Scarlett
I had never scrupled about my decisions but the man who still had his head bowed to me had made me question my decision. Though his words hurt like hell because I wanted to avenge my father’s death and the apocalypse he brought upon me and my family, this old man had a valid point.
They would either end up dead by me for daring to capture my mate or by Samuel for defying his order.
My animal was outrageous, the urge to kill that bloody uncle of mine was getting stronger passing by each second.
“What am I supposed to do, then? Let Samuel kill my mother, my mate, and me, to protect his claim on the throne?” I uttered through gritted teeth. “I sense a duty toward my people so I can promise you that no innocent blood will be spilled in this feud of the so-called Royals.”
“This promise is as futile as your father’s vow to protect his people,” he said withering.
“Don’t forget that he was my father and your true Lycan King and Scarlett Lockwood won’t stand still, hearing you shitting about her father,” I curled my palms into tight fistball, keeping my animal at bay from destroying everyone.
It didn’t matter that I knew nothing about my father, my instincts told me that he must be a good man and a King who protected his people. Disrespecting my late father would never be tolerable for me. If he wouldn’t have been the person of my realm, I would have ripped his heart out within a second.
Before he could open his filthy mouth, I commanded, “I just promised to protect your lives but dare you to say bullshit about my father, I wouldn’t mind breaking my promise.”
“My deepest apology, princess but you have no idea what we’re going through since your father died because he trusted the wrong person and since then, every Lycan in the realm has been suffering through what you can’t even imagine,” he contradicted me without any trail of fear in his voice.
As much as I wanted to tell him about my struggles and the fact that I got to know about my true identity a few hours ago, I didn’t want to let anyone see my vulnerability and weakness so I put on a void face of emotions and addressed them, “stand still and don’t ever bow to me again unless you think that I deserve it,” I commanded with grace that challenged disobedience and they got on their feet, looking sheepishly at me.
Now wasn’t the time to argue with them and defend my father. I would deal with it later. Surely, I wouldn’t forget how they blamed my father for their suffering.
“Why does Samuel want my mate, and not me?” I crossed my hands and peeked at my mate’s pale body, wondering when he would wake up. Please, wake up, my love.
“He is the most wicked King in history. He doesn’t kill his enemies that easily, he would torture them until they wished their own death and he presumed that you had run away but would come back for your mate,” another man who looked in his mid-thirties explained.
“That asshole already has my mother to blackmail me. Why my mate?” I quirked a brow, not understanding the reason behind Samuel’s action.
His bottom lip quavered before he pursed his lips. “Samuel is a psychopath. He wouldn’t plan to kill you that easily, first, he would kill your mother and then, your mate, so you’d be under havoc but helpless, and then, he’ll give you the torturous death. That’s what we can guess from the years of knowing his cruelty.”
I scoffed and heaved a sigh out of my mouth. “The man who can kill his own brother for the throne and power can definitely go to any extent, I hadn’t expected any kindness from him either.”
Beckoning the man who spoke ill of my father from my head, I extended my arms. “Capture me as your hostage. I’m dying to meet my dear uncle,” I tutted and watched him swallow hard before tying my hands with silver ropes with his trembling hands.
“I’m afraid the silver will hurt you but we don’t have any other ropes,” he muttered with guilt while I numbed the burning sensation on my wrists.
“It’s nothing compared to the combustion in my heart,” I smirked and let them lead me toward a sleek car parked outside of Asher’s house.
The driver didn’t start the car, staring at me from the rearview mirror with apprehension. “I’m afraid Samuel would punish us for not bringing your mate along.”
“I’m not someone who breaks promises,” I firmly stated.
“Leave Scarlett,” Marcus growled, pointing a gun at one of the men. He immediately took out his gun from his holster and pointed it toward Marcus.
“No, Marcus. Don’t shoot him, they’re my people and I have promised to protect them at any cost,” I explained and he immediately lowered his gun with his furrowed brows.
“I’m coming with my warriors, following your car behind,” Albert told me, leaning on my window. He was trying to assure me to back me up and offer his help but at this moment, I didn’t trust anyone.
My new identity had taken over my instincts and I was guarded all the time, not letting anyone break the wall and betray me.
“Please, call Amber to check up on him. She might know a way to wake him up,” I pleaded, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall.
“She’ll come after dealing with her fucking brother. I hope she uses her powers to keep her bastard father and son away from my son,” he spat with contempt.
I nodded my head in acknowledgment and cast a last pitiful look at Marcus before letting the driver drive through the forest path.
After half an hour, the car screeched outside of a mansion that screamed royalty and beauty loudly. The top tower of the mansion seemed like touching the Moon in the star-glittered sky.
“Welcome, home, princess,” one of them opened the door for me and offered me a warm smile.
It was my home.
I was seeing my home for the first time when I should have grown up in my home.
“I’m Damon, the minister of defense,” he introduced himself, helping me to get out of the car as my hands were tied. “How will you fight alone against him?” His eyes held concern for me which I appreciated.
As far as I could guess, no one would be concerned about me except my mom and my mate whom I left alone. “I’m the Lycan Princess. I must do what needs to be done in order to protect my family and my people.”
“You’re your father’s daughter after all, with the same spirits and looking so much like him,” he held my arm, leading me toward the hallway.
I wanted to admire the beauty of this mansion with high walls and the giant chandeliers hanging in the hall but it wasn’t the occasion to check this beauty out properly. My eyes sauntered toward the throne and I found a devil with light blue eyes smirking at me. My mother collapsed on the floor with fresh scars and blood on her body. Her eyes threatening to shut anytime soon and a glimpse of her made my heart sink
The turmoil of emotions surfaced in my heart. I shot daggers at the man sitting on the throne with that filthy triumphous smirk on his bloody face which I wanted to smack so badly.
“Welcome, home, dear niece,” he raised his brows, expecting me to curtsy him.
In your fucking dreams, asshole. This girl would bow to no fucking one.
“I might be your uncle but I’m your King. Bow to me or I will behead you right away,” he threatened me, desperate to show that he was the King.
I scoffed, raising my hands to him. “Untie me and let’s see who beheads whom?” I challenged him with a smirk on my face, swallowing the pain that silver was causing me.
His eyes blazed with anger as he stood up from his throne. “Don’t act over-smart, girl. I have your mother and don’t forget that you’re in a place where no one will fight for you. Every fucking person here follows my orders. I’m their King.”
“The King who has to shout all the time to remind people that he is the King is not the true King,” I retorted with a snarky remark, “And well, you’re not the true King either way. You’re the brother of the true King who killed his own brother in the greed of the throne.”
He chuckled viciously before opening his mouth, “Aren’t we the same? You’re here for the throne, too, aren’t you?”
I jeered and said, “There is a difference between greed and right. I’m the fucking heir to this throne and I feel no shame in taking what belongs to me. You’re a fool to imagine that I’ll let you go for killing my father and the life I had without my parents… I’m not a forgiver, dear uncle.”
“Where is her mate?” He roared thunderously and I could whiff the fear in the men that surrounded me. Their pounding hearts was enough to confirm my suspicion.
‘Can you hear me?’ I tried to send the mind link to Damon, hoping that it would work since I was part of this kingdom and I had my father’s blood in my veins so it should give me the privilege of the mind link with my people without any need of the King’s provision for the pack link.
‘Yes, your royal highness,’ he replied and I released the breath that I was holding unconsciously.
‘Tell him that my mate escaped with his wife,’ I told him.
“At the time we reached there, he had already escaped with his wife,” Damon replied with his head glued to the floor.
Samuel laughed his heart out as if it was the good news he was waiting for. “That’s great. So the fucker finally accepted his witch wife and took refuge from the Alpha King.”
“Did he reject you before leaving?” He cocked a brow, demanding the answer.
Although I didn’t want to answer him, I had to make him buy it so I nodded my head.
He tsked, “Now, I’ll have to find a new way of torturing you. Put both of them in the dungeon till I confirm it from Harold.”