Chapter 2
At the same time, in the depths of my mind, silent for eighteen years, a low whimper from an inner wolf echoed for the first time.
The sound was soft, but crystal clear in my head.
It oddly vibrated at the same frequency as the Alpha's ragged breathing nearby.
The fated bond that crossed all ranks forced itself awake in the middle of all the jeers.
*****
I tumbled and crawled all the way back to my battered cabin.
I bolted the wooden door and then slid to the floor, pressing my back against it as I gulped for air.
The necklace at my neck was burning my skin.
I tried several times to yank it off.
But the moment my fingers brushed the clasp, a stabbing pain shot through my chest. The pain was so sharp I had to abandon the idea, at least for now.
My stomach was shrunken from hunger, growling in constant protest.
I fished out the half piece of hard black bread I'd hidden under my bed from yesterday.
The kitchen maid had quietly slipped it to me out of kindness.
It was as tough as a stone, but I gnawed on it anyway, crumbs getting all over my face.
Suddenly, a loud hum echoed in my mind.
That icy male voice emerged out of nowhere. 'Put it down.'
It carried the unique authority of someone in command, completely devoid of warmth.
I flinched so hard that the half piece of bread dropped from my hand and hit the floor.
It rolled across the floor, picking up dust.
My heart raced with fear.
Could the Alpha spy on me from miles away, with his mind?
Was this thought-sharing after we were bound as fated mates?
I ignored him.
Instead, I snatched the bread up and brushed off the dust. No way was I letting any go to waste.
I stuffed the last few bites in my mouth and forced myself to swallow, stretching my neck as I tried to get it down.
"Ugh!" A muffled groan escaped my throat, for no reason.
I wasn't the one in pain.
Kaelen was the one hurting, all the way over in the council hall.
The sensation was so bizarre, I could hardly make sense of it.
I clutched my chest, cold sweat soaking through my thin, rough burlap shirt in an instant.
Kaelen's voice echoed in my mind again. 'Who told you to eat that crap?' This time, there was a hint of irritation and a faint trace of weakness. All that usual authority he showed the elders was gone.
I let out a bitter laugh. Alpha, I was starving. How could I be picky?
You were living in a palace with cashmere carpets and eating roasted meat and honey cakes made by chefs. Of course, you had no idea what it was like to be truly hungry.
I didn't shoot back directly because I didn't know how to talk back to him in his mind.
I clenched my eyes shut and yelled in my head as hard as I could. 'Why do you care? If I don't eat this, I'll starve. Or you're planning to send me some gourmet food?'
There was silence on the other side of the mental link for several seconds.
A few seconds later, a wave of warmth suddenly spread from my stomach.
The desperate hunger pains disappeared in an instant.
In their place was a deep sense of fullness and satisfaction.
There was even a lingering honeyed sweetness on the tip of my tongue.
I sat there, stunned, staring at my hands.
Even my hunger-induced shaking had stopped.
*****
Meanwhile, in the royal council hall, Kaelen sat at the head of the long oak table, his expression grim.
The Head Elder stood in front of him, rambling endlessly about the beast rebellion down south.
The elder clutched a thick pile of files, reading out loud for almost fifteen minutes and still going. "Your Majesty, according to the law, the rebellious tribes should all be exiled to the tundra.
"But the forces there are down by three squads. How should we handle this?"
The Head Elder turned the last page and looked up, waiting for Kaelen's command.
Kaelen hadn't registered anything.
He was preoccupied with other matters.
He suddenly stood up and dragged the silver tray in front of him.
There were still three honey cakes left from breakfast on the tray.
He grabbed them and shoved them into his mouth.
They were cloyingly sweet.
He, the mighty Alpha, had never wolfed down food like this before.
He looked like a rogue who hadn't had any food in several days.
"Your Majesty?" The Head Elder raised his voice, looking stunned at the Alpha he always knew as calm and strong.
Kaelen snapped back to reality, nearly choking.
He coughed violently twice, pressed his knuckles to his lips to cover up his loss of composure, and said coldly, "Handle it by the book.
"Deploy two silver wolf squads from the northern border to put down the uprising."
"But the law says the northern border guards can't be moved so easily. What if the eastern invaders exploit the opening—" The Head Elder was about to continue his long warning.
"Shut up." Kaelen cut him off and raised a hand to massage his pounding temples. "All of you get out."