Chapter 28 Alaric From my office window , their laughter carries on the morning breeze . Sage and Iris sit in the garden , heads bent together over breakfast , sunlight turning Sage's silver - blonde hair to starfire . My lycan rumbles with contentment at seeing our mate happy , even if we can't claim her yet . Then the wind shifts , bringing a scent that turns my blood to ice . My parents are here . Three weeks early . By the time the guards announce their arrival , I'm already in the courtyard . Phantom paces beneath my skin , agitated by the approaching threat to our fragile peace . Father's power hits like a physical wave as their carriage arrives - cold , implacable Alpha energy that used to send me to my knees as a pup . Now I stand firm , though something deep inside still wants to flinch . " Alaric . " His voice carries the weight of decades of judgment . Even before he steps down , his eyes scan the courtyard , cataloging weaknesses . " Your eastern guard post is exposed . A child could breach it . " " Father . " I bow exactly as deeply as protocol demands , not an inch more . " We weren't expecting you until next moon . " " A king must be ready for anything . " The lesson lands like all his others - sharp enough to draw blood . Mother descends gracefully , her presence a gentle counterpoint to his winter - steel energy . " My son . " Her embrace is brief , careful not to show too much warmth before my father's measuring gaze . Movement catches my eye - Sage slipping back into the shadows of the packhouse . Even at this distance , I can sense her unease . My lycan strains toward her , wanting to protect , to reassure . " The pack seems ... softer than when I last visited . " Father's words slice through my distraction . " One might worry you're losing your edge . " Don't react . Don't defend . Don't show weakness . The lessons rise automatically , carved into bone by years of similar conversations . But now they war with newer instincts - the need to protect what's mine , to challenge anyone who threatens my mate , even my own father . " The pack is stronger than ever , " I say instead , letting a careful measure of Alpha power color my tone . " Perhaps you'd like to inspect the new training programs . " His smile doesn't reach his eyes . " Perhaps I would . " Mother touches my arm as we walk , a ghost of comfort . She sees too much , always has . Her gaze drifts to where Sage disappeared , then back to me with knowing sympathy . - The morning dissolves into a parade of criticisms thinly veiled as concerns . Father finds fault with everything border patrols , training schedules , pack hierarchy . Each barbed comment carries the weight of remembered lessons : bruises from " training accidents , " nights spent in the cold to " build character , " endless lectures about weakness and duty and the price of power . By the time we gather for private family lunch , my beast is a snarling mass of barely contained rage . " Interesting choice , " Father says , cutting into his meat with surgical precision , " taking in a wolfless omega from Blackthorn . One might question the wisdom of such ... charity . " Across the table , Sage goes very still . Iris invited her , insisting on proper pack integration , but now my sister's Chapter 28 +25 BONUS defiant expression suggests she's regretting that choice . " Sage has proven herself valuable to the pack , " I say carefully , watching Father's reaction . " Has she ? " His eyes pin her like a butterfly to cork . " And how does a wolfless omega contribute to pack strength ? " Memory slams into me - being caught sneaking food to an injured omega when I was twelve . The week of isolation that followed . A king cannot afford mercy . Mercy gets warriors killed . But before I can respond , Sage straightens in her chair . " I help in the healing wing , my King . And I'm learning defense , to avoid being a burden on pack resources . " Pride wars with terror in my chest . My mate is stronger than anyone knows , but Father will see that strength as a challenge . His smile shows too many teeth . " Bold little thing , aren't you ? " TEALIN " Perseus. " Mother's quiet voice carries surprising steel . " Perhaps we should discuss the Northern Alliance instead . " The conversation turns to politics , but I feel Father's attention return to Sage throughout the meal , calculating and cold . Phantom howls to challenge him , to defend what's ours , but centuries of training hold me in check . Later , in my study , he finally strikes . " You're distracted , " he says , studying the territory maps on my wall . " Weak . I taught you better than this . " " The pack is thriving , " I counter . " Our borders are secure , our numbers growing- 11 " And yet you waste time on strays and lost causes . " He turns , power rolling off him in arctic waves . " A king cannot afford such ... indulgences . " Something inside me snaps . " Compassion isn't weakness . " The words hang between us like drawn blades . In thirty years , I've never directly challenged him . His eyes bleed Alpha - gold . " No ? Tell that to the warriors who die when their king's soft heart betrays them . " " And what about the ones who die because their king's heart is too hard to recognize their loyalty ? " The temperature in the room plummets . For a moment , I think he'll actually attack . Instead , he laughs like breaking ice . a sound " You've changed , " he says , and for the first time , I hear uncertainty beneath the disapproval . " Perhaps she's changed you ." He doesn't wait for my response , turning on his heel and leaving me alone with that truth . Hours later , I find myself outside the library . Sage's scent leads me inside , to where she sits curled in a window seat , moonlight painting her in silver . She looks up as I approach , violet eyes full of questions I'm not ready to answer , " I'm sorry , " I say quietly , " about lunch . " " Don't be . " She marks her place in her book opinions like his . " one of the ancient histories she favors . " Your father ... I'm used to The simple observation cuts straight through my walls . I want to tell her everything about the mate bond , about the ways she's awakening parts of me I thought died in childhood , about how terrifying and necessary that Chapter 28 +25 BONUS awakening is . Instead , I reach out and brush a strand of hair from her face . Her breath catches , and for a moment , the space between us feels charged with possibility . A guard clears his throat from the doorway . " Alpha , border report . " Reality crashes back . I step away , rebuilding my walls even as Phantom howls in protest . " Goodnight , sweetling . " Her quiet " goodnight " follows me into the darkness , where Mother waits in the shadows . " She's good for you , " she says simply . " She's dangerous , " Father's voice carries from further down the hall . " She makes you question your training . " " Maybe , " I say , surprising myself again , " some things should be questioned . " I leave them with that small defiance , my beast pacing restlessly beneath my skin . For the first time in my life , I'm becoming something my father never planned for , never wanted . Something tells me I'll pay for that choice sooner rather than later . But watching the moonlight catch on silver - blonde hair through the library window , I can't bring myself to regret it . Cara Anderson author