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Chapter 27
Lucian
When I enter my office, I can no longer hold back the wrath within me. My fairy side is taking over, and the frustration of not being able to control myself makes me reach out with my arm and smack a vase off the mahogany desk.
I don’t even jump when the vase shatters against the floor. The sound is loud, but it’s not enough to drown out my own raging heartbeat that’s pounding in my cars.
Why me?
Why did I have to be born as the half–fairy?!
Fuck if I don’t wish Sebastian had been the one to carry this burden instead!
I grit my teeth and unleash a roar before going loose and sending my papers flying from my desk like snowflakes. My chest is heaving with each and every breath, and I’m about to pick up my chair to break it in two, but that’s when I hear a tired gasp.
“Are you done yet?”
I whip around and see my father standing with his back leaning against the wall. Even though age has caught up with him, he still looks like an Alpha and I immediately straighten my back out of respect, unsure how to address him. Is he “dad” or “former Alpha Logan” today?
“Dad,” I say, my voice a low rasp. His eyes, blue and not the same shade of green as mine, flicker over the chaos of my He’s seen me lose control before–but never like this.
office.
“Lucian,” he says in that tone–the one that reminds me I’m not yet the Alpha I should be. It’s a weight I can’t bear to carry, not today.
“I can’t do it, Dad. I can’t…”
His brow furrows, and for a moment, there is something soft in his gaze. He pushes himself off the wall and steps around shards of porcelain and scattered papers to stand before me.
“Perhaps you’d like to destroy another vase to calm down? I’ve got plenty more from where that came from.”
I swallow hard, lowering my gaze to the ground. “It’s not about the vase.”
“I know it’s not,” he sighs, walking around the table to get even closer to me. He moves sluggishly, as though each step is an effort. I want to offer him support but I can’t bring myself to move, can’t find the words.
Instead, I glare down at the floor, flinching when I feel his hand on my cheek. He has never been the touchy type, which is why shock sweeps over me, causing my muscles to spasm and tension to ripple through me. I shudder, but I make no move to pull
away.
“Look at me, Lucian,” he commands, his tone laced with an authority that instantly makes me obey.
Slowly, I lift my head, meeting his eyes–those blue oceans that have always held a storm within them, much like the one raging in my heart right now.
“I know being a hybrid is hard and that you’re struggling to control your emotions and the fairy magic coursing through your veins, but now isn’t the time to give up.”
My eyes narrow in suspicion. “What do you mean? Why isn’t this a good time? And why are you telling me that? You’ve never been helpful in the past.”
Dimples form on either side of his old, blue eyes when he laughs. “That’s because you’ve never faced a challenge like this before, son. You’re falling victim to your own demons when the pack needs you.”
I snort. “The pack always needs me.”
He arches an eyebrow. “Are you even aware of what’s happening behind your back right now?”
Are there things happening behind my back? Fuck, of course, there is! For the last few days I’ve been struggling to keep our territory safe from the vampires and haven’t paid attention to much else.
Chapter 27
“What’s happening behind my back?” I demand.
My father sighs. “There are rumors within the pack that you’re barely keeping yourself together, that you’ve almost attacked your own pack members for questioning you. Pack members are saying your fairy blood might be so much stronger than your werewolf blood that you aren’t fit to lead a pack of werewolves.”
I bristle, pulling away from his touch, the ever–present anger resurfacing. “What do they know?! They don’t know what it’s like being me! I’m fighting to keep myself in check, and I haven’t killed anyone yet!”
“But that isn’t enough, Lucian!” my father shouts, causing me to step back in shock. His eyes gleam with a fierceness I haven’t seen in a long time. “You can’t simply resist the urge to kill your pack members. You need to lead them, protect them, and make them feel safe.”
I clench my fists tight enough to draw blood, fury seeping through my skin like poison. I turn away, unable to meet his gaze any longer.
“Just because you were a perfect Alpha doesn’t mean I have to be!” I spit out bitterly.
“But you could at least fucking try!” My father bellows in a frustrated tone. “If you keep letting your anger control you, the rumors won’t be rumors anymore. They’ll be true. And when that happens, you’ll lose the pack.”
His words hit me harder than a punch to the gut. I stare at him helplessly, knowing I should ask him for his advice on how to control my anger, but my blood is already boiling, and the next second, I’m barking back at him.
“My pack members might be afraid of me, but there’s no one more fit to be their Alpha!”
My father snorts. “That’s what you think…”
I glare at him. “Are you saying there’s someone more fit than me to lead the Midnight pack?”
“I don’t know,” his eyes meet mine. “All I know is that your brother wants to be Alpha, and let’s not forget about the Cleopatra pack–they hate fairies, and their Alpha, Cecilia Thorn, has been eyeing our territory for too long now. With you in this state…not only are the vampires a threat to us, but so are the Cleopatra pack.”
My blood freezes at his words. I had no idea Sebastian wanted to become Alpha. Isn’t the Beta position enough for him? And Cecilia Thorn? That cunning lycan vixen has always been a thorn in my side. I’ve always known that she holds a grudge against me for taking the fertile land that lies between our terrains–a land she’s convinced belongs to her pack, not ours.
But I wouldn’t expect Cecilia to challenge me, not after I almost killed her during our last duel.
“Believe it or not, but In your current state, Lucian, your magic abilities don’t matter,” my father says. “You cannot protect our territory as you are now. Your inability to control your rage makes you dangerous to your own pack, and others can exploit that!”
“I agree that Cecilia is our enemy, but Sebastian isn’t my enemy. He is my brother and can help me-”
“Is he not?” my father interrupts, his tone harsh. “I know you trust your brother despite your differences, but he has been working hard to prove he’s a better leader lately, has he not?”
When I don’t answer, he continues.
“Sebastian has been undermining your authority at every turn, questioning your decisions in the council meetings. Your hybrid blood might have made you the stronger werewolf physically, but he’s more werewolf than you’ll ever be.”
His words sting because I realize he is right. Sebastian has been more active in pack matters of late. Even now, while I’ve been chasing vampires and trying to keep my own rage under control, Sebastian has been back home, leading the pack.
“And don’t think Cecilia won’t seize this opportunity,” my father continues ruthlessly. “Her hatred for fairies is legendary and she has been waiting for the smallest sign of vulnerability from you. She’s not the type to shy away from a fight, especially one she believes she could win.”
The bitterness in my throat is too harsh to swallow. Each of my father’s words hits like a slap, forcing me to confront the truth I’ve been so desperate to avoid. I am failing as an Alpha. The realization is a gut punch, knocking the wind out of me.
“I can handle Cecilia,” I spit out, trying to regain some semblance of control over the situation. “And as for Sebastian–” “You can’t even handle yourself right now, Lucian.”
Chapter 27
My lips move to show my teeth, but by some miracle, I manage to hold back my growl. I take a deep breath and let it out before speaking.
“What do you suggest I do?”
My father smiles. “You step down as Alpha and give up your position to your mate.”
“Wh–what?!”
“You heard me,” his smile widens. “Make Noelle the Alpha of the Midnight pack”
“She is an Omega…”
My father looks at me with a serious expression and says, “Once you marry her, her ranking will change. She will become your Luna and wife, but what if we take it a step further? You can make her the Alpha and help her rule the Midnight pack. And trust me, helping her rule will be easier than remaining as the Alpha of our pack since you’re a hybrid”
I grimace. “People will always question that aspect about me, huh?”
“Yes, but they won’t question Noelle as their Alpha. She is about to awaken, and once she does, she will be much stronger,” I can see the determination in his eyes. “And don’t act surprised by my words; we both know who that girl truly is and how much strength she secretly possesses.”
I breathe a laugh at that. “So you know about her being the lost lycan princess then?”
“Of course,” he grins darkly. “It’s no coincidence that she possesses incredible strength in her human form and moves with the speed of a bullet train despite not being able to shape–shift. She comes from a royal lineage and has natural leadership qualities.”
Instead of calling his idea crazy, I smile. “I will think about it.”
His smile broadens. “That’s all I ask for, son. I trust you to make the right decision.”
As he walks out of my office, I turn around to stare out through the window with racing thoughts. Can Noelle truly lead the Midnight pack? I know she is strong, stronger than most of the warrior werewolves in our pack.
But leading is not just about physical strength. It is about tactics, strategy…diplomacy. Can Noelle handle that? Or will she freak out the second I even propose the idea of her leading the pack?
SEN
