Ch 9

I couldn't believe it, and yet I somehow knew this day would come. I have been exiled from my home, the castle I was raised in since birth, the lands I hunted upon, and the families who stood up to me paid with their lives and loyalty. I shall never forget them as long as I live.

I flew into the air with my monmoka tail tailing behind me as I scanned the castle that had become a battle field. A familiar scent caught my nose which caused me to briefly pause before flying towards it.

Lady Inukimi was in her dog form with her servants and luggage trailing behind her. She transformed into her humanoid form when I appeared in-front of her. I was feeling more than angry towards her, but I kept my voice calm so it would not stir her to harm anyone else.

"What is the meaning of this Lady Inukimi? Answer me now!"

Inukimi didn't even seem fazed by my outburst, "My lord husband, you finally returned!"

I wanted to growl that she had no right to address me as 'husband' so lightly while she was escaping her duties as one, and I did want to inform her that we were not truly mated as a husband and wife, but the fear for my future son caused me to still and focus on the current problem at hand.

"Don't act like the castle is not on fire, I demand an explanation right now!"

Inukimi's eyes widened a bit in fear before masking it up in a stoic face, "How should I know, I'm the innocent victim-"

"Innocent victim how? Damn it bitch, the real victims here are the people still trapped inside the palace. What did you speak to my father about?"

Inukimi pouted, "You are are truly cruel husband, truly cruel, don't you even care about about your wife,...and your child?"

I had in that moment stopped breathing when I heard her words. I knew that Grandshire's words were coming true, but it was still surprising none the less to hear it. I couldn't smell the unborn child inside her, but knew I would in a few weeks after some development.

While there was a sense of awe over the life that was growing inside of her that I would someday call my son, it didn't cover the wave of guilt and disgust in my heart over the fact that my first child would be born from a woman I could never love nor fully respect after today.

"Lady Inukimi, I'm glad to hear that I have a child coming, but what did you say to my father before he became angry?"

Her eyes widened and her mouth snarled, "I don't know what you are talking about, how dare you accuse me?!"

My golden eyes narrowed, but answered calmly, "I wasn't accusing you, I was merely asking, a demon doesn't loose control of his true form that easily...what did you say to him?"

Inukimi lifted her chin in defiance to me, even if I was the father of her unborn child, "It's your own fault that he became angry! He didn't like the idea of his own son trying to steal his position before death!"

My eyebrow went up, "And how did he reach that horrendous conclusion?"

"Its the truth isn't it?! Why impregnate me then leave for two days? Why do you always travel a lot to gain new allies-?"

I gashed my teeth at her in irritation, "I represent the entire house of INU! Everyone matters lady, I don't go to represent only myself! And why would I cause harm to my own kin!? It is sure madness!"

"Madness right now is your father, you cruel demon, and stop shouting at me when this is clearly your fault!"

I turned away in disgust from the delusional female to LeeLeeian her head maid, another dog demon only darker in features.

"LeeLee-chan, due to the lady's condition, I would advise and command that she be taken to our winter manor in the mountains till matters are settled here. Please keep a close eye on her to be sure that she does no harm to herself or the pup. If she does try anything, do your best to stop her or I will personally use violence if necessary."

The dog maid nodded her head solemnly before baring the side of her neck in submission to the male, "it shall be done, milord."

Nodding I turned my head to look back at the female carrying my future child, "You will obey my instructions, I will have no harm come to you and...my pup..."

"Why return to that castle, we'll be free to do as we please, we can build our own empire this way! The West has always held the most powerful demons!"

"I will not abandon those whom are in my charge, nor will I abandon my people, nor my clan! Lee-Lee-chan, escort the lady Inukimi to the manor, by force if necessary!"

Without another word, I launched myself into the air towards the direction of the now burning castle.

I had raced back to the castle as fast as I could, smoke was emerging from the roof tops of a few more fallen towers and walls, and more human servants were retreating from the growls coming from inside.

I pushed myself to move faster as I flew inside through the flame engulfing my home as I followed the loud noises coming from the palace courtyard. There I saw my father, in his full demon form. His eyes were bright red with anger and his mouth was snarling with giant teeth. He was more than just angry now, he was in a furious rage.

Like mine, he was white with silver linings along his tails and fur, the eyes were a traditional blazing red, and his inherited face markings were single red jagged stripes that lined around the long sharp fangs aiming for more victims.

What surprised me the most was not my father's transformed demon form, but the because my mother was calling out to him from below his form.

She cried out to him as other Inu relatives, advisors, and what was left of the castle guard, "My lord husband, please believe me! Shift back into your other form now! Our beloved son would never harm one of his own!"

Worrying for my mother's safety, I raced over towards my father before he could deliver a killing blow to one of our Inu guards Muso. I pushed him out of the way towards one of the garden trees before a giant paw created a crater hole in the center of the courtyard.

When the dust settled, I gripped Muso-san's shoulder to pull him up, "What is going on?"

Muso-san coughed a few times before raising his weapon, a naginata staff, to hold himself up.

"My lord, the Master had an audience with your wife after you disappeared. I was there when they had exchanged words, milord. She claims that she is with child and that you were planning on taking your father's position after your heir was born, against your father's wishes. She claimed that you would become more powerful, and unless she gets to keep the title and her own share of the bride-price paid to her family she will dispose of the child!"

I growled lowly as I listened to the explanation in anger, clutching my hands so tightly my claws caused my palms to bleed.

The scent must have alerted my father because the next thing I knew we were interrupted by my father's dog mouth grasping the tree to uproot it and expose us.

Racing around the court yard together to avoid my father, I looked back at Muso-san as we jogged alongside each other.

"Why did he even listen to such nonsense?! That couldn't have been the reason why he lost his temper…"

Muso replied, "Milord, he lost it when was told by both lady Inukimi and his advisors that you had indeed left after you consummated the marriage to possibly find more allies for your cause!"

"I-I was not, Muso-san, would I really do this to my clan?"

We dodged the tree that we had used for shelter not but a few minutes ago as it sailed towards us by my upset father.

Muso-san wiped his brow and raised his weapon as he pulled us both towards the hunting grounds, possibly to lead my father away from the others and the damaged castle.

"Milord, as much as I and any other true Inu from the tribes would gladly join you in rebellion against a power hungry demon who forsakes all traditions we uphold, we would know truly in our hearts that you never would do something like this out of character…but can we do?"

Thinking quickly as I watched my father race closer towards us from the burning castle, I pointed in the direction of the hills leading to the mountains.

"I'll shift and lead my father to the hunting grounds, return to my mother and assist her in anyways you can!"

"But milord-!"

I ignored Muso-san and transformed into my own form, encouraging my father to the hills.

Once I had found a clearing among some trees near the lake I snarled to my father in Inu to plead with him to forgo his madness.

"Father, cease and shift now! Why are you doing this?"

He snarled in return as he gnashed his fangs at me, circling around me to make me feel smaller.

"Deperate Times, young pup, I will not be humiliated and bested by my own pup! The humans and other demons are weak compared to us. Our forefathers may have become powerful to keep the world at balance, but our time to cease power and greater glory is coming! I will be remembered for becoming the most powerful of our tribes, of the West, of all of the islands!"

His eyes narrowed down at me as he continued, "You should have heeded my orders, pup, you were supposed to mate with her, not plant your seed! Customs demand that once there is a new heir I step down! I will not be replaced by you and some bastard puppy!"

I grunted my surprise but held my ground, "What are you talking about?"

He barked at me in snarls, "You never mated with her! I and anyone with half a good nose could smell it! There wasn't even a mark on her neck or arm! We knew you never claimed her, but you still disobeyed me! And after she told us why you ran away, it all made sense. Son, it is with a heavy heart, that I must destroy you"

My now red eyes widened in shock and prepared myself for the worst beating I could ever experience, "Don't do this father! Marrying her and breeding with her was a mistake, yes, but you knew that! If I don't meet my lifemate my lifespan would lessen…you knew this didn't you?"

As the answers formed in my mind, I lost focus for a few seconds which made my father creep behind me to prepare for an attack.

"…you wanted me to die…quickly…if I had mated with lady Inukimi the other night…I would have passed on, not meeting my only mate for life to live…not having sons…why? Haven't all of my years of proving my loyalty for your approval not been enough?!"

I heard my father's voice tsk-tsk me from behind, causing me to turn and realize that he had cornered me.

"Pup, pup, pup, don't you understand nature? Only the strongest survive, and you were growing stronger by the day, even when you were away on one of your pointless missions! My advisers and I knew you were becoming a threat, and like all preditors in nature, we must kill to survive, family or not…"

"Father, No!"

As he raised a paw to strike me, I suddenly felt a familiar scent before I felt his claws rip through my skin into my chest…

"Mother…?"

A howl was heard in the wind as my body was flung in the air, bleeding and loosing focus over the betrayal and shock. My eyes became dazed as my giant head hit a couple of trees down as I watched a shadow cast over me.

It was my mother, in her true silver and brown Inu form, growling as she guarded my wounded body from my father.

She and my father started to argue with one another as I tried to focus on breathing and healing quickly.

"Get out of the way, mate, you know he needs the discipline…"

My mother snarled, "I will not let you kill my son, beloved husband, why harm your flesh and blood? What happened to the strong and honorable Inu I fell in love with? He was a leader of men and vision, not the killer of the youth…"

"He must be illuminated! This one orders you as Alpha and mate to move or you too will be killed!"

My mother bent her head to use her tongue to lick my wounds, the healing abilities in the saliva causing my wounds to mend faster.

"You know my death would only make you suffer more than my own devastation for the loss of a loving son, let him live beloved! He must live for the sake of his own pup!"

My father shook his ugly rearing head and snarled at my mother's definance, afraid for my mother's life, and my future son's, I pulled myself onto all fours. I was still in pain, but knew I would heal sooner if I didn't think about it.

I grunted and growled at my father, "Then let us compromise, Father, leave my mother alone!"

He snarled as he glanced at me with raging red eyes, "I'm listening…"

I prayed my spontaneous plan would work, but I knew time was running short for my subjects and unborn child.

"Grant me only a small amount of my inheritance and duties, and I will leave the Inu tribe till you see fit for me to return! But let the servants and mother live!"

"My son! No!" My mother whined at me by laying a paw next to mine, I rubbed my snout under her own in assurance before returning to my father.

"Grant me access to only the humans and half-breeds, and allow my son to live once he is born! He is blameless in all of this! You will continue to provide and care for my mother, and as she is witness you will heed my words as I swear that I will leave the clan of Inus of the West until your death!"

My gentle mother, I pray to kami she lives on and stays safe while I'm away. She seems to be the only person who can stand up to my father and yet still loves him as her mate despite the fact that he has changed into this creature I don't recognize as a true Inu lord of the west.

I now know what I must do, I'll continue my quest, there will be many hardships. But I will reclaim my home, my position, my subjects, and hopefully...first son.