You Rejected A Silver Wolf
Barks At The King

Chapter Forty-Two - Barks at the King

Jaden's POV

I felt a sense of déjà vu as I walked into Black Hills Palace. A certain maid brushed past me, bowed, and left. It was the same as when I visited Black Hills for the first time. She was blonde and small.

Perhaps she was Silver's spy whom Jonah had met. The girl wasn't very inconspicuous; it's just that Chris had never suspected. I respected all the girls walking with Silver, like a group of pained young women making a mark for themselves. I eagerly wanted to know what Silver had planned for today's meeting.

Ralph returned to me, along with Jake, and we began walking into the courtroom.

"No Alpha has arrived yet," Jake told me in a mind link. "I think they're still offended at Chris because of Beta Gaius's death."

Seriously? My wolf eye-rolled.

Chris had imprisoned the Beta, but he ran away and met Silver-and that was where he met his death. It was no one's fault but his own. Either way, they'd still have to appear before their Alpha King; they had no choice. "Alpha Jaden, finally! I thought no one would come," Chris sighed.

Jake, Ralph, and I bowed before him. Ray sat beside him, playing with a ping-pong ball.

"You don't look like you were expecting guests," I smiled at him as he bowed.

"I hoped no one would come, honestly," he sighed, sitting back down.

Chris frowned at the statement but let it go. Ray was always too honest for his own good.

"Bring some seats for them. The meeting will only commence when we are complete. I have no time to repeat myself," Chris ordered a guard.

I thanked the guard as he swiftly brought seats for us. There was a ten-second silence after we were seated.

"Ray found his mate," Chris broke the silence.

Jake jumped from his chair, glaring at Ray, accusatorily. "He found her?" he asked Chris.

"Shouldn't I have announced it myself?" Ray sighed, tiredly. He seemed exhausted, like he was waiting for something exciting-perhaps the drama that would happen today.

"You didn't look like you'd say it," Chris smiled. "I'm surprised Jake didn't know. I feel better he didn't, actually."

Jake folded his arms and plopped back into his seat, pointing at Ray and then at himself, making Ray smile.

"I only figured it out a few days ago. Don't get over yourself."

"It's very amusing that you figured out that a warrior who'd been by your side for years was your mate only after meeting Silver," Chris said.

If I didn't know better, I'd say he was accusing Ray of something or wanted Ray to spill more information on a given topic. I stayed calm, watching, listening, observing.

"My wolf was pumped about meeting Silver; maybe that's why he recognized his mate," Ray replied in a dismissive tone.

It was ridiculous, but he could get a pass for the creative excuse. Chris clicked his tongue and relaxed on his throne. Another ten-second silence was about to end before Chris broke it again. "We will be deciding Silver's fate, as he killed one of ours," he started.

Jake snickered but kept a straight face. I bet he was amused at Chris referring to Silver as a 'he.' It had tripped me up as well. Chris glanced at him but continued.

"I'll be asking for the maximum penalty for him. He killed a Beta. He must die as well."

I waited for Ray's revolt, but it wasn't forthcoming. Wasn't he a fan of Silver? Ralph cleared his throat to speak. Chris raised a brow at him. "I presume you're the Black Rose Beta?"

I realized I hadn't introduced Ralph, as it was his first time seeing him. I was about to, but Ralph beat me to it.

"Yes, I am. And Alpha, you don't need to be scared of a rogue taking over your kingdom. Silver is only being rebellious."

We all turned to him. How dare he tell the Alpha King he was scared? He had that psychic look on his face was he reading the Alpha King?

I turned to Chris. Was he really scared that Silver wanted his throne? Silver, the rebellious teenage girl? It was funny.

"Don't say that; the King is only being cautious of a threat, as Silver seems dangerous," Ray defended.

I knew he said that so Chris wouldn't feel threatened and insulted, but Chris's expression showed he already was.

"Don't misunderstand; I speculated," Ralph shrugged. "But Silver can be appeased instead of killed. Beta Gaius was a criminal."

That was true. Beta Gaius had been serving time in jail for trying to have my Delta killed.

"Yes, and he died for it," Ray added.

Chris sighed audibly. "Will it kill any of you to know that Silver is dead? Since when did Black Rose have mercy on rogues?" he barked. "Since Red Moon dared kill our Delta twice, yet it was that rogue that saved him... twice!" Jake barked back.

Not even I would dare bark back at a King, but Jake seemed to have no problem.

"I didn't know Silver was nice enough to save your Delta. Isn't it obvious he did it for favor? Also, I punished Beta Gaius for that," Chris glared. Jake folded his arms. "And he tried escaping and was killed by a rogue. That's his loss. Silver isn't good, but neither was Beta Gaius." Ray nodded to his words, and Ralph exhaled, seemingly agreeing.

Jake added, "If your only reason for Silver dying is Beta Gaius, then that's groundless. If you have other unspoken fears, then share them." Chris's chest heaved up and down. I expected him to pounce on Jake already, but he swallowed it down as if it wasn't the first time.

Jake easily crossed his limits-I'd need to warn him in the future. Another ten-second silence was coming again.

"But Alpha, if you insist he dies, we should at least endeavor to kill him."

I slowly turned to Ralph. What did he mean? Why was he countering himself? He wasn't aware of Silver's real gender, and even if he was, I bet he was after a rogue being tamed. Chris smiled for the first time since he raised the topic. "Then, I am insisting." He looked at the rest of us in the room.

Ray sat up, looking troubled. "I refuse..."

"Why?" Chris hurriedly asked.

"Silver is the only silver wolf in the whole land. What about the prophecy?"

"Damn that prophecy, Ray. Silver is the evil in that prophecy, not its savior!" Chris retorted.

"You never see greatness till you lose it; that's your problem!" he shouted.

A lot of barks were directed at Chris. I had to give him props for being so calm-headed. Worthy of being Alpha King indeed. "And what do you mean?" Chris asked, intertwining his fingers.

"You rejected Rihanna!" Ray's voice changed to a growl as he mentioned his sister's name.

That was sudden. How was she involved in this? I left my seat, knowing this was a sensitive topic for both Ray and Chris.