The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 165: A Mother Unlike Others ()

The council had not expected Askel’s arrival, and the elders exchange panicked looks as they rose to their feet and bowed in greeting.

The hall then fell into silence, no one dared speak. Askel’s fury was visible and the aura exuded from him was dark and deadly, the elders knew better than to say a word.

But Askel needed an answer, he needed to know how his own council would dare deliberate about his private affairs behind his back.

"Who ordered this council?" Askel demanded in a dangerously low tone.

"Your Grace, you have only just ascended the throne as Ethereal King, it is only natural that your council be mindful of every affair at this time." Elder Jared finally spoke up.

Askel’s brows twitched slightly as he turned to face Elder Jared.

"Who ordered this council?!" Askel asked again, knowing well enough that Elder Jared was not daring enough to do this all on his own.

"I did." Came a voice as the doors to the hall were opened and in walked Queen Sancia.

She was accompanied by two of her attendants and Askel noticed the elders breath a sigh of relief at her arrival.

Askel blinked in astonishment, never would he have expected his mother was the brain behind this madness.

"Mother?" Askel asked in disbelief.

"Your Grace, as elders, it is their duty to deliberate over the future of the Ethereal Domain. Given the circumstances, it will be difficult for your people to accept the Crimson Alpha as Queen."

"The council must come to a timely decision to maintain order in the domain." Queen Sancia said with conviction.

Askel frowned deeply at the words of his mother, Zariah was not a topic that was up for deliberation.

"The choice of Ethereal Queen is not one you or anyone else can interfere in, mother." Askel stated clearly.

"I will say this just once, Zariah is the only woman I shall take as a mate and should this topic be brought up again, I will ensure that you all pay dearly..." Askel clarified in a chilling cold tone.

"Dear elders, allow me a moment of privacy with my son." Queen Sancia requested.

The elders complied immediately, hurrying away from Askel’s presence, the hall was soon vacated, leaving just Askel and Queen Sancia.

"What exactly are you up to, mother? What schemes are you conspiring?" Askel asked in a chilling, cold tone.

Queen Sancia frowned deeply at her son’s accusation.

"Do not be stubborn Askel. I understand your tender feelings for the Crimson Alpha, but the responsibility a King shoulders goes beyond his personal desires."

"A King must be prepared to sacrifice his own happiness in favor of his people when it is required of him." Queen Sancia said firmly.

"What is your point then?" Askel asked, struggling to hold back his rage so he did not end up hurting his mother.

"You stood before your elders and acted a bewitched fool, Askel. Will you be a King blinded by fleeting feelings of love and jeopardize the future of your people?" Queen Sancia demanded.

"Jeopardize? Zariah has done nothing but good to the entire realm, mother! Even at the cost of her own life! How can you harbor such thoughts?!" Askel hissed.

"She has done good, and the realm thanks her for it. Need you hand her the Ethereal throne also as a show of gratitude?!" Queen Sancia countered.

"What in the world are you talking about?" Askel asked in bafflement.

"The presence of the Crimson Alpha places the legacy of the Ethereal Domain at risk. They cannot be allowed to claim power here in our lands...there cannot be two Kings of the werewolves!" Queen Sancia insisted.

"She is my mate! With what audacity do you make this into a power struggle?!" Askel snarled, slamming a hand down on the table.

The long meeting table crumbled beneath Askel’s fist, crashing to the ground.

Queen Sancia kept a brave front in the face of Askel’s wrath, holding Askel’s glare.

"Word has spread round the domain of the return of the Crimson Alpha, the great feats of pacifying the war between the Sea Kingdom and the Floral Domain are sung on the lips of our people."

"The loyalty of the Ethereal Alphas will begin to shift soon, the way of the were shifters is that the strongest is King! The people now believe the Crimson Alpha to be the strongest...a god even!"

"It already is a power struggle whether you know it or not and it is one that you must prevail! Cast aside those weak feelings! You are a King!" Queen Sancia snapped.

Askel scoffed in disbelief, shaking his head as he stared at his mother.

"And who are you to teach me the ways of a King, mother? I did not chose to ascend the throne to have you govern my actions!"

"Your dynasty ended when my father died...you are no longer Ethereal Queen and that throne you are hoarding will be Zariah’s one way or the other!"

"I will toss you off it if I have to, do not test how far I am willing to go for her! If she requires my throne, I will give it! If she requires my life, I will give it!"

"I will not be forced into a vain, power dependent love as that you shared with my father! I will not live as you did! Stay out of my life!" Askel warned.

"How can you speak to your mother in such a manner?! Simply for a woman that is as good as dead?!" Queen Sancia shrieked.

"What mother would stand against the happiness of their child? If you truly loved me as a mother should, I would not have lived as pathetically as I did!"

"If you loved me...you would not conspire against the one good thing I have left!"

"Zariah is my life! And the Creator knows this, for while you plotted against her... she has already returned to me, alive and well." Askel said, shaking his head as he stormed away.