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CHAPTER 350
~Ace's POV~
The moment I said that, I should have realised the universe wouldn't be in my favour, and I wanted to prove him right, because the very next day, Ash and I were summoned back home.
After taking Dad's private jet, we arrived at the Lycan palace before noon, and before long, we were stepping into the Lycan palace.
Dad was waiting in his study, and to my unease, he wasn't alone. Mother sat beside him—beautiful, regal, smiling faintly—and across from them, two blonde girls I didn't recognise. Pretty, yes. But nowhere near Valerie.
"Dad," Ash greeted first as soon as we stepped in.
I followed suit, bowing my head to him. "Hello, Father."
"My sons."
He gestured for us to sit down on the chairs opposite the girls, and we did.
"Hello, Mum," I added.
My mother's smile brightened, and I could swear I saw he blush when I greeted her.
"I was beginning to think you only cared about your father."
Ash immediately joined the discussion. "No, mum. Sorry if we made it seem so. I apologise."
He stood from his seat and moved over to where she sat. I followed suit, crossing the room as we both went to peck her cheeks and hug her.
Being the jealous King, dad cleared his throat to get our attention and from the corner of my eyes, I noticed one of the girls giggle, but the other remained stoic.
"Sit." His gaze bore into us. "We have important business today."
Ash and I shared a glance before obeying.
We gave him the due respect and let him start. He did, but his very next sentence wasn't something either of us twins liked as the words dropped heavy as stone.
"I have prepared an arrangement for you both, and I would like you to adhere to it. You are to be betrothed to Lisa and Lana, daughters of High Duke Silverfang and High Duchess Elizabeth Valois."
The world tilted.
"What?" I snapped before I could stop myself. My blood boiled, the thought of anyone—especially him—trying to dictate who I could love.
For a heartbeat, all I could see was Valerie—her stubborn little smirk, the way her scent calmed the storm in my chest.
And now Father wanted me to toss her aside like she was nothing more than a distraction. The thought burned hotter than any rage; it was panic.
Losing her wasn't just unthinkable—it was impossible. My fists trembled on the armrest, nails biting into the wood.
Father didn't flinch. His face was carved from stone, in an unreadable manner, a king used to his word being law.
"You heard me, Ace. These unions will solidify ties with the Silverfangs and the Valois line. Both families control large territories and command the loyalty of several noble houses. With the growing unrest among the packs, their support is invaluable."
Ash's hands curled into fists on his knees. "So what? We're bargaining chips now?" His voice shook with barely restrained fury. "You'd sell us off like cattle just to keep your throne comfortable?"
Mother shifted uneasily beside him, her eyes flicking between us with a silent plea to temper our words. But Father only leaned forward, steepling his fingers.
"This isn't about comfort. It's about the survival of the Lycans. You need Lycan blood," he said evenly.
The stoic one finally spoke in a clipped and formal tone, just as cold as she looked. "We would be honored to serve as future Lunas of the Lycan throne."
Her words were polite, but the smug gleam in her eyes made my wolf snarl inside me.
Tsk… as if Valerie could ever be replaced. As if either of them could wear a crown meant for her.
Dad seemed pleased. He gave a nod and smiled at her before turning to face us.
"Your mate… this Valerie girl… she complicates everything. A Luna bound to not one, but six men? It's unheard of. Unacceptable."
"Dad," I protested, but he lifted his palm to stop me.
"The council will never back her. They already whisper that the Lycan throne is losing its dignity. Do you want to see our house dragged into a scandal? Do you want our enemies to laugh at us?"
I surged to my feet, glaring down at him. "Scandal? Is that what you think she is? A stain on your crown?" My chest heaved with rage. "Valerie is our mate. She's strong—stronger than any of those pampered nobles you're shoving in our faces. She doesn't need a title to prove her worth."
I ignored the fact that the girls were seated in the same room as we were.
Well, either that or I simply forgot.
But Lisa's lips pinched, clearly offended, while Lana's gaze dropped to her lap, her discomfort plain. At least that was an emotion.
Ash rose beside me, his tone harsher, colder. "And if you think for one second we'll toss her aside because you're afraid of gossip, you don't know us at all."
For the first time, Father's mask cracked, his jaw tightening as his eyes darkened. "Is that so?"
"Ye…"
Dad's glare froze Ash immediately.
"You speak of love like it outweighs duty. You are princes. Heirs. Your personal desires do not come before the stability of the realm."
Ash seemed not to have heard the last sentence Dad said when he responded.
"Love?" Ash spat the word like venom. "This isn't about love, Father. It's about bond. The Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes. She gave us Valerie. Not these—" he flung a hand toward the two girls, who stiffened at his words, "—strangers you picked from your council's guest list."
Lana sat taller, bristling at the dismissal, but Lisa shifted uneasily, fingers knotting together as if she wished she were anywhere else, but neither dared speak under Father's glare.
Father rose from his seat, his hands firmly planted on his desk as he glared harder. "In case you two forgot, how the hell are you to make her Luna when she has an extra four thrones and regions to rule besides as Luna? Are you dumb idiots or just bewitched fools?"
I stepped forward until I was nearly nose-to-nose with him, my voice low, shaking with fury.
"It doesn't matter. When she gives birth, our kid will rule the Lycans."
"Half…"
"They wouldn't be half-breeds. Besides, you aren't particularly a saint in that accord, either, Dad," Ash interjected.
"Yes."
Dad shifted his glare to me. "Excuse me?"
Mum hadn't spoken since our arguments began, but this time, she did. "Zara Zarek Zephyr."
Dad froze briefly, almost as if he had seen a ghost of some sort.
She looked at him from the corner of her eye, still maintaining her poised look. "Or did you forget how much you wanted the love of a woman mated to another man to the point you used Allure on her?"
Dad almost choked on his spit as he cleared his throat. I could see a flash of pain in his eyes, but as quickly as it came, it was gone.
"She and I were betrothed before her disappearance."
"Yeah, right," Ash blurted before he could stop himself.
Dad shot him a cold glare, my brother froze on the spot and looked shaken, and when I glanced back at Dad, his eyes had turned red and he unleashed his aura.
Everyone fell silent for what seemed like an eternity until Mum turned her attention to the girls and asked them to excuse us.
The awkward smiles on their faces showed their relief as they scurried out of the royal study room.
Dad exhaled deeply while clenching the armrest of his chair. I pitied the handrest, seeing the force being exerted on it.
It was only a matter of time before it actually broke.
"Do not mention her name. I chased after what I wanted, respectfully stepping back and respecting her wishes, around the time I met your mother before the war. This is different."
"Exactly, Dad. It is different," I spoke up courageously. "Valerie Nightshade is our mate."
"How sure are you that you won't lose her to the werewolf Alpha Kings' heirs?" Dad challenged.
"We won't," I interjected. "Also, I… we'll never marry these girls."
"Never is a strong word."
"It is what we mean."
Ash backed me up. "Do what you want. Strip us of titles. Cut us off. Whatever punishment you think you can wield. You can't sever the bond the Goddess gave us. We will not betray her. We will not betray Valerie."
The silence that followed was suffocating, heavy with unspoken threats. Dad's eyes burned into mine, a clash of wills neither of us was willing to lose.
Finally, he leaned back slowly, his voice dangerously calm. "You will regret defying me."
"Maybe," I shot back, unblinking. "But at least we won't regret betraying our mate."
Ash's smirk was sharp and reckless, standing shoulder to shoulder with me. "And that, Father, is something you'll never understand."
Mother's hand tightened on Dad's arm as if to restrain him from exploding.
But his silence was worse than any outburst. His gaze cut through us like steel, promising this battle was far from over.
"Dismiss. I'd rather look at your sister's face or sit and let her play dress up or make up on me than stay here looking at you two."
Ash chuckled beside me. He wriggled his brows at our mum and spoke. "Be careful, Mum, and observe Dad before he brainwashes our kid sis with his politics, ideas, and propaganda."
"I'm still here," Dad grumbled.
"That's the idea," Ash responded. "Come on, Ace, let's go."
We turned to leave, but just as we approached the big, heavy iron door, Dad's voice rang out.
"You'll thank me one day, when your so-called mate ruins everything."