Knight
It would be ideal for me to kill my father if he so much as tries to go for the Alpha King. He’s a little shit, but he’s still a kid. One guided by the man Arnold just killed and while he’s had his fair share of ugly shit happen to him, he’s still pampered and unprepared for the brutality my father fights with.
The way my father is staring back at Phoebe is different. I’ve never seen him so torn between taking what he wants and choosing to do the right thing. I doubt it’s ever happened before. I knew they had gotten close, and if I kill him, it would hurt us. All of us, because the twins love him just as much as she does. I don’t want them to see me that way, even if they know what I do now.
I see what Phoebe said to him is working, and for the life of me, I don’t understand why. His eyes shift over to Savage, and he growls before he turns back to my mate. Without another word, he marches out. Phoebe lets out a heavy sigh and looks up at Savage.
“You won’t get another chance,” she tells him. “Your family has taken a lot from mine. If there’s a next time, I’m not going to stand in his way again. None of you deserve it. You’re lucky I was raised by mortals, and that blood seriously grosses me out. But fuck you. All of you.”
“You’ve only proven that you are exactly what we say and that killing you would be best,” he shoots back at her. My father takes Aizen from me.
“You’re just like me,” she points at him, not backing down. “I can smell it. I feel it in the way I want to rip you apart. My loyalty lies with him, and if he had chosen to kill you, I would have helped him. I’d let her out just for that. I doubt that even at your best, you’d be able to take on the three of us. Now they know that, too.”
“What?” he scoffs.
“That you’re vulnerable. A much easier target than me,” she shrugs. “Good luck. You’re going to need it.”
Phoebe takes my hand, and I lead us out. I try not to laugh at the stupid expression on his face as he sees her walk away. They are not going to let him live this down. The council is ruthless, and we are all currently around the same age, and there is a lot of teasing between us.
Once we’re in the car, the twins curl up to us, and I feel how scared she is. I can tell how badly she wants to cry, but she’s holding it back for them. Humming and running her fingers through their hair to keep them calm. I don’t know how to feel about that. I hate that she feels this way, but a big part of me is overjoyed that I can feel what she does now. We’re fully mated.
“Are you alright?” I ask my father. He looks over at me and shrugs. “What are you doing?”
1/3
109
He turns around in the passenger seat to look at me and then down at the pups. Ayrie is falling asleep, and Aizen is watching me the way he always does.
“The situation has changed. Silverbacks are a rare breed, and with our blood in them, things will be a lot more complicated than they are with Phoebe. I wanted you to become the King so you can hold the fort while I look into breeds like this with what time I have left. I already have what I need,” he turns back around.
“What does that mean? Our blood in them?”
The rest of it sounds a lot like something he would say.
“Son, I was a captive before my master began to train me,” he huffs. “I underwent a lot of experimentation before I was tested out on the field. Did you think we were born this way? In what world do you think we live in where you can suppress your wolf the way you did and still be able to take on everything you have with your little friends?” he scoffs. “Your arrogance and rage far surpass my own. It’ll likely affect the twins as well. I’d like to help with their development if you allow it.”
“You’re the alpha of the biggest pack in the world.” I remind him.
“Not anymore. I’ve stepped down. You’re not the only alpha in the ranks. You were the strongest. I have more pressing matters to deal with now. I’d also like to help with the restoration of Rogue Nation. Getting my hands on illegal goods through the Wolf Council is annoying when they hate you.”
“You stepped down?” That doesn’t sound like something he would do.
“Yes, Nathan. Is that difficult for you to comprehend?”
“Yes,” I laugh. “Your entire personality since meeting my mate has been the complete opposite of what it’s been my entire life.”
“No, it hasn’t. Things are exactly the same. You just never liked my job because you’re fucking needy little crybaby.” he laughs.
Phoebe gasps and covers her mouth.
“I want to swing at you so badly right now, but my baby is asleep,” I laugh, fighting back the blaze itching under my skin. “None of this has been about the way you treated me. It was about what you did. You gave me an absolute order, and it still catches me off guard.”
“You fight an absolute order every time you have to be around your mother. It’s what helps you push the wolf down. I didn’t think you could do it, and it would have been your first and only lesson in failure. None of your other siblings fought it.
“Now you have an army with generals in place. Generals who will follow you to the grave because you succeeded where they failed. You’re not the only one good at seeing the bigger picture. Your friend here is the only liar in your ranks.”
“Oh, dude. Foul.” Perry laughs from the trunk. “What did I ever do to you?”
2/3
109
“What the hell, Perry?” both Phoebe and I say at the same time.
“Aww, that was cute,” she grins.
“Perry,” I growl.
“Fine,” she sighs heavily. “I was going to tell you. Especially after you decided to keep Phoebe.”
“Don’t say that like I’m a pet.” Phoebe laughs.
“What did you do?”
“There’s more to shit with the old man. Your dad is a part of it. He’s a soldier of Fate. A really fucking good one.”
“What?” I stare at her. Her playful demeanor dissipates. Her chipper facade breaks. It’s rare when she drops the act, especially as of late, since she’s actually happy to be alive. “What did you do?”
“Man, you have no idea what the fuck is going on. I’ve wanted to tell you so many times, but we couldn’t catch a break trying to figure out who was after Phoebe and then all the shit with the civil mutani because we changed the laws about the Lillies and Tulips shit. These fucking monsters took out or entire council. All of it. It took Jonas-” she growls. “I promised myself and Jonas that I wasn’t going to do this. I need to chill.”
“Perry.” I groan. “Is this one of those problems that can wait for a debrief tomorrow?”
“Hell, yeah. A while. Even after I tell you it’s not going to go away. At least, not in your lifetime. Thanks. I really didn’t want to do this right now. Mr. K, you’re an ass.”
“She owes sixty–seven dollars, Dad.” Aizen yawns. “Bad, Auntie Perry.”
3/3
