SOULLESS

CHAPTER TWELVE

Ricard lay in his cell trying to make sense of all that he had experienced since arriving back at claws peak. He never imagined his life would take such a downturn.

Upon hearing about Ari's recovery he was so happy he had almost broken tradition to return home before finishing his alphas training but when he was informed that Ari accepted his proposal and the king had granted their union as permissable, it was one of the happiest moments of his life. He couldn't wait to return home and claim everything that belonged to him, his title, his pack and his girl but now everything had changed. All he wanted was within his reach, in the twinkle of an eye he lost it all.

His thoughts revolved around his concubine. How much she had changed since his departure. Why couldn't she see everything he did, everything he became was for her, to protect her? For her, he had sacrificed everything, defied everyone that tried to come between them? How could Ari not see that? How could Ari not see how much she betrayed him by defying him? How could she defy him publicly without caring about his reputation?

He heard the the cell door open and sat up to find father standing there looking at him with an unreadable expression.

'The prince has summoned you. You will be brought to his presence', alpha Ramos said to him.

'That's it, thats all you have to say to me. No lectures, no questions?', Ricard asked.

Ramos looked at him, the buried anger in his heart slowly travelling to the surface, creating contours on his face, giving him a fearsome look that would have scared a lesser man.

'If its questions you want Ricard, you'll get lots of them where we are going.'

'You won't even listen to what I have say?', Ricard growled

'And what if I don't? Will you have me flogged as well?', his father responded

'You weren't there, if you saw how Ari disrespected me, you would know I had no other choice', Ricard said

'Do you want to know what I saw Ricard? I saw you hurt the daughters of my best friends since I was a boy. Daughters I watched grow since they were in their mothers wombs, you hurt them without mercy. I have always raised you to protect the pack, to be ready to lay down your life for them and when the time came for you to man up, without trying to listen to them without trying fighting for them, you mercilessly hurt them and for what? Your pride? How you can stand there and try to justify your actions to me, baffles me. It almost like I don't know who you are anymore. If you weren't my flesh and blood, I would have ripped you apart with my bare hands', Ramos responded, shocking Ricard.

'When you stand before the royals, you will only speak when spoken to, take responsibility for your actions and apologise for your mistake. The rest you will leave to me, do you understand?', Alpha Ramon asked

'I don't need you to...', Ricard tried to say but was stopped mid sentence by his father's grip to his throat, crushing his airways together.

'Do...you...understand?', his father growled, staring at him with glowing gold pupils. Ricard knew his father's wolf had come forward, leaving no room for argument. He nodded as much as his father's grip allowed before he was dropped unceremoniously to the floor. His father walked out of the room angrily slamming the metallic cell door behind him.

Ricard took moment to catch his breath before standing up and walking out of his cell. He found an omega standing outside holding a set of clean clothes and a pair of shoes.

He cleaned up using one of the warriors locker rooms and walked to the designated meeting area, ignoring the stares and murmurs of pack members who saw him being led in chains; surrounded by guards.

As he stepped into the room, he was slapped in the face by his grand mother. He looked at her and saw her face was reddened and eyes swollen from prolonged crying.

She slapped him again saying, 'How dare you? How dare you!'

'Mother please', Starr said to the older woman.

'Luna Star please escort Princess Nara out and stay with her till she calms down.

Prince Kohan', Luna Star responded with a hint of fear.

'I do not wish to make this an official hearing luna Star, I simply wish to talk to your son. Kindly return to your chambers', Khan responded dousing her fears. Both women exited the room while Ricard walked towards Kohan, who sat, surrounded on both sides by royal dukes and pack elders with Farad sitting beside him while Ramos, Lionel, Victor and Arnold sat behind him.

When the doors closed, Kohan looked up at Ricard and ordered him to sit, which Ricard obeyed.

'Ricard out of respect for the blood that connects us and all we have been through together, I will ask you: why you dared to disobey my orders publicly?'

'I didn't disobey you prince Kohan. Your orders were to stop the flogging of elite warrior Sinder, which I adhered to', Ricard responded.

Kohan smiled at Ricards response and said, 'I see that my brothers silver tongue has rubbed off on you as well as his mindless show of authority.'

'The elder prince is renowned for his eloquence and cunning, however I am my own person my prince Kohan', Ricard replied.

'Very well then, since you claim full responsibility for your actions, explain them to me',

'Ari defied me publicly before our pack warriors', Ricard said

'She was defending her friend!', Farad spat but was stopped by Kohans raised hand.

"Whom the prince had ordered to be flogged, or did you not my prince?', Ricard asked Kohan.

'I did and you obeyed without fail which is why I am questioning your disregard to my second order. i gave strict instructionsthat no one except her family could see the patient, yet you tried to force your way into her room', Koha responded.

'How did I disobey you prince? What I did was discipline my unruly future bride. Ari is my future bride, making her mine. Whatever may have happened between us was a family matter and has no business with the royals', Ricard responded.

'Do not play coy with me Ricard', Kohan growled, his patience growing thin.

'You whipped a defenceless girl half to death in front of your pack members and dare stand before me ssying it doesn't involve the crown. What did you think your pack warriors saw? Did you think they saw authority? What you displayed was tyrany and as your future king. I will not condone it. If you cannot control your mistress, then perhaps its best to call of the wedding.'

'You cannot...', Ricard responded desperately but was held by the neck and raised off the ground by Kohan who was rumbling within his chest. Everyone in the room rose up at the sight, all afraid that they were about to witness murder.

'Do not tell me what I can or cannot do Ricard', Kohan growled as he tried preventing his wolf from killing Ricard. He flung Ricard away and returned to his sit while some of the elders helped Ricard to his feet. Kohan did not take his eyes of Ricard, who continued walking until he stood before the prince once again.

'Your wedding ceremony to your mate will take place as scheduled, however your alpha ceremony will be postponed by one more year.

'What?', said Ricard in a husky voice holding his throat.

'You are not fit to rule. You lack control over your emotions and your arrogance makes you weak. If you cannot control one wolfless woman, how will you control pack of wolves?'

Ricard looked to the floor, utterly speechless. The royals applauded the prince for giving appropriate judgement and Ramos thanked him for his clemency.

'Like I said before Duke Ramos, I only did this out of respect for the blood relations between us. However, if in the future Ricard gives me a reason to believe he is a tyrannical ruler or disobeys my orders in anyway; I will not only take his title, I will take his life. We cannot afford to have a defiant alpha amongst us, given the growing number of vampires and rouges, nor can we afford to have a pack as huge as claws peak be led by fear into ruin.'

'As current alpha of claws peak, I will devote myself to teaching him till he fully understands, prince Kohan', Alpha Ramos responded.

'Then I will leave the rest to you Alpha Ramos', Kohan said and looked at Ricard who was still standing.

'You may leave us Ricard', Kohan ordered and turned to the seated elders.

'Your highness, with your permission, may I please see Ari?', Ricard asked

Instinctively Kohan stood up growling, unable to hold back his anger at the thought of another male with his mate. The royals and elders looked at Kohan, surprised by his reaction.

'Regardless of what has happened between us, I need to know she is alright', Ricard said.

'Her welfare is no longer your concern', Kohan responded.

'But we are engaged to be married?', Ricard said.

Alpha Ramos, do you know the condition of the whipped concubine?', Kohan asked.

'No highness, I am yet to receive the reports', Ramos responded.

'Well I have. The medical report shows she suffered excessive blood loss, broken ribs, a fractured spine and a c***k to her skull. Thankfully because she is more or less human, the level of silver in her blood stream was not considered harmful but if she were a wolf, she would not have survived the night', Kohan said looking at Ricard who looked to the ground with his eyes closed while Lionel was visibly shaking in his seat, holding his head with his hands while tapping his foot rapidly on the ground. Arnold held Lionel by the shoulders trying to calm his friend.

'Duke Farad, kindly escort beta Lionel to my quarters. I wish to speak with him privately after this meeting. Lead-warrior Arnold, go with them. Your presence is no longer required here', Kohan said.

'Your... highness, I need to be...'Lionel tried to say but was cut short by Kohan.

'Beta Lionel, what you need right now is to calm down. The royals and I will make sure that justice is served and your daughters interest is protected. I swear to you that as long as I live, no one ever hurt Ari again', Kohan said to him.

'Thank you your highness', Lionel said before walking out of the room.

'You will not go anywhere near her unless you wish to wear your wedding tuxedo to your own funeral. Now say nothing more and just leave', Kohan responded.

'Your highness, if I may...', said Victor

'No alpha Victor, you may not', Kohan responded without taking his eyes off Ricard, silencing the young alpha.

Ricard bowed before the prince, royals and elders before walking out of the room.

'Prince Kohan, please forgive my boldness. My son made a terrible mistake and there is no excusing that, but no one in peaks claw can deny his love for Ari or her love for him', Ramos said making Kohan look at him with eyes filled with murderous intent.

'She loves him! You dare say that to my face after everything your son has done!', Kohan roared; making everyone in the room bow down in fear of the aura he was emanating.

'Kohan, you need to calm down, he doesn't know shes your mate; none of them do. If you expose her now, she's dead and you know it', Farad mind-linked him. Kohan shut his eyes to control his wolf and sat down once more.

'What is your point alpha Ramos?', said Kohan in a tired tone.

'My lord, Ari and my son have been together since they were children and I have always considered Ari and Cybele as my own daughters. Though I dare not question how or whom Selene pairs together, neither do I lessen the competence and maturity that Cybele has shown as the future luna of this pack. I know that Ari is a good match for Ricard.Already she has shown courage and devotion to protect our pack members. I know she will influence him positively because that is just who Ari is, she inspires everyone around her and everyone loves her.'

'But who among them will be strong enough to protect her from your son?', Kohan asked silencing Ramos.

'Kohan give the man a break', Farad mind-linked.

'We will continue this discussion later, you have a wedding to prepare for and guests to welcome as well. You may carry on with your day', Kohan said standing up and leaving the room, while everyone else bowed.

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