Aston stared as the Falcon Haven Clan’s compound came into view. His mind came to the realization that he had come home on his own accord instead of being dragged back. His secret spot on the cliff overlooking the city was somewhere he went often if he was not wandering the city, wasting time and people watching. He clenched and unclenched his hands trying to relax his nerves as he thought about the situation before him, the compound drawing closer and closer. The past few months he had avoided the clan’s compound, his duties left behind as he had left them to the mercy of the elders and his parents, and their decisions.

Rhea had informed him of all of the things going on and the decisions that had been made without his knowledge while he was away. She was his enforcer and best friend, so it was her duty to watch over him like she had done the previous king. On the way back to the compound Rhea had brought him up to speed about the happenings of the clan and what little info she had about the new Lion pride. 

‘Hopefully what I’m walking into is not a shit show, plus the thought of having the new pride in town witness it would be even better”, he thought ‘Thank gods for Rhea’

From what he had gathered from his best friend was that the new Lion pride was being led by a powerful alpha, hence why a treaty was currently in the works with them. Aston frowned as he wondered what meeting the King of the Pride was going to be like, would his tiger try to challenge him or would it accept him equally as an alpha? At the thought of his tiger, a deep growl-like purr was released from inside his inner being as his tiger made itself known stretching its powerful muscles. He felt the power from his inner world, rippling underneath his skin as his tiger perked up in interest at the thought of a challenge. 

Aston glanced over at Rhea wondering if she had felt the power building up inside of him, but she continued to watch the road before them, acting like nothing was happening. If she had felt his power, she either ignored it or in reality she was not aware of what was going on next to her. He looked out the window of the car in order to look less obvious as he tried to rein in control of his beast. His tiger was usually aloof and never reacted to challenges or others, it always allowed Aston to be fully in control. Aston was astounded that the thought of the King of the pride gave him the  fear that his beast would take over once he met the man. 

‘There has to be something about this treaty that is not sitting right with me’ He thought skeptically watching his home get closer as they passed through the main gates.

The main house stood like a monster in the distance over the other buildings showing the clan’s enormous wealth. The house was a giant rustic mansion made of stone and wood giving it an earthy feel to outsiders looking in. The aged wood blended with the mix match of the stones perfectly as Rhea’s navy blue convertible pulled up closer to the large abode. She circled the large pond that counted at the drive way into the home before splitting off into a separate small road system that led to other homes and buildings in the compound. Once Rhea parked the vehicle in front of the main entrance she looked over at Aston noticing a change in mood.

“Home sweet home” She murmured, “You ready hun?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Aston frowned, staring out the window towards his home feeling his beast rubbing itself underneath his skin, “might as well get this over with”. 

“You okay?” Rhea asked, noticing that something was wrong with him.

“You don’t sense anything different or unusual?” He questioned keeping his face emotionless, feeling the power surge within him.

“Nothing more than usual, Why?” She asked, raising a brow at him.

Aston stared at his friend with confusion as he realized that she didn’t feel the power rippling underneath his skin along with his beast. His tiger released another purr-like growl from his inner world, showing that he was fully awakening but somehow suppressing his power from the outside world. He knew that it shouldn’t be possible to suppress that much power, but in a sense it also worried him. His power did not feel the same. The power felt different and much stronger than the last time he had shifted, he was shocked that it had gone unnoticed over the last few months.

“Aston, what’s—”

A growl vibrated underneath his skin, a sudden heat and pressure suddenly flooding Rhea’s car surprising Aston with its intensity. Rhea’s eyes widened as her nostrils flared in fear, her back pressing itself against her car door trying to get away from Aston’s power. It was hard to breathe. Her eyes looked at the male in front of her frantically trying to comprehend the reason for the onslaught of power, the feeling to submit to it overwhelming her. She had never felt power like this before, not even from Wyatt. 

It put them both on edge.

Aston watched Rhea’s eyes glow as her hands transformed into claws getting ready to defend herself, her own power being tamed by his. He didn’t know what caused his tiger’s transformation from within him, had this happened during his stint away from the elders and the compound? When did his power substantially grow?

“What the fuck, Aston?” Rhea hissed, breaking him out of trance, her eyes staring deeply into his hazel ones.

“I don’t know what’s going on,” he said looking at his hands checking for any changes, “This is just as new to me as it is to you.”

“Well stop it!” She snarled, fighting off another desire to bare her neck to him.

“I would if I could, but it looks like my tiger is calling the shots here! I started thinking about the Alpha of the pride and he suddenly now wants to be in control.” He explained meeting her eyes once more. 

“Well reign him in before you cause a scene,” Rhea snapped, bringing her beast under control. 

A knock on the car window made their heads snap to the passenger side of the car, the realization setting in that were now surrounded on all sides. They were surrounded by tall men in black suits staring intensely, their eyes glowing behind their shades. They were the guards of the Falcon Haven compound. The men stood ready to shift as they watched Rhea’s car waiting for the signal to attack the source of the unknown power. Aston looked at the man outside of his window recognizing him instantly, he rolled down his window a knowing smile appearing on his face.

“Hi River,” Aston smiled as his power rolled out of the vehicle in waves washing over the guards causing them to become defensive fighting the urge to submit. 

River Purcell stood leaning over the sports car at six feet five inches looking down at his soon to be king smiling up at him. A handsome smile broke his stone like demeanor, his dark brown eyes glowing from the feeling of the immense power smashing into him. River’s midnight skin stood out as he stood aloof his natural hair taking the form of a crown on his head making him look powerful. He was the head of security, and one of Aston’s best friends growing up other than Rhea sitting in the car beside him.

“Hey Mr. Steele, is everything alright out here?” He asked, raising his eyebrow at the two before. 

“I don’t know River,” Rhea answered, finally calming down trying to ignore the heat inside of her car, “Aston IS everything okay in here?”

Aston then looked at his friend thinking about the question she had directed towards him, putting him on the spot in front of everyone. His power still swirled around the area affecting everyone around them in different ways as his tiger finally sat idle within his inner world. He inwardly grimaced, not knowing how to answer either of his friends, realizing that he could finally reign in his beast's aura back inside of himself. 

“Yeah River everything’s fine, just a little hiccup that’s all,” he smiled softly at his friend before looking around at his guards noticing they were calming down, “Sorry guys, false alarm didn’t mean to worry you guys.” 

River chuckled at Aston’s answer looking around watching his men relax as they were reassured by their leader. He knew Aston was lying, but he knew better to address it in front of the others without making a scene or alerting the elders until his suspicions were confirmed from the source. Rhea exited her car getting away from the heat shivering slightly, knowing that she had never been overwhelmed like that before. She watched River open the passenger door allowing Aston to step out into the open, feeling the area around them return to normal.