Fated Ties: A Werewolf Paranormal Romance Novel (The Twisted Destiny Saga Book 3) by Franca Storm
Authors: Franca Storm
Ads: Link
exclaimed, running his fingers through his hair with frustration. “I can’t be everywhere. I need to be able to trust them when I’m not here.”
“You feel the burden now,” Nathanial responded. It wasn’t a question. It was a statement.
“Burden?”
“Of Wolf King.”
“Of everything.” He turned around and threw his hands in the air with exasperation. “They’re all looking to me to lead and protect them. And not just them. The Dark Realm wolves, too. My son is the fucking bridge, burdened with a destiny bigger than all of us. To me, he’s just my son . But I don’t even get to enjoy that. Instead, I have to groom him to fulfill what he’s fated to do. My own mother tried to kill me and threatened my son. We have no idea what her real agenda is, so I’m just twiddling my damned thumbs, waiting. And my wife…she’s no longer the innocent, naïve girl I fell in love with. Her power is growing stronger. Too strong. And then, I find out today that it’s bringing out a dark part of her that she’s struggling to control. It’s…everything is…this is not what I wanted ! I never wanted to be king!”
Nathanial gripped his arms tightly, forcing him to look at him. “You are young. Three hundred is nothing. I didn’t take the throne until I was twice your age. You were never groomed to become king, because of your banishment from the Dark Realm. It is no surprise that you are finding yourself overwhelmed. Your reaction is normal, Ryan. But, taking your place as Wolf King is a destiny you cannot escape, so you must make your peace with that. Your self-doubt, while also natural because you are so new to this, is unfounded. Try to remember that every decision you have made up until this point has been the correct one. And you had no guidance. You are a natural leader, Ryan. You have succeeded in protecting your wolves from a formidable enemy. You have their respect. The Dark Realm wolves have ceded to your command and that is not an easy accomplishment. Furthermore, I have watched you with your son and you are a good father. You will prepare him for what lies ahead. And , you forget that you are not alone in this. I am here. We rule together.”
Ryan took Nathanial’s words in. As soon as he’d freaked out, he’d regretted it. It wasn’t like him. He could handle anything. He always had. But, clearly, everything that’d happened lately had pushed him over the edge. For a few seconds, he’d felt a twinge of embarrassment at revealing his feelings to Nathanial. But it had dissipated as soon as Nathanial had started speaking. He clearly understood. And, in that moment, Ryan realized that no one else could understand what he was going through like the Vampire King could.
“I hear you.”
Nathanial released him. “Good.” And then a grin crept over his face. “Fortunately for you, I have a lot of experience that can benefit you.”
Ryan smiled. “Arrogant, aren’t you?”
“And you are not?”
Ryan chuckled. God, it feels good to laugh. “I’m not sure if our arrogance is related to the king thing, or just because we’re assholes.”
“Both,” Nathanial said with a laugh.
Ryan looked past him at the wolf compound. He saw Josh ushering everyone into the courtyard like he’d ordered. “Showtime. You ready for this?”
“I am not worried,” Nathanial responded, fearless as usual.
Ryan slapped him on the shoulder. “If I can convince the leader of the wolf resistance not to attempt to kill you, this should be a walk in the park. Just don’t bite anyone.”
Nathanial scoffed. “They should not flatter themselves.”
And with that, the two of them made their way to the compound up ahead with Ryan leading the way.
CHAPTER 13
Cora headed to the compound mess hall. She was starving. She hadn’t eaten since her and Shaye had enjoyed a quiet dinner together in the White Realm yesterday evening. Shaye. They still hadn’t received any word from her. Cora knew she was still
“You feel the burden now,” Nathanial responded. It wasn’t a question. It was a statement.
“Burden?”
“Of Wolf King.”
“Of everything.” He turned around and threw his hands in the air with exasperation. “They’re all looking to me to lead and protect them. And not just them. The Dark Realm wolves, too. My son is the fucking bridge, burdened with a destiny bigger than all of us. To me, he’s just my son . But I don’t even get to enjoy that. Instead, I have to groom him to fulfill what he’s fated to do. My own mother tried to kill me and threatened my son. We have no idea what her real agenda is, so I’m just twiddling my damned thumbs, waiting. And my wife…she’s no longer the innocent, naïve girl I fell in love with. Her power is growing stronger. Too strong. And then, I find out today that it’s bringing out a dark part of her that she’s struggling to control. It’s…everything is…this is not what I wanted ! I never wanted to be king!”
Nathanial gripped his arms tightly, forcing him to look at him. “You are young. Three hundred is nothing. I didn’t take the throne until I was twice your age. You were never groomed to become king, because of your banishment from the Dark Realm. It is no surprise that you are finding yourself overwhelmed. Your reaction is normal, Ryan. But, taking your place as Wolf King is a destiny you cannot escape, so you must make your peace with that. Your self-doubt, while also natural because you are so new to this, is unfounded. Try to remember that every decision you have made up until this point has been the correct one. And you had no guidance. You are a natural leader, Ryan. You have succeeded in protecting your wolves from a formidable enemy. You have their respect. The Dark Realm wolves have ceded to your command and that is not an easy accomplishment. Furthermore, I have watched you with your son and you are a good father. You will prepare him for what lies ahead. And , you forget that you are not alone in this. I am here. We rule together.”
Ryan took Nathanial’s words in. As soon as he’d freaked out, he’d regretted it. It wasn’t like him. He could handle anything. He always had. But, clearly, everything that’d happened lately had pushed him over the edge. For a few seconds, he’d felt a twinge of embarrassment at revealing his feelings to Nathanial. But it had dissipated as soon as Nathanial had started speaking. He clearly understood. And, in that moment, Ryan realized that no one else could understand what he was going through like the Vampire King could.
“I hear you.”
Nathanial released him. “Good.” And then a grin crept over his face. “Fortunately for you, I have a lot of experience that can benefit you.”
Ryan smiled. “Arrogant, aren’t you?”
“And you are not?”
Ryan chuckled. God, it feels good to laugh. “I’m not sure if our arrogance is related to the king thing, or just because we’re assholes.”
“Both,” Nathanial said with a laugh.
Ryan looked past him at the wolf compound. He saw Josh ushering everyone into the courtyard like he’d ordered. “Showtime. You ready for this?”
“I am not worried,” Nathanial responded, fearless as usual.
Ryan slapped him on the shoulder. “If I can convince the leader of the wolf resistance not to attempt to kill you, this should be a walk in the park. Just don’t bite anyone.”
Nathanial scoffed. “They should not flatter themselves.”
And with that, the two of them made their way to the compound up ahead with Ryan leading the way.
CHAPTER 13
Cora headed to the compound mess hall. She was starving. She hadn’t eaten since her and Shaye had enjoyed a quiet dinner together in the White Realm yesterday evening. Shaye. They still hadn’t received any word from her. Cora knew she was still
Similar Books
