Chapter 17: THREATS AND PROMISES

** Zara's POV:**

Lorens’ eyes raced with numerous thoughts, his expression nervous as he felt he'd been trapped in his land.

“Guards!!!” Loren calls out as he sees his warriors approaching, “Arrest them immediately”, but they all act dumb. “Carlos, I said arrest them!!” he screams at Carlos, but he is unconscious of his actions.

“They are now puns in the hands of Zara, Loren,” Kael said his voice low “If she wishes to, they can devour you and devour themselves, and you are gone”

I stood tall, my eyes fixed on Loren as he slowly backed away from us. My mind still held the guards in its grasp, their bodies frozen in place.

Kael stepped forward, his voice calm and even. "I didn't come here to fight, Loren. I came to talk."

Loren's eyes narrowed, suspicion etched on his face. "We have nothing to talk about; you are no longer part of this pack; you are just as rebellious as your mother.” Loren rakes, fear dripping from his voice.

Kael took another step forward, his eyes locked on Loren's. "I am not here for you, Loren; I want to speak with the council of elders and the king. I want to negotiate a peace treaty."

I could feel Loren's pride and anger simmering beneath the surface, but Kael's words seemed to give him pause. He looked at me, then back at Kael.

“Take me to the council of elders now!!” Kael repeats, his voice almost a scream.

"Come on," Loren said, his voice gruff. “Let's go,” he said, making his way.

As we followed Loren through the castle corridors, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. What would the king and council say to Kael's proposal? And what would happen if they refused?

I glanced at Kael, his face set in a determined expression. I knew he was willing to do whatever it took to make things right, but I couldn't shake the feeling that we might be walking into a trap.

I walked beside Kael, my heart racing with anticipation. I was finally going to meet the king, and I had been looking forward to this moment for what felt like an eternity. This was why I left the Cathryleth Clan.

As we approached the meeting room, Kael turned to me, his expression serious. "Zara, I need you to stay out here and keep an eye on the guards you're controlling."

My eyes narrowed, and a spark of anger ignited within me. "What? Why?"

Kael's jaw tightened. "I don't know what kind of reception we'll receive in there. I need to know that our backs are covered."

I felt a surge of frustration. I had been looking forward to meeting the king, to seeing the Alpha of the Eastern Coast. And now, Kael was telling me I had to stay outside?

But I knew better than to argue with Kael. Not now, when we were so close to our goal.

With a curt nod, I stepped back, my eyes scanning the corridor. The guards I controlled stood frozen, their eyes glassy and unseeing.

I watched as Kael pushed open the door and stepped inside. The sound of murmured voices and shuffling papers drifted out, and I felt a pang of disappointment.

I had been so looking forward to this moment. And now, I was stuck outside, babysitting a bunch of mindless guards.

I gritted my teeth, my anger simmering just below the surface. This wasn't fair. I was just as much a part of this mission as Kael was.

But for now, I had no choice but to wait. And watch.

As I stood at the entrance, my eyes scanned through the highly fenced castle compound, locking its inhabitants in the cage of my mind while I navigated through their dirty thoughts.

I sensed the feeling of being watched, so I tried controlling the source of that feeling, but it seemed uncontrollable. I looked up, and I noticed a woman standing at the upstairs window, stealing a glance at me. Her eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, we just stared at each other.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I tried to invade her mind. But to my surprise, it was just as difficult as trying to control Loren's mind. Something was off about her.

I narrowed my eyes, trying to place her. But her face was a blur, her gaze was piercing as if she knew me or had seen me before. But I know she shouldn't know me because I've never been to this town before.

The woman's gaze lingered on mine for a moment longer before she vanished from the window. I was left standing there, feeling puzzled and intrigued.

Who was that woman? She looked like Luna from her attire. Why did I get the feeling that she was hiding something from me?

I shook my head, pushing the thoughts aside. I had more pressing matters to attend to. It's like keeping an eye on the guards while I wait for Kael's next order.

But my mind kept wandering back to the mysterious woman. I couldn't shake the feeling that our encounter was more than just a coincidence.

***

The meeting hall was a grand, high-ceilinged room with walls lined, with dark wood paneling. The long table at the center of the room was surrounded by chairs, each one occupied by stern-faced elders

Kloar leaned back on his throne, his eyes scanning the council of elders seated before him. "I'm telling you, we cannot afford to weaken our defenses. The threat of the Western Coast is too great."

One of the elders, a wise old man with a long white beard, nodded in agreement. "I concur with that, Your Majesty. We must prioritize our military strength above all else, and also consult Loren."

The king nodded, his expression stern. "I agree. We will increase our military spending and—"

The doors to the meeting hall burst open, and Kael strode in, his sword pressed against Loren's neck. The council of elders gasped in shock, and the king's eyes widened in a mix of outrage and...sadness.

"Kael," the king whispered, his voice trembling. "My son."

Kael's eyes locked onto the king's, his expression cold and hard. "I've come for us to talk, Father. I mean no harm."

The king's face contorted in a mixture of emotions. He looked like he wanted to reach out to Kael, to embrace him, but his duty as king, the stares of the council held him back.

"Guards!" the king ordered, his voice firm. "Seize him!"

But to his surprise, suddenly, the guards didn't move. They stood frozen, like statues, their eyes glassy and unseeing.

The king's eyes narrowed, confusion etched on his face. What was going on? Why weren't his guards obeying him? What, has suddenly gone wrong with his elders?

He looked back at Kael, and for a moment, their eyes locked. The king saw the pain and anger in his son's eyes, and his heart ached. He had missed Kael, his banished son. But he couldn't undo the past. He couldn't undo the banishment.

"Kael?" the king whispered, his voice barely audible.

Kael's expression didn't change. "Father, your guards won't help this time” “I've come to talk, Father. I have come to be given back what's mine.”

***

**KAEL'S POV**

My father's expression changed, his eyes clouding over with a mix of emotions. He looked like he wanted to believe me, to trust me, but the weight of his duty as king held him back. The stares of the compromising evil elders pulled him down.

I let go of Loren, stepping a little forward to talk directly to the king, "I want my position back," I said, my voice firm but calm. "I want to return to the pack, to be a part of this kingdom again. Peacefully."

My father's face twisted, his jaw tightened. "Kael, you were banished for a reason," he said, his voice firm but laced with sadness. "You were caught organizing a coup against me. You threatened the stability of our kingdom."

I took a step forward, my hands spread wide. "That's not true, Father. I was accused, but it was a lie. I would never—"

“Shut up,” Father cut me off, his voice rising. "I don't want to hear it, Kael. I don't want to see you in my kingdom again. You are no longer one of us."

The words cut deep, and I felt a pang of pain. I knew my father didn't want to say those words, but he had no choice. The two elders standing before him, their faces stern and unyielding, had made it clear that they would not tolerate any weakness from the king.

My father's eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of the man he used to be, the man who had loved and accepted me for who I was. But it was quickly extinguished, replaced by the cold, hard mask of the king.

"Leave, Kael," my father said, his voice cold and detached. "Do not return, ever again!!”

As I stood before my father, I could feel the weight of my anger and hurt bearing down upon me. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a reminder of the betrayal I'd suffered. My face burned with emotion, my eyes locked on my father's as I struggled to contain the fury that threatened to consume me.

I nodded, my face expressionless. "Very well, Father. I will leave."

I turned to walk away, my footsteps echoing off the stone walls. But just as I reached the door, I stopped and turned back to face my father.

"You may think you've won, Father," I said, my voice low and menacing. "You all may think you've won,” I said, referring to the white-bearded elders before him. “But you've only delayed the inevitable. I will return, and when I do, I will bring darkness and destruction upon this kingdom. I will take what is rightfully mine, and I will make you all beg for mercy."

My father's eyes widened in terror, and he took a step back, his face ashen. The elders behind him exchanged fearful glances.

"You would dare to threaten me? Do you know you could be killed at this instant?" my father stammered, trying to regain his composure.

I smiled a cold, mirthless smile. "I'm not threatening you, Father. I promise you. You have something that belongs to me, and I will stop at nothing to take it back. Not even if it means burning this kingdom to the ground." I know I can't burn my very kingdom to the ground, but I have to let them know the degree of my quest.

The room fell silent; the only sound was the heavy breathing of my father and the elders. I could see the fear in their eyes and I knew that I had made my point.

With that, I turned and walked away, leaving my father and the elders to tremble in fear.