6: The Princes of Eastmoon

KALOYAN'S POV

"Every rogue and deserter must die. They are not welcome in my city." The skin underneath my eye twitched as I said words that do not belong to me.

The Eastmoon Palace had been my home since the coronation happened. Throughout, I felt suffocated. The leash on my neck stung. I gripped the arm of the throne tighter, watching the royal officials, made up of my wolves only, wish I would drop dead.

My beta said, "Alpha Kaloyan, packs across the globe look up to Eastmoon. We are the centre of peace. A war with rogues will destroy everything Xora has worked hard to rebuild since—"

"I did not wish to hear you speak on a matter I've already decided, Reece." My growl was as loud as thunder. It sparked shivers in everyone present like the ice storms in deserts do.

The cruel Lycan King took over his father and made a vow to run the Eastmoon pack to nothing. It was word on every mouth. They all hated me. I knew it. I hated myself, too.

"What happens when humans catch on to the deaths being recorded around the city? The numbers who will vanish into thin air will cause suspicion." My father's best friend and the oldest royal official in our midst came forward. "My King, I'm afraid you are not ready for the great consequences your actions would cause."

I took a breather, averting my gaze to the red carpet underneath my feet. A cruel Alpha never showed mercy.

When I stood on my feet and returned my eyes to the crowd, they glowed an angry, dark red. "Lord Ezra, my decision is final! Once the others see what Eastmoon has decided, they had better toe in line, or else, this Lycan King will mark them for destruction!"

I left them in awe of what had just transpired. They would put a target on the backs of their own friends, lovers, and family; all because their Alpha hardened his heart.

I heard many are making petitions to the Moon Goddess, Xora, so I would be dethroned. Just seven days on Eastmoon's throne, and they've already been to hell and back. But Xora can't change a dead man's will. I was supposed to be the better option amongst his sons. Now, I had turned out to be the worst.

Reece knocked on the door of my chamber. There was a time when we were the closest friends. At this moment, I feared he would poison me if he got the chance.

He entered, keeping up with a glare that could kill. "There's a function for visually impaired children happening tomorrow at a five-star bookshop. You've been invited."

I sat down, leaning back in the swivelling chair before shutting my eyes. It was a struggle to hide my laughter. "What's the point, Reece? They wouldn't be able to see me anyway."

"Kaloyan!"

My eyes slowly cracked open. He had overstepped, and I had heard him right. I narrowed my eyes at my beta in rage while he stood there with his chest rising and falling. What stopped me from shoving him into the nearest wall was the disappointment in his eyes and in the way he regarded me.

"Do you have anything more to say, Reece?" I asked, and he shook his head before I continued. "Get out, then."

Reece stormed out of my sight, but he couldn't get past the door. His hand stopped on the door knob. He turned to face me again.

"Kaloyan Kaine—"

"You must have a death wish."

He didn’t raise his voice like I had expected, but his calm tone struck me like a thousand spears. "What is changing you?"

"Beta Reece, overstep again, and I will make sure your child pays dearly for your mistake!" My eyes watered as every fibre of my being grew livid.

"You've turned the wolves of your pack against your reign. Do you want the humans in this city to do the same?" He stopped at the other edge of the table, gripping it while peering down at me. "Honour the event tomorrow, Kaloyan. You love kids—"

"Get out of my chamber, Reece. Now!"

"I will, but you must know that a way to dethrone you has been discovered."

My eyes widened. Shock seized me inside out. I couldn't control the burst of thoughts raging in my mind.

Reece continued. "Xora can only step into your father's will once another eligible son who didn't receive a portion of it comes to light. That other son will take your place."

"My father only had two sons."

"For your sake, I hope that's the truth." Reece muttered and exited the room while the gravity of his words sank in.

I didn't want any more visitors, but just as the door was closing behind him, another knock came. A guard on my court entered, holding a parcel in one hand.

He handed it over to me. My hand brushed over the Kaine Household's seal, and raw pain masked my features. It was from the last person I wanted to hear from at this point. Joseph Kaine had messaged me again.

I opened the tiny parcel and read his note. I didn't have to reach the end before crumpling it in my hand. The scowl on my face became permanent.

"Prepare a hunt in the woods. I'm suddenly in the mood to kill something."

***

I crouched, holding the deer in sight as I readied my gun. It was my choice of weapon today. I wanted it to hurt like hell. When I pulled the trigger, I wouldn't lie and say, I didn't imagine Joseph's stupid jaw before it.

The deer groaned and fell. I had hit its leg, hindering its ability to run. Minutes later, I was about to finish the job with a bullet through its skull when I noticed something underneath it.

The guards around me rushed and pulled the animal away. My jaw slacked at the sight of the yawning wrapped babies. They were identical. I couldn't believe it.

"Your majesty, what should we do?" The foot guard gulped before asking again. "Do we leave them here to die?"

"Say that again, and I'll make you the target for my next hunt." I walked forward and lifted the babies into my arms.

I couldn’t hide the shine in my eyes as I watched them be what they were. Babies. I noticed how dirty their wraps were. They might have been here for days. Who would have dared to abandon their newborn pups?

Suddenly, a foul smell floated around me. I realised it was coming from the two of them in my arms. A horrified look crossed my face at the instant, and the twins all but giggled.

"Your majesty..." The guard who I had threatened stretched out his arms tentatively.

I looked at the giggling monsters and back at the guard. "You can have them."

He took them from my arms, and it was a struggle not to puke. My supernormal sense of smell was a curse now because the scent of poop stuck to everything.

"Bring them back to the palace and have a maid give them the best treatment."

"Your wish is my command, Alpha Kaloyan."

At the palace, I knew I had stalled long enough. I took a shower, still cursing at the scent of poop swamping me. Then I dressed myself up, having dismissed those made to do it since day one.

While exiting the building, a furious Reece met me halfway. The guards stopped my beta before he could throw a punch at me and get himself executed.

"What is the matter, Beta Reece?"

"Did I do wrong in advising you to do the right thing? I had only pressed you to honour the invite...why did you have to destroy my daughter's future?!"

Clarity struck me as I squinted. This was more serious than I thought, but I didn't have an answer for my beta. I only remembered the promise I made carelessly.

"You had to order your guards to blind her and her wolf! Why, Kaloyan? You monster, why?!" He screamed as they took him away to calm himself elsewhere and not before his king.

I noticed their eyes on me. My guards were looking at me like I was anything but human, and I couldn't even say a word because I couldn't.

I continued walking to my destination. The guards behind me murmured amongst themselves, but I ignored it all, entering the only building in Eastmoon that no other soul was allowed access.

I bowed once inside the pitch-black building, knowing that I wasn't alone within these walls.

"You are late, Kaloyan." Silence fell like a stone after that, but an outburst destroyed it seconds later. "Choosing to hunt despite my orders! Did you think a rebellion would favour you?"

"No, but I got your message clearly. I won't be late next time."

"Good," the voice said through the darkness. "I want you to order the death of all omegas next. Once the war with rogues starts as planned, kill every omega wolf from far and wide."

I felt a presence next to me as I said, "Just tell me to kill the entire wolf race. Maybe then I would understand the reason behind this madness—"

"The twins you found in the woods are included. They have the omega mark."

I raised my head, surprised that the twins were already old news. "What?"

"Get rid of them before you end up regretting it, Kaloyan. I won't have you smelling like poop next time."

"I will never do that. They belong to me now."

"Another rebellion? Do I have to blind another child to get it through your thick skull?"

I parted with a rue smile. "I was never rebelling! Look here, this is a warning because I'm calling the shots now."

"Even though you know you will die?"

"You need me, and I need you to stay alive, so let's redefine this partnership."

Silence came again, but I had finally done what I should have done seven days ago. I found a balance between everything. A king can never be a slave.

I exited the building after a long while and returned to the throne room where the twins were presented. There was something about them that kept drawing me close.

"Lords and Lycans of the Eastmoon pack and city, today, I crown Jardran and Jared Kaine, my sons, as Princes of Eastmoon."

From the corner of my eye, I found Reece glaring at me with incomparable hate. I knew I would find that there. His precious daughter was now a blind wolf, and blind wolves were treated like outcasts.

The crowd fell into shock. They regained their senses and clapped as soon as the tiny crowns fitted on the heads of the twins.

But my announcement wasn't over.

"Starting from today, the Eastmoon Palace is on the lookout for a nanny who will raise the Princes. Lord Ezra will see to the applications submitted. Please, strictly werewolves. I have the final say in who gets picked as the princes nanny because she will also become my wife..."