Chapter 225 Muse
<b>Leslie’s </b>POV
I felt as if I was already doomed to lose.
+8 Pearls
Back at the royal headquarters, I ryed Kirby’s intelligence to Thorbane. With the debt of gratitude owed to Lucian’s family, Damian practically had victory locked in.
Thorbane was silent for a long while, then pulled a file from his drawer. “The front door’s blocked. We’ll have to try the side entrance.”
Inside was Adler’s dossier.
One short line caught my eye: <i>This </i><i>man’s </i><i>only </i><i>weakness </i><i>is </i><i>the </i><i>sole </i><i>heir </i><i>of </i><i>the </i><i>Gold </i><i>Pack </i>royal line, his <i>eight</i><i>–</i><i>year</i><i>–</i><i>old </i><i>son</i>, <i>Eren</i>.
“This is where he takes his son whenever he returns to the country.” Thorbane slid me an address.
I read it and frowned. “Fantasia Park‘?<b>” </b>
The next day, I went alone to the magical amusement park said to be crafted by elven artisans.
Using a <i>child </i><i>as </i>a <i>stepping </i><i>stone</i><i>? </i>Asphodel growled in my mind, disdain heavy. <i>This </i>is <i>beneath </i><i>a </i>queen’s honor.
Shut up, I snapped coldly. <i>Victory </i><i>is </i><i>a </i><i>queen’s </i><i>honor</i><i>. </i>
I prowled the park, searching. But without a photo of Adler’s steward, only knowing he was older, every adult wolf looked possible. Dozens of parents trailed their children—none looked like a target.
One circuit left me with a pounding headache.
Then, suddenly, a little figure in a lion costume ran up andtched onto my leg. “Muse…”
I jolted. The voice was that of an eight- or nine–year–old boy. “Who are you?”
He tugged off the oversized head. A blond–haired, blue–eyed boy grinned up at me, pure wolf blood clear in every line of him. His eyes were bright askes,
Smiling, he hugged me tighter. “Muse, I finally found you!”
I froze. “You’ve mistaken me. Did you get separated from your family?”
9:13 Thu<b>, </b>Sep 18 G.
Chapter 225 Muse
<b>82 </b>
+8 Pearls
He shook his head furiously, cheeks puffed, eyes wet with hurt. “You don’t remember me? I’m Eren…”
My mind went nk. Should I know him?
At that moment, Lucian and Damian strolled over, smug. “Princess of Rogue Pack, I hear you’ve been busy in the amusement park all day?” Lucian’s smile dripped with mockery. “Don’t bother. Damian has already secured the deal. This is the honor of Rogue Pack’s royals. You are still our princess.”
Their certainty stoked my fury.
I gave a coolugh. “Then allow me to congratte you in advance.”
Without more, I turned and walked off–with Eren still clinging <i>to </i>my leg.
He piped up sweetly, “Muse, you don’t like them.”
I snorted. “A bunch of flies. They’ll be driven out sooner orter.”
“Then I don’t like them either!” he chirped, echoing me like a little cub defending his mate.
I intended to hand him to security<i>, </i>but he refused, fixing me with pitiful puppy eyes. “I’ll be good. Don’t abandon me…
“<b>” </b>
Resigned, I brought him back to Rogue Pack’s western headquarters.
Just as we arrived, a gilded carriage of a car rolled up, ornate and silent.
The door opened, and a man stepped out–striking features, severe expression. His tailored ck suit sharpened his presence, calm and ancient as a slumbering dragon. More contained, moreposed than even Kirby.
Every instinct in me sharpened.
This Alpha’s <i>scent</i><i>… </i><i>old</i><i>, </i><i>like </i><i>sandalwood </i><i>and </i>jade, Asphodel whispered gravely.
Eren bounded to him and hugged his leg. “Daddy!”
The man hefted him effortlessly. “Running off on your own. You’ve grown bold.”
Eren squirmed, protesting. “I saw Muse and wanted to be with her! I want to marry her! You can’t keep us apart!”
I stood stunned, at a loss for words. Before I could exin, the man let out a coolugh. “Weren’t you obsessed with Muse already? Has she changed again?”
9:13 Thu, Sep 18 G
…
Chapter 225 Muse
<b>82 </b>
+8 Pearls
“She is Muse!” Eren cried, fierce with childish conviction. “She’s my fated mate!”
Muse?
I saw the man stiffen, his eyes narrowing on me. For a brief second, even his pheromones wavered.
Seems <i>you </i><i>resemble </i><i>someone </i><i>they </i><i>once </i><i>knew</i><i>, </i>Asphodel murmured slyly. <i>That </i><i>woman </i><i>should </i><i>be </i><i>proud</i>.
I had no idea what they meant. Clearing my throat, I said evenly, “I found him in the amusement park alone, with no guardian nearby, so I—”
The man’s gaze lowered, the steel in him softening as he looked at his son. “I understand.”
His phone rang, his face tightened. With a brief nod, he hoisted Eren firmly and turned away. “Goodbye, Princess of Rogue Pack.”
“I don’t want to leave Muse!” Eren shouted, kicking in protest. “She’s my fated mate, I’m in love!”
“You don’t even have your wolf yet. What kind of fated mate?”
Their voices trailed off down the corridor, fading into the distance.
Send Gifts
158
(8
1