DISTURBED
1150 Words
RYLAN'S POV
King Walton stared at me, disappointment clouded his eyes. “Rylan, you won't cease to amaze me you know,” He grunted, then continued almost immediately. “How could you accept the mate bond, huh!”
My jaw clenched. “I don't have any feelings for her. I have my plans,” I didn't owe father or anyone else an explanation. This was just to be clear. I would never have anything to do with the Blue Diamond pack.
Amara was beautiful. My heartbeat slowed to a crawl in the wake of her presence. She had a grip on me like I've never experienced. Still, none of that rubbed the dent off her record.
Mate or not. She was the daughter of Oakville's enemy. And that put her in my bad book. One thing about me, stay the f**k away my bad book.
Dad snickered. “Plans huh? So we're all out making plans on our own yeah?” He quipped. “Rylan, need I remind you. You are the next Lycan King of Oakville pack. How do you think the other packs would act when they find out your true mate is from the enemy pack?”
“We give the other pack what to think. They gave no right to do anything outside our jurisdiction.” I drawled.
He leaned back on his huge leather chair. “You're going to reject the bond.”
“No. You have no right to dictate what I get to do with my life.” I fired back. My pulse roared. The mate bond itched my nerves. My wolf was lost in his desires the minute he set eyes on her. Father wasn't going to fumble that up.
Everyone thought I had the fanciest life going on. Captain of the Outlaws, the most sought after hockey team in the West. Next in line to be crowned Lycan King. Still…that wasn't enough to abate my Dad's quest to see me shatter the entire hall of fame.
He wanted more. Always did.
His brows pinched together in a frown. “Oh boy. You get to do what I say, else you kiss your Hockey career goodbye, forever.”
I curled my hands around the armrest. “So cheap of you to resort to threatening your own son, don't you think?”
His brows deepened. Father scoffed, “Using my own words against me now, yeah?” his voice boomed with authority. The tension that crackled the air between us deepened.
I pushed myself from the chair. “See you at dinner, father.”
“We have a meeting with the Sapphire stone pack. Jaylin will be there, be on your best behavior,” he paused. The corner of his eyes crinkled with excitement when a scowl rested on my face. “I don't want you scaring her off. Interact with the beautiful young lady, huh.”
My heart bruised against my ribcage at the mention of Jaylin. My mind took a quick trip down memory lane. We had a romantic moment three years ago, when I was sixteen.
Fast forward to when I clocked eighteen and got my wolf. My Lycan abilities picked up a scent of another male on her. Turned out she was cheating with one of my buddies.
My anger simmered to a boil as my mind flashed back to the pain. the sting of betrayal I had to deal with every night. It took three years of slipping in and out of depression. And training to become the world's choicest hockey player to get here!
And I wasn't going to f**k that up. Not for the continuity of the family's legacy. Or the freaking heirloom Jaylin represented.
I shot him a cold stare, and he responded with a matching one. “Why are you doing this?” I gritted through clenched teeth.
He gestured with his arms. “Let's just say I know what's best for you, more than you do.”
My jaw clenched. You've got to be kidding me. “On the contrary, you do only the things that you gain from–” I paused, and arched a skeptical brow at him. “What's your catch?”
King Walton's eyes narrowed behind his round framed glasses. “Does this place look like a rink to you?”
“Look father. I'm no longer that teenage son you boss around. And the only reason I'm back home, is because of Mom,”
Queen Mildred. Complete opposite of my father, in all areas. Her favorite time of the year was just around the corner. I had to come.
Of course, he'd threatened to pull out his shares from the club if I didn't board the next private flight back to the pack. Now, I’m here, running pack politics. Blood roared behind my ears.
I never imagined bumping into my mate. I guess I'd have to deal with that later. For now, I had to focus on putting my father in his place.
He scoffed. “Your mom huh? At least have some balls if you want to become King—”
I cut him off, “Good for me, I don't want to be King.”
King Walton stomped his fist angrily against the table. “One more word about giving up your birthright, and you wouldn't even get close to a rink ever.”
I smirked. My eyes glistened with mischief. I should feel conflicted about risking my career. I built my career brick by brick. Sweat and blood.
Family name and affluence could only give you so much. To remain relevant in sports work, you have to give them a reason. The die-hard fans hoping on your skills, the anticipation in their eyes. The tears that leaked out of the corner of their eyes in sheer excitement isn't something affluence could do.
Outside the rink. I was the ‘Triple perfection’ but on the pitch, I fought to be relevant. My first big break was a big break, after I tossed the puck into the opponents net.
That was the big break for me. My career as a hockey player skyrocketed. Numerous brands reached out to my management. But the Walton's wealth was something else.
When he got a hang of my success. My Dad bought sixty-five percent of the shares in Outlaw, pushing him to the major shareholder of the Outlaws. In retrospect, we're pawns in his hands.
I gave him a stiff nod. “I'm riding alone.”
A sly smirk curved the corner of his lips. His lips parted as if he was about to speak. But, I didn't stick around to hear what he had to say. I walked down the hallway, ditched checking up on mom, and went straight to the field.
If I wanted to put up with Jaylin, then I needed all the adrenaline rush I could muster.
- Writer
