Accidental Surrogate for Alpha novel Chapter 149

King Andras was watching the press conference when his son stormed in, blood dripping from his claws. When Damon entered, the conference was winding down, with Sinclair thanking the press for their support and apologizing again for their deception. He called for action against the Prince, stating that the fate of the united packs was at risk if the Alpha Council did not act.

“You idiot.” He growled at his son, clicking off the television. “What the hell were you thinking?”

“I took the wrong advice, but I’ve dealt with that now.” Damon answered snidely, “I got rid of that no-good bitch once and for all.”

“That’s what you get for taking the advice of a woman.” The King groused. “And if that weren’t bad enough, your incompetence has just cost our family the crown!”

“Me!” Damon exclaimed in outrage, “You’re the one who's being removed from the throne, the only reason I’m in this position in the first place is that you were too weak to fight the council and instead expected me to save your ass and the family legacy! You weren’t even going to let me rule if I won! You expected me to be your fucking puppet!”

“Because you don’t have what it takes to lead!” King Andras shouted. “You do shit like this! Thinking violence can solve all your problems, acting without thinking, taking strategy from a traitorous whore with more cunning than common sense!”

“Oh like you’re so different!” The Prince scoffed cruelly. “You stole the crown exactly the same way I tried to, so if you want to blame anyone for my mistakes, look in the damned mirror!”

He charged towards his heir, rage coloring his face bright red. “I had the wisdom to know when to strike and who to target. I didn’t go after an innocent she-wolf, I went after my enemy himself and I pulled it off because I planned and accounted for every last contingency. I didn’t just take it into my head to kill Henry Sinclair and start lashing out at him any way I could, regardless of the collateral damage! I didn’t risk the lives of the citizens I rule or align myself with extremists! I didn’t commit treason! I made a single, strategic strike and took out the competition. It’s not about morality or nobility, it’s about using your bloody head, Damon!”

“Well if you’re so smart, tell me how we’re supposed to get out of this without taking extreme action!” Damon shouted, livid that his father wasn’t taking his side.

King Andras shook his head in disbelief. “There is no getting out of this, boy. The damage is done and if you think the council will overlook your traitorous plots you are out of your mind. The only option you have now is to run before they can take you into custody.”

“Run, go into exile?” Damon spat, “that’s your grand plan? Don’t you care that Sinclair will become King? That our family will lose everything?”

“Of course I care, you insolent pup.” Andras snarled. “But a good Alpha has to know when they’re beaten, and trust me when I tell you that we are.”

“Not if we gather the royal army.” Damon insisted petulantly, stomping his foot. “If we act quickly we could overthrow the Alpha council, Sinclair, all of them. Without their interference and regulations, our power could be limitless. No more quibbling diplomacy, everyone shouting over one another in order to be heard and get their own way. Total authority.”

“You mean total tyranny.” King Andras replied, so shocked by the Prince’s suggestion that he had to sit down. “You’re suggesting we undo years of peace, throw out the constitution and reform the united packs as an empire ruled by nothing but your own greed.” The horror in his eyes was obvious to his son, and he made no effort to hide it. “In all my years I never… where did I go so wrong with you?”

“So you would rather give up, tuck in our tails and accept defeat? That’s pathetic.” Damon derided. “Clearly the council was right to unseat you if this is how you respond to a challenge. You don’t even have the will to fight, to defend what’s rightfully yours!”

“Maybe you’re right.” Andras grimaced, feeling overwhelmed with the depth of his failure as a father. “Because Goddess help me, but right now I can’t help rooting for Sinclair. If the only alternative to my rule is yours or his, then I would gladly choose him.”