Bailey POV
I gripped the man by the throat, ignoring the fact that his eyes were bulging and that the other elders were standing there shocked out of their minds with anger growing on their faces. He looked incensed as he clawed at my hands, nails drawing blood as my fury coursed through me. I couldn't think, I couldn't focus, except on the mind-numbing fact that my mate was gone and that this bastard probably either knew where she was or had something to do with it. I glared down at him, my Lycan surging to the surface, prepared to tear him limb from limb and damn the consequences. Thomas looked on in the background, Damien moving to defend me from any others that would attempt to intervene on the Elder's behalf. I tightened my grip, listening to the sound of him gasping for breath with satisfaction as I narrowed my eyes.
"Where is she?" I spat.
He looked confused. I gave a growl of frustration and shook him in the air, daring him to shift, to give me a reason to end him. He bounced wildly up and down, his limbs flailing like a rag doll.
"Where is she?" I repeated slowly and with deliberate emphasis.
"King Bailey put Elder Michael down" another Elder interjected, sounding scandalized, "I don't know what you think you are doing, but you are overstepping your authority, and we would be well within our rights to detain you for doing this" he added as I turned my head and glared at him.
He looked at the mutinous expression on my face and fell silent. Damien rose a brow "I don't think King Bailey is caring about the rules or about propriety right about now. He wants to know where his mate is, and I want to know what's happened to my sister" he said calmly, "and I would suggest you tell us sooner rather than later before your elder ends up dead."
"You wouldn't dare," another elder gasped, sounding shocked we would even dare to suggest doing such a thing.
"Oh I dare" I snarled "try me. I want my mate" I roared and gripped him tighter as the elder stared at me, "I know you know where she is."
"You're wrong" wheezed Elder Michael, clutching at his throat, "why would any of us have any idea where your mate is?" he asked in desperation "The last time we saw Queen Riley was when she stormed away from us. We haven't seen her since" he protested weakly.
"Elder Michael is telling the truth. We have nothing to do with the disappearances" A woman elder objected, looking at the group of them with concern. "If they are missing, then shouldn't we be out there searching for them instead of fighting among ourselves?"
A snarl from Elder Michael. I flung him to the ground, hearing his body hit it with a heavy thud, allowing my frustration to get the better of me. The elder stood, his eyes blazing.
"You go too far, Bailey" he spat as I glowered at him "I feel that the role of being the Lycan King is too much for you to handle. I move that we strike you from being the leader" he declared.
"Elder Michael, that is an unprecedented move. It would require a challenger for his role for a start", another elder objected, sounding shocked, "and while I know that King Bailey has gone a bit overboard, it's understandable he's upset about his mate."
"He has gone beyond our laws and traditions. This is just the tip of the iceberg." Elder Michael was furious ". He continues to go about unchecked and will only cause more chaos. As for a challenger, I nominate Alpha Jaxon. I am certain he would make an excellent king and leader of the pack. He has a sense of what is right and what is wrong" he sniffed, drawing himself up as I clenched my hands into fists.
"Bailey, you need to calm down and try to think this through. You're giving them exactly what they want, an excuse to get rid of you", Thomas moved up beside me to murmur in one ear "they're using your irrationality and recklessness to prove your lack of leadership skills in the wake of their decisions."
"I don't care" I muttered, "all I care about is Riley", I exhaled loudly, feeling stubborn.
"Do you think Riley would want to come back and find this happening? Do you think she would want to discover you stripped of your title and banished because you weren't able to keep yourself under control for her sake?"
"Thomas, we've tried the polite way", I turned my head, ignoring the elders "and it hasn't worked. Riley could be dead right now for
"She's not dead", Thomas's voice was calm, while Damien tensed behind us. "You would have felt her death through the mate bond, all I know" my voice cracked slightly, "and these bastards know something."and you know it. You would have felt the agonizing pain as it severed. She's still alive and that's something to be grateful for, at least" he said, "because it means you still have time to find her."
"What if I don't? If they don't spill where she is, I might not get there in time" my voice was urgent "You know her condition Thomas". I was very hesitant to utter the words about what the condition was, in case I was overheard "You know how vital it is to find her."
"I'm aware" he said, pausing, "so all I have to say is this. Whatever decision you make today", he nodded at Damien, who was slowly nodding his head in agreement. "I will stand by you but make sure you're making it with a clear head. I'll take whatever punishment they throw at us, whatever consequences, because I refuse to acknowledge anybody but you as my King Bailey" he shouted out loud, causing the elders to gape at us, "and there will never be another King who deserves the role as much as you do."
"I concur" Damien shouted back in agreement.
"We agree" Callum and Cody shouted in unison as they walked up, "and it's disgraceful that you would even consider Alpha Jaxon for the position" Cody sneered at the elders, who looked taken aback by the objections they were facing.
Had anybody ever dared to question their motives before? We couldn't be the first to do so, could we?
"Treason" babbled one elder "mutiny. How dare you speak like that to your betters?" he snapped.
"You haven't earned my respect" Callum's voice was ice-cold. "The only person who has is standing right in front of me and that's my King. I won't acknowledge anybody else."
"The nerve," another Elder hissed, "you are nothing more than pups. What do you know about the real world and politics?"
"I know enough to know that what you are doing is wrong. I know that you're protecting somebody who doesn't deserve it", Callum's voice continued, "and we all know you're full of bullshit."
Gasps of outrage all around from the use of such a derogatory word towards them.
"I've had enough of you" Elder Michael snarled, "and all this pathetic finger pointing. We had nothing to do with the Queen's disappearance and, by god, you are looking at not only a trial but a challenge for your position King Bailey. Control your men, lest it continue to become a confinement in the dungeon for the lot of you."
"So freedom of speech is now punishable too" my voice was steady as I regarded my men. "Or is it only when people speak in opposition to you?" I asked.
"Enough of this farce" an elder growled, but I was done listening to them.
Thomas could see the look on my face, he saw the expression on it change swiftly. I was through trying to negotiate with them, through speaking to them and trying to get them to listen. I was tired of their constant complaints, their constant playing the victim. They were cunning but also manipulative, and if they were going to challenge me for the title of King, did I really have anything to lose? I was one of the strongest, most powerful Alpha's out there. It had been a long time since they had seen me in my Lycan form. It had been a long time since they had faced me when I had shifted. Part of me had held back, kept myself under wraps, always tightly controlled and leashed in a sense. But now it was time to let loose. It was time to let the Lycan part of me free. My Lycan was angry, it wanted Riley. We wanted Riley. We wanted answers. Answers they weren't prepared to give.
"Oh shit" Thomas muttered, quickly herding Callum and Cody behind him and motioning for Damien to join them "everybody stand back" he urged. "I think that Bailey has finally lost his mind."
I let out a ferocious growl that had the ground practically shaking.
"That was impressive" Damien smirked to Callum and Cody.
"That was nothing"warned Thomas "You haven't seen his full power or what happens when his Lycan takes control."
"How bad could that be?" Cody whispered.
"Think utter chaos" Thomas replied grimly, "and then multiply it by a hundred."
"Shit" Callum whispered in fascination.
"King Bailey, control yourself" an elder ventured to say, the group slowly beginning to back away, even as their eyes darkened in preparation to make the shift themselves, perhaps recognizing the danger they were about to face.
Control myself? Control myself? I had done nothing but control myself. My eyes darkened. I gave my Lycan control. He gave a twisted grin as my body began to slowly shift, one limb at a time, my bones cracking and adjusting, fur growing on each limb, my teeth growing into sharp canines as I let out another roar, my nails growing into claws. All I could see through my Lycan's eyes was pure red. I could feel his hatred, his contempt for the elders. It was surreal. Like being a passenger in my mind, but I had done this before. My Lycan was bloodthirsty and desperate for a kill. I granted him permission and watched, along with the other men, as he began to lunge towards the elders, who began to shift into their own wolf forms in a frenzied panic. My Lycan was not merciless, nor was he known for his compassion. Another reason for being King. His ability to dominate, to beat other creatures, not just shifters into submission, was well known, but perhaps forgotten by those idiotic men who spoke about their ideals and dared to think they could take my title away from me. If they thought it was going to be as easy as a simple challenge, then they were in for a surprise. I watched in slow motion as my Lycan began to head directly towards the elders, his body so fast he was practically a blur while they attempted to scatter and my men shifted, preparing to defend me if it came down to it. If I had to hurt them in order to get my answers, then so be it. They only had themselves to blame for what was about to happen. I was done being nice.