Chapter 60: Kingdom.

John’s pov.

“Are you coming or not?” My brother asked as he got out of my car, watching me stare at the castle in front of us.

“Just… give me a moment, please. I didn’t think I’d be back here so soon,” I mumbled, second guessing my choices of coming back here.

“It’s been seven years, John. That’s a long time. You’ll be fine, father needs you right now, just think of that,” he said casually, as if this shouldn’t be hard for me.

But it is. It’s so hard.

I basically ran away from this place seven years ago, without looking back.

It’s caused me so much pain and grief.

From my mother and father favouring Karl growing up, tossing me aside as if I didn’t matter.

To my own mate rejecting me for a title.

Everyday that I was here was nothing but misery, and now that I’m back here?

All I want to do is leave. To go back to Bella, to my home.

The kingdom is where I am from, but it isn’t a home. It’s a nightmare that’s come alive.

“Hurry up!” He snapped suddenly, rolling his eyes as I looked towards him.

“Karl. This is harder than it looks for me, okay? I just… I don’t want to go in there. I don’t want to see mother, and I sure as fuck don’t want to see Angel again. She’s dead to me,” I whispered, feeling Titans anger rising with my own, “you can’t expect this to be fucking easy for me, Karl! My childhood was shit. Tossed aside as the substitute, a replacement just in case. You were always treated better, the precious heir. You even marked my mate!”

My voice rose with every word I said, Karl’s eyes widened from the fury and anger in my voice.

“Woah! I’m sorry, just calm down. It’s okay, I understand now. It’ll be okay,” he said softly, guilt and regret written all over his face as I searched his eyes.

He truly felt bad. I could see it. But it didn’t erase the memories.

I opened the door and slammed it shut, putting my hands in my pockets as I strides towards the castle.

Ready to see my father.

“Just do me a favour,” I muttered under my breath.

“Whatever you want, little brother,” he replied, waiting for my answer.

“Keep mother away from me. If I see her… I can’t say what’ll happen,” I said, knowing deep down that if I saw her I might not be able to control myself.

I might just kill her.

Karl swallowed the lump in his throat as he nodded his head at me. He knows I’m not lying.

He also knows I over power him. Even if he is the king, I was always the stronger brother between the two of us.

“Okay…” he mumbled, rubbing the back of his head before opening the door, gesturing to me to go inside first.

I took one last look around, taking a deep breath before I stepped inside…

Laughter and loud voices drifted into my ears, making me visibly cringe.

What the fuck?

Why is it so noisy here?

“It’s father,” Karl sighed, “he’s asked everyone to come by and see him at least once a day. You could only imagine how many people come through here. They bring him food, gifts. Basically anything. From the warriors to pups, everyone has come to see him. He’s seemed brighter, more full of life since everyone’s come to visit and talk. He wasn’t doing so good when he called you, I thought- I thought he was going to die that day. That’s why I insisted on going to get you early, I couldn’t have his last wish unanswered. He just wanted to see you, to see if you found happiness in life…”

I listened to every word he said, smiling slightly at the thought of my father laughing with young pups and eating food from the villagers. Something he’s never done before…

“Wow, I never thought I’d see the day when father accepted commoners' food and conversations,” I said while chuckling, walking closer and closer to all of the noise.

“Wait! Don’t go in there yet, mother is there, I can smell her cheap perfume from here,” he said while rolling his eyes, his specialty.

He opened the door to the hall and walked inside, closing it shut behind him.

I leaned against the wall, listening to what was happening inside.

“What!” I heard my mothers scratchy voice say, “he’s here? John is here!? Where is he?! I must see him!”

Her voice got closer and closer to the door before I heard her body get slammed into the wall on the other side of me.

“You will not go out there! Do you understand? My little brother doesn’t want to see you, he doesn’t even want to hear your irritating voice. You go out there, you die, got it?” Karl’s voice was filled with venom, hate.

When did that happen?

When did he start to hate our mother?

He always loved her, they were close. Closer than I was with any of my family anyways.

She favoured him, treated him better than me. Have him everything I never got to have.

She whimpered before she cried loudly.

“Karl! Please, Karl. Just let me go see my baby… I haven’t seen him in seven years! Seven fucking years! He’s my child! You cannot stand here and disobey-!” She started to scream, but before she could finish her sentence a loud slap rang through the hall.

Nothing but silence could be heard.

“Amy?!” My mother shrieked.

Amy? She’s still here? She’s still alive?

I have so many questions…

My old maid, the one and only person in this kingdom that truly cared for me… she’s still alive.

“Yes. I did that! You don’t even deserve to speak John's name! You treated him like shit on your shoe! Like he was nothing! I cared for him! I raised him! Not you! Don’t you ever think for a second you did him any favours, he was better off without you in his life, everyone knows that! Including your mate! You were a terrible mother, and I hope John doesn’t even give you the benefit of doubt. Because you deserve nothing from him!” Amy shouted, her old, fragile voice breaking as she spoke about me, about how I was treated…

Without thinking, I pushed the door open, locking eyes with her, walking straight towards her and pulling her into a huge hug, holding her impossibly close…

“John!” She gasped, tears falling from her eyes as she pulled away, holding my face between her hands as she studied me, “you… you are so grown up, John. I’ve missed your face.”