Greyson blinked at her as his heart sank. He knew that she was going to ask this, that was precisely why he hadn't broached this subject with her previously.
He was well aware of what it looked like. The Lycan Prince running away and abandoning his people, saving his own hide instead of standing up for what was right and honestly, he hated himself for leaving. Yet, at the same time, he had really had no other choice.
"That's a little unfair Lexi, we don't know…" Allen jumped to Greysons defense almost immediately much to her chagrin, but Greyson held a hand up to stop him and shook his head gently.
"It's okay Allen, she has a right to ask, I just hope that you both will be able to understand my reasoning at the time."
Greyson reached for his drink, desperate to soothe the panicked dryness that had suddenly settled down his throat and after taking a few sips, he turned to look directly at Lexi, not shrinking under the intensity of her gaze and continued.
"I was eighteen when I left, Lexi. Back then, things were different. I had always known that life for our people was sometimes needlessly cruel but when I had brought it up to my father, he laughed in my face and meted out my punishment using my brother's hands. My mother always publicly supported my father but behind closed doors she was just as disturbed as I was. I wanted to challenge my father and change things from within, but thankfully, she stopped me. I'm perfectly capable of handling myself but going up against the nobles and my brothers? That would have been suicide back then." He answered steadily.
"She begged me to leave, to help by making strong allies that would hopefully, one day at least, intervene and support my claim to the throne but I was hesitant to leave her. But that all changed quite quickly."
Lexi shifted in her chair and folded her arms defensively in front of her, ignoring Allen's pointed look toward her as if she had been in the wrong to press him for details. They had been on the way to see Brad anyway to speak with him about these matters so she failed to see why he was so irritated by her jump starting the conversation.
"So what happened to change your mind?" Brad asked with a frown of concentration, his full attention focused completely on Greyson as his mind worked quickly to understand the far reaching implications of Greyson's revelations.
"In actuality, when you consider everything that I had witnessed in my life up until that point, it really wasn't anything that I hadn't seen before, but…we were summoned to the Audience chambers. Everyone. All of the nobles, Elders and the overseers of the Breeders and Echo's. Then, a young woman was led out, she couldn't have been more than seventeen. Clearly, she had already been punished for whatever crime she was guilty of because she was in a terrible state and barely conscious." Greysons head dropped as he described the scene, forcing the emotion that had suddenly bubbled up in his chest as far down as he possibly could.
"My mother and one of my younger brothers tried to intervene when they revealed the so-called crime that she had been accused of but she was executed in a long drawn out public execution…all for miscarrying a child." Greyson hissed angrily as an unsettling silence settled over the room and he took a deep, cleansing breath, relieving the weight on his soul.
"Father was furious that my mother and younger brother had tried to stop him exacting punishment on her so he had them publicly beaten too. Not long after that we planned our escape and succeeded in leaving. We made our way to Alpha King Leopold's palace, expecting to find Ann's mother at his side,and hoping to appeal to her good nature for safe haven, but instead we were met by Narcissa and I'm sure you can imagine how that went."
"Thankfully, Elder Bartholomew intervened on our behalf and we were admitted to the Enclave and for a time, things were going well. I was accepted into the specialist unit and went on to serve in the Containment facilities. My mother had begun to make a life for herself in Bartholomews home town with my younger brother under an alias and for a time, they were happy." Greyson trailed off as words failed him.
He didn't want to voice his suspicions because that would make them all too real, but they deserved to know everything.
"We sent frequent letters to one another and called when we could and then one day, all communication just stopped. I took leave to head back and make sure they were okay, but deep down I knew something must have happened. When I arrived on their doorstep, their home was in disarray and there was no sign of my mother or of my little brother."
Lexi sucked a breath in through her teeth as she listened, the pain in his voice was like knives piercing her heart.
"Did you ever find them? Did your father…" She trailed off, not wanting to finish the train of thought she had been heading down.
"No, I never found them and as to whether or not my father had a hand in it? I don't know. I've heard nothing from my mother or younger brother and I'm almost certain that they would have found some way to reach out to me. So after wallowing in despair for a short time, I returned to Bartholomew. He tried to reach out and find out what he could but not long after this, my father closed the borders and began refusing entrance to everyone who tried."
"What is it with Kings and losing their fucking minds?" Lexi frowned.
"I wanted to return home and find answers, but Bartholomew advised against it and over time, I understood his reasoning. I hated him for a time though." Greyson smiled grimly.
"I don't know what to say, Greyson. Other than to thank you for telling us your story. It has certainly revealed a lot about the way your father runs his kingdom and I believe Lexi is right in her observations regarding our Alpha Queen's likely answer to his offer." Brad said carefully, "I do wonder though, do you have plans to return at all?"
"Not if I can help it. The only way that I would ever return is if there was information regarding my mother or youngest brother."
"Out of interest, how many brothers do you have?" Lexi asked curiously.
"Back then there were only five of us. But now? I have no idea. Who knows if my father sired any with the breeders there. They'll hold no royal titles but perhaps if they rank well in their testing then they'll be instated as minor nobles." Greyson shrugged.
"Those poor children…destined for such a life of brutality..." Eleanor murmured quietly, the emotion constricting her throat painfully.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell my brothers that I have informed you of any of this. I would hate for you to suffer any backlash as a result if they decide to make you a scapegoat for the refusal."
Brad sighed heavily as he sat back in his chair and ran his hands over his face wearily.
"I think it would be wise for me to bolster the guards and seek our Alpha Queen's counsel regarding this matter sooner rather than later." Brad said finally, his face contorted in a difficult expression.
"Will your wolf be okay seeing her again?" Lexi asked with a raised eyebrow, "Because you know Adam will..."
"Yes yes, I know." Brad sighed sadly, "I'm well aware that ship has sailed. Don't worry, you don't have to be concerned about my behavior around her anymore."
"Good. I'll give her a call this afternoon just to update her." Lexi nodded.
"I would also advise improving your defenses here," Allen frowned, "Chances are that the Lycan princes have already put together a detailed report on your weaknesses and strengths for when they return."
Brad groaned lightly as Greyson nodded in agreement.
"They leave in a few days, so I'll see to it then."
"I can take a look if you like. As Commander at the garrison at the Northern Tips Containment facility, I think I'll be able to add valuable insight."
"The Northern Tips?!" Brad exclaimed in a voice tinged with awe as he shot a look to Lexi, "You certainly struck gold with your mate's capabilities... do you know that?"
Lexi chuckled as a slow smirk spread across her lips.
"I think you and I prioritize different capabilities Brad," she quipped teasingly as Allen choked in indignation quietly at her side.
Eleaor cleared her throat suddenly as all eyes turned to her and she smiled appologetically.
"I hate to do this, but…now that you know everything, before we get sidetracked by anything else, can you PLEASE give your son a name?"