You Rejected A Silver Wolf
A Rogue Silver

Chapter Ten - A Rogue Silver Chris's POV

A coronation should be a joyful event, but mine wasn't. I had always looked forward to the day with excitement, yet as it approached, everything started to irritate me to the core. There was still no news about Rih's body, though it was rumored to have been devoured by fish, since a farmer had once spotted blood in the river. That must have been agonizing, and the guilt weighed heavily on my heart-something I couldn't shake. It was even more painful than rejecting my

mate.

I looked ahead at the Alphas and pack leaders offering their congratulations. The Black Rose Pack was next, represented only by Jake Justin and his warriors. "Oh, Alpha King, congratulations!" he smirked, extending his hand for a shake.

I took it nonchalantly, though I noticed the slight squeeze he gave my hand. "Why didn't your mother attend?"

His eyes gleamed. "Oh, so you know I have a mother? Or is this some new knowledge you've acquired as the newly crowned Alpha King?"

A sigh escaped my lips. He was exhausting, always trying to guilt-trip me in every possible way, but I had recently learned this piece of information.

I'd heard stories about the Alpha, though I hadn't expected her to be a woman. "Don't start, Jake. Yes, I recently realized your Alpha was female..."

"One that shouldn't be underestimated," he said. "She hunted wolves with your grandfather and father. And she's a true Alpha, not a hand-me-down." His lips tugged mockingly as he referred to my Alpha status as something inherited. I leaned in closer. "And so will you be."

He shook his head immediately. "I'm not next in line for the throne."

My expression shifted.

"See, you know nothing about my pack. I'll educate you about your most powerful ally when you're done greeting the others." He huffed.

My mind raced, trying to process how he wasn't the heir. He was the Alpha's son, after all. He walked away, disappearing into the crowd, but I could still see his dark, shiny hair as he headed toward the door. Was he staying to teach me, or was he leaving? Either way, it was good riddance.

I forced a smile and continued greeting the remaining guests. My arranged Luna, Sasha, hurried over with a glass of water as I sat on the throne.

"My Alpha, here, to quench your thirst," she said, smiling demurely.

Looking into her face, I remembered the time I had mind-linked her, warning her not to bully Rih. Back then, I told her she was nothing more than a maid and had no right to bother a Beta's daughter. She had cried and fled, but now, I had accepted her after rejecting Rih-the one I claimed was worth more than her.

Rih would have mocked me to death if she had witnessed this ironic turn of events. My wolf wasn't even with me during this coronation. He had distanced himself, processing everything slowly.

I took the glass of water from Sasha just to get her away from me. "Thank you, you may leave."

She quickly scurried off to gossip and judge the guests with Vanessa. I was sure it had been Vanessa who suggested Sasha to my father as my arranged mate. Even if they had quarreled that day, they bonded again over my rejection of Rih. The coronation finally ended after my speech and the mockery of a 'wedding' to Sasha. The guests began to disperse, though some lingered for refreshments. My mother approached me with an unreadable expression.

"I know today isn't your best day, but try to be happy, hmm?" she said gently.

I nodded, forcing a smile. She hadn't agreed to Sasha being my Luna, but since my father insisted, she had let it go.

When I stepped outside, I was surprised to see Jake Justin still around. He stood beside Raymond, someone who had avoided speaking to me throughout the coronation. I was grateful he had agreed to be coronated as Beta anyway.

"Jake Justin, you didn't leave?" I marched toward them.

"I never said I would." He replied without turning. "I had a question, but your Beta answered it." He finally faced me. "I'll be leaving now."

I rolled my eyes and cocked my head. "We've had our differences. Please continue upholding the good relations between our packs."

Ray detached from Jake and gave me a brief bow before walking into the room. I watched him go. I didn't want him to be a 'beck-and-call' Beta like his father had been to mine, but he remained distant even after my apology. "You can't fix that relationship," Jake said, breaking the silence. I turned to him, standing beside him. "I'll try."

"You killed his sister. What do you expect him to do? Smile? He can only serve as he's bound to do. Expect nothing more." Jake sighed.

But I wouldn't give up. Rih's death hurt me as much as it did Ray, and there were more pressing issues that required our full cooperation.

“Anyway, what question did you have?" I asked, changing the subject.

He glanced at me before looking back up at the stars. "Never mind. I asked if someone from your pack had declared themselves rogue recently."

I frowned. "No." No one in the Alpha King's pack would ever become rogue. They'd be proud to belong.

"Why? A rogue issue? The Black Rose Pack handles those well, don't they?" I teased.

"We do. Only this time, the rogue is a Silver Wolf, and he's causing a lot of havoc," Jake Justin said, clenching his fists slightly.

"A Silver Wolf?" My eyes widened. It had been a long time since one appeared around here. Why would a Silver Wolf go rogue when so many packs would want him?

"Yes. Recently, our Delta was attacked by hunters from an unknown pack. We tried to handle them, but the rogue showed up."

Frustration colored his tone.

"I sent more warriors to deal with the hunters, but they couldn't find them. The hunters returned to attack again, and the rogue saved them. It's infuriating!" He slammed his hand against the wall.

I couldn't help but feel a little satisfaction at seeing him so frustrated-finally, the Black Rose Pack was struggling to deal with something. But a rogue Silver Wolf could be a threat to all packs, and as Alpha King, I had to take it seriously. "Capture the Silver Wolf if you can. They're rare and shouldn't be killed. Maybe he thinks your pack is doing something wrong," I suggested.

Jake Justin scoffed. "He can wait until I skin him alive. My pack already has two older Silver Wolves. We don't need young troublemakers. We'll kill him!"

I grabbed his arm as he turned to leave. "That's an order from your Alpha King. We don't kill Silver Wolves anymore."

He shoved my hand away. It reminded me of how Ray had pushed my father's hand on the day Rih died. The memory made my heart both sink and boil. "This is my pack. Your orders aren't needed here," Jake intoned. "I asked Ray if the rogue came from your pack. He didn't, so don't worry about him." With that, he brushed past me and walked back into the hall.

Author's note: Please drop your comments. I'm curious to hear your thoughts! Thank you.