Chapter 11: My Dad

ALEXANDER

I sat on my bed, panting. The damp fabric clung to my skin, reminding me that my nightdress was soaked with sweat. My chest rose and fell rapidly as I struggled to catch my breath. I hadn’t even realized someone else was in the room until Christina asked softly, “My Lady, are you alright?”

I turned to her, blinked a few times, and shook my head.

Worry creased her face as she moved closer. “Should I get the Alpha?” she asked.

“There is no need,” I replied quickly. I had already angered Alpha Damon the last time he came to my room. Even if he were told I was dying, I doubted he would show up.

Christina sat beside me on the bed and studied me for a moment before asking gently, “Was it a dream? Do you want to share it with me?”

Again, I shook my head. I was already used to keeping things to myself.

I was still anxious, my thoughts tangled around the dream, when Christina reminded me that breakfast was ready.

At once, my worries seemed to scatter. I climbed out of bed, hurried into the bathroom, and washed up. When I came out, I sat down and ate.

As I ate, I heard the maids gossiping nearby. I knew they were being deliberate, whispering just loudly enough for me to hear.

“Elder Gideon is about to take a new wife. I only hope his second wife won’t be as unfortunate as the first.”

“That’s not even the real issue. Many of the Elders have stopped attending council meetings. They are afraid the Alpha will order them to lead the troops against the invaders.”

I pretended not to hear them. It wasn’t as though I had any power to influence the pack. But then one maid said something that caught my full attention.

“The palace is preparing to welcome envoys from our allies.”

The food in my mouth instantly lost its taste.

I returned to my room, no longer in the mood to speak with Christina or the palace nanny. By the middle of the night, I felt Alpha Damon’s presence in my room.

I turned and looked at him. I didn’t know how long he had been standing there, but he seemed lost in thought. Then he said, “For someone who was unloved by his family, you certainly sleep a lot.”

I couldn’t tell whether it was meant as a joke or a mockery, but I could still feel the resentment in his voice. I gripped the bedsheet tightly and swallowed nervously.

Then he said, “Rest well. You are going to entertain the envoys tomorrow.”

I wanted to protest. I opened my mouth, but none of the words I had rehearsed in my head came out.

I watched as he leapt out of the window and disappeared into the darkness.

After that, I lay silently on my bed, unsure of what to think.

Still, I made up my mind. If they sent me to serve the visiting envoys, I would resist.

Sleep would not come. I rose from my bed and looked out over the pack’s castle. The atmosphere was heavy, gloomy, and tense. From the northern wall, I could see thick smoke rising into the air.

With some difficulty, I climbed back into my room from the balcony.

That night, I barely slept.

The next day was filled with preparations. Everyone in the palace moved about busily except me. I only ate and rested, staring blankly as the hours passed. By nightfall, the pack castle had grown noisy.

It was then I realized I would likely be sent to serve the envoys. As unreliable as my father was, he remained the only person who might be able to stop Alpha Damon from carrying out his plan.

“My Lady, do you want me to bring your father to the palace?” Christina asked in disbelief. She clearly had not expected such a request. In fact, she knew my father was the last person I would ever want to see.

“I want to talk to my father, please,” I answered helplessly.

Christina nodded and left, though a strange expression lingered on her face.

“Alexander, did you miss Daddy?” my father’s voice came from the doorway, arrogant and audacious.

The door to my room burst open, and he stormed in. The stench of alcohol clung heavily to him.

He looked around, then said without restraint, “Very soon, your father will take charge of the Council of Elders. Do you know what that means? Years ago, if someone had told me I would become an elder, I would have called that person mad. But now, I am not just an elder—I will soon be the First Elder, the head of the council. I was once just an insignificant orphan of the pack, someone everyone looked down on, but now everything has changed. Hahaha!”

He laughed in excitement, then looked at me and seemed to remember that I was the one who had summoned him. He waved a dismissive hand.

“I forgot—you can’t communicate properly like others. It would be a waste of time telling you about my achievements. Why did you want to see me?”

That was when I quickly walked to the door and shut it. After making sure no servants were guarding it or lingering in the hallway, I turned back to him.

My father furrowed his brows, looking slightly displeased. “Dad, I need your help.”

My father’s eyes darkened with curiosity. “With what?”

“Alpha Damon wants to send me to another man’s bed. I don’t want to, Dad. The thought of it nauseates me, and I would rather kill myself than be humiliated like that,” I said.

To my shock, my father merely snorted.

“Stop listening to gossip. Such a thing wouldn’t happen.”