Claudius' perspective
One week has passed since Eero left the manor and up to now, Caspian and I couldn't find traces of her.
“Alpha, are you even listening to me?” Caspian asked, earning a glance at me.
“Yes, please go on.” He placed the miniature of our fleet down on the map and sighs.
“You were listening to me?”
“Yes, so carry on with what you're talking about,” I said to him.
“What am I talking about, then?” I looked down at the map on the table and the fleet that he had placed back in the space representing the Wilde sea.
“We will sail to Osiris. Conquer them first, which will earn us thousands of armies.”
“That's not what we're talking about, Alpha,” he whispered to me. I saw how everyone at the table looked displeased with me.
“Everyone, will you please excuse the two of us for a while?” He asked and though it earned murmurs of disappointment, all of them left the formal hall.
“It's been a fucking week and my mate is not here. What did our spy in the realm reported to you?”
“He said that there was no trace of Eero in the realm. He has her picture. If she's been held captive, we will know.”
I clicked my tongue and reached for my glass of wine, but he took it away from me.
“We need you sober in this meeting. This few shifters that he had managed to lure into taking your side and making you their allay are starting to lose their confidence in you.”
“Alpha, you're a mess, and it shows, so stop this, or you'll lose the support of these minor houses.”
“Oh fuck them! How dare their act might and prowess towards me? Like you said, they only came from minor families, they are, in fact, not much of a help to me. If they want to leave and wish not to push through with the alliance, then so be it. I don't care, I'll figure out a way to conquer the realm without their help.” I took the glass back from his hand and drinks from it.
I rose to my feet and I found myself at the training grounds with Caspian right behind me.
“Hey, you!” I shouted to a delta who was stepping on the throat of another that he defeated from his training.
“I could use a little training as well. Fight with me.”
“Claudius, what are you doing?”
“Personally training one of my delta?”
“You and your wolf are far too strong for that one.”
“And so?” I rolled my eyes at Caspian and asked the delta to come forward.
I signalled him to attack me first, and I found myself smiling proudly after he shifted to his wolf form, knowing that there was no chance for him to take me down if he was in his human form.
He was about to attack me when I took a step back and knowing what's happening. He stopped. The delta confusedly shifted back to his human form and, I launched myself at him, pinning him to the ground, pressing my sharp claws at the pulse on his neck.
“Alpha,” he uttered nervously. I shifted back to my human form and chuckled at him after I lightly tapped his cheek.
“You're smart enough to admit that your opponent was stronger than you, but not enough to decipher what they'll do next.” I got up and offered my hand to him that he held, and I pulled him up.
“It's okay. You're a promising delta. I am confident that you'll still learn.” I cocked my head to where Caspian was and I found him whispering something with Gregor.
“What is it?” I said, pertaining to the paper that was handed to him.
I grabbed it from his hand after I saw the seal of Regulus.
My jaw clenched, and I brought myself back to my study with big footsteps.
“What was written in the letter?” Caspian inquired. He stood still as I lifted my working table and threw it across the room.
“That old hog. I'll kill him. I'll end not just his bloodline, but every single shifter that aided his usurped,” I mumbled.
Caspian lightly pushed the shattered pieces of glasses on top of the envelope before he picked it up.
“It's not a letter, but an invitation from the realm. Courts is asking for my presence as he crowns his heir.” I fisted my hand.
“Make sure that someone will keep on looking for Eero, take the lead while I will take care of this old hog and usurper.”
“But our spy told us that Codrus wife died from childbirth. Their child died together with the Luna Queen. Who is it that he is naming his heir?” Caspian asked.
“How the fuck would I know? It could be his beta, or someone else. It doesn't matter.” I came out of the balcony of my room and glanced at the Wilde seas.
“Codrus knew that I am back here. He knew what I came here for, and he wanted to get on my fucking nerve by inviting me to the coronation of his heir, huh?"
“Not only he is requiring your presence for the occasion, but he is demanding that you swear your loyalty to his heir,” Caspian informed me a part of the invitation, that I didn't get to read anymore when I saw it.
“This is too much of an insult to you. To your father that he killed.”
I breathed out. Allowing my anger to take over my head wouldn't put me at any advantage.
“I need to find out who is this shifter that he'll name his heir.”
“For what?”
“I need to at least know the name of the one that I'll kill. I have said it before, and I'll say it again. I'll spare no mercy for anyone who tries to get in my way.”
I called Cielo through mind link.
“Is there something that I can do for you?”
“I need you to prepare an exquisite suit for me and Caspian.”
“Wait, you're going to come to the coronation of his heir?”
“I am convinced that he has more reasons why he wanted me there. Codrus is opening his gates to me, and if I use this opportunity right, I'll no longer need to impress those small families. I could instantly go for those influential families that the realm is ally with.” I licked my lower lip.
“Tell those arrogant men that we had a meeting earlier that I am cutting ties with them.”