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“Let’s hope not.” I turn away from Arsenio, get back into my car, and turn on the engine.
He watches me back out from the garage, and I stomp the throttle, squealing as I skid a couple feet across the smooth drive and turn around to head toward our gates. I open them before I get there so I can drive straight through, and I wave to the security guard.
I speed the entire way to my father’s fortress, the structure old yet well taken care of, the property has been in our family for nearly two centuries. It’s odd to see something as such outside the city, but the king wants people to remember our powerful lineage and how we have kept control over this territory for as long as it has existed.
Slowing down, I head toward the back gate where the staff enters. My father probably won’t be monitoring any of it, trusting his cousin and the head of his security to watch everything on his behalf. While we’re the foundation of our pack, we do have more than just our immediate family as part of our line.
But I don’t really consider anyone outside of my brothers and sisters as part of our pack. I don’t trust anyone who blindly follows my father’s rule.
The gate swings inward upon my arrival, and I shake Castiel’s hand through my open window. If he knows about what happened, he doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t look suspicious or nervous either. I’m nearly certain my father has kept it all to himself. We probably are an embarrassment to him, and he needs to figure out how to handle it first.
Which is why I’m here.
I drive down the winding road toward the towering stone fortress twice as large as our palace. A long rectangular fountain shoots streams of water into the air, and hundreds of rose bushes line the paths, the floral fragrance overwhelming me, reminding me of my mother. Roses were her favorite, and she had vases of them everywhere. It’s one of the few scents that make me sad, and I roll up my window to help get it from my mind. Because if my mother knew what my father had planned for Holly, she would have murdered him in his sleep. They had a complicated relationship, not unlike many other alpha and omegas, because their bond was arranged. They had to cultivate their union and work hard on finding a common ground. I do believe that my father loved my mother, which is why he was quick to try to betroth Holly immediately after her manifestation into the omega order because she reminded him too much of the woman that had been his world.
Damn. This is why I hate coming here. All the memories of my childhood come flooding back. The cold change in my father after my mother passed away. How it had always been me and my siblings as he chose to focus on power.
But now his reign must end. Gilded Sands needs rulers who care about its people. About their own.
I park my car under the grand covering with a glittering chandelier sparkling rainbow speckles of light across the circular drive. An unfamiliar beta in a uniform opens the door, standing in silence as I head toward the arched entrance lined with metal and glass, and old fixtures and stone flooring that hasn’t ever been changed. Cool air swallows me as I enter the fortress where I grew up, the majestic entrance like a museum. A huge mural decorates the wall in front of me, our family crest matching the one on the flags in our territory, the swords and crown with a rose declaring our power.
“Prince Wilder, what an unexpected surprise,” a feminine voice says, the head of our household staff materializing from the hallway. Aunt Melina wipes her hands on her apron and offers me a smile, holding her arms open. “Come give your auntie a hug.”
I force my mouth to smile, wishing that I hadn’t run into my mother’s sister. She was a complete contrast of her, which I think is the only reason why King Winston didn’t try to send her away to do something else in our territory. She’s been living here since the day my parents bonded, and after my mother’s passing, she helped us growing up.
“Have you seen King Winston?” I ask, giving my aunt a hug.
She frowns and takes a step back, giving me a once-over. Betas tend to have a stronger sense of smell, and she would recognize that I have claimed an omega as my own.
“He’s been in his study for days, having asked for privacy. I’ve been leaving meals at the door. Is everything okay? I know it’s none of my business, but what have you been doing?” Aunt Melina tightens her lips, crossing her arms over her chest. “There were rumors from your cousin that there were a couple attacks.”
I stare at her for a long moment, knowing better than to divulge any sort of information. I don’t know where her loyalty lies, and now is not the time for me to find out. “I’m sorry, Aunt Melina. I’m in a bit of a hurry. I must see my father immediately.”
I don’t wait for her to try to ask any more questions and dart past her, striding toward the royal study, up a spiral staircase, and at the top of one of the towers with a view of Gilded Sands and beyond that, the rest of Saint Vista.
When I reach the top, the heavy door remains closed, though light filters in through the crack beneath. I don’t knock, pushing it open, finding my father sitting at his desk with his head bowed. I stare at him in silence and wait for him to look up at me, but he doesn’t. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so defeated. So depressed.
“You’re avoiding me,” I say, keeping my voice even in tone. I step into the study and close the door behind me. “I would like to get this over with. What do you plan to do, father? I know I’ve disappointed you.”
Tipping his head up, King Winston meets my gaze. “Did you know? Did you know Holly was alive?”
I straighten my shoulders, remaining expressionless. I had expected him to immediately yell about bonding with an omega. Now I realize how wrong and self-centered I was to assume that it was my actions with the woman of my dreams that would piss him off. I was a fool to assume it was because I let him down. It’s because of Holly. And right now? He looks like he’s grieving. He never even so much as frowned after we had faked her death. He showed no emotions. But maybe that was all a ruse, because he shows them now.
“No. I had no idea.” I’ve lied all this time that it’s easy to do so again to his face. There’s no point in telling the truth. I’m already going to be facing consequences for my betrayal.
“I can’t believe it, you know. All this time, I had been questioning my choices. I had thought I had failed as the leader of our pack and as a father. I had been consumed with my poor decision. And now? It’s as if the universe has given me another chance. It’s as if your mother is looking down on me, demanding me to make up for choosing someone unbearable for Holly. I had no idea she despised my choice so much that she faked ending her life because of it. I...oh, son. I’m so happy she’s alive, but I can’t face her. I can’t look her in the eyes. She was willing to lay down her life to protect that omega. And to discover that you, my son, and your brothers, have bonded with her? Someone is setting us up, and we need to figure out who. I’m just afraid that you’re already too lost to your alpha tendencies and your bond to Kinsey to see things clearly.” King Winston rests his elbows on the desk, his face a series of wrinkles with his frown.
I let his words sink in, my mind whirling. I never thought in a million years that my father would regret anything in his life. I don’t know whether or not I should truly believe him. But he looks so sincere. He sounds it too.
“Dad, I don’t know what to tell you. Kinsey isn’t working for anyone. She was a happy accident to come into our life. She was in hiding and passing as a beta. It was our doing, bringing her into our lives. We had confiscated some contraband from a dealer outside of our territory crossing through. She happened to be part of that. A victim.” I feel as if I’m just drawing straws, hoping to see everything he wants to believe.
“Where did she come from? Son, you know that we have an agreement. You’re not to take an omega. I can see how fond you are of this one, but you need to be smart. If you fancy her so much, then it’s fine if you want to keep her around. She can be your dirty little secret. I have my own as well. But there must be another one day when I retire from my position.” King Winston rubs his shoulder, rolling his neck in a circle, his muscles bulging with the movement.
Anger rolls through me, trying to consume my sensible rationale. I need to swallow my pride and my need to shout that there will be no one else and take this as a win for now. Because it gives us time. It helps keep the peace between the king and us.
“I understand, father. Thank you for showing me mercy despite my poor judgment. I’m just so...infatuated with this woman. She is perfect.” My heart picks up speed as I declare my feelings for Kinsey out loud.
My father thins his lips. “She is rather beautiful, my son. I could see why you wanted to bond. I just don’t want you to get heartbroken. We have a kingdom to run, and we need to keep our appearances. If this gets out, then we could have a possible war at hand. Especially if she comes from another territory.”
