Chapter Three – The Rogue King

Rune's POV

I stood at the edge of the castle grounds, my heart pounding in my chest. I was just a boy of eighteen, but the world felt heavy on my shoulders. The dream was vivid, a nightmare I had relived countless times: my father's funeral, the weight of his death hanging in the air like a thick fog.

And then, the moment that shattered my life — being thrown out of the castle, banished on the very day he was buried. Ariel's words kept ringing in my ears.

"Traitor! I saw him poison his father! He was jealous of my son." She screamed and wailed as though I was the vilest thing ever. Looking into her eyes, I remembered the day my mother passed, how she hugged me before this very pack, saying I could call her Mom. I sobbed, thinking that her years of anger and bitterness would be buried with my dead mother.

What a fool I was.

"He must be banished! We can't have such a hateful being in our midst." Ariel's voice was the loudest from the crowd.

But banishment was the easiest punishment. I knew that because I was only a few kilometres from the manor when shots were being fired in my direction. Men in black, my father's bodyguards. That was the night my misery began.

I jolted awake, the remnants of the dream clinging to me like a shroud. The dim light of dawn filtered through the curtains in my penthouse. I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the anger that surged within me.

Ten years. In ten years, I faced hardship, betrayal, and relentless struggle. I wandered the wilderness, a rogue without a pack, forced to fend for myself. The pain of rejection had cut deep, but it had also forged me into something stronger. I had trained relentlessly, honing my skills and mastering the elemental powers that now coursed through my veins.

My anger simmered beneath the surface, a constant reminder of the injustices I had endured. I had been manipulated, cast aside as the weak heir while my half-brother, Lex, basked in the glory of my father's legacy. But I was no longer that boy. I had amassed wealth, forged alliances with powerful packs, and built a reputation that commanded respect.

As I stood, the memories flooded back—my nights spent under the stars, the battles I had fought, the friends I had won and lost. Each trial had only strengthened my resolve. I was no longer a mere outcast; I was a force to be reckoned with. And soon, I would reclaim my throne.

My phone vibrated on my desk, and I grabbed it quickly. It was Marcus, one of my most loyal subordinates, a man who had stood by me through thick and thin.

"Alpha Rune," he said, his voice full of life and energy.

My eyes moved to the giant clock on my wall, and I realized that it was almost noon.

"I have news from Moorgrave."

I raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued.

"What is it?"

He hesitated for a moment before responding.

"Lex is set to marry. His bride is Marliene Ashthorn, and the wedding is scheduled for three weeks from now."

A smirk tugged at my lips.

The very news I had been waiting for.

"Marliene Ashthorn," I mused, the name rolling off my tongue like a sweet promise. "So, he's finally tying the knot. How fitting."

Marcus didn't say anything for a minute. Then he spoke again.

"This could change everything, Alpha Rune. The wedding will solidify Lex's position as Alpha of Moorgrave. Are you sure you want to go through with your plans?"

I leaned back in my chair, my fingers steepling as I contemplated the implications.

"Everything I've been preparing for hinges on this moment, Marcus. Lex thinks he's safe, but he has no idea what's coming."

"You're not just talking about crashing the wedding, are you?" Marcus asked, his tone a bit suspicious. "You're planning to take the throne back."

"Exactly," I replied, my voice low and steady. "I will bring doom upon that wedding and reclaim what is rightfully mine. And then, I will wed my brother's Luna."

Marcus gasped and cleared his throat. It was something he always did whenever he was skeptical about something.

"Alpha Rune, you're more powerful now than you've ever been. The Moorgrave Pack isn't worth a quarter of what you've built. Why risk everything on a reckless plan?"

I fixed my gaze on the white ceiling. Flashes of the cloudy sky crossed my mind, reminding me of the nights I was homeless, when the trees were my only shelter.

"You know what they did to me, Marcus. You know how I was cast aside for being weak. They conspired and stole my throne from me! You don't get to decide how I should get my revenge. Nobody does."

"I'm not trying to make that decision for you, Alpha," he defended. "I'm just saying that there is absolutely no need for you to go through the stress for a pack like Moorgrave. They're already so small. They have nothing—"

"That was my father's legacy!" I screamed into the phone. "You don't know what Moorgrave was like. I can restore her. But first, I need to make everyone who hurt me and my mother pay... with their blood."

"Come by the house after work. I need you to send a message to Moorgrave for me... the old-school way," I muttered.

"Yes, Alpha," he replied calmly.

With a slight nod, I ended the call.

Lex, you dare to get married now? Tired of philandering? Or is this a political move to secure the throne? Whichever one it is, you will definitely regret stealing from me. I promise you.

I tore a sheet of paper, took out my pen, and started writing a letter.

"Fear not, brother," I murmured as I closed the letter. "I am only coming back for my throne and your Luna."

Marcus arrived six hours later, and I handed the brown envelope to him.

"Ensure it's handed to Lex Corvin. Tell him to prepare for war."