Chapter 74: It will all be over soon
"Ares! What is the meaning of this?" Alpha Kieran started as his son barged into his study.
"There is a dead dog in the middle of the market square. Its head was cut off and a crown was placed on its skull. And written on the wall in its blood were the words: ’Your Alpha is weak and dead just like this dog.’"
Ares crossed the room in three strides, planting his hands on the edge of his father’s desk and leaning forward.
Alpha Kieran went still and for a moment, Ares was not sure his father had heard him.
"What were you doing in the market square?"
"Is that the point, father? Your people saw someone behead a dog and term said dog as you. What do you think that is going to incite in them?"
Alpha Kieran’s grip tightened against his arm chair.
"This is the work of the rogue king," he said. "He is making a statement. He wants the people to see us as weak and he wants them to doubt me. That is why I am throwing a banquet."
Ares regarded his father like he had completely lost his mind.
"A banquet? Are you fucking serious?"
"Language, son."Alpha Kieran snapped at his son. "The banquet is exactly what we need. It will show the people that we are not afraid, that we are still standing."
"Standing?" Ares let out a bitter laugh. "Father, there is a message in blood on a wall in our own market square telling the pack that you are as good as dead, and you want to dance and drink wine?"
"Soren thinks that is exactly..."
"Soren?" Ares echoed. "You are going to let Soren decide what is best for our people. Are you not their Alpha?"
"Careful, son."
"What about what I told you about the rogue king?" Ares pressed, refusing to back down. "I told you he was not at the borders. I told you he had disappeared from his camp and probably into our pack. Have you looked into that at all?"
"Of course, we are still looking into it," Alpha Kieran said. "The scouts are searching everywhere as we speak. It is obvious this is his handwork but we cannot let that incite more fear in our people."
"Look around you, father. Your people are already scared. He is benefiting from making you look weak in front of them."
Alpha Kieran rose from his chair. "You think I do not know all of this? You think I am not aware of the danger we are in?"
"Then act like it." Ares’ voice rose. "Cancel the banquet, assemble the council and let us figure this out before he strikes again."
"And how would you suggest I do that, Ares?"
"Shut the gates and starve the pack until someone confesses? You do not understand what it means to lead, to balance the safety of the people with their trust. If I lock them down out of fear, I have already lost."
Ares opened my mouth to respond, but the door to the study swung open before he could get the words out.
Soren walked inside.
"I heard what happened in the square," he said, his eyes moving from Alpha Kieran to Ares. "I have already sent men to remove the body and erase the message. The crowd has been dispersed."
Ares turned on him. "As I have been telling my father, there is no need for a banquet when people are dying every day from random attacks orchestrated by the rogue king. We should be focusing our resources on finding whoever is responsible for this."
"On the contrary, Prince Ares," he said smoothly. "The announcement of a banquet is the perfect thing in times like these. It reminds the people that we are not afraid and will not let the rogue king cower us in our homes. Celebration and feasts take their mind off things as best it can."
Ares’ jaw tightened. "You do not get to decide what is best for our people."
"I am the Beta." Soren answered. "Advising the Alpha is my duty and my privilege. You do not need to worry yourself over matters like this, Prince Ares. You are still young and you are speaking emotionally."
Ares stared at him in disbelief before turning to his father who also nodded in agreement with what Soren had said.
"Fine." Ares said. "I will leave you two to it."
He turned on his heel and walked out before he said something he would regret.
"Ares." A voice stopped him right outside the door.
Soren walked up to him.
"I know this is difficult for you. You want to protect your father and your pack. But sometimes, the best way to do that is to trust those who have been doing this longer than you have."
"Is there a point to this?"
Soren’s smile did not waver. "Only that it will all be over soon. Do not worry."
He turned and walked back into the study, closing the door behind him.
It will all be over soon? What the hell was that supposed to mean?
Was he talking about the rogue king? The banquet? Or something else entirely? Ares thought.
Ares began walking.
He did not realize where he was going until he found himself standing in front of Ayla’s door.
The way he had left things with her, telling her to go to her room like she was a child who needed to be scolded.
To think she had only wanted to give him a moment’s peace and he had repaid her by shutting down.
He lifted his hand to knock again before stopping.
The door was ajar. Ares could see through the crack, into the room.
Ayla had her arms wrapped around his brother, Cassian almost like she was comforting him.
Ares took a step back just as Cassian lifted his head from her shoulder and their eyes met.
In the depths of Cassian’s eyes, Ares could see just one thought; Fuck off.