Jordan's POV
'What do you mean there's a problem?' I bellowed, my voice low and raspy as my fists slammed into the table.
'She won't let anyone touch her, my prince.' Jace, second most honored guard in my compound, said as he stepped back, afraid of my temper.
'It's just one fucking slave, deal with it.' I said, waving my fingers, shooing him away. He bowed his head, as he exited the room. Suddenly, I caught a whiff of a familiar scent. My instincts arose as my brows furrowed, causing me to stand from my desk.
Jace was already down on his knees when my mother entered, accompanied by my brother right behind her. I rolled my eyes and clenched my fist, already dreading this visit.
'Mother,' I let out.
'Jordan.' She spoke as she stared around the room, touching the surface as if to confirm it were being cleaned.
'Lucas.' I said, hating the hint of annoyance that my voice betrayed.
'Brother,' Lucas answered as he invited himself towards my scotch, already pouring himself a few shots.
'To what do I owe this pleasant visit.' I say, dismissing my guard.
'Well can't a mother just come to say hi to her favorite son.'
'Mom|!' Lucas painted, seeming offended. Faking offense. My mother shrugged as she walked towards my bed, sliding her fingers across the bed frame before staring at them, inspecting everything, as she's always done.
'I'm not a child anymore.' I quipped.
'You're still my child. You'll ner…'
'I. am. not. a. Child.' I sounded out every word with meaning, clenching my fist.
'Don't raise your voice at me.'
'What do you want?' I asked again, feeling my patience dwindle. My mother was perfect at pressing my buttons. It was almost as if she enjoyed doing it.
'Isn't it obvious?' Lucas spoke, His hands already preoccupied with my bottle of liquor. I stared at my mother following Lucas' words.
' She's not here.' I answered, Letting my shoulders fall with relief as I sat back on my chair.
' Obviously,' She shrugs. 'Your slaves don't sleep in one room with you. Have one of your men go fetch her for me?' She asked as she began looking around acting like a damn inspector. I didn't know how to deal with her. but this was already becoming annoying. the last thing I wanted was to have my mother meddling in everything that I did, especially in my own affairs.
'She's not here in the castle either.'
' What did you do? Did you already have her killed? Jesus Jordan can't you control your lycan beast for once?' Lucas spoke, Seemingly, with enough liquor already in his system.
' You don't have to assume the worst about me every time. she's gone to Dr Tankready.'
The board of them are quiet as they stare at me. I don't see the need to fill them in on any more information. they were already meddling to begin with.
' I looked forward to seeing you both 3 months from now.' I speak with a raised brow.
' Come on brother, We are family. you can't keep us away that easy.'
I roll my eyes as I snatch the liquor in his hands and continue to pour myself a short. This was the last thing I wanted to have to deal with today. First a stubborn slave, now my mother's whining and my brother's annoyance.
' Jordan, you're Going to be king within the next 90 days. it is time you fully take responsibility for the kingdom and practice good decision making and that begins with the border policy.'
' mother.'
' no, listen to me first,' She argued, ' It was already a tough job convincing your father to give you this task. He believes that he should handle everything before Ascension and I honestly think that is spoiling you.'
'Mother please,' I bellowed, setting down the bottle, 'I have already been handling enough responsibility as it is. the border policy is b******* and I don't want to take care of that now. Father can handle it. and that goes for every other thing he wants to throw at me just because he's stepping down.'
'Come on Jordan, say it as it is,' Lucas said, 'The old man is dying.'
There was a slight hint of happiness in his tone and I noticed the look of apprehension on my mother's face. She didn't like it when my brother referred to my father in that way. She hated the language and she hated the tone. most of all she hated the disrespect associated with that stone. my mother had raised us in a very specific way. respect to the top priority in this family and not only that but fear. We had been raised to fear my father and we had done so for the better part of All Our Lives. however something seemed to change the older my father grew. he became more welcoming and inviting towards us. he laughed more. in my opinion I saw it as a weakness. the older he became the weaker he got. he became soft. he became a pushover. and that was exactly what this boundary policy was about.
' you cannot say that. The policy will give the council a chance to see how much we are willing to change.'
' AND WHY SHOULD WE?!' my fist slammed on the table the instant my voice rose. The lycan inside me pulled for control, betraying my sense of composure. My mother and brother stared at me with a look of fear and shock. In reality, i was a worse man than my father, and my beast was always one to be feared.
'Son, come down.'
' This council is already stealing from us. It's not our fault that everyone fears us, power comes with consequence and responsibility mother, you know that.'' My fist clenched, I felt my wolf surface, reading to take over. I calmed myself, breathing deeply. " I don't understand why we can't just take over the remaining territories. Why do we have to give a part of ours to them? When I am king, I'm going to abolish these damn rules and I'm going to go for what we deserve.'
'Jordan no!' My mother panics, stretching her hand but flinching away.
' I mean it, i will rule with an iron fist, and everyone must bow to me!'