COMEBACK OF THE ALPHA KING

Chapter 5- Glory Rejected

"Is that... What is that?" Karla broke the silence first, scrunching her face in disgust.

Ignoring her, King pushed back his chair, rising with the gift to present to Ace.

"I planned to give this to you much later, Dad."

His voice was solemn as he handed over a handmade smoking pipe and some local tobacco leaves.

King did not wrap his present in a fancy box like Micah. There was a tremendous difference between both gifts.

King's gift was eerily local compared to Micah's.

The pipe was made of bamboo, the tobacco leaves were sundried and hadn't been shredded yet.

Everyone looked at the gesture with disgust. While others didn't and couldn't speak, the two devious sisters took up the task.

"It looks so cheap. Why did you even bother to bring this out?" Aunty B remarked, letting out a belittling chuckle.

"I'd rather drop dead than be caught being this disgraceful," Karla added, scowling like the devil himself.

"Could you be more pathetic, King?"

Micah didn't hide his impressed smile. For a moment when King announced having a gift to present, he panicked.

He thought King would present something more expensive, winning the heart of the family, but he had nothing to worry about.

Well, almost. Ace's grin lit up the room. He picked up the pipe as King returned to his seat, immune to all the scorns from his aunts.

"Did Zena make this?" Ace's voice held a tingle of amusement as he tapped the pipe with two of his fingers.

It made a loud hollow sound, which drew out a delight-filled chuckle from Ace.

"Zena did." He laughed, answering his question.

"I only care for this, boy. I thought of getting one only last night and here you are, giving your old man the best."

Ace's face crinkled from his never-ending smile. His twinkling grey gaze directed pride at King, who finally beamed at him.

Unlike Micah, King knew his father loved to cut his tobaccos to his size. He also knew Ace's appreciation for locally made products.

King had employed Nova before his arrival to get the pipe and tobacco from Zena, the indigenous pipe maker Ace loved.

He wondered why Lillian didn't tell her partner about Ace's tastes.

King glanced at her, but she wouldn't look at him. She had been avoiding him since he got there.

She fumed at her dad while Micah glared at King. As always, King ignored him, returning his attention to Ace.

"I'd pack these up so you don't break them." Ivy jumped in, taking the gifts from her husband to store them away.

She pretended to leave the room to find a place for the gifts, but the truth was that she couldn't handle the tension in the room anymore.

Everyone was more shocked by Ace's reaction than they were about King's gift.

The silence continued, as loud as can be. Nobody had touched their food yet, and it was growing cold.

"Ace, don't be pathetic. We all know you are pretending to like that cheap presentation to cover for your precious son."

Aunty B didn't sound as bitter as Karla, but her words still instigated trouble.

Karla let out a cackle as everyone else picked up on that, muttering their agreement.

"Who doesn't like expensive and rare gifts?" Someone spoke up in angst.

"Zena's pipes can be gotten anywhere. It's only 20 dollars. How could he pick that over 9,000 dollars? incongruous." Someone else mused out loud.

The room soon erupted in a murmur of arguments disapproving of Ace's favouritism of King.

Micah took his time taking a sip of his wineglass, pleased about the disagreement.

Ace's insult bothered him. This made him reaffirm his plan of cutting Lillian away from her family as soon as the wedding is over.

He also had plans of casting this old man away from the pack soon.

There were a lot of other changes in the pack that Micah had plans to do, and the most important one would start today. Kicking out King from the pack.

He had thought of it the moment King showed up yesterday, taking the attention that belonged to him.

Things only got better when everyone condemned him.

Micah pretended to be unbothered by him, but he had discreetly employed his brothers to bribe everyone they could in the pack, to turn their backs on King.

That way, the pack elders would bring it to his notice to do what is needed.

However, Micah wouldn't reject King yet. He still had to look good in front of the family, so when he rejected him, he'd look noble and capable.

He had one more plan set in place for that, and he waited for the right time to put it in place.

"Is everyone here just focused on the money!" Ace yelled, silencing the room.

He looked more angry than anyone else in the room.

"Let's not forget why we are here. It's for my precious child and her choice. So let's eat and drink to that."

He frowned at his food, already losing his appetite.

"Yes, let's make a toast." Ivy backed up, returning to the room with a smile that seemed fake, but could be passed off as real.

"To Lillian and Micah." She led the toast, taking a seat and holding out her wineglass.

The table evicted an energetic cheer and the vibrant clinking of wine glasses soon replaced the argumentative noises.

Silence fell again as they started their meal. Some minutes into the meal, Micah got started on his plan.

"So, King. Lillian told me you are desperate for a job."

He gave a polite smile that was the total opposite of what he felt.

King didn't return the smile. He shot Lillian a questioning look. She gave him a tight smile. Her first acknowledgement of him since he walked in.

He took his time wiping his mouth before staring hard at Micah who continued to speak.

"My family company has some vacancies you could try out for. Don't worry, I'd put in a good word for you."

Micah's smile widened into a grin as he proceeded, "What is your educational level again?"

Micah knew the answer to this. Lillian had told him everything.

King got expelled from his university after his arrest, leaving him with just a high school certificate.

Micah also knew King would decline the job offer. Lillian mentioned his pompous nature, and this was all a ruse for him to look righteous.

Of course, Lillian didn't know this. Nobody else knew his plan.

Much to Micah's pleasure. Ace supported him.

"That's a generous offer, Micah. What do you say, Son? Remember, you dropped out of school to focus on your business."

This was an obvious lie, but King understood Ace was trying to cover up for him.

He tried to level his anger, wondering why his father couldn't see Micha's ill intention.

"I have my obligations, Dad." King's tone came out tight. It was all it took for him not to roll his eyes.

Karla wheezed, then. "King, who are you trying to deceive? We know you were arrested yesterday again. Just shamefully take up this offer."

A round of demeaning laughs could be heard around the table. Ace spoke up again, halting the jest.

"Son, you said you had a job, but TC Pharmaceutical is quite the grand company. Working there can give you the boost you need."

He pleaded with his eyes. King could tell Ace was trying to remind him of their discussion.

To Ace, this was a saving grace for King. Maybe this was Micah's way of keeping his boy in the pack, even if he gets rejected.

He smiled at Micah with renewed admiration. He wasn't that bad after all.

"If you dropped out of school, then there's not much I can offer than for you to try out as a security guard or a warehouse manager."

Micah lifted his wineglass to his lips for a pretend sip.

Everyone paid close attention. Some of them also needed a great opportunity like this for themselves or their children, and they wanted the full details of this.

If a convict could get a job, then it meant they had a chance, too. It wasn't the job for most of them. It was the connection it'd offer.

King didn't respond to all these. He just stared at Micah, whose intention rang clear to him.

"The salary is not much. It's 500 dollars including accommodation and feeding.

As long as you work hard, I can work out a promotion for you, in, let's say, a month or two."

Micah dropped his wine glass. "So what do you say, King? Say the magic words and the job is yours."

He let out a small laugh, looking around the table for acceptance. Everyone echoed his dry laugh.

"No." King's simple response held a danger that pierced the laughter, once again stupefying everyone.

Micah picked up his wine for another malicious act. He feigned hurt but smirked as soon as the glass reached his lips.

"No? King, what is wrong with you? Why are you still holding on to the pride you don't have anymore?"

Lillian's first words to King that day was contempt filled.

"Yes, Micah is being generous to you and you dare to insult him with your soiled ego?" Karla spat out.

Before anyone else could take it up again, King spoke up directly, addressing Micah with a daring gaze.

"I appreciate the offer, but I'd like to lie low for now.

I just returned and I need to catch up with my family first. Besides, I have a job."

Micah ignored that last part and picked up what he wanted to hear. His demeanour dropped, revealing his cruel intent.

"Look around you, King. You don't have a family here anymore. Nobody wants you. Nobody wants to associate themselves with you."

King gave a noncommittal shrug. "I have my dad... my mum... my sis..."

Micah slammed his fist on the table just before King could complete the last statement.

"You are not welcome here, King Salvator!"

Micah's voice was fierce and unfriendly, but not half as powerful as King's.

"On whose command?" King's stony gaze and domineering voice sent shivers to everyone around the table.

"On my command. The current Alpha of Silverdust pack."

Micah replied, flustered by King's defence but putting on a bold facade.

"It has been decided that you, King Salvator, are of no use to this pack.

You have brought nothing but shame, embarrassment, disgrace, and scorn to this pack.

That's not what Silverdust stands for. If we continue to keep you, it'd only indulge your criminal practices.

So I, Micah Amadiel, denounce you, King Salvator, as a rejected member of this pack."

The silence around the room could soothe the dead.

Everyone froze, including Ace. Even though he expected the rejection, he still didn't prepare for it.

King glared at Micah. His fury evident on his face. He fisted his hands into balls on the table.

He couldn't stand such an insult. If anything, hr should be the one renouncing this pack, not the other way around.

The whole of Leytan City was under his command and this cricket of a man dared to look him in the face, thinking he was all that.

King fought the inappropriate urge to laugh at that moment. Instead, he pushed his chair back to leave.

Just as his chair scraped the floorboards, the doorbell rang. This interruption unfroze everyone.

Ivy bounced up, skittering out of the room to attend to the door. As she left, the room became alive with chaos.

When Ivy returned, it was with a smart-looking uniformed soldier. Obscurity fell in the room. Accusatory glances shot towards King.

They all naturally assumed he was in trouble again.

But before anyone was audacious enough to throw their insults, Nova saluted King and barked out an astonishing call.

"Agent Nova reporting to you, Sir. I've got information on Operation KRI. Can I proceed?"

"Read the room, Nova." King directed his anger at her.

Nova's lips formed a full o as her gaze travelled around the room. She cringed noting that the room was rigid.

"Oh, I'm sorry, sir." Her embarrassment rang in her tone.

Ace was the first to notice an emblem on her uniform. "Wait..."

He pushed his chair back, getting up from his seat to check the recognized logo.

"Isn't this the logo of the Luxe?" He touched Nova's uniform to make it clear.

King got up to join his dad scowling at Nova.

"Yes sir, I'm from the Luxe."

Nova responded shooting King a wary glance. He reciprocated it with a subtle nod. Communicating to her to keep mum about his identity.

The family stared on in amazement, watching this unexpected drama.

"If you are from the Luxe and you call King, Sir..." Ace looked at King, piecing together an incomplete puzzle.

"Then does that mean he works there too? You are his subordinate?"

Nova flashed him her killer smile, giving him an affirmative head shake. She didn't say anything Ace did.

"I knew it." Ace threw back his head to roar out a laugh.

"I knew it! My boy made a name for himself. Look at that."

He shot an egoistic look to the room, reaching out his hand to pat King's back. King almost forgot he wasn't on the field anymore.

He grabbed Ace's hand before it touched him. He intended to launch a counter-attack, but he caught himself midway into lunging at his father in the air.

Nova saw this, but Ace laughed it off as an awkward reaction to King's growth. His old eyes welled up with tears.

"You've made a name for yourself, son. Mingling with high society."

He nodded his approval of King, his smile brighter than any other he had ever given.

On hearing this, shame bathed everyone in the room.

Some of them didn't know anything about the Luxe, but those who knew understood well enough.

They knew the Luxe was an eye-ranking secret society connected to the General.

No one knew what they did, but it was not news that the best of the best belonged there.

Had they made a mistake by rejecting someone who could have brought glory to the pack?

They mumbled their regrets amongst themselves. Micah's body kept shuddering with this development.

Unlike the others, he had a keen insight into what the Luxe was about. If King did belong there and he had subordinates, then he was in trouble.

He had just denounced an influential person that could have connected him to wealthy personalities.

He racked his brain for ways to redeem himself. Should he recall his pronouncement? Should he apologise and just laugh everything off as a joke?

"Dad, I need to leave now. Work stuff." King frowned at his dad, already stirring Nova out of the dining.

He knew the longer they stayed, the more questions Ace would ask. Questions were not good for him.

It'd only shed light on details that should be kept secret.

"Go ahead, son. I am proud of you." Ace beamed at him.

"Remember, this is your home. You are always welcome here, any day, any time." He dropped his voice to a whisper."

King nodded at him with a firm smile then turned to the room. Giving an ultimate nod, he left with Nova.

"Did you see that?" Ace approached his chair, unable to stop his smiles.

"The stone the builders rejected is now a cornerstone." He pulled his plate closer to resume eating.

The food had already grown cold, but it tasted warm to him. It tasted so good he took another bite. His pride knew no bounds.

Little wonder his son wanted to keep his job a secret.

He probably signed an oath of secrecy due to its nature. He ate more of his food, humming to himself.

Micah couldn't handle the distress this caused him. Especially now that the people were throwing him condemning looks.

Even Lillian had somehow shifted away from him.

Her countenance had been spiritless since King came in.

She only perked up when he presented his pricey gift to her dad.

Micah gritted his teeth, fuming with a rage he couldn't express. That damned King.

"Did anyone notice that the uniform had no insignia?"

Micheal, Micah's brother, spoke up, running to his brother's rescue.

"What?" Ace dropped his cutlery, looking at him with interest.

The entire table's attention snapped to him. Micah caught up on this save.

"That's accurate. I have someone at the Luxe and their uniform isn't like that. That's some cheap soldier's uniform that girl got on."

Always ready for a shaming, Karla shot her pitch. "She's too pretty to be a soldier."

"Yes, how can King be a member of the Luxe if he was in prison for five years?"

Aunty B hit the point with that comment. It was a valid question that got everyone pondering.

Micah gave his brother a secret smile of gratitude.

"Do you think he hired someone for a show?" Lillian asked her husband, her gleaming eyes communicating her betrayal.

Moments ago she was contemplating her decision of leaving King for Micah and now King had turned out to be a bigger scum than they suspected.

"Why would he do that?" Ace's disappointment delighted Micah.

"Ace, don't be na***. To please you, of course. Isn't that what he always does?"

Aunty B barked out a schadenfreude laugh.

"And you always fall for his schemes each time." Karla joined in her sister's laughter.

Ace sat back in his seat, overcome by agony at this revelation.

True, he saw a logo, but he didn't recall seeing the general's insignia on that uniform.

Could King have hired someone for a show-off? That was the same lady from yesterday. Was that also a show he put up?

Ivy stretched out a consoling hand to him, also overcome by disappointment, but Ace swatted it off.

"King is just pathetic. Thank the stars Micah was smart enough to cast him away."

Micheal piqued. Everyone else benched on that and started to throw praises at Micah.

He put on a hypocritical smile, accepting all the acclamation, but deep within, a feeling of foreboding settled upon him.

Could King have made a powerful name for himself while he was away?

************

"Nova, I told you to stop wearing that uniform. You are off duty, yet you keep wearing it."

King complained as they stepped onto the porch.

The moon's welcoming brilliance lit the way for them as they stepped towards the streets.

Nova pouted, giving him no response. King looked around, observing the absence of his guards or parked car.

"You came alone?" He shot her an astonished glance.

"The car's parked at the end of the street. The others are waiting there too. I figured we'd discuss this as we stroll down to them."

She shot a sparkling blue gaze at King. He nodded his approval, impressed by her initiative.

King looked away from her, shooting his grey gaze to the road ahead.

"What's the report?" He said in a frank tone.

"The lady, Onyx, put up a job ad for a personal assistant, Sir."

King glanced at Nova, raising a curious brow at her.

"From my investigation, the job responsibility of the assistant is to do one thing. Pretend to be her child's father."

King halted his steps, sending Nova stumbling on hers. She recovered quickly with a breathy laugh.

"Ah, I figured you'd be interested in that, as it would afford you some time with your daughter. I paid off all applicants and listed you for the job."

King raised his brows once again. "You did?"

Nova beamed at him before responding.

"Yes, I did. I also found out she doesn't remember much of that day. Just the act itself, not the person. Too much trauma on her part."

King returned his gaze ahead, resuming his walk.

Guilt overwhelmed him, causing him to shiver. He hadn't meant to do what he did that day.

He wasn't sure then, but from Nova's previous report, Sage's aphrodisiac must have excited his wolf, triggering such an act.

He still didn't know much, and he vowed to find out all the details.

When he did, he would take his revenge on Sage and come back to deal with his pack.

Unconsciously, King gritted his teeth. "When's the interview, Nova?"

"Tomorrow morning, Sir." She responded, following behind. She watched him take angry strides that scared her.

For a long moment, King said nothing. His firm and heavy steps penetrated the still night air.

He spoke much later when his car came into view. His voice held a mystery Nova couldn't fathom.

"That's good. Awesome job, Nova."