Page 3 of Chosen (The Registry #2)

Chapter

Two

DRAKEN

“ I n the name of diplomacy, you could have waited for Sector Leader Magnus’s official wedding ceremony to collect your breeder. She is after all, the sister of his wife.” Braeden reminds me yet again.

I’ve lost count of how many times he’s reminded me of what he sees as my folly.

Usually his advice holds weight in my decisions concerning how I rule my sector and how I conduct myself as its leader.

He is after all, my closest advisor and my cousin, the only family I have left.

But on this matter, I will do as I please.

“You’ve spoken your mind on this issue already. I will hear no more about this.”

Braeden releases an exasperated sigh. “Can’t you see that you’re making a big mistake here?

You could garner a lot of good will between you and Sector Leader Magnus by allowing your breeder this time to be with her family.

It’s my understanding she hasn’t had much time with them since her reassignment to the manor. ”

The more my cousin speaks, the more irritated I grow.

Perhaps he believes he can change my mind by giving me further details on the situation.

I am more than aware of my breeder’s situation.

She and her family broke the law by living on an off-the-grid commune.

They had defied one of the most important rules on our planet.

Entering the Registry.

In some cases, such a grave offense would have resulted in the death penalty or at the very least, assignment to a hard labor camp. In my sector, the entire population in that commune would have been executed on the spot.

Did I think Magnus was soft for allowing most of the defectors to live? Perhaps, but that wasn’t my call. I suppose if he did, I would not have found my breeder through the new cross referencing program he’d introduced at the last summit.

“Are you just going to ignore me?” Braeden demands.

I continue to scroll through the latest reports on one of the mines in my sector where a new metal was recently discovered. A discovery that could prove fortuitous to the prosperity of our land.

“I didn’t realize, you required a response.”

I hear the thundering sound of his footsteps marching in my direction before Braeden slams his hand on the center of my desk. “Do my words no longer hold weight with you? I may not be the Sector Leader, but I know you’re making a mistake if you don’t heed my advice.”

I finally raise my head to meet his gaze. It’s not often that I get irritated with my cousin, but his tone is borderline disrespectful, and I don’t wish to continue this conversation. “I’ve considered your words but my decision still stands. Don’t bring this topic up again.”

He raises a brow, clearly surprised by my words. It’s not often that I’m curt with him but on this matter, I won’t be swayed.

“I’m not sure what I’ve done to offend you.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose as I feel a tension headache coming on. “I meant no offense, only that I no longer want to speak on the subject. If this issue means so much to you, then you have only to challenge me and you can run the sector the way you wish.”

His mouth falls open.

The moment the words leave my mouth, my stomach clenches as if I was punched by a huge fist of guilt.

Me and Braeden both knew in a challenge, he stood no chance against me.

I’m larger than him by a foot, more muscular, and I have the ability to shift.

But most of all, because of the years of abuse he suffered at the hands of the previous Sector Leader.

He only had partial use of his left arm.

Braeden immediately closes his mouth and raises his chin. He briefly tugs on the sleeve of his left arm, something he does when he’s agitated.

“I misspoke. My apologies,” I say to rectify the situation.

“As you’ve pointed out, you are the Sector Leader and free to run your sector as you see fit. But just remember a wise leader is one who recognizes his own weaknesses and is willing to seek the advice from those who are more knowledgeable.”

Without giving me a chance to respond, he turns on his heel and leaves my office.

I can no longer concentrate on the documents in front of me. All the letters merge together and seem to be swimming right before my eyes. I could switch the setting to audio so that it can read the words in the report to me directly but now, my head is pounding.

I could go after my cousin and apologize again for my careless words, but he’s as prideful as I am and talking to him while his anger is still fresh will do no good.

Instead, what I need the most right now is to clear my head and the best way to do that is to shift and take a walk around the compound.

“System off,” I command making the holographic screen disappear.

I push away from my desk, frustrated with how little progress I’ve made with the current project I’d like integrated into my sector. I would usually ask Braeden to help me understand the more complicated pieces of projects such as this but lately, I realize I’ve become too dependent on him.

Maybe my detractors are correct. I have no business being the Sector Leader, but I will be damned if I allow this sector to fall into the corrupt hands of the people who ruled this area into near ruin.

I’ve been Sector Leader for nearly four years now, and only recently has sector 10 become a desirable place to inhabit for my superious brethren.

Despite being the coldest region on the planet, recently my sector has experienced recent waves of immigration due to some of the programs that have been implemented with promises of high paying positions.

I understand that there’s a faction of detractions who would like to see me removed from my position.

I’m certain they would challenge me if they believed themselves capable of winning so instead, they say the right words in my face but whisper about their dissatisfaction of my leadership behind my back.

I know what they think of me. That I’m a brute. That I lack the intelligence required of a good leader. That I’m more beast than man. I’ve even heard that the only reason there has been positive changes in this sector is because my cousin advises me and that he should be the Sector Leader.

Sometimes I agree with them. Perhaps I should have let him be Sector Leader and I be his General who would protect him from any challenges to his position.

There are some sectors that have leadership arrangements like that, but those leaders faced more challenges and turnover of leadership was often high.

Shortly after the last summit, I’d attended, the leaders from sectors 1 and 3 were dethroned from their positions after successful challenges.

The former leader of sector 1 was killed during his battle while the leader from 3 was beaten into submission.

He has disappeared and has not been heard from since his humiliating defeat.

It was no big loss for either of those sectors.

The former leaders had both been cowards who had tried to plot against the Sector 2 Leader.

Sector Leader Magnus is one of the few leaders whom I respect and I recognize that his unconventional ideas are what has made his sector one of the most prosperous regions on the planet.

I hope to see such growth in the area in which I run but many doubts assail me.

I step out of my office where two Enforcers are posted on either side of the door.

Their presence makes me uneasy because there has never been a time when I haven’t been able to protect myself but Braeden insists that they need to be present.

He says the extra security is necessary to ensure I’m not disturbed while I work.

“My Lord will you be heading out?” One of the black garbed men, inquires.

I nod my head with a grunt.

“Do you require an escort?”

“No. Remain at your post,” I respond as I keep walking.

“But Chancellor Braeden said?—”

I pivot and quickly close the gap between me and the Enforcer. Before he can finish speaking, I grab him by the neck, lift him off his feet and squeeze. I bear my now elongated canines.

His eyes bulge as I apply more pressure.

“I will not repeat myself,” I growl.

He clutches my hand in an attempt to loosen my grip, but the more he fights, the tighter I grip his neck. His color changes from pink, to deep red and then to purple.

It’s only when his eyes close and his arms drop lifelessly at his sides do I realize that I’ve gone too far.

Immediately, I release my hold and his body drops to the ground.

The sudden return of color to his face indicates he’s still alive.

The other Enforcer watches on with wide eyes.

I can smell the fear oozing from his pours.

“Take him to the infirmary,” I order. “And if anyway asks for my whereabouts, you will inform them that I do not wish for them to know.”

I don’t wait for him to reply because I want to get away as quickly as possible. As I storm through the manor, toward my private exit, I pass several workers, who scurry out of my way. Some bow their heads, some call out greetings but I ignore them all.

My primal side is itching to break free and I can barely hold on to what little calm I have left.

When I reach my private elevator that can only be accessed by me and the Chancellor, I breath a deep sigh of relief and immediately begin to undo the fastenings on my clothing.

As soon as the elevator door opens, I start to disrobe.

I’m completely nude by the time I reach the secret room on the ground floor that has an exit leading directly to the back of the fortress. I step onto a moving walkway that transports me through the lush green fields of my property.