Deacon''s POV


    At first, Glenda was too dumbfounded to speak, but when she recovered, she looked at me speechlessly and with disbelief before she let out a scoff of disappointment and disgust.


    "So, that''s it then?" she asked, looking at me from head to toe before she pointed at Elena with judgment.


    "How can you favor her so much, Prince Deacon? I''ve looked up to you as the god of war. I never expected that you''d sumb to a seductress like her and give her a title she hasn''t earned!" She didn''t even hesitate to voice out her usation.


    The second she finished her sentence, my eyes gleamed dark, and I stared at her with a murderous re, letting a low and threatening growl escape my lips.


    In a blink of an eye, I dashed through her. I grabbed her neck as I effortlessly raised her in the air, fingers tightening at every word as I spoke through gritted teeth, “Question my choices and impartiality again, Glenda, and you''ll learn just how little tolerance I have for disloyalty."


    My royal aura spread through the air, enveloping the area in tense, cold silence for a second before the sessive sound of gasps and hitched breath echoed as every warrior of all ranks bowed before me.


    From my peripheral vision, I could see the fear in their eyes as they all lowered their heads, fearing to nce at


    1. me.


    "P-prince..." her words were cut off by her gasp as I tightened my hands on her again.


    My eyes turned deadly sharp as a ze of reddish-gold glinted through my iris. With my voice mixed with my wolf''s deadly one, I coldly asked, "Favoritism? Seduction? How dare you use me of such a corrupt act!"


    She tried opening her lips, but she only ended up struggling to even form a word. "P-prince D-deacon..."


    Despite my deadly demeanor, Bryson rushed to rescue his "lovely" wife and dashed forward inside thebat


    area.


    Hurriedly, he fell to one knee, bowed his head, and beggingly exined with a made-up excuse, "P-please, Prince Deacon, forgive her insolence! Please let me apologize on her behalf... s-she didn''t mean to question your authority."


    I huffed at Bryson''s words and still didn''t spare him any nce. I tilted my head at Glenda like I was some kind of predator sizing up his prey.


    Tightening my hold on her, she struggled for breath, and her face slowly started to change from a blush of red to pale white.


    As she gasped for air, I leaned closer to her and uttered in pursed lips, "If Elena loses, she''ll not only lose her dignity but the effectiveness of her authority as well..."


    Pausing, I gave her a taunting smirk and continued, "And so, if you lose... you will suffer from the silver whip and forfeit all the merit you''ve earned. This is no game, Glenda, and I will not tolerate this level of disrespect."


    "Ugh... I..."


    She tried to utter a word but continued to struggle and ended up saying nother. As for whether it was a disrespectful rebut or an apology, I couldn''t care less.


    The surrounding, on the other hand, was filled with murmur. They tried to speak as low as possible, and I couldn''t grasp exactly what they were saying, but their voices sounded like mosquitos were starting to irritate me


    even more.


    Leaning closer, I coldly spoke near her ear, sending chills down her spine. "What kind of leader would I be if every warrior starts to think that they could question me so openly just because they want to? And you, being the first female general, isn''t an exception to my authority, Glenda


    I felt her swallow from my palms.


    My wolf and I rejoiced from the fear we gave her, but my anger wasn''t still dissipating. In contrast, her close presence made my anger boil even stronger.


    I was so close to snapping her neck when a soft and warm hand touched my extended arm.


    My heartbeat instantly elevated, and my undivided re fixated on Glenda slowly shifted to my arm.


    Following the owner of these wless hands, I met Elena''s mesmerizing eyes, which made mine slowly be gentle.


    Her face remained calm and void of emotions, but her eyes were seemingly trying to reach out to mine, pulling my restless and angry self and wolf into a state of calmness.


    And the grip of her hand that gave my arm a small squeeze instantly grounded


    me.


    Taking a few deep breaths, I loosened my hold on Glenda''s neck and harshly dropped her. Without Bryson''s quick response to catching her, she would have fallen to the ground and faced humiliation.


    I gave Elena a slight nod, and she finally let go of me. Shifting my eyes back to Glenda, I watched her gasp for air but still felt no mercy.


    She deserves it!


    With a firm voice, Imanded, "Rest and prepare for the match. It shall begin in


    no time."