Hidden In Plain Sight

[GRANT]

"...Anyway, we all know I'm growing old, and I can't always appear in front of the council. Besides, we will need someone to keep the kingdom the same. I won't put it to a vote, because I already chose the perfect man for the job. 

"As for the moment, Grant, you will be running the kingdom… until my dear son comes of age to take over from you," the king said with conviction, and once again the throne room fell dead silent. 

No one had expected that Cassius had an heir, much less a son that was in Acrod with them. This had to be some sort of a prank. Maybe he was thinking of Grant as his son, right? But that just didn't make any sense.

"Son?" one of the elders asked and King Cassius let out a smile. He looked horrible with that smile, but this seems important to him, because he was happy, even in his agony. He looked like the thought of his life brought life to him once again.

His heart shattered for the grief that lingered in the air. His heart broke for the boy he loved more than he loved his life and his sanity was trickling with every emotion that was on Ferhat's face at the moment.

The werewolf king had been certain he would do great when the time came for him to hand over to his son, but he had never expected that it would happen like this, not when everything seemed to be going wrong and his heart was shattering to pieces. 

He had never thought that the skies would never turn blue again for the love of his life and he dreaded sunsets even more. Perhaps the time had truly come for him to be the father he should have been. But was Grant taking the throne part of that fatherhood?

"Yes. My son. On her deathbed, my Soraya had just one request. To let our son lead the most normal of lives for as long as I could keep the kingdom running. She wanted him to be happy and most importantly to be free and running around Acrod without any hindrances.

"I promised her I wouldn't reveal him, unless I had to. And I did just that. I made sure our child would be free and happy to make his own choices without the crown hovering over him like a trap he was to fall into.

"I promised her I would make sure of it, but I didn't know I would be forced to retire, and leave my little boy this early," King Cassius said as he breathed out defeatedly. He was at a crossroads, even as the junior warrior of Acrod showed himself right beside him.

It was something that was unexpected, but none of the warriors and the council members had even noticed that to ask questions. Grant was still drunk on the power being handed to him, to even realize the stench of smoke on Delbert.

The king, however, had smelled it, but even he didn't care to say a word about it. This wasn't the time for that; besides, he knew there were just some secrets that weren't his to tell, and perhaps that's why deep down, he was glad he had Delbert in Acrod.

"Sire," Delbert whispered lowly, his voice coming off as a whisper to the king himself, but none of the people in the room could hear him. The Lycan was pissed and was trying his very best not to explode in front of his Erasthai's father, but damn was it taking a toll.

Delbert rubbed his shoulder gently, like he wanted to relieve the king of the pain. He knew his gentle rubs were what the king needed at the moment, and so he pressed on, softly and the king leaned into Delbert's hands, making everyone look at him.

They wondered why the king would be so kind to a mere warrior. Maybe he was the son the king was talking about, right? After all, Delbert already had the king's affection from the moment Grant had begun training him to be a warrior.

"Who is he, then?" Grant asked carefully. He didn't want to seem like he was afraid of being ousted, but this had been unexpected, even more than the fact that the king had trusted him with the kingdom. It was insane in all the possible ways, really.

Maybe Grant wanted to go after the prince and make friends so that when the time came, the prince would make him a beta of the kingdom, but would that ever happen with the things that Grant had done to Nour?

"He's always around, smiling and being happy. He is kind and warm-hearted just like his mother. But he is also like a cold stone and deadly, more than I am. He is the kind of king that my people will need once I'm gone. 

"Which is why I have the enforcer guarding the throne. Because I trust that Grant will take care of my son. As for his identity, he will reveal himself when the time comes. It has to be his choice and on his terms, though I think he's already pressured about it enough.

"Do not worry about that. It will happen soon," the king said warmly, like his son was the only reason that he was still going on. And maybe it was also because of the promise he made to his Soraya. He would protect their son until he wouldn't have to protect him anymore. 

King Cassius knew that revealing that Nour was his son at this point would expose him to many more conflicts, most of which his son wasn't ready for. 

Sure, Nour could fight, and win, but Cassius still wanted to lead a normal life. Funny how that turned out with Grant being the reason Ferhat was fuming and the king was turning to be irrational with every word that came out of his mouth.

"Okay sire," the royal enforcer said, and the elders worried about the king. They had never heard of king Cassius and his son. He had really protected his son among the commoners for so long, and it was quite interesting. 

Hiding a werewolf prince was something insane and whoever he was, he was truly going to be one of a kind for the king to go to all those lengths to keep his identity hidden. Then again, no one would ever imagine that the mouthy omega was the prince anyway.

"You can leave now, all of you," the king said as Grant looked at him worriedly. Leaving a lonely king in here alone was terrible and he couldn't just do that to the man he had considered his father for a long time.

"Let me take you to your room, sire. You can rest there, instead of here," Grant tried, but the king was adamant. It was like he wanted to be alone and Grant had to respect that. And so, he did. 

Everyone walked out of the throne room, including Delbert, and went back to their lives.

"May you live long, sire," Grant whispered as he closed the doors to the throne room. He was conflicted in so many ways, but he knew he had to respect his king because, at the end of the day, life had to go on. 

"Please tell me he is okay," King Cassius said as he looked at Ferhat who was the only one left beside him.

"Sire… I'm so sorry," Ferhat said with a bowed head.