Heart or Duty

Declan's POV

“How dare you stand up for a low blood like her? Have you forgotten whose son you are?” Father roared, his alpha aura burning more than a cremation chamber. I stared straight into his eyes. A murderous intent was burning up inside of him. I could feel it, but it was not enough to sweep me off my stand.

“If you want to get to Freya, then you will have to pass through me first.” I growled. My bones cracked as I transformed further. I now stood twice as tall before the guards, who shrunk under my gaze, and couldn’t dare to make any move.

My father’s eyes flashed with rage. His palms curled up into fists, and the cracking sound his knuckles made sent chilly waves down the guards spines.

“Get the traitor here, now!” My father commanded, his thunderous voice shattering the silver teacup Vanessa had on her hand. She let out a loud yelp as her skin got burned by the hot tea. I couldn’t care less.

Father threw a sharp gaze at the guards, one telling them that they would be next if they didn’t bring Freya to him in the next ten minutes.

I transformed fully. My wolf growled at the guards who took some steps back immediately, except for Beta Jensen. He stood still, his hand slowly reaching for his weapon.

“Don’t try me.” I said to myself, while my wolf growled, a roaring whirlwind emanating from its body. He was only a beta, and it would only take a strike from me to bring him down.

A sudden silverish streak of light flashed through my eyes. It was my father. He was now fully transformed into his own wolf, and his alpha aura burned even more. Vanessa shivered. The guards dropped to their knees, and Beta Jensen slowly withdrew, making way for my father.

My father surely knew how to assert his alpha dominance. I didn’t flinch. This was our first real power clash and I was ready to face him head-on.

“Declan!” Rhys called out immediately, jumping in between father and myself.

“It’s… time for border patrol.” He stuttered, taking a quick glance at his wristwatch in between his speech.

Rhys' sudden intervention calmed the situation just enough.

Father’s wolf let out a low growl. His body shrunk as he slowly regained his human form. I also transformed, throwing a long shot into my fathers eyes.

He took a few steps towards me, close enough for me to feel his breath fanning my face, to hear his heart hammering against his chest.

I continued to stare into his eyeballs, not battering an eyelid.

He placed his lips close enough to my ear. “Stay away from Freya, or forget you were ever my son or the future Alpha of this pack.” He mumbled, giving me an ultimatum.

A smirk crept up my lips, and I scoffed. “Not even in your dreams,” I muttered to myself, my nails digging into my palm.

Rhys suddenly grabbed my hand. “We have to go,” he said, dragging me out of the room.

We had only run a few distance when I suddenly slid my hand out of his grip. He stopped immediately, turning to take a look at me.

“Don’t tell me you are going back in there!” Rhys gasped.

“No. I have to see Freya,” I answered him, turning to the direction of Freya’s house.

“What? Didn’t your father make himself clear enough?”

“I don’t care. He is going to hurt her!” I yelled at him, my voice a bit harsher than I meant. My lungs were collapsing, and I could hardly feel my breath.

“But why? Why would you go against your father for a low blood like her? What’s wrong with…”

“Because she is my mate!” I heard myself blurt out, loud enough for me to deny having said it. I turned to face Rhys. He just stood there, his jaw dropped, and brows furrowed.

“She is my mate. I can feel it. I can feel the mate bond.” I admitted, and my wolf growled to confirm it.

Rhys stood in shock, staring at me as if I had just said something crazy.

He took a deep breath, and finally opened his mouth to talk.

“More of a reason why you should not see her now unless you want to lose your fated mate.” He paused, sighing.

“Let’s go to the border for the patrol. I am sure we will come up with a plan.” He continued. I could feel the turmoil burning inside me slowly cool down, my hot deoxygenated lungs coming back to life.

Rhys was right. Acting recklessly would only make the situation more tense. He was my best friend for a reason, and I am glad I had him.

I moved my feet, heading towards the border without saying a thing. Rhys walked behind me, and I could see him smile with the tail of my eye.

I was never going to abandon Freya, and this was now a war between heart and duty.