The White Wolf Chapter 157: Start the War

Enzo froze when he heard the king. He didn’t say a word just stood there as Gabe and the queen ushered themselves out the door. He did not miss the looks they tried to hide. 

“I want to be notified the minute the prisoner wakes up,” Caspian said. 

“I will make sure to notify you. His body seems to be healing slowly.” 

“Have our scouts been able to pick up anything?” Caspian asked as he wrote at his desk. 

“Some leads but nothing came of them.” They were racing to find evidence of where the rogues came from and how they entered the kingdom. 

“Keep them searching.” The scouts would have to leave no stick unturned and it still might not satisfy the king. 

They spoke about different areas that had been searched, possible places that had been overlooked, and where to search next. 

The scouts had not stopped looking since being sent out. Enzo laid out the map of the area. As they spoke their hands drifted across the page showing the area in question. 

The pair stopped to take a drink break. Caspian crossed the room to pour two glasses of dark liquid that burned on the way down. 

When they had emptied the contents they set their glasses aside and Caspian retook his seat. 

Caspian’s eyes stared at the page as if by magic the answer would appear. Enzo had not accompanied him to the dungeons but he good feeling he knew how the conservation went or lack of conversation. 

The guards had reported to Enzo that the prisoner had been as lovely to the king as he had been to the prince. Or perhaps more as he had been emboldened by the prince’s tolerance that had been shown to him earlier that day. A miscalculation that he then suffered for. 

The guards lost track of how many times the rogue’s body was thrown across the cell. His healing would be slow. 

“Give these coordinates to the scout team. I want to be sure they effectively looked at this area.” Caspian said writing on his stationary before signing it and adding a seal. Once the wax had dried he handed it to Enzo who folded it up and put it in his pocket. 

Enzo stood there waiting. He hoped that was all the king wished to say to him but he feared that it was not. 

Caspian continued to write orders to be given. The kingdom was vast with many moving pieces. 

“Is she your mate?” Caspian broke the silence bluntly asking Enzo the unspoken question. 

“Yes.”

“Does she agree?” If she did not want to be his mate then there was nothing to be done but try to keep Enzo from falling apart and accepting her decision. 

“It’s complicated.” He trailed off rubbing the back of his neck as his weight shifted between feet. 

“Explain.” Caspian needed to know the full situation before he could plan a course of action. 

“She has an arranged mating.” His voice was flat as he hated to say the words out loud. 

“Does she wish for this?” A practice not done in his kingdom but one that the king was aware of. 

“I do not believe so.” At least he hoped she didn’t. 

Caspian let out a breath and leaned back in his chair. “Well, this is a predicament.”

“You’re telling me.” Enzo snorted in amusement at his situation or else he may cry. 

Caspian barked a laugh. “I do not envy you. What are you going to do about it?” Normally Gabe would be more inclined to handle these situations but with the alliance in the mix, it was up to Caspian. He would need to decide if they would support this mating or forbid it for the sake of peace. 

“With your blessing, I would like to mark her and keep her here.” Enzo held his breath after he said the word. He needed Caspian’s help and approval. However, the king would need to think of the good of the realm before the happiness of one individual. 

“You wish to start a war.” If he stole her away the eastern Kingdom would feel the to retaliate. 

“Do you think it would come to that?” Enzo needed Caspian’s insight. He had racked his brain trying to think of all possibilities. 

“I don’t know,” Caspian admitted. 

They were brothers. Maybe not by blood but by all that mattered. Caspian liked Enzo more than his brother at times. 

“What if I challenge him for her hand?” The thought occurred to Enzo that no one could take her away if he fought for hand. 

He would need to do it before she returned as they would have no reason to accept a challenge once she was safely in their borders. 

“Against her betrothed?” Caspian did not have much hope in that path. The fact that the eastern kingdom held arranged matings told him that they did not have the honor to disrespect the moon goddess in such a fashion. 

“If he is not willing to fight for her then he does not deserve the honor.” On the other hand, Enzo was the embodiment of honor having devoted himself to the crown even if he had to sacrifice his life. 

“It seems your mind is made up.” Caspian could see by the look in his eyes, that Enzo was not going to let her slip through his fingers. 

“It is.” 

Silence hung in the air as Caspian contemplated all they had spoken about. “I leave it up to you. Whatever decision you make I will stand by you.” 

Enzo was stunned. He expected a long lecture and hours of Caspian trying to dissuade him but as he looked at his friend all that he could see was concern and empathy in his gaze. 

“That is if she agrees. If she wishes to return home and carry out the arrangement then you will let her.” He added the stipulation at the end to keep Enzo from taking her away against her will. Males had been known to do such things when they were threatened to be separated from their mates. 

“Agreed.” Enzo nodded his head with a determined look.