COMEBACK OF THE ALPHA KING

Chapter 4- The Union.

Loud entertaining music filled the entire street of the Salvator's home.

They received so many guests than they bargained for.

It seemed like people from all over the City came to celebrate this day with Lillian and Micah.

The day was indeed a beautiful day. It was nearing dusk and the weather wasn't too harsh or chilly. Just the perfect fit to hold a wedding.

Everyone had an infectious smile to celebrate the conjugal bliss of one of their own.

It wasn't just a marital occasion for them. It was a union between two of the greatest packs in Leytan City.

As everyone celebrated, hustling, and bustling about, Ace stood at a secluded place outside his home.

He had his back resting on a large oak tree, enjoying its shade while smoking his pipe.

Ace observed the ongoing activities with an anxious aloofness.

More than once, Ivy came around to chide him. She asked him to join her in handling the guests, as she couldn't do it alone.

Each time, Ace waved her off, telling her to meet her snotty sisters for the work.

Everyone present thought Ace didn't want to see his daughter go.

This prompted Lillian to approach her dad, assuring him she would never be far from home.

Ace didn't correct her notion, he smiled at his precious daughter and told her the fancy words she needed to hear.

However, this wasn't the reason for Ace's isolation.

In all truth, Ace couldn't care less about this flamboyant event. Something more bothersome occupied his mind.

Thoughts of his adopted son, King. He kept glancing towards the end of the streets in anticipation of King's arrival.

He needed to warn his son about the secret meeting they held yesterday, just after he left.

The senior members of the pack had sat down to discuss King's position in the pack since they had a new Alpha.

Ace knew it was coming. From the open scorn and insolent remarks they threw at King yesterday, he knew a rejection loomed at the door.

It was an official rule in the kingdom that if a majority of a pack's members show disdain for another member of the pack, the unwanted member should be cast away.

All the cities in the kingdom followed this rule, including Leytan City.

It didn't matter if this member had an Alpha's blood, as King did, they'd be cast away like a rogue.

Only an Alpha could make such a pronouncement and silver dust already picked a new Alpha.

Yesterday at the meeting when his colleagues suggested they cast out King, Ace argued, asking for a milder consequence.

He suggested that King's rank should be lowered, but they refused to consider it.

One of them pointed out that no one wanted King in the pack so there was no need to keep him.

This statement upset Ace to the bone, causing him to storm out of the meeting before they concluded it.

He couldn't believe the absurdity of the whole situation.

King had more right to be in the silver dust pack than anyone present here today.

King was the son of the previous Alpha, the rightful heir to lead Silverdust.

When his parents died in that unfortunate incident several years ago, the pack members had tried to bypass the Alpha's position to someone else.

Ace stood his ground, claiming the throne for the young King.

When this happened, King was still too young to be a leader, but Ace backed him up, leading the pack behind the scenes.

Only a true-blood Alpha should lead a pack, not a chosen Alpha.

Packs led by a chosen Alpha ended up a weak pack.

In all of Leytan City, the largest and strongest pack was the silver dust pack. This pack extended from the north coast to the south coast.

While other packs could barely make it out of the south coast, silver dust extended farther than that.

They had representatives in the other neighbouring werewolf kingdoms and even had a society in the human world.

The secret to their wealth and strength was no other than being led by a true-blood Alpha.

King came from a long ancestral line of true-blood Alphas who had achieved major dealings in silver dust pack.

No other blood had led this pack and now they were handing it over to a miscreant from another pack?

They dared to proclaim a merger between the packs. Nothing sounded more insane to Ace.

Ace blew out a lazy puff of smoke as he let his gaze hover around the crowd of people pooling in and out of his home.

As the smoke twirled in the air, creating an unintentional art, Ace numbed his building rage.

He spotted some of his pack members, who gave him a conspiratorial nod. Ace rolled his eyes, looking away from them.

It was days like this that made him wish he had more power, influence, and wealth than he did.

Ace had invested his life building his children to be strong versions of themselves and he didn't have a standard wealth source he could call his own.

His family leveraged on network and connections from others.

If he had more power, most of the Silverdust pack members would be long gone on his command.

Ace took a long inhalation of his cigarette, sucking it until he felt the burn in his chest. With another slow and deliberate puff, he released the smoke.

Silver dust was heading for ruins, and these idiots didn't know it yet. Ace only agreed to this union because Lillian would become wealthy through it.

At least that would grant her more power than he owned. No child of his should be rendered powerless in such a sick world.

Ever since King's return, he had been racking his brain on how to keep King in the pack.

He worried his son had lost everything he owned to that unfortunate incident and needed to build himself back from scratch again.

Now the pack would be rejecting him. How would he survive?

He looked away to cast yet another agitated glance at the street's corner, wondering when his cherished son would arrive.

A grin broke out on his face when he spotted King's tall and confident figure approaching.

His boy was still a long distance from him, traipsing towards the entrance of his home.

King looked handsome as always, dressed in a sharp-looking suit wear adorned by a trench coat.

He looked better than yesterday, more composed, more dashing, and more intimidating.

His well-tailored, all-black wear showed off his domineering aura. An aura only a true Alpha could conjure.

Even with an unsmiling face, King's manliness was unmatched.

No woman would cast a glance at him without being spelled.

As he moved closer to the house with incomparable elegance, people, awe-struck by his magnificence, parted ways to allow him to pass through.

Ace grinned, waving at him to catch his attention. Their eyes connected and Ace couldn't help but feel proud of this young man.

It didn't matter if nobody wanted him. It didn't matter if he was an ex-convict, a fugitive, or a school dropout.

This was King, his boy, and his prize. Ace loved him, despite all.

"Dad."

King nodded at Ace in greeting as soon as he stepped in front of the older man. His voice was low and reserved.

His grey gaze held a dark look, and he had on a guarded expression that could make any man cower in fear.

He didn't do this on purpose. This was his normal mood. One he had adopted as a defence mechanism against the enemy on the battleground.

King had retired from service, but a lot of the habits he learnt remained with him.

"How noble of you to join us, Son."

Ace dragged on his pipe, grinning like a drunk fool.

When King arrived here, he still felt the hostility from the crowd, and it made him rethink his decision to be there.

Seeing his father's genuine warmth filled King with the sense of welcome he craved.

He wished he could return Ace's smile, but he had his mind preoccupied with a pressing issue.

King dug his hands into the right pocket of his trench coat to take out his phone.

"I got your text." He flashed the phone in Ace's face.

Seeing this, Ace's grin faltered. He plucked out the pipe from his lips, tamping down the tobacco, then frowned as he tucked it away the pipe.

Early this morning, before the sun took its job for the day, Ace had texted King to give him a heads-up on the rejection proposal.

He requested a brief meeting with King so they could strategize something.

"So what's the plan?" Ace's once twinkling eyes had lost all their light.

He didn't have that warm grin sitting on his lips anymore. Instead, his lips pressed into a grim line.

King noted that Ace didn't personalise the question. He wanted to be involved in the full details.

A small smile tugged his lips at the gravity of his father's love for him.

He knew that his failures or success didn't matter to this man. Ace would always have his back. He always had.

However, there were some things King couldn't admit to him yet.

He wasn't ready to reveal his new identity to anyone in his family, so he gave a lazy shrug at Ace's question.

"None dad, I'd take the rejection."

Ace's fury marked his face, creasing his eyebrows into crooked lines.

"King Salvator! Are you out of your damned mind?"

Ace would have hit King if he were still a boy, but this young man who now towered over him couldn't be smacked.

"Don't tell me you plan to let go of the pack's leadership into unknown hands."

It wasn't as simple as Ace put it. King wasn't willing to let go, but he had to.

Right now, the people still believed he was a criminal, and he needed proof to show them he wasn't.

The details of that day's incident were becoming clear and until he had settled things on that end, King wasn't ready to fight for his place in the pack.

"Dad, I don't have a choice, do I? The people have spoken and I can not do anything about it."

His family's open scorns yesterday had hurt King more than he let on.

He could deal with being accused of a crime he didn't commit, but being unable to prove his innocence was unnerving.

"But you can," Ace protested. "Even if you cannot remain as an Alpha, at least fight for your position in the pack."

"And do what? Take orders from the people who should be beneath me?"

King tried to level his anger at the thought but failed.

Ace shook his head at his son. King had always been a proud and confident leader.

He wasn't used to bowing under the commands of others.

"I know it hurts your pride to do that, son, but do you have any other option?

You need all the connections you have to build yourself back up and where else can you get it other than remaining with the pack?"

King forgot for a moment that he wanted to keep his identity to himself. His anger took the better of him and he blurted out.

"I have a duty, Dad! And it's not in the pack!"

Ace's eyes strained out of his sockets first, because King had yelled at him, secondly because his words were strange.

Seeing what he had done, King clamped his mouth shut, his face taking a contrite expression.

He wanted to apologise to his father, but Ace spoke first.

"Really? The job you couldn't explain yesterday?"

Ace raised his eyebrows at King.

"Tell me what it is?" His hands habitually found his pipe in his pocket and he brought it out for a smoke.

King waited for him to light the pipe stalling for time to correct his error.

During his time in service, as King defeated the Kingdom's invading enemies, he rose in rank.

Each success awarded him more benefits until he eventually rose to be the commander of the North Coast.

The previous war fought was a huge war that brought victory to the kingdom, but harmed his health and King had to retire to convalesce.

King was of great worth to the Kingdom and the General couldn't just let go of such a valuable warrior.

After King's honourable retirement from service, the general placed him in charge of the most mysterious battle organisation in the Kingdom, the Luxe group.

This position was the highest rank anyone could ever attain in the whole of Bloomsville Kingdom. It was next to being General.

Such a position required a discreet lifestyle and King kept strictly to that.

A major war which saved Leytan city from invasion had just been concluded when King returned to the south coast.

"If you won't talk about it, does the job hold value, then?

Ace puffed out smoke, seeing that King stayed reticent.

" It's a secret, Dad. I can't speak about it."

King sighed, only able to speak this much truth.

Ace didn't argue then. He knew King had a stubborn will, and it was pointless to get him to compromise.

He tried another approach.

"Fine, suit yourself. At least fight for a position in the pack. Please."

"Why?" King almost smirked when Ace huffed out a smoke-filled breath of frustration.

"Remaining in the pack affords you connection.

It could bring that mysterious job of yours brilliant success too. Just do as I say, okay?

No child of mine should be at the bottom of the food chain in this city."

King felt his heart waver at his dad's worry.

Ace didn't know, but his concern sat comfortably on his face, making him appear older than he already was.

At this sight, King decided to be compliant.

"I'd try, Dad."

That was the best he could allow. Ace's eyes perked up with delight and his grin returned like it had never left.

"Common, let's go in. Everyone will be happy you are here."

King raised his brow at the statement and Ace threw his head back to let out a silly laugh.

"It felt good to say, boy."

He shook his head at his son, urging him with a tilt of his head to follow him.

King let Ace lead him into the house. As they made their way to the entrance, King noticed the people around whispering and pointing at him.

Most of them didn't recognise him and kept enquiring with each other about who he was.

These were not family. They were opportunists who attended the wedding just to seek connections.

King shook his head at this. The city was filled with many of these sorts. Vile and greedy people who thought for themselves alone.

He didn't see this then, which was one of the many reasons he fell into Sage's trap. Now he knew better.

The house was even more alive than it was yesterday.

They passed an endless amount of well-wishers who kept stopping Ace on the way.

Occasionally they marvelled at King, and Ace proudly introduced him as his son.

When they finally got into the living room, they found Lillian and Micah seated on magnificent chairs designed very much like a gold-rimmed throne.

Their white and gold wedding attire could only be designed for royals.

They both looked outstanding and King couldn't deny they made a beautiful couple.

Their close family gathered around them like stars orbiting the moon. None of them had noticed them walk in yet.

King recognised all the people present there. He clenched his jaws, watching them throw out overbearing flattery to the young couple.

The chief ringleaders of the pretentious compliment train were none other than Aunty B and Karla.

Yesterday, King still had an iota of respect for these lots, but today he was only here for Lillian and he kept himself civil for his father.

Ace cleared his throat to get their attention. They all turned in his direction.

All eyes scooted over him to find an imperious King hovering behind his father.

A deathly still silence bathed the room.

No one talked or moved, yet an audible conversation emanated from their frozen forms.

Micah broke the silence first. "You." His voice was neutral, but King could see the hatred in his eyes.

One of Lillian's fragile hands slipped into his thighs, giving it a light squeeze. She fixed her gorgeous doll eyes on King and her face appeared pale.

Before anyone could say something else, Ace spoke.

"Weren't we planning to have a private luncheon?"

He was the only one bold enough to smile. He even took a deliberate smoke out of his ever-present pipe, blowing out the constituent like it'd diffuse the tension in the room.

"Ivy?" He said again, looking at his wife.

Ivy looked away from King to find her husband's daring gaze. She forced a smile then. Looking at her daughter to give her a discreet nod.

"I'd disperse the guests so the family can have a hearty meal."

She directed her gaze to King again, her eyes communicating something he couldn't pick out.

It wasn't a look of hostility. It looked to King like pity, but he wasn't sure.

"The criminal is back." Karla finally spoke up.

"So tell us, what crime did you commit again to get you arrested yesterday?" She got up from her seat, glaring at King.

"And why are you back so soon?" Aunty B added.

A murmur of speculations erupted from the others, lighting up the once eerie atmosphere.

King had no obligation to answer these people, so he cast his gaze at the couple, forcing a tight smile for them.

"You two look lovely. Congratulations."

Lillian's grip on Micah tightened and before any of them could return the greeting, Ivy spoke up.

"Beatrice, can you lead everyone to the dining room while I escort our guests out?"

She patted Aunty B's back to break her haughty glare, her eyes pleading for adherence.

Thankfully, her sister listened. With a swift command, she got everyone moving to the dining while Ivy took care of the other guests.

The Salvator's dining hall was enormous enough to contain the family.

Ivy had taken great pride in decorating it that morning and she had done an excellent job to the effect.

The room exuded a brilliant burst of white and gold colours that was almost blinding.

A plethora of meal courses and expensive drinks were waiting to be devoured on the large dining table.

Aunty B called out the sitting arrangements, ensuring everyone knew their place.

Ivy and Ace were to sit at the opposite ends of the dining, Micah and Lillian were to sit at the edge and the groom's family were to follow.

The bride's family took the other edge of the table. She placed King in the middle of she and Karla.

King knew this was a deliberate action to suffocate him, but he wouldn't give them the leverage. He took his seat with nonchalance.

Just as Ivy returned and they got settled, Micah excused himself to take an important call.

He returned shortly after, holding two extravagant white boxes. He handed them to Ace and took his seat, a cocky smile hugging his lips.

Karla had no scruples. "What's that?"

She blurted, straining her neck to get a view she didn't need. She could already see everything from where she sat.

"Open it, Daddy."

Lillian's radiant smile lit up her entire face. It was obvious in the way she gazed at Micah that this was a planned gift.

Ace tentatively opened the boxes to reveal a classy smoking pipe cushioned in one box and delicately processed tobacco in the other.

Everyone gasped at the beauty of this pipe that appeared so unique.

"Lillian told me you enjoy smoking, and that's why I prepared this for you today.

It's a limited edition Dunhill pipe customised just for you."

Ace could see his name, in gold letters, engraved in the pipe, and he frowned at the superfluous gift. Extravagance wasn't his sort of thing.

The pipe looked more like a trophy than something he would like to smoke. Even the tobacco leaves looked too delicate to be touched.

"Such a thoughtful son-in-law." Aunty B mused out loud, looking at her sister, Ivy.

"Didn't he get you that customised jewellery worth 6,000 dollars a while ago?"

Ivy beamed in her seat, feeling proud of her son-in-law. Lillian was in good hands with this man.

"How much is that?" Karla asked, still straining her neck.

She wanted to compare the prices of each gift with the one Micah had gotten for her.

This wealthy man had gotten everyone in the family a gift worth more than they could account for.

Despite it being expensive, she was still jealous that her sister got something higher than the value of her gift.

"It's not too expensive, only 9,000 dollars. I'm sorry, this is a humble gift to give someone as important as you."

Micah sounded chaste, but King could tell he was fishing for praise.

Praises came in accordance the moment he finished his sentence.

Everyone poured out admirable acknowledgement, praising him for being so generous.

They commended their choice in making him an Alpha.

Their words sounded ingenuine to King. He could tell everyone just wanted to be in this man's good graces.

King didn't miss the surreptitious disdainful glances Micah shot his way.

He could tell his presence intimidated Micah even when he had done nothing but sit and be ignored.

"Did you consider bringing a gift for anyone here?"

King's attention snapped to Karla. Her glare was poisonous.

She looked like she was fuming with a rage that had nothing to do with King or her question.

"Not even for your Sister, the bride ?" Aunty B added in a more reasonable tone.

King took in all the expectant gazes around the table, not at all bothered by them, but by the greed pooling out of these people.

"The best gift he could ever give is his presence here today," Ace spoke up in his defence.

Slamming shut the gift boxes with aggression. He pushed them aside, discarding them like trash.

Micah pretended not to see this insult. In all truth, he expected it.

He knew Ace didn't care for him and this union was more like an alliance of wealth than a love-based marriage.

His only mission here was to enlarge his pack and expand his connections.

Silver Dust had a company he coveted, and he'd go all in for it the moment everything got finalised.

"It's Okay dad, I got you something."

King grimaced, dipping his hands into his trench coat pocket to bring out his prepared gift.

He planned on giving it to Ace much later after the union, but since he could do that now, there was no need to wait.

King brought out the gift, laying it out on the table before him with the deliberate act of a wild animal stalking its prey.

When he retreated his hands to reveal his present, everyone gasped in sheer shock.