Chapter 6 Uneasy lecture

"Your mother is the queen, Gabriel, I would withhold from mocking her if I were you."

"You don't need to listen to her every other day "

"I do. You forget that I'm in the room with you during every uneasy lecture."

We were heading down the hallway now, toward my mother's wing of the castle. The furnishings changed subtly as we went, from modern wood furnishings to cream walls and beautiful paintings.

The doorway to my mother's room was huge, ornate, and had been hand-crafted by my grandfather.

despite being an Alpha and ruler of the Kingdom and all twelve packs, King Nathaniel had dabbled in the arts, among them woodwork.

My father didn't have time to find a hobby. during his reign in the kingdom, the Blue pack had risen in a short-lived rebellion. He'd spent a year coining it out and the decade after making sure they knew their place.

and my hobbies consisted of somewhat improper tastes. I was sure my mother wished I'd taken up woodwork or even knitting to drown out my interest in bedding the entire Kingdom. but something in me was insatiable, and I couldn't help it, trying to burn myself out so I could sleep soundly at night.

The guards outside of the door greeted me with a nod and opened the doors inward, letting Charles step ahead to announce me.

I walked in with my head down, already weary of the conversation that I knew practically by heart.

"Son," the queen greeted from her place at the window that looked out onto the gardens.

"Mother," I returned, walking into the center of the room with my hands behind my back.

"I wanted to speak with you about the Hunt," she said simply, as if we hadn't discussed the Hunt in some capacity over the last two months.

I couldn't help a sigh and cut my eyes away when my mother looked at me sharply.

Queen Raquel had reigned as the Alpha female for most of her life. My father, King Jasper, had chosen her early on in their hunt. It had been her mother's first year in the Hunt and she was only 18 at the time of the mating. The youngest mate to be chosen in almost a century, and she had proven everyone wrong in their belief that she hadn't been mature enough to step into the responsibility.

Ironically, it took so long to find my mate.

Sometimes I find myself wishing that my mother was more of a pushover. But then, I got my strength from her.

"Take a seat," she demanded in a deceptively calm voice.

I walked toward her and pulled a chair over, turning it so that I could sit on it backward. My mother's face tensed, and I recognized the temptation for her to roll her eyes, but she refrained.

"The Hunt starts in two days," I recited, wanting to get this over with.

"It does. And I've been holding off on this conversation –" she ignored my scoff – "but it's time we talk."

My eyes narrowed as I caught Charles shifting in my peripheral vision. The man was usually stoic, and restlessness was a sign that he was in on this somehow. I would have to chew him out for it later.

"This is the fifth hunt during your reign, Gabriel, and it will have to be your last."

I sighed. "Mother, I told you, it isn't my fault. None of these little brats are suited to be my mate."

"Don't pretend that's the issue, Gabriel. We both know you've been putting mating off so that you can chase tail all over the Kingdom."

I was momentarily speechless hearing those words out of my mother's mouth.

"Some of our more loyal pack members to the south have been whispering of another uprising."

That shut me up. I realized suddenly that me, my mother, and Charles were the only ones in the room. And Charles was watching us intently.

"What sort of uprising?" I asked, sitting up straight.

"There's word that their Alpha is dissatisfied with your inability to take the Hunt, and the future of the Kingdom, seriously."

"I don't...I take it seriously, mother, I just..."

But I and the other two occupants of the room were well aware that, despite my protests, I had done everything I could to put off mating. I'd made it to 28 without committing to anyone.

"If you don't find a mate this year, they're going to come after you, Gabriel. And if I'm being honest, I don't blame them."

My head snapped up. "What?"

Mother sighed, gracefully rearranging her skirt.

"You lack conviction, Gabriel. You've more than proven that you can be a fair and just leader when it comes to the packs. But people don't want to follow a man who is so easily distracted by lust."

"It doesn't distract me," I growled.

Charles cleared his throat. "My Alpha, you did miss a rather important meeting last week."

"I did?"

"It was in regards to addressing the messengers before they left for the territories."

I felt my heart sink and glanced up at my mother.

"I took care of it," she bit out. "But where were you?"

"I'm sure I had something to attend to. "

"You were with one of the huntresses," Charles cut in, staring straight ahead.

I had never felt so cornered, so ganged up on. my mother and my manservant.

But I remember that day last Tuesday. And the huntress in question is named Mina.

Names didn't usually stick with me but she'd given me a run for my money and I'd even considered visiting her again. It wasn't often that my wolf came out when I was with a woman. There had been something almost...feral about her.

Lost in my memories briefly, I was startled when my mother cleared her throat and looked up to catch her disapproving gaze.

"It's been five years, Gabriel. It's time. There can be no Alpha without a mate."

She turned back to the window and I knew the conversation was over, though I hadn't done much talking.

I shot a glare at Charles, who was avoiding eye contact and stood.

The outer door slammed open and the guards had to scramble out of the way as their king strode out into the hall and back toward my chambers.