Chapter 53: I Want Him
Koda;
"King Wilhelm, do you have any proof that my men tried to attack your son? Have you forgotten the sacred Guest’s Right that you created King Wilhelm?" Balinar continues, and my nails dig into my palm in annoyance as I realise the card this fucker is about to pull.
"In case you’ve forgotten, King Wilhelm, I’ll remind you. Your law states that guests and foreigners in BeastHeaven are never to be harmed unless there is evidence of malicious intent from the foreigners." He recites the rule, and I lose my cool.
"Our law also states that no foreigner should be in our territory without our knowledge or permission." I snap, and Balinar averts his gaze to me.
"Well, how would my men have told you what they were in your kingdom to do if they’re all dead?" He retorts, and I grit my teeth.
"You could have sent one messenger to inform me of your presence and reason for being in my kingdom," Father speaks, and he scoffs with a knowing smirk on his face.
"Well, King Wilee... It was an emergency. An omega escaped from one of my troops, and my men were tracking him down." He replies, and my face scrunches at the silliness of his lie.
"And they so happened to wander into Zethar’s camp?!" Zephan scoffs, and Balinar shrugs before turning to face Zephan and Zethar.
"How were they supposed to know the campsite belonged to this... demon? They were supposed to comb the site and leave. Simple." He replies, and I look up at Father.
He sees the anger in my eyes and raises a finger. A subtle warning that I keep my cool.
"You fucking cunt! Stop with the lies! You sent those fuckers to kill me. We were never going to attack them if they didn’t strike first. They killed my aide!" Zethar yellsand my heart breaks at the hurt in his voice.
"Oh really? What proof do you have?" Balinar questions, and I raise a brow.
"I have evidence." He continues as he turns back to look at Father. "I have proof that my men lost an Omega on their way back to Elkhorn. I have the letter they wrote informing me that they’d be coming to BeastHeaven in search of that omega, and asking me to send word to you on their behalf, King Wilhelm."
I stare at him as everything falls into place. My suspicion was right. This was planned. He knew Zethar would kill those men. He sacrificed them for a move he’s about to pull.
"There’s no evidence my men tried to attack your son. I have a letter written by my men that was meant to be sent to you. Isn’t the picture clear, King Wilhelm? Your son... the prince of your oh-so-noble kingdom, saw an innocent trope from a rival clan, and like the killer he is, he couldn’t stop himself from pouncing on them." He adds, and my heart stops.
This bastard...
"Can we truly call this place BeastHeaven if innocent beasts are killed for just going about their business? Imagine what the other clans would think about all your self-righteousness if word about this gets out... You claim to be civilised, but underneath it all... you’re just as animalistic as the rest of us..."
"Watch your mouth, Balinar!" I cut him off, and he blinks at me.
"Exactly my point.That rage..." He whispers as he starts walking over to me.
"That fire... That’s what makes us... us... We’re animals. It’s foolish to try and change that." He slurs as he holds out his arm in an attempt to touch me.
"You’re right. We’re animals. But I think you’ve forgotten that by that logic, all of us in here can devour you." Zethar suddenly speaks, and all eyes turn to him.
"Your head is mine!" He growls as black smoke stars escaping his pores, and my eyes widen.
"Zephan!" Father yells at Zephan to stop him, and before Zethar can pounce at Balinar, Zephan tackles him.
"Let go of me! He wants to see animals!? Let me show him how foolish it is for a deer to prance into a snake’s cave!" Zethar screams, and I turn to Father, who finally stands up.
Balinar snickers - enjoying the scene as Father walks down the steps and over to Zephan, who’s struggling to hold Zethar down.
Father squats beside Zethar, who’s fighting vigorously to break free. He’s angry. And it’s justified.
"Let go of me, Zephan!! This bastard needs to be taught a lesson!!" Zethar yells, and Father holds out a hand to Zethar.
The atmosphere in the room changes as Father’s pheromones suddenly flood the room.
An Alpha’s pheromone isn’t supposed to affect other Alphas... but Father is different. Everybody knows he’s the only Alpha whose pheromones can affect other Alphas.
No one knows how.
No one knows why.
He never even let the doctors study him. He’s a mystery no one understands, and that’s one of the reasons other Alphas fear him.
He’s an Alpha like none of the others.
Father’s pheromones thicken, and I step backwards to one of the windows as Zethar slowly stops struggling.
Zephan stands up and rushes to one of the windows too and when Balinar notices, he copies us. Moving to a window as well.
"Father... Balinar is a bastard. He’s lying. They weren’t looking for anyone. They... they attacked me first." Zethar slurs weakly, and I can tell that Father’s soothing pheromones are working on him.
"I know, son..." Father simply replies as he gently strokes Zethar’s hair, and Zephan looks over at me.
"You’re tired. You should rest." Father whispers, and just like that, Zethar completely stops struggling.
"Yes, Father..." He whispers, and silence consumes the room for a few seconds as Father strokes his hair.
Slowly but surely, Father’s pheromones clear, and he stands up.
He turns to Balinar, who was watching everything in fascination. Father folds his arms behind him as he stares at the disgusting mistake of a man.
"I’ve heard all you said. What compensation do you want for this... unfortunate miscommunication?" Father then demands, and Zephan, who’d walk up to pick up Zethar, freezes.
Balinar smirks, and suddenly I want nothing more than to maul that smirk off his face.
"Oh, my. So generously understanding. Now that you’ve given me this much easier than I expected... I’m not sure I know what to ask for." He replies, and Zephan moves closer to Father.
"Fath..." He begins, but Father cuts him off.
"Take your brother to his room."
Zephan blinks in shock and then looks over at me. He asks me with his eyes to intervene, but we both know that would yield no fruit.
Father doesn’t like it when we question his judgment.
Zephan sighs before moving back and picking Zethar up. I watch him leave with Zethar completely knocked out in his arms, and once they’re gone, Balinar speaks.
"Ah! Since your son cost me twenty men, and an Omega... I can demand a life for a life. I saw a pretty Omega in your yard a few minutes ago... I want him. That’s all I ask."