Bernice had been up even before the first rays of sun and had gone out to the garden from where she brought fresh flowers. She brought a bunch of them to put them everywhere around the house. By the time it was morning and the family sat down for breakfast, Bernice had practiced how she was going to entertain Kaizan. She had asked her father at least ten times to go and show him the gardens around their mansion. 

"Why are you so excited, Bernie?" her father asked, buttering his toast. He was one of the councilmen and was happy that the General was coming over to the place for dinner. His wife Fuchsia had gone to the market square yesterday to order meat, bread, jams and herbs for dinner. 

Bernice flushed. She was thinking about Kaizan as to how his muscles would feel under her touch. She couldn't believe that last night she had spent only imagining about him. She remembered his scent and it was exotic. She had even taken roses to her room and after the maids had cleaned it, she had sprinkled her bed with rose petals and crushed them by lying over them in order to make her body scented. She shook her head as she fluttered her eyes, "Nothing father," she replied in a low voice. 

Her father laughed. "Are you thinking about Captain Samuel?" He picked up his glass of orange juice and sipped from it as he glanced at her.

Bernice pursed her lips as soon as she listened to Samuel's name, all her spirits going down, all her dreams popping as if someone had pierced needles in soap water bubbles. 

"He will be coming slightly late," her father informed. "He has to personally send sacks of rice to a unit stationed in the east of the pack." 

Bernice winced. What a pathetic thing to do? Captain Samuel didn't stand a chance in front of General Kaizan. Suddenly she got a bitter taste on her tongue and she gulped her juice down in one go. 

Fuchsia intervened. "Oh, stop teasing her, will you Samus?" She knew that her daughter was feeling uncomfortable at the mention of Samuel. 

Samus laughed. "Okay, okay. But here's the thing that I have to say and it is important that there are no mess ups," he said as he gazed at his wife and daughter. "Vaarin will be our next Alpha."

Fuchsia and Bernice stiffened. "What are you saying, Samus?" Fuchsia said, disbelief cruising through her. 

"Yes," he replied in all seriousness. "Yesterday, Kaizan announced it in the council meeting."

Fuchsia's lips trembled. She was planning on pushing her husband as the beta of the pack. Her mind raced and she thought that if Bernice got married to Kaizan, then the General would push Samus to be the Alpha of the pack. "That is a new development!" she said, staring at him, as her heart beat wildly. 

"That is a good thing, Fuchsia," said Samus. "Once Vaarin becomes the Alpha of the pack, trade is going to become much better. The Whiteclaw pack is going to see good times again." He sliced a piece of roasted chicken from his plate and ate it. "I want both of you to be at your best behavior. After all, we are related to an influential family in Silver Vales. We can't just make a fool of ourselves!" 

"Of course!" Fuchsia said with a thrill racing through her mind. "I have prepared well." 

"That's good then," said Samus. "Moreover, Samuel will also be coming here. I hope Kaizan notices him. If possible, I will push him to take Samuel with him to the capital and get a better paying job over there. Once he settles, Bernice too can go." 

The mother and daughter grew uncomfortable. They shifted in their chairs but didn't say anything. 

The entire day, Bernice was readying her bedroom, her dresses and the dining room. She must have visited the kitchen for fifty times to see if the cook was preparing the right dishes. She was overlooking every small aspect of the dishes being prepared. Fuchsia was teeming with nervousness and fear. She was not able to come out of her room, wondering how things would pan out. In her mind she had imagined a thousand times as to how she would approach Olivia and where she would nick her flesh in order to make it a quick work. She had gone to the dining table and practiced a lot so that her plan was carried out perfectly. Ever since Samus had mentioned that Vaarin was about to become the next Alpha, she couldn't think of anything else but kill Olivia. If Olivia was killed, she would get her daughter married to Kaizan. The only thing that she was afraid was as to how would Kaizan take his mate's death. She had heard the mates were ferociously protective about each other and that they followed each other to fade. But she also knew that Kaizan was Ileus' promised wolf. He would lead a life of misery but he wouldn't give up his life. And that is why she knew that he would have to accept Bernice, because she was the only girl next in line after Olivia. 

As soon as the sun dipped below horizon, both Fuchsia and Bernice became impatient. After throwing about twenty dresses, Bernice chose a purple silk dress with a round neckline that didn't highlight her assets but it was the royal color that made the statement. She wanted to show Kaizan how she looked and that she looked better as his wife as compared to Olivia. She had done it the last time too, but somehow, she failed. Not this time. She had opened her hair and curled them. She was wearing a small gold chain across her neck and teardrop earrings. Unlike last time, she put a minimal makeup on her face. She had noticed that Olivia was hardly into makeup and Kaizan like that about her. So, she was trying her best to emulate Olivia's style, but be better. She twirled in front of the mirror and gave herself an appreciative glance, soothing the creases from her gown. "You look beautiful, Bernice," said chuckled at her reflection. "Olivia is nothing in front of you." With that she tipped her chin up in a confident way and walked to the main hall. Any minute now and the two would arrive. She found her father waiting for them while her mother gave her a nervous glance. Bernice sucked in air sharply. Tonight was going to be chaotic. 

Horse hooves were heard on the carriageway and a carriage pulled and its wheel creaked. Bernice gulped down her saliva. She stared at the entrance with her breath lodged in her throat as her father and mother went outside to receive the guests. 

She heard her mother's excited and father's serious greetings as she waited for him with her hands fisting the sides of her gown in anticipation. And when he entered, the world faded. Tall, handsome and with a broad chest, he looked like a god. When her gaze went to Olivia, who was hanging on his arm, she seethed with jealousy. "Just a few more hours, Olivia," she murmured. 

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Music recommendation: "The Phantom of the Opera" by Emmy and Gerard Butler.

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