“The pack endures beneath you, my King,” we both say at the same time.
“As one, we endure,” he responds.
Lucan punches me hard in the ribs as we stand up. My father pretends not to see.
“I bet you’re both wondering why I summoned you here,” he says in his deep voice that has commanded wolves in every inch of his kingdom from here all the way to the northern border where the wolves live in snow.
Lucan and I both stand a little straighter. We know why we’re here. At least, we think we do.
We both turned fourteen a month ago, which marks the end of our youth. Now that we’re no longer pups, the King is able to choose one of us to be his successor.
Lucan thinks it will be him—Gods help us if he’s right. His father was the king before mine, and we both have the blood of the great Wolf King Breyor—our grandfather—running through our veins. Both of our claims to the throne are strong, but ultimately, it’s our alpha who makes the final decision.
“There is no right time to do this,” my father says, standing up and wandering to the window. “But as the death of my beloved brother has shown, the world can be cruel, and preparations must be made.”
I glance at Lucan as my father gazes out the window at his land. Lucan is barely breathing, standing as still as a corpse as he awaits his fate. He wants this badly. I know, because he’s been talking about it for years.
He wants the power that comes with the crown. He wants to see the strongest, toughest shifters in the kingdom bowingbefore him. He wants to be able to raise armies with a flick of his hand and unleash them on our peaceful neighboring kingdoms. He doesn’t even care about mates. He wants a harem of women who are obligated to serve him.
I want to be king, but it’s not for any of those reasons. I just want to make my father proud. I want to be just like him.
“It is time to choose my successor,” he says, turning around with a sad look. This should be a happy announcement, but he’s looking at us like he’s about to curse us both.
The neglected one will be cursed with the pain of being passed over. The chosen one will have it even worse.
Still, we both want it.
“Lucan,” he says, his brown eyes softening as he looks at my cousin. “Your father’s rule was short. Too short. But even in such a short amount of time, he proved himself to be a great king. Full of wisdom and strength, I took no happiness in taking the crown from him.”
He sighs as he walks over to the fireplace. He pulls out a thick branch from the pile of wood and cracks it easily over his knee. I swallow hard as I watch the impressive display of strength. My father must be the biggest, strongest wolf shifter in the kingdom. If he chooses me to be the king after him, I don’t know how I’ll ever fill his big shoes.
With a heavy breath, he tosses the broken wood pieces into the fire and watches as the flames consume them.
“This is the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make,” he says, turning around to face us. “I may as well just say it.”
He looks at the golden crown sitting on his desk, all shiny in the firelight, the precious gems sparkling like they’re alive with magic.
His back straightens and he raises his chin. “Kieran will be the next Wolf King,” he says in an unflinching voice.
My legs go weak. I almost drop to the floor.
Iwill be the next king?Me?
A low growl rumbles out of Lucan’s throat. He is staring at my father defiantly.
“I wonder who my father would have chosen between the two of us,” he says, his eyes full of challenge and judgment. “His son, no doubt.”
My father takes a deep breath, looking crushed by all of this. “Maybe,” he whispers. “But unfortunately, we will never know, Lucan. And the decision is mine to make.”
Lucan grits his teeth.
“You will do your duty as a member of the royal family and as a member of the Stormfur pack,” my father says as my head spins. “You will serve your cousin to the best of your ability, and he, in turn, will take care of you.”
“Take care of me?” Lucan hisses in anger and disbelief.
My father turns to me, and my body flexes, my muscles tightening. I raise my chin when I see the pride in his eyes.
“Will you accept this terrible honor I bestow upon you?” he asks softly.
