CHAPTER 4: THE HEIR REVEALED

CHAPTER 4

DAMIAN’S POV

It’s taking Orion sometime to locate this said heir, and my patience has been wearing thin.

The suspense is killing me.

In the past few days since the news came I have been going back and forth—thinking about how strong he is, whether he his better than me and whether he could actually lead having spent his entire life in the human world.

I hate those thoughts.

I am not one to have inferiority complex to some lowlife, but since this news was announced I can’t seem to shake the feeling that I am in for a serious challenge.

The Alpha’s chamber have been evacuated by my father. On a good day, I would have been excited—because that chamber would have been mine—but now, a godforsaken heir is suppose to take over.

My place.

My position.

My kingdom.

A knock startles me out my thoughts.

“Who could it be?” I mutter to myself. Rowan opens the door and steps in, I should have guessed—he is the only one that knocks once.

“What can I do for you?” I asked him. 

“That is no way to talk to your sweet brother who is still recovering from all the beatings you gave me,” He replied, a smirk playing at the edge of his lips.

“If I wasn’t already exhausted, I’d hit you again,” I told him.

He chuckled loudly.

“Well, Eldric wants you, the Elder Coucil are gathering,” Rowan said.

Rowan has never been able to call my father dad. He doesn’t see him as and neither do I.

Eldric has never been a dad to me, he just has the title of a father.

I  don’t call Ophelia mom either—not out of spite, but because she can’t replace my mom. 

Rowan and I have both come to a understanding that the ones we lost can’t be replaced.

My heart aches a little at the thought of my mom.

So, I am guessing Orion located him,” I said 

“Possibly. Even the Spiritfang is here.” He told me. “Mima also said she and the kitchen staff are preparing a feast—so after meeting him we eat on a large table pretending to actually want to be there.”  

Well, let’s go and meet our Alpha,” I said sarcastically.

“Promise you will behave,” Rowan said, looking at me as though I was a dog that needed taming.

“Why? You think I am going to rip his neck off the minute he shows up?” I replied My wolf growled at the thought.

“No, but I don’t want you doing something that could jeopardize you.” 

“What makes you think I still have something to protect?” I asked.

“You don’t know who this guy is maybe the kingdom would prefer you to him,” he said

“I am not special Rowan,” I answered him getting up to leave the room—ready to meet the Council of Elders and this supposed heir.

****

On the walk to the Chamber of the Elder of Council, I made a stop at the kitchen, Rowan at my side because I couldn’t get the smell of Mima’s cream bun out of my head.

They’ve always been my favorite.

Stepping into the kitchen, I see Mima scolding a maid. The girl seems new I have a way of remembering faces, this one seems unfamiliar.

“Mima,” Rowan called out to her to get her attention. She looked over her shoulder at us, her gaze softening when she sees us, and came over.

“You are here for my cream buns again, aren’t you?” Mima asked grabbing our cheeks playfully. “But you can’t have any.”

“Why is that?” I demanded. 

“Because they’re for the feast— and they’ve have already been plated I want everything to be perfect you know how I am,” she replied quickly. Already moving to the stove to get more work done.

“So you are saying you didn’t save any for me? Even if you didn’t save for Damian, there is no way you didn’t save for me. I am your favorite,” Rowan said.

“And who said you are my favorite? I don’t play favorites,” Mima told him.

I chuckle. “it seems my mood is a bit brightened—even though I didn’t get to have any cream bun.”

“It’s going to be okay, wild one.” Mima said looking directly at me.

She’s called me wild one since I was a kid because always get into one kind of trouble or the other since I was kid.

I smiled at her, leaving the kitchen, Rowan trailing slowly behind.

The elder of council chamber was located a little bit away from the throne room, and with every step I made closer to the double doors that covered the room behind, my heart thumped louder.

The walk to the kitchen wasn’t just for cream buns—it was to avoid this room a bit longer. I admit to myself as I step in front of the double doors ready to open.

“I’ll be see you in dining hall when this is over,” Rowan said.

He wasn’t allowed in, only a few can enter into this chamber—the five Elders, the spiritfang, the next Alpha, and those that are to be judged or punished besides that not anyone can come in.

And for a moment, I realize I might never step into this room after now and I hated the thought.

Opening the doors, five sets of eyes look my way and I realize. Everyone was waiting for me.

Eldric is seated across the Spiritfang—who despite his blindness sits powerfully at the head of the table.

Thalos Greymane is seated at my father’s left side. I am to marry his daughter.

His wife is seated right beside him, Thalindra Greymane.

Eira Wolfshade and Kaelen Throneclaw are the remaining two Elders that complete this table, and it has been this way for the longest time. All chosen by the Moonspirit.

I  take the seat at my father’s right hand.

The moment I am seated my father looks to me the look of disgust etched across his face.

You don’t get to make everyone here wait for you. We don’t—

The doors open again.

Orion steps in, at his side is a girl.

Her hair is the first thing I noticed. She had wild red hair that caught the light like fire and refused to stay tamed. It made her amber glass eyes pop.

She carries herself with so much confidence, masking her pain—but I can still see it.

It’s a pain I recognize.

“Wel…come, Alpha,” the spiritfang says, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Right. Where was this Alpha? Was he invisible? 

I glance around the table and everyone seemed as confused as I am.

My father turns to Orion, clearly unamused.

“Where is he?” Eldric asked. 

“She,” Orion replies. “And she is right here.”

I freeze.

This has to be a joke.

The next Alpha…is a girl.