Chapter 215- Can’t Mindlink.

Chapter 215: 215- Can’t Mindlink.

Third person pov:

Chris was in an excellent mood, sitting in the back of the Rolls-Royce, watching the scenery pass by through the tinted window. He could already imagine the reception waiting for him at the palace.

Almost forty minutes into the journey, his chauffeur began slowing down. Chris looked ahead and noticed the other Rolls-Royce parked on the side of the road.

"What’s going on?" he asked.

"I’m not sure, sir. Let me check." The chauffeur pulled over a short distance behind the other car and got out. Chris waited for a moment before deciding to step outside as well.

Rick was already standing beside his car, looking pissed, while his chauffeur spoke hurriedly to the other driver.

"What happened?" Chris asked as he approached them.

"I have no idea, man!" Rick replied irritably. "The damn thing just stopped here, and now it won’t start."

"I’m terribly sorry, sir," Rick’s chauffeur explained. "The engine suddenly lost power, and a warning appeared on the dashboard. I’ve tried restarting it twice, but the ignition won’t respond. It could be a fault with the electronic control system."

"Can’t you fix it?" Rick demanded.

"Not without proper diagnostic equipment, sir. I’ve already contacted the royal transport department for assistance."

Chris closed his eyes briefly and rubbed his forehead. What a ridiculous inconvenience!

"Fine. Rick, come with me. There’s no point standing around waiting for another car. We have to reach the palace on time."

Rick glanced at his vehicle, clearly unhappy about the situation, but eventually nodded. "You’re right. Let’s go."

Chris turned toward his chauffeur, who immediately opened the rear door. "Of course, sir. Please, Beta Rick."

Rick climbed into the back seat beside Chris, still complaining about the breakdown. Chris followed him inside, and once they were settled, the chauffeur returned to the driver’s seat.

"Let’s not waste any more time," Chris instructed.

"Certainly, sir."

The Rolls-Royce pulled back onto the road, leaving the other car and its stranded chauffeur behind.

***

Chris and Rick were so busy enjoying their drinks and discussing their upcoming visit to the palace that neither paid much attention to the passing scenery. They talked about the royal reception, the people they might meet, and whether the King would personally welcome them.

Eventually, Chris glanced at his watch and realized they had been traveling much longer than expected.

"How much farther?" he asked the chauffeur, then he looked out of the window. "And what route is this? I’ve never been this way before."

Rick stopped talking and turned toward his own window. The forest outside had grown considerably denser, with tall trees crowding both sides of the narrow road. The smooth highway was long gone, and the car was now bumping along an uneven stretch.

"I’m sorry, sir," the chauffeur replied. "The usual route was blocked by fallen trees, so I had to take a different road. Unfortunately, this one is a little longer."

"You could have informed us," Chris complained, wanting to strangle the chauffeur’s neck.

"My apologies, sir. I didn’t want to disturb your conversation."

Chris leaned back with a frustrated sigh. First Rick’s car had broken down, and now they were taking some unfamiliar road through the forest. At this rate, they would be late for their royal reception.

For a ridiculous moment, he wondered whether the Moon Goddess was displeased with him.

He glanced at Rick, who was still looking out of the window with an irritated expression. Was this happening because he had tried to take Rick’s place?

He dismissed the thought almost immediately.

What nonsense! The King had invited both of them, hadn’t he? Rick hadn’t lost his invitation, and Chris had every right to attend as the Alpha of Blackthorn. There was nothing to feel guilty about.

"Just get us there as quickly as possible," he ordered the chauffeur.

"Sure, sir."

Neither man felt much like talking after that. They sat quietly for several minutes, occasionally glancing outside as the car continued along the deserted road.

Then, without warning, the Rolls-Royce came to a complete stop. Rick, who had been growing restless, leaned forward. "What happened now?" he demanded, already fed up with everything.

"I’m sorry, sir," the chauffeur replied, trying the ignition again. The engine made a clicking sound but refused to start. "It appears there’s a problem with the electrical system. The dashboard has gone completely dead."

"What? Again?" Chris snapped. "Are you telling me this car has broken down too?"

"I’m afraid so, sir."

Rick threw his hands up in frustration. "Unbelievable! What kind of royal transport service is this? First my car, and now this one! Do you people even maintain these vehicles?"

The chauffeur kept his head lowered as Chris joined in, demanding to know how two royal cars could break down on the same day. The poor man barely got a chance to explain himself.

"I’m terribly sorry, gentlemen," he said once they had finished. "But the palace isn’t too far from here. We could walk the remaining distance. Or, if you prefer, you could shift into your wolf forms and reach there much faster."

"Are you out of your fucking mind?" Chris shouted. "You expect us to arrive at the Royal Palace naked?"

The chauffeur fell silent.

"Look at us!" Rick added, gesturing at their expensive suits. "We’re going to meet the King, not mingle with a bunch of peasants!"

"Yes, sir. I understand."

Chris got out of the car, followed by Rick, who was still muttering curses under his breath. The chauffeur stepped aside and began examining the vehicle again.

After a few moments, Rick noticed movement among the trees.

At first, he thought someone was passing through the forest. But then another man appeared, followed by two more. All of them were werewolves in their human forms, walking slowly toward them.

Rick frowned. Something about the way they were approaching made him uncomfortable.

He immediately tried mind-linking the pack warriors, but received no response. He tried again, this time reaching out to Chris, who was standing barely a few feet away. Nothing happened.

Rick moved closer to Chris and lowered his voice. "Something’s wrong. My mind-link isn’t working, and I don’t like the look of those men. I think we should get out of here."

Chris glanced toward the approaching strangers before turning back to him. "Don’t be stupid, Rick. We’ve had a bad day, that’s all. You’re getting worked up over nothing."

"But Chris—"

"Enough. Let me handle this." Chris straightened his jacket and stepped forward. "I’m still your Alpha, remember? Leave it to me."

Rick wanted to argue, but before he could say another word, he noticed something strange. The chauffeur was no longer examining the car. He was walking toward the men emerging from the trees.

Then Rick heard the chauffeur telling one of the strangers, "These two are the Alpha and Beta of the Blackthorn pack. And don’t worry, neither of them can mind-link anyone."