Chapter 05

Something was definitely wrong, was the same thing I kept telling myself as I stood behind the tall black curtains shielding the stage where hundreds of Pack members and guests were waiting for me. The night had surprisingly dawned earlier than I expected, I was going to be crowned Alpha. A wolfless man like me was going to take up my Father's mantle, a taboo, yet my father still insisted. My fears were growing at a choking pace, my entirety trembled like I was going to melt anytime soon yet I had to keep up this strong facade for the guards beside me not to notice. I tried to remember the words of my mother but it didn't soothe me one bit. This shouldn't be happening but at the same time I couldn't go against my father. He probably had his reasons for letting this coronation ceremony continue. But whatever it was, I could only hope it was good. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, the moment is finally here, the dawn of a new reign in Silver Clawers Pack…” I heard the host’s voice pitch loud and clear. I inhaled deeply while the curtains gradually parted revealing the bright lights of the auditorium. 

"You can do this Aaron." I mumbled to myself before proceeding to the stage. 

“Please, let’s welcome the Alpha to be, son of Lycan Barron, Aaron Harrington!!”

The crowd burst into a loud chatter and with each step I climbed towards the stage, my heart thumped like it was going to explode any moment but I still kept my facade of a smile. The lights went off and the spotlight focused on me as I elegantly reached the stage. I didn’t focus on anybody in particular nor think about anything, all I told myself was, I could do this. The cheering increased drastically and I was beginning to lose my cool until some guards accompanied me to the center of the podium. They stood rigidly by my side, even though I found it choking it was at least better than standing alone.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you…” I stared at the host who was busy trying to tone down the crowd's excitement. “Now, the coronation ceremony shall begin. Please give me the honors to invite the elders.” He muttered while the lights fell on the five elders of my Pack seated beside my parents at the right hand side of the podium. But rather than come up, it was my father that stood instead. I frowned and silence reigned as he walked up to the stage. I stole a glance at the host and he was just as surprised too.

“Before the coronation of my son begins!” My father announced as he came to my side, he sent the guards away but he didn’t spare me a glance.

“I have an announcement to make.”

My eyes widened and my heart skipped a beat as he placed his hand on my shoulder. He gripped me so hard that I feared my bone might break and there I knew, My father was about to do something dangerous. 

"Father, you're hurting me." I groaned in a whisper hoping he would release his iron grip but instead, his eyes gleamed a deadly shade of red, signalling his Alpha wolf was in control. I gasped, my heart was pounding loud in my ears. 

"One more word from you and I'm going to pull that tongue of yours out." He growled and my breaths ceased instantly. Fear rigidly shook my spines while murmurs outburst amidst the crowds, they were just as perplexed as I was. 

"What is the meaning of this Lycan Barron?" One of the elders challenged as he arose sharply. 

My father huffed.

“My son has become wolfless!” He declared and my heart stopped. The crowd burst into a chatter, the looks on their faces were horrendous. None of them wanted to believe the words of their Lycan.

“He lost his wolf this morning and now he is nothing but a mere human!”

“The moon goddess forbids it!” The elders yelled exasperatedly. Their jaws dropped, they were clearly unable to hide the horror that had befallen them.

“How can this be?”

“Has the Lycan gone mad? That can’t possibly be true right?”

“Is this some sort of prank?”

“Since when did our Lycan start playing pranks on us?”

“I don’t want to believe this, our next Alpha can’t possibly be wolfless. The moon goddess cannot possibly award him such fate!”

Those were the whispers my ears could pick. The more I heard, the more it tore me inside out.

“And if you think I’m lying then watch closely!” My father pitched again. He turned to me with his dangerously overwhelming red eyes, his claws had protruded and I could see his canine gleaming slightly behind his lips.

“Father…” I gasped, his grip on my shoulder intensified till it cracked. I yelled whilst trying to break free from his hold. But he was just too powerful.

“Barron!” My mother screamed in tears as she ran towards us but the guards held her back immediately. He grinned devilishly at her and then his focus reverted to me. He grabbed my right arm and without mercy twisted it. I screamed my lungs out collapsing to the ground from the pain that scorched me like wildfire.

“Let me pass!” My mother growled, her eyes had changed to a bright golden yellow but the guards surrounding her only doubled in numbers.

“What is the meaning of this Lycan Barron?!” One of the elders yelled in disgust.

“Wh—Y?” I stuttered while I struggled to rise to my feet. It was the only question, the only thought that raged my mind.

He scoffed while his eyes reverted back to its hazel, his claws and canines were back to normal too. And then he walked away from me.

“Lycan Barron, give us an explanation for this!” One of the elders uttered.

“Isn’t this enough explanation for you all?” My father pointed to my struggling status. “By now, his wounds should have healed but look!”

I gasped for air but the more I did, the more it felt like I was losing my consciousness. The eyes that were boring holes in me, the shame, the pain, they were biting me so deep that I deeply wished I could disappear from here. 

“His injuries aren’t healing in the slightest and if you still don’t believe me, tell him to summon his wolf.”

“Barron, please stop! Please!!” my mother begged, tears streaming out of her eyes like a gentle river but my father paid no heed. He had successfully done what he wanted.

“So it is true.” The first elder mumbled. “You have lost your wolf Aaron.”

I grunted, losing the will to even stand and face the crowd.

“Unfortunately my son has become a waste, who knows what kind of sin he has committed to have offended the moon goddess.” My father muttered as he walked to the front of the stage. “I am disappointed in myself, my son has caused my Pack to witness a taboo and I am greatly ashamed. I hereby declare that Aaron Harrington’s Alpha position be stripped off him…”

“Barron, NO!!” My mother screamed while the crowd began another round of chatter.

“He will be stripped off his privileges and duties to the Pack.”

“Father!”

“Barron!”

“And henceforth, I disown Aaron Harrington as my son. He shall have no relationship with the Harrington Family.”

My breaths ceased and my body trembled as if a dangerous voltage of electricity coursed through me. He didn’t even turn to face me, his back kept facing me as he spilled those words. He regarded me like the waste I was.

The crowd went silent that the sound of a pin falling would even be heard.

“Aaron knew he was wolfless yet he still went ahead with the coronation. It clearly shows how greedy and deceitful he is and who knows what he will do once he becomes Alpha? No doubt he is going to destroy everything I have built. He is going to cause the downfall of Silver Clawers Pack because he wasn’t destined to be Alpha in the first place. This position, my successor is not him.”

“Then who is your successor because we all know you have no other child.” One of the elders queried sharply.

My father laughed.

“Members of Silver Clawers and my esteemed guests, please I would like us to welcome my successor!” He pointed to the backstage. The curtains parted once again, the lights fell on two figures. One was Maria, my father’s concubine and the other was a stunning young man who I presumed was around the same age as mine. His hair was a dazzling shade of black like Maria and his eyes were hazel just like my father’s. Although he was donning a white suit just like my father, I could tell he was heavily built. Both of them were smiling as if they were seeing fireworks for the first time. I closed and opened my eyes several times just to ascertain I wasn’t dreaming. But sadly I wasn’t, this was truly my replacement! I kept watching them in awe as they walked past me to meet my father, it was like I didn’t even exist at all.

“Levi Harrington, the new Alpha of Silver Clawers Pack.” My father declared. My jaw dropped, the crowd murmured.

“Harrington?” An elder challenged with a sharp frown.

“Yes.” My father curled his left arm around Levi's shoulder. “My son and his mother are right here too.” He pointed to Mariah.

Son? I had a step brother! How?! When?! I looked to my mother but she was just as perplexed as I was.

“Is this a joke or something? Mariah we know but this boy we know not. I stand to be corrected but this Levi boy, I have never seen him in our Pack before.” Another elder blurted with a sharp frown.

“I apologize for this confusion but my son Levi was sent to his mother’s pack the moment he was born. He was born with a special type of wolf and his mother's Pack was the only right place to train him, we didn't know if he was going to survive or not so we kept his birth a secret. But now, he is back to reclaim his rightful position.

Levi Harrington will be the new Alpha of Silver Clawers Pack!” My father raised his hand, the crowd were quiet for a while but then the host started clapping and cheering. And just like that, the crowd joined him. The lights focused on the three of them, My father, his concubine and my step brother.

I didn’t know why but I started replaying that moment where my father had encouraged me to press on with the coronation. He was acting so lovingly back then that I felt I could trust him. My father wasn’t someone nice. I knew something was wrong with the way he acted. If only my mother didn't stop me from absconding the Pack, I wouldn’t be alive to witness the greatest shame of my life.

Tears freely toured out of my eyes and as my blurry vision returned to the three of them, I had only one question in mind. Why? Why did he choose to do this to me? 

Somebody started clapping and the noise seemingly died down.

"I must really say that this is the most shameful coronation I have ever witnessed!" A lady's voice suddenly pitched. My eyes darted to one of the front rows before the stage and there she was standing a few meters before the stage. Her grey eyes gleamed of nothing but anger and her long black hair glowed as if they were just polished, her lips were small and rosy red, perfectly complimenting her beauty. This lady was definitely not from my Pack. 

"Excuse me?" My father queried in a slight growl. 

"You heard me well, Lycan Barron." She retorted without an iota of fear. "Being the prestigious Lycan of Europe, I expected more from you but after what I just saw now. I must say you're nothing but a shameful father!" She raised her voice and silence raked everywhere. 

I heard my father growl, although I could not see his face but I knew his Alpha wolf was probably in control by now. No one dared to insult my father and go scot free. And so, who was this lady? I pondered. Why would she dare to publicly insult the Lycan?!