Alpha King Rising

Chapter 5

Stark POV

We were sitting around the table eating take out. Our grandma had ordered fried chicken, salads, fries, gravey, and Pepsi, and for desert, she had her famous homemade cookies. She has a variety to choose from. She has sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies, chocolate chip, oatmeal, and raisin cookies, and my favorite double chocolate cookies.

"We need a plan." Rowan announced once we began to dig into the cookies now that we are done eating.

"What is on your mind, son?" Granny asks.

I don't bother looking up. Instead, I gather my cookies and eat them.

"I think I should work really hard at the academy and try to graduate early then shadow father for a year, after that, I will take over as alpha, I can send Stark somewhere safe." Rowan said.

I went stiff, and I finally looked up at my brother. "Row," I tried to tell him not to say anything to our grandma. She doesn't need to know anything. I gave him a shake of my head.

My grandma huffed and said, "I am sorry, Stark, but I already know what my son has been doing to you behind closed doors. I figured it out by myself."

I put my cookies down and folded my hands on my lap, frowning at my hands, I refuse to look at her, I can't. My grandma sighed, "Star," I flinched when she called me my childhood nickname. She cleared her throat, "Please, son, do not shut down on me, look at me."

I shook my head.

"My goddess, you will look at your grandmother when she is talking to you or so help me!" My grandma snapped.

I flinched again at her raised voice. She has never snapped at me. My hands trembled a little, and then I clenched my hands. Slowly, I lifted my chin and looked her in the eyes.

My grandma face soften as she said, "That man is no longer my son. My son died when your mother and sister died. I saw the bruises. I saw the scars. As hard as it is to talk about, " My grandma swallowed hard then said, "But, I have known, I also know your father will never let me take you, I do not know why, I have asked to raise you in the past but he said no. I am not as strong as I used to be, if I were still the same warrior, I would have beaten my son with a stick and rip you and your brother away from him years ago." With a shaky hand, she wiped a tear from her face, "I need you to be strong." She took my hand in hers and squeezed, "I need you to hang on for a little longer, I promise you that you will get out of this. In fact. I believe you are stronger than you think. Each alpha born is always stronger than the previous alpha."

I shook my head, doubting it because I was in a damn wheel chair, I couldn't even defend myself from my father. "No." I muttered, and she cut me off, pulling on my hand and grabbing my cheek to make me look at her.

"You're strong, Stark. I believe you will get past this. You also have a good heart. Do not let him destroy that. Protect it at all costs. When it gets too much, my son, I want you to fight. Fight back, with everything you have and don't give up, never give up hope."

I just stared at her, the faith she had in me, I didn't have that. There's no way. In my peripheral vision, I can see my brother nodding along with her. I am not strong. I am weak. Why can't they see it?

"Promise me that you will hold on, promise me that you will fight back when you are ready." My grandma asked.

"Why do you want me to fight back so much? I have tried before and have failed. Why should I keep trying? I can't promise you that I will fight back, but I will promise to hang on because all I want is to be free and live with you. I want you to promise me to be safe, granny." I tell her and squeeze her hand.

She smiled and nodded, "Okay. Good enough for me. When your brother takes over, he will send you to me."

"I will, grandma." Rowan promised.

"Alright. We got our plan. Rowan gets stronger and smarter and takes over his pack, and then he sends you to me." My grandma finally let's go of my hand and smiles at us both. "How much more time do you have?"

"We have to head home soon, honestly, I was kind of hoping that I could've drove further or put Stark on a plane to get him as far away from father as much as possible, that way he can just live and do whatever he wants." Rowan said.

My grandma and I both said, "No." At the same time.

Rowan looked at us, "No?"

I shook my head but reframed from telling my grandma that her own son would kill her first before finding me and then killing me. I know he also sent spies here. I didn't see them, but I heard them when we were in the lobby. As a matter of fact, there has been one that walked by every 30 minutes. I don't know why. My hearing has always been excellent. It's a blessing and a curse. Even my night vision. I just think it's because of my wolf genetics.

Grandma speaks after we've been quiet, "Your father has men watching, and they will most likely stop Stark from going. I keep hearing footsteps go by here every 30 minutes they pause by the door." granny has always been observant.

"That's the thing, though. Stark is 20, he's an adult, and most adults leave their packs at 18. Why hasn't dad just let him leave? Why send spies to unsure he doesn't leave?" Rowan asked.

I used to ask myself that when I turned 18. I even asked Father if I could leave since I am such a nuisance. He beat me. "He said, I stay for appearances. I don't know why else he keeps me around." I frowned.

"Apperances." Grandma huffed, "Appearances my ass, he's definitely planning something. Rowan gave good questions, but we need answers."

"Like what?" Rowan asked.

"Not sure, but there's a reason he won't let you leave. There's a reason he won't let me take you. Maybe you can work on trying to find out." She looked at Rowan hopefully.

Rowan shook his head and gave her a sad smile, "I can't. I leave for the academy tomorrow."

"Dammit." Gran growled, and I raised my eyebrows at her. She looked at me then, "Find out if you can, son, it's crucial that you do."

"I will keep my senses open." I tell her, and she gave me a grateful smile. She looked at the time by her bedside and gasped. "Oh goodness, look at the time! You boys better get going back!"

We looked at the time, and it was already 6 pm. Wow, time went by fast. Then again, time always goes by fast when we are with grandma. She quickly packs away cookies and then grabs an extra bin and says, "Your father loves my peanut butter cookies, give them to him, so he won't be too angry." She shoves the cookies in Rowans' hands.

We both hugged and kissed our grandma and left quickly.