Chapter 381: A Family Dinner Party

Somewhere inside the Kings Hotel, a family dinner was taking place. Present were the Alpha King and his two grandchildren, Silviana and her little sister.

"So, your girlfriend is not present?" the Alpha, seated at the head of the table, said as he noticed the empty seat beside Princess. His eyes shifted across the immaculate tablecloth, his small chest expanding with a calm, absolute draft of air that made the surrounding room feel instantly smaller.

Princess had been checking her tracking app to see Faye’s current location. Her fingers tapped rapidly against the glowing screen beneath the edge of the table, her pulse thumping a fast, restless beat against her collarbone while her lungs pulled in short, cautious puffs of air.

She was at the gym, which made Princess wonder what could be so important that Faye had to leave.

Princess put her phone away and turned her attention to her grandfather. Squaring her broad shoulders while her eyes locked onto the small boy leading the table, her chest rising in a controlled wave to mask her sudden anxiety.

"Yes, sir. She had to leave. She doesn’t like staying away from our pups for too long... it’s her motherly instinct," Princess said. Her voice rang out clear and steady, her heart drumming a firm cadence against her ribs while she offered a smooth, polite smile to cover for Faye’s quick exit.

"Oh, I was looking forward to getting to know the girl who stole my little princess’s heart," the Alpha said.

"She is a Grande. Her mother was a rogue, and her father used to work for the GPF," Silviana said. She was seated beside her husband, Adam. She spoke with a sharp, polished tone, her posture perfectly erect while her chest rose in a quick, dismissive wave, her eyes glinting with quiet arrogance.

"That’s something new in the family. Speaking of family, where is Leonardo and my great-grandchildren? I expected every one of my blood relatives to be at this table." The Alpha questioned coolly, setting his glass down with a tiny tap while his posture remained solid as stone.

"Grandfather, Leo couldn’t make it today, but he did say he would make it up to you," Adam replied. He leaned forward slightly, his broad chest expanding with a heavy, serious draft as he tried to keep his voice respectful and firm under his leader’s gaze.

"I see. Still avoiding family gatherings. I hope he has changed that hair of his?"

"No, sir. It’s still blue," Adam answered.

"So, Adam, when are you and your wife going to give me great-grandchildren? Your siblings have already done that." The small leader asked flatly, turning his terrifyingly youthful face straight toward the couple.

"We are working on it, Grandfather," Silviana said with a smile as she gently held Adam’s hand.

Adam simply stared at the hand holding his. He looked neither pleased nor comfortable.

"For seven years now? Who is the problem? Is it Adam or you?" The Alpha pressed directly, his voice unwavering while his breath came in smooth, even cycles, cutting straight through their fake smiles without a single hint of hesitation.

The dining room fell silent as the young-looking Alpha questioned Adam and Silviana about having children.

Princess received a text from Kiara. It was nothing but a mocking emoji directed at the married couple sitting across from her.

Princess was about to laugh when the Alpha turned his attention to her. She quickly bit the inside of her cheek, her pulse jumping into a sudden, wild sprint against her ribs as she forced her face back into a cool, respectful mask.

"And you, Princess... what is stopping you from marrying the mother of your pups?" The Alpha asked, resting his hands neatly on the table while his lungs pulled in a long, quiet draft.

"We are still in high school, and we’re perfectly fine not being married yet. We want to settle our lives first before we start talking about marriage." Princess answered smoothly, holding her chin up high while her chest rose in a strong, dignified rhythm, refusing to let her voice tremble even a bit.

"I see. You lost your Strikes because of that." The Alpha stated plainly, his eyes narrowing slightly as his posture stayed stiff and imposing.

"I know, sir... and I do not regret any of it." Princess declared without a second of hesitation.

"Did Adam apologize for what he did to you?" The Alpha asked, turning his head slowly to look between the two siblings.

When the Alpha asked that, Princess wondered what kind of apology he was talking about. She blinked her eyes, her breath catching tight in her throat as her heart skipped a fast, suspicious beat, staring across the table at her older brother.

"True, I was not impressed with the match between you and that girl. I told him to show you how it’s done. I never asked him to lay a hand on you... Did you do what I told you to do, Adam?"

"I... I sent her messages, but she never read them," Adam defended himself.

"Is that how you apologize for laying a finger on your sister?" The Alpha questioned, his small chest heaving in a slow, dangerous wave that commanded total submission.

"No, sir," he muttered. Adam dropped his head, his face turning pale while his heart hammered like a trapped animal inside his chest.

He turned toward Princess.

"I’m sorry, Princess, for what I did to you earlier this year."

"Is that your idea of an apology?" the Alpha asked. His tone was as cold as iron, his eyes unblinking while his breathing remained perfectly still.

Adam stood up from his seat and walked over to his sister.

His knees hit the floor with a dull thud, his hands reaching out to touch her shoes while his breath came in fast, humiliated puffs through his nose, his entire world crashing down in front of his family.

"I’m sorry, Princess. What I did to you was wrong. I know forgiveness is not enough to repair the damage, but I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me." Adam choked out, his head bowed completely low while his chest rose and fell in rapid, miserable waves.

It was humiliating for Adam. His heart thundered with pure, burning agony, his throat tight as a drum while his face flushed bright red under the blinding chandelier lights.

He had never knelt before anyone. He had spent his whole life standing tall above everyone else, his pulse racing with furious shame as he remained stuck on his knees in front of his younger sister.

His suit was his pride, and he always made sure it never touched the floor.

Princess had not forgotten what her brother had done to her, but seeing him on his knees brought a small smile to her face.

"I forgive you, Brother. After all... we are family," Princess said. Her voice came out sweet and smooth, her posture relaxing back into her chair while her heart beat a victorious, steady cadence against her ribs.

Adam stood up and quietly returned to his seat.

"Because of that act, Adam has lost two of his Strikes. Those Strikes are how the Kings family was built and the code by which we have lived. But as a new generation approaches, I no longer believe that tradition should continue." The Alpha announced, his voice carrying over the table with absolute power.

The Alpha paused before making his declaration. The room went completely still, everyone holding their breath while their heartbeats thuttered in shared, intense suspense.

"I hereby revoke the Act of the Strike. From this day onward, each of you is free to live the life you choose. As for my succession, any of my grandchildren, including the one who isn’t here, are eligible to become the next Alpha ruler."

Hearing those words felt like a slap across Adam’s face. His breath locked dead in his lungs, his eyes widening in total terror as his world crumbled into ash right before his eyes.

He had spent his entire life chasing perfection. Every single day was built on maintaining his status, his pulse thumping a chaotic, panicked beat against his collarbone while his hands clenched into tight, bloodless fists under the table.

He had made sacrifice after sacrifice so he could inherit the title. He had given up his freedom, his choices, and his own happiness, his chest heaving in short, agonized gasps as the cold reality washed over him.

Now, with a single decision from his grandfather, his younger siblings could compete for the very position he had spent years preparing to claim.