*****Erika''s POV*****


    I stood speechless and vibrating with anger over what Elder Grigshade had said to me. I held back tears, standing still as a statue. What was the meaning of the words he''d just told me? Why would he tell me things like that? What gave him the right to speak to me in that manner?


    I copsed on the chair I had been seating, trying to ignore the pounding in my head. Tears fell despite my desire to control them from streaming. What was happening? I was so tired and weak. Everything was beginning to get crazy, a lot of things were getting too confusing for me.


    I was no longer sure of myself. Of my ability to rule. Whatever Elder Grigshade was doing, it was working. And even though I wanted to fight it, I did not feel the zeal too. Jace was gone, dad was sick. Soon Pa would go back to her pack and mate, I doubted if Kat would want to stay if she knew Jace had gone.


    The coronation was to be fixed in two days time. The day I would be the Alpha of this pack, yet I was not feeling ready in any way. I sighed. I had no idea what was going to happen. Why would Elder Grigshade threaten me that way?


    The man was not even scared of my position. He did not have any respect for what I was. I stood and went out of the meeting room. I walked towards my father''s room. My steps faltered as soon as I got to the entrance of his room.


    Father''s room was the biggest amongst us three. I watched me, his breathing was quiet. Too quiet for myfort. Except for the heart monitor that was beeping steady, I would have thought he was dead.


    Dead. Ny-ten chance. Till we meet again. Your enemy.


    My body trembled badly, I pushed myself forward to grab my father''s still hand, tears poured like rain. It was so heavy I could barely see his face. His frame was blurry. I blinked severally to clear my vision to see him better. He was lying so still that if not for the moving lines showing on the monitor''s screen - lines that represented the rhythmic beating of his heart — one would mistake him to be dead.


    He was not looking as fit as he used to be. Father was appearing to be frail and weak, a deterioration of his health and it shook me to my bones how slim his chances we''re of surviving.


    "Dad, I''m alone." I said atst. My heart was so heavy.


    As though I was waiting for a miracle, I paused to watch him. Maybe he would talk, he would say somethingforting to me, but the words did note. Heid there, no sign of wordsing out.


    I pped away disappointment, what had I been expecting? For him to jump and tell me he was fine, that Jace would be back. That he had not left for good. That I would be fine and be able to handle all of this on my own.


    "Dad, wake up. Jace has gone, you have to wake up. Please dad, I am so tired. Elder Grigshade..." I choked on my sob. Finding it hard to let out the rest of the words. "You did not tell me about him, dad. You did not tell me you had a business with him. Why daddy? Why? W-why?" I hupped as more tears fell.


    I bawled my eyes out, my shoulders racked violently. The pounding in my head grew worse, what was I to do? What exactly?!


    "You told Jace of the business but


    not me. Why I sniffled. I was holding his hand sometimeter after the tears had dried up, though I still felt gloomy and sad. "I had used Jace. Though it had been unintentional and indirect, still. I was not supposed to do that but I did and now I have lost him."


    The room was silent. Except for the heart monitor, nothing else was heard.


    "Should I me you for not telling me? For leaving me in the dark which had led me to nurse the idea that Jace might be an enemy? Or should I me myself for being inconsiderate and insensitive? Or should I me Jace for following in your steps and keeping as a secret too? Or should I me Elder Grigshade for being an asshole that is beginning to scare me."


    I licked my lips dry, holding his hand as some form offort and reassurance. "What do I do, dad? Maybe I should find Jace and let him take over the throne. Maybe you chose the wrong person, dad. Maybe Elder Grigshade is right. He... he..." I bit my lower lip hard to prevent more tears from falling.


    A hand on my shoulder startled me, I raised my head to see Pa. I sighed in relief but emotions swamped me as soon as relief filled me. Her hand on my shoulder caused more sobs to erupt.


    "It''s okay, Rika. You will get out of this, you''re strong. Resilient. Powerful. You''re an Alpha."


    Her tone were so encouraging and soul-lifting but I was too scared to believe them. Too uncertain to allow myself believe them or her. "What if I''m just deceiving


    myself? What if Jace I''d truly supposed to be there? What if..."


    "Shh." She shushed me gently. In that moment, she sounded like an affectionate mother. "No more what ifs, Rika You''re one of the most persistent person I know. If you can your


    live with Alex who didn''t see


    value for three years, what about protecting your legacy? Your father saw Jace before he picked you. You are worthy of that throne. Of that position. Of that honor. Of that respect. You''re worthy to be called an Alpha. Your dad did not make a mistake, he''s a wise man who makes wise decisions." Her words both encouraging and soothing.


    "So you heard me..." It was more of a statement than a question.


    "Yes. I''ve been standing here for sometime, watching you question your capability." She smiled soothingly at me.


    "Where''s Kat?" I peered at the doorway, half thinking she would materialize from the corner.


    "She''s asleep. Just took her drugs. She was worried too, but I had to make her


    sleep because the drugs were already making her drowsy."


    "I wish I could take some of those pills." I mumbled to myself, but it seemed Pa


    had heard me because she was frowning.


    "What do you mean by that?" She eyed me.


    I kept mute.