THE CROWN'S ALPHA: AN ALPHA DESIRE IS A TREASON

Edrin Calder is twelve years old. Isla Maribel is eight years old. "Hi, princess! Why are you here? I enquired. Isla was by herself on the park bench in the courtyard of the palace. I wanted to find out what was bothering her because she usually stayed alone when she was depressed. She would usually watch me play ball with the others or ask to play too, but we never let her because we didn't want her to get hurt. I was merely taking precautions. "Edrin, leave. "You're not my friend," she declared. Since I frequently played with her twin, Rowan Elías, I suppose she thought that. I insisted, "I am your friend too, Isla," but she refused to listen. With a cute pout, she said, "Then why don't you let me play with you?" "It's rough, and you might get hurt," I said. She scowled at me and said, "But you play with Rowan, and he isn't hurt!" Most of the time, Rowan and I just agreed to let her go because she enjoyed making arguments. "The other kids don't like me, and that's why you don't want to play with me," she insisted. I reassured her, "No, Isla," but she gave me a cute look with those large brown eyes. "You know what? She instantly smiled when I said, "Next time, I'll ask you to join us, and I'll protect you so you don't get hurt." I always felt special because Isla looked up to me. I nodded when she said, "Promise?" "Yes, Princess. I swear. Her brown eyes gleamed and her face brightened. "Edrin, Aunt Roselyn left today," she said, expressing her regret over their nanny's marriage and subsequent departure. "Lucía and I will eventually have to depart as well, according to Miss Eleanor. Make a vow that you won't allow anyone to remove me from this place. "Please don't leave me," she begged. I also didn't want her to go. I said, "She's lying," but Isla didn't agree. "Edrin, that's what occurs when people get married. "Like Aunt Roselyn, they depart," she said. She had a quick mind and was intelligent. I blurted out, "Then I'll just marry you so you'll be here with me," and her eyes brightened. "Are you going to? "You swear?" she enquired. At the time, I didn't fully understand what I was promising. She grinned broadly, looking cute with cake crumbs on her teeth, and said, "I'll bake you Aunt Matilda's chocolate cake if you keep your promise." I said, "That'll be great," and got to my feet. "Come on, let's go build something in the sand," I said, reaching out to touch her. With a cute pout, she declared, "I don't want to build anything with the others," I said, "Just you and me, Princess," and she joined me with a smile. I said, "So what do you want to build?" "A castle where we will reside. Edrin, just you and me. I laughed when she said, "It'll be our home, and we'll never be apart." I ought not to have. I shouldn't have raised her expectations. Back then, I shouldn't have instilled those thoughts in her. I didn't realise the consequences; I was just being gentle and a kid myself. However, I do now. In the present Calder, Edrin I was standing outside the palace's entrance. I should have gone home since it was getting dark, but I stayed. attempting to keep my mind busy while observing people come and go. I was tempted to look for entertainment, but I knew I would be bored without my friend Rowan. I heard my father say, "Edrin, come home," via our mind link. Right now, I wasn't taking anything seriously. I was waiting for Rowan to return from his mission so we could follow the King's orders to Greenreach. I had occupied myself to kill time in the interim. I had designated myself as the princesses' personal bodyguard. Isla could be impetuous at times, but it's not like she needed my protection. However, Princess Lucía had a secret that needed to be kept safe. She also needed protection because she had ghost eyes. Until King Alastair and Queen Seraphina return from their vacation in Frostmere in the Borealis Crown, I just wanted to make sure they were safe. I should have closed for the day since Princess Lucía and Isla had gone to bed, but I felt compelled to stay a little while longer in case the princesses chose to return. Before leaving for home, I attempted to link them to make sure they were asleep. Since none of them responded, I made the decision to end the evening and go. Normally, I would shift and run. I used to arrive at my father's house more quickly than by car, but that wasn't the case today. I had no desire to undress. In order to get to my father's house, I took one of the cars. The city of Greyhaven was enormous. People came there in quest of better opportunities. However, you couldn't survive if you were broke. Although they frequently travelled, my grandfather and his partner resided in Frostmere. In the presence of amiable people, Frostmere was more serene and less advanced. King Alastair and Queen Seraphina frequently came to relax there, so I suppose King Hector of the Borealis Crown kept it that way. It has to do with nostalgia. The place never appealed to us young people. The women there were chaste, and it was simply too dull. Not my flock. When I got to my father's house, I opened the door. They never locked the door, so I never bother to knock. They waited for someone to enter at all times. That was the case in our former continent, Valemarch. In order for the King to send his people and have easy access to your homes at all times, it was customary to never lock your front door. They must still be struggling with their demons. They thought Greyhaven was safe and there were no psychos around, despite my repeated complaints that they should change their ways. They may be correct in that regard. I guess I would be the only psycho there, but I'm good at hiding it. I couldn't tell if there was something wrong with me, but I felt emotionally detached. Everything I felt and said had been learnt in order to fit in and seem normal. I believed that maybe something inside of me had been broken by my life in Valemarch. My mother was very concerned about this lack of emotional connection, but I wasn't personally bothered by it. She was afraid that one day I might do something that would endanger all of us. She didn't need to worry because I was in complete control of my choices and behaviour. My father, his brother, and their friend were in the living room. They were drinking and eating. The time was midnight. My dad swivelled his head towards me. "Edrin! He exclaimed, "You came!" in a thick Isbec accent that my sister, cousin, and I had lost while growing up in Ashwood Vale. "Yes, I am here," I acknowledged everyone in attendance. I noticed a hint of fear in the visitor's eyes. I was aware of my impact on others. It was fascinating to watch them wriggle occasionally. I was aware that I came across as insane, and I enjoyed it. I was okay because it protected the people I cared about and no one dared to mess with me. "You asked me to come?" My dad nodded when I asked. He said, "Ah yes, please have a seat," and handed me a bottle of beer. I laughed because my uncle was grinning and the friend appeared a little uneasy. I might have frightened him a little for fun if my father and uncle hadn't been present. "Your friend isn't back from his assignment?" I didn't respond when my father asked the prince a question. Despite the fact that he was my father, I had no right to divulge this information. I was aware that one of my responsibilities was to keep quiet. My silence was sufficient response, and after an uncomfortable pause, my father chose to discuss the true reason he had invited me. "You know Mr. Benicio Harrow," he exclaimed, gesturing to the man in attendance. I didn't bother responding. I didn't know the man, but I had seen him. "Well, the daughter of Mr. Harrow recently returned from her studies in Brackenridge. He declared, "She is now a certified medical doctor," and I thought, "How the f**k is that my business?"