Page 32 of Protecting His Treasure

Chapter Seven

Painful Memories…

Kaede faced his cousin, Onaku Oshiro.

“Cousin. What are you doing here?”

“Today is the day you officially become alpha. How could I not be here?”

“That won’t be until later today.”

“I know,” Onaku told him. “So why aren’t you at home resting.”

“I will, later. I want to go to the temple to pray first.”

Onaku nodded. “Always the diligent one. Even though the title is right there in front of you, you’re still heading to the temple to pray.”

“Even alphas pray.”

“I know. I know. I’m just saying, you don’t have to pray so much. You’re about to be alpha. That pretty much makes you king around here. How does it feel to be king?”

Kaede didn’t like the weird look in his cousin’s eyes. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been a king. Nor will I ever be a king.”

“Whoa. What are you saying it like that for?”

“Like what?”

“Like you’re mad. Did I make you mad? You know, a king must not allow his subjects to see him angry. And that’s what I am to you now, right? I’m your subject.”

Here he goes again. This was why Kaede didn’t like discussing his title with his cousin. Onaku always let his jealousy get the better of him.

Onaku folded his arm over his chest. “The way the title is passed down has always irked me. In the days of old, the title went to the first born. My father was the first born. I’m his first born. The title should be held by us.”

“That method changed decades ago. Long before my father was born. And it changed because we learned that alphas are born with the alpha gene.”

“The alpha gene. I still don’t believe it exists.”

“I do.”

“Of course, you do. You’re next in line to become alpha.”

“I’m next in line because I was born with the gene.”

“And that gene makes you strong enough to be alpha.”

“Yes.”

“Yet, you’re not allowing others to challenge you for the title.”

“No one has asked for a challenge. Is that why you’re here cousin? Do you want to challenge me for the title? Do you want to see if you’re stronger than me, strong enough to be alpha?”

“What if I was?”

Kaede took a step forward, bringing himself toe to toe with his cousin. “You tried that once.”

“It wasn’t an official challenge.”

“And yet it ended with you flat on your back and my knee in your neck.”