Chapter 3

-Cain-

With the bag swung over my shoulder, I walked over the gravel leading to the backdoor of the grand house. Lighting burst through the sky behind me, making me turn my head and see how fast the weather had changed. I was glad I managed to catch that last flight before I was sure that all the planes were grounded.

I grabbed the handle, allowing myself into my old home. I walked through the little relaxation room with the glass roof and walls that gave a wonderful view of the garden and into the warm palace. It was strange being back, but when the king called, you listened.

As I walked through the house, I came to the entrance, catching Carter coming down the stairs all dressed up and smelling far away from his usual powerful cologne. I was unsure how he wasn’t drowning in the scent. We were alphas, and our heightened senses made sure nothing slipped by us. It almost choked me as I caught a whiff of it.

I let out a little sound, and it made Carter turn his head as he took the last steps down. He froze when he saw me standing by the side of the staircase. We hadn’t really spoken while I stayed abroad, dealing with my own things, and he stayed here, being the perfect son and most likely next heir. Yet we had never harbored bad feelings toward one another. We were just so different, despite having shared the same womb.

“Cain,” he whispered.

“Been a while,” I remarked.

He nodded before a smile broke out on his lips. He surprised me as he walked toward me and hugged me. Yet, while I wasn’t much of a hugger, this was my brother, and I wrapped my arm around him too before we pulled away.

“Four years, I think.”

“Just when you began dating that female of yours,” I pointed out.

“Her name is Willow,” he reminded me.

“Right, Willow.”

“You always stayed far away from any gossip. Do you even know what she looks like?” he asked.

“I might have caught a sight of her online,” I pointed out.

“Yeah? Describe her,” he teased me.

“Um… dark hair—”

“Wrong,” he chuckled, making me smile a little and shake my head.

“Okay, I might not have kept track. But I have been busy.”

“Yeah, doing what?” he asked.

“There are troubles everywhere. That’s the world.”

“The soldier,” he remarked.

“The prince,” I teased, shoving him back a little and making him chuckle.

“But you’re back,” he pointed out.

“Father called. I’m sure you know why.”

“Because he is choosing an heir,” Carter said.

I nodded. While I was five minutes older than him, I wasn’t the desired heir, and the laws were tricky when it came to twins because twins were so rare. The fact that our mother was able to have us made everyone believe a great future for the werewolves lay ahead. However, after seeing the true cruelty out there in the world, I knew that the birth of any twins couldn't magically make it better. That took hard work.

“I think we both know who he is going to choose,” I said.

“Are you sad about it?”

“No, not really. The crown always felt heavy on my head. I just want it over with and leave again.”

“You’re not staying for the ceremony?”

“Come on, Carter… This world isn’t really me,” I pointed out, but I saw the hurt look on my brother’s face, and he shook his head. “Carter…”

“No, no, don’t let your brother’s ceremony stand in the way of how fast you can get out of here.”

Carter began backing away, and I sighed.

“You know what I meant!” I called after him, but he ignored me, storming out of there, and I cursed lowly.

Well done, my wolf mocked.

“You really think I want your comment now?” I asked my wolf, who huffed and slipped further into my mind.

I rolled my eyes before I walked to the front of the staircase and climbed it. Then I went on a search for my father, finding him in his office, sipping a drink while inspecting important documents that laid scattered across his desk. When he saw me enter, he almost choked on his drink. The sight confused me, and I remained still as he coughed a little and placed his drink down.

“Cain?” he asked, as if he didn’t recognize me.

“Yes?” I asked, confused, as my father stood up.

He was a giant alpha, born with powerful blood that simply turned him into a massive person. However, I noticed that he didn’t seem as big as I remembered him, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on why.

“You have changed!” he pointed out before coming over to me with a smile and pressing his hands against my arms, squeezing a little. “What are you made of?”

I heard the chuckle in his voice, and I realized why I didn’t find my father as intimidating anymore. I had grown bigger. I had been shaped into a more powerful alpha, taking on muscle weight and coming to my real potential. The world had changed, so being in my top form wasn’t necessary, as if when we lived in cages and wooden huts, but with where I had been, it was important to be able to defend yourself. For the first time in a long time, I was impressing my father instead of disappointing him. I wasn’t Carter. I wasn’t the charmer or the most beloved prince. But my change seemed to please my father.

“I have been working hard,” I told him before he patted my arm and went back to his desk, gesturing for me to sit down in front of him.

“You don’t say. You have grown into a true alpha,” he teased me.

“I might have put on some weight,” I chuckled, sitting down.

My father turned more serious and leaned forward, resting his arms on his desk.

“Be honest, son, how is it out there?”

I sighed, rubbing my eyes and groaning. “More rogues. More fighting.”

“It’s getting bad. Where are they coming from?” my father asked.

“I don’t know. Everywhere,” I groaned. “It never seems to end. I heard someone say they think they have a leader.”

“But rogues don’t work in packs. They might get together in groups of four to five, but no more. They are rogues for a reason. They don’t work together,” my father said.

“No, I know, but I will get back out there soon enough and take care of it,” I promised.

My father looked so impressed that I didn’t even know what to say.

“What?”

“You have just changed. You’re more serious. Drinking?” he asked.

“I quit,” I informed him.

“Good,” he remarked. “It seemed leaving was what you needed to do. Get away from the temptation and understand the seriousness of our world.”

“Can we save the lecture? I know what I was like before,” I sighed, turning away, and my father conceded, agreeing we should move on.

“Very well, you know why I called you back,” he reminded me, making me focus on him again.

“You’re growing old.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “I can still beat your ass,” he warned me in jest.

I smiled, nodding, knowing my father was no weak alpha or king, but then he grew serious again, grabbing a piece of paper from a drawer and holding it up. The paper seemed thicker, almost like a scroll, and I was confused by its appearance.

“What is that?” I asked.

“The Council of Wolves’ decision regarding my heir.”

“I thought you were king.”

“Yes, but today it’s much more democratic, and you know.”

“Very well, what are they saying?” I asked.

He placed the paper down, then began reading.

“Because of the young prince’s changing from being an irresponsible drunk with his loose and unforgivable behavior—”

“Could we skip that part?” I asked, not wanting to be reminded of the past. 

My father cleared his throat, holding up his hand and telling me to wait. I sighed, sliding further down in my seat.

“Because of his changes and the contribution that he has given to our society in protecting them from the challenges that we face these days, he should be considered for the throne, thereby bringing in a second candidate to become the next King of the Werewolves,” my father declared.

I stared at my father in shock, and he began smiling as he saw the look on my face.

“W-What?” I asked.

“You have been noticed,” he remarked.

“Wait… wait…” I said, shaking my head. “Are you saying… I’m in consideration for being your heir?”

“According to the council, they think you should be,” he said, yet he wasn’t looking at all sad about the fact the council had changed their opinion of me. But why had they?

“They hate me. I ruined some of their daughters. I fucked things up, and it’s not like I have sent them letters of my contribution.”

My father was rather dissatisfied with me bringing up the things I had done, but he shrugged. “They kept an eye on you, I guess.”

“You didn’t tell them?”

“I was unsure how well you would do.”

“You mean when you kicked me out, you stopped caring?" I snarled.

“Cain, what happened, you did to yourself.”

I groaned, not wanting to have the same talk again, and I shook my head.

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to talk about it, but what exactly does this mean?” I asked.

“It means you and Carter will have to prove to the council who is the most fitting prince to become king,” my father explained.

“Carter is!” I exclaimed.

“The council doesn’t think so anymore. They think you now have the chance of becoming a fitting king as well, and if I were you, son, I would work on proving them right,” he told me, snatching his drink and pointing at me before downing it.

“I don’t understand. Carter is your favorite. Why would you suddenly ask me to be your heir?” I asked.

“I am not asking you. I’m telling you to prove yourself.”

“No,” I answered coldly.

“No?”

“No.”

“Cain, are you sure you have thought this through?”

“I have, and I don’t want the crown. Carter can have it,” I told my father.

My father shook his head, giving me that old, disappointed look as he leaned back in his chair. “And here I thought you had changed.”

“I have changed. I don’t want the crown.”

“But you’re more fit for it now. You have grown remarkably. I know you have.”

“And suddenly Carter has become the black sheep?” I questioned.

“No,” my father replied. “But he also doesn’t know what is out there. He knows this world, but you know the world out there. I truly think you should consider it.”

I shook my head, already having decided what I wanted, and it was not the crown. This world had turned me into an arrogant asshole, and I had no desire to turn back to that old role. I was done with this world, and after the way my family kicked me out, I was pretty much done with them.

My father would always be my father, my brother would always be my brother, and my mother would always be my mother, but that didn’t mean I owed them anything or wanted to start having dinners with them again. No, I had found my place, peace even, and I was not going back.

“It’s a no,” I said and stood up, grabbing my bag. “I’m taking the first flight tomorrow.”

“Stay at least until after your brother’s ceremony. I think you would like Willow.”

“No. I’m good,” I told him before turning away and walking outside. When I came outside the office, I found my mother standing there. There was a strange smile on her lips, as if she felt unsure if she should approach me or not. She had, after all, just stood by when my father kicked me out.

“Cain,” she whispered, stepping closer, her black heels clicking on the floor. Her long, dark blond hair, which both Carter and I had inherited, swung around her shoulders, and she still looked as beautiful as I remembered.

It brought back memories of her tugging us into bed when we were small, and yet another memory appeared as well. One where she looked away as my father threw some of my stuff at me, telling me not to come back until I had gotten my shit together.

“You have changed.”

“So I have heard.”

“You look good,” she observed nervously.

Her hands twisted in front of her as if she wanted to touch me, and I sighed, reaching out to take one of her hands. She gasped a little before tears welled up in her eyes as we focused on each other again.

“Even your touch feels different,” she whispered with a broken tone.

“It’s just been a while.”

“I’m sorry, Cain.”

“Don’t be. It seems to have done me good,” I replied before letting go of her.

“How long are you staying?”

“Just until tomorrow.”

“You’re leaving so soon?”

“I am,” I told her before I slipped around to go find my old room. Not even she could I show much kindness toward. I was unsure if I had ever had the ability to. Maybe when I was a child, but that was years ago.