hall.
“You'll see if you want him as a second chance mate? Liar! You can't have a second chance mate because you're already mated to me. But go on! Hauled this little lies of yours for long! Let's just wait and see what's waiting for you!” Claudius roared through mind link, rendering panic and trepidation in me.
“Bloody hell, see? He has no manners at all! That's why I don't want him around,” Octavio commented with dissatisfaction, gazing at Claudius retreating figure.
After breakfast, we set off to visit RGC. On our way to the corporation, Claudius continued to occupy my head.
In the car, I caught the Alpha King glancing at me a few times, hesitating to say something.
“It's fine even if you eventually decide not to choose Miguel. You can have anyone else as your second chance mate, Eero. Except for Claudius.” Eventually, he spoke out, breaking the dreadful silence.
Yet that was the least I wished to hear, especially the last name he mentioned.
“I can see through him. He'll only deliver you to your ruin. He's selfish, greedy. You'll end up getting burned by his ambition.”
“What are you on about, father?” I turned to ask the Alpha King as the car came to a stop in front of a skyscraper, with the giant sign RGC atop.
Instead of answering my question, he simply chuckled and strutted to make his entrance to the tall building.
"Does he know? That I have mated myself to another shifter? And it's Claudius? Damn it! What exactly does he know?" I thought to myself while trying to catch up with his footsteps.
We were finally done touring around the building an hour later.
With sore feet and legs, I now stood in front of an office door.
As the luxurious door opened automatically, I looked over my shoulder at Codrus in surprise, who gave me an encouraging smile.
"May I come in, Miss Eero?" He joked as my feet stood still on the glistening marble floor.
“Sure, please.” I gestured to invite him in.
“How do you like this office?” The Alpha King asked while walking in.
“This is the fanciest office I've ever seen!" I couldn't help but exclaim, flinging my arms in the midair as my feet sauntered to the working table with my name plate chiseled on a glass.
“But I don't think I need such a huge space. A small cubicle will just do." I soon sobered up from all the ecstasy a moment ago. "I'll be the happiest as long as I don't knock into Beta Octavio.”
My snide comments on his beta caused the Alpha King to chuckle his heart out.
“Octavio won't show up in this building unless I'm here. Safe to assume that you'll barely bump into him here.”
"This place is just a heaven!" I couldn't be more content about this place.
“Look, I got a thing or two to go through with the board. So enjoy some solitude here. See you in the meeting hall a moment later.”
"Not a problem!"
After the Alpha King disappeared from my sight, I seated myself on the swivel chair.
Just as I was basking in the warm sunlight and allowing it drape over my pale skin, my eyes flung open all of a sudden.
“Claudius just arrived in the building!” My wolf became alert, feeling her mate's presence in the vicinity.
“Why? What's he doing here?” I asked uneasily, but soon calmed down as I recalled that Claudius was a major stockholder of RGC now. He should be here for the board meeting.
My eyes roamed onto the door as my nose picked up a familiar scent. It was Aeliece.
“At last, a familiar face in this kingdom-like building.”
Aelice walked in with a cup of coffee in her hand.
“Now you're literally in the heaven of cruelty!” she commented while handing me the coffee.
I took it as a joke at first, but then realized that she was just telling the truth as we trooped to the meeting hall.
“Will the Alpha King name you a member of the board?” Aelice asked expectantly.
“I don't think so. At least not before I land a competent mate to further grow the business here."
"Oh, that sounds awful." She was pretty upset at my position in the corporation.
"Cheer up, girl. We're not here to fight for something. Let's just take it as an opportunity to showcase our talents."
"Us?" Aelice was surprised at my remarks. Obviously, she didn't see herself working here with me.
"Yes. You're definitely gonna come here—"
I broke off in the middle of a sentence when a sneer grazed my ears.