The Forbidden Heir

"You deserve to die." The words were a gentle yet menacing whisper. Logan could feel the sharp edge of a sickle piercing the skin of his neck softly. Blood dripped down slowly onto the ground, staining it a deeper crimson. The moon however cast the shadows of trees about it, making the color a bit different.

Logan was held firmly in place by a strange woman in a cloak. There was something strangely familiar about her but he could not see her face clearly under the dim moonlight. "It was not his turn to die, but yours. I was going to kill you and you made him die."

"Please," Logan choked. "Let go."

"You beg to be released?" A wicked cackle emanated from the strange woman. "You are not even remorseful. You killed your father!" She roared, her voice blending in perfectly with the rumble of thunder. The blade of the sickle pierced deeper into his skin. More blood trickled down his neck as the rain began to pour buckets on him.

But why did Logan feel like it was just his face?

"You do not belong here, this is only a privilege," came the stern voice. "You cannot laze about and expect to be served. You are a commoner amongst the people; meant to be a servant."

Logan opened his eyes to be greeted by Candace Tewkesbury, the Luna of Fermyl. She held an empty bowl in her hand.

Looking at the wet bed and feeling water trickle down his face, he knew she was at it again.

"Out of the goodness of my husband's heart, we allowed you to live in the palace and not amongst servants," Candace said with contempt. "Stop taking advantage. I have told you times without number that as soon as the sun is up, you should be out helping the servants and then by noon, be at the training ground."

"I have been obeying your instructions thus far, your highness," Logan said. "Forgive me for slacking this once."

She only harrumphed and exited his room.

Logan's nights were characterized by nightmares, while his mornings were described by him being woken up by torturous methods. He was glad that today had been less brutal.

Many a time, he would wake up to his skin being singed, a needle being stuck in his body, or something along those lines. He wiped his face and sat up, groaning.

He looked around himself and sighed, knowing that, as the Alpha King was going on a trip soon, the luxury of having this room would cease. He would be returned to the servant quarters by the queen.

He stood up from his bed and went to the bathroom. He smiled sadly, seeing a bath made ready for him by the maids.

All of this will soon end. He thought to himself as he undressed.

Once he was done bathing and had out on fresh clothes, he walked out of his family. It was the worst part of his day, as he had to stare at the unpleasant faces of Lun and her daughter.

"Good morning, Your Majesty," he said, bowing to the Alpha before taking a seat. The dining room was arranged in such a way that one of the long ends of the table was pushed against the wall. The king sat at one short end, the queen at the opposite end, and the exposed long end had two seats. One for the princess, and another for him.

He hated that he had to sit beside her for each meal.

"Son," the king said with a smile, "You are quite late for breakfast."

There was a snort from the Queen as she heard her husband call him "son".

"I apologize, your highness," Logan replied.

"Did you have trouble sleeping?" The king, Thaddeus, asked.

"Not at all," Logan replied. "I had a good night's rest."

"You do not look like you did," Thaddeus said worriedly.

"The food will get cold," Luna Candace commented with a tight smile. She hated how attention had been drawn to Logan.

"You are right, my dear," replied Thaddeus. "Let us dig in."

As courtesy mandated, Logan waited for everyone to take a bite of their food before he bit into his. He got a sneer from Luna but did not mind.

"Father," it was Getrude that spoke. She was the King and Queen's only child. "I hear you will be traveling."

"Ah yes." Thaddeus wiped his mouth with a napkin. "There is a meeting of Alpha's to go on at SilverLine."

"Shall you have escorts?" Logan asked, genuinely worried. Silverline was the center of all werewolf packs. For every six full moons, the Alpha's of each pack usually held a meeting to renew peace treaties, settle disputes, and whatnot, but sometimes it ended in bloody conflicts that turned into full-blown wars.

"I do not think that concerns you, dear Logan," Candace said in a biting tone. "Do not involve yourself in these complex matters."

"I shall," Thaddeus replied, ignoring his wife. "I wanted you to escort me at first, but I think it will be better if you stay behind and help me supervise the guards. Desdemona will most likely be present."

Logan sucked in a sharp breath at that name. Anger coursed through his veins, and water was getting ready to sit at the corners of his eyes, but he tried not to let his emotions show. He knew he could not afford to show any sign of weakness or bitterness.

He gave a tight smile, dropping his cutlery, and then he put his hands underneath the table on his lap, balling them into fists. "I understand your concern, your majesty."

As he said those words through almost gritted teeth, Logan felt a warm hand squeeze his hands under the table.

He shot a suspicious glance at Getrude, who gave him a soft and shy smile before looking away and retracting her hands.

Why on earth is she comforting me? Thought Logan to himself.

The moment breakfast was over and the king had retired into his chambers, the Queen was back to her old self. She shot him a look of disdain, "What are you waiting for? To the servant quarters."

"Um actually," the princess Getrude started, "I need his help in doing some work for me."

"Is that so?" Candace asked with a tight smile giving her daughter a suspicious look. She wondered if Getrude did not deem any other person fit for the task she needed Logan to help with. She did not like her daughter being in the company of Logan.

"Well then, go ahead and help her." The Queen said, walking away after a few minutes of thought.

"What is it you want me to do for you?" Logan asked. On his face, a look on disinterest was settled.

"Um," Getrude replied, tucking a strand of her Titian blonde behind her ear. She usually felt shy and most of her confidence dwindled around Logan. "I just thought you might not like to be burdened with work that is not meant for you," she said, swallowing hard.

"Your point being?"

"Maybe you could spend some time with me instead."

"I have better things to do," Logan said walking away. The statement was hurtful to her but she tried not to show her emotions. Logan on the other hand did not care. He barely looked at her, let alone meet her eyes.

"Wait!" Getrude called out, running daintily after him. "My mother will not be pleased if she sees you doing something else other than that which I asked of you. She will be suspicious."

"I do not care," Logan said, walking away. He did not look behind him at all. "She is never pleased with me no matter what I do. Do not act like you are not aware."

Getrude sighed, watching his figure as he slowly disappeared from her vision. She wished Logan could be a little more friendly towards her.

Maybe it's because of mother. A voice in her head suggested.

Maybe it's because of you. There's nothing good about you. Another voice in her head countered.

Getrude groaned in frustration.

Since he had come to live in their pack after his father had been killed. He never seemed to take notice of her. He always treated her like she was of no importance and constantly avoided being in her presence.

"My lady," a voice called out to her. "What are you doing standing here?"

Getrude turned to the sound of the voice and gave a polite smile. It was her one of maidservants and Getrude's favorite in fact. She was the closest thing Getrude had ever had to a friend.

"Sierra." She smoothed her dress. "I have just finished breakfast."

"No, you have been standing there for quite a while. After your conversation with Logan."

"Shh," Getrude said her eyes wide. She placed her index finger on Sierra's lips. "You are to address him by Lord."

"The Queen said he is not a Lord and should not be addressed as such." Sierra's eyebrows were squeezed in confusion. "There will be punishment attached to those who do."

It was Getrude's turn to be confused. "The Queen? You mean my mother?"

"Yes, were you not aware?"

"Excuse me," Getrude said, running in the opposite direction of Sierra, knowing that she would find her mother sitting with some of her noble friends- or subjects. She raised her dress up to her knees and sped off, getting strange looks from the servants that were working in that vicinity.

"My lady, do not run that! It is not good manners for a lady!" Sierra called out but Getrude was deaf to her warnings.

"Goodness me!" The queen gasped as her daughter burst into the room she sat. "Getrude! Where are your manners? What were you thinking running with your skirt up like that?"

Panting like a dog, Getrude had her tongue out and her finger raised in objection. "Let me be," she coughed out. Once she had caught her breath, she straightened up and gave a polite smile to all the women in the room who gave her judgemental looks on having her skirt up. "Mother, might I have a word with you?"

"As you can see dearest, I am in the middle of a discussion." Candace smoothed her dress. "Can it wait?"

Getrude sighed and fought an eye roll. She knew that it was going to be the case. Her mother always had something to do when she came to see her right from when she was a child. She had often relied on maidservants instead of her mother while growing up.

"Why should Logan not be addressed as a Lord?" She asked, not caring that her mother had visitors.

"He does not belong to the pack," replied Candace in a calm voice. She took a sip of her tea. "Can an Alpha from another pack come here to rule over us?"

"No but..."

"Then a Lord from another pack cannot rule over us."

"But father took him in, he deserves a title as he has made numerous contributions," Getrude argued. "Let us not forget that he is the son of ths-"

"Be quiet!" The Queen commanded angrily. "He is an outsider; a refugee. What happens if we give those outcasts a place and power in our lands? It won't be long before the feeling of entitlement comes in and they want to take over."

"Is that why you have made most of them servants without father's knowledge?" Getrude spat, her chest heaving in anger.

"I did not make them servants" Candace had a sly smile. "They chose to serve the king to repay our kindness."

"You mean you blackmailed or guilt tripped them into becoming servants?"

"Getrude you are becoming a nuisance," her mother said, picking up her tea cup daintily. "Kindly leave us be. Are you not meant to have lessons with your governess?"

"Oh consarn!" Swore Getrude as she stalked off. Tears had begun to sit at the corners of her eyes but she was not going to let it drop. This was not the first time her mother had made her feel unloved and unwanted.

How dare she call me a nuisance? Thought Getrude to herself angrily.

"My lady," Sierra called out from where she stood in a corner just outside the tea room. "Is everything alright?"

Sierra got her answer from the look of disdain Getrude gave her. "Your governess awaits you my lady," was all she had left to say.

Logan did not mind having to go to the servant quarters or help out with their duties. It was in fact the favourite part of his day.

He enjoyed mingling with people of his own land as most of them had been made servants by the queen. The only thing he despised the king for was not paying enough attention to his subjects. If he had, he would have noticed that Ninety percent of the refugees he took in had become servants.

However, Logan did not blame the king as he understood how tough the duties of an Alpha were.

"Logan!" A cheerful voice called out, snapping him out from his train of thoughts.

"Delilah," Logan smiled, jogging over to her where she cleaned the windows. "I haven't seen you in a while."

Delilah was a childhood friend of his and a daughter of Lord Joel who was also killed alongside his father during the invasion. He was overjoyed when he discovered that she was rescued.

"I have been a bit under the weather," she said laughing lightly. Her eyes crinkled up at the corners in beautiful laugh lines, making her dark eyes shine. "How about you? How is life treating you?"

"As good as it can be... for now."

"You will be coming back to the servant quarters?"

"Yes."

"The king will be traveling?" Delilah asked. She knew that the onlt reason Logan would leave luxury was because the Alpha was not in the palace and his wife took over the affairs of everything.

"No," Logan lied. He was not allowed to disclose the whereabouts and activities of the king to his subjects for security reasons.

"Do not worry, I understand."

Logan only nodded. He watched in silence as Delilah went about her duties, looking happy and content. He also noticed that she struggled with cleaning the higher parts of the windows even though she was on a cleaning ladder . "Do you need any help?"

The words took Delilah by surprise as she actually thought Logan had left. She stumbled; falling backwards in a dangerous manner. The pail of water and the napkin she uses flew out of her hands but in the blink of an eye, Logan stretched out his left arm and caught her.

With his right hand outstretched; even though he could not reach the bucket, it stopped mid air and the water that wanted to pour out was hanging in the air. Slowly, it returned back to the bucket and Logan grabbed it.

"Goodness me!" Gasped Delilah, her heart beating heavily against her chest.

"I apologize for distracting you," Logan said, gazing into her eyes. He let go of her slowly and adjusted her until she could stand properly, then he dropped the pail of water.

"No, no, it is quite alright." She cleared her throat and fanned her face a little with her hands, feeling quite hot. "Are you a wizard or something?" Delilah giggled. "You are so fast. You not only saved me but the pail as well."

"Ah, well..." Logan trailed off, shooting her a smile. He winked and walked away. "See you later," he called out.

As much as he wanted to spend time with Delilah, he knew he could not. The Queen often monitored him herself or she would send a servant and if it were discovered that he was idling about or having a conversation with anyone not work related, it would cause trouble.

*+*+*+*+*

Getrude watched the interaction between Logan and Delilah, a feeling of self pity settling in the bottom of her stomach. Mild feelings of jealousy coursed through her veins as she wished she was Delilah; not in the sense that she wanted to become a servant, but because Logan seemed to smile whenever he saw her.

She knew that they were from the same pack but it seemed as though their relationship went deeper than that. Oftentimes, she watched Logan interact with other people- especially women and she could swear she had not once seen him treat anyone like he treated Delilah.

Sure, he gave everyone respect but Getrude could feel the undertones of romance happening between them.

As Getrude was about to turn away, she caught sight of Delilah falling from the ladder which she stood, the pail she held flying out of her hand and the water about to pour but what shocked Getrude was how easily Logan caught her and the pail stopped mid air allowing Logan to grab it without the content pouring.

"What on earth!" She gasped, her pupils dilating at the wonder before her. How was Logan able to stop a pail from pouring out water mid air without touching it. "Does he have strange powers?" She asked herself, still bewildered.

There was no way it was possible for even the Master of Gurn (who was the fastest warrior the land of Fermyl had ever recorded) to do such a thing.

How does water which has spilled mid air return back to a pail? She asked herself.

The further interaction Logan had with Delilah made Getrude temporarily forget about the strange power she had witnessed. Logan and Delilah stood too close to each other; as though they were a couple about to be wedded. He gazed upon her lovingly while a blush formed on Delilah's cheek. His hands were still on her and he seemed reluctant to let her go.

They seemed to be having an intimate conversation that Getrude wanted to listen on badly but even with her supernatural werewolf hearing, she was unable to. All she could do was watch in jealousy and wish she were Delilah.

Logan winked at Delilah and walked away from her still smiling. Getrude gasped as she realized he was coming in her direction.

Oh no! Where do I hide? She thought to herself in panic. She did not want Logan to realize that she had been stalking him.

However, it was too late for her as he bumped into her from where she stood behind a pillar, sending her off her feet.

Thou moon goddess, please open up the ground and swallow me now! She cried in her heart.