The Goddess Hidden Daughter

Andromedia POV A woman cannot lead a pack, let alone a kingdom. Especially not my so-called sister,” my half-brother, Brandon, possible future king, standing before our father King Mikkos Archer, and some of the Council and warriors. Today is the day our father declares the next King of Werewolves Brandon cannot believe that I defeated all the contenders he had hired to ensure that I wouldn’t survive. I stood here, bloodied, staring at my half-brother in front of a crowd that was all expecting Brandon to be announced as the new leader. I have won fair and square, but my half-brother can’t accept that I beat fifty of the pack's top warriors. The reason is that they all believe I don’t have a wolf and that my mother is human. Even my father stares at me with disbelief, wondering how his daughter, the woman whom he seduced and loved, fights as if she’s a warrior. He never thought that I would be more than a beautiful, docile young lady who would marry a human and have children. So he didn’t take the time to train me. My father ensured that I had the best education and etiquette classes. But not much of his time. His time was all for Brandon. Brandon is our father's mate, Dorian's son. Our father would spend two days a month with me and two weeks during summer break. Last week, I heard that my father was planning to step down as the official King. And plan to turn it over to Brandon, that didn't sit well with me. After all, Brandon and I are the same age and were born a couple of hours apart. Yes, my father was and probably still is a womanizer. To this day, I haven't been able to figure out how he managed to witness the birth of both of us. My father wasn’t thrilled when I showed up unannounced and challenged his decision regarding turning the kingdom over to my half-brother. He said his decision was final and no one, and he does mean no one, can force him to change his mind. That's when I handed him a gold seal envelope from my mother. While reading the letter, he was glancing at me every so often. When he was finished, he said that if I wanted the title, I would have to prove that I'm worthy to be the next King of Werewolves. Dorian and Brandon couldn't believe what they had just heard. She storms out of the room, and Brandon starts questioning why. Mikkos didn't look at him as he said I've made my decision while looking at me. After a few mintues, he told me good luck and to do him and my mother proud. Now here I am towering over the fallen warriors with blood dripping from my hands. The crowd has fallen silent, every gaze locked onto me. My breathing is steady, controlled, and the silence around me is heavy with judgment and a lot of questions. My father stood up, his commanding eyes found me. But I didn’t blink; I gave him a stern stare. As I listen to him announce my half-brother as the future king. "Why him?" My voice echoed, unwavering. "I defeated every warrior except for your son. Who didn't fight, but I would be more than willing to fight him." I looked at Brandon. "You all know that I earned the title of Queen." Brandom smirked because he never had any intention to fight her or anyone else. My father’s jaw and both fists clenched, but there was a flicker in his eyes. I’m not sure if it’s regret or something dangerously close to it. Dorian stood behind my father like she always does, peeping around him at me. My mother is the only woman who can stand beside or walk ahead of him. "Because it's tradition and more importantly becasue I said so." My father said, quieter at first, then louder as if he needed the judgment to hold. "Only men can lead a pack. That is the law. My law." He narrowed his eyes at me, "Women were born to follow. To obey, to be beautiful like you. Not to rule. " He looked away briefly, then snapped his leer back to mine. "This law has led the way for generations, and will remain so. This matter is closed, and it's no longer up for debate." I was first to be born with his blood, royal blood, and still it's not enough. I knew it wouldn't be. I also knew that the only reason he set up this fake tournament was because of whatever my mother had written in that letter. He never had any intentions of allowing me to be queen or anything else. Making him proud was his way of saying I wasn't good enough because I'm a woman. "Not to mention a woman who doesn't have a wolf. Just because you rose to the occasion and were lucky enough to kill the warriors. After all, they were in human form, not wolf. A human can never lead a pack, not ever if he were a man." Brandon looks around at the crowd waiting for them to cheer, clap, or do something to support him. It never happened. A low growl rumbled in my chest. Cathwulf is trying to surface. I'm trying to restrain her from surfacing. "What was the point of this tournament?" I demanded, my voice didn't crack as my words echoed. "Why make me compete at all if you never intended to choose me?" My father didn't blink. "I did what I was asked to do. It was never about naming you as my heir. It was a formality, Nothing more." I looked around at the lifeless warriors I had killed. "So all this bloodshed, this battle, me winning, it meant nothing but a formality?" "Strength means nothing in a woman. Yes, my blood runs through your veins. You're still a woman who seems to have forgotten her place. Maybe that's my fault for allowing your mother to raise you. " He snapped. You were born to support men, not lead." I looked at my half-brother and Dorian, who was still peeking from behind my father, and then at my father. “It appears you all wanted me to lose, so you three would be comfortable.” I spat harshly, "My Mother raised me like a warrior, not to be caged like a pawn." All the whispering stops, they’re looking at their King's clenched jaw. His eyes are like fire catching wind. "You dare to question me?" His voice boomed, his cold eyes had turned to a dark, murderous black. I watched him transform into Gandolf, his large black wolf. His black wolf bolted toward me, snarled, radiating dominance and demanding submission. I heard Brandon laughing, saying this human doesn't know her place. She's about to learn today. Cathwulf is trying to surface again. This time, I didn't try to restrain her. "Who said I don't have a wolf. I didn't." Gasping echoes staring at my gold wolf with a white dove on my tight thigh. Catwulf growl echo, and all the trees leaned back. She looks down at her father's wolf and growls, causing him to fly back into a tree. She looks at Brandon and Dorian before she disappears. Brandon runs over to his father’s wolf. “When did she get a wolf? When father? She disappeared. Tell me how she can do that.” He’s looking at his father sliding on a pair of black jeans. Mikkos is wondering the same thing. Aphro is human and doesn’t have any powers. That’s one of the reasons he respects Aphro. She accepted and loves him for him and not because he’s the King. Mikkos was thrilled when Aphro told him she was pregnant. But when he discovered Aphro was pregnant with a girl, he started favoring Dorian. Because she was also pregnant, but with a boy. When Andromeada was born, Mikkos didn't argue with Aphro when she told him she was taking their daughter home to raise. Andromeada will stay with him for the Summer when she's older. Nor did he ask her where home is. He had bought her a condo close to the palace. That's the only place he knew of. But she doesn't live there. Brandon is still asking his father questions about Andromeada. Finally, Mikkos tells him he doesn't know and to stop asking him questions. Mikkos didn't want to tell Brandon that he didn't know. But he intends to find out.