Wolf's Claim (The Royal Heir #3) - Jen L. Grey Page 0,2

red as a tomato. "And I actually had thought you might be better than your deadbeat uncle. At least, with him, he'd betrayed me to my face and not behind my back."

"I did not betray you." I could only be sympathetic to a point. He was now overstepping a boundary. "If you keep accusing me in my own home, I'll have my guards kick your ass out."

"And now, both of you have the audacity to threaten me?" He lifted his hand as if he was considering slapping me.

Mason stepped in front of me, his back brushing against my chest. "I'd put that hand down before you do something you’ll regret." Mason's words were almost indistinguishable, given how thick his growl had become.

"Dad, stop." Louis finally walked over and stood next to me. "She had nothing to do with this."

"Bollocks!" The king yelled so loud it echoed against the walls. "A prince doesn't submit to another royal without something being held over their head." He pointed his finger in Louis's direction. "Your mother is beside herself with grief. It's time for you to come home."

"I am home." Louis took a deep breath and stared his father down. "You know Henry is better suited for the throne anyway."

"It doesn't matter who I think is best fit." King Adelmo took a step into Louis's personal space. "Destiny chooses the next heir. What are you going to do? Live with them,” he said as he pointed at Mason and me, “the rest of your life?” He waved his hands. "Get your shit. We're going."

This wasn't going to end well.

"Why don't you back off?" Ella got to her feet and rushed over to stand between me and her mate. "He doesn't want to go."

"This is what's wrong with you." The king's eyes landed on me. "You blackmail my son, the next in line to be king, and you let some pack member speak to me so rudely. Your father would be ashamed."

Those words were like a slap to my face. It hurt me deep within my soul.

"You arrogant asshole ..." Ella started, but Mason raised a hand.

"You come here unannounced, and yet my mate allowed you in." Mason's voice grew soft ... scary. "She allowed you to act in anger, understanding that you are hurt, and then you purposefully say the one thing that would cause her pain." He stepped right into the King's face and stared him straight in the eyes. "Get the fuck out of this house now. You're not welcome back. If you want to talk with your son, call him. Until you apologize, you aren't welcome here any longer."

"Now you listen here ..." The king started to back up but was cut short when Tommy, Kassie, and Mona passed by me to surround him. "You can't be serious. Do you know the repercussions of kicking me out?"

I couldn't allow him to think I was weak even if he’d ripped my heart out. "Do you know the repercussions of coming into my house to falsely accuse me and my mate of extortion?" I took a deep breath and straightened my shoulders. "Like the King said," insisted as I pointed to Mason, "get the fuck out now. If you don't, our guards will make you."

Realization seemed to settle on him as he stumbled back a step and blinked a few times. "Louis, get your things now."

Louis reached out and took Ella's hand. "I've pledged my loyalty to them ..." He paused and glanced right at me. "To her. This is my home now."

"What's wrong?" Kassie's voice had a hard edge. "Didn’t you want him to marry an American anyway?"

When he first found out I was alive, that was the expectation that he had set. That Louis and I would marry.

"I can't believe this." He turned on his heel and headed to the front door. He glanced over his shoulder. "I'll find out what you're using in order to keep him here. You're obviously using her," he said as his eyes landed on Ella, "but there has to be something else too. He wouldn't do this for a quick lay."

“You don’t get to talk about her that way.” Louis's shoulders stiffened, and his nostrils flared as he stepped in front of Ella.

"Get out now." Mason took a step in the king’s direction. “This is your last chance or I’ll personally kick your ass out in the next second.”

The king harrumphed and opened the door, slamming it shut in his wake.

Are you okay? Mason turned