Moonfall | Book Two

CHAPTER 21

Standing at the base of the dais, Michael felt the dagger still tucked in his waistband press against his skin as he bowed before his father. As both Lukas and Damien had been told to wait outside, the Throne Room was empty.

And that was never a good sign for him.

But he would not let that distract him from his plans. Michael would let his father tell him whatever he wished to say, then follow suit with what he wished to say.

"It has been brought to my attention that you have been mistreating Danica."

Michael raised his head and stared up at his father. He was seated on his throne, body leaned forward with his arms resting on his thighs and fingers interlocked. His brown hair, which he had been keeping longer these days, was tied back, giving Michael a clear look of the dissatisfaction on his face. And those damned brown eyes they shared were staring directly at him.

"Have you nothing to say?"

He had called upon him to discuss Danica?

"I have entertained her when time has allowed me to do so. It may not be as often as you or her might like, but I would not call that mistreatment."

"And what would you call a broken promise to your mate?"

Michael immediately thought of Ellette, and although it caused his heart to ache, he could not let it show. Not when his father was clearly talking about Danica.

Had he broken a promise to her?

He thought about the few past interactions they shared and could not think of any mistreatment on his part until he finally remembered their last encounter the night before.

Michael closed his eyes as he sighed in frustration. He was not upset about missing their 'date', but in disbelief that she had told on him. "I apologize. I did promise to meet with her this morning. It must have slipped my mind."

"Well, here is some news I am certain will not slip your mind. I have decided to move up the date of your mating."

Michael looked up and stared at his father. "Because I missed one date?"

"Because you have fallen out of line!" His father stood up and walked to the top step where he looked down at Michael. "Do you not remember standing where you are, vowing to do everything I ask of you without question nor complaint? Or has that, too, slipped your mind?"

"Have I not? I have attended every pack meeting. Agreed with everything you have said, every choice you have made—even the one where you dumped the mate intended for Gabriel upon me—and uphold a promise I never made. I have eaten with Danica. Talked with her. Walked with her. I have chosen to accept a throne I never wanted because I know how important it is. I have done all of this and asked for nothing in return."

"Do not expect a round of applause for doing your duty. But since you have so much to say, tell me a better way to deal with Aria's request other than moving up your mating date?"

That caught Michael of guard.

"Aria? What does she have to do with this?"

His father slowly began to make his way down the stairs, stopping on the last just in front of Michael.

"She will be returning to the castle in two days' time, which means I must give an answer to her request. I figured having you and Danica officially join in union is reason enough to deny her the Woodlands, as I plan on announcing it as the new home for you two and a few other mated wolves. If we lay claim first, the Woodlands becomes our territory."

He continued to stare, hoping to see anything other than the seriousness in his father's eyes reflecting back at him the longer he looked, but that moment never came.