Mated to alpha triplets at all-boys school Chapter 260

The king pov

It hasn’t even been an hour since the guard left, and here he is again, knocking on my door like his life depends on it. My stomach turns as I stand and call out for him to enter. I can feel it, whatever he’s about to say, it won’t be good.

The guard steps inside, his face pale and his breathing quick, like he’s been running. “My king,” he says, bowing. “There’s news.”

I motion for him to speak, my hands gripping the back of the chair I was sitting in earlier.

“It’s Kaiden,” the guard says, his voice trembling just enough to make me worry more. “The spy we sent to follow him, he’s reported back.”

I nod, urging him to continue.

“He says the prince has entered the hunters’ camp,” the guard says, his words heavy and slow, like they’re being forced out of him. “And from what the spy could observe, it appears he’s made some kind of deal with them.”

The words hit me like a hammer to my chest. My grip tightens on the chair, my knuckles turning white. “A deal?” I ask, though I already know the answer. Kaiden’s desperation, his anger, of course he’d turn to them.

The guard nods. “It’s not confirmed, my king, but the spy observed enough to believe it’s true. The prince was seen speaking with their leader, and the meeting lasted long enough to suggest negotiation.”

I feel sick. The hunters are our sworn enemies, ruthless killers who would stop at nothing to destroy us. And now my son, my own flesh and blood, is walking among them, striking bargains.

“Leave me,” I say, my voice cold. The guard hesitates for a moment, as if unsure whether to follow the order, but I wave him off. “Go. Now.”

He bows quickly and leaves, shutting the door behind him.

For a moment, I stand there, staring at the empty room. My mind is a storm of thoughts, none of them clear. Kaiden. My son. My heir. The one I’ve worked my whole life to protect and prepare for leadership. And now he’s betrayed everything. I can’t think about this alone. I need counsel.

I call for an emergency meeting of the Council, and within the hour, the Elders are gathered in the chamber. Their faces are stern, their gazes sharp as they take their seats around the long table. The air is tense, the weight of the news pressing down on all of us.

I stand at the head of the table, looking out at them. “You’ve all been told why we’re here,” I begin, my voice steady despite the emotions raging inside me. “Kaiden has entered the hunters’ camp. He has likely made a deal with them.”

The room erupts into murmurs and whispers, some of the Elders shaking their heads in disbelief.

“This is treason!” One of them shouts, slamming his fist on the table.

“Treason?” another Elder scoffs. “It’s worse than that! He’s endangered all of us. Our entire pack, if not the whole species, is at risk now because of his actions.”

I raise a hand, and the room falls silent again. “I’ve called this meeting to discuss what must be done. Kaiden’s actions can’t be ignored. But he is still my son, your prince.”

A bitter laugh comes from one of the Elders, a sharp-eyed woman. “My king, with all due respect, he forfeited his claim to that title the moment he stepped into the hunters’ camp.”

Others nod in agreement, their expressions hard.

“What do you propose, then?” I ask, though I dread the answer.

Elder stands, her voice firm. “There are only two options, my king. Kaiden must be stripped of all power and status, dethroned completely, or he must be executed.”

The words hang in the air, heavy and final. I feel like the floor has been ripped out from under me. “You’re saying there’s no other way?” I ask, my voice laced with dread.

Another Elder, leans forward. “My king, Kaiden has allied himself with the hunters. We can’t afford to show weakness. If we let this stand, what message does that send to the rest of the pack? To our enemies?”

“And what about his intentions?” I counter, my voice rising. “You don’t know why he went there. What if he’s trying to protect us in some way? What if-”

“With all due respect, my king,” an Elder interrupts, her tone sharp, “it doesn’t matter why he went there. What matters is what he’s done. He’s put us all at risk. If the hunters use him to gain leverage against us, we could lose everything.”

The room falls silent again, the Elders waiting for me to speak. I want to fight them, I want to argue, to defend my son. But deep down, I know they’re right. Kaiden’s actions have jeopardized everything. And as much as it pains me, I have to think of the pack before I think of him. He has finally gone too far.

My voice feels distant when I finally speak. “If we strip him of his title, what then? What happens to him?”

“He would be exiled,” Elder says. “Banished from the pack, with no claim to our protection or resources.”

“And if he returns?” I press.

“Then he would be treated as any other enemy,” Elder says coldly. “He would be killed.”

My stomach twists at her words, but I don’t let it show. “And if we choose the second option?” I ask, though I can barely bring myself to say the words.

“Then we would act swiftly,” Elder replies. “His execution would be carried out quietly, to avoid further rumors among the pack and kingdom. Afterwards, we shall push forward candidates worthy of the title of the next king. Damage control.”

I close my eyes for a moment, the weight of the decision threatening to crush me. Kaiden is my son. My blood. I raised him, taught him, and loved him. And now I’m being asked to choose between casting him out or ending his life.

“I need time to consider,” I say finally, my voice barely above a whisper.

“You don’t have much time, my king,” Elder warns. “Every moment we waste, the hunters grow stronger and Kaiden’s betrayal becomes harder to undo.”

I nod, my heart feels heavy. “I will make my decision by tomorrow morning.”

The Elders murmur their agreement, and one by one, they leave the chamber. When the door closes behind the last of them, I’m left alone with my thoughts.

Kaiden, my son. What have you done?