Page 173 of King Alejandro

“Throw him out!” I heard Father order from somewhere far away.

Was I dying? I was all alone. No one cared for me… maybe it was better if I died, too…

“Take him before I kill him!” He hissed, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me.

Yes, kill me. I want to go to Mother…

He turned and slammed his foot on my head. Searing pain filled my body, and I wondered if this was what death felt like. When your body was in so much pain that you could no longer breathe. Everything was getting darker. I thought I saw Father walking away.

“Stay awake, young master…” someone was whispering

I don’t want to… just…please, let me die.

Darkness was calling me, and I welcomed it happily.

Marcel

Leo’s eighteenth birthdaywas finally here, with only an hour to spare. It was something I wanted to celebrate with our entire pack, but he didn’t want that. Even though we were in trying times, it was still a special one.

I was concerned as to why he wanted to come on the mission or why Alejandro would agree. Did he trust Leo to behave? I didn’t. I was worried he’d mess something up and it would cause more problems, but when I spoke to Alejandro yesterday, he had said Leo was only concerned about me.

Looking at the boy who sat there, tapping his foot, earphones in and smoking a cigarette, I felt like I was losing the boy who was once full of innocence and hope. Maybe I had lost him years ago… but seeing him sitting there, so grown… I wondered where the time went. His mother would have loved to be here…

“Are you just going to stand there?” He remarked coldly, glancing up at me.

“I want to witness my son’s first shift,” I replied. He didn’t respond to that, and I sighed. “Leo. It’s still not too late to celebrate in the morning-”

“With what? A cake and candles? I’m eighteen, Dad, not eight.”

“Well, you should do something with your friends at least. Maybe pizza, a movie-”

“Nah, we’re going to head down to a strip club tonight,” he smirked arrogantly, and I frowned.

“That’s not the best choice. Your memorable eighteenth, and you’re going to go spend it at a club.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, I’ve been to one countless times. If you can’t tell, people already think I’m older than I look.” He shrugged.

“You are at the age where you may find your mate,” I reminded him. Just the thought of it made me think that the poor girl would have a lot to deal with.

“I don’t think I’ll find my mate this early. Hopefully, never.” He shrugged, unbothered as he glanced at the time.

“Don’t say that. They are a blessing.”

“Or a curse.”

“Leo, why do you want to go on this mission?” I asked quietly. He frowned and looked at me sharply, all laziness and attitude vanishing.

“I already told you, to watch your fucking back,” he growled.

“I don’t need a pup to watch out for me.” I frowned.

“Actually, you fucking do, especially when we all know they’ll throw you to the fucking devil first.” He believed that. He truly believed that…

“Leo, do you truly believe that I will be alone out there?”

He stood up, towering slightly over me as he walked towards me, taking out his ear pods.

“You will be. And the most pathetic part is, you don’t fucking see it.”