False Confidence

Reborn

Azriel Huang

I sipped from the mug of tea, hot steam billowing from the surface of the deep amber liquid. The pleasant taste and comfortable heat of it splayed over my tongue.

The beverage was just what I needed, the perfect thing to pair with the papers and documents opened up on my desktop and littering my desk. It had been a month since Wren had stolen the location to their MoonStone and ever since, my workload had shot up drastically. There were now meetings held frequently and I was expected to attend, usually all I'd do was take lessons with my mother to prepare myself for the burden and honor of leadership but now I was treated like I already held that duty in the palm of my hands.

I groaned to myself, seeing as I had to review the reports sent by the members we had posted in the city. War in the modern day was  much different from back when there weren't so many humans populating every corner of the world, now we had to be sneaky when it came to war to go unnoticed by mankind. It was all targeted blows to another's property to slow income or a precise assassination. No sieges or physical battles anymore.

Though one common ground of war was the city, it was where our businesses were and where we gathered in most of our riches. Even if the small town I lived and grew up in was the base of operations, the city was where we flourished. Nutrient with finances and opportunities. My mother and my grandfather had long since established hold of it but this rising issue with Wren's pack was threatening that.

Wren.

The wound of his ugly betrayal had long-since scabbed over but the rage still simmered, ready to boil over any minute. It was always there, dogging my shadow's step and ready to consume at any time. I'd even had scouts and spies attempt to infiltrate his pack but they were too meticulous. All of them were discovered and killed.

I shuddered, taking another cautious sip of tea. Being an heir before this was simply a game to me, where all I had to do was keep the city and our town under my foot and keep the peace. Now it was so much more than what my vain life was, no more carelessly drinking and going to concerts at midnight, enjoying the privileges my station provided me without having to put up with the work, now my life was something other than human. It was a matter of life and death.

I couldn't afford to mess around until this was over and I received what they owe in retribution.

I'd get it done, brick by brick.

|~|~|~|

I yawned heavily, stretching like a weary cat as I stepped out from my office. I had studied for my academics profusely after finishing up the work for my mother. Usually, she would get all of that done on her own with the assistance of my father but in times of war, there needed to be more hands on deck. I licked my chapped lips, shuffling down two flights of stairs and turning a corner, walking for a bit more to reach the kitchen.

  I gently placed it in the empty sink, water droplets flecked upon the steel surface. Too exhausted to wash it myself, I glanced around before quietly walking away from the sink and dishwasher altogether. Someone will do it, just not me.

Suddenly thirsty again, I stalked towards the fridge and reprimanded myself for realizing that my favorite drink was held at the cold bar. I contemplated just grabbing some water but thought better of it. I deserved something nice after the hours pouring over paperwork and emails.

Luckily for me, the walk wasn't long or troublesome. Simply a straight route to the left. I walked leisurely, the only place I felt safe being my own house. We constantly had guards posted and a large iron fence wrapping around the ridiculous expanse of our property, even the wooded land around it. These days, for the first time in my life, I was nearly always worried about a bullet in my skull. Holding the title I did, it came with a price and a target on my back constantly. I don't see how I only came to that realization recently.