[Author's POV...]
[Fifteen years ago in Grendor]
"Dad, let me come with you!" Sixteen-year-old Ethan eagerly suggested to his father, excited to be a part of the adventure.
But instead of a yes or no reply, Ethan's father stormed up to him, his face contorted with anger, and delivered a harsh slap across his cheek. Confusion and hurt filled Ethan's eyes. What had he done wrong?
"I told you to stop calling me dad!" his father spat out bitterly.
Ethan had the best childhood any kid could only dream of in Grendor, but his teenage life was a hell.
His father had been his hero, always taking him on hunting and fishing trips, imparting valuable skills for the challenges that lay ahead. From a young age, Ethan displayed remarkable talent, proudly bagging his first bull at just ten.
He had been the perfect son Nathan could have ever asked for. But now, in his teenage years, something had changed, a mystery he had yet to uncover. The once strong bond between father and son had been shattered, and the reasons remained unknown to Ethan till this day.
Frustrated and desperate for answers, Ethan turned to his mother, Elizabeth, hoping she could shed light on the situation. But even she seemed deceitful, avoiding giving him a direct answer as to why Nathan had become so distant and cruel.
At first, Ethan thought his father was cold-hearted on him because he wasn't as strong as his father wanted. Determined to win back his father's approval, he trained tirelessly day and night, pushing himself to surpass all his age group in Grendor. However, no matter how much Ethan improved, his efforts seemed futile in the eyes of Nathan.
Ethan just turned sixteen and undergo his first wolf transformation, he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. He had longed for this day, hoping that somehow, his father, Nathan, would treat him differently.
The next day, as the sun began to rise, Nathan returned from his mysterious journey that had taken him all night. His tired eyes met Ethan's eager gaze, and without wasting any time, Ethan rushed to his father's side, brimming with excitement.
"I did it! I finally did it yesterday!" Ethan proclaimed with a wide grin.
Nathan furrowed his brows, puzzled by his son's words. "What is this all about?" he asked, genuinely unaware of what Ethan was referring to.
Ethan's smirk faltered for a moment, hoping that revealing his first transformation into a wolf would bridge the gap between them. "I transformed into a wolf last night," he replied, trying to contain his excitement.
Nathan's reaction was not what Ethan had expected. Instead of surprise or joy, Nathan calmly replied, "It took you long enough."
Ethan was taken aback by his father's response. He had hoped for validation or pride, but instead, Nathan's words were matter-of-fact, devoid of any emotional warmth. Still, there was a hint of relief in Ethan's heart. At least his father didn't yell at him or scold him, as he had done so often in the past.
In that fleeting moment, Ethan allowed himself to believe that progress was being made in their strained relationship. However, as Nathan prepared to leave the house, Ethan couldn't ignore the yearning to connect with his father on a deeper level.
"Dad, let me come with you!" Ethan called out, his voice carried desperation and hope.
But as quickly as the moment had arrived, it slipped away. Instead of a yes or no reply, Ethan's father stormed up to him, his face contorted with anger, and delivered a harsh slap across Ethan's cheek.
"I told you to stop calling me dad!" his father spat out bitterly.
Though disappointed, Ethan had become used to his father's distant treatment. The dream of finding acceptance and understanding from his father seemed farther away than ever. As Nathan left the house, leaving Ethan standing there, a wave of sadness washed over him. It was yet another reminder that their bond remained fractured, and Ethan couldn't help but wonder if he would ever find his way back into his father's heart.
[Presently... Emily's POV]
King Raven returned to his seat and commanded the officials to present their own perspectives on the situation.
"He's not only the son of a traitor, but also an invader from Midgard. I propose we sever his hands and legs to demonstrate our strength and resolve," declared one of the officials, advocating for a brutal punishment.
Another official chimed in with an even more heartless suggestion, leaving me uncertain whether their animosity was directed towards Ethan due to his connection to Midgard or his father, Nathan. It seemed that Ethan was guilty of both crimes.
"He may be the son of a traitor, but he is still a son of this soil. Let us not hold the sins of the father against the child," suggested a high-ranking official in a regal red robe, seeking to temper the harshness of the proposed punishment.
"Nobody is holding the father's sins against the son. In fact, the son seems to have committed even greater sins than his father. He has conquered three kingdoms alongside the people of Midgard in the last seven years. Those actions are not Raven's sins," interjected another highly ranked official, emphasizing Ethan's alleged wrongdoings.
"We all know that it's only a matter of time before Midgard considers invading our lands. We must confront these little threats head-on if we are to prevail when that day comes," the official continued, advocating for a proactive approach.
After listening to all the perspectives and suggestions from his officials, King Raven rose from his seat once more to deliver his verdict. "If they are here for an invasion, then let us show invaders what they truly deserve in Grendor. Burn them to death outside the palace hall."
I couldn't help but wonder if Ethan and King Raven's past was truly so severe that, despite being his uncle, King Raven sentenced Ethan to death by burning. The revelations about their relationship were both surprising and disturbing, adding another layer of complexity to the unfolding events.
Just when I thought Ethan's fate was decided, the same official member who had stood up for Ethan before spoke up again.
"They're not invaders from Midgard. I guess we already knew that; two Alphas can't possibly invade the entire Grendor. And they're not spies either because that's not the job for an Alpha."
King Raven was slightly angered, but with a mischievous smile, he turned to the official and asked him to prove his assumptions. However, the official had no proof other than just his words.
King Raven, who always liked to be seen as a just leader, spoke up. "If you have even the slightest proof that what you just said is true, then I will withdraw my judgment." Then he turned to the rest of the officials. "Does anyone have proof?"
None of the officials spoke up; they had already made up their minds.
Soon, the same official spoke up again. "What if this is a trap that the people of Midgard are setting for us? What if word gets to them about their Alphas being killed here, and they decide to take action? That's if they're not on their way already."
With a straight face, King Raven declared war against Midgard. "If the Midgards are coming for us, then so be it. This war has been long overdue anyway. But for now, we need to face the threat before us head-on."
"Burn them to death!" King Raven shouted without remorse for his cruel judgment against his own kin.
"I can prove it!" someone shouted out loud.
Oh wait... Was that me? When did I think of that, let alone voice it out?
"What's wrong with you?" Lily retorted.
But I immediately defended myself, claiming that I wasn't in control. I claimed that someone must be using dark magic or something to manipulate me. Then it struck me that my spirit wolf had awakened—the other half of Ethan's spirit wolf that Lucas talked about. It had finally come to life and was calling for Ethan.
Everyone turned their gaze in my direction immediately. Lily and Aiden were equally surprised that I had just screamed that loud for everyone to hear. I was sure that I didn't do that out of my own free will.
"Who was that?" King Raven asked, unable to see me from afar. He's by far the only werewolf that I've seen with such short-sighted gaze, and his missing eye wasn't an excuse. I've seen people with one eye before, and they could still see clearly despite being humans, so why would that of a werewolf be more blurred?
Aiden and Lily tried to hide me from everyone, but my body seemed to act against my will again as I moved forward towards Ethan and Laura.
Okay, something is definitely wrong here. I'm not in control of my body; The spirit wolf is manipulating it. First, I didn't want to say anything, yet I did, and now my body is moving on its own.
"Damn it.... Spirit wolf!" I said within myself.
As I arrived at the scene close to Ethan and Laura, King Raven was able to see my face clearly as well. He didn't recognize me, so he wondered who I was.
Few seconds later, a guard came to whisper into King Raven's ears, and the next word that escaped his lips was embarrassing.
"So, you're the Alpha's sex pawn?" He voiced out.
Was the sex pawn really this famous across the lands? I thought only the people of Midgard knew about the Alpha's sex pawn.
I immediately turned my gaze to look at Lily and Aiden; I knew that they must've been really struggling with this sudden revelation.
"So, she's the Alpha's sex pawn?"
"Why is she here?"
"Why is she standing up for him?"
"Is this part of their plan?"
The crowd whispered in different groups. With my werewolf ability, I was able to hear most of their whispers clearly. But in all, one whisper caught my attention.
"Emily has been the Alpha's sex pawn all this while?" It was coming from Lily and Aiden's direction.
To be continued...
[A great disclosed mystery coming up in the next chapter]