A Man's Decree Novels & Stories

Mercy's words were like a bucket of cold water was thrown over his head. They rang in his ears. A Royal Decree~ Only a Royal Decree had the power the summon a ruling King or Queen. And it was only issued if a Monarch had fallen or was about to fall leaving his or her unattended Kingdom or Queendom behind for grabs. "From which Kingdom has the Decree been issued?" Vladimir inquired with a calculating gleam in his eyes. The prospect of attaining a whole Kingdom made excitement rush through his veins like opium. "The Decree had been issued from the Queendom ruled by Amber King and Darach King." Vladimir's lips parted, his eyes filled with bafflement.

“Your personal quarrels are irrelevant and won’t hold water. The decree... the forbidden decree... requires the Luna to declare her mate, and her mate will be the father of the unborn child.” My heart lurched just hearing them argue over me. Roderick inhaled sharply, taking it all in, while Norway stiffened where he stood. “What decree are you talking about?” I forced out. Maron lifted an ancient scroll tied in black. “The Decree of Sole Claim. A Luna may carry only one Alpha’s heir. If there is confusion, she must choose publicly, and it will be permanent. The unchosen Alpha…” He met my eyes. “…will be exiled or executed.”

“Sign the papers, Cade. Give me back my name." The Elders cleared their throats in unison, a sound of mounting impatience. "Sign, Alpha. The King’s patience is not a resource you wish to deplete." One of them said. Cade’s jaw worked, his teeth grinding with such force I feared they might shatter. He snatched the pen, his hand shaking so violently the stylus clattered against the table before he caught it. With an aggressive motion, he scrawled his signature across the four separate decrees.

As the last few stragglers trickled in, Chris raised his hand, and the murmurs of the crowd slowly died down until a heavy silence blanketed the square. “I have brought you here today to issue a decree that will change the future of our pack... forever,” he began.

Each step sounded like a countdown. When he reached Kade, Lucien did not look at him at once. He turned instead to his people. His voice rolled across the execution grounds like the sound of thunder. “Let it be known,” Lucien declared, “that no one defies me without consequence. No crown, no title, no army stands above my judgment.” A hush deeper than silence followed. Lucien turned back to Kade, his movement unhurried and merciless in its calm.

"She's Princess Fi—" "Celia." I finally spoke. I shook my head, my gaze pleading with her to stop her words. "It's enough." "Where are you taking my niece?" Uncle Rammon asked the man. "You have no r-" The man raised his hand, halting my uncle. He sheathed his sword and faced him squarely. By now, I could already see the pack members trooping out, peeking at us from their places. "Hear the royal decree," The man began to speak.

Archer knelt a few feet away, wrapping a burn on Maren's forearm. I was the first to see it. Carved into the stone wall beside the prison entrance, still smoking from whatever blade had cut it. Letters. Deep and jagged and deliberate. The Blood Decree comes at the full moon. "Kellan." My voice came out strange. "Look." Kellan turned. His face was already grey with exhaustion, but when he read the words, what little color remained drained away. Maren stood up, her bandaged arm forgotten. Archer's hands went still.

“That’s not inherently bad.” I didn’t respond. “But visibility,” he continued, “requires discipline.” “I’ve never lacked that,” I said. He smiled thinly. “Discipline in court, yes. Discipline of the heart? Less certain.” I met his gaze. “You don’t get to manage that.” “I get to manage risk,” Marcus replied. “And you are currently… volatile.” I exhaled slowly. “Then say what you mean.” He leaned forward. “Step away from Evan Ramos.” My pulse thudded. “I already did. Professionally.”

But as a ruler, as a king, he had to think clearly, make the right decision for the kingdom—and for his brother Hudson. Taking a deep breath, Thomas took his royal pen and signed the royal decree with a swift, deliberate motion. He handed the note to the elite guard beside him. The guard stepped forward and, with a voice loud and clear, read the decree aloud for all to hear. "Alpha King Albert receives the royal decree," the royal elite guard announced, his voice echoing throughout the grand hall.

I knew his grudge against Viktor was justified, but I never imagined he would go this far. His threat about me returning in a week didn’t faze me. He could go straight to hell for all I cared. In fact, a new desire to be with Viktor burned through me, knowing it would eat Rhyder alive inside. Maybe that was what enraged him so much. But something more urgent had my attention now. "Decree of Eternal Severance," I whispered, the words like a grip tightening around my throat. It was the harshest punishment in existence. A law meant to purge this world of abnormal and dangerous creatures in order to protect us. But even then, no one deserved an eternal punishment.