32 hours earlier
The clang of the dungeon cage echoed as my father appeared, his silhouette framed by the dim light. Silver cuffs bit into my wrists, locking them behind my back. Rage boiled within me. Just eight hours prior, he'd commanded my submission to the Crown Prince – an order I would have gladly defied with lethal force had I been unbound. The realization that Cassy's mate was the Crown Prince had shattered every prior scheme. Killing him then and there became my sole objective, the only path to reclaiming Cassy. Derick was a formidable opponent, stronger than any I'd faced, his authority as Crown Prince an invisible force that had brought me to my knees. But the instant that oppressive weight lifted, I was coiled, ready to strike.
My pathetic father's command, transmitted through the link, had been clear: submit, stand down. And so, with a reluctant baring of my neck, I'd allowed the Crown Prince to claim Cassy and carry her away. The moment Cassy and her mate vanished from sight, the warriors surrounding my father lunged, tackling me before I could pursue them. I'd managed to kill one, though his face is lost to me now, but fighting eight against one hardly felt like a fair contest.
They cuffed me and threw me in prison, my father's parting words a hollow promise of return once I'd "calmed down." But his misjudgment, his failure to end me then and there, he made a grave mistake. Those hours weren't wasted; they were spent forging a new plan, an eight-hour descent into the resolute determination to get Cassy back. And it all began with the chilling certainty that I had to kill my father.
With Cassy now by Derick's side, the truth was bound to surface. I knew it was only a matter of time before they came for me. My only option was to get ahead of them, to weave a new narrative before they could strike. A smirk played on my lips. I would paint my father as the villain, myself as the savior. Convincing the pack would be easy. Unlike my father, whose ruthlessness was an open secret, I'd cultivated the image of a devoted brother and son for years, keeping my true feelings for Cassy hidden.
My father's arms crossed, his gaze a heavy weight on me. "Are you calm now?" he demanded. I held his stare, my own resolve hardening. This was not the time for open defiance. I would have to feign compliance, biding my time until I could confront him publicly, and challenge the pack leader would be powerless to deny.
"Yes, Alpha," I forced out, my jaw tight. He nodded to the guard, who then opened the heavy prison door. The guard stepped behind me, his touch a brief discomfort as he unfastened the cuffs. I rose shakily, my wrists throbbing, and I shook them to ease the sting. My father had already turned, his back a rigid line as he began walking away. I fell into step behind him, a silent shadow. The urge to snap his neck then and there clawed at my hands, a raw, primal need, but I forced it down. This had to be official, had to be handled with a cold, calculated precision.
Sensing my presence, he finally spoke, his voice devoid of any warmth. "I have found a capable mate for you." Each word was a blow, and my fists clenched, knuckles white. "She is my beta's daughter, Lori." The name echoed in the sudden stillness. I knew Lori; she'd attended the same school as Cassy, a year behind, barely seventeen.
"She will be arriving tomorrow," he continued, his gaze still fixed ahead as we exited the prison and headed towards the waiting car. "I expect you to be a gentleman and treat her with respect."
I rolled my eyes, but of course, followed my father into the car. He was, to put it mildly, no gentleman, and we both knew it. What struck me as particularly amusing, though, was his persistent belief that I'd settle down with anyone but Cassy.
I remained silent, allowing him to prattle on about responsibility and my duty to the pack. Once we returned home, I hopped out of the car and headed inside. My feet instinctively carried me towards Cassy's room, but I paused outside her door. Gritting my teeth, I pushed it open and stepped in. The room still held her scent, her bed a rumpled testament to the night before.
"Excuse me," a soft voice startled me. I turned to see a petite, red-haired maid, her arms laden with empty boxes. My hands clenched instinctively. "What do you think you're doing?" I asked my voiced laced with venom.
"Alpha David sent me to clear this room out, Alpha Josh," she stammered, bowing her head in a gesture of deep submission.
A dangerous edge crept into my voice as I stepped closer. "If you so much as touch a single thing in this room, you're dead. Do you understand me?" The young maid flinched, her eyes wide with fear.
"Yes, Alpha!" she squeaked, and practically fled the room.
A sigh escaped me as I ran a hand through my hair, then I sank onto her bed, letting her familiar scent wash over me. "Soon," I murmured, my fingers tracing the indentation where she used to lay. "Soon you'll be home again."
I allowed myself only a few more moments before rising to shut and lock Cassy's door. I was the sole possessor of a key to her room, a precaution I'd taken early on after Cassy and her mother moved in. Returning to my own room, I retrieved my laptop and sent emails to several news outlets. I detailed the situation, attached photos from the ball, and included CCTV footage clearly showing Derick's face as he carried Cassy out. I also added a selection of my own photographs, focusing on the marks on Cassy's back.
It wouldn't take long for them to conduct their research and approach our pack with further inquiries. By that point, I fully intend to have secured ownership, leaving my father with no viable defense.
Having finished that task, I made my way to my father's office. Upon entering, I saw his Beta, Kerev, standing by his side. I gave him a nod, and a smile spread across his face as he greeted me, "Well hello, Josh. I heard you've agreed to take my daughter as your mate – your future Luna."
I offered him the best smile I could muster, but my father's gaze was sharp with suspicion. "Yes, well, that is precisely what I came here to discuss," I said, my voice carefully neutral. He frowned, as if bracing himself for an argument. "I think we should call a pack gathering tonight at the town hall and make it official."
Kerev's eyes lit up at the suggestion, but Alpha David's gaze remained fixed on me, suspicion clouding his features. "Why?" he demanded. *I need a reason to challenge you publicly,* I thought, but my words were measured. "Last night was… a whirlwind," I began carefully, "and I believe it's best we redirect everyone's attention before rumors gain traction." My father's reputation was everything to him. Ruthless though he was, the prospect of us offending the Crown Prince would undoubtedly be a burden he couldn't take on at the moment. He rubbed his chin, a thoughtful gesture, before finally turning to Kerev.
"What are your thoughts?" Alpha David asked, his gaze shifting. "She is your daughter."
"I like the idea," Kerev said, his attention then turning to me. "I know you will be a great mate." I nodded in agreement, though the sentiment felt hollow. I would be a great mate, just not to his daughter.
"Then it is settled," My father said standing up, "Go clean yourself up, we will meet at the town hall around 7pm"
A nod was my immediate response, and I began to turn, only to halt myself abruptly. "Will Mother be there?" The words escaped me, a sudden realization of her absence sparking a question. I had to teach her a lesson for meddling in Cassy's and my affairs.
My father's eyes narrowed, a possessive glint reserved for Iris. "No," he stated, his tone unyielding. Kerev looked at him, seeking clarification. "She was too upset by her daughter leaving yesterday to leave her room. I'm allowing her to stay put for now." Against her will, no doubt, I thought, a cold resolve settling in. That suits me. I'll know where to find her after I kill my father.
I just nodded, not pressing for details, and headed back to my room to call my best friend and soon-to-be Beta, Kyle. I outlined the situation, and he eagerly embraced the prospect of stepping into his Beta role. Kerev, my father's long-serving Beta, was someone I couldn't trust. Kyle assured me he'd handle Kerev, but requested Lori as his reward. I agreed readily. Frankly, I didn't want her anyway.