A Year

A Year
Damon Pov
As I walk towards the throne room I am struggling to keep my temper under control. I know my father summoned me on purpose, he easily could have kept me in the throne room instead of sending me away to call me back. He is pulling strings to attempt to show me who is in charge. I am standing in front of the doors taking a deep breath as I study the story of my ancestors that has been carved onto the doors for generations. I know Evie has questions about the carvings I saw her studying it earlier, I plan on taking her to the library tomorrow and showing her the books on the history of my family so we can answer all of her questions. I finally push the door open and walk in to the room, fighting to keep my expression blank and bored. "You summoned me father?" I ask coldly. "I did we need to talk." my father says approaching the sitting area nearby pointing to the chairs telling me to sit. We sit down and I ask "What is it we need to talk about?" My father looks at me studying my face and my posture. "This is about your mate." He states. " Okay, father get to the point. We don't need to keep dancing around the topic." I spit out at him. "Fine son lets get down to it. I understand that you want your mate to be seen as equal to you, but there are certain rules that need to be followed in the castle. Or you will lose the respect of your advisors and the lords, if that happens they will not support you when you take the crown next month." My father says sternly. It takes every ounce of self control I have not to shift right now. I feel my claws start to shift and dig them into my hands. "Well for starters I don't care if the advisors and lords respect me, they just have to follow me and if that needs to be by fear so be it. Also father I will not be taking over as King in a month. My mate and I are not ready for that, and I will not force her to take over a kingdom she is not ready to rule. She just turned 18 she isn't ready to be Queen." I say some of my Alpha aura being released in my frustration. "That is not the deal we made son, you were to go to University to get some freedom and then take over when you found your mate. You can't change the deal now, just because you don't feel like it." My father yells back. "I can and I will father and it isn't because I don't feel like it. It is because thats not what my mate wants and I respect her to much to force her into anything. Thats why I have been hiding her from you, why she isn't marked. I didn't want you to find out and force us to take over the kingdom. Father she ran away from her pack and her family to get some freedom before having to take over her role as a mother and leader of a pack, now put the pressure of a kingdom on top of that. I can't do that to her and I won't. The only reason I brought her here is to keep her safe from the rouges, not to follow through with your deal. I am sorry father but I can't do it." I tell him sternly I don't know why he wants me to take over but I do know I am just disappointing him again like I usually manage to do. When I first called him I heard genuine pride in his voice that I don't know if I will ever hear again. "This is how your truly feel, you have this much loyalty to a mate you have yet to even mark? So much so you would deny your father your King of his wishes?" My father says animosity dripping as I can see he now fights his shift. "I love her father and I know you may not believe me but I do, and I need to look out for her because no one else here will." I say trying to show him I am not fighting against him just doing what is best for her. "Fine one year I will give you one more year of freedom that is my offer." He states no room for objection. "I will talk to Evie about and it and give you our answer as soon as possible. Thank you for understanding father." I say standing and even giving him the respect of a slight bow before turning to leave. I hear my father mutter something about not understanding but continue walking so he doesn't have time to change his mind. I have bought us a year and I am hopeful over time as my father gets to know Evie I will be able to buy even more time.  I practically run back to my room eager to tell Evie the news and hopeful that this will be enough for now. I know she said she isn't ready and I am not either but if it is the only way to keep her safe I will make myself ready. I would do anything to keep her safe I will not let anything happen to her again. I open my door stealthy slipping inside hoping to surprise her, which I do because she is passed out in my bed. I quietly walk over to the bed and throw a blanket on her letting her sleep, she hasn't gotten much since she was taken. I don't know if it is because she has nightmares about what happened to her or if it is nightmares about her brother. I don't think she will every forgive herself for what happened, even though I know Liam would easily do it again if it meant keeping her safe we all would. I don't understand the guilt because she would do the same for us, if it had been Lizzie that was taken she would have chased after her too without a thought about the danger. I try not to think to hard about it as I settle into the bed and snuggle up next to her, a few hours of sleep before we have to go to the dinner tonight sounds nice.