Alpha Bane''s POV


    I and the Alpha King stepped out of the Castle and went for a stroll just outside. As we walked, I kept throwing cursory nces at him waiting for what he was going to say to me.


    "I''m curious to know what your ns for my daughter are, Alpha Bane. You haven''t been entirely open about that to me and I do want to know," he finally said without as much as looking at me. He just kept walking slowly and I did the same.


    "That''s because I haven''t thought much about it in all honesty," I answered. I knew he''d have some reservations with that answer of mine but I had to tell him the truth. "Well, I do intend to take her back with me to my Pack. Of course, with your permission and hers."


    He stopped abruptly on hearing that and I knew for sure that he didn''t want that. Yet, I had to let him say it. Assumptions were never the right way.


    Heughed. That was unexpected. "Don''t you think it''s too early for that?" He asked.


    "It isn''t. I think it''s been a long timeing. It''s something that should have happened a long time ago had we not faced countless hindrances."


    He looked at me keenly, probably trying to understand what I had just said. He didn''t know our story and I felt it was time to let him know everything that had happened between me and Aurora in the past.


    "From the first day that I saw her at the duel that I had with my brother, I knew that there was just something different about her. I''d never been distracted by anydy in my life before then. I almost lost my life because of that. It was clear to me that I had fallen in love with her and from the way she looked at me too, I could tell that she loved me too."


    "You do know that looks could be deceiving, right?" He asked, still struggling to believe what I was saying.


    "Can a mate bond ever be denied? If Sophia hadn''t disguised with the aid of her mother, we''d have been here a long time ago. You might not have known but the first time I came to this Pack, Aurora had sneaked into my room that night to tell me that she was my real mate; even before the duel."


    The Alpha King gasped in disbelief. "What are you talking about?" He asked, looking so serious.


    Iughed, wondering why he acted so seriously. "I was just in my room, trying to get some rest when I heard footsteps approaching the room. I didn''t know who it was, so I took cover behind my door so that I couldy hold of the person and teach him or her a lesson. Lo and behold, it was Aurora and I wondered what she was doing in my room. That was when she told me that she was my true mate. I did feel it in me at the time but I couldn''t get myself to believe that a stranger was my mate, especially since she was a servant. Little did I know that I was toying with destiny."


    The Alpha King had a very strange look in his eyes as soon as I was done with my story. I could tell that he has a lot going through his mind. Me too. I didn''t know how he was going to take all that I said to him but I had to be frank. If I was going to ask for his daughter''s hand in marriage, I had to be very honest. Besides, honesty and integrity were my watchwords. There was no need to conceal things.


    "It''s clear to me now that my daughter does like you a lot," he admitted. "It''s only a woman who truly loves a man that can go through that length just to be with him."


    I nodded in affirmation. He was beginning to see things my way; just like I wanted him to. I hoped that he was going to consent to my request. Only then was my dness going to beplete.


    "It''s a beautiful thing to see that despite all the hurdles and challenges, she didn''t give up," he continued, still looking sober. "Indeed, just as they always say, love is worth fighting for. It is worth giving your all; your life, even when it doesn''t seem like the right thing to do at the time. Love is to be cherished and not regretted, regardless of the oue. Love is the greatest."


    As he spoke, I knew exactly why he said what he said. It was clear that he was talking about Sophia and his love for her. I could see him almost tear up and I wondered how hard it was for him to fight that urge. He had been through a lot.


    "I agree. It must''ve been so hard for her all these years. She kepting forward and I kept pushing her away because I had thought that Sophia was my true mate. Each time I did that, I saw just how pained she was. I was in pain too. I just didn''t want to betray Sophia. Little did I know that it was her who would do that to me."


    "Well, to be honest, I don''t want Aurora to leave us so early," he said to me in a very emotional tone, just like I expected. "We''re still only adjusting to her as our daughter. However, if she does want to leave with you, just like you want, then I''ll obey her wish. I''ll let her leave with you."


    "Thank you so much," I thanked him profusely with my heart so full of gratitude. I''m grateful for this."


    "When would you be leaving my Pack for yours?"


    "I''m not so sure about that for now. There are still a few things that I need to handle. But I''m guessing that I''ll be leaving in a few days from now," I said to him. "I''m also yet to discuss with Aurora concerning this and so I can''t say for sure what''s going to happen. I do hope I''ll be done with that very soon."


    He smiled and nodded. "You have my blessing, Alpha Bane."


    "Thank you."


    "So tell me. How has your stay been in this Pack? Surely, you must have seen a lot of things that you can do better in yours from your short stay here, right?" He asked as we continued walking.


    "You do know that I can''t consent to that even if it''s true, right?"


    We bothughed hard and kept talking. It was a stroll to remember.