Chapter 9- A Past That Haunt

I sat on my throne, my fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest as my gaze swept across the council members. The room was silent, except for the crackling of the fire burning in the grand hearth. My Beta, Matteo, stood beside me, his posture straight, face blank as ever. He was a man of few words, a silent force that intimidated many, but today, it was not him they feared—it was me.

The council members sat stiffly in their chairs, their nervous eyes darting toward one another. I could see the unspoken thoughts written across their faces. They wanted to say something, but the fear of my reaction held them back.

Cowards.

I leaned back against the throne, my patience wearing thin. I didn’t have time to sit here all day while they played their foolish games of hesitation. “Speak,” I ordered, my voice echoing in the vast chamber.

Silence.

Then, one man, bolder—or perhaps more foolish—than the rest, rose from his chair. His name was Paulo, one of the older council members, a man who had served under my father before me. His eyes met mine, filled with a mix of defiance and caution.

“Your Majesty,” He began, his voice steady despite the tension crackling in the room. “With all due respect, the council has been wondering—” He hesitated.

“Spit it out,” I snapped, my patience growing thinner.

He swallowed hard before saying, “Why is the king still keeping his mate? She is the daughter of a traitor. By our laws, she should be dead by now.”

The room instantly felt colder.

Every muscle in my body tensed, and the air in the chamber grew thick with the weight of his words. This fool dared to question me?

Matteo stiffened beside me, his sharp eyes watching for my reaction. He knew better than to interfere.

The entire room fell into suffocating silence, and all eyes were on me. My fingers stopped tapping. I leaned forward, my gaze locked onto Paulo, pinning him in place like a predator stalking its prey.

“Are you questioning my authority, Paulo?” My voice was calm, too calm. The kind of calm that came before a storm.

The man shifted on his feet, suddenly realizing the weight of his mistake. “No, Your Majesty, it’s not like that,” he said quickly, though his voice wavered. “I only meant—”

I stood.

The heavy sound of my boots against the stone floor echoed as I took a step forward. The council members instinctively recoiled, the scent of their fear saturating the air. I walked slowly, deliberately, until I stood directly in front of Paulo.

“If you’re so wise, if you know the rules so well,” I said, my voice laced with ice, “then why don’t you take the throne?”

Paulo paled. His knees buckled before he collapsed onto them, hands trembling as he bowed his head. “Forgive me, Your Majesty,” he pleaded, his voice shaking. “I was only speaking with the council’s concern in mind. I meant no disrespect.”

I tilted my head, watching him grovel. The sight was pathetic. A man who had stood so boldly a moment ago now quivering at my feet.

“You’re a coward,” I told him, my tone dripping with disdain. “And a fool.”

He flinched but kept his head down.

I turned away from him, stepping back toward my throne. “Let this be a warning to anyone else who dares to question me,” I announced, my voice carrying throughout the chamber. “I rule this kingdom, and I alone decide who lives and who dies.”

A suffocating silence followed.

Paulo stayed on his knees, his shoulders shaking slightly as he struggled to control his fear. He knew what speaking out against me could cost him, and he had barely escaped with his life.

I sat back down on my throne, exhaling slowly as I let the tension settle.

“The meeting will continue,” I declared coldly. “Now, report on the status of our borders.”

Matteo nodded and stepped forward. “Rogue activity has increased in the eastern territory. We’ve had three attempted infiltrations this past week alone,” he said.

I clenched my jaw. “Double the patrols,” I ordered. “Any rogue that is spotted should be killed on the spot. No questions. No prisoners.”

There was a slight hesitation from another council member, but none dared to speak against my decree.

“As you command, Your Majesty,” Matteo affirmed.

Another council member cleared his throat nervously. “There are also concerns regarding the southern border, Your Majesty. The neighboring packs have been restless, and we suspect they may be forming alliances against us.”

I smirked. “Let them try,” I said, my voice laced with dark amusement. “If they dare to challenge me, they will fall like the rest.”

The council members exchanged uneasy glances, but no one dared to argue.

I turned to Matteo. “Have our scouts keep a close watch on their movements. If they make any suspicious moves, I want to know immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” he replied.

The meeting continued, but the tension never left the room. Every order I gave was met with immediate agreement—no one dared to question me again.

By the time the council was dismissed, most of them left the room with hurried steps, as if eager to escape my presence. Only Matteo remained.

He watched me carefully before speaking. “That was reckless of Paulo,” he commented.

I scoffed. “It was idiotic,” I corrected. “And he’s lucky I didn’t rip his throat out.”

Matteo didn’t argue. He knew I meant it.

I exhaled slowly, my thoughts drifting to my mate. They way she had watched me and Adriana. The look in her eyes like she wasn't scared of me and I could do whatever I wanted.

She was stubborn, I could tell. But not unbreakable. Everyone definitely had a breaking point.

And I was going to do everything possible to break her.

I would never see her as my mate, not when I look at her and all I can see is the memory from that night.

The memory that stole my sleep.

The memory of my father digging his hand into my mother's chest and ripping out her heart.