Mated to the Alpha: Sold to the King novel Chapter 56

Chapter 56: 0056

Kaelen POV

"Alpha King, please forgive my son’s manners."

The older man bowed deeply, his grip on the young man’s shoulder tightening just enough to serve as a warning before he continued.

"He just took over the pack, and this is his first time standing before you. He’s a bit nervous and doesn’t yet know how to speak properly."

Jaxen’s jaw tightened, a flash of wounded pride crossing his face, but he didn’t argue with his father.

I looked at the father.

Then I looked at the son.

"Nervous," I repeated flatly, my voice devoid of any warmth.

"Yes, Your Majesty. He means no disrespect," the older wolf pleaded, keeping his head bowed.

I let the silence stretch for a long, agonizing moment, allowing the weight of my aura to crush whatever confidence the boy had left.

Then I took a single step closer to Jaxen, invading his space until he was forced to tilt his head up to meet my gaze.

"You have sixty seconds," I said. "Start talking."

Jaxen swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he struggled to steady his breathing.

"The rogue attacks on my territory have increased by forty percent in the last two months. My pack is struggling to defend our borders. We’re requesting additional military support."

Rogues.

Rogues, rogues, rogues.

This shit again.

Maybe it was because of the woman back at my estate, the one currently turning my mind inside out, but every time I heard that word, my anger spiraled completely out of control.

It felt like pouring gasoline onto an open flame.

"Request denied."

The words left my mouth before he could even finish speaking, and his blue eyes widened instantly.

"But, Your Majesty—"

"Fifty-five seconds."

Seriously, if an Alpha couldn’t handle a few rogue problems on his own, then what the hell was the point of ruling a pack?

Jaxen’s hands curled into fists. "If we don’t get help, we won’t survive the winter."

"Then don’t survive." I finally spoke, then turned to leave.

"Your Majesty, please—"

I stopped dead in my tracks and looked back at him, then asked, "How old are you?"

Jaxen blinked, completely caught off guard by the sudden question. "Twenty-three, Your Majesty."

"Twenty-three." I let the number hang in the air for a moment. "My Beta took over his position when he was seventeen. Seventeen. What’s your excuse for being this soft?"

Jaxen’s jaw tightened.

"I’m not soft—"

"You can’t even stand in front of me without your father holding your hand."

I glanced coldly at the older man beside him, whose grip was still firmly anchored to the boy’s shoulder.

"That’s the definition of soft."

The older man stepped forward in desperation.

"Alpha King, if I may, my son just got married, and his wife is expecting their first child. The stress of leading the pack while protecting his new family—"

"I wasn’t speaking to you." My voice dropped, cold as steel. "When I want your opinion, I’ll ask for it. And considering I’ve never asked, don’t hold your breath."

The older man’s face flushed with embarrassment, but he immediately stepped back.

I turned my attention to Jaxen again.

"You have a wife. A child on the way. And instead of making you stronger, it’s made you weak. You’re begging for help instead of figuring out how to help yourself."

I took another step closer.

"If having a family makes you this pathetic, then it would be best for your people if you stepped down now before your weakness gets them killed."

Jaxen’s face turned pale before flushing red a second later, a dangerous mix of humiliation and suppressed rage twisting his features.

His hands trembled violently at his sides. His claws were practically threatening to break through his skin, while the older man frantically tugged at his arm, desperate to pull his son back before I decided to execute them both right there in the doorway.

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