Eero's Perspective
"Breathe in, breathe out. Don't walk into that hall until you're calm. You might end up jumping at Octavio to bite off the skin on his neck," my wolf continued to whisper to me. I did exactly what she told me and yet it felt like it didn't help me to calm at all.
"Beta Octavio knew that you were with Luna Aelice. He probably figured that out when he both can't find you at the Alpha King's funeral hall," she said to me. My forehead knotted.
"Are you telling me that Octavio purposely ordered Aelice's lady-in-waiting to say that to provoke me?"
"Uh-huh, because Octavio is now desperate to paint you as the bad guy. He'd go out of his way to go lower." I wetted my lower lips and nodded my head to my wolf.
Once she felt that I was cooling down. She stopped talking to me and I was left standing in the hallway, anxiously playing with my ring.
"Your Grace," Caspian said.
"Where had you been? Your son has been looking for you."
I immediately faced Claudius's best friend and beta, "Perseus?"
"Yes, it's Perseus, your grace. Do you have another kid that no one knows about?" Caspian playfully asked that I choose to ignore.
"Why was he looking for me? He's still with Claudius right?" I asked.
"Yes, Claudius doesn't want to leave his son's side and with Octavio around, the more he'll stay close to Perseus." I slowed down on my track and shifted my head a bit in Caspian's direction.
"Did Octavio do something to my son?"
"Aside from his hostile stares towards Perseus. Octavio didn't do anything else. If he does, then the realm would mourn for another precious member of the pack, and that is if Claudius wouldn't burn the beta's body on the spot."
"Right," I said, slowly realizing how ruthless Claudius used to be and if he wanted to, he could still be.
Caspian opened the door. I quickly spotted my pup on the first row of seats. Seeing me making my way towards them. He got off his chair to welcome me.
Perseus ran straight to my arm like he hadn't seen me for years when it was just an hour since we last saw each other.
I heard him sniffing my scent. I played with the natural curl of his hair that he got from Claudius. Perseus's arms remained wrapped around my waist, while I was holding his shoulder as we made our way toward Claudius.
"Why? What happened?" I asked my son in a whisper. His lips were pouted as he glanced at Octavio, who had looked away from us.
"Did he say something to you?"
"No, he didn't, Mama, but he's making me uncomfortable. Can you ask him to leave?" Perseus asked anxiously. I smiled at him and nodded my head.
He removed his arm around my waist and I made my way in front, which earned the attention of every shifter in the hall.
"Is there something that you want to tell us, your grace?" Octavio asked.
Those words instantly made me grit my teeth, but I managed to make it look as if I was smiling at him.
"I'd like to have an hour or two with just me and my family here," I said, eyeing the shifters in the room.
When nobody moved, I could feel my neck cording in anger at their disrespect. I know that they heard me. They just didn't want to follow me.
"Everyone, the princess requests to be left alone together with her family here. You can come back after two hours. Let's give her grace what she wants," Octavio said. Before he could finish what he was saying. The shifters had already stood up from their seats, ready to leave.
As the last shifter got out of the door. Beta Octavio turned to me with a proud smile. Our eyes were locked in.
He was about to sit back on his chair when I spoke.
"I said me and just my family."
"I'm the Alpha King's father-in-law. My daughter was mated to him. That makes me your grandfather, doesn't it? Which means that I'm your family too, your grace."
"Stop fooling yourself!" I shouted and my connection with Perseus instantly made me feel how surprised and scared he was with my sudden outburst. I glance at him through the corner of my eyes and I find his hand clutching at Claudius' shirt.
"We are anything, but family. Stop trying to get on my nerves, Octavio. If you want war, I'll give it to you, but at least let the Alpha King have a peaceful funeral for now." Claudius walks to my side with his domineering stance.
Octavio smiled and obediently nodded his head to me, but I heard him scoff as he walked away.
"He's Grandma Aelice's father? Which made him my grandfather too, right? But how come he didn't even greet me and he hates me," Perseus said as he was holding my hand. I look down at him and notice that I am caressing the back of his palm to ease his anxiety.
"Look up to me, little prince. That old hog is not and will never be your grandfather. Your grandpa is the alpha king and my fath—"
"Claudius!" I nervously cut him off, afraid that the truth might accidentally slip out of his mouth.
"And Miguel's father. Those men are your grandpa and not that spiteful old hog," Claudius corrected himself and it made me feel guilty.
Our eyes met.
"I'm sorry," I said to him through mind link, but he didn't say anything back to me.
Perseus tugged my arms, bringing my attention back to him.
"Mama, I have a favor to ask you, but before I tell you what is it. Promise me that you'll say yes to it."
"What is it?" I asked, leveling myself to his height.
"Promise me first, that you'll say yes." I rolled my eyes at Perseus.
"Fine, I promise, now tell me what is it?"
"Since we have a big house in Blackthorn and Uncle Claudius doesn't have a place to stay, plus I like him so much and he's dear to you. Is it okay if he lives with us?" Perseus asked which made me choke.