Book 1: Chapter 20

*** Solaris POV ***



I was struggling to keep myself from laughing. Right now, in the parking lot of our bar, I had four werewolves bowing to me in apology. Nate and Silas flanked them, Silas even had his hand on the back of one of their necks. It was hilarious and I was struggling. I could hear Noah and Finn behind me snickering, which did not help.

“Keep it on your territories boys and we have no issues.” I nodded to Silas and he let them go.

Sighing, he glared at all of them. “Fucking embarrassment, all four of you. Run home. You still have time before your first shift at the hospital.”

They all ran off, shifting further into the trees next to the bar.

“I am sorry about that. They know better.” Silas seemed genuinely sorry.

I nodded and finally couldn’t hold back my chuckle. “Come on in boys, we can talk.”

“You talk to us like you’re older than us.” Nate shoved his hands in his pocket.

“Let me tell you, I’ve lived much more than two of your lifetimes. Your little pack bubble wouldn’t understand.”

Silas followed after me as we walked in. “Our childhood wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns. Don’t assume…”

“Oh, I know exactly what I was saying Alpha. I promise.”

Silas looked at me but the seriousness on my face must have wiped the argument out of him. That or the fact that I waved my right arm at him. Both could have shut him up. Going behind the bar, I pulled out five glasses and whipped up five old fashions before leaning back against the bar.

“Look, I know you hate rogues. I know your whole pack hates rogues. However, not only was I wearing the crystal which would not identify me as a rogue, I was also not on your territory, Alpha.”

“It shouldn’t have happened.”

I took a slip and held eye contact. “It makes me wonder how many rogues weren’t actually on your territory when you’ve attacked.”

His face turned red and he slammed the glass down. “Don’t you dare call into question how I manage my pack, Solaris.”

Leaning in, I continued to hold his glare. “Your father has done far worse, Silas. If anything, you’re the spitting image of him.”

Silas growled. “You know nothing about my father.”

“I know all I need to know. It’s enough that I could enter your territory, kill your father, and still be fucking justified under law. So don’t come at me with that bullshit.”

His eyes widened and he sat back a little. I was about to continue when my phone vibrated. Looking down, I chewed on my lip. Looking at Noah, I sighed.

“I need to take this. Can you go over with them the things I laid out with you guys over the past couple days. I want to make sure this doesn’t happen again and to either of you.”

Noah nodded but looked at me questioningly. I showed him my phone. His eyes widened and nodded. Heading up the stairs, I closed the door behind me of our apartment. Answering the phone, I put it up to my ear.

“Hello…”

“Why haven’t you called me?” The voice over the phone boomed and I leaned the phone away.

Sighing, I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I told you I would. There is a lot going on and then we were running into some issues with the local Alpha and his pack.”

“What? Do you need to me come over there? Talk to them…”

“No! Goddess, I got it. I don’t need you coming to my aid every single time I have an issue. That’s my job.”

He chuckled over the phone. “I miss you, sweet pea.”

I smiled. As much as he was the Alpha King, strong, formidable, confident, and overbearing. He was kind, sweet and still absolutely overbearing as an adopted father. I owed him a lot for helping me when I needed the most help.

“You miss me, yet you keep sending me everywhere but the castle. So who’s fault is that?”

His laughter boomed over the phone. “There is my firecracker. I need your help though. It’s only gotten worse. Gav and Roland are at it again.”

I rolled my eyes. “You are the Alpha King, they are the Alpha King candidates. Either kick their asses or remove them from the running. They’ve done enough not to earn it.”

“You know the process. All seven need to be there when the final decision has been made.”

Groaning, I shook my head. “Dad…”

“You also haven’t given me your solid opinion on them. How am I supposed to choose if I don’t have that?”

“Well, it’s not fucking Gav or Roland, that’s for damn sure.” I grumbled. “Evan and Javi aren’t far behind those two in idiocy.”

He sighed on the other end. “Well, the two rascals have involved some local covens into their little skirmish.”

“Fuck. Vamps or Witches?”

“Both.”

I cursed again and kicked one of Noah’s shoes across the room.

“You know I don’t like calling on you. Especially when most of the time I do…it shortens your time with us. There are times I don’t have much choice. I don’t want any collateral damage.”

Balling up my fist, I slammed it into the doorframe. “Fine. I’ll head out now. Finn and Noah can take care of the Alpha issue and the bar.”

“Swing by before you come back?”

I sighed.

“You’re mom would love to see you, you know she would.”

I grumbled and shook my head. “We will see. I’ll call you when it’s done.”

“Thank you, sweet pea.”

“And Dad?”

He hummed.

“If you don’t fucking talk to them and tell them this is the last damn time, I’ll kill them myself and make it look like they killed each other. Am I understood?”

He chuckled. “Understood.”

The phone went dead and I threw it on the bed. Fucking hell, these children. It was never easy with them. Looking at the closet, I walked in and grabbed the black zip-up garment bag. Laying it gently on the bed, I unzipped it and pushed it to the side. It revealed a light blue uniform. It looked a lot like the uniforms the guards at Buckingham Palace wore. Double breasted buttons, gold and black thread with shoulders that had braided rope on the sleeves. It also had all my medals and my position within the candidates.

I was the first in line, the First Alpha Prince. Most figured I was going to be chosen for the throne even though it was customary that if the King did not have any children, seven candidates were chosen and worked for a couple of years with the King before he decided who his successor would be. However, what very few knew was that I would not make it that long. I would never be Alpha King because I had a year at most left to live. Instead, I was the eyes and ears within the room. At the end of the day, I think that the old man is going to end up having me choose.

Gav and Roland were number six and seven and continuously caused me problems. Four and five didn’t do much better. It was definitely between June and Arden. The two of them at least had a level head and a mind for what it took to run an entire supernatural community. Both had their pros and cons though. June was prone to wanting to be the first to act. Arden had the opposite problem. He always stepped back to look at the issue. Sometimes a little too long and too far, causing issues. 

We met every month to go over issues that were happening but sometimes I would have to see their fucking faces outside of working hours when shit like this happened. You could fight for your position within the princes which most likely was going on here. But Gav and Roland had been switching 6th and 7th place for months but they never thought it might be better to maybe challenge 4th or 5th. 

Pulling on my uniform slacks, I gently lifted my jacket and slipped into it, carefully buttoning every button. The moment I put on this uniform, I was now an Alpha Prince. Even if I wasn’t ever going to be king, it didn’t matter. My hair was still too short and it was useless to try and tame it when I was just going to let it blow in the wind. Attaching my cape, over my right shoulder, I looked in the mirror. Outside of my boots, everything was immaculate. I wasn’t about to wear my dress shoes into the fucking swamps where Gav and Roland liked to throw their little war games.

Walking down the stairs, I cursed, forgetting that Silas was here. Thier eyes widened to sauces as I turned the corner but it was Noah who was the quickest.

“Oh fuck no you don’t.”