The Alpha King (Kingdom of Askara #1)(22)

What if you strip Gareth of his Alpha-heir status?

Luca stared incredulously at Kit. What an incredibly clever idea, and it fit with the idea he had for his own territory. New rules. He drew Kit closer and turned to Jace. “My omega has just cautioned me to have mercy.”

Malachi and one or two of the others scoffed. Luca didn’t respond. It certainly wouldn’t hurt for Kit to have the credit here, although something told him to keep their telepathy secret for the moment. “Alpha Jace, your eldest son Gareth is hereby stripped of his Alpha-heir status and the title is immediately passed to your younger son, Gabriel. It is my wish, however, that Gabriel will be one of my closest advisors, so I will grant him whatever assistance he needs to free himself for that task. The marriage contract, obviously, is still in place for the Alpha-heir. It is merely the Alpha-heir that has changed.”

Gabriel and Gareth both gasped, but while Gareth’s face turned to anger, Gabriel’s softened into pure joy. Luca had not only given a new and what a lot of wolves may deem to be a harsher punishment, but he had ensured the mating of Gabriel and Danni. It was a master stroke. Gabriel might not thank him for the Alpha-role but as it meant he was mating the love of his life he would have to suffer it.

“You can’t do that!” Gareth struggled ineffectually against the guards. Luca just lifted a bored eyebrow. Gareth sneered. “He’s a slut. I bet he doesn’t even have any papers.”

Luca had leaped in one go before he even registered the anger that shook his body. Gareth was on his back and Luca crouched over him. The knee to his chest effectively pinned him down, but it was Luca holding the knife to his throat that made everyone freeze. “You dare to insult my mate?” He would kill him. Strip the skin from his bones, and leave him as carrion for the huge death birds to claim.

“Luca?” Luca smelled Kit’s scent weaving around him, but he still didn’t let go.

Luca, let him go. His fingers gripped the handle tighter. He desperately wanted to plunge it into the sniveling waste of space underneath him. The red haze of his vision paled slightly.

Please, Luca. I need you. Come back to me.

Luca took a breath and the tightness in his skin eased.

Look at me. See how much you are loved.

Kit’s words finally penetrated Luca’s mind and calm washed over him. “You really are as stupid as you look,” he spat at Gareth, then stood.

Gareth gasped a choking breath out as he too was suddenly able to fill his lungs. He gestured to the guards to take Gareth out of his sight. He blew a breath out and glanced around him. Everyone was silent. He swallowed, registering the fear in some faces. What the hell was the matter with him? He’d never had such a temper before.

I think it’s sexy.

Luca chuckled and people seemed to relax visibly because he did.

Although he’s right. I don’t have any papers.

Luca knew Kit meant the license associated with his birth. Luca had half-expected Kit to be an illegal child. It was another archaic system that needed to change. “My omega’s right to life is literally written on his skin,” Luca gestured to Kit’s neck and looked around at the werewolves there. “I am also instituting a further change,” Luca said in the silence. “The Alphas who wish to may want to delegate some of their new duties to their omega mates. I believe there are a lot of things Danni may be able to help you with,” he added directly to Gabriel.

Gabriel dropped immediately to his knees and crossed his arm to his chest in the old sign of respect and allegiance. “All that I have and all that I am.”

Luca stepped away from the table and crossed to where Gabriel knelt. He was right in omitting his house from the oath because his father was still the Alpha, and it was not his yet to promise. Luca extended his arm to raise Gabriel up and they clasped forearms. He glanced at Jace. “I will release Gareth into your custody. For a period of one year he is limited to your pack house only.”

Alpha Jace bowed. He had his son, alive. He couldn’t complain, and to be honest Luca had seen the glint in his eyes when he had named Gabriel as his successor. He didn’t think he was too upset.

“Now,” Luca looked up. “I have both my new pack and my old one to manage. I cannot do that and undertake my new duties without the two packs suffering. I am hereby amalgamating them and designating a new Alpha.”

Malachi spluttered again. “But, you have no brothers of your line. There are no Alphas. It must be the elders that govern.”

Luca lifted an eyebrow and stared at the man. He knew Alpha Malachi was one of the Alphas that liked control, the same as Jameson, and the same as Hendrick. He didn’t think it was an accident that had caused all their Alpha-heirs to be born when the Alphas were already in their fifties. Wolves lived for up to three hundred years. He also knew full well Malachi was using the opportunity to get his hands on the old Hendrick lands. As a senior Alpha he would be expecting to be one of the ruling elders.

“You are wrong,” Luca said bluntly. “There is indeed an Alpha of my family’s line available. I hereby designate my sister Iris to be Alpha-heir of the new amalgamated pack.”

The place was in uproar. At least five Alphas and three betas stood to their feet and started shouting each other down. Luca’s guards stepped closer nervously and Sam stood up.

“Silence!” Luca raised his hand and the ground rumbled until everyone fell silent. “Iris is young and inexperienced so I am appointing Tomas who served both myself and my father as his beta-commander for many years as her chief advisor. But know this...” The silence was heavy, oppressive. “Iris speaks for me. Her words are my words. The archaic succession of eldest son is going to stop.”