Darius
The doors to the throne room groaned as they opened, and I stride in with my fury already burning a quiet path behind me. My boots struck the marble with enough weight to echo, each step daring anyone in the room to look me in the eye.
"Admit it, you're scared for your throne, after all, they have started doubting your reign." My wolf's voice held a quiet weight of surrender, and it just sounded like he was hiding inside my head, waiting to die.
"If you keep quiet, I'll have the correct headspace to deal with this. Either help me out of this or just keep quiet and let me think of how to keep us in the game."
If I wasn't speaking in my head, I'd be speaking through gritted teeth.
The air was thick with tension, and from their faces I could see that they were there to fight. This meeting just wasn't like the normal meetings called to deliberate over matters of the park, this one was to challenge my throne.
"I've always hated the council of elders, they were just a bunch of entitled centuries old werewolves who felt more important than they truly were." My wolf sneered and for the first time in a long time we were agreeing on something.
"Alpha." Rafe acknowledged my presence and as I approached the throne, they all stood up in respect.
At least, that's a sign that they still respected me.
Finally, I sat down, clearing my throat as I gazed into their eyes. Some couldn't help my gaze while those that were bold enough stared back.
"Well?" My voice broke through the silence, heavy with authority none of them possessed. "My patience is not endless."
"Alpha, we thought it's appropriate…."
"You dare to call a meeting, without my approval or knowledge, based merely on what you felt? Merely on speculation? You dare summon me into my own throne room as though I answer to you?" I cut the elder short before he could proceed, clearly unable to hold back my anger
One of the elders cleared his throat, an old man with eyes pale as frost. "Your Majesty, we felt it necessary…"
I cut him off with a sharp tone as I leaned forward. My aura rose by a leap, my wolf threatening them as theirs fought to hide.
"Necessary?"
"Yes, your majesty, there are pressing matters we need to address. We waited for you to come out of your shell, but you've been held up in this palace and have refused to show your face. We just had to call this meeting."
If it weren't for the grey hair on the elder's head, I'd be bashing his head against the table for calling my house a shell I've withdrawn into.
"Okay, I'm listening to these 'important' matters you speak of."
They all exchanged glances, as if communicating silently on what to say and who to say it.
"Speak!"
A few of them jumped in fear while the others who were still strong at heart simply remained quiet.
"Your majesty, there are a lot of problems we've been facing ever since the rumours about a silver wolf leading a force of rogues, arose."
My fingers instinctively moved to massage my forehead at the news of the wolf which has proved to be the only thing that has invaded my life. Everyday I get reports of these same rogues moving closer into our territory, and no matter the force we send for confrontation, they never come back alive. And if they did, they were injured to a great extent.
"Yes, your majesty. Everyday we lose warriors, brothers, sons, fathers. Everyday we bury our dead. Fear has made most of the werewolves stop going out to hunt. The…." I was attentive to the elder when another cut her short just before she could finish her words.
"The people are getting worried that you're not fit to be alpha king anymore."
The words cut deep into my skin and my wolf snarled in my head.
"Disrespectful bastards! They're lucky I'm not at my best…. Thanks to you."
I chuckled dryly at their words, until my chuckle turned into a full blown laughter. Murmurs erupted in the throne room, as they all exchanged glances at my reaction. Even Rafe was not spared from the confusion.
Then the smile was instantly replaced by a cold icy look, I could feel the shiver run down their spines.
"You sit here in my throne room, under my rule, and think you have the right to throw in doubts and incompetency to my rule?" I asked, in the calmest tone, but they could tell I was anything but calm.
The youngest of them, a silver-haired woman with a voice steadier than the others, met my glare. "The council exists to advise, Alpha King. We saw fit to tell you our concerns because…."
"Because what?" I thundered, my voice echoing off the walls. "Because you think your whispers of old law outweigh my command? Because you think the crown on my head makes me your servant? I've ruled as alpha king for years, and you lot know how well I've ruled."
Silence, total silence filled the room, and if a pin dropped, it would be heard. Until someone broke it.
"Even food gets spoiled."
Did the bastard just compare me to a rotting food?
Before I could think about what I was about to do, I lurched for the elder and grabbed him by the throat.
"Your majesty!!"
Screams rang through the room as I squeezed the life out of the man, my eyes barely holding any emotions. Blood had begun to stain his pupils and his eyes were beginning to go shut when I released my grip on him.
I straightened, letting the weight of my glare sweep across their faces
. "Who else wants to speak? Speak quickly," I growled. "And pray what you have to say is worth testing my patience."