Chapter 12

RENZO'S POV

One thing I failed to understand was why werewolves were such dumbass creatures. It was a slap in the face to even consider them part of the Lycans.

We Lycans are wise. Powerful. Strong. Brave. Logical. Calculating. So, to ever assume that the brainless, idiotic werewolves were one of us was such a disgraceful thought that it should be burned in the deepest part of hell.

I stared at the door the werewolf girl had run out of, shook my head, and felt a little pity for her. What made her think she would survive a day out there with her own species?

Bringing her to the brothel wasn't that great of an idea, considering how much I hated werewolves. But knowing I had caused her problems by leaving a mark on her when I shouldn't have made me want to own up to my mistake at all costs. But she thought she could be safe out there rather than going with me? Such a nuisance!

"Whatever happens to her, she has herself to blame," I groaned, standing up from the couch and dragging my shaky legs towards the closet to grab a change of clothes.

I was burning hot. My body felt like it was on fire as my rut kicked in full force. I wanted to cool my rut as soon as possible. But I couldn't get it over with since I had sent back the sluts the brothel owner had prepared for me. Because I didn't want anyone in the room with me while having a chat with the silly werewolf who happened to bear my mark.

"I hope you die a painless death, at least," I hissed, forcing my shaky legs into the dark-wash jeans before pulling them up my thighs.

"Hmmph!" A deep grunt rumbled through my chest as I got dressed in the outfit I had picked out. I shouldn't be putting on too many layers since the heat was more than my body could take.

But I would rather die in silence than let my pain be known to anyone. I was the King. The King of all Lycans, and I would be damned if anyone found out I wasn't invincible, just as I had led them to believe.

I was that strong, powerful, ruthless, and vicious bastard who was capable of leading millions of Lycans and ruling as an Emperor over billions of werewolves. No matter what happened, my pain was mine to keep a secret. No matter what.

"Just a few more days. This damn rut will be over. Just a few more days," I grumbled to myself, gritting my teeth as I did up the buttons on the black shirt I was putting on.

I looked at myself in the mirror, and I was appalled by the man I was seeing. Just the way it should be. I couldn't afford to appear weak, even if I was dying.

The faint scent of my Beta filled the air, provoking my wolf. Whenever I was in rut, I easily got irritated by random scents. Not that I had ever felt less irritated by anyone's scent whenever I was in rut, not until the previous night.

I was stunned to realize that my wolf didn't get all worked up when the werewolf girl walked into my room the previous night, with her pheromones filling the air. Rather, it seemed to have welcomed her scent with open arms.

Her rose scent wasn't anything out of the ordinary, but it reminded me of my mother. Perfect and true. Which gave me serenity.

It was strange, but I was able to breathe properly when she was in there with me. It got to my head so much that I didn't even realize when I claimed her. It was strange, but I didn't regret it.

"Your Majesty!" Alfonso, my royal Beta, knocked twice on the door. I took a deep breath and glared at my favourite tool, the dagger my father had given me when I was five, lying perfectly on the dresser.

I grabbed it, shoved it inside my shirt, and craned my neck slightly to stare at the door. I groaned, "Come in," before moving my gaze back to the mirror.

I watched the door creep open, and my Beta walked in with his fists clenched tight at his sides.

"Your Majesty!" He gave a curt bow before taking a few steps towards me, but making sure to leave as much distance as possible between us.

Perfect! Just the way I loved it. I never appreciated people coming a little too close to me, and I never would.

It brought back horrible memories I never wanted to remember. Ever again.

"Yes, Alfonso?" I slowly raised a brow, asking him to go on and deliver his message as quickly as possible. I hated wasting time. Not before, not now, not ever.

"I'm afraid to tell you there's a problem, Your Majesty," he panted heavily. Each word that left his mouth was carefully chosen. But he seemed a little startled by whatever it was he was about to say.

Having nothing great left to lose, no matter how serious a situation might be, it never fazed me anymore.

Turning around slowly and prudently, I stared at him with my arms crossed over my chest. I ordered, "Speak."

"There's a problem at home, Your Majesty. News came from the palace that the rogues who were captured at the palace wall had escaped." He gulped nervously, his hands trembling in terror as he clenched them tightly. "They were rescued by a pack of rogues. Some people at the palace were injured, including Lady Leila."

Alfonso mumbled the last line, his jaw set and his brows furrowed as he glared at the carpeted floor. I studied him for a while, not knowing how best to respond to the information that made me want to have blood on both my hands.

"How did the rogues escape such tight security at the dungeon?" That was the first question that left my mouth. Not that I hadn't expected it to happen; I just hadn't expected it to happen so soon.

Two days after I left the palace, and some corrupt, dirty little wardens had betrayed me? So great! Just perfect.

"That, I don't know, Your Majesty," my Beta replied, giving a quick bow that made his hair rumble together. "I heard the escape happened during the blackout."

"How did Leila get injured? Her quarters weren't close to the dungeon building," I asked, anger boiling inside me since I wouldn't have any reason to avoid Leila when I got back to the palace.

Whoever had planned the escape for the rogues was surely going to beg me to grant them death when I got hold of them.

"She…" Alfonso gulped, somehow seeming to be on edge about talking about Leila. "She was at your office. She thought you were in the palace and avoiding her. She was going to meet you when she ran into the rogues, but she was no match for them."

"Good," I said through gritted teeth, wishing I had asked her not to leave her quarters before leaving the palace. She was so stubborn and stupid that she wouldn't believe I wasn't in the palace until she saw it for herself. "So great."

"What should I do about the matter, Your Majesty?" Alfonso asked, slowly raising his head to meet my gaze.

"Nothing. For now, leave it be." My reply was quick. I was about to turn away when the door burst open, and Kyran ran inside, gasping for breath. He seemed to have been running for several minutes.

I turned around fully to stare at him. He seemed out of it and took a deep breath to calm himself. "Greetings, Royal Beta." He gave a quick bow to Alfonso without even sparing him a glance.

"Greetings," Alfonso returned the greeting to Kyran, watching the daring guy walk past him as he took a few more steps towards me.

Maybe I was wrong. Kyran was the only one who dared to move closer to me. Even though I hadn't pointed it out to him, I couldn't help the frown that plastered my face each and every time he stood tall before me, with his head raised high, as though the worst I could do to him was take his life.

"Why the fuss?" I asked in total amusement. My eyes landed on the cut I had left on his right cheek earlier, and I somehow felt bad for doing it to him.

Kyran was that brave young guy who would risk his life to fight anyone who so much as said shit about me. I had always wondered if it was because he adored me as his King, but I might be wrong.

"The werewolf girl?" he gasped, pointing towards the door. "I think she has been kidnapped. I saw her being dragged into a car. From the look of it…" He paused, staring at my face, obviously reading my expression. "She was unconscious when some suspicious men dragged her into a familiar car that seemed to belong to one of the Alpha's men."

A soft chuckle left my mouth without me realizing it. It felt wrong to smile after hearing such news, but for someone who wasn't easily amused, I found the news a little entertaining.

"Did you do anything to help?" I asked, rolling the sleeves of my shirt up to my forearms.

Kyran stared at me for a second, arched his brows, and then shook his head. "No. I didn't." He paused, biting his lower lip. "You didn't give the order to help her in any situation."

I nodded, feeling proud that he was such a dutiful young man. "Exactly! Since I didn't order it, and you didn't take matters into your own hands, you did absolutely well."

I patted him on the head, which earned me a soft smile from him. I wanted to read meaning into the happiness in his eyes, but decided to let it go.

"Well," he cleared his throat, turning around shyly to stare at Alfonso before moving his gaze back to me. "It seems she was in danger. Would you want me to help?"

I smirked, shaking my head as I raised a finger in the air. "I will never waste any more of my help on such a foolish person who would choose to die rather than help herself. There's no redemption for her. Not from me."

Kyran smiled widely, nodding in response to my words. He seemed a little too happy for someone who had come running to me when he saw that she might be in danger.

Maybe I was reading meaning into nothing after all.

"Go back to your post," I ordered, moving a finger from Kyran to Alfonso. I turned to walk back to the dresser but stopped short. "And you guys should inform the rest. We are leaving for home. Tonight."