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<b>“Enough” a thunderstorm like tone silence the nursery my eyes had just opened and my father was glaring at me, the other Lionesses all hushed their chatter “oh they didn’t mean anything by it my mother said meekly “No I won’t have them go around calling my son a half prince” it was the first time I heard my fathers voice and even though it was indeed monstrous it was still loving, I let out a weak cry to gain their attention and I felt my fathers eyes soften as he nuzzled me “hey there little one, don’t worry your daddies here” I hadn’t realized at the time but the other ladies were saying my mom walked out on my dad and got pregnant with me.
My dad though seemed to always look at me with a guilty expression and when I turned a 5months and no longer needed my mother I finally understood why, he sat me down in front of our cave and asked me his tone seemed exhausted his eyes held sorrow as he looked at me “Son, do you know what it means to hold the Primal gene” I didn’t know and with the confusion laid across my face my father started to walk.
I followed not too far behind causally looking around as the deer grazed unfazed by our presence, a mother and her children stared at us eyes trailing every step we took she thumped the ground and steam seemed to rise off of her with a low growl from my fatter, the mother and her herd scattered in all directions, I was amazed at the power my father held but he also spoke none since we left home.
He stopped after what felt like days and we were in plains I hadn’t seen before the abundance of herbs and prey made my stomach growl with anticipation “did you bring me here to hunt” still turned away from me he plopped his rear down and his shoulder slouched over “Son I haven’t been truthful with you……your mother always suspected it but I did ask the shamans for a favor, I wanted at least one of my children to gain control of the Smilus Mutation and through plenty of herb eating and waiting for the bright ball of light to leave the sky and be consumed in darkness..I followed everything they asked of me but still after countless attempts two out of 280 children were Smilus, yes you aren’t alone your older brother whom I sent off to training was also like you..but”
I felt a lump in my chest “so what your saying is you made us this way on..purpose” my father still his back to me continued to speak “precisely my son, but what I need for you to know now more than every Is that you have been chosen by a neighboring pride, by Khan Atlas Lucille the 3rd..to be-“
I cut him off before he could finish “you mean to tell me the constant berating I faced amongst my siblings and having to see my mother’s worried eyes every time she’d vouched for my lineage was all bc you wanted a damn mutant” the anger started to swell as I felt the tear leave my eyes, we continued to walk into the sky “calm down boy” I heard a voice emerge from the his build was more intimidating than my fathers his eyes were gold like mine, his markings were similar to the ones my father gifted to me before we came here, I stood on guard worried this massive male was going to try and attack my father.
I placed myself between the two of them teeth bared hoping I’d be enough to give my father enough time to escape when I heard laughter “Elijah you big softie….got your son protecting you from me” my eyes turned to my father who was holding back his laughter “n-no Atlas this child of mine is just like you always protecting his family”
They commenced in a long drawn out conversation amongst themselves when finally I interrupted them as a cave an group of lioness came into view “hey maybe we shouldn’t get to close to this territory the king could come out at any moment” Khan looked back at me and smiled “Well then shouldn’t you bow to me” I was lost for words as I saw the caves start to flood out with Lionesses “your home daddy what you get me” your home honey we missed you so much, you made it just in time (*insert pregnant Lionesses name*) she’s due to give birth any day now and refused to relax till you mad it home”
The bustling den felt full of life and I started to feel my anxiety easing the more I talked with the older females and cubs, one cub particularly stood out when they asked me “So are you going to be staying with us….does that mean I get a big brother”
I shook my head “no my father was just stoping by” silence went through the cave “oh poor boy hasn’t been told yet” my heart sunk, their words played over in my head “please don’t tell m-“ as I turned the corner I saw Atlas bow to my father and hand him over a sack of beetles golden ones at that, I wanted to lash out, piercing his heart with my claws, to clench my teeth around his neck but what difference would that make my father was by far much bigger than me and I’d be taken out before I move a paw.
I sighed as my fate had been sealed I bowed to Khan Atlas thinking I’ll only be used to hunt and be stuck here as a Submissive Prisoner, but as my head lowered Khan growled at me “A PRINCE MUST NEVER BOW AND SUBMIT, my child you must look me in the eyes as you see the rest of my pride do” he was right after the exchange no one bowed down they only nodded their heads in agreement, I had a lot to learn.</b>
<i>3 Years Later</i>
<b>I was crowned King, after being with them since I was just a cub, I remember my father, who sold me off, and the mother who risked her life to protect me, I didn’t resent them. Atlas was the best choice for my survival now this place, these lionesses and cubs are under my Protection
Kinged—2023.</b>
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