Chapter 11

REID:
Ever since I took up the role of Alpha, my father has since moved out of the pack to go establish himself as a lone wolf. Although I won’t necessarily call it that way because the warriors and maidens around him indirectly make up a small territory. And not to forget him being with my mother and sister.
The only time I ever get a visit from him is when it involves a serious issue. And I’m certain that is the reason he came around today.
My best guess would be it was about the disappearances in the pack. And I hope not to be proved wrong, especially after trying to keep the other thing discreet.
“To what do I owe this visit, father?” I ask him as I watch him from across the table separating us in the parlor of the main quarters.
I noticed something about his expression despite him looking fascinated with his old territory. He looked distressed. Feels to me like he has been going through a lot. But I would like to doubt that because the man I know hardly has time to put too much on his mind.
Even when he was Alpha, he never let issues get through to him and that was one of the things I admired about him during his tenure.
He finally looks at me, his semi-wrinkled dark-tone face flashing in my direction. Gray hair was starting to sprout out his beards and hair, which clearly shows signs of aging. And maybe stress just like I thought I saw on his face.
“What has been going on around here, Reid? The reports reached my ears and I’m not convinced with the way you have been handling things,”
Although that seems appropriate to say, judging the fact that I am still new in this whole thing of being a leader, I still felt that there was a hidden message beneath the words. The man I know as a father could sometimes say something and then mean another. Which mostly infuriates me due to how straightforward I am.
“I’m not sure I understand what you are driving at,” I tell him. “I have been trying my best to curb the situation. It’s not like I’ve been doing nothing. Or is there something else you are trying to tell me?”
He sorts of gives me something similar to a once-over. Makes me wonder what big thing he has in mind to give me such an approach that has me thinking to the core.
In no time, he starts to say, “I know you have been doing your best, and I’m not disputing that. But I don’t think you should be going out of your way to get the job done. Only worsens the situation,”
“Okay, now you’ve got me confused. The words you’re speaking, no offense, seem to be contradictory. And I would love it if you break it down for me,”
I watch him stand up from his seat. And I also notice how his demeanor switches from attempting to be calm to be super pissed. Yeah, I saw all of that in a matter of seconds and that is when I finally understand what he truly came here for because he lets me on it.
“I told you several times not to ever have anything to do with the Elder, didn’t I? So why would you go against my words?”
The accusation or whatever I can call it has me stressed out in some way. Like how the hell did he find out in such a short time? Is there someone in my team going about leaking information to him?
My whole mood changes. And it is not because my father just talked down on me like I am a kid that is being disobedient, it is because I hate it when I have a traitor around me.
“Father, I think you need to sit down first,” I say, trying so hard to suppress the anger in me which was likely that I burst out.
“I won’t until you tell me why you think going to meet the Elder would solve the ongoing crisis in the pack.”
“And would you solve it for me?”
Now I did it. I just yelled at my father and it clearly increases his anger Especially after feeling the tension rising between us.
But I do not regret it. And if that is the only way I can get him to sit down to reason with me, then I do not mind taking that approach.
And, he does that. He sits after the yelling I directed to him. Seems sometimes I’ve got to go hard to get a result.
“Look, Reid, advising you not to take such a step was because I have my reasons. And strong reasons. You cannot just take such drastic actions without thinking that I do not mean well for you. Trust me, I do. Don’t forget you are my son. I can only wish the best for you,”
I was having none of that. “If you really do mean well for me, father, then you will stop treating me like a child. Why would you hand over the responsibilities of Alpha to me and not let me do the thing the way I choose? Must things always have to go your way?”
My rebuff was genuine. And it is not that I have this stored in mind, but the tension from everything going on presently was enough to put me in such a position. There is no way I can just let it slide without at least making him know how I feel.
“I have not been meddling, have I?” he asks me and I cannot help but scoff.
“Of course, you’ve not. Yet every issue in the pack flies to you in such a short time. It means you still have the pack in your control which is totally wrong. And I am not buying any of this bullshit any longer,” I tell him and then stand up to my feet. I follow up with that by turning around to act like I was able to leave the scene.
“Are you about to walk out on me?” I hear him ask and then look at him.
“I’m not,” I say. “But I will if you do not stop questioning me like I am a child,” then I go back to my seat and inch forward. “Look, father, I am not asking you not to still have a say in this pack, but I think you need to limit it. Especially to a way that would not inconvenient me,”
He sighs. Perhaps he is coming to a compromise about how wrong he has been. But I have doubts that he would because knowing my father, he can be stubborn when he wants to. Which is a big-time sucker.
“Reid, I’m sorry that you think I am messing things up for you,” when he utters that, I am about to interrupt him but he hushes me with his hand, “Let me finish,” he says. “I am trying not to get my head in the game anymore but I cannot help it. Yes, I handed over the position to you some years back, but the feeling of being in control for many years still has my mind here. Why do you think I moved out the instant I dropped the role?”
“I understand you,” I say. “But you should not be keeping tabs on what goes on here. It’s making me feel incompetent. And that is not the morale I need to get the job done. So if you would stop, I would so appreciate it,”
I feel like a huge burden has been lifted off my shoulders after pouring it out to him. I sure needed to get this off my chest for a long time now, which is why I wonder why I didn’t do it for a long time now.
Maybe I thought too much of my father. Perhaps I even had high hopes about the way the whole thing would do right this moment. But I would not expect him to not reach an instant agreement with me after thinking I have made him see reasons.
“I can’t stop.”
Those three words beings us back to square one. And it instantly fuels up the anger in me once more.
Immediately I stand up to my feet to look at my old man who has this neutrality to his expression. Kind of infuriating. Everything about this meeting with him has been nothing but infuriating so what else should I expect from him?
“I’m still wondering who your accomplice is. Who is it that cannot keep his mouth shut when he needs to? I need to find that out so I can start getting rid of the pests around me,” my tone is acidic when I let those words out of my mouth. And it was just the right way that I needed to sound because I want to let out the anger on my father who is just so adamant about not doing the right thing.
“Let’s see,” I continue to say, “Asides from Hunter and me, who else knew that I was going to meet with the Elder. Oh yeah, Ryu. He is the only one I told and that should mean he is the first on the list of those that cannot keep to themselves. That means he will be the first that I will be getting rid of,”
“You will do no such thing!” my father announces as he gets up to his feet.
“And on what ground are you telling me that? As my father? Or as my Alpha? If you are doing the latter, then maybe I should remind you that I am in control of this pack now. Which means I am the number one authority. And by saying that, it means I receive orders from no one. Even if that person is you!”
“How dare you talk to me that way, Reid?”
“No,” I instantly counter, “how dare you talk to me that way?”
Shock flashes through his expression as he stares wide-eyed at me. He sure was not expecting my rebuff.
“Let us get this straight once and for all, father. It is about time that you start to mind your affairs and not that of the pack. You are not in control anymore. And if you knew you would not be okay with this whole setting of someone else being in charge, then why did you hand over the position to me in the first place?”
With that, I start to walk away from the room. I make a brief pause near the door that leads to the upper floor and cast my gaze on him to see him staring right back at me. “Stop interfering, father. It’s enough.” I say before eventually walking out on him.