With brightened faces, the Alphas began leaving in small groups, whispering excitedly about the golden opportunity ahead.
Each of them seemed to already see himself on the throne.
Grey stood there, lost in thought, struck by how enemies could smile at you and surround you without you even realizing it, until his father's voice snapped him back to reality.
"How much more do you plan to humiliate me?" his father demanded, irritation flooding his tone. "After everything, you are now going to be tied to a man in something that screams marriage, no matter how much it's explained otherwise?! It's bad enough that you'll be bound there.. and won't even be able to marry a woman and give this pack useful grandchildren. What wrong have I done to the moon goddess to deserve you?"
His voice grew heavier with every word, thick with disappointment.
And though Grey had never once been allowed to speak back, he found himself unable to stay silent.
"Lord Jethro never said he was actually marrying me," Grey said quickly. "He only gave the pack an opportunity. I'm here to represent it, the same way the others are doi..."
"Can you?" his father cut in sharply. "Can you represent them the way they do? Why would anyone believe you could do anything useful, even if you were given the same chance as the others? It's a waste of time. We both know it will never work. This pack will never rise,.. certainly not because of you, and not even with an opportunity."
His father stepped closer, eyes cold. "Do you know the only useful thing you can do? Lead Lord Jethro into destruction. Force yourself on him until he touches you the way he claims he won't. Then the moon goddess will destroy you both, and someone who actually deserves the throne will be chosen."
Something tightened deep inside Grey. His wolf surged forward, protective and furious, pushing the words out before he could stop himself.
"If anyone deserves that throne, it's Lord Jethro," Grey snapped. "Do you really think the moon goddess would ever choose someone like you dad? Someone so bitter, someone who wishes ruin on others..."
He didn't get to finish, his father's eyes flashed red with rage. In an instant, his hand shot out, gripping Grey by the collar and throat.
"How dare you speak to me like that!"
His fingers tightened, breath crushing in Grey's chest until a voice rang out behind them.
"Let that be the last time you do that. Let him go."
Grey's father released him at once, his hand dropping away, fingers trembling as the command settled over him.
Slowly, he turned his head, bowing slightly.
"My Lord, I was only trying to drive some sense into him," he said. "A twenty-one-year-old who shows disrespect to his father can still be disciplined to..."
"I said, let it be the last time you do that."
Jethro cut him off, his voice quiet, yet sharper than before, irritation threading through it. "I see that everyone else has already left. You should excuse yourself as well."
Alpha Harris bowed slightly again. "Certainly, my Lord. Excuse me."
He hurried toward the courtroom doors and was gone.
Grey remained where he stood, his heart pounding hard in his chest. He wanted to leave too, but his legs felt heavy, rooted to the floor.
He wanted to speak, but his tongue felt just as heavy.
He wanted to look at Jethro, but he couldn't. He couldn't lift his eyes while that close to him. He had only ever seen him from afar. Standing here now, he couldn't bring himself to meet his eyes.
"Let this be the last time you lower your head to such an act," Jethro said. "Father or not, no one has the right to do that to you." He added.
Instead of comforting Grey, the words only made him feel smaller, weak and worthless.. just as his father had always said.
And in front of Jethro, he felt like someone who always kept his head lowered, someone who couldn't even speak up for himself.
Shame burned through him, and in that moment, all he wanted was to disappear.
"You will be shown to your room," Jethro continued, "given your schedule, and assigned maids to assist you around. Once you are settled, I want a full report on the state of your pack, along with your recommendations. Tomorrow morning. Eight o'clock."
With that, Jethro turned and started to walk away, but before he could take a single step, words slipped from Grey's mouth, unplanned "I don't want to do it."
The words hung in the air.
Grey hadn't meant to say them, but even as they left his mouth, he knew they were true.. not just because of the sting of his father's insults, being told he was useless even when an opportunity was handed to him, but mostly because he believed Lord Jethro now saw him the same way: someone who couldn't stand for himself, someone who couldn't succeed even when given a chance.
Also, he didn't want to work to save something that had already been abandoned by the one who owned it.
His father had made it clear, -the pack was already dead and couldn't be saved, especially not by Grey himself.