Chapter 107

Robert’s POV

It's as if the very air got sucked out of the atmosphere, just for me. I take slow strides towards my father. My grin spreading the more his knuckles whiten at his side. I ignore the rolling cameras and the brightening of lights, but it's obvious no one is ignoring me. Finally.

I come to stand right before Roman. I hope the camera's are capturing the building of sweat on his temple. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he's nervous. As he should be. He spent the last few decades ignoring me and now I have everyone's attention, I finally have his attention.

"Hello, Father." A wave of hushed whispers crashes around us. My flesh raises with goosebumps as I catch passing questions. Does Roman have another son? Is he illegitimate? Is this true?

I intend to answer the last question directly to the camera. It's true. It's a sad tale of a seemingly respectable and lovable former alpha who had made a mistake. A mistake he wished to bury with his money, only for the abandoned son to come back and repeatedly be denied. It's a tragic story where unfortunately there are no winners.

The hushed whispers quickly turn into noisy chatter as the shock wears off and the reporters member there's a story to unravel. One woman advances forward, "What is your name and what is your relation to Roman?" She's quick to hold the microphone up to me so and the other reporters standby, waiting eagerly for my answer.

"My name is Robert. I am the ill-" My answer is abruptly cut short. There's a few gasps and one shriek, the woman reporter takes a startled quick jump back. Though, I can't say I'm surprised to have Roman's claw wrapped around my neck.

I can't move my head so I turn my eyes and despite the choke-hold he's got me in, I'm pleased with the anger bulging from his eyes.

Not another word." He growls. With that he throws me to the ground. I toss my head back and laugh. How foolish of him. I bring my focus back on the heartless monster that's my father and know my eyes are beaming red.

The crowd steps back to give us room. Roman charges at me and I'm swift to doge his attack. The whispers circulate again, except this time they're directed at my genealogy. They want to know if I'm part vampire. Well, I guess I ought to quench their curious thirst.

Roman and I stand a few feet opposite of one another, slowly circulating the ground beneath us. I bare my fangs and for once I don't feel embarrassed by the disgusted repulsion. I delight in Roman's humiliation as the reporters capture the answer to their forbidden question.

I sneak a glance at the crowd, my eyes settle on Almara's. Her's are wide with fear and yet she can't look away from the scene behind her. She mouths something to me. I stare for a second too long, I know that I do because Roman takes the opportunity to strike.

Next thing I know, I'm on the ground again and Roman is on top getting ready to strike down a fist. I regain my senses quickly and grab the hook of his arm before he makes contact. I throw it back with such force his shoulder has no option but to pop back with it.

He doesn't so much as let out a whimper of pain, he shows no sign of weakness. With his upper body exposed and my arms free I throw a punch into his side. He slumps off of me, gasping to catch his breath.

"Getting too old to fight?" I taunt. I kick him to the temple while he's on the ground. A small sound of pain escapes from his throat, but he's quick to quiet himself. I would kick him again to make him unconscious, but I want him awake while I sink my teeth into him.

I drop down next to him, bare my fangs once more. His head is lolled to the side, leaving his neck openly vulnerable. Just as I get close enough to feel his blood pumping below the pulsing vein, he grabs my face and shoves it into the dirt.

Blinded by darkness and a mouthful of grass, I feel his entire weight crush on top of me. He's going to smother me into the ground. He won't even look me in the eyes as he tries to suffocate me. Coward.

I lay very still. If I exert too much energy, I'll lose consciousness much faster. Granted I won't die by suffocation, but if he can knock me unconscious that leaves me unable to defend what he's really after- my heart.

The cool dirt beneath me has turned warm, the bridge of my nose burns as it's being smooshed and my lungs feel tight in need of a gasp of air. Though I remain still, Roman doesn't ease up.

The urge to breathe is becoming stronger. My nerves are giving into instinctual panic. My palms break out in a sweat and the dirt becomes muddy beneath their touch. The though of air consumes my thoughts.

Just then, the weight is released. I flop myself over sucking in air, unable to focus my vision for a moment. Then fight or flight kicks in. I scramble to my feet, fighting against the light-headedness, but I already feel heavy hands on my shoulder yanking me to stand up.

Once I'm standing, I can gauge my surroundings. Still panting, I can see Roman being held back by a man larger than he is. I don't know who he is or where he came from, but he looks like some type of security.

Roman is still foaming at the mouth, but doesn't make any attempt to come at me. I presume that's because whoever this large man is, he's holding Roman by the shoulder I dislocated.

The news reporters stand by, waiting to see what else happens. Alamara and Jack stand off to the side and watch cautiously. Almara no longer has a look of fear about her, instead she looks ready to fight if it comes to that again.

That's when I wonder who is holding me back, I turn my head to see an old lady. An old lady?! I yank her off of me and that's when Roman jerks forward, but the man holding him doesn't let up.

At that moment, I realize this old grandma must be Roman's mother. He got his mother to help fight his battles? I might have been restrained by a weak old woman, but at least I didn't call my mommy.

I turn to growl at the old lady and I'm met with a slap across the face. I hear Roman laugh behind me. "I may have pulled you up from the ground and kept you from suffocating, but just as I saved you don't think I won't kill you either."

I open my mouth to respond, but realize I'm free. I'm not shoved in the dirt and no one is restraining me. I bolt further into the woods.