Chapter 33. New Kingdom

**33. The New Kingdom**
***Rafael's POV:***
I should have known my father would have something up his sleeve, but he is surely mistaken if he thinks this will bother me.
My day started out great with so many nice things I encountered as I saw mine and Astrid's friendship getting a little more robust, and that's a lot of progress I get to watch between us.
I was the happiest man in the world right now, but my father had to ruin everything by opening his filthy mouth. I could see he was up to something, but he declared us Varlets before I could figure it out.
I can tell by her expression that Astrid is confused right now, but she will find her answers shortly. I intend to answer all her questions and clear up any confusion she may have.
"Varlets? What is it?" Astrid frowned.
"Rogue vampires are called varlets, just like there are rogue werewolves," I whispered in her ear. She simply nodded, but I couldn't help but see the frown on her brow, and her body language clearly demonstrated how guilty she was when she had nothing to be.
I returned my focus to the man I should consider my father. Eva cut me off before I could say anything.
"And what mistake did my brother commit that you are denying him his right?" Eva asked.
Even though Eva has only seen a small portion of what my father does, she is aware of the type of person he is, and she knows that he is hungry for power and will go to any length to keep everyone under his control.
I am pleased with how I raised her and happy that she is not scared to stand up for herself and what is right. Other than me, Eva is the only person in this room who can question my father.
"Oh, my beloved daughter, why would you choose your brother above your father?" He rubbed his hands together and approached Eva.
"Because he has done everything a father should have done for his children, and he is more of a father figure in my life than you could ever be," Eva grumbled before continuing. "According to the rule, he should have been the king a long time ago, but you have been avoiding the subject, and now that Rafael has found his mate, everyone in this room believes that you should follow the rule and give Rafael his kingdom." She finished her speech and folded her hands.
Seeing her filled me with pride. I am happy with the person Eva is becoming. I am glad we were not influenced by our father and are instead on the right track.
"Okay, your point is valid; I did say I would offer him the kingdom when he found his mate, but tell me how I should believe you aren't lying to me if she is actually his mate; if so, why hasn't he marked her yet?" He smirked.
Astrid stiffened next to me. "Because it's my life, and I don't want anyone to tell me what to do with it," I snorted, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her closer to me, "and we'll decide what to do with our lives and when to mark each other."
He smirked at me as he sat on his throne. "Okay, your decision, you say, but I'd like to remind you that I'm still the king, and if you've forgotten the laws, I'd like to refresh your memory: The previous king needs to yield the crown freely or else you have to kill me and take the throne until then what I say stands," he said.
"And I can't stoop so low to kill my own father, no matter how filthy he is."
"And I can't let a werewolf from the species that killed my wife rule over this kingdom if it's for the betterment of everyone."
I had promised my mother that I would not kill my father, and I should keep that promise, but there is another way for me to get the throne, and having an offspring from that would be a bonus, and nobody would stop me from taking it, but I couldn't do that now.
I can't tell Astrid that if I did, I would look like a pervert to her, and there are very few chances that she would agree. I wouldn't stoop that low that I would force myself on her, and even if she does agree, I don't want her to do so under duress; I want her to accept me after falling for me, and we have eternity ahead of us.
But, in any case, I will free these people from my father's brutality, and I won't mind leaving from here as long as these people follow me. I turned to face everyone and communicated with them through mind link. "Does everyone here trust me?" I asked.
They nodded, indicating that they believed in me.
"Are you ready to leave this place and follow me? I guarantee there is a brighter future waiting for us after this," I stated again through the mind link.
They all nodded, but just a few were doubtful.
"Those who are unsure can stay here without question," I clarified. Turning to face my father, I continued as the others nodded. "Okay, so I believe it's my cue to leave now. If you've dubbed us Varlets, know that I'll take anyone who wants to come with me," I declared.
"I don't even need these cowards with me, and you can take them," Father stated arrogantly, thinking that these people are nothing in comparison to him and that they are reliant on him and useless.
Well, my opinions are different. I feel that everyone in this kingdom has a specialty, and even though the father does not want to accept it, we rely on them, and once we leave he will understand the value of these individuals.
Father smiled proudly, thinking he had won. "Everyone, take your things. We're leaving," I commanded, turning to Bryan and instructing him to gather everyone to meet me outside by tomorrow morning.
People started moving outdoors, and Astrid tightened her fist in mine. I looked at her, noticing her frightened expression. I knew she was afraid.
Turning to my father, I declared, "You may believe you have won, Mr. Elliot Delmar, but know that I will return someday and take back my kingdom." I walked out without waiting for his response
I touched her face because I could see tears in her eyes. She was heating up, or maybe I felt that way because I was touching a werewolf for the first time, and I'd read that they have tremendous body heat, or she's sick.
Concerned, I asked, "Hey, are you okay?"
"What's going to happen now?" she asked, worried.
"Astrid, don't worry. I know what I'm doing," I added, looking her in the eyes. "And if you think I argued with my father because of you, you're mistaken. My father is a jerk, and I'm doing this to protect my rights."
I couldn't read her mind, but I understood exactly what was happening within her. Perhaps this is how it feels to have a mate.
I gave her a friendly grin as she opened her mouth to say something.
"Okay, I'll pack my belongings; do you want me to do the same for you?" She asked.
"I think I'd appreciate that, but I'll join you shortly; I just need to get something okay," I told her.
I requested Bryan to stay with her since I wanted Eva with me. She nodded.
"Let us go," I said, and Eva followed me inside the room.
As we approached the room, she became emotional. "Eva, you have to calm down, baby. We've come here with a lot of courage; we should have done this centuries ago, but it's not too late now, right?" I attempted to calm her down.
Entering our mother's room felt like navigating a sea of memories—a challenge for both Eva and me. Her recollections echoed in my mind, mirroring the emotional turbulence within. Despite the difficulty in regulating my emotions, a task lay ahead—I needed to unlock my father's room, a space he had deliberately sealed off.
He'd made up a pathetic reason that opening their old room would open his old wounds, refusing to let us in.
I suspected he knew about Mom's box, a chest she always carried and claimed held something emotional for Eva and me—a gift for when we found our mates. As far as I know, there would be some jewelry in there for Astrid, which our father does not want us to have.
But there was more. Before Mom's passing, she communicated with me through our mind link, revealing the existence of a note—a note meant for me
I need to get my hands on it right now because Mom said I should have it as soon as I find my mate. I can't leave here without getting it.
I crept softly inside the chamber, which was covered with cobwebs. I waved the dust through my hands and made my way inside. I thought about where mom would hide her belongings, and soon there was a small hidden lock, and we found two trunks with mine and Eva's names on them. I handed Eva's box to her and kept mine.
I wondered where that letter could be when I noticed a small, inconspicuous space beside it. Because of my increased vision, I could see the outline of the area and the minute details of everything. I tried pulling up on the space, but it didn't budge at all, and the lack of grip made getting it out even more difficult.
Something prompted me to push the space instead of pulling it, which I did. When I applied light pressure to the gap, it repelled a little, allowing me to take out the drawer, and there was the letter. I grabbed it, and from my heightened hearing, I could hear someone approaching from a distance, so I quickly signaled Eva that we needed to leave.
We stepped outside and shut the door so no one would know we were there.
I had very little time, so I went into my room and packed my belongings with Astrid, safely storing the letter and trunk in my cherished belongings, promising to look into them once we were out of the castle and mess.
At dawn, I convened with everyone, orchestrating a plan to reclaim our rights. I was pleased to see that more than 60% of the coven were following, demonstrating how much trust they have placed in me, and I would go to any length to protect them.
We put our belongings into multiple trucks, and everyone who had cars followed us on them, while those who didn't, I arranged for them.
Though they would drive it at vampire speed, I don't want to exhaust them because we have a big day ahead of us.
I sat in my BMW Z4 and drove Astrid. I began to lead the way, and everyone followed.
We were getting close to our destination, and I could sense Astrid's unease as we got closer. I know she recognizes the path.
"Do want to say something?" I asked because Astrid refused to speak, no matter how comfortable I attempted to make her feel, so I had to ask her to say anything to me.
"Where are we heading, and why are we approaching our pack's boundaries?" She asked, concerned.
"Relax, we're getting closer to our new kingdom," I said with a chuckle.
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