Kade's POV
The clang of steel against steel echoed across the training grounds as I put my men through their paces. Ever since finding that note tied to the dead bird, I'd been pushing them harder than ever. We needed to be ready for war, because that's exactly what this was going to be.
"Faster!" I shouted at Gary as he sparred with another soldier. "If you move that slowly in real combat, you'll be dead before you can blink!"
My men were sweating despite the cool morning air, but none of them complained. They could see the urgency in my eyes, feel the tension radiating from me with every barked command.
"Form ranks!" I called out. "We're going to practice the siege formation."
As my soldiers moved into position, I tried to focus on their movements, their technique, anything to keep my mind off the image of Ivy trapped somewhere, probably scared and alone. But it was impossible. Every moment we spent training was another moment she remained in Darius's hands.
"Your Highness!"
I turned to see one of the castle guards approaching at a run, his face flushed from exertion.
"What is it?" I demanded.
The guard stopped in front of me and bowed quickly. "His Majesty requests your immediate presence in the throne room, Your Highness."
My jaw tightened. I had a feeling I knew what this was about, and I didn't like it.
"Continue drilling," I ordered my men. "Simon, you're in charge until I return."
"Yes, Your Highness," Simon replied, though I could see the concern in his eyes.
I followed the guard through the castle corridors, my mind racing. Father had been opposed to any rescue mission from the moment I'd told him about the note. He kept insisting we needed more information, more proof, more time to plan. But time was the one thing we didn't have.
The throne room doors opened with their familiar heavy groan, and I stepped inside to find Father sitting on his massive stone throne. He looked older than usual today, more frail, but his eyes were as sharp and calculating as ever.
"You wanted to see me, Father?" I said, not bothering with the usual formal greetings.
"Yes, Kade. Come closer."
I walked to the center of the room but didn't kneel. We were past the point of ceremonies and formalities.
"I've been watching you train your men," Father said, his voice echoing in the vast chamber. "You're preparing them for war."
"I'm preparing them for a rescue mission," I corrected.
"Which could easily turn into a war." His tone was stern, cold even. "Do you understand the implications of what you're planning?"
"I understand that an innocent woman has been kidnapped and is being held against her will," I replied, meeting his gaze directly. "I understand that we have the power to help her, and we're choosing not to."
Father's expression hardened. "What I understand, Kade, is that you're willing to risk the lives of our soldiers, the stability of our kingdom, and potentially start a war between two packs, all for one woman."
"Not just any woman," I said, my voice rising. "Ivy saved my life, Father. Twice."
"So you've told me."
"Then you should understand why I can't just abandon her!"
Father leaned forward in his throne, his eyes flashing with anger. "What I understand is that you're being foolish and selfish. You're thinking with your heart instead of your head, and that kind of thinking gets people killed."
"Foolish?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Father, she risked everything to warn me about the poison in the Northern pack. She could have been killed for betraying her own pack, but she did it anyway because it was the right thing to do."
"And we're grateful for that," Father said dismissively. "But gratitude doesn't justify putting our entire kingdom at risk."
"Our kingdom?" I laughed bitterly. "What about her kingdom? What about her life? Doesn't that matter at all?"
"Of course it matters, but the survival of our pack is more important than one woman, no matter how much you care about her."
His words hit me like a slap across the face. "More important? Father, without Ivy, I would be dead right now. Without her healing powers, I would have torn myself apart during my transformations months ago."
"We would have found another way—"
"No, we wouldn't have!" I interrupted, my voice echoing off the stone walls. "You know we tried everything. Every healer in the kingdom, every supposed cure, every ritual and potion. Nothing worked. Nothing helped until Ivy came along."
Father was quiet for a moment, but his expression remained unmoved.
"She doesn't just heal my physical wounds," I continued, my voice becoming more passionate. "She helps me control the beast inside me. She talks me through the pain, keeps me grounded when I feel like I'm losing myself completely. Without her, I'm not just a prince with a curse – I'm a monster waiting to destroy everything around me."
"Kade—"
"She has no one else, Father!" I shouted, my hands clenched into fists. "No family who cares about her, no friends in positions of power, no one who will fight for her except me. If I don't save her, who will?"
The throne room fell silent except for the echo of my words bouncing off the walls. Father stared at me for a long moment, and I could see him weighing my words against his political calculations.
"The girl means a great deal to you," he said finally.
"More than you know."
"I can see that." He paused, then sighed heavily. "But my answer remains the same. The risk is too great."
"Then I'll go alone," I said, turning toward the door.
"Kade, wait."
I stopped but didn't turn around.
"You're not thinking clearly," Father said, his voice softer now but still firm. "Your feelings for this girl are clouding your judgment. A rescue mission into Northern territory could be seen as an act of war. Do you want to be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of our people?"
I turned back to face him. "And if I do nothing, I'll be responsible for the death of the one person who's never asked for anything in return for all she's given me."
"That's not your responsibility."
"Yes, it is!" I slammed my fist against my chest. "She saved me, Father. She's saved me over and over again, and now it's my turn to save her."
Father stood up slowly from his throne, and I could see the effort it took him. When he spoke, his voice carried the full weight of royal authority.
"I understand your feelings, Kade, but I cannot allow you to jeopardize our kingdom for personal reasons."
"This isn't just personal—"
"It is entirely personal!" he interrupted. "And that's exactly why you can't see the bigger picture."
I stared at him, feeling a cold dread settling in my stomach. "What are you saying?"
Father's expression became stern and unyielding. "I am saying that I forbid you from launching any rescue mission. As your king and your father, I am ordering you to stand down."
The words hit me like a physical blow. "You can't be serious."
"I am completely serious. You will not take our soldiers into Northern territory. You will not risk a war over this girl. And you will not disobey me in this matter."
I felt my world crashing down around me. Without Father's support, without the backing of our army, how could I possibly rescue Ivy from an entire pack of werewolves?
"Father, please—"
"My decision is final, Kade." His voice was cold and absolute. "You are forbidden from launching a rescue mission."