The Unexpected Return

My father was smiling. Never once had he offered me a smile before whether it was fake or forced. It was the thing my father couldn't spare for his disappointment child. However, I have to admit that I reached the point when I waited for this day to happen. For the first time in my life, I finally saw him smile at me, yet it never gave me a sense of fulfillment but rage.

I have hated him ever since he blamed me for the death of my mother. Even so, sometimes I found myself yearning for his appreciation as his daughter. But now that I have sought exactly what I yearned for so long, I never knew that I didn't need it. At least, not anymore. 

To me, it was easy to appreciate a person, to purse lips to give someone a smile. Father never had a problem giving it to Aena, but to me... I had to fucking kill an animal just to earn his appreciation. Unbeknownst to me, I got tired from doing a lot of exertion that always ends up being a futile attempt.

It wasn’t worth it.

I have another purpose now. A bigger and more significant objective than earning respect from a person who had no solicitude towards others. Killing the White Stag was worth more than that intent and a disappointment of his glorious purpose. Now that I’ve become the town’s subject of chatter as the Promised Wolf who had killed the Legendary White Stag, I know exactly what path I was taking. And now was the start of my plan.

The start of my payback.

I heard the door open and a horrified gasp filled the room, followed by the clanking of the metal tray on my back. If I wasn't mistaken, it was Miya. I knew it from the moment she entered the dining room because she had always been in charge of delivering the food from the kitchen to serve these entitled betas.

“You fool! You drop our food!” one of the betas hissed and charged through Miya while raising his hand, preparing to strike.

Taking the hunting knife from my boots, I unsheathed it as fast as lightning and pointed the sharp part of the knife at his neck before he could even lay a hand on Miya.

“Touch even a single strand of her hair and I shall have your head cut and roll outside the packhouse...” I warned him as I gritted, making sure not to press the knife on his neck not too hard as well as not too lightly. Just enough pressure so he could feel how sharp my knife is and how my weapon is capable of wringing his neck if he ever continues with his aim. “If you don't want to die, back off.”

The first-rank beta glared at me and asked for assistance from my father. Yet my father only had that grin on his face as he enjoyed watching me enraged one of his betas. I hated him for that, but what I hated the most was the thought of having my absence in this dining room, Miya could have been hurt, or perhaps she had been hurt a lot more than I could count on serving these betas and I couldn't be there to save her.

Maid or not, serving the high member of the Calisto Pack was a nightmare no one wished to undertake. If one couldn't stand for themselves, they are most likely to be the ones who would get tormented. I had experienced that even if I was the Alpha’s daughter. What makes me think that maids, especially those omegas serving the packhouse, were safe in the hands of these ruthless leaders? Only a fool would persist... yet fools like us have no choice but to endure.

“Serve or die,” I added emphatically, pressing the sharp side of the knife on his neck, causing him a little cut and blood.

I couldn't help but celebrate in silence as I watched his blood cascade down. I never thought seeing a red color on his neck was well suited to his color pallet. However, I simply couldn't end this man’s life just because he attempted to hurt my friend. If I act according to my rage and impulse, I couldn't call myself better than my father.

With an aggravated huff, the beta backed off and lowered his hand in defeat. But his reaction was in contrast to his action, so I shot him a piercing gaze, a warning that if he wouldn't stop glaring I might consider what I was planning for him in the first place.

“That’s enough, Akim,” my father said after a steely staring battle. “Pay respect to the next in line Alpha of our pack.”

Everybody swung their eyes at my father with a shocked countenance, immediately concurred with my father’s unexpected announcement. Even I had to confirm what I heard was imprecise and nothing but a reverie. I already had an arranged plan if ever I killed the White Stag and being an Alpha of the Calisto pack wasn't one of them.

I saw Miya look at me, so I looked at her in return with the same reaction because I was contemplating.

“This is not the time to jest about declaring an heir,” one of the betas said while laughing entirely without humor, breaking the deafening silence. Based on his tone, he wasn't in favor of my father’s sudden declaration just like everyone, including me. Except, his reason was evident that the idea of working under me didn't interest him. “You should think about it, Alpha Antonio. The Calisto Pack sake will be put under your heir so it needs a lot of considering.”

“Aera was my daughter, why can't she be my heir?” my father quipped, making everybody look at each other incredulously.

I felt my teeth clenched in disbelief. I had long given up earning my father’s respect. To me, treating me like I wasn't his child had become normal and I started thinking that I was fatherless... that Aena had only been that child who was treated right and considered him as a father figure. Now that words came out from his mouth as if he was a loving father to me made me feel cross emotions.

I couldn't figure out whether to feel glad that I had finally heard the words of affirmation or unhappy because he was taking me for granted. It was as if after I became the Promised Wolf, I had become his favorite child now, which we both know I never was... and will never be. In fact, if I didn't kill the White Stag today, he would only walk past me whenever we met in the hall and pretended like I was invisible just like he always does.

“I needed an heir, she was my daughter by blood. And she killed the White Stag and she appeared to be the Promised Wolf in the North. Why can’t she be the next Alpha of the pack?” my father queried, looking at me with a grave expression.

“But you just said many times that you wouldn't consider your daughter Aera as your heir,” the beta with the eyeglasses pointed out as he met my father's gaze.

Among the trusted betas, it was Diego, who never threw a stare of dissatisfaction at me unlike others who had done it so abysmally. However, I could feel that he was never in favor of my father’s hasty intent either.

“That was before...” my father answered, unbothered to appear ingrate in front of his subordinates. “According to the Legend, not only Aera would be the Promised Wolf, she could have the impressive title to attain when the news spread all over the Canidae.”

The beta didn't say a word, however, they were still contemplating the new demand. Miya and I looked at each other and remained listening. Just like me, Miya was concerned about what was currently happening.

“It was the credit the Calisto pack deserves and the recognition we longed to have for years,” my father added, clasping his hands and placing them under his chin. “Come to think of it. If declaring Aera as the next Alpha of the Calisto Pack, then an alliance request will come to us and not the other way around. Wouldn't it be an advantage to us?”

The beta’s reaction turned from contradicting to concurring. That happened much more quickly than I imagined. Of course, when it comes to the greater good of the pack’s reputation, there was nothing this beta would do.

Except the problem was Akim, my father’s right hand and in line to be the Alpha position if my father would never declare me as his heir. With my father’s change of decision, that position was no longer going to be Akim’s future possession.

Now, I understand his distress about this regard and his fear of not succeeding in my father’s position. For all I know, he has never been threatened by my existence in the pack despite me having all the privilege to be the next Alpha as my birthright. After I killed the White Stag, he turned berserk and menace. I never expected someone would see me as their rival. And now that I have seen it gives me a sense of fulfillment. I had a feeling that I could see it on his face from now on, not only his but all of this entitled beta who used to look down on me.

“Whether you like my decision or not, I will declare Aera was my heir,” my father prodded after a long silence. “Those who disagree, feel free to make yourself a rogue.”

Ruthless. That’s what my father is. And to think he cherishes his beta more than his own daughter. Well, it appears to be that I’m mistaken. He was the most selfish Alpha here in North Canidae.

My father looked at me and gave me a condescending smile. “Will you accept the offer of becoming the next Alpha, dear Aera?”

I opened my mouth to speak but I was disrupted by the abrupt opening of the door, completely getting everyone’s attention. And then my eyes widened in shock the moment I realized the person behind the interruption.

Alexei Volkov.

My fated mate who rejected me five years ago.

Suddenly, Alexei dropped down to his knees and wrapped his arms around my waist, gazing up to meet my eyes as he was almost near tears.

“I take the rejection back, Aera Alvarez.” Alexei pleaded, tightening his arms around my waist. “Allow me to claim you as your fated mate...”