CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT


    CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT


    Jason’s POV


    +25 Bonus


    “You pathetic weakling!” His voice boomed, echoing in the office. My father stood in the center, his shoulders rigid. The heavy oak table cracked under the grip of his ws sinking into the polished wood.


    My throat tightened. Every instinct screamed at me to lower my head, to make myself small, but I forced my chin up. My palms were sweaty, and my heart pounded so hard I thought he might hear it.


    The insult burned more than I wanted to admit. No matter what I did, no matter how much I schemed or fought, his voice always managed to cut straight through me. My wolf growled low in my chest, hating the shame, hating the submission, but it didn’t matter. Against my father, we both bowed.


    “What did I tell you?” he growled.


    “I…I talked with Talia. She didn’t want to…”


    “Enough of your excuses!” he snapped, cutting me off. His eyes burned with disgust, and the vein in his forehead pulsed with each word. “You let a weak she-wolf, an omega no less, humiliate you before the entire kingdom. And you failed to bring her back?! You’re actually telling me you couldn’t even manage that?!”


    Shame burned my cheeks. The memory of Talia calmly epting my rejection reyed in my mind, her cold words felt like she had stabbed me in my heart. My wolf stirred restlessly.


    “I couldn’t force her. That would’ve angered Prince Solon,” I exined.


    My father snarled, “Do I have to hold your hand with everything? Do I have to think of everything for you? The Council would have handled Prince Solon. Prince Solon is not permitted to interfere with a fated mate bond – rejected or not.”


    I gritted my teeth, trying to hold my father’s gaze. “She’s not important anymore,” I forced out, though my voice cracked under the strain. “I’ve secured something better, Father.”


    His brow arched, skepticism gleaming in his eyes. “Better?”


    I swallowed hard. “I… I’ve secured an alliance with the Blood Moon Pack. Alpha Nn has agreed to work with us really.”


    His fury faltered and he straightened up. His grip eased from the table, ws retracting. Interest reced rage, a calcting glint sparking in his gaze.


    “Alpha Nn…” he repeated. “Are you sure he agreed?”


    “Yes, he RSVP’d for the wedding,” I responded.


    My father stepped back slowly, his hand rising to stroke his chin. “If you’re telling the truth, this changes everything.”


    I exhaled, the air rushing out of me like I’d been holding it for hours. My chest still ached from the pressure of his Alpha aura.


    “I wouldn’t lie to you, Father,” I said, trying not to sound desperate to appease him,


    His eyes narrowed, studying me. Then, slowly, he gave a curt nod. “You may have some spine after all.”


    Relief washed over me. I had bought myself a small amount of approval, but it wasn’t enough. Nothing I did was ever enough for him.


    CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT


    +25 Bonus


    “This may work,” my father muttered, pacing a short line across the war room. “This might actually work.”


    The silence stretched. My heart raced, waiting for him to continue. What was he thinking? I wanted to ask, but I knew better than to interrupt him while he was working things out.


    Finally, he turned back to me. “You’ve made a mess of things with Talia. That humiliation won’t be forgotten easily. But since you secured the alliance with Nn, that pathetic omega no longer matters. Your alliancees first – nothing else.”


    This was a small victory, but it was short lived.


    My father abruptly pointed a finger at me. “Don’t get distracted again. Your main objective must remain the same: iming the Alpha King’s throne.”


    “Yes, father,” I agreed.


    His expression changed for only a second. He looked regretful. “You need to finish what I couldn’t,” he muttered to himself.


    My eyes widened. My father had always portrayed himself as perfect as if he never made a mistake. I blurted out, You… you tried to take the throne before?” 1


    “It doesn’t matter. Don’t let sentiment or hesitation cost you the crown,” my father warned in a tone that meant he wasn’t up for discussing his past mistakes.


    I straightened, forcing confidence into my voice. “I won’t fail.”


    “See that you don’t.”


    When I left the office, my legs felt like they were made of stone.


    I dragged a hand through my hair, my fingers trembling. If I hadn’t mentioned Nn when I did, if I hadn’t offered him some sort of strategy, he would have sent me to the infirmary a bloody mess.


    And yet, I didn’t feel relieved. I felt more stressed. My father’s approval was fickle. One mistake, one hesitation, and I’d be back under his boot.


    I clenched my fists until my ws dug into my palms. I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t afford another humiliation.


    This time, I would prove myself. I had to.


    ”


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