The Rejected Luna’s Prince By Aurora Archer
Chapter 48 – Dad
(Caspien)
We shifted faster than I ever had, that f*uc*king bastard. I had a hunch we all did, but some small part of me didn’t realize he would have been this s.tupid.
I took off running, pushing through the thick trees that hindered us. I would run until I found him and rip his throat out.
I thought I felt anger before, but this was all-consuming. My vision was blurred, darkness seemed to pulse around the edges. The only thing I heard was my heartbeat and the sound of my rushing blood. Everything inside of me was consumed by anger, hatred, and a need for his blood.
A light brown world jumped in front of me snarling. I growled back at Holden. I forgot how fast that f*uc*ker was. I pushed past him and he nipped at my heel. I turned to him growling again and he cowered under my aura.
Stand down I commanded
He stood, on shaky legs, fighting me.
You know this isn’t the right way. You will f*uc*k everything up, and there will be a s*hi*t storm in your wake
I don’t care! – I yelled through the link, snarling at him.
You have to. You could start a war
Good – I snarled, but he had a point.
This isn’t the leader Emmett needs to see
I froze, that f*uc*ker.
I know that was low, but
I took a deep breath, still shaking, my anger wasn’t subdued, only leashed a bit.
I’m not leaving until you shift back
Holden was the only person that could get to me when I was like this. Griffen still questioned his role; he was too compliant.
Come on, man. – He pleaded once I didn’t shift – Alpha Jasper isn’t in our jurisdiction. We need to speak to The Council and The Elders. Then he’s all yours.
I snarled at the mention of that bastard’s name, I wanted to run to him now and gut him in front of his pack.
Also, you’re running the wrong way
I sighed. Atlas, my usually puppy-like wolf, was fighting me. He didn’t want to give me back control, he demanded blood.
Fine
I promised Atlas that he would pay. Publicly. But it did little to calm him down.
I shifted back, but my body wouldn’t stop shaking. Holden shifted after me and looked relieved.
“You know I hate being the rational one,” He slung his arm around me and started leading us back to the clearing.
“I want the council on the phone in the car on the way back and a meeting with The Elders. Today. Tell them I won’t take no for an answer.” It was dangerous to make demands of The Elders, but that was the least of my concers.
Holden nodded, “I’ll make it happen. The cars are waiting for us. Griffen will meet us back when it’s done.”
Cali appeared out of nowhere and Holden wrapped his other arm around her, “I have some duties to deal with, we have come to deal with,” He whispered into her hair, “But after, we are marking each other, and you are not leaving my sight for a minute.”
She laughed once, it was almost a giggle, and it was so unexpected for her. She was relieved, I couldn’t share that feeling. I wondered if I could feel anything besides anger or if this was it, that this would consume me completely with no way back.
“I think that went well,” Cali said and Holden agreed letting out a long sigh.
“Now, onto the next step.” Holden said nuzzling his mate.
“Which is?” She asked.
“Challenging an Alpha, to the death,” Holden said and Cali froze for a second but then kept going.
“Legal b.ullshit,” I growled. Holden patted me on the back.
“The cars are this way,” Holden led us out.
The Council, or the ones that could take a call this last minute, agreed with what I already knew. We should talk to The Elders before challenging another Alpha outside our territory. They weren’t sure about the protocols as it hasn’t happened in their time but they thought we needed some kind of permission. I already knew that no matter if The Elders told me no I was going to challenge him.
All my respect for protocols would go out the window. This was just a formatily, in my mind Alpha Jasper was already good as dead. Atlas growled in my mind in aggreance.
“The Elders can take a call when we’re back,” Holden said. The car felt like it was crawling through the city.
“Let me out,” I commanded the driver, “Now,” He pulled over and I jumped out, we were a few blocks away and I needed to do something, to move instead of sit there.
I didn’t care that I was barefoot only wearing sweatpants, I let my aura out, just a bit, and anyone on the sidewalk steered clear of me.
I stalked into the packhouse and took the elevator, debating taking the steps to get some energy out but I needed to see them.
Ignoring the guards outside my door I walked in, my eyes scanning the apartment until they fell on Willa. She was sitting on the floor, her midnight hair reflecting the soft light, it was falling over her shoulder as she bent over to pick something up and hand it to Emmett. She froze when she sensed me, her green eyes meeting mine and a wide smile tugged up her full lips.
Goddess, she was breathtaking, and she was mine.
Emmett turned and stood up, barreling towards me.
“Dad!” He shouted and I melted falling to the floor and embracing him.
Willa came to sit down next to us and laid her head on my shoulder, her soft hand ran along my bare back and I felt like all the wind was knocked out of me, I could cry but I wasn’t sure why. I sagged with relief, the anger at bay now that I was with them, they were safe, and one of the threats against my family was nullified.
“You smell bad,” Emmett pulled back, his nose wrinkled, and his green eyes widened, “Is that blood?” He asked, placing a small hand on my face.
“Yes,” I sighed; it didn’t even cross my mind how I must look, “Everything is okay now.” I said to them both. Willa sagged, her eyes darted between Emmett and me.
“Emmett honey, can you go play and take care of Nora?” He slipped out of my arms and nodded at his mom.
Willa tugged me up and wrapped her arms around me, settling into my chest. A small sob escaped her as she breathed out, burying her head into me. I embraced her and pressed my head into her hair; enveloped by her scent. All of the emotions of the day coursed through me. I finally felt a bit of relief. One more step, and I would show the world what would happen to anyone that tried to cross me or what was mine.
“Come,” She pulled back, her eyes bright with unshed tears. I wiped them away before they could fall.
I placed a kiss on her forehead, “You’re safe, we’re safe. Everything is going to be okay.” I promised her.
She pulled me up the stairs and into a bath, washing me in silence, my anger suppressed for a while under the crushing swell of love I had for this woman.
____
“Prince Dracos,” The Elder started using my formal title, “My name is Elder John, I am here with a small council to listen to your request and provide advice based on our laws. After this call, we will figure out how to best help you and proceed from there. Tell us what is your query?”
“Thank you Elders for taking a call on such a short-notice,” I started trying to remember any sense of protocol and formality, “An Alpha from a neighboring pack, but outside my jurisdiction, hired as a*s*sa*s*sin to try to take my son, my heir.” The Elder sucked in a breath, “I want permission to challenge him, but I don’t want it to be seen as an act of war. My problem is with Alpha Jasper of The Black Stone pack,” I fought the urge to growl at his name.
“What would you do with his pack?” The Elder asked.
“He doesn’t have much of a pack. They can choose to live here or a*s*sign another Alpha. I don’t want nor need his land.” I said.
“Challenging an Alpha without wanting to take over his pack is unheard of.”
“My problem is with Alpha Jasper,” I repeated, “and anyone who knew of this or stood by, I won’t harm his pack members.”
“One moment,” The Elder paused shuffling through something and whispering to the others, “We see Alpha Jasper challenged the previous Alpha for the pack, many of his members moved to your pack after that while your father was Alpha.”
“That is correct. I think he has a grudge against us still.”
“It would seem so, I’m sorry, Alpha Dracos, but we cannot help only advise.”
“What is your advice?” I tried to keep my voice steady and not let the anger or annoyance come up.
“You need the other Alpha’s in your jurisdiction’s approval. At least seventy percent of them must agree for you to do this. It could put your entire territory at risk, and it’s not up to us, it’s up to them.” I took a long breath.
“How?”
“Get it in writing, and have them sign. You just need their approval.” Elder John said, “I’m sorry we can’t be of more help, but I would advise you to have a plan of what will happen to his pack after. As you said, your fight is not with innocent pack members, I would strongly advise you to have a solid plan in place for this to go smoothly and without retaliation.”
“I will,” I promised, I did need to think of the pack members and past my need for bloodshed. We needed a plan to make sure they were taken care of.
“Good. Best of luck.”
“Thank you,” I hung up.
How many Alphas were there? Could I call them all now?
No, I knew I needed to talk to them in person, I was far more persuasive that way and I couldn’t rush this, if they said no I didn’t know what I would do. I would still kill the b.astard but that could cause inner-territory conflict if I went against the other Alpha’s wishes.
“The conference,” Holden suggested from his seat across from my desk.
I nodded once. S*hi*t.
“Get some rest Loreli can stay with us,” I said to him. Emmett and Loreli were already long asleep anyways at ours, “It’s been a long day,”
“Thanks, Cas.” He stood up smiling, “Time to go find my mate,”
“Will you send Willa down, please?” He nodded once and left.
Griffen was long gone. He came back to inform me the bodies were taken care of, and that he was monitoring what was being said of The Silent a*s*sasins’s death. So far, nothing, and I took that as a good sign. I dismissed him early to spend time with Nora; he didn’t need to be here for the call.
Willa’s soft knock came at the open door. Her long hair was piled high in the bun she donned when she took care of me in the bath. Tendrils fell and curled around her face.
“You need me?” She asked, coming in to sit on the edge of my desk facing me.
I explained to her the conversation with The Elders and what we needed to do. Her brows tugged together, and she chewed her lip as she listened to me thinking it over.
“You want to talk to them in person? How long will that take?”
“There is a conference soon, this weekend actually.” Her eyes widened.
“Why don’t we go then? You never mentioned it.”
“I meant to actually. I rarely go in person; I send someone on my behalf. This one is at Blue Ridge, and I was going to give you the option to go even if I wasn’t planning on it.” She froze under the name of her previous pack, the one she was on track to be Luna of, “You don’t have to come, but I think I need to. I know I need to go.” I met her stare.
“I’m coming,” Her green eyes were full of resolve, she jutted her chin slightly.
“Good,” I smiled at her taking her small hand in mine.
I needed her by my side more than she knew.