“Oh, man.” Nick bowed and touched his head, avoiding to look at me.
I expected this reaction from them. I knew, just like them, Ashira won’t like the decision I just made.
*THUD*
I fell from my seat as a fist landed on my jaw. I didn’t saw Zeke’s action because of being drowned in my own thoughts and now he hovered above me.
Another punch was coming and I closed my eyes, letting him hit me. I deserve this, maybe more.
“You fu*cker!” Another punch. “I expected better from you than be a pawn to that manipulative person-” Another one.
Damn, it stings.
“Hey, hey, stop now, buddy.” Nick pulled Zeke away from me while Zynia helped me sat up.
I could taste blood inside my mouth, Zeke did a great job punching my face. It’s been a while since I got beaten up and I didn’t expect that my cousin will be the one to do it.
“Let me go!” Zeke shouted but Nick hold on to him tighter.
“There’s no point in fighting, Zeke!” Zynia shouted. “Keep your hands to yourself, we can talk about this without unnecessary force.”
“You!” Zeke pointed at me. “I don’t know Ash well but you should given it a thought of what she wants! You know her better!”
I spat some blood and stood up. I deserve this…
“Alpha Aiden…” Zynia went to me. “I apologize for my son’s behaviour but I also share the same thought. Ashira is the mother of the child, she has a say in this.”
I leaned on my seat and cracked my neck. “I made up my mind. Ashira is not in her usual self, she will think I’m the bad guy and refuse right away.”
“But she has the right to know!” Zeke burst out. Nick no longer stops him and he calmed down a bit. “What do you think she’ll say when she lose the child, huh?”
“Zeron will not take the child’s life. Its still impossible to kill a stealer child and he is not an exception for it.”
Silence surrounds the room and I decided to continue.
“I don’t care about the power my child has in him. As long as both of them are fine, I will exchange anything for them.”
“But Ash is fine, Aiden! Can’t you see that? She’s breathing, she’s here, she’s-”
“But I’m not fine!” I stood up. “It kills me everyday! The sight of my mate crying over some fantasy planted inside her head! The thought of her thinking about another guy is enough to kill me! I can’t sleep hearing the sounds of her cries every night, and I can’t even sense her! She is fine, she is with me, I can see her everyday but I can’t even touch her! No one of you knows how I can feel our mate bond fading each day that has passed!”
“So you’ll do this for your own selfish reason? What if Ashira wants her son to remain with the power blessed by the moon?” Zeke just wouldn’t stop.
“The child will still be powerful when he turn over the pack. He is still my son, a true Alpha blood will run on his veins and I won’t greed for more.”
Zynia walked to his son and placed her palm on his chest, whispering words to calm Zeke. There is silence again. Everybody in the room is careful to say words or maybe all of them is against me that they choose to pick their words right.
“Aiden has made up his mind. And we don’t stand a chance in fighting the Alpha King. As I see that he wanted the pup’s power, he will still take it without anyone’s permission.” Nick said and looked at me. “Did he mentioned why he is after the child?”
I shook my head. “He won’t tell me.”
“Maybe the King is afraid.” Zynia took everyone’s attention and our eyes are questioning what she meant. “Don’t you remember what I said before? The bloodline of the Alpha King came from the son of the stealer.”
“I never heard of it.” Nick said.
“The first and greatest Alpha King who helped stopped the war and managed to unify the pack in every region was a child of a stealer. He acquired a huge deal of power that even those who were not under his reign submitted to him. As time passed by, the link to the powerful blood is weakened when the third Alpha King gave birth to a girl. We know the blood of a male is stronger than of the female and now that six generation had passed and Zeron as the sixth Alpha King, the power is not as great as it should be.”
“You mean, we can win a fight against him?” I asked.
“No, Alpha Aiden. He is still the Alpha King and much powerful than anyone. What I’m saying is maybe its time to change the regime and your unborn child might be the next Alpha King.”
Is that possible? I can see the desperation behind the King’s friendly face earlier but I thought he was just thirsty for more power.
“The Moon Goddess might seen the need to change the ruler and so she blessed you a powerful pup. If I am right, the Alpha King Zeron is afraid that his son won’t acquire its position in the throne or their bloodline come to an end.”
“Whoa. It will be great if Aiden’s child is fated to be the next King!” Nick exclaimed.
“But we won’t know for sure. Plus, if I was right and they don’t want their title to be taken from them then once the child is born, he might be assassinated or hunted. The child is untouchable inside the womb but once it breathed the earth’s air, he can be killed, too.”
As I see it, I think I made the right decision. I heard the King, he is willing to kill me if I disagreed with his deal and I know he can in a snap of his finger. And as I said, as long as my family is safe, I’m willing to exchange anything.
“Well,” Zeke scratched the back of his head. “I’m one who don’t care about the power so unless the child is alive, I won’t say anymore. And oh, sorry for the punches.”
Nick chuckled. “I will never question your decision, Aiden but for a moment there, I thought you are willing to give up the life of your unborn so, yeah. Now that no one is dying, I support your judgment.”
I sighed and smiled at them. “I know one day that Ashira will know about this and so I called you three to-”
“Help you explain? Aw! Are you chickening out?” Zeke laughed as he interrupted me.
-_-
Oh well, I guess that is the reason. I chuckled and all of them burst out laughing.
“Well, one thing I can say, Alpha Aiden. If my hunches are wrong and the pup is a normal child of a stealer then you are right. The child will still have the power of an Alpha and that is enough. But if I’m right and the unborn is destined to be the next King, then I don’t think the King can break what the Moon Goddess fated to happen.” Zynia smiled at me as she said the words.
I’ve think about it. I care for Ashira and the child more than anything and having them both is already a gift enough.
***
I looked at her with awe as I walked closer to her. She still sit in the same spot on that part of our spot. She loved the river so much. She used to be here before when she hasn’t been stolen from me. Maybe there are things that Elon cannot take away from her.
I asked for her to come with me here again. In just a few minutes, Zeron will be here, too. There is no turning back now.
“Hey,” I called when I saw her eyes are closed as she enjoy the soft gushing of the wind. “How are you feeling?” I know she felt me coming closer and that she let her guard down around me.
I sat down on the grass beside her with enough distance to be careful as to not make her feel uncomfortable. Though, even this little distance is killing me.
I wanted to wrap my arms around her, snake my hands on her waist. I missed doing that to her.
She looked at me and I felt everything slowed down around me just by her gaze. When will I ever stop being stunned every time I see those eyes?
“I’m okay. D-Did the Alpha King left for real?” her voice stammered and I already hated the way I see her trembled in fear.
I sighed.
“Yeah but he will be back.”
“What is it that you two talked about? He said its about me.”