Page 63 of Free Beast Mate

The pod hovered at the edge of the roof, and the door opened. We leapt inside and flew into the Star’s belly, where bright lights shone on an army of beasts. The pod door slid open, and Vice and I exited, then rounded the pod. Thirty rows of beasts, I estimated about a hundred per row, stood at the ready for the floor to open and drop them onto Jamie’s utopian village. They would swarm the place. They would kill and maim until they reached the belly of the fortress, where they’d encounter our army. It would be a bloodbath.

I presumed this wasn’t the only legion daddy dearest brought. The Star carried several battle legions. It would go on for days, maybe weeks, maybe months. Father had started a war tonight. Jamie wouldn’t settle until all his enemies died. He couldn’t even settle into peace, even after Emma confirmed Tom had died. He’d requested John to go back into Com X and bring Tom’s body to Beast City.

In the same fashion—because the apple didn’t fall far from the tree—Father couldn’t settle on Tineya. He couldn’t live with the knowledge that after his death, our family would no longer hold the throne. Tineya must have an Alpha, the strongest beast to hold us together, and he’d be damned if it wasn’t one of his sons. Jamie thought the same way. Family was everything, and ours would lead the beasts.

“This way.” The pod pilot motioned for us to follow him, as if we didn’t know the Star’s command location. Fucking clown.

Vice and I said nothing, followed the clown into an elevator. We exited on the command floor, knowing full well this could be the last time we left Earth or saw our mates. Two things comforted me. One, Jamie had stayed behind, so no matter what, this would not end here, because in order to become Alpha Beast, the alpha of all the beasts, Father had to defeat him. Everyone in their right mind knew Jamie couldn’t be defeated. A stronger beast hadn’t been born yet. The second thing? Emma. She could be pregnant and carrying my children. Jamie would protect them.

So, I swaggered into the enemies’ lair with a big fucking grin on my face. Next to me, Vice, the killjoy, looked murderous. Father sat on his throne, the bitch who thought himself Tineya’s second on his right, High Priest of Tineya on his left. Torrent’s daddy had come. How fucking touching. I crossed the bright room, winked at the beast who growled at me, and spun around for a show, then dropped to one knee. I bowed my head. “Father dearest, how good of you to come.” I lifted my head.

Father had never been and, I presumed, never would be amused by my flair for theatrics. A serious male with long white hair, silver eyes, and a battle scar across his right cheek, left there by Mayhem’s father just before he died, Father fought well, had trained with some of our finest beasts while I trained with Jamie ’cause nobody else thought the third son of Alpha Nie would be much use in battle. Or really much use for anything.

Mother had asked for a third child.

Father had given her me.

I was her baby boy, and since I was inconsequential to his bloodline, he let her spoil me. Father couldn’t be bothered with my upbringing. I was of no use to him until now. Too bad Jamie had turned out stronger than him sooner than he’d expected. Father didn’t like surprises. So I aimed to surprise him.

“Stand,” he said and motioned me up with his hand. He eyed my brother. “Vice.”

“Father.”

Father pinched his lips. Vice wasn’t gonna bow, and that bothered him, though not enough to make a big deal of it. Unfortunately. I loved theatrics. “Where is my Alpha son?”

“Not available,” Vice said.

Father flinched. “You are surrounded. This mockery of my home on Tineya will be seized in less than one hour of your Earth time. Had I known you were so…weak I wouldn’t have bothered bringing the Star. I could’ve taken the Ferry.”

Beasts snickered.

I chuckled.

Father put his hand up, asking for quiet. “Jamie is in hiding. You two have come to negotiate. There is no more negotiation. And you!” He pointed at Vice. “I will make an example of you. Bow to your Alpha.”

Okay, so he couldn’t get over himself. “Temper, temper, Daddy-o,” I said.

He snarled, stood, and shrugged the red fur cape from his shoulders.

Vice stepped back. I stepped forward. Father looked confused, then he shook his head. “Get out of my way, boy.”

“You conspired with humans who wanted us dead,” I said.

“Of course I did. You idiots couldn’t see past those human pussies you call mates.”

“Careful,” Vice said. “You offend my mate, and I might change my mind and kill you.”

Father smiled. “I sent a woman after yours. You will never breed.”

I spun around just in time to catch Vice before he rushed him. I grabbed the back of his neck, pressed my forehead on his. “Don’t let him get to you. You and your mate found a way.” Under my palm, Vice’s shoulder shook. If he assumed a battle form, it would be understood as a challenge. Vice didn’t want the Alpha position. He’d regret it and pass it on to me, and I’d become the Alpha. But it wouldn’t be earned. I had to earn this place, earn these beasts’ respect, and I’d earn it through bloodshed. As beasts, we understood violence.

Vice composed himself and retreated a few more steps. With my back to Father, I bent and punched the floor. “You want my kids?” I bellowed.

“The only good thing that would come of your existence would be heirs. So yes, I think I deserve something from you.”

Deserve? Sociopath. I sure hoped those genes died with him tonight. I breathed deep, allowing anger to settle into me. My teeth exploded in my mouth, my jaw trying to catch up with my battle form. My neck expanded, fur sprouted on it and then on my back, my body grew, and I towered over Vice. He surveyed my form. I lifted my upper lip and caught a small smile stretching his lips. I guessed I’d grown a bit.

Behind me, Father snarled and changed for battle.

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