How To Break A King: The Truth

Metas, Myranda, and Lara were waiting patiently for Ajax. Jhinto had said it was a matter of importance, and needed to be seen immediately. A wise King did not turn down the audience of an elderly mage, and so - here he sat waiting for the real heroe to return from having his wounds tended to.

He was in a sour mood, and while Myranda could sense it - she did not say anything, but certainly filed it away for later.

"So that story was true? It sounded like an old fairy tale. Don't we all have to have royal blood or something?" Lara asked and turned her face to the side inquisitively. 

"Yes. One of you does. My sweet child, there is a reason many upper class soldiers don't have parents, you know. Do you think the Alpha stayed with one female? They were an arranged marriage, everything about their love story was a lie. It was to garner support. The Alpha had a female he loved, and whom he had three pups with. One of which is dead...." Jhinto started calmly.

"No..." Myranda gasped and put a paw over her snout. "No!" She let out again in disbelief.

"You're lying, right? Please say you're lying...." Lara uttered.

"No. I am not. Silas was your brother, Metas. He took after his mother. As does Ajax...." the mage dropped like a weight.

"Ajax!?" Metas, Myranda, and Lara let out in shock.

Jhinto nodded, "Did no one realize they shared the same eyes? A Grey coat runs in their mother's family. Her love and devotion to your father was astounding. She spent her time caring for Ajax and Silas the best she could before she passed.....her third pregnancy was hard," Jhinto sighed out mournfully.

"Who was the third?" Myranda asked with worry.

"The one who took after their father," the old male replied and nodded towards Metas with sadness.

"What?" Metas asked out flatly.

"Yes. Your mother was not the Luna. She was barren. You were the one who looked the least suspicious as heir," Jhinto revealed carefully. "Ajax and Silas were both other than you, and yes - you killed your brother, Metas."

"....He was not my brother....." Metas let out coldly with no regret.

"You could have waited for Ajax to drop this all on us you know." Lara pointed out.

"I could have, yes....but from what I have garnered about the young wolf is that he doesn't take change or news well. I am hoping one of you can tell him about it in a better way than I have," the mage admitted.

"Well gee, thanks." Lara responded with flattened ears.

"I'm sorry, child. I do not think I could take a blow from such a strong soldier, and he seems like the hitting-type."

"Point taken, I get it now." The white female answered in resign.

"So what you are saying is that both of us as couples can do what Lilith and Ophelia did? Isn't magic not as potent in the world like it once was?" Metas questioned, seemingly haven taken the news well....far too well, actually....

"Ah, you would be right....but the Dragon Prince bled on the mountainside. Do you think dragon blood is nothing but merely that? No, my son.... The mountain is now as potent with magic as ever. I am sure it is seeping into the earth as we speak thanks to the storm. If we get you there in that crater, or near it - you could use the soil to your advantage. You and Ajax have divine blood. Why do you think Harbinger spent so much time keeping the three of you apart? He kept Ajax in the barracks, Silas close to his side - and you, Metas - you he hated the most because of how much you looked like the Alpha King. Harbinger played nice, but he had always had a deep resentment for his older half-brother...." Jhinto went on.

"...Why.... didn't you tell us any of this when you go there?" Myranda asked with skepticism. She was used to be lied to and told stories to manipulate her -- Metas and Lara, not so much.

"Yes, you have every right to be angry, my Luna. It would have distracted you from doing what needed to be done - killing Silas. He was not going to be able to be saved. His mind was too warped from all the magical spells he was under. Silas was nothing more than a subject for Harbinger to test different mind-controlling drugs so he could keep the soldiers in line. Why do you think everyone was so easily against you? They weren't doing it by choice, my Alpha." Jhinto asked and looked at Metas as though he should have somehow magically known all this.

Metas just thought he was hated because they were manipulated...but it was deeper than that. He had killed his father's true love just by being born. He had been the source of pain, and regret....and more than likely, Harbinger had only let that rift grow to keep control over what precious power he had.

"Wow...this is... a lot. I just thought those soldiers were easily manipulated, or stupid, or...I don't know, as dumb as it sounds, some kind of evil story plot device, you know? Kind of like truth being stranger than fiction sort of thing..." Lara said with awe.

"Yes, well it is hard to put a puzzle together when you're missing all the pieces. I did what I could to protect you, Metas. I am sorry I couldn't save your father's affections along with your life, but you being here and now was more important. I assure you." Jhinto finished calmly.

The King just sat in a stunned silence. He sat up stiff, upright, and tense. This was all so sudden - it was al too unreal. Too much to believe.... too much to mourn for, and too much to celebrate. Ajax was his brother - one of his best friends, and chosen 'pack brother' was his true, biological brother - that was amazing, that was beyond fantastic. Lara would be his pack sister now, and he could bestow them both with royal protections and titles...

.....but his entire life had been a fucking lie. One. Giant. Lie.

He wanted to process this. He wanted to be able to think it through - but before he got the chance to even start, Ajax came in and took a seat next to Lara and apologized for his tardiness, which shook the black wolf to his core knowing that he was aware of everything, and his brother was left entirely in the dark.

He was uncomfortable beyond description, and as soon as he started to fall down a hole of guilt, Myranda leaned over and licked his face with affection, and nuzzled her head under his chin.

Normally where he would have relaxed and been brought back to reality, he stayed frozen instead. It was the second time in his life where he was so shocked that he couldn't move....and the last time was when he was much, much younger.

He wasn't even there anymore. He was far off in space where time stood still, and he could not hear the voices of his loved ones, or feel his wife nudge him to get his attention.