KADE'S POV
Father's voice echoes across the courtyard, filled with authority and rage. Every soldier stops what they're doing and stares at us.
"Follow me," he commands, his voice cold as ice. "Now."
I look around at my men, who are all watching this confrontation with wide eyes. They're waiting to see what I'll do.
"We're not finished here," I say, gesturing to the preparations around us.
"Yes, you are," Father replies. "Follow me to the throne room. Immediately."
The tone in his voice tells me I don't have a choice. I can either go with him willingly or be dragged there by the royal guard.
"Continue preparations," I tell my men quietly. "I'll be back."
"Kade," Father warns.
"I'm coming," I reply through gritted teeth.
We walk through the castle corridors in tense silence. Father's footsteps are heavy and deliberate. Mine are angry and defiant.
When we reach the throne room, Father takes his place on the throne while I stand before him like a subject being called to account.
"Close the doors," Father orders the guards.
The heavy doors swing shut with a loud bang, leaving us alone.
"You're preparing them for war," Father says without preamble.
"I'm preparing them for a rescue mission," I correct.
"Which could easily turn into a war." His tone is 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 reply, meeting his gaze directly. "I understand that we have the power to help her, and we're choosing not to."
Father's expression hardens. "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 say, 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 leans 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 can't believe what I'm 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 says dismissively. "But gratitude doesn't justify putting our entire kingdom at risk."
"Our kingdom?" I laugh 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 interrupt, 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 is quiet for a moment, but his expression remains unmoved.
"She doesn't just heal my physical wounds," I continue, 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 shout, 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 falls silent except for the echo of my words bouncing off the walls. Father stares at me for a long moment, and I can see him weighing my words against his political calculations.
"The girl means a great deal to you," he says finally.
"More than you know."
"I can see that." He pauses, then sighs heavily. "But my answer remains the same. The risk is too great."
"Then I'll go alone," I say, turning toward the door.
"Kade, wait."
I stop but don't turn around.
"You're not thinking clearly," Father says, 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 turn 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 slam 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 stands up slowly from his throne, and I can see the effort it takes him. When he speaks, his voice carries 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 interrupts. "And that's exactly why you can't see the bigger picture."
I stare at him, feeling a cold dread settling in my stomach. "What are you saying?"
Father's expression becomes 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 feel my world crashing down around me. Without Father's support, without the backing of our army, how can I possibly rescue Ivy from an entire pack of werewolves?
"Father, please—"
"My decision is final, Kade." His voice is cold and absolute. "You are forbidden from launching a rescue mission."