Chapter 8 Fight or Flight?
Xander
The heavy doors of the Royal Court room slams open wide and all heads turn in my direction as I stroll in, my silken royal robe trailing behind me.
The members of the Royal Council stand immediately and all heads lower as I pass by them to the chair at the head of the long Island table.
I lower myself into the seat, my hands clasped below my chin, while I wait for them to start talking on the reason for this meeting.
Wade, the Grand Marshal and War Chief of the pack, stands to his feet. He's a tall, broad-shouldered man with a buzz cut hair, stern brown eyes that have seen and fought more war than most.
He bows his head slightly before speaking, "Your Highness, our people have been talking and making complaints regarding the matter on Melissa's punishment. They are demanding that she be reassigned her position as Gamma of the pack, which she had been stripped off of, unfairly," he pauses, staring at me and trying to gauge my reaction.
I simply nod for him to continue.
"They are unhappy with this decision and are threatening to protest."
A protest. I clasp my hands tighter, willing myself and my wolf to calm down, by taking low, deep breaths.
"What?" Elias, the lore keeper exclaims, his hazel eyes widening behind his black-rimmed glasses. "Have they no knowledge of her deeds and the consequences of such actions?"
The curtains rustle, and I hear the howls of the wind, loud and echoing as it runs in the direction of the east, as if in a fit of rage. Just like I am now.
"Your Highness, what shall we do? The last time there was a protest, and it was during your father's reign...it never ended well," Wade says. Then all eyes turn to me, curious, and waiting on my verdict.
Of course, I remember that protest. It was the worst anyone had ever seen.
Lives were lost, families broken, some even went rogue, all because of an alliance that was never taken kindly to by our people, and the reason wasn't far-fetched at the end.
But this is different now. I know how much the Gamma is favored by our people, but any deliberate act to cause harm to Vanessa will not be taken lightly, it's non-negotiable.
"Leave them be," I say finally.
The way their eyes widen at the same time would have been comical if this wasn't a serious matter.
"But- what if they go through with it?"
"Then we'll deal with the situation then, in the best way possible." Then I stand, signalling the end of the conversation. I swiftly walk out of the room, wanting to get some air into my lungs before I rip someone apart.
I meet Max on the way to the gazebo - the only place I come to seek solace and is strictly forbidden from entry by anyone else, except Max of course.
The man had managed to weave himself into my life without my permission, but I couldn't have been more thankful for that. Especially now, as he strolls beside me. Even as chatty as he was as a person, right now, he know what I need. Silence. Completely and utterly, but of course, that won't last long as I catch sight of the redhead with a fiery spirit that manages to pull the leashes on my control.
She struts like she owns the place, her generous hips swing from side to side, encased in a form fitting dress that threatens to snap my barely contained control; desire flares from deep within me and my wolf purrs.
She doesn't seem to have noticed us as she bumps into me; her soft breasts press up against me, making my cock take notice.
That's when I notice - she's in a sour mood. Why?
I grab her by her arms and step away from her. She gasps. "Watch where you're going, firecracker."
She moved her hands to push me back, hard, but I barely budge, which only frustrates her more.
"Why the hell is everyone getting in my way today?!" her nostrils flare, blue eyes darken with a murderous glint.
"Hey, Vanessa. Is something wrong?" Max asks, concern written all over his face.
Her face brightens a little when she finally notices him, and I can't help the sudden envy I feel.
She opens her mouth, as if to start ranting again, but she only says, "No. No, nothing's wrong. I'm just tired from everything." She waves her hands everywhere.
Max moves forward to pat her on the head. She gives him a playful scowl. "Don't worry, just tell big brother Max whenever you need anything." He winks.
She smiles.
I seethe.
When the fuck did they get so close?
"Where did you go?" I cut in sharply.
"Somewhere. I don't have to report everything I do to you, your Highness," she snaps.
With my supernatural speed, I grab her arm and step into her space, trapping her between my body and the wall. She gasps, her pulse picking up speed, but I don't care. She drives me so crazy, I almost feel insane.
I bend and lower my face to hers, looking into her electric blue eyes, and I say to her in a deceptively calm voice, "Don't talk back to me, don't disrespect me. You sit when I tell you to, act when I demand you to, do what I tell you to.
Because with just the snap of my fingers, you'll be homeless again." I know I should stop, but I choose not to.
"You're only still here because I allow it. So choose wisely, Firecracker."
Then I step back.
A flood of emotions flitter through her eyes, but the most prominent one, was hurt. A deep, seated-hurt that almost made me take my words back. Almost.
I ignore my wolf's threatening growl, promising to rip me apart if I were someone else, as well as the emotion tugging and twisting itself like a knife in my chest.
I turn and start to walk off, Max falling into step beside me.
He slaps a hand on my chest and whispers, "Hey, that was not cool, Xanny." I paid him no mind as from my peripheral vision, I catch sight of her sliding down the wall, falling into a squat with her head bowed, and arms wrapped around her.
I don't turn around.
Sometimes, cruelty is the best form of defense, and I have no regrets.
So what then is this strange feeling?