***Sorry for the late update. Was hung up with some serious stuff. Hope you like it.***
"What took you so long?" Adrein heard his father the moment he stepped inside, his voice cutting through the quiet lounge. Victor was seated, with his legs crossed in his chair, his sharp eyes studying his son's disheveled appearance — the tousled hair, the faint smudge of lip color on his collar. And his face showed clear disapproval.
Adrien just gave a lazy smirk. "Got held up by an unexpected... pleasant distraction." He said, his tone dripping playfulness. "You know how devoted I am, Father. Can't dare to resist appreciating a beautiful sight." He let out a light chuckle and dropped onto the couch oppsite to Victor, without he a care in the world.
Victor's face tightened, lip curled in distaste. "How many times do I have to say it?" he growled, his voice low but hard. "Start acting like the heir to the throne. Not like some manwhore who screws everything that passes by."
Adrein just leaned back, stretching his arms along the back of the couch. He rolled his eyes, looking completely bored. He'd heard this lecture way too many times before now it had gotten old.
"Do you think this is a fuckin' joke Adrein?!" Victor snapped, sitting bolt upright. His eyes flashed red at his son's disrespect. "You're my only heir since your brother turned down the throne! This kingdom—our family's legacy—isn't something you can ignore while you're off fooling around!"
Adrien arched a brow, the smirk still on his face, but something shifted in his eyes. He was used to his father's shouting and all bragging how important the throne was. But one topic always got under his skin.
"That actually brings us back to the point Father," Adrien said, leaning forward. "Why did Dristan actually turn down the throne? Plus you didn't didn't even try to stop him." There was a clear curiosity in his tone with a bit hint of bitterness in his tone.
In reality Dristan, his elder brother was the next in line but somehow refused to be the heir. Eventually in the end he had walked away from the responsibility, pushing it onto Adrien instead. Something he wasn't interested into. And now Dristan got to live a carefree life which Adrien wanted to have. So, yeah, Adrien still had a sore, bitter spot because of that.
"It was his decision," Victor deadpanned. "Plus, he didn't have what it takes to run a kingdom."
Adrien just snorted in disdain giving a clear, loud Hmph.
"Anyway," Adrien began, changing the subject, "Kaelith's mate was rescued from the rogues. Unharmed." He sat up straight, his expression turning blank and businesslike. That was the actual reason, he had come to discuss about in the first place.
Victor's face turned grim, his jaw tightening, the muscles ticking. "Such useless piece of shit." He stood and moved to the corner bar, pouring himself an old scotch. "They couldn't even do away with one puny, little human." He took a slow sip. "I was expecting something more exciting and fruitful. What a complete waste."
Adrien's jaw tightened. He wanted to see Kaelith crumble more than anything. It was a deepest desire. Yet, his father's casually disappointed comment about Isla being "unharmed" sent an unexpected ripple of irritation through him. The thought of her being hurt... it didn't sit right.
"Well, looking on the bright side," Adrien drawled, joining his father at the bar and pouring himself a generous amount of his favorite scotch. He took a quick swig, hissing as the liquor burned its way down. He liked it just for the reason. "Now we know for a fact that Kaelith's so-called little 'mate'," he let the word drip with mockingly bitter sweetness for the very idea of Isla belonging to Kaelith, "is his one and only Achilles' heel. I'd call that a roaring success. All that's left is to find the perfect moment to give that heel a good, hard twist."
Victor watched his son with a knowing, amused glint in his narrowed eyes. He could read Adrien like a book. His interest in the Alpha's human mate had been obvious for a while.
"You seem unusually... invested in the Alpha's human, son?" Victor prodded, his tone darkly teasing.
Adrien's head snapped to his right, completely caught off guard. "Invested? Father, please," He slightly shifted his weight, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. "I'm simply an admirer of fine things."
Isla Aether did amaze him. She was the first woman who hadn't given him the time of day. "And she is, beautiful and hot, without a doubt, a complete masterpiece." he admitted, trying to sound casual. "I clearly wanted to hook up with her the very first time we met. She is... interesting." He shook his head, slamming the glass with a thud, downing all the content in another quick swig. His gaze turned distant for a fraction of a second as he recalled her blatant rejection. "But that doesn't mean I'm fond of that weakling."
Victor didn't reply, merely swirling his own drink, a knowing, calculative smirk playing on his lips. He hadn't missed the defensive shift in Adrien's posture or the obsessive glint in his eyes when he spoke about her.
"Hmmm..." Victor mused, his eyes dark with amusement. "Guess we do have the perfect opportunity to stir things up."
---
"Is she alright?" Edina asked, her voice tight with urgency the moment Hyden appeared. He had just informed her that Isaldora was ambushed by rogues on her way back to the pack.
"Come on, Edina, you know how Izzy is," Hyden replied, trying to sound casual, but a relieved sigh escaped him. "She's absolutely fine. More than fine, actually." A wry smile touched his lips. "In fact, it's the rogues who ended up... let's just say, they got what they deserved. But I'm sure it was gruesome."
But Edina didn't relax. Her posture remained rigid, her fingers twisting together nervously. She gave a thin, strained smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Right. Of course she is."
She turned away from Hyden , her gaze fixed on a seemingly random spot by the window, her focus absolute.
Hyden watched her for a moment, wanting to ask what was troubling her, but he held his tongue with a sigh. She'll only give me more of her riddle like words without being clear. He turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him. His eyes were tight with a building tension; he didn't know what was coming, but a deep inkling told him it would be more challenging. He could feel it and no doubt Isaldora would be in the center of it.
Left alone in the silent room, Edina didn't move. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, darted from the window to the higher shelves on the far wall.
After a long, still moment, she flicked her wrist. A small, ornate box, previously hidden in shadow on the highest shelf, glided smoothly through the air and into her waiting hand. She took the box and let out a heavy sigh, her fingers tracing the intricate, ancient designs carved into its dark wood.
She snapped her fingers and the box opened with a soft, whispering click, to reveal its contents—secrets known only to her. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears in the dim light.
"It's happening," Edina whispered to the silent room, her voice thick with a mixture of dread and resignation. She reached in and carefully lifted out a strange, crystalline ornament, swirling it in her palm. It caught the light, casting fractured patterns on the walls. "She's finally stepped onto the path. The course of her destiny is unfolding, and she doesn't even know it."
A profound sadness weighed down her words. "I've tried my best to guide her, to prepare her... but there's so little I can actually do." She closed her fingers around the ornament, its edges pressing into her skin. A single tear finally escaped, tracing a path down her cheek. "I just hope... I truly hope she finds her light before the darkness tries to claim her."
—
"I can't believe you said that to your son, Klaevan," Lysendra scolded, her arms crossed tightly. "How could you say those things when you know how desperately our Kaelith wanted his mate?"
Klaevan winced at her tone. She was really pissed and he was the reason for that. Lysendra hadn't let the issue go and was going on and on about the same thing, since they'd left the infirmary. "Baby, just... look, I didn't mean—" he started, leaning in to pull her into a hug, but she stepped back, cutting him off.
"Didn't mean it? That's your excuse after you ruined our son's mood?"
"Look, it's not like I don't want Kaelith to be happy. he tried to explain. "It's just that this human—"
"Isla," Lysendra corrected him, her voice flat. She tapped her foot on the floor, looking like she was about to explode.
Klaevan gulped. "Yeah, right, Isla, she seems off to me. I can sense it she's not what she appears to be."
Lysendra just snorted, clearly not buying it. He let out a defeated sigh.
"Okay, fine. I'm sorry. Happy now?" he said, finally managing to pull her into his arms. "Now, can I please see that breathtaking smile I love so much?" he teased, his voice softening.
Lysendra tried to keep glaring, but the corner of her mouth twitched. "You should apologize to Kaelith, too. I don't want you two fighting over something that's meant to be."
"As you wish, my mate," he murmured, nuzzling his face into the curve of her neck.
She relaxed against him with a soft purr as he scraped his teeth on her shoulder. "Now, what do you want?"
He growled playfully pressing into her. "I'm hungry."
A sly smile finally broke through her purr. "For food?" she asked, her voice dropping to a whisper as she looked sideways at him through her lashes.
His eyes darkened with heat. "You know exactly what I'm hungry for, Lysan." His voice was a low rumble as he lifted her and began walking backward toward their bedroom. "And I plan on having a very long, thorough meal."