“Tomorrow at noon,” the king began, his tone cold and serious. “I will assemble the highest-ranking omegas available in the pack for you to choose from.”
“Father—”
“Enough, Killian!” the king spat. “You are an adult — an alpha, and heir to the throne. It’s high time you learned some respect. You will not talk back to me again, do you understand?”
Anger surged inside Killian, but he’d been through this with his father before. His feelings would change nothing. He ground his teeth and muttered, “Yes, sir.”
“Good,” the king said. “Stark, call up the omega council and have them round up their finest specimens. I want only the best for my son.”
Killian’s lip curled at the way his father spoke about the omegas, but he knew better than to start another argument right now.
“Yes, right away, sir,” Stark said. He immediately stripped down and placed his clothes in a neat pile before shifting into wolf form. He sprinted out of the throne room, presumably towards the omega quarter of the highest ring, where the throne stood.
Killian nearly rolled his eyes. What was the point of adopting human technology when everyone insisted on doing things the old-fashioned way, running around in their wolf forms and howling to deliver messages? Killian didn’t see the appeal when texting existed.
“Killian,” the king said. His voice echoed throughout the throne room. Without Stark’s presence, the palace seemed bigger. Emptier. It was just the prince and the king now.
“Yes?”
“I don’t have much time left.” Killian opened his mouth to interrupt, but the king snarled, his wolf’s voice intertwining with his. “Quiet. Just listen. Even for a shifter, I’m getting on in my years, and I’m not the only one in the packs who knows it. The other packs could use this to their advantage.” He sighed. “I’m afraid that they see my age as weakness — and I know that once they target me, you’ll be next. They will not have mercy on you.”
“I know,” Killian said, gravely.
“But, if you take an omega mate — especially one of high standing in the pack — the other packs will know you’re strong. A virile alpha is a powerful alpha.”
Killian sighed. “I know.”
Of course he knew. This had all been drilled into him since he was young. As an alpha, he was expected to be tough, powerful and protective; but also a caring father. Killian didn’t want to admit it, but since he’d reached sexual maturity, he did have thoughts about taking a mate and starting a family one day.One daybeing the key phrase. This was all too sudden, too forced. It was a political display, not the true bond ofrealfated mates.
The king pinched the bridge of his nose again. “Go. I have orders to issue. Silvercreek bandits to deal with.”
Killian nodded, gave a short, polite bow, then turned and left the throne room.
* * *
Killian growledand kicked a can down the sidewalk. He was surprised they evenhadsidewalks in the city — the place might as well have been medieval. When he was king, all the old ways of doing things would have to go. The pack needed to get with the times.
Speaking of getting with the times, he needed to rant to someone about his father’s treatment of omegas. While his father was king, there was nothing Killian could do about the caste system except bitch and moan — but he planned to abolish that, too, when the old man finally kicked the bucket.
He stopped mid-stride and scowled. He didn’t reallyhatehis father, but sometimes he was so aggravating that Killian couldn’t help but think that way about him. Just as an obstacle to his life and how he really wanted to live it.
“Hey, what’s with the long face?”
The voice pulled Killian out of his thoughts. A familiar alpha Killian’s age stood behind him, puffing out his chest.
“Hey, Austin,” Killian said. “Just the wolf I was looking for.”
“Whoisn’tlooking for me these days? I’m the talk of the city, what with all of this delicious alphaness being single!” Austin grin fell. “Seriously though, you look upset. What’s up?”
Killian scuffed his shoe on the sidewalk. “Shit with my father again. Politics with the bordering packs and all.”
“Yeah, I heard,” Austin said, his lips tight. “Silvercreek killed some alphas guarding the omega facility last night, didn’t they?” He shuddered. “It’s crazy.”
“Yeah,” Killian muttered. “The way my father talks about omegas as if they’re livestock drives me nuts, too.”
Austin nodded. “I get you. I mean, they’re shifters just like us. Alpha or omega, we should all respect each other. Except betas. Fuck those guys.”
Killian laughed a little. “Thanks, man. You always get me.”
