Father and son

"And you left them alone?"

"Father I had to,"

"It was quite an unsightly event. I was embarrassed at how he did that," Skoll laughed.

"I knew it was going to happen. He dare not attack her," Lord Horgan told his son.

"But father, the risk was high," Skoll warned his father. He arrived two hours ago, but he didn't come directly to his father. Other things needed to be done.

"But in the end, it's worth it," Lord Horgan replied, staring at his son.

"You know I foresaw his limitations. Since he came to shout at me, I know how far he could go to protect her," Lord Horgan replied. Skoll admired his father's predictions. How could he have expected such to happen? For a very long time, he had always been looking up to his father's political ideas and his plans. His father is always a step ahead of him.

Even when he was young, that he tried sneaking out of their pack to seek refuge under the Ultimate Alpha's pack, his father had expected him. No one would go through such rigorous training as he went through, and you expect him not to want to run away. He was placed under the supervision of experienced Betas. And at times aggressive guards from other Pack, who have no respect for him.

Skoll always knew what sort of life he was destined to live but then he had hoped it would change. He hoped it would get easier and less strenuous. But still, then, he respected his father. And for that reason, when his father began telling them how evil the Ultimate Pack is, he believed his father. Other people questioned his father. Other Alphas initially didn't understand why he left but later on, his father explained. He had told them that the Ultimate Alpha and his Pack are manipulators. They prey on the weak and make sure people do not get stronger and more advanced than them. But with time, his father told him the reason he defected as a member of the court of the Ultimate Alpha.

"Just as expected of you father," he replied.

"But what about the reason why he was sent to disrupt the peace of the town," Skoll asked. He must mention it. He doesn't mean to underrate his father's speculative intuition, but he just needed to fill his curiosity.

"I guess according to the conclusion arrived at the last meeting, it's supposed to be one of the major things that would lead to the large-scale revolt?" He asked his father. He watched his father shake his head, acknowledging his intelligence. He likes it when his father smiles at his comments or questions. It boosts his self-confidence.

"About that, I have thought about it. We will have to fill someone in," Lord Horgan replied.

"Can I take up the position?" He asked his father diligently

"No,"

"Father?"

"Ha! You raised your head suddenly when I said no. I understand your deep sense of duty, but let others take up that mantle. You have done enough," Lord Horgan replied. This is a starter. His father praising him? It's not every time such happens. In all honesty, it's the first time it's happening. He has never been praised for having done enough. It's that he could always…

The creak of the large door to the courtroom interfered with his rail of thoughts. He turned and faced his back to his father. He saw one of the guards at the gate come in. He isn't in a rush. Skoll figured it must be something not urgent. Else, he would have rushed to report. Skoll relaxed his guard a bit. He had placed his body in a position that would allow him to switch easily.

"My Lord, two maids await outside. They seek your attention for a very important matter," the guard said, bowing before his father. Skoll moved closer to his father, and he stood behind him.

"What is the situation?"

"They said it's confidential and must only be relayed to you, My lord," the guard reported.

"Whose maids are they?" Skoll asked

"Lady Mara's maid,"

"Mara's maid?" Skoll asked alarmingly. He looked at his father for an immediate response. Skoll believes he had overreacted. He shouldn't have voiced his concern that way.

"Let them in," Lord Horgan replied with ease. His voice had no form of pretense. It is as cold as it has always been.

"Yes my Lord," the guard stood up and turned.

Cathulf and Dinar narrated everything that happened to them ever since they arrived at the market. But they skipped the part where they talked to Farkas. They had to fabricate something to cover that up. They told Lord Horgan of all Aaron did. Skoll couldn't believe his ears.

"But I was there. He didn't show the tendency of hurting either of them. He was calm," he frowned at himself. Skoll didn't look at his father, lest their faces meet.

"Where is she now?"

"My Lord, we were sent back by the Ultimate Luna to tell you what happened. She is at the Ultimate pack," Cathulf said. Half dying and half biting her tongue. Skoll could hear the fear in her voice. Her voice cracked at a point. Her voice box acted like it packed mucus.

"The Ultimate pack?" Skoll asked.

"How did she get there? Why is she there?" He asked them curiously. He couldn't calm down. He believes the hatred they have for the Ultimate pack is the same as the Ultimate pack has for them.

"Is she safe? And why did the Ultimate Luna send you here?" He asked, reducing the time that he would have loved to speak. He believed she must have been held down as a form of ransom. His sister is a prisoner of this cold war. He believed the Ultimate Alpha will try to use her to get to his father. And he knows the sort of man his father is. He will never stoop down to being captured or punished because of his daughter. He will never compromise. It's something that his father will never do. And for that, his sister will have to suffer for his own mistake. They would tie up his sister and hang her around their pack so she could serve as a scapegoat?

"No! No!!" He cried in his head. It must not happen. If it is to go serve in his sister's place, he would. But he mustn't show that out. His father won't have it.

"She is. She fainted along the way, and she was carried to the medical room of the Ultimate Alpha,"

"Aaron did that to her?" Skoll asked.

"Yes My Lord,"

"What message did she send to you?" Lord Horgan asked. The first time he is speaking since those two maids came in.

"She said to inform you of her safety. And that once she is well, she will bring back my lady herself," Cathulf replied.

"And when–"

"Good! Leave!" Lord Horgan interrupted Skoll. Skoll felt insulted. He can't imagine how mad his father is right now.

The two maids hurried out.

"Kulaf!" Lord Horgan called out to the guard.

"Kulaf!" Skoll echoed it. The guard came in immediately Skoll called. He knelt before Horgan.

"Do not let anyone come in. Not until I order you to," Horgan ordered.

"Yes my Lord," He left.

"Skoll," Lord Horgan called his son. Skoll came before him and knelt immediately. He didn't look at his father. It's understandable if his father is angry right now.

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In moments like this, most people will be worried and angry at the status of their current situation. A situation where your daughter is under the care of your worst enemies. But in Lord Horgan's case, he is calm for a reason best known to him. His son who stood behind him fears if his sister is okay. No matter how he tried hiding it, Lord Horgan could sense it from him. The feeling of guilt that enveloped him could be sensed from the aura he was giving off.

He knew something was going to get wrong with the mission he gave Aaron. He had given Aaron just so he could particularly fail him. He couldn't tolerate Aaron from the beginning. Every time Aaron joins the meeting, he is usually angry. He gets irritated at Aaron's presence. But he needed to strengthen his alliance with Aaron's pack. They are one of the greatest allies you must have during war. But Aaron himself is not the kind of person Horgan ever wanted in his castle. His pride, his weird contributions, his lack of insights. There are just lots of things that make Aaron the sort of man Horgan hates. If he was to put him off, it has to be in a diplomatic manner such as failing him in a mission. He had been sorting for a way of doing such for a long time. But since his wife told him about Leowulf and Mara's meeting, he saw the right moment to lay him off. Even though he did not expect things to have escalated the way they did now.

"We will put a stop to every plan of rebelling we have made," Horgan said to his son.

"Why father?" His son, Skoll asked curiously. He sees his son as a Tsundere for his sister.

"I know Audolf. With the capture of Aaron, he will be suspectful of him. And any attack now will shift the blame and suspicion to Aaron," Lord Horgan replied.

"So what's to be done?"

"We calm down and restrategize. This Aaron has actually gone beyond my expectations. He is worse," Horgan bit his lower lip and stoop up.

"Go and call me your mother," Lord Horgan ordered his son.

Horgan knows what his son's thoughts might be. He might wonder why he is unnecessarily calm at the situation. He hasn't told his son of the recent occurrence. He never mentioned the meeting between Mara and the Ultimate Alpha's son to him. Also, Lord Horgan knows the Ultimate Luna. She isn't such a person that would dare use his daughter for political reasons. He knows that his daughter is in safe hands.