Chapter 57
Gradel
"You'll have to fulfill our late Alpha's wishes and become his successor." She simply said.
I burst into a peal of laughter- a hearty, throaty one that made my body ache after I managed to calm down. But when I stared at her, her expression had turned into an impassive mask that I could barely interpret.
"That's the joke of the century, female. You don't get to come into my pack where my father presides and dish out ridiculous orders. I hope you know that," I said authoritatively as anger rose within me.
She smirked and kicked Iris's knee, causing her to stumble on the ground. "I have your mate with me and before you can think of making any funny move, I'd have killed her. My sentinels have defeated your people and your father is on the verge of dying. Do you think that you're in the position to make demands?"
I clenched and unclenched my fists, suppressing the urge to attack her, but she was holding my mate to ransom and I couldn't afford to act thoughtlessly.
"I can't rule your pack. I don't even want to rule any pack," I growled, shaking my head vehemently.
She advanced towards me tenaciously and flashed me a wry smile. "Do you think you have a say in this, Gradel? I'm the head sentinel of the Red Sea Pack and whatever I say is law so will you watch me hurt your people or are you going to redeem your late mother's pride?"
I chuckled bitterly, running my blood-stained fingers through my hair in frustration. It was appalling how my life was on the brink of taking a turn that plunged me into a life of misery and agony all because of my father's selfish interests.
Secretly, I wished that he wouldn't make it if I eventually left.
"Do I have to come along today? The pack is in a mess and it's pertinent that I put things in order before coming to lead another pack." I informed her, my heart heavy with sadness.
The revealed secrets concerning the Red Sea pack and the sudden war that took place tonight all looked surreal but after pinching myself, I knew that it was becoming my reality and I had to start adjusting.
My plan to return to the human world had been thwarted and now I'd have to rule over a pack whom I didn't share a bond with. How was I going to implement the rules when they forced me to become their Alpha?
Left with no choice, I resolved in my heart what I would do.
"If that's what you want, I'm willing to-"
"Let me be the Alpha in his stead. I am my mother's daughter, after all." Devin interjected, his voice casual though I could hear the pain accompanying his agreement.
"What do you mean?" I trained my attention on him. "I'm the firstborn son of our father and I have to take responsibility for whatever happens here. Let me take care of this," I implored.
The head sentinel snapped her fingers and the sentinels who held him down freed him. Devin stepped forward, massaging his wrists.
He tucked his hands into his pockets. "You're right, Gradel, but don't forget that the Grey Rock pack is your inheritance as the first son and the business of other packs shouldn't concern you." He argued. "I am my mother's son as well and if their pack really wants a child from her womb, then I qualify as well. Don't you think?"
He was right and that scared me, but what further terrified me was the uncertainty of his motive. Devin had hated me for the greatest part of his life but that didn't mean I was ready to throw him into the lion's den.
"We have to talk," I grunted angrily.
Devin who had been freed from the temporary confinement of the sentinels walked briskly behind me until I stopped close to the speakers, far away from other ears.
My lips had parted in readiness to give him a piece of my mind when he began talking.
"I know that you are surprised by the decision I've taken, but I want you to know that I'm genuine and willing to make this sacrifice for our family." He pursed his lips and folded his hands behind him with a stoic face.
My eyes bulged, peering at him in astonishment. Several questions danced around in my head to ask but I was only able to ask one.
"What changed? A few hours ago, you loathed me deeply. Why are you doing this now?"
He opened his mouth, snapped it shut and sighed. Then he took a deep breath and made a shocking revelation. "I don't hate you," He admitted, "I've just been jealous of your achievements and the love you easily attracted. Everyone doted on you, including our father whom you almost disowned because of the past. Mother loved us both, but she was more expressive with you. You were the golden child, and I was the one who couldn't meet the standard. Did you know how that made me feel?"
My heart tore into pieces at his confession and I was almost moved to tears. How could I have been oblivious to the preferential treatment meted out to him?
Or maybe I noticed, but I was so engrossed in the pain of losing our mother that I didn't give it much attention.
"Why didn't you speak up, Devin? We used to be so close..." I trailed off.
"That wouldn't change how Father saw you. You ran away and left me with our father while I stayed by his side, preparing myself to become his successor but the moment you came back, my efforts to please him went down the drain. He began to consider making you his successor after all my hard work. You moved around the pack freely, commanding respect and loyalty with so much ease while I had to fight tooth and nail to be noticed by even the lowest of ranks."
I felt his pain and at that moment, I wished I could erase it from his heart but the hand of time couldn't be rewhined.
"So how can I make this right?"