Chapter 3

MACE'S P.O.V.

“Get your shit together, Belle!” I growled at her, and she looked at me with sad eyes which made me let out a sigh, “... Listen to me Belle, Dad was meant to arrive three days ago, but he didn't. That's why I've been mean to you.”

“You didn't need to yell at me, I understand you.” She spoke firmly, and we heard the visiting bells, that's father's call.

“He is here already. You know all the rules Belle, do not mess this up.”

“I am not Rosa who messes everything up, you shouldn't worry about that.” I kissed her cheek before we headed out.

Knowing my father and how much trouble he was, I really do hope his presence doesn't bring me any problems. The Alpha's meeting was held successfully, thankfully he wasn't there to destroy anything.

The guards pushed the door open, and I met with my father's eyes, which made me immediately frown and Belle held on to my hands, but I couldn't spare her a glance as I knew my father would object.

“Father.” 

“King Mace.” He mumbled as he looked at Belle closely and I moved her away from him, making him look at me and I raised an eyebrow at him. “... Who is this?”

“Belle, your Queen.” He looked at her again and with no permission, he pushed the both of us aside and walked into the house.

“Father, you can not act like…" Belle stopped me from talking, and I pulled my hands away from hers before walking away. 

He was a selfish man, if anything didn't go his way it was always hell. I have declined every one of his visits to this place and this time he forced me to accept it and here he was. 

“Mace.” Belle tried to catch up with me as we all walked towards the dining area where father was seated and we both sat next to him.

“What brings you here, father?” I asked him and Belle hit me under the table. 

“Do not…"

“Shut up woman.” He snapped towards Belle as he placed his spoon down, and he looked at me, “... What's all this shenanigan you are pulling up, son?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Where are the kids? You've been married for five years and little miss doll face over here hasn't provided any kids, why?”

“Father you will not disrespect…"

“That isn't your wife!” He growled at me, “... By merely perceiving her scent, I could easily tell that she's nothing but your bitch at the side….”

“Enough!” I yelled as I banged the table, “... You will not disrespect my wife, your Queen that way.”

“I know you, son and I know when you're telling a lie. As king, you have poor manners of treating visitors right, especially one which is family, secondly if she's your mate why aren't you both marked and why is the mating bond incomplete?” He looked at me dead in the eyes and I felt the urge to punch this man in the face.

“That's between us and absolutely none of your business.”

“You're going to tarnish the reputation of your entire ancestors if you do not provide a child as an heir in four months, you were given five years and in four months it makes five years of you being King.”

“I make the rules here.”

“The ancestors already made them. If the Alpha king is unable to provide an heir at the end of five years, he will not only be removed from his position, he will be banished from the kingdom entirely unless the next king wishes to keep you as his servant.” 

“I know that.”

“Then where is your heir?”

“I will not have this conversation, especially with you.” I left the table and Belle followed right behind me. 

A raging anger flared through my body as I walked to the room and Belle tried to touch me, but I growled at her.

“Calm yourself down!” She mumbled softly. 

“How am I meant to be calm with what he just said.”

“And what will happen if you are so angry and pacing from left to right continuously?” I sat down and took a deep breath knowing she was right, “... We need to get rid of him, and what's this rule he was talking about?”

“He is right, I have four months to have an heir, or I will be stripped off my title.”

“I can't have a baby.”

“It's not your choice, it's mine and you will carry my child.”

“I'll not. Find another means of getting a child, I would rather not have a baby!”

“You were the one who made me marry Rosa, I needed an heir and even after five years nothing, and you insist on not carrying a child because you would rather not push the baby out? You must be joking.”

“Mace, please do not do this to me.”

“If you do not conceive within a month, I will use my hands to take away your life once and for all." I warned her and left the room as she cried.

Rosa was just a pawn in this game as all she was meant to do was provide an heir for me, but she was completely useless. Belle, on the other hand, the only woman I had grown to like, insisted on not having a baby based on ridiculous things. 

“You can't force a woman to conceive.”

“Do not tell me what to do.” I snapped at him, but he looked at me like he wasn't concerned about a word I was saying.

“Belle is not your wife and as your father I want to see the real woman you got married to.”

“Quit insisting on baseless things father, you know nothing about me or my life and I would love it if you stayed out of it.”

“Like your mother stayed out of yours?”

“Do not bring her into this!” I growled at him but he smirked.

“Accept it, she left you to die and I saved you.”

“I said, do not bring her into this.”

“Just like the worthless woman your mother is, you have chosen to be equally worthless by letting your mate go.”

“She's human.”

“Rosalind isn't a human!”