Chapter 5
Caius's POV
"Caius...?" My mother woke me in the middle of the night, tears filling her eyes and dripping from her long black lashes.
"Mom?" I stirred groggily, finding her standing beside my bed. "What's wrong?" I whispered.
"Your father is dead..." she said softly, her voice trembling. Fear flickered in her eyes, but there was also a hint of relief.
"He's gone, dear," she repeated, as if needing to confirm it to herself.
A complicated rush of emotions surged through me. Ulric had never visited us, only occasionally sending enough supplies to keep us alive.
"You're his only living relative..." she continued, "his Beta will come for you. You must go with him..."
"What?" I sat up quickly, but she hushed me, pulling me into her embrace.
"I know it's sudden. But you must become Alpha of the Ash Pack. I never thought you would face this so soon, my child."
"You'll come with me, right?" I asked, my voice shaking.
She cried harder, shaking her head and holding me tighter.
"I'm afraid I can't," she told me hoarsely. "My place is here. Yours is there. You'll be an amazing Alpha, Caius. Much better than your father. You'll do incredible things in your life..."
"Your father did many wrong things in his lifetime. He hunted Volana wolves, hurt many innocent people... because he craved power, wanted to take everything from everyone."
"But you, my dear Caius, can restore order, make things better..."
"But how? I'm only nine..." I said, worry evident in my tone. "What can I do to help? Why can't you come with me?"
"Your father made everything too dangerous. Blaise's followers are still active, wanting to continue your father's work. But you can make things better. You can root them out. You can work to become stronger than your father. You can protect people like us... you can use your power for good."
"I promise," I whispered, holding my mother tightly. "I won't let you down. When I reach the top, I'll come back for you. I'll punish those who hurt us, and I won't stop until the Sovereign Realms are safe again. I'll correct everything father did."
"Alpha Caius? Did you hear what I said?" Alaric's voice broke through my thoughts. I looked around at the other Alpha Council members gathered around the conference table.
"You need me to take over as professor," I said, leaning back in my chair. It wasn't a question or a suggestion.
Alaric glanced at the others who remained silent. "Yes," Alaric answered. "Would you be willing to do that?"
As the youngest Alpha on the council, I knew I didn't really have a choice. If I wanted to achieve my goals, I couldn't refuse, even though the thought of teaching troubled me.
"Yes, sir," I finally said after a long pause.
"The student committee will want to speak with you. I'll let them know to expect you."
After the meeting, Alpha James approached me. "Alpha Caius, are you finally going to join us this time?" he asked, patting my shoulder. "Or are you going to come up with another lame excuse?"
"Yeah, Caius. Come on! It's Friday. Let's have some fun. You're still young, live a little!" another Alpha chimed in.
"I'll pass," I said as I packed my things into my briefcase. "Maybe next time."
"Hey Caius," I heard Alaric behind me as I headed out. I slowed my pace to let him catch up.
"I really appreciate what you're doing for the council. I know teaching isn't your thing, but I think this might be good for you."
"I appreciate the opportunity," I told him, and to some extent, I meant it.
"Honestly, maybe it won't be so bad," I managed a slight smile.
Alaric laughed, patting my back. "You might even find it enjoyable," he grinned. "I couldn't think of a better Alpha for the job. I can already tell; you're going to do great things. I'm glad to finally have you on the council. Have a good weekend! The student committee will be waiting for you first thing Monday at the academy!"
I took Alaric's words to heart as I drove back to Thalassian Reach; he believed I could do great things in the future. Just like my mother believed. I didn't want to disappoint either of them.
Yet part of me worried whether I could truly escape Ulric's shadow and become a different kind of leader.
My mother had been right; once I became Alpha of the Ash Pack, I began hearing rumors about my father. Things I'd never heard before; things I don't even think my mother knew. Like how my father died because of his hatred and greed for Volana wolves.
I learned that Volana wolves were real, possessing tremendous power. It was said my father had hunted many Volana wolves before finally being defeated by an Alpha. This taught me that excessive desire leads to destruction.
Mate bonds would distract an Alpha, preventing them from focusing on their duties. My father's greed for power led to his downfall. I vowed never to let what happened to my father happen to me.
I swore I would never be distracted by a mate bond. A true Alpha needs to be fully dedicated to protecting their pack.
This meant I would never be affected by a mate bond. But when I stepped into Alaric's home on his daughter Elara's 18th birthday, things became complicated, my wolf Max stunned by her beauty.
His hoarse whisper made my entire body freeze, my skin prickling with goosebumps. "I can feel her... our mate..."