CHAPTER TWENTY

Bastion's POV

My paws hit the dirt faster than ever before, relieved when I entered pack lands. I needed to find Brett. I needed to speak with him ASAP.

I sniffed the air once I got into town. I could hear wolves whispering as I passed them by, but I didn't have time for their bullshit. Nothing.

I suddenly remembered his plans for if he got mated: to move into an old home at the end of the creek that he could fix up. Was it possible that he had already done it?

I ran as quickly as I could manage in my state of exhaustion to where he had spoken about. I was immediately graced with his scent, along with the familiar scent of Rose. Thank the Moon Goddess.

I stopped dead in my tracks at the front door. The smell of sex was also heavy in the air. I didn't want to interrupt, but it didn't matter because moments later, Brett threw open the front door. His hair was wild and messed, and his eyes were wide with surprise.

"Dude, Bas?!" He glanced quickly around the front of the house before nodding for me to enter.

I transformed back into my human body, and he handed me a blanket from the sofa to cover myself. "Where the hell have you been, man? The town's been going crazy since you disappeared. Your mom even burned down that hybrid's house because she thought you ran off with her."

I flinched. "I did. She's my mate, Brett."

His eyes widened. "Oh, shit. Your dad was right."

I ran my hand through my hair as Rose entered with equally mussed hair, placing a glass of water on the table for me then sitting herself on Brett's lap. "That's not the only thing he was right about. You know all that prophecy shit he was always spouting off?" He nodded with knitted brows. I lowered the edge of the blanket just enough to flash him my seal. "Well, it was all true. I'm one of the Kings, now."

"Woah..." He mused, leaning forward to trace it. "Damn, that really is a royal seal. But wait, what do you mean one of the Kings?"

I covered myself again, wrapping the blanket tighter around my shoulders for comfort. "Well, Aria also has a royal. A vampire. King Rory."

"You share your mate with a vampire?" Rose asked, not judgmentally, more like curiously.

I shrugged. "It's not bad. We both take care of our Queen."

Brett exhaled loudly. "Dude, my dad's already trying to get her killed for your disappearance. What're you going to do?"

This was it. I needed to ask. "I want you to join us, Brett."

His gaze flitted to his mate then back to me. "What? You... you know I'm future Alpha, right? I can't just abandon my pack to join your club."

A low growl escaped my lips. "It's not a fucking club. The Moon Goddess spoke to me. She said both Alpha and Sire would fall. Trust me, there's some crazy shit coming, and you want to be on our side," I warned.

"No offense, man, but you just told me that my dad would fall, maybe even be killed. What am I supposed to do with that information? It's our pack, Bas. My pack. I can't just betray them."

How could someone be so close-minded? He was missing the point. I stood up, frustration overtaking me. "There won't be a pack anymore, Brett. Only the kingdom. The council is crooked. We are offering peace between species. A world in which vamps and wolves live in harmony. Don't you want the fighting to end?"

He scoffed, pissing me off even more. "I've literally seen you rip heads off vamps, and now you're calling for peace? What's gotten into you? Peace between us and them is impossible. We literally can't even stand to be around them."

I knew I should've given up by then, but I couldn't allow my best friend to pick the losing side. "Do you not see the seal? The act of violence that your dad helped facilitate on a totally harmless family? You can't possibly be this blind! Besides, joining the new kingdom removes our aversion. I shared a bed with King Rory last night without a single stench. We really only want peace! You've known me my whole life. You have to believe me!" I knew I was begging at that point, but I needed him to see where I was coming from.

"You slept beside a vamp? Okay, now I know you've lost it. You must really be beguiled."

I stared incredulously back at him. "Don't be fucking stupid. Do you smell a vampire nearby? They can't beguile me from miles away. I'm not beguiled, brainwashed, crazy, or under a spell. And if you won't believe me, fine. I thought I could trust you, but I guess I was wrong."

"I'm sorry, man. You're just... there's not enough proof to what you're saying. It's too much."

"He wants proof? Show him proof, King." I heard the Moon Goddess' voice around me.

I stood, my voice thundering as the clouds darkened above the house, casting shadows through the windows.

"I am King Bastion of the Opalescent Kingdom. Those who oppose me will face the wrath of my royal court and the gods who support us."

The glass panes rattled, and the authority radiating from my body made the pair tremble.

"Proof enough?" Was this the Moon Goddess' power or my own? Whatever it was, I wasn't the one who spoke. Something possessed me and made me sound like a total badass.

They didn't say a word, though, and I knew I had to leave. I had to find the asshole council who decided it was okay to hurt my Queen and kick some ass.

"Make your choice when you're ready, but remember. You cannot trust them."

With that, I wandered back out the rickety front door and towards town hall. My heart was aching after basically being called crazy by my best friend and by the betrayal of my mom. Is this what being King would mean for me? Losing those I love? How many more would I lose? At least my dad believed in me. Hell, he believed in me long before I ever believed in him.

It was time to man up and start pulling my weight. The pack made the first move with arson, so I was going to burn their whole damn system to the ground.

I approached the large glass doors that led into the white stucco building. I must've looked crazy just wrapped up in a blanket, but I couldn't be stopped. I passed by the dumbstruck secretary behind her cherry oak desk into the large conference hall to her right. I was met by the anxious and curious gazes of eleven councilmen and one pissed-looking Alpha. His expression quickly changed, however, to appear worriedly relieved.

"Bastion. You're safe!"

I grinned sadistically in return, my eyes blackening in rage.

"Oh. I'm safe. You, on the other hand."