Bound by a Hybrid and a Lycan

FOCUS ON THE WAR

Kovu's POV

I followed my father and stormed out of the room. I was so mad, the urge to punch something burned in me, but I was doing a rather good job of restraining myself. I stared at the broad back of my father as he walked in front of me. The praises of Kaliyah ringing in my head only served to fuel the fire raging in my gut. Punching him wouldn't have been a bad idea at all.

Why on earth was he praising Kaliyah's return like some f*****g simp? Practically worshiping her return? Because she was supposedly the pack's best warrior.

It made me sick to my stomach.

I could still hear his words echoing in my head: *Our pack's greatest warrior.*

Preposterous. How could he ignore everything I've done? Everything I've worked for? I was his son, for Goddess' sake.

*Mate, go back to her now, Kovu, she's our mate, and she needs us.* Kyrax had been howling in my head for the past 30 minutes, and I wished I could just shut him up forever at this point.

*She's not my mate, Kyrax,* I snapped back and clenched my fists until my knuckles turned white. *I don't want her, and I never will.*

I wished it was as easy as I said it. It took everything in me to resist the mate bond whenever I was with her. It pulled at me like a chain around my neck, dragging me back to thoughts of her—thoughts that I didn't want at all.

I zoned out Kyrax and continued walking behind my father as we headed towards the throne room. We entered the throne room, and my father took his place on the throne and observed me while I tried to keep my anger in check.

“Kovu, what is it about Kaliyah that disturbs you so?” my father suddenly asked, breaking the silence. “I saw your reaction when you looked at her. You seemed… displeased.”

Displeased? Nah, that word doesn't even begin to cover it. I was seething in rage, and I wanted to strangle something, preferably the girl that just somehow managed to rise from the dead.

*You call her the pack's best warrior, but I am an even better warrior than she will ever be. Why do you prefer her over your own son?* I spat out, not holding back as I laid my complaints.

My father looked at me with that unreadable expression he always wore when he was thinking. For a moment, he said nothing. Then, to my surprise and anger, the corners of his lips stretched in an amused smile.

“Have you forgotten so soon, my son?” He relaxed on the throne. “Have you forgotten that you challenged her once and lost badly?”

The memory hit me like a sucker punch to the gut. Did he have to bring up that embarrassing incident? I was beginning to doubt whether this man was my biological father.

That incident was one of the most humiliating moments of my life. I’d been so sure that I could beat her. But she knocked me down instead and made a complete fool out of me in front of the whole pack.

“I was young. I've grown stronger since then. I would beat her now,” I shot back, trying to salvage some of my pride.

My father just shook his head in pity. “The Lycans value strength above everything, Kovu. You already lost once, but if you believe you're stronger now, that you can defeat her, then wait until after the war with the Eldrath pack. You'll get your chance then.”

Wait until after the war? Was he mad? Why should I wait?

“I don't want to wait until after the war. I will challenge her as soon as she's recovered,” I snapped back at him.

“Kovu,” he narrowed his eyes, and a vein popped on his forehead. “This is not the time to be settling personal grudges. This war is crucial for us, and I need my best warriors focused on the task at hand.”

“This isn't just about a grudge, Father,” my voice rose with the intensity of my emotions. “It's about proving my strength, my worth. You say the Lycans value strength above all else—then let me prove that I'm the strongest. Let me challenge her—”

“Enough!” My father rose from his seat, cutting me off mid-sentence. His red eyes turned a shade darker, and fangs sprouted from his lips as he used the full force of his Alpha authority.

I felt a powerful instinct to bow my head and submit, but I gritted my teeth and resisted—yet I failed.

My legs shook, and my muscles tensed as his dominance pressed down on me. The pressure made my Lycan, Kyrax, whimper at the back of my mind, urging me to submit to my father.

“You will not challenge her until after the war. Do I make myself clear?” my father growled, his Lycan prowling on the surface, not willing to tolerate any act of disobedience.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I tried to fight the urge to bow my head. But in the end, he was the Alpha, and although I was his son, I had to bow before his might.

“Yes, Alpha,” I muttered through gritted teeth and bowed my head in defeat. Dammit!

“Good.” He sat back down on his throne when he saw my submission. “Now go rest. We'll be having a strategy meeting tomorrow. We don't know when those bastards from the Eldrath pack will strike, and we are already at a severe disadvantage. I need you focused on this.”

I nodded and left the room, banging the door in the process. Despite how infuriating he could be, I knew he was right. Our pack was under siege, and I needed to calm down and forget about the whole thing for a moment.

“You there!” I summoned a maid who shivered when I called her.

“Ye… yes, your highness,” she quivered as she made her way to me.

“Ask Daphne to come to my chambers,” I instructed. The maid nodded and scurried away like a frightened squirrel.

I waited a while for Kyrax's outburst, and he sure as hell didn't disappoint as he howled in my subconscious.

*What are you doing, Kovu? You are cheating on our mate!*