Page 32 of Silence Falls a New Alpha
Chapter 22
My World Came Crashing Down
Katie’s POV
Banging on the door and a groan woke me, yet I couldn’t move. I opened my eyes to see Dylan had his arms tightly secured around me as he was asleep. Bang bang bang. Before I couldn’t even get out of Dylan’s hold my door was kicked in. It broke and was off the top hinge. The wood splintered in sections as the door crashed into the wall. My heart raced as I screamed unsure of who stood in the hallway after breaking my door down. Dylan jumped up as the twins walked in calmly. Aspen and Maddox. Dylan cleared his throat, breaking their soul-piercing stare from me.
“Who the fuck are you?” Dylan screamed at them as Maddox cracked his knuckles and Aspen smiled. This would not go well if they got into it, the twins would kill him.
“STOP!” I jumped off my bed and rushed between the twins and Dylan. I went to Aspen putting my hands on his chest and threw him a pleading look. I know their reputation and not one ounce of it is exaggerated. They would kill him where he stood regardless of me watching if he even tried to fight them. There was a reason my father kept these two out of the public eye.
“Your father wants you both in his office. Something came up.” Aspen wouldn’t stop staring at Dylan. Aspen's sharp square jaw tightened as I pushed him to get his attention off Dylan. I have to give it to the twins. They were insanely attractive, but their behaviors were a turnoff. I don’t even know who would want to be with a psychopath. Maddox shot me a smile and turned to leave my room while Dylan picked his shirt up and threw it on. Aspen looped his arm in mine to pull me from my room. Great, I'm being pulled to my father’s office in my damn pajamas without even a chance to change. I huffed at him as Aspen chuckled looking down at me. He looked rather rough today compared to the rare times I’ve seen him. I wonder what could be going on. Maddox was keeping Dylan decently back and the look on Dylan’s face was as if he saw a ghost, needless to say, I’m sure he is being threatened. Boys.
“So, did you two fuck?” Aspen boldly asked without a care in the world. I tried to stop in my tracks, but he simply yanked me forward unwilling to let me stop. The grin across his face was something else, pure enjoyment. He was simply enjoying watching me squirm at the question he asked, and Dylan was too far back to hear.
“No. We didn’t.” I shoved my shoulder into him and walked ahead, finally able to break my arm free. Dylan was respectful last night and didn’t bother even attempting to do anything sexual. I was too emotional myself to take things too far. He was a complete gentleman to be honest.
“Katie, who do you feel is your mate?” Aspen questioned me sternly. The look in his eyes was rather menacing as he looked my body up and down. Why must all men be dogs? We continued down the maze of hallways and finally reached my father's office. He was not going to be happy that I was still in my pajamas, but I honestly didn’t care. His henchmen pulled me from my room after breaking my door down, this is as dressed as he gets. I was growing more and more annoyed at this and so help me if it's about finding a mate I might very well scream. The doors opened and as I entered there stood my father, Alexander, Bradley, and Drake all staring at me as I stood there in my pajamas. I was in baggy clothing, crimson sweatpants, and a black shirt, with socks on. I wasn’t even given the chance to put shoes on and my hair was an absolute mess. My head was killing me due to the crying I did yesterday and to be honest, I just wanted to go back to bed. I just turned eighteen and clearly that has gone to hell. Who would have thought the most important birthday to a werewolf would be ruined the same day. Tragic really.
“Katie, why are you in pajamas?” My father shook his head in disbelief as I stood there before them. My hair was knotted in places and looked messy as if it hadn't been brushed in a week. Surely, he had to have known who’s false this truly was, he sent the twins to get me after all. Asshole. I was so annoyed I could stand here and scream like a madwoman due to this.
“I was ripped from my room before I could do absolutely anything!” I snapped back at him while everyone watched. I was fed up with how things have been. From my birthday to now. My father’s face went from confused to pissed in mere seconds. Maybe he didn’t think they would drag me from my room like they did.
“Twins, you did what?” My father looked at them raising an eyebrow, his tone was deep and concerned. Thankfully, I wasn’t actually hurt, more embarrassed than anything. However, why were we all called here? Oh, please don’t tell me the wedding was moved to today. I felt my stomach start to flip.
“Alpha given the importance, we felt it best to hurry the process up.” Aspen spoke while throwing me a wink for all to see. Alexander shifted his feet some and Drake cleared his throat as my father stood there in shock that Aspen would be so bold.
“Anyways father, why are we all here?” I nervously blurted out before he could even respond to Aspen. I felt my heart rate pick up as I stood there worried that I would be forced to get married today. I don’t even know about Dylan’s past besides his mother being killed. There is so much I want to talk to him about before the wedding. Hell, I still haven’t found my mate, granted I’ve not truly looked since everything happened yesterday. My father stood there, looked at his desk, then back at us with worry on his face. Did something actually happen? Jace and Derrick walked in as well as Drake’s beta Rune.
I had never gotten a good look at Rune before now. He had black semi-shaggy hair with his bangs dyed a turquoise blue. His pale jade eyes had the perfect amount of light honey emerging from his pupils, central heterochromia was stunning. Unlike his alpha, Rune was a slender guy with a medium olive tan complexion as if he wasn’t originally from Canada like Drake was. Weird why was the pack doctor and other betas here, well I guess Jace isn’t a beta anymore.
“There is something important I need to tell everyone. We found a spy in the pack, Tagon. She was dealt with however she revealed she was working for someone.” My father paused. “This person is from my childhood.” He exhaled deeply as if he didn’t wish to keep explaining. “I’m sure everyone remembers or knows the rumors of the cruel king. He was my father until I killed him when I was a child. I am the missing dark prince countless people have searched for. Alexander and I killed anyone who remained in the castle before we fled.” My heart sank as my father looked at me. Why didn’t I know this? I’m his daughter and he hid this from me? I felt the tears build. My own father hid his past from me.
“Katie-” My father tried to step towards me, but I turned and left his office. I don’t want to face him, not now.
Damian’s POV
I could see the hurt in Katie’s eyes as she stormed out. My daughter is the princess of an abandoned throne and had no idea. How do you ever tell your child you killed her grandfather? I couldn’t bring myself to, so I kept her in the dark since she was born. A life I wanted badly to erase was finally back.
“Explain yourself, Knight!” Drake lashed out at me. I sighed and my eyes wandered back to the top of my desk; everyone here had every right to be pissed at me. I’ve lied to each and every one of them aside from Alexander for as long as I could remember. Running from my past is over, it’s now time to face the remainder of my father’s followers.
“I kept this to myself to erase my past. The person each and every one of you know is still who I am. The person who is targeting my pack is Orion. Orion was my father’s right hand and I thought we killed him. That has been proven false. I’m coming clean about who I am as I expect more attacks if not an all-out war. His plan, from our understanding, is to target Katie and erase this pack.” I explained to them as they all looked at me stunned. Thankfully no one else had stormed out of my office, not even to go after Katie.
“So, all this time and you didn’t feel you could trust us?” Derrick looked at me hurt, stunned, lost. He had known me for so many years and here he was learning my darkest secret in front of others and not alone. He shook his head and left not even waiting on an answer, Jace chased after him oddly. Those two seemed to be getting closer.
“What about the throne?” Bradley spoke up as his eyes shined. He wanted it to be reclaimed as there was a tint of happiness in his question. Eagerness really. The throne is something I never wanted given the reputation my father had. I would have been hated for simply having his blood in my veins. It doesn’t make it any better that my mate was the crown's enemy. My beloved Rose was born to my father’s biggest enemy.
“I don’t want the throne.” I told him flatly. I would never claim that throne, I didn’t care that by default I was king. I was done with the throne when I killed my father. I would not return to that forgotten place, a castle left in ruin. I left it ablaze and the ashes are all I care about.
“You think he wants your throne?” Drake questioned hitting the nail on the head. That is, from the looks of it, exactly what Orion wanted. He wanted to take Katie from me and claim the empty throne with my death being the tipping point.
“We think he wants the throne and Katie. Security has increased around the territory and mansion. Katie will, at all times, either be with one of the twins or Alexander.” I rubbed my hand across my forehead, this entire thing was an insane inconvenience. Alexander sighed and left my office with his head down. No doubt he would go to see Katie, he loved her, and she more than likely hated him now. Hell, I’m sure she hated me now. She will never understand why I kept this a secret from her, no one will. I thought I was protecting her for fear if word got out then people would target her solely for who her grandfather was. I’m sorry Rose. I’m sorry for everything. It's possible if I would have checked then you would still be alive if I would have made sure everyone died.
“I’ll bring my pack down,” Drake said as he waved at me, he was almost completely out of my office with the twins and Rune in tail. “We will help with security. Still Damian-” He paused with his hand on the door frame of my office. “We’ve been friends for a while, you should have told me.” He walked off with his hands jammed into his pockets. The twins grinned at me and left, not telling me where they were headed. All that remained was Bradley and Dylan, of course, they would stay back. Bradley more than likely has a million questions for me. I sighed and sat down at my desk, a stack of papers in front of me. Pack business didn’t stop. What my pack owns didn’t just go away overnight, we still have things to run in our area.
“What if Katie wants the throne?” Bradley asked as I started reviewing papers. Oh, how did I know he would ask something so dumb. Why the fuck would my daughter want something she didn’t even know about? More so now that she found out how she did. It’s more like he wanted to put Dylan on the throne because he was set to marry Katie. Power-hungry. That’s the only thing that would describe this, guess I see who my true friends are. I knew some would want to use this to their advantage but never thought it would be Bradley. Hell, Eric would have jumped at this and more than likely caused a pack war right on the spot. Dylan had stayed quiet this entire time, seeing as the twins found them together, I’m shocked he doesn’t have more to say. I cocked my head towards him with a smirk.
“What do you think Dylan, would Katie want this?” This kid was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Follow what his dad wants or what I believe Katie doesn’t want. What will this kid say? He looked at me and his father lost and confused. Dylan shifted around on his feet a little as if he wasn’t sure what my daughter would want. Maybe he wasn’t good for her. Given the situation, I should just cancel the wedding completely. He’s older than her yet seems to only do what his father wants.
“Unlike my father I doubt she would want the throne alpha. Katie loves this pack and the life that comes with it, she wouldn’t run off to rebuild a kingdom.” He threw a disgusted ashamed look at his father. “I wouldn’t push her to do so either.” He grabbed his father, pulling him out of my office. I tuned out the screaming that followed as they left. Maybe Dylan wasn’t like his father nor aimed to cave to his father's wants.
I pulled out a pin and paper, it's time I leave my daughter a parting gift in case things go south. It's not a matter of if but when Orion will launch his next attack and this time, we will be ready. This time he will not make it out alive even if it costs both our lives. Who would have thought I’d have to see his face again? Orion Rezen, my mother’s older adopted brother. Oh, uncle how fitting our final reunion shall be.
