"Rose, Rubi, it's good to see you," Armina greeted the Alpha and Luna of Red Claw warmly before embracing each woman. Armina looked at the young Alpha and Luna fondly before inquiring on their health. The couple had received pressure to employ a male alpha to impregnate the Luna to produce an heir. The Alpha and Luna were against it and decided to adopt an orphaned alpha. Their decision caused much dismay in the council of Red Claw. Armina had always been an advocate for the two females and had vocalized her support whenever Fachan would join in pressuring the Luna to be impregnated by a male.
Jae stood to the side and watched his mother converse with the two, strong women before greeting the Beta and his family.
"How are you, Prince?" Zorin greeted the younger male politely as his twin sons came to stand beside him.
"I am well, thank you, Zorin," Jae replied with a short nod before his eyes trailed over to the two teenage boys, his eyes widening. "Are you Zech and Zane?" The prince inquired of the two youngsters who smiled and nodded in response. "Ae, Prince, we are," Zech, the elder of the twins answered. "Wow!" Jae exclaimed. "The last time I saw you, you were wee things."
"Time sure does fly," Zorin commented as he looked at his sons proudly before turning back to the prince. "I remember when you were their age, Prince."
"Ae, ae," Jae nodded. "Before you know it, they will be grown men."
"Ae, most certainly," Red Claw's Beta replied before dismissing himself and his family. "I am afraid we must ready ourselves for dinner. We arrived rather late. Our apologies." The Beta ended his sentence with a bow.
"No worries. I must prepare for dinner as well. Allow some of my assistants to guide you," Jae responded before waving over two of his assistants. After relaying his command to the assistants, the prince turned and nodded to the twins. "Zech, Zane, it was good to see you again."
"Ae, you as well," Zech replied before he and Zane bowed.
Jae watched the Beta and his sons follow the assistants into the castle before making his way to his quarters to prepare for the banquet. The four remaining assistants were stationed outside the prince's chambers as Jae switched his silver-blue shirt for a charcoal grey silk top with faint but intricate golden designs and a lace-up front and changed his silver crownlet for a gold version with a crimson sapphire studded at its peak.
Once fully dressed, the prince switched his shin-high boots for a pair that reached the bottom of his knee. Jae stood up straight from sliding on his boots as a voice sounded in his mind desperately. 'Jae!!' The prince sucked in his breath, and his heart rate spiked. Jae immediately returned the call. 'Kace! What's wrong? Where are you?' The prince wasted no time in rushing to his window and opening it upon Kace's answer. 'I'm coming.'
The true blood shifted into his wolf and leapt out of the opened window, immediately sprinting toward the cabin in the woods upon landing on the ground. The prince changed into his human form upon his arrival and dashed through the door what was opened wide. Jae's blood boiled at the sight before him. Kace was forced to his knees in front of the Gamma while his father prepared another strike.
"Hold your hand, Gamma!" Jae ordered sternly before quickly standing in front of the male on his knees. An array of guards had accompanied the Gamma and were spread out across the cabin. The two who were forcing Kace to remain on his knees released their hold and backed away when the true blood stormed over.
Kace's face was cold and distant, but tears formed in his eyes at the prince's arrival. Kace kept his eyes turned to the ground as Jae confronted the Gamma. "What are you doing, Gamma?"
"I came to make sure Kace would attend the banquet. It is high time for him to stop moping and take on his duties as future Gamma!" Kace's father was passionate in his answer; he did not see the wrong in his actions.
A scoff left Jae's lips, and flames roared in the true blood's eyes. "Moping?!"
"It was the Alpha's orders!" The Gamma declared in response. "Fachan ordered all royals to attend the banquet. I was only following your father's orders."
"To hell with my father's orders!" Jae bellowed. He could feel himself growing furious. "How dare you come here, beat Kace, and force him to take even one step in that god-forsaken palace!"
"You should watch your tongue, Prince," The Gamma warned. "Fachan may not like to hear those were your words."
Jae was dumbfounded. How could a father be so cruel to his son? The fire in Jae's heart grew as he became determined to protect Kace until the end since his very own father would not. "I don't give a-" A gentle tug on the prince's sleeve caught the true blood's attention. Jae turned and looked down to see Kace pinching his shirt carefully.
"I'll go."