Chapter 109 Father's Warnings
Chapter 109
.
Jax’s POV
Overhead, the sky gradually became hazy and pallid. The air was filled with a light white mist as the blue turned to gray.
Winter seemed to have arrived early. Heavy, silent, and cold. I stood up and surveyed my surroundings. I was at the shore.
The ocean was agitated. Waves rose higher than they should have and slammed violently on the coast. As if the ocean intended to engulf it, water poured toward the land.
The wind was chilly, harsh, and powerful. I shivered as it touched my skin.
I wasn't by myself.
Pack members stood far away from me, scattered along the sand. They watched in silence. None of them came close. None spoke. Their figures looked small and distant, like shadows.
I looked down.
I was lying on a bed.
It was peculiar. Right there on the sand was a big bed, exactly like the one in my room.
The white sheet was tidy and silky. The head was perfectly supported by the pillow. The white paint job on the bed frame had tiny golden dots that caught the light.
I ran my fingers across the sheet. It was authentic. I was also wearing white.
Like fresh snow under the moon, my shirt and shorts gleamed cleanly and sweetly. I reclined and unwinded.
In spite of the chilly breeze, the bed felt toasty. I gazed out to sea, seeing the rising and falling waves.
Like a hand caressing hair, the wind danced across the water, softly touching its surface.
Beside me, on a small stand, sat a glass jar.
Wine.
My favorite.
I reached for it and wrapped my fingers around the glass. It was half full. I lifted it slowly and swirled the wine in smooth circles. The deep color moved with ease, calm and steady, unlike the sea.
The coastal wind brushed against my bare chest. I closed my eyes for a moment and breathed in.
Then,
“Rowan…!”
The sound hit me hard, like a heavy hammer against my chest.
My eyes flew open.
I sat up quickly and looked around. My heart pounded. I searched the beach, the pack members, the mist.
“Who’s there?” I whispered.
No one moved.
The pack members stayed far away. The sea roared. The wind blew.
I was still alone on the bed.
“Rowan!”
The voice came again.
This time, it sounded different.
It came from the sea.
My hand wrapped the fancy glass cup. My stomach dropped. My lungs ceased functioning.
I knew that voice.
My hand trembled as I slowly stood up from the bed.
“Father?” I called out.
My voice sounded small. Weak.
The wind carried my words away. They disappeared into the mist like smoke.
For a moment, there was only the sound of the waves.
Then…
“How can you be so stupid and naïve!”
The voice struck me like a slap.
I flinched.
My shoulder sagged, I bent low my head without meaning. My chest drew in air.
I quickly looked round me, eyes blinked with terror. My breath shaky and my lips pressed together in a fine thin line.
Thank the Moon Goddess no one was close enough to hear this.
I hadn’t even recovered when the voice came again, louder and colder.
“You are very stupid and naïve, my son. I never thought I would have a foolish child like you.”
My jaw tightened.
It was him.
My father.
He was always like this. Strong. Sharp. His words were kind sometimes, but when he was angry, they were heavy and crushing. He never cared about age or rank. To him, everyone stopped at the door of his palace, no matter who they were.
I clenched my fists at my sides.
“But the Moon Goddess showed you mercy.”
I stayed quiet.Stormfang
My eyes dropped to the sand. I didn’t know where this was going, and I didn’t dare interrupt him. Even now, even as Alpha King of Pack, his voice still held power over me.
“The gods,” he paused. The wind howled. “They never gave you the mercy and grace you have now.”
Mercy?
Grace?
My brows pulled together. Confusion filled my face. I opened my mouth, wanting to ask, but no sound came out.
“But you are working hard to waste it.”
My chest burned.
“How?” I finally asked. My voice cracked. “How, Father? The gods never showed me mercy. They gave me pain. They filled my throne with thorns instead of peace.”
“Quiet!”
The word thundered through the air.
I froze.
The wind grew stronger. The waves slammed harder against the shore.
“They didn’t?” he continued. “How would you know? You barely speak to the gods. You handed the spiritual part of your throne to those who want to steal it from you.”
My shoulders sagged.
He was right.
“I warned you,” he said. “The same wolves who dug a pit for me dug one for you. I fell into it. And you were walking straight toward it.”
I swallowed hard.
“But even then, the Moon Goddess gave you back what you lost.”
I laughed bitterly. The sound was short and sharp.
“What did I lose?” I asked, shaking my head.
“Yes,” he said firmly. “They gave you the greatest gift you needed.”
My heart skipped.
“Mila?” I asked.
There was a pause.
“You don’t need to ask me.”
“No!” I shouted. My hands clenched into fists. “Not Mila! Father, she poisoned my mother. She killed your Luna!”
Anger burned in my chest.
“Mila was a mistake,” I continued. “A devil wearing an angel’s face. She destroyed—”
“Quiet!”
The word cut me off.
My body stiffened.
“You are acting like a fool,” he said. “They blinded you. They played with your mind. You hated the one who would give you everything. You traded gold for copper. And they turned your love into hatred.”
My breath came fast and uneven.
“My last advice,” he said slowly, “if you don’t want to end like me, start questioning everything that made you hate Mila.”
I shook my head slightly, my chest rising and falling hard.
“At least,” he added, “you are beginning to see small truths.”
I felt dizzy. My knees weakened, and I sank back onto the bed.
“But you are lucky,” he said more softly. “You can still fix it.”
“How?” I asked quickly. Hope and fear mixed in my voice.
“Not by questions,” he replied. “By loving her again. By fixing your wrongs.”
“How?” I whispered. “She is…”
“She is not dead.”
The words stopped me cold.
My eyes widened.
“She is not dead,” he repeated. His voice faded with the wind. “She is right there with you.”
“No…” I breathed.
“Protect your gift,” his voice echoed faintly. “Or you will live in regret. You will not get another chance.”
The mist thickened.
“Count yourself lucky,” he said. “Very lucky.”
Then,
BANG!
A loud knock shook the door.
I jerked upright, gasping, my heart racing like it wanted to break free.
Another heavy knock followed, louder than the first.