CHAPTER 11 Can't Sleep.

>>>>>Can't sleep.

It's been more than eight hours since Prince Dominus and Brevin had a drink in the hall, and ever since then, he hasn't been able to sleep a wink. How could he? He just heard the most tragic news ever.

The once strong and resilient Grand Alpha King is now a beast that doesn't even recognize his own pups. He sat on his bed, his eyes narrowing outside as his mind clouded with different thoughts. He still can't wrap his head around the fact that while he was outside conquering packs and instilling fear throughout the werewolf kingdom, his father had gone feral and was locked up.

Despite everything Brevin told him, Dominus is still very interested in seeing his father.

He wants to see him so badly and find out how he is doing. Not that he doesn’t believe his younger brother, but he just wants to see the Grand King reject him himself just as he had rejected his other siblings.

He felt like a storm was raging inside him, his thoughts swirling with every heartbeat. He could still hear Brevin's voice echoing in his ears….. five years of being a beast?

He has five more years before he starts to break out of the cage and become uncontrollable.

The Alpha council in the northern pack and the royal family are determined to hide it until they can control him.

Letting him out right now, when everyone thinks the North is perfect and fears both Dominus and the Grand King, would be disastrous. Once they hear he's gone feral, every rival pack will seize the opportunity to attack them immediately and take over the rulership of the werewolf kingdom.

Dominus leaned back, grabbing his goblet, and downed a gulp of wine. He rubbed his temples, trying to fend off the headache brewing from his sleeplessness and worry since he came back. He had tried to sleep but couldn’t. Each time he closed his eyes, he was haunted by what his father might look like right now. He blamed himself for never returning home all those years.

A few moments later, he stood up abruptly and started to pace through the room, his mind racing. He suddenly stopped, gripping the edge of the table, his knuckles turning white. He just couldn't think straight. With a heavy breath, he finally decided to take a little walk to clear his mind. Staying in his room wasn’t helping.

With that, Dominus walked out of his comfort zone, making his way outside. Stepping out, the cool evening breeze hit his skin, the moon hung high in the sky. Walking past the castle, he took a deep breath, inhaling the damp scent of the soil—anything to help clear his head.

Dominus ran a hand through his hair, his frustration boiling over. With a heavy sigh, he continued his walk, deciding to go to the kitchen. Maybe seeing Akira's doppelganger might just help uplift his mood. As he made his way to the kitchen, the scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, attacking his nostrils without permission. He had learned the art of walking in silence so no one ever knew he was coming.

Reaching the kitchen, he leaned close to the wall, his eyes wandering inside until they fell on Akira.

Akira stood at the sink, side by side with Thalia, who wouldn’t stop glaring at her. Her back was turned to him as she expertly arranged the plates. Her short hair, which they were always forced to trim down every month, was already growing,now long and almost cascading down her back. The alpha blood made regrowth faster and easier for her. The simple apron hugged her curves, accentuating her figure in a way that aroused Dominus and made him think back to his dead Akira. He still couldn't wrap his head around how Nia was exactly like his Akira: same face, same height, and also the same body shape.

Oblivious to who was staring at her, Akira continued washing and arranging while moving her body around. Each deliberate movement made Dominus’s heart race. However, he stood there for the next few minutes, his hands massaging himself through his clothes. His cock was rock hard from just staring at Akira and fantasizing about her in his bed.

For the next few minutes, no one noticed him until Madam Estelle turned to grab a mixing bowl, and their eyes met.

She was startled, her eyes wide. “My lord,” she muttered, snapping Dominus from his sole focus on Akira.

Dominus averted his gaze, forcing a smile but not uttering a word.

In a split second, everyone had turned, their eyes on Dominus.

Some of the slaves quickly adjusted their clothes, trying to appear enticing to grab his attention. That wasn’t the case for either Akira or Beth, they were both genuinely shocked and confused to see him in the kitchen. He had never been to that part of the palace.

“What brings you here, my lord?” Lyra dropped everything she was doing at once, nearly knocking over a bowl of flour as she twirled dramatically to face him, focusing on Dominus.

Her voice suddenly grew higher and softer, like a whimpering pup begging to be stroked.

Before Dominus could bring himself to respond, Lyra was halfway across the kitchen, wiping her flour-dusted hands aggressively on her apron.

“Were you looking for something, my lord?” she asked, stepping far too close to him. “What is it you want? I can help you find it at once. I’m more conversant with this place.”

Dominus gave no response. He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

Only then did the realization hit him: he couldn’t just come to the kitchen, he had to have a reason to be there.

Meanwhile, Akira stood still, her eyes darting between Dominus and Lyra, who was acting foolishly for a man that gave zero fucks about her.

Dominus exhaled slowly. “I was thinking of picking one of the slaves as a nanny for my son, Madam Estelle,” he explained plainly, ignoring Lyra.

But she didn’t stop. Her eyes darted to Madam Estelle and back to Dominus at once. “My lord… a nanny?” She chuckled, a flush rising to her cheeks. “I can do that. I’d love to. I already have a close relationship with Rex, so being his nanny would be nice,” she added.

Madam Estelle nodded in support. “Yes, my lord. Lyra right here is the best person for this job.”

Dominus’s eyes swept up and down Lyra before shifting his gaze back to Estelle. “No, I don’t want her,” he announced, and Lyra almost had a heart attack.

“Get Nia ready for tomorrow. She will be my son’s nanny,” he declared and walked away.

Gasps rippled through the kitchen, and Akira’s heart dropped to her stomach at the news.