Chapter 24
WARNING!! More bad language and situations.
The Prince was getting a little worried. Usually, when his father sent guards to fetch him, he was always waiting for him to come through the door and pounce, yelling and screaming.
This time there was nothing. They walked him down a silent and empty hall. When they reached his room, they tossed him in and locked the door. He wasn’t worried about being locked in; he had plenty of other ways to get out of the room.
He walked over to his closet and put on one of his more formal uniforms. Then he went to the other side of the room, where a secret panel was hidden, that led out to the gardens. He snickered as he crossed the room, but when he got to the panel, it didn’t open. No matter, he went to the trap door by his bed; it was sealed shut.
With a little bit of unease, he went to his balcony. When he opened the doors, he was met with bars. He sat down on his bed, this time feeling fear creeping up his spine. Something was wrong. Perhaps it was a military coup, after all. He wouldn’t know until he saw his father, if they let him see his father.
He remembered that he’d left his laptop in his adjoining study. He opened the door and found the room was empty. Literally empty. There was nothing, just an open room and empty bookshelves; even the curtains were gone. He rushed over to the bookcase in the middle and moved it away from the wall, then tapped the hidden panel to find his safe.
He opened it and, to his horror, there was nothing inside. He cursed and kicked the bookcase until he calmed down. He went over to the bell pull and gave it a tug—nothing. He did it again—again, nothing. Usually, when he tugged on it, a servant came running to do his bidding. Now, only silence.
He started to throw a fit, smashing things left and right, completely destroying an old, priceless table and chair set. When he was done, he listened to see if anyone was coming, like always. There was only silence.
That was when he noticed an envelope on the floor by the door. It was an official invitation with his name written on it. It was his father’s handwriting. He opened it. All that was inside was a simple invite: he was to dine with his father in his private rooms at 7 p.m. in two nights' time.
He went over to the bar area to get a drink. He looked through all the shelves and storage closet—nothing, not a single drop of anything.
Well, I guess the cat’s out of the bag now. He is going to have me marry that dog-faced princess. I will probably be under lock and key until we have at least our first child. He couldn’t wait to be King and be rid of all this nonsense. Perhaps it is time that dear old dad met with a tragic accident.
He had been planning it for years now. He even had three plans to do it. Then he remembered that those plans were on his laptop. Shit...
Duncan was asked to go to the King in his private chambers as soon as he arrived. When he got there, he wasn’t surprised to see Jack there too. He gave Jack a hug in greeting and they sat down with their long-time friend and King.
They were worried about him. He looked sick, tired, and older. His son was killing him from the inside out. He greeted them, but then went silent again. Both Duncan and Jack looked at each other in concern.
“Your Highness, please talk to us. Tell us what has you so troubled?”
“As you already know, it is my son that grieves me so. What have I done to make him hate me so much? I already was dealing with heartache when I learned what he had done. Then, this morning before my son arrived, I looked through his laptop. He has plans, yes, more than one, to kill me off.”
“He wrote it all down as if it was nothing more than another chore he would have to take care of. It was in so much detail; two of the plans were almost flawless. He would have gotten away with it for sure. He was just waiting for the right time, waiting for the right opportunity.”
“Then I find out that the money he used to invest in that horrible pack operation came from the people’s coffers. He stole the people’s money to open a business that would rape, torture, and kill innocent children and women—even grown men. They thought of humans as no more than tissue, to be used and disposed of. They don’t think much better about our species either.”
The King went quiet again. Then, he grabbed his head and began to yell out in a voice filled with pain.
“MY SON, MY SON DID THIS. MY SON WANTS ME DEAD. MY FUCKING ONLY SON IS A MONSTER. MY SON, MY SON… WHY?”
“I LOVE YOU, MY SON… MY SON, WHY?... WHY?...”
The King, in a howl of rage and sorrow, shifted into a huge golden wolf, taking off at a run, jumping out the window into the last rays of the sunset. Duncan and Jack shifted and went after him. When they cleared the window, they noticed two other rather large wolves also going after the king. They realized that it was two of the King’s personal guard.
Adira was sitting in her very fancy room, enjoying some alone time to just be at peace and to talk with Artemis about their pup. She was also worried about the King after hearing of the Prince’s betrayal. She didn’t know the details, but it can’t be good if it involves Rising Moon. She heard the most painfully sad howl she had ever heard. She could feel the pain; it had to be the King. Only he is powerful enough to project that so strongly.
She was just thinking of going to the balcony to see if everything was okay when the doors flew open and there stood a beautiful golden wolf. The look in its blue eyes made her heartache for him.
She wasn’t sure what he wanted until he padded over to her and laid his head in her lap, whimpering. She petted his head slowly to comfort him. Why he came here, she didn’t know; she hadn’t even been introduced yet. She let him stay there, softly petting his fur, until she felt him calm.
It was then that two more wolves jumped into the room, followed by her mate and a really big grizzly bear. Duncan went into the other room and came back wearing pants. He mind-linked Adira, asking if she was okay.
“I am fine, Duncan, but why is the King and his wolf seeking comfort on my lap?”
“Perhaps because you have a very nice lap.”
Adira gave him a dirty look. “Really, Duncan? Jokes are a bit out of place at the moment.”
“I don’t know why he came here, perhaps he needed a safe place to let go of his sorrow. You project that, you know. You and Artemis both do; now that you are with pup, it is even more intense. Either way, do you mind if he stays there for a little while?”
“Of course not, Duncan. He can stay as long as he needs to.”
With that, Adira slid off the chair and onto the floor, as the King wrapped himself around her, keeping his head on her lap, falling asleep.
The two guards mind-linked Duncan, telling him that it was the first time since he found out about his son that he had slept. Without waking the King, Duncan put pillows and blankets on the floor so Adira would be more comfortable. Adira mind-linked them all at once, using her Luna abilities.
I don’t care what he has to do today, cancel it. Furthermore, I would like for you to bring in food and some herbal tea. Oh, one more thing, the only naked wolf allowed in my room is my mate. So bring the King some clothes, please. Jack, being the smartass that he is, mind-linked back. Well, I know that you said naked wolves, but how do you feel about naked Bears?
If you parade around my room naked, Jack Dawson, I will find a way to shave both you and your Bear bald.
Duncan started laughing as all the males exited the room. The guards took up position outside the door, and Duncan and Jack went off to get the things that the Luna asked for.
Adira looked down at the King with a sigh. The world is an unfair, nasty place sometimes. I am so sorry about your son. If you like, we will name our child's godfather. That way, you can visit and play all you want, no strings attached.
She started to hum a song she wasn’t even aware she knew: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." As she continued, the King’s breathing became deeper as he went further into sleep.
Lily was cleaning the steps and sidewalks of the main entry courtyard when she saw movement out of the corner of her vision. When she turned fully to get a better look, whatever it was, it was already gone. Shaking her head at the feeling that, for a second, it felt like Alpha Michael’s presence.
It was that same creepy feeling she would get when he would watch her and her friends play in the forest. He would haunt her day and night until she was dead. Letting it go, thinking that it was just a figment of her imagination, she went back to her sweeping.