Page 6

Chapter

Six

K YSON

Fury simmers within me, threatening to spill over.

Azalea’s audacity to assert her authority, even if technically she has none over me, sends a surge of anger coursing through my veins.

The implications of her actions weigh heavily on my mind as I storm towards my office, frustration gnawing at me.

How can I always come second to her? I’ve dedicated weeks to caring for her, and yet she defends the very person responsible for putting her in such a state. For killing our child.

Damian is waiting in my office for me when I open the door, engrossed in the paperwork strewn across my desk. He glances up as I enter, his disapproving gaze as I move toward my bar and pour myself a drink.

“What’s that look for?” I demand, my voice tinged with irritation.

“Do I really have to spell it out?” he retorts, leaning back in his chair. I hand him his drink and he takes it, savoring the taste as he takes a sip.

“Azalea?” he ventures, and a growl escapes my throat. My Lycan side ripples beneath my skin, still restless from the recent shift.

“Don’t!” I warn him sharply, the warning clear in my eyes.

Damian clicks his tongue.

“Your anger and your drinking,” he holds his glass up. “Is getting the better of you!” he snaps at me as I take my seat.

I sink into my seat with a heavy sigh, and Damian rises from his chair, moving around the room to retrieve a pair of black shorts from the closet behind the door. He tosses them to me, and I snatch them from the air before setting down my glass of whiskey.

“How did you go?” I ask him while pushing out my chair so that I can pull them up my legs.

“I’m thinking of sending someone to Crux. Perhaps they can gather some information by visiting the brothels,” Damian suggests, just as Liam saunters into the room. I slump further in my chair, feeling the weight of my responsibilities pressing down on me.

“Ah, you should be with Azalea,” I remark to Liam, who shrugs nonchalantly.

“Well, I’m here. And Trey is with her,” he responds casually, making his way towards the bar area. Instead of grabbing a glass, he grabs the entire bottle, topping up my glass before taking a swig for himself as he tips the bottle to his lips.

“Saving that liver of yours my King,” he says while sending me a wink. I pick up my glass and sip it, turning my attention back to Damian who I send off to look into the council finances along with Alpha Deans and Alpha Brock’s pack finances.

“Do you still think they have something to do with the missing children?” I inquire, sharing his suspicions. Our doubts about that particular pack have lingered for quite some time, but we are still in need of concrete evidence.

“Yes. Well, I don’t believe Ester is going around killing children. But even after you commanded her the other day …”

“Half commanded her. I wouldn’t call it a full command,” Liam chuckles as we both look at him.

“What? Gannon said she didn’t even break out in a sweat. So I would hardly call that a command,” Liam says, making my brows pinch because he is right. She put up no fight at all to my persuasion when I questioned her.

“Hmm...interesting,” I mull over the thought. Liam is right; her lack of resistance during my questioning raises questions of its own.

“Interesting? I don’t trust the bitch. Too much doesn’t add up,” Liam says and he is right. We are barely at the tip of the iceberg.

“What do you think of Trey?” I ask him.

“Ferret Face Fuck? I will admit that I had him pegged wrong but Ester...” He shakes his head.

“Too much doesn’t add up. And did you see Trey’s reaction when he learned about Marrissa? That was a genuine surprise, he wasn’t aware.”

“Yes, the whole Marrissa situation is baffling. Why didn’t she come forward?

It defies logic. If Peter is Landeena, she would know that we would protect him.

So why the secrecy?” Damian questions, shrugging his shoulders.

His point is valid – Landeena’s have immunity, so who is Ester hiding Peter from?

“Do you think Ester is lying?” I probe further, and both Damian and Liam nod in agreement.

“Not entirely, but there are half-truths woven into her narrative. Marrissa had been working here for years and hadn’t made a move against Claire.

She started in the gardens with Tanner before moving to the castle, yet she still had ample opportunity to strike at the kingdom.

So why did it take her two years to act, Kyson?

That’s what I find strange,” Liam points out, his words resonating with me.

“Hmm, you’re right,” I concede. “That does sound suspicious. Make sure someone is constantly with Ester and Peter, keeping them off castle grounds and under guard until we can resolve this situation.”

“And what about Crux? Can I send a few men to investigate these places?” Damian inquires, picking up a piece of paper from the pile.

“Deluxe Night and Midnight Tricks Gentleman’s Club?” Liam plucks the paper from Damian’s hand.

“I volunteer myself, my King,” he declares confidently. “I’ll test out the girls for surveillance purposes, don’t worry.”

“Surveillance - not a test run,” Damian corrects him sternly.

“Scratch and sniff; taste and whiff - whatever it is, I volunteer my time and pecker for the task,” Liam declares as Damian shakes his head.

“The sacrifices I am willing to make for you, my King,” he continues unabatedly. “I’ve got this one handled - Dustin can come along...” He ponders for a few minutes.

“Damian, you should come too. It could be a boys’ night out – you might finally get lucky. It might help with that stick you have shoved up your ass. What do you say?” Liam suggests, nudging Damian playfully. Damian growls in response.

“And what exactly is Dustin going to do at a brothel?” Damian questions, his tone laced with frustration.

“He can handle the surveillance while I test out the girls. Duh!” I give Damian a pointed look, silently urging him to accompany Liam to ensure no trouble arises.

Liam has a knack for bringing women home with him, and Damian’s presence would serve as a deterrent.

Damian groans, running a hand over his face.

“Fuck! Fine,” he concedes with a defeated shake of his head.

“I need to find some appropriate attire for our outing,” Liam exclaims excitedly before taking another swig from the bottle of whiskey.

He lets out a loud burp. “You’ll have to drive though,” he informs Damian, holding up the bottle.

“I’ve already had a few; don’t tell the boss man,” he whispers, though I raise an eyebrow at his comment, considering the boss man just watched him down his liquor.

“He’s going to be the death of me,” Damian laments, and I chuckle.

“That’s Liam for you,” I assure him, and he nods in agreement.

“Yeah, if he weren’t so damn reliable, and trustworthy, I’d kill him myself,” Damian jokes as he stands up from his seat.

“I’ll be back in three days then - will you be alright here?

” His words are more statement than question as I wave him off, telling him to go ahead.

Damian needs a few days off - not that they’re really taking time off - but it’s good for him to leave the castle grounds for once.

And Liam will force him to relax which is why I don’t protest his desire to accompany them.

“If you need me, just call, and I’ll come back,” Damian offers before making his way towards the door.

“I’ll be fine; I just need to get Azalea in line,” I reply, my words more determined than convincing.

“She’s not a pet, Kyson. And if you want her to listen to you, treat her as an equal,” Damian retorts.

“I do treat her as an equal!” I protest defensively.

“Only when it suits you. I heard about Ester and Peter. Yes, they deserved punishment, but dragging Azalea along and forcing her to witness it? Who were you really punishing, Kyson? Peter or her? Because it seemed like both,” Damian admonishes incredulously, shaking his head as he slips on his coat.

“She needs to understand how things work. She needs to learn to lead,” I argue, my voice tinged with stubbornness.

“Yes, alongside you – but every time she tries, you shut her down or exploit her vulnerabilities. If you want her to learn to rule beside you, show her how and stop forcing her. She did what any woman in her position would have done – anyone who knows the pain of that damn whip. Azalea understands that pain, and yet you made her watch?” Damian rebukes, his tone filled with frustration.

“They needed punishment, Damian,” I insist stubbornly but he shakes his head in dissent.

“You’re never going to learn, Kyson. If you want respect from her, then show some too! I’m sick and tired of...you know what? If you want to help while I’m gone: teach her how to un-command Dustin and Gannon, so I can have a damn night off!” Damian snaps before turning on his heel and walking out.

I huff as the door clicks shut behind him.

Deep down, I know he’s right. In a way, I punished Azalea for not allowing me to exact my own form of justice.

Shame washes over me as I realize the truth in Damian’s words.

My anger and jealousy have clouded my judgment and tainted my actions.

Damian is right; if I want respect from Azalea, I must show her the same.

I am sickened by my own behavior; my anger and jealousy have gotten the better of me.