Rejected and Pregnant: Claimed By The Dark Alpha Prince-Chapter 686: To sacrifice his son’s wolf

Lazarus bowed deeply before Gabriel. "Your Highness, I beg your indulgence for my son’s behavior. He was heavily intoxicated last night and acted without reason. He is profoundly sorry for the offense caused to Karmen and Miss Aisha."

He shot a sharp, commanding look at Eryx, signaling him to begin his rehearsed apology.

Eryx stepped forward, his head bowed, though his posture lacked genuine humility. "I offer my deepest apologies, Your Highness," he muttered. "However, I must say, this unfortunate event occurred because of your Beta. He came to the bar and struck me repeatedly without provocation. Most of the damage to my face has mended, save for this bruise at the corner of my mouth." He gestured to the faint mark, a pathetic attempt to play the victim.

"If you felt wronged, you should have reported his conduct to me," Gabriel said. "Instead, you chose to have a ten-wolf ambush to settle a personal grudge."

"And that was the boy’s error in judgment," Lazarus interjected, a confident smile stretching across his face. "Since both parties have now engaged in physical altercations, I suggest we consider the matter settled and let it go."

"No. I won’t be letting this go, Lazarus," Gabriel countered. His smirk didn’t reach his eyes.

"I’ve taken the liberty of looking into your son’s history. He hasn’t just been ’drinking’; he has been openly harassing Miss Aisha for the better part of a month. Furthermore, your son has a sickening record of predatory behavior toward women that you have clearly helped bury. I believe it’s time he is punished in a way that is truly righteous."

Lazarus’s smile didn’t just fade; it crumbled. His face paled as he found himself suddenly speechless.

"I have already drafted a full report of this incident," Gabriel stated, holding up a file for them to see. His thumb brushed the seal of the Royal House. "I am submitting this to the Alpha King within the hour. Once he reads the evidence of harassment and the coordinated hit on a high-ranking official, your son will be facing nothing less than lifetime imprisonment."

"Why would I be the one punished?! Your Beta is the one who started this!" Eryx bellowed. He stepped forward with a face of arrogance and panic.

Gabriel’s gaze narrowed, his eyes flashing a predatory violet that should have been enough to silence any sane wolf. Lazarus hissed at his son, reaching out to grab his arm. "Eryx, calm down this instant!"

"Why should I calm down, Dad?" Eryx continued to yell, his voice echoing off the high stone walls of the palace. "I’ve been wronged! I did nothing but defend my honor. I did nothing wrong!"

Lazarus, unable to restrain his own fury any longer, hurled a stinging slap across his son’s cheek. The force of the blow snapped Eryx’s head to the side.

"Shut your mouth!" Lazarus roared, his hand and lips quivering with rage. "You are standing in the presence of the Alpha Prince, and this is how you behave? You insolent fool!"

Lazarus turned back to Gabriel, his posture now hunched in a plea for mercy as his previous confidence completely shattered.

Lazarus bowed his head so low it was nearly a plea, his voice cracking. "Your Highness, I—I apologize on behalf of my son. He has completely lost his senses. I promise, I will personally ensure he reflects on his actions and makes amends. But please, I beg of you, do not take this to the Alpha King. A report of this nature... It would destroy my reputation and my seat on the council, Your Highness."

Standing slightly behind them, Aisha watched the exchange with a fluttering heart. She wondered if Gabriel would actually relant. A small, nagging part of her felt a heavy weight of guilt. She didn’t want the Alpha Prince to go through such trouble or risk political fallout just for her.

"You’re looking for a second way out, then?" Gabriel asked. "Look, Lazarus, I am not going to go easy on your son just because you’re a respected member of the Council. In fact, that makes his behavior even more disgraceful."

Gabriel’s gaze flickered to Eryx, who was still clutching his reddened cheek. "Your son is far too arrogant to be left to his own devices. He must be punished. He didn’t just break the law; he laid hands on my Beta. He should have known exactly where he was stepping before he crossed that line."

Gabriel leaned in, his voice dropping to a lethal, velvet whisper. "Touching a member of the Royal House is a death sentence in some packs. You should be grateful I’m only talking about a file and a cell. Lately, I’ve been considering a more permanent solution. Perhaps extracting Eryx’s wolf from his body would be more effective than a prison sentence."

Eryx’s face drained of what little color remained. His heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird. To be a wolf-less Alpha was a fate worse than death; he would be a pariah, a broken shell of a man mocked by the very society he used to look down upon.

"Your Highness, I think extracting the wolf from Eryx’s body would be the better choice," Lazarus stated, his voice devoid of any fatherly warmth. He was a politician first, and he was willing to sacrifice his son’s wolf to save his own seat on the council.

"Dad, no!" Eryx cried, his voice cracking. Realizing his father had abandoned him, he turned his desperate eyes toward Aisha. He lunged toward her, but Karmen moved with lightning speed, stepping firmly in front of her.

"Aisha, I beg you! Just forgive me!" Eryx collapsed to his knees, his pride finally shattered. "I swear, I’ll never touch another woman. I’ll protect them! I’ll do anything!" He looked up at her, tears of fear welling in his eyes. "Please, you’re a kind woman. I admit I was wrong!"

To everyone’s surprise, Eryx began to strike himself across the face.

Gabriel let out a laugh at the pathetic display. "Look at him," the Prince mused, glancing at Karmen. "The arrogant alpha has finally found his cage."