AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Except I didn’t know if I could beat him.
I knew other cryptids tended to grow weaker as they grew older, but it wasn’t the same with wolf shifters, especially not alphas. My father had so many in his pack—literally hundreds of other shifters who’d all pledged fealty to him—and he was incredibly powerful still. He clearly disapproved of my military career but was quite the accomplished fighter himself.
“Must we discuss politics so soon?” My mother asked, no doubt recognizing our stare-off and quickly moving to end it. “It’s been—”
“Enough,wife,” the king countered, his voice like iron. “We will celebrate plenty as soon as our son is truly home.”
I knew my father well enough to understand he’d already planned something and completely envisioned it in his head.
“What do you mean, dear?”
“I mean it has been many, many years since our son has been in court, so it is only customary he greets his king properly, as is tradition.”
I felt my temper, white hot and biting, curl in my stomach. Surely, he couldn’t be suggesting…
“Get on your knees and bare your neck in submission to your alpha and king.”
He was. Gods dammit, of course he’d go off on a power trip during our first meeting in years.
I wanted to growl. I wanted to tell my father where to shove it. Maybe…maybe I wanted to kill him?
No, that was too far, though my inner wolf was intrigued. I couldn’t do anything of the sort. Not if my plan worked out.
My father was obviously already suspicious about the reason for my return. No doubt he was worried I was there to challenge him, which I would… eventually. But we weren’t ready yet.
The air between us crackled with tension so thick it was hard to breathe. I could feel anxiety and worry coming from both my mother and uncle, as both were quite uncomfortable around such alpha posturing.
So, I did what I had to do.
I stood up slowly but surely. My movements were stiff yet purposeful. Yes, my father was the king, and could indeed order my fealty, but I’d show I wasn’t afraid of him, and my submission shouldn’t be thought of as a matter of course.
Eyes still locked on his, I walked right in front of him and then knelt. That alone was quite the effort, going against all my instincts, but I knew more was due.
Curse my father and his stupid power trips, his suffocating need for control. When I was king, I’d do away with such pointless, needlessly humiliating, and violating supplication. Submission should always be freely given, not compelled. A good leader knew that.
My father was once a good leader, no matter how far he’d fallen.
But despite the rage coiling in my belly, I managed to bare my neck to him. I was vibrating with challenge, and I knew the pheromones I was pushing out into the room must have smelled of vitriol and brimstone, but I didn’t care.
“Very good, my son,” the king said, and it was like a veil had been lifted from the room. I was still furious, but the challenge between us seemed to have settled for the moment, at least. “Glad to see you haven’t lost all of your manners after hiding in that fort of yours like a pup scared of his royal duties.” Of course, he’d interpret it as such. “Although, I hear your trip here had its own excitement.”
“There’s never a dull moment in the king’s service,” I said drolly.
But my mother was instantly curious. Well, she did say she wanted to know all about what’d happened since I left. “What are you two talking about?”
“There was a fire in one of their lodgings,” my father said in a bored voice. “Apparently it did some damage.”
A quick glance to my uncle showed he looked miffed this interrupted his take on what the borderlands were like, while my mother looked horrified.
“A fire? Dear ancestors, we should summon whoever started it and have them punished properly for endangering the life of our crown prince.”
“I don’t think it was purposefully set, mother.” That was a lie, but I wanted to placate her. I couldn’t explain how Ayla’s curse was just as likely to have a hand in it as anyone else. “We have other things to worry about, such as the borders of Camdaria.”
I was proud of myself for navigating back to the conversation at hand, but my father and uncle completely ignored it to begin discussing a trade with Verdana Isle. The message was clear: they weren’t interested in hearing anything I had to say.
My mother leaned in, though, seemingly happy to have me to herself. “Have you heard we’ve completed a marriage for your sister? Unfortunately, it was with a human, but the political gain was far too great to be bigoted. They do have the absolutely most adorable little girl. She’s four now. Can you believe it? We’re so looking forward to her first shift.”
I was still frustrated at being cut off from having such a serious conversation. “What will you do if shedoesn’tshift?”
