Fated To The Cursed Lycan Prince

Rufus’ POV:

It was good to know that the doctor was already waiting at my palace upon our return.

The girl hit her head hard. She earned a moderate concussion coupled with a high fever, so she had to be put under constant observation until her condition stabilized. It was also noted that a thorough check-up would be carried out once the child came to.

The report in my hand spawned an inexplicable irritation, resuscitating from the grave an impulse to destroy something immediately. I now regretted that I hadn’t done enough; I shouldn’t have been too lenient on the robbers and should have given them at least a broken rib or two. Perhaps, it would even be ideal to cripple them.

At this time, the soldiers, who were sent to scour the forest, came back and brought back the survivors of the accident. However, to my grave disappointment, there were not many of them.

One could make out how brutal the robbers were just by looking at the number of survivors, and here I was, more dismal than ever about how sparing I had been on punishing them.

“Twelve passengers died during the robbery. Only six survived, but they were all seriously injured. These people were all headed for the border pack for business and to transport gemstones. Perhaps someone in the group was too high-profile and booked the whole hotel, attracting the robbers’ easily-tempted eyes and always perked ears. That was most probably what got them into trouble.”

I sat at the head of the table with a cold face and listened to the report from my subordinate. There was an inkling of distaste on my visage as he continued.

“About the girl we brought back,” he added, “a little boy was said to be with her. Apparently, they’re siblings, but no one knew them when I asked around among the survivors. I assume they only sneaked into the car.”

“Where’s the boy?” I asked, devoid of any trace of warmth.

“We don’t know. They ran away together when they were chased by the robbers. I think they got separated during their escape. We’ve searched the entire forest, but there was no sign of the boy’s body.”

“Bring the two robbers here,” I ordered in a deep voice, a glower beginning to grow at the bridge of my brows.

“Yes, sir.” He slightly bowed before finding his way out.

Soon, the two robbers—bruises and bloodstains bedecking their limping figures—were brought to me. Yet, even the hint of pain they were feeling that I could perceive just by the mere sight of their condition did not dissipate the urge to kill that was rushing through my veins. I intended to give them some more.

When the robbers realized that they were walking on eggshells in my presence, all their mouths could utter were pleas for mercy while telling me everything that had happened today. Had they realized sooner how desperate they were to live, they shouldn’t have messed around in the first place.

I didn’t bother to throw at least a glance at them who were busy groveling; I, too, was occupied with fiddling the ring in my hand. Even as I asked, I didn’t lift my gaze. “There’s something missing about your confession. It seems you haven’t told me anything about a little boy, yet. Or is it that you don’t want to tell me?”

“He—he got away. Yes, that’s right. He was so nimble and quick-witted that he chose the small pathways. There were areas in the forest that only children could pass through, so we gave up chasing him,” one of the robbers answered in a trembling voice.

Soon after, the stink of urine filled the air. The robber was freaking out that he peed on his pants! Where had his guts of robbing a group of merchants gone now that he was faced with me? Only the weak preyed on the weaker ones.

The frown that was sculpted on my face grew deeper. My mood was completely spoiled. The robbers cried more desperately upon noticing how unamused I had become.

With a wave of my hand, I ordered my men to take them out of my sight. Of course, that was not enough—I sentenced them to death. Either they were to die with their necks hanging on the gallows or through a slow death on the garrote, I couldn’t care less. Their two insignificant lives would not even be enough to resurrect those who died in their hands.

The robbers fainted, juxtaposing the unbothered soldiers behind them. It seemed to me they had just acknowledged how little their confession did to have me spare their necks. As they were dragged out, the halls echoed their screams and pleas at the last minute, but their efforts were futile. My orders were the law in the palace, and unless I changed my mind—which was close to impossible from happening—their cries fell on deaf ears.

After the hall quieted down, I ordered the rest of my men to continue to look for the little boy in the urban area edging the forest. Thinking of the name the little girl had mentioned before she fainted, I guess her brother went with the name either Arron or Ian.

“What should we do with that little girl?” one of the men asked.

I thought for a while and concluded, “I guess the kids had run away from home. Judging from the girl’s clothes, she doesn’t strike me as homeless. Considering how they’ve tried their best to sneak into the caravan to come here, presumably, they wanted to meet someone who’s in the imperial capital. Have someone take the little girl’s photo, and then issue a notice to look for her family through whatever means. I believe that her family will come to us once they stumble upon it.”

I dared to think that the girl’s family must have treated a child as cute as her as their treasure. They must be worried sick and anxious once they realized she went missing. The notice would pacify them at the very least.

“Okay. I’ll do it right away.”

After dealing with the robbers, I was about to check on the little girl, but the guard of the city gate rushed in and reported that the Alpha of the border pack had arrived at the imperial palace.

I checked the time. It was already six o’clock. A cold chortle escaped my throat. Considering how the other Alphas all but her arrived before noon, I could immediately discern how unpunctual she was!

Since she was not taking the royal family seriously, I would like to meet her in person and satiate my curiosity as to how far she would go with that attitude of hers.