Reputation

Chapter 90

Alucard

My back straightened upon the mere mention of my beloved mate. I could even feel my heart dropping to the pit of my stomach as I met his frigid gaze before I caught his hand where he was waving the letters I had received from Faustina.

My eyes widened in horror. "Where did you get them?"

My voice was so thunderous that it felt like it had shaken the whole study room. I could even feel the blood draining to my feet, questioning what was happening.

"You are not planning to end your engagement with Charity just because of this woman you met," he said in finality.

I was initially dumbfounded, still processing his words, until my expression changed into disbelief. "She has a name. Her name is Faustina, Father."

I didn't know how he got those letters from Faustina since I kept them in my citadel, but I already guessed that he had some suspicions about my behavior ever since I returned.

I remember that incident where I wandered alone in the forest without having my elite knights and Elijah. Or must I say, I skipped my duties as the crown prince and wanted to breathe fresh air?

When I returned, I received a neverending sermon from my older brother since there were so many pending works that our other brothers took responsibility for. I never even regretted slacking off because I happened to meet the mate I had longed for.

"I don't care whatever her name is." I creased my forehead upon hearing how nonchalant his tone was. "I am not going to allow you to end the engagement I had already planned for you, Alucard."

This made me clench my hands. "How did you even know I plan to end it?" I knew that Elijah was the only person who knew about it and would never betray me.

Father smirked. "I only concluded and expected you would confirm it yourself."

I scoffed bitterly, not liking that Father outsmarted me. I was baited, and it would be impossible to revoke it.

"It's not as if you can stop me from breaking my engagement with Charity, Father." I thanked the Moon Goddess that I managed to make a comeback. "Once I tell Brother Azarius this, he will approve it immediately since it will be good news that I finally found my mate."

I knew it was confusing that my father would say such words that he wouldn't allow me to end the engagement, but he and Charity's father had already made a pact as soon as I was born.

However, before they implemented that, Atticus and I were the chosen lycan princes who were supposed to marry Novalie beforehand. It was an insane arrangement that Mother had come to disagree with him.

But Father insisted on this, and now I had fallen to be engaged with Charity when she reached her coming-of-age.

After my declaration, I spun around and was about to touch the doorknob when Father spoke. "Don't blame me if something happens to your mate, son."

I felt like the blood traveling through my veins suddenly drained from my body as my head turned toward my father, who was smiling from ear to ear.

"What did you say?" I asked in my dangerous tone.

"Good. I got your attention, son."

I clenched my hand when I faced him, wanting to attack my father, not caring if we were blood-related. "Why are you being against me ending my engagement with Charity? She wasn't even my mate..." I said through gritted teeth. "And shouldn't you be happy that I finally found my mate just as Atticus found Novalie? Mother would act differently and be happy if she learned about my situation."

I lost my cool and blabbered things that I didn't know. Father was threatening Faustina even though he hadn't met her.

The instinct to protect my mate was palpable, and I wanted to lung at him. This feeling... It was going to be the first time that I felt this rage.

"I already let the embarrassment Atticus did when he broke his engagement with Novalie, Alucard!" I squinted my eyes when he raised his baritone voice. It roared all over the room, and it almost shook the books displayed on the shelves. "I am not going to let you, my second son and the crown prince of this kingdom, which would taint the reputation of the De Carteret royal lycan family!"

My chest reverberated in pure annoyance as I smiled bitterly. "You always think the reputation of the royal lycan family! How about our happiness? You always lock us up in your cage!"

I couldn't help but burst out in anger. I had been enduring how controlling my father was and letting him do what he wanted us to do, but now that I found Faustina, my mate, there was no way that he would do something drastic.

I would protect her... I would... Even my life was at a cost.

Father growled. His growl sent chills down my spine before he moved as fast as a lightning bolt and was now in front of me with his hand on my collar.

"Don't ever test me here, Alucard. I had already enough of your whims here and there. I only think about your future and what will happen in our bloodline," he muttered dangerously, eyes piercing directly into mine.

"Happen in our bloodline?!" I parroted angrily. "I am bound to be with my mate just as you were with Mother! You act as if Charity is my mate when she—"

Father cut me off by slamming me to the wall, making my eyes widen when he growled one more time as his Alpha aura emitted while looking at me dead to my eyes.

"Do your thing on breaking your engagement with Charity, Alucard. However, do not blame me if something happens to the pack she loves the most..." His upper lip curled into a menacing smile, making me freeze since I had seen Father act like this. His ruthless aura showed, and I knew I was in a bad situation. "Remember, I may not be the Alpha King, but I still hold power, my dear son. I can even..." he paused and looked into my eyes. "...wipe that pack out of the map."

My eyes widened in horror. "You can't do that..." My lips were quivering from his threat. "I will tell this to Mother and Brother Azarius..."

I thought that was an effective rebuttal against my father, but the moment his lips formed a sinister smile, I knew then that what I had done was futile.

"Go ahead. When you inform them, make it clear that it's the end for her," Father declared, letting go of the collar of my shirt.

I opened my mouth to retort, but no words came out. Father cracked his head from side to side as he tapped my shoulder when he knew I couldn't say anything anymore.

"Proceed with your engagement to Charity," he murmured, leaning close to my ear. "And I expect you to destroy those letters you shared with that woman. If I discover you're in contact with her again, I promise I'll make her life unbearable, my dear son." He shot me a warning look before exiting the study room, leaving me in despair.