Rylan’s POV
She rejected us.
I couldn't believe it. Eliza had rejected the four of us.
“We haven't been the greatest to her, though, have we?” Enzo reminded us, and we knew that he was right. Of course, we couldn't change what had happened, but our wolf would be weaker without Eliza and her rejection.
“Now we can go back to Creek, and you will officially be taking Daniella as your mate and future Luna.” our father boomed as he followed us down the hall from the King's study. I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists. My father was a fool to think we would take that manipulative bitch as our mate. She had always made Eliza feel bad and worse than any of us. We were all guilty, but Daniella more so. She thought that the world revolved around her, that she was more worthy than anyone else.
“I need some time to process this.” Ed wiped his face as our mother attempted to console him.
“Process what exactly? The omega weeded her way to the King's Palace and pretended to be his lost daughter. She's sick in the head, and whatever witch has helped her devise such a nonsense plan needs to be punished as well.” my father growled.
“What are you talking about? She would never do such a thing.” I turned to my father, and he grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and shoved me against the wall. My mother cried out in shock at the aggression my father showed in the palace, of all places.
“Get your hands off the boy. You and your Luna have some explaining to do.” the king thundered, causing everyone to stop and look up at him.
I struggled to free myself from my father's grip, but he held me firm. "Let me go!" I snarled, my eyes burning with anger.
The king's voice boomed through the hallway once more. "Release him, Morgan! That's an order!”
My father's hold on me relaxed, and I stumbled back, rubbing my neck. The king's eyes narrowed at my father, his face red with anger.
"You will answer for your behaviour," he growled.
My father's eyes flashed with defiance, but he backed down, knowing he was outnumbered. "Yes, Your Majesty."
The king turned to me. "You are all ok?” Ed nodded, still wiping his face with his sleeve. "Y-yes, sir." Me, Rio and Enzo also nodded in agreement.
The king's gaze swept the room. "I will not have this sort of behaviour in my palace. You are all pack members, and you will treat each other with respect. Now I think me and you need a chat, don't we, Morgan? Your Luna and sons can wait in the room down there. Escort them.” The King clicked his fingers, and two guards rushed to accompany us away. I glanced over my shoulder and wondered what would happen to my father.
Alpha Morgan’s POV
I stood outside the throne room, my heart racing with anxiety. I could feel the king's anger radiating from inside, and I knew I was in for a severe reprimanding. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves, but it was useless. My mind was racing about how I would explain everything to the king.
“Enter Morgan!” he roared. The guards moved aside to allow me entry.
As I entered the throne room, I saw the king sitting on his throne, his face red with anger. I decided I would apologise profusely and try to win back his respect. Being on bad terms with him would not suit me or my pack.
"Alpha Morgan," the king said, his voice low and menacing. "I am not pleased with what I have been told. You have disrespected my daughter Eliza, and I will not stand for it."
I swallowed hard, trying to think of a response. "Your Majesty," I began, "I apologise if I have caused any offence. It was never our intention to hurt Eliza or disrespect your family."
The king's eyes narrowed. "You expect me to believe you didn't mean to hurt Eliza? That you didn't mean to disrespect my family?"
I shook my head. "No, Your Majesty. We are truly sorry for what happened. We were trying to help Eliza, and we didn't mean to cause any harm."
The king's face turned red with anger again. "You didn't mean to cause any harm? You didn't mean to disrespect my daughter? That is not an excuse! You will tell me what happened, and you will tell me why you didn't declare the newborn in the woods all those years ago.”
I felt a rush of panic at the king's words. How could I explain everything to him? How could I explain how we had encountered a newborn in the woods and why we had never declared it?
"I don't know if I can explain it all," I said, feeling a sense of desperation creeping in.
The king's eyes flashed with anger again. "You will try," he said. "You will explain everything to me, or you will face the consequences. You know I can take away your life in a mere second, or I could even spare you and force away your title. I am the King, and my Wolf isn't best pleased with you or your pack. Now is your chance to tell me the truth.”
I took a deep breath and began to explain everything. I told the king about how we had found the newborn in the woods, about how we had taken care of it and brought it back to our pack.
The king listened intently, his face expressionless. When I finished speaking, he nodded slowly.
"I see," he said. "However, I think you are hiding something from me, and I won't allow you to leave until I know the truth about how my daughter was taken from me and my Palace. Why did your pathetic pack mistreat her?” the king snapped,“Tell me now. Did you steal her from my Palace? Who was involved? I want answers!” His eyes looked like they were about to pop out from their sockets, and his face was as red as a tomato. Yet, before I could answer, a voice spoke up.
“It was me.” a voice said, and we all turned around to see an older woman glaring at us. The king frowned. “Mabel?” he almost choked on his words. “What are you trying to say?”
She sighed. “I loved the queen like a daughter, and she died because of that child. I put a spell on her so nobody could recognise her as the missing Royal Princess. Unfortunately for me, it would seem that her pathetic fated mates would ruin that, and now she's back. She was supposed to die! The day you bought her back here, I couldn't stand to be around her.”
The king's eyes widened in shock as Mabel's words hung in the air. I could see the realisation dawn on him, and his face turned red with anger.
"You... you put a spell on Eliza?" he asked, his voice trembling with rage. “You tried to have my daughter killed, a helpless infant that you were supposed to be taking care of.”
Mabel's glare intensified. "Yes, I am," she spat. "And I would do it again if I had to."
The king's face turned purple with rage. "You're a monster," he growled. "You've been hiding this from me all these years, and now you're telling me that you're the one who's been responsible for my daughter's disappearance?" He leapt up and grabbed her by the throat, and his eyes flashed with a fierce intensity. "You'll pay for this," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "You'll pay for taking my daughter from me and for lying to me all these years."
Mabel's eyes widened in fear as she struggled to breathe, her face turning blue with lack of oxygen. The king's grip on her throat was like a vice, and I could see the veins bulging in his neck as he squeezed. “Father, let her go.” Eliza stormed into the room, followed by her brother Prince Alex. She looked at me disgusted as Prince Alex attempted to pull their father off the woman.
“Let her go, she isn't worth it.” Prince Alex's voice was firm and commanding, but the king's grip on Mabel's arm remained tight. The king's eyes flashed angrily, and he turned to face his son.
"Get your hands off me, boy!" he snarled, his voice dripping with venom.
Prince Alex stood his ground, his eyes locked on his father's. "I won't let you hurt her, Father," he said, his voice steady. "She's not worth it.”
"Father, stop!" Eliza cried out, tears streaming down her face.
The king's eyes snapped towards her, and for a moment, he seemed to return to reality. He looked at Eliza, his face still twisted with anger, and then at Mabel.
"You're a monster," he spat at Mabel. "You'll pay for what you've done." And with that, he released his grip on her, and she fell to the ground with a thud. Her body was lifeless. Then he turned his focus to me, and I took a step backwards, holding my hands out and trying to find the words to compromise with him.
“Your Majesty, please, hear me out?” I started to say, but he let out a roar.
“Guards, take this fool to the cells. I will deal with him later.”