Chapter 7 My father's son

Zarek's POV

The moment I stepped past the guards on black suits and into the principal's office, I felt this cold chill run down my spine as my eyes settled on my father.

He sat in front of the principal's desk but like the office itself belonged to him.

One leg crossed over the other, his dark suit perfectly pressed, his signature gold watch catching the light every time his fingers moved against the armrest.

Mr Derek Whitmore was the Alpha of the Northern and Southern region of Blood moon clan that settled on this part of the realm.

There were crescent clans, iron claws and others but they were merely under the Bloodmoon clan.

In lesser words, he was the Alpha of the largest region of the largest clan werewolves ever knew.

And I? I was known to everybody to be his heir.

My father's eyes lifted towards me as I stepped inside.

The principal, Mr Aiden wasn't in the office, making it more than obvious what this so-called meeting was for.

“Sit." He gestured. His tone, calm but with a touch of authority.

I hated how my body reacted before my mind could as I walked towards the chair beside him and sat down.

My father didn't look at me immediately, he simply picked up the file sitting on the desk and slowly opened it.

Serena's name was written across the front and that made my fingers twitch.

He flipped through the pages. “I’ve talked to Mr Aiden and the school has already begun controlling the rumors,” he said calmly. “The authorities will release the preliminary autopsy soon. After that, there will be a funeral.”

I stared at him.

That was it?

A funeral?

My sister had been dead for less than twenty-four hours and he was already talking about schedules.

“Serena didn't deserve this." His fingers stopped moving and for the first time he looked at me. “None of us deserved this, she didn't do anything to deserve being killed."

My father leaned back, his gaze still on me. “Zarek. This is what Serena brought upon herself."

My fingers curled against my knee.

How could he sit there and talk about her death like it was the most casual thing in the world.

"You know your sister, she was impulsive. Reckless. And most probably involved herself in things she had no business involving herself in.”

I scoffed, “How do you care for your subjects when you can't even handle your daughter’s death properly, is this how you seek justice for her?” my knuckles flexed as I balled them into a fist.

My father's eyes narrowed slightly.

“Control yourself, Zarek.”

I laughed once even though there was nothing funny about it.

I knew my father's reactions would be this but it just hurt to see him actually reacting like that.

“It's not like she killed herself but even till the end you don't give a damn." My voice raised.

"Are you saying someone killed your sister?” his expression hardened.

“I'm saying she didn't kill herself." I replied. "I knew Serena and she wouldn't take a fucking knife and drive it up her chest.”

“Are you then saying your sister wasn't impulsive and you didn't see this coming…

“You didn't know her!” I cut in.

My fist met with the table as I rose up abruptly from the chair. "You don't know why she did half the things she did so you don't have the right to judge her.” I could feel my chest burning but my anger right now surpassed the urge I had to stay controlled.

My father's expression finally shifted barely but I saw it.

“You were never our father. You were our Alpha. You gave us rules. Expectations. Schedules. You told us how to behave, who to speak to, what to say, how to dress, how to carry ourselves. When all we wanted was a father…. When all Serena wanted was a father that was proud of her.."

“Enough, Zarek….” He tried to cut in.

"But you were never fucking there and now you blame her when it's your fault she did whatever she did and it's your fault she ended up…

I stopped myself.

The words died in my throat and my fist clenched harder, feeling claws already pressing against my palm along with the irregular breath intake I tried so back to steady.

My father's cold eyes were on me, he knew exactly what I wanted to say and that made me look away.

“I'm sorry.” I said. “I just…. I didn't mean…..”

“You raise your voice at me again,” he said, still calm, “and I will remind you exactly what happens to sons who forget their place. Even grieving ones.”

My father closed the file with a small sigh. “You're grieving.”

His voice was quieter now, but somehow that made it worse. “The death of a twin sister can overwhelm even the strongest person.”

I looked at him.

“But we don't allow our emotions to control us.”

He leaned forward.

“Because when emotions take control, people say things they don't mean, just like what you were about to do.” His gaze held mine. “And some words cannot be taken back and can bring grave consequences.”

I nodded slowly at his warning.

“Yes, Father.”

“Good.”

He sat back.

“The autopsy will be released soon. Serena will be buried, the pack will mourn, and eventually this matter will die.”

My stomach twisted yet again.

“People will move on,” he continued. “And so will you.”

I stared at the floor.

“You are an Alpha heir, Zarek. The pack is watching you now more than ever.” His voice became firmer. “They cannot see weakness.”

I nodded. “I understand.”

“Do you?” he arched his brow..

“Yes.” I affirmed

“Then keep your composure and your status ‘clean’”

I looked up at him because I instinctively knew what he meant.

“Wren Hale.” he recited..

Hearing her name from his mouth made something inside me tighten.

“Her image is questionable, it was better you did your little games with Ramsay's Blackthorne’s daughter."

“Are you going to control who I date now?” I asked calmly.

He hesitated before clicking his tongue against his teeth. "No.If pretending to be interested in a girl keeps you occupied long enough to let this situation settle, then I see no reason to interfere.”

Pretending.

The irony almost made me laugh.

“Yeah.” I nodded.

He didn't need to dismiss me before I knew the conversation was over.

I turned away from him and for one second, I wanted to ask him if he was hurting.

If he missed her.

If somewhere beneath all that control, he was grieving too.

But I already knew the answer.

I turned toward the door, whatever just happened just proved how hard I should work to get my sister justice.

My hand had barely touched the handle when my phone vibrated inside my pocket.

I pulled it out and then there was a message from Wren.

Strangely I felt amused that she even got my number.

My eyes scanned the words once.

Wren: Ever talked to Sophia Rowan?