chapter 12
1123 Words
Chapter 12
Damon's POV
I bottled up every feeling, leaving no trace on my face as I strode to my father’s office. Darius thinks he’s in control, but soon I’ll put him on a fence. If there’s one thing my brother should know, it’s that I hate humiliation.
And Zima? My wolf may crave her, but I’ve never felt more disgusted. I can’t wait to beat Darius and have her beneath me, her legs over my shoulders. He crossed the line.
I stepped into my father’s office. His eyes flared, touching my wolf and making it cower.
“What was that nonsense?” he barked.
“It’s a misunderstanding,” I said.
“You know everything that happens in this academy spreads like wildfire?”
“Father, I’m fixing it. I have it under control.”
“You have nothing under control,” he snapped. “I can’t have this throne passed to another family. I can’t have our name ruined because you and your brother have lost your senses. Why would you even plan a murder on that girl? Let’s start there.”
“I didn’t,” I said firmly. “Someone set me up.”
“I don’t care how that happened,” my father said, his voice sharp and cold. “You’re losing your grip, and you need to pull yourself together. Act like the Alpha heir you are. One more mistake, and I will strip you of every right to become King Alpha.”
He stopped inches from my face. I didn’t flinch. My eyes stayed locked on his expression blank, emotion buried.
“A man is nothing without power, authority, and wealth,” he continued, his tone cutting deep. “You have all of these at your doorstep. Protect it with your blood. If anything stands in your way, cut it off or kill it. The first time, it was you and Darius fighting over a common mate. I took pride in knowing you killed her. And if it happens again, if you ever share a mate with your brother, don’t hesitate to kill her too. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Father,” I said quietly, nodding.
“Good.”
He snapped his fingers. The door opened, and Darius walked in, his eyes flicking to me with that smug look I hated.
“You sent for me, Father?” he said.
My father walked calmly to his seat, the air thick with tension.
“The both of you need to stop being each other’s enemies. How could you wash your brother’s dirt in public like that?”
“He started it,” I said.
“Enough. You both need to act like you shared a womb. Pretend you have some love for each other.”
“Damon makes it difficult,” Darius muttered.
“Shut up. I’m still speaking.”
He leaned forward, his voice low but cutting. “I know you’re both competing for the throne, but no matter what, you should be your brother’s keeper.”
“No,” I said flatly. “I’m my own keeper. He can keep himself.”
Darius sneered like I needed to be protected by him.
“Well,” Father said, eyes narrowing, “I’m one step away from stripping you both of your rights. Keep playing stupid games.”
He lit a cigarette and drew in a deep breath, smoke curling from his lips.
“The Lunar Blood Institute opens tomorrow. We’re expanding our empire, slowly bringing all Lycans under us. I’ll make the announcement at the party.”
“Yes, Father,” we both said in unison.
He exhaled smoke and waved a hand. “Act like Alphas. Pretend you love each other.”
“Not good at pretending,” Darius said, his eyes locked on me.
“You wear lies like a second skin,” I shot back.
“Enough!” Father roared. “Get out of my office, both of you.”
We turned and walked out.
“Irritating fool,” Darius muttered as he passed me.
“This isn’t over,” I said under my breath.
***
I walked briskly to my dorm. Asher wasn’t there. He’d been avoiding me lately, and I was done playing nice.
I headed straight to the control room.
“Give me a minute,” I ordered the soldier. He stepped aside immediately.
I scanned through the camera feeds and found him sitting aimlessly in the discipline chamber. How fitting.
I left the room and walked fast, ready to remind him who he served.
The discipline chamber was a cold, dim hall lined with chains, the scent of iron and fear hanging in the air.
“Asher,” I said as I entered.
He jumped to his feet. “Alpha…”
“You’re loyal to me,” I said, stepping closer. “You answer only to me.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“How did my brother get that CCTV footage?”
He froze. I picked up a length of chain, wrapping it slowly around my hand.
“I’ll let this dance on your skin if you don’t speak.”
“Alpha, he threatened me,” Asher stammered.
“And you never told me?”
“I... I got scared.”
“Scared?” I snapped. “Asher, what manner of v****a are you?” I grabbed his collar, dragging him closer. “Talk.”
He swallowed hard. “He overheard our conversation about you framing her. He said he wanted her to see only him as her savior, to believe he’s the one she can trust. Then he planned the murder.”
“So you killed Sophie because he wanted to prove a point?”
“No! No, Alpha!” he said quickly. “It was an act. He told me to make it look like I was choking her. I didn’t know he’d release the record. He smuggled her out of the academy. She played dead, and he paid her off by letting her escape.”
“I see.”
I dropped the chain and drove my fist into his face, the sound cracking through the chamber.
“You’re giving me every detail about her,” I ordered, and he nodded.
“For now, I’m giving you a death mark for betrayal.”
I slammed my fist into his face again and again until a few teeth flew from his mouth.
“Nothing satisfies me more than seeing you toothless,” I said with a cold smile. “It gives me joy.”
Then someone cleared their throat behind me. I turned sharply and Zima stood there, her emerald eyes burning into me.
“The devil should take lessons in heartlessness from you,” she said.
- Writer
