His Admittance

His Admittance
\[Lucian’s POV\]
I walk through the halls of Onyx Moon, taking in the end of the skirmishes that had taken place. As my eyes drift across the defeated warriors, I can only think one thing.
It’s finally over.
Who knew that this would be how my overtaking the pack would take place? I always thought that it would take place when I was an adult, not still a teenager who just experienced his first shift, but I guess this was what fate had in mind for me all this time.
It’s bittersweet. I think, extending my senses until I feel my father. After everything it was finally over, but where I thought I would feel happiness from finally getting rid of Onyx Moon’s tyrants, I just feel a bit hollow.
Odd. I think lifting a hand and touching my chest as if doing this would make me understand why I was feeling this way. Why do I feel like this?
‘Because it doesn’t change anything.’ Aspen tells me. ‘It won’t make your father accept you.’
‘Since when have I yearned for his acceptance?’ I demand.
He doesn’t bother responding, but I can hear his huff of amusement. However, I don’t bother with him. Instead, I turn a corner and find my father standing between Owen and Pandora’s father.
To my surprise, he doesn’t look like he has put up much of a fight. There’s not a single mark on his body, and he seems too calm.
Frowning, I stop in my tracks and wait until his gaze comes to rest on me.
“Lucian,” he calls as though this situation is the most natural thing. “I thought you would be around here somewhere.”
“I was.” I confirm.
What’s going on here? Why is he like that? I would expect him to be angry, to be roughed up pretty good from the fight I was always certain he would put up, but why was he like this?
It doesn’t make sense. Nothing about it makes sense. Was this a trick?
“Don’t look at me like that.” He sighs, his expression remaining serene. “This is what you’ve always wanted, is it not?”
“Somewhat,” I admit.
“Then shouldn’t you be happy to see your father in this position?”
“Are you really asking me that?”
How could I be fully happy about this? Even if I was treated like shit and never given the chance to claim the position of alpha for Onyx Moon, I was still given the opportunity to live. Of course, it was a shitty way to live, fighting day in and day out in order to earn my life, but he still allowed me as much.
‘You’re being a hypocrite.’ Aspen huffs. ‘You can’t suddenly pity the man that you’ve wanted to take down.’
‘I know that.’ I sigh, focusing on my father once again.
“Why did you do it?” I ask now, causing a look of confusion to cross his face.
“Pardon?”
“Why are you just letting them take you?” I demand, still not understanding why he was just letting himself get caught. “Why didn’t you put up a fight?”
“Because I know when I can’t win.”
Eyes widening, I take in his words like they’re a foreign language. Was he really admitting defeat before even trying? What was this?
“I always knew that you would end up being the one to defeat me.” He continues when I don’t speak. “You couldn’t have made me prouder.”
Once again I stare in disbelief while trying to determine what the hell was even happening. Was he saying that he was waiting for this moment? Who would do something like that?
“Since you were young, you always had that look of determination in your eyes.” He sighs. “Yes, that one right there.”
I continue to remain silent as I listen to what he is saying, and I can’t help but wonder if he was intentionally trying to mindfuck me. I mean, that could be the only thing that was going on here, right?
“You expected me to do this?” I ask, finding my voice. “Then why did you let me live?”
“Because you look too much like her.”
“What?” I hiss, my anger spiking. “Who the fuck are you referring to?”
“Your mother, obviously.”
My mother? What did she even have to do with this? Didn’t he always hate her, and that was the reason he neglected her and me?
“I know that you may not believe me when I say this, but I did what I did to protect the two of you.”
At his words, I jerk while fighting the urge to rip him to shreds.
Who the fuck was he to say such a thing to me after everything? Was he seriously suggesting that my whole life was a complete lie?
No fucking way.
“Who are you trying to fool?” I demand. “Do you really think that I would…”
“Lucian,” Owen says gently, reminding me that my father and I aren’t alone. “I think it would be best to move this conversation somewhere a bit more private.”
As he speaks, I slowly look around, taking in the warriors that are moving about, and I realize that they’re most certainly listening, and if my father gained even the slightest bit of their pity, it could work against me.
 “Alright,” I sigh. “Please take him to the interrogation room.”
Turning, I begin to lead as Owen follows, and Pandora’s father goes to find his men to get a full head count of those who are injured and fine. I can only hope that there is minimal damage done to his people since they stuck their necks out to help me. Although, something tells me that they’re just fine. They were trained by one of the strongest alphas out there, and I knew he wouldn’t allow his people to be defeated that easily. At least, if they aren’t being tricked like in the past.
When we reach the interrogation room, I motion for Owen to lead my father in, and after he is sat down and chained to the chair with silver, I take my seat across from him.
Remaining silent, I wait while Owen heads out, allowing us privacy to speak openly, but honestly once he is gone, I don’t necessarily know if I want to hear anything my father has to say.
“Aren’t you curious?” He asks, breaking the silence that has fallen around us.
“Curious of what?” I ask. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Aren’t you curious about what I said earlier?”
I was and I wasn’t. Honestly, nothing he said would change my opinion of him after everything. But somewhere deep down I wanted to know why, if he was actually trying to protect us, he treated us the way he did. I mean, I understood that showing no interest was the best way to keep Lux’s mother and even Lux from messing with us, but then he could have secretly treated us a bit kinder.
“I know I made my mistakes.” He continues. “But I did it for your own good.”
“My own good.” I repeat, disgust dripping from my voice. “I never asked you to do any of that for me.”
"Maybe not," he agrees. "But that doesn't mean that your mother didn't."
"What the hell are you even saying?"
No, this was all wrong. How could he be saying such a thing with a straight face? Did he really believe that I was a fool?
All these thoughts begin to repeat themselves in my mind, but despite that, I want to hear his story. I want to know why he did what he did and what that had to do with my mother.
"Spill it." I huff, deciding to bite. "Try to make me feel regret over what I have done."