The Delta's Daughter Chapter 244

HUNJI / KIAN

The room is dark and cold. I can just make out my father’s frail figure in his bed as I move deeper into his chambers. I hear a gasp behind me and turn to see my sister Sonia with eyes full of tears, clutching her child. A son.

“Sonia,” I turn to her and cup her cheek peering into her familiar dark brown eyes. She looks frail and worn. Farid had kept his promise, she was unhurt but he had kept her hidden away and thankfully hadn't touched her or her child. Maybe there was some compassion in him somewhere deep down.  “I have missed you, and I want nothing more than to sit with you and Rostam and to get to know my family again,” My eyes turn to the small child in her arms who looks so much like Rostam. “But I need you to leave, give us time alone with father, your son does not need to see this.”

Through her glazed eyes I see the defiance I remember so much, but she nods her head and looks to Rostam who stands beside her. “Sonia, my love, everything will be ok now. Our brother is home, our family together again.” He plants a loving kiss on her forehead and then cradles his son’s head in his large hand and kisses him in the same manner, breathing both of their scents in deeply. “Please, go. I will meet you shortly. I promise.”

“Rostam…” Sonia’s lip trembles.

“I promise I am not going anywhere, ever again.” He gives her a reassuring smile and casts a glance at me “And neither is Kian.”

“Don’t be too long, your son wants to know you. Both of you.” She says before reluctantly turning to leave the room.

“Mind link the royal doctor to come,” I tell Rostam, not knowing who it is. I want to know exactly what Farid had given our father.

I cautiously step towards the bed, afraid I may disturb him, which is silly, but in the back of my mind, I still feel that scared eighteen-year-old boy whose father sentenced him to exile and then to death. Part of me was still angry and my wolf flashed images of me driving my claws into his chest. The other part looked at the frailty of the old man who lay in bed unmoving in a deep sleep and felt pity and sorrow.

I wanted him to wake up and see me. I wanted him to know all that I had been through, all that I had become. I wanted to know what he thought of my triumphs - of the position I held in the shifter’s realm. Still desperate for his approval to some extent.

“He would be proud,” Rostam said as if reading my thoughts, and he came to stand beside me. “He would be proud of the man you are Kian and happy that you are alive and in your rightful place.” I heard the croak in his voice and the audible swallow. “When… when you died, it broke him. It broke us all. He was never the same. He became a shadow of the man he was. He once told me it was the greatest mistake he had ever made not standing up to the courts, not defying our laws for you. You were always meant to be King. He knew this. We all did.”

I listened as my brother talked. Explaining what my father couldn’t say, as I look down on him. He didn’t try hard enough, or he didn’t want to.

“It was some years later after he saw the destruction and cruel ways of Farid that he came to me. Told me it was me he would name king. That’s when he told me about Morgan Artos and he had made a deal with King Orion. When Orion became the king of shifters, I would marry his daughter. But… I couldn’t. I confessed to my father that Sonia and were mated and that I loved her. I was beside myself knowing that it was wrong. It pained us both knowing that we couldn’t act on our bond, but we already had, and she was pregnant. That’s when he told me Sonia wasn’t his, but because your mother was his fated mate, he turned a blind eye to who her father really was to raise her as his own.

“I don’t know how or when Farid found out. I always suspected it was Abbas who told him, he was always sneaking around and going back to Farid to rat people out whether it was true or not.”

Just then the pack royal doctor came in, his eyes wide with concern as I looked at him. His gaze shifted from me and Rostam to the old King who lay helpless and still in his bed. “Your highness,” He bowed to me. “Welcome home.”

He moved to my father’s side, digging in his bag and bringing out a stethoscope along with a few empty syringes.

“What has he been given to keep him this way?” I ask the older man.

His feet shuffle with nerves and his body tenses. “I don’t know your highness; this is the first time in three years I have laid eyes on him.”

“What do you mean? Who was his attending physician?” Rostam asked.

“Forgive me but, Prince Farid had forbidden me from tending to your father, he had one of his own men administer medication to him. I honestly know nothing.”

“Did nobody question his authority, question why the King had fallen into a coma?” I growl.

“No-no, your highness,” The doctor stammers in fear “There was no one else, Prince Rostam had already been sentenced to life imprisonment.” A look of confusion clouded the doctor’s eyes, the fear still present.

“I want a full evaluation done on him, give him no more drugs until we know exactly what caused his state and how to fix it,” I command.

“Yes, your highness, Prince Rostam. I will do everything I can. Your father was – is a close friend of mine and it pains me to see him in this state.” He addresses both me and my brother. “Prince Rostam, if I may be so bold as to say, that I am loyal to you and your family, I was the one who delivered princess Sonia’s son. I understand he is yours?”

“Thank you, doctor.” I watched Rostam, his body language shifting and becoming slightly angst. He wanted to be with his mate and his son he had only just met.

“Please find me in the throne room when you have conducted your evaluation, doctor.”

“Yes, of course, your Highness.” The doctor replies to me.

I hear the doctor speaking to my father as we leave the room, telling him he was going to get him back on his feet and how he had missed his old friend, feeling like we had left him in good hands.

Sonia was waiting at the end of the hall for us. “How is he?” She asks Rostam, more than me.

“We don’t know the extent of damage Farid and Abbas did to him yet. We can only wait to see what the doctor says.”

“Doctor Gee, he is a good man,” Sonia tells us.

“Let me see my son,” Rostam holds his arms out for the quiet little boy, unable to resist anymore. “Hi big guy, I’m your daddy. I’m so sorry I haven’t been there for you and your mother.” He says kissing his son, tears gathering in his eyes and falling down his cheeks.

I take this opportunity to bring my sister in for an embrace. She immediately begins to sob “I missed you so much Kian, I still can’t believe you are alive. Tell me everything. I need to know. We have mourned you for over thirteen years while living in this hell hole.”

“There will be time for that later, sister. Congratulations on your son. What is his name.” Rostam stops cooing over the little boy and looks at his mate.

Sonia smiles, looking between the two of us “I named him Kian.” She sobs. “In memory of you little brother.”

The strings in my heart pull tight and I look at the little guy in my brother’s arms. “It’s a good strong name,” I say hugging my sister tighter. “I am honored.” And I truly am touched that she would remember me and give her son my name.

“I couldn’t think of a better name myself.” Rostam smiles at his son who grabs at his face. Sonia moves from my arms into Rostam’s who wraps his other arm around his mate.

And I know everything will ok between these two as I look on at the small newly reunited family. Everything will be as it should be.

‘Everything comes full circle.’ Ruda mumbles to me in satisfaction.

*****

“Hunji!” I turn to see Travis and Rhett entering the throne room. I want to smile at the sight of them, but I don’t. I feel it would be too weird for them to see anything but a passive look on my face, so I acknowledge them by nodding.

Travis comes to stand beside me, clapping me on the shoulder and Rhett takes his place next to him.

When Alpha Travis, Queen Lamia, and I, rebuilt the kingdom of MacTire, Rhett had been our Gamma, Travis the Delta, and I the Beta. The Queens second in command. When we won the battle for Riocht against Orion, and Lamia took her place as Queen of shifters with her mate King Mathias, also a half-brother to Morgan and Finnegan; Travis became the Alpha of the MacTire kingdom, his chosen Beta a bear shifter named Josiah and Rhett had been offered the Delta position, third in command, but he refused and stayed in his position as a Gamma instead, as an adviser. That way he could build up the league of enforcers he had started.

Rhett was good at his job, and now had units of men stationed all over the first continent in the bear and wolf kingdoms, he also had units stationed in human towns and of course MacTire. He worked with the council forming new alliances between packs, clans, and cities upholding the laws Queen Lamia set forth. Rhett was a hunter, and it was in his nature to make sure everyone shifter and human alike received protection and a fair justice system.

Travis, I had known sooner. Met him during my time at the Alpha Academy. Before that, and I’m not even sure if he was aware, I had met his father, Benjamin Wertz. It was his pack I was working in just before going to the Academy and finding the chosen one – Lamia Langley.

“I think you need to fill us in on a few things – King.” Travis chuckled at me “I mean shit Hunji, how much more are you keeping from us?” He asked light-heartedly but with an undertone of seriousness.

“I am more curious to know how you got here so fast and how the heck Finnegan Artos is with you?” I turned the questioning around to my two friends.

Rhett chuckles, “King Kellen.” He says scratching his blonde wavy hair. “Kellen called Travis and explained what was going on, who in turn told me. Without a doubt, we decided you needed our help. Kellen also spoke to Finn, who insisted on coming because of his sister, and told us how he and Orion moved between continents so fast, so Mathias released Finn from house arrest. His excuse is that if he didn’t and something happened to you, and I quote ‘Lamia would have his balls’. So here we are, we left from a small dock on the western border of MacTire and Mir.”

Now I did smile, knowing full well that Lamia would definitely have Mathias’ balls if he didn’t let Finn go after his sister and help to bring us home. The smile dropped from my face with that thought. I wasn’t going home.

Travis must have seen the change in my expression. “What’s going on Hunji?” He asked with concern. “You’re not coming home, are you?” I could hear the disappointment in his voice. He knew I couldn’t. He turns and swipes a hand down his face, fingers catching in his neat beard.

“She won’t be happy.” Rhett sighs.

"Does she know?" I ask my two friends. They know what I'm asking - if Lamia knew I wasn't coming home. She hadn't contacted me or tried, so I assumed she knew something was up. 

"I don't know if Kellen or Mathias have said anything, but... it's Lamia..." A pitying tone to Rhett's voice. 

I lift my arms and immediately drop them back to my sides in defeat “Who won’t be happy?” Finn’s deep voice breaks into the awkward moment. The hulking bear shifter, almost as big as King Mathias himself walks over to us, his white-blonde hair and violet eyes just like his sisters. My little witch. He would probably kill me if he knew I stole her innocence and if he knew she imprinted on me and that I was sending her back with them and abandoning her.

“Queen Lamia,” Travis tells him “Hunji is staying here.”

“Why wouldn’t he?” Finn’s white brows crease against his pale skin “He is King of Asiarian now, this is his home. He has a duty to perform.”

 I look at Finn, he is not wrong. I challenged Farid and won the throne. It is now my duty to lead the people of Asiarian and restore the kingdom of Eririat. So why did this not make me happy?

“Because he swore loyalty to Queen Lamia. He is one of her four Knights.” Rhett scowls at the bear shifter who towers over him, not intimidated by Finn’s size and Aura in the least.

“Finnegan is right.” I sigh. I may be a Knight to the Queen, but I also have a duty here. Like King Kellen, I am now responsible for all the people in this kingdom, and I cannot just simply walk away from that commitment.” I tell Rhett, my eyes shifting between the three men before they land on the throne of gold that stands in front of us.

*Are you sure you want this?* I hear Travis’ voice in my head.

*Honestly, no. But it’s what's expected. What I need to do.* I reply sensing his understanding.

*You know Lamia will be upset, but she will understand.* He says cutting the link.

I hope she does.

“Will you be returning with us, Finn?” Travis asks Morgan’s brother. “Or will you and Morgan be staying here?”

“We are leaving with you; Morgan has insisted that we return to the western continent. Besides, I feel like my home is the Kodiak Kingdom. It’s where I should have always been.” He sighs with a perplexed look.

“Okay, well…” Travis claps his hands together smiling, always the happy one. “We will be leaving come morning. I have a kingdom to run, and Lamia will want a full report when I get back.”

“Thank you," I tell the three-and-a-half shifters before me. “You arrived at the right time. I owe each of you a debt of gratitude.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, you owe us nothing Hunji. How many times have you been there for us and saved each of our asses?” Travis laughs. It always amazed me how he could be so charismatic after everything he went through and still be able to see the brighter side of life. I know our Queen had a lot to do with that, they had shared the same story, and both overcame their grievances with the help of one another.

"Your everyone's hero Hunji," Rhett smirks at me. 

It was time for me to let go of my own grievances. Time for me to let go of the past and start moving forward.

The next day, after I had spoken to Alpha Zayd and Alpha Jasper, thanking them for their efforts and the efforts of the men in their Clan and pack, I invite them to a gathering in the throne room.

Travis, Rhett, Finn, and Morgan would be leaving shortly and for whatever reason, my wolf was pacing. We hadn’t spoken to Morgan since the battle. I didn’t trust myself around her. I would ask her to stay with me when I know I shouldn’t. And she would say yes, she would stay – when she knew she couldn’t.

That probably made me a coward for not facing her. But I couldn’t risk it. The connection between us would fade over time as Asena said. She wasn’t meant for me. I don’t know if she was meant for anyone but her imprint on my wolf and me would only grow strong the closer, we were to each other. It was better this way. It had to be. She was meant for greater things, and I was meant to stay.

By the time we crossed paths again, our connection would have faded and she will have moved on. 

It was always your destiny to return’ Asena and Morgan’s similar words repeat in my mind. Reminding me of why I was here and the commitment I had taken on.

I step into the throne room. The great big throne made of gold and lavished in red velvet and sparkling jewels taunted me as I stepped towards it. The hall was packed. Filled with people from the Kingdom and surrounding packs of Asiarian. The courts were seated to one side and Rostam with my sister on the other side along with my friends and Morgan.

I make my way up the marbled steps to the elevated seat made for a king. I turn to face the audience, glancing down at the deep red robe I wear, feeling out of place. I swallow my nerves - because I chose this. The minute I challenged Farid I had chosen this.

I did not sit on the throne. Just because I had been named King, it didn’t mean I had become the official King. Not until I was crowned and that wouldn’t take place officially for another few weeks.

“Lords, Ladies visitors, and fellow pack members, I thank you all for gathering today. It has been many years since I have set foot in this kingdom, I was believed to be dead. I had stayed away for far too long, allowing the late prince Farid to wreak havoc amongst the kingdom and deceive you all. Your King – Parviz Tikaani is still in a coma, one that was caused by the late prince. Farid did many awful things and I assure you my rule will be fair and justified. I have served as second in command to the great and rightful Queen of shifters – Queen Lamia. In a few weeks’ time, the official crowning ceremony will take place and I will become your king, officially. Until then my brother, Prince Rostam, and I will be looking at how we can make this Kingdom better - for everyone. We want this land to be restored to its former glory and for the people to have a voice. I thank you all for attending this announcement and invite you all to participate in the banquet we have set up.”