The Lycan King's Fate Calling

Rufus' POV:

A loud noise greeted me upon my return to my palace. It was an explosion coming from the kitchen, followed by a child's cry.

I felt my heart quicken its pace. I scurried towards the kitchen and noticed a little girl who had an afro and probably a smudged face. She had her back facing me; particularly, she struggled to climb on a chair, her butt waving at me, as she fiddled with something beside the oven. I lifted my gaze towards the stove, and on it were a scorched pot and bowls on top of the other.

Headache surged through me as the scene left me baffled and speechless. The anger that I wanted badly to vent as I made my way here dissipated when I saw the little girl. I moved towards her. "Beryl, what are you doing?" I tried to sound gentle. The last thing I would want right now was to frighten the girl, lest her mother would be so petty as to get even with me.

Just the thought of her mother-that she-wolf- had me gritting my teeth. For the first time in my life, someone dared to ditch me and run away. She told me her stomach ached, but only a fool would believe her stupid excuse. It was obvious that she was guilty for a reason I didn't know. All I could gather was that she must be up to no good.

"Daddy, you're back!" Beryl turned around, surprised to know I was in the kitchen. Without second thoughts, she gave up on the unrecognizable roast chicken of some sort that was on her hand, jumped off the chair, and circled her little arms around my thighs, leaving it oil-stained.

might have earned a scowl from

like this, but I fooled myself into thinking that I wasn't getting any younger, yet still without a child to nurture. I wanted to see young versions of me running along the hallways of this grand palace, but seeing as I had none, I figured I could care for other people's children to express my fatherly love I had no one else

I repeated my unanswered question, although I had quite an idea what she was trying to concoct, judging from the burnt chicken-looking food she threw away. I took out a handkerchief and handed it to

was cunning, I would give her that. I sighed and did as she pleaded. "Have you had dinner yet?"

when I woke up, Daddy. I felt scared." Seeing her disgruntled rattled and softened my

more when you stay with me." Beryl

see the butter and salt all smeared all over her face, so I took her to the bathroom to wash it all away. She smelled heavily of garlic and lemon. After drying her face, Beryl looked like her usual cute manner. I asked the maids to bring some

my mouth, perhaps to appease me, and said in her cute voice, "Daddy, don't get angry. You'll get wrinkles." I froze for a while and quickly swallowed the pie she shoved into my mouth. Beryl was perched on a chair tall enough beside me to reach for my mouth. I glanced at the maids kneeling in front of me and dismissed them. "You can leave now. Don't let me catch that happening

small curtsy and

food on her plate, seeming

was easy to raise. She was not picky about food. I could tell that was