Defying the Rogue Alpha
Chapter 165: Father

Chapter 165: Father

Dennis looked at him then. "Does it matter?" he asked coolly. "He’s already ashamed to have you as his father."

That was the final arrow.

Dennis saw it. And it tasted like victory.

"I’ve waited years to take you down," he said. "Years of watching you poison everything you touched. You turned my brother against me. You turned Lucas into a soldier instead of the man he wanted to be. You twisted Ava’s life for your ambition. And what did you get? Nothing!"

Dorian turned away, back rigid, hands shaking. He needed air. He needed answers. He needed... But what he had was the bitter taste of truth.

Dennis sat back down, calm once again. He had planted the seed.

Now he just had to watch it grow.

Dorian stepped back, the weight of revelations pressing heavily upon him. His son was alive. Sarah was carrying his child.

The corridors of power he had so meticulously navigated now felt like a labyrinth of his own making. Each step forward was uncertain, each decision fraught with unforeseen consequences. The realization that his actions had endangered not only his legacy but also his bloodline gnawed at him. The stoic facade he had maintained for years began to crack, revealing the turmoil beneath.

*****

Herod, invigorated by the day’s prospects, strode confidently down the castle’s opulent halls toward the guest quarters. The anticipation of the evening’s events quickened his pace. Soon, Ava would transition from guest to queen, a role he believed she was destined for. Her presence brought him a sense of tranquility, a respite from the burdens of rulership.

As he approached her chamber, two guards stood at attention. They bowed respectfully as he entered. Inside, a servant girl, Lucia, was arranging an array of beauty ointments on the dresser. Upon his entrance, she curtsied and swiftly exited, leaving the room in a hushed silence.

Ava sat at the dresser, her gaze fixed on her reflection. The mirror captured the subtle tension in her posture, the slight furrow of her brow.

"Good morning, Your Majesty," she greeted.

"It is a good morning," Herod replied, a warm smile gracing his features. "Are you ready for tonight?"

Ava’s eyes met his in the mirror, a hint of skepticism flickering within them. "It’s quite early to start preparing for anything now, isn’t it?"

Herod noted the shadows beneath her eyes, the telltale signs of a restless night. "Did you not sleep?"

She hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "What?... Uh... no... it’s just nerves. I worry that I do not have all the information I need to make the right decision. All I know is what you tell me."

Herod stood behind Ava, his hands gently massaging her shoulders. His touch was firm yet tender, a practiced gesture meant to convey intimacy and control. "There was a time you used to trust me," he murmured. "Maybe you will learn to again."

Ava stared into the mirror, watching his reflection as he spoke. The man behind her wore a mask of sincerity, but her instincts screamed otherwise. Herod’s presence felt increasingly suffocating. His words were honeyed, but the bees were still buzzing.

"I do trust you," she replied, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "I just wish I had a mind of my own."

Herod chuckled softly, his fingers trailing down her arms. "You do," he said. "Actually, I came here to tell you something. Alpha Lucas is here."

Ava’s heart lurched, her breath catching in her throat. Panic surged through her veins. Lucas? Here? He had slipped out of her bed before dawn, leaving behind only the warmth of his body. Had he been caught? She turned to face Herod, masking her fear with practiced indifference.

"That’s not good, is it?" she managed to say.

Herod’s smile widened, a predator sensing victory. "It is, actually. He’s in the dungeons right now."

Ava’s mind raced. Lucas, imprisoned? The thought was unbearable. She had to do something, anything, to help him. But what? Her position was precarious, her every move watched. Still, she couldn’t let him face this alone.

"What is going to happen to him?" she asked.

Herod leaned in, his lips brushing against her cheek as he whispered, "He will be executed, of course. But before then..." He paused, savoring the moment. "I will make him watch as I put the amulet on your wrist, fuck you beneath the goddess’s moonlight, and mark you..." His tongue traced a line along her neck. "Right here."

Ava shivered from revulsion. Herod’s words were laced with cruelty, his intentions clear. He sought not just to possess her, but to break Lucas by forcing him to witness her subjugation. The thought was abhorrent. She clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms as she fought to maintain composure.

Ava’s voice trembled with a mix of disbelief and defiance. "You’re going to... in the presence of another man. What does that prove?"

Herod’s eyes gleamed with a sinister satisfaction. "That I won."

She clenched her fists. "And my own dignity?"

He leaned in, his breath warm against her skin. "Your dignity is mine, my love."

With a final, possessive kiss on her forehead, Herod turned and strode out of the room. At the doorway, he addressed the guards stationed outside. "Ensure she doesn’t leave until tonight’s mating ceremony. If anything goes awry, I’ll have your heads."

The guards nodded solemnly as Herod disappeared down the corridor. Lucas exchanged a brief, knowing look with Kade beneath his mask. Herod was on edge; something had unsettled him. In mere hours, their plan would unfold.

*****

In the throne room, Herod found Dorian waiting—a rare occurrence, as Dorian typically required summoning.

"I see you’re quite healed," Herod remarked.

Dorian grunted, recalling the searing pain from Herod’s dagger the previous day.

Settling onto his throne, Herod fixed his gaze on Dorian. "So, what is your alpha up to?"

Dorian swallowed hard, choosing his words carefully. "He has a plan. Even in the cells, his arrogance remained intact. That suggests he believes he holds the upper hand. However, he did let something slip, his brother leads the charge."

"His brother. I knew nothing of a brother." Herod rose from his throne, pacing in slow, irritated steps. "What else have you failed to mention, I wonder?"

@DaoisttirvaH: Thank you. You are too kind.

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