Chapter 8
Gradel
That was stupid. I shouldn't have said that.
I was out of character.
I wasn't the type of person who got attracted to anything in a skirt. Hell, women hardly intrigued me, but this captive of mine willed some control over me.
It felt like my brain froze each time I met her. At first, I thought it was a mere coincidence, but now, I couldn't explain it. How could my body want a woman who stole from me without remorse?
I spared her a glance and rolled my eyes. Her small chapped lips were still parted, and her eyes were about to pop out of their sockets in surprise.
I cleared my throat as I slowly got a grip on myself. Thankfully, my slacks were loose enough to concede the bulge that had no business growing rapidly.
I gulped and shut my eyes, regaining some strands of control. "You heard that wrong. I only came here to ascertain that you are still alive, after all, I can't execute a corpse. There won't be any fun in it." I said curtly.
"I'm... I'm fine, sir." Her voice was nearly inaudible, and I could sense her weakness increasing with each passing second, but I didn't care.
I'd turned around to leave when I heard a light thud on the hard floor. Without looking at her, I knew that she had fainted, so I snapped at the guard waiting by the door.
"Take care of her," I ordered him.
As soon as I stepped out of the cell, I found my father's guard waiting for me. "What do you want?" I asked with a bored tone.
"The Alpha wants to see you in his chamber. He asked that you make haste." He informed me.
"Tell him that I'll come when I'm ready," I replied and walked away.
I was irritated again, and it felt like the long run I had in the woods didn't work. So I'd have to go for the other option-sex.
I wouldn't have a hard time getting someone to help relieve me of my agitation. Since I revealed myself at the mating ceremony, several women have been throwing themselves at me. I'd made myself invisible in the pack after my mother died, so I expected the reaction.
I moved quite sluggishly along the hallway that led to my father's room, enjoying the silence that came from being alone. It was soon interrupted by Hegar, my right-hand man.
He was from the Beta family and the son of my father's guard. He was the only one I considered a friend since he did my bidding and understood me.
"Any news?" I asked as we stepped into the adjoining hallway.
"Not yet, Prince Gradel. According to my informant, the bracelet is no longer in this town which means that whoever had it was quick enough to sell it to any of the neighboring pack to avoid being caught." He said slowly and my clenched fist connected with the wall.
I wanted to hit a harder object, someone or anything else.
"This is the last thing I expect to hear from you, Hegar. Go out there find my bracelet and bring it back to me, I don't care what you have to do to get it back. Just do it!" I thundered.
He inclined his head and retreated. "I'll do as you asked, Prince Gradel." He replied and was about to leave when I stopped him.
"I need a woman in my bed tonight, Hegar. She has to be beautiful and strong enough to take what I'm going to dish out, I'm sure you understand me."
"Yes, Prince."
Gradually, my sour mood was getting better at the idea of having to let out some steam. Maybe, banging another woman would help to flush out every abominable thought I'd harbored about the wolfless wrench.
The urge to return to my room as soon as I got to my father's door grew within me. I'd been avoiding him since I returned and the only time we met was when I administered some drugs I'd prepared for him.
He was getting better and that gladdened my heart because I couldn't wait to leave. I wasn't one to turn away from a task so I went ahead and knocked, and then went in.
"I asked you to come immediately, son. Why do you have to be so unruly?" He queried with a flat tone.
I ignored his question as I wasn't in the mood to trade words with him. "Why am I here, Father?" I responded rather harshly. He kept quiet for some moment and before he could reply, the door opened and Devin let himself in. "Great. Just what I needed," I muttered under my breath.
From the corner of my eyes, I could see the condescending glare he passed at me and I didn't need to be told why. I'd ruined his chances of impressing our father.
"I thought you wanted to see me, Father, why is he here?" He asked coldly, his tone holding some glints of anger.
Our father drew in a deep breath and darted a gaze at the both of us. "I wanted to have a conversation with the both of you," His tall frame that seemed hidden on the armchair he sat on became visible while he rose to his feet. "The enmity between you is appalling and I must say that it has caused me several sleepless nights. You are brothers who are supposed to care for each other and not fight each other," His voice rang with displeasure.
"Well, you can warn him to stop fighting for what belongs to me, Father. Why is he even here? You shouldn't have faked your illness just to get his attention..." Devin blurted and sighed, and his palm flew to his mouth upon realizing that he had spilled too much.
Silence reigned in the room as I took a step closer to my father who darted his gaze from me. "What did he just say?" I growled as the room suddenly became hot, and the walls seemed closer than before.
He advanced toward me and his face was pale. From his expression, I discerned what the truth was and a fresh wave of anger burst through me.
"I couldn't get your attention so I had to do something," He said carefreely and dipped his hands into his pants while I let out a dark chuckle. "You were more concerned about what went on in the human world and forgot that you had a place in the pack."
I shook my head in disbelief. My father had always shown traits of manipulation, but I never knew that he would take it this far.
"Well done, Father, you got my attention, but what if I say that I'm going to leave for the human world tomorrow morning?" I announced, enjoying the shock that clouded his face.