Chapter 9. Father and Son

*Prince Vincent*

The first ray of sun is already shining from above the clouds when the warrior wolves and I finally arrived back at the Langston Palace. The prisoners were quiet. The wolves who are with me are happy and proud from the success of our mission. I still feel a little bit worry about Alex and his injuries, even though Beta Derek assured me that his condition is now far from danger. I wouldn't feel secured until he wakes up, his condition almost made me question myself if I am strong enough to protect my friends.

"Alex will be alright your majesty, I know our friend is stronger than what we think. He's a young warrior and a tough wolf!"

I took a deep breath and watched Beta Derek making a command on the warriors on where to put the prisoners first. My father should be here, I know that he is already aware of our presence but I wonder what's taking him so long. I turned to Caleb and understands how he feels. We both care about Alex.

"Get some rest Caleb, I need to take a shower and get ready to meet my father."

"Alright Vincent, but seriously man. I hope you don't think too much about Alex I mean we should celebrate instead, after all we won! I am sure the Great Alpha King will be happy."

A shallow smile came out of my lips and I pat him in the shoulders, I'm glad that Caleb is my friend and that he is not hurt.

"Thanks Caleb, go get yourself some rest too. My father might call everybody from the mission later on."

Caleb nodded his head and move forward to where the rooms for the guests of the Palace is. Both his parents and Alex's lives on the pack houses outside the Langston Palace. Their parents would hear about what happened soon and I just hope that they don't panick about Alex's condition.

As soon as I opened the shiny paneled wooden door of my bedroom, my feet directly took me to the bathroom. I only needed to remove my worn out jeans since my upper body is bare. The warm water in the shower ease some of the thoughts inside my head. What will be the next command of my father? Will he really be happy and satisfied with my recent deed?

I gritted my teeth while lathering a soft body wash all over my body and then finished up after with a shampoo. Rinse them quickly and turn the shower off. I hated myself for worrying too much about my father's opinion, a whole lot more than my friend's condition. The truth is I...

"Vincent."

My hands froze from tying the white towel below my stomach. The voice of my father, calling me on the mind link.

"Vincent, come to the family's dining hall. Have breakfast with me, and there is someone important that I want you to meet."

He sounded glad, his voice rang through my ears like the bells ringing. But I couldn't help and wonder at the back of my head to who this special person that he wanted me to meet. Well, there's only one way to find out.

My movements were twice faster than normal when I took the most normal clothes that I usually wear. A plain white t shirt and an old pair of jeans.

The huge Palace has many halls and paths that leads to different rooms, a normal person could get lost easily but not the wolves like us. I took the path which leads to the family dining that we rarely use together. I remember as a child that I used to eat on the round table alone, with five empty seats beside me. So the first thing I did when i learned how to hunt is to avoid the family dining hall.

I reached the door to our family's dining hall and open the door slowly.

"Good morning Father."

His figure stiffened, his broad back is facing the door and I couldn't exactly tell what he's thinking until my feet took me to the chair in front of him. I drag the chair away from the table and made myself comfortable in front of him. Our eyes meet, my father's golden brown eyes meet my dark ones.

"A pleasant morning, care for a cup of coffee and some pancakes?"

His voice sounded casual, that I almost smirk. He just asked me a little child’s food, am I still a child to him? "Just a cup of black coffee is fine. I don't like pancakes anymore."

His brows furrowed in a deep frown, it's like he could not believed that I turned down the usual breakfast that I always have when I was a young boy. But he nodded his head and didn't blink for a couple of seconds, probably mind linking a Palace help.

There's no food in front of him, just a cup of a steaming black coffee that smelled great. "Good job on solving the chaos at the City, I heard you brought lots of prisoners."

He tilted his head and looked at me with a shadow of smile on his lips. "Thank you father, it was not as easy as how I thought it would be. I'm glad Beta Derek helped me and the warriors of the Palace too."

"You did good for the first mission son, I'm sure the rest will be easy."

I blinked my eyes twice and did not break the eye contact with the Great Alpha King, my father just praised me. This is one of those few times that he calls me his son too.

"Oh, are we going to discuss my next mission now? I thought you call me here to introduce someone important?"

My question made him break the eye contact first with me which is unusual. I raised one brow, the curiosity is almost eating my brains out that I have to straighten my back against the chair to hide what I truly felt.

"They are coming in. Relax and enjoy a cup of coffee while we discuss what your about to do with the next mission."

Something has change from my father's aura, the way he explains things and the glow of his eyes. His face tells an expression of someone who's in love and contented, very different from his usual gloomy expression before.

"Your coffee is arriving."

The smooth tone of his voice made me turned around and saw the door which is slowly opened by a Palace servant bringing a small tray with a dark cup of coffee. The aroma filled my nostrils.

"Good morning your majesty the Great Alpha King and Prince Vincent, your coffee is here sire."

"Thank you."

I nodded and let the servant place the cup of coffee beside me. "Is there anything else that I can get you sire?"

"No, just the coffee is fine."

The servant smiled and step back slowly before bowing his head and ascended through the door. I let a few moments passed before I pick up the cup and tasted the coffee.

“Maleficus and the person that you need to meet is arriving soon.”

I slowly place the cup back on the table swallowing the bitter sweet taste inside my throat.

“I am beginning to feel curious to who this person that you wanted me to meet.”

My father stayed silent and turned his head sideways. He is more interested on the faint sound of footsteps approaching from outside the door than to answer my question. If my guess is right the wizard is coming along with the guest that he wanted me to meet. After a few seconds the door opened up again.

“Good morning Alpha King Jack and your majesty Prince Vincent!”

“Oh! Good morning Maleficus!” I flashed a genuine smile towards the old wizard and watched him walk to the chair beside my father. Then a figure of a woman emerged behind the door, she stands about five foot six and younger than me.

She smiled at my father when their eyes locked in what looks like to be an intimate gaze. My eyes turned into slits. Does my father wants a very young wolf to replace my mother the Queen?!

“Vincent, this is Carmela. She's the daughter of Beta Derek, a very talented young wolf and she's going to stay here in the Palace. Treat her with respect, from now onwards I personally grant her the position as my personal assistant.”

I twisted the corner of my lips, personal assistant? Sounds like a personal whore to me, my eyes travelled from the top of her dark hair down to her pump shoes which is the reason why she stood a few inch taller than her real height.

“A personal assistant? I never thought you need one.” I tried my best to hide the annoyance which I am feeling.

“Nice meeting you Carmela. My name is Vincent, I'm glad you are alright with working as my father's assistant when you look a lot younger than me.”

Her sweet smile faded after my words registered to her brain. Glad she's smart enough to understand that I am not pleased to let her sleep with my father. It looks like she is confused on what to tell me, but her eyes looked at me without remorse.

“Please Carmela come, sit here beside me and listen while I discussed an important matters with my son.”

“Ah, yes your majesty.”

The woman finally managed to speak but still her eyes are on me.

Maleficus cleared his throat and open his mouth to say something when after a few seconds the lady named Carmela, moves obediently to sit beside my father.

“Your majesty, shall I order a decent breakfast for Miss Carmela and the rest of us. It seemed that we only have coffee in this table.”

My father smiled and nodded his head while I gritted my teeth. This is not what I except to happen this morning.