Prophesy 3: His Righteousness (The King & Alpha 3)

“You are suggesting that my beloved was also deceived.”

A demigod that could summon the flames of the underworld had just been called a fool. No one dared move.

“Wrath.” The general fell to his knees with his forehead touching the floor. His perspiration had already soaked through his expensive suit as he pleaded for leniency. Adres wanted to slash his blade across the vampire’s throat and end his shame. “Forgive me. I only speak of the Cavalerie… not of you, my Lord. Mercy… please.”

Wrath stood to his full height, triggering a domino effect as every officer, shifter, alpha, and vampire in the room stood and bowed at the fire-god’s appearance. Adres noticed that Wrath was a couple of inches taller than Aleksei. Also, his stubbled jaw was sharper, his chest broader, and his aura far darker than the alpha he possessed.

With each step Wrath took, the general flinched. His voice was the sound of raw power, his tone laced with rage and hate. Others in the room covered their ears or glanced away, but Adres was mesmerized. And again, he felt that pang of familiarity in the demigod’s presence, as if he and Wrath had history. Maybe during a time in his life that had been imprisoned by the curse.

“I felt Cavalerie’s rage tonight,” Wrath said, his voice echoing around them. “It was intense and genuine. I did not know at the time what triggered it. It is not my will to justify the anger. But I assure you… I. Was. Not. Tricked.”

Wrath touched his fingertip to the side of the general’s mouth, singeing the pale skin. Most of the vampires cringed at the shrill scream that left their comrade as Wrath rained down punishment fitting for a dishonest tongue. “Now, I have answered his prayer for vengeance twice tonight.”

Macauley walked with his brother Aleksei back towards the main compound. His siblings and the rest of the pack had gone far enough ahead that Macauley could have a private conversation with his older brother.

“I had a feeling you wanted to talk to me.” Aleksei glanced at him. “That was the most I’ve ever seen you say at a meeting. Well. More like, growl, snarl, and snap.”

Macauley ran his hand through his messy hair since he hadn’t had time to comb it after his shower. He probably looked like shit, but he didn’t care. There was so much going on in his mind, and he had more questions than he knew where to start. But his brother had been there tonight—in a sense—so starting with him was as good a place as any.

“Why did Wrath come to Adres like that? What did he feel from him?”

Macauley stopped and leaned against a tree, waiting for the rest of the pack to go a little farther. Farica turned and watched them for a moment before she blew them both a kiss and headed towards her cabin. He felt her soothing presence wash over his uncertainty, but it couldn’t take it away.

“I don’t know why Wrath felt that pull to him. All I know is Bell and I were in bed, and next thing I know, Wrath said he needed to shift.” Aleksei shrugged, gazing at the cloudless sky that would soon be brightening at the coming of the dawn.

“You don’t know! But… but I thought that you and Wrath and your wolf had connected again.”

Aleksei chuckled. It was a sound that Macauley was still getting used to. His older brother used to be so carefree and the life of the pack, until the attack happened and Wrath had had to make the choice to kill their mother in order to save Aleksei’s life. The Mother had placed Wrath inside Aleksei when he was a young pup for a reason, but it hadn’t been for that. It’d been for the prophesy. But Aleksei couldn’t forgive Wrath or his wolf for letting their mother die. And it had taken years for them all to trust each other and become one again. It’d taken their mate.

“What I do know is that Wrath hasn’t felt rage like that in a long time.” Aleksei smirked. “He’ll be insatiable for the rest of the week.”

“Okay, that I didn’t need to know.”

“What’s going on, Mac? Why are you so crazy about this, guy, hmm?” Aleksei crossed his arms over his chest. “He’s not your mate, so what’s up? It doesn’t sound like you’re still suspicious of him because it was obvious you didn’t like that general questioning Adres’s motive?”

That’s right. No one can give Adres shit but me. Fuck, that was ridiculous. “I don’t fuckin’ know, Alek. Something is wrong… something’s off.”

“What do you mean?” Alek frowned. “You can tell me. I’ll have your back no matter what. You flew in a jet to the other side of the world to help me rescue my mate. I kinda owe ya, don’t you think?”