Chapter 60
Gradel
I thought I'd feel something, though slight when I came face to face with my father but nothing sprang up in my chest, instead the desire to leave enveloped me.
As expected, he still wasn't responding to treatment as his face had gotten paler than last night's. His fingers were swollen and the only thing that came to my mind was plunging a knife into his chest and ending the misery he was facing, but that would make his death too easy.
After poisoning my late mother to death because of his inability to control his lust, he almost succeeded in severing the bond I shared with my twin. A slow, painful death was what he deserved.
"Keep watching over him and stop administering the medicine to him. You're just wasting your time," I told Silas who was stirring a potion inside a wooden bowl.
"Are you sure about that, Prince? His condition will further deteriorate..."
My deep frown was enough to keep him from talking further. "Just do as I say or you'll face my wrath," I warned him and then he bowed as I walked out.
Before coming to see my father, I'd sent a messenger to gather the elders, and members of the ruling council to the courtroom so I headed there since I didn't want to keep them waiting.
"Greetings, Prince Gradel," They chorused the moment I walked in.
"You can have your seat,"
They sat and stared at me expectantly with Elder Hanson standing by my side with a book. I ran my fingers through my hair and shut my eyes as my mind was a mess.
I never imagined that I'd one day take the position of my father and even the expensive throne didn't conceal how uncomfortable I felt.
My shoulders were heavy because of the weight of the responsibility that had automatically rested on them and I could see my plans to return to the human world grinning mockingly at me.
"Good day, everyone. I'm pleased that you all honored my invitation to meet for the progress of our pack." I swallowed and continued my unplanned speech.
"A lot happened last night, including the unforeseen attack that gulped some of the pack members. After this meeting, we'll have to visit some of them and sympathize with them. But before that, I'd like to get a comprehensive report on the progress of our pack. I never wanted to be in this position and my brother has gone to rule our late mother's pack so the mantle has fallen on me."
Elder Hanson raised his hand and I permitted him to speak.
"With all due respect to your father, I'd say that a lot of projects have been abandoned since he became the Alpha of this pack." He revealed.
"What do you mean?"
"Your father wasn't meant to be the Alpha since he was the second son, but he was determined to rule this pack by all means and one of the ways to achieve that was by having an heir..." He trailed off, realizing that he had spilled too much.
My curiosity had spiked so I snapped my fingers, commanding him to continue.
He swallowed with anxiety glaring on his face and darted his gaze around the room. Head sentinel Simon and some of the other elders avoided his gaze so he had no choice but to continue.
"What happened to my uncle?" I injected and his face contorted with horror. "Speak now, Elder Hanson," My low voice resonated dangerously in the room.
"He died mysteriously, My prince, so we had no choice but to make your father the Alpha." He replied.
"And there was no investigation?"
He scratched his beard and pressed his lips, taking a deep breath. "Your father arrested everyone that tried to investigate his death secretly and sentenced them. He ordered us to channel our energy towards the growth of the pack and not someone already dead. Those were his words,"
I bowed my head in shame for my father's misdemeanors and doubted my eligibility to rule the pack.
My father deserved worse pain than he was receiving. Even though the cause of his brother's death wasn't known, I was very certain that he had a hand in it.
"It's quite sad to hear that my father committed such crimes but I promise that things will be different from now on. Now tell me, how do we move on from here?" I probed.
Simon raised his hand and stood up. "It's sad to say this but there is hunger in the land."
"What?" My lips opened in disbelief.
"Your father made us pay heavy taxes for everything we produce and we don't have enough money to continue production. We major in agriculture as you are aware but we need support from the pack's purse to be able to get a bountiful harvest after planting. Aldo, there was a project to convert some of our medicinal plants into powder and export it to the human world but nothing has been done about it. Even our company in Los Angeles has shut down with no hope of starting production again."
The list went on and on and I slammed my fist on the desk before me, causing him to snap his lips shut.
"It's enough, Simon! Why didn't any of you tell me about this? Surely I'd have done something about it." I thundered.
"We are sorry, Prince Gradel, but you were always absent during our major meetings and like you said today, you never had any interest in the politics of this pack. How were we to know that you could do something about our issues?" Elder Hanson spoke up.
I massaged my forehead in a bid to remain calm. He was right and I was wrong, but what made me different from my father was my ability to right my wrong.
"That's why I'm here to make amends. I'll leave for Los Angeles tonight so ensure that everything is in order. While I'm gone, make a budget for the factory here in our pack and in Los Angeles so that production can begin again. As for the taxes, I'll do something about it to make things easier for everyone." I announced and immediately they broke into a joyful scream.