The Golden Wolf 2: A twin life.

5. Bartering For Ashley..

Damian's p. o. v

I walked towards the Northern Star pack house. I had to face the man and his son that I know have and are still torturing and holding captive, My Mate Ashley. I could not let them assholes know that I was on to them.

"Max, we Have to keep our cool's, if we don’t, they could end her life before we even get to see her or get her out of there!... Promise to hold it in, Kayla isn't here to command you to control it!"

"I will but promise me I will get my turn to beat the s**t out of him or at least be the one to end his life when the time comes!" I can hear the anger in Max, and it mirrors my own.

"Promise." I can make that promise, I will beat him, and Max can end him. I see Alpha Jake come out the house to meet me followed by that piece of s**t son of his, Ian. I swallow the rage and hold the growl before taking a deep breath in as I am about to greet them.

"Alpha Jake, Ian... I'm glad I caught you as I have some wonderful news." I grin. Trying to project a façade that shows I am as ignorant as they think I must be. 

"Alpha Damian, Good to see you too. You’re all settling in well, I hope?... What is the good news that has brought you to the pack house, To me?" The curiosity is clear in Jakes voice.

"The King and Queen are coming to meet Ryder. Seeing as how my sister came down both mated and marked this morning hahaha... I think they will be eager to welcome the newest Royal to the family." I throw Ryder's new title at them. He will be a higher-ranking wolf that both of them... Let us play with their tiny brains a little.

"Royal?" Ian asks. Clearly confused. Oh! This is too easy! But anything to keep my mind away from slaughtering them both where they stand.

"Oh yes, didn’t you know that mine and Kayla's mates would become Royal's too? They automatically get a Royal rank and Aura to let people intuitively know who they are! Ryder is now a prince of the royal family, Making his ranking the same as my own... But I doubt your son or brother will expect you to bow to him, after all you are family to him!... Any way.. The King and Queen will be wanting to know if the new Royal couple will remain residing in the Northern Star pack or The Royal Pack. I can only assume that they will be coming to Black Blood as Ryder has no position here that I am aware of!" I taunt. Knowing I am speaking the complete truth. Jake did not introduce Ryder with a position or potential position either, Yesterday. So, he would have no reason to stay, plus there is mine and Kayla's plan.

"Well, I am sure my son will want to remain here with me and his brother... Their quite close. Isn't that right, Ian?" Jake is clearly scrambling for a valid reason for him and my sister to stay here. He will need them to if he has plans to use the connections his son has just made.

"Oh yes! I don't know if I could be the Alpha properly without him by my side... I'm having him as my Beta but really we will run the pack together, Side by side..." I can see Ian making it all up on the fly too just like Jake is.

"Oh, Well you may have too as me and my sister plan to run The Royal pack jointly without mates by our sides too... Ryder will be made Alpha alongside me when Me and Kayla take the throne! ... I'm sure you can part with him for the Royal Families sake?" I need to speak with Kayla... She must not remain here. I need her at the Pack. I hope Ryder won’t try and convince her to be here, after everything his dad and brother has done. I highly doubt he will, but I will have to make sure anyway.

"I will have to speak with my son to clear things up... But I will push him in your direction, Prince Damian... You can be sure of that!... But It should remain HIS decision for the couple after all... If he decides to stay here with is mate, then we BOTH will have to respect that." Yeah, Like hell I will see my sister allowing that... I have no doubt she will convince him to come back with us, not that I can imagine it taking much convincing on his part.

"You mean their JOINT decision?" I growl a little. If this man thinks Ryder will be wearing the trousers it their relationship, He has another thing coming.

"Yes, Yes, Yes! That is what I mean... I'm so use to think of him as one person when now there is two people to consider." I can see the anger boiling within.

"There is another cottage not far from ours... I would like it cleaned out for the King and Queen; they will want to be close to us."

"Oh, that cottage is a full guest house with 12 rooms... Like a guest pack house but smaller... I have something closer to the pack house that will be wonderful for them."

"No, that guest house will be perfect as their guards always travel with them. See that it is done... They will be here in 6 hours." I command but manage to keep the Alpha command out my voice.

"Ok your highness, As you command." I can see that he hated that he must follow my order. I walk back towards the cottage, Unclenching my fists. I can now feel the puncture marks from where my nails extend into my palm. I link Kayla:

"Sister, we need to talk, Me, You and Ryder ... I am on my way back and this is important."

"Yes, No worries Damian... I need to speak with you too. I was going to before you dropped the bomb about telling mum of me and Ryder, that you had set the wolf amongst the pigeons this morning." I feel her laugh and laugh along with her... Yeah that might have been an asshole move but I'm her big bro, I can get away with s**t like that with her haha.

I Walk back into the cottage and I can see that they haven't moved from their seats at the table.

"What's up?" Kayla asks as I sit.

"Well, have you two managed to speak about which pack you will be staying in? ... I mean we did have a plan, but It was based on our mates agreement." I hope she has spoken with him and he would want to come back to ours.

"Yes... She did tell me this morning... I would like to come to yours and go with the plan you two have... Although you will have to train me for a few weeks before I can step into the shoes of being an Alpha alongside you... Ian had dad end my training a year ago when he turned into an asshole, He used the excuse of me overthrowing him to dad to get the training for me stopped, I never wanted that anyway... I only went to the training as me and Ian was close up until a year ago." Ryder explains and I am happy he will be staying with us.

"Well when I said the King and Queen was coming to meet the new Royal couple in person and to find out where they will be residing... Ian and Jake both was saying how Ian cannot run the pack without you and you are to be made his Beta!" I can see the shock in Ryder at what I was saying... See I knew it was all Bullshit!

"Bastards, like f**k would I stay here... They have never offered me that, nor would I ever accept it! … Let me guess they now know I am classed as a prince? That will be why they want us here to exploit my new rank and use the connection to the royals that they think they now have... I refuse to be their pawn... Especially considering what they have done to Ashley..." He rants as Kayla comes to sit on his knee to calm him down.

"It's fine man, I knew they was talking out their asses... Chill"

"Wait!... Maybe.... I mean, what if I could use me staying here as an excuse to get Ashley back?... I won’t swear to stay but I can say it could go far in 'swaying' my choice to stay here?" I like his thinking... He is going to be a good addition to the family with the way his mind works... Good Alpha potential!

"That... That is not a bad idea, Babe!" Kayla says. I smile wide at him.

"Go to get some more stuff from the pack house and go tell your dad all about your new ranking... Don't be too eager though... If they bring her back before our parents come... Do not bring her near me... Once they are here with the guards and shadows, we will have better odds on our side... Once everyone finds out she is my mate, they know that she will tell me everything and the s**t will fly!" I just need to hold it together... I could be holding my mate in my arms by tonight! Oh, Goddess please make it so...

Ryder's p. o. v

Those bastards want to use me and my mate for their own gains... Having a royal as a member of your family will help this pack with Money, Connections and Security. It would make us the strongest pack on this side of the country. I am not above using my new connections to blackmail them into giving me my best friend and Damian's mate back.

"I'll go now! The quicker I get them to release her the better." I kiss Kayla deeply, A full make out in front of her brother.

"Stay close to everyone till I get back baby, Please!... I know you’re a badass but for me stay with one of these three till I get back." I beg her a little... I don't want to be worried all while I am gone.

"I will for you, I love you Ryder." She kisses me again as I stand and place her back on the chair. I stand and nod to Damian before walking out and to the pack house. As I get close Ian spots me and comes running to me. I saw dad had just gone back inside the pack house.

"Hey! I was just coming to find you...  I hear your fully mated and marked to the princess." He says and pulls my head to the side to see the Royal marking from Kayla on my neck. Riken growls at him just man handling me, Again whenever he felt like it.. We are higher rank than him now and with the power I have gained from the rise in rank, I could tear him apart. He should show me the respect he has demanded out of me over the last year.

"Yeah, I'm just coming for some more of my stuff. The King and Queen are coming, and I haven't got my best s**t with me. So, I needed to come grab some stuff." I say and start walking. Ian automatically falls into step at the side of me. We get to the house and inside before he speaks, I stop at the bottom of the stairs to listen to what ever dad has told him to say.

"Yeah. I can see that your busy but just give me a few minutes... I can also feel the rise in your rank too... Look I'm sorry about being a bastard to you for the past year... Dad said this is how I have to be to show power and strength to the pack... Damian said you could be going to their pack, but I need you to stay here. Dad said I can have you as my Beta like I always wanted before all this s**t started between us, like we spoke of as kids and before I changed." He sounds just like he did a year ago... My brother... But I know this is all a show.

"Boy's!" Dad shouts and we both turn towards him, an automatic response that dad in grained into us.

"Can I see you both in here... NOW!" He turns and we can hear him stomp back inside his office. He left the door open expecting us to do what he says. I hear the Alpha tone and for the first time I could refuse if I wanted too. I do not want them to realise this little part yet. They know I am a higher rank now, but I don't think they have put two and two together to realise I don't have to follow his Alpha command anymore. Ian has already started walking and I follow behind him.

"Take a seat." He growls. We sit in front of his desk.

"Ryder, you will be made Ian's Beta tomorrow... You are also commanded to stay in this pack!" s**t! 

"No! I will NOT be Ian's Beta and I will NOT be staying!... Why the f**k would I stay." I growl with Riken showing thick in my voice.

"YES! YOU WILL! I am you ALPHA!" He roars back. Trying his bullying tactic on me that always worked before... NOT Now though... I have to get her out for her and Damian's sakes!

"Yes, you are, But I am now a Prince and I no long have to follow your orders.... Why would I stay here? You took my best friend to a w***e HOUSE! ... Made her into a w***e! Then held her life over me to carry on running that filthy business.... I cannot tell them what you’re doing because her life is in your hands, but I will NOT stay while she is in there!" I shout back…

"What if I bring her back into the pack?" Ian says fast! Rushing to find a way to keep me her.

"What?" I asked. Playing dumb.

"Will you stay and be my Beta?... We could shut the whole place down with the Money and Connections we will have to the royal pack... I swear I will shut it down if you stay!" I can hear him practically begging. I can see the cogs turning in dad's brain... He knows he can't force me to stay and Ian just gave him the best way to try and keep me here.

"Ian that isn't your call! It's mine... I say if it stays open or closed.... But I will agree to bring Ashley back as a compromise... Once the money and connections come in, we can discuss whether to keep it open or close it down!... But ... You must agree to stay here." Dad says, realising my power when Riken released our aura before, He knows he has to offer me a compromise and this is the perfect one for him to offer. 

"I want her here by tonight or you take me to fetch her now!... I won’t agree till I see her, and she is back by my side." I demand.

"Done! Go with Ian and you can bring her back... Let us hope your new princess accepts her in your life though.... Not many she-wolves can accept the female best friend, especially one that is as close as you two are?... The Royals have the power to reject their mate at any time, Weather they are fully mated and marked or not!" I can see a devious plan forming in his mind... But he does not know of Damian being Ashley's mate and no threat to Kayla or our relationship! Or that they all already know the s**t happening here.

"Once she is out, you say anything to the royals I can still kill her, Remember that!" Is his last words as Ian takes me to Ashley. I link Kayla:

"Babe... I am going with Ian to get Ashley right now!... I will link you when we are on our way back and I will bring her straight to the cottage. Ian will more than likely be with me so get Damian out the way... I will be a few hours. Don't tell him yet or he could be uncontrollable!"

"OH, MY GODDESS! Well done babe... I will have everything she could possibly need ready for when your back... I won’t tell him for now, but I may have too later, don’t worry his wolf submits to mine remember. Make sure you give me an hour to 30 minutes warning to get him gone... Be careful! I love you!"

"Love you too and I will give as much warning as I can, Keep the link open to me." I stop the link for now but don't put up any kind of block.

"Who you are talking too?" Ian asks. He must have seen to foggy glaze come over my eyes. He isn't noticeable to most wolves but us both coming from Alpha blood we can spot someone mind linking easily

"Sorry, I was just telling Kayla that I am nipping into town and will be gone for a few hours." I cover for myself.

"Bet she was wanting to go too hahaha, Girls are always shopping, and she looks the proper little princess and I bet she had a master card bill to match her status with a whole entourage to accompany her." He jokes and I want to smack him one as I know she would be insulted by that, but he must see it as a normal lad talk, He also knows I hate girls that are like that and are so superficial.

"Yeah haha." I keep it short to hold my temper. Also, to not let him know that she would rather be shopping for weapons than clothes unless they were combat gear or training stuff.

"Sooo! What was last night like? I mean, is being with a royal any different for the girls you banged before? Are Royal's in to all the kinky s**t?" I cannot fight the growl this time and any mated male would be pissed at talking about his woman like that!

"Look! Get off that topic Ian... Or I will put you on your ass... No way am I telling you what my MATE is like in bed!... f**k’s sake! Why ask me that?" I growl, my hackles are definitely rising. He holds his hands up in surrender laughing.

"Sorry, I wasn't prying or wanting details... Look I was just trying to chat how we use too... We always talked about girls and all the s**t we did with them." He tries to pacify me.

"Yeah, well that wasn't my mate I was f*****g back then, was it? You will understand when you find yours." I get flashes of what he did to Ashley the night of my beating... How he forced himself on her and beat her too, the blood was everywhere! I can't talk with him like I did before... He's a bastard! A rapist! Does it make me evil to wish my own brother and father dead? I know I have the power and skill to kill him right now for what he has done, but I can't... I need him to get by the warriors guarding the place Ashley is in and to get her out! I also can't take that away from Damian... He will want to avenge his mate himself!

This is going to be a long ass few hours and I need to hold me and Riken off! ...