Chapter 318 Chapter 318
When the phone buzzed again, he turned his back to them and looked out over the landscape as he answered it.
“Hello.”
“Both feet on the ground now?”
“Yes, sir.” Deacon glanced down the front of him to see spots of blood from the branches on his chest.
“Good. Before I offer explanations, I’d like to make it clear that Calum was already championing for you to be under the Alliance’s protection before we knew all the details. I’m sure you know he placed you under his protection the moment he found you.”
“Yes, sir, I knew that.” Why Calum had done that, he still didn’t know. At the start Deacon had been nothing but a rude, mouthy, ungrateful brat, but Calum still gave him a chance.
“We still weren’t certain until Calum did further research into your past and of course after he witnessed you shifting in person.”
Deacon scowled at the ground. “I’m not following, sir.”
“We didn’t tell you sooner because Calum didn’t want it to influence you and change who you were becoming.”
Deacon had no idea what he was talking about, none whatsoever.
“The clan breed your mother was from, what you are, son, is very rare now. We have only ever had one other on record in North America.”
“What does that have to do with me, sir?” Deacon tapped his hat against his leg to remove the dried pine needles from it.
“Calum shared with me the reservations you’ve been having—regarding your mate.”
Deacon’s breath left his body all at once. He’d called Giana’s father, his chest tightened, was he about to be forbidden from being near Giana?
“You’re concerned because you have the traits and appearance of your mother’s clan and not your fathers, is that correct?”
“Something like that.” He was struggling with why Calum would ever share any of this with the King of the Alliance. Why?
“I can hear the confusion in your voice, so let me summarize this for you. If once mated to Miss Marin, any more of your kind that turns up, they will be part of your clan. You will have a clan of your own to lead, Mister Parrish.”
Deacon closed his eyes for a second and then opened them. “I don’t want a clan—”
“That’s a common feeling with new Alpha’s son, believe me, many don’t want to be in charge of a clan either.” There was a slight pause, the silence was tense. “I’ll leave you something to think about,” another pause, Deacon wanted him to just spit it all out. “Without you establishing a maned wolf clan here in North America, any others found will be clan less and classified as rogue wanderers…”
Deacon swore every cuss word he could think of in his mind. “I get the picture, sir.”
“I thought you would.” The king sounded amused. “Giana Marin’s Alpha bloodline is no longer an obstacle if you accept this, you’ll be the first Alpha of your kind under the protection of the Alliance.”
Deacon opened his mouth but couldn’t find the words to say. Turning, he saw Giana and Walker coming toward him. She still wore his shirt but had stopped along the way to put her leggings back on. She sent him an inquisitive look. He shrugged because he honestly didn’t know what was happening.
“I’ve rendered you speechless.”
Deacon dragged his gaze from her. “I don’t know what to say, sir.”
The king chuckled. “Humble, I like that. I’m starting to see what Calum has been talking about. I just ask that you consider it, son—and thank you for climbing that tree and saving the children, and for everything else you do for the Alliance. I will have to let you go for now.”
“Th-thank you, sir.” Deacon nodded, “I will think about what you’ve told me.” He was sure it would be all he thought about for the foreseeable future.
“Very good.” The king hung up.
Deacon stared at his phone.