Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder-Chapter 1358 - 113 : Calling for Compassion

*Noah*

“Zara, why don’t you head on upstairs and check on Briella?”

I tried to suppress a groan when my mate turned and gave me a hard look. “You’re going to go meet with your father, aren’t you?”

I nodded seriously, begging her with my eyes to just do as I said. “He needs to be informed of what Caleb told us immediately. We’re not turning the boy in, so we will likely need to prepare for war.”

Zara’s eyes rounded in horror. Even though I was telling the truth, I still felt like an ass for causing her fear. She heard Caleb say the same just moments earlier when we were outside, but maybe she was hoping that he was somehow exaggerating and that we would be able to find a way to go on peacefully.

I wasn’t as optimistic.

“Let me join your meeting,” Zara requested in a hard voice. “I know it’s not customary, but I would like to be there next to you to offer my input.”

Desperation shone in her emerald eyes. I had to steel myself in order not to give in. “I would really like for you to be upstairs with our daughter,” I told her. I tipped her chin up when her face fell. “Don’t misunderstand, love. As much as I agree that you would have much to contribute, I need to be at my most rational while my father and I discuss strategy.”

I could tell Zara understood my point, but her frown deepened. “I understand the need for logic in a situation like this but don’t be too rational,” she cautioned me. “This delicate situation also calls for compassion.”

I marveled at Zara’s wisdom. I knew she was learning a lot during her lessons with my stepmother, but I was always taken aback when she demonstrated her new skills and insights.

I wrapped my arms around her waist, partly to comfort and reassure her but also because I craved her warmth during this trying time. For a brief moment, I granted myself this peaceful moment as chaos seemed to swirl around us. I held Zara close, feeling her heartbeat against mine and allowing that to ground me.

“I am the most compassionate now than I have ever been,” I murmured against her hair. “And that is all because of you. I was something of a selfish jerk before you were brought into my life, and I sometimes fear that that jerk is gone for good.” I smirked a little toward the end.

Zara looked up at me and giggled lightly, but I could hear the tension behind it. “Don’t worry. That jerk is still in there. I have to deal with him from time to time.”

I chuckled once and then bent to give her a loving kiss on the forehead. Her eyes were shimmering with tears when she pulled away. “Go on up to our room now, please,” I said.

Zara looked like she wanted to argue further, but she gritted her teeth for a moment and nodded. After one more kiss, she turned to go up the stairs, her back stiff with tension.

I didn’t waste any time, turning in the opposite direction to go find my father. I knew he would still be up. He and my stepmother were likely still sorting out everything with the Luna lilies nightmares.

Thankfully, my father was alone in his office. That was a relief since I didn’t want to cause my stepmother to worry prematurely. I would let my father break the news to his wife.

“Noah?” My father saw the grim look on my face and immediately stood from his desk. “What is it, son?”

I skipped the preamble. “We just received word that Draven is demanding his son be released or we should prepare ourselves for war.”

Father’s eyes narrowed with hostility at the news. He slammed a hand down on the wooden desk, causing a bang to sound through the room. “I was afraid of this,” he said grimly. “I thought we had more time, but Draven is simply looking for a cause to attack first. Looks like we have little choice but to prepare for war.”

I was relieved but unsurprised that my father immediately saw through Draven’s plot. It was obvious that our deranged enemy didn’t care about his son. Attempting to deliver him wouldn’t bring peace.

We had no choice but to fight.

“I would like to have Zara and our daughter sent to stay with Zara’s parents,” I told my father. “I want them as far away from Drogomor as possible while we fight.”

My father nodded, understanding completely. He was a father as well, so I’m sure he could empathize all too well with my protectiveness. “We will have your brothers sent back to their university as well,” he said decisively. “Do you suppose we could request to have Estella and your aunts housed in Zara’s old pack as well?”

“I’m sure that won’t be a problem,” I assured him. We would need to act quickly to have all of this arranged, and there was hardly any time. I highly doubted that Draven was going to wait long before striking, even though his son was here and could very well be harmed in the crossfire.

It was decided that my aunts, Lorelei, Angelica, my stepmom, Zara, and little Briella would be sent to Zara’s old pack.

“This is for the best,” my father said with finality, already having the calls be made to arrange for our loved ones to be sent away.

I couldn’t agree more with this decision. It was extremely possible that Serena had a way to infiltrate Drogomor security, so I wasn’t going to take any chances.

My family would remain safe. I would make sure of it.

I strode out of my father’s office and nearly ran straight into Gray. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

“Gray,” I said, nodding curtly.

“Noah,” he said, frowning deeply. “I heard about my father’s threat, and I wanted to apologize profusely. I was afraid that something like this might happen soon. He is a ruthless monster with no respect for innocent life.”

“There is hardly a reason for you to apologize,” I said gruffly.

Gray looked like he wanted to believe me but straightened and looked up at me regretfully.

“I selfishly came here to ask for Lorelei’s forgiveness. I unknowingly led my father straight to you. For that, I am deeply sorry.”

He seemed so small and young, yet was probably only a couple of inches shorter than me. He reminded me so much of my younger brothers that I marveled at how long it took me to have true compassion toward him.

“While I understand your reason for apologizing,” I said, “as I’ve already mentioned, it is hardly necessary. It was me who decided that you would be allowed to stay here and earn your keep. You have proven to have a good heart and mind.”

Gray nodded. I could tell that he was affected by my praise but the stubbornness didn’t leave his jaw or his eyes. “Please allow me to surrender to avoid the war against my father.”

I shook my head before he was even finished with that request, having seen it from a mile away. “That wouldn’t really be helpful,” I told him bluntly. “We knew for some time now that we would eventually be facing your father, likely in war. It was inevitable as he was already an enemy of ours long before you made your way here.”

Gray was suddenly shaking. He cursed under his breath. It was then that I saw the fire in his eyes, sparked by his burning hatred toward his father. He raised his head to lock eyes with me. I was astounded by the amount of animosity in them. “Let me fight beside you then. It would be a great privilege to be able to defend your land against that monster.”

I appreciated what the boy was trying to do, but I couldn’t imagine putting him on the front lines any more than I could do so to my younger brothers. I didn’t doubt that Gray would be a capable fighter. He more than proved himself decent in combat when he sparred against my brothers.

Still, it made me uncomfortable imagining him facing off against ruthless Silver Fang pack members...

Or his ruthless father.

I shuddered inwardly at the thought and shook my head. “I could never expect that of you, Gray,” I said honestly.

“You aren’t expecting it of me,” Gray argued hotly. “I’m requesting that you allow me the honor of doing so.”

I felt my eyes narrow. I suddenly felt like I was arguing with one of my younger siblings. “What I mean is that I couldn’t ask you to possibly end up having to face off against your father. If you were to fight on our side, that could very well be the outcome. Would you be prepared for such a situation?”

Gray’s stubbornness was something else. I watched in amazement as his jaw tightened and his eyes blazed. “Yes.”

“Well, I’m not,” I said firmly, growing weary of the argument. An idea struck me then. “Mainly because I have an assignment that requires your attention much more urgently.”

Gray raised an eyebrow, immediately suspicious, and he had a right to be.

“Zara, my stepmother, Lorelei, and my aunts are being sent to stay with Zara’s parents,” I explained. “You are the perfect person to ensure that they arrive there safely.”

Gray was conflicted. I could tell by the way he pursed his lips. I could almost see the gears turning in his mind. He desperately wanted to fight with us and feel like a part of the pack in doing so, but he also wanted to be with Lorelei.

It was a difficult decision for him. Luckily for him, I wasn’t giving him the luxury of having a choice. “They’ll be leaving first thing in the morning, likely right before dawn, so you should probably see to preparations.”

Gray locked his jaw but knew he couldn’t disobey a direct order. He nodded curtly and turned to go.

I watched him go, relieved that I had his safety ensured now as well.

Mere minutes later, I was bursting back into my father’s office. The old man looked more wary than concerned.

“What could possibly be happening now?” he mumbled more to himself than to me.

“I just received word from a couple of our scouts that Draven was spotted mobilizing allies in the Dark Realm. They are making their way here as we speak.”

My father was on his feet instantly, already calling for some guards to aid in preparing for battle. “Draven and his forces will only be able to travel by sea. We should be able to cut them off on the water if we move fast.”

“I’ll give the order,” I said before turning to go.

My father nodded at me but was already in full Alpha mode as he brushed past me to give orders to another set of troops.

I froze in the hallway, getting the sinking feeling that the show at mobilizing was a trick to pull our forces away from Drogomor. We should spend the time we did have to rally our allies as a show of force for when their warriors made landfall.

I cursed under my breath. We had less time than I thought to get our loved ones off to safety. I took a sharp turn and headed up the stairs to the bedroom where my mate was likely getting ready for bed. I needed to ensure that she was ready to leave early the next morning.

I would do everything in my power to protect my family.