Chapter 104: Kieran, the Impotent
"Kieran, you cannot possibly believe that?"
"And why not, Soren?" Alpha Kieran asked. "The priestess certainly believes it. There is no way Ayla could harness such powers if she did not descend from an Alpha bloodline and now we know that Brenna and I indeed had sex around the time of her conception. It is the only possible explanation."
"But..."
"Leave me" Alpha Kieran cut in. "All of you, leave. I would like to think in peace and quiet."
Soren’s mouth closed.
Brenna rose to her feet, tears still streaked on her face but her chin was held higher than Soren had seen it in years and he did not like that.
He bowed to the Alpha and followed them out, the door clicking shut behind them.
Soren caught Brenna’s arms before she could walk away.
"What the hell are you and your little spawn planning?" He hissed at her.
"Unhand me, Soren."
"Is the priestess in on it too? Did the three of you cook this up?"
"Planning?" Brenna wrenched her arm from his. "You think I would fabricate something like this?"
"I think you would do anything to get in Alpha Kieran’s good graces." He smirked at her. "Including forcing your bastard child on him. She is not his."
"And how sure are you of this?" Brenna shot at him. "You have never wanted to acknowledge Ayla and now you find out that she is not yours to begin with and suddenly you want to claim her?"
Soren did not speak.
"You should be happy she is no longer a burden you have to bear" Brenna stepped closer. "Except..." she eyed Soren’s face. "What do you know, Soren?"
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means you seem so sure she is not the Alpha’s"
"Yes, she is not. Because I know you are nothing but a whore and a liar, Eva and you could have fucked some obscure Alpha for all I know and had your little cunt bastard of a daughter."
He released her, straightening his tunic. "Whatever you are doing will not succeed. I will make sure of it."
He turned and walked away from her.
There was no way Ayla could be Kieran’s daughter, he thought as he walked.
None.
Because Kieran could not father a child. Soren had known about it right after his marriage to Isolde when she had come to him begging him to help her.
She had been Luna for four years then. Four years without a child and with everyone whispering about how barren she was. Only the fault had not been from her at all.
Soren could still remember that night as clear as day.
Isolde had come into his study, crying.
Help me, Soren. I cannot bear them calling me cursed anymore. Kieran and I have tried but to no avail and there is nothing wrong with me. This, I have confirmed from the healers.
She had asked him as her friend and he had said yes because she was the one woman he would do anything for.
One child. That was their agreement.
But when they touched, they realized what Soren had known all along.
She was his and she would always be his.
The Moon Goddess may have fated her to Kieran but her wolf called to his.
So they did not stop at one as they agreed and soon they had three children... three sons right before Isolde had died birthing Damon.
So you see why he was sure Ayla was not his?
Kieran was sterile, except...what if he wasn’t?
What if somehow, that one night with Brenna had indeed left her with a child?
Thinking about it now, he could not remember ever having sex with Brenna around that period. He had been mourning Isolde in his own way.
Soren slowed as he approached his study, suddenly sensing that something was wrong.
He reached his door and tried the knob. It was unlocked and when he pushed it open, the chaise by the window was empty.
Willow was gone.
...
"Oh great! You are up. I was beginning to think you would never wake."
Willow groaned, sitting up.
"What happened?" she croaked.
"When you did not return after saying you were going to see your father. I figured something had gone wrong and came to find you."
"You did?" she stared up at the stranger.
"Yes, I did. What happened? Why were you unconscious?" he asked.
Willow’s jaw tightened at this.
"My father knocked me unconscious." she answered
"Why would he do that?"
"Because I figured out his other secret. I found out he is the father of all three princes."
"Oh"
Willow’s head snapped up, her eyes narrowing.
"You knew? You knew and said nothing to me?" she accused.
"I knew you are a smart girl and will figure it out eventually and look, you did."
"How could he?" she rose to her feet. "How could he betray my mother like this, betray me!"
The rogue king came up behind her. He could not believe how well this was going for him. He had the keys to the archives, he had Willow eating out of the palm of his hands. He just needed one more thing.
"Forgive me, Willow but maybe he had his reasons?" he mocked.
"Reasons?" Willow whirled around. "I would love to hear his reasons for ruining my life."
"He needs to pay for this." Willow muttered under her breath.
"And how do you plan on making that happen?" He asked her.
Willow thought about it for a moment before her lips curved in a smile.
"How about everyone finding out what a man my father is."
"You sure you want to do that? You will be affected too in the end, you know?"
Willow turned to him, regarding him with a glint in her eye.
"You said you were leaving soon, did you not?"
He nodded.
"Good. By the time he realizes what I have done, I will be long gone... with you."