Deathbed Confessions
BRUCE
I stare at the photo of my future wife again before a knock on my door interrupts me.
"Who is it?"
"Bruce? It's me, son."
"Come in, Mom," I say just as I shove the photo back in the drawer.
My mother opens the door and peers at me from afar before entering the office. I lean forward when she takes a seat, then ask her, "Is something wrong?"
"I was just with your father upstairs," she explains. "He said he wanted to have a word with you."
"Do you know what it's about?"
"I'm not sure," she says, tears gathering in her eyes before she lowers her gaze and stares at her hands. "It's so hard to see him this way. Those rogues...they hit us hard, didn't they? I can't believe it. I can't believe it's come to this."
I sigh and rub my face. She's right. It kills me to see my father wasting away in the bed upstairs. There's nothing we can do to stop the silver from spreading through his body, poisoning every inch of him before it finally takes him from us.
To the world, he's sick and dying from natural causes. Nobody knows that he's actually been shot with a silver bullet, and that the shooter was a rogue.
We've kept that a secret to avoid a panic from spreading through the country. We need everyone to think that the rogues have been appeased. Since their leader was killed twenty or so years ago, things have been calm, but they're on the rise again, and this time, they've taken it a step too far.
I'll make sure to kill every rogue in this city by the time the years ends. There won't be any of them left after this.
"Do you think he'll be able to attend the wedding?" I ask.
"No. I think it's best if he doesn't. We don't want anyone to recognize the signs of silver poisoning. People have to believe in our—in your—ability to maintain the peace and keep our enemies in check."
I nod, agreeing with her. It's not like this wedding is one of love, anyway. It's merely a strategic move.
This marriage might be the ticket to end this war. I'm counting on that.
I wouldn't have married this woman if that wasn't the case.
"How do you feel about the whole thing?" Mom asks.
I shrug. "It's just another job."
"Do you trust that man?" she asks suddenly. "Carl Hart, is that his name?"
"I don't trust anyone, Mom, you know that. But I trust that his fear of me will keep him in line. If he doesn't, then he'll pay the price for it."
"I think he can be trusted," she claims. "From what I've heard, he's a cutthroat but one that keeps his promises."
"Where did you hear that?"
Before she vanished give me an answer, there's a knock at the door. The door opens without my permission, and of course it's Megan. She stares at me and says, "Someone's here to see you."
"Who?"
"Rick."
I frown. "What does he want?"
"He says there's news on that man you were looking for," she claims. "I don't know. I think his woman or whatever. You'll have to talk to him."
I nod, and our mother stands up. She tells me, "Go to your father before you talk to Rick. He really wants to see you."
"I'll do so," I say. Then, I turn to my sister and say, "Ask him to wait, will you?"
While she and Mom head toward the living room, I charge up the stairs to talk to my father. Things have been terrible these past few weeks. His shooting was...it nearly ruined us. My mother was especially heartbroken. The reason why he'd been caught off-guard and shot is because he was in a brothel with some woman he's been seeing for years, apparently. He never takes his guards with him.
From the report I received from our Beta, Rick, I learned that he'd been shot while having sex with the woman. She'd been killed instantly, as it went through his chest and into her heart. He was still naked when help came for him.
I kept the report a secret, opting not to tell my mother. I didn't want to break her heart. He's dying, so I won't hate him for what he's done, but what happened really altered our relationship.
Can I be blamed?
When I open his bedroom door, the smell of antiseptic and death hits my nose. He's sitting upright in bed, his eyes on me. He's removes the oxygen mask to say, "Bruce, my son. Please, come closer."
I approach his bed and stand next to him. I don't know what to do with my hands, so I shove them in my pockets. "What can I do for you, Dad?"
"I don't have much time left," he wheezes. "I won't be able to attend your wedding tomorrow, either."
"That's alright. Don't worry about it."
"I want you to know that...that I'm proud of you," he claims. "I know what you're doing for the country—for all the packs—and I'm proud. You'll be a better king than I was. Everyone will know your name."
I don't quite know what to say to this, so I say nothing else. He reaches out, offers me his hand, and I grasp it. He inhales oxygen before he says, "There's something I never told you, something that's vital for you to know. Your mother...Nora isn't your biological mother. I think you know that, though, don't you?"
I clench my jaw. Yes, I knew. I found out a long time ago, courtesy of a nanny who blurted it out before she was fired and subsequently killed by my father.
Only, he's never confirmed it until now.
"Who was my mother?" I ask.
"She died," he claims. "Your birth killed her. I was married to Nora at the time, but your mother was my fated mate. I couldn't stay away. Her death left a hole in me I tried to fill with others, but I failed. Nora forgave me. She's a good woman."
"Why are you telling me this now?"
"To make things right," he admits. "I can't die like this. I wish I had more time, but that's life. I'm sorry, son. I hope you'll forgive me for this. For what I've done."
Anger and resentment swirls inside me. I don't want to have to be angry at him, but I am. I drop his hand and say, "Rick is here. I have to go."
As I turn away from him, I hear him say, "Don't trust Alpha Hart."
I glance at him over his shoulder, and he adds, "He's a dangerous man. Watch out for him. Keep an eye on his daughter, too. Don't trust them, not with this."
I nod before exiting the room and venturing downstairs. I see Rick standing alone in the parlor, his hands clasped behind his desk. When he hears me approaching, he bows his head and says, "Alpha Prince. I'm sorry to disturb you at this time. I know you have that...that thing later on."
"What's the matter? Megan said you found something."
"Yes," he claims. "We've found her, the woman who's allegedly mated to Kyle Dresmond, the rogue leader. She's in a hotel downtown. We've already sent someone. She'll be staying there the whole night."
I nod. "This is good."
"What do we do after?" he asks. "What's the plan?"
"Who did you send?"
"Yarin," he claims. "He'll do a good job. I trust him. It's your call, though. Your brother expressed an interest in going, too."
I arch a brow. "Quinton?"
He nods and stares back at me expectantly. I make my decision and let him know what it is. Then, he leaves to get things organized.
This should be interesting.