Three Alpha Princes for an Unwanted Omega

”I knew I had seen his name somewhere.” Damon marched into Ares’ study waving the scroll from the archives.

Ares looked up from the reports on his desk. ”What is that?”

”Lucius Veyr.” Damon slammed the scroll down. ”He was a member of this pack before his family were branded traitors and most of them executed.”

Ares’ eyes perused the scroll in front of him. He could see names all ending with the surname Veyr and every one of them had been executed for treason.

”Where did you get this?” He asked, urgency in his tone.

”The archives room.” Damon supplied. ”The other day, Cassian and I went on to check it out because we knew something that was in there was stolen by Soren. I saw this while we were exploring but I had no idea I would have need of it.”

Ares read the scroll again. The dates were decades old. A purge ordered by his grandfather, sanctioned by the crown, carried out without mercy and without exception.

Suddenly Lucius’ hatred made sense. The attacks and the years of bloodshed. It had never been simply about power.

”We need to speak to father about this. He should know something.” He said. ”And I think this just revealed to us why Lucius has been against this pack for the longest time. He seems to be the only survivor.”

They were interrupted by Cassian.

”It is done.” he announced as he walked into the study.

”The gates?” Ares asked.

”Locked. Every one of them. No one in is allowed to go in and out. I have men on the walls and a watch on the guest wing. If Lucius so much as looks at the stables, I will know it.” Cassian supplied.

Ares nodded.

After his encounter with Ayla and Lucius whisking her away. He has asked Cassian to shut down the palace gates. He had the inkling that Lucius would try to find a way to take his leave and Ayla along with him. He realized that Ayla’s memory may be jumbled but they could get to her and they needed time to do that. Time that Lucius may not offer them.

As if the thought had summoned him, the door of the study slammed open and Lucius stood in the doorway.

”What is the meaning of this, Alpha Ares?”

”Somebody woke up on the wrong side of his cot this morning.” Damon snickered.

Cassian’s lips twitched at his brother’s words while Lucius ignored him completely.

”Is there a problem, Alpha Lucius?” Ares asked pleasantly.

”Yes. There is a problem.” Lucius stepped further into the room. ”My party and I have been barred from leaving.”

”Leaving?” Ares frowned, all innocence. ”Why would you want to leave when we have yet to conclude our business?”

”My Luna is not well.”

”I am sorry to hear that.” Ares’ voice softened into concern. ”Maybe we can have our healer take a look at her. Master Aldric is the finest in the territory. He pulled my own father back from the edge of the grave when the healers had given up hope.”

”That will not be necessary.” The words came out clipped from Lucius’ mouth. ”We would like to return to Emberfall.”

Ares sighed in regret and shook his head.

”I would love to honor your request, Alpha Lucius. Truly, I would. But you see...” He leaned back in his chair and folded his hands. ”Just last night, our scouts were attacked by a band of unknown men. We were forced to consider the palace on lockdown until we can bring the perpetrators to book.”

Lucius blinked at this.

Ares watched the rogue king’s mind work behind those hard eyes.

He knew it was a lie but he could not prove it. He also knew he was being played and there was also the furious realization that there was nothing he could do about it.

He had come here of his own accord and brought Ayla without a second thought.

Ares nearly smiled.

Got you.

”That is very sad to hear,” Lucius said carefully. ”But I do not see how this concerns me and my people. If you would just...”

”I understand your urgency to leave.” Ares cut him off. ”But I will not let you go out there without confirming that no harm will come to your person. A couple of my people are angry about this alliance, Alpha Lucius. Angrier than I would like. They do not understand what we are doing yet but they will come around, in time. In the meantime, the last thing I want is for any guest under my protection to be harmed.”

Lucius stared at him.

”The gates will remain locked,” Ares continued, ”until I fish out the culprits. I promise it will not be long. My men are already on it as we speak.”

There was silence as the two of them faced each other, tension crackling in the air.

Lucius’s jaw worked. Ares could see him running the options in his mind. Wondering if he could make an argument without raising suspicion.

”Very well,” Lucius said at last. ”We will wait and make sure all is in order before we leave.”

”That is perfect, Alpha Lucius.” Ares smiled. ”And so it does not seem like such a bother, we are preparing a feast. A festival, to commemorate this new-found alliance between us. It would honor us to have you and all your people present.”

”Of course.” Lucius’s smile did not reach his eyes.

He turned to leave. His hand was on the door when Ares’s voice stopped him.

”I will send Master Aldric to check on your Luna.” Ares said. ”We would love to have all of you present and in good health at the festival.”

Lucius did not say a word in response. He walked out, and the door closed behind him with a slam.

”He looked like he would have loved to punch a hole in your face.” Damon chuckled under his breath.

Ares laughed ”He would have liked to.”

”He knows it is a lie,” Cassian added.

”Of course he knows.” Ares picked up the scroll again, turning it over in his hands. ”But he cannot prove it, and he cannot leave, and that is all that matters. We have bought ourselves some time.”

Cassian’s eyes dropped to the scroll. ”What is that?”

”Proof that Lucius Veyr has been paying an old debt. Our grandfather wiped out his family. It would seem Lucius was the only one who walked away.”

Cassian went still. ”The only one?”

”The only one.” Ares set the scroll down. ”So now we know that he did not come here for peace and he suddenly wants to leave because something is going on with Ayla. We are not letting him leave with her.”

”Cassian, you will go with Master Aldric to see Ayla. Do everything you can to make her remember.” He paused. ”Take Miranda with you. She is a priestess of the moon goddess. If anyone can see what is happening with Ayla then it would be her.”

Cassian nodded.

”Damon.” Ares rose to his feet. ”You and I are going to visit father. He should be able to tell us more about the Veyr family.”