?Chapter 903:


    Feigning skepticism, I narrowed my eyes yfully. “Oh,e on, you’re not just spinning me a tale, are you? Sounds a little far-fetched.”


    Perhaps too young and easily provoked, Alden fell right into my trap. His brows furrowed, and without hesitation, he shot back, “If the Lycan royal family of today were the true rulers, the Wizard n wouldn’t dare act so high and mighty!”


    His words crashed over me like a tidal wave, sending my heart into a wild frenzy. The sheer weight of what he had just revealed made my pulse quicken, excitement thrumming through my veins.


    Alden did know something about the past!


    But the moment the words slipped from his lips, his expression stiffened like a deer caught in headlights. Realizing his blunder, he mped a hand over his mouth, eyes clouded with regret.


    I was just about to press him further, ready to seize the opportunity, when, out of nowhere, a solid thudnded on my head.


    “Ouch!” Dazed, I staggered slightly, rubbing the sore spot as a dull ache spread through my skull. Blinking through the dizziness, I turned to see a group of menacing-looking thugs eyeing me with smug amusement.


    Fury red in my chest. “You did that on purpose!” I snapped, shooting them a re.


    The ringleader, a blond guy with an air of misced arrogance, stuffed his hands into his pockets and smirked. “You’re on my turf. If you two lovebirds wanna have a cozy little date here, it’s gonna cost you. So be smart—hand over the coins, or don’t me us if things get ugly.”


    Only then did it hit me—the beach, once lively and crowded, now felt eerily empty. These thugs had likely scared everyone away, leaving us at their mercy.


    I turned to Alden, suspicion creeping into my voice. “Wait… is this beach actually private?”


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    Alden’s face darkened, his anger barely restrained. “Of course not!” Fixing the gang with an icy re, he straightened his posture, his voice sharp as a de. “You’ve got some nerve pulling a stunt like this! The mayor won’t take kindly to your little scam.”


    Makenna’s POV:


    “Pfft…”


    The blond man’s lips curled into a contemptuous sneer when Alden mentioned the mayor.


    “The mayor doesn’t hold any real power here! In Marehelm, it’s Mr. Cody Harrison who calls the shots! He’s the real boss!” With each word, his arrogance swelled like a venomous tide, his chin tilting higher as if to look down upon the world.


    My heart faltered mid-beat as his words hung in the air. Something dark and foreboding crawled up my spine.


    These men’s sudden appearance seemed suspicious.


    By now, fury zed through Alden’s veins. His eyes transformed into twin infernos, a primal growl rumbling from deep within his chest before heunched himself forward. His fist connected with the blond man’s jaw with a sickening crack that seemed to echo through the beach.


    Caught off guard, the blond man reeled backward, arms iling like a marite with cut strings before he crumpled to the ground.


    “Damn it! Get him! Beat him to a pulp!” he howled, cradling his jaw. In an instant, his goons converged on Alden in a flurry of fists and curses.


    My heart hammered against my ribs as I lunged forward, desperate to reach Alden’s side.


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