Chapter Eleven – Against You.
Chris’s POV
After Jake left me outside and walked in, I stayed watching the stars and asking the moon goddess if Rih was up there.
I wanted to know if she could see her curses on me coming true.
Black Rose Pack should be my closest ally but they were the first to challenge me few hours after my coronation as their King.
To say it didn’t bother me would be a lie, it greatly did. This wasn’t a very admirable first day as Alpha King for me.
And knowing that it was because I led to the death of their true Luna, I couldn’t really blame their behavior.
I heard my father clear his throat behind me. I turned and saw that his long black hair had been cut short.
He had always wanted it short but due to strong temperatures at unconventional battle ground, he had to leave it for protection.
Now, I was the one to borne all that. My blonde hair stopped at my ears though.
My father looked at the stars I was obviously watching, and he asked. “What are you doing here? You should be inside with your guests?”
“I’ve met them all.” I said simply, it wasn’t like there was any words of wisdom they had for me.
My father stood besides me. “I saw you and Jake. Don’t mind him, he’s been a difficult kid.”
I nodded, feeling no comfort in those words. How could I not mind him? One day he is being the most supportive person, the next, he isn’t.
“And as Alpha King, you should be dealing with his older brother.” My father added.
I snapped my head to my father, but brought it back to looking at the stars. Jake’s older brother would be the person he said would be the Alpha.
That’s why Jake had such act, it’s the youngest child syndrome, picky and with attitude.
“I will keep that in mind. Did you also hear that they were attacked by a rogue silver wolf?” I probed, wanting to know how much he heard.
He confirmed with a nod, “If he’s a silver wolf, Jake Justin can’t defeat him that easily, he seemed to have so much hate inside.”
I agreed at his words. The rogue may be only after Black Rose and not other packs, maybe the rogue broke from a pack they annoyed.
Jake Justin would surely need help in the long run, and he would come to me, his Alpha King. “I’d hold Jake Justin on that. Don’t worry.”
A smirk came to my face envisioning Jake rushing to me, horror in his face, complaining on how the silver wolf wrecked his warriors.
In my mercies and power, I could release the best of my royal warriors to combat and subdue the threat, living Jake grateful to me.
My bubble of self delight was busted at that moment by my father’s next words. “Jake would always have something against you.”
Was he cursing me? What was everyone not on my side this year? “What do you mean? What would he have against me?”
My father faced me, keeping on arm on the balcony’s rail. “You rejected the official Luna. It’s against rules as Alpha King to do so.”
A wall around my heart, that I had been trying to rebuild since Rih’s death, shattered again to pieces. She would always haunt me.
“My father made that rule after he had his silver wolf mate. It wasn’t only because Alphas rarely get a new mate, but cause whichever mate they get, will be the best choice for Luna Queen.”
“Then why did you call Rihanna a curse in front of me!” I barked, cutting him shut.
A line of frown showed on his face. He took his arm off the balcony’s rail and both arms went behind his back. “Rih was weak.”
“You just said that whatever mate an Alpha would be given would be the best choice. I felt that way too but you didn’t, why?”
“Well, cause I didn’t see it in her! And you didn’t as well, you rejected her! None of us were willing to give her the chance!” he barked back.
I felt small in front of him. Not because he was barking at me but because he said the truth.
I didn’t give Rih a chance, when she was the most eligible.
But how long would I keep regretting it? Couldn’t they be a ‘move on’ button for me?
I cleared my throat and look down to hide my eyes being filled with tears.
“I regret everything about that day. The rejection, her death, losing Ray’s friendship, all.”
My father nodded, “I do too. I shouldn’t have let your mother’s hatred for Rih blind me knowing her potential, I was her Alpha.”
So he agreed as well, and that it was his mate causing all these? My mother was a hard one!
“So about Jake, he has the power to remove me from power, is that what you mean by he has something against me?”
“Somewhat. He can’t remove you but would make the Alphas aware of Rih’s rejection and death. You’d lose their respect and loyalty.”
And those two things were all I needed to stay high on this throne. What good was a King without the respect and loyalty of the people?
“I’d make it up to Jake Justin. I’d try being a little honest with him.” As I spoke, I walked into the hall so my father wouldn’t stop me.
Thankfully he didn’t, he might have really left the reins of the pack in my hands, I’d lead it well.
I sighted Jake Justin speaking with Vanessa. He had an inquisitive look on and glanced at Sasha from time to time.
Perhaps he’d figured I got an arranged Luna, it wouldn’t sit well with him. I hurried to him.
He met my gaze and his eyes darkened, I had been right. “Jake, I need to speak with you about something.” I started first.
His eyes brightened and he had his inquisitive look back on. “And what is it?”
“Rihanna’s rejection wasn’t planned at all.” I started. His eye brows lifted, waiting for more.
“You know the mate bond actually makes you like a thing or two about you will be mate?”
He nodded. “Didn’t you feel so with Rihanna? She was practically your Beta.”
She wasn’t quite but he shouldn’t know that. “She was. And we felt those. But there was this image she had, she wasn’t quite liked by all.”
“Should that matter? By oldest brother wasn’t quite liked by my uncles but he is next in line to be Alpha, not them. So?” he asked.
I bit my lower lips, figuring that I actually had no reason for treating Rih like that – except that I was a coward who listened to his mother.
“If you are bothered about the Alphas knowing, don’t bother. I won’t tell them.”
I raised my head up, he won’t?
“Cos of Ray’s sake. He had always dreamed to be a better Beta than his father had been so I want him to fulfill that dream.”
His reason was because of Ray? And not that he wanted my own happiness? A scoff escaped my lips? “I guess I’m grateful?”
“You should be, Alpha King.” Jake Justin smiled. “I am honored to be one you are grateful at.” He tapped my shoulder and walked away.
The edges of my lips tugged sideways, trying to force a painful smile but nothing smiley was about this.
For my years of being Alpha King, I’d always be wary of not displeasing the Black Rose Pack because I rejected my mate.