《The Alpha King's Witch Bride》


 Chapter 1: _The Alpha King’s Choice

    <h4>Chapter 1: _The Alpha King''s Choice</h4>


    Odessa''s POV


    *****


    <i>Is our lives really ''ours'' when it''s path is being decided by people around us?</i>


    "Alright, girls. Take your ces!" Elder Althea said with a loud voice, pacing around in the room where the other girls from our coven had been picked.


    Picked for what exactly... You might ask.


    Well, nothing prestigious. We''re the lowest of the food chain.


    The lowest ranking witches of the Luminari coven, each either incapable of casting basic spells orcking in general magic knowledge.


    And tonight, we were picked to act as maids and servants to our ''guests'' as we wee them to our coven.


    The guests in question? The Alpha king of the North American region and his delegates.


    "I heard the Alpha king has a taste for witch blood." One of the girls in our group remarked with fear in her voice.


    "That wouldn''t make any sense. If he has such a devilish taste then why is he here to pick a bride amongst our top young witches?" Another one of usmented.


    "This ''truce'' idea between our coven and the Blood oak pack sounds suspicious, I''m not going to lie."


    For about a century, witches and werewolves have been at war, with humans being caught in the middle.


    The war caused humans and witches to form an alliance, with humans providing shelter in their big and modernized cities while witches protected them from the werewolves.


    It''s been a symbiotic rtionship.


    But now, the Alpha king of the North American region, who''s the leader of every pack in North America, suddenly brought forward the idea of a truce and called for our coven, the Luminari coven, to organize a ball where he''ll pick a witch to be his bride.


    It was a wee development... But also one that sent shivers down my spine.


    "D¨C Does this mean we''ll see the Alpha king? In the flesh?" I couldn''t help but ask, adjusting my dress and gulping.


    The other lower-ranking witches all gave me disdainful looks, ignoring my existence and continuing with their gossip.


    "She doesn''t even deserve to serve actual servants." One of them muttered mockingly, causing the rest to cackle like the witches they were.


    I was an outcast, even among lower-ranking witches. The hurtful words were child''s ypared to the years of bullying and abuse I''ve received growing up and even now.


    At least, they could cast basic spells. I couldn''t even cast a basic fire spell to light a candle.


    Magic has never been my strong suit.


    "It''s time!" Elder Althea yelled out, snapping her fingers.


    That caused the red curtains separating us from the main hall to open, giving us a view of the scenery.


    Witches and humans were sitting on tables, with food and drinks ced in front of them, and all of them dressed elegantly.


    But despite their elegant dress, no one could deny the solemn air surrounding them.


    "The Alpha king and his delegates are sitting at the high table over there." Elder Althea pointed at a slightly elevated post where some seemingly powerful people were sitting.


    She gestured at all of us to go there and serve them food and drinks but I hesitantly stayed back, frightened at the thought of serving those beasts.


    "Odessa." Elder Althea''s stern voice snapped me out of my thoughts, causing me to turn my gaze to her. "What are you waiting for? Scurry along!"


    I bit my lips, my heart racing with fear and my body shaking with hesitation.


    My heart raced against my ribcage, my legs wobbling as I drew in a deep breath before speaking. "A¨C Aunt Althea, what if I mess up? What if I do something wrong a¨C and the Alpha king gets enraged and¨C"


    "Nonsense, child!" Elder Althea waved my worries dismissively, stepping forward and cing a hand on my shoulder. "Odessa, you''ll do just fine. You''re only meant to go there and serve the Alpha king and his delegates. You aren''t like the high-ranking maidens who will be lined up to get picked."


    Right... Of course, I''m not one of them.


    It''s not like I didn''t like the idea of being a powerful witch and living up to myte mother''s legacy.


    Heck, even Elder Althea, my mother''s sister, is one of the most powerful witches in the continent and yet somehow I managed to get unlucky enough to be born THIS way.


    "Go. The high maidens are about to present themselves to the Alpha king." Elder Althea shoved me slightly, gesturing at me to move.


    I looked away from her, swallowing hard and closing my eyes with hesitation before I opened them again and began walking forward, holding a tray of drinks meant for the Alpha and his delegates.


    Soft music began ying, making me feel like a main character for a second... Until I spotted the high maidens of our coven making their way in front of the high table.


    They were all dressed like princesses, especially Lucinda, the most powerful among the young maidens of our coven and probably the most beautiful.


    "Lucinda is going to get picked for sure." I heard a witch from one of the tables I walked past mutter.


    "There''s no argument there. She''s perfect. The Alpha king would be blind to¨C"


    "Choose your next words wisely, Thomas. If the Alpha king hears you, he''ll have your head, and I won''t be there to protect you."


    I couldn''t help but gulp when I heard thatst part.


    Dear, goddess, let''s just get this over with.


    Finally, I got to the stage where the Alpha king and his delegates were sitting.


    A few of the other low-ranking witches were already there dropping trays of food or some drinks as well, all of them having their heads lowered in the presence of the werewolves.


    It was then that my gazended on one of them among the werewolves.


    It had to be him. The Alpha King.


    Alpha king Kaelos...


    He was dressed in an all-ck attire and had a stoic expression on his face, his ck hair falling to his shoulder.


    He was breathtakingly handsome, causing my heart to skip a beat.


    This couldn''t be right.


    I''ve seen several handsome men in this coven, human and witch, and some of them were even way more attractive than the Alpha king.


    None of them has ever made me feel the way I feel right now.


    There was a voice in my head, calling me, begging me to draw closer to this man. To this man who was rumored to love the flesh of witches.


    To this man who was said to bathe in the blood of his enemies. Who was said to be even more ruthless than his predecessors.


    Was this some kind of prank? Did one of the witches ce a spell on me as a joke?


    Well, if it was a joke, it was a dangerous one. Falling for the Alpha King was a death sentence.


    Suddenly, at that same moment, as I climbed up the elevated stage, I heard one of the wolves sitting beside the Alpha speak with a deep voice.


    "Oh, what about this one?" He asked with a respectful tone. "She''s gorgeous and I heard she''s the most powerful among them. Just perfect."


    I nced back to see who they were referring to and wasn''t surprised to see Lucinda standing in front of the other high maidens, disying her magic through beautifully cast rainbow lights and butterflies that caused the audience to gasp in awe.


    But the Alpha king seemed unimpressed, his expression stoic as ever.


    "I''m not here for ''beauty'' or ''power'', Marcellus." The Alpha King spoke in a voice that caused my heart to skip a beat. "I''m just waiting for any of these witches to catch my attention. To do something so attention-catching that I¨C"


    Suddenly, before he couldplete his sentence, the worst happened.


    I tripped, my leg giving in to the pressure of being so close to him.


    In the process, I let go of the tray of drinks, causing all of it to spill on the Alpha king and his delegates.


    "By the goddess!"


    "This insect!"


    "How dare you?!"


    Hearing the harsh berating of the werewolves made my body freeze with fear as my chest rose and fell with each breath.


    The music slowly died down as everyone in the audience turned their attention to the stage.


    I knew it! I knew somehow, my clumsy ass would ruin this.


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    I slowly raised my head, staring directly at the Alpha king, expecting to meet his rage-filled eyes.


    But I didn''t see that.


    Instead, his silver eyes glinted with surprise and curiosity as he stood up, staring directly at me and scrutinizing me as if I fell from the sky.


    "You idiot!" A man who looked to be in his fifties stood up andnded a p on my face, the pain causing me to fall to my knees. "Apologize to the Alpha king this instant. Do you have any fear for your life?!"


    I whimpered, holding my right cheek where the p hadnded, my elbow stinging with a sharp pain thanks to the fall.


    The entire hall was silent and I could hear the disdainful whispers of people from the audience.


    People from my own coven.


    The shame was numbing, causing me to lower my gaze as hot tears trickled down my face.


    "I¨C I didn''t mean to¨C"


    Before I could finish my statement, the Alpha king spoke up with a loud voice that boomed around the hall. "Her. I choose her."


    The shocked gasps from the audience behind me caused me to slowly raise my head as I looked back, hoping to see the person the Alpha King had picked despite my humongous screw-up.


    However, I was stunned when I saw all eyes on me.


    It was then that I turned my gaze hesitantly to the Alpha king and saw his index finger pointed at me.

 Chapter 2: _Make The Coven Proud

    <h4>Chapter 2: _Make The Coven Proud</h4>


    This... This couldn''t be right.


    The Alpha King had his finger pointed at me. He was choosing ME.


    I gulped, raising my head and staring directly at his face.


    He had a stoic expression, tilting his head and staring at me with no emotions in his eyes.


    However, the silence from the audience that had arisen after the Alpha king''s abrupt deration, disappeared when a feminine voice behind me spoke up with hesitation.


    "W¨C With all due respect, Alpha king." Turning my head around, I discovered that it was Lucinda whose face was flustered. "But are you certain of your decision? O¨C Odessa is the lowest among our witches. She doesn''t even¨C"


    "Did you just ask me if I''m ''certain'' of my decision, witch?" The Alpha King asked with a cold voice that boomed around the hall, sending shivers down my spine.


    When that happened, I realized the gravity of the situation.


    The Luminari coven was one of the biggest and most powerful covens in the continent, inhabiting one of the biggest human cities.


    However, despite our power, no one could raise a finger to attack the Alpha king and his delegates even though they were the ones in our territory.


    That was more than enough to show how powerful and feared he was.


    Anyway, Lucinda stuttered, disoriented and lost on what to say. "I¨C I would never question your¨C"


    "Then shut up." The Alpha King blurted simply, removing his gaze from Lucinda and addressing the audience. "I''ve made my decision. This witch will be taken with me back to my pack''s territory to be my bride, under the terms of the truce."


    There were murmurs from the audienceposed of witches and humans.


    My body shook with fear as I slowly turned around, scanning my gaze around the audience to search for my aunt.


    It didn''t take long for me to spot her, Aunt Althea, one of the three Elders of our coven, standing at a distance away from the audience, aplicated expression on her face.


    She also had her gaze on me, a helpless look in her eyes.


    Seeing that made my heart drop with despair.


    If even Aunt Althea was helpless in this situation, then I''m doomed. My fate was sealed.


    I''ll have no choice but to be the Alpha king''s bride.


    Meanwhile, the murmuring soon died down, allowing the Alpha king to continue. "She is to remain my bride and prove herself to my pack, showing herself as an example and proving that witches can cooperate with werewolves. Her actions will decide what direction I take this war to and if this will be a permanent truce or not."


    There wasn''t anyone who dared to murmur again.


    It was clear from his tone that the Alpha king didn''t have the patience to tolerate the chattering of the audience.


    ''Dear goddess, please help me. How do I survive with such a man?'' I thought to myself, my hands trembling.


    Suddenly, the Alpha King called my attention with a domineering voice. "Rise."


    I nced at him, swallowing silently when my eyes met his piercing silver eyes in an intense gaze that made my heart race.


    To my surprise, he stretched his right hand forward, beckoning at me to take it.


    I blinked repeatedly but didn''t dare waste his time, hurriedly grabbing his hand.


    He yanked me back to my feet without effort, but in the process, I almost stumbled into his chest, causing my heart to skip a beat.


    His cologne was of a rich variety that managed to make me weak in the knees.


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    It didn''t help that he still had his gaze on me, scrutinizing me closely with confusion shing in those silver orbs he called eyes.


    What was this feeling inside me?


    Why was there a voice in my head, drawing me to this man? Why was that voice leading me to do all sorts of scandalous things with him?


    All I wanted to do now was reach my hand to his face and feel the taste of his lips in mine.


    However, I was forced to shove those thoughts to the back of my mind when the Alpha king finally let go of my hand, ncing at his delegates first before turning his gaze back to me.


    "If there''s anything you want to take with you before we leave, now would be a good time." His voice was oddly calm but it held this edge that made me know that his words could not be rebutted.


    I didn''t even want to dare test the limits of his patience and turned my gaze back to the audience, my eyesnding on my aunt.


    My eyes stung with tears as I ran down the stage, running to her and navigating my way past the tables without looking back at the Alpha King.


    "Aunt..." I croaked when I got to her, hugging her without any care.


    She seemed hesitant at first¡ª she was never a fan of public disys of affection after all.


    Eventually, however, she wrapped her arms around me, using her fingers to brush my hair tenderly. "Hush, child. Your husband awaits you. We have to make this quick." She remarked.


    My heart lurched as I pulled away from the hug, staring at her purple eyes that radiated with warmth, in contrast with her tone.


    She ced her hands on my shoulders before she waved her right hand into the air, causing two items to appear on it.


    A book and a ring.


    "That book is my grimoire, containing all the knowledge you''ll need in the aspects of spells, rituals, and even potions." She said with a somber expression, cing the items in my hands. "The ring belonged to your mother. It''s enchanted and meant to protect you."


    My eyelids fluttered as I stared at the items, speechless on what to say.


    Where do I even begin?


    "Time to go, witch." One of the Alpha king''s delegates spoke up with a loud voice, forcing me to turn my gaze back to the stage.


    I was just in time to spot the Alpha king and his delegates stepping down from the stage, navigating their way past the audience, and heading for the exit.


    I drew in a deep breath as Aunt Althea patted my face lightly. "Go make us proud, Odessa. The fate of witch kind lies on your shoulders. May the goddess of the crossroads guide you in this next phase of your life." She said solemnly.


    This is it.


    I nced at the items onest time before wearing the ring on the index finger of my right hand and clutching close to the grimoire.


    After giving my aunt one final smile, I rushed to the Alpha king and his delegates who were already leaving the hall.


    "My Lord, I just got a text from the elders at the pack. Everything is ready for the wedding." A handsome dark-skinned man who walked beside the Alpha king said.


    The Alpha king merely nodded, ncing back at me briefly before he turned his gaze back to the dark-skinned man.


    "Excellent, Marcellus."

 Chapter 3: _Sham Of A Wedding

    <h4>Chapter 3: _Sham Of A Wedding</h4>


    The drive back to the Alpha king''s territory was a bumpy one.


    Most of the roads we passed through were abandoned thanks to the destruction caused by the war.


    Anyway, throughout the journey, my mind wasn''t my own, as it wandered through so many possibilities.


    What if the wolves in the pack tear me apart as soon as they see me?


    How will I be able to defend myself without magic?


    And most importantly... What will being the Alpha king''s bride look like?


    I nced at Alpha King Kaelos who was awfully quiet during the entire ride, despite sitting beside me.


    Marcellus, whom I came to discover was his right-hand man, and Beta was the one driving and was also quiet.


    "Hasn''t anyone at your coven told you that it''s rude to stare?" The Alpha King blurted all of a sudden with a deep voice that made my heart race against my chest.


    I quickly tore my gaze away from his face, staring awkwardly at my hands on myp and apologizing. "F¨C Forgive me, Alpha king."


    However, just when I thought I was free from the situation, the Alpha king sniggered with amusement, causing me to slowly turn my gaze back to him.


    I half expected him to say something along the lines of: ''There''s no need to apologize, dear. You''re my wife''.


    But oh, was I dead wrong.


    "You weren''t so apologetic back at the gathering when you spilled drinks on me and my delegates." The Alpha turned his gaze to me, his tone cold and his silver eyes shing with an iciness that took me off guard.


    I was lost on what to say at first until the Alpha king blurted. "And now you''re suddenly mute. You see, I despise people who pretend to be a certain way when it''s convenient for them."


    My blood boiled with irritation as I balled my hands into fists to calm myself.


    What the heck is he talking about?


    "With all due respect, Alpha King. But I was rendered speechless after my blunder and began fearing for my life." I exined, making sure my tone was respectful. "That''s why I couldn''t even find the strength to speak. You don''t have a nice reputation among us witches."


    A cold shiver ran down my spine when I saw the way the Alpha king stared at me now.


    His eyes glinted with an unknown light that made me question everything.


    Could this be it? Would he kill me right here and now and then call off the truce, dooming my people to more war?


    I couldn''t let that happen.


    "I¨C I was just saying¨C" Before I could say anything, he tore his gaze away from me, staring out of his window.


    "It''s nice to know that you''ve got some backbone at least. That''s good." He remarked, rubbing his chin without ncing back at me. "You''ll need it."


    For some reason, I found those words unsettling, especially since they came from the Alpha king himself.


    The man who''s supposed to be my soon-to-be husband.


    The rest of the ride was silent until we finally got to the entrance of what seemed to be a huge estate.


    I stared out of the window, scrutinizing the gates and huge walls that didn''t have any spaces with which you could see the inside.


    I could feel a surge of energying from the gates, simr to a protection spell of some kind.


    Are werewolves capable of magic?


    Anyway, after Beta Marcellus talked to the guards by the gate for a few seconds, he drove us into the estate.


    "Wee to the Blood oak pack, witch." The Alpha king muttered, causing me to nce briefly at him.


    He seemed rxed, his eyes closed and twitching a bit like he was deep in thought.


    I gulped, cing my gaze back on my window.


    We drove past several houses but they all seemed empty, apart from a few people here and there.


    These people bowed as soon as the car drove past them, making me wonder how they were able to know that their Alpha king was inside.


    After what seemed like ages, we reached the inner parts of the estate, which was filled with mansions, manors, and high-ss buildings.


    At the very end of this section was a huge mansion that instantly caught my attention.


    Beta Marcellus parked the car in front of this mansion and stepped down.


    Suddenly, the car doors opened up, and the Alpha king''s delegates, who had also stopped their cars, bowed before he stepped down.


    I fluttered my eyelids at first before drawing in a deep breath and stepping out of the car as well.


    "Most of the people are already sitting in the main Hall, my lord. And the event will be broadcasted to the other packs across the continent." Beta Marcellus announced.


    I nced at him, wondering what he was talking about until the Alpha king began walking toward the mansion.


    "Let''s get this over with." He blurted without looking back at me.


    His delegates, including Beta Marcellus, scurried behind him, with thetter ncing briefly at me and shing me a smile.


    I was left stunned by the smile at first¡ª that would be the first time a werewolf would smile at me without disdain.


    But I soon regained myposure and scurried after them as well.


    Nothing would''ve prepared me for what was waiting for us inside.


    The hall they were talking about was huge, with hundreds of people sitting in it.


    When the doors swung open, they all turned their heads to us and stood up, bowing at the Alpha king as he made his way to a stage at the end of the hall.


    However, after they''d bowed, many of them fixed their gazes on me and began murmuring to themselves.


    "Is that her? The Alpha king''s new bride?"


    "Yeah, a witch."


    "Look at her. She''s probably plotting how she''s going to curse all of us." A man said with fear.


    "Oh, don''t worry. Our Alpha king will personally slit her throat before she even gets the thought of doing that."


    My body shivered with fear at their words as I lowered my head until we finally got to the stage.


    "Silence!" A powerful female voice yelled, instantly causing the hall to be dead silent.


    The Alpha King''s delegates had left the stage, leaving only me and the Alpha King.


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    The female voice belonged to an elderly woman who looked to be in her seventies, wearing a flowy white robe and holding a blood-red staff in her right hand.


    She gestured at me to step forward and then gestured for me to face my soon-to-be husband... The Alpha King.


    At this point, I understood what was happening.


    A wedding.


    These people were going to make me do a wedding without a gown or any other normal things found in a wedding.


    ''Gosh, they''re barbaric.'' I thought to myself as the elderly woman cleared her throat before she began.


    "We''re gathered tonight to witness a union that could very well decide the fate of the war between two races that has been going on for over a century." She said with a somber tone. "This witch, Odessa Pierce, and the Alpha king of the North American region shall be husband and wife under the blessings of the moon goddess."


    My heart jumped into my throat when I heard her say my name.


    How was that possible? How did she know my name?


    "Please," she gestured at the Alpha King who took a step closer to me.


    He brought out a ne with a single ruby-red gemstone that glistened under the lights of the hall.


    Without wasting time and with the inest expression I''ve ever seen in my life, he wore the ne around my neck before grabbing my right hand.


    "By the power of the moon goddess, you''re now husband and wife." The elderly woman proimed with a voice filled with power.


    My heartbeat increased as he slowly raised my hand, causing the audience to stand up and p.


    But none of them were smiling.


    They all seemed like this wedding was one that would bring doom instead of happiness.


    Now I couldn''t help but question if I was making a mistake.


    Do I even have a choice?


    .


    .


    After that sham of a wedding, the Alpha king personally led me out of the hall and into the mansion itself.


    I walked beside him silently as he led me through the grand foyer at the entrance of the mansion, where he was greeted by some maids.


    He merely answered their greetings with a nod or a grunt, not pausing for a second as he led me up a flight of stairs until we finally got to the third and final floor.


    It was after we''d navigated our way through the hallway of that floor and got to a door that he finally paused.


    "This is your room. If you need anything, you tell a maid. Do not disturb me unless Ie to you or seek your attention." He said coldly, causing me to gulp before nodding mindlessly.


    Before I could ask any questions, he turned around and walked away with his hands behind his back.


    "What a jerk," I muttered with a sigh before I ced my hand on the door handle and opened the door.


    However, when I stepped into the room and turned on the light, I nearly screamed when I saw a woman sitting on what was supposed to be my bed with a cruel smirk on her face.


    "So this is my recement?" She uttered coldly as she got up, walking elegantly toward me.


    Goddess, what now?

 Chapter 4: _First Dinner With Him

    <h4>Chapter 4: _First Dinner With Him</h4>


    "Uhh..." I was speechless as I watched the mysterious woman advancing toward me with a calm smirk on her face.


    She had short ck hair and sharp gray eyes that were locked on me like a predator analyzing its prey.


    She wore an elegant blue nightgown that showed her curves in the best ways possible, each of her footsteps echoing around the room.


    "Cat caught your tongue?" She suddenly asked, snapping me out of my trance. "I''m Celine Greyheart. The one true Luna of the Blood oak pack and the queen of the North American packs. And YOU, witch, are trespassing."


    I blinked awkwardly, still not knowing what to say.


    I mean, I was meant to be the Alpha king''s bride, but I didn''t know what that would mean.


    Could a witch be the Luna of a werewolf pack?


    "Oh, would you look at this?" Celine muttered with amusement as she got in front of me and stretched her hand forward.


    I stiffened, wondering what she was doing, until she touched the ne that Kaelos had given me during the wedding.


    She tilted her head, scrutinizing the gemstone with a cold glint in her eyes.


    I couldn''t take the pressure and decided to speak. "T¨C The Alpha king gave it to me, ma¨C"


    Before I could finish my statement, a pnded on my face, causing me to stumble backward.


    That p had almost dislocated my jaw, and I could taste the metallic sting of blood¡ª my blood¡ª in my mouth.


    "What do you take me for? A fool?!" Celine snapped, grabbing the back of my hair and forcing me to look her in her eyes. "Oh, you''re trying to rub it on my face, right? Of course, I know the Alpha king gave it to you!"


    I whimpered, gritting my teeth.


    This was the second time I was getting pped today. At this rate, maybe I''ll get killed within a week if I''m lucky.


    "I¨C I don''t take you for a fool, ma''am. I don''t understand the dynamics of this pack or the werewolf race atrge." I admitted, trying to remain calm despite the stinging pain from my hair, which she pulled at.


    She was so lucky that I still wasn''t able to cast spells yet.


    If I could, maybe a little telekinesis woulde in handy to teach her bitchy ass a lesson.


    "You will learn your ce in this pack, witch," Celine whispered into my ears but then paused, raising her head with a frown on her face.


    She quickly released her grip from my hair, stering a smile on her face and making me wonder why she suddenly changed.


    However, when I heard footsteps approaching, I instantly understood why.


    "Ma''am Odessa." A recognizable deep voice spoke up from behind me, causing me to freeze.


    Meanwhile, Celine used her hands to arrange some strands of my hair, patting me gently on my face before she spoke. "Don''t forget our discussion, okay?"


    With that, she brushed past me as if nothing happened, leaving me standing there disoriented and confused.


    "Ma''am Odessa?"


    It wasn''t until the voice from earlier spoke again that I regained myposure, turning around only to meet the gaze of the Beta, Marcellus.


    "I see you''ve already met Celine." He blurted with a wry smile, stepping into the room with his hands behind his back.


    My eyes stung with tears, but I didn''t dare let them out.


    Not in front of any of these beasts.


    I stered a smile on my face and nodded. "Oh, yes, sir. I never knew she was Luna. I didn''t see her at the wedding and¨C"


    Before I could finish talking, Beta Marcellus interrupted me with a polite wave of his right hand. "Don''t call me ''sir''. You''re the Alpha king''s wife. Even though you don''t officially carry the title of Luna yet, you still deserve respect as his wife." He exined.


    My face heated up with a blush as I tried looking away from him while nodding my head in understanding.


    Seeing that, he cleared his throat before continuing. "Also, Celine isn''t the Luna. Not anymore, at least." He sniggered at the end.


    My eyes shone wide in surprise as I turned my gaze back to him.


    That bitch wasn''t Luna?


    "Why then did she tell me that she''s the Luna?" I asked out loud, confusionced in my voice. "If she isn''t the Luna, then who the fuck is she?"


    I didn''t realize how much hatred I had in my voice until the Beta coughed awkwardly.


    "Well, I never knew you could be this..." He paused, tilting his head while scrutinizing me. "... This outspoken."


    I blinked at him, not knowing when my face heated up with yet another blush.


    Gosh, what''s wrong with me?


    "Pardon my vulgarity." I bowed slightly, trying to salvage the situation.


    But the Beta shook his head, tapping me on my shoulder. "That''s the thing, ma''am Odessa. I don''t mind. I know how much of a pain in the ass Celine can be." He remarked with a scoff.


    I nodded slowly in understanding, waiting patiently to hear any more exnations.


    "She''s the Alpha king''s ex-wife and former Luna. He divorced her recently because she couldn''t give him any children. But the people still see her as the Luna." He exined calmly.


    Oh...


    So, she''s not just a bitch but a bitter one.


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    That exins why she called me a ''recement.''


    Anyway, I stared at Beta Marcellus for a while, not knowing what else to say.


    Luckily, he broke the silence by smiling before speaking again. "Your personal maid will be here any minute now. She''ll get you ready for your first dinner with the Alpha king downstairs."


    My heart dropped to my stomach when I heard thatst part.


    Dinner?


    With the Alpha king?!


    My eyelids fluttered erratically as Beta Marcellus bowed slightly in front of me before turning his back on me and walking away.


    I stood there silently, lost on what to do, until the sting from Celine''s p caused me to caress my face.


    "Fucking werewolves and their beastly strength," I grumbled, walking up to arge mirror and standing in front of it.


    I subconsciously balled my hands into fists when I remembered how she''d treated me like trash.


    "I wouldn''t let any of them treat me that way again," I promised myself, staring at my reflection and nodding resolutely.


    Just then, I heard approaching footsteps and turned around to see who it was.


    "Greetings, ma''am Odessa." A young woman who had long ginger curls and a freckled face walked into my room and bowed.


    I have to start closing that door...


    "Hi." I smiled wryly, stepping away from the mirror. "You must be my personal maid. Nice to meet you."


    I noticed the hesitation in her body''s movements, simr to how all the other pack members had looked at me at the wedding.


    But there was something different about this one.


    "I¨C I''m here to prepare your bath and get you ready for dinner." She said with an awkward cough. "May I?"


    I stared at her with dimmed eyes at first before shrugging.


    She went into action as soon as she saw that, walking into my bathroom and preparing a bath.


    I stripped out of my clothes before walking into the bathroom, where I saw a bathtub with a hot bath in it.


    After stepping in and having a long, rxing bath, I dried myself with a towel and walked back into my room only to meet the maid standing there, holding a satin dark red gown.


    "Is there an event this evening?" I couldn''t help but ask, scrutinizing the gown.


    The maid seemed stunned by my question at first but soon chuckled amusingly. "No, there''s none, ma''am. Just dinner." She responded.


    What the heck?


    Shaking my head, I pointed at the gown. "Then, what''s that gown for? Don''t tell me I''m going to wear it for a simple dinner."


    The maid blinked awkwardly, ncing at the gown in her hands first before she responded. "That''s... Exactly what it''s for, ma''am. There''s nothing simple about being the Alpha king''s wife."


    Yeah, no shit.


    Sighing to myself, I walked forward and took the gown from her hands before putting it on after a short struggle.


    The maid helped me brush my hair as I applied some body lotion from a drawer close to the mirror.


    "What''s your name?" I asked curiously, ncing at her as I took one final look at myself in the mirror.


    She seemed too shy to respond at first, lowering her head before she finally spoke. "Caroline, ma''am."


    I shed a genuine smile at her, patting her shoulder. "Well, Caroline. I hope we get along pretty well." I remarked.


    With that, I drew in a heavy breath before walking out of my room, my body tensing when Caroline locked the door behind us and followed behind me.


    Dinner with the Alpha King...


    It shouldn''t be that bad, right?


    The walk to the dining room downstairs was quiet, and I walked past a few maids along the way, all of them staring at me like an odd sore.


    Could I really me them?


    Anyway, after what seemed like forever, we finally got to the stairs close to the dining table, allowing me to see the Alpha king sitting there.


    He raised his head when he heard my footsteps, causing my heart to skip a beat.


    "You sure took your time."

 Chapter 5: _Little Witch

    <h4>Chapter 5: _Little Witch</h4>


    I stood there in front of the dining table; my hands balled beside me in silence as the Alpha King stared at me with distant eyes, scrutinizing my dress.


    He held a knife which he used to dig into a huge roasted pig in front of him.


    I gulped, saying a silent prayer before I stepped forward.


    "Thank you for the dinner, Alpha King." I bowed slightly before drawing out a chair and sitting.


    However, the Alpha king stabbed the knife into the pig, leaving it sticking there as he focused all his attention on me.


    I felt like I was suffocating under the scrutiny of his intense gaze, his silver eyes glinting with an unknown light even from this distance.


    "Is it custom among you witches to address your spouse by their titles after marriage?" He asked with sincere curiosity, rxingfortably on his chair while a maid poured him a ss of wine.


    I fiddled with my fingers, struggling to even maintain eye contact with him as I coughed awkwardly before responding.


    "N¨C No, sir. I was just trying to be¨C"


    "Kaelos." He blurted, grabbing the ss of wine after the maid had poured it to his satisfaction and stepped back. "It''s Kaelos. You''re my wife, are you not?" He queried with an arched eyebrow.


    My face heated up with a blush but deep down, I was seething with a mixture of rage and confusion.


    Wasn''t he the same jerk who told me not to disturb him except he ''seeks'' me?


    Drawing in a deep breath, I nodded with a smile. "Y¨C Yes. I am your wife, sir..." I paused, realizing my blunder.


    His expression remained stoic but there was this curious light in his eyes that I couldn''t ignore no matter how hard I tried.


    Lowering my head slightly, I muttered. "Yes, I am, Kaelos."


    I could''ve sworn I noticed a slight smirk at the corner of his lips when I raised my head, but I didn''t see it before I could get a closer look.


    He went back to digging into his food, not paying me any more attention.


    Just when I was about to take a bite from the chicken drumstick in front of me, I heard the approaching sound of high heels clicking against the ground.


    I swerved my head around only to spot Celine, the bitchy false Luna, walking toward the dining table with a sly smirk on her face.


    She had her gaze fixed on me as she waltzed to a chair close to Kaelos.


    "I wasn''t aware we''ve reached the stage of dining with the enemy, my Lord." Shemented, brushing aside some strands of her hair as she sat.


    What the fuck was she doing there?


    Aren''t the two of them divorced?


    Anyway, Kaelos ignored her entirely, taking a sip from his wine ss instead.


    <fn0eab> This update is avable on find?novel</fn0eab>


    Celine stared at him with clenched jaws, harrumphing before she fixed her gaze on me.


    "Look who''s already trying to dress up like a Luna." She sniggered, drumming the fingers of her left hand on the table. "I''m curious, in what world would the werewolves of North America ept you as their queen? Your coven didn''t even ept you, from what I''ve heard."


    I clenched my hands into fists, ring at her.


    Yes, her words stung, but not as much as the realization that Kaelos just sat there and let her say such things to me.


    He''s supposed to be my husband. I thought we had a ''connection'', even though I couldn''t understand what it was for the life of me.


    Could it be love? Hell no, that didn''t make any sense.


    All I knew was that I felt this unexinable pull each time I was close to him.


    "Oh, no words again?" Celine asked with a scoff, snapping her fingers to signal a maid to pour her a drink. "I wonder how you hope to survive with¨C"


    "What''s your problem with me?" I couldn''t take it anymore and asked, tilting my head and staring directly at her.


    At first, I didn''t want to do or say anything to her in my room because she''s a werewolf and I was afraid she''d rip me to shreds.


    On top of that, I thought she was someone important in the pack and beyond, but apparently, I was wrong.


    Anyway, Celine gawked at me speechlessly at first, obviously surprised that I could talk back to her.


    But she soon regainedposure, her fists clenched as she red at me. "What the fuck did you just say?" She asked with a dangerous tone in her voice.


    Meanwhile, Kaelos just sat there without ncing at either of us, as if we were just background noise that couldn''t even distract him from his meal.


    Well, fuck him!


    I wouldn''t sit here and allow this bitch to treat me like trash.


    "You heard me, ma''am," I said with sarcasm in my voice. "You knew very well that the Alpha King, Kaelos, was going to my coven to pick a bride. If you felt so threatened, why didn''t you stop him from going? Why am I the object of your pent-up frustration?"


    With each word I uttered, Celine''s facial expression deformed more and more until she looked like her makeup was going to melt away due to her anger.


    Some of the maids who stood a good distance around us murmured to themselves as the tension in the dining room increased.


    "You little witch!" Celine snapped, standing from her chair and causing it to scrape on the tiles. "I''ll make sure I¨C"


    "Enough!" Kaelos banged on the table all of a sudden and roared, causing the chandelier above us to shake while some drinks spilled.


    All the staff present in the dining room scurried away for safety as Kaelos rose from the chair with a menacing look in his eyes as he red at me.


    "Any more words from either of you and I promise I''ll rip your tongue out of your head!" He warned coldly, causing my body to shiver with dread.


    I felt like damning everything, including my coven''s dignity, and fleeing the dining room and then the pack.


    But there was something inside me that convinced me, telling me Kaelos wouldn''t dare such a thing.


    "So, you want me to remain silent while your bitter ex sits there and treats me like trash?" I queried, not bothering to put a filter on my words until it was toote.


    Without any warning, and with a speed too fast for my eyes to follow, Kaelos rushed to my chair and grabbed my right wrist, causing me to gasp in pain.


    "You dare defy me?!" He said with a beastly growl, his silver eyes staring into mine.


    Before I could find any words to defend myself, he yanked me out of the dining table and toward the stairs, dragging me along with him despite my pained whimpers.

 Chapter 6: _Not A Request

    <h4>Chapter 6: _Not A Request</h4>


    As Kaelos dragged me with him up the stairs, my mind raced through so many possibilities.


    Maybe I talked too much and now he was taking me to a dungeon... Or worse.


    <fn4958> Find the newest release on F¦Énd£Îovel</fn4958>


    Is he going to eat me?!


    "P¨C Please, have mercy." I pleaded, my eyes stinging with tears. "I swear, I didn''t mean to defy you. Celine was just¨C"


    "I recall telling you to keep quiet." He said with a growl, ncing back at me with a cold glint in his eyes.


    I gulped, epting my fate regardless of whatever it could be.


    Eventually, we got to my room door and he opened it, throwing me into the room like a rag doll.


    I stumbled, falling to my knees and watching with dread as he walked into the room as well, locking the door behind him.


    Each step he took felt like I was going to pass out from the adrenaline rush that it came with.


    "Up." He blurted simply, his silver eyes glinting in the darkness.


    I drew in a deep breath, using the back of my right hand to wipe away the tears trickling down my eyes before I stood up.


    My legs felt like they were going to give in to the pressure caused by him staring at me like a b of meat.


    The way he circled me made my body surge with an unexinable spark that ignited my body like an undying furnace surrounded by harsh winter.


    "You can''t feel it too?" He suddenly asked, causing my eyebrows to snap into a frown.


    My lips quivered with fear as I blurted mindlessly. "F¨C Feel what?"


    He paused, standing a few meters in front of me and looking down at me with cold eyes.


    "Don''t y coy with me, Odessa." He said calmly, stretching his hand forward and parting aside some strands of my hair.


    His touch was cold, prickling my skin like frostbite.


    My body shivered in response as I struggled to find the right words to answer him.


    "With all due respect, sir. But I don''t know what you''re talking about." I became more confident, drawing in a deep breath and straightening my shoulders as I stared into his eyes.


    He tilted his head, dimming his eyes as if he were trying to peer into my soul and see if I was telling the truth.


    Could he have such power?


    If he did, could he sense the unexinable things I felt for him?


    Wait a minute...


    "Years. I searched this continent far and wide in search of my fated mate with no luck." He suddenly mumbled, stepping away from me and then circling me.


    I stiffened when he got behind me, the hair on my neck standing on end when his hot breath grazed my skin.


    "I organized several Luna balls in the hope of finding her. But nothing. Our pack''s spiritual leader, Elder Davina, told me that I''d find her one day. My fated mate." Kaelos said with a low tone, his hot breath still hitting my neck. "I thought she was wrong. I gave up on the idea long ago."


    I paused, ncing back and staring at his face only to see that he had his eyes closed.


    This was the most vulnerable I''ve ever seen him and there was something about seeing him like this that made me want to walk closer to him and caress his face.


    Hesitating at first, I shakily swerved my body to face him before shakily stretching my hand forward to touch his face.


    However, before my fingers could touch his face, his eyes shone wide open and he grabbed my wrist, causing me to gasp in a mix of shock and pain.


    "There''s no way a witch could be my mate. It''s unheard of!" He snarled, his silver eyes increasing in brightness under the darkness.


    What the fuck was he talking about?


    Before I knew what was happening, he used his other hand to grab my jaw and brought my face closer to his, forcing me to look into his eyes.


    "Reverse the curse you''ve ced on me. I mustmend you for its power, but you aren''t fooling me." His words sounded like the biggest joke of the century.


    This had to be a joke, right?


    Unfortunately, the serious expression on his face made me realize that this was far from a joke, causing a scowl to appear on my face.


    "Do you know just how much of a reject I am, sir?" I asked, not bothering to hide the bitterness in my voice.


    He''d poked at some old wounds so he shouldn''t be surprised if I reacted ordingly.


    "I''m the lowest-ranking witch of my coven and possibly the entire continent." I began, feeling how his grip on my jaw lessened a bit.


    "I''ve endured bullying all my life from my peers and the elders of my coven because I can''t cast even the most basic spells at age twenty-one. And now you''re telling me I cast a spell on YOU?"


    My heartbeat increased as I red at him with disgust.


    He''s just like the rest of them!


    A bully who looks down on me because I can''t do what others like me can do.


    I was a reject in my coven, my home, and I hated being reminded of that.


    Not wanting to stand close to him for a second longer, I tried forcing my jaw out of his grip but was surprised when he didn''t let go, instead tightening his grip until I felt like my jaw was going to break.


    "So, you''re lying to my face that you don''t feel anything, is that right?" He queried, the iciness in his voice making me fear the worst.


    However, just when I closed my eyes, expecting him to p me or slit my throat, I felt something hot and wet on my lips.


    My eyes opened wide in shock as Kaelos imed my lips in a steamy kiss, not letting go of my jaw as he did.


    My chest felt like it was going to explode thanks to the way my heart beat, but did I fight back?


    No.


    Did I smack him and tell him to stop?


    No.


    Instead, I rxed my shoulders as he shoved my back to the wall while still kissing me, his left hand on my jaw while his right hand went to my waist.


    Suddenly, he pulled out of the kiss, our heavy breathings bing synched as he stared into my eyes with an intensity I''d never seen in any man before.


    "Allow me to express what I feel so you know I''m not ying around." He muttered.


    That wasn''t a request.


    The tone of his voice and the fact that he still had me pinned to the wall were enough to make that clear.


    But all I could do was close my eyes as he slowly brought his mouth from my lips to my neck until finally, his hands went to my chest, causing me to moan softly.

 Chapter 7: _Monster

    <h4>Chapter 7: _Monster</h4>


    Kaelos POV


    *****


    I still think there''s a mistake somewhere.


    There had to be one.


    When she first dropped those drinks on us at the Luminari coven''s party, the first thought that shed through my mind was for me to sever her head from her body.


    That suit was pretty expensive, and the material needed for it was hard toe by these days, thanks to the war.


    However, when my eyes met hers... The world seemed to have stopped in my view.


    My wolf had instantly howled ''mate'' in my head, urging me to im her right there at the party in the presence of my delegates and the witches and humans.


    But I controlled myself from doing something rash and instead acted calm while I picked her to be my bride.


    And now here we were, after the quickly arranged wedding and a dinner that instantly became dramatic with my ex-wife Celine''s presence.


    Odessa...


    She was something refreshingly different, and I didn''t know if that was just the mate bond speaking or something more.


    "M¨C Maybe we should stop." She said with a squirm when I brought my hands to her chest while trailing kisses down her neck.


    I wish I knew why I was doing this with a witch of all things.


    Maybe it was just lust... Or maybe it was just the pull of the mate bond.


    But there couldn''t be a ''mate bond'' between a werewolf and a witch.


    That was simply impossible.


    Pulling my lips away from her chest, I tilted my head as I gazed into her eyes, my breathing increasing as I watched the way her violet eyes shone


    "Do you insist that you can''t feel it?" I queried, making sure my voice was firm.


    She gulped, her silence telling me that she was unwilling to respond.


    I decided to be merciful for a bit, bringing my mouth close to her ears before whispering. "That burning and unexinable need for me whenever I''m around. A voice whispering in your head, screaming even, telling you to cling to me like your life depends on it."


    Her chest rose and fell in an enticing way that made it even harder for me to exercise some self-control.


    After years of a passionless marriage with Celine that ended with me divorcing her, finally, someone showed up that made me feel like my body would ignite and then explode from my burning need for her.


    But why did it have to be a witch?


    What sort of twisted game was this?


    "I¨C I don''t know what to say, sir¨C" Before she couldplete that statement, I shook her body against the wall, causing her to gasp.


    I brought my face even closer to hers, my gaze going to her lips.


    I wanted nothing more than to im those lips in a steamy kiss over and over again until they bleed.


    But once again, I retained self-control and said with a monotonous tone. "I told you not to call me ''sir'' again. It irks me."


    Her eyelids fluttered rapidly in confusion but she still nodded like an obedient puppy.


    Despite that, I could see the rebellion behind her eyes.


    That feisty side of her that I saw during dinner was still in there somewhere, waiting for an opportunity to show itself, or for her to get pushed to show it.


    She was just being cautious, like everyone else who lingered around me.


    "Alright, Kaelos." She said with a soft voice, causing my body to surge with a deep yearning that I just couldn''t keep tame anymore.


    My little monster under my pants was already reacting, in tune with my wolf''s pleas for me to im her with a mark before fucking her till sunrise.


    ''Be still, boy.'' I shunned him mentally.


    I wouldn''t let this control me, mate bond or not.


    Without any warning, I grabbed Odessa''s jaw again, forcing her to look into my eyes again.


    "Good. Now, where were we?" I asked with a teasing tone, leaning closer to her.


    I imed her lips in a kiss once again, making sure the intensity left her breathless this time.


    She stiffened, her hands going to my chest.


    I thought that was a sign that she was enjoying it even more than I was and smirked internally.


    I knew she felt something too.


    Even though I still didn''t understand what was going on, I was willing to push the boundaries of what drew us together.


    "Mpmh..." She moaned into my mouth, her hands going up my chest.


    The moan sounded forced but I paid no heed to that and instead took it as a sign that she wanted even more.


    However, nothing would''ve prepared me for what happened next.


    A pnded on my face, causing me to pause and withdraw from the kiss, my eyes blinking in shock.


    Odessa stared at me with aplicated expression on her face, almost as if she regretted what she had just done.


    Well, she had better regret it!


    "What the fuck did you just do?" I asked with a cold tone, balling my left hand into a fist while my right hand touched the spot on my face that she''d pped.


    The annoying part was the fact that her hand was so soft, not seeming like it was strong enough to even hurt a fly.


    Anyway, Odessa ground her jaw before she spoke. "I¨C My bodynguage should''ve told you that I didn''t want this. You were forcing yourself on me."


    Force?


    Did she just call that ''force''?


    "Honey, it seems you don''t know what forcing you means," I said with a low growl, slowly removing my right hand from my face and cing it on the wall beside her.


    She gulped, raising her head to meet my gaze.


    Seeing that I had her attention, I continued speaking. "Forcing you would involve something like me gagging your mouth with a cloth, tying you to the bedpost with my belt, and then fucking you until you bleed to death."


    My tone was dangerous and it seemed she got the message as her eyes quivered in fear.


    But to my surprise, she still had more fierceness in her and ground her jaw before raising her hand.


    My eyes widened in surprise.


    She wouldn''t dare try it again... right?


    "You''re insane!" She yelled in disgust before another pnded on my face.


    This one actually stung, unlike thest one, but I didn''t touch the spot, ring at her instead as she eyed me with even more disgust.


    "Joking around with rape? And to think the top witches of my coven werepeting with each other for a monster like yourself. You and that bitchy ex-wife of yours downstairs are all the same brutes and just like the rest of you wolves."


    The way she spoke without even a second of pause had me baffled even more than the fact that she pped me twice.


    How was she able to change so much in the blink of an eye?


    I stared at her for several seconds silently, my left hand still balled into a fist beside me.


    The idea of ripping her tongue out of her head felt oddly soothing, but the stupid feeling deep inside me that swelled from my wolf held me back from doing that.


    So instead, I ced my left hand on her jaw, ignoring the way her body jolted with fear under my touch.


    "There''s a lot you don''t know, dear wife. But I''m sure you''ll learn soon enough." I whispered into her ears before roughly releasing my grip and then turning my back to her.


    I could feel her staring at my back, but I didn''t even spare her another nce as I walked out of the room, shutting the door behind me.


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    Not ending there, I brought out a key and locked the door properly, a solemn expression on my face.


    It''s time for me to go get some answers.

 Chapter 8: _Will Never Be His Mate

    <h4>Chapter 8: _Will Never Be His Mate</h4>


    I walked down the stairs until I got downstairs, where I met Celine, still sitting at the dining table with a tense expression on her face.


    The way her fingers moved around seemed like she wanted to w someone''s eyes out.


    My face scrunched with irritation when I realized that that ''someone'' could very well be Odessa.


    Argh, I need to get that witch out of my head somehow.


    "Kaelos." Celine raised her head when she heard my approaching footsteps.


    She got up from the dining table and walked up to me, causing me to pause when she brought her right hand to my shoulder.


    "What''s wrong? Did you put that witch in her ce?" She asked, a cruel smirk curling up her lips.


    I stared at her with a in expression... No disgust, no anger, no amusement... Nothing.


    That''s how it''s always been between Celine and me. It''s how it''s been between me and most people, actually.


    The only reason I still tolerated her presence in my mansion was because even though we were finally divorced, the people still saw her as their Luna since I didn''t have a mate.


    Well, at least, I thought I didn''t have a mate.


    Until now.


    "I''m fine, Celine," I mumbled, wrapping my hand around her right hand and slowly removing it from my shoulder. "I''m going outside for a walk. Goodnight."


    Without another word or a nce, I brushed past her, ignoring the way she stared at me speechlessly.


    I didn''t have the strength for her drama.


    Not after everything that happened within thest few minutes.


    Anyway, I walked out of the mansion, stepping outside to thepound where some of my guards stood, watching the premises.


    They bowed at me when I walked past them, but I barely paid them any heed as I continued walking, stepping out of thepound and into the night of the estate.


    <fnf64f> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find¡¤novel</fnf64f>


    There was no one outside at this time, the moon shining brightly above the pack.


    As the Alpha king, I was not only the leader of all the packs of the continent but also the Alpha of my home pack, the Blood Oak pack.


    Other packs in the continent had their Alphas as well, but I was the king, overseeing the actions of the other Alphas and making sure they stayed in line and ruled properly.


    That has been the system for centuries, even before the war.


    Finally, I got to my destination, which was a serene part of the high-ss section of the estate, a few blocks away from my mansion.


    The one-story duplex in front of me was painted white and pulsed with an invisible holy energy that made me feel weed and at peace.


    It was surrounded by nts and flowers, with some climbing the walls of the building as well as the fence surrounding thepound itself.


    Anyway, the guards at the gates opened it for me before I said anything, allowing me to walk in.


    I navigated my way into the building, meeting a few maids dressed in white garments who bowed at me when I walked past the hallways dimly lit with red me torches.


    Eventually, I got to the top floor, to a room where I met the spiritual leader of the Blood Oak pack and the entire North American region, Elder Davina.


    The room was brightly lit with white light and had white stone walls as well as an artificially grown ecosystem made up of a pond and small flower vases.


    "Alpha Kaelos." She greeted from where she stood tending to a flower, wearing her usual white robe.


    She had her back facing me but soon turned to stare at me, a weing smile on her wrinkled face. "It''s been a while since you came on a private visit." She remarked.


    I stared at her for a bit before sighing and stepping forward with my hands behind my back.


    The moon''s light shone down a circle hole covered in red stained ss on the ceiling, giving the room an extra magical vibe.


    "Yes, Elder Davina. But unfortunately, I''m not here for a welfare visit or anything of the sort." I revealed with a nk expression on my face, trying to hide the internal turmoil I felt within. "I''m here because there''s something wrong with that witch that I picked. My so-called ''wife''."


    Elder Davina tilted her head in surprise, her eyebrows snapping into a frown. "Odessa? It''s been barely a couple of hours, Alpha Kaelos. What''s ''wrong'' with her?" She queried.


    I sighed heavily, not bothering to sit even when Davina gestured at a bench close to her.


    "Well, I''ll put this as inly as possible." I began, clearing my throat before I revealed the bombshell. "It seems my wolf has identified Odessa as our mate."


    Elder Davina paused, withdrawing her hands from a pink tulip she was tending to.


    She fixed all her attention on me, her eyes showing the shock and surprise she felt.


    "Yeah, I thought you''d have that reaction," I stated with a scoff, shaking my head as I began pacing around. "It doesn''t make any sense. How is SHE, my mate? She''s a witch. A bloody witch, Elder!"


    Elder Davina was silent, staring at me with a thoughtful look in her eyes.


    She knew about my past with witches.


    She knew of my dark part in this war.


    Not to mention the fact that she couldmunicate with the moon goddess.


    If anyone could tell me what was happening, it should be her.


    Sadly, it seemed fate was bent on making an example of me as Davina sighed. "Indeed, a witch being the mate of a Werewolf is something unheard of. I can see why you feel troubled."


    I blinked at her, my muscles tensing with anticipation as I urged her to continue. "Isn''t there anything else you have to say?"


    She had a wry smile on her face as she held onto her staff before walking forward. "Unfortunately, I don''t have an exnation for this. But what I can tell you is that this isn''t the work of any curse or witch magic."


    She paused, staring at the moon through the ss ceiling with a solemn expression on her face. "This is the moon goddess'' will. And it''ll be best to wait and watch what is to unfold. I knew this truce would be the start of something great. Something liberating." She said.


    I gawked nkly at her, not knowing what to say.


    Was she fucking serious right now?


    She wants me to ''wait'' and ''watch''?


    Well, that might most likely never work out, especially not in this context.


    "That witch can not be my mate, Elder," I said with certainty, even though there was an aggravating voice at the back of my head telling me that I was lying to myself.


    But I ignored that, turning my back to the Elder as I attempted to walk away.


    However, Elder Davina called me back with her words. "Remember why you called for this truce in the first ce instead of carrying on with it like your forefathers, Alpha Kaelos. And remember that the moon goddess'' ways are mysterious and should not be questioned."


    I stood there, silently balling my hands into fists.


    Mysterious ways my ass!


    Without sparing the Elder another nce, I barged out of the room and then made my way out of the building.


    I walked into the cover of night like a shadow, my gaze going up to my mansion when I finally got to it.


    It was the same mansion that had been used by generations of Alpha kings before me.


    Who would''ve thought that it would be home to a witch now? One who''s my wife and mated to me, on top of it.


    "I will not let you make me the object of humiliation." I nced up at the moon, making a silent promise before I stepped into the mansion.


    I walked through the grand foyer, not stopping until I got to Odessa''s room upstairs.


    "Don''t think for one second that you''ll get any peace here." I blurted coldly when I opened the door with the key, just in time to see her jolting from her bed in fright.


    She stared at me with some defiance in her eyes, but I ignored that and the annoying howls of my wolf, continuing with my words.


    "Until the moon goddess or whatever force out there stops this ridiculous joke, I''ll keep on punishing you for making me feel this way," I said without a trace of emotion, ignoring the hurt that shed through her eyes.


    After staring at her for a little while, I finally added. "You are not and will never be my mate. Never."


    With that, I turned my back to her and stormed out of the room, mming the door behind me before locking it with the key again.


    I grunted, heading for my suite to get some sleep or probably sulk over my current situation with some alcohol.


    However, on my way to my suite, I walked into Beta Marcellus, my right-hand man and best friend.


    "My Lord. You look¨C" Before he couldplete his sentence, I cut him short with a dismissive wave.


    "Drop the title, would you?" I said with a scoff before I continued. "I have an assignment for you. A simple one."

 Chapter 9: _Barbaric Beasts

    <h4>Chapter 9: _Barbaric Beasts</h4>


    Odessa''s POV


    *****


    When Kaelos locked me in my room after everything he said and did, I paced around anxiously, wondering what I''d gotten myself into.


    I never wanted any of this.


    I never asked to be a witch unable to ess her magic for whatever reason.


    I never asked to be the Alpha king''s bride.


    That looked like something out of my worst nightmares.


    But now here he was, making a threat involving rape after trying to force himself on me.


    Despite the pull, I felt toward him, and despite how admittedly hot it was, I still felt aggravated by the way he touched me and the words he said.


    "Surviving here for hell knows how long is no longer an option," I murmured to myself, walking to my balcony where I stood, observing the estate at night.


    My gaze trailed thepound, just in time for me to see Kaelos storming out of it, seemingly in a hurry.


    What the heck was he up to?


    Dimming my eyes, I stretched my neck down, trying to see if there was any way for me to trail my way from the balcony to downstairs... But nope.


    That was an impossibility, especially with myck of magic.


    It didn''t help matters that the guards standing around the premises would notice me as soon as I got to the ground since I didn''t have any cloaking spells that I was capable of.


    "I''m going to be married to that beast for the rest of my life," I grumbled, storming out of the balcony and into my room after staring at Kaelos'' receding back.


    I brushed my hands through my hair, feeling trapped and confused, among other things.


    The way Kaelos had kept insisting that we were mates baffled me even after he left.


    I didn''t know much about werewolves, but being mated to a witch was indeed unheard of.


    Anyway, after waiting for what felt like ages, I finally heard a click on my door, causing me to tense up.


    When the door swung open, Kaelos barged in with rage in his eyes, causing me to jerk back in fright.


    He proceeded to tell me point nk that he''ll continue punishing me for making him feel the way he does and that I''ll never be his mate.


    For an odd reason, those words stung hotter than any p I''d received today, my mind still pondering on them even after he stormed out of the room.


    "Well... That happened." I chuckled dryly, sitting back on my bed with a defeated sigh.


    There was no way around what was happening right now.


    All I could do now was to get some sleep and prepare myself for the uing days.


    Chaos will be aplenty in this mansion, that''s for sure...


    .


    .


    My eyes fluttered open the next morning, the chirping of birds from my windows filling the room.


    I sat up groggily, using the back of my hand to rub my eyes as I nced at the rm clock beside the bed¡ª my bed.


    Calling it, that felt off, but at least it was much better than the crumpy bed I was forced to sleep on back in my coven because I was "lower."


    "Oh, it''s already past eight," I muttered, stepping out of the bed and stretching my hands.


    After scratching the back of my head, I scanned my gaze around the room until I spotted something.


    Aunt Althea''s grimoire.


    The crusty old book sat ominously on a desk in front of my bed, seeming like it was calling to me to open it.


    Or, maybe that was just my curiosity and boredom talking.


    Sighing heavily, I stood up and walked to the desk before using my fingers to gently brush the book''s hardcover.


    I opened the first page and saw my aunt''s name signed on it.


    "Goddess knows why she waited so long to give me this." I scoffed, shaking my head as I kept on opening the book''s pages. "It''s not like this will make any difference when it seems like Ick magic."


    Just when I felt like my frustration was going to make me fling the book away, I heard a knock on the door, causing my eyebrows to furrow into a frown.


    Didn''t Kaelos lock that?


    "The door is locked from the outside! So except you walk through walls, I suggest you¨C"


    Before I couldplete that statement, the door creaked open, a familiar ginger head peeking her face inside the room with a nervous smile.


    I rxed my shoulders, reciprocating her smile with one of mine.


    "Oh, Caroline." I blurted as I covered the book, shifting it aside on the desk.


    I could still remember a werewolf at my ''wedding'' alleging that I would ce curses on the entire pack.


    Thest thing I needed was someone to find a reason to suspect that.


    Anyway, Caroline stepped into the room and bowed slightly. "The door was unlocked. Good morning, ma''am." She greeted me.


    It felt weird to receive such treatment.


    Back at my coven, the roles were reversed and I was the one serving my peers, often getting insults and physical bullying on top of it.


    But of course, I couldn''t say anything.


    It wasn''t their fault that I was a reject among witches.


    "Good morning, Caroline," I responded, turning my back to her and walking back to my bed. "What''s good? Is there anything I need to know?"


    <fnc373> For more chapters visit find~novel</fnc373>


    Once I sat on the bed, I crossed my legs, staring at her expectantly.


    All I''ve done sincest night, apart from having dinner, was sleep in this room.


    Now that I think about it, I hadn''t eatenst night, thanks to the drama of that bitch, Celine.


    My stomach rumbled, showing how hungry I was.


    Anyway, Caroline answered myst question after a little hesitation. "Oh, nothing really, ma''am. But I''m here to help you have your bath and get ready for the day. Also, you have a visitor waiting for you outside."


    I arched a curious eyebrow, wondering who it was.


    After clearing my throat, I gestured at her with an awkward smile. "Okay then. I''ll see the visitor first."


    I still couldn''t trust her, not even a little.


    She''s a werewolf, and if there''s one thing I''ve learned so far, it is that they all share the same primal instinct.


    They''re all barbaric beasts.


    Well, one of them seemed to stand out so far, and that was...


    "Hope I''m not disturbing, ma''am Odessa." The door swung open again, revealing my so-called visitor.


    I stared at his handsome face with an awkward smile.


    Beta Marcellus.


    "Beta. W¨C What''re you doing here?" I asked with a stutter, standing from the bed as he walked slowly toward me while scrutinizing the room.

 Chapter 10: _Hate It Here

    <h4>Chapter 10: _Hate It Here</h4>


    I gulped when Beta Marcellus finally stopped scrutinizing my room like some house inspector, his gazending on me.


    His expression was calm and he had a kind smile on his face. But I just couldn''t bring myself to see him past what he was.


    A werewolf.


    Just like every other person in this fucking pack.


    "You look so... Shaken." He pointed out, his toneced with amusement.


    My face heated up with embarrassment as I coughed awkwardly, shaking my head. "I¨C I''m fine. Just a little stunned that the Beta would take it upon himself toe visit me, especially since west sawst night." I remarked.


    How suspicious...


    What? Was he spying on me or something?


    What''s with the frequent visits? Was Kaelos going to be cool with this?


    "Trust me, I have no intention of making you ufortable." He raised his hands in a mock show of surrender, causing me to rx a bit. "On the contrary, your husband, the Alpha King, sent me to you. From now on, I''m going to be your guide around the pack."


    There was an odd feeling all around my body when I heard him call Kaelos my ''husband''.


    The mere idea was revolting, but it also brought butterflies to my stomach.


    I''m one confused witch...


    "Does the Alpha king really qualify to be called my... Husband?" I asked with a t tone, my expression just as in.


    I wanted to be cautious around the Beta just like every other werewolf in this pack, but he seemed different.


    He seemed to be the only one who respected me as a person and saw beyond the fact that I was a witch, his race''s sworn enemy.


    Anyway, as soon as those words came out of my mouth, Caroline, who''d been standing at the corner, gasped but then quickly used her hands to cover her mouth when Beta Marcellus and I turned our gazes to her.


    She coughed awkwardly, bowing slightly in embarrassment before she spoke. "I''ll... I''ll go prepare your bath now, ma''am."


    With that, she scurried toward the bathroom, leaving the Beta and me alone in the room.


    I grew a little anxious, especially when I turned my gaze back to the Beta and saw him staring at me with those piercing green eyes of his.


    He''s one fine specimen, I''ll give him that.


    <fn0d7f> This text is hosted at find~novel</fn0d7f>


    Too bad he wasn''t a witch or human.


    Oh, and too bad that I''m married to a beastly control freak!


    "You can''t me your maid for her reaction." Beta Marcellus said with a wry smile. "Not many people talk about the Alpha king like that and live to tell the tale. Trust me, as his best friend and confidant, I should know."


    I stered a smile on my face, but deep down, I was shaking with fear.


    Gosh, someone get me out of this hellhole!


    "Anyway, as your guide, I''m here to take you on a tour around the pack." Beta Marcellus suddenly blurted, taking me by surprise. "There''s so much to explore in this one estate. I mean, as the Alpha king''s wife, you''ll have to get yourself used to other packs around North America, but this small pack should do for now."


    Small?


    This pack was anything but ''small''.


    Not only was it luxurious and had well-nned building structures, but it was HUGE.


    It was only an ''estate'', but its size looked simr to that of a small city.


    The fact that the Alpha king''s predecessors were able to acquire such arge amount of protectednd in times of war like this was just another testament to his power and the power of his predecessors.


    Anyway, I sighed heavily, smiling awkwardly at the Beta. "I don''t think I''ll want to take a tour around the pack just yet, Beta. I''m good right here in the mansion." I blurted.


    However, he stared at me for a few seconds before bursting out into an amusedugh.


    "Why''s that? I thought you didn''t like it much here?" He asked.


    What a great observation!


    There''s only one problem there though...


    "Yes, I don''t like it here," I admitted inly, before turning my gaze to the door leading out to my balcony. "But I''d rather remain protected here than risk being ripped to shreds by those¨C"


    "Beasts?" He interrupted me with a knowing smile.


    I whipped my head back to him, my mouth parting in surprise.


    But he merely smiled at me before he added. "Werewolves have super hearing, love. So, if you really want to make a good impression around them... I''ll advise you to stop secretly calling them monsters."


    I was probably redder than a tomato now but luckily for me, Caroline walked back into the room before the situation could get any more embarrassing.


    "Ma''am, I have your bath ready and¨C"


    Before she couldplete that statement, I barged past her but not before yelling out. "Thank you!"


    However, Beta Marcellus called out before I could step into the bathroom. "So, I''ll be waiting for you outside then."


    Argh!


    Screw them all!


    They might have super hearing, but at least they couldn''t read my mind and hear what I have to say about them.


    .


    .


    After an intentionally prolonged bath, I walked out of my room with Caroline walking behind me.


    I had tried wearing a pair of jeans or simple pants, but she advised it would be better to wear a dress.


    Like... How much more braindead could these people get?


    "Do you have to follow me around everywhere I go?" I couldn''t help but ask, trying and probably failing to sound polite.


    Okay, that was an obvious failure.


    Fortunately, Caroline didn''t seem to mind and responded hastily from behind as we walked down the stairs, walking past a few maids.


    "Yes, ma''am. It''s orders from the Alpha king. However, I could stay behind whenever you want to have private moments. Like breakfast or a conversation." She exined.


    Hmm... Breakfast.


    My stomach rumbled just then, reminding me that I didn''t even eat anythingst night.


    "Can''t this meeting with the Beta wait until another time? I''m hungry as a bull after a¨C"


    "Such a sharp tongue for a witch. Though it''s expected... You do need a sharp tongue to cast your spells after all." A female voice that sounded a bit elderly but yet was also elegant interrupted me.


    At this point, we''d gotten to the ground floor and were just about to walk through the grand foyer so we could step outside.


    I raised my head, my eyebrows snapping into a frown when I saw the owner of the voice.


    Oh, brother... Not another one.


    It was a woman who seemed to be in her early fifties, her ck hair streaked with white all over.


    She had grey eyes and wore an elegant satin mermaid gown thatcked sleeves.


    "Uhh... I''m sorry, who are you?" I couldn''t help but ask, stering a smile on my face and hoping that would make me ''polite'' enough.


    Unfortunately, that didn''t seem to work as an ugly scowl appeared on the woman''s face. "Who am I? It doesn''t matter to you, witch. But what I do know is that you are much worse than the rumors said. You barely reek of magic." She said with disdain.


    My hands balled into fists as I stared at this woman.


    Wait a minute...


    Grey eyes, a bitchy face that looked like the result of years of stic surgery and cosmetics, and a bitchy attitude to match.


    Could she be...?


    "Mother!" A voice screeched excitedly from behind me, forcing me to swerve my body to its source.

 Chapter 11: _Werewolves And Bitches

    <h4>Chapter 11: _Werewolves And Bitches</h4>


    When I saw the person who excitedly called the rudedy ''mother'', it all began to make sense.


    Of course... Celine.


    She walked toward us, her hips swaying like she was putting way too much effort into making herself seem hot.


    She wore a white knee-high day dress, which was ironic considering her ck heart.


    Well, at least now I know where she inherited that ck heart from. Or, should I say ''greyheart''?


    "My darling daughter. It''s been way too many weeks." Celine''s mother said with a wide grin as she spread her arms wide open.


    I witnessed Celine attempting to barge past me but I was quick, stepping back to avoid a scene.


    It was a decent morning so far, and I wouldn''t let her or her mother ruin it.


    "Yes, mother. I''m so happy to see you. A lot has happened since thest time you visited us here at the mansion." Celine remarked, ncing back at me with disdain in her eyes.


    I rolled my eyes, avoiding her gaze and ncing at Caroline instead.


    The poor maid just stood there silently, looking away like she wanted to be invisible.


    She seemed like the kind of person who tried her best to avoid conflict.


    Hmm... Not bad, if you ask me.


    "Where''s that ex-husband of yours?" Celine''s mother suddenly asked with a scowl. "What he did was unfair. He should''ve informed me before going ahead to divorce you and then bring in this..."


    She paused, ring at me with dimmed eyes.


    I shed her a smile in return, even though the look in her eyes seemed like she was thirsty for blood.


    "... This witch." Celine''s mother finally finished with a disgusted scoff as if the title ''witch'' was a slur.


    To be fair, I had a simr thought pattern concerning her kind.


    Not werewolves, but bitches.


    "The witches have probably ced a spell on him. He''s delusional if he thinks there''s any chance of forming any ''peace'' agreements with them. They all deserve the same fate." Celine''s mother just kept on ranting, a deep-seeded hatred that sent shivers down my spine lingering in her voice.


    Goddess, what''s wrong with her?


    All my life spent living in the territory of the Luminari coven, werewolves have been the beastsing after our cities, ughtering our people like animals and doing the same to any human who dared help.


    Witches and humans seemed innocent in this war.


    All we''ve ever done is defend ourselves... Until the Alpha king miraculously brought this truce.


    Now Alpha kings of the other continents were probably watching North America, waiting to see how my union with Kaelos goes.


    <fnfaff> Find the newest release on Find_Novel(.</fnfaff>


    The mere thought made my heart pound with anxiety.


    "Mother, Kaelos is still the Alpha king and can do whatever he pleases." Celine suddenly said with a sly smirk.


    What a pick me...


    Anyway, she didn''t end there and continued. "And I don''t think it''s wise of you to say such things about him right here in his¨C"


    "What was that I heard about me being delusional?" A familiar voice boomed from behind me, causing my heart to skip a beat.


    Dear goddess, not him.


    Not this morning.


    I slowly turned around, my eyes wavering when I spotted him.


    Kaelos.


    He wore a ck tailsuit and had his sleek ck hair falling to his shoulders as usual.


    Each step he took exuded confidence and aloofness, but his face remained as expressionless as ever even though there was a hint of irritation in his silver eyes.


    Caroline, who stood beside me, quickly bowed before him as he approached and a few other maids around did the same before scurrying away.


    For goddess'' sake, he''s a leader! Not a god.


    "Good morning to you too, Alpha King." Celine''s mother said, not looking even slightly fazed even though her tone wasced with respect.


    Barely.


    What the fuck?


    Was this woman on some kind of unholy crack?


    What gave her the balls to call Kaelos ''delusional'' and not feel even an ounce of remorse?


    ''Yup. Something''s off.'' I thought to myself as I subconsciously stared at Kaelos.


    He had his gaze locked on me now, his silver eyes meeting mine.


    My heart slowed down a bit when our eyes met, and I could see a flicker of a foreign emotion in his.


    However, that barelysted for a few seconds or so before Celine interrupted with a cough.


    I shook my head, bowing slightly to Kaelos. "Husband." I greeted.


    He had a slight frown on his face, causing me to smirk secretly.


    That''s what he gets for locking my ass in my room all night after joking around with the idea of rape.


    However, to my surprise, he matched my sarcasm quite easily. "Wife. I can see you''re as tactless asst night. Where''s Beta Marcellus? He was supposed to¨C"


    Just before he couldplete his sentence, the Beta walked out from hell knows where holding a ss of what seemed like wine in his hands.


    "I''m here. Had to grab a few snacks while waiting for ma''am Odessa to freshen up." He remarked but paused when he got to our group.


    His eyes fluttered when he saw Celine''s mother, who had a stern expression on her face, watching all our interactions.


    "Madame Greyheart." Beta Marcellus blurted, seeming surprised to see her. "How... Lovely to see you again."


    But the woman only responded with a slight bow before speaking. "Same here, Beta. Anyway, Alpha King, could we take our discussion somewhere private?"


    Kaelos stared at the woman with gritted teeth, his calm demeanor an obvious mask to hide the anger sizzling inside him.


    But he didn''t say or do anything, instead giving me one final nce before turning his back on the group and heading back into the living room.


    Celine and her mother nced at each other before they followed him, leaving me, Beta Marcellus, and Caroline behind.


    "Pardon me, Beta," I called Marcellus'' attention, causing him to turn his gaze to me. "I''m not the only one who thinks that the dynamic between Madame Greyheart and the Alpha king is weird, right?"


    Beta Marcellus stared at me for a few seconds before a small smirk curled the corner of his lips.


    He walked past me, gesturing at the exit. "We still have that tour to attend to, ma''am. We can talk while we''re at it." He stated.


    I dimmed my eyes at him, showing hesitation at first until I finally sighed, giving up.


    A little walk around the pack shouldn''t hurt.


    Hopefully, at least...


    "After you then," I muttered, walking toward him until we were side by side.

 Chapter 12: _The Kind Beta

    <h4>Chapter 12: _The Kind Beta</h4>


    Beta Marcellus and I stepped out of the mansion and into thete morning sun, causing me to use my right arm to shield my face slightly.


    To my surprise, Caroline, who walked behind us, quickly drew out a fancy umbre from hell knows where and opened it, using it to shade me.


    "Uhh..." I was speechless, my face heating up with a blush. "I''m good, thank you, Caroline. I''m used to worst conditions."


    She seemed hesitant at first until I nced back at her and gave her a reassuring smile.


    She closed the umbre and kept it by her side, bowing slightly before we continued walking.


    "I don''t know when I''ll get used to this," I muttered, almost forgetting that Beta Marcellus was walking beside me.


    He tilted his head, causing me to turn my gaze to him when I noticed him at the corner of my eyes.


    "Get used to what?" He asked with a teasing smirk. "Being treated like a princess?"


    I felt the urge to roll my eyes but kept it hidden, instead shing a smile at him. "Yes. Quite the opposite of what I''m used to." I remarked.


    My mind went briefly to the kind of life I lived back at the Luminari coven, causing me to involuntarily shudder.


    Maybe living here isn''t as bad as I think.


    "Well, believe me, I sometimes can''t get used to it either after all this time." Beta Marcellus said as we walked past a few guards in thepound.


    They bowed to him, their expressions stoic like statues, but some of them had smiles of admiration on their faces.


    It was clear that the Beta was quite the respected man within the pack and possibly the entire North American region.


    <fn7fbe> Get full chapters from find(?)ovel</fn7fbe>


    Anyway, we finally got out of the mansion''s grounds and stepped out into the rest of the estate.


    "A few blocks away from here is Elder Davina''s sanctuary." Beta Marcellus pointed toward a white one-story duplex that was surrounded by trees and had an almost holy ambiance.


    I gawked at it in awe, feeling the energy pulsing out of it.


    The energy felt so simr to magic, just like the one I felt at the entrance to the pack.


    "It''s so... Peaceful," I muttered, my gaze falling to the tarred ground we walked on.


    This entire pack screamed: MONEY!


    But to me, it also screamed of plundered resources that these beasts have stolen from the witches and humankind over the decades.


    Anyway, the Beta had a smile on his face, not noticing my inner turmoil. "Yeah, honestly, if we want to have a thorough tour of the pack, it would take days on foot. But if we''re able to get a car..."


    He paused, ncing around expectantly.


    My eyes dimmed as I watched him until a ck SUV drove toward us, parking in front of us.


    The tainted window of the driver''s seat rolled down, revealing the face of a man who seemed to be in his early twenties, with a light brown skin tone and dark brown eyes, as well as a buzz cut.


    "Good morning, sir. Where are we off to..." the young man paused when his eyesnded on me, causing me to tense up.


    Ugh, what now?


    I stared back at him, awkwardly ncing at Beta Marcellus for some assistance.


    "Cullen, behave." The Beta remarked with a chuckle. "And yes, before you ask any questions, she''s the Alpha king''s Witch bride. We''ll be taking her on a little tour around the pack today."


    The young man, Cullen, squinted his eyes hesitantly but eventually opened the doors, allowing Beta Marcellus to hop into the front seat while Caroline and I sat at the back.


    "Cullen is my butler and assistant." Beta Marcellus nced back at me, gesturing at the young man.


    The young werewolf grunted with displeasure, seeming like he didn''t want anything to do with me... Until Beta Marcellus red at him.


    After coughing awkwardly, Cullen nced at my reflection in the rearview mirror and blurted. "Lovely to meet you, ma''am. I hope your stay in this pack has beenfortable so far."


    Yeah, right...


    I merely smiled, ignoring the jerk as he started the car and drove off slowly, allowing Beta Marcellus to point outndmarks and ces.


    "This section of the pack, which contains the Alpha king''s mansion and the residential buildings of the elites and nobles of the pack, is called the ''Elite region'' by most. It doesn''t have a specific name though." Beta Marcellus exined with a cheery tone.


    He seemed really enthusiastic, a contrast to me if I must add.


    I already didn''t want to go for this ''tour'' in the first ce, but now my encounter with Cullen has led me to believe that every other werewolf out there will have a worse reaction to seeing me.


    Anyway, after several minutes of driving, we finally got out of the Elite region and drove into a more... Simple part of the estate.


    "And this is where most of themon folk of our pack live." Beta Marcellus muttered, looking out of his window. "Speaking of which, I think I''ll want to make a stop at the market to get some things. What about you, Odessa?"


    Huh?


    I shook my head, turning my gaze to him only to meet him staring at me expectantly.


    My eyelids fluttered with confusion at first but I eventually stered a smile on my face. "I think I''ll be good. I don''t have any money on me and¨C"


    "Oh, it''s fine. I''ll pay for you." He offered politely.


    My hands subconsciously balled into fists, but I didn''t want to decline his offer, so I nodded silently, breathing out a bit when he finally looked away from me.


    I nced at Caroline who sat beside me and had been silent throughout the ride.


    She had her gaze on me but looked away when she saw me staring at her, her freckled face reddening with a blush.


    I wonder what she''s thinking.


    Anyway, after a few more minutes, Cullen stopped the car at the outskirts of a busy marketce filled with stores here and there as well as carefully ced shades of food products.


    We all stepped down from the car, with Beta Marcellus sticking beside me while trying to seem as discreet as possible to avoid too much attention.


    However, even with that, he still managed to gain some attention, with some people noticing him and greeting him with warm smiles and bows.


    It was a contrast to the solemn and almost fearful way people acknowledged Kaelos.


    As I thought about all this while we walked, I got briefly distracted and didn''t watch quickly enough to avoid a huge man who abruptly bumped into me, causing me to stumble backward.


    "Woah!" I yelped, losing my footing.


    Unfortunately, before I knew what was happening, I crashed into a tomato shade, a gasp escaping my lips when I felt the wet stains of the tomato juices on my body as well as the numbing pain of falling on the table.


    Oh no...


    "You imp!" A woman screeched, immediately grabbing my shoulder before I could catch my breath.

 Chapter 13: _Powerless Witch

    <h4>Chapter 13: _Powerless Witch</h4>


    Everything happened so fast, but the one thing that stuck was the sharp pain that shot through my right shoulder when the woman grabbed it, yanking me away from her stall.


    "Look at the mess you''ve made!" She snapped, turning me around so I could face her.


    She looked to be in herte forties, with ck hair tied in a messy bun.


    I breathed heavily but I was speechless on what to say, instead ncing back to get a better view of the tomatoes I''d ruined.


    Dear goddess, that seemed like it was going to be a lot of money.


    "Hey!" The woman called my attention harshly, causing me to jolt in fright and swerve my head back to her. "I''m not even in the mood to argue. That''ll cost you at least one hundred and twenty-five dors. Pay up!"


    One hundred and... What?!


    Where the fuck was I going to get all that money from?


    I parted my lips, my body still shaking as I stuttered. "I... I don''t... I don''t¨C"


    "Oh, shut up, witch!" The woman spat¡ª literally.


    Her saliva sshed on my face, causing me to squint my eyes.


    But she didn''t end there, yanking me around by my shoulder with her werewolf strength. "You better pay up, if not, I''ll be dragging you straight to the Alpha king. I''m sure he''ll know what to do with you."


    Dear goddess, not Kaelos.


    I stiffened, ncing at Beta Marcellus just then.


    He''d been watching the situation unfold with a curious expression on his face, his eyes glinting with something unknown.


    Meanwhile, people had already begun gathering and saying all sorts of things.


    "That''s what these witches always do. They bring nothing but bad luck along with them!" A male voice yelled out.


    A female voice added at that same instant. "Why don''t we just burn her before she brings any more misfortune?"


    "Scum!"


    "She''ll destroy us all!"


    My heart felt like it was being stabbed and the dagger was then being twisted, causing me to whimper silently, my teeth gritted with frustration.


    These people, these werewolves, were only saying all this because I dared to be a little clumsy and fell on a woman''s tomato disy.


    Was that really deserving of being ''burned''?


    "Are you going to pay up or not?" The annoying voice of the woman who still held me by my shoulder filtered into my ears just then, bringing me out of my thoughts.


    I balled my hands into fists, trying to see if maybe this once, I could connect with my magic and show these beasts who''s boss.


    But no matter how much I tried to connect with my magic and channel it out, all I could feel was a tingling sensation around my fingers, letting me know it was still there.


    How I could channel it was beyond me.


    It''s always been a problem and why I was seen as a ''powerless'' witch by most.


    But I knew I had magic somewhere in there...


    Suddenly, a voice that I''d been expecting to hear finally spoke up, booming around the market. "That''s enough!"


    That instantly caused all themotion to die down as all eyes went to Beta Marcellus.


    He scanned his gaze around briefly before he stepped forward, his eyes fixed on me for a few seconds.


    I lowered my gaze in embarrassment, wondering what he could do in this situation.


    I mean, he''s the Beta after all, and everyone seemed to respect him.


    Maybe he could get this woman to forget about the¨C


    "How much did you say the cost of the damage was again?" The Beta asked with a calm tone, a slight smile curling up his lips.


    The murmuring among the crowd increased, but they didn''t dare make their voice loud, many of them ncing at the Beta with fear while many stared at me with disdain.


    Oh, how I would''ve loved to cast a hex on every one of them!


    Anyway, the owner of the tomatoes nced at me briefly before she released me from her vise-like grip, causing me to sigh in relief as I stepped away from her.


    She proceeded to give me one final re before she turned her gaze to the Beta whose face was still beaming with a kind smile.


    "One hundred and twenty-five dors, sir. Give or take." The woman said with a slight bow.


    I still felt like it was a rip-off, especially in this era torn by war.


    However, my eyes widened with surprise when the Beta brought out a wallet and counted some cash before handing it over to the woman.


    "There. That should cover it." He blurted, winking at the woman.


    Some of the women in the crowd giggled amongst themselves as Beta Marcellus finally stepped away from the scene, turning his gaze to me.


    "Oh, wow. You''ll need one hell of a bath." He remarked, chuckling soon after.


    My body was stained all over with the red juices of the tomatoes, and my shoulder also hurt from the grip of the woman.


    I smiled wryly as we walked back to the Beta''s car. "Yeah, I know. T¨C Thank you for your help back there, Beta." I said in a tone filled with gratitude.


    He merely nodded his head, waving his hand dismissively. "Nah, it''s fine. I would''ve interfered way sooner, but I wanted to see if you''d react... Violently or try defending yourself with magic." He exined.


    What the heck?


    My eyebrows furrowed into a confused frown as he hopped into the front seat alongside his assistant, who sat in the driver''s seat.


    It looks like we won''t be buying anything at the market again.


    "S¨C Sorry about what happened, ma''am," Caroline spoke up just then, bowing her head with an embarrassed blush on her face.


    I parted my lips, a little surprised by her reaction, but I decided to respond with a reassuring smile.


    However, to my surprise, Caroline didn''t end there and brought out a white handkerchief from her bra, using it to wipe some smudges on my face.


    I gawked at her, blinking awkwardly until she pulled her hands away with a smile on her face.


    "Perfect." She blurted, staring at me for a few seconds before she hopped into the car''s backseat.


    I quickly regained myposure, hopping into the car as well, sighing heavily when we all locked the doors.


    "I''ll get a maid of mine or something toe buy the stuff I needter." Beta Marcellusmented as his assistant, Cullen, started the engines and drove. "But as I was saying, not once did you even attempt to use magic back there. Are you truly a powerless witch, ma''am Odessa?"


    His question made me self-conscious, my jaw getting tense with embarrassment as I turned my head to the window beside me.


    But I ended up responding weakly. "Technically, in every sense of the term, I am."


    The air seemed solemn as soon as I said that, Beta Marcellus drumming his fingers on his seat.


    "Then I''m afraid youring trials in this pack are going to be much harder for you to pass." He remarked somberly.


    I blinked in confusion.


    Trials?<fna9a5> Find the newest release on find[?]ovel</fna9a5>

 Chapter 14: _Holding Back

    <h4>Chapter 14: _Holding Back</h4>


    Kaelos POV


    *****


    I had faith in Beta Marcellus and trusted him to keep a close eye on Odessa while I handled other matters.


    Other matters like this bitch, Celine, and her mother giving me a headache the morning after my wedding to my so-called ''witch bride''.


    "Anyway, Alpha King, could we take our discussion somewhere private?" Madame Greyheart spoke with that aggravating voice that I''d grown to hate.


    I nced at Odessa and then briefly at Marcellus who gave me a discreet nod before I turned my back on them and waltzed away, heading to my office upstairs.


    Unfortunately, I could hear Celine and her mother following behind me, and I had to keep myself fromshing out or losing control.


    "You didn''t respond to any of my calls or texts, Alpha King." Madame Greyheart began when we got to the stairs.


    I didn''t even bother ncing back at her before I responded inly. "We''re at war, Madame Greyheart. My assistants are always busy sorting out calls of the most importance to avoid neglecting issues that need urgent attention."


    Or, in simple terms, I was ignoring her ass and couldn''t care less if she jumped off the grand canyon or something.


    Anyway, we walked past a few maids as I navigated my way to thest floor where my suite, my office, the Luna''s office and rooms, and my private study were located.


    I made my way to my office, swinging the door open and walking in, while Celine and her mother walked in quietly.


    "Well, it seems we wouldn''t have to bother ourselves much about war now." Madame Greyheart said with a fake smile stered on her face. "If this... Truce of yours works out between our region and the witches of the continent, we could start looking forward to a permanent end to the war."


    I nodded with a fake smile of my own as I sat on my chair behind my hardwood desk.


    However, before Madame Greyheart sat down, she blurted. "I''m sure your father would be proud to see how far you''ve gotten as Alpha king. Don''t you think so?"


    She had a sly smirk on her face as she satfortably, crossing one leg on top of the other while her daughter reluctantly joined her to do the same.


    I gritted my teeth but didn''t let my irritation show.


    She knew what she was doing, bringing myte father into this.


    Well, I will not be toyed with.


    "What do you want, Greyheart?" I went straight to the point, drumming my fingers on the armrest of my chair.


    At that same moment, I stretched my hand forward and grabbed myndline, dialing a number.


    "Yes, get me some whiskey, would you?" I spoke into the phone before hanging up abruptly, fixing my gaze back on Madame Greyheart.


    We had a history that ran deep, way before I ever got married to her daughter.


    But it was a history that always made me anxious and irritated anytime I was reminded of it.


    If I dealt with this while sober, there was a good chance someone wouldn''t be making it out of this office alive.


    "I asked a question," I repeated, feeling my frustration reach a new peak. "What do you want, Greyheart? I don''t have all day."


    She smirked, a light scoffing out of her mouth.


    At that same moment, a knock sounded on the door before it swung open, revealing a brown skinneddy in her mid-thirties with braided hair who walked in holding the bottle of whiskey I asked for alongside a ss.


    <fnab98> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find¡¤novel</fnab98>


    I grunted, waving my hand dismissively after she dropped them on my desk, prompting her to bow slightly before she exited the office.


    "Isn''t it too early for you to be drinking, Alpha King?" Madame Greyheart asked with an amused tone, rubbing her chin.


    I ignored her at first, instead pouring myself a ss before I emptied it in one go.


    After that, I poured myself another ss before cing it in front of me, proceeding to ce my gaze on the older woman.


    "First off, you''re not my mother to tell me what to do," I stated inly, my voice bing cold. "And secondly, if I ask what you''re doing here one more time, I''ll send in my guards to get you out of my sight or throw you out myself."


    Suddenly, Madame Greyheart chuckled, cing a hand in front of her mouth.


    I clenched my fists, trying to hold myself back.


    Most especially, I tried my best to keep my wolf in check, already hearing his agitated growls in my head.


    ''Let''s kill this bitch once and for all and use her blood to paint our office. It''s in dire need of some interior decorating anyway.'' he suggested in my head, sounding excited at the idea.


    I withheld myself from rolling my eyes before I responded to him mentally. ''Damon, you know we can''t do that. You''ve be too violent ever since...''


    Her.


    My wolf, Damon, has been extra active as well as giving me more violent urges than usual ever since we firstid eyes on Odessa.


    It was an annoying development, one that I hoped to put under control soon.


    Anyway, afterughing to her satisfaction, Madame Greyheart cleared her throat before she began.


    "You and I both know throwing me out would be a bad idea. But anyway, I''ll go straight to the point." She paused leaning closer from the other side of the table. "Kick out the witch."


    What. The. Fuck?!


    "Did you perhaps have an unfortunate brain-altering ident on your way here, Madame Greyheart?" I couldn''t help but ask, holding myself back fromughing as well. "I am the Alpha king. I do as I please, whenever I please, to whomever I please. Why on earth would I want to kick out the witch when I just married her?"


    This had to be a monumental prank or something.


    However, Madame Greyheart''s expression soon changed from a smirk to an ugly scowl as she continued speaking. "I know what you are, Alpha king. And do you want me to remind you how you got to be the Alpha king in the first ce?"


    As soon as I heard those words, something snapped inside me and I couldn''t hold back anymore.


    I got up from my seat, stretching my right hand forward faster than lightning and wrapping my fingers around her neck, causing her to gasp in pain as I snarled.


    "You dare?!" I roared, my wolf''s guttural roaring out in sync with mine.

 Chapter 15: _Unique Thinking Skills

    <h4>Chapter 15: _Unique Thinking Skills</h4>


    "K¨C Kaelos..." Madame Greyheart stuttered but wasn''t able to get the words out of her mouth as I slightly tightened my grip around her neck.


    Any more pressure and I was confident I could snap her neck like a broomstick.


    But I held myself back, baring my fangs at her instead. "It''s Alpha king to you, Greyheart! You''ve got some nerve,ing into my office and threatening ME!"


    I knew the meaning behind Madame Greyheart''s words.


    They were the same words she used to coerce me into marrying her deadbeat daughter when I couldn''t find my mate.


    <fn1064> Follow current nov?ls on F?nd-Novel</fn1064>


    Meanwhile, as I raised the woman off her seat, Celine squealed. "Y¨C You''re hurting her! Alpha king, I¨C"


    "Hold your tongue before I rip it out of your mouth and beat you to death with it!" I snapped at her, my voiceing out as a guttural growl that boomed around the office, shaking its walls.


    Celine shrunk back into her seat, her hand shooting up to her mouth which she covered as she shivered with fear.


    I ignored her, fixing my gaze back on her mother who slowly brought her hands to mine.


    Suddenly, Madame Greyheart began chuckling dryly, causing my eyebrows to furrow into a frown.


    "Even... Even you can''t be this stupid, Kaelos." She spat with disdain in her voice. "The second you end my life, my birdies, who knows what you did, will sing. And then... Everyone in this pack and the entire North American region will know how you became the Alpha king."


    My eyes twitched when I saw the smug smirk on her face.


    Meanwhile, Damon kept barking at me like a rabid dog inside my head. ''Do it! Kaelos, kill the bitch or I''lle out of here and do it myself.''


    The fingers that I had wrapped around Madame Greyheart''s neck twitched with frustration, but I still didn''t let go of her.


    At this point, her face was getting pink, her eyes flickering as life was slowly snuffed from her.


    However, before I could suffocate her, I grunted, letting go of her and watching as she fell back onto her seat.


    Madame Greyheart coughed erratically, wrapping her hands around her throat and sighing in relief.


    I watched with irritation as Celine stood from her seat and went to her mother''s side, caressing her back and trying to check if she was okay.


    "Leave my office." I blurted, looking away from them before I sat, grabbing my bottle of whiskey and turning another ss.


    Unfortunately, Madame Greyheart was far from done, swatting Celine''s hands away before she got up.


    "It seems you''ve forgotten what''s at stake here, Alpha King. I made it clear to you that you should get married to my daughter and then you went behind my back to divorce her?" She hissed, ring at me.


    My patience was already thinner than a thread but I still managed to respond after rubbing my forehead with my fingers. "I didn''t ''go behind'' your back. My split with Celine was public and never hidden. Besides, she''s barren. What use do I have marrying her if she can''t give me an heir?"


    Celine immediately broke down in sobs, using her hands to cover her face as she did.


    Hmph... she wasn''t fooling me with her theatrics.


    I couldn''t help but roll my eyes, watching as Madame Greyheart ced a hand on her daughter''s shoulder while still staring at me.


    "Oh, so the witch you brought in as a wife will be the perfect candidate to give you children, eh?" She asked sternly.


    Unbelievable...


    I shook my head, scoffing with disdain at the mere thought.


    Having a child with Odessa was out of the picture. That was never part of the truce.


    "You know, anytime you speak I see where Celine got her unique thinking skills from," I remarked sarcastically, drumming my fingers on my desk while my gaze went from Celine to her repeatedly. "I don''t n on making hybrid babies with Odessa. But I also don''t n on keeping myself tied down to your daughter."


    Madame Greyheart remained silent, her gaze cold as she clenched her fists.


    I remained silent as well, still drumming the fingers of my left hand while I clutched my ss of whiskey with my right hand.


    After what seemed like ages, Madame Greyheart finally spoke up after coughing dryly. "Celine must remain the Luna even after your divorce. And I don''t know how you wish to aplish it, but I feel like it would be wise for you to get rid of the witch as well."


    I red at her, watching as she finally turned her back to me after using her hands to arrange her clothes.


    "Come on, Celine. Let''s give the Alpha some time to think." Madame Greyheart remarked, gesturing at Celine.


    After staring at me reluctantly, Celine used the back of her hand to clean her face and also got up from her chair and scurried after her mother, the two of them walking out of my office and locking the door behind them.


    The worst part of this whole thing is that it seemed Celine''s mother hade here to stay.


    This mansion wouldn''t be enough for the both of us if she proves to be a pest while she stays here.


    ''You should have killed her.'' Damonmented mentally, causing me to grip my empty ss until it shattered into several pieces.


    I ignored the stinging pain from the ss piercing my skin, using my other hand to clean off the shards of ss.


    "Killing her would''ve been a grave mistake. Especially with everything she has against me." I muttered physically to my wolf, grabbing the bottle of whiskey and damning it all, drinking directly from it this time.


    My mind was a storm of emotions, causing me to rub my forehead repeatedly as I tried to get a hold of myself.


    For an odd reason that I couldn''t even begin to fathom, the only thing or person I could think of in this situation was a certain blonde witch who may or may not be my mate.


    ''She''s our mate, asshole. You''re only delusional and dying the inevitable.'' Damon remarked mentally, making it hard to concentrate.


    I bit my lips, trying to resist until blood rushed to my cock when I remembered the way we''d kissed the other night.


    Unable to hold back anymore, I grabbed myndline and dialed Beta Marcellus'' number. "Send Odessa to my office now," I muttered without giving any context.


    (A/N: Dear gentle readers. So sorry to stop your reading abruptly but can you do me a little favor? Please, show your support to this book by VOTING with power stones, golden tickets and GIFTS. It goes a long way in showing support. Also, don''t be shy toment your thoughts on each Chapters. I''d love to hear from you. I love y''all! Happy reading. <3)

 Chapter 16: _No Fun At All

    <h4>Chapter 16: _No Fun At All</h4>


    A viin''s POV


    *****


    Witches, werewolves, humans... They all seemed the same to him at the end of the day.


    He had to blend in among the werewolves, monitoring them and gathering as much Intel as possible for his master... The true Lord of the North.


    When Alpha King Kaelos brought forward the idea of making a truce with the witches of the continent through marriage, he knew it would be a recipe for chaos.


    As expected, the werewolves of the Blood Oak pack were quick to ostracize her and treat her like a monster... As if they weren''t worse.


    "She''s one fine piece of candy, though; I''ll give her that." He muttered to himself while watching Kaelos'' movements on the night of his arranged wedding with Odessa.


    He hid himself in the shadows, watching as the Alpha king walked into thepound of Elder Davina.


    He smirked, moving faster than a shadow and entering thepound as well.


    "What are you up to, Kaelos?" He muttered to himself, staring up at the windows of the building.


    Suddenly, before he could think of a way to scale up the windows and get into the building, a feminine voice spoke up meekly from behind him.


    "Uh... Sir?"


    He paused, his eyebrows furrowing into a frown.


    However, that frown soon turned into a mischievous smirk as he realized how interesting the situation was.


    It''s been a while since he had a little fun.


    Anyway, he slowly turned his gaze to the source of the voice only to spot a petite-looking girl, probably around Odessa''s age, with long ck hair and attractive pink lips.


    Oh, she must be one of Davina''s maids.


    His eyes glistened with interest as he scrutinized her.


    Oh,,...


    "Ahem!" The girl coughed ufortably when he stared for too long, forcing him to raise his head and stare directly into her eyes. "Sir, do you have an appointment with Elder Davina? I think I saw the Alpha king walk in to meet with her. Or...?"


    She paused, seemingly in deep thought about the whole thing.


    He was a little bored so he stayed put, waiting to see if she could be of any amusement.


    "...oh, right! You must''ve followed the Alpha king here." The girl suggested innocently.


    Naive little thing...


    He loved toying with the naive ones. They were easier to prey on, especially with the requirements he needed.


    He needs the life force of as many werewolves as possible to keep his transformation stable.


    That''s a side effect of being an artificially made hybrid...


    "Oh, darling. You''ve got a lot of things distorted in that pretty little head of yours." He said pitifully, stepping forward with his hands ced behind his back.


    His heightened hearing could already pick up the slight increase in her heartbeat as she stared at him in a mix of curiosity and hesitation.


    Meanwhile, he could also pick up the sound of Kaelos making his way to Elder Davina''s chambers upstairs.


    Whatever he was going to discuss with her, he needed to know so he could report back to the Lord of the North.


    "I¨C I don''t think I..." The maid''s eyes went wide with anxiety but she remained rooted to the spot, almost as if she had no control over her body.


    He grinned when he saw this, his eyes glinting with a mysterious light as he locked his gaze on her eyes.


    "Just look into my eyes and everything will be okay." He muttered softly, his voice like a luby.


    The girl''s eyes fluttered, her mind slowly entering the grasp of his powers.


    Being an artificially made werewolf¨Cwitch hybrid had its perks, one of them being his affinity to magic.


    Anyway, the girl''s legs wobbled, causing him to rush to her and catch her before she could fall to the ground.


    His gaze fell on her neck, the veins throbbing and inviting with blood that made him lick his lips.


    So much life in this fragile body.


    If he wasn''t in a hurry, maybe he would''ve let himself have some extracurricr fun with her, but he stuck to taking her life force.


    Raising a single finger, he brought a w and sunk it into her neck.


    Blood gushed out like a fountain, causing the poor girl to squirm, but she didn''t make any sounds under the influence of his magic.


    "It would be quite interesting if they find your body after this." He mumbled, more to himself than the girl.


    He closed his eyes, feeling her life force flow into his body like electricity.


    He didn''t necessarily have to feed on her blood like a vampire to get her life force... Even though that definitely added to the thrill.


    All he had to do was kill her and let her die in his arms.


    Like a grim reaper... Except much hotter and without the whole skull face gimmick.


    Anyway, after she''d beenpletely drained of her life, he dragged her body along, dumping it into one of the ponds in Elder Davina''spound.


    "This is going to be the talk of the pack by tomorrow and I can already guess who''s going to be med." He blurted to himself as he dusted his hands before blitzing up the walls.


    He blended into the shadows and kept his ears close to the windows to eavesdrop on Kaelos'' conversation with Elder Davina.


    However, never would he have been able to guess what he heard next.


    <fnbff7> Newest update provided by find?novel</fnbff7>


    "Indeed, a witch being the mate of a Werewolf is something unheard of. I can see why you feel troubled." Elder Gita said.


    What in the nine hells?!


    He squinted his eyes, putting one and two together anding to an interesting conclusion.


    The Alpha king''s ''witch bride'' is also his fated mate.


    How poetic indeed...


    "You sure have a way of messing with your ''children''." He muttered with disdain, staring at the moon, which seemed to twinkle in response.


    After listening a little more to the Alpha king''s conversation with Elder Davina, he watched the former walking out of the building with a disgruntled look on his face.


    Hmph... Of course, Kaelos would be against the idea of having a witch as his mate.


    "He''s no fun at all." Hemented, a smirk curling up his lips. "But on the bright side, this news would be much weed by the true lord of the North. There are so many ways we could use it to our advantage and then this pack shall fall and Kaelos with it."


    With that, he jumped down from the building and made his way to the Alpha King''s mansion.

 Chapter 17: _The Lion’s Den

    <h4>Chapter 17: _The Lion''s Den</h4>


    Odessa''s POV


    <fnfba2> Latest content published on F?nd-Novel</fnfba2>


    *****


    My mind was an ocean of thoughts as Beta Marcellus'' assistant drove us back to the Alpha mansion.


    I stared out of the window, my hand on my jaw as I thought about everything that''s happened within the span of a day.


    Scratch that... It all happened within the span of a couple of hours, give or take.


    From my interaction with Celine and her mother to the altercation with that bitter tomato vendor at the marker, and then finally, the Beta telling me about ''trials'' I''ll have to prepare for.


    What trials?


    No one told me about any trials.


    "Beta Marcellus?" I couldn''t take the silence and called his attention with a somber tone.


    He nced back briefly before he ced his attention back on something on his iPad. "Yes, Dessa. Anything you have in mind?" He asked.


    Dessa?


    That''s... A name I only allowed my friends to call me. It was supposed to be the short form of Odessa and I was certain I had never told the Beta about it.


    I squinted my eyes, getting a little suspicious and forgetting what I wanted to ask in the first ce. "I never told you you could call me that," I remarked.


    The Beta remained oddly quiet until he finally turned around from where he sat in the front passenger seat, causing my heart to skip a beat.


    His piercing green eyes seemed like they were peering into my soul, but unlike the terror and uncertainty I felt with Kaelos whenever I stared into his silver eyes, Marcellus was... Calmer.


    Like ocean waters settling during a cool night at the beach.


    Anyway, after staring at me for a while, he chuckled, shaking his head with a wry smile. "Loosen up, hon. I thought by now we would be friends. I mean, that''s bound to happen since I''m your guide around the pack and it''s politics." He remarked casually.


    Friends?


    I parted my lips, thinking I was going to say something... But nothing came out.


    Have I ever had friends?


    Everyone back at my coven saw me as an outcast, the lowest of the food chain, and the humans in our territory couldn''t be bothered enough to mingle with a powerless Witch.


    Well, there was one human... But I didn''t like remembering him...


    In conclusion, the idea of having a friend was both heartwarming and daunting.


    "Uhh... Odessa?" Beta Marcellus'' voice snapped me out of my thoughts, causing me to shake my head and focus my gaze on his face again. "You spaced out there."


    My face heated up with a blush as I looked away, fiddling with my fingers.


    Gosh, why was I blushing like a love-deprived teenager?


    ''Probably because I AM a love-deprived teen. Or, at least, I was.'' I thought to myself, subconsciously parting some strands of my hair behind my ear as Marcellus moved his gaze away from me.


    Meanwhile, Caroline, my maid who''d been silent all this while, sighed lightly, causing me to turn my gaze to her with an arched eyebrow.


    She stared at me, her eyelids fluttering as she coughed awkwardly. "I¨C I was just thinking about something." She was quick to exin.


    Jeez, I don''t bite...


    stering a smile on my face, I raised my hands in a mock show of defeat. "You don''t have to be scared around me, Caroline. Trust me, I couldn''t even hurt a fly if I tried. Not because I don''t want to... But I simply can''t."


    That was the best way I could find to exin how powerless I felt.


    It seemed Caroline got it as she nodded slowly in understanding. "I believe you..." she said.


    Suddenly, the car stopped, causing me to stare out of the window again.


    "We''re here." Cullen, Marcellus'' assistant, announced with a bored voice, earning an awkward nce from thetter.


    The Alpha King''s mansion...


    That was quick.


    Drawing in a deep breath, I stepped out of the car, arranging my dress which was still stained from all the tomatoes.


    Ugh, I''ll need a long bath and a change of clothes if I don''t want to draw any more unwanted attention my way.


    "All right, Dessa. I hope you enjoyed the tour despite the little..." Beta Marcellus spoke when he stepped down from the car but then paused, eyeing me from head to toe with a sorry expression. "... Hup along the way. I''m certain the pack''s people will get used to you in no time."


    Yeah, right...


    I''ll believe that when it rains unicorns and gold.


    Regardless, I bowed respectfully in front of the Beta. "I don''t know about thatst part, but thank you, good sir," I said with a smile.


    He tilted his head, an amused expression on his face.


    However, before he could say anything, his phone began ringing, causing his eyebrows to furrow into a frown.


    He brought out the phone and quickly answered the call. "Oh, hello, Alpha King. I was just about to¨C"


    My heart began thumping against my chest when I heard those wordse out of his mouth.


    Kaelos?!


    Argh, what does he want?


    "Now? But she¨C" Beta Marcellus asked my so-called husband, his frown deepening further.


    But then his facial expression soon rxed as he nodded profusely despite Kaelos not being there to see him.


    "I understand. I''ll tell her right away." He stated resolutely but then paused, rolling his eyes. "Would you rx? I''ll send her to you, don''t worry."


    With that, the call ended and the Beta dropped his phone into his pocket.


    He fixed his gaze on me and had a cheery smile on his face despite my wary expression.


    "Your husband demands your presence in his office." He told me casually as if that was such great news.


    What the fuck does that brute want me in his office for?


    Also, more questions stuck out like a sore thumb that I wanted to ask, including...


    "Uhh..." I gestured at my body, blinking awkwardly at the Beta. "You''ll have to tell your buddy, the Alpha king, that I''ll need a bath before¨C"


    "You don''t want to ignore Kaelos'' orders. Trust me." Marcellus suddenly said, his tone a bit more stern. "Just follow me. I''ll lead you to his office."


    I parted my lips but couldn''t say anything as I watched him give Cullen a look before he turned his back to me and made his way into thepound.


    I nced at Caroline who had a clueless expression on her face, causing me to groan silently in frustration before I followed after Marcellus.


    Time to go to the lion''s den again...


    (Author''s Note:


    Hi, lovelies! If you''ve reached this far, I want to just say THANK YOU. You''re the real MVPs. Anyway, please, pardon if the story is too slow paced for your tastes. I promise, there are a lot of action packed and steamy moments moving forward. Stay tuned, keep on voting and supporting and happy reading!)

 Chapter 18: _This Is Really Happening

    <h4>Chapter 18: _This Is Really Happening</h4>


    (Warning: Mature Content Ahead)


    I got extra anxious when Beta Marcellus finally led me to the front door of Kaelos'' office.


    On our way here, most of the staff we saw gave me weird looks because of the tomato stains on my dress and body.


    Whatever reasons Kaelos has for summoning me abruptly better be good!


    "Good luck." Marcellus gave me a wink before he proceeded to walk away, leaving me alone in front of the door.


    I gulped, cing my hand on my chest and trying to calm myself.


    "He''s my husband. H¨C He wouldn''t do anything to hurt me." I muttered to myself, raising my right hand and getting ready to knock.


    However, just when my knuckle was about to make contact with the door, I paused, getting hit by a wave of anxiety that left me paralyzed.


    I stepped back, scanning my gaze around the hallway for any signs of people.


    Maybe I could just run away without¨C


    "Odessa!" Kaelos'' domineering voice boomed from the other end of the door, causing me to jerk in surprise. "I know you''re out there. Come in before I drag you in."


    I clenched my jaw, ring at the door as if it were the cause of my predicament.


    That bloody son of a bitch...


    Without another moment of hesitation, I ced my hand on the doorknob and pushed the door open, stepping into the office.


    The office was brightly lit, and at the end of it was Kaelos''s desk, with Kaelos sitting on top of it with his arms folded in front of his chest.


    He tilted his head as soon as I stepped in, his eyes scrutinizing me curiously before his nose scrunched up.


    "I can see you had some fun today." He muttered with a snigger, definitely referring to the tomato stains on my body.


    <fnc333> Th?s chapter is updated by find?novel</fnc333>


    I gave him a sarcastic smile before rolling my eyes and cing my arms in front of my body. "Well, you summoned me, dear husband. Is there something I can help you with?" I asked.


    Kaelos remained oddly quiet, his silver eyes glinting with unknown emotions as he stared at me for an unconformably prolonged period.


    I couldn''t help but look away, staring at the lights on the ceiling before ncing at some ck couches in a corner.


    That weird feeling in my chest whenever I saw him was present again, as well as that voice in my head whispering to me to step forward and kiss him.


    But I held myself back, drawing in deep breaths as I kept my gaze away from Kaelos.


    "Why are you so tense?" He asked all of a sudden, causing me to reluctantly turn my gaze back to him.


    I arched an eyebrow when I saw the amused smirk on his face, causing me to respond with contempt. "I don''t know... Probably because you keep staring at me like a b of meat."


    Kaelos remained silent at first, the amused expression still on his face.


    However, he soon shook his head and chuckled dryly, causing my eyebrows to knit into a frown.


    Suddenly, he stoppedughing and stepped away from his desk, walking slowly toward me. "You can deny it all you want to yourself, but don''t even think about denying it in my presence." He remarked.


    I gulped anxiously, but for some odd reason, even though I wanted to do nothing more than flee away from him... My body seemed to have a mind of its own and remained rooted to the spot.


    Kaelos smirked when he scrutinized my bodynguage.


    Irritation surged through me as I blurted. "Deny what? That you''re a psychopathic creep?"


    Kaelos'' paused when I said that, his head tilting as he dimmed his eyes.


    I tensed up, wondering what was going through his mind.


    Was I testing my luck with him a little too much?


    "A psychopath? Hon, trust me, if you think I''m psychopathic, then you don''t know the meaning of the word." He scoffed, finally getting a few inches in front of me.


    His cologne wafted into my nose, causing my body to shudder in response.


    I stared up at him, gazing into his piercing silver eyes and getting lost in them.


    At that same moment, Kaelos raised his right hand and parted aside some strands of my hair before he whispered. "You''re denying what you feel. You''re denying... You''re denying the mate bond."


    I fluttered my eyelids but was speechless about what to say.


    Thest time when he got this close to me, I got ufortable because I didn''t understand what I was feeling.


    Well, I still didn''t quite understand what I was feeling, but one thing is certain.


    I wanted to kiss the handsome hunk in front of me.


    Fortunately... or unfortunately, it seemed he felt the same way as he leaned closer, his gaze going from my eyes to my lips until our lips met in a passionate kiss that took my breath away.


    I couldn''t help myself from moaning softly, wrapping my arms around his neck as he brought his hands to my waist and pulled my body closer to his.


    My heart thumped anxiously against my chest, but I knew I wanted this.


    The way Kaelos kissed me as if his life depended on it made me realize how deep our feelings ran.


    ''Could it really be a mate bond? Am I mated to a werewolf?'' I thought to myself but those thoughts soon dissipated when Kaelos brought his hands to my chest.


    I was surprised at how he was kissing me even with the tomato stains on my body, and now he wanted to take off my clothes?


    My mouth curled up into a smirk as he finally pulled away from the kiss, staring into my eyes with a burning desire that made my knees wobble.


    "I''ve wanted to do this since the first second I saw you." He blurted, looking into my eyes.


    My heart fluttered, a warm feeling surging around my body.


    Was that affection I saw in his eyes, or am I tripping?


    Unfortunately, whatever affection shed through his eyes merelysted two seconds and got reced by an almost predatory intensity as he brought his hands to my dress.


    Suddenly, without warning, he ripped the dress, causing me to gasp as he got a full view of my body, which was still slightly hidden by my bra and underwear.


    "Perfection..." He muttered with a slight smirk curling up the corner of his lips before he began trailing kisses down my neck.


    This was really happening.


    I''m about to fuck the Alpha King in his office.

 Chapter 19: _What Has He Done To Me?

    <h4>Chapter 19: _What Has He Done To Me?</h4>


    (Warning: Mature Content Ahead)


    The sensations surging all over my body were almost unexinable.


    I breathed heavily, trying to hold back from squealing like an animal as Kaelos trailed kisses down my neck.


    As he did that, he wrapped his left arm around my body, supporting me as he used his right hand to fondle my breasts.


    "How badly do you want this?" He suddenly muttered into my ears, using his lips to tease them.


    I bit my lip, watching as he slowly pulled away so he could look into my eyes.


    His right hand was still on my boobs, making my head spin as I imagined all the things he could be doing to me without talking.


    "I¨C I do want it." I ended up blurting and for an odd reason, I didn''t regret it.


    My entire body screamed for Kaelos with a longing that I found foreign.


    Never have I felt this way for any man but yet here we are.


    Anyway, Kaelos smirked, trailing his right hand to my jaw and holding it with his fingers. "Be careful what you wish for, hon." He whispered before he imed my lips with a kiss.


    I couldn''t hold it in anymore.


    I moaned into his mouth, arching my back until my chest was pressed against his.


    At that moment, my mind burned with desire, causing me to raise my hands and trail them to his chest.


    I struggled trying to open his buttons, desperate to see his chiseled abs but was taken by surprise when he suddenly grabbed my wrist with his left arm.


    He pulled away from the kiss, a sly smirk on his face. "Ah, ah, ah. Not yet, hon." He said.


    What the fuck?


    Howe he gets to see my nakedness and I don''t?


    I furrowed my eyebrows, contemting that, but didn''t get an answer, instead obediently following his lead.


    Slowly, he took off my bra and then slid down my underwear, leaving mepletely exposed.


    I drew in a deep breath, anticipating whatever was going toe next.


    I was already wet down there, my body aching with need. I wanted him to do stuff to me that I would''ve never imagined in my wildest dreams before I met him.


    Dear goddess, what has this man done to me?


    "So this is what you''ve been hiding, eh?" He said with a chuckle before he held my right breast.


    I gasped as he slowly brought his mouth to my right breast, my hands wrapping around him and gripping his back.


    And then, it happened.


    He used his tongue to trail a circle around my nipple, causing me to raise my head and bite my lips due to the sensation.


    "Fuck..." I muttered without thinking, too carried away as he finally took my right nipple into his mouth.


    He sucked on it while using his right hand to fondle my left breast. Soon enough, his left hand trailed to my pussy, causing me to grunt with need.


    "Yes..." I whispered, giving in to the pleasure.


    He pulled his mouth away from my breasts just then, that annoying smirk of his still on his face as he stared at me with his piercing silver eyes.


    "Tell me to shove it in." He blurted, obviously enjoying this.


    I subconsciously brought my gaze down and realized that he was harder than a rock, his pants barely keeping his dick at bay.


    Not just that but he''s huge!


    Fuck, I''ve never seen a dick so big and it''s not even an exaggeration.


    What''s up with werewolves and their perfect bodies?


    "Odessa..." His whisper brought me back to reality, causing me to flutter my eyelids as I brought my gaze back to his eyes. "Focus. Tell me to shove it in."


    Argh, what''s his fucking problem?


    We were having some fun and he''s suddenly acting like he''s all about consent?


    "Since when do you care about what I think?" I couldn''t help but ask, arching an eyebrow.


    He stared at me for a good few seconds, forcing me to divert my gaze back to his dick.


    Yup... Still harder than a rock.


    "I don''t." He suddenly responded, causing me to clench my jaw as I brought my gaze back to his annoyingly attractive silver eyes. "If I wanted to, I''d simply tie you up without saying a thing and then fuck you until the entire pack hears you screaming my name. But..."


    He paused, his smirk turning into a grin as he brought his mouth to my ear and whispered. "... I want to see you beg for it. I want to see you grovel at my feet, pleading for the sweet release of me fucking you. The mate bond has heightened your sex drive, hon. And I''m the only one capable of taming it."


    I gawked at him, speechless.


    He seemed amused about that but didn''t say anything else, instead grabbing my right breast again, causing me to moan softly.


    "Fuck, Kaelos! Just shove it in!" I yelled with a weird mix of spite and yearning, my eyes closed from the sensations.


    Suddenly, without warning, he shoved his index finger in, causing my body to shake violently with pleasure.


    <fn88e9> Readplete version only at f?ndnovel</fn88e9>


    I gripped his back for dear life as he went even further, shoving in another finger, easily finding my clit.


    As he kept himself busy down there, he brought his mouth back to my breasts and continued sucking on them, switching from left to right after a few seconds in between.


    I was almost one hundred percent certain that my screams could be heard by anyone walking past that office but that was only a fleeting thought at the back of my head.


    All I cared about was the hot brute I called my husband standing in front of me and giving me the time of my life.


    "I want to take off your clothes," I muttered suddenly, biting my lips as my hands traveled all over his back.


    But he ignored my words, too busy sucking my breasts like the form for world peace was in them and flicking my clit like he was searching for gold.


    I gasped, my mouth opened wide from the pleasure before I spoke again. "K¨C Kaelos, I... I said I... Want to take off your... Ah, fuck, yes!"


    Or not...


    It was hard to speak when my body felt like I was floating into space and then being dragged back down over and over again.


    Fortunately, he finally pulled his mouth away from my breasts, giving them one final kiss before he brought his gaze to my face.


    "I never knew you could be such a slut." He blurted with a grin.


    What the fuck?


    Before I could say anything, he suddenly removed his fingers from my pussy and licked them before grabbing my legs and lifting me off the ground.

 Chapter 20: _Underestimated Him

    <h4>Chapter 20: _Underestimated Him</h4>


    (Warning: Mature Content Ahead)


    My legs were already weak from Kaelos'' fingering me so I helplessly let him lift me off the ground.


    I mean... It''s not like I had much of a choice anyway.


    The way he lifted me so effortlessly made my head spin but it also made me oddly jealous of the strength of werewolves.


    Anyway, he carried me to his desk, forcing me to sit on it without saying a word.


    I stared at his face, my eyelids batting as I stiffened with anticipation, wondering what he was about to do next.


    He merely shed me a smirk before he spread my legs wide open.


    I gasped, watching him lower his face to my pussy.


    Oh, goddess, there''s more.


    My fingers wriggled when he brought his tongue to my entrance, using it to trail lines around it.


    I squirmed, arching my back as he teased me even more, kissing my pussy while cing both his hands on my breasts, fondling them and pinching my nipples.


    "Fuck..." I muttered, almost forgetting about how he casually called me a slut a few seconds ago.


    My face heated up as I turned my gaze to the ceiling, pondering those words.


    Maybe I am a slut...


    "Brace yourself." He suddenly blurted, causing me to lower my gaze back to his face.


    However, before I could say or do anything, he shoved his tongue into my pussy, burying his face in it while still gripping my boobs.


    "Ahhh!" I squealed, falling back until I rested my back on the table.


    My hair fell on my face but I couldn''t care less, blowing a few strands away with a little breeze from my mouth.


    I moaned, my legs shaking around as Kaelos continued mercilessly eating my pussy, moving his tongue around it until he found my clit.


    He mumbled something but I couldn''t hear what it was. And surprise, surprise... I didn''t care.


    "Right there!" I muttered, my right hand going to my forehead as my back arched while Iy on the desk. "Fuck, yes! Right there, Kaelos. Argh..."


    I had a feeling I might regret screaming this loudter but again, I didn''t care.


    All I could focus on now was the ecstasy that came with Kaelos giving me pleasure.


    He was teasing me and it was driving me crazy!


    Never would I have imagined myself in this position.


    Eventually, he pulled his mouth away from my pussy, forcing me to raise my head off the table so I could have a look at him.


    He had a smug smirk on his face as he brought his right hand to my legs and pped them, causing me to grunt.


    "If you''re screaming so hard already, how would you be able to take my little soldier?" He asked with a whisper as he slowly got back on his feet.


    My breathing spiked when my gaze fell on his dick only to discover that it was out of his pants now, pointing at me as if trying to emphasize Kaelos'' words.


    I gulped, scrutinizing every inch of it.


    There was nothing ''little'' about it.


    There was already precum at the tip, causing me to subconsciously lick my lips as I imagined how it would feel to take all that dick into my mouth.


    Unfortunately, my imaginations were cut short when he suddenly brought his hands to his pants, pulling them down fully alongside his underwear.


    "On second thought, I would''ve loved watching you beg even more after teasing you into hell... But..." He paused, ncing at his veiny dick. "Well, the little guy seems to have a mind of his own. And boy, am I hungry."


    Hisst words came out as a guttural growl, his silver eyes glinting with a predatory light that made me gulp.


    He prowled, cing his left hand on the desk and then using his right hand to guide his dick closer to my entrance.


    My eyes fluttered repeatedly as I took in deep breaths.


    I should be fine. I want this.


    Gosh, I wanted this so much right now that I was seconds away from stretching my hands and shoving his dick into me by myself.


    However, I insteady back and watched as he brought his right hand to his mouth and licked it.


    He proceeded to bring his fingers to my pussy and began shoving them into me, preparing me for the iing little monster.


    Eventually, after a few more seconds of grueling teasing, he finally shoved his dick into me.


    It was a slow movement, but even then I was still taken by surprise when my pussy struggled to take his dick.


    "Fuck..." I muttered breathlessly, biting my lips and closing my eyes as I raised my head to the ceiling.


    Gosh, he''s big! It seems I underestimated him.


    I squirmed as he slowly pulled out after only shoving in half of his length.


    "That''s right, keep on breathing." He said with an amused tone, a smirk still lingering on his face.


    I''d give anything to smack that smug smirk off his face.


    Anyway, he liked his fingers and rubbed my clit again, causing me to shake my head anxiously.


    Any more of this, and I might explode from all the anticipation.


    Luckily, he took me right out of my misery when he shoved his full length into me with one swift movement, causing my body to jerk.


    "Ahhh!" I screamed as a sharp pain shot through my body, causing me to bring my hands to his chest.


    But he ignored me, using his right hand to grab both my hands and then cing them over my head.


    "Shhh." He shushed me, slowly pulling out his dick.


    I could''ve sworn I saw concern sh through his eyes for a second, but it was quickly reced by his predatory desires as he rammed into me again.


    <fn394e> Get full chapters from f?ndnovel</fn394e>


    The movement was continuous and had a steady rhythm, allowing my pussy to gradually get used to his dick.


    My body rxed as I moaned loudly, opening my eyes only to see Kaelos staring at me.


    His eyes scrutinized my body lustfully as if he wasn''t fucking me right now. As if he couldn''t get enough of me even if we fucked all day and all night.


    He still had his shirt on and I desperately wanted to take it off, but I couldn''t since he had both my hands forcefully ced over my head.


    Anyway, soon, he began grunting, his grip on my hand increasing a bit as he leaned in closer and trailed kisses all over my body as he fucked me.


    I squirmed, my pussy closing around his dick, taking in his length as if I wasn''t screaming in pain some minutes ago.


    "Mi Brujita." He muttered into my ears before licking my right ear, sending a wave of pleasure all over my body.


    Was the brute speaking Spanish?


    Goddess, he was driving me crazy!


    Our moans were almost in sync as he continued fucking me while simultaneously trailing kisses all over my body.


    "I''m close." I blurted at a point, my eyes opening wide.


    A few secondster, I reached orgasm,ing with an intensity that I''d nevere with in ages.


    I arched my back, gasping and breathing heavily as I struggled to catch my breath.


    "Fuck!" I moaned, leaving my mouth wide open as I brought my gaze to Kaelos'' eyes.


    However, just when he pulled out of me and was about to move my body to a different position, a knock sounded on the door.


    My heart jumped into my throat, the horniness immediately evaporating from my body.


    Meanwhile, Kaelos'' face twisted into an ugly scowl as he swerved his head to the door and snarled. "What is it?!"


    Fuck, fuck, fuck!


    I knew fucking in his office would be a bad idea and yet I still went with it. And to think this is our first time too.


    "Sir, there''s a problem at Elder Davina''s house." A female voice reported meekly from the other end of the door.


    Shit...

 Chapter 21: _Not So Peaceful Pack

    <h4>Chapter 21: _Not So Peaceful Pack</h4>


    Kaelos'' POV


    *****


    My face twisted into a frown as I pulled up my pants, even though the rod was still rock hard.


    By the moon, Odessa was quite enjoyable!


    I''d gotten so carried away that I almost forgot we were in my office.


    And now, my assistant was outside knocking and informing us that there was a problem at Elder Davina''s residence.


    "What kind of ''problem'' requires the presence of the Alpha king?!" I yelled out loud, ncing at Odessa onest time.


    Her face was flustered, her chest rising and falling as she quickly used her arms to cover her breasts.


    I shouldn''t have ripped off her clothes, but I couldn''t me myself much.


    ''You little rascal.'' I chastised my wolf, Damon, as I arranged my clothes. ''Your lust mixed with mine was way too much for me to handle. Now look what we''ve¨C''


    ''Oh, shut it! Don''t pretend like you didn''t enjoy it.'' Damon interrupted with a mischievous tone.


    I could almost imagine him wagging his tail excitedly when images of all I did with Odessa shed through my mind.


    I rubbed my head to get back my focus as my assistant continued speaking at the other side of the door with a wary tone. "It''s a problem of great importance, sir. A body was found at Elder Davina''s residence this morning. Of a young maid."


    I paused everything I was doing just then, an ominous feeling of dread washing through me.


    A dead body? In my pack?


    Who would dare...?


    I subconsciously nced at Odessa just then, watching as she still barely kept her boobs hidden with her arms.


    It was an almostedic sight and I might''ve chuckled at her expense if it weren''t for the serious situation I was presented with.


    "I''ll be there in a minute. In the meantime, make sure the news of what happened doesn''t get out to the pack members." I ordered without bothering to open the door.


    However, just when I turned around and was about to head to my seat to grab my suit, Odessa red at me like I had gone insane.


    "What is it?" I couldn''t help but ask, squinting my eyes at her.


    She stared into my eyes for an extended period before she spoke up with a whisper. "I need clothes, sir." Her tone was overflowing with sarcasm.


    I stared inly at her for a few seconds before I called out. "Are you still out there, La? Did you hear my previous order?"


    My assistant was quick to respond. "Y¨C Yes, my Lord. Is there anything else?"


    I didn''t waste any time and spoke up. "Yes, send my wife''s maid toe bring her some new clothes."


    Odessa''s mouth fell just then until I felt like a fly would go into it if she left it open much longer.


    "Understood, sir. I''ll go do all that right away." My assistant said reassuringly before I heard her footsteps leaving my office door.


    "Your wife? New clothes?" Odessa repeated my words as I put on my suit, arranging the cufflinks.


    I didn''t even bother looking at her before I remarked. "In case it hasn''t been made clear, I''m needed out there. Freshen up and be a good little witch, would you?"


    I could tell that she''d be upset at my words but I couldn''t care less and walked toward the office door before opening it and stepping out.


    .


    .


    Once I got outside, I walked toward Elder Davina''s residence.


    I noticed a few of my staff ncing at me awkwardly.


    They could probably pick up the overwhelming scent of my pheromones which still lingered alongside... Well, the smell of sex.


    But none of them dared say anything and went on their normal routines after greeting me with bows.


    ''Ahh, I love the smell of good sex in the morning.'' Damon muttered in my head just then.


    It was tough having such a vocal inner wolf but I''ve gotten used to it over the years.


    <fn0006> Get full chapters from FindN0vel</fn0006>


    Anyway, I internally rolled my eyes before I responded. ''Focus, Damon. We need to be on high alert. There could be an enemy out there killing our people and this could only be the beginning.''


    However, as usual, Damon didn''t take things as seriously as I did and scoffed. ''Or, we could just ept the fact that you''ve grown so used to the peace in this pack that you forget werewolves have an instinct to kill. This could simply be a hit-and-run robbery case.''


    I sighed physically as I finally got to the entrance of Elder Davina''spound.


    ''I don''t work with possibilities, buddy. Only logical facts.'' I responded before I shut his voice out mentally so I could concentrate.


    Elder Davina''spound was packed with pack soldiers who bowed to me when I stepped in.


    I merely nodded in response to them as I spotted the members of my Alpha councilposed of Beta Marcellus, my father''s brother, Gamma Zane, the Delta, and then my assistant.


    "How kind of you to finally grace us with your presence,d." My uncle, the Gamma, said as he gazed at me.


    He was a man in his mid-fifties, still kicking and as bitchy as ever, with an annoying short grey beard to match his annoying personality.


    The man had never liked me as the Alpha king and that wasn''t even a hidden fact.


    Anyway, I merely gave him a curt nod to barely acknowledge his existence before I focused my attention on my assistant and Marcellus.


    "Where''s the body? Any luck finding clues yet?" I asked.


    I could feel my uncle ring at me coldly after I asked that.


    As the Gamma, he''s the one I''m supposed to ask questions concerning investigations surrounding a crime.


    The fact that I asked my Beta instead was refreshingly amusing.


    "The body is at the back but we''ve already wrapped it up to be taken to one of the morgues," Marcellus responded with a somber expression. "Who could possibly do such a thing? You should''ve seen the poor girl. She was drained of most of her blood and left to bleed to death."


    I sighed heavily, not knowing what to say in response to all that. It was a tragic situation indeed.


    "Oh, I can make a wild guess on who''s responsible for this." Gamma Zane chimed in with contempt in his voice just then.


    My eyebrows snapped into a frown as I turned my gaze to him. "Who?" I asked.


    I already had a bad feeling about this so I might as well hear his ''expert'' opinion.


    Anyway, he cleared his throat before he spoke. "This crime wasmitted by a witch. And we don''t have a lot of witches in this pack now, do we?"


    My frown deepened as soon as I realized the implications of his words.


    Odessa?


    "Unfortunately, the Gamma is right, Alpha king." A sharp elderly voice spoke up from behind, forcing all of us to turn our gazes there.


    Walking toward us was Elder Davina with a solemn expression on her face.


    ''I have a bad feeling about this.'' Damonmented in my head just then.

 Chapter 22: _Speak Of The Devil

    <h4>Chapter 22: _Speak Of The Devil</h4>


    When Elder Davina finally walked up to our group, she gave me a slight bow before she continued speaking. "I made sure to take a look at the body of the deceased myself and discovered something unsettling."


    She paused, adding to the tension that was already building up like a volcano inside me.


    I clenched my jaw, pondering the possibility of Odessa being behind this.


    ¡¯If shees for any of my people, I swear I will rip¨C¡¯ Before I couldplete that sentence in my head, Damon interrupted.


    ¡¯Oh please, will you rx?! You¡¯ve been so hard on that poor girl. She¡¯s our mate for the moon¡¯s sake.¡¯ he scolded like a disappointed parent.


    But I only grunted in response, managing to keep my anger at bay as Elder Davina finally continued talking.


    "The girl¡¯s life force was taken away. The essence that makes up her existence as a living being." She exined with a somber tone.


    Oh...


    My body tensed up when I heard those words.


    No werewolf could take away a person¡¯s life force...


    "Taking away a person¡¯s life force." My uncle remarked with a snigger. "Sounds oddly like the work of a slimy little witch, doesn¡¯t it?"


    I balled my hands into fists but kept my gaze away from him before I did or said anything rash.


    The man has always been against me but when I decided a truce with the witches of the continent through an arranged marriage... He was very vocal about how stupid of an idea it was.


    He insisted that my predecessor¡¯s way of furthering the war until every witch was wiped off the face of the was the best, and deviating from that path would only lead to chaos.


    But of course, I ignored his opinion since I¡¯m the Alpha king and could do whatever the fuck I want.


    "Yes, I do agree that taking a person¡¯s life force is the work of witchcraft." Beta Marcellus spoke up just then with a calm tone, ncing at the Gamma. "But if you¡¯re suggesting that Odessa is behind it then I¡¯ll have to disagree with you there, Gamma."


    I nced at Marcellus, dimming my eyes.


    He seemed to be certain of his statement despite the severity of the allegations.


    ¡¯What does it say of you as a mate if she¡¯s being defended by another man while you stand back and watch like a wuss?¡¯ Damon said in my head with a mocking snigger.


    <fne78f> Content originallyes from </fne78f>


    I clicked my tongue but didn¡¯t respond to my annoying wolf as Gamma Zane harrumphed in response to Marcellus¡¯ words.


    "Why¡¯s that, Beta? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve grown a soft spot for that witch already?" He remarked with a mocking tone and then continued firmly.


    "I know what I¡¯m saying and it¡¯s obvious that she¡¯s the only witch in this pack. Besides, why would the witchesunch an attack on the pack of the Alpha king himself for the first time in decades barely hours after a truce was made?"


    I hated how much his words made sense.


    "I have to agree with the Gamma on this." The Delta suddenly spoke up, causing me to roll my eyes.


    He was among the delegates who apanied me to the Luminari coven¡¯s territory and was in fact, the man who pped Odessa after she spilled drinks on us.


    ¡¯The night we fell in love.¡¯ Damon muttered dreamily in my head when I reminisced on the memory fromst night.


    However, I scoffed mentally. ¡¯Who¡¯s we? Would you pipe down?¡¯


    Anyway, Beta Marcellus spoke directly to the Delta. "Oh, and why do you agree, Delta? Are you all even aware of the fact that Odessa is the lowest-ranking witch of her coven and possibly the entire continent? She¡¯s basically powerless for the moon¡¯s sake."


    I tilted my head, staring directly at Marcellus.


    I found it odd how he wanted to prove Odessa¡¯s innocence so badly.


    He¡¯s a kind man and a good leader but I never thought that kindness would extend to a witch that he only metst night.


    ¡¯I smell jealousy!¡¯ Damon eximed inside my head, causing me to subconsciously grit my teeth.


    Meanwhile, the Delta seemed lost on what to say next after Marcellus¡¯ words, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly.


    That gave the Gamma the chance to speak. "If she¡¯s indeed so weak, what use will she be to our pack? The point of this truce is to show the werewolves that magic can be used to our advantage and coexist with us, isn¡¯t it?"


    He nced at me just then, his silver eyes that annoyingly reminded me of my father glinting judgmentally.


    I cleared my throat before I responded. "Indeed, Gamma. But then¨C"


    "Then why did you pick a powerless Witch, Alpha King? Could there be a motive behind it that we¡¯re not aware of?" He asked, dimming his eyes suspiciously.


    My jaw clenched in response to the fact that he just interrupted me so rudely.


    If it was any other person, my hands would¡¯ve been wrapped around their neck by now.


    ¡¯Any other person except our darling Odessa.¡¯ Damonmented with a teasing voice, causing me to sigh both mentally and in real life.


    I locked my gaze on my uncle for a while before ncing at Elder Davina.


    She¡¯s the only one who knows about Odessa being my fated mate and that¡¯s only because I could trust her.


    If anyone else finds out... Goddess, I don¡¯t even want to imagine the chaos that would ensue.


    Luckily, Elder Davina cleared her throat, forcing everyone to turn their gazes to her. "Gentlemen, let¡¯s calm down and think things logically. One of ours is dead today and our best course of action right now would be to investigate properly instead of pointing fingers carelessly."


    Thatst part was definitely aimed at Gamma Zane who clenched his jaw but didn¡¯t say anything.


    Seeing that everyone was silent again, Elder Davina continued. "Anyway, I think it¡¯s about time the Alpha king¡¯s bride begins contributing to our pack with her knowledge of witchcraft. And I have just the perfect trial to begin with. She..."


    She paused just then, turning her gaze to the entrance to thepound.


    I turned my gaze there as well and was mildly surprised to see Odessa walking in, led by her shy maid.


    "Speak of the devil and she appears." The Gamma mumbled with disdain.


    Dear goddess, here we go...

 Chapter 23: _First Trial

    <h4>Chapter 23: _First Trial</h4>


    "What are you doing here?" I asked Odessa sternly as soon as she got in front of our group.


    I had my arms ced behind my back and stared at her with a in expression on my face, scrutinizing her.


    She¡¯d finally gotten rid of the tomato stains and scented fresh.


    <fn9c29> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find{n}ovel</fn9c29>


    However, what stuck out more than anything was her clothes.


    She wore a form-fitting ck jean trouser and a white bohemian silk top that had the shoulders exposed.


    To top it off, her blonde hair was tied up into a ponytail, causing my gaze to travel to her neck.


    Goddess, why was I suddenly getting the urge to sink my fangs into her and mark her?


    ¡¯Because our mate is hot!¡¯ Damon responded to my silent question with a whistle, sounding like he wanted to w his way out just to be around Odessa.


    Ugh, he¡¯s such a simp.


    Anyway, her eyebrows snapped into a frown as she scanned her gaze around all the faces present before she bowed slightly in a show of respect.


    "Well, pardon me, but I heard when your..." She paused in the middle of her sentence, raising her head and staring at La who frowned, tilting her head in return.


    Soon enough, Odessa continued. "... Well, when your assistant announced that there was a murder. I thought I could¨C"


    "Come inspect the scene of the crime to get rid of any of the evidence?" My uncle interrupted with a snarl, stepping forward.


    My eyebrows knitted into a frown as I watched him size Odessa up, thetter shrinking back in a mix of surprise and fear.


    "What were you up tost night, witch?" He asked, pointing a finger at her.


    Bloody hell... The man sure had bolts for brains.


    Didn¡¯t Elder Davina¡¯s advice a few minutes ago that we shouldn¡¯t point usatory fingers without proper investigations sink into his head?


    ¡¯This guy¡¯s lobotomy is long overdue.¡¯ Damon remarked in my head just then, growling when he saw the way Gamma Zane pointed at Odessa.


    Our mate...


    Admitting that still felt off.


    Meanwhile, as I thought about all this, Odessa defended herself after a little hesitation.


    "I was in my room all night, sir." She revealed, ncing at me with an implicating look in her eyes.


    Oh right... I did lock her up in her room after she proved to be a stubborn brat.


    And I¡¯d do it again without a second thought.


    "In your room all night doing what?" My uncle pushed further, taking another step forward until he was mere inches away from Odessa.


    I subconsciously clenched my jaw, getting irritated by how close he was getting to her.


    My mind already shed with several vivid images of how I could easily sever his limbs and spine from his body.


    However, before I could do anything rash, Odessa spoke up with a sharper tone this time. "Doing exactly nothing, sir. I haven¡¯t had much of a choice in anything since I stepped foot in this pack. After all, I¡¯m supposed to only seek certain people¡¯s presence when I¡¯ve been summoned."


    She nced at me just then, as if to silently say: Fuck you.


    My jaw clenched but I was more intrigued than annoyed by the fact that she flouted a simple order without caring about the consequences.


    "Is that any way to speak to your elders, witch?" The Delta spoke up just then, seeming like he was going to give her another p likest night at the witches¡¯ territory.


    I couldn¡¯t take it anymore.


    "Enough!" I thundered.


    Instantly, everyone present tensed up and kept silent, even though the Gamma stared at me begrudgingly.


    But I ignored that and continued. "This is getting us nowhere. I thought it¡¯s already been established that Odessa can¡¯t hurt a fly since she¡¯s without magic?"


    The Gamma was now even more silent, but he still nced at Odessa with suspicion in his eyes.


    I sighed at this but before I could say anything else, the Delta spoke up.


    "That¡¯s no way to dress as the Alpha king¡¯s wife." He blurted, gesturing at Odessa¡¯s clothing.


    Her eyebrows arched with confusion as she touched her top before bringing her gaze back to the Delta.


    "I¡¯m sorry, but huh?" She blurted mindlessly, seeming like she was seconds away fromshing out.


    I was already at my wits end at this point and couldn¡¯t take it anymore so I stepped forward, brushing past my uncle and grabbing Odessa¡¯s wrist.


    She gasped, squirming and trying to wriggle out of my grip but when I red at her, she shriveled like a sack of dried fruits under the sun.


    The members of my council and Elder Davina watched as I dragged Odessa to the back of the duplex until we got to the pond where the murder had taken ce.


    I hadn¡¯t seen the victim yet but I was able to pick up the smell of death from this spot and followed it easily.


    There was also the fact that I could see some pack soldiers moving around the ce.


    "What do you think you¡¯re doing?" Odessa asked with gritted teeth, managing to slip out of my hold. "You don¡¯t have to be such a brute, you know? Also, I¨C"


    "No, Odessa! What do you think YOU¡¯RE doing?" I snapped at her, my voice probably booming around thepound.


    Some of the pack soldiers standing around and securing the scene nced at me anxiously but also with curiosity that irritated me, causing me to re at them.


    "Leave. All of you!" I yelled out, scanning my gaze through the faces of everyst one of them.


    They seemed hesitant at first until I let out the monstrous aura of my wolf, forcing them to scurry out of the garden without looking back.


    With them gone, I grabbed Odessa by the wrist without saying a word again and then flung her close to the pond, causing her to fall to her knees.


    "Look at that, Odessa." I pointed at the body of the deceased which was already wrapped up in a ck cloth. "That¡¯s the result of magic. Magic only practiced by witches."


    To give her a clearer picture, I stepped forward and unzipped the cloth, revealing the pale body of the maid.


    "By the triple goddess!" Odessa eximed, her hands going to her mouth in shock.


    But I only scoffed before I stood back on my feet. "You are the top suspect for the killing of this girl. The fact that it happened on the same night that you came to this pack doesn¡¯t help either." I remarked.


    She gazed at the dead body, her chest rising and falling as she struggled to regain herposure.


    She seemed... Disturbed.


    I¡¯d assumed that she would¡¯ve gotten used to seeing dead bodies by now since the witches faced lots of deaths at certain points of the war.


    Anyway, I sighed before I spoke again. "The agreement for the truce is for you to contribute to the pack with your magic. And you¡¯re going to start by using your expertise to decipher what happened to this girl and prove your innocence."


    As soon those words came out of my mouth, Odessa whipped her head to face me, her eyes opened wide in shock.

 Chapter 24: _Luna Celine

    <h4>Chapter 24: _Luna Celine</h4>


    "You¡¯re joking, right?" Odessa asked with squinted eyes as she got back on her feet. "How do you expect me to ¡¯decipher¡¯ anything in this case? For a crime that you know damn well that I didn¡¯t¨C"


    "But the rest of the pack will think you did it if we don¡¯t prove them otherwise." I snapped, causing her to jerk back a little.


    She gritted her teeth but kept silent, her violet eyes staring into mine with disdain burning in them.


    But apart from disdain, there was something else.


    Was that... Regret?


    ¡¯Oh, snap!¡¯ Damon sniggered inside my head. ¡¯Does she regret our time together this morning?¡¯


    I clenched my jaw at the thought but didn¡¯t let my irritation show, instead pointing a finger at Odessa.


    "Listen. You¡¯re a witch, whether powerless or not. You should have some knowledge on these things at least and be able to prove your worth to the pack." I pointed out, my tone a bit calmer now. "If you can¡¯t even do that... Then the truce will be dissolved."


    Odessa remained silent despite those words but she seemed visibly disturbed by the idea.


    Ignoring that, I turned around and walked back to the Alpha council members and Elder Davina.


    They swerved their gazes to me simultaneously, their eyes glinting with curiosity.


    "Odessa will be working toward finding out more about what happened to the maid," I announced abruptly, eager to get out of here already.


    However, my uncle had something to say, as usual. "What do you mean? What¡¯s there to ¡¯find out¡¯?" He queried with a suspicious tone.


    The amount of times I¡¯ve already thought about ripping his head out of his body today was staggering.


    "It¡¯s exactly what it sounds like, Gamma," I responded inly to him, merely sparing him a nce. "Odessa will be working toward proving her innocence since you¡¯re so bent on making her the viin. That will be her first trial and in the process, we might just be able to find out who the actual killer is before things escte further."


    I let those words sink in in case he suddenly couldn¡¯tprehend words now.


    But after that, I didn¡¯t say anything else and nced back only to spot Odessa walking forward with a resolute expression on her face.


    <fn6> Updates are released by f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn6>


    "I¡¯ll try my best toplete this... Trial." She said solemnly, gazing directly at me before she added. "But I¡¯ll need my grimoire back in the mansion."


    A small smile curled up the corner of my lips.


    Let¡¯s see how this goes...


    .


    .


    Soon enough, night time came and Odessa was still at Elder Davina¡¯s residence investigating the dead body of the victim.


    Meanwhile, I was in my office, taking a drink while looking through some file reports concerning the war and the ongoing truce.


    My assistant, La, stood beside me, helping me sort out each report and responding to any questions I had.


    "The Alpha king of the South American region is taking your route and also trying to see if he can make peace with the witches of his region, sir," La reported, showing me a letter from the Alpha king of that region. "He seeks an audience with you to get more tips."


    The system of leadership among werewolves was a bitplex.


    Each continent around the world had one Alpha king, who presided over the normal Alphas of their region while also ruling over their own pack.


    For example, I¡¯m the Alpha king of the North American region and every Alpha in the continent has to answer to me.


    At the same time, I focused mostly on my resident pack, the Blood Oak pack.


    This system existed centuries before the war as a way to unite the werewolves.


    But all I saw it as was too much work.


    Anyway, I cleared my throat, flinging the letter aside before I gave an order to La. "Schedule this meeting with the Alpha king of South America for next week. There are a few things I want to work on this week."


    I drummed my fingers on my table before taking a sip from a ss of vodka in my hands.


    Anyway, La nodded her head and was about to point at some other documents when a knock came on the door.


    I raised my head from the papers, dimming my eyes before I turned my gaze to La. "Go tell whoever it is that I¡¯m busy and don¡¯t want to be disturbed," I said inly before bringing my gaze back to the papers.


    She quickly went to the door and I heard her opening it to see who it was.


    "Oh, Luna Celine."


    A scowl appeared on my face as soon as I heard that, my gaze fixed on the door.


    La awkwardly stepped back, allowing Celine to walk in.


    "Kaelos, darling. Certainly, you can¡¯t be too busy to see me, right?" She asked with a mischievous smirk on her face.


    I eyed her for a while, ying around with the drink in my hands before I responded. "I¡¯m too busy to see anyone. Especially you, Celine."


    She wore a red dress that hugged her curves and reached her knees.


    Anyway, she ced her hand over her mouth, gasping in a mock show of surprise before she chuckled.


    "Too busy even for me? Hmm, I wonder why." She remarked, cat walking toward my desk.


    She nced back at La just then, stering a smile on her face before she gestured at the door. "You can leave now." She said bluntly.


    La blinked awkwardly at her first before ncing at me.


    But at this point, I had all my attention on Celine who sat in front of me, using her hands to shamelessly adjust her boobs which peeked through her dress.


    Eventually, La turned around and walked out of the office, leaving the ce silent apart from my heavy breathing as I red at Celine.


    "What are you doing here, ¡¯Luna¡¯ Celine?" I asked sarcastically. "You still have the Luna title despite our divorce, just like your mother wanted. What else do you want? Money?"


    Celine¡¯s gray eyes glinted with a seductive light as she stretched her hand forward, her fingers brushing against the hand I used to hold my drink, causing a shiver to run through my body.


    "Why, I want you, Kaelos."

 Chapter 25: _Recipe For Disaster

    <h4>Chapter 25: _Recipe For Disaster</h4>


    "Why, I want you, Kaelos."


    I stared at Celine like she¡¯d lost her mind.


    Heck, she definitely has!


    ¡¯Where¡¯s a gag reflex when you need one?¡¯ Damon muttered in my head, making gagging sounds.


    But I ignored him, instead staring at Celine with distant eyes. "Well, you can¡¯t have me, love. Been there, done that... Never again." I said inly.


    Without another word, I withdrew my hand from Celine¡¯s hold, causing her to gasp with surprise.


    She watched me as I downed the entire ss of vodka in one gulp but I kept my gaze away from her, cing my attention back on the papers on the table.


    "You can¡¯t mean that." Celine suddenly muttered, obviously in denial. "What we had was special, Kaelos. We didn¡¯t need any mate bonds to define our love."


    I had grabbed a pen before she started speaking but couldn¡¯t help but drop it when I heard her say all that.


    This had to be a joke. A deliberate plot for her to get into my head and distract me maybe.


    Because, what the heck?


    "Did you just say ¡¯love¡¯?" I asked with a scoff, shaking my head before I rubbed it with my fingers. "Love? You can¡¯t be serious. What we had was nothing but an agreement made between me and your mother. And you failed your only part of the bargain."


    I watched her face dissolve into an ugly scowl as she banged her hand on the table in anger. "I don¡¯t have control over having children, Kaelos! It¡¯s not my fault that I¡¯m barren." She remarked.


    I tilted my head at her, squinting my eyes coldly.


    She seemed to get the message that I was losing patience and coughed awkwardly before lowering her gaze.


    "Forgive me. But you know what I said is correct." Her tone was way more calmer now as she raised her head, her grey eyes glinting with what seemed like tears.


    Dear goddess, not this again...


    "Yes, you don¡¯t have any control over being barren." I nodded my head in agreement but was quick to add more. "But the elders of this pack don¡¯t care about that. As my Luna, you were supposed to give me an heir. That¡¯s it. There were no feelings or strings attached."


    Celine clicked her tongue, a bitter smile on her face as she leaned in closer, cing her face on top of her arms.


    "The elders? Since when do you care about what the Elders of this pack think?" She asked rhetorically.


    Well, never...


    But she didn¡¯t need to know that. Or maybe she does, I don¡¯t care.


    "Listen, Celine." I raised my hand, closing my eyes with frustration. "What we had was... Something. But you can¡¯t deny the fact that it was built on agreements and ckmail. That¡¯s basically what your mother did to me and is still what she¡¯s trying to do."


    My head spun with more frustration when I mentioned that, but the frustration soon turned into anger as I stood up, cing both my hands on my desk and ring at Celine.


    She shrank back in her seat in fright as I continued.


    "I do not appreciate feeling like I¡¯m being taken advantage of. Your mother has been a thorn in my side for years. How do you expect me then to have even a sliver of affection for her daughter?" I queried, tilting my head to see her reaction.


    Celine¡¯s breathing increased as anger welled up in her eyes.


    I scoffed and sat down after a few seconds but didn¡¯t expect what she said next.


    "So, you¡¯d want that witch to give you the children that I couldn¡¯t, right?" She asked, causing me to gawk at her.


    She¡¯s definitely lost her marbles!


    "Are you out of your mind, Celine?" I questioned, dimming my eyes with genuine concern. "No seriously. In what world would I, the Alpha king of North America, have a spawn with a witch? Do you know how disastrous a hybrid would be?"


    Part werewolf, part witch hybrids were a rarity in this era of war, and rightfully so.


    Before the war, the idea of both races having children was less frowned upon, even though it was still an oddity.


    But now?


    "You tell me, Alpha king." Celine chuckled bitterly, tilting her head at me. "You and that witch have seemed so close since she stepped foot in this pack. It¡¯s not even a hidden fact among the elite members of our pack. Which makes me wonder..."


    She paused, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.


    I¡¯d had enough at this point and was about to point at the door for her to leave when she stood up.


    ¡¯Finally.¡¯ Damon blurted in relief in my head just then.


    Unfortunately, it seemed leaving the office was thest thing on Celine¡¯s mind as she ced both her hands on the desk before leaning in closer to me.


    "It makes me wonder if you¡¯re intentionally getting so close to a witch just to spite me. Just to get me jealous." She said with a whisper, a seductive look in her eyes.


    Just when I thought she couldn¡¯t get any more delusional...


    "You¡¯re insane, Celine. You hear me?" I spat with disgust, eyeing her before I gestured at the door. "If you have nothing else to say, then leave."


    <fn357f> Get full chapters from find[?]ovel</fn357f>


    However, she didn¡¯t listen to me and instead turned around the desk, walking seductively toward me.


    I dimmed my eyes as she finally got to me and ced a hand on my shoulder.


    "You know you want me, Kaelos." She remarked, slowly bringing her left hand to my face. "If you didn¡¯t, you would¡¯ve shoved me away or even done something more rash by now."


    I red at her, pondering her words and knowing that that wasn¡¯t the case.


    I hadn¡¯t done anything rash because I seemed to be growing... Soft.


    And no, I¡¯m not even talking about my little soldier down below. It was as lifeless as wet paper right now in the presence of Celine and I wasn¡¯t even surprised.


    However, what I mean by being ¡¯soft¡¯ is my emotions. My restraint.


    ¡¯Oh, our mate is changing you already?¡¯ Damon remarked in my head despite how irritated he was by Celine¡¯s presence. ¡¯What are you waiting for then? Let¡¯s seal the deal and¨C¡¯


    Suddenly, I heard a click on my office door, followed by it swinging wide open.


    "Kaelos, I found something on the..."


    Odessa...


    My eyes shone wide as I realized how close Celine clung to me, her breasts literally inches away from my face while her hands were on my body.


    A recipe for disaster as I fixed my gaze on Odessa and saw the stunned look on her face when she saw Celine and me.


    Shit...

 Chapter 26: _Secrets Lurking

    <h4>Chapter 26: _Secrets Lurking</h4>


    A viin¡¯s POV


    *****


    All right, all right...


    This was all turning into something exciting for him.


    He knew the pack members would turn the whole situation with the dead maid into something dramatic, but he never guessed that Kaelos would use the opportunity to force Odessa to undergo a ¡¯trial¡¯.


    Telling her to find out more about what happened to the maid?


    Hmph... she might as well give up now.


    How did he know about all this? That¡¯s probably the question going through your head, right?


    Well, it¡¯s pretty easy.


    He¡¯s the Beta of the Blood Oak pack.


    Beta Marcellus, the Alpha king¡¯s best friend and the one assigned to Odessa to be her ¡¯guide¡¯ in the pack.


    With these people at the tip of his fingers, controlling the events of the pack from the inside was a piece of cake.


    The Blood Oak pack was the home pack of the Alpha king himself. If anything big happens in this pack, it would have a domino effect and spill to other packs.


    "Do you need help with anything?" Beta Marcellus asked Odessa when the other members of the Alpha council had left Elder Davina¡¯spound.


    Elder Davina herself had gone upstairs, leaving the backyard free for Odessa to carry out her investigation.


    An investigation that Marcellus was bent on making futile while gauging Odessa and seeing if there was anything new to discover about her.


    Ever since he discovered the mate bond between Kaelos and Odessa, he¡¯s been extra interested in her, trying to see if there was anything more to her.


    He didn¡¯t buy the bullshit of the moon goddess toying with her children¡¯s lives or trying to use Odessa and Kaelos as pawns for ¡¯peace¡¯.


    There was something more to Odessa and he¡¯s going to find out what it was, one way or the other.


    Anyway, Odessa, who squatted beside the dead body of the maid while holding her aunt¡¯s grimoire, nced at the Beta, a wry smile curling up the corner of her lips.


    "Honestly, Beta, the only thing I wish you could do right now is go to my stuck-up husband and tell him that this whole thing is a wild goose chase," Odessa muttered bitterly, closing the grimoire abruptly before she stood up, dusting her clothes.


    Marcellus scanned his gaze down her body, his senses picking up the lingering scent of sex from her.


    Well, well, well... It seems Kaelos and the little witch have been getting active.


    Marcellus saw the rtionship between the Alpha king and Odessa as a potential tool and was already thinking of lots of ways to use it to his advantage.


    "Despite how harsh he is, Kaelos is doing this for your own good, Dessa," Marcellus remarked, stepping forward with his arms ced behind his back. "The other members of the Alpha council already suspect that you¡¯re behind the murder, especially that stone-headed Gamma."


    He gazed into Odessa¡¯s violet eyes and saw the way they softened.


    Picking up vulnerabilities from his victims and those he monitors was a specialty.


    It helps him know when he could get close to someone and use their ¡¯closeness¡¯ to his advantage.


    Currently, he could tell that Odessa ced some level of trust in him, probably more than any other werewolf.


    Perfect!


    Anyway, Odessa¡¯s soft gaze soon morphed into a scowl as she shook her head repeatedly. "No offense, Marcellus, but I couldn¡¯t care less. I¡¯m a powerless Witch, incapable of even properly casting a basic fire spell. You don¡¯t believe me?" She remarked.


    Marcellus parted his lips and was about to say something but Odessa backed away from him, opening the grimoire in her hands again.


    She turned the pages repeatedly until her gazended on a page that caught her attention.


    Her eyes lit up anxiously as she stretched her hand forward, causing Marcellus to tilt his head curiously.


    Suddenly, after closing her eyes, Odessa opened them and began chanting a spell from the grimoire.


    The spell was in Latin, but Marcellus was able to understand its purpose quite easily.


    It was a spell meant to force flowers to wither.


    Marcellus had a few things to say but decided to keep silent. He¡¯s supposed to be a ¡¯werewolf¡¯ without any knowledge of witchcraft after all.


    Anyway, after she was done with chanting, Odessa clenched her right fist at a flower in front of her, her eyes fixed on it intensely.


    "Come on..." She muttered, sounding a bit desperate.


    Now THAT, Marcellus didn¡¯t get.


    Why was she desperate when all she was trying to do was show a demonstration of how bad at magic she was? She isn¡¯t supposed to be sessful in it... Right?


    Suddenly, something quite surprising happened.


    Odessa¡¯s lush blonde hair which was tied into a ponytail, blew into the air, some strands getting into her eyes.


    Marcellus could feel the wind picking up, causing some cool breeze to touch his skin.


    His hair stood on end as he fixed his gaze on the flower, wondering if the spell would work.


    Unfortunately for Odessa, and amusingly for him, nothing happened and the breeze stopped blowing, causing Odessa to drop her hand with a sigh.


    "And there you have it," Odessa muttered with a wry smile, lowering her gaze as she closed the grimoire.


    Marcellus stared at her keenly, stepping forward and stretching his right hand forward.


    He held her shoulder, forcing her to raise her head.


    "My dear, you don¡¯t need magic to be a great thinker or toe out on top of this investigation. Your intelligence alone should suffice." He remarked, shing a smile at her.


    Odessa blinked at him speechlessly but her face heated up with a blush as she looked away from him.


    "T¨C Thank you, Beta." She muttered, parting aside some strands of her hair before she squatted to inspect the maid¡¯s body again. "So, whoever killed this maid took her life force for a reason. But what I¡¯m trying to decipher is what could that reason be?"


    She remained silent, rubbing her chin with her fingers with a thoughtful gaze.


    Meanwhile, Marcellus stood behind her, staring at her curiously and wondering if she¡¯d be able to actually discover something.


    Suddenly, her body stiffened and she got up abruptly.


    "Wait, I just thought of something!" She eximed, swerving her head to Marcellus and seeming excited.


    Oh...?


    Marcellus tilted his head, watching as Odessa paced around while pondering something.


    "Lifeforce. The killer absorbed the life force of the victim." She remarked, her eyes diverting around like she was trying to imagine what exactly happened here.


    Marcellus wanted to scoff so hard but held himself back, instead staring at her curiously and trying to urge her to continue with a nod.


    "Yeah, that has been established already." He stated casually, dimming his eyes. "Your point?"


    Odessa brought out her aunt¡¯s grimoire again just then and opened the pages erratically, causing Marcellus to squint his eyes even more.


    <fnade7> Read full story at F?ndNovel</fnade7>


    This aunt of hers was an elder of the Luminari coven. Meaning that whatever she wrote down in that grimoire was probably rich with knowledge of witchcraft.


    Meaning... Something he wouldn¡¯t mind getting his hands on.


    A sly smirk curled up the corners of Marcellus¡¯ lips as he watched Odessa finally turn to a page of the grimoire where she pointed at a section.


    "Absorbing life force with magic can be used for various reasons, but basically, it revolves around elongating the lifespan of something." She exined, ncing up at Marcellus.


    Marcellus nced back at her, nodding his head even though he was getting bored out of his wits.


    He had far better things to attend to and was honestly just sticking around to gather more Intel on Odessa and see if there was something peculiar about her.


    So far... There didn¡¯t seem to be anything, but for some reason, he found her intriguing.


    ¡¯Looks like I¡¯ll be sticking around here longer.¡¯ He thought to himself, a smirk curling up his lips as he awaited the rest of Odessa¡¯s exnation.


    "I remember this from a lecture my aunt gave me." Odessa continued, pointing at the passage of the grimoire again. "I didn¡¯t think it would be within the grimoire. But anyway, usually, when a witch absorbs life force from a victim, they do so to increase the period of a spell. The spell in question could be one for an increased life span, or... Increased power of sorts."


    Marcellus tensed up just then, staring warily at Odessa.


    Oh, she was good.


    She¡¯s still a powerless Witch... But good nheless.


    Anyway, he cleared his throat and spoke up. "Well, even if that¡¯s true, it doesn¡¯t really give us a clue of who the culprit is now, does it?"


    Odessa clicked her tongue when she heard that but shook her head slowly. "Nope, it doesn¡¯t. But it does give us an idea of what the culprit is up to. They have a motive, and it wasn¡¯t a simple crime or a beef between them and the victim." She remarked solemnly, closing her aunt¡¯s grimoire yet again.


    Marcellus stared at her with an arched eyebrow as she fixed her gaze on the dead body before squatting once again and sealing it back with the ck cloth.


    "This killer is most likely going to kill more people. And if that¡¯s the case... Then they are hiding within this pack, blending in among us." She said finally.


    How quaint...

 Chapter 27: _A Lot Of Work To Be Done

    <h4>Chapter 27: _A Lot Of Work To Be Done</h4>


    Marcellus POV


    *****


    <fnbef3> For more chapters visit find¡¤novel</fnbef3>


    After sticking around Odessa for as long as possible during her investigation, Marcellus decided to give her some ¡¯space¡¯ to concentrate.


    Little did she know that he was actually heading back to his residence so he could strategize based on all he discovered today AND report back to the true king of the north.


    Anyway, when Marcellus got to his mansion, he walked in with his arms behind his back, a calm expression on his face.


    However, his ears picked up a sound all of a sudden that made him pause abruptly in his tracks.


    His ears moved repeatedly like a predator, following the sound of footsteps trying to hide from him.


    "Whoever you are, I know you¡¯re out there." He muttered, swerving his body around to see if he could see the person.


    He was uncertain about who it could be, even though he had some guesses. His assistant, Cullen, was still in the mansion, probably doing something boring, so it couldn¡¯t be him.


    That left a few other possible options, including...


    "Oh, Marcellus, I thought you¡¯d be thrilled to have me around." A voice blurted, causing Marcellus¡¯ muscles to tense up.


    And then it happened.


    Marcellus picked up an approaching heat wave heading for him, causing him to turn his gaze in its direction.


    Hurtling in his direction was a zing red fireball, forcing Marcellus to make a sidestep to dodge it.


    ¡¯Shit.¡¯ Marcellus thought to himself when he sessfully dodged the fireball.


    Unfortunately, it hit a spot on the ground behind him, leaving a ck scorch mark on that spot.


    Marcellus¡¯ eyebrows furrowed into a frown as he scanned his gaze stealthily around thepound, bracing himself for whatever wasing next.


    Suddenly, he picked up the heat from another approaching fireball, forcing him to leap into the air to dodge it.


    "Have you really gotten so slow already?" The voice which began to sound a little familiar now, remarked, causing him to click his tongue.


    He already had an idea of who this was, and he didn¡¯t exactly like hanging around her.


    "Show yourself this instant or I¡¯ll show you how ¡¯slow¡¯ I¡¯ve gotten," Marcellus spoke out, his patience wearing thin.


    It waste in the afternoon already and he was supposed to be reporting to the true Lord of the North by now.


    He had no time for games.


    "Ugh, you¡¯re no fun anymore." The voice responsible for sending the fireballs remarked with a grunt. "What¡¯s gotten you so uptight recently? Is it this pack?"


    Marcellus clenched his fists, finally locating the source of the voice and turning his gaze in its direction.


    Standing there was a woman wearing a ck cloak, with raven ck hair and blood-red lipstick that helped emphasize the paleness of her skin.


    She walked seductively toward Marcellus, causing him to roll his eyes.


    "Regina." He remarked with a scoff, folding his arms in front of his chest as she finally got in front of him.


    Regina was another powerful member of the true Lord of the North¡¯s rebellion, a part werewolf part witch who was made the way she was thanks to witchcraft.


    She¡¯s also a thorn in his side and a messenger of the true lord of the North.


    Anyway, when she got to him and heard him call her name, she sniggered, a teasing smirk curling up the corner of her lips.


    "Well, greetings to you too, Marcellus," Regina muttered, cing her right hand on her chest and bowing slightly. "I hope you didn¡¯t get... Burnt by my banter."


    Banter?


    Marcellus would love to say he was surprised but all he could do was smirk amusingly.


    He could call himself ¡¯psychopathic¡¯ but people like Regina gave a whole new meaning to the world.


    At least, to him anyway. He mostly only kills to elongate the effects of the hybrid ritual cast on him.


    "I¡¯m fine, Regina." Marcellus blurted, using the back of his right hand to dust away some ash sticking on his shirt. "I was just about to establish a psychic link with Lord Ryker."


    A hint of surprise shed through Regina¡¯s eyes.


    She was probably stunned that he dared to say the true Lord of the North¡¯s name out loud.


    But Marcellus didn¡¯t give a rat¡¯s ass about that.


    Anyway, after a few seconds of pause, Regina cleared her throat and spoke up. "Well, I guess there¡¯s no need for that. The true Lord of the North sent me to see things for myself and also to see you and get any new information that you might have. Most especially about that witch bride of Alpha king Kaelos."


    Marcellus pursed his lips when he heard her mention Odessa.


    There, indeed, wasn¡¯t anything special about that powerless Witch of the Luminari coven... Well, apart from her rtion to Elder Althea.


    Oh, that and...


    "Is it true that she¡¯s the mate of the Alpha king? Like... His fated mate assigned to him by the moon goddess and shit?" Regina asked, seemingly surprised by the concept.


    Marcellus diverted his gaze away from her, swerving his body back to his mansion and walking toward it.


    "Yes. Also, tell Lord Ryker that I¡¯ve made the first strike to ensure the pack members remain suspicious of witches and will continue to bring this pack to its knees from the inside." Marcellus blurted, merely ncing at Regina from the top of his shoulder.


    Thetter eyed him curiously but didn¡¯t dare push things further.


    No one amongst Lord Ryker¡¯s rogues would dare challenge Marcellus anyway.


    With that, Regina didn¡¯t say anything but disappeared into a cloud of ck smoke, causing Marcellus to sigh to himself.


    "Sir." A voice called from the mansion, causing Marcellus to fix his gaze there.


    His assistant, Cullen, who also happened to be an artificially made half-werewolf half-witch hybrid like him and Regina, walked out of the mansion with a curious look in his eyes.


    "What did Regina want?" Cullen asked, ncing around as if he would be able to catch a glimpse of the sneaky little devil.


    But Marcellus waved dismissively before walking past Cullen. "It doesn¡¯t matter. We have a lot of work to attend to moving forward." He blurted, a sly smirk curling up the corner of his lips as he thought about all the ways he could use Odessa and Kaelos¡¯ mate bond to his advantage.

 Chapter 28: _Stuck Up Chihuahua

    <h4>Chapter 28: _Stuck Up Chihuahua</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    After Kaelos left me in his office when his assistant or whoever called him about a problem at Elder Davina¡¯s residence, I was livid as I pouted while trying to rx.


    I was still butt naked and alone, waiting for my maid to arrive with some fresh clothes so I could head to my room and have a much-needed bath.


    As I waited for my maid, however, my face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and arousal when I remembered all the things Kaelos did to me right here in his office.


    Oh, he¡¯s good. Everything from his sensual kisses to his tongue game... Goddesses have mercy.


    "I can¡¯t deny the pull that man has over my life," I muttered, using my palm to rub my forehead. "The question is, how do I break that pull? Am I even sure if I want to be his mate for the rest of my life?"


    As I pondered about all this, a knock suddenly sounded at the door, causing my heart to jump a bit.


    "Ma¡¯am, it¡¯s me." Caroline¡¯s voice sounded on the other side, causing me to sigh with relief.


    I stared down at my naked body with embarrassment before covering my essentials with my hands after which I proceeded to yell out.


    <fn1fd3> Fresh chapters posted on f?ndnovel</fn1fd3>


    "You cane in!"


    The door swung open, and Caroline walked in, holding a dress, a bra, and underwear in her hands.


    As soon as I saw that however, I groaned, forcing her to raise her head and stare at my face.


    But as soon as she did that, her face became pale when she realized I was naked, causing her to quickly look away.


    "Oh, my." She mumbled, looking flustered. "Y¨C You¡¯re naked, ma¡¯am."


    Yeah, and the sky is blue.


    I decided to dismiss her shock with a light chuckle as I stepped forward. "It¡¯s fine, Caroline. We¡¯re both women after all." I remarked, even though I was embarrassed.


    But what¡¯s been done has been done.


    Anyway, I took the dress off her hands when I got in front of her, staring at it curiously.


    It was a blue cotton dress with some flower embroideryced around the hem.


    However, I¡¯d already begun to grow bored of wearing only dresses and gowns and lowered the dress, using it to cover myself as I stared at Caroline.


    "This wouldn¡¯t do at all." I blurted, clicking my tongue. "Aren¡¯t there more contemporary clothes in my wardrobe? Like a pair of jeans or something?"


    Caroline reluctantly raised her head to stare at my face, her nose scrunching just then.


    I tilted my head, wondering what was going on in that ginger head of hers, but never would I have imagined what she¡¯d say next.


    "D¨C Did you and the Alpha king have sex, ma¡¯am?" Caroline asked meekly, seeming shocked that she asked such a question herself.


    My mouth fell wide as I blinked at her, speechless.


    What on earth... What gave her the audacity to ask me that?


    Was privacy no longer a thing?


    "My apologies if that question was... Offensive." Caroline muttered just then, bowing repeatedly. "It¡¯s... It¡¯s just that I could pick up the scent of his pheromones all over the office and it¡¯s suffocating and hard to ignore. Also, the Alpha king even touching a woman is a new development."


    I dimmed my eyes, surprised by what I was hearing.


    Not the part about pheromones... I didn¡¯t understand whatever the fuck that was and didn¡¯t even want to know.


    However, the part about Kaelos allegedly being hesitant about ¡¯touching a woman¡¯?


    "But he was married to Luna Celine, wasn¡¯t he?" I couldn¡¯t help but ask, almost forgetting that I was still naked and needed a bath. "Or, are you saying their marriage was sexless? Yikes... No wonder she¡¯s more bitter than a chihuahua in heat."


    Caroline¡¯s face became redder than a tomato as soon as I said that.


    Speaking of which, I still reeked of the tomatoes I fell on at the market earlier today...


    "No, no, no." Caroline waved repeatedly in response to myst question, shaking her head. "Their marriage wasn¡¯t sexless as far as I know. But outside of wanting children with her... The Alpha king didn¡¯t really pay much attention to the Luna Queen. And outside that, he¡¯s been disinterested in the idea of doing anything with any woman who isn¡¯t his mate."


    I gulped when I heard thatst part.


    It seems this whole ¡¯mate¡¯ shit was more real than I first guessed.


    If it could make Kaelos wait so long for his mate, who happened to be me, then how strong was the bond?


    Just then, Caroline shook her head, seeming embarrassed. "Forgive me, ma¡¯am. I shouldn¡¯t be telling you all this. It¡¯s not my ce to gossip." She remarked.


    However, I stared at her with an amused smile, cing a hand on her shoulder and shaking my head.


    "Nah. As my personal maid, I insist that you share whatever information you have that might prove interesting to me." I said casually, giving her a teasing wink.


    She blinked awkwardly at me but I ignored that, stepping back and ncing at the dress in my hands again.


    Ugh, just looking at it made me wish I could do a fire spell and burn it into ash.


    "I¡¯ll put this on and follow you to my room. But once we get there, you¡¯ll bring out something more contemporary for me to put on." I remarked inly, taking the underwear and bra out of her hands and putting them on.


    She seemed hesitant at my request but eventually nodded in understanding.


    Anyway, after I sessfully put on the clothes, I gestured at the door. "Shall we?"


    With that, we both walked out of the office, with Caroline leading the way.


    However, as we navigated our way through the hallway on our way to my room, I spotted someone up ahead that instantly made me feel like I wanted to sink into the ground.


    Celine.


    "Good morning, Luna Celine." Caroline greeted her with a bow as soon as we got to her.


    Meanwhile, I ignored the stuck-up chihuahua and kept on moving, hoping that ignoring her would keep me away from any potential trouble with her.


    Oh, how wrong I was...


    "Stop right there, witch." Celine snapped, forcing me to pause in my tracks.

 Chapter 29: _Emergence Of Magic

    <h4>Chapter 29: _Emergence Of Magic</h4>


    I turned my gaze slowly to Celine as I heard her approaching footsteps.


    Her hips swayed as usual as if she wanted the whole world, or whoever was unfortunate enough to have eyes, to see what she had to offer.


    Years of BBL probably...


    "How dare you walk past without greeting?" Celine asked sternly, eyeing me with contempt as she folded her arms in front of her chest.


    <fne6a8> This update is avable on FindN()vel</fne6a8>


    Meanwhile, Caroline stood there behind her, lowering her head in shame.


    At one point, she raised her head and gave me a pleading look... As if she was silently begging me not to make any trouble.


    How on earth was I going to make any trouble out of this? It¡¯s Celine she should tell.


    Anyway, I stered a smile on my face as I bowed slightly in front of Celine. "Forgive me, Luna. Good morning." I said.


    I was certain that should do the trick and was about to walk away again when Celine grabbed my right arm, causing me to yelp in pain.


    Her grip was strong, making me feel like she could break me with little or no effort.


    I HATED feeling like that. It reminded me of how weak I truly was in a world of witches and werewolves.


    "I didn¡¯t permit you to leave yet, pest!" She snarled, ring at me with a dangerous light in her eyes. "In case it hasn¡¯t sunken in yet, I¡¯m here to remind you of your ce. I am the Luna. Do you hear me? THE Luna of the Blood oak pack and queen of the rest of the packs of North America."


    I fluttered my eyelids at her but didn¡¯t say anything.


    At this rate, I felt it was wiser to let the dog bark. That could help in letting out some steam sometimes.


    Anyway, after a few seconds of pause, Celine continued, her hand still wrapped around my arm. "Can you even begin to fathom what that means? Can you begin to fathom the power I hold?" She queried.


    The ¡¯c¡¯ in Celine definitely has to stand for ¡¯cuckoo for coco pops¡¯.


    Why the fuck was she telling me all this? Is she perhaps... Threatened by my position as Kaelos¡¯ new wife?


    Of course, that has to be it.


    Anyway, I kept on smiling, nodding my head with understanding. "Indeed, you hold so much power, Luna Celine. Forgive me if I haven¡¯t acknowledged that." I stated.


    My gaze then fell to her hand still wrapped firmly around my arm, causing my smile to falter for a quick second.


    "Could you let go of me now? You¡¯re hurting my arm." I remarked, hoping that she didn¡¯t do anything rash.


    She had lots of ¡¯reasons¡¯ to do something to me, including payback for the way Itched out at her during dinnerst night.


    Anyway, she seemed to rx now as she slowly released her grip on my arm.


    My smile widened as I was about to turn around and continue walking.


    Unfortunately, it seemed she was far from done with me as she pulled me back abruptly, causing me to gasp in a mix of shock and irritation as a scowl appeared on my face.


    "What the...?" I couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore and was about to curse when I saw the cold look in her eyes, causing me to swallow the rest of my words.


    Her nose sniffed around my body like a dog, causing me to get increasingly ufortable until I saw her eyes lit up with surprise.


    However, that surprise soon turned to anger as she tightened her grip on my arm and pulled so close that my face was now mere inches away from hers.


    "Oh, so you¡¯re sleeping with him now, are you?" She spat, baring her fangs at me.


    An animalistic growl escaped her mouth and I thought I was done for.


    Suddenly, however, something stirred in me just then, causing me to re back at her with the same intensity.


    I could feel something I¡¯d never felt before inside me. It surged like electricity through my veins and made my fingers tingle like they wanted to release it in whatever way I desired.


    My... My magic.


    At that same moment, while that happened, the light above us flickered repeatedly, but Celine didn¡¯t seem to notice that and was too focused on ring at me.


    Meanwhile, I didn¡¯t bother fearing for my life anymore when I saw the obvious sign of my magic activating by flickering the light.


    Was this really happening?


    "We¡¯ll see who gets thestugh in this mansion." Celine suddenly muttered, snapping me out of my thoughts.


    She released her grip on my arm, ring at me onest time before she turned around and walked away, almost bumping into Caroline, who quickly moved away in fear.


    As I watched her leave, I realized that the lights stopped flickering at that same moment, causing my eyebrows to furrow into a frown.


    "A¨C Are you okay, ma¡¯am?" Caroline asked me just then, stepping forward.


    I nced at the light bulb above us just then, trying hard to imagine it flickering again and trying to channel my magic.


    But no matter how much I tried, it didn¡¯t work anymore and my magic seemed like it was locked away or something.


    Just like it¡¯s been all my life.


    My shoulders slumped dejectedly as I fixed my gaze back on Caroline and stered a wry smile on my face.


    "I¡¯m fine, thank you for asking Caroline," I said unenthusiastically as I turned around and continued walking toward the direction of my room.


    Caroline walked behind me, trying to reassure me, thinking I was distraught because of the encounter with Celine.


    "Don¡¯t worry, ma¡¯am. I¡¯m sure everything with Luna Celine will work out eventually." She said.


    Yeah... Right.


    Unfortunately, I didn¡¯t believe in miracles and couldn¡¯t care less about Celine or her bullying.


    I¡¯ve faced the worst back at my coven.


    However, the sudden emergence of my magic today after so long had me both excited and worried.


    I knew what I felt and I¡¯m going to find a way to feel it again. I¡¯ll no longer be a powerless witch.


    "Please, take me to Elder Davina¡¯spound when I¡¯m done freshening up." I blurted to Caroline when I finally got to my room and opened the door. "I want to see my darling ¡¯husband¡¯."

 Chapter 30: _Nothing More Than An Agreement

    <h4>Chapter 30: _Nothing More Than An Agreement</h4>


    After freshening up and dressing up, Caroline led me to Elder Davina¡¯s residence, as I requested.


    Thepound wasrge but also felt so simple. Or at least... That¡¯s what it seemed like at the surface.


    Beyond all that, I could feel an influx of spiritual energy that made my hair stand on end.


    Unfortunately, I wasn¡¯t able to get a deeper feel of thepound when Kaelos and his ¡¯Alpha Council ¡¯ spotted me.


    One of them, who¡¯s apparently the Gamma, seemed to hate me for no reason other than the fact that I¡¯m a witch while the other, the Delta, was the same man who pped me back at my coven.


    I already despised both of them after our little encounter, especially when they were trying to make a big deal of my dressing.


    Anyway, after Kaelos led me to begin my trials in the pack by first deciphering what happened to the maid who was killed and Beta Marcellus helped me out, I discovered something vital.


    "I need to go tell Kaelos all of this," I muttered to myself as I finally left Elder Davina¡¯s backyard where some pack soldiers were already attempting to carry the girl¡¯s body out of there.


    I stared at them for a few seconds before heading for the exit to thepound.


    "Wait."


    I paused abruptly when I heard a voice calling me back, causing me to slowly turn around.


    The owner of the voice turned out to be Elder Davina herself, who walked toward me with her staff in hand, a calm smile on her face.


    "Odessa Pierce." She muttered when she got to me, her piercing eyes scrutinizing me closely.


    I gulped silently but managed to ster a smile on my face as I bowed slightly in front of her.


    "Good evening, Elder. I was just about to report my findings to Alpha King Kaelos." I said with a meek tone, trying to avoid her gaze.


    Gosh, she seemed like she wanted to get a look at my soul.


    <fn0747> The source of th?s content is Find[?]ovel</fn0747>


    Anyway, she smiled knowingly before asking. "Don¡¯t you mean your ¡¯husband¡¯?"


    Oh... Right.


    I shed the older woman a wry smile and nodded, turning around and attempting to leave.


    Unfortunately for me, she seemed eager to hold me back with a conversation and called out.


    "Have you noticed anything... Odd while around your husband, Odessa?" She asked, causing me to freeze.


    Hold up one second... Does she know about the mate bond?


    Curious to find out, I turned around and stared at her with dimmed eyes before I responded. "Uhh... Something odd like what?"


    She smiled, her eyes glinting with wisdom.


    Or... That could also be drugs, I don¡¯t know.


    "I can guess that you¡¯ve noticed something different about him that you¡¯ve never seen in another man. Perhaps... A heightened sexual yearning?" Elder Davina remarked knowingly, causing my face to heat up with a blush.


    What the fuck?


    "Sorry to ask, ma¡¯am, but are you psychic?" I couldn¡¯t help but ask, squinting my eyes suspiciously. "Last night, you were able to say my name at the altar and I¡¯m certain we¡¯ve never met."


    Suddenly, she chuckled, shaking her head with an amused smirk.


    "No, I¡¯m not psychic. I just know things thanks to the moon goddess andmon sense." She said with a wink before she turned around, her robe blowing majestically behind her. "If you ever have any questions or if you notice anything odd, don¡¯t be afraid toe meet me. I might be a werewolf but I don¡¯t bite..."


    She paused just then, ncing at me from over her shoulder before she added. "... Well, mostly, anyway."


    With that, she walked into her duplex, leaving me standing out in thepound all by myself.


    I nced up at the evening sky and sighed before I continued heading for the Alpha mansion... AKA, my husband¡¯s house.


    On my way there, I spotted a few people, mostly elite members of the pack, who gave me spiteful looks and murmured among themselves.


    I became self-conscious but chose to ignore them, instead thinking of other things of more importance.


    For example... The possibility of my magic awakening after so long.


    First, the light flickering during my confrontation with Celine was something that had never happened before.


    I tried replicating something by casting a withering spell on a flower in the presence of Beta Marcellus but that had turned out to be an embarrassing failure.


    "What am I missing?" I asked myself as I finally got into thepound of the mansion.


    I walked past some guards wearing suits but they only gave me disdainful looks when I walked past.


    Pftt... And I¡¯m supposed to be the Alpha king¡¯s ¡¯bride¡¯?


    Anyway, I navigated my way through the mansion and finally got to thest floor where the rooms and Kaelos¡¯ office were.


    Not bothering to knock, I ced my hand on the doorknob and swung the door open, eager to share my findings with Kaelos.


    However, nothing would¡¯ve prepared me for what I saw next when I stepped in.


    "Kaelos, I found something on the..."


    I paused, my heart skipping a beat at the scene I saw.


    Standing aggravatingly close to Kaelos was Celine who had one hand on his chest and the other hand caressing his head.


    She turned her gaze to me just then and gave me a mischievous grin, causing me to ball my hands into fists.


    The conniving little bitch!


    "Odessa..." Kaelos muttered, ncing first at Celine before he turned his gaze fully to me.


    His silver eyes shed with something I could¡¯ve sworn was guilt, causing my shoulders to rx at the thought that he somehow cared despite what I was seeing.


    However, I soon came back to my senses and shook my head when I came to a realization.


    Our marriage was nothing more than an agreement. A truce, a symbol of potential peace between two warring races.


    I should¡¯ve never ced any meaning beyond that to it, not even for a second.


    "I¡¯m sorry for interrupting," I said with a slight bow, stering a smile on my face as my gaze fleeted from Kaelos to Celine. "I¡¯lle backter with the information I discovered."


    Without another word, I quickly stepped back and walked out of the office, mming the door behind me.


    My chest burned with a weird mix of anger and hurt that threatened to consume me as I stormed toward my room.

 Chapter 31: _You’re Mine

    <h4>Chapter 31: _You¡¯re Mine</h4>


    "Argh, I can¡¯t believe the nerves of that jerk!" I groaned as I finally got near my room¡¯s door.


    A maid who was walking past gave me a judgemental stare but I couldn¡¯t care less and was too angry to even acknowledge her.


    When I got to the door, I opened it and proceeded to bang it shut, brushing my hand through my hair.


    Unbelievable...


    My breath ceased when I remembered how Celine had been all over Kaelos when I walked into his office.


    And how Kaelos had just sat there and done nothing.


    Like, how could he still be with his ex-wife, of all people? And why the fuck do I care?!


    "It¡¯s that fucking mate bond messing with my head again," I muttered, rubbing my forehead with irritation. "I don¡¯t know how werewolves can deal with the insanity but I sure as hell can¡¯t. I need to get rid of this... Feeling somehow."


    As soon as I said that out loud, I scanned my gaze around the room and realized just how messed up this was.


    I¡¯m in my room, alone, talking to myself while my so-called husband is in his office smooching his ex.


    I chuckled dryly when I thought about it clenching my jaw before muttering coldly. "Oh, I swear, if I had my magic I¡¯d deep fry that bitch all the way to¨C"


    Suddenly, a knock sounded on the door, causing my heart to skip a beat as I whipped my head to the door.


    I held my breath, my heart pounding heavily against my chest as I waited for the person at the other end to speak.


    "Odessa?" Kaelos called out from the other end of the door with a calm voice.


    Shit!


    I knew it had to be him. Why did it have to be him?!


    "Odessa? I know you¡¯re in there." He muttered, knocking again.


    I quickly scurried to the door and locked it gently, holding my breath all the way.


    I sighed heavily, cing both my hands on the door frame and leaning against it as I tried to catch my breath.


    "Oh, and now you¡¯re locking the door," Kaelos mumbled with a chuckle, but the pitch of that chuckle told me that he didn¡¯t find any of this funny one bit.


    My breathing hitched as I tried listening closely.


    It was weird how I could almost hear his heartbeat from here. I could almost hear each breath he took and could almost imagine his facial expression.


    The lines on that handsome face of his as well as the irritation in those silver eyes. Those piercing silver eyes which seemed like I was staring at the moon.


    "Gods, I¡¯m going insane," I whispered to myself, shaking my head and slowly stepping away from the door.


    To my surprise, Kaelos sniggered. "I heard that. Trust me, you don¡¯t want to know how deep that insanity runs at my end. You don¡¯t know how crazy I feel right now. You don¡¯t want to know how badly I want to break this door off its hinges just to touch your face."


    My heart fluttered at his words, my shoulders rxing a bit as my breathing calmed down as well.


    I bit my bottom lip, pondering on what to do.


    Jumping out of the room¡¯s window or scaling down the balcony wouldn¡¯t be an option.


    And it¡¯s already been established that Kaelos was a jerk who didn¡¯t understand boundaries and would probably break down the door like he said.


    Would he though? Would he do something so rash?


    ¡¯Yes, he would.¡¯ a voice at the back of my head whispered, causing me to sigh heavily.


    I gritted my teeth, staring at the door as I slowly stepped forward, stretching my hands to the door knob.


    Meanwhile, Kaelos seemed to be growing increasingly impatient and continued knocking. "Whatever you think is happening between Celine and I isn¡¯t it at all. So why don¡¯t you be a good little witch and¨C"


    Before he could finish that sentence, I opened the door only to see the tense expression on his face.


    My gaze went from his lips to his piercing silver eyes but I made sure not to show any reaction to seeing him up close and cleared my throat.


    "You have such an amazing way of making any slight good thing you do unfathomably ruined with that mouth of yours." I remarked, referring to him calling me ¡¯little witch¡¯ after all those flowery words.


    What did I expect from the mighty Alpha king?


    "Well, go on," I said, folding my arms in front of my chest. "Exin yourself. Didn¡¯t I interrupt something between you and Celine?"


    I watched him dim his eyes at first, causing me to arch an eyebrow in return.


    Did he find my question weird? Because if he did, he might as well...


    "Are you jealous at the idea?" He suddenly queried with an annoyingly calm tone, causing me to open and close my mouth repeatedly.


    But soon, I clenched my jaw, my grip on the doorknob tightening as I red at him.


    "You¡¯re unbelievable; you know that, right?" I stated, scoffing soon after.


    But he didn¡¯t say anything, a sly smirk curling up the corner of his lips.


    Maybe this was a bad idea...


    "Forget it." I shook my head dismissively. "I found out that the nature of the magic used to drain the maid¡¯s life force would allow the culprit to empower themselves in some form. Meaning, they¡¯re probably still out there and will go for more victims."


    He merely nodded in response, not seeming interested in the discovery I made from hours of grueling research and investigations.


    Sighing, I was about to shut the door but added. "You can leave my room now. Good night. I hope you and Celine have as much fun as we did this morning. That¡¯s if it meant anything, of course."


    Without another word, I shut the door slowly, making sure to keep my gaze away from him and those annoying eyes of his.


    <fn8692> Follow current nov?ls on Find¡ïNovel</fn8692>


    However, before I could lock the door, Kaelos easily pushed it open and waltzed in, his gaze locked on me.


    "First off, this mansion is mine and that includes this room and most importantly..." He paused, tilting his head with an unknown glint in his eyes.


    The tension in the room spiked up instantly as he took several strides forward and for some reason, I didn¡¯t try moving back.


    "... You¡¯re mine." He muttered before he raised his hands and grabbed my head, pulling me into a steamy kiss that left me breathless.

 Chapter 32: _Frolicking With A Witch

    <h4>Chapter 32: _Frolicking With A Witch</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    (Warning: Mature Content Ahead)


    As soon as Odessa left my office and mmed the door behind her, I angrily shoved Celine away.


    She stumbled backward and almost fell to the ground, but I didn¡¯t care as I got up, adjusted my clothes, and waltzed toward the door without looking back.


    "So, it¡¯s true?" Celine blurted out loud all of a sudden, forcing me to pause in my tracks and swerve my gaze to her.


    I arched an eyebrow, waiting for her to exin what she meant by that.


    She parted aside some strands of her hair, clearing her throat before she continued. "You and that witch are sleeping together. You¡¯re having sex with a witch, Kaelos. A freaking witch!"


    My face tensed up, my hands balling into fists beside me.


    Meanwhile, Damon whistled inside me just then. ¡¯Yikes. It looks like the gig is up. But how did she find out?¡¯


    Yeah... How did she find out?


    Celine dimmed her eyes at me, noticing the stern look on my face and shaking her head with a bitter smile.


    "Don¡¯t even try to act surprised, Kaelos. It was easy for me to find out after I picked up the irresistible scent of your pheromones on her body earlier today." Celine exined with a casual wave of her hand as she slowly stepped forward. "Not to mention I could also pick up the scent of sex."


    Oh, right.


    Odessa had probably been running around without bathing before Celine saw her. But then again, my pheromones couldn¡¯t easily be washed away by a simple ¡¯bath¡¯.


    Anyway, I clenched my jaw, ring at Celine before I muttered. "I owe you no exnation, Celine. So I¡¯ll advise you to stay put and stop shoving your head into matters that don¡¯t concern you. I¡¯m not your husband but Odessa¨C"


    "Is simply a means to an end!" Celine snapped, striding toward me as she flung her arms into the air.


    At this point, she was only a few feet away from me... Which was too close in my book.


    I could feel Damon itching toe out thanks to my anger, but I kept him in check.


    ¡¯Oh,e on! Just let me rip this bitch to shreds and then it¡¯ll be easy to hide the body.¡¯ Damon growled repeatedly in my head but regardless of how tempting his offer was, I didn¡¯t give in.


    I stared intently at Celine, waiting for her to continue speaking.


    And boy did she know how to TALK without end.


    "Correct me if I¡¯m wrong, but the agreement of the truce never stipted that you should get too close to the witch, did it?" Celine tilted her head curiously, seeming like she¡¯d gotten me into a tight corner.


    I scoffed, arching an eyebrow before I finally responded. "No, but it also never stipted that I can¡¯t touch her as my wife and as a man with needs."


    Celine clicked her tongue just then, a wry smile curling up her lips as she whispered. "Needs that I could never satisfy?"


    She couldn¡¯t be serious right now.


    Rolling my eyes, I decided I¡¯d heard enough and turned around, aiming to open the door and head to Odessa¡¯s room as I¡¯d originally nned.


    However, Celine said onest thing that might¡¯ve been the final straw.


    "I¡¯m sure the pack members wouldn¡¯t like to know that their Alpha king is frolicking with a witch. The enemy." She remarked casually, but I could feel the mischief in her voice. "And I¡¯m certain the rest of the North American packs wouldn¡¯t like that as well."


    Containing Damon was a herculean task now as his guttural growl escaped my mouth, shaking the walls of the office.


    I could feel Celine¡¯s heart race spiking after that but I didn¡¯t care as I turned around to face her again, this time walking toward her with the careful strides of a predator.


    "You dare threaten me?" I asked, grabbing her wrist and forcing her to look me in my eyes when I got to her. "How dare you?! I could bash your skull through my walls and the world wouldn¡¯t as much as flinch when you¡¯re gone. Do you want to y that game with me, bitch?!"


    I didn¡¯t care how ¡¯hurtful¡¯ my words might sound to her.


    She was asking for it.


    <fn730a> Fresh chapters posted on ?ovelFind</fn730a>


    "I¨C I¡¯m not threatening you but merely making an observation, Alpha king." Celine yelped her words almost slurrying from fear. "Y¨C You¡¯re hurting me, please! Ahh."


    I tightened my grip on her wrist mercilessly, ignoring her pained cries.


    Eventually, my predator instincts, fueled by my wolf, calmed down, allowing me to release my grip from her wrist and shove her away from me.


    I¡¯m done here.


    Without another word, I stormed out of the office, going straight to Odessa¡¯s room.


    .


    .


    When I got to Odessa¡¯s room, she proved how stubborn she was once again by locking the door.


    It took everything in me not to pull that door off its hinges, but I once again ignored my predatory instincts.


    For her...


    I was still fuming from my encounter with Celine but I still managed to pull myself together.


    When Odessa finally opened the door, I didn¡¯t waste any time, even after we had a little chat.


    "You¡¯re mine," I mumbled incoherently before iming her lips in a passionate kiss.


    She didn¡¯t resist, slowly cing her hands on my arms, tracing her fingers up my muscles, and moaning softly into my mouth.


    Her moans drove me over the edge as I Iocked my fingers at the back of her luscious blonde hair, pulling her closer and closer to my body by the back of her head until I could feel her breasts pressed against my chest.


    Suddenly, just when I pulled away from the kiss and brought my hands to her shirt to pull it off, she tapped me hesitantly on my shoulder, forcing me to stop.


    "The door." She whispered meekly, pointing at the room door which I¡¯d forgotten to close.


    I wasted no time, using my wolf speed to get to the door within a second and m it shut, locking it for good measure.


    When I was done with that, I strode back to her, my body burning with need as I finally took off her shirt, revealing her breasts, which bounced enticingly despite the restriction of her bra.


    Odessa gasped but I knew she wanted this as much as I did. I could feel the need in her touch, in the subtle way she reciprocated my kisses.


    I was right before when I told her her sexual desires had been spiked by the mate bond and I was the only one who could tame her desires.


    Because I knew deep down that I felt the same way. No woman has ever driven me as wild as Odessa Pierce.


    Anyway, I continued kissing her while undoing her bra strap, grunting softly when I felt her hands trailing down my chest before going to my already rock-hard dick, which was poking against my pants.


    "That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about," I whispered mindlessly before bringing my mouth to her now free breasts and sucking on her right nipple, causing her to arch her back and moan.


    (A/N: Hi, beautifuls! Don¡¯t be a ghost reader, lol. Please, show your support by voting with Golden tickets, power stones and sending gifts. A super gift would let me mass release Chapters and highlight your favorite characters even longer! Thank you for following this book so far and happy reading!)

 Chapter 33: _Yearn To Mark Her

    <h4>Chapter 33: _Yearn To Mark Her</h4>


    (Warning: Mature Content Ahead)


    I wrapped my left arm around Odessa¡¯s waist to support her as I ced my right hand on her boobs while I sucked on them.


    Slowly, we stepped closer and closer to her bed until we got there, after which I shoved her gently on top of it.


    Odessa stared at me, her arms spread out as she panted, her chest rising and falling as she struggled to catch her breath.


    A slight smirk curled up the corner of my lips as I muttered. "Are you tired already?"


    Her eyelids fluttered shyly at first but that was soon reced by a smirk that matched mine as she rolled her eyes and shook her head.


    "Just do your thing, Kaelos." She blurted, closing her eyes with anticipation.


    My ¡¯thing¡¯?


    I seriously doubt if she could handle my...


    ¡¯Seriously, dude. Just get this over with and fuck her.¡¯ Damon suddenly growled in my head, bringing me back to reality.


    I got carried away there for a second.


    Without another word, I took off my suit and my shirt, flinging them aside before I crawled onto the bed, my weight pressing onto it as Odessa opened her eyes and stared at me expectantly.


    I ignored her stares as I kept myself busy by slowly taking off her jean pants¡ª the same ones that had gotten my uncle and the Delta to judge her even more for being ¡¯indecent.¡¯


    I sniggered at the thought when I remembered it, mostly because I couldn¡¯t care less.


    But Odessa was my wife and as unfortunate as it might be, my mate. She had to represent me no matter what.


    <fn3468> Discover more novels at Find~Novel</fn3468>


    "Let¡¯s promise to take these off permanently, eh?" I said with a teasing tone even though there was a hint of seriousness behind it.


    Before Odessa couldment anything, I ced my body horizontally on top of hers and brought my mouth to her nipples.


    She gasped before I even began sucking, causing me to grin as I slowly stuck out my tongue and yed around with her right nipple.


    "Mmph..." She moaned softly, slowly raising her hand and cing it on my now bareback.


    She began travelling her hands and fingers on my back as I began sucking on her right nipple, causing her to shake her head and arch her back, a few light chuckles escaping her mouth as she did.


    As I continued sucking on her nipples, I slowly slid my right hand down her body, from her stomach, all the way down to her thighs.


    When I got to her underwear, I helped her take it off while never taking my mouth off her breasts, slowly bringing my fingers to her entrance.


    "Let¡¯s y a little game now, shall we?" I whispered, a mischievous grin appearing on my face as I brought my mouth away from her breasts and slowly licked my lips.


    She seemed to have caught her breath at this point and slowly raised her head, staring at me with confusion.


    Seeing this, my smirk only widened before I continued. "The game is simple. How many fingers can you take from me before you break and tell me to stop?"


    Meanwhile, as soon as I said that, Damon managed to get into my head through all the pleasure I was feeling. ¡¯What the heck are you doing? We¡¯re starving right now, and darling Dessa, here is a full-course meal! I can¡¯t wait any longer,¡¯ he remarked.


    Argh... It¡¯s so frustrating having a voice in your head nagging you even in something as intimate as sex.


    It¡¯s always been a problem with Damon... He just never knew when to give me privacy.


    Even when I was married to Celine, at the unfortunate moments when we had sex, Damon would be in my head, nagging about how he felt uninvested and how I should just let him so he could eat her.


    Of course, I never listened to his words... But they were quite tempting.


    ¡¯She¡¯s a full course meal which I want to savor longer, Damon.¡¯ I responded to him, watching Odessa as she seemed to think deeply about myst question as if it were a groundbreaking mathematical problem.


    However, apart from me wanting to savor the moment, there was also the nagging feeling in my gum, my fangs itching toe out.


    To mark her.


    I couldn¡¯t let that happen and had to control myself.


    Anyway, Odessa finally responded by nodding her head. "J¨C Just go ahead and shove them in, Kaelos. I can take you in every shape and form." She said amidst heavy breaths.


    Oh, can she now? How quaint...


    Without another word, I began by shoving my index finger into her cunt while bringing my lips back to her nipples and sucking on them one by one.


    She arched her back once again as I brought my left hand to my pants and unbuckled the belt, tossing it away when I was done.


    I proceeded to bring down my pants and then my underwear, all this while I used the fingers of my right hand to tease her pussy.


    Soon, I added my middle finger as well, easily finding her clit at this point. Her pussy overflowed with wetness right now, making me want to lick everyst drop of it.


    But I contained myself, going ahead to add my ring finger to the fray.


    That seemed to finally get a reaction from her as she gasped, raising her head and panting erratically as if she were at the crossroads between life and death and I was her only tether to the mortal world.


    "D¨C Don¡¯t stop." She muttered even though the twisted expression on her face would say otherwise.


    I decided to ignore that and brought my mouth back to her nipples, sucking on them like I did before.


    However, as I continued rubbing her clit with my fingers and kept on sucking on her nipples, my dick throbbed, my body aching with a burning need that made my head spin with ecstasy and desires.


    Suddenly, I felt a change in my mouth as the heat surging around my body spiked.


    My eyes shot open as I brought my mouth away from her nipples and raised my free left hand to feel my teeth.


    They were no longer teeth now. They were fangs.


    My body yearned to mark her.


    "Goddess..." I whispered, hiding my mouth away from Odessa as I tried to get myself under control.

 Chapter 34: _Stare Into Her Eyes All Day

    <h4>Chapter 34: _Stare Into Her Eyes All Day</h4>


    (Warning: Mature Content Ahead)


    ¡¯Come on, Kaelos. Give in and mark her.¡¯ Damon basically pleaded in my head, almost weakening my resolve.


    But I shook my head repeatedly, trying hard to hide my fangs away to no avail.


    At this point, I got too distracted and pulled my fingers out of Odessa¡¯s body, causing her breathing to rx a bit.


    I could feel her staring at me with worry but I ignored that, struggling instead to gain back control from Damon.


    ¡¯She¡¯s our mate. The mark will be the final seal in our bond and a marker to anyone else out there that she¡¯s ours.¡¯ Damon muttered in my head like the proverbial devil on my shoulder. ¡¯Don¡¯t you want to feel¨C¡¯


    "I don¡¯t want to feel anything, goddamn it!" I snapped out physically, causing Odessa to jolt back in shock.


    She sat up, staring at my face keenly as she ced her right arm over her breasts.


    Just great...


    "Kaelos, are you okay?" She asked with hesitation in her voice, stretching her right hand forward and attempting to touch my shoulder.


    But I recoiled when she tried to touch me, using my right hand to swat her hand away and causing her to yelp.


    However, I almost instantly regretted it when I saw the hurt look on her face, forcing me to quickly grunt in response. "I¡¯m fine."


    Meanwhile, Damon was still trying to reason with me in my head, his howls echoing in my mind over and over again in a repeated cacophony that seemed to be driving me to the edge of insanity.


    <fne0b1> This update is avable on find¡¤novel</fne0b1>


    I ced my right hand on my forehead while I struggled to hide my fangs away.


    ¡¯I can¡¯t mark her, you annoying little dog!¡¯ I snapped mentally at Damon, my mental voice cold. ¡¯No one can know that she¡¯s my mate. That willplicate things further and potentially put her in... Put her in...¡¯


    I hesitated at thatst part even though I knew what I wanted to say next.


    Argh, why do I fucking care so much?! I never knew the mate bond could be so... Intense.


    ¡¯Put her in danger?¡¯ Damonpleted my statement with a knowing tone. ¡¯Well, that wouldn¡¯t be a problem as soon as you mark her, Kaelos. She¡¯ll be protected... No one will dare touch what belongs to the Alpha king.¡¯


    I scoffed physically but decided not to respond to him as I swerved my head to Odessa who seemed to be shaking with a mix of fear and embarrassment on her face.


    "I¨C If you don¡¯t want to do this anymore you can just say so and I¡¯ll¨C"


    Before she couldplete that sentence, I stretched my right hand forward and yanked her forward until her neck was mere inches away from my bare fangs.


    She gasped, her body stiffening as I breathed softly on her neck.


    However, the way her shoulders suddenly rxed after a few seconds, as if her body knew what I wanted to do, almost weakened my resolve again but also managed to snap my mind back to reality.


    ¡¯I¡¯m not giving in anytime soon.¡¯ I stated firmly in my head before I mentally shut out Damon.


    Luckily, that seemed to calm down the burning sensation around my body and made my fangs go back.


    "D¨C Do you want to bite me?" Odessa asked with a shaky voice that barely came out above a whisper.


    I smirked at her, pulling my mouth away from her neck and staring into her violet eyes which shone with desires that I found hard to decipher.


    Did she want me to bite her? Did she know what that entails?


    Anyway, I decided to ignore all those thoughts and patted her gently on her cheeks before I muttered. "Not quite."


    Without another word, I helped her lie down on her back, her blonde hair getting messy and scattering around the bed.


    My dick was still rock hard despite all my previous hesitation, throbbing and aching to go into her.


    I parted Odessa¡¯s legs apart, positioning myself in front of her entrance while my gaze fell on her body, trailing from her boobs to her face.


    Those violet eyes... Why did I feel like I could stare into them all day?


    Shaking my head, I brought my right hand to my mouth and licked my fingers before using them to rub her cunt.


    She bit her lips, her eyes closing as her lips parted and curled into a smile.


    Without hesitation, I ced my dick in front of her entrance once again and drove in slowly, causing her to moan softly.


    "Kaelos..." Her voice was a whisper, her chest rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath.


    Oh, but I was just getting started.


    I positioned my right hand over her head while I ced my left hand on her enticing breasts as I slowly slid out before sliding in again.


    Then again. And again. And again, until it turned into a steady rhythm that increased in speed until the only sound that could be heard was our bodies mming against each other.


    "Argh!" Odessa grunted, her hands going to my back and pulling me closer to her body.


    I did just that, pressing my body against her¡¯s as I fucked her.


    My dick was deep in her cunt as I brought my mouth to her breasts again, sucking on her nipples and using my tongue to circle them.


    The only thing I could think about now was taking the both of us to the edge.


    The only need that burned inside me more than my desire to mark her was my need to rid myself of the pent-up sexual pressure in one burst while I watched her whimper under me.


    "I¡¯m close," Odessa whispered into my right ear before slowly licking it, tickling me but also managing to drive me even more insane.


    I wrapped my arms around her body while my dick was still deep inside her, lifting her body off the bed and cing her on top of my legs.


    This gave me more free range to suck on her boobs as I fucked her.


    However, when she seemed to be a few seconds close to reaching orgasm, she did something a bit surprising.


    Odessa briefly took control, cing her hands on both my shoulders and riding me with a burning need in her grunts and her moans.


    Some strands of her blonde hair fell over her breasts and my face but that didn¡¯t stop me from sucking on them as she rode me.


    Damn, I¡¯m close too...


    I was finally going to reach an orgasm for the first time in...


    "Fuck!" Odessa screamed out, her body shaking erratically as she did.


    But then I quickly ced my right hand over her mouth, feeling the warmth of her orgasm flowing down my dick.


    That was enough to push me over the edge as I pulled out quickly and came all over her stomach while she was still positioned on top of my legs.


    We both panted heavily, struggling to catch our breaths but one thing was certain.


    That was the most passionate and steamy sex I¡¯ve ever had in my life, and it wasn¡¯t even an exaggeration.


    ¡¯That¡¯s because sex with your mate is the best.¡¯ Damon, who I thought would be out of my hair for a while, managed to reach out, thanks to my brain swirling with an uncontroble amount of pleasure.


    I internally rolled my eyes as I brought my gaze to Odessa¡¯s eyes and realized that she was staring at me as well.

 Chapter 35: _Unbreakable Bond

    <h4>Chapter 35: _Unbreakable Bond</h4>


    "Why are you staring at me like a lost puppy?" I couldn¡¯t help but ask when I was finally able to tear my gaze away from Odessa.


    I slowly stepped out of the bed, breathing out in satisfaction as I subconsciously used my fingers to wipe off the sweat dripping down my naked body after a steamy night of passion.


    Meanwhile, Odessa sat up, using her arms to cover her chest. I turned my gaze away from her, walking toward her bathroom to have a bath before retiring to my chambers.


    However, before I could step into the bathroom, Odessa called me back. "You have a serious problem, Kaelos. You know that, right?"


    I paused, ncing back at her only to meet her ring at me with clenched jaws.


    I sniggered, turning around so I could get a better view of her.


    "Is that so?" I asked, arching an eyebrow.


    Suddenly, Damon spoke up inside my head. ¡¯She¡¯s got a point, Kaelos. You aren¡¯t even making any efforts to be romantic with her after having a good¨C¡¯


    ¡¯¡¯Romantic?¡¯ I repeated his words, unable to believe what I was hearing. ¡¯Since when have we been romantic?¡¯


    I could almost see Damon¡¯s eye roll as he responded. ¡¯Since we found our mate, you jerk.¡¯


    I was tempted to respond to him just then but Odessa finally cleared her throat, taking me out of my mind.


    She struggled to maintain eye contact, her eyes asionally diverting to my throbbing dick which was still pulsing with life.


    "We just had sex and you told me I was staring at you like a lost puppy." She continued, her arms still covering her breasts. "Really? Come on, who does that, Kaelos?"


    I could hear the hurt behind her voice but I didn¡¯t let that fool me. Deep down, I knew I couldn¡¯t let myself get close to her, especially since she was a witch.


    So without another word, I turned around and continued advancing toward the bathroom.


    "I want to reject you as my mate, Kaelos." She blurted all of a sudden, causing my eyebrows to furrow into a frown.


    How the heck does she know about rejection and what it entails?


    ¡¯Looks like our mate is smarter than you give her credit for.¡¯ Damon muttered in my head as I turned my gaze to Odessa once again.


    My gaze was cold as I waltzed toward her, my fists clenching beside me.


    "What did you just say?" I asked, squinting my eyes at her.


    <fn92d1> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on f?ndnovel</fn92d1>


    A mischievous smirk curled up the corner of her lips as she stared me dead in the eyes.


    I was a bit stunned by this newfound confidence in her, but I didn¡¯t let it show.


    "Oh, I know all about you wolves and how you¡¯re given a mate by the moon goddess or whatever and how you can easily reject them if you don¡¯t like them," Odessa said with a scoff, spiteced in her voice.


    I kept my gaze on her, pausing my advance toward her.


    I tilted my head, curious to see where she was going with this.


    Seeing my silence, she clicked her tongue with what seemed like frustration before she continued. "I¡¯m not sure of the specifics of how you wolves do it, but rejecting your mate destroys whatever connection you have. Permanently. So I want that. I¡¯d rather be your wife on paper than be bound to you for the rest of my life."


    For an odd reason, thosest words stung. They stung my ego, of course, but they also stung in another way. Another way that perplexed me.


    I shouldn¡¯t be sentimental about Odessa wishing to reject me. She¡¯s a witch, after all; we were a doomed pair from the beginning.


    Suddenly, just as I pondered all this and was about to make sense of it, Damon coughed in my head.


    ¡¯You¡¯re stung about her words because deep down somewhere behind that giant wall of jerkdom you¡¯ve built around yourself, you actually care about her and what she thinks of you.¡¯


    As soon as I heard those words, I scoffed physically, causing Odessa¡¯s eyebrows to furrow into a frown.


    I used my fingers to rub my forehead before I fixed my attention on Odessa again.


    "You aren¡¯t wrong about the concept of rejecting your fated mate among us werewolves," I remarked casually, shrugging for added effect.


    Odessa seemed d that she was right and parted her lips, about to say something.


    However, I raised a finger, stopping her from speaking as I continued. "There¡¯s one thing you¡¯re missing though. I¡¯m an Alpha King."


    Odessa arched an eyebrow before she sniggered, making herself morefortable byying back on her bed while still keeping her arm over her breasts.


    Why was she acting like I hadn¡¯t already licked almost every inch of her body?


    "Is that so?" Odessa asked sarcastically in response to myst statement. "Well, Mr. Almighty Alpha King, I don¡¯t care. I¡¯m not enticed by your title or your wealth. You¡¯re still a bloodthirsty werewolf at the end of the day."


    There was an awkward silence after she said all that, her gaze fixed on me as if she were waiting for me to say something else.


    And boy did I have a lot to say...


    "You see, that¡¯s the thing, hon," I muttered, stepping closer to her until I was at the very edge of her bed.


    I squatted, making myself to be on a head-to-head level with her, and saw the sh of nervousness that glinted in her eyes when she stared into mine.


    I chuckled softly, my gaze trailing her legs before I continued. "I¡¯m no ordinary ¡¯bloodthirsty¡¯ werewolf. Ruling over an entire continent isn¡¯t the only thing that makes an Alpha king. No, no, there¡¯s more to me than that."


    My smile fell as I tilted my head. "As an Alpha King, my blood is as pure as it gets. It¡¯s the closest thing to the moon goddess and her power on this, actually. It makes me far more powerful than even normal Alphas but it also has one annoying perk in this context. And that¡¯s the fact that the mate bond between an Alpha king and his mate..."


    I paused for dramatic effect, enjoying the tense expression on Odessa¡¯s face.


    My smirk soon turned into a grin as I finally let it out. "... Is unbreakable. Meaning we ARE bound together for the rest of our lives."


    I watched Odessa¡¯s features deform into one of the ugliest frowns I¡¯ve ever seen on her beautiful face.

 Chapter 36: _Unruly Idiots

    <h4>Chapter 36: _Unruly Idiots</h4>


    I watched Odessa shift away from me, her frown only deepening as she eyed me with disbelief.


    "What the fuck are you talking about?" She sneered, ring at me as if I¡¯d gone mad.


    Hmph... If anything, she¡¯s the insane one here for thinking she could get rid of me so easily.


    "You heard me, Odessa," I said, my tone in as I raised my hands in a show of defeat. "And if you don¡¯t believe me, ask yourself this question. If I¡¯ve been in denial all this while about us being mates why didn¡¯t I just go ahead and reject you if it were possible?"


    She fluttered her eyelids, raising a finger in front of her face as she shook her head, still seeming like she couldn¡¯t take my confession.


    Sigh, poor thing...


    "You¡¯re bluffing. This has to be some sort of joke." She blurted, a stunned expression on her face.


    I couldn¡¯t help but roll my eyes as I finally stood up, staring into her eyes before I remarked. "Take my word for it. The only other way to break the mate bond would be for either me or you to die..."


    As soon as I said those words, Odessa¡¯s eyes shook with fear as she stared at me with dread.


    I smirked coldly, tilting my head. "And we don¡¯t want that now, do we?" I queried rhetorically.


    She remained silent, leftpletely speechless.


    Seeing this, I shook my head and finally walked into her bathroom and took a shower.


    When I was done, I walked back into the room, expecting to meet Odessa still sitting there, confused and speechless.


    However, I was stunned to see that she was no longer in the room, her clothes nowhere to be found.


    "Don¡¯t tell me she¡¯s nning to escape," I muttered, scanning my gaze around and sniffing into the air.


    I could easily track her by her scent if I wanted to. But I decided against it.


    She probably needs some time to... Process.


    "She wouldn¡¯t be able to escape the pack if she tried anyway," I said to myself with a shrug as I grabbed my clothes off the floor and began putting them on. "I have my best man watching after her in case she tries anything stupid."


    Just then, Damon scoffed in my head. ¡¯Right... Because you think the Beta doesn¡¯t sleep, huh?¡¯


    I chuckled softly to myself but didn¡¯t respond to him.


    Even if Marcellus wasn¡¯t currently watching her, the pack is heavily guarded and no one would let her out without my permission.


    And even if she were to try relying on magic to escape... She couldn¡¯t.


    Shaking my head, I proceeded to walk out of the room, closing the door behind me.


    .


    .


    The next day, I opened my eyes only to realize that I was sleeping on my desk in my office, my arms folded underneath my face.


    I raised my head, my eyes squinted as I tried rubbing off the sleep.


    "What a night..." I muttered to myself, my gaze falling on the mountain of papers in front of me.


    Why didn¡¯t I have aptop or something to help me handle all this shit?


    I groaned, brushing my hand through my hair as I remembered everything that happenedst night.


    After Odessa abruptly left me to the moon knows where I decided to bury myself in work.


    There was still a lot of paperwork to attend to, including a few letters from the Alphas of the North American region.


    "These morons know emails still exist, right?" I asked myself with an eye roll as I set one letter aside.


    Most of the letters were statements giving details on thetest happenings of their territories. Thanks to the treaty, the witches and humans around the entire region had stopped attacking packs and the packs were slowly doing the same.<fn29c8> Chapters first released on f?ndnovel</fn29c8>


    However, there were a few ck sheep situations that caught my attention. Most of the Alphas didn¡¯t approve of the treaty and some continued the fight against witches.


    Now that was aggravating...


    "Hundreds of packs within this goddamned continent and you¡¯d think most of them would have the capacity to think logically," I remarked to myself.


    However, before I could talk to myself more, a knock came on my door.


    My eyebrows furrowed as I raised my head, staring at the door curiously.


    "Come in!"


    The door pushed open and in came Marcellus, his gaze scanning the office at first before itnded on me.


    He shook his head with a wry smile on his face. "Dear goddess. Don¡¯t tell me you spent all night working." He said with disbelief.


    I arched an eyebrow as I leaned backfortably on my chair and shrugged. "Fine then. I wouldn¡¯t tell you."


    He chuckled, causing a slight smile to curl up the corner of my lips.


    He proceeded to sit in front of my desk, crossing one leg in front of the other.


    "Are the other packs still giving problems?" Marcellus asked with a somber expression.


    I nodded, clicking my tongue as I folded my arms in front of my chest. "Indeed. Many unruly idiots are still targeting witches within certain territories, most especially around the US. If this persists, the treaty will be useless." I exined calmly, even though there was frustration in my voice.


    Marcellus nodded with a tense expression but was soon trying to lighten the mood.


    "Hey, if any Alpha is giving you troubles and undermining your leadership, you could just go medieval on them." He remarked, giving me a wink before he made a throat-slitting motion to give me a visual image of what he meant.


    I smirked, drumming my fingers on the armrest of my chair. If Marcellus knew anything about me after the years of our friendship, he¡¯d know that his ¡¯joke¡¯ was something I was actually considering.


    Anyway, I shook my head before I spoke again. "Our pack will be expecting the Alpha King of the South American region and his delegates next week. He wants to see how well this treaty is going."


    Marcellus nodded, a grin etched on his face. "Okay then, we could wee him with a party. One of those fancy balls probably." He said.


    I nodded in agreement, but my mind soon went to something else. Or rather, someone else.


    "Marcellus, I want you to tell me something," I said, leaning in closer and cing my arms in front of me.


    He squinted his eyes curiously but then nodded his head for me to continue.


    I drew in a short breath before I continued. "What do you think of Odessa so far?"

 Chapter 37: _Toying With Them

    <h4>Chapter 37: _Toying With Them</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    After Regina confronted him, he was more... Enlightened.


    Was he scared of what the true Lord of the North could probably do to him? No. He¡¯s his right-hand man, the most powerful among his hybrids.


    However, with her words still ringing in his head, he ced more importance on his mission in the pack, especially the one surrounding one peculiar powerless witch.


    On the night after Regina¡¯s visit, he got into the Alpha¡¯spound, walking into it casually.


    "Good evening, Beta." The guards greeted him when he stepped into thepound.


    He simply nodded his head with a cheery smile that disappeared as soon as he walked past them.


    Keeping the facade of the ¡¯nice Beta¡¯ every fucking day was a hassle.


    ¡¯All right, first off on my agendas for tonight. Getting my hands on that grimoire.¡¯ he thought to himself, scanning his gaze around.


    None of the guards were watching him.


    Excellent.


    <fn58b8> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on FindN()vel</fn58b8>


    With a spell, he blended into the darkness and swiftly scaled up the walls of the mansion, heading straight to Odessa¡¯s room window.


    When he got to the window, he jumped into the room after sessfully checking and discovering that there was no one inside.


    "Oh,,. I wonder where she went off to at this time of the night." He muttered to himself as he took a whiff of the room.


    He could already imagine that Odessa had probably gone to meet Kaelos and the two lovebirds were getting sexually active.


    Hell, the mere thought of it did something to his loins.


    He could pick up her scent lingering in the room, spiking his arousal. His wolf growled with need... But basically, it was horny.


    He was always horny.


    "Calm down, fe. We¡¯ll find a perfect candidate to fuck soon enough." Marcellus muttered to his wolf who still growled at him.


    At this point, his gaze finally fell on a table in the corner where Odessa¡¯s aunt¡¯s grimoire was.


    Marcellus had a grin on his face as he walked to the table, stretching his hand forward and using his fingers to caress the book.


    "My magic could use a little work." He said, his eyes glistening as he stared at the book, about to open the page. "That powerless witch wouldn¡¯t know the value of this grimoire. Althea is¨C"


    Before he couldplete that statement, he raised his head, his ears picking up the sound of approaching footsteps outside the door.


    Odessa...


    Hastily, without looking back, he sprinted to the window and jumped off while still under the cloak of his darkness spell, hanging at the side of the window.


    He didn¡¯t bother taking the grimoire for obvious reasons.


    Anyway, he heard the sound of Odessa opening the door before stepping into the room and mming it behind her.


    Marcellus could pick up her anger and frustration all the way here.


    Sensing negative emotions was his specialty.


    "What has that dumbass Alpha king done to annoy you now?" He asked himself, slowly peeking his head and staring at her.


    She seemed to beining about something and from the look of things and what he heard, it was most definitely Kaelos.


    Ugh... He knew it.


    Marcellus kept on staring at Odessa with pity. Well, a sliver of pity anyway.


    She probably didn¡¯t know that she couldn¡¯t break the mate bond between an Alpha king and his mate.


    Except, of course, one of them ends up dying.


    "Now that would be a sight to behold," Marcellus said to himself, a sadistic smirk on his face. "Watching one of them groveling and crying while the other one dies in front of them, covered in blood and mangled flesh."


    He licked his lips, his bloodlust spiking up at the thought.


    Oh, he¡¯s going to have a lot of fun toying around with Kaelos and his witch bride before he burns the Blood Oak pack to the ground.


    Anyway, Marcellus was just about to leave the window and go to his next mission for tonight when a knock sounded at Odessa¡¯s door.


    And from the sound and heaviness of it... It belonged to none other than Kaelos.


    "Well, well, well..." Marcellus¡¯ decided to stay back a little longer and watch.


    After a little back and forth between Odessa and Kaelos, she let him in but things got delightfully steamy after that.


    When the clothes starteding off and they got to the bed, Marcellus bit his bottom lip, but not because he was turned on.


    Well... He was turned on especially when he heard Odessa¡¯s moans, but what really irked him now was the sexual frustration that came with watching the two love birds.


    "Fuck this," Marcellus grunted, tearing his gaze from the pair just when Kaelos was about to prate her.


    He jumped down to the ground, a cold light shing in his green eyes as he adjusted his clothes before walking into the mansion through the front door.


    "I¡¯ll get my hands on that grimoire another time," Marcellus muttered to himself as he walked past some maids on his way.


    They stared at him bashfully and some were even trying to be flirtatious, but all Marcellus saw them as were potential sex dolls and sacrifices for the life force spell keeping his transformation together.


    Anyway, just when Marcellus was climbing the stairs and turned a corner to walk through one of the floors, he bumped into someone.


    His eyebrows furrowed into a frown at first... Until he saw who it was.


    "Ah, Luna Celine." He remarked, grinning as he stared at thedy in front of him.


    Celine took a step back at first, eyeing him with confusion before she stered a smile on her face. "Oh, Beta Marcellus. What a surprise. What brings you to the Alpha¡¯s mansion tonight?" She asked.


    Marcellus¡¯ grin widened as he took a step forward, his eyes glinting with a mysterious light as he stared into Celine¡¯s grey eyes.


    Celine seemed unsettled at first, her eyelids fluttering with confusion until Marcellus stretched his right hand forward and held her shoulder.


    "I¡¯m here to see you, dear."

 Chapter 38: _Nothing Could Remain Hidden

    <h4>Chapter 38: _Nothing Could Remain Hidden</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    "I¡¯m here to see you, dear."


    The stunned expression on Celine¡¯s face after he said that caused him to smirk to himself.


    He knew the little bitch was attention starved, thanks to all the neglect from Kaelos, and was using it to his advantage.


    And from the scent of her perfume and her almost sultry dressing... It was clear that she¡¯d probably been trying to seduce Kaelos earlier.


    He couldn¡¯t help but wonder what she¡¯d do if she discovered that Kaelos was currently screwing a witch.


    Anyway, after the initial shock, Celine shook her head and stered a smile on her face. "Well, while I¡¯m ttered, Marcellus, I can¡¯t help but wonder why you¡¯d want to see me?" She asked, dimming her eyes.


    Marcellus tilted his head, still maintaining eye contact as he leaned in closer.


    Celine stiffened, her eyes darting around in case anyone was watching. Their current position on one of the hallways wasprising and anyone who walked past would suspect something was up with them.


    While that wasn¡¯t a problem for Marcellus, he could imagine that it would be more than a problem for Celine.


    "I know about the spite you have toward my friend, the Alpha King," Marcellus muttered calmly, his gaze never leaving her eyes. "And honestly, I can¡¯t me you. His neglect is something that you don¡¯t deserve."


    During all this, he still had his right hand on her shoulder and fondled it with his thumb gently.


    Celine might think that was a show of concern, but he was merely softening up his victim emotionally for his next move.


    "I¨C I..." Celine stuttered, her face reddening with embarrassment as she looked away. "I don¡¯t know what to do anymore. I thought my mothering into the mansion wouldpel him to take me back, but that doesn¡¯t seem to be the case."


    Marcellus arched an eyebrow when he heard thatst part. Madame Greyheart¡¯s presence was supposed to pel¡¯ Kaelos?


    Curious to know what Celine meant by that, he shook her gently on her shoulder, forcing her to focus her attention on his eyes.


    "Your mother must have quite the influence to be capable ofpelling the Alpha king himself." He remarked, a teasing smile on his face. "I can¡¯t help but wonder what leverage she has over someone as strong-headed and stubborn as Kaelos Blood Oak."


    As soon as those words left his mouth, his eyes glinted with magic as he continued to maintain eye contact with Celine.


    Taking hold of the mind of a weaker werewolf like the maid at Elder Davina¡¯s sanctuary was a piece of cake for him.


    However, werewolves like Celine whoe from powerful bloodlines, were more... Difficult. Not exactly impossible, but he needed to put in way more effort and weaken all their walls.


    Anyway, Celine¡¯s eyelids fluttered, confusion etched on her face as she subconsciously tried to fight his influence without knowing that it wasing from him.


    But it was toote...


    "Celine?" Marcellus snapped his fingers in front of her face, bringing her back to reality.


    She shook her head, using her fingers to rub her forehead before she spoke. "Sorry. I had a weird headache just now."


    Excellent!


    Now he just needs to do one more thing.


    "Let¡¯s take a walk to Moonstone Memorial Garden." He suggested, gesturing at the stairs leading downstairs. "Shall we? I can assure you, it¡¯ll clear your head."


    Celine nced up at him with suspicion glinting in her eyes.


    Oh, she was a cunning one, he¡¯ll give her that. But he had already managed to reach into the outer parts of her mind. All he needs is a little more effort to take full control.


    Finally, after several seconds of silence, Celine nodded. "Sure. A little walk wouldn¡¯t hurt."


    Marcellus grinned, a cold light glinting in his eyes as he watched Celine walking down the stairs, her hips swaying in a seductive manner that almost awakened his little soldier.


    .


    .


    When they finally got outside, stepping out of thepound and into the night, Celine sighed, hugging herself with her arms.


    She nced back at the mansion, her eyes fixed on what was supposed to be Kaelos¡¯ room window.


    The lights in the room were turned on.


    "He¡¯s not in his chambers." She pointed out, grinding her jaw. "Kaelos always turns off the lights in his chambers. And if he¡¯s not there, that means he¡¯s with that sneaky little witch!"


    The hatred that came from her tone excited Marcellus a bit. There was this unexinable pleasure that came from studying the negative emotions of people.


    The more negative emotions she has... The easier it would be to enter her mind.


    "Easy there, hon," Marcellus remarked with a chuckle which he knew would subconsciously irk Celine even more. "Odessa is Kaelos¡¯ wife, remember? Witch or not, she still has to fulfill her duties as his wife, including¨C"


    "Don¡¯t give me that bullshit, Beta," Celine said with a scoff, diverting her gaze from him as they kept on walking.


    As he stared at her neck, he couldn¡¯t help but imagine what it would feel like to sink his ws into it before slowly pulling her head off her shoulders.


    He could imagine the blood, her muffled screams, and the sweet amount of life force he¡¯d obtain from her.


    The mere thought got him excited in more ways than one.


    "Are you telling me that Kaelos is just going to ignore all the beautiful and elite she-wolves in this pack¡ª nay, the entire bloody continent and have sex with a filthy witch?" Celine queried Marcellus, her voice oozing with suspicion. "Nah, something¡¯s off. I don¡¯t know what it is but I¡¯ll find out."


    Yes, yes, yes...


    Marcellus nced at her from the corner of his eyes, a cold smirk curling up his lips.


    The little bitch wasn¡¯t aware that she was slowly softening up and making it easier to get into her mind by opening up to him.


    He had to test the extent of his influence on her head soon.


    <fn7454> Th?s chapter is updated by </fn7454>


    When they finally got to the Moonstone Memorial Garden, which was a garden in the elite section of the pack rich with unique gemstones that glow under the light of the moon, Marcellus stopped Celine by grabbing her shoulder.


    She turned her gaze to him, her eyebrows furrowing as she parted her lips in confusion.


    "Uhh..."


    Marcellus looked into her eyes, his magic in full action as he whispered in a voice that sounded soothing like a luby. "You will work on your spite for Kaelos and witch kind and it will grow until you stop at nothing to make them pay."


    She resisted at first, her eyelids fluttering but with a little more effort, her eyes shone wide like a puppy.


    "I¡¯ll work on my spite for Kaelos and that little witch he calls his wife and will stop at nothing to make them pay for mocking me," Celine whispered, her jaw clenching with years of pent-up rage she¡¯d been keeping hidden.


    Eh, close enough...


    Marcellus grinned when he heard that.


    Nothing could remain ¡¯hidden¡¯ from him for long.

 Chapter 39: _Feel Like Strangling Him

    <h4>Chapter 39: _Feel Like Strangling Him</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    The sex was good. Who am I kidding... The sex was fantastic.


    But was it really worth the heartache that came with Kaelos treating me like nothing but a means to an end when we were done?


    "Take my word for it. The only other way to break the mate bond would be for either me or you to die..."


    Kaelos¡¯ words still rang through my head when I put on my clothes and walked out of my room while he was bathing.


    Sticking a knife into his throat felt oddly tempting now. Watching him bleed out, the mere thought of it...


    "Anything to get rid of these ursed feelings," I muttered to myself, clenching my hands into fists when I finally walked outside.


    The moon shone its silver light above, but unlike before, I didn¡¯t see its beauty.


    Not right now.


    "Can I even bring myself to kill him?" I muttered, hugging myself with my arms as I made my way to the entrance of thepound where some guards stood like statues.


    However, just when I got there, one of them stopped me. "Sorry, but where do you think you¡¯re going? It¡¯ste."


    I paused in my tracks, my gaze scanning each of their faces. Yup... I was right. They were staring at me with disdain right now.


    Clenching my jaw, I stered a smile on my face and decided to y the nice card. "Yes, I¡¯m aware of that. But a simple walk around the pack at night shouldn¡¯t hurt now, should it?" I queried one of them who arched an eyebrow.


    He nced at hisrades first before he brought his gaze back to me.


    "I¡¯m sorry, but it¡¯s not advisable to let you leave thepound at this time and without supervision." He remarked.


    My eyes twitched with anger which I wasn¡¯t able to keep hidden as I threw my arms into the air. "Why?! I¡¯m not some baby that needs babysitting. I¡¯m a grown-ass woman, and I demand that you let me out of this prison!" I yelled.


    I didn¡¯t care if I woke up the entire pack with my yells and I ignored the stunned expressions on the faces of the guards.


    I proceeded to ignore them and tried walking past them, but was stopped when one of them ced a hand on my shoulder and shoved me back roughly.


    I almost stumbled, my lips parting in shock as I raised my head and stared at him dead in the eyes.


    "Please, go back inside. We don¡¯t want anything happening to the little witch now, do we?" He shone his teeth at me in a way that was supposed to be a smile.


    But the cold glint in his eyes and the way hisrades smirked made me shrink back with fear, my resolution almost crumbling.


    Until...


    <fn467f> Get full chapters from ?ovelFind</fn467f>


    "Well, well, well. So that¡¯s how you boys treat the bride of the Alpha King, eh?"


    I nced behind the guards only to see Beta Marcellus walking toward thepound with furrowed eyebrows.


    His gaze swept through the guards, causing them to stiffen in fear as the one who shoved me back quickly bowed in front of him.


    "N¨C No, sir. W¨C We were just trying to protect her." He said, his voice shaking with fear and respect. "You know there are a lot of stories going around of some of the witch covens sending cursed spirits thate out at night after the neighboring packs. I¨C I¨C"


    "You speak like a blubbering idiot, soldier." Beta Marcellus said with the inest voice I¡¯ve ever heard him speak in as he finally got to us.


    His gaze fell on me, a smile curling up his lips, causing my stomach to jump.


    Gosh, he looked so fine under the moonlight, I have to admit.


    Anyway, Marcellus swerved his head back to the guard who shoved me. The guard in question now had his head lowered in shame, not daring to say anything more.


    "Do your job and stop harassing a powerless witch. Or I¡¯ll be forced to inform the Alpha King about this and maybe you could give him the same excuses you gave me just now." Marcellus said with a calm voice, causing the guard¡¯s face to pale with fear.


    His body trembled but Marcellus hadpletely ignored him at this point as he stretched his right hand to me.


    "Where were you off to, hon?" He asked with a friendly smile on his face.


    I nced at his outstretched hand at first but unlike before, I was way more rxed around him now and took his hand.


    He led me out of thepound, ignoring the subtle nces from the guards who tried to seem invisible before him.


    His hand was warm but also strong. It was weirdly soft, like a baby¡¯s even. The point was, I liked holding it.


    "Thank you, Beta," I said with a soft voice when we finally got far enough from the mansion. "And as for where I was off to, nowhere really. I just wanted to take a little walk and get my mind off the harsh truth of my existence."


    Marcellus slowly let go of my hand, allowing me to fiddle with my fingers as we walked. I subconsciously caressed my mother¡¯s ring, the one my Aunt Althea gave me, saying it was meant for ¡¯protection¡¯.


    Well, so far, it was doing a shitty job at that.


    "Did you and the Alpha King argue?" Marcellus suddenly asked with a knowing tone, forcing me to turn my gaze to him.


    I could¡¯ve sworn I saw a hint of amusement sh past his eyes, but after I blinked, it was gone, and all I saw was concern.


    Huh... Maybe he just found it funny because Kaelos was his friend and he would have something to tease him about.


    Honestly, I couldn¡¯t care less and just wanted someone to rant to.


    "Well, yes," I said in response to hisst question, finally turning my gaze away from him. "We were intimate and then after that, he acted like it meant nothing. Like it was nothing but a means to an end."


    I chuckled dryly after I said that but I didn¡¯t find any humor in it.


    Goddess knows I felt like strangling Kaelos in his sleep right now but the most annoying part is that I don¡¯t even think I have the heart to pull it off.


    It has to be the stupid mate bond.


    "Kaelos tends to... Avoid emotional connection." Marcellus muttered, a wry smile on his face. "At least, it¡¯s been that way since his parents died mysteriously."


    I paused in my tracks, arching an eyebrow.


    [A/N: Dear lovely readers. Your support goes a long way in encouraging this author, me, to write more. Please, continue showing your support by VOTING with your powerstones, golden tickets and also by sending GIFTS! Ouuu, and don¡¯t be shy toment and share your thoughts with me. Cheers and happy reading! I love y¡¯all. <3)

 Chapter 40: _Trauma Bonding

    <h4>Chapter 40: _Trauma Bonding</h4>


    "I¡¯m sorry, his parents died how?" I asked Marcellus after he casually dumped info on Kaelos¡¯ past.


    He¡¯d been walking forward until he realized that I paused in my tracks, forcing him to nce back at me with an arched eyebrow.


    "That¡¯s not my ce to say even if I knew how, Dessa." He muttered, a somber expression on his face. "It¡¯s one of the mysteries of this pack. Scratch that, of the entire continent. His mother was cursed with a strange illness earlier in his childhood but then his father..."


    He paused, his eyes seeming tense.


    That tension easily got to me, causing me to subconsciously gulp. Just how many mysteries did this forsaken pack hold?


    "So, is his parents¡¯ death the cause of his being a dick? Is that what you¡¯re telling me?" I couldn¡¯t help but ask, scoffing to myself with a bitter smile. "That¡¯s no excuse."


    Marcellus tilted his head, dimming his eyes at me but I tried avoiding his gaze and proceeded to keep walking.


    However, just when I walked past him, he grabbed my shoulder, forcing me to turn around and look at him.


    "Why would you say that?" He asked, seeming genuinely curious.


    There was a hint of concern in his voice, softening my mind and causing me to sigh as my shoulders rxed.


    I¡¯ve never told anyone in this pack this... Heck, I rarely tell people back in my coven since most of them already know.


    But here goes...


    "When I was six, there was a raid on our coven¡¯s territory by werewolves." I began, looking away from him and staring at the moon as I remembered that terrible night.


    I¡¯d just been a child, barely able to write, yet I could still remember the screams. Oh, the screams haunted my nightmares even today.


    And then the blood, the death, the mes... The beasts ran past me and ughtered my people like chickens, ripping them apart limb by limb and destroying the weapons of the humans.


    It was a terrible day in the history of my coven.


    Anyway, after drawing in a deep breath, I continued speaking.


    "Both humans and witches were ughtered that night, in abundance. I remember hiding in my parents¡¯ house and watching my mother, a witch, trying to hold them off with her magic while my father, a human Hunter, had his weapons, standing in front of me to defend me."


    My heart began pounding heavily against my chest as I recalled these dark memories.


    Witches and human procreation were normal, and their children almost always ended up being born with magic.


    For those at the Luminari coven... The probability was even higher and procreating with certain humans could help strengthen the bloodline of magic.


    But that¡¯s beside the point...


    "My father was the first to fall. Ripped in half after he shoved me away from the grasp of one of the wolves." I muttered, lowering my head. "And then my mother, Esther Pierce, one of the most powerful witches in the continent... Fell too. Trying to protect me."


    Throughout my narration, Marcellus was silent and stared at me with pity and what I thought was guilt. Well, that¡¯s expected I guess.


    I was talking about how his kind ughtered mine, after all...


    "And do you want to know the most annoying part in all this?" I asked, chuckling dryly and raising my head once again, staring at the Beta straight in his face. "The werewolf who ughtered my mother that night spared me. I saw a hint of something... Human in his eyes. As if he was regretting his actions."


    My hands subconsciously balled into fists as my hair blew into the wind.


    But I was too angry to even notice that small sign of my magic awakening. My magic has been awakening a lot recently.


    Ever since I met...


    "Odessa." Marcellus stepped forward, cing a hand on my shoulder. "I can¡¯t... I can¡¯t imagine the pain you must have felt then. I¡¯ve gone through my fair share of losses during this war... But still."


    I smiled wryly before I spoke with a sarcastic tone, raising my arms in a false show of cheer. "Yay, we¡¯re trauma bonding."


    He fluttered his eyelids at me at first before he shook his head, causing the both of us to giggle.


    But soon enough, a serious expression returned to his face. "I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if you grew a deep hatred for wolves after all that."


    I clicked my tongue but managed to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. "Yup. But it was less of hatred and more of... Fear."


    There was an awkward silence after I said that.


    Marcellus left his hand on my shoulder for a while as we both stood there.


    However, his gaze soon fell on my hand after which his hand trailed to my palm, caressing the ring on my finger.


    My heart instantly skipped a beat as I withdrew my hand.


    "Sorry, that¡¯s valuable to me," I muttered, staring at the ring, which looked pretty simple apart from its golden shine. "It belonged to my mother and it¡¯s the only thing I have of her. My aunt said it¡¯s supposed to be for protection... But so far, I haven¡¯t seen any signs of that."


    Marcellus nodded his understanding, staring at the ring with an interest that made me arch an eyebrow. Right now, he seemed like one of those scientists back in my coven studying something new.


    "Well, even if it doesn¡¯t show any signs of protecting you, at least you have something of your mother¡¯s to hold on to."


    I smiled, ncing at the ring as I held it close to my chest. There was a warmth in my heart anytime I remembered my mother.


    She was almost a figment of my imagination now but I remembered that she was a good woman. And I¡¯d love to cherish those memories somehow.


    "Thank you, Marcellus." I blurted, smiling brightly at him. "But my point still stands that Kaelos has no right to be a dick."


    Marcellus couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud as we continued walking to gods knows where.


    Frankly, I was already getting tired.


    "I¡¯d like to head back to the mansion now, Beta," I muttered, pausing and ncing at him.


    <fnfad2> Th?s chapter is updated by F¦Énd£Îovel</fnfad2>


    There were barely any people around at this time, which I found a bit... Odd? Maybe the werewolves were trying to be extra careful since there was a witch around, AKA, me.


    Hypocrites...


    "All right then, I should go get some sleep as well," Marcellus responded with a satisfied sigh. "It was nice walking with you, Dessa. I have a better understanding of you now..."


    My smile widened as he stepped forward, but soon enough, that smile turned into a frown when he stared into my eyes for a long time. My heart raced against my chest and a shiver ran up my spine, causing my knees to buckle.


    But I was quick to regain myposure by shaking my head before I smiled again.


    "Good night, Marcellus."


    Without waiting for him to respond, I turned away from him and walked away as quickly as my legs could let me.


    What in the unholy fuck was that?!

 Chapter 41: _Runaway Bride

    <h4>Chapter 41: _Runaway Bride</h4>


    Luckily, when I got to the mansion that night, Kaelos was no longer in my room.


    I crawled into bed, sighing with relief before closing my eyes to get some sleep.


    The next morning, I woke up to the sound of the rm clock beside my bed ringing repeatedly and also the chirping of birds and the sun shining through my window.


    My eyebrows furrowed into a frown even before I opened my eyes.


    I don¡¯t remember setting an rm on this stupid thing. Unless...


    "Kaelos, you son of a bitch." I muttered with a scoff as I groggily sat up from bed and stretched my hand, turning off the rm clock after a few seconds of struggle.


    I dimmed my eyes to look at the time.


    Seven AM.


    "He¡¯s got some nerve if he thinks he can dictate my sleeping hours after the hell of a day I had yesterday." I harrumphed to myself as Iy back on my bed, gettingfortable on the cold side of my pillow.


    Unfortunately, before my consciousness could drift back into the dream world, a knock came on my door, causing me to groan.


    "What?!" I yelled out like a toddler as I sat up on the bed again, staring at the room door.


    The next thing I heard was a rather meek voice speaking from the other end. "It¡¯s me, ma¡¯am. Caroline."


    Ugh, for the love of...


    "Caroline, what¡¯s so special that my husband had to disturb my sleep so early?" I grumbled, even though I knew seven AM wasn¡¯t too early.


    I just didn¡¯t want to bother myself much after the embarrassment I faced yesterday, first at the market, then with Celine, and finally in the presence of the Alpha king¡¯s council.


    What¡¯s the point of getting dressed and heading out to see what the pack could offer when it¡¯s been established that everyone in said pack hates me?


    Well... Almost everyone.


    "Preparations for the weing Ball next week begin today, ma¡¯am," Caroline said just then in response to myst question.


    Weing Ball?


    "A weing ball for who exactly?"


    I paused after I asked that, realizing that I should probably just tell her toe in.


    "Come in..."


    After saying that, the door swung open and Caroline walked in with a slight smile on her face as she bowed slightly in front of me.


    "Good morning, ma¡¯am." She greeted me.


    After everything I faced yesterday from beginning to end, it was nice seeing another face that seemed friendly, other than Marcellus, of course.


    "Good morning Caroline," I muttered, finally getting up from the bed.


    I stretched my arms, yawningzily before scratching the back of my head.


    "So, at the top of today¡¯s agenda, you said we have to make preparations for a weing ball," I stated, walking toward the balcony, my back facing Caroline. "What weing ball? Also, what sort of preparations?"


    When I finally got to the balcony, I drew in a deep breath, staring at the morning sky and the birds that flew past.


    Beautiful views like this were always so hard toe by back in my coven¡¯s territory. Well, mostly because I¡¯d been a lowly witch fighting for scrubs, never bothering myself over something as minuscule as a ¡¯good view.¡¯


    Anyway, I heard Caroline joining me reluctantly on the balcony, causing me to nce back at her with an arch of my eyebrows.


    She bowed her head, still seeming hesitant to keep eye contact. "The weing Ball is for the Alpha King of the South American region and his delegatesing next week. Only the elites of the pack and other neighboring packs will be in attendance though."


    Oh...


    <fn3388> Read full story at ?ovelFind</fn3388>


    For an odd reason, I tensed up at the thought. The ¡¯elite¡¯ of any race has always been a tough crowd to mingle with and talk less of werewolves.


    "Well, I don¡¯t have to attend," I said resolutely, cing my hands on the handrail of the balcony. "I¡¯m a witch and Kaelos isn¡¯t particrly proud of having me around. I doubt he¡¯ll want to show me off as his¨C"


    "On the contrary, ma¡¯am..." Caroline interrupted my rant just then, causing me to slowly turn my whole body to face her. "From what I¡¯ve heard, the Alpha King of the South American region is looking toe here to see how deplorable a marriage between a witch and an Alpha King would look like."


    What the heck?


    Seeing the confusion on my face, Caroline exined further. "News of your marriage with the Alpha King has spread beyond North America, ma¡¯am. Other Alpha Kings of other continents have their eyes on us, trying to see if our Alpha King made the right decision with this truce."


    I couldn¡¯t believe my ears.


    At first, I¡¯d thought I¡¯d only have to deal with the judgment of the packs and covens of the North American region, but now I also had to deal with the scrutiny of the whole fucking?


    "So, you see ma¡¯am, you¡¯re actually an important piece of the weing ball."


    Yeah, no shit.


    Sighing heavily, I decided there was no need to stall longer with my questions and gestured at the room.


    "I¡¯ll go have a bath so we can begin these preparations and get this over with." I blurted, brushing my hand through my hair as I walked into the room.


    It didn¡¯t take long for me to have a bath, and when I was done, I got dressed in a light blue flowy gown with a v-neckline and exposed shoulders.


    After Catherine helped me in brushing my hair, we walked out of the room and headed straight for the dining room downstairs.


    "I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve settled down and eaten a good meal since I got into this pack," I uttered, ncing at Caroline who walked beside me with a smile on my face.


    However, she merely forced a smile, seeming ufortable.


    For an odd reason, that hurt, seeing someone who I was already considering a ¡¯friend¡¯ still being ufortable around me because of my race.


    "You don¡¯t have to be afraid around me, Caroline," I muttered, the disappointment in my voice clear.


    She whipped her head to me just then, her lips parting as she tried to exin herself.


    At this point, we¡¯d already gotten to the ground floor and had a view of the dining room from the stairs but I didn¡¯t bother looking there.


    "N¨C No, ma¡¯am. I¡¯m not scared of you. It¡¯s just... It¡¯s just I¨C"


    "Well, well, well." Suddenly, Kaelos¡¯ voice boomed from the dining room, forcing Caroline and I to swerve our heads there. "Good morning, my runaway bride. Care to tell me where you ran off tost night?"


    He was dressed in ck attire, as usual, his suit hugging his muscles and emphasizing them more. His ck hair was tied up in a ponytail, and his piercing silver eyes were fixed on me, following my every movement as I walked toward the dining table.


    The gazes of a few maids around the table were also fixed on me. Goddess, have mercy...

 Chapter 42: _’Funny’ Alpha King

    <h4>Chapter 42: _¡¯Funny¡¯ Alpha King</h4>


    Drawing in a deep breath, I kept my expression in, holding up my dress as I came down the stairs.


    "I merely went for a stroll, dear husband. I hope his lordship doesn¡¯t mind?" I asked, my voice oozing sarcasm as I finally got to the dining table.


    I drew out a chair and sat but before I could even getfortable, Kaelos, who¡¯d been standing all this while, walked up to me slowly, his footsteps echoing.


    I tensed up, wondering what he was up to. I couldn¡¯t help but nce at Caroline who stood at the side, her head lowered meekly.


    Anyway, when Kaelos finally got to my seat, he didn¡¯t say anything but simply grabbed my wrist.


    I gasped silently but before I could even say anything, he dragged me to the seat at the left side of the head of the table at the other side.


    He ced me on the seat before sitting on the chair at the head of the table, his expression in as he adjusted his tie before he began eating.


    I balled my hands into fists, ring at him for hell knows how long until he raised his head and nced at me.


    "I can tell you¡¯re hungry." He muttered knowingly, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Go ahead and eat, don¡¯t be shy. Or do you have a love for depriving yourself of food?"


    I scoffed lightly, a smirk curling up the corner of my lips. But it wasn¡¯t a friendly smirk.


    I was seconds away from snapping at this jerk.


    "You¡¯ve got a lot of audacity," I said bluntly before I grabbed a fork.


    The dish in front of me was a tuna casserole of sorts and smelled surprisingly delicious.


    However, before I could take a bite, Kaelos unexpectedly leaned in closer until his breath grazed my skin, causing my hair to stand on end.


    "That makes us a match made in heaven, since, you know... Your audacity easily outmatches mine." He whispered with a teasing tone, further adding to my irritation.


    I gripped my fork tightly but at this point, he went back to digging into his food like it was no one¡¯s business.


    More like a match made in hell...


    Anyway, I finally got the chance to eat and savored the silence that came with it. The only sound that was being made was the clinking of tes, spoons, and forks as we ate.


    <fn772b> The source of th?s content is find{n}ovel</fn772b>


    "I¡¯m sure your maid has already told you about the uing weing Ball." Kaelos suddenly asked as I drank a ss of juice.


    My eyebrows furrowed at first but I nodded after dropping the ss. "Yeah, she did. When next week would we be expecting the¨C"


    "Monday." He interrupted me and responded to my question before I could even finish. "The South American Alpha King and his delegates will be here on Monday next week, unfailingly. And please, Odessa..."


    He paused, dropping his spoon and fiddling with his fingers.


    I arched an eyebrow at him as he stared at me for a few seconds before he finally continued.


    "... Be on your best behavior. It¡¯s for the good of your race all around the world anyway."


    Without another word, he continued eating, ignoring the way I stared at him.


    Sighing to myself, I was just about to have a bite of the dessert cupcakes at the side when I picked up footsteps approaching from the stairs.


    When I nced back to see who it was, my eyes shone in surprise a bit when I did.


    It was Celine... And that mother of her¡¯s who was just as bad, if not worse, than her daughter.


    They both wore gorgeous gowns that seemed over the top and unnecessary for breakfast, but that wasn¡¯t the only ¡¯off¡¯ thing about them.


    There was something... Different about Celine.


    From the look in her eyes when her gaze swept through the dining table to her movement, which was now way more confident and made her seem like she had an actual purpose aside from annoying the fuck out of me.


    Whatever it was that made her different sent shivers down my spine and I didn¡¯t like the feeling one bit.


    "Oh, Alpha King, are you having breakfast without us?" Celine¡¯s mother asked with a shocked expression as she sat on a chair far away from mine.


    Damn, she deserves an Oscar for that fake ass look on her face.


    Anyway, Kaelos seemed unfazed, though his gaze lingered on Celine when she walked up to him.


    Celine¡¯s hips swayed as she graciously sat down on another chair beside Kaelos, her mischievous gaze on me for a little while before she snapped a finger at a maid.


    "Pour me a ss of wine."


    One of the maids quickly scurried to the dining table and poured some wine from a bottle into a ss.


    I watched the whole thing unfold like it was a badly acted soap opera and knew that the drama wasing at one point.


    I was right...


    "I like eating my breakfast in peace, Madame Greyheart. A peace that you don¡¯t seem fond of, from what I¡¯ve noticed." Kaelos blurted with the ttest tone I¡¯ve ever heard.


    I was impressed... But at the same time, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder why he would allow his ex-wife and her mother to live here.


    There was something fishy going on and I wasn¡¯t sure if I wanted to even know. I just didn¡¯t want any trouble but unfortunately, Celine and her mother were full of it.


    Anyway, Madame Greyheart chuckled dryly at Kaelos¡¯st words, grabbing a piece of chicken and taking a bite out of it.


    "You¡¯re so funny, Alpha King." She remarked, parting aside some strands of her hair with her other hand. "No seriously, you are. I mean, you can imagine how much I cracked up when I heard you n on unting your pet over there as your bride in the presence of the Alpha King of South America."


    There was a painfully long silence after she said those words, causing my chest to clench.


    I¡¯ve never heard ANYONE be so disrespectful around Kaelos. Even his uncle seemed more chillpared to this.


    There¡¯s something off about their dynamic.


    However, as I thought about all of this, Kaelos raised his head, staring directly at Madame Greyheart before he spoke.


    "Don¡¯t test me, Greyheart."


    His voice was threatening, causing the tension in the room to spike.

 Chapter 43: _What’s Up With Celine?

    <h4>Chapter 43: _What¡¯s Up With Celine?</h4>


    There was an awkwardly long silence after Kaelos¡¯ outburst toward Madame Greyheart.


    I nced around and noticed the maids giving judgemental looks, probably because of the way Celine¡¯s mother had spoken to Kaelos without any regard.


    Anyway, Celine¡¯s mother gawked at Kaelos before she chuckled amusingly, cing her hand in front of her mouth.


    "Pardon me, Alpha King, but what¡¯s gotten you into a mood?" She asked, ncing at me just then with contempt. "Are you finally at the brink of snapping after spending so much ¡¯quality¡¯ time with a certain witch?"


    My grip on the ss of juice that I held tightened just then as my heart skipped a beat.


    I nced at Kaelos first before ncing at Celine who had a disdainful look on her face.


    Oh no...


    It seems Celine told her mother that Kaelos and I are having sex.


    "Do you always speak in parables or are you just specially bent on annoying me today, Greyheart?" Kaelos asked, using the fork and knife in his hands to dissect a big roasted chicken in front of him before taking a bite.


    I could tell that he was getting pissed but was also trying his best to control himself. It was weird but it was almost as if I could... Feel his emotions.


    It was probably another effect of that ursed mate bond.


    "I didn¡¯t say anything that an average ten-year-old wouldn¡¯t be able to understand, Alpha King. I didn¡¯t speak in parables." Madame Greyheart muttered, pouring herself a ss of wine as she did.


    "But I must remind you that rumors do tend to spread quickly and one like this would be one that the people would frown against if they¨C"


    Before she couldplete her sentence, Kaelos finally couldn¡¯t take it anymore and angrily smashed the knife in his hand into the table, causing me to jerk in surprise.


    "Leave!" Kaelos mumbled coldly, turning his gaze to the maids who stood around, including Caroline.


    None of them wasted a second and scurried away, although Caroline managed to give me one final nce before she left.


    When the dining room was finally silent, Kaelos pointed his knife at Madame Greyheart who arched an eyebrow in surprise.


    "Now listen here you aggravating piece of¨C"


    "Don¡¯t talk to my mother like that." Celine suddenly blurted, causing Kaelos¡¯ eyes to widen in shock.


    He turned his gaze to her, tilting his head as he tried scrutinizing her, probably trying to find where her newfound audacity came from.


    I remained silent throughout all this, not wanting to get caught in the middle. It was clear that Kaelos and Celine¡¯s mother had some secrets they were keeping that allowed her to talk to him like that.


    That was the only theory I coulde up with but the next question was... What was the secret?


    "Looks like someone has grown some balls overnight," Kaelos remarked, drumming his fingers on the table as he stared coldly at Celine, who was sitting beside him.


    The girl indeed had some balls if she could rap her mouth so close to him without flinching.


    Anyway, Kaelos clenched his jaw before he continued speaking. "It seems you¡¯ve forgotten who you¡¯re talking to. And trust me, you wouldn¡¯t like what I¡¯ll do if you want me to enlighten you."


    There was a tense silence after he said all that but despite it, Celine still gave him an unwavering look.


    Anyway, Celine shook her head with a bitter smile before she spoke. "I haven¡¯t grown any balls but I¡¯m now realizing how unjust this whole thing is, Kaelos. This was our home. We were happily married together!"


    I could feel the hurt behind her voice but I found it hard to sympathize with her when she¡¯s done nothing but be a bitch since I came here.


    <fnec68> Find the newest release on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fnec68>


    She acts like I snatched her husband from her when she and Kaelos were already divorced when I came in.


    Anyway, Kaelos sniggered, shaking his head as he stared at Celine coldly. "Happy? I was never happy in that marriage, Celine. And as if that wasn¡¯t bad enough, you weren¡¯t even able to give me what I desired most from a union with you."


    Celine scoffed, shaking her head as she gritted her teeth.


    "Is that why you decided to bring in a filthy witch into our home?!" Celine snapped, ring at me with spite.


    I felt oddly vulnerable, and rightfully so.


    Everyone here was capable of killing me in an instant while I didn¡¯t even have a way to defend myself.


    Maybe it¡¯s time I brewed some potions using Aunt Althea¡¯s grimoire.


    "First off, this is MY home. Not ours. It has never been ¡¯ours¡¯." Kaelos rified, sounding oddly calm now. "Secondly, my marriage to Odessa is strictly due to the nature of the truce."


    Madame Greyheart sniggered, ncing at her daughter as she finally dropped the ss of wine in her hand.


    "Does screwing your so-called witch bride also count as a part of the truce, Alpha King?" She asked with contempt oozing out of her voice. "I¡¯m not even angry that you¡¯re sleeping with someone else other than my daughter. But really? A witch?"


    As her mother spoke, Celine turned her gaze to me, eyeing me with malicious intent.


    I felt cornered and the worst part was how meek Kaelos seemed in front of these women. Why wasn¡¯t he doing anything to defend his dignity at least?


    "Revolting." Madame Greyheart blurted just then, still referring to the idea of Kaelos and I having sex.


    That was myst straw...


    "With all due respect, miss, but you have no right to refer to me as if I¡¯m an object who isn¡¯t able to stand up for herself," I said in a calm voice with anger brimming underneath. "My coven and your Alpha king came to a fair agreement that I¡¯m hoping to see through to the end. So, please."


    There was silence at the dining table as soon as I was done talking.


    Even Kaelos had his gaze on me, and I could¡¯ve sworn I saw a weird mix of amusement and pride sh through his eyes.


    That son of a¨C


    "How dare you speak to my mother like that you reject?" Celine snapped at me, seeming like she wanted to get up ande strangle me. "Apologize to her or I promise you I¡¯ll¨C"


    "You¡¯ll what, Luna Celine?" I asked, my tone oozing sarcasm. "You¡¯ll hide behind mummy dearest once again in your attempts to bully me in front of your ex-husband, who doesn¡¯t even want you anymore? Please, be my guest."


    At that moment, the worst happened.


    Celine got up and raised her hand, her eyes glinting with a predatory light that caused me to shrink back in my seat.


    However, before she could do anything, Kaelos stood up and grabbed her wrist, causing her to gasp in shock.


    "That¡¯s enough." He muttered coldly, maintaining eye contact with her and making sure she didn¡¯t move an inch while he held her.


    Meanwhile, Madame Greyheart snapped from where she sat and got up as well, making me the only one sitting.


    "Unhand my daughter!"


    "No. Control your daughter before I do something that YOU¡¯LL regret." Kaelos uttered in a bone-chilling tone, barely acknowledging Madame Greyheart before he turned his gaze back to Celine.


    Thetter squirmed and struggled to get out of his hold but it was futile.


    "I swear to the moon, you¡¯ll regret this!" Celine hissed when she saw that she couldn¡¯t get out of Kaelos¡¯ hold, causing him to tilt his head at her.


    He squinted his eyes, scrutinizing her closely before he muttered. "What¡¯s happening in that little head of yours?"


    Celine¡¯s gaze wavered just then, her lips parting like she was about to say something.


    Fortunately, before she could and before the situation could get any worse than this, a voice interrupted.


    "Mr. Landon is here, sir."


    Everyone turned their gazes to the source of the voice only to spot La standing there with an awkward expression on her face as she scrutinized the scene.


    Who the heck was Landon?

 Chapter 44: _Treating Her Right

    <h4>Chapter 44: _Treating Her Right</h4>


    "Oh, good. The tailor is here." Kaelos muttered, adjusting his cufflinks before he gave Celine and her mother one final nce. "Hopefully we wouldn¡¯t have to have this... ¡¯Conversation¡¯ again."


    The dining table was tense and I couldn¡¯t help but try my best to look away from Celine. I knew that if Kaelos left here without me the bitch would have her hands around my throat.


    Before Kaelos could walk away, I grabbed his arm from where I sat, causing him to turn his gaze to me with a frown on his face.


    I was speechless at first, my eyelids fluttering until I stered a smile on my face. "Would you mind if I tagged along with you to go see this tailor?"


    Kaelos tilted his head but soon shrugged. "Who did you think the tailor was here to see? Me? Nah, I could just p a random suit from my closet on my body for the ball and call it a day. You on the other hand... My bride..."


    He paused, making sure thosest words sank enough for Celine and her mother to digest them.


    The two of them gave me deadly looks, causing me to quickly look away from them.


    Kaelos wasn¡¯t helping at all!


    "... Anyway, as my bride and a symbol of this truce, I need to present you properly to our guests. Can¡¯t have you looking like a peasant witch now, can we?"


    I shed a wry smile at him as I got up and adjusted my dress. After taking his hand, he led me away from the dining room to meet with this tailor.


    .


    .


    When we got to the tailor, who was in a room on the ground floor, he didn¡¯t waste any time and began taking my measurements.


    I gulped, tensing up as I nced at Kaelos who gave me a wink.


    I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what had gotten into him to make him so... Present.


    He didn¡¯t have any business being here.


    "It seems she¡¯ll be a perfect fit for the gown, my Lord." The tailor muttered, writing down the final measurements on the book in his hands. "All I¡¯ll have to do is make a few adjustments and then it¡¯ll be ready by tomorrow night, give or take."


    Kaelos arched an eyebrow, causing the rather mboyant tailor to tense up.


    "Give or take? I need an exact estimate. Will you be able to have the gown ready by tomorrow or not?"


    The tailor quickly nodded his head, seeming shaken. "O¨C Of course, my lord. I can have it ready by tomorrow evening. W¨C Would you like me to make a gown for the Luna as well, or...?"


    Kaelos stared at the man for a while, seemingly contemting something before he shrugged. "Very well, then. Go meet her and follow her descriptions for whatever gown she wants. But my mother¡¯s gown must be ready for Odessa tomorrow."


    My mouth fell as soon as I heard thatst part.


    His mother¡¯s gown?


    My eyelids fluttered as I watched the tailor leave the room after bowing to Kaelos.


    "Your... Your mother¡¯s gown?" I repeated just then, causing Kaelos to swerve his head to me. "I don¡¯t understand. Why am I being given your mother¡¯s gown? Wasn¡¯t she Luna?"


    I didn¡¯t need a fortune teller to know that that sounded extremely problematic.


    A gown belonging to the former Luna being given to the current Alpha king¡¯s Witch bride?


    I could already see the headlines that woulde from that and they didn¡¯t look good.


    "Did I stutter?" Kaelos asked nonchntly, chuckling to himself when he saw the expression on my face. "The gown was one my mother iconically wore thest time the South American Alpha King visited this pack. Everything from its color to the designs is a representation of the pack."


    The smile on his face told me that he¡¯d been really fond of his mother. I was surprised he was able to talk about her without showing any hint of sadness, even in the tone of his voice.


    Anyway, he soon cleared his throat, his usual stoic expressioning back.


    Buzz kill...


    <fn7435> Fresh chapters posted on Find1Novel</fn7435>


    "Don¡¯t think too much about it though. I¡¯m only giving you the gown to show the South American Alpha King that I treat you just like I would treat any other woman I call my wife, even though you¡¯re a witch."


    Ouch...


    My jaw clenched as I red at him but he didn¡¯t seem to catch on with the fact that I was pissed at his words.


    Unable to keep calm anymore, I blurted. "Well, that will be a lie, Kaelos. Because we all know that you don¡¯t treat me like you¡¯d treat a normal wife. I¡¯m basically trash to you."


    Kaelos paused, his eyebrows furrowing as he tilted his head.


    The silence that came after my words was deafening, but I didn¡¯t regret them... Not in the slightest.


    However, Kaelos soon sniggered and shook his head as he slowly began walking toward me.


    "Tell me, Odessa. In what way is a man supposed to treat a woman? You sound like such an expert even though you were as single as a showerhead when I first saw you."


    My face heated up with an embarrassed blush but I didn¡¯t let my guard down or lose myposure.


    I cleared my throat before I began. "Well, first off, a marriage isn¡¯t all about sex. You have to also treat your significant other like an actual person instead of a doll that you y around with when you¡¯re bored."


    My breathing started increasing when I noticed that Kaelos was getting even closer to me now. His cologne¡¯s strong scent wafted into my nostrils, causing me to breathe out subconsciously in satisfaction.


    But I quickly shook my head before I continued.


    "You never make any efforts to be romantic and you also want our true rtionship to be kept a secret. I honestly don¡¯t think I get why you don¡¯t want the rest of the pack to know that we are m¨C"


    Before I could finish that sentence, Kaelos got in front of me in the blink of an eye and ced his right hand on my mouth, causing my eyes to widen in shock as I stared into his intimidating silver eyes.

 Chapter 45: _Flaunting Incompetence

    <h4>Chapter 45: _unting Ipetence</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    After my little meeting with Marcellus in my office, I discovered more about Odessa. More that she never told me about and I wasn¡¯t even sure if she would have ever told me.


    ¡¯So, she watched her parents get killed as a kid during one of our pack¡¯s raids.¡¯ Damon said in my head when I got to the room the tailor who was supposed to take measurements for Odessa was waiting in.


    I nodded my head discreetly to myself after handing Odessa over to the tailor who began taking her measurements.


    If all goes well, Odessa was meant to wear a ruby red gown poprly worn by my mother years ago.


    She might see it as nothing but I saw it as the ultimate symbol to show the South American Alpha king that I was serious about my marriage to her.


    ¡¯Do you think the raid she¡¯s talking about is... You know?¡¯ Damon asked with a solemn tone.


    A cold shiver ran down my spine when I remembered what he was trying to reference. But I quickly shook my head and dismissed the idea.


    ¡¯That was a long time ago. No need to dig into the past anyway.¡¯ I said calmly in my head as I watched the tailor finally wrapping up with Odessa¡¯s measurements.


    After he was done and left the room, things got a bit heated between Odessa and I, as usual.


    Well, that¡¯s until she almost blurted out that we¡¯re mates, forcing me to run to her and cover her mouth.


    "Mmph!" Odessa squirmed under my hold but I hushed her sternly before relying on my advanced wolf hearing to listen in on our ¡¯guests¡¯.


    Celine and her mother had decided to grace the dining table earlier and joined us for breakfast. It was nothing short of dramatic, but I was quick to disregard it mentally.


    However, with them being around, I couldn¡¯t risk them finding out about me and Odessa¡¯s little secret.


    ¡¯Little? There¡¯s nothing little about what you and Odessa have.¡¯ Damonmented in my head with a snigger, causing me to roll my eyes as I slowly let go of Odessa.


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    She shoved me aggressively on my shoulder before ring at me.


    "What gives?" She asked with a whisper, but even that sounded loud.


    Not having any other choice, I grabbed her hands and moved her to the wall behind her, causing her to gasp in shock.


    I pinned her to the wall, her perky bosoms peeking out a little from her dress, causing me to nce at them with arousal as they rose and fell with each breath she took.


    "Don¡¯t blurt out our secret in public, hon. Ever." I whispered into her ears, making sure my words sank in.


    Currently, thanks to my supernatural hearing, I was able to discover that Celine and her mother were talking with the tailor at the dining table, which was about fifty meters away.


    But if I could hear them, there was a good chance they could pick up some of what¡¯s happening here as well.


    Anyway, after staring into Odessa¡¯s enchanting violet eyes for a little too long, I finally shook my head and stepped away from her.


    If I¡¯d had her pinned to the wall a few seconds longer, there was no telling if I would be able to control myself.


    I couldn¡¯t fuck her freely while we were downstairs.


    "You¡¯re a conundrum. You know that, right?" She asked with sarcasm in her voice, tilting her head.


    Seeing her like that forced a smirk to curl up my lips as I leaned in closer and gave her a wink before I responded.


    "That makes the two of us, hon."


    And I meant that.


    What was so special about this powerless witch who even had a human father to make the moon goddess give her to me as a mate? Why was I finding myself feeling sympathy for her after hearing her story from Marcellus?


    And most of all... Was there more to her that she wasn¡¯t letting me know? What more secrets could she be hiding?


    I was willing to unravel all this as this truce continued.


    Drawing in a final satisfied breath, I leaned away from her and patted her lightly on her right cheek, causing her face to get redder than a tomato.


    "Get ready for the ball, dear wife. You¡¯ll be taught all the basic etiquette required before that day to avoid any... Drink mishaps." I muttered, teasing the way we first met.


    Odessa¡¯s face only got redder but at this point, I was done teasing her and turned around to leave.


    There were a few more things I needed to attend to before the South American Alpha King and his delegates arrived a few days from now.


    .


    .


    After navigating my way upstairs, I got to my office and opened the door, not at all surprised when I saw the people waiting for me inside.


    "Good morning, gentlemen." I greeted the members of my Alpha council, who all stood up and bowed curtly in front of me.


    "Good morning, Alpha King." Gamma Zane muttered with a not-so-cheery smile on his face.


    I merely nodded at him as I made my way to my seat behind my table where my assistant, La, stood.


    She handed some files to me, which was a detailed report of Odessa¡¯s first trial.


    "I believe the witch should have discovered something about the dead maid by now." Gamma Zane, my annoying uncle, remarked, ncing at Beta Marcellus and the Delta before he continued. "With the South American Alpha Kinging soon, security in this pack has to be tight and¨C"


    "Once again unting your ipetence, Gamma." I blurted, removing my gaze from the files and fixing it on him. "ording to the reports I gathered from Odessa, the culprit is probably a witch who used the victim¡¯s life force to empower themselves somehow. Do you know what that means?"


    There was an awkward silence after my words, a silence so loud that I thought I¡¯d begin hearing crickets soon.


    But I ignored the tense atmosphere and cleared my throat before I continued with a neutral tone. "It simply means that the culprit could still be out there, hiding under the noses of our security forces. Security forces that you¡¯re supposed to be in charge of, Gamma."


    I nced at Marcellus and noticed a mocking smirk on his face. If there¡¯s anyone who hated my uncle¡¯s guts as much as me, it was him.


    Anyway, the Gamma was lost for words, his lips parting at first before he clenched his jaw.


    But I merely stared at him for a few seconds before I leaned backfortably against my chair and folded my arms in front of my chest.


    "Tighten security in this pack. Make sure they¡¯re on the lookout until the day of the South American Alpha King¡¯s arrival. I don¡¯t want any slip-ups, and if anything goes wrong, it will be on your head." I said coldly, not mincing a single word.


    The Gamma lowered his head but nodded in response.


    With that, after discussing a few more things, the meeting was dismissed.

 Chapter 46: _Bite Him In The Ass

    <h4>Chapter 46: _Bite Him In The Ass</h4>


    The day for the arrival of the South American Alpha King finally arrived, faster than expected if you ask me.


    It probably seemed fast to me because nothing dramatic happened during the time we spent waiting for him.


    And by ¡¯we¡¯ I mean the people of the pack and the continent atrge, especially the elites among us.


    "Is there anything we¡¯re missing, La?" I asked my assistant as we walked through the main event hall where we were to wee the Alpha king with a weing ball.


    It was exciting to meet a much older Alpha King, but the idea was also daunting. This man knew my father and probably shared the same old-school beliefs with him.


    If he did... Discussing anything of importance would be difficult, and I wasn¡¯t sure if I had the patience in me.


    Anyway, La looked at her iPad before shaking her head. "No, sir. We aren¡¯t missing anything. The chairs arranged for all the guests areplete and the cameras meant for broadcasting the asion all over the continent are set." She began exining while I nodded my head as I listened.


    The hall was currently decoratedvishly with fairy lights adorning the walls and a huge stage at the end of it.


    There was a gallery/upper floor above the ground floor and a single, separated section at the upper floor meant for the South American Alpha King, his Luna, and also for Odessa and me.


    Speaking of Odessa...


    "How¡¯s my wife pulling up? Has shepleted her orientation on the traditions of our guests and how to present our pack well?" I asked, sitting on a random chair and crossing one leg on top of another.


    I stared at La expectantly but before she could speak, I heard approaching footsteps, forcing me to raise my head.


    <fna39b> Discover more novels at Find~Novel</fna39b>


    To my surprise and annoyance, the person approaching was none other than my estranged ex-wife, Celine, who had a stern expression on her face.


    She wore a shimmering silver gown that hugged her curves as usual and had her hair tied up into a curly ponytail, her high heels clicking on the marble floor with each step she took.


    "Good afternoon, Luna." La greeted Celine with a bow as soon as she got in front of me. "Would you¨C"


    "Leave us. Now." Celine muttered calmly, not even bothering to nce at La as she folded her arms in front of her chest.


    My jaw clenched at her audacity.


    How dare shee in here and scare off my assistant like that?


    La seemed hesitant, ncing at me first before she nced at Celine. But when Celine finally turned her gaze to her and red at her with contempt, La raised her hands in a show of defeat before silently walking away.


    One way I knew I wasn¡¯t being unfairly harsh on Celine was the fact that people like La even showed their silent disapproval of her.


    "What do you want, Celine?" I asked the question that has now be a constant chorus in my life.


    I¡¯ve given her everything possible... Money, her title as Luna of this pack, and a ce in my mansion.


    What else could she and her bitch of a mother possibly want from me?


    ¡¯Hehe... Your love, probably.¡¯ Damon muttered in my head, forcing me to mentally roll my eyes as I tapped my right foot on the ground in anticipation of whatever Celine had to say.


    Now that was something I could never give even if I was hexed to do it.


    Anyway, Celine drew in a deep breath, probably to fight off the demons she clearly had tormenting her mind before she spoke up.


    "Why are you doing this to me, Kaelos?" She asked, causing me to arch an eyebrow.


    I nced around, noticing how empty the hall was, apart from three workers arranging some decorations in a corner.


    "Are we really about to have this conversation right now, Celine?" I queried, tilting my head. "We¡¯re expecting guests today. They are very important guests whom my family has kept an alliance with for centuries. I don¡¯t need anything distracting me right now."


    Celine clicked her tongue before chuckling bitterly. Now if she was trying to irk me, she was slowly getting there since I don¡¯t know what the fuck she found funny about what I said.


    "That¡¯s my point exactly, Kaelos," Celine muttered, gesturing at me before clenching her fists. "You¡¯re expecting such important guests, and you¡¯re choosing to unt a witch as your bride in front of them? What about¨C"


    "You?" I asked, removing my right leg from my left and focusing all my attention on Celine as my voice and gaze turned cold.


    However, to my surprise, she didn¡¯t flinch at my reaction and instead stood her ground with an unknown light in her eyes.


    I decided to ignore that before I continued. "What do you think the South American Alpha King ising here for? Tea? No, Celine, he¡¯sing here to see just how effective this truce with the witches is so he could hopefully implement it in his territory."


    I¡¯m pretty sure that was made clear several times, except her brain couldn¡¯t umte too much information.


    ¡¯Now you know damn well, Kaelos...¡¯ Damon sniggered in my head just then, causing a slight smirk to curl up the corner of my lips.


    But the smirk didn¡¯t evenst two seconds when Celine suddenly scoffed, a bitter smile on her face.


    "Making peace with those vile insects is perhaps one of the worst decisions you¡¯ve ever made, Kaelos." She blurted, her tone just as bitter as her smile.


    She dropped her arms, giving me one final, cold look that caused me to tense up for some reason.


    Finally, she mumbled. "I hope that decision doesn¡¯t bite you in the asster on."


    I gritted my teeth but before I could react to her words or say anything in response, she turned around and walked away, her ursed hips swaying with each step she took.


    "Deranged bitch." I muttered under my breath, using my fingers to rub my forehead out of frustration.


    However, before I could gather my thoughts and think of something else, La, who probably hadn¡¯t gone far, walked back to me, almost bumping into the exiting Celine.


    La nced back at Celine briefly before she finally turned her gaze to me. "The South American Alpha King is here, sir." She announced with urgency.


    Crap...

 Chapter 47: _Welcome To North America

    <h4>Chapter 47: _Wee To North America</h4>


    "Well, where is he?" I asked as I stood from the chair I sat and gestured at La to lead the way out of the hall. "Also, where are Beta Marcellus and the rest of my Council?"


    La nced back at me, her iPad clutched to her chest as she responded hastily. "I got word from the guards at the entrance of the pack that he just passed the gates with his entourage. They¡¯reing with cars, of course."


    Well, duh...


    I shook my head as we finally managed to step out of the hall and walk down the stairs.


    "Oh, and Beta Marcellus and the rest of your council are already waiting for the arrival of the Alpha king and his delegates at your mansion."


    Excellent.


    "Then we¡¯ll be heading to the mansion and join them in waiting," I muttered as we made a turn to the mansion. "Speaking of which, what about my wife? Where¡¯s Odessa?"


    I knew very well that the South American Alpha king had his reservations concerning witches, despite his wish toe to our pack to see how well my treaty was going.


    He already has a wife who, from what I know, is his mate, so I was quite confused about why he was interested in this method. Would his wife be cool with him marrying a witch as a second wife?


    Celine wasn¡¯t exactly pleased when I did that and she¡¯s not even my wife anymore.


    "Your wife is still with the trainers within the mansion. She¡¯s just taking a few more rundowns on etiquette lessons now so she should be ready." La reported to me as we finally approached my mansion.


    My Alpha council,posed of Marcellus, my uncle, and the Delta, as well as Elder Davina, were all waiting in front of the mansion with serious expressions on their faces.


    The seriousness was expected... Our guest today is one of the most powerful Alpha kings on the, and whatever scrutiny he has on our pack and how we run things could have an impact, whether good or bad.


    "Good morning, people." I greeted my entourage with a smile while ncing briefly at my uncle, the Gamma. "Is everything set at your end? I haven¡¯t seen a lot of guards in the elite regions on my way here."


    Gamma Zane shed me a sarcastic smile before he replied. "They¡¯re hidden, my Lord. But they¡¯ll be out at the slightest sign of an attack or¨C"


    "That¡¯s the thing, Gamma." I interrupted my tone void of warmth. "I don¡¯t want an ¡¯attack¡¯ to happen. At all. There¡¯s no reason for that and your men, the ones I spent a lot of money and resources on, should be up to the task and fish out any possible culprits BEFORE anything happens."


    Everyone was silent as they nced at the Gamma. He had his jaw clenched but didn¡¯t dare to say anything in rebuttal of my words.


    Seeing this, I smiled and muttered. "Good. I guess you understand me."


    Suddenly, my ears picked up the sound of approaching cars, causing me to tense up before I stered a weing smile on my face.


    "Our guests are here." I blurted, turning around and positioning myself at the center of the group.


    A minute or soter, the cars finally came into view, causing me to draw in a deep breath.


    The guards in front of thepound gate opened it, allowing the cars to drive into thepound before stopping in front of us.


    <fnd4e3> The source of th?s content is Find_Novel(.</fnd4e3>


    The front passenger seat door of one of the cars, a ck SUV, opened, and the person who stepped out of it happened to be a guard wearing a ck suit with brown skin and a stern look on his face.


    He walked to the car at the very end of the trail of cars and opened the front passenger seat door, after which the main man of the event, the South American Alpha king himself, stepped out.


    He was a man in his early sixties with grey hair and a mustache. Everything about him screamed MONEY.


    From the tailored ck tuxedo he wore with subtle and intricate emerald-colored wolf paw designs padded all over it to the green bow tie, the diamond-encrusted wristwatch on his left wrist, and the ck shoe polished to a fine end.


    When the guard opened the back passenger seat doors and his wife stepped out, that only helped to cement my views on how rich this man was.


    She wore a floor-sweeping green evening gown with a jewel tone on the material that made it seem like an emerald.


    She was in herte fifties and had long ck hair.


    "Kaelos." The South American said with a deep baritone voice that reverberated with power as he adjusted his cufflinks before waltzing to me alongside his wife. "Mi Muchacho. Look at you!"


    I smiled warmly, and this time it was genuine. "Wee to North America, Alpha King Leonardo and Luna Queen Reina. It¡¯s been so long, indeed." I remarked.


    The South American Alpha king shook his head with a smile before he stretched out his arms.


    To my surprise, he hugged me, causing me to freeze. Something about his hug felt warm and almost... Fatherly.


    Luckily, the hug or the fuzzy feelings didn¡¯tst for long as he finally pulled away from the hug and patted me on my shoulder.


    "Boy, I watched you grow as a young pup. Don¡¯t be so formal." He said with a teasing tone before turning to the members of my Alpha council.


    They all took that as their cue and bowed in front of him and his wife.


    At this point, the rest of the South American Alpha king¡¯s delegates stepped out of their cars, including three men that I assumed were his Beta, Gamma, and Delta, respectively, and an elderly man wearing a green robe with floral designs that I assumed was the spiritual leader of his pack.


    "I¡¯m certain your father is looking down on you and is proud of you," Leonardo muttered just then, kissing his index and middle finger before he pointed them to the sky. "May the goddess rest his soul."


    Hmph... More like looking up at me.


    I decided to ignore Leonardo¡¯s words by merely smiling in response before I gestured at my mansion.


    "I¡¯ll show you to your suites where you can sleep throughout the duration of your stay. Also, there¡¯s a ball tonight meant to wee you."


    Leonardo nced at his wife who ced her right hand on her chest with a flustered expression on her face.


    "Es muy gentil de tu parte." She remarked in Spanish with a warm smile. "You shouldn¡¯t have gone through that stress, boy. A ball would be marvelous."


    I shook my head and was about to say something when I picked up a familiar scent that got my wolf wild.


    I nced back at the mansion¡¯s entrance just in time to see Odessa making her way down the stairs, wearing a beautiful red evening gown with floral designs, and her blonde hair allowed to flow freely.


    At that same moment, as she arrived, the spiritual leader of Leonardo¡¯s pack muttered with clear disdain.


    "Bruja."

 Chapter 48: _A Blessing

    <h4>Chapter 48: _A Blessing</h4>


    "Excuse me?" I turned my gaze to the spiritual leader, arching an eyebrow.


    Meanwhile, my wolf was already growling inside me and I was certain I wouldn¡¯t be having this reaction if it weren¡¯t for his influence.


    "Pardon, but isn¡¯t that what she is? A bruja? A witch?" The spiritual leader asked, his gaze still on Odessa who had finallye down the flight of stairs.


    It wasn¡¯t about the words he said. Oh, no... It was about the tone.


    Anyway, she wore a ne with a ruby-red gemstone... The same ne I wore around her neck during our rushed wedding.


    For some reason, seeing that ne made my heart flutter with a warmth that I wasn¡¯t quite used to feeling.


    "Elder Rafael, please." Alpha King Leonardo muttered with a stered smile on his face, causing his spiritual leader to finally rx. "I hope the rumors of her good nature are true."


    Hehe... ¡¯Good nature¡¯. It depends on their definition of the term.


    Anyway, Odessa had her maid walking behind her and the both of them finally got in front of our group.


    She stood beside me, ncing briefly at me before she bowed in front of the South American Alpha King.


    "Wee to our pack, Alpha King."


    <fn5afe> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? Find~Novel</fn5afe>


    ¡¯Our¡¯?


    That sounded... Off.


    When she finally raised her head, Leonardo had a stoic but calm expression on his face as he scrutinized her. He sniffed her, his nose scrunching up and his eyes glinting with curiosity.


    ¡¯Why the heck is the creepy old man sniffing our mate?¡¯ Damon asked in my head but unfortunately, I didn¡¯t know why either and just had to stand there silently.


    Eventually, Leonardo finally stopped sniffing Odessa and squinted his eyes, seeming to be in thought.


    "You smell like a witch, all right. But there¡¯s something... Different."


    I noticed Odessa ncing at me from the corner of my eyes but didn¡¯t say anything to her, instead stering a smile on my face as I stared at the South American Alpha King.


    The air was ripe with tension after his words, causing me to ponder them. What did he mean Odessa was ¡¯different¡¯?


    Could he somehow decipher that she was a powerless witch? Or was he talking about her human blood?


    Whatever the reason was, my mind was still going through so many possibilities, especially since I couldn¡¯t let him or anyone else know that Odessa was my fated mate.


    That would be overly dramatic.


    Anyway, Leonardo finally cleared his throat and wrapped his hands firmly in front of his body with a smile on his face, his stoic mask dropping.


    "Well, enough standing. I¡¯m famished." He remarked, causing his wife to chuckle beside him.


    I nced at Odessa who seemed to rx now.


    With that, I gestured at the mansion with a smile still on my face. "Where are my manners? Please, you alle in."


    Everyone proceeded to follow me in walking into the mansion, with Alpha King Leonardo walking beside me.


    We navigated our way from the grand foyer of the mansion until we got to the dining room where a few maids were waiting.


    The maids bowed to us before they ced the finishing touches on the dining table which was already filled with an assortment of food.


    "So, how about your wife, Kaelos?" Luna Queen Reina asked when everyone had finally settled down.


    I sat at the end of the table with Odessa sitting to my right while Alpha King Leonardo and his wife did the same in the opposite direction.


    Anyway, I picked up a fork, ncing at Odessa who had a in expression as she gently picked out some potato chips.


    Drawing in a deep breath, I responded to the Luna Queen¡¯s question. "I¡¯m guessing you¡¯re talking about Celine Greyheart. Well, she¡¯s all right. But we¡¯re divorced now."


    Alpha King Leonardo dropped his ss of wine just then, seeming surprised.


    I couldn¡¯t me them... Most of the continent still thought that Celine was my wife because I didn¡¯t bother making the divorce public.


    I didn¡¯t expect these people from South America to know anything.


    "Why?" Leonardo asked with genuine curiosity, but his question left an unspoken tension at the dining table.


    Luckily, Celine wasn¡¯t there. If not, I was certain she wouldn¡¯t let this slide without some drama.


    "She couldn¡¯t bear me children, and that was the only reason I married her, so I had to let go of her," I said with a sigh before I picked at a piece of fried fish and ate it with my fork.


    Once again, there was nothing but silence after my words. I could feel the silent judgment of Leonardo and his delegates and even from my uncle.


    But I ignored them and continued eating as if nothing happened.


    "Pardon me for asking, but how then do you hope to have children, Kaelos?" Luna Queen Reina asked, her gaze fixed on Odessa with curiosity. "Do you n on finding your mate? The clock is ticking and you aren¡¯t getting any younger."


    Yeah... No shit.


    But s, I couldn¡¯t tell them that my mate was sitting right beside me. I couldn¡¯t let them know that the moon goddess had ¡¯blessed¡¯ me with a witch as a mate.


    So I smiled wryly instead, ncing briefly at Odessa who tensed up.


    I moved my right leg discreetly under the table and tapped her gently, signaling her to get her act on.


    "Yes, I do, Luna Queen Reina. I n to find my mate if the moon goddess wills it." I muttered, my tone resolute. "And if, for some reason, I¡¯m never able to find her, I¡¯ll just pick a fair maiden from my pack or perhaps take one of your daughter¡¯s hand in marriage to give me children."


    Luna Queen Reina and her husband chuckled lightly at my response, causing me to smirk.


    Suddenly, Odessa, who had been drinking some wine, almost choked on it, causing her to cough erratically.


    She ced her right hand on her chest as she dropped the ss while waving her left hand apologetically.


    "Pardon me. I drank too fast."


    I arched an eyebrow at her, noticing how her countenance changed. She didn¡¯t even try hiding the way she clenched her jaw as she continued eating like nothing happened.


    ¡¯It seems like you two will be having a conversation really soon.¡¯ Damon said with a chuckle in my head, causing me to roll my eyes discreetly.


    With that, we continued eating and no one brought up any personal questions.


    Tonight we¡¯d be set for the weing ball.


    (A/N: Hello, gentle reader. This author has been feeling really burned out recently but updates are back on track. Please, continue supporting with your powerstones and golden tickets and leave your thoughts in thements. Thank you and happy reading!<3)

 Chapter 49: _Too Harsh

    <h4>Chapter 49: _Too Harsh</h4>


    Night soon came and it was finally time for the ball.


    I was in my room, getting ready by buttoning my suit, while Marcellus stood behind me, already dressed up in a fine-tailored grey suit.


    "Looking dashing as always, my liege," Marcellus muttered teasingly just then, causing me to roll my eyes as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.


    Just like I said before, I didn¡¯t need to go around searching for a tailor since I already had dozens of tuxedos to choose from.


    I wore a blood-red tuxedo, the color representing our pack, and had my shoulder-length ck hair tied up in a fancy-looking bun.


    Anyway, I turned around to nce at Marcellus before shaking my head. "Quit the ttering and tell me if you¡¯ve discovered anything new about Odessa," I muttered.


    It was Marcellus¡¯ turn to roll his eyes.


    "Seriously, I don¡¯t get you." He remarked, folding his arms in front of his chest. "You¡¯re her husband and she¡¯s your wife. If you need any new Intel on her you could literally just ask her instead of relying on me."


    I arched an eyebrow at him after hearing his berating, causing him to raise his hands defensively.


    "No offense, of course."


    As annoying as Marcellus could get, I knew it was all harmless and that he meant well at the end of the day.


    ¡¯Yeah, your best friend has a point, dude.¡¯ Damon muttered in my head just then, causing my eyes to twitch. ¡¯Odessa is your wife AND your mate. We don¡¯t need to be cutting corners to uncover things about her. Quit being a wuss and start stepping up for once.¡¯


    I clenched my jaw at his words but decided not to respond to him because there was a part of me that secretly agreed with his words.


    Anyway, I gestured at the door after waiting a few more seconds. "Let¡¯s go. The guests should be arriving by now and we can¡¯t keep the South American Alpha king and his delegates waiting."


    Marcellus nodded his understanding and was about to take the lead and walk toward the door when a knock came on it.


    "Come in."


    The door swung open and La walked in. She wore a sleeved blue satin gown with intricate floral designscing it. Her braids were let down behind her, waving around with each step she took.


    "Sir, most of the guests are already there, and ma¡¯am Odessa is almost ready."


    I nodded curtly at her and nced at Marcellus before the three of us made our way out of the room.


    After closing the door behind us, Marcellus arched a curious brow.


    "Don¡¯t you want to see your bride before heading to the hall? Her room isn¡¯t far from here."


    As soon as he said that, we walked past Odessa¡¯s room door. I picked up some of a likely conversation and also her lingering scent that always managed to get my wolf growling.


    But I quickly tore my gaze away from her door and continued walking like nothing happened.


    "My wife or not, she¡¯s still a witch, Marcellus. Getting close to her would be a dangerous game." I blurted, ignoring the nce I got from La who walked in front of us.


    She could get nosey, but she knew better than to ce her nose into my business.


    "You didn¡¯t seem to care about her being a witch when you queried me constantly about any information I could get about her," Marcellus remarked with a sarcastic tone before he shoved me lightly on my shoulder. "Come on, man. I wouldn¡¯t judge if you admit you¡¯re catching feelings for a witch."


    My eyes widened and my heart felt like it was going to jump out of my throat.


    I turned my gaze to Marcellus when we finally began walking down the stairs, my eyes dimming with suspicion.


    "Where did you get that idea from?" I asked, scrutinizing his facial expression.


    If I didn¡¯t know any better, I would¡¯ve sworn that Marcellus sounded like he knew about Odessa being my mate.


    And even though he¡¯s my best friend... I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯m ready to let him in on that little secret.


    "Uh... The way you stare at her maybe?" Marcellus responded to myst question with a shrug, cing his hands into his pockets with a nonchnt expression. "Just this afternoon when we were weing Alpha King Leonardo, I noticed the way you stared at her. It was brief but... Intimate."


    Gosh, was it really that obvious?


    ¡¯Hehe, at this point the only one who can¡¯t notice the tension between you and Odessa is you. And that¡¯s saying a lot.¡¯ Damon uttered in my head with a mockingugh.


    What I would give to be able to shove my fist into his mouth one of these days.


    Anyway, when we finally navigated our way to thepound outside, stepping into the night with the moon hanging above us in its half phase, Marcellus ced a hand on my shoulder.


    "Hey, there¡¯s no shame in liking Odessa. I mean, she¡¯s hot, I¡¯m not going to lie."


    My eyebrows furrowed into a frown.


    <fncfe9> Read full story at F?nd-Novel</fncfe9>


    Hot?


    Hearing that word from another man, referring to Odessa seemed to tick something off inside my head. It was like a bomb, waiting to burst.


    "What?" Marcellus asked just then, not realizing my sour mood. "I¡¯m just saying that if she weren¡¯t your wife and well... A witch. I think I can see myself¨C"


    "Thread carefully, Marcellus!" My voice lost all its friendly warmth as I grabbed his wrist and stared straight into his eyes, my wolf letting out a guttural growl.


    However, when I saw the surprise etched on Marcellus¡¯ face, nced at La, and noticed her shock as she stood silently beside us, I let go of Marcellus and grunted to myself.


    Fuck...


    "Let¡¯s just go to the event hall and get this over with," I muttered, taking the lead this time as we walked toward the event building meant for the ball.


    Several cars were packed in front of the building, which was expected since elite members of werewolf society from select parts of the continent had decided to visit the pack to wee the South American Alpha King.


    Unity was more than important to werewolves, especially during these times of war.


    Anyway, the eventcked the presence of any cameramen thanks to how private it was.


    We got inside to meet a hall with chairs arranged at all corners in a set and easy-to-navigate pattern.


    Werewolves of my pack and others from around the continent were sitting, intermingling, andughing among themselves as they ate and drank while slow dance music was being yed.


    My gaze went upstairs, where I saw the South American Alpha King and his wife already sitting at the separate spot designed for them.


    I nced at Marcellus who gave me a curt nod apanied with a smile before he walked away, his assistant joining him from where he stood at a corner.


    "I guess my reaction was too harsh," I mumbled to myself, getting a weird feeling in my chest.


    Was this... Guilt?


    I sighed heavily, about to make my way to the stairs that would lead upstairs when my nose caught a scent that made me pause in my tracks.


    I slowly turned my gaze around, my eyes scanning the hall in search of the source of the scent. The scent always managed to make my wolf growl with desire.


    The scent that only came from... HER.


    I finally spotted her, Odessa, my bride, walking through therge entrance of the hall and causing almost everyone in the hall to turn their heads to her as well.


    My gaze was transfixed on her while my lips slowly parted, my heart pounding heavily against my rib cage.


    Dear goddess...

 Chapter 50: _Keeping Things Cute

    <h4>Chapter 50: _Keeping Things Cute</h4>


    I quickly tried to regain myposure by clearing my throat as I watched Odessa walking toward me.


    She had a nervous look on her face as she held onto the sides of the ruby-red gown that once belonged to my mother.


    The ruby ne I gave her on our rushed wedding was still on her neck, causing a slight smirk to curl up the corner of my lips for a brief second.


    ¡¯Oh,,. Someone¡¯s clearly smitten.¡¯ Damon used the opportunity to tease me just then, causing me to mentally roll my eyes.


    ¡¯Shut it, runt. She¡¯s beautiful and it¡¯s not wrong if my mind registers that.¡¯ I responded to him inly but soon realized my mistake.


    He could easily use those words against me.


    ¡¯Wait, what I mean is¨C¡¯


    ¡¯Oh, don¡¯t worry. I get it.¡¯ Damon remarked with a mischievous tone, making it clear that he didn¡¯t, in fact, get it. ¡¯Regardless of what you call it, you can¡¯t deny the fact that you¡¯ll most definitely be taking that gown off her tonight.¡¯


    Okay... That was enough bantering with my wolf for one night.


    Without warning, I sessfully cut off the link with Damon, giving me temporary breathing space as Odessa finally got in front of me.


    "Good evening." She muttered, stretching her right hand forward in a formal manner.


    I brought my gaze to her outstretched hand and smirked before I took it in my grasp.


    <fn2d9f> Follow current nov?ls on fin?novel</fn2d9f>


    "Good evening," I responded, my gaze lingering on her eyes. She had a smokey purple eyeshadow thatplimented her violet eyes.


    "You look..." I muttered, lost for words until I soon became self-conscious.


    I scanned my gaze around and realized that even though the music was still ying and most were still intermingling and drinking, most of the people still nced at Odessa and me asionally with suspicion and curiosity.


    "Is that her? The Alpha King¡¯s Witch bride?" I heard a voice from a corner ask.


    "So the rumors are true?"


    "What rumors? It¡¯s a known fact that he decided to marry a witch. Do you live under a rock?"


    "What about Luna Celine? How does she feel about this?"


    Oh, that¡¯s right...


    I scanned my gaze around again before I spotted Celine sitting at a table close to the stage.


    However, despite her distance from us, she still red at me and Odessa, ignoring her mother who sat beside her and was trying to draw her attention to something else.


    "Let¡¯s go to our seats upstairs," I whispered to Odessa, holding her hand tightly before leading her to the stairs.


    She had a confused look on her face at first but didn¡¯t dare resist as we climbed the stairs.


    We navigated our way through the gallery and finally got to the separate spot where the South American Alpha King and his wife were also seated on a well-decorated rectangle table.


    Luna Queen Reina had her gaze on Odessa, who kept her gaze lowered as she sat on her chair, which was to my left, while Alpha King Leonardo sat to my right with his wife to his right.


    "You look beautiful, witch." Luna Queen Reina muttered just then and to my surprise, there was no contempt or disdain hidden behind her voice.


    She was being genuine.


    Odessa had a blush on her face as she bowed her head slightly at the Luna Queen.


    I nced at her, my wife, and couldn¡¯t help but feel warm in my chest. I knew that if I gave Damon ess to my mind again, he wouldn¡¯t let me hear the end of it.


    Anyway, we sat down quietly as we watched the nobles intermingling before a dance music was yed and some of them walked to the dance floor with their partners.


    I caught Odessa ncing at me at the corner of my eyes and almost instantly knew what she was thinking about.


    Unfortunately, it would be an impossible thing for her to ask of me. Not necessarily impossible... But hard nheless.


    "Honey, do you want to dance?" Luna Queen Reina suddenly beat her to it, tapping her husband with excitement in her tone.


    It was nice seeing such a happy couple keeping it cute despite their age.


    Anyway, Alpha King Leonardo grabbed a ss of wine he poured for himself, taking a sip before he responded to his wife.


    "Honey, we have some more important things to attend to, like discussions about the truce." He remarked, a wry smile on his face before he nced at me and Odessa. "Besides... Our host couple haven¡¯t even gone to dance yet. We should let the younglings open the floor for us."


    He proceeded to pat me on my shoulder, causing me to breathe out as he chuckled heartily.


    "Isn¡¯t that right, Kaelos?" He asked.


    I shed a smile at him, nodding my head even though my smile probably didn¡¯t extend to my eyes.


    I loved these people but they were low-key starting to get on my nerves. They could ask whatever they wanted to ask and be on their way.


    I even saw the visit as a waste of energy and resources but I didn¡¯t dare voice that out for fear of losing an important ally in the international werewolfmunity.


    Anyway, the ball finally got to a point where the MC, my assistant La, took a microphone and got on the stage which was just below where we were sitting.


    "Tonight, we¡¯re gathered to wee one of our own from the other side of the globe." She said with glee in her voice.


    Knowing La, she was probably exaggerating her enthusiasm because she knew she represented me.


    Just then, Marcellus got to the gallery and walked up to us with a smile on his face.


    I nced at him, feeling relieved that he didn¡¯t seem upset about our earlier conversation.


    "How are you folks enjoying the party?" He asked as La continued speaking downstairs.


    I parted my lips, about to respond when a cold shiver suddenly ran down my spine. My ears picked up the sound of a click... Like from the click of a gun.


    I turned my gaze to the ballroom downstairs and dimmed my eyes, searching for the source of the danger.


    "Kaelos?" Marcellus called me, sounding worried.


    It was then that I saw it... A beam of light heading toward us at a speed that seemed to break the sound barrier.


    "Watch out!"

 Chapter 51: _Sneaky Celine

    <h4>Chapter 51: _Sneaky Celine</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    <fne2d1> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? FindN0vel</fne2d1>


    Sometimes getting other people to do your dirty work and watching them destroy themselves is far easier than actually doing it yourself.


    Okay... Who was he kidding? It was mountains of fun!


    After cing Celine under his spell, Marcellus watched from the shadows, monitoring her change in behavior and watching her scheming on how to cause Kaelos and Odessa pain.


    The amusing part was that her mother, whom Celine had always shared everything with, was now left in the dark about her most recent ns.


    Anyway, on the other side of the chess board, there was Odessa. He¡¯s not going to lie... He indeed wanted to manipte her and get into her head with his magic on that night that she came out to rant about Kaelos.


    But... There was a little problem with that.


    "She has a protection ring?" Cullen, his assistant, asked him when they discussed their ns while watching Celine from the shadows.


    Today was the day that the Alpha King¡¯s tailor hade to his mansion to take measurements and the like. At night time today, long after the tailor had left the mansion, Celine had walked out, ncing around suspiciously.


    Marcellus tilted his eyes, squinting his eyes as he scrutinized her while also simultaneously answering Cullen¡¯s question.


    "Indeed, Cullen. She says it was left behind by her mother who was apparently a powerful witch." He blurted casually before he and Cullen waltzed in the shadows, following Celine.


    What was she up to under the maniption of his spell? It was exciting to watch, like a game of Russian Roulette.


    "Oh, right," Cullen muttered, scoffing soon after. "In that case, you¡¯ll just have to take it off her finger, right? Easy peasy."


    Marcellus paused just then, rolling his eyes before he turned his gaze to Cullen.


    "Not ¡¯easy peasy¡¯, Cullen." He exined, a hint of irritation in his voice. "Protection rings of that caliber are usually made to protect the owner from outside magical influence that they¡¯re unaware of. But also, it would alert the owner by burning their skin if it¡¯s about to be taken forcefully."


    Now, as frustrating as all that was, Marcellus saw it as a potential challenge if the need ever arose. He could already think of some loopholes in getting that ring.


    Suddenly, the two men spotted Celine walking toward one of the outskirts of the pack. The fact that she was doing all this on foot should be exhausting but also dumb.


    "Couldn¡¯t she be any more sneaky?" Marcellus grunted, shaking his head.


    Unfortunately, his spell could do nothing to augment a victim¡¯s intelligence.


    Anyway, after what felt like hours of seemingly aimless walking, Celine finally got to the northern walls of the pack.


    There was a wall surrounding the entire pack, reaching five meters in height. From what Marcellus has been able to decipher, the walls were sturdy but also had centuries of divine magic protecting them.


    Divine magic channeled from the moon goddess herself. This way, it would be almost impossible for the witches to attack this pack.


    Well, almost...


    "Couldn¡¯t you get someone to like... Get close enough to Odessa to take off the ring?" Cullen asked when the two of them hid themselves under the shadow of a tree hundreds of meters away from the walls.


    Marcellus arched an eyebrow, ncing back at Cullen. Thed was also a member of the true Lord of the North¡¯s special forces of artificial hybrids.


    Butpared to him, Cullen was still learning to get used to his transformation and was much weaker. That¡¯s why he¡¯s under him as an ¡¯assistant¡¯.


    "Believe me when I say it¡¯s no problem, Cullen," Marcellus said with a confident smirk as he stared at Celine and watched the way she stood anxiously in front of the walls as if she was waiting for something or someone.


    "For now, Celine is enough for me to manipte. Besides, there are a plethora of other chess pieces to move in this pack." Marcellus continued to Cullen while his eyes dimmed at Celine.


    At this rate, even though there were no buildings close to these walls, she might get caught by any patrolling pack soldier.


    What was taking her so long?


    Just when Marcellus was contemting if his spell hadpletely fried her brain, something quite surprising happened.


    A shadowy figure materialized in front of Celine, a mist covering it.


    "What the..." Cullen muttered speechlessly as he stared at the shadow figure.


    Meanwhile, Marcellus almost instantly knew what the figure was. Or rather, who it was.


    "Keep quiet." Marcellus ced his hand on Cullen¡¯s mouth, shushing him as the figure finally revealed herself.


    It turned out to be Regina, the true lord of the North¡¯s messenger.


    "Well, well, well..." Regina muttered as she scrutinized Celine with a sly smirk on her face. "You actually made it. I hope you came alone."


    Just then, Celine scanned her gaze around before nodding in response.


    However, Regina soon brought her gaze directly to the tree where Marcellus and Cullen were hidden, her expression in as her eyes glinted with an unknown light from the distance.


    Marcellus and Cullen remained hidden thanks to their cloaking spell, but the former knew that Regina was probably already on to him and might have even sniffed out his magic on Celine.


    But she wouldn¡¯t dare meddle in his affairs. She knew how chaotic things could get if she did.


    Anyway, Regina finally tore her gaze away from the tree and stared directly at Celine, a mischievous smile on her face.


    "So, Luna Queen Celine. You said you want to make a deal with me even though I¡¯m a rogue witch." Regina remarked, sarcasmced in her voice. "I hope your contacts informed you of how... Dangerous and notorious I am. What could you possibly need me for?"


    She wasn¡¯t a ¡¯witch¡¯ but Marcellus remembered that she worked as a mercenary, striking deals with corrupt wolves, witches or even humans who needed her services.


    None of them could ever suspect that she was a hybrid.


    Anyway, Celine seemed like there was a lump stuck in her throat, even from this distance. Her hate for witches was well known, so seeing her trying to strike a deal with what she assumed was one was ironic.


    After drawing in one deep breath, Celine blurted coldly. "I want you to kill Odessa Pierce."

 Chapter 52: _A Deal With The Devil

    <h4>Chapter 52: _A Deal With The Devil</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    "I want you to kill Odessa Pierce."


    His eyes opened wide in surprise when he heard those words from Celine¡¯s mouth.


    Yikes... He had underestimated how deep her hatred for Odessa had grown already within the span of merely a few days since she arrived in this pack.


    Marcellus smirked, amused and eager to see how this would turn out.


    Meanwhile, Regina also seemed amused and chuckled lightly, cing her right hand in front of her mouth. She didn¡¯t care that Celine was now getting awkward andughed to her satisfaction before she spoke.


    "Really? Oh my gosh, I knew this so-called ¡¯truce¡¯ wouldn¡¯tst a week without one of you wolves plotting to kill the poor witch." Regina remarked, cing her index finger on her lips as she walked around Celine.


    There was still a thinyer of mist surrounding the true Lord of the North¡¯s messenger, giving her an extra air of mystery and ominousness.


    Anyway, Celine gritted her teeth, ring at Regina with disdain that was even clear to Marcellus from this distance.


    Dangerous game...


    "You have no right to judge me, witch!" She yelled out with spite but then nced around wearily soon after.


    Rookie mistake...


    Without warning, Regina got in front of Celine and grabbed her jaw, forcing her to look into her eyes.


    Marcellus dimmed his eyes, wondering if she would dare to absorb Celine¡¯s life force. It wasn¡¯t that he would care since he could always manipte someone new, but still, even he knew that would be reckless.


    ¡¯Well, probably not as reckless as killing that maid the other night.¡¯ Marcellus thought to himself, amusing himself despite the tense situation up ahead.


    Anyway, Celine shivered in fear in front of Regina as thetter peered into her eyes while also leaning close to her face until she was mere inches away from brushing her lips against that of the corrupt Luna Queen.


    "I have every right to judge you, false Luna," Regina uttered, a cold smirk curling up her blood-red lips. "Look at how low you¡¯ve fallen. You were once the wife of one of the most powerful men on the continent and ruled beside him. You made your hatred for witches known far and wide during that time."


    Celine seemed like she wanted to struggle and fight back, but for some reason, she couldn¡¯t. Regina was no ordinary ¡¯witch¡¯ anyway and was stronger than she looked.


    "... Now here you are, plotting with a witch on how to kill another witch," Regina remarked, chuckling sadistically as she finally let go of Celine¡¯s jaw.


    <f30> Official source is find?novel</f30>


    Thetter used her right hand to rub her jaw while her left hand was balled into a fist beside her. But Regina couldn¡¯t care less about that and folded her arms in front of her chest.


    "Are you going to help me or not?" Celine asked, her voice a bit calmer now. "Do you have no idea how aggravating it is to watch the man you love bring in a recement in the form of our sworn enemies? To watch him... To watch him slip away from your grasp?"


    Marcellus couldn¡¯t help but scoff to himself even though he knew he was supposed to be hiding and silent.


    He knew that Regina didn¡¯t give a rat¡¯s ass about anything Celine was saying right now and that made things all the more amusing.


    "Aww. You¡¯re doing this for love?" Regina asked, resting her head on her hands as she fluttered her eyelids in a show of mock pity. "You poor thing. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll help you... For a price, of course."


    Celine ignored her obvious mocking tone and nodded her head. "Name your price."


    Regina smirked coldly, a sadistic light glinting in her eyes as her ck hooded cloak blew into the night wind.


    She stretched out her right hand, causing a magical parchment to appear above her palms, floating ominously.


    Marcellus felt a fleeting sense of pity for Celine but at the same time, he was interested to watch histest victim fall into something unknown.


    "Are you willing to make a deal with the devil, hon?" Regina queried, cing her index finger under Celine¡¯s jaw and forcing her to meet her gaze. "Just sign this soul-binding contract, and I¡¯ll do what you wish."


    Marcellus found it amazing how Celine had managed to get herself under the control and mercy of two hybrids in the span of barely a day.


    "I don¡¯t care. Just do what I ask and do it well." Celine blurted, stretching out her hand and asking for a pen.


    Regina gave her one and Celine signed the contract without bothering to read through it.


    Again... Rookie mistake.


    Regina grinned as the contract disappeared into thin air when Celine was done signing it.


    "Under the light of the moon, I promise to use whatever means possible to take Odessa Pierce¡¯s life," Regina remarked solemnly, almost making Marcellus snigger out loud.


    Almost...


    Anyway, with all said and done, Celine walked away from the outskirts of the pack, clutching onto the hem of her nightgown while scanning her gaze around cautiously.


    Marcellus nced at Cullen just then and didn¡¯t need to say a word to get a message across to him.


    The two of them stepped out of the shadow, walking toward Regina who seemed to be preparing to leave.


    "I should¡¯ve known that it was you boys," Regina said with a scoff as she turned around and gazed directly at Marcellus and Cullen who managed to get some meters away from her.


    She smirked at Marcellus for a few seconds before turning her gaze to Cullen who stared at her with disgust.


    "Cullen," Regina muttered casually, seeming disinterested in saying anything more to thed.


    Cullen harrumphed before he nodded curtly at her. "Regina."


    Marcellus nced at the two of them but now wasn¡¯t the time to revisit any past events between the two of them.


    "Regina, what are you doing in this pack again?" Marcellus asked, his voice cold as he stepped forward.


    A single step powered by his magic caused the grass in a several-meter radius to wither, but Regina remained unfazed as she stared nkly at his face.


    "I don¡¯te bearing any news from the true lord of the North, unfortunately. I¡¯m strictly here for business and now I mustplete my end of the bargain."


    Marcellus dimmed his eyes, not buying the charade. There was something she was not telling him.


    "What loopholes do you wish to utilize in this ¡¯deal¡¯ of yours if you don¡¯t mind me asking?" He queried, tilting his head.


    Regina smirked, her eyes glinting with a mischievous light before she responded.


    "Well, I told dear old Luna Celine that I would use ¡¯whatever¡¯ means possible to kill Odessa Pierce," Regina remarked, seeming proud of herself. "Whatever means includes something deliciously dubious. Like say... Striking her down at the South American Alpha king¡¯s uing weing ball."

 Chapter 53: _Give Them A Show

    <h4>Chapter 53: _Give Them A Show</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    A smirk curled up the corner of his lips when he heard her n.


    He must say... Regina was possibly as ruthless as he was when it came to things like this.


    However, he was also kinda hesitant about the idea of killing Odessa. He didn¡¯t want to do that... Not when he hasn¡¯t unraveled all he needed to know about her.


    With that in mind, Marcellus¡¯ expression became serious as he shook his head, causing Regina to tilt her head with a frown on her face.


    "We aren¡¯t getting rid of Odessa yet." He muttered, a calm expression on his face. "If she dies now, it might bring some conflict, but her people would probably see her as a martyr and me the wolves, forcing the Alpha King to probably go on with the truce."


    Regina seemed to rx now, but she still couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow curiously.


    "Why do I feel like there¡¯s more you¡¯re not telling me?" She asked, ncing at Cullen as well.


    But thetter only scoffed andpletely dissociated himself from the conversation, not even wanting to look at Regina¡¯s face.


    Regina rolled her eyes when she saw that but she obviously didn¡¯t care as she turned her gaze back to Marcellus.


    Marcellus¡¯ face lit up with a grin as he shrugged ominously. "Well, let¡¯s just say I still find the powerless witch a bit interesting. I¡¯ll want to keep her long enough to understand some things. Like why the heck she¡¯s Kaelos¡¯ mate."


    Regina still seemed uncertain about his decision but eventually shrugged. "Very well then. If you say so, I¡¯ll stay away from the weing ball¨C"


    "Oh, no, no, no." Marcellus interrupted her by raising a finger, causing her eyebrows to furrow into a frown. "Still show up at the weing ball. I have a n that will bring even more chaos without actually killing Odessa."


    He grinned, already seeing his brilliant idea in motion. It was so simple yet so deliciously chaotic.


    .


    .


    On the day of the weing ball, Marcellus went out of his way to do a few things. The first was getting his hands on a special ingredient.


    "Did you get it?" He asked, sitting on a chair on his balcony after he left the Alpha¡¯s mansion after he and the other Alpha Council members had weed Alpha King Leonardo personally.


    He still cringed anytime he had to put up with that ¡¯kind Beta¡¯ facade but this time, it was worth it.


    Alpha King Leonardo was not a man to be trifled with. Unlike the brute known as Kaelos, he was calmer and more experienced, a recipe for disaster for any of his potential enemies.


    Marcellus was able to get all this by simply studying him when he met him. Reading people was his specialty after all.


    Anyway, a figure materialized out of the shadows brought by the evening sun after he asked his question and the figure turned out to be Cullen.


    Cullen lowered his head slightly with a small smirk on his face as he handed a small vial to Marcellus.


    Marcellus collected the vial, a grin curling up his lips as he stared at it for an extended period before he sighed satisfactorily.


    "Perfect." He muttered, keeping the vial in his front pocket before patting his pocket lightly. "The other part of the n all lies in Regina¡¯s hands now. Hopefully, she doesn¡¯t fuck it up."


    He paused just then, scanning his gaze around the pack from where he sat up on his balcony.


    The pack seemed to be extra active and festive today, as people gossiped about the arrival of the South American Alpha King and what his presence might mean.


    Also, nobles from other packs around the continent invited by Kaelos, trooped into the pack in their fancy cars, ready to see the South American Alpha King.


    Marcellus stared down at all of them with contempt. It was amazing how these people could still party behind theirrge walls during a war that was only halted because of a truce.


    Amazing and disgusting...


    He took a sip from a drink in his hand, a calm expression on his face as he muttered. "Even though the elites are the only ones attending the ball tonight, the entire continent is watching. Scratch that, the entire world is watching."


    He paused yet again, ncing at Cullen who stood beside him with his hands in front of his body.


    "Let¡¯s give them a show, shall we?" Marcellus uttered coldly, downing his drink in one final gulp before he stood up and adjusted his clothes.


    It was time to change into something suitable for the ball.


    .


    .


    After preparing for the ball and then interacting with Kaelos for a little while in the Alpha mansion, Marcellus finally got into the event hall meant for the ball.


    Kaelos seemed to be upset over something he said earlier, but Marcellus couldn¡¯t give a rat¡¯s ass about that and fixed his attention on Cullen, who stood a distance away.


    "Any word from Regina?" He queried with a whisper, scanning his gaze around the hall.


    The ce was packed with elites and nobles of some of the purest werewolf bloodlines on the continent. And then sitting at the top floor was a small group made up of Alpha King Leonardo, his wife, Kaelos, and Odessa.


    Marcellus had to admit, he was a bit impressed when he saw Odessa walking in. Okay, who was he kidding?... He found her ravishing in that red dress.


    The thought that Kaelos would get to hit that tonight irked him to no end for an odd reason.


    <fn7d7b> For more chapters visit find~novel</fn7d7b>


    Anyway, Cullen nced around before he responded to hisst question. "She said she¡¯s disguised as one of the elites. She¡¯ll strike as soon as you give her the psychic signal."


    Marcellus nodded, a slight grin on his face.


    Everything was slowlying together.


    Anyway, after a lot of boring dancing and intermingling, Marcellus decided to go upstairs to ¡¯check on¡¯ Kaelos and the others.


    What he actually came there to do was use the opportunity to ce the substance in the vial into Alpha King Leonardo¡¯s drink, watching as the stupid old man drank it without suspecting anything as theyughed together.


    Marcellus had a warm smile on his face, but his mind was a different ce entirely as he established a psychic link with Regina easily through his magic.


    ¡¯Strike.¡¯ He said to her mentally.


    And then it happened, Kaelos only noticing when it was toote.

 Chapter 54: _People Are Annoying

    <h4>Chapter 54: _People Are Annoying</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    "Sometimes I feel like he annoys me for the fun of it, you know?" I said to my maid, Caroline, who was busy helping brush my hair for the evening.


    After the experience with the tailor and all earlier today, I avoided Kaelos like a gue till night time.


    I was still reeling from the way he had stopped me from blurting out that we were mates because Celine and her mother were around.


    It wasn¡¯t fair! I didn¡¯t have anyone to talk to about this whole thing with Kaelos and it was eating me up mentally.


    Heck, even though I didn¡¯t tell Caroline that we were mates, she still gave me awkward looks when I talked about him the way I did.


    Anyway, after a few unconformable seconds of silence, Caroline cleared her throat before she responded to myst statement.


    "Yeah, I¡¯m trying not to say anything that would make me lose my job." She exined, an apologetic look on her face. "Sorry about that."


    I rolled my eyes, using my fingers to yfully flick the hands she used to brush my hair.


    To my surprise, she had a genuine smile on her face after I did that, which was visible in the mirror in front of me.


    It seems she¡¯s growing even fonder of me.


    "Come on, Caroline. Lighten up." I said with a teasing tone before I sighed lightly. "Besides, the mighty Alpha King is having some kind of meeting in his office right now. He can¡¯t possibly hear us from there now, can he?"


    Caroline¡¯s silence after I said thatst part made me furrow my eyebrows. There¡¯s no way a werewolf could hear that far... Right?


    Ugh, whatever...


    "Very well, ma¡¯am. I¡¯ll talk about your... Husband issues." Caroline muttered with a slight smile curling up the corner of her lips, causing me to smile as well.


    She used her right hand to part aside some strands of my hair that had gotten in front of my face, giving me a little bit more view of my face.


    Sigh, at least the gods blessed me with beauty topensate for theck of magic.


    "Ma¡¯am, the truth is, men ARE annoying. Not just the Alpha King." Caroline said, sounding like she was speaking from experience.


    But then she pursed her lips, tilting her head in thought before she added. "Scratch that, people in general are annoying. Especially when you¡¯re in a rtionship of any sort with them."


    I arched an eyebrow but she avoided eye contact, focusing on my hair instead.


    Interesting...


    "And then, what about aplicated rtionship like what I have with Kaelos?" I queried, sighing heavily soon after. "I mean, we¡¯re supposed to be a married couple and we don¡¯t act like it. Well, apart from the sex, of course¨C"


    I was interrupted by Caroline¡¯s gasp, causing me to cover my mouth as well.


    Shit, that had slipped out!


    "Y¨C You and the Alpha King have...?" Caroline stuttered but then her freckled face reddened with a blush as she looked away from the mirror. "Forgive me, I shouldn¡¯t be prying. You were saying something?"


    Argh, my mouth will be the end of me!


    I hoped to the gods that I wouldn¡¯t identally blurt out that Kaelos is my mate one of these days.


    Well, for now, I could only trust and hope that Caroline doesn¡¯t tell a soul about what I just said.


    Anyway, I cleared my throat before I continued. "The point is, what Kaelos and I have isn¡¯t a normal rtionship. It¡¯s all tied to a bloody ¡¯truce¡¯ which will decide the fate of this stupid war in the continent and possibly the whole world from the looks of things."


    I sighed, shaking my head. At this point, Caroline removed her hands from my hair, giving me space to breathe and to think too.


    I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My blonde hair was made into a ponytail that emphasized my face and my violet eyes, and my lips had a soft pink lip balm on them.


    "Sometimes I ask myself if this is it?" I muttered, standing up from the chair and stretching my arms. "If this is how my life is going to end? As the wife of the ruthless Alpha King of North America? I¡¯ve never had it good when ites to rtionships but still... This is a lot."


    I stared at my reflection onest time before I breathed out and stepped away from the mirror.


    Meanwhile, Caroline who had been staring at me speechlessly, finally spoke up, walking beside me.


    "Don¡¯t lose hope, ma¡¯am Odessa." She said, sounding reassuring. "Who knows? The Alpha King might set you free from the bonds of the marriage if the truce goes on well and turns into a permanent fix to the war."


    Yeah... Right.


    I gave her a wry smile as I walked to a table in a corner of my room. On top of the table was my Aunt Althea¡¯s grimoire, sitting there ominously.


    I stared at it, using the fingers of my right hand to brush against the surface gently.


    "Oh, and I¡¯ve noticed the way he looks at you if that means anything." Caroline suddenly blurted, temporarily distracting me.


    I turned my head, squinting my eyes and hoping she¡¯d borate.


    She smiled awkwardly, scratching the back of her head before she exined herself. "The Alpha King looks at you in a possessive manner that I¡¯ve never seen him look at another woman before. And I¡¯ve been in this mansion for five years now."


    I gulped, knowing where this was going but still waiting to see if I was correct.


    "I¨C I don¡¯t know how to exin it better than that." She muttered, sounding bashful. "The banters, the tension... Everything about you two. It¡¯s almost as if the two of you are m¨C"


    Yup... Hell no!


    "It¡¯s getting prettyte." I interrupted hastily, tilting my head at her and smiling at her. "I¡¯m in the mood for a little night walk. What do you say?"


    <fn44b6> Updates are released by </fn44b6>


    Caroline blinked at me, seemingly speechless.


    But I took that as a yes after several seconds of even more awkward silence and grabbed my aunt¡¯s grimoire and then her arm, leading her out of the room.

 Chapter 55: _What’s Outside The Pack?

    <h4>Chapter 55: _What¡¯s Outside The Pack?</h4>


    "Uh, ma¡¯am? Where exactly are we heading to at this time of the night?" Caroline asked once we managed to walk past the guards at thepound gates.


    They didn¡¯t dare hold us back this time after Beta Marcellus scolded them thest time.


    Ahh... What a gentleman.


    Kaelos should take some fucking lessons.


    "I told you we¡¯re going for a walk, didn¡¯t I?" I said calmly, a smile on my face as I led the way.


    Even though I was new in this pack, I had a pretty decent photographic memorypared to most.


    Which made myck of magic skills even more surprising. But there was one skill that I picked up from my aunt that I could utilize to my advantage without magic...


    "But ma¡¯am..." Caroline continued whining just then, causing me to roll my eyes before turning my gaze to her.


    She walked a few steps behind me, looking around cautiously like a deer in the woods.


    "What about the witch or whatever that killed a maid the other night?" She continued, her voice getting a little shaky. "I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m not ready to die yet. I still have so many things to do, I¡¯ve never tried eating an octopus, I haven¡¯t been in a rtionship in ages, and¨C"


    "By the gods! Caroline, would you rx?" I eximed, ncing at her and shaking my head in disbelief. "It¡¯s only a harmless walk. We can hail a cab when we get to the middle-ss region. They have cabs there, right?"


    Caroline had an embarrassed blush on her face after my outburst but she nodded her head regardless, causing me to smirk slyly.


    It took a while for us to get to the middle-ss region of the pack. When we did, Caroline hailed a cab for us, signaling me to keep quiet as she negotiated with the driver.


    "Where to?" He asked, peeping at me with an odd mix of curiosity and the familiar disdain.


    I sighed, looking away from him and instead turning the pages on my aunt¡¯s grimoire.


    I couldn¡¯t wait to do what I had in mind.


    "Caroline, tell the kind man to take us to the pack¡¯s gates."


    As soon as I said those words, Caroline gasped, causing me to raise my head from my aunt¡¯s grimoire.


    I stared first at the taxi driver before I brought my gaze to Caroline who had a suspicious look in her eyes.


    "What are we doing at the pack¡¯s gates, ma¡¯am?" She asked, folding her arms in front of her chest as if she were my mother.


    I arched an eyebrow, ncing back at the taxi driver who was obviously trying to listen in to our conversation.


    I stered a smile on my face as I grabbed Caroline¡¯s arm and pulled her aside before blurting to the driver. "Excuse us."


    Caroline had a pout on her lips as I red at her.


    "Why are you acting like going to the pack gates is a taboo or something?" I queried, tilting my head.


    She fluttered her eyelids at me for a few seconds before she shook her head and scoffed.


    Oh, she was getting some guts...


    "I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am, but that¡¯s because it is." She muttered, ncing around us.


    We were on the sidewalk, and the night streets were almost empty, apart from a few people walking by and giving me weird nces.


    "What¡¯s she doing here?" I heard a female voice ask with a whisper, causing me to lower my head in shame.


    Gosh, these people always acted like they wanted to rip me to shreds anytime they saw me.


    <fna7fa> Th?s chapter is updated by F?nd-Novel</fna7fa>


    "My point exactly," Caroline uttered just then, gesturing at the entire pack. "Ever since the war, it¡¯s customary for us werewolves to remain in our pack¡¯s territory for safety reasons. Only elites and the like venture out."


    Oh...


    That exined why this ce felt even more caged than the Luminari coven¡¯s territory.


    "Aren¡¯t the cities of you witches and humans the same?" Caroline asked curiously just then, causing me to arch an eyebrow at her.


    Just then, the driver in the taxi honked on the car horn, causing Caroline and I to jerk back in surprise.


    "Could you two hurry up?" He asked, barely giving me any regard.


    I eyed him, my jaw clenched before I turned my gaze back to Caroline.


    I ced a reassuring hand on Caroline¡¯s shoulder, causing her to stiffen.


    "Rx, would you?" I said, smiling for good measure. "We¡¯re only going there to ask the guards a few questions for my potions. I want to know if there are any nts or ingredients nearby that I can use."


    Caroline parted her lips but before she could speak, I already stepped into the back seat of the car.


    She stood outside for a few more seconds before she sighed defeatedly and stepped into the cab as well, sitting beside me.


    With that, the driver drove off and took us to the pack gates within ten minutes.


    When he dropped us there and we stepped down, I immediately walked toward the guards who stood in front of the huge gates.


    I could feel it again... That weird energy that almost felt magical swirling around the gates.


    It was oddly refreshing being able to feel it, causing me to sigh as I gazed at my right hand and clenched it into a fist.


    "This is a bad idea..." Caroline muttered dejectedly when we finally got in front of the stern-look guards.


    I stered a smile on my face, even though my legs were already shaking when they brought their gazes to me.


    "What do you think you¡¯re doing at these parts of the pack?" One of them asked, eyeing me with disdain and suspicion.


    "A witch?" Another chimed in.


    "Yeah, the Alpha king¡¯s Witch wife or whatever..."


    I managed to ignore all theirments and kept on smiling. "Good evening. I¨C I actually came here to ask you if¨C"


    "Whatever it is, the answer is no, witch." A familiar, deep, and condescending voice spoke up from behind Caroline and me just then, forcing us to turn our gazes it¡¯s their source.


    Lo and behold, Gamma Zane, Kaelos¡¯ bitch ass uncle, strutted toward us with a cold look in his eyes.


    "Dear goddess..." Caroline whispered breathlessly.

 Chapter 56: _Must Run In The Family

    <h4>Chapter 56: _Must Run In The Family</h4>


    "Uh... Gamma Zane." I remarked, stering a smile as Kaelos¡¯ uncle walked toward us.


    Just like Kaelos, he has piercing silver eyes and a tall, muscr build. But what made him stand out more was the handsome features that made him seem like a ¡¯silver fox.¡¯


    Everything from the calm but predatory aura he had to his ck suit and silver grey hair and the elegance he walked with screamed royalty and power.


    "Good evening, Gamma." The guards behind me and Caroline bowed before the Gamma, but he didn¡¯t pay them any heed and ced all his attention on Caroline and me.


    Caroline gulped, subconsciously clenching my arm when the Gamma finally got in front of us.


    "G¨C Good evening, Gamma." She greeted with a shaky voice, bowing her head. With her head still lowered, she continued. "M¨C Ma¡¯am Odessa was only trying to ask the guards some questions on¨C"


    "I didn¡¯t realize the witch was mute." Gamma Zane suddenly muttered, cutting Caroline short as he scrutinized me closely.


    I clicked my tongue, realizing the problem here.


    This guy is an asshole...


    I guess it runs in the family.


    "No, I¡¯m not mute, Gamma. I speak quite fluently, actually." I blurted, folding my arms in front of my chest and ncing at Caroline.


    She nearly held her breath, freezing with fear and waiting for me to finish speaking.


    But I was far from done talking...


    "The only thing my maid and I came here to do was ask the guards at the gates questions about going out because I have some special ingredients I¡¯ll need for my¨C"


    Before I could finish those words, to my surprise, the Gamma sighed heavily, interrupting me.


    I was so taken by surprise by that little action that I didn¡¯t bother talking for several seconds, causing an uneasy silence to descend on the area.


    "Oh, you¡¯re done already?" Gamma Zane asked with an arched eyebrow, scrutinizing me as if he was trying to get me into saying one more word.


    But I ignored the look in his eyes and stered a smile on my face before I nodded my head.


    "No, but I realize that what I was about to say is probably not important to you."


    The Gamma ced his right hand on top of his chest in a show of mock shock, causing a few of the guards behind me to hold in chuckles.


    "Wait, really?" Gamma Zane asked with sarcasmced in his voice before his face became serious. "Well, that¡¯s because it¡¯s not. What do you think this is? One of your human cities?"


    I clenched my jaw, watching as he stepped forward, his eyes going from mine before he diverted them away. A hint of disgust and disdain shed through his eyes, giving me some kind of false validation.


    At least I knew that the bastard hated me for being a witch, just like every other werewolf.


    "Lockdowns exist in my human cities as well, sir," I said calmly, clenching my jaw and staring at the man dead in the eyes. "I just thought the guards would be able to help me find a few simple ingredients for my potions. I¡¯m a witch who¡¯s supposed to be helping this pack and I happen to be powerless. How can¨C"


    "That could just be a deliberate trick from you." The Gamma snapped, shaking his head and rubbing his forehead with his fingers before he continued. "Listen, I don¡¯t have time to argue with you. But the pack soldiers have better things to do other than helping you search for some roots and herbs or whatever."


    He stared at me for a few more seconds before he brushed past me, causing my hands to ball into fists.


    "They have to be on alert for the South American Alpha king¡¯s arrival tomorrow." He mumbled but then paused, remembering something. "Also, for your own good, the Alpha King has specifically stated that you can¡¯t leave the pack regardless of the circumstances."


    My shoulders tensed up when he brought his piercing gaze to me again, a slight smirk curling up the corner of his lips.


    "There are several rogue wolves out there who would love to tear you to shreds. Creatures in the Blood Oak woods that you wouldn¡¯t want to cross." He remarked, clearly enjoying the unease his words brought me.


    Anyway, with all said and done, the Gamma proceeded to walk to the pack soldiers and started discussing with them, leaving me standing there helplessly.


    Caroline, who had been silent for most of that interaction, stepped forward, tapping me on my shoulder and causing me to turn my gaze to her.


    "Are you okay, ma¡¯am?" She asked with an innocent but awkward smile, forcing me to smile as well.


    Ugh... This wasn¡¯t worth it.


    "Let¡¯s get out of here," I muttered, grabbing Caroline¡¯s arm and walking with her away from the gates, hoping to find a cab or something.


    .


    .


    We managed to find a cab that dropped us in front of the Alpha King¡¯s Mansion.


    When I closed the door behind me and the driver drove off, I grunted.


    "That mission was a bust."


    Caroline nced at me, her eyebrows furrowed into a frown.


    "Mission? Ma¡¯am, what were you even going to use those ingredients you were talking about earlier to brew?" She queried curiously as we walked into thepound.


    The guards in front of thepound gates barely paid us any heed as we walked past them.


    <fn4c4f> For more chapters visit find~novel</fn4c4f>


    Anyway, I turned my gaze to Caroline and scrutinized her a little bit before I responded.


    "Potions. I was going to make potions, Mother." I said with sarcasmced in my voice, causing Caroline to roll her eyes.


    Before I knew what was happening, the two of us giggled genuinely, with Caroline holding my elbow while I clutched her shoulder.


    However, as we got to the mansion¡¯s front entrance, I picked up the sound of approaching footsteps behind us, causing a cold shiver to run down my spine.


    Who else was outside by this time?


    "Well, well, well..."


    I swerved my head back when I heard that familiar silvery voice only to meet the malicious gaze of Celine, who had her hands ced on her waist.


    But apart from that, there was something else. A feeling that I got... It was like an aura of unexinable darkness surrounding her like a veil.


    What has this bitch done?

 Chapter 57: _From A Distance

    <h4>Chapter 57: _From A Distance</h4>


    "Luna Celine," Caroline muttered just then but seemed hesitant to speak again when I nced at her.


    It was kinda cute how she always tried seeking my opinion discreetly even when other people were around.


    Anyway, after a while, she ended up bowing in front of Celine who barely paid her any attention.


    "Good evening, Luna."


    Celine ignored her greeting and walked toward us, her gaze fixed on me.


    I swear to the gods, I wasn¡¯t imagining things. There was something off about her now. I couldn¡¯t ce my finger on what it was but I knew I wasn¡¯t going crazy.


    "Where are you twoing back from?" Celine asked, folding her arms in front of her chest.


    Caroline parted her lips, about to respond but I ced my hand in front of her face, stopping her. She gotta stop answering questions for me when I¡¯m not mute.


    "I went for a stroll and took my maid along... Ma¡¯am." I said thatst word with a sarcastic smile and tone, causing Celine to clench her jaw as she red at me.


    But I blissfully ignored her and bowed slightly before I continued. "And if I may ask, what are you doing out here? I never saw you as a nightwalker."


    Celine¡¯s gaze became icy as she took a few steps forward until she was merely two meters away from Caroline and me.


    I maintained eye contact with her, tilting my head and expecting the worst, whatever it was. I wouldn¡¯t be able to defend myself from the strike speed of a werewolf like her, but the guards nearby might be able to stop her.


    I hope...


    Wait, what the fuck am I thinking? I can¡¯t take my chances with Celine fucking Greyheart. She seems like a wild card, a time bomb waiting to pop at any given moment.


    And really? Trusting the guards to save me before Celine deals any damage?


    A cold shiver ran down my spine as I weighed my chances and realized that they were minuscule at best.


    Fuck, this bloody protection ring on my finger is so useless!


    "It¡¯s best if you don¡¯t pry into matters that don¡¯t concern you, witch," Celine muttered finally, her tone calm but dripping with disdain. "I have my eyes on you. Kaelos might¡¯ve lost himself by frolicking with you but I¡¯m not stupid."


    I couldn¡¯t help but smirk to myself.


    "Pardon, Luna, but are you insinuating that the Alpha King is stupid?" I questioned, ncing at Caroline to see if she caught my drift.


    Caroline¡¯s face reddened with embarrassment as she looked away from me.


    Celine didn¡¯t seem to notice our interaction but her eyebrows furrowed at my question.


    "No. What I¡¯m saying is, I¡¯m on to you." She said, her voice neutral. "I don¡¯t know what spell you have Kaelos under or what exactly you two have going on, but again... I¡¯m on to you. I wouldn¡¯t let you jeopardize the sanctity of this pack."


    She red at me for a little longer before she began walking forward, aiming to head into the mansion.


    I stepped away to give her space but she ignored that and brushed past my shoulder, almost causing me to trip and fall in the process.


    <fnf3bf> Fresh chapters posted on f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fnf3bf>


    "Bitch..." I mumbled to myself when I nced back and noticed that she¡¯d gotten into the mansion.


    Just then, I turned my gaze to Caroline who stood beside me silently with an awkward expression on her face.


    I had this weird urge to tease her and ended up doing just that, folding my arms in front of my chest.


    "You couldn¡¯t evene to my defense."


    She fixed her gaze on me, confusion written on her face at first until realization dawned on her features.


    "No offense, ma¡¯am, but how could I have possibly salvaged that situation?" She asked, arching an eyebrow. "When ites to Luna Queen Celine, it¡¯s best to avoid her and interact with her from a distance. That¡¯s one unspoken rule the staff of this mansion have established since she got here."


    I nodded my head silently but couldn¡¯t help but get this ominous feeling that I got when I first saw Celine tonight.


    I didn¡¯t know what she was up to but I had a bad feeling about it and had a feeling that I had to be extra cautious around her and her bitchy mother.


    Goddess, the drama was getting way too much for me to handle.


    .


    .


    The next day, around the early hours of the afternoon, I was in my room, looking through my aunt¡¯s grimoire.


    The room was brightly lit, with the curtains opened.


    I sat beside one of the windows, my left hand on my face while I used my right hand to flip through the pages.


    "How exactly am I going to be able toe across any of these ingredients within the pack if I can¡¯t even be allowed to go out?" I asked myself, groaning with frustration.


    I was busy wracking my head over how I could brew a potion. I was tired of feeling powerless and generally useless as a witch.


    My eyes fell on a particr type of potion in the grimoire that I felt woulde in handy.


    "A healing potion..." I muttered to myself, tilting my head and squinting my eyes.


    Some ingredients could only be found outside the pack, but they could be easily reced with some day-to-day ingredients.


    Just when I was thinking about calling Caroline and nning how to go get most of the ingredients, a knock came on my door, causing me to arch an eyebrow as I nced back at my door.


    "Come in." I blurted, closing the grimoire.


    I guess I¡¯ll have toe to thatter...


    The door swung open, and Caroline peeped her head into the room, her face expressionless at first until her gaze went in my direction.


    Her face lit up with a smile as she let herself into the room, causing me to smile as well.


    "Good afternoon, ma¡¯am." She greeted, cing her arms in front of her body. "Mr. Landon, the tailor, is here with your gown. Are you ready to see it?"


    My smile widened as I nodded my head and stood up, adjusting my dress. "Alright. You can tell him toe in."


    She nodded before she walked out of the room.


    I drew in a deep breath, readying myself. Here goes...


    Finally, after several seconds, the door swung open again, and Caroline walked in with the tailor, who rolled in a mannequin with a beautiful ruby-red gown into the room.


    My eyes widened just then.


    (A/N: Hi, lovelies! This April, I n to update consistently daily. So, please, help by voting with your power stones, golden tickets and gifts. I¡¯ll really appreciate that. <3 Thank you and happy reading! )

 Chapter 58: _Dancing Around Maybe

    <h4>Chapter 58: _Dancing Around Maybe</h4>


    "Oh my... Wow." I mumbled speechlessly as I walked toward the mannequin the tailor rolled into my room.


    I barely noticed the judgemental look the tailor gave me as my fingers gently brushed the gown, feeling the texture of the material.


    From the tiny rubies that adorned its surface to the floweryce embroidery... Everything seemed to be sewn to perfection.


    "I hope it... Suits your tastes." The tailor said awkwardly, folding his arms in front of his chest.


    I didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry.


    Tastes? I barely had any.


    This gown looks like it could be worth a fortune, meaning something I would have never even dreamed of wearing back when I was in the Luminari coven.


    It would do just fine.


    "I like it," I muttered inly, stering a smile on my face.


    I more than ¡¯liked¡¯ it. But I didn¡¯t want to show much enthusiasm, especially with the attitude the tailor gave.


    Anyway, after he left the room and closed the door behind him, Caroline turned her gaze to me, her gaze trailing the gown.


    "Well, I¡¯ll be..." She mumbled, a smile curling up her lips as she stepped forward and admired the gown from a distance. "You¡¯re going to look so stunning in red."


    I nced at her and caught her ncing at me as well. Without any warning, we both giggled, with me cing my hand in front of my mouth.


    Now I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what Kaelos would be wearing to the ball tonight...


    .


    .


    Later that day, the Alpha Council and Kaelos stood outside the mansion to wee the South American Alpha King and his delegates.


    While they did, the etiquette tutor assigned to me by Kaelos¡¯ assistant, rounded up sses with me.


    It was quite easy for me to catch up and pick up some basic tips... Or at least, I hoped.


    Anyway, the South American Alpha King and his wife seemed chill. Their spiritual leader seemed like an asshole just like most other wolves, but the two of them didn¡¯t stare at me with the same disdain I saw from others.


    We proceeded to have dinner where the South American Alpha King asked some questions that led to Kaelos talking about the possibility of getting married to a werewolf soon.


    Hearing that ruined dinner for me...


    "Ma¡¯am?" Caroline called after me when dinner was over and I headed to my room.


    I nced back at her, arching an eyebrow. "What? That dinner was stressful and I need some time to myself before the ball tonight."


    Caroline paused, her mouth forming an ¡¯o¡¯. It was then that I realized how rude I sounded, causing my shoulders to rx before I shook my head and sighed.


    "I¡¯m sorry," I said, lowering my head. "Can we go to my room? I think I want to rant and these stairs aren¡¯t exactly convenient for that."


    I nced around and noticed a maid walking down the stairs. She tried to pretend like she wasn¡¯t ncing at us but I could easily tell by the awkward and judgemental look in her eyes.


    Luckily for me, Caroline nodded her head to my request and muttered. "Of course."


    With that, we trailed the stairs and made it to my room. I walked in first while Caroline followed, after which I locked the door behind me.


    "Alright, so first off..." I began, throwing my hands into the air. "The South American Alpha King seemed nice. But then the entire meeting turned sour for me when... When Kaelos mentioned getting married to a werewolf for children."


    Caroline tilted her head, her eyebrows furrowing. She didn¡¯t seem the least bit concerned.


    "Uh... No offense, ma¡¯am, but didn¡¯t we talk about the possibility of the Alpha King freeing you from this marriage during ourst conversation?" She queried with a clueless expression, folding her arms in front of her chest.


    Argh, she wouldn¡¯t be able to fucking get it! How do I make this clear to her without identally blurting out that Kaelos is my mate?


    "Maybe I don¡¯t want ¡¯freedom¡¯, Caroline," I uttered with a sigh, swerving my body away from her and walking toward the balcony.


    I got to the balcony and stared down at thepound below before my gaze went to the rest of the pack. It was extra festive this evening and people gathered outside, with children even running around andughing beyond the elite region.


    I was supposed to find such a sight beautiful... If I could ignore the fact that there was a fucking war going on outside the pack¡¯s walls.


    Celebrations like this were rare back in the witch and human cities.


    "If you don¡¯t want freedom then what do you want, ma¡¯am?" Caroline¡¯s voice echoed behind me just then, snapping me out of my reverie.


    I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath, not bothering to look back at her, fearing that she would notice the switch in my mood.


    The evening wind blew softly against my skin, taking strands of my blonde hair with it.


    My fingers drummed against the railings of the balcony before I responded with a broken voice. "I don¡¯t know, Caroline. And that¡¯s what frightens me."


    Do I want him? Maybe... Maybe not.


    If he wasn¡¯t an annoying, nonchnt, and brute of an Alpha King, then maybe, just maybe, the idea of being his wife and mate wouldn¡¯t be so daunting.


    ¡¯I guess I¡¯ll just have to keep dancing around that ¡¯maybe¡¯ and hope for the best. Whatever that is...¡¯ I thought to myself, not bothering to say anything else to Caroline.


    .


    .


    A few hourster, the time for the weing ball finally arrived.


    Caroline and a few other maids helped me with my makeup and also helped in getting me dressed. The ruby red gown, which once belonged to Kaelos¡¯ mother, was a perfect fit.


    When I was done, Caroline did me the honor of escorting me to the ball before letting me walk in alone. Maids weren¡¯t allowed inside, unfortunately.


    Anyway, when I walked into thevish event hall, I noticed the way everyone stared at me. My steps were heavy with anxiety and cold sweat dripped down my back in floods.


    But there was this thrill that came with the attention I got from these rich ass werewolves, causing me to subconsciously puff up my chest.


    "So many werewolves and bitches cramped up in one building," I muttered to myself, scanning my gaze around and spotting Celine ring at me from a distance, her mother sitting beside her.


    I stered a smile on my face before I added. "What could go wrong?"


    Just then, my gaze fell on Kaelos approaching me, causing my heart to skip a beat as my breathing became heavy.


    Damn it, I spoke too soon...


    He looked handsome as always and there was that annoying feeling inside that drew me to touch his face and kiss him. But I couldn¡¯t do that in front of all these werewolves.


    Anyway, Kaelos ended up grabbing me and leading me upstairs where we sat beside the South American Alpha King and his wife.


    We talked a bit, and everything seemed to be going smoothly. I got more rxed and even felt a brief sense of ¡¯belonging¡¯. Like I didn¡¯t have to hide myself much around these wolves.


    Unfortunately, just when Marcellus came to our section upstairs, disaster struck. I sensed it... A powerful pulsation of magic energy heading toward our direction.


    It was ominous... Deadly. But before I could even think about reacting, it was far toote.


    Until...


    "Watch out!" Kaelos yelled out with a thunderous voice.


    I closed my eyes as time seemed to freeze. There was an overwhelming feeling of despair that washed through me.


    Is this the end?


    "Argh!"


    And then I heard it. A strained groan, followed by a loud thud as if something heavy had dropped. Like say... A body?


    <fn71a3> Official source is FindN0vel</fn71a3>


    I quickly opened my eyes but then my mouth fell when I saw what had happened within the span of a few seconds.


    Gods, no...

 Chapter 59: _Untamable Chaos

    <h4>Chapter 59: _Untamable Chaos</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    The moments after I spotted the iing bolt of light, for an odd reason, I didn¡¯t think about my safety. I didn¡¯t even think about the safety of my guests or the implications of them being killed in my territory.


    No, those were only background thoughts while one particr one stood out in my head like a neon sign.


    HER.


    I stretched my hand to Odessa, about to move her out of the bolt¡¯s way but everything happened so far. I wasn¡¯t sure I could make it on time.


    Until...


    "Argh!"


    A loud groan sounded, followed by a thud. I squinted my eyes, turning my gaze to the source of the sound.


    My eyes widened when I saw Marcellus lying face first on the cold marble floor with an arrow with dark purple energy surrounding it sticking to his back.


    An arrow with dark purple energy? That could only mean one thing...


    "Witch..." Alpha King Leonardo spoke up just then, getting up from his seat and cing himself in front of his wife.


    I was still recovering from the shock of seeing my best friend on the ground, unsure of if he was even alive. Everything seemed distant, including the distant murmurs of the people in the ballroom down below.


    "Everyone, please calm down," La spoke into the microphone in a failed attempt to bring order.


    It was only when Odessa yelled out that I snapped back to my senses.


    "Marcellus!"


    <fn9f8c> Find the newest release on f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn9f8c>


    I watched her duck her head and run up to Marcellus¡¯ body to check on him.


    However, the second after she ducked her head, an arrow flew past where she once stood and struck the wall instead.


    My heart jumped into my throat. If she had stood still for just a second longer, she would have turned into a kebab stuck to the wall.


    The image of Odessa¡¯s blood spraying all over my body sent shivers down my spine, causing my protective instincts to finally spring to life.


    "Everyone get down!" I roared in a loud voice that thundered all around the event hall.


    The music died down as the people downstairs quickly obeyed my order and got down, lowering their heads in fear.


    It was then that I spotted her.


    A woman wearing a ck gown with pale skin and blood-red lipstick. She had a smirk on her masked face as our eyes met, causing my jaw to clench.


    ¡¯There¡¯s our wannabe assassin.¡¯ Damon muttered in my head just then, sending a little relief through me.


    I had cut him off from my mental space earlier because of how annoying he was, but I was d to have him in this situation.


    Suddenly, Leonardo stepped forward, his gaze also locked on the mysterious woman.


    "The South American Alpha Kingmands you to halt!" His voice boomed, as he pointed his finger at the woman. "Halt or I¡¯ll..."


    Before he could finish his sentence, he paused, cing his right hand on his throat. His face turned purple as he struggled to breathe, taking a few steps back.


    "?Qu¨¦ diablos?" He mumbled before plopping on his seat, his hands still on his throat.


    Meanwhile, his wife stood up and held him, shaking his body with pure terror in her eyes.


    "What¡¯s wrong? Dear, what¡¯s wrong? Cari?o, ?qu¨¦ pasa?" She asked in a shaky voice, her fingers trembling.


    It was then that my gaze went to the drink the South American Alpha King had taken before the attack.


    Poison. And not just any poison too...


    "Wolfsbane?" I mumbled with disbelief, turning my gaze back to the ballroom down below.


    But it was then that I realized the mysterious woman from earlier had already fled, her shadow being thest thing I saw before the lights in the building went off.


    I gritted my teeth, ncing at the people around me.


    Odessa was safe but knelt beside Marcellus, her right hand wrapped around the arrow that stuck to his back. My Beta was still alive, struggling to breathe.


    He turned his head weakly to me, his expression solemn but filled with an urgency that I couldn¡¯t ignore.


    "Go after the bastard!" He yelled, snapping me back to my senses.


    I drew in a resolute breath before I went into action. Without wasting another second, I jumped out of the gallery upstairs andnded gracefully in the ballroom.


    I nced back at the stage where my assistant, La, stood up from the spot where she knelt, looking at me through the darkness in the hall with a confused expression.


    "Send help to the Beta and Alpha King Leonardo upstairs, now!" I ordered before turning my gaze to the exit of the event hall up ahead.


    A guttural growl escaped my mouth as I bared my teeth before sprinting forward with the pace of my wolf.


    "Stay ready in case I need to shift, Damon," I spoke out loud to my wolf just when I made it outside.


    However, the next second, the hairs on my body stood on end, a cold shiver running down my spine.


    I ducked, narrowly dodging an arrow aimed at my head.


    "Hahaha..." A maniacal cackle like that of a stereotypical witch echoed through the night, forcing me to scan my gaze around the area the arrow hade from.


    It was then that I spotted the mysterious woman over a hundred meters away, standing on top of a building.


    She blew me a kiss before winking at me, causing my eyebrows to furrow into a frown.


    Gosh, if only I could get a glimpse of her face behind that bloody mask. I could tell she was a witch but at the same time, there was something odd about her.


    She didn¡¯t exactly smell like a witch...


    There was this earthy scent that all witches managed to carry on their bodies. Even Odessa had it, except hers was more stimting to me because of the mate bond.


    "Who the heck are you and why did you try killing Odessa?" I said with a growl, my wolf itching toe outside.


    But I held back from letting him out. Anytime I let him out, blood and destruction followed his wake.


    Damon was an annoying furball only in the confines of my mind. In reality, he¡¯s a force of untamable chaos.


    "Those are questions that I unfortunately can¡¯t answer, Alpha King." The mysterious woman¡¯s voice echoed from the distance, a mocking smirk curling up her lips. "You¡¯ll have to find them out for yourself. But till then..."


    Suddenly, she swatted her hand in my direction, sending a st of purple mes at me.


    I reacted quickly, rolling away from the st and getting on my feet again. But before I could make any moves, she was gone, a small cloud of ck smoke lingering on the spot she stood a second ago.


    "Damn it!" I groaned, my hands balling into fists as I turned my gaze to the event hall building.

 Chapter 60: _Feeling Helpless

    <h4>Chapter 60: _Feeling Helpless</h4>


    I waltzed back into the event hall building, drawing out my phone to make a call.


    I ignored the curious gazes of the elite wolves in the ballroom, heading upstairs as the number rang.


    "Hello, dear uncle," I said with sarcasm in my voice when the owner of the number, Gamma Zane, finally picked up. "Do you mind telling me how a masked witch was able to make it past security? What happened to you and all the men that I¨C"


    "Everyone, please leave!" A familiar voice boomed around the hall just then, forcing me to pause my ascension up the stairs.


    I turned my gaze downstairs just in time to spot my uncle strutting into the hall proudly with his chest puffed up, a few pack soldiers following around him.


    "The situation has been taken under control but for your own safety, you should leave!" The Gamma continued with a loud voice, causing the people to murmur.


    But soon, with the guidance of the pack soldiers, the people were led out of the building, leaving the ce empty within the span of a few minutes.


    "Alpha King..." Gamma Zane turned his gaze to me just then, stretching his arms aside. "I was going to tell you in the call that¨C"


    "What flimsy excuse could you possibly have, Zane?!" I snapped, my voice booming around the hall.


    My hands were on the railing of the stairs that led to the gallery upstairs and if I gripped any harder, I could break them apart.


    I watched as my uncle¡¯s facial expression turned sour, but he managed to hide it behind a stoic mask.


    "The pack soldiers tried their best but the enemy was just way too sneaky, my Lord." Hemented, his tone too agitatedly neutral for my liking.


    My eyes twitched as I parted my lips to say something else when the Delta suddenly walked out of a corner, a solemn expression on his face.


    "Sir, we noticed that the witch went after your wife." He muttered, tilting his head as his gaze lingered on me for a few seconds before he awkwardly looked away. "Perhaps Odessa is at the center of some sort of internal witch fighting. Or maybe¨C"


    <fn5181> This content belongs to FindN()vel</fn5181>


    "Maybe she¡¯s just as guilty as the bitch who missed the shot to kill her." A female voice suddenly echoed around the hall, causing my jaw to clench.


    Lo and behold, sittingfortably down in the ballroom was Celine, who had afortable look on her face as she sipped from a ss of wine.


    She had her gaze on me, causing my irritation to spike.


    "I thought the Gamma made it clear that all civilians should be out of here?" I queried, arching an eyebrow.


    Celine scoffed, shaking her head before she dropped her ss of wine. She licked her lips satisfactorily before she fixed her gaze back on me and continued.


    "Well, I¡¯m not a normal civilian, Alpha King. I¡¯m still the Luna of this pack and Luna Queen of the region."


    I clicked my tongue, drumming my fingers on the railing of the stairs.


    Just when I thought the bickering would draw out, an agitated voice boomed from the gallery where the South American Alpha King and Marcellus were receiving medical attention.


    "Are the wolves of the North American region always this ipetent, or is that exclusive to this pack alone?"


    It was a male voice, belonging to the spiritual leader of the South American region.


    He stood there with his right hand wrapped firmly on his wooden staff while he gazed coldly upon all of us.


    "Look at you, fighting among yourselves." He remarked, shaking his head with disdain. "While our Alpha King lies here, poisoned from wolfsbane under your watch. This was a targeted attack tonight. And it proves one point now more than ever that I wish Alpha King Leonardo had understood before he arrived on this continent..."


    He paused, his gaze going to me just then. I remained silent, allowing him to berate me as much as he wanted.


    Low-key, I felt like I deserved it.


    "... Witches can never be trusted and the only interaction that should be had with them is at the guillotine or the stakes where they can be burned."


    Something snapped in my head when I heard those words, especially when I remembered that Odessa was up there with the bastard.


    I nced back at the ballroom and noticed the mocking smirk on Celine¡¯s face as she slyly picked up her ss of wine and drank from it.


    The look on her face when she nced at me read: "Enjoy the consequences of your actions."


    And maybe she was right. Maybe they all had a point.


    I proceeded to silently continue walking until I got to the gallery while the Gamma and Delta began to organize investigations downstairs.


    At the gallery, all of Leonardo¡¯s delegates were gathered as hey on top of a stretcher. His spiritual leader was busy chanting some prayers to the goddess while revolving his palms around the Alpha King¡¯s unconscious body and administering an elixir of sorts.


    His wife stood in a corner, a handkerchief in hand. Her eyes were swollen red from all the crying but she made sure to hide it when her gaze met mine briefly.


    I balled my hands into fists. At this rate, I could as well kiss the idea of an alliance with them goodbye.


    Just then, I turned my gaze to the ground where I spotted Odessa. She was still kneeling on the ground where I left her, beside Marcellus who was very well conscious.


    The arrow had been removed from his back but his face twitched momentarily with pain as La and a pack doctor attended to the wound made by the magic arrow.


    "It seems the goddess refuses your death tonight, Marcellus," I muttered, trying to cheer up the mood.


    But those words did nothing to clear the despair and helplessness surrounding me like a cloud.


    I¡¯ve failed.


    Failed as an Alpha King and as a protector. I couldn¡¯t even at least capture the bitch who did this.


    Just then, Marcellus smiled weakly at me, his eyes barely opening. But when he parted his lips to say something, he suddenly coughed out blood, causing a shiver to run down my spine.


    "The arrow was tipped with silver, my Lord." The pack doctor beside him turned his gaze to me and reported, only making me feel worse. "I¡¯m trying my best to administer drugs to slow down the corruption but the magic is negating all my efforts."


    I bit my bottom lips, lost on what to do or say.


    Argh, I hate feeling so helpless!


    "I¨C I think I can help with that." Odessa suddenly blurted, causing all eyes, including the South American Alpha king¡¯s people, to turn their gazes to her.


    She almost shrunk right back into her shell due to all the attention but she ended up drawing in a deep breath and standing on her feet, dusting her gown before she continued.


    "I think I can brew a potion to help Marcellus¡¯ wolf fight off the influence of the silver poisoning and the magic corruption." She said, causing my eyes to light up.


    It seemed there was hope.


    Unfortunately, that hope almost came crashing down at her next words. "But I think I can only find most of the ingredients outside the pack."

 Chapter 61: _Chicken Out Of The Coop

    <h4>Chapter 61: _Chicken Out Of The Coop</h4>


    "Excuse me?" I asked, dimming my eyes and tilting my head at Odessa.


    <fn0ecb> Updates are released by f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn0ecb>


    She lowered her gaze, her lips parting speechlessly.


    However, before I could say anything, a man in histe fifties from Alpha King Leonardo¡¯s delegates spoke up.


    "I think she was clear enough, Alpha King." He blurted, stepping forward. "Alpha King Leonardo and my North American counterpart are both in critical condition. If this..."


    He paused, ncing at Odessa with arched eyebrows. He was the Beta of the Green Hill pack, the main pack of the South American region, and also Alpha King Leonardo¡¯s home pack.


    Anyway, after two seconds, he continued. "... If this witch really has a way of helping them and all she needs is to head outside your pack¡¯s walls, then what seems to be the problem? Why don¡¯t you want her going out?"


    All eyes went to me, judging me silently. I clenched my jaw, my hands balling into fists as Damon spoke up in my head just then.


    ¡¯None of these morons would get it.¡¯ He said in a low tone, growling protectively when I nced at Odessa. ¡¯She¡¯s fragile. Vulnerable. A powerless witch. She wouldn¡¯t be able to protect herself from any threat out there.¡¯


    Not to mention the obvious fact that I didn¡¯t want her getting any ideas. I already warned her when she newly got into this pack to never even dream of escaping.


    Until I could decipher the secrets of our mate bond and why the moon goddess had given her to me as a mate, I wouldn¡¯t let her out of my sight and would take it upon myself to protect her.


    "Alpha King Kaelos, we¡¯re running out of time!" The spiritual leader of the South American region, Elder Rafael, barked at me just then, snapping me out of my thoughts.


    I blinked and saw Luna Queen Reina walking up to her husband at that moment, cing her hand on his head and trying tofort him even though he was unconscious.


    I gritted my teeth before I let out a sigh and turned my gaze to Odessa who had a in expression on her face even though there was a hint of worry in her eyes as she gazed at Marcellus while he struggled for his life.


    I wouldn¡¯t be able to forgive myself if he died, and the werewolves of South America would never forgive me if Leonardo died in my territory.


    "Fine!" I blurted, shaking my head as Odessa raised her head to meet my gaze. "Hurry up and head to the woods surrounding our pack. The Blood Oak Woods. You¡¯ll be able to find whatever ingredients you need there. Or, at least I hope."


    Odessa¡¯s face lit up but before she could say anything, I was quick to add. "Some of the pack soldiers will be escorting you. Make it quick. The lives of two people are in your hands."


    I watched as the eagerness in her face changed to anxiousness as she nced first at Marcellus before she nced at Leonardo.


    Without another word, she straightened her posture and began walking away. When she got to the ballroom downstairs, I gestured at some of the pack soldiers present to follow her and ensure she was safe.


    I¡¯ll be having their heads if anything happens to her.


    "You finally allowed the chicken out of the coop." Marcellus suddenly muttered from where hey on the ground, his voice weak and raspy.


    I nced back at him only to meet a knowing smirk on his face.


    "You should be focused on staying alive, moron." I blurted, turning away from him and heading downstairs.


    I need to get a drink.


    However, when I got downstairs, I bumped into Elder Davina who seemed to be in a hurry. She had her gaze set on the gallery upstairs but quickly brought her gaze to me when I came to her view.


    "Alpha King." She muttered, sighing with relief. "Thank the moon goddess, you¡¯re okay. I got word of what happened and feared that you might¡¯ve gotten hurt or worse."


    A weird but warm feeling surged through my chest just then, causing my lips to curl up into a wry smile.


    "Well, I¡¯m alive and hearty, Elder. But the Beta and the South American Alpha King aren¡¯t so lucky." I said solemnly, ncing at the gallery.


    The only thing I could think of now was if Odessa could make it on time and make the potions. No real treatments could be made on either Marcellus or the Alpha King if the magic and wolfsbane in their respective systems weren¡¯t cleared.


    "What happened to the South American Alpha King?" Elder Daciana queried, with concern in her voice.


    But there was also a hint of something else, forcing me to bring my gaze back to her.


    She shoved her right hand into her robe and brought out a bowl with a lid on top. I tilted my head, curious about what it was.


    "This is a concoction I made recently to hold back the effects of wolfsbane poisoning." She exined calmly, her right hand tightening around her staff. "I don¡¯t know what happened to the Alpha King but¨C"


    "That¡¯s perfect, Elder!" I eximed, breathing out in relief as I ced my right hand on her shoulder. "Administer the concoction to Alpha King Leonardo upstairs. Odessa is currently on her way to the Blood Oak woods to gather some ingredients for a special healing potion of sorts."


    Elder Davina dimmed her eyes, seeming surprised at myst statement.


    "Potion." She repeated as if it was a new word.


    She¡¯s a chill woman but unfortunately, I have no time for this.


    I withdrew my hand from her shoulder and moved past her, heading for the hall¡¯s exit.


    "Alpha King Kaelos?"


    I paused, ncing back at Elder Davina who had a motherly expression on her face. That caused my shoulders to rx briefly before she spoke again.


    "Are you okay? Genuinely?"


    Just then, my gaze went to the other end of the hall where Celine was still sitting calmly, ignoring the investigations going on around her while sipping from her drink.


    Her eyes went to me just then, the corner of her lips curling into a sly smirk.


    No day passes by where I don¡¯t regret marrying that bitch.


    "The Alpha King has no choice but to be fine in situations like these, Elder." I ended up responding inly, ncing at Elder Davina onest time before I turned around and walked away.

 Chapter 62: _Bent On Testing Him

    <h4>Chapter 62: _Bent On Testing Him</h4>


    When I finally got to the mansion, I went straight to the balcony of my room.


    I had a ss of whiskey in hand, as well as the bottle containing the rest of the whiskey. My gaze was fixed on the moon, which was peeking through the clouds in its half phase.


    "That woman..." I muttered to myself when I remembered the witch that tried to kill Odessa merely a few minutes ago.


    The fact that she was still out there and I let Odessa wander off to the Blood Oak woods was daunting and sent a shiver down my spine when I thought more about it.


    ¡¯Don¡¯t you think we should go after her?¡¯ Damon queried in my head, sounding equally worried. ¡¯We could just watch from a distance and make sure she¡¯s safe. No big deal or anything, in case you feel like that would make you seem soft.¡¯


    I smiled sarcastically, finishing the rest of the whiskey in the ss in one gulp before I sighed satisfactorily.


    "That would be unnecessary, Damon. I doubt that the witch¡¯s only aim was to kill Odessa." I mumbled physically, cing my right arm, which I used to hold the bottle of whiskey, on top of the railing.


    I dimmed my eyes, thinking hard about the whole thing. There were much easier ways to kill Odessa than in a crowded ball meant to wee the South American Alpha King.


    The witch could have taken her out during one of her reckless night strolls. Or maybe poisoned her the way she poisoned the South American Alpha King.


    Or at least... I think she¡¯s the one who poisoned the South American Alpha King. If she didn¡¯t then that would mean there was another culprit out there.


    And if that was the case that would mean...


    "Ugh... More work." I groaned, using the fingers of my left hand to rub my forehead.


    After raising my head, my gaze subconsciously went to the event building where Alpha King Leonardo and Marcellus were receiving temporary treatment until Odessa arrived.


    However, my eyes dimmed when I saw Celine stepping out of the building, walking down the steps in elegant strides.


    I tilted my head when I saw her scanning her gaze around before walking to the corner of a building up ahead.


    "What is that little bitch up to?" I mumbled to myself.


    There was something suspicious about her recently. I couldn¡¯t quite ce my finger on it but she seemed to harbor even more hatred toward Odessa now.


    It made me wonder if she had somehow found out the truth. That Odessa is my fated mate...


    "Nah, that¡¯s impossible. There¡¯s no way she found out after all the effort I¡¯ve put into keeping it a secret." I shook my head when the thought shed through my mind, chuckling dryly to myself.


    However, the more I thought about it, the more possible it seemed.


    Maybe she overheard one of my arguments with Odessa? Or, maybe she was able to ce the pieces of the puzzle together after noticing our interactions?


    My grip on the ss in my hand tightened until I felt like it was going to break.


    If Celine knew about Odessa and me and the truth about our rtionship, I wasn¡¯t sure she¡¯d be able to keep such juicy information to herself. She might end up announcing it to the entire pack... Or worse.


    ¡¯Don¡¯t just stand there. Let¡¯s go see what she¡¯s up to!¡¯ Damon growled, urging me mentally.


    I proceeded to drop the ss and the bottle on the ground before I brought my gaze to thepound grounds.


    Without a word, I leaped off my balcony,nding on the ground with the grace of a bird. My bones shifted to cushion my fall from such a height, my eyes shing with the light of my wolf.


    <fn8d36> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? F?nd-Novel</fn8d36>


    I ran out of thepound, going past the guards at the gate and heading straight to the corner close to the event building where Celine was.


    "What else am I supposed to do? The bitch just can¡¯t die."


    I paused when I heard those words, my eyebrows furrowing into a frown. It sounded like Celine was arguing with someone.


    I tilted my head, waiting to hear more.


    "You know what? That¡¯s not even my major concern now. One way or another, Odessa Pierce will die, regardless of what happened tonight." Celine said with an icy voice.


    Unbelievable...


    Or... On second thought, it was pretty believable.


    ¡¯She¡¯s one evil bitch.¡¯ Damon muttered in my head. ¡¯Do you think she had something to do with the attack?¡¯


    I shook my head before responding mentally. ¡¯That sounds like a stretch. Celine always takes the words of her mother before making an action. Sending a witch after Odessa would be... Excessive.¡¯


    Even though I said that I still couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that something was off.


    I began moving forward, taking a turn until I was in front of the narrow alleyway where Celine was in.


    She had her back facing me, her phone in her ear. But she was so engrossed in the call that she didn¡¯t even notice me.


    "What about ourst discussion? Do you think..." She was about to speak some more but then she paused.


    "Hello?" She mumbled, removing the phone from her ears and staring at it before she spat. "You hung up?! How could¨C"


    "It seems you¡¯re bent on testing me, Celine." I couldn¡¯t take it anymore and spoke with a growl, causing her to jerk in surprise before she swerved around to face me.


    Her eyes widened as I slowly walked toward her, my shadow looming over her like a cloak.


    "K¨C Kaelos?" She arched an eyebrow, her gaze steeling up. "What are you doing here? W¨C What? Are you stalking me now?"


    I ignored her and got in front of her, my gaze fixed on her features beforending on her grey eyes.


    "I¡¯m not stalking you, Celine. On the contrary, I¡¯m here to give you a warning in case I haven¡¯t made it painstakingly clear already." I pointed a finger at her face but she didn¡¯t budge and surprisingly maintained eye contact. "Odessa must remain alive. If you do anything funny, I¡¯ll¨C"


    Before I couldplete my sentence, Celine burst intoughter, cing her right hand on the wall. Herughter echoed around the alleyway, causing me to squint my eyes.


    Has she finally lost it?


    "How cute." She finally muttered when she¡¯d finishedughing, using her fingers to clean off some tears. "Don¡¯t worry, Kaelos. Trust me when I say that my mother and I are the least of your worries when ites to that witch¡¯s ¡¯safety¡¯."


    My eyebrows furrowed as I tried to wrap my head around what she said. What is that supposed to mean?


    I leaned in closer, but that only managed to make her lips curl into a sly smirk.


    "What do you know that you¡¯re not telling me?" I asked coldly, my voice rumbling with a predatory growl.


    However, before I could even get a response from her, my phone rang, cing an abrupt stop to the tension.

 Chapter 63: _Failed

    <h4>Chapter 63: _Failed</h4>


    "Sir, ma¡¯am Odessa and the guards are here with the ingredients for the potions," La reported hastily from the other end when I picked up the call. "Also, the South American King just woke up. He¡¯s asking for you."


    <fn101d> This text is hosted at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn101d>


    Shit...


    While I felt an odd sense of relief knowing Odessa was back safe and sound, I hadn¡¯t expected that the concoction Elder Davina made for wolfsbane poisoning would work well enough to wake Alpha King Leonardo.


    "Looks like you¡¯re going to be busy." Celine suddenly muttered, forcing me to turn my gaze to her.


    She had a mischievous smirk on her face, causing me to clench my jaw before I responded to La.


    "Tell him I¡¯m on my way." I blurted to La before I hung up, my gaze now fixedpletely on Celine.


    She took a few steps forward, causing me to physically recoil. That recoil only worsened when she stretched her hands forward to touch my face, but she didn¡¯t seem to care about my reactions as she brought her mouth to my ears.


    "I¡¯ll get you back one day, Kaelos. My Alpha king." She said with a soft voice but instead of making me feel any sense offort, I felt a surge of irritation from deep within me.


    With that, she gave me a wink and patted me on my cheek before she brushed past me and walked out of the alleyway like nothing happened.


    I didn¡¯t bother ncing back at her, instead hearing the sound of her stiletto heels echoing against the stone floor.


    I raised my head and stared at the night sky before I sighed heavily.


    That bitch will be the death of me one of these days...


    Shaking my head, I turned around and walked out of the alleyway as well, heading for the event building.


    .


    .


    "I am disappointed at what happened, boy." Aloha King Leonardo said with a stern tone when I got upstairs to see him.


    His face was still pale and he was still lying on a stretcher, but he no longer looked like he was a step away from death¡¯s door and had his wife standing beside him and rubbing his back tenderly.


    I couldn¡¯t help but nce at Elder Davina just then, shing her a wry but grateful smile.


    Regardless of what happened, I would take the South American Alpha king¡¯s scolding any day than watching him die in my territory.


    Anyway, I sighed heavily before I responded to Leonardo. "Pardon me, sir. I... This has never happened since I became Alpha King, I can assure you. It¡¯s just that there are a lot of enemies out there who don¡¯t want Odessa and me together and I¨C"


    "Maybe those enemies are right." Luna Queen Reina remarked just then, her tone cold. "Look at my husband. Do you know how deadly wolfsbane is even to an Alpha King? If it wasn¡¯t for the timely intervention of Elder Davina then he... He..."


    She couldn¡¯tplete her statement and instead looked away, hugging her husband as if she was afraid he would disappear.


    The air was filled with tension, with both Leonardo¡¯s delegates and La, who stood aside, remaining silent.


    Marcellus was still on the ground, his breathing raspy, but he was alive, and his condition was being kept stable by the pack doctor who watched over him.


    Meanwhile, Damon scoffed with disdain in my head. ¡¯What a bunch of wussies. And the Luna Queen is a drama queen to match. I¡¯ve never liked her, anyway.¡¯


    He was only saying that because he knew the conversation revolved around Odessa in a way.


    "A treaty of any kind with the witches was a bold idea, I¡¯m not going to lie," Leonardo remarked just then, chuckling dryly. But he soon began coughing erratically, causing Luna Queen Reina to rub his back gently in a bid to calm him.


    "Rx, Mon Ami. Take a deep breath." She advised, her voice as soft as her gaze.


    The scene was bittersweet, making me feel a little guilty.


    ¡¯You shouldn¡¯t be guilty about anything, you moron!¡¯ Damon berated me in my mind just then, sounding like he couldn¡¯t believe I could even think that. ¡¯If there¡¯s anyone to me here, it¡¯s that asshole uncle of yours. You told him that there shouldn¡¯t be any slip-ups with security, but yet here we are.¡¯


    At the mention of my uncle, I brought my gaze to the ballroom downstairs. I spotted the grumpy old man just then.


    He seemed to be on a call while the pack soldiers around him worked around the clock finding clues in the ballroom.


    I clenched my jaw when I saw the tant show of ipetence but before I could react or say anything, Leonardo¡¯s deep voice brought me back to the original conversation I was having.


    "I guess this conversation isn¡¯t so important to you." He remarked with disappointment in his voice.


    I quickly shook my head, attempting to exin myself. "Forgive me, Alpha King. It¡¯s just that my mind is running through so many things and I¨C"


    "Excuses upon excuses..." Leonardo scoffed, shaking his head. "When does it end, Muchacho? When?"


    I balled my hands into fists but I didn¡¯t bother speaking again. I could feel the gaze of everyone present on me but I didn¡¯t bother ncing at them.


    It was clear to me already that this was a lost cause.


    "In light of what just happened, I think it¡¯s more than enough of a sign to suggest that maybe this idea of a truce with witches was indeed a bad idea." Alpha King Leonardo spoke solemnly, while his wife clutched his hands tightly.


    And there it is...


    As if his words weren¡¯t clear enough, he added. "As the Alpha King of South America, I want to make it known right here in the presence of my delegates that the truce wouldn¡¯t extend to my territory or any pack in it. It¡¯s clear to me that these witches only understand violence and chaos."


    I parted my lips to say something but nothing coulde out of my mouth.


    I¡¯ve failed...


    Suddenly, as if the universe or the moon goddess herself was trying to mock my current situation, Odessa¡¯s voice rang just then.


    "I¡¯m done making the potions!"

 Chapter 64: _Need To Kill

    <h4>Chapter 64: _Need To Kill</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    It had all happened so fast. He had given Regina the signal to strike just as nned.


    She indeed had fired at Odessa, aiming to kill her or at least, making it seem like that. But Marcellus stepped in and took the hit instead to further cement his reputation of a ¡¯kind Beta.¡¯


    Chaos ensued after, almost making him feel like standing up to observe all of it. Yes, the magic arrow had hurt, and he silently cursed Regina for its power, but it was nothing he couldn¡¯t easily shrug off.


    All he needed to do was hunt some unsuspecting werewolvester tonight and drain their life force. That would help him to heal himself.


    Anyway, after a back-and-forth argument, he watched as Odessa left to gather potions from the Blood Oak woods. Something inside him told him that might not be the best idea for whatever reason but he ignored that thought when Odessa eventually came back.


    "I¡¯m done making the potions!"


    Marcellus weakly raised his head, staring at Odessa who approached with a smile on her face. She held two bowls in her hands, each of them seeming like they had a hint of magical energy.


    That made him wonder what ingredients she¡¯d gathered to make it.


    ¡¯That grimoire...¡¯ he thought to himself, dimming his eyes.


    More and more, he desired to get his hands on Elder Althea¡¯s grimoire. She was one of the most powerful witches in the continent and had casually given her grimoire to a powerless witch.


    Why?


    Even if Odessa was her niece, it just didn¡¯t make any sense the more Marcellus thought about it. This and the mate bond she shared with Kaelos made him convinced that there was something special about Odessa.


    And that¡¯s why he needed her alive to find out.


    "Finally." The pack doctor who had been attending to Marcellus sighed with relief as he stood up from the ground where hey down. "Luckily, the Beta is pretty strong and was able to hold on long enough."


    Odessa had an awkward smile on her face as she finally got to the group.


    She nced briefly at Kaelos who had been receiving some scolding from the South American Alpha King earlier.


    The tension between the two love birds was almost nauseating, making Marcellus wonder if other people were blind to notice it or simply ignored it.


    "You said this potion is supposed to drive away the influence of the magic in his system, right?" Kaelos asked, his gaze lingering on Odessa for a little while before he brought it to Marcellus.


    Marcellus coughed erratically, his breathing hitching as he did. He was in pain, yes, but he made sure to make his reactions to the pain exaggerated.


    Anyway, Odessa nodded in response to Kaelos¡¯ question before she knelt beside Marcellus, shing him a smile.


    "Just drink this up and your wolf will be able to fight off the magic corruption." She whispered in a soothing voice that made Marcellus confused.


    Did he want to drain her of her life force or did he want to fuck her?


    His gaze was focused on her sulent lips before he returned her smile and nodded weakly.


    Odessa helped him sit up before bringing the small bowl close to his mouth. Marcellus subconsciously nced at the content of the bowl.


    It was blue and had a herbal scent as well as a translucent glow.


    He hesitated in drinking it, thinking about possible side effects that it might have on the ritual that made him a half-witch.


    Eventually, however, after Odessa tapped him lightly on the back, urging him to drink it, he did just that, closing his eyes and swallowing the bitter liquid with a hint of saltiness.


    His eyebrows furrowed when he had finished drinking the liquid, but that was because of the lingering taste in his mouth.


    He couldn¡¯t feel anything.


    "The potion should begin kicking in and helping your inner wolf to fight the influence of the magic arrow on your system any second now," Odessa remarked as she stood up, her touch lingering on Marcellus long after she stood.


    <fn988f> Official source is Find_Novel(.</fn988f>


    Before Marcellus could begin wrapping his head around why his sexual urges seemed to be heightened, he felt something in his system that felt like an itch at first.


    At this point, Odessa had walked up to the stretcher where the South American Alpha Kingy down and was about to administer his potion to him.


    "Wait!" Luna Queen Reina stopped her before she could bring the potion to her husband¡¯s mouth, her eyes squinting with suspicion. "How can we be sure that you wouldn¡¯t poison Alpha King Leonardo? It was your kind that put him in this situation in the first ce."


    A sly smirk curled up the corner of Marcellus¡¯ lips. It was funny to him how the pitiful werewolves were ming Regina for the South American Alpha king¡¯s wolfsbane poisoning when he was the one responsible for it.


    Anyway, as Odessa tried reassuring the Luna Queen that she had no intention of poisoning her husband, Marcellus began noticing some peculiar changes in his body.


    The ritual that made him a half-witch also weakened his connection to his wolf. He could still shift... But not as much as normal wolves, making him simr to an Omega.


    Well, not exactly like an Omega since he was anything but weak.


    Currently, thanks to the potion he drank, his usually silent wolf began howling in his head, pushing his body to its limits.


    His eyes widened as his bones twisted and his stomach turned until he eventually threw up, hurling a purple slime on the ground.


    His eyes dimmed when the putrid stench of his vomit whiffed into his nostrils.


    That was Regina¡¯s magic. His wolf, strengthened temporarily by Odessa¡¯s potion, had forced his body to expel it, allowing him to heal.


    "The potion worked..." Odessa mumbled just then, forcing Marcellus to raise his head and stare at her.


    She had managed to get the South American Alpha King to drink the potion she gave him, and he seemed to be getting better, the color on his faceing back.


    Yay for him...


    Suddenly, Marcellus gritted his teeth as his body was assaulted by a weakness that made his face twist into a frown. He was starving and the spell holding his transformation was getting unstable.


    He needed to feed... He needed to kill.


    "Wow. You look better already, Beta." The pack doctor beside him said with a relieved smile on his face. "Let¡¯s get you to your residence so I can check that wound on your back properly."


    Marcellus blinked at the doctor at first before his lips curled up into a smirk.


    This doctor would make the perfect victim...

 Chapter 65: _Mere Livestock

    <h4>Chapter 65: _Mere Livestock</h4>


    (Warning: Violence and slightly graphic scene ahead)


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    "You have such a lovely house, Beta." The pack doctor remarked when they walked into the living room of Marcellus¡¯ residence.


    Thetter nced at the doctor who looked to be in his early thirties but had a spirit that made him simr to an impressionable child.


    People like that either had strong wills... Or fragile minds, easy for him to manipte.


    "You tter me, mister..." Marcellus said with a wry smile stered on his face as he ¡¯struggled¡¯ to head to one of the couches.


    The pack doctor helped him sit down, patient and seemingly kind.


    Too bad... Marcellus still had to kill him.


    However, on their way here, he had thought of a better idea that was sure to keep the ritual holding his transformation replenished for a while.


    "You can call me, Abel, sir." The pack doctor said after sessfully aiding Marcellus to sit, bowing slightly in front of him soon after.


    A smirk curled up the corner of Marcellus¡¯ lips as he scrutinized the doctor. He wasn¡¯t bad when it came to looks... But Marcellus couldn¡¯t care less about that.


    What mattered to him the most was his thriving life force, which he could feel by just staring at him.


    His pal Abel here seemed to possess such a strong life force, usually seen mostly in soldiers. It would be a shame to waste such a perfect life force... Right?


    Anyway, Abel ignored Marcellus¡¯ gaze, even though he was obviously acting awkward about it, and stepped forward with his medical equipment.


    "Sir, your suit." The doctor cleared his throat and said, gesturing at Marcellus¡¯ suit.


    Marcellus smirked before he turned around and took off his suit and then the shirt underneath it, leaving him bare-chested.


    He left his back exposed to the pack doctor, letting him inspect it properly as he had said earlier.


    "Fascinating..." The pack doctor whispered as his fingers examined the wound on his back. "T¨C The wound from the arrow is already covering up at a remarkable speed. I thought it would take at least two hours or more for it to show any signs of healing."


    Marcellus¡¯ expression was in as he raised his head, staring at the stairs at the end of his living room that led upstairs.


    There, he spotted Cullen who had a curious expression on his face.


    Marcellus decided to establish a mind link with his assistant using his magic.


    <fn460c> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? Find1Novel</fn460c>


    ¡¯Well? What¡¯s the update? Did Regina sessfully escape the pack?¡¯ Marcellus asked Cullen mentally once the mind link was established.


    Thetter nodded before responding mentally. ¡¯Yeah, I saw the bitch leave before I got here. But a quick question... What¡¯s that fine specimen doing here? It¡¯s been a while since you swung that way and¨C¡¯


    ¡¯Be quiet before I make you eat your thoughts, boy.¡¯ Marcellus sneered mentally, causing Cullen to chuckle to his satisfaction.


    Just then, the pack doctor paused his observation of Marcellus¡¯ back. He had heard Cullen¡¯s chuckle and brought his gaze to thed who had a smirk on his face.


    "Oh... Good evening." The pack doctor muttered politely but Cullen didn¡¯t respond to him, instead walking slowly down the stairs.


    ¡¯Let me guess. He¡¯s a potential source for nourishment?¡¯ Cullen remarked in Marcellus¡¯ mind, his gaze scanning the pack doctor. ¡¯Not bad. Do you n on making the kill bloody? Knowing you, I have a feeling that¡¯s the case.¡¯


    Marcellus scoffed when he heard Cullen¡¯s words.


    Thed knew him all too well.


    Marcellus would rather prefer to watch his victims fighting for their lives, struggling to hold on to their life force with each blow.


    He was at his residence, basically his territory. Satisfying his fantasies would be much easier here as long as he was calctive about it.


    "Do you have any family, Abel?" Marcellus suddenly asked, standing up gently.


    His gaze was on the pack doctor, who seemed confused, his eyelids blinking as he nced first at Cullen, who stood silently behind Marcellus, before bringing his gaze back to thetter.


    "Y¨C Yes, sir." He answered. "Just my wife. My parents are in the neighboring Silver Moon pack. But why do you ask?"


    Marcellus smirked, slowly cing his right hand on Abel¡¯s shoulder.


    The man¡¯s eyes wavered with uncertainty, his breathing spiking up.


    "In that case, this is going to be more enjoyable. For me, of course." He said coldly before he tightened his grip on Abel¡¯s shoulder.


    Before the poor pack doctor knew what was happening, Marcellus utilized nothing but his wolf strength to shove him forward, sending him flying until he crashed into the wall behind.


    The pack doctor fell weakly to the ground like a rag doll and groaned in pain, causing Marcellus to tilt his head. He studied every movement, every twitch of the poor man¡¯s muscles and he took it in.


    "B¨C Beta Marcellus..." The pack doctor stuttered with disbelief and fear as he slowly raised his head to stare at him.


    But Marcellus ignored that and strutted slowly toward the man; each step he took was a calcted move to send more and more delicious fear into the pack doctor¡¯s heart.


    "What? Are you surprised that I was able to do that? Or confused why I seem like I want to kill you?" Marcellus asked as he got in front of the man.


    Without any warning, he grabbed the man¡¯s neck with his right hand and raised him up, his eyes glinting with a cold light as he did.


    He could already feel the sweet sensation of the man¡¯s life force coursing through his veins as blood and couldn¡¯t wait to begin draining it.


    Anyway, as the pack doctor wrapped his hands on Marcellus¡¯ arm, trying to release himself from his grip, thetter slowly brought his mouth to his ears and whispered.


    "The truth is, I don¡¯t care. I don¡¯t feel even an ounce of sympathy or pity for you. To me, all you are is a means to an end. You¡¯re merely livestock meant to keep my transformation stable."


    Each word he said was meant to weaken the man¡¯s will until the despair would start sipping into his heart.


    And from the despondent look in his eyes, it seemed to be working.


    "Now, for my first course of action with you..." Marcellus mumbled before he brought out his free left hand.


    His ws came out, allowing him to leave a ghastly gash on the pack doctor¡¯s stomach with one swipe and causing him to squirm before screaming in agony.


    Marcellus didn¡¯t stop there and twisted his fingers and ws on the pack doctor¡¯s stomach, causing blood to gush out like a fountain and spray all over Marcellus¡¯ bare chest.


    Marcellus grinned as his gaze scrutinized the injury he had inflicted on the pack doctor¡¯s stomach. The gash was so deep that he could see his guts, including his intestines that looked like bloody sausages.


    "Oh..." He breathed out satisfactorily as he felt the influx of life force sipping into his body. "Hell, I want more! And that¡¯s where your lovely wifees in."


    Marcellus watched as the pack doctor shook his head weakly while he shoved his bloody hand into his pocket and brought out his phone.


    Luckily, it wasn¡¯t locked, allowing Marcellus to scroll through it easily before finding the wife¡¯s contact.


    It was saved as ¡¯The Air I breathe¡¯.


    "How ironic..." Marcellus chuckled to himself as he clicked on the contact to call the number.

 Chapter 66: _Prey And Monster

    <h4>Chapter 66: _Prey And Monster</h4>


    (Warning: Gory scenes and disturbing graphics ahead!)


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    "P¨C Please, have... Have mercy. I¨C I have done no wrong and brought... No harm..." The pack doctor begged with a weak voice, coughing as he struggled to stay conscious while he was being held by Marcellus.


    Meanwhile, thetter didn¡¯t care and waited patiently for the number to ring.


    "Shh." He shushed the pack doctor, a sly grin curling up the corner of his lips. "Don¡¯t ruin the fun. It¡¯s ringing."


    The pack doctor¡¯s stomach, which was deeply wounded by Marcellus, continued to gush out with blood like a fountain, with thetter¡¯s marble tiles already getting painted all over with crimson red.


    The poor man¡¯s intestines had even begun dangling out like bloody sausages.


    The sight was gory and would probably have a lot of people retching, but to Marcellus, it didn¡¯t even phase him.


    The only thing he could think about was the fact that the man¡¯s life-force-rich blood was getting wasted like sewer water.


    "Hello?" A female voice said from the other end of the phone, causing Marcellus to arch an eyebrow. "Abel? Are you okay? I heard news of an attack at the elite region but no one here is sure of exactly what happened. Why did the Alpha King summon you there?"


    Marcellus nced at Abel, tilting his head with a mysterious glint in his eyes. It was as if he was taunting him to speak out... To dare say something to get his dear wife¡¯s attention.


    And like a good puppy, the poor pack doctor took the bait.


    "H¨C Honey... Stay at home." Abel said weakly but that caused Marcellus to roll his eyes before he tightened his grip on his neck.


    The pack doctor gasped as Marcellus brought his mouth close to his ears and whispered. "Boring..."


    Meanwhile, Abel¡¯s wife seemed to already be getting worked up and spoke with a tense voice. "Abel, are you okay? Why are you giving me the silent treatment? Is it because of our argument this morning?"


    As soon as Marcellus heard that, his interest got piqued, forcing him to drop Abel from his grip.


    The pack doctor plopped to the ground like a rag doll, groaning and fighting to stay conscious as he struggled to crawl on the floor, trying to get a hold of Marcellus.


    But Marcellus ignored him, walking a few steps away as he continued listening to Abel¡¯s wife.


    "I¨C I¡¯m not judging you for not being able to get it up. I¡¯m just saying that maybe you should get checked and see if there¡¯s any underlying issues."


    Marcellus¡¯ eyes widened dramatically as he brought his gaze to Abel who growled with frustration on the floor. The pack doctor¡¯s blood was already spreading under his body and onto the marble floor like a red cloak.


    Marcellus squatted and used the index finger of his free hand to poke his finger into the pool of blood before bringing it to his mouth and licking it.


    The amount of life force in that alone made him feel like he was treating himself to some ice cream.


    As for the pack doctor, he raised his head slowly, staring at Marcellus who didn¡¯t even pay him any heed.


    "Y¨C You¡¯re not the Beta." The pack doctor came to an intriguing conclusion, managing to finally gain Marcellus¡¯ attention.


    Meanwhile, his wife at the other end of the phone seemed to have heard him say that and called out worriedly. "Abel, you¡¯re scaring me. What did you say about the Beta? Are you with him?"


    Marcellus smirked coldly, watching as the pack doctor struggled to grab the phone from his hands. But it was no use as all Marcellus had to do each time the poor man inched closer to him was to step away a few inches.


    "I wonder why you haven¡¯t shifted yet," Marcellus said with a whisper, squinting his eyes at the man.


    Suddenly, as if something had finally clicked in the idiot¡¯s brain, the man¡¯s eyes glinted with a murderous light as he fixed his gaze on Marcellus.


    <fnffb7> For more chapters visit find{n}ovel</fnffb7>


    Thetter seemed intrigued, slowly getting up and watching as the man¡¯s bones shifted as he howled weakly while his wolf struggled to w its way out.


    "Abel?!" His wife yelled out from the other end of the phone with a heightened irritation before adding. "Tell me where you are right now. I swear to the moon if¨C"


    "Meet me at the Beta¡¯s residence," Marcellus said in a voice that imitated Abel¡¯s voice, causing thetter to growl in anger.


    But before his wife could hear that animalistic growl, Marcellus hung up before crushing the phone with a simple clench of his hand.


    "I¡¯m going to fucking kill you!" The pack doctor roared as he finally transformed fully into his wolf.


    Or, at least, he thought he did.


    Just when thest traces of his human skin and form were disappearing, Marcellus got in front of him andnded a devastating punch on the wound on his stomach, causing Abel to howl and scream in agony at the same time.


    He was sent flying,nding on the wall behind him before sliding down to the floor, where his blood gushed out like a pool, sttering on the walls like an art exhibit.


    Thanks to Abel¡¯s blood gushing out and Marcellusing in contact with it when he punched him, he was able to absorb some of his life force, causing him to sigh satisfactorily as he advanced toward him with stretched-out arms.


    "Resistance is futile," Marcellus said with a grin, his footsteps echoing on the marble floor. "This isn¡¯t even a fight. There¡¯s a simplew of nature making you the prey and me... Well, the monster."


    When he finally got to the pack doctor, he scrutinized the effects of his punch.


    The punch was so strong that it had halted his transformation, affecting his wolf and... well, resulting in this.


    He now looked like a sickly abomination with the body of a man but the fur and snout of a wolf with blood sticking all over his body and his intestines littered all over the floor as well as a hunched back with his spines protruding like tiny rocks.


    The pack doctor howled and whimpered like a dog, but he couldn¡¯t even move properly and could only squirm in pain.


    Marcellus watched this pitiful scene patiently. He was waiting for the arrival of their second guest.


    Finally, after what seemed like eons, Marcellus picked up the sound of a knock at hispound gate, causing his lips to curl up into a cold grin.


    "Cullen. Go bring in our guest, please." Marcellus remarked to his assistant who had watched silently behind him all this while.

 Chapter 67: _The Beauty Of Death

    <h4>Chapter 67: _The Beauty Of Death</h4>


    (Warning: Disturbing scene and gore ahead!)


    Marcellus POV


    *****


    As he waited for Cullen toe back into the house with the pack doctor¡¯s wife, he made himselffortable by sitting on a couch, crossing one leg on top of the other.


    He tilted his head, watching as the pack doctor, now a whimpering abomination, twitched asionally on the floor, blood oozing out from his mouth and the obvious gash on his stomach.


    "Ugh. And now you¡¯re bleeding all over my floor." Marcellus said with a roll of his eyes before he snapped his fingers.


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    That caused a bottle of vodka from the dining table to levitate and then float to him, as well as a ss. He poured himself a drink, ignoring the pained whimpers of the man on his floor.


    "You poor thing..." Marcellus remarked, clicking his tongue before he shook his head. "I... Can¡¯t rte to the pain you¡¯re feeling. But if it makes you feel any better, I don¡¯t n on giving your wife a slow death. And I¡¯m only doing this because it adds some fun to the killing."


    He decided to stand up, taking a sip from the drink in his hand before he continued. "I mean, I honestly don¡¯t care though. I could kill you now and put you out of your misery. But I don¡¯t know how to exin it... I¡¯ve always felt emotions differently. Sometimes I question if I have emotions at all."


    He squatted to the level of the pack doctor who groaned weakly as his blood oozed out of him like a pool.


    Marcellus tilted his head, squinting his eyes before sighing. "What I do know is that I¡¯m good at faking. Like... Really good at faking stuff. I¡¯ve tried so many things to seek some sliver of joy or sadness or anything at all. However, the only thing I think I can feel is the thrill..."


    He paused, stretching his hand forward and caressing the bloody fur of his victim. His eyes were cold and distant as if he were observing a log of wood rather than a person close to death¡¯s door.


    He didn¡¯t usually talk to his victims but recently, he¡¯s been admittedly getting worked up. And it was all thanks to Odessa and his desire to crack whatever secrets she held.


    "... The thrill and excitement thates from having control over another life. Watching them bleed in your arms." Marcelluspleted his earlier statement with a sigh before he added with a teasing tone. "Maybe I¡¯m a psychopath. Or is the appropriate term a sociopath? I don¡¯t know."


    Suddenly, the front door swung open and Cullen barged in, dragging a woman in her twenties alongside him.


    The woman¡¯s long brown hair was rough, showing that she had tried to make some kind of struggle against Cullen but he had obviously prevailed.


    "Ah, she¡¯s finally here," Marcellus said with a grin, stretching his arms in a weing way. "Perfect timing. I was getting bored."


    Cullen scoffed before he flung the woman into the room, causing her tond on the marble floor with a grunt.


    She panted heavily, raising her head to re at Cullen who walked past her, unbothered.


    "Gentle, Cullen," Marcellus said calmly, his arms behind his back as he walked slowly toward the woman.


    It was at that moment that the woman¡¯s gaze went to the person lying on the floor beside her. Her eyes widened in shock at first but that shock soon turned to recognition and then horror under the span of a few seconds.


    She quickly sat up, crawling up to her husband as she screamed. "Abel?! Abel! Oh my goddess, what happened to you?"


    Marcellus watched their interaction with genuine curiosity; his eyes dimmed and cold.


    He¡¯ll never get people and these sappy emotions they show...


    "You aren¡¯t even showing any signs of fear for your own life," Marcellus said with a snigger, walking up to the couple.


    To his surprise and amusement, the wife ced herself in front of her husband, ring up at Marcellus with desperation in her eyes.


    "No! Stay away from him. Y¨C You¡¯re a monster! We... We saw you as a kind... A kind..." She stuttered but couldn¡¯t evenplete thatst statement, seeming like she was about to shift into her wolf any second instead.


    But Marcellus clicked his tongue before shaking his head. "I wouldn¡¯t advise on you shifting, love. It¡¯s not worth it. Your fates have been sealed and honestly... I¡¯ve lost interest in drawing this out any longer."


    He stretched his hand forward and used his magic on the woman, cing a pressuring telekic force on her. He then gestured toward himself, causing her to levitate to him before stopping a few inches away from him.


    He could almost smell the fearing off her, causing him to sigh with satisfaction at how exhrating it was.


    "There it is... Sweet, sweet fear." He said with a satisfied sigh, his eyes glinting with a predatory light.


    His gaze scanned the body of the woman, going from her neck to her breasts which were peeking out of her dress.


    He felt an odd sense of arousal that he could¡¯ve sworn he hadn¡¯t felt in ages. Not until he met... Odessa.


    ¡¯Why does everything keep leading to her?¡¯ he asked himself mentally with a sigh, before fixing his attention on the woman in front of him.


    "Tonight is your lucky night. I¡¯m horny and heard about your husband¡¯s little... Erection problems." Marcellus chuckled, winking at the woman. "Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll give you the grace of bringing all your sexual desires to life before draining you of your life force."


    Her husband, who groveled behind her, stretched his hands forward, groaning in rebuttal. But it was futile.


    Meanwhile, the woman¡¯s face paled before her eyes zed with anger and disgust. She spat on Marcellus, causing Cullen, who stood behind him, to chuckle.


    "Looks like we¡¯ve got a feisty one." His assistant remarked with a fascinated tone.


    As for Marcellus, he wasn¡¯t triggered by the woman¡¯s actions and used his fingers to clean off the saliva on his face.


    "Let¡¯s make things interesting." He said with a cold tone before snapping his fingers. "Cullen, kill the doctor and drain him while his wife watches."


    Instantly, Cullen rushed to the pack doctor with his ws out and grabbed him by the neck before raising him into the air, a sadistic smirk on his face.


    The pack doctor¡¯s bloody intestines dangled out of his stomach, and his limbs, now twisted because of his unnatural transformation, moved around weakly, but he couldn¡¯t put up a fight.


    "No! Let him go!" His wife squealed but it was no use as Marcellus grabbed her head while she was under the influence of his levitation spell and made her watch as Cullen tore him apart.


    Limb by limb, skin by skin, tissue by tissue, with blood and organs sttering around like rain and the pack doctor screaming in pure agony at the top of his lungs until his lungs were ripped out as well.


    Marcellus¡¯ expression was in as he watched the gore, though a slight smirk curled up the corner of his lips the more he watched his assistant draining the victim¡¯s life force with each sh of his w.


    Throughout all this, the wife pleaded and wailed until her voice cracked for mercy but Marcellus barely paid her any attention. He was too busy admiring the sight before him.


    The beauty of death...

 Chapter 68: _Can’t A Girl Catch A Break?

    <h4>Chapter 68: _Can¡¯t A Girl Catch A Break?</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    After the chaos that ensued from the attack by that random witch, with Marcellus taking the hit of a magic arrow that was aimed at me and the South American Alpha King being poisoned by wolfsbane, I was tasked once again to prove my worth.


    Much to the obvious displeasure of Kaelos, I went to the Blood Oak woods alongside a few guards sent to protect me.


    My main mission there was to gather the necessary ingredients for a potion meant to cleanse Marcellus¡¯ system from the corruption of the magic arrow and to remove the wolfsbane poisoning from Alpha King Leonardo.


    But unbeknownst to the pack soldiers who escorted me to the woods, I gathered a few extra ingredients that had no business with my current mission.


    "Hurry up!" One of the pack soldiers yelled out with an agitated voice as I squatted to pluck a peculiar-looking red flower.


    But I ignored the man, scrutinizing the flower closely.


    My lips soon curled up into a smirk. This was thest ingredient I needed for another little... ¡¯project¡¯ I have in mind.


    "How sure are we that she¡¯s not somehow affiliated with the witch responsible for the attack?" Another pack soldier said with a low tone but apparently, it wasn¡¯t low enough since I could hear him.


    At that point, I kept the red flower in a pouch I¡¯d carried along with me where I kept other ingredients.


    "Yeah, you¡¯re right." A female pack soldier muttered with suspicion. "After all, it¡¯s well known that all witches know each other. She might be friends with the culprit for all we know."


    I almost couldn¡¯t believe what I was hearing. Almost...


    It was clear that these wolves didn¡¯t mind mixing ignorance with their hate for witches.


    Anyway, after dusting my ball gown which already had some dust and dirt sticking to the bottom parts, I held it up before turning around to face the pack soldiers.


    They all tensed up at first but eventually stared at me with disdain in their eyes as I made my way toward them.


    There were exactly five of them... Four men and a woman.


    "Are you done with gathering the ingredients?" The female among them queried, squinting her eyes as I approached.


    I stered a smile on my face, nodding my head. "Yup. We¡¯re set to go back to the pack and I can get these brewed into potions."


    The female pack soldier nodded alongside the others but before they could make their way to the ck SUV that they had driven us here with, I called them back.


    "I couldn¡¯t help but overhear what you guys were saying," I remarked, causing them to pause in their tracks.


    They slowly turned to face me only to meet my cheery smile which had just the right hint of sarcasm as I continued.


    "You¡¯re under the impression that all witches are acquainted or that we all know each other. But I¡¯d like to point out that your information is a tad bit... Inadequate." I said, folding my arms in front of my chest.


    The night was dead silent, apart from the chirping of night insects and the asional hooting of an owl or another night bird.


    With how hesitant Kaelos had been in letting mee here, I had thought that maybe monsters dwelt here.


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    After all, I¡¯ve heard stories of witches creating abominations of nature and identally unleashing them into the wild.


    Anyway, I sighed before I continued. "While witches try to be united, that concept really isn¡¯t our strong suit. We have covens for structure and order but just like you wolves, we still have rogues or lone witches who would rather do things their own way."


    The pack soldiers nced among themselves, but none of them said anything.


    Meanwhile, I felt a little adrenaline rush from talking to them so openly and boldly. My heart pounded against my chest and I felt like keeping quiet and pretending like I didn¡¯t hear anything.


    But I couldn¡¯t just stand the bullshit any longer...


    "In times of war like this, ideologies and stereotypes like what you just uttered do nothing but make things worse. Especially now that your Alpha king is trying to push for peace." I said, my gaze on the female pack soldier whose eyes glinted with a cold light.


    She ground her jaw, her fists clenching and unclenching but I¡¯d spoken enough already.


    I cleared my throat, trying and failing to clear the awkward and pressuring atmosphere before I spoke up again. "Anyway, with all said and done. Can we head to the car now? Time¡¯s running out."


    I proceeded to move forward but the female pack soldier stood in front of me, refusing to step aside even when I stared at her face.


    Her eyes twitched slightly, and I almost felt like I could hear a wolf-like growling from her mouth.


    I swallowed hard, bracing myself as I turned around her and the other pack soldiers to make my way to the car.


    Fortunately, none of them did anything funny and simply remained silent as I made my way to the vehicle.


    "She thinks she¡¯s so smart, huh?" The female pack soldier remarked with contempt, but at this point, I¡¯d already opened the back passenger seat door and stepped inside, closing the door behind me.


    Eventually, the pack soldiers rushed to the car and stepped in before driving hastily back to the pack.


    .


    .


    When I got to the pack, it didn¡¯t take me long to make both potions, with help from Caroline.


    After taking the potions to both Marcellus and the South American Alpha King back in the event hall and after convincing thetter and his wife that I didn¡¯t want to poison them, I sighed satisfactorily as I sat on the chair I¡¯d been sitting during the ball before the attack.


    I used the back of my hand to wipe off the sweat dripping down my face, my gaze going to the bottle of wine that was still on the table.


    However, before I could stretch my hand and take it, a voice stopped me.


    "I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you."


    I raised my head only to meet Kaelos standing in front of me with a in expression on his face as he stared at my face.


    Even though I was annoyed by his intrusion while I tried to rest, my stomach did that weird thing that happened every time I saw him, and I could even feel a blushing in.


    Gods, couldn¡¯t a girl catch a break?!

 Chapter 69: _Too Much Of A Gentleman

    <h4>Chapter 69: _Too Much Of A Gentleman</h4>


    "Do you have any idea how hard it is to make potions as a powerless witch?" I asked Kaelos, defying his earlier words and proceeding to grab the bottle of wine.


    <fn7084> Find the newest release on Find_Novel(.</fn7084>


    He blinked at me with curiosity before his once in face broke into a slight smirk.


    "No. But I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s very hard. And I¡¯m guessing you¡¯re going to give me an exnation on it or something even though it¡¯s clear I don¡¯t want one." He remarked, tilting his head before he sat down on the seat beside me.


    As we interacted, the people around us, which included Alpha King Leonardo, his wife and delegates, Elder Davina, Marcellus, the pack doctor, and La, all went about their different activities.


    They ignored us even though I could feel the underlying pressure between all of them, most of it focused on Kaelos.


    I could only guess why that was the case...


    Anyway, I crossed one leg on top of the other before I nodded my head with a sarcastic smile. "Well, as your wife, I must educate you on things like this. But anyway, potions usually require tons of concentration and attention to detail. Any slight mistake in the mixture of the ingredients could be disastrous in different ways."


    I stared at Kaelos as I spoke and to my surprise, he seemed to listen attentively, cing his right hand under his chin as he did.


    He even nodded slowly, signifying that he was listening.


    For an odd reason, seeing that he wasn¡¯t disregarding me as usual or trying to be distant made my heart flutter, causing my face to heat up with a blush.


    "Does making potions also make a witch¡¯s cheeks flush red like a tomato or do the side effects vary?" Kaelos asked with a sly smirk on his face, causing me to hide my face with my hand and look away.


    Screw him!


    He seemed to be enjoying my predicament and chuckled mildly, ignoring the gazes of the people around us.


    Another little detail that had my heart racing...


    "My point is, a witch with magic could rely on that to make the potion-making process seamless and easy, most times allowing them to make powerful potions," I exined, lowering my head and fiddling with the bottle of wine. "A powerless witch like me doesn¡¯t have that leisure¨C"


    "Yet, you were able to gather the ingredients and make the potions within an hour or so and they worked perfectly," Kaelos stated, his expression calm and neutral as he shrugged. "I¡¯m no expert, but that seems good enough to me."


    After he said that, I became silent and so did he as we stared into each other¡¯s eyes. His piercing silver eyes glinted with an unknown and mysterious light that drew me in like a siren song.


    My heartbeat quickened as I tried to hold back the thoughts telling me to lean closer and kiss him.


    I couldn¡¯t let myself get tempted... we were in public for crying out loud!


    Suddenly, Kaelos cleared his throat and stood up, his gaze on the bottle of wine still in my hands.


    "Anyway, since I listened to your exnation, I guess it¡¯s only fair that you listen to mine." He remarked before snatching the bottle from my hands, causing my mouth to open in surprise.


    He ignored that and continued inly. "The reason I told you not to drink this is because Alpha King Leonardo was poisoned by Wolfsbane. Which was slipped into his drink. Which he drank at this same gallery in our presence."


    My mouth formed an ¡¯o¡¯ as I began to understand where he was going with this.


    I couldn¡¯t help but look away from him as I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.


    He chuckled dryly before he dropped the bottle aside and stretched his right hand to me, gesturing at me to grab it.


    "Come on. If you really want to drink that bad, we can go have wine in my chambers."


    The slyness behind those words was hard to miss, even though he had a seemingly neutral expression on his face.


    But I blissfully ignored it and grabbed his hand, allowing him to help me get on my feet.


    He was being way too much of a gentleman tonight but I wasn¡¯tining.


    "What about the South American Alpha King and his delegates?" I couldn¡¯t help but ask with a whisper, ncing back at them as we headed downstairs.


    But Kaelos merely grunted before he yanked my hand, forcing me to remove my eyes from them.


    "After everything that happened tonight, it¡¯s clear that the boat has sunk."


    I remained silent after he said that as he led me out of the event hall.


    .


    .


    When we finally got to Kaelos¡¯ chambers, he closed the door behind him while I walked inside first.


    The ce was dimly lit, forcing me to squint my eyes as I searched for the light switch.


    However, before my hands could get there, Kaelos suddenly grabbed my wrist, forcing a soft gasp out of my mouth as I raised my head to stare at his face.


    "W¨C What are you doing?" I asked, trying hard to ignore the way he stared at me with his piercing silver eyes.


    But before I knew what was happening, he pulled me into a steamy kiss that caused my eyes to widen in surprise before my body began burning with a need that I hadn¡¯t realized was there in the first ce.


    Kaelos pushed me backward as his hands went to my chest and he began squeezing my breasts despite the obstruction of my ball gown.


    I made myself busy as well, wrapping my arms around his neck as I continued kissing him as if he was my only tether to the itself.


    Just when we got to his bed and he made me sit down on top of it, he pulled away from the kiss, cing his right hand on my face and staring into my eyes.


    The fact that I could see a myriad of emotions in his eyes at that moment made my shoulders rx and my stomach dance with butterflies.


    However, instead of him continuing our little make-out session, he smirked before he blurted.


    "Let me go get those drinks."

 Chapter 70: _Her Perfect Mate

    <h4>Chapter 70: _Her Perfect Mate</h4>


    I waited patiently for Kaelos toe back with the drinks, trying to catch my breath after that steamy make-out session.


    I scanned my gaze around his room, parting aside some strands of my hair that had gotten in front of my face.


    I haven¡¯t been in his room a lot, but its design and size seemed simr to mine.


    Just then, my eyes fell on a small picture on top of the drawer at the head of his bed, close to themp.


    I dimmed my eyes, ncing back where I saw Kaelos looking through a cab for the drinks.


    "I¡¯m guessing you¡¯ll go for wine." He blurted, his tone calm but yet a little teasing.


    I stered a smile on my face before I responded. "Yeah, wine would be perfect."


    After saying that, I stood up and walked up to the bedpost. I grabbed the photo, bringing it close to my face after turning on the bedsidemp which illuminated that side of the room with a yellow light.


    In the photo was a man and a woman who seemed to be a couple. The man had raven ck hair and piercing silver eyes that reminded me of Kaelos.


    As for the woman, she had a pretty oval face and beautiful brown hair, as well as calm blue eyes.


    The couple in the photo stood close to each other, with smiles on their faces.


    However, the smile didn¡¯t seem to extend to the eyes of the man who I assumed was Kaelos¡¯ father.


    Suddenly, before I could recover from the mesmerization of seeing Kaelos parents, a hand grabbed my wrist, forcing me to drop the photo which fell.


    Before it could hit the ground, however, another hand caught it, forcing me to turn my gaze only to see that both hands belonged to Kaelos, who had a stern look on his face.


    "Keep your paws to yourself, please." He muttered with a grunt, releasing me from his grip before he turned away from me and used his fingers to gently brush against the photo.


    I fluttered my eyelids, still stunned by the interaction... Until I felt a sting on my wrist thanks to Kaelos gripping it so hard, causing me to re at him while my jaw clenched.


    "What¡¯s your problem?" I asked, tilting my head and watching as he turned his back to me while still looking at the photo.


    I could get that those were histe parents and he was getting sentimental or whatever. But what he did just now was a gross exaggeration.


    Anyway, Kaelos didn¡¯t have any reaction to my question but instead answered inly. "The age-old question. I guess no one will ever know."


    He proceeded to walk away from me and kept the photo in a different spot in the room.


    Then he walked back to the bed and picked up a bottle of wine that he¡¯d dropped close to it alongside two sses.


    "So you¡¯re just going to pretend like nothing weird happened just now?" I queried, folding my arms in front of my chest and staring at him inquisitively.


    To my surprise, Kaelos nodded with a shrug before he spoke. "Yes. Because nothing weird happened. I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re trying to be overdramatic."


    Over dramatic? Over dramatic?!


    My eyes twitched as I watched him open the wine bottle before pouring some into both sses.


    He handed me one of the sses but I didn¡¯t take it, causing him to scoff before shaking his head.


    "What exactly do you want me to say, dear wife?" He asked with genuine curiosity. "Alright, the couple in the photo are myte parents. And so what? Is that going to be an issue now? Should we stop drinking? Because trust me, I¡¯d rather drink on my own."


    He didn¡¯t have to add thatst part...


    I blinked my eyes at him, my jaw still clenching and my shoulders getting tense.


    Kaelos seemed to get tired of the whole thing and rolled his eyes before he slowly turned away from me. "Very well then. More drinks for me and¨C"


    "Why did you grip my wrist like that?" I asked, cing my hands on my waist.


    Kaelos paused but his eyes seemed to twitch before he spoke. "I didn¡¯t want you to see that photo and then start asking tons of questions like you¡¯re doing now."


    I rolled my eyes before I talked. "What questions exactly? Why do you look hesitant about me seeing your parents¡¯ photo? Why were you acting so nice earlier only for your true color to show now?"


    "Thread carefully, Odessa," Kaelos remarked calmly, his voice not showing even a hint of annoyance.


    Which is why I was taken by surprise by his reaction when I shook my head before stepping close to him. "Why? What are you trying to hide from me? Your emotions? I¨C I thought you were softening up to me. I thought maybe¨C"


    "Well, it seems you thought wrong, hon!" Kaelos snarled, breaking his ss of wine by clenching it too hard.


    I jolted in shock, stepping backward while Kaelos stepped forward, his gaze lingering at me with an almost predatory glint.


    "I am who I am. You might see me as a brute, you might see me as a cold monster who only cares about himself. I don¡¯t care." He remarked, the bottle of wine still intact in his other hand as well as one more ss that he hadn¡¯t broken yet.


    <fn48ab> ?????? ???? find?novel</fn48ab>


    When he finally got me close to the wall behind me, his hot breath brushed against my face before he added. "One thing I can never be is your perfect mate. A witch and a werewolf should never have been mates, talk less of a powerless witch and an Alpha King."


    Those words hurt more than any blow or p I¡¯ve received and I didn¡¯t understand why.


    Why was I the only one being dreamy about the rtionship because of the mate bond? Why did it seem like it wasn¡¯t affecting Kaelos as much?


    Well, whatever the reason, I didn¡¯t care anymore as I drew in a deep breath before attempting to walk past him without saying anything.


    However, when my shoulder brushed against him, he grabbed my wrist, forcing me to gasp as I turned my gaze back to him.

 Chapter 71: _Breaking His Shell

    <h4>Chapter 71: _Breaking His Shell</h4>


    "Let go of me, Kaelos," I said with a strained voice, ring at him. "You¡¯ve done enough damage for one night."


    I tried yanking my hand out of his grip but despite how hard I struggled, his grip was so strong that I even felt like if I struggled for too long, my arm would pull out.


    Meanwhile, Kaelos¡¯ gaze was cold but his eyes seemed to glint with a myriad of emotions that only got me more confused.


    What sort of two-faced behavior is this?


    "You just aren¡¯t willing to understand my perspective of things at all." He suddenly blurted, his tone firm but carrying a hint of desperation that surprised me. "If you would just try and understand me then maybe this¨C"


    "How?!" I snapped, my anger and irritation bubbling out.


    Suddenly, I noticed themp close to the bedpost flickering from the corner of my eyes, but it was so brief that I didn¡¯t pay it much attention and instead continued berating Kaelos.


    "You wouldn¡¯t open up. You¡¯re always so blunt and cold with your words that I most times wonder if you even feel the mate bond the same way that I do." I exined, my tone getting low with sadness at the end.


    But I gritted my teeth, maintaining eye contact with Kaelos. I sessfully yanked my hand out of his grip and this time, he just let me, allowing me to continue.


    "As I¡¯ve said before, if it were possible to reject the mate bond, I would. But since that¡¯s not the case, maybe, just maybe, I felt like you could change. That you could be better." I muttered, the disappointment clear in my tone.


    Kaelos was oddly calm, simply staring at me as I spoke.


    I can¡¯t take this anymore, that¡¯s for sure...


    "If you aren¡¯t willing to open up then I¡¯ll just continue to be the little witch in your life that you don¡¯t want but can¡¯t get rid of and keep my distance until one of us snaps."


    With that said, I turned around and walked toward the exit, not bothering to even nce back.


    Until...


    "My mother died of mysterious causes when I was a boy."


    I paused in my tracks, my hand lingering close to the doorknob.


    My heartbeat quickened as Kaelos continued talking after that first revtion. Well, it wasn¡¯t really much of a revtion since Marcellus had already revealed it to me several nights ago, but still...


    "My father was... Not the best." Kaelos said with a sigh and even though I couldn¡¯t see his face, I could almost imagine the frown lines forming on his features.


    I couldn¡¯t hold back my curiosity anymore and reluctantly swerved my body to face him, squinting my eyes and watching as he struggled to continue speaking.


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    "M¨C My father took the war so seriously and tried his best to make sure I had it ingrained in my mind that witches deserve to be wiped out. Since I was a child, he¡¯s always tried grooming me with that ideology until... Until..."


    He paused, breathing out heavily. It seemed he¡¯d run out of ¡¯gas¡¯ at this point and looked away from me, closing his eyes and balling his hands into fists.


    I could feel his frustration almost as if it was my own and as much as I hated it, I felt so bad for him.


    Gosh, this man was driving me insane with these feelings.


    "Anyway, something happened in my past that I¡¯m not proud to talk about," Kaelos muttered, his tone bing less emotional now as he began walking toward me.


    My breath hitched but I didn¡¯t try stepping away as he walked closer and closer.


    "I always med my father for what I did. But growing up, I¡¯ve realized that I could have made a difference. So ever since my father died, that¡¯s what I¡¯ve been trying to do. Subtly..." He exined, finally getting in front of me and cing both his hands on my shoulder.


    I flinched but didn¡¯t shift away, instead raising my head to meet his gaze which seemed to soften.


    "All these... Feelings. They¡¯re new to me. Especially because you¡¯re a witch." He remarked, his voice getting soft. "I can¡¯t even imagine what the reaction of the pack members would be if they found out. It could cause a civil war... Mutiny."


    I understood where he wasing from but I also had my own perspective concerning the whole thing.


    "But we¡¯re already married. What difference would being mates bring?" I queried, tilting my head.


    Kaelos sighed, shaking his head. "We¡¯re only married because of a fickle truce that could dissolve at any time if all goes south. Also, you being my mate would mean I wouldn¡¯t be able to get rid of you if that truce dissolved. Except... You know."


    I gulped at the implication of thest two words.


    Death.


    The only way to get rid of the mate bond between an Alpha king and his mate would be for one of them to die.


    "And as surprising as it is, I don¡¯t want you to die..." Kaelos suddenly muttered, raising his right hand and fondling my face.


    My eyelids fluttered before my gaze softened and I smiled warmly.


    However, before I could even say anything in return, he added inly. "... Well, not yet, anyway."


    I clicked my tongue, shaking my head. "You just had to ruin it, didn¡¯t you?"


    Kaelos chuckled amusingly, his eyes glinting with genuine warmth that took me off guard. I found myself smiling as I stared into his piercing silver eyes.


    Soon enough, he stoppedughing and began staring at me too, his right hand slowly drawing my face closer to his.


    I didn¡¯t resist, closing my eyes as our lips met in a passionate kiss that caused me to moan softly.


    Things became heated quickly and it was clear neither of us could hold back any longer. That wasn¡¯t the n anyway.


    Kaelos pressed my body against him until I could feel his hardened dick. I wrapped my arms around his neck, using my tongue to explore the walls of his mouth while his hands gradually went to my gown and began slowly taking it off.

 Chapter 72: _Don’t Tell A Soul

    <h4>Chapter 72: _Don¡¯t Tell A Soul</h4>


    (Warning: Mature Content Ahead)


    After Kaelos had sessfully helped me out of my gown¡ª which was quite the herculean task, he proceeded to lift me by my legs and carried me to the bed while our lips were still locked in a steamy kiss.


    I clung to his back for dear life before he abruptly dropped me on top of the bed, causing me to release a soft gasp as I watched him take off his suit.


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    "So much for that drink..." I whispered, the corner of my lips curling into a sly smirk while my face heated up with a blush.


    Kaelos grunted as he flung his suit away before taking off his shirt. When he was left bare-chested, he stared at me with an almost predatory intensity in his eyes before he spoke.


    "We can drink it after the deed." He growled, stretching his right hand to my face before he leaned his body closer and imed my lips with a passionate kiss.


    As he did that, he used his left hand to trail lines from my stomach to my breasts which were still covered by my bra.


    But he didn¡¯t pull away from the kiss for one second, almost as if his life depended on exploring every inch of my lips until he ingrained my taste in the deepest parts of his psyche.


    Instead, while he kissed me, he kept his left hand busy, using it to unstrap my bra sessfully before flinging it away like he did his suit and shirt.


    I could feel his hard dick pressing against my stomach and couldn¡¯t hold myself back anymore. I stretched my hands forward and began trailing lines from his slightly hairy chest to his bulge.


    He grunted softly into my mouth when I grabbed his dick underneath his pants before he finally pulled out of the kiss and stared into my eyes with a mischievous smirk.


    "That will be the tool I¡¯ll use to fuck you until the entire pack and the South American Alpha King knows that you¡¯re mine and mine alone." He said with a sensual whisper that sent a bolt of arousal all over my being.


    I bit my bottom lip, raising my head slightly until it felt like I wanted to kiss him. But I didn¡¯t, instead teasing him with my breathing until I felt his dick pulsate in response.


    "Then do it instead of talking, dear husband," I said in a soft tone watching as his jaws clenched.


    However, I dimmed my eyes when I saw that reaction from him. Did I say something wrong or...?


    Suddenly, Kaelos opened his mouth, revealing his fangs which were now elongated like a wolf¡¯s.


    My eyes widened in shock at the sight but for an odd reason that I couldn¡¯t even begin to fathom... I wasn¡¯t frightened.


    The man I was having sex with, my mate and husband, grew fangs out of nowhere and I wasn¡¯t shaken in the slightest. On the contrary, I only bit my bottom lip harder before revealing my neck to him.


    I didn¡¯t know why I did that but I just felt like it was the right thing to do. A voice at the back of my head, distant and longing, pleaded, begging me to get Kaelos to sink those fangs into me.


    "Bite me..." I ended up blurting, my chest rising and falling and my breathsing out in hitched huffs.


    It was then that Kaelos seemed to havee back to his senses and shook his head before using his right hand to cover his fangs.


    My eyelids fluttered with confusion as I tried to understand what happened.


    "Bloody hell, I almost did it again!" Kaelos snapped, crawling away from me with frustration in his voice.


    I slowly sat up, watching as he used his right hand to brush his hair back.


    "I can¡¯t mark you. A wolf can¡¯t mark a witch. That¡¯s... That¡¯s unheard of!" He nearly eximed.


    What the fuck?


    "Kaelos, you¡¯re not making any sense and this isn¡¯t the first time this is happening," I muttered, tilting my head and scrutinizing him. "I know you wolves usually ¡¯mark¡¯ your mates so why can¡¯t you¨C"


    Before I couldplete that sentence, Kaelos interrupted me by stretching his right hand and grabbing me by my shoulder before he knelt on the bed and ced his left hand on the back of my head.


    I gasped but before a single word could leave my mouth, he silenced me with a kiss that burned with need and something akin to desperation.


    Despite how weird and heated the whole thing was, I still couldn¡¯t resist, my shoulders rxing as I kissed him back, my hands going to his back and touching every inch of skin there.


    After several seconds of silent kissing, Kaelos suddenly pulled away and held my face with both hands, making sure I looked into his eyes.


    "Don¡¯t tell a soul about what just happened." He said with a tense voice, causing my heart to skip a beat as I fluttered my eyelids.


    What the heck is going on?


    Why does he act like the world is going to end anytime his fangs show during sex?


    "K¨C Kaelos, I¨C"


    "Your next words should be you telling me you understand." He interrupted with a much sterner voice but I could still see a hint of warmth in his eyes.


    My breathing became more rxed as I slowly nodded my head. "I wouldn¡¯t tell a soul. It never happened." My voice came out as a croak but I hid it behind a smile.


    Kaelos smiled in return and pulled me into yet another kiss but this time, he forced me to lie on my back before pulling away.


    He trailed kisses from my breasts, tenderly sucking on my nipples before going to my stomach and then finally, my pussy which was still covered by my underwear.


    He took that off easily and held both my legs, spreading them apart before he lowered his head to my entrance.


    As soon as his lips touched the skin of my entrance, I arched my back and moaned softly, closing my eyes as the image of his fangs shed through my mind.

 Chapter 73: _Can’t Handle It Anymore

    <h4>Chapter 73: _Can¡¯t Handle It Anymore</h4>


    My eyes fluttered open as I struggled to sit up thanks to the exhaustion that kept me on the bed.


    I rubbed my head as images ofst night shed through my head in quick session.


    After Kaelos¡¯ weird reaction to having fangs, I waspletely distracted from the sex and let him eat me out.


    I remember reaching an orgasm... But that was it. I don¡¯t recall Kaelos prating me.


    Suddenly, the bathroom door opened and Kaelos walked out with a towel wrapped around his waist. It was then that I remembered another detail.


    This was his room.


    <fnb231> Content originallyes from FindN()vel</fnb231>


    "Oh, good. You¡¯re awake." He muttered when he saw me, his expression in as he walked into his walk-in closet in search of clothes.


    I subconsciously gripped the sheets of the bed but stered a smile on my face before I greeted him. "Good morning."


    He merely responded with a soft grunt before walking out with a silver suit and a pair of high-fashion ck shoes.


    I watched as he silently dressed up in front of the human-sized mirror in the room, not even bothering to spare me a nce as he did.


    I couldn¡¯t take it anymore...


    "Kaelos, aboutst night." I began with a low voice, adjusting my sitting position before using the bed sheets to cover my nakedness. "I¨C I don¡¯t know why you acted so weird about what happened but¨C"


    "What happened, Odessa?" Kaelos queried with a curious tone, ncing over his shoulder to stare at me.


    I was taken by surprise, blinking awkwardly before I found the words to respond. "Y¨C Your... Your fangs. You almost marked me and freaked out about it. Heck, we didn¡¯t evenplete the sex, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯re unsatisfied."


    Kaelos scoffed, shaking his head before he fully swerved his body to face me with a in expression on his face.


    "Nothing happenedst night, Odessa. Nothing." He blurted inly, taking a step forward. "Or did it?"


    What the heck is this?!


    "Kaelos, y¨C you¡¯re being weird and you¡¯re getting me confused all over again." I stuttered, my voice getting weak. "Did I do something wrong? We¡¯ve never had a problem with sex and now you¨C"


    "I¡¯m done with this conversation, Odessa," Kaelos uttered, raising a hand to stop me from talking any further. "And I advise you to do the same. Please."


    The way he said ¡¯please¡¯ was almost desperate, as if he was trying too hard to run away from something. But it was also demanding, like a threat and I wasn¡¯t about to test his boundaries or my luck with that cold look in his eyes.


    Anyway, Kaelos didn¡¯t say anything else and walked out of his room, leaving me on the bed to gawk silently at the door when he closed it behind himself.


    After several seconds, I sighed heavily, shaking my head with a wry smile on my face.


    "I can¡¯t deal with this confusion anymore." I blurted, stepping out of the bed and about to walk toward the door when it swung open.


    My heart jumped into my throat as I quickly used my arms to cover my breasts while the bed sheets covered my lower parts.


    To my surprise and annoyance, the person who stepped into the room turned out to be Celine who had a scowl on her face until her gazended on me.


    She sniggered, closing the door behind her before walking closer to the bed.


    "Well, well, well..." She remarked, shaking her head. "Kaelos should be careful of how much he bangs you. That could lead to you giving birth to an abominable hybrid, and no one would want that."


    I balled my hands into fists, clenching my jaw before I spat without thinking. "Get out, Celine."


    Suddenly, before I knew what was happening, she got in front of me and wrapped her hand around my jaw, causing me to gasp in shock.


    A stinging pain surged through my face, causing me to groan as Celine brought her face closer to mine.


    "It seems you¡¯ve grown balls. This is my husband¡¯s room. The man who you¡¯ve blinded with your magic." She muttered with an icy tone in my ears, her eyes glinting with the same coldness.


    I brought my hands to her hand, wrapping them around her wrist before I sneered. "You¡¯re his ex for crying out loud! Let him go already. B¨C Besides, it¡¯s not my fault that the two of you got¨C"


    Before I couldplete thatst sentence, Celine snarled. "Shut up!"


    Without warning, she flung me to the ground, causing me to fall on top of my right elbow. I yelped in pain, gritting my teeth as I struggled to crawl away from Celine who stood above me like a beast.


    She had her teeth bared and red at me before she continued. "I still had a chance to mend things. Even if he didn¡¯t end up with me, do you know the kind of humiliation I¡¯ve suffered because he got married to a lowly witch like yourself?"


    My eyes stung with hot tears but I didn¡¯t dare let them fall. I channeled all those emotions into rage instead, ring at Celine with pure spite as she continued with her ranting.


    "I should¡¯ve been the one sitting beside Kaelosst night. I should¡¯ve been the one to wear that gown and..." She paused, her gaze falling on something behind me.


    I nced back to see what she was looking at and gulped when I saw the blood-red gown on a couch.


    Dear gods...


    "... And now look at it lying there as a sign of all the atrocities you¡¯vemitted with him all this time." Celine¡¯s voice lost all emotion and waspletely cold and in. "I swear, by the time I¡¯m done with you, you¡¯ll¨C"


    Fortunately for me, before she could do anything, the door swung open and her mother, Madame Greyheart, strutted into the room.


    "Celine! There you are." She yelled in a panic, running up to her daughter and forcing her to step away from me. "I told you not to take things too far. What do you think Kaelos will do if you kill his pet?"


    Celine seemed to struggle against her hold, her cold gaze still fixed on me like a monster about to go feral.


    "She¡¯s not worth it." Her mother whispered into her ears, causing her to rx.


    The two of them eventually walked out of the room, with Madame Greyheart ncing at me with contempt before they banged the door behind them.


    As soon as they left, my elbow stung with more pain, making me fear the worst. Was it broken?


    I gritted my teeth as I slowly caressed it while my breathing increased.


    "I have to get the heck out of this hell hole."

 Chapter 74: _Poking The Hornets Nest

    <h4>Chapter 74: _Poking The Hos Nest</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    <fn71c2> Content originallyes from find~novel</fn71c2>


    After Odessa had administered the potions she made for the South American Alpha King and Marcellus, I took her to my chambers to have ¡¯drinks.¡¯


    But instead of doing that, we ended up having an emotional conversation that led to us having sex... Or, at least we almost had sex.


    My fangs came out again tonight and this time, the urge to mark Odessa was stronger than ever before. I knew if I let myself frolic with her for longer, I wouldn¡¯t be able to control myself.


    Thest thing I needed right now, with all the chaos going on, was the pack and the continent, knowing Odessa was my mate.


    Anyway, after getting Odessa to reach an orgasm, she slept off, leaving me to think.


    ¡¯You once again showed how much of a wuss you are, dude.¡¯ Damon remarked with a scoff in my head as I stood up from the bed.


    I sighed lightly, ncing at Odessa as I stepped away from the bed. She was naked and slept peacefully, her chest rising and falling with each breath she took.


    Watching her breasts moving that way made me bite my lips as I tried to hold myself back and looked away.


    ¡¯Look at her for the goddess¡¯ sake! She¡¯s our mate.¡¯ Damon snarled in protest but I ignored him as I squatted on the ground close to the bed and picked up the bottle of wine there.


    I poured myself a ss before leaving the bottle on the floor and covering myself with a robe.


    With that, I walked out of the room, heading to the balcony with my drink in hand. When I got to the balcony, I held the railing with my left hand while enjoying the wine with my right.


    I stared nkly at the night sky, drawing in a deep breath as I did.


    ¡¯So what? Does this mean you¡¯re going to go back to pushing our mate away like a gue? Even after you slowly started getting close to her?¡¯ Damon asked in my head just then.


    I chuckled dryly to myself before speaking physically. "Even if it means avoiding her, I¡¯ll do that for as long as possible. I can¡¯t take any chances. My Alpha King bloodline and your influencebined will make it difficult to concentrate with all the urges I¡¯m getting to mark her."


    The urge to mark a mate usually stems from a male/dominant werewolf¡¯s wolf. It¡¯s as annoying as when I first saw Odessa and Damon kept howling ¡¯mate¡¯ in my head.


    It was probably more annoying since now I had Odessa literally sleeping on my bed, naked and open to trying new things.


    An uncontroble shiver of excitement surged through my body when I remembered how eager she was to let me bite her without fully understanding the consequences.


    If she was willing to go through with it, that would make the urge worse.


    By the moon, I¡¯m in trouble!


    ¡¯Then just go ahead and fucking mark her!¡¯ Damon snarled in response to myst statement, sounding like he couldn¡¯t believe his ears even though he was in my mind.


    I clicked my tongue, taking another gulp from the ss of wine in my hand. I usually only drank wine on special asions in public gatherings.


    Personally, I felt it was too light for my taste. The body metabolism of an Alpha King made drinking alcohol almost the same as drinking juice.


    "I can¡¯t mark her, Damon. Or at least, not yet." I said with a calm whisper, shaking my head. "Before I can do that, I need to understand the mate bond more. Then I also need to gain the pack¡¯s trust for her."


    The more I thought about it, the more I felt like I was going insane. The other pack members weren¡¯t like Elder Davina.


    Unlike her, they wouldn¡¯t see my mates bond with Odessa as a divine ¡¯sign¡¯ from the moon goddess. They¡¯ll see it as a curse.


    "Maybe they¡¯ll be right to think that," I muttered to myself, finishing the rest of the wine and then staring silently at the night sky.


    At this point, I temporarily cut off Damon and managed to keep him at bay, giving my mind some peace. Peace that I probably wouldn¡¯t be getting much of moving forward.


    .


    .


    When I woke up the next morning, Odessa tried making me exin what happened the previous night, but I responded to her with coldness, telling her to forget about it.


    Seeing the pained expression on her face made me feel weird in my stomach but I couldn¡¯t let her get close to me anymore. It seems I¡¯ve been getting carried away these past week or so.


    ¡¯You¡¯re a real jerk. You know that, right?¡¯ Damon asked with a sarcastic tone when I left my room after freshening up and dressing up.


    I shook my head, not realizing I was getting distracted until I bumped into someone, causing me to pause in my tracks.


    "Oh, pardon..." Before I couldplete that statement, I stopped myself when I saw the person I had bumped into.


    Madame Greyheart.


    "Good morning to you too, Alpha King." She said with a sly smirk on her face, eyeing me with contempt. "That was a st of a weing ballst night, don¡¯t you think?"


    I balled my hands into fists, ring at her with pure hatred. I¡¯d tried hard to avoid bumping into her for a while but it seemed my efforts weren¡¯t enough.


    "You test the limits of my benevolence more and more, Greyheart," I said with a cold tone, sizing her up. "I¡¯ll suggest you steer clear of my way. For your own good."


    She scoffed mockingly, watching me as I turned away from her and began walking away.


    However, just when I got a few meters away from her, she blurted.


    "You and I both know you¡¯re anything but ¡¯benevolent¡¯, Alpha King." She sniggered, causing my eyes to twitch. "I¡¯ll advise you don¡¯t keep poking the ho¡¯s nest if you don¡¯t want what it holds toe out and bite you on the face."


    I didn¡¯t look back but heard as she continued walking, her high heels clicking on the marble floor of the hallway.


    "That bitch and her fucking parables," I mumbled to myself and continued walking in the opposite direction even though I got her message loud and clear.


    Meanwhile, Damon spoke up in my head, sounding disappointed. ¡¯Each time we cross paths with that woman without ripping her head out of her shoulders I can¡¯t help but wonder how exactly all those rumors about you being ruthless came from.¡¯


    I grunted in response, shaking my head before I spoke mentally while navigating my way through the hallways. ¡¯Attacking her will be foolishness, Damon. We¡¯ve been over this.¡¯


    Anyway, I finally got downstairs where I met a scene that caused me to sigh heavily. The South American Alpha King and his delegates were entering their cars and getting ready to drive off.


    Standing in front of their vehicles was Marcellus who had a wry smile on his face as he nced at me.


    I clenched my jaw before I walked to the South American Alpha king who seemed healthy and kicking unlike how sickly he lookedst night.


    Even Marcellus looked like he hadn¡¯t sustained any injuriesst night and was overflowing with energy, much to my surprise.


    Odessa¡¯s potion skills were impressive and I was honestly impressed by the results.


    "Alpha King Leonardo." I blurted, causing him to pause before he turned his gaze to me.


    He arched an eyebrow, ncing at his wife who was already stepping into the ck car they¡¯de here with. His wife had a stern expression on her face as she spoke up.


    "What is it now, Muchacho? We¡¯re leaving. It¡¯s clear thating here was a mistake."


    I balled my hands into fists but I didn¡¯t let my emotions get the best of me.


    However, before I could say anything, Alpha King Leonardo raised his hand, stopping both me and his wife from speaking. He was in my territory and I was also an Alpha King but he was still more experienced.


    "This is pointless, Kaelos. Last night was an eye opener on these witches and the evils they are capable of." He remarked, shaking his head. "Perhaps your father and his father were right. The only natural end for this war... Would be the extermination of witch kind."


    A shiver ran down my body when I heard those words. Hearing this man who I had held with so much respect agreeing with myte father¡¯s words was a blow I never expected.


    ¡¯The bastard taunts you even in his death.¡¯ Damon chuckled dryly in my head but I didn¡¯t pay any heed to his words.


    Anyway, Alpha King Leonardo turned away from me and stepped into his car, closing the door. Just when he and his delegates were about to leave, I spotted Gamma Zane walking into thepound with a somber expression on his face.


    "We have a problem, Alpha King."


    Gods, what now?!

 Chapter 75: _Another One Bites The Dust

    <h4>Chapter 75: _Another One Bites The Dust</h4>


    "Well, it seems you¡¯re going to be busy, Kaelos." Alpha King Leonardo muttered after Gamma Zane came with his report. "I hope you and your territory manage to... Pull through with this."


    I parted my lips to say something but before I could, he locked his car door, allowing his driver to drive off alongside all the other cars containing his delegates.


    I clenched my jaw, watching as the cars drove out of thepound.


    "Do you have any news about the weing ballst night or what?" I asked my uncle, Gamma Zane, ncing at him before I walked toward Marcellus.


    Marcellus had a wry smile on his face as he tapped me on my shoulder. "You had no control over that situation with Alpha King Leonardo. You tried your best if you ask me."


    I simply nodded my head at him before focusing my gaze on my uncle. His lips parted open before he let out a sigh and began.


    "A dead body was found in front of the house of pack doctor Abel." He announced, causing a cold shiver to run down my spine.


    I nced at Marcellus who also had a stunned expression on his face. Pack doctor Abel was the man who treated his woundst night.


    "Have you been able to identify who the victim is? Or the cause of death?" I queried, my expression and voice calm.


    I couldn¡¯t let myself get shaken by such news.


    "The victim is Abel¡¯s wife, Elsa. And her corpse was burnt badly but we aren¡¯t even sure if that¡¯s the cause of her death." Gamma Zane said solemnly.


    Not sure of the cause of death?


    I tensed, thinking hard about all the possibilities. This was the second death since Odessa arrived and if it weren¡¯t for her potions and Elder Davina¡¯s interference, it might¡¯ve made it four thanks tost night.


    Why was this the case?


    "Any signs of magic in the deceased?" Beta Marcellus suddenly asked, stepping forward with a somber tone.


    I dimmed my eyes, wondering why he was asking that until my uncle nodded in response, taking me by surprise.


    "There is in fact. There are no signs of gasoline or fuel of any kind. No traces of a source for the fire that burnt her. Almost as if the mes came out of nowhere."


    I balled my hands into fists, feeling a growing irritation growing inside me.


    But I knew I had to step up in this case.


    "Take us to the scene," I muttered, walking toward one of my cars and stepping inside alongside Marcellus and my uncle.


    .


    .


    When we finally got in front of the pack doctor¡¯s residence in the middle part of the pack, I stepped down first before Marcellus and my uncle did the same.


    The house was a simple and quiet duplex away from most of the noise of the pack. But now, it was covered by yellow police tape with the words "crime scene" written on it, and there were several pack soldiers at the scene.


    Just then, Marcellus sighed before he mumbled. "Another one bites the dust."


    "Where¡¯s the husband?" I asked, ncing at my uncle as we stepped over the yellow tapes and got close to the entrance of the house.


    There weren¡¯t any gates or fences... Just like most houses in this region of the pack. The elites are usually the ones who go to such lengths.


    Anyway, as we got to the body which was positioned in front of the house and covered by a ck cloth after getting greetings from the pack soldiers, Gamma Zane responded to myst question.


    "There aren¡¯t any signs of the husband which is why I wanted the Beta toe along with us."


    I couldn¡¯t help but turn my gaze to Marcellus who quickly shrugged.


    "I have no idea. He came to my house, advised me to rest after checking on the wound onest time, and then left. That¡¯s the end of it."


    I dimmed my eyes. Even though I believed Marcellus¡¯ story, my instincts told me there was something more at y here.


    And it was annoying knowing that there was a killer under our noses and we couldn¡¯t get any helpful clues on catching them.


    I folded my arms in front of my chest before I spoke. "We still haven¡¯t even solved the case with the dead maid at elder Davina¡¯s residence. Talk less of the attack at the weing ballst night, and now..." I paused, squatting to get a closer look at the corpse covered with a cloth.


    I scrutinized it closely before stretching my right hand and taking off the cloth from the face to the chest. My eyes widened with a mixture of shock and anger.


    The body was indeed burnt to a crisp, so burnt that it was ck like charcoal and I could even see the teeth and skull.


    Her eyes were closed but the way her mouth was left open easily told me that she went through excruciating pain before she died.


    "Yup. This looks like there¡¯s magic involved." Marcellus remarked, causing me to nce back at him.


    I let out a sigh before I covered her face again and got back on my feet.


    I cleared my throat before I continued what I was originally talking about.


    "... And now, there¡¯s this case. If our theory about this being the cause of magic has any substance then that means we¡¯re dealing with one culprit."


    Just then, my mind shed back to the mysterious masked woman who had shot Marcellus and nearly shot Odessa.


    I remembered the cold smile on her face when I had chased her out of the event hall and thest thing she told me before disappearing.


    ¡¯You¡¯ll have to find them out for yourself.¡¯ I thought to myself, sniggering silently before I turned my gaze to Gamma Zane.


    <fnc539> Follow current nov?ls on find¡¤novel</fnc539>


    He furrowed his eyebrows, probably in response to the stern expression on my face.


    "Aboutst night... What happened, Gamma?" I queried, my voice increasing slightly.


    "I sponsored your men, the pack soldiers who we¡¯re now using for this investigation. You assured me that they would be ready. But now there¡¯s one innocent woman dead, a pack doctor missing, and the tension from a public attack still lingering."


    Gamma Zane gritted his teeth but cleared his throat before he responded. "In my defense, this seems to all be the work of a powerful and crafty witch. Someone who probably either has someone on the inside or... Who is probably hiding among us."


    My eyes twitched just then and it was hard to hide my anger. I knew what he was trying to say and honestly, I¡¯ve had enough of that bullshit idea.


    "For thest time, Odessa is a powerless witch and has no affiliation whatsoever with the witch responsible for the attackst night," I said calmly even though my voice waspletely devoid of warmth. "Any arguments you have to that would¨C"


    "Not be so far-fetched, Alpha King." Gamma Zane interrupted with a firm voice, his previous subordinate behavior dissolving like sugar under the rain.


    I tilted my head, an amused smile on my face. It seems he¡¯s finally grown tired of pretending to be in support of me or my leadership.


    "Last night proved that Odessa can make potions and knows her way around these rare ingredients. Including wolfsbane." Gamma Zane began with a calm voice, taking a step forward. "The South American king¡¯s drink couldn¡¯t have possibly been poisoned by that witch who attacked. She didn¡¯t have a chance."


    As annoying as my uncle¡¯s voice was and as annoying as the idea of agreeing with him was... I couldn¡¯t help but acknowledge the fact that all his words were valid.


    I also couldn¡¯t help but wonder how Alpha King Leonardo had been poisoned by Wolfsbane when he was around me, his wife, and Odessa most of the night.


    Not to mention the fact that no one else was allowed up there, except my Beta and the South American king¡¯s Beta.


    "Oh, please." Marcellus suddenly blurted with a scoff, shaking his head. "There¡¯s no way Odessa could be colluding with that witch fromst night."


    I knew he loved disagreeing with the Gamma any chance he got because he knew I hated the man¡¯s guts. But this time, I felt like Marcellus was being serious, especially since he didn¡¯t have a smile on his face.


    "ming a powerless witch for colluding with an enemy is a far reach, Gamma. And it seems like an easy way out from this sticky situation." Marcellus added, ignoring the re from my uncle.


    However, just when it seemed like the tension had spiked up and my uncle was about to say something in rebuttal, I cleared my throat and spoke up instead.


    "That¡¯s enough. The only way we can find out the truth is by investigating." I turned my gaze to my uncle after saying that, sighing lightly. "Find the husband of the deceased. Search through any security cameras around the vicinity and report back to me if you find anything substantial."


    I didn¡¯t even wait for him to respond and turned away before walking out of there.


    I needed to speak with Odessa.

 Chapter 76: _Seeking Answers

    <h4>Chapter 76: _Seeking Answers</h4>


    I drove back to the pack house, leaving Marcellus and my uncle at the crime scene.


    However, when I parked the car inside thepound and stepped down, I didn¡¯t linger around for long.


    Yes, I needed to see Odessa and see if I could get any information on the witch from the weing ballst night, but there¡¯s been something I¡¯ve been meaning to do for a while.


    I headed to Elder Davina¡¯s residence on foot; ignoring the looks and nces of the elite members of the pack, I walked past.


    After the chaosst night, subtle whispers and spections were going around about what happened.


    "I¡¯m telling you, there¡¯s something fishy about the witch the Alpha king calls a wife." A man remarked to his friends, who were all drinking on the balcony of his mansion.


    Another one blurted with a whisper. "You¡¯re telling me. I don¡¯t know how true it is, but I heard there was a murder case a week or so ago. Pack soldiers were gathered at Elder Davina¡¯s residence that day."


    "Outrageous! There has been no murder case in this pack for years." An elderly voice nearly eximed until the others shushed him.


    "I don¡¯t think the Alpha King would be pleased with us¨C"


    Before he could finish that statement, I turned my gaze to them while reducing my walking speed, a smile stered on my face.


    The men froze like deers under headlights but soon began clearing their throats.


    "Good morning, Alpha King!" One of them stood up and bowed despite the distance.


    I merely nodded my head in response even though I still had a smile on my face. But beneath that smile, Damon was already growling at the men and urging me to tear them to pieces.


    And for once, I agreed with him but I couldn¡¯t let myself lose control.


    ¡¯I¡¯ll like to see them say shit about our mate to our face.¡¯ Damon growled in my head while I merely grunted silently in response.


    Apart from that, I just didn¡¯t like people gossiping like that. Gossip and rumors were dangerous.


    They could easily spread, and soon, the people would take them as fact, and then chaos and disorder would emerge. I couldn¡¯t afford that, especially not now that my head was all over the ce.


    Anyway, I finally got to Elder Davina¡¯s residence and stepped into thepound, where I met her walking around with two maids who were silent as she tended to some flowers.


    Her white robe blew into the wind while her staff, which was made of blood-red wood, was held tightly in her right hand.


    "Alpha King, what a wee surprise." She suddenly blurted, taking me a bit by surprise.


    I thought my footsteps had been silent enough.


    "Oh, don¡¯t be surprised, dearie." Elder Davina chuckled softly as she turned around to face me, a warm smile etched on her wrinkled face. "I could recognize the scent of your cologne before you even got here."


    Curse my expensive taste...


    Just then, the two maids standing behind her bowed before they greeted me. "Good morning, Alpha King."


    I gave them a nod, gesturing for them to raise their heads before I stepped forward with a solemn expression on my face.


    Elder Davina seemed to notice my inner turmoil and tilted her head before she asked. "Is something wrong? Are you okay after..."


    <fne84f> The rightful source is find~novel</fne84f>


    She paused, ncing back at the maids.


    They didn¡¯t even need her to say anything and quickly bowed before they scurried away, leaving me and her alone in thepound.


    The only sounds that could be heard were the soft ruffling of leaves as the breeze blew, the chirping of birds, and the water that flowed from a fountain at the center of thepound.


    "Anyway..." Elder Davina cleared her throat, focusing her attention back on me. "I was about to ask if you¡¯re okay afterst night. I heard the South American Alpha king left earlier."


    I sighed heavily before I nodded my head. "Yes, he did. I don¡¯t even want to talk about that but I¡¯m fine, Elder."


    She dimmed her eyes with a knowing look but eventually nodded after a few seconds of silence.


    The way she checked up on me as if she were my mother was both heartwarming and annoying. But I wasn¡¯tining... After all, she¡¯d watched me grow and I¡¯ve always looked up to her.


    Anyway, I nced around before I stated my reason for being here. "I¡¯m here concerning Odessa and our... Mate bond."


    I said thosest two words with such a low voice that I was certain no spies would be able to listen. The fact that there was the possible threat of a witch hiding within the pack had me on edge.


    Meanwhile, Elder Davina¡¯s face became more serious as she nodded, urging me to go on.


    "I¡¯ve been thinking about your theory that the mate bond is some... It is a divine sign from the moon goddess, and I want to ask if perhaps she¡¯s revealed anything about it to you. Anything at all."


    Elder Davina¡¯s mouth formed an ¡¯o¡¯ before she shook her head with a wry smile.


    "I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯ve gotten nothing yet, Alpha King." She said, causing my shoulders to slouch with disappointment.


    I mean, it made sense. Knowing Elder Davina, it would make sense that she would report any news from the moon goddess to me if it arrived.


    However, just when I was about to step away, she raised a finger, causing my eyes to light up.


    "Usually, I don¡¯t divine the goddess for situations like this because I believe if she wants to reveal anything, she would without any effort from our end." She exined calmly, her eyes squinted as if she was considering something.


    "But since you¡¯re so eager to find something out, I think it¡¯s only fair that the goddess makes an exception." She blurted, nodding her head. "I¡¯ll do it. I¡¯ll channel the moon goddess and then you can ask her any questions you might have."


    A smile curled up my lips as Elder Davina turned around and walked toward her residence while gesturing at me to follow.


    I drew in a deep breath, scanning my gaze around thepound briefly before I followed behind her.


    Here goes nothing...

 Chapter 77: _Summoning The Moon Goddess

    <h4>Chapter 77: _Summoning The Moon Goddess</h4>


    "I can sense some hidden tension from you, Alpha King." Elder Davina suddenly blurted when we navigated our way through her residence and finally got to her main room on thest floor.


    There was a circr ss ceiling that allowed sunlight to seep in like a greenhouse, and there were also several flowers and small shrubs at different spots.


    Anyway, Elder Davina dropped her staff before taking a seat on a regal-looking carpet at the center of the room. She gestured for me to sit as well and I did after a little hesitation.


    I cleared my throat before I responded to Elder Davina¡¯s question. "I... Don¡¯t think I get what you¡¯re talking about, Elder."


    However, she chuckled, shaking her head before she grabbed a beautiful ceramic kettle with floral designs. She poured herself a cup of tea from the kettle as she continued speaking.


    "I watched you grow, Alpha King. I know more about you than you think." She remarked, grabbing the cup and taking a sip before sighing with satisfaction. "For example, I know how you act cold and distant when you¡¯re trying to avoid emotions which you see as ¡¯distracting¡¯."


    I clenched my jaw, shaking my head before I responded. "It¡¯s not an ¡¯act¡¯, Elder."


    Once again, she chuckled softly, clearly enjoying this interaction more than me.


    "Really? So you admit that it¡¯s just the way you are and you think that¡¯s... Good?"


    I paused, clicking my tongue with annoyance. I was getting increasingly ufortable with these questions and I didn¡¯t like the feeling one bit.


    ¡¯Maybe that¡¯s because deep down you know there¡¯s truth to her words.¡¯ Damon said casually, causing me to grit my teeth before I mentally snapped at him.


    ¡¯Shut it!¡¯


    Anyway, I cleared my throat before I spoke again to Elder Davina who had a small smirk on her face as she sipped from her tea.


    "With all due respect, Elder, I came here to seek answers from the moon goddess. Not to receive unsolicited therapy."


    Elder Davina¡¯s expression remained calm despite how harsh I sounded as she stretched her hand and picked up the kettle again.


    She poured its contents into another cup, remaining silent throughout while I stared at her with uncertainty.


    "Have some tea." She muttered softly, handing me the cup.


    I stared wearily at the steamy cup of tea, my nose scrunching as its herbal scent wafted into it.


    Eventually, Elder Davina simply dropped the tea in front of me before clearing her throat.


    <fn9eec> Chapters first released on F?nd-Novel</fn9eec>


    "Alright, back to business. I am going to use my spiritual connection to the moon goddess and reach out to her. If she¡¯s willing to speak, she¡¯ll use me as a vessel tomunicate with you through me."


    I nodded my understanding, watching as she adjusted her sitting position before closing her eyes and drawing in a deep breath.


    "Please, remain silent."


    I followed her instructions, but I couldn¡¯t help myself from feeling anxious. This would be my first encounter with the moon goddess since... Well ever.


    Other Alpha Kings before me have used their spiritual leaders to reach out to her but I¡¯ve never had any reason to do that until... Odessa.


    That girl was beginning to bring in a lot of ¡¯first experiences¡¯.


    Anyway, elder Davina began praying out loud to the moon goddess after several seconds of silence, her eyes still closed and her voice loud and firm.


    "I plead with you, Selene, mother of werewolves. The personification of the moon and she, who controls the waves and the natural order and tied to the lunar cycle. Use me as your avatar tomunicate with one of your chosen leaders, Kaelos Bloodoak. He seeks your divine guidance."


    Suddenly, I noticed a gentle breeze blow into the room, rustling the leaves of the nts and causing me to subconsciously tense up. A weird but warm feeling surged through my body, making me feel like I was home... Wherever that was.


    However, despite all that and the several seconds of silence from Elder Davina, nothing else happened.


    I fiddled anxiously with my fingers, silently wondering if I should close my eyes as well.


    Just when I was about to let out a sigh, Elder Davina¡¯s eyes shot wide open, a pulse of invisible energy flowing out of her and hitting me like a wave.


    I nearly stumbled from my sitting position, dimming my eyes and watching as Elder Davina¡¯s eyes lit up with a silver light that seemed fierce yet oddly gentle.


    I didn¡¯t need anyone to tell me that I was now in the presence of divinity.


    The moon goddess.


    "Alpha King Kaelos." Elder Davina¡¯s lips moved but it wasn¡¯t her voice that I heard.


    The voice I heard was smooth like silk, as calming as a luby, and nothing short of angelic.


    My mouth parted in awe, my eyelids fluttering as I tried to regain myposure.


    Meanwhile, Elder Davina¡ª or rather, the moon goddess, had a small smile curl up the corner of her lips before she spoke up again.


    "I¡¯ll advise you not to waste my time, child. There¡¯s only a limited amount of time divinity can remain in a physical vessel before they break."


    Hearing that, I shook my head before I cleared my throat and began with a stutter. "G¨C Greetings, goddess. I¨C I seek your presence today for... For... Uh..."


    Damn it!


    I couldn¡¯t even say anything sensible because of the residual shock I felt.


    Luckily, the goddess gently shook her head before she remarked knowingly. "You summoned me here because of your mate bond with a witch. Odessa Pierce."


    My eyes widened at first but then it made sense. She was a goddess after all.


    "Yes, goddess. I¡¯d like to know more about the bond, and I want to ask you why..." I paused, clenching my jaw before I let out a small sigh and continued. "... Why did you make her my mate? Is there really a divine reason beyond my understanding that¡¯s behind it?"


    I stared at the moon goddess expectantly, the tension I felt causing my heart to pound heavily against my chest.

 Chapter 78: _Vulnerability Equals Strength

    <h4>Chapter 78: _Vulnerability Equals Strength</h4>


    "A ¡¯divine reason¡¯, eh?" The moon goddess had a small smile on her face as she surprisingly got up.


    She stretched out her arms, gazing at them and clenching her hands before sighing lightly.


    "Mortal bodies are still so fragile." She remarked before fixing her gaze back on me.


    My eyes fluttered as I stared at her in awe. I was looking at the wrinkled body of Elder Davina, but within it was the divine essence of a goddess older and more powerful than I could imagine.


    Anyway, I managed to regain myposure and cleared my throat before nodding profusely. "Y¨C Yes. Do you have a divine n attached to my mate bond with Odessa?"


    The moon goddess began walking slowly, circling me as she hummed to herself. Her eyes still glowed with a silver light which both frightened me and mesmerized me.


    "Well, not a divine n, actually." The moon goddess muttered, finally getting in front of me and stopping there before she continued. "Also, I don¡¯t actively go around setting you werewolves up like chess pieces to find your fated mates. That¡¯s the god of love¡¯s field and I don¡¯t meddle there."


    My eyebrows furrowed into a frown, my confusion clear. What was she even talking about?


    "You and Odessa were already predestined to be mates. And I can¡¯t change that." The moon goddess said with a shrug.


    I clenched my jaw but I didn¡¯t back down.


    "But why? Why would an Alpha King and a witch be predestined? What would the wolves of my pack say? We are at war with the witches."


    "Why?" The moon goddess arched an eyebrow. "What started the war in the first ce? And I thought your whole point for this truce was to prove that witches and werewolves can co-exist?"


    She was being cryptic and I was getting frustrated. Was there really nothing I could do to get answers or to understand why this was happening to me?


    "Are you punishing me for a crime perhaps?" I asked, dimming my eyes and fiddling nervously with my fingers. "I¨C Is that it?"


    My mind began shing through several things I could have done before meeting Odessa that would make the moon goddess curse me.


    A cold shiver ran down my spine when I thought about one in particr. No... Could it be?


    Suddenly, the moon goddess sighed lightly, stepping forward elegantly.


    Each step she took made me get more and more anxious until she finally sat down in front of me just like Elder Davina had been doing earlier.


    Her eyes, which glowed with a silver light, dimmed as she scrutinized me closely, causing me to subconsciously hold my breath as I waited for her to speak.


    "You have a lot of hidden guilt over... Some things from your past, Kaelos." She mumbled, tilting her head before leaning away from me. "But I wouldn¡¯t curse a werewolf for any of the things you¡¯ve done. I don¡¯t work that way... Except, of course, someone prays to me to curse you for something atrocious."


    She parted some strands of hair aside just then, seemingpletely disinterested. "It seems you have nothing of importance to ask. I¡¯ve said enough already, as it is. Me revealing things to you easily wouldn¡¯t be fair now, would it?"


    She had a small smirk on the corner of her lips as she slowly closed her eyes, causing me to clench my fists anxiously.


    This was one of the rare moments where I wished to speak with Damon for some insight but even he had shrunk back and hidden in the presence of the moon goddess.


    I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what experiencing her true form would be like.


    "Can¡¯t you exin anything about the mate bond between me and Odessa at all? Any insights?" I asked desperately when I felt a cold breeze blowing around the two of us.


    I could feel that she was about to exit Elder Davina¡¯s body.


    The moon goddess left her eyes closed but raised her right hand, stretching it forward and cing it on top of my shoulder.


    That simple move was enough to instantly calm me down, sending an odd surge of peace around my body and making my shoulders rx from the tension.


    "You don¡¯t give yourself enough credit, my child." The moon goddess said softly, slowly opening her eyes again and smiling warmly. "And as for the mate bond... I can only tell you this. Allow yourself to be vulnerable. Give in to the path it has set for the two of you. Only then can you be open to the strength it gives."


    My eyebrows furrowed into a slight frown despite the peace I felt.


    Strength? Was she trying to say the mate bond would make me more powerful if I... ept it?


    I parted my lips but before I could say anything, a short burst of silver light surrounded the moon goddess, forcing me to close my eyes.


    By the time I opened my eyes, I could no longer feel her presence. She was gone.


    "Fuck..." I cursed silently, diverting my gaze from Elder Davina who slowly opened her eyes after the moon goddess left her body.


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    The Elder chuckled softly before she remarked. "Cursing mere seconds after being touched by divinity. You¡¯ll never cease to amuse me, Alpha King."


    I grunted in response, grabbing the cup of tea that Elder Davina had dropped in front of me earlier before I raised it and took a sip.


    "Well?" Elder Davina fluttered her eyelids at me curiously, tilting her head.


    I savored the taste of the tea and felt the soothing sensation surging through me, sighing with satisfaction before I spoke up.


    "Well, what? She was being cryptic. The only things I managed to get from that overwhelming conversation with her is that the mate bond wasn¡¯t a curse and that I can only be open to the ¡¯strength¡¯ it gives after letting myself get vulnerable with Odessa."


    I didn¡¯t even want to begin arguing about how the heck vulnerability equals strength since it was clear to me that the moon goddess¡¯ ways were moreplex than our mortal minds could understand.


    I stood up, adjusting my cufflinks and dusting my clothes while Elder Davina let out a sigh.


    "You¡¯re lucky she even gave you an answer at all. But anyway, what are you going to do now?" She asked, a knowing look in her eyes.


    It seemed to me that she already had an idea of what I was going to do. I mean, it was already obvious anyway...


    "I¡¯m going to be the most vulnerable I can ever be around my mate."

 Chapter 79: _The True Lord Of The North

    <h4>Chapter 79: _The True Lord Of The North</h4>


    I walked out of Elder Davina¡¯s residence with her escorting me quietly.


    When we stepped outside into thete morning sun, she finally spoke up after clearing her throat.


    "I¡¯m curious to know if you ever see yourself making your bond with Odessa public." She remarked, causing me to nce back at her.


    She had a calm expression on her face as she continued. "I mean, people are already suspecting something is off about the two of you, including Madame Greyheart and the Luna Queen. It¡¯s only a matter of time until they connect the dots themselves."


    I let out a soft sigh before I responded. "Well, I¡¯m not sure of anything yet, Elder. I don¡¯t even know if I¡¯mfortable being ¡¯vulnerable¡¯ around Odessa."


    Suddenly, Damon¡¯s voice rang inside my mind. ¡¯Yeah, but you aren¡¯t ufortable showing vulnerability around the moon goddess.¡¯


    I clenched my jaw before I responded to him mentally. ¡¯You finally came out. Why didn¡¯t you say anything back there? Let me guess, you were scared of the goddess?¡¯


    I said that with a teasing tone but Damon merely grunted.


    ¡¯I wasn¡¯t scared. It¡¯s just... I couldn¡¯t help myself. I could feel my connection with her when she was there, deeper than anything I¡¯ve ever felt. Probably more primal than our mate bond to Odessa.¡¯


    I arched an eyebrow, curious to know more while Elder Davina spoke up just then in reality.


    "Well, Kaelos, the moon goddess already told you what to do. It¡¯s your decision to make if you want to follow it or not."


    Really? I¡¯d be crazy not to follow the moon goddess¡¯ advice!


    I already had a lot of hidden guilt from my past that made me feel like she had cursed me or something. I didn¡¯t want to test the limits of her benevolence.


    Anyway, at that moment, Damon continued what he was saying earlier. ¡¯All werewolves have an origin from the moon goddess and her magic. She¡¯s like our mother. Me hiding was a sign of respect that I couldn¡¯t ignore.¡¯


    Oh...


    Before I could say anything to either Damon or Elder Davina, I heard iing footstepsing from the main entrance, forcing me to turn my gaze there.


    My assistant, La, walked into thepound with an awkward expression on her face as she greeted me and Elder Davina.


    "Good morning, Alpha King and Elder Davina." She bowed slightly before the both of us before she continued. "Alpha King, the Alphas of some neighboring packs are here to see you. They said it¡¯s urgent."


    My eyebrows furrowed into a frown as I nced at Elder Davina.


    Urgent? Since when do the Alphas of my regione to me without me summoning them?


    Meanwhile, Elder Davina cleared her throat before she stepped away. "The work of an Alpha King never ends it seems. Good luck, Kaelos." She said with a motherly warmth in her voice before she turned around and walked into her residence.


    I stared at her retreating figure for a few seconds before I turned my gaze to La.


    "Lead the way."


    .


    .


    When we got to my office where the Alphas were waiting, La opened the door and stepped inside with me following behind her.


    My gaze scanned around the room the second I stepped in and I spotted all the familiar faces. Four Alphas were sitting in the office in total, and they were each indeed from neighboring packs.


    One of them even happened to be a woman, who was the first to clear her throat.


    "Greetings, Alpha King. It¡¯s always an honor to be in your presence."


    <fnd238> Follow current nov?ls on f?ndnovel</fnd238>


    I nodded curtly at her and responded to the greetings of the others before I walked up to my desk and sat on the chair behind it, making myselffortable.


    The Alphas nced among themselves while I merely watched them silently, my mind still going through my encounter with the moon goddess.


    I couldn¡¯t care less about any of them when I had just sat face-to-face with divinity. Well, I couldn¡¯t care about any of them on a normal day anyway.


    "Alpha King, wee in respect of some unsettling news we¡¯ve been getting from packs that are far away from us, including those in Canada and Mexico." One of the male Alphas who was at least in his fifties, spoke solemnly, managing to get my attention.


    I folded my fingers in front of my face, arching an eyebrow and silently gesturing at him to go ahead.


    He nced at the others before he continued. "There has been a sudden increase in rogue attacks in these packs. And all these rogues seem to be part of the same group."


    I tilted my head even though I was getting a little tense now. It¡¯s been a while since I heard about rogue attacks, especially one of this magnitude.


    Rogues... Werewolves who were cast out of their packs because of their crimes or simply because they were too weak.


    They were another issue I wanted to tackle after bringing peace between witches and werewolves, but I never thought much about it because the only things I heard about them were small matters.


    "What could be causing these rogues to band together into onerge group?" I asked curiously, leaning away from my chair and scanning my gaze around the faces of the Alphas present.


    Just then, another Alpha with dark skin spoke up. "It¡¯s seeming more and more like an uprising and people are afraid. We can¡¯t have this kind of fighting among our werewolves when we have the witches to contend with."


    I scoffed, looking away from them while drumming my fingers on the desk. "We wouldn¡¯t have to fight with the witches anymore if we¡¯re able to make this truce permanent."


    Suddenly, the female Alpha among them shook her head, causing me to arch an eyebrow.


    She tensed up when she saw the look I gave her but she didn¡¯t back down and continued.


    "Most of these rogues seem to carry the ideology that the only ¡¯end¡¯ to this war would be the massacre of all witches. And some packs even report that they have a leader who they see fit to make that vision a reality."


    Each word she uttered seemed to get me on the edge more until I got ufortable. I had a bad feeling about this.


    Anyway, after a few seconds of silence, the female Alpha drew in a deep breath before she spoke up. "They call him the ¡¯True Lord of the

 Chapter 80: _Going To Get A Headache

    <h4>Chapter 80: _Going To Get A Headache</h4>


    "They call him the ¡¯True Lord of the North¡¯." The female Alpha said solemnly.


    I nced around at the other Alphas who remained silent even though their facial expressions and the tension in their eyes told me that they had a lot to say about this ominous figure.


    "The true lord of the North, eh?" I mumbled with a snigger, shaking my head as I rubbed my chin with the fingers of my right hand. "So, someone¡¯s trying to start an uprising and take my position? Is that what you¡¯re saying?"


    The female Alpha parted her lips, uncertainty in her eyes before she nodded. "That seems to be the case. We don¡¯t know much about him but we know that these rogues ce him on a pedestal."


    I dimmed my eyes while turning to Damon in my mind.


    ¡¯Well, what do you think?¡¯ I asked him.


    However, he didn¡¯t seem bothered at all by the news and spoke dismissively. ¡¯I say we fish out and kill as many of this guy¡¯s followers as possible. Or simply send out a bounty hunt for his ass. It¡¯s not much of an issue, to be honest.¡¯


    He has to be kidding. Not much of an issue?


    ¡¯What do you think other people will think if I becent while someone else out there is using my title so freely?¡¯ I queried, clenching my jaw.


    My father had never gotten into such a situation during his reign... The most that would happen back then would be a few protests from Alphas here and there.


    And each time, he either resolved things with them diplomatically... Or ughtered them and anyone who as much as smiled at their ideas against him.


    I knew this because the man had made sure to make me involved in every process of his rule for as long as I can remember, exposing me to war, gore, and the harsh realities of this world.


    He saw it as a privilege... But it was one of the reasons why I loathed his ass even in his death.


    Anyway, Damon grunted in my mind before he spoke. ¡¯Then just send out word to all the Alphas in the region and tell them to heighten their security or something. You can¡¯t baby them all the time. And besides...¡¯


    He paused, causing me to arch an eyebrow. I already had an idea of what he was going to say next, but I simply waited since the conversation had only taken a few seconds so far.


    ¡¯... We have more important matters to attend to. Like a certain mate who you said you¡¯d make efforts to be more vulnerable around.¡¯


    And there it is...


    I shook my head before I focused my attention back on the Alphas.


    "Has any of the packs reporting this managed to capture a rogue at least? Or recognize anyone?" I questioned, folding my arms in front of my chest.


    Unfortunately, the middle-aged Alpha among them shook his head before speaking up.


    "No, Alpha King. A few have tried but these rogues are ruthless. Some have resorted to even killing themselves when captured."


    A shiver ran through my body as I thought more about this. If they were killing themselves then that was a bad sign.


    It meant these rogues believed in their leader so much that they could kill for his cause.


    These rogues could prove to be a muchrger problem than I first thought but I didn¡¯t panic.


    <fn007f> Read full story at Find1Novel</fn007f>


    I turned my gaze to my assistant, La, who had been standing beside me silently all this while. This was supposed to be a private conversation but I trusted her enough to stay there.


    "La, please make a call to the notable Alphas around the United States borders and Canada and Mexico as well. Tell them to connect to the Alpha line for a virtual meeting."


    La nodded before she grabbed thendline on my desk and began making a few calls.


    .


    .


    After La had gotten to the Alphas of the districts I mentioned, a virtual meeting was held with the Alphas in my office also attending.


    The meeting went smoothly with all parties stating the severity of the situation with the rogues around their respective packs and also listing losses and casualties.


    The fact that there were already casualties was a cause for rm but I remained calm as we brought forward several ways to deal with the rogues and tighten security.


    The meeting ended up getting dragged till the evening after which I dismissed it.


    The Alphas who came to visit walked out of my office, leaving me and La alone.


    "I think I¡¯m going to have a headache," I muttered to myself, rubbing my forehead and sighing heavily.


    Meanwhile, La made herselffortable by sitting on one of the chairs in front of my desk. "Should I go get you something, sir? I know a recipe for rxing tea." She offered politely.


    But I scoffed, shaking my head before I shoved my hand under my desk and brought out a bottle of whiskey alongside a ss.


    "This right here is my ¡¯rxing tea¡¯," I said with a snigger, causing La to smile awkwardly as I opened the bottle and poured myself a ss.


    However, just when I was about to take a sip from the ss, there was a loud knock on my door, causing my eyebrows to furrow into a frown.


    I nced at La who quickly stood up and walked to the door. She checked who was at the other end before opening it, revealing Odessa¡¯s maid, Caroline, who had a frantic expression on her face.


    I went on high alert just then, slowly dropping the ss of whiskey as I arched an inquisitive eyebrow.


    "What is it? How¡¯s Odessa?"


    She fiddled with her fingers, ncing back at La who urged her with a silent nod.


    Eventually, she let out a sigh before she spoke. "F¨C Forgive me, Alpha King. I take full responsibility for not being there to watch her. B¨C But... But ma¡¯am Odessa..."


    I squinted my eyes, slowly getting up as my mind went through so many worst-case scenarios.


    None of them were good.


    Without waiting for the maid topose herself, I bolted out of the office, stepping into the hallway before I headed to Odessa¡¯s room in quick strides.


    My heartbeat seemed to increase with the tension until I finally got to Odessa¡¯s room.


    When I swung the door open, I was surprised to meet Marcellus on the ground, unconscious with an empty ss of wine a few meters away from him.


    My lips parted with shock as I raised my head and scanned my gaze around the room. My jaw ground with anger at that moment.


    "She¡¯s not here?!"

 Chapter 81: _Tin Foil Hats

    <h4>Chapter 81: _Tin Foil Hats</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    After Cullen had torn the pack doctor to shreds and his wife had cried until her voice cracked, Marcellus did the honors of burning up the wife from the inside out with his magic and draining her life force.


    He had originally thought about enjoying her body and using her to tame his sexual desires, but she was so weakened from crying over her husband that he became disinterested.


    It wouldn¡¯t be fun if she was too depressed to fight back.


    Anyway, he sent Cullen to drop her burnt corpse in front of their house and told him to make sure he used his magic to cloak himself and escape the view of any cameras.


    As for the pack doctor, his dear friend Abel... He was nothing but a pool of blood and stters of organs and remains on the floor and the walls in the living room.


    Marcellus sighed to himself, wiggling his fingers and causing a ss of vodka to levitate to his hand.


    "Look at this mess." Marcellus clicked his tongue, shaking his head as he folded his arms in front of his chest. "Imagine if I didn¡¯t have any magic. Cleaning this up would have been a hassle."


    Not to mention boring...


    Marcellus sighed before he cast a few spells that cleaned up the blood and body parts, draining them and transmuting them into a small amount of ash, which he then kept in the trash.


    He sighed but before he could step back into his living room and think about cleaning himself up and changing into new clothes, a small headache assaulted his mind, forcing him to pause.


    Marcellus dimmed his eyes, struggling as he heard whispers in his mind which only seemed to be getting higher and higher.


    ¡¯Marcellus... My right hand.¡¯


    His eyes widened just then as he realized who was trying to reach out to him telepathically.


    It was Lord Ryker, the true lord of the North.


    ¡¯Sir, good day.¡¯ Marcellus responded with a respectful tone mentally as he stepped inside and walked up to the dining table.


    After a few seconds, lord Ryker continued. ¡¯What¡¯s the update on the South American Alpha King? Did your poison attempt to kill him work?¡¯


    Marcellus shook his head physically before he responded. ¡¯No, sir. Alpha King Kaelos¡¯ bride managed to make a potion that healed himpletely. She was surprisingly good.¡¯


    There was a short pause before Lord Rykermented with a scoff. ¡¯Thank you for praising her work, Marcellus. Anyway, I have a simple task for you. Get Odessa to escape that pack. I don¡¯t care how I just want her out. Also, is the South American Alpha King leaving soon?¡¯


    Marcellus¡¯ eyelid fluttered before he found the words to speak, his lips curling into a smirk.


    ¡¯I¡¯m guessing Alpha King Leonardo will be leaving soon, probably tomorrow from the look of things. And as for Odessa... That¡¯s no issue at all.¡¯


    Marcellus paused just then when he remembered Celine and how she and her mother had been frustrating Odessa since she got here.


    Not to mention the tension and confusion with Kaelos as well as the judgement of the pack members.


    It is only a matter of time before the powerless witch snaps and isn¡¯t able to handle all the pressure, forcing her to find a way to escape.


    Kaelos had appointed him to watch her but Marcellus trusted Odessa to do something devious.


    ¡¯Good. Continue your normal mission and don¡¯t let me down, Marcellus.¡¯ With that, Lord Ryker cut off the telepathic link, leaving Marcellus in silence.


    Marcellus smirked to himself as he grabbed a ss of vodka and took a sip, already imagining all the chaos that awaited.


    .


    .


    The next day, it didn¡¯t take long in the morning for the South American Alpha King to leave.


    Marcellus made sure to telepathically alert Lord Ryker while also wondering what the boss had nned for the poor old man and his delegates.


    Anyway, after all that, Gamma Zane came with rather ¡¯unfortunate¡¯ news. A body was found in front of Pack Doctor Abel¡¯s house.


    <fn959e> This text is hosted at ?ovelFind</fn959e>


    When Marcellus arrived on the scene alongside Kaelos and the Gamma, he couldn¡¯t help but smirk discreetly to himself while admiring his work.


    The woman¡¯s body was burnt to a crisp and the death was soplicated that it had both Kaelos and the Gamma scratching their heads with confusion.


    When Kaelos ended up leaving the scene after Gamma Zane tried once again to list Odessa as a suspect, Marcellus sighed to himself before he mumbled.


    "Now I¡¯m craving some barbeque."


    Gamma Zane nced at him with an arched eyebrow just then, confusion etched on his face.


    "What did you just say, Beta?" He asked, his voice suspicious.


    Marcellus held himself back from scoffing and wore a docile smile on his face as he turned his gaze to the Gamma.


    "Oh, nothing. Just talking about how disturbing this whole thing is." He remarked, although there was a hint of mischief behind his voice.


    He gazed at the Gamma, trying to scrutinize him and see if he was catching on to the fact that he was beyond ¡¯suspicious.¡¯


    But s, the man didn¡¯t seem to be that bright and shrugged before he blurted. "I don¡¯t know what Kaelos, my nephew, sees in that witch that has blinded him from seeing her connection with these deaths."


    Marcellus couldn¡¯t help himself from rolling his eyes. He couldn¡¯t stand here and listen to this tin foil hat moron speak any longer.


    "Good luck with the investigations, Gamma," Marcellus said with a wave and a smile before he turned around and began walking away.


    Gamma Zane tried calling him back with a frustrated voice. "You were thest person to see the deceased husband! I need you to stay and¨C"


    "I¡¯ll help you once I¡¯ve sorted out more important matters," Marcellus stated simply without looking back.


    Soon, he got to the pack house and made his way inside until he finally got in front of Odessa¡¯s door.


    Just when he was about to knock after ncing around the hallway, the door opened, revealing Odessa who had a surprised expression on her face.


    This should be fun...

 Chapter 82: _Never Do Romance

    <h4>Chapter 82: _Never Do Romance</h4>


    Marcellus POV


    *****


    He had a wide smile on his face when Odessa opened her room door. Yes, he most times faked emotions and mirrored people but there was just something... Different about Odessa.


    She was still annoying and still had fragile emotions that made Marcellus feel like he wanted to throw up, but at least she wasn¡¯t like the stuck-up wolves in the pack.


    Anyway, Odessa¡¯s lips parted when she saw Marcellus, her eyes going to his face.


    As for Marcellus, he soon realized an important detail about Odessa. She had nothing but a towel on and her blonde hair was wet, signifying that she just got out of the bathroom.


    "B¨C Beta Marcellus, what are you doing here?" Odessa finally found the strength to ask, an awkward smile on her face.


    Marcellus didn¡¯t let himself get carried away by staring at her body and luscious skin for too long before he cleared his throat.


    "Well, good morning to you too, Odessa." He greeted her with a wink, causing her face to redden with a blush. "I simply came here to check on the woman who saved my lifest night."


    Odessa¡¯s eyelids fluttered at first until she quickly shook her head.


    "Don¡¯t be like that, Marcellus. I¨C I was only doing the right thing." She said with a low tone, lowering her gaze. "I should be the one thanking you. That arrow would have killed me instantly if you hadn¡¯t jumped in. It was... Scary, I¡¯m not going to lie."


    Hehe... If only she knew he only did that because he still saw her as ¡¯important¡¯ enough to keep alive. And apparently, the true Lord of the North thought the same way, too, and had his eyes on her.


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    If it weren¡¯t for these factors, Marcellus might¡¯ve found a way to kill her himself.


    Just then, his eyes dimmed as he brought his gaze to her protection ring. Wait a minute...


    "That trinket of yours." He pointed at the ring, tilting his head as he scrutinized it closely. "Wouldn¡¯t it have saved you from the attackst night? I mean, protection rings usually protect against magical attacks."


    Odessa parted her lips to say something but then paused, dimming her eyes as she seemed to ponder his words.


    Marcellus remembered how he had tried entering her mind thest time during a night stroll and how it failed woefully.


    He knew there was something special about the ring, and that made him curious to test the extent of its power and how much control it gave to Odessa.


    Just then, Odessa sighed before she spoke. "I guess it might¡¯ve but so far, it hasn¡¯t protected me from much."


    Suddenly, she began rubbing her right elbow, causing Marcellus to arch an eyebrow as he scrutinized it. It didn¡¯t take long for him to notice that her elbow was bruised and almost swollen.


    "What do we have here?" He asked, stretching his hands forward and touching the spot.


    However, before he could get a better look, Odessa pulled her arm away with an apologetic smile on her face.


    "I¨C I¡¯m fine." She stuttered but then paused, her jaw clenching as she drew in a deep breath. "Actually, I¡¯m not. But why don¡¯t we talk about it over a bottle of wine or something?"


    Wine, eh?


    Marcellus had a small grin on his face as he whistled yfully. "Oh,,. You¡¯re full of surprises, Dessa."


    She giggled with a genuine smile on her face before she blurted while nodding. "You too, Marcellus."


    Marcellus still had a smile on his face but there was a hint of mischievousness as he stared down at Odessa. If she thought he was ¡¯surprising¡¯ now, she should wait till she discovers his true nature.


    Anyway, Odessa proceeded to tell Marcellus toe backter in the evening for their little hang-out before she stepped back into the room and locked the door.


    Marcellus remained standing in front of the door, his hands behind his back as he imagined what would happen next, ignoring the curious nces of a few maids who walked past attending to chores.


    .


    .


    When Marcellus got back to his residence, he had a smile on his face as he walked into the living room. He snapped his fingers, causing the speakers in therge living room to begin ying some pop music which he shook his body to.


    "Someone seems happy." Cullen¡¯s voice echoed from a corner as he walked toward him with two sses of vodka in his hands. "What¡¯s got you in this mood?"


    Marcellus¡¯ grin only widened as he sighed before grabbing a ss from Cullen when he got in front of him.


    He took a sip, savoring the taste before he spoke. "Well, Cullen. I¡¯m going on a date."


    Cullen¡¯s eyes widened with surprise as his lips parted while he tried to let what Marcellus just said to sink in.


    "Wow..." Cullen ended up blurting, shaking his head before he drank from his ss. "So, who¡¯s the unfortunate soul who has managed to get your attention?"


    Marcellus walked past Cullen, still moving his body to the rhythm of the music before he sat down on one of the couches and let out a satisfied breath while still holding on to his drink.


    "Why, Odessa, of course."


    As soon as those words left his mouth, Cullen, who had been drinking from his ss, almost choked on it and began coughing, cing his left hand on his chest.


    That caused Marcellus to arch an eyebrow as the music came to aedic end and died down.


    "Really? The powerless witch?" Cullen asked with shock, his eyes widened as he walked closer to Marcellus. "W¨C Why would you even¨C"


    "Oh, please. We¡¯re just meeting to have some drinks." Marcellus interrupted with a scoff, rolling his eyes. "Besides, you¡¯re the one making it sound like something romantic. Tell me, Cullen, in all the years you¡¯ve known me, when did I ever do ¡¯romance¡¯?"


    Cullen batted his eyelids before he let out a sigh, a wry smile on his face.


    "Never."


    Marcellus smirked, snapping his fingers.


    "Bingo. And nothing¡¯s changed. But I¡¯m telling you... Something is interesting about Odessa. I don¡¯t know what it is yet but I¡¯m willing to y the part of the ¡¯kind¡¯ Beta for as long as possible to find out what it is."


    A cold grin curled up Marcellus¡¯ lips as he thought about all the ways he was going to toy with that powerless witch.


    He was going to have fun.

 Chapter 83: _Goodbye, Marcellus

    <h4>Chapter 83: _Goodbye, Marcellus</h4>


    Marcellus POV


    *****


    When evening came, he stepped out of his residence after putting on a simple suit.


    However, when he got to the Alpha¡¯s mansion and received greetings from the guards at the gate, he overheard them discussing something that caught his attention.


    "I wonder why those Alphas from the neighboring packs came to visit the Alpha King." One whispered, causing Marcellus¡¯ ears to twitch with interest.


    Another one soon chimed in. "Yeah, do you think it has something to do with his witch Bride?"


    "A few came for the South American Alpha king¡¯s weing ball yesterday though."


    "Nah, this is different. Something is up that we don¡¯t know about yet."


    "Do you think we¡¯ll be waging an attack or raid against the witches soon?"


    When Marcellus got into the mansion, walking through the grand foyer, he dimmed his eyes as he thought about what those guards were discussing.


    He tried wracking his head, thinking about any possible reasons why the neighboring Alphas woulde visit without Kaelos inviting them, but he couldn¡¯t think of anything.


    ¡¯Perhaps there¡¯s fresh trouble on the horizon...¡¯ He thought to himself, his lips curling up into a sly smirk.


    Anyway, he stopped thinking much about it and navigated his way to Odessa¡¯s room door.


    He cleared his throat, adjusting his tie before he knocked on the door.


    Barely a few secondster, the door opened and Odessa showed her beautiful face, a pretty smile etched on her features when she saw him.


    "Marcellus, good evening." She greeted him with a cheery tone as she stepped aside for him to walk in. "You actually made it. Please,e in."


    Marcellus had a grin on his face as he nodded curtly at her before stepping in, scanning his gaze around the room.


    His eyesnded on her bed just then where he saw her aunt¡¯s grimoire lying on it, looking ominous as usual.


    However, before he could attempt to move closer and touch it, Odessa closed the door and moved to stand in front of him, blocking his view of the damned book.


    It was at that moment that Marcellus brought his gaze to Odessa and allowed himself to scrutinize her closely.


    She wore a beautiful white nightgown and had her hair tied up into a ponytail that trailed down her left chest. There was also a hint of mascara on her face and her violet eyes shone brightly in the dimly lit room.


    "You look, lovely, Dessa," Marcellus said with a smile as he took her right hand and kissed it gently.


    He could see the confusion on Odessa¡¯s face as well as the subtle blush, but she did well to hide it, coughing awkwardly before she smiled.


    "T¨C Thank you, Marcellus." She said with a low tone before she nced at the balcony. "Let¡¯s head to the balcony. The drinks are there and I like the view."


    She stared at him for a few more seconds before she turned around and strutted to the balcony, her blonde ponytail bouncing behind her.


    Marcellus let his gaze linger on her back and on her ass underneath her gown, a sly smirk curling up his lips.


    He couldn¡¯t tell what it was but there was something different about Odessa. She seemed more stiff and tense than usual around him.


    But he ended up shrugging, not paying much attention to that as he followed behind her.


    When she stopped at the balcony, she bent to pick up an already-prepared ss of wine.


    However, when Marcellus got to the balcony and she stood straight again, she turned around and was about to take a step forward when she bumped into his body, causing her to gasp and for him to frown.


    She took a step back but then almost tripped, her drink still in her hand.


    Fortunately for her, Marcellus caught her by cing his right arm around her waist, pulling her up, and causing her to stare straight into his eyes.


    "Careful there. You seem extra clumsy tonight." Marcellus said with a teasing voice, his eyes going from her eyes to her full lips.


    They were still close to each other¡¯s bodies, and his arm was still wrapped around her waist, but he didn¡¯t seem to notice as he tried controlling his urges.


    Meanwhile, Odessa fluttered her eyelids with confusion shing past her eyes before she finally realized their proximity, causing her to cough awkwardly as her face heated up with a blush.


    "I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve just been a little worked up since my encounter with Celine this morning," Odessa muttered as Marcellus removed his arm from her body.


    He nced at the small table at the center of the balcony where a ss of wine was sitting, waiting for him.


    "Don¡¯t mind if I do." He said with a yful tone before he squatted and picked up the ss, taking a sip without thinking much of it.


    He noticed Odessa staring at him as he finished the whole ss in one gulp, making him realize that he hadpletely forgotten to respond to herst statement.


    "Oh, right. What happened with Celine?" He asked, arching an eyebrow as he dropped the ss on the table.


    Odessa stared at him for a little longer before she let out a small sigh, shaking her head.


    "I¡¯m sorry it had toe to this, Marcellus. But you¡¯ll be in my way if I don¡¯t do this."


    What is the name of...?


    Suddenly, Marcellus felt a twist in his stomach, forcing him to ce his hand on top of it. His stomach growled while his breathing increased as he struggled to get air into his lungs.


    <fndf81> For original chapters go to f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fndf81>


    Meanwhile, Odessa took onest sip from the ss in her hand before she walked away from the balcony and headed into her room.


    It was then that Marcellus began to realize what happened. There was something in the drink.


    That¡¯s what he gets for taking a drink from a potion witch.


    "W¨C What did you do...?" As he took a step forward and began following behind Odessa, his eyes began getting dizzy and he got hit by a crippling nausea that made his legs give in.


    He copsed to the ground, struggling to stay conscious as Odessa stared down at him with guilt in her eyes.


    "Thank you for being a good friend. Goodbye, Marcellus..."

 Chapter 84: _Kaelos Will Be Pissed

    <h4>Chapter 84: _Kaelos Will Be Pissed</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    After Celine had stepped out of Kaelos¡¯ room with her mother, I stood up from the floor and went to have a bath.


    As I did, my mind raced through all the humiliation I¡¯ve faced since I stepped foot in this pack. I kept telling myself that it was nothingpared to what I faced back in the Luminari Coven... But in reality, it seemed worse.


    The people in the Luminari Coven looked down on me because of myck of magic... Not because I was a witch.


    Yes, I¡¯ve been beaten, gotten used by a few of the men in my coven, and received a ton of insults back at the Luminari Coven, but it was still my home.


    I still felt like I belonged. I still had some use.


    At least, there wasn¡¯t an assassination attempt made on me back home. When I remembered the fear I felt when I witnessed that magic arrow heading for mest night, a cold shiver ran down my spine, forcing me to turn off the shower.


    "By the gods, I can¡¯t do any of this shit again," I muttered, shaking my head before I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around my body.


    I stepped out of the bathroom, searching for my phone which I was certain I had brought with me into this roomst night.


    Or at least... I think I brought it with me. Gosh, my mind was still so hazy even though I didn¡¯t drink any alcoholst night.


    <fnb7a7> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find[?]ovel</fnb7a7>


    Suddenly, I heard my phone ringing, forcing me to turn my head to the direction it wasing from.


    And therey my phone, sitting close to one of the pillows on the bed. I sighed to myself before I walked up to the phone to pick it up.


    "Who could be calling me after all this...?" I paused in what I was saying when I picked up the phone and saw the contact ID.


    It was my Aunt Althea.


    Gosh, I had totally forgotten to contact her since I got into this hell hole. But at the same time, could I really me myself?


    I grunted silently before I picked up the call. "H¨C Hey, Aunt Althea. I¨C"


    "Youngdy, you have a lot of exining to do and I mean a LOT." My aunt¡¯s voice was loud and firm, causing me to close my eyes with embarrassment even though she wasn¡¯t in the room with me.


    Back in the Luminari Coven, whenever the bullying from the other witches and humans got bad... She was the one I ran to. She has been the closest thing to a parent I¡¯ve had since my parents died.


    She even once took me under her wing to personally teach me magic until she realized that I was powerless.


    Anyway, in conclusion, if there was anyone I was supposed to be reaching out to aftering to this hell hole of a pack, it¡¯s her.


    "Aunt Althea, I can exin," I mumbled, brushing my left hand through my hair as I paced around the room with the phone glued to my ear. "I¡¯ve been stressed out since I got here. It¡¯s been one drama to the other and just yesterday, I almost got killed. Not to mention..."


    I stopped myself from talking when I realized I was about to blurt out that I was mated to the Alpha King.


    For starters, Kaelos had told me not to tell a soul, which I found unfair but at the same time, I knew he had a point when it came to why.


    My Aunt was still my aunt at the end of the day and I was certain she wouldn¡¯t be pleased to know my ¡¯soul mate¡¯ was not just any werewolf but THE king of the werewolves of this continent.


    "Almost got killed?" Aunt Althea repeated with a gasp and I could almost imagine her clutching her pearls. "Dear gods, what happened? Is your life actively in danger? Do you want me toe visit? I could arrange to¨C"


    "Thank you, Aunt Althea, but I¡¯ll be fine." I interrupted with a reassuring voice as I walked up to one of Kaelos¡¯ windows. "I have something nned, and once it¡¯splete, I won¡¯t have to worry myself about anything."


    I wanted to be vague because I knew Althea would object to my ns if she knew what it was.


    But s, she was still as curious as ever.


    "What do you mean by that?" She queried, her voice tense like a mother scolding her child. "Odessa, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re nning to do anything rash. The Alpha King wouldn¡¯t be pleased and you know what that means, right?"


    A shiver ran down my spine when she mentioned Kaelos.


    I knew that what I had nned would have him pissed but at the same time, I felt like it would give both of us peace of mind and closure.


    I¡¯ll be out of his hair and he¡¯ll effectively be out of mine.


    "I know, aunt. I know." I said with a wry smile. "Don¡¯t worry, I wouldn¡¯t do anything rash. But I have to go now, okay?"


    With that, after my aunt said a few blessings and scolded me about the importance of reaching out for another minute, I hung up and sighed to myself.


    I drew in a deep breath as I resolutely stepped out of Kaelos¡¯ room while still having a towel wrapped around my naked body. I knew that would bring unwanted attention but I had no choice if I wanted to head to my room and get dressed.


    As expected, a few maids who walked through the hallway began whispering when they saw me.


    "So the rumors are true? She¡¯s sleeping with the Alpha King?"


    "Goddess have mercy. Do you think she has him under a spell?" Another said with fear in her voice.


    "Poor Luna Queen Celine. She has to live with this bitch frolicking with her man."


    "Yeah, it could never be me. Personally, I would have strangled her by now and dumped her body in the Blood Oak woods."


    I clenched my jaw and balled my hands into fists but I ignored each one of them until I got into my room. None of them were worth it.


    However, when I stepped into my room and finally closed the door behind me, sighing with relief, it didn¡¯t take a minute before I furrowed my eyebrows.


    I need to go find Caroline.


    However, when I turned around and opened my room door, I was stunned to see Beta Marcellus standing in front of it with a smile on his face.


    But as I stared at his face, a realization clicked in my head alongside an idea.


    ¡¯He has to go tonight.¡¯

 Chapter 85: _Saying Goodbye

    <h4>Chapter 85: _Saying Goodbye</h4>


    After Beta Marcellus stopped by and I invited him over for ¡¯drinks¡¯ter tonight, I closed the door and began going to work, first getting dressed.


    I had eight hours, give or take before evening came, and I think I¡¯d need help to make the potions I had nned to make all this while.


    Luckily for me, another knock sounded on the door and I instantly knew who it was.


    "Good morning, ma¡¯am." Caroline greeted me with a smile when I opened the door, causing me to smile at her as well.


    She stepped into the room while I closed the door and turned around to face her.


    "Good morning, Caroline. You seem... Giddy today." I remarked, folding my arms in front of my chest and stepping forward.


    She furrowed her eyebrows at first before she waved dismissively. "Oh, I¡¯m not giddy, ma¡¯am. Just... Thrilled and fascinated that you and the Alpha king seem to be getting even closer."


    My heart skipped a beat when she mentioned Kaelos¡¯ name. Bloody hell, that name was beginning to be a trigger and I hated it.


    Maybe that¡¯s my conscience speaking because of what I had nned...


    "A few pictures managed to get out of the weing ball fromst night and they¡¯ve been circting all over the inte," Caroline said excitedly, stepping forward and showing me her phone.


    Despite the war, people still had phones and social media was still in existence.


    <fn56b5> ?????? ???? FindN()vel</fn56b5>


    How else were people going to get unfiltered news about the war in real-time? The news?


    Pfft... Everyone knew the leaders of the werewolves, witches, and humans would have control over that.


    Anyway, on Caroline¡¯s phone was a picture of yours truly, stepping into the event hallst night while wearing the ruby red gown that used to belong to Kaelos¡¯ mother.


    Attached to the post was a caption that read: "In Times of A Truce, Could A Witch Be a Luna Queen?"


    "Yeah, in my dreams..." I muttered to myself with a scoff, shaking my head.


    To my surprise, the post had thousands of likes and hundreds of retweets even though it was only posted three hours ago. But thements... Yeah, I¡¯d rather not check them out.


    "Caroline, all this is irrelevant." I handed the phone back to her, sighing despondently. "At the end of the day, all I am to the Alpha King is an object for a fragile truce which I¡¯m not even sure is going tost long. Who knows how long before both sides begin attacking each other again?"


    Caroline¡¯s face shed with a hint of disappointment but I ignored that, stepping away from her and sping my hands together.


    "Anyway, can we please forget about my husband for one day? I need your help for something." I remarked, strutting toward my drawers where I had kept the main item for today.


    I pulled the drawer out and brought out a small pouch where I had ced all the ingredients for potions that I gathered from the Blood Oak woods.


    "Sure, ma¡¯am. If you don¡¯t want to talk about it that¡¯s fine." Caroline said even though her voice didn¡¯t sound too enthusiastic. "Ou, are we going to make another potion today? I have to admit it was so cool knowing I was helping you make a potion to help THE South American Alpha Kingst night."


    Thanks to the fact that I had to seek her help to assist me with the potion-makingst night, Caroline was the only staff member in the mansion who had an idea of the chaos at the weing ballst night.


    I trusted her enough not to tell anyone else and I hadn¡¯t mentioned much anyway.


    I smirked as I brought the pouch forward and flung it on top of my bed.


    "Yeah, I need your help making potions for..." I paused, wracking my head for a perfect lie. "Sleeping. I¡¯ve been having some trouble sleeping recently."


    Caroline smiled, nodding her head. "Understood. But a quick question. If I help you in making these potions, doesn¡¯t that make me a witch?" She asked curiously, tapping her jaw.


    I sucked on my teeth but didn¡¯t show my impatience, instead stering a smile on my face and responding calmly.


    "Not necessarily, Caroline. But it does mean that you¡¯re practicing ¡¯witchcraft¡¯, something anyone can do. But anyway, let¡¯s get to work..."


    With that, we began the process of brewing the potions, although Caroline didn¡¯t know their true use.


    .


    .


    After more than two hours, we were finally done with making the potions.


    I did most of the work but Caroline¡¯s assistance helped shorten the time by a lot.


    Anyway, when we were done, I ced my hand on her shoulder with a genuine smile on my face.


    "Thanks, Caroline. You¡¯ve been... One of the closest things I¡¯ve had to a friend in this pack." I muttered with a wry smile, feeling a weird sensation in my stomach.


    Was that... Sadness?


    Meanwhile, Caroline¡¯s eyes fluttered with surprise at first before she shook her head with a blush on her freckled face.


    "Aww, ma¡¯am Odessa. As surprising as it is, I¡¯ve kinda grown fond of you." She remarked teasingly, shoving me yfully.


    I couldn¡¯t help but roll my eyes. "Really? Kinda?" I repeated, causing her to giggle.


    My smile deepened, but I made sure to hide the sadness simmering deep inside me.


    And it wasn¡¯t because I was going to leave Caroline behind. Oh no, it¡¯s because of HIM. I knew I was going to miss HIM. I knew things wouldn¡¯t be the same without HIM.


    At the end of the day, most of what I felt these days seemed to revolve around one man who I once upon a time, I thought I would hate with my entire being.


    And it was a scary feeling.


    "Why¡¯s this sounding like you¡¯re saying goodbye?" Caroline suddenly asked, shoving me yfully. "Don¡¯t worry, ma¡¯am Odessa, I¡¯m never abandoning you for any reason. If all witches are like you then I don¡¯t think I have a problem."


    I shed her onest smile before I stared at the small potion bottles filled with potions of different colors.


    Oh, Caroline... It sounds like a goodbye because it is.

 Chapter 86: _Most Miserable

    <h4>Chapter 86: _Most Miserable</h4>


    Later that night, I got dressed in a beautiful white nightgown and waited patiently for Marcellus to arrive.


    I haven¡¯t caught sight of Kaelos since ourst encounter this morning. I tried asking Caroline but she said he was probably busy with his Alpha King duties.


    But my instincts told me there was something more at foot.


    "Did you hear about pack doctor Abel¡¯s wife?" A maid asked another one when I lingered around the hallway.


    I headed back to my room after collecting a bottle of wine from the kitchen downstairs.


    Anyway, I dimmed my ears, my interest piqued as I strained myself to listen to the conversation.


    "Yeah, people said they saw her burnt corpse in front of their house. But the Alpha King and his council ouwed anyone from going there until the investigations areplete."


    Shit... Another murder?


    I gritted my teeth, deciding to quicken my pace and look away from them.


    I already know who they would me for this.


    "It¡¯s so frightening how two women have died since you know who showed up." One maid whispered and I could feel them staring at my back.


    I closed my eyes briefly, drawing in a deep breath as I kept on walking.


    "Hey, witch!" The first maid who first spoke and had a British ent, yelled out.


    I heard her friend shush her before the two of them giggled but it was clear that the British bitch didn¡¯t care.


    "What? I just want to ask her a harmless question." The British maid muttered, causing me to finally pause in my tracks.


    I balled my hands into fists and swerved my head to face them, arching an eyebrow.


    One of them, the British maid, wore blue maid attire and had chocte brown skin, while the other one was petite, had rosy white skin, and short ck hair.


    "I assume you two are trying to get my attention." I blurted, stering a sarcastic smile on my face as I began walking toward them. "Though I must admit... If it took you two insulting me to catch my attention, that must mean you¡¯re pretty irrelevant."


    The two maids opened their mouths in shock, ncing at themselves before they brought their gazes to me, ring at me with disdain.


    "What did you just say?" The petite maid asked, tilting her head and stepping forward.


    I could feel their negative emotions and from the way they clenched their fists, I could tell they were holding back. They knew damn well that they couldn¡¯t touch me...


    Either that or...


    "You¡¯re afraid of me, aren¡¯t you?" I queried curiously, scoffing to myself. "Of course, you are. I¡¯m the evil witch and you two are the innocent wolves trying to make a living or whatever."


    The British girl sniggered, folding her arms in front of her chest. "Yes, that¡¯s right. You¡¯re nothing but evil and a curse. That¡¯s what your kind is. You¡¯re probably killing these women for your selfish desires."


    <fn59dc> Read full story at F?nd-Novel</fn59dc>


    Her friendughed mockingly, tapping her. "Maybe she¡¯s taking their beauty and using it on herself." She remarked, causing the both of them tough.


    I clenched my jaw but I didn¡¯t find their word insulting. Gods know that if I had a sliver of magic power, these two would be groveling under my feet, and I wouldn¡¯t even feel bad.


    "You talk about my kind, referring to witches. But yours is perhaps the most miserable in this corrupted." I muttered, my tone cold but firm. "And no, I¡¯m not referring to werewolves. I¡¯m talking about bullies. People who get a kick out of taunting others they think are below them."


    The maids had pensive expressions on their faces but they didn¡¯t say anything. Well, I had way more words to say to them still.


    "There are far better things you could do with your time other than bullying and gossiping, and you want to know what that is?" I asked, a smirk on my face.


    I was tired of being nice and of letting these beasts trample on me any chance they got.


    "Work. I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a floor that needs scrubbing or food that needs cooking so get to it and quit loitering around." I blurted, folding my arms in front of my chest. "Or I could bring up your ipetence to my husband whenever I get the chance. Let¡¯s see what he does about it."


    It was at the mention of Kaelos that the faces of both maids paled and they both nced wearily at each other before begrudgingly walking away.


    "I¡¯d love to rip that witch to shreds one day." One of them still whispered as they strutted away.


    However, when I turned around and was about to continue heading to my room, the British maid said something that made me dim my eyes.


    "I heard that the Alphas of neighboring packs came to visit the Alpha King earlier today. Maybe they¡¯re here to show their displeasure about the witch¡¯s presence."


    Neighboring Alphas?


    I dimmed my eyes but kept on walking until I got to my room with the bottle of wine in my hands.


    "Time for the moment of truth," I mumbled before I brought out two sses for drinking and poured the wine into one of them.


    I walked to the balcony, the wind there blowing my hair and my gown, causing me to draw in a deep breath before letting it all out.


    That smelled like freedom...


    Anyway, I went back into the room and took one of the potions I made with Caroline from the pouch I ced them in.


    It was a translucent white liquid, and its purpose was simple...


    I poured its contents into the ss, watching as the potion distilled and mixed in with the wine.


    A smirk curled up the corner of my lips as I kept the pouch when I heard a knock at my door.


    That was definitely Marcellus...


    "It¡¯s showtime," I muttered, sighing to myself. "Hopefully that potion works. Then I can go to the next phase of my n."

 Chapter 87: _Free, But At What Cost?

    <h4>Chapter 87: _Free, But At What Cost?</h4>


    Marcellus stepped in and long story short... The potion indeed worked the way I intended and knocked him out cold, effectively paralyzing him first.


    I was only partly lying when I told Caroline the potion was meant for sleeping.


    This one forced the victim into sleep, making them useless for hours.


    Enough time for me to get out of this mansion.


    I nced at Marcellus¡¯ body on the ground onest time before I grabbed the pouch and hung it close to my chest like a bag.


    There were a few other potions in there that woulde in handyter on.


    Anyway, I stepped out of the room, closing the door behind me before I strutted through the hallway. I knew that by now Caroline should be heading to my room to check on me and had to be quick before she alerted Kaelos.


    When I finally stepped out of the mansion, I paused in my tracks when I noticed the guards at the gate.


    My heart began racing with adrenaline as I wracked my head. Even if I managed to walk past them, I would still have to deal with the ones at the main pack gates.


    Just when I ced my right hand into the pouch and grabbed a potion, I heard voices iing from the mansion, causing my heart to jump into my throat with fear as I scanned my gaze around for a spot to hide.


    It was then that I noticed an ash-colored SUV with ample cargo space at the back.


    I didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry as I rushed to the SUV and opened the door before jumping into the back, closing the door gently behind me while my hands trembled.


    Dear goddess...


    "The Alpha King doesn¡¯t seem to realize the gravity of the situation we brought to him." A male voice spoke up from outside and it was then that my fears were confirmed.


    Those were the Alphas from the neighboring packs out there!


    "Well, he will eventually if those rogues end up attacking the packs in these parts." A female voice said with a grunt. "Ugh, it¡¯s as if he¡¯s been blinded since he brought that witch into his house."


    Speaking of blinding...


    I brought a potion within the bag that was meant to mask my scent from werewolves. I couldn¡¯t make potions to make me invisible... Since that would require actual magic.


    But this should be enough. Even as a powerless witch, wolves could still recognize my heritage through my scent.


    Anyway, I drank the potion, which was bitter and stung my throat. Then I curled my body into a ball, silently praying and hoping that whoever owned this car between the Alphas wouldn¡¯t open the cargo door.


    Fortunately, my prayers were answered, and the owner of the car stepped into the driver¡¯s seat and closed the door with a grunt.


    When I peeked my head out to see who it was, I realized that it was the female Alpha.


    She had long brown hair and seemed to be in her forties. But I was able to notice the frown on her face through the rearview mirror.


    "It¡¯s gettingte. I can¡¯t stay another moment in this pack." She said with a sigh before she started the ignition and prepared to drive.


    This was it. This is my ticket out of this pack!


    My lips curled up into a smirk as I lowered my body and kept on hiding at the back, waiting patiently.


    The car began moving and I closed my eyes, my heart pounding against my ribcage as I began realizing that my n wasing to fruition.


    But then... Why did I feel sad?


    Why did I still want to stay back because of... HIM?


    ¡¯Kaelos, you¡¯ve ruined my life.¡¯ I thought to myself as the car kept on driving.


    .


    .


    After what felt like ages, the car finally stopped at a point, causing me to draw in a deep breath.


    If my guesses are right then the female Alpha had stopped in front of...


    "Alpha Katherine of the Silver Peak pack." The female Alpha blurted out just then when she lowered her window, her voice filled with impatience. "Let me pass. I passed these gates this afternoon, and I¡¯m exhausted."


    The main gates of the pack!


    I clenched my fists, readying myself for the worst. The first time I came here with Caroline, I remembered the hostility I was met with.


    Then, when I came here and left the pack for the first timest night while being escorted by some pack soldiers, I remembered how the guards at the gates had done a brief search of the cars then.


    Would they do the same again?


    "Let her pass! We searched her vehicle this afternoon when she came in." A male voice yelled out, causing me to sigh silently with relief.


    Gosh, that was close!


    Anyway, the female Alpha, Katherine, kept on driving and when she moved past a point, I could feel it without raising my head to check.


    We had left the pack.


    I was finally out of the pack and I wasn¡¯t being followed by any guards like some prisoner!


    "Alright, show yourself. I know you¡¯re there." Alpha Katherine suddenly spoke out, causing a cold shiver to run down my spine.


    No... Hell, no!


    My body shivered, cold sweat running down my face and dripping on my hands which were trembling.


    What do I do now?


    Should Ie out? Should I plead with her? How do I even exin myself to her and prevent her from taking me right back to Kaelos¡¯ waiting arms?


    As I closed my eyes and thought about all this, Alpha Katherine suddenly spoke again.


    "Yes, you bastard, I know you¡¯re in my wine cer." She snapped, even though her voice sounded yful. "I just finished my meeting with the Alpha King and I¡¯m on my way home. And gosh I¡¯m way too sober."


    What the fuck?


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    I arched an eyebrow as I began to realize what was happening. She was probably on a call with her partner or something.


    I breathed out in relief as she continued talking and giggling like a teenage girl in love, causing me to roll my eyes.


    Ugh, I think this is my cue to get out of here.


    I brought my gaze to the door at the back and clenched my jaw, bracing myself.


    After drawing in one deep breath, I kicked the door open and rolled out with my pouch clutched to my chest. Inded on the muddy ground out of the car with a grunt, watching as the car kept on driving without stopping.


    My breathing was hitched, and my right elbow, which had been wounded by Celine earlier, began hurting again, but I ignored all that as I slowly got on my feet and scanned my gaze around the dark forest.


    I was out of the Blood Oak pack and Kaelos¡¯ life... But at what cost?

 Chapter 88: _The Blood Oak Woods

    <h4>Chapter 88: _The Blood Oak Woods</h4>


    I scanned my gaze around my surroundings, cautious and alert of any sounds and sights that might be suspicious.


    There was a wide path for walking up ahead¡ª the same path that Kaelos and his delegates had used to apany me to the pack in the first ce.


    It was also the path that Alpha Katherine had used to head back to her pack some minutes earlier. And if my guesses were correct... The other Alphas who hadn¡¯t yete out of the pack would use this path as well.


    <fn4b6f> Readplete version only at Find_Novel(.</fn4b6f>


    To my right was a thick forest with tall, ominous trees, all mostly red oaks whose barks were almost blood-like in appearance.


    The Blood Oak Woods.


    "I can¡¯t take the path ahead because that would lead me to other werewolf packs and possibly the Luminari coven," I muttered to myself, shaking my head as I tried controlling my breathing which was bing rapid by the minute.


    I couldn¡¯t go back to the Luminari coven. I couldn¡¯t go back home because there was a high chance that they would just ship me back to Kaelos or worse... Give me a punishment.


    I was basically putting the treaty in jeopardy right now but I didn¡¯t have a choice. Waiting for things to get better for me at the Blood Oak pack would be a death sentence.


    Suddenly, my ears perked up when I heard approaching carsing from behind me.


    I nced back and spotted a few carsing from the direction of the Blood Oak pack. Those were definitely the Alphas who came to visit.


    In a panic, I scurried out of the path and bolted toward the Blood Oak woods, going deep inside until I was away from the road.


    Fortunately, the cars drove past, causing me to sigh with relief.


    However, when I rose my head out of the shrubs and dusted off the leaves on my body, I nced back to take a look at the forest and felt a cold shiver run down my spine.


    The forest was dark, only partially illuminated by the silver light of the moon filtering through the leaves of the tree above me.


    Insects and birds flew around once in a while and made noises, forcing me to swallow hard as I thought about the possibilities of other creatures.


    "There has to be a settlement of some kind up ahead," I mumbled to myself, using my palm to swat a mosquito on my neck.


    If I could find a water source then I might be able to find people... Hopefully humans or witches. I¡¯ve heard stories of rogue or solitary witches who don¡¯t associate themselves with covens.


    If I could find a solitary witch, I could seek their help by offering them some of my potions... Or perhaps, my aunt¡¯s grimoire.


    "Hopefully youe in handy during all this," I spoke to the protection ring on my finger as if it were sentient, brushing it lightly before I continued moving forward.


    My footsteps were slow and steady on the damp forest grounds, but I made sure I didn¡¯t make any noise for two reasons.


    So I could listen closely for anything at all... And so that whatever is dangerous out there wouldn¡¯t find me and hunt me down.


    I¡¯ve heard too many stories of witches creating monsters during the war and I didn¡¯t want to be the one to verify if that¡¯s true.


    After several minutes of walking endlessly without finding any signs of a water source, I became exhausted and decided to sit under a tree.


    "I¡¯m guessing Aunt Althea¡¯s grimoire doesn¡¯t have anything like a map I could use," I muttered to myself, drawing out the grimoire from the pouch clutched to my chest.


    I opened the pages of the grimoire but before I could get engrossed in reading anything, I picked up a sound that made me freeze.


    I dimmed my eyes, scanning my gaze around as the sounds became more apparent.


    Whispers... From people!


    My eyes widened with glee as I closed the book abruptly and shoved it right back into my pouch.


    I scanned my gaze around the woods until I was able to track the location where the voices wereing from.


    "Timothy, that¡¯s enough berries for tonight. Let¡¯s go." A female voice said with a groan, sounding frustrated and alert. "These woods are close to the territory of the Blood Oak pack. The Alpha King himself! I don¡¯t want to run into any werewolves."


    My eyes widened with even more shock as I began putting the dots together.


    These people are definitely not werewolves. And with such a simple name as ¡¯Timothy¡¯, there¡¯s a high chance that they¡¯re...


    "Humans," I whispered with a smile, shaking my head as I kept on walking, the voices getting closer.


    "Oh, rx, dear. The Blood Oak pack is at least an hour¡¯s walk away from here, and they hide behind a giant wall surrounding the ce like a prison." A male voice said with a casual tone.


    An hour? Damn... How long have I been walking for all this time?


    I decided to draw out my phone just then and saw the time. It was already a few minutes past eleven!


    "Shit..." I mumbled, cing my phone back into my pouch when I heard a gasp.


    "W¨C What¡¯s that?" The female voice asked, causing me to pause as I thought maybe they had spotted me.


    I raised my hands, slowly walking forward when the male voice spoke up.


    "Rx, it was probably a deer or something."


    A deer?


    At this point, I had finally gotten to some bushes which I pushed aside, allowing me to get a view of the people. They were a man and a woman, both seeming to be in their twenties.


    They stood at the center of a clearing, both holding baskets filled with fruits.


    However, just when I was contemting drawing their attention, my gaze fell on something in the bushes on the other side behind them, causing my heart to jump into my throat.


    "Watch out!" I yelled out in a panic, but before they could react, it was far toote...

 Chapter 89: _Find Her!

    <h4>Chapter 89: _Find Her!</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    "Where is she? Where is Odessa?!" I snarled, sniffing frantically around her room as I stepped inside.


    Marcellus groaned as he struggled to get up from the floor to no avail. Odessa couldn¡¯t have knocked him out by herself unless... Someone else did and then kidnapped her.


    Either that or she poisoned him.


    The only way I could find out would be to wake Marcellus.


    "Marcellus? Marcellus, wake up, man!" I growled, squatting to the ground and shoving his body to wake him up. "Where¡¯s Odessa? She¡¯s nowhere to be found!"


    Marcellus groggily opened his eyes as he stared at me, his breathing finallying back to normal as he sighed heavily.


    "I¨C I¡¯m sorry, Kaelos." He muttered, grunting before he sat up and rubbed his forehead. "She... She drugged me with a potion. I¡¯m sure of it. I was here hanging out with her and we were taking some wine when I felt a pain in my stomach. The next thing I knew, I was on the floor struggling to breathe."


    I gritted my teeth as I tried to wrap my head around his exnation.


    <fn7c60> Follow current nov?ls on findnovel</fn7c60>


    Meanwhile, Damon sniggered in my head before he spoke yfully. ¡¯Oh, they were hanging out, eh?¡¯


    I clicked my tongue before I berated him mentally. ¡¯Knock it off, Damon! We need to find that stubborn mate of ours.¡¯


    To my surprise, Damon¡¯s yful tone disappeared and was reced with a serious one as he snapped.


    ¡¯What? Do you think I¡¯m not worried about her? If I had my way, I¡¯d say you just let mee out so we can find her faster. You know our tracking skills are much better when I¡¯m out.¡¯


    I clenched my jaw but didn¡¯t say anything in response as I stood up from Marcellus¡¯ side, brushing my hand through my hair.


    Shifting into my wolf was ast resort that I hadn¡¯t used in a long time for good reasons.


    The wolf of an Alpha king was a beast far more powerful than any other werewolf or Alpha. But as for Damon in particr... He was a harbinger of pure chaos.


    Even after all these years, I still found it hard to control his insatiable bloodlust whenever I shifted. He was part of the reason why people imed I feasted on my enemies...


    Just then, La ran into the room, scanning her gaze around before she focused her attention on me.


    "She escaped," I said bluntly, grounding my jaw before I turned my gaze to her. "Inform the Gamma at once and let him know that I want as many pack soldiers as possible out of this pack searching for her."


    La seemed hesitant after I said that, causing my eyebrows to furrow into a frown as I tilted my head.


    "Have you gone deaf or mute, La?" I queried, unable to control my anger anymore.


    She lowered her gaze, her body trembling slightly with fear before she cleared her throat and spoke.


    "B¨C But, sir, wouldn¡¯t sending out our menpromise the safety of the pack? Especially after the attack from that witchst night and the murder of the pack doctor¡¯s wife."


    My eyes twitched with frustration before I flung my arms into the air. "Well, it¡¯s not as if the pack soldiers were of any use during those situations! So let them put themselves to use now!" I roared, my voice thundering and causing the room to shake.


    La took a few steps back, her eyes quivering with terror while Marcellus kept on grunting on the floor.


    Even without Damon, my Alpha King powers were still pretty terrifying to the average werewolf.


    "Kaelos, you have to calm down and keep a clear head." Marcellus suddenly blurted, forcing me to turn my gaze to him.


    He slowly got on his feet, shaking his head while rubbing his forehead.


    "I¡¯m sure any witch capable of knocking me out with potions would be able to take care of herself out there just fine."


    I shed a sarcastic smile at him before I responded. "She took you by surprise, Marcellus. There¡¯s only so much the element of surprise can do out there. Especially if..."


    I paused, tensing up as my gaze went to her room¡¯s balcony.


    I walked past Marcellus, heading to the balcony and cing my hands on the railing when I got there.


    I nced at the moon first before my gaze fell to the ground. I concentrated, sniffing into the air and relying on the blowing night wind to catch her scent.


    Eventually, I was able to catch her scent and got a visual imagination of what happened and how she escaped.


    She seemed to have headed out of the mansion through a car and then drove toward... The main gates of the pack.


    "She¡¯s gone out of the pack already," I said with a tense tone as I nced back at the room where La and Marcellus stood and stared at me with concern.


    "I don¡¯t give a rat¡¯s ass about what you said earlier. A few hours should be enough for the pack soldiers to head out and search for her." I blurted, my voice rising with each word before I finally added. "Find her!"


    Without another word, I turned my gaze away from them and jumped out of the balcony, the night breeze blowing against my body until Inded on the ground.


    I grunted, drawing in a deep breath as Damon howled inside me.


    ¡¯Are you still sure you don¡¯t want meing out?¡¯ He queried, his tone filled with uncertainty and devoid of his usual yfulness.


    I shook my head as I kept on walking but I added mentally. ¡¯Just give me a little boost once in a while. She shouldn¡¯t have gone far... I hope.¡¯


    With that, I sprinted, heading to thepound gate.


    The guards there gave way without saying anything, although their faces were filled with confusion as they watched me bolt out of thepound.


    "Kaelos!" A female voice suddenly yelled out from within thepound, forcing me to pause just then.


    I nced back only to see Celine scurrying toward me, clutching her dress as she did.


    "M¨C My Alpha king." She breathed out when she got in front of me, ignoring the cold look I gave her. "Where are you running off to? You haven¡¯t had dinner yet and it¡¯s getting¨C"


    Before she could finish talking, I lowered my head to meet her gaze, watching as her eyes widened with surprise when my face was mere inches away from her.


    "Stay out of my way, Celine."


    My warning was simple but clear and I didn¡¯t bother saying anything else as I continued running, picking up speed until I was sprinting just a little faster than an average wolf.

 Chapter 90: _Will Punish Her

    <h4>Chapter 90: _Will Punish Her</h4>


    The wind carried Odessa¡¯s scent far beyond the walls of the pack, causing me to furrow my eyebrows with both worry and anger.


    Her scent was bing oddly faint and I couldn¡¯t tell why.


    Yes, I was mad at Odessa. I was furious and I¡¯m going to make sure she gets the punishment she deserves when I bring her back to the pack.


    <fn4dbc> For more chapters visit fin?novel</fn4dbc>


    ¡¯Punishment in bed, right?¡¯ Damon asked just then in my head as I sprinted through the roads of the pack, headed straight for the gates.


    I didn¡¯t respond but merely growled as I increased my pace once again.


    The people of the pack who noticed me looked on in confusion and concern, but I was too fast for them to even register that I was the one sprinting through the pack.


    When I finally got to the pack gates, I slowed down and stopped in front of the pack soldiers standing guard.


    If I had tried getting here through one of my cars, I would¡¯ve moved too fast or caused obstructions with traffic.


    "Where¡¯s the military advisor?" I asked with a sneer, my gaze scanning the faces of all the pack soldiers present.


    They nced among themselves wearily, managing to bow as I walked past them.


    "Sir?" A baritone voice spoke up from behind me just then, forcing me to nce back.


    A man in his forties wearing a red military uniform with the symbol of a red oak etched on the pockets and a brown beard walked toward me with concern on his face.


    I ignored that and waited until he got in front of me and bowed his head before he continued.


    "Sir, is anything wrong? You seem¨C"


    Before he couldplete his sentence, I shot my right hand forward and grabbed him by the cor, easily raising him from the ground as a guttural growl escaped my throat.


    "How could you be so ipetent?" I snarled, noticing the pack soldiers at the corner of my eyes shifting back or looking away with fear.


    The military advisor was just right below the Gamma and the Delta in rank. He basically kept ount of the soldiers and reported back to the Gamma or the Delta who would then report to me.


    Anyway, the point is that he was supposed to take ount of anything security-rted in the pack, including who leaves and who enters.


    "S¨C Sir, I don¡¯t¨C know what you¡¯re talking about." The military advisor stuttered, his voice getting low as he raised both his hands above his head, and I dimmed my eyes at him. "P¨C Please, what did I¨C"


    "My wife is gone," I said in a cold tone, ncing at the others present before I continued. "And no, I¡¯m not talking about Celine. I¡¯m talking about Odessa."


    The military advisor¡¯s face scrunched up with realization but then confusion also got mixed in.


    "T¨C The witch?" He muttered, his eyes fluttering. "B¨C But, sir. I don¡¯t know anything about her whereabouts sir. I¨C"


    I felt my anger simmering at an uncontroble level as my eyes burned with my rage.


    "Yes, a witch, that¡¯s all she is to you so that¡¯s why you just let her scurry out of here, right?" I asked coldly, causing the military advisor¡¯s face to pale as he swallowed.


    But at this point, I was exhausted from the conversation and released my grip on the man¡¯s cor, causing him to fall to the ground.


    "Mobilize the men at the gates here and stay alert in case of any funny business. I¡¯ve already sent a message to the Gamma to send some of the soldiers to scout for Odessa." I remarked calmly, walking forward without looking back.


    The pack soldiers guarding the gate made way for me and opened the gate.


    However, before leaving, I paused and nced back onest time, staring coldly at the military advisor who was struggling to get on his feet.


    "Oh, and one more thing. If anything happens to Odessa. If she ends up dying because of your ipetence. I¡¯ll have your head."


    .


    .


    I finally got out of the pack and walked forward for a few minutes, following the road path before I stopped at a point.


    I squatted to the ground when I noticed something off. There were tire prints on the muddy road, leading ahead but there were also shoe tracks from this point heading right into...


    "The Blood Oak woods," I muttered somberly, getting on my feet as I stared directly at the woods to my right.


    As if to wee my acknowledgment, the birds and insects in that part of the woods began chirping louder and flying around, causing my eyebrows to furrow into a frown.


    "They can probably sense my Alpha King aura," I mumbled to myself, ncing around briefly before I took a whiff of the air.


    However, my frown deepened when I realized that I could no longer pick up Odessa¡¯s scent.


    ¡¯Do you think she found a way to mask her scent from us? Maybe from werewolves in general?¡¯ Damon said in my head just then and for some reason, I found the idea reasonable.


    If Odessa was able to make a potion to take down Marcellus, then a potion to mask her scent shouldn¡¯t be out of the realm of possibilities.


    "I guess the ¡¯powerless¡¯ witch isn¡¯t so powerless after all," I mumbled, shaking my head with my jaw clenched before I continued. "I might have no choice but to let you out, Damon. But it¡¯s ast resort. For now... I¡¯ll rely on something else to track Odessa."


    I closed my eyes, tapping into the strings of the mate bond that bound our souls together.


    The mate bond between an Alpha king and his mate was so powerful that it could allow them to ¡¯sense¡¯ their mate¡¯s presence. It was something that existed within all werewolves but it was more heightened within Alpha Kings.


    So heightened that in theory, I might just be able to...


    ¡¯Nope, I can¡¯t sense shit, Kaelos.¡¯ Damon interrupted my concentration just then, causing me to let out a sigh. ¡¯I guess you aren¡¯t as in tune with our mate as you thought you were.¡¯


    At this point, I felt like giving up. If Odessa could go through all this trouble simply to leave the pack and my life then maybe she had good reasons.


    Maybe I¡¯ve been too... Harsh on her...


    ¡¯Well, well, well. Look who¡¯s not so much of a dick head.¡¯ Damon sniggered in my mind but I rolled my eyes before fixing all my attention on the woods.


    Fuck it...


    "I¡¯ll bring her back and then follow the moon goddess¡¯ advice," I remarked resolutely, ncing up at the moon which seemed to glimmer brighter in response to my words.


    "Please, help me find her."

 Chapter 91: _Signs Of The Rogues

    <h4>Chapter 91: _Signs Of The Rogues</h4>


    As I navigated my way through the Blood Oak woods, I couldn¡¯t shake off an odd feeling that made me go on high alert.


    I¡¯ve hunted in these woods since I was a boy so nothing in it should be enough to put me on edge.


    So... Why did I suddenly feel this way?


    "It¡¯s almost as if I¡¯m being watched," I muttered to myself, ncing around and squinting my eyes, my senses perked up and prepared for anything.


    Meanwhile, it seemed Damon also thought the same but his thought process was different. ¡¯I don¡¯t think any werewolf would be able to keep this hidden from us. Not with your Alpha King aura.¡¯


    I grunted in response before deciding to disregard the feeling. There were a few packs close to these woods and beyond those were a few human settlements.


    The Luminari coven and its city was thergest gathering of witches and humans spanning hundreds of miles.


    Anyway, when I got to a point, I slowed down when my nose caught a scent that caused my eyebrows to furrow into a frown.


    It wasn¡¯t Odessa... Far from it actually.


    "Werewolves," I mumbled, arching an eyebrow with confusion.


    Werewolves from other packs usually don¡¯t stray this far, since everyone was on high alert despite the treaty.


    If werewolves of other packs wanted to hunt, they would do that close to their territories, which were miles away.


    "Something¡¯s wrong..." I muttered to myself, my eyes still dimmed as I kept on moving.


    However, my nose caught another smell that sent a shiver down my spine. I slowly raised my head until I was staring directly at a body nailed to a tree, with the organs dripping out and the blood dried up.


    The color of the blood told me that this body had been here for at least three days. And the most unsettling part was that it wasn¡¯t a werewolf or a witch.


    "A human," I mumbled solemnly, a frown etched on my face.


    Unfortunately, not all human settlements agreed to ally themselves with witches during the war. Some, led by their naive leaders, alienated both werewolves and witches, wanting no part of the war.


    Sadly for them, despite their best efforts to avoid the war, it still came to them and they would get desperate enough toe out and forage for food like scavengers.


    <fnfc79> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on F?ndNovel</fnfc79>


    The war had closed borders, making food transportation nigh impossible.


    ¡¯That poor human woman could have been Odessa.¡¯ Damon remarked in my head just then, his tone pensive. ¡¯Yes, I know it¡¯s not her but still. If she¡¯s in these woods then she¡¯s not safe.¡¯


    That wasn¡¯t my only concern...


    There was currently a treaty going on, and the rules of the treaty were supposed to prevent werewolves from killing the witches and humans and vice versa.


    This truce extended throughout the continent and it ought to be that way. I had made sure to announce to all Alphas in the continent to execute any offenders of this truce.


    In other words, it was either this person was one careless bastard who didn¡¯t give a fuck about myws or...


    "Rogues..." My voice became somber as I finally tore my gaze away from the dead human woman. "We have to keep moving. If my hypothesis is correct, then the rogue problem the Alphas warned me about might be even worse than they thought."


    I picked up the pace, sprinting through the woods and following any paths that either seemed to have been disturbed by recent movement or had rustled leaves.


    It was hard tracking a witch when she had her scent masked.


    Suddenly, after what felt like an hour of searching, my eyes caught sight of something that caught my attention.


    It was a few strands of hair lying on the ground in front of me, stained by mud and dirt. However, when I picked it up and saw its blonde color, my eyes lit up.


    "I know this hair from anywhere," I mumbled, the corner of my lips going up with a smile. "It¡¯s definitely her. And if that¡¯s right, that means I¡¯m on the right track."


    I released a relieved breath as I looked ahead, my determination increasing.


    However, before I could continue moving, my phone rang, forcing me to pause as I hurriedly brought it out of my pants pocket.


    It was my uncle, Gamma Zane...


    "Any updates, Gamma?" I asked without wasting a second, subconsciously scanning my gaze around.


    This part of the woods was eerily quiet and I was getting that odd feeling that something was off again.


    "Unfortunately, there¡¯s none, sir." Gamma Zane reported inly, not sounding interested in the mission. "I just want to inform you that I¡¯m recalling the pack soldiers I sent out to search for Odessa back into the pack. Is that okay?"


    I clenched my jaw, withholding the urge to say something sarcastic, but s, I didn¡¯t have that level of self-control when it came to my uncle.


    "Well, great. Maybe next time, the pack soldiers can make themselves useful by doing a general sweep of the entire Blood Oak pack." My tone dripped with sarcasm as I remembered the dead human woman just then.


    However, before the Gamma could say anything in response, a scream echoed around the woods, forcing me to pause as I lowered my phone.


    The scream didn¡¯t sound close but I was able to pinpoint where it wasing from instantly and also recognized who it was.


    Odessa...


    "I have to go," I said bluntly to my uncle before hanging up and shoving my phone into my pocket.


    I growled, my teeth bared as I sprinted with all my might, heading toward the position where the scream hade from.


    "Fuck, fuck, fuck..." I cursed repeatedly, my heart pounding against my chest as I feared the worst.


    I didn¡¯t think twice and called out to Damon who seemed to be already two steps ahead of me.


    Suddenly, a ghastly howl escaped my throat, my pupils dting as my bones cracked, and my muscles began growing in size as I slowly began shifting for the first time in a long time.


    I had left that as ast resort but that scream from Odessa told me that I had no choice.


    "Fuck holding back!" I roared, but my words came out as monstrous sounds as my fingers turned to ws.

 Chapter 92: _Clever Witch

    <h4>Chapter 92: _Clever Witch</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    When he regained consciousness, the first thing he noticed was Kaelos yelling out in a panic, asking him about Odessa¡¯s whereabouts.


    It was then that he remembered everything that happened before he passed out.


    That cunning little witch...


    She was a powerless witch but a witch nheless.


    ¡¯I guess I underestimated her.¡¯ He thought to himself, watching as Kaelos began panicking and acting like the world was about to end.


    Marcellus had never met his mate and didn¡¯t even know if he had one. Maybe the moon goddess had stripped him and others like him of that ¡¯privilege¡¯ the moment they decided to be this way.


    Aberrations of the natural order.


    Werewolves who are capable of wielding magic but at the cost of taking the lives of others.


    Well, it didn¡¯t matter anyway. Kaelos¡¯ behavior right now was just extra proof of what Marcellus has always believed.


    Having a fated mate or being romantically entangled was a weakness that would only hinder him.


    "Find her!" Kaelos suddenly barked at his assistant, La, who stood beside Marcellus meekly.


    Those were thest words the Alpha King said before jumping off the balcony and heading out to search for his dear witch bride.


    "Ugh, drama queen..." Marcellus mumbled to himself, shaking his head as he slowly got off the ground.


    La came to his aid just then, holding his arms closely and trying to help him stand.


    "Are you okay? Do you need help, sir?" She asked innocently, although her voice came off as bashful to Marcellus.


    Well, he wouldn¡¯t be surprised if the woman had a crush on him. He¡¯se to discover that several females in the pack found him attractive and would want to be with him.


    Too bad he didn¡¯t have eyes on any of them aside from being potential tools.


    "I¡¯m fine, La. Thank you." Marcellus stered a smile on his face, his kind Beta facade almost faltering at that moment.


    He sessfully got on his feet and nced at the room¡¯s balcony where an influx of wind blew into the room, causing him to dim his eyes.<fna3f5> Checktest chapters at findnovel</fna3f5>


    He could pick up Odessa¡¯s scent, but it was bing faint already, which was odd. He hasn¡¯t been knocked out that long and it should still be traceable by him.


    Unless...


    "She found a way to mask her scent..." Marcellus blurted, tilting his head with an amused smirk.


    Now he wanted to get his hands on that grimoire even more.


    Suddenly, the room door swung open and Odessa¡¯s maid, Caroline, barged in with an awkward expression on her face.


    Marcellus nced back at her, noticing the deep sadness on her face as she fiddled with her fingers.


    "B¨C Beta Marcellus." She spoke weakly, lowering her head. "It¡¯s my fault that Odessa is gone."


    Marcellus dimmed his eyes, scrutinizing the girl. She was young, looking to be around Odessa¡¯s age and her demeanor came off as meek.


    It was quite surprising to him that this she wolf was able to soften up so much to a witch.


    Meanwhile, La turned her gaze from Marcellus and Caroline briefly before she cleared her throat and began walking toward the exit.


    "I have to go alert the Gamma so he can begin mobilizing pack soldiers for the search." She remarked somberly, ncing back at the balcony. "I¡¯ve never seen the Alpha King so worked up. Why is he so concerned about that witch?"


    Marcellus sniggered just then but he didn¡¯t say anything, simply folding his arms in front of his chest.


    If only they knew that their beloved Alpha King was mated to the witch in question.


    Anyway, La walked past Caroline, briefly ncing at the maid with a fleeting moment of curiosity.


    Caroline¡¯s face heated up with a blush, causing Marcellus to arch an eyebrow. But the interaction was so brief that he didn¡¯t pay much attention to it as La left the room.


    "Yes, Caroline. You were saying something." Marcellus said, nodding at the maid to continue as he slowly walked toward her with his arms behind his back.


    Caroline nodded, her hands clenching before she continued speaking. "Earlier today, ma¡¯am Odessa asked me to help her make some potions. I didn¡¯t think much of it because she said they were meant for ¡¯sleeping¡¯."


    Interesting...


    So the maid witnessed Odessa making potions.


    Potion-making didn¡¯t always involve spells or magic, but it was still a form of witchcraft.


    If Caroline has witnessed Odessa doing it...


    "How many times have you helped Odessa to brew potions?" Marcellus asked, dimming his eyes with curiosity as he paused a few meters away from her.


    Caroline¡¯s eyes fluttered before sheposed herself enough to speak. "Just two, sir. Last night when she made some for you and the South American Alpha King. But she didn¡¯t give me many details about their use, though."


    Clever girl...


    Marcellus smirked, finding himself getting more and more impressed with Odessa¡¯s antics.


    "Anyway, sir. My point is that I suspect the potions ma¡¯am Odessa made today have a different use. Maybe... They helped her to escape." Caroline said weakly, lowering her head with shame and guilt.


    Marcellus had the urge to roll his eyes but he didn¡¯t and instead stepped forward until he was mere inches away from Caroline. He stretched his right hand forward, using his fingers to part aside strands of her hair.


    "Oh, Caroline. You shouldn¡¯t me yourself for any of that." He whispered, his voice gentle but holding a hidden edge.


    She slowly raised her head, staring into his hazel eyes which seemed to glint with an unknown light in the darkness.


    "S¨C Sir? What are you... Doing?" Caroline asked with a weak voice, her eyelids fluttering as well, as if she was about to fall asleep.


    Marcellus didn¡¯t waste any time finding his way into her mind. Unlike Celine, she wasn¡¯t from a strong werewolf bloodline so she couldn¡¯t put up a strong resistance.


    Yet her will was still strong, causing him to chuckle softly.


    "Just rx and let go, dear." He whispered, his smirk widening as she seemed to finally be giving in, and her mind started bing open.


    However, as he bared his fangs, about to sink them into her neck to drain her of her life force, he was interrupted by a voice speaking in his head telepathically.


    ¡¯Marcellus, my right hand...¡¯


    He froze, withdrawing his right hand from Caroline¡¯s face and also his fangs, focusing all his attention on the telepathic link.


    ¡¯Lord Ryker. Perfect timing.¡¯

 Chapter 93: _Heralds Of Chaos

    <h4>Chapter 93: _Heralds Of Chaos</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    ¡¯Lord Ryker. Perfect timing.¡¯ Marcellus said to the voice in his head, taking a few steps away from Caroline.


    At that point, the she-wolf shook her head, breaking free from his magic¡¯s hold on her mind, which had weakened because of hisck of concentration.


    <fndc06> This update is avable on find(?)ovel</fndc06>


    She blinked with confusion, ncing at Marcellus who merely shed her a smile before waving at her dismissively.


    "We¡¯ll talk another time." He uttered, strutting toward the door before opening it and stepping out of the room.


    Once he was out and closed the door behind him, he continued his conversation with Lord Ryker.


    ¡¯Is everything alright, my Lord?¡¯ He queried, navigating his way through the hallways of the mansion.


    To his surprise, the true Lord of the North said something that he hadn¡¯t said in a long time.


    ¡¯Give me ess to your mind and your eyes.¡¯


    Marcellus hesitated, but he couldn¡¯t say no to the true lord of the North, so he obliged.


    He felt when lord Ryker got ess to his eyes and mind, allowing him to see through his eyes and also to ess his memories and look through them.


    After a few seconds of searching from Lord Ryker¡¯s end, he stopped and withdrew his consciousness from Marcellus.


    ¡¯Well, I see you¡¯ve been calcting and wreaking havoc slowly in the pack, making the werewolves more suspicious of the witches.¡¯ Lord Ryker sounded a little bit impressed and then added. ¡¯And, well, well, well... So the witch is out of the pack?¡¯


    Marcellus responded quickly. ¡¯Yes, sir. Odessa Pierce escaped the pack not too long ago. But Kaelos is after her. I was about to inform you before you reached out.¡¯


    When Lord Ryker heard Marcellus¡¯ words, he sniggered amusingly. ¡¯By the goddess, that little brat, Kaelos, doesn¡¯t know when to give up, does he?¡¯


    A small smirk curled up the corner of Marcellus¡¯ lips but he didn¡¯t say anything.


    After a while, Lord Ryker spoke with a cynical tone. ¡¯My rogues have been spreading far and wide throughout the continent. I¡¯ll get Odessa Pierce in my grasp soon enough.¡¯


    With that, he ended the telepathic link, leaving Marcellus to think.


    Lord Ryker was definitely after Odessa for the same reason as him. But if the true lord of the North manages to get his hands on her...


    "Then I wouldn¡¯t be able to uncover all I wanted from her," Marcellus muttered to himself as he stepped out of the mansion, his arms behind his back.


    As he moved toward thepound gate, he spotted the guards there in a heated conversation.


    "I¡¯m telling you, the witch managed to escape. That¡¯s why the Alpha King was so frantic earlier." One of them blurted, harrumphing soon after.


    "If that¡¯s the case then why is he going after her? That witch has brought nothing but bad luck to this pack since she arrived."


    "Haven¡¯t you heard? There are rumors that the Alpha King sleeps with the witch." One of them, a young guard, blurted with a scoff.


    The others had amused expressions on their faces, not realizing in time that Marcellus was advancing slowly toward them. Not until thest one to speak turned his gaze to his direction.


    "B¨C Beta Marcellus." The guard stood at attention, his face instantly bing in as he bowed slightly. "We were just¨C"


    "Gossiping about the Alpha King." Marcellus interrupted, finally getting in front of them and scanning his gaze on their faces.


    They were all tense and didn¡¯t say anything, embarrassment etched on their features.


    But Marcellus didn¡¯t mind.


    Honestly, if he could, he would encourage these men to keep up with the gossip. Soon enough, that could breed chaos and mistrust if he ys his cards right.


    "S¨C Sir, that¡¯s not the case at all." The guard stuttered, ncing around at hisrades as his face paled. "It¡¯s just that we were curious about¨C"


    "Please..." Marcellus interrupted him once again, a smirk on his face as he ced his right hand on the guard¡¯s shoulder, bringing his mouth close to his ear. "What¡¯s your name again?"


    He could feel how ufortable the man was but Marcellus couldn¡¯t care less.


    "A¨C ric, sir." The young man blurted, his voice getting shaky with pensiveness.


    Marcellus¡¯ smirk only widened as he nodded before continuing. "ric, dear. Please, don¡¯t insult my intelligence by lying. Especially not after I heard you all on my way here."


    Marcellus still had his right hand on ric¡¯s shoulder and he nced around at the others, noticing their unease and how they all tried their best to avoid his gaze.


    He couldn¡¯t help himself from sniggering as he took a step back from ric, finally giving him some breathing space.


    Or so he thought...


    Right at that moment, during that brief interaction, Marcellus had managed to infiltrate his mind, skimming through his thoughts like an open book.


    Once he had enough control to look into his thoughts, he was thrilled to discover that his will, though strong, was made fickle by his own self-image.


    Hence why he found the need to bring up gossip to gain attention from the others.


    ¡¯Pathetic.¡¯ Marcellus thought to himself, feeling a deep disgusting from within him but managing to hide it with the smile stered on his face.


    "Now, boys. Don¡¯t be afraid to share your thoughts next time, okay?" Marcellus¡¯ voice was filled with sarcasm until he brought his gaze back to ric and his tone became firmer. "No matter how chaotic they may be."


    ric¡¯s eyes fluttered, a sh of resistance glimmering in them. But it was no use... Marcellus was already in control and sent his will into his mind.


    This fragile werewolf will be his mole within the pack¡¯s military force.


    Anyway, Marcellus cleared his throat, sping his hands together with a smile on his face as usual.


    "Carry on." He gestured at them teasingly before he proceeded to walk away, heading for his residence.


    However, as he did, his lips curled up into a cold grin as he felt his spell on ric taking effect.


    Now he had hold over two werewolves in the pack. Odessa may be out of the coop but at least now he was slowly building his influence.


    Celine and ric...


    His heralds of chaos.


    [<strong>A/N: </strong>


    <strong>Hi, lovelies! The tension is building up and the book is about to enter another arc. What will happen next? What happened to Odessa in the Blood Oak Woods? Will the mysterious Lord Ryker get hold of her? Keep on reading to find out. <3 </strong>


    <strong>Also, don¡¯t forget toment your opinions and support by voting with your powerstones, golden tickets and gifts. Thank you!) </strong>

 Chapter 94: _They’re All Animals!

    <h4>Chapter 94: _They¡¯re All Animals!</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    "Watch out!"


    Everything had been going swimmingly at first.


    I was navigating my way through the Blood Oak Woods when I came across two humans, a male and a female.


    I¡¯d been watching them argue to themselves like a couple when all hell broke loose.


    What exactly happened?


    Well, this...


    "Ahhhh!" The woman among the two humans screamed in horror, falling butt first to the ground as the ¡¯things¡¯ that had been hiding in the woods came out.


    One of the ¡¯things¡¯ had shed the neck of the male human, sending blood everywhere and taking his head off his shoulders until itnded close to my feet.


    I slowly lowered my head with stupefaction as I realized what was a few feet away from my feet.


    That was a human head...


    A freshly severed human head.


    The shock that I felt before soon turned into adrenaline that made my heart pound heavily and that adrenaline soon turned to anxiety and then pure fear as my body shook.


    Meanwhile, when I brought my gaze back to the scene with the human woman, I realized what the ¡¯things¡¯ that came out of the woods were.


    "Wolves..." I mumbled, my breathing bing hitched as I swallowed hard.


    And not just any normal wolves too.


    These were unnaturallyrge with glowing eyes and seemed to be ying around with the human woman and not exactly eating the fallen human man.


    "L¨C Leave me alone!" The woman who was around my age screamed weakly, her voice cracking as she attempted to get up.


    It was then that I realized why these ¡¯wolves¡¯ were unnatural. They¡¯re werewolves... Shifted werewolves.


    A cold shiver ran down my spine as my flight instinct began kicking in.


    However, just when I was about to run for my life, a hand grabbed my right arm from behind, forcing me to turn around and look at the owner, causing a gasp to escape my mouth.


    "Well, well, well..." A male voice said with a whistle, chuckling soon after.


    He was shirtless and had a lean build, his face handsome and looking like he was in his twenties or something.


    However, his eyes glowed with a red light and his lips curled up into a sadistic smile.


    "P¨C Please, let go..." I whispered, but my words came out almost nonexistent due to the numbing fear that made me shake.


    Yes, I was surrounded by werewolves in the Blood Oak Woods but at least none of them seemed this... Lawless.


    Celine clearly wanted nothing more than to kill me but at least she was held back by thews of the pack. I didn¡¯t know what ws¡¯ held these mysterious werewolves and I was certain none of them would hesitate in killing me.


    "Hey, boys! Look what I got here!" The male werewolf who held me said with a snigger, using one hand to hold my jaw before he turned me around to face the other wolves.


    I gasped from the pain I felt in my jaw, struggling to catch my breath but even that felt like nothingpared to the numbing terror that shot through my bones when I saw the sight before me.


    The wolves who had been attacking the humans had now sessfully pinned down the human female and had her face to the ground.


    She was still alive and struggled to move, swatting her arms helplessly around the ground but it was no use under the weight of the ashen fur wolf on top of her.


    There were four other werewolves apart from the one pinning the woman and I watched as one slowly shifted back into his human form, his bones snapping unnaturally throughout the process.


    "Ah, Tonka. What do you have there?" The werewolf said with a voice that came off almost as a growl, his nose sniffing despite the distance from me. "She kinda smells human. But yet there¡¯s something off about her..."


    I held my breath back, praying to all the deities I knew that these men wouldn¡¯t find out that I was a witch.


    <fndd5b> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? findnovel</fndd5b>


    My human blood has always been more recessive but right now, it was the first thing they perceived about me because of the potion I used in masking my scent from them.


    If that potion stopped working, then I...


    "Her face looks familiar, I thought you would be sharp enough to realize." The werewolf who held me, ¡¯Tonka¡¯, said with a grunt, his grip on my jaw increasing. "So, you didn¡¯t watch the broadcast during the grandest wedding of the continent?"


    Oh no...


    My body shivered with fear when I realized that this one recognized me.


    As if to add to my fears, the wolf who had the human woman pinned didn¡¯t waste any time again and shifted back to his human form before he yanked her off the ground, his mouth curling into a sly grin.


    "Oh, this one smells and looks good..." He mumbled, sniffing close to her hair and ignoring her whimpers and cries before he turned his gaze to Tonka. "Can I¨C"


    "Knock yourself out, you sex-starved perv..." Tonka said with a snigger, sighing lightly as he held my jaw tighter and forced me to look back at him. "We¡¯ll take the Alpha King¡¯s Witch Bride here back to camp."


    It was as if my whole world came crumbling down at that moment, my eyes widening with shock.


    Tonka sniggered even more when he noticed my reaction, his breath, which smelled of metallic blood and alcohol, falling on my face before he whispered.


    "What? You think your spell or whatever you used to hide your scent would be enough to fool me?"


    I bit my bottom lip, ncing back at the others. The rest, who were still in their wolf forms, dragged the human male¡¯s headless body away as if they were nning to eat him.


    As for the one with the human female, he dragged her to a corner, covering her mouth as he unbuckled his belt.


    A cold shiver ran down my spine but what I felt instead of fear this time was pure anger as I found enough strength and managed to use my right elbow to hit Tonka on his stomach.


    He released me briefly and that gave me enough time to step away from him, my chest heaving heavily.


    "Y¨C You all are animals!" I yelled out with pure disgust but before I could make an attempt to flee, I felt a heavy force hit the back of my head, followed by a beastly growl.


    I fell face-first to the ground, slowly using my right hand to feel the back of my head.


    Blood...


    "Rookie mistake, witch."


    Those were thest words I heard before my eyes fluttered weakly and everything went dark.

 Chapter 95: _Someone Rescue Me

    <h4>Chapter 95: _Someone Rescue Me</h4>


    (Warning: Sexual Assault and disturbing scene ahead)


    I slowly opened my eyes, feeling a sharp pain assaulting my head as I did.


    I gritted my teeth, scanning my gaze around. Where am I?


    When I tried to move, however, it was then that I realized my predicament. My arms were tied behind me to a tree, and the back of my head seemed to have been bleeding.


    I was in the middle of a small clearing in the woods, with a few tents and a firece hoisted up and well set all around.


    Slowly, memories of everything that happened before I lost consciousness fleeted through my mind, and with each memory, my body was jolted with more and more fear until I felt like I was going to piss myself any second.


    "So, you¡¯re saying that bitch is the Alpha King¡¯s Witch Bride?" A voice asked at a corner just then, forcing me to slowly turn my gaze in that direction. "She doesn¡¯t even smell like a witch. She smells just like a human to me."


    It seemed the werewolves who had kidnapped me and killed that human male earlier were having some sort of discussion, their voices low.


    They were all six in number, including Tonka who was still shirtless and had a few scars on his body.


    He had his back facing me from that distance and was the next one to speak.


    "Some witches end up copting with certain humans, dumbass. And their children all end up as witches." Tonka exined with what felt like exhaustion in his voice. "Anyway, my point is that we¡¯ll have to take her back to the True Lord Of The North."


    I arched an eyebrow, confused at what I just heard.


    The true lord of the North?


    Who the fuck was that?


    As I thought about this, I lowered my gaze to my body, searching for my pouch. To my frustration, it wasn¡¯t on my body anymore and the werewolves had kept it away from me.


    I could see my aunt¡¯s grimoire sticking out of it, causing me to sigh with annoyance.


    "Those assholes..." I muttered to myself as I thought about what to do.


    Meanwhile, they didn¡¯t seem to be done with their conversation as one spoke with surprise. "You want us to go back to the True Lord Of The North? What are we, artificial hybrids? It¡¯s already hard keeping ourselves hidden in these parts of the continent."


    Two others seemed to nod in agreement with his words¡ª words which only confused me more.


    Hybrids?


    Just then, I heard soft criesing from my left, forcing me to turn my gaze there. A deep surge of pity went around my body when I spotted the human woman from earlier.


    She was still alive, but her hair was messy now, and her clothes were all but ripped apart. Blood covered some parts of her body and her face was streaked with tears and sweat.


    "Ugh, that human bitch is crying again." A male voice, which I recognized as the one who defiled her, grumbled from the group of werewolves before he turned around to face her. "Crying like you didn¡¯t enjoy my rod and all the pleasure it had to offer."


    A few other werewolvesughed at his words but Tonka was the only one who didn¡¯t seem to find his words amusing.


    He sighed, shaking his head before he slowly brought his gaze to me. That¡¯s when his eyes widened with surprise when he noticed that I was awake.


    "Look who¡¯s awake..." He muttered, causing me to swallow hard as he walked toward me, his waist moving weirdly. "How are you feeling, love? I¡¯m surprised that you haven¡¯t tried casting any spells yet."<fnc341> Content originallyes from F?ndNovel</fnc341>


    I gritted my teeth, shifting my legs closer to my body as I attempted to look away from him while he approached. Hot sweat dripped down my body, and my white dress was muddy, but all I could think about was protecting myself.


    I didn¡¯t want to get defiled. I didn¡¯t even want any of them touching me.


    And for the first time, I could only think of one personing to rescue me. A man whose name I had almost begun to see as a bad omen.


    "Kaelos..." I whispered, closing my eyes as Tonka finally got to me and brought his hand to my jaw, forcing me to gaze directly at his face.


    "Oh, your darling husband, eh?" He asked with a mocking tone before he sniggered. "I¡¯ve seen the rumors circting on the inte about you two."


    I gulped hard, my eyelids fluttering as I stared at him with fear.


    "What?" He asked, dimming his eyes. "Just because we¡¯re rogues doesn¡¯t mean we¡¯repletely cut off from the rest of the world. I mean, I still have a phone and inte ess."


    Why the fuck was he trying to make small talk with me?


    I clenched my jaw, fiddling with my fingers behind my back. He still didn¡¯t seem to get the message that I was ufortable and slowly lowered his head, his eyes seductive.


    "I wouldn¡¯t lie, the Alpha King has good eyes." He muttered, a smirk curling up his lips. "You¡¯re perhaps the most beautiful witch I¡¯ve everid eyes on. I can barely control myself."


    The disgust I felt welling up inside me only increased at that moment that I didn¡¯t realize when I spat on the bastard¡¯s face.


    However, when I did, I gasped in shock.


    Shit...


    Without wasting another breath, Tonka pped me on my face, causing me to breathe out heavily in pain and let out a scream.


    "Ahhhh!" I screamed, my voice probably stretching for miles.


    But Tonka, who had seemed calm all this while, turned into a beast as his hands went to my gown, and he tore it, revealing my breasts, which were covered by a bra.


    "Not so tough now, huh?" He sneered, a mocking tone in his voice.


    I struggled but it was no use as his hands began fondling my breasts aggressively, causing me to kick both my legs forward.


    "Stop! P¨C please, stop!" I screamed, terrified to my bones, but the touching didn¡¯t stop, and he even began to unstrap my bra.


    I felt dirty and squirmed as tears began trailing down my eyes. I lost all hope.


    However, as the seconds dragged on and Tonka didn¡¯t stop, his werewolf friendsughing behind him at my predicament, a ghastly howl suddenly sounded that caused the ground to vibrate.


    It boomed through the sky like thunder, causing birds to fly into the night in terror.


    I slowly opened my eyes, watching as Tonka shifted away from something with fear in his eyes.

 Chapter 96: _Familiar Beast

    <h4>Chapter 96: _Familiar Beast</h4>


    (Warning: Slightly Gory Scenes Ahead)


    "What in the world...?" Tonka mumbled as he took several steps back from whatever creature was behind me.


    I had heard a wolf howl but it had sounded so beastly, even more than anything the rogue werewolves could offer.


    I closed my eyes, panting heavily and trying to hide my gaze away from whatever was behind me.


    However, despite the numbing fear that coursed through my body, I still felt something stirring inside me, pushing me to take a look at the creature behind me.


    "Is that a wolf?" One of the rogues asked, sounding horrified.


    "It¡¯s roar... That¡¯s... That¡¯s no ordinary werewolf." Another added with realization.


    Before any of them could speak again, I felt a gush of air rush past me, forcing me to tighten my closed eyelids as I struggled to keep my breathing steady.


    <fnba56> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? Find~Novel</fnba56>


    I became more ufortable but I didn¡¯t dare open my eyes as I heard the terrified screams and then the sound of ws tearing through flesh.


    "It¡¯s... It¡¯s the¨C" a voice tried to speak but then was cut short and ended up screaming in horror. "Ahhh! P¨C Please, don¡¯t! No!"


    My eyes quivered with fear but there was also a weird rush of excitement and uncertainty.


    The creature, whatever it was, had aimed at the rogue werewolves first and didn¡¯t even touch me.


    That should mean it was trying to rescue me... Right?


    "Tonka, do something! Your¨C" The next voice that spoke belonged to the wolf who had defiled the human woman, but it sounded so whimsy now that I almost didn¡¯t recognize it.


    His words were cut short so abruptly, followed by a gasp from him and a goo-like liquid sshing on my face. I squinted my eyes as the liquid identally flowed into my mouth, forcing me to cough out.


    The coughing caused me to open my eyes as I realized what the ¡¯liquid¡¯ was.


    Blood...


    I raised my head, staring forward and watching with widened eyes as a huge monstrous creature stuck its ws through the chest of the man who had defiled the human woman.


    The man was raised into the air, coughing up blood and squirming in pain to no avail, his legs kicking around helplessly.


    "Gavin!" Tonka¡¯s voice echoed from a corner in shock, causing me to scan my gaze around the open clearing.


    The grass was covered in blood and guts, including what seemed like a kidney beside my feet, causing me to squirm as I shifted my legs away from it and fluttered my eyelids as my stomach turned with disgust.


    Two of the rogue werewolves were already dead, with one of them torn in half from his waist level, his eyes still wide open.


    The other one had his head crushed into a tree, and his body slid down slowly amid the blood and sttered brain matter stuck onto the tree bark.


    I spotted all this with horror etched on my features, my mouth wide open as I struggled to breathe.


    At the center of this chaos was the beast, which stood only a few meters in front of me, its silhouette bing more eerie under the light of the moon.


    It had its back facing towards me and stood at about ten feet tall on its hind legs, with a wolf-like snout, sharp ws, and blood-red fur that blew into the wind.


    Guttural growls came from the beast as it sniffed the dangling body of the werewolf who defiled the human woman¡ª who I now know was named ¡¯Gavin¡¯.


    Gavin¡¯s eyes lost their light, his blood spilling down like a fountain, painting the grass with even more crimson red.


    "Jesus Christ..." A female voice suddenly spoke from my left, forcing me to turn my gaze in that direction.


    The human woman, who had been sitting on the ground crying all this while, now had horror on her face as she stared at the monster before us, her lips and eyes trembling.


    "G¨C God, why?" She cried out in a weak voice that came out in a crack. "My fiance is gone. I¨C I was defiled... I was used like a rag and disposed of. And now... And now..."


    She stuttered, shaking her head as tears began uncontrobly falling down her face.


    My jaw still ached from the pnded on my face by Tonka but I managed to grit my teeth before I called out to her.


    "H¨C Hey..." I said, breathing out a little from relief when she turned her gaze to me. "Y¨C You¡¯ll be okay. You¡¯re... You¡¯re still alive, okay? Just hang on. We¡¯ll get out of this."


    I tried my best to make my voice sound confident, but it was hard with all the weird emotions swirling through me.


    Anyway, the monster flung Gavin¡¯s body aside, standing in an almost human way. It slowly turned its head around, its snout first showing before I spotted its eyes.


    When I saw its eyes, however, I felt my heart stop, and it seemed like time hade to a standstill as my breathing ceasedpletely.


    My mouth parted open but no words coulde out of it.


    It can¡¯t be... Those eyes.


    Those piercing silver eyes...


    "K¨C Kaelos?" I whispered, uncertainty clear in my voice as I finally let out a heavy breath.


    To my surprise and absolute glee, the creature¡¯s eyes softened, and he slowly turned around to face me when, suddenly, a few aggressive howls sounded.


    Two of the other werewolves, thest ones standing apart from Tonka, had transformed into their wolves and attacked the creature together, shing its back with their ws and sinking their fangs into its body.


    The creature howled aggressively, its howl managing to cause the earth to vibrate again before it snarled and began fighting back, grabbing one of the wolves with one hand.


    With the creature distracted, Tonka approached me from a corner, his eyes glinting with resolution as he ignored the whimpers and howls from the brawl between the creature and hisrades.


    No... that wasn¡¯t just any ¡¯creature¡¯.


    That was Kaelos...


    "Looks like we¡¯ll be heading to the true Lord of the North early," Tonka remarked as he stretched his hands forward to unstrap the ropes binding my hands to the tree.


    However, his proximity got me irritated as I remembered what he¡¯d been doing to me before Kaelos¡¯ timely intervention.


    I didn¡¯t have time to think of anything but something snapped in me as a powerful sound reverberated from my psyche and soul.


    "Fuck off!" I screamed, closing my eyes, but was stunned when a sonic wolf-like howl escaped my mouth, causing me to open my eyes as quickly as I had closed them.

 Chapter 97: _Awakened

    <h4>Chapter 97: _Awakened</h4>


    "Fuck off!" As soon as my voice came out with a sonic howl, I opened my eyes and was stunned to see the damage it caused.


    The sonic howl sent Tonka flying several meters away from me until he crashed into a tree on the other side of the clearing, falling face-first to the ground and grunting in pain.


    My hair blew into the wind alongside the howl that came out of my mouth.


    MY MOUTH.


    How the heck did that happen?


    As I fluttered my eyelids, trying to make sense of it all, a pained howl echoed around the woods just then, forcing me to turn my gaze to Kaelos.


    He had been injured by the joint attack of the rogue wolves and held his shoulder from the pain.


    His fangs bared with anger as he growled, ncing back at me at first. His silver eyes searched my face with confusion, making it clear that he had also witnessed the howl that came out of my mouth.


    I stared at him with the same confusion as I slowly fluttered my eyes, trying to concentrate.


    Could that have been my magic finally awakening after all these years? I wanted to believe that that was the case but something told me that there was more to it.


    ¡¯Mate...¡¯ a voice suddenly spoke up in my head when I stared at Kaelos, causing me to frown.


    What the fuck?


    I scanned my gaze around me, trying to see if maybe there was someone else around. But that wasn¡¯t the case.


    The human woman to my left was all but motionless, shivering silently and hugging herself as she sniffled once in a while, mumbling incoherently to herself.


    Her words were supposed to be inaudible but to my surprise, I was able to hear all of it.


    "I¨C I¡¯ll be fine. I¨C I¡¯ll go back home. I¨C I¡¯ll be fine." She said repeatedly as if it was a mantra, closing her eyes as tears trailed down her face while she shook her head.


    I bit my bottom lip, attempting to move to face her properly, when I felt the rope, which hadn¡¯t beenpletely untied by Tonka, break and rip with barely any movement from me, freeing my hands.


    I was left stunned, my lips parting as I tried to make sense of everything that happened within thest minute.


    As I stood up, my legs shook from all the fear and emotions that had been overwhelming me since I encountered the rogues.


    My chest rose and fell with each breath I took as I ced my right hand on the tree to which I had been tied earlier.


    As I tried catching my breath and keeping my bnce, my eyes turned as my body seemed to feel... Different.


    Something¡¯s off.


    ¡¯I¡¯ve finally awakened after so many years.¡¯ that voice in my head from earlier remarked just then, sounding relieved. ¡¯I was supposed to have been free at most by your eighteenth birthday. What went wrong and¨C¡¯


    "Who the fuck are you?!" I screamed out, pping my head with my palm as I fell to my knees.


    At the same time, Kaelos had sessfully ripped one of the two wolves attacking him in half, flinging his body and guts aside like rags and sending blood sshing every which way.


    As the blood trickled on the ground like raindrops, the wind blew, carrying its metallic scent into my nostrils.


    My ears perked up, allowing me to pick up the sounds of birds flying away and cawing. I raised my head, my eyesight bing clearer and sharper than ever before as my gaze fell on the birds flying above.


    They were as high as the clouds right now but yet I was able to spot the outline of their bodies urately, even noticing the peculiar designs on their feathers.


    "What¡¯s happening to me?" I breathed out, tears stinging my eyes as I lowered my head, clenching both my hands on the ground.


    My teardrops fell on the earth, dripping on the small des of grass underneath me.


    ¡¯Isn¡¯t it obvious yet, Odessa?¡¯ That voice in my mind which sounded feminine and oddly close to me, whispered, slightly easing me. ¡¯There¡¯s nothing wrong with you. You¡¯re entering a new stage of transformation that you should have always been open to. That WE should have always been open to.¡¯


    We?


    I sniffled, raising my head away from the ground when I heard onest pained cry, signaling the death of thest wolf fighting Kaelos.


    I drew in a deep breath, my eyelids fluttering erratically before I spoke in a voice lower than a whisper.


    "W¨C Who or what are you?" I asked, my tone shaky and suspicious.


    It couldn¡¯t be what I thought it was. It was impossible. It had to be...


    ¡¯No, it¡¯s not impossible, Odessa.¡¯ The voice said with a warm tone before it added. ¡¯I¡¯m your inner wolf. The true reason why you were able to get fated to Kaelos. Your werewolf blood has somehow been forcefully dormant since birth but it has awakened now.¡¯


    This is unbelievable.


    "No..." I muttered, shaking my head slowly as I used my hands to rub my head. "N¨C No, it can¡¯t be. It just can¡¯t be. This... This can¡¯t be¨C"


    <fn6822> Read full story at f?ndnovel</fn6822>


    Before I could finish that sentence, a slight gust of wind blew on my body, causing me to hold my breath. A beastly shadow loomed over my body, forcing me to raise my head and stare into the eyes of the beast.


    Kaelos... My husband. My mate.


    So, this is his werewolf transformation as an Alpha King?


    Suddenly, he growled before his bones began snapping, and he began shrinking in size, his snout turning into a normal nose and his blood-red fur disappearing.


    Eventually, he was back in his human form, although he was shirtless and his chest was covered in mud and blood, so was his face.


    But he didn¡¯t seem to care as he stared at me intensely before taking several steps forward, raising me off the ground easily and then pinning me against the tree behind me.


    A gasp escaped my mouth as he snarled at me.


    "Do you know how worried you made me?! Huh?" He asked with a grunt, sounding both frustrated and relieved.


    My mouth parted open repeatedly as I contemted if I should reveal what just happened to me.


    Eventually, it seemed I could no longer hold it in as I stared into his eyes and spoke in a shaky voice.


    "I¨C I think I¡¯m a werewolf, Kaelos."

 Chapter 98: _What Is She?

    <h4>Chapter 98: _What Is She?</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    As soon as I shifted into Damon, I bolted through the woods, heading straight for the area where Odessa¡¯s scream hade from.


    I was so fast and my body sorge that the trees in my path got crushed into nothing but splinters of wood that flew around like shattered ss.


    My mind was a mess, my teeth bared as I thought about Odessa. Now that I¡¯d shifted into my wolf¡ª this beastly form that I had termed a harbinger of chaos and destruction for so long, I could only think of one thing and one thing only.


    I¡¯ll rip apart anyone who touches her!


    With the speed of my shifted form, it took Damon and me only a few seconds to get to the area where Odessa¡¯s scream hade from. When I spotted her tied to a tree and being molested by a rogue wolf, I snapped.


    <fn1d0a> Latest content published on Find¡ïNovel</fn1d0a>


    Long story short, I didn¡¯t know when I ughtered everyst werewolf present in that camp until there was nothing but blood and organs littered everywhere.


    When I managed to shift back into my human form, however, Odessa revealed something mind-boggling.


    "What do you mean you think you¡¯re a werewolf?" I queried, arching an eyebrow as I tried to catch my breath.


    Apart from the chaos and his wildness, shifting into Damon usually affected me physically once I shifted back to my human form.


    Not to mention the fact that my body was covered in fresh wounds and scratches inflicted by one or two of the rogues.


    Anyway, Odessa lowered her head, while raising her arms to cover her chest. It was then that my gaze fell to her chest and my jaw clenched.


    The bastard who had molested her before I showed up had ripped the upper part of her dress, leaving her chest exposed apart from a fragile-looking bra.


    "Hey..." I brought my right hand to her chin and forced her to look into my eyes as I scrutinized her face.


    Right there, etched on the side of her face, were hand prints, signifying that she¡¯d been pped.


    Seeing this, I gritted my teeth, a guttural growl escaping my mouth before I nced back.


    Unfortunately, it seemed the leader of the group had found a way to escape before I could get him.


    ¡¯Let¡¯s go after him. He shouldn¡¯t have gone too far.¡¯ Damon suggested, sounding excited after I let him out for the first time in years.


    I scoffed, shaking my head before I responded mentally. ¡¯And leave Odessa here? Yeah, I¡¯ll pass.¡¯


    Speaking of which...


    It had happened so fast, but I remember hearing a sonic wolf howle out of Odessa¡¯s mouth.


    And I didn¡¯t know if I was imagining things but I could definitely sense something different about her.


    "It can¡¯t be..." I shook my head with disbelief, bringing my right hand to her face and fondling it closely. "H¨C How is this possible?"


    Odessa¡¯s eyelids fluttered, her face heating up with a blush as she shook her head. "I¡¯m as confused as you are. I¡¯m certain none of my parents were werewolves and even if they were, why now? Why is my wolf awakening after so long?"


    Her wolf?


    I dimmed my eyes, tilting my head before I spoke. "Your wolf? What are you not telling me? C¨C Can you hear a voice at the back of your head? As if it¡¯s a part of you?"


    Odessa¡¯s eyebrows furrowed into a frown before she nodded. "Yes, actually. The voice keeps saying she¡¯s my wolf. What could all this mean? Am I even still a witch?" She brushed her right hand through her hair, breathing out in exhaustion.


    I felt bad for her and all she went through and also for all the confusion, but I didn¡¯t forget what she put me through by trying to escape.


    "We¡¯ll get more answers once we get back to the pack," I muttered, grabbing her right wrist before attempting to drag her with me.


    However, I paused when I heard sobs in a corner, forcing me to squint my eyes as I turned my gaze to its direction.


    Oh right... There had been a human woman who was left captive, but I didn¡¯t pay her much attention when I was fighting against the rogue wolves.


    "We can¡¯t just leave her here." Odessa suddenly blurted, forcing me to turn my gaze back to her. "B¨C Besides, why the rush? It¡¯s not as if I¡¯m¨C"


    "You¡¯re needed back in that pack!" I interrupted her, groaning with frustration.


    Odessa jolted in shock after my outburst, her eyes quivering with fear and as she looked into my eyes.


    I let out a sigh when I realized that I might have overreacted a little.


    I brushed my right hand through my hair and gritted my teeth as the few shes from the rogues started stinging with pain once again.


    "I don¡¯t know about you but I¡¯m going to escort this woman back to her settlement before Ie back with you to any pack." Odessa¡¯s voice suddenly became cold but resolute as she eyed me.


    However, just when she turned away from me, attempting to head to the woman, I grabbed her hand again, causing her to groan with frustration.


    "Wait..." I whispered, letting out a sigh. "I¡¯ll apany you."


    .


    .


    It took us just within ten minutes to get the human woman in front of her little town where she lived with other humans. The ce seemed isted but I didn¡¯t have enough time to scrutinize it as I grabbed Odessa and took her back to the pack.


    Navigating our way back to the pack seemed easier than finding Odessa, especially since she was surprisingly able to keep up.


    Each time I asionally nced at her, I sniffed closely, trying to see if I would be able to catch the scent of a werewolf. Yet, I couldn¡¯t smell that and only picked up the scent of a human.


    Her witch scent was slowlying back after whatever she took wore off, but there was still one question at the back of my mind.


    What is she exactly?


    When we finally got to the outskirts of the Blood Oak pack, the night sky still illuminated by the moon, I held Odessa¡¯s shoulder and stopped her from moving further.


    "I need to tell you something before we go in," I whispered, scanning my gaze around cautiously.

 Chapter 99: _Another Secret To Keep

    <h4>Chapter 99: _Another Secret To Keep</h4>


    "I need to tell you something before we go in," I said solemnly to Odessa as we stood outside the gates of the Blood Oak pack.


    She nced at me wearily, arching an eyebrow before she asked. "Uh, okay. What¡¯s that?"


    I took a few steps forward, causing her to tense up as she stared at me with growing confusion.


    When my mouth was finally a few inches away from her ear, I finally spoke what was in my mind.


    "Under no circumstances can anyone find out about your... True heritage."


    I felt how her body stiffened after I said that but I was sure she understood why I was saying it.


    A werewolf and a witch hybrid was seen as an aberration of the natural order and hated by both races.


    There haven¡¯t been any true hybrids seen in over a century or so. If Odessa truly had a werewolf side... Then her life was in danger and she might not only be threatened by the werewolves but also her fellow witches and humans.


    "I understand your worry, but seriously, Kaelos..." She suddenly let out a sigh, shaking her head. "The secrets are bing too much to keep to myself. First, the mate bond, and now this?"


    She lowered her head, making me clench my jaw as I thought about what to say. However, when I parted my lips to speak, a sharp pain shot through my body once again, forcing me to grit my teeth and clutch my right shoulder.


    There was a sh mark there, dripping with blood that I thought was drying up. Supernatural attacks from other supernatural beings were hard to heal, even for my super fast Alpha King healing factor.


    "We need to get those injuries checked," Odessa said worriedly, stretching her hands to touch the wound.


    However, I got agitated and grabbed her wrist before she could touch me, my gaze and voice cold.


    "Keeping those secrets is part of surviving, hon. And the sooner you ept that the better for all of us."


    Her violet eyes quivered with a deep sadness that I was somehow able to feel through the mate bond.


    But before I could get lost in her eyes or her feelings, I grunted, looking away from her and turning my gaze back to the walls surrounding the pack, standing tall like a fortress.


    "Who goes there?" A voice asked with a growl before a spotlight was pointed at Odessa and me.


    I squinted my eyes, growling in return before I snarled. "It¡¯s me, you idiot!"


    My voice thundered around the vicinity, instantly causing the pack soldiers standing watch in front of the gate to step closer.


    "Oh, my... Sir!" One of the guards ran up to me and bowed. "You¡¯re... You¡¯re injured. Should¨C"


    "Yes, clearly I¡¯m injured," I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes before I brushed past him, Odessa following close behind me while using her arms to cover her chest.<fn895a> For original chapters go to Find1Novel</fn895a>


    I snapped my fingers at one of the guards, gesturing at Odessa. "Give her your coat and open the damn gate!" I ordered.


    They quickly went into action, handing Odessa a coat to cover herself before opening the gates.


    As we stepped into the pack grounds, my gaze fell on my uncle, Gamma Zane who stood alongside a few other pack soldiers.


    "Kaelos..." He muttered, his eyebrows furrowing into a frown as he nced briefly at Odessa.


    I could see the tension etched in his features and the contempt shing past his eyes, but he was smart enough to keep it hidden and had a worried expression on his face instead.


    "What happened? Were you attacked?" He queried, arching a concerned eyebrow.


    I clicked my tongue, getting agitated by the piling amount of questions with obvious answers I kept getting from these people.


    At this rate, I might just snap andtch out at somebody.


    "It seems the rogue werewolves have made their way to these parts and are killing humans who stay away from witches," I remarked, stepping forward without looking back, holding Odessa, and dragging her along with me.


    "Get ready because tomorrow morning, we¡¯ll be going into the woods to investigate properly. Good night, Gamma."


    Without another word, Odessa and I continued moving forward before I called La to get a car and pick us up.


    .


    .


    When I finally got into the mansion, I went straight to my chambers while Odessa was sent to her room.


    "Make sure you don¡¯t move an inch away from this room." I had warned her coldly before banging her door behind me.


    The truth is, I was still pissed about her trying to escape.


    She¡¯s mine!


    "What gave her the right to leave me? How dare she?!" I growled as I paced around my room, not bothering to go take a bath first instead of ranting to myself.


    Well, not only myself anyway...


    ¡¯Cut the girl some ck, would you?¡¯ Damon said in my head with a scoff. ¡¯Yes, I was feral too when she left but you have to admit... You¡¯ve been too hard on her ever since she stepped into this pack. There¡¯s only so much a fragile girl like her can handle.¡¯


    Fragile?


    As much as I wanted nothing more than to rip out the guts of anyone who touched her, I had to admit... It takes someone with a lot of courage and boldness to try navigating through the Blood Oak woods.


    Apart from the new threat of the rogues, there have been a lot of reports and rumors going around about those woods since I was a little pup.


    "The true lord of the North¡¯s influence might have been underestimated," I remarked just then as I scanned my gaze around my room, searching for a bottle of whiskey.


    My injuries were almostpletely healed but I still needed something to lift off the edge I felt.


    Suddenly, a knock sounded at my door, causing my eyebrows to furrow into a deep frown as I snapped my head to the door.


    "Who is it?! I want to be left alone!" I sneered, breathing out with frustration.


    However, the door creaked open despite my words, causing me to raise an eyebrow.

 Chapter 100: _Belong To No One!

    <h4>Chapter 100: _Belong To No One!</h4>


    As I turned my head around to see who had defied me despite me saying that I wanted to be left alone, my nose caught a scent that I couldn¡¯t mistake even if I was drowning.


    My eyes furrowed as I watched Odessa walking into my room, wearing fresh new clothes which consisted of a ck jacket and blue jean pants.


    She had her blonde hair tied up into a ponytail and her violet eyes glinted with hesitation in the darkness.


    I clenched my jaw, ring at her as I turned my body to face her fully, my eyes going from her head and then to her toes.


    "What part of I don¡¯t want to see you out of your room did you not understand?" I queried with a growl, taking a step forward while I left my arms behind my back.


    Her throat moved as she swallowed hard before a resolute expression was etched on her face, and she closed the door behind her as she took a few steps forward.


    "Maybe it¡¯s the part where you dared to think that you can boss me around like some child who doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s best for her." She muttered, folding her arms in front of her chest. "We need to talk, Kaelos. Now more than ever."


    Well, well, well...


    I tilted my head, scrutinizing her as Damon remarked in my head.


    ¡¯Damn, she¡¯s so hot when she defies your arrogant ass.¡¯


    I grunted silently in response to him before I focused all my attention on Odessa whose features were filled with worry.


    "Look who¡¯s grown a new pair of balls tonight after I saved her ass from a situation that she ced herself into," I said with a snigger, causing her to ball her hands into fists.


    "If you hadn¡¯t run off, I would be in bed, sleeping instead of having this conversation with you at this unholy hour."


    It seemed those words ticked her off as she scoffed. "And I wonder why I decided to run off. And why did you even bother chasing after me?" She spat.


    Is this what she came here to ¡¯discuss¡¯?


    "Listen, hon. It¡¯s been a long night for the both of us and I need to startunching investigations and meetings about those rogues first thing in the morning." I remarked, using my fingers to rub my forehead. "Can this conversation¨C"


    "No, Kaelos. This conversation can¡¯t wait." Odessa interrupted with a firm tone, her gaze never leaving my face. "I¡¯m not leaving until you exin why you didn¡¯t just leave me. I mean, if I die you¡¯ll be free from the burden of being mated to me, right?"


    What the fuck?


    My eyes twitched with anger at those words, so much so that I didn¡¯t realize when I sped up to her within a second until I was mere inches away from her.


    I brought my face close to hers, my ears perking as I heard her increasing heartbeat despite the stoic facade she kept on her face.


    "If I wanted you dead so bad, why haven¡¯t I just killed you myself?" I asked, dimming my eyes. "You saw the monster I can be firsthand in those woods. What makes you think I don¡¯t desire snapping your neck like a twig and calling it a night?"


    Her jaw was still clenched and her eyes and body trembled, but she couldn¡¯t say anything, instead sticking to maintaining eye contact.


    Well, since she suddenly couldn¡¯t talk, I decided to continue speaking, bringing my right hand slowly to her jaw.


    "Do you know the only thing I could think about as I searched for you?" I asked, only giving her a few seconds pause before continuing. "I kept thinking that you¡¯re mine, Odessa. So, what could¡¯ve possibly given you the right to try escaping me?"


    I watched as anger shed through her eyes before she swatted my hand off her face, taking a few steps back as she shook her head and spat.


    "I belong to no one, Kaelos! Especially not to a blood-drinking monster like yourself."


    Those words stung harder than anything I¡¯ve ever heard in my three decades of existence. I gritted my teeth, watching as she eyed me onest time, attempting to walk away.


    "This was a mistake." She remarked, shaking her head. "I¡¯ll¨C"


    Before she could open the door, I grabbed the doorknob with my left hand before I grabbed her with my right hand. I proceeded to pin her to the wall, causing her to gasp as I stared coldly at her.


    "Monster? You call me a monster, Odessa?!" I snarled, unable to contain myself. "Trust me, you don¡¯t know what it means to be a monster. To be feared more than respected by your own people and mostly by the race who you¡¯re trying so hard to make peace with."


    Odessa struggled to get out of my hold on her but no matter what, she just couldn¡¯t and ended up doing nothing but helplessly staring up at me.


    ¡¯Kaelos, you¡¯re hurting her...¡¯ Damonmented in my head just then, causing my grip on her to lessen as I fluttered my eyelids.


    <fn9e4f> Readplete version only at find{n}ovel</fn9e4f>


    My gaze softened as I grunted while Odessa¡¯s eyes glinted with tears as she soon began sobbing, using her hands to clean her eyes.


    "I¨C I don¡¯t deserve any of this." Shemented, shaking her head. "I don¡¯t deserve this treatment from you after finding out that we¡¯re mates and getting some hope. I don¡¯t... I don¡¯t deserve the treatment I get from your ex and the others... And the other..."


    She did not control herself anymore and broke down, forcing me to hesitantly wrap my arms around her in an attempt to calm her.


    Goddess, I¡¯ve finally done it...


    ¡¯Yeah, so much for being more vulnerable with her.¡¯ Damon remarked sarcastically with a scoff as Odessa continued sobbing in my hands.


    I clenched my jaw, contemting what to say or do until I finally sighed heavily.


    "I¨C I didn¡¯t mean to..." I paused, watching as she slowly raised her head to stare into my eyes.


    That only made me soften up even more as I spoke the words with a strained voice.


    "I¨C I¡¯m sorry. Forshing out like that." I said but then my gaze steeled up as I added. "But still, your escaping was a dumb move."


    She had aplicated expression on her face as she shook her head before using her hands to trail lines on my bare chest which was still covered in stters of blood and sweat.


    "I¡¯m sorry..." She said with a weak voice but then her face lit up as she looked into my eyes, her gaze briefly going to my lips.


    I could hear our hearts beating in tandem, and I couldn¡¯t control myself anymore and grabbed the back of her head, pulling her into a deep kiss despite the blood on my body.

 Chapter 101: _Be Mine

    <h4>Chapter 101: _Be Mine</h4>


    (Warning: Mature Content Ahead)


    As I continued kissing her, clinging closer to her body as she did the same, my wolf became more restless than he¡¯d ever been.


    ¡¯I can sense her wolf...¡¯ Damon muttered in my head, his voice devolving into a growl. ¡¯Gosh, what would it take for us to just... To just...¡¯


    Before he couldplete that sentence, I shut him off, closing my eyes tightly and struggling to get his influence out of my mind.


    I¡¯ll not let him control my actions.


    Anyway, Odessa moaned softly as her hands slowly went to my pants which were the only clothing left on my body. Well, that and my underwear of course.


    Suddenly, just when her hands gripped my dick, her eyes shot open and she pulled out of the kiss, her face heating up with a blush as she tried catching her breath.


    She scanned her gaze on my body, her eyes going from my chest to my shoulders and then to my stomach.


    She brought her fingers to my back as well, touching it as if she were inspecting a sculpture and not a living, breathing Alpha King who was going feral with a strainful erection.


    "If you¡¯re looking for my injuries then I¡¯m d to say they¡¯re all healed," I remarked, a proud smile on my face.


    I subconsciously brought my right hand to my right shoulder which had a sh wound several minutes ago. But currently, the wound was almostpletely covered apart from a few lingering signs of the injury.


    "This is... Remarkable." Odessa mumbled just then, causing me to raise an eyebrow with confusion at first.


    But when she brought her gaze to meet mine, her violet eyes glinting with what seemed like excitement, I understood what she was talking about just then.


    "A¨C Am I going to heal as fast as this, too?" She asked, her voice barely audible.


    A smirk curled up the corner of my lips as I wrapped both my arms around her waist, pulling her closer to me once again until my erection was pressed against her body.


    "Not necessarily, hon..." I said with a low voice, my gaze going to her exposed neck and lingering there for a few seconds.


    I clenched my jaw, trying but failing to avoid her gaze.


    "The truth is, I¡¯m not sure about anything," I admitted, shaking my head with a wry smile. "You¡¯re... Unique, Odessa. You have witch blood, human blood, and now werewolf blood inside of you. That leaves a lot of room for a lot of possibilities."


    She nodded slowly, seeming to understand my words. The only bright side about her escaping the pack was me discovering her werewolf side.


    At least, now I knew the moon goddess hadn¡¯t been ying a prank on me by mating me to a witch. But a hybrid honestly didn¡¯t sound any much better now that I thought about it...


    Suddenly, Odessa¡¯s face lit up with a seductive smile as she wrapped her right arm around my neck while her left hand slipped underneath my underwear and grabbed my rock-hard dick.


    "We can discover those possibilities together." She whispered into my ears, her voice and proximity sending a jolt of arousal around my body.


    I grinned before pulling her back into another kiss, this time taking off her jacket as I did.


    We stepped toward my bed as our kissing grew more intense and her hands unbuckled my belt and slid my pants down before doing the same to my underwear.


    When my dick was left out in the open, I growled, yanking her off the ground with my right arm wrapped around her waist while my left hand fondled her breasts.


    I took off her bra, flinging it aside as I dropped her on the bed and positioned my body on top of her. As my eyes lingered on her breasts and then went to her eyes, my nose caught the scent of something that caused me to gulp.


    Pheromones...


    She was emitting pheromones and was in heat...


    What the heck?


    ¡¯Her wolf only got awakened tonight. How is this even possible?¡¯ I thought to myself, trying my best not to show the confusion I felt right now.


    <fn9a0d> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? Find1Novel</fn9a0d>


    But it seemed Odessa managed to notice and wrapped her legs around my body, forcing me to fix my gaze on her face.


    She bit her bottom lip, using her tongue to tickle my nose teasingly before she whispered. "What are you waiting for, Kaelos? Fuck me..."


    My body shook with arousal as I made sure my mouth was closed.


    Overnight, Odessa had awakened a wolf and then went into heat within the blink of an eye. This was a recipe for disaster especially since she was still new to being a werewolf.


    "O¨C Odessa, you have to¨C" Before I could even speak out what I wanted to say, she grabbed my dick, causing my eyes to widen.


    She didn¡¯t say anything but used her other hand to fondle my face before she raised her head and kissed me, using her tongue to explore the walls of my mouth.


    I hesitated to give in to my desire to fuck her until she was screaming my name, but s, my self-control could only go so far, especially now that she was no longer a witch but a werewolf in heat.


    I wasted no time and reciprocated her kiss while also taking off her pants and then her underwear, flinging them aside roughly as I let out a hitched breath.


    My mouth opened with excitement as I breathed in before kissing her again while using my right hand to fondle her breasts.


    At one point, as she moaned and turned, begging me to fuck her, she grabbed my dick and squeezed too hard, causing me to growl from the obvious pain.


    I had to grab both her hands with my free hand and pin them above her head before I brought my mouth to her neck and began kissing her there.


    However, as I sucked on the skin of her neck, whatever ounce of self-control I¡¯d been keeping before this moment dissipated like smoke against a fan.


    My fangs came out and within a few seconds, I sunk them into Odessa¡¯s neck, causing her to squirm as she let out a soft cry.


    "Be mine..." I whispered mindlessly as I kept on sinking my teeth into her neck.

 Chapter 102: _Can Feel Everything

    <h4>Chapter 102: _Can Feel Everything</h4>


    (Warning: Mature Content Ahead)


    Odessa released an unnatural sound from her throat as I sunk my fangs into her neck, cing my mark on her.


    She squirmed under my hold, crying out loud and shaking her legs with pleasure.


    Meanwhile, the mark pulsed with heat as I finally withdrew my mouth from her neck, licking off the blood on my lips.


    The mark on her neck was still bloody but was shaped like a crescent moon, glowing with a blood red light in the dark for a few seconds before it seemed like a normal wound.


    Suddenly, Odessa began chuckling, biting her bottom lip as she raised her head and kissed me intensely, her tongue going into my mouth and licking off every drop of her blood that still lingered.


    She seemed to be extra naughty during her heat. I like that...


    "Oh, gosh, I want you to bite me over and over again, while you fuck me." She groaned out loud, although her voice was low and a little shaky.


    Her violet eyes were fixed on my face, searching for hell knows what before she brought her mouth to my ears and whispered. "Can you give this newly discovered hybrid that one wish? Pretty please?"


    I hovered above her, my right hand still pinning her hands above her head while my left hand caressed her breasts tenderly like a work of art.


    I bit my bottom lip as my gaze went to the mark, which seemed to pulse as if it was filled with some unknown energy.


    It was then that realization dawned on me and my mouth parted slightly. I... I marked her.


    "Oh, Kaelos..." Odessa suddenly called out, managing to free her hands from my grip during my moment of confusion, bringing them to my face. "What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t you want to fuck me? C¨C Can¡¯t you feel it too?"


    I furrowed my eyebrows, wondering what she was talking about until I finally began to feel something unique.


    When I gazed at Odessa, I felt a greater tie to her, almost as if her soul was bound to mine.


    My marking her just now had heightened the strength of the mate bond, allowing me to even feel her emotions to some degree.


    ¡¯This is all your fault, Damon.¡¯ I growled at my wolf who merely sniggered in response before he spoke mentally.


    ¡¯Oh, please. I¡¯m not the one who pushed you to sink your fangs into her. That was all you, Kaelos boy.¡¯


    I gritted my teeth but did well to mask my emotions. If I could feel Odessa¡¯s emotions, then it was most likely that she could feel mine, too, including the frustration.


    I didn¡¯t want to ruin the current mood for any reason.


    "I feel it too," I whispered, grabbing the back of her head and slowly raising her from the bed. "Your heat. Your desires. Your soul calling to mine. Even your Werewolf blood has be more noticeable to me now."


    And goddess, I meant every word I said!


    Anyway, Odessa¡¯s legs wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer until I was in a position that ced my dick directly in front of her entrance¡ªevery inch of my being desiring to im her in every way possible.


    Her body moved seductively, hips lifting to meet mine until she used her pussy to rub against the tip of my dick.


    Her desperation only turned me on further, causing me to lick my lips as I looked into her eyes.


    "Then take it, Kaelos." She said with a daring voice, the corner of her lips curling up into a smirk. "Take all of me."


    I found myself smiling as well as I finally gave in to my desires.


    I moved with a kind of desperation as if decades of restraint had finally shattered with her beneath me.


    I dived into her, feeling her body shiver under me, and used my right hand to cover her mouth as I sank my fangs into the spot where I had ced the mark before yet again.


    Each thrust was deeper, harder, driven by instinct and a burning need to fulfill all her sexual desires and mine.


    I bit her neck as if I was trying to memorize her taste and brand her very soul.


    As for Odessa, despite my attempts to keep her mouth covered, she moaned with each movement I made, her voice echoing around the room and further heightening my arousal.


    Soon, I felt myself reaching a climax and from the look of things, Odessa was about to reach the same.


    When I came, my body shook as I pulled out of Odessa and grunted. As if she was in sync with me, she came as well and squirmed as a loud moan echoed from her mouth.


    I proceeded to fall on my back beside her, panting and struggling to catch my breath while Odessa shifted closer to me andy her head on top of my chest, snuggling me with her arms.


    My heart stopped at first until I turned my gaze to her and watched her eyes fluttering as she drifted into sleep.


    ¡¯Isn¡¯t she adorable?¡¯ Damon said with a teasing voice in my head before he chuckled.


    However, I didn¡¯t find any of this funny as my gaze trailed her body before going to her neck. There, the mark seemed to pulse, emitting an invisible energy.


    I arched an eyebrow, tensing up and swallowing hard as I realized that things between Odessa and I would be a whole more different now with this mark.


    .


    .


    "Rise and shine, hon." I greeted Odessa the next morning after I¡¯d stepped out of bed and gotten dressed in an ash-colored form-fitting suit.


    Meanwhile, as I adjusted my cufflinks, Odessa turned in her sleep and fluttered her eyes open, staring at me with confusion.


    However, after a few seconds, realization and remembrance shed through her eyes, causing her lips to part with shock.


    "W¨C What the heck was wrong with mest night?" She queried, sounding frantic as she sat up, her face scrunching into a scowl.


    I watched her intensively, scrutinizing her movements and waiting for her to discover the mark on her neck. It had healed up now but it still had its crescent moon shape and was gaining a pinkish color.


    Anyway, Odessa¡¯s eyebrows furrowed as her right hand finally got to her neck, touching the mark. Her frown deepened as she red at me for an exnation.


    "Rx. It¡¯s not as if you were drunk when it happened." I remarked inly, sighing softly as I took a few steps forward. "It seems you entered your first heat as a werewolfst night. We had sex and I couldn¡¯t hold myself and ended up giving you that mark on your neck."


    I pointed at the mark which she caressed with gritted teeth.


    "That mark is a mate mark and it signifies to others that you¡¯re my mate. It also heightened our bond to levels that I still don¡¯t quite understand." I said, rubbing my chin thoughtfully as I went through all the possibilities.


    <fn903c> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? f?ndnovel</fn903c>


    Ugh, it¡¯s unfortunate that there was no guidebook on an Alpha King being mated to a hybrid.


    Anyway, I shook my head, stering a smile on my face before I added. "Well? Are you good?"


    I watched as her eyes twitched with a mixture of anger and frustration before she snarled.


    "No, I¡¯m not ¡¯good¡¯! Y¨C You marked me even after you exined all theplications involved. You¨C"


    "Exactly, Odessa!" I snapped back in return, tilting my head. "Right now, you¡¯re not just a witch who¡¯s my mate but you also have a werewolf side. With pheromones and an inner wolf. I could no longer hold myself back from marking you..."


    I paused, arching an eyebrow before I added. "And now that I think about it, I don¡¯t regret doing it. There¡¯s just one thing you have to do though."


    Odessa pouted her lips, seeming confused and conflicted.


    "What¡¯s that?"


    I smirked, squatting to the ground before I stretched my right hand forward and caressed the mark, my eyes trailing it as if I were scrutinizing an art piece.


    "Make sure you keep this hidden at all times. Even from that maid of yours." I remarked, patting her cheek before I got on my feet and began walking toward the door.


    However, when I got in front of the door, she yelled out with more frustration.


    "So, what now?! You¡¯re just going to leave me here after what you didst night? After everything? We¡¯re going to pretend that none of it¨C"


    "Yes, Odessa," I said inly, turning around to face her as a teasing smirk curled up my lips. "I still have to give you a suitable punishment for that stunt you pulledst night by running away. So, prepare yourself tonight."


    I watched her face reddening brighter than a tomato, causing me to chuckle as I finally stepped out of the room and closed the door behind me.


    With a sigh, I navigated my way through the hallways, heading downstairs.


    It¡¯s time to investigate the rogue activities in the Blood Oak woods.

 Chapter 103: _Lord Ryker

    <h4>Chapter 103: _Lord Ryker</h4>


    Ryker¡¯s POV


    *****


    On the other side of the continent, far away from the Blood Oak pack and all its drama, was a hidden fortress hidden away by powerful cloaking spells.


    Ryker, the self-proimed true Lord of the North, was in his study room, looking through maps of the continent and making ns in silence.


    The study room was dark apart from a candle lit at the center of the table on which he sat.


    Suddenly, someone barged through the doors of the study room, disrupting its serenity and causing Ryker¡¯s eyebrows to furrow as he slowly raised his head and peered through the darkness.


    "My Lord!" One of his guards, an artificial hybrid like Marcellus, was the one who stepped into the room.


    However, the man could not go any further toward Ryker; he was stopped by an invisible force that hit him back like a brick wall, holding him in ce and restricting his muscle movements.


    Ryker¡¯s gaze became cold as he drummed his fingers on the armrest of his seat.


    After several seconds of silence, he finally spoke with a deep voice that echoed around the walls of the study room, sending shivers down the spine of the guard.


    "I¡¯ll release you from my spell and after that, you¡¯ll have exactly three seconds to say something concrete enough that would make you dare to interrupt my quiet time."


    The guard was unable to speak or speak under the spell.


    Eventually, Ryker released him from the spell with a wave of his hand, letting the guard begin speaking without even catching his breath.


    "The leader of the rogues you sent to the Blood Oak woods has returned with jarring information."


    Ryker had raised his right hand, getting ready to fire a deadly spell at the guard if he didn¡¯t say anything useful.


    However, when he heard his report, he withdrew his hand to himself, raising a curious eyebrow.


    "Get him in here," Ryker said as he stood from his seat, drawing in a deep breath.


    The guard nodded, breathing out with relief before he ran out of the study room, closing the door behind him.


    What none of his rogues or artificial hybrids knew was his personal vendetta against Kaelos. The imbecile didn¡¯t deserve to be the Alpha King of North America.


    That title rightfully belongs to Ryker!


    His hands balled into fists but he didn¡¯t let his anger get the best of him, instead chuckling silently to himself while shaking his head.


    "After I¡¯m done with you and usurp your control right under your nose, we¡¯ll see who gets thestugh, Kaelos." He remarked at the same moment that his study door opened again.


    Ryker watched as one of his artificial hybrids, Tanko, walked toward him with blood-stained clothes and a pale face filled with fear.


    When he got in front of him, he fell to his knees, lowering his head as he began speaking with a shaky voice.


    "M¨C My lord, I¡¯m here with reports on my mission in the Blood Oak woods and the packs surrounding it." He said with a respect-filled voice before he continued. "My men and I were sessfully setting up camp around the area like you directed, terrorizing the small human settlements and sending fear through their hearts."


    Ryker listened patiently, his arms ced behind his back calmly.


    When Tonka saw this, he rxed a bit more, letting out a deep breath before he continued.


    "Just when we were making strategies to mobilize potential rogues from the nearby packs to add to our group, the Alpha King¡¯s bride stumbled into the woods."


    Ryker¡¯s interest became piqued at that moment as he took a step forward.


    Odessa Pierce... The Alpha King¡¯s Witch bride.


    <fn9adf> For original chapters go to Find?Novel</fn9adf>


    He¡¯s never seen her before but from everything he¡¯s gotten from Marcellus, he could tell that she was an enigma. One that he wanted to unravel no matter what it took.


    "Go on," Ryker muttered inly, causing Tonka to nod before continuing.


    "Everything was going smoothly and we were making ns toe back here with her and hand her over to you. But all hell broke loose when the false Alpha King, Kaelos, came in his wolf form and... And then..."


    Tonka¡¯s voice began to tremble as he lowered his head and bit his bottom lip.


    Ryker was amused by his reaction but now he was even more curious. Kaelos finally shifted after so long, eh?


    Ryker has been keeping tabs on him since he was a teenager and knew about the few times he¡¯s shifted. The fact that Kaelos was able to finally shift after so long because of Odessa was a step that intrigued Ryker.


    "Why do I feel like there¡¯s more that you¡¯re not telling me here?" Ryker queried, furrowing his eyebrows.


    Tonka seemed uncertain but one prolonged stare from Ryker was enough to get him to start talking again.


    "I¨C I¡¯m sorry about my silence but it¡¯s just that I didn¡¯t know how you¡¯d receive this information," Tonka remarked, gritting his teeth before dropping the bomb. "It seems Odessa Pierce has a werewolf side. S¨C She howled in the woods during the chaos. I¡¯ve... I¡¯ve never seen anything like it."


    Ryker¡¯s eyes widened with shock but then a grin curled up the corner of his lips.


    So the powerless witch has been a hybrid all this while? That exins her mate¡¯s bond with Kaelos.


    Unlike artificial hybrids, true Hybrids had a lot more potential and fewer limitations. All this new information helped to do was increase Ryker¡¯s desire to capture Odessa.


    "You¡¯ve done well with this information you¡¯ve brought me, Tonka," Ryker said with a deep voice that seemed calm as he gestured at the man to rise.


    However, when Tonka got on his feet, Ryker didn¡¯t waste a second and shoved his right hand through his chest, dragging out his heart and causing blood to gush out like a fountain.


    Terror filled Tonka¡¯s face, his eyes shaking with confusion as Ryker grabbed his right shoulder and brought his mouth close to his ears before he whispered.


    "I¡¯ll be taking the hybrid gift bestowed to you and giving it to someone else. Unfortunately, to do that, you¡¯d have to leave this ne of existence. Permanently."


    Tonka¡¯s eyes lost their light as he slowly fell to the ground, his blood spilling like a river from the gaping hole in his chest.


    Ryker stared down at him with a in expression.


    He was a good soldier but it was clear he wascking in tactical skills, something required of a leader, most especially members of Ryker¡¯s hybrid soldiers.


    Anyway, Ryker shook his head before closing his eyes, reaching out telepathically to someone on the other side of the continent¡ª his most trusted and powerful hybrid.


    "Marcellus. I¡¯ve got news."

 Chapter 104: _Three Lords, One Witch

    <h4>Chapter 104: _Three Lords, One Witch</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    When he got back to his residence after leaving that spell on one of the Alpha King¡¯s guards, Marcellus snapped his fingers, causing music to begin ying around the living room from the speakers.


    It was pop music that caused him to dance and move to the beat, a cheery grin on his face.


    Odessa was out of the pack and her darling Alpha king had chased after her. He was slowly spreading chaos and mistrust through the pack anding closer topleting his mission for the true Lord of the North.


    Everything was turning out good and he felt the need to loosen up and just have fun¡ª especially since he got knocked out by Odessa earlier tonight.


    "Well, someone looks extra excited tonight." Cullen¡¯s voice echoed around the living room, causing Marcellus to turn his gaze to him.


    His assistant had his arms folded in front of his chest and walked toward him with curiosity in his eyes. "Well, don¡¯t keep me hanging. What did you do this time?"


    Marcellus¡¯ grin increased as he revealed all thetest happenings from tonight to Cullen.


    However, when he was done, Cullen had a confused expression on his face as he waved his right hand in front of his face.


    "Wait, so the witch is also out of the pack? And you aren¡¯t curious to know where she went or anything?"


    Marcellus scoffed, waving his right hand dismissively before he spoke. "Dude, who gives a rat¡¯s ass about that? Besides, Lord Ryker wanted to have her for personal reasons anyway. This was just an easy way of her going into his grasp."


    Cullen parted his lips for a few seconds before he shook his head. "So, you¡¯re saying you¡¯re done with that silly obsession you were having over her? That you... No longer have any interest in deciphering her secrets or whatever?"


    <fn2ec5> For more chapters visit find¡¤novel</fn2ec5>


    What the heck was thed yapping about?!


    Marcellus rolled his eyes but before he could say anything, he felt someone trying to reach him telepathically, causing him to stop his dancing.


    He turned off the music with a simple wave of his hand before he answered the telepathic call.


    ¡¯Marcellus. I¡¯ve got news.¡¯ Lord Ryker¡¯s voice echoed in his mind just then, causing Marcellus to dim his eyes.


    ¡¯My lord, what¡¯s the update?¡¯ he asked, ncing at Cullen before he headed upstairs.


    When Marcellus got to his chambers, he walked up to the balcony and stood there, cing both his hands on the handrails as he waited for Lord Ryker to continue.


    ¡¯I¡¯ll be quick with it. Odessa Pierce is a true hybrid and her wolf has awakened.¡¯ Lord Ryker said so casually in the telepathic link.


    However, as soon as Marcellus heard that, his eyes widened with shock and he was sure that if he¡¯d been drinking something, he would have spat it out.


    As if that first information wasn¡¯t enough already, Lord Ryker continued. ¡¯The rogues who I positioned in the Blood Oak woods have been ughtered by Kaelos. He¡¯s on his way back to the pack as we speak.¡¯


    Just then, Marcellus scanned his gaze down on the pack, squinting his eyes.


    It was already midnight and the pack was dead quiet, apart from a few pack soldiers who patrolled once in a while. Mandatory curfew for the werewolves has always been during midnight even after the truce.


    Anyway, Marcellus soon caught sight of Odessa and Kaelos close to the Alpha mansion, with thetter holding the former close despite the blood and mud sticking to his body and bare chest.


    Marcellus¡¯ eyes twitched with anger as he red at them despite the distance.


    Why was he angry though? Was it because they were back to make things more difficult for him again? Or was there something else at y here?


    Marcellus groaned, using his fingers to rub his forehead before he responded to the true Lord of the North.


    ¡¯They have already gotten here, my Lord.¡¯


    Lord Ryker was silent for a few seconds before he spoke. ¡¯Well, that took shorter than I expected. Anyway, keep a close eye on Odessa, now more than ever. And whatever you do, make sure you increase the people¡¯s mistrust of witches and Kaelos¡¯ rule.¡¯


    With that, the telepathic link was broken, causing Marcellus to sigh heavily as he shook his head.


    "So, they¡¯re back already, huh?" Cullen¡¯s voice spoke up from behind him like a phantom just then, causing Marcellus to clench his jaw. "Well, damn. So much for your celebration."


    Marcellus turned around and shed his assistant a sarcastic smile before he stretched his hand into the room and used telekinesis to levitate a bottle of vodka to his hand.


    "Kaelos and his mate became a whole lot more interesting," Marcellus remarked as he opened the bottle without pouring its contents into a ss.


    He instead drank directly from it, sighing with satisfaction after taking a huge gulp.


    "The powerless witch has actually been a true hybrid all this time. And now Lord Ryker has assigned me to keep an eye on her."


    Cullen¡¯s eyes widened with shock as he brought his gaze to Odessa and Kaelos again.


    "A true hybrid?" He nearly eximed, his voice filled with disbelief. "And we¡¯re sure that she doesn¡¯t use magic? That¡¯s she powerless¨C"


    "We aren¡¯t sure of anything, Cullen. That¡¯s the thing." Marcellus remarked with a sigh, gulping the bottle of vodka again. "Which is why I¡¯ve been tasked to watch her."


    There was a long silence after that as Marcellus watched Odessa and Kaelos walking into that mansion from this distance.


    For whatever reason, especially after the new information he had, seeing Kaelos holding Odessa so close made him get irritated.


    If she truly was a hybrid, then her bloodline in the future was sure to be powerful.


    Marcellus couldn¡¯t help but imagine what having children with the powerless witch¡ª now hybrid¡ª would feel like.


    "Now, this is some interesting telenov-level shit." Cullen suddenly sniggered beside Marcellus just then. "Three Lord¡¯s after one witch. Who¡¯ll finally get her in the end?"

 Chapter 105: _The Scales Could Shift

    <h4>Chapter 105: _The Scales Could Shift</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    The next morning, Marcellus was busy looking through some paperwork the Gamma had sent him concerning all the different murder cases in the pack since Odessa arrived.


    He did this in thefort of his balcony while sipping an alcoholic drink that he mixed himself as the morning sun rays shone on him.


    "Ridiculous..." He muttered at a point, scoffing and shaking his head as he skimmed through the reports. "This whole pack is a clown show."


    The reports didn¡¯t seem to have any valuable information that could help further the investigations, and the Gamma and the pack soldiers seemed to be stuck at a bottleneck.


    Apart from knowing that witchcraft was involved... There were no other clues that they could piece together that would show they were making progress.


    "I guess it will forever remain a mystery." Marcellus sniggered, shaking his head as he flung the papers away.


    He took a sip from the ss of the special alcohol in his right hand, sighing satisfactorily as he closed his eyes to rx. He would hand the papers to Kaeloster.


    Suddenly, he felt a presence behind him and sighed before he opened his eyes slowly and nced back.


    "Regina, what the heck are you doing here now?" He asked without bothering to pay much attention to her. "Also, I must say I don¡¯t know if I should be impressed by your repeated ability to bypass the pack¡¯s security like it¡¯s nothing or to once again mock this pack¡¯s ipetence."


    Regina chuckled slyly as she stepped forward, leaning against the handrails of the balcony and staring at Marcellus with both amusement and curiosity.


    "Well, with what I know about this pack so far, it should probably be thetter." She remarked, parting aside some strands of her raven ck before she continued. "Anyway, I¡¯m here because that bitch of a Luna Queen reached out to me again. She asked why Odessa is still alive."


    Marcellus sniggered, taking yet another sip of his drink until he realized that he had already finished it all.


    He sighed, snapping his fingers, causing a bottle of the mixture to levitate to him, allowing him to grab it and pour himself another shot.


    "Well, what did you say to her?" He asked, raising an eyebrow and staring at Regina who took the bottle off his hands when he set it aside.


    Regina sniffed the contents of the bottle briefly before she spoke again. "That¡¯s some good stuff right there. But anyway, I told her not to rush me and that I knew what I was doing. But there¡¯s something off about her that I noticed."


    Ever since Marcellus ced that spell on Celine, she¡¯s been trying to go above and beyond to get rid of Odessa... Permanently.


    It was fun to watch since the spell was capable of bringing out spontaneous oues that even he couldn¡¯t predict... But it was also a risky gamble.


    However, despite these odds, Marcellus waved dismissively at Regina. "That¡¯s simply my spell pushing her to release her inner chaos. She¡¯ll be fine... Or not."


    <fnba65> Th?s chapter is updated by FindN()vel</fnba65>


    He sniggered, obviously not bothered at all.


    However, Regina didn¡¯t share in his humor and folded her arms in front of her chest.


    "I¡¯m telling you that the desperation I saw in her tells me she has something in store that she hasn¡¯t done yet. Something that¡¯s beyond waiting for me to get rid of the powerless witch."


    Regina paused just then, a thoughtful look on her face until she smacked her forehead lightly.


    "Oh, right. She¡¯s a hybrid now, not just a powerless witch." She remarked, sounding amused as she fixed her gaze on Marcellus who didn¡¯t say anything. "Is it really true? Odessa Pierce being a hybrid."


    Marcellus rolled his eyes, crossing one leg on top of the other before he spoke. "I¡¯m guessing you got the news from Lord Ryker himself. So why are you still asking me? Don¡¯t you trust our lord¡¯s words anymore?"


    Regina¡¯s eyes shone in rm as if his words were sphemous, causing her to hit him on the shoulder.


    Marcellus nced at his shoulder before he arched an eyebrow at Regina who began throwing a tantrum.


    "How could you say that? I¡¯m just... Shocked." She said, lowering her voice now. "If Odessa Pierce is a true hybrid, then that could change the scales of this war drastically. And if she happens to awaken her magic..."


    Yeah, yeah... Good and evil will sh, world-ending battles... h, h, h.


    As legendary as it all sounded, Marcellus really couldn¡¯t care less. The only thing that seemed to spark his interest when he thought about Odessa was the possibility of using her to have children.


    The power they would have would be massive!


    He¡¯s never shown interest in the idea of having a mate or a woman to call his own until now. And it both fascinated him and irked him to no end.


    "It¡¯s going to be hard keeping my end of the bargain with Celine now that the true lord of the North wants Odessa to be brought to him alive," Regina remarked just then, finally stepping away from the handrail of the balcony. "Perhaps I should watch Odessa while¨C"


    "Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re overstepping your boundaries just a little bit, Regina?" Marcellus interrupted her, staring nkly at her with his drink in hand. "Lord Ryker assigned ME to watch Odessa. His right hand."


    Regina scoffed just then, causing Marcellus to grit his teeth with agitation.


    "Yeah, right. Well, I¡¯m telling you now that his left hand, me, wouldn¡¯t mind helping out." She said casually, unaware of Marcellus¡¯ rising irritation. "After all, I can blend in as well as you. It¡¯s not like you¡¯re doing much of a good job with these werewolves any¨C"


    Before she could finish speaking, Marcellus snapped and stood up, seizing her by the throat and causing her to gasp for air.


    Regina¡¯s mouth was open wide with shock and confusion as Marcellus brought his face inches away from hers, his gaze cold.


    "You must have a death wish, dear Regina." He muttered coldly, a sinister smirk curling up his lips.


    However, before he could do anything to her, Cullen¡¯s voice spoke up from behind him.


    "Sir, the Alpha King asks that you show up at the pack¡¯s main gate."


    Bloody hell...

 Chapter 106: _Into The Woods

    <h4>Chapter 106: _Into The Woods</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    After hearing Cullen¡¯s words concerning the Alpha King, Marcellus let go of Regina after giving her one final look.


    She held her neck as soon as she was released from his grip, gasping for breath and ring at him.


    "You psychopath!" She snarled, gritting her teeth. "What was that for? Everything I said was harmless and¨C"


    "I never denied being a psychopath, love. In fact, I wear it like a badge of honor." Marcellus remarked with a sadistic grin, winking at Regina before he added. "Also, next time when you want to talk so possessively about one of my favorite toys... You better have the power to defend yourself."


    With that said Marcellus gestured at Cullen after picking up the reports from the Gamma and walked out of the balcony and into his room, leaving Regina behind.


    Cullen nced back at Regina, his eyebrows furrowing with curiosity before he asked. "What did that sapphic devil want this time? Doesn¡¯t the true Lord of the North send her on missions or something?"


    However, Marcellus ignored him as they continued walking. His mind was hectic as he tried wrapping his head around his reaction.


    That was indeed a bit unlike him.


    But there was something about Regina unting the fact that she could spy on Odessa if she wanted that pissed him off.


    And he didn¡¯t like it one bit...


    Anyway, after hopping into one of his cars, Marcellus and Cullen got to the main pack gates within fifteen minutes.


    Marcellus stepped down, closing the door behind him as he wore a smile on his face when he saw Kaelos standing ahead alongside the Gamma and Delta.


    "Good morning, fellows..." Beta Marcellus spread out his arms with a kind smile, but the Gamma and Delta merely grunted in response.


    As for Kaelos, Marcellus bowed slightly in front of him before he spoke. "Good morning, Alpha King. Is Odessa¨C"


    "Yes, I found her and brought her back to the packst night." Kaelos interrupted and stated bluntly, but the tone of his voice made Marcellus dim his eyes.


    He already knew about Odessa returning to the pack and was only asking to seem concerned... But why did it seem as if Kaelos wasn¡¯t telling him something?


    <fn6b84> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find¡¤novel</fn6b84>


    The Alpha king¡¯s expression was calm yet there was this evasiveness in his eyes that made it seem like he had sinned.


    ¡¯What are you and that witch bride of yours hiding now?¡¯ Marcellus thought to himself, folding his arms with a masked interest.


    "Anyway, I¡¯ll go straight to the point. I gathered you all here today because of something disturbing I discovered in the Blood Oak Woodsst night." Kaelos said solemnly, scanning his gaze around every face present.


    If he was seeking to bring tension, it was in abundance right now as everyone nced among themselves, all wondering what it was.


    Meanwhile, Marcellus already had an idea of what it was but remained silent, although a sly smirk curled up the corner of his lips as he watched Kaelos continue speaking.


    "There were rogue werewolves in the woods, terrorizing humans who wander in and killing them as well," Kaelos announced with a somber tone, ncing briefly at Marcellus who was quick to hide the small smirk on his face with a serious expression.


    Come on, Kaelos. Tell everyone your real secret. Tell them how your powerless witch bride is actually one of the only true hybrids in the continent and possibly the world.


    And how she¡¯s conveniently your mate.


    Marcellus thought about all this as he watched Kaelos and the others discussing the situation he just brought up.


    "With all due respect, sir. What exactly are we investigating?" The Delta queried, sounding hesitant at first until he took a step forward. "I mean, humans are supposed to know better than to wander into the Blood Oak woods in the first ce. The amount of¨C"


    "What the fuck are you talking about, Delta?" Kaelos interrupted with a cold voice, swerving his head to him and squinting his eyes. "Really? The humans should know better? Nah, those unruly rogues should know better than to linger in MY woods, close to MY home, and then use it as their hunting ground."


    The Delta flinched as Kaelos emphasized some of his words, his voice thundering until Marcellus felt the vibrations on his body.


    Drama queen...


    "F¨C Forgive me, Alpha King." The Delta bowed with an apologetic voice which also had a hint of fear. "I¨C I was only trying to suggest that maybe¨C"


    "Keep your useless suggestions to yourself, Delta. Because all I see is ipetence and I have had enough of it." Kaelos said with a growl, seeming like he was ready to snap the Delta¡¯s neck in a heartbeat.


    Marcellus could feel it like it was a cool sea breeze on his skin... Kaelos¡¯ emotions seemed more intense. Almost as if he was being influenced by the emotions of another person.


    The anger, the bloodlust...


    Marcellus couldn¡¯t help but nce away from the gates, toward the pack.


    How was Odessa feeling after finding out all of a sudden that she¡¯s a hybrid? Hmph... she owed him a little chat for knocking him out with her potions.


    Usually, he wouldn¡¯t have minded having his way with her and maybe getting a blowjob or two, but he was feeling generous toward the mother of his future children.


    Suddenly, after several seconds of silence, Kaelos broke it with a sigh, using his fingers to rub his forehead.


    "If those rogues are in any way connected to this true Lord of the North that the nearby Alphas warned us about, then the humans aren¡¯t the only ones who¡¯ll be at risk." He said solemnly, ncing around before he turned his gaze to the gates.


    He began moving forward, causing the members of the Alpha Council to nce among themselves wearily.


    "Come on. We¡¯ll be going into the woods and see if we can find anything important that could be of help in protecting the pack."


    Marcellus sighed as he stepped forward first, following behind Kaelos. The Gamma and Delta reluctantly followed... the four leaders of the pack venturing into one of the most notorious woods on the continent.

 Chapter 107: _Something Different About Her

    <h4>Chapter 107: _Something Different About Her</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    After Kaelos came to my rescue, he led me out of the Blood Oak woods safely, bringing me back to the pack and then taking me to my room.


    He locked the door, telling me he didn¡¯t want to see me step out of the room for any reason.


    However, he should have known I wouldn¡¯t listen to him telling me what to do or making me feel like a prisoner again.


    I forcefully opened the door with my new strength acquired from my werewolf side, stunned at first before scanning my gaze around the hallway. Luckily, there was no one present, allowing me to head to Kaelos¡¯ room where I confronted him.


    Long story short, we had a heated argument that soon led to steamy sex that had me moaning uncontrobly like a dog in heat.


    However, at the end of it all, after waking up the next morning... I realized why I felt like a dog in heat.


    "What did he mean I was in heat?" I asked myself, sitting up in the bed after Kaelos left in the morning, leaving me in his room.


    I used the bed clothing to cover my upper chest before I continued speaking. "I only got my werewolf sidest night and I¡¯m already in heat? And... And then..."


    I paused as my right hand slowly went to my neck. It didn¡¯t take long for me to feel the mate mark that Kaelos had left there the previous night, causing a cold shiver to run down my spine.


    I got out of bed and went to therge mirror in Kaelos¡¯ room where I used my two hands to touch the mark as I scrutinized my reflection.


    Right there on my neck was the mark, shaped like a crescent moon and glowing asionally with a faint blood-red light.


    My heart fell to my stomach as my mind went through so many possibilities.


    "If anyone sees this, I¡¯m toast." I blurted solemnly as I quickly searched around for something, anything that I could use to cover the mark, which was a symbol of my unholy union with Kaelos.


    Eventually, I found a winter scarf and grabbed it, before putting on my clothes fromst night and scurrying out of the room.


    I used my long blonde hair to cover my neck and let it fall down my chest for added effect as I navigated my way back to my room, ignoring the curious gazes of a few maids who walked past me.


    "Is it me or is there something different about her?" One maid asked another with a whisper, sounding suspicious.


    "Yeah, and the Alpha king... The Alpha king¡¯s pheromones..." Another added with a bashful tone, causing me to furrow my eyebrows into a frown.


    Gosh, I need to go have a long and hot bath.


    Finally, I got to my room and ced my hand on the door knob before opening it. However, when I stepped in and scanned my gaze around, I was surprised to see Caroline standing close to my bed, fluffing my pillow silently.


    I dimmed my eyes, slowly closing the door behind me before I cleared my throat. "Uh, Caroline?"


    She jolted with shock, swerving her body to face me.


    Her eyes widened at first before her shoulders rxed and a warm smile curled up her lips as she dropped my pillow and ran up to me.


    "Oh, Odessa..." She muttered, pulling me into an embrace and causing me to freeze at first.


    However, when I felt the sincerity in her voice, I rxed and hugged her back, sighing heavily.


    "Gosh, you made me worried sick!" She eximed as she finally let go of me and ced both her hands on my shoulders. "What happened? W¨C Why did you run away and¨C"


    "I just needed space to clear some things in my head, Caroline." I interrupted, smiling reassuringly. "But I¡¯m fine now, I promise."


    I awkwardly ced my right hand on the scarf on my neck, holding it in ce and making sure it didn¡¯t fall off for any reason.


    Meanwhile, Caroline scrutinized me closely before she spoke. "Are you sure? I¨C I don¡¯t know how to exin it but there¡¯s something different about you."


    My face heated up but I was quick to hide it by clearing my throat. "Yeah, I guess I¡¯m just still shaken by a few things I came acrossst night. Like... Like the rogues..."


    My body shook with fear and disgust when I remembered how that werewolf had touched me inappropriately and torn my clothes to have his way with me.


    My skin crawled when I remembered how his friends had beenughing as he made me scream with terror.


    But most of all... I felt like throwing up when the image of the blood and organs of the rogues littered on the grass shed through my mind.


    I was d Kaelos had gotten rid of them... But I would be lying if I said I didn¡¯t find their deaths brutal and unnerving.


    And as for Tonka... I prayed to the gods that he got everything he deserved wherever he was.


    "Wait... Rogues?" Caroline asked me just then with shock, cing her right hand in front of her mouth. "Oh my gosh, what happened? I haven¡¯t heard of rogues in these parts since... Well, forever!"


    I smiled wryly as I shook my head before patting her on her shoulder lightly.


    "I¡¯ll tell you all I canter. But for now, I need to go have a nice, long bath."


    Caroline blinked at first before a proud smile curled up her lips as she gestured at the bathroom before gesturing at me to follow her.


    "I was hoping you¡¯d say that." She muttered.


    When we got to the bathroom, my eyes opened wide with surprise when I saw the interior.


    The bathtub was filled with scented warm water and also had bubbles. Surrounding the bathtub were scented candles, although they weren¡¯t lit.


    "Aww, Caroline," I remarked, ncing at her and smiling warmly. "Thank you so much. Seriously, this means a lot."


    However, she waved dismissively before she spoke. "Nah, it¡¯s nothing. I even forgot to light the candles. Give me a minute..."


    With that, she ran out of the bathroom and then out of the room, leaving me alone. I quickly took off my clothes, making sure my hair covered the mate mark on my neck before I stepped into the bathtub¡¯s warm water.


    As I sat there and sank my body until the waters covered my neck, I sighed lightly as I closed my eyes.


    However, when I made a simple gesture with my right hand, I felt a surge in my body that forced me to open my eyes.


    "What the...?" I whispered to myself with shock when my gaze went to the candles around the bathtub.


    <fn6705> Read full story at F?ndNovel</fn6705>


    Caroline still hadn¡¯t shown up with the lighter but somehow, they were all lit up with bright mes.


    But... how?

 Chapter 108: _It Must Be Magic

    <h4>Chapter 108: _It Must Be Magic</h4>


    "Am I missing something?" I asked myself with confusion as I stared at all the lit candles around the bathtub.


    Subconsciously, I raised my right hand and stared at it.


    Could it be...?


    Out of curiosity, I closed my eyes and stretched my right hand forward, focusing on my magic. Then I channeled my imagination on the candles and opened my eyes before casting a spell.


    Suddenly, the mes all went off at once, causing my mouth to fall wide with shock.


    "No freaking way!" I eximed, trying to catch my breath as an excited chuckle escaped my mouth.


    I knew I wasn¡¯t tripping. It must be magic. I¡¯m using magic right now!


    Eager to see how far I could go, I wiggled my fingers at the candles and watched as they lit up with mes again.


    However, this time, the mes increased in intensity until they started getting close to the ceiling, causing me to gasp with shock at first until I began giggling like a little girl.


    "I¨C I¡¯m no longer a powerless witch..." My eyes stung with happy tears, which I tried cleaning with the back of my hand as I watched the mes and felt its heat on my body.


    For years, casting a simple fire spell to light a candle was a hassle, and I was powerless. I¡¯ve been branded as an outcast, even among my fellow witches for so long.


    And now the gods decided to smile on me by awakening my magic.


    ¡¯Uh, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll thank the gods for this one, Dessa.¡¯ my wolf suddenly blurted in my head, causing me to blink in surprise.


    I hadn¡¯t heard from the annoying brat sincest night.


    ¡¯You. So you just talk anytime you want?¡¯ I asked mentally, getting a little annoyed.


    However, to my surprise, my wolf giggled in my mind, causing me to squint my eyes with confusion.


    ¡¯Aw, you know you could just say you missed me, right?¡¯ She remarked with a teasing tone before adding. ¡¯Anyway, as much as I would like to give a goddess thanks for your magic awakening, I think it¡¯s clear that those praises should be given to me instead.¡¯


    I arched an eyebrow, getting more confused.


    Before I could ask her what she meant by that, my ears picked up the sound of my room door creaking open, alongside Caroline yelling out with a cheery voice.


    "I¡¯ve found a lighter! Sorry, it took two business days."


    Shit...


    I swerved my head to the mes and panicked, my right hand shaking frantically as I stretched it toward the mes and tried concentrating to turn it off.


    Luckily, I had closed the bathroom door, but I could hear Caroline¡¯s footsteps approaching, and the increasing anxiety I felt made it hard for me to even open my mouth and tell her not toe in.


    ¡¯Girl, just rx!¡¯ My wolf spoke up in my head, snapping me briefly out of my panic. ¡¯Just focus on the mes and imagine them turning off after holding on to them with your magic.¡¯


    Pfft... Easy for her to say when she wasn¡¯t out here dealing with this dilemma.


    I grunted to myself before drawing in a deep breath to calm my nerves and then concentrating, while Caroline continued speaking outside.


    "Are you okay in there? You¡¯re awfully quiet."


    At that moment, I clenched my jaw before finally, the mes of the candle reduced until they went off entirely, barely leaving behind any smoke.


    "I¨C I¡¯m fine, Caroline. You cane in if you want." I said with a slightly shaky voice as I grabbed my hair and made sure it covered my neck while I sunk into the waters until only my head was above it.


    Caroline opened the door almost instantly, peeking her head into the bathroom before she slowly stepped toward the bathtub.


    Her gaze lingered on me awkwardly for a few seconds until her nose began scrunching as she took a sniff around.


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    "Is that smoke or am I imagining things?" She mumbled, raising an eyebrow.


    I swallowed hard before I shrugged cluelessly. "Someone¡¯s probably burning something outside."


    I stared at her anxiously, noticing her reluctance before she shrugged as well and squatted close to the bathtub.


    She carefully lit up all the scented candles around the bathtub before stepping back and sighing.


    "All done." She said with a smile before she proceeded to sit on the bathtub, crossing one leg on top of the other. "Now, you promised to tell me what happened at the Blood Oak Woods. You mentioned rogues too... Spill."


    I gave her a judgemental look causing her to scratch the back of her neck awkwardly before she muttered softly. "Pretty please?"


    I sighed, shaking my head with a wry smile before clearing my throat and beginning. "Long story short, it was hell. I¨C"


    "Long story short?" Caroline interrupted with a disappointed tone. "Come on, ma¡¯am Odessa. Was it really that bad that you can¡¯t recount the whole thing?"


    My fists clenched under the water as memories of what happened justst night in the woods shed through my mind once again.


    To my surprise, the single fluorescent light bulb in the bathroom flickered in sync with my anger, causing me to slowly unclench my fists and draw in a deep breath.


    "Yes, Caroline. My experience in those woods was nothing short of traumatic." I said inly, a bitter smile on my face. "I was kidnapped, witnessed someone get raped, almost got raped myself if it weren¡¯t for Kaelos¡¯ timely intervention. Ou, and let¡¯s not forget the beating."


    My hand subconsciously went to my jaw, where I¡¯d been pped, and then to the back of my head, where I was hit by a strong force and knocked out unconscious.


    To my surprise, I couldn¡¯t feel any pain in either spot when I touched them, making it seem like I hadn¡¯t been hurt in the first ce.


    I guess that¡¯s thanks to my wolf once again...


    "I¡¯m... I¡¯m so sorry, ma¡¯am Odessa." Caroline suddenly blurted with a saddened tone, stretching her hand forward and brushing it through my wet hair. "I¡¯m sorry all that happened to you. It¡¯s indeed terrifying... Especially knowing there might be more rogues out there."


    A cold shiver ran down my spine when she mentioned thatst part.


    Just how many more rogue werewolves were out there and what the fuck did they want?

 Chapter 109: _New Attitude

    <h4>Chapter 109: _New Attitude</h4>


    When I was done bathing, I stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my body.


    As I tried applying some lotion to my body, Caroline began speaking about something different from the events at the Blood Oak pack.


    "So, you and the Alpha King..." Caroline muttered, giving me a wink and causing me to nce at her. "I mean, it¡¯s kinda cute how he came to rescue you and didn¡¯t... Leave you for dead or something. I don¡¯t know, I expected him to give some kind of punishment and I got a little worried."


    I pouted my lips, shaking my head before I responded. "And? What¡¯s your point?"


    I didn¡¯t realize how blunt I sounded until I noticed the awkward expression on Caroline¡¯s face as she scratched the back of her neck.


    "M¨C My point is, maybe he cares about you. Not just as a symbol of some truce but something more."


    I raised an eyebrow even though I was getting a little nervous deep down. If anyone could possibly connect the dots between the true nature of my rtionship with Kaelos, it could very well be Caroline.


    And that could prove to be a problem...


    "I don¡¯t think I know what you¡¯re talking about, Caroline," I remarked, brushing my hair with a hairbrush. "Kaelos might very well never change and I¡¯m learning to live with that already. No big deal."


    I said that in real life, but in my head, I felt like I had said something that made me want to w at my skin.


    Anyway, just when Caroline walked toward me and the mirror I was sitting in front of, a knock sounded on the door, causing me to raise an eyebrow before I turned my head to the door.


    Who could be knocking so early in the morning? It couldn¡¯t be Kaelos since he left not too long ago.


    So... Was it Marcellus perhaps?


    "I¡¯ll go get it," Caroline said, rushing from my side and heading to the door.


    However, when she opened the door and saw who it was, she gasped, causing me to swerve my head to the door as my eyebrows furrowed into a frown.


    "Uh, Caroline? Who is it?" I queried, clutching the brush in my hand tightly and fearing the worst.


    After what I faced at the Blood Oak woods, I wasn¡¯t willing to take any chances.


    "Pardon me, Luna Queen. G¨C Good morning." Caroline greeted someone just then, causing my eyes to widen before I squinted them and dropped the hairbrush.


    I fixed my gaze on the door now and watched as Celine strutted into my room in a beautiful emerald green day dress and had on light makeup on her face for once.


    Oh, was she getting into her ¡¯soft girl era¡¯ already?


    "Odessa..." She stepped forward, her gaze scrutinizing me from head to toe. "So, the rumors are true. Not only did you manage to escape the packst night but now you¡¯re back."


    I balled my hands into fists, ncing at Caroline who stood close to the door awkwardly with a lowered gaze.


    Well, if she was going to chicken out, I¡¯m definitely not standing for this bullshit today or any other day.


    "Good morning to you too, Luna Queen Celine." I greeted her with a slight bow and sarcastic tone, clutching the towel around my body closely.


    "Whatever you think about any rumors is correct. As you can see, I¡¯m in the middle of dressing up and getting ready for the day so I don¡¯t have the strength for whatever this is."


    Celine¡¯s eyes widened with surprise while Caroline had a proud smile on her face and gave me a thumbs up from behind her.


    Well, at least she was my hype man.


    Anyway, Celine stared at me for so long that I began scratching the back of my hair awkwardly, thinking that this was soon about to be a conversation about secret desires.


    I mean, maybe the real reason why Kaelos¡¯ bitchy ex wife has been so obsessed with me is because she secretly wants kitty cats and not wolves.


    ¡¯Girl...¡¯ my wolf suddenly muttered in my head, causing a slight smirk to curl up the corner of my lips.


    It was nice having a voice in my head so simr to mine.


    "I like your new attitude. It suits you." Celine suddenly remarked, giving me a curt nod and causing me to frown.


    What the fuck?


    "Anyway, I came here to confirm the rumors and also, to inform you of a party I have nned." Celine continued, ncing back at Caroline briefly before she brought her gaze back to me. "It¡¯s an event for the nobles of the pack, meant to... Raise more awareness on the war and its impact on both sides."


    Huh?


    I fluttered my eyelids with confusion, a little lost.


    "Uh, is it a ball or something?" I asked, even though I was still basically confused about why Celine would give a rat¡¯s ass about the war.


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    She seemed like the kind of person who would want the war to drag on until my kind, witches, are wiped out.


    "Yes, it is," Celine responded inly, parting aside some strands of her hair. "I n to inform Kaelos about it once he¡¯s back from his little mission in the woods. I mean, it¡¯s already in the nning stage and preparations are being made, but still."


    I nodded, feigning interest while all I could wish for was a way to get out of this weird ass conversation.


    Luckily, Celine seemed to be done and pped her hands together before she shed a smile. "Anyway, I just wanted to let you know. More information will be brought to you if there are any. Good luck, witch."


    With that, she proceeded to turn around and walk out of the room, shutting the door behind her.


    When she did, Caroline quickly turned her gaze to me and I brought mine to her.


    "We¡¯re thinking the same thing, right?" She asked me and I sighed, a wry smile curling up my lips as I nodded.


    "Yup." I blurted, clicking my tongue. "She¡¯s up to something."

 Chapter 110: _Dining With The Enemy

    <h4>Chapter 110: _Dining With The Enemy</h4>


    Caroline and I didn¡¯t discuss much about Celine after she left, but instead, I began preparing and got dressed in a day dress before I stepped out of my room, with Caroline following behind me.


    "So, you¡¯re going to have breakfast without the Alpha King?" Caroline asked from beside me with a low tone, ncing around and making sure the hallway was empty.


    I nced at her before I responded bluntly. "Yes, and I don¡¯t see the problem with it. I mean, should I starve myself simply because he¡¯s on a mission?"


    We finally got to the stairs and I ced my hand on the handrail as we walked down the steps. On our way, we stumbled into a few staff members, but I ignored their stares and their existence entirely.


    "So, did the Alpha King bring her back or what?" A maid asked her friend with a whisper but I merely smirked as I shook my head.


    When I finally got to the dining room, my gaze fell on the table where Celine¡¯s mother, Madame Greyheart, was already eating, discussing something with someone on the phone.


    She seemed to be in a heated argument with the person, and there was no sign of Celine, causing me to pause as I ced my hand in front of Caroline¡¯s chest, signaling her to stop.


    I concentrated, using my newly enhanced hearing to listen to her conversation even though she was whispering.


    "My daughter only started acting weird and chaotic ever since she reached out to your organization." She said with a low growl, sounding agitated. "What do you mean you don¡¯t know anything about it? I¡¯m telling you... Something¡¯s different about my baby."


    I raised an eyebrow, ncing at Caroline who seemed confused.


    However, to me, this was newsworthy information.


    I knew it!


    I¡¯ve known since before the weing ceremony for the South American Alpha King that there was something off about Celine.


    I just hadn¡¯t been able to ce my finger on it all this while.


    "Listen. If, for any reason, one of your scum witches has cast a spell to manipte her, I swear to the goddess I¡¯ll¨C" Before Madame Greyheart couldplete that sentence, her eyebrows furrowed into a frown as she nced at her phone screen.


    "They hung up on me!" She nearly squealed, banging her right fist on the table.


    That was my cue as I cleared my throat before I continued moving forward, with Caroline reluctantly following behind me.


    "Good morning, ma¡¯am." I greeted Celine¡¯s mother with a smile as I took a seat.


    However, she raised her head and red at me before she sneered. "Keep your greetings to yourself, witch! The likes of you deserve nothing but to be burned all the way to hell!"


    Well... Ouch.


    I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly, ncing at Caroline, who stood beside me and had a look on her face as if she was suppressing a chuckle.


    But she definitely wanted tough because of Madame Greyheart¡¯s exaggerated reaction.


    Anyway, Madame Greyheart grunted as she continued using her phone, typing something with an angry expression on her face.


    Oh... I¡¯d hate to be the person she¡¯s sending texts to.


    "Talk about dining with the enemy." Caroline suddenly muttered beside me, causing me to withhold a giggle as I nced at her.


    However, Madame Greyheart raised her head just then, staring at Caroline with contempt.


    "What did you just say, maid?" She asked with a cold voice, momentarily forgetting the call she was on and fixing her attention on the both of us.


    Caroline gulped audibly, ncing at me as if she was seeking some kind of support at first.


    Eventually, Caroline sighed and was about to say something but I spoke up first.


    "She didn¡¯t say anything insulting, ma¡¯am."


    Madame Greyheart slowly turned her gaze to me, raising a curious eyebrow as if she wanted to peer into my soul with those gray eyes of hers.


    I wanted no more of it and tore my gaze away from her, ncing at Caroline and gesturing for her to sit beside me.


    However, Caroline¡¯s eyes widened as if I had said something sacrilegious, causing her to shake her head and wave her hands.


    "T¨C There¡¯s no need for that, ma¡¯am." She said but I insisted.


    "Come on, Kaelos isn¡¯t even here to say anything. Can¡¯t you just¨C"


    Suddenly, Madame Greyheart scoffed, causing me to turn my gaze to her and watch as she shook her head with disdain in her eyes.


    "Why am I not surprised? Frolicking with a maid like she¡¯s your friend?" She spat with disgust, causing Caroline to lower her head dejectedly.


    But it was clear madame Greyheart didn¡¯t give a fuck about Caroline¡¯s feelings as she continued.


    "In case you aren¡¯t aware, witch or in case your people aren¡¯t the same... Nobles and peasants don¡¯t intermingle. You should carry yourself with more respect as the Alpha king¡¯s supposed wife."


    I felt my blood boil as I clenched my right hand into a fist and red at Madame Greyheart.


    As I did, the lights in the dining room flickered and I noticed how Caroline nced at them with confusion and weariness.


    Ever since my magic awoke, it seems to be getting more unstable. I¡¯ll need to start learning how to control it before I get discovered, but first...


    "Caroline, you can go to my room or just linger around. We¡¯ll catch upter." I blurted to her with a reassuring smile as the lights stopped flickering.


    Caroline stared at me hesitantly, ncing at Madame Greyheart who seemed to have all her attention on me.


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    Eventually, Caroline curtsied before she walked away, leaving me and the meanest bitch of the west alone.


    "You seem different..." Madam Greyheart observed, fiddling with her fingers as she scrutinized me.


    I scoffed, folding my arms in front of my chest as I stared back at her and acted clueless. "Well, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. I¡¯m perfectly finest time I checked."


    Madame Greyheart smirked coldly, shaking her head before she spoke with a low voice. "You might have everyone else fooled, but I have my eyes on you. Your tricks can onlyst for so long."


    What the heck?


    I furrowed my eyebrows but before I could say or do anything else, I heard iing footsteps, causing me to turn my gaze to its direction.

 Chapter 111: _I Know Your Secret

    <h4>Chapter 111: _I Know Your Secret</h4>


    The person walking into the dining room turned out to be Celine who had a smug expression on her face as she went up to her mother and wrapped her arms around her neck in a hug.


    "Good morning, mother. So sorry I didn¡¯t check on you earlier today. I¡¯ve been busy with some errands." Celine muttered with a cheery smile before she made herselffortable by sitting beside her mother.


    I watched the scene with a raised eyebrow, wondering why Celine seemed so... Rxed.


    Meanwhile, her mother patted her daughter¡¯s chin before speaking with a proud smile. "Oh, my dear daughter. I¡¯m so d I¡¯m seeing your face now. It¡¯s a boost to my mood after getting it ruined by some... Low lives."


    She nced at me with disdain before she made a gagging expression.


    I was tempted to drug her food with a potion that would make her gag out everything in her stomach, as well as her intestines, for good measure, but I held myself back and ced my attention on my food instead.


    However, as I used my fork to y around with the mini shawarmas in front of me, Celine said something that took me off guard.


    "I hope you¡¯re enjoying your meal, Odessa."


    I froze, a cold shiver running down my spine as I raised my head and stared directly at her.


    Celine had a seemingly innocent smile on her face, taking a sip from a ss of wine first before she continued. "What? I¡¯m genuinely curious since I helped the maids with the cooking today."


    Each word she said seemed to add more to the fear that gripped me as I stered a smile on my face, my face dripping with cold sweat.


    ¡¯Goddess, don¡¯t tell me this bitch poisoned me.¡¯ I thought to myself as I tried hiding my shaky hands.


    Meanwhile, Madame Greyheart turned her gaze to Celine, her face filled with disapproval as she spoke. "What do you mean you joined the maids to cook? What¡¯s gotten into you, dear? When did I ever teach you to do such things by yourself?"


    I had no time to listen to their mother-daughter drama and stood up, the chair scraping on the marble tiles.


    I ced my right hand in front of my mouth, ncing at a closed room close to the dining room and walking hastily there, while simultaneously watching my system, searching for any slight change that would signify the presence of a poison.


    "Is the food not to your liking? You¡¯ve barely eaten anything!" Celine called back from behind me just then, and this time, she didn¡¯t even bother hiding the mockery in her voice.


    I ignored her, opening the door and stepping into the room.


    Fortunately, the room turned out to be a restroom,plete with a toilet and a sink with a mirror in front of it.


    I closed the door behind me, sighing to myself before I walked up to the sink and stared at my reflection in the mirror.


    "How sure am I that she even poisoned me?" I asked myself with a low voice, shaking my head. "She could be intentionally toying with me for all I know."


    Curious, I decided to turn to a voice that I¡¯d grown oddly fond of hearing even though I only started hearing herst night.


    ¡¯Hey, can you check if there¡¯s anything poisonous in our system currently?¡¯ I asked my wolf while staring at my reflection again, my right hand going to the mate mark on my neck that I¡¯ve been hiding with my lush blonde hair.


    I traced a line on the mate mark, clenching my jaw as I waited anxiously for my wolf¡¯s response.


    ¡¯You¡¯re just scaring yourself for nothing, girl. Celine didn¡¯t do anything to your food.¡¯ My wolf said reassuringly, causing me to let out a relieved sigh.


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    That bitch...


    As I cleared my throat and arranged my hair with my hands again, a smirk ying on my face, I suddenly heard a notification from my phone causing my eyebrows to furrow.


    Curious, I drew out my phone and opened it only to see a message from an anonymous number.


    <strong>"I know your secret. And soon, the whole pack will know as well."</strong>


    I squinted my eyes at first when I saw the message until my heart fell and a cold shiver went up my spine. My heartbeat increased as my fingers shook, causing me to scan my gaze around subconsciously.


    What the heck?


    My secret?


    I only had two secrets which no one knew about... My mate bond with Kaelos and my newly discovered identity as a hybrid.


    If this person knew about these secrets and was threatening to let the whole pack know about it...


    "No, no, no..." I muttered repeatedly as I brushed my left hand through my hair with frustration.


    This couldn¡¯t be happening!


    Disoriented, I nced at the bathroom door before running toward it, opening the door, and stepping out.


    Immediately I did, my gaze fell on Celine and her mother, the former scrolling through her phone with a smirk on her face while thetter seemed to be lecturing her on gods knows what.


    "You don¡¯t work for things that you can get people around you to do, honey. Especially not as the highest female werewolf in the continent." Madame Greyheart said firmly, pointing a finger at her daughter.


    Celine rolled her eyes at first until she raised her head and spotted me, after which a smirk curled up her lips.


    "Oh, you¡¯re back. Did you go for a little piss break?" She asked with that annoying innocent voice of her¡¯s.


    But I ignored her, merely shing her a sarcastic smile before I walked past the dining table, not bothering to spare them a nce.


    "Her emotions are just all over the ce. She¡¯s acting like a werewolf in heat." Madame Greyheart remarked, referring to me, causing both she and Celine to chuckle.


    Was that really why my mind felt so... Chaotic?


    "Or maybe it¡¯s because of this weird ass message," I muttered to myself, staring at my phone screen again, the message lingering there ominously.


    Just when I stepped out of the mansion, I identally bumped into someone, causing me to raise my head and finallye back to my senses.


    It turned out to be Elder Davina...


    "I¨C I¡¯m so sorry, elder. I¨C"


    "Odessa! Just the person I was looking for." Elder Davina interrupted my attempt at an apology with a smile, causing me to raise a confused eyebrow.


    What...?

 Chapter 112: _The Hybrid Prophecy

    <h4>Chapter 112: _The Hybrid Prophecy</h4>


    "Odessa! Just the person I was looking for." Elder Davina had a smile on her face as she stepped forward and scrutinized me.


    My eyelids fluttered awkwardly as I nced around before turning my gaze back to her and stering a smile at her. We haven¡¯t interacted a lot but I knew she was chillpared to other werewolves.


    "Uh, is there a problem, Elder?" I asked curiously, ncing onest time at the threatening text on my phone before I fixed my gaze on her.


    She tilted her head, tightening her hold on her staff before she chuckled softly. "Dearie me, must there be a problem for me to see you?"


    I joined her in chuckling, although mine was more forced and awkward.


    I waited patiently for her to say something else but nothing would¡¯ve prepared me for when she finally spoke up.


    "Anyway, would you mind following me for a stroll back to my residence? We can have tea when we get there."


    Oh...


    I scratched the back of my head hesitantly before I eventually nodded in agreement. "Sure. I¡¯ll love that."


    I didn¡¯t want to be rude...


    Wth that, I tagged along with Elder Davina, walking beside her as we stepped out of thepound first before making a turn headed for her mansion.


    "I like your spirit, Odessa." She suddenly blurted, causing me to nce at her with a raised eyebrow.


    My face heated up with a blush as I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly before I responded. "Thank you, ma¡¯am. But is there any specific reason why you said that?"


    She paused when I said that, forcing me to stop as well as I fixed my gaze on her, dimming my eyes expectantly.


    She scrutinized me for a while, making me feel exposed and like I was naked. Why the heck was her gaze so intense?


    "Even despite all the allegations on your head since your arrival, you¡¯ve navigated your way through it all without breaking." She finally said, but when I heard that, I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly before shaking my head.


    "No offense, ma¡¯am, but I literally ran away yesterday after drugging the Beta with a potion," I said with a sigh, shaking my head. "If that¡¯s not ¡¯breaking¡¯ I don¡¯t know what is."


    We continued walking, passing by a fewvishpounds with elite buildings and cars.


    A few people walked past us and greeted Elder Davina while they gave me disdainful looks.


    "The fact that you haven¡¯t snapped at anyone bullying you or degrading you for whatever reason tells a lot, Odessa. Not to mention dealing with the Alpha King." Elder Davina said with a knowing smile, ncing at me. "Speaking of which, I don¡¯t think he told you already but I know."


    I furrowed my eyebrows, confused about what she meant by thatst part.


    She noticed my confusion and borated after scanning her gaze around and lowering her voice. "I know about the mate bond. The Alpha King confided in me."


    My eyes widened with shock as I paused in my tracks, staring at Elder Davina wearily. If she knew about my mate¡¯s bond with Kaelos, that would make her the only other person to know.


    And if that was the case...


    "Has Kaelos told anyone else?" I asked, causing elder Davina to nce back at me.


    She squinted her eyes at first before shaking her head. "No, not that I¡¯m aware of. He seemed really hesitant to tell me before he did. Not to mention, he¡¯s made it clear that he doesn¡¯t want anyone else knowing about it."


    I nodded my understanding as we continued walking once again after Elder Davina gestured at me reassuringly.


    As we arrived at Elder Davina¡¯s residence, she led me to a cozy room on the top floor, with an open ceiling covered by a ss dome and nts surrounding the ce, alongside a warm firece.


    The aroma of brewing tea filled the air, and I couldn¡¯t help but feel an unexinable sense offort.


    "Please, Odessa, sit down," Elder Davina said, gesturing to afy-looking carpet.


    I sat down, feeling a bit more at ease as I adjusted my clothes. Elder Davina poured us each a cup of tea and handed me one.


    "Thank you," I said, staring at the tea at first before taking a sip of the soothing liquid.


    Elder Davina smiled and sat down across from me. "I¡¯m d we could have this little chat, Odessa. I must say, I¡¯m intrigued by you."


    <fnab83> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find?novel</fnab83>


    I raised an eyebrow, curious about what she meant.


    "Intrigued?" I repeated, smiling awkwardly.


    Elder Davina nodded in response, her eyes observing me curiously. "Yes. The moon goddess has a way of bringing people together for a reason. If she could pair the Alpha King with a witch like you, that gives me hope about a prophecy I¡¯ve been studying."


    My heart skipped a beat as I listened to her words. Could she be talking about the same prophecy I suspected?


    "What prophecy?" I asked, leaning forward slightly.


    Elder Davina¡¯s eyes glinted with excitement before she cleared her throat and continued. "One that speaks of a hybrid putting an end to the war. A being with the strength of a werewolf and the powerful magic of a witch."


    I felt a shiver run down my spine. Could it be? Was I the hybrid she spoke of?


    I¡¯ve been thinking about this since this morning when I remembered an old prophecy that was told to me by my mother as a kid.


    The prophecy was a cautionary tale about hybrids and their potentially devastating power. It talked about how a hybrid could change the course of the war, bringing either peace or world-ending devastation.


    I didn¡¯t think much about it before because I saw it as just a bedtime story all those years ago, but now?


    Just as I considered revealing my true nature to Elder Davina, I heard approaching footsteps. The door to the room opened, and a figure stood in the doorway.

 Chapter 113: _A Message

    <h4>Chapter 113: _A Message</h4>


    (Warning: Slightly Graphic Scene Ahead)


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    After gathering a small groupposed of myself, Beta Marcellus, Gamma Zane, and the Delta, we all left the pack and ventured into the Blood Oak woods.


    I didn¡¯t bother wasting any time and led them through the thick woods until we got to where I found the body of the human woman staked onto a treest night.


    "Bloody hell..." Marcellus muttered as we stared up at the body, still hanging on the tree.


    Now that it was daytime and I wasn¡¯t in a rush to find Odessa or anything, I could finally get a good look at the poor human woman.


    Surprisingly, she wore a simple white dress and had blonde hair, looking eerily simr to what a certain someone worest night.


    ¡¯Wait, you don¡¯t think...¡¯ Damon muttered in my head with disbelief, but the coincidence was too bone-chilling for me to ignore.


    Fortunately, it seemed like I wasn¡¯t the only one in the group who noticed.


    "Is it just me or does she look familiar?" The Delta pointed at the human woman, staring wearily at me.


    I clicked my tongue before I nodded. "She¡¯s not the only human who was killed but she¡¯s the only one who was staked to a tree. And I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a coincidence that she looks simr to my wife."


    Marcellus chimed in with surprise in his voice. "Wait, so you¡¯re suggesting that the rogues were trying to send a message to you? A threat to Odessa?"


    My face scrunched up but I responded with a nod while still staring at the human woman. She even looked to be around the same age as Odessa.


    This was no coincidence... These rogues were trying to toy with me. It¡¯s so close to MY pack, too.


    "Gamma Zane, bring down the body. We have to inspect it in case we can find any more clues." I turned to my uncle, who, as usual, seemedpletely unbothered about the whole thing.


    He nced at me before scanning his gaze on the faces of everyone present.


    With a grunt, he shook his head before leaping onto the tree, climbing it with rtive ease, and grabbing the girl¡¯s body.


    He seemed to struggle to unpin her body due to the wooden stake sticking right through her stomach, causing me to sigh before I spoke.


    "Careful, uncle. We want an intact body."


    He nced down at me and I could see the sarcastic smile on his face before he ced all his attention on removing the body.


    Eventually, he wed it off the tree without damaging it more than it already was and then carried the body with his right hand before he jumped back to the ground.


    "Viol¨¢." My uncle said, dropping the body on the ground before us and dusting his hands with disgust on his face.


    The body was pale and had wounds on her stomach, chest, neck, and even her legs. All the wounds had dried up blood on them and the huge hole through her stomach even had maggots eating through the corners already.


    "It seemed they took out her organs," Marcellus observed after stepping forward and squatting on the ground, scrutinizing the body with the same fondness of a scientist.


    He stretched his right hand forward and slowly shoved it into the hole in the woman¡¯s stomach, searching around with a in expression.


    <fn9e77> Readplete version only at find?novel</fn9e77>


    Everyone else also had in expressions¡ª after all, we were all high werewolf officials who¡¯d been at the center of this war since our births.


    Anyway, Marcellus eventually withdrew his right hand, which now had dried blood sticking on it, as well as a few maggots, which he wriggled off with a gesture.


    "What I can¡¯t tell now is if the rogues ate her organs or took them as souvenirs." He remarked with a snigger, shaking his head before he began searching her body.


    He grabbed a ring on her finger which he flung at me. I caught the ring and stared at it with curiosity.


    The ring was a simple silver one, with a little diamond encrusted on it.


    Even though it was silver, it didn¡¯t burn my skin because of its insignificant size and the fact that I merely held it.


    "The design looks... Local." I observed, still squinting my eyes until I slowly raised my head. "She¡¯s definitely from one of the human settlements outside the borders of the woods. But I doubt she walked all the way here before being killed. They dragged her here."


    I clenched my jaw, bringing out a handkerchief and wrapping the ring in it before I ced it into my pocket.


    "We¡¯ll carry her along and search for the human settlement she came from. If she¡¯s been missing for so long, word should have begun going around about her. And from the ring, it¡¯s clear that she¡¯s engaged." I exined, before snapping my finger at Gamma Zane.


    He nced at me, raising his eyebrows with confusion until I sighed and spoke.


    "Your coat. Use it to wrap the human up and carry her along with us."


    I watched as my uncle¡¯s eyes widened after I said that, his jaw clenching with agitation. "Excuse me?" He queried.


    Just then, Damon sniggered in my head with amusement. ¡¯Day two hundred and fifty-two of me telling you to let me out so I can bash that bastard uncle of yours head to a wall.¡¯ he said coldly, but I controlled myself by clenching my fists before I stered a smile on my face.


    "Carrying her to her fellow humans would show that we aren¡¯t the enemy. Just wrap her up, carry her, and stop being a fucking burden." I said with sarcasm before I turned my gaze to the path I tookst night.


    I stared with a little pensiveness bubbling within me before I remarked. "We still have a long way ahead of us before we see any human settlements. And I don¡¯t n on sleeping in these woods."

 Chapter 114: _A Human Settlement

    <h4>Chapter 114: _A Human Settlement</h4>


    We continued moving forward after my uncle reluctantly wrapped up the human body in his coat and then carried it over his shoulder.


    I could feel his judgemental stares on the back of my head as we moved forward, heading for the direction I had takenst night in my search for Odessa.


    But I couldn¡¯t care less about my uncle or what he thought and blissfully ignored as we navigated our way through the woods.


    "Oh... Wow." Marcellus muttered as we paused at a point.


    His eyes widened with surprise at the sight before us and I couldn¡¯t me him. In front of us were tens of broken trees, turned into nothing but splinters and wood on the forest floor.


    This went on for what seemed like hundreds of meters ahead, making that part of the woods deste.


    There were alsorge w marks on the trees and even on the ground around... My w marks.


    ¡¯Damon you son of a bitch.¡¯ I muttered to my wolf in my head, causing him to snigger teasingly.


    ¡¯Oh,e on, Kaelos! It¡¯s not our fault that you¡¯re blessed with the most powerful wolf in the continent.¡¯ he said with a proud voice, but I didn¡¯t share his sentiment.


    I had the power to shred whole armies, level entire battlefields with my howl, and so many other feats that made me the closest thing to the divine powers of the goddess herself.


    Yet, I¡¯ve always been hesitant about using them... Because of the destruction that follows and the power drive that gets into my head.


    ¡¯You¡¯re boring, you know that right?¡¯ Damon said with a scoff but I ignored him, turning my gaze to Marcellus and the rest.


    "Yes, I had to shift to my wolf when things got... Serious." I revealed a wry smile on my face as my gazended on my uncle, who looked the most surprised.


    He also shared the Alpha King bloodline, but unfortunately, not everyone with the bloodline had a wolf as powerful or ¡¯unique¡¯ as mine. I could see the envy in his eyes... But I could also see the confusion.


    "You? Finding things so serious that you had to shift?" Marcellus repeated with disbelief, shaking his head. "Thest time that happened, the humans lost a good chunk of their soldiers."


    Marcellus¡¯ eyes glinted with nostalgia as he sighed, shaking his head. "The good old days." He remarked.


    Oh, yes... ¡¯The good old days¡¯ during the early years of my reign as Alpha king. When all I focused on was carrying on my father¡¯s legacy of being a ruthless and unforgiving ruler.


    The good days that gave me my current reputation as someone who baths in the blood of his enemies.


    ¡¯Remembering those days brings excitement to your bones.¡¯ Damon whispered in my mind like the little devil that he was. ¡¯Come on, admit it. Don¡¯t you miss having fear and respect? The glory and the¨C¡¯


    ¡¯Keep talking and I¡¯ll cut you off.¡¯ I said coldly before I spoke physically to the rest of the group. "We¡¯re slowing down. The small camp the rogues made is just up ahead of this devastation. Let¡¯s keep moving and see if we can find anything."


    Without another word, I kept on moving, once again feeling the judgemental stares from the Gamma and Delta.


    "I guess saving that witch bride of his was so ¡¯serious¡¯ to him that he had to shift." My uncle whispered with a scoff, but I wasn¡¯t bothered at all by his insignificant words.


    Anyway, we finally got to the camp of the rogues which was still littered with their remains. The des of grass were blowing into the wind with dried-up blood at the tips, and a few trees were broken in half or had a body close to them.


    And the firece at the center was snuffed out, the small smoke going into the air the only sign that people had lived there.


    Once again, all eyes went to me, the obvious cause of the destruction and death, but I ignored it all and began searching the tents in the camp and also the clothes on the bodies.


    Well... The bodies that were still intact anyway.


    "Ugh, there¡¯s nothing important," Marcellus grunted after we stayed searching for several minutes, causing me to sigh softly.


    The next decision was obvious.


    "Let¡¯s continue moving then. There¡¯s a human town not too far at the outskirts of the other side of the woods." I revealed, scanning my gaze around with my arms folded in front of my chest. "If my guess is correct, the human woman should be from those parts."


    I nced at Gamma Zane who still had her body ced over his shoulder, his eyes twitching with more irritation with each passing second.


    If he thinks he¡¯s the only one about to ¡¯snap¡¯ then he¡¯s got another thinging.


    Anyway, I turned away and headed through the path Odessa and I had taken to bring that human woman fromst night back to her home.


    However, when the group finally got out of the Blood Oak woods and arrived at the outskirts of the small town, my eyebrows furrowed when I saw soldiers patrolling the area.


    Human soldiers.


    "Hey, over there!" One of them yelled at hisrades, pointing at us before he pointed a gun at us.


    The rest turned to us and did the same, cautious expressions on their faces. They seemed to number over twenty or so, with one armored car in their arsenal and guns, which I was certain were all loaded with silver bullets.


    "Puny humans." Gamma Zane spoke with a low tone but before he could step forward and do anything, I turned my gaze to him, ring at him.


    He instantly kept his mouth shut as I slowly raised my hands and stared at the human soldiers with a smile stered on my face.


    "Gentlemen, greetings," I said, my voice loud but calm. "I¡¯m Alpha King Kaelos BloodOak. Alpha of the Blood Oak pack and Alpha king of the North American packs. And we¡¯re¨C"


    "Oh, we know who you are, harbinger of chaos." One of the men, who seemed to be in his fifties and like he had the same stubbornness as my uncle, stepped forward, eyeing me with contempt. "Your reputation and your face precede you."


    Oh...


    I tried my best to keep the smile on my face, withholding the urge to just rip them to shreds. I¡¯m trying to make peace so I have to act like it, right?


    "What I wish to know is if you¡¯re aware of the fact that your werewolves are ughtering innocent humans in these parts." The man continued with a stern expression, causing me to sigh to myself.


    <fn6ae3> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? F¦ÉndNovel</fn6ae3>


    Crap...

 Chapter 115: _Kill Them All!

    <h4>Chapter 115: _Kill Them All!</h4>


    "Well? Answer the question, Alpha King." The man in charge of the human soldiers called out again after his previous question.


    I nced back at Marcellus who had an awkward expression on his face.


    It¡¯s up to me to make sure this situation doesn¡¯t escte.


    ¡¯Oh, please! Let it escte, we could easily take on these humans on our own if we wanted.¡¯ Damon said confidently in my head but once again, I didn¡¯t share in his sentiment.


    ¡¯We¡¯re trying to make PEACE with the humans and witches, you bloodthirsty dog. We can¡¯t fight them.¡¯ I responded with a firm tone, getting irritated even though I still had a smile on my face when staring at the humans.


    Anyway, I cleared my throat before I began speaking to the humanmander. "The thing is, sir..." I paused after that, swallowing down my pride with a clenched jaw. "... We¡¯re here to investigate those attacks as well. The werewolves who orchestrated them aren¡¯t affiliated with any pack but are rogues."


    Themander scoffed, ncing at the soldiers who stood around him first before he turned his attention back to me.


    "Rogues? So, you mean to tell me there are werewolves out there who don¡¯t respect your rule? If they don¡¯t and are still actively after our people then what¡¯s the point of your ¡¯truce¡¯?" He asked with what sounded like disappointment.


    I parted my lips to speak when suddenly, my uncle decided to open his mouth.


    "Oh, please! You¡¯re here acting as if you humans and witches don¡¯t have bad eggs amongst yourselves. Every race has people who go against the rules."


    My eyes twitched with frustration, and I felt the need to use my fingers to rub my forehead, but I resisted, keeping my hands raised above my head.


    Instead, I nced at Gamma Zane and red at him, a silent warning that he should leave the talking to me.


    "Oh, so now you¡¯re trying to justify the atrocities of your people?" Themander asked with a snicker, shaking his head. "How quaint. As expected of your kind."


    Just then, Marcellus sighed silently beside me. "I don¡¯t think I like their tone, Kaelos." He whispered, his eyes scanning the humans¡¯ faces suspiciously.


    I nced at him and bit my bottom lip, wracking my head on how to de-escte the situation.


    Suddenly, one of the soldiers standing close to themander pointed at Gamma Zane with his gun. "Hey, what¡¯s that one carrying on his shoulder?" He yelled out.


    Shit.


    I nced back at Gamma Zane who seemed like he was about to snap but kept hisposure out of fear of me.


    I parted my lips, about to exin the situation with the body that he held but themander spoke up with a suspicious voice.


    "Is that a body? What¡¯s the meaning of this?" Themander queried, raising an eyebrow. "You carried a body here? Why? You still haven¡¯t told us the reason for your unexpected visit."


    <fn5303> Content originallyes from Find~Novel</fn5303>


    My smile almost faltered, but I was good at faking it in the first ce, so I didn¡¯t let it break.


    Maybe if he would let me speak, I would¡¯ve talked from the beginning.


    "That¡¯s the main reason why we¡¯re here,mander. We found this human woman in the woods during our investigation." I revealed, gesturing at Gamma Zane to step forward with the body.


    When he did with a disgruntled look on his face, I continued. "This human woman was staked to a tree and seems to bear a suspicious resemnce to my wife. I believe the rogues were¨C"


    "Annabelle!" Themander yelled out all of a sudden when he saw the woman¡¯s face, causing me to frown.


    Does he know her? Gosh, that would make things so much moreplicated.


    "You know the girl?" Marcellus asked, grabbing the body off Gamma Zane¡¯s hands slowly and cing it on the ground in front of us.


    I could see the way themander¡¯s eyes twitched with sadness even from this distance, and I watched that sadness slowly turn into rage as he red at me.


    "You! You monsters killed my daughter?!" He yelled out, causing my stomach to twist.


    ¡¯Could this shit show get any worse?¡¯


    ¡¯You shouldn¡¯t have said that.¡¯ Damon blurted in my head just then, and almost instantly, I watched as themander raised his gun and pointed it at me.


    I kept my hands raised but my eyebrows slowly furrowed into a frown as I spoke calmly. "Sir, please remain calm and let us exin. We aren¡¯t your enemy. The rogues are both our enemies right now and if we work together, we can¨C"


    "Kill them all!" Themander yelled out to his soldiers and within a second, all hell broke loose.


    Suddenly, the other soldiers began shooting erratically, causing my instincts to kick in as I yelled out to my men as well.


    "Evade and defend as much as possible!"


    With that, I locked my gaze on themander as I began dodging the barrage of bullets that began raining upon us.


    The air was filled with the deafening sound of bullets being fired, and my heart raced with adrenaline with each step I took to dodge and duck.


    ¡¯Let me out and I¡¯ll finish all of them off within ten seconds.¡¯ Damon spoke up in my head but I merely grunted before I focused all my strength on my legs.


    ¡¯No thanks, Damon. All I need is one.¡¯ I said confidently, my gaze still fixed on themander.


    Without warning, I leaped into the air, whooshing like a missile until Inded right behind themander with the grace of a bird.


    Before he could react, I grabbed his shoulder and pulled him close to my body before smacking his gun away and wrapping my right arm around his neck, causing him to gasp in shock.


    "Enough!" I yelled out with a domineering voice that boomed all around the battlefield, carrying my Alpha King aura.


    The sound was able to overwhelm the sound of the bullets and caused all the soldiers to turn their attention to me.


    They kept their guns pointed at me but I could see the fear in their eyes and in the way their body shook like little deers faced with a living natural disaster.

 Chapter 116: _Desire For Peace

    <h4>Chapter 116: _Desire For Peace</h4>


    "H¨C Hold your fire!" Themander said with a shaky voice, his body shaking with fear.


    Well, that was quick.


    I watched as the soldiers who surrounded me slowly lowered their weapons, ncing at each other as if they were trying to contemte if this was a good decision.


    <fn5295> For more chapters visit find[?]ovel</fn5295>


    Meanwhile, my council members stood up slowly from the ground which they were hiding, their faces filled with hesitation at first.


    However, Gamma Zane¡¯s expression soon turned into a scowl as he pointed at the humans.


    "You despicable insects! You dare attack us while we¡¯re trying to help you?" He asked with a growl, seeming like he was about to tear them down.


    I watched as the humans around me tensed up, staring at him wearily.


    At this point, I¡¯ve had enough.


    I fixed my gaze on my uncle and released my Alpha King aura in full force. To humans and witches, it might not be all that noticeable, but to werewolves and even animals, it was a suffocating invisible force that carried the will of my bloodline.


    I watched as Gamma Zane gasped in shock, clutching his chest slowly as he stared at me in disbelief. My gaze was cold even as he fell to his knees, groveling and struggling for breath.


    "I have had enough of your insolence! Stay down, Gamma!" I growled with a thundering voice, ring at him despite the distance.


    His body shook but I showed pity, withdrawing my aura and giving him space to breathe. Birds flew into the air, searching for safety away from my terrifying aura.


    The humans weren¡¯t affected but they all still stared at me with fear in their eyes. Like I was a monster.


    But I ignored all that and focused my attention back on themander.


    "Now, I¡¯m sorry for your loss and all but you have to realize that we are not your enemy. I hope that we be allies." I said in a soft tone, trying to be friendly.


    But I watched as the grown man shook his head repeatedly before breaking down in tears. "W¨C Why wouldn¡¯t you monsters leave us alone? Our little town has stayed clear of your never-ending war with the witches, yet we don¡¯t know rest."


    He paused, sniffling repeatedly as I slowly released my grip on him. I watched as he fell to the ground, lowering his head in shame as he cried and his body shook.


    His men all stood in silence, none of them daring to even breathe too hard as theirmander wept his soul out.


    "Annabelle and her sister are all I have. Justst night, her sister, Matilda, was raped by these so-called rogues and then dumped at our borders."


    Oh... Hold on.


    I parted my lips to speak when suddenly, a familiar voice spoke up away from the soldiers.


    "Father?"


    I turned my gaze in that direction and was surprised to see the human girl who Odessa and I rescuedst night walking toward us. Her eyes darted around with fear and nervousness but it was clear that she was trying hard to push it down and ignore it.


    However, when her eyes met mine, she paused in her tracks, staring at me withplicated emotions, her chest rising and falling with each heavy breath she took.


    "It¡¯s... It¡¯s you..." She whispered in a stunned voice, her body frozen against her will.


    I felt bad and was about to say something to her when themander raised his head and stared at her.


    "M¨C Matilda. Please, go back into the town." He stuttered but made sure his voice was firm and reassuring.


    She stood there with confusion in her eyes as her lips slowly parted and she spoke. "But dad, what¡¯s happening? T¨C This is the man who saved mest night. He and that witch with the deafening scream."


    My eyes widened in a panic. She was referencing Odessa¡¯s sonic howl!


    I nced back at Marcellus and the others, and fortunately, they seemed clueless, although Marcellus had a curious expression on his face.


    It was bing a burden keeping so many things a secret.


    Meanwhile, themander raised an eyebrow after hearing his daughter¡¯s words, his gaze slowly going to me.


    "Is that true?" He asked, sniffling and seemingly getting a hold of his emotions.


    I looked down at him, not knowing how to answer that. It would seem like bragging if I admitted to saving his daughter.


    "Annabelle?" Matilda suddenly muttered with shock, walking forward as her gaze locked on her sister¡¯s body lying close to Marcellus¡¯ feet.


    She pushed past the soldiers, running like her life depended on it until she got in front of the body.


    She ignored the stares from Marcellus, the Gamma, and the Delta and knelt. However, she didn¡¯t cry but stretched her hands forward, touching her face with slouched shoulders.


    I watched this with emotions swirling in me that I couldn¡¯t quite understand. Guilt? Why should I feel guilty?


    Perhaps because these rogues were still werewolves in my territory and as the Alpha king, I still had some responsibility for their actions.


    Closing my eyes, I drew in a heavy breath before I brought my gaze back to the humanmander who slowly began standing up, dusting his knees and wiping off the tears on his face.


    "I¡¯m... I¡¯m sorry for attacking you." He muttered to me, lowering his head at first before he kept a serious expression.


    To my surprise, he stretched his right hand forward, offering to shake me. I nced around at his soldiers at first before I reciprocated and shook his hand.


    "I understand your pain and your plight. But I want to assure you that my desire for peace in this continent and beyond is real. And I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to make it work out." I said reassuringly, maintaining eye contact.


    He smiled wryly as he withdrew his hand, nodding with understanding. "Our town has your back in this truce and the fight against these... Rogues. You can be assured of that."


    With that, he went ahead to pick up his daughter¡¯s body and take her into the town for a proper burial.


    I watched this silently, my hands balling into fists beside my body.


    "We still need to figure out where these roguese from," I spoke with a low voice to Beta Marcellus as we watched themander drive into the town with his daughter¡¯s body. "And also, what their connection is with the true Lord of the North."


    And most importantly... their intentions for Odessa.

 Chapter 117: _Back At Square One

    <h4>Chapter 117: _Back At Square One</h4>


    After watching the humans walk into town to bury their dead, I lead my council back to the camp of the rogues.


    It was empty, and we hadn¡¯t discovered anything previously, but I felt like if we were going to find any clues to where they had originated from in the first ce, it would be there.


    "So, one of the rogues managed to escape, and I was even able to get his name before he did," I revealed to my group, ncing back at them when we stepped foot into the campgrounds of the rogues.


    Marcellus was the only one who seemed just as eager as me in these investigations. As for my uncle and the Delta... The two middle-aged men had disapproving looks on their faces and avoided eye contact.


    I could still feel my uncle¡¯s anger directed at me after I subdued him with my Alpha King aura, but I didn¡¯t give a rat¡¯s ass about that.


    "Wait, so you¡¯re telling me that one of the rogues managed to escape your onught while you were in your wolf form?" Marcellus asked, sounding confused as he scanned his gaze around the remains of the rogues littered on the ground.


    I nodded as images of what happened shed through my head.


    How the rogue leader, Tonka, had attempted to run away with Odessa during my attack but then she flung him back with her sonic scream attack.


    I remember him flying through the air and hitting a tree right over...


    "There." I pointed at a tree to my left, turning my gaze there and squinting my eyes.


    The tree was an oak tree with a hard bark and seemed normal. But there was a small trace of dried-up blood on the bark, signifying that Tonka had gotten injured by Odessa¡¯s attack before escaping.


    ¡¯He probably hit his head hard on the tree.¡¯ I observed mentally, feeling an odd sense of pride at the thought that my mate had done that, even though it was unintentional.


    Anyway, I walked toward the tree, and so did Marcellus, while my uncle and the Delta stood back, looking on with curiosity.


    "Did you find anything new?" My uncle asked with feigned interest but I ignored him as I finally got in front of the tree.


    If he wanted to know, he coulde here and find out for himself. He and the Delta were already bing annoying hindrances at this point.


    "You said you knew the name of the rogue who escaped," Marcellus remarked just then as we scrutinized the tree and the small traces of blood on it.


    I nced back at him, seeing the genuine curiosity in his eyes before I sighed and spoke bluntly.


    "It was Tonka."


    I saw a hint of something flicker in Marcellus¡¯ eyes after I said that, causing me to dim my eyes at him.


    "Does the name ring any bells?" I asked, wondering what that was all about.


    However, his expression soon became in and he shook his head. "Not exactly. I was just... Wracking my head trying to think if maybe he used to be in one of these packs or something."


    That sounded like a flimsy excuse but I let it die and didn¡¯t think much of it as I continued searching around the tree.


    Soon, I saw something... A strand of hair. ck and sleek, it looked like it had been touched by a plethora of hair products, much to my surprise.


    Tonka¡¯s hair.


    "Well, well, well..." I muttered, smiling to myself as I drew out a glove before putting it on and grabbing the strand of hair gently.


    I slowly turned my body to face Gamma who looked on at me wearily.


    "A strand of hair from the rogue who escaped," I remarked, gesturing at him to take the item off my hand.


    He dimmed his eyes at first before he brought out a stic bag, opening it and allowing me to drop the hair strand into it.


    With that, I flung the glove on my hand away before I continued. "Now, although werewolf poption data collection isn¡¯t as organized as humans, maybe we could run that hair for DNA and see if we can track him in the database."


    Unfortunately, the Gamma parted his lips, ncing back at the Delta.


    Oh no...


    "Resources for that are scarce these days, sir." The Delta revealed, scratching the back of his head. "We would have to go to the big human and witch cities to acquire them. And¨C"


    "Never mind." I waved my hand dismissively, feeling like I was about to get a headache as I snatched the stic bag out of my uncle¡¯s hands before I brushed past him.


    We¡¯re back at fucking square one!


    ¡¯Sigh, if only we had a gorgeous witch who could help us track down people with her magic.¡¯ Damon muttered in my head just then, causing me to raise an eyebrow.


    ¡¯Odessa? She only awakened her wolf side and said nothing about having magic now.¡¯ I remarked although I squinted my eyes as I went into thought.


    Could she have...?


    "I¡¯ll stay back in the woods for a little while to see if I can find any foot tracks of the rogue who escaped." Marcellus suddenly offered, causing me to nce back at him.


    I knew I could rely on my beta and best friend to be resourceful.


    Anyway, I nodded at him before gesturingzily at my uncle and the Delta. "You two have no use here for now. Head back to the pack and see if you can find anything about this ¡¯Tonka¡¯ from any of our poption files." I ordered.


    As for me... I was going to see that stubborn little hybrid mate of mine.


    .


    .


    When I got back to the pack, I was picked up in a car by my assistant, La.


    However, she reported to me that Odessa wasn¡¯t in the mansion currently and that she spotted her heading to Elder Davina¡¯s residence.


    I found that oddly suspicious and told my assistant to take me straight to the Elder¡¯s residence.


    When I got there, I navigated my way to thest floor of the duplex and approached the door leading into Elder Davina¡¯s greenery when I heard two voices.


    "Odessa..." I muttered softly, feeling an unexpected warmth rise from my stomach.


    When I finally stepped into the room, I spotted Odessa and the Elder sitting on carpets having a seemingly serious discussion.


    However, they noticed my presence and turned their gazes to me. Odessa¡¯s eyes widened with surprise as she slowly stood up.


    "Kaelos. I¨C"


    <fn3d88> For original chapters go to find?novel</fn3d88>


    "I don¡¯t even want to know." I interrupted her, raising my right hand as I began advancing slowly toward her.


    She froze, her lips parting and her body tensing up at my proximity, but I didn¡¯t pay much attention to that; all my attention instead focused on her mesmerizing violet eyes.


    "I need you for something, Odessa," I said inly, ncing only briefly at Elder Davina who had a knowing smile on her face.


    What had the old woman said to my mate?

 Chapter 118: _Welcome To Town

    <h4>Chapter 118: _Wee To Town</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    <fn5086> Updates are released by find?novel</fn5086>


    *****


    He was prepared to see a few interesting things when he followed Kaelos and the other Alpha King council members into the Blood Oak Woods.


    But what he didn¡¯t expect was them to meet a town of humans and then get their support after almost being killed by their soldiers.


    Marcellus had watched the scene of Kaelos shaking the hands of the humanmander with disdain, silently clenching his jaw.


    Peace was one thing he couldn¡¯t let the Blood Oak pack or the rest of the packs of North America have. And since the Blood Oak pack was the residence of the Alpha King himself...


    "I¡¯ll have to make sure it descends into chaos without any hope." He remarked to himself after Kaelos and the others left him in the camp of the rogues.


    He had told them he wanted to stay back and track Tonka¡¯s footsteps, but even he knew that would be a dead end.


    Tonka was an artificial hybrid working for the true Lord of the North and had the same youthful foolishness that once used to be present in Cullen.


    Marcellus had always looked down on him, hence his reaction when Kaelos told him he was the rogue leader who escaped.


    "The bastard most likely used some kind of teleportation magic to escape. There¡¯s no hope of me finding any ¡¯tracks¡¯." Marcellus muttered to himself with a cold snigger as he slowly stood up from thest hints of Tonka¡¯s footsteps, only a few meters away from the tree he had been flung against.


    Marcellus scanned his gaze around the camp, his arms folded in front of his chest as he thought about something.


    During his years as Kaelos¡¯ Beta, he¡¯s only seen him transform into his wolf form a few times. But each time... He was graced with the opportunity to see him in action.


    Whether by decimating armies of humans, tearing down witches and their defenses, or sending shock waves of cataclysmic proportions with his howls... The Alpha King¡¯s power was truly god-like.


    If Kaelos had truly transformed into his wolfst night... Then how was Tonka able to escape without at least sustaining fatal injuries?


    The small blood stain on the tree he was flung onto told Marcellus that he had only been given a small wound to the back of his head.


    "Was Kaelos too focused on trying to protect Odessa or is something else at y here that I¡¯m not aware of?" Marcellus thought to himself as he finally began walking away from the rogue camp.


    He was done there anyway and ¡¯investigating further¡¯ wasn¡¯t his real reason for staying back.


    After a little more thought, Marcellus shook his head and decided to forget about Kaelos and Odessa. He had a few pests to attend to.


    .


    .


    Marcellus finally arrived at the outskirts of the human town that he, Kaelos, and the other members of the Alpha King Council had visited.


    He had gone there on foot and taken his time and was quite d at what he was seeing.


    The human soldiers from earlier weren¡¯t at the entrance, giving him free passage.


    "Hm, why does the town seem empty?" Marcellus asked himself curiously as he stepped foot into the town and scanned his gaze around.


    He expected to at least see cars moving around or annoying little human children running around andughing, but he saw nothing of the sort.


    Just then, his gaze went to a signboard at the entrance of the town that read:<strong> "St. Martin¡¯s Memorial Town."</strong>


    Underneath the town¡¯s name was a small flier that read: "<strong>Currently attending the funeral ceremony of Annabelle Sylvester, daughter ofmander Sylvester."</strong>


    "Well, well, well... That was quick." Marcellus remarked, his lips curling up into a cold smirk as he navigated his way through the town.


    He took his time, using his sense of smell and hearing to guide himself. If his guesses are correct, the town had a staggeringly low poption of only about two hundred and fifty people.


    That was far less than a quarter of the poption in the Blood Oak pack.


    "No matter. They¡¯re still probably all gathered in one spot." He said to himself as he finally stopped in front of arge building, probably thergest in town.


    A church.


    This was where the funeral was being held, and a few cars were even parked outside, with a few people still trooping into the building.


    One of the people was a mother and a young boy she carried in her arms.


    "Excuse me." Marcellus raised his right hand, calling the attention of the woman and her son.


    She turned around, raising an eyebrow as he climbed up the stairs into the building, a friendly smile on his face. When the woman saw his face, he noticed the mesmerization in her eyes and subconsciously smirked to himself.


    "I wanted to ask if everyone in town is present for the funeral." He said, the smile still present on his face when he got in front of the woman.


    He nced at the little boy in her arms and was able to guess that he was around four or five. The little boy stared at Marcellus curiously, his attention mostly focused on his eyes.


    "You must be a visitor." The woman observed with a Southern ent, wearing a smile on her face. "We rarely get visitors in these parts since the war. Anyway, yes, everyone in town is present. Themander¡¯s daughter was a kind soul. It¡¯s so sad that those beasts ughtered her."


    Marcellus nodded his understanding, adjusting his cufflinks before he spoke. "So sad indeed. Anyway, I¡¯m only here for business, but I think I¡¯ll attend. Funerals are always so... Thought-provoking."


    The woman¡¯s smile widened before she said. "Very well, stranger. Wee to our town."


    Suddenly, before she turned around and walked away, her son pointed at Marcellus and remarked. "Mommy, I like his eyes."


    The woman and Marcellus both chuckled as she continued walking, but Marcellusughed because of a thought that crossed his mind.


    Wouldn¡¯t it be ironic if thest thing the human urchin saw happened to be his eyes?


    "Let¡¯s find out," Marcellus remarked with a cold voice as he headed into therge church building.

 Chapter 119: _Beyond Any Witch Or Werewolf

    <h4>Chapter 119: _Beyond Any Witch Or Werewolf</h4>


    (Warning: Graphic Scenes and Violence Ahead)


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    He walked into therge church, his arms behind his back at first until he used his right hand to make the sign of the cross when he scanned his gaze around.


    He didn¡¯t waste any time trying to blend in and sat at a seat at the back beside an elderly woman who nced at him with a suspicious expression on her wrinkled face.


    "Hi." He waved at the old woman but she didn¡¯t seem to appreciate that as she tore her gaze away from him and focused her gaze on the church altar up ahead.


    How rude!


    Marcellus scoffed silently, shaking his head with a small smirk on his face as he folded his arms in front of his chest while watching the church proceedings unfold.


    Marcellus had lost faith in the moon goddess ages ago and on top of that, he still couldn¡¯t understand the humans and their plethora of beliefs.


    The churches and all their denominations were ones he never bothered wrapping his head around, so he watched their activities with disinterest as he waited for the funeral service to begin.


    Finally, the coffin was brought into the church, and Marcellus observed as the people began crying and wailing ¡¯uncontrobly¡¯. Most were unrealistic.


    He could see that some of the humans were trying to make it a performance since others were doing it, causing him to shake his head and sigh as he slowly began tapping the index finger of his right hand on his legs.


    "Let the games begin." He whispered to himself as he watched the coffin getting carried at the front of the church.


    The family of the deceased,posed of the humanmander, his other daughter, and a young man who seemed to have been the deceased fiance, stood around the coffin.


    After a prayer was made that Marcellus didn¡¯t even bother following, he watched as everyone in the church was FINALLY asked to settle down as the reverend mounted the altar and gave a sermon on being good.


    Marcellus used the opportunity to observe his surroundings once again, using his magic to peer into the minds of people around him.


    They were all humans anyway, hence their minds were way more fragile than witches and werewolves.


    ¡¯I heard the girl was cheating on her fiancee before she got killed. Sounds to me like she got served some karma.¡¯ a woman who had been crying her eyes out earlier was the one who had that thought.


    Marcellus wasn¡¯t even surprised and sniggered before he went to another human¡¯s mind.


    ¡¯Maureen didn¡¯t prepare that pork roast the way I told her, and now she¡¯s wasting time at this funeral when she should be back in that kitchen making another one.¡¯ That thought came from a middle-aged man who red at his wife throughout most of the service.


    Poor woman...


    ¡¯How does it feel like to die?¡¯


    <fne779> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel</fne779>


    ¡¯I wish I won¡¯t die a painful death like sister Annabelle.¡¯


    ¡¯Is she going to heaven?¡¯


    ¡¯She¡¯s definitely down there in hell...¡¯


    One after the other, the thoughts of the people filtered into Marcellus¡¯ mind like a flood, causing him to get more agitated by the second.


    What he was getting from the thoughts of these humans was that most of them didn¡¯t give a fuck about the girl who died but was out here performing to fit in with the rest of the crowd.


    Others were using the moment to worry about their own future deaths. While others had outright rotten thinking that showed Marcellus once again that evil existed the most among humans, despite how fragile they were.


    "A bunch of hypocrites," Marcellus muttered to himself with an audible scoff, causing a few people sitting around him to nce or even stare at him wearily.


    But he ignored all of them as he kept on tapping his index fingers on his legs while the reverend came to the end of his sermon.


    "If anyone would like to give a word about Miss Anabelle, please signify by raising your hand." The reverend said into the microphone.


    Before anyone else could, Marcellus raised his right hand and even stood up as he adjusted his cufflinks.


    "Yes. I¡¯d like to say a few things." Marcellus blurted with a loud but cold voice as he walked to the stage, his footsteps echoing.


    He nced around at the humans, seeing the confusion in their eyes as they stared at him.


    But that only caused him to smirk as he proceeded to point a finger at the Reverend, unlocking the spell that he¡¯s been casting on the man since the very beginning of his sermon.


    Suddenly, the Reverend gasped, clutching his chest as he stumbled backward on stage.


    "Since you all are so curious to know where Anabelle is headed in the afterlife, why don¡¯t you join her?!" He asked with a cold voice that thundered around therge church.


    The next second, the Reverend exploded into a bloody pulp, his organs and guts flying around as well, causing the people in the church to scream out in terror.


    It had happened so suddenly and abruptly that most weren¡¯t even able to process it as real.


    "H¨C He¡¯s a witch!" A man in the audience pointed at Marcellus and yelled as thetter turned around and faced him, his white suit stained with blood and guts.


    Marcellus smirked coldly as he simply flicked his finger, sending a st of energy that caused the man¡¯s head to explode, sending his brain matter and blood everywhere.


    "I am beyond any witch or werewolf, you fragile ape," Marcellus remarked as more humans began screaming.


    Some of them attempted to flee through the exits in the church but Marcellus was one step ahead of them and snapped his fingers, causing all the exits to lock shut.


    Chaos erupted as people panicked and screamed in terror while the soldiers among them bravely drew out their weapons and pointed them at him.


    "He¡¯s one of the werewolves from earlier today,mander!" One of the soldiers yelled out with surprise, causing Marcellus to turn his gaze to him.


    Marcellus grinned as he easily infiltrated his mind and whispered a simplemand in his head.


    ¡¯Kill yourself in the most brutal way possible.¡¯


    Suddenly, the man dropped his gun and yelled out in terror as he slowly brought both his fingers to his eyes.


    It was clear that he was trying to resist, but it was no use as he used both his thumbs to press his own eyes until his eyeballs popped, causing them to burst with blood.


    People standing around the young soldier screamed in terror as he continued by pressing his thumb deep into his eye sockets and then managed to reach his brain.


    Marcellus¡¯ grin widened as he stretched out his arms in pure glee, and chaos erupted all around the church.


    "No hard feelings, humans! But your town has been marked for death for the crime of allying with Alpha King Kaelos!" Marcellus yelled out with a loud voice as he slowly levitated into the air while the young soldier began pulling out his brain matter.

 Chapter 120: _The Hand Of Death

    <h4>Chapter 120: _The Hand Of Death</h4>


    (Warning: More Graphic and Disturbing Scenes Ahead)


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    As he began levitating into the air after giving his verdict on the humans, the soldiers began shooting him with their silver bullets.


    A few hit him and he began bleeding but Marcellus ignored the pain as he focused on collecting the life force of the humans he¡¯s killed already.


    A town filled with over two hundred people was ripe for the picking. He almost couldn¡¯t believe that Tonka hadn¡¯te here to harvest life force before he was discovered by Kaelos.


    "Why isn¡¯t he dying already?!" A soldier yelled out in a panic as he stopped shooting and tried reloading his gun.


    But Marcellus turned his gaze to him and smirked coldly as he slowly raised his right hand before whispering a spell.


    Suddenly, all the bullets heading to him stopped mid-air and then slowly spun around him, making him seem even more god-like to the humans who watched with dread.


    "While I¡¯m affected by silver as much as any werewolf..." Marcellus remarked before he made a simple hand gesture.


    That caused all the bullets swirling around him to fire straight at the soldier who had yelled earlier, riddling his body with countless bloody holes until he plopped to the ground.


    Marcellus could¡¯ve easily used that technique to kill most of the soldiers at once, but he wanted to savor the moment as he stretched his right hand out, causing the life force of the fallen soldier to flow to him.


    He sighed with satisfaction, the bullet wounds on his body healing up at a noticeable rate as he continued. "Anyway, your weapons are no use when I can easily heal up by collecting some life force."


    He could feel the power from the life force he was collecting like a grim reaper flowing into him, coursing in his veins and blood. It was an empowering feeling, far better than the high any drug or alcohol could bestow him.


    And he wanted more!


    <fn2096> Original content can be found at Find~Novel</fn2096>


    Suddenly, one of the soldiers brought out a bazooka from hell knows where and pointed it at Marcellus.


    Thetter chuckled, shaking his head with amusement as he watched the soldier, who seemed to be in his early forties, point the thing at him.


    Marcellus looked into his eyes and used that opportunity to infiltrate his mind. That gave him the chance to see who his wife and child were in the audience.


    Marcellus turned his head coldly to the woman and the boy she carried. They were the ones who had been kind to him earlier.


    "Aw, and I had hoped to give them a quick and painless death," Marcellus remarked with pity as the man holding the bazooka finally fired at him.


    However, before the thing could hit him, Marcellus stopped it by simply raising his right hand, a cold smirk curling up his lips. He stared directly at the man who looked up at him with pure dread and terror.


    "Their deaths are in your hands," Marcellus said coldly before he clenched his right hand into a fist.


    That caused the ammunition to change course from him and head straight to the woman and child. They both screamed in terror and the woman closed her eyes while the boy kept his gaze on Marcellus¡¯ eyes.


    The next instant, the ammunition hit the woman¡¯s chest and exploded upon impact, causing the two to explode into a bloody pulp.


    Marcellus watched coldly as the iplete corpses of the two fell to the ground while their life force flowed to him.


    He chuckled to himself as he watched the humans cry and scream all around the church, with many pushing the people around them in an attempt to not get noticed by him.


    "No!" The husband of the woman who just died screamed out with despair as he fell to his knees.


    However, Marcellus got irritated by the noise and got hold of the man telekically before he raised him into the air.


    He kept him suspended in the air in front of him for a few seconds before he caused him to explode into a bloody pulp as well, sending his organs and other parts of his remains everywhere.


    "The hand of death shall touch you all, so don¡¯t fret," Marcellus announced with a loud voice, scanning his gaze around the church.


    The soldiers put up a fight, trying to stop him with their silver bullets but it was simply no use as he ughtered them like chicken one after the other.


    Heads flew and blood sttered with each soldier that fell.


    He fixed his eyes on the fiance of the deceased and proceeded tond on his head with his right foot before he grabbed both his ears and raised him into the air.


    The man struggled to get out of his grip but it was no use as Marcellus yelled out. "Why don¡¯t you tell the church about how you spread those rumors of your dead fiancee cheating on you to your drinking buddies?!"


    Shocked gasps escaped the mouths of some people but they weren¡¯t audible in the midst of all the chaos.


    Marcellus¡¯ expression was cold as he pulled at both ears of the man, causing him to scream out in agony as he kicked and struggled mid-air.


    Slowly, Marcellus ripped out his ears until his flesh began ripping out of his head and his bloody skull remained. The pathetic man was flung aside as Marcellus continued with his massacre.


    The children were ¡¯spared¡¯ with quick, painless deaths but the adults weren¡¯t given that grace as Marcellus plucked their lives one after the other until the stained ss windows of the church were stained further with sshes of crimson blood.


    At that rate, after five minutes or so of screaming, shooting, and yelling, all life in the church was finallypletely wiped out.


    Marcellus had gotten rid of an entire town¡¯s poption within minutes and stood at the center of the brutal massacre, a bloody grin etched on his face.


    "It seems we still have some survivors," Marcellus said as he nced back at the coffin.


    Themander and his surviving daughter, who he had been saving forst, had managed to escape and fled the church.


    Marcellus sighed, shaking his head before he tracked down their scents despite the blood and dead bodies surrounding him.


    "No matter. I love a good cat and mouse chase." He remarked coldly as he dusted his hands before heading out of the church building.

 Chapter 121: _A Long Day Of Killing

    <h4>Chapter 121: _A Long Day Of Killing</h4>


    (Warning: Graphic Scenes And Sexual Assault Ahead)


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    <fn16ef> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn16ef>


    He walked out of the church building, scanning his gaze around the empty buildings in the town.


    The town is a ghost town now... Quite literally.


    He smirked to himself, sighing with satisfaction as he stretched out his hands and clenched them into fists, feeling the rejuvenating power of over two hundred people¡¯s life force coursing through his veins.


    "You can¡¯t hide from me forever!" Marcellus yelled out in a menacing voice before chuckling like a madman.


    Killing gave him a high that he just wanted more of. The life force flowing inside him made him feel more powerful... Because he was.


    He paused, drawing in a deep breath to track the scent of themander and his surviving daughter. He soon pinned them down to a simple-looking building¡ª a bakery.


    Smirking coldly, Marcellus kept on walking until he got to the entrance of the bakery. However, he discovered the door was barricaded from the inside when he tried to open it, causing him to scoff.


    A little more effort was all he needed to break it down, sending the furniture used to barricade it flying away.


    A female scream sounded in the building as Marcellus stepped inside and locked his gaze on themander and his daughter hiding behind him.


    Themander had a pistol pointed at him, his face stern as he warned Marcellus.


    "Stay back, you demon!" Themander yelled out, but Marcellus could see his shaky hands and didn¡¯t even bother himself.


    He took a step forward and then another, tilting his head as his smirk widened. Themander panicked and shot once, and then twice.


    Soon he began firing shots after shots, each bullet made of pure silver. Yet, despite his relentless efforts, Marcellus kept on advancing, although he felt the pain from the silver bullets.


    "I¡¯ll just use your life force to heal," Marcellus said as he slowly raised his right hand.


    That caused a telekic force to grip themander, causing him to levitate into the air before he slowly moved toward Marcellus.


    "Dad, no!" The daughter screamed out before she drew out a silver dagger.


    To Marcellus¡¯ surprise, she ran up to him with the dagger, raising it and screaming with rage.


    His eyes widened, but he wasn¡¯t able to react in time to cast a spell on her due to the silver poisoning. However, he did have enough time to use her father as a meat shield and did just that, telekically cing themander in front of him.


    Everything happened so fast but it ended with the girl driving a dagger through her father¡¯s skull and then through his right eye, causing the bloody hole to gush out with blood that spilled on Marcellus¡¯ already bloody suit.


    The man gasped, the life in his other eye slowly draining away as he plopped to the ground.


    "No!" The girl released an agonizing scream, breaking down and falling to the ground, kneeling beside her dying father.


    Marcellus watched on as he snapped his neck before raising his right hand again, slowly draining the man of whatever was left of his life force as he tried speaking to his daughter with hisst breath.


    "M¨C Matilda... I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve failed to protect you twice now." Themander said with an apologetic tone, his voice cracked as he coughed erratically before passing away.


    Matilda wept, hugging her father¡¯s body despite the dagger sticking through his head and the pool of his own blood spreading below him.


    "Oh, that¡¯s right." Marcellus suddenly remembered something, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I remember now. They said you got rapedst night. Defiled after watching your husband get beheaded."


    Matilda barely paid him any heed as he slowly walked toward her and her father¡¯s corpse. He had an idea in mind, one driven by his awakened desires brought from all the killing.


    He was on a high right now, almost simr to someone on drugs, except this one was far better, and he had total control of his actions. All his senses and desires that he¡¯s kept at bay for so long wereing out in that moment, hence...


    "Make yourself useful ande suck my dick." Marcellusmanded, easily entering her mind and telepathicallypelling her as he used telekinesis to draw himself a chair to sit on.


    He made himselffortable, raising an eyebrow as he watched Matilda slowly stand up under his control, her face still streaked with her tears as she walked to him.


    Marcellus smirked coldly as he watched the fragile human woman kneel in front of him and unbuckle his pants before she pulled out his rock-hard cock.


    Hey back and rxed as she brought her soft lips and slowly took his dick into her mouth, pleasuring him. She stroked and licked and sucked until he felt a reaction building up.


    He could¡¯ve had his way with her beyond this, but he figured this should suffice. He only wanted to blow off some steam after a long day of killing after all.


    Suddenly, just when Marcellus was beginning to think of other uses for the woman, a sharp pain on his dick forced him to open his eyes in pain as he fixed his gaze on the woman giving him a blowjob.


    "Y¨C You bitch!" He roared with anger as he pped her with the back of his right hand but she didn¡¯t let go, biting on his dick with full force until it began bleeding.


    Her rage and sadness had managed to allow her to ovee his telepathic control with her will, something he¡¯d never seen before in a human.


    Unfortunately for her, he brought out the ws of his right hand and shed at her head, causing her to freeze.


    Soon, her head was cleanly sliced off from her scalp, revealing her skull and brain as blood started pouring out from her head like a bowl.


    However, her teeth were still mped on his dick, and to make things worse, he was still rock hard.


    "Fuck this!" He grunted as he managed to shove her body off him before he stood up and stared down at his now bleeding dick.


    He gritted his teeth, panting heavily but then began rxing again as Matilda¡¯s life force seeped into him after she died, healing him automatically.


    It was over. Everyone in the town was dead.


    But Marcellus couldn¡¯t leave any evidence behind and nced at themander and his ferocious daughter¡¯s bodies onest time before he stretched out his right hand and chanted a spell.


    That caused mes to engulf his hands before they fell to the ground and slowly began consuming the bakery and the dead bodies with it.


    Marcellus walked out of the bakery, buckling back his belt as the mes started going beyond and slowly consuming the entire town.


    However, just when he walked out of the town, Marcellus felt someone telepathically reaching out to him and paused.

 Chapter 122: _Couple’s Counseling

    <h4>Chapter 122: _Couple¡¯s Counseling</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    The figure standing at the entrance of the room Elder Davina and I were having a conversation in turned out to be Kaelos, who had a pensive look in his eyes.


    However, I watched as his eyes softened as soon as he saw me, causing me to blush. Well, until I heard what he had to say.


    "I need you for something, Odessa. Now."


    I blinked, my lips parting at first until I felt the love bubbles swirling in my stomach disappear in an instant as my eyebrows furrowed into a frown.


    "And what could that possibly be?" I queried, folding my arms in front of my chest as I nced back at Elder Davina.


    I watched her give me a subtle wink before she raised her cup of hot tea and took a sip, smacking her lips with satisfaction.


    I felt annoyed and turned my gaze back to Kaelos who was about to speak. But before he could, I beat him to it with a question.


    "When were you going to tell me that Elder Davina knew about our mate bond? That you told her?" I asked, dimming my eyes and gazing straight into his piercing eyes.


    I watched the frown lines on his forehead crumple as he raised an eyebrow and nced at Elder Davina.


    "Hey, don¡¯t look at me except if you¡¯re seeking a couple¡¯s counseling session." Elder Davina said with disinterest and I heard her standing up and grabbing her staff.


    I sighed, shaking my head before I walked past Kaelos, strutting out of the room and navigating my way through the residence.


    "Well, don¡¯t just stand there! Go after her." I heard Elder Davina yell urgently at Kaelos but I ignored that as I climbed down the stairs.


    When I finally got outside, I took a deep breath and was about to walk out of thepound entirely when a hand grabbed me from behind.


    I gasped, swerving my head back only to see Kaelos staring at me with confusion.


    "Why the heck are you upset now?" He asked with a bbergasted tone, making me feel like some ¡¯drama queen¡¯.


    Well, I¡¯m not!


    Just then, in my head, my wolf coughed awkwardly. ¡¯Actually, you are. Quite literally.¡¯


    My eyes twitched as I ended up blurting out physically. "Shut up, fur face!"


    However, I soon realized my blunder and covered my mouth with my right hand before raising my head and blinking at Kaelos who had an amused expression.


    "Well, ouch." He sniggered, taking a few steps forward. "You¡¯re getting feistier by the day. Has someone forgotten that they¡¯re still expecting punishment tonight for their attempt to escape?"


    My face heated up with a violent blush and I felt like sinking into the ground at this point.


    "I wasn¡¯t talking to you, perv!" I snapped, waving dismissively as I rubbed my forehead with my right hand. "It¡¯s this annoying wolf in my head. She can even hear my thoughts and I feel like I have no privacy."


    I grunted, gritting my teeth but my wolf didn¡¯t get the message that she wasn¡¯t needed right now.


    <fn1838> For more chapters visit F?ndNovel</fn1838>


    Gosh, that sounded so fucking weird. ¡¯My wolf¡¯? What has my life turned into under the span of one bloody night?


    ¡¯Maybe this way, you can get closer to Kaelos by letting him teach you how to control your werewolf side.¡¯ my wolf said teasingly, causing me to clench my jaw. ¡¯You¡¯re wee.¡¯


    I sighed, shaking my head while Kaelos chuckled.


    "I see your inner wolf is also the annoying type. I guess she and Damon will get along pretty well." He remarked, causing me to furrow my eyebrows at first.


    But then realization dawned on me and my eyes widened with surprise. "You named your wolf? Werewolves do that?"


    I mean... It made sense now that I think about it. If all inner wolves were like mine, then they were pretty much sentient and intelligent.


    "Well, most werewolves do that. It¡¯splicated." Kaelos said, rubbing his chin before he waved his hand dismissively. "Now are you done with your previous temper tantrum so I can show you what I wanted to?"


    The bastard just had to ruin the mood!


    I eyed him from his head to his toes before I shook my head, folding my arms in front of my chest.


    "Temper tantrum, eh? Kaelos, you told Elder Davina about you know what all this while and didn¡¯t see it fit to tell me. Someone else who isn¡¯t your annoying self knew about this overwhelming bond, and you kept that from me."


    He parted his lips, his eyebrows crumpling at the corners but I didn¡¯t give him the chance to exin anything.


    "I¡¯ve contemted telling Caroline for so long because I felt... Alone. We talk about almost everything together, except the true nature of my rtionship with you. And she¡¯s a werewolf too and she¡¯ll be able to¨C"


    "Alright, you win!" Kaelos interrupted, yelling out with a grunt as he rubbed his forehead with his right hand.


    I was stunned at first, fluttering my eyelids at him until he continued.


    "I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t tell you about Elder Davina. You can tell Caroline as well... As long as you can guarantee that she¡¯ll keep it a secret anyway."


    I was taken aback, almost speechless. Kaelos saying ¡¯I¡¯m sorry¡¯? Was I dreaming?


    After managing to regain myposure, I nodded with a small smile curling up my lips. "Y¨C Yes, I can. I trust Caroline so much and it¡¯s so¨C"


    "Anyway, now that we have that out of the way, it¡¯s my turn to rant." Kaelos interrupted me once again as he shoved his right hand into the inner pockets of his suit.


    My eyes twitched and I felt the urge to p him and walk away, but I was too focused on the excitement I felt at the thought of finally having people I could rte my rtionship life with.


    Kaelos finally brought out what he wanted to show me, which happened to be a stic bag with a strand of hair inside it.


    I blinked with confusion at first but that turned to bewilderment when I heard what he had to say next.


    "I want you to track down the person who owns this hair. It¡¯s Tonka. Fromst night."


    My skin crawled with disgust and a chilling fear gripped me when I remembered the rogue werewolf fromst night, causing me to take a step back subconsciously.

 Chapter 123: _When Did He Become So Good?

    <h4>Chapter 123: _When Did He Be So Good?</h4>


    Kaelos seemed to notice my reaction when he mentioned Tonka¡¯s name and nced at the hair in the stic bag before he let out a sigh.


    "Trust me when I say I wish more than anything that I had the opportunity to rip that bastard limb by limb and then dissect his manhood and force-feed it to him."


    I was reeling and shaken when I remembered what Tonka didst night, but my mind immediately came back to reality when I heard Kaelos¡¯ vivid words.


    My eyebrows snapped into a frown as I looked into his eyes and saw the seriousness in them. The possessiveness. He meant every word he said.


    That was oddlyforting and caused my shoulders to rx as I let out a sigh before I shook my head.


    "Well, too bad he escaped. Gods know I wish I could shove a dagger through his skull." I said with a shrug before focusing my attention back on the stic bag. "Anyway, let¡¯s get back to this. How do you expect me to track him with his hair?"


    Kaelos gave me an ¡¯Are you serious look¡¯, causing me to tense up. Wait... He couldn¡¯t know about...


    "Don¡¯t tell me that the only thing you awakenedst night was your wolf side." He blurted with a snicker, shaking his head. "I thought about it a lot this morning. Are you telling me that you¡¯re still a powerless witch?"


    I pouted my lips, contemting if I should just tell him. I wouldn¡¯t lose anything by revealing it to him anyway.


    "Let¡¯s head back to the mansion." I finally said with a low voice, shing him a small smile before I turned around and started walking out of thepound.


    .


    .


    <fn63a3> Find the newest release on f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn63a3>


    When we got to the mansion and then headed to the privacy of my room, I nced around. I remember telling Caroline to wait around for me after Madame Greyheartshed out at her.


    I guess she was too hurt by the things she said. I bit my bottom lip, making a mental note to search for her and make sure she was okay before I turned my attention to Kaelos who had a suspicious look on his face.


    "While I¡¯m intrigued by all the potential reasons you might have to bring me to your room, could you quit the suspense and just tell me if you have magic now or not?" He asked, cing his arms behind his back.


    I ignored him and instead stretched my right hand forward, focusing on a flower vase close to the balcony door.


    My eyes fluttered before closing as I took in deep breaths, concentrating on the mental image I¡¯d made of the vase.


    Fortunately, Kaelos stayed silent and waited patiently, allowing me to rx as I called upon my magic.


    After a few seconds, my eyes opened, and I stared directly at the vase before clenching my right hand into a fist.


    However, instead of levitating into the air like I had wanted, the vase shook before exploding into a thousand pieces, sending shards everywhere and forcing me to shield my face with my arms.


    My lips parted in shock as I stared speechlessly at the scene before ncing at Kaelos. He had a shocked expression as well and slowly turned his gaze to me.


    "A simple ¡¯yes¡¯ would have been fine." He finally blurted with a light chuckle, seeming impressed. "I knew it! So, the powerless witch is not so powerless now, huh?"


    My face heated up with a blush as I looked away from him before withdrawing my hand to myself and shaking my head.


    "That¡¯s the thing, Kaelos. My magic has finally awakened but it¡¯s... Unstable. The spells I¡¯ve managed to cast today all ended up bing chaotic." I said with a sigh, before walking to a table at the corner where my aunt¡¯s grimoire was kept.


    I took it off the table and held it close before flipping through the pages.


    "I studied this book page to page since I got into this pack, even though Icked magic then. Yet, despite all the knowledge I have, it¡¯s useless because I only awakened magicst night." I groaned with frustration, flinging the book aside.


    However, as I drew in deep breaths to calm myself, I heard Kaelos¡¯ slow and steady footsteps heading for me, causing me to raise my head.


    I stared into his piercing silver eyes which were filled with reassurance now as he stretched his right hand forward and caressed my face.


    "My little hybrid." He said softly, his eyes searching mine as my heartbeat quickened. "You¡¯ll be alright. The fact that you can do anything at all with your magic tells me that all you need is time to grow."


    I smiled wryly, maintaining eye contact as I wrapped my hand around his wrist, my shoulders rxing.


    "When did you be so... Good?" I found myself asking and felt my breathing cease as I waited for a response.


    There was silence for what felt like an eternity and I could see a myriad ofplex emotions within his eyes. He seemed to be searching for a genuine answer to my question.


    Eventually, his lips curled into a smirk before he whispered.


    "When I realized that for some reason... I don¡¯t want to let you go. I don¡¯t want you dead. I want you here. By my side, for the rest of my life. Which is crazy because I¡¯ve wanted nothing but the opposite since the moment I discovered that we are mates."


    My face heated up and at that moment, I wanted nothing more than to throw myself at him and give him my all. But then, I nced at his other hand and saw the stic bag with the piece of hair.


    "We¡¯ll get back to this after I try tracking this bastard," I whispered into his ears, making sure my lips grazed his skin before I pulled away.


    The intensity in his eyes and the way his breathing pace increased told me that he wanted to have me as much as I wanted to have him, causing me to smirk to myself as I took the stic bag from his hand.


    I took out the strand of hair and clutched it in my right hand as I finally stepped away from Kaelos, giving me space to concentrate.


    Witches could use magic to track a person as long as they had something that belonged to the person. A strand of hair would do just fine.


    I closed my eyes and concentrated, remembering Tonka¡¯s face before I drew in a deep breath and blurted out the spell word.


    "Locarax."


    My eyes fluttered open but I felt nothing. Thinking the spell didn¡¯t work, I sighed, about to try again when suddenly, I saw an image sh in my eyes.


    It was an image of Tonka lying dead on the floor, surrounded by a pool of his own blood. The image was so vivid that I gasped and almost stumbled until Kaelos held me.


    "What¡¯s wrong? What happened?" He asked, staring at me with confusion.


    I tried catching my breath, blinking repeatedly, and hoping not to see the image again as I slowly turned my gaze to him.


    "H¨C He¡¯s dead."

 Chapter 124: _Nothing She Could Do

    <h4>Chapter 124: _Nothing She Could Do</h4>


    "H¨C He¡¯s dead," I said with a shaky voice as I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath while Kaelos held me close.


    As much as I wanted Tonka dead in the first ce, actually seeing him dead with my own eyes when all I wanted was to track him down was... Bone-chilling.


    Who or what could have killed him after he ran away?


    "How do you even know he¡¯s dead?" Kaelos suddenly asked as he slowly let go of me when he noticed I was okay, a frown etched on his face. "Also, even if he¡¯s dead, can¡¯t you track him?"


    I could see his frustration and felt bad, but there was nothing I could do.


    "The spell I used was meant to track down a living being, using the traces they left behind on an object of their possession," I exined, scratching the back of my head. "I don¡¯t know how I saw Tonka dead but I couldn¡¯t... I couldn¡¯t feel him. At all. I can¡¯t track him because he¡¯s dead."


    I shook my head when I remembered the image once again, causing me to rub my forehead as I walked toward the balcony.


    I could feel Kaelos¡¯ intense staring on my back but I paid no heed to that and kept on moving. If only I knew how to cast other locator spells, then maybe I would¡¯ve been able to bypass the rule of only tracking living beings.


    <fndc00> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? F?ndNovel</fndc00>


    "Were you able to at least see the things around his body?" Kaelos asked from behind me when I finally got to the balcony.


    I scanned my gaze on the pack grounds down below, my eyes going from thergepound to the elite regions and then to the middle regions filled with normal werewolves.


    My lips curled up into a wry smile when I saw them going about their day-to-day life, talking, ying, driving, selling, and buying stuff... A tight-knitmunity that I might never truly be a part of despite my werewolf blood.


    My hands beside me clenched into fists when I thought about this, causing me to close my eyes and draw in a deep breath before I swerved my head to Kaelos and answered hisst question.


    "All I was able to see apart from his dead body was his own blood. Then..." I paused, my eyelids fluttering as I tried thinking further.


    I swear, I thought I could¡¯ve seen more things. More things like...


    "The floor his body was on... It was made of ck marble." I blurted, blinking repeatedly again until I shook my head and focused on Kaelos. "That¡¯s all I could see."


    He nodded slowly and I could see the disappointment in his eyes as he slowly stepped back.


    "We¡¯re back to square one... Again." He muttered, a wry smile on his face as he shook his head.


    That was like a punch to the gut seeing him so disappointed, but again... There was nothing I could do.


    "It¡¯s no matter though." He added then, staring at me with those piercing eyes of his as I dimmed my eyes because of the sunlight outside.


    "The Gamma and Delta are working on finding more information on him through the poption documents. Then Marcellus is out there trying to see if following his foot tracks can provide any clues."


    Oh...


    At the mention of what Marcellus was doing, I tensed up and subconsciously got worried for him. If he was out there trying to track Tonka on his own... What if he encounters the person or thing that killed him?


    I could feel Kaelos staring at me as I thought about all this until he finally blurted. "See youter... Mate."


    With that, he turned away from me and walked toward the room door, opening it and stepping out.


    As soon as I heard the door close, I sighed, raising my head while fiddling my fingers. There were just so many things going wrong around the pack and the continent since my arrival here.


    From the killings to the attack during the weing ball and now this.


    ¡¯Don¡¯t forget that weird ass text you got earlier today.¡¯ My wolf suddenly spoke up in my head just then, causing me to smile wryly.


    I¡¯d almost forgotten about the little troublemaker.


    "I don¡¯t know if I should even tell Kaelos about it," I muttered with a sigh as I ced my hands on the handrails of the balcony and stared down at thepound grounds.


    My eyes flutteredzily as my wolf kept on speaking. ¡¯The obvious answer is YES. Tell our mate, Odessa. Also... If I may add, I would like it if you¡¯d give me a name.¡¯


    A genuine smile curled up my lips as I finally drew in a deep breath and focused onmunicating mentally.


    ¡¯What name could I possibly give you?¡¯ I asked teasingly. ¡¯I mean, Kaelos named his wolf Damon... Which might be a y on the word demon. And that¡¯s understandable with what I saw back in the woods.¡¯


    Either that or someone spent too much time watching a very popr vampire show.


    ¡¯You¡¯re the one with a wolf, Odessa. Come on, juste up with something.¡¯ My wolf said with a pleading voice, causing me to shake my head as I chuckled physically.


    After pouting my lips for several seconds, my eyes lit up as I came up with something.


    "Sirena," I whispered physically, a bright smile curling up my lips.


    My inspiration for it was simple... The first thing I did after my wolf got awakened was to release a sonic scream. Yeah, I¡¯m not good at naming things.


    ¡¯I love it!¡¯ My wolf, Sirena, spoke with a giggle in my head. ¡¯That¡¯s actually quite catchy if you ask me.¡¯


    Just when I was about to continue bantering with her, my phone buzzed with a notification, forcing me to draw it out. However, when I opened it and saw the message, my heart fell to my stomach.


    "<strong>Tick Tock, Odessa Pierce. Five days left..." </strong>

 Chapter 125: _I’m A Hybrid

    <h4>Chapter 125: _I¡¯m A Hybrid</h4>


    "<strong>Tick Tock, Odessa Pierce. Five days left..." </strong>


    I stared at the message like it was a bad omen.


    For fucks sake, it IS a bad omen!


    My face heated up with anger as I attempted to respond to the anonymous message.


    However, my fingers lingered on the buttons for far too long as I thought hard about what to say. My face dripped with cold sweat, causing me to groan with frustration.


    "Argh! What do I even say?" Imented, turning away from the balcony and stepping back into my room.


    Just then, Sirena offered something in my mind. ¡¯Tell them that you¡¯ll curse them and their bloodline if they do anything stupid.¡¯


    <fn78bf> Th?s chapter is updated by find[?]ovel</fn78bf>


    What the heck?


    I rolled my eyes before I responded to her. "They¡¯re literally threatening to expose my secret and you want me to add the fact that I can use magic? Also, dabbling with curses has consequences for a newbie like me."


    I sighed heavily, parting aside some strands of my hair before I focused on sending a response to the anonymous message.


    "<strong>Who are you and what do you want?" </strong>


    I clicked on send, sighing heaving as I crashed on my bed and spread out my arms, staring at my ceiling.


    To my surprise, another notification came to my phone, forcing me to stare at the screen nervously.


    "<strong>Oh, pathetic witch... I¡¯m your worst nightmare. And as for what I want, that¡¯s simple. I want you ruinedpletely."</strong>


    Well, ouch...


    I pouted my lips, contemting all my possible enemies. I could easily fit almost all the werewolves in the pack and beyond into that list but those only hated me because of my witch heritage.


    So that would leave...


    ¡¯Celine!" Sirena spoke up in my head with certainty, causing me to furrow my eyebrows. ¡¯It has to be her; think about it. She¡¯s your biggest hater, and she was acting weird this morning.¡¯


    Honestly, Sirena had a point. But her words made me curious about something.


    "Hey, Sirena. Does this mean you¡¯ve been inside me all this while? And have you been seeing everything¨C"


    ¡¯Ew, you made it sound weird.¡¯ Sirena made a retching sound in my head, causing my face to heat up with embarrassment.


    Gosh, how can MY wolf have such a dirty mind?


    ¡¯As if your mind is any cleaner.¡¯ Sirena scoffed before she continued. ¡¯Anyway, yeah. When you were born... So was I. That¡¯s how it is with all werewolves. I was supposed to awaken at least when you turned eighteen but your dormant werewolf blood prevented that from happening.¡¯


    Oh...


    I raised an eyebrow as I thought more about the whole thing. I¡¯ve been a hybrid with an inner wolf all this time.


    I was actually something special, but I never knew about it and had to live all my life ostracized, shunned, and bullied for being a powerless witch.


    But... Why?


    "It¡¯s as if... It¡¯s as if my wolf side and my magic have been locked away since birth." I muttered thoughtfully, fiddling with my fingers. "And if that¡¯s the case, what or who locked them away? And how did they awaken?"


    I stared nkly at my phone and thest message from the anonymous number as I thought about this, but I couldn¡¯te up with an answer. Why was my life getting filled with more mysteries daily?


    ¡¯Oh, girl, I have an answer to the second question.¡¯ Sirena suddenly blurted with a confident tone, causing me to furrow my eyebrows curiously.


    ¡¯Kaelos! Your mate bond with him is what unlocked your wolf side and awakened me, of course. And I guess that your magic is somehow tied to your wolf side so it awakened as well.¡¯


    ... What?


    As I triedprehending the sudden revtion from Sirena, a knock sounded from the other side of my door, forcing me to sit up and stare at it.


    "Come in," I said after clearing my throat and adjusting my clothes.


    The door opened slowly and to my relief, Caroline was the one who peeked her head into the room. She stared around awkwardly before she stepped into the room, a wry smile on her face.


    "I guess breakfast was a disaster." She said with a soft chuckle as she closed the door behind her.


    I was able to guess that the reason for her mood was the insults she got from Madame Greyheart.


    I felt bad, a knot forming in my stomach as I stood up, walking up to her with outstretched arms. I saw the confusion in her eyes but ignored that as I pulled her into a tight hug.


    "Aw, Caroline. Don¡¯t tell me you let that old hag¡¯s words get to you?" I queried with a wry smile, pulling away and staring at her face.


    She tried avoiding my eyes but eventually kept eye contact with something unknown glinting in her hazel eyes.


    Her shoulders slouched, causing me to pull her into yet another hug.


    "You¡¯re my maid but you¡¯re also the best friend I¡¯ve ever had. Regardless of what anyone says, I¡¯ll never look down on you. You¡¯re far better than that wench who¡¯s probably enjoying the fruits of herte husband¡¯s hard work."


    I felt her shoulders rxed and she released a relieved breath as she finally returned my hug.


    "Madame Greyheart actually made her wealth and noble title from generations of her family¡¯s business empire. But thank you." She said, causing the both of us to chuckle as we broke the hug.


    I kept my right hand on her shoulder for a while, shing her a smile before I walked back to my bed and sat.


    Her face was red as she stood there awkwardly until I patted the spot beside me with my right hand. "Come sit. I need to tell you something." I said.


    She visibly stiffened, seeming like she was holding her breath until she nodded and stepped forward with a small smile on her face.


    After she sat down and adjusted her dress, she turned her gaze to me with anticipation.


    I drew in a deep breath, readying myself before I finally let it all out.


    "Kaelos and I are mates. And I¡¯m..." I paused, contemting if I should tell her thest one. Fuck it...


    "... And I¡¯m a hybrid."

 Chapter 126: _Coming Clean

    <h4>Chapter 126: _Coming Clean</h4>


    "I¡¯m a hybrid."


    After saying that, I stared at Caroline nervously, waiting for her to make a response.


    She blinked back at me, confusion first shing in her eyes until her eyes widened.


    "Oh..." She blurted, chuckling awkwardly. "That¡¯s... Wow. Why did I think you were about to say something else?"


    Huh? Something else like what?


    My eyebrows furrowed into a frown but before I could say anything else, she ced her right hand on both my hands and beganughing.


    "Anyway, that... That was a good joke." She stuttered, using her other hand to cover her mouth. "Seriously though, if you ever have anything you want to share with me. Anything at all. I¡¯m always open to listening. Except it involves murder or treason, of course."


    She continuedughing after saying that, causing me to pout my lips.


    She thought I was joking?


    ¡¯What were you thinking telling her that you¡¯re a bloody hybrid anyway?¡¯ Sirena asked in my head with disbelief.


    ¡¯Kaelos said I could.¡¯ I responded while physically watching Caroline and the way she nced at me asionally as she rxed fromughing.


    I could see a hint of something glinting in her eyes... As if she was trying toe to terms with what I told her. It was as if deep down, she was contemting if I was telling the truth.


    I guess I should give her proof.


    ¡¯Kaelos only said you could tell Caroline about the mate bond. NOT you being a hybrid.¡¯ Sirena retorted with a groan. ¡¯Goddess, I have a bad feeling about this.¡¯


    However, I ignored her as I cleared my throat and withdrew my hands from Caroline¡¯s hold, causing her to stare at me with concern.


    I stared back at her for a few seconds before I gathered myself and stood up, parting aside my hair and revealing my neck to her. I pointed at the mate mark on my neck with my right finger, watching her eyes widen when she saw it.


    "Goddess, have mercy..." She gasped as she stood up, staring at the mark as if she¡¯d seen a ghost.


    Her gaze went from the mark to my eyes repeatedly as she slowly stretched her hands forward and used her fingers to gently touch the mark.


    "Yup. It¡¯s real." I said with a soft sigh as she took a couple of steps back and blinked in disbelief.


    She shook her head as she ced her right hand on her forehead. "I¨C I don¡¯t know what to say." She blurted.


    Oh, but I was just getting started.


    "You might want to step back for this," I remarked, gesturing for her to step away.


    She raised an eyebrow at first before sheplied and stepped back, giving me space to spread out my arms as I closed my eyes.


    I focused on casting a spell... A fire summoning spell. It was meant to create small mes on my palms.


    After a few seconds, I felt the heat slowly spreading on both my palms until I opened my eyes and brought my hands forward.


    Suddenly, two tongue-shaped mes, zing with a yellow light, appeared above both my palms, levitating but not burning my skin.


    I stared at the mes in awe as warmth filled my heart, causing me to smile warmly. Being able to cast spells still felt like I was in a thrilling dream that I never wished to wake up from.


    "Sweet mother of the moon!" Caroline suddenly eximed, causing me to lose concentration and jolt.


    I lost control of the mes and watched as they both fell on the ground and quickly began spreading and increasing in both heat and intensity.


    "Ahh!" I screamed in a panic as I struggled to step away from the mes as a first instinct, jumping to where Caroline stood at the other side of the room.


    Her instinct was to stare at the mes in awe and stupefaction, but she came back to her senses when I got close to her.


    "Was... Was that magic?" She asked with a shaky voice, staring at me with what looked like fear.


    <fn6580> The source of th?s content is Find?Novel</fn6580>


    My heart clenched when I saw that.


    Oh no...


    She¡¯s never looked at me in a negative light since I stepped foot into this pack. Would she be distant with me now that I have magic? Will she expose me?


    "Yes, it was magic," I muttered in a low tone, scratching the back of my head awkwardly.


    However, to my surprise, she didn¡¯t have any negative reactions but instead nodded slowly until she slowly turned her gaze to the mes, which were getting close to being as high as the ceiling.


    "No offense, ma¡¯am. But could you like, I don¡¯t know... Turn the literal fire at the center of your room off before people notice?!" She eximed, staring at me as if she was scolding a child.


    My face heated up as I shook my head and focused on concentrating on the mes. I stretched my hands forward and felt my control on theming back.


    Eventually, the mes went out as fast as they had appeared, causing me and Caroline to sigh with relief.


    "Wow!" Caroline eximed before chuckling with excitement, using her hands to brush her ginger hair. "This is... Insane! The Alpha King¡¯s witch bride is actually a hybrid."


    I smiled awkwardly as I stared at the small ck patch that was left behind on the ground by the mes.


    ¡¯Never do magic again. It¡¯s clearly not your strong suit.¡¯ Sirena said in my head with a snigger, causing me to blush with even more embarrassment.


    It¡¯s not my fault that I¡¯ve been powerless for the past twenty-one years of my existence.


    "You¡¯re so amazing, oh my gosh! A hybrid is only heard of in legends." Caroline said excitedly as she surprisingly pulled me into a hug. "A¨C And the mate mark! Goddess, I¡¯m so happy for you. That¡¯s the closest thing to marriage in the werewolf world."


    Well... Kaelos and I were already married anyway.


    Now that Caroline knew about all my secrets, there was just one more thing I needed to look forward to.


    Who¡¯s the anonymous person threatening to expose my secret and what would I be expecting in five days from now?

 Chapter 127: _Progress On The Treaty

    <h4>Chapter 127: _Progress On The Treaty</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    I soon came to discover that Elder Davina had revealed to Odessa that she knew about our mate bond, causing thetter to get upset with me.


    Why?


    <fn9d0a> Read full story at find~novel</fn9d0a>


    Well, because she felt lonely not being able to talk about our rtionship with other people.


    What business does she have rting our marriage to others anyway?


    ¡¯Dude, don¡¯t even start. You do the same thing with Elder Davina and to some extent... Marcellus.¡¯ Damon muttered in my head after I stepped out of Odessa¡¯s room.


    I was correct about my suspicions of her awakening magic but unfortunately, she wasn¡¯t able to track the rogue leader, Tonka, like I had hoped, instead finding out that the bastard is dead.


    I was back to square one... Again.


    ¡¯All I do with Elder Davina is seek guidance about being bonded to a witch... Who happens to be a hybrid now. I might be the first Alpha king in my bloodline to have such a problem.¡¯ I said to Damon with a groan as I stepped into my office and closed the door behind me.


    I grunted physically, pulling off my suit and flinging it on a couch in the office before I let out a sigh.


    "What a hard day of barely aplishing anything." I scoffed, sitting on the chair behind my desk and cing both my legs on top of it.


    I sat back and rxed, unbuttoning my shirt down to the third button before I grabbed the TV remote and turned it on.


    I settled on one of the global news channels and grabbed a bottle of whiskey underneath my desk, pouring myself a ss.


    The news reporter was reporting from a human-dominated city that cut off rtions with both witches and werewolves... New York.


    "Now a recap of thetest news in the ongoing peace treaties between the witches and werewolves of North America." The male reporter said, his face serious.


    "While there¡¯s rtive peace in most of the continent since the treaty began,ints have arisen from towns about so-called ¡¯rogue werewolves¡¯ who are against the current Alpha King¡¯s rule."


    Shit... This was a global news station.


    Meaning the whole world would know how ipetent my reign was.


    "Damn, rogues!" I cursed, turning off the television before I gulped down the entire ss of whiskey.


    However, just when I was about to pour myself another ss, a knock sounded on my door, causing my eyebrows to furrow.


    I wanted some alone time but reasoned that it might be something important.


    "Come in."


    The door swung open and La, my assistant, walked in, holding a stack of papers.


    AKA... more work.


    "What are those, La?" I queried, spinning my chair to face her as she closed the door behind her and began walking to my desk.


    She had an awkward expression on her face as she dropped the papers on my desk before she spoke.


    "The first stack is reports from yourpanies, sir. Business has slowly started picking up between the packs of North America and even beyond since the treaty."


    Well, at least that was some good news.


    I grabbed the first stack of papers and skimmed through the reports, nodding when I saw the impressive figures.


    Something tells me the other paper La had for me would contain bad news. I was right...


    "This stack is from the Luna Queen. She suggests that we throw a ball to create awareness of the war. Or something like that..." La exined, causing me to raise an eyebrow as I grabbed the papers.


    We were literally in the middle of a war, barely a month into a fragile treaty and she was talking about throwing a party?


    Throwing the weing ball for the South American Alpha king had taken a lot of resources which I still low-key regret using up till today.


    "Celine, that little¨C" Before I could finish my curse, the door swung open, and Celine walked into the office like she owned the ce.


    Her steps were bold and elegant as she fixed her gaze on me and smiled brightly.


    "Good afternoon, Alpha King. I see you¡¯re back after your little... Tripst night." She blurted, ncing at La and giving her a silent look when she got in front of my desk.


    La sighed lightly before she stepped back and walked away, closing the door behind her when she was out.


    "Such a hard-working assistant," Celine said with a smile before she turned her gaze back to me. "Anyway, I¡¯m sure she told you about the party I have nned. It¡¯s a ball and¨C"


    "No," I said bluntly, eyeing her with contempt one final time before I focused on sipping from my whiskey.


    Celine was taken aback, blinking repeatedly as if the word ¡¯no¡¯ was foreign.


    "What the heck do you mean by ¡¯no¡¯?" She queried, pouting her lips. "I¨C I¡¯ve already made ns and sent out invitations to some of my noble friends. All the elite members of the pack are meant to attend and¨C"


    "My point exactly," I said with a scoff, dropping my ss of whiskey and staring coldly at her. "Can you hear yourself speak? You want to throw a party for the elite when people are dying of hunger around the world because of this bloody war."


    Celine¡¯s eyelids fluttered repeatedly before she sniggered, taking me by surprise.


    "If money is an issue, don¡¯t fret. My mother and I will handle it."


    Handle it? Hmph... I knew damn well that Madame Greyheart would be the ONLY one handling shit.


    Celine was pathetic for someone who never stopped running her mouth about her status.


    "Also, it¡¯s going to be a charity event to raise awareness. It is going to be for the benefit of werewolves all around the continent. So what¡¯s the issue?" She asked, rolling her eyes before she waved dismissively.


    I clenched my jaw, parting my lips to say something but she just couldn¡¯t stop talking.


    "All I need is your approval. Also, if you agree." She paused, a sly smirk curling up her lips as she leaned in closer. "A surprise would be waiting for you that day."

 Chapter 128: _Ghost Town

    <h4>Chapter 128: _Ghost Town</h4>


    "A surprise will be waiting for you that day."


    I narrowed my eyes at her, feeling her hot breath close enough to touch my skin as she leaned in across the desk.


    A surprise, eh?


    I raised an eyebrow, staring at her face and seeing the smirk that curled up her lips.


    That smirk of hers... I didn¡¯t like it. It meant maniption in Celine¡¯s books. It meant she thought she had the upper hand in whatever game she was trying to y here.


    "Celine," I said her name slowly, lifting my ss of whiskey but not drinking from it. "Do I look like a man who enjoys surprises?"


    Her smirk faltered just a little before she spoke with a light scoff. "Well, you used to. Remember? Before you brought in that¨C"


    "No words about Odessa from you, Celine." I blurted coldly, clutching my hand around the ss and almost breaking it if it weren¡¯t for my self-control.


    Celine seemed surprised and took a step back but I ignored her fear and continued.


    "I liked surprises before you started ying politics in my house."


    I stood up, pushing the ss aside and cing both my hands on the desk. Celine flinched slightly, but she didn¡¯t back down, and for a brief second, I saw a glint of something sinister in her eyes.


    ¡¯Maybe she¡¯s on drugs.¡¯ Damon suggested in my head and even though I knew he was being sarcastic, I took it as a metaphor to mean something else.


    Celine has definitely changed since before the South American Alpha King¡¯s weing ball.


    "You don¡¯t get to parade charity as a disguise for vanity fair or whatever it is you¡¯re hiding," I said with contempt, eyeing her. "You want to help? Start by getting your hands dirty with relief missions in neighboring packs. Or are your entitled silk gloves too expensive for that?"


    <fn0081> Th?s chapter is updated by FindN()vel</fn0081>


    Her lips pursed, but her pride didn¡¯t let her back down.


    "I¡¯m trying to bring hope, Kaelos. Public morale is crumbling. Spirits are low. Even the pack soldiers have begun whispering doubts when they think no one hears them. But I hear them loud and clear."


    I tensed up when I heard that, my eyes twitching slightly.


    If my soldiers were already doubting my abilities...


    "A celebration could shift the tides and help bring unity among the elites," Celine said, stretching her hand forward and brushing it against my hand. "We can cement their support for us. For your rule."


    I sighed lightly, looking away from her briefly before I stepped around the desk and stopped right in front of her, towering over her shorter figure.


    She looked up at me, gazing into my eyes while I searched hers with growing suspicion.


    "Hope is forged in action, not chandeliers and champagne," I said bluntly, cing my arms behind my back.


    Her eyes burned for a moment with defiance, then softened as a sly smirk curled up her lips. "You didn¡¯t say no, so I¡¯m guessing you¡¯re giving the go-ahead."


    I rubbed a hand down my face, already regretting this day.


    "Fine. Good luck with whatever ball or party you have nned." I said with a defeated smile, not wanting to drag this conversation longer than necessary.


    I mean, she was going to be using her mother¡¯s funds for the whole thing anyway.


    As I attempted to walk back to my seat, Celine pped with excitement as she remarked. "Yes, this is going to be so much fun! I¡¯ve already told your wife about it before meeting you."


    I paused in my tracks just then, ncing back at her with furrowed eyebrows. She¡¯d met with Odessa without throwing a tantrum?


    Before I could ask her anything, she turned around and walked away, closing the door behind her.


    ¡¯She¡¯s persistent, I¡¯ll give her that. Like an annoying mosquito after blood.¡¯ Damon said in my head just then, sounding as exhausted as me.


    We both had to deal with Celine for years after all.


    "She¡¯s a ticking time bomb," I muttered physically, brushing my hand through my hair as I sat down. "And if Odessa hears about this surprise¡ª"


    ¡¯She will hear about this. Especially if that ¡¯surprise¡¯ has anything to do with you.¡¯ Damon remarked with certainty, causing me to sigh.


    "How wonderful." I blurted sarcastically as I went back to looking through mypany¡¯s reports.


    However, before I could get busy with that, La rushed into the office, seeming frantic.


    "Sir, check the news! Something happened to one of the human towns close to the woods." She said urgently, rushing to my desk and grabbing the remote.


    I raised an eyebrow, confused at first, until she clicked on some buttons and went to a channel run by the joint efforts of werewolf packs close to the Blood Oak Woods.


    I dimmed my eyes when I saw the headline.


    "Ghost town burnt to the ground after its human residents attended a funeral."


    Ghost town? Humans?


    My eyes widened as I remembered the human town that my Council members and I had visited earlier today during our investigations.


    When pictures of the fire from the town were shown on the TV screen, a cold shiver ran down my spine, causing me to clench my fists.


    "Is this the work of rogues?" I turned to La and asked but she shook her head with uncertainty.


    "I have no clue, sir. The news so far is that there seem to be traces of w marks on some bodies but that the odd nature of the fire might suggest that magic is involved."


    Magic?


    Could the person behind this be the same one behind the two mysterious killings reported in the pack since Odessa¡¯s arrival?


    ¡¯It doesn¡¯t make sense that a witch would start attacking human towns. Except... Maybe it¡¯s awless witch?¡¯ Damon suggested in my head but I was just as clueless as he was as I stood up from my seat.


    "Call a meeting with my council and also contact the Alphas of the packs surrounding the Blood Oak woods. We need to gather as much Intel as possible before the witches and humans get word of this and start pointing fingers."


    La nodded and quickly scurried out of my office as I grabbed my bottle of whiskey and sighed.


    "This treaty is bing more fragile by the day."

 Chapter 129: _Meeting With The Alphas... Again

    <h4>Chapter 129: _Meeting With The Alphas... Again</h4>


    Later that evening, I waited in my office for the members of my Council and the nearby Alphas to show up.


    The rest of the day before the evening hadn¡¯t been too productive as I made calls to different Alphas around America and beyond, getting their reports on the rogues in their territories.


    Every Alpha on the continent has to hold themselves ountable to the safety of their respective pack at the end of the day, not me.


    Anyway, at around five PM, Marcellus was the first one to step into the office with an exhausted expression on his face.


    "Good evening, Marcellus." I greeted him with a nod as he closed the door behind himself.


    He shed me a wry smile before speaking apologetically. "Sorry, I¡¯mte. That search for Tonka using his foot tracks turned out to be a wild goose chase. I don¡¯t know how to exin it..."


    I dimmed my eyes, leaning closer as he sat on one of the chairs in front of me.


    "What do you mean?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.


    I still had in mind Odessa¡¯s discovery of Tonka being dead, but I couldn¡¯t share that with anyone else. Not even Marcellus.


    Odessa, being a powerless witch all this while, was the only thing protecting her from the full wrath and public scrutiny of the pack members, especially with the two magic-rted killingsing to light.


    I didn¡¯t even want to know what their reaction would be if they discovered she¡¯d awakened magic now.


    Anyway, Marcellus sighed before he spoke in a low voice. "The tracks ended at a point and then just... Disappeared. As if he was whisked away or something. That¡¯s why I said I find it confusing."


    Whisked away?


    <fn2274> Find the newest release on Find_Novel(.</fn2274>


    ¡¯What? Do you think whoever killed him was the one who whisked him away?¡¯ Damon asked in my head, but I responded with uncertainty.


    ¡¯Something isn¡¯t adding up here. I don¡¯t know what it is, but my instincts are telling me there¡¯s more to that bastard¡¯s death.¡¯


    Soon, the Gamma and Delta also stepped into the office, followed by La and a few other familiar faces.


    The Alphas of the neighboring packs around the woods were present as well.


    After pleasantries were briefly shared, everyone settled down with solemn expressions as I went straight to the point.


    "Now, if anyone has seen the news, you¡¯ll know that a human town was burnt down to a crisp and no survivors were found," I announced before turning my gaze to the only female Alpha present.


    Alpha Katherine.


    "Are there any developments on how and when it happened?" I queried, drumming my fingers on the armrest of my seat.


    The air was filled with tension as everyone fixed their attention on Alpha Katherine. Her pack was coincidentally the closest one to the human town, which had just been wiped out.


    "There is no information on the ¡¯how¡¯, sadly, although the leading evidence suggests that it may be the work of magic." She revealed, clearing her throat and adjusting her sitting position. "However, our pack¡¯s investigations have confirmed that it happened some time around thete hours of this morning."


    My eyebrows furrowed into a frown as I subconsciously nced at Marcellus, my uncle, and the Delta. We were in that town this morning, so how and why did the enemy attack mere minutes after we left?


    Just then, La raised her hand silently, seeming nervous about speaking. After all, she was surrounded by some of the most influential people in werewolf society.


    "Yes, La?" I gestured at her, causing all eyes to go to her.


    She smiled before she cleared her throat and spoke up. "I think it¡¯ll be best for everyone present to head to the town and investigate things personally, sir. That way¡ª"


    "Investigate? Us?" My uncle interrupted with a scoff, ring at La. "I¡¯ll have you know that we were at that town earlier today. Why are we stressing ourselves over these humans?"


    My jaw clenched when I noticed that some of the Alphas present nodded silently in agreement with Gamma Zane¡¯s words.


    The bastard...


    Just when I parted my lips to say something, someone beat me to it.


    "We¡¯re ¡¯stressing¡¯ ourselves because we desire peace with the witches AND humans, Gamma." Marcellus was the one who spoke with disdainced in his voice. "Not to mention that this attack¡ª"


    "Was caused by magic!" Gamma Zane snapped, getting on his feet and not backing down.


    My eyes twitched at the sight as I dimmed them at him.


    ¡¯Suspicious, right?¡¯ Damon blurted in my head, and I couldn¡¯t agree more.


    Why was he so worked up about this whole thing?


    "Listen, I don¡¯t want to deny the fact that we should deal with the rogues and their suspicious gatherings. Bute on now..." My uncle scanned his gaze around as if he were waiting for someone to agree with him.


    However, no one, not even the Alphas who had been nodding their heads alongside his words, paid him heed. They all looked away from him, obviously too afraid of my scrutiny.


    "Sit." I blurted inly, causing the Gamma to turn his gaze slowly to me.


    He seemed hesitant and defiant, but my expression was in as I gestured at the door. "That¡¯s the exit. Sit, Gamma Zane. Or leave."


    He pursed his lips, staring at me with unknown emotions before he eventuallyplied, folding his arms in front of his chest.


    After staring coldly at him for a few seconds, I turned my gaze back to La, who had still been standing all this time.


    "Your idea of going to the town ourselves and investigating is valid, La. And I think we should implement it." I said as I got on my feet and ced both hands on top of the desk.


    Everyone present had their eyes on me, listening attentively for whatever I had to say next.


    Well, I¡¯ve said enough anyway. Myst statement was pretty self-exnatory.


    "Gamma Zane, prepare some pack soldiers and call them to the mansion. We¡¯ll all be heading out together to the town to further investigate the ce." I said inly to my uncle.


    As everyone stood up and began trooping out, my wolf mentally grumbled.


    ¡¯We promised to punish Odessa tonight. What about that?¡¯ Damon asked with a groan.


    However, I scoffed mentally, a smirk curling up the corner of my lips before I responded.


    "There¡¯ll be plenty of time to do that once we get back."

 Chapter 130: _Ashes, Death and Chaos

    <h4>Chapter 130: _Ashes, Death and Chaos</h4>


    "We¡¯re here," I announced as I jumped down from the car La and I had driven in.


    It was nighttime, and in front of us was the burnt-down human town. It was indeed a ghost town now... The ground was filled with ashes and soot, and ck smoke was still going into the sky like ominous pirs of death and chaos.


    I had a bad feeling, my body tensing up as I nced at the other cars parking in front of the town¡¯s outskirts as well.


    The members of my Council, as well as the five neighboring Alphas and some pack soldiers, stepped forward, making a group of over twenty wolves.


    "Bloody hell..." Marcellus suddenly mumbled, stepping forward and standing beside me. "Whoever did this must have had a freaking field day."


    <fn9020> For more chapters visit F¦ÉndNovel</fn9020>


    I stared briefly at him but didn¡¯t pay much attention to his words.


    "Alright, since we¡¯re all here, we¡¯ll begin by sending out scouts!" I yelled out, turning around to face the group. "The pack soldiers will search the perimeter for any clues. Then, as for the rest of us, we¡¯ll make camp at the outskirts to¡ª"


    Before I couldplete that sentence, my ears perked up as I heard the sound of a car approaching.


    I dimmed my eyes, and everyone else turned around to see who it was. It was a sleek white sedan that sent dust everywhere as it approached.


    When it parked in front of us, I clicked my tongue with frustration when I recognized the car. It was one of the cars I bought for Celine.


    Suddenly, the driver¡¯s seat opened, and she stepped down, wearing a pair of sunsses and a green jumpsuit. She had a smile on her face as she closed the door behind her.


    "Sorry, I¡¯mte. The traffic was... Well, a forest." She remarked, walking toward us and taking off her sunsses as she parted aside strands of her short ck hair.


    I could feel all eyes on me, causing me to clench my jaw as I red at the woman who was quickly bing the bane of my existence.


    ¡¯My boy, she¡¯s BEEN the bane of our existence.¡¯ Damon blurted in my head, causing me to sigh physically.


    "What are you doing here, Celine?" I queried, folding my arms in front of my chest.


    However, instead of saying anything, she gestured at her car behind her.


    A few secondster, the back door opened and Elder Davina stepped out of the car, alongside one pack soldier. She held her staff tightly, scanning her gaze around before she stepped forward.


    "Elder Davina was on her way here, and I offered to bring her. So..." Celine exined casually, smirking slyly at me before she cleared her throat as Elder Davina arrived in front of our group.


    I nced at the Elder, who gave me a slight bow. "I had a feeling you all would need me here, considering theplexity of the situation." She remarked, scanning her gaze on the town ahead.


    Her face was solemn and filled with unease, causing me to sigh lightly before I spoke up.


    "Let¡¯s get down to business, then."


    .


    .


    It took us barely thirty minutes to set up arge tent close to the town¡¯s outskirts. The tent had a round table at the center where weid down any findings we uncovered.


    "Anything from the scouts so far, La?" I asked my assistant when I stepped out of the tent, dusting my hands.


    Unfortunately, she shook her head with a frown on her face. "Nothing tangible yet, sir. Other than traces of w marks on some of the corpses."


    w marks?


    My eyebrows furrowed as the two of us walked into the town. The buildings were scorched ck, with roofs caving in orpletely blown off into ash.


    The signboard at the entrance of the town, which used to have the town¡¯s poption count, was nowpletely burnt into a charred rod, fallen to the ground.


    Just then, my gaze went to Marcellus up ahead. He was squatting on the ground and seemed to be scrutinizing something.


    "Did you find anything, Marcellus?" I queried when La and I got to him.


    He had his back facing us, but nced back before he shook his head while dusting his hands. "Nothing here, sadly. But Elder Davina and the Luna Queen went into the¡ª"


    "Elder Davina found something, everyone!" Celine suddenly yelled out excitedly from a building which seemed to be the very center of the fires.


    I subconsciously rolled my eyes when I saw Celine in the distance, but I put aside my grudges as I nced at Marcellus and La before we both waltzed to the building.


    The building was actually nothing but a few broken walls and the remnants of a door, which was ashen ck now. When I stepped foot inside, my eyes immediately fell on a horrid scene as the stench of death entered my nose.


    There were two dead bodies here, a male and a female. And even though their bodies were burnt and battered almost beyond recognition, the uniform of the man made me able to identify them.


    "It¡¯s the humanmander from earlier today," I said to Marcellus in a low tone as we walked forward to Elder Davina, who was kneeling close to the female corpse.


    She had her right hand ced on the forehead of the corpse, her eyes closed as she concentrated.


    "What? Is shemunicating with their spirits or something?" My uncle¡¯s annoying voice sounded behind me, making me turn back and realize that he, the Delta, and the neighboring Alphas had also stepped inside.


    After a few seconds, Elder Davina opened her eyes and shook her head solemnly before she got on her feet.


    I stared at her cautiously, tilting my head. "Well? What did you discover, Elder?" I asked.


    She sighed, lowering her gaze briefly before she fixed her eyes on everyone present.


    "It¡¯s just as I¡¯d suspected. This youngdy has traces of telepathic maniption in her mind."


    My eyes widened as I subconsciously clenched my fists. Telepathic maniption could only be done with... magic.


    I knew it wouldn¡¯t take long before suspicions went to Odessa. I was right.


    "Aha! So a witch did this." Gamma Zane said with a sneer, and in that moment, I could feel the unease from everyone else.

 Chapter 131: _Werewolf, Witch Or Both?

    <h4>Chapter 131: _Werewolf, Witch Or Both?</h4>


    "Aha! So a witch did this!"


    As soon as Gamma Zane said those words, all eyes went to him, seemingly contemting. It was as if they all had one person and one name in mind, but didn¡¯t dare say anything because of me.


    ¡¯As if Odessa is the only witch within a several-mile radius.¡¯ Damon scoffed with disdain, most of his aggression directed at Gamma Zane. ¡¯These people should use their fucking brains before I sh them out.¡¯


    Damon¡¯s rage coursed through my body as a surge of power that made me stare at my uncle with cold, distant eyes. I was already imagining shing his head off his neck... But held myself back, hiding my anger under a calm expression.


    It¡¯s not as if he directly pointed fingers at Odessa anyway.


    "As much as I would love it to be as easy as only a witch doing this..." Alpha Katherine suddenly spoke up, stepping forward and walking past Elder Davina.


    She squatted to the ground, scrutinizing the body of the female victim a bit before she pointed at her head.


    It was cut clean from the scalp, leaving her charred skull and mushy brain matter that was nothing more than putrid, foamy liquids, exposed.


    "... How would we exin the w marks on this body and several other bodies within that church building?" Alpha Katherine continued, ncing back at all of us as she stood up.


    She did make a good point...


    "Yeah, those look like werewolf w markings to me." Another Alphamented, folding his arms in front of his chest as he stroked his ck beard. "At first, I was considering if maybe the witch used magically made monsters. But nah..."


    As helpful as their observations were, this all meant one thing.


    "So what? Are we suggesting that the person who did this is somehow both a werewolf and a witch?" Celine asked beside me, chuckling at the thought as she nced at me.


    A cold shiver ran down my spine as I got ufortable and looked away from the bitch.


    Unfortunately, everyone else seemed to be picking up with her words now.


    "So, like a hybrid?" La questioned just then, causing me to mentally curse.


    This was veryplicated for me because I knew only ONE hybrid, who happens to be my mate. She couldn¡¯t be the one behind this... Right?


    Just then, I raised my head and noticed Elder Davina staring directly at me. She seemed curious, scrutinizing me with dimmed eyes.


    Upon seeing this, I tore my gaze away from her and cleared my throat before speaking. "Have we considered the fact that perhaps a witch and a werewolf were responsible for this? Maybe working together in some form."


    Everyone else murmured, some of them, especially my uncle, finding the idea preposterous.


    "With all due respect, Alpha King, on what would a witch and werewolf work together to carry out a massacre of such proportions?" Gamma Zane asked, but his question seemed to be directed at everyone.


    La, who had been silent all this while, chimed in just then. "Maybe the werewolf had the witch hostage?"


    My Delta scoffed in response to her words, instantly dismissing them. "Knowing witches, it¡¯s more than likely that a slimy little witch held a werewolf hostage and forced them to do this to push their narrative of us being ¡¯monsters¡¯."


    Before I could part my lips to speak, Alpha Katherine snapped at the Delta. "Oh, please, let¡¯s be realistic here! What then do you say about the rogue wolves terrorizing this region and most of North America?"


    And just like that, an argument ensued, one side arguing that a witch was responsible while the other argued that a Werewolf was.


    During all this, I nced asionally at Elder Davina, who had a knowing look in her eyes. The glint in her eyes seemed like the gears of a machine spinning in ce toe to a realization.


    ¡¯Do you think she suspects Odessa is a hybrid?¡¯ Damon asked in my head, but I didn¡¯t have a response to that and kept silent as the argument around me died down.


    Suddenly, just when quiet and calm had begun falling on the ce and I could finally hear myself think again, Celine cleared her throat and stepped forward, her high heels echoing on the burnt floor.


    "I¡¯m honestly surprised that none of you are pointing out something important here. But oh well, it¡¯s clearly up to me as the Luna Queen to guide." She said with a proud smirk, parting aside strands of her hair and giggling.


    Once again, almost everyone present nced at me because of her behavior, causing me to sigh silently with frustration.


    Why the heck were they looking at me when she¡¯s no longer my wife?


    ¡¯That¡¯s what you get for barely making the divorce public knowledge.¡¯ Damon spoke with a mocking snigger as I clenched my jaw and watched Celine continue with whatever she had to say.


    Once she saw that she had everyone¡¯s attention, she smiled brightly and pped her hands together.


    "So where was I? Oh, right... Quick question. Why in the moon¡¯s name was this attack made mere hours after the Alpha King and his Council visited?" She queried, scanning her gaze around.


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    Everyone was dead silent after that question, the only sound being the asional sound of predatory birds cawing or hooting in the night outside.


    Well, damn... Why didn¡¯t I think of that?


    ¡¯I¡¯m telling you, she¡¯s on some GOOD drugs. Maybe that¡¯s giving her inspiration to be smarter.¡¯ Damon said with a serious voice, causing me to scoff silently.


    Celine nced briefly at me before she sighed, shaking her head and spreading out her arms.


    "No answer, eh? Well, allow me to enlighten you all." She remarked, turning around and staring at the two dead bodies. "To me, it¡¯s quite obvious that whoever did this is either a member of the Alpha King¡¯s Council OR..."


    She paused, turning her gaze to me directly, causing me to ball my hands into fists.


    "Someone close enough to one of the members or the Alpha King himself to obtain information."


    The air became thick with tension after that was said, and usatory nces and stares were thrown around.


    The implications of Celine¡¯s words were clear to me...


    ¡¯It¡¯s either that the culprit is someone close to me, like Odessa, since I told her a bit about the investigation...¡¯ I thought to myself, pursing my lips. ¡¯Or, the culprit is right here in this room, hiding among us.¡¯

 Chapter 132: _The Alpha King Isn’t Honest

    <h4>Chapter 132: _The Alpha King Isn¡¯t Honest</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    ¡¯What did you do?¡¯ The true lord of the North asked him telepathically after he had burnt the human town to the ground.


    Marcellus stood outside the town, using his magic to remove any traces of blood or ash on his ironically white suit. It was a gruelling task since he also had to make sure no lingering scent remained.


    ¡¯Oh, nothing much, my lord.¡¯ Marcellus responded to Lord Ryker with a small smirk curling up his lips. ¡¯I just annihted a small human town that was about to ally itself with Kaelos. But it¡¯s all good now.¡¯


    There was a few seconds of pause, causing Marcellus to think maybe the telepathic link had been cut off.


    But upon further inspection, he found out that it wasn¡¯t.


    ¡¯It¡¯s all good now?¡¯ Lord Ryker asked with what sounded like disbelief. ¡¯Are you certain you wiped out the town for the reason you stated, or were you just trying to satiate your insatiable desires?¡¯


    Well... Ouch.


    Marcellus couldn¡¯t help but remember themander¡¯s daughter whom he had killed personally. His dick still hurt a little from the chiwawa level bite she left there.


    ¡¯Worry not, my Lord. I can assure you that I made sure to clean all my tracks so that no one would be able to track it down to me.¡¯ Marcellus said with confidence, a small smile on his face as he began making his way back to the Blood Oak pack.


    .


    .


    Oh, how wrong he had been.


    <fn0e56> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find(?)ovel</fn0e56>


    Later on the evening of that day, Kaelos gathered a group made up of the members of the Council, the Alphas of the surrounding packs, some pack soldiers, andter on... Celine and Elder Davina.


    Marcellus became a little pensive as he scanned his gaze around the town cautiously while pretending to care about the investigation.


    Until Elder Davina discovered the girl he killed, having traces of telepathic maniption, and Celine helped connect the dots to make everyone realize that the culprit might be someone among them.


    ¡¯I¡¯m beginning to wonder if that spell I cast on her gave her an intelligence boost.¡¯ Marcellus thought to himself as he stared at Celine after she made her observation.


    "Honestly, it makes sense." Gamma Zane blurted just then, nodding as he scanned his gaze on everyone present. "But I doubt the culprit is among us. What I think is the most likely oue is that the culprit got information from one of us."


    Marcellus could already see where this was going. The me had sessfully shifted away from him but now it was ced on someone who he knew damn well was innocent.


    "We aren¡¯t even sure if a witch or a werewolf did this." Alpha Katherine pointed out, her arms folded in front of her chest as she shrugged. "And if we¡¯re to say it¡¯s both, that means¡ª"


    "What about a hybrid?" La suddenlymented, causing all eyes to go to her.


    However, most of the gazes she got were judgmental and dismissive rather than believing.


    "Darling, I¡¯m sure that¡¯s pushing things too far," Celine remarked, chuckling with amusement as she walked back to Kaelos and stood beside him. "Hybrids are things of legend, and they haven¡¯t been seen in decades."


    Others began murmuring, agreeing with her, but Marcellus noticed something intriguing. Kaelos¡¯ eyes seemed distant, as if he were in deep thought about something.


    Or someone...


    This caused Marcellus to dim his eyes as he scrutinized the Alpha king discreetly.


    "It¡¯s clear that this conversation is getting us nowhere!" Kaelos suddenly shook his head and spoke with a thundering voice, forcing everyone who was murmuring to calm down.


    Marcellus looked away from him but couldn¡¯t help but peek asionally with suspicion. He was sure of it... Kaelos knew something that he wasn¡¯t telling the rest of them.


    But what could that be?


    "If for any reason someone is trying to insinuate that Odessa somehow manipted a werewolf tomit these atrocious acts, then do I need to remind you that she doesn¡¯t have magic?" Kaelos remarked, staring directly at Celine.


    Thetter clicked her tongue, ncing around before she shrugged. "First off, I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re staring at me. I didn¡¯t insinuate that."


    Kaelos clenched his jaw, but before he could even let out a breath, Gamma Zane chimed in.


    "And even at that, isn¡¯t the so-called ¡¯powerless¡¯ witch the same one who managed to knock out the Beta with her potions and then escape the pack?" Gamma Zane suddenly asked, causing the Alphas of the surrounding packs to open their mouths with surprise.


    "She did what now?" Alpha Katherine asked with a baffled expression.


    "Escaped the pack? Doesn¡¯t that make her a potential security risk?" Another Alpha added.


    "My point exactly!" Gamma Zane patted the man on the back, and soon, they were debating and arguing once again.


    At this point, Marcellus could feel Kaelos¡¯ frustration and anger, especially from the way he red coldly at Gamma Zane and the others.


    Marcellus braced himself, expecting Kaelos to end the talks by releasing his suffocating Alpha King aura, but that didn¡¯t happen.


    Instead, Kaelos turned away from the group and, without a word, he strutted out of there and into the night of the town.


    Everyone present nced at themselves before they watched him leave, only speaking after they were sure he was far away, and even then, they spoke with low voices.


    "Am I the only one who feels like the Alpha king isn¡¯t being one hundred percent truthful?" One of the Alphas asked, causing the rest to nod in agreement.


    "I¡¯m telling you all, ever since that witch stepped into his house and his life, he¡¯s turned into apletely different person." Gamma Zane remarked, shaking his head.


    At this point, Marcellus couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes before he also walked out of there, scanning his gaze around until he realized Kaelos had stepped out of town.


    When Marcellus followed his scent, he eventually spotted the Alpha king standing close to the tent the group had brought up, holding a ss of whiskey and staring at nothing in particr.


    "Are they already getting into your head?" Marcellus asked with a chuckle as he walked up to him.

 Chapter 133: _Getting Into His Head

    <h4>Chapter 133: _Getting Into His Head</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    "Are they already getting into your head?"


    As soon as Marcellus asked that question after standing beside Kaelos, thetter nced at him, his eyes searching his face before he responded.


    "Getting into my head? I only came outside to blow some steam." Kaelos remarked, shaking his head dismissively, before he took a sip from his whiskey.


    Marcellus sighed, scanning his gaze around before his eyes spotted the bottle that Kaelos had poured from, standing close to the tent alongside a free ss.


    He was more of a vodka or cocktail man, but he knew the importance of drinking while discussing with Kaelos as ¡¯buddies¡¯. Who knows?... Maybe the Alpha King would blurt out whatever it is he¡¯s hiding from the others.


    "You¡¯ve never been a people¡¯s person, Kaelos," Marcellus said with a chuckle after sessfully pouring himself a ss and dropping it. "So I know that all those people talking and arguing in there just now did¡ª"


    "It only made me feel like ughtering them. Especially Celine and that forsaken uncle of mine." Kaelos interrupted with a cold voice, his grip on the ss cup he held slightly tightening.


    Oh...


    Marcellus was a little taken by surprise but managed to nod before he gulped down everything in his ss and shook his head with a sigh.


    "Right... I think you need a refill." Marcellus said with a chuckle as he grabbed the bottle and poured for himself and Kaelos. "What¡¯s bothering you, Kaelos? I¡¯m your friend, remember?"


    He stared expectantly at Kaelos, waiting for his response. He could see the hesitation in the Alpha king¡¯s face when he epted the refilled ss and drank everything in a few gulps.


    However, when Kaelos began pouring himself ss after ss and finishing it all with little effort, it was then that Marcellus noticed that the Alpha king indeed had some demons in his head.


    "Pardon my drinking, Marcellus." Kaelos blurted with a belch, rubbing his own chest before he continued. "My damn wolf has be harder to control since Ist shifted. My blood lust and... Well, other lusts have been all over the ce."


    Marcellus¡¯ eyes widened as he nodded thoughtfully. In the past, when Kaelos used to shift into his wolf, he was a different man.


    He took whatever he wanted whenever he wanted and reigned over the wolves of North America with an iron fist.


    But in recent years, leading up to the treaty, he¡¯s be... Well, soft. And once Odessa stepped into the pack, it seemed to have gotten worse.


    His shifting into his wolf and slowly getting back his primal urges that made him the ruthless Alpha king the world knew him as years ago was intriguing to Marcellus, but it also made him cautious.


    "Anyway, I¡¯m getting frustrated as we speak," Kaelos remarked just then with a chuckle, shaking his head. "My damned Alpha King metabolism is already burning out the alcohol in my system. Meaning I¡¯ll have to deal with all this soberly."


    He sighed, rubbing his right hand down his face. Marcellus knew there was more troubling him, but the Alpha king was strong and holding back.


    Usually, this would be the part where Marcellus would try using magic to manipte the person to tell him what he wants to hear, but getting into Kaelos¡¯ mind was an impossible task.


    "Are you perhaps troubled because of Dessa?" Marcellus suddenly asked, drinking thest of his whiskey before he continued. "I mean, you seem to care about her greatly and¡ª"


    "Don¡¯t, Marcellus." Kaelos suddenly interrupted coldly, taking Marcellus by surprise. "Just don¡¯t. Odessa is simply my responsibility because of my... Desires."


    Well, well, well...


    A small smirk curled up the corner of Marcellus¡¯ lips. Even though Kaelos told him to stop, he was willing to push things further.


    "You don¡¯t have to hide the fact that you¡¯re caring about a witch, Alpha King. Especially not to me." He said reassuringly, patting Kaelos on the shoulder.


    Thetter clenched his jaw but didn¡¯t say anything as he stared into the night sky.


    Ugh, this was getting boring.


    "Anyway, we should head back in there and remind them not to let our findings here slip out. Don¡¯t you think so?" Marcellus asked, gesturing at the town behind them.


    Kaelos turned his gaze to him and nodded, patting his hand on his shoulder in return. "Thank you for being such a good friend, Marcellus. I appreciate it." He said with a small smile before walking past him.


    However, as Marcellus watched him head back into the town, his fake smile devolved into a cold gaze as he red at the Alpha king.


    "It¡¯s no matter. With the domino effect already taking ce in the Blood Oak pack, whatever you¡¯re hiding WILLe to light soon enough." Marcellus said to himself with a low voice, smirking mischievously before he followed after Kaelos.


    .


    .


    <fnd7b0> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find[?]ovel</fnd7b0>


    Unfortunately, the investigations in the human town came to a dead end despite all the evidence the council and others had uncovered.


    They had no choice but to leave the issue to the closest human and witch settlements to handle.


    Anyway, when Marcellus got back to his residence that night, he stepped into thepound and dusted his hands with a sigh.


    However, just before he could step into the building, a knock sounded at the gate, forcing him to stop in his tracks before he turned around.


    After opening the gate, he was surprised to see Celine standing at the other end with a small smirk on her face as she stepped into thepound without getting an invitation.


    "Good evening, Beta." She greeted him with a yful tone before she folded her arms in front of her chest. "I know you¡¯re confused about what I¡¯m doing here, but¡ª"


    "No, no, no." Marcellus shook his head with a smirk as he grabbed her right hand before nting a kiss on her knuckles. "The Luna Queen is always wee to my abode."


    Celine¡¯s smile widened, and she was probably flustered, but Marcellus didn¡¯t do that to be a gentleman. He did that simply to check if the spell he ced on her several nights ago was still active.


    It was...


    "Well, I¡¯m not staying for long. I just dropped by to give you an invitation." Celine said with a sly tone, withdrawing her hand before she continued bluntly. In five days, there will be a ball to raise awareness of the war. And you and Odessa will be VIP guests."


    Huh...?

 Chapter 134: _Talk About A Plot Twist

    <h4>Chapter 134: _Talk About A Plot Twist</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    Indeed, he didn¡¯t mishear Celine.


    She was throwing a charity ball and was not only inviting every elite member of the pack and beyond, but also, surprisingly, she was inviting some of the top members of witch and human society on the continent.


    Celine inviting witches?


    If he wasn¡¯t convinced before that she was up to something devious, he was now. Not to mention the fact that she was inviting him and Odessa as "VIP guests".


    Out of pure curiosity, after Celine dropped the VIP card with him and left, Marcellus decided to sneak into Odessa¡¯s room.


    It was still the middle of the night and for all he knows, Kaelos might already be up there shagging the witch after a long night of investigating the human town.


    Fortunately, after Marcellus got past the guards in thepound and scaled the walls, he discovered that Odessa was alone in her room.


    However, as he observed her while hiding on her balcony, he noticed something odd.


    "Why isn¡¯t she sleeping yet?" He asked himself curiously, dimming his eyes and tilting his head.


    The time was already a few minutes past midnight.


    <fn2073> Newest update provided by f?ndnovel</fn2073>


    Inside the room, Odessa was pacing back and forth, whispering something once in a while with her arms folded in front of her chest.


    She seemed to be having a conversation with someone... Which was weird because there was no one there.


    Marcellus felt like stepping into the room and investigating further, but decided to remain hidden on the balcony, using a cloaking spell to make himself invisible.


    He and Odessa still haven¡¯t seen eye to eye ever since she knocked him out with her potion.


    Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, her back facing him, before she blurted. "Who¡¯s there?"


    Marcellus¡¯ eyes widened as he subconsciously peered closely at the ss of the balcony in front of him. However, he didn¡¯t see his reflection, meaning his cloaking spell was still active.


    As if her first question wasn¡¯t enough, Odessa slowly turned around, staring directly at the spot on the balcony where Marcellus was standing.


    She squinted her eyes, slowly walking in that direction and causing Marcellus to feel something akin to panic for the first time in a long time.


    ¡¯What in the unholy hell is happening here?¡¯ he thought to himself, confused beyond his wits.


    Even the guards downstairs hadn¡¯t noticed his presence when he slipped past them earlier. So, how was Odessa, who¡¯s supposed to have senses only slightly above an average human, able to detect him?


    Unless...


    Suddenly, a knock sounded on Odessa¡¯s room door, forcing her to pause her advancement toward the balcony. She seemed to hesitate, ncing back at the door and then bringing her gaze to the balcony.


    Eventually, she sighed softly before walking to the door and opening it. Turns out it was Kaelos at the other end, and he stepped inside after he and Odessa shared a few pleasantries.


    As soon as Marcellus saw Kaelos, he knew that it was time to leave. Kaelos¡¯ senses were far beyond any mere werewolf.


    With that, Marcellus jumped off the balcony andnded nimbly on the ground, sighing lightly.


    "Well, that was different shades of weird." He muttered to himself, ncing at Odessa¡¯s room window one more time before shaking his head.


    Was Odessa perhaps experiencing some form of psychosis? Nah, that couldn¡¯t be it...


    Just when he was about to head out of thepound, his ears picked up the sound of a female voice speaking in a low tone.


    "By the goddess, I swear I would have never agreed to do this if it weren¡¯t for the money Madame Greyheart gave me." The voice said, sounding scared but determined.


    What...?


    Marcellus dimmed his eyes, scanning his gaze around and searching the perimeter before he followed the voice, pinpointing where it wasing from.


    The voice led him to a corner where he spotted a youngdy who seemed to be in her early twenties. She was a maid... Of course.


    However, when Marcellus focused his attention on her hands, he raised an eyebrow. She was holding something, a vial with a ck liquid.


    Curiosity got the best of Marcellus as he removed his cloaking spell and then stopped the girl by cing his right hand in front of her chest just when she turned around.


    She gasped, raising her head and staring at his face with shock. Her face got flustered as she blinked repeatedly before she hid the vial behind her back in a panic.


    "B¨C Beta Marcellus." She blurted out, smiling awkwardly. "Uh, good evening. I¨C I was just¡ª"


    "It¡¯s midnight, dear," Marcellus remarked with a sly tone as he brought his right hand to her chin, utilizing his charm as he looked into her eyes. "What is a pretty thing like yourself doing out here by this time?"


    He had to admit, she was pretty. Full lips,rge doe eyes with bright blue pupils, and blonde hair that made her seem close to nobility.


    However, he didn¡¯t call her ¡¯pretty¡¯ to seem nice.


    Her lips parted as her face reddened with a blush. She tried looking away, but his magic was already slowly taking effect and getting hold of her mind.


    "I-I was just trying to get..." She stuttered repeatedly.


    Obvious sign that she was hiding something. Or at least, trying to. Nothing remains hidden from Marcellus for long.


    Without wasting further time, Marcellus grabbed her shoulder with his other hand before he spun her around, grabbing the small vial in an instant.


    The maid gasped, but he ignored her as he scrutinized the vial intently. The ck liquid inside looked familiar, forcing Marcellus to open the vial and sniff it.


    "P¨C Please..." The maid suddenly started begging, falling to her knees and rubbing her palms together. "I¨CI needed the money and couldn¡¯t resist. I¨C I would never want to harm the Alpha king¡¯s wife intentionally."


    Marcellus¡¯ eyes widened, first at the familiar smell of poison in the vial and then at thedy¡¯s confession.


    Talk about a plot twist.


    "So, Madame Greyheart sent you to poison Odessa, eh?" Marcellus asked, a cold smirk stretching across his face as he slowly brought his right hand to the girl¡¯s face.


    She was sobbing silently at this point, but he shushed her gently, using his fingers to brush her hair.


    "Save your tears, love. You¡¯ll need them more once I¡¯m done with you."

 Chapter 135: _Naive Little Thing

    <h4>Chapter 135: _Naive Little Thing</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    (Warning: Disturbing Scene and Rape Ahead. Read at your own peril!)


    The maid shrank back with fear after Marcellus¡¯st words, her eyes darting around anxiously as she fell backward, staring up at him.


    Meanwhile, he stared back at her with a cold smirk, tilting his head as he slowly brought his right hand to her chest, touching her breasts.


    <fnd1db> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? F¦Énd£Îovel</fnd1db>


    By the gods, were they a package!


    "B¨C Beta Marcellus?" The maid called out wearily, shifting away from him and quickly getting on her feet.


    Her face was redder than a tomato as she shook her head. "W¨C What are you doing? I¨C I just confessed to you and¡ª"


    "And what? You think I¡¯ll turn you in to the Alpha King and then arrest Madame Greyheart or something?" Marcellus asked with a whisper before he chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, you naive little thing."


    He watched as her legs buckled with terror, her body trembling as her eyes searched around for a way to escape.


    Marcellus licked his lips, feeling a high bubbling in his system when he saw the pure terror coursing through her being. It gave him a rush that pushed his desires to the brink.


    He¡¯s been unsatisfied and horny since that human girl in the burnt town bit him on his dick. This werewolf maid, attempting tomit a heinous act, was like an offering from above, meant to appease him.


    Suddenly, the girl turned around, attempting to flee, but Marcellus used his supernatural speed to get in front of her in the blink of an eye, his smirk widening as he scrutinized her.


    "Aw, don¡¯t run. We were just about to have fun." Marcellus remarked, taking a few steps forward.


    They were in a part of thepound that was quiet and devoid of guards patrolling. There were some shrubs and trees surrounding the perimeter, perfect for hiding a body or two.


    "P¨C Please, sir. I¨C I didn¡¯t mean any harm. Don¡¯t do this¡ª" before the maid could finish talking, Marcellus rushed to her and used his right hand to hold her waist before using his left hand to cover her mouth.


    She gasped, but no sound came out as she struggled underneath his hold. But it was no use as he slowly brought his mouth to her neck, using his breath to graze her skin.


    "Tell me... How much did Madame Greyheart offer you to kill the Alpha King¡¯s wife?" Marcellus asked her with a seductive voiceced with magic, his eyes going to her breasts, which peaked slightly from her dress.


    She tried resisting his magic when he let go of her mouth, just like any other werewolf, but it was no use at the end of the day. He was already slipping into her mind, using her fear as a medium.


    "S¨C She gave me twenty-five hundred dors." The maid said with a weak voice that sounded emotionless as her will fell under Marcellus¡¯ control. "Then she promised an extra payment of twenty-five hundred if the job waspleted."


    Well, well, well... Five thousand dors, eh?


    Marcellus scoffed, shaking his head as he stared at the maid with a little pity. He knew damn well that a job as risky as killing the Alpha King¡¯s wife would require a much higher fee if a professional assassin was being utilized.


    "Oh, darling, you¡¯ve been cheated." He remarked, shaking his head as he felt his dick hardening at the same time. "That job is worth way more. But fret not... Madame Greyheart will receive her judgment soon enough."


    He felt the maid¡¯s defenses rxpletely in that moment, causing him to smirk as he slowly slid his left hand into her dress, touching her breasts.


    He didn¡¯t stop there as he walked backward until he got to a shrub and lowered her body there. At this point, the poor girl waspletely at his mercy, with only an asional sh of resistance lingering in her eyes.


    But Marcellus ignored that as he slid his hand further down until he slowly zipped down her dress. Her body shook in response, but she didn¡¯t do or say anything, her eyes wide open instead as he furthered his desires.


    When he sessfully took off her dress, leaving only her bra and underwear to his view, Marcellus subconsciously licked his lips. It¡¯s been so long since he had sex, he might as well start calling himself a virgin.


    Part of the ritual that made him a hybrid also held back his inner wolf, making it nigh impossible for him to ever find a mate. But also, it lessened his desires, unless he began absorbing life force to make the ritual¡¯s power remain active.


    Apparently, taking the life force of over two hundred humans at once heightened his desires like a drug.


    "Don¡¯t worry, love. I¡¯ll make it worth your while." Marcellus whispered into the maid¡¯s ears, biting his bottom lip as he unbuckled his belt.


    After sessfully doing that, he grinned from ear to ear as he parted her underwear, revealing her pussy to his view.


    With his dick close to her entrance, he licked the fingers of his right hand before slowly shoving his index finger into her. Even though she was under his spell, she still let out a soft moan, arching her back as he peered into her bright blue eyes.


    "It¡¯s been so long since daddy Marcellus felt the warmth of a warm pussy." He groaned with a yful tone as he traced kisses on her corbone.


    Did he have admirers from all over the continent? Yes. Was he popr among thedies and even some men? Definitely.


    But he¡¯s been so focused on his mission in this pack that he set aside his desires. He craved physical intimacy and was willing to go to any lengths to gain it.


    He couldn¡¯t care less about whatever pain the maid was feeling anyway. He¡¯s already marked her for death.


    Anyway, he slowly used his right hand to guide his rock hard dick to her entrance before plunging into her, causing her to jolt as her body tried getting used to his girth.


    "Good girl..."

 Chapter 136: _Couldn’t Care Less

    <h4>Chapter 136: _Couldn¡¯t Care Less</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    (Warning: Disturbing Graphics and Rape For At least ten paragraphs. You have been warned!)


    As Marcellus plunged into the maid, he made sure to use his magic to stimte the pleasure she felt.


    She gasped and clutched her hands on the ground, but Marcellus didn¡¯t stop, riding her into ecstasy until he got bored with the position and pulled out.


    "I take a long time toe." He spoke with a whisper, patting her cheeks. "You might want to brace yourself for this one."


    Even though she was under the influence of his mind control spell, she could still hear him and had teary eyes as he spread her legs apart before ¡¯helping¡¯ her to get on her fours.


    Once she was in that position, he ced his hands on either side of her hip before inserting his dick into her pussy from the back. As he did, he drew his body closer to her, slowly tracing his right hand from her stomach to her chest.


    Once there, he began using his fingers to pinch her nipples gently, sending waves of pleasure. Well... Depending on your definition of ¡¯pleasure¡¯, anyway.


    Marcellus could feel that the maid¡¯s body was enjoying what he had to offer, but her mind was distant and despondent. He could feel the climax building up and within twenty minutes, he managed to make her cum while also cumming as well.


    "Fuck..." He grunted, chuckling before he patted her on her ass cheeks. "Now that¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about. Thanks for making yourself useful before you go."


    At this point, the maid had fallen to the ground, her body shivering from the aftermath of the ordeal, while her eyes stared nkly.


    Marcellus ignored that and instead stood up and buckled his pants before dusting his hands and sighing as he stared down at her naked body.


    Her plump ass faced him, as if inviting him for another round. But he¡¯d grown bored and had already blown off the pent-up steam he desired to.


    "Now, what way can I kill you?" He asked himself, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I¡¯ve already tried blood draining and burning. I¡¯ve gotta be more creative here."


    It was at that moment that the light bulb in his head turned on, and his smile widened. He had an idea.


    His gaze fell on the vial of poison that the maid had been carrying around, and he snapped his fingers, causing it to levitate right back into the maid¡¯s grip.


    "Drink it." He ordered coldly, his eyes glinting with a malicious light as he stared down at her.


    He watched with renewed excitement as she slowly got on her knees, clutching the vial before reluctantly opening it. She was well aware of everything she was doing, but her mind was no longer her own.


    It was under his control.


    When she finally opened the vial, she froze, staring wearily at it. She tried fighting Marcellus¡¯s control, and from the look of things, it seemed she wanted to scream so bad, but couldn¡¯t.


    "P¨C Please..." She pleaded with a whisper, her eyes streaming with tears which fell like a waterfall.


    Marcellus stared down at her with disdain as he slowly brought his right hand to her chin and forced her to look into his eyes.


    His smirk turned into a grin as he shook his head with mock pity. "Please? Did you think of mercy when you plotted to take another person¡¯s life for some quick cash?" He asked with sarcasm, tilting his head.


    Of course, there was no response from her, causing him to sigh.


    "Didn¡¯t think so." He blurted before waving his right hand, causing his spell to take full control once again.


    He watched as she drank the vial without hesitation, her eyes widening when the poison went down her throat. When she was done, there were no signs of poisoning at first.


    But nearly a minuteter, she clutched her throat and began coughing erratically before she coughed out blood, her right hand going to her chest.


    Marcellus watched with cold eyes as her body plopped to the ground while her blood spouted out of her mouth like a fountain. He could¡¯ve chosen to absorb her life force, but he¡¯s had his fill since the human massacre this morning.


    Anyway, the maid¡¯s life force slowly began slipping away until she was left motionless. Marcellus had thought about sending her body and the now-empty vial to Madame Grey Heart¡¯s chambers, but then he decided right there it wasn¡¯t necessary.


    "Let¡¯s see them solve this mystery," Marcellus remarked coldly as he turned away from the scene of the crime before he slipped out of thepound.


    .


    .


    "You¡¯re finally back," Cullen muttered when Marcellus stepped into the house with a satisfied expression on his face.


    Cullen paused, watching as Marcellus walked past him. His nose scrunched as he picked up a scent from his body.


    "Sex..." Cullen blurted, folding his arms in front of his chest before he turned around to face Marcellus.


    Thetter was already busy mixing a cocktail on top of the dining table, his smirk widening as Cullen took slow steps forward.


    "Did you force yourself on someone?" Cullen asked with surprise, but there wasn¡¯t any pity toward the victim behind his voice.


    Oh no, instead he was worried... About Marcellus.


    When Marcellus felt that worry oozing out of Cullen like a rotten egg, his eyebrows furrowed into a frown as he gulped down most of his drink before walking toward his assistant.


    <fnfe2d> For original chapters go to find?novel</fnfe2d>


    "You say that like I¡¯m supposed to feel some guilt," Marcellus remarked, shoving his hands into his pockets as he dimmed his eyes at Cullen.


    Thetter¡¯s lips parted repeatedly before he sighed and shook his head. "That¡¯s not what I meant. It¡¯s just... It¡¯s been so long since you did something like that. Especially since you became the Beta and¡ª"


    "Don¡¯t, Cullen." Marcellus interrupted with a in tone, waving his hand dismissively. "If you think I¡¯m not thinking straight simply because I was having a little fun, then that¡¯s on you. I couldn¡¯t care less."


    At this point, he was standing mere inches in front of Cullen and smiled before patting him on his cheek and straightening his cor.


    "Look alive. We have a ball to prepare for."

 Chapter 137: _Someone Watching Her

    <h4>Chapter 137: _Someone Watching Her</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    When nighttime came, I was restless. The messages from the anonymous number were still on my phone, and I still had no clue who it could be or what secret the person was referencing.


    Did they know I¡¯m a hybrid? Did they know about the mate bond with Kaelos? Did they know I¡¯ve awakened magic? What was it?


    ¡¯You know, it¡¯s funny to me how Catherine is the only person in this pack who knows all three secrets.¡¯ Sirena suddenly spoke up in my head just then while I paced around my room.


    I hadn¡¯t eaten dinner, and honestly, I wasn¡¯t even hungry.


    "How the heck is that funny?" I asked physically, too stressed out to speak mentally. "Wait, don¡¯t tell me that you suspect her. Caroline? Sweet, innocent¡ª"


    ¡¯Girl, please!¡¯ Sirena interrupted in my head with a snigger. ¡¯That girl is anything but innocent, trust me. I¡¯m surprised you haven¡¯t noticed the way she looks at you yet.¡¯


    Huh?


    ¡¯Never mind.¡¯ Sirena sighed, immediately changing the topic. ¡¯If you don¡¯t see Caroline as a suspect, the only other person that leaves is obviously Celine. She has a motive more than anything. Not to mention her weird behavior today.¡¯


    Now we¡¯re talking! Gosh, Celine was my only suspect at this point.


    "She¡¯s not even trying to hide the fact that she¡¯s up to something and she knows damn well that it¡¯s making me ufortable." I blurted with a sigh, shaking my head with my arms folded in front of my chest. "This is torture. Maybe I could just use a potion on her or¡ª"


    ¡¯Very funny, Odessa. You do remember that using potions is what got you in trouble with our mate in the first ce, right?¡¯ Sirena pointed out, causing me to smirk slightly.


    However, that smirk soon disappeared when I felt an eerie presence. It was faint and seemed almost familiar... But oh was it also fucking malevolent.


    ¡¯Someone or something is watching us.¡¯ I said mentally, swallowing hard and ncing over my shoulder at the balcony before I yelled out physically. "Who¡¯s there?!"


    <fne9d5> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on findnovel</fne9d5>


    There was no response, forcing me to turn around to face the balcony.


    Indeed, it was empty, apart from the night wind blowing the small decorative nt on it. However, the night wind also came with a bone-chilling feeling that gave me the creeps.


    In the back of my mind, I remembered clearly that there was a witch out there, responsible for the magic-rted killings in the pack since I got here.


    Could they be spying on me somehow? Could they be the ones behind the anonymous messages?


    I became tense as I squinted my eyes and slowly moved toward the balcony, my arms still wrapped tightly across my chest. I knew that even if I wasn¡¯t able to properly defend myself on time, I¡¯d be able to escape unharmed in the case that someone dangerous was there.


    Or, at least I hoped.


    ¡¯I have a bad feeling about this.¡¯ Sirena mumbled in my head, sounding as stressed out as I was. ¡¯Maybe we should¡ª¡¯


    Before she couldplete that sentence, a knock sounded at my door, causing me to jolt in surprise. I nced at my door, raising an eyebrow.


    I soon picked up a familiar cologne that wafted into my nostrils, not to mention the fact that the mate mark on my neck, which I¡¯d covered with my hair, was reacting with a warm sensation.


    Kaelos... He¡¯s back.


    My eyes went to the clock, and I realized then that it was already a few minutes past midnight.


    "Took him long enough." I blurted to myself, sighing softly before I finally decided to turn away from the balcony.


    I walked to the door and opened it, only to see Kaelos standing on the other side with a small smile on his face. His silver eyes glinted in the darkness of the hallway as he walked in.


    "Good evening." He mumbled, his gaze sweeping past me intensely.


    I rolled my eyes, closing the door behind us before I turned around to face him. "Good evening? It¡¯s already midnight. What happened? Caroline told me you might¡¯ve gone out for some top-secret investigation."


    At that same moment as I waited for him to exin himself, my eyes flitted to the balcony once again. I couldn¡¯t feel the malevolent presence again, but I knew there was someone there.


    I didn¡¯t know what or who, but I knew I wasn¡¯t imagining things. My senses were heightened since my full hybrid nature awakened.


    Suddenly, Kaelos cleared his throat, turning around to nce at the balcony before he muttered. "It wasn¡¯t much of a top-secret investigation since the incident was announced in the news. A human town on the other side of the blood oak woods was burnt to the ground."


    My eyes widened with shock.


    Oh...


    After saying that, Kaelos stared at me for an extended period, his eyes scrutinizing my expression for whatever reason. I got a little ufortable, my face heating up as I looked away.


    "T¨C That¡¯s... That¡¯s terrible. Were you guys able to get any leads on who¡¯s responsible? It could be those rogue werewolves or¡ª"


    "Yes, we saw traces of werewolf w markings on a lot of the bodies." Kaelos interrupted me, nodding his head. "But also, the mes weren¡¯t made through normal means. They were magic. Not to mention the fact that there are traces of telepathic maniption in the minds of a few victims."


    A witch?


    My eyebrows furrowed into a frown at the implications of his words. Werewolf w markings AND traces of witchcraft?


    "This could mean two things..." I blurted thoughtfully, rubbing my chin as I nced at the balcony briefly.


    The anonymous messages crossed my mind again at that moment, causing me to tense up.


    Meanwhile, Kaelos spoke up again. "Yeah, either a witch or a werewolf is working together out there. Or¡ª"


    "Or, someone out there is actively trying to fuck with me and frame me." I blurted, whipping my head to face him.

 Chapter 138: _He’s Her Kryptonite

    <h4>Chapter 138: _He¡¯s Her Kryptonite</h4>


    "Or, someone out there is actively trying to fuck with me and frame me."


    After I said that, Kaelos raised an eyebrow, focusing all his attention on me as he folded his arms in front of his chest.


    Seeing the questioning look in his eyes, I sighed before I continued. "The maid who had her life force absorbed. The poisoning of the South American Alpha King and my attempted assassination. The missing pack doctor and his wife, who was burned with mes from magic."


    Kaelos visibly tensed up with all the examples I listed.


    "All this happened within the span of not even up to a month since I arrived here," I remarked, rubbing my chin thoughtfully. "So tell me, how exactly do you exin it? Even you admitted that events like these haven¡¯t happened since before the truce."


    The more I thought about it, the more I couldn¡¯t me people who suspected me of these crimes. Whoever wasmitting them was making all of it link back to me.


    The only evidence of someone else possibly being behind them was...


    "There¡¯s still that mysterious witch at the South American Alpha king¡¯s weing ball who tried assassinating you." Kaelos suddenly mentioned the thought that had been forming in my mind, causing me to nce at him.


    He shrugged in response, sighing before he turned his back on me. "Honestly, I don¡¯t think anyone in their right mind would suspect you of this incident. No one knows you¡¯re a hybrid after all."


    I swallowed hard after he said that, causing him to pause before he slowly turned his gaze to me again, his eyebrows furrowing into a frown.


    "What¡¯s the matter?" He asked, but then realization dawned on his face the next second as he shook his head with disbelief. "Wait, did you tell someone about your hybrid nature?"


    I fiddled with my fingers as I nodded slowly and blurted. "Caroline. I also told her about the mate bond and that my magic¡ª"


    "For the love of the moon, Odessa!" Kaelos snapped just then, causing me to jolt in surprise. "How could you do something so stupid?"


    Stupid?


    Meanwhile, Sirena sighed in my head and added to the scolding. ¡¯I told you he wouldn¡¯t take it lightly.¡¯


    I ignored her and proceeded to stare firmly at Kaelos. "What do you mean by ¡¯stupid¡¯? You told me I could tell her about the mate bond and I¡ª"


    "Yes, the mate bond! Not the fact that you¡¯re a bloody hybrid!" Kaelos groaned with more frustration, rubbing his hand down his face. "I haven¡¯t even told Elder Davina about your hybrid nature because I know how risky it is. Do you know how hated your kind has been on the ever since the war started?"


    ... MY KIND?


    Is he throwing around the race card now?


    "As if I have control over the fact that my parents had witch and werewolf blood," I spoke with a harrumph, flinging my arms as I walked closer to him. "I get it, Kaelos! I¡¯m an abomination. A being whose said to be capable of feats that could change the tides of the war, yada, yada, yada."


    Kaelos clenched his jaw, staring at me for what felt like an eternity. Eventually, he shook his head and sighed.


    "You do remember that you¡¯re still due for a punishment tonight for your attempted escapest night, right?" He queried, tilting his head with a mischievous glint in his eyes.


    Oh, I knew that look all too well.


    "You perv!" I grunted, raising my right hand to hit him when he grabbed my wrist. "What the...? Kaelos, s¡ª"


    "What punishment should I give you for this recent blunder?" He suddenly queried, bringing his mouth close to my neck and using his other hand to part strands of my hair.


    My heart thudded heavily against my chest like a rabbit being chased down, and I couldn¡¯t even bring myself to concentrate. His hot breath pricked my skin, sending waves that made me weak in the knees.


    "K¨C Kaelos. We¨C We have to..." I was about to say something, but forgot what it was midway.


    Meanwhile, my wolf¡¯s howls were bing persistent and urgent in my head, pushing me to do all sorts of crazy things with Kaelos.


    <fn96dd> Readplete version only at Find[?]ovel</fn96dd>


    Slowly, my eyes raised to meet his as his hand, which had been caressing my hair, went to the mate mark on my neck and touched it gently.


    He stared at the mark with what seemed like pride, like an artist trying to appreciate his work.


    "Has your heat stopped?" He suddenly asked, his silver eyes locking on mine in an intense gaze that almost disoriented me.


    I gulped as I tried to concentrate on my body and see if I had any symptoms of heat. I was getting extra agitated throughout most of the day and thought about seeing Kaelos most of the time when I found out he wasn¡¯t around.


    Now that I think about it... My body still burned with an unexinable need that I didn¡¯t realize I was subconsciously holding back.


    "The heat tends to fluctuate once in a while, giving you brief moments of relief." Kaelos suddenly exined, his hand going from the mark on my neck to the back of my head. "Or prolonged moments of untameable desires. Desires that only I can tame."


    Why did this sentence sound familiar?


    Before I could think more on that, Kaelos brought his lips close to mine, teasing me, tempting me to give in.


    As much as I¡¯d been stressed out by the anonymous messages and Celine¡¯s suspicious behavior, I had to admit that it was a temptation I couldn¡¯t resist.


    Without warning, Kaelos imed my lips in a kiss that made me lose whatever ounce of reason or logic I had. It was midnight and I craved sleep... But not as much as I craved the feeling of Kaelos being knee deep inside me.


    I gave in and kissed him back with the same intensity, bringing my free hand that he didn¡¯t hold back to the back of his head and rxing in his hold.


    He felt like... Home. But for some reason, he also felt like my very own kryptonite.

 Chapter 139: _Not An Abomination

    <h4>Chapter 139: _Not An Abomination</h4>


    (Warning: Mature Content Ahead)


    Kaelos deepened the kiss, his tongue sliding into my mouth with an intensity that sessfully dissolved every thought from my mind.


    His hands went lower, from the back of my head and slipping beneath the hem of my top, his fingers grazing the bare skin of my waist.


    I gasped softly into his mouth, biting my bottom lip as my body arched in response to his touch, every fiber of my being burning with arousal.


    He broke the kiss for a moment, only to yank my top over my head in a single fluid motion, flinging it somewhere behind me. I didn¡¯t care to look at where itnded and focused my attention on his face, my hands trailing down his chest.


    All I cared about in that moment was how he slowly lowered his head, his mouth gripping onto my right breast through my bra as his hands began undoing the strap behind my back.


    "You talk too much when you¡¯re nervous." His warm breath grazed my skin as he murmured, his voiceing out with a growl. "But your body always tells the truth, Odessa."


    Suddenly, he let the bra drop, and I barely had time to register the cool air hitting my chest soon after when his warm mouth reced it, his lips closing around one nipple while his thumb pinched the other tenderly.


    I moaned in response to his touch, my knees shaking slightly until I felt like I was going to copse. Luckily, he caught me with his right arm around my waist as he continued working his magic on my breasts.


    "Bed," I whispered breathlessly, attempting to use my hands to pull him to the bed behind us.


    But Kaelos didn¡¯t budge.


    "Sweet, little hybrid," He whispered into my ears, lifting his head as his silver eyes glinted mischievously. "Not yet."


    Suddenly, he dropped to his knees in front of me, his hands sliding down the sides of my thighs, slowly dragging my pants and underwear down in one fluid motion.


    I braced myself against his shoulders, trembling as the cool air from the balcony hit the heat between my legs.


    When his mouth found my entrance, I nearly cried out but bit my lips instead.


    His tongue moved skillfully. He wasn¡¯t rushing but took his time, making sure my body reacted to every move he made.


    He was devouring me like he hadn¡¯t eaten for days, and the worst part was that I loved it. I loved every second of it.


    My hands tangled in his thick hair, and I rocked against him, subconsciously biting my bottom lip as he grunted in response. This went on for what felt like an eternity until all my mind could focus on was the pleasure.


    "Kaelos," I whimpered, my thighs trembling. "I think I¡¯m going to... I¨CI¡¯m going to¡ª"


    Suddenly, just when I felt like I was getting close, he pulled back, and I almost sobbed at the loss.


    "What the hell¡ª?"


    Before I could finish cursing, he was already on his feet again, stripping out of his shirt and pants in seconds without saying a word. His chest, which seemed like they¡¯d been sculpted by gods, was heaving in a manner that made me hold my breath.


    My gaze dropped lower, and I swallowed hard. The faint moonlight streaming through the windows made his slightly pale skin glow, his dick throbbing like a divine rod.


    "Turn around," he ordered, his voice snapping me out of my reverie.


    I swallowed hard but found myself obeying without question, bracing my hands against the wall close to the door as he stepped behind me. His fingers trailed down my spine, tracing the curve of my hips, before gripping my ass cheeks firmly.


    "This is your punishment," He said, his breath hot against my ear. "You¡¯ll take everything I give you. No running and no holding back from me."


    A shiver went up my body as I trembled before speaking breathlessly. "Then stop teasing me and do it."


    He didn¡¯t need to be told twice.


    Without any preparation, he thrust into me from the back, causing me to gasp as my head fell forward, my hands wing at the wall for support.


    The pain burned for only a moment, numbing my body before pleasure surged and snatched my breath away.


    He pulled back in one fluid movement and mmed into me again, and again, setting a pace that had me crying out with every thrust.


    Gosh, he¡¯s never been this rough.


    ¡¯And you¡¯ve never done it against a wall either.¡¯ Sirena chuckled slyly in my head just then, briefly disorienting me. ¡¯Wee to your punishment.¡¯


    Before I could even find words to respond to her, Kaelos¡¯ hands tightened on my hips as he positioned himself just right, hitting a spot inside me that made my eyes get teary.


    I let out a scream, but he quickly brought his hand to my mouth and covered it, shushing me.


    "The only sound you¡¯re allowed to make is saying my name," he growled, causing me to nod slowly.


    "Kaelos," I moaned when he let go of my mouth, but my voice came out louder than I meant to.


    I could barely think at this point.


    All I could do was take it, his steady rhythm sending my body spiraling out of control. Meanwhile, Sirena howled in my mind, wing against my skin.


    As if that wasn¡¯t enough, I felt my magic surge, sparks of energy dancing on my skin as I approached the edge.


    <fnd697> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel</fnd697>


    Well, that was new...


    I was certain Kaelos could sense it too.


    His hand slid around my waist, his fingers finding my pussy before he rubbed quick, tight circles around it. My body jerked at the added stimtion.


    "Oh, goddess! Kaelos, I¡¯m¡ª"


    He drove into me onest time and let out a groan that made my climax more explosive


    It was like a burst of ecstasy, so intense that my knees buckled.


    I cried out, barely able to hold myself up as my magic pulsed outward in a wave that made the lights in the room flicker.


    Kaelos followed a few secondster, spilling his load into me with a low growl, before burying his face on my neck.


    We stayed like that for what felt like ages, both sweaty and bodies pressed together, our hearts beating in sync.


    Eventually, he pulled out gently, wrapping his arms around me from behind and bringing his mouth to the spot he¡¯d left a mate mark.


    "You¡¯re not an abomination," he suddenly murmured against my skin, taking me by surprise. "You¡¯re MY mate. And nothing on this is going to change that."

 Chapter 140: _A Charity Ball

    <h4>Chapter 140: _A Charity Ball</h4>


    Five dayster, it was finally time for the charity ball Celine had been talking about.


    And what was also meant to happen within those five days?


    "Wait, so the texts said that your ¡¯secret¡¯ will be revealed in five days? Which is today?" Caroline asked me that morning after I had finished freshening up and was dressing for the day. "And you didn¡¯t bother informing the Alpha King?"


    I sighed, nodding in response before I turned to face her. "Yeah, and before you call me stupid¡ª"


    "This is obviously the work of Luna Celine!" Caroline eximed just then, her eyes wide open. "It all makes sense! Not to mention the ¡¯charity ball¡¯ she¡¯s throwing tonight, which she invited you to as a VIP guest out of nowhere."


    I clicked my tongue, but I knew she was right. I suspected Celine from the beginning, but the thing is, I didn¡¯t have any evidence on her.


    Not to mention that I didn¡¯t want to stress Kaelos with another investigation when he was busy trying to handle the situation with the rogues.


    It seemed Caroline noticed the tension I felt, so she decided to change the topic rather abruptly.


    "Well, I heard delegates from the humans and witches¡¯ side will be attending, by the way," Caroline remarked just then, fiddling with her fingers. "You might get the chance to see your people tonight after so long."


    Yay... How exciting.


    I smiled awkwardly at her, parting aside strands of my hair before I blurted. "Yeah, I don¡¯t think seeing any of my ¡¯people¡¯ would be a good idea now or ever. Last time I spoke to my aunt on the phone, she kept on hammering on the fact that I shouldn¡¯t do anything stupid while here."


    ¡¯And one might say turning out to be a hybrid after attempting to escape your husband is ironically the most stupid thing that has happened to you.¡¯ Sirenamented in my head just then, making me feel like wing her out.


    Handling her has been such a chore since she awakened!


    "I still think you should tell the Alpha King, ma¡¯am Odessa." Caroline suddenly blurted, snapping me out of my argument with Sirena.


    I shook my head, shaking my head and stepping away from the mirror where I¡¯d been brushing my hair. However, before I could say anything, a knock sounded at my door, forcing me to pause.


    I nced at Caroline, who nced back at me before I spoke out. "Uh, you cane in!"


    The door swung open a few secondster, and to my surprise, the person who stepped in turned out to be La, who had a small smile on her face while holding a white bag.


    I didn¡¯t know whether she was just good at acting, since she works directly for Kaelos, but her smile seemed genuine as she greeted me politely.


    "Good morning, ma¡¯am Odessa. The Alpha King said I should give you this." She spoke casually, handing me the bag after ncing briefly at Caroline, who stood beside me.


    I grabbed the bag and looked through it, and was surprised to see a beautiful silver white gown inside, alongside a small ck box which contained a ne with a ruby gemstone.


    The same ne Kaelos gave me during our wedding. I guess he kept it with himself after rescuing me from the Blood Oak woods.


    "I¡¯m... I¡¯m guessing these are for the charity ball tonight." I remarked, raising my head and shing a smile at La.


    She nodded with a smile of her own, sping both her hands in front of her body.


    "Indeed, ma¡¯am. As you may have heard, delegates from all over the continent will be attending, so you have to look your best. You¡¯ll be attending the ball as the Alpha king¡¯s wife, just like the weing ball."


    I swallowed hard when I remembered the weing ball, the one that had almost imed my life. I subconsciously rubbed my neck when I remembered how that magic arrow had almost hit me.


    Yeah, I hope more than anything that nothing is "just" like that ursed night.


    ¡¯Girl, it just might be if Celine reveals any of your secrets tonight.¡¯ Sirena remarked in my mind, once again making me tense.


    But I did a great job hiding that, shoving all these thoughts to the back of my mind and smiling warmly at La.


    "Thank you, La. And also tell my husband I said thank you." I nodded at her.


    However, La¡¯s smile widened as she gestured at the entrance to my room. "Why don¡¯t you tell him yourself?"


    I dimmed my eyes and was surprised to see Kaelos stepping into my room. I rarely saw him during these five days, especially after our wild night of sex thest time.


    He wore a ck suit coat that reached his knees and was lined at the edges with silver fur, as well as a form-fitting ck pants.


    His shoulder-length ck hair was tied in a bun, allowing me to get a better look at his gorgeous facial features, which always made me feel butterflies no matter how many times I¡¯ve seen them.


    ¡¯Someone is in love and doesn¡¯t want to admit it.¡¯ Sirena chuckled in my mind, giving me my concentration back as I shook my head before shing a smile at Kaelos.


    "H¨C Hey. Good morning." I greeted him, but I almost felt like sinking into the ground after I did.


    Why did I have to make it sound awkward?


    Fortunately, Kaelos didn¡¯t seem to care and smiled slightly in return. "Good morning to you, too. My apologies for not being able to see you these past few days. I¡¯ve been busy running through tons of paperwork and boring ass council meetings."


    I chuckled softly, staring into his eyes as he stared into mine.


    Meanwhile, Caroline coughed awkwardly and bowed in front of Kaelos. "G¨C Good morning, sir. It¡¯s always a pleasure to be in your presence." She stuttered slightly.


    Kaelos nodded at her, but just when he parted his lips to say something, a voice spoke up from behind him.


    "Hey, where the Alpha King¡¯s bride at?"


    That voice...


    Everyone turned their attention to the entrance of the room, and I almost gasped when I saw who it was, my face heating up with embarrassment.


    <fnc27f> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n ?ovelFind</fnc27f>


    It was Marcellus.

 Chapter 141: _All Is Forgiven?

    <h4>Chapter 141: _All Is Forgiven?</h4>


    My heart sank a little when I saw Marcellus strutting in.


    He had a bright smile on his face, with one hand in his coat pocket and the other casually waving at me.


    He actually looked good... thank the gods. I¡¯d been afraid that the potion I used to drug him would leave side effects.


    The yful glint in his eyes reminded me of the night we hadst spoken. Which, unfortunately, had been right before I drugged him.


    "Well damn, I was expecting a little more excitement," He drawled when he finally got in front of me, spreading his arms. "I haven¡¯t seen you in five days, and all I get is a gasp?"


    "I..." My voice faltered as I took a step forward, ncing at Kaelos, who raised an eyebrow before I sighed deeply with guilt. "I¡¯m sorry, Marcellus."


    Marcellus blinked before he scoffed lightly. "What now?"


    Damn, did the potion mess with his memories too?


    "For using that potion on you." I borated, rubbing my right arm as my voice became lower. "Kaelos put you in charge of watching me, and I just... I needed a way out that wouldn¡¯t hurt anyone. It was the only thing I could think of."


    Marcellus stared at me, silent for a bit too long, which only made my stomach twist harder.


    <fnf495> Chapters first released on Find?Novel</fnf495>


    However, he soon chuckled, shaking his head before waving dismissively.


    "Dessa, if I got mad every time someone slipped something in my drink, I¡¯d have high blood pressure by now."


    I stared at him with parted lips, my eyebrows furrowing. "Wait, what?"


    Suddenly, he raised both his hands. "I ain¡¯t saying I liked waking up feeling like I¡¯d been hit by a truck. But, to be fair, it wasn¡¯t the worst nap I ever had. And I figured you had your reasons. All is forgiven."


    Huh? All is forgiven? Just like that? No scolding, no excessive taunting or teasing? Just like that?


    Sirena snorted in my mind just then. ¡¯I guess the Beta is an even bigger simp than our mate to scold you properly.¡¯


    ¡¯Shut up!¡¯ I snapped internally while keeping a smile on my face.


    "Still," Marcellus went on, ncing at Caroline for the first time, "I missed you. Pack life has been dry without the drama."


    I smiled awkwardly but then nced at Caroline and noticed how she stiffened slightly.


    I frowned, raising an eyebrow and trying to get her attention, but she quickly masked the difort with a small bow. "It¡¯s good to see you again, Beta Marcellus."


    Marcellus¡¯ eyes lingered on her a little too long, shing her a smile before he turned back to me. "Anyway, I heard you¡¯re going to Celine¡¯s charity ball tonight looking like a goddess."


    I smiled bashfully, lifting the bag containing the gown. "Thanks to Kaelos," I said, ncing at my dear husband, who had taken a step closer to me now, staring with what felt like he was observing my interactions with Marcellus.


    I blinked at him, almost getting lost in his gaze until I cleared my throat and snapped out of it. "Actually... speaking of the ball. Kaelos, do you think Caroline could¡ª"


    Before I could finish that sentence, the room door burst open, causing everyone to swerve their heads in that direction.


    It was a maid who seemed like she had seen a ghost as she stepped into the room and bowed in front of Kaelos and Marcellus.


    "G¨C Greetings, Alpha King and Beta. I¨C I have¡ª"


    "You better have a good exnation for why you barged into my wife¡¯s room like that." Kaelos interrupted sternly, stepping forward and staring coldly at the maid.


    She shrank back with fear, but whatever it was she had to say seemed to scare her more than Kaelos as she continued with a trembling voice.


    "F¨C Forgive me, my Lord. It¡¯s just... It¡¯s just that some other maids and I were working around thepound, tending to some nts when... when..." She stuttered repeatedly, her body shaking with fear.


    Kaelos nced back at Marcellus, who sighed before speaking. "Use your words, love. What happened?"


    He stretched his right hand forward, probably trying to sound reassuring.


    Meanwhile, I nced wearily at Caroline, who had the same confused expression on her face as she nced at me.


    After drawing in several deep breaths, the maid cleared her throat and finally gathered enough willpower to continue.


    "We saw something behind some shrubs and decided to check it out. It was... a body. A dead maid. Her remains looked like they¡¯d been there for days."


    My eyes widened with shock, and Caroline gasped, cing her right hand in front of her mouth.


    Meanwhile, Kaelos clenched his fists as he nced at Marcellus and La before immediately gesturing at the exit.


    "Let¡¯s go."


    The maid led the way as the three of them scurried out of the room.


    However, I was way too nosy to just let them go out there on their own.


    "Ma¡¯am Odessa, no." Caroline suddenly blurted before I could even say anything, forcing me to turn my gaze to her. "I know what you¡¯re about to say already, but I don¡¯t want to do it."


    I didn¡¯t know whether to find it cute that she knew me so well, or to be offended that she was talking to me like a stubborn child.


    ¡¯Probably thetter, except you have no right to be offended.¡¯ Sirena mumbled in my head, but I found the strength to ignore her as I kept an unyielding expression with Caroline.


    "If you don¡¯t want to go check it out, then stay here." I raised my head, puffing my chest intentionally before turning away from her and walking away.


    Just as I¡¯d expected, I heard her groan with frustration before she followed behind me, causing a smirk to curl up my lips.


    When we got downstairs, we were able to find the location where the body was found following the trail of staff members gossiping.


    It didn¡¯t take long to get to a secluded spot where a few maids watched from a distance while Kaelos, Marcellus, and La surrounded a scene.


    When my gaze fell on the body in question, my eyes widened, and I felt my stomach turn.


    "By the gods..."

 Chapter 142: _Two Culprits

    <h4>Chapter 142: _Two Culprits</h4>


    "What could have possibly been the cause of her death?" La asked as I finally got to the body.


    I tilted my head, staring at it with dread. It was rotting, but I didn¡¯t see any maggots or putrid flesh that would make me think she was dead.


    Instead, her body was shriveled up until her skin looked like ash, and her hair started falling off. She was also naked, curled up into a ball with her eyeballs wide open, and also shriveled, sinking into her eye sockets.


    "Poison." Kaelos suddenly mumbled, causing all eyes to turn to him.


    I raised an eyebrow at first until I followed his gaze and realized that he was staring at an empty vial clutched weakly in the maid¡¯s hands.


    Oh, gods...


    "Anyone who¡¯s not an official should leave this ce and ensure no one outside the mansion finds out!" Kaelos yelled out with gritted teeth, turning around and ring at the maids and guards standing several meters away.


    They all scurried, avoiding Kaelos¡¯ wrath, while Caroline grabbed my arm and was about to lead me out of there.


    "You. Leave." Kaelos pointed at Caroline and gestured at her to go, before he fixed his gaze on me. "You. Stay."


    I fluttered my eyelids awkwardly but swallowed hard, ncing at Caroline and nodding at her reassuringly before she bowed and then walked away.


    "Her body isn¡¯t giving up any scent that would suggest it¡¯s rotting," La remarked just then, squatting to the ground and sniffing. "In fact, it¡¯s devoid of any scent at all. No wonder the guards or maids didn¡¯t notice her until now."


    "Could this be suicide?" Marcellus suddenly asked, causing me to nce at him.


    He seemed to have a calm expression and shrugged at me. "What? With her holding a poison in her hand, I thought that would be obvious?"


    I dimmed my eyes, and as much as I wanted to believe that was the case, my instincts told me there was more to this.


    ¡¯Even if the poor thingmitted suicide, why is she naked?¡¯ Sirenamented in my head, and I couldn¡¯t help but agree.


    Meanwhile, La shook her head with pity on her face before she got back on her feet. "She¡¯s been defiled. Badly. This wasn¡¯t suicide."


    My heart sank at those words. I knew it!


    "This was a premeditated murder that the killer poorly tried to make seem like a suicide," Kaelos said with a scoff, folding his arms in front of his chest.


    However, that brought a lot of questions to my head.


    The fact that her body was rotting without giving off any scents or smells reminded me of a poison...


    Without a word, I stepped forward and squatted, stretching my hand and gently picking up the small vial clutched in her shriveled hand.


    Her skin was so brittle that it felt like it would break from merely touching it.


    "Do you recognize something, Dessa?" Marcellus asked knowingly, but I ignored him, too concentrated on confirming my suspicion.


    I opened the vial and brought it close to my nostrils, sniffing it. It smelled of some familiar roots, but also had something sharp and nauseating.


    Like cyanide.


    And then there was something else...


    "Magic." I blurted out, my eyes widening with shock as I stood up with the vial clutched in my hand.


    I whipped my head to Kaelos and the others, who stared at me curiously.


    "Well?" Kaelos queried, sounding impatient.


    I drew in a deep breath before I spoke.


    "The poison is actually a magic potion that was made illegal by several covens on the continent because of how deadly it is. It¡¯s called ¡¯Ashrot¡¯. It dries up the insides of its victim within seconds, luring in a painful death and making the body simr to inorganic ash."


    The eyes of everyone present widened while Marcellus whistled.


    "Well, damn. What exactly would witches need a deadly poison like that for?" He queried, but before I could respond, Kaelos snapped.


    "The main question here should be what the heck is an illegal magic potion doing in the possession of an ordinary maid?"


    There was silence after his words, and everyone was clearly clueless.


    However, the silence was shattered when a deep voice boomed from another direction.


    "She was bribed!"


    I turned my head in the direction of the voice and almost sighed when I saw Gamma Zane walking toward us.


    In his right hand, he held a simple-looking purse that earned an eyebrow raise from me.


    "Now¡¯s not the time to show off your change in fashion, Gamma." Marcellus suddenly blurted, causing me to ce my hand in front of my mouth to hold a giggle.


    It seemed La was also trying to hold inughter, forcing the two of us to exchange subtle nces.


    By the goddess, we shouldn¡¯t beughing in such a situation!


    "How mature of you, Beta." Gamma Zane responded with a sarcastic smile before his face became stern again.


    He flung the purse to Kaelos, who caught it mid-air before looking through it.


    It didn¡¯t take long for him to bring out a wad of cash containing one-hundred-dor bills.


    "I found that in the dead maid¡¯s room in the staff house. That¡¯s twenty-five hundred dors." Gamma Zane remarked, folding his arms in front of his chest as he got to our group.


    He nced at me briefly, his eyes shing with the usual disdain and suspicion, forcing me to look away awkwardly.


    "Where could a maid have gotten such money from?" La asked, scratching the back of her head.


    Gamma Zane scoffed before he spoke up. "I¡¯m telling you, this maid was bribed to poison someone. Perhaps the Alpha King, or someone else."


    I saw him staring at me from the corner of my eye, causing me to gulp.


    ¡¯Obsessed much?¡¯ Sirena sneered in my head as if she wanted to w her way out and give him a piece of her mind.


    However, before anyone could talk again, Kaelos spoke up with a somber tone.


    <fnf76f> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on f?ndnovel</fnf76f>


    "So, she was bribed but then raped and possibly forced to kill herself and dumped here." He paused, his expression tense. "Whoever made her kill herself didn¡¯t do it casually. This was a deliberate message."


    I furrowed my eyebrows at the thought. It seemed to make sense. But then...


    "Wouldn¡¯t that mean we have two culprits in our midst? Both of them possibly at odds with each other?" Marcellus asked the question that had been slipping into my head.

 Chapter 143: _Tonight Is The Night

    <h4>Chapter 143: _Tonight Is The Night</h4>


    Everyone was silent after Marcellus¡¯ words.


    Once again, just like the murdersmitted before this one, it seemed like each step we took to unravel the mystery led to more confusion.


    "Two culprits?" Kaelos repeated Marcellus¡¯ words before he rubbed his forehead. "By the goddess, that means more work."


    I furrowed my eyebrows as a thought crossed my mind. I tilted my head, squatting again to scrutinize the corpse.


    "So do you guys think maybe the maid was threatened to drink the potion? Or was it forced down her throat by the killer?" I asked absentmindedly as I ced my right hand above her head.


    I could feel Kaelos¡¯ intense gaze on me and knew then that he knew what I was up to.


    Before now, I didn¡¯t have magic to help with investigations like this. But now I did.


    ¡¯You do realize that you have to keep it a secret from the others, right?¡¯ Sirena queried in my head, but I ignored her as I stared nkly at the body, trying to concentrate.


    "My bet is on her getting threatened." Gamma Zane suddenly blurted in response to myst question.


    "I can see it now. The culprit who raped her probably did so after finding the vial with her. Then he threatened her to drink it. Her body doesn¡¯t seem disturbed or moved. He wanted us to see her."


    As he kept on talking and painting a picture of what might¡¯ve happened, I dimmed my eyes as I began picking up something. It was faint, but malevolent, like an imprint branded in her mind.


    "Well, at least we now know that one of the culprits is male," Marcellus remarked, but then sighed. "Still, how exactly was he able to threaten her to drink it? Why didn¡¯t she scream out? She doesn¡¯t even look like she tried fighting back."


    My eyes twitched the more I thought about it. This was a brutal death, no doubt.


    Merely thinking about it sent shivers down my spine, especially after I was able to pick up something lingering in her brain.


    ¡¯Mind control spell.¡¯ I thought to myself, swallowing hard before I stood up and faced the others.


    "I think she was mind-controlled. Compelled to follow the orders of the culprit." I blurted, scanning my gaze on the faces of everyone present.


    However, Marcellus frowned, raising an eyebrow.


    "Wouldn¡¯t that make the man who raped her a witch?" He asked, causing me to scratch the back of my head awkwardly.


    "Or maybe he drugged her with some kind of mind-numbing potion." La suddenly muttered, seeming disturbed as she stared at me curiously. "Those exist, right?"


    I parted my lips to say something, but Kaelos beat me to it.


    "Enough of this. So far, we¡¯ve been able to discover that the culprit responsible for this is male because of the signs of rape. There¡¯s also the possibility of a witch being involved, perhaps the person who¡¯s been killing people in the pack."


    The air became tense as everyone listened silently. But then Gamma Zane cleared his throat and spoke up.


    "Pardon, Alpha King. But I just thought of something. This reminds me of the burnt-down human town we were investigating. Remember, we concluded a witch controlling a werewolf to do her bidding was behind it."


    Her?


    I furrowed my eyebrows, noticing the subtle jab at me. Male witches exist, too, for the gods¡¯ sake!


    "But what if indeed, there¡¯s a hybrid involved in all of this? That would exin how they¡¯ve been able to blend in our midst for so long, killing our people whenever they please." He remarked, ncing briefly at me.


    My body shivered with anxiety as I nced at Kaelos, who merely sighed, rubbing his forehead.


    "Gamma, call the pack soldiers to discreetly take the body for a proper autopsy. Most of what we¡¯re saying here are baseless theories." He blurted, ncing at me subtly before he spread out his arms. "The rest of you can leave. We have a ball tonight to prepare for."


    Which was the most ironic part of all this...


    People were dropping one by one like flies, yet the elites like Celine were still throwing parties.


    ¡¯We have no choice but to attend anyway.¡¯ Sirena sighed in my mind as everyone left the scene, leaving the Gamma, who made some calls.


    .


    <fn61aa> Checktest chapters at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn61aa>


    .


    Nighttime finally came, and with it, the charity ball.


    But tonight, I was also expecting something that has kept me on my toes for the past five days.


    This was the night when the anonymous message said my ¡¯secret¡¯ would be revealed.


    "So, tonight is the night," Caroline mumbled to me as we stepped out of the mansion and walked out into the night, heading to the event building.


    She wore an elegant pink dress, and her hair was tied into a ponytail, making her seem like a noble. Why was she dressed like that?


    Simple... She was going to be my plus one for the ball.


    "No offense, ma¡¯am Odessa, but making me your plus one when you literally have a husband is a bit off," Caroline remarked begrudgingly as we walked side by side.


    I grinned at her, poking her shoulder before I whispered. "You know damn well that I did that only because I need you around to keep an eye on Celine. I¡¯ll be too busy joining Kaelos to wee the human and witch guests."


    Soon, we finally got to the event building, which was only partially crowded, with some cameramen already stationed outside taking pictures while guests parked in front of the building, elegantly dressed.


    Caroline seemed tense, but I nodded at her before gesturing for her to go climb the steps and head into the building while I remained standing at the first step.


    However, as I stared at her walking awkwardly, a voice spoke up.


    "Well, well, well. If it isn¡¯t the acimed Alpha King¡¯s Witch Bride."


    That voice...


    It brought back memories... Memories from my childhood and teenagehood, where I was bullied and shunned as a powerless witch. An outcast. A disgrace.


    I slowly turned my head to the source of the voice, my eyes widening when I saw the person it belonged to.


    "L¨C Lucinda?"

 Chapter 144: _Will Bring Clarity

    <h4>Chapter 144: _Will Bring rity</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    My rtionship with Odessa seemed to still be blooming despite all the drama and trouble that kept popping up in the pack and beyond.


    One sign of that was the fact that I was able to call it a ¡¯rtionship¡¯ without cringing.


    But s, even with the small happiness that came with being with my mate, the weight of being the Alpha King never allowed me to enjoy it for long.


    Today, which was the day that Celine¡¯s charity ball was meant to be held, only five days after a human town was burnt to the ground, a maid¡¯s body was discovered in the mansion¡¯s grounds.


    The facts we were able to gather was that she was bribed by one culprit but then raped and somehowpelled to drink the poison she carried by another one.


    But one question still troubled my head as I tried distracting myself by searching through some documents in my office.


    "Who was the maid meant to poison in the first ce?" I muttered to myself, raising my head from the documents and rubbing my chin.


    My frustration was building up and I felt like if I were a human, I would¡¯ve already suffered from high blood pressure or a heart attack at this rate.


    Thank the goddess I¡¯m an Alpha King...


    Suddenly, just when I was about to ce my focus back on the documents in front of me, a knock sounded on the door. I sighed before I blurted out.


    "Come in."


    The door creaked open, and even though I didn¡¯t raise my head from the documents, the clicking of stiletto heels and the strong perfume that wafted into my nose already gave me a clue of who walked in.


    "Good morning, my Alpha King. Are you ready for tonight?" Celine¡¯s voice echoed as she closed the door behind her.


    I merely nced at her for a few seconds, briefly registering the form-fitting blue dress and smile on her face before I went back to looking through the documents in front of me.


    "Ready to usher in werewolves, humans, and witches from far and wide into this pack when our people seem to be dying every day?" I asked in return, my voice filled with sarcasm. "What do you think, Celine?"


    I had left the preparations for the so-called Charity Ball meant to create ¡¯awareness¡¯ on the war for Celine and her mother to handle.


    So, you could imagine my surprise when I found out she had sent invitations to some of the highest-ranking members of witch and human society.


    Witches and humans! Here, in the Blood Oak pack.


    Suddenly, Damon remarked in my mind. ¡¯<i>Pfft, you¡¯re acting like you aren¡¯t¡ª¡¯ </i>


    ¡¯<i>If you mention anything corky about me banging a hybrid, I swear to the moon, I¡¯ll cut you off</i>.¡¯ I snapped at my wolf mentally while finally setting the documents in front of me aside.


    What were the documents? Nothing but paperwork from mypanies around the continent, and also an extensive list of potential rogues narrowed down from nearby packs.


    The rogue attacks and sightings reports only seemed to be increasing ever since the human town got burned down.


    News of the burnt town and dead humans had spread like wildfire, and the humans and witches of other settlements were already anxiously pointing fingers.


    The main reason why I was even letting Celine throw this Charity Ball in the first ce was so I could make a televised address to the witches and humans in attendance, and also to the continent, trying to reassure them.


    "Wait, speaking of which..." Celine¡¯s voice interrupted my thoughts, causing me to finally sit back and gaze at her.


    She made herselffortable by sitting on top of my desk, crossing one leg on top of the other, before she looked over her shoulder to face me.


    "... I heard whispers of a maid¡¯s body being found today. What happened?" She asked with what seemed like concern.


    But the teasing glint in her eyes made it hard for me to take her seriously.


    "Celine, it¡¯s exactly what you heard. She was poisoned and her body has been there for the past five days." I remarked, rubbing my hand down my face. "Did youe to my office to interrogate me?"


    She gasped in a show of mock offense, shaking her head before she parted aside strands of her hair.


    "Someone¡¯s worked up. Now you¡¯re making me feel bad about the surprise waiting for you tonight." She spoke with a teasing voice, stretching her right hand forward and patting my face softly.


    <fn3439> Chapters first released on FindN()vel</fn3439>


    I brushed her hand aside with irritation, causing her to giggle as she sighed.


    "Like I said before, Celine. I don¡¯t like surprises." My voice was cold now as I red at her.


    She stared at me for a few seconds, smirking slyly before she rubbed her right hand from her stomach to her hips. "And like I said before... You¡¯ll be d once you see what I have in store tonight. It will bring so much rity, not just for you but to the entire pack and the continent."


    For some reason, those words sounded like a threat.


    I dimmed my eyes, staring dangerously at Celine as Damon growled in my mind.


    <i>¡¯I don¡¯t trust her one bit. I can¡¯t believe you made her and that snake she calls a mother to take control of this ball. What if the surprise in question is them sharing your secret to the pack</i>?¡¯ He asked, causing me to furrow my eyebrows.


    <i>¡¯What secret? Odessa being my mate</i>?¡¯ I queried mentally.


    ¡¯<i>No, dim wit! THE secret.¡¯</i>


    A cold shiver ran down my spine at that thought.


    THE secret... The same one Madame Greyheart has used to keep me on my toes for years and to make sure her daughter remains the Luna Queen.


    Suddenly, Celine hopped off my table, staring at me onest time before she shook her head and turned around.


    "Good luck tonight, my Alpha King."


    However, when she got in front of the door and was about to open it, I spoke up coldly.


    "If your mother does anything stupid, I wouldn¡¯t hesitate to silence her permanently. Do you understand?"


    But Celine merely chuckled, shaking her head before she opened the door and strutted out.

 Chapter 145: _So Many Things At Once

    <h4>Chapter 145: _So Many Things At Once</h4>


    As if my mind hadn¡¯t already been troubled enough with work stress, now I had to wait anxiously, thinking about whatever surprise Celine had in store for me.


    ¡¯<i>Dude, you could just call off the Ball. Y¡¯know... Like you should¡¯ve done days ago when she first talked abou</i>t <i>it</i>!¡¯ Damon said with a scoff in my mind, only adding to my frustration.


    ¡¯<i>But seriously, this is bad. If the people of the continent find out what you¡ª¡¯</i>


    "I know, Damon!" I snapped physically, banging my right hand on the hardwood desk and causing a dent to appear on it as my voice shook the office.


    I clenched my fists, trying to calm myself and my emotions, when another knock sounded at my office door.


    "Leave!" I blurted, lying back on my seat.


    I couldn¡¯t cancel the charity Ball. It was my closest shot at strengthening the diplomatic ties between the witches and werewolves of the continent.


    It was also an avenue for me to showcase my coexistence with Odessa.


    Anyway, the door swung open despite my order, and Marcellus was the one who peeked his head into the office, his eyebrows furrowed as he scanned his gaze around wearily.


    "Wait, so there¡¯s no one here?" He queried, sounding surprised as he fixed his gaze on me. "Then why are you in that mood? The maids outside your office already scampered away like deer being hunted because of that yell you made."


    I clicked my tongue, looking away from him before I remarked inly. "Good. Let them."


    He stood there at the entrance for a few seconds, scrutinizing me before he finally stepped in and closed the door behind him.


    "I¡¯m guessing this isn¡¯t a good time." He blurted with a knowing tone, while I shed a sarcastic smile in return.


    "Thank you, Marcellus. For your insightful observation." I said, rolling my eyes, before I ced the fingers of my right hand on my forehead.


    "Celine, her forsaken mother, the charity ball, the problems arising left and right in the pack, the rogues... So many things happening at once, Marcellus. I feel like I¡¯m at the brink of insanity."


    I didn¡¯t look at his face, but I could feel the pity he felt at that moment. And I hated it.


    It made me feel weak, ipetent. Vulnerable.


    "Hey, just rx, okay?" He suddenly spoke up, making himselffortable by sitting on one of the chairs in front of me. "With the charity ball tonight, you can address the issue with the rogues and strengthen the people¡¯s trust in your rule. Two birds with one stone."


    I smiled wryly, letting out a heavy breath before I raised my head and stared at his face.


    "Do you know if anyone from the Luminari Coven would attend?" I queried, drumming my fingers on the armrest of my seat.


    Marcellus had a thoughtful look in his eyes, but then shrugged. "No clue. But I did hear Celine mentioning something about inviting only the most important guests. I also heard rumors of the president of America from the human side attending."


    The American president...


    Ever since the war, most human governments had been abolished, as many stuck with allying with witches in groups/covens.


    The American president was the only high power on the continent left in the human side, but even then, his power and influence were fickle, yet respected nheless.


    "That¡¯s some good news if it turns out to be true," I said with a sigh, nodding. "He¡¯ll be able to ry my words more easily to the humans who don¡¯t want anything to do with witches or werewolves."


    Marcellus nodded as well, snapping his fingers with a smirk. "Now that¡¯s the spirit! You see, you¡¯ll be fine. Anyway, what are you going to wear tonight? Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s some boring suit."


    I rolled my eyes but allowed myself to smile as I listened to Marcellus¡¯ bantering.


    .


    .


    Nighttime finally arrived, and with it, the Charity Ball.


    I stepped out of my room, wearing a tailored blood red coat with silver runes sewn down the cors.


    The dark cape trailing behind me shimmered faintly under the lights in the hallway, a silver sp shaped like a snarling wolf keeping it fastened at my shoulder.


    My boots were silent as I dusted my hands and nced at La, who was waiting for me outside my room.


    Her lips were parted with surprise before she remarked.


    "You look morous, sir. I¡¯m afraid you might overshadow your wife and the Luna Queen in terms of outfits."


    I didn¡¯t know whether to take that as apliment or as an insult.


    <i>¡¯I told you you look like an overdressed peacock</i>.¡¯ Damon remarked in my mind with a mocking tone, but I ignored him as I gestured formally at La to lead the way.


    "What¡¯s the situation at the event building?" I queried, my expression in as we got to the stairs, and we descended.


    La nced back at me before she cleared her throat and spoke. "Well, your wife has already gotten there with her maid. The members of your Council are also there already, as well as the Luna Queen."


    <fn88cf> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find~novel</fn88cf>


    I nodded, trailing my hand down the railing.


    When we finally got outside, I blurted curiously. "What about the guests from the human and witch sides?"


    The moon shone brightly above us, but tonight, its light was obscured by heavy clouds, signalling possible rain. I could already pick up the scent.


    ¡¯That should be a bad omen if I¡¯ve ever seen any.¡¯ I thought to myself as La answered myst question.


    "The American president is present alongside a few top members of human society. Witches from the top covens on the continent are in attendance, including a few emissaries from the Luminari Coven."


    My eyebrows furrowed at thatst part. The Luminari Coven?


    When we finally approached therge event building, my gaze fell on Odessa standing at thest step. She was gorgeous, her silver white gown glimmering with the tiny rhinestones around it.


    Her wavy blonde hair cascaded like a waterfall behind her, but she seemed anxious as she spoke to a young woman who was around her age.


    I sniffed into the air before even getting there, my eyes widening with realization.


    It was a witch. And from the symbol of a twinkling yellow star sewn behind her gown, it was clear that she was one of the Luminari coven¡¯s emissaries.


    Why did she look familiar?

 Chapter 146: _Don’t Insult My Bride!

    <h4>Chapter 146: _Don¡¯t Insult My Bride!</h4>


    I kept on squinting my eyes as I got closer to Odessa and the witch she was talking to. Odessa had a smile on her face, but it was clear that it was forced, and she was ufortable.


    However, when she raised her head and spotted me, her lips parted at first before her shoulders rxed with relief.


    Werewolf elite and nobles from other packs on the continent who were parking their cars outside greeted me with curt bows and exaggerated smiles, but I ignored them all.


    Slowly, the witch in front of Odessa turned her head around and stared at me.


    The moment my eyes met hers, a wave of recognition finally hit me, and I could recall where I¡¯d seen her before.


    That face... sharp, elegant, and framed by chestnut curls twisted that cascaded like a waterfall. I didn¡¯t bother registering it in my head back then, but now I can remember.


    Lucinda of the Luminari Coven, who at the time was said to be the most powerful young witch in the coven.


    The golden star emblem glinted on her gown¡¯s back, as if to remind everyone where she belonged.


    She was the one everyone, including Marcellus, had expected me to choose. The perfect candidate.


    Power. Prestige. A pure magic bloodline. She had all of it.


    But from what I remembered during our brief interaction, she also had cruelty and an inted ego.


    Damon scoffed in my head just then with a bitter tone. ¡¯Ah, that snake. Figures she¡¯d crawl out when all eyes are watching.¡¯


    I didn¡¯t answer him, my eyes instead narrowing on the witch.


    Lucinda¡¯s head tilted slightly as she gave Odessa one final smirk before swerving to face me. She gave a bow, causing me to scoff silently when I got in front of them.


    "Alpha King Kaelos," She said, raising her head and smiling. "What an honor to finally speak with you outside of... Selection."


    I merely offered her a slow nod in response, my voice low but devoid of warmth. "Lucinda of the Luminari Coven. I see you¡¯re wearing the star of your coven proudly tonight, despite its failure to raise humble witches."


    I nced at Odessa, who seemed awkward as she walked to my side.


    She shifted slightly beside me, and I felt the soft brush of her hand against mine. She didn¡¯t need to say anything to get her message across to me.


    <fn523e> Readplete version only at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn523e>


    She didn¡¯t want a scene...


    However, Lucinda¡¯s smile only widened after myst words.


    "I¡¯m merely here to represent Elder Althea since she unfortunately couldn¡¯t attend, Alpha King." She gave a small but confident bow, causing my eyebrows to furrow.


    I remember back then, she had shown more fear and reverence around me. What¡¯s with the shift in attitude?


    ¡¯Looks like someone found a spell to increase her bitchiness.¡¯ Damon remarked in my mind with a snigger, but I thought differently.


    Perhaps she¡¯s always been this way and was only pretending back then to save face.


    No matter... I could still make her break if I wanted.


    After a few seconds of silence, Lucinda turned to Odessa and gestured. "And Lady Odessa. I must say again in the presence of your husband that you look... surprising. He must be doing a good job taking care of you."


    Surprising?


    My eyes twitched at the subtle insult as I red at Lucinda.


    But to my surprise, Odessa only forced a smile before she spoke. "Thank you, Lucinda. Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, we¡ª"


    Without hesitation, I slipped my arm around Odessa¡¯s waist firmly, causing her to release a soft gasp. It wasn¡¯t meant to be a romantic gesture... This was a political statement to all watching.


    I turned my full attention to Lucinda now.


    "My mate needs no power to shine. Something you never understood."


    For a brief moment, Lucinda¡¯s smile faltered, and her eyes twitched with surprise. But it was soon gone as fast as it hade, and she wore her fake smile again.


    She might pretend all she wants, but that brief moment of unease from her satisfied me.


    However, she cleared her throat and tried again.


    "Of course, my Lord. I only meant that your wife¡¯s radiance is... unexpected, considering her past status. But you¡¯ve always had an eye for the extraordinary, haven¡¯t you, Your Majesty?"


    Her words were nothing short of backhandedpliments, and unfortunately for her, my patience was thinner than usual tonight.


    I leaned forward slightly, my voice low so only she could hear.


    "You assume the Luminari Coven lost something when I didn¡¯t choose you. But I see it as all of witch kind¡¯sst mercy. Because I¡¯m certain the truce wouldn¡¯t havested past a few days if I made the unfortunate mistake of picking you."


    Her lips parted slightly, her confidence instantly dissipating like ice under the sun.


    Looks like I¡¯ve gotten my message across.


    "And Lucinda," I continued, drawing out her name like a swear word. "If you ever insult my bride again, no spell, no High Priestess, no power in this continent and beyond will protect you from me."


    Odessa¡¯s hand tightened on my arm after I said that, but I didn¡¯t break eye contact with Lucinda until her gaze finally dropped.


    Good for her.


    Suddenly, Odessa leaned in and whispered, "Kaelos... It¡¯s not worth it."


    Maybe it wasn¡¯t.


    But in a ¡¯charity ball¡¯ full of politics, possible threats and secrets, dominance had to be established early. Especially when it was within my own territory.


    Without another word, I dragged Odessa with me and we moved past Lucinda, climbing the stairs and walking into the event hall.


    The chandeliers hung like stars above us, casting their warm glow across beautiful ball gowns and well-tailored coats and suits.


    Everyone seemed to be intermingling andughing together as if there wasn¡¯t a global war between races going on as we speak.


    Werewolves, witches, humans...


    They weren¡¯t fooling me.


    At a corner, I spotted Celine speaking with a human man in his early sixties. The American president.


    She wore a beautiful ck gown that sparkled under the lights, herughter cheery as she patted the president on the shoulder as if she didn¡¯t despise all non werewolves.


    ¡¯Celine threw this ball for a reason,¡¯ Damon murmured in my mind. ¡¯This isn¡¯t just a ball. It¡¯s a chessboard. And you¡¯re the king everyone is dying to corner.¡¯

 Chapter 147: _When Three Are Gathered

    <h4>Chapter 147: _When Three Are Gathered</h4>


    As Odessa and I scanned our gazes around the event hall, taking in its grandeur and the interactions between the people while both trying to pretend like what happened with Lucinda didn¡¯t happen, something caught my attention.


    Or rather, someone.


    Celine turned her head to face us, her eyes lighting up as she shed onest smile at the American president before she walked toward us.


    Somehow, her high heels managed to echo into my ears despite the chattering and music in the hall, causing me to subconsciously roll my eyes.


    ¡¯Where¡¯s a desperate bitch repellent spray when you need one?¡¯ Damon remarked with frustration, but I kept a calm demeanor as Celine finally got in front of Odessa and me.


    "The prized couple themselves." She nearly eximed, spreading out her arms with excitement.


    Too much excitement, if you ask me.


    I dimmed my eyes, ncing at Odessa, who seemed just as uneasy as I was. Heck, she was sweating bullets but tried hiding it behind a smile as she clutched my arm anxiously.


    "Celine. You and your mother have outdone yourself with this ball, I must confess." I cleared my throat, breaking the silence between the three of us.


    Odessa snapped out of her reverie, ncing at me before she smiled awkwardly, nodding in agreement.


    Well, that¡¯s odd...


    <fn1d45> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on ?ovelFind</fn1d45>


    "Aw, I¡¯m d you¡¯re impressed, my Alpha King," Celine said with a teasing tone, winking at me before she turned her gaze to Odessa. "Looking good, witch."


    I raised an eyebrow at thatst part. It sounded off. Everything about Celine sounded off tonight, and I didn¡¯t like it one bit.


    Just when she was about to walk past us, my impulsive thoughts got the best of me, and I shot my right hand forward, grabbing her arm.


    She froze while Odessa stared at me with confusion.


    But I ignored that as I locked my eyes on Celine¡¯s face, scrutinizing the way she gave me a questioning frown.


    "Don¡¯t forget what I said this afternoon."


    That was all I said before I slowly loosened my grip on her arm.


    Celine fluttered her eyelids, staring at her arm, which I had held for a few seconds too long, before she shook her head and smiled.


    "Of course, I wouldn¡¯t forget, my Alpha King. You have nothing to worry about." She said with a sly tone, her eyes fleeting to Odessa briefly.


    I could feel Odessa¡¯s irritation beside me, forcing me to turn my gaze to her. However, before I could focus my attention back on Celine, she¡¯d begun walking toward another guest.


    "Just sit back, rx, and have fun. The surprise at the end will be worth it!" Celine yelled through the noise, ncing back at me and giving me one final mischievous smirk before she began talking to a witch emissary.


    Yup, she¡¯s cooking up something devious...


    Suddenly, before I could even get back myposure, Odessa tugged at my shoulder, forcing me to gaze at her with a questioning look.


    "What was that about?" She asked, pouting her lips suspiciously. "What were you talking about? What did you tell her this afternoon?"


    I blinked at her speechlessly for a few seconds before I shook my head and smirked wryly.


    "Rx, dear wife. That¡¯s too many questions at once and not something you should worry your head over." I leaned in closer and whispered, causing her face to heat up with a blush.


    I smirked slightly at that before scanning my gaze around the hall again. "Where did La go? She has the details of our seating position."


    ¡¯You probably chased her off after your outburst outside.¡¯ Damon remarked in my mind, causing me to mentally scoff.


    ¡¯That wasn¡¯t an outburst. If anything, that Lucinda girl should thank her gods that I didn¡¯t snap her neck.¡¯ I responded coldly, ncing back at the entrance of the hall.


    It was at that point that I saw La scurrying toward me with an apologetic expression on her face.


    "I¡¯m so sorry, sir. I thought you¡¯d need some... Space out there." She said with an awkward tone, ncing at Odessa. "Everyone outside who witnessed your move against Lucinda has mixed reactions. The humans and witches see it as cute, but most of the werewolves¡ª"


    "They can shove their opinions down their orifices, La." I blurted dismissively,pletely uninterested as I grabbed Odessa¡¯s hand again. "Please, lead us to our seats. I heard Celine made us VIP guests."


    Another call for suspicion.


    I nced wearily at Celine, who stood at a distance, whispering something to a male witch in his fifties.


    I got tense as La led the way, climbing up the stairs at a corner that led to the gallery upstairs.


    "Wait, are we going to THAT spot again?" Odessa suddenly asked, her grip tightening on my hand. "You know, the same one where I almost got an arrow through my head?"


    I nced at her but didn¡¯t say anything, instead speaking to La. "What¡¯s the detail on security in this event? Just how many witches and humans did Celine invite?"


    This was slowly bing a security hazard, and I couldn¡¯t help but feel tense when we finally got upstairs.


    "Luna Queen Celine invited only six of the top officials from the witches¡¯ side and the same number from the human side, each of them carrying at least two guards or assistants. And on the side of the wolves... Delegates from tens of packs are attending."


    How quaint...


    I sighed, rubbing my forehead as my gaze fell on the spot in the gallery where Odessa and I had sat with the South American Alpha Kingst time during the weing ball.


    Odessa was right... The ce still gave the creeps.


    "Follow up with the Gamma and Delta at all times about the security detail around the pack. Focus more of them around the main gates and the event building." I ordered La, who nodded before walking off.


    To my surprise, when we got to the thrones, a voice spoke up behind us.


    "So, Celine also invited y¡¯all as VIP guests?"


    I turned around only to see Marcellus walking toward us, showing us a fancy-looking VIP card in his hand. He wore a white tail suit with golden embroidery on the cors and pointed shoulder pads.


    "She gave me this the night we came back from that investigation in the human town." He continued, waving the card at us. "So, what¡¯s she up to? Gathering the three of us in one spot."


    Odessa and I exchanged nces while Marcellus stood there cluelessly.


    "Celine, what games are you ying?"

 Chapter 148: _Shatter All Reassurance

    <h4>Chapter 148: _Shatter All Reassurance</h4>


    Ryker¡¯s POV


    *****


    He sat in his throne room, surrounded by darkness and shadows as he drank from a golden goblet.


    To his left, severalrge televisions showed news broadcasts from all over the world. The North American region might still deceive itself that this war wasing to an end... But to him, it was only just beginning.


    <fn0fa3> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? FindN0vel</fn0fa3>


    Suddenly, the doors to the throne room burst open and several guards barged in, dragging along two people in chains. Silver chains.


    Ryker¡¯s eyes lit up as he turned his gaze to the scene.


    Regina, his left hand and second most powerful among his artificial hybrids, stepped forward, a mischievous smirk on her face as she gestured at the captives.


    "My Lord, I present to you... The South American Alpha King and his Luna Queen." She remarked while Ryker stepped down from his throne, his goblet still in his right hand.


    He tilted his head, a in expression on his face as he scrutinized the captives. They looked like they¡¯d been through days of struggle, and their clothes even had cuts.


    A small smirk settled on Ryker¡¯s face as he spoke coldly to the South American Alpha King.


    "Alpha King Leonardo. Kneel."


    However, the proud Alpha King spat on his face, gritting his teeth as he snarled.


    "?Su¨¦ltame, bastardo!"


    His wife, who had been silent, added in English. "We¡¯ll never bow down to you! Do you know who we are?"


    Ryker was amused, but he only chuckled softly as he used his right hand to wipe off the saliva on his face.


    Meanwhile, Regina raised her hand to strike the South American Alpha King, but Ryker raised his hand and stopped her.


    The weing Ball, which Kaelos had thrown for Alpha King Leonardo, was over a week ago, but Ryker had been plotting patiently.


    Due to the war, flights were cancelled all around the world, meaning the South American Alpha King and his delegates had to use the road to get to their destination.


    When Marcellus gave him word that Alpha King Leonardo had left the Blood Oak pack, Ryker sent Regina to capture him. Of course, it wasn¡¯t an easy task, hence why it had taken so long.


    "Indeed, I am a bastard, my dear friend Leonardo," Ryker remarked all of a sudden, smiling at the man as if they were old friends. "But would you me me or my father, who spent time frolicking with almost anything under a skirt?"


    The South American Alpha King nced at his wife, who also seemed as confused as he was.


    Seeing this, Ryker raised an eyebrow. "What? Are you surprised that I understand Spanish? I mean, if someone hopes to conquer the world and be its sovereign ruler, he has to have basic knowledge of allnguages, right?"


    There was noment from either of them at first until Alpha King Leonardo spoke with a shaky voice.


    "Y¨C Your father...? Those eyes of yours..."


    Before he could put words together, Ryker shot his right hand forward and grabbed the man by the neck, causing his wife to scream in terror.


    "?No! "?D¨¦jalo en paz!"


    Ryker scoffed, turning his gaze to the Luna Queen and simply snapping his fingers. That caused magical chains to appear around her neck, causing her to gasp in pain as she fell to the ground, struggling to breathe.


    "R¨C Reina..." Leonardo struggled to speak but could barely aplish that with Ryker¡¯s hand around his neck.


    Ryker didn¡¯t end there and slowly raised him into the air while he clenched his other hand into a fist, tightening the magical chains around Reina¡¯s neck.


    "Let¡¯s get one thing clear here, Viejo. You¡¯re MY captive. In MY territory. Underneath MY roof." Ryker¡¯s voice was calm, but it was colder than ice and sharper than a de.


    Leonardo tried kicking, but his legs were constrained by silver chains. Regina had made sure to make him almost useless before bringing him here.


    Almost.


    Suddenly, Leonardo¡¯s eyes glowed with a predatory light as he released a ghastly howl, even though he was being held up by the neck.


    The howl was so powerful that it sent Regina and the other artificial hybrid soldiers flying, some of them even hitting walls and groaning with pain.


    But as for Ryker... He only shifted back by a few feet before he smirked coldly.


    Leonard had gotten out of his grip and was trying to shift, but when he tried, he screamed with pain, gritting his teeth as his veins pulsed with visible ck lines.


    He coughed out ckened blood, falling to his knees while Ryker walked slowly back to him.


    "The power of an Alpha King in all its glory." He muttered with a calm tone as he brought his right hand to the old man¡¯s face. "Even after you¡¯ve been bound with silver chains and had both silver and wolfsbane injected into your system, you¡¯re still putting up a fight."


    At that same moment as he spoke, he stretched out his other hand, which still had control over the magic chains restraining Luna Queen Reina, and telekically raised them into the air, raising her alongside it.


    The poor Luna Queen struggled, using her hands to grip the chains on her neck as her eyes bulged and her face reddened from the pressure.


    "Too bad your wife doesn¡¯t have the same privilege," Ryker uttered coldly before twisting his hand in a swift movement.


    That caused the Luna Queen¡¯s neck to snap, her eyes bing lifeless as she fell back to the ground while Alpha King Leonardo let out a blood-curdling scream that shook the throne room.


    "REINA!"


    He fell face-first to the ground, his chest glowing with a silver light as the mate bond shattered, signalling his mate¡¯s death. He was clearly in pain before, but the death of his mate multiplied that pain to an unfathomable level.


    "Ah, yes. The mate bond between an Alpha King and his mate is the most powerful in the werewolf world." Ryker remarked, shaking his head with mock pity as he watched the old man weep like a baby.


    "How tragic. Anyway, I¡¯ll go straight to the point. Tonight, Luna Queen Celine of the Blood Oak pack will be throwing a Charity Ball. Kaelos aims to reassure the people of the continent and beyond tonight."


    He paused, bringing his gaze to Regina, who had regained herposure after Leonardo¡¯s earlier outburst and was now walking toward him.


    Ryker¡¯s face was cold and expressionless. "With your help, Alpha king, we¡¯ll shatter that reassurance and whatever faith the three races have in Kaelos¡¯ rule..."

 Chapter 149: _A Culprit’s Unease

    <h4>Chapter 149: _A Culprit¡¯s Unease</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    To his surprise, the body of the maid whom he had made kill herself wasn¡¯t found until five dayster, which happened to be the same day as Celine¡¯s Charity Ball.


    The funniest part of it all was seeing the stressed-out look on Kaelos¡¯ face when he realized that the murder cases were bing too much.


    Okay, no, that wasn¡¯t the funniest part.


    The actual funniest part was the fact that they were doing an investigation and racking their heads on how to find the culprits when one of them, him, was standing among them.


    "Ah, I keep outdoing myself," Marcellus muttered to himself with a chuckle as he walked out of the Alpha king¡¯s mansion and shook his head.


    Before he left the Alpha king¡¯s mansion, he turned his gaze to the guards and scrutinized them closely.


    He had ced a mind control spell on one of them, a young man named ric, days back, and wanted to see how his spell was doing.


    His other herald of chaos, Celine, was constantly surpassing the expectations of his spell with each scandal or trick she pulled off, and he had a feeling she was about to pull off a grand one tonight at the Charity Ball.


    While his spell on Celine had increased her hatred for Odessa to unfathomable levels, his spell on ric increased the thought of conspiracies and spreading rumors in his mind.


    Both of which could weaken the trust the pack soldiers have in Kaelos and his rule.


    ¡¯It seems my spell is working well on him.¡¯ Marcellus thought to himself with a smirk as he made his way to leave thepound.


    However, before he could move beyond a few meters out of thepound, a voice called after him.


    "Beta Marcellus!"


    Marcellus frowned before he turned around to see who it was.


    To his surprise, it was Madame Greyheart, AKA the person who had bribed the now-dead maid to poison Odessa.


    A slight smirk curled up the corner of his lips for a few seconds before he cleared his throat and fixed his attention on the approaching hag.


    She nced around wearily at the guards before she got in front of him and curtsied. "Good morning, Beta. I hope you¡¯re having a good day so far."


    Marcellus raised an eyebrow, already bored of this conversation before it started. But he managed to ster a smile on his face as he gave her a curt nod.


    "Depends on your definition of a ¡¯good day¡¯, Madame Greyheart." He remarked, sighing solemnly as he shook his head, pretending to be disturbed.


    As expected, that lured the woman in as she nced back at the mansion before grabbing Marcellus¡¯ arm and pulling him away from thepound.


    Once they were a good distance away, she whispered. "Why wouldn¡¯t it be a good day, Beta? I¨C I heard something happened in the mansion."


    Marcellus acted clueless as he felt her interest piquing. He wanted to poke at the frustration and anxiety that flowed out of her.


    "Something like what?" Marcellus queried, folding his arms in front of his chest as he nced at her hand still on his arm.


    As much as he would love dominating an evil cougar like her, he didn¡¯t have the time or patience.


    "Come on, Beta. Don¡¯t y coy." Madame Greyheart finally snapped, flinging her arms into the air. "I heard whispers from the staff members about a dead maid. That she... That she poisoned herself and that her body¨C"


    "Why do you care so much, Greyheart?" Marcellus furrowed his eyebrows, pretending to sound suspicious.


    That one action was enough to cause her heartbeat to increase as she shook her head repeatedly. " I-I¡¯m just curious because my daughter and I still live in that mansion. And I¡ª"


    "And so does the Alpha King and his bride." Marcellus chimed in, sighing with genuine dissatisfaction.


    This woman is pathetic...


    "For now, all information about the incident is being kept away from the general public." He continued, tilting his head as he shed her a smile. "Unless you have anypelling evidence that could help, you have nothing to worry about."


    He paused, scanning his gaze around them before he brought his head closer and made his voice even lower, revelling in her unease.


    "You don¡¯t happen to have any evidence to help our investigations. Do you?"


    Madame Greyheart stood frozen for a few seconds, blinking, before she finally shook her head with a wry smile. "N¨C No, Beta. Not at all."


    Marcellus nodded, stepping away from her and cing his right hand on her shoulder. He was tempted to peer into her mind, but it was clear he didn¡¯t even need magic to get inside her head.


    "See you at the ball tonight, Greyheart."


    .


    .


    <fn32e0> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n F¦ÉndNovel</fn32e0>


    Nighttime finally arrived. Marcellus stood on his balcony, staring into the night sky as he ced his hands on the railing.


    Soon enough, his assistant, Cullen, walked to his right side and made a report.


    "Guests are already trooping into the pack from different sides of the continent."


    Marcellus nodded in response, adjusting the cufflinks of the white suit he was wearing to the asion.


    Earlier today, he and Kaelos had a conversation where thetter poured out his frustrations and how he hoped to address werewolves, witches, and humans alike to build back their reassurance.


    Marcellus had acted like a ¡¯listening ear¡¯ to him while knowing fully well that whatever Celine had prepared for tonight would ruin the poor Alpha king¡¯s ns.


    "Let¡¯s go," Marcellus muttered simply as he turned his gaze to Cullen and nodded with a sadistic smirk on his face.


    They both got downstairs and then hopped into a car and drove to the event hall. It was a short drive, barelysting a few minutes, but Marcellus didn¡¯t feel like walking.


    When they stepped down and went up the stairs and into the building, it didn¡¯t take long for Marcellus to realize that Odessa and Kaelos hadn¡¯t arrived yet.


    "How quaint..." He muttered as he scanned his gaze around the hall.


    He still stood in front of the entrance of the hall and was contemting heading upstairs, where the VIP seats were, when someone bumped into him from behind.


    "Oh, sorry."


    When he turned around to see the person, his eyes furrowed with suspicion.

 Chapter 150: _More Than A Maid

    <h4>Chapter 150: _More Than A Maid</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    "Oh, I¡¯m sorry."


    Marcellus turned to see who had bumped into him from behind and furrowed his eyebrows.


    Caroline... Odessa¡¯s little maid.


    "G¨C Good evening, Beta." She bowed with a meek tone, her face flushed red.


    Marcellus nodded, ncing briefly at Cullen, who stood beside him, before he spoke with a smile stered on his face. "Good evening, love. You look lovely. Didn¡¯t expect to see you here tonight."


    The maid was indeed gorgeous, wearing an elegant, sleeveless, flowy pink gown. She only had light make-up on, and her ginger hair was tied into a ponytail.


    Could she even be considered a mere ¡¯maid¡¯ looking like this?


    "Thank you, sir. Ma¡¯am Odessa said I should apany her as her plus one." She bowed with a smile, acknowledging hisstpliment.


    Marcellus¡¯ smile widened a little as he shook his head. "Oh, I was just being sincere. I hope that scene this morning didn¡¯t upset you too much. It was quite chilling if you ask me."


    He could feel Cullen staring at him with confusion, but he ignored him as he tilted his head and studied Caroline.


    He¡¯s had his eyes on her since the night of Odessa¡¯s escape out of the pack. And not in the way one might think.


    "I-I¡¯m fine, sir. Thank you so much for your concern." Caroline spoke nervously, barely hiding her awkward fidgeting.


    She nced briefly at Cullen before she bowed onest time. "Excuse me, sirs. Enjoy the rest of your evening."


    With that, she scurried past both of them, but Marcellus¡¯ head swerved, following her movements as he dimmed his eyes curiously.


    "She¡¯s a jumpy one, isn¡¯t she?" Cullen remarked with a scoff, shaking his head as he turned his gaze to Marcellus. "Have you been in her head before?"


    Well, that¡¯s a lucky guess...


    Marcellus finally tore his gaze away when she blended into the crowd and was out of sight, ncing briefly at Cullen before he responded to his question.


    "I tried getting into her head, but didn¡¯t seed. Someone interrupted us before I could break in." He admitted, his expression tense.


    Cullen seemed clueless about his unease and chuckled in a low voice. "Well, well, well. She¡¯s a lucky one."


    No, not luck.


    "It¡¯s beyond that," Marcellus remarked vaguely, scanning his gaze around.


    This was a gathering filled with werewolves with enhanced hearing and witches who could use spells to eavesdrop. It was best that they had this discussion mentally.


    ¡¯There¡¯s something off about that maid, Cullen. Something more to her. But I can¡¯t seem to ce my finger on what it is.¡¯ Marcellus revealed in the telepathic link, while keeping a smile on his face and nodding in response to the greetings of a few werewolf nobles.


    Cullen visibly frowned before he responded mentally. ¡¯Really? She¡¯s always seemed like a normal maid to me.¡¯


    <fne446> Discover more novels at F?ndNovel</fne446>


    Marcellus shook his head, grabbing a ss of wine from a server who walked past. ¡¯To your untrained eyes, yes, she might seem like only a mere maid. But I¡¯m telling you, my instincts never lie. That girl was able to resist my magic and knows something.¡¯


    Could she be onto him? Was that why she was suddenly so fidgety around him ever since that night?


    ¡¯Way to flex your expertise, sir.¡¯ Cullen suddenly remarked with sarcasm, but Marcellus ignored that and gave a simple order.


    ¡¯Keep an eye on her, would you? I doubt she¡¯s going to be up to anything interesting tonight, but watch out for any unusual behavior.¡¯


    Physically, he shed Cullen a smile, patting him on the shoulder before he headed to the stairs leading upstairs.


    On his way there, Celine walked to him from a corner with a cheery smile, her mother standing beside her.


    "Good evening, Beta! You look dashing as always." She remarked, scanning her gaze from his face to his legs.


    Hmph, she¡¯s telling him.


    Marcellus had already noticed the stares of severaldies in the hallway, and some of them were even the wives of elite werewolves.


    "I could say the same thing about you, Luna Queen," Marcellus remarked in return, ncing briefly at Madame Greyheart.


    She wore a beautiful grey mermaid gown and had heavy makeup on her face, but that didn¡¯t do anything to hide the guilt in her eyes as she looked away from him.


    A sly smirk curled up the corner of his lips as he brought his attention back to Celine. "The Ball is already looking like a sess. I can¡¯t help but wonder what surprise you were talking about."


    Celine chuckled, winking at him before speaking with a yful tone. "Oh, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be blown out of your mind when I reveal it toward the end of tonight."


    ¡¯The only one with a ¡¯blown mind¡¯ here is you, crazy bitch.¡¯ Marcellus thought to himself.


    "Anyway, the VIP seats are at the gallery up there." Celine pointed at the spot where the South American Alpha King had sat during the weing ball several nights ago.


    What did Lord Ryker ever do with that old man?


    With all said and done, Marcellus gave Celine and her mother one final smile before he headed upstairs, his left hand trailing the railing as he gulped the ss of wine in his other hand.


    When he finally got to the so-called VIP seats, which happened to be threefortable-looking padded thrones with small tables beside them, Marcellus was able to make a guess.


    "Kaelos and Odessa are going to be sitting here as well." He remarked, shaking his head as he sat on the throne to the right and crossed one leg over the other.


    He scanned his gaze at the hall below, his eyes glinting with disdain at all the werewolves, witches, and humans gathered for a ¡¯Charity Ball¡¯ while the lowest members of their society starve out there thanks to the war.


    None of them deserved peace or mercy from the true Lord of the North.


    After several minutes of solitude, he turned his head when he spotted Odessa and Kaelos walking toward him hand in hand.


    Looks like he was right...


    ¡¯Let¡¯s see how far Celine would go to break up these two love birds tonight.¡¯ He thought to himself as he stered a smile and stood to greet them.

 Chapter 151: _No Power Over Me

    <h4>Chapter 151: _No Power Over Me</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    "L¨C Lucinda?"


    I tensed up when I turned my head around and spotted her. The most powerful young witch of the Luminari Coven and a rising prodigy.


    But she was also the one at the forefront of most of the bullying I had to endure all my life. Ever since we were kids, she¡¯s managed to steal the spotlight in everything, with her beauty and her power.


    What the fuck was she doing here?


    "Odessa," Lucinda called my name with disdain as she finally got in front of me, sping her hands together as she scrutinized me. "Who would¡¯ve thought that your weak ass would end up standing here as the Alpha king¡¯s wife after years of serving at the bottom?"


    I clenched my jaw, ring at her as I did everything in my power to hold myself fromshing out at her. As much as I wanted to, I was attending this Charity Ball as Kaelos¡¯ bride.


    I couldn¡¯t do anything that would indirectly stain his image.


    ¡¯Fuck that, Odessa!¡¯ Sirena snapped in my mind just then. ¡¯I may have been locked away all your life, but I witnessed all the things this bitch put you through.¡¯


    My shoulders slouched as my eyes quivered when I stared back at Lucinda.


    She was elegant, wearing a beautiful sleeved white robe with fur linings, and had her Chestnut hair flowing like a waterfall down her body.


    The sly smirk on her face was intimidating, bringing back memories that I would rather keep buried.


    ¡¯You¡¯re no longer the powerless witch that she remembers you as. Show her that tonight. Show them all!¡¯ Sirena urged me mentally, giving me a confidence boost.


    Drawing in a deep breath, I finally spoke. "Wee, Lucinda. You can go inside and¡ª"


    "Who gave you the right to speak to me, reject?" She interrupted, eyeing me with even more disgust.


    The smile that I had stered on my face dissolved instantly and got reced by a scowl as I clenched my fists beside me.


    "You¡¯re in MY husband¡¯s territory, Lucinda. This isn¡¯t the Luminari Coven where you could exercise your fragile ego by bullying those beneath you." I said coldly, ignoring the curious nces from wolves who went up the stairs.


    <fnae0f> The source of th?s content is f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fnae0f>


    Lucinda¡¯s eyes widened with surprise at first, her lips also parting. But soon, she scoffed, shaking her head with amusement.


    "It seems the short time you¡¯ve spent here has made you forget your ce in the supernatural hierarchy." She muttered with a cruel smirk as a light shed in her eyes. "Let me give you a reminder."


    My body tensed up as her hair blew slightly in the wind while her gaze locked on my eyes.


    ¡¯She¡¯s trying to infiltrate your mind!¡¯ Sirena alerted me, causing a cold shiver to run down my spine.


    And then I felt it... Her encroaching presence in my mind was followed by a simple telepathicmand.


    ¡¯<i>Kneel and apologize for your disrespect.¡¯</i>


    Her voice in my head was like a whisper, luring and calm like a luby, but firm and filled with her will and magic.


    Meanwhile, physically, she had a smirk on her face as she waited for me to carry out her telepathic order.


    My eyes twitched as I red at her, my fingers wiggling as well. She wanted me to kneel? To KNEEL? In MY husband¡¯s territory in the presence of these guests?


    Oh, the audacity!


    ¡¯<i>You have no power over me anymore, bitch</i>.¡¯ I managed to reach out to her mind and spoke telepathically, gritting my teeth as I fought back her presence in my mind.


    I watched as her eyes fluttered with confusion as if she was trying to gaslight herself into thinking that it wasn¡¯t my voice she heard in her head.


    That caused me to smile as I locked my eyes on hers, revelling in the disbelief in them.


    Fortunately, before things could escte further than that, my eyes spotted Kaelos approaching, causing my shoulders to rx in relief.


    I may have magic now, but I didn¡¯t have the seamless control that Lucinda had.


    When Kaelos arrived, he surprised me by talking down to Lucinda, belittling all her attempts to insult me and turning her words against her.


    He didn¡¯t end there and wrapped his arm around my waist, forcing me to stare at his face.


    "If you ever insult my bride again, no spell, no High Priestess, no power in this continent and beyond will protect you from me."


    Those were hisst words to her before he dragged me into the event hall. I nced back at Lucinda and saw the hidden anger and embarrassment on her face as she gazed at us.


    ¡¯<i>Girl, our mate stood on business!¡¯ </i>Sirena howled excitedly in my head, causing me to smirk to myself as I took in the grandeur of the ball.


    After a brief interaction with Celine, Kaelos led us to the gallery upstairs, where we were given reserved VIP seats, alongside Marcellus.


    I smiled at the Beta as Kaelos and I satfortably, staring at the ballroom below us.


    "Thank you," I whispered to Kaelos as slow dance music began ying.


    He furrowed his eyebrows before turning his gaze to me, his silver eyes glinting with genuine confusion.


    "What are you thanking me for?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.


    My face heated up as I parted my lips, my heart racing.


    I nced at Marcellus, who sat at the Kaelos¡¯ other side, and saw him giving us a mischievous side eye as he took a sip from a ss of wine.


    That only increased my embarrassment as I finally found words to say. "Y¨C You defended me against Lucinda out there. I know it might¡¯ve been nothing to you, but I¡ª"


    Before I couldplete that sentence, Kaelos grabbed the back of my head and pulled me into a kiss that stole my breath.


    I blinked in shock for a second before I instantly reciprocated, my beating heart slowing down to a calmer pace as I rxed in the presence of my mate.


    The music seemed to be distant, and I forgot everything else.


    Eventually, he pulled away from the kiss and stared into my eyes with a possessiveness that I¡¯d never get used to but always managed to make me weak in the knees.


    "You¡¯re mine. I wouldn¡¯t let anybody touch or belittle what¡¯s mine." He blurted, caressing my face with his thumb. "Not anymore."


    My face lit up with a warm smile, but before I could think about what to say, Marcellus cleared his throat beside us.


    "Why don¡¯t you two lovebirds go down there and dance? Almost everyone has their eyes on you anyway." He remarked, winking at me when I nced at him.


    My face flushed, but to my surprise, Kaelos got on his feet and grabbed my hand, forcing me to get up as well. My eyes were on him as he pulled me away, leading me downstairs.


    However, as we got to the stairs and I trailed my hand down the rails, I turned my gaze and spotted Celine staring at us through the crowd with a cold smile.


    My heart sank to my stomach as my mind raced with one thought:


    <i>¡¯What is she up to?¡¯ </i>

 Chapter 152: _All Eyes On Us

    <h4>Chapter 152: _All Eyes On Us</h4>


    Kaelos finally led me through the crowd and to the center of the dance floor. All eyes were on us, causing me to tense up as my hands started bing sweaty.


    "The only person you should be focusing on is me, hon." Kaelos suddenly blurted, causing me to raise my head and stare into his eyes.


    His expression was in as he pulled me into his arms, pressing me close to his body and cing his right hand on my waist. He held my left hand, his fierce gaze demanding eye contact, a silent request that I couldn¡¯t resist.


    Slowly, we began moving in tandem to the music being yed, a ssic popr among my generation. My face warmed up as my eyes went from his silver eyes to his lips, which curled into the faintest smirk.


    "You¡¯re getting the hang of it." He whispered, and soon, I gave all control to him as he twirled us around the dance floor.


    I ced my right hand on his shoulder, ignoring a few murmurs I heard from onlookers.


    Or, at least, trying to ignore...


    "Isn¡¯t she a witch?" A female voice asked with a mix of shock and disgust.


    Most definitely a werewolf.


    "They seem so close." Another chimed in.


    "Aw, they look so cute together."


    Thatstment caused my heart to flutter as I smiled warmly, cing all my focus on the man in front of me.


    The man whom I once feared would be my executioner. The man who the continent and the world painted as a tyrannical, bloodthirsty monster.


    Underneath all that brute, coldness, and arrogance was a soft spot which I was able to pierce into.


    I could see it in his eyes. In the way he held me close, tightening his grip on me as if he never wanted me to run away.


    "You¡¯re a conundrum, Kaelos." I muttered, instantly regretting it.


    ¡¯Yeah, how romantic of you.¡¯ Sirena sniggered in my mind, adding to my embarrassment as my face heated up and I parted my lips.


    <fnfda5> This update is avable on f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fnfda5>


    "I-I didn¡¯t mean to¡ª" Before I could finish that sentence, Kaelos chuckled softly, bringing his mouth close to my ears.


    I held my breath, scanning my gaze around. Other couples had joined us in dancing, but most of the attention was still on Kaelos and me.


    What was he doing?! This is a gathering of werewolves, witches, and humans. People are going to be suspicious and¡ª


    "I could say the same thing about you, hon." He blurted, interrupting my inner turmoil. "You¡¯ve managed to confuse me and make me question everything within the span of a few weeks."


    My eyes widened when he finally pulled his mouth away from my ears, giving me a little breathing space as I stared into his eyes.


    There was a small smile at the corner of his lips, and for a moment, I felt at peace. Until I remembered the bitter truth that he had reminded me of several times.


    The people will never ept.... THIS.


    "I have to tell you something." Kaelos suddenly whispered at the same moment that the music began transitioning into something else.


    I blinked cluelessly at him, parting my lips when I heard approaching footsteps.


    I turned my gaze to its source and spotted Celine walking to us with purpose in her eyes, a small smile etched on her face.


    She was doing way too much smiling tonight!


    ¡¯It has to be her, Odessa.¡¯ Sirena spoke up in my head just then. ¡¯Tell Kaelos about the messages. About the threats. If people find out about your mate bond so abruptly, it could¡ª¡¯


    "Hey!" Celine¡¯s voice interrupted Sirena¡¯s voice in my head, causing me to subconsciously grip Kaelos¡¯ arm as I fixed my gaze on her.


    He brought his focus to her as well, seeming just as tense as I was.


    But what could be getting him tense?


    "Can I borrow the Alpha King for a dance?" Celine asked me with that fake smile that was quickly getting on my nerves.


    I red at her, clenching my jaw, but then she added with an innocent voice:


    "Oh, it¡¯s only going to take a few minutes. I promise."


    I swerved my gaze to Kaelos and saw the hesitation in his eyes as he stared at Celine briefly before bringing his eyes to me. His right hand caressed my face a bit before he finally pulled away and grabbed Celine¡¯s hand.


    I knew they didn¡¯t have anything. I knew he felt nothing but disgust for her.


    So, tell me WHY I felt my heart twist into a knot when I saw him walking off with her hand in hand? Why did my eyes twitch with anger seeing them dance together?


    ¡¯Because he¡¯s your mate, girl!¡¯ Sirena spoke in my head, snapping me out of my reverie. ¡¯Celine can not be trusted, no matter how much she seems to have changed.¡¯


    She¡¯s telling me...


    I balled my hands into fists, scanning my gaze around the hall in search of Caroline. I needed to catch up with her and confirm if she noticed anything suspicious about Celine.


    Just when I turned around, I identally walked into a woman, almost causing both of us to stumble.


    "Oh, goddess. I¡¯m sorry..." I apologized, but then furrowed my eyebrows when I saw her face.


    She was beautiful¡ªpale white skin, blood-red lips, and long, wavy ck hair that cascaded like a dark shroud over her shoulders.


    She wore a dark purple gown that gave gothic vibes...


    Something¡¯s off. Why do I feel like I¡¯ve seen her somewhere before?


    "It¡¯s fine, love." The young woman waved dismissively, smiling back at me and patting my arm gently before she continued walking.


    I stood frozen, racking my head on where I¡¯ve seen her before. Also, she seemed like a witch... But I couldn¡¯t feel her magic. It was hidden, as if it wasn¡¯t supposed to be there in the first ce.


    It was hard to exin, but I knew I wasn¡¯t imagining things.


    "Ma¡¯am Odessa." Caroline¡¯s voice brought me back to reality as I raised my head and stared at her as she made her way toward me.


    However, when I turned my head around to search for the mysterious woman I just bumped into, I didn¡¯t see her. She was gone, vanished in the crowd.

 Chapter 153: _Shall We Dance?

    <h4>Chapter 153: _Shall We Dance?</h4>


    When Caroline eventually got in front of me, I nced around before I held her arm and drew her closer to me. She furrowed her eyebrows with confusion at first before I whispered.


    <fn2727> Discover more novels at f?ndnovel</fn2727>


    "Did you see that woman I bumped into?" I queried, scanning my gaze around to see if I could spot the mysterious woman again.


    In the process of searching for her, my gazended on Kaelos and Celine dancing, thetter smiling all through and tracing her hands on his shoulder.


    As for Kaelos, his expression was in as he ced his hands just above her waist, barely touching her.


    A smile curled up my lips when I saw that until Celine brought her mouth close to Kaelos¡¯ ears and began whispering things I couldn¡¯t pick up.


    I tried using my supernatural hearing, but they were too far away, and I couldn¡¯t focus through the music and people talking andughing. I wasn¡¯t used to my werewolf abilities just yet.


    "What woman?" Caroline suddenly asked in response to myst question, her gaze following mine until itnded on Celine and Kaelos. "Damn, she doesn¡¯t know when to quit, does she?"


    Apparently not...


    Gritting my teeth, I shook my head before I brought my gaze back to Caroline. Her eyes lit up with curiosity, causing me to let out a sigh.


    "So, you didn¡¯t see any gothic woman walking past here and bumping into me?" I asked again, raising an eyebrow at her.


    When I saw the genuine confusion in her eyes, I sighed, shaking my head and waving dismissively.


    "Never mind. Did you notice anything odd about her highness?" I asked, folding my arms in front of my chest as I stared at Celine again.


    She was acting way too sly, clinging close to Kaelos despite his disapproval and facial expression, and asionally ncing at me and giving me mischievous looks.


    I ground my jaw, shing the bitch a sarcastic smile until Caroline called my attention by grabbing my arm. I watched as she scanned her gaze around before covering her mouth with her right hand.


    "There¡¯s amunication device in her earrings," Caroline revealed with a whisper, causing me to frown as I squinted my eyes at Celine.


    "I didn¡¯t notice at first, but sometimes after speaking to a guest, she would seemingly whisper something to herself. Sometimes it seemed like she was arguing."


    I raised an eyebrow but felt a growing sense of unease. I fixed my gaze on her earrings, a simple pair of round golden hoops encrusted with diamonds that glistened under the hall lights.


    They didn¡¯t look technology-based, so should that mean...?


    "Magic?" I said with a small gasp, shaking my head. "Could it be? Is she working with a witch?"


    Caroline gawked at me with confusion before she blurted. "Uh, what are you talking about?"


    I didn¡¯t have time to exin. Instead, I grabbed her hands when the music became a little more lively and spoke with a whisper.


    "I want to get closer to Celine and check if I can sense any magic residue on her earrings. To do that..." I paused, looking into her hazel eyes and seeing the way they quivered with further confusion.


    ¡¯<i>This poor girl isn¡¯t paid enough for all your shenanigans</i>...¡¯ Sirena mumbled in my mind, causing me to scoff mentally before I wore a smile physically.


    "Would you care for a dance?" I asked Caroline, ncing back at Celine and Kaelos.


    The former was all over Kaelos, trying too hard to get his attention, but his eyes were distant... Until they met my gaze. He locked his gaze on me, and my face flushed as I smiled.


    "A¨C A dance?" Caroline repeated my question, stuttering with a shaky and hesitant voice. "Ma¡¯am Odessa, I¨CI don¡¯t think that¡¯s appropriate¡ª"


    "Oh, rx! It¡¯s the twenty-first century, and it¡¯s nothing serious." I mumbled, rolling my eyes as I pulled her closer, cing my hands on her waist and stering a smile on my face.


    Her chest heaved repeatedly, her body stiffening with way too much hesitation until she eventually ced her hands on my shoulders, fixing her gaze on my eyes.


    My smile deepened as we began twirling around, moving awkwardly at first since she was too shy and I was... Well, not a great dancer.


    But eventually, we got the hang of it and moved in sync with the music, ¡¯Candy¡¯ by Doja Cat.


    ¡¯<i>Yeah, isn¡¯t Doja a witch?¡¯</i> Sirena asked in my head, causing me to snap at her.


    ¡¯<i>Focus, bber mouth</i>!¡¯


    After a little back and forth of awkward and asionally intense dancing, Caroline soon becamefortable enough to take the lead properly, guiding us seamlessly to Celine.


    I swerved my head, staring at the bitch¡¯s earrings while she still danced cluelessly with Kaelos who had a confused expression on his face when he saw Caroline and I.


    I shed him an awkward smile before I squinted my eyes at the earrings, trying to concentrate on them and see if I could pick up any magic.


    It didn¡¯t take two seconds for me to feel just that. <i>Enchantment magic!</i>


    ¡¯<i>The earrings have been enchanted for long-distancemunication, simr to a smartphone.¡¯</i> I thought to myself, a cold shiver running down my spine.


    This could mean two things...


    One, Celine could be a witch in disguise using magic. Or, the most likely one being she¡¯s working with a witch.


    And for some reason, the second option seemed scarier.


    "I¡¯ve confirmed it." I turned my gaze back to Caroline and whispered when the music transitioned into something more in tune with a royal ballroom.


    Caroline fluttered her eyelids at me, seeming dazed before she finally stopped moving us around. She seemed... Disappointed?


    "Oh,e on, Caroline." I nudged her with my shoulder, smiling at her. "We¡¯ll have lots of time to dance once we manage to burst whatever it is Celine is up to."


    She smiled awkwardly, but before I could say anything else, a familiar deep voice spoke from behind us.


    "Well, well, well. Looks like you two are having fun."


    I swerved my head and widened my eyes when I saw that it was Marcellus, a smirk on his face as he stretched his hand toward me.


    "Mind if I join in?"


    Why the heck was my heartbeat quickening?!

 Chapter 154: You’re Not His Mate... Right?

    <h4>Chapter 154: You¡¯re Not His Mate... Right?</h4>


    "Mind if I join in?"


    "Uh..." I fluttered my eyelids, staring at Marcellus¡¯ piercing green eyes. He was scrutinizing me, waiting for my response to his request.


    ¡¯It¡¯s just a dance, right?¡¯ I thought to myself, stering an awkward smile on my face.


    However, Sirena thought differently and immediately howled in protest. ¡¯It¡¯s not just a dance. We¡¯ve barely had a chance to stick close to our mate because that bitch is hoarding all his time.¡¯


    Oh... Kaelos!


    I nced at him and Celine and saw that he had already begun withdrawing his hands from her, while she giggled and whispered more things to him.


    The tense expression on Kaelos¡¯ face told me that he was beyond ufortable and agitated.


    "Dessa?" Marcellus called my attention again, his voice oddly suggestive. "Come on, it¡¯s just a dance. The Alpha King wouldn¡¯t mind. After all, you aren¡¯t his mate, right?"


    A cold shiver ran down my spine after he asked that question. I nced around and spotted a few people ncing at us with furrowed eyebrows, causing me to get self-conscious.


    ¡¯What the fuck was that statement about?¡¯ Sirena nearly eximed, but I ignored her, drawing in a deep breath as I reluctantly grabbed Marcellus¡¯ hand.


    When I did, I turned my gaze to Caroline and nodded subtly, tilting my head and signalling her to still keep an eye on Celine.


    "Thank you for this honor," Marcellus remarked yfully as he twirled me around before holding my right hand and cing his other hand on my waist.


    I ced my left hand on his shoulder, struggling to maintain eye contact as I muttered. "It¡¯s the least I can do after drugging you with a sleeping potion."


    He chuckled with that rich, deep voice of his, causing me to smile subtly. But I couldn¡¯t deny the ufortable feeling bubbling from my stomach.


    "Marcellus?" I called, my voice low as I nced at Kaelos.


    However, I nearly held my breath when I saw that he was done with his dance with Celine and was now standing amid the crowd, standing taller than everyone else.


    His silver eyes glinted with a predatory light as he red at me as if I hadmitted a grave sin, his arms behind his back.


    I swallowed hard, my eyes blinking repeatedly as I quickly tore my gaze away from him. I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt wash through me... And I¡¯m not doing anything wrong!


    ¡¯You¡¯re literally dancing hand in hand with a handsome man, darling.¡¯ Sirena said with a sarcastic tone in my head, causing my blood to boil.


    ¡¯Marcellus is his best friend for crying out loud! And I danced with Caroline too, didn¡¯t I?¡¯ I shot back.


    But deep down... I knew there was something different about this.


    "Dessa, you were trying to say something." Marcellus¡¯ voice echoed and brought me back to reality, causing me to smile wryly at him.


    "Yeah, sorry. I got... Distracted a bit." I mumbled, shaking my head before I continued. "Why did you ask that question about whether Kaelos is my mate?"


    He blinked at first before he smiled, pausing before he lowered my body in a swift movement. My breath hitched as I stared into his eyes, which glinted with a yful light, before he got me back to my feet.


    At this point, I didn¡¯t even need to look at Kaelos to feel the overwhelming jealousy and anger he felt. I made sure to keep my gaze away from him as I cleared my throat.


    Marcellus chuckled softly, shaking his head before he blurted. "I was only joking around, Dessa. I like teasing you and Kaelos about your rtionship because I think it¡¯s... Cute."


    I furrowed my eyebrows, my jaw clenching with anger that seemed to havee out of nowhere.


    "Cute?" I repeated, my voice stern. "He¡¯s my husband, Marcellus."


    He seemed visibly confused, parting his lips. "I... Am aware of that, love. And I don¡¯t intend in any way toe between that. It¡¯s just¡ª"


    "Then don¡¯t." I interrupted, tightening my grip on his shoulder. "You asking if he¡¯s my mate makes me feel like our rtionship is something that can¡¯t be respected without the bounds of a mate bond. It¡¯s... Not funny."


    Where was this angering from?!


    Yes, I was a bit agitated by Marcellus¡¯ question, but I knew he¡¯s always been a teasing prick. That¡¯s how we became friends in the first ce.


    This anger... It felt like I was feeling someone else¡¯s emotions. It was too raw. Too... Possessive?


    My eyes widened as I brought my gaze to Kaelos again and realized something.


    I¡¯m feeling his emotions! His anger. His jealousy... Like they were mine.


    ¡¯Is this the mate bond at work again?¡¯ I asked myself, but then realized Marcellus was staring at my neck.


    "There¡¯s... Something on your neck." He pointed out, dimming his eyes and tilting his head.


    The mate mark!


    My heart jumped into my throat at that moment. Caroline had helped me cover the mate mark with makeup before we left my room, and my lush hair also did a good job of concealing it.


    ¡¯It¡¯s reacting to Kaelos¡¯ emotions.¡¯ Sirena spoke up in my head with a growl. ¡¯The mark and the bond itself. Lie to Marcellus or something.¡¯


    Lie?!


    Dear goddess...


    "Uh, it¡¯s... It¡¯s a rash." I said with an awkward smile, subtly flicking my fingers.


    That caused the wind to subtly blow at my hair and help cover the mark more, and also made Marcellus dim his eyes.


    Fortunately for me, the current song came to an end. Marcellus and I stopped dancing and bowed in front of each other, my heart still beating heavily against my ribcage.


    "You¡¯re always full of surprises, Dessa," Marcellus remarked, his lips curling into a smile. "I¡¯m sorry if my words were... Upsetting. Also, girl, do something about that rash. You don¡¯t want anyone getting the wrong idea."


    <fn12ae> This text is hosted at FindN0vel</fn12ae>


    Once again, an uneasy feeling surged through me, causing me to fiddle nervously with my fingers behind my back.


    But at that same moment, I spotted Kaelos finally making his way toward us, each of his footsteps seeming increasingly ominous, his gaze on me still intense.


    "The wrong idea about your wless skin, of course!" Marcellus suddenly eximed,ughing at his own ¡¯joke¡¯ while I joined him, although mine was forced.


    But theughing session was broken by Kaelos joining us and coughing, cing a hand on Marcellus¡¯ shoulder. He had a in expression on his face as he uttered calmly.


    "May I dance with my wife now?"


    Marcellus raised his hands in a show of mock defeat before he nudged Kaelos yfully on his arm. "Of course. You kids knock yourselves out."


    He gave both of us a wink before he walked away, leaving Kaelos and me to face each other.


    He barely wasted another second and ced his right hand firmly on my waist, pulling close to me and staring directly at my neck, causing my heart to skip a beat.


    "Your mark..." He whispered, sounding surprised. "It¡¯s giving off the faintest glow."


    What?!


    I felt like the whole room was spinning at that moment as I nced at Marcellus and saw him speaking to a werewolf elite woman with a cheery smile.


    "Did he notice the glow?"

 Chapter 155: _What Is She Planning?

    <h4>Chapter 155: _What Is She nning?</h4>


    "You¡¯re saying Marcellus might¡¯ve noticed the glow?" Kaelos asked, furrowing his eyebrows as he scanned his gaze in search of him.


    But I rolled my eyes, cing my hand on his face and forcing him to bring his gaze back to me.


    "Forget about. We have to cover it up. Caroline helped me hide it with makeup, but it¡¯s glowing..."


    He pouted his lips a bit before he tightened his grip on my waist, causing me to gasp with surprise.


    "The glow is receding now. And I think it¡¯s because I¡¯m close to you." He remarked, searching my eyes after his gaze stopped lingering on my neck.


    I subconsciously held my breath, and the room seemed like it was spinning under my feet as I stared back at him. His gaze was intense, and his emotions, although I couldn¡¯t feel them anymore, were still burning in his eyes.


    "I could feel your jealousy..." I mumbled, my eyes fluttering. "Your anger. I could feel all of it when I was dancing with him. And I¡ª"


    "You let him touch you." He interrupted, further tightening his grip on my waist and pulling me even closer to his body. "You let him hold you. You let him look you in the eyes in a way that only I am allowed to."


    My heart raced in my chest as I stared at him with confusion. But that confusion soon turned to agitation as I red at him, my lips pouting.


    "The double standard is crazy." I blurted, boiling with rage. "You let Celine do the same and worse. Your ex-wife, Kaelos. Marcellus is your best friend and¡ª"


    Before I could finish that sentence, his fingers subtly went to my ass cheeks and held them tenderly, causing me to gasp in shock.


    My lips parted repeatedly as I scanned my gaze around the ballroom nervously. At this rate, the people wouldn¡¯t even need to see the mate mark to know something was off with the two of us.


    "Lower your voice," Kaelos whispered with a guttural growling out of his throat.


    I gulped but I nodded slowly in response as his gaze lingered on my face for a little longer before he finally pulled his grip away from my ass and kept his hands to himself.


    "I could feel your emotions, too." He admitted, his eyes shing with an unknown light. "I could feel your confusion. Your unease. Your jealousy. Your fear."


    My eyes quivered as I stared at him, my hands shaking nervously. I tried searching for Celine in the hall, but I couldn¡¯t find her anywhere.


    Where did she slip to this time?


    "There it is again." He mumbled, causing me to swerve my head back to him. "If something is troubling you, just tell me. You told me you wanted to tell me something before Celine came for a dance, so what is it?"


    My breathing increased at that moment. This was it. This was the time for me to reveal everything.


    I drew in a deep breath before I finally spoke. "It¡¯s Celine. Five days ago, I got an anonymous text telling me that the whole pack will know my secret today. Celine threw this Charity Ball TODAY."


    I paused, my body tensing up before I continued with a question. "Do you see how much of a coincidence that is? I don¡¯t trust her, and I think she knows about..."


    I didn¡¯t finish thatst part, letting Kaelos think about the implications himself. His eyes widened, and his jaw clenched before he remarked.


    "That conniving bitch."


    He turned around and scanned his gaze around the hall, sniffing into the air as well.


    Suddenly, a hand held my arm, forcing me to turn my gaze to its owner.


    Caroline.


    She had an urgent look on her face, ncing briefly at Kaelos before she spoke. "I saw Celine talking into the earrings and stepping out of the building."


    A cold shiver ran down my spine, but before I could say anything, Kaelos turned his gaze to us and beat me to it.


    "Earrings? Is there something else you¡¯re not telling me, Odessa?"


    I parted my lips when suddenly, the music died downpletely and the lights dimmed. The only bright source of light in the building now was a spot light on the stage.


    Everyone turned to face the stage while Kaelos sighed.


    "I have to give an opening speech." He remarked, ncing at me and cing a hand on my arm before attempting to walk away.


    But I held his hand, bing increasingly anxious.


    "C¨C Can¡¯t you cancel the ball and send everyone home?"


    He tilted his head, his eyes shing with disapproval.


    <fn32b9> The rightful source is F?ndNovel</fn32b9>


    "The Ball is being broadcast all around the continent, Odessa. And the guests areing from far and wide. Canceling it because of my internal drama and because you couldn¡¯t tell me earlier about Celine would be stupid."


    My jaw clenched as I lowered my head before ncing at different spots on the stage. There were indeed cameras shooting the event from almost every angle.


    "I¡¯ll deal with Celer." He mumbled, withdrawing his hand and pointing at me. "For now, stay put and don¡¯t do anything stupid."


    Without another word, he turned around and headed to the stage, leaving me standing there as Caroline wrapped her hand around my arm.


    "Don¡¯t beat yourself too much, Odessa." She whispered, trying to sound reassuring.


    Kaelos climbed the stage as everyone pped and cheered, including the few humans and witches present who didn¡¯t seem all that enthusiastic.


    Their ps and cheering echoed in my ears as I watched Kaelos mount the podium with a small smile on his face.


    "Maybe Celine doesn¡¯t even know about the mate bond." Caroline suddenly remarked in a low voice as I stared at my mate. "Maybe she doesn¡¯t know you¡¯re a hybrid either. She could simply be keeping you on your toes."


    No... That¡¯s not it.


    "Even if she doesn¡¯t know about either of those, she¡¯s definitely up to something and wants to reveal something to break me tonight," I mumbled, clenching my jaw. "The question is... What?"

 Chapter 156: _Burning Jealousy

    <h4>Chapter 156: _Burning Jealousy</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    When Marcellus casuallymented to Odessa and me that we should go downstairs and dance... I didn¡¯t think much of it. It was going to be a harmless dance, nothing serious.


    Little did I expect that Celine would walk up to us while we were dancing and "borrow" me from Odessa so she could dance with me.


    When my hand held Celine¡¯s, it was like holding the hand of an enemy about to stab me in the back.


    I knew she was up to something. I could feel it in my guts.


    But the question is... What?


    "You¡¯re distracted." She suddenly muttered, tightening her grip on my shoulder as we swirled around.


    Suddenly, Damon brought up a gory suggestion. ¡¯Let me out so I can bite off her head and fling it to her mother.¡¯


    I felt the urge to smirk as I responded mentally. ¡¯There will be no biting of heads tonight, Damon. Hopefully.¡¯


    As Celine fluttered her eyelids expectantly, I felt a surge of irritation as I stared at her with a stoic expression.


    "You¡¯ve gotten the ball and the dance with me that you wanted." I blurted, my voice in. "Are you still nning to tire me out with your words?"


    She parted her lips with surprise at first before she chuckled, shaking her head.


    "You¡¯re so funny even without trying." She remarked, trailing her right hand to my face and bringing her mouth closer to my ear. "Don¡¯t you want to know what I have in store for you tonight?"


    A shiver went all over my body as I subconsciously nced at the spot where I had left Odessa earlier. She was still standing there but had her jaw clenched and her hands balled into fists.


    I could feel the jealousy and anger she felt as if it were mine. Wait... I could feel her emotions?


    "There you go getting distracted again," Celine mumbled, forcing me to bring my gaze to her just to see her rolling her eyes. "You know, if I didn¡¯t know any better, I would think that witch is your mate with the amount of attention you shower on her."


    I tensed up, subconsciously tightening my grip on her waist. I felt the urge to snap her in half right here and now, but I controlled myself, drawing in deep breaths.


    ¡¯Fuck control and snap her neck, gods damnit!¡¯ Damon growled in my head, but once again, I ignored it as I shed a sarcastic smile at Celine.


    "I think we¡¯ve done enough dancing for tonight," I remarked, slowly withdrawing my hands from her. "If you¡¯ll excuse me, I have a¡ª"


    Before I could step away, she gripped my hands, a cold smirk curling up her lips as she drew closer to my ears.


    "My sweet, sweet, Alpha King. I took the liberty of asking Mother more about that secret of yours that you¡¯re so hesitant to let out." She whispered, sending shivers down my spine.


    Madame Greyheart that bitch!


    "Of course, I know my charms would¡¯ve made you marry me eventually. But the secret mother has on you was enough to convince you to marry me. And then even when you divorced me, I was still able to retain my Luna Queen title."


    At this point, I spotted Odessa dancing with her maid, Caroline, from the corner of my eye. I raised an eyebrow, following their awkward movements and watching as they casually moved past Celine and me.


    I was briefly disoriented, especially when I saw how free the maid seemed, but I shook my head and didn¡¯t think much of it as I focused my attention on Celine.


    "Listen, Celine. If this is your version of emotional maniption, it¡¯s not going to work on me." I blurted coldly, my voice low as I red at her.


    The smug smirk on her face made me consider Damon¡¯s offer to bite off her head.


    That secret could destroy the peace I was working so hard to build if ites out!


    ¡¯You know my offer is the best!¡¯ He mused in my head.


    But I ignored him as I grabbed Celine¡¯s arm, disguising it as a dance move and causing her to gasp in surprise.


    I drew her closer to me, but kept her far enough to ensure I didn¡¯t hurl my guts out.


    "Aren¡¯t you intense tonight..." She remarked with a sly grin, her eyes going from my eyes to my lips repeatedly.


    I¡¯d be damned before I let her kiss me!


    "I already told you before... If you or your mother releases that secret unprovoked, I wouldn¡¯t hold back, and I¡¯ll make sure I delete you and your bloodline from the face of the Earth." I said with a low growl, my gaze firm.


    However, despite the slight hesitation in her eyes, she chuckled, slipping her hand out of my grip and patting me on my face.


    "MY bloodline?" She repeated with a yful tone. "Oh, honey. You should be careful with your words. You don¡¯t want to do something that¡¯ll affect you too."


    <fn0844> Chapters first released on find{n}ovel</fn0844>


    Huh?


    At that moment, the music transitioned into a slower one, and Celine finally stepped away from me.


    "I¡¯ll leave you to your wife now." She blurted, but then her eyes flitted behind me. "Although she seems a bit upied at the moment."


    I furrowed my eyebrows into a frown as I turned around, searching the crowd for Odessa.


    But it didn¡¯t take long for me to spot her at the other side of the ballroom, sticking close to Marcellus and staring into his eyes as they danced.


    My blood boiled at that moment, the world around me narrowing as I felt a primal feeling that I¡¯ve never felt this strongly surge through my being.


    It was a weird feeling... One that made me feel like bashing Marcellus¡¯ head into the wall and wing Odessa out of his arms.


    Was this... Jealousy?


    "Enjoy the rest of the evening, Alpha King." Celine¡¯s voice echoed behind me, forcing me to swerve my body to her momentarily.


    She had a smirk on her face and gave me a wink before disappearing into the crowd.


    "Bitch..." I muttered, clenching my jaw as I turned my gaze back to Odessa and Marcellus.


    Was it just me, or did they seem too close?

 Chapter 157: _Illusion Of Festivity

    <h4>Chapter 157: _Illusion Of Festivity</h4>


    When I was finally able to grab Odessa away from Marcellus, I noticed something strange.


    The mate mark on her neck was glowing faintly. The more confusing part was when Odessa admitted that she could feel my jealousy while dancing with Marcellus.


    But then she went ahead to reveal something that had me stumped.


    "Five days ago, I got an anonymous text telling me that the whole pack will know my secret today. Celine threw this Charity Ball TODAY." She said in a panic after I asked her what was bothering her.


    An anonymous text? And she didn¡¯t let me know about it.


    ¡¯Hey, give the girl a break. She probably didn¡¯t want to stress you out with all the work you¡¯ve been doing.¡¯ Damon muttered in my head, but I nearly snapped at him.


    ¡¯Stress me? THIS right here, telling me about some anonymous text and the possibility of my ex-wife being the one who sent it is the real stress.¡¯


    I sighed as the lights in the event hall dimmed down and only a single spotlight remained shining on the stage.


    I nced at the stage and spotted La signalling to me discreetly.


    It¡¯s time for me to give an opening speech for the Charity Ball...


    "I¡¯ll deal with Celer." I blurted to Odessa, clenching my jaw. "But for now, stay put and don¡¯t do anything stupid."


    With that, I left her and went up the stage, forcing a smile on my face as the people in the hall pped and cheered.


    This Charity Ball would be broadcast all around the continent. Let¡¯s make it work...


    I dimmed my eyes slightly at the lone spotlight centered on the stage, illuminating my path as I straightened my posture.


    The crowd was silent. All eyes turned to me.


    Cameras from local and international media streamed the event live, feeding the entire continent visuals of peace and grandeur... Exactly what Celine had intended.


    But I would make this moment mine.


    "Good evening," I began, my voice resonating through the speakers, calm yet firm. "I stand before you tonight not just as the Alpha King of the North American packs, but as a symbol of what unity can look like when we choose understanding over bloodshed."


    There was a murmur of agreement from the guests.


    "This Charity Ball, though hosted in grandeur, holds more than celebration. It is a call to action. A reminder that we, whether werewolves, witches, or humans, have shared this continent too long to remain divided."


    Odessa¡¯s eyes met mine across the room. Her presence grounded me, even now, when the tension was almost suffocating.


    "There are still threats that seek to destabilize the peace we¡¯ve worked so hard to forge. Rogue wolves continue to grow in number, feeding off fear, loss, and hatred. But I assure you... This continent is notcent. We are vignt. We will find the root of this chaos, and we will end it before it consumes us all."


    There was a round of apuse after that, but I wasn¡¯t done yet. I fixed my gaze on a camera pointed at me, my eyes cold.


    <fnf969> The source of th?s content is Find?Novel</fnf969>


    "To those hiding in the shadows, those who plot against the unity we¡¯ve built... know this: I will NOT be merciful."


    Silence came after those words, but soon enough, thunderous apuse erupted, some people rising to their feet.


    As I descended the stage, basking in the ps, I pulled my phone out to check the time, but paused when I saw a forwarded message from Odessa.


    The text preview alone made my stomach clench:


    Smile for the cameras, little witch.


    My thumb tapped it open as adrenaline surged through me. No name. No sender. Just those words.


    And the timestamp? Two minutes ago.


    Odessa had forwarded it without a note, but that alone told me everything. Something was about to happen.


    I made my way back to her, weaving past a cluster ofughing nobles and council members. She was standing near one of the decorated pirs, her arms folded.


    "You saw the message?" She asked as I approached.


    "Yeah. Just now."


    La, always efficient, took the microphone and stepped onto the stage as the auction began. "Thank you, Alpha King Kaelos, for that inspiring speech. We now begin the auction portion of the evening..."


    As her voice echoed through the ballroom, Odessa leaned closer to me.


    "It¡¯s the way the message said ¡¯little witch,¡¯" She whispered, her voice urgent. "If Celine or whoever sent that knew I was a hybrid, they wouldn¡¯t word it that way."


    I narrowed my eyes. "So what are they nning to reveal?"


    Odessa shook her head. "I don¡¯t know. That¡¯s what¡¯s bothering me. If it¡¯s not about the hybrid thing, then what?"


    On stage, La raised the first item: an enchanted ne said to have once belonged to a powerful witch high priestess during the beginning of the war. A bidding war broke out instantly, the numbers escting rapidly.


    Relics followed... ornate daggers, a grimoire preserved in enchanted crystal, and even a ceremonial robe worn by an elder from the human-witch coalition. Everything was pristine, stolen from history and repackaged for disy.


    It was a strange, surreal contrast. Elegant people in tuxedos and gowns raising paddles for the stolen remnants of war-torn factions... while just a few feet away, Odessa and I stood in dread.


    "Do you think this is a trap?" I asked quietly.


    She nodded. "Of course it is. I just don¡¯t know what kind."


    Another item sold. Then another. Laughter and celebration echoed all around. The illusion of festivity. It was all for show...


    Until the projector screen flickered.


    It was subtle at first... it dimmed then a slight flutter of pixels. Then it wentpletely ck.


    La paused mid-announcement, ncing toward the tech team. The crowd murmured, confusion spreading like wildfire.


    Then the projector came back to life again.


    A grainy video flickered onto the massive screen behind the stage. It wasn¡¯t part of the event, and everyone knew it.


    Gasps echoed through the hall.


    Everyone turned, their eyes glued to the disy. Some covered their mouths. Others stepped back as if the screen had exploded.


    But as for me... I blinked repeatedly, unable to believe what I was seeing. It had to be a trick of some kind... right?


    My heart pounded as I turned sharply to Odessa, who stood frozen with shock in her eyes.

 Chapter 158: _Truth Or Lies?

    <h4>Chapter 158: _Truth Or Lies?</h4>


    Murmurs echoed from all over the event hall as the video being yed on the projector became brighter for all eyes, werewolf, witch, and human to see.


    Meanwhile, I stood frozen in ce and blinking as if that would help rify that I wasn¡¯t daydreaming. This couldn¡¯t be right...


    The video in question was a clip of Odessa and Marcellus standing on her balcony. They seemed to be having a good chat, but Odessa¡¯s eyes seemed... Distracted.


    The white dress that Odessa wore was the same one she wore when she escaped the pack, meaning this video was taken that night.


    "Shut it down." La tried signalling the tech team discreetly, but I could see the panic in her eyes.


    In the video, Odessa was about to do something, but then tripped and fell. Luckily for her, Marcellus caught her, wrapping his right arm around her waist.


    "What is this?" A voice that I recognized as belonging to the American president echoed around the hall, but no one paid him any heed.


    All eyes were fixed on the screen in anticipation of what would happen next. My heart pounded heavily in my chest, my veins slowly simmering with rage as I feared the worst while watching the video.


    And then it happened.


    Marcellus and Odessa locked lips, engaging in a passionate kiss that made my stomach twist. My hands twitched at first before they slowly balled into fists as I red at the projector.


    The video slowly zoomed out as the kiss got intense, giving the illusion that it might¡¯ve progressed into something more.


    ¡¯Kaelos, let¡¯s try to calm down and look at things from a logical perspective.¡¯ Damon spoke in my mind but I¡¯d be damned before I listened to him.


    How do I look at things logically when the evidence just smacked me and the rest of the continent in the face?


    "Wasn¡¯t that Beta Marcellus?" A voice echoed as the murmuring increased.


    "Yeah, and the Alpha king¡¯s wife!"


    "Despicable!"


    "So she¡¯s a cheap slut after all? I knew it!"


    Words like these were thrown all around the hall as I turned my gaze to Odessa, seeking answers. Her eyes were wide open as if she had seen a ghost as the lights in the hall came on with full brightness.


    <fn0b3b> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on fin?novel</fn0b3b>


    Odessa slowly turned her head to me, her throat shaking as she parted her lips to say something. But no matter how much she tried, no words coulde out, causing me to scoff.


    "So, it¡¯s true?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "You and my Beta... Odessa, tell me if it¡¯s true. Tell me what I just watched is a lie. Tell me the subtle signs I¡¯ve noticed between you and my best friend are nothing but imagination."


    Her eyelids fluttered repeatedly, and her violet eyes glistened with confusion. But soon enough, she found the strength to speak and proceeded to do just that while shaking her head repeatedly.


    "K¨C Kaelos, that video can¡¯t be real. Marcellus and I didn¡¯t..." She paused, dimming her eyes as if she was trying to understand something.


    Maybe lie?


    "Don¡¯t test me, Odessa," I growled menacingly, taking a step and causing her to jolt with fear.


    She gazed at me with shaky eyes as she shook her head. "N¨C No, Kaelos! That video has to be fake. Yes, Marcellus and I were on the balcony. Yes, we talked, and then he held me after I almost fell. But he didn¡¯t... We didn¡¯t¡ª"


    "h, h, h, h." A silvery female voice echoed all around the event hall, causing everyone present to look around wearily.


    From a corner, Celine walked up the stage, a victorious smirk on her face as she parted aside strands of her hair. When she got to the podium, she nced at me, giving me a wink before she spoke into the microphone.


    "People of North America. Werewolves, witches, and humans. Tonight, you have witnessed just how shameless the Alpha king¡¯s Witch Bride is."


    Odessa clenched her jaw as she stepped away from me and walked toward the stage, pointing at Celine.


    "You bitch! What did you¡ª"


    Before she could finish talking, two werewolf guards held her arms from behind, withholding her and causing her to gasp in shock.


    "Honey, don¡¯t make a scene. It¡¯s not worth it." Celine remarked, smirking slyly, before she continued speaking into the microphone. "Now, I¡¯m not one to incite drama, but from the moment Odessa stepped into this pack, I knew something was off about her..."


    Her voice slowly became distant as my eyes narrowed. I stared at Odessa, who struggled and kicked at the guards to no avail.


    The whole world seemed to disappear from my view as my mind reeled with a plethora of emotions. I wanted to w Odessa out of the hands of the guards and sh their throats.


    But at the same time... I felt lost. That video looked too real, and Odessa¡¯s story just wasn¡¯t adding up.


    ¡¯Maybe that¡¯s because you haven¡¯t given our mate the chance to exin herself.¡¯ Damon said with a scolding voice in my mind.


    I furrowed my eyebrows, tearing my gaze away from Odessa and scanning around the hall. Soon enough, I spotted him, Marcellus, walking wearily toward the stage, a confused expression on his face as Celine spoke.


    It was all adding up in my head like puzzle pieces.


    The casual manner he¡¯s always talked to Odessa since she arrived. The way he was able to make her open up to him first, before me. The flimsy nicknames like ¡¯Dessa¡¯, which seemed harmless at first.


    The dance tonight... The fact that he was in her ROOM the night of her escape.


    How could I have been so stupid? How could I have been so blind?!


    My blood boiled as I red at Marcellus, my Alpha King aura erupting out of me like an invisible tsunami threatening to crush everything and everyone.


    Celine stopped talking just then as the pressure from my aura overflowed, causing all werewolves in the perimeter to either look away in fear or to kneel.


    But as for Marcellus... He slowly turned his head to me, his eyes widening with what seemed like hesitation. But then... Fear.


    Oh, he better be afraid.


    "YOU!" I roared, my voice thundering around the hall and shaking the walls as I bolted past the crowd in the blink of an eye.


    Before anyone could even register what happened, I seized Marcellus by the throat.

 Chapter 159: _Odessa’s Secret

    <h4>Chapter 159: _Odessa¡¯s Secret</h4>


    "K¨C Kaelos..." Marcellus tried speaking as I slowly raised him into the air, my Alpha King aura surrounding the building like a thick fog at this point.


    But I snarled, increasing my grip on his neck as I felt my ws itching toe out and slit his throat.


    "Shut up, you snake!" I growled, gritting my teeth as I red at him.


    People murmured and gasped, and I could feel the judgment from many of them. But I didn¡¯t care.


    "Alpha King, calm down." Celine echoed from the stage with a carefree voice, clearing her throat. "That pathetic witch shouldn¡¯t be a reason for you to shed blood and soil your image tonight. Instead, be thankful that I¡ª"


    I snapped my neck to her, not saying anything, but my silence was enough to shut her up. She swallowed her words, her body shaking with fear as she gripped the podium for support.


    With that taken care of, I brought my gaze back to Marcellus, tilting my head as I watched him squirm helplessly under my grip.


    "Give me one good reason why I shouldn¡¯t rip out your spine, Marcellus," I growled with a low voice that managed to reverberate around the hall. "Just one good reason why I shouldn¡¯t end your life. You kissed my wife!"


    Marcellus slowly brought his hands to my wrist, wrapping his fingers around it as he shook his head weakly.


    "Kaelos, p¨C please calm down. I¡ª"


    Before he could continue, I tightened my grip further, sneering.


    "It¡¯s Alpha King to you!"


    Without another word, I flung him forward like a rag doll, watching as he crashed through chairs and tables beforending on the floor with a grunt.


    The people in that direction scampered for safety as I waltzed toward Marcellus, my jaw clenched and my hands balling into fists.


    "Kaelos!" Odessa¡¯s voice echoed behind me just then, forcing me to pause.


    I could almost hear her voice in my head through her emotion, which I felt as mine. Her confusion, like amb brought before a ughterhouse. Her despair. Her helplessness. Her fear.


    But if she could feel my emotions as well, she should be able to feel and see that I was under a lot of mental stress right now as well.


    I nced at her from over my shoulder, watching her stand there in the distance as she was held back by the guards.


    Oh, what? She wants toe save her boyfriend?


    ¡¯Kaelos, you need to calm down now.¡¯ Damon tried being the voice of reason in my mind. ¡¯You¡¯re painting a bad image to the people watching. Stop and think for a¡ª¡¯


    ¡¯Stay out of this, Damon.¡¯ I responded with a mental growl as I brought my gaze back to Marcellus and saw him groggily trying to get up.


    He ced his right hand on his forehead, gritting his teeth as he raised his head and stared at me. But I ignored the pleading look in his eyes and walked up to him, grabbing him by the cor and yanking him to his feet.


    "That joke you made about wanting to hit on Odessa if she were a werewolf. The night of the weing ball. It was never a joke, was it?" A crazed grin curled up my lips as I chuckled.


    Marcellus had a small cut on his face that brought out a little blood, but I didn¡¯t care. That was nothingpared to the burning pain in my heart right now.


    "Talk, you fool!" I snapped, raising him to the air and then flinging him to the ground with enough force to pulverize a human or witch.


    <fn9046> Fresh chapters posted on Find[?]ovel</fn9046>


    But he only yelped in pain, the sound of his bones and the marble floor breaking echoing around the dead-silent hall.


    Just when I raised my right hand tond a punch on his face, Odessa screamed.


    "ENOUGH!"


    Oh no...


    I nced back at her and watched as her voice manifested as a sonic wolf howl that sent the guards restraining her flying every which way.


    Windows shattered, chairs and tables blew away, and even people were affected as everyone covered their ears due to the pitch and strength of the scream.


    Some were even flung away as well, devolving the hall into pandemonium and chaos.


    I watched with mixed emotions, gritting my teeth and covering my ears as well. The pitch of her howl was even more powerful tonight than the night at the Blood Oak woods.


    Was she bing more powerful?


    Eventually, after what could¡¯ve been five seconds of prolonged screaming, Odessa stopped, covering her mouth and gaining back control.


    Her eyelids blinked with shock as she scanned her gaze around the destruction in the hall, which she was at the epicenter of.


    "Bloody hell..." Marcellus cursed from where hey down close to my feet, but I didn¡¯t even pay him any heed as more murmuring echoed around the hall.


    "What was that?"


    "Isn¡¯t she a witch?"


    "That howl was definitely not the cause of magic. It was a howl only a powerful werewolf can conjure."


    "How¡¯s this possible? Isn¡¯t... Isn¡¯t she supposed to be a powerless witch?"


    These were just a few of the words that erupted all around the hall, causing me to tense up as I clenched my jaw.


    The jig was up!


    Odessa seemed to finally being back to reality as she raised her hands wearily as Celine pointed at her from the stage, taking the opportunity.


    "What sorcery did you use? So you¡¯ve had powers all this time?!"


    Odessa looked like a rabbit backed into a corner as she took steps back, shaking her head.


    "N¨CNo, I can exin. This isn¡¯t... This isn¡¯t what it seems." She said with a loud voice, but her pleas were drowned by the increasing murmuring and yells of the people in the hall.


    I was torn between seeking the truth about the video I just watched and stepping in to help her from the public scrutiny, causing me to brush my hand through my hair with frustration.


    Suddenly, before Odessa could make any other moves, she released a loud gasp that instantly caught my attention, her body stiffening as she fell to her knees.


    My eyes widened as my heart skipped a beat.

 Chapter 160: _What She Truly Is

    <h4>Chapter 160: _What She Truly Is</h4>


    I ground my jaw as I watched Odessa squirming and struggling as she knelt, her muscles tensing.


    Magic...


    I scanned my gaze around, searching for the witch who had her held down. The people were silent as the sound of high heels clicking on the marble floors echoed.


    I soon spotted the person responsible, Lucinda. She had her right hand outstretched and clenched into a fist, her robe and hair blowing around her.


    She stared at Odessa condescendingly as she walked toward her from the other end of the hall, the crowd giving way for her.


    "As a delegate of the Luminari Coven, I want to step forward and state that that outburst from Odessa Pierce wasn¡¯t witchcraft." Lucinda dered with a loud voice that boomed around the hall, demanding attention and respect from her fellow witches and the humans.


    The werewolves looked on with skepticism, some of them murmuring to themselves.


    After scanning her gaze around, Lucinda brought her gaze to Odessa and tilted her head, a cold smirk curling up her lips.


    She wasn¡¯t stepping in to protect the people. This was yet another disy of power to cement her position in the supernatural hierarchy!


    My eyes narrowed as I took a step forward, my Alpha King aura receding into my body the same way it hade out in the first ce.


    I ground my jaw and watched as Lucinda slowly brought her gaze to me, her eyes glinting with hesitation at first before she harrumphed and continued.


    "Tell them, Odessa. Tell the people and the continent what you really are."


    Everyone was silent, and it seemed as if the air itself had thickened with tension as they all held their breaths.


    Odessa breathed in and out, slowly raising her head and staring directly at me. My heart ached seeing her like that, and I felt my chest burn as I felt her humiliation as my own.


    Seeing that Odessa was silent, Celine grunted from the stage, speaking into the microphone and chiming in.


    "Listen, witch. This is our pack¡¯s territory and that slut on the ground has to face punishment in OURnd." She addressed Lucinda, who merely nced at her.


    I could feel the disdain both women had for each other based solely on their races, but that was still just background noisepared to the nagging feeling in my head that something was wrong.


    None of this felt right.


    ¡¯Yes, because you¡¯re standing back like a wussy while our mate is being humiliated and hurt.¡¯ Damon growled with frustration in my mind, wing at my skin and spiking my anger. ¡¯Take action now before this esctes!¡¯


    I balled my hands into fists, but just when I parted my lips, something shocking happened.


    Odessa slowly stood on her feet, her body shaking as she red directly at Lucinda, whose face was scowling.


    People gasped as Odessa¡¯s hair blew into the wind, a violet energy aura enveloping her body until she was finally able to stand fully.


    Her eyes glowed with a bright violet light, causing everyone who stood close to step back in fear and confusion.


    "By the goddess..." Celine mumbled on the stage, but then Odessa snapped her head to her.


    I watched as my mate spoke with a domineering voice that shook the event hall, her magic reverberating in the air.


    "I am a hybrid. A part witch and part werewolf."


    Terrified gasps echoed around the hall, and fear shook the people as they stared at Odessa and shifted further away.


    "Is this some kind of joke?" A male voice asked with dread.


    "I¡¯ve always known she was trouble."


    "A hybrid will doom us all!"


    My hands twitched as I thought of what to do when a hand suddenly grabbed my arm, causing me to turn my gaze to the owner.


    It was Elder Davina who stood beside me, alongside La.


    "Sir, the situation is getting out of control, and I got word from the Gamma that the pack soldiers are surrounding the building," La said to me in a loud voice as the hall was further illuminated by the violet light of Odessa¡¯s magic.


    Everyone dimmed their eyes, and I was forced to do the same as I turned my head to Odessa again.


    She stood there like a goddess, her lush blonde hair and her silver white gown blowing around her like clouds as she red at Lucinda, who stepped back with both fear and spite.


    "I knew it! Thank you for revealing yourself to everyone, hybrid!" Lucinda spoke with a silveryughter that echoed around the hall as she spread out her arms elegantly.


    Her robe whipped around her as her magic manifested as an emerald green energy aura that shed with the violet energy of Odessa, sending streaks of blinding light everywhere.


    The building shook to its foundations as people screamed and gasped, some even scampering to the exits already for safety.


    As for Celine, some guards came to the stage and shielded her, helping her step away as she watched the scene with wide-open eyes.


    And as for me? I didn¡¯t even move a finger as I watched the sh of magic, my mate standing on one side and a powerful witch whom my delegates once suggested I pick standing on the other.


    "The Gamma says the decision of whether he and the pack soldiers should step in lies in your hands, sir!" La yelled out, trying to keep her voice steady as the magic energies sent a powerful breeze that blew everything.


    As for Elder Davina, she stood beside me, clutching my arm quietly until she finally spoke.


    "Now the mate bond you share with her makes sense." She whispered, staring at my face and forcing me to bring my gaze to her.


    I clenched my jaw, but she wasn¡¯t done speaking yet.


    "A duel between a powerful witch of Lucinda¡¯s caliber and the unpredictable hybrid power of Odessa would be catastrophic to this pack and beyond. A hybrid¡¯s powers can be violently unstable. You have to stop it before it esctes."


    No sooner had she said that than Lucinda dered with a powerful voice, her emerald green energy pulsing with her voice.


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    "I told the Elders that you were a disgrace! Now I get to prove it in front of all these people."


    Her emerald energy spiked, her eyes zing as she added with a domineering yell. "I, Lucinda Silverwing of the Luminari Coven, shall rid the earth of you! Hybrid scum!"


    Without another word, she swiped her right arm at Odessa, sending a powerful st of magic at her and signaling the beginning of a battle that came out of left field.

 Chapter 161: _Magic, Chaos And Marcellus

    <h4>Chapter 161: _Magic, Chaos And Marcellus</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    Okay, he knew Celine was up to something diabolical from the start when she first invited him to this charity ball. But what he didn¡¯t expect was for her to implicate him in the process of bringing down Odessa¡¯s reputation.


    The night had been going smoothly, too, and he even had a dance with Odessa where he was able to probe her and spot the glowing mate mark on her neck.


    So she and Kaelos had taken things to the next level already, eh?


    Unfortunately, when Celine hijacked the event and yed a video of him and Odessa kissing on her balcony, he knew something was off.


    That video was fake as fuck, but it was realistic andpelling enough to the unsuspecting onlookers. He has to admit, the editing was good.


    Too good.


    That alone told him that it wasn¡¯t the work of technology... but of magic. But who did he know who could cast an illusion spell so powerful and deceitful that it could even affect an Alpha King and witches?


    Meanwhile, Kaelos didn¡¯t hesitate and ended up attacking him, flinging him around like a rag doll and pummeling him to the ground until he felt every bone in his body shatter.


    Marcellus felt like he was losing his breath as he tried to stand against the brute strength of the Alpha King while holding back from retaliating.


    ¡¯Enjoying the party?¡¯ A sly female voice whispered in his mind as hey on the ground after Kaelos had pummeled him, forcing him to stare at the ceiling as his mouth dripped with blood.


    Marcellus was able to recognize that voice instantly and didn¡¯t know whether tough or curse repeatedly. It all made sense now...


    ¡¯Regina. What did you do?¡¯ he asked telepathically, but even using his magic was a hassle due to the physical strain his body was already feeling after Kaelos¡¯ brutal attack.


    At that same moment, he felt a powerful burst of magical energy that shook the building and made the people gasp and scream in shock.


    <fn7876> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on F¦ÉndNovel</fn7876>


    He slowly turned his head to get a better view of what was happening on the other side of the event hall, his gaze fleeting past Kaelos¡¯ boots, which were close to his face.


    ¡¯The powerless witch is actually a hybrid.¡¯ Regina continued in his head, sounding amused and entertained. ¡¯And it was revealed in the grandest way possible, not to mention that everyone on the continent is watching through the live broadcast... Including the true lord of the North.¡¯


    Lord Ryker...


    Marcellus gritted his teeth, watching as Odessa stood there in the distance, her hair and clothes blowing around her as an aura of violet energy surrounded her like a fog of power.


    ¡¯I need... Life force.¡¯ Marcellus thought to himself, but Regina was able to hear him through their established telepathic link and responded.


    ¡¯Well, you can always pick someone out from all the people in the event hall. Trust me, it¡¯s going to be pure chaos anytime soon.¡¯ Regina said with a chuckle. ¡¯Helping Celine to manipte the video was a fun payback for that time you choked me.¡¯


    So THAT¡¯S what this is about? Where the fuck was the bitch even hiding?


    ¡¯I think Odessa noticed me, by the way.¡¯ Regina added, sounding impressed. ¡¯She only recently awakened her magic, but her perception of magic has increased massively. You have to be more careful around her.¡¯


    Yeah... After he survives tonight.


    As if things weren¡¯t getting chaotic enough with Odessa¡¯s hybrid nature revealed, the building shook even more as a witch from the Luminari Coven stepped forward to challenge Odessa.


    "I, Lucinda Silverwing of the Luminari Coven, shall rid the earth of you! Hybrid scum!"


    All hell broke loose, with Marcellus managing to sit up and watch the battle unfold.


    Lucinda sent a st of magic energy at Odessa, but thetter crossed her arms into an "x", blocking the attack and also effectively splitting the st into two separate sts that hit other ces.


    One st shattered a pir into rubble and dust, and the other hit the stage, causing the people¡¯s screams to get louder as they all scampered for safety.


    "That st could¡¯ve killed her!" Kaelos, the bastard who put Marcellus in this sticky situation in the first ce, eximed with rage.


    Marcellus felt like rolling his eyes, but instead focused on the prospect of survival as he scanned his gaze around his surroundings.


    The people in the event hall were evacuating, heading for the exit, and lowering their heads as they did so. Werewolves, witches, and humans... No one stayed back.


    Marcellus¡¯ eyes narrowed and locked in on an old werewolfdy amongst the crowd of people... A weak link.


    He smirked as he wiggled his fingers, using his magic to take hold of her body first before he then clenched his hand into a fist. He did all this while watching carefully and making sure Elder Davina and La, who stood close, wouldn¡¯t notice him.


    The old woman¡¯s foot caught on the hem of her gown, causing her to stumble and fall face-first to the ground. Marcellus¡¯ fingers flexed like a puppeteer tightening strings.


    "Odessa barely has any spells to counter Lucinda!" La yelled out as the sts from their magical battle shook the building and sent gushes of wind that made it hard to hear.


    Marcellus raised his eyebrows curiously while also twisting his hand and watching as the poor old woman struggled.


    He used his telekinesis to break her already fragile body, utilizing the panic of the people and watching as they trampled on her, weakening her further.


    On a normal day, he would¡¯ve just bolted to her and snapped her neck like a twig, but he had to put up a "vulnerable" facade around Kaelos and the others.


    "You underestimate the versatility of a hybrid, La." Elder Davina remarked just then, forcing Marcellus to tear his gaze away from his meal.


    He watched the battle between Odessa and Lucinda, his gaze following thetter, who focused on making herself seem graceful as she fought Odessa.


    Lucinda flew into the air, her body lighting up like a second sun as she sent st after st of magic energy, but Odessa¡¯s reflexes were ridiculous, giving her an edge to maneuver.


    Suddenly, Odessa spread out her arms and pointed her hands at Lucinda, who was still levitating in the air.


    Marcellus¡¯ instincts red at that moment as he twisted his hand one final time, snapping the old woman¡¯s neck with telekinesis without looking and then absorbing her life force as he watched Odessa¡¯s next spell with surprise.


    Within seconds, Odessa yelled out with the power of her wolf¡¯s howls, shaking the building and causing the ceiling and walls to crack.


    Her attack didn¡¯t end there as two powerful violet sts of mes spiraled around her like serpents, responding to each flick of her wrist before heading toward Lucinda, who seemed like a fly in contrast.


    "The power of a true hybrid..." Marcellus muttered to himself.

 Chapter 162: _Judged By Them, Forsaken By Him

    <h4>Chapter 162: _Judged By Them, Forsaken By Him</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    When Kaelos got on the stage and gave his speech, I watched with pride, joining the people to p.


    However, there was tension in my mind, especially after I got yet another ominous text from the anonymous number.


    "<strong>Smile for the cameras, little witch.</strong>" That was what the text read.


    I forwarded it immediately to Kaelos, trying to silently give myself hope that this meant the person didn¡¯t know of my hybrid nature. <i>Wait, no, it¡¯s not a "person". </i>


    It¡¯s CELINE. And I¡¯m dumb for thinking anything else.


    When Kaelos joined me and we discussed our next move, the auction segment of the ball was interrupted after a video that caused a shiver to run down my spine was yed on the projector screen.


    It was a video of Marcellus and me on my balcony, the night when I tried to escape. I was tense, sweating as I wondered where it was going... Until we kissed.


    <fnc380> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? </fnc380>


    Marcellus and I kissed in the video!


    ¡¯<i>H¨C How is this possible?</i>¡¯ I asked myself mentally, trying to think back to that night. ¡¯<i>I can¡¯t remember kissing Marcellus. I¨C I only stumbled and he weirdly caught me.¡¯</i>


    I paused, scanning my gaze and watching the murmurings and shocked gasps of the people. Many heads swerved at me, gazing at me with judgment and disdain, and making me feel cornered.


    And as for Kaelos? His eyes locked on mine...not with love, not with belief. But with fury. And worse... disappointment. That single look cracked something inside me, overwhelming me with guilt and pain.


    When Celine mounted the stage and signalled some pack soldiers to apprehend me, I feltpletely helpless. I struggled, kicked, and yelled for them to let me go.


    I tried exining myself. I tried telling him that the video had to be fake. But he ignored me and went ahead to attack Marcellus on the other side of the event hall.


    "They don¡¯t want the truth. They want a scapegoat. And Kaelos... Kaelos is letting them take me." I mumbled to myself, my eyes stinging with tears as I bit my bottom lip, anger and frustration stirring inside me.


    And then something snapped in me. An instinct so primal that I couldn¡¯t ignore tore through my core, causing me to release a sonic howl that sent the guards flying and devastated the hall.


    ¡¯I have to run out of here.¡¯ I thought to myself as I searched the hall for the exit, ignoring the fearful eyes the people used in staring at me as they pointed using fingers.


    ¡¯<i>But Kaelos.</i>..¡¯ Sirena whimpered with hurt in my mind, forcing me to nce at Kaelos, who had his gaze on me.


    Earlier tonight, he had stood by me and protected me from Lucinda. Now he was standing with the people who were trying to crucify me with their words.


    "She¡¯s a hybrid!"


    "She¡¯ll bring doom and destruction to us all!"


    These were the words that all led to Lucinda finally stepping forward and exacting "righteousness" by apprehending me with telekinesis.


    I had no choice at this point. The jig was up.


    Which is why when I announced to the people and the continent that I¡¯m indeed a hybrid... I let go of every restraint and let my instincts and emotions take control.


    My magic burst out freely, straining my muscles and bones to the extreme as my werewolf senses went on high alert.


    "I, Lucinda Silverwing of the Luminari Coven, shall rid the earth of you! Hybrid scum!" As soon as Lucinda dered those words, all hell broke loose as our magic shed.


    She sent a st of energy, but I divided it by crossing my arms instinctively, watching as they destroyed my surroundings and caused werewolves, witches, and humans to flee.


    "I would¡¯ve... I would¡¯ve killed someone." I mumbled with a cracked voice, watching as Lucinda stared at me with a cruel smile.


    She didn¡¯t care about that. All she wanted was to strike me down and take the glory of defeating a "hybrid scum".


    Those words still stung like a fresh p, reminding me of my ce in the world. My awakened powers and true nature made me just as ostracized as when I was a powerless witch.


    I felt like running away. I felt like screaming. I felt like breaking down into tears, my eyes stinging as all these emotions came rushing like a flood.


    ¡¯<i>You aren¡¯t a vulnerable, powerless witch anymore, Odessa.</i>¡¯ Sirena howled inside me, forcing me to clench my jaw as Lucinda prepared another spell. ¡¯<i>Let go. Let our instincts take control.¡¯</i>


    <i>¡¯I¡¯m powerful, but I¡¯m not as skilled as her, Sirena</i>.¡¯ Imented mentally, my eyes subconsciously ncing at Kaelos.


    Elder Davina and La were beside him and were watching the battle without interfering. They all seemed like they wanted to... But the hesitation they used in staring at me told me they were afraid of my power.


    That only stung my heart more as I gritted my teeth.


    ¡¯<i>You may not have skills, but you have the ferocity of your wolf side.</i>¡¯ Sirena spoke with a confident tone. ¡¯<i>Your body is a weapon, and your spells are an extension. Your goal here is survival. </i><strong><i>Fight, Odessa!¡¯</i></strong>


    Thosest words lit the fuse, causing me to break loose.


    Suddenly, a sonic howl tore through my throat, interrupting Lucinda¡¯s spell casting and forcing her to ce her arms in front of her face as invisible magical force fields surrounded her.


    But my onught didn¡¯t end there, my arms stretching out as bursts of violet mes erupted from my body and flowed through my hands like serpents, hitting Lucinda¡¯s force fields and sending a blinding burst of violet light and heat that caused me to close my eyes and grit my teeth.


    The pain that coursed through me was searing, but I didn¡¯t care as I unleashed it all. My pain. My anger. My disappointment. All of it.


    "Ahhh!" I screamed, heightening the power of my sonic howl as I pushed the power of the mes to the extreme.


    Usually, a skilled witch using fire magic would be able to control it well enough to stop it from affecting them.


    I didn¡¯t have that control and closed my eyes as I felt my skin and gown burning away and ash filling my mouth, the tears in my eyes drying off instantly as my howls¡¯ pitch increased.


    And before I knew what was happening... An explosion sounded, pushing me backward and causing me to hit a wall.


    My eyes fluttered weakly, the world vanishing in violet mes and pain. And then came the sweet embrace of darkness.

 Chapter 163: _Price Of Survival

    <h4>Chapter 163: _Price Of Survival</h4>


    "Look at all this destruction."


    "Where is she? She has to pay!"


    "Did she even survive?"


    Those were some of the words that filtered into my head as I slowly opened my eyes, the suffocating smell of dust, ash, and smoke filling my nostrils until I was forced to cough.


    There was a splitting pain on my head, forcing me to grunt as I slowly crawled before I managed to sit, my legs curled. Everything was now nothing but rubble.


    The event building, once standing proudly in the pack as one of the grandest andrgest buildings, was now nothing but a pile of rocks, ash, and fire that burned fiercely around me.


    ¡¯Odessa, thank the goddess!¡¯ Sirena spoke up with relief in my head as I dimmed my eyes, trying to use my hands to shield my face from the heat of the mes.


    I gritted my teeth, my eyes watering as I responded. ¡¯All this destruction... I caused it?¡¯


    There was a pause in my mind, forcing me to hold my breath with anticipation. Even without her answering, I already had a good guess.


    ¡¯You only did what was necessary to survive, Odessa.¡¯ Sirena mumbled in my mind, causing me to scoff outwardly.


    Necessary?


    I scanned my gaze around and soon started getting a clear picture of my surroundings. Underneath the rubble, I could make out the silhouette of people.


    All dead, some of them even having missing body parts, blood smeared on some rocks.


    "How many people did I have to kill to ¡¯survive¡¯, Sirena?" I asked, my lips trembling as my eyes stung with tears. "All this destruction. I¡ª"


    "I hear a voice over there!" A deep voice tore through the silence of the perimeter, forcing me to hold my breath as I swallowed the rest of my words.


    I withdrew my hands from the ashden ground and brought them to my body, realizing that not only was it covered in ash and soot, but I was naked.


    The voices of people became louder, some crying andmenting about being hurt or about the dead they lost, while others sounded agitated and angry.


    My clothes had burned offpletely in the explosion.


    Suddenly, I heard the sound of heavy boots crunching on rocks and rubble and held my breath, slowly turning my head.


    There were mes in that direction, which seemed to part slightly as arge silhouette made its way through them. I dimmed my eyes, but then my mouth fell in shock when I saw who it was.


    "K¨C Kaelos..."


    He had a stoic expression on his face as he stared directly at me, but I saw his eyes soften and his shoulders rx when our eyes met.


    That caused relief to surge through me as I gritted my teeth and struggled to get up. His ck cape, attached to his suit, was mostly burnt, what was left of it blowing into the night wind alongside his shoulder-length ck hair.


    He looked majestic, like a prince charming right out of my dreams.


    <fne63c> ?????? ???? fin?novel</fne63c>


    Until his gaze became cold, snatching whatever hope had been bubbling inside me.


    "Kaelos?" I called weakly, managing to get on my feet with my arms covering my exposed chest. But then my body strained, causing me to gasp in pain as I fell back to my knees.


    I knelt there for what felt like an eternity as I raised my head and stared at Kaelos. He stood there, just a few meters away, but the distance in his eyes made me feel like he was miles away.


    "Kaelos, p¨C please..." My voice came out in a croak, my eyes stinging with tears that streamed down my face.


    Was this really happening? Have I lost him forever? For a crime that I didn¡¯tmit?


    ¡¯Even though I didn¡¯t cheat on him... I still caused this devastation.¡¯ I thought to myself, shaking my head. ¡¯I killed an unknown number of people. Werewolves, humans, probably witches.¡¯


    Lucinda was right. I¡¯m a scum of the earth. An abomination meant to only bring destruction and chaos.


    I closed my eyes, fear causing me to shiver harder than any cold wind. However, I froze when I felt warm fingers caressing my face.


    It was brief, drying my tears in one gentle movement and forcing me to raise my head again, my lips trembling as I stared at Kaelos.


    He was in front of me now and took off his suit, ripping off the cape. He wrapped the suit around my frail figure, his strong hands touching my skin ever so tenderly that for a second I thought there was hope.


    Only a second... Until he swept me off the ground and into his arms, pressing my body close to his chest before he proceeded to walk out of the site of the destruction.


    "There she is!" A female voice yelled out in a panic when Kaelos emerged with me out of the mes.


    I opened my eyes and saw a crowd of people around the destruction, with ambnces and pack soldiers already everywhere.


    I held my breath, my heart beating faster, when I spotted Lucinda in front of the crowd.


    ¡¯The bitch survived...¡¯ Sirena growled in my mind as I red at Lucinda.


    Her once pristine white robe was now stained with dust and ash, and her hair was messy. There were several burn marks around her body as well, but she seemed to be focusing her magic on healing them.


    However, her injuries didn¡¯t stop her from walking toward Kaelos while pointing at me.


    "You! Bringer of chaos!" She sneered, her words riling up the people around as they all yelled out and began throwing curses and insults, pouring their frustrations on me.


    "That event building has been in this pack for seven decades!" Gamma Zane yelled out with rage-filled eyes from one end.


    "We should burn her just like she tried burning us all!" A different person added.


    Just when the murmuring and yelling were getting overwhelming, a voice boomed through it all, instantly bringing silence.


    "ENOUGH!"

 Chapter 164: _Final Verdict

    <h4>Chapter 164: _Final Verdict</h4>


    "<strong>ENOUGH!"</strong>


    Kaelos¡¯ voice boomed, causing the crowd to instantly stop their murmuring. Everyone stared at him with fear, but I could see some defiance.


    He slowly lowered me off his body, letting me stand close to him. I quickly clutched the suit draped over my body like a coat, lowering my head in both shame and hesitation.


    <i>What would be my fate?</i>


    "Alpha King. With all due respect to the fact that this is your territory, you have no right." Lucinda snapped, her voice not even trembling slightly. "Odessa is the Luminari Coven¡¯s burden. As our coven¡¯s delegate, I¡ª"


    "She¡¯s MY burden and MY wife, so I decide what happens to her." Kaelos interrupted with a cold tone, a guttural growl escaping his mouth.


    I raised my head and nced at him just then, seeing the small frown lines on the side of his head. But the coldness in his eyes was unlike anything I¡¯ve ever seen in him before.


    As for Lucinda, her eyes twitched repeatedly, but before she could say anything, a sharp voice spoke from the crowd.


    "Alpha King, I can¡¯t believe your ipetence." It was the Gamma who stood up to him without hesitation as he stretched out his arms and gestured at the destruction around us. "We stand here close to the remains of one of our pack¡¯s greatest monuments. Tens of people, mostly werewolves, died!"


    My jaw clenched with guilt, but I didn¡¯t dare look at the Gamma and instead scanned my gaze around.


    Sitting at the back of one of the ambnces was Marcellus, who watched everything unfolding with keen interest. Our eyes locked, and for a moment, I saw amusement.


    But then he looked away, as if he was ashamed of staring at me. As if I were responsible for his downfall.


    "You¡¯re protecting a murderer, Kaelos! Do you think the people will forgive this? That we¡¯ll just sit back and say nothing?" The Gamma added, his tone getting more confident and threatening.


    There was suffocating silence as everyone exchanged nces and murmured in agreement with Gamma Zane¡¯s words.


    At that moment, I felt the mate mark on my neck sting and could feel Kaelos¡¯ suffocating rage, causing me to hold my breath as I stared at him from the corner of my eyes.


    He seemed like a bomb about to go off. Like a me waiting for fuel to turn into an all-consuming inferno.


    And unfortunately, the people were acting as just that.


    Suddenly, Kaelos left my side and bolted forward with his right hand stretched forward. His ws came out, and in a sh, he shed.


    "Ahhh!"


    Shocked gasps erupted from the crowd, and a few stepped back in fear.


    My eyes widened as well when I saw what Kaelos did. That scream hade from Gamma Zane, whose right hand was cleanly cut off.


    The sh was so clean that blood didn¡¯t start bleeding from the stump where his right hand had once been until he fell to the ground and started yelling out in pain.


    "You speak of justice? Let this be your offering to the dead!" Kaelos snarled, staring down at him with the cold eyes of a predator.


    And then it came crashing out. All his anger, his frustration... All of it came out in the form of his pressuring Alpha King aura. Unlike previous moments, everyone was affected, including Lucinda, who stepped back with dread in her eyes.


    "I am the Alpha King of the North American packs. The destruction and death that Odessa brought to this event, while tragic, is nothingpared to the devastation I am capable of." Kaelos continued, his voice thundering for all to hear.


    "Make no mistakes... Odessa will be thrown into the dungeons and will face a sentence for her crimes tonight. But if any of you stands in my way with false righteousness, preaching what I should or shouldn¡¯t do..."


    He paused, making everything he¡¯s said sink in as he scanned his gaze around. Everyone was dead silent, apart from Gamma Zane, who whimpered and grunted from the pain, his blood spilling out from the stump like a fountain.


    I swallowed hard, staring at Kaelos withplicated emotions. This wasn¡¯t him standing in my favor. Something had shifted in him.


    After what felt like an eternity, Kaelos finally continued. "... I will no longer look at you as political equals in this continent but as insects in my way."


    He nced at Gamma Zane one final time before he turned away from him and headed for me. His shadow loomed over me, his silver eyes glinting with a cold light as he grabbed my hand without a word.


    He dragged me through the crowd, who all quickly gave way for us. Or more urately, they gave way for him.


    As we walked and I clutched the suit on my naked body weakly, I spotted Caroline in the crowd.


    <i>Well, at least she¡¯s alive...</i>


    Her gown was covered with ash, but at least she wasn¡¯t injured.


    "Ma¡¯am Odessa..." She whispered with a shaky voice, but I only gave her a curt nod and a small smile, trying to reassure her that I would be okay, even though I was uncertain of my fate.


    Kaelos had mentioned I would be thrown into the dungeons. What would that feel like? What¡¯s the ce going to be like?


    "I¡¯m about to find out..." I murmured to myself as Kaelos headed toward the Alpha King¡¯s mansion with me.


    .


    .


    Once we got to the mansion, he led me through a passage at the back of thepound that led into a dark tunnel that went underground.


    The walls were lined with me torches, which lit the way, but the warm light did nothing to ease the chill that went down my spine with each step we took.


    After getting to the end of the stairs, Kaelos led me through arge underground dungeon, opening one of the cells which had stern-looking guards standing close to it.


    <fne025> The rightful source is f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fne025>


    The guards bowed, but he barely paid them heed as he shoved me harshly into the cell, causing me to stumble forward.

 Chapter 165: _No One Will Believe Me

    <h4>Chapter 165: _No One Will Believe Me</h4>


    The cold hit me first when I stumbled into the cell. Then the pain.


    Kaelos flung me into the cell so hard that my knees scraped against the uneven ground, and I barely had time to catch myself before the cell door mmed shut behind me.


    The echoing ng tore through the silence like thunder, sealing me in.


    "Kaelos," I gasped with a cracked voice, spinning my head around.


    He stood just outside the bars, his silver eyes unreadable in the dim torchlights that draped an ominous light. The guards behind him kept their heads low, almost as if afraid to look at either of us.


    "Please... I didn¡¯t kiss him," I said with a whisper, my fingers curling around the cold bars. "I didn¡¯t cheat on you. I don¡¯t know how that video even happened."


    However, he didn¡¯t flinch. He didn¡¯t even blink. He just stood there silently, his eyes scrutinizing me for what felt like an eternity.


    I was forced to lower my head, overwhelmed with embarrassment and his emotions again. Until...


    "That¡¯s not the main issue here, Odessa." He said atst.


    My breath hitched as I raised my head and met his gaze again. But I didn¡¯t find the mercy I was hoping to see in his eyes.


    Then his next words came, cutting at me like a de.


    "And it doesn¡¯t matter." He remarked.


    I stared at him, blinking as the air in my lungs froze.


    "The entire continent saw what you are tonight, Odessa," He said inly. "A Hybrid. And whether you meant to or not... You brought destruction with you."


    "I didn¡¯t..." I let out with a choked-out voice. "It all started with Celine holding me back with those guards. And then Lucinda tried to attack me. You saw it yourself, Kaelos. Why¡ª"


    "They won¡¯t care," He interrupted bluntly, his eyes going away from me briefly. "Opposition will rise. Some are already calling for your execution. Others like Lucinda want you sent back to the witches for judgment."


    My hands slipped slowly from the bars. My heart fell to my stomach as my eyes quivered with despair.


    "And what do you want?" I asked quietly. "Do you believe I betrayed you?"


    His eyes glinted with something for the first time. Not with anger. Not with pity. Just... something I couldn¡¯t quite ce my finger on.


    "It doesn¡¯t matter what I believe," He muttered, his voice firm. "What matters is whates next. And whatever I choose... Will decide your fate."


    He turned without another word, walking away and leaving me in the darkness of the dungeon.


    Just like that.


    I watched his back as he walked away, his shadow looming over me before slowly receding. The torch lights flickered, and then he disappeared into the dark.


    The moment he was gone, something broke inside me.


    I copsed onto the stone floor again with a strangled cry, clutching the remnants of his suit still wrapped around me. The fabric smelled like him. It was still warm from his body.


    But it felt like a stranger¡¯s coat now. Like a memory of someone I wasn¡¯t allowed to miss.


    Hot tears poured from my eyes, streaming down my face in an endless waterfall of grief and despair.


    "I didn¡¯t do it... I didn¡¯t do it..." I whispered over and over, as if I couldpel the world to believe me with the sound of my voice.


    <fnec3e> Original content can be found at Find?Novel</fnec3e>


    ¡¯Odessa.¡¯ A voice murmured inside my head, gentle and familiar.


    Sirena.


    ¡¯Don¡¯t fall apart now, love. You must hold on. I¡¯m still here.¡¯


    I buried my face in my hands. Her presence was soothing, but it couldn¡¯t mend the gaping wound left by Kaelos¡¯ coldness.


    "I tried, Sirena. I did everything right... Didn¡¯t I? I kept my head down. I stayed away from the witches. I wore the damn dress. I smiled. I danced. And still..."


    I paused, sniffling.


    Still, they turned on me.


    Even after all that, I ended up here.


    A chill passed through me, and I clutched Kaelos¡¯ coat tighter. But even as I curled up on the dungeon floor, my mind started spinning.


    The night had spiraled too fast. Something wasn¡¯t right.


    "The goth witch..." My lips formed the words before I realized I was speaking them aloud.


    The mysterious woman I bumped into.


    At the time, I thought nothing of it, brushing it off as a clumsy ident with a weird-looking witch. But then again... something wasn¡¯t right about her.


    Then there were Celine¡¯s magical earrings. Who could¡¯ve beenmunicating with her through them?


    Could it be the person who made that fake video of Marcellus and me? Could the culprit in question be that mysterious woman? Was that why she had smiled at me weirdly?


    My stomach twisted the more I thought about all of this.


    Someone had definitely helped Celine to orchestrate this n to the veryst detail.


    Someone who either also wanted the world to see what I was... or was doing it merely for fun.


    But it didn¡¯t matter.


    Because the truth meant nothing if no one would believe it.


    Iughed bitterly, shaking my head at my situation.


    No one would believe me. Not Kaelos. Definitely not the Alpha council. Not the witches or the wolves. To them, I was the unstable half-breed who kissed her husband¡¯s Beta and destroyed their grand monument, killing people while at it.


    "No one will believe me..." I repeated out loud with a whisper, using the back of my hand to wipe at my already swollen eyes.


    I subconsciously stretched out my right hand, struggling to connect with my magic again. It was faint after the explosion of fire magic, but it was still there.


    All I needed to do was reach out deeper and...


    Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out, startling me and forcing me to withdraw my hand to myself.


    "I believe you."


    I raised my head instantly.


    A tall figure stepped into view from the darkness, her silver-streaked hair braided down one shoulder, her white robe glinting faintly in the firelight.


    Elder Davina.


    My mouth fell open when I saw her, but she didn¡¯t say anything else. She just scrutinized me with steady eyes, filled with an emotion that confused me.


    Hope.

 Chapter 166: _Give Me One Reason

    <h4>Chapter 166: _Give Me One Reason</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    After flinging her into the dungeons, I stood on my balcony back in the mansion, clutching a ss of whiskey in my right hand while I ced my left hand on the balcony¡¯s railing.


    I stared into the night of the pack, my mind still reeling from everything that happened and the strong smell of smoke, ash, and death still lingering in my nostrils.


    I wasn¡¯t certain how many people Odessa¡¯s stunt had killed but I was sure it was going to be enough to make tonight an international news headline.


    The event building was nothing more than rubble and thick smoke that rose into the clouds, like a tower of death. The people scurrying around the site of the devastation all murmured the same thing to themselves.


    "Where¡¯s the Alpha King now?"


    "He spoke about peace but led us into a massacre."


    "We should all me that witch... Or whatever she is. Whatever punishment he¡¯s giving her he should make sure it¡¯s as brutal as possible."


    "Did you see the way he attacked the Gamma for speaking out?"


    The people, my people, werewolves from all around the continent who wouldn¡¯t have even dared to think such words were saying them out loud as they went out of the pack in their fancy cars.


    None of them knew about the pain I held in my heart.


    ¡¯Kaelos, you overgrown baby!¡¯ Damon snarled in my head just then, sounding beyond agitated. ¡¯Don¡¯t tell me you believe that video over our mate. A video made by Celine of all people.¡¯


    I scoffed, downing the entire ss of whiskey and savoring the lingering burn in my throat before I sighed.


    "And what would you have me do, Damon? That Iunch an investigation to see if the video is indeed the truth?"


    He suddenly snapped in agreement with my words just then. ¡¯Yes! Yes, you moron. For the love of the moon, since when have you been so daft?!¡¯


    I ignored his insulting remark, shaking my head as I finally turned away from the balcony and went back into my dimly lit suite.


    I grabbed the bottle of whiskey from thempstand and poured myself another ss, staring at the bottle like it was my salvation.


    I drank everything in the ss then proceeded to keep it aside and gulped down everything in the bottle as well, belching and using the back of my hand to wipe my mouth.


    ¡¯I¡¯m embarrassed to be called your wolf.¡¯ Damon mumbled with a sigh in my head but I sniggered, my eyes stinging slightly as the alcohol made me just a little tipsy.


    My Alpha King metabolism made drinking a chore, burning away the high I got from it before I could even have the chance to enjoy it. I knew this tipsiness wouldn¡¯tst past a couple of minutes.


    "The feeling is mutual, Damon." I let out with a small chuckle, shaking my head before I scanned my gaze around the room. "Gosh, I need another drink..."


    My eyesnded on the drink cab at the corner before I walked toward it sluggishly.


    However, when I opened it and brought out a bottle of vodka, a knock sounded on the door, clearing away the tipsiness that I had struggled to get in an instant.


    I growled, snapping my head to the door before I yelled out in a thundering voice that shook the room.


    "Who dares?!"


    La and the other officials can handle any problems tonight. But as for me, I was done and wanted nothing more than istion.


    The door swung open despite my yelling, forcing me to squint my eyes as I saw who stepped in.


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    ¡¯What the heck?¡¯ Damon growled in my mind and I held the same sentiment.


    "Celine..." I spoke with a low but cold voice as she stepped inside and closed the door behind her. "I have no time for whatever this is. You¡¯ve gotten what you wanted, haven¡¯t you?"


    She had a small smile on her face but then paused abruptly after I spoke. Her eyes twitched a bit before her smile came back again.


    "Far from it, my Alpha king." She mused slyly, taking elegant steps closer to me, each click of her high heels on the marble floor further irritating me.


    I looked away from her, clutching the bottle of vodka in my hand before walking back to the balcony.


    "Use the door when you¡¯re done talking to yourself," I remarked, opening the bottle and drinking from it as I got to the balcony again.


    I could feel her staring at my back but I didn¡¯t care. She might as well continue standing there and staring until the gods turn her into a statue.


    I nced back and saw her smile twitch yet again. She stepped farther into the room, her gaze sliding over me like a silk de.


    "My darling, Kaelos. I¡¯m not done here just yet." She purred. "What I want, what I¡¯ve always wanted... is you."


    I turned my back to her and tightened my grip on the vodka, hoping she¡¯d take the hint. The smell of her perfume... expensive, floral, and too sweet, coiled around me like a trap.


    "You¡¯re delusional," I muttered taking a long drink. "You got a video which I¡¯m not even sure is real and cost dozens of lives tonight. You¡¯ll be lucky if I don¡¯t throw your corpse into the rubble of the event hall."


    "And yet... you didn¡¯t kill me," She said softly, stepping closer. Her heels clicked against the marble floor with what felt like calcted steps. "Even now, I¡¯m still here. In your room. Still breathing."


    I stayed silent, swallowing the rage that threatened to split me apart.


    "Do you want to know why?" She continued, her voice low and confident, like she thought she had me ensnared. "Because a part of you knows I¡¯m right. She isn¡¯t your equal, Kaelos. She¡¯s a child of chaos. A mutt with no loyalty and even less control. She would¡¯ve destroyed you eventually. I just saved you from getting too attached."


    "You don¡¯t know a damn thing about Odessa." My voice was cold. "So don¡¯t you dare try preaching to me."


    Celine only chuckled. "But I know you. I¡¯ve watched you long enough. She didn¡¯t deserve your attention. Or your bed. I could¡¯ve ruled beside you, heightened the people¡¯s trust in you. Protected your legacy, your power¡ª"


    I mmed the vodka bottle down on the railing so hard that the ss shattered into a thousand pieces.


    There goes one thousand dors...


    "You think I give a damn about ruling with someone who poisons the world with lies?" I turned to face her fully, my shoulders squared. "You¡¯re a parasite, Celine. You don¡¯t care about the throne. You just want to see Odessa fall."


    Her expression cracked for a second, just long enough for me to see the venom behind her calm facade.


    "I¡¯m not the parasite," She said through clenched teeth. "She is. And if you weren¡¯t so clouded by lust, you¡¯d see it too."


    I stepped forward. "Leave. Now. Before I forget what little restraint I have left."


    However, she was stubborn and didn¡¯t move. Instead, she reached out and ced her palm on my chest.


    "You used to look at me like this once, remember?" She whispered. "Before she came. Before she ruined everything."


    My muscles tensed beneath her touch.


    "Celine¡ª"


    "Don¡¯t push me away. You¡¯ll regret it." Her voice dipped lower. "You alwayse back to me in the end."


    How charming...


    I ignored her again, feeling my anger reaching a new peak. If she knew what was good for her she would leave now that I still had control.


    The only reason Gamma Zane lost only his right hand and not his head earlier was because I had self-control despite my rising violent urges. But I could feel that self-control slipping away already.


    "Kaelos, I said don¡¯t ignore me." Suddenly, just when I turned away, Celine held my arm from behind, causing me to jolt with surprise and agitation.


    I swerved my head to her and without warning, I seized her by the throat, watching as she gasped and then struggled to get out of my hold.


    But I ignored that, my eyes cold as I raised her off the ground and into the air, searching her face before I snarled.


    "Give me one reason why I shouldn¡¯t end your existence now," I growled, my voice reverberating in the air.


    "Y¨C You think I came here just to gloat?" She whispered, her voice getting choked out. "You have no idea what you¡¯ve set in motion tonight. The pieces are already falling. Even if you tear my throat out, the game won¡¯t stop."


    "You talk in riddles now?" I hissed. "Maybe you should write poetry in your cell before I burn it down."


    She slowly brought her hands to my wrist and wrapped them around it, her eyes glinting with what seemed like... Tears?


    "I¡¯m... I¡¯m pregnant, Kaelos."


    My eyebrows furrowed with confusion just then.

 Chapter 167: _Miracle Baby

    <h4>Chapter 167: _Miracle Baby</h4>


    "I¨C I¡¯m pregnant, Kaelos."


    As soon as those words left Celine¡¯s mouth, the first thing that hit me was a wave of confusion. Then denial.


    There¡¯s no way she¡¯s telling the truth. She just wanted to say anything to get out of my grip.


    "You lie, Celine," I murmured with gritted teeth, ring at her face as I subconsciously tightened my grip on her neck.


    I was tired of her and her mother using me as a chess piece. Fuck my secret and the fact that they could share it with the world. At this point, I¡ª


    ¡¯Kaelos, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m saying this, but wait.¡¯ Damon spoke up in my head just then, causing my eyebrows to furrow as I tilted my head while staring at Celine¡¯s face.


    Her eyes quivered with fear, but that fear seemed like it wasn¡¯t just a fear for her own life. It was something more primal. More... Maternal.


    Reluctantly, I let go of Celine gently, watching as she rubbed her neck while gasping for air. It was then that I ced my hand on her shoulder, sniffing her closely to see if I could pick up any shift in her pheromones.


    She just stood there patiently, although her eyes quivered tensely. Her right hand went to her stomach as if to emphasize her point.


    "The child is real, Kaelos." She mumbled, smiling warmly at the same moment that I picked it up.


    By the moon, why didn¡¯t I notice sooner? There was indeed a shift in her pheromones.


    But...


    "How did this happen?" I queried, staring into her eyes with more confusion.


    I was gued with conflicted emotions. Just a few seconds earlier, I had wanted nothing more but to rip her throat and tear out her spine. But now I actually felt... Hesitance? Restraint?


    Meanwhile, Celine giggled at my question, cing her right hand in front of her mouth before she slowly brought it to my face.


    I jolted slightly at her touch, my jaw clenching but I managed to stay still as I waited for her to continue.


    "Oh, my Alpha King. You see when a man and a womane together to¡ª"


    "Don¡¯t patronize me, Celine." I interrupted her attempt at a joke, my lips pouting. "I know how pregnancies work. What I¡¯m asking is how did THIS one work? Weren¡¯t you barren?"


    That was the excuse I had used in divorcing her not long before Odessa¡¯s arrival. If it was untrue now, did that mean... Would I have to remarry this bitch?


    ¡¯Hell to the mother fucking no, Kaelos.¡¯ Damon snarled in my head. ¡¯Don¡¯t think too far. You don¡¯t owe her a second of marriage after the years y¡¯all spent together in torment.¡¯


    "I don¡¯t know, Kaelos. I wish I had an answer to that too." Celine whispered in response to myst question, cupping my face with both hands. "Maybe the moon goddess decided to bless me. But what I do know is that I¡¯m two months pregnant and it¡¯s yours."


    The moon goddess blessed her? I¡¯ve talked to her once... She didn¡¯t seem like the kind who would go around distributing miracle babies, especially not to unruly bitches like Celine.


    Or... Could she have done that?


    At that moment, I couldn¡¯t help myself from silently gazing at the moon which was partially covered by clouds. Was the moon goddess trying to test me somehow?


    Suddenly, in my moment of vulnerability and distraction, Celine brought her face closer to mine and did somethingpletely unexpected.


    ¡¯No!¡¯ Damon yelled out alertly in my head but it was toote.


    Celine¡¯s lips pressed against mine, causing my eyes to widen as my hands quickly went to her shoulders. The kiss onlysted for two seconds but I already felt a weird emotion bubbling inside me.


    No, not emotions toward Celine... Goddess forbid that. But rather... Guilt toward Odessa.


    "Don¡¯t you see, Kaelos?" Celine¡¯s voice was soft as she giggled with excitement while cing her hands on her stomach. "This child could be our chance at a new beginning. And the people will respect you better if you have an heir."


    I clenched my jaw, subconsciously using the thumb of my right hand to wipe off her strawberry-vored lipstick from my mouth before I spoke up with a growl.


    "So, you¡¯re trying to use a baby to bargain? Is that how low you can stoop, Celine, or is this just a warm-up?"


    She rolled her eyes, shaking her head before she blurted. "You were supposed to be excited at the prospect of having a child, Kaelos. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re still hung up on that cheating who¡ª"


    Before she couldplete that sentence, I ced a warning finger in front of her lips, shushing her.


    "Leave Odessa out of this," I said with a cold voice, gritting my teeth before I grunted and stepped away from the balcony.


    I headed back into my suite and went straight to my wine cab, grabbing a fresh bottle of whiskey. This all had to be a sick dream.


    "Why now, Celine?" I asked without looking back as I poured myself a ss. "Why did you choose to tell me this now? Surely you couldn¡¯t have possibly found out that you¡¯re pregnant recently if it¡¯s been two months already."


    I gulped down the ss in one go, licking my lips as I waited for Celine to speak.


    "I told you I had a surprise, Kaelos." She said simply. "The one with Odessa was merely me showing you who she truly is. This, on the other hand, is your chance at a fresh start."


    I clenched my jaw but didn¡¯t say anything or look back at her. Instead, I poured myself another ss and downed it in one gulp as well, feeling like I was close to losing my sanity.


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    "You¡¯re obviously still trying toe to terms with it. I understand." Celine mumbled and then moved closer to me, her high heels clicking on the marble floor with each step.


    She grabbed my arm from behind gently, causing my body to recoil at her touch momentarily.


    "I¡¯ll be waiting for you. But please... Just know that I¡¯m not the only one waiting for you to make a decision. After tonight, the whole continent is."


    Without another word, she stepped away from me and walked out of the room, closing the door behind me and leaving me behind with everything she said echoing in my mind.


    I should be d that I was expecting a child, even though it wasing from Celine. But why did I feel like I was betraying Odessa?

 Chapter 168: _Gossip Irritates Him

    <h4>Chapter 168: _Gossip Irritates Him</h4>


    After sulking and drinking for several minutes, I decided enough was enough. Lots of things weren¡¯t adding up, including the video between Odessa and Marcellus.


    I walked out of my suite, my hair a little messy as I sniffled. A few maids were whispering to themselves in a corner of the dimly lit hallway and didn¡¯t notice me stepping out.


    "So the witch bride is finally locked up in the dungeons where she belongs." One said with a snigger, causing me to clench my jaw.


    I walked closer to them with slow and steady steps, dimming my eyes as theyughed silently at the first one¡¯sment.


    "And I¡¯m hearing rumors that Luna Queen Celine and the Alpha King are getting back together." Another one chimed in.


    "Finally. That¡¯s long overdue." The first one said with a whisper before scoffing. "The Alpha King made a mistake bringing in that witch."


    "Haven¡¯t you heard what happened at the event hall tonight?" A third one whispered. "The Alpha King¡¯s Witch bride is actually his ¡¯hybrid bride¡¯. Odessa is a¡ª"


    "One more word about her and I¡¯ll make you eat your tongue." I couldn¡¯t take it anymore and interrupted with a snarl, causing all three of them to freeze.


    Their bodies shook with fear but I didn¡¯t care as I walked to them and stood behind them, looking down at them with suppressed anger that threatened to boil out.


    "All three of you, pack your shit and get out of the mansion. You¡¯re fired. You can go ahead and run your mouth outside." I continued coldly. "But just know I¡¯ll bash your skulls if I hear any more of your bullshit outside. Now scram!"


    My voice boomed at the end, causing them to stumble in shock before they scurried forward while I watched with disdain.


    Gossip irritates me...


    ¡¯Which is why you should¡¯ve shed off their heads instead of talking much.¡¯ Damonmented in my head, sighing. ¡¯Anyway, where are we headed to?¡¯


    I drew in a deep breath before I continued moving forward, my jaw tense with resolution. "To get some answers."


    .


    .


    I arrived at Elder Davina¡¯s residence, walking into thepound with a solemn expression. There were a few maids outside, tending to nts and giggling to themselves in their white dresses.


    I squinted my eyes when I saw this until they noticed me and quickly bowed.


    "Good evening, Alpha King." They greeted me in unison but I merely nodded in response as my gaze trailed up the building.


    "I¡¯m here to see Elder Davina. Is she..."


    Before I could finish that question, I spotted the Elder walking out of the building, her staff in her hand and her robe blowing into the wind.


    However, my eyebrows furrowed when I saw who she was walking with.


    "Lucinda?" I called with confusion, watching as the witch stared at me with hesitation.


    But soon, contempt shed in her eyes as she spoke up. "Greetings again, Alpha King. I see you¡¯ve decided to finally step out of your mansion to grace us ¡¯insects¡¯."


    She was referring to myst words to the elites before I left with Odessa. Well, fuck her.


    "Elder Davina, what¡¯s the meaning of this?" I turned my gaze to the Elder and raised a questioning eyebrow, causing her to sigh lightly.


    "I¡¯ll advise you to control your tongue, priestess Lucinda." Elder Davina nced at the witch and muttered, causing thetter to harrumph silently.


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    After that little exchange, Elder Davina brought her gaze back to me and spoke with an apologetic tone. "My meeting with the Luminari Coven witch isn¡¯t a casual one, Alpha King. She¡¯s informed me that the Luminari Coven will be sending down delegates to discuss Odessa¡¯s case."


    I clicked my tongue, staring directly at Lucinda now. "Well, well, well. I didn¡¯t realize our pack¡¯s spiritual leader now doubles as the Alpha King, witch."


    Her robe from earlier seemed cleaner now, and the injuries that had been present on her body were healed¡ªall probably the work of magic.


    But it was clear that she was exhausted and drained.


    "I gave my message to the Elder because she¡¯s more reasonable. Something I can¡¯t say about you or your Luna Queen." Lucinda said, folding her arms in front of her chest.


    As soon as she said that, I got in front of her in the blink of an eye, ring at her. She was shaken at first but then stood her ground, staring up at me with a firm look in her eyes.


    "Alpha King, please." Elder Davina whispered with a frustrated tone, but I only nced at her before I finally took a step away from Lucinda.


    "What are your witches going to discuss? Taking her back to the coven?" I asked, eyeing Lucinda who parted aside strands of her hair with enough sass to put a high school teenager to shame.


    "You¡¯ll have to find out when they arrive. It shouldn¡¯t take more than two days." She responded simply, ncing briefly at Elder Davina and giving her a nod. "Anyway, my entourage is waiting for me close to the pack gates. Good night."


    She proceeded to walk past me, clutching her robe as if she were afraid of it getting stained on the floor.


    However, when she got to thepound gate, she paused, ncing back at me.


    "I¡¯ll advise you to keep an eye out for the Luna Queen. Even a blind man will know that she¡¯s up to no good."


    I was stunned at first, confused about why she would say something to defend Odessa. Or, maybe she was saying it to save face.


    Whatever the reason was, she didn¡¯t bother borating further and continued walking, leaving Elder Davina and me in silence.


    The few maids loitering around quickly scurried into the building, bowing in front of Elder Davina and me as they did.


    "I visited Odessa tonight." Elder Davina suddenly remarked, forcing me to bring my gaze to her as she walked over and stood beside me.


    I remained silent but the look on my face was enough to tell her that I was listening.


    "While I admit that the destruction she caused was... Unfortunate, I also want to put it out there that I believe her concerning that video."

 Chapter 169: _When Two Become One

    <h4>Chapter 169: _When Two Be One</h4>


    "You visited Odessa and you believed her words?" I questioned Elder Davina, my voice filled with hesitation.


    She nodded in response, tightening her grip on her staff. "Yes. And she¡¯s hurting, Kaelos. Hybrid or not, she¡¯s still your mate and I even found out you marked her."


    I bit my bottom lip, looking away from her before I blurted. "That... Was a mistake. But what significance does the mark provide for an Alpha King and his mate?"


    She paused, arching an eyebrow at first before she spoke.


    "The mating mark between an Alpha King and his mate is moreplicated than anything else in the werewolf world. It strengthens the mate bond to unprecedented levels, essentially making the term ¡¯two be one¡¯ quite literal."


    Two be one...?


    ¡¯This exins why you could feel our mate¡¯s emotions at the ball.¡¯ Damon muttered in my head just then. ¡¯And also another reason why I still can¡¯t believe you would believe Celine over Odessa.¡¯


    ¡¯I don¡¯t believe Celine over anyone.¡¯ I responded mentally, clenching my jaw. ¡¯I¡¯m trying to seek the truth here. Odessa¡¯s closeness with Marcellus might¡¯ve been suspicious... But all this isn¡¯t adding up.¡¯


    Yes, it was weird that I had found Marcellus unconscious in Odessa¡¯s room the night of her escape. But what was also weird was the fact that Celine just happened to get "footage."


    "Anyway, whatever decision youe up with, all I can do is give you a gentle nudge." Elder Davina blurted, clearing her throat and smiling at me. "Good luck, Alpha King. And remember the moon goddess¡¯ advice about you and Odessa."


    With that, she turned away from me and walked into her residence, her robe flowing elegantly behind her.


    When the door shut behind her, I swerved my head to thepound gate and waltzed forward.


    The moon goddess¡¯ advice to me about my mate bond with Odessa had been simple.


    "Vulnerability is strength," I muttered to myself, steeling my mind as I headed somewhere that I never imagined I would be visiting again so soon.


    .


    .


    I arrived at the dungeons, my footsteps heavy on the stone floor. The guards bowed when they saw me but I barely paid any attention to them as I got in front of Odessa¡¯s cell.


    "Hey," I spoke with a whisper when I spotted her at the other end, watching as she shakily raised her head, her eyes widening with surprise.


    She was still barely clothed underneath my suit, causing me to sigh as I brought out a dress and underwear I had picked up from her maid on my way here.


    I flung them to her and then red at the guards who stood in front of the gates. They quickly looked away without hesitation, their eyes quivering with fear.


    "K¨C Kaelos." She whispered with a shaky voice, her lips curling up into a warm smile. "You came back."


    I stared at her inly for a few seconds but could feel my gaze softening the longer it drew out. After a while, I cleared my throat and gestured for her to get dressed.


    She picked up the underwear and dress and got on her feet, sliding into them with a grace that gave me a view of her body. Her slender long legs and her bosoms almost made me forget the reason I came here.


    Her once beautiful white skin was still stained with ash but her injuries and burn marks were already healing up at a visible rate.


    "Elder Davina spoke to me," I remarked, cing my arms behind my back. "She gave me a reason to reconsider my thoughts on that video Celine showed the continent."


    Odessa paused when she was midway through adjusting the pink dress, raising her head and staring at me.


    "And? What do you think now?" She queried, squinting her eyes with uncertainty.


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    I sighed, looking away briefly before I spoke. "That¡¯s the thing though... I¡¯m not sure what to think. That video was painfully realistic and the only way to fake something like that would be through¡ª"


    "Magic." Odessapleted my sentence, drawing in a deep breath before she walked forward. "Remember the magic earrings I told you about? The ones Celine was wearing at the ball before everything went to shit?"


    It was safe to say that I was impressed by the Odessa before me. She¡¯d gone through so much within a few hours, had her secret exposed, and lived with the guilt of killing several people in her outburst.


    Yet here she was, suppressing her emotions and analyzing things. All without alcohol too!


    ¡¯You could learn a thing or two from her.¡¯ Damon said with a snigger in my mind, causing me to smirk slightly.


    Anyway, Odessa continued speaking after I nodded in response to herst question.


    "Caroline and I were able to confirm that she was using them tomunicate with someone before the video yed. Mind you, who do you think she would be using an enchanted item tomunicate with?"


    I gritted my teeth, balling my hands into fists. "A witch. One who would be able to use powerful illusion magic to trick thousands and possibly millions of people. Including me."


    My shoulders fell as I turned away from the cell, brushing my right hand through my hair.


    Fuck, I¡¯m so dumb! I let Celine y me like a flute.


    ¡¯I told you so.¡¯ Damon remarked in my head but then added. ¡¯You¡¯ll owe your Beta and our mate an apology. But first, you have to confront that potential baby momma of yours.¡¯


    I sighed heavily but then flinched when I felt Odessa¡¯s hand on my arm from behind. I turned to face her and saw her eyes shaking as tears trickled down her face.


    "I¨C I thought I had lost you forever." She mumbled, her voice shaky as she sniffed back tears.


    My heart broke seeing her like that and I turned fully, stretching my arms through the bars of the cell and pulling her into an embrace, brushing my hand through her hair and sniffing her like it was the first time.


    I could feel all her emotions once again and realized how much she was hurting behind the collected mask she was keeping.


    Suddenly, my phone rang, tearing through the silence and forcing me to pull away from the embrace to pick up the call. It was La.


    "Speak." I blurted, cing the phone on my ear.


    "Sir, one of the Luminari Coven¡¯s elders is here. She requests to see you."


    Odessa furrowed her eyebrows, using the back of her hand to wipe her tears before she spoke curiously.


    "Who?" She whispered.


    La was silent for a few seconds, probably surprised to hear Odessa¡¯s voice. But she quicklyposed herself and answered.


    "Elder Althea."

 Chapter 170: _Odessa’s Bloodline

    <h4>Chapter 170: _Odessa¡¯s Bloodline</h4>


    I barged into the throne room of the Alpha mansion where I spotted a woman dressed in a dark purple robe sparkling with silver runes standing in front of my throne.


    The throne room was only used in meetings when the leader of another race or another Alpha King, graced the pack with their presence.


    And today that person would be Elder Althea of the Luminari Coven. Who also happened to be Odessa¡¯s aunt.


    "Alpha King Kaelos." The woman spoke with a knowing tone without even looking back and then slowly turned around to face me.


    She had long ck hair adorned with clear crystals and purple eyes and also a slender build. Her physical appearance was deceiving, making her seem to be in her thirties.


    But reports I¡¯ve gathered suggest this woman was almost a century old.


    "Elder Althea. Priestess Lucinda said we wouldn¡¯t be expecting any more delegates from your coven for another two days." I remarked, my expression in as I walked past her and climbed up the steps leading to my throne.


    I sat on it, cing my arms on the armrest and curling my fingers together before I continued. "To what do I owe this early visit?"


    The woman blinked, seeming a bit taken by surprise. Maybe she was expecting me to be much more aggressive after everything she¡¯d heard happened at the Charity Ball.


    But eventually, she smiled and bowed in front of me. "Good evening. I must say I didn¡¯t expect to pay a visit for another two weeks. But the recent development forced my hands. I teleported all the way from the Luminari Coven¡¯s territory."


    I kept silent for a while, staring down at her. The fact that she had such control over teleportation magic was a testament to how powerful she was.


    After drumming my fingers on the armrest, I finally spoke. "Well, what do you hope to do now? Your niece is a Hybrid and caused the deaths of several people. The packs of North America, the humans, and the most powerful covens in the continent will be on my neck."


    She was silent, her expression unreadable.


    I sighed after a few seconds, rubbing my forehead with my fingers. "Odessa is currently locked up in the dungeons. And I¡ª"


    "Did you lock her up because she¡¯s a hybrid or because you think she was unfaithful to you?" Althea suddenly queried, raising an eyebrow. "We have to resolve this quickly. I came in peace but the onesing after me might not be so diplomatic."


    I furrowed my brows in a frown before I spoke in a low voice. "Excuse me?"


    She hesitated for only a moment before she spread out her arms and spoke. "I saw that video that your Luna Queen broadcasted. And as... Believable and convincing as it is, I noticed it felt off."


    Little did this woman know that me and her niece were slowly paving the road to reconciliation. I just had to keep Odessa locked up longer to give the people some assurance of their safety after her outburst.


    <fndaaf> This text is hosted at </fndaaf>


    ¡¯You could always lock her up in your bedroom, you know?¡¯ Damon suddenly muttered in my head. ¡¯That¡¯s a far better option.¡¯


    I mentally rolled my eyes but kept my expression in as I stared down at Althea.


    "I¡¯m curious to know why you¡¯d suggest that the video is off."


    She kept a confident expression and nodded.


    "Simple. Because the Odessa I know will never do such a thing. Before meeting you, she was ostracized and had it rough when it came to keeping rtionships. Apart from your reputation, she was also scared of the prospect of a rtionship."


    I listened attentively, not mentioning anything about me and Odessa¡¯s suspicion that Celine had fabricated the video with the help of a witch.


    If that wasn¡¯t revealed cautiously, it would lead to a witch hunt within the ranks of the neighboring covens and would cause even more mistrust among all the races.


    "My point is, Odessa might¡¯ve been starved of attention, but she never actively sought it. Especially not from a¡ª"


    "From a werewolf." I finished her statement, tapping my index finger on my head. "I understand your concerns but what do you expect me to do? Whether the video happened or not, she¡¯s still wanted around the continent for her actions. Intentional or not."


    Althea clenched her jaw, seeming like she was cornered. Soon, she lowered her head and sighed.


    "I¡¯ve raised that girl since she was six. I know her to her core." She admitted, a wry smile curling up her lips.


    Well, apparently not, since she was unable to deduce that her niece was a Hybrid for the past twenty-one years of her existence.


    "Does any of her parents have any werewolf parents or lineage?" I couldn¡¯t help but ask, genuinely curious. "I learned her father was a human Hunter augmented with magic. Did he maybe have any?"


    Althea paused, seeming uncertain.


    "Perhaps he did and it never got the chance to surface in his lifetime, instead transferring to his daughter," Althea remarked, shrugging. "But the fact that one of the only Hybrids in over a century is your wife is a good sign, Alpha King. It reminds me of a prophecy that I never thought I¡¯d witness in my lifetime."


    I arched an eyebrow, not knowing whether I should be amused or attentive.


    A prophecy?


    "The prophecy speaks of a Hybrid capable of uniting all three races because of their unique bloodline that connects them to all three." Althea continued. "I believe it¡¯s no coincidence that Odessa awakened her Hybrid nature barely two weeks after meeting you."


    My eyes widened a bit with surprise as I tensed up subconsciously. Did she know about the mate bond as well?


    Just when I racked my head for something else to say, the doors to the throne room burst open and the person who rushed in was a guard.


    "Sir, there¡¯s an incident at Luna Queen Celine¡¯s room!"


    I furrowed my eyebrows at first, annoyed by his abrupt intrusion, until I heard a blood-curdling scream tear through the silence of the mansion and echo in the throne room.


    That voice. It was Celine.


    "What happened now?" I growled silently to myself as I got on my feet.

 Chapter 171: _Judgement Day

    <h4>Chapter 171: _Judgement Day</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    Kaelos¡¯ attack on him left him battered and bruised beyond what his werewolf healing factor could make him recover from. His wolf could barely keep up and was under strain.


    Odessa had ended up destroying the event hall building and killed several people while at it. From what Marcellus heard, the American president had barely escaped but was injured.


    Most of the humans who attended died. The witches had only two casualties while the werewolves suffered the most deaths. The total number of people confirmed dead so far tonight was thirty-one.


    Well, thirty-two if you add in the random old werewolf woman Marcellus had killed before the building exploded.


    But still, for once Marcellus wasn¡¯t the one who performed a mass murder.


    Anyway, he was rushed to his residence where he was administered treatment by some pack doctors. After they left, Marcellus gritted his teeth and sat up on a couch in the living room.


    "Well?" A voice suddenly called slyly from a corner, causing him to frown as he swerved his head in that direction.


    The person who stepped out of the darkness was Regina, dressed in a dark purple gown, with red lipstick that glistened like blood on her lips.


    The fact that she was able to sneak in here without him noticing was proof that he had been weakened drastically by Kaelos¡¯ attack. The life force from that old woman was barely enough to cover up some of his external injuries.


    "You outdid yourself, Regina. I must say." Marcellus remarked, watching as she waltzed toward him.


    She made herselffortable by sitting on the other end of the couch, resting her arm on it, and sighing.


    Marcellus stared at her in silence for a few seconds before he added. "Although I have to mention that illusion magic wouldn¡¯t deceive Kaelos for long. If Odessa can uncover what you and Celine did¡ª"


    "Let her." Regina interrupted, scoffing as she parted aside some strands of her raven ck hair. "I¡¯m curious to see the full potential of her powers as a true Hybrid. The only other one I know is..."


    She paused, ncing at Marcellus and then shrugging. "Well, you know."


    He shed her a sarcastic smile before he dimmed his eyes. He needed to absorb some life force quickly if he wanted a chance at being close to peak condition soon.


    If he relied only on the healing of his wolf and the treatment from the pack doctors, he¡¯d have to remain this way for at least a week.


    His ess to his magic was weakened drastically as well and he could feel the ritual holding together his artificial hybrid transformation bing unstable.


    "I¡¯m going for a little walk." He announced inly to Regina as he got on his feet, gritting his teeth a bit when he felt a sharp pain surge through his spine.


    He caught Regina frowning from the corner of his eyes and brought his gaze to her before blurting simply. "I¡¯m going hunting a little. It shouldn¡¯t take long."


    "So you¡¯re going to leave me here?" She queried, raising an eyebrow before clicking her tongue and shaking her head. "Some host you are. You couldn¡¯t even offer me any drinks before leaving?"


    Marcellus rolled his eyes, snapping his neck before he turned to face the entrance of the living room.


    "Don¡¯t pretend like you don¡¯t know your way around here. See youter. If you¡¯re lonely, Cullen will be back any minute."


    Regina harrumphed as he walked toward the door but she didn¡¯t say anything. Good.


    He already has a victim in mind.


    .


    .


    Without full ess to his magic and only a few basic spells at his disposal, Marcellus relied on raw instinct and stealth to make his move and sneak past the guards at the Alpha King¡¯s mansion.


    Fortunately, most of them were too busy gossiping in hushed tones to notice, and the one leading the gossip was his herald, whom he had under a mind control spell, ric.


    When Marcellus got into the building, he navigated his way through the hallways and climbed the stairs, utilizing his enhanced hearing to pick up on every sound in the mansion.


    He could hear a conversation between Celine and Kaelosing from thetter¡¯s room and pick up the sound of maids gossipping about the explosion from the event building at another corner...


    But most importantly...


    "Celine is doing just fine. It¡¯s you that I¡¯m worried about, Gamma." Madame Greyheart¡¯s voice went into his ears when he got to the floor where her room was located.


    He grinned, scanning his gaze around the hallway before he tiptoed to the room, his steps more silent than a prowling cat.


    "Kaelos and his stupid temper tantrums. It¡¯s not your fault that his wife turned out to be a chaotic Hybrid." Madame Greyheart continued.


    Other werewolves might only be able to pick up only a little of what she was saying without focusing but Marcellus ced all of his focus on her conversation with the Gamma.


    It seemed it was a phone call too.


    "Celine is in Kaelos¡¯ chambers orchestrating the next phase of our n. Kaelos wouldn¡¯t know what hit him by the time it¡¯s all over."


    He finally got to her room door and pushed it open quietly, taking a single step forward at first before he walked in fully and closed the door behind him.


    Standing at the other end of thevish room was Madame Greyheart, who had a ss of wine on her left hand and her phone on her right. She had her back faced to him and was too focused on the call to notice his presence.


    Perfect.


    Taking his time, Marcellus made himselffortable by sitting on a couch close to the door and crossing one leg on top of the other while staring expectantly at the old hag.


    "Take care, Gamma. Losing a hand isn¡¯t the end of the world after all. Celine and I still have your back." Madame Greyheart finally said before ending the call, after which she scoffed. "Fucking Bloodoaks and their godplex."


    <fn12d6> Follow current nov?ls on f?ndnovel</fn12d6>


    Marcellus didn¡¯t wait any longer and cleared his throat, causing her to jolt before swerving her body to face him.


    "B¨C Beta Marcellus?" She said with confusion, her voice trembling.


    Marcellus¡¯ lips curled up into a sadistic grin as he blurted. "Hello, Madame Greyheart. Judgement day hase ¡ª and I¡¯m feeling merciless tonight."

 Chapter 172: _Tonight, I Am Your God

    <h4>Chapter 172: _Tonight, I Am Your God</h4>


    (Warning: Graphic scene and violence ahead)


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    Marcellus¡¯ voice was cold, his words slicing through the silence like a de. Madame Greyheart¡¯s hand trembled slightly as she set down the wine ss, her eyes wide with fear.


    "Merciless? You?" She scoffed, trying to mask the unease creeping into her tone. "I don¡¯t know what you think this is, but you¡¯re in no condition to threaten anyone, Beta Marcellus. Kaelos nearly killed you¡ª"


    Marcellus stood up, the sharp pain in his spine a constant reminder of his weakened state, but he didn¡¯t let it show. His eyes were burning with a dangerous intensity, his every movement precise.


    The fact that he was still standing, still breathing, was a testament to his survival instinct.


    "You think Kaelos¡¯ attack was the worst of my problems?" He asked, taking slow steps toward her. "No, Madame Greyheart, it¡¯s you and your little schemes with Celine that are the true issue."


    He could see her trying topose herself, but the stiffness in her posture told him everything. She was rattled.


    And that made him smile.


    It had been a while since he¡¯d been able to make someone feel this way. If only she knew that HE was the reason behind her daughter¡¯s reckless behavior.


    "You¡¯ve been ying your games for too long," He continued, his voice low. "You, Celine, and all the others who¡¯ve dared to pull strings behind the scenes. You think you¡¯re untouchable because of your power, your connections, your little tricks... But let me remind you of something."


    He closed the distance between them, towering over her with a cruel smirk. "No one is untouchable. Not even you."


    Madame Greyheart¡¯s breath hitched, and she backed up slightly, her hand instinctively reaching for the wine ss again. But it was clear now that she wasn¡¯t in control of the situation.


    "Celine isn¡¯t here to protect you," Marcellus went on, his voice low and menacing. "And Kaelos? He¡¯s too busy dealing with his own problems to notice what¡¯s happening under his nose."


    She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Save your breath. I¡¯m done listening to your excuses."


    Her eyes darted to the door, her mind clearly racing, but Marcellus wasn¡¯t worried. She was trapped. The only way out for her was through him, and that wasn¡¯t going to happen.


    "You think you can take me on, even in your current state?" She sneered, her tone defiant. But there was a flicker of doubt in her eyes.


    Marcellus chuckled dryly, his eyes glinting. "You know, I almost respect that. You¡¯re bold. But still a fragile wolf, nheless."


    With a snap of his fingers, the room¡¯s air thickened, and an invisible pressure descended on Madame Greyheart¡¯s chest. She gasped, stumbling back against the wall as her lungs constricted.


    "Let me let you in on a little secret. I¡¯ve been holding back, hiding my true nature from you and the rest of the pack.," Marcellus said, his grin widening as she struggled to breathe. "But now? Now, I think it¡¯s time to collect my dues."


    He didn¡¯t even have to lift a finger; the magic surged around her, wrapping around her throat like invisible hands. Her skin flushed with panic as she wed at the air, trying to break free, but it was futile.


    "Tell me everything about Celine¡¯s n," Marcellus demanded, his voice cold and his eyes narrowing. "Tell me how to stop them. Or I can end this now, and you¡¯ll be nothing but a forgotten shadow."


    In reality, he only wanted to know about Celine¡¯s ns because he was curious. He had no intention of stopping her, nor did he have any intention of sparing Greyheart even if she let the cat out of the bag.


    Madame Greyheart¡¯s face turned purple, her eyes bulging as she struggled for breath.


    For a moment, he almost considered letting her suffocate. It would be easy¡ªsimple, even. But his desire to see her struggling held him back.


    With a simple gesture, he released her, and she copsed to the floor, coughing and gasping for air. She wheezed as she looked up at him, her eyes filled with hatred.


    "Y¨C You won¡¯t get away with this, Marcellus. And you can forget about me telling you anything because I am innocent!" She snapped. "I knew there was something off about you. You¡¯re... you¡¯re a¡ª"


    "Hybrid?" He tilted his head, watching her with a mocking smirk. "Not exactly. I¡¯m what you¡¯d call an artificial Hybrid. Born as a werewolf but blessed with the magic of a witch through a special ritual."


    He paused just then, leaning closer and watching with delight as her eyes trembled with fear.


    "Sadly, I can only keep my magic by taking the life force of victims once in a while." His smirk widened as he shrugged. "Well, sadly for you anyway. I find it fun."


    She pulled herself to her feet, ring at him with what little strength she had left. "You¡¯re ying a dangerous game. Celine won¡¯t let you walk away from this."


    Marcellus¡¯ smirk widened. "I¡¯m not walking away. I¡¯m going to end your pitiful existence here and now and savor your dying breath. And when it¡¯s all over, your little scheme will burn, and I¡¯ll watch it turn to ash."


    Madame Greyheart¡¯s eyes flickered with a moment of fear before sheposed herself, but Marcellus could see the cracks. The cracks in her resolve and her confidence.


    She had underestimated him.


    "I¡¯ve waited too long for this," Marcellus said, his tone softening into something more dangerous. "Please, do try putting up a fight at least. It makes things so much more fun."


    She said nothing more, but the fear in her eyes said enough. Without another word, Marcellus lunged at her, his ws brought out.


    She gasped, dodging by stepping to her right, but that only increased the high that Marcellus felt in his head as he fixed all his attention on her and made his shes more precise.


    She stumbled, falling on her ass, and attempted to scream.


    "Somebody, h¡ª"


    Before she could speak, Marcellus kicked her on her stomach, sending her flying and crashing into the wall behind her. She plopped to the ground like a rag doll, coughing out some blood as she stared up at him.


    His shadow loomed over her menacingly as a cold smirk curled up his lips while he stretched out his arms.


    "Tonight, I am your god. Not the moon goddess who you pray shamelessly to despite all the evil you¡¯vemitted." He said with a domineering voice that boomed around the room.


    She grabbed a vase beside her but before she could make any moves, Marcellus flicked his wrist, managing to summon enough magic to send the vase crashing on the wall.


    Madame Greyheart¡¯s face paled as she brought her hands in front of her face, rubbing them with an apologetic look in her eyes. "H¨C Have mercy. I¡¯ll... I¡¯ll tell you whatever you want. The Gamma has his eyes on Kaelos¡¯ throne and he¡¯s in on me and my daughter¡¯s ns. The next phase was for us to poison Kaelos after¡ª"


    "Bloody hell, and they say I¡¯m the evil one." Marcellus whistled, shaking his head before he let out a sigh. "Love, don¡¯t bother. I¡¯ve lost interest in yourckluster story. Right now I only have one thing in mind."


    He paused, his eyes trailing down her body and lingering on her breasts which were slightly exposed. But he scrunched his face... he had no qualms fucking an older woman, but he felt like doing anything with Madame Greyheart would taint his mental image.


    Heck, he was even having doubts about absorbing the bitch¡¯s life force, but he knew one thing for sure.


    She had to go tonight!


    Suddenly, a small howl escaped Greyheart¡¯s lips and her eyes glinted with the light of her wolf. Marcellus became alert, preparing himself as he sent a kick to her head, interrupting her transformation.


    "I can¡¯t wait to hear your daughter¡¯s screams when she finds your body." He remarked, grabbing her hair and pulling at it, causing her to whimper in pain.


    But Marcellus got agitated by her noise and used his ws to sh off her lips, sending blood everywhere and causing a distorted scream toe out of her teeth.


    "Shut up." He rolled his eyes, mming her head to the ground and then pressing his boot on her neck.


    <fn8422> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find~Novel</fn8422>


    He gazed down at her with disdain as he felt her life force slowly seeping into him with each drop of blood she released. Her lips were cleanly cut off, making her already botched face look even more grotesque.


    "On the bright side, at least now there¡¯s a chance you won¡¯t end up being a loud-mouthed bitch in your next life." He mused but then shrugged. "Well, hopefully."


    Without another word, he increased pressure on her neck and twisted with merciless delight, snapping her neck and watching life leave her eyes.


    Just like that, without barely any effort on his end, the great Madame Greyheart was dead.


    "I wonder what she had against Kaelos to keep him wrapped around her fingers all this while though." He remarked, rubbing his chin at the mystery he left unanswered.


    But no matter. The unraveling happening in the Blood Oak pack and the entire continent will bring that secret to light eventually.

 Chapter 173: _Confronting The Gamma

    <h4>Chapter 173: _Confronting The Gamma</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    The stench of scorched silk and charred flesh lingered in the air like a bitter perfume.


    Marcellus stood over Madame Greyheart¡¯s crumpled body, her lifeless eyes still wide with terror, her mouth twisted in a final, silent scream. A twitch of a smile yed on his lips.


    He clenched his fists slowly, feeling the raw pulse of power snake through his veins like liquid fire. His magic, once dulled after Kaelos attacked him at the Charity Ball and left him badly injured, now surged renewed with the life force he¡¯d stolen.


    Thest trace of her soul had faded minutes ago. At least her strong werewolf bloodline would no longer go to waste in her weak frame.


    "Pathetic woman," He murmured, his voice calm but filled with disdain.


    He straightened his spine and lifted his chin, taking onest look at the ruined chamber. Blood had seeped into the carpet on the floor, and the lingering scent of death still hung in the air.


    With a slow breath, Marcellus raised his palm and whispered a cleansing incantation. His fingers sparked faintly, and a cool sweep of light erased all traces of blood on his skin, his clothes, and the stone floor.


    By the time the final flicker vanished, not a drop of red remained.


    He turned sharply on his heel, leaving the chamber without a second nce. Celine or whoever wasing into this room would be in for a real treat once they saw Greyheart¡¯s pitiful dead body here.


    *****


    The Gamma¡¯s manor stood quiet in the aftermath of the chaos, its guards hesitant and alert.


    Word of Zane¡¯s injury had spread quickly, and no one dared confront the man unless absolutely necessary. The few staff that remained moved like ghosts.


    But as for Marcellus... he entered without waiting for permission, slipping through the guards and their defenses easily with help from his magic.


    Inside the living room, Gamma Zane sat hunched on a leather couch, his right arm crudely bandaged and suspended in a sling. Sweat dropped in beads from his forehead, and his face was twisted in a snarl as he berated a trembling servant girl.


    "You call this tea? It tastes like piss and burnt herbs! Get out of my sight!" He barked, ring at her with pure disdain.


    The girl stumbled away, nearly dropping the tray in her haste. Zane leaned back and let out a sharp grunt of pain, his lips trembling as he hissed a curse.


    "Maybe if your spine had more steel than your tongue, you wouldn¡¯t have lost the hand," Marcellus said smoothly, stepping inside with a calm smile as he scrutinized the man.


    Zane stiffened, his good hand twitching for the dagger strapped to his waist. "What the hell do you want, traitor? If you haven¡¯t noticed, I don¡¯t have a witch wife that you cane in here and snatch."


    <fn8c09> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find_Novel(.</fn8c09>


    Marcellus smiled, more amused than annoyed. He walked further into the room, his posture rxed but his eyes gleaming with cold light.


    "Ah, I see Kaelos¡¯ little disy has left more than just physical scars. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not here to gloat over your... misfortune."


    Even though he said that his gaze lingered on Zane¡¯s cleanly cut hand in silent mockery.


    Zane scoffed. "Then what? You¡¯vee to cry about your own public humiliation? Or maybe you¡¯re here to lick his boots some more."


    "Interesting choice of words there, Gamma Zane," Marcellus said, ignoring the insult. He stopped in front of him, letting his shadow stretch long across the floor like a nket. "You know, I was watching the crowd when that video yed. The silence... the collective gasps..."


    He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping coldly. "But you didn¡¯t look surprised, Zane. You looked... smug."


    Gamma Zane¡¯s jaw twitched but he still spoke with a grunt. "What are you implying?"


    "Nothing," Marcellus said innocently, raising his hands. "Just saying that it takes a very specific kind of man to act so bold moments before getting his hand sliced off."


    Zane red at him, his lips curling into a bitter sneer. "You think I had anything to do with that? With the leak? That was Celine¡¯s doing, everyone knows it."


    Marcellus stepped closer, smirking slightly. "Of course. But a woman like Celine needs tools. Allies. Someone on the inside to whisper when the time is right. To provide reassurance and a fickle sense of power."


    Zane looked away, clenching his jaw.


    "You think Kaelos won¡¯t eventually question how that footage was even captured, let alone leaked?" Marcellus continued his tone soft andced with more mockery. "Magic like that doesn¡¯t happen by ident."


    "Get to your point, Beta." Gamma Zane growled, ring up at Marcellus.


    Marcellus sat in the armchair opposite him without waiting for an invitation, crossing one leg over the other. "My point is, you¡¯re bleeding political capital faster than you bled from that stump. You need friends."


    "Friends like you?" Zane spat. "You¡¯re the reason this whole thing spiraled. You and that half-breed witch."


    Marcellus raised an eyebrow, letting the insult slide. "Careful, Zane. You¡¯re not in a position to be making more enemies."


    Zane tried to sit straighter but winced in pain from the stump. His pride and pain warred on his face.


    "And what do you want, Marcellus? What¡¯s this really about?"


    Marcellus¡¯ smile returned, but it didn¡¯t reach his eyes.


    "Let¡¯s just say I prefer the pieces on the board to stay in motion. Kaelos is growing unstable. We both saw it. That public threat? The dungeon sentence for Odessa? It reeks of desperation."


    Zane narrowed his eyes. "So what, you want to team up? Stage a coup? Overthrow the Alpha King?"


    "Tsk. Don¡¯t be so theatrical," Marcellus replied with a scoff, disgusted at the idea of working with this naive man. "But I do think it would be wise to keep a line ofmunication open. For the good of the pack, of course."


    "You want me to trust you after what you did?" Gamma Zane raised an eyebrow, causing Marcellus to smirk.


    He was impressed by the man¡¯s ability to still pretend like the video Celine leaked was real. He knew that the Gamma knew something.


    He had discovered as much during Madame Greyheart¡¯s call before he killed her. The question was... how long was the Gamma willing to go to protect the lie when the people involved were dropping one by one already?


    Marcellus leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "You don¡¯t have to trust me. You just have to fear what happens if you don¡¯t."


    Zane¡¯s face darkened, furrowing his eyebrows. "Are you threatening me?"


    "I¡¯m just pointing out that Kaelos isn¡¯t the only dangerous man in this pack," Marcellus said, his voice lowering to a whisper. "And unlike him, I don¡¯t need ws to draw blood."


    The fire at the firece crackled, adding to the tension as it cast an ominous yellow light on Marcellus¡¯ face. Zane¡¯s breathing was heavy and uneven. The sweat dripping on his face had multiplied.


    Marcellus watched how much effect he was having on the Gamma and chuckled softly before rising to his feet, smoothing down the front of his coat.


    "Get some rest, Gamma. You¡¯ll need it. The pack¡¯s watching. The covens of the continent are restless. And Kaelos... Kaelos is breaking."


    He turned to leave but paused at the door.


    "Oh, and one more thing. If I were you, I¡¯d be careful what you say about Odessa. Things have a funny way of circling back." He nced over his shoulder at thatst line, smirking mischievously at the Gamma.


    Without waiting for a reply, he walked out, his boots echoing on the marble floor.


    Zane slumped back in his chair, breathing hard. Behind his bandaged stump, his remaining fingers trembled... All of which Marcellus was able to hear.


    Once Marcellus got outside the manor, he allowed a smile to stretch across his face.


    When he got back to his residence, he met Regina and Cullen waiting for him in the living room, thetter ring at the former as she drank from a ss of wine with a sly smirk.


    When they heard him walk in, their heads swerved to him in unison after which Regina raised an eyebrow curiously.


    "Someone is flowing with fresh life force." She mused, giving one final nce to Cullen before she got to her feet and walked toward Marcellus. "Who¡¯s the unfortunate soul?"


    Marcellus only smirked slightly as he stretched out his hands, grabbing the wine bottle from her hands and pouring himself a ss.


    When he took a sip, he sighed satisfactorily before he remarked. "Celine¡¯s mother."


    No sooner had those words left Marcellus¡¯ mouth than Regina spat out the wine in her mouth, forcing Marcellus to swerve his head to her with a frown.


    "That wine is over a thousand grand. You better have a good excuse for wasting it." He growled, tilting his head.


    "You¡¯ve just single-handedly set off a domino effect that might offset the political climate of the packs of North America," Regina responded solemnly, but that only piqued Marcellus¡¯ interest.

 Chapter 174: _The Mate Mark Still Burns

    <h4>Chapter 174: _The Mate Mark Still Burns</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    "I believe you."


    I raised my head after hearing that voice, clutching the suit that covered my body, sniffling because of the lingering scent of my own blood and ash.


    I shivered when I saw Elder Davina staring at me from outside the cell, a small smile on her face.


    "Odessa Pierce..." She said with a whisper as the guards outside bowed before her and then gave her space. "Just when I thought I couldn¡¯t get any more impressed by you, you proved that idea wrong."


    I blinked, confused at what she was talking about until her eyes scrutinized me.


    "What you¡¯re facing now is something your kind has faced for centuries." She mused, aplicated look in her eyes before she continued.


    "Hybrids. The inhuman strength of a werewolf and the vtile magic of a witch, but at phenomenal proportions. What the continent saw at the Charity Ball tonight was just the tip of the iceberg... And that¡¯s what they fear."


    I shivered, not because of the cold prison floor or the fact that I was naked, but because of her words.


    I parted my lips repeatedly, unsure of what to say or where to even begin. After a while, I sighed and managed to get on my feet, although my legs were wobbly.


    "S¨C So, you believe me when I say that the video Celine showed the continent is fake, right?" I asked with a shaky voice, clenching my jaw. "Because it is. I don¡¯t know what sorcery she or the witch she¡¯s working with used but¡ª"


    "Yes, yes. I don¡¯t believe her." Elder Davina suddenly interrupted, her eyes shining with curiosity and surprise as she pointed at my neck and spoke with a whisper. "Your neck. Is that..."


    My eyes widened as I gritted my teeth and felt a stinging from my neck. From the spot Kaelos had marked me on. I ced my right hand on the spot and felt it giving off a warm energy.


    ¡¯Sirena, what¡¯s happening this time?¡¯ I asked my wolf, clutching the suit around my body tighter.


    ¡¯Anytime you or Kaelos go through intense emotions, the mark seems to react that way, linking both your emotions.¡¯ Sirena exined but then paused. ¡¯Or, at least, that¡¯s the hypothesis I¡¯vee up with so far.¡¯


    "So, Kaelos..." Elder Davina had her mouth open but she didn¡¯t say anything further, ncing back at the guards who made sure to keep their distance and look away.


    She cleared her throat, giving me another gesture. "Cover that up, child."


    I did just that, using my lush hair to try to cover it up while smiling at her awkwardly. She stared at me for a few seconds in silence while I tried talking with Sirena.


    ¡¯So, you¡¯re telling me Kaelos is going through something intense?¡¯ I asked mentally, dimming my eyes. ¡¯Well, that makes sense. With everything that has happened¡ª¡¯


    ¡¯Concentrate, Odessa.¡¯ Sirena mumbled in my mind, causing me to pause. ¡¯These new emotions are unrted to everything that happened tonight. Our mate is experiencing something... New.¡¯


    My eyes squinted more as I concentrated. Indeed, I could feel a plethora of emotions from Kaelos, including confusion, frustration, and rage that seemed tamer than what he felt after seeing the video...


    I could feel it all as if it were mine and could tell that something or someone else was currently bothering him. But what could that be?


    "I¡¯ll be on my way now." Elder Davina suddenly cleared her throat, pulling me back to reality. "I¡¯ll try getting Kaelos toe see you. If you¡¯re able to convince him that the video Celine showed the continent is fake, that¡¯ll be one less problem in your head."


    Right, one less...


    But that would still leave the fact that I killed several people during that explosion from my magic at the Charity Ball.


    I gave Elder Davina a grateful smile and watched as she turned around and walked away, leaving me alone in the cell.


    The only thing I can do now is keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best.


    .


    .


    Soon enough, Kaelos arrived at the dungeons to see me and brought a dress and underwear with him.


    At this point, most of the injuries I¡¯d sustained from the explosion at the Charity Ball had healed up, but my skin was still stained with ash.


    Anyway, as I slid into the underwear and dress, Kaelos and I got into a conversation that led to us discussing the possibility of Celine faking the video of Marcellus and me.


    I pointed out the enchantedmunication earrings Caroline and I saw and the possibility that Celine was using them to talk with a powerful witch who fabricated the video with illusion magic.


    And for once... Kaelos seemed to consider my words as a possibility. The anger and disappointment he had felt toward me during the Charity Ball had all disappeared.


    The only thing that remained was confusion and frustration.


    Seeing him like that brought me to tears and to my surprise and relief, he hugged me through the metal bars of the cell, caressing my hair.


    I felt safe in his hold. I felt like all the bad things happening in our rtionship right now were background noise.


    I felt... Whole.


    But just as I leaned into him, his phone buzzed, snapping the moment in half. La¡¯s voice filtered through, urgent as always.


    <fn9315> For more chapters visit Find_Novel(.</fn9315>


    Elder Althea of the Luminari Coven was here in the pack to see Kaelos. My aunt was here!


    ¡¯Hey, I¡¯ve never had the chance to interact with your aunt.¡¯ Sirena remarked in my head as Kaelos left and I paced around in a panic.


    ¡¯As if me being a powerless witch wasn¡¯t enough of a disgrace for her during the two decades of my existence. Now she has to deal with the fact that I¡¯m a hybrid.¡¯ Imented mentally, brushing my hands through my hair.


    Would she request for Kaelos to release me from here so I could go to the Luminari Coven? Would she disown me?


    "Gods, can this night get any worse?!" I finally yelled out when my frustration hit its peak, hugging myself.


    "Well, I sure hope not." The voice was low, amused, and all too familiar.


    I spun around, confused at first. But then my throat clenched and I gulped.


    "M¨CMarcellus?"

 Chapter 175: _Fear The Hybrid

    <h4>Chapter 175: _Fear The Hybrid</h4>


    "M¨CMarcellus?" I blinked, unsure of what to say or do when I saw him standing at the other side of the cell.


    He had a smile on his face, staring at me for a prolonged period... Until he suddenly winced and held his stomach.


    "Well, I expected a warmer reaction to seeing me. Especially after your husband did a good job dislocating every bone in my body." He remarked with a chuckle, causing my face to heat up with embarrassment as I stepped forward.


    "I¡¯m so sorry about that..." I muttered even though it wasn¡¯t my fault.


    It wasn¡¯t his fault either.


    It was Celine¡¯s...


    "It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m recovering gradually." He said casually, swirling around with his arms outstretched and his smirk never disappearing. "You on the other hand. How are you holding up here?"


    I paused, my eyelids fluttering at first until something shed in my mind.


    After the explosion, when Kaelos was dragging me through the crowd and toward the dungeons, I saw Marcellus. He¡¯d been sitting at the back of an ambnce receiving treatment at that time.


    But his face... The expression on his face when we looked into each other¡¯s eyes.


    <fnc90f> Content originallyes from F?nd-Novel</fnc90f>


    It was almost unreadable but I could¡¯ve sworn I saw a hint of amusement in his eyes. What was he amused about?


    What could he possibly find funny about being ckmailed by Celine and then having his image tarnished to the whole continent?


    "Marcellus?" I couldn¡¯t hold back my thoughts anymore and called out, taking a few steps forward as I tilted my head. "You don¡¯t seem... As bothered as I¡¯d expected about this whole thing."


    His expression twitched at first but then an amused smirk curled up his lips. That same smirk made me uneasy for an unknown reason.


    I hated it and it was getting creepy, especially in this context.


    "Is that so?" He queried with mock curiosity, cing his hands into the pockets of his ck pants. "And why would you say that?"


    I bit my bottom lip, holding back my frustration before I gestured at him. "Look at how rxed you are, for the gods¡¯ sake! While I have to stay locked up in here for hell knows how long; you¡¯re out there seeming so... Carefree. How do you do it?"


    Suddenly, the guards who were standing nearby brought their gazes to the cell and then blurted. "Is everything alright there?"


    What the heck did they mean by that?


    ¡¯Odessa, calm down.¡¯ Sirena mumbled cautiously in my head. ¡¯This isn¡¯t just your frustration speaking. Kaelos¡¯ emotions are also manifesting through you. You have to learn how to control their effects on you.¡¯


    My eyes twitched as I watched Marcellus nce back at the guards and shake his head with a reassuring smile.


    "Everything is fine here. Nothing to worry about at all¡ª"


    "No." I blurted, forcing Marcellus to swerve his head to me with clear confusion.


    But I ignored that and stepped forward, wrapping my hands around the metal bars. They were made of silver, but they didn¡¯t affect me, thanks to the immunity my witch side gave me.


    "Excuse me?" One of the two guards raised an eyebrow, ncing at hisrade while Marcellus looked on at me with even more confusion now.


    "Dessa, what are you doing?" He whispered, but I ignored him, staring straight at the guards.


    "Why do you think everything wouldn¡¯t be alright here?" I asked the guards, feeling my emotions and magic surging. "Because I¡¯m a murderous hybrid who can¡¯t control herself? Because you know deep down that you guys wouldn¡¯t be able to do shit if I REALLY wanted to escape?"


    The guards stared at me with pure disdain before bursting out intoughter, causing me to tighten my grip on the silver bars.


    ¡¯Odessa, your aunt is in the pack, remember?¡¯ Sirena was the voice of reason in my mind, trying to calm me. ¡¯Please, this isn¡¯t worth it. You¡¯re overreacting and if you push too much, you¡¯ll give everyone more reasons to judge you.¡¯


    There was a flicker of hesitation in me after hearing all that. Just a flicker.


    But then it all dissipated as my eyes red while the guards continuedughing.


    "Those metal bars are enchanted by our pack¡¯s most powerful moonstone, snowke." The other guard said with a mocking voice, eyeing me, and stepping forward.


    "Why don¡¯t you sit down and think about all you¡¯ve done instead of ranting like a little bitch? Have you forgotten what happens to your kind in this world?"


    "Guard?!" Marcellus snarled all of a sudden, instantly forcing the guard to behave. "Believe me, I may be injured but I wouldn¡¯t hesitate to put you in your ce if you don¡¯t keep quiet and do your job."


    That brief reaction made me forget why I was angry in the first ce. Marcellus has always been protective of me, especially during situations like this where I was ostracized.


    It was the same thing with Kaelos.


    But now... I wasn¡¯t the same powerless witch from two weeks ago.


    "It¡¯s typical for ignorant people like you to talk about my ¡¯kind¡¯ as if we¡¯re evil," I said coldly as the ming torches in the dungeon began flickering and the shadows started twisting unnaturally.


    The guards noticed the changes around them and instantly went on alert, cing their hands into their ck suits and readying their weapons, but I could see the fear written on their features.


    And I didn¡¯t care...


    "It¡¯s not my fault that I¡¯m a hybrid. It¡¯s not my fault that I was a witch. It¡¯s not my fault that I was a powerless witch." My voice became louder and more confident with each sentence as I felt my magic flowing out of me.


    The guards shook with fear as the shadows became even more unnatural on the walls, twisting into crooked forms.


    "You all are quick to judge people for being different. And now after forcing the dangerous hybrid into a wall, Celine and all those who wanted my downfall were able to get the reaction they desired." I said bitterly, as the temperature in the dungeon dropped by several degrees.


    Marcellus took a few steps back, staring at me with rm before he spoke calmly. "Dessa, stop this! This isn¡¯t you."


    But I ignored him as my hair whipped like snakes around me even though there was no wind to blow it.


    "Allow me to give you another reason to fear the hybrid," I said with a voice colder than the dropping temperature in the dungeons, my fists clenching beside me.

 Chapter 176: _I Don’t Know How To

    <h4>Chapter 176: _I Don¡¯t Know How To</h4>


    My dress and my hair whipped around me like clouds as I red at the guards from where I stood in the cell.


    Were they the source of my anger? Oh, no, definitely not. I¡¯ve dealt with their kind for years without snapping.


    People who discriminate against me for who I am. People who thought I deserved nothing but death for simply existing.


    "Look at her. Is she even a real witch?" One of the many bullies in my life back in the Luminari Coven always used to say that about me.


    "She should just kill herself. I can¡¯t imagine being such a disgrace to my family name."


    "Her mother should be rolling in her grave right now."


    "Someone throw a fireball spell and watch how woefully she fails to catch it with her magic!"


    And they did. Every bloody time, they did.


    Sending a plethora of attack spells at me, not enough to kill me but just enough to make me grovel on the ground, crying from the pain while they looked down at me with disdain andughed like I was a circus act for their amusement.


    <fn1562> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? ?ovelFind</fn1562>


    I¡¯ve had to deal with that for years... So the petty insults from these guards shouldn¡¯t be enough to spite me.


    However, someone else¡¯s anger and frustration were flowing inside me. I could feel it... Kaelos. I didn¡¯t know what was getting him upset, but it was reflecting on me as well.


    And like an endless loop, my anger was also probably flowing through him as well.


    ¡¯Odessa, you have to fight it!¡¯ Sirena tried being the voice of reason once again, her tone pleading. ¡¯They aren¡¯t worth it. If you want to direct your anger at someone, you can do that to Celine, once we get out of here.¡¯


    However, I wasn¡¯t listening to reason and clenched my fists, watching as an invisible pressuring force descended on the guards from where I stood.


    Just like they had mentioned, the gate of the cell was enchanted with some kind of moonstone and was lighting up, trying to hold back my magic.


    But my energy was a chaotic storm while it was a steady river. Myck of control was also my strength as much as a weakness.


    ¡¯Do you think Celine is even going to get punished?¡¯ I asked Sirena mentally, hot tears burning in my eyes as I bit my bottom lip. ¡¯Several people died because of me. Because I was pushed to the edge by Celine and Lucinda and they both painted me as the monster this world so desperately wants to persecute.¡¯


    I paused, gritting my teeth as I defied the protective enchantments of the gate and stretched my right hand out of it, pointing it at the guards who were now on their knees, struggling to breathe and clutching their chests as their faces turned purple from suffocation.


    "You want a killer! You want a monster!" I cried out, my magic spiking up to a degree that slowly caused the dungeon itself to tremble. "Well, you have one n¡ª"


    Before I could finish that sentence, a hand grabbed my wrist from outside the cell, causing me to gasp as I whipped my head to re at the culprit.


    It was Marcellus, who had an understanding look in his eyes as he gently shook his head. "Odessa, this isn¡¯t the way. Believe me, if I did this each time I was disappointed with the werewolf race during my lifetime, this continent would be a graveyard."


    My eyes quivered, the tears that had been welling up slowly pouring out as my hands shivered with hesitation.


    "Don¡¯t let go of control." He whispered, rubbing my wrists with a nod. "Let go of the anger. Let go of the hate. Let go of the pain. Let go of your frustrations. That¡¯s the only way you can find peace and control."


    He¡¯s telling me to let go of my emotions. But there¡¯s one problem with that...


    My fingers trembled as I bit so hard on my bottom lip that I could taste my blood. My lips parted repeatedly before I finally let out the words weighing my chest with one breath.


    "I¨CI don¡¯t know how to, Marcellus."


    As soon as those words left my mouth, my hands lowered and I fell to my knees, clutching the cell bars with my left hand while my right hand remained outside the cell.


    My magic stopped flowing out violently, my hair and clothes dropping around me as I wept, closing my eyes so I wouldn¡¯t have to look into the eyes of the guards or Marcellus.


    I could feel Marcellus staring down at me for several seconds and could hear the persistent coughing and grunting of the guards as they slowly rose to their feet.


    "She¡¯s pure evil incarnate!" One of them finally yelled, his breathing ragged.


    "We should report her to the Alpha King. I¡¯m not sure that cell can hold her¡ª"


    "Both of you, get out." Marcellus suddenly interrupted, his voice cold and menacing.


    The guards were silent at first until I heard Marcellus¡¯ legs move on the floor.


    He seemed to have turned around to look at them but that was enough to make them whimper like dogs before they scurried out of the dungeons, their footsteps echoing on the distant stairs that lead to the pce above.


    "Oh, you poor thing," Marcellus muttered as his hand gently brushed my hair but I shivered in response, looking away from him and sniffling hard.


    I don¡¯t have control. I was still a wild card whose powers could spike uncontrobly at any given moment. And if that doesn¡¯t change... No one in this continent will trust me.


    Ever.


    "I¡¯ll... I¡¯ll always be feared." I nearly choked on my words, trying and failing to draw in deep breaths. "I¡¯ll always be known as a killer and a¡ª"


    "I don¡¯t see you as such, Odessa," Marcellus said reassuringly, forcing me to finally raise my head to see his smiling face.


    But before I could say anything, another voice broke through.


    "Neither do I, child."


    My body froze as I turned my head to see the source of the familiar voice.


    "A¨CAunt Althea."

 Chapter 177: _She’s Not Guilty, But...

    <h4>Chapter 177: _She¡¯s Not Guilty, But...</h4>


    "Aunt Althea." I blurted as I slowly rose to my feet, watching the woman who raised me for most of my life walking toward me.


    Her face wasn¡¯t filled with judgment. It wasn¡¯t filled with the disappointment I¡¯d expected. No, instead it was filled with... Pride?


    What¡¯s she proud of?


    "Odessa, my dear sweet child." Aunt Althea got in front of my cell as Marcellus stepped aside for her with a smile.


    She wore a purple robe with runic designs and had her ck hair flowing down freely.


    Althea paused at first, ncing at Marcellus briefly before she gave him a curt nod. Before I could overthink that interaction or the scrutinizing way she stared at him, my aunt stretched her arms through the metal bars and pulled me into a hug.


    "I¡¯m so sorry you have to go through any of this." She whispered, brushing my hair tenderly. "I¡¯ve always wanted you to inherit the powerful magic bloodline your mother and I share. But I never expected it to manifest like..."


    She paused, briefly pulling away from me and cing her hands on my shoulders, staring at me with a wry smile. "Well, like this. With you behind bars, used of a crime you didn¡¯tmit and then forced intomitting one that has alienated you from the continent."


    I lowered my head, ncing at Marcellus who stood there silently, observing the both of us with a respectful gaze.


    <fn667f> The rightful source is find?novel</fn667f>


    I ced my hands on my aunt¡¯s wrists, letting myself feel her motherly warmth before I sighed heavily.


    "The others in the coven." I started, my voice filled with hesitation. "D¨CDo they¡ª"


    "Oh, they do, Odessa." She nodded with a sigh of her own. "The Charity Ball was broadcasted all around the continent. The other high priestesses of the coven, including the Coven¡¯s head, are discussing your case. I came here before them to vindicate you first from one crime."


    I raised an eyebrow, wondering what she was talking about at first until I heard approaching footsteps. I turned to its source only to spot La walking toward the cell with a calm and neutral expression.


    "The Alpha King requests that you be brought to the throne room immediately." She announced as my aunt took a few steps back.


    I took some steps back as well and watched as she brought out a key, unbolting the smaller locks before unlocking the main lock with it.


    When the gate creaked open, I blinked, almost unable to believe my eyes. I was getting freed so soon already.


    But something told me there was something wrong, especially with that slight unease lingering in La¡¯s eyes and the fact that I could feel Kaelos¡¯ unstable emotions minutes ago.


    "Is... Is Kaelos currently upied with something?" I asked, crumpling my eyes with confusion as I nced at Althea. "You saw him beforeing here, right? Is he¡ª"


    "Madame Greyheart was found dead in her bedroom." La interrupted with a grim tone, causing a cold shiver to run down my spine.


    I turned my gaze to her, my eyes widening as I struggled to find what to say. Was there even anything appropriate to say in this situation?


    ¡¯Uh, what about good riddance to the bitch?¡¯ Sirena remarked with a scoff in my mind, causing me to purse my lips. ¡¯Come on, you being released from this prison and THEN that hag getting taken out. Girl, karma works fast!¡¯


    I tried controlling Sirena¡¯s thoughts to ensure they didn¡¯t mix with mine as I kept my expression serious in reality.


    "Come on. No time to waste." La gestured with her head, turning her gaze to Marcellus briefly and dimming her eyes. "Uh, good evening, Beta. I¨CI thought you¡¯d be taking your time recovering back in your residence."


    Marcellus smiled wryly, his jaw clenching to show that he was holding back pain. "Well, I¡¯m still in the process of doing that. I only came down here to check on..."


    He paused, ncing at me as his voice softened. "... A fellow victim of circumstances."


    I couldn¡¯t help myself from smiling in return as La nodded slowly before gesturing at the dungeon¡¯s exit stairwell.


    "Shall we?" She asked again.


    I turned my gaze to my aunt and felt my heart warm up when she grabbed my hand and held it, encouraging me with a smile and a nod.


    Maybe I wasn¡¯t as alone as I originally thought...


    .


    .


    When we finally got to Kaelos¡¯rge throne room, which was dark and only partially lit up by some bluemps that lined the walls, my gaze immediately fell on him at the other end.


    He sat on his throne, his left hand on his chin while his right hand gripped the armrest of the throne as if he wanted to break it.


    Standing in front of him was Celine, who had her face buried in her hands as she wept uncontrobly.


    When the footsteps of me, Marcellus, and the others echoed, Kaelos raised his head, staring directly at me and ignoring all the others.


    When our eyes locked, all the noise, smells, and things around me seemed to disappear as all that remained was his face, his distinct heartbeat, and his intoxicating cologne.


    His silver eyes, which were once filled with pensiveness and barely held back anger, now lit up, following me like a puppy after a treat.


    It was cute... Until his gaze fleeted to Marcellus who walked beside me.


    That caused his eyes to dim with the faintest hint of possessiveness and anger as if he wanted toe down from the throne and finish what he started at the Charity Ball.


    Gods, no...


    "I¡¯m... I¡¯m telling you, Kaelos." Celine suddenly blurted, snapping the tension instantly. "O¨C Odessa is the one behind my mother¡¯s death. She¡¯s cursed! She¡¯s a hybrid and all she brings is¡ª"


    "Quiet." Kaelos interrupted with a calm but cold voice as he got on his feet before I could snap at Celine because of her allegations.


    Kaelos brought his gaze to my aunt and signaled her with a nod.


    Suddenly, Althea stepped away from me, causing me to blink in confusion as I stared at her.


    "In the presence of all who are here to witness, I shall nowmence a truth spell on Odessa Pierce," Althea announced with a voice that echoed around the walls of the throne room.


    Suddenly, a magic circle glowing with a bright blue light filled with small runes, surrounded me from below, causing my eyes to widen as I held my breath.


    ¡¯A truth spell...¡¯ I mumbled, raising my head and staring at my aunt as my face lit up with a smile.


    Of course! That would be the easiest way to set me free.


    "Did you, Odessa Pierce, kiss the Beta or in any way have an affair with him? Whether emotional or physical?" My aunt asked as Celine snapped her head to me and snarled with a cracked voice.


    "No! S¨CShe¡¯s only going to help her hide her¡ª"


    Before she could continue, I felt a change in the atmosphere, followed by Celine falling to her knees. I spotted Kaelos staring coldly at her, his Alpha King aura overflowing and easily forcing her to obey him.


    As much as I felt bad for her for losing her mother... A small smile still yed at the corner of my lips.


    I guess I was wrong earlier... Justice was getting served!


    "No, I didn¡¯t," I responded swiftly to my aunt¡¯s question with the absence of any distractions.


    Then everyone held their breaths and the room was silent as the magic circle began spinning.


    "If it turns white, she¡¯s telling the truth." My aunt revealed, ncing back at Kaelos. "But if it turns red, then it¡¯s a lie."


    No sooner had she said those words than when the circle stopped spinning and then instantly changed from a bright blue color to a white one.


    My shoulders rxed as I breathed out in relief while the circle disappeared around me. However, just when I was about to rush to my aunt and embrace her, she raised her right hand to draw everyone¡¯s attention.


    "I discovered another thing during my walk with Oddesa here." She announced, her face seeming hesitant as she nced at me briefly before bringing her gaze to Kaelos.


    I blinked with confusion, wondering what was happening while Kaelos remained stoic and silent, waiting for her to continue.


    After what felt like an eternity, my aunt drew in a deep breath and dropped what I could only describe as a bombshell.


    "Odessa is pregnant."

 Chapter 178: _Death Has A Smell

    <h4>Chapter 178: _Death Has A Smell</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    I didn¡¯t wait for the guard to speak again. I had already bolted off the throne and stormed past him before his lips could form another word. My blood was boiling, hot with irritation, and something else I didn¡¯t know how to name.


    Celine¡¯s scream hadn¡¯t just been fear.


    It had been grief.


    Pain like that didn¡¯t wouldn¡¯t have left her lips unless something permanent had been lost.


    Footsteps thundered behind me as I pushed through the winding halls of the Alpha mansion, scenting the air out of instinct. I caught the faintest trail of blood, old perfume, and something else... Something final.


    ¡¯Death.¡¯ Damonmented in my head, causing my expression to turn grim.


    Death had a smell. Some people liked to pretend it didn¡¯t, but I knew it too well.


    I turned a sharp corner, nearly mming into another guard who stood frozen outside Celine¡¯s quarters. My presence jolted him, and he stepped back without a word, his eyes wide with horror.


    I didn¡¯t ask for a report but instead, I pushed the door open.


    The first thing I saw was blood.


    It had pooled in a near-perfect circle around the body crumpled by the bed. Pale hands, one still clutching the hem of a velvet curtain. ck hair with grey streaks was tangled, partially veiling a once-imposing face now in in death.


    Madame Greyheart.


    I didn¡¯t move.


    My body went stiff as something cold crawled down my spine. I stared down at her body, my mind reeling.


    Madame Greyheart. One of the most powerful nobles of the Blood Oak pack and, indeed, most of the werewolf world. My Luna Queen¡¯s mother. Keeper of secrets in my life that she had no business knowing.


    And the only living person besides me who knew what happened thirteen years ago.


    Celine was kneeling beside her, trembling. Her hands were stained with blood as she reached to shake her mother¡¯s shoulders.


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    "Wake up! Wake up, please! Please!" Her voice cracked. Herposure and elegance were gone, shattered like ss underfoot.


    I remained frozen at the doorway, staring at the body. The stillness. The silence. The fact that she had warned me this might happen.


    "If I ever die before my time, the entire continent will know what you did, Kaelos." Her voice echoed in my mind from one of our past interactions.


    My jaw clenched.


    "Move aside," I said quietly.


    But Celine didn¡¯t move, sniffling hard as she shook her head repeatedly.


    "Celine."


    Her eyes lifted to mine, wide, red, and unfocused. "You let this happen. You brought her here. You let them in." She said breathlessly.


    I said nothing.


    There was nothing to say that wouldn¡¯t spark an inferno. I stepped forward, gently cing my hand on her shoulder and guiding her aside. She didn¡¯t resist.


    She just crumpled to the floor beside the body, sobbing so hard her breath wheezed.


    ¡¯Boo hoo.¡¯ Damon scoffed in my mind but I ignored him.


    I crouched.


    There were signs of a struggle and her lips were cleanly cut off, as if whoever killed her was trying to send a message.


    And then there was something else... I could feel it even though it was faint.


    Magic.


    It hung in the air, residual and decaying.


    I nced toward the window. It was closed while the entrance leading to the open balcony was wide open, a chilling breeze blowing inside through it.


    "Seal the room," I snapped at the guards behind me. "No one enters or leaves. And summon Elder Davina immediately."


    One of them bolted out obediently.


    I stood again, only to realize Elder Althea had entered quietly behind me. Her face was solemn, her lips parted in a grim line. Her presence was somehow too calm.


    "Was this what I heard?" She asked, stepping forward.


    I nodded once. "Celine found her just now."


    Althea knelt beside the body, her eyes scanning the details faster than any mortal could. Her hand hovered over Madame Greyheart¡¯s chest.


    "This wasn¡¯t just murder. This was a message."


    I stiffened.


    "What kind of message?"


    Althea met my eyes. "One only she and her killer would understand."


    A breath left my chest as I brushed my hand down my face. Of course.


    That secret.


    I turned from the body and clenched my fists as I stared out the window, suddenly feeling every thread of pressure tighten around my neck. I didn¡¯t have time for this. Not now.


    Not when Odessa was in the dungeons, the world was breathing down my back, and I hadn¡¯t even slept properly since the ball tonight.


    The world wasn¡¯t going to care that Madame Greyheart had secrets. They would only see a dead noble. A grieving Luna Queen. A pack on the verge of copse.


    Celine cried harder behind me. Her sobs were muffled now, as though they hurt too much to fully release.


    I turned and crouched again, this time beside her.


    "Celine," I said softly, withholding the disgust I felt.


    She didn¡¯t look at me. Her hand had found her mother¡¯s again.


    "She didn¡¯t deserve this," Celine whispered. "I know what you thought of her. But she was all I had left."


    I said nothing.


    What could I say?


    That her mother had used blood-bound contracts to manipte political oues? That she ckmailed me more times than I could count? That she died with a secret that could destroy everything I built?


    "We will find out who did this," I said eventually.


    "Will you?" She snapped suddenly, her tear-streaked face lifting to mine. "Or will this be another secret that disappears under your throne?"


    I didn¡¯t answer but rose to my feet.


    Althea stood, too, and ced a hand on my arm. "I should go see Odessa now."


    I turned to her, sharply. "Now?"


    She nodded. "If this death is a piece of arger game, then your wife is already part of the board. I need to check on her."


    My instinct screamed to say no. To keep her away. But I let her pass. Maybe she was right.


    Maybe Odessa already knew more than I did.


    As Althea left the room, I stood alone once more. The silence returned.


    Only this time, it wasn¡¯t peaceful.


    It was the kind of silence that sat heavy before the sky shook with thunder. The kind that warns a storm ising.


    And this storm wasn¡¯t going to be like the ones before.


    I was running out of time...

 Chapter 179: _She’ll Be His Undoing

    <h4>Chapter 179: _She¡¯ll Be His Undoing</h4>


    Soon, Elder Davina arrived and walked into the room where Madame Greyheart¡¯s body was. She clutched her staff tightly as she stared at the body, scanning her gaze through the faces of everyone present.


    Celine sat on the bed, using a handkerchief to wipe her tears while some of her personal maids tried and failed tofort her.


    "Don¡¯t touch me!" She finally screeched when one of the two maids brushed her hair, ring at her with contempt.


    I stood watching this silently with my arms folded in a corner.


    ¡¯Celine is still too... vtile to be trusted. But do I silence her or keep her close where I can see her?¡¯ I thought to myself, gritting my teeth.


    Eventually, I sighed and brought my gaze fully to Elder Davina.


    "I came as soon as I could." She muttered, stepping forward and staring at me with worry. "Are you¡ª"


    "Okay?" I interrupted, a wry smile on my face as I shook my head. "I mean, I should be, shouldn¡¯t I? As a mighty Alpha King and all."


    My jaws were clenched, hiding the rage that I felt. Elder Davina kept on staring at me and stepped closer, about to ce a hand on me when Celine suddenly opened her damn mouth.


    "Aren¡¯t you here to check on my mother?!" She sneered at Elder Davina, causing thetter to furrow her eyebrows. "Well, get to it! Find out what happened to her because I¡¯m not about to believe that a random person just snuck in and killed her."


    I froze, my fingers twitching as I slowly turned my head to her.


    "What¡¯s that supposed to mean, Celine?" I asked coldly, watching as the two maids who stood silently beside her shivered in fear before scurrying out of the room.


    "Kaelos..." Elder Davina tried calling my attention, but I ignored her voice as I loomed over Celine, who stared up at me with defiance in her eyes.


    "Whatever you think I mean is exactly what I mean." She spat, eyeing me. "My mother was like any other noble woman out there so why is she a target all of a sudden? It¡¯s... It¡¯s clearly the work of someone who didn¡¯t want her to talk."


    Something snapped in me at that moment and I could feel my ws itching toe out. Did Celine know about the secret?


    Had Greyheart told her about it before her death?


    ¡¯I would¡¯ve suggested you kill her and get done with it.¡¯ Damon blurted in my mind but then sighed. ¡¯s, you have a youngling growing inside her. Allegedly.¡¯


    Allegedly...


    It¡¯s about time I find out if any of these allegations flying around hold any truth.


    <fn9d1f> For more chapters visit find?novel</fn9d1f>


    "She had her life force snuffed away." Elder Davina¡¯s voice suddenly rang behind me, forcing me to nce back only to spot her crouching to the corpse and hovering her right hand over the chest region.


    I squinted my eyes as she continued without looking at me, her expression grim. "It¡¯s just like the situation with that maid of mine. And that pack doctor¡¯s wife. And the people at the human town."


    She slowly got on her feet, staring at me with a solemn expression. "That killer is still out there on the loose. And I fear that whoever he is, he has a bigger plot in mind."


    We were finally able to know that the killer was a "he" earlier today after finding the body of the maid who poisoned herself.


    That case was still daunting as well since the maid was raped and thenpelled with magic to drink a poison meant for someone else. But who was the poison meant for?


    And this all still meant that the killer had easy ess to the mansion. He could be after anyone else.


    Odessa...


    I could feel a headacheing in and rubbed my forehead, ncing briefly at Elder Davina and then Celine before I began walking toward the door.


    "Where... Where are you going?" Celine stuttered behind me, causing me to stop in my tracks.


    At that same moment, La walked into the room with a hesitant look in her eyes.


    "S¨CSir, do you need me for anything?" She asked thoughtfully, ncing briefly at the gory scene behind me.


    I remained silent for only a few seconds before I came to a decision.


    "Go to the dungeons and get Odessa out of there. I¡¯m expecting high priestess Althea as well." I blurted, walking past her as she nodded her understanding.


    "What?!" Celine suddenly yelled behind me and the next thing I knew, I heard footsteps following behind me. "Y¨CYou can¡¯t be fucking serious, Kaelos. What are you doing bringing out that whore out of¡ª"


    Before she could finish talking, I slowed down my steps and then turned around, grabbing her right wrist and yanking it up. She gasped at first but then shakily stared at my face as I gazed back at her coldly.


    I could feel a shift... My emotions no longer felt like mine again. This was Odessa¡¯s emotions reflecting on me, adding to the anger and frustration I already had.


    "Never again, in your life, use such words with Odessa," I said with all seriousness, my grip on her wrist slightly tightening.


    "If it weren¡¯t for the fact that you carry my child, I wouldn¡¯t be so lenient with you. Your mother¡¯s ckmail all this while is the only reason I¡¯ve tolerated you instead of bashing your head into the concrete."


    Her eyes quivered as if she were about to cry again but I had no time to watch the waterworks. So I let go of her, staring at her onest time before I turned around and continued walking.


    "You¡¯re tying your fate to a ticking bomb. That hybrid¡¯s presence will be your undoing, Kaelos. Not mine!" Celine snapped, her voice filled with hatred and spite. "Mark my words tonight."


    She continued following behind me, eager to be a sore on my back.


    We¡¯ll see about that...


    .


    .


    At my throne room, La soon arrived with Odessa, Althea, and, to my surprise, Marcellus. When I saw him walking beside Odessa, I would be lying if I said I didn¡¯t feel something snap inside me.


    ¡¯What could he have been doing with her?¡¯ I thought to myself as he briefly nced at me before looking away.


    Something in my gut told me that the video was fake... But I wasn¡¯tfortable with Marcellus¡¯ closeness with Odessa all the same.


    ¡¯I thought he¡¯d be in aa after that beat down you gave him.¡¯ Damon muttered in my mind with a snigger.


    Anyway, I turned my head to Althea and gave her a silent signal.


    When she began a truth spell on Odessa, I subconsciously held my breath, eager to find out the truth once and for all. And as expected... Odessa was innocent.


    Which would also mean I owed Marcellus an apology.


    I was about to let out a relieved breath when I noticed that Althea still had a tense expression on her face. Was there something else she wasn¡¯t telling us?


    "I discovered another thing during my walk with Oddesa here." Althea suddenly announced.


    I paused, ncing briefly at Odessa who seemed just as confused as I was.


    After an over dramatic pause, Althea finally made a revtion that made my eyes widen.


    "Odessa is pregnant."


    The throne room fell into silence as everyone blinked, frozen in shock as they brought their gazes to Odessa. I sat silently, my grip on the armrest of my throne lessening.


    "How... How did this..." Cold sweat dripped down my face but before I could finish speaking, a screech broke through the silence of the throne room.


    "No!"

 Chapter 180: _The Pregnant Lie

    <h4>Chapter 180: _The Pregnant Lie</h4>


    All eyes turned to the source of the screech. It was Celine, who pointed an usatory finger at an amused Althea.


    "You lie. You lie, witch!" Celine snapped, clutching her stomach with her right hand. "You¡¯re only saying that to get attention away from me. B¨CBecause you somehow found out I¡¯m pregnant!"


    Oh shit...


    Everyone was surprised by her revtion and turned their gazes to me first before staring at her again.


    "Celine is... Celine is pregnant?" Odessa asked, confusion thick in her voice.


    Gosh, she was going to get the wrong idea.


    "Yes, hybrid," Celine said victoriously,ughing maniacally. "And unlike your filthy half-breed baby, my baby will have a say over the throne and will be epted by the continent. Your child wouldn¡¯t even be¡ª"


    "For the love of everything under the moon!" I couldn¡¯t take it anymore and snarled, my voice booming around the throne room and causing everyone to jolt.


    I red at Celine, pointing a finger at her. "Pipe down for once."


    "No, Kaelos." Odessa suddenly blurted, stepping forward with a shaky voice. "Let her continue. How does she have your child? Have you... Have you been sleeping with her during our marriage?"


    Things were escting quickly, and I could feel all her emotions. Her anger. Her confusion. The betrayal.


    But how do I quickly make her understand that I never betrayed her?


    How do I make her know that thest time I had anything to do with Celine was weeks before her arrival and that even then I was drunk?


    ¡¯You could start by using your words, buddy.¡¯ Damon blurted in my head causing me to draw in a deep breath.


    "Weeks before you arrived... I had been drunk, foolish, and desperate for something to feel real. But it has been months since then..." I exined bluntly but that still didn¡¯t seem convincing to her.


    Odessa still had her gaze on me, her violet eyes glimmering with anxiety as her chest rose and fell with each trembling breath.


    Just when I parted my lips to speak, Celine suddenly burst out intoughter, holding her stomach and using the fingers of her left hand to wipe off tears from her eyes.


    "Oh, sweet little Odessa." She muttered, turning around to face Odessa who had her jaw clenched. "When are you going to get the fact that Kaelos is NOT for you? He has never been for you."


    I could feel Oddesa¡¯s emotions and confusion reaching a new peak but Celine didn¡¯t seem to be stopping anything soon.


    "You¡¯re nothing more than a means to an end." Celine continued, spreading her arms apart. "I ruled beside him for years before you showed up. I helped him keep his hold on the throne. I, with my wit and cunning, have taken down people against his rule."


    What the fuck?


    ¡¯When the heck did any of this happen?¡¯ Damon muttered in my head but I was clueless as he was.


    "That thing you call a child..." Celine pointed at Odessa¡¯s stomach, her voice dripping with venom. "It¡¯s nothing. It holds no say and is meaningless as you¡ª"


    "Celine!" I roared, my voice shaking the throne room.


    But to my surprise, she turned her head swiftly to me and barked. "Oh, shut up, Kaelos! I¡¯m tired of your foolishness. Have you forgotten the leverage my mother had over you?"


    The cold smirk on her face was more than enough confirmation that she knew about the secret too. The secret that has haunted me for thirteen years.


    "How bitter does someone have to be to go through all this stress simply to get rid of another person?" Odessa suddenly blurted with a scoff, causing all eyes to turn to her.


    I watched as she walked toward Celine, ignoring the gazes of Marcellus and Althea. When she was only a few feet in front of Celine, she continued coldly.


    "You might have done all those things with him but Kaelos never loved you. He never even cared about you." Odessa¡¯s words were merciless but she clearly didn¡¯t care as she folded her arms in front of her chest. "Why don¡¯t you grow some self-respect for once and MOVE ON?"


    There was a deafening silence after she said all that. Celine had her back facing me but I could tell she was seconds away from snapping.


    ¡¯You have to step in before this turns into a catfight.¡¯ Damonmented in my head, causing me to grit my teeth. ¡¯Although... I would love to see our mate beat some sense into that bitch.¡¯


    <fn93e8> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find~novel</fn93e8>


    Fortunately, before things could escte further, a voice broke through the silence. "Luna Queen Celine!"


    All eyes went to the entrance of the throne room where Elder Davina walked into the ce with a solemn expression. She drew out an envelope from her robes and waved it around.


    "I found this letter in your mother¡¯s body. A letter from an organization called the ¡¯Haven of the Lost¡¯."


    My eyes squinted as everyone else blinked with shock and confusion.


    "The Haven of the lost?" Althea blurted. "They¡¯re an organization of rogue witches whose members offer their magic services to clients in exchange for a favor."


    She brought her gaze to Celine, who seemed like a cornered rabbit now.


    "It all makes sense now," Odessa mumbled before sniggering and shaking her head. "The enchanted earrings at the Charity Ball. You were using it tomunicate with a witch from this organization who helped you fabricate that video!"


    Celine stuttered repeatedly, seeming lost on what to say until she found the right words. "What sort of baseless usation is that? And what enchanted earrings are you talking about?"


    "These." Elder Davina blurted before flinging a pair of golden hoop earrings to Althea who caught them swiftly. "I found those underneath Madame Greyheart¡¯s pillow."


    I blinked, remaining silent as all these things beganing to light. It was like a soap opera was unraveling in real life and I was at the center.


    "What the fuck were you doing snooping through my mother¡¯s stuff, hag?" Celine sneered at Elder Davina but before she could overreact, I spoke coldly.


    "Enough."


    I slowly rose to my feet, ring at Celine who finally turned to face me. My expression was in as I walked down the steps, my gaze never leaving her.


    "I¡¯m not even going to address the fact that you colluded with a witch to frame my wife." I blurted, shaking my head. "But upon more thought... The fact that you¡¯re telling me about your pregnancy NOW when you could¡¯ve easily done so before Odessa¡¯s arrival is suspicious."


    Celine parted her lips repeatedly, her eyes quivering with tears. "K¨CKaelos, what are you saying?"


    My expression remained in and so did my voice as I blurted. "The baby. Your pregnancy. Is it real or another magic trick?"


    Silence.


    She blinked, opening and closing her mouth and barely being able to maintain eye contact.


    My jaw clenched, and I felt all the parental instincts disappear in a sh as I thundered.


    "Answer me, woman!"


    Celine jolted but then her jaw clenched as she slowly raised her head, staring at me dead in the eye. I was only a few feet in front of her but I felt something off at that moment.


    "Why don¡¯t you ask my mother?"


    Her mother?


    Before I couldprehend what she meant by that, she made a swift movement, drawing out a dagger and sending it straight for my chest.


    "Kaelos!"


    The dagger struck flesh, causing my eyes to widen when I felt the stinging pain.


    I stumbled back, my blood blooming across my chest like a cursed flower. And Celine... was smiling.

 Chapter 181: _If I Can’t Have You...

    <h4>Chapter 181: _If I Can¡¯t Have You...</h4>


    "Kaelos!"


    Odessa¡¯s terrified scream made me realize that I wasn¡¯t dreaming. Celine had stabbed me... On the left side of my chest.


    I could feel the cold silver de reaching dangerously close to my heart, which began pumping slower as the silver began poisoning my system.


    Meanwhile, Celineughed maniacally, taking a few steps back while staring at me coldly.


    "If I can¡¯t have you, then no one can!" She yelled, at the same moment that Odessa stepped forward.


    I was still stumbling backward and wrapped my right hand around the dagger¡¯s handle, struggling to pull it out despite the searing pain.


    ¡¯Dude, calm down with that thing and breathe.¡¯ Damon said in my head just then, but I noticed something off that sent a cold shiver down my spine.


    I could barely hear Damon anymore. It was as if my connection with him was being tampered with from the inside out.


    ¡¯Let me out.¡¯ Damon coughed in my head with rage. ¡¯It¡¯s not just a silver dagger. The bitch tipped it with... With wolfsbane. Our connection is growing weaker.¡¯


    The entire room seemed to spin as I watched Celine turn around to face Odessa and the others who had already gotten into defensive positions.


    La stood behind Odessa with confusion etched on her face, and I could see the gears running behind her eyes.


    "L¨CLa, call the guards in!" I said with gritted teeth but before La could make a move, Celine drew out a gun and pointed it at the group.


    "Luna Queen Celine. You have no idea what you¡¯re doing." Elder Davina remarked, clutching her staff tighter.


    But Celine only chuckled, tilting her head. "Oh, please! I know exactly what I¡¯m doing, olddy."


    At that same moment, the throne room doors burst open and a group of guards barged in. My eyes lit up at first when I raised my head and saw them.


    Until...


    "Round them up!"


    That voice.


    I dimmed my eyes and spotted Gamma Zane walking into the room as well, his head raised high and his cut-off hand reced by a silver metal hand.


    That look on his face and on the faces of the tens of guards who walked into the throne room... Those were the looks of traitors.


    "Celine, what¡¯s the meaning of this?" Marcellus spoke up just then, scanning his gaze at the pack soldiers who surrounded the group.


    Celine chuckled as Gamma Zane got to her side. My eyes widened at what happened next.


    The Gamma ced a hand on Celine¡¯s waist and the two of them smiled at each other before kissing.


    They... Kissed?!


    ¡¯Wait... Then that means if Celine is pregnant it¡¯s not your child.¡¯ Damonmented in my head, but his voice kept getting fainter.


    I trusted that bastard with my war council. I let him stand at my side... and now he stands there kissing my ex-wife and threatening me and my mate.


    "Why, Beta Marcellus, THIS is simply what happens when the people are sick and tired of the rulership of a fool who thinks he can ignore the traditions of our ancestors." Gamma Zane said with disdain as he turned around and stared at me with spite in his eyes.


    I looked up at him, my right hand clutched around the dagger on my chest while my left hand was on the ground.


    ¡¯If you don¡¯t let me out, we¡¯ll be sitting ducks!¡¯ Damon roared in my head with anger. ¡¯Look at all the guards surrounding us. Tens of them are betraying you at once.¡¯


    <fnd69c> Chapters first released on Find?Novel</fnd69c>


    I gritted my teeth, my mind reeling as I fought for control.


    "You handed our future to witches and weaklings, nephew." My uncle remarked with contempt. "Frolicked with a hybrid. And then punished me for daring to speak out. It¡¯s clear you¡¯re losing control."


    My uncle was merciless as he bolted to me and drew out another dagger.


    "No!" Odessa yelled out and soon, hell broke loose.


    She fired a st of magic at the Gamma that sent him flying away from me and caused him to hit the stairs of my throne behind me.


    I nced at her and watched as she stretched out her arms despite the weapons from the pack soldiers pointed at her. Her fingers crackled with a violet energy as she red at the guards.


    "Luna Queen Celine..." Althea suddenly spoke up just then, her face and tone calm. "Is this really what you want? Do you think people aren¡¯t in support of the Alpha King? Do you think people will ept your... Coup? Your mutiny?"


    Celine was silent for just two seconds before she scoffed. "After the stunt that Odessa pulled off tonight, do you think the people still have as much respect as they used to for Kaelos?"


    At that same moment, Gamma Zane grunted behind me and made a growling sound before he barked.


    "Marcellus and Elder Davina! If you don¡¯t want to bebeled as enemies, surrender. Join us in this new era of¡ª"


    "Oh, shut up." Marcellus interrupted with an annoyed voice.


    "As long as I live..." Elder Davina¡¯s voice was loud and clear as she stepped forward, staring at Gamma Zane behind me and Celine in front of me. "I will never watch the likes of you destroy the foundation of this pack."


    Celine chuckled coldly, shaking her head with a sigh. "We aren¡¯t destroying anything. We¡¯re building it from the ashes. Your ashes."


    Suddenly, Gamma Zane stepped forward back into my view, raising his right hand before he gestured at the guards.


    "Kill them all!"


    The guards raised guns, which were filled with silver bullets, and pointed them at the group.


    At that same moment, something inside me snapped. I couldn¡¯t becent. I couldn¡¯t kneel and watch years of hard work I¡¯ve put into making peace in this continent go to waste.


    ¡¯Yes. Unleash the Alpha King!¡¯ Damon urged mentally but I didn¡¯t need any further words.


    Just when the guards were about to start firing, I let out a roar that shook the throne room and even caused dust to fall from the ceiling, forcing all of them to freeze instantly.


    At that same moment, I watched as my left hand on the floor began erging as crimson-red fur grew out of it. My bones shifted and my snout began erging.


    "Don¡¯t let him transform!" My traitorous uncle yelled out at the guards who began firing at me instead.


    I felt the silver bullets riddling my skin and piercing through it but I kept on roaring, my muscles erging as I used both my arms to shield my face.


    ¡¯They will all pay...¡¯ Damon and I thought in unison as our connection pushed through, allowing me to fully shift despite the silver bullets.


    I finally shifted into my wolf and snarled before I spoke with a guttural roar.


    <strong>"YOU WILL ALL PAY!" </strong>

 Chapter 182: _Bleed For Your Delusions

    <h4>Chapter 182: _Bleed For Your Delusions</h4>


    (Warning: Gore and Violence Ahead)


    "YOU WILL ALL PAY!"


    With that roar from me came a devastating sonic wave that shook the throne room and forced most of the guards present to cover their faces and stand their ground.


    Celine, who stood in front of Odessa and the others, crossed her arms into an ex, gritting her teeth and shifting backward. There were two silver bracelets on her wrists which gave off a distinct glow, seemingly protecting her.


    "Group one, aim all your attacks on the Alpha King!" Gamma Zane shouted while stepping backward, staring at me cautiously.


    A group of guards holding guns stepped forward and began shooting, but their silver bullets bounced off my hide like hailstones as I took slow steps toward them.


    I could smell and feel the fear that they felt and didn¡¯t care as I got to one of them and grabbed his gun, melting it off his grip with pure force alone.


    I didn¡¯t end there and grabbed him by the head, causing him to scream and kick anxiously as he dangled off the floor.


    "I WILL PAINT THIS THRONE ROOM WITH THE BLOOD OF EVERY TRAITOR BEFORE I LET YOU TAKE CONTROL!" My voice boomed, disorienting most of the pack soldiers as I crushed the head of the one in my grip like a grapefruit, causing blood and brain matter to ssh on me.


    I flung the limp body away, going on a rampage, slicing off heads with one sh, swatting guns away, and breaking bones while their screams barely broke through the chaos.


    "Hey Kaelos!" Celine¡¯s voice echoed and when I turned to her, the next thing I witnessed was her flinging a bottle at me.


    I used my arm to cover my face, snarling with rage when the bottle broke upon contact. Its content was a gas cloud of ck smoke that went into my nostrils and stung my eyes.


    Wolfsbane...


    I stumbled backward as the pack soldiers continued shooting at me while some others shifted and nked me from every angle, biting at me like rabid dogs.


    But I retaliated, grabbing some of the wolves and ripping them in half and even using one like a baseball that I used to beat the others to a bloody pulp.


    At the corner of my eyes, I saw Odessa, Marcellus, Althea, Elder Davina, and La fending off the guards who were attacking them.


    Elder Davina showed her fighting skills even as an old woman, using swings from her staff to block attacks from some guards while bashing the heads of others with a single swing.


    La shifted into a slender grey wolf, standing beside Elder Davina and attacking anyone who she missed, protecting her.


    Althea was calm, holding off most of the bullets with a forcefield of blue energy while using telekinesis to trash some guards around. Marcellus remained unshifted, evading attacks and managing tond strikes.


    And as for Odessa... She fought against Celine, sending sts of magic at her and evading her strikes as well. Celine was cunning, avoiding closebat and using her bracelets to block attacks from Odessa.


    It was an all-out brawl, and it was clear Zane and Celine hade prepared.


    "I¡¯m sorry it had toe to this, nephew." My uncle¡¯s voice echoed from a corner as I fought off the guards.


    One tried to jump at me in his wolf form, but a single punch to the jaw dislocated it and snapped his neck to the side, killing him in an instant.


    I red at my traitorous uncle.


    The man who had always been against my rule. The man who alwayspared me to my father. Who was so bent on traditions...


    I wanted to rip out every individual bone in his body and beat him to death with them.


    I roared, sending the guards blocking my path to Gamma Zane flying away like house flies.


    But the Gamma stood strong, using his right hand¡ªwhich was now nothing more than a silver metallic hand¡ª to shield his face before he got shifted back by a few meters.


    ¡¯Hmm, it seems the lovely couple both have ess to magic items.¡¯ I thought to myself, staring at him before ncing at Oddesa who held her own against Celine and was even giving her a hard time.


    Well, I¡¯m going to make Zane wish he brought more magically enchanted trinkets.


    The soldiers fell like flies as I walked menacingly toward my uncle, who suddenly pointed his enchanted silver hand in my direction.


    Suddenly, a st of sonic waves was sent from the gloves without any spells or incantation. Whoever the witch who¡¯s backing Celine and Zane is, she is a menace.


    I staggered back slightly from the unexpected force of Zane¡¯s attack... only for a heartbeat.


    But then, Iughed.


    A guttural, bloodthirsty sound that echoed like thunder against the cracking throne room walls.


    <fndfb3> The source of th?s content is find?novel</fndfb3>


    "You really thought that would work?" I growled in my beast form, my voiceing out as a mixture of mine and Damon¡¯s.


    I dropped low, then lunged, covering the distance between us in the blink of an eye. Zane¡¯s eyes widened just as I mmed into him, ws first. The silver on his hand hissed against my skin, but I ignored the burning pain, ripping the glove clean off his wrist and flinging it across the room.


    He screamed.


    Not from the injury... But from the moment he realized I wasn¡¯t going to give him a quick death.


    "You betrayed your King. Your bloodline. Your people."


    I wrapped one wed hand around his throat, lifting him off the ground as his feet kicked. Behind me, the battle still raged¡ªscreams, magic, roars¡ªbut I saw none of it.


    Only the man I called my uncle.


    "You¡¯re lucky I want you to watch whates next," I said finally, resisting the primal urge to rip him in half here and now.


    I mmed him down, not to kill, but to break. His ribs crunched beneath the impact. He gasped for breath, coughing blood.


    And then I looked up¡ªstraight at Celine.


    She¡¯d stopped fighting Odessa, her face pale now. The magic energy from the bracelets she wore flickered at her fingertips.


    It was ironic how she loathed witches but yet was content with using equipment from one.


    I took a single step toward her but she backed away, her eyes quivering with uncertainty.


    Just when she raised her hand to cast, Odessa struck first, sending a st of violet light that sent Celine crashing into the side pirs. Debris rained down on her, and she didn¡¯t get back up.


    For a moment, the throne room fell silent except for the crackling of fires and the groans of the wounded.


    I stood tall in my beast form, my chest heaving and blood dripping from my ws.


    "I am the Alpha King. Not your puppet. Not your pawn. If you ever thought you could steal this pack from me..."


    My voice rose into a roar so deafening it split the air, shaking loose pieces of the marble ceiling.


    "...THEN BLEED FOR YOUR DELUSIONS!"


    The ground trembled under the weight of my rage. Cracks formed beneath my feet, spreading like spiderwebs across the shattered tiles.


    Zaney unconscious at my feet. Celine barely stirred beneath the rubble. Most of the guards were dead, their bloody bodies and guts littered on the floor.


    And Odessa... she stood amid the chaos, her gaze locked onto mine. Not with fear, but something else.


    Pride.


    I took one step toward her, the beast in me slowly retreating, my ws shrinking and my fur thinning. But just when I had turned fully into my human form, a sharp pain tore through my back shoulder, causing my eyes to widen as I gasped.


    Odessa¡¯s eyes were filled with confusion and then fear as I turned around only to see my uncle behind me with a dagger plunged through my back.


    He had a cruel smirk on his face as he spat. "Die! You disgraceful runt to¡ª"


    Before he could finish, I raised my right hand and swiped at his neck, separating his head from his shoulder cleanly and sending blood everywhere.


    But the silver dagger sticking to my back and the stab wound from Celine that was still on my chest didn¡¯t make the sight of his body plopping to the ground satisfying.


    "Kaelos!" Odessa screamed when I fell to the ground,nding on my knees first before I fell on my face.


    I could hear nothing but my heartbeat and shouts that were slowly bing distant as a pair of warm arms wrapped around my body and held me close.


    ¡¯Kaelos? Kaelos, we can¡¯t die!¡¯ Damon yelled out in my mind but even his voice was bing distant.


    As everything slowly became ck, thest thing I heard was Odessa¡¯s whisper.


    "Fight, Kaelos. You¡¯re stronger than this. Please..."


    Then it all went dark.

 Chapter 183: _Can Run But Can’t Hide

    <h4>Chapter 183: _Can Run But Can¡¯t Hide</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    Before the drama in the throne room started, he had already gotten a heads-up from Regina about the situation with Celine.


    Apparently, Regina had given Celine magically enchanted items that would aid her in her ultimate n.


    Killing Kaelos and taking the throne.


    And to make things more interesting, Gamma Zane was also involved in Celine¡¯s ns and had an interesting rtionship with her.


    "Wait a damn minute..." Marcellus chuckled, getting on his feet from where he sat in his living room.


    He had a ss of a magically mixed drink and stared at Regina who had a smug look on her face as she sipped from her drink after exining all she knew to him.


    "So you¡¯re telling me that Celine and Gamma Zane have been having an affair before Odessa even stepped foot into this pack?" Marcellus asked, genuinely shocked. "Also, there¡¯s a chance that the child she carries currently belongs to the Gamma?"


    Regina sighed, setting aside her drink before she responded.


    "The answer to your first question is an obvious yes. The Gamma and Madame Greyheart had been nning a coup for a while now. When Odessa came in and Kaelos brought the idea of a truce... Well, let¡¯s just say they¡¯d had enough and Celine came to seek help from me through my contacts in the Haven Of The Lost."


    The Haven Of The Lost... An organization of rogue witches specializing in dark magic and shady deals with clients seeking their magical assistance.


    Little did they know that there were artificial Hybrids in their ranks... Like Regina.


    Marcellus nodded slowly, a small smile tugging at his lips. He was beyond impressed at how the werewolves were able tomit such secret sins without his meddling.


    "As for your second question... It¡¯splicated." Regina remarked with a mischievous tone. "Yes, Celine is currently carrying a child in her that¡¯s the result of her affair with Gamma Zane. But you have to remember that she¡¯s been barren throughout the years of her marriage to Kaelos."


    Marcellus paused, tilting his head before realization dawned on him. He chuckled, shaking his head as he pointed at Regina.


    "You sneaky bitch. You used your magic to help the Luna Queen get pregnant."


    Regina smirked in return, and soon, the two of them began chuckling erratically, causing Cullen, who was sitting in a corner, to stare at them awkwardly.


    "I mean, I thought since I wasn¡¯t able to kill Odessa all this while like the magic contract stated, that the least I could do was use my magic to help Celine conceive." Regina shrugged, grabbing the drink she set aside and finishing it in one gulp.


    When she was done, she sighed and raised her head to stare at the ceiling. "Too bad there¡¯s only so much my magic can do. There¡¯s a good chance that the baby might not make it to the day of delivery. Or might turn out to be something... Twisted as a child."


    Marcellus was impressed by Regina¡¯s antics but then he couldn¡¯t help remarking.


    "If Celine discovers her mother¡¯s body and she¡¯s still under the influence of my spell. There¡¯s a high chance she¡¯ll snap beyond anything I¡¯ve predicted before this." He mused out loud, rubbing his chin.


    After a while, he decided to go pay a quick visit to Odessa. But before he left...


    "I helped the true Lord of the North to capture the South American Alpha King by the way," Regina said casually, wiggling her fingers around as she yed with the sparks of her magic energy.


    Marcellus paused, turning around to face her just in time to see the smirk etched on her face.


    "I don¡¯t know what he has nned for him, but something tells me his n will be kicking into motion soon." Regina continued with a sadistic tone, rubbing her hands with glee. "The world is about to experience a shift unlike any other. One that will bring a quick end to this war in the best way possible."


    Marcellus stared at her for a few seconds and nced at Cullen, who used his index finger to make a swirling motion on his head, telling Marcellus that she was crazy.


    "I guess I¡¯ll be seeing you twoter..." Marcellus muttered before stepping out of the residence without another word.


    If Lord Ryker was already nning something big... It would be best if he prepared the ying field with as much chaos as possible.


    .


    .


    Long story short, his attempt to gain Odessa¡¯s trust back while she was still in the dungeons was a sess. Or, he thought it was. He managed to get her to cry in his hands while she was still in the dungeons.


    However, things devolved into soap opera-level drama when Odessa was taken to the Alpha King¡¯s throne room. Marcellus decided to follow, knowing that Madame Greyheart¡¯s body had been found by now.


    In the throne room, it was revealed by high priestess Althea that Odessa was not only telling the truth about the fabricated video but that she was also pregnant.


    When Celine made the bold move of stabbing Kaelos¡¯ chest with a silver dagger and Gamma Zane followed by showing himself as well as the dozens of traitorous pack soldiers joining his coup, Marcellus knew all hell would break loose.


    He used the opportunity to fight and kill a few guards who tried attacking him, absorbing only a few parts of their life force for himself so he wouldn¡¯t get caught.


    At the end of the chaos, Kaelos had killed Gamma Zane... But not without sustaining fatal injuries.


    "Kaelos!" Odessa screamed, running to her husband¡¯s side and hugging him close to her body, trying to get him to wake up.


    Marcellus watched all this with a in expression, although he felt the urge to smirk coldly.


    However, something soon disrupted his unholy line of thinking.


    "Celine escaped!" La eximed, pointing at the pile of rubble that Odessa had sted Celine into earlier.


    Marcellus nced at the scene and raised an eyebrow. This could be a good opportunity to once again gain everyone¡¯s trust.


    Too bad Celine had to be a scapegoat.


    <fn5b10> Chapters first released on F¦Énd£Îovel</fn5b10>


    "Stabilize the Alpha King¡¯s condition." He said with a valiant voice, puffing his chest as he turned away from the group and headed for the throne room doors. "I¡¯ll go find that traitor."


    As he walked, pack soldiers and maids of Elder Davina burst into the throne room¡ª but this time they weren¡¯t traitors but were here to help.


    Marcellus ignored them as they barked orders and secured the perimeter, bumping into a few as a cold smirk curled up his lips.


    "You can run but you certainly can¡¯t hide, Luna Queen."

 Chapter 184: _Scape Goat

    <h4>Chapter 184: _Scape Goat</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    The mansion reeked of blood and smoke after the fierce battle in the Alpha king¡¯s throne room.


    Even as pack medics scrambled around the throne room to stabilize Kaelos, Marcellus walked calmly through the chaos. His boots clicked softly against the marble floors, which were smeared with streaks of blood, ash, and the remains and bloody organs of fallen pack soldiers.


    "Celine escaped!" La¡¯s voice echoed behind him.


    Of course, she did.


    But not from him.


    Marcellus closed his eyes briefly and inhaled. Not through his nose... No, this was a different kind of scent. It was like a thread. A mark he had left in Celine¡¯s mind like a parasite burrowing into bone.


    The same spell he had left in her mind to heighten her hatred for Odessa now acted as a tracking beacon.


    ¡¯You can run, little puppet, but you¡¯re still on my strings.¡¯ He thought to himself as he finally stepped out of the throne room.


    He whispered amand in his thoughts, an activation of the binding spell still woven through Celine¡¯s subconscious. It wasn¡¯t strong enough to control her anymore ¡ª not after the emotional trauma of stabbing Kaelos ¡ª but it was enough to find her.


    And from what he could feel, she was terrified.


    Perfect...


    He descended through the pce halls with unhurried steps, ignoring the gasps of passing wolves too rattled to question him. His ck coat fluttered behind him like the wings of a waiting vulture.


    She had gone toward the eastern courtyard, then broken through one of the old servant tunnels in the mansion, linked to the same undergroundwork as the dungeons.


    Smart move. But not smart enough.


    *****


    The tunnel reeked and the air seemed stale. He walked with his hand outstretched, his fingers tingling with dark green energy as he felt her panic spike again.


    She knew he wasing.


    He wanted her to.


    He emerged out of the tunnels and into the open air of the surface just as the moonlight broke through the clouds.


    Up ahead, beyond the mansion, a silhouette stumbled across the back fields beyond the training grounds of the mansion¡¯s guards, her gown now torn, and trailing like a ghost behind her.


    It was her.


    "Celine," He called, his voice smooth and echoing into the quiet night.


    This part of the pack was quiet, but he could pick up the sound of pack civilians from all around the pack murmuring and making conspiracies about what could be happening at the Alpha King mansion.


    Kaelos¡¯ roars during his transformation must have woken up at least half of the pack.


    Anyway, Celine froze and then turned slowly.


    Her face was filled with dread. Blood smeared her cheek from where rubble had cut her temple. Her short ck hair was whipping in the wind.


    And her eyes... they were wide, wild, and shimmering with tears.


    "You... you did this to me, didn¡¯t you?" She whispered. "You¡¯re the one that has made my thoughts... my actions¡ª"


    He smiled and interrupted. "No. You did this to yourself. I just helped nudge things along."


    Celine¡¯s eyes twitched, her face contorting as she screamed with rage before hurling a st of raw magic toward him.


    <fn1749> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find¡¤novel</fn1749>


    "Curse Regina for giving her those enchanted bracelets..." He clicked his tongue before going into action.


    Marcellus flicked his wrist, and the spell copsed mid-air, absorbed by an invisible magic barrier with a soft crackle.


    He began walking toward her, unimpressed.


    "I wanted the throne! I deserved it!" She cried. "I carried his child, I supported Kaelos before that witch ever¡ª"


    "You carried Zane¡¯s child," He interrupted with a bored tone, tilting his head. "Let¡¯s not rewrite history. And certainly don¡¯t try lying to me."


    Her face contorted once again. "You¡¯ve been controlling me all this while. You made me believe I could do it. You¡ª"


    "I made you believe whatever I needed to, Celine."


    He stopped two feet away.


    She was trembling. The magic from the enchanted bracelets sparked weakly in her palms.


    The thread of the spell he had cast in her mind pulsed, still fragile but just enough for him to reach in.


    "I can fix this," He whispered, stepping closer. "I can take the pain away."


    Her lips parted.


    And in that moment of hesitation, he touched her forehead with two fingers ¡ª and sent a final surge of energy into her brain.


    She screamed, her body seizing and her bones snapping as the spell was violently erased without a trace from her mind.


    She copsed onto the grass, twitching and still very much alive.


    Marcellus crouched beside her and brushed a bloody strand of hair from her cheek.


    "If only you knew earlier...," He murmured, shaking his head with mock pity. "You nor Gamma Zane were ever going to wear the crown. But you will serve a purpose."


    She whimpered, her eyes fluttering open, as she struggled to stay conscious.


    He extended his palm and drew out a silver dagger hidden in her gown. He stared at the de with a cold smirk.


    "I could make this look like an ident," He mused. "But that wouldn¡¯t be believable. A mother, a queen, turned traitor? No... They¡¯ll want blood. And they¡¯ll love me for giving it to them."


    "No... please..." She pleaded, cing her hand on her stomach as if she were trying to get him to have mercy on her unborn child.


    But he ced the de against her chest.


    "You stabbed the Alpha King," He whispered in her ear. "This is justice."


    And with one smooth thrust, he drove the de through her heart.


    There were no screams. Just a sharp gasp, and then silence as her blood oozed out of the wound, spilling onto the grass underneath and pooling around her.


    He held her as life drained from her eyes, watching her let out her final breath. Then he let her body drop like a broken doll.


    The grass beneath her was soaked with dark red blood.


    Marcellus got on his feet, adjusted his sleeves, and released the spell, sessfully severing thest tie between their minds and any trace that would link him to her.


    When he returned to the mansion, a trail of guards met him at the eastern corridor entrance. He walked straight toward them, his chest heaving as though he¡¯d sprinted the whole way.


    "I found her," He announced, pretending to be breathless, his voice ragged with feigned grief. "She tried to flee. I gave her a chance to surrender, but... She attacked me."


    He turned slightly so they could see the gash he¡¯d sliced into his shoulder with the de before returning. It was shallow, but bleeding enough to sell the story.


    "She¡¯s dead," He said quietly. "It was self-defense."


    Gasps rippled through the guards.


    One of them lowered his head with a growl. "That traitor deserved worse."


    "Where¡¯s the body?" Another asked.


    Marcellus lifted his chin, pointing behind him. "East field. Near the training perimeter. Have it collected and shown to the elders. Let her death be a warning."


    As the guards dispersed to follow hismand, he continued, walking into the mansion and slowly rolling the sleeves of his shoulder to ease the sting of his fake wound as a smirk curled up his lips.


    He¡¯d sessfully killed a mother and her scheming daughter tonight.


    "I deserve an award at this point."

 Chapter 185: _Tired Of Hiding

    <h4>Chapter 185: _Tired Of Hiding</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    Everything came crumbling down so fast, it was still so hard to believe it.


    As soon as Aunt Althea announced that I was pregnant¡ªwhich was mind-boggling information, if I may add¡ªsomething seemed to snap inside Celine.


    I could sense it, before I even awakened my magic and sometime before the South American Alpha king¡¯s weing ball back then.


    There was something twisted inside her, which is saying a lot because the bitch was already a nut case to begin with.


    When she drew out a dagger and stabbed Kaelos in his chest, I felt something break inside me. The mate bond pulsed, sharing some of his pain with me.


    Sharing his emotions. His shock. His anger. The betrayal.


    All of it was raw as Gamma Zane barged into the throne room with several pack soldiers, revealing that it was all a nned coup.


    <fnc60a> Content originallyes from f?ndnovel</fnc60a>


    However, when Kaelos transformed into his wolf form, a beast that I had encountered only once back in the Blood Oak woods, I knew then that it was going to be a heated battle.


    Me and aunt Althea weaved spells side by side against the enemies while Marcellus, Elder Davina, and La used more mundane means.


    At the end of it all, we won. But s, Kaelos ended up getting stabbed yet again, this time on the back by his uncle when he transformed back to his human form.


    "Please, help him..." I croaked to my aunt Althea and Elder Davina as I knelt on the ground beside him, cradling his body close to myself.


    The two older women nced at themselves as pack medics rushed into the throne room while Marcellus headed out to search for Celine who escaped.


    Gamma Zane¡¯s severed heady only a few meters beside me but I didn¡¯t care about that. The throne room around me was left in ruins and blood after Kaelos unleashed his beast on the traitors, but I didn¡¯t care about any of that.


    All I could worry myself about was him.


    "Step aside, child." My aunt muttered as she squatted beside Kaelos, cing a reassuring hand on my shoulder.


    But I shook my head, refusing to let him go as tears welled up in my eyes. I didn¡¯t want to step away from him for even one second.


    "I... I can feel the mate bond flickering." I mumbled, sniffling hard and staring at Elder Davina. "He¡¯s dying. He¡¯s... He¡¯s slipping away and I¡ª"


    "Wait..." Althea brought her hand to my face, forcing me to look at her.


    Her eyes glinted with surprise as she asked. "Mate bond? What are you... What are you talking about?"


    Shit.


    ¡¯Calm down, Odessa.¡¯ Sirena said in my head, sounding a little panicked. ¡¯Kaelos isn¡¯t going to die. You just¡ª¡¯


    ¡¯You don¡¯t know that!¡¯ I responded mentally, subconsciously holding Kaelos even tighter as a few pack doctors huddled around his body, barking distant words and bringing out equipment.


    ¡¯I¡¯ve grown tired of hiding.¡¯ I continued mentally, drawing in a deep breath. ¡¯I¡¯m carrying his child. What¡¯s the point of keeping the mate bond hidden from others? The continent already knows I¡¯m a hybrid anyway.¡¯


    There was silence in my head. Sirena didn¡¯t say anything or try arguing. She knew I was right. She could feel my pain.


    Elder Davina stared at me with pity in her eyes, her hand tightening on her staff. La stood behind her, her hands in front of her mouth as she stared at Kaelos¡¯ unconscious form.


    As for Althea, she kept staring at me with curiosity as the medics were preparing to carry Kaelos and ce him on a stretcher.


    "Kaelos is my mate." I blurted out before I could think much about it, using my right hand to wipe off the tears falling down my face. "Yes, aunt. You heard that right. I¡¯m a hybrid with a wolf side and I¡¯m mated to the Alpha King of the North American packs."


    My aunt blinked, her lips parting with shock. The pack soldiers who surrounded Kaelos also paused, staring at me with confusion as if I were crazy.


    "You¡¯re..." La mumbled from behind Elder Davina just then. "You¡¯re... You¡¯re being for real. It all makes sense now. Your closeness. The tension. His hesitation in letting you go. The way he rants about you during his spare time."


    I didn¡¯t know if I should find those wordsforting. I brought my gaze back to Kaelos, staring at his face. A tear fell on his face from my eyes, as I sniffed back.


    "He¡¯s fighting to stay alive..." I mumbled. "But at the same time, it feels like his consciousness has been... Pulled. Into something or somewhere beyond reach."


    "Take him to my residence." Elder Davina suddenly blurted, gesturing at the pack doctors and giving me a reassuring nod. "He was stabbed twice with wolfsbane-coated silver des. The first strike probably went close to his heart."


    As she said all this, the pack doctors lifted Kaelos off the ground and onto the stretcher, and I let them, reluctant to withdraw my hands from his body.


    I clenched my fists as I got on my feet, staring at him for a little while before I brought my gaze to Althea.


    She was still kneeling on the ground, her eyes blinking speechlessly. She was probably still trying to process the revtion about the mate bond.


    But I had one more thing to tell her.


    "I want to step into Kaelos¡¯ mind," I muttered, watching as Althea raised her head to stare at me. "I¡¯ll use the mate bond connection and also my magic. But... But I¡¯ll need your help."


    She hesitated, ncing back at Elder Davina and La at first before she scanned her gaze around with a distant look in her eyes.


    I bit my bottom lip, waiting patiently for her. I needed this to reach out to Kaelos and pull his consciousness out from wherever it was.


    After what felt like an eternity, my Aunt Althea finally fixed her gaze on me and nodded slowly.


    "Very well. I¡¯ll help."


    .


    .


    The moment Elder Davina gave the order, the pack doctors moved quickly and efficiently, lifting Kaelos¡¯ unconscious body onto a reinforced stretcher. His blood still clung to his bare chest, glistening dark red against the silvery sheen of the moonlight flooding into the ruined throne room.


    I walked beside them in silence, refusing to let Kaelos out of my sight. The weight of the mate bond pressed heavily on my chest. I could feel him, fading... slipping... not in pain exactly, but somewhere distant.


    Elder Davina led the way, her long cloak dragging across the blood-smeared marble floor.


    When we got to her residence, Davina gestured for the medics to ce Kaelos¡¯ body on a low, cushioned b in the center of a dim chamber that smelled of herbs and smoke.


    "Lay him down here," She instructed softly. "No one enters unless I call for you."


    The doctors obeyed without question and retreated, leaving me, Elder Davina, La, and Aunt Althea alone with Kaelos.


    He looked so pale. His chest barely moved. If it weren¡¯t for the flickering pulse I could sense through the mate bond, I would have believed he was already gone.


    I stood frozen at his side until Althea took my hand and gently pulled me back.


    "You cannot help him like this," She whispered. "We need to go deeper."


    I nodded without saying anything.


    Althea stepped toward arge cab and pulled out a dark velvet pouch. She walked to the foot of the b and poured a silver-white dust in a perfect circle around the tform where Kaelosy. As the powder fell, it shimmered, almost alive withtent energy.


    "Sit," She instructed me.


    I took my ce beside Kaelos, cing my right hand over his heart.


    Althea knelt in front of me, her fingers already weaving aplex series of signs in the air. "The connection you share through the mate bond is your anchor. Your blood calls to his. But if his consciousness has been pulled too far... you¡¯ll need a thread to guide you home. That¡¯s what I¡¯m creating."


    The sigils glowed as they floated above us in the air, pulsing gently like stars in a foggy sky.


    "Focus on him," She whispered, closing her eyes. "Focus on what you feel. Who he is to you."


    I inhaled slowly, closing my eyes. The bond responded immediately... like a thread tugging at my soul. I followed it, breathing deep until the room and the sounds around me faded.


    Althea¡¯s voice drifted into the darkness behind my eyelids. "Now... dive."


    I didn¡¯t fall. I was pulled.


    Yanked inward so fast I couldn¡¯t scream.


    The air around me turned cold and silent. My feetnded on... nothing. I stood suspended in an endless void, ck and silent. No sound. No shape. Just darkness.


    "Kaelos?" I whispered.


    My voice didn¡¯t echo.


    For a moment, I feared I had gone too far... that I would be trapped here with nothing but my heartbeat pounding in my ears. But then, the mate bond pulsed inside me, stronger this time. I gripped it with my mind, like a rope in the dark.


    Then a wind stirred.


    The void cracked open and reformed around me, reshaping into something breathtaking. The sky unfurled into a star-speckled night, vast and clear.


    A silver moon,rger than real life, hung above, casting its glow over a calm, endless ocean.


    Wavespped gently at the shore. The air smelled of salt and something sweeter.


    It was... peaceful.


    I stood barefoot on the beach, the sand soft between my toes. My hair blew gently in the wind. Somewhere in the distance, I thought I saw movement... a figure standing at the edge of the water.


    "Kaelos."

 Chapter 186: _Take Death A Step Further

    <h4>Chapter 186: _Take Death A Step Further</h4>


    "Kaelos..."


    As soon as I whispered his name, he froze. He was wearing a ck suit with a ceremonial cape that flowed into the air behind him.


    When he turned around slowly to face me, his shoulder-length ck hair obscured his face a bit, although his silver eyes still shone as bright as ever.


    "Kaelos, it¡¯s really you..." I couldn¡¯t help but say as I rushed to him, spreading my arms before hugging him.


    He froze at first, but soon his arms wrapped around me, soothing whatever distress I had felt instantly. I was safe as long as he held me.


    "Odessa..." He muttered softly into my ears, his voice low. "You¡¯re actually here. Although, I¡¯m kinda confused about where ¡¯here¡¯ is. Is this heaven? Am I dead?"


    I scanned my gaze around the ethereal-looking beach after he had finished asking his questions. Or, at least, I thought he had finished asking his questions.


    "Wait, if I¡¯m dead and you¡¯re here..." He blurted, pulling away from the hug and cing his hands on my shoulder.


    He stared at my face, guilt shing in his eyes before he murmured. "Are you dead as well? What did those bastards do to you? I¡ª"


    "Rx, Kaelos. You aren¡¯t dead and neither am I." I said reassuringly, withholding the urge to giggle as I used my right hand to cup his face, tracing lines along his jawline and the small stubble. "At least, not yet. Your consciousness was... Pulled into this mental space."


    I scanned my gaze around the mental space, squinting my eyes. Something was wrong. I could sense it.


    It was too perfect. The gentle breeze, the glimmering sand, the silver moon overhead... it all felt staged, like a memory borrowed rather than lived. Something deep in my gut whispered that this wasn¡¯t a dream... It was a trap.


    The air suddenly became colder against my skin and the moon¡¯s brightness flickered and pulsated. I stared wearily at it, trying to put one and two together.


    His being in this mental space was a bit... Dramatic. It was too well constructed. Too nned out.


    This wasn¡¯t a resting ce for his flickering life. This wasn¡¯t his mind trying to relive his memories and all the things he¡¯d experienced in his lifetime.


    Someone or something made this space in his psyche after he was struck with the final blow from Gamma Zane.


    "Pulled?" Kaelos repeated my words with furrowed eyebrows as he ced his right hand on my waist protectively, scanning his gaze around wearily. "Pulled by what? Or by who?"


    Before I could say anything, lightning and thunder crackled wildly in the sky above us. The night sky became darker in the mental space and the clouds began to swirl around like a void vortex.


    The wind around us was sucked into the twisting vortex, causing our clothes to get blown into the wind.


    I stared at the clouds wearily as I held Kaelos¡¯ right hand, clenching my jaw.


    "It all makes sense now," I mumbled, tensing up. "Magic. Your consciousness was pulled into this space by a spell that imprinted on you after you were stabbed. The witch helping Celine and Gamma Zane..."


    I paused as I clenched my fists, trying to see if I could ess my magic in this mental space. Thest thing I wanted was to feel powerless.


    ¡¯You¡¯re anything but powerless, girl.¡¯ Sirena suddenly spoke in my mind, causing my shoulders to slouch with relief. ¡¯I¡¯m here with you and so is your magic. But first... We gotta identify what the heck is in those clouds.¡¯


    I nodded subconsciously as I dimmed my eyes at the clouds. It was brimming with more energy and trembled with more lightning that crackled through the vast night sky.


    It seemed to being closer and closer, getting me more anxious. Meanwhile, Kaelos tightened his grip on my hand beside me, growling before he snapped with a voice that boomed louder than the thunder.


    "Whoever or whatever you are... Show yourself!"


    No sooner had he said those words than when a huge bolt of lightning sted the seawater in front of us, forcing us to step back as we used our arms to cover our faces from the brightness and water droplets.


    I dimmed my eyes, watching as the lightning st sustained for several seconds before finally clearing away as fast as it hade.


    My lips parted open when I saw who levitated above the seawater.


    "Z¨CZane..." Kaelos mumbled beside me with disbelief.


    Indeed, the person levitating in front of us was Gamma Zane, or at least, a manifestation of his consciousness.


    He was very much dead in the physical ne but here he seemed alive and well, wearing a ck suit just like Kaelos and having dark clouds surround him as he floated toward us.


    His eyes glowed with a sickly gold hue, and ck veins snaked along his neck like the roots of some corrupted tree. The sea below him hissed as if recoiling from his presence.


    He clenched his fists, sighing with satisfaction before he grinned wildly. "You two thought you had seen thest of me. But when I stabbed Kaelos with that enchanted dagger... I knew death wouldn¡¯t be the end. I could see it. I could feel it."


    Lightning crackled and slithered like snakes around him as his grin became even more malicious and colder. He raised both his palms, his right hand, which had been severed back in reality, now whole again.


    "You made a deal with the witch to grant you powers within this mental space." I blurted with a scoff, tilting my head. "Powers which you know damn well you could never have in real life. Isn¡¯t that telling?"


    As expected, my words triggered him as he clenched his jaw and thundered with a voice that shook the mental ne.


    "You might¡¯ve been a big shot in the real world, hybrid! But here, I am your god!" He hissed. "In here, flesh means nothing. Power is will. And mine is stronger than death."


    After saying that, he waved his right hand, sending a powerful st of lightning at Kaelos and me. I felt the power of the energies within it before it even reached us and reacted quickly, grabbing Kaelos¡¯ arms and jumping out of the range of the st.


    When the both of usnded on the sharp sand of the beach, all I could hear was Gamma Zane¡¯s crazedughter as more lightning began shing all around us.


    <fn2a5e> Content originallyes from find?novel</fn2a5e>


    "Let¡¯s take death a step further and erase both your souls out of existence. Permanently!" Zane said with a cold voice before sending another st of lightning at us, this one two times bigger than thest.

 Chapter 187: _Never Meant To Exist

    <h4>Chapter 187: _Never Meant To Exist</h4>


    The st hurtled toward us like a wrathfulet, tearing through the very fabric of the mental sky.


    "Move!" I screamed, but I wasn¡¯t fast enough.


    Kaelos stood up from the sand and stepped in front of me with a roar, thrusting out his palm. Suddenly, a dome of silvery energy erupted around us, forming just in time to absorb the brunt of Zane¡¯s lightning.


    The impact rattled my bones but not as much as seeing Kaelos performing such a feat.


    My ears rang as if the entire ocean had screamed at once. I stumbled, catching myself on one knee.


    "Have you always been able to do that?" I asked, struggling to catch my breath as I stared at his back. "Or, would that only work within this mental space?"


    He breathed heavily as well as he turned around to face me, a wry smile on his face. "I thought you did that. All I could think about was shielding you from the st."


    He stood firm, his breath heavy but unbroken, his cape fluttering like wings. He stared at me with silver eyes burning like starlight before he added softly. "You okay though?"


    "I¡¯m still standing," I rasped, standing to my feet. "Barely..."


    Sirena¡¯s voice rang through my mind like a steadying anchor. ¡¯You need to stop reacting like a human girl. You¡¯re not one. You¡¯re a freaking hybrid!¡¯


    I am a hybrid.


    Magic simmered beneath my skin, surging wildly as I clenched my hands into fists. My fingers tingled with raw magic energy. The weight of the air, the hum of energy... everything was sharper now.


    I narrowed my gaze on Zane as he floated above the water, his arms wide like some cursed messiah.


    "Let¡¯s shut this bastard up," I said firmly, clenching my jaw as I nced at Kaelos beside me.


    Kaelos smirked, ncing at me as well before he nodded. "dly."


    Zane raised both arms and the sea responded like a beast awakened. Tsunamis formed in an instant, towers of water writhing into monstrous shapes. Lightning coiled around them like chains of punishment.


    "Try surviving this!" He shrieked, hurling his hands forward.


    The waves surged, as more lightning crackled in the sky, spreading for hundreds of meters in the mental scape.


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    He really wasn¡¯t exaggerating when he said he¡¯s a god here.


    Kaelos moved first.


    His foot mmed into the sand, cracking the ground in a ripple of force. He leaped into the air like gravity was non-existent, punching one of the water beasts¡¯ midair... his fist glowing white-hot with his Alpha King aura.


    The water beast shattered into millions of tiny water droplets, spreading a mist that clouded the area for hundreds of meters.


    But more spiraling water formations were heading for us.


    I screamed and raised my hands, my instinct taking over. The wind around me howled louder, matching my heartbeat. My magic surged to life in tune with my instincts and emotions. Fire and frost warred within me beforebining in a cyclone of ded wind.


    "Fall!" I shouted, throwing my hands toward the sky.


    A spiral of mixed elemental magic shot upward... blue-white frost fused with burning violet fire. It mmed into the second tsunami creature, freezing it mid-surge and detonating it with a burst of molten shards.


    Zane snarled and dove lower, wind whipping his cloak behind him as he sent a swarm of dark energy daggers toward us.


    Kaelosnded beside me again.


    "I¡¯ll shield while you attack." He growled, and raised his right leg before stomping heavily on the ground, sending a wall of sand and debris that sessfully shielded us.


    The daggers collided with it and burst like insects against ss.


    At that moment, I focused, feeling my heartbeat.


    I felt the rage in my blood and the magic in my breath.


    I threw my hands out again and this time, roots burst from the sand, glowing with ethereal energy. They wrapped around Zane¡¯s legs mid-air, anchoring him for just a moment.


    Kaelos seized the opening. He sprinted forward and leaped, crashing into Zane like aet, both of them tumbling through the sky, crashing into the beach like falling gods.


    The ground trembled when they fell, sending shockwaves.


    Sand turned to ss under the pressure of their impact. I ran toward them, trying to focus my magic again, but something hit me hard mid-run.


    Pain exploded in my chest.


    Zane¡¯s magic, dark and powerful, struck me with a pulse of energy, throwing me backward.


    "Odessa!" Kaelos shouted.


    I hit the ground, wheezing while my arms trembled.


    My vision blurred as Zane stood once more, his body covered in cracks that glowed with the same sickly dark gold as his eyes. He looked like the magic was eating him alive.


    "You don¡¯t belong here, hybrid!" He screeched, blood and ck ooze dripping from his mouth. "You were never meant to have power! You were never meant to exist!"


    I stood again slowly as I gasped for breath, fighting through the pain.


    "Neither were you," I said, my voice low and cold. "But we¡¯re here."


    Kaelos limped to my side, blood trailing from his temple. "Let¡¯s end this."


    Zane let out a final scream and summoned a storm of lightning so massive the clouds cracked and twisted, the sea boiled, and the air bent.


    "Together," Kaelos said, extending his hand.


    I took it.


    Magic surged between us like fire through copper wire. My power mingled with his, and for a moment, the storm stilled, as the mental space itself hesitated.


    Our joined hands lifted, glowing with radiant force, silver from him and bright violet from me.


    We raised our arms.


    And then we unleashed.


    Thebined st of our essence tore forward, not just destroying the storm, but obliterating Zane¡¯s form from the inside out. He screamed in pain as the magic seared through his stolen flesh, burning away the remnants of his essence.


    The light was blinding.


    When it faded, the sky returned to calm. The moon brightened again and the water settled.


    Zane was gone. Faded out of existence.


    Kaelos and I breathed heavily as we both stared at each other while still holding hands.


    However, before we could even begin to celebrate our hard-earned victory, a silvery female voice echoed around the mental space.


    "Well done!"


    Gods, what now?


    I turned my head to the horizon where a figure surrounded by a blinding silver light descended from the sky.

 Chapter 188: _Pushing The Mate Bond’s Limits

    <h4>Chapter 188: _Pushing The Mate Bond¡¯s Limits</h4>


    I dimmed my eyes a bit when I saw the figure surrounded by silver light, confusion eating me up. We had just defeated a powered-up mental projection of Gamma Zane¡¯s soul, which was able to wield magic thanks to the help of a corrupted ritual.


    Who or what could this be?


    ¡¯I don¡¯t know how much more magic I can expend here, Sirena.¡¯ I said to my wolf, expecting something sassy in response.


    But I got nothing, causing my eyebrows to furrow into a deep frown.


    ¡¯Sirena? Sirena are you there?¡¯


    Still silence.


    My body shivered with fear as I clenched my jaw, ncing at Kaelos. However, before I could say anything to him, he stepped forward, staring at the silver figure with awe and reverence.


    "M¨CMoon goddess..." He muttered before getting on his knees, lowering his head.


    My mouth was wide open when I saw Kaelos kneeling.


    Moon goddess?


    As in, the deity who governs over the affairs of the werewolves and who¡¯s responsible for the creation of the mate bond?


    She¡¯s... She¡¯s here?


    "Odessa Pierce..." A silvery female voice echoed all around the mental space, filling my body with an unexinable warmth.


    My eyes widened when the silver light on the figure slowly cleared off, revealing the form of a beautiful young woman with flowy silver hair and a white gown that whipped around her like clouds.


    She had a halo behind her head in the shape of a crescent moon, while her gown was designed with silver runes and crystals.


    She levitated just a few meters above the seawater, a gentle smile on her face as she stared at me.


    I felt like I was cornered into a tight spot and parted my lips repeatedly. I didn¡¯t know what to do or say.


    But when I nced at Kaelos and saw that he was still kneeling, a thought in my head suggested that I do the same.


    Yet there was something in me telling me not to. I clenched my jaw and balled my hands into fists, locking my gaze on the so-called moon goddess.


    "O¨COdessa, what are you doing?" Kaelos asked with a whisper beside me but I ignored him as I stepped forward, keeping my gaze on the moon goddess.


    She tilted her head, her expression in although she had a curious look in her eyes.


    "If truly you¡¯re the moon goddess, I have a question for you." I blurted, squinting my eyes at her. "Have you known all this while that I¡¯m a hybrid? That I have a wolf locked away for whatever reason?"


    She fluttered her eyelids, her eyes flicking to Kaelos who kept his head lowered. Soon, the faintest smile tugged at her lips as she nodded.


    "I am the moon incarnate. I see everything under the light of the moon. I¡¯ve witnessed everything across time, from the dawn of civilization to your birth."


    Who the fuck asked her to brag?


    I gritted my teeth, feeling all the pent-up anger from years of being bullied resurfacing.


    "Then why? Why didn¡¯t you help me? Why didn¡¯t you awaken my wolf if I¡¯ve had it all this while?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.


    She was silent for several seconds, her arms still spread apart as she stared at me. After the silence drew unconformably long, she let out a sigh and descended onto the water.


    Her feet touched the surface like it was a solid surface but she didn¡¯t end there and proceeded to step forward, her unblemished and perfectly pure white dress whipping around her.


    "I originally didn¡¯te here to see you for this discussion, but I guess I¡¯ll take the liberty to reveal some things to you." She muttered as she finally left the water and stood on the sand of the beach, only a few meters in front of me.


    I knew this was nothing more than a mental projection of her within Kaelos¡¯ mind, but damn! Everything about her presence screamed "power".


    "Quick question... Now that your hybrid nature has awakened, what has been the reaction of people around you to it?" She queried, stepping forward and proceeding to circle me.


    Kaelos raised his head just then just in time to see her gesture at him to rise. When he did that, he turned his gaze to me.


    I was silent for a while before I sighed. "Yes, I know the continent views hybrids as an abomination. I know the destruction the awakening of my hybrid side has caused. But my point is if it had awakened earlier in my life¡ª"


    "It would¡¯ve barely made a difference." The moon goddess interrupted sharply, shaking her head. "The person who locked away your wolf side did it to protect you. Do you know how many Hybrids like you have been hunted and killed during infancy?"


    The person who locked away... What?


    "Someone locked away my wolf side?" I asked, dread surging down my spine as I racked my mind.


    When Sirena had first started speaking in my mind, we had both theorized that possibility... But I never knew it was actually what happened.


    The moon goddess casually revealing that took me off guard.


    "Looks like I¡¯ve said too much..." She muttered, ncing away from me when she got in front of me. "Listen, child. Everything happens for a reason. I can assure you that if your hybrid nature had been awakened during childhood... You might¡¯ve not made it. And then you wouldn¡¯t have met Kaelos."


    I nced at Kaelos who smiled wryly at me, grabbing my hand and clutching it tightly.


    I stared at him with a smile of my own but then remembered something.


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    "Why are you here in the first ce?"


    She smiled, gesturing at Kaelos and me.


    "I wanted to say a good job to you and Kaelos for testing the limits of the mate bond enough to catch my attention. Even though this is only a mental space, you pushed your connection to a level that allowed you to unlock new abilities and heighten existing ones."


    Wait, what?


    My mind went to how Kaelos had been able to create a silver energy barrier to shield us from Gamma Zane¡¯s first attack. Was that because of the mate bond?


    "Anyway, as my final act, I¡¯ll give you two a little push that¡¯ll send your consciousness back to your bodies." The moon goddess blurted before raising her right hand.


    My eyes widened as I parted my lips with hesitation. "Wait! I still have so many more questions. Y¡ª"


    "You¡¯ll know the answers to each on your own when the time is right." She interrupted, her voice calm as she waved her palm forward. "Good luck, Odessa and Kaelos."


    As soon as she said that, I felt a pull from behind and watched as the mental space around us devolved like a fog, quickly disappearing as the consciousness of Kaelos and I were sucked away.

 Chapter 189: _I Love You

    <h4>Chapter 189: _I Love You</h4>


    My eyes jolted open in the real world as I gasped, flicking my gaze around the dimly lit room filled with the scent of herbs and incense.


    The first face I saw was my Aunt Althea, who quickly tightened her grip on my right hand, which she¡¯d been holding while I was in the mental space.


    "It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m here." She whispered but before she could even say anything else, I blurted.


    "Kaelos."


    My eyes fell on the tform beside both of us where he was lying. My left hand was on his chest, allowing me to feel how slow his heartbeat was and how hollow his breathing was.


    Just when I wondered if the moon goddess had made some kind of mistake, his eyelids shook, causing me to adjust my sitting position as I stared at him anxiously.


    "Odessa, what¡¯s happening?" Elder Davina¡¯s voice echoed from a corner as she stepped closer holding a steaming bowl of herbs and mixtures. "Were you able to find the Alpha King¡¯s consciousness?"


    "I felt your struggle there." Althea suddenly mumbled, staring at me with worry. "I felt you using magic. At a destructive level if I may add. And during that time, the threads connecting your mate bond with Kaelos pulsed stronger than anything I¡¯ve ever seen."


    As insightful as her words were, I barely took note of them. All my attention was on Kaelos and his handsome features.


    Due to the wolfsbane and silver poisoning, his werewolf healing factor had drastically slowed down. A small sh was still present on his face, dripping with blood.


    "Odessa..." My aunt called my attention again, but this time she used her free hand to grab my shoulder.


    She proceeded to trail her fingers to my dress and pressed her finger against my upper chest, causing me to gasp. A sharp pain was present there.


    When I lowered my gaze, a cold shiver ran down my spine when I saw a burn mark. One filled with writing ck veins that crawled around my skin like worms.


    My mind raced with confusion at first until I remembered the fight against Gamma Zane in the mental space. He had sted me with dark magic before we defeated him.


    "Were his attacks able to reflect on my physical body?" I asked myself, my chest rising and falling heavily as I tried calming down.


    ¡¯That seems to be the case.¡¯ Sirena¡¯s voice echoed in my mind just then. ¡¯Sorry, I couldn¡¯t talk when the moon goddess appeared. I... I just had this urge to observe from a distance when she was there.¡¯


    Before I could get relieved that my wolf was back, another thought entered my mind that made me subconsciously withdraw my hand from Aunt Althea and clutch my stomach.


    "M¨CMy baby... Is my¡ª"


    Before I couldplete that sentence, Kaelos stirred and then his eyes opened as he gasped. A groan soon followed as he bit his bottom lip.


    "Kaelos." I breathed out with relief.


    His gaze went to me and his silver eyes glinted with warmth as he smiled. "We did it. I have no idea how Zane was able to wield magic in my mind... But we defeated him. Permanently."


    Suddenly, Elder Davina cleared her throat and stood beside me, cing a hand on my shoulder.


    "Althea and I could sense the corrupted energy from here." She revealed with a solemn tone. "The most likely theory is that the witch Zane worked with gave him the ability to use magic within the astral ne at an astronomical level. But it was at the cost of his soul."


    I nodded slowly, staring at Kaelos with a warm smile.


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    "At the end of it, there was a change in the energies. Something... Warm. Something pure." Althea mumbled, seeming thoughtful. "Something divine..."


    That was definitely the moon goddess¡¯ presence she felt.


    "I feel..." Kaelos suddenly spoke up with a heavy breath, struggling to sit up. "I feel like I¡¯m recovering. I couldn¡¯t feel my wolf before passing out and in the mental space but now..."


    He paused for a long time at first before his eyes locked onto mine.


    There was a glint in his eyes at first and I felt mine widening slightly as well.


    ¡¯I can feel my wolf and I can feel you.¡¯ His deep voice echoed in my mind just then, shocking me.


    I blinked at first, ncing at Elder Davina and then at my aunt before I responded mentally.


    ¡¯How is this happening? How can we hear each other¡¯s thoughts now?¡¯


    His eyes squinted at first before he spoke mentally. ¡¯Definitely the cause of the mate bond. It started with us being able to feel each other¡¯s emotions. Then we unlocked new abilities in the mental space. I wonder what will happen next.¡¯


    His tone was yful at the end, causing me to giggle as I stared lovingly at his face in reality.


    Althea and Elder Davina nced at each other at that moment and nodded at themselves.


    "We¡¯ll be leaving now." Althea muttered, getting on her feet. "Oh, and Odessa. That... burn mark on your chest is already healing."


    I blinked before bringing my gaze to my chest again. Indeed, the burn mark from the dark magic st was healing at a rapid rate on its own.


    "The mate bond between you and Kaelos is something... Unique." Elder Davina added with intrigue. "It¡¯s shown the potential to make your connection transcend anything ever seen in the werewolf world. Please, hold on to it as tightly as possible."


    I nodded, watching as she smiled onest time before she and Althea walked out of the room side by side, leaving Kaelos and me alone.


    "Hold on to it as tightly as possible," Kaelos repeated, a sly grin on his face.


    But then he coughed erratically, heaving to catch his breath before he let out a sigh. "I guess forever is the goal for the both of us."


    I could feel a strong emotioning out of him that made my heart feel warm. I could see that he was struggling to say words that he¡¯s alreadye up with in his mind.


    And to be honest... I had the same words in my mind as well but struggled just as much to say them.


    "I¨CI love you, Odessa." He blurted, tightening his grip on my hand. "And I¡¯m proud to be your mate."


    My eyes stung with happy tears which I blinked back before muttering softly. "I love you too, Kaelos. More than anything I could possibly exin with words."


    We sat in silence for a while, the mate bond working overtime to heal up both the wounds on our bodies and our hearts.

 Chapter 190: _Gulit

    <h4>Chapter 190: _Gulit</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    It took only two days for me to fully recover. Elder Davina and high priestess Althea said if it weren¡¯t for the mate bond between Odessa and me, it might¡¯ve taken twice as long with the help of their potions.


    On the morning of my recovery, I stood on my balcony, staring down at the pack and the activities going on within it.


    People were still trying to heal from the catastrophe at the event Hall nights ago. A catastrophe brought about by Odessa¡¯s hybrid nature.


    But after the battle against my uncle in my mind, I couldn¡¯t afford to send her back to the dungeons to satisfy the people¡¯s desires for revenge.


    She was pregnant with my child. And most importantly, our fighting together against my uncle gave me an important epiphany that I thought I would never feel for anyone.


    I love her.


    I actually loved someone.


    ¡¯Congrats, buddy.¡¯ Damon suddenly muttered in my head, his voice teasing. ¡¯I didn¡¯t think you had it in you.¡¯


    I scoffed, rolling my eyes as I ced my hands on the railing of the balcony.


    ¡¯Had what in me? The ability to love?¡¯


    He sniggered for a while before responding with a sigh. ¡¯Nah, the ability to screw what the people think. I was beginning to think our mate was turning you into a wuss.¡¯


    I shook my head slowly before smiling. ¡¯Well, wouldn¡¯t you like that? Seeing as you¡¯re always the number one person telling me to be vulnerable with her.¡¯


    Before we could go on with our argument, my nose caught a familiar scent that made my face light up with a smile.


    A few secondster, two arms wrapped around my body from behind, taking me a little by surprise at first before I chuckled.


    "Well, well, well. I didn¡¯t know the great hybrid had it in her to show such a bold public disy of affection." I mused.


    Odessa giggled behind me before swatting me lightly on my back.


    "I mean, I had to pick up from you." She said casually as she finally let go and moved away from my back.


    She stood beside me, staring at my face with a bright smile. Her hair was let down in a ponytail, and she wore a white bohemian-style top without shoulders, a ck jean trouser, and a crystal ne.


    There was sweat dripping down her forehead which she used her right hand to wipe off before sighing.


    "How¡¯s magic training with Aunt Althea going?" I asked, leaning closer to her while she rested her back on the handrail.


    She sighed, parting aside strands of her hair. "Hectic as fuck. This morning, she was trying to give me teachings on utilizing elemental magic. I say ¡¯trying¡¯ because it ended badly. I almost burnt off my face."


    I almost choked on my own saliva trying to hold back a chuckle, shaking my head with an amused expression.


    "What happened to that god-level disy of magic power you showed in my mental space?" I queried.


    She rolled her eyes before she answered. "Althea said I was only able to do all that because a mental space is easier to manipte with magic. Out here in reality... It¡¯s tough. Ick control."


    She paused just then, her gaze bing distant and her expression sour.


    It didn¡¯t take me long to guess what she was thinking about.


    I stretched my right hand forward and gently caressed her face before bringing it to her right hand. I held her right hand, watching as her gaze softened when she stared at me.


    "The incident at the Charity Ball wasn¡¯t your fault." I blurted, making sure my voice was as soft as possible. "You pushed to the edge and did everything in your power to survive. If anything, Lucinda should be the one facing judgment from your coven today."


    The Luminari Coven¡¯s delegates wereing to the pack today. Any minute from now, in fact.


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    Odessa had been waiting nervously for their arrival, using the magic lessons from Althea to distract herself.


    During the two days and two nights of my recovery, I could feel her guilt like it was mine. People had died during her breakdown at the Charity Ball.


    Alphas of the people who died had been trying to reach me, seeking justice. But how could I give "justice" to someone who was also a victim?


    "Althea said Lucinda woulde along with the delegates." Odessa suddenly remarked with a wry smile. "The only bright side of all this is that Celine and Zane are finally dead."


    I remained silent at first until my gazended on her stomach. I smiled warmly as I brought my right hand to her stomach, causing her to flinch before she brought her gaze to me.


    "This little guy here is another bright side."


    She paused at first before she scoffed, cing her hand on my wrist. "How do you know it¡¯s not a girl?"


    I smirked slightly as we stared at each other for several seconds before slowly bringing our faces close to each other. Her eyes went from my lips to my eyes, her face reddening slightly.


    However, before we could lock lips, there was a knock on the balcony door, forcing us to stop abruptly. We swerved our heads in unison only to see La standing there with a small smile on her face.


    "G¨CGood morning, sir. I¡¯m d to see you¡¯re okay now." She greeted me before adding. "The Luminari Coven¡¯s delegates have arrived and are waiting in your throne room."


    Oh...


    I didn¡¯t even notice them stepping into thepound.


    "Are you ready?" I turned to Odessa and asked softly.


    She hesitated, her grip on my hand tightening before she shook her head. "No. But as long as you¡¯re there with me, I think I¡¯ll do just fine."


    I smiled wryly before whispering. "You will."


    With that, we turned to La who stood there silently.


    "Lead the way, La." I gestured with a serious expression.

 Chapter 191: _Cover Up For Negligence

    <h4>Chapter 191: _Cover Up For Negligence</h4>


    When Odessa and I walked into the throne room with La leading the way, we were met with three witches, including high priestess Althea, sitting on a rectangr table facing my throne.


    I nced at Odessa, tightening my grip on her hand ever so slightly in a way that would be reassuring before we continued walking.


    "Alpha King Kaelos." The witch sitting at the center of the others was the first to speak.


    Althea and the other witch remained silent.


    This witch at the center was Coven Head Arachne, one of the oldest and possibly the most powerful witches on the continent currently.


    She had long grey hair and wore a ck robe with intricate designs of blooming white flowers printed on it, as well as the golden star of the coven behind her. Her piercing blue eyes showed the centuries of wisdom she had and the staff she held with her right hand showed her power and prestige among witches.


    "Elder Arachne and high priestess Nimue of the Luminari Coven." I greeted the two new witches apart from Althea with a nod as I sat on my throne.


    Odessa stood in front of me, her head lowered slightly and her hands ced in front of her body while her back faced the Elders.


    "Odessa Pierce." Arachne barely acknowledged my response as she fixed all her attention on Odessa. "Hybrid blood. Do you know why you¡¯ve been brought before the elders of the Luminari Coven?"


    ¡¯Talk about going straight to the point.¡¯ Damon sniggered in my head but I could tell that there was hidden anger behind his voice.


    He didn¡¯t like the fact that our mate was brought before these... Elders, because of something that waspletely out of her control.


    And neither did I.


    "Before we begin, elders..." I raised my right hand and cleared my throat, my voice booming through therge throne room. "I got word that priestess Lucinda would being as well. Where is she?"


    My voice was calm but I did nothing to hide the coldness and sternness within.


    The coven head sat down quietly, drumming her fingers on the table with a sharp look in her eyes. But I remained unmoving as well, tilting my head slightly and tapping my right foot on the floor gently to show my growing irritation.


    It seems these witches have forgotten who they¡¯re sitting in front of.


    "Lucinda will be here any minute. She¡¯s still trying to heal properly after facing the apocalyptic magic of... The hybrid." High priestess Nimue, a woman with whitish blonde hair who seemed to be in her fifties, spoke out dismissively.


    I clenched my jaw, ring directly at her for several seconds until she was forced to look away with quivering eyes.


    "Last time I checked, Lucinda was the one who attacked Odessa. Not the other way around." I continued, my grip on the armrest of my throne tightening a bit.


    "Before Odessa was even revealed as a hybrid, Lucinda tried mentally subduing her simply because she wanted to prove her fickle superiority."


    The high priestesses, including even Althea, nced at each other and began murmuring, their expressions pensive.


    "Is... Is this true, Odessa?" Althea finally mustered the courage to ask Odessa who seemed like she¡¯d rather prefer to stay silent and invisible.


    She slowly raised her head, but stared directly at me without saying anything at first. I stared at her in return and gave her one reassuring nod.


    ¡¯Remember you said as long as I¡¯m here with you, you¡¯ll be alright.¡¯ I said to her mentally through the mate bond. ¡¯Well, I¡¯m here and I don¡¯t n on leaving anytime soon. Don¡¯t be afraid. Don¡¯t yield. You aren¡¯t the monster they¡¯re trying to paint you as.¡¯


    Her eyes softened and a warm smile soon spread across her face as she gave me a nod as well.


    ¡¯Thank you.¡¯


    With that, she turned away from me and faced the high priestesses fully. Coven Head Arachne dimmed her eyes but seemed ready to hear her out.


    "Lucinda had tried intimidating me earlier that night with telepathy and even triedpelling me to kneel," Odessa revealed with a clear and unshaken voice.


    "I resisted and didn¡¯t make any big deal about it throughout the rest of the night. Alpha King Kaelos is my husband and she dared to pull such a stunt in his territory. Have you thought about the repercussions if he had decided to take things further?"


    The high priestesses nced at themselves once again and all seemed to be stumped on what to do or say.


    "For years I¡¯ve faced bullying led by your perfect young witch, Lucinda." Odessa continued with a bitter voice that echoed around the room.


    "Yet even though I¡¯ve awakened my magic, I didn¡¯t think about getting any sort of revenge on her. I didn¡¯t even think of attacking her... Until she dered before the humans, wolves, and witches gathered that she would rid the earth of me."


    Coven Head Arachne seemed disturbed and waved at Odessa to stop with her right hand while she rubbed her chin with her left.


    I felt pride surge through me as I stared down at Odessa. She was handling this way better than I would.


    "As... Wrong as Lucinda was, it doesn¡¯t erase the fact that the continent and beyond know of your hybrid nature. And that you ughtered several people during your breakdown." Coven Head Arachne said with a solemn tone, folding her hands in front of her face.


    Odessa parted her lips to speak but this time, I decided to take over by clearing my throat.


    "The werewolves suffered most of the casualties that night out of the thirty-two people who died," I said bluntly. "Only two witches died, and none were even from your coven. Eleven humans died. Guess who the remaining neen were."


    There was a long pause after I gave that report. I scanned my gaze on all three of their faces before I continued.


    "Werewolves. Elite werewolves from all over the continent. Under MY rulership and MY territory." I continued, my voice cold and guttural now as I slowly got on my feet.


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    I could feel the fear rising from the witches like a collective miasma, but I ignored that, clenching my fists and speaking with a thundering voice.


    "I don¡¯t care what any of you think. I will not let you use my wife as a scapegoat to cover up your negligence and ipetence."

 Chapter 192: _Final Verdict

    <h4>Chapter 192: _Final Verdict</h4>


    There was a deafening silence after myst deration. The coven elders nced among themselves, but this time they didn¡¯t seem to speak with words.


    They were clearly having a conversation mentally.


    I got agitated and was about to call them out on it when Odessa¡¯s voice suddenly echoed in my mind.


    ¡¯Kaelos, as much as I appreciate you for speaking up for me, I don¡¯t want to escte things. You¡¯re trying to make peace beyond this truce, remember?¡¯


    Oh, yes. I remember all too well.


    But back then, I never imagined that the "witch" I would pick as a symbol of the truce through marriage would turn out to be my mate and a Hybrid.


    Things are different now. Much different.


    ¡¯The continent loves pointing fingers at easier targets and you¡¯re the easy target in this case.¡¯ I said with a in tone. ¡¯You were pregnant during that fight with Lucinda, Odessa. What if something had happened to our unborn child?¡¯


    The fact that we were expecting a child after all these things were happening simultaneously was crazy to me. For starters, I never imagined that I would have a child with a witch.


    Talk less of a Hybrid.


    Just thinking about how important and powerful the child could be made me increasingly nervous.


    ¡¯Well, nothing happened to the child and that¡¯s all there is to it, Kaelos.¡¯ Odessa responded to myst mental words at the same moment that the elders had stoppedmunicating mentally.


    But before any of them could speak, the throne room doors burst open, and this time, Lucinda was the one who stepped inside.


    Her high heels echoed on the marble floor as the coven elders nced back to see her.


    "Forgive myteness, Elders." She said casually before fixing her gaze on me.


    A small smile yed on her lips as she bowed in front of me. "Good day, Alpha King. I heard rumors that your Luna Queen, Celine, tried orchestrating a coup against you that night. I do hope you¡¯re okay."


    Just when I was about to say something cold, Coven Head Arachne cleared her throat with a solemn expression.


    "Lucinda, did you or did you not attack Odessa first during the night of the Charity Ball?"


    Lucinda froze as she stood beside Odessa who remained silent and didn¡¯t even bother ncing at her.


    The young witch only nced at me briefly before she scoffed silently and turned to face the coven elders.


    "High priestesses of the Luminari Coven. O¨COdessa had released a devastating attack on the entire party before I attacked her. A sonic wolf howl¡ª"


    "Oh, so you admit to your attack on her being racially motivated and not because she posed any real threat?" Althea mused, cing her hands in front of her jaw as she stared coldly at Lucinda.


    Thetter parted her lips repeatedly, her robe shaking to show the tension she felt.


    But she soon got rid of it and spoke with a sneer. "Odessa released a sonic howl that sent a few werewolf guards flying before I did anything to her. I held her down with telekinesis but she wanted to prove how stubborn she was so I had to¡ª"


    "Put me in my ce?" Odessa interrupted, finally turning to face Lucinda. "What about when you tried breaching my mind right before the event kicked off?"


    Lucinda seemed like a cornered bird and balled her hands into fists as she pointed a finger at Odessa.


    "How dare you? I¨CI only did that because... Because I¡ª". Her stuttering proved that she indeed had started the attack due to race.


    The elders nced at themselves briefly, their faces solemn but decisive.


    "Lucinda Silverwing of the Luminari Coven. Your actions not only stained the name of this prestigious coven, but they also caused the lives of many." Arachne began, getting on her feet without wasting any more time.


    Lucinda gasped, shaking her head as she pointed at Odessa once again. "Are you going to punish me and use me as a scapegoat when I was trying to protect the continent from this... From this abomination?!"


    My eyes twitched when I heard the word "abomination". My fingers itched for me to bring out my ws and sh through her throat once and for all.


    But I didn¡¯t want to spill blood. Not today, at least.


    "Everyone on the continent knows that hybrids have been nothing but harbingers of chaos and destruction for millennia before the war." Lucinda continued defiantly. "Odessa Pierce will only continue to be problematic and a wild card if we don¡¯t¡ª"


    "Silence!" Arachne couldn¡¯t take it anymore and barked amand brimming with magic power that instantly caused Lucinda to fall to her knees with a gasp.


    "Insolent child!" She continued with a cold voice. "You should know more than any witch the prophecy tied to a hybrid in this world. Odessa can be and will be tutored on how to control her Hybrid nature."


    She paused, turning her head slowly to Odessa who stiffened subconsciously.


    "And that brings me to our final verdict on Odessa Pierce." She said solemnly, her long grey hair whipping behind her slightly.


    "As a precaution, high priestess Althea will stay behind to guide her more on her magic. She¡¯s expected to also get tutors who¡¯ll guide her on her werewolf nature. Odessa is banned from using abilities from either side publicly for six months while this is happening."


    My eyes widened slightly and I could feel the shock from Odessa as well.


    "Six months?" I repeated, thinking about what that would mean.


    Coven Head Arachne nodded. "Yes, Alpha King. If this truce is to go on strongly, this verdict will reassure the safety of your werewolves, our witches, and humans. We¡¯ve discussed this with the United States president beforeing here."


    Well, it was a far better verdict than having her spend another second in the dungeons, or worse.


    Anyway, after I nodded at the coven¡¯s Head, she fixed her gaze on Lucinda, who trembled on the floor.


    "And Lucinda. For attacking your fellow sister in the craft simply to further your bigotry and vendetta about her different bloodline, and also endangering the lives of hundreds in the process, I ce this magic seal upon you."


    Arachne raised her right hand and waved it forward, sending a powerful magic seal that branded itself on Lucinda¡¯s head, causing her to gasp with pain before she fell weakly to the ground.


    "Your magic has been sealed away until further notice and you will be stripped of your position as our coven¡¯s delegate. If you try breaking the seal, your case will be sent to the desk of the general coalition of North American covens, where you could face a worse fate. Death."


    Lucinda grumbled and grunted on the floor, sobbing as high priestess Nimue stepped forward and yanked her off the floor.


    "You should be ashamed of yourself young woman." She remarked as she dragged Lucinda away.


    Coven Head Arachne lingered for a while longer, staring at me and Odessa silently for several seconds before she bowed slightly.


    "Odessa might prove to be the bridge between werewolves, witches, and humans and the key to finally ending the war on a global scale." She said with a somber expression. "I hope to see what exploits she does next."


    With that, she nced briefly at high priestess Althea before stepping away from the table and walking away, leaving the throne room in silence.


    Well... That just happened.<fnf467> Latest content published on find{n}ovel</fnf467>

 Chapter 193: _Making History

    <h4>Chapter 193: _Making History</h4>


    "Sir, we¡¯ve sessfully connected with the World Alliance Television Network." La walked into the throne room and announced with a solemn tone, holding her tablet close to her body.


    We hadn¡¯t even had the chance to recover from the trial with Lucinda and the witches but we needed to be quick. I nced at Odessa who stood below my throne, staring at me with uncertainty.


    After a few seconds, I tore my gaze away from her and fixed it on La. "Get the cameras rolling for my speech to the world in five minutes. The other Alpha Kings need to know about how the truce ising and also about some... Recent changes."


    I felt tense about taking this next step but watched as La gave me a nod and walked out of the throne room.


    I used that opportunity to get up from the throne and step down under the watchful gaze of Odessa and Althea.


    It seemed Althea noticed the change in atmosphere as she cleared her throat before getting up. "I¡¯ll take my leave now. Odessa, we can continue magic trainingter today."


    Althea nced at Odessa with a knowing smile before she turned around and walked away, her dark purple robes flowing elegantly behind her and her high heels echoing on the marble floor.


    Odessa watched her with a speechless pout before she sighed and turned her gaze back to me. We stood only a few inches away, her breath hitting my face when she looked up.


    "What... What are we going to tell the people?" She finally found the strength to ask, seemingly out of breath. "Also, the World Alliance Television Network? Isn¡¯t that an independent¡ª"


    "An independent World News channel that works outside the control of the witches, werewolves, and humans?" I chimed in with a light sigh.


    "Yeah, they are. And I got word that the United States president is having a press briefing through that channel from the white house, addressing the incident at the Charity Ball."


    After saying that, I walked back to my throne and quickly grabbed a remote on the small stool beside it and pressed some buttons.


    That caused arge screen television at the corner to turn on after which it showed live news from the white house.


    "I thought the white house would be run down after the war." Odessa blurted, climbing the steps leading to my throne and standing beside me.


    I gave her a small smile before I nodded. "It was. But since the president and his cab started regaining their political power after the truce, it¡¯s been rebuilt back to its former glory."


    From the television, the voice of the president, a man in his sixties who had his right arm slightly suspended by a bandaged arm sling, echoed loudly.


    "People of America and indeed the whole world. On a closing note, I¡¯d like to say that while the ways of the werewolves and even the witches in this continent and beyond may be confusing and terrifying to us humans... They¡¯re willing to cooperate for peace."


    He stared directly at the cameras, his voice firm and his expression serious.


    "The incident at the Charity Ball, as tragic as it was, wasn¡¯t a nned attack. My counterpart from the werewolf side, the Alpha King of the North American packs, has said that his mate was stressed, especially since she was being attacked by a witch."


    I could feel Odessa¡¯s shock beside me and nced at her just in time to see her expression.


    "Did he... Did he just say ¡¯mate"?" She asked with shock, her eyes blinking repeatedly.


    I only smiled vaguely as La¡¯s footsteps echoed into the throne room again. I swerved my head to the entrance where she was walking in with a crew of cameramen and tech people, directing them to different positions.


    "Alright, people. We¡¯ve got exactly three minutes to connect to the live connection. Let¡¯s make it work!"


    After saying that, she nced at me and I gave her a single acknowledging nod.


    "Kaelos, what¡¯s happening?" Odessa grabbed my arm, forcing me to bring my gaze to her again. " I-I thought we were only going to address the people of the continent and apologize about my... About my¡ª"


    "Yes, we are. But you aren¡¯t doing that alone now, are you?" I asked with a raise of my eyebrow, tightening my grip on her hand. "You¡¯re my wife and my mate. Celine betrayed me and is dead. The pack has no Gamma. The dynamic is changing quickly and we need to change with it."


    At that same moment, as I stared at her, the American president continued talking.


    "Yes, I know most of you, especially the werewolf viewers, might be confused about how the Alpha King is mated to a young woman who confessed on TV to the entire continent that she¡¯s a Hybrid. I don¡¯t know myself and was just given word to make that announcement first."


    "Sir, get ready." La suddenly gave me a signal from where she stood close to a pir.


    I simply gave her a nod before I turned my gaze to Odessa again, my gaze more serious now.


    "Today we¡¯ll be making history in front of the whole world. I ask that you trust my decision..." I raised her hand, staring directly at her face.


    Her eyelids fluttered as I pulled at her hand, leading her to sit on the slightly smaller throne beside mine meant for the Luna Queen.


    Her lips parted in shock and she stood in front of the throne even after I had sat on mine.


    "L¨CLuna Queen?" She blurted, stuttering with a shaky voice. "You want me to sit beside you as your Luna Queen to address millions or even billions of viewers across the world... Dressed like this?"


    She gestured at the white bohemian top and ck form-fitting jean pants she wore, as well as her blonde hair, which was made into a ponytail.


    Usually, I would have told her to change before we began the broadcast. But...


    "If you ask me, that dressing makes you more rtable to your humans and witches watching," I remarked with a shrug, patting her throne for her to sit.


    "We¡¯ll be rolling in one minute, sir!" La¡¯s voice echoed from where she stood, causing Odessa to jolt before groaning dramatically and sitting beside me.


    I could feel her nervousness like it was mine and stretched a hand to her, holding her reassuringly.


    "You¡¯ll be fine. Just breathe."


    She blinked at me at first but then nodded and closed her eyes, drawing in deep breaths.


    "I think I¡¯ve spoken enough already." The American president¡¯s voice echoed from the television. "The final thing I can say is that despite the threat of rogues and other enemies around the continent, this truce may just be our path to peace in a war that has raged for far too long. Good day and God bless America..."


    Cameras shed in the conference room he was in as the humans there tried getting him to answer more questions.


    At that same moment, the cameras in the throne room pointed at Odessa and me, causing me to draw in a deep breath in preparation.


    ¡¯Smile for the cameras, kids.¡¯ Damon muttered in my head, almost causing me to roll my eyes.


    ¡¯Shut up, furball.¡¯


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    "We¡¯re connecting with thework in five..." La began the countdown, raising the fingers of her right hand. "Four... three... two... One!"


    Soon, I saw the faces of Odessa and me on the TV screens in the throne room, signifying that we were LIVE. I nced briefly at Odessa before I parted my lips to speak.


    "Werewolves, witches, humans, and all the people of Earth. I..."


    Suddenly, before I could continue speaking, the cameramen began ncing at themselves with confusion. Even La seemed to panic as the televisions in the throne room buffered, shing with static lights.


    "La, what¡¯s happening?" I asked cautiously but before she could give an answer, the televisions began running again.


    But this time, Odessa and I weren¡¯t shown on the screen. The person on the screen was a menacing figure surrounded by shadows, their face and body obscuredpletely.


    "You are not watching what you were meant to see. That feed is gone. This... is truth." A modified voice echoed from the television, menacing and oddly predatory.


    I got on my feet, my jaw clenched as I stared at the television.


    The person on the screen continued. "I am the true Lord of the North. And all I¡¯m about to show you and say will prove just how far the maniption of the false Alpha King, Kaelos Bloodoak, has gone. It will show just how ipetent he has be."


    I swerved my head sharply to La, who was frantically moving around, making calls, and trying to understand what was happening.


    "Well?" I asked, feeling frustration already seeping in.


    The true lord of the North... Never would I have imagined that such an elusive and mysterious figure would make such a bold move.


    "Sir, the news broadcast towers of the World Alliance Television Network all around North America have been taken over by rogues. They managed to hack into the world feed from there." La revealed with dread in her voice.


    Shit...

 Chapter 194: _Propaganda

    <h4>Chapter 194: _Propaganda</h4>


    I clenched my hands into fists as I stared at the television screen.


    The man speaking was the so-called True Lord of the North¡ªan elusive figure I¡¯d been hearing about for weeks from Alphas across the continent.


    He was a self-proimed Alpha King of North America, rallying rogue werewolves under one cause:


    To rid the world of witches.


    I had pushed him to the back of my mind, especially since rogue attacks had died down recently. But now, there he was¡ªcalm, confident, and seated somewhere off-screen, speaking directly to the world after hijacking thergest independent newswork since the war began.


    "Are none of the personnel able to do something about their towers?" Odessa asked from where she sat, visibly shaken.


    I nced at her, then turned to La, who shook her head grimly.


    "They¡¯ve all been taken over by rogues. It was a joint surprise attack. They¡¯re miles away from help. The neighboring packs are trying to reach the towers, but there¡¯s been no word yet."


    Fuck.


    I turned my attention back to the screen, just as the True Lord of the North began speaking again... as if he knew I was watching.


    "While the people of North America sit under the illusion of peace, tied by something as fickle as a marriage between the Alpha king and a witch, the rest of the world still fights."


    At that moment, the screen shifted to show aerial footage of the Eiffel Tower.


    Crowds scattered in panic below as thunderclouds spun like a vortex overhead.


    I squinted. The "people" on the ground weren¡¯t human.


    They were werewolves.


    Every single one of them.


    Suddenly, the lightning came from the clouds, rumbling and shaking the sky.


    Bolts of lightning rained down like serpents of judgment, striking soldiers and civilians alike. Some were children, crying and screaming as pack warriors nked them, looking to the sky in desperation.


    "No..." Odessa whispered as the lightning hit, shing the earth blue with the Eiffel Tower at the epicenter.


    "That footage was from Paris. The people you watched ughtered like animals were werewolves of the Moon Tower Pack... the only werewolf pack residing in the city." The Lord¡¯s voice oozed cold contempt.


    The drone footage zoomed in on the tower¡¯s summit, revealing a silhouette draped in golden robes.


    <fne1d7> Official source is </fne1d7>


    A witch.


    "This happened two days ago. While North America hosted a charity ball, hundreds of werewolves were killed by a single witch, after the city¡¯s humans and witches were safely evacuated."


    The footage cuts to a rural scene in Nigeria. A Catholic church came into view, where dark-skinned soldiers raised rifles at another group¡ªcivilians, lined against a wall.


    "Here, you see human soldiers executing innocent werewolves who sought sanctuary in a church."


    I gritted my teeth as the soldiers opened fire while their victims screamed in pain and terror, women and children included in the massacre.


    My heart dropped to my stomach and my hands shook with rage as the screen transitioned again.


    "Let¡¯s look at Mexico. Still within North America." The Lord was far from done and seemed to be eager with all this info dumping.


    The next clip showed werewolves caged like animals, their necks bound with silver chains as they howled in agony. Human soldiersughed nearby.


    "Even with the so-called truce, human settlements unaligned with witches are still enving werewolves right under the Alpha King¡¯s nose."


    What the fuck?!


    La still had her phone to her ear, but her mouth was hanging open in disbelief. I nced at Odessa and saw a storm ofplex emotions in her eyes... many of which I could feel as mine through the mate bond.


    ¡¯I¡¯ve failed.¡¯ I thought, closing my eyes. I let this happen...


    But then, the Lord¡¯s voice returned, mocking and smug:


    "Now, please wee the South American Alpha King himself, here to share his thoughts on the North American truce."


    My eyes flew open. The screen flickered, revealing a man kneeling on a filthy floor. Blood dripped from his mouth, and silver chains coiled around him.


    His once-great grey hair was tangled and matted with dirt.


    "Alpha King Leonardo..." I whispered, disbelief filling my chest.


    I hadn¡¯t checked in on him since the weing ball over a week ago.


    "We captured this Alpha King days ago," the Lord continued. "He¡¯s been in lockdown, waiting for the perfect moment when I would need him for an asion like this. To tell you all the bitter truth."


    A sharp whip cracked from offscreen, making Leonardo lurch forward with a grunt of pain.


    "Say your lines, old man," A female voice spat from the shadows.


    I balled my fists. Whatever Leonardo said next could destroy everything I¡¯ve struggled to build with the truce.


    He slowly raised his head, staring into the camera with bloodshot eyes. His voice was hoarse and his breath shaky as he spoke.


    "T¨CThe truce is a farce," He croaked. "T¨CThe witches and humans only understand war and death. They will always see us... as beasts. I¡ªI was nearly killed by a witch at the weing ball... at Alpha King Kaelos¡¯ territory."


    No.


    Shit. No.


    My eyes widened and my lungs squeezed tight as I clenched my jaw.


    Meanwhile, Leonardo dragged in a shaky breath and continued:


    "The war can only end with the witches dead. And... their human allies with them."


    Odessa suddenly stood up, pointing at the screen with shaky fingers. "This... this is propaganda ying right before our eyes. Are the werewolves of North America and the world going to fall for it?"


    I didn¡¯t answer her immediately, instead staring at the screen. I saw a sh of guilt and shame in Leonardo¡¯s eyes as he lowered his head once again, as if he was afraid I would see him.


    But there was also something else in his eyes. Despair. One born out of grief. One you only fall into after losing everything dear to you.


    "Gamma Zane and Celine were able to organize a small-scale coup under our noses with propaganda of some kind," I muttered finally in response to Odessa¡¯s question, gritting my teeth before adding:


    "The information shown today is just enough to grow the seed of doubt in the minds of werewolves everywhere. And I fear that seed wouldn¡¯t take time to germinate into something chaotic."

 Chapter 195: _The World Holds Their Breath

    <h4>Chapter 195: _The World Holds Their Breath</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


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    After Kaelos and I escaped his mind, I thought everything would slowly go back to normal.


    I could still feel the tension anytime I walked out of my room. I could still hear whispers from maids and staff members who pointed at me, referring to the incident at the Charity Ball.


    "I can¡¯t believe the Alpha King didn¡¯t execute her."


    "I¡¯m hearing rumors that there was an attempted coup. That¡¯s the real reason why Luna Queen Celine and Gamma Zane are missing."


    "Do you think they were killed?"


    "Goddess, what is happening in our pack?"


    These were only a few of the gossips I heard from every corner. I had to wait for Kaelos to fully recover for two days.


    During this time, I had thepany of my aunt Althea, who stayed back to begin teaching me magic, Caroline, who was slowly warming up to me again after showing some distance during the night of the Charity Ball incident, and of course, my wolf Sirena.


    On day two after the Charity Ball, the other two elders of the Luminari coven hade to the pack with Lucinda and ced their judgment on both of us. That all led to what was happening right now...


    Television screens all around the world were all showing a broadcast led by the true Lord of the North. Each footage he showed made witches and humans seem worse, showing their mistreatment of werewolves even in North America.


    And now as if all that wasn¡¯t enough, he had managed to capture and force the South American Alpha King to speak on what he thinks of the truce and witches.


    "The war can only end with the witches dead. And... their human allies with them."


    Hearing those words was like a gut punch. I felt sick to my stomach and most of all, I could feel Kaelos¡¯ rage beside me as he red at the screen.


    "You¡¯ve all heard it first from the South American Alpha King himself. One of the most powerful Alpha kings in the world." The lord¡¯s voice was filled with mockery as he chuckled in the background.


    Once again, his ominous figure, hidden by shadows, showed on the screen. I couldn¡¯t see his face but I could tell that he had a broad grin on his face.


    "Now to all those watching this, most especially Kaelos... I want to show you what will happen to any werewolf who doesn¡¯t decide to wake up to reality." He continued, his voice calm but brimming with a chilling coldness sharper than an ice de.


    I gulped and watched as he drew out a silver dagger, which glistened under the dim lighting of the room he was in. He turned around and positioned himself behind Alpha King Leonardo, who had his head lowered.


    "No..." I muttered, shaking my head before the inevitable could even happen.


    And then it did.


    The true Lord of the North raised his right hand, which held the silver dagger, and plunged it deep into the back of Alpha King Leonardo¡¯s neck, causing him to gasp as blood gushed out of his mouth.


    The dagger even cut through the front of his neck, causing crimson blood to spout out of the spot like a fountain.


    "No!" Kaelos yelled out beside me, his voice filled with shock and rage.


    The South American Alpha king¡¯s eyes slowly lost their light in them, but he still seemed to be putting up a struggle to survive. The scene was so gory, even more so when I realized that it was happening live.


    Right now as I stared with horror, Alpha King Leonardo struggled to cling to his final breath.


    Eventually, after what felt like centuries, the true Lord of the North pulled out the dagger as fluidly as he had plunged it, showing the now bloody de.


    Alpha King Leonardo raised his head slowly, staring at the cameras onest time before he plopped to the ground, his blood oozing beneath him like a pool.


    "Alpha Kings all over the world. From Australia, Europe, Asia, Africa, and of course, our pathetic friend in North America..." The lord¡¯s voice was defiant and taunting as he pointed his shadowy finger at the body.


    "There lies the body of one of your own. A werewolf who¡¯s supposed to be one of our pirs of strength and a force of nature."


    My chest rose and fell as my fingers trembled with fear.


    But the lord of the North was unrelenting as he continued. "Once I take over as Alpha King of North America, you all will have a choice. Either join me in my grand n to rid the earth of the witches who¡¯ve gued us for over a century..."


    He paused deliberately, feeding off the tension that possibly millions, if not billions, of people were feeling all over the world while watching this.


    "... Or suffer the same fate as your fellow Alpha King." He finally added, staring directly at the camera.


    His face still wasn¡¯t visible but his eyes were, showing two red lights that shed like orbs of death and blood.


    Soon, the screen shed with static again before the TV channelpletely cked out.


    I stood there, blinking with silence, and so did Kaelos, whose breathing became heavy and tense.


    "S¨CSir?" La suddenly called out, her voice shaky with both fear and nervousness. "We¡¯ve gotten back control of the news feed. The towers are probably still overrun but... But the closest packs and witch covens to the towers are advancing and should be able to snatch control from the rogues soon."


    That felt like a silver lining in the storm... Except that this storm seemed to have covered the entire and was growing even stronger.


    I turned my gaze to Kaelos who was still silent and didn¡¯t even bother ncing at La after her report.


    I hesitated at first but I managed to find the voice to speak.


    "W¨CWhat do we do now?"


    He was still silent, but I could see the frown lines on his face turning into something deeper as he clenched his jaw.


    After a few seconds, he finally responded in a solemn voice.


    "We fight back."

 Chapter 196: _Power Vacuum

    <h4>Chapter 196: _Power Vacuum</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    After getting rid of Celine on the night of the attempted coup, which also doubled as the night of the incident at the Charity Ball, Marcellus decided to take a break.


    By a "break" he mostly just gave everyone the illusion that he was still healing from Kaelos¡¯ attack on him during the Charity Ball, even though he had pretty much recovered.


    The ironic thing was how Kaelos was now the one struggling to recover after Celine AND Gamma Zane stabbed him with silver daggers and he was attacked by traitorous pack soldiers.


    Unfortunately, on the evening after the night of the Charity Ball, the Delta and the military advisor paid Marcellus a little welfare visit.


    "Well, this is a..." Marcellus paused while sitting in his living room after Cullen ushered in Delta Axel and the Military advisor Jeremiah.


    The two men, both at least in theirte forties, wore blood red military uniforms with the pack emblem on their pockets.


    Marcellus was drinking a ss of margarita when they walked in. Talk about bad timing.


    "Sorry to interrupt your healing process, Beta." The Delta cleared his throat, ncing briefly at the military advisor before he continued. "But with the Alpha King still recovering from Gamma Zane¡¯s attack, we need to discuss something."


    Marcellus was about to take a sip from the margarita but then paused. He flicked his gaze briefly to Cullen who was standing behind the two men with a knowing smirk on his face.


    It would be fun to kill these two lowlives. That way, Kaelos would have to rece his entire Alpha Council.


    But Marcellus decided to y things cool and wore a smile as he dropped his ss on the center table in front of him, making sure to fake a pained grunt before he sat upright again.


    "Please, sit." Marcellus gestured at the two-seat couch at the other side of the table.


    The two men hesitated at first but eventually sat while Marcellus crossed his right leg on top of his left.


    "You know, when I saw the Gamma¡¯s betrayal with my own eyes, I was shocked." Marcellus began, using the fingers of his right hand to flick around with his pants.


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    He clenched his hand into a fist ever so slightly, feeling his magic cracking just underneath, waiting for when he needed it.


    "I expected that kind of betrayal from Celine..." Marcellus continued, staring directly at the two men with his head tilted. "But never from the Alpha King¡¯s uncle. It makes me wonder just how many hidden enemies we have in this pack."


    There was a long moment of silence after that. Delta Axel eventually cleared his throat, swallowing hard before he spoke.


    "That¡¯s exactly why we¡¯re here, Beta. Ever since the arrival of Odessa Pierce into this pack, there has been a string of unexined deaths. Deaths that have remained a mystery in this pack and that we have just ignored¡ª"


    "What do you mean ¡¯we¡¯?" Marcellus asked with a scoff, spreading both his arms on thefortable sofa he sat on as he tilted his head at the Delta.


    The Delta parted his lips, ncing at the military advisor.


    The military advisor stroked his bushy brown beard before he continued from where the Delta stopped. "The Gamma¡¯s ipetence was something that we noticed but didn¡¯t think much of because he was our superior. He was slow when it came to investigations on each death."


    "And now that we know that that sluggishness was deliberate, we think it¡¯s time there¡¯s a change." Delta Axel stood up just then, puffing his chest proudly despite his protruding stomach.


    Marcellus couldn¡¯t take him seriously but had to pretend as usual, raising an eyebrow in feigned interest.


    He already had an idea of what these men were going to say.


    "The silent execution of the Gamma and the Luna Queen has caused a power vacuum. One that might cause chaos among the pack members if they begin doubting our prowess." The Delta continued, his voice filled with confidence. "Which is why I think I should step up in rank as the new Gamma."


    And, there it was...


    Werewolves will never change. Such power-hungry creatures.


    Marcellus thought about all this but kept a small smile on his face as he nodded once. "That¡¯s... An interesting idea. Why don¡¯t you bring it up to the Alpha King and see what he thinks about it?"


    He stretched out his hand after saying that, picking up his margarita ss and sipping from it while staring at the Delta who now stood there like a fool.


    The Delta nced at the military advisor who cleared his throat, adjusting his sitting position and lowering his voice as if he was about to share the secret to eternal stupidity.


    Marcellus wouldn¡¯t need that since merely looking at them gave him an idea of it.


    "That¡¯s why we came to you, Beta. Despite all the drama at the Charity Ball, you¡¯re still the second most powerful man in the pack right now. The Alpha King¡¯s right-hand man."


    Now they¡¯re telling him what he already knows...


    Marcellus sighed, showing his boredom unintentionally as he gulped down everything in the ss and let out a satisfied breath.


    "Go straight to the point, gentlemen. You¡¯ve managed to interrupt my happy hour and this drink didn¡¯t even hit. I¡¯m too sober for this." Marcellus remarked with a casual tone, smiling to still give that illusion of friendliness.


    Even though deep down he felt like chopping both of them into pieces and flushing their remains down a toilet.


    Anyway, the Delta, who was still standing, adjusted his uniform and then stretched out his arms dramatically, his protruding stomach seemingly jiggling with each movement.


    "With you as the Beta, you could help us even the ying field of power in our favor. Convince the Alpha King to make me the Gamma and Jeremiah the new Delta. And as for the role of Luna Queen..."


    He paused, a small smirk curling up his lips before he dropped the bomb.


    "My daughter, Hailey."


    Suddenly and right on cue, Marcellus caught a whiff of a perfume that made him furrow his eyebrows. A young woman in her early twenties opened the living room door and walked in, adjusting her cream colored gown.


    Marcellus turned his head to her and blinked.


    How long has she been standing out there?

 Chapter 197: _The Delta’s Daughter

    <h4>Chapter 197: _The Delta¡¯s Daughter</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    "Beta, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve seen my daughter Hailey a few times." Delta Axel gestured at his daughter who went ahead to stand beside him.


    She had a tense expression but raised her head high while staring at Marcellus. She managed to bow slightly in front of him, stering a smile on her face.


    "Good evening, Beta."


    Marcellus tilted his head, eyeing her from her head to her toes. She didn¡¯t look bad. He might go ahead and say she was gorgeous for a werewolf.


    Strawberry blonde hair, hazel eyes, a slender but slightly petite figure, and a busty body that would make almost any man swerve their heads twice to look at her.


    She was a pretty little candy, something that Cullen acknowledged through a telepathic link with Marcellus.


    ¡¯Imagine if the moon goddess was kind enough to give you this beauty as a mate.¡¯ Cullen mused with a snigger mentally while he gave Marcellus a wink in reality.


    Marcellus tilted his head at him but didn¡¯t speak mentally. He was too busy staring at the Delta¡¯s daughters, watching every nervous twitch from her and every slight movement of her fingers.


    "I¡¯m confused." Marcellus finally remarked, turning his gaze back to Delta Axel who stood there with a proud look. "You want to offer your daughter to the Alpha King to be his wife and the new Luna Queen?"


    The Delta nodded, seeming even more proud as he patted his daughter on her shoulder. "Hailey is my prized jewel. She¡¯s loyal, respectful, calm, and obedient. Not to mention that my bloodline shares a distant rtion to the family of the European Alpha King¡¯s lineage."


    Marcellus raised a brow at that. So what? He was distantly rted to the African Alpha King¡¯s family line¡ªit didn¡¯t mean he¡¯d go offering himself to Kaelos like a prized mare.


    He made a gesture to Cullen who quickly understood and scurried out of the living room and toward the kitchen. During this time, Marcellus didn¡¯t say anything, instead waiting patiently for his assistant.


    When Cullen finally came back, he came with a bottle of vodka and two sses, dropping the two sses in front of the Delta and the military advisor before pouring the drink into the sses of all three of them.


    "What makes you think Kaelos likes his womencent and blindly obedient?" Marcellus suddenly asked a question that popped into his head, grabbing his ss after Cullen had poured for him.


    <fnddd3> ?????? ???? find(?)ovel</fnddd3>


    Cullen proceeded to walk back to where he was standing just a few meters behind the sofa, the Delta, his daughter, and the military advisor were sitting.


    Marcellus drank from it while still staring calmly at Delta Axel and military advisor Jeremiah, asionally flicking his gaze to Hailey. She stood there shyly, her rosy white face reddening with a blush.


    Well, well, well...


    "The Alpha King doesn¡¯t need a brash woman or one who can n a coup against him like Celine." Delta Axel said confidently, ncing at his daughter.


    "My daughter will give him an heir who will inherit the full strength of his Alpha King bloodline. Then she¡¯ll rule beside him as Luna Queen and give me more power when I be the Gamma."


    He proceeded to chuckle, tightening his grip slightly on his daughter¡¯s shoulder despite how ufortable she looked.


    Marcellus was getting bored quickly. So out of nothing but feigned curiosity, he asked:


    "And Odessa? Now that she¡¯s been revealed as a Hybrid to the entire continent, how sure are you that her werewolf blood wouldn¡¯t make the Alpha King pick her as his Luna Queen instead?"


    The Delta gasped in shock and so did the military advisor who sat quietly until that point. The two men nced at each other while Hailey scoffed and surprisingly spoke.


    "She still has witch blood and killed several people at the Charity Ballst night. The people of this pack and the packs of North America wouldn¡¯t¡ª"


    "Hailey, love." Marcellus interrupted her with a chuckle, raising his right hand. "The adults are talking."


    She parted her lips but nothing came out of her mouth. She ended up pouting and waiting for daddy dearest beside her to speak.


    "Why will the Alpha King pick a forsaken hybrid as his Luna Queen?" The Delta asked, scoffing before he chuckled softly. "No offense, Beta, but that¡¯ll be preposterous."


    Hmph... He had no idea.


    Marcellus sighed lightly but quickly stered a smile and nodded his head at the Delta.


    "You¡¯re right. What was I thinking?" He remarked, chuckling alongside the Delta and the military advisor.


    As heughed, he had his attention on Hailey. She was a new face but he could already tell that she had two possible roles in all this.


    She¡¯ll either die early or prove to be a chess piece that will linger around for an annoyingly long time. Either way, she¡¯ll be useful in some way to Marcellus¡¯ grand n.


    "I¡¯ll speak to the Alpha King," Marcellus said with a reassuring nod, keeping the smile on his face. "Just make sure to get your daughter ready. She might soon be picking out dresses to be his new wife."


    A broad smile soon spread across the Delta¡¯s face as he nodded, ncing at his daughter and nodding at her.


    "Great news!" He finally eximed, stepping forward and shaking Marcellus¡¯ hand as the military advisor stood up as well. "I promise you, Beta, you won¡¯t regret it."


    Marcellus nodded while still smiling, gesturing subtly at Cullen to escort them outside. He watched them walk toward the living room door with Cullen and felt as his smile devolved into a stoic expression.


    "What a joke..." He scoffed, shaking his head and gulping down his ss of vodka before also grabbing the full sses that the two morons had left behind as well.


    Soon, Cullen came back, squinting his eyes as he closed the door behind him.


    "So you¡¯re okay with the Delta¡¯s daughter marrying the Alpha King?"


    Marcellus looked up from the ss in front of his face, rolling his eyes before he dropped it. "I couldn¡¯t care less. It¡¯s just so amusing watching his hope go up knowing fully well that Kaelos wouldn¡¯t do such a thing even if I try convincing him."


    There was a short pause after he said that but then Cullen persisted and added.


    "The Alpha King lost his Luna Queen, whom he thought was carrying his child. Don¡¯t you think he¡¯ll be interested in that idea again and the Delta¡¯s daughter might be the key?"


    Marcellus was silent, remembering high priestess Althea¡¯s finding that Odessa was pregnant. He knew with Kaelos¡¯ Hybrid bride carrying his child, the scales of power in the pack and the continent were about to shift... Drastically.


    "Cullen, I¡¯ll advise you to sit back, rx, and enjoy what might be the biggest unravelling in a century," Marcellus said with a snigger, a small smirk on his face as he drank.

 Chapter 198: _For Survival

    <h4>Chapter 198: _For Survival</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    (Warning: Slight Gore Ahead)


    The next morning after Delta Axel¡¯s awkward visit, Marcellus got word that Kaelos was finally out of bed and fully recovered.


    Rumors have been going high in the pack ever since the night of the Charity Ball. And the tension was even higher.


    Little did all these werewolves know that the tension was only expected to increase.


    "I am... Impressed by your recovery, sir." A pack doctor who hade to check on him that morning remarked, getting on his feet and withdrawing his stethoscope.


    The man was in histe fifties and had greying streaks of hair and wore a ck suit.


    Marcellus satfortably on a sofa, sipping from an early morning drink while listening to the pack doctor¡¯s report.


    "Your bones havepletely healed now from my observations. I can¡¯t even find any traces of internal bleeding, unlike that night." The pack doctor remarked while Marcellus stared at him with a distant look.


    His fingers were already itching for something. Seeing the pulsing veins on the man¡¯s neck and hearing the steady beat of his heart was calling to him like the music from an ice cream truck.


    The temptation was real.


    "You might still have some slight muscle injuries but other than that... You¡¯re fine." The pack doctor finally said with a small smile on his face. "Moon goddess be praised for that."


    As soon as Marcellus heard thatst part, he chuckled. It wasn¡¯t out of amusement. It was dry andpletely devoid of warmth.


    He dropped the ss in his hand and slowly got on his feet, clenching his hands into fists. The lights in the living room flickered ever so slightly as he grinned at the pack doctor.


    "I can assure you... No god or goddess was responsible for my healing." He said coldly, watching as the pack doctor¡¯s smile ttered.


    The old man looked around the living room awkwardly. Cullen was upstairs attending to something. They were all alone.


    Slowly, the pack doctor brought his gaze back to Marcellus and spoke hesitantly. "T¨CThen what or who deserves the credit? M¨CMy medication? Your wolf? Your bloodline¡ª"


    "No. No. And... Not quite." Marcellus interrupted, slowly raising his right hand and wiggling his fingers, the grin on his face never disappearing. "I owe my healing to killing."


    As soon as those words left his mouth, he moved at lightning speed, shoving his right hand through the man¡¯s chest. Thetter gasped, falling forward and trying to stay bnced despite the agonizing pain.


    Blood spilled like a fountain, drenching the floor quickly with a pool of red and tiny bits of body tissue and fluids.


    Marcellus sighed with satisfaction as he felt the man¡¯s life force flowing into him, rejuvenating his body and every single cell while also refilling his magic reserve.


    He slowly pulled his hand out of the man¡¯s chest, tilting his head as he stared into his eyes, watching the fear, regret, despair, and pain burning in them.


    The man plopped to the ground but was surprisingly resilient for someone with a literal hole through his chest and who was rapidly losing a lot of blood.


    "W¨CWhy...?" The man croaked, his left hand lingering on his chest and his right outstretched toward Marcellus.


    Marcellus merely stared down at him, unbothered and unshaken as he let out a light sigh.


    "It¡¯s no hard feelings. I don¡¯t even know you enough to take note of your name." He shrugged, bringing his right hand to his mouth and tasting the warm blood trickling down it. "Hm... Exhrating. Anyway, I did it for survival. Just like I¡¯ve been doing all my life."


    The man still seemed confused but then his eyes widened as his outstretched hand fell. He breathed hisst, the life in his eyes disappearing as he fell back to the ground, his blood spreading under him like ink on paper.


    "I gotta stop doing this in my damn house," Marcellus mumbled with a scoff, wiggling his fingers. The movement caused the blood on his right arm and his body to dry up before disappearing without a trace.


    "Turn on the TV!" Cullen¡¯s voice suddenly echoed from upstairs, forcing Marcellus to turn around and face the stairs.


    Thed walked down the steps wearing a ck leather jacket and jean pants, his ck hair braided into long dreads. However, when he turned his gaze to Marcellus, he paused when he saw the scene with the dead pack doctor.


    "What the heck?" Cullen muttered while Marcellus rolled his eyes, stepping over the body and sitting on the couch where his drink was waiting.


    "Clean up this mess when you¡¯re done staring," Marcellus remarked, grabbing the ss and then using his magic to turn on the TV at the other side of the living room like Cullen stated.


    Meanwhile, Cullen stood on the stairs for only two more seconds before he shrugged and walked across to Marcellus.


    "Tune into the World Alliance Television Network. Social media is on fire about something being broadcast there."


    <fnf65c> Th?s chapter is updated by FindN0vel</fnf65c>


    Marcellus¡¯ face was stoic as he scrolled to the channel and stopped there. However, when he saw what was being shown on screen, his eyebrows furrowed.


    "Now, please wee the South American Alpha King himself, here to share his thoughts on the North American truce," a deep voice that sounded oddly familiar spoke on the TV, before a live footage of a man in his fifties or sixties kneeling in a dark room flickered on.


    "It¡¯s the true Lord of the North," Cullen said with excitement in his voice. "Apparently, he got some rogues to take over the news towers of the televisionwork just now. He¡¯s been showing clips of the brutality of humans and witches against werewolves."


    Propaganda...


    Marcellus watched in silence as the South American Alpha King dered that Kaelos¡¯ truce was useless and that witches would only know war and blood.


    He didn¡¯t even flinch when the true lord of the North executed the Alpha King on live television. It was an expected power move, one that the whole world had witnessed.


    "The anarchy and unrest that this broadcast will cause will be massive," Marcellus remarked, a small smirk curling up his lips. "Let¡¯s see if Kaelos and his darling Hybrid wife can handle the

 Chapter 199: _Emotional Support

    <h4>Chapter 199: _Emotional Support</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    After the true Lord of the North¡¯s brash deration on live television, Kaelos and I didn¡¯t go ahead with the original idea of addressing the continent in a live broadcast.


    I felt like doing that and then casually revealing that Kaelos had chosen me as the new Luna Queen would be a bold power move... But it would also bring public distress from werewolves who just watched their kind being mistreated on TV.


    Kaelos and I retired to his room, navigating past the maids and the staff members who nced at us judgmentally despite their greetings.


    When we finally got inside his chambers, he closed the door behind us while I moved forward, folding my arms in front of my chest and pacing around pensively.


    "The whole world..." Kaelos muttered, his back still facing me as he chuckled dryly. "The whole world watched the true lord of the North or whatever the fuck he calls himself, make a fool of me. The incident in Mexico has been happening under my nose all this while."


    I sighed lightly, my shoulders slouching slightly before I muttered. "Kaelos..."


    But he didn¡¯t respond, cing his right hand on the doorpost while leaning his head forward. I could feel the tension. The guilt.


    "I failed them." He whispered, scoffing to himself. "Those werewolves in those cages. Trapped while I enjoy the luxury of this pack, hidden behind these walls."


    "Kaelos..." I whispered again, my voice rising by an octave this time as I began stepping forward.


    <fna099> This text is hosted at F?nd-Novel</fna099>


    I stretched my right hand forward, cing it gently on his shoulder. He froze, not moving an inch at first for a few seconds. But then he slowly turned around, his gaze firstnding on my face before trailing down my body.


    I smiled softly, bringing my hand from his shoulder to his chest, feeling his heart beat as if it were mine.


    "You aren¡¯t to me for any of this." I continued, staring into his piercing silver eyes. "You... You can¡¯t possibly be responsible for everyone in an entire continent as vast as North America."


    He drew in a deep breath, lowering his head slightly.


    "But I am, Odessa. That¡¯s how it¡¯s always been for thousands of years since the existence of werewolves. An Alpha King is meant to be the strongest link between the werewolves and the moon goddess. I¡¯m supposed to watch over all these people."


    He brought his gaze back to my eyes, his jaw clenching as he stared for several seconds in silence. I didn¡¯t say or do anything, giving him time as I let him feel everything.


    The guilt. The regret. The pain. The anger. The frustration.


    All of it.


    The mate bond let me feel all of it as if it were mine and as overwhelming as all of it was, I persisted.


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Kaelos let out a breath and continued. "Yes, an Alpha is meant to watch over these packs themselves. They should take note of situations like this. But I¡¯m still in charge of all of them."


    I nodded slowly, my gaze softening as I kept on staring at him.


    ¡¯Come on, girl. You¡¯re his emotional support right now.¡¯ Sirena suddenly blurted in my head, causing me to blink rapidly. ¡¯Act like it!¡¯


    Dear gods...


    I brought my gaze to my hand on his chest and released a small breath before a thought crossed my mind. A thought that I felt the need to share with Kaelos.


    ¡¯Do you think our baby can hear our thoughts through the mate bond?¡¯ I asked Kaelos mentally, watching as he squinted his eyes in confusion in real life.


    My smile widened when he tilted his head before shaking it. "What are you talking¡ª"


    "Shhhh." I interrupted him physically, cing the index finger of my free hand on his lips, watching as he swallowed hard. "Use the mate bond tomunicate."


    He hesitated at first, blinking before he finally took in a breath and did as I said.


    ¡¯That was an absurd question you just asked, my love.¡¯


    I gasped dramatically, puckering my lips. ¡¯My love? Since when did you start calling me that?¡¯


    My heart melted when I saw a smile curl up his lips.


    ¡¯Don¡¯t y with me, Odessa.¡¯ His voice was soft but also teasing as he slowly brought his right hand to my waist. ¡¯You became my love the moment I realized I wasn¡¯t as content with the idea of you dying as I first thought. When you escaped to the woods.¡¯


    Oh...


    I felt the need to scratch my head but I kept my right hand on his chest while my left hand was ced on his strong arm.


    ¡¯I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m supposed to find that... Romantic.¡¯ I muttered mentally, tilting my head as Sirena giggled at the corner of my head.


    I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Kaelos could hear her or if I would be able to hear his wolf if I tried hard enough.


    ¡¯No, I can¡¯t hear your wolf.¡¯ he suddenly remarked, his smile in real life widening. ¡¯The bond you two share is... Different than the mate bond between you and me. Same way you can¡¯t hear my wolf, Damon.¡¯


    My eyebrows furrowed at first before I chuckled physically and shook my head.


    ¡¯Damon? Well, it seems someone grew up watching a certain vampire series.¡¯


    We both chuckled softly this time, so much so that I forgot about all our problems. And for a moment, I felt like he had forgotten as well.


    Which brought me boundless joy.


    ¡¯Did you end up naming your wolf?¡¯ He queried, raising an eyebrow.


    I nodded in response, a warm smile on my face. ¡¯Sirena. Don¡¯t ask, but it was the first thing that came to mind when she asked me to name her.¡¯


    ¡¯Dear gods...¡¯ he shook his head, causing me to giggle as I hit him yfully on his chest.


    But then I felt his grip tighten on my waist as his gaze locked on my eyes, causing my heart to skip a beat as I stared back at him.


    There was a long silence that drew out for gods know how long before his lips finally parted.


    "I love you. Truly." He whispered physically, his gaze softening further. "I¡¯ve never felt this way for anyone. It¡¯s... Daunting. But it¡¯s also oddly empowering and I¡ª"


    "I love you more, Kaelos." I blurted, fluttering my eyelids at him. "It¡¯s an oue I never imagined happening. Nor did I imagine carrying your child. But... I don¡¯t regret any part of it."


    We stood there staring at each other, my left hand slowly going to his face while his right hand tightened further on my waist as he slowly pulled me closer until I could feel his breath on my face.


    My gaze flicked from his eyes to his lips, and I knew in that moment what wasing next.


    And then it happened...


    We locked lips, my eyes closing as I let my mind linger on his warmth, our bodies pressing together.

 Chapter 200: _Just Us

    <h4>Chapter 200: _Just Us</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    ******


    (Warning: Mature Content Ahead)


    His lips were warm against mine, a steady pressure that deepened with every second we lingered there. The world around us, the pain, the tension, the broadcast that had shaken everything... faded to silence.


    There was only this. Us.


    Kaelos kissed me like he was unraveling. His lips moved gently, almost as if he feared I might vanish.


    But I didn¡¯t.


    I leaned into him, threading my fingers through the strands of his thick hair and holding him close, grounding him in the only truth that mattered now: I wasn¡¯t going anywhere.


    The kiss deepened, his mouth parting just enough for his tongue to brush mine.


    A shiver traveled through my spine, and I moaned softly into the kiss, my heart pounding against my ribs. There was no urgency, no rush... just need.


    Kaelos pulled back slightly, resting his forehead against mine, our breaths almost in sync.


    "I need you," He whispered, his voice hoarse. "Not just like this. I need all of you. I need to feel like something in this world still belongs to me."


    I swallowed hard, cupping his face between my palms.


    "You have me," I whispered. "Every broken,plicated part. You¡¯ll always have me, Kaelos."


    The mate bond was like a current, calling us deeper into each other.


    Kaelos bent to kiss me again, slower this time, as his hands slid from my waist to my hips and then around to my lower back. He pressed me closer until no space remained between us.


    He lifted me in one swift motion, his strength so effortless it made me gasp against his lips. He carried me toward the bed without breaking the kiss,ying me down with a care that stole my breath all over again.


    When he drew back, his gaze swept over me like he was seeing sunlight for the first time.


    "I used to think love was a distraction," He murmured, crawling over me. "A weakness."


    "And now?" I asked, brushing my thumb over his cheek.


    His eyes seemed hesitant at first before his gaze became warm. "Now I think it¡¯s the only thing holding me together."


    I reached for the hem of his shirt, and he allowed me to pull it over his head, revealing his sculpted chest.


    My fingers trailed his skin as I bit my bottom lip, feeling every scar and the hairs on his chest.


    All I could think of was how lucky I was to have him all to myself after fighting so hard and so long to stay away from him.


    He helped me out of my own clothes with ease, taking his time and using his fingers to slightly brush my skin in the right ces. Each movement was measured and thoughtful, as if he were memorizing every inch of me.


    When we were finally naked before each other, I felt no shame or fear. All I felt was anticipation as I stared into his piercing silver eyes.


    He kissed my corbone, then brought his lips to my stomach, causing me to arch my back in response to his touch. His hand moved over my side, resting briefly on my belly.


    Then came a quiet pause from him.


    "Our child is here," He whispered, caressing my stomach.


    I nodded, holding back my urge to just melt into his touch. "And they¡¯ll know love. Real love."


    Kaelos leaned down again, kissing me with renewed intensity, and slowly began to move over me.


    Every shift of his body against mine made me flinch with need. Soon, he found my entrance and slowly plunged his dick into me, causing me to gasp.


    He held my gaze the entire time, his silver eyes locked on mine.


    I cried out softly, almost losing my breath. The rhythm he set was unhurried, as if he wanted to worship me with every motion.


    We moved together like tides. There were moments when I clutched at his back, burying my face in his neck and other times when Iy open beneath him, my legs trembling.


    When release finally came, my body surged with warmth and I moaned ever so softly. I sighed heavily as I clung to him, overwhelmed by the intensity of it all.


    Kaelos cradled me afterward, his chest pressed to mine as our heartbeats slowed together.


    "I don¡¯t deserve this," he murmured, kissing my temple.


    "You do," I said sharply, tilting his chin so he had to look at me. "Don¡¯t let guilt rob you of this moment."


    He closed his eyes, breathing in my scent with one whiff. "Then let me stay here for a while. Let me pretend the world hasn¡¯t fallen apart."


    I stroked his hair, smiling wryly. "You don¡¯t have to pretend. Right now, the world is just the two of us. We can handle the chaos outsideter."


    Wey there in silence for a while, wrapping our naked bodies together until sleep took us.


    .


    .


    The warmth of Kaelos¡¯ body was gone by the time I woke up. My hand stretched instinctively to his side of the bed.


    It was empty.


    A knock at the door reminded me where I was and what stilly ahead.


    "Odessa," Kaelos¡¯ voice came through. "There¡¯s a meeting in ten minutes."


    Ten minutester, I joined him in his office, the mood already heavy before I¡¯d even stepped inside.


    There was a wooden table stretched across the center of the room. Everyone present swerved their heads to me.


    Kaelos gestured toward the chair beside him, and I took my seat silently. His hand brushed against mine beneath the table, a small reminder that despite everything unraveling outside these walls, he was still with me.


    <fn8908> Readplete version only at Find_Novel(.</fn8908>


    Present at the meeting were Beta Marcellus, Elder Davina, Delta Axel, La, and the military advisor Jeremiah.


    The silence was broken by Delta Axel whose voice was deep and in. "We need to discuss the witches and their possible rtion to the broadcast earlier today."


    Here we go...


    Kaelos leaned back slightly, his jaw tense. "What about them?"


    "You saw the broadcast." The Delta¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver. "That man¡¯s power... how else could he have blocked every trace, jammed every signal, and taken control of our continent¡¯smunication lines? That reeks of magic if you ask me."


    Jeremiah, the military advisor, chimed in, his voice low and gruff. "It wasn¡¯t just the broadcast. Our satellites picked up a distortion pulse during his message. It wasn¡¯t tech but something else. He¡¯s not just someone with resources... he¡¯s someone backed by high level spellcasters."


    Elder Davina, the oldest among us, tapped her staff against the floor once, bringing all the attention to her.


    "We don¡¯t know that for certain," she said with a calm voice. "Jumping to conclusions about witches could reignite tensions we¡¯ve tried to bury for close to a decade."


    "But look at the pattern!" The Delta snapped. "Ever since we brought in the Alpha king¡¯s Witch bride, we¡¯ve had nothing but trouble. Subtle ones at first... then this."


    "Who else would benefit from sowing discord among werewolves?" the military advisor added with a scoff, causing me to clench my jaw.


    Kaelos must have felt my distress because he reached for my hand under the table again, squeezing it gently.


    I met the Delta¡¯s gaze and then spoke up calmly. "You¡¯re implying I¡¯m somehow responsible."


    There was silence.


    Marcellus cleared his throat, breaking the tension. "No one is using you directly, Odessa. But we can¡¯t ignore the timing. The covens of North America have been silent since the broadcast. This ¡¯Lord of the North¡¯ may be a puppet working for rogue witches."


    I stared at him silently, my eyes going from him and Kaelos. The tension on their faces told me they still hadn¡¯t talked about the incident at the Charity Ball.


    Kaelos exhaled just then. "He¡¯s not a puppet. He¡¯s dangerous and more calcted than we assumed."


    La, who was seated across from me, leaned forward. "Do you think he¡¯s been nning this longer than we thought?"


    Kaelos nodded. "Possibly before the truce with witches even began. He used that broadcast to hit every raw nerve left in the werewolf poption. He stirred resentment, painted me as weak, and showed that our alliances don¡¯t protect our kind. The cages in Mexico, the ughter in Paris¡ªhe made sure we saw it all."


    "And made you look like a traitor to our species," Jeremiah added grimly. "Even the most loyal wolves are shaken. Morale¡¯s down."


    Delta Axel mmed his hand on the table. "Which is why I say we begin immediate investigations into all witch activity within pack borders and the entire continent. Let¡¯s have records reviewed and movement tracked. I want surveince reinstated."


    "No." My voice was low, but it rang clear.


    All eyes turned to me.


    I straightened my posture. "I won¡¯t stand by while you scapegoat an entire race because of fear. That¡¯s what this masked coward wants. To fracture us. To make us turn on each other."


    Kaelos added. "We can¡¯t afford civil unrest. The witch alliance has kept our borders secure all these weeks. Breaking it without evidence would be suicide."


    Jeremiah crossed his arms in front of his chest. "So we do nothing?"


    "No," I said. "We find him and we trace the signal. We follow the trail of whoever helped him... witch or wolf. But we don¡¯t paint an entire people with his sins."


    Davina smiled softly at me then, nodding. "Spoken like a true Luna Queen."


    But I wasn¡¯t the Luna Queen. At least, not yet.


    I smiled back at her when a knock suddenly sounded at the office door. All heads turned to the door and to my surprise, my aunt Althea was the one who stepped in.

 Chapter 201: _Done Playing The Mercy Card

    <h4>Chapter 201: _Done ying The Mercy Card</h4>


    "High priestess Althea." Kaelos blurted as soon as my aunt stepped in, nodding curtly at her. "Nice of you to join us. I don¡¯t know if you saw that broadcast as well but¡ª"


    "Well, well, well..." Delta Axel suddenly got on his feet, spreading his arms and pointing at Althea. "Nice of you to join us indeed, witch. What are you doing here though? Here to gather info that you can give to your Lord puppet?"


    There was a tense silence after he said those words and I was forced to use the fingers of my right hand to rub my forehead while trying to keep my emotions at bay.


    The Elders of the Luminari Coven had given me a six-month ban on using my magic and my werewolf abilities in public. Meaning six months of me hiding my true nature from everyone around me.


    I couldn¡¯t afford any slip-ups.


    "What in the triple goddess¡¯ name are you talking about?" Aunt Althea asked, fluttering her eyshes with confusion. "Neither I nor any of my sisters in the Luminari Coven have any dealings with that madman."


    Kaelos slowly withdrew his grip on my hand underneath the table before facing Delta Axel.


    "Delta, that¡¯s enough."


    But the man seemed to inherit Gamma Zane¡¯s stubbornness after his death and shook his head, clenching his fists.


    "The military advisor and I tried reaching out to the other Elders of the Luminari Coven as well as the other high covens of North America after the broadcast." He said with a scoff.


    "None of them responded. They¡¯ve all given me reason to believe that a witch or a group of witches helped with the hijacking of the World Alliance Television Network¡¯s towers around the continent."


    I parted my lips to speak when Elder Davina remarked from where she sat. "Your belief, unfortunately, holds no substance without evidence, Delta. You can¡¯t go around pointing fingers. That¡¯s exactly what the Lord hoped to aplish with that broadcast."


    "Oh, please." The military advisor chimed in, waving his right hand dismissively. "As if witches and werewolves haven¡¯t been pointing fingers at each other for centuries even before the war."


    "Does that mean we should follow suit?" La asked just then, cing her hands on the table. "I saw the broadcast too. Imunicated with the packs close to the transmission towers that helped fight back against the enemies who hijacked them. They were rogue werewolves. Not witches."


    Delta Axel stared at her with disdain, obviously not taking her seriously. "It still doesn¡¯t exin the magic pulses that jammed and distorted the signals. They took over the towers in North America but how did they manage to disrupt transmissions at a global level?"


    There was silence after he said that as everyone nced among themselves with tense expressions. This whole thing was confusing and I didn¡¯t want it to be yet another mystery that would have witches as the main suspects.


    "If I may, Delta..." Aunt Althea stepped closer, spreading her arms with a calm expression. "I got word from¡ª"


    "No, you may not, witch!" The Delta barked, his pot belly jiggling in sync with his rage. "Not until you get your witches to answer our calls or face justice."


    <fn03ac> The rightful source is FindN0vel</fn03ac>


    "I didn¡¯t realize I made you the new Alpha King, Delta Axel." Kaelos¡¯ voice instantly lost its previous diplomacy, and I could feel his Alpha King aura threatening to burst out like a raging river beside me. "Stop disrupting this meeting and allow high priestess Althea to speak."


    The Delta clenched his jaw as he begrudgingly sat down, folding his arms in front of his chest before mumbling under his breath. "Maybe we need a new Alpha King."


    Oh, gods, no...


    ¡¯Odessa, you gotta calm Kaelos before he snaps.¡¯ Sirena spoke in my head just then but then sniggered mischievously. ¡¯That¡¯s what I¡¯d say if I didn¡¯t personally want to chew off the Delta¡¯s head.¡¯


    "What did you say, Delta?" Kaelos didn¡¯t hold back anymore and let his Alpha King aura burst out.


    But to my shock, it wasn¡¯t invisible like before. This time, it manifested in the form of a silver aura that surrounded him like a miasma first before shooting up to the ceiling like a furnace.


    Things didn¡¯t end there as his aura spread out, engulfing the entire room and causing everyone to shift back in shock and fear.


    "K¨CKaelos?" I called out to him but he ignored me as he slowly got on his feet.


    His aura was suffocating, making breathing feel like a chore and forcing me to clutch my chest. Everyone else had the same reaction... Until Kaelos focused the silver aura into a single burst that was directed only at the Delta.


    "I brought down my own uncle because of his mutiny," Kaelos remarked with a chilling voice, staring directly at the Delta. "What makes you think I¡¯ll be merciful to you?"


    The Delta couldn¡¯t bring a response and instead trembled in his seat, his fingers on the table shaking as well as he tried avoiding eye contact with Kaelos.


    At that moment, I nced over at Elder Davina who surprisingly had her gaze on me, her eyes glinting with a knowing light.


    She gave me a small nod and I knew instantly what she wanted me to do.


    I brought my gaze to Kaelos and drew in a deep breath before I stretched my hands to him, grabbing his arm. He froze at first before swerving his head toward me.


    ¡¯Don¡¯t stoop to his level.¡¯ I said through our mind link, subtly tightening my grip on his arm.


    His silver eyes, which were already glowing with a subtle light of the same color, softened at that moment, but his jaw was still clenched with anger.


    ¡¯I¡¯ve be too soft, Odessa. How else would you exin my uncle and Celine daring to betray me and now this asshole testing my patience?¡¯ he responded.


    But a small smile curled up the corner of my lips. ¡¯It¡¯s not softness. It¡¯s a strategic show of diplomacy. It¡¯s proof that you¡¯ll be willing to gain the people¡¯s trust in you without leaning much into violence. Let the Delta off the hook for now.¡¯


    There was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes and his aura slowly withdrew from the Delta. I was still confused about how it manifested in a visible form, but shrugged it off mentally as yet another boost from the mate bond.


    ¡¯If the Delta or anyone acts up in a traitorous or malevolent way again, I wouldn¡¯t hesitate to rip their heads off.¡¯ Kaelos finally said mentally before he turned his gaze to everyone else, speaking physically this time.


    "I am done ying the mercy card. If you have a problem with my rule, kindly exile yourself far away from the pack and the continent. Or I¡¯ll be more ruthless than the rumors that have defined my reign suggested."

 Chapter 202: _Bridging The Gap

    <h4>Chapter 202: _Bridging The Gap</h4>


    Everyone was silent after Kaelos¡¯ cold deration, ncing at each other with tense expressions.


    And as for Delta Axel... Well, he was shaken but the look in his eyes told me that he would be willing to stir more trouble yet again.


    And honestly, I didn¡¯t care anymore. Just like Kaelos was tired of mercy, I was tired of being the voice of peace in his head.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that I was required not to use magic or any of my powers for theing six months, I might¡¯ve done something much worse than his outburst.


    "Thank you, Alpha King." My aunt Althea stepped forward once again, her voice gaining more confidence when Kaelos offered her a seat at the table.


    When she sat, I could feel the animosity from the Delta and the hesitation from the military advisor. But neither of them dared to say anything... Yet.


    "The other coven elders had been busy giving disciplinary measures to Lucinda as punishment for her brash actions during the Charity Ball." Althea continued, adjusting her purple robe. "That¡¯s why they weren¡¯t able to respond on time after the broadcast."


    The military advisor remarked just then. "Oh, is that so?"


    But Althea ignored him and continued. "They¡¯ve ryed a message to me. None of the witches of the high covens of North America helped the Lord of the North. We¡¯re sure of it."


    Marcellus, who had been watching everything unfold silently all this while, suddenly cleared his throat and spoke.


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    "No offense, high priestess, but how are you sure of it? Only a powerful spellcaster would¡¯ve been able to release enough energy to disrupt the global connection of the WATN through their North American towers."


    La suddenly chimed. "Either that or arge group of witches. But that would require witches who don¡¯t give a shit about thews of their covens. Or¡ª"


    "Rogue witches," I muttered solemnly, clenching my jaw. "What if the Lord of the North allied himself with rogue witches or one powerful rogue witch? That seems more likely than him being a ¡¯puppet¡¯."


    Everyone else either nodded or exchanged agreeing nces.


    "Well, what this means essentially is that the witches of North America who are bound by covens have no affiliation with the lord of the North," Althea said with a small sigh.


    There was a few seconds of pause before the Delta surprisingly mustered the boldness to finally speak again, his voice a bit shaky.


    "How quaint. Too bad our werewolves are being trafficked and treated like circus animals by the humans who have refused to side with witches."


    "We don¡¯t know the full details of what¡¯s happening in Mexico, Delta." Elder Davina blurted while the Delta nodded slowly.


    "My point exactly. We know nothing. We¡¯re running this meeting like headless chickens while the lord of the North has ess to information capable of causing worldwide anarchy."


    He nced briefly at Kaelos but then looked away just as fast, clearing his throat.


    "Mark my words when I say that after that broadcast today, there WILL be defectors from every pack. Possibly among the Alphas of said packs." The Delta stared at me, not even bothering to hide the spite in his eyes. "The Alpha King needs to make a move. Something that will reignite hope among the people."


    The silence that came after those words was deafening.


    I nced at Kaelos who gave me a small nod.


    He didn¡¯t even bother exining what that was about and turned his gaze sharply to everyone else, steepling his fingers in front of him.


    "I have the perfect move to reignite hope. A power move, if you will." He said calmly, pausing for what seemed like an eternity before he dropped the bomb. "I¡¯ll be making Odessa my Luna Queen and will announce it to the world. That was the original n before the broadcast."


    I scanned my gaze around the table after he made that deration.


    Marcellus seemed pleasantly surprised, elder Davina had an approving smile, Althea¡¯s expression was stoic... Everyone seemed to have no problem with it.


    Everyone except...


    "Preposterous!" The Delta banged his hand on the table, ignoring the military advisor¡¯s attempt to get him to calm down. "The packs of North America will be outraged if they learn you want to make a hybrid their Luna Queen. This wouldn¡¯t bring hope... It¡¯ll only strengthen an already wild forest fire!"


    I tensed up, hating how convincing his words were.


    But Kaelos was unshaken in his decision. "The people will have to adapt then. The way I see it, Odessa being a hybrid will be the perfect way to bridge the gap between the two races. Especially now that ¡¯morale is low¡¯."


    The Delta seemed like he was about to snap. His eyes twitched as he red at Marcellus all of a sudden as if he had betrayed him.


    "Beta, why? I told you to inform the Alpha King about marrying my daughter, Hailey."


    Wait... What?


    I turned my head to Marcellus and watched as he gave a defeated sigh, shrugging.


    "Well, like I told you that day, it would be useless. I can¡¯t sway the Alpha king¡¯s decisions." Marcellus remarked, ncing at Kaelos first before ncing at me.


    I saw the amusement in his eyes and knew that he found the Delta¡¯s situation funny. That brought a small smile to my face... Until the Delta suddenly got on his feet.


    "This is madness! Pure insanity!" He screamed, his stomach jiggling. "And my family and I wouldn¡¯t stand for it. I hereby defect as Delta of the Blood Oak pack. I¡¯d rather join the lord of the North."


    The second he let thosest words out of his mouth, I knew he had set off a bomb that I no longer had control over.


    Kaelos stood instantly just when Delta Axel was about to step to the door, grabbing his neck with his right hand before raising him into the air, ignoring the gasps and choking sounds he made.


    "And you think I¡¯ll give you the chance to do that after making such a deration?" Kaelos growled coldly, his voice reverberating. "Since you¡¯ve made your decision, allow me to show you mine."


    Without warning, he snapped the Delta¡¯s neck with one swift motion, the sound of his neck bones breaking like chopsticks echoing around the room.


    My lips parted slightly as I watched the Delta¡¯s lifeless body plop to the floor with a loud thud that broke through the heavy silence that had now descended in the room.

 Chapter 203: _Nothing But A Fraud!

    <h4>Chapter 203: _Nothing But A Fraud!</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    The lord of the North¡¯s broadcast had made my patience wear thin. It made me realize how deeply the thought of treachery had eaten into the minds of many of the wolves of the Blood Oak pack and possibly all of North America.


    <fn772b> Checktest chapters at find¡¤novel</fn772b>


    And why did they have those thoughts? Because of my marriage to Odessa and my desire for peace between wolves and witches.


    The lord of the North¡¯s broadcast painted me as weak and ipetent. And I honestly wouldn¡¯t me people for thinking that.


    Werewolves have been captured by humans under my nose in Mexico and possibly other ces I wasn¡¯t aware of. Humiliated and used in a variety of ways.


    I made a mental note to get to the bottom of it... But first, the pack needed some weeding.


    I stood over the body of Delta Axel whichy in the middle of my office, holding a ss of whiskey which I sipped from asionally.


    ¡¯He got what wasing for him.¡¯ Damon said with a scoff in my head. ¡¯Good job, Kaelos. Mercy is overrated.¡¯


    I ignored him, closing my eyes as I waited. The meeting with the others had been dismissed after I killed the Delta. Odessa had left with her aunt for the gardens for a discussion or whatever.


    I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what she thought of me after what I did.


    ¡¯Dude, you have the mind link from the mate bond.¡¯ Damon grunted in my mind. ¡¯Ask her.¡¯


    I wanted to do that. I wanted to talk to her. But on second thought, I decided to give her space.


    Now wasn¡¯t the time to deal with emotions.


    Just then, a knock sounded on my door, prompting me to raise my head.


    "Come in."


    The door swung open and Marcellus was the one who peeked his head in. He had a in expression on his face as he walked in fully.


    I stared at him briefly, feeling the unspoken tension. We haven¡¯t talked since the incident at the Charity Ball.


    It was weird seeing the usual overly friendly Beta looking so... Stoic.


    "I brought the Delta¡¯s daughter with me." He cleared his throat and said, stepping aside and giving way for a she-wolf in her early twenties who had strawberry blonde hair and wore a ck night gown that hugged her petite but busty figure.


    She scanned her gaze around with confusion until her eyesnded on the body at the center of the office.


    Her lips parted and her eyes widened as she ced her right hand in front of her mouth before she spoke with a croaked whisper. "D¨CDaddy..."


    She fell to her knees, tears streaming down her rosy white cheeks. She drew in heavy breaths before crawling to the body of Delta Axel.


    During all this, I stared at her without saying a word, leaning against my desk while the ss of whiskey was still in my hand.


    I tilted my head when she got to her father¡¯s body, watching as she held it close to herself, pressing it to her body.


    "Is... Is he...?" She slowly raised her head, staring at me with tear-streaked eyes.


    I nced briefly at Marcellus who stood in front of the door, his arms folded as he stared at the girl with a distant expression.


    After a few seconds, I brought my eyes back to the girl and cleared my throat. "Yes, he¡¯s dead. I killed him. And unfortunately, I didn¡¯t bring you here to begin your mourning rites. You can do that once you¡¯ve... Cleared some things for me."


    Her hands, which were still on her father¡¯s body, shook with fear and something else, which I didn¡¯t even bother deciphering, as I stepped forward, dropping the ss of whiskey on the table behind me.


    I slowly lowered myself until I was at the same level as the girl... Hailey if I got her name correctly.


    "Your father nned to hand you over to me as my wife so you could be the new Luna Queen." I began with a low tone, my eyes distant as I stared down at the body. "He¡¯s always been the... Quiet type. He rarely spoke during Council meetings or whenever I summoned him for reports."


    Hailey sniffled, her body shivering as she slowly raised her head to stare at me again. This time, her eyes were filled with rage and pure hatred... Both of which were understandable.


    But I couldn¡¯t care less about her emotions or grievances.


    "So, Hailey. Could you tell me why your father suddenly became as outspoken as he was after Gamma Zane¡¯s death?" I asked, maintaining eye contact with her. "I would¡¯ve asked your mother, but I heard she ran away after his persistent womanizing years ago."


    There was an outstretched silence after that and I subconsciously clenched my jaw.


    ¡¯Okay, that was a bit too brutal.¡¯ Damon muttered in my mind but I didn¡¯t answer him.


    I watched as Hailey¡¯s expression deformed into so many emotions, from confusion, then anger, then despair, then anger again... And finally, disgust.


    Suddenly, she spat on my face, ring at me with spite after the warm liquid hit my face and dripped down slowly.


    "You¡¯re nothing but a fraud!" She sneered with a shaky voice, breathing heavily. "A phony who parades himself as an Alpha King simply because of his bloodline. But... But even that means nothing when the people despise you."


    Interesting...


    I raised my head briefly, ncing at Marcellus who still had a stoic expression... The only difference now being the fact that his eyes glinted with amusement.


    Honestly, I deserved that.


    I let out a small sigh before finally getting on my feet, using my right hand to wipe off the saliva on my face.


    "Something isn¡¯t adding up about your father, girl," I spoke calmly, ignoring her ring. "And while I... Sympathize with your loss, I will not let traitors in my midst."


    I was just about to turn around and grab my ss of whiskey when suddenly, Hailey released a guttural growl before getting on her feet and lunging at me, her ws glinting under the light of the office lights.


    Shit...

 Chapter 204: _You Call This Peace?

    <h4>Chapter 204: _You Call This Peace?</h4>


    I dodged the first sh from Hailey with a side step to the right, my eyes following her movements.


    She growled yet again and lunged with more force this time, aiming both her hands at my throat.


    "Hey! Halt!" Marcellus was just about to intervene when I raised my right hand at him, signalling him to stop.


    Handling this wouldn¡¯t even take much effort.


    I swatted the girl¡¯s hands with my right hand, watching with a in expression as she stumbled backward from the force. She rubbed her wrists before baring her fangs at me.


    ¡¯Okay, this is just sad.¡¯ Damon blurted in my head with a pitiful tone. ¡¯Put an end to it already.¡¯


    I sighed lightly as I watched her charge at me yet again, this time yelling at the top of her voice.


    "This is for my father, you fake king!"


    Just when her ws were about to connect with my face, I bent to my left and then proceeded to grab her right wrist, causing her to gasp.


    I didn¡¯t end there and shoved her with one swift movement to my desk, watching as she hit it and fell to the floor with a thud.


    "Enough!" I barked,pelling her with my Alpha King aura which I focused on her.


    Unlike during my outburst at the meeting earlier, my aura was no longer visible. I wondered if it was only visible when I was truly stirred emotionally.


    I watched as Hailey curled up on the floor, bringing her legs closer to the rest of her body and hugging them. She sniffled, her body shivering as she looked away from me.


    " I-I¡¯m sorry." She croaked as she soon began sobbing. "I got carried away and I... I want my father back. He might¡¯ve been a sketchy man and a jerk most times... But he¡¯s the only family I have since my Mom left."


    Dear goddess, not a sob story...


    I pouted my lips, staring at her before I nced back at Marcellus who still stood at the door. He rxed again and folded his arms in front of his chest.


    I sighed lightly before I brought my gaze back to the girl.


    "Hailey. Again, I want to say I¡¯m sorry it had toe to this." I said calmly, cing my arms in front of my body. "But all I¡¯m trying to do here is make sure people like him don¡¯t go ahead to destroy the peace I¡¯ve built."


    She suddenly froze at that moment, slowly bringing her gaze to me and dimming her eyes before she let out a scoff.


    "Peace? You call all of this ¡¯peace¡¯?" She asked, shaking her head. "I¡¯m not even politically inclined but even I know all you¡¯ve managed to do is dy the inevitable. The people are divided. Not just the wolves but the witches and humans as well."


    I clicked my tongue.


    It seems being nice was getting me nowhere.


    I took two measured steps forward, keeping my gaze on her as I increased the amount of Alpha King aura that I expended, watching as she gasped and then fell face-first to the floor.


    "The fact that you¡¯ve lived in this pack most of your life without having to worry about witches sting you with a curse or humans sending a nuke is a sign of that peace you look down on, girl."


    I clenched my hands ever so slightly, ignoring her sobs on the floor as I continued.


    "I¡¯m not here to give myself praise. I know there are still those out there who think the war that has been drawn out for over a century is the best course for our world. I know there are still some underlying problems."


    <fn9000> Follow current nov?ls on FindN0vel</fn9000>


    I paused, lowering my right hand and grabbing her shoulder, forcing her to raise her head and stare at me.


    "All I¡¯m asking is that you tell me if you noticed anything... Off about your father." I said softly, keeping my calm. "Perhaps he had any ideas of propaganda before or after the Gamma¡¯s death."


    She drew in a shaky breath, still managing to maintain eye contact. I withdrew my Alpha King aura to give her space to talk, tilting my head.


    "Well? I¡¯m listening."


    .


    .


    I sat behind my desk about thirty minutester, my hands steepled in front of me as I restedfortably on my chair while staring at the ceiling.


    I had managed to get Hailey to talk and then proceeded to call in guards who carried her father¡¯s body out of my office so she could go do whatever the fuck she wanted with it.


    What she told me wasn¡¯t much yet it had me thinking.


    "So apparently, she overheard her father discussing with the Gamma about my... Ipetence." I muttered, slowly bringing my gaze to the only other person in my office.


    Marcellus.


    He sat on the chair in front of my desk, drumming his fingers on the armrest as he nodded.


    "It seems he was also in on your uncle and Celine¡¯s ns to betray you but he was more... Laid back while they did all the hard work," Marcellus remarked, stroking his chin. "Maybe he snapped after finding out that they failed. He wanted to secure immunity by giving his daughter to you in marriage."


    I scoffed, rubbing my forehead. "At this point, I don¡¯t think I have anyone whom I can trust anymore. First, the Luna Queen, then my uncle, and now the Delta. The only person in my inner circle I can truly trust is Odessa and..."


    I paused, staring awkwardly at him. He had a wry smile on his face as he nodded with a knowing look.


    "You," I said, sighing lightly. "I¡¯m not good at ¡¯I¡¯m sorry¡¯ but Marcellus I¡¯m¡ª"


    "Kaelos, it¡¯s fine." He raised his hand, waving dismissively. "It was what Celine wanted. She wanted us wing at each other and had all of us fooled. Besides..."


    He grinned broadly, giving me a wink. "I would be angry too if I thought my best friend was sleeping with my mate."


    I let out a chuckle and so did he... The first time we hadughed together since the Charity Ball.


    However, that didn¡¯tst for long as a knock sounded on the office door.

 Chapter 205: _Artificial Hybrid

    <h4>Chapter 205: _Artificial Hybrid</h4>


    When I heard the knock on the office door, I could already sense who it was and smiled, rxing more in my seat.


    "Come in."


    The door swung open and as I expected, Odessa walked in, closing the door behind her as soon as she got in. However, she paused after moving a few steps forward, her gazending on Marcellus.


    "Oh, hey Marcellus." Odessa greeted him with a small smile before her gaze went to me and she gestured at the door. "I coulde backter if..."


    I instantly knew where she was going with this and waved my right hand dismissively. "Oh, Odessa, it¡¯s fine. Marcellus and I have talked things out after I apologized and he¡¯s... Forgiven me for my huge mistake at the Charity Ball."


    Odessa nodded slowly with a surprised expression, walking further inside with measured steps.


    "You¡¯re talking something out with someone and... Apologizing?" She repeated with a teasing tone, causing me to roll my eyes and for Marcellus to chuckle. "I guess the world is healing."


    I smiled sarcastically at her while Marcellus continuedughing, shaking his head before getting on his feet.


    "I should be on my way. We might need to start scouting for a new Gamma and Delta due to the uing blood moon festival five months from now." He remarked.


    Oh, right... The Blood Moon festival.


    The biggest event among werewolves of North America which only happens once every lunar eclipse.


    I¡¯ve never observed one in my lifetime.


    "A blood moon festival?" Odessa mused with a curious tone. "Back in our coven, we witches hold events in tune with the lunar cycle. My aunt talked about the blood moon months before I got here."


    Marcellus merely shed her a small smile before walking toward the door. However, when he got in front of the door, he paused, turning around to face me.


    "You¡¯ll owe me more than a few words to apologize though. Although I¡¯d say we¡¯re kinda even after your evil ex-wife and uncle almost killed you."


    I raised an eyebrow, ncing briefly at Odessa who had already walked to my table, cing her hands on it and smiling at me.


    "Are you trying to guilt trip me, Marcellus?" I asked with a light smirk.


    He shrugged in response, grinning. "Maybe. Is it working?"


    I shook my head as we bothughed a bit more before he finally stepped out and closed the door behind him, leaving me with my mate.


    "Mon Ami," I said with a low tone, getting off the chair and turning around the table.


    I ced my hands on her shoulders, staring into her eyes as I caressed them tenderly. "How are you holding up?"


    Her smile became a bit more solemn as she blinked a few times before speaking. "Probably better than you. I¡¯m... Worried about you, Kaelos. I¡¯m worried that you¡¯re letting all this get into your head. And that¡¯s exactly what the Lord of the North would want."


    I smiled wryly, feeling the warmth of her skin and wishing for nothing more than to be in this moment forever. With her and no one else.


    "Trust me, Odessa. The lord of the North¡¯s maniptions isn¡¯t what¡¯s getting into my head." I said casually, my smile widening a bit.


    She furrowed her eyebrows and tilted her head with pure curiosity just then. "Then what is?"


    I paused, my eyes bing distant for a heartbeat. Something shed through my mind just then.


    Madame Greyheart had always pondered on how the whole world would know about THAT secret from over a decade ago if I ever killed her.


    She was murdered under mysterious circumstances under my roof. Would her "little birdies," or whatever she called them, leak the secret? Should I be worried about that?


    ¡¯Dude, let¡¯s forget about that for now.¡¯ Damon chimed in my head just then. ¡¯Look at our mate in front of us. The mother of our child.¡¯


    As soon as he said thatst part, my small smile turned into a wide grin as I slowly brought my right hand to Odessa¡¯s stomach, pressing it gently there.


    She giggled at my touch, blinking at me with reddened cheeks.


    "This child is what clouds my mind," I whispered, making each word clear so she could never forget. "You¡¯re all that clouds my mind."


    Her blush increased as she lowered her head, seeming too shy to look me in the eyes. I was just about to talk to her through our mind link when she beat me to it.


    ¡¯Aunt Althea and I had a long discussion in the gardens after the meeting.¡¯ She said through the mind link but her voice sounded somber. ¡¯It was mostly emotional stuff, but talking with her helped me remember an important detail.¡¯


    I squinted my eyes, slowly withdrawing my hands from her and taking a step back.


    "What¡¯s wrong?"


    She raised her head, pursing her lips for a few seconds before she also followed suit and spoke physically.


    "Remember the night when I escaped to the Blood Oak woods? When I was captured by those rogues and their leader, Tonka?"


    I nodded slowly in response. How could I forget?


    I¡¯d ended up ughtering the bastards but their leader, Tonka, managed to escape. Almost like he disappeared into thin air. Odessa, who had awakened her magic by then, had tried using a spell to track him, but she ended up finding out that he was dead.


    Which ced us at a dead end.


    "That night before you showed up, Tonka and the others were talking about taking me to the true Lord of the North. Some said it would take too much time and that they weren¡¯t ¡¯artificial Hybrids ¡¯." She revealed, pausing.


    I frowned.


    <fn2dfd> For more chapters visit find?novel</fn2dfd>


    "Artificial Hybrids?" I repeated, blinking with confusion. "What¡¯s that?"


    She shook her head with a clueless expression but spoke nheless. "I don¡¯t know but remembering that info made mee to a hypothesis. What if an artificial hybrid is capable of magic and also has a wolf just like an actual Hybrid like myself?"


    When she asked that, my eyes widened.


    It was all making sense now!

 Chapter 206: _Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

    <h4>Chapter 206: _Two Steps Forward, One Step Back</h4>


    "Odessa, if what you¡¯re saying is correct then this is... HUGE." I eximed, brushing my hand through my hair. "The murders in the packs so far make me think the person who¡¯s been doing them was a hybrid because of how they¡¯ve been able to blend in for so long. I mean..."


    I paused, gesturing at her. "When your wolf side awakened you still smelled like any normal witch. You still do to be honest, except for when you were having your first heat."


    She nodded, wagging her index finger at me. "And then that human town that got burnt down. Didn¡¯t they say the fire might¡¯ve been caused by magic yet there were wolf w marks on the bodies?"


    Exactly!


    That particr incident had made me believe the culprit was either a witch and werewolf working together or a hybrid. But I¡¯d been hesitant about the idea of them being a hybrid because of how rare they were in the world.


    Like... Really rare.


    During my father¡¯s time, he told me to kill any Hybrid child if I wanted any chance of winning the war in North America. Witches, werewolves, and humans have feared hybrids for generations, making them close to a myth.


    <fn3427> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on findnovel</fn3427>


    The fact that I was mated to one was still mind-blowing sometimes.


    "So you¡¯re saying there might be another hybrid out there who¡¯s been messing with us all this time?" I asked with a serious tone, folding my arms in front of my chest and squinting my eyes.


    However, she shook her head. "Not a true hybrid like myself. But an artificial hybrid. A werewolf who was able to somehow make himself use magic. Perhaps as a result of a spell from a powerful witch."


    She paused, shaking her head with a sigh. "This is all still just a hypothesis, though. I¡¯m not sure where to even start, and my aunt is as stumped as I am. However..."


    Her eyes lit up as she lowered her voice. "Tonka. What if he were an artificial hybrid? Maybe that¡¯s how he was able to evade you that night and disappear. He could¡¯ve teleported if he was powerful enough or cloaked himself with a spell."


    I felt like my head was swirling the more she spoke. This was all so... Mind-boggling. But it also all made sense.


    "Do you think he¡¯s the one behind all the mysterious killings in the pack and the incident at the human town?" I asked with suspicion in my tone.


    That seemed usible...


    But Odessa shook her head.


    "No. He might¡¯ve been an artificial hybrid but something is telling me he¡¯s not the only one out there. Remember the maid whose body we found on the morning before the Charity Ball? The one who was raped andpelled to kill herself?"


    My eyebrows furrowed as I nodded.


    That was yet another mystery that had been shoved away due to all the other things happening in the pack.


    But this discovery about potential artificial hybrids... It changed everything.


    "The culprit was definitely male. Meaning if there¡¯s another artificial hybrid out there, he¡¯s a man hiding within the pack. Right under our noses all this time." I said, clenching my jaw with frustration.


    As insightful as this discovery was, it also made me realize how ipetent I was.


    Maybe the true lord of the North and my uncle were right...


    ¡¯Dude, shut up and cut yourself some ck!¡¯ Damon scolded me and I felt like he was rolling his eyes. ¡¯You can chastise yourselfter. What we need to do now is brainstorm how to fish out this artificial hybrid bastard once and for all.¡¯


    I drew in a deep breath and spoke physically to Odessa who seemed to be having thoughts of her own.


    "So do you have any ideas how we could track an artificial hybrid?" I queried, raising an inquisitive eyebrow. "Maybe see if we can find any traces of magic on all the bodies of his victims? Madame Greyheart might just be one of histest victims."


    Odessa nodded. "Yeah, I have a feeling that she was. I mean, Elder Davina and Althea did say she got her life force absorbed and you can only do that through witchcraft. But about tracking him..."


    She sighed, shaking her head with a wry smile.


    "I have no clue how to. A true hybrid like me can already stay hidden and seem like a witch to most. I imagine an artificial hybrid¡¯s magic would be hard to trace. Especially since this one seems to be cleaning his tracks and any traces of his spell."


    Fuck!


    Why was it always two steps forward and one step back with these mysteries?


    I rubbed my forehead, closing my eyes. But soon, I heard Odessa¡¯s footsteps echoing toward me before she ced her right hand on my cheek.


    "Cut yourself some ck, would you?" She whispered, forcing me to slowly open my eyes as Damon sniggered in my mind.


    ¡¯See! I told you! Even our mate agrees that you should. Gosh, we¡¯re so in sync.¡¯


    I rolled my eyes but smiled warmly at Odessa as I grabbed her right hand on my face and pressed a soft kiss on her knuckle, watching her face redden with a blush.


    "What would I ever do without you?" I asked with a low tone, watching as a smug smirk curled her lips.


    "Oh, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll do just fine, Kaelos. Your problem is that you underestimate yourself." She winked at me and I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly, my heart swelling when she did the same.


    We stared into each other¡¯s eyes and I could feel our hearts beating in sync. However, just when I was about to lean in and nt a kiss on her lips, a knock on the door interrupted our alone time, forcing me to turn my gaze to it.


    "Come in." I coughed.


    The door opened, and the person who stepped in was La, who had a tense expression on her face.


    Goddess, now what?


    "A councilprising the Alphas of Mexico seeks an audience through video call, sir."

 Chapter 207: _Unravelling

    <h4>Chapter 207: _Unravelling</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    Kaelos was unravelling and Marcellus enjoyed watching it happen. On the same day after the lord of the North¡¯s broadcast, there was a meeting in Kaelos¡¯ office.


    During the meeting, Marcellus sat silently, watching as Delta Axel ranted and tried to ce all the me on witches. As expected.


    Werewolves and the people of Earth atrge were so easy to sway with the right information spread out.


    Unfortunately for Delta Axel, Kaelos seemed to have run out of his mercy card that day and killed him by snapping his neck when the former mentioned that he¡¯d rather join the lord of the North¡¯s side.


    Marcellus found the situation hrious because he had been plotting on how to take out the rest of Kaelos¡¯ Council after the Gamma¡¯s betrayal.


    After the Delta¡¯s death, Marcellus brought in the Delta¡¯s daughter who revealed to Kaelos after a lot of "persuasion" that her father had been colluding with Gamma Zane and Celine before their deaths.


    Marcellus was impressed at how the Delta was able to keep his distance from the attempted coup... But s, the Delta still tasted death because of his foolishness.


    "This all means that you¡¯d be able to ce spies as recements for the Gamma and Delta, right?" Cullen asked him after he went back to his residence that night.


    Marcellus had left Kaelos and Odessa in the former¡¯s office and was now on his balcony with his assistant, sipping from an evening drink.


    He could only imagine what those two love birds were up to now that they had some alone time.


    "That¡¯s not a bad idea, Cullen," Marcellus remarked, drumming his fingers on the armrest of his seat. "But the thing is, would the spies be normal werewolves from Lord Ryker¡¯s team? Or, would I need to call in a couple of artificial hybrids?"


    He licked his bottom lip as he thought this through, eventually shaking his head. "Something¡¯s telling me that I¡¯ve been too... Reckless when ites to using my artificial hybrid gifts."


    Cullen sniggered from where he stood beside Marcellus, clearing his throat. "Oh, you don¡¯t say..."


    Marcellus ignored the sarcasm in his assistant¡¯s voice and continued. "I¡¯m going to keep a low profile for now. I still have one person under my spell within the pack."


    Cullen scoffed, leaning against the railing of the balcony. "That mere guard? ric? What use would he bepared to Celine? She was a bitch but at least she used her position to cause continent wide chaos with the revtion of Odessa¡¯s hybrid nature."


    Marcellus smiled slightly, shaking his head. As usual, Cullen wasn¡¯t seeing things from his lens. He wasn¡¯t seeing the bigger picture.


    "How exactly do you think Gamma Zane was able to rally enough pack soldiers before the coup?" Marcellus asked, ncing at Cullen after gulping down the rest of the wine in the ss.


    Cullen blinked, squinting his eyes until Marcellus sighed and spoke.


    "He was a conniving bastard, I¡¯ll give him that. But if it weren¡¯t for the gossip and seed of discord spread by ric¡¯s rumors, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to rally as many soldiers as he did."


    The Lord of the North¡¯s worldwide broadcast was a perfect example of the power of information. Just a few clips and a few words were enough to stir so much mistrust among the werewolf popce toward witches and humans.


    Propaganda groups and anti-witch posts on social media had tripled since the broadcast. At this rate riots against Kaelos¡¯ rule were expected.


    "Just watch and let me do my thing, Cullen." Marcellus finally said, handing him his empty ss. "I need a refill on that. Be a darling, would you?"


    Cullen grabbed the ss and sighed lightly before stepping out of the balcony, heading into the room.


    Marcellus smirked as he watched thed. Cullen could get under his hair sometimes but he was one of the only people he trusted.


    Suddenly, Marcellus felt a tug in his mental space, as if someone was trying to telepathically get his attention. His eyebrows furrowed until he recognized the presence.


    <fn0f6b> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? </fn0f6b>


    ¡¯Lord Ryker?¡¯ Marcellus muttered mentally, feeling a small chill surge around his body.


    ¡¯Marcellus. My right hand.¡¯ Ryker responded mentally, his voice deep and brimming with power. ¡¯How are things going at the Blood Oak pack? Are you still healing from Kaelos¡¯ tantrum at the Charity Ball?¡¯


    Marcellus felt like he was supposed to feel some kind of embarrassment when he heard that but all he did was smirk physically before he answered.


    ¡¯No, but a few updates, sir. I don¡¯t know if Regina has informed you, but Madame Greyheart, the Luna Queen, and Gamma Zane are dead after a failed coup.¡¯


    There was a short pause, only for a heartbeat, before lord Ryker sniggered. ¡¯Oh, yes, she informed me. Any word on who Kaelos ns to be the new Luna Queen? Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s his hybrid bride.¡¯


    Marcellus sighed lightly, leaning against his chair to be morefortable. He nced over his shoulder into his dimly lit room where he spotted Cullen grabbing a few bottles from his wine cab, mixing them ording to a special recipe.


    ¡¯It is Odessa, my Lord. I know, Kaelos has grown¡ª¡¯


    ¡¯Bolder? More balls?¡¯ Ryker sniggered. ¡¯Making a Hybrid the Luna Queen would be a recipe for disaster and anarchy if we y our cards right. Which brings me to why I¡¯m reaching out to you.¡¯


    Marcellus dimmed his eyes slightly as he waited eagerly to hear what n the lord of the North had now. At that same moment, Cullen finally walked over with the drink, handing it over to Marcellus.


    ¡¯The Alphas of Mexico are going to reach out to Kaelos tonight because of the broadcast showing werewolves under human captivity.¡¯ Lord Ryker said calmly.


    ¡¯They¡¯ll try making excuses for their ipetence. And if my guesses are right, Kaelos is going to take things into his hands and head there on a mission to free the wolves and resolve things.¡¯


    Marcellus listened attentively and couldn¡¯t help but smirk as he thought about all the possibilities Lord Ryker had in mind. Soon, thetter dropped the bomb.


    ¡¯Make sure at all costs that Odessa follows Kaelos on that mission. I don¡¯t care who you have to kill or manipte... Just make sure it happens.¡¯

 Chapter 208: _Alphas Of Mexico

    <h4>Chapter 208: _Alphas Of Mexico</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    He furrowed his eyebrows curiously after hearing Lord Ryker¡¯smand. He was curious to know what he had nned that would make him require Odessa in Mexico.


    But at the end of the day, he trusted the lord¡¯s judgment and spoke through the telepathic link.


    ¡¯It will be done, sir.¡¯


    With that, lord Ryker withdrew from Marcellus¡¯ mind, leaving him in silence. He held the drink which Cullen had handed over to him, tapping it gently with his index finger.


    Cullen stood silently for a while until he eventually cleared his throat.


    "I¡¯m guessing the true Lord of the North spoke to you."


    Marcellus simply nodded, rubbing his chin as he thought.


    If Lord Ryker was right about his timing, he should be summoned back to the Alpha king¡¯s mansion any minute from now.


    Suddenly, his phone rang and his eyes lit up when he brought it out and saw Kaelos¡¯ name on it.


    "Marcellus, please head to my throne room now. The Alphas of Mexico are ready to speak up about the footage shown in the broadcast."


    Marcellus grinned when he heard that. Lord Ryker never disappoints...


    "I¡¯ll be there in a second," Marcellus said with a calm voice before Kaelos hung up.


    After that, he stared at the beautiful green liquid in his ss and drank all of it in one gulp, sighing with satisfaction when he felt the burn in his throat.


    "I¡¯m off," Marcellus said simply to Cullen before getting on his feet, winking at him. "Don¡¯t wait up..."


    .


    .


    At Kaelos¡¯ mansion, Marcellus was greeted by the guards at the gates even though he had walked through those gates a few times already.


    However, his eyesnded on the young guard whom he had cast a mind-altering spell on several nights ago.


    ric.


    He stood with hisrades and was doing what was expected of him. Spreading discord.


    "I saw the Delta¡¯s body being carried out of the mansion earlier." The young man whispered to the others, probably thinking Marcellus wouldn¡¯t hear them. "The Alpha king is slowly weeding out anyone who disagrees with his decisions."


    "People are only going to get more anxious now." Another guard chimed.


    "We have no Gamma, no Luna Queen, and no Delta. Our pack is falling apart and we¡¯re just sitting around doing nothing."


    Marcellus smirked coldly when he heard all this as he stepped into the mansion.


    When he got to the throne room, his footsteps echoed on the marble floor as he moved forward, scanning his gaze around the dimly lit room.


    Kaelos and Odessa were already sitting on the thrones at the end of the room. After Gamma Zane and Celine¡¯s failed coup, the throne room had been rebuilt easily with help from Althea¡¯s magic.


    Just in time for the broadcast this morning that had caused one of the biggest unravellings in a century.


    "Marcellus..." Kaelos nodded at him with a solemn expression and tone. "You¡¯re just in time."


    There was an empty seat on the left side of Kaelos¡¯ muchrger golden throne. It¡¯s been a while since Marcellus had to sit there.


    But he did just that, adjusting his suit as he stretched his neck and nced at Odessa.


    She seemed extra tense and took in deep breaths as La stepped away from a pir in the corner, clutching a tablet to her chest.


    "Sir, the connection is all set and the Alphas of Mexico are ready to speak."


    The Alphas of Mexico...


    Marcellus couldn¡¯t help but imagine how chaotic it would be when tens of the most powerful werewolves in Mexico would try speaking in one Zoom call.


    Suddenly, arge television screen was lowered from the ceiling, facing the three of them.


    "Couldn¡¯t they have picked fewer people to represent them?" Marcellus muttered with a roll of his eyes as he rubbed his forehead.


    At that same moment, the screen flickered to life, showing several boxes with an Alpha¡¯s face shown on each one. They all had tense expressions on their faces, but the confusion on their features was obvious when they saw Odessa.


    "Alphas of the region of Mexico." Kaelos cleared his throat and began despite that, drumming his fingers on the armrest of his throne. "Good evening. I was told you seek an audience."


    All of them were silent, causing Marcellus to furrow his eyebrows. If they were even a little organized, they should¡¯ve picked a spokesperson among them.


    Fortunately, one of them at the center of the separated boxes cleared his throat and began.


    "Good evening, Alpha King. I am Alpha Lobo Ironfang of the Ironfang pack. The biggest pack in Mexico."


    The man who spoke looked like he was in histe fifties and had brown skin and sharp blue eyes that were visible even from a distance.


    Kaelos nodded, signalling him to continue.


    "Before we begin, I¡¯d like to ask a question that I¡¯m sure my fellow Alphas have in mind." Ironfang seemed hesitant at first but his voice was firmer now as his gaze flicked to Odessa.


    Bloody hell... here they go.


    "What¡¯s a hybrid who ughtered thirty-two people doing in this meeting, Alpha King?" Ironfang asked with an unwavering tone. "I know she¡¯s your wife based on the truce between the witches, but¡ª"


    "My wife AND my mate, Lobo or whatever you call yourself." Kaelos interrupted, adjusting his sitting position and keeping his head high. "Odessa has as much right as anyone else present to be here. She has wolf blood on top of it all. So what¡¯s the fuss about?"


    There was a long silence after Kaelos said those words.


    <fne406> This text is hosted at find{n}ovel</fne406>


    Many of the Alphas had visibly shocked expressions on their faces and some murmured something to themselves about "abnormalities".


    "Forgive me, but did you say Odessa Pierce is your mate, Alpha King?" A female Alpha with lush ck hair asked from the screen with a thick Mexican ent. "How¡ª"


    "Yes, I did. A fact that you all would¡¯ve been aware of today if it weren¡¯t for the intercepted broadcast from the Lord of the North." Kaelos interrupted.


    "So, now that we have that out of the way, can we talk about your ipetence? Because I don¡¯t see the use of over fifty Alphas overseeing packs in your country alone if unruly humans can easily capture your wolves."

 Chapter 209: _Gossip And Discord

    <h4>Chapter 209: _Gossip And Discord</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    After Kaelos killed Delta Axel, the meeting was dismissed. I wanted to linger around but the serious mood Kaelos was in made me decide to wait it out.


    I walked out of the office, heading downstairs. As I walked down the stairs, I noticed the stares from a few maids who walked past me.


    Some whispered and others shifted away with fear.


    When I finally got downstairs, I sighed, walking past the dining room when a voice called me from the stairs.


    "Ma¡¯am Odessa!"


    I paused, a small smile curling my lips as I turned around to face the source of the familiar voice.


    Caroline had a cheery expression on her face, her curly ginger hair, which was made into a ponytail, bouncing behind her as she ran to me.


    Ever since the Charity Ball, she¡¯s seemed more confident in herself and has begun dressing less as a maid. Right now she wasn¡¯t in her maid uniform but a simple pink night gown.


    "Hey, Caroline," I said in a low voice when she got in front of me.


    She wrapped her right arm around me, staring at my face with blinking eyes before she frowned slightly.


    "What¡¯s up with your mood?" She asked, sounding worried.


    I nced around at the quiet dining room, which was lit by a chandelier above that shone with a warm yellow light, before I gestured with my head.


    "I was about to head outside and take a little stroll. We can talk more out there." I said with a small smile which only widened when she nodded in response.


    With that, we walked arm in arm, two maids who we walked past in therge living room whispering to themselves about something I didn¡¯t care enough to pay attention to.


    When Caroline finally walked out, we were weed by the cool evening breeze, the moon up ahead casting a gentle silver glow on thepound.


    Caroline turned her gaze to me, patting me on the arm. "Okay, ma¡¯am. Spill. I¡¯m already guessing the bitchy attitude and rumors flying among the staff members is part of it. Can you believe one confronted me earlier today asking me if you possessed me?"


    Huh?


    I didn¡¯t know when I let out a chuckle, shaking my head. That¡¯s not the worst rumor I¡¯ve heard in this pack about me but it was still crazy.


    "And what did you tell them?" I asked, raising my eyebrows with curiosity.


    She shrugged, puckering their lips. "I told her that she could eat ass, of course! Gosh, these people are so quick to judge what they can¡¯t understand. I just don¡¯t get it... How could anyone associate you with evil simply because you¡¯re a hybrid?"


    I smiled wryly, bringing my gaze to the night sky.


    Up ahead at thepound¡¯s main gate, some guards were present,ughing to themselves and talking about gods know what.


    They were probably gossiping about me, as usual.


    I was right...


    "I swear, with each witch that steps foot into this pack, I believe there¡¯s a n to rece every werewolf with witches." One said with a snigger.


    "Do you get it? It¡¯s sickening! Everywhere I go in thispound, I smell a witch."


    "Or a disgusting hybrid." Another said, his eyes going to me.


    The others followed suit, turning their heads to me despite the distance. I tensed up, my heart hammering against my chest as I tried holding back my irritation.


    I couldn¡¯t let my emotions control me. That could cause any of my abilities to surface, abilities that I was banned from using for six months.


    However, Caroline didn¡¯t have such a restriction and stepped forward, cing her hands on her waist.


    "Why don¡¯t you boys go back to work instead of gossiping like little girls?" She snapped, causing my eyes to widen a little.


    Meanwhile, Sirena was cheering her on in my head. ¡¯She took the words right out of my mouth! Gosh, if it weren¡¯t for the ban I would¡¯ve suggested you teach them a lesson.¡¯


    I clenched my jaw as one of the guards, a young man wearing the signature blood red uniform of the pack, stepped forward, squinting his eyes at Caroline.


    <fn13a5> Official source is Find_Novel(.</fn13a5>


    "What did you say, maid?" He asked with a cold voice, a growling out of his mouth.


    But to my surprise, Caroline growled in return, spreading her hands apart as if she was ready for a fight.


    "You heard me. What kick do you guys get from gossiping? Is there a high thates from it?" She asked, tilting her head. "If you go outside the safety of North America, you¡¯ll see soldiers like you fighting on the front lines, protecting their people..."


    She paused, rubbing her chin and ncing back at me. That glint in her eyes told me that she was about to say something diabolical.


    "Oh, wait. Those soldiers are nothing like you guys. They don¡¯t hide behindrge walls, judging their Alpha King. They don¡¯t point fingers at a regime that has brought peace to our continent."


    Most of the guards were silent, and some lowered their heads, ncing among themselves with shame. I was about to grab Caroline so we could walk to the gardens when the young guard, who seemed like the leader of the group, scoffed.


    "Peace? This isn¡¯t peace. It¡¯s a fragile agreement that is slowly unraveling." He said with disdain. "And that hybrid you¡¯re defending killed several people at the Charity Ball. Werewolves and even her fellow witches and humans. Do you really want to protect her?"


    I felt shaken and balled my hands into fists, looking away from the guards. They all had judgmental looks in their eyes.


    ¡¯Am I the only one who feels like something¡¯s off with the guard who keeps ranting? Like he¡¯s trying too hard to create discord?¡¯ Sirena asked in my head, causing my eyebrows to furrow.


    Now that she mentioned it¡ª


    Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the tense silence that followed the guard¡¯s words before things could escte.


    "If you¡¯re so pressed about the Alpha King¡¯s reign, why don¡¯t you confront him instead of whining?"


    My eyes lit up when I heard the voice, forcing me to turn my head to where it came from.


    It was Aunt Althea who walked down the stairs leading into the mansion, a stern expression on her face as her robe flowed elegantly behind her.

 Chapter 210: _Continue Fighting For What’s Right

    <h4>Chapter 210: _Continue Fighting For What¡¯s Right</h4>


    "Mind your business, witch." The guard snarled at Althea defiantly. "Just because¡ª"


    "Ironic of you to tell me that when it was your inability to hold your tongue that started this unsightly argument." Althea snapped at him, stepping to my side.


    Caroline stepped back now, ncing at me first before turning her gaze to my aunt.


    Althea raised her head, speaking with lingering anger in her voice. "The woman you speak to so harshly¡ª the hybrid, is your Alpha King¡¯s wife. If you have a problem with that, you can take it up with him instead of cutting corners and targeting her to get a reaction."


    The young guard let out a scoff, ncing at hisrades like he was waiting for some kind of validation. They give him just that by either chuckling or murmuring to themselves.


    "Targeting her? You mean therge target she ced on her back when she ughtered innocents?" The guard asked.


    But when I nced at Althea, she was unwavering and calm as she responded. "Her¡¯s was a mistake. Yet on that same night, your Luna Queen deliberately led tens of pack soldiers to their deaths in a failed coup against the Alpha King."


    The guard faltered, his lips parting but Althea¡¯s voice demanded silence as she continued.


    "Your words tonight thread the line of mutiny. Now I can¡¯t give you any punishment, but best believe the Alpha King wouldn¡¯t be merciful if he fishes you out himself."


    The guard seemed shaken and a few of the others standing with him slowly turned away, trying to pretend like they were going back to duty.


    "Listen,dy. I wasn¡¯t trying to... To go against the Alpha king¡¯s rule." The guard said, raising his hands. "I was just pointing out how much of a threat his wife is. The guards and the people feel unsafe."


    Althea sniggered, shaking her head. "And the Luna Queen? What about when she was alive? Did her failed coup or the fact that she lied to millions of people watching around the continent about Odessa having an affair change your opinion on her?"


    "She wasn¡¯t a hybrid!" The guard said with a growl.


    The back and forth was getting intense now and I couldn¡¯t help but scratch the back of my head as I scanned my gaze around.


    A few elite werewolves outside the mansion who were walking past stretched their necks, trying to see what the fuss was about.


    Some maids walking from a corner paused, staring with curiosity and whispering to themselves.


    ¡¯Does this mean I can no longer move around without attracting some kind of attention?¡¯ I asked myself mentally, my fists clenching harder as I red at the guard up ahead.


    There was this weird feeling I got from him. It was the same weird feeling I got from Celine back when I was still pretty new in the mansion.


    It was as if his emotions were... Heightened.


    ¡¯Mind maniption?¡¯ I asked myself, dimming my eyes as Althea parted her arms.


    "So you admit it. You don¡¯t loathe Odessa because of what happened at the Charity Ball or even the broadcast from the lord of the North this morning. You hate her because of her heritage. Because she¡¯s a hybrid."


    The young guard parted his lips but then closed them, clenching his jaw.


    "Whatever you say, witch! Yes, she¡¯s a hybrid scum and she¡¯s a danger to both herself and the rest of us." He said coldly, pointing at Althea. "You witches aren¡¯t so pure either. You¡¯ve been defending humans for decades while those of them who don¡¯t ally with you are out there cing our brethren in cages."


    Hearing someone call me "scum" because of my Hybrid nature AGAIN, ticked me off. I clenched my jaw, feeling my magic already crackling beneath my fingertips.


    ¡¯Gurl, don¡¯t.¡¯ Sirena was surprisingly a voice of reason in my mind, making me calm down. ¡¯The elders of the Luminari Coven gave you that ban TODAY. You still have six months to pull through. Or, at least, when you¡¯re no longer considered a threat.¡¯


    I listened to her and lowered my hands, sighing lightly.


    "It¡¯s enough, Aunt Althea," I muttered to my aunt gently, ring at the guards onest time. "They aren¡¯t worth it. I can¡¯t change the opinions they have of me."


    The leader of the guards furrowed his eyebrows but I didn¡¯t care as I turned and began walking, heading for the gardens in thepound.


    However, just when I walked a few steps, I froze, ncing over my shoulders at the guards.


    "And one more thing. I might not be able to change your opinions of me but I most certainly will continue fighting for what¡¯s right." I said firmly, although my voice was a little shaky with withheld anger.


    "This war has taken too much for me to sit back and watch people trying to push for its continuation or the annihtion of one side. And as the Alpha King¡¯s wife, I¡¯ll continue standing by his side while he weeds out the rotten ones of society."


    My voice and gaze were cold in thatst sentence as I fixed my eyes directly on the young leader of the guards.


    I don¡¯t know what he was up to or whose influence he was under but I had taken note of his face now.


    Without another word, I continued walking while Caroline and Althea followed behind me.


    "I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t st them like you did at the Charity Ball," Caroline remarked as the guards continued whispering to themselves. "Or, use your sonic howl attack."


    I scoffed lightly, shaking my head. "And get heard by the entire pack? Hard pass, Caroline. Also, I was banned by my coven from using any abilities from either my wolf or witch side."


    I nced at her when she finally began walking side by side with me, seeing her eyes widen.


    <fnf9a4> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find~Novel</fnf9a4>


    "What? But you only just awakened your powers. Now they want to take it away?" She gasped, shaking her head. "It¡¯s not fair."


    I smiled wryly, ncing at Aunt Althea, who was walking to my left. She was stoic and calm despite the anger she disyed back there.


    I was about to say something when my aunt beat me to it.


    "We need to talk about something, Odessa. Actually, a lot of things."

 Chapter 211: _You Tamed The Alpha King

    <h4>Chapter 211: _You Tamed The Alpha King</h4>


    "What is it, aunty?" I asked, staring at her as we finally got to the gardens.


    Caroline seemed distant, parting aside some strands of her hair and looking away as my aunt and I sat on one of the benches in the garden.


    The ce was surrounded by flower shrubs, including roses which were in full bloom. It smelled like spring. It smelled... Like home.


    My mind wandered back to the Luminari coven when I had sat on a bench simr to this, watching my aunt pluck flowers and nts that she¡¯d use for potions.


    She would point at some particr flowers, telling me their names and sometimes even calling me to help her stir some into a cauldron.


    I owed my knowledge of potion making to her. I owed her for being the only parental figure I¡¯ve had since my parents were killed before my eyes when I was five.


    <fn9589> This text is hosted at find¡¤novel</fn9589>


    "Odessa, child..." Aunt Althea held my hands in between hers, her eyes brimming with pride. "Saying I¡¯m proud of you would be an understatement. You¡¯ve managed to exceed all my expectations throughout your marriage to the Alpha King."


    I couldn¡¯t help but scoff lightly, cing my right hand in front of my mouth and shaking my head.


    "Sorry, aunty. But I¡¯ve barely done anything throughout my marriage to Kaelos. It¡¯s been barely a month... A lot has happened but I¡ª"


    "You¡¯re his mate." Althea interrupted, squeezing my hands even tighter. "You¡¯ve been at his side for such a short time, yet you¡¯ve managed to bring a soft side of him that many believed was non-existent. You tamed the Alpha King, Odessa."


    Oh...


    My face heated up with a blush as I lowered my head, not having anything to say. I could feel Caroline staring at me from where she stood beside us and eventually turned my gaze to her.


    "Don¡¯t you want to sit?"


    She scratched the back of her head awkwardly, a small blush appearing on her face. "Uh, I could leave if that¡¯s okay. I feel like you and your aunt have some important things to talk about that I have no business hearing."


    Althea and I nced at each other and I saw the small smile on her face. I sighed lightly, turning my head back to Caroline.


    "Nonsense, Caroline," I muttered, patting at the free space beside me. "Just sit. I mean, you know all my secrets at this point."


    She hesitated, her hands ced in front of her body.


    Eventually, she drew in a deep breath and sat beside me as I turned my gaze back to my aunt who looked at us curiously.


    "So, you were saying something..." I muttered, clearing my throat.


    Althea nodded slowly before speaking. "Yes. Anyway, I wanted to give you this."


    She suddenly brought out a colorful hand bracelet and ced it around my wrist, helping me to lock it in before I could even speak or make sense of what was happening.


    When she was done, she pulled her hands away and nodded with satisfaction. "There. That should help you in theing six months."


    Wait... What?


    "That bracelet is going to track when your hybrid side gets too... Erratic. Especially if you use magic in public." Althea exined calmly, her face in. "It would send a magic signal to the elders at the Luminari coven if that happens."


    I blinked at her speechlessly before bringing my gaze to the bracelet on my wrist. It gave off a distinct glow which made me stare at it longer than necessary.


    "It looks so pretty," Carolinemented beside me, causing me to snap my head to her.


    Her face reddened as she coughed. "Oh, right. It¡¯s not a good thing."


    I rolled my eyes and breathed out as I brought my gaze back to my aunt. "Six months, aunt. They¡¯re telling me to hide who I am for six months."


    She nodded with a wry smile, cing her right hand on my shoulder. "I know how you feel, dear. But it¡¯s for your safety and the safety of others on the continent."


    I sighed, clicking my tongue as I stared at the bracelet again.


    ¡¯It¡¯s not like they banned youpletely from being a hybrid.¡¯ Sirena spoke up in my head just then. ¡¯That would be impossible, anyway. All they¡¯re saying is that you keep that part of yourself away from the public.¡¯


    Meaning I would be back to "Odessa the powerless witch".


    As I mentally spaced out because of my predicament, Caroline suddenly spoke up.


    "Ma¡¯am Odessa, you never really exined how you awakened your hybrid side and your magic. Was it... A burst of mes like during the Charity Ball? Or something more magical?"


    A cold shiver ran down my spine when I heard that question, my fingers shaking slightly. That night that I awakened my hybrid nature was also a night that I hated remembering because of what happened.


    The rogue wolves, their leader sexually assaulting me... I had pushed it all into the back of my mind so much that I was almost forgetting all the details.


    Until...


    "I can feel your pain, child." Althea blurted, cing her right hand on mine. "Tell me what happened that night. The night that you awakened your hybrid nature."


    I hesitated, ncing at Caroline who nodded at me as well.


    Just when I parted my lips, my eyes widened as I thought of something.


    "What if... I showed you?" I muttered, tightening my grip on my aunt¡¯s hand and staring into her purple eyes.


    She blinked back with confusion at first, tilting her head until her eyes also widened.


    "You want me to look through your memories?" She asked with surprise.


    But I shook my head. "Not just looking through them. The trauma from that night has slowly made me push almost everything that happened to the back of my mind. No matter how hard I try, most of it is blurry... Especially most of what happened right before Kaelos came to my rescue."


    I smiled wryly, nodding at her. "Please, bring those memories back with rity. I feel like there are some things I¡¯m missing."


    My aunt hesitated for only a few seconds before her eyes became serious and she nodded. She grabbed both my hands, whispering a spell as I closed my eyes.


    My mind yed through so many memories as the spell began reaching into it. I didn¡¯t resist or fight back, connecting with the spell and letting go.


    However, when the spell finally brought out the memories from that night, I let out a gasp as it flowed in all at once, forcing me to open my eyes.

 Chapter 212: _Handle It Ourselves

    <h4>Chapter 212: _Handle It Ourselves</h4>


    My mind shed with memories from the night I got kidnapped by rogues as Aunt Althea¡¯s spell worked its magic.


    That night... The rogues had a meeting, discussing what they would do with me, something that I hadn¡¯t remembered all these while.


    "Artificial hybrids..." I muttered, my eyes fluttering to reality as the spell stopped and Aunt Althea withdrew her hands from mine.


    She was oddly silent, causing me to fix my gaze on her. "Aunt Althea, you saw the memories. Do you have any ideas on what an artificial hybrid is?"


    She blinked at first before shaking her head. "No clue." She muttered.


    I sighed but I wasn¡¯t about to give up.


    Those rogues had been working for the true lord of the North and were even talking about taking me to him at the time. If they were somehow connected to these "artificial hybrids" then it sounded like something serious.


    I got on my feet at the same moment that Caroline spoke with confusion.


    "Uh, what¡¯s going on? What do you guys mean by artificial hybrids?"


    <fnd0b3> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find_Novel(.</fnd0b3>


    I nced at her and then nced at Althea who was sitting in silence, staring at nothing in particr.


    It seems she was still trying to process all the memories she got through the spell.


    "I¡¯ll exin everything to you once I decipher it myself, Caroline," I said to her reassuringly, patting her on her shoulder. "But right now I have to go see Kaelos and tell him about this."


    I turned away from them and began walking away. But as I did, I realized that some of those memories that my aunt was able to get ess to might include the times Kaelos and I have had sex.


    My face heated up as I shook my head and continued walking, heading into the mansion.


    .


    .


    After heading to Kaelos¡¯ office, I told him about the memory I got back where the rogues mentioned "artificial hybrids".


    After a little brainstorming, we both concluded that the person behind the murders in the pack was an artificial hybrid.


    However, just when we were about to share a moment, La came in and informed us that the Alphas of Mexico had asked for an audience with Kaelos through a video call.


    When we got to his dimly lit throne room and I sat on the throne reserved for the Luna Queen, I knew this meeting was going to get a little messy.


    "What¡¯s a hybrid who ughtered thirty-two people doing in this meeting, Alpha King?" Ironfang, one of the Alphas on therge TV screen, asked with furrowed eyebrows as he stared directly at me.


    He continued talking after that, forcing me to tense up.


    Most of the Alphas stared at me with barely hidden spite and mistrust that was so strong I could almost feel it through the television screen.


    I lowered my head, fiddling with my fingers as I clenched my jaw. However, before I could even think of saying or doing anything, Kaelos came to my rescue and berated the Alpha.


    He dered to all of them that I was his wife AND mate, causing them to murmur and curse.


    But Kaelos didn¡¯t care.


    The tone of his voice suggested that he had run out of patience.


    "Well? I¡¯m listening. Does anyone have an exnation for the gross ipetence of the packs of Mexico?" Kaelos asked yet again, drumming his fingers on both armrests of his throne. "Anybody? Because you all know damn well someone has to pay for those wolves in those cages."


    There was a long silence and I squinted my eyes at the TV screen. If these Alphas were gathered in real life, they would probably be looking among themselves.


    Eventually, a female Alpha with a thick ent who had spoken once before cleared her throat and spoke yet again.


    "Alpha King, would our packs be to me for our people being captured or the humans capturing them?" She asked, her voice firm. "It¡¯s not our fault that the humans refuse to obey the rules of the treaty. We¡ª"


    "Oh, yes, you are to me." Kaelos interrupted, chuckling.


    But it was a dry, cold, and almost mocking sound that made the female Alpha¡¯s face scrunch with embarrassment.


    "Each and every one of you present is responsible for the lives and freedom of every wolf trapped in those cages like animals." He continued, his voice getting sterner. "What¡¯s the use of a pack having Alphas and pack soldiers if you can¡¯t protect your people? If you can¡¯t look after them."


    One of the Alphas spoke with a growl. "Pardon me, but are you saying it¡¯s our fault that the humans woke up one morning and decided to capture our people who went out hunting or going about their lives?"


    You¡¯ve got to be kidding...


    "They didn¡¯t wake up one morning and decide anything." Kaelos blurted inly. "Every race will always have defaulters of thew. That¡¯s a fact. And another fact is that your people being captured tells me your defenses are running weak."


    Some of the Alphas were about to speak when Kaelos spoke once again, this time with a roar brimming with power that shook the throne room.


    "I¡¯ve been fighting for years to make peace with the humans and witches! You finally have that peace yet you couldn¡¯t look after the people. Your people! But you¡¯re content with painting an entire race of potential innocents as bad!"


    There was silence after that as the Alphas either clenched their jaws or stared pensively.


    None of them had anything to say to defend themselves.


    After several seconds of silence, Kaelos said something that surprised me. "I¡¯ll being to Mexico personally to get to the bottom of this. I¡¯ll meet with the human leaders if necessary to mobilize their people and see if they have any rogue soldiers among them."


    He paused for a second before adding. "Gods help them that they aren¡¯t the ones behind the kidnapping. Anyway, if that¡¯s all I think it¡¯s best we end this meeting¡ª"


    "There are a few more things, Alpha King." Ironfang suddenly chimed in with a hesitant voice, causing me to raise an eyebrow after staring at Kaelos.


    Gods, what now?


    I nced at Kaelos once again, watching his expression. He seemed calm but I could feel the anger and frustration simmering inside him.


    He drew in a deep breath before finally speaking inly. "What is it?"


    There was a short pause before Ironfang continued. "Some of the Alphas among us... See some logic with the words of the true Lord of the North."


    My eyes widened.

 Chapter 213: _True Luna Queen

    <h4>Chapter 213: _True Luna Queen</h4>


    "Some of the Alphas among us... See some logic with the words of the true Lord of the North."


    There was a long, unbearable silence after Alpha Ironfang dropped that line. The air in the throne room felt like it had thickened, bing harder to breathe.


    Kaelos didn¡¯t move or flinch. He didn¡¯t even look away from the giant screen. But I knew that look in his eyes.


    It was the look he had just before destroying an enemy. Calm, cold, and lethal.


    I didn¡¯t dare say a word.


    Hell, even Sirena, who was usually the first to snarl or offer sarcasticmentary, had gone quiet for a moment in my mind.


    Then Marcellus spoke up, his voice firm and cutting. "What do you mean by that? If any Alpha agrees with the true Lord of the North and his genocidal ideology, then why don¡¯t you just leave the continent? Go join him in his little cave or whatever gutter he crawled out of. What, are you hoping for a reward? Maybe you want a raise from the Alpha King?"


    A few of the Alphas visibly squirmed on screen, their expressions shifting from stoical to difort.


    I almost pitied them.


    Almost.


    ¡¯Well, screw them!¡¯ Sirena finally growled in my mind,ced with fury. ¡¯They¡¯re weaklings hiding behind political excuses while real lives are at stake.¡¯


    Kaelos finally spoke, his voice calm but colder than I¡¯d heard in several days. "Who among you agrees with the Lord of the North¡¯s stance? Please, signify."


    The silence that followed was deafening.


    Some of the Alphas blinked rapidly, clearly startled.


    <fnd163> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find?novel</fnd163>


    One pretended to shuffle papers on his desk like this was a business meeting and not an emergency call about war, murder, and treason.


    Another rubbed his chin like he was considering the question for the first time¡ªa ridiculous performance.


    Gods, the sheer audacity!


    "Come on, don¡¯t be shy. We¡¯re simply sharing options, right?" Kaelos added with a light chuckle, one that had absolutely no warmth.


    I swallowed hard. That was his dangerous voice. The one he used when someone was about to disappear from the surface of the Earth.


    I remember hearing it all too well during the coup attempt from Celine and Zane.


    Still, none of them raised their hands. Not one of them had the balls to.


    Suddenly, Kaelos leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on the throne¡¯s arms as his voice dropped even lower.


    "You want to know why the so-called true Lord of the North is gaining traction? Because some of you have gotten toofortable. You sit behind borders and politics while our people are being murdered in cages. And instead of owning up to your failures, you find excuses. You look to monsters for answers."


    His eyes scanned the screen slowly. "Let me make this perfectly clear. If you or your pack aligns yourselves with him, even in thought, I will not hesitate to raze your territory to the ground. There is no middle ground in genocide."


    My heart pounded at the weight of his words. But Kaelos wasn¡¯t done.


    "This is not just about witches anymore. It¡¯s about what kind of leaders you are. If the humans are breaking the treaty and abducting our people, we respond. But we don¡¯t side with murderers to make our lives easier. Not on my continent."


    There was a collective silence from the other end, and then finally, a female Alpha I hadn¡¯t heard speak until now cleared her throat.


    "Alpha King, I¡¯m Alpha Rain... with all due respect, perhaps some of our fear stems from ignorance. The world is changing and people are uncertain. Perhaps if we saw more of your wife... her strength, her control... we might feel safer."


    My brows furrowed slightly.


    Kaelos didn¡¯t even blink before he said, "You will see more of her. We¡¯reing to Mexico."


    Wait, what?


    "What?" I blurted out, unable to help myself.


    Kaelos finally turned to me.


    His expression softened slightly as he held my hand. "We¡¯re going to Mexico. I want you beside me when we meet with the human leaders and survey the areas where our people were taken."


    Marcellus folded his arms, nodding. "It might be the perfect time to formally introduce Odessa to the public beyond the neighboring packs and the United States territories. The more people see her as the Luna Queen, the less room there is for doubt or hate."


    That surprised me. Marcellus supporting this?


    I stared at him, unsure of what angle he was ying, but he met my eyes with something that looked like genuine support.


    "Besides," He added, rxing on his seat. "The more presence you have among the wolves of Mexico, the more they¡¯ll associate your power with stability. Right now, that¡¯s what we need."


    Kaelos nodded slowly. "Exactly. We don¡¯t just need force. We need representation."


    I took in a slow breath, ncing down at my hands. Was I ready to face an entire region that saw me as a monster?


    No... I wasn¡¯t sure. But I would go anyway.


    "We¡¯ll leave through a portal," Kaelos said, turning his gaze toward the nearest guard who stood silently at the door. "Have Althea prepare one immediately."


    At the mention of her name, I tensed slightly. The bracelet on my wrist, meant for tracking my hybrid abilities, shimmered faintly, catching my attention.


    My aunt would definitely want to argue about this. About me being put in the public eye when we were still figuring out the extent of my powers... especially after what happened at the Charity Ball.


    But I had made up my mind.


    The Alphas on screen still looked shaken, but Kaelos ended the meeting before anyone else could speak.


    "That will be all," he said sharply, rising from his throne. "We¡¯ll see you in Mexico."


    And with that, the screen went ck.


    We didn¡¯t speak immediately after.


    I followed Kaelos and Marcellus down the long hallway to Kaelos¡¯ office, where La and Elder Davina were already waiting, having listened in from a connectedness TV.


    "Are we really doing this?" La asked, standing from her seat in the office.


    "Yes," Kaelos answered, not missing a beat. "It¡¯s time."


    I remained quiet, unsure of how to feel, until I heard the door open and my aunt Althea stepped in, her face filled with concern.


    "I just heard what you told the council," She said, looking directly at Kaelos and then at me. "You want Odessa to go to Mexico?"


    "She needs to be seen," Kaelos said. "Not just by leaders but by the people."


    Althea gave me a long look, the kind that saw through every wall I had ever built. "Do you think you can control it? Your hybrid nature?"


    I nodded, even if I didn¡¯t feelpletely certain. "I have to."


    She stepped forward, her hand brushing the bracelet she had given me. It pulsed faintly beneath her touch.


    "Very well," she said softly. "Then I¡¯ll open the portal myself."


    .


    .


    Later that evening, I stood in the garden again with Caroline helping me pack a small bag.


    She had insisted on helping, though she looked just as nervous as I felt.


    "Are you scared?" She asked gently.


    I paused before responding. "Yes. But I think... I think it¡¯s time I stopped hiding. If I don¡¯t, the rogues win. The true Lord of the North wins."


    Caroline gave me a small, proud smile. "Then go show them that you deserve the Luna Queen title better than that traitorous bitch, Celine, ever did."


    I smiled at her and we both chuckled before I drew in a deep breath.


    As I turned back toward the mansion, I felt the wind shift and the bracelet flicker again.


    A pulse of energy, like something powerful inside me, was waking up again.


    "Maybe it¡¯s time they all see what I truly am. Even if I have to keep my powers hidden." I remarked, tightening my grip on the bag and walking out of the garden.


    .


    .


    Caroline escorted me out of the garden and toward the part of the building where Aunt Althea was going to prepare the portal.


    When I stepped into the room, I held my breath.


    The portal shimmered at the center of the dimly lit room. The room in question was one of the old ceremonial chambers that hadn¡¯t been used for years ording to Kaelos.


    I spotted Marcellus and La standing at a corner side by side while Elder Davina stood at another corner.


    Aunt Althea stood in the center of a runic circle, her arms outstretched as light bloomed from her palms, weaving glowing runes in the air.


    "You¡¯re just in time," She said, not turning as the magic red brighter.


    I spotted Kaelos standing close to the circle and walked up to him, squeezing his hand.


    The air thickened with magic and the wind blew my hair as the runes spun faster.


    Then, with a low hum, a swirling portal ripped open before us ¡ª silver-edged and pulsing with heat.


    Mexico awaited just beyond it.


    "Good luck! We¡¯ll hold the fort while you¡¯re gone!" Marcellus yelled from where he stood giving us a thumbs up.


    Kaelos and I nced at each other before nodding, bringing our gaze back to the glowing portal.


    And with that, we stepped through hand in hand.

 Chapter 214: _Welcome To Mexico

    <h4>Chapter 214: _Wee To Mexico</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    During the meeting with the Alphas of Mexico, when I saw the way they tried shifting the me to witches and humans, an idea struck me.


    A way to deal with the problem of humans capturing werewolves while slowly pushing back the bias against witches and humans.


    The true lord of the North was a representation of war while I fought for peace... Which was ironic considering the part I yed in this war during the early years of my reign.


    The humans of Mexico, in particr, should be familiar with me... Or at least, be familiar with Damon, since I once devastated an entire city and ughtered human soldiers there while transformed into my wolf.


    That was one of the incidents that earned me my brutal and chaotic reputation.


    "Wee to Mexico," I said with a low voice, looking around when Odessa and I stepped through the portal.


    I nced back just in time to watch the portal close behind us, causing me to sigh. We were at the outskirts of a forest which seemed to have mountain ranges and road trails that were now overgrown with grasses.


    I furrowed my eyebrows as Odessa sighed. "Yeah, but where exactly in Mexico? The Blood Oak pack is located in North Carolina, and it¡¯s already nighttime there. I¡¯m guessing the time is something simr here."


    I nodded at her, bringing out my phone and searching through the maps. It didn¡¯t take long for me to find out where we were.


    "We¡¯re about thirty minutes walking distance east of Mexico City." I blurted before dialing La¡¯s number.


    She picked up the call after the second ring, a sigh of reliefing out of the other end.


    "Sir, thank the goddess. I pinged your location through the tracking app on your phone and¡ª"


    "Yeah, we¡¯re close to Mexico City." I interrupted, brushing aside strands of my shoulder length hair that blew into my eyes as I nced at the night sky. "Give me statistics, La. How many werewolf packs surround Mexico City? Also, do any of them have reports of humans capturing their wolves?"


    La quickly went into action and spoke. "I¡¯m sending all the necessary info now."


    About five secondster, my phone dinged and I removed it from my ear, staring at it as Odessa stood beside me.


    On the screen were written information containing statistics of the terrain, poption, human, witch, and werewolf settlements, etc.


    "So, ording to this, there are four werewolf packs surrounding the city, all within a twenty-six-mile radius. Humans and witches are the only race in the city¡ªas expected." I muttered, squinting my eyes.


    The four packs in question were: Iron Fang, Blue Reed, Aztec Wolves n, and Blue Moon.


    And all the packs have cases of missing werewolves who were most likely abducted.


    "Wasn¡¯t the Alpha of Iron Fang the spokesperson of the meeting back at the mansion?" Odessa observed.


    I remained silent for several seconds before I spoke into the phone. "La, make contact with the human and witch leaders of Mexico City and tell them I¡¯ll be there soon."


    "Roger that, sir."


    After hanging up, I turned my gaze to Odessa.


    "Our first destination will be Iron Fang. Let¡¯s go see if we can gather more information from the wolves there and the Alpha."


    With that, we began walking, staying close and keeping alert just in case.


    .


    .


    The Iron Fang pack was known as the biggest pack in Mexico.


    It hadrge gates that reminded me of the Blood Oak pack, but this one was smaller inparison and it¡¯s moon stone enchantment wasn¡¯t as strong.


    I¡¯ve never been to this pack so when we got to the gates and got surrounded by the guards at the front, I wasn¡¯t surprised.


    The leader of the guards stepped forward, scanning his gaze on my body suspiciously at first. But then his eyes widened as he took a few steps back.


    "That¡¯s the Alpha King!" He yelled out and bowed immediately. "Good evening, sir. I¡¯m sorry for not recognizing you on¡ª"


    "Spare me all that and take me to your Alpha." I interrupted with a dismissive wave, grabbing Oddesa¡¯s hand beside me.


    The leader, a man in his fifties, nodded and raised his head, barking an order.


    "Open the gates and get a car to take the Alpha King to the Alpha¡¯s mansion!"


    Soon, the gates were opened and a ck sedan waited for us immediately as we stepped foot into the pack grounds. It seemed to be an estate and the grounds were tarred.


    However, when Odessa and I got into the car and the driver drove us through the pack, the difference between this and Blood oak became much clearer.


    At the corners of the road as far as the eyes could see, werewolves were struggling. Some struggled for food at free food stalls. Others sat at the corners of the road, begging for alms.


    A few children even tried running after the car as it drove through the narrow streets, knocking at the windows and begging with their stained faces.


    The windows were closed but I could see Odessa staring out of them with shock.


    "Goddess..." She whispered, shaking her head.


    But at the elite section of the pack... The noble wolves flourished with expensive-looking houses and luxuriously dressed wolves who beamed with smiles.


    This was also the only part of the pack that had private cars.


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    When the driver dropped us in front of the pack house, we walked into thepound only to be greeted by the Alpha, Lobo Ironfang who had a weing smile on his face.


    He wore a ck suit with a sword strapped to his waist and was in his fifties, his sharp blue eyes scanning me as he stretched out his arms.


    "Alpha King! I never expected to see you here so soon after the meeting." He eximed excitedly, walking past his wife who stood silently beside him.


    But then he paused when his eyesnded on Odessa, his eyebrows furrowing into a frown.


    He blinked at her for a few seconds in silence, the only sound that could be heard being the chirping of crickets and the wind blowing against our skin.


    Finally, he pointed at Odessa. "Pardon, but what¡¯s she doing¡ª"


    "You¡¯re not ¡¯pardoned¡¯ and you better choose your next words wisely if you don¡¯t want your blood painting your mansion¡¯s pirs." I interrupted coldly, ring at him.

 Chapter 215: _She’s My Wife!

    <h4>Chapter 215: _She¡¯s My Wife!</h4>


    I squinted my eyes at Alpha Lobo after I said those words, scrutinizing his face.


    He blinked at me with surprise, ncing at Odessa and then ncing back at his wife who lowered her head.


    The woman was in her early thirties, was dressed in a queenly white gown, and had her hair done in a tress. Her meekness was smart... because goddess knows my anger was reaching a tipping point.


    "Alpha King, it really hasn¡¯t gotten to that." Lobo finally said, raising his hands. "Please, if you¡¯d just listen you¡¯d know that I mean no harm asking about the presence of the hybrid. I just¡ª"


    "She¡¯s..." I blurted before shooting my right hand forward, grabbing his right wrist and squeezing it until it snapped.


    His eyes widened but before he could even scream in pain, I continued with a snarl. "... My..."


    I sent a kick to his knee, watching as he fell to the ground, kneeling with his head lowered as he groaned and then whimpered in pain.


    "... Wife!" I roared, letting it all out.


    The audacity!


    My ears perked up just then and I heard the pack soldiers at thepound gate rushing toward us.


    "What¡¯s happening here?"


    "The Alpha!"


    "B¨CBut isn¡¯t that the Alpha King?"


    I red at Lobo, not pitying him in the slightest even though my grip was still on his wrist.


    ¡¯Yes! Finally!¡¯ Damon howled with excitement, his bloodlust surging through me. ¡¯Oh, we¡¯re so back!¡¯


    I ignored him, letting go of Lobo as I slowly turned around and fixed my gaze on the pack soldiers. There were fourteen of them gathered, each wearing the dull silver uniform representing their pack.


    They all had torn expressions on their faces, like they were contemting either helping their Alpha or facing me.


    To me, the answer to that was easy.


    "If you want a worse fate, you are wee to interfere," I said with a shrug, turning around to face Lobo again.


    The coward had crawled backward to his wife who lowered to his level, cradling him close to her chest as he whimpered and growled in pain.


    "This pack has far bigger problems than a ¡¯hybrid¡¯ showing up," I said calmly, noticing just then that Odessa stared at me with a proud look on her face.


    She didn¡¯t try holding me back or question my brutality. In fact, she shared my emotions through the mate bond and I could feel her support.


    "W¨CWhy?" Lobo suddenly spoke up from the floor with a shaky voice despite his wife¡¯s attempt to get him to shut up. "I¨CI wasn¡¯t part of the Alphas who agreed with the Lord of the North. I¡ª"


    "Oh, don¡¯t you worry about that. Those Alphas and all who agree with them will get their judgment from me soon enough." I remarked casually, stepping forward.


    I saw the fear in his wife¡¯s eyes as she stared up at me, my shadow looming over them like the cloak of death itself.


    My arms were behind my back as I continued with a firm voice. "As for you and your Luna, Lobo, your crimes go beyond the possibility of mutiny. Do you want me to enlighten you?"


    He didn¡¯t speak or make any moves, instead quivering with fear and pain as he clutched his right wrist to his chest. It was now twisted to an unnatural angle and his left knee was sprained... but I didn¡¯t care.


    "Look at your pack, Lobo. No, seriously. When was thest time you stepped out of thefort of yourpound and took a look at the ce?" I queried, tilting my head.


    There was silence, although a raven cawed above us and flew away. I nced up at the bird briefly, watching as Odessa stared at it with curiosity.


    I ignored all that and continued when Lobo remained silent. "Your people are starving. The ce is a mess. The nobles and elite, including you, still live like kings and queens despite all that, while your people are forced to eat your scraps."


    He lowered his head with shame but I squatted slightly, bringing my right hand to his ear and forcing him to look up at me. He clenched his jaw but the fire trying to burn in his eyes dissipated instantly when I locked my gaze on his eyes.


    "Thergest pack in Mexico also happens to be the pack that I ask the most about when looking through the reports you send in. Each time you make it seem like the people of this pack are doing good and that poverty levels are reducing since the truce."


    He shook with fear when I said all that as my eyes became even colder.


    My voice dropped to a dangerous level that cut like a de after a few seconds of pause. "You¡¯ve been lying to me, Lobo. We¡¯ve never had the chance to meet in person until now but you¡¯ve made me believe you¡¯re something worth the hype of your pack. Little did I know you¡¯ve been plundering resources."


    He shook his head repeatedly, making me chuckle dryly.


    "Are you saying my words are wrong?" I asked and his eyes widened with terror as he finally parted his lips through the pain and spoke with a shaky voice.


    "N¨CNo, my Lord. But, please... Have mercy. My children, my wife who you see kneeling beside me¡ª"


    "Your Luna is as guilty as you, Lobo. No doubt about that." I shrugged with a stoic expression, ncing at the woman and watching as she slowly shifted away from her husband, shaking her head.


    <fnb477> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? </fnb477>


    "That¡¯s... that¡¯s not true, sir. Please, I never joined my husband in plundering the pack¡¯s money." She pleaded, rubbing her palms in front of her face.


    But the expensive clothes and jewelry she wore told me a different story.


    "I¡¯ll be merciful because of your children." I finally said, taking a step back while leaving my gaze on the two of them.


    Lobo¡¯s eyes lit up and so did his wife¡¯s as they nced at each other. But just when he turned his gaze back to me, I spoke coldly.


    "I¡¯ll leave one parent behind."


    Without warning, I brought out my ws and shed at them, sending blood spraying into the night like paint as his wife¡¯s scream tore through the silence.


    But only one of them fell...

 Chapter 216: _Something Changed In You

    <h4>Chapter 216: _Something Changed In You</h4>


    The silence after Lobo¡¯s body hit the ground was thick¡ªheavy enough to smother even the bravest wolf¡¯s tongue.


    No one moved.


    Not the guards. Not Lobo¡¯s wife, who knelt in a pool of his blood, trembling and frozen as she sobbed silently. And not Odessa, who stood just behind me, her breath slow but unsteady.


    I let the blood drip from my ws before retracting them and turning back to the gathering of soldiers. Their expressions were a mix of fear, hesitation, and awe.


    Fourteen pack warriors and not one dared lift a de or even move a muscle as they gawked at me.


    "You saw what I did," I said calmly, my voice sounding like a sharpened de across the air. "And if any of you are loyal to a dead tyrant rather than your starving kin, you may step forward now and follow him in his fate."


    Suddenly, the front man-broad-shouldered and eyes burning with tension¡ªtook a slow knee, lowering his head.


    I raised an eyebrow as the other soldiers did the same, one by one, some more hesitant and uncertain than the others. It didn¡¯t end until everyst soldier bowed their head.


    I watched this with silence, raising my chin slightly.


    Good.


    I stepped away from Lobo¡¯s body and his sobbing wife, heading to thepound gate as Odessa¡¯s presence shadowed mine.


    She was still quiet and her emotions were tooplicated to decipher through the mate bond.


    Was she... shaken? Scared of me and what I did back there?


    ¡¯Oh, rx! That was child¡¯s y. I¡¯m sure our mate will be fine.¡¯ Damon said in my mind reassuringly but I didn¡¯t say anything.


    The moment my boots touched the ground toward the gates, the atmosphere shifted. A few of the elite wolves in the estate just outside the pack house had started to peer out from their windows.


    Others had the good sense to shut their curtains and lock their doors, feeling the night air with bangs, whispers, and ttering.


    "You," I pointed to one of the kneeling guards, a young man with a shaved head and a crescent scar under his eye. "Your name?"


    "F-Faro, my King." He responded with a shaky voice, keeping his head lowered as he did.


    "Faro," I repeated. "You¡¯re in charge now. Get the medics to tend to your former Luna. Take her into custody, but treat her with care."


    He swallowed hard and nodded before moving.


    I didn¡¯t even bother looking back.


    Instead, I walked toward the heart of the pack, Odessa still trailing beside me. We exited the pack house and entered the broken roads of Iron Fang, far away from the elite regions.


    And there it was¡ª


    The wreckage Lobo had left behind.


    Children clung to doorways, some barefoot.


    Adults sat in the dirt with sunken eyes, holding out makeshift bowls or tattered hats and begging for alms.


    The air stank of unwashed bodies, rot, and desperation. The food stalls looked skeletal, guarded by greedy businessmen with expressions like stone.


    I scanned my gaze through everything, my jaw tight. I wanted them to see me. I wanted them to feel what true authority looked like... not the leech that had fed off them all these years.


    Odessa stopped walking at one point, forcing my gaze to flick to her.


    I was just in time to see as she knelt beside a small girl sitting in the dust. The child had one eye swollen shut and her lips were cracked.


    <fn8a2e> Discover more novels at find?novel</fn8a2e>


    Odessa pulled something from the bag strapped to her hip that she carried around from Blood Oak.


    To my surprise, she brought out a wrapped piece of dried bread and smoked jerky.


    The girl hesitated, looking between her and me.


    Odessa smiled softly, nodding reassuringly. "It¡¯s okay, dear. Take it. It¡¯s yours."


    She held it out until the girl finally reached forward with trembling hands and epted it. I watched the little wolf¡¯s eyes widen as she bit into the jerky like it was the first solid thing she¡¯d tasted in weeks.


    It probably was.


    Other children emerged from alleyways, the smell of the food no doubt drawing them.


    Odessa stood, but not before whispering something to the girl. My ears perked up, allowing me to hear the words: "You matter. Don¡¯t forget that."


    My heart clenched... but I didn¡¯t say anything. We kept walking, and behind us, whispers followed like wind.


    "The Alpha King hase." someone said. "That¡¯s him."


    "He killed Alpha Lobo."


    "Goddess, how do you know that?"


    "There are rumors alreadying from the servants working in the elite region. They witnessed it and also saw the guards bowing to the Alpha King." A female voice said but her tone was filled with reverence instead of fear.


    "That¡¯s his Queen? The hybrid?" Another added with hesitation.


    We finally reached the town square.


    It had once been a ceremonial ground but now looked like a battlefield without the blood. Cracked tiles, broken benches, vines curling around rusted poles...


    I stepped onto thergest tform, a crescent-shaped stage meant for public derations. My voice boomed after I cleared my throat.


    "Citizens of Iron Fang!"


    They came forward from all angles. From the shadows, from homes, from behind vendors. They gathered with eyes full of fear, hope, and disbelief.


    Odessa stood just behind me, her arms folded as she watched them.


    "Your Alpha is dead. Not because he challenged me. Not because he spoke out of turn. But because he failed you."


    Murmurs rippled after I said that but I continued.


    "He fed you lies. Told you the alliance brought prosperity. Made you believe things were getting better while you withered in the gutters. He thrived off your misery and thought I¡¯d nevere to see it."


    I paused, my eyes scanning the sea of people gathered.


    "But I did. And this? This is not the future I fought to create." I said bitterly, shaking my head.


    There was a long silence.


    Then, slowly, someone pped.


    Another joined.


    Then dozens.


    A cry broke out from the back as cheers that swelled and crashed like a tidal wave thundered from all angles. I saw wolves drop to their knees in prayer, while some even sobbed openly.


    After several seconds, I lifted a hand and the sound ceased.


    "You will not suffer again," I dered. "Resources will be reallocated. The elite district will provide aid to the rest. Food, medicine, and funding wille from the Blood Oak pack and a new leader will be chosen¡ªsomeone among you who remembers hunger."


    There was no need to say more as I stepped back.


    Odessa walked to me slowly, her fingers slipping into mine. I squeezed her hand gently, ncing at her and smiling softly.


    We stayed there for a few more hours.


    I gave Faro, the guard who was temporarily in charge, themand to begin immediate restructuring.


    The noble homes were to open their pantries, and the enforcers who once guarded their riches would now guard distribution lines.


    By midnight, the pack had changed.


    It was a small change... but good enough.


    .


    .


    Odessa was quiet as we walked through what used to be Lobo¡¯s mansion. The hallways were painted with luxurious colors and had expensive paintings, each chandelier a reminder of stolen wealth.


    "You¡¯re not going to say anything?" I finally asked, ncing at her.


    She paused beside a floor-length window, her reflection casting shadows over the tiled floor.


    "You didn¡¯t hesitate," She finally whispered.


    I exhaled, keeping my gaze on her. "No, I didn¡¯t."


    She turned to me, her expression soft but unreadable as she spoke gently. "I¡¯m not judging you, Kaelos. I just... I¡¯ve never seen someone get killed by you like that. It¡¯s like something changed in you since the Lord of the North¡¯s broadcast."


    I moved closer, cing my hand on her cheek. "He lied to me. Lied to the pack. Starved children. He looked at you like you were filth."


    Odessa didn¡¯t flinch but leaned into my touch, closing her eyes.


    "I know," She murmured. "I¡¯m just still catching up with the kind of world you grew up in."


    I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her against my chest.


    "I was afraid I¡¯d lose you tonight," I confessed. "Not to battle, but to fear. That you¡¯d look at me like the monster the world once called me."


    She tilted her head up, her brows furrowed.


    "You¡¯re not a monster."


    I kissed her forehead as I smiled. "Then stay beside me. Even in my bloodiest moments."


    Her hand found mine as she nodded. "Always."


    .


    .


    Later that night, I stood on the balcony of the mansion overlooking the pack below. Lights now flickered in ces once drowned in shadow.


    The wolves moved with purpose, not despair.


    Odessa joined me, dressed in a simple night gown. Her hair was loose, dancing in the wind.


    "You did what you had to," she said quietly.


    I didn¡¯t respond. My eyes scanned the treetops beyond the estate.


    That¡¯s when I saw it.


    A figure at the edge of the forest.


    It was cloaked and silently watching from that distance.


    Their presence didn¡¯t belong to the pack. I would¡¯ve known. It didn¡¯t feel hostile, but it felt... ancient?


    Before I could move, the figure stepped back into the forest, swallowed by the night.


    Odessa touched my arm just then. "What is it?"


    I kept my gaze on the trees as I mumbled solemnly. "We¡¯re being watched."

 Chapter 217: _Bathe In That Madness

    <h4>Chapter 217: _Bathe In That Madness</h4>


    "Wait, what?" Odessa mumbled with confusion as she followed my gaze.


    I pointed at the spot in the forest just beyond the pack walls, my grip on the railing of the balcony tightening slightly.


    "There was a cloaked figure standing right in front of those trees. Watching us."


    I felt Odessa¡¯s confusion increasing as I nced at her.


    "Wait, wait... how sure are you that it was us?" She queried, her voice brimming with disbelief. "Maybe they were spying on the pack or¡ª"


    "And that¡¯s somehow supposed to make this better?" I interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "I don¡¯t know who that person was but we need to be careful, Odessa."


    My gaze fell to her bracelet just then, my eyes squinting.


    "The ban on your abilities. The Elders of your coven only said you can¡¯t use it in public, right?" I queried, bringing my gaze back to her eyes.


    She seemed disoriented and stressed out but still managed to nod as she brushed her right hand through her hair. "Yeah, but I don¡¯t want to take any chances. Which is why I feel the way I feel right now."


    I turned fully to face her, grabbing her right hand and slowly guiding her to bring her gaze to me. The moonlight above us gave her violet eyes an ethereal shimmer that brought an odd sense of peace to my soul.


    "Odessa..." I mumbled, rubbing her hand gently, almost in reverence of how smooth her touch was. "How do you feel?"


    She blinked, her face reddening slightly as she tore her gaze away from me.


    "With the mate bond active, you should be able to feel that clearly, Kaelos." She said softly.


    I tilted my head slightly but decided to focus. I tugged at the invisible strands of the mate bond and felt her emotions like they were mine, skimming past her thoughts.


    What I wanted ess to now wasn¡¯t what she thought. But how she felt.


    And instantly, it came flooding through.


    <fn48f8> Fresh chapters posted on find?novel</fn48f8>


    "You¡¯re afraid," I muttered, smiling wryly. "But not of me. It¡¯s... a primal fear that most of us face. A fear of the unknown. A fear of being a burden."


    She nodded slowly, taking a step forward. "Is there anything else?"


    I concentrated a little harder now and got another feeling.


    "Uncertainty. Despair..." I frowned, raising my head and staring directly at her. "But why?"


    She slowly tried withdrawing her hand but I tightened my grip on it, refusing to let go. She parted her lips slightly before sighing lightly.


    "Kaelos, I¡¯m afraid I wouldn¡¯t be of any use to this mission now that I¡¯m restricted from using my powers." She revealed, lowering her head. "The Elders of the coven are watching me through this damn bracelet. I¡¯m forced to hide who I am to avoid scaring people. To avoid another massacre."


    I shook my head, bringing my free hand to her face and fondling it softly. "Odessa, you¡¯re seeing it from a different light. You were a powerless witch before you were a hybrid, remember? Did I see you as useless then?"


    She blinked, tilting her head suspiciously. "Well? Did you? Don¡¯t lie, I can feel if you¡¯re lying through the bond."


    I chucked softly, answering honestly. "Well... at first, I did¡ª"


    She gasped before I could say anything else, hitting me on my shoulder with her free hand.


    "You couldn¡¯t even butter it up." She grumbled, pouting her lips.


    I chuckled again, cing a hand on her waist while still holding her hand. Her eyes widened slightly as she swallowed hard, struggling to maintain eye contact.


    A small smirk pulled at my lips as I shook my head. "You didn¡¯t let me finish, dear wife. Yes, I saw you as useless at first. But that was only because I was trying so hard to reject the fact that I was mated to a witch. A powerless witch at that."


    She clicked her tongue and looked away, clearly pissed by thatst part.


    Dear goddess...


    ¡¯<i>Could you stop bringing up the fact that she was a powerless witch as if she hadn¡¯t known that all her life</i>?¡¯ Damon scoffed in my mind, sounding like he wanted toe out and continue the conversation himself.


    I wish...


    "The point I¡¯m trying to make is that you proved your usefulness to me in more ways than one." I cleared my throat and continued, praying mentally to the gods that I wouldn¡¯t say something else that she would take the wrong way.


    "From your wless potion brewing skills. To your ability to stay by my side despite my bullshit. The way you navigated seamlessly through the insults and judgment from the wolves of Blood Oak and the continent atrge."


    I watched with glee as her face reddened and she brought her gaze to my eyes, letting out a flustered breath.


    "Are you trying to tter me, Kaelos?" She asked with a whisper, leaning in. "Because it might be working. Just a little though."


    I smiled at that, slowly trailing my hand to her stomach. She gasped lightly at first until she smiled as well.


    "And now you¡¯re carrying a child. Our child. At first, I thought having a child with you would be madness." I remarked, shaking my head. "But now? If that makes me mad I want to bathe in that madness. Nay, I want to swim in it until it clings to me like a second skin."


    She fluttered her eyelids at me, her smile never disappearing.


    "I love you." She finally muttered, resting her head on my forehead. "And yeah... the little urchin growing inside me is another reason why I¡¯m scared. I don¡¯t want to endanger them in any way. And at the same time..."


    She paused, her eyes blinking at me yet again.


    "... I want to fight to build a world that wouldn¡¯t ostracise them like I was."


    I nodded, fondling her stomach gently. "We¡¯ll build that world together, Odessa. I promise. I swear it."


    Then I slowly turned my head to the Iron Fang pack grounds again, my gaze trailing all the way to the forest.


    The wind blew gently just then, the leaves and trees in the forest rustling as if to acknowledge that whoever was out there was still watching.


    "We¡¯ll take down one scum at a time..."

 Chapter 218: _Deliciously Dangerous

    <h4>Chapter 218: _Deliciously Dangerous</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    Kaelos and Odessa had left the country and headed to Mexico to personally investigate the reports of humans capturing wolves there.


    Surprisingly, during the video call meeting with the Alphas of Mexico, Kaelos had been the first one to suggest that Odessa follow him to Mexico.


    All Marcellus had to do was tactically support the motion while trying not to seem suspicious.


    It was safe to say it worked.


    Now he was temporarily the one with the most political power in the Blood Oak pack. At least, until Kaeloses back anyway.


    "I wonder what Lord Ryker has nned for those two though," Marcellus remarked to himself the next morning after Kaelos and Odessa left.


    He was on his bed and stretched his limbs, staring at the windows where the birds were chirping like this was some Disney movie.


    If only the little creatures knew he was "maleficent" in this story.


    "I might be more like Urs though. Or scar?" Marcellus thought to himself, rubbing his chin as he got out of bed.


    However, when he stepped outside and stood on his balcony, his eyebrows furrowed when he scanned his gaze through the pack grounds.


    There was a crowd of pack civilians gathering just outside the elite district. Simple men and women who even had tense expressions on their faces.


    Marcellus squinted, cing his hands on the railing of the balcony as he perked up his ears to check if he could hear them from this distance.


    "Enough is enough!" a woman practically yelled, allowing Marcellus to hear it easily.


    "Yes! First, the Alpha King brought that witch into the pack. Then we started hearing reports of mysterious deaths, and nobody blinked an eye."


    "My poor daughter was a maid in Elder Davina¡¯s residence." An elderly woman cried out. "She was the first victim. The Alpha king offered no exnation other than suspected witchcraft."


    Marcellus grinned when he heard that.


    Ahh... his first kill after Odessa arrived.


    He could still remember the shock in the poor girl¡¯s eyes as her blood rushed out of a hole he made through her neck. He had taken her life force too.


    "Something is being hidden from us!" A man yelled with a deep voice, stepping forward.


    He seemed to be the one leading the growing group of pack civilians.


    From the look of things, they should already number around fifty people. And that number was only increasing.


    "Looks like they want to protest." Cullen suddenly stepped beside Marcellus and remarked, causing thetter to nce at him. "I heard whispers of itst night but I didn¡¯t think much about it. I never knew they¡¯d have the balls to do such in the presence of the Alpha King."


    Marcellus scoffed, shaking his head. "Well, the Alpha king isn¡¯t here now, is he? Someone probably got word about it and it spread among them. You know how these things go."


    He brought his gaze back to the gathering crowd of people and watched as some of them even proceeded to bring out boards with words written on them.


    Deliciously dangerous words.


    One read: "Chase away the witches."


    Another read: "We¡¯re a pack of wolves. Not snakes!"


    ¡¯Hmph... I beg to differ.¡¯ Marcellus thought to himself, finally stepping away from the balcony¡¯s railing.


    "As much as I hate to say it, I¡¯ll need to head to the Alpha King¡¯s mansion in preparation for this... protest. Just to show my face at least." Marcellus said casually, shrugging. "Because no doubt, they¡¯re going to breach into the elite district at this rate."


    .


    .


    Marcellus got dressed in a ck robe and arrived at the Alpha King¡¯s mansion, just in time too.


    The chants of the protesters were already getting closer, and the ground trembled slightly with their marching and their voices.


    "Chase out the hybrid!"


    "Chase out the hybrid!"


    "Chase out the hybrid!"


    Marcellus stood calmly in front of the mansion, still within thepound. He ced his arms behind his back as the guards stepped forward in preparation.


    "Easy, boys," he remarked, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.


    His gaze trailed the few guards gathered until he spotted him.


    ric... the one he had ced a mind-altering spell on.


    <fnb4ce> Content originallyes from find?novel</fnb4ce>


    The young man had a tough expression on his face as he awaited the protesters. From what Marcellus heard, thed had managed to rise in the ranks and was now the leader of the Alpha King¡¯s guards.


    How impressive...


    Eventually, the protesters drew close and were only about fifty meters away from thepound. Nobles who were littered around the district scampered, heading into their houses and giving way for the protesters, while some watched from a safe distance.


    "Cowards..." Marcellus muttered to himself as he brushed past the guards, cing a hand on ric.


    Thed nced at him just in time to see his reassuring nod as he gestured at him to step aside.


    It¡¯s time he activated his "kind Beta" mode.


    Marcellus smiled when he spotted the leader of the protesters.


    The man had a bushy ck beard and wore a construction worker get-up.


    When the man raised his hand, the crowd surprisingly stopped their chants after a few seconds, bringing silence to the elite district.


    Well, this should be fun.


    "Greetings, Beta Marcellus!" The leader of the protest bowed ever so slightly, like it was a chore.


    Marcellus took note of that as the man continued.


    "I¡¯m Timothy. We¡¯re here today to request an audience with the Alpha king."


    Marcellus tilted his head slightly, the smile on his face unfaltering. "Really? Because this doesn¡¯t seem like a ¡¯request¡¯ to me."


    He could feel some of the guards standing behind him staring at him with confusion at his tone but he ignored them.


    He knew exactly what he was doing.


    If the people decided they wanted a protest, he would use it as a catalyst to start something bigger.


    Maybe a riot, pure anarchy... or another coup this time orchestrated by the people themselves.


    ¡¯So many opportunities!¡¯ he thought to himself, chuckling mentally while his face had a calm smile.

 Chapter 219: _Let There Be Chaos

    <h4>Chapter 219: _Let There Be Chaos</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    "What exactly would you all want to discuss with the Alpha King anyway?" He asked curiously, folding his arms in front of his chest and scanning his gaze through all their faces.


    Men, women, and teenagers who probably only cared about having a stable WiFi before now. They were all banded together because of one cause.


    Fear.


    Marcellus could literally smell iting off them like a miasma. People fear what they don¡¯t understand and this little mob of gathered protesters were a perfect example of that.


    "Odessa Pierce or whatever she calls herself should leave our pack and go back to where she came from!" A woman standing beside the leader of the protesters yelled out angrily.


    But then the leader ced his hand in front of her, signalling her to leave the talking to him.


    How smart.


    "We simply ask to speak to the Alpha King," Timothy remarked, tilting his head. "Or is that too much to ask, Beta?"


    There it is...


    A small smirk tugged at the corner of Marcellus¡¯ lips as he shook his head. "Not really. But then when you¡¯re carrying around signs like these in the name of protesting..."


    Marcellus gestured at the signs the protesters carried.


    One had an art illustration of a witch being burned at the stake. He pointed directly at that one, which was being held by a young male wolf.


    Thed shrank a little when he saw Marcellus¡¯ finger on him, but he didn¡¯t back down. He stood firm, clutching the sign tighter.


    Interesting...


    <fn02e8> The rightful source is find?novel</fn02e8>


    "You," Marcellus called thed directly, gesturing at him. "That sign in your hands. Do you really believe it? Do you really feel like witches deserve to burn? That they¡¯re nothing but bringers of chaos?"


    As he asked that, he took a few steps forward, tilting his head. The crowd probably still saw it as him trying to calm things and be a voice of reason.


    But in reality, Marcellus was slowly nting a seed.


    The young ones were usually the easiest to manipte.


    Thisd might seem strong-willed, but his fierce spirit was perfect for Marcellus.


    "Yes!" Thed yelled back in response to Marcellus¡¯ questions, lowering the sign and stepping forward as well as he stretched out his arms. "Witches have gued this world for millennia before the war. They parade themselves as protectors of nature, but in reality, they¡¯re pests!"


    Marcellus felt the need to chuckle but he didn¡¯t. Instead, he muttered a simple spell word.


    It was the first seal in his long game of manipting thed. He watched as he blinked, probably confused about what had just happened.


    But Marcellus¡¯ magic was already slowly taking root in his mind.


    "And what makes you think wolves are any different?" Marcellus asked, raising his arms cluelessly. "Everything from our toxic pack hierarchies to how different packs have fought each other over territories. The Alpha Kings have kept the bnce for generations."


    "Bnce?!" Another person, a young girl yelled out with amusement. "What bnce? Where was the Alpha King¡¯s bnce when people were murdered under his nose in the pack? Where was his bnce when wolves in Mexico were captured by humans? Is that bnce?!"


    Power to the youth!


    Marcellus sighed lightly, trying to y off the amusement he felt in this situation. He raised his hands slowly, trying to seem like he was "calming them".


    But under the sleeves of his robes, runes that glowed with a dark green light began burning, activating the secondyer of his maniption spell.


    "About the situation in Mexico..." Marcellus paused, sping his hands together. "I wasn¡¯t supposed to say anything but the Alpha King and his wife, Odessa, went on a mission to Mexico. They¡¯ll free our brethren and solve the problem with the humans."


    That single word... "Problem".


    He made it seem diplomatic but he said it on purpose. It easily painted a bad image despite all the good things he said about Kaelos and Odessa just now.


    And the people ate it up like bait... Especially the teenaged holding the "burn the witches" sign.


    "The only solution to that ¡¯problem¡¯ is for every human involved to get killed." Thed brushed past the crowd and stepped forward, causing Timothy, who had been standing silently all this while, to nce at him with confusion.


    "Calm down..." Timothy ced his hand in front of thed but thetter brushed it off as he kept on walking forward.


    Perfect.


    "Hey!" One of the guards behind Marcellus yelled out. "Stay back! The Beta is speaking peacefully with you and the bare minimum is for you to grant him that same courtesy."


    Marcellus nced over his shoulder and saw that ric was the one who made that order.


    He smirked subtly as he slowly turned his gaze back to thed.


    "I think you should listen to what he said," Marcellus said but then the boy snapped.


    "No! I think YOU should listen to us!" He seemed like he was seconds away from snapping and his eyes glowed faintly.


    Anger.


    The thirdyer of his maniption spell took root in the boy¡¯s head, using his anger as a thread that connected Marcellus to his mind.


    All Marcellus needed now was a trigger.


    "My father, a pack doctor who was assigned to treat you after the Alpha King beat you close to death..." The boy continued, his voice shaking. "He¡¯s missing! Probably got killed by that hybrid filth following the Alpha King around."


    Oh... Oh wow. Awkward.


    Marcellus smiled awkwardly when he remembered the old pack doctor he had killed at his residence. He just saw him as a random target and told Cullen to get rid of the body.


    ¡¯I keep forgetting that these people actually ce some emotional significance on each other.¡¯ He thought to himself at the same moment that thed snarled.


    "Enough is enough! Tell the Alpha King toe back here and face us!" Thed was unrelenting even though Timothy kept trying to hold him back.


    Marcellus smirked slightly. Only thed noticed the smirk... Because that was the trigger of the spell.


    Just one final move from him to make thed realise how insignificant he is. And since he¡¯s supposed to be representing Kaelos now...


    "Again... Stand down!" ric yelled as the other guards raised their guns in preparation.


    Werewolves using silver bullets against other werewolves. Ironic.


    "Farak! Come back and stop escting things!" Timothy yelled at the boy but thetter nced back at him coldly.


    "Things have already escted."


    Without warning, the boy turned and ran forward, roaring out as he slowly began shifting. But the guards fired at him, bringing him down mid shift.


    Marcellus watched with cold satisfaction as the boy¡¯s lifeless body plopped to the ground like a rag doll, his pained whimpers an unintentional fuel to the other wolves who stared at him with shock.


    "He was just a boy! He only just turned eighteen!" An elderly woman finally yelled out.


    "Hold!" Timothy said with a shaky voice to the other protesters but even he seemed uncertain.


    Without warning, a young girl screamed. "This is not diplomacy! It¡¯s tyranny. We¡¯re being silenced!"


    Suddenly, she stepped forward and yelled. "We won¡¯t let you silence us!"


    And with that, just that single sentence riled up the others to charge forward, many shifting into their wolf forms with their sights set on the guards.


    Marcellus smirked, stealthily backing away into thepound as the guards stepped forward, gunshots firing and howls tearing through the air.


    "Let there be chaos..." Marcellus whispered as he watched.

 Chapter 220: _Headed To Mexico City

    <h4>Chapter 220: _Headed To Mexico City</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    The next morning, after we arrived at Iron Fang, Kaelos and I had a bath... Together.


    Nothing much happened, but weughed and washed away the tension fromst night.


    I was still haunted by that cloaked figure he sawst night, just outside the pack¡¯s borders. I knew it was a bad omen... Because I could feel it.


    Yet I tried being delusional about it and brushed it aside, so I didn¡¯t worry too much about it.


    "So, today we¡¯re heading to Mexico City." I turned my head to Kaelos and said with a tilt of my head as we walked out of the Iron Fang pack house.


    He was dressed in a regal dark red suit with ck linings and golden buttons, his shoulder-length hair tied into a bun.


    As for me, I wore a white silk gown that blew slightly into the wind as I walked, forcing me to clutch the sides with my hands. My lush blonde hair was tied into a ponytail.


    "Yep," Kaelos responded with a nod as we finally got to thepound gate.


    The guard whom he had appointed to lead the pack temporarily, stood there alongside some others. They all still had hesitant looks in their eyes but the fear and respect outweighed the hesitation as they bowed.


    "Good morning, Alpha King and..." Faro, the temporary leader, hesitated, swallowing hard.


    It was as if addressing me went against everything he held dear.


    ¡¯Tell Kaelos to pluck out his lips or something.¡¯ Sirena scoffed in my mind, causing a small smirk to tug at my lips as Faro finally continued.


    "... And good morning, Luna Queen. I hope you¡ª"


    "See?" Kaelos mumbled, smiling sarcastically at the young man. "It wasn¡¯t so hard now, was it?"


    Thetter gulped, stering a smile on his face and shaking his head as Kaelos stepped forward, walking past the guards. Behind them was a ck sedan... Probably what we¡¯d use for heading to Mexico.


    Sigh... If only I knew how to make portals like Aunt Althea.


    "Let¡¯s go." Kaelos grabbed my hand tenderly and led me to the car, ignoring the guards.


    My face heated up with a small blush as I hopped into the back, brushing my hair aside and bundling my gown around myself as the driver in the front seat greeted us.


    "Good morning, Alpha King and Luna Queen."


    Goddess, it was still a little weird answering to that title... And the worst part is I haven¡¯t been crowned the Luna Queen yet.


    As Kaelos hopped into the car as well, sitting beside me, he brought his head out of the car and spoke to Faro.


    "Gather the Beta, Delta and Gamma of the pack and tell them to begin organising the redistribution of food from the elites to themon folk. And if any of them try to question your authority..." He paused, his voice bing cold. "Report to me through the number I gave you. We¡¯ll see if their greed outweighs their fear of death."


    With that said and done, the driver drove off.


    .


    .


    Once we got outside the pack, the car navigated through the bumpy roads and moved past the tall trees of the forest.


    I stuck my head out of the window, letting the cool breeze hit my face as I sighed in relief.


    "When are we ever going to catch a break to go on a road trip or something?" I didn¡¯t know when I asked, ncing back at Kaelos.


    He had his eyes closed at first, but they shot open, and he swerved his head to me, raising an eyebrow.


    "A road trip?" As soon as he asked that, the car hit arge bump that caused us to shake erratically in our seats.


    I gasped at first but then chuckled as Kaelos sniggered.


    "That proves the point I was trying to make. How do we do a road trip when the roads of North America have been like this since the war?" He remarked, sighing heavily. "Although a trip to the Grand Canyon wouldn¡¯t be bad."


    I parted my lips with disbelief, shaking my head. "The Grand Canyon? Really? Kaelos, be for real."


    We both chuckled again as I brought my head out of the car. However, when my gaze went to the cloudless sky... I froze.


    I squinted my eyes because of the light from the sun at first but then my vision adjusted, allowing me to see something. It was ck and seemed to be circling the car from thousands of miles above.


    Those feathers... A raven?


    "Is something wrong?" Kaelos suddenly held my arm, causing me to swerve my head to him.


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    He had probably already felt the unease which I hadn¡¯t realised was creeping in.


    I blinked at first before shaking my head. "No. It¡¯s just... I thought I saw something."


    He stared for a few seconds at first before nodding, keeping his hand on my arm. He then brought his gaze to the driver who had been peeping at us through the rear-view mirror all this while.


    "How long till we get to Mexico City?"


    The driver blinked before speaking. "About five to six minutes, sir!"


    Kaelos nodded while I nced out of the window again. The raven was still circling, but it had left the car and strayed behind, seemingly following something else now.


    But I didn¡¯t let my guard down.


    I had a bad feeling about it.


    Finally, the car stopped and Kaelos and I stepped down. I wasn¡¯t surprised to see that Mexico City was protected by walls which pulsed with the energy of magic runes and protection wards.


    Kaelos and I walked hand in hand to the gates where soldiers wearing human uniforms stood guard, their expressions stern as they became alert.


    Kaelos raised his hands with a smile. "Greetings. As you may know, I¡¯m Alpha King Kaelos, overseer and ruler of the packs of North America. And this here is my wife and Luna Queen, Odessa Pierce. We¡¯re here to¡ª"


    "Wolves aren¡¯t allowed into the city." A male voice sounded behind the soldiers as they gave way like sardines.


    Stepping forward was a man in his early thirties with a short dirty blonde beard and hair. He was wearing a dark blue robe and wore several rings on each finger.


    A witch.


    However, when the witch stepped forward, Kaelos tilted his head, his former warmth reduced by half. "Excuse me?"

 Chapter 221: _Branded At The Gates

    <h4>Chapter 221: _Branded At The Gates</h4>


    "Excuse me?" Kaelos¡¯ voice lost its former warmth after the male witch¡¯s statement.


    I could feel the slight spike of aggression in his emotions through the mate bond and gently ced my right hand in front of his chest, ncing back at him.


    He brings his gaze to me and I nod once before speaking mentally.


    ¡¯Please, let me handle this.¡¯


    He shows hesitation but thenplies, his expression bingpletely stoic as the male witch continues speaking.


    "Yes, you heard me right, Alpha King." He said, shrugging as he sped his hands together, his tone in. "I know who you are. I¡¯ve seen all the reports about you... Including how you once ughtered thousands of Mexican human soldiers back in your glory days during the war."


    Kaelos scoffed, sounding more amused than angry. "Really? Did you also see in those reports that I did that after the humans massacred hundreds of wolves? Innocent civilians if I may add."


    I sighed lightly, speaking before the male witch could. "The Alpha King has worked hard to keep the peace in this continent with the peace treaty signed with the high covens of North America. Isn¡¯t that enough to... Pardon his¡ª"


    "War crimes?" The male witch interrupted, folding his arms in front of his chest. "I don¡¯t know, you tell me. Also, the self-proimed ¡¯Lord of the North¡¯ and his broadcast begs to differ with your statement about... Peace."


    Goddess, have mercy. This guy is difficult.


    "So, let me get this straight..." Kaelos chuckled, but it was humourless and dry. "Me taking down thousands of soldiers in retaliation is a war crime, but those same soldiers massacring hundreds of innocent wolf civilians isn¡¯t?"


    He paused, shaking his head. "How quaint..."


    There was an awkward silence after that was said. I scratched the back of my head, contemting what to do next when one of the human guards standing behind the male witch suddenly stepped forward and whispered something into thetter¡¯s ears.


    "Oh, they did?" The witch remarked, nodding before he brought his gaze back to us. "It seems the governor and the coven head of the city are expecting you. Your assistant already called them."


    Oh... La.


    A relieved smile formed on my lips but before I could say anything, the witch drew out something from his back pocket.


    It seemed like a... Wand?


    "This is a sigil marker." The witch revealed casually, staring directly at Kaelos. "We don¡¯t let werewolves in, especially Alpha ss wolves. Talk less of an Alpha King."


    I swallowed, ncing back at Kaelos who had his head tilted slightly. But he didn¡¯t seem bothered as he nodded at the witch to continue.


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    "I¡¯ll brand you temporarily with a sigil that will monitor you and make sure you don¡¯t have an erratic transformation that would... Endanger the people."


    As soon as I heard those words, I knew shit had hit the fan. Kaelos¡¯ anger suddenly spiked... And it wasn¡¯t the searing hot kind.


    It was cold and predatory.


    "Now listen here, mister whatever you call yourself." Kaelos walked past me, pointing at the witch.


    The human guards behind him grabbed their guns in preparation, alert expressions present in their faces. The witch tried stayingposed but I could see the fear in his eyes as Kaelos continued sharply.


    "You began by keeping me and my wife out here as if you weren¡¯t aware of our status. You proceeded to use me of being a war criminal and now you want to ¡¯brand¡¯ me? Have you¡ª"


    "As a student of high priestess Althea, I promise that the Alpha King will not pose any threat while inside the city." I interrupted hastily, causing all eyes to turn to me.


    The witch¡¯s eyes widened slightly before he squinted. "A student of High priestess Althea. You?"


    I nodded slowly.


    I knew how much power that name held among the witches of North America and the world atrge.


    It was my final ace card in this.


    "If High priestess Althea herself taught her, then how wasn¡¯t she able to control herself during the charity Ball incident?" A human soldier whispered to hisrade, causing my eyes to shake.


    Not with anger. But with shame.


    "That¡¯s to tell you how unpredictable a hybrid is. And we¡¯re letting one and an Alpha King ss wolf into the city." Another added with disdain.


    Gods, I was getting exhausted already.


    "I¡¯ll take your word for it, Odessa Pierce." The male witch finally spoke, nodding at me. "But your husband will still have to wear the sigil."


    I nced at Kaelos and saw how his jaw tightened beside me. I grabbed his wrist, forcing him to bring his gaze to me.


    ¡¯It¡¯s only temporary. Please, Kaelos.¡¯ I whispered in his mind through the mate bond.


    After a few seconds of hesitation, he let out a sigh and nodded, bringing his gaze back to the male witch.


    "Do it." He blurted, stretching out his right hand and raising his sleeve.


    .


    .


    Once that was taken care of and we got inside the city, I was a bit stunned.


    I got to realise quickly why Mexico City was seen as one of the most powerful joint settlements of humans and witches in the world.


    The roads and buildings were not only intact and untouched from the war, but they were even magically reinforced with protection runes that pulsed with power.


    Cars drove in an orderly manner, women and children walked around market stalls, most of them even having smiles on their faces.


    Magic vines even curled around some high skyscrapers, breathing out enriching oxygen.


    It was a far cry from the pitiful situation we saw in the Iron Fang pack.


    "They said an Uber would pick us up from this bus stop and take us to the city¡¯s leaders directly," Kaelos mumbled just then as we stopped in front of a bus stop.


    A few people were waiting at the bus stop as well... All humans and witches.


    They stared at me and Kaelos wearily, although two girls in particr gawked at my husband in awe.


    "That¡¯s... That¡¯s the Alpha King." One pointed out with a whisper, cing her hand in front of her mouth.


    The other said something in Mexican that caused both of them to giggle with flushed expressions.


    "Ignore them." Kaelos suddenly muttered, causing me to bring my gaze back to him.


    His expression was stoic and he had his arms folded in front of his chest as we waited.


    Finally, a ck SUV stopped in front of us and the back doors were opened. Kaelos and I nced at each other before nodding and hopping in.


    It¡¯s time to see the leaders of Mexico City.

 Chapter 222: _Someone Is Playing Games

    <h4>Chapter 222: _Someone Is ying Games</h4>


    The SUV finally dropped Kaelos and me in front of the meeting ce of the leaders of Mexico City... which was a ss-spired skyscraper that brimmed with the power of magic protection wards.


    This tower also had magic vines curling around the edges, and people walked past it casually while some took pictures in front of it.


    Kaelos and I were led inside and then took an elevator that took us to thest floor. When we walked out, we saw a door at the end, and the walls of the hallways were filled with painted murals of powerful-looking men and women.


    I recognised them from history books I¡¯ve seen in Althea¡¯s library back in the Luminary Coven.


    These were witches with deep roots in ancient Aztec magic. Many were probably dead or retired by now.


    Two guards stood in front of the door at the end and I was able to pick up the magic brimming from them.


    Witches.


    I nced at Kaelos whose expression was stoic as we stepped forward. The guards made way, opening the door after staring at us for a second too long.


    We walked into a dimly lit hall with a high ceiling and stained ss windows. It was mostly empty... apart from a high table up ahead where three people sat.


    "Alpha King Kaelos." A woman who sat in the middle cleared her throat and spoke, her expression stoic. "Wee. I¡¯m High Priestess Luzia Vsquez, coven head of the ck Eye Coven and one of the leaders of Mexico City."


    She looked to be in herte sixties and the wrinkles on her face made me feel like she¡¯s probably lived through centuries.


    She then gestured at the people sitting to her left and right, who were both calm as Kaelos and I finally got a few meters in front of them, raising our heads to look at them.


    I could feel Kaelos¡¯ agitation once again... something he kept hidden behind a stoic mask. This whole procedure was probably insulting to him.


    But I took it as them trying to be extra cautious.


    "I¡¯m Daniel Cardenas. The governor." The man sitting at Luzia¡¯s right said with a blunt tone.


    He was in his forties and gave off the vibe of someone who¡¯s been on the front lines... which was made more obvious by the way he stared at Kaelos like a bad omen.


    ¡¯Goddess, our mate sure has a bad rep in this country.¡¯ Sirena remarked just then, causing me to let out a sigh.


    The youngest among them, a young woman who sat at Luzia¡¯s left, cleared her throat. "And I¡¯m Leticia, witch scribe of¡ª"


    "Okay, okay... we get it." Kaelos couldn¡¯t take it anymore and interrupted, raising his hands and sighing heavily. "We didn¡¯te here for unnecessary introductions. We¡¯re here to talk about the footage released by the self-proimed lord of the North."


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    Luzia sped her fingers in front of her, ncing at the others.


    After a few seconds, she coughed. "Well, Alpha King. What do you think? That our human soldiers have something to do with the capture of werewolves?"


    Kaelos scoffed but managed to keep his voice calm and measured. "I¡¯m not insinuating anything, High priestess. But Mexico City is the biggest settlement with humans in the entire country, with the biggest military as well. The humans in that footage weren¡¯t civilians... They were soldiers. And most of the victims were from the packs around this city."


    The governor breathed out with what seemed like boredom as he folded his arms in front of his chest and leaned back on his seat.


    Meanwhile, the ¡¯witch scribe¡¯ was scribbling things on a notepad, listing every point made. I stared at her curiously for a few seconds until the governor spoke.


    "Alpha King... surely a seasoned warrior like yourself should know how unruly people could easily band together tomit such crimes, while implicating a military force. It¡¯s not the first time it has happened."


    The spite in his voice wasn¡¯t lost.


    But Kaelos didn¡¯t care as he tilted his head. "Really? You think that¡¯s what this is, huh? Well, prove it."


    I nced at Kaelos as the leaders looked among themselves.


    ¡¯What do you have in mind?¡¯ I asked Kaelos through the mate bond.


    His voice came through with suspicion. ¡¯Something is off. Someone is ying games and I know damn well my instincts aren¡¯t lying to me. They need to be responsible for confirming the eligibility of the footage that the lord of the North broadcasts.¡¯


    Suddenly, Luzia remarked. "And what do you say we do, Alpha King? To ¡¯prove¡¯ our human soldiers¡¯ innocence."


    Kaelos¡¯ voice was authoritative and demanding. "ess to your human military surveince archives to verify if truly the humans capturing werewolves aren¡¯t among them."


    The governor gawked at Kaelos before sniggering, shaking his head. "That¡¯s preposterous! How do you expect us to trust you with military grade information like that? You think you can barge in here and make demands like¡ª"


    "He¡¯s not making demands, Governor Daniel." I finally spoke, stepping forward after drawing in a deep breath.


    All eyes turned to me as I continued. "Kaelos wouldn¡¯t be standing here before you if all he desired weren¡¯t peace. He would¡¯ve razed your city to the ground if it meant finding those wolves. He¡¯s that passionate about his people... but he¡¯s more passionate about bringing peace. And so am I."


    There was a long pause after I said all that but I was far from done.


    "If indeed you want to prove your military¡¯s innocence, you¡¯ll give us ess to those surveince archives."


    Luzia tilted her head with surprise in her eyes, causing me to cough before adding.


    "Please. The lives and freedom of an unknown number of wolves and the innocence of your people lie in the bnce."


    They nced at each other after that. I could see the hesitation in the governor¡¯s eyes but it was clear Luzia was already buying into the idea.


    After several gruelling seconds... she finally turned her gaze back to me.


    "We¡¯ll get them ready by tomorrow."


    .


    .


    That night, Kaelos and I were given a private suite at a hotel close to the skyscraper tower.


    I was standing on the balcony, a cup of hot tea in my hands as I stared at the night sky, thinking through everything that had happened during the meeting.


    Kaelos was right... Someone was hiding something. Something felt off, and my instincts could pick it up, too.


    As the night¡¯s breeze blew against my skin and I took a sip from the simmering cup of tea, I noticed something that made me pause.


    Something was falling slowly from above, and from how slowly it happened, it was obviously really light.


    I squinted my eyes when it finally fell on top of the railing of the balcony. But then my eyes widened as I grabbed it in between my fingers.


    It was a ck feather.


    A raven feather.


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 Chapter 223: _Naked Distractions And Bad Omens

    <h4>Chapter 223: _Naked Distractions And Bad Omens</h4>


    "Kaelos..." I called out wearily, ncing back into the room as I held the ck feather between my fingers. "Kaelos,e see this."


    There was no answer in the room for a few seconds before I heard the bathroom door close, followed by some iing footsteps.


    "Odessa, it¡¯s gettingte. Don¡¯t you want toe snuggle in bed with me?" Kaelos said with a teasing voice.


    When I finally saw him, I nearly forgot about everything else.


    He wore nothing but a dark red bathing robe now, with the buttons undone all the way to the bottom. And underneath it? He was naked.


    My gaze trailed from his chiselled chest and the water dripping down to his abs, and then his cleanly shaved little soldier that seemed to dangle in invitation.


    My face heated up with a blush as I swallowed hard before looking away.


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    "We could, uh... Do thatter." I coughed, blowing out a breath through my mouth. "But you have to see this. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a coincidence."


    I heard him sigh before walking forward. But he didn¡¯t bother strapping up the robe and kept his gorgeous body open.


    ¡¯Gurl, forget the damn feather and mount that man.¡¯ Sirena mumbled in my mind but I hushed her mentally before clearing my throat again.


    "Look at this..." I raised the ck feather in front of Kaelos¡¯ face, trying to focus on his silver eyes and wet hair instead of everything else below.


    His brows furrowed into a frown and then confusion shed in his silver eyes. "Uh... Are we worrying ourselves about a feather now? Or¡ª"


    "It¡¯s not just any feather, Kaelos." I interrupted, attempting to lower my head in frustration but then quickly raised it back when I saw something else rising up already.


    Gods, he was getting hard while we were talking?!


    It was hard concentrating and I ced my right hand on the rails behind me to bnce myself as I continued.


    "You might not be able to sense it, but there¡¯s a faint magic energy signature on it," I remarked, gulping as Kaelos took the feather off my fingers, scrutinising it with dimmed eyes.


    "It¡¯s a raven feather." He observed and I nodded.


    "Yes. I didn¡¯t want to say anything before because I thought I was being paranoid, but on our way to this city, I saw a raven circling our car. What if it tailed us here and is watching our every move?"


    Kaelos seemed curious and took two steps forward as he continued scanning his gaze on the feather.


    Two unnecessary steps forward if I may add.


    His scent wafted into my nose, my gaze focused on how slowly his eyshes fluttered. His shoulder-length ck hair was loose and dripped with water that he didn¡¯t bother drying off after bathing.


    I drew in deep breaths, my legs getting numb from the anticipation. He was too close and I was losing my mind at this point.


    And I know he knows damn well what he¡¯s doing to me!


    His eyebrows furrowed and he tilted his head before he finally spoke up.


    "How sure are we that this raven is an ¡¯it¡¯?" He raised his head, staring at my face. "What if it¡¯s someone disguised as a raven? A witch most likely."


    My eyes widened when he brought up that suggestion.


    I hadn¡¯t thought of that yet.


    "The cloaked figure we saw in Iron Fang." I breathed out, brushing my right hand through my hair. "Could it be them? And if yes, why are they watching us? Do they have some kind of message for us?"


    Kaelos¡¯ expression became serious instantly as he shook his head. "I doubt it. They could easily drop a message with us if that¡¯s the case. This person, whoever they are, is watching for ulterior motives."


    My eyes suddenly fell on the city below. I felt a surge of magic that caused me to furrow my eyebrows as I scanned my gaze on the city.


    My eyes went beyond the busy streets, the skyline skyscrapers and thenterns that floated with the help of magic, finally falling on a street light hundreds of meters away.


    And then I saw it.


    A raven perched upside down on the street light. And it was staring directly at Kaelos and me.


    "Kaelos..." I whispered, holding my breath before nodding in that direction. "There."


    He followed my gaze just in time to witness the street light flickering before turning off entirely, causing the people walking under it to look around with confusion.


    The raven suddenly tilted its head at us, as if to tell us it was aware that we had spotted it.


    And then it disappeared into a cloud of smoke, causing a cold shiver to run down my spine.


    "Crap." Kaelos cursed under his breath, cing his hands on the balcony as he red at the spot where the raven had been a few seconds ago. "What¡¯s the use of the city¡¯s magic protection wards if a witch can just appear and disappear at will in it?"


    Yeah... He¡¯s right.


    A magic protection ward is designed to block interferences from outside, including spells like teleportation.


    Anyone outside the city wouldn¡¯t be able to get in through a teleportation spell... At least, not without the protection ward sending a warning to the witch who cast them.


    Unless...


    "The witch is a resident of the city," I muttered, joining Kaelos to ce my hands on the railing. "And is possibly still within the city."


    Kaelos nced at me, arching an eyebrow.


    "Do you think we should warn the leaders of the city?" I queried, swerving my head to him. "They deserve to know if a powerful witch is out there teleporting around their city like it¡¯s an amusement park."


    Kaelos parted his lips for a brief second before shaking his head. "Not yet. This person has been following us since our stay at Iron Fang. Meaning they know about our mission in Mexico. We aren¡¯t sure who they are yet and I certainly don¡¯t trust those leaders."


    Suddenly, before I could say something or even process any of this, Kaelos¡¯ phone rang inside the room.


    We both nced over our shoulders before he walked inside to get it. When he stepped back outside, the phone was glued to his ear as he folded his arms in front of his chest.


    "La, it¡¯s prettyte. This better be I¡ª" he was cut short by La whose voice was pensive.


    "Sir, I didn¡¯t want to say anything before because I didn¡¯t want to distract you from your mission in Mexico. But... There was a riot earlier this morning."


    My eyes widened as Kaelos¡¯ eyes met mine.


    "What kind of riot, La?" Kaelos asked solemnly, his jaw tightening.


    I perked my ears to listen to her response and after a short pause, it came.


    "A group of people from the middle-ss district sought to see you. Many demanded that Odessa... I mean, the Luna Queen leaves the park." La said with hesitation in her voice before adding. "Things escted despite Beta Marcellus¡¯ attempts to calm them. There were casualties, sir."

 Chapter 224: _Forget Our Problems

    <h4>Chapter 224: _Forget Our Problems</h4>


    "There were casualties, sir."


    As soon as I heard thatst part from La¡¯s call, my blood ran cold with dread.


    "Casualties how, La? We need more details." Kaelos asked the question burning in my mind, although I already had an idea of how it happened.


    He stared at me as I slowly closed my eyes, cing my right hand in front of my mouth.


    "They shed with the guards after one of the protesters got shot. A teenage werewolf named Farak. ording to him, his father went missing during the day of the Lord of the North¡¯s broadcast, and he med the Luna Queen for it." La exined with a solemn voice.


    I drew in a deep breath.


    While I was here trying to gain the trust of the werewolves, starting with the people of Mexico, the werewolves of our home pack, Blood Oak, were tearing each other apart because of me.


    Because they wanted me gone. Because they were afraid of me.


    "Has the riot been dispelled? What are thetest updates on the situation there?" Kaelos continued asking, his voice pensive.


    "Yes, the riot was dispelled when the deaths from both sides became... Too much. Five guards and ten civilians lost their lives in the altercation, and dozens more were injured." La reported. "Rumours have begun spreading that you abandoned the people, sir. And that Luna Queen Odessa is in control of you."


    Goddess, have mercy.


    I wasn¡¯t even officially the Luna Queen yet and most of the continent and the world still didn¡¯t know that Kaelos and I are mates. Yet, such a catastrophic event was happening in the pack because of me.


    "This is all my fault..." I croaked, cing both my palms in front of my face. "If I had just stayed silent. If... If only I hadn¡¯t begun drawing attention to myself. If only I didn¡¯t kill all those people at the charity Ball, then¡ª"


    "La, keep me posted if anything else happens." Kaelos suddenly spoke up, his voice heavy. "Odessa and I still have to tie up some loose ends here in Mexico. Luckily, the main root of the problem in this country seems to be in this city and not any other city."


    La was silent for only a second before she responded quickly. "Roger that, sir. Beta Marcellus, Elder Davina and I will hold the fort here till your arrival."


    With that, the call ended and Kaelos fixed his gaze on me.


    <fn0d4f> Th?s chapter is updated by F?nd-Novel</fn0d4f>


    I looked away, staring at the cloudy night sky.


    "What was that about all this being your fault?" He queried sharply, stepping forward with his arms in front of his chest.


    I slowly brought my gaze back to him, this time forgetting the fact that he was naked other than the unstrapped robe he wore.


    "People have already mistrusted hybrids for centuries before me. That¡¯s why we¡¯re so... So scarce." I muttered, lowering my head. "Yet, during the charity Ball, I managed to heighten that bias to everyone watching around the continent and killed over thirty people while at it. Gaining the trust of the werewolves seems futile at this point."


    My eyes welled up with tears as I used the back of my right hand to wipe off the snort that dripped out of my nostrils.


    Gods, I¡¯m a mess...


    "What happened at the Charity Ball was not your fault, Odessa. When will you understand that?" Kaelos suddenly muttered, bringing his right hand to my chin and forcing me to bring my gaze to him.


    My gaze fell on his silver eyes which glinted under the light of the moon. He stared into my eyes, his fingers gently caressing my chin before he continued.


    "You were attacked by Lucinda that night. Stressed out by everything going on with Celine and the allegation on your head that made it seem like you had an affair with Marcellus. Not to mention yourck of control over your powers."


    I smiled bitterly, bringing my hand to his wrist. My gaze slowly trailed his chest for a second but I held myself back before it could go even lower to hisher regions.


    Gods, was I distraught or horny?


    ¡¯I mean... Nothing¡¯s stopping you from being both.¡¯ Sirena suddenly mumbled in my head.


    "As you grow as a hybrid, the people... werewolves, witches and humans... Will grow to ept you, Odessa. You just have to be patient." Kaelos finally added, a small smile curling up his lips.


    I smiled in return, nodding slowly.


    "Thanks for the... Confidence boost." I sniffed, chuckling dryly. "Gods, that was an emotional rollercoaster."


    Kaelos chuckled as well, but his held warmth as his hand on my chin slowly trailed to my face, causing me to freeze as I swallowed hard.


    "You know what could cheer you up?" He whispered, his expression in but his eyes glinting suggestively.


    I blinked, my heart thudding in my chest. "Kaelos..."


    He didn¡¯t wait for permission as his hand slowly glided to my cheek, warm and grounding, brushing away the tear I hadn¡¯t even realised had spilt.


    "You¡¯re allowed to cry," he murmured. "But not to forget who you are."


    My lips parted as his thumb traced the curve of my lower lip, and I leaned into the touch without realising.


    Everything¡ªthe politics, the chaos, the blood on my hands¡ªfaded just a little. All I could think about was the weight of his gaze and the soft pull of tension thrumming between us.


    "I don¡¯t deserve you," I didn¡¯t know when I whispered, my face heating up.


    That was usually his line but yet here we are...


    He tilted his head, those silver eyes darkening with something deeper¡ªsomething dangerous and tender all at once.


    "You deserve so much more," he said. "But tonight, I¡¯m all yours."


    I barely had time to gasp before his lips imed mine.


    I fluttered my eyelids hesitantly before slowly giving in, my hands trailing his chiselled chest and slowly going lower.


    He let out a soft groan into my lips before pulling out briefly, staring into my eyes with an intensity that made my body tremble.


    "What do you want? Right now?" He asked with a soft voice, but it was hard to think when I could feel his dick getting hard and pressing against my body.


    I gulped, struggling to breathe as I spoke. "I... I want to forget all our problems. Just for a little while."


    He stared at me for a second longer before he smirked, his grip on my back tightening slightly, causing a small gasp to escape my lips.


    "Your wish is mymand." He whispered hoarsely before iming my lips again, this time in a fierce kiss that forced me to wrap my arms around his neck for support as the night wind blew on us on the balcony.

 Chapter 225: _Crowned In Blood

    <h4>Chapter 225: _Crowned In Blood</h4>


    Ryker¡¯s POV


    *****


    Everything was slowly falling into ce for him.


    The South American Alpha King and his Luna Queen were dead, causing a wave of anarchy in that continent. The world was now further divided ¡ª with most werewolves weary of witches and humans.


    <fnbfdb> This text is hosted at f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fnbfdb>


    It¡¯s not his fault that they got shown the truth...


    Witches and humans were pests.


    Ryker sat in his dark throne room, sipping from a goblet while plotting his next move. The world was his chessboard, and as far as he was concerned, he was the biggest yer in the game.


    Kaelos and his group weren¡¯t able to decipher how he was able to use magic to hijack the world towers of the "World Alliance Television Network".


    It was quite simple actually... He had powerful artificial Hybrid soldiers among his rogues who attacked the towers in North America.


    These artificial hybrids were able to take control of the other towers in other continents around the world through a connected wide-range spell.


    Ryker sniggered anytime he thought about it.


    Kaelos and that hybrid mate of his were probably thinking it was the cause of a powerful witch or a group of witches.


    "Although, she does seem like the smart one in that... Rtionship." He mumbled to himself, smirking coldly. "Oh, she¡¯s going to be an interesting character to tame once I get my hands on her."


    He could already imagine it.


    He got an update from Marcellus that she was pregnant but that in no way changed his mind from the idea of capturing her. He had so many uses for her... Being the Luna Queen of a pathetic Alpha King like Kaelos would be a waste of her potential.


    Suddenly, he felt a presence outside his throne room door that caused him to raise a curious eyebrow.


    Soon, the doors opened and Regina, his left hand and second most powerful artificial Hybrid, walked in.


    She wore a ck robe that flowed elegantly behind her, her high heels echoing with each click on the ck marble floor. There was a confident smirk on her face and an envelope in her hands.


    Ryker¡¯s gaze fell on the envelope and he tilted his head curiously.


    "Good evening, my lord." She bowed before him, her smile never disappearing. "I¡¯ve brought some interesting news for you that I¡¯m sure would be of great use to you."


    Ryker arched a brow before sniggering slightly, his deep voice booming through the walls of the throne room.


    "That¡¯s a bold statement, Regina. I hope whatever it is holds up to it." He said, stretching his right hand forward.


    "Oh, I¡¯m sure it will, my Lord," Regina remarked slyly as the envelope floated out of her hands and into the ws of the true lord of the North.


    He grabbed the envelope, opening it slowly as she continued.


    "Remember Madame Grey heart? Before her daughter approached me to kill Odessa, she had been in contact with the witches of the Haven of the Lost for years. Possibly decades." She exined.


    Ryker opened the envelope and brought out a letter as well as a recorded disk. He furrowed his eyebrows with curiosity as Regina went further to chuckle mischievously.


    "In that letter is her written experience of something that happened almost thirteen years ago. Something that Kaelos literally begged her never to release to the public. A mystery that has haunted the Blood Oak pack and the continent for well over a decade."


    She grinned broadly, seemingly reminiscing about something. "I... took it off Madame Grey heart¡¯s other contact in the Haven Of The Lost after a little... persuasion."


    Ryker felt the need to roll his eyes the more she spoke.


    "Thank you, Regina. I think I¡¯d rather read the damn thing myself than wait around while you edge me with suspense." He muttered inly as his eyes skimmed through the letter.


    He spotted Regina blushing with embarrassment for a second, but he couldn¡¯t care less.


    The letter read as follows:


    >"20|September|2022.


    To whoever is reading this, I am Madame Greyheart, a noble woman of the Blood Oak pack. Within this disk is recorded evidence that could very well change the narration of things on the continent.


    Kaelos Bloodoak, the current Alpha King, murdered his father in cold blood..."<


    Ryker¡¯s eyes widened with surprise when he read that.


    He raised his head and stared at Regina who now had a proud expression on her face.


    Interesting indeed...


    His lips slowly curled into a smirk as he continued reading the letter.


    >"... Everyone knows how the former Alpha King, Balthazar Bloodoak, became even more merciless during the war after his wife got cursed by a witch and died. What many might not have known was the pressure the Alpha King ced on Kaelos. He wanted him to further his legacy of war and blood to the fullest.


    Kaelos got fed up. I watched thed slowly devolve before my eyes during court meetings. He¡¯s been forced to fight in this war since he was a teenager because he awakened his wolf early. But a week ago... Kaelos finally snapped.


    Apart from the guards present, I was the only one in the throne room. I watched Kaelos kill his father with his beastly wolf transformation. He proceeded to ughter all the guards and would¡¯ve killed me too... If I hadn¡¯t been lucky enough to keep everything recorded on my phone and threatened to release it.


    I helped Kaelos hide his dirty secret. I helped him get rid of anyone who might¡¯ve been close to the throne room that fateful night. And I helped make the Alpha King¡¯s death seem like a mysterious assassination through the help of my contacts in the Haven Of The Lost.


    Now, today, at Kaelos¡¯ coronation ceremony, I¡¯m writing this as a fail-safe. In case the new Alpha King decides to get rid of me, whoever is reading this MUST make sure the recording on this disk is broadcast to the world.


    If I fall... Kaelos Bloodoak must fall with me for his heinous crime."<


    That was the end of the letter, as well as her signature underneath it.


    Ryker sat in silence, slowly lowering the letter and the envelope. He stared at the disk, his eyes blinking slowly.


    Regina had themon sense to remain silent during that moment.


    But then...


    "<strong>HAHAHAHA</strong>!" Ryker suddenly let out a maniacalughter that shook the throne room as he slowly got on his feet. "The scripts have changed and now the universe has offered me yet another token to bring that false Alpha King to his knees."


    Regina hesitantly took a few steps back as the shadows swirling around the lord of the North became thicker and seemed to transform into twisted figures thatughed with him.


    "Oh, how poetic. The Alpha King crowned in blood. Let¡¯s return him to it..."

 Chapter 226: _My Mate Is A Goddess!

    <h4>Chapter 226: _My Mate Is A Goddess!</h4>


    (Warning: Mature Content Ahead)


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    "Did you feel something?" I muttered, pulling out of the kiss with Odessa just when I had begun loosening her gown.


    I knew I wasn¡¯t imagining things... There was a cold shiver that ran down my spine. It was like a bad omen, like my instincts were screaming at me that something terrible wasing.


    That is, something beyond all the other terrible things happening anyway.


    ¡¯Maybe we¡¯re imagining things?¡¯ Damon suggested in my mind but I wasn¡¯t convinced.


    However, Odessa¡¯s hand on my hardened dick brought my mind back to reality.


    "Feel something?" She whispered teasingly, using her other arm to wrap around my neck as she stroked my throbbing cock. "You mean, this?"


    My body shivered with pure need and I didn¡¯t know when a growl escaped my throat as I lifted Odessa off the floor, causing her to giggle as she wrapped both arms around my neck.


    Her lush blonde hair blew into the wind on the balcony, slightly getting on her face. But I parted it aside with one free hand, my gazending on my mark on her neck.


    It was throbbing with a faint red light, seemingly inviting me to im her once again tonight.


    Well, don¡¯t mind if I do...


    "You¡¯re one naughty little hybrid, aren¡¯t you?" I asked with a whisper before I carried her into the room.


    She giggled more, warming my heart and dispelling whatever bad feeling I had gotten a few seconds ago. I dropped her on the bed a bit roughly, still remaining careful so she didn¡¯t hit her head.


    "This little guy would have to watch and learn the passion of love tonight," I said teasingly, caressing her stomach as I brought my lips to her corbone, trailing kisses on it.


    She moaned, her hands gripping my already naked back as she slowly arched into my touch, mumbling breathlessly.


    "A¨CAnd like I said thest time you mentioned that... That sounds weird..." Her voice came with a moan and a chuckle mixed in, causing my smile to widen as I continued working my magic.


    I slowly took off her gown, cing my body above her while at it.


    When all that was left was her underwear and her bra, I licked my lips, taking my time to admire every curve and every inch of her gorgeous form.


    "My mate is a goddess," I muttered, causing her eyes to jolt open with surprise as she brought her right hand to my face, staring into my eyes.


    "That¡¯s... A new one. I think." She managed to make a coherent sentence, forcing both of us tough.


    Our foreheads pressed against each other as I slowly unstrapped her bra, my dick throbbing in response when I did.


    I used my fingers to gently pinch her nipples... Just enough to make her squirm with pleasure while also keeping her gaze on me.


    "My words are true, Odessa," I mumbled, my hands trailing from her breasts and down her stomach. "You¡¯re a giver of life. Yesterday at Iron Fang Pack... I saw you sharing that food with the wolf child."


    Her face heated up but I was unsure if that was embarrassment or arousal.


    It could be both...


    "It was... Only a little parcel I carried along with me from Blood Oak. It¡¯s no big deal." She tried waving it off and brought her hands to my face, trying to get me to kiss her.


    But I grabbed her hands and pinned them over her head, causing her to gasp slightly.


    "It might¡¯ve been just a parcel to you, but it was probably the first good meal in weeks for that child," I remarked and watched as her expression changed from anticipation and pleasure to confusion.


    ¡¯Dude, you might be overdoing the talking just a little bit.¡¯ Damon spoke up in my head just then but I ignored him as Odessa finally spoke up.


    "Uhm... Kaelos? What¡¯s... What¡¯s happening?" She asked hesitantly, her eyelids fluttering at me with even more confusion.


    But I slowly brought my right hand to her cheeks, using my thumb to brush her face gently as a warm smile tugged at my lips.


    "This is just a reminder. No matter what people might think or say, you are still you, Odessa. You have a good heart, and what happened at the Charity Ball or during the riots back in Blood Oak as we speak doesn¡¯t change that."


    My smile widened when I saw a genuine smile on her face. She brought her free hand to my face and spoke softly.


    "K¨CKaelos... You¡¯re the best thing that has ever happened to me."


    The way she said my name, soft and trembling, lit a fire in me that no darkness in the world could put out.


    Her words weren¡¯t just a confession... they were a plea. A surrender. And gods, I would answer.


    I dipped my head and kissed her¡ªnot rushed, not rough, but slow and deep.


    She moaned into my mouth, her back arching off the bed as I released her wrists and let my hands roam her bare skin.


    She was soft and warm and everything I didn¡¯t know I needed until I met her.


    I took my time, pressing kisses down her neck, along the line of her corbone, and lower... until I reached the curve of her breast. I dragged my tongue across her nipple, then sucked gently, savoring her gasp as her fingers tangled into my hair.


    "You taste like the moonlight," I whispered, and she let out a breathyugh, already dazed.


    Her violet eyes fluttered open, glowing faintly with magic and desire.


    "Exaggerated metaphors, eh? Well, you taste like sin," She whispered back, her voice shaking, but a small smirk on her face.


    I growled low in my throat and slid down farther, trailing kisses along her stomach. When I reached her underwear, I hooked my fingers beneath the band and met her gaze.


    "Say the word, Odessa," I said softly. "Should I go on?"


    Her lips parted, her cheeks flushed with arousal. But she didn¡¯t hesitate.


    "I don¡¯t want you to stop," She whispered. "I want all of you, Kaelos."


    Gods help me... I could barely contain myself.


    I slid thest barrier between us off her, tossing it somewhere into the room, and took in the sight of herpletely bare beneath me.


    She was breathtaking. Glowing. My mate, my queen... and yet in this moment, just a woman who needed to be seen, touched and cherished.


    I leaned in and kissed her inner thighs slowly, before finally positioning myself between her legs. Her breath hitched when she felt me there, hard and ready, pressed right at her entrance.


    Our eyes locked as I cupped her cheek gently, brushing her hair back onest time.


    <fn0b94> Official source is find?novel</fn0b94>


    "Are you sure?" I asked, my voice teasing even though every part of me screamed to im her.


    Odessa wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me closer, her voice breaking on a moan.


    "I¡¯ve never been more sure of anything in my life."


    And with that, I sank into her in one slow plunge, causing her to gasp as she held onto me like her life depended on it.

 Chapter 227: _Back To Being Responsible Adults

    <h4>Chapter 227: _Back To Being Responsible Adults</h4>


    (Warning: Mature Content Ahead)


    Her warmth wrapped around me in an instant¡ªtight, wet and pulsing. The moment I was fully seated inside her, I froze.


    Gods...


    A groan tore from my throat, primal and raw, as her walls clenched around me like velvet fire. Her head tipped back, her lips parted in a breathless moan, and it took every ounce of control in me not to lose it then and there.


    "You okay?" I managed, my voice hoarse against her neck.


    She nodded quickly, her legs wrapping around my waist as if to pull me deeper. "Move, Kaelos... please..."


    I didn¡¯t need to be told twice.


    I drew back, then slid in again... slow and steady. She arched beneath me, matching my rhythm, her fingers clutching at my shoulders like I was the only thing tethering her to this ne.


    Each thrust drew a cry from her lips, and each one pushed me closer to the edge. Her magic began to pulse again, faint but insistent and glowing just beneath her skin. Like she couldn¡¯t contain the power and pleasure colliding inside her.


    And gods, it made her even more beautiful.


    "Do you feel that?" I groaned, picking up the pace, pressing our foreheads together. "That pull... that bond? Every time we do this, it grows stronger."


    Her eyes fluttered open, zed and glowing as she muttered breathlessly. "I feel everything...."


    I kissed her then... sloppy and desperate.


    Our teeth shed, tongues tangled, and I swallowed her moans like a dying man starved for air. Her hips bucked up in time with mine, the slick heat between us building fast.


    The pacing soon increased until the sound of our moans and our hips colliding was the only thing I could hear.


    She was close.


    I could feel it in the way her breaths hitched, her moans grew higher and her body trembled like a live wire beneath me.


    "Come for me," I whispered against her lips. "Let go, Odessa."


    And then, after what felt like an eternity of pleasure that still wasn¡¯t enough, she shattered beneath me.


    Her scream tore through the room, raw and sharp until I was forced to silence her with a steamy kiss.


    We couldn¡¯t afford waking the entire city now, could we?


    Her nails raked down my back, and her walls convulsed around me in rhythmic spasms that nearly made my vision go white.


    "Fuck," I growled, mming into her onest time as I came.


    My climax surged through me with a force that stole my breath. It was hot, violent and soul-deep. I held her tight, buried inside her, as wave after wave crashed through me.


    We stayed like that, tangled and panting, for what felt like eternity. Her fingers gently brushed the nape of my neck, her thighs still quivering around my hips.


    Eventually, I pulled back just enough to look at her.


    Her face was flushed as she panted, her now-damp hair clinging to her cheek. She now had a sleepy, sated smile curving her lips.


    Mine...


    She was mine.


    I kissed her forehead, breathing her in like a man reborn.


    "We needed that," I murmured, my voice still wrecked from what she did to me. "All of it."


    She chuckled softly, giving me a suggestive wink. "We might need it again in a few hours."


    My grin widened.


    "Oh, we will," I promised, pressing another kiss to her lips. "But not after we rip apart a military archive and figure out who the fuck that raven witch is."


    Her groan was muffled into my chest. "Ugh... do we have to be responsible adults again?"


    Iughed as I rolled us gently onto our sides, cradling her against my chest.


    "Yeah," I said, my eyes narrowing at the ceiling like I could see through it into the city beyond. "Because whoever¡¯s watching us... It isn¡¯t done. And there are still a lot of problems to deal with."


    .


    .


    The next morning, Odessa and I were freshened up and headed back to the meeting room of the leaders of Mexico City.


    This time, she wore a stylish white bohemian shirt and form-fitting blue jeans, her hair done into a ponytail like she was going into battle.


    The smile she had on her face alone from our hotel suite all the way to thest floor of the skyscraper, where the leaders were, told me she still had lingering excitement fromst night.


    I couldn¡¯t help but smile slightly myself.


    It was nice to see that she had shifted the riots at Blood Oak to the back of her mind. For now, at least.


    "Alpha King Kaelos and Odessa Pierce." Luzia acknowledged our presence when we walked in, her gaze fixed on us like an elder scrutinising younglings. "Good morning. I see you two had a good night¡¯s rest."


    I adjusted the cufflinks of the ck suit I wore before responding with a grunt, ncing at the governor sitting to her right and the witch scribe, Leticia, sitting to her left.


    I cleared my throat before speaking. "Yes, thank you. But I¡¯d prefer it if you refer to Odessa Pierce, my wife, as Luna Queen. Not by her name."


    Luzia raised an eyebrow but remained unmoving while Governor Daniel let out a scoff.


    ¡¯He¡¯s perhaps the boldest human we¡¯ve encountered so far.¡¯ Damon remarked in my mind but I sniggered mentally.


    ¡¯Bold or arrogant?¡¯


    "If that¡¯s what you wish us to call her then very well, Alpha King." Luzia finally said, shrugging before she gestured at Leticia. "Leticia here will be leading you to our Military Archives hall. It¡¯s highly secure but she¡¯ll be guiding you on how to use the ce to find what you want."


    I nodded, bringing my gaze to the witch scribe who stepped forward in silence, her long silver quill hovering beside her like a loyal snake.


    Odessa and I exchanged brief nces after which she spoke to me mentally.


    ¡¯Are you sure we shouldn¡¯t tell them about the witch disguised as a raven out there?¡¯


    ¡¯Positive.¡¯ I answered inly. ¡¯I¡¯m telling you, someone is ying games. We mighte to realise that the corruption in this city runs deeper than we first imagined...¡¯


    "Follow me, Alpha King and Luna Queen." Leticia led the way out of the meeting room with a t tone and Odessa and I did just that, hand in hand.<fncadd> Original content can be found at </fncadd>

 Chapter 228: _The Military Archives

    <h4>Chapter 228: _The Military Archives</h4><subtxt> "The military archives of the Mexico City army are just up ahead in this hallway," Leticia announced, ncing back at Odessa as we stepped into arge hallway that was lit with chandeliers dangling with white magic crystals.


    The walls seemed to brim with power, causing me to scan my gaze on them. That¡¯s until Odessa spoke with a whisper.


    "Protecting runes. This ce is heavily guarded."


    I nced at her and nodded. "Well, it¡¯s a good thing we don¡¯t have to break in, right?"


    Finally, we arrived at the end of the hallway where we saw arge metal door, standing at possibly ten feet.


    Leticia stopped in front of this door and brought out a key from her pocket, opening the door in silence.


    I squinted my eyes at her at first until the doors suddenly made a clicking sound.


    She then stepped back as a series of connected runes began twirling on the metal door before glowing with a white light that pulsed with power.


    The doors slowly opened as Leticia nced back at Odessa and me.


    "Come in." She muttered before stepping into the brightly lit room with a ceiling that seemed too high for a basic military archive.


    When Odessa and I stepped inside alongside her, the door closed behind us with a bang, causing me to swerve my head backwards alertly.


    ¡¯Okay, so I¡¯m not the only one getting a weird feeling?¡¯ Damon asked in my mind as we walked deeper.


    There were several monitor screens on the walls as well as high shelves that reached the ceiling.


    But one thing that stood out was the huge metal golems, in the shape of silver knights, that were lined against the walls, motionless like statues.


    "These... Golems." Odessa surprisingly spoke up to Leticia, staring at the knight statues. "Are they magically enchanted? Connected to the security system maybe?"


    Leticia paused just then, slowly turning around to face Odessa with a small smirk.


    "Well, telling you would technically be a breach in security protocols. But, yes." She admitted with a nod. "But they only awaken once a witch from our security team sends a magic signal."


    Impressive...


    Howe I¡¯ve never seen these things during the wars?


    Leticia walked ahead of us, her heels echoing off the polished floor, then stopped before a floating orb close to the far wall.


    She ced her palm against the orb and whispered something in Latin... or something close to it. The magic responded instantly, pulsating through the room like a heartbeat.


    With a low hum, the entire far wall shimmered and flickered into a massive curved disy screen.


    Multiple video feeds began ying at once¡ªsome in colour, others grainy and monochrome.


    Each wasbelled with dates, coordinates, or unit codes. Most were angled like body cams. Others seemed to be taken from flying surveince drones.


    "This is your first time viewing ssified human military footage, isn¡¯t it?" Leticia asked over her shoulder, a trace of smugness in her tone.


    "Not by choice," I muttered, folding my arms. "Our kind doesn¡¯t exactly get front-row seats to human war crimes."


    Leticia ignored the jab and began filtering through the feeds.


    Her fingers moved with sharp precision, each motion casting sparks of magic through the air. I didn¡¯t understand half the symbols she drew¡ªbut Odessa¡¯s eyes followed with ease, and I watched her nod once, absorbing everything.


    ¡¯Looks like you¡¯re learning some things.¡¯ I observed through the link to the mate bond.


    "I found something..." Leticia said finally, pausing one video on a screen in the center. "This was from a week ago... Operation ck Mesa, Sector D."


    The footage began to y.


    A squadron of human soldiers in grey armour swept through what looked like an abandoned vige in the forest. No insignia. No spoken names. Just cold efficiency.


    The screams were the worst part.


    They dragged wolf children from makeshift shelters. Sedated them. And branded their arms one by one.


    My fists clenched as I tried containing my rage.


    Children. They¡¯ve been capturing werewolf children... Right under my nose.


    ¡¯Right, under their noses, dude.¡¯ Damon muttered in my mind with a growl.


    "Son of a¡ª"


    "They¡¯re moving them like cargo," Odessa whispered, horror creeping into her voice. "Those symbols on the trucks... Those are portal routes."


    Leticia frowned. "Portal routes? Those are ouwed."


    "They¡¯re still being used," Odessa snapped, her eyes locked to the screen. "They¡¯re marked, just hidden beneath the illusion spells. Watch."


    She gestured at the upper corner of the video.


    Leticia slowed the frame.


    Just behind one of the soldiers, a faint shimmer¡ªbarely visible¡ªrevealed a glowing arc etched into the truck¡¯s side.


    "That¡¯s a teleportation rune," Odessa muttered. "It seems modified to hide from tracking. But I have this feeling... The victims are being transported somewhere within the country."


    She paused for a while before adding with a solemn tone.


    "Or to somewhere else entirely. Somewhere hidden."


    Leticia looked visibly disturbed. She quickly sent anothermand into the orb, and the screen changed again.


    "I¡¯m pulling the timestamp and area feed from the Lord of the North¡¯s broadcast... this should¡¯ve been recorded the same night his message aired."


    Suddenly, the footage got corrupted¡ªflickering with static and magical distortion.


    Leticia cursed softly. "Someone tampered with this file."


    I knew it!


    Someone was ying games.


    Odessa suddenly spoke sharply. "Wait. That¡¯s a magical disruption. That means something in the footage is still holding power."


    She stepped forward and ced her hand on the screen, her fingers glowing with a violet light. I furrowed my brows, watching her intently.


    A moment passed. Then another.


    And suddenly... the static cleared.


    The scene was dark. It was a back alley, lined with broken stone walls and wet pavement. Soldiers crouched behind crates. We could hear distant shouting in the background.


    And then...


    A raven.


    It flew past the lens andnded on a post.


    Leticia tilted her head. "That¡¯s strange. That species isn¡¯t native to this zone."


    "Pause it," I ordered.


    Leticia did just that.


    And there they were.


    Barely visible at the far end of the alley and shrouded in ck. Hood pulled low but unmistakable.


    The cloaked figure. The one that has been watching us since Iron Fang.


    A raven perched calmly on their shoulder, as if it were a part of them.


    "What the hell..." I muttered. "Why is¡ª" <fn7398> Checktest chapters at </fn7398>


    Suddenly, the screen glitched again.


    Their head moved.


    They turned toward the camera.


    I instantly realised at that moment that it was a woman... Thanks mostly to the lipstick that managed to be visible under the hood.


    Her eyes, which were glowing faint purple, locked directly onto the lens.


    Onto us...</subtxt>

 Chapter 229: _Dark Magic Corruption

    <h4>Chapter 229: _Dark Magic Corruption</h4>


    "H¨CHow¡¯s that possible?" Odessa asked with a trembling voice, staring at the screen with shock. "Is it live footage? Why... Why does it feel like she¡¯s staring directly at us?"


    I furrowed my eyebrows, ring at the screen. The cloaked figure tilted her head, a sly smirk curling up her lips before the footage flickered once again.


    " I-I don¡¯t understand what¡¯s happening..." Leticia stammered, her fingers moving rapidly on the screen, trying to get it to y other footage. "The entire system is corrupted. We¡ª"


    "What sort of flimsy excuse is that?" I snapped at her, my voice low as I stepped forward. "It¡¯s clear this has gone beyond your power. Call in the city leaders to see this."


    Leticia nced back at me, hesitation present in her eyes. My brows twitched with frustration, but before I couldsh out, Odessa stepped forward as well, grabbing my wrist.


    "Please, call them in now. I don¡¯t understand what¡¯s happening but something tells me your city has a mole. A spy who¡¯s already corrupting things from the inside." Odessa muttered.


    Her voice was soft and pleading, but there was still that flicker of hesitation in the witch scribe¡¯s eyes.


    ¡¯This whole thing screams trouble.¡¯ I spoke to Odessa through the mind link. ¡¯They¡¯re transporting wolves, including children and that raven witch usingwless magic is leading the operation. Right under their noses.¡¯


    At that same moment, the entire screen glitched before flickering out of existence, leaving the wall on which it was projected empty.


    The magic orb, which powered its projecting, stopped glowing with its usual white light as well, forcing the three of us to swerve our heads toward it.


    "What the heck is happening now?" I asked physically this time.


    Suddenly, a ck fog began spreading within the orb like spilt ink, corrupting it from the inside out before it enveloped it inplete pitch ck.


    Things didn¡¯t end there as a pulse of darkness spread all around the room, from the walls to the floor and even the ceiling, causing theputers and the light bulbs to flicker.


    "Dark magic..." Leticia mumbled solemnly, shaking her head with disbelief. "Someone is hijacking control of the military archive systems by corrupting them with dark magic. Which means¡ª"


    "This is a cyber attack, but at an arcane level." Odessa chimed, tightening her grip on my hand and ncing at me with fear in her eyes. "This witch, whoever she is, she¡¯s the real deal."


    Suddenly, the sound of metallic squeaking, like gears spinning to work, echoed all around therge room.


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    I scanned my gaze around, my instincts screaming danger in that moment.


    "Now would be a good time to call your leaders!" I snarled at Leticia, causing her to jolt at first before she nodded and brought out her phone.


    After a few seconds, she dialled a number, at the same moment that the lights in the room blinked repeatedly.


    "We¡¯re under attack by an outside dark magic influence. It¡¯s overriding the systems and¡ª" Leticia paused, her eyebrows furrowing.


    "We were only reviewing footage, ma¡¯am. From soldier body cams and surveince drones. Then we saw proof that some of our soldiers are indeed transporting wolves with the help of a¡ª"


    This time, what interrupted Leticia was the entire room suddenly shaking as if an earthquake had hit.


    All heads turned to a corner of the room where the source of the tremor wasing from.


    "T¨CThe golems," Odessa muttered with dread.


    The golem knights, all six in number and each standing at ten feet tall, slowly stepped away from the walls, turning their heads to us.


    Their metallic joints groaned like ancient hinges, each step shaking the marble floor beneath us. Dust fell from the ceiling beams with every grinding motion, like the room itself was holding its breath.


    "I thought you said those things could only be awakened by the magic of a witch within the security team?" I barked at the witch scribe, but my voice was colder than aggressive.


    Leticia didn¡¯t answer me, too focused on the call she was having with the city¡¯s leaders.


    I groaned with frustration as Odessa and I turned around to face the golems fully.


    "They aren¡¯t sentient. They operate by followingmandsid in their systems through runes cast by the witch who made them." Odessa exined to me in a whisper.


    I tilted my head slightly, ncing at her. "So, like robots, except these things run on magic and not technology," I remarked.


    ¡¯We would be bigger than them if you let me out.¡¯ Damon suggested in my mind just then. ¡¯I could take them out in ten seconds tops.¡¯


    Suddenly, Odessa ryed a message to mentally.


    ¡¯I can¡¯t fight. The elders clearly stated I shouldn¡¯t use my powers in public and I nearly overstepped that rule when I used my magic to fight off the corruption in that footage earlier.¡¯


    Fuck...


    I clenched my fists, readying myself for a fight with the golems. They began marching forward, unsheathing the huge swords they once held like statues.


    ¡¯Look, Kaelos.¡¯ Odessa raised her right hand, showing me the bracelet on her wrist which glowed faintly. ¡¯Anytime magic surges in me, it sends a signal to the Elders. For now, I¡¯m a¡ª¡¯


    "You better not say anything about being a burden," I growled, cing my right hand in front of her and forcing her to step back. "Stand back. I¡¯ll handle this if they attack."


    I saw the smile on her face before I turned my head back to the iing golems.


    The worst part of this whole thing was that I was also supposed to hold back my powers. The magic sigil ced on my arm at the city gates pulsed, as if to remind me that I couldn¡¯t shift or use any of my devastating Alpha King powers.


    I was cornered and almost powerless... But I had my fists and ws if push came to shove.


    "Coven head Luzia is on her way!" Leticia suddenly announced behind me, stepping forward and dropping her phone in her pocket. "The witch behind this has sessfully corrupted the security system but once she arrives she¡ª"


    Before she could finish, therge doors leading into the military archives room burst open, causing all eyes to turn in that direction.


    Luzia. Talk about perfect timing.


    "Whoever you are, I will not let your corruption fester!" She dered with a voice that boomed with magic, sending a gust of wind around the room as her hair flung into the air.

 Chapter 230: _Luzia’s Wrath

    <h4>Chapter 230: _Luzia¡¯s Wrath</h4>


    The doors burst open with a magical shockwave, rattling the walls and sending a rush of wind through the room.


    Luzia stood framed in the arched doorway, her robes billowing as if the very air bowed to her presence. Her eyes zed with power... There was no warm wee or bureaucratic pretence now.


    I watched with a tight jaw but there was also awe.


    This was not the Coven Head of Mexico City anymore.


    This was a High Witch preparing for war.


    "Whoever you are," she said, voice echoing like thunder, "I will no longer let your corruption fester in my house. In my city."


    The corrupted magic trembled in the air, dark tendrils still pulsing faintly from the orb. The golems hesitated mid-step, stuttering like puppets whose strings had been yanked.


    Luzia¡¯s gaze swept across the room.


    Her lips curled in disgust at the sight of the darkened orb, the frozen footage, the half-awake golems... and then finally, at Odessa and me standing like we¡¯d just set off a bomb.


    "Report," she snapped, her eyes locking on Leticia.


    Leticia bowed immediately, though her voice shook. "Coven Head, a corruption spell was triggered mid-footage review. The golems activated without order. We believe the interference is external¡ªorigin unknown, but likely magical."


    Luzia narrowed her eyes. "And why were outsiders present in this room?"


    Her re slid to me¡ªthen to Odessa.


    My jaw clenched.


    Was this bitch trying to shift me to us right now when SHE¡¯S the one who gave us clearance in the first ce?


    ¡¯This smells like a fucking set up.¡¯ Damon muttered in my head and I couldn¡¯t agree more.


    ¡¯If it is, I swear to the goddess I¡¯ll raze this ce to the ground and have anyone involved torn to shreds.¡¯ I responded to him mentally, barely able to contain my anger.


    But as usual, Odessa noticed the shift in my mood and ced her hand on my wrist, forcing me to bring my gaze to her.


    "We were granted ess to review surveince footage per your prior clearance," Odessa said calmly, stepping forward. "And we¡¯ve uncovered proof that your human soldiers have been transporting werewolves through ouwed teleportation runes. You need to see it for yourself."


    "There is no proof," Luzia said coldly. "Only corrupted images and half-broken records that now conveniently vanish the moment you step into this room."


    Her usation was silent, but sharp enough to cut.


    "You think we¡¯re the ones tampering with your systems?" I growled, stepping forward. "You really think I¡¯d drag my Luna Queen into the middle of this circus just to throw illusions around and get your oversized tin soldiers to wake up?"


    Luzia didn¡¯t even blink as she spoke. "I think you¡¯re an Alpha King who is far toofortable overstepping his station."


    Wow... the audacity.


    If it weren¡¯t for my desire to withhold peace, I would¡¯ve had her head flung through the ceiling by now.


    "And I think..." Odessa suddenly cut in, her voice calm but steady. "... That you¡¯re scared. You¡¯ve seen what¡¯s happening, but if you admit it, you¡¯ll have to admit your city ispromised and that someone in your coven is helping them."


    The silence that followed was thick.


    Suddenly, the golems twitched again, one stepping forward before freezing under the force of Luzia¡¯s magic. She raised her hand slowly, her palm pulsing with glowing runes as she red briefly at the machines.


    And for the first time, I saw uncertainty sh across her face.


    Just for a second.


    I tilted my head, watching Luzia carefully as the wind in the room stilled around her. The magic dimmed just slightly.


    "She¡¯s hiding something," I said aloud. "Or someone..."


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    But then her brows furrowed as she snapped. "Enough of this!"


    Her voice carried a power that sent a pulse of blue energy around the room, causing all the metallic golems to fall to their knees.


    She proceeded to ignore Odessa and me and stepped forward after giving us onest re, although her eyes flickered with that same hesitation when she caught me staring at her.


    When she got to the orb controlling the screens, she stretched out her hands, weaving spells and runes with quick movements of her fingers, causing a shroud of bright light to pulsate from her palms.


    I watched with dimmed eyes as she slowly lowered her hands, cing them on top of the orb which was still swirling with ck tendrils that moved around it like worms.


    "What is she doing now?" I asked Leticia who stepped back toward us.


    The witch scribe had her mouth wide open, staring like this was the first time she was witnessing the Coven head cast a spell.


    That caused me to raise an eyebrow until she spoke. "She¡¯s overriding the enemy¡¯s corruption. Tackling the darkness magic from its roots and using it as a... tether."


    A tether?


    I blinked, bringing my gaze to Odessa.


    "Can you dumb that down to us non-witches?" I asked.


    Odessa had her right arm ced in front of her face, but the way she tried to force herself to look told me she was still trying to take down every detail.


    She responded. "A tether is simply a link. If it works... Luzia will be able to track the source of the dark magic. Which means..."


    My eyes widened. "She could find out the location of the raven witch. And maybe their identity!"


    Wow, that¡¯s... could actually work?


    Suddenly, a searing explosion of white light urred, forcing us to step back before crouching. I held Odessa close to myself, closing my eyes and using my body to shield her.


    I gritted my teeth, trying to ignore the searing heat.


    When the light cleared off, I slowly fluttered my eyes open and swerved my head backwards, only to see Luzia turning around to face us.


    Her ck hair was dishevelled, and she had blood running down her nostrils as she heaved heavily.


    "Well?" I spoke impatiently, not bothering myself about her predicament.


    But Odessa hit me lightly on my shoulder, causing me to let out a sigh.


    Luckily, Luzia ignored me, her expression solemn as she spoke with an apologetic tone.


    "Y¨CYou were right. The videos aren¡¯t fake." She said as if it was too hard to believe.


    I felt the need to roll my eyes until she added.


    "The dark magic... It came from this building. The culprit is with us as we speak."


    Bloody hell...

 Chapter 231: _Enemy Among Them

    <h4>Chapter 231: _Enemy Among Them</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    While Odessa and Kaelos were probably out there enjoying their field trip in Mexico, he was stuck here in the Blood Oak pack dealing with the fallout that came after the riot.


    Well, to be fair, he¡¯s the one who manipted the people to turn the protest into something violent and chaotic, but hey... He was bored.


    A little death here and there never hurt anyone¡ª well, except for the people it did hurt.


    After the riots, Marcellus, Elder Davina, La and High priestess Althea were standing just outside the Alpha King¡¯s mansion.


    It was nighttime, and there was still simmering tension left from the riot. Everyone present had solemn expressions on their faces and was silent for a while.


    Until...


    "I called the Alpha King and informed him of the riot." La began, clearing her throat. "He said he¡¯ll handle it when he and the Luna Queen get back."


    "Handle it?" Althea repeated as she gestured at thepound gates. "Look at that. Do you see the blood at the gates?"


    All eyes went there and indeed, the blood of the guards and civilians who had been close to thepound gate during the riot still lingered like dry paint.


    They were faint¡ªbut still there nheless.


    "The people want witches gone. They want me gone and me staying here might not be the best idea." Althea continued with a sigh.


    But Marcellus decided to interject with his kind Beta facade. "Odessa still needs you for her magic training when shees back. She¡¯s carrying a baby. Now, I don¡¯t know much about witches but I think I remember something about their pregnancies making their magic... Erratic."


    Althea swerved her head to him, her jaw clenched withtent frustration.


    But Marcellus added. "If that¡¯s the case, I can only imagine what a Hybrid¡¯s pregnancy will be like."


    He should¡¯ve minded his business and let the witch pack her broomstick and be on her merry way... But, s, he couldn¡¯t stand back and seem too quiet.


    Suspicions were growing with each seed of chaos he nted in the pack, especially since the Charity Ball incident. He couldn¡¯t afford to blow his cover¡ªnot when the true lord of the North was so close to tipping the bnce of peace.


    "Can we address the elephant in the room?" Elder Davina walked a few steps ahead of the group just then, turning to face them while her hand tightened steadily around her staff. "I examined Farak¡¯s body."


    La frowned. "You mean the boy whose death sparked the violence in the first ce?"


    Elder Davina nodded solemnly while Marcellus squinted her eyes at her.


    The old hag was beginning to be a problem.


    "It was faint and almost unnoticeable, but I felt traces of magic in his mind. Not the kind that controls. But the kind that gets a hold of an emotion and pushes it for a desired effect." Elder Davina added. "Which means..."


    "A witch pushed his aggression, riling him up to be confrontational?" Altheapleted that sentence with widened eyes, her voice filled with confusion. "But... But how¡ª"


    "There has been a string of strange urrences and murders in this pack, high priestess. Long before your arrival but during the time of Odessa¡¯s marriage to Kaelos." Elder Davina exined calmly. "We believe a witch is hiding among us, orchestrating these evil things."


    Ugh, brother...


    Marcellus felt like rolling his eyes.


    Talk about over dramatic.


    "A witch? Hiding among wolves?" Althea mumbled, shaking her head. "How many spells and potions do they haveyered on themselves to stay hidden and linger among an entire pack of thousands of wolves?"


    Marcellus¡¯ fingers twitched¡ªjust slightly. They were putting the pieces of the puzzle together but they weren¡¯t there yet.


    "Unless..." Althea¡¯s eyes suddenly widened as she spoke up. "Odessa told me about something before she left. Or rather, I managed to get it through reading memories that she..."


    She paused, noticing how everyone stared at her pensively.


    "Never mind." Althea waved dismissively. "What I was trying to say is: Artificial hybrids. Now I have no idea what they are, but Odessa has a theory that they¡¯re working for the lord of the North. A rogue who captured her blurted it out."


    Those idiots!


    Marcellus felt like rolling his eyes or cursing out loud when he remembered the rogues who had been hiding within the Blood Oak woods.


    From what he heard, Tonka, their leader, was the only artificial Hybrid in the group and had been killed by the lord of the North shortly after he returned to the main base.


    Now he could see why...


    "Artificial hybrid sounds like a witch¡¯s sick magic experiment," La mumbled, brushing her hand through her hair. "Whoever or whatever this person is, I think everyone can agree they need to be fished out and brought down. Permanently."


    "Do you suggest we work on doing that before the Alpha King¡¯s and Odessa¡¯s return?" Althea chimed, arching an eyebrow.


    Marcellus cleared his throat just then, drawing all the attention to him.


    Time for some damage control.


    "From what we¡¯ve gathered, the culprit is a man. He¡¯s dangerous, maniptive and doesn¡¯t seem to be afraid of bringing the focus to witches with his attacks. Or in this case... Odessa."


    Everyone present looked among themselves and nodded in agreement, although Elder Davina squinted her eyes and was more reserved.


    He remained confident and continued. "Odessa¡¯s idea of artificial hybrids also ties in with the human town that was burnt down close to the woods. The mes were magical, and there were wolf w marks. But... What if it¡¯s not an artificial hybrid but a witch?"


    His words barely settled when Althea chimed in.


    "A witch trying to hide within a pack of so many wolves is almost impossible, Beta¡ª"


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    "Almost?" Marcellus repeated, raising an eyebrow. "If I were trying to hide as a witch in a pack like this... I¡¯d bind my scent to someone else¡¯s. Maybe even stay close to a high-ranking wolf. No one ever suspects the ones who blend in."


    There was a drawn-out silence as the women nced at each other, pondering his words. They turned to Althea, the highest authority on magic present.


    "Well... Yeah, he¡¯s right. That¡¯s a unique possibility I haven¡¯t thought of." Althea remarked, nodding. "But I¡¯m telling you guys, Odessa was on to something when talking about those Artificial hybrids."


    When will she give up?!


    "I believe you, Althea." Elder Davina spoke solemnly just then, drawing in a deep breath as she scanned her gaze on everyone present. "I suggest we create amittee. One who would be in charge of fishing out the culprit. Witch or artificial hybrid, he must be stopped."


    Her gaze finally settled on Marcellus, causing thetter to gulp.


    There was a trace of something in her gaze¨Csuspicion maybe¨Cbut it soon disappeared as she spoke.


    "Beta Marcellus, as the temporary leader of the pack while the Alpha King is away, you should pick out members of thismittee and lead them."


    Marcellus blinked, ncing at the others with a nk expression before he nodded with a bright smile.


    "Of course. This is long overdue."


    As they nodded, little did any of them know that the culprit was lurking among them, feeding them just the right amount of truths and lies to keep them off his tail...

 Chapter 232: _Weakened From The Inside

    <h4>Chapter 232: _Weakened From The Inside</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    When the meeting was over, he went back to his residence, copsing dramatically on one of his sofas when he walked into the living room.


    The living room was dimly lit with the soft white glow of the chandeliers at the top of the slightly curved ceiling.


    "Hell, who knew hiding a lie would take so much effort?" He remarked, cing his right hand in front of his mouth and feigning a yawn when he saw Cullen walking toward him from the dining room.


    Thed wore a sleek ck shirt with its sleeves raised to the elbows and ck pants to match. On top of being eye candy, he also held two sses of vodka, cing one on the small table in front of Marcellus.


    "Ah, lifesaver." Marcellus nodded at him in acknowledgement before he grabbed the ss and gulped everything.


    Cullen stared at him silently until he dropped the ss and let out a belch.


    "Damn... Looks like someone had a rough day." Cullen sniggered, shaking his head as he took a sip from his drink. "What happened? The people requested that you be the one who gets burned at the stake this time?"


    Marcellus nced at him before rolling his eyes at his sarcasm.


    "Worse. Apparently, Odessa is on to the existence of artificial hybrids." He said with a sigh before leaning on the chair, raising his head to the ceiling. "And on top of that, the others are buying into the idea. Especially that hag, Davina."


    Cullen made a face. "She gives ¡¯witchy intuition¡¯ a whole new meaning. I swear, if she res any harder, your skin might start peeling off."


    Marcellus snorted. "Please. If anyone¡¯s skin is at risk, it¡¯s yours. You weren¡¯t even built to pass a proper scent test without my spells helping you."


    Cullen gave him a t look. "And yet, I¡¯m the one who walked past three pack soldiers this morning without so much as a sniff. You? You flinched when that Military Advisor asked you what shampoo you use."


    "It was suspiciously specific," Marcellus muttered, then waved a hand. "The point is¡ªthey¡¯re getting close. If Davina pushes hard enough, La follows. And if La follows, Althea starts poking into things she has no business poking."


    Cullen leaned against the edge of the table, crossing his arms. "Then maybe it¡¯s time we poke back."


    Marcellus tilted his head. "Careful. That sounds like ambition."


    Cullen grinned. "What can I say? You taught me well."


    Marcellus narrowed his eyes, scrutinising thed for a few seconds. "I taught you to blend in and survive while subtly nting chaos. Not start wars."


    "No one¡¯s starting anything." Cullen shrugged. "But if they do uncover what we are... It might be smart to have backup ns. For both of us."


    "Don¡¯t tter yourself," Marcellus said with azy smirk, though his eyes were sharp. "If anyone¡¯s getting out of this alive, it¡¯s me. You¡¯re the charming distraction, remember?"


    Cullen raised his ss. "If I¡¯m the distraction, you¡¯re the mess everyone regrets falling for. The ¡¯kind Beta¡¯."


    Marcellusughed¡ªa low, dangerous sound. "Touch¨¦."


    There was a pause.


    Then Cullen added, his voice more serious now. "We both knew this wouldn¡¯tst forever. The Alpha King and his council, or at least what¡¯s left of it, are paranoid. Odessa is powerful and unpredictable. And the Lord of the North?"


    He leaned in.


    "He doesn¡¯t like his experiments running wild."


    Marcellus¡¯ smirk faltered¡ªbut only slightly.


    "And yet... here we are." He said smoothly. "Still breathing. Still two steps ahead. Still ying them all like harps."


    <fn30bb> Checktest chapters at Find[?]ovel</fn30bb>


    Cullen leaned back with a mock salute. "Long may the symphony continue."


    Just when they were about to drink some more, both their minds were held with a telepathic spell trying to reach them.


    They furrowed their eyebrows at first until Marcellus realised the magic signature was familiar.


    ¡¯Good evening, boys. Trust you¡¯re having a good time.¡¯ Regina¡¯s voice echoed in their minds, causing Cullen to roll his eyes and for Marcellus to snatch his drink.


    When thed frowned at him, Marcellus signalled him to go get them more drinks as he stered a smile on his face even though Regina couldn¡¯t see him.


    ¡¯Well, well, well. How¡¯s Canada treating you, Regina?¡¯


    There was a short pause before Regina spoke. ¡¯Oh, it¡¯s boiling with enough tension to cook the continent. I found something. Something that if used correctly, would bring a stain to Kaelos¡¯ name. And not the kind of stain you can clean off with some bleach and good vibes...¡¯


    Marcellus raised a curious brow after she paused. What was she up to?


    ¡¯It¡¯s a stain that¡¯ll stick like an odd sore for a lifetime in the false Alpha King¡¯s life. I¡¯ve given it to the true Lord of the North and he¡¯s nning something big already.¡¯


    Oh,,.


    A broad grin spread across Marcellus¡¯ face as Cullen came back with an entire bottle of vodka this time, pouting his lips as he poured himself a ss.


    ¡¯No offence, Regina... Or rather, all the offence, but why are you telling us?¡¯ Cullen asked inly through the mind link, leaning back on his chair and taking a sip from his drink.


    Marcellus could sense tension but luckily, Regina ignored his jab and spoke up.


    ¡¯Because the time is nigh, boys. Kaelos and Odessa¡¯s mission in Mexico will be the Lord of the North¡¯s shot at infiltrating her mind. The blood moon is approaching months from now. Tensions are increasing all around the world since his broadcast.¡¯


    Marcellus nodded slowly, taking a sip from his drink as he drummed his fingers on hisp.


    ¡¯Within the year, our lord will bring down Kaelos and take his rightful ce on the throne. And now that he has this information, you two have to make sure the Blood Oak pack, the heart of the packs of North America, is weakened from the inside.¡¯


    When Marcellus heard thatst part, a cruel smirk curled up his lips.


    Weaken, eh?


    ¡¯Luna Queen Celine is dead. Madame Greyheart is dead. Most of the council is dead. Unrest among the people is at an all-time high. So, don¡¯t worry about that...¡¯ Marcellus remarked through the mind link before cutting it off, staring nkly.


    "There¡¯s more where that came from."

 Chapter 233: _The Elder’s Last Tea

    <h4>Chapter 233: _The Elder¡¯s Last Tea</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    "I wonder what Regina could¡¯ve possibly given the Lord of the North that would make her so confident." Cullen scoffed, crossing one leg on top of the other as he took a sip from his drink. "Also, weakening the pack from the inside? As if we haven¡¯t done that already."


    As he said all of this, Marcellus remained silent, his mind wandering off just a little. This is it.


    "What if we haven¡¯t weakened the pack enough?" Marcellus queried, raising an eyebrow. "What if there¡¯s just one more person whose death will shake the pack to its core? One more death that will leave both Kaelos and Odessa disoriented and lost."


    He slowly stood up after saying all that, staring directly at Cullen who blinked cluelessly at first. But then, thed¡¯s eyes soon widened.


    "Wait... Are you going to..."


    Marcellus nodded slowly, a cruel grin curling up his lips. He¡¯ll be fulfilling the Lord of the North¡¯s wishes while taking out possibly the biggest hindrance in the pack since he began killing.


    Two birds with one bloody stone.


    "Watch out, Elder Davina..." He muttered coldly, turning around and heading for the door without saying anything to Cullen.


    .


    .


    Later that night, Marcellus slipped into Elder Davina¡¯spound, hiding himself in the shadows.


    He walked into the building, picking up the sound of maids tending to some nts at a corner while also gossiping in hushed tones about the riots.


    Marcellus only eyed them a little before he continued moving.


    He navigated his way through the building and managed to get to the top floor, where there was a door leading into Elder Davina¡¯s green room.


    Marcellus smirked and was about to open the door when it seemingly opened by itself, taking him by surprise. That¡¯s until Elder Davina showed herself, blinking at him as she stepped aside.


    "Beta Marcellus..." She muttered, her eyes fluttering as frown lines appeared on her wrinkled face. "This is a surprise. I just finished a cleansing ritual and was about to drop by your ce to discuss the creation of themittee."


    Marcellus blinked once before stering a polite smile on his face and walking in with his arms ced behind him.


    "Thank you, Elder. And coincidentally, that¡¯s why I¡¯m also here." He lied through his teeth as his gaze slowly went to the ss ceiling above which filtered the moon¡¯s light through it.


    The green shrubs and nt life in the room rustled even though the room was still and without wind. The scent of herbs, incense and some rich fragrance filled the air, seemingly inviting anyone who walked in.


    "Please, sit." Elder Davina stepped forward and sat on one of the carpets at the centre of the room.


    There was a beautifully decorated ceramic kettle and two cups. Marcellus frowned when he saw the two cups as he slowly walked forward and sat on the opposite carpet.


    "Were you expecting someone before?" Marcellus asked as Davina poured tea into the other cup and handed it to him with a warm smile on her face.


    The smile reminded him of his maternal grandmother. She was an annoying hag whom he¡¯d killed with poison when he was ten.


    His first kill... A ssic.


    "No, I wasn¡¯t expecting anyone." Elder Davina shook her head as Marcellus took the tea from her hands. "But I always keep one cup aside just in case I¡¯m having any... Unexpected visitors."


    Marcellus nodded as he stared at the tea in his hands. When he saw Davina sipping from her cup satisfactorily, he took a sip as well to seem polite.


    He was ying the long game here. He¡¯ll let her lower her guard if she has any and then strike when she least expects it... After checking her mind and seeing if she indeed had any suspicions of him.


    But reading the mind of the pack¡¯s spiritual leader, who literallymunes with the moon goddess, would be tricky.


    "How is it?" Davina asked curiously, blinking slowly at Marcellus as she straightened her shoulders. "Do you like it? I added some cinnamon to it... Just like how your father used to like it."


    Marcellus¡¯ father... The former Beta.


    The man was a prick whoid his "seed" in dozens of women, including Marcellus¡¯ mother, a maid.


    Of course, Marcellus had killed all his half-siblings by drugging them with wolfsbane at eleven. He then killed his mother when she found out, which led to Lord Ryker discovering him.


    The Lord of the North had taken him in and raised him as one of his artificial hybrids. An experiment. A killing machine whose new abilities only heightened his killing nature.


    When Marcellus returned to the pack, his father was dead and he was made the new Beta. Tragic... But it only showed his tenacity and that he¡¯s always had a killer instinct.


    "I like the tea, Elder. Thank you." Marcellus remarked, shing a grateful smile even though he felt like spitting the concoction on her face.


    He set the tea aside and let out a sigh, noticing how Davina stared at him silently. There was that look again...


    "Is something wrong, Elder Davina?" Marcellus couldn¡¯t help but ask, raising an eyebrow while still keeping that smile on his face.


    He stared at her without blinking and watched as her warm smile disappeared and got reced with a cold and determined look.


    <fnacfa> This update is avable on f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fnacfa>


    "I know what you are, Beta."


    Marcellus¡¯ eyes widened slightly in surprise but before he knew what was happening or before he could think, his head began to spin and his nose became watery, making him sneeze.


    When he covered his face and lowered his hand, shock overwhelmed him when he saw what was on his palms.


    Blood.


    From his nose.


    "You..." Marcellus tried to speak but then coughed erratically as Elder Davina got on her feet, grabbing her staff as she stared down at him.


    He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Only another cough¡ªwet and ragged. His palms were slick with blood. Rage, sharp and primal, surged through his chest.


    She¡¯d yed him. In his own game.


    "That tea wasced with apound that reveals magic. The kind only found in witches... or monsters like yourself made from them." She exined calmly, her voice dripping with disappointment.


    "I know your mother wasn¡¯t a witch and your father¡¯s werewolf bloodline was free of any history of witch inbreeding. Which leads me to one final conclusion..."


    Marcellus heaved heavily as he struggled to catch his breath, slowly raising his head only to see Elder Davina pointing her staff at his face.


    Her expression was in as she dered:


    "You¡¯re an artificial hybrid. Which would make you the killer."

 Chapter 234: _The Moon Sees All

    <h4>Chapter 234: _The Moon Sees All</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    He stared at Elder Davina with wide-open eyes as she pointed the tip of her staff at him.


    She was bing a problem, and somehow, he had still managed to underestimate her.


    Out of pure curiosity, he asked with a cough, ignoring the blood that spilt from the corner of his lips. "When did your suspicions begin?"


    Elder Davina tightened her grip on the staff in her hands before she spoke coldly. "I began suspecting something was off after the South American Alpha King¡¯s weing ball. When that poor pack doctor went missing after treating you in your house. And then his wife was found burnt."


    Crap...


    He knew he was getting way too reckless with the killing. But he couldn¡¯t help it. He needed to kill to survive and to keep the ritual holding his artificial hybrid form together stable.


    "There were a few other clues after that but I¡¯ve been keeping silent, watching from a distance and trying to see if you¡¯ll slip." Elder Davina continued, shaking her head. "And you did today. Your biggest mistake so far is underestimating me."


    Marcellus gritted his teeth.


    He wasn¡¯t about to let the prey be the predator in this situation. And he certainly wouldn¡¯t go down at the hands of an old woman.


    He snarled, shooting his hand forward to grab her staff but she swung it hard on his head, causing him to plop to the floor with a thud.


    A groan escaped his lips but he didn¡¯t have time to see if there was blood falling from the spot on his forehead as she raised the staff again, pointing the tip at him.


    She was going for the kill.


    Marcellus grunted, rolling away to his left and managing to dodge the lethal strike and crawl to his feet, panting heavily. He held his chest, trying to get back control of his magic and fight off the poisonouspound she had ced in his tea.


    But Davina moved with speed no elder her age should possess. One blink and she was on him, waving the staff with two hands and sending a horizontal strike to his head again.


    He blocked it with his right hand, which almost snapped from the force, causing him to stumble backwards.


    "T¨CTime out?" Marcellus asked with a teasing smile but that didn¡¯t work as she brought out a small vial and flung it at him.


    He managed to duck, ncing back over his shoulder and watching as the ss vial crashed on the wall behind him, its content spilling on it and slowly causing it to burn with a sizzling sound.


    "Bloody hell..." He muttered, quickly bringing his gaze back to Elder Davina.


    She suddenly took a few steps back and brought out a moonstone which glowed with a silver light as she raised it above her head.


    The moonlight shining from the ss ceiling seemed to brighten more as she said a silent prayer before her eyes glowed with a light brighter than the oneing from the moonstone.


    Her white robe whipped into the air and her grey hair became loose as she spread out her arms.


    "Under the light of the goddess and the moon, I smite you!" She roared, her voice echoing.


    At this rate, she would alert her maids or other people nearby.


    Fearing this, Marcellus tapped deeper into himself and breathed out with relief when he felt his magic wing back up his veins again.


    "Finally!" He sneered with a grin, stretching out his right hand and then clenching it into a fist.


    That motion caused an invisible force to wrap around Elder Davina¡¯s neck, causing her to gasp before choking, stumbling backwards and struggling to breathe.


    Marcellus grinned at the sight, shaking his head. "You¡¯ve had your fun. Let me show you how to get rid of someone without the theatrics."


    After saying that, he made a downward motion, causing her to fall to her knees. She tried resisting, but the silver light that had been shining brightly in her eyes flickered weakly as her bones snapped like a bag of chips.


    Marcellus stepped forward, each step cold and calcted as he snapped his neck and fiddled with his fingers.


    "All I have known how to do all my life is survive, Davina." He began, ignoring her pained whimpers and the elderly noises she made.


    She tried raising her head to face him, but then he made a push motion, causing a telekic wave to shove her backwards like a rag doll until she crashed into a table filled with beakers, sks and pipettes.


    "What I do in this pack, IS survival, Davina," Marcellus added, his voice sadistic as he stretched out his hands and made a few gestures.


    That caused her bones to twist unnaturally before she got lifted into the air with his telekinesis. He grinned coldly, enjoying the sight of her old bones and muscles twisting and unravelling like they wanted to pop out of her frail body.


    "I have to admit... You put up a good fight." He remarked casually even though he could still feel the poison she ced in his tea swirling in his system.


    He held back the subtle pain that followed and gritted his teeth as Davina¡¯s lips trembled.


    She was struggling to say something. Curious, Marcellus lessened the telekic pressure on her just a bit, allowing her to let out a heavy breath.


    "T¨CThe moon sees all, Beta... and so will she." She managed to speak but Marcellus didn¡¯t understand what the heck she was talking about.


    Was it a prophecy of some kind? Who is the "she"? The moon goddess?


    Well, time was running out and he was sure people would soone rushing up here any moment.


    "Goodbye, Elder." He blurted before twisting his hand, tightening his clenched grip.


    With a sickening crack, Marcellus clenched his fist and Davina¡¯s body went limp, her rib bones bursting through her chest and sending blood, tiny bits of her organs and other fluid spilling out like paint.


    Silence followed as she fell lifelessly to the floor, surrounded by a pool of her blood.


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    Only the flickering light of the moonstone remained, pulsing like a dying heartbeat beside her.


    However, before Marcellus could celebrate his victory, he felt something was off. A fluctuation of energy from the moonstone.


    "Shit..."


    Before he knew what was happening, a blinding explosion of searing silver light spread out from the moon stone, causing Marcellus to dim his eyes as everything went ck.


    And in that blinding burst of silver, Marcellus realised toote¡ªhe¡¯d triggered something sacred.

 Chapter 235: _The City Must Not Fall

    <h4>Chapter 235: _The City Must Not Fall</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    "The culprit is with us as we speak." Coven head Luzia¡¯s words hit like a bucket of cold water on my face, causing me to blink back in shock and confusion.


    The culprit. The mysterious raven witch who has been tailing Kaelos and me since the Iron Fang pack and who has been using illegal portal route spells and human soldiers to capture werewolves from neighbouring packs... Was HERE?


    "How¡¯s that even possible...?" Leticia, the witch scribe, muttered, watching as Luzia walked past us, heading for the exit of the military archive room.


    The elder witch waved her right hand, causing some glowing runes on it to glow with a burst of light that caused the metallic golems to step back into their posts,pletely ridding them of the dark magic corruption that had controlled them to attack us earlier.


    I nced at Kaelos and spotted him ncing at me as well. We were getting closer to something big and I could feel it.


    ¡¯Do you have any theories yet?¡¯ Kaelos asked me through the mate bond but I shook my head as we followed Luzia.


    ¡¯None yet. But at least we know you¡¯re right about your theory of someone ying games with us within the ranks of the city.¡¯


    ¡¯And at least we know now that you¡¯re right about your theory of the culprit being a resident of the city. But something tells me it goes beyond that.¡¯ Kaelos said solemnly as we stepped out of therge room.


    The doors closed behind us with a bang before sealing up with a hum of glowing white runes that spun. At the same time, Luzia turned to answer thest question.


    <fn9341> The source of th?s content is find?novel</fn9341>


    "It¡¯s either the raven witch is within the ranks of our officials in this building or has managed to possess the mind of someone to stretch out her control and do her will. Something tells me it¡¯s thetter but we wouldn¡¯t know until we interrogate every single witch in this building."


    Luzia drew out her phone just then, dialling a number and cing the phone against her ear.


    "Hello, Governor. ce the city under mandatory lockdown. Tell the witches at the gates to strengthen the magic protection wards. No one, and I mean NO ONE, should be able to get in or get out in any way, magical or mundane."


    Wait... What?


    I fluttered myshes, brows furrowing into a frown as I stepped forward after Luzia dropped her phone. "Elder Luzia, we still have your human soldiers out there keeping those captive wolves. Shouldn¡¯t that be our first priority now that we have evidence?"


    She turned her sharp gaze to me, squinting her eyes for only two seconds before her expression became more firm.


    "Our priority right now is making sure that witch doesn¡¯t gain control of the city. Trust me, if she gets control of Mexico City, it could tip the scales in the entire country." She said with a trembling voice, looking between me and Kaelos before gesturing at Leticia who stood beside us silently.


    "Come on, Leticia. We have witches to interrogate and little time to¡ª"


    "There will be no need for that, ma¡¯am." Leticia interrupted with a surprisingly in voice, causing my frown to deepen as I swerved my head in her direction.


    The witch scribe had her eyes closed, a few strands of her hair blowing behind her. But then her eyes opened, revealing two pitch ck orbs and causing a burst of wind to spread every which way.


    My lips parted in shock, a cold shiver running down my spine when the witch scribe turned her head to me, a small grin curling up her lips.


    "A true hybrid. In the flesh." She said in a voice that didn¡¯t belong to her, her grin bing sickening by the second. "How long I¡¯ve waited to peel your power apart."


    I shivered when she said that, gripping Kaelos¡¯ arm tightly for support.


    Meanwhile, Luzia spoke up with disbelief and realisation at the same time. "L¨CLeticia? You... You¡ª"


    "That¡¯s not Leticia anymore!" Kaelos dered with a shout, getting in front of me and cing his right hand protectively in front of my chest. "She¡¯s possessed by the raven witch. She¡¯s been possessed this whole bloody time!"


    Gods...


    She¡¯s been possessed by the raven witch this whole time and pretending to "help" us with obtaining the footage in the archives. In reality, she was the source that the raven witch used in corrupting the magic system from the outside!


    Suddenly, Leticia stretched out her right hand and pointed it at Kaelos and me, sending a st of dark energy our way.


    "Crap!" Kaelos cursed, grabbing my arm and pulling me away, causing both of us to fall to the floor with a thud.


    The st hit the wall beside us, exploding with dust, debris and ash as Leticia cackled maniacally.


    "Tsk. Manipting Mexico City¡¯s leaders was too easy... But you two? You¡¯re my real prize." She said coldly, stepping forward with heels that echoed on the marble floor.


    I raised my head, Kaelos and I slowly getting on our feet just in time to see her stretching out her arms, her fingers crackling with dark energy and her ck eyes bing even colder.


    However, just when I was about to brace myself again, a st of white energy fired at Leticia, forcing her to use her right arm to block the attack.


    "Go!" Luzia yelled at us, stepping forward and ncing back briefly. "I¡¯ll buy you time. If I manage to defeat her, the raven witch will be vulnerable wherever she is, giving us a better fighting chance when the timees."


    But I shook my head, ncing up at Kaelos whose face was decisive.


    "B¨CBut you¡¯re... You¡¯re still drained from fighting off the dark magic influence on the military archive¡¯s system." I muttered, watching Leticia preparing a spell from the corner of my eye.


    But then Elder Luzia smiled wryly, giving me a reassuring nod. "I still have some fight left in me and a few centuries of experience to back it up. I can handle this. Now, go!"


    Before I knew what was happening, Kaelos ced his right hand firmly on my shoulder and pulled me back.


    At that same moment, Leticia sent a powerful st of dark energy at Luzia who managed to block it with a white force field.


    "Let¡¯s go!" Kaelos barked at me as I tried looking back at the fight between the two powerful witches.


    Their sts caused therge hallway to shake and for dust to fall from the ceiling.


    I clenched my jaw before Kaelos and I ran, hand in hand, the sound of sts and incantations behind us bing fiercer as the battle drew out.


    I didn¡¯t know if Luzia would survive... But I knew this was only the beginning.

 Chapter 236: _A Hunter

    <h4>Chapter 236: _A Hunter</h4>


    "What happened to Elder Luzia?!" Governor Daniel barked at Kaelos and me when we managed to escape to the lobby.


    The lobby was dimly lit despite it being morning but red rm lights were going off. A television screen at the corner showed a local news report with "Breaking News".


    "The city has been ced under lockdown for no apparent reason other than a possible security breach." The female journalist spoke with a pensive expression. "Citizens are panicking since thises not even twenty-four hours after the arrival of the Alpha King and his hybrid wife."


    Hybrid wife?


    I shook my head, swallowing hard and panting a little, trying to catch my breath as my mind reeled with Luzia¡¯s sacrifice. There was no doubt Leticia was her student or someone she cared about.


    Luzia had struck me as a cold, calcted leader but it seemed she had a soft side. She was hoping to get through to Leticia and probably break the raven witch¡¯s possession.


    Suddenly, Kaelos, who had been standing beside me in therge lobby, growled menacingly, facing Governor Daniel and the human soldiers who followed behind him.


    "You..." Kaelos said as the human soldiers raised their guns in rm while the governor remained firmly rooted to where he stood.


    Kaelos didn¡¯t stop until he was only a few inches in front of the governor, his fangs bared as he continued. "You tried making us feel like there was nothing to be hidden in those military archives. Yet, we went up there and saw footage showing YOUR human soldiers working for a witch to capture werewolves."


    The governor¡¯s expression faltered just a little with what seemed like shock and fear. It wasn¡¯t the kind that showed on the face of someone guilty.


    No... He was as clueless as the rest of us.


    Which made me ponder how exactly the witch was able to pull it off.


    "She started with possessing Leticia..." I remarked thoughtfully, causing all eyes to turn to me as I bit my bottom lip.


    "... Once she got into Leticia¡¯s head, she used her as a vessel to get to the soldiers. Mind maniption."


    ¡¯That honestly seems like a legit possibility.¡¯ Sirena muttered in my mind just then.


    My eyes widened as I brought my gaze to the governor and the soldiers. At that same moment, the entire building shook as a loud explosion sounded several floors above us where Luzia and Leticia were still facing off with magic.


    My heart jumped into my throat after hearing the explosion, my gaze flicking to Kaelos who also nced back at me.


    I felt like going back up there. I felt like helping somehow, like tearing through those walls myself, but there was no way for me to do that when I had my Hybrid powers restricted, the bangle on my wrist buzzing as a painful reminder.


    "If Leticia has beenpromised we¡¯ll have to go up there and put her down." Governor Daniel said solemnly, causing my eyebrows to furrow into a deep frown.


    Kaelos scoffed just then. "What are a bunch of human soldiers going to do against witches throwing spells capable of vaporising you in a heartbeat?"


    At the mention of that, I remembered something. Back in my home, the Luminari Coven, we also had a military of human soldiers.


    But among their ranks, there had been specially augmented soldiers, their bloodlines enhanced by the magic of witches.


    My father had been one of them...


    "Hunter." Governor Daniel said the word before I could, raising his right hand and folding up his sleeve, revealing a magic sigil branded on his skin.


    That mark... I hadn¡¯t seen one in years. It brought back a flood of memories so distant in my mind that I bit my bottom lip, trying not to get emotional.


    A Hunter... Enhanced humans made specifically for fighting the supernatural. Enhanced strength, speed, reflexes, durability and some immunity to magic.


    ¡¯No wonder the governor has been so smug and was even given a seat as one of the city¡¯s leaders.¡¯ Sirena remarked in my head at the same moment that the governor gestured at his soldiers.


    "Oh, a Hunter." Kaelos nodded simply, not seeming all too impressed. "Haven¡¯t seen one in a while."


    The governor merely grunted in response before he turned back to his soldiers. "Someone signal the others around the city to stand by in case we need backup. Including the witches. In the meantime, we¡¯re heading up there."


    With that said, they charged toward the elevator, running past Kaelos and me.


    Kaelos walked back to my side, probably noticing my emotional distance as I thought about my father.


    He held my hand, causing me to smile wryly when I felt his warmth.


    "Are you okay?" He asked with a soft whisper, leaning his head close to mine.


    I sighed, nodding slowly as I watched some of the soldiers heading up through the elevator while others used the stairs.


    "Yeah, I¡¯m just... I feel helpless." I muttered with a heavy sigh, shaking my head. "Luzia is up there fighting for her life. And I know... She might¡¯ve been annoying at first. But she was still willing to put her life on the line for the city."


    Kaelos blinked at me, nodding even though he didn¡¯t share my sentiment much concerning Luzia.


    "I don¡¯t know how this ends but we still need to find that raven witch." He blurted, clenching his jaw. "Luzia was able to find out that she has a vessel¡ªLeticia¡ªwithin the building. And you mentioned something about a ¡¯tether¡¯. Do you think Luzia might¡¯ve deciphered the actual location of the witch as well?"


    I squinted my eyes, pondering the possibility.


    If she did, why didn¡¯t she say anything about it? Was she perhaps hoping to buy time for Leticia? To save her from the possession?


    Suddenly, another loud explosion shook the building, but this one actually hit, causing dust to fall from the ceiling and cracks to spread on the walls.


    Kaelos moved quickly, grabbing me and shielding me with his body, his cologne wafting into my nose. We remained like that, glued to each other, until the stock waves from the explosion settled.


    <fn30a2> Newest update provided by f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn30a2>


    Silence.


    No more sounds of spells being thrown or loud shouts from the soldiers above us. Just... Complete stillness.


    My heart lurched as I swerved my head to the elevator and stairs anxiously, wondering if we should go check what happened.


    "Is that a butterfly?" Kaelos murmured just then, pointing in a direction.


    Flying toward us with shimmering blue wings like a dying star was a beautiful butterfly. Sprinkles of magic trailed like snowkes out of its wings as it finallynded on my forehead.


    I hesitated at first, but there was this odd sense of familiarity and peace I got from the little critter before it perched. Like I could trust it.


    My eyes closed slowly as my head filled with a warmth that made my knees buckle. But then... When I opened my eyes, an influx of information entered my head that caused a gasp to tear out of my throat.


    "What happened?" Kaelos ced his right hand on my shoulder, forcing me to face him. "What was that? Are you okay?"


    I breathed heavily, processing everything I just saw, felt and heard.


    My eyes slowly raised to meet his gaze before I spoke.


    "That butterfly... It was thest piece of Luzia¡¯s consciousness. She¡¯s... dead. And she trusted me with the location of the raven witch."

 Chapter 237: _Finding The Raven Witch

    <h4>Chapter 237: _Finding The Raven Witch</h4>


    "Elder Luzia is dead, and most of the upper parts of the high tower are in ruin." Governor Daniel said with frustration, banging his right fist on a round table.


    It was a final meeting to n how to confront the raven witch while also cleansing her control over the human soldiers.


    The meeting was held in a bright room at a different building, and gathered around the round table were I, Kaelos, Governor Daniel, two human leaders in the army¡ªGeneral Reyes and Colonel Fernando¡ªand finally the male witch from the city¡¯s gates.


    Kaelos sat beside me with his arms folded in front of his chest, staring directly at Governor Daniel before he spoke. "And Leticia? What happened to her?"


    The governor sighed heavily, brushing his right hand through his messy hair. He seemed to have aged by a decade because of the stress and I could tell he was trying to hide his emotions.


    I could tell Luzia was an important woman in the city, beyond just being one of its leaders. When that butterfly, thest piece of her consciousness,nded on my forehead, I got a lot of insight.


    I felt her emotions on a level deeper than any mere mind-reading spell. She fought hard. Protected her people fiercely until the very end.


    The magic vines coiling around most of the skyscrapers in the city were her making. And now they were all withering away after her death.


    "Leticia is alive, but barely." Governor Daniel revealed. "She¡¯s responding to medical treatment but she¡¯s currently unconscious. Luzia managed to chase out the raven witch¡¯s possession before her death."


    Just then, the male witch from the gates, whose name I came to discover was "Isaiah", coughed, causing all heads to turn to him.


    "We were hoping to be able to question her about how she got possessed in the first ce. There had to be a way the raven witch got to her."


    Kaelos suddenly blurted. "Well, I assume she¡¯s unconscious. We can¡¯t wait for her to wake up. The longer we wait, the more the raven witch¡¯s influence increases. She¡¯s been plotting from the shadows, ying your leaders like a flute and using your soldiers to capture an unknown number of innocent wolves."


    Isaiah rolled his eyes, cing his hands on the table. "You don¡¯t have to rub it on our faces, Alpha King. Elder Luzia was thest high priestess of the coven alive after the war, and the passage of time took the lives of others. The magic wards protecting this city¡ª"


    "Failed you. The wards failed you and now my wolves are paying the cost!" Kaelos barked just then, and I could feel his emotions surging.


    There was mostly anger. But also disappointment. A sense of failure.


    "Oh, and we didn¡¯t lose anything?" General Reyes scoffed. "The most powerful witch in the country is dead. Our city¡¯s most powerful protector fell. We¡ª"


    "And whose fault is it? Mine? My mate¡¯s perhaps?" Kaelos continued, his voiceced with scorn. "Maybe if you people hadn¡¯t branded me with a fucking sigil holding back my Alpha King power, I would¡¯ve been able to beat out the possession from Leticia¡¯s head before things escted to this point."


    "And there¡¯s the barbaric thinking that made me brand you in the first ce." Isaiah sneered just then, eyeing Kaelos with contempt.


    ¡¯Kaelos, calm down.¡¯ I said to him mentally, cing my right hand on his arm but he growled menacingly.


    "Why don¡¯t you take this sigil off so I can show you how ¡¯barbaric¡¯ I can be, pretty boy?" Kaelos said with a daring voice, causing Isaiah to frown in response.


    I could feel a headacheing in.


    "Pretty boy? You¡ª"


    "Enough!" I yelled out, unable to take it anymore. "Goddess, you all are adults! I get it, emotions and tensions are high after we lost a great ally and... Friend to some. But arguing like children is only wasting our time."


    Silence.


    I scanned my gaze around, my jaw tightening a little. Everyone either looked away or lowered their gaze like children thinking about what they¡¯d done.


    ¡¯Pft... Men.¡¯ Sirena scoffed in my head but I only let out a light sigh before continuing.


    "Good. Now, what we need is a strategy." I leaned back, folding my arms in front of my chest as I drew in a deep breath. "Luzia left behind something before she died. A piece of her consciousness containing information on the exact location of the raven witch."


    The General and Colonel murmured to themselves while Isaiah spoke up with a judgmental look.


    "And you didn¡¯t say anything all this time? Why would she entrust such information to a¡ª"


    "Hybrid?" Ipleted his sentence for him, smiling sarcastically. "Beats me. Maybe she saw me as more trustworthy since the rest of the city is probablypromised. Also, I didn¡¯t exactly have time to say anything through all your bickering."


    Isaiah clenched his jaw but he remained silent, looking away.


    I rolled my eyes, ncing at Kaelos who had calmed down now. He had a proud expression and gave me a nod, prompting me to go ahead.


    "I would¡¯ve suggested we start fishing out the human soldiers among your ranks who she has under her maniption, but that will take too much time. Leticia has been possessed by her all this time and yet a powerful witch like Luzia never noticed. So instead..."


    I got on my feet, grabbing a tablet off the hands of the Governor who frowned in confusion until I gave him a "I know what I¡¯m doing" look.


    I proceeded to scroll through the tablet until I got to the maps, showing a view of Mexico City and most of thend around it.


    My fingers hovered over the screen, pausing just above a forest cluster that looked utterly unremarkable. But something in Luzia¡¯s memory pulsed in my mind.


    <fn8331> Get full chapters from find?novel</fn8331>


    I zoomed in on the forest cluster, stopping on a particr spot. After linking the tablet with arge television screen in the room, I pointed at the screen.


    "That¡¯s where the Raven witch is," I said confidently, scanning my gaze around.


    The humans nced at themselves while Isaiah swerved his head to me in confusion.


    "Those are just a bunch of trees. Howe our surveince satellites never caught sight of her illegal activities there?"


    I only gave him a nce before I exined calmly. "Simple. Spatial maniption. The fact that she was able to use portal route spells linking her base to the wolf packs where she captures victims already proves how powerful she is in the art of space maniption."


    I dropped the tablet on the table and ced my palms on its cold surface, staring solemnly at everyone present.


    "My theory is she¡¯s bent the space in that region to create a pocket dimension where she keeps the victims. The question now is... How do we get in?"

 Chapter 238: _Portal Trap

    <h4>Chapter 238: _Portal Trap</h4>


    Everyone was as stumped as me as we pondered the question I had just dropped.


    How do we get into the pocket dimension of a witch who clearly has dominion over space magic?


    Killing Luzia through a vessel already showed her strength. But creating a pocket dimension?


    That¡¯s a feat straight out of aic book.


    "First things first..." Kaelos suddenly spoke up, leaning in from his seat and stretching out his right arm, revealing the branding sigil. "Take this damn sigil off me. If we¡¯re going to face a witch capable of creating dimensions like it¡¯s a regr Tuesday, I¡¯ll need my powers. All of it."


    Isaiah clenched his jaw, hesitating only for a moment before giving a defeated sigh.


    The witch stretched out his hands, his fingers hovering over Kaelos¡¯ outstretched arm as he hummed, closing his eyes. He then proceeded to draw out the same wand he had used in branding Kaelos in the first ce and cleaned off the sigil with a few strokes.


    "Voil¨¤." Isaiah pped, giving Kaelos a wink. "Also, the sigil couldn¡¯t have held you back if you tried hard enough to break it. But that would¡¯ve sent a signal to me, letting me know you¡¯re¡ª"


    "I get it," Kaelos grunted, shing a sarcastic smile before clearing his throat. "Now about this bloody pocket dimension. I just thought of something... The portals she¡¯s used to link her dimension with targeted packs. We could hijack one."


    My eyes widened a bit as I nced at Kaelos. That... Honestly wasn¡¯t a bad idea.


    "Hijack one?" Governor Daniel seemed intrigued, cing a hand on his chin. "How? I¡¯m guessing that would require magic and we can¡¯t really aplish that without alerting the witch."


    "And risk being possessed as well," Isaiah murmured thoughtfully. "She could use her magic lingering on those portal routes and link to any of us. There¡¯s no telling how powerful her possession can get even from a distance."


    I nodded in agreement, dimming my eyes slightly.


    "Then we fight fire with fire." Colonel Fernando suddenly muttered, gesturing at me. "We have a hybrid on our side. She can fight off the possession magic if the need arises and give us the chance to hijack it sessfully."


    That felt like a p in the face rather than apliment. I nced at the bracelet on my right wrist, sighing heavily.


    "My mate can¡¯t use her powers in public," Kaelos exined just then, causing me to nce at him.


    He stared at me briefly, giving me a warm smile before he continued. "The Elders of the Luminary coven have forbidden her from doing so for the next six months."


    "It doesn¡¯t have to be public then," Isaiah remarked, saying it like it was the most obvious path to take. "The rest of us can be on standby while she fights off any attempts from the witch to possess us."


    I smiled bitterly, shaking my head. "My hands are literally tied. The elders of the Luminari Coven are watching me through this bracelet. I don¡¯t exactly have fluid control of my magic so they¡¯re making sure I don¡¯t have another... Outburst."


    <fnf127> Content originallyes from F?nd-Novel</fnf127>


    I clenched my fists when I remembered the incident at the Charity Ball. Violet mes bursting out. People running for their lives, their terrified screams rippling through the chaos.


    The buildingbusting in the explosion, the mes turning some too unfortunate to be standing close to me to barbeque.


    I didn¡¯t want any of that again.


    "Her powers will be ast resort," Kaelos said firmly, holding my arm softly and grounding me emotionally, reminding me that he¡¯s there. "In the meantime, what if we don¡¯t need magic to hijack the portal routes?"


    I slowly sat down, rubbing my forehead when I felt my headache getting worse. Absorbing the information from Luzia¡¯s consciousness took a little toll on my mind.


    "What do you mean?" Isaiah asked Kaelos with a confused tone.


    I nced at Kaelos just in time to see him smile mischievously.


    Oh, he had a n alright...


    "How many human soldiers does your city currently have deployed outside its walls?" Kaelos asked.


    All eyes went to General Reyes who quickly brought out his tablet, scrolling through it for a few seconds before speaking.


    "Exactly fifty-two soldiers. They¡¯re mostly sent to scout and look out for any threats."


    I arched an eyebrow while Kaelos nodded.


    "Good. Recall all of them."


    The general blinked, staring at Kaelos like he had gone mad.


    "We are currently under lockdown, Alpha King." Governor Daniel chimed in just then, adjusting his sitting position on his seat. "Not to mention that an unknown number of those soldiers are under the raven witch¡¯s mind maniption."


    "My point exactly." Kaelos nodded, drumming his fingers on the table. "They don¡¯t need to enter the city. They just need to be sent on a mission... To scout the forest. We can then wait for them in the forest and scan their trucks for anything suspicious."


    My eyes widened as I began catching on to what he was driving at.


    "The trucks!" I yelled, nodding in understanding. "In the footage we watched in the military archive, the trucks were etched with augmented teleportation runes. Those trucks are what the soldiers used in transporting the wolf captives into the pocket dimension."


    "Oh, wait a minute..." Isaiah snapped his fingers, causing all eyes to turn to him. "I see... So if we can get some of these soldiers toe on a fake mission in the forest, we can easily find out the exact trucks with these runes and hijack one."


    I nodded, adding quickly. "Then we stage a fake captive situation. Kaelos, I, and a few others¡ªjust enough to face the witch and whatever traps she has¡ªwill go in as the ¡¯captives¡¯ through one of the trucks. Easy peasy."


    I swerved my head to Kaelos, smiling brightly and patting his shoulder, while he gave me a wink.


    ¡¯Look at you, navigating your way through magical situations like a witch.¡¯ I teased him mentally.


    ¡¯Well, I only learnt from the best hybrid I know,¡¯ he said with the same teasing tone, and I felt a warmth in my chest.


    Suddenly, the governor got on his feet, causing all eyes tond on him.


    "It¡¯s settled then. Let¡¯s kick-start this mission and make sure Elder Luzia¡¯s sacrifice doesn¡¯t go to waste. Every hour we wait is another hour the raven witch uses werewolves as experiments... or worse."

 Chapter 239: _Portal Trap Part Two

    <h4>Chapter 239: _Portal Trap Part Two</h4>


    "Okay, Isaiah just texted. The soldiers and their trucks should start passing this area any minute now." Kaelos whispered to me, cing his phone back into his pocket.


    It took a while, but the n went into motion that same day.


    Not only had Governor Daniel managed to recall all the soldiers outside the city and send them on a false "scouting mission" at a spot in the forest close to the location of the hidden pocket dimension, but Isaiah had branded Kaelos and me with special sigils that would camouge us.


    The sigils would also act as a tether to Isaiah for if or when we enter the pocket dimension, so he can use it as a medium to track the location if the need arises.


    I was nervous, drawing in a deep breath behind the bushes where Kaelos and I hid. He was supposed to be a calming force, but I couldn¡¯t concentrate when his shoulder brushed mine.


    It was only a slight brush and he was fully clothed, yet that still got me restless like a dog in heat.


    ¡¯Don¡¯t tell me we¡¯re having our second heat right now.¡¯ I muttered to Sirena mentally but she scoffed.


    ¡¯Girl, you¡¯re pregnant. You aren¡¯t supposed to be in heat until the babyes out. You¡¯re just acknowledging the fact that our mate is a fine piece of candy.¡¯


    And he IS.


    Gosh, staring at his jaw line from this angle, and those subtle side burns which seemed to be growing out more recently, made me feel like stretching my hand and caressing his face.


    Goddess, why was I feeling this way NOW when we were on an important mission?


    Suddenly, as if to add to my dilemma, Kaelos turned his gaze to me, causing my breath to cease in my throat.


    "What¡¯s wrong? You¡¯re sweating and it¡¯s a cloudy day." He remarked with a teasing voice, dimming his eyes at me curiously.


    I swallowed hard, finding it hard to focus with those piercing silver eyes staring at my face. Breathing became even more of a chore and our faces were only inches apart.


    ¡¯Why are you so... Hot?¡¯ I ended up asking him mentally through the mind link of the mate bond, watching as he blinked once with surprise on his face.


    ¡¯Oh... That was unexpected.¡¯ he responded as a small smirk curled up the corner of his lips. ¡¯Careful though. If you keep looking at me like that, I might have to remind you what it feels like when I pin you down and¡ª¡¯


    ¡¯Kaelos!¡¯


    <fn0d97> The rightful source is find?novel</fn0d97>


    ¡¯What? I¡¯m just offering to distract you... very thoroughly.¡¯


    I blinked, my face heating up with a violent blush.


    This was indeed a good distraction from the dread I felt at the idea of facing the raven Witch.


    "Since when do you use cringeworthy terms like that?" I ended up blurting physically, furrowing my eyebrows at him.


    He chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "Odessa Pierce, you are an enigma. It might take years for me to decipher the unique craziness that is you."


    I parted my lips, ring at him with mock anger. Should I find that insulting?


    On the bright side, I felt a warmth in my heart, knowing that we were always there to brighten each other¡¯s moods when things got stormy like they were now.


    Suddenly, a sharp twig cracked beneath my boot.


    We both froze.


    Kaelos¡¯s arm went rigid beside me. I couldn¡¯t hear his heart, but I felt the tension roll off him as his expression became more serious.


    "If any of them hear us..." he muttered, voice low.


    He didn¡¯t finish the sentence. He didn¡¯t need to.


    Before I knew what was happening, my ears perked and I picked up the sound of engines. Trucks. As well as the disgruntled voices of soldiers.


    "They¡¯re here," Kaelos murmured, stretching out his right arm and drawing in a deep breath. "How did that Isaiah guy say this would work again?"


    I sighed lightly as I grabbed his hand, which caused the sigils to activate. We both became invisible from each other¡¯s view and hopefully... The view of the human soldiers.


    Soon, the trucks made a stop directly in front of us and the soldiers jumped out one by one. All fifty-two of them gathered in this one spot in the forest.


    "Keep your eyes peeled for the portal route runes on any of the trucks," Kaelos whispered to me and I nodded simply, squinting my eyes at the soldiers.


    All of them held heavy firearms, which I was sure mostly had silver bullets in them.


    "I think we should split up!" One of them yelled out all of a sudden, sounding both bored and exhausted.


    "Yeah. I don¡¯t know why the governor even told us to scout this ce. This forest has always been peaceful." Another chimed.


    Peaceful my ass...


    I kept an eye on those two soldiers, suspecting them of being mind-controlled. Why would they suddenly suggest they split up?


    ¡¯You think they want them to split up so they can go on with capturing wolves?¡¯ Kaelos asked in my head just then, that and his warm hand gripping mine a reminder of his presence despite the invisibility sigils on us.


    ¡¯I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m looking out for the runes. The raven witch used illusion magic to hide them, but I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be able to spot them thanks to my magic.¡¯


    All witches could see runes, even when they¡¯re cloaked from human eyes. Well, witches with magic anyway.


    Suddenly, my eyes caught sight of something branded on one of the trucks.


    "Runes..." I breathed out, eyes locking onto the faint markings glowing just beneath the truck¡¯s chassis


    . I tightened my grip on Kaelos¡¯ hand ¡ª our silent signal "That truck is close to the tree with the falling leaves. That¡¯s one of the trucks the manipted soldiers are using."


    "Good," Kaelos muttered. "We¡¯ll use that one and then¡ª"


    "No, means no, soldier." Amanding voice echoed just then, causing me to swerve my head in its direction when I heard the tone.


    A soldier, possibly themander of the unit, stepped forward, facing the soldiers who suggested they split up.


    "We¡¯ll scout the area together. That way everyone is ounted for." He continued stiffly.


    The tension that followed was suffocating even from all the way here. I subconsciously held my breath when I saw themander staring down at the men.


    "Something¡¯s wrong," Kaelos noted and I couldn¡¯t agree more.


    Suddenly, without any warning, one of the soldiers who suggested the split drew out a dagger and plunged it toward themander.

 Chapter 240: _Invisible And Helpless

    <h4>Chapter 240: _Invisible And Helpless</h4>


    (Warning: Slight gory scenes ahead)


    Chaos.


    That¡¯s the best word I could think of to describe what followed after one of the soldiers suddenly drew out a dagger and plunged it at themander.


    The movement was too fast. Too precise.


    And I doubted the human soldier was a Hunter.


    The dagger sessfully pierced through the humanmander¡¯s chest, causing blood to bloom and soak his uniform as his eyes widened with shock.


    "Commander!"


    "Darvis, what is the meaning of this?!"


    "Stand down! Stand the fuck down and drop the de!"


    The other soldiers pointed their guns at the obviously possessed soldier. There¡¯s no doubt... He¡¯s one of the soldiers under the raven witch¡¯s maniption.


    Meanwhile, the humanmander staggered backwards, the dagger still sticking on his chest like a g of betrayal. He gasped and struggled but it was no use as his blood continued spilling.


    He eventually fell to his knees even when a female soldier rushed to him, trying to help him up.


    "Things are escting too quickly," Kaelos spoke up beside me just then, tightening his grip on my hand.


    I couldn¡¯t see him from where we knelt behind bushes several meters away from the chaos because of the invisibility sigils ced on the two of us but I could feel him. I could feel his emotional distance from what we were watching.


    "We can¡¯t interfere under any circumstances. Just stand back and observe." He added at the same moment that the possessed soldier, Darvis, drew out a pistol and shot the female soldier beside themander point nk in the face, blowing her right eye out and sending her blood and brain matter spraying like paint.


    That¡¯s when the real chaos started.


    One of the soldiers who had his gun pointed at Darvis fired a shot but thetter managed to dodge it by falling to the floor.


    Then out of nowhere, another soldier drove a dagger through the first one¡¯s neck, causing him to fall to the ground like a rag doll


    More and more soldiers revealed themselves to be under the Raven witch¡¯s maniption and came together to wipe out the others.


    Bullets zed like rain. Blood sprayed on the grass like a crimson pool. Shouts and screams of terror and pain tore through the air all while Kaelos and I stood back and did nothing.


    I clenched my jaw, struggling to hold myself back as I watched the manipted soldiers gaining the upper hand. I wanted to help. I wanted to smack the maniption magic off their minds.


    But Kaelos¡¯ grip on my hand grounded me, causing me to bite my bottom lip.


    At the end of the chaos, about twenty soldiers out of the fifty-two who hade to the forest were left standing. They stared at the dead bodies of theirrades with emotionless eyes before pulling back and heading for their trucks without saying anything.


    "It¡¯s show time," Kaelos whispered to me before dragging me with him to the truck I mentioned had a rune carved into it.


    We crouched despite being under invisibility magic, walking around the soldiers and trucks and then reaching the back of the target truck.


    We waited as Darvis walked to that particr truck and opened it after looking around.


    When the back doors opened, I held myself from gasping as my eyes widened.


    Children.


    Inside the back of the truck, four werewolf children were in cages. They were asleep, but it was clear to me that the soldiers had drugged them to sleep.


    "We can¡¯t keep the mistress waiting." Another soldier mumbled as they began dragging the bodies of the fallen soldiers into the trucks that weren¡¯t branded with teleportation runes.


    I held my breath, gritting my teeth as I stared at the werewolf children in those cages. I could also feel Kaelos¡¯ rage flowing like a wave from him but he did a great job hiding it.


    "We¡¯ll enter this truck." He whispered to me and I nodded, subconsciously holding my breath.


    "The rest of you continue patrolling the forest like the governor ordered!" Darvis said with a loud voice, bringing his gaze to the children in the back of the truck. "I¡¯ll take these mutts to the mistress."


    At that same moment, Kaelos muttered. "Now."


    We walked forward, moving past the clueless Darvis and stepping into the back of the truck. As we settled inside the back of the truck, however, my boots against the metal underneath made a sound that caused the soldier to look in alertly.


    "What was that?" He mumbled, bringing out a torch and pointing its light into the back of the truck.


    I closed my eyes, tightening my grip on Kaelos¡¯ hand.


    ¡¯He can¡¯t see us. He can¡¯t see us. He can¡¯t see us...¡¯ I thought to myself repeatedly, steadying my breathing.


    I was holding back so many emotions right now, not because I feared being discovered. But because I was scared of the chaos I could unleash if I let my emotions surface.


    Sirena¡¯s anger was already mixing with mine and so was Kaelos¡¯. My magic simmered just underneath my skin, waiting to use my emotions as a conduit to strike down these soldiers.


    But I kept my eyes closed until Darvis finally closed the doors of the truck, leaving us in darkness within it.


    "Are you okay?" Kaelos asked just then, probably feeling my emotional state.


    I didn¡¯t say anything at first, brushing my fingers on his hand.


    Then...


    <fnf129> Fresh chapters posted on F¦Énd£Îovel</fnf129>


    ¡¯I¡¯m fine. I just can¡¯t wait to see that Raven witch.¡¯ I said through the mind link, reeling with pent-up anger.


    The back of the truck was not only dark, but it also smelled of urine from the caged children, and the air was stale. They must¡¯ve been here for days.


    ¡¯I promise to bash her head through the ground.¡¯ Kaelos responded to my words mentally at the same moment that the truck began moving.


    After five minutes or so, there was a slight turbulence and a glow of dark purple light surrounded it.


    The truck had gone through a portal.


    Which means...


    "Looks like we¡¯re here," Kaelos remarked and I felt him slowly getting on his feet. "Let¡¯s¡ª"


    Before I knew what was happening, the sigil on his arm shone with a sudden pulse of light and then flickered, causing the invisibility to wear off him.


    "What the...?"


    The truck doors opened, causing an influx of white light to shine into it.


    Suddenly, Kaelos levitated from my grip and was pulled out of the truck by an invisible force, causing a gasp to tear out of my throat as my heart skipped a beat.

 Chapter 241: _No Mercy For The Alpha King

    <h4>Chapter 241: _No Mercy For The Alpha King</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    I flew out of the truck, my bones twisting and my muscles contracting under the invisible force.


    This wasn¡¯t in my bingo card of possible, things that might happen during the mission to the raven witch¡¯s liar.


    I gritted my teeth, struggling to gain back control of my body as I scanned my eyes around. Or, at least... As far as my head could turn under the invisible force.


    <fnb572> Original content can be found at f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fnb572>


    The pocket dimension was arge atrium with a curved ceiling. Lining the walls were several ss capsules stuck to the walls like a scene out of a Star Wars movie.


    Within some of these ss capsules were werewolves. They were all unconscious and would probably number around fifty or way more than that.


    The ss capsules flowed with a purple liquid that bubbled with asional pulses of light.


    Magical light.


    "Show yourself, witch!" I snarled, managing to move my head around.


    My voice boomed, causing the ceiling to shake as dust fell from it. I nced back at the truck which Odessa and I hade into the pocket dimension in.


    Darvis, the manipted guard, hopped out of the driver¡¯s seat, staring at me with a cold smirk at the same moment that a mocking female voice echoed around the hall.


    "You must be foolish to think I wouldn¡¯t sense you stepping into my domain, Alpha King Kaelos Bloodoak. I¡¯ve heard so much about you, including your power. Yet, here you are..."


    I squinted my eyes, bringing my gaze to a ck door that slid open at a corner. Out of it came a figure wearing a ck hooded cloak with the hood covering the face.


    A raven was perched on her shoulder and I already knew who it was.


    "YOU." I thundered, fighting through the control of her magic on me and shooting my body like a meteor heading toward her.


    Her face was covered by her hood but I could¡¯ve sworn I saw a smirk underneath it as I got closer and closer to her.


    I crashed on the ground, dust and rocks billowing around me and shooting several meters high. But I shed my ws around, in search of the witch.


    She wasn¡¯t there.


    "That was a close call, wasn¡¯t it?" Her voice echoed behind me, causing me to grit my teeth as I swerved my head around.


    I bolted in the direction of the voice only to meet her slowly removing the hoodie of her cloak, revealing a face that caused my heart to skip a beat.


    It... It couldn¡¯t be. That¡¯s impossible...


    "M¨CMom?" I croaked, but at the next second, she made a simple gesture that caused me to freeze mid-air.


    She then flung her hand sideways, sending me hurtling through the air until I crashed through the ground and sent dust and rocks flying every which way.


    I coughed, panting heavily as I slowly got on my feet, using the back of my hand to wipe off the dust on my face.


    I couldn¡¯t be imagining things. That face... Those eyes.


    Those blue eyes. That kind face that had once cradled me as a child, teaching me how to track scents. The face that belonged to the woman whose death marked the beginning of a dark part of my life.


    My mother.


    ¡¯Something is wrong, Kaelos. Snap out of it and focus.¡¯ Damon spoke up in my mind, as I slowly clenched my fists.


    He was right.


    My mother wasn¡¯t a witch. And she¡¯s dead. Dead after getting cursed with a lethal disease that slowly killed her.


    So, who the fuck is that woman?


    Suddenly, a st of ck energy fell from above, causing my eyes to widen as I raised my head. I crossed my arms into an "x", trying to shield myself.


    But the st still tore through, causing me to fall to my knees before pressing on me with a force that caused me to fall backwards until I got crushed into the ground.


    At that moment, as I coughed and tried to gain back control of the situation, the only thing I could think about wasn¡¯t the fact that the witch had my mother¡¯s face.


    No... It was Odessa.


    "In case it isn¡¯t obvious... I¡¯m the one behind your mother¡¯s pitiful death." The voice of the raven witch echoed as an invisible force held me again, forcing me to rise out of the crater caused by the st.


    I gritted my teeth, struggling to move my muscles again as I was face to face with the raven witch who levitated only a few meters away from me.


    She carried my mother¡¯s face... The face of a woman who was kind and loving despite being married to my father, a war-obsessed madman with a knack for genocide.


    And now she was admitting to being the one behind the death of my mother.


    "No hard feelings though." The raven witch continued casually, clenching her right fist which increased her invisible hold on me. "I didn¡¯t have anything against her. But the lord of the North..."


    Meanwhile, Damon growled inside me.


    ¡¯She¡¯s too powerful, dude. And the fact that she¡¯s been alive since your mother¡¯s death means she¡¯s much older. Like... Probably over a century like Luzia. Not to mention the fact that she defeated Luzia without her actual body.¡¯


    I felt like cursing Damon for stating the obvious but I prepared myself. If things escte beyond this, I¡¯ll have no choice but to shift into my wolf form.


    "Y¨CYou¡¯re working for the lord of the North?" I managed to speak, shaking my head. "I swear, I¡¯ll burn you and paint this ce with your¡ª"


    "Empty threatsing from someone who¡¯s at my mercy." The raven witch interrupted, making a gesture that sent me flying into the ceiling above.


    I crashed with a force that sent the air rushing out of my lungs but before I could even get the chance to catch my breath, she sent me plummeting to the ground.


    "This pocket dimension brims with decades of magic formations and wards that¡¯ll make sure I gain the upper hand." She echoed. "I¡¯ll add you to the specimens. You and that hybrid mate of¡ª"


    Suddenly, a powerful sonic howl tore through the air, sending shockwaves that caused the ground to vibrate and the entire structure to shake.


    I knew that howl...


    "Odessa..." I whispered.

 Chapter 242: _Make The World Tremble!

    <h4>Chapter 242: _Make The World Tremble!</h4>


    I gritted my teeth, managing to raise my hands and cover my ears as Odessa¡¯s sonic howl tore through the air and shook the pocket dimension.


    When I raised my head, I witnessed the raven witch looking around with fear in her eyes. Actual fear and uncertainty.


    When I lunged at her earlier, she didn¡¯t show any signs of fear. In fact, she had been overly confident and used the fact that she was wearing my mother¡¯s face to distract me enough to gain the upper hand.


    She had gotten into my head without using any magic.


    But Odessa?


    There were no introductions. No long talks. Just a full-blown attack that brimmed with pure emotion.


    Rage.


    I nced at the truck, which we hade into the pocket dimension with, and witnessed Odessa walking away from it, ignoring the manipted human soldier behind her.


    The human in question was screaming in agony, covering his ears with his hands as Odessa only increased the power of her sonic howl to the max.


    ¡¯It hasn¡¯t even been up to a week, and she¡¯s already going against the judgment of the Luminari Coven elders.¡¯ Damon muttered solemnly in my head. ¡¯Let me out. We can protect her without putting her under their radar as a possible threat.¡¯


    But that¡¯s the thing though...


    "She¡¯s already under their radar," I said through gritted teeth, ignoring the pain from my muscles and slowly sitting up before getting on my feet.


    Suddenly, the raven witch beganughing manically, spreading out her arms as her hair whipped into the air like snakes of death.


    "Yes! Show it all! Show us the power of a TRUE hybrid." She yelled with excitement that seemed to havee out of nowhere. "Scream, hybrid girl! Make the world tremble!"


    Her eyes were wild with reverence, like she was watching the rise of a prophet... not her enemy.


    At that moment, I felt something was off. Not just with the raven witch... But with this entire situation.


    The fact that this witch has been tailing us since the Iron Fang pack. The way we were conveniently able to enter the pocket dimension through that truck.


    It¡¯s almost like...


    "Like she wanted us toe here," I muttered out loud, my eyes widening as I stared at Odessa. "The captured wolves. Her obsession with Odessa¡¯s magic... No, this wasn¡¯t just a trap. This was a goddamn ritual site!"


    Somehow, the loudness of the sonic howl wasn¡¯t affecting me as much.


    But it brimmed with power, carrying traces of her violet magic energy and causing the magic protection wards the raven witch had ced around the dimension to begin pulsing, pushing themselves over time to keep the pocket dimension stable.


    Odessa¡¯s blonde hair was loose and whipped around her like clouds, but soon she got out of breath and covered her mouth, heaving heavily to catch her breath.


    "Odessa!" I yelled out, fearing the raven witch would use that opportunity tond a strike on her, but the moment I took a step forward, a giant wall of pitch ck energy in the form of a forcefield materialised in front of me.


    "Sit this one out, Alpha King." The raven witch nced over her shoulder from where she levitated above us, giving me a sly wink. "Observe your mate show you why the world has feared her kind for centuries."


    I clenched my jaw, taking a single step back and observing the ck wall closely. It stretched from the left side of the pocket dimension all the way to the right.


    It also touched the ceiling, leaving no room to go around it.


    In that case...


    ¡¯Tear the fucker down!¡¯ Damon snarled in my head as I raised my right fist, sending a punch at the ck wall.


    It was translucent despite its colour, allowing me to watch the raven witch flying toward Odessa, who quickly took a defensive stance.


    My fist connected with the wall, but instantly, that caused a powerful burst of dark magic energy to push me backwards, sending me hurtling through the air until Inded on the ground, creating yet another crater and sending rocks and dust everywhere.


    The dark magic from the wall had also left a searing burn on my fist.


    I grunted more with frustration than pain, gritting my teeth as I rose to my feet, just in time to witness Odessa roaring with anger before sending a powerful st of violet mes at the raven witch.


    Odessa¡¯s eyes glowed an unnatural violet, like twin eclipses of rage and divinity. For a moment, she didn¡¯t look like Odessa.


    She looked like a goddess of war.


    The raven witch evaded the attack at first... Until it grewrger and more all-consuming. So all-consuming that I could feel the heat reaching past the ck wall and getting to us.


    <fn5bb8> The rightful source is F?ndNovel</fn5bb8>


    ¡¯If we can feel the mes heat despite that damn forcefield. That means...¡¯ Damon suddenly brought a line of thought but I didn¡¯t need him toplete his sentence to realise where he was driving at.


    My eyes widened as I scanned my gaze on the walls of the atrium. The captured wolves!


    Fortunately, the part of the pocket dimension where Odessa and the raven witch were battling was separated from this half where the captured wolves were unconscious within ss capsules.


    I ran toward one of the walls without a second thought, ignoring the way the pocket dimension shook with each trade of spells and attacks between Odessa and the raven witch.


    Ripples tore through the air and dust fell from the ceiling. I wasn¡¯t exactly an expert on how pocket dimensions work, but I was certain this one wouldn¡¯t hold for long.


    ¡¯Odessa, the children within the truck close to you and the witch. Can you be careful?¡¯ I asked through the mind link, clenching my jaw when I got to the ss capsules.


    I stared anxiously at the purple liquid that filled each capsule, my eyes locked on one which held a wolf boy who should be nothing more than ten.


    I subconsciously clenched my fists at the same moment that Odessa¡¯s voice finally came through in the mind link.


    ¡¯I¡¯m redirecting all her attacks away from the truck. I¡¯m... I¡¯m not sure how much more I can hold without unleashing something... Something more destructive than the Charity Ball.¡¯


    I could feel her fear like it was mine, causing me to hold my breath. I turned my gaze briefly to the dark magic wall blocking me from the battle.


    ¡¯Hold on, Odessa. I¡¯m working to get the captives out...¡¯


    Just when I sighed helplessly and swerved my head back to the ss capsules, pondering on if I should let Damon out, the wolf child¡¯s eyes suddenly opened wide.

 Chapter 243: _He’s Always Watching

    <h4>Chapter 243: _He¡¯s Always Watching</h4>


    (Warning: Dark Themes Ahead)


    <fn2db2> For original chapters go to Find[?]ovel</fn2db2>


    "What the...?" I was at a loss for words as I stared at the wolf child whose eyes were empty and ck.


    No pupils, no iris. Just pitch ck.


    Suddenly, the purple liquid within the ss capsules began bubbling at a rapid rate, as if it were boiling. The child¡¯s fingers twitched ever so slightly... Until a cold grin curled up his lips.


    "Shit."


    Before I knew what was happening, the ss capsule exploded, sending shards of ss and the purple liquid everywhere. I took a few steps back and used my arms to shield my face, gritting my teeth.


    When my eyes fluttered open, I was stunned by what I saw next.


    The little boy was crouching on the ground at first but then slowly rose to his feet, his empty ck orbs locking on me.


    That was no longer the body of a child. Something twisted, something evil... Resided in him now.


    ¡¯Fuck them kids! Pummel him to the ground!¡¯ Damon snapped in my head just then, causing me to blink a bit.


    ¡¯And THIS is why I¡¯m always hesitant to let you out.¡¯ I growled with frustration mentally. ¡¯What do you mean we should pummel him? He¡¯s still a¡ª¡¯


    Before I could finish our bickering, the child let out a bone-chilling scream before pointing his hands at me. Two powerful sts of ck energy shot out of his hands and headed toward me.


    I knew the sts were powerful because the air hummed with power before even reaching me.


    My instincts went into overdrive as I crouched, avoiding the sts as my mind reeled on what they might be.


    There was only one exnation but I felt like it was impossible. It had to be...


    "Magic?" I mumbled, squinting my eyes and bringing my gaze back to the boy as he sent st after st at me.


    I evaded all, ducking, jumping and even using the element of surprise to sneak behind him until I finally managed to grab the little urchin by his arms, raising him off the ground.


    Meanwhile, as the boy struggled against my grip, I felt vibrationsing from the other side of the atrium, causing me to swerve my head in that direction.


    I peered through the ck wall and saw that Odessa was still hot at it with the raven witch, holding her own despite not having many spells in her arsenal.


    The raven witch was more versatile and skilled, levitating and dodging attacks with ease while having the time to cackle and taunt Odessa.


    She seemed to be trying to get Odessa to fall deeper into her rage. And if that was the case... Why?


    ¡¯Don¡¯t give in, Odessa.¡¯ I said to her through the mind link at the same moment that the little wolf boy in my hands growled and snarled, baring his fangs at me.


    "You will not win!" He said in a voice that sounded like two people speaking at once,ughing malevolently. "He¡¯s watching! He¡¯s ALWAYS watching.".


    My eyebrows furrowed into a frown.


    He¡¯s watching?


    Who¡¯s watching?


    Suddenly, veins of ck began to snake along his arms, and his mouth stretched into a grin too wide. The magic inside him was eating him alive.


    The magic and the fact that the raven witch admitted to working for the lord of North brought me to a startling revtion.


    The boy was an artificial Hybrid! Or, at least... Something close to one.


    That¡¯s why the raven witch was so interested in getting to Odessa. A true hybrid like Odessa could help her solve the code of creating a perfect hybrid through her twisted rituals.


    But if they could do this to a ten-year-old... what would they do to a true hybrid like Odessa?


    The realisation mmed into me harder than any physical blow ever could.


    This boy... wasn¡¯t meant to survive this.


    He was a test. A sacrifice. A container not for a soul, but for corruption.


    I stared into his trembling body... at how his veins pulsed violently beneath his skin, glowing an eerie ck-purple with unstable magic. His limbs spasmed now, jerking uncontrobly as if puppeted by a dozen invisible hands.


    And yet... heughed.


    It was the kind ofugh that should nevere from a child¡¯s mouth.


    I gritted my teeth, my ws elongating involuntarily.


    "You were just a kid..." I muttered, almost choking on the lump in my throat.


    He looked up at me, his head twitching like a broken doll, before speaking again¡ªthis time, in a calm whisper that didn¡¯t sound like him at all.


    "Help... me."


    Just two words, barely audible.


    Almost drowned out by the sharp crack of his bones snapping as his body convulsed violently mid-air.


    Then... BOOM.


    A surge of ck magic exploded from within him, knocking me off my feet and hurling me across the room like a ragdoll. I crashed into a metal pir, my bones screaming from the impact, but I didn¡¯t even flinch.


    Because what I saw when I lifted my gaze made my stomach plummet.


    The boy¡¯s small frame was levitating now, his eyes rolled back, mouth agape as dark tendrils burst from his spine like twisted wings. He was screaming as the corruption tried to tear its way out of him.


    And then...


    He exploded.


    Not in a way that left gore or blood... no. His body disintegrated into shards of obsidian crystal and ash, vanishing like smoke as a blood-curdling screech echoed through the atrium.


    Something escaped from inside him. Some... presence.


    A shadow.


    And just before it disappeared into the dark magic wall, I saw a sh of eyes.


    Blood-red.


    And... Oddly familiar.


    "He¡¯s always watching." The words echoed in my mind as my eyes quivered.


    My heart mmed against my ribs.


    Was that... The lord of the North?


    Or worse... Someone or something stronger than him?


    My fury surged.


    Every nerve, every cell in my body screamed for vengeance.


    They used that boy like ab rat.


    Like he didn¡¯t have a name. A family. A fucking soul.


    "YOU MONSTERS!" I roared, and before I could stop myself, I turned to the remaining capsules and let the full force of my Alpha King aura explode outward.


    ss shattered.


    Every. Single. One.


    The liquid hissed and steamed as I walked through it, tearing open each capsule with my ws, yanking out limp bodies of children, teens and even adults. All of them were modified, scarred and marked with runes etched directly into their skin.


    Most of them were unconscious.


    Some were too far gone.


    But a few... A few stirred weakly in my arms.


    "I¡¯ve got the captives. Get them out of here!" I bellowed through am device to the Mexico City soldiers waiting outside the pocket dimension. "NOW!"


    I scooped a young girl into my arms, her body trembling like a leaf. Her ears were burned, and I could feel the faint pulse of artificial magic stitched to her heart like a bomb.


    She blinked up at me with milky eyes. "Please... don¡¯t let her... find me again..."


    My breath caught.


    I looked up toward the dome ceiling, which had several cracks on it, and suddenly, the air turned frigid.


    Suddenly, Odessa let out a shriek from behind the ck veil. I turned sharply just in time to see her magic explode outward, her body glowing faintly with golden-violet fire.


    The raven witch was screaming, too... But it wasn¡¯t in pain.


    It was in delight.


    Like she wanted this to happen.


    "No!" I roared, stepping toward the barrier as I watched Odessa¡¯s eyes glow a fierce, unnatural light.


    It was a light that didn¡¯t belong to her. The air rippled as her body began levitating slightly, and that¡¯s when I knew...


    She wasn¡¯t in control anymore.

 Chapter 244: _I Will Not Lose Her!

    <h4>Chapter 244: _I Will Not Lose Her!</h4>


    The entire pocket dimension shook.


    It wasn¡¯t a vibration that pulsed through the ground and walls alone. No. The air itself ripped, causing the space to twist and distort.


    I stared anxiously at the ck veil separating me from Odessa and the raven witch. It suddenly began getting thicker, making it impossible to see through it anymore.


    The air itself seemed like it was burning due to the heat of her mes.


    ¡¯Odessa? Odessa!¡¯ I called her through the mind link but all I got was radio silence.


    It was then that I noticed something that sent shivers down my spine. The mate bond... It was flickering!


    <fn6e41> Original content can be found at Find[?]ovel</fn6e41>


    It was actually flickering like a candlelight against the wind, struggling to stay alive. That should be impossible. The only way the mate bond could get affected like this was if...


    Oh, no.


    "Alpha king? Hello, Alpha King Kaelos?" Isaiah¡¯s voice came through them device in my ear just then as I slowly dropped the wolf girl from my arms.


    She clutched my hand weakly, but I barely paid her attention as I fixed my gaze on the dark veil.


    Odessa¡¯s magic was still brimming powerfully, sending shockwaves and tremors all around the pocket space, but for some reason, the mate bond was fluctuating.


    "Isaiah. I¡¯ve released most of the captives." I said hoarsely, my bones twitching underneath my skin as I stepped forward.


    No more ying around.


    "If you¡¯ve gotten control of the portal routes, use them NOW. This entire pocket dimension is about to go down." I said coldly, balling my hands into fists.


    I slowly withdrew my hand from the wolf girl, ncing at her. Then I scanned my gaze around, staring at the captives who had gained consciousness.


    "Are you crazy?" Isaiah suddenly cursed from the other end. "Destroying a pocket dimension takes a tremendous amount of power. That ce will cave in on you and Odessa and you¡¯ll¡ª"


    "Do it now. If these captives die and I get out of here I¡¯ll have your head, witch." I snarled, taking out them device from my ear and dropping it on the ground.


    I turned my gaze to the little girl who stared up at me with her big doe eyes, blinking slowly. My mind reeled when I remembered the wolf boy exploding into nothingness just a few minutes ago.


    I saw our unborn child in that boy¡¯s eyes and felt a shiver surge through my entire being.


    He was just a kid. They were all innocent. Yet they couldn¡¯t escape being victims in this war.


    "Little one," I muttered, cing my hand on her shoulder and crouching to her level. I was hesitant at first, my eyes scrutinising her closely.


    I wasn¡¯t really good with kids. But Odessa...


    Our baby.


    "Can you help your Alpha King rally the adults and get them to carry the unconscious people to that spot?" I pointed at the ck door in the corner.


    The little girl blinked once, ncing at the others. Some either stood, disoriented and lost, while others knelt close to their unconscious loved ones.


    I could see the hesitance and nervousness in the girls¡¯ eyes but I smiled, using my thumb to brush her cheeks tenderly.


    "Don¡¯t be shy," I whispered. "Tell them Alpha King Kaelos sent you. Okay?"


    She was silent for a couple of seconds before she nodded. "Okay."


    With that, she ran off, doing as I said and rallying the people together, telling them what I told her. I only let my gaze linger on them for a few seconds before I brought it back to the giant ck wall.


    I could¡¯ve used my Alpha King aura topel the captive wolves to head to the ck door for safety, but I took note of the fact that they were all just waking up from a traumatic experience.


    Everyone here has probably been subjected to harsh experiments.


    Feeling the force of my Alpha King aura could do more harm than good.


    ¡¯Damon, whatever you do... We have to control ourselves during our transformation. Do you understand me?¡¯ I asked the fur ball mentally.


    He merely growled in response but that meant nothing to me. No matter... I¡¯ve held back for long enough.


    I increased my pacing, basically sprinting toward the giant ck wall as I heard some of the captives behind me mumbling with a myriad of emotions.


    "Isn¡¯t... Isn¡¯t that the Alpha King?"


    "Where are we? What¡¯s going on?"


    "What is he doing? That ck wall... It looks so evil."


    I drowned out all these words to the back of my head as only one thing screamed on the surface.


    Odessa. My mate. The mother of our unborn child.


    I <strong>WILL NOT LOSE HER!</strong>


    Suddenly, a guttural roar tore through my throat when I was about ten meters away from the ck wall. I channelled most of my strength into my legs as my Alpha King aura surged in the form of a visible silver energy, which surrounded me like a cloak.


    My bones and muscles twisted as my mass began tripling, my ws elongating. Blood red fur began sprouting out of my skin and my clothes slowly began tearing off into nothing but shreds.


    I could still feel Odessa¡¯s magic surging at the other end of the ck wall and that acted like a tether, grounding me in the fact that she was still alive.


    <strong>And I¡¯ll tear reality itself down if it means keeping things that way. </strong>


    The pocket dimension shook with a new tremor that this time caused the ceiling to slowly begin copsing with dust and debris.


    At that same moment, I¡¯d fully transformed into my wolf form and bolted forward with a force that left behind a sonic boom in my wake.


    This time, when my ws connected with the ck wall, it ripped it down like paper. I growled, my eyes immediately locking on whaty ahead.


    Odessa was still alive but it was clear her magic was getting out of control. And so was she.


    She had her back facing me as she crossed her arms into an "x", blocking a powerful and continuous st of ck magic energy from the raven witch who cackled like a maniac.


    That¡¯s... Until the raven witch¡¯s eyes flicked in my direction. Herposure dissipated just like the ck veil she had used to separate my mate from me.


    But that brief moment of hesitation was what Odessa needed to take back control.


    "<strong>DIE!" </strong>Odessa roared, pushing back at the ck magic st as the golden violet mes surrounding her body burst out until it turned into a blinding ming tower that connected with the ceiling.

 Chapter 245: _The Beta’s Mark

    <h4>Chapter 245: _The Beta¡¯s Mark</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    While Kaelos and Odessa were having a battle for the ages, back in the Blood Oak pack, Marcellus was reeling.


    He had killed Elder Davina the previous night... But at a cost he didn¡¯t realise was great until he got back to his residence.


    "What do you mean she branded my soul?" Marcellus growled at Cullen, buttoning his shirt back up. "Are you sure you even used any magic in inspecting me or were you too busy staring at my abs?"


    Cullen rolled his eyes, stepping back from Marcellus and shrugging. "Take it or leave it then. But I¡¯m telling you... That moonstone explosion left traces of its energy on you. I¡¯m not sure what it is but it¡¯s etched into your being like a leech."


    Marcellus¡¯ forehead dripped with cold sweat as he leaned back against his sofa in the living room where he and Cullen were having the session.


    <fnff5d> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find~Novel</fnff5d>


    He rubbed his hand down his forehead, letting out a scoff.


    That old bitch!


    She was still haunting him even after her death. What could she have possibly left behind in his soul?


    "On a side note, I¡¯m actually surprised you still have a soul," Cullen remarked, chuckling to himself as he turned his back on Marcellus, grabbing his drink from the center table. "I got to Elder Davina¡¯s residence when La and the military advisor were sealing the ce away from the public. I snuck in, saw her body... And DAMN."


    He let out another chuckle, turning around and staring at Marcellus who ground his jaw, staring coldly at thed.


    He wasn¡¯t offended by his words. He couldn¡¯t care less if people thought he didn¡¯t have a soul once he showed his true colours.


    His own mother had called him a monster as a child... Right before he killed her.


    What was getting on his nerves was the thought that Elder Davina had actually left something behind. But what was it?


    A piece of her essence? A clue to everyone else around the pack that he was bad news?


    "The moon sees all, Beta... And so will she."


    Elder Davina¡¯sst words echoed in his mind. He should¡¯ve gotten the hag to exin what that vague prophecy meant before killing her.


    "Marcellus?" Cullen called all of a sudden, causing Marcellus to blink once before he raised his head and stared at thed. "You... Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re actually letting fear creep in because of this? Rx. I¡¯m sure if you tell the lord of the North, he¡ª"


    Suddenly, Marcellus rose from the sofa and bolted to Cullen, seizing his throat. Thetter gasped, his eyes widening as Marcellus slowly brought his mouth to his ears.


    "No one must know about this branding. Do you understand?"


    He may have been weakened by the battle against Elder Davina and the poison she left in his tea, but he still had fight in him. Cullen knew it.


    After all... He taught thed knew most of what he knew.


    "I... I understand..." Cullen nodded slowly, prompting Marcellus to smirk slyly.


    "Good. Now¡ª"


    "B¨CBut... But the Lord of the North can ess our thoughts if he wants. Don¡¯t you think he¡¯ll find out eventually if you hide it from him?"


    Marcellus paused, biting his bottom lip.


    The reason he didn¡¯t want to involve the Lord of the North was simple.


    He had given him instructions through Regina to weaken the pack more.


    What would Lord Ryker think of him if he found out that not only did he struggle to take down an aging spiritual leader, but he also got branded with some weird spiritual energy at the end of it?


    He¡¯ll be considered weak. Defective.


    And even though he was the most powerful of Lord Ryker¡¯s artificial hybrids, he knew damn well what happened to those the Lord deems as "defective".


    <sub>f\r(e)ewe.b no\vel</sub>


    "Which is why you need to keep it to yourself." Marcellus finally responded to Cullen¡¯sst statement. "I¡¯ll handle it myself. Whatever it may be. For now, you¡ª"


    Before he could finish speaking, his doorbell rang once, and then the door swung open, causing him to swerve his head to it with a frown.


    He still had his right hand coiled slightly around Cullen¡¯s neck, and both of them were inches away from each other.


    So, when the person who stepped in saw the scene between the two of them... She froze with surprise.


    And the person in question?


    La.


    "Oh..." She blinked awkwardly, scanning her gaze around before pointing backwards. "I¡¯m so sorry foring in abruptly. I coulde backter if you¡¯re... Busy."


    Marcellus clicked his tongue silently, ncing at Cullen who had a smug smirk on his face.


    ¡¯She probably thinks we were about to have a steamy session. If you know what I¡ª¡¯ Cullen tried ying around through a telepathic link but Marcellus interrupted.


    ¡¯Shut up.¡¯


    If he had a dor for every time rumours of him being gay or dating his assistant spread around the pack, he would be richer than he already was.


    He spun to face La fully, a smile curling up his lips as he withdrew his hand from Cullen¡¯s neck.


    "La, dear. Cullen and I were just... Talking," He nced at thed, who nodded in agreement.


    La nodded slowly as Cullen bowed slightly, ying the part of a normal assistant.


    "I¡¯ll take my leave now, sir."


    He turned around and headed for the stairs, ncing briefly at Marcellus who walked toward La.


    La¡¯s calm and collected expression soon fell as a deep sadness bloomed in her eyes, her head lowering.


    "I... I¡¯ve been so overwhelmed since we discovered Elder Davina¡¯s bodyst night. I¡¯m trying to keep calm. I¡¯m the Alpha King¡¯s assistant so I MUST be calm."


    Marcellus nodded, pretending to give a shit.


    If only she knew Elder Davina¡¯s killer was standing in front of her.


    "First the riots, and now THIS?" La continued, her chest heaving heavily with frustration and panic.


    "The pack is falling apart. I can¡¯t even call the Alpha King to tell him about Elder Davina¡¯s death because... Because he¡¯s busy with his mission in Mexico and I know how much she meant to him. How much she meant... To me. To all of us."


    Yeah... Right.


    Marcellus let out a small sigh before he stepped closer and spread out his arms, pulling her into a soft hug.


    She stiffened at first, obviously taken by surprise. But then she eventually gave in and embraced him too.


    A grin settled on his lips when he felt that.


    The emotionally vulnerable ones were the easiest to manipte.

 Chapter 246: _Caroline

    <h4>Chapter 246: _Caroline</h4>


    Caroline¡¯s POV


    *****


    They say the quietest ones are usually the most observant.


    That couldn¡¯t be much truer of a statement for her.


    She sweeps the floors, cleans the linens, and watches everyone lie to each other like it¡¯s part of the job description.


    It¡¯s exhausting hiding behind a mask, pretending to be nothing more than a maid... But she was on a mission. One which made her ce herself within the Alpha King¡¯s mansion for years.


    Protecting Odessa Pierce from the shadows.


    And the biggest threat to that mission so far? Beta Marcellus.


    She¡¯s had her eyes on him for years before Odessa¡¯s arrival. She saw how easy it was for him to be the Alpha King¡¯s best friend.


    How easy it was to win the hearts of the people.


    She might¡¯ve thought little of it back then but with Odessa¡¯s arrival came a string of deaths that rmed Caroline.


    Her hybrid nature wasn¡¯t even awakened during the first death ¡ª a maid of Elder Davina. So Odessa clearly couldn¡¯t be behind those deaths, despite how much Gamma Zane and others tried pushing that idea.


    It wasn¡¯t until the Beta made the rookie mistake of trying to mentally manipte her after Odessa escaped to the Blood Oak woods that Caroline realised who the killer was.


    The enemy lurked within the pack, blending perfectly for years.


    Marcellus hadn¡¯t done anything to get rid of her after the failed mental maniption because he thought she didn¡¯t feel it and she was merely "a maid".


    He couldn¡¯t have been more wrong.


    Not only did she feel his maniption attempt but she fought back against it that fateful night. Her bloodline was specifically designed to deflect twisted magic like his. And she¡¯s had her eyes on him ever since.


    Which all led up to tonight... At Elder Davina¡¯s residence. Marcellus tried using the shadows to his advantage, sneaking in, not knowing he had eyes on his back.


    She didn¡¯t see what happened in the building... But she witnessed the explosion of moonlight that probably woke the entire pack with its power.


    Maids who had been lingering outside the building were the first to rush in. Caroline joined them, conveniently d in the signature white attire of Davina¡¯s maids.


    When they got to thest floor... Chaos.


    "By the goddess!" A maid screeched when the door to the greenhouse was opened.


    Smoke billowed out from within, snaking into the hallways outside.


    Death hung in the air like a cloak. The ss ceiling was shattered, the moonlight pouring into the greenhouse like a cascade, illuminating the destruction.


    And Marcellus? Gone.


    Caroline furrowed her eyebrows as one of the maids pushed through the others and rushed into the room, stepping over the rocks and debris.


    "Elder! Elder Davina!" She yelled out with a shaky voice, coughing through the smoke that blocked most of the view inside.


    Caroline didn¡¯t even need to go in to know what had happened here. Once again, Marcellus¡¯ mission was to kill, and this time... He came for someone high in the hierarchy.


    Not a maid. Not a pack doctor.


    But THE spiritual leader of not just Blood Oak but the packs of North America as a whole.


    "AHHHHH!" The gut-wrenching scream of the maid who stepped into the room tore through the murmuring of the maids gathered outside the door.


    The others gasped in shock and fear while Caroline balled her hands into fists.


    "She¡¯s dead! The Elder is dead!" The maid¡¯s pained wails echoed like a crescendo of sorrow, causing Caroline¡¯s heart to ache.


    The other maids either broke down in tears as well or ran into the room, not wanting to believe that it was true. But it was.


    Caroline bit her bottom lip, contemting whether she should go in there as well. The lingering energy of a pure moon stone pulsed deeply within the room, calling to her like a siren song.


    <fn1c0b> Get full chapters from find¡¤novel</fn1c0b>


    She took the first step inside before finally rushing in, disappearing into the smoke. When she got to the spot where a few maids were wailing, her breath caught in her throat.


    She has trained herself to be... Emotionally detached after one loss too many. It was the only way she could stay focused enough on her mission.


    The only way she could make sure she didn¡¯t lose Odessa like the others.


    But this? It was too much for even her.


    Elder Davinay on the ground, her once pure white robes blemished with blood and ash. Her eyes were still wide open... Showing the pain and regret she felt before her death.


    And Caroline could only imagine the pain.


    The old woman¡¯s rib bones stuck out of her, curving into the air like bloody fingers.


    One of the maids was so disturbed by the scene that she was forced to look away and vomit in between sobs, adding to the putrid stench already filling the ce.


    None of the maids were confident enough to touch her body, like it was a curse. But not Caroline.


    She walked past them, including the first one who stepped in. That maid was kneeling close to the body, sobbing into her hands while shaking her head.


    "She... She was the closest thing I had to a mother." She croaked, drawing pity from Caroline.


    Caroline stepped closer and ced a palm on the girl¡¯s shoulder, her expression solemn as she scrutinised Elder Davina¡¯s body.


    A memory shed past her head... She had once helped Elder Davina pack some things from the Alpha King¡¯s mansion to her residence before Odessa ever showed up.


    The old woman had offered Caroline tea and then shared one single piece of advice:


    "You seem to have gone through so much pain. Don¡¯t let it define you, child. Don¡¯t let it overshadow your kindness."


    Caroline fought back her own tears, pushing the memory to the back of her mind as she knelt beside the Elder¡¯s body. She ced her right hand on her face, shutting her eyes.


    "You¡¯re with the goddess now..." She muttered, smiling wryly as she took a heavy breath.


    The sobs of the maids standing around only increased and some even hugged themselves as the sound of pack soldiers gathering outside the building came through.


    Caroline was just about to rise to her feet when her eyes fell on something sticking out of a pocket in Davina¡¯s robes.


    It was a piece of paper.


    After ncing around and seeing that everyone was too busy being in their feelings, she stretched her hand forward and grabbed the paper, crumpling it in her palm before getting on her feet.

 Chapter 247: _Time To End This

    <h4>Chapter 247: _Time To End This</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    When I saw Kaelos getting snatched out of my hands, I froze. My lips trembled as I held my breath, contemting what to do when my ears caught the sound of him growling with rage at someone.


    Then a female voice began echoing a monologue, revealing all sorts of atrocities including killing his mother.


    The raven witch.


    I could feel Kaelos¡¯ shock and confusion in that moment as if it were mine.


    And on top of all that, I could feel his rage simmering just beneath the calm exterior he kept with the raven witch. She was taunting him.


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    Trying to show him how powerless he was within her pocket dimension. Trying to force him to react, knowing fully well that she had used the element of surprise to subdue him.


    I couldn¡¯t stand it any longer.


    ¡¯Odessa, if we step out of this truck... there¡¯s no turning back.¡¯ Sirena blurted solemnly just when the invisibility sigil on my arm wore off. ¡¯Are you sure about this? I think¡ª¡¯


    "We can¡¯t stand idle, Sirena." I interrupted with a cold tone, snapping my fingers as I felt my magic brim.


    "Kaelos is out there fighting for his life while I¡¯m here being... being nothing." I croaked, trying to hide my pain through gritted teeth. "I don¡¯t give a fuck what the elders of the Luminari Coven say. I wouldn¡¯t stay put and watch the people I care about get hurt when I know I can do something to help. Not anymore."


    With that, I nced over my shoulder at the four werewolf children in cages behind me. They were still unconscious but one of them seemed to be stirring in his sleep.


    I smiled wryly, drawing in a deep breath before I barged out of the truck.


    That¡¯s when the real chaos started.


    From me releasing a sonic howl to sending sts of fire magic at the raven witch who seemed so eager to taunt me and get me to use my hybrid abilities.


    Too eager if I might add.


    But my emotions led me, spiking my will to shoot her off the air of the pocket dimension when she separated Kaelos from me through a dark magic wall.


    "Let it all out, hybrid girl!" The raven witch goaded with a mocking voice. "All the pain. The years of bullying and stigmatisation you¡¯ve faced. The fact that the people you once called family want you to hide who you are."


    My eyes widened slightly as I blinked at her with confusion and shock before speaking slowly. "H¨CHow do you know so much about¡ª"


    Suddenly, she stretched out her arms while levitating several meters above me and made a few hand gestures, causing my jaw to clench.


    "Still so naive." She cackled as I slowly brought my gaze to the ground underneath my feet.


    That was when I noticed a connection of dark purple runes spinning in unison, causing a cold shiver to run down my spine.


    ¡¯Girl, I don¡¯t know what that is but it ain¡¯t good.¡¯ Sirena echoed in my mental space but her voice soon started bing distant.


    I swerved my head to the dark wall blocking me from Kaelos and realised it was no longer visible like it used to be a few minutes ago.


    And worst of all... I couldn¡¯t feel the mate bond!


    It kept flickering, one second making me feel like I could hold onto Kaelos mentally if needed and the next just... disappearing.


    Like it never existed in the first ce.


    Dread filled me as I took a few steps back, violet mes still burning around me as my head spun. A voice soon began whispering in my head.


    ¡¯Odessa... How long do you want to run away from your destiny? From who you really are?¡¯


    I breathed heavily, roaring with anger before I began sending sts and shes of violet mes everywhere around me, but no matter how hard I tried, I didn¡¯t hit anyone or anything.


    Meaning whoever was talking in my mind wasn¡¯t here.


    "Who the fuck are you?" I snarled, baring my fangs as I red at the raven witch.


    She had a knowing smirk on her face but kept levitating, not bothering to send any attacks my way.


    Whatever was happening with me now... it was part of her n all along. And I had conveniently fallen into the trap.


    ¡¯I am your salvation. I am the one who truly gets you on this where true hybrids have been hunted to extinction for centuries.¡¯ The voice continued with a calm that made me uneasy. ¡¯Just give in. Give up control. Trust me. And you¡¯ll see how much different your life will be.¡¯


    Was this some kind of fucking joke?


    "I will NEVER give control to anyone. You hear me?" I snarled, fixing all my attention on the raven witch as I ced both my hands on my forehead.


    I struggled, trying to fight off the voice in my head. And then... my magic suddenly spiked to a cataclysmic level, causing my mes to turn to a violet golden colour.


    I let out a scream, spreading out my arms as the pocket dimension shook from the power I exerted. Something came out of my body at that moment... like a corrupted parasite that had tried taking seed.


    The raven witch proceeded to send a st of powerful ck energy at me which I blocked with my arms crossed in an "x".


    And then... Kaelos finally ripped through the ck wall with his wolf transformation as the golden violet mes shot into the air in the form of a pir of mes.


    The air pulsed with energy that sent tingling down my spine and caused my skin to vibrate. The heat slowly started causing my clothes to peel off piece by piece but then... it stopped.


    It was as if my magic had more control. More shape. More substance.


    Yet, it still felt as chaotic as ever.


    "Die!" I let out a final roar that shook the entire pocket dimension, my eyes zing with a bright light as I pushed at the raven witch with a st of mes.


    At the same moment, my gaze flicked to the truck in which Kaelos and I hade here. The human soldier who had been standing close to the truck was now nothing but a pile of molten flesh.


    I could tell the truck was heating up as well and couldn¡¯t imagine the situation the children inside were in.


    Kaelos suddenly jumped past me in his wolf form, his silver eyes glinting as he exchanged a quick nce with me. That quick look was enough to let me know that now, as always... he was there with me.


    We were in this... together.


    With that, Kaelos let out a guttural growl as he lunged at the raven witch in the air, sending a shockwave when his feet disconnected from the ground, sting dust and debris everywhere.


    The raven witch was already disoriented and quickly went on the defensive, trying to dodge Kaelos¡¯ attacks.


    At that same moment, I fixed my gaze on the truck containing the wolf children and managed to lift it off the ground with telekinesis, sending it away from this side of the pocket dimension and all the way to the other side where the captives were waiting.


    With that done, I turned my head back to Kaelos and the raven witch, watching her eyes brim with panic as she tried dodging each of Kaelos¡¯ strikes which sent shockwaves and shes of wind.


    "Time to end this," I muttered, pointing both my hands at the raven witch and clenching my fists.

 Chapter 248: _Howl And Inferno

    <h4>Chapter 248: _Howl And Inferno</h4>


    Kaelos nked the raven witch from her right, sending a punch with his right fist.


    She tried blocking with a force field but that proved futile as the force from the impact sent a shock wave that not only sent her flying toward the ground but shook the pocket dimension further.


    ¡¯Am I speaking to Kaelos or Damon?¡¯ I asked through the mental link, fearing that he was too far gone and that his wolf had taken full control.


    But then...


    ¡¯It depends. Am I speaking with Odessa or whatever dark force that went out of you?¡¯


    My face heated up, although it was probably both a blush and the heating from the mes that surrounded me like a cloak.


    ¡¯It¡¯s Odessa. I guess... your wolf form isn¡¯t as chaotic as you¡¯ve always painted it.¡¯


    ¡¯I don¡¯t understand why but I feel... more in control now than I¡¯ve ever been.¡¯ He remarked mentally. ¡¯Do you think it¡¯s the bond?¡¯


    The mate bond seemed to add new skill sets to each of us each time we grew closer or emotionally linked.


    From the powers we had ess to when we fought Gamma Zane in Kaelos¡¯ mental space. And then his Alpha king aura became visible and gained a silver colour.


    Also, the fact that the mate bond is responsible for awakening my hybrid nature in the first ce.


    ¡¯She¡¯s on the ground. Isaiah and the soldiers have already stepped into the pocket dimension at the other end to save the captives.¡¯ Kaelos announced to me mentally. ¡¯I would¡¯ve asked you to sit back and let me handle this but¡ª¡¯


    "You dare!" The raven witch suddenly screeched, spreading out her arms as the pocket dimension shook once again.


    Suddenly, the ceiling began copsing, revealing a vast expanse of ck nothingness where the sky was supposed to be.


    Dark tendrils shot downward from that darkness, my instincts screaming danger as I snapped at Kaelos.


    "If you think I¡¯ll sit back and let you face this bitch alone, then you don¡¯t really know the length of my stubbornness!"


    With that, I stumped my right foot on the ground, causing the golden violet mes that surrounded me to begin taking shape before finally twisting and forming a huge dome made out of mes above me.


    The dome continued spreading for several meters, protecting Kaelos as well. In a heartbeat, the darkness tendrils began hitting the dome of mes, causing me to grit my teeth as I held it back.


    "Howl, Kaelos!" I yelled out, my voice breaking through the loud hum of my magic against the hissing sounds of the darkness tendrils.


    Kaelos didn¡¯t need to hear me speak twice and walked to my side, his hulking figure overshadowing my body.


    He drew in a breath, and I almost regretted telling him to howl, knowing my eardrums were about to go for a wild ride.


    And then... BOOM.


    Kaelos opened his mouth, a guttural howl brimming with his Alpha King aura tearing out.


    Surprisingly, the howl hit the dome of magical mes shielding us and proceeded to disperse it, shaping it into a snaking form that coiled before shooting toward the raven witch in front of us.


    The power of the howl didn¡¯t end there, sending an omnidirectional pulse of silver light that bounced away the darkness tendrils from above us and levelled the ground spreading for several meters into a crater.


    And despite all this destruction, we were both untouched as the spiralling golden violet mes coiled and hit the raven witch in a speed she couldn¡¯t follow.


    She tried blocking with a forcefield, but that proved futile as Kaelos¡¯s howl, empowering my mes, tore through it like toilet paper before sting her away.


    "AHHHHH!" She screeched, the pocket dimension shaking in unison with her.


    I watched the mes disintegrate her into ash until there was nothing left of that ash as well.


    When the smoke and mes cleared up and Kaelos stopped howling, I let out a heavy breath, my knees buckling as I stared at the scene ahead of us.


    The moment when I was about to stumble backwards from the strain of my magic exertion, a pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist, holding me close.


    My eyes widened when I felt that the arms weren¡¯t hairy like I had expected.


    "I got you," Kaelos whispered with a soft voice as I slowly raised my head to meet his gaze.


    He was back in his human form already, his naked chest filled with burn marks and ash.


    He was almost naked downstairs as well, except for his pants, which were now torn over his knee level.


    Guilt surged through me when I saw the burn marks etched on his skin, my fingers brushing them tenderly as I blinked at his piercing silver eyes.


    "Did I... Did I do this to you?" I asked with a cracking voice, feeling like crying although no tears flowed out.


    But he brought his right hand to my face, parting aside strands of my hair before he used his thumb to caress my cheek.


    "It doesn¡¯t matter. As long as you¡¯re okay... here in my arms." He said reassuringly. "I¡¯ll take being slightly burnt by your mes over seeing you die."


    I smiled wryly as he helped me stand properly. I coughed, trying to breathe through the dust and smoke that filled the ce.


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    The raven witch was dead yet it was still so hard to believe. She was a menacing figure up to her final breath... that¡¯s for sure.


    "She¡¯s dead. Isaiah and the soldiers managed to take the captives out of here during the battle and look..." Kaelos pointed above us.


    My eyes widened at what I saw. The space above us was not only distorted but had literal cracks which leaked with darkness magic.


    "... Isaiah said the pocket dimension would copse on us but it¡¯s still standing. Barely... but still." Kaelos continued, his voice hoarse.


    Yes, we made it. We won... but then...


    "At what cost?" I mumbled, raising my right hand and staring at the bracelet wrapped around my wrist.


    It blinked repeatedly with a red light, like a beacon.


    A beacon to the Elders of the Luminari Coven.


    They were watching...

 Chapter 249: _Elder Davina Is Dead

    <h4>Chapter 249: _Elder Davina Is Dead</h4>


    "The bracelet..." Kaelos muttered, stretching his right hand and wrapping it tenderly around my wrist.


    The magic bracelet shed with a red light... something that has never happened since the Elders of the Luminari coven gave it to me.


    I didn¡¯t need a divination witch to tell me what that meant. The bracelet had sensed me extending power simr to the charity Ball incident.


    Or even more.


    "This is bad..." I brushed my right hand through my hair, trying to step away from Kaelos a bit. But he grabbed my wrist gently, causing me to squint my eyes.


    "Would you rx? You did what you had to do to protect yourself." He said firmly, caressing my wrist. "Besides... The rule said you¡¯re banned from using your powers in public. Look around, Odessa..."


    He gestured at the pocket dimension. It was empty and left in ruins.


    "There¡¯s no one here. The wolves in the capsules didn¡¯t see you and the raven witch is dead. You¡¯ve got nothing to worry about."


    His voice and his words grounded me, causing my lips to curl into a smile.


    He¡¯s right...


    "I¡¯m so d we saved all those people," I muttered, leaning against his shoulder. "Whatever lingering effects were left behind by the raven witch should wear off with her death. But the witches would have to check each wolf just in¡ª"


    "Not everyone was saved." Kaelos interrupted, his tone sounding solemn and his eyes bing distant.


    I could feel the guilt he felt like it was mine as he continued speaking.


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    "There was a little boy. One of the captives. He... He was augmented with magic but his body was too fragile to contain the artificial hybrid spell holding him together."


    I nodded slowly, feeling rage simmering from him as we paused walking for a second. His jaw clenched as he let out a heavy sigh.


    "I watched him explode, Odessa. And I couldn¡¯t do anything to help him. He told me to help him and I couldn¡¯t do that."


    I shook my head, tightening my grip on his hand. "No. Kaelos, it wasn¡¯t your fault. It isn¡¯t your fault that the witch did all those things to the captives and even the human soldiers. They¡¯re victims as well."


    He grunted, looking away briefly.


    But then, he slowly brought his gaze to my stomach with a bitter smile. "I thought about our unborn child during that moment. I imagined what I¡¯d do if they were in that situation. Used like some disposableb rat."


    I smiled weakly, bringing my hand to his face and caressing it gently. "As long as we live... We wouldn¡¯t let that happen. Okay?"


    He blinked at me, his silver eyes glinting with warmth.


    Gosh, I¡¯ll never get tired of staring into those silver orbs.


    "I love you." He blurted much to my surprise, pecking me on the side of my cheek. "Let¡¯s get out of here. I can¡¯t wait to head back to Blood Oak. I¡¯m done with Mexico."


    We both let out a chuckle, walking to the other side of the copsing pocket dimension hand in hand. But as we did, I couldn¡¯t shake off this ominous feeling.


    It was almost as if I was being watched...


    ¡¯Maybe it¡¯s just the elders of the Luminari Coven. You should be fine.¡¯ Sirena said in my head but I was far from "fine".


    ¡¯That¡¯s not supposed to be any better. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s waiting for us once we get back to America but I have a bad feeling.¡¯ I remarked mentally as a portal opened up for us at the other end of the pocket dimension.


    ¡¯And if there¡¯s one thing I trust... It¡¯s my intuition.¡¯


    .


    .


    The next few hours in Mexico were hectic... yet so worth it.


    After the death of the raven witch, the mental maniption magic she left on some of the human soldiers wore off. But most of them remembered all the atrocities theymitted while being controlled by her.


    Some were forced to pull out of the force and seek therapy.


    As for the werewolf captives, after the witches of Mexico City checked and confirmed that the ritual done by the Raven witch had indeed cleared after her death, each of them was sent back to their resident packs.


    Back in the Iron Fang pack, the Alpha council of that pack came together under Kaelos¡¯ direction and picked a new Alpha to take over thete, corrupt Alpha¡¯s ce.


    "And that¡¯s in a day¡¯s work..." Isaiah and Governor Daniel stood with Kaelos and me at the gates of Mexico City.


    The male witch now had an impressed look on his face, a great contrast whenpared to how he looked down on us when we first approached the city¡¯s gates.


    "We acquired great losses..." Governor Daniel said, a solemn expression on his face as he smiled wryly. "But it could¡¯ve gotten much worse without your help. So..."


    Suddenly, the two men bowed slightly in front of Kaelos and me, causing my lips to part in shock.


    "Thank you, Alpha King and Luna Queen. The wolves of North America are indeed lucky to have you as leaders." Governor Daniel said as he slowly raised his head again.


    His smile was genuine, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile in return, ncing at Kaelos, who gave a curt nod.


    "I hope your city gets the healing it needs," Kaelos said.


    He was now dressed in a clean ck suit and pants, his face devoid of the burn marks he had in the pocket dimension.


    "I wish the same for your wolves." The Governor uttered as Kaelos and I finally turned away from them.


    I smiled at him, wrapping my arms around his. "We did it. We saved those wolves and now Mexico wouldn¡¯t be afraid of any looming conflicts."


    Kaelos gave a wry smile. "Yes, but that raven witch was working for the Lord of the North. And if she¡¯s been working for him since my mother¡¯s death... I can¡¯t help but wonder how old he is and what exactly his connection with me is."


    I tensed up slightly as he drew out his phone from his pocket, dialling a number. After a few rings, the person at the other end picked up.


    "Hello, La?" Kaelos breathed out. "Tell High priestess Althea to open another portal that¡¯ll take Odessa and me back home. We¡ª"


    "S¨CSir...something¡¯s wrong." La¡¯s voice was hesitant at the other end.


    My expression fell instantly. She sounded like she¡¯d been crying for hours.


    "What happened? Another riot?" Kaelos queried with a tense expression. "We¡¯ll address those and put an end to them once¡ª"


    "Elder Davina was murdered, sir."


    La¡¯s words came like a punch to the gut, causing my stomach to drop.

 Chapter 250: _With His Blood

    <h4>Chapter 250: _With His Blood</h4>


    After a few minutes of waiting, a portal shining with a bright blue light opened in front of the gates of Mexico City.


    Kaelos and I stepped through it hand in hand, but I couldn¡¯t deny the solemn air that followed us.


    At the other end of the portal was the Alpha king¡¯s mansion ¡ª specifically the old ceremonial room. Althea, La and Marcellus stood in the dimly lit room as the portal closed behind Kaelos and me.


    My jaw clenched when I saw the sadness in Althea¡¯s eyes. La¡¯s eyes were red, showing that she had been crying.


    As for Marcellus, he stared at us with a defeated expression, shaking his head before he broke the silence.


    "Elder Davina was... killedst night. We¡ª"


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    "Cut that crap with me, Marcellus." Kaelos snapped, anger and disbelief present in his voice as he brought his gaze to La. "Where¡¯s the body?"


    La shivered with hesitation at first but eventually nodded slowly. "It¡¯s back at her residence. The people of the pack are already spreading rumours, but we made sure her residence was sealed off from the public."


    "Take me there," Kaelos said inly, his hand leaving mine as he stepped forward.


    I stared at his back, clenching my fist due to the emptiness I felt after he let go of my hand. He and La walked out of the ceremonial room as Althea walked over to me.


    "My sweet girl," Althea mumbled, pulling me into an embrace. "I¡¯m so d you¡¯re okay. How was¡ª"


    She pulled back briefly but then her eyes fell on the bracelet on my right hand. It was still blinking, although the red light was faint now.


    But still visible.


    "By the gods..." Althea gasped, fixing her gaze on me. "Odessa... did you¡ª"


    "I had no choice, Aunt Althea." I interrupted, shaking my head and holding both her arms, my lips trembling as I struggled to hold back tears. "There was a witch... she was so powerful. She was using dark magic and I... I felt so helpless. So powerless."


    I sniffled, lowering my head as I drew in a heavy breath. "If the Elders of the Luminari Coven are going to persecute me for using my powers to help people who need it. Innocent people who were being used like trash..."


    I raised my head, seeing the hesitation in her eyes. But behind that hesitation... There was also a flicker of pride as I finally dropped the rest of my sentence.


    "Then so be it."


    I stepped away slowly from Althea, staring at her for a few seconds before I used the back of my hands to wipe off the tears lingering in my eyes.


    I walked past her, ncing briefly at Marcellus.


    He had aplicated expression on his face but I didn¡¯t have the time for pleasantries or to check on how he was doing.


    I needed to be with my mate right now.


    .


    .


    When I got to Elder Davina¡¯s residence, the first thing I noticed was the guards positioned at the gates. They had stern expressions on their faces but they didn¡¯t as much as blink when I walked into thepound.


    People outside were stretching their necks, trying to take a look at what was happening to no avail.


    My gaze fell on the highest floor of the building and I couldn¡¯t help but gasp as I used my right hand to shield my face from the sun¡¯s rays.


    It was in ruins, the ss ceiling brokenpletely.


    The walls have cracks in most parts now, while some parts have even broken apart.


    I drew in a deep breath, bracing myself as I felt the fluctuations in Kaelos¡¯ emotions.


    He was already inside the building.


    When I went into the living room downstairs, it was crowded with maids who were all either crying or whispering to themselves.


    The living room was lit up with bright white light bulbs and a crystal chandelier on the ceiling.


    "Did you see? The Alpha King is back from wherever he came from." One maid whispered.


    "Who could¡¯ve done something like this to Elder Davina? She didn¡¯t deserve to die like that."


    "No one deserves to die that way." Another added.


    Just then, their eyes went to me when I walked in slowly. I tried ignoring them, keeping my head held high as I followed the mate bond and tracked Kaelos to an inner room downstairs.


    When I got to the door, I opened it only to see La standing at the entrance of the room.


    She nced at me, her eyes still red from crying. But she gave me a small nod of acknowledgement as my eyes went to the other end of the room.


    The room was empty, save for a single table at the center of it. Sunlight streamed into the room through the ss windows, motes flying past like tiny fairies.


    But the scenery was a great contrast to the horror thaty ahead.


    Kaelos had his back facing me as he stood beside the table. He was stiff and didn¡¯t make any sounds, causing me to walk slowly with worry.


    It was then that I stretched my neck and noticed what was ced on top of the table.


    Elder Davina.


    Her body was draped with a white cloth but only her face remained visible. Her eyes were closed, giving the illusion that she was at peace.


    But this wasn¡¯t peace.


    I walked forward and stood beside Kaelos, staring at Davina¡¯s body before I slowly turned my head to him.


    "Kaelos... I¡ª"


    "I could¡¯ve prevented this." He suddenly muttered, clenching his jaw and shaking his head. "This is just another proof of how ipetent I am."


    I blinked, unable to believe he was saying such about himself. I ced my right hand on his shoulder and whispered.


    "Kaelos, it¡¯s not your fault. You have to stop ming yourself for things like this. Things outside your control."


    He was silent... both mentally and physically. I wanted him to say something. Anything.


    I felt like his voice would help distract me from my own pain.


    After what felt like an eternity, he closed his eyes briefly before slowly turning his head to me.


    "You don¡¯t understand, Odessa. This is definitely the doing of that same bastard who¡¯s been killing people in this pack under my nose. He¡¯s taunting me... but this will be thest time."


    He drew in a heavy breath, slowly using the white cloth to cover Elder Davina¡¯s face.


    "I¡¯ll fish him out and make sure he pays for this. With his blood."

 Chapter 251: _Luna Queen Odessa

    <h4>Chapter 251: _Luna Queen Odessa</h4>


    Later that night, I was in my bedroom, sitting in front of my mirror.


    Caroline was helping me make my hair and didn¡¯t bother me with any questions or exciting gossip tonight. Her expression was also solemn.


    I wore a blood red gown with long sleeves, representing the pack¡¯s signature colour.


    Tonight, Kaelos and I will be going live to simultaneously broadcast Elder Davina¡¯s funeral ritual and also to announce once and for all that I¡¯m the new Luna Queen of the continent.


    I wasn¡¯t exactly sure if doing both things at once would be a good idea but Kaelos insisted... And I didn¡¯t want to push him. He was trying hard to mask his emotions, to be the strong, ruthless Alpha King everyone expected him to be.


    But I could tell Davina¡¯s death was perhaps the final crack in the already weakening icy walls in his heart.


    "All set, ma¡¯am." Caroline finally muttered, stepping away from me after brushing my hair gently with her hand.


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    I slowly got on my feet, checking my hair out. It was made into stylish wavy tresses that reached my waist.


    But I only smiled wryly, turning my gaze to Caroline and giving her a small nod. "Thanks, Car."


    She smiled as well but didn¡¯t say anything. I don¡¯t know why but the look in her eyes... It was like someone who knew something but was keeping it to herself.


    The question is... What could that be?


    "The people are waiting outside." Caroline coughed when I stared for too long, parting aside strands of her hair.


    Suddenly, she grabbed me by my shoulders and pulled me into a warm hug, causing my eyes to widen at first. That hug wasn¡¯t random.


    I could almost feel her grief and her silent need forfort, forcing me to hug her as well, my hands brushing across her back gently as I sighed heavily.


    "I don¡¯t know how or when but a day wille when we¡¯ll no longer have to live in fear in this pack," I whispered the first thing that came to my mind, my voice heavy as we slowly separated from the embrace.


    Caroline¡¯s face had a small smile now as she nodded, her eyes glinting with tears which she didn¡¯t let fall. My eyes were heavy as well but I sucked in deep breaths to hold my emotion in as she mutttered.


    "I believe so too, Odessa. More than you think."


    .


    .


    We stepped out of the mansion side by side, heading outside the gates.


    In front of the gates, people were gathered from far and wide. They stood a good distance away from the gate, but each of them had a solemn expression on their faces.


    Thousands of werewolves from all around the pack... The elite district and the lower sses, young and old were gathered. And all had tense expressions under the moonlight when their eyes saw me.


    "There she is."


    "She¡¯s the cause of all of this. I¡¯m sure of it."


    "First the charity Ball, then the lives we lost during the riots yesterday. I¡¯m sure she killed Elder Davina."


    "Who else does she need to kill before we band together and chase her out of this pack?"


    I clenched my jaw, looking away from the crowd as I ascended the makeshift stage made in front of them.


    I felt like hiding. I felt like sinking into the ground. But I couldn¡¯t and had to suck it all in and keep my expression calm.


    Kaelos was already standing on the stage with Marcellus and La standing behind him. Caroline gave me one reassuring nod before she gestured for me to go stand by my mate¡¯s side.


    When I got to Kaelos, I held his hand to ground myself, breathing heavily.


    ¡¯You¡¯ve been... Distant since we got back.¡¯ I spoke to him through the mate bond. ¡¯I just want to remind you that I¡¯m always here by your side.¡¯


    He was silent, closing his eyes for a few seconds before he finally cleared his throat, speaking with a voice that probably boomed through the entire pack.


    "We¡¯re gathered tonight to observe the funeral ceremony of one of the greatest spiritual leaders this pack and the continent has seen!"


    Silence.


    The sea of people instantly became silent, ceasing their whispering. Some still stared at me with fear and disdain... Or both.


    At the far right of the stage, Elder Davina¡¯s body was ced inside a red casket. ming torches surrounded the casket, their light casting a sickly yellow glow on that part of the stage.


    Camera men stood at strategic spots around the huge stage, broadcasting this worldwide.


    "Elder Davina was a fierce woman. Attuned to the moon goddess and bringing rity in these... Dark times where people push for the continuation of a war that has alreadysted for over a century." Kaelos continued but I could feel the subtle anger lingering behind his voice.


    I could feel it like it was mine.


    Anger for himself. Anger for the people. And most of all... Anger for whoever killed Elder Davina.


    "She¡¯ll be missed and her death has left behind a scar that might linger in this pack decadester. But her death is also the beginning of something new." Kaelos finally brought his gaze to me and before I knew what was happening, he raised my hand.


    Gasps and murmurs rippled through the sea of people as confusion spread.


    But Kaelos barely paid any heed as his voice increased by an octave. "Tonight, as the mes of Elder Davina light onest time, I want to let it be known to the whole world. Odessa Pierce is MY mate and THE Luna Queen of the North American packs. Not just my wife and not just a hybrid."


    The gasps and murmuring increased but Kaelos roared.


    "Silence!"


    I jolted slightly, shocked by the intensity. But the people took the hint and instantly kept quiet, some even holding their breath as Kaelos slowly let go of my hand.


    He approached Elder Davina¡¯s casket in silence, grabbing one of the ming torches.


    I watched as he dropped the torch on the casket which slowly caught fire on the table it was ced on, the mes lighting up the stage and billowing into the sky.


    "Anyone who has a problem with my decree will answer to me," Kaelos said coldly, turning his head to the audience and a camera ced in that direction. "And I promise... The war you so desire for our people will rain on you. In abundance."

 Chapter 252: _Confessions Under The Moonlight

    <h4>Chapter 252: _Confessions Under The Moonlight</h4>


    After Elder Davina¡¯s funeral ceremony, I stood at the balcony of my bedroom, staring down at the pack grounds below.


    I was just officially crowned the Luna Queen of North America before thousands of people watching in the pack and possibly billions around the world.


    Yet... It didn¡¯t feel as uplifting as I had expected.


    Why would it? The announcement was made during the funeral procession of a woman who had been one of the only people to see past my witch bloodline.


    To look beyond that and treat my mate bond with Kaelos as a blessing rather than a curse. She even epted me when my hybrid nature was brought to light.


    "And now she¡¯s gone..." I whispered, cing my hands on the railing of the balcony as I slowly brought my gaze to the moon above.


    It seemed to shine with a brighter silver light than usual tonight and was in its full phase. It was as if Elder Davina was up there, watching and shining her light onest time.


    Outside the gates of the mansion, some pack members still loitered around, paying theirst respects to Elder Davina¡¯s casket, which was still in mes but had now almost burnedpletely to ash.


    "Ma¡¯am Odessa..." A familiar voice called from behind me, forcing me to tear my gaze from the scene downstairs.


    I slowly turned around only to see Caroline walking toward me with her hands sped in front of her stomach. My room was dark and Kaelos was busy discussing things with La, Marcellus and the elders of the pack in his office.


    I¡¯ve been all alone...


    "Hey, Car..." I whispered, smiling weakly. "Come on, girl. Could you stop with the ¡¯ma¡¯am¡¯? Pretty sure I¡¯m not even older than you."


    A smile tugged at her lips as she finally got beside me, standing calmly. She stared at the moon, breathing out heavily.


    "Death is such a weird thing..." She suddenly muttered, causing me to swerve my head to her, my eyebrows raised.


    The moonlight seemed to give her ginger curls a unique shine, her expression calm and at peace as she blinked slowly.


    "One day, you¡¯re talking to someone and they¡¯re so full of life. The next... Or even the next second... They¡¯re just no longer here." She continued solemnly. "They didn¡¯t abandon you. They didn¡¯t travel out only to return yearster. They just... Cease to exist in this mortal ne. Forever."


    I blinked once, smiling wryly.


    Seems she¡¯s going through grief.


    ¡¯And she came to you seekingfort.¡¯ Sirena muttered in my head. ¡¯Isn¡¯t that cute?¡¯


    I guess...


    I was just about to say something about how "I¡¯m sure Davina is in a better ce" when Caroline continued.


    "I was worried about you, Odessa." She said, but she sounded like she was talking more to herself than to me. "During the mission to Mexico. The thought that you¡¯d be so far away from my view... From me being able to see you and know that you¡¯re safe. It was... Terrifying."


    The pain and fear in her eyes were clear, and I felt a little guilt seeping in.


    I shouldn¡¯t feel guilty... But I just did.


    "Oh, Caroline," I muttered, cing my right hand on her shoulder.


    She slowly turned her head to face me as I smiled wryly.


    "I don¡¯t think I¡¯m dying anytime soon. Okay? You don¡¯t have to worry about anything."


    She stared at me for a few seconds, her eyes flickering with something foreign. But I could¡¯ve sworn she¡¯s given me that look before.


    Like she was... Hiding something from me.


    But what?


    "That¡¯s the thing. Death cane at any time, in any form, for any person." She sighed, shaking her head. "I¡¯ve shut myself off from emotions. I¡¯ve experienced loss in my past and it¡¯s made me... Hesitant to get attached to anyone. Until you came in..."


    Oh...


    <fn8796> This update is avable on FindN0vel</fn8796>


    My hand was still on her shoulder but the silence that followed her statement made it hard for me to look her in the face.


    Why do I feel like there¡¯s a confession of some kind iing?


    ¡¯Wait...¡¯ Sirena blurted in my head, sounding shocked. ¡¯Don¡¯t tell me she...¡¯


    She what?


    "I guess I¡¯ve been in denial all this while. But this trip to Mexico and then seeing Elder Davina¡¯s dead body has made me realise something that I can¡¯t keep from you because you¡¯re my friend. My only friend." Caroline slowly ced her hand on my wrist.


    I fluttered my eyelids, swallowing hard as I waited for the confession.


    Nothing would¡¯ve prepared me for what I heard next.


    "I¡¯ve grown to like you beyond... The tonic, Odessa."


    My lips parted as the wind seemed to pick up at that moment.


    Wait... Does that mean...?


    "Yes, I have a crush on you." Caroline sighed, looking away. "Or maybe it¡¯s love. I don¡¯t know... But ever since the Charity Ball I¡¯ve been realising¡ª"


    "Oh, my gosh." I interrupted, cing my hand in front of my mouth. "You¡¯ve felt that way since the Charity Ball? Also... You¡¯re gay?"


    I felt like I had just been sshed with a bucket of water.


    Damn.


    It all made sense now. The prolonged looks when we¡¯re alone.


    The way she told me she: "thought I was going to say something else" when I confessed to being a hybrid.


    Heck, even the dance we had during the Charity Ball. I had noticed the tension... But I originally thought it was all the emotions surrounding the mission we were in at the time.


    Suddenly, she brought her gaze back to me and spoke. "I¡¯m bi. But that¡¯s not the point. The point is I didn¡¯t want to live with that secret for the rest of my life, especially now that it¡¯s eating me up so much. I¡¯ll understand if you feel ufortable or¡ª"


    "Car..." I shook my head hastily, pulling her into an embrace.


    She stiffened with shock at first but I ignored that as I continued. "I¡¯m not going to see you as a different person because of your feelings. I might not be able to reciprocate them but I still cherish you as a person and a friend. Okay?"


    Slowly, her body rxed and she hugged me back, breathing into my hair.


    We stayed like that for several seconds before finally pulling away.


    "Goddess..." Caroline giggled, using her fingers to clean her watery eyes. "You¡¯re too good for this world, Odessa."


    I rolled my eyes, shoving her yfully on the shoulder. "Shut up."


    We bothughed this time but just when I brought my gaze to the night sky again, I noticed something flying toward us.


    A barn owl.


    I furrowed my eyebrows as the bird perched on the railing between Caroline and me. We both blinked at each other with confusion until I lowered my head and noticed something strapped to its side.


    A letter.

 Chapter 253: _Missing Piece Of The Puzzle

    <h4>Chapter 253: _Missing Piece Of The Puzzle</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    I stood behind my office desk, my arms ced behind my back.


    Standing in front of me were La, Marcellus, the military advisor, Althea and a few Elders of the pack.


    My mind was still reeling after the funeral ceremony held in honour of Elder Davina. We were observing a moment of silence, but even then, I could still notice the tense and judgmental expressions on the faces of the Elders.


    They were three in number... All men with balding hair. But I respected them for their wisdom nheless.


    After a minute or two, I cleared my throat and gestured for everyone to sit, while I remained standing. I couldn¡¯t afford to sit.


    Not when my head was a fucking storm right now.


    "La, when I was in Mexico, you reported a riot happening in the pack," I remarked, clearing my throat and cing my hands on the desk. "Please, enlighten me on it. Tell me the people who led it and exin in detail how the protest turned into a bloody riot."


    La seemed hesitant... Or was that still lingering sadness on her face?


    I honestly couldn¡¯t tell and didn¡¯t care enough right now to take note. I was dealing with my ownplex emotions.


    Eventually, she cleared her throat and began. "The riot was led by a wolf named Timothy Sakaar. He rallied a group of wolves into the elite district that morning and then all the way to your mansion. The protesters... They carried problematic signboards."


    I furrowed my eyebrows at the word "problematic". But I kept calm and silent, nodding for her to continue.


    "The signs in question were all based around the idea that Odessa..." Her words died in her throat as she stared into my eyes.


    She swallowed, her eyes quivering for a heartbeat before she cleared her throat. "... Sorry, I mean the Luna Queen, doesn¡¯t belong here. One signboard even depicted an image of a witch being burned at the stake."


    My nails scratched the desk instantly as I tried controlling my emotions.


    ¡¯Find every one of those protesters and kill them. Paint the roads with their blood.¡¯ Damon spoke with a growl.


    But I lowered my head, looking away from the others as I snapped mentally. ¡¯Would you chill out? I can¡¯t kill a group of people expressing their rights. I¡ª¡¯


    ¡¯Are you listening to yourself? Since when was this pack a fucking democracy?¡¯ he sniggered with mockery. ¡¯You are the bloody Alpha King. Those protesters turned that get-together into something violent and caused the deaths of people on their side and among your guards.¡¯


    I gritted my teeth, trying to fight off his rage festering in my head. It was safe to say that Damon¡¯s influence on my mental space had slowly be as bad as my young years.


    The years when I was led by my lust for blood.


    And the catalyst? Davina¡¯s death.


    "Ahem..." The military advisor suddenly cleared his throat, forcing me to raise my head only to see him staring with a glint of suspicion in his eyes. "The high priestess was able to make a theory that someone out there used magic to influence the emotions of the people during the riot. Making them more... Violent."


    Wait... What?


    I arched an eyebrow before swerving my head to Althea who sighed lightly before nodding. "It¡¯s true, Alpha King. Elder Davina mentioned spotting traces of a spell that pushed the emotions of the first wolf to fall before the riot became bloody. Farak."


    I fucking knew it.


    "So this riot still ties in to the witch or whatever that¡¯s been terrorising us since Odessa¡¯s arrival?" I muttered, shaking my head. "What else?"


    "Artificial hybrids..." Marcellus was the one to speak this time, his voice filled with exhaustion as he folded his arms in front of his chest. "High priestess Althea brought them up, stating that the culprit behind the killings and the riot might be an artificial hybrid. But¡ª"


    "We¡¯ll go with that." I nodded without a second thought. "Odessa told me about this theory before we left for Mexico. And I think we just got proof in Mexico City that the true lord of the North is secretly running experiments to create entire armies of these artificial hybrids."


    Gasps echoed from almost everyone present.


    <fn7d37> For original chapters go to find?novel</fn7d37>


    "This is bad news." One of the eldersmented.


    "It¡¯s beyond bad news." Another chimed. "If this is true then it increases the threat of the war in North America having new yers if it ever spirals again¡ª"


    "The war will remain the way it is in North America." I interrupted with a domineering voice, my words bouncing off the walls. "Non-existent. Before we begin thinking about the Lord of the North, we need to develop a strategy to fish out this culprit."


    Silence.


    Those gathered nced at each other but none said anything.


    Until...


    "Sir, I don¡¯t think Elder Davina¡¯s murder is a coincidence," La said somberly. "Last night, when she was killed, we were discussing the creation of amittee led by Marcellus to fish out the culprit behind the atrocities in the pack. She seemed to have been on to something..."


    My jaw clenched.


    I racked my head, thinking of my next move.


    "If that is the case, then it¡¯s clear our culprit is either really good at hiding himself and listening from the shadows," I remarked, rubbing my chin thoughtfully. "Or, we have a mole amongst us. One who might be answering to the culprit... Or is the culprit himself."


    The tension in the room tripled instantly as I scanned my gaze on all their faces.


    Everyone either looked away solemnly or seemed to have thoughtful expressions on their faces.


    I was close to cracking this. I could feel it.


    But... Why do I feel like I was missing onest vital piece that would change everything and bring out the culprit?


    Suddenly, Marcellus coughed and raised a hand. "I think we need to start our search internally. From among the elites and all the way to¡ª"


    Before he could finish speaking, a loud <strong>BOOM</strong> sounded outside, causing my eyes to widen as I ducked my head.

 Chapter 254: _Dark Purple Sky

    <h4>Chapter 254: _Dark Purple Sky</h4>


    "What was that?" La gasped as everyone else and I stared outside the window behind me.


    The sound of people screaming echoed from it, followed by more explosions.


    My eyes widened as I breathed heavily, trying to understand what was happening.


    The sky outside seemed to burn with a dark purple light, the clouds spiralling.


    I had no doubt what that was...


    "Magic..." Althea murmured, stepping forward with a solemn expression. "An attack. For a witch to expend so much power to cause destruction within the pack means¡ª"


    "The moon stone ward at the pack gates." The military advisor suddenly muttered, getting on his feet. "They¡¯ve protected our pack from wide-scale witch attacks for decades. It hasn¡¯t protected against the culprit killing people because their magic is minimal at best."


    "But this isn¡¯t." An elder said solemnly.


    I blinked, clenching my jaw as I thought about one person.


    Odessa.


    Without a word, I turned around my desk and headed for the door, ignoring the stares of the others.


    "K¨CKaelos, wait!" Marcellus called out from behind me when I approached the door, forcing me to turn my head to him.


    He got on his feet, worry clear in his eyes. "I¡¯lle with you. Whatever is happening out there sounds¡ª"


    "I appreciate the concern, but I don¡¯t need babysitting, Marcellus," I growled, staring at him onest time before I opened the door and stormed out. "Get the guards to secure the mansion, La."


    I closed the door behind me, navigating my way through the dark hallways and the few maids who were either lowering their heads in fear or trying to find safety as the building shook from yet another explosion.


    The mate bond pulsed in my soul, allowing me to feel Odessa¡¯s emotions like they were mine despite our distance.


    She was frightened.


    Confused.


    And rightfully so.


    "I¡¯ming..." I muttered, walking down the stairs.


    .


    .


    Once I got outside, my gaze was fixed on the sky as the sound of my pack soldiers scampering around and yelling orders echoed around the mansion¡¯s premises.


    I scanned my gaze around, my jaw clenching as I stared at the sky.


    ¡¯Kaelos.¡¯ Odessa¡¯s voice suddenly sounded in my mind, causing me to blink once before I drew in a deep breath to focus on her voice.


    ¡¯Odessa, are you seeing this too?¡¯


    ¡¯Yes. Look behind you.¡¯


    I furrowed my eyebrows before slowly turning around, only to spot Odessa and her maid walking out of the mansion and heading toward me.


    She had a tense expression on her face but her shoulders rxed when she saw me.


    "You¡¯re alright..." I whispered as she walked up to me and wrapped her arms around me while Caroline stood behind in silence.


    I stared at the maid for a brief second until Odessa pulled away. "Where are the others?"


    I parted my lips to speak when suddenly, two guards ran from thepound gate, approaching us with fear in their eyes.


    "Sir! We have a problem." one of them said, panting heavily.


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    How quaint... stating the obvious.


    "What is it?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as the other one managed topose himself and continue.


    "T¨CThe head of the mansion¡¯s guards. ric. He¡¯s the one behind the mes in the sky."


    My frown deepened as I swerved my head to Odessa.


    She bit her bottom lip, fixing her gaze on me as well. "You know what this means. Right?"


    I nodded with a somber expression. "This... ric. He¡¯s our artificial hybrid. The culprit behind everything terrible that has happened in this pack."


    My hands clenched but before I could say anything, a voice echoed from the mansion.


    "ric is the guard who tried getting a rise out of Odessa before your trip to Mexico."


    All eyes turned to the mansion¡¯s entrance where Althea walked out from, her ck hair and purple robe blowing into the wind as the dark purple magic in the sky increased in intensity and brightness.


    I squinted at her with confusion but she waved her hand dismissively. "There¡¯s no time to exin. He was trying to taunt Odessa for being a hybrid. During all that... I felt something was off about him. It was well hidden but now?"


    Suddenly, a voice boomed from the clouds, spreading all around the pack as the wind picked up speed and force, causing me to dim my eyes.


    "All witches must die!" The voice echoed, deep and condescending but also sounding emotionally distant. "The lord of the North awaits to free us from their depravity!"


    Depravity?


    "What¡¯s he yapping about?" Caroline murmured much to my surprise.


    The girl was usually quiet when I was near.


    "The real question is, where is he, and where did that explosion from earliere from?" Odessa asked, dimming her eyes at the clouds.


    But Althea held her hand just then, causing me to furrow my eyebrows.


    "You can¡¯t interfere, Odessa. Please. You¡¯re already pushing the limits of¡ª"


    "The elders of our coven and the bracelet they used in chaining me?" Odessa interrupted, yanking her right hand away from her aunt. "They sent me a letter just before the explosion. I¡¯m still under their radar... but they¡¯re giving me a free pass for what happened in Mexico City."


    "Duck!" Caroline suddenly yelled out, grabbing Odessa and trying to shield her.


    I turned my gaze to the direction she was staring at and instantly went on high alert, my instincts ring.


    It was a st of dark purple mes, hurtling at us like a wave of divine judgement.


    I stepped forward, smashing my right foot on the ground. That caused a silver energy shield to spread from the ground before covering our front.


    The mes hit the shield, spreading around it and seemingly trying to get past it and hit us. But the silver shield was resilient, blocking the full brunt of the attack until the mes subsided.


    "Since... since when could you¡ª" Odessa breathed out with surprise but I swerved my head to her and winked.


    "The battle against Gamma Zane in my mental space. I was able to do something simr and thought maybe I could try it in the physical world.


    We maintained eye contact as the silver shield slowly dissipated. It was not until another st of dark purple mes lit up the sky that we were forced to break eye contact.


    From the sky, a figure covered in dark purple mes fell like a zing meteorite, a blood-curdling scream thundering from him.


    The scream was filled with pure agony, causing a cold shiver to run down my spine.


    It seemed to be getting closer and closer.


    "That should be the guard. ric." Althea stepped forward, stretching out her arms. "Brace yourselves. That¡¯s not a stable transformation... that magic is consuming him."

 Chapter 255: _Flames Fizzled Out

    <h4>Chapter 255: _mes Fizzled Out</h4>


    "Caroline, step back!" Odessa yelled out, cing her right hand in front of her maid and pushing her backwards.


    The next thing that happened was Althea spreading out her arms and cing her palms in front of her face.


    Her palms glowed with a blue light, manifesting a powerful force field that wrapped around us like a dome.


    The guard, who was still zing with dark purple mes, crashed into the forcefield, sending a powerful shockwave that caused me to grab Odessa¡¯s hand subconsciously.


    The guard bounced off the forcefield and plopped to the ground with a groan, the dark purple mes which lit up his body dying down as he struggled to breathe.


    I blinked with confusion.


    That¡¯s it?


    The mes, the power, the magic... The domineering voice from him which shook the sky with his deration about the lord of the North.


    All of it now felt like nothing as the guard heaved pitifully, raising his right hand toward us. His fingers brushed against the forcefield, ashes from his skin tainting its surface.


    "He¡¯s dying," Althea mumbled as she caused the forcefield to disappear with a simple wave of her palm.


    My nostrils red as the smell of charred skin and smoke wafted.


    Heck no!


    "He can¡¯t die. Not until he exins himself and all the atrocities he¡¯smitted." I growled, stepping past the others and grabbing the bastard by his shoulders.


    The dark purple mes had cleared off from his body now but it had burnt off his clothes and left his skin an ashen mess.


    "Kaelos, he¡¯s hurt." Odessa tried to speak but one nce from me made her seal her lips.


    All I could hear and see were the people whom this bastard had killed.


    Elder Davina. The humans in the human town just outside the Blood Oak woods. Two different pack doctors. And indirectly, the victims of the riots.


    "Why are you killing people? What¡¯s your end goal?" I snarled, raising him into the air despite the way he struggled to breathe.


    He wrapped his burnt hands around my wrist but I ignored that, fixing my eyes on him.


    "Kaelos..." Odessa tried to speak yet again, but this time, I let my Alpha King aurae out and directed it at the guard.


    My aura was a silver shroud, engulfing the guard like mes and causing him to screech in pain. But it didn¡¯t burn him. My aura never burns.


    It only pushes enough pressure to make the targetply with my wishes.


    "Answer me!" I snarled, my voice reverberating like a thunderp through the pack mansion grounds.


    The silver energy of my Alpha King aura swirled violently around the half-dead man I held in my grasp. ric choked, his charred body twitching as if about to seize, his mouth opening in pain and eyes bulging in terror.


    But instead of words, a sickening hissing sound escaped his lips.


    A glowing sigil, dark and cracked like an old brand, began to spread across his chest. My eyes widened as the symbol glowed brighter¡ªa jagged crescent surrounded by serpentine shapes.


    <fne425> Newest update provided by find{n}ovel</fne425>


    "What the hell is that?" I hissed, dropping him to the ground.


    Althea gasped, stepping forward. "No... That¡¯s a binding curse. An ancient failsafe used to silence traitors before they can speak. It¡¯s not natural magic... It¡¯s imnted by someone."


    Odessa hurried to my side, her breath hitching as she crouched next to ric. His skin cracked like dried y, king to ash as the sigil on his chest pulsed onest time.


    "He was silenced on purpose," Odessa whispered, cing her hand on my arm. "Someone didn¡¯t want him talking."


    ric trembled, his gaze locking with mine. And then...


    "He... promised I wouldn¡¯t feel pain..." he rasped out, barely a whisper. "He¡¯s watching... All of us... The Lord of the North... is already here..."


    His pupils dted and one final shudder passed through him. Then, with a sickening puff of smoke, his heart ruptured into a fine mist of ck ash.


    Odessa let out a startled breath and shielded her face as the residue scattered into the wind.


    "No! No, no, NO!" I snarled, mming my fist into the ground hard enough to crack the stone beneath us. "He was the one chance we had at finding the root of all this!"


    Althea stared down solemnly. "We were toote. That sigil... It¡¯s beyond any witch magic I¡¯ve seen. This was artificial. Modified."


    "So someone turned him into an artificial hybrid, then cursed him to die if he ever betrayed them," I growled, pacing in a small circle, fury boiling in my chest. "This wasn¡¯t about ric... He was just a disposable pawn."


    Odessa nodded grimly. "And someone set this whole thing up to tie back to me. The witch-hate, the riots, the attacks... They¡¯re all conveniently linked to my presence."


    "The n was clean," Althea added. "Get the pack riled up against Odessa. Use a magically-enhanced hybrid as a scapegoat. And when it alles crashing down, he dies before giving anything away."


    My fists clenched.


    Someone was ying chess with my pack, and they were moving with terrifying precision.


    Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the mansion behind us.


    I turned, my senses on edge, ready to attack.


    Marcellus.


    He strolled toward us, his hands sped behind his back, calm as ever. "Did I miss something?"


    Odessa narrowed her eyes slightly.


    I could feel her suspicion through the bond.


    "Where were you?" I asked, barely masking the edge in my voice.


    He tilted his head. "You said you don¡¯t need a babysitter, remember? I went to reinforce the west gate. Heard the explosion and thought I¡¯d better check it out myself. I take it that our little me in the sky has fizzled out?"


    Odessa stood up beside me, brushing ash off her arm. "He was cursed. A sigil was burned into his chest."


    Marcellus arched an eyebrow, stepping closer to ric¡¯s remains, or what was left of them. "Clever magic. Whoever did this covered their tracks well."


    Althea nodded. "We¡¯ll need to analyse what residue remains. There might be traces of the caster¡¯s essence."


    Marcellus knelt by the body, observing with his usual calcting calm. "Let me assist you with that. I¡¯m curious about this sigil myself."


    "Why?" Odessa suddenly asked.


    Marcellus shed his signature charming smile. "Because anything capable of silencing a hybrid this powerful... Is a threat to all of us."


    For some reason, I felt like there was more to it that he wasn¡¯t saying.


    But I said nothing.


    Instead, I turned to Odessa.


    Her eyes were locked on the sky, watching the dark purple clouds finally begin to clear.


    The tension in her body was still there, but I could feel the exhaustion setting in.


    I reached out and took her hand in mine. Her fingers were cold.


    She looked at me, startled at first.


    "You okay?" I asked quietly.


    She nodded slowly. "I will be. Just... shaken."


    We stood there for a few seconds, our hands intertwined. The world around us was still chaotic, with guards shouting orders and debris being cleared.


    But for one moment, it was just her and me.


    And the bitter truth that someone had gone to great lengths to destroy everything we were building.


    And they were still out there...

 Chapter 256: _Fuck What The World Thinks

    <h4>Chapter 256: _Fuck What The World Thinks</h4>


    (Warning: Mature Content Ahead)


    Odessa and I went to her room after getting the guards, Marcellus and La to deal with the aftermath of the dead head guard, ric.


    She sighed heavily when we got there, stepping inside and slowly sliding off her crimson gown from the funeral ceremony.


    "I¡¯m exhausted." She whispered, ncing back at me as her shoulders and back got exposed to me.


    The room was dark, the only lightinging from the moon outside.


    I stood by the door, staring at her and swallowing hard as she sessfully got out of the gown and remained in her white silk underwear and bra.


    She adjusted the straps of the bra, leaning forward and exposing her ass to me.


    I felt heat rise up my body, blood rushing to the organ underneath my legs until I felt like it was going to rip right out of my pants.


    ¡¯So much for self-control...¡¯ Damon muttered, causing me to shake my head before clearing my throat.


    "Odessa..." I muttered, taking a few steps forward.


    She turned back to face me, arching a slightly clueless eyebrow as I swallowed hard, trying topose myself.


    "Y¨CYou said you got sent a letter by the Elders of the Luminari coven," I said with a cough, stering a serious expression and pretending like I didn¡¯t want to peel off her clothes with my gaze alone.


    She blinked, her eyes lingering on my face for a few seconds before she nodded. "Y¨CYeah, actually. The letter came via an owl. Very... Harry Potter style, right?"


    She was obviously trying to make a joke, but all I could do was smile awkwardly, trying hard to maintain eye contact without my eyes falling to her breasts, which peeked out of her bra.


    "Anyway, the letters said they felt my power surge from Mexico through the bracelet but they still have their eyes on me and that I should focus on training with Althea and potentially training my wolf side as well."


    She shrugged, parting aside strands of her hair behind her back before sitting on the bed behind her.


    She blinked at me for a few seconds before sighing heavily, crossing one leg on top of the other.


    We stared at each other in silence for a while and I could hear her heartbeat. It was slow, steady... But it still felt chaotic.


    Like a storm that had slowly started calming.


    "I feel... I feel so confused, Kaelos." She finally blurted, tilting her head slightly, not realising that merely staring at her was getting me hard.


    I swallowed, stepping closer to her before finally sitting beside her. I kept my eyes locked on her face before I spoke.


    "What are you confused about?"


    She bit her bottom lip, looking away from me. "The... The Luna Queen title. I¡¯m not sure I deserve it. I¡¯m not sure if I want all that attention from the world. You¡ª"


    "Who gives a fuck about what the world thinks?" I growled, using my fingers to grab her jaw gently and forcing her to bring her gaze back to me. "You are my mate. My wife. The mother of my child."


    Her violet eyes softened, a warm smile curling up her lips as I caressed her jaw.


    "That¡¯s all that matters to me. Not what people think. And if the people think otherwise and refuse to adapt their beliefs, they can¡ª"


    "Let¡¯s not go overboard, Kaelos." Odessa interrupted with a giggle, cing her free hand on my face. "Gods, I love you. Despite everything going on, I¡¯ve never been this happy in my life."


    I felt a warmth surge in my chest after she said that.


    "I... Feel the same way too." I whispered, my grip on her jaw lightening. "You still drive me crazy... Sometimes. Like when you try being stubborn¡ª"


    "Let¡¯s not ruin the moment, Kaelos." She said with an eye roll, causing both of us to chuckle.


    Her fingers brushed my cheek gently as my smile brightened.


    And then... We leaned in closer, our hearts beating in sync until... We kissed.


    It was slow and sensual at first, her hand remaining on my face as we found a rhythm. But then the pace gradually quickened, her arms wrapping around my neck until I was forced to lift her off the bed.


    I ced her on myp, my dick bulging in reaction to the moan that left her lips.


    My arms wrapped her waist, grabbing her ass until her moan increased in intensity. She began grinding her body against mine, her bra slowly bing undone.


    I trailed my palms across her back, helping her to take off the bra in one fluid movement, my eyes widening with glee and lust when I saw her breasts bouncing in front of me.


    "Gorgeous..." I whispered, bringing my gaze to her face. "Every inch of you is gorgeous."


    She grinned as she brought her right knee up, using it to grind against my already hardened dick. It was an odd mix of pleasure and difort, making me feel like I was going crazy.


    The way she moved her knee against my dick, stimting it while still leaving it behind full clothing, made me grunt until I couldn¡¯t take it anymore.


    I pulled away from our kiss, staring at her eyes for a couple of seconds before I brought my lips to her corbone.


    She stopped breathing as I trailed kisses along her corbone, my precision only increasing when I heard the moans and gasps and also felt the way her body shivered under my hold.


    Then my lips found their way to the mate mark on her neck, which was pulsing with a soft red glow under the darkness in the room.


    <fnf86a> Official source is Find¡ïNovel</fnf86a>


    Before I could make any moves, her hands found their ways to my dick, grabbing it from underneath my pants.


    I groaned, breathing heavily as I stared into her eyes.


    "Speaking about inches..." She mumbled, chuckling softly before taking my lips into a steamy kiss that made me close my eyes, my wolf growling in my head.

 Chapter 257: _Make Her Beg For Darkness

    <h4>Chapter 257: _Make Her Beg For Darkness</h4>


    Ryker¡¯s POV


    *****


    He sat in his throne room, his mind drifting to different thoughts that ran through his mind in quick session.


    His fingers drummed the skull-shaped armrest, waiting patiently for something important.


    The reason he had told Marcellus to make sure Odessa Pierce went to Mexico alongside Kaelos...


    "Sir..." Regina¡¯s voice echoed from the entrance of the throne room as the doors swung open.


    She walked in with a sly grin, her ck gown trailing behind her like a dark cloud. Her hips swayed seductively but also with a confidence that was hard to miss.


    <fn2f77> Find the newest release on find?novel</fn2f77>


    "Cnthe is dead, lord," Regina remarked, causing Ryker¡¯s eyes to widen slightly.


    Cnthe... Also known as the "raven witch", was once a powerful member of the coven of Mexico City over a century ago.


    But then she was banished... Forgotten.


    That¡¯s until she met the Lord of the North years ago and they struck a deal, making her one of the witches secretly helping him further his research on artificial hybrids.


    "Let me guess... Kaelos and Odessa killed her." Ryker remarked with a snigger, slowly standing from his throne with an unimpressed smirk. "No matter. I got Odessa right where I want her.".


    He stepped down the tform of his throne, his boots clicking ominously against the ck marble floor.


    Regina tilted her head, her raven-ck hair cascading like ink over her shoulders. "Are you certain she¡¯s ready?"


    Ryker turned sharply toward her, a dark glint in his obsidian eyes. "Ready? No. That¡¯s the beauty of it."


    Regina¡¯s lips curled into a smirk as she walked closer. "Then you were right to send Cnthe as bait."


    "She served her purpose," Ryker said, circling therge mirror mounted beside his throne.


    The surface shimmered... It wasn¡¯t a normal mirror, but one bound in blood magic, its power sealed with the lives of ancient divination witches.


    "She died screaming, apparently," Regina added casually, inspecting her ck-painted nails. "Burned alive by Kaelos¡¯ aura and Odessa¡¯s magic mes. Quite the cinematic sight... I was able to see it by sneaking into the pocket dimension as a mouse."


    Ryker paused. "Pity. I would¡¯ve liked to do it myself."


    He lifted his hand, and the mirror pulsed with dark purple light.


    The image formed slowly¡ªblurry at first, then clearer.


    Odessa.


    She was sitting on her bed. Alone. Exhausted. But more importantly... distant. Her hands were clenched on the sheets, her lips twitching.


    She looked like she was trying to breathe through invisible pressure.


    Ryker¡¯s smirk widened. "Do you see it?"


    Regina leaned closer. "She¡¯s not aware."


    "Not yet," Ryker whispered. "But she will be. Every moment that passes, she feels me like a breath on her neck. Like a thought she didn¡¯t invite. The resonance began the second Cnthe died."


    "Because of the blood mark," Regina said, catching on fast. "It was triggered."


    Ryker gave her a look of approval. "Clever girl."


    She curtsied mockingly, her eyes glowing faintly with a dark purple light as she approached the mirror. "And Kaelos?"


    "He¡¯s her shield. But not perfect. His blood makes him strong, yes... but even strength has blind spots."


    Regina chuckled darkly, cing her palm on the mirror¡¯s surface. "You know, watching them gives me goosebumps. They¡¯re so..." She clicked her tongue. "Na?ve."


    "Love has a way of making fools out of kings and witches alike," Ryker murmured. "But let them y their part. They still believe this war is about artificial hybrids, pack betrayals, old covens and bloodlines."


    His voice dropped to a whisper. "They haven¡¯t even scratched the surface."


    A low hum vibrated through the chamber.


    The mirror began to glow brighter¡ªthis time shifting, flickering between Odessa¡¯s face and the dark sigils etched deep within her magic.


    Sigils she didn¡¯t even know existed yet.


    Regina frowned. "It¡¯s awakening. Her hybrid blood... Her true inheritance."


    "And when it does..." Ryker whispered, almost reverently, "...She¡¯ll be more than a queen. She¡¯ll be the key."


    Regina turned to him fully. "And the seal?"


    Ryker¡¯s smile faded into something sharper. "It¡¯s already cracking. Every drop of dark energy she taps into through the sigils now imnted in her brings it closer to breaking."


    His gaze went distant for a moment.


    "When it breaks, I will not just ess her mind... I will own it."


    Regina raised a brow. "And if she resists?"


    "She won¡¯t," he replied, too quickly.


    Regina gave him a look, but Ryker rolled his eyes before adding, "Not for long."


    "You¡¯re underestimating her," she said, stepping around him. "She¡¯s not weak, my lord. She¡¯s not Cnthe. Odessa has loyalty, love, and conviction. If you push her too fast¡ª"


    "Then I¡¯ll make her beg for darkness," he snapped, his voice low and venomous. "I¡¯ll make her hate the light so much that she¡¯ll burn it down herself."


    Regina stared at him quietly.


    "Have I ever failed?" Ryker asked sharply.


    Regina hesitated... then shook her head with a slow smile. "No, my lord. You haven¡¯t."


    "Exactly."


    He turned back to the mirror and flicked his wrist.


    The image of Odessa dissolved and was reced by a swirling ck vortex... A vision of the energy forming beneath the surface of North America.


    Old, slumbering dark magic.


    "Cnthe¡¯s death was the final thread. The ritual begins whether they¡¯re ready or not."


    "And Marcellus?" Regina asked, lifting an eyebrow. "You¡¯ve been very quiet about him."


    Ryker¡¯s expression soured slightly. "He¡¯s too careful. Too paranoid. I needed someone unpredictable. That¡¯s why I gave him just enough rope."


    "Do you trust him?" She asked.


    Ryker snorted. "I trust him to save his own skin. And that¡¯s all I need."


    Regina drifted toward the glowing symbols on the mirror¡¯s frame, brushing her fingers along them. "You should rest, then. It¡¯s almost time."


    But Ryker didn¡¯t move, instead muttering. "Regina?"


    "Yes, my lord?"


    "If Odessa dreams tonight... make sure she sees me."


    Regina grinned, wicked and pleased. "With pleasure."


    She turned to leave, her gown trailing behind her like a whisper of death.


    As her heels clicked behind Ryker, he stared at the mirror with a cold smirk.


    "The continent and the world wouldn¡¯t know what hit them..."

 Chapter 258: _The Puppeteer And The Priestess

    <h4>Chapter 258: _The Puppeteer And The Priestess</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    With Kaelos and Odessa¡¯s arrival from Mexico, he realised something that ced him on the edge.


    They were on to him.


    The suspicion was mild at best but with them knowing about the existence of artificial hybrids and narrowing their "culprit" to being one, he had to act fast.


    So what was the best course of action?


    Simple... Creating a substitute. Someone who would fit all the descriptions: a person with ess to the Alpha King¡¯s mansion, a male and who would seem like an artificial hybrid.


    ric.


    Marcellus captured the head guard, who already had his mental maniption spell running active in his mind, and did a temporary ritual on him that would give thed the magic of a witch.


    The cost? It burnt up his life force quicker than any normal artificial hybrid.


    When ric attacked during a meeting in Kaelos¡¯ office, the chaos was easy for the others to conclude that he was the culprit.


    And when the head guard died, Marcellus finally felt like that had removed a target from his back.


    Or so he hoped...


    "I still feel like I¡¯m missing something. Or someone." He whispered to himself, staring at ric¡¯s charred corpse in a dark room given to Althea for her magic works.


    The corpse was ced on a metallic table, the skin still crackling a bit like wood under fire.


    "What was that?" Althea called from behind, forcing Marcellus to swerve his head to her.


    She walked slowly, raising an eyebrow. She held a bowl which swirled with a ck liquid, cing it on the table beside the corpse when she finally got beside Marcellus.


    "Oh, nothing." Marcellus shook his head with a smile. "Just wondering if the sigils ced on this guard were from the Lord of the North. I mean, he did mention him before he died."


    That was obviously a lie, but it was also the reason why Marcellus was here wasting his time pretending like he gave a damn about helping Althea decipher the inner workings of the dead guard.


    Althea already brought up the possibility of someone having cursed ric to die before he could ever reveal anything vital. That "someone" was Marcellus, but he didn¡¯t want any of them to think there was still another artificial hybrid out there.


    So he volunteered to help Althea, to push the idea that the Lord of the North was the one who ced a curse on ric.


    "The Lord of the North cing ancient curse sigils on his artificial hybrids..." Althea murmured, furrowing her eyebrows.


    "But why? I reckon it would be difficult to perfect the ritual holding these artificial hybrids together. Why would he waste resources, especially with someone responsible for so many impressive magical feats in the pack?"


    Marcellus stared at the older woman who looked to be around his age with hidden disdain.


    It was a struggle holding back his desire to shove his fist right through her chest and bring out her heart... But he had to control himself.


    He was doing way too much killing, and they were all starting to catch up with him in a not-so-fun way.


    "The lord of the North is still a mystery to us, high priestess," Marcellus remarked thoughtfully, folding his arms in front of his chest. "We don¡¯t even know if he¡¯s also an artificial hybrid... Or something more. There¡¯s no telling how much he¡¯s willing to expend just to make sure his nse to fruition."


    Saying that alone made him swallow solemnly.


    Everything he said... There were more truths than lies.


    The Lord of the North was an enigma to even him. Yes, the manmunicated mentally with him and he¡¯s seen him so many times... But he was also secretive and silent.


    Marcellus only knew he wanted rulership of North America... He just didn¡¯t know what his end goal was in achieving it.


    "You¡¯re... Right." Althea sighed in response to Marcellus¡¯sst statement, just then, brushing her right hand through her ck hair. "Gods, this seems like a dead end. The magic signature I was feeling from the sigils earlier seemed to have disappeared."


    Marcellus smirked mischievously.


    Opsies.


    "On the bright side... The culprit is gone." He said with a hopeful tone. "This man has terrorised us for well over a month now. Killed maids, stole the life force of his victims and was probably the one behind the killing of the humans in the human town outside the pack..."


    He ced his right hand on Althea¡¯s shoulder, causing thetter to raise an eyebrow at first until he stared at her face with a reassuring look.


    "I don¡¯t understand why the lord of the North decided to take him down but at least now we can focus on other things." He added and smiled softly when Althea nodded.


    "You¡¯re right." She whispered. "Odessa still has so much to learn and I¡¯m the only one currently who can teach her. Whatever darkness is waiting to consume the continent or the world... She needs to be ready for it."


    Oh, she has no fucking clue...


    .


    .


    Back at his residence, Marcellus opened the living room door after a night spent making sure Althea wouldn¡¯t think of another culprit being out there.


    When he stepped in, however, he saw a scene in the living room that made him pause in his tracks.


    "Cullen... Are you kidding me?" He growled at his assistant.


    Cullen was sitting on a couch, his lips locked with a she-wolf who was wearing nothing but loose ck lingerie. To his right, a handsome and shirtless young man sat, trailing his hands down Cullen¡¯s unbuttoned shirt.


    However, when Cullen heard his voice, he jolted, blinking with a little confusion as he slowly turned his gaze to him.


    "Oh... Hi. I thought you wouldn¡¯t be home for a while." Thed cleared his throat, using the back of his hand to clean his lips before giving the wolf girl a wink. "You two go wait for me upstairs."


    The two of them were hesitant at first, staring at Marcellus who merely spared them a nce. When they finally stood and left, Marcellus folded his arms in front of his chest and walked toward Cullen.


    "I don¡¯t know what Elder Davina left behind in my soul but we need to find a way to get rid of it. Quickly."<fne929> Newest update provided by find[?]ovel</fne929>

 Chapter 259: _Something Is Coming

    <h4>Chapter 259: _Something Is Coming</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    ******


    I didn¡¯t know how I got here but I wanted to get out.


    I NEEDED to get out.


    I was in a dimly lit throne room with ck marble tiles. Familiar-looking marble tiles.


    I blinked at the floor, squinting my eyes before I raised my head again and scanned my gaze around. The throne room was empty and cold, forcing me to rub my arms.


    I was wearing a sleeveless white dress and my hair fell down my chest.


    Confusion surged through me.


    Something¡¯s off. One second I was with Kaelos in my room and the next I found myself here.


    Was I kidnapped?


    ¡¯Sirena, do you know what¡¯s happening?¡¯ I queried mentally, bringing my gaze to the throne itself.


    But Sirena didn¡¯t respond. I couldn¡¯t even feel her.


    There were no sarcastic remarks, no logical suggestions... Nothing.


    A cold shiver ran down my spine as I focused on the throne. It stood tall, ck like obsidian and glistening under the dim lightinging from torches etched on the walls.


    But then my attention fell on something on the wall behind it, causing me to squint my eyes.


    A ck mirror...


    "Wait..." I whispered, taking slow steps forward while still looking around, anxious that something or someone would jump out of the shadows and attack me.


    I was barefoot so my footsteps were silent until I finally got to the ck mirror.


    However, when I got to the mirror, I realised that it wasn¡¯t ck.


    No... It was reflecting an image of something ck. A swirling vortex of energy which spun slowly.


    I squinted my eyes, ncing back briefly before I stretched my right hand forward.


    My fingers shook with hesitation and fear but I drew in a deep breath, letting my fingers linger only a few centimetres away from the mirror.


    And then...


    "You aren¡¯t ready for what will awaken." A voice whispered in my head the second I touched the mirror¡¯s surface, causing me to withdraw my hand quickly.


    But it was toote.


    Suddenly, the ck vortex within the mirror increased its spinning and the throne room began shaking violently.


    I blinked with shock, watching as cracks spread from the floor and then began inching up the walls and pirs of the throne room like snakes.


    As if that wasn¡¯t enough chaos, the spinning vortex in the mirror became so violent that a gush of wind began blowing out of it, trying to pull me in.


    I struggled, gritting my teeth and trying to root my feet on the ground. But that seemed futile as my hair began whipping into the air before slowly getting sucked into the mirror.


    "AHH!" I screamed, cing my hands on either side of the wall as I struggled, my heart pounding heavily in my chest. "Sirena! Sirena, aren¡¯t you there?"


    Silence.


    She really wasn¡¯t in my head anymore.


    But then my mind instinctively went to one more name that I¡¯ve never felt more desperate to call on.


    "Kaelos!" I screamed at the top of my lungs but that proved to be disastrous.


    A sonic howl escaped my mouth, hitting the wall and the mirror with such force that the mirror shattered into thousands of shards instantly.


    I was flung backwards, the wall copsing, and the tremors in the throne room only increased.


    "Argh!" I grunted, hitting a pir at the other side of the room and then falling to the ground.


    A sharp pain lingered at the back of my head, causing me to grit my teeth. Just when I raised my right hand to rub my head, I realised something that I hadn¡¯t noticed before.


    The magic bracelet from the Elders...


    It was... Gone.


    "What in the hocus pocus..." I muttered, unable to take this anymore.


    As cracks continued spreading on the walls and pirs in the throne room, I slowly rose to my feet, balling my hands defiantly, my jaw clenching.


    My magic swirled inside me like a storm, just waiting for the right moment to burst out.


    "Whoever or whatever the fuck you are, show yourself!" I yelled, my voice echoing around despite the thundering noise of the tremor affecting the room.


    My ears perked up as I heard a silent and melodious whistle flowing around the room, causing me to pause.


    I scanned my gaze around wearily, wondering where that wasing from.


    "Are you ying tricks now? Is that what this is?" I snarled. "Well, I¡¯m not your toy. You chose the wrong hybrid to mess with¡ª"


    "No, Odessa." A deep voice boomed around the room just then, instantly causing the tremors to cease.


    A cold shiver ran down my spine, my instincts screaming for me to turn around. But for some reason... I couldn¡¯t.


    "You aren¡¯t the wrong hybrid." The voice speaking behind me continued, sounding like it was advancing even closer to me. "On the contrary, you¡¯re the right one. The key to awakening chaotic magic underneath the continent beyond your wildest dreams..."


    My eyelids fluttered as I slowly got the courage to turn around.


    However, when I did... There was nothing.


    "All you have to do is embrace..." The voice continued echoing when suddenly, everything in the room began fading away into darkness, like a painting being smudged off its colour.


    My breathing increased, my heart pounding heavily as I took several steps back.


    To my horror, the floor and walls began disappearing into oblivion, the voice adding:


    "... The darkness."


    No...


    I merely blinked and then everything was gone. No floor. No walls. No pirs, doors and decorations.


    Just a vast empty darkness.


    <fnc5c3> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? F¦Énd£Îovel</fnc5c3>


    "Ahhhh!" I screamed as I began falling, stretching my hands out, trying to take hold of anything at all.


    But there was nothing.


    "Odessa?"


    A bright light suddenly shed past my eyes and the next thing I knew, I was sitting up on my bed and gasping heavily for breath. Cold sweat dripped down my body as I scanned my gaze around.


    My room. I was back in my room.


    And thatst voice was...


    "Odessa..." Kaelos¡¯ hand grabbed my shoulder, forcing me to turn my gaze to him.


    He was naked, sitting on the bed beside me although the bed sheets covered his lower bits. I was also naked...


    "What¡¯s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?" He queried worriedly, his silver eyes softening in the dark room.


    My eyes stung with tears as I shook my head, trying to catch my breath. "T¨CThat wasn¡¯t merely a nightmare. S¨CSomething... Something terrible ising."

 Chapter 260: _The Vein

    <h4>Chapter 260: _The Vein</h4>


    "What?" Aunt Althea asked with furrowed eyebrows the next morning when I brought up the nightmare to her.


    We were both in the mansion¡¯s garden, sitting around a round white wooden table, each of us holding a mug of warm tea.


    Caroline was staring at some flowers and picking some at a corner as my aunt and I had our conversation, but she listened in once in a while.


    This was a conversation for witches after all.


    "Yes, Aunt. A ck vortex of... Chaotic magic." I whispered, looking around as I remembered the images in the nightmare.


    I wasn¡¯t able to sleep after that nightmare, even with Kaelos cuddling me and nting kisses on my face each time he turned on the bed.


    He even slept inter than usual this morning to stay with me longer... But s, it did little to drive away the chaos in my mind.


    Althea blinked at me for a few seconds before shaking her head. "And you mentioned a deep voice talking about awakening chaotic magic from underneath the continent?"


    I nodded, taking a sip from the hot tea.


    It had a slightly bitter taste but it was otherwise herbal, bringing a soothing feeling that began in my throat before spreading all around my body and my mind.


    I sighed with satisfaction, parting aside some strands of my hair when a familiar voice chimed in my head.


    ¡¯You¡¯re chugging that tea like it¡¯s a lifeline.¡¯ Sirena muttered with a snigger.


    I didn¡¯t even flinch as I responded. ¡¯Maybe it is. It seems to be the only thing calming my nerves since the nightmare.¡¯


    She suddenly gasped dramatically. ¡¯A tea calmed you and not our mate? Talk about a sick burn, girl.¡¯


    I felt like rolling my eyes but Althea¡¯s voice stopped that thought.


    "If this... Vision holds any true substance... And let¡¯s be honest, it most likely does." She began, drumming her fingers on the table. "Then I think I know what this chaotic magic beneath the continent is."


    My eyes widened as I set the tea aside, leaning closer like she was going to escape without telling me.


    "What is it, Aunt Althea?"


    She hesitated for a few seconds, sping her hands together as she nced briefly at Caroline behind me.


    Then...


    <fn76bb> Read full story at Find[?]ovel</fn76bb>


    "It¡¯s been called a few names by witches and werewolves alike for millennia. But it¡¯s poprly known as... The Vein."


    I blinked, a small frown spreading on my face.


    The Vein?


    "What¡¯s... That? And why haven¡¯t I heard about it all this while?" I queried, arching an eyebrow.


    She clenched her jaw, showing more hesitation as she shook her head. "You haven¡¯t heard about it because it¡¯s information we don¡¯t pass lightly among young, inexperienced witches who might be foolish enough to seek its power. No offence."


    I didn¡¯t react to that, nodding for her to continue.


    And she did just that.


    "Underneath North America, there¡¯s a vast pool of ancient chaotic magic. No one is sure of its origin. Some say it¡¯s the remains of a dark god. Others say it¡¯s the blood of witches from throughout the centuries that formed it... Numerous theories."


    I subconsciously held my breath, peaking my ears in anticipation.


    She clicked her tongue, swirling her tea around. "When this chaotic magic was discovered, witches obviously wanted to tap into it. Imagine a vast pool of endless chaotic magic just lying underneath the continent without any use? Sadly... That didn¡¯t end well."


    Her voice became solemn now.


    "Centuries passed and several witches tried to control the Vein or even a fraction of its power. Each one had far worse fates than thest. Death was the most merciful oue. Others ran mad or got corrupted into twisted and chaotic forms. That¡¯s when the high covens of the came together and banned all witches from tapping into the Vein."


    I nced back at Caroline and realised she had stopped plucking the tulips at a corner and now stared at us with interest in her eyes.


    Althea didn¡¯t seem to mind that.


    "Some still defied thews of the high covens and tried to control the Vein. One witch managed to create chaotic creatures said to have dominion over the night and drain life force, using magic from the Vein. She was sealed into the it but the damage was already done..."


    "That¡¯s how the global war between werewolves and witches began..." Caroline whispered just then, forcing me and my aunt to turn our gazes to her.


    She scratched her head awkwardly. "My grandmother used to tell me stories. Not many people know how the war between the witches and wolves started but the catalyst is said to be the ancient witch who created those creatures of the night centuries ago."


    How could I be a part of one of the most powerful witch bloodlines on the continent and know so little about our history?


    "I¡¯m lost though..." I finally found the strength to speak, shaking my head. "What does this... Vein has to do with me? Who was the voice in my dreams and how did he gain ess to my mind?"


    Althea blinked, her eyebrows crumpling as she seemingly went into thought.


    A few secondster, she snapped her fingers.


    "Mexico City... Your battle against the raven witch. Was there anything... Odd you noticed?"


    I tilted my head slightly, thinking deeply.


    Odd?


    Other than the fact that she had been a crazed fanatic working for the lord of the North while experimenting on wolves?


    ¡¯Think, Odessa...¡¯ Sirena whispered in my mind. ¡¯We¡¯re missing something. Something vital... The runes. The magic formations in the pocket dimension that day. Her dark spells... Her taunting you to use your powers.¡¯


    The more Sirena spoke, the wider my eyes became, my breath hitching in my throat.


    At a point, I was certain a dark entity shrouded in smoke had flown out of me during my battle with the raven witch... But the memory was blurry.


    I had no doubts about what I concluded next.


    "The Lord of the North..." I swallowed hard, my breathing heavy and my voice shaking. "He¡¯s... He¡¯s in my head. Isn¡¯t he?"


    Althea¡¯s jaw tightened, her eyes glinting with a plethora of emotions. "If he¡¯s in your head... then we might be toote."

 Chapter 261: _In Her Magic

    <h4>Chapter 261: _In Her Magic</h4>


    "If he¡¯s in your head... then we might be toote."


    A cold shiver ran down my spine after Althea said that.


    However, when I parted my lips to speak, a deep voice reverberated through the garden.


    "Toote for what?"


    I swerved my head and couldn¡¯t help but smile warmly when I saw Kaelos walking toward us from the garden¡¯s entrance.


    His shoulder-length ck hair was a little damp, and the shampoo wafting from him told me he had just finished bathing.


    He also wore a long red coat with golden buttons and ck pants, causing my face to heat up with a blush.


    I almost forgot about the serious conversation with Althea.


    Almost.


    <fn33a2> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? </fn33a2>


    "Do you find my question amusing, dear wife?" Kaelos asked with genuine curiosity, but there was also a hint of yful sarcasm which I would be damned to ignore.


    I fluttered my eyelids at him when he finally got to the table, cing his right hand on my shoulder and then slowly walking to my back.


    "No, dear husband. I¡¯m just wondering why you still dress so... formal when you aren¡¯t even heading out of the mansion¡¯s premises."


    His fingers gripped my shoulder ever so slightly but I was able to notice it and didn¡¯t realise when I subconsciously leaned in closer to his touch.


    I could feel Althea¡¯s silent gaze on me and Caroline¡¯s eye roll but I ignored them both.


    "I¡¯m a businessman as well as an Alpha King, wife." Kaelos echoed behind me with a voice smooth as silk. "Just because I rarely attend to mypanies personally doesn¡¯t mean¡ª"


    "But you don¡¯t." I interrupted, cing my right hand on his knuckles. "Come on, I¡¯ll dress you up one of these days then we¡¯ll go to one of the malls in the pack. What do you say?"


    I nced back at him, only to meet his silver eyes scrutinising me. His gaze was deep, as if he could see right through my soul.


    I hated that and loved it at the same time. It made me feel safe, knowing I had someone who seemed to know me to my core. But it also meant I could rarely hide my true feelings from him.


    "I say..." Kaelos cleared his throat, slowly lowering his head and bringing his lips dangerously close to my ears. "You¡¯re trying to use this conversation to stall. To ignore the nightmarest night and whatever it is you and your aunt are discussing here now."


    Crap...


    ¡¯Caught in HD.¡¯ Sirena mocked in my mind as Kaelos withdrew his hand from my shoulder, patting my face from behind onest time before drawing out a seat.


    "Which brings me back to my first question." He leaned his head back, crossing one leg on top another before staring directly at Althea. "Who is in my wife¡¯s head and why is it toote? Toote for what?"


    I clenched my jaw, swerving my head to Althea.


    She only hesitated for a few seconds before she sighed, using her right index finger to swirl her tea.


    She exined everything about the Vein and about her theory that all this time, the mission in Mexico was just a cover for the true Lord of the North to infiltrate my mind.


    She also told him about my dream, even though I had already told Kaelosst night when I couldn¡¯t sleep.


    "The Lord of the North is in her head..." Kaelos muttered, slowly turning his head to me.


    I stiffened at his gaze, feeling the withheld anger simmering inside him.


    Then he swerved his head back to Althea. "What can be done? Why is it toote?"


    My aunt let out a sigh as I also waited along with Kaelos to hear an answer.


    "I guess I should show you." She muttered, getting on her feet and then walking to my side. She ced her right hand on my shoulder, causing me to blink with confusion.


    Then without warning, her fingers glowed with a blue light and a warmth surged through me that was hard to exin with words.


    But then that warmth disappeared as fast as it hade and got reced by a numbing cold that caused me to gasp.


    "What the..." Kaelos blurted with a stunned voice.


    I frowned, raising my arms when Althea withdrew her hand from my shoulder. It was then that I saw what they were seeing.


    Sigils... Glowing not on my skin but deep inside me, coiling like snakes and pulsing with a dark energy that made my heart skip a beat.


    "Those aren¡¯t regr sigils. They¡¯re reeking of powerful blood magic that connects Odessa to something dark." Althea exined calmly, her voice solemn. "And my worst fear is that the Lord of the North didn¡¯t even ce them on her. At least, not directly."


    "What do you mean?" Kaelos nearly snapped. "The bastard used his raven witch to brand my wife like some supermarket item. And you¡¯re telling us he¡ª"


    "That¡¯s the thing you aren¡¯t understanding, Alpha King." Althea¡¯s voice became more serious as Caroline walked closer.


    The sigils slowly faded and no longer glowed but I could feel them. They were still coiling underneath the surface, their purpose unknown to me.


    "Those sigils are tied to Odessa¡¯s magic. Her being. They¡¯ve always been in her blood and all the raven witch did was use them as a medium to allow the Lord of the North entrance into Odessa¡¯s mind." Althea walked away from the table now, her ck hair blowing slightly into the wind.


    "Her hybrid blood has been experiencing a... Rare awakening I¡¯ve only heard of in myths and prophecy. I don¡¯t know how yet but those sigils in Odessa... Connect her to the Vein."


    I felt like she¡¯d just thrown a bucket of ice on me.


    I stared into nothingness, my fingers trembling as I parted my lips repeatedly, unsure of what to say or what to think of this.


    The Vein... An ancient source of chaotic magic underneath the continent that made several witches mad or twisted them into monsters... Is connected to me.


    To my magic.


    I nced at Kaelos and felt how his mind reeled, as if he was questioning everything. He didn¡¯t even look at me but the tension was enough to send across his feelings.


    "Pardon, but I think I¡¯m catching on to something," Caroline remarked just then, causing all eyes to turn to her. "Does this mean that each time Odessa uses magic now, the sigils be more... Powerful? Engraved into her?"


    I swallowed hard when Althea nodded.


    "If Odessa taps too much into her magic now, she not only risks the judgment of the Luminari Coven elders... She risks awakening power from the Vein itself."

 Chapter 262: _You Don’t Have To Do This Alone

    <h4>Chapter 262: _You Don¡¯t Have To Do This Alone</h4>


    "I... I need..." I stuttered, getting on my feet but I didn¡¯t even know what I needed right now after discovering all these things from Althea.


    I felt caged. I felt like the gods had dealt me a fate that I definitely didn¡¯t deserve.


    "Odessa..." Kaelos wrapped his hand around my wrist, causing me to shiver a bit.


    But then I brought my gaze to him and watched as he got on his feet as well, his cologne and the shampoo still lingering on his hair grounding me for a moment.


    "You don¡¯t have to handle any of this alone. That¡¯s why I¡¯m your mate. Your husband." He whispered, bringing his hands to my face and cupping it gently.


    I blinked at him, my cheeks burning up with a blush as my eyes got watery.


    No... No... Hell no!


    I¡¯m not going to cry.


    "What if the Lord of the North is watching our lives through my mind?" I asked with a shaky voice. "He already made his presence known in a dream. What if he... What if he pushes me to use my magic and I lose control and¡ª"


    "That¡¯s not going to happen," Althea spoke firmly, cing her palms on the table. "You¡¯ll need to cut back on your use of magic now more than ever. In the meantime... It¡¯s time I began teaching you how to control it. How to prevent it from surging in sync with your emotions."


    I clenched my jaw, nodding at her but to my surprise, Kaelos brought his hands down and proceeded to hold my right hand.


    "She can do all that some other time." He blurted, pulling me away from the table.


    I blinked at him with confusion as he nced back at my aunt. "You¡¯re still staying within the pack, right? To watch her pregnancy and all."


    My eyes widened at that, my free hand finding its way to my stomach.


    I had almost forgotten about our child. What sort of expecting mother was I?


    "I mean... Yes." Althea nodded with dimmed eyes. "Although, I feel her training has been a long waying and now would be¡ª"


    "She¡¯s my wife. I¡¯ll steal her from you for a few hours at best." Kaelos remarked casually, his voice leaving no room for argument as he dragged me gently out of the garden.


    "Your maid cane along." He added to me.


    I nced back at Caroline who didn¡¯t even wait long before running after us, a curious expression on her face.


    What was Kaelos up to?


    .


    .


    "You said you wanted to dress me up back in the garden." He muttered when we finally got to his room door upstairs.


    I fluttered my eyelids, sucking in a breath. "Yeah... Wait, that¡¯s not exactly what I said¡ª"


    "Caroline..." Kaelos turned his gaze to Caroline who stood silently beside me.


    She raised her head, seeming surprised that she was called on but then she bowed slightly. "Yes, my Lord?"


    "What did your Luna Queen mention about my clothing in the garden a few minutes ago?"


    I raised an eyebrow. Caroline hesitated for only a second before she cleared her throat.


    "She said she¡¯ll dress you up one of these days so you two can go to a mall. Perhaps, she wanted you two to live life as... Normal civilians within the pack."


    I remained silent, not knowing what to say as Kaelos pushed the room door open, pulling me along with him.


    "Good. So, Odessa. We¡¯re going to do as you said." He remarked, stepping in and ncing back at me. "Right now."


    I parted my lips, blinking as I turned my head to Caroline who still stood pretty outside the room.


    Then I whipped my head back to Kaelos. "When you say we¡¯re going to do as I said... Do you mean dressing you up and¡ª"


    "Heading to the pack¡¯s mall. Yes." He nodded affirmatively, snapping his fingers with a teasing voice. "Chop, chop. I think there¡¯s going to be some mouth-watering discounts this morning."


    "Discounts?" I echoed with a t stare. "Kaelos, people don¡¯t go to the mall for discounts when they just found out they might be the key to a well of chaotic magic with blood sigils that could doom the continent."


    He raised an eyebrow. "And yet, here you are. Dying to see me in skinny jeans."


    "I did not say skinny jeans!"


    "You didn¡¯t say not skinny jeans either."


    Caroline muffled a snort from outside the room, and I swore her nose twitched like she was holding back augh. I red at her, but it was hard to hold it for long.


    Her grin was too damn contagious.


    Kaelos stepped in closer, his voice softening. "Odessa, listen. You¡¯re allowed to breathe, okay? Not everything has to be fireballs and war nning. Let¡¯s take a break. For you. For the baby. And... for us."


    For a second, I just stared at him.


    Then I sighed, muttering, "Fine. But you¡¯re trying on everything I pick. No arguments."


    "Deal," he smirked. "Even if it¡¯s something scandalous and hot pink."


    My lips twitched, a smirk settling on them. "Oh, don¡¯t tempt me, Alpha King."


    .


    .


    Thirty minutester...


    The mall was already bustling with early pack members just going about their lives, chatting at caf¨¦s, dragging screaming toddlers past toy stores, and ogling the asional luxury boutique window.


    And right there in the middle of it... stood me, future "chaos queen", and Kaelos, Alpha King of North America, pretending to be normal.


    Spoiler alert: He sucked at it.


    "Why are you ring at the mannequin?" I asked as we stood outside a high-end clothing store.


    He had been frowning at a headless mannequin in a crop top and leather pants for a full minute.


    He squinted harder. "It¡¯s... taunting me."


    "Kaelos, it¡¯s not alive."


    "Neither is that suit of armour in the throne room hall, but I still don¡¯t trust it." He shot back.


    I pinched the bridge of my nose. "This is why you need me. You have no idea how to shop."


    He turned his gaze to me, a smirk curling his lips. "Then teach me, oh great Luna Queen of sales racks and casual wear."


    Caroline trailed behind us, carrying three shopping bags already. None of them were hers. She sighed like a long-suffering servant but I caught the amused glint in her eyes.


    "Next stop," I said, pointing toward a store with a huge SALE banner and rows of jackets. "We¡¯re getting you out of that ¡¯mafia boss on his day off¡¯ look."


    He rolled his eyes but followed me withoutint, letting me lead him through racks of denim, jackets, graphic tees, and... Yes, even a hot pink hoodie.


    Just to mess with him.


    "You¡¯re not serious," he said when I handed the hoodie to him.


    I tilted my head innocently. "You did say anything."


    Caroline cackled behind us.


    Kaelos sighed like a man facing war. "Fine. But if anyone sees me in this, I¡¯m ming you."


    "You¡¯re lucky you¡¯re hot," I muttered under my breath.


    "I heard that."


    Another thirty minutester...


    Kaelos stepped out of the fitting room in the pink hoodie, with a pair of distressed jeans that hugged him a little too well.


    I nearly dropped dead on the spot.


    Caroline actually whistled. "My Luna Queen has taste."


    "I look like a boy band reject," Kaelos deadpanned.


    "You look hot," I corrected. "Boyband Alpha."


    His lips curved into a slow smirk. "So this is your fantasy. Noted."


    My cheeks red. "Shut up and buy the hoodie."


    He reached over and kissed my forehead.


    But just as Iughed, something inside me flickered.


    A soft pulse.


    A hum from deep beneath my skin, like something stirring.


    My smile faltered for a split second, my eyes flickering to the ss window beside us.


    Just my reflection... but for a moment, I could have sworn the sigils beneath my skin shimmered faintly beneath the surface.


    <fn2223> Get full chapters from F¦Énd£Îovel</fn2223>


    Kaelos caught the shift in my energy. "What¡¯s wrong?"


    I shook my head slowly, my fingers tightening around the shopping bag.


    "Nothing," I whispered. "Let¡¯s... Let¡¯s keep going. I¡¯m okay."


    He didn¡¯t press. He just held my hand tighter.


    And maybe that was enough for now.


    But deep down, I knew...


    This peace wasn¡¯t going tost forever.

 Chapter 263: _Bane In The Moonlight

    <h4>Chapter 263: _Bane In The Moonlight</h4>


    Caroline


    *****


    She confessed.


    After what felt like an eternity, she finally confessed to Odessa about her true feelings.


    Feelings which she had secretly hated herself for. Out of all the men and women in the pack, why did she have to fall for the woman who was supposed to be her mission?


    The woman who she was supposed to ensure her safety from the shadows.


    Enough was enough and after Elder Davina¡¯s funeral ceremony, her emotions were all over the ce, pushing her to tell Odessa.


    And to her surprise... Odessa didn¡¯t act weird about it.


    "I¡¯m not going to see you as a different person because of your feelings. I might not be able to reciprocate them but I still cherish you as a person and a friend. Okay?"


    Those words still lingered in Caroline¡¯s mind.


    Unfortunately, that night, chaos was shown in the form of a guard, ric.


    The poor guard burned up due to the magic within him... An artificial hybrid.


    But Caroline knew there was foul y here and when she saw Marcellus volunteering to help Althea research the body... It all made sense.


    Later that night, Caroline snuck to Marcellus¡¯pound while he was investigating the body with Althea in another part of the pack.


    "If my information is correct, he doesn¡¯t have any staff members apart from Cullen..." She whispered to herself.


    And Cullen was currently upied because she had seen him taking two werewolves into the house.


    Caroline had only one mission here: Find anypelling evidence that would prove Marcellus killed Elder Davina so she could show it to Odessa and the others.


    Currently, the closest thing she had to evidence was a vague letter she collected from Davina¡¯s body:


    >I fear I waited too long to act. The signs are no longer silent. There is no running from bloodlines.


    I¡¯ve hidden truths to protect her. And now I fear I¡¯ve dyed the inevitable.


    Someone is watching. Something dark and chaotic is stirring. If you¡¯re reading this, protect her now more than ever. There are enemies hidden in ces you might least expect.<


    It sounded like Elder Davina knew about Marcellus before her death. But why the heck did the old woman keep it to herself?


    "Now my job is harder than it should be..." She brushed her right hand through her ginger curls before raising her head to what should be Marcellus¡¯ bedroom balcony.


    Suddenly, her eyes glowed with a faint silver light and her muscles tightened with more strength.


    She leapt forward, managing tond on the balcony with ease. After brushing her hair aside, she scanned her eyes through the room.


    Then she nced back over her shoulders and stared down at the pack below. The people were still out by this time, most of them payingst respects to Elder Davina after her funeral ceremony.


    Many murmured about the incident with ric, since the sky had literally burned with dark purple mes that were visible to everyone.


    Caroline sighed, shaking her head before bringing her gaze back to Marcellus¡¯ room.


    But when she did, her heart nearly jumped into her throat.


    "Hello there..." A beautiful woman with pale skin, long ck hair, ck crescent moon earrings and red lipstick like blood was standing just a few meters in front of her and waved with a curious grin.


    The woman wore a flowing ck gown made of some silky, almost liquid fabric that shimmered like ink in the moonlight. The sleeves were long and slightly red at the wrists, stitched with faint silver embroidery shaped like runes.


    But what truly stole Caroline¡¯s breath was the slit which began at the front hemline and ran upward in a sharp, deliberate line, slicing through the center until it nearly kissed the bottom of the woman¡¯s ribcage¡ªonly barely held together by thin silver chains that glinted as she moved.


    Beneath the slit, she wore form-fitting ck trousers that shimmered faintly, made of some strange fabric that seemed both modern and archaic all at once.


    Her ck heeled boots clicked on the floor as she stepped closer to Caroline who snapped out of her brief trance and frowned.


    "Y¨CYou..." She let out a low growl, tilting her head. "You¡¯re that witch from the Charity Ball. The one who helped Celine make the fake video of Marcellus and Odessa¡ª"


    "You seem... Interesting." The woman interrupted, her eyes glinting with a predatory light that also seemed seductive. "But anyway, I¡¯m not a witch. Far from it, darling."


    Caroline¡¯s mind reeled as she eyed the woman from head to toes. She swallowed hard as something clicked in her mind.


    Her wolf screamed danger and she knew she was right.


    An artificial hybrid!


    Suddenly, the woman drew out a dagger and plunged it toward Caroline¡¯s throat. Thetter¡¯s eyes widened as she leaned back, her back hitting the railing of the balcony.


    She proceeded to roll to her left, narrowly dodging the silver dagger which scraped the railing.


    Caroline fixed her eyes on the woman who chuckled, swerving her body to face her as she got off the ground.


    "I knew you weren¡¯t just an ordinary maid." The woman said amusingly, pointing the dagger at Caroline once again. "So what are you? Witch? Artificial hybrid gone rogue? A true hybrid perhaps?"


    Caroline clenched her jaw.


    She wasn¡¯t going down... Not like this and certainly not after she¡¯se so far in her mission.


    "Who I am is none of your business." Caroline snapped, kicking her foot against the railing, the force helping her to leap into the air.


    She then sent a roundhouse kick aimed at the woman¡¯s head, but thetter smirked mischievously before disappearing into a puff of ck smoke.


    Carolinended on the ground as a faint silveryughter echoed around the balcony, forcing her to look around with gritted teeth.


    She didn¡¯t want to use all the abilities at her disposal... But she might have to if this mysterious woman proved too difficult.


    "Girl to girl, I¡¯ll advise you to steer clear of Marcellus. He¡¯s... Unpredictable." The woman¡¯s voice sounded so close, like she was breathing down Caroline¡¯s neck. "There¡¯s so much fire in you though... Must be exhausting, watching her love someone else."


    Thetter panicked, shing backwards with her ws, but only shed at air.


    Thatst sentence... How did she know about her feelings for Odessa?


    "Who. Are. You?" Caroline growled, calming her breathing as her ears perked.


    Theughter suddenly stopped and the wind seemed to still in that moment, sending a cold shiver down her spine.


    <fn7583> Find the newest release on Find~Novel</fn7583>


    "Regina. But tonight... You can call me your bane."


    Before Caroline knew what was happening, ck smoke appeared in front of her and out of it came a dagger heading for her face.

 Chapter 264: _The Devil Wears Red Lipstick

    <h4>Chapter 264: _The Devil Wears Red Lipstick</h4>


    Caroline¡¯s POV


    *****


    Her eyes widened as she took several steps back, trying to avoid the silver dagger heading straight at her face.


    But when she saw the smirk on Regina¡¯s face... Something snapped in her.


    What was she doing?!


    "Nice try..." Caroline whispered before doing one fluid movement, using her right hand to swat Regina¡¯s elbow and then sending a kick to her knees before crouching.


    Regina gasped, losing bnce as Caroline followed up that movement by ramming straight at her stomach, tackling her and wrapping her arms around her.


    <fn7016> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? f?ndnovel</fn7016>


    However, when she had Regina pinned to the ground, heaving heavily, she paused.


    Her hands shook as she blinked at the artificial hybrid whose smug smirk turned into an even more sly grin. She breathed slowly on Caroline¡¯s face, sending shivers through thetter¡¯s body.


    "Hon, at least take me to dinner first," Regina said with a teasing voice that sent shivers down Caroline¡¯s spine.


    Thetter¡¯s face scrunched but she didn¡¯t know if it was out of disgust... Or something else.


    Suddenly, Regina took her disorientation to her advantage, freeing her leg and sending a kick at the back of Caroline¡¯s head.


    Caroline fell forward with a yelp as Regina rolled from underneath her, disappearing into a puff of ck smoke the next second, herughter echoing.


    "You know, I could¡¯ve just brought my magic into y in this fight and st you into the night sky..." Regina¡¯s voice echoed as Caroline held her head with a groan, looking around wearily.


    The silver dagger that Regina had attempted to kill her with was on the ground now, drawing Caroline to pick it up and point it at the empty space.


    "... However, you seem... Interesting. I rarely saw such an opportunity without wanting to drain a victim dry of their life force." Regina added as if Caroline should be thankful to her.


    The audacity!


    "I¡¯ll be keeping an eye on you. And you can keep the dagger as a little... Parting gift." Regina echoed with a confident tone. "Now, chop, chop. The big bad wolf is back and unlike me... He doesn¡¯t take kindly to intruders, regardless of how... Hot they might be."


    Silence followed those words, the air stilling as well.


    Caroline got on her feet, bringing her gaze to thepound grounds just in time to see Marcellus walking in with a tense expression on his face.


    "Shit..." Caroline whispered, lowering her head and drawing in a deep breath.


    She remainedpletely still, keeping her ears perked and following the soft clicks of Marcellus¡¯ boots on the floor.


    When she heard his living room door opening and then closing shut, she let out a breath and got back on her feet, parting aside strands of her hair.


    The dagger left behind by Regina was still clutched in her right hand, the sleek ck handle cold to the touch.


    She hesitated, staring at the silver de and wondering if the bitch left behind a curse or tracking spell on it.


    But yet something deep down told her it was nothing like that.


    "Goddess, have mercy..." She said silently before jumping off the balcony,nding gracefully on thepound grounds.


    She swung her head back before sprinting out of thepound, easily leaping past the fence before navigating through the night.


    .


    .


    Caroline got back into the Alpha King¡¯s mansion easily and retired to her bedroom.


    She was given a room away from the maid quarters when she was assigned as Odessa¡¯s maid, and now stayed in a room on the same floor as Odessa and Kaelos¡¯ room, but still far down the hallway.


    Anyway, when she walked into the dimly lit room, she breathed out, closing the door behind her and resting her back on it. She raised her head, staring at the ceiling as her wolf howled.


    ¡¯What was it with you and that artificial hybrid?¡¯


    Caroline scoffed, staring at the dagger still clutched in her hand before she walked further into the room.


    ¡¯I wish I knew, Vilda. I wish I knew.¡¯


    ¡¯Oh, you know alright. There¡¯s something... Different about her. You haven¡¯t felt this conflicted since Odessa and we both know that was just a crush.¡¯ Vilda whined.


    Caroline subconsciously tightened her grip on the dagger. ¡¯Odessa was more than a crush. She¡ª¡¯


    ¡¯Has a mate who¡¯s a MAN.¡¯ Vilda interrupted. ¡¯Not to mention she¡¯s our mission. Remember? We can¡¯t afford to get distracted. That¡¯s why we had all those trainings to keep our emotions in check.¡¯


    Caroline bit her bottom lip but then let out a sigh, nodding before speaking physically. "You¡¯re... Right."


    She walked to a human-sized mirror and stood in front of it, staring at her reflection. Just when she turned around to touch up her messy hair, she felt a sharp stinging from her right arm, causing her to frown.


    "What the..." She muttered, raising her arm only to realise something that made her heart skip a beat.


    It was a cut. From the silver dagger.


    It had cut through the sleeve of her white gown and left a small sh that dripped with crimson blood.


    "When did she manage to inflict this on me?" Caroline muttered, pulling up the sleeve and then opening up the mark to the cool wind blowing into the room through the windows.


    ¡¯Oh, probably when you were staring into her eyes when she had a literal dagger aimed at your face.¡¯ Vilda said with pure sarcasm. ¡¯Get that healed up.¡¯


    Caroline didn¡¯t need to be told twice, raising the index finger of her left hand and cing it on the cut.


    Soon, a soft silver light glowed on her fingers, shimmering with a gentle hum before covering the mild cut.


    It was supposed to heal it up like it was never there in a few seconds at best... But instead, it left behind a subtle red scar that made a cold shiver run down Caroline¡¯s spine.


    "No..." Caroline shook her head, scanning her gaze around the room.


    There was no one there but she felt like she was being watched. And as for the seemingly meaningless mark left behind by Regina... She had no idea what it was but she knew it wasn¡¯t good.


    "What did you do to me?" Caroline whispered, raising the silver dagger and staring at it for a few seconds before her eyes flicked to her reflection in the mirror.

 Chapter 265: _Pink Hoodies Before A Storm

    <h4>Chapter 265: _Pink Hoodies Before A Storm</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    Seeing herugh and spin happily while we shopped in the mall, especially after everything we discovered this morning... brought a soothing warmth in my chest.


    I have to admit... I hated the idea of getting into a pink hoodie in broad daylight in a popr store where CCTV cameras were probably watching our every move.


    But as long as it helped her get her mind away from the fact that she was connected to a source of chaotic magic underneath the continent... Then all is good.


    As long as she smiled... All good!


    As long as I felt her happiness swarm into me through our mate bond... All fucking good!


    "Hekate, have mercy, this is actually cute!" Odessa giggled, cing her right hand on her stomach as she drew out her phone and took pictures of me.


    Her maid, Caroline, held the shopping bags silently, a small smirk on her face as she watched Odessa.


    I clicked my tongue but then smiled for the camera.


    ¡¯This must be a humiliation ritual for you.¡¯ Damon chuckled in my mind, causing me to roll my eyes.


    ¡¯Maybe I should shift into you and then ask for an XXL-sized pink hoodie so she can take pictures of us instead.¡¯ I shot back and almost sniggered out loud when he gasped.


    ¡¯You wouldn¡¯t dare! Also, I would need twice the size of an XXL. Maybe even more.¡¯ Damon growled but I ignored him as Odessa walked to my side.


    "Time for a selfie." She whispered, staring into my eyes when I swerved my head toward her face.


    We maintained eye contact for what felt like an eternity... But how could eternity feel so short?


    Eventually, Odessa shook her head, her smile deepening as she removed her gaze from me and focused on the phone she held in the air.


    I smiled as she took a selfie of both of us, my smile still lingering even when she dropped the phone and stared at the pictures.


    "Now we can put you into those skinny jeans you were talking about." She raised her head and winked at me suggestively, causing me to bat my eyelids in horror.


    Caroline giggled at the side as my face heated up with what I hoped wasn¡¯t a blush.


    "That... It was a joke. Don¡¯t push it, little witch."


    But Odessa was stubborn, leaning in closer until our faces were only a few centimetres away from each other, her breath hitting my face.


    "Oh,e on. You don¡¯t want to go back on your word, do you?" She cooed with a dangerously low whisper that made me swallow hard.


    Goddess, this woman!


    "I never made it a promise."


    "Well, now you have to."


    "But¡ª"


    "Come on, Caroline!" She screamed excitedly and turned to her maid before I could say anything more. "Let¡¯s go pick out the jeans. I saw a pair close to the cashier that will bring out his ass."


    My jaw dropped when I heard that but both women ignored me, giggling to themselves as they held arms and scurried along.


    I blinked, standing silently before turning my head to see the ss that showed a view of the mall outside.


    I smiled at my reflection, shaking my head to myself. I was almost unrecognisable under the pink hoodie... Although the shoulder-length ck hair and silver eyes might be a dead giveaway.


    "E¨CExcuse me, sir?" A voice in front of me interrupted my line of thought, forcing me to swerve my head.


    Standing in front of me was a young boy who was probably around ten to twelve years old.


    He blinked at me with his big hazel eyes, a small smile spreading across his face as he bowed. "Good morning, Alpha King. I like your hoodie."


    I parted my lips at first before smiling warmly, crouching to his level and cing my right hand on his shoulder.


    "Thank you, little one. My wife got it for me."


    His eyes widened with surprise. "Your wife? You mean the hybrid you made Luna Queen?"


    I sucked a breath as Damon grunted in my head.


    ¡¯Ugh, where¡¯s this gremlin¡¯s mother?¡¯


    I ignored him, keeping the smile on my face as I nodded at the boy. "Yes, but you see, Odessa is beyond a hybrid. That part of her doesn¡¯t need to be her only defining factor you know."


    The boy¡¯s eyes glinted with curiosity and understanding as he nodded. "I¡¯m... I¡¯m sorry if I offended you, Alpha King. That¡¯s just what I¡¯ve heard people of the pack call her."


    Oh...


    I sighed, gripping his shoulder softly. "It¡¯s fine, little one. You¡¯re still young and learning. We don¡¯t always have to judge people without getting to know them."


    He nodded in agreement. "I can tell the Luna Queen is really nice! Look at the pretty hoodie she got you."


    I chuckled, shaking my head just as I heard footsteps approaching.


    "By the moon, Gerald!" A female voice yelled, forcing me to raise my head, only to see a she-wolf in her early forties stepping forward.


    She grabbed her son by the shoulder, pointing a scolding finger at him. "I told you not to move from that spot. Why are you¡ª"


    "It¡¯s fine." I chimed, watching as she brought her gaze to me with hesitation in her eyes. "Your son was just curious and managed to keep things respectful. You raised him well."


    <fned7c> For original chapters go to Find_Novel(.</fned7c>


    Her eyes widened, glinting with slow realisation.


    She bowed hurriedly, causing me to smirk slightly.


    "G¨CGood morning, Alpha King. I¡¯m... I¡¯m sorry, I almost couldn¡¯t recognise you with... With..." She stuttered, her voice shaking with disbelief.


    Ugh, it must be this damn hoodie.


    "It¡¯s okay." I blurted, cing a hand on her shoulder and guiding her to stand straight. "I just came here for a little shopping. No big deal."


    The woman blinked at me for a beat too long before a genuine smile spread on her face. "That¡¯s lovely, my Lord. I hope you enjoy the rest of your shopping and find what you¡¯re looking for."


    I nodded at her as she pulled her son with her, waving at thed when he smiled back at me.


    I sighed lightly, about to go search for Odessa and Caroline when someone in the store suddenly yelled out.


    "Look! The news broadcast is being interrupted..."


    What?


    I turned my head to one of the televisions in the store only to see the screen flickering before showing a familiar scene.


    Arge, dimly lit room with pirs and a man sitting on a throne. I tilted my head, furrowing my eyebrows when I saw the man¡¯s face.


    A cold shiver ran down my spine as my stomach dropped, my body shivering with dread.


    That face... Was my father.

 Chapter 266: _Thirteen Years Ago

    <h4>Chapter 266: _Thirteen Years Ago</h4>


    "Kaelos..." Odessa called out from beside me, forcing me to swerve to face her.


    She had a concerned expression on her face and held a pair of skinny jeans in both hands and a shopping bag.


    But that concern she felt seemed smallpared to the absolute horror that went through me when I recognised the clip that was being yed on the TV screen.


    That dimly lit throne room... was mine. Or rather, what used to be my father¡¯s.


    This setting. This scene... It haunted me for years and put me on edge.


    A day I did something which I felt was necessary while also being eaten with guilt about it.


    And I didn¡¯t know what was happening or who managed to get their hands on this clip but I definitely didn¡¯t want to rewatch it.


    ¡¯What the fuck do you mean you don¡¯t know who managed to get their... Dude, it¡¯s that bitch! Madame Greyheart.¡¯ Damon growled in my mind. ¡¯She¡¯s always said her little birdies or whatever will sound the rm about what we did if we ever kill her.¡¯


    ¡¯And I didn¡¯t fucking kill her so what the heck is this?¡¯ I asked mentally, staring at the screen.


    My father seemed to be yelling at someone who wasn¡¯t visible to the camera.


    Balthazar Bloodoak.


    One of the most ruthless men to walk the. He makes all the things Damon and I have done look like child¡¯s y inparison.


    "Useless! You have such a powerful bloodline and yet you chose to let it go to waste?!" He yelled on the screen, the camera and the throne room trembling with his voice. "I made you who you are, boy. You will obey ME."


    My jaw clenched when I heard that aggravating voice. Even more so when I saw all the people in the store watching the televisions as if it were a soap opera.


    "Isn¡¯t that thete Alpha King Balthazar?" A male voice asked with astonishment.


    "By the goddess, it is him!"


    "Is this a tribute video of him?"


    "It¡¯s been thirteen years. And no one mentioned anything about a tribute or memorial."


    I turned my gaze to Odessa and saw how glued to the screen she was already. I knew what wasing next. I knew what was going to happen next in that clip and I didn¡¯t want her to see it.


    "Your father looks so much like you..." she whispered with aplicated glint in her eyes. "You never talked much about him. Like... at all. Why¡ª"


    "Because there¡¯s nothing to talk about." I interrupted quickly, grabbing her hand before giving her maid a look. "Let¡¯s go. Now."


    Odessa blinked at me with confusion but I ignored that, pulling up the hood of the atrocious pink hoodie still clung to my body and then dragging my mate along with me.


    "Kaelos, what the heck is happening?" Odessa tried pulling her hand out of my grip but I ignored her, drawing out my phone. "We haven¡¯t even paid for the clothes. What gives¡ª"


    "Just listen for the moon¡¯s sake!" I roared, my body shaking with rage.


    My voice boomed around the store, shaking the shelves and clothes racks and causing cracks to spread on the ss window beside us.


    The customers... My subjects blinked at me with shock and fear, some gasping while others murmured amongst themselves.


    I clicked my tongue, dialling La¡¯s number and ignoring the stares and whispers.


    "La, contact the World Alliance Televisionwork now and tell them to stop the broadcast," I spoke immediately, pulling Odessa with me.


    <fnbb62> Find the newest release on Find~Novel</fnbb62>


    She followed willingly this time but I could feel her broken spirit after I yelled at her.


    Goddess, have mercy...


    "S¨CSir, I already contacted them. They said they have no idea what is happening and believe it¡¯s the doing of the Lord of the North." La reported solemnly. "After that first broadcast, it seems his minions left behind fail-safe spells that will allow them to easily¡ª"


    "I don¡¯t care about any of this, La." I growled as Odessa and I got out of the store. "All I want is for that broadcast to be taken down n¡ª"


    "I don¡¯t care what you think of me, Father." A familiar voice echoed around the mall¡¯s za, causing me to pause.


    A cold shiver ran down my spine as I turned to my left only to see arge TV screen projecting the broadcast for all to watch.


    And this was being broadcast around the world, too.


    That familiar voice... was me. Thirteen years ago.


    "No..." I muttered at the same moment that Odessa yanked her hand out of my grip again, this time sessfully.


    "I don¡¯t know about you but I¡¯m not about to get cancelled for shoplifting on top of all the other things this pack already mes me for." She snapped, ring at me. "What is your problem? Do you hate your father so much that a televised clip is so... so... triggering?"


    Silence.


    My mind was silent as I stared at the television screen, watching as my father slowly stood from his throne with anger zing in his silver eyes.


    I wasn¡¯t in the frame yet¡ªbut I remembered this moment all too well.


    ¡¯Kaelos, please, talk to me.¡¯ Odessa¡¯s voice suddenly echoed in my mind, forcing me to turn my head to her.


    Her violet eyes glinted with worry as she continued. ¡¯Did I do something wrong? Is there something you¡¯re noticing? If you don¡¯t want to see your father we can go home but at least, tell me what¡¯s happening. The mate bond doesn¡¯t exactly let me read your mind unless you let me.¡¯


    And I doubt I¡¯ll ever let her.


    If she knew about my violent tendencies, knew that it was worse than what I even showed her, or knew about all the stuff I¡¯ve done throughout my years?


    She might hate me forever.


    "How dare you?!" Balthazar¡¯s voice on the screen was so powerful that the speakers in the za seemed like they were going to shatter from the force.


    A man long dead still held so much power. And it made my fingers twitch.


    "If you don¡¯t lead that mission in Canada, I¡¯ll do it myself. But as for you?" My father lunged with a growl, his ws drawing out. "You deserve discipline. Next time you¡¯ll learn not to defy¡ª"


    "NO!" A ghastly roar shook the throne room and I knew who it came from.


    Younger me.


    "Kaelos?" Odessa pulled at my arm, her voice shaking. "Let¡¯s go. We don¡¯t have to watch this. He¡¯s a terrible man and he¡ª"


    Suddenly, before she could even finish, a dark red beast swooshed past the screen frame, tackling my father and mming him on his own throne.


    Horrified gasps filled the mall as people pointed while others brought out their phones, recording or scrolling through social media.


    My hands balled into fists because I knew...


    That video clip was far from over.

 Chapter 267: _Unravelling Of The Skeletons In His Closet

    <h4>Chapter 267: _Unravelling Of The Skeletons In His Closet</h4>


    "You dare attack me?!" Alpha King Balthazar roared from the TV as I, in my wolf, tore through the ce like a natural disaster.


    At first, he tried putting up a fight in the clip, and people beganmenting around the za on who they thought would win, some not recognising that the "beast" was me in my wolf form.


    "This must be a video showing the hidden battleste Alpha King Balthazar fought for us." A woman chirped from a corner to her friend.


    "But then who was he talking to at the beginning of the clip? What is even going on?"


    "That beast looks like another wolf if you¡¯re able to follow the frames urately." A man said.


    "Are we sure this isn¡¯t AI?"


    My eyes twitched as Odessa¡¯s grip on my hand tightened beside me.


    "Kaelos... I..."


    Before she could finish that, the scene that I had been both anticipating and hoping not to see shed through the scene.


    It was first a sh of red light and then a growl... But when it all cleared off what remained was a bloody scene. The throne room was a mess with rubble and dust.


    Blood painted the walls and pirs.


    When I saw that blood, my memories shed with the feeling of blood dripping down my ws. Warm blood... from my father.


    And lying on his throne was the great Alpha King Balthazar, his once fierce silver eyes now lifeless orbs and a huge bloody hole with his organs sticking out blown through where his chest was supposed to be.


    "Ahhh!" A little girl in the mall¡¯s crowd screamed, causing my stomach to turn.


    How many little children watching this all around the world were screaming?


    "T¨CThat beast..." A man yelled, pointing at therge TV screen at the centre of the za.


    <fn1c4b> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? FindN()vel</fn1c4b>


    "It¡¯s the Alpha King! Alpha king Kaelos!" A woman screamed beside me, stepping away and shielding her child from me.


    On the screen, standing in front of myte father¡¯s freshly dead body was the beast who killed him:


    I, in my full wolf transformation.


    My furry chest heaved heavily in the clip, my gaze fixed on my father¡¯s body.


    The camera was shaking at this point and everyone could hear the terrified breathing of the woman who took the video, Madame Greyheart.


    I could feel all eyes turning to me as people began recognising the "beast", some whispering with judgemental looks and terror already.


    Anyone in this pack would be able to put the pieces together. After all, how many Alpha Kings on the could transform into a bipedal wolf with dark red fur?


    I nced slowly at Odessa and felt my heart squeeze.


    Her eyes were wide open with terror, her lips parted as she stared at the screen. She shook her head slowly while batting her eyelids, trying topose herself.


    "O¨COdessa..." I whispered but she shivered, slowly withdrawing her hand from mine and staring at me like I had grown two heads.


    Meanwhile, the clip on the screen finally ended with the beast, me, growling violently before tearing through some guards who dared attack me, my red eyes glinting through the dimly lit throne room as I charged toward the camera.


    And just when I was a few meters away... The clip flickered into static.


    "Y¨CYou killed your father..." Odessa stuttered with disbelief, her teary eyes still fixed on me. "How do I... Why did you... Kaelos..."


    I could feel all theplicated emotions swirling through her, and I felt like holding her. I felt like making her look me in the eyes and assuring her that it wasn¡¯t what it looked like.


    But the clip had been broadcast for the world to see. Regardless of my excuse, they will now see me as a monster who murdered his father.


    ¡¯The bastard was about to sh you on the face all in the name of discipline!¡¯ Damon growled in my head with agitation. ¡¯What were you supposed to do? Stand there like a wussy and take it?¡¯


    I clenched my jaw, lowering my head. ¡¯I shouldn¡¯t have shifted into you. I didn¡¯t mean to kill him.¡¯


    ¡¯Well, too bad. The guy was a menace anyway and needed to go. Have you forgotten the atrocious things he sent us to do during the heat of the war? What he sent YOU, a teenage boy, to do?¡¯ Damon spoke with disdain.


    I nced around and noticed the murmuring and nces of the people standing around us increasing. Some drew out their phones to record me while many backed away with fear in their eyes.


    We need to head back to the mansion and work on damage control...


    "Come on..." I held Odessa¡¯s hand, staring at her hesitantly when I saw the confused expression on her face.


    She gawked at me, as if questioning everything. Like she was questioning... Us.


    That was the biggest blow to my gut, as anger and disappointment simmered within me.


    She¡¯s my mate.


    She¡¯s supposed to be by my side regardless of what stormes our way.


    ¡¯Not when the storm is televised patricide...¡¯ Damon muttered but I ignored him as I pulled up the hood of the pink hoodie I wore while pulling Odessa with me.


    "Sir?" Caroline called back behind us, forcing me to nce back at her. "I¡¯ll be back with the bags. I need to go pay the cashier first."


    I simply nodded at her before I continued walking through the sea of judgment from the crowd in the mall, all of them giving way not out of respect.


    But with fear and silent judgment.


    This was only the beginning...


    .


    .


    "Can you exin what the hell I just watched?" Odessa snapped with a shaky voice the minute we stepped into my room, pulling her hand out of my grip and turning around to face me. "Because it looked like you killed your father. Your father, Kaelos."


    I ground my jaw, my hands balling into fists as I stepped away from the bedroom door. "Yes, Odessa. My father, Balthazar Bloodoak. Are we pointing out the obvious now? Do you want to judge me now?"


    She frowned, her lips parting for a few seconds before she flung her arms into the air. "Judge you? Kaelos, I want to understand why you kept such a thing from me all this time if we¡¯re supposed to be moving forward. Why¡ª"


    "Who the fuck would want to admit to murdering their own father, Odessa? Who?!" I interrupted, shaking my head as I took a few steps closer. "This has been one of my best-kept secrets. One that I know the repercussions from the world if it leaks out."


    Her eyes softened, her lips parting and closing repeatedly like she wanted to say something but didn¡¯t know how to.


    She was silent in the mind link as well.


    Closed off.


    How did a simple shopping date turn into an unravelling of the skeletons in my fucking closet?


    "You... You said it¡¯s been ¡¯one¡¯ of your best-kept secrets..." Odessa muttered just then, her footsteps silent but heavy with tension on the marble floor as she walked closer. "Does that... Does that mean there¡¯s more you aren¡¯t telling me, Kaelos?"


    My eyebrows furrowed, my lips trembling with frustration but before I could answer, a knock sounded on my bedroom door.


    "I¡¯m sorry to disturb you, my Lord... But the elders of the pack and the African, Australian and European Alpha Kings want to speak to you. Thest three are requesting an urgent video call." La¡¯s voice managed to sound calm behind the door.


    But I clicked my tongue when I heard all that.


    The reckoning had already begun.

 Chapter 268: _Judgment For The Alpha King

    <h4>Chapter 268: _Judgment For The Alpha King</h4>


    "The Alpha Kings can wait," I growled after La¡¯s report, ncing at Odessa.


    She seemed calm now but I could easily tell it was a front. A mask.


    Her mind was still reeling with a plethora of emotions, many of which she was intentionally locking away from me. I could feel their intensity but I couldn¡¯t feel it like it was mine.


    ¡¯Odessa...¡¯ I whispered through the mate bond, but she looked away from me, clearing her throat and gesturing at La, who watched us silently.


    "Please, lead the way, La. We can¡¯t keep the Elders waiting... Not with something this grave." She said with a firm voice, turning her gaze to me. "I¡¯m fine, Kaelos. I just... I need time to process everything."


    I remained still, watching as she barely brushed her hand past my shoulder before walking past me and into the hallway, nodding at La.


    La¡¯s face was solemn as she cleared her throat. "Sir?"


    I let out a light breath before I nodded at her and stepped out of the room with them.


    .


    .


    We arrived in my throne room where the Elders of the pack were already waiting, standing in front of my throne.


    The throne room was dimly lit as usual but the air of solemnity and tension was hard to miss. The five Elders of the pack had their backs facing us, each of them wearing ceremonial red robes.


    Those robes... They never wore them unless during emergency meetings that could decide the fate of the pack. Like appointing a new Alpha King.


    "Alpha King Kaelos." A male voice spoke among the elders before the owner of the voice spun around to face me.


    He was a man who seemed to be in his early eighties with greying white hair and a face carved by years of power, grief, and judgment.


    Elder Memphis.


    The others turned around shortly after him.


    Elder Harkan, Elder Vesta, Elder Kelor and finally, Elder Yune, the only woman among them¡ªher emerald eyes assessing me from head to toe like she was watching a long-prophesied storm finally arrive.


    "Do you know what you¡¯ve done?" Elder Harkan asked, skipping any form of niceties. His words sliced through the air like a de.


    "Apparently, I¡¯ve murdered my father again¡ªthis time, publicly," I said dryly, crossing my arms in front of my chest after drawing in a deep breath.


    Elder Menphis stepped forward, his voice cold. "The video has gone viral, Alpha King. Not just in North America... The entire globe saw it and the Global Alliance Council of werewolves is already calling for a summit. The other Alpha Kings want your head... or your exnation."


    My head, eh?


    How fascinating.


    Odessa stood beside me, remaining silent and unreadable. But I could feel her emotions like a tidal wave pressing against a dam.


    "What exnation do you expect from a son whose father tried to maim him on record?" I replied, trying not to raise my voice.


    "We expected you to contain your secrets," Elder Yune interjected, furrowing her eyebrows. "Or at the very least, not let them be weaponised against your reign."


    "Madame Greyheart is the one who leaked it," I said quietly, causing all heads to turn to me. "She recorded it thirteen years ago. She waited until now... until she could cause the most damage."


    Elder Vesta arched his eyebrows. "And why would she do that now, after all these years? Not to mention the fact that she¡¯s dead."


    I narrowed my eyes before speaking yet again. "Maybe because she¡¯s working with the Lord of the North."


    Gasps rippled through the room.


    "We have no proof of that," Elder Kelor said cautiously.


    "Yet," La added, stepping forward. "But I¡¯ve been monitoring chatter from the witches of the high covens. Rumours have spread, and some believe the Haven of the lost has Artificial hybrid moles within its ranks."


    "And what of the people?" Elder Yune asked, turning to me. "How do you n to address them? Some are already demanding a public trial. Others think you¡¯re the beast the prophets warned of."


    I stiffened but still managed to speak. "I¡¯ll speak to them. In time. But first, I need to make sure my house isn¡¯t crawling with vipers."


    "Your house?" Elder Harkan sneered. "You mean the very one you tore down when you killed thest Alpha King?"


    "Enough!" Odessa snapped, speaking for the first time as she stepped forward.


    Everyone looked shocked, including me.


    She inhaled. "Kaelos did what he did to survive. Whether you agree or not, he has ruled justly for over a decade. He has protected this pack, this continent, and has earned your allegiance. What happened in that throne room was brutal but it was between a father and a son. Not a king and his people."


    My heart stuttered. It didn¡¯t feel like forgiveness from her at least, not entirely. But it was something.


    Elder Yune tilted her head with short grey hair, seeming intrigued. "Spoken like a Luna Queen finallying into her own."


    Odessa bowed slightly but didn¡¯t smile. Her fingers brushed against mine, hesitant and barely there.


    Elder Memphis stepped back, his face grim. "Very well. You have twenty-four hours to release a statement. If you do not, we will be forced to gather the Continental Tribunal of Elders. And they will not be as lenient as we are."


    "Understood," I bit out, already nning my next move.


    The elders turned and exited, their red robes sweeping over the cold floor.


    Only La, Odessa, and I remained.


    "You okay?" I asked Odessa quietly, but she didn¡¯t answer, only resorting to looking at me.


    Her eyes were tired, and her voice was small. "Tell me... Is there anything else you¡¯re hiding from me?"


    There was silence once again as I stared at her briefly, ncing asionally at La who tried pretending like she wasn¡¯t in the throne room, parting aside strands of her braided brown hair.


    But eventually...


    "No. No, I¡¯m not, Odessa." I whispered reassuringly, cing my right hand on her shoulder with a wry smile. "And I would never. Not intentionally."


    She stared at me for a few seconds before stepping forward and wrapping her arms around my body, letting out a heavy breath on my chest.


    .


    .


    I thought the silence in the mansion would give me peace.


    But peace was a lie.


    It had been hours since the elders left.


    La had retired for the night, though I knew she¡¯d stay up monitoring the media in case another leak happened. Odessa was in her chambers, and despite the hug earlier, her mental walls were still up.


    My mate was protecting herself from me and I couldn¡¯t even me her.


    Iy sprawled on my bed, fully clothed and staring at the ceiling. My thoughts ran in spirals, coiling tighter and tighter around my chest.


    The video clip. The look in Odessa¡¯s eyes. The judgment in the mall. The tribunal of elders loomed like a guillotine.


    <fnafe4> This update is avable on F¦ÉndNovel</fnafe4>


    It didn¡¯t matter that I had been barely eighteen when I killed him.


    It didn¡¯t matter that Balthazar was a sadistic tyrant.


    The world didn¡¯t care about any of that.


    I sighed, my eyes finally slipping shut.


    But the moment I fell asleep, I knew I wasn¡¯t in a dream...


    No, this wasn¡¯t a dream.


    This was something darker.


    The air was thick, like tar coating my lungs. I stood barefoot in the middle of the old Bloodoak throne room, but it wasn¡¯t the way it looked in the past or in the video.


    This version was twisted. The torches burned with ck mes and the stone walls bled.


    Literally.


    The floor beneath me was damp and reeked of rot. I could hear whispers, thousands of them, ovepping in every direction.


    Then I heard a slow p echo from the shadows.


    p.


    p.


    p.


    "My son."


    I turned sharply, my ws extending on instinct.


    And there he was... Balthazar Bloodoak.


    But he wasn¡¯t exactly... him.


    He looked the same as he had the day I killed him, silver eyes sharp and his muscr frame coiled like a predator. But his skin was greyish, his veins bulged ck beneath the surface.


    His smile was all shades of wrong.


    "You finally return to the scene of the crime," he said, stepping out from the darkness.


    "This isn¡¯t real," I muttered, flexing my fingers. "You¡¯re dead."


    "Dead? Oh yes. But death is never the end for a Bloodoak." He echoed with a deep sadisticugh.


    I felt it then... A pressure behind my eyes. Damon snarled inside me, unsettled.


    Balthazar began to circle me, his boots echoing.


    "Tell me, how did it feel?" he asked.


    "What?"


    "Tearing through my chest. Feeling my ribs snap. Smelling my blood on your ws. Tell me, Kaelos. Did it excite you? Did you finally feel powerful?"


    "You tried to kill me," I snapped. "You called it discipline. You would have skinned me alive if I hadn¡¯t shifted."


    "So dramatic," he sneered. "Is that what you told your little witch? Is that what you told your people when they looked at you like a monster today?"


    He stopped in front of me.


    "I made you. And now you wear my crown. You rule from my chair. But you don¡¯t have my strength. You don¡¯t have my darkness."


    His voice deepened into a snarl. "You have her. That soft, pink-lipped Hybrid. And you think she makes you better. But she¡¯s your weakness."


    My anger burst like a dam as I surged forward, grabbing him by the cor only to feel my fingers pass through it like air.


    Illusion.


    But the smell of his sweat, the echo of his voice... That was real.


    Was this a spiritual projection?


    "What the hell do you want from me?" I hissed.


    His smile widened unnaturally.


    "I want to show you what happens next."


    He snapped his fingers, causing the world around us to melt like candle wax.

 Chapter 269: _The Dead Whisper His Name

    <h4>Chapter 269: _The Dead Whisper His Name</h4>


    "This... This can¡¯t be real..." I shook my head as I watched the throne room melting around me like wax. "This is just a dream... And I don¡¯t know who you are trying to use my father¡¯s face to deceive me, but¡ª"


    "Naive little Alpha King!" Balthazar¡¯s voice boomed all of a sudden, causing the throne room to shake like a giant had stepped foot on the ce.


    I rooted my feet on the ground, gritting my teeth and keeping my ws extended as I red at the bastard before me.


    Eventually, the throne roompletely melted out of existence and like an artist painting something new, it all morphed into anotherndscape.


    I scanned my gaze around only to realise that I was standing in the middle of the Blood Oak pack¡¯s elite district, the tarred roads reduced to rubble and ash, with mes rising into the sky.


    The sky was blood red, the clouds twirling and twisting into unnatural shapes.


    "What... This..." I stuttered, taking a single step back as Balthazar sniggered.


    "This is the future the continent and the world will face if you and that hybrid mate of yours continue on the path you¡¯re headed." His voice echoed all around me even though he was standing several meters in front of me.


    Up ahead, I could see the Alpha King mansion reduced to nothing but a skeletal husk of its former glory, the roof blown apart and the walls cracked beyond recognition.


    I closed my eyes, looking away from my father and the mansion. "No... No, this is only a dream. An illusion. Just like you."


    <fn0d9b> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find?Novel</fn0d9b>


    Once again, his mockingughter filled the air, causing the ground to shake and sending an uneasy feeling through my system.


    ¡¯You can feel it too, right?¡¯ Damon echoed in my mind.


    I gave him a mental nod, gritting my teeth. ¡¯Yes. Something¡¯s wrong.¡¯


    "Believe what you want but Odessa will only be more unstable from here on." Balthazar continued speaking despite my looking away from him. "She¡¯s unlike anything the supernatural world has ever seen. Her bloodline, those sigils, the Vein¡ª"


    "For a ¡¯ghost¡¯, you seem to know a lot about what¡¯s happening in the living world." I turned to face him, squinting my eyes and moving forward slowly. "You seem to know so much about my mate. Almost as if you¡¯ve been studying her all this while... Which should be impossible."


    I saw a flicker of something in his eyes.


    For a second, it wasn¡¯t as if I was staring at the face of my father, but rather at the projection of him made of something else.


    Or rather... Someone else.


    I didn¡¯t know much about ghosts but my instincts roared at me, telling me that there was something wrong with this image feigning to be a ghost.


    And my instincts tend to be mostly urate.


    My jaw clenched as I snarled coldly. "Let me guess... The true Lord of the North himself."


    Balthazar¡¯s eyes widened in surprise at first as he tilted his head.


    But then, that surprise slowly turned into a crooked grin as a sadisticughter echoed all around the dreamscape.


    "Well, well, well... It seems your mate¡¯s intuition is rubbing off on you, Kaelos." He said casually, his shoulders rxing. "What did you think of the broadcast? Anti climactic, wasn¡¯t it?"


    Rage surged through me as I took a single step forward charged with my Alpha King aura.


    That caused the ground underneath to crack beyond its current state, the cracks spreading like webs until they got to Balthazar, aka the Lord of the North.


    "You insufferable bastard!" I roared, my Alpha King aura bursting out in the form of a silver aura that spread out for hundreds of meters, engulfing my father¡¯s image in it too. "Why don¡¯t you show yourself? Stop hiding behind your artificial hybrids and rogues and face me head-on!"


    He raised an eyebrow, eyeing me with amusement in his eyes as he folded his arms in front of his chest.


    He rubbed his chin for a while, giving the illusion of being deep in thought.


    I would¡¯ve smashed that bastard¡¯s head into the ground by now if this were the real world, but here in the dream space, the projection was like air in my hands.


    I couldn¡¯t touch it, let alone harm him.


    "Only a fool would rely on brute strength to face an adversary, Kaelos. But of course, you should know about that since that¡¯s all you do." The Lord of the North¡¯s voice echoed out of my father¡¯s lips, mocking and condescending. "But I¡¯ll give you a name... One that you should remember for when the time arrives..."


    I paused, holding my breath as I waited for what he had to say.


    But then...


    The dream scape began melting like wax again, the environment this time floating into oblivion, leaving only a void of pure darkness.


    Balthazar still had a cruel grin on his face as he parted his lips slowly before whispering with a voice that echoed all around the dark void.


    "Lord Ryker."


    As soon as that name left his lips, I felt a force pulling at my legs. I grunted as I fell, struggling to keep my gaze on my father¡¯s form which was still floating above.


    For a second, it flickered with shadows floating around it, causing my eyebrows to furrow.


    "Ryker!" I roared, my voice booming all around the void as the darkness started encroaching.


    .


    .


    "Kaelos!"


    My eyes bolted open a secondter, forcing me to sit up, cold sweat dripping down my body.


    I scanned my gaze around only to realise that I was back on my bed with Odessa sitting beside me, her hands ced on my shoulders with worry in her eyes.


    "Gods, you made me worried." She muttered, pulling me into a hug, causing my body to rx. "I... I had a nightmare. I woke up and then I felt your distress through the mate bond and rushed here. Your ws, Kaelos..."


    My eyes widened as I raised my hands. Indeed, my ws were extended, glistening with a dark light.


    I willed them back into my fingers and sighed, wrapping my arms around Odessa as well. I let out a breath, my fingers trailing her back underneath the white night gown she wore as well as her hair.


    All I felt was gratitude and relief that she seemed to feel safe around me once again.


    "I had a dream too..." I blurted, clenching my jaw. "The Lord of the North used my father¡¯s form to taunt me. Then he... Revealed his name."


    Odessa pulled away, blinking at me with curiosity.


    I didn¡¯t waste any more time and spoke. "He called himself Lord Ryker. And I feel in my soul that that name should mean something. But nothing¡¯sing into my head."


    Odessa nodded, rubbing my shoulder with a distant look in her eyes. I could feel her emotions still reeling.


    Like her mind was still stuck on something.


    "What about you?" I asked softly, bringing my hand to her jaw and making her look at me. "What did you see in your dream?"


    She bit her bottom lip, her eyelids fluttering with hesitation.


    But eventually, after I nodded reassuringly at her, she closed her eyes briefly before speaking with a shaky voice.


    "I... I saw my mother..."

 Chapter 270: _Loyalty In The Storm

    <h4>Chapter 270: _Loyalty In The Storm</h4>


    Caroline¡¯s POV


    *****


    It had all happened so fast.


    One second, she was watching Odessa and Alpha King Kaelosughing and enjoying each other¡¯spany in a way that she hadn¡¯t seen in a while.


    Next, a broadcast was made showing a clip of Kaelos killing his father in cold blood using his wolf form.


    It was a brutal death, one that had the people in the mall and possibly the entire world talking long after Kaelos and Odessa slipped out of the mall discreetly.


    Caroline had told them she wanted to stay back and pay for the clothes they bought but in reality... She only wanted to give them space to talk.


    She could feel the tension between them and knew Odessa would need as much reassurance as possible.


    "It makes sense now why the Alpha King protected that hybrid from being punished for the destruction she caused at the Charity Ball." A woman holding a child snorted when Caroline stepped into the store. "It¡¯s because he¡¯s also a killer."


    "Hush, Sabrina! Do you want the Alpha King to¡ª" Another woman was about to scold the first one, but thetter quickly interrupted.


    "To what? To kill me like he did his father? Or Luna Queen Celine? Or Madame Greyheart? Or the Gamma?!" The first woman¡¯s voice kept rising the more she spoke.


    Caroline watched them from the corner of her eye as she stood in front of the cashier.


    "You¡¯re taking things out of context now. Everyone knows Celine and the Gamma were killed because they orchestrated a coup. Not to mention the Beta is the one who killed Celine."


    "Convenient cover-up!" Sabrina, the first woman scoffed, shaking her head. "Alpha King Kaelos is killing anyone who even slightly sneezes at his rule. This is only the beginning."


    "Sabrina has a point." A man echoed from a corner where jeans were on disy. "Have we forgotten what the Alpha King said at Elder Davina¡¯s funeral? About how he¡¯ll rain war on us in abundance?"


    Caroline clenched her jaw at the same moment that she handed the money owed to the cashier. She couldn¡¯t stand this.


    "The Alpha King only made that decree specifically for people against his decision of appointing Odessa as the new Luna Queen." She spoke up, turning around and fixing her gaze on the older man.


    But the man sneered. "Right. He does something that none of his forefathers have done in millennia, and he expects the people to follow him like loyal puppets?"


    "Wait, aren¡¯t you the Luna Queen¡¯s maid?" The cashier queried from behind the counter, causing Caroline to freeze like a deer under headlights.


    "Of course... No wonder you¡¯d speak up. You¡¯re privileged." Sabrina said with disdain walking toward Caroline. "You live under the protection of the Alpha King¡¯s mansion while normal folk like us have to stay at the eye of the storm of all the atrocities unfolding in real time. Atrocities that only began after the arrival of your false Luna Queen."


    Caroline¡¯s nostrils red with anger but then her wolf, Vilda, howled with disapproval.


    ¡¯Control yourself. It¡¯s you against an angry mob and we can¡¯t afford tosh out or hurt anyone.¡¯


    But Caroline mentally shook her head. ¡¯What they¡¯re saying is treasonous. And I¡¯d be damned before I stand by and do nothing.¡¯


    Without warning, she walked toward Sabrina, ignoring the uncertainty that shed past her eyes or the fear she felt from her child.


    The boy should be nothing older than ten and had big hazel eyes which glinted with innocent curiosity.


    "Mum? Why are we talking badly about the Alpha King?" The boy asked, tugging at his mother¡¯s hand. "He was nice to us earlier. Remember?"


    "Shut up, Gerald!" Sabrina shouted at her son, dragging his hand and ring at him. "You¡¯re too young to understand the gravity¡ª"


    Caroline had had enough.


    She shot her right hand forward, grabbing the woman¡¯s wrist and forcing her to look into her eyes.


    Sabrina gasped as Caroline¡¯s grip tightened, her gaze icy.


    "No. The boy is just old enough to know that you¡¯re being unreasonable in your judgment of the Alpha King and the Luna Queen." Caroline spoke firmly. "You¡¯re so quick to judge a man who has fought for peace since he ascended the throne."


    Sabrina¡¯s eyes quivered with anger. "Who do you think you are? Peace? You speak of peace?"


    She sessfully yanked her hand free of Caroline¡¯s grip, pulling her son away from her.


    "I guess it was also ¡¯peace¡¯ when the Alpha King murdered his father! That man¡¯s death has been a mystery for over a decade. Little did we know the man ruling us is responsible." The older man standing at a corner spoke with rage.


    "Who made you the spokesperson of the Alpha King and his wife anyway?" Sabrina asked, eyeing Caroline.


    Thetter clenched her jaw, her eyes scanning the faces of everyone present in the store. Their gazes were judgmental, and only a few didn¡¯t seem like they wanted to tear her apart.


    But before she could evene up with something to say or do, her right arm stung with a searing pain that made her groan softly.


    She clutched the shopping bags in her hands tightly but then turned away from the people, raising the sleeve of her gown.


    A faint sh mark on her right arm pulsed with a ck light, causing a shiver to run down her spine.


    The mark left behind by Regina...


    Caroline swallowed hard, her gaze going beyond the store andnding on the crowd of people walking about the za.


    It was then that she saw HER.


    Regina.


    The bitch stood amid the crowd, staring at Caroline with a mischievous smirk. She wore a ckce top with sleeves that red at the bottom.


    "What in the moon¡¯s name is she doing here?" Caroline asked herself with gritted teeth, ignoring the stares of the people in the store and charging forward with the shopping bags.


    However, just when she stepped outside... Regina vanished.


    Gone like she was never there to begin with.


    But Caroline could still feel her presence like a phantom waiting to strike if she lets her guard down, the sh mark on her arm still pulsing with a warmth that was far fromforting.


    "Well, well, well..."<fn7d9d> ?????? ???? f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn7d9d>

 Chapter 271: _Caroline’s Secrets

    <h4>Chapter 271: _Caroline¡¯s Secrets</h4>


    Caroline¡¯s POV


    *****


    "Well, well, well..."


    Her eyes widened when she heard that silvery voice echoing in her ears. She nced around, trying hard not to look like a crazy person amid the people walking past her in the mall¡¯s za.


    The sh on her arm still pulsed with a heat that only increased her anxiety.


    ¡¯Get out of here and head back to the mansion. We don¡¯t have time for this and Odessa might need us.¡¯ Vilda said in her mental space.


    But Caroline bit her bottom lip, shaking her head discreetly as she covered the sh mark again.


    ¡¯The true Lord of the North is behind that broadcast and we both know Regina works for him. Sticking close to her might¡ª¡¯


    ¡¯Are you hearing yourself speak right now?¡¯ Vilda snarled. ¡¯That girl is trouble wrapped in silk. Come on, you can do better.¡¯


    Caroline furrowed her eyebrows at the same moment that she spotted something at the corner of her eye.


    Or rather... someone.


    Regina stood close to a shop across the za, giving Caroline a knowing smirk before winking at her.


    <fnb243> For more chapters visit find~novel</fnb243>


    Thetter clenched her jaw, taking a few steps in that direction. But once again, Regina vanished from her view, causing her to groan.


    ¡¯Now do you want to give up?¡¯ Vilda asked with a scoff. ¡¯Let¡¯s go.¡¯


    Caroline sucked in a breath, shaking her head before scanning her gaze around the sea of people. She nced at the spot Regina had been standing on onest time before turning around, clutching the shopping bags in her hands tightly.


    .


    .


    When Caroline got to the mansion, she could feel the tension with just a few nces.


    Staff members whispered urgently and scurried about, the shocking revtion shown on the broadcast being the main topic.


    "He killed his father."


    "His death has been a mystery for the longest time."


    "Shh! He just got back. If he hears you we¡¯re toast."


    Caroline navigated her way through the hushed whispers and got to her bedroom, shutting the door behind her.


    She dropped the shopping bags on a chair in a corner, sighing heavily as she walked toward one of the open windows. The breeze blowing from the window was soothing... but something was off.


    "I could¡¯ve sworn I left all the windows in this room closed before we went out ", she muttered as a cold shiver ran down her spine.


    Crap...


    "Show yourself!" Caroline snarled, turning around sharply and scanning her gaze through the room, which was lit up by the sunlight shining into it.


    But she could feel it. She was too exhausted to notice at first but now she could pick up the scent of avender perfume as well as the lingering presence of someone dark.


    Dark and seductive...


    "Oh, hon. Calm down." Regina¡¯s voice echoed as she stepped out of a closet in a corner, a small smirk on her face as she shut the closet door behind her. "Don¡¯t mind me, I was just looking through your clothes. Ugh... Too much pink and white."


    Caroline¡¯s eyes red with a silver light as she took a step forward, drawing her ws out and sneering at Regina. "You! What did you do to me? This mark¡ª"


    "What? You don¡¯t like the idea of being branded?" Regina interrupted with a chuckle, shaking her head. "Boo hoo, hon. Besides, it¡¯s not lethal. Just a little... Parting gift. And the fact that you kept this..."


    She suddenly brought out the silver dagger that she had used to cut Caroline in the first ce.


    Thetter held her breath, blinking as Regina spun the dagger around her fingers before continuing.


    "... Tells me that you feel it too. You¡¯re just as intrigued as me. Maybe even more."


    Caroline furrowed her eyebrows.


    "What the fuck are you talking about?"


    But Regina sniggered, shaking her head and flinging the dagger back at Caroline. "You can still keep it."


    Caroline¡¯s eyes widened when she saw the de of the dagger aiming for her forehead. She caught it by the handle just in time but that brief moment of distraction gave Regina enough time to appear just a few inches in front of her.


    "When did you n to tell Odessa and the others?" Regina asked with a grin.


    Caroline gasped, her heart jumping into her throat. She shed forward with her right hand, but Regina dodged that with a few steps backwards, chuckling coldly.


    "You¡¯re so jumpy," Regina remarked with a light sigh. "Maybe that¡¯s because of all the secrets you¡¯re hiding. Like..."


    She flicked her wrist, causing a folded piece of paper to appear in between her fingers.


    "This. A letter from Elder Davina herself." Regina let out a sigh.


    Dread surged through Caroline, followed by anger and frustration as she lunged forward.


    "Give that back!"


    But Regina ced her right hand in front of her face, shoving her back easily.


    "Oh,e on. Let¡¯s see what the letter has to say." Regina rolled her eyes as Caroline red at her.


    ¡¯Stop wasting time and put her down!¡¯ Vilda snarled. ¡¯She might be an artificial hybrid but we aren¡¯t any ordinary werewolf either.¡¯


    Caroline gritted her teeth as Regina slowly opened the letter, intentionally smirking.


    "Ahem!" Regina cleared her throat, her eyes skimming the letter¡¯s content. " I fear I waited too long to act. The signs are no longer silent. There is no running from bloodlines..."


    Caroline growled, lunging forward once again. "I swear to the moon, I¡¯ll w your throat out if you don¡¯t¡ª"


    "Someone¡¯s a little too violent." Regina easily dodged, stepping to her left while the letter was still clutched tightly in her hands. She soon continued reading it out loud. "I¡¯ve hidden truths to protect her. And now I fear I¡¯ve dyed the inevitable."


    "Someone is watching. Something dark and chaotic is stirring. If you¡¯re reading this, protect her now more than ever. There are enemies hidden in ces you might least expect."


    Just when she raised her head, Caroline was upon her, grabbing her wrist and then sending a kick at her legs.


    Regina yelped, stumbling backwards, but the struggle caused the letter to rip in half abruptly.


    "No!" Caroline yelled, her heart dropping to her stomach.

 Chapter 272: _His Next Puppet

    <h4>Chapter 272: _His Next Puppet</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    Watching the clip of Kaelos killing his father that day was amusing, to say the least.


    He¡¯s always known the Alpha King had secrets... But he never expected them to be so scandalous!


    He would¡¯ve loved to mock him secretly and thenugh about it with a ss of wine or two... But he had his own issues to attend to.


    "Okay, these are all the books on soul branding I could get from Regina." Cullen blurted, dropping three books on the centre table of the living room with a sigh. "Random, but Regina seems oddly... Excited about something. As if she¡¯s found a new toy."


    Marcellus clicked his tongue,pletely ignoring his assistant as he stood and picked up one of the hardcover books. "Yeah, yeah, good for her. What did any of these books have to say about soul branding?"


    He was still troubled over that moonstone energy Elder Davina left on his soul after her death.


    The explosion had done physical damage but those had already healed. What lingered now was this dreadful feelinging from his soul.


    Cullen had mentioned he could see it shining inside Marcellus like a silver cloak, but thetter couldn¡¯t see anything, no matter how hard he tried to concentrate.


    "Unfortunately, I didn¡¯t see anything about moon stone-based soul branding." Cullen shrugged, sittingfortably on the sofa across from where Marcellus stood. "But you might just be overthinking¡ª"


    "Don¡¯t," Marcellus warned with a cold growl, flinging the book on the table. "None of that bullshit, Cullen. I¡¯m not overthinking this, and if your brain cells weren¡¯t shrivelled up like raisins, your instincts would tell you the same!"


    Thed shrank back in his seat, staring at Marcellus with genuine fear and hesitation for the first time in years.


    Marcellus kept his gaze on him for only a few seconds before he drew in a deep breath.


    This wasn¡¯t him.


    Emotions were never something he felt or let control his actions. Unless...


    "The moon stone¡¯s energy is probably already messing with my mind now." He deduced, squinting his eyes. "What did that hag do to me?"


    Cullen remained silent for a good while before clearing his throat. "Well, like you said, we better keep this under wraps so the Lord of the North doesn¡¯t find out. If that moon stone is anything that¡¯ll hold you back¡ª"


    "Hold me back?" Marcellus¡¯ frown deepened as he subconsciously stretched out his right hand. That motion caused dark green sparks of his magic to flicker on his fingertips, bringing a small smirk to his face.


    <fn7d69> This content belongs to find?novel</fn7d69>


    "Looks like I still have my mojo. Maybe¡ª"


    Suddenly, the doorbell rang, causing his eyes to widen. He turned his head to Cullen who quickly stood up and grabbed the books on the table, scurrying to the stairs but then stopping halfway, lingering in the shadows.


    Marcellus fixed his eyes on the door.


    "Come in!"


    The door swung open and in came La, her long brown hair done in braids. She also wore a form-fitting ck skirt to match her ck long-sleeved shirt, and her face was flustered with exhaustion.


    "Ah, La." Marcellus smiled warmly, stretching his arms in a weing gesture. "You... Look stressed. I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s because of that broadcast earlier. How¡¯s the Alpha King?"


    La let out a heavy sigh, shutting the door behind her. "I¡¯m so sorry for disturbing you this evening, Beta. The pack elders just left and it¡¯s getting hectic at the Alpha King¡¯s mansion."


    She stepped in, holding her tablet close to her chest. Marcellus¡¯ eyes lingered only briefly on her breasts which peeked out slightly from her shirt.


    Thest time La visited was after Elder Davina¡¯s death.


    The poor girl had broken down, sobbing in his forting" arms.


    Little did she know that he was probing her for the possibility of being his next puppet.


    "I can only imagine the gravity of the situation not just in the pack but the continent." Marcellus shook his head with a bitter smile.


    But La grunted. "You don¡¯t have to imagine, sir. Look."


    She walked closer, handing her tablet to him.


    Marcellus stared at the screen with curiosity as La continued speaking.


    "Social media is aze with people calling the Alpha King a murderer and tyrant worse than his father. Late Alpha King Leonardo¡¯s son, the newly appointed Alpha King of South America, even made a statement calling the clip barbaric."


    Wow... Indeed, all she said was correct.


    "The political fallout this will cause could be disastrous." La brushed her right hand down her face while Marcellus set the tablet on a sofa. "I¡¯m talking about a possible civil war among the wolves of North America! Alphas on the continent are silent so far, but it¡¯s only a matter of time..."


    "La," Marcellus spoke calmly, taking a step forward.


    "Goddess, I feel so helpless!" She groaned, cing both her hands on her head. "I¡¯m supposed to be the Alpha King¡¯s assistant in PR situations. But THIS? This is too much. I can¡¯t¡ª"


    "La!" Marcellus repeated, cing both his hands on her shoulders.


    That caused her eyes to widen, a gasp escaping her lips as she stared into his sharp green eyes.


    "It¡¯s okay," Marcellus whispered, his voice smooth like silk. "Did you hear what I said? You don¡¯t need to burden yourself with these issues."


    He could feel Cullen spying on them from the corner of the stairs behind him but ignored that, a small smile creeping up his lips when La¡¯s shoulder finally rxed.


    There were a few seconds of silence as she took slow and steady breaths.


    But then...


    "I¡¯ve been keeping contact with the people at the World Alliance Television Network. The true Lord of the North was behind this. That person, man or whatever he is... He¡¯s bing scarier by the day."


    Marcellus withheld the urge to snigger in her face.


    She had no fucking clue...


    "Do you know the best thing to do in situations like this?" He asked softly, making sure she looked into his eyes.


    When she shook her head, his smile widened as he brought his lip closer to her ear.


    "Just. Let. Go." His magic slipped slowly into her mind, causing her to blink with confusion at first.


    But then her eyes went nk, her lips parting as Marcellus parted aside strands of her hair with a grin, feeling her thoughts slipping away.


    "Looks like I still got it after all..."

 Chapter 273: _Little Odessa

    <h4>Chapter 273: _Little Odessa</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    I fluttered my eyes open, looking around me.


    My ears rang with the aftermath of an explosion, and dust and smoke filled the air, running into my lungs and forcing me to cough erratically as my chest burned and my eyes stung with tears.


    Screams, explosions, howls and cries echoed outside into the dimly lit room. A room that looked eerily familiar.


    "This ce..." I whispered with a voice I could barely even hear at the same moment that the room door burst open.


    I jolted, frozen with an unnerving fear.


    Two figures scurried into the living room frantically but I couldn¡¯t see their faces due to the dimly lit room and the contrast from the zing mes outside.


    That¡¯s until one of them spoke with a deep voice.


    "Odessa. Thank goodness, she¡¯s okay!"


    I furrowed my eyebrows as a pair of strong arms stretched forward and lifted me off the ground.


    Wait... Lifted me off the ground?!


    My eyes widened, my heart dropping into my stomach. I lowered my head only to realise that I was small.


    As in... I was reduced to the size of a five or six-year-old. I wore a little white dress and red shoes.


    Something sparked in my head just then. A bone-chilling realisation:


    I was somehow reliving the past. A moment that had haunted me for years and changed my life forever.


    The night of my parents¡¯ death.


    And this man carrying me right now was...


    "Rond, we need to hurry. Our people need us..." A soft female voice came from the second figure who stood by the door.


    Rond...


    That¡¯s my father¡¯s name.


    Rond Pierce.


    My breathing hitched as my eyes fell on his arms which were etched with sigils that glowed with a faint white light.


    Hunter sigils.


    And if he¡¯s my father that means the other figure...


    Suddenly, the second figure snapped her fingers, causing a spark of bright purple light to envelope her hand, illuminating the room in a flood of light that forced me to dim my eyes for a few seconds.


    But when my eyes adjusted to the light, my heart skipped a beat when I saw her face.


    My mother.


    Seraphina Pierce.


    One of the most powerful witches on the continent. She was gorgeous, with purple eyes like my aunt Althea and lush blonde hair like mine.


    Her features made her look like she was in her mid-thirties, but from what I¡¯ve heard, she was even older than my aunt, who¡¯s almost a century old.


    "No, Seraphina. Create a portal and escape with our daughter." My father spoke solemnly, handing me over to my mother, who carried me with hesitant eyes.


    I shuddered when I saw the seriousness on his face. "I¡¯ll stand back and help the others. There still have to be survivors out there¡ª"


    "We¡¯ve been married for decades, Rond." My mother cut him short abruptly, her voice sharp. "So I¡¯m surprised you¡¯ll think I¡¯ll go ahead and abandon you here."


    My heart thudded heavily against my ribcage as I stared wearily at the door behind them.


    I knew what wasing anytime soon and I didn¡¯t want to witness it again.


    ¡¯Sirena, are you there?¡¯ I asked my wolf but she was silent.


    Like she wasn¡¯t here.


    Fuck, this is just like that nightmare I had with the Lord of the North!


    Suddenly, IT happened.


    The door burst into thousands of splinters, the force from the explosion sending my parents flying backwards along with me.


    We fell on the ground and I yelped, grunting.


    A guttural howl echoed from the door, sending dread through my being as my father got on his feet, drawing out a silver sword that glowed with sigils.


    "Shit!" My father cursed while my mother quickly helped me to my feet.


    "Head to the basement and don¡¯t look back." She whispered, brushing her fingers through my hair. "They will hunt you and judge you for who you are. For your blood. But I know you¡¯ll stand through it all when the timees."


    She paused, tightening her grip on my shoulder while my father lunged at the wolf barging into the house.


    I watched in the corner of my eye with horror. The wolf in question was gigantic, standing on all fours but yet managing to have a muscr silhouette beyond anything I¡¯ve ever seen.


    It moved with deadly speed, shing at my father who was pushed back repeatedly while trying to block each attack.


    The shes were so powerful that they sent gushes of wind towards my mother and me.


    "Seraphina!" My father yelled out with a panicked voice, but then the wolf used its snout to shove him to the ceiling, causing him to grunt and for debris and dust to fall.


    My eyes widened slightly.


    This... Power...


    "Go, Odessa." My mother shoved me away from her as she turned around to face the wolf.


    Her fingers lit with a bright silver light, her hair blowing into the air.


    But she was toote...


    My heart clenched when I saw my father being ripped in half by the wolf, his blood spraying on me and my mother who was still shielding me with her body.


    For some reason, I could feel her spirit shatterpletely as the wolf flung my father¡¯s body like rotten meat, his organs sttering on the walls.


    Suddenly, an invisible force sucked me backwards, away from my mother and the wolf as she nced over her shoulder onest time with teary eyes.


    "No!" I screamed, my eyes widening when I saw hordes of more wolves, smaller than the first one, rushing into the house.


    But she fought them off with fluid ease, weaving fireballs, firing energy sts, breaking the bones of several wolves with telekinesis, and even creating force fields to shield her side of the room away from me.


    Everything was happening so fast, howls, whimpers and groans filling the air, the walls cracking and the ceiling even copsing as my mother fought on.


    And then... My gaze fell on the first wolf who had led the attack. His eyes glowed with a ck light that sent shivers down my spine.


    "The truth about your parents¡¯ death is closer than you may think, little hybrid..." A deep voice suddenly echoed in my mind.


    And then...


    .


    .


    "I woke up," I muttered, blinking nkly as I narrated the whole thing to Kaelos in the dimly lit room, my fingers twitching on myp.


    I hade here earlier after feeling his distress through the mate bond, my mind still reeling from the emotions that came flooding in after that dream.


    I had cried... But Kaelos didn¡¯t need to know that.


    He already seemed worried as it is.


    "It¡¯s been so long since I dreamt about that night." I clenched my jaw. "I¡¯ve forgotten some details. Sometimes I remember seeing my mother being killed. Other times I remember seeing that first wolf... Sparing me. With some kind of guilt in his eyes."


    I¡¯ve only ever told Marcellus about that night but I had a feeling he had told Kaelos in turn because thetter didn¡¯t seem as disturbed as I had expected.


    Kaelos tightened his grip on my hand, causing me to turn my head to him. His eyes glinted with a myriad of emotions and oddly enough... I couldn¡¯t feel them through the mate bond.


    I frowned.


    "Kaelos?"


    He sighed heavily. "Odessa. I... Can¡¯t imagine how you must¡¯ve felt that night. But¡ª"


    <fnfb4b> Content originallyes from f?ndnovel</fnfb4b>


    "You don¡¯t have to. That¡¯s the thing." I shook my head, chuckling dryly. "What pisses me off is knowing that bastard, the true Lord of the North, is the one behind my dream. I¡¯m sure of it. That voice at the end was his."


    I drew in a deep breath, closing my eyes for a beat.


    My emotions were swirling like a storm in me, and thest thing I needed right now was my magic reacting violently to it.


    ¡¯Sorry you had to relive that dream, girl.¡¯ Sirena suddenly spoke up in my mind, reminding me that she was back.


    I only smiled wryly when Kaelos suddenly cleared his throat.


    "Odessa..." He began, cing his fingers on my jaw and bringing my face to his gaze. "I... I don¡¯t¡ª"


    Unfortunately, before he could say anything, a blood-curdling scream tore through the silence of the night.


    My stomach churned as I swerved my head to the door.


    That scream came from right outside the room.

 Chapter 274: _Blood On The Wall

    <h4>Chapter 274: _Blood On The Wall</h4>


    (WARNING: Slightly disturbing and gory graphics ahead.)


    Kaelos was the first to get up, his hand lingering on mine.


    I followed, and we both ran to the room door, barging out and stepping into the dimly lit hallway, only to be met with pure chaos.


    Several maids and other staff scurried around, all heading in one direction to our right. That was the same direction as Kaelos¡¯ office.


    "What¡¯s going on?!" I yelled but no one paid me any attention.


    I let out a frustrated breath when Kaelos suddenly grabbed a maid who was about to run past us, forcing the girl to stand in front of us.


    "Are you blind?" He asked with a growl, causing the girl to shake with fear as she quickly bowed.


    "F¨CForgive me. Good evening, Alpha King and Luna¡ª"


    "Save us the forced greeting and tell us what the fuck is going on." He raised a hand, his voice cold but alert. "We heard a scream. It sounded like it wasing from outside this door. Who was it?"


    The girl hesitated, her eyes going from me to Kaelos. She tried hiding it but I¡¯ve lived through it all my life to not instantly know what it was.


    Judgement.


    Everyone was still reeling from the clip of Kaelos¡¯ patricide earlier today and it was so ringly obvious.


    And if Kaelos noticed, he didn¡¯t show it.


    "Soriya. One of the head maids. She¡¯s the one who screamed. She was yelling and crying about seeing something horrifying in the Alpha King¡¯s office." The maid exined in a lowered voice.


    It was as if she had realised that there was a blunder with what she said.


    "Something happened in MY office and no one thought it best to summon me?" Kaelos thundered, his voice instantly causing everyone running down the hallway to freeze.


    No Alpha King aura. No coldness in his voice.


    They all just knew they were in trouble.


    "Move out of the way," Kaelos said simply, ncing at me briefly before walking down the wide hallway leading to his office.


    The maids and staff members loitering around quickly parted like sardines against a shark, giving Kaelos and me more than enough space.


    My jaw clenched as we walked.


    I had a bad feeling about this.


    .


    .


    The office door was wide open when we got there.


    Two maids were standing just outside it, staring into it with horrified expressions. But we ignored them and their half-baked greetingspletely, stepping into the room.


    However, the first thing that hit me when we stepped into the office was the strong metallic stench of blood.


    "Triple goddess..." I muttered, cing my right hand in front of my mouth.


    At the centre of the office stood Soriya, her body frozen like she had been struck with a petrifying spell. But she was still shivering with dread, her back facing us.


    In front of her feet was a dead body that made my stomach turn until I felt like hurling out the little dinner I had earlier.


    The dead body belonged to a maid, which I was able to guess thanks to the simple ck and white dress she wore.


    <fn4833> Read full story at F?nd-Novel</fn4833>


    But her hands? Not only were they shoved deep into her stomach, but they were bloody, the skin on them torn out and leaving her bones to show.


    Her stomach was gashed open, her intestines coiling out of it. Dark red blood pooled underneath her body, staining the marble tiles of the office.


    Kaelos and I nced at each other at the same time, both our faces solemn. After a gentle nod from him, we stepped closer, my eyes scanning the room.


    On the walls behind Kaelos¡¯ office desk was something even more unsettling.


    It was a sentence painted with blood which still dripped from the wall like trails of death.


    And the sentence in question?


    "<strong>The True King shall ascend the throne when the sky is painted red."</strong>


    I swallowed hard as my gaze fell on the body of the maid again.


    "She... She killed herself." Soriya, the head maid, spoke up just then, causing Kaelos and me to turn our gazes to her. "I... I sent her here to tidy up the ce. When I came to check on her, her eyes were ck. As if ink had spilt on them."


    I shivered, subconsciously holding Kaelos¡¯ hand beside me.


    "... I panicked. She began saying things I couldn¡¯t understand and then mentioned ¡¯the Vein¡¯."


    A cold shiver ran down my spine when I heard thatst part.


    The Vein?


    As in... <strong>THE VEIN</strong>? The same source of chaotic energy flowing underneath the continent that the dark sigils in me were somehow connected to?


    I could feel Kaelos ncing briefly at me but he kept hisposure as Soriya continued.


    "Then she shed that hole through her stomach with her own ws and... And that¡¯s when I ran out of the office screaming for help. I thought she had run mad."


    Tears began streaming down her eyes again as she took a few steps back before falling to her knees, weeping in front of the maid¡¯s body.


    "But how could a girl who was living her best life since I got her a job herest week suddenly lose her sanity? It... It doesn¡¯t make any sense." She shook her head repeatedly.


    Kaelos let out a sigh just then, turning around to face the two maids standing by the door.


    "You two. Come help her up." He spoke bluntly.


    They jolted at first but then nodded, rushing into the office and helping the head maid off the ground.


    As they took her out of the office, I brought my gaze back to the writing on the wall.


    "She used her blood to do that before dying." Kaelos blurted, stepping over the body and toward the wall. "What that head maid described sounds like a textbook example of possession."


    I caressed my arms, my jaw clenching as I felt the dark sigils in my blood. They were beneath my skin, pulsing with life as if they were waiting for me to make just one slip-up and use my magic.


    For some reason... I felt like this was a warning.


    Althea said I was a key to the Vein.


    Could I have somehow caused this without knowing?


    "This is something much worse than possession," I whispered, shaking my head. "We need to call in Althea. Before this turns into something darker."

 Chapter 275: _Dagger Wrapped In Velvet

    <h4>Chapter 275: _Dagger Wrapped In Velvet</h4>


    "Goddess have mercy..." Marcellus muttered when he was called in twenty minutester alongside Althea, La and the military advisor.


    He was thest to show up and stood by the office door, staring at the gory scene in the middle of Kaelos¡¯ office with widened eyes.


    I only nced at him for a bit before bringing my gaze back to my aunt Althea who was busy tracing her fingers around the dead maid¡¯s body, weaving spells and chanting some things I couldn¡¯t hear.


    She squatted in front of the body while Kaelos and I stood behind her. I subconsciously leaned closer to Kaelos, resting my head on his shoulder.


    ¡¯I¡¯m exhausted.¡¯ I spoke through the mate bond, sighing heavily. ¡¯I¡¯m afraid of sleeping now. I don¡¯t want any more nightmares.¡¯


    He was silent for only a couple of seconds before he wrapped his arm firmly around my waist. ¡¯I¡¯ll sleep in your bed after this. Or we can just... Stay awake. I don¡¯t think I can sleep either after my dream.¡¯


    ¡¯Isn¡¯t yours also technically a nightmare?¡¯ I asked with a raised eyebrow at the same moment that Althea raised her head, withdrawing her hands from the body.


    ¡¯No, I wouldn¡¯t call it that. Lord Ryker is trying to manipte us by manipting our dreams.¡¯ He spoke with a clenched jaw. ¡¯But I don¡¯t understand how he was able to get into my head. My Alpha King bloodline makes me immune to telepathic maniption. Unless...¡¯


    "You two were right in your deduction." Althea suddenly muttered, getting on her feet and adjusting her purple robe.


    She turned around, facing us with a solemn expression. "This girl was indeed corrupted with chaotic magic from the Vein. It¡¯s almost untraceable... But that darkness."


    She paused, ncing at Marcellus, the military advisor and La who stood at the other side of the office.


    She let out a small breath before lowering her voice. "That darkness is the same as what I felt when I revealed the sigils within Odessa¡¯s blood earlier today."


    I swallowed hard.


    "Does... Does this mean I caused this?" I asked, also keeping my voice low while staring at the dead body of the maid, a shiver running down my spine.


    Althea quickly stepped forward, cing her hand on my shoulder. "We don¡¯t know that yet, Odessa. I¡ª"


    "But you¡¯re saying it¡¯s a possibility," I repeated, raising an eyebrow. "That I¡¯m already actively a danger to everyone around me. Including maybe... My mate."


    I nced at Kaelos who blinked back at me with confusion.


    My mind reeled as I thought about something.


    If Ryker has ess to my mind, what if he somehow used the mate bond to get to Kaelos as well? What would that mean for us?


    Suddenly, just as my aunt¡¯s lips parted, La cleared her throat behind us.


    "S¨CSir? The Alpha Kings still request a video or a personal exnation from you about the¡ª"


    "Yes, yes, yes, La!" Kaelos snapped, raising a dismissive hand. "I¡¯ll address the Alpha Kings tomorrow before making a public statement about the broadcast with my father. They can wait on their high thrones and continue fighting their wars on their continents."


    He proceeded to fix his gaze on the wall behind his desk. His jaw tightened and I felt an emotion which I rarely ever felt from him.


    Fear.


    <fn68ca> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? FindN0vel</fn68ca>


    Of the unknown and of losing me.


    "Wherever this Lord Ryker is, he¡¯s made it clear that he¡¯s after MY throne. Not theirs. And I¡¯ll be damned before I let him take it or threaten my people." He finally added, drawing in a deep breath before turning to Althea.


    "Is there anything you can do? A protection spell of sorts perhaps?"


    The second I heard that I knew it wouldn¡¯t be well received.


    I was right...


    "Alpha King, a protection spell?" The military advisor stepped forward, his face scrunched with confusion as he removed his hand from his brown beard. "It¡¯s... It could be..."


    He paused when he saw the cold look Kaelos gave him. Kaelos tilted his head, narrowing his eyes.


    "Could be what, Jeremiah?" He asked, his voice daring. "Go on. We¡¯re all here to input opinions, right?"


    Thatst question felt like a dagger wrapped in velvet.


    "W¨CWhat I was trying to say is that public distress is still very high, sir," Jeremiah spoke cautiously, ncing briefly at me. "The people are already ufortable with the idea of a high priestess living in your mansion. Some even suggest she might be responsible for the artificial hybrid among your guards ranks who was brought down."


    What the heck?


    I scoffed but Althea was surprisingly silent, her arms sped in front of her body. I squinted my eyes as Kaelos spoke firmly.


    "The public will always speak, Jeremiah. But I know what¡¯s good for my people at the end of the day and I¡¯m not hiding it."


    There was a long silence as everyone nced among themselves.


    The atmosphere was tight with tension and everyone clearly had one or two things that they were thinking in their heads... But they didn¡¯t dare voice it out.


    "La, please get people to clean up this office," Kaelos spoke up just when the silence felt suffocating. "Marcellus and Jeremiah... Prepare points for a meeting tomorrow. After I address the Alpha Kings and make a public statement, we need to appoint a new Gamma and Delta."


    The two men nodded at Kaelos as he finally turned to face Althea.


    At this point, I felt dizzy and fixed my gaze on the door. I let out a sigh, speaking to Kaelos through the mate bond.


    ¡¯I¡¯m going outside for a little walk.¡¯


    ¡¯Don¡¯t you want to wait for me? I can walk with you.¡¯ he suggested but I declined.


    ¡¯No need for that, Kaelos. I just... I need space to process everything.¡¯


    There were WAY too many things happening in one day.


    From the reveal of the Vein and Ryker¡¯s maniption, to the broadcast revealing a dark secret Kaelos has kept all this while, then the weird dream I had and now THIS?


    ¡¯I suggest a lot of wine.¡¯ Sirena muttered in my head but I sighed, stepping away from Kaelos and walking out of the office.


    I closed the door behind me, brushing my hand down my face as I turned a corner, heading down the hallway. But as I did, I paused when I spotted Caroline heading for me with a serious expression on her face.


    Dear gods... Not more trouble..


    "Caroline, I¡¯m sorry, but whatever it is, can it wait?" I asked with a pleading voice when she finally got in front of me. "I¡¯m exhausted and I¡ª"


    "There was a letter in Elder Davina¡¯s body the night of her death." She spoke hastily, keeping her voice low. "And I think it was talking about you."

 Chapter 276: _No Running From Bloodlines

    <h4>Chapter 276: _No Running From Bloodlines</h4>


    "What?" I blinked, my hand slowly dropping from my forehead when I heard Caroline¡¯s report.


    Her eyes glinted with determination under the dim lighting of the Hallway as she nced around before grabbing my arm.


    "We need to go somewhere private." She whispered as she pulled me with her.


    She was heading in the direction of my room, and that was thest ce I wanted to head to right now.


    "Caroline, wait." I froze, forcing her to pause in her tracks. I let out a sigh before continuing. "I know a spot outside where we can talk..."


    .


    .


    We walked out of the mansion and headed toward the inner gardens in thepound, ignoring the guards who kept watch. I noticed the judgmental looks they gave me, but I couldn¡¯t care less.


    Not right now with everything going on in my head.


    "We¡¯re here," I spoke up when we finally got to the destination, turning to face Caroline, whose face was scrunched with uncertainty. "So, are you with the letter in question or...?"


    "Are we sure this is a safe spot to talk, ma¡¯am?" She queried, causing me to roll my eyes.


    ¡¯Girl, calm down. You aren¡¯t yourself right now.¡¯ Sirena spoke up in my head but I gave a mental scoff.


    ¡¯Yeah, that¡¯s the point. I want to be left alone. Who knows if my magic awakened in some weird way that gave Lord Ryker ess to possess that poor maid?¡¯ I spoke worriedly, folding my arms in front of my chest. ¡¯I¡¯m avoiding people for their own good.¡¯


    "Caroline, are you about to share some secret tea recipe she left behind? Is the letter really that serious?" I asked with a deadpan tone, my voiceced with sarcasm and frustration. "Just tell me what it is or show it to me."


    Her shoulders dropped the second I finished saying all that, the seriousness in her expression turning to concern.


    Crap...


    "Are... Are you okay, ma¡¯am Odessa?" She asked, her voice hesitant. "I know the scene with the maid might¡¯ve been... Traumatic. But¡ª"


    <fn1616> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n f?ndnovel</fn1616>


    "Might?" I repeated, flinging my arms into the air. "Caroline,e on. If you don¡¯t have anything to say, I¡¯m sorry but I¡ª"


    "I... I tried to keep it safe. But..." Caroline sucked in a breath and suddenly blurted, "The letter got torn! It... It got torn but I still remember what was in it."


    I furrowed my brows, tilting my head.


    The garden was silent apart from the chirping of night birds and crickets, and an owl even hooting once in a while from a nearby apple tree.


    "How did the letter get torn?" I questioned, staring straight into her eyes and watching as she tried hard to avoid my gaze.


    That look in her eyes.


    It was as if she...


    ¡¯Yep. She¡¯s definitely hiding something.¡¯ Sirenapleted my line of thought for me.


    Huh...


    "It¡¯s... It¡¯s a long story." Caroline finally said with a sigh, waving her right hand dismissively. "I should have told you sooner and I¡¯m sorry for not doing that."


    Dear gods, she¡¯s taking too long.


    I closed my eyes, taking in a few deep breaths.


    My emotions were all over the ce and that was a bad sign. I could feel my magic prickling just underneath my skin and a soft whisper in my head that didn¡¯t belong to Sirena or Kaelos.


    "So much power yet you want to hold it back. But for how long?"


    I swallowed hard, trying my best to ignore the whisper and stering a smile on my face. I will not let the Lord of the North control me.


    "Tell me what the letter said."


    Caroline stared at me for a few seconds before she nodded and cleared her throat:


    "I fear I waited too long to act. The signs are no longer silent. There is no running from bloodlines.


    I¡¯ve hidden truths to protect her. And now I fear I¡¯ve dyed the inevitable.


    Someone is watching. Something dark and chaotic is stirring. If you¡¯re reading this, protect her now more than ever. There are enemies hidden in ces you might least expect."


    I parted my lips when she finally stopped speaking.


    There was a drawn-out silence at first before she continued. "That was it. I made sure to memorise it, but I don¡¯t even know what most of it means."


    Out of all the things Caroline just narrated, one sentence stood out more than anything.


    There¡¯s no running from bloodlines...


    The wind suddenly picked up pace in the garden, causing leaves to rustle and my lush blonde hair to blow into the wind behind me.


    I subconsciously held my right arm, sighing heavily before nodding at Caroline. "It¡¯s... It¡¯s a lot. But let¡¯s keep it in wraps till tomorrow. I think we all... Need rest more than anything right now."


    I turned away from her, my gazending on a small pond at the other side of the garden.


    "Odessa, should I get you anything?" Caroline asked from behind me as I began walking toward the pond. I paused, my grip on my arm tightening.


    My fingers slid and subconsciously touched the magic bracelet which was still wrapped around my wrist.


    Could the elders of the Luminari coven feel the chaos stirring inside me? Who are the enemies hidden in ces I can¡¯t expect?


    ¡¯Fuck all this...¡¯ I thought to myself before responding to Caroline. "I¡¯m fine, Car. Thank you. Just head back inside and get some rest."


    "But¡ª"


    "Good night, Car."


    I continued walking, my steps on the grass brisk and crisp. My ears perked up when I finally heard her leave after standing behind me for several seconds.


    When I got to the pond, I stared at my reflection and that of the moon shining like an orb of divine light from the sky. But then slowly, the moon¡¯s light started getting blocked by clouds.


    I didn¡¯t bother looking at the sky, tilting my head as I watched the water stir. The wind stilled and the birds and crickets stopped chirping.


    There was just silence.


    And then...


    My reflection in the pond¡¯s water twisted shape, morphing into someone else. A face covered in shadows.


    And it smiled at me.


    "I¡¯m the only one who can show you who you really are..." That voice from earlier echoed in my head again.


    And the scary part?


    I believed it.


    <strong>(IMPORTANT MESSAGE IN AUTHOR¡¯S NOTE)</strong>

 Chapter 277: _What Happened In That Throne Room

    <h4>Chapter 277: _What Happened In That Throne Room</h4>


    My eyes fluttered open as I groggily sat up, looking around me. But when I tried sitting up, I realised I was back on my bed.


    Or, more urately, Kaelos¡¯ bed...


    But how?


    Thest thing I remember doing was staring... Staring at that pond in the garden.


    A cold shiver ran down my spine when I remembered that voice before everything went ck. Ryker. It was definitely Ryker.


    "Well, good morning, sunshine." Kaelos¡¯ deep voice cut my thoughts short, forcing me to swerve my head to the walk-in closet at the other side of the room.


    He had a bright smile on his face and wore a stylish crimson red suit with golden embroiderycing the cors and a silver snarling wolf head crest etched on his chest pocket.


    I blinked, ncing down and realising I was dressed in a white night gown. No matter how hard I tried to rememberst night and how I ended up here... Nothing came through.


    "Your maid, Caroline. She came to me and told me you were in the gardens." Kaelos continued speaking just then, walking up to therge mirror in the room and adjusting his suit there. "I tried reaching you through the mate bond but... Well, you were asleep. Lying on the ground like you were trying to reconnect with nature."


    I sighed, rubbing my right hand down my face, my face heating up with embarrassment.


    Suddenly, I heard him walking toward me and stiffened a bit when his warm hand touched my shoulder.


    "Odessa..." His voice was soft as he sat beside me. "I know you¡¯re stressing out."


    I smiled wryly, turning my gaze to him. "Is it that obvious?"


    He raised an eyebrow. "Not exactly... But you¡¯re my mate. You might show other people a mask of calm but I see through it. You don¡¯t have to hide what you¡¯re feeling from me."


    His hand trailed to my face, cupping it tenderly. "Understood?"


    I blinked, my lips twitching slightly.


    But then I nodded, stering a smile on my face.


    "And what about you?" I asked when he seemed like he was about to get up. "You promise not to keep anything? To let me feel your emotions?"


    I still remembered how he had shut off his emotions from mest night before we saw the dead maid in his office.


    Right after I told him about the nightmare with my parents.


    It was... Suspicious. But I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt and I was honestly exhausted living in uncertainty.


    "Of course." Kaelos nodded in response to my question, smiling warmly as he held my hands in between his. "Of course. I¡¯m sorry,st night was... Intense. I didn¡¯t want to overwhelm you with what I felt."


    I stared at him for a few seconds. He stared as well but eventually cleared his throat, getting up once again.


    "Freshen up. We¡¯ll be going to my throne room to talk to the Alpha Kings of the other continents."


    My eyes widened as I adjusted my sitting position hurriedly, flinging the bed sheet aside and cing my legs outside the bed.


    "Wait, they¡¯re... They¡¯re here?!"


    Kaelos frowned, shaking his head. "No, no, they¡¯re not. It¡¯s a Zoom meeting. They want me to exin myself concerning the... Broadcast of what happened thirteen years ago."


    His expression became solemn after he said that, his eyes distant.


    There was a drawn-out, awkward silence, and I could feel the guilt building up inside him. Guilt, anger, frustration... But also sadness.


    But that all dissipated almost as fast as it hade when a knock sounded on the door.


    <fndbad> Th?s chapter is updated by Find1Novel</fndbad>


    "Sir, they¡¯re ready for the meeting," La called out from the other side of the door.


    Kaelos and I nced at each other before nodding.


    Let¡¯s get this over with...


    .


    .


    ¡¯Alright, I¡¯ll be catching you up with each Alpha King once we step inside there.¡¯ Kaelos spoke to me through the mate bond once La and I got in front of the throne room door.


    I wore a crimson red velvet gown with sleeves that red like mes at the base and a slit on both sides of my legs that reached just a little above my knees for easier movement.


    But also just because I wanted to seem hot.


    And it worked.


    ¡¯Do you n to start a war looking like that, my feisty mate?¡¯ Kaelos asked teasingly, pressing his hand on my back as we finally stepped into the throne room.


    I managed a smirk, my gazending on our thrones at the end of therge room.


    ¡¯Maybe, dear husband.¡¯


    In front of the thrones was arge pir with arge screen TV mounted on it. The white light shining on the thrones from the television was an indicator that it was turned on and the Alpha Kings were probably already live.


    "How convenient of the Alpha King to stillete to a meeting that doubles as his trial." A deep voice spoke with enough snark to cause another ice age.


    I swallowed hard as Kaelos and I finally ascended our thrones, sitting and then facing therge screen.


    The screen was divided into six boxes, each one showing the live images of our... Guests.


    "Alpha King Maddox." Kaelos nodded with acknowledgement, his gaze fixed on a section of the screen to the right where a burly man with a thick blonde beard was positioned. "So sorry for theteness."


    ¡¯He¡¯s Australia¡¯s Alpha King.¡¯ Kaelos introduced him to me through the mind link. ¡¯He doesn¡¯t believe in formalities and rarely shows up for such meetings, even digitally...¡¯


    I blinked, trying hard to ignore the obvious scrutiny from the six faces on the screen.


    One face stood out most because it didn¡¯t belong to an Alpha King.


    ¡¯Are female Alpha Kings a thing?¡¯ I asked through the mind link, my gazending briefly on a gorgeous woman in the middle of the screen.


    She had lush silver hair and sparkling emerald eyes, her right hand holding a white cup of tea. On her index finger was a ring with a beautiful purple gemstone that glistened like a star.


    ¡¯No, they aren¡¯t. That¡¯s Luna Queen Janelle.¡¯ Kaelos responded, his voice in the mind link filled with reverence. ¡¯Luna Queen of Europe. I guess she¡¯s filling in for her husband, Alpha King Thorian.¡¯


    Janelle was calm, her eyes skimming through the screens of the other Alpha Kings with silent judgment.


    ¡¯I have a feeling we¡¯ll like her.¡¯ Sirena suddenly muttered in my head but I couldn¡¯t smirk outwardly, my jaw tightening.


    "Sorry, won¡¯t cut it, Alpha King Kaelos." A muscr ck man with silver grey hair spoke with a thick ent from another side of the screen, leaning closer on his desk.


    Definitely the African Alpha King.


    "... That throne you sit on was the same one you murdered yourte father. A throne soiled in blood. We, the Alliance of Alpha Kings, demand penance."

 Chapter 278: _Luna Queen Janelle

    <h4>Chapter 278: _Luna Queen Janelle</h4>


    "Alpha King Mwansa." Kaelos cleared his throat, addressing the African Alpha King with a smooth tone. "While I understand your concern, I think you¡¯re being a bit too... Uptight."


    I widened my eyes, ncing at Kaelos again. His face was calm but I could see the storm brewing in the corner of his eyes already.


    "Uptight?" Alpha King Mwansa repeated, sping his hands in front of himself. "I have things to attend to, Kaelos. We all do and¡ª"


    "Alpha King Kaelos." Kaelos interrupted with a sharp tone, tilting his head only slightly. "I would like it if you refer to me by my title, sir. Trial or not, I still remain the sovereign of the packs of North America."


    ¡¯What are you doing?¡¯ I couldn¡¯t help but ask through the mind link. ¡¯I thought we¡¯re supposed to be¡ª¡¯


    ¡¯Silent? Calm?¡¯ Kaelos asked with a mental scoff. ¡¯Odessa, do you really think any of these men gathered care about what¡¯s happening here? All they really care about is their own tails. The safety of their own territories. Because of the enemy I have here who killed one of their own not too long ago.¡¯


    My mind shed back to when Lord Ryker broadcast his killing of the South American Alpha King and then threatened all the other Alpha Kings.


    Alpha King Leonardo¡¯s son was the one on the throne of his father now... But the damage had already been done on the continent.


    ¡¯Do you think they¡¯re trying to buy some kind of leverage from the Lord of the North by forcing you to step down or worse?¡¯ I queried, my jaw clenching as I stared at the television screen.


    We were having our conversation within milliseconds through the mind link so we didn¡¯t have to worry about dying them.


    ¡¯I don¡¯t know. Let¡¯s just go with the flow.¡¯ Kaelos said but then quickly added. ¡¯And don¡¯t let anyone walk over you. Trust me... Sooner orter someone¡¯s going to bring up the fact that you¡¯re a¡ª¡¯


    "Why is your... Luna Queen here?" The youngest face on the screen asked, staring at me with disdain.


    His eyes glowed with a hatred I knew all too well:


    The hatred directed at someone who took everything from you.


    ¡¯That¡¯s the new South American Alpha King. Soren.¡¯ Kaelos introduced him before clearing his throat. "Well, Alpha King Soren, she¡¯s my mate and my wife. And as you said... This continent¡¯s Luna Queen."


    The Australian Alpha king sniggered just then, leaning back and drumming his fingers. "Please! Do you see any of us with our wives here? I know the game you¡¯re trying to y."


    Something stirred in Kaelos like a storm that was literally holding itself back from consuming everything.


    "Game?" Kaelos repeated with a cold tone. "You call this a game? Luna Queen Odessa is here because this concerns her too. Not to mention I¡¯d love it if she gets used to our politics."


    A Mongolian man who seemed to be in histe sixties spoke up with a sneer. "You¡¯re using your trial to introduce us to your Luna Queen? Your audacity is astounding, boy."


    I¡¯m guessing that¡¯s the Asian Alpha King...


    "Again... It¡¯s ALPHA KING Kaelos to you, Alpha King Arakida. Not ¡¯boy¡¯." Kaelos¡¯ tone was calm, but I was the only one who could feel the agitation underneath it.


    "Luna Queen Odessa." An enchanting female voice spoke up from the TV screen just then.


    I swerved my head only to see Luna Queen Janelle¡¯s emerald eyes fixed on me. She dropped her cup of tea and I couldn¡¯t help but notice the instant silence that fell among the Alpha Kings.


    Even Kaelos¡¯ storm subsided, making me wonder.


    Who exactly was this woman?


    ¡¯Luna Queen Janelle is well respected even among Alpha Kings.¡¯ Kaelos exined. ¡¯Not to mention she and her husband are the oldest among the current Alpha Kings and Luna Queens. Don¡¯t let her looks deceive you... That woman became queen before the war.¡¯


    "Aren¡¯t you going to make any contributions or at least... Introduce yourself properly?" Luna Queen Janelle continued while I was still trying to process everything Kaelos just told me.


    I swallowed hard, taking in a deep breath before speaking. "I... I don¡¯t really have much to say. Everyone here knows me after the Charity Ball incident. I just know that Kaelos didn¡¯t do what he did thirteen years ago out of any selfish motives."


    Janelle parted her lips, clearly about to say something but Alpha King Maddox of Australia barked like a raving dog.


    "Can you hear yourself speak, woman?! We¡¯re talking about the murder of an Alpha King and you¡¯re telling us¡ª"


    "I wasn¡¯t done talking, Alpha King Maddox," Janelle spoke with a deadpan, bringing instant silence once again. "If you have to yell to speak then your words carry little weight."


    I stiffened, my grip on the armrest of my throne tightening a bit.


    Gods, even I was shaken.


    Maddox was clearly pissed off but he didn¡¯t dare say anything in rebuttal.


    After a drawn-out silence, Janelle adjusted her sitting position, cing her right hand on her forehead, her sapphire ring glistening brightly on her finger.


    "Alpha King Balthazar has been dead for thirteen years. THIRTEEN. If any of you cared enough, you would¡¯ve pooled resources in researching his death." She continued with a stern expression, pausing for only a beat.


    "I¡¯m not excusing patricide. Kaelos will answer to that at the end of this, rest assured. But let¡¯s be honest here... We all watched his father destroy peace one alliance at a time. Not just with the witches but werewolves of other continents. You call him a murderer, yet you benefit from the silence that murder brought. Let¡¯s not y pretend."


    Silence.


    Pin drop level silence.


    ¡¯I told you we would like her.¡¯ Sirena said with a little excitement in her voice but all I could do was stare at Luna Queen Janelle with awe.


    The power shemanded didn¡¯te from fear. It came from over a century of respect.


    I wanted that as a Luna Queen...


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    "With all due respect, Luna Queen Janelle... Are you suggesting this meeting is a waste of time?" Alpha King Soren asked, furrowing his eyebrows.


    Janelle smirked for a few seconds before shaking her head. "You said that. Not me. What I¡¯m saying is... We let Alpha King Kaelos defend himself and share his side of the story."


    She paused, grabbing her cup of tea and taking a sip before adding:


    "Then we pass judgment."

 Chapter 279: _The Price Of Loyalty Is Death

    <h4>Chapter 279: _The Price Of Loyalty Is Death</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    I swear to the goddess, sitting in this throne room under the scrutiny of these Alpha Kings was agitating.


    I could barely hold back my anger as each of them dared open their mouths to pass judgment as if any of them were saints.


    Alpha King Maddox of Australia especially.


    That bastard had run conquests during the war that led hundreds of his soldiers to their unnecessary demise while he sat in thefort of his high throne... But no one batted an eye.


    But now, when it came to the murder of an Alpha King who had threatened the stability of peace among werewolves, not just in this continent but the others... It became a problem.


    "What I¡¯m saying is... We let Alpha King Kaelos defend himself and share his side of the story." Luna Queen Janelle muttered calmly, sipping her cup of tea before adding. "Then we can pass judgment."


    I clenched my jaw, resting my handsfortably on the armrests of my throne.


    The other Alpha kings stared at me with hidden disdain, silently waiting.


    "Well, go on, Alpha King Kaelos." Alpha King Soren of South America said with a scoff, cing his hand on his jaw expectantly. "How do you hope to defend yourself against such a grave crime?"


    I stared at the young man with a small smirk threatening to twitch at the corner of my lips. I could tell he was enraged about his parents¡¯ deaths at the hands of the Lord of the North.


    But thest thing I¡¯m going to do is make myself a scapegoat for that as well.


    "My father, Alpha King Balthazar, gave the word ¡¯ruthless¡¯ another meaning." I began, scanning my gaze through the faces of everyone on therge screen. "Many of you must have heard of his... Exploits. When the war began, he was just a new Alpha King but managed toy waste to several human settlements on this continent, escting the war worldwide."


    "The humans allied themselves with the witches first,st time I checked." Alpha King Mwansa spoke up with a bored tone. "Besides... Didn¡¯t you soon follow in your father¡¯s footsteps in the approach to the war? The most known being the ughter of hundreds of human soldiers in Mexico."


    I raised an eyebrow. "Are you suggesting you don¡¯t have skeletons in your cupboard as well, Alpha King Mwansa?"


    Mwansa¡¯s eyes zed with anger. "Do you think I want this war? Didn¡¯t you see that clip from the Lord of the North¡¯s broadcast? The one from Nigeria?"


    My mind went back to the video in question.


    I could still remember the screams of the werewolf vigers, women and children, as human soldiers rained bullets on them, killing them in a church of all ces.


    "And then there¡¯s the witch who ughtered hundreds of my wolves in Paris as shown in that same broadcast." Luna Queen Janelle chimed, rubbing her forehead with a sigh. "Let¡¯s not deviate from the main point here, gentlemen."


    Silence.


    I nodded at her, drawing in a breath.


    I could feel Odessa ncing at me from the corner of her eyes but I tried to ignore that as I spoke up.


    "My point is, my father tried everything to instil his brutal beliefs into me. As soon as I got my wolf at thirteen, he deemed it a sign from the goddess that I was destined for greatness. And that ¡¯greatness¡¯ included furthering the ughter of witch and human civilians."


    "It¡¯s war, Alpha King." Alpha King Soren blurted all of a sudden, his eyes squinting with impatience. "That¡¯s usually what happens."


    I parted my lips, ready to put the boy in his ce but Luna Queen Janelle beat me to it.


    "For thest time, Alpha King Soren. Let him speak or I¡¯ll log you off this meeting since you¡¯re so impatient." Her voice was sharp and left no room for rebuttal.


    Thed¡¯s jaw tightened but he didn¡¯t argue, folding his arms in front of his chest.


    I nodded at Janelle. "Thank you, Luna Queen. As I was saying, my father began getting impatient when he saw that I wasn¡¯t fulfilling his desires for destruction the way he wanted... Even after dozens of military raids I led on human cities and covens. The abuse, scoldings and beatings from him... I bore them all."


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    I felt Odessa¡¯s guilt and concern beside me and also a deep longing that made me nce at her.


    It was the kind of longing I felt from her whenever she wanted to hold me. Or kiss me. Or touch me.


    But I couldn¡¯t show that vulnerable side here.


    Not in the presence of these morons.


    "So when my father wanted to use me as a pawn to infiltrate South American territory... I knew I had had enough." I finally dropped the bomb that I hadn¡¯t revealed to anyone before.


    Gasps echoed among the Alpha Kings as they all adjusted their sitting positions.


    "Your father wanted to conquer the South American packs?" Alpha King Maddox asked.


    "That¡¯s preposterous! How greedy does a man have to be to want to conquer another continent during a war against our species?" Alpha King Mwansa spat with disgust.


    "Where¡¯s your proof?" Alpha King Soren asked with a cold tone, his voice reverberating with anger.


    As for Luna Queen Janelle... She was silent, tapping her cup of tea with an unreadable glint in her emerald eyes.


    But I could tell she was hiding her irritation behind that mask.


    "For thousands of years, the Bloodlines of the Alpha Kings of each continent have made sure to keep their legs within their respective territories." Luna Queen Janelle muttered, her tone solemn as she continued.


    "Even when the humans warred amongst themselves fornd, we never joined them. And now you¡¯re telling us your father wanted to break that millennia-old bnce... During a global war?"


    I nodded slowly. "He believed his ¡¯friend¡¯, Alpha King Leonardo, was getting soft. And he was confident that if we took control of the ancient nature magic of the South American packs, we¡¯d be able to tip the scales of the war in both continents and wipe out the witches and humans."


    Alpha King Soren¡¯s jaw was clenched on the screen.


    It was his father we were talking about after all.


    There was a drawn-out silence, and all the Alpha Kings seemed to be in deep thought. It was clear that none of them agreed with my father¡¯s methods... They just didn¡¯t want to state it bluntly.


    "The matter you¡¯ve brought before us is... Nothing to just blurt casually like it¡¯s a cafe gathering, Alpha King Kaelos." Janelle spoke with a sigh.


    I smiled bitterly. "Yes, I know. I didn¡¯t want to bring it up once I took over the throne because... Well, it was in the past. I didn¡¯t want any of you to mistrust me because of my father¡¯s sins."


    Alpha King Maddox muttered under his breath, but it was still very audible. "The past has a funny way ofing back to bite us in the ass."


    I ignored him and so did everyone else.


    "Very well." Janelle nodded, dropping her cup of tea. "I have a suggestion. At another date, Alpha King Kaelos will have to prove to all of us that he indeed doesn¡¯t wish to continue in his father¡¯s footsteps."


    I frowned. "My continent is currently under a truce with the witches and humans, Luna Queen."


    She shrugged. "And while Imend you for that development, we can¡¯t deny the fact that the Lord of the North is rotting that truce from the inside out. Your territory is falling apart, Alpha King. Who knows if you¡¯d decide to take up your father¡¯s idea of conquest to give yourself an upper hand?"


    I ground my jaw but I held myself back.


    I understood where she wasing from.


    I might not fully trust myself either if I were in her shoes.


    "The blood moon festival ising up in four months." Alpha King Mwansa¡¯s eyes lit up. "It¡¯s always been a time for wolves around the world to gather. We could use that day."


    A cold shiver ran down my spine at the mention of that.


    It never made sense to me how an event that made the inner wolves of werewolves go haywire or dormant became a call for celebration worldwide.


    "It¡¯s settled then." Luna Queen Janelle nodded with a small smile. "We¡¯ll use the blood moon festival to check in on Alpha King Kaelos again. We haven¡¯t had a festival since the war started anyway."


    I kept my expression stoic, waiting for her to continue.


    "In the meantime, address your people. You don¡¯t need me to tell you that the Lord of the North is trying to stir something with that video he dug up." She stated with a heavy tone.


    With that, they all logged off simultaneously, leaving the throne room in silence.


    But after a few seconds...


    "Well, that went much better than I expected." Odessa turned her gaze to me, cing her right hand on my shoulder. "Are you okay?"


    I swerved my head to her, about to say something when La suddenly rushed toward me from a corner of the throne room.


    "My lord, there¡¯s a report of a coup in one of the packs in North Carolina." She reported hastily. "The Alpha of the pack was killed after making a speech to his people supporting you."


    My blood ran cold.


    The price of loyalty was death now?

 Chapter 280: _The Moon Wasn’t Watching

    <h4>Chapter 280: _The Moon Wasn¡¯t Watching</h4>


    "Which of the packs did this happen in?" I asked La, stepping down from my throne and heading toward her.


    She moved quickly, typing on her tablet. "Uhh... It¡¯s called the Blue Ridge pack. They¡¯re located in Transylvania County... Just a twenty-minute drive away from here or¡ª"


    "Five minutes give or take if I run there," I said coldly, steeling my expression as I walked past her and headed for the throne room door.


    But then...


    "Kaelos, slow down for a second," Odessa called behind me and then I heard her footsteps heading for me.


    I turned around only to see her clutching her red gown with a worried expression on her face. "Can¡¯t you give yourself a freaking break? You just ended a call with Alpha Kings judging your case."


    I furrowed my eyebrows. "And now this is a situation happening in my continent. My territory. Tell me... Do you think those same Alpha Kings wille here and help?"


    She pouted her lips, her eyes lowering just slightly.


    I sighed. "No, they wouldn¡¯t, Odessa. It¡¯s my responsibility and it appears some unruly wolves need a little reminder of whose rule they¡¯re under."


    Without another word, I continued walking, my mind reeling.


    ¡¯Burn the whole pack down once we get there.¡¯ Damon snarled with irritation in my mind. ¡¯That will show them not to defy you by killing one of your Alphas.¡¯


    I shook my head as I left the throne room, turning a corner down the hallway.


    Suddenly, a hand grabbed me from behind, causing my eyes to widen as I swerved my head back.


    It was Odessa again but this time her expression was resolute.


    "Can¡¯t you send Marcellus in your stead?"


    I blinked at her, my shoulders falling. "No. I have to go there by myself. You don¡¯t know how serious a case this is, Odessa. The people of a pack killed their Alpha."


    "And now you¡¯re going there on your own!" Odessa snapped back, her voice thick with frustration. "You¡¯re the reason they killed the Alpha and you¡¯re offering yourself to them in open hands."


    I let out a scoff, withdrawing my arm from her grip. I saw the hurt that shed briefly in her eyes but she was quick to hide it from me.


    "Offering myself? Have you forgotten what and who I am?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.


    She hesitated, staring into my eyes for a few seconds before shaking her head. "My point exactly. It¡¯s not you I¡¯m worried about. It¡¯s the people you¡¯re about to confront."


    I gritted my teeth as she continued with a lower voice now, ncing back at the two guards who stood in front of my throne room door.


    "Emotions are high, Kaelos. You¡¯re under a lot of pressure. I don¡¯t want you going there and doing something you mighte to... Regretter."


    I stared at her as a heavy silence fell between us after that.


    Do something that I might regret...


    Like my father?


    Well, I didn¡¯t regret that. I might feel some guilt for killing him... But not regret. Those were two different things.


    "Whatever I unleash on that pack will be well deserved, Odessa. Rest assured." I ced my hand on her shoulder briefly before turning away from her. "Don¡¯t wait up. I¡¯ll be back in time for the public statement I want to maketer¡ª"


    "I¡¯ming with you." She blurted firmly, as if I had no other choice but toply.


    Maybe I didn¡¯t...


    "Very well then, my Luna Queen." I nodded, ncing over my shoulder. "This might be a good chance to let you use your wolf speed. Just... Try not to slow me down..."


    .


    .


    I got to the Blue Ridge Pack with Odessa following my lead. We got there without our wolf forms... Since Odessa couldn¡¯t shift yet and I didn¡¯t use Damon often.


    The pack didn¡¯t have any gates and was like a vige carved out of wild defiance.


    Unkempt stone houses, fire pits still smouldering, clothes hanging carelessly from lines, even though it was well past sunrise. And no guards. Not a single wolf greeted us.


    It reeked of arrogance or fear.


    Possibly both.


    Odessa walked beside me, her gown fluttering around her heels. She stayed quiet, sensing the tension wrapping tighter around me with every step.


    "They knew we wereing," I muttered. "And still, no one came out."


    "We didn¡¯t mask our scent," she replied quietly. "They¡¯re not being careless. They¡¯re daring you."


    I stopped in the middle of the dirt path.


    Ahead, a group of wolves¡ªsix, maybe seven¡ªstood in front of what looked like a central house. The Alpha¡¯s residence, probably. Except the roof had a fresh scorch mark and the door looked like it had been forced open and then mmed shut again.


    One of them, a wiry old man with a fresh scar running down the side of his jaw, stepped forward.


    "Alpha King Kaelos," he said with a mocking tone, as if he tasted something sour in the title. "Come to inspect the damage?"


    Odessa¡¯s hand twitched by her side but my eyes didn¡¯t leave his.


    "No. I came to find the ones responsible." I tilted my head. "Starting with you, perhaps?"


    The wolves behind him shifted uneasily, ncing at each other.


    Heughed dryly. "You think I killed him?"


    "I didn¡¯t say that." I took a step forward. "But the fact that your heartbeat jumped just now tells me I hit close."


    The man sneered. "Alpha Deveraux was a tyrant. Everyone hated him. He ruled with fear... like someone else I could name."


    Odessa moved slightly closer to me. I could feel her pulse rising. She was already imagining bloodshed.


    But I raised a hand, stopping her and silencing the low growl rumbling in my chest.


    "I didn¡¯te to debate ethics," I said coolly. "I came for answers."


    He stepped to the side. "Then look for them inside the Alpha¡¯s pack house. If you¡¯re brave enough."


    My eyebrows snapped into a frown.


    Brave?


    I walked past him, brushing past his shoulder intentionally. I felt him stiffen but he didn¡¯t retaliate. That told me everything.


    A coward.


    Odessa followed, shooting a re his way as we entered the Alpha¡¯s house.


    .


    .


    Inside, it was worse.


    The ce was destroyed. Not just ransacked... It was vited. Furniture splintered, blood smeared across the wall like someone had been dragged. The firece was still burning low, as if someone had tried to make it look normal.


    Odessa covered her nose. "This wasn¡¯t a political rebellion. This was an execution."


    I crouched near the broken table, my fingers brushing a patch of dried blood.


    "No silver scent. They didn¡¯t poison him with wolfsbane either. It was physical and brutal." I said solemnly.


    Odessa nced down the hall. "Should we split up?"


    "No," I said quickly, standing. "Stay close."


    We reached what must have been the Alpha¡¯s office. His body had already been removed... probably burned or kept in a morgue. But the chair behind the desk was still coated in blood.


    There was a message scratched into the wall with ws:


    "He bled for your sins."


    Odessa read it aloud, then looked at me. "They think this is on you."


    "They¡¯re wrong," I replied calmly. "But I¡¯m not here to exin myself. I¡¯m here to remind them who gave them the right to lead in the first ce."


    Back outside, the same wolves were waiting. But now, the rest of the pack had gathered behind them. Maybe over a hundred adult wolves. Some looked confused. Others looked hungry for violence.


    "Find them," I said over my shoulder to Odessa.


    "What?" she asked with confusion.


    "The ones who led the rebellion. They¡¯re not in this crowd. Which means they¡¯re either hiding or watching."


    She frowned but obeyed, stepping into the growing group with an eerie calm she wore so well.


    Questions fell out of her mouth like velvet daggers as she walked through the crowd, interrogating them:


    "Where were you when it happened?"


    "Did you hear the Alpha scream?"


    "Who cleaned the blood?"


    And then...


    "Kaelos," she called, a sharp note in her voice.


    I turned.


    She stood near the edge of the gathering. At her feet, a young boy no more than thirteen shivered.


    "He saw something," she whispered to me. "And he¡¯s scared."


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    I crouched before him.


    "What did you see?" I asked gently.


    His lip trembled. "Th-they weren¡¯t from here. The wolves that killed Alpha Deveraux. I heard them talking. They said... They said the moon wasn¡¯t watching anymore. That... Someone new was."


    Odessa froze beside me.


    A chill rolled down my spine.


    The moon was not watching?


    I looked up at her, meeting her eyes.


    "Ryker."


    Her mouth parted slightly. "He has agents in the packs now."


    I stood slowly, my hands curling into fists.


    ¡¯Why don¡¯t we just burn this ce to the ground,¡¯ Damon growled again in my mind.


    Not yet.


    "We leave," I told Odessa, loud enough for the whole pack to hear. "But know this... if any more Alphas fall under suspicious circumstances, I won¡¯t just burn your homes."


    My eyes swept across the crowd, catching the scarred wolf¡¯s gaze again.


    "I¡¯ll bury your name from the registry of our kind. You will be forgotten."


    And with that, I turned, Odessa beside me once more as we walked back into the woods.


    ¡¯Marcellus will handle the rest.¡¯ I said through the mind link as we sprinted, my mind reeling.


    This was only the beginning.

 Chapter 281: _Call It Tyranny, I Don’t Care

    <h4>Chapter 281: _Call It Tyranny, I Don¡¯t Care</h4>


    When Odessa and I got back to Blood Oak, we went straight to the mansion.


    Once there, we met a makeshift stage already set right outside the mansion and a few pack members gathered in front of it, murmuring to themselves.


    Odessa and I exchanged nces, our expressions tense, before we continued moving, navigating past the crowd. They gave way for us, many bowing.


    But I could feel their judgment clearer than the sun in the morning sky above.


    On the stage, La and Marcellus were already standing waiting. They exchanged a brief nce as Odessa and I mounted the stage as well.


    "Sir, the situation at Blue Ridge pack," La whispered from behind me as I stood in front of the podium, scanning my gaze on the pack members below.


    Men, women, teenagers and even children from all walks of life, including among the elite wolves.


    This wasn¡¯t everyone in the pack but it didn¡¯t matter. The whole world will be getting my message today.


    "Did you do anything to the culprits or...?" La continued but I raised my hand, stopping her.


    I didn¡¯t need a debrief. I needed the world to hear me.


    The cameras on the stage were already rolling, ready to broadcast my message through the World Alliance Television Network.


    <fna7f5> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? F¦ÉndNovel</fna7f5>


    ¡¯You¡¯ve got this.¡¯ Odessa whispered mentally, cing her hand on mine for a few seconds before withdrawing it and stepping back.


    I drew in a deep breath as the crowd went silent.


    "People of Blood Oak, the North American packs and indeed the entire world. Ie to you today not to apologise for the video from thirteen years ago that was broadcast... But to make a few things clear."


    My gaze trailed over to a part of the crowd where I noticed the elders of the pack standing with stern expressions on their faces. I only stared at them for a second before continuing.


    "My father was... A man of few words. Whenever a situation like this arose, back then, he solved it by killing all involved and moving on with his conquests. The war was more important to him than what the people truly cared about."


    Another pause, but this time I ced my hands on the podium, my eyes narrowing.


    "Yet he was praised for his conquests and for protecting the people. But what use is peace if it¡¯s paved through blood?"


    "I¡¯m not going to defend what I did that night. I was young and tried defending myself from my father¡¯s attack on me. I can¡¯t bring him from the dead, nor can I change the past, but I can promise this: from today henceforth, I¡¯m going all out to weed out any sort of support for the Lord of the North from all packs in America. Starting here in Blood oak."


    I made a gesture, and guards stepped out from the mansionpound behind me, positioning themselves around the people gathered.


    There was an uproar as the people looked around themselves with fear and confusion.


    "Kaelos?" Odessa whispered but I ignored, my grip on the podium tightening slightly.


    I¡¯ve had just about enough.


    "Starting from this hour, I¡¯ll be checking on every pack on the continent as well as their Alphas. I¡¯ll have eyes at every corner, guards and pack soldiers of each pack will begin strict monitoring of the people of each pack."


    I leaned closer, staring into the camera. "And if anyone and I mean anyone, even breathes about supporting the Lord of the North¡¯s ideology. They¡¯ll either be banished to the barrennds of the continent or executed."


    The people began murmuring again until one man, an elite among the wolves, stepped forward with anger on his face.


    "This is outrageous! So we aren¡¯t allowed to have free speech?" He snarled, ring at me. "This is what you call a statement? This is how you defend yourself for killing your father?"


    I stared down at him with disdain but I didn¡¯t even need to flinch.


    A few guards moved instantly, grabbing him and pulling him away from the crowd of people.


    "Mathias!" A woman screamed at him, pushing through the crowd and trying to reach him.


    Most definitely his wife.


    "Stay put or join him," I said calmly as Mathias was brought up to the stage. The woman instantly stood still, although her body shivered with dread.


    The guards pushed him to his knees, forcing him to look me in the eyes. He heaved heavily, his eyes quivering.


    "What makes you different from your father?" He asked with a sneer. "It¡¯s the same tyranny but in different fonts."


    "Yet you and the rest like you trying to crucify me, praised him for his ruthlessness." I spat, stepping away from the podium and grabbing his jaw. "This is your final chance. Do you swear allegiance to me or the Lord of the North? Let it be known to everyone watching worldwide."


    ¡¯Kaelos, this was supposed to be an apology.¡¯ Odessa whispered in my head with worry and confusion. ¡¯Don¡¯t you think this is a little too rash?¡¯


    I nced over my shoulder, my eyes locking on hers. ¡¯I never promised an apology. I said I¡¯ll make a statement and that¡¯s what I¡¯m doing. And this isn¡¯t rash. Far from it, my love.¡¯


    The only thing "rash" here was the Lord of the North sending his spies into one of my packs and using them to strategically take down an Alpha in support of my reign.


    Alpha Deveraux was an unfortunate case... But I¡¯d be damned before I let it be the start of something bloody.


    My grip tightened on the elite wolf¡¯s jaw as I swerved my head back to him. "Well? Who do you swear allegiance to?"


    He shook with anger but when he looked into my eyes, that anger slowly turned into fear. He managed to nce at his wife in the crowd, his breathing rxing slightly.


    And then...


    "You, Alpha King Kaelos." He muttered, lowering his head when I let go.


    He pressed his face against the ground, not daring to look at my face. I only let my gaze linger on him for a few seconds before turning my eyes back to the cameras.


    "There will be no mercy for anyone who says otherwise. Call it tyranny, I don¡¯t care. But I will not let anyone destroy the peace in this continent."


    Let them call it tyranny. I call it necessary...

 Chapter 282: _When A Wolf Is Cornered...

    <h4>Chapter 282: _When A Wolf Is Cornered...</h4>


    "Alpha King Kaelos, what was the meaning of that stunt you pulled out there?" Elder Harkan, one of the five Elders of the pack, barked at me when I walked back into my office.


    I nced over my shoulder while taking off my red suit. "Are you going to talk to me with your inside voice or do you wish to use the door?"


    My tone was cold and left no room for any arguments. I neither had the time nor the patience.


    "You¡¯ve... You¡¯ve gone power drunk." Elder Harkan shook his head but I ignored, turning my gaze away from him. "Don¡¯t you see it? First, you went against the wishes of the people and brought in a witch as your wife. Then she became a hybrid and you made her your Luna Queen and¡ª"


    "Are you seriously trying to lecture me about Odessa right now?" I sniggered, shaking my head.


    The old bastard hadn¡¯t even knocked before he followed me into the office, and I was guessing the other elders sent him to be their mouthpiece.


    But it was clear to me that he was blowing the whole thing out of proportion.


    "I¡¯m saying that what you did there is going against the right of free speech." Elder Harkan growled. "You¡¯re an Alpha King, not a warlord. I¡ª"


    "And who said I can¡¯t be both?" I queried, unbuttoning the top part of my inner shirt before grabbing a bottle of whiskey on my desk.


    I poured myself a ss, turning around to face Harkan without bothering to sit, instead leaning against the desk.


    He clenched his jaw, shaking his head. "Elder Davina... She¡¯ll not be pleased with this if she were alive."


    At the mention of that name, I dropped the bottle of whiskey on the desk with a bang, not caring if it broke. I waltzed forward, ignoring the fear that shot through the old man.


    "You don¡¯t get to talk about Davina or try to use her name to guilt trip me." I sneered coldly, bringing my face close to his until I could hear every beat of his pulse. "I did what any rational ruler would do... I gave the people a choice. They either choose peace or agree with the words of someone who seeks the annihtion of an entire race."


    He stiffened, his eyes still zing with a hint of defiance.


    I sighed, stepping away from him. "Leave my office. I¡¯ve talked with the other Alpha Kings earlier this morning and I¡¯ve given a statement like you asked. I need to focus on picking new members of my council now."


    I turned away, walking back to my desk and sitting behind it, grabbing the bottle of whiskey again.


    Fortunately, he didn¡¯t linger long and harrumphed, his ceremonial red robe sweeping the ground behind him.


    "I hope this doesn¡¯t blow up in your face, Alpha King. When a wolf is cornered... It bites." He said finally, but I merely spared him a nce before I began pouring myself a ss of whiskey.


    He stepped out and shut the door behind him with a bang, leaving me in silence.


    ¡¯If you ask me, you underreacted.¡¯ Damon echoed in my head, sounding displeased. ¡¯I still think we should¡¯ve burnt down Blue Ridge.¡¯


    I shook my head, letting the burn from the whiskey linger in my throat. ¡¯That would¡¯ve been rash and you know it. The wolves who killed Alpha Deveraux weren¡¯t even from the pack. Most definitely rogues from the Lord of the North.¡¯


    ¡¯But still... If truly the Lord of the North is sending his spies to different packs across the continent don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a little suspicious that they were able to gain ess in the first ce?¡¯ Damon asked, causing my eyebrows to furrow into a deep frown.


    "Are you suggesting... There are also traitors within Blue Ridge and possibly any other pack out there with these spies?" I asked out loud but before he could make a response, my soul pulsed with a familiar warmth.


    A smile settled on my face when a small knock sounded at the other end of the door.


    <fn20ec> Follow current nov?ls on find(?)ovel</fn20ec>


    So much for alone time...


    "Come in."


    The door swung open and Odessa peeked her head inside, her eyes immediately locking on me. She walked in, parting aside strands of her hair.


    She had changed from her red gown and now wore a bohemian-style ck shirt with sleeves that red at the end, as well as white jean pants that hugged her curves.


    "Hi." She whispered, closing the door with a soft click and smiling wryly.


    The walls around my heart didn¡¯t crack. They copsed the moment she smiled.


    My smile widened in return. "Hi."


    I then grabbed the whiskey bottle, jiggling it teasingly. "Care for a drink too?"


    She rolled her eyes, walking closer and folding her arms in front of her chest. "I¡¯m pregnant, remember?"


    Of course, I knew that. But still...


    "Anything to ease the tension, I guess." I chuckled dryly as she finally got in front of the desk, sliding her hand slowly across its smooth surface.


    When her hand touched mine, I stiffened at first, blinking before my eyes went to her face. But then when I saw the genuine warmth in her eyes instead of the fear and uncertainty after all the chaos from yesterday... My shoulders rxed.


    I set the bottle of whiskey aside and stood up, walking around the desk. Meanwhile, she stuttered.


    "K¨CKaelos, I¡¯m sorry for how I reacted to that video yesterday. And then the dreams we had... I should¡¯ve been there tofort you during your distress but instead I... I silently judged you." She lowered her head when I stood in front of her.


    Slowly, I stretched my right hand forward, grabbing her chin and forcing her to look into my eyes.


    "You don¡¯t have to be sorry about anything, Mon Ami," I said reassuringly. "You were still by my side through it all. That¡¯s more than enough for me."


    She blinked, her lips parting. But then she smiled, shaking her head before stepping closer and pressing her body against mine.


    When our lips locked, I felt all my troubles melt away. My right hand left her hand and trailed to her back, pushing her closer to me until our bodies were almost one.


    Our hearts beat in sync and her soft moans only pulled me closer to her like a moth to a me.


    I didn¡¯t care if the Lord of the North could see this moment right now. Let him watch.


    Let them all watch.


    I didn¡¯t mind an audience.

 Chapter 283: _The First Time, Again

    <h4>Chapter 283: _The First Time, Again</h4>


    (Warning: Mature Content Ahead)


    It didn¡¯t take long for clothes to begin falling off as our kiss deepened. Odessa arched her back into my touch as she unbuttoned my shirt, flinging it aside when it was off.


    "This office... It was the first ce we ever got intimate." I whispered against her lips, my eyes searching her face.


    She bit her bottom lip, wrapping her arms around my neck as I pushed my right hand up her back, tracing lines on her bare skin. She shivered slightly but then chuckled softly.


    "Oh, how can I forget?" She muttered, nting a soft kiss briefly on my lips before pulling away intentionally, a sly smirk on her face. "You want to recreate?"


    I smirked in return, taking one step back before I helped her take off her ck shirt, raising it over her head and then flinging it aside.


    Her eyes trailed my bare chest, her fingers leaving my neck and softly caressing the hair on it with a reverence that made my body pulse with desires beyond anything I could bear.


    I wrapped my right arm around her tiny waist, grabbing her ass until she gasped into my mouth.


    "I wasn¡¯t exactly gentle that day if I recall correctly." I blurted, my tone teasing. "Remember? I used my fingers and touched you in ces that made you curse me. Beg me."


    She nodded, but that felt like an attempt to focus on the banter and not get distracted by what I was already doing to her.


    "And then we were called out to solve the first murder case in the pack. Elder Davina¡¯s maid." She said with a ¡¯I know all this already¡¯ look. "Can we skip to the part where she just... Do it?"


    My smirk turned into a wide grin. I ced my left hand on her jaw, rubbing it gently with my fingers and then pressing a kiss on her nose.


    <fn6c64> This update is avable on F?ndNovel</fn6c64>


    "Patience, my love," I muttered with a soft growl that came from the pit of my stomach.


    Slowly, I turned her around, making her rest against my desk. Her body shook with a little hesitation but I ignored that, trailing my hands down her chest and unstrapping her bra.


    She let out a soft moan as I took it off, using my fingers to y with her hardened nipples while trailing kisses on the back of her neck. When she raised her hand, caressing my face as I kissed her, I growled softly, grinding my hardened dick against her ass.


    "Kaelos..." She muttered, only heightening my arousal further.


    I stuck out my tongue, tasting her skin first before my gaze fell on the mate mark I left on her. It was usually faint but right now it was more visible, pulsing with a blood red light.


    My fangs slowly came out and unlike the first time I marked her... I didn¡¯t feel like holding back.


    Because today, she was mine and I¡¯ve grown to ept that.


    I ced my hands firmly on either side of her waist before sinking my fangs into her, causing her to let out a loud moan.


    She raised her head to the ceiling, arching her back and pressing her ass against my dick. But the pants that we both wore were quickly bing an annoyance.


    ¡¯Then rip them off.¡¯ Damon howled in my head but I didn¡¯t need to be told twice.


    I ced my right hand on her back, pulling my fangs out of her neck and then pushing her forward until her chest rested on the desk. She looked back as I brought my hands to her jeans, taking off the button and then unzipping them.


    I brought it down alongside her underwear in one fluid movement, my dick pulsing with more fire when I saw that perky ass facing me.


    "Speaking of jeans... We never really got to make you try those skinny jeans that¡¯ll go with the pink hoodie." She giggled teasingly.


    As... Terrifying as the thought of getting into that pink hoodie again was, it didn¡¯t matter as long as I could see that smile on her face again.


    "If you want to bring role-ying into our sex life, you know I¡¯ll be down," I muttered, getting on my knees without another word.


    I knew Odessa was about to say something else but I didn¡¯t give her the chance. I stuck my face in between her ass cheeks, my tongue slithering until it found her pussy.


    "Fuck..." She groaned as I parted her legs for easier entrance.


    I ced the fingers of my right hand on her stomach, just right above her entrance. Then I slowly trailed them down, pressing my index finger gently into her while my tongue still flicked her clit.


    "Argh... Yes... D¨CDon¡¯t stop..." She grunted, causing me to raise my eyes briefly.


    My pants felt like they were about to explode any second but I was willing to keep my dick at bay for now if it meant pleasing her first.


    My pleasure couldeter.


    All I wanted now was...


    "Are you going toe for me?" I asked, pulling my tongue out, and then trailing it up her ass cheek.


    Her legs shivered under my hold but she nodded. "Yes... Yes... Fuck, you¡¯re good at this ¡¯recreating our first time thing¡¯."


    We both chuckled, our minds going back to memoryne only briefly. Then I dove into her again, this time turning her around so I could see her pussy clearly.


    She rested on the desk as I ate her out, my hands keeping her legs firmly apart. She brushed her hand through my hair, moaning and whimpering.


    I could feel the buildup in her and knew she was getting close. But I teased her more, pulling my tongue out and trailing it around her outer lips.


    She cried out, arching further and pressing her beautiful cunt on my face.


    The arousal built up was hard to ignore. I shoved my tongue again, this time flicking her clit with the desire to make her orgasm.


    And when she finally did, it was explosive.


    "Argh!" She screamed, gripping my shoulders with both hands and shivering under my hold.


    I smirked, licking her juices off my lips before I rose to my feet. I grabbed her waist, pulling her into a deep kiss.


    But just when I was about to take off my pants, she ced her right hand on my chest, stopping me.


    "W¨CWait..." She swallowed, staring into my eyes. "I wanted to tell you something. Last night... Caroline revealed something to me. About a... Letter..."


    I raised an eyebrow.

 Chapter 284: _She’s Lucky To Have A Friend Like You

    <h4>Chapter 284: _She¡¯s Lucky To Have A Friend Like You</h4>


    Caroline¡¯s POV


    *****


    Regina had torn Elder Davina¡¯s letter, and that was that. Done deal.


    There was nothing Caroline could do about it other than try to engrave everything on the letter into her mind.


    Regina had disappeared as soon as the letter got torn, herughter lingering in Caroline¡¯s mind.


    ¡¯She¡¯s ying with you. Hard.¡¯ Vilda, her wolf, snarled in her mental space the night of the Lord of the North¡¯s broadcast of Balthazar¡¯s murder. ¡¯And we don¡¯t have time for any of that. Not with Odessa¡¯s life at stake.¡¯


    Caroline sighed,ing back from the garden in the mansion. She ultimately decided to tell Odessa everything that was written in that letter.


    Why? Well, because of how frequent Regina¡¯s visits were bing, she wasn¡¯t so sure she would be able to fulfil her mission of protecting Odessa properly.


    "I don¡¯t n on ying any games with Regina or anyone else, Vilda," Caroline whispered as they got into the mansion and finally navigated their way through the dimly lit hallways.


    Odessa had basically told her to leave her alone back in the garden because of the stress of everything that happened today. She was hurt by that but she couldn¡¯t me her.


    Especially not with...


    "Oh, Caroline." Kaelos smiled at her when he walked out of a corner, squinting his eyes at her. "Have you seen Odessa? Last I saw her she left my office because of the... The situation there."


    Caroline furrowed her eyebrows, her eyes trailing the walls and thennding on the Alpha king¡¯s office door up ahead.


    She had remembered the maids and staff members talking about something horrible happening there but when she saw Odessa and Kaelos were okay, she didn¡¯t bother herself much with it.


    But now?


    "Ma¡¯am Odessa is in the gardens, my lord." Caroline bowed with a whisper, lowering her head. "Last I saw her she seemed... Gravely distressed. Like everything was getting into her head."


    Kaelos heaved a heavy breath. "She¡¯s shutting herself away from me in our mind link. I can... Barely feel her emotions."


    Caroline smiled bitterly. "That¡¯s because the only emotion she feels right now is an empty, all-consuming sadness." She then stretched her right hand forward, grabbing his arm.


    Kaelos stiffened at first, frowning deeply as he stared into Caroline¡¯s eyes.


    But she ignored that and continued. "I¡¯m worried about her, sir. And I feel... No, I KNOW you¡¯re the only one who can possibly get to her during such a vulnerable time."


    There was a flicker of hesitation in Kaelos¡¯ eyes but Caroline barely paid attention to that. Little did the Alpha king know that she was using one of her special abilities right now.


    It wasn¡¯t one meant to cause any harm, no. It was one meant to reveal things hidden by feeling the energy lingering on a person.


    ¡¯Caroline, get your hand away from him right now.¡¯ Vilda nearly yelled in her mental space. ¡¯Have you gone nuts? He¡¯s an Alpha King, we can¡¯t use any of our true talents in his presence without risking getting caught.¡¯


    Caroline¡¯s face remained expressionless but inside her mind, she could feel it. Death clung to the Alpha King like a veil and then oozed in a blood red aura that led back into his office.


    She even saw shes of a dead body... A maid, lying on the floor of the Alpha King¡¯s office with lifeless eyes and her hands shoved into her stomach, her intestines pooling out of her like worms.


    Her hand on the Alpha king¡¯s arm shivered with pure dread as her ability pushed on, disconnecting her temporarily from the physical realm.


    "Caroline?" Kaelos¡¯ voice echoed but she couldn¡¯t hold herself back.


    Her mind painted an image of the Alpha King¡¯s office wall, just right behind his desk.


    And etched on the wall with blood was a cryptic message:


    "<strong>The True King shall ascend the throne when the sky is painted red."</strong>


    And then... a flicker of an ominous figure standing in the office. The figure looked over his shoulder, a crooked smirk on his face that sent a cold shiver down her spine.


    "Caroline!" Kaelos grabbed her wrist just then, snapping her out of her trance and causing her to let out a light gasp, barely audible.


    Her head dripped with cold sweat as she bowed, apologising. "I¡¯m... I¡¯m sorry, my Lord. I got... I got¡ª"


    "It¡¯s okay." Kaelos sighed, shaking his head. "I can see how... Deeply you care about my wife. She¡¯s lucky to have a maid..."


    He paused, causing Caroline to raise her head and look into his eyes just in time to see a small smile on his face as he corrected himself.


    <fnbfaa> Read full story at f?ndnovel</fnbfaa>


    "... A friend. She¡¯s lucky to have a friend like you."


    Caroline¡¯s heart swelled with momentary warmth, but she could barely concentrate as her mind surged with a plethora of emotions after what she had just seen.


    Kaelos didn¡¯t say anything again, walking past her with a determined expression. She didn¡¯t need her talents to decipher that he was going to the garden to get Odessa.


    Caroline quickly hurried back to her room, muttering what she saw written on the Alpha King¡¯s wall. Her talent didn¡¯t let her read his mind... No, that would be impossible.


    Instead, it let her trace lingering "energy" on him, in this case, death energy. But for some dark twisted reason, the death energy lingering on the Alpha king that lingered from the dead maid in his office... Allowed her to see those images.


    When she got to her room, she closed the door behind her, letting out a heavy breath. Her right hand brushed down her face as she walked in slowly, noticing the way the clouds blurred the moonlight outside.


    "The True King shall ascend the throne when the sky is painted red." She muttered, shaking her head.


    The Lord of the North was nning something huge and it was clear as day to her when he nned to bring that to fruition.


    "The blood moon festival." She blurted with dread.


    It wasing up in four months.


    But the ultimate question now was if Kaelos and Odessa had been able toe to the same conclusion as well.


    And if they have... What ns do they have in ce for that day?

 Chapter 285: _What Are You Exactly?

    <h4>Chapter 285: _What Are You Exactly?</h4>


    Caroline¡¯s POV


    *****


    The next day came quickly... Fortunately.


    And with it came Alpha King Kaelos¡¯ speech to the world addressing the video of him killing his father.


    Although Caroline observed the Alpha King and the way he handled a man who was subtly against his rule for a while... Her main focus was on Marcellus and La.


    She stood on Odessa¡¯s balcony, squinting her eyes keenly. She noticed the way the two of them stood close to each other behind Odessa and Kaelos.


    "That¡¯s... Odd." Caroline whispered, cing her hands on the railing of the balcony.


    Neither of them said anything to each other or had any form of interaction. Not even a side nce.


    Yet, Caroline couldn¡¯t shake off this ominous feeling that something was off.


    ¡¯Do you think Marcellus got to her somehow?¡¯ Vilda asked her mentally, causing her mind to reel.


    Got to her?


    "Wait a minute..." Caroline¡¯s face paled as her lips parted. "He couldn¡¯t have possibly cast a mind maniption spell on her. Right?"


    ¡¯You underestimate the depravity of that man.¡¯ Vilda echoed in her mind. ¡¯Which is why I¡¯m confused why we haven¡¯t either taken him down or turned him into Odessa and Kaelos.¡¯


    Caroline bit her bottom lip, sighing with frustration. "You¡¯re suggesting we try taking down an artificial hybrid who¡¯s been manipting things long before Odessa¡¯s arrival and has bested Elder Davina in battle?"


    ¡¯Elder Davina was old.¡¯


    ¡¯That doesn¡¯t change the fact that he¡¯s dangerous.¡¯ Caroline snapped mentally this time, her eyes fleeting to thepound grounds below where she noticed a few guards ncing up.


    They had probably heard her argumentative voice.


    She shed them a smile before continuing. ¡¯Also, we can¡¯t tell Odessa and Alpha King Kaelos either because we don¡¯t have concrete proof, and they already took down a scapegoat who they think was the killer in the pack.¡¯


    "Communicating with your wolf must be a hassle when you¡¯re single and lonely." A silvery voice suddenly sniggered behind Caroline, causing her heart to skip a beat.


    She swerved around, drawing out the ws of her right hand and staring into Odessa¡¯s room.


    It was then that she noticed the small sh mark on her arm pulsing with a ck light, sending dread and frustration through her.


    "Regina, you slimy bitch." Caroline sneered, stepping into the room even though she couldn¡¯t see her yet. "What do you want from me for the goddess¡¯ sake? Why don¡¯t you just strike me down already or better still, leave me the fuck alone?"


    The air in the room stilled the second those words left her mouth. Caroline tensed up, scanning her gaze around the room and trying to pick up any odd scents.


    But then...


    "Now where¡¯s the fun in that, hon?"


    That came from her right side.


    <fnb63b> Th?s chapter is updated by find~novel</fnb63b>


    Caroline growled, shing her ws in that direction. But all her ws sliced was air.


    "So feisty for what?" Regina¡¯s voice echoed mockingly. "Also, about the question of why I haven¡¯t killed you yet... You know that¡¯s not as easy as you say it is. You aren¡¯t as ¡¯weak¡¯ as you show the outside world."


    Caroline grew increasingly nervous, cing her left hand on the ck sh mark which still glowed with a faint ck light.


    "Which brings me to my real reason for keeping my eyes on you... What are you exactly and why are you so fixated on protecting Odessa? Who sent you?"


    Caroline snarled. "I owe you no answer!"


    ¡¯Calm down...¡¯ Vilda whispered in her mental space just then. ¡¯You¡¯re letting your emotions guide you. She¡¯s studied you well enough already and that¡¯s exactly what she wants.¡¯


    Caroline¡¯s eyes twitched with frustration as she scanned her gaze around the room again.


    Regina was definitely using some kind of cloaking spell that also masked her scent. But she could still follow the sound of her voice.


    "It¡¯s fine that you don¡¯t want to tell me. I mean, who knows if maybe you¡¯re an artificial hybrid and you¡¯re scared I¡¯ll rat you out to the lord of the North." Regina remarked.


    Caroline raised an eyebrow. "I¡¯m not an artificial hybrid. I don¡¯t have magic."


    "Lies!"


    Caroline swerved her head to a window at the west wall of the room. The voice had definitelye from there.


    "I can see you through that mark on your arm," Regina revealed casually. "I can feel your emotions. Your doubt. Your fears. Your frustration. Your anger. But I was also able to get a glimpse of that ability you usedst night."


    Caroline¡¯s eyes glowed with a silver light.


    She was tired of ying this game.


    "Does your master know you¡¯re here flirting with the Luna Queen¡¯s maid?" She asked with sarcasmced in her voice.


    Silence.


    The wind blowing into the room through the windows suddenly stopped, causing the curtains to still.


    Caroline became weary, her ears perking in preparation.


    And then it happened.


    Without warning, a force grabbed both her hands and shoved her, hitting her against the wall close to the balcony door.


    Things didn¡¯t end there as the invisible force swiftly raised her hands above her head, pinning her to the wall.


    "Do you still call THIS flirting?" Regina¡¯s voice echoed coldly as she slowly materialised in front of Caroline.


    She was the "invisible force" pinning her against the wall.


    But this time, Caroline was done holding back.


    The silver glow in her eyes brightened further, pushing her strength past its normal limitations. Before Regina could even register what was happening, Caroline sent a palm strike to her chest, pushing her several feet back.


    The strike also sent a pulse of silver energy, visibly stunning Regina. Caroline didn¡¯t end there, running forward and bringing out the ws of both hands.


    But just when she was about tond a strike on the she devil... She saw a smirk on her face.


    The next second, Regina disappeared into a cloud of thick ck smoke. Caroline struck thin air but was quick to straighten her spine, scanning her gaze around.


    Regina was gone once again.


    "Fuck!" Caroline grunted, brushing her right hand through her ginger curls.


    What had she gotten herself into?

 Chapter 286: _You Don’t Need To Question Anything

    <h4>Chapter 286: _You Don¡¯t Need To Question Anything</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    "There is no running from bloodlines. And there are enemies hidden in ces you might least expect." Kaelos muttered with squinted eyes after I revealed everything Caroline told me she saw in Elder Davina¡¯s letter.


    I was sitting on the desk, still butt naked and still trying to catch my breath a bit after what Kaelos did to me down there. My gaze fell on his little soldier, still rock hard underneath his pants.


    But his eyes were slowly bing distant and he seemed to be deep in thought.


    ¡¯Look what you¡¯ve caused.¡¯ Sirena grunted in my mind just then, taking me by surprise.


    ¡¯What I caused? What did I do?¡¯ I asked her, blinking with confusion. ¡¯I mean, yes, it was bad timing that I remembered the letter right in the middle of sex. But... I climaxed.¡¯


    There was a second of pause before Sirena snorted. ¡¯So?¡¯


    ¡¯So my brain was rxed and open. Duh.¡¯


    Sirena did a mental eye roll at the same moment that Kaelos finally spoke up, cing his hands firmly on my legs.


    "Why the hell did Caroline sit on this? And how¡¯d she even get her hands on it?" he asked with confusion and anger. "Heck, she shouldn¡¯t have taken it from elder Davina¡¯s body¡ª"


    "Hey, hey..." I quickly ced my right hand on his face, causing his shoulders to rx with a heavy sigh. "Deep breaths. We can think of what to do without yelling."


    His silver eyes glinted with an unreadable light before he sighed, nodding. "You¡¯re right. But you know what this letter means, right?"


    I felt a lump in my throat when I tried to think more about it. Kaelos ced his hand on my shoulder and continued.


    "With everything said in that letter, it¡¯s clear Davina was aware of a lot of things."


    "Except her own death," I whispered, genuinely disturbed now.


    Kaelos¡¯ eyes lingered on me for a bit before he continued with a firm voice. "What if whoever killed her is still out there, using all the chaos he¡¯s caused to hide?"


    "What if there¡¯s indeed something more with your bloodline that we aren¡¯t aware of? Something that connects with those dark sigils inside you?" He dropped bomb after bomb, sending my anxiety spiking with each question.


    "And then the letter talked about something dark and chaotic," I muttered, staring into his eyes. "The Vein, Kaelos. All this ultimately connects back to the Vein."


    His jaw was clenched while I balled my hands into fists.


    "And then the maid who killed herself in this very office. That writing she made on the wall..." Kaelos echoed, drawing out each word.


    I frowned, slowly swerving my head back when I saw his eyes focused on something on the wall behind me. A maid had killed herself in this office after writing something cryptic with her own blood on the wall.


    We called it out as possession from Lord Ryker... But never would I have imagined something as twisted as what I was about to see.


    "I¨CImpossible..." I muttered under my breath, hopping off the desk and backing away along with Kaelos whose jaw was clenched.


    And what was on the wall?


    Yep... That same fucking writing again, the blood this time thicker and darker looking with flies lingering around them! I couldn¡¯t believe my eyes.


    This... This was cleaned upst night. Right?


    "Did you get the maids to clean up your office¡ª"


    "Of course, I did!" Kaelos barked with frustration, brushing his right hand through his ck hair while never removing his gaze from the wall.


    It was as if he was afraid something or someone would jump out of it.


    I swallowed hard, my body shivering with dread as I used my arms to cover my exposed chest. The office seemed like it was caving now and I was forced to close my eyes when I heard subtle whispers in my mind.


    ¡¯You think you can hide from me by stopping the use of your magic?¡¯ The voice echoed with mockery, sounding like it was booming inside me and around me all at once. ¡¯Your magic has tapped too deep into the Vein already.¡¯


    When?!


    <fn41d1> Latest content published on f?ndnovel</fn41d1>


    When the fuck did I tap into the Vein when I only got to know about it yesterday?


    "Hey..." Kaelos ced his hand on my shoulder, startling me at first until I saw the concerned expression on his face. "You¡¯re sweating bullets. Get dressed, go to your room and have a nice cold bath, okay? I¡¯ll... I¡¯ll handle this."


    I blinked, my lips parting. I felt like arguing that I wanted to stay back here.


    But each time I nced at the wall and the blood writing on it, I felt like I was being shown a warning in real time.


    The True King shall ascend the throne when the sky is painted red...


    .


    .


    When I finally got to my room, I sighed, closing the door behind me.


    The afternoon sun trickled through the curtains, painting the room with its golden light. The room was peaceful and so was the rest of the mansion... Unlike the chaos that was unravelling in my mind.


    ¡¯You don¡¯t need to question anything, Odessa.¡¯ Ryker¡¯s voice grew louder in my head, forcing me to rub my head with frustration as I walked deeper into the room.


    "Listen, you maniac! If what you were offering was anything worth it, you wouldn¡¯t be relying on underhanded means and breaching my mind to speak." I snarled, standing in front of my mirror.


    I stared at my reflection, noticing how exhausted I looked. My right hand subconsciously rested on my stomach, my heart dropping when I thought about my unborn child and what they¡¯d have to face.


    "I¡¯m speaking to you this way because it¡¯s the only way to reach you. To show you what you truly are." This time, the voice seemed to being from the mirror, causing my breathing to cease.


    There was a light chuckle before he continued.


    "I am a true hybrid. Yes, I am. But you? You¡¯re beyond even that." He echoed as my mind reeled, trying to process the fact that his voice wasing from the mirror. "You¡¯re a descendant of the witch who tapped into the Vein and controlled death itself."


    Suddenly, the dark sigils underneath my arms came to life, pulsing with dark energy. I pulled up the sleeves of my ck shirt, staring at them solemnly.

 Chapter 287: _A Witch Never Stops Learning

    <h4>Chapter 287: _A Witch Never Stops Learning</h4>


    <strong>~~~~FOUR MONTHS LATER~~~~</strong>


    "What¡¯s the point of watching you cast spells constantly if I can¡¯t cast any myself?" I asked with a frustrated sigh when Althea showed me a demonstration of a transmutation spell for the umpteenth time.


    It¡¯s been four months... Four months since the video of Kaelos killing his father was leaked to the entire world. Four months since I found out about the dark sigils locked to my Hybrid blood and connected to the Vein.


    I was sitting in the mansion¡¯s main garden which had quickly be a spot for hanging out and training with both my aunt and Kaelos.


    My aunt tutored me on how to better control my magic without letting my emotions be its guide, while Kaelos taught me how to tap into my wolf side.


    I could use my wolf ws and fangs now and had better control of my sonic howl... But there was still not much sess in shifting into Sirena.


    It was frustrating since I¡¯ve really never seen her form.


    The morning birds chirped above us, seemingly in sync with the hum of Althea¡¯s magic.


    Her right hand was pointed at a tulip flower, her fingers lighting up with sparks of bluish magic. She had her back facing me, her purple dress trailing the ground as she spoke.


    "If you haven¡¯t learnt anything this past four months, you should at least know this one thing when ites to witchcraft." Althea¡¯s voice was calm as the tulip¡¯s pink petals bloomed and closed repeatedly in sync with her finger movements. "A witch never stops learning."


    Suddenly, the pink tulip transformed into a rose petal, causing me to raise an eyebrow.


    I sighed, resting my right hand on my baby bump. I tightened my jaw at first but then smiled warmly when my gazended on the baby bump.


    My light... Apollo.


    Yep, turns out the baby is a boy. And it was safe to say Kaelos was excited about it. Scratch that... He¡¯s been hysterical these past few months, helping with arranging the baby¡¯s room and picking out toys his mom got him when he was little.


    "Odessa?" My aunt¡¯s voice snapped me out of my reverie, forcing me to raise my head only to see the slight frown on her face. "Come on, focus. Where¡¯s your mind at?"


    I clicked my tongue, getting on my feet and adjusting the white day dress I wore. I fixed my gaze on the vast bed of tulips stretching behind her.


    "My mind is on the fact that I¡¯m already capable of the simple spells you¡¯re still teaching me after so many months." I blurted, waving my right hand forward.


    Althea¡¯s eyes widened as she stepped aside and nced behind her. Within a couple of seconds, the bed of tulips sparkled with a faint violet light before undergoing a breathtaking transformation.


    All of them bloomed first before turning into butterflies, their wings spreading before they fluttered all around the garden in a vast swarm.


    I smiled only for a few seconds... Until my eyes fell on my right arm. A cold shiver ran down my spine when I saw the dark sigils pulsing underneath my skin.


    ¡¯You need to stop doing that.¡¯ Sirena echoed in my mind as I hid my arm behind my back, stering a smile on Althea, who gave me an awkward look.


    "See? I know all this already." I said, shrugging.


    But then she walked toward me, shaking her head. "Odessa, you need to be careful with how much magic you let out. Those dark sigils¡ª"


    "I know, I know." I sighed,ughing dryly. "I risk being a key to a chaotic source of magic underneath the continent and causing the end of all life. No need reminding me."


    Not to mention the risk of my magic exploding mid-pregnancy. Gods...


    I curled my right hand, which was still behind my back, into a fist, watching Althea part her lips with a dumbfounded expression.


    <fna80d> This text is hosted at Find[?]ovel</fna80d>


    Fortunately, as the butterflies fluttered around and the tension seemed like it was going to get overwhelming, a cherry voice chimed from the entrance of the garden.


    "Odessa. High priestess Althea. I brought y¡¯all some tea and..."


    I swerved my head to the garden¡¯s entrance, smiling warmly when I saw Caroline walking toward us with a tray containing a teapot and cups on it.


    She wore a beautiful pink gown and had her hair tied into a ponytail.


    However, she paused abruptly when she saw the butterflies fluttering around, her mouth falling ajar and her eyes widening.


    "Woah..."


    I giggled, ncing at Aunt Althea, who didn¡¯t seem all that impressed. I gave her a wink, patting her on her shoulder. "I¡¯ll be fine, aunty. Don¡¯t worry."


    I proceeded to walk toward Caroline who quickly shook her head and regained herposure.


    "Are you guys throwing a butterfly rave or what?" She queried with a teasing smirk, causing me to giggle again.


    I grabbed one of the tea cups, staring at it for a bit before bringing my gaze to Caroline¡¯s face. "You know I¡¯m more of a coffee person."


    She shrugged. "Don¡¯t me me... Your aunt Althea insisted you take this mixture. Besides, it¡¯s kinda sweet."


    I nced over my shoulder at my aunt who already had her right hand raised, casting a spell.


    With a simple twist of her wrist, the butterflies burst into sparks of violet light which floated back to the ground and transformed into their original form as tulips.


    "Oh, and lest I forget..." Caroline muttered, forcing me to bring my gaze back to her. "... Your husband seeks your presence upstairs."


    I pouted my lips, shaking my head. "Seeks my presence? I¡¯m a pregnant woman. Does he expect me to climb all those stairs toe see him or¡ª"


    "I had a feeling you would say that." A familiar deep voice spoke with a chuckle from the garden¡¯s entrance.


    My eyes flicked to that direction just in time to see Kaelos walking toward me with his arms folded in front of his chest, a sly smirk on his face.


    I tilted my head as Caroline stepped away quietly, giving us a little space.


    Kaelos was dressed in a sharp red suit that emphasised his muscles and somehow managed to make him seem taller than he already was.


    His ck hair was suspiciously packed up into a stylish bun, and he had an extremely sweet cologne clinging to him.


    "Well, good morning to you too, dear husband." I blurted when he finally got a few feet in front of me, smiling with a little more sass than usual. "You look... Ravishing. But what¡¯s the asion?"


    His smirk widened as he nced briefly at Caroline before gently grabbing the teacup in my hands, leaning in closer until my heart quickened at his proximity.


    "It¡¯s a surprise." He whispered, sending warm tingles throughout my body.


    Ou,,...

 Chapter 288: _Before It All Blows Away...

    <h4>Chapter 288: _Before It All Blows Away...</h4>


    "Where are we going though?" I asked with a light chuckle as Kaelos grabbed my hand and led me out of the garden.


    I nced back at Caroline who gave me a knowing wink before she turned around and walked over to Althea. Thetter stood, watching from a distance with an oddly solemn expression.


    My eyebrows furrowed when I saw that look on her but then Kaelos tugged at my hand gently, bringing my attention back to him.


    He had a warm smile curling up his lips as he spoke. "Like I said, it¡¯s a surprise."


    When we got to thepound gates, the guards bowed their heads as we walked past. A few gave judgmental nces as usual but none dared to even whisper anything about me.


    After Kaelos¡¯ statement to the world, the Blood Oak pack and indeed all the packs of North America were... Chill.


    Mostly.


    There were a few cases of riots or public unrest among wolves here and there but Kaelos was quick to end them with help of the pack soldiers and Alphas in those packs.


    There were also no more cases of rogue sightings or attacks, making the continent seem like it was actually heading to a state of normalcy outside war and conflict.


    Plus, there have been no more killings in the pack, cementing the thought that ric was indeed the killer who¡¯s been terrorising it since my arrival.


    But even with all this... It still felt like the calm before a storm.


    Anyway, Kaelos led me through the elite district, walking past a few elite wolves who greeted us. There was still lingering doubt and dissent among the people, but no one dared speak out of line.


    I soon noticed the direction we were walking to and frowned slightly.


    "Why are we heading toward the event hall?" I asked, swallowing hard.


    The event hall... The same one that had stood in the pack for decades but that I destroyed instantly during the Charity Ball months back, leaving it to be a pile of rubble.


    After all those months, it was being rebuilt into a grander size and style.


    With the stamina of the wolves and some help from Althea¡¯s magic, it was already almostplete and needed a few finishing touches... Just in time for the blood moon festivaling up in just three days.


    The construction workers who still lingered around the building bowed before Kaelos and I as we climbed the steps leading into the hall.


    At the top of the steps stood La with a small smile on her face as she bowed when we got there. "Good morning, Alpha King and Luna Queen. Let me show you to your seats."


    Seats?


    I turned my gaze to Kaelos who merely smirked. "What? It¡¯s not bad if we test out the ce before the big day of the blood moon festival. We¡¯re only hosting most of the elite wolves in the world after all."


    The sarcasm at thatst part was clear as day to me.


    I rolled my eyes, tightening my grip on his hand and clinging closer to him as we walked into the grand hall with a high ceiling over twenty meters high.


    The ceiling arched like a dome and was lined with several crystal chandeliers that painted the ck and cream coloured marble tiles in a beautiful rainbow-like hue.


    The chairs and tables were already arranged around the hall, covered in pretty white cloths and decorated with flowers and golden candle stands.


    La led us to a table close to the stage, which was one heck of a walk away from the main entrance. The stage lights were a warm yellow colour, bathing our table with its ambiance.


    I smiled at Kaelos when he pulled out a chair, gesturing for me to sit. I did just that, cing my right hand on my stomach.


    He kissed the back of my neck softly, as if he was afraid he¡¯d be too aggressive with it. "You¡¯ll always be the main event."


    I arched an eyebrow, watching as he sat on the chair beside me, the smile on his face never disappearing. That smile... He definitely had something in store for me.


    I found that a bit nerve wracking, my mind reeling as I kept trying to guess what it could be.


    Suddenly, soft slow dance music began ying from the speakers on the stage.


    I knew that song... Tumblr girls by G Eazy. Except this one was slowed down to perfection.


    "You don¡¯t want to get a pregnant woman nervous now, do you?" I asked, folding my arms in front of my chest and pouting at Kaelos who chuckled at my expense.


    He leaned a little closer, parting aside a few strands of my hair before whispering teasingly. "You¡¯ve always been a curious kitten."


    I gasped dramatically. "Kitten? Ew, Kaelos!"


    We bothughed as the music drew out to the best part. La who had walked out for a couple minutes came back with a tray of food that whiffed into my nose before she even got to the table.


    My mouth began to water when I saw the barbecued fish on the tray.


    "Don¡¯t mind if I do..." I grinned, already stretching my hands to grab a bite.


    It wasn¡¯t easy being pregnant with an Alpha King¡¯s baby, talk less of one who had my Hybrid blood. I¡¯ve been eating like a ravenous dog these past few months.


    As I focused on eating the food, enjoying the music, I noticed just then that Kaelos was oddly silent. I could feel him staring at me while I ate.


    Slowly, I raised my head. But then my eyes widened when I saw what he held out with his hands, cing it in front of my face.


    It was a locket. With a damn ring in it!


    The ring was gorgeous, a big ruby gemstone ced on it and glistening under the lights of the event hall.


    I blinked, my chest swelling with warmth as I stared at Kaelos¡¯ face.


    "We had a... Pretty rough start." He began, his voice heavy with emotions. "I remember all our first moments. The first kiss when you pped me twice for joking about basically raping you. The first time we appeared in a public gathering... Late Alpha King Leonard¡¯s weing ball..."


    My smile widened more with each word he spoke. I didn¡¯t realise I was crying until a single tear drop fell on my arm.


    Kaelos¡¯ lips quivered a bit before he continued. "I... I¡¯ve not been the best man to you. But you¡¯ve healed me, Odessa. You¡¯ve brought in a light that shone through the darkness in me. You¡¯ve given me hope... And even a child."


    <fn64f6> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn64f6>


    He suddenly got on his feet and did somethingpletely unexpected. He went down on a single knee, causing my eyes to widen as I nced around.


    The hall was empty but I knew if anyone saw the Alpha King kneeling in front of me... It would be the talk of the pack.


    "Would you do me the honour of marrying me... Again?" He asked with a softugh. "Our actual wedding was rushed and not much of a wedding anyway so¡ª"


    "You had me the second you slung out the ring, genius." I interrupted, breaking down into tears as I grabbed his hands, nodding. "Of course, I¡¯ll marry you... Again."


    As he slipped the ring into my waiting finger, all I could feel was warmth and hope.


    But s, despite how joyous I felt, a voice at the back of my head still whispered:


    "How much time do you have before it all blows away?"

 Chapter 289: _Growth, In All Its Forms

    <h4>Chapter 289: _Growth, In All Its Forms</h4>


    "Oh my goddess!" Caroline screamed with excitement when I showed her the ruby ringter that day in my room.


    My face heated up with an embarrassed blush as she held my hand, staring at the ring with a broad smile before bringing her gaze back to me.


    "Odessa, this is HUGE." Her eyes widened, her head shaking with disbelief. "And you said he went down on one knee?"


    I nodded. "Yep. Gosh, each time he does something romantic it just feels so... Effortless. I always feel like I¡¯m falling in love all over again."


    I was sitting on the edge of my bed while Caroline stood in front of me. Her eyes glistened with pride, her lips parting.


    "Odessa, I¡¯m so happy for you." She muttered, causing my heart to melt.


    I pulled her into an embrace, brushing my hand down her hair. "Aww, thank you, Caroline."


    We stayed like that for a few seconds before breaking the hug.


    Suddenly, she became more hysterical. "Goddess, we need to start making ns. The venue... I don¡¯t know if the event hall would be appropriate. And then is it going to be a private event? Who are we going to invite? How¡ª"


    "Woah, woah, woah." I stopped her before she went any further, shaking my head with a giggle. "Slow down there, fairy godmother. It¡¯s just a proposal ... We haven¡¯t even started talking about a wedding."


    Caroline paused, her shoulders rxing. "Oh..."


    Oh indeed.


    I rolled my eyes, getting on my feet with my right hand on my stomach. I turned my gaze to the table where I usually did my makeup, spotting a ck rectangr locket.


    I walked to it and picked it up with both hands, my fingers tracing lines on the intricate designs carved into its surface. I opened it, bringing out the ruby ne Kaelos gave me on my first night in the pack.


    My mind went back to that night... The rushed wedding where I was forced to go through the ceremony under the judgmental scrutiny of the pack members.


    Kaelos had ced this on my neck, not as a symbol of love. But as a seal for a marriage that was meant to be nothing more than a symbol of a truce between two races.


    A wry smile curled up my lips as I stared at the ne and then the ring repeatedly.


    "He¡¯s... Changed." I whispered, my ears picking up the sound of Caroline¡¯s footsteps approaching me.


    I raised my head in time to see her reflection on the mirror as she ced her hand on my shoulder. My eyes were getting moist again.


    Fuck, are these pregnancy hormones?


    "I wouldn¡¯t call it ¡¯change¡¯," Caroline muttered, a warm smile spreading across her face. "I¡¯ll call it... Growth. The kind that let him amodate you in more ways than one. That makes him seem like an entirely different person. Just like a butterfly gaining its wings..."


    I furrowed my eyebrows, dropping the locket and ne and ncing back at her. "Someone sounds extra poetic today."


    We both giggled but when I looked into her hazel orbs... There was something behind them. Something solemn.


    Sadness? Uncertainty?


    "Hey," I called softly, brushing my right hand up her shoulder. "Are you okay, Car? I¡¯m sorry if I¡¯m overwhelming you with my love life and¡ª"


    "What?" Caroline¡¯s eyes widened, her face morphing with shock. "No, no, no! That¡¯s not the case at all, ma¡¯am Odessa..."


    She paused, biting her bottom lip as I tilted my head.


    Then she corrected herself. "It¡¯s not the case, Odessa. Don¡¯t worry about me, I¡¯ve just been thinking about a lot of things."


    I raised a curious eyebrow, but she seemed like she didn¡¯t want to tell me whatever it was.


    Hell no...


    "Not fair, Car!" I shoved her shoulder yfully, causing her cheeks to redden with a blush. "I tell you literally everything. Come on, spill. What are you thinking about? Or... Is there someone new I don¡¯t know about?"


    Her eyes widened with pure horror. Her lips parted, her throat moving like she was being constricted.


    ¡¯Why the heck is she acting like you asked her for tips to murder someone?¡¯ Sirena mumbled in my mind but I was just as clueless as her as I stared at Caroline worriedly.


    "I¡¯m... There¡¯s no one new, Odessa." She finally smiled, giggling awkwardly. "Why... Why would you even think that?"


    I blinked at her, my eyes narrowing.


    Right...


    "Well, if you say so." I shrugged, turning my gaze back to the mirror. I let out a sigh, staring at my reflection. "The Blood Moon festival ising up in three days. Aunt Althea said a few delegates from the Luminari coven might be showing up to support."


    Including some not-so-weing faces...


    My mind went back to Lucinda, the former queen bee among the young witches of the coven and the coven¡¯s former main delegate... Until she decided to attack me at the Charity Ball.


    I wonder if the Coven Elders lifted up the binding spell on her magic already. It¡¯s been over four months after all...


    "This feels like a good step to introduce witches to some of our customs," Caroline spoke with enthusiasm. "It¡¯s perfect."


    Yeah... I guess.


    I stared at the mirror, my eyes focused on my reflection. I could¡¯ve sworn I saw something off with it just now.


    "I want to go... Attend to something." Caroline blurted just then, causing me to nce back at her.


    She had a warm smile on her face as she brushed her hand on my shoulder onest time. "You¡¯re doing amazing, Odessa. And I¡¯m sure your son will be beyond lucky to have you when hees into this world."


    My heart swelled with warmth.


    Okay, that was random...


    "Don¡¯t cause trouble, Car." I chuckled as she walked toward the door, winking at me.


    When the door closed behind her with a soft bang, I let out a light sigh, turning my gaze back to the mirror.


    But the second I did that, my heart jumped into my throat, a gasp escaping my lips as I took a step back.<fn51b4> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? </fn51b4>

 Chapter 290: _The Mirror Breaks

    <h4>Chapter 290: _The Mirror Breaks</h4>


    "Leave. Me. Alone!" I yelled, my jaw clenching as I red at the mirror in front of me.


    And in the mirror?


    My reflection had distorted into someone else. A man with ck horns curling up his forehead and empty ck orbs in ce of where his eyes were supposed to be.


    He had ck hair and a sh mark across his left eye. He wore a tailored ck suit, looking like he crawled right out of the Lucifer TV show with a few adjustments.


    But this wasn¡¯t Tom Ellis making aeback...


    This bastard is Lord Ryker and ever since he revealed the truth about my bloodline four months ago, he¡¯s been haunting my dreams and my waking hours, appearing in this specific form.


    I had a feeling this wasn¡¯t how he looked in real life but I honestly couldn¡¯t care less.


    "Don¡¯t let me be the reason your mood sours, Odessa." He chuckled in the mirror, tilting his head. His eyes trailed down my body beforending on the ring on my finger.


    "So Kaelos is finally ready for an actual wedding?" His voice was deep, domineering, condescending and amused all at once. He grinned, a twisted expression that made him look even more demonic. "Congrattions... But like I said when he¡ª"


    Before he could finish that sentence, I grabbed my hair brush and flung it at the mirror. It shattered into a thousand pieces, the crashing sound making me jolt with fright as I took a few steps back.


    During the past few months, he¡¯s been whispering in my head, pushing me to do more research on HER.


    The dark witch who tapped into the Vein centuries ago... Who also happens to be a distant ancestor.


    I was able to find out her name from Aunt Althea... Nyx. Named after the goddess of the night and living up to the name in the grandest way possible.


    Her time on Earth before she was sealed into the Vein was marked with darkness and the rise of a plethora of twisted monstrosities. Chaos took form through her.


    The worst part about all this is the fact that Aunt Althea didn¡¯t mention anything about her being an ancestor. So what the fuck is Lord Ryker driving at?


    "I... I need air." I breathed, tearing my gaze away from the mirror and walking toward the balcony¡¯s sliding ss door.


    Just when I was about to get there, I swerved my head to the wall to my right, where a person-sized mirror was. But then I gasped when I saw who was standing waiting inside it.


    "Oh, sweet, naive little hybrid." Ryker echoed with a mockingughter, shaking his head. "I am in your head... Tied to your very soul. You can¡¯t get rid of me by breaking a few mirrors."


    My eyes twitched with anger and frustration. "You¡¯ve seen already that I¡¯m never losing control of my magic. In two months, the Luminari coven elders will lift the ban on me using my abilities in public and I can go back to living a normal¡ª"


    "Keep the word sd to yourself," Ryker said inly, his arms behind his back. "And really? After all this time you still think you have a chance of running away from your destiny? Your bloodline?"


    My hand curled into fists as I red at his figure. Suddenly, something that has never happened before yed out.


    The lights in the room flickered before turning off entirely, the shadows twisting into unnatural shapes. Darkness began spreading like ink on the mirror before leaking into the room, creeping on the ground and walls.


    My heart thudded heavily as I took several steps back, stretching out my hands.


    The darkness was encroaching and cold as Ryker¡¯s projection took a single step out into the physical world. My eyeballs nearly fell out of their sockets when I saw his leg on my room floor.


    Fuck this!


    ¡¯Kaelos? Kaelos, it¡¯s Ryker.¡¯ I spoke through the mind link, trying to get to Kaelos. ¡¯He... He¡¯s stepping into my room. Kaelos...?¡¯


    No response.


    Dread surged through my being, my legs getting shaky as if an angler was tied around it. I nced outside and noticed that even the sky was getting dark with storm clouds.


    "This is the power you wish to reject, Odessa?" Ryker sniggered, his entire body fully stepping out. "This power and more is literally at your fingertips. The continent and the world will kneel at your feet. Alpha Kings and High Priestesses will tremble at the mention of your name..."


    He took more steps closer as the darkness went ahead to spread until it covered the entire room. The storm clouds outside also came with heavy wind which blew into the room, whipping my hair all around me.


    I didn¡¯t dare remove my gaze from Ryker as I triedmunicating with Sirena. ¡¯Girl, are you there? Please, tell me you¡¯re there. Please!¡¯


    Nothing.


    My heart fell to the pit of my stomach, my lips quivering. Fear slowly began transforming into rage as I snarled at Ryker.


    "What are you doing to me?!"


    My voice caused the ceiling to shake, dust falling off it as the wind picked up pace.


    Ryker¡¯s eyes widened with delight.


    "I¡¯m not doing anything to you, love." He whispered, finally getting a few meters in front of me.


    I red at him, my chest rising and falling heavily as I stared into his ck orbs. I was alone. No wolf and no ess to my mate.


    All I could see now... Was him.


    Ryker.


    A man who offered me nothing but darkness wrapped in a promise of understanding what I am. But why did that "promise" sound more real each time he reached out?


    "This is all you, Odessa." Ryker spread out his arms, his grin widening. "Look at your arms..."


    I raised my hands and realised that the dark sigils had activated, burning brighter than I¡¯ve ever seen before.


    "But... How?" I croaked breathlessly, disbelief eating at me as I stared at my arms.


    Ryker wasn¡¯t behind the storm outside or the darkness in the room.


    I was...


    Suddenly, right when I raised my head to look into Ryker¡¯s eyes again... My room door burst open.


    Instantly, Ryker disappeared, the darkness in the room fleeing along with him. Before I could take note of who was at the door, a sharp pain struck my head, causing my eyes to spin.


    "Odessa!"


    I heard a loud yell and saw the silhouette of a man running toward me.


    Consciousness became slippery until I couldn¡¯t hold onto it anymore, falling to the ground.<fne5a6> Content originallyes from find?novel</fne5a6>

 Chapter 291: _He Sees All

    <h4>Chapter 291: _He Sees All</h4>


    Ryker¡¯s POV


    *****


    He let out a satisfied sigh after seeing Odessa fall, stepping away from his ck mirror behind his throne.


    He turned and walked back to his throne, resting his arms on the armrests at the same moment that the throne room doors barged open.


    Regina walked in, confident and elegant as ever, a small smirk curling up her lips. When she got just right below the steps leading to the throne, she bowed.


    Ryker stared at her for a few seconds before speaking. "Are all preparations ready?"


    Regina nodded. "Yes, my Lord. All over the continent as you requested."


    A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.


    Good.


    North America wouldn¡¯t know what hit them.


    "For four months I¡¯ve watched the little hybrid erode and slowly break into... This." Ryker nced at the mirror behind his throne even though it had gone nk. "Odessa sits on top of one of the most devastating bloodlines on the, not to mention her hybrid blood. If she doesn¡¯t want to use it... I¡¯ll teach her. By force."


    Regina nodded, adjusting her ck gown before turning around, about to walk away.


    But then...


    "When were you going to tell me about the maid you¡¯ve been watching all this time?" Ryker asked with a deep voice, his tone colder than a cier.


    Regina froze as the temperature in the throne room seemed to drop by at least a few degrees. Ryker could feel something unusual in her. Something he¡¯s never felt in his Left hand for years.


    Nervousness.


    "I see all through the eyes of my artificial hybrids, Regina. Especially my two most powerful soldiers." Ryker continued, leaning forward a bit on the throne.


    "Now, Marcellus¡¯ attempts to hide what Elder Davina left behind on his soul after her death... That was expected. He hates feeling vulnerable and I¡¯m giving him the benefit of the doubt that he can fix it."


    He paused, narrowing his eyes slightly when Regina still had her back facing him.


    "Face me when I speak." He uttered bluntly, not even moving a muscle.


    Regina slowly turned around to face him, shameced in her eyes.


    What on Earth?


    "I have a perfect exnation for my... Probing of Caroline." She began, sping her hands in front of her chest and managing to keep a smile on her face.


    But Ryker wasn¡¯t buying it.


    Her confidence was cracking.


    "You have an exnation for why you kept it from me for four months?" He snorted, shaking his head. "Or rather, tried to keep it from me."


    Regina¡¯s jaw clenched as she stared right into his eyes from that distance.


    Well, there¡¯s the fire he was expecting!


    "She¡¯s unlike any werewolf I¡¯ve evere across. I¡¯ve been trying to understand her better so I could bring back a report to you. Pierce through her walls and¡ª"


    "Pierce through her walls?" Ryker repeated, sniggering. "I believe she¡¯s pierced into yours already. In more ways than one."


    Regina¡¯s jaw remained clenched, her fists curling and uncurling.


    Ryker raised an eyebrow, drumming his fingers on the throne¡¯s armrest before slowly getting on his feet.


    "So what do we know so far about her? She has an unknown amount of hidden abilities. One of them manifests as silver coloured bursts of energy." He remarked casually, smirking when Regina¡¯s eyes widened.


    He walked down the steps leading to the throne room slowly, his arms behind his back. "Why do you seem so surprised? Surely you don¡¯t think I¡¯ll leave you out of my surveince."


    His footsteps echoed around the throne room as he moved closer, his eyes locked on Regina. The more he moved, the more uncertain and nervous she looked until she tore her gaze away from him.


    "I didn¡¯t mean to hide this from you, my Lord. I just¡ª"


    "Oh, but you did." Ryker shrugged as he finally got in front of her. He stretched his right hand forward, grabbing her jaw and forcing her to look into his eyes. "And I¡¯m beyond disappointed that you let yourself be a ve to feeble emotions. You¡¯re an artificial hybrid. Raised to kill."


    Regina tried shaking her head. "I¡¯m not letting myself be a ve to anything, my Lord. There might¡¯ve been a few moments where I¡ª"


    "Don¡¯t." He interrupted coldly, the shadows and darkness behind him taking form into twisted creatures that painted the ck marble tiles and the walls.


    Regina visibly shook with fear causing Ryker to scowl with disgust.


    "I didn¡¯t teach you to fear, Regina. I taught you to find openings and to strike." He finally let go of her jaw, turning away from her. "Worst part of all this is that this maid, Caroline, is working for someone. Her mission to protect Odessa isn¡¯t self-motivated."


    He squinted his eyes, twirling around the fingers of his right hand as the shadows retreated back to normal.


    His gaze lingered on the throne room as he walked back to it slowly. "And she also has her eyes on clueless Marcellus. Which you didn¡¯t tell him... But I¡¯ll ignore that. After all, what use are his skills if he can¡¯t notice things like this?"


    When he got to his throne, he rxed, his expression bing filled with boredom.


    Regina still stood there, her hands sped in front of her. But she shook slightly like a child about to be punished.


    "You¡¯ve grown soft. You might not be able to see it but I can." He muttered. "Feelings have a fascinating way of clouding judgement. What you once thought was you ying around with an interesting toy has blossomed into something more."


    He let his words settle for several seconds, his ears picking up the slight shift in Regina¡¯s breathing.


    And then...


    "Go. Prove yourself to me when the timees." He waved dismissively, already looking away from her.


    Regina bowed slightly. "I will not let you down, my Lord."


    Ryker sneered but didn¡¯t say anything as she walked away, her heels echoing on the marble tiles.


    When he heard the throne room doors close with a bang, his mind reeled.


    <fnb9b6> This text is hosted at find?novel</fnb9b6>


    "Caroline..." He muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Who or what are you working for...?"


    She might prove to be an obstacle in his ns. And if that happens... She¡¯ll have to go. As "interesting" as she was.

 Chapter 292: _The Blood Moon Draws Near

    <h4>Chapter 292: _The Blood Moon Draws Near</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    "You... Proposed?" Marcellus asked me with widened eyes when I told him in my office.


    We¡¯d been reviewing ns for the blood moon festivaling up in three days and I couldn¡¯t help but blurt it out to him. He¡¯s my best man, after all.


    <fn7be1> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? Find?Novel</fn7be1>


    "You seem surprised." I grinned, pouring myself a ss of whiskey before taking a sip. I poured Marcellus a ss as well, handing it over to him. "I feel like we¡¯ve gotten to that point in our rtionship where... All I can imagine is life with her."


    Marcellus chuckled with what sounded like genuine amusement. "You think? Kaelos, it¡¯s painstakingly obvious that you¡¯re head over heels. I could say you¡¯ve been that way for months. As early as when she escaped to the woods, actually."


    I rolled my eyes while he continuedughing, staring briefly at his ss of whiskey before he took a sip.


    Oh, right... He¡¯s more of a vodka guy.


    "So, any ns for the big wedding?" He asked, dropping his ss on the table and leaning closer. "I can already imagine all of it. It¡¯ll be the talk of the continent, heck even the world¡ª"


    "Let¡¯s not get ahead of ourselves." I raised a hand, chuckling. "I¡¯ll focus on the Blood Moon festivaling up three days from now. How¡¯s the security detail going?"


    Marcellus parted his lips, about to speak when a knock sounded on the door. I raised an eyebrow, fixing my gaze on it.


    "Come in."


    The door swung open and La walked in, her tablet clutched to her chest and an urgent expression on her face.


    I narrowed my eyes in anticipation.


    Goddess, please don¡¯t let it be something serious...


    "Luna Queen Janelle of Europe wishes to speak to you, sir." She announced, ncing at Marcellus briefly before she stood in front of therge TV screen at the corner of the office.


    She scrolled on her tablet, connecting it to the television. The TV screen flickered to life as I adjusted my sitting position and focused my gaze on it.


    Eventually, the face of one of the most powerful women among the werewolf popce showed on the screen. Her expression was in at first but a small smile soon spread across her face.


    "I believe it¡¯s a good morning for you, Alpha King Kaelos." She began, drumming her fingers on her desk. Then her gaze flicked to Beta Marcellus.


    Her eyes narrowed slightly, flickering with something unreadable as she stared at him.


    But then I cleared my throat, breaking the tension. "Good day, Luna Queen. This is my Beta, Marcellus. I don¡¯t think you two have had the pleasure of meeting."


    Marcellus stood and bowed slightly. "The pleasure is all mine. I¡¯ve heard so much about you, Luna Queen Janelle."


    She arched an eyebrow but then nodded slowly. "Well, thank you. Anyway, I¡¯m only calling to confirm you have everything ready for the Blood Moon festival. Delegates from all over the world areing to your territory. Thest Blood moon festival¡¯s main gathering was held right here in Europe and it¡¯s been that way for decades before the war."


    Gods, a history lesson...


    ¡¯You might be in dire need of one.¡¯ Damon sniggered in my mind.


    I grunted in my mental space. ¡¯And why do you say that?¡¯


    ¡¯Dude, she¡¯s over a century old and still glowing, unlike some old coots. What do you have against that?¡¯


    I ignored that, smiling at Janelle. "I understand, Luna Queen. So will we be expecting your husband? Alpha King Thorian."


    It was clear he was still either wounded from the war or too upied. But I still wanted to know.


    "Oh, don¡¯t worry. He wouldn¡¯t show up but he¡¯ll make a live video stream addressing us. It¡¯s going to be a grand event, Alpha King Kaelos. One that¡¯ll unite the werewolves of the for the first time in a century." She said with reverence in her emerald eyes.


    I kept the smile on my face, ncing at Marcellus whose expression was unreadable.


    "Don¡¯t forget, the Alpha kings and I will have our eyes on you and the running of the North American packs that day. Be prepared." She shed one final smile before ending the call, leaving us in silence.


    I breathed out, rubbing my forehead.


    "She seems nicer than expected," Marcellus remarked casually.


    I snorted. "Right. Why do I feel like this whole thing is a bad idea?"


    Marcellus furrowed his eyebrows when I stared at him but he spoke nevertheless. "The Blood Moon festival? It was celebrated this way before the war. Centuries before that, werewolves on different continents just celebrated it on their home packs."


    I clicked my tongue, watching the teasing smirk on his face widen.


    "I know these already, moron." I scoffed. "But the Blood moon... THIS blood moon appears once every thirty-three years for a reason. It makes our inner wolves go haywire in unpredictable ways. So tell me... How does gathering the main leaders of werewolf civilisation around the world during a war in ONE spot sound?"


    Marcellus remained silent, but I knew he was seeing things from my perspective.


    I hated feeling out of control, and this situation, this "festival", was looking like one of those situations.


    Suddenly, just when I grabbed my ss of whiskey, I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. I froze, feeling an unusual tug on the thread of the mate bond.


    Odessa...


    "Kaelos?" Marcellus called out with concern but I didn¡¯t say anything, getting on my feet and running for the door.


    La yelled. "Sir?! What¡¯s happening?"


    I barged out of the door, sprinting like my life depended on it.


    Because it did...


    Odessa, our unborn child... I couldn¡¯t feel the pulse of their life through the bond anymore.


    ¡¯Odessa? Odessa!¡¯ I yelled through the mate bond but there was no response, causing dread to surge through me with an overwhelming numbness.


    I raced to the other end of the dimly lit hallway which seemed like it was caving in on me. When I got to Odessa¡¯s room, I burst the door open and rushed inside.


    The first thing that weed me was a malevolent presence which lingered like a ghost. I shook off the feeling, scanning my eyes around.


    But when my gaze fell on the floor... My heart dropped.


    "No!"

 Chapter 293: _She Will Be Fine...

    <h4>Chapter 293: _She Will Be Fine...</h4>


    "How is she?" I asked the pack doctors who came to check on Odessa several minutester.


    I stood at the entrance of her room while two doctors, both men, stood beside her bed, dressed in long white coats. The third one, a woman in her early forties, walked up to me with a tense expression.


    "We believe her magic... Went out of control. So much so that it weakened her body and caused her to copse." Her tone was calm¡ªmine was anything but.


    I lowered my arms which were folded in front of my chest, my eyes narrowing into slits. "What do you mean you ¡¯believe¡¯? Are you sure of what you¡¯re saying or not?"


    She froze, blinking with parted lips. She then nced back at her colleagues but before she could say anything useful, the door behind me burst open.


    I nced back and witnessed Caroline walking in with rm and fear written on her face. Her gaze quicklynded on the bed, and then her face paled.


    "By the goddess! Odessa¡ª" She was just about to walk past the female pack doctor, but thetter held her back, shaking her head.


    "The Luna Queen needs rest." The doctor said calmly but Caroline brushed her arm aside with a snarl.


    "I just want to see how she¡¯s doing."


    A thought crossed my mind just then. I focused my attention on the female pack doctor again, this time lowering my voice as if I were afraid of the answer I would get.


    "T¨CThe baby..." I started, keeping eye contact with her despite the slight nervousness in her eyes. "What about our baby? Is he... Is he¡ª"


    "Yes, my lord. Your baby is safe, rest assured." The pack doctor spoke with a reassuring tone.


    I blinked, breathing out in relief before turning my gaze to Caroline. "Let¡¯s listen to her and let Odessa rest. Alright?"


    Caroline was still hesitant, her feet rooted to the ground. But when I tilted my head, she let out a sigh and nodded, bowing slightly.


    "Of course, my Lord..."


    .


    <fnf345> Original content can be found at Find_Novel(.</fnf345>


    .


    Although I mentioned that we should give Odessa space to rest, I remained sitting beside her bed. The doctors didn¡¯t dare deny me that.


    I watched her peaceful face, my right hand lingering just above her head which restedfortably on a soft white pillow.


    Her blonde hair pooled around her features, entuating the tranquillity that was her.


    The pack doctors had left the room, leaving the two of us alone.


    "Why couldn¡¯t I feel the mate bond?" I asked with a whisper, but it was a question more to myself than her.


    Right when I felt like something was off in my office, I tried reaching her through the mate bond. But I felt nothing at that moment.


    It was as if it had flickered out of existence.


    I could feel the bond pulsing again right now but that cold, empty feeling... It was one I have only felt once.


    Four months ago... When Ryker appeared in my dreams using myte father¡¯s form and voice to taunt me.


    "I swear to the goddess, that bastard will pay with his blood one way or another..." I spoke coldly at the same moment that a gentle knock sounded on the door.


    I swung my head back and spoke softly. "Come in."


    The door opened and Althea stepped in, her expression solemn. The purple dress she wore dragged behind her as she walked toward the bed, her gaze fixed on Odessa.


    "She¡¯s stable," I informed her when she finally got to the other side of the bed, watching as she rested her hand on her forehead.


    She let out a sigh, shaking her head. "Your pack members are already gossiping. Everyone saw the dark storm clouds that swirled above the pack. It happened around the same moment she passed out."


    That meant one thing...


    "So you¡¯re saying she caused it?" I queried, squinting my eyes before rubbing my forehead with frustration. "Four months, high priestess. You¡¯ve been tutoring her on how to separate her emotions from her magic for four months. This..."


    I froze just then, my lips parting as my gazended on the magic bracelet on Odessa¡¯s right wrist. The one given to her by the elders of the Luminari coven to monitor the output of her abilities.


    Althea followed my gaze and ced her grip on the bracelet. "I¡¯m sure the Elders sensed her magic output. They¡¯re... Silent. And I haven¡¯t told them about the dark sigils connecting her to the Vein yet."


    "Don¡¯t." I shook my head, my jaw clenching. "Don¡¯t do it. Not until we¡¯ve fully understood what¡¯s going on here."


    If the other Luminari coven elders found out about Odessa¡¯s connection to the Vein... Our lives would be anything but peaceful from thereon out.


    Thest witch who tapped into the Vein was sealed in it. Odessa, being a direct key to unlocking its chaotic magic, could quickly shoot up her status from "misunderstood hybrid" to "harbinger of doom".


    And if that bes the case, the moon knows I¡¯d rather die than let them harm her or seal her away. At this point, I would dere war on anyone who dares to do that.


    "About her magic... It¡¯s going to take time for her to gain actual control because there are too many factors ying out in her." Althea spoke up just then. "First, her wolf side pushes her magic to be more chaotic and... Predatory. Then her witch bloodline... Her mother and I are descended from Nyx."


    That¡¯s one thing that confuses me.


    "If you¡¯re a descendant of the witch who first tapped into the Vein, why then don¡¯t you have those dark sigils like Odessa? Why aren¡¯t you connected to it?" I queried, raising an eyebrow.


    Althea let out a breath, ncing at Odessa briefly before she spoke. "The key is her hybrid blood. That and whatever dark ritual the Lord of the North performed on her during your mission in Mexico."


    I sucked in a deep breath, tearing my gaze away from Althea and grabbing Odessa¡¯s palm, squeezing it tenderly.


    "I fear the Blood moon would have some unforeseen effects on Odessa," Althea revealed out of the blue.


    Gods, this was bing too much...


    "I have a special tea... A potion. It¡¯ll calm her two sides, witch and wolf, while also suppressing her magic." She continued, causing me to squint my eyes at her.


    That... Didn¡¯t sound like a bad idea.


    "And you¡¯re sure this tea wouldn¡¯t have any effects?" I asked and she nodded simply.


    "It shouldn¡¯t."


    But I wasn¡¯t satisfied. "Shouldn¡¯t or wouldn¡¯t?"


    She smiled wryly, turning around the bed and walking to me. When she got to where I sat at the other side, she ced a hesitant but gentle hand on my shoulder.


    "She will be fine, Kaelos. I assure you."


    I couldn¡¯t even pretend to smile in return, bringing my gaze back to Odessa and staring at her face. She stirred in her sleep, her eyelids fluttering.


    Like she was dreaming...


    "I sure hope so..."

 Chapter 294: _Darkness Watches From Outside

    <h4>Chapter 294: _Darkness Watches From Outside</h4>


    Around three in the afternoon, Odessa finally woke up, her eyelids fluttering weakly.


    I was still sitting beside her and quickly leaned closer when I saw her waking up. At this point, Althea, Caroline, La and Marcellus were all in the room as well, standing around the bed.


    "You¡¯re okay... You¡¯re okay..." I whispered to her when she tried raising her head, confusion clear on her face.


    She squinted, scanning her gaze around before blurting cluelessly. "Is this an intervention or something...?"


    I nced at the other side of the bed where Althea and Caroline stood. The former held a cup of tea, the same one she said would help Odessa, handing it over to her.


    "Drink this, child." She muttered with a warm smile.


    Marcellus, who stood by the foot of the bed with his arms folded in front of his chest, spoke up with a wry smile. "You passed out like three hours ago. But before that..."


    He trailed off intentionally, waiting for her to connect the dots herself. I fixed my gaze on her and saw her eyes widen with remembrance.


    "R¨CRyker..." She turned to me, ignoring the tea from her aunt who still stood patiently regardless.


    I held Odessa¡¯s right hand, caressing it tenderly. "So you did see him. Can you remember anything? Did you have any dreams during your unconsciousness?"


    She seemed like she had been dreaming earlier but the way she blinked with confusion now was as if her mind was foggy.


    "She¡¯s struggling to remember." Caroline pointed out the obvious.


    I ignored, leaning closer to Odessa as she stuttered. "I... I know I had a dream. But I can¡¯t remember anything from it. It¡¯s all... nk."


    She shook her head, covering her face with her hands. "And Ryker, that bastard. He appeared to me through the mirrors in the room..."


    I turned my gaze to the shattered mirror at the other side of the room. Shards of ss littered the vanity like snow, a hairbrush lying crooked beneath them¡ªsilent evidence of her panic.


    I didn¡¯t need any exnations to paint a mental image of how that mirror broke.


    "You can recount all that he said some other time, dear." Althea cleared her throat, cing the cup of tea in front of her face. "Just drink your tea right now."


    Odessa seemed like she wanted to still say something but when I nodded at her reassuringly, she let out a sigh and grabbed the cup of tea.


    .


    .


    "Okay, why do I feel like something is going on that I¡¯m not aware of?" Marcellus queried, cing his hands on his waist in my office.


    It was just me, La, Althea and him here. Caroline had stayed back with Odessa.


    I leaned against my desk, facing the three of them with hands sped in front of my body.


    "Something like what, Marcellus?" I queried and he let out a breath, his expression serious.


    "How did the true Lord of the North get into Dessa¡¯s mind? What am I missing?" He persisted, raising an eyebrow and ncing at La. "I feel like I¡¯m the only one out of the loop here."


    La blinked at him, her gaze empty at first. But then she shrugged like her mind rebooted. "Wait, don¡¯t look at me, Beta. I¡¯m just as clueless here."


    I flicked my gaze to Althea. Her eyes seemed distant, like she was still actively thinking about Odessa¡¯s situation.


    Well, I know I am.


    "Odessa¡¯s tied to something ancient and chaotic under the continent. The Vein." I let the cat out of the bag, clenching my jaw. "After the trip to Mexico, these... Dark sigils began appearing in her blood. The more she uses her magic, the closer she is to unlocking something we aren¡¯t even sure of and possibly unleashing the magic of the Vein."


    Althea, who was more knowledgeable in this, added. "Ryker managed to get into her head through a dark spell from the raven witch in Mexico. Appearing in her dreams and tampering with the mate bond between her and the Alpha King in ways I¡¯ve never seen."


    Marcellus¡¯ lips parted, his shoulders dropping for a bit. But then...


    "Goddess, have mercy..." He muttered, ncing at La who seemed surprised... But less than I expected.


    I thought I¡¯d see more shock from her.


    "K¨CKaelos, it has been four months." Marcellus suddenly said with disappointment. "Why did no one fill me in on this? This is... This is a LOT."


    <fn1eff> Checktest chapters at find[?]ovel</fn1eff>


    ¡¯Ugh, brother... Can we go straight to the point in this meeting and head back to our mate?¡¯ Damon growled in my mind and I couldn¡¯t agree more.


    I straightened my back, raising my chin as I addressed Marcellus. "She¡¯s my wife and my mate... Making her my responsibility. Besides, I didn¡¯t exactly want this news to get out. I¡¯m only informing you two now so you¡¯ll be aware of the stakes at hand."


    Marcellus pressed his lips into a thin line. He seemed like he had a lot to say but just didn¡¯t want to.


    Well, I didn¡¯t want to hear it...


    "It¡¯s clear Lord Ryker ns to do something during the Blood Moon festival," Althea uttered solemnly. "The magic wards on the event building should be enough to hold off any huge attacks but we need to be prepared beyond that."


    Marcellus seemed to be catching on now and nodded. "I¡¯ll meet with the Gamma and Delta and look over the security details for that day again."


    La also spoke up. "I¡¯ll contact the Alphas of the packs attending that night, as well as the Alpha kings then inform them to bring extra¡ª"


    "No, leave the Alpha Kings out of this." I shook my head, keeping my tone even. "They¡¯ll get suspicious if we tell them to bring extra security from their respective continents. Just contact the Alphas of North America who¡¯re attending to bring extra security along with them. Be vague... Don¡¯t say anything about Odessa."


    La nodded with understanding, bowing slightly. "Of course, my lord."


    With that, the meeting was dismissed and I stepped out of my office. The only thing I could think of now was seeing Odessa.


    I got to her door and knocked gently before opening. My eyesnded on the bed and to my surprise, she was already sitting up and seemed lively, chatting and giggling with Caroline.


    But their gazes turned to me and Caroline cleared her throat, smiling onest time at Odessa.


    "Scream if you need anything."


    "Have mercy on my vocal cords, would you?" Odessa snapped back with a smirk.


    Caroline gave me a bow before walking out of the room and closing the door behind her. I stood for a few seconds before I stepped forward slowly.


    "I was worried sick," I muttered when I finally got beside her bed, cing my hand on her shoulder. "How do you feel?"


    She smiled wryly but nodded. "Better actually. I think Althea¡¯s tea is working... I guess. My mind seems so clear and peaceful."


    I subconsciously tightened my hold on her shoulder, my gaze lingering on her violet eyes.


    "The... Mate bond." I muttered, about to talk about how I couldn¡¯t feel it before she fainted but she sped my hand on her shoulder, smiling warmly.


    "I know. I couldn¡¯t feel it either. But... I could hear you screaming my name and could¡¯ve sworn I saw your figure before I passed out." She revealed.


    I frowned slightly. "You were on the ground when I got in. I¡¯m... Still pleasantly surprised the baby didn¡¯t get any harm." I brought my other hand to her stomach, caressing her baby bump with relief.


    She suddenly grinned teasingly. "Well, he has his father¡¯s stone head."


    I parted my lips, chuckling softly. "Wow. Low blow, Odessa."


    She joined me inughing and in that moment, it was like we had nothing to worry about. Just me, her and our little bundle of joy.


    But I¡¯d be foolish to even dream that.


    "We¡¯ll be fine, Kaelos," Odessa whispered, brushing her fingers gently on my hand. I could feel her warmth and hope like it was mine again... And couldn¡¯t help but believe in it.


    "I know, mi amor," I said under my breath, my gaze going from her eyes to her lips.


    When we leaned in and kissed, I momentarily let go of my worries.


    But I knew, with all the warmth surrounding us... Darkness still watched from outside.

 Chapter 295: _Regina And Caroline

    <h4>Chapter 295: _Regina And Caroline</h4>


    Caroline¡¯s POV


    *****


    It¡¯s been four months...


    Four freaking months and Regina, that she devil, still managed to linger around her like a shadow. Haunting and taunting, trying so hard to probe her and get her to reveal what she truly was.


    Each visit from the agent of Lord Ryker felt like torture... But it soon started bing something she would look forward to every day.


    No, not because of any weird reasons. She couldn¡¯t possibly fall for a lunatic like her.


    Nah, it was because she was cautious of Regina, watching her in case she had any ns for Odessa or to cause chaos of any sort.


    ¡¯That¡¯s a big ass lie and it¡¯s not even a good one.¡¯ Vilda suddenly spoke up in her mental space when she was reminiscing about everything from thefort of her balcony.


    Today was quite... Eventful.


    From Alpha King Kaelos proposing to Odessa and then thetter fainting out of the blue after her magic went wild.


    Something dark was brewing. She could feel it and she was sure Odessa and the others could too.


    That was the main reason for her awkwardness around Odessa earlier today. Because of the deep-seated dread of what¡¯s toe.


    "Oh, hush, Vilda. You know I wouldn¡¯t do something as stupid as falling for that sapphic devil." Caroline rolled her eyes in response to thest thing Vilda said to her, wrapping her hands on the railing of the balcony. "She¡¯s... Not relevant. The only thing that matters is Odessa¡¯s safety."


    "Well, ouch." A silvery voice spoke behind her from within the room just then, causing a shiver to run down her spine.


    Shit...


    Caroline closed her eyes briefly before she opened them again and slowly turned around. However, her heart nearly jumped out of her body when she did that.


    Standing only a few inches in front of her was Regina who had a pouty expression on her face, blinking at her with those enchanting ck eyes of hers.


    "Do you really think I¡¯m not relevant, Caroline?" Regina asked with a puppy voice, sulking. "Oh, that breaks my ck heart."


    Caroline¡¯s eyes twitched before she ced her right hand on her shoulder, trying to shove her away.


    But the second her hand touched Regina, thetter grabbed her wrist, pulling her into the room in one fluid motion.


    "What the¡ª" Caroline was about to curse out loud but Regina already had her against the wall, breathing down her neck and leaning closer, scanning her seductively.


    Caroline swallowed hard, trying to regainposure and prevent her head from spinning. "What do you want, Regina? Seriously, this is getting old."


    Regina sniggered, nodding slowly. "Right. We should just skip to the part where we..."


    She trailed off, pressing her body against hers until they were eyeball to eyeball. Regina was a few inches taller, her right hand ced on her waist while her left pinned Caroline.


    Thetter blinked, going through so many emotions at once.


    What the fuck is happening right now?!


    "You¡¯re a freak!" Caroline yelled, managing to push Regina aside. She red at her for a few seconds before shaking her head and walking away. "I seriously don¡¯t have time for this. I¡ª"


    "I get it." Regina interrupted yet again, but this time, her voice was less flirtatious and more understanding. "You have your mysterious duty to protect Odessa or whatever. And I have mine... Aplete opposite of your function."


    Caroline froze, looking over her shoulder back at the artificial hybrid who now leaned against the wall where for a fleeting second, it felt like their lips almost touched.


    Regina looked... Nervous.


    Wait, that¡¯s not right. She hasn¡¯t known this walking embodiment of chaos for long but she knew very well that an emotion like being nervous... It was foreign to her.


    "What¡¯s... What¡¯s up with you?" Caroline found herself asking, ignoring the protests from her inner wolf, Vilda.


    ¡¯This is the part where you call in the pack soldiers. For the moon¡¯s sake!¡¯ Vilda snarled.


    Meanwhile, Regina folded her arms in front of her chest, her expression bing stoic. No confident smile or seductive glint in her eyes.


    It was as if a mask fell off.


    "I didn¡¯t..." Regina paused, biting her bottom lip as if she were trying to hold herself back from saying too much.


    Caroline stared at her for a bit before getting frustrated quickly.


    "Fuck..." She shook her head, about to turn around again when Regina chimed.


    <fnf447> Readplete version only at FindN()vel</fnf447>


    "We¡¯re more simr than you think. You and I."


    That was enough to make Caroline do a 360, tilting her head at the artificial hybrid who adjusted her ck dress casually.


    The nerves!


    "We are anything but simr, Regina." Caroline sneered, eyeing her. "For starters, I¡¯m not a cold-blooded killer or maniptor with clear sociopathic tendencies."


    Regina¡¯s stoic expression slowly turned into a broad grin, genuinely freaking me out.


    "Yes, true. But at the same time, have you told anyone that an agent of the true lord of the North has been visiting you for four months?" Regina asked with a sharp voice, causing Caroline¡¯s jaw to clench.


    But she wasn¡¯t done.


    "Like me, you¡¯ve sealed your heart to focus on your mission, whoever sent you in it, and yet you still managed to get vulnerable enough to fall for someone not once... But twice."


    When Regina said that, Caroline frowned.


    Twice?


    "What do you mean ¡¯twice¡¯?" She asked with a shaky tone but Regina merely smirked.


    Suddenly, she disappeared and reappeared right in front of her again, her lips lingering close to her face. Daring. Tempting.


    Caroline¡¯s pulse quickened as she struggled not to move an inch.


    "At the end of this all... I don¡¯t even know what my fate will be." Regina whispered, her voice bing a little sad now. "But... I know I¡¯ve had quite a lot of fun messing with you."


    And with that, she disappeared into a cloud of ck smoke, leaving Caroline standing there with her eyebrows furrowing with confusion.


    There was a gut punch to her stomach, as if a hole had been punctured through her... Heart?


    "It can¡¯t be..." She muttered, refusing to believe it.


    Her gaze subconsciously went to her right arm just in time to see the ck sh mark that had haunted her for months, fading like starlight.


    She blinked, confused when itpletely disappeared. Regina had left that cursed mark on her arm, using it to monitor her somehow.


    And now it was just... Gone?


    Caroline¡¯s eyes went out to the balcony where the wind picked up slowly, a sparrow on the railing.


    It seemed that just like her... There was more to Regina than she knew about.


    "Goddess, what did she do to me?"

 Chapter 296: _The Calm Before Janelle

    <h4>Chapter 296: _The Calm Before Janelle</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    Three days passed like a dream, and now, the Blood Moon Festival was here. Time moves fast when your mind doesn¡¯t have things to worry about.


    And how do you prevent yourself from having too many things to worry about? Well, by drinking my aunt Althea¡¯s special tea every morning and evening.


    Since that eerie encounter with Lord Ryker, Althea had insisted on sending her special tea through Caroline or sometimes through Kaelos who¡¯d serve it to me in bed.


    And it worked wonders!


    I could sleep without having any nightmares and my mind no longer reeled with thousands of bothersome thoughts.


    I stood on my balcony, taking a sip from the tea in question while staring down at the pack. Pack members in the elite district were scampering around, either going to their tailorste to get their outfits ready for tonight or discussing it openly.


    Decorations were being ced all around the pack to wee the appearance of a moon phase that was seen as a symbol of change. Goldennterns shimmered as they were strung across rooftops, catching the first rays of morning light.


    The pack was filled with joy, and beyond the elite district, shops were opening, and children ran about,ughing and ying.


    "Someone woke up early this morning." Kaelos¡¯ voice echoed behind me just then, causing my heart to swell.


    I didn¡¯t need to turn around as he slowly wrapped his arms around my waist, nting a kiss on my neck. His cologne wafted into my nose, causing me to lean closer to him while I caressed his hands on my waist.


    "Had to be up in preparation for tonight," I muttered, finally ncing back to meet his piercing silver gaze.


    He wore a ck long coat and had his hair tied into a small bun. Surprisingly, he¡¯d shaved the side burns on his jaw, emphasising his exquisite jaw line and making him look... softer.


    "We¡¯ll be expecting the Alphas from across the continent by three in the afternoon. The Alpha Kings will be here by six, give or take, then the festivities go into full swing by seven." Kaelos exined even though I didn¡¯t need it.


    Right now, it doesn¡¯t matter when what happened. I just wanted this tranquillity, this soothing warmth, tost as long as possible.


    I took another sip from the tea, smacking my lips and savouring its subtle caramel taste before slowly walking out of Kaelos¡¯ grip.


    I leaned against the handrail, smirking as my eyes trailed from his legs to his face, which had a curious smile.


    "Why don¡¯t we hit one for the road before officially starting our day?" I queried teasingly, leaning closer so my lips were only inches away from his face. "If you know what I mean..."


    His eyes widened slightly.


    Even during pregnancy, Kaelos and I were... Sexually active. Of course, he had to be a little more careful, but he found it easy to control his strength when it came to me.


    It was I who was the wild card in moments like that.


    Now that I know how to summon my werewolf fangs and ws, I¡¯ve identally scratched and bitten him on multiple asions.


    "Oh, you¡¯re sure you want to go there?" He asked, but he was already stepping closer, cing his right hand on the handrail beside me and then lowering his head.


    I nodded slowly, finishing the rest of the tea in one gulp before I dropped it on a small round table on the balcony.


    Our lips locked in a fiery kiss, my arms wrapping around his neck. He gripped my waist with both hands, kissing me with need.


    He kissed me like I was his source of life. Like I was air... Which was ironic because I was losing my breath kissing him.


    I moaned softly into his mouth, getting so carried away that I forgot we were outside and people could probably see us down there.


    ¡¯You¡¯re a walking scandal waiting to happen.¡¯ Sirena sniggered in my mind at the same moment that a teasing whistle sounded from downstairs.


    <fn12af> Read full story at </fn12af>


    My eyes opened as Kaelos pulled away briefly, stretching his neck to see who it was. I did the same, ncing back and almost rolling my eyes.


    "Marcellus..." Kaelos clicked his tongue at the Beta who grinned, bowing slightly from where he stood twenty meters or more below.


    "I see you two are having a good morning." He blurted. My face heated up with a blush as I stepped away from the balcony¡¯s edge while Kaelos growled.


    "What do you want, Marcellus?" He scowled, rubbing his forehead.


    Marcellus raised his hands. "Hey, trust me... I¡¯m not a cock blocker. I¡¯m just here to inform you two that the event hall is finally ready and it¡¯ll be nice if youe take a look."


    I clicked my tongue, turning around so I could see his face more clearly from up here. "Really, Marcellus? This could¡¯ve been an email."


    He smiled sarcastically, shrugging. "Sorry. I guess I¡¯ll just have to send an email to Luna Queen Janelle to wait."


    My eyebrows snapped into a frown while Kaelos ced his hands on the railing, staring down with full alertness. "Luna Queen Janelle is here?"


    Marcellus, who was about to walk away, grinned, shaking his head. "No. But she sent a message to La. Said she¡¯ll being sooner than the other Alpha Kings. Actually, she used the word ¡¯they¡¯ so I¡¯m guessing her husband ising along with her after all."


    Crap...


    I nced at Kaelos and as expected, he seemed like he was about to flip.


    "Alpha King Thorian as well?" He blurted with a mix of excitement and frustration, rubbing his hand down his face. "Why didn¡¯t La give me this report earlier?"


    Marcellus responded quickly. "Oh, she¡¯s busy with the preparations."


    Kaelos grabbed my face gently just then, forcing me to turn my gaze to him. He had a wry smile, pressing a kiss on my forehead.


    "Alone time will have to wait, mi amor."


    I smiled in return, watching as he finally stepped back before grabbing my hand. With that, we walked out of the balcony and then my room, heading downstairs to prepare to meet two of the most influential wolves alive.


    In person.

 Chapter 297: _Together As Always

    <h4>Chapter 297: _Together As Always</h4>


    When Kaelos and I got to the event hall, my mouth fell open with awe.


    It was... massive as thest time. No¡ªcolossal. It looked like it had been carved into existence by gods with a taste for opulence and a ir for intimidation.


    Vaulted ceilings stretched so high I swore they scraped the heavens, supported by ck marble pirs veined with silver, like lightning frozen in stone. The walls shimmered faintly with enchantments¡ªprotection wardsyered one over the other, courtesy of Althea herself.


    I could feel them. Not just see them, but feel them... like invisible threads humming beneath my skin. The air was thick with the magic of the wards.


    Giant chandeliers hung from the ceilings, casting lights of multiple colours that refracted through protective runes etched into every surface. Even the floor wasn¡¯t basic... It was smooth obsidian and cream, polished to mirror-like perfection.


    Each step echoed with a subtle whisper, as though the hall itself was listening.


    Banners from different packs across the continent and the world were suspended in the upper arches, waving gently despite the still air. From the Arctic Fangs in Canada to the Crimson sigil of the Appchian region, they were all here.


    But what truly sent a chill down my spine?


    The moment I stepped into the hall, Althea¡¯s magic kissed my cheek like a mother checking for fever.


    "Did you feel that?" I whispered, leaning toward Kaelos.


    He nodded, his jaw tense. "The wards scanned your aura. Althea embedded a sentience in them. Anyone walking in with hostile intent? They¡¯ll feel it like fire in their bones."


    I smiled slightly, impressed by his knowledge of magic like this.


    La walked toward us from the extreme end of the hall, her heels echoing on the marble floor. She had a smile on her face when she finally got in front of us, bowing.


    "Good morning, Alpha King and Luna Queen. I¡¯m sure Beta Marcellus informed you about the early arrival of Alpha King Thorian and Luna Queen Janelle."


    Kaelos and I exchanged a brief nce before nodding. My right hand rested on my stomach while Kaelos cleared his throat.


    "How long do we have before they get here?" He queried, folding his arms in front of his chest.


    Suddenly, I felt a presence that caused my eyebrows to furrow. A chill crawled up my spine and then...


    "We¡¯re here. And I must say... This event hall looks marvellous." A familiar female voice spoke from behind us, causing me to stiffen.


    Kaelos and I turned around while La blinked awkwardly.


    When we turned, the faces we saw were none other than the Alpha King and Luna Queen of Europe themselves.


    Janelle was even more beautiful in person, her lush silver hair made into gorgeous tresses. She stood tall, wearing a handless white gown with glittering silverce sewn into it, making intricate designs.


    Her hands were sped in front of her body and on her index finger, her purple ring sat pretty.


    Beside her was her husband, Alpha King Thorian. Unlike Janelle, it seemed time had done a number on him. He seemed to be in histe fifties but he still stood tall and sturdy, like a hulking mountain of muscles even bigger than Kaelos.


    His sharp blue eyes scanned the event hall as he adjusted the cufflinks of his royal blue suit while his wife stepped forward with wide open arms.


    "Oh, don¡¯t seem too surprised." She echoed, her smile never disappearing. "We used a portal... Courtesy of a witch we have under our control."


    Thorian suddenly stepped forward as well, looming menacingly behind his wife. He spoke with a voice that boomed like thunder around the walls of therge hall.


    "They don¡¯t need to know all that, dear."


    I nced at Janelle, noticing how she rolled her eyes discreetly but still managed to keep her smile as she remarked. "I sure hope the event doesn¡¯t disappoint, Alpha King Kaelos. And I¡ª"


    "Wait..." Thorian suddenly interrupted with his thick British ent yet again and I could feel Janelle¡¯sden frustration.


    ¡¯Is he bothering you, Queen?¡¯ Sirena muttered in my head, but I ignored her, tensing up as Thorian began sniffing around the event hall like a bloodhound.


    His lips parted slightly as a scowl appeared on his face. His eyes locked on me with suspicion and disdain burning within.


    "Magic. Why are there wards in this building meant to hold a festival for wolves?" He asked, tilting his head.


    My throat clenched.


    I had words to say, but each of them felt like they might be the wrong thing, and thest thing I wanted was to say something that would anger our... Guest.


    However, just when I thought I would melt under the pressure of the Alpha King¡¯s gaze... MY Alpha King ced his right hand behind my back as subtly and gently as possible, grounding me instantly.


    ¡¯Rx... I¡¯m here. Let me do the talking,¡¯ he spoke calmly through the mind link, and all I could do was nod physically, causing Thorian to blink at me like I¡¯d grown two heads.


    "The wards were ced by a witch we trust. High priestess Althea of the Luminari coven." Kaelos said with a reassuring tone. "I took the extra precaution due to the nature of this event. It¡¯s the first time wolves from around the world will be gathering since the war started."


    Thorian dimmed his eyes but he didn¡¯t say anything.


    Suddenly, I spotted troops of about twenty wolf soldiers walking into the hall from the entrance, marching in an orderly formation.


    <fn3c95> Checktest chapters at FindN()vel</fn3c95>


    They all wore royal blue uniforms and had stern expressions on their faces as they lined the walls of the event hall, each of them standing close to a pir.


    "I¡¯m sure each pack is bringing some form of security." Thorian blurted, finally bringing his gaze to Kaelos. "There¡¯s a cease-fire between the witches and wolves of other continents. This Blood Moon is a significant event to witches as well. Protection wards might be overkill... Don¡¯t you think?"


    I had an instant bad feeling about where this was going and couldn¡¯t help but nce at Kaelos.


    ¡¯Why can¡¯t we tell him about Lord Ryker?¡¯ I queried mentally.


    Kaelos responded hastily. ¡¯Because the Alpha Kings are using this event to monitor my rule. If I can¡¯t deal with a threat within my continent which is the only one at peace... What does that say about me?¡¯


    I clenched my jaw.


    I hated how right that sounded.


    "I assure you, Alpha King Thorian." Kaelos took a single step forward, stering a practiced smile on his face. "The wards aren¡¯t overkill and you have nothing to worry about."


    I nced at Janelle who was busy staring at her purple ring. It glinted with a faint light just then, causing her eyes to widen slightly.


    Then, she slipped her hand around her husband¡¯s arm and whispered. "Dear, I trust his evaluation."


    That¡¯s... Interesting.


    I gazed at the ring curiously at the same moment that Thorian finally let out a sigh.


    "Very well."


    Janelle pped her hands once, nodding with a bright smile as she stretched her hand forward, gesturing that I take it. I blinked at first before I shook her hand.


    "Let¡¯s make this Blood moon festival a memorable one." She muttered, her emerald eyes locking on me briefly before she withdrew her soft hand and shook Kaelos as well.


    Meanwhile, I reached out to Kaelos. ¡¯Whatever Ryker has nned, we¡¯ll burn it to the ground.¡¯


    He responded firmly. ¡¯Together as always...¡¯

 Chapter 298: _The Festival Begins...

    <h4>Chapter 298: _The Festival Begins...</h4>


    "Oh, you look good enough to eat," Caroline said with a light chuckle when I twirled in front of my mirrorter that day.


    The time was 6:35... Twenty-five minutes more before the Blood moon festival officially kicks off.


    The Blood moon itself was already out, painting the sky and clouds in a faint red hue. But from what I know, the moon was only expected to turn a redder colour.


    "Car, stop." I giggled at herst statement, turning around to face her in the dimly lit room.


    The gown I wore was made of the deepest shade of crimson, almost as if it had been dyed in blood and starlight. It shimmered subtly whenever I moved, thanks to the delicate enchantments woven into the fabric by Althea herself.


    The bodice hugged my curves with structured elegance,ced in the back with threads of silver that glowed faintly in the dark like a heartbeat pulsing with ancient magic.


    The neckline dipped just enough to tease, but it was the off-shoulder sleeves¡ªmade of sheer crimson tulle and embroidered with metallic thorns¡ªthat gave the gown its edge. Around my corbone, intricate patterns shimmered like a spell being cast, catching the red light of the moon.


    From the waist down, the gown flowed intoyers uponyers of gossamer fabric that danced like mist with every step I took. Tiny bloodstone crystals were stitched into the hem, each one charmed to flicker softly under the moon¡¯s gaze, as if they were alive.


    <fn8a88> This content belongs to Find?Novel</fn8a88>


    A slit parted high up one thigh, daring yet graceful, lined with embroidery that looked like vines climbing my skin.


    "What? It¡¯s true." Caroline said in response to thest thing I said, a teasing smirk on her face.


    She reached out and adjusted one of the sleeves delicately, then took a step back, eyes gleaming. "You¡¯re like the embodiment of the moon goddess¡¯s wrath and desire. If Kaelos doesn¡¯t lose his mind tonight, I swear I¡¯ll learn magic and hex him myself."


    Iughed again, the sound a little breathless. I wasn¡¯t used to looking or feeling like... this.


    "I don¡¯t know," I murmured, ncing at my reflection once more. "It just feels... big."


    Caroline¡¯s smirk softened into something gentler. "Because it is. This is your first Blood Moon Festival in your life and as Kaelos¡¯ Queen. Your first as a hybrid finally owning her power. Of course it¡¯s big."


    I met her eyes in the mirror. "Do you think they¡¯ll ept me?"


    She stepped forward, cing a hand on my shoulder. "They won¡¯t have a choice. Not after they see you like this."


    Just then, a faint knock echoed at the door.


    "Your Majesty," came a voice from outside. "The Alpha King is waiting."


    Caroline wiggled her brows at me, then mouthed with a wry smile: "Go get your man."


    I took onest nce at the mirror, straightened my spine, and walked toward the door, my gown trailing back with every step and the Blood Moon rising redder by the second.


    .


    .


    When Caroline and I walked to the event building apanied by two guards, I eventually saw HIM at the bottom of the stairs.


    Kaelos.


    He stood at the base of the stairs in a tailored ck suit with crimson and silver ents, a bloodstone brooch fastened to his chest in the shape of a wolf¡¯s head.


    His piercing silver eyesnded on me instantly.


    He didn¡¯t say anything. He didn¡¯t have to. The slight parting of his lips, the tightening of his jaw, the way his gaze swept over me like he was starving... That said it all.


    "You clean up nice," I teased softly once I reached him.


    He leaned close, his voice low with a growl. "If I had my way, we wouldn¡¯t be going anywhere tonight."


    Iughed quietly as his hand found mine, warm and grounding.


    Together, we entered the event hall once more but this time, not as spectators.


    As rulers.


    Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd like waves parting around a ship.


    Werewolves from every region in the continent stood along the velvet-lined sides of the massive hall, all dressed in ceremonial wear of their own, but none came close to the regal weight Kaelos carried at my side... or the burning crimson shadow I cast beside him.


    At the far end of the hall, a raised dais stood waiting beneath an arch of bone-white branches woven with moonflowers and enchanted lights. On it were twelve ornate, high-backed chairs, the ones reserved for the reigning Alpha Kings and Luna Queens.


    Janelle and Thorian were already seated, a noticeable space between their thrones as if they couldn¡¯t even agree on proximity. Thorian sat stiffly, radiating stoic arrogance, while Janelle remained poised, her gaze fixed on the crowd but asionally flicking to the purple ring on her finger.


    As Kaelos and I approached, an attendant in ck and crimson stepped forward to announce us formally.


    "All rise for Alpha King Kaelos of the North American packs... and Luna Queen Odessa."


    The entire hall rose.


    Every single being¡ªAlpha, beta, warrior, envoy¡ªstood in eerie synchronisation as Kaelos guided me to our seats, his fingers brushing lightly against the small of my back.


    I sat down beside him with grace I hoped masked my nerves.


    The Blood Moon had reached its zenith now, casting a vivid crimson glow through the enchanted skylight above the dais. The moment it happened, drums began to beat, a slow, reverent rhythm.


    A female Elder, Elder Yune, who filled the spot ofte Elder Davina, stepped forward from the shadows, draped in flowing white and red robes, her face painted with silver markings. She carried a bowl of burning herbs and a staff topped with a crescent.


    "The Blood Moon shines brightest when the veil is thinnest," she spoke, her voice echoing across the hall. "Before we celebrate the power of life... We remember those lost to war, to betrayal, to sacrifice."


    A hush fell.


    All theughter, the tension, the whispers¡ªthey vanished.


    Around the hall, thin, flickering lights began to appear. Candles... Floating above heads. One for every name. One for every soul who never made it to this festival.


    Kaelos took my hand in his again just then.


    I turned slightly and saw his jaw clenched, his gaze distant. I knew he was thinking of his parents. Of the warriors lost defending the continent. Of friends who¡¯d bled for peace.


    ... Of Elder Davina.


    At that moment... I thought of myself.


    The girl I used to be. Powerless, rejected by her coven, hunted...


    And the parents who died to let me live...


    Elder Yune raised her staff. "We speak their names in silence now. Speak them in your hearts. Let the moon carry them."


    A minute passed, then the drums stopped.


    And the moon burned brighter.


    The festival had officially begun...

 Chapter 299: _Blood Oaths

    <h4>Chapter 299: _Blood Oaths</h4>


    "Thanks, Car," I whispered to Caroline when she handed me a cup of Aunt Althea¡¯s tea while the festival began.


    She stood behind my throne patiently and even though I couldn¡¯t see her, I knew she had her eyes around.


    "How does it feel sitting side by side with the most powerful members of werewolf society?" She finally asked with a whisper.


    I nced to my left where Kaelos¡¯ throne was ced. He was silent, not bothering himself with interacting with the other Alpha Kings and Luna Queens.


    Janelle sat to my right, her right hand supporting her jaw as she watched the opening event: Dancing under the blood moon.


    I could hear her husband speaking to the others beside him.


    "Honestly..." I nced back at Caroline, shrugging before I whispered. "It¡¯s not all that."


    <fn380f> Checktest chapters at f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn380f>


    I noticed Janelle nce at me with a small smile, causing my cheeks to heat up with an embarrassed blush.


    Crap, she heard me.


    ¡¯She¡¯s literally less than two meters beside you, what did you expect?¡¯ Sirena asked.


    I let out a small breath, pretending to focus on the dance happening on the dancefloor. I took a sip from the tea before drinking all of it in one gulp, handing it over to Caroline.


    "Hey..." Kaelos suddenly grabbed my hand, causing me to blink before turning my head to him.


    At that moment, Caroline cleared her throat and I felt her step back, probably pretending like she couldn¡¯t hear anything.


    The drum beats hit a melodic crescendo as thedies twirled their luxurious gowns,ughing and smiling broadly while others pped in sync with the beats of the drum.


    "Hey," I responded softly to Kaelos, leaning close. "I low-key already feel like sneaking out for some alone time."


    He chuckled and I did the same, smiling warmly.


    "Would that alone time involve me by chance? Because I¡¯ll be all up for it." He asked with a suggestive wink.


    My mouth fell as if I hadn¡¯t instigated it in the first ce. "You have to be present for the festival, dear Alpha King."


    He tilted his head. "And so do you, Luna Queen. If I have to be here, you do too."


    I pouted my lips, cing my right hand on my stomach. "But I¡¯m with child. Surely, the festival must have rules in ce to favour helpless pregnant women like my..."


    I paused the banter when a sudden pain hit my head. It was brief, like a sh that made my eyes spin, but then disappeared as quickly as it had shown up.


    My nostrils red as I tried to recover myself.


    Even though itsted a couple of seconds, Kaelos noticed my pause and tightened his grip on my hand, calling my attention.


    "Is something wrong?"


    I shook my head, smiling reassuringly. "Just a light headache. I¡¯m probably just... Anxious. Exhausted."


    Thest part wouldn¡¯t make sense because my aunt¡¯s tea was supposed to make my head clear of stress.


    ¡¯Maybe pregnancy symptoms?¡¯ Sirena pointed out.


    Suddenly, the drums stopped beating yet again and the music ceased. The couples on therge dance floor stood in front of each other and bowed while everyone cheered.


    I withdrew my hand from Kaelos¡¯ grip and pped as well, forcing a smile on my face.


    Something felt wrong and I didn¡¯t know what...


    "Alright, we¡¯ll be moving on to the next segment of our glorious blood moon festival!" La was the one who stepped forward and spoke with a loud voice this time.


    She stood just below the steps leading to the tform where our thrones were. I stretched my neck, ncing at the lines of Alpha Kings and Luna Queens seated.


    All of them slowly rose to their feet as La continued.


    "The Alpha kings shall now step forward and begin the Blood Oath ceremony."


    Blood oath?


    I nced at Kaelos, watching as he stood and stepped forward. I stood as well when I realised I was the only one sitting, drawing in a deep breath.


    The other Alpha kings left their wives, walking to the edge of the other end of the tform. There, a rock altar slowly emerged from the tform, glowing with faint blood-red carvings.


    My eyes widened when I saw it.


    "That... Wasn¡¯t magic." I muttered, ncing at my fellow Luna Queens who stood silently as our husbands stood around the rectangr altar.


    Elder Yune climbed up the steps of the dais just then, holding a dagger in her hands. I squinted my eyes as she handed the dagger over to Alpha King Thorian who had his back facing me and the Luna Queens.


    He raised the dagger, showing it to the audience who were eerily silent.


    You could hear a pin drop, and it was as if the hall itself had held its breath.


    "I¡¯m guessing you haven¡¯t been properly introduced to the rituals involved in the Blood Moon festival." Luna Queen Janelle whispered beside me just then.


    I swerved my head to her, watching the scrutinising glint in her eyes.


    I nodded slowly in response, bringing my gaze back to the Alpha Kings just in time to witness Thorian slitting his palm with the dagger before pouring his blood on the altar.


    The dagger was passed to Kaelos next and I flinched slightly when he did the same.


    "The Bloodlines of the Alpha Kings have the strongest connection to the moon goddess," Janelle exined calmly. "The blood oath ceremony during each Blood moon festival is said to... strengthen that connection. And if she deems their hearts true... she not only strengthens the bond but also offers her favor."


    Oh wow...


    I nodded as thest Alpha King, Soren, slit his palm.


    "May the blood of the Alpha Kings past speak for us tonight." Elder Yune¡¯s voice echoed a few meters away from the altar, her tone solemn. "And may you all and your generations continue to rule our race with grace and levity."


    My right hand caressed my stomach at the word "generations".


    My baby... Apollo.


    He¡¯s going to be a ruler someday as well, sitting on the same throne and with the same responsibilities as his father has now.


    "I promise to guide you..." I muttered as the people pped when the Alpha Kings finished the blood oath.


    A blood-red mist rose from the altar, rising into the air and getting illuminated by the red moonlight shining through the ss dome at the centre of the event hall.


    As the Alpha Kings walked back to their seats, I smiled at Kaelos who gave me a smug smirk in return.


    But then I felt a shift that caused my eyebrows to furrow. My gaze instinctively travelled past the sea of people, past the meticulously decorated tables and past the banners hanging on the walls.


    When my gaze finallynded on the entrance of the event hall... My fists curled when I saw who had walked in.

 Chapter 300: _Like A Pack Of Ancient Gods

    <h4>Chapter 300: _Like A Pack Of Ancient Gods</h4>


    "Lucinda?" I furrowed my eyebrows, whispering to myself when I saw her. "What¡¯s she doing here?"


    The rising star of the Luminari coven who was also a delegate of the coven... Until she attacked me during the Charity Ball.


    She wore a white robe, her hair arranged into a stylish chignon. But then two more people walked through the entrance and stood beside her, seeming more menacing.


    One was a male witch and the other a female, both looking like they were over their fifties.


    I knew them.


    They were the coven¡¯s disciplinary council, enacting judgment on behalf of the coven elders.


    Suddenly, like a wave, it seemed as if every single wolf in the event hall caught a whiff of the witches stepping into the event hall. All heads swerved to the entrance of the hall, whispers and murmuring rippling as well as confusion.


    "What are those witches doing here?" Thorian¡¯s voice was clear and firm as he turned his gaze all the way to Kaelos and me, his eyes filled with suspicion.


    Kaelos responded calmly. "They¡¯re dropping in from the Luminari coven. High priestess Althea and I thought it would be smart to introduce witches in the ceremony. To get them... Integrated with our customs."


    Alpha King Maddox of Australia scoffed from the extreme right just then. "You thought? Inviting witches to a global gathering of wolves is nothing but pure¡ª"


    "Brilliant." Janelle chimed in all of a sudden, and even though I didn¡¯t bother stretching my neck to see his face, I could tell Maddox was livid as she continued. "It¡¯s a good idea and a brilliant step. After all, the witches and wolves of North America are already at some level of peace."


    She turned her gaze to her husband while I nced at Kaelos. We both had the same look in our eyes, and I instantly knew it was time to speak through the mind link.


    ¡¯What did Althea tell you about this?¡¯ I asked. ¡¯She told me there¡¯s a possibility of emissaries visiting from the coven. But Lucinda?¡¯


    <fn4ff4> Checktest chapters at f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn4ff4>


    Kaelos responded swiftly. ¡¯Perhaps she got her magic temporarily unsealed by the elders for the event.¡¯


    I dimmed my eyes, bringing my gaze back to the entrance of the hall as La cleared her throat, holding a mic this time.


    "I¡¯d like to acknowledge the presence of emissaries from the Luminari Coven. Birthce of the North American Luna Queen."


    As her words settled, people hesitated at first but slowly pped, one by one.


    Lucinda and I managed to exchange a look even from this distance as the pping continued.


    For once, I didn¡¯t see judgment or disdain in her eyes. Just a silent acknowledgement.


    Like an "I see you" spoken without words.


    "Now that¡¯s how you introduce witches into a werewolf gathering," Janelle muttered, joining the crowd to p even though the other Alpha Kings and Luna Queens didn¡¯t.


    Her husband scowled beside her. "People in this gathering are from regions where witches still massacre our people in abundance."


    "And we massacre theirs as well, husband," Janelle said with a shrug, parting aside strands of her lush silver hair as her purple ring glinted. "Let none of us pretend here. Yes, the attack by that male witch in Paris was... Unfortunate. But small moments like these could be our chance at walking toward peace."


    Peace...


    Actual world peace. An actual end to this century-old war between races.


    At this point, with esctions from the Lord of the North and his propaganda, could that even be achieved?


    "I sure hope Alpha King Kaelos knows what he¡¯s doing." Alpha King Soren¡¯s voice echoed just then. "A night like this isn¡¯t the time to make bold steps."


    Janelle¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver as she replied. "The Blood Moon is exactly the time to make bold steps. It¡¯s when history listens."


    There was a pause, probably ufortable for some and electrifying for others. The murmurs faded, but the atmosphere remained taut like a drawn bowstring.


    Lucinda and the emissaries found seats near the edge of the hall, their movements poised but cautious, like they knew the stares wouldn¡¯t stop anytime soon. I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off her.


    Thest time we stood in the same room, she tried to tear my heart out. Now she sat down like a guest of honour.


    What the hell is going on?


    Kaelos gave my hand a small squeeze again, as if grounding me back to the moment.


    La, ever the master of event flow, took the mic once more. "Now that our honoured guests have been weed..." Her voice rang clear. "Let us continue our celebration beneath the sacred moon."


    The drums began again, softer this time, like a heartbeat rising from the ground. A new rhythm, elegant and slower than the first performance. It wasn¡¯t for the masses... it was for the royals.


    La turned toward us, smiling. "Your Majesties... If you would please join the dance floor."


    Cue the soft clinking of over the top jewelleries, creaking of thrones, and the hush that followed as the Alpha Kings and Luna Queens stood in unison. Regal andposed, like a pack of ancient gods returning to the earth to show the mortals how it¡¯s done.


    Kaelos offered me his hand, and I took it without hesitation.


    "You still feel like sneaking away?" he whispered, lips brushing my ear as we descended the steps of the dais.


    "Maybe after one dance," I whispered back, adjusting my gown. "We¡¯ll give them a show first."


    Janelle and her husband led the way, and the rest of us followed¡ªwolf royalty stepping down from their thrones to dance under the eye of the blood moon. The ss dome above bathed us in a soft, ruby-tinted glow as if the moon was watching... And judging.


    We arrived at the centre of the floor just as the music shifted again¡ªlouder, richer, full of magic. The crowd parted to make space. Then, as if on cue, Kaelos ced one hand on my waist, and I lifted my arm to his shoulder.


    He bowed his head to mine.


    And together, we began to dance.

 Chapter 301: _Blood...

    <h4>Chapter 301: _Blood...</h4>


    "Slow and steady, hon," Kaelos whispered with a small smirk as we twirled around the dance floor.


    I ced my hands on his shoulder, letting his hold on my waist ground me as I followed his move, maintaining eye contact.


    It was hard looking away when those silver orbs stared at me with so much warmth, glinting under the lights of the event hall. The music being yed was slow and melodic.


    I was so entranced by Kaelos¡¯ gaze that I didn¡¯t even notice the other Alpha Kings and their wives. It was just me and him.


    No one else and nothing else.


    The whispers and murmurs from people, as well as the silent cheers and asional pping all felt like background noise. All that existed in my mind was this man who had once been full of darkness but yet brightened my world beyond anything I could imagine.


    "You¡¯re... Drifting away." He suddenly muttered, chuckling softly. "Let me guess... It¡¯s the clean shave I have on, right? I caught lots ofdies staring for way too long on my way here."


    I tilted my head when I heard thatst part. I knew he was only teasing me but I brought my lips to his ear until they brushed his ear lobes, whispering.


    "You know I¡¯ll obliterate them before they get a chance."


    Kaelos raised an eyebrow, leaning closer until it felt like our lips were inches away from each other. "Careful there. That sounded... Dark. But yet weirdly seductive."


    I blinked, a single word ringing in my mind.


    Dark.


    Yeah, that did sound kinda darking from me...


    ¡¯Girl, take a deep breath.¡¯ Sirena whispered in my mind just then. ¡¯It was only a joke and I¡¯m sure he thought so too. You¡¯re overthinking it.¡¯


    Overthinking...


    It was at that moment that my gaze trailed off to the crowd watching us. Hundreds of people from all around, wolves who have always looked at my kind with fear.


    They had their eyes on me.


    My gaze locked with the eyes of some of them across the hall, my ears catching the distant whispers and conversations they had.


    "What is North America turning into?" One asked with a sneer, her eyes glinting with disgust as she covered her mouth with a fancy fan.


    "She¡¯s a walking time bomb." Another chimed.


    "Have we forgotten what happened at the charity Ball so soon?"


    "Dangerous."


    "Evil."


    My breathing spiked, my eyes fluttering as I tried pushing those words away.


    I shouldn¡¯t be overthinking. Aunt Althea¡¯s tea should be working.


    What the heck was¡ª


    "Hey." Kaelos¡¯ voice interrupted my panic attack, pulling me back to reality. His silver eyes glinted with both worry and reassurance as he leaned me back, supporting my back gently with his arm.


    ¡¯I¡¯ve got you. Always. Don¡¯t focus on what any of them says...¡¯ he used the mind link, causing my heart to flutter with warmth. Then he added, ¡¯It¡¯s just me and you.¡¯


    I nodded, a smile curling up my lips. "Just me and you..."


    Eventually, the music reached a crescendo and the Alpha Kings and Luna Queens stood in front of each other before bowing.


    Despite the judgmental whispers, the hall still erupted with cheers and thunderous ps. My smile brightened a little as we walked back to our thrones.


    I held Kaelos¡¯ hand tightly, ncing at him while La¡¯s voice echoed through the mic in her hand.


    "Thank you, Your Majesties, for that wonderful disy. I felt like the moon Goddess herself came down to watch." Sheplimented, causing the people tough.


    Just when Kaelos and I got to the steps leading to the thrones, a sharp pain hit my head. This one was more intense than thest one, causing the room to spin around me.


    It was followed by a small paining from my stomach, causing my heart to skip a beat.


    "Odessa?" Kaelos called, staring at me with worry. He brought his other hand to my cheek, ncing around before whispering. "What¡¯s wrong?"


    I shook my head as the pain subsided, smiling at him. "I¡¯m... I¡¯m fine. I just need to sit."


    I didn¡¯t even believe those words.


    Something was horribly wrong. I didn¡¯t know what yet but all the nerves in my body seemed to scream: Danger.


    Kaelos wrapped his right arm around my waist, pulling me closer to his body and ignoring the nces from the other Alpha Kings and Luna Queens.


    As we sat on our thrones, he held my hand tightly, caressing my fingers gently while La continued addressing the people, moving to the next event for the night.


    "Ma¡¯am Odessa?" Caroline spoke from behind me, her hand on my shoulder a reminder that she was standing behind my throne. "You don¡¯t seem good. Should I get you anything?"


    I drew in a sharp breath, my gaze going to the ceiling. I blinked slowly, my eyes locking on the ss dome and the red light from the blood moon shining through it.


    <fn5c3d> Updates are released by F?ndNovel</fn5c3d>


    At that moment it seemed like the brightness of the moon slowly began shifting into a darker red colour. Like actual blood.


    "Don¡¯t worry..." I whispered, managing to nce back at her and meeting her worried gaze. "Just get me more of Aunt Althea¡¯s..."


    I trailed off when yet another sharp pain tore through my stomach. A gasp escaped my throat as I swallowed hard, looking away from Caroline.


    "Odessa?" Kaelos stared at me again, tightening his grip on my hand. "Screw this. I¡¯m taking you back to the mansion."


    I breathed heavily, each breath filled with even more pain.


    "I¡¯m..." I rasped, my gazending on my stomach.


    A sudden wetness began pooling under my legs all of a sudden. It felt like sweat at first... But the wetness began spreading rapidly, feeling like it had soaked my underwear and my crimson gown.


    "No..." My eyes began getting damp, and cold sweat ran down my body as I shook my head. "No, no, no... Please..."


    I brought my left hand to my back, touching the padded seat of the throne. I felt the cold liquid underneath me and shivered with terror.


    Slowly, I drew out my left hand, my mind getting hazy. When I finally brought my hand in front of my face, the air stilled.


    My heart stopped, and the pain in my stomach felt numbpared to the heartache that tore through me like a stab wound.


    Blood. There was blood on my hand.


    "Goddess..." Kaelos¡¯ voice broke beside me, and I felt his grip cken on my hand as he froze with shock.


    That was the final nail in the coffin for me.


    "Luna Queen Odessa, is that blood?" Janelle blurted with concern beside me just then and I could feel the stares from the other Alpha Kings and Luna Queens.


    But none of their lives mattered at this moment. The only life that mattered, the only life that I could think of, was the one that was growing inside me these past five months.


    My baby... He¡¯s... He¡¯s...


    "No," I whispered, getting on my feet as something primal began burning inside me, coiling and rising with the emotions blurring my being.


    I brought my gaze to the ss dome on the ceiling, the tears building up in my eyes streaming down my face like waterfalls.


    And then I screamed, falling to my knees. "NOOOOO!"


    The ss dome shattered in sync with my voice, my pain. My despair.


    People screamed all over the hall as ss fell like snow on them. The Alpha kings and Luna Queens got to their feet as well, backing away from me.


    Thunder began rumbling in the sky, clouds spiralling as the lightsing from the chandeliers flickered. A strong metallic scent filled the air.


    And then, a terrified scream tore through the event hall.


    "Blood. It¡¯s raining blood!"

 Chapter 302: _Remove The Problem

    <h4>Chapter 302: _Remove The Problem</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    Ah, you¡¯ve probably been wondering what he¡¯s been doing these past four months.


    Well... Nothing.


    Literally.


    After drowning with uncertainty concerning the moon stone imprint left behind by that hag, Elder Davina, and after trying and failing to find out how to get rid of it... He decided to lie low.


    Like, actuallyying low and not killing people or constantly manipting them.


    Okay, okay... That¡¯s a joke.


    Him? Not killing people for so long?


    Come on, that would be a miracle.


    Besides, he has an artificial hybrid ritual to feed on life force once in a while. He couldn¡¯t stop killing even if he wanted to... And that was a fat ass "if".


    The only difference now was that he stopped taking lives from the Blood Oak pack, instead keeping his sights on other packs and settlements.


    And even then he had to be sneaky and extra cautious not to get caught. He put effort into making their deaths seem "natural" or "unfortunate".


    Draining their life force and then making it seem like they got infected with a mysterious magical disease of his creation. A freak construction ident. Drowning. Suicide...


    He found new creative means to cover his tracks each time.


    Meanwhile, back in Blood Oak, he wasn¡¯t much of a good Beta either. He had managed to find his way into La¡¯s mind, slowly pulling her into his control.


    After four months, it was safe to say he had herpletely under his control. So much so that if he told her to jump off a five-storey building, she would without a second thought.


    "Look at all these wolves." He muttered with disdain, a small smirk on his face as he watched the people still trooping into the pack for the blood moon festival from thefort of his balcony.


    He was dressed in a sharp ck tuxedo and had a red cloth sticking out of the suit pocket. His eyes glowed with a sickly green light as he reached out mentally to La.


    ¡¯Tell me. Did you manage to spike the Delta¡¯s drink like I said?¡¯ he asked her, drumming his fingers on the handrails.


    He had sneaked out of the event hall when the Alpha Kings and Luna Queens were about to begin dancing.


    No way in hell he¡¯d stay to watch those morons swirling around in their over-the-top gowns and polished suits like it¡¯s some romance novel.


    And he was on a mission... A very important one.


    ¡¯Yes, master. I did.¡¯ La responded telepathically, her voice in his head sounding distant and almost emotionless.


    She was bing a husk of her former self the more he encroached on her mind. But oh well...


    ¡¯Good. Tell me if there are any more updates.¡¯ he said, raising his head and staring at the blood moon, which was currently partially covered by some clouds.


    He drew in a deep breath, smirking coldly before teleporting to the ground floor and then walking to his gate.


    .


    .


    He got to the pack¡¯s main gate via cab, not wanting people to recognise one of his cars.


    The pack looked festive but also kinda empty since most of the pack members were attending the festival. Those who couldn¡¯t reserve a spot watched it happening live from thefort of their homes, unaware of the danger looming.


    Marcellus stepped out of the cab and made his way to the one-storey building beside the pack¡¯s gate where the new Delta resided.


    When he got to the top floor of the manor through the stairs, he knocked once, scanning his gaze around. Pack soldiers from different packs were patrolling the pack, but only a few were at the gate.


    Marcellus pushed the door open when he didn¡¯t get any response, stepping into the dimly lit room.


    At the other end of the room, he spotted the Delta, a young man in his mid-twenties whom he had personally hand-picked from the pack¡¯s military, as well as the Gamma.


    He was vibrant and smarter than the former Delta... Not to mention hotter.


    But right now, he was snoring on the floor, a spilt ss of vodka beside him as saliva pooled underneath his face.


    "Hello there." Marcellus grinned, scoffing as he walked past him and headed toward a shelf etched into the wall. "Don¡¯t mind if I do..."


    He found a keypad interface on the side of the shelf and typed in the password. The shelf suddenly shook before pushing open like a door, leading into a hidden room.


    Within the hidden room... A head-sized moonstone floated above a stone altar, pulsing with a bright red light to mirror the blood moon.


    <fn06b0> Original content can be found at F¦Énd£Îovel</fn06b0>


    Marcellus¡¯ eyes glinted with a cold light as he stepped into the room, instantly feeling the pressuring power of the moon stone.


    What was so special about this particr moonstone, you might be wondering?


    Well... It was the source of the divine energy shielding the pack gates and walls. It acted like a protective ward, capable of creating a forcefield to block destructive attacks from outside the pack.


    And with a boost from high priestess Althea, it could also block teleportation magic or portals, preventing people like Regina from appearing directly into the pack at will.


    Point is... It has to go if lord Ryker¡¯s n for tonight were to proceed.


    Just when he was only a few meters away from the stone and stretched his hands forward, he felt a presence, followed by iing footsteps behind him.


    And then...


    "Beta Marcellus?" A familiar voice spoke behind him with shock. "You... What are you doing here? What happened to the Delta?"


    Marcellus exhaled a slow, bored sigh, turningzily toward him. The military advisor, Jeremiah.


    The man was a wall of muscle in a red suit, his beard as thick as ever ¡ª the picture of a loyal soldier.


    "Ah, Jeremiah..." Marcellus¡¯ grin stretched thin, wolfish. "You really shouldn¡¯t sneak up on people. Gives me the urge to... Remove the problem."


    Before Jeremiah could take a step back, Marcellus blurred forward. His hand mped around the man¡¯s throat like a vice, lifting him off the ground.


    Jeremiah¡¯s boots kicked against the stone floor. Fingers wed at Marcellus¡¯ wrist, but his grip didn¡¯t budge. His face darkened from red to a choking purple.


    Marcellus tilted his head, studying him like a bored cat watching a bird thrash in its ws.


    "Strong," he murmured. "But strength is nothing without power."


    Then came a sharp twist followed by a wet, brittle crack.


    Jeremiah¡¯s head lolled, his body hitting the floor with a hollow thud.


    Marcellus crouched, fingers brushing the still-warm skin as he absorbed the life force spilling away. It was intoxicating, burning like fine liquor down his veins.


    When he rose again, his eyes locked on the moonstone ¡ª blood-bright and pulsing above its altar.


    He stepped close, extending his palms. The stone red in warning, its divine magicshing at his dark energy like snapping teeth.


    Heughed coldly. "You think you can bite me?"


    His power coiled around the moonstone like a serpent. The altar groaned. Light cracked through the stone¡¯s surface like veins.


    And then ¡ª shatter.


    A thousand glittering fragments burst outward in a pulse of blood-red light that mmed into Marcellus¡¯ chest, shoving him back. The air changed. The heavy, invisible imprable shield over Blood Oak... was gone.


    A grin curled his lips. "It¡¯s done."


    He vanished from the hidden room, reappearing outside the building and stopping.


    Shouts ripped through the air just then.


    "Blood!"


    "It¡¯s raining blood!"


    Marcellus frowned, tilting his head up.


    Droplets spattered his cheek, thick and warm. The metallic tang of iron filled his mouth as he licked one from his lip.


    It wasn¡¯t just rain. The sky itself bled, the clouds boiling red, the blood moon ring like an open wound.


    A slow, wicked smirk spread across his face.


    "Oh... Odessa..." he whispered. "What have you done, little hybrid?"

 Chapter 303: _Have Nothing Left To Lose

    <h4>Chapter 303: _Have Nothing Left To Lose</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    I know what you think I would say during all this...


    "It all happened so fast."


    Well, no. It didn¡¯t.


    She was okay. Odessa was fine. My¡ªOur baby was fine.


    For the next three days after she fainted, I watched her. I cared for her. I served her her aunt¡¯s tea in bed. I held her in my arms, cradling her at night.


    And each time, I never and I mean NEVER felt anything wrong with her psyche. She seemed like she was finally getting peace for the first time in months.


    The blood moon festival was supposed to be a lively event. A break from the chaos.


    But s, just like we had feared for months, chaos struck tonight. I noticed Odessa holding her stomach and head asionally like she was in some kind of pain.


    She kept telling me she was fine and I kept watching to make sure, my mind distant from the festivities of the Blood moon.


    Yet... We were here. At this point.


    "It¡¯s raining blood!" Someone¡¯s scream tore through the hall after Odessa fell to her knees and screamed.


    I stood helplessly, watching my mate sob while trying to piece myself together. The blood on her hands was like a "fuck you" from the universe itself.


    Oh, I wanted to watch my family grow into something happy and fulfilling. Fuck me. How could I be so delusional?


    My fingers trembled as the screams of terror from the people in the hall drowned out. My eyes were damp... But that couldn¡¯t be what I thought it was.


    Right?


    I blinked, a tear drop falling down my face andnding on the ground.


    Now wasn¡¯t the time to be weak. Now was when Odessa needed me the most. When I needed to step up and bring calm to the people who seemed like they were about to flee, as the blood rain kept trickling down the empty space at the centre of the event hall.


    I curled my hands into fists at the same moment that Alpha King Thorian barked at me.


    "Alpha King Kaelos, control your wife! The people are afraid."


    I ignored him, stepping forward and crouching to Odessa¡¯s level on the ground. I wrapped my arms around her, stroking my right hand through her lush hair as she sniffled.


    "He¡¯s... He¡¯s dead. I can¡¯t feel his heart beat anymore." Odessa croaked into my arms, sping her hands on me. "Oh, Kaelos. He¡¯s dead. R¨CRyker won."


    My heart shattered when I heard and felt the pain in her voice.


    I shook my head, gritting my teeth. "No. Ryker hasn¡¯t won. Not¡ª"


    Before I could finish that sentence, a loud explosion sounded outside the event hall, rocking the pack and causing the building to shake.


    My eyes widened as the people¡¯s screams got louder, the ceiling shaking and dust and debris falling on us.


    "The pack is under attack!" Alpha King Maddox snarled. "And yet the Alpha King is¡ª"


    "Oh, hush, Maddox!" Luna Queen Janelle snapped, her voice brimming with irritation. "They just lost their child. Let them grieve."


    Alpha King Thorian scoffed. "The safety of the peoplees before sentimentalities. Any Alpha King should know that."


    My jaw tightened the more they spoke like I wasn¡¯t there. But I tried ignoring them, brushing my hands through Odessa¡¯s hair and trying to calm her while scanning my gaze through the event hall.


    And then...


    BOOM!


    Yet another explosion rocked the pack, this time causing the magic protection wards on the ceilings and walls to re up, revealing themselves with bright blue lights.


    "La!" I yelled out, blinking with confusion and anger when I didn¡¯t see her.


    Wasn¡¯t she acting as MC of the event a minute ago?


    "Sir." A female voice spoke up behind me just then, forcing me to swerve my head backwards.


    It was Caroline. She had a saddened expression but her eyes were firm as she ced a reassuring hand on my shoulder.


    "Please, sir. Go. I¡¯ll watch ma¡¯am Odessa." She whispered as the other Alpha Kings finally jumped down from the tform, barking orders at the panicking wolves.


    Then she added, "This has Lord Ryker written all over it. And something tells me he¡¯s trying to get to Odessa."


    My body tensed up.


    I shared her suspicions as well.


    I let out a heavy breath, about to reluctantly let go of Odessa when I noticed something that made my heart skip a beat.


    Her arms... They were glowing with the dark sigils!


    "Gods..." I muttered, forcing Odessa to look me in the eyes. "Odessa? My love, please. Don¡¯t let yourself fall under its control. Under its¡ª"


    "My child is gone... Kaelos." She said weakly, sounding like she had given up all hope in life. The thunder in the clouds crackled with more power and I could tell it wasing from her.


    <fnaea6> ?????? ???? find?novel</fnaea6>


    The downpour of blood rain increased in intensity, and the screams of the people echoed even more.


    A heavy wind blew into the event hall, causing the blood rain to finally reach us. I used my left arm to shield my face, the metallic scent nauseating as Odessa continued speaking.


    "I have nothing left to lose."


    Before I could say anything else, a constricting force held me in ce, causing my muscles to freeze. My eyes widened as Odessa slowly rose to her feet.


    My gazended on her stomach, which was still protruding, and then the blood trickling down her fingers.


    And her eyes... They were ck. Empty. Swirling with a chaotic darkness that threatened to consume everything like a ck hole.


    "Odessa!" I yelled out in a panic, struggling to raise my right hand and reach her. But the invisible pressure was too much, causing me to fall face first to the floor.


    ¡¯I¡¯m sorry, Kaelos.¡¯ Her voice echoed in my mind through the mind link at the same moment that the Luna Queens and Alpha Kings locked their gazes on her.


    ¡¯I can¡¯t afford to lose you, too,¡¯ she added with a finality that filled me with dread.


    "No!" I roared as she turned away from me, levitating into the air.


    "Look at her!" Someone shouted in the audience.


    "She¡¯s behind this! She¡¯ll kill us all like she did those people at the Charity Ball!"


    My jaw clenched with rage, my fingers threatening to turn into ws.


    "Odessa Pierce!" Thorian¡¯s voice boomed just then, carrying an aura that made all the people quiet down instantly. "Imand you to stop whatever this is. Now!"


    Luna Queen Janelle stepped forward just then. "Luna Queen, please! We understand your loss and your pain but you have to take back control. Don¡¯t¡ª"


    "Understand?" Odessa¡¯s voice echoed but this time it wasn¡¯t the sweet, sassy voice I was used to.


    It was filled with something dark. Something evil.


    I raised my head, watching as she turned her head to Janelle who stepped back.


    "None of you could survive a day in my skin." Odessa finally added before disappearing out of sight.


    "No!" I roared, finally gaining back control of my body and mming my fists into the ground.


    Before anyone could say anything, I bolted, navigating through the crowd and heading outside.


    ¡¯This is a trap. Ryker wants her to lose control ande out.¡¯ Damon muttered in my mind and I couldn¡¯t agree more.


    But not if I have anything to do with it...


    ¡¯I¡¯ll rip him to shreds before he gets the chance toy a finger on her!¡¯

 Chapter 304: _The Bond Is Stronger

    <h4>Chapter 304: _The Bond Is Stronger</h4>


    "Lord Ryker!"


    Odessa¡¯s voice ripped across the pds like a god¡¯s verdict.


    Lightning split the sky, rumbling in sync with her fury, and the blood rain poured harder. The air stank of metal and ozone.


    I stormed down the steps of the event hall, ignoring the crimson downpour soaking my tuxedo. My eyes searched desperately for her silhouette while my hand dug into my pocket for my phone.


    "Sir."


    The voice made me whip my head to the left.


    La.


    She stood two meters away, still as a stone. Her dress clung to her from the rain, her eyes empty like a doll¡¯s. My jaw clenched.


    "Where the hell have you been?" I snapped, stalking toward her. My voice was a growl. "What¡¯s the situation? I was about to¡ª"


    "Rogue werewolves have breached the gate." Her tone was cold enough to frost ss. "They¡¯re attacking the pack members who aren¡¯t at the festival."


    My grip on the phone loosened. For a split second, all I could hear was Odessa¡¯s voice still thundering overhead:


    "If you can hear me... here I am. It¡¯s me you want!"


    The words chilled me deeper than the rain.


    Something in my instincts screamed¡ªdanger.


    Suddenly, pain tore into my right shoulder before my brain caught up. My breath caught, my body jerking forward as I looked down to see the hilt of a silver dagger lodged in my flesh.


    My gaze snapped back to La.


    Her expression flickered¡ªfrom empty to wide-eyed, then trembling with fear.


    "La..." My voice was low, dangerous.


    She stumbled back, shaking her head like she was waking from a nightmare. "I¡ªhe¡¯s been in my head for months... pushing me to¡ª"


    ¡¯Kill her,¡¯ Damon¡¯s voice snarled in my mind. "She knew. She let them in. You told her to call the Alphas of North America for extra security¡ª"


    My rage swelled.


    I took a single step forward, my Alpha King aura igniting into silver mes. The ground quaked under us as I wrenched the dagger from my shoulder and flung it aside like garbage.


    Pack soldiers nearby froze, some bowing instinctively.


    <fndfaa> Readplete version only at F?nd-Novel</fndfaa>


    "WHO?!" I boomed.


    Her mouth opened but then blood spilt down her chin instead of words.


    "No!" I lunged, catching her before she copsed fully. Her body convulsed in my arms as rain stered her hair to her face.


    Above us, Odessa hovered hundreds of meters up, ck energy coiling from her like smoke from a fire. The clouds wrapped around her like writhing serpents, lightning shing red instead of blue.


    "La! Stay with me!" Imanded, forcing my aura into my voice, trying topel her to speak.


    Her lips trembled. "He¡¯s... in her head... too¡ª"


    Her body went limp. Her eyes stayed open, but the light was gone.


    My chest tightened. Six years. Six damn years she¡¯d been my right hand and she died on her knees in the rain.


    Iid her down gently, clenching my jaw until it ached. "It¡¯s Ryker. This is all him."


    "Alpha King."


    Althea¡¯s voice cut through the storm. She stood a few feet away, her purple robes whipping violently in the wind, her eyes sharp and unblinking.


    "There¡¯s no saving her," she said evenly. "But there is still hope for your mate."


    Before I could answer, Janelle, Thorian, and Mwansa stepped out from the event hall behind her.


    "The others are calming the people," Janelle called over the wind. "The hall will be the safest ce for them."


    Her gaze briefly locked with Althea¡¯s and I could¡¯ve sworn I saw suspicion and scrutiny in both their eyes.


    But I didn¡¯t care. My eyes were back on Odessa.


    "Go. Reach your mate," Thorian ordered, his tone like steel. "We¡¯ll deal with the rogues."


    Another thunderp shook the ground as he blurred into the distance, ripping into a rogue wolf before he even realised he was there.


    "They¡¯re at the gates the most," Althea added. She raised a hand, murmuring an incantation, and a bright blue portal red into existence beside her.


    "I¡¯ll go," she continued. "It seems someone destroyed the moon stone protecting the pack."


    My heart skipped a beat when I heard that.


    My fists clenched... That moonstone has protected this pack for decades. And now it was gone?


    "I¡¯ll follow her," Janelle said, stepping toward the portal. She nced over her shoulder at me. "Remember... The mate bond is stronger than whatever is holding her. Even the Lord of the North."


    With that, she and Mwansa disappeared through the portal.


    It vanished, leaving me alone in the storm.


    I raised my head again just in time to see Odessa¡¯s ck energy unravel into a dome, expanding outward like a heartbeat.


    Every instinct in me screamed that if she sealed that dome, she¡¯d be lost to me.


    I bolted, my wolf¡¯s speed eating the distance between us. Rogues lunged from alleys and rooftops, but I barely slowed. My ws shed air as I ripped them apart mid-stride without blinking.


    My focus was on her. Only her.


    .


    .


    I broke into the clearing beneath her.


    She hovered there, hair whipping wildly, the sigils on her arms burning dark as ink. Her eyes... gods, her eyes weren¡¯t hers anymore.


    Just ck, swirling void.


    "Odessa!" I roared over the storm.


    Her head tilted slightly, but not toward me. It was like she was listening to someone else.


    I tried the mind link again. Nothing. That connection, that lifeline between us, was gone.


    The rain hit harder. The ground beneath me was already slick with blood, but when the droplets touched me, they burned faintly, charged with magic and grief.


    "Come back to me!" I shouted, chest heaving.


    Her lips moved, but the voice that echoed wasn¡¯t hers¡ªit was deeper,ced with cruelty. "You can¡¯t follow me where I¡¯m going, Kaelos."


    My jaw tightened. "The hell I can¡¯t."


    She raised her hands, and the dome pulsed with a burst of energy, shoving me back with a force that rattled my bones. I skidded, my boots digging into the mud to stop myself from falling.


    Every part of me wanted to shift. To leap. To tear through whatever this was. But something deeper told me that raw strength wouldn¡¯t be enough here.


    Ryker was winning.


    No. Not while I was still breathing.


    I took a step forward, letting the mate bond surge in my chest, willing it to break through whatever wall he¡¯d put in her mind.


    ¡¯Feel me, Odessa. Remember me.¡¯


    Suddenly, a flicker crossed her face, barely there. But it was enough to make me push harder.


    "Whatever you think you¡¯ve lost, we¡¯ll get it back," I said, my voice breaking. "But I¡¯m not losing you."


    Lightning split the sky again, bathing her in blood-red light. For a second, I thought I saw her eyes soften¡ªlike Odessa was wing her way back.


    Then she whispered one word that made my blood run cold:


    "Run."

 Chapter 305: _I’m So Tired

    <h4>Chapter 305: _I¡¯m So Tired</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    When I could no longer feel my baby¡¯s life again, I snapped.


    I med myself for it, telling myself mentally that I should¡¯ve noticed the signs before the miscarriage hit.


    When my baby died, it was like a seal was broken. My magic coiled out like it was a time bomb which had been waiting for this exact moment.


    And then somehow I managed to get out here in this moment ¡ª floating hundreds of meters above the pack outside, a ball of dark energy twirling around me.


    My reasoning was simple: if I surrendered myself to the Lord of the North, he would leave the rest of the people I care about alone.


    But...


    "Whatever you think you¡¯ve lost, we¡¯ll get it back," Kaelos yelled below all of a sudden, his voice breaking. "But I¡¯m not losing you."


    I stared down at him, feeling the spark of the mate bond reigniting again. It had been clouded by the awakening of the chaotic magic within me, but his hopeful words had broken through, pulling me out of the void.


    Unfortunately, deep in my mental space, I was still waist-deep within the darkness.


    ¡¯Kill him,¡¯ a deep, sinister voice whispered in my mind as I stared at Kaelos with warmth.


    As it did, an image shed inside my mind... Kaelos was cut in half horizontally, his entrails and blood littering the carpet grass underneath his feet.


    My heart skipped a beat as I turned my head away from him, closing my eyes. ¡¯No. No, leave my mind and leave him out of this!¡¯


    I knew damn well who the voice belonged to.


    Ryker.


    ¡¯But he¡¯s a distraction. Can¡¯t you see?¡¯ he continued casually, as my outstretched arms slowly rxed beside my body, the blood rain reducing. ¡¯As long as he¡¯s still alive, he¡¯ll hinder you from reaching your full potential.¡¯


    My eyes twitched as I shook my head, cing both my hands on it and trying to push his voice away.


    But it was no use.


    I had started this whole thing by literally calling on him during my outburst. He had taken root in my mind and there was no stopping him.


    Desperately, I locked my gaze on Kaelos, my heart shattering when I noticed the hope flickering within his eyes. The orb of dark energy twirling around me slowly subsided, a huge bolt of red lightning lighting up the ground and sky as I whispered one word.


    "Run."


    I noticed the terror that spread through Kaelos¡¯ eyes but I ignored it, tearing my gaze away from him and floating toward the entrance of the pack.


    I needed to be as far away as possible from him.


    ¡¯Odessa!¡¯ his voice managed to break into my mind through the mate bond, spreading warmth through my being. ¡¯P¨CPlease,e back. Don¡¯t let him win.¡¯


    Meanwhile, Ryker¡¯s voice echoed simultaneously. ¡¯Let me win? Darling, all I¡¯m offering you is a chance to embrace your full potential. Look at those rogue wolves up ahead.¡¯


    I blinked, realising that I¡¯d already travelled to the pack¡¯s main gates within seconds via flight.


    My eyes squinted as I focused my attention on the ground close to the pack gates. There was a fierce battle happening, rogue wolves trooping into the pack through a huge hole they was made in the pack walls.


    Fighting against them were the pack soldiers but also Luna Queen Janelle, Alpha King Mwansa and my aunt Althea.


    The three fought fiercely, with Janelle using hand-to-handbat to bring down rogue wolves who transformed, Althea creating forcefields to protect the soldiers while also simultaneously obliterating rogues with energy sts and elemental attacks.


    And as for Mwansa, he shifted into his wolf, which stood on its hind legs and had thick ck fur like the night.


    ¡¯Look beyond the pack.¡¯ Ryker urged even though I was too focused on the fact that Mwansa¡¯s bipedal wolf was somehow smallerpared to Damon.


    <fn1887> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? Find[?]ovel</fn1887>


    I followed Ryker¡¯s direction and looked beyond the walls of the pack, spotting even more rogues charging toward it with pure bloodlust in their eyes.


    And beyond them was a young man in his early thirties with his right hand outstretched, pointing at a glowing green portal from which the rogues were running.


    ¡¯One of my artificial hybrids.¡¯ Ryker revealed casually, as if it hadn¡¯t taken us weeks to realise the existence of these monsters. ¡¯You could easily annihte him and the rest of the rogues without much effort.¡¯


    I clenched my jaw, the blood rain spiking again as blood red lightning painted the ground with a light of the same colour.


    I ignored the metallic scent hitting my nose like a wave, narrowing my eyes on the artificial hybrid who soon raised his head, noticing my presence.


    His eyes red with panic as he instantly conjured a bright green forcefield to wrap around him like a protective bubble.


    But I ignored that,nding on the damp soil outside the pack walls, my eyes still fixed on him.


    With a flick of my wrist, red lightning bolts fell like whips of judgment from the sky, sting the rogues who were still trooping out of the portal into a mist of blood.


    Tens of them... and none of them even had the chance to scream.


    The other rogues who were trying to breach through the portal froze at the other side, backing away with fear but all my attention now was on the artificial hybrid.


    My arms glowed brighter with the dark sigils on them which began morphing into my signature violet colour with a ck hue. I clenched my right fist, causing an invisible force to descend on the artificial Hybrid.


    He fell to his knees, shivering as he struggled to gain back control of his body.


    "P¨CPlease..." He pleaded, managing to raise his head and stare at me.


    I looked into his hazel eyes coldly before tightening the clench of my fist, watching as his bones constricted and cracked like wood in a me before he finallybusted into a pulp of blood and organs.


    Some of it sprayed on my body and my face but I ignored it, turning my gaze to the portal the rogues had been running out of. I tilted my head, standing only a few feet in front of it.


    Just when I raised my right hand to touch it, a voice thundered behind me.


    "ODESSA!"


    I nced over my shoulder, my heart clenching when I saw Kaelos jumping through the hole made by the rogues.


    The blood rain was slowly subsiding now and so was the storm which came with it.


    "Odessa, step away from the portal." He continued, his teeth bared with frustration. "P¨CPlease. We¡¯ll..."


    Months. Ryker had been in my head for months.


    Whispering when I tried to sleep. Watching when I tried to eat. Twisting every moment of quiet into something ugly.


    He¡¯d even taken over the mind of a maid once ¡ª made her smile as she dug into her own stomach just so he could send Kaelos and me a message written in her blood:


    The True King shall ascend the throne when the sky is painted red.


    Was that what was taking ce now? I had no clue.


    I had fought him every second since, but... gods, I was so tired.


    "Oh, Kaelos." My voice came out alongside a guttural voice which ovepped with it.


    Ryker¡¯s voice.


    "I¡¯m doing this for you. Ryker is only going to keep oning after me so I¡¯ll give him what he¡¯s asked for all this while." I continued sharply.


    Kaelos shook his head, trying to step closer but I wiggled my fingers, causing a dark violet force bubble to surround him.


    His eyes widened with panic as he mmed his fists repeatedly on the force bubble. "NO! Odessa!"


    My jaw tightened but I closed my eyes, looking away from him. I stared at the portal, wondering if I was doing the right thing.


    Probably not...


    But it¡¯s better than Rykering after anyone else that I cared about. Even if it meant Kaelos would never forgive me.


    With a heavy breath, I stepped into the portal, Kaelos¡¯ yells and roars drowning out.


    And as the portal closed behind me, my eyes blurred.


    "Wee." A deep voice spoke with glee.


    Before I could see who it was, everything faded to ck.

 Chapter 306: _Resemblance

    <h4>Chapter 306: _Resemnce</h4>


    "Wakey, wakey, little hybrid..." A silvery female voice whispered in my mind after what felt like an eternity of darkness.


    My eyes jolted open as I gasped, scanning my gaze around my surroundings. I realised soon that I was lying on the floor.


    A cold, ck marble floor...


    My body shivered as I subconsciously touched my stomach, sitting up. But then my eyes widened at what I felt.


    My bump had disappeared. Like... It waspletely gone!


    My mind reeled as I remembered the miscarriage and all the emotions I felt back in Blood Oak started hitting me again. I felt a suffocating despair that made me blink at the floor silently.


    Until...


    "Don¡¯t tell me you thought all of that was a nightmare?" That silvery voice from earlier echoed again, this time followed by approaching footsteps echoing toward me.


    I raised my head, my gaze falling ahead of me.


    It was then that I noticed the throne ced on a dais that loomed above the rest of the dimly lit room, as if a god were sitting on it. A figure covered in shadows sat silently on it and even though I couldn¡¯t see their eyes... I knew they were looking at me.


    Apart from the figure on the throne, a beautiful woman with raven ck hair, pale white skin and a stylish ck gown walked toward me.


    She was the owner of the silvery voice from earlier and walked with a seductive confidence that made me unsettled.


    Her lips curved into a sly smirk when she saw my unease but she didn¡¯t stop until she was standing a few meters in front of me.


    Her face looked oddly familiar but I couldn¡¯t remember where I had seen her before.


    "Stay the fuck away from me." I sneered, getting on my feet and ring at her. My fists clenched beside me but before I could even summon any magic, a force tightened around my neck, causing a constricted gasp to escape my throat.


    I wrapped my hands around my neck, a cold shiver running down my spine when I felt the cold metal coiled around it like it was a part of it.


    "Oops. I forgot to give you a heads up." The gothdy sniggered, eyeing me with amusement before she began circling. "We can¡¯t possibly have you having an outburst here so we ced that enchanted silver ne to... Seal your magic."


    My heart dropped to my stomach.


    Silver? Seal my magic?


    "Anytime you try using any of your abilities, you¡¯ll feel the pain from the ne." She continued casually, her footsteps on the marble floor only adding to my anxiety. "Like a... Friendly reminder of your situation."


    My eyes flicked to the figure on the throne who was still covered in darkness. As I stared at him... I realised soon enough who he was.


    <fn742c> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? f?ndnovel</fn742c>


    Of course...


    "Ryker." I rasped, my jaw clenching as I stepped forward, fixing my gaze on him. "You¡¯ve wanted me all along, right? What did you do to my baby bump? What are you¡ª"


    Before I could finish thatst sentence, a hand wrapped around my wrist from behind me. I swerved my head, gritting my teeth when I saw the goth woman¡¯s smug smirk.


    "I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you." She whispered and it was then that my mind went down memoryne.


    The charity Ball from months ago... I had bumped into her and we both apologised.


    She seemed innocent at first until Caroline and I found out she was the "witch" Celine and Gamma Zane had turned to to help with the illusion used to frame me and Marcellus AND to give them ess to magic abilities for their coup.


    I¡¯dpletely forgotten about her with Celine and Zane dead... Until now.


    "That¡¯s enough, Regina." A domineering voice boomed from Ryker¡¯s throne, bouncing off the walls and pirs.


    Regina, the goth woman, showed some hesitation before eventually letting go of my wrist. I stared at her with squinted eyes for a few seconds but then Ryker continued speaking.


    "About your baby bump. You mean you would have liked me to leave it that way? Even with your baby dead?"


    My eyes twitched as I whipped my head back in his direction. Slowly, he rose from his throne, stepping down the steps of the dais.


    Each step forward seemed to expose his body more to the dim lights, starting from his legs.


    "YOU took my baby, Ryker!" I snarled, stepping forward again with my fists curled beside me. "You took my happiness. You¡ª"


    "As much as it would be... Interesting to take credit for that, I didn¡¯t kill your baby." He interrupted inly, his face finally bing visible when he got to the final step of the dais.


    When I saw his face... my breath caught in my throat.


    That... face.


    It wasn¡¯t the horned devil I¡¯d seen in the mirror three nights ago. No monstrous grin. No grotesque, twisted features.


    Instead... silver eyes I¡¯d traced a thousand times in the dark. The same ck hair my fingers had tangled in on restless nights, except this was short. The same strong jaw that pressed against my forehead when Kaelos thought I was asleep.


    My heart skipped¡ªno, stumbled¡ªbecause for a split second, my mind wanted to believe it was him.


    But it wasn¡¯t.


    The only difference was the jagged sh over his right eye, the fact that he seemed slightly older... And the way those silver eyes didn¡¯t hold warmth, or love, or safety.


    They were cold. Predator¡¯s eyes.


    And the worst part? My brain was screaming "Kaelos" even as my soul whispered "Run".


    "What the..." My chest heaved as I took a step back, blinking at him and shaking my head. "You... You¡ª"


    "Have a striking resemnce to your mate, right?" He chuckled dryly. "me our father¡¯s genes for that. The fact that I¡¯ll have to share simr features with that little chinchi for the rest of my life... Ugh."


    I gawked at him like he had grown two heads. He might as well do that, and it would be less mind-boggling than what I was hearing right now.


    "Our father?" I repeated his words hoarsely, swallowing hard at the implication. "Does this mean¡ª"


    "Yes. Kaelos is my younger brother." He responded with a casual shrug, walking closer. "I mean, I have a few decades on him from our father¡¯s... Whore phase. But your darling mate isn¡¯t aware of my existence."


    I felt like I was going to pass out, cing my right hand on my forehead. I couldn¡¯t believe it, but his face...


    His face was all the proof I needed.


    "Oh, darling." Ryker sniggered with mock pity, his voice chilling my bones. "If you think that¡¯s shocking information, wait until you hear what else I have in store... Like who killed your parents that night?"


    I blinked, raising my head and staring into his piercing silver eyes. Gosh, I was so used to using that description with Kaelos but here I am...


    "What are you talking about?" I muttered, squinting my eyes.


    He raised his chin, smirking before he cleared his throat.


    "The wolf who murdered your parents that night, when you were only five, was the Gamma leading the raid on your coven. And the Gamma... Was Kaelos."

 Chapter 307: _The Last Shred Of Denial

    <h4>Chapter 307: _The Last Shred Of Denial</h4>


    "You¡¯re... You¡¯re lying." I shook my head, my face twisting with anger as I red at Ryker. "This is just another one of your tricks to get into my¡ª"


    "Spare me," Ryker said with a long sigh. Then a smirk rested on his face. "What did I expect? Even with all the signs already in your head, you still don¡¯t believe someone else telling you the truth."


    He sniggered, proceeding to slowly walk around me, each step sending a shiver down my spine. I struggled not to follow his movements, standing my ground and keeping my head held high.


    "My mother, Seraphina, was known all around the world. If Kaelos truly did what you said, he would¡¯ve known and he would¡¯ve¡ª"


    "Told you?" Ryker chimed. He seemed to be enjoying this way too much.


    Enjoying watching me unravel. Break.


    Like some toy.


    Well, screw him!


    "Listen here, Ryker." I finally turned around, facing him when I felt him lurking behind me. "Say all you want but Kaelos and I share a bond that lets us share everything with each other. You can¡¯t¡ª"


    "Almost everything with each other." Ryker raised his finger, waging it with a smirk. "Like the way he didn¡¯t tell you about him killing our father."


    He let out another sigh.


    I¡¯d had just enough of this.


    "Listen... I can¡¯t do this right now." I raised my hands in defeat, my voice trembling. "You won, okay? I¡¯m here now and you can take my magic if you want it. I don¡¯t care anymore."


    And I meant every word.


    Yes, I¡¯ve been a powerless witch all my life. Yes, I¡¯ve been ostracised for myck of magic. Yes, I¡¯ve felt whole ever since I awakened my hybrid nature.


    But the problems I¡¯ve faced as a hybrid are vast inparison to my days as a powerless witch.


    And even though my powers and my connection to the Vein meant I was a danger of apocalyptic proportions to the¡ª


    ¡¯What the heck are you thinking?¡¯ Sirena finally spoke up in my mind for the first time since my miscarriage.


    I let out a gasp, about to speak to her when Ryker blurted. "Cute offer. But as much as I would love to have your power for myself... I can¡¯t. Yes, I can take your magic with the right rituals but you see this..."


    He suddenly grabbed my right arm, causing me to gasp as I struggled to slip out of his hold.


    But then he raised my arm, showing the coiling ck sigils within my blood. They moved like snakes, pulsing with energy and life even though I wasn¡¯t using my magic.


    "I can¡¯t take these." He echoed finally, voice dripping with both envy and reverence. "This is your connection to the Vein. Your connection to the great witch, Nyx. It makes you and your blood the key to endless chaotic magic underneath this continent."


    This continent...


    Well, it was good to know we were still on North American soil at least.


    I tightened my jaw, pulling my wrist free of Ryker¡¯s grip. I stumbled a bit from the force I used, but that didn¡¯t stop me from raising my right hand again and sending a p to his face.


    I expected him to dodge, catch or disappear.


    But he didn¡¯t.


    Smack!


    My pnded with a crisp sound that echoed like a gunshot around the walls of the throne room.


    But Ryker barely flinched, his expression stoic as he stared down at me.


    Meanwhile, his henchwoman, Regina, chuckled, staring at me from behind her master like I was screwed.


    Maybe I was...


    "Are you done?" Ryker asked with a cold voice that reverberated with authority. His silver eyes glinted with a dangerous light, causing me to withdraw my hand and take a few steps back, my chest heaving heavily.


    ¡¯Try and rx.¡¯ Sirena echoed in my mind. ¡¯I¡¯m trying to find ways to bypass that ne so we can use our sonic howl attack.¡¯


    But I shook my head, both mentally and physically. ¡¯How can you tell me to rx, Sirena? My... My¡ª¡¯


    ¡¯Yes, Apollo.¡¯ Her voice was filled with sadness now. She lost her usual edge, like she was grieving as well. ¡¯My essence was involved in his conception too, you know? I feel the pain of his loss too. But we can¡¯t afford weakness right now.¡¯


    Ryker¡¯s eyes were locked on me, his head tilting ever so slightly. "It seems ying nice and patient wouldn¡¯t work in this situation."


    I trembled at his words but I didn¡¯t dare tear my gaze from his face, curling my fists beside me with defiance.


    "If you can¡¯t take my power... Then what?" I muttered, furrowing my eyebrows. "You want to force me to join your side? W¨CWell, give up, Ryker! I¡¯ll rather burn you and myself if that¡¯s what it takes."


    Without warning and with pure rage and instinct driving me, I lunged, my hands outstretched and aiming for his neck.


    My wolf ws stretched out and so did my fangs.


    But just when my hands were inches away from dicing his neck... He smirked.


    Suddenly, he raised his hands, using his left to shove my arms casually with a single strike and then stepped aside.


    I grunted, almost stumbling forward but then he caught me by my forehead, pressing his fingers on it.


    I blinked, trying to stand straight again but everything around me slowly dissolved into darkness.


    No, no, no!


    "Get out of my mind!" I screamed, falling to the ground, my arms breaking my fall.


    I nced over my shoulder and witnessed Ryker, the throne room, the pirs... Everything was disappearing until there was nothing left but darkness.


    I shivered.


    The darkness changed around me, shifting into a recognisablendscape.


    My eyes widened, my heart dropping into my stomach.


    This was a living room. And not just any living room too...


    This was my childhood living room, back in the Luminari coven territory.


    "Your mate bond with Kaelos gives me just a little ess to his thoughts through you. His memories included." Ryker¡¯s voice echoed around the living room as I slowly rose to my feet.


    The ce was trashed, walls blown into rubble, ceiling caved in, smoke, dust and blood lingering, furniture tumbled.


    That¡¯s because this... Was the aftermath of the attack on the Luminari Coven territory.


    "What you¡¯re seeing now is a scene that¡¯s been foggy in your mind since you were only five. But for Kaelos who was about thirteen? He remembers it almost like it was yesterday." Ryker continued as the sound of footsteps suddenly sounded.


    I stiffened, turning my gaze to what used to be the door leading into the living room but was now a blown-up hole in the wall.


    When I saw who was stepping in... My eyes widened further.


    <fn4a39> Original content can be found at F¦Énd£Îovel</fn4a39>


    Kaelos.


    In his wolf form.


    He stood at over ten feet tall, blood sticking to his crimson fur like an extrayer of skin. He raised his snout, sniffing into the air.


    Suddenly, his bones and fur began shifting, his height dwindling until he was the size of a young teenager.


    I squinted my eyes, staring at his young form and his ck hair which was surprisingly long at that age.


    "You¡¯re telling me... This is Kaelos? At thirteen?" I muttered with disbelief, realising that he couldn¡¯t see me, and this was just a projection of a memory.


    "What? He¡¯s never shown you his childhood photos?" Ryker¡¯s voice echoed as he chuckled darkly. "Just keep watching, Odessa..."


    "Gamma Kaelos!" A male voice suddenly yelled from outside, causing the young Kaelos to nce at the door.


    "Yes?"


    "We have to go. Now! The Luminari coven elders brought reinforcements." The voice echoed outside.


    Kaelos nodded, drawing in a deep breath. His body trembled with... Fear. The poor boy, Kaelos, was afraid.


    There was also guilt in his silver eyes which were now locked on a corner of the room.


    "What... What did I do?" He whispered to himself as the sound of explosions and yelling boomed outside all over again.


    My heart clenched.


    "Think... Odessa." Ryker¡¯s voice was a whisper in my mind now. "That night, your mother made you leave for the basement. But you lingered in the living room long enough to see this same beast Kaelos transformed into, walking into the room."


    I shook my head, my heart thundering against my rib cage.


    This couldn¡¯t be...


    "He saw you and you saw him. But he didn¡¯t go after you... Perhaps because you were a child." Ryker continued, his voice dripping with disdain as the young Kaelos finally turned away and scurried out of the house.


    "But you know the truth..."


    As the young Kaelos left, it felt like thest shred of denial I had been clinging to ripped out my heart and faded into dust...


    My breathing became hoarse as my knees buckled, causing me to fall, my lips trembling. Tears stung my eyes and I felt like my heart had been trampled on.


    Images shed in my head so violently they made me dizzy ¡ª Kaelos holding me after the miscarriage, Kaelos whispering "I¡¯ll protect you" on the night after he proposed, Kaelos fighting at my side against impossible odds...


    All of them shattered, copsing into the image of a blood-soaked wolf standing in my childhood home, silver eyes glinting under the moonlight.


    The same silver eyes I had kissed a thousand times.


    Kaelos.


    My mate.


    The only man I¡¯d ever truly loved... ughtered my parents.


    I was so dissociated from my surroundings that I didn¡¯t notice the living room finally shifting back into Ryker¡¯s throne room.


    My gaze fell on a pair of ck boots in front of me, forcing me to raise my head only to meet those devilish silver eyes.


    "Now that I¡¯ve... Enlightened you." Ryker drawled, leaning closer with a grin. "It¡¯s time I told you where exactly you fit in my ns and why you belong with ME. Luna Queen."

 Chapter 308: _Lies We Tell Ourselves

    <h4>Chapter 308: _Lies We Tell Ourselves</h4>


    "B¨CBelong with you?" I repeated Ryker¡¯s words, my fists clenching slowly on the ground.


    I brought my gaze to my hand and spotted the ruby ring Kaelos gave me. It was supposed to be the symbol of a promise, of a new beginning for our rtionship.


    Now it stared back at me like a mockery of everything we¡¯ve been through.


    He¡¯s kept the truth of my parents¡¯ death from me for so long?


    ¡¯Odessa, I know how you feel right now.¡¯ Sirena echoed in my mind but I shook my head.


    ¡¯No, Sirena. You don¡¯t.¡¯ I said mentally while ring at Ryker who was silent.


    It was as if he were waiting for me to process everything I just discovered beforending yet another blow... Whatever it¡¯ll be.


    ¡¯You didn¡¯t watch my father get torn in half.¡¯ I continued speaking to Sirena as I slowly rose from the ground, my emotions swirling like a storm. ¡¯You didn¡¯t look your mother in the eyes and watched her yell at you to run away while she faced certain death...¡¯


    As my emotions swirled, I could feel a small warmth spreading around my arms. I nced at them and saw the ck sigils awakening again, pulsing with my rage.


    Ryker raised an eyebrow, a small smirk curling up his lips. "You want to attack me for your mate¡¯s sins?"


    I felt Regina staring at me from behind and took a mental note of her while locking my gaze on Ryker.


    The silver ne they ced around my neck was already reacting to my magic, heating up in a way that made me grit my teeth because of the pain.


    But I will not let myself be suppressed!


    "I will NEVER belong to you, Ryker." I spat, shaking my head. "I don¡¯t know what you think that means but I want no part of your¡ª"


    "Lies we tell ourselves." Ryker sniggered, his voice echoing around the throne room in an eerie cacophony that sent shivers down my spine. "You want nothing to do with me yet you ran out of your little event hall and screamed my name into the heavens, begging me to take you."


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    My heart clenched, tears stinging my eyes when I remembered the event hall and what I lost. But I pushed on.


    "I was grieving. I lost my child." I retorted but he kept on chuckling in my face.


    "And whose fault is that? Mine?" He remarked, shrugging. "Face it, Odessa. Deep down you know I¡¯m the only one who truly gets you. We¡¯re both hybrids. Outcasts to every other race in the world."


    My jaw tightened but then my shoulders rxed for just a beat. My fingers twitched beside me but I didn¡¯t make any moves, staring at him with burning hesitation.


    He seemed to notice this and continued with a more rxed tone, taking a step forward. "With you by my side, the world will tremble. Alpha Kings will bow at your feet. Even the moon goddess wouldn¡¯t be able to interfere..."


    My eyebrows furrowed as he stretched his right hand, cing it on my shoulder.


    The second I felt his hand on my shoulder... Something in me snapped.


    "Fuck. Off!" I screamed, letting all the pent-up emotions finally pour out in a burst.


    A sonic howl tore through my throat, hitting him with so much force that he was sent several feet backwards, using his arms to shield his face.


    But then a force bubble glowing with a sickly dark purple light surrounded him, shielding him from one of my most powerful attacks.


    I didn¡¯t let that stop me, turning around and directing the force of the sonic howl on Regina who wasn¡¯t as lucky as her master.


    She was flung back, hitting the throne room doors with a bang and then falling to the marble floor.


    Just when I was about to turn back to Ryker, the ne around my neck started working again, sending a stinging pain searing into my throat. The howl cracked mid-note, dissolving into a scream that scraped my lungs raw.


    My knees buckled, the floor tilting under me as every muscle spasmed in betrayal.


    I sped my hands around my neck, finally facing Ryker who stood unbothered within the force bubble.


    "Nice try..." His voice was cold as he raised his right hand, snapping his fingers.


    That caused the paining from the ne to double, causing me to scream yet again, except this one was filled with pure pain and without any sonic sts.


    My eyes became blurred with tears as I copsed to the ground, jerking uncontrobly.


    As my consciousness slipped away like smoke yet again, my eyes flicked to something on the index finger of my left hand.


    Something I¡¯ve almost forgotten about because it didn¡¯t seem to carry out the functions it was supposed to.


    My mother¡¯s protection ring.


    Aunt Althea gave it to me the night I left with Kaelos for the Blood Oak pack. She told me it would protect me... Yet I¡¯ve faced tons of magical and physical battles without it doing anything.


    But I kept wearing it because it was the only thing of my mother¡¯s that I had left...


    "P¨CPlease... Work..." I whispered, tears streaming down my cheeks like a flood. "Please..."


    For the barest second, I thought I felt it. A faint thrum, like a warm breath against my skin. Hope red in my chest¡ª


    ¡ªbut then vanished as fast as it came.


    The pain swallowed me again.


    I was helpless.


    Suddenly, Ryker¡¯s footsteps began echoing toward me, his deep voice booming.


    "Look at the mess you¡¯ve caused." He blurted with disappointment in his voice, his footsteps calm and unhurried. "Resistance is futile, Luna Queen. I have you now after so long and trust me when I say I¡¯m not letting go."


    I managed to shift my head on the floor in his direction just in time to see his ck boots standing a few inches away from me.


    "Just think about all we could aplish together." He continued. "Yet you chose to waste away all that potential loving a man who took your life. Killed your parents. Killed his father."


    My eyes fluttered weakly, my neck throbbing with the aftermath of the pain from the ne.


    ¡¯Odessa... Odessa, we can¡¯t pass out again.¡¯ Sirena called out in my mind but even her voice was bing distant.


    "Sleep again, my Hybrid Queen. I¡¯m willing to wait for as long as it takes to get you to see reason." Ryker added, his voice smooth like a luby. "And when you wake, you¡¯ll remember it wasn¡¯t Kaelos who saved you... It was me."


    And then I passed out...

 Chapter 309: _She’s Hope

    <h4>Chapter 309: _She¡¯s Hope</h4>


    Caroline¡¯s POV


    *****


    She was gone.


    Everything had happened so fast and she barely had any chance to react... But she was gone.


    Odessa.


    The pack was under attack, but the rogue wolves were quickly defeated, and the blood moon festival was brought to an abrupt end; all the guests and delegates were forced to leave.


    But the Alpha Kings and Luna Queen Janelle remained, with Kaelos standing behind his desk back in his dimly lit office.


    Caroline stood at a corner, summoned by the Alpha King to give him and everyone else details of one thing and one thing only:


    "So you¡¯re telling us Odessa didn¡¯t take anything poisonous that might¡¯ve led to her miscarriage?" Marcellus, who stood beside Kaelos, asked firmly.


    Caroline tightened her jaw, using everything in her power not tosh out and attack the two-faced traitor right here and now.


    She still wasn¡¯t sure of what happened but she knew he definitely had a part to y in this. She should¡¯ve found a way to bring him down when she had the chance.


    "Yes, Beta. I didn¡¯t see her take anything." Caroline managed to respond calmly, keeping her eyes away from the Alpha Kings and Luna Queen Janelle who stared at her like hawks waiting to devour her.


    Luna Queen Janelle especially had her head tilted, squinting her eyes at her for several seconds where she sat.


    And then...


    "She¡¯s telling the truth." She remarked with a light sigh, rubbing her forehead as she brought her gaze back to her fellow rulers sitting around her.


    Then she raised her right hand, revealing her purple ring which glistened under the dim light of the office.


    "As most of you know, my ring helps me decipher if someone is being truthful. And unfortunately, I doubt Caroline had anything to do with Odessa¡¯s miscarriage."


    <fnb61d> This update is avable on f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fnb61d>


    Caroline arched an eyebrow.


    Unfortunately?


    "We¡¯re wasting time here." Alpha King Maddox sneered, locking his gaze on Kaelos. "That power your wife unleashed during her breakdown. It¡¯s... Unlike anything I¡¯ve ever seen."


    "Indeed." The Asian Alpha King said with a solemn tone. "That wasn¡¯t just any ¡¯magic¡¯. It was chaotic. Dark. Ancient..."


    "And something tells me he¡¯s known about it all this while." Alpha King Soren of South America took the opportunity to make a jab at Kaelos. "Didn¡¯t you, Alpha king?"


    Kaelos finally raised his head, his once-empty and lost silver eyes zing with a rage that instantly made Caroline stiffen with fear.


    But his eyes weren¡¯t locked on her.


    They were locked on the werewolf rulers.


    "The only reason I called for your presence here instead of kicking you out of the pack like the other guests is so we cane together and think of a strategy." He began coldly but Soren sneered.


    "Strategy? Or to witness you derail further into ipetence?" He queried, tilting his head at Kaelos. "You lost your wife and your child in the blink of an eye, which probably wouldn¡¯t have been the case if you had been open to us."


    Caroline¡¯s eyes flicked to Marcellus just then.


    The bastard had the faintest smirk for just a second before stering a concerned expression.


    Caroline¡¯s fists clenched as Janelle scolded Soren.


    "Don¡¯t be insensitive. Arguing wouldn¡¯t solve anything here." She said calmly, staring at Soren but before anyone knew what was happening, Kaelos finally straightened his spine.


    His eyes narrowed on Soren as he turned around his desk, his anger reaching a peak.


    "No. Let him continue, Luna Queen." Kaelos said with a cruel smile, his eyes darkening into murderous slits. "Tell me, Soren. Do you love your wife?"


    Soren visibly froze, a scowl appearing on his face.


    Alpha King Thorian grunted beside Janelle. "Alpha King Kaelos, you¡ª"


    "What are you driving at?" Soren sniggered. "Of course, I love my wife. She¡¯s my mate and¡ª"


    "She¡¯s your mate." Kaelos chuckled darkly, sounding like he¡¯d just heard the biggest joke of the decade. "That¡¯s rich. It sounds like that¡¯s your only reason for loving her."


    Caroline felt a deep sadness eating at her chest, making her heart heavy. She could sense the despair veiled with rage in Kaelos¡¯ voice and knew he was hurting badly.


    And for some reason, she med herself for it.


    It was her duty to protect Odessa and she failed that... Woefully.


    "When I first discovered Odessa was my mate... I only brought her back to the pack because I thought she¡¯d ced a curse on me." Kaelos continued. "I rejected the mate bond every chance I got. But it festered. Grew into something more. Made me vulnerable in ways I could¡¯ve never imagined years ago."


    As he continued talking, he walked closer to Soren, his footsteps increasing the tension in the room.


    Soren tried remaining calm but even from where she stood, Caroline could tell that he was faltering. Losing hisposure.


    "Odessa isn¡¯t just my mate." Kaelos continued hoarsely, his voice firm and deep. "She¡¯s hope. She¡¯s my life. The symbol of a part of me I thought was buried forever. So don¡¯t you dare sit there trying to act high and mighty. That..."


    He raised his right hand, pointing at the office door. "... Is the door. Use it if you want, and go meet your wife if you can¡¯t offer anything more than backhanded insults. Or she¡¯ll be forced to feel the pain I feel now."


    Soren flipped, his chair scraping on the floor as he got on his feet and met Kaelos¡¯ gaze, although thetter was taller.


    "Is that a threat?" Soren¡¯s voice dripped with defiance but Kaelos merely smirked.


    "It¡¯s a promise."


    Just when the tension felt like it would sweep the entire room into a river of pressure, a knock sounded on the office door.


    Caroline didn¡¯t realise she was holding her breath until the knock sounded, a relieved sigh leaving her mouth.


    Thank the goddess...


    Everyone knows a fight between two Alpha Kings always leads to destruction on cataclysmic levels.


    "Come in!" Janelle yelled out, sighing heavily like a mother tired of watching two children bicker.


    The door swung open as all eyes went to it.


    High priestess Althea stepped in with a grave expression, her purple robes flowing behind her.


    "My suspicions were correct. Odessa¡¯s tea... The one I¡¯ve been giving to her for the past three days." She began, causing an ominous chill to spread through Caroline¡¯s being.


    Something was wrong...


    "Yes? What about the tea?" Kaelos snapped, stepping closer.


    Althea blinked, scanning her gaze briefly on the Alpha Kings before continuing somberly.


    "It was spiked with dosages of wolfsbane."


    Caroline¡¯s heart plummeted at the priestess¡¯s words. Wolfsbane.


    Her mind stuttered. ¡¯No... no, I didn¡¯t...¡¯


    She barely got the first syble past her lips. "I¡ª"


    Suddenly, a blur of ck and silver moved faster than thought.


    Kaelos.


    One second, he was by the desk; the next, his towering frame was in front of her, his hand like a vice snapping around her throat. The air vanished from her lungs with a violent whoosh.


    Her toes scraped uselessly against the polished floor as he lifted her clean off the ground, her fingers wing at his iron grip.


    "YOU!" he snarled, the word vibrating through his chest and into her bones.


    Her vision already burned at the edges, while his silver eyes were molten with grief and fury, locking her in ce like prey under a predator¡¯s gaze.


    Somewhere in the room, someone shouted Kaelos¡¯ name ¡ª but the sound was muffled, swallowed by the blood rushing in Caroline¡¯s ears.


    All she could hear was the steady, lethal growl in his throat and the unspoken promise that if she didn¡¯t prove herself innocent in the next heartbeat, this might be thest air she ever breathed.

 Chapter 310: _Culprit Is Closer Than You Think

    <h4>Chapter 310: _Culprit Is Closer Than You Think</h4>


    Caroline¡¯s POV


    *****


    "S¨CSir... Please, wait..." She choked on her words, wrapping her hands around Kaelos¡¯ wrist.


    But he didn¡¯t budge, baring his teeth. "You better start talking before I squeeze the life out of you."


    Caroline shivered, her eyes stinging with tears as she patted his hand weakly, trying to signal him that she couldn¡¯t breathe.


    "She¡¯s not going to be able to talk properly if you don¡¯t let go of her, Alpha King Kaelos." Althea stepped forward, her voice pleading. "Please, release her."


    But Kaelos snapped his neck to her coldly. "Release her? She¡¯s the one who served Odessa the tea during the ceremony. The tea which YOU made, by the way."


    Althea¡¯s brows furrowed. "Are you insinuating that I poisoned my niece?"


    "By the moon, enough!" Janelle finally snapped, standing from where she sat and ring at Kaelos. "Alpha king Kaelos... Let the girl down."


    Kaelos¡¯ silver eyes locked on Janelle, the muscle in his jaw ticking. For a moment, Caroline thought he would ignore her outright.


    Then, with a guttural growl, he loosened his grip and let her drop.


    Her knees buckled on impact, palms smacking the floor as she gasped for air. The air scraped down her throat like sandpaper, each cough setting fire to her chest.


    But Kaelos didn¡¯t even look at her. His attention had already shifted to Althea, his re sharp enough to slice through steel.


    "You brewed the tea," he said coldly. "You¡¯ve been giving it to Odessa for days. Don¡¯t pretend you had nothing to do with this."


    Althea¡¯s face hardened. "That tea was meant to strengthen her womb and ease her nerves. It¡¯s a recipe that I¡¯ve been brewing for decades. If someone tampered with it, that¡¯s not on me."


    The tension in the room was suffocating.


    Maddox leaned back in his chair like a man waiting for blood to spill. Soren had his arms crossed, his eyes darting between Kaelos and Althea like he was watching a wolf fight and picking his bet.


    <fnc593> Get full chapters from </fnc593>


    Marcellus, of course, looked appropriately grim ¡ª but Caroline didn¡¯t miss the flicker of amusement in his eyes.


    Janelle stepped forward, her long gown dragging against the marble. She moved between Kaelos and Althea, lifting her chin with the kind of authority that made the room obey her without question.


    "I¡¯m ending this back-and-forth now." She raised her right hand, and the amethyst stone on her ring caught the dim light. The deep violet glow was unmistakable. "We¡¯re going to get to the truth here and now."


    Kaelos scowled, but he didn¡¯t protest.


    Janelle turned to Caroline and suddenly thetter felt like prey cornered in the shadows of a predator¡¯s den.


    "Caroline," she said softly. "You will answer me inly. Do you understand?"


    Caroline swallowed hard and nodded.


    Janelle¡¯s fingers brushed over the ring, the stone shifting slightly in its silver setting. Caroline could feel the magic in it hum against her skin like static, though she stood several feet away.


    And then, the question dropped:


    "Did you, at any point, poison Odessa¡¯s tea?"


    "No," Caroline said immediately.


    The ring pulsed faintly but Janelle¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change.


    "Did you add anything to the tea that you did not prepare yourself?"


    "No," Caroline repeated.


    The ring glowed again, brighter this time.


    Janelle nced at Kaelos, her voice cool. "She¡¯s telling the truth. Whatever was in that tea, it wasn¡¯t added by Caroline."


    Kaelos¡¯ nostrils red, but he said nothing. His hands were clenched at his sides, the cords of muscle in his arms tight.


    However, Janelle didn¡¯t stop, her emerald eyes bing even sharper. "Who gave you the tea tonight, Caroline? And do not tell me you don¡¯t remember."


    Caroline hesitated for a moment, not because she was hiding the answer, but because she knew the name would shift the temperature of this room from fire to ice.


    "...La," She said finally. "She gave it to me in the prep room behind the festival hall. She said she was running errands for the Alpha King but wanted to make sure Odessa¡¯s tea was delivered on time."


    The silence that followed was thick enough to choke on.


    Kaelos¡¯ head turned toward her dangerously. "My assistant?"


    "Yes, Alpha King," Caroline said, forcing her voice to stay steady. "She handed it to me directly. I didn¡¯t think there was a reason to question her."


    "She¡¯s dead," Alpha King Mwansa recalled tly, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Died mysteriously during the attack. Which means if she¡¯s our culprit..."


    Althea cut him off sharply. "La wasn¡¯t acting on her own."


    Alpha King Thorian turned his re on her all of a sudden. "And you know how?"


    "Because I examined her body myself," Althea snapped. "Her mind was shattered from an ancientpulsion spell. The magic residue on her was unlike anything I¡¯ve seen in years. Whoever controlled her... knew exactly what they were doing. She was nothing more than a puppet."


    Caroline¡¯s stomach twisted.


    If La had been a pawn, that meant the real threat had been inside the walls for months, maybe longer.


    And she already had a rough idea who the so-called "real threat" was.


    Her eyes flicked to Marcellus, her jaw clenching with restraint.


    ¡¯Don¡¯t do anything stupid, Caroline...¡¯ Vilda whispered cautiously in her mind but Caroline snarled mentally.


    ¡¯He¡¯s the one behind this and we¡¯re the only ones in this room who know it.¡¯ She snapped, her fists curling beside her. ¡¯How much longer do we wait for evidence before ratting him out?¡¯


    ¡¯As long as it takes, Caroline.¡¯ Vilda, her wolf, was calm and reasonable. ¡¯We don¡¯t let emotions cloud our ability to carry out a mission. And right now we have only one.¡¯


    Caroline closed her eyes, her chest getting heavy with grief.


    She had one mission, and yet she wasn¡¯t able to fulfil it.


    Poor Odessa...


    ¡¯We will find her.¡¯ Vilda was reassuring although her tone was alsoced with grief. ¡¯She¡¯s stronger than you think.¡¯


    Oh, Caroline knew that. And that¡¯s what bothered her more than anything.


    Suddenly, Soren leaned forward in his chair, his voice like poisoned honey. "So. The assistant was under someone else¡¯s influence, she poisoned the Luna Queen, then conveniently died before she could tell us who her master was. How... tidy."


    Maddox snorted. "You think it¡¯s a coincidence? I don¡¯t. The attack and the poisoning were part of the same n."


    Kaelos moved then, rounding his desk and nting both palms on the polished surface. His head was bowed, his shoulder-length ck hair falling over his face, but his voice when it came was steel-hard.


    "La has been at my side for years. She had ess to every level of this pack, to our defences, to Odessa. If she waspromised, then so was I."


    He lifted his head, his eyes burning.


    "This was never just about taking my mate. This was about dismantling the Blood Oak pack from the inside out."


    A chill crept up Caroline¡¯s spine.


    Althea stepped closer, her voice quieter now. "Whoever did this... wanted Odessa vulnerable. And they seeded. The miscarriage weakened her physically and emotionally. They were waiting for that moment to take her."


    Kaelos¡¯s hands curled into fists on the desk. "Ryker."


    The name hung in the air like smoke.


    Janelle tilted her head slightly. "If it was him, then he had help. He couldn¡¯t have done this without someone feeding him information from inside."


    Her gaze shifted, not to Caroline, but to Marcellus.


    For a fraction of a second, his mask slipped. The faintest tightening around his eyes.


    Kaelos didn¡¯t seem to miss it either.


    But before anyone could speak, Janelle turned her attention back to Caroline. "Caroline. Did La say anything unusual when she gave you the tea? Any mention of where she¡¯d been, or who she¡¯d seen?"


    Thetter thought hard, reying tonight in her mind. The blur of music, the glow ofnterns, the smell of the tea as La pressed the cup into her hand.


    "...She looked tired," Caroline admitted. "Sweating. I asked if she was alright. She said she¡¯d been running errands for the festival... and that the Alpha King had her ¡¯all over the ce.¡¯"


    Kaelos¡¯ frown deepened. "I gave her no such errands."


    That was it. The moment thest thread snapped.


    The realisation settled over the room like a shroud... La had been moving freely through the pack, using Kaelos¡¯ authority as her shield, and no one had stopped her.


    "We need to know everyone she came into contact with in the days leading up to the festival," Janelle said firmly. "Friends. Staff. Guards. Anyone."


    Kaelos straightened slowly, his expression a mask of lethal calm. "I¡¯ll find them."


    No one doubted he would.


    But as the meeting dissolved into clipped orders and tense whispers, Caroline couldn¡¯t shake the weight in her chest.


    La was gone. The poisoner¡¯s hands were clean. And Odessa was still in Ryker¡¯s grasp.


    The trail wasn¡¯t cold.


    It was here, in these halls and in this pack. In this bloody room in fact...


    As the others began to leave, Caroline¡¯s gaze drifted to Marcellus onest time.


    He wasn¡¯t looking at her. He was watching Kaelos, his lips curled in the faintest smirk.


    ¡¯Screw evidence...¡¯ Caroline thought to herself. ¡¯We¡¯re bringing that bastard down with or without it...¡¯

 Chapter 311: _Hope Is A Dangerous Thing

    <h4>Chapter 311: _Hope Is A Dangerous Thing</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    The office was suffocating.


    Not because of the traces of fear in Caroline¡¯s breathing as she stared anxiously at the floor.


    No, it was the silence after Janelle¡¯s verdict and after all was said and done between me and the other Alpha Kings.


    Caroline had told the truth. The tea hadn¡¯t been poisoned by her.


    That should have eased me, but it didn¡¯t.


    Because someone still had.


    And right now, Odessa was gone, walking through a portal that led to hell knows where under my watch, and I was standing here with my hands empty and my chest hollow.


    Caroline, Janelle, Althea and the other Alpha Kings filtered out in twos and threes, their words clipped and their eyes avoiding mine.


    No doubt the Alpha Kings would be whispering about how I¡¯d "lost control" in my own pack.


    Let them.


    I¡¯d trade their approval for Odessa¡¯s heartbeat in a second.


    Meanwhile, Marcellus stayed back. He always did.


    He was leaning against the far wall, his arms crossed, a perfect picture of calm loyalty. The dim light from the chandelier carved the sharp line of his jaw, his gaze steady when it met mine.


    "We¡¯ll find her," he said simply, a reassuring smile curling his lips. "Odessa is strong. She¡¯ll be alright wherever she is."


    His words were... grounding in a way I didn¡¯t expect. But then they did nothing to bring my wife back to me.


    "She¡¯s been gone for hours." My voice was lower than I meant, roughened by the weight pressing on my chest. "Hours, Marcellus. Every second that passes¡ª"


    "I know." His tone was steady and unshaken, a great contrast to mine. "That¡¯s why we shouldn¡¯t waste any more of them."


    I nodded once, dragging a hand through my hair. Damon was still pacing inside me, ws scraping, demanding we move, hunt and tear apart every territory and ruin until Odessa¡¯s scent was mine again.


    But there were too many unknowns.


    And one of them had worn La¡¯s face.


    I turned toward the window, looking out at the Blood Oaknd stretching for miles, bathed in red moonlight and soaked in crimson from the blood rain.


    The rogue attack hadn¡¯t left any major damage, except for the main gates and wall.


    Thank the goddess for that, I guess...


    "She was by my side for years," I said, referring to La. "I trusted her with everything. The gates. The patrol schedules. Odessa."


    "She fooled all of us," Marcellus said inly but that wasn¡¯t true.


    I turned my gaze to her, shaking my head. "You heard what Althea said. She was... mind controlled. I saw it myself. I watched her beg me to get ¡¯him¡¯ out of her head, right after she stabbed me with a silver dagger."


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    Marcellus¡¯ brows furrowed with surprise. "Y¨CYou didn¡¯t say anything to the others..."


    I shrugged.


    That¡¯s because I didn¡¯t need to. It was a personal moment which still lingered at the back of my mind.


    I was the Alpha King of North America. It was my job to see these things before they became rot in the foundation.


    Yet, here I was, discussing my problems with other Alpha Kings who should be busy with their own continents.


    I exhaled hard, trying to scrape off the guilt and frustration, focusing my eyes on Marcellus again. "Where were you?"


    He straightened from the wall, a faint furrow between his brows. "During the attack?"


    "Yes." I turned fully toward him now. "When the event hall went into chaos, I didn¡¯t see you until after the rogues were down. Where were you?"


    For a fraction of a second, something unreadable flickered in his eyes, there and gone before I could name it.


    "I was at the main gates when I got word of movement near the south wall," he finally said. "Could¡¯ve been a diversion, could¡¯ve been a breach, so I went to check it myself. By the time I looped back, the fighting was nearly over."


    It made sense. Too much sense.


    Marcellus had always been the kind of Beta who moved without waiting for orders, covering my blind spots before I noticed they existed.


    I grunted in acknowledgement. "Next time, let me know before you disappear mid-crisis."


    He smirked faintly. "Noted."


    From anyone else, I might¡¯ve heard defiance in it. But from Marcellus, it just sounded like a friend refusing to tiptoe around me and I didn¡¯t have the strength to scold him for it.


    Suddenly, the door swung open again and Janelle¡¯s voice cut through the thick quiet.


    "You can both save your banter forter." She waltzed to the centre of the room, her gown spilling over the marble, her gaze sharp as a hawk¡¯s. "Kaelos, you need to cool your head before you start questioning your entire inner circle. That¡¯s exactly what Ryker would want... You¡¯re tearing yourself apart from the inside."


    I clenched my jaw. "He¡¯s already taken from the inside."


    "That¡¯s not what I meant." She came closer, lowering her voice. "You¡¯re not thinking like a hunter. You¡¯re thinking like a grieving mate. And grief makes mistakes."


    The truth in it stung, but I didn¡¯t argue.


    The door creaked and Althea stepped in next.


    I guess knocking was non-existent now...


    "Ryker is calcting, Kaelos." Althea began with a solemn tone. "And if La was under apulsion, it means he¡¯s been watching this pack for far longer than the portal incident. Possibly even before Odessa arrived."


    I remembered an incident that I¡¯d pushed to the back of my mind just then.


    During I and Odessa¡¯s battle against the raven witch in Mexico City, thetter had mentioned poisoning my mother for Ryker.


    Meaning he¡¯s been around for years, possibly decades before me.


    A low growl built in my chest. "Then I¡¯ll question every soul La came into contact with in the past month. I don¡¯t care how far I have to dig."


    Marcellus nodded. "I¡¯ll start pulling the patrol rosters. She was on perimeter checks three nightsst week."


    It was efficient and it gave my restless wolf a thread to follow, however thin.


    I turned back toward the desk, pushing aside the maps and patrol notes scattered there. I couldn¡¯t look at them without remembering Odessa leaning over my shoulder to point out something I¡¯d missed.


    The image came again without warning ¡ª Odessa, her hair catching the firelight, the faint curve of her smile when she¡¯d touched a scar on my forearm and told me it looked like a crescent moon.


    Then the memory twisted into thest time I saw her tonight... before she stepped into that portal. The lingering fear behind her confident and reassuring mask.


    My hands curled into fists on the desk.


    "I will rip apart every stone in this world if that¡¯s what it takes to get her back." I didn¡¯t mean to say it aloud, but the words came out like an oath.


    Janelle studied me for a long moment, then nced toward Althea. "Tell him what you told me outside."


    My eyebrows furrowed as I raised my head, ncing at the two of them.


    The high priestess hesitated, her fingers tightening around the folds of her robes. "I wasn¡¯t certain if I should mention it until I was sure."


    That got my attention. I straightened, my eyes narrowing. "Mention what?"


    "It¡¯s about the ring Odessa wears," Althea said. "The one that belonged to her mother."


    I knew the ring. I¡¯d seen her fidget with it absentmindedly when she was thinking, and had felt the cool metal against my skin when she gripped my hand.


    "It¡¯s not just a keepsake," Althea continued. "It¡¯s an heirloom from her mother. A protective charm with... other properties. One of which is a tracking bond."


    My pulse kicked hard. "Tracking?"


    "Not in the way you¡¯re thinking. It doesn¡¯t broadcast her location at all times. But with the right ritual, which I can perform, it can create a link to wherever she is now. The magic was dormant until it sensed she was in danger."


    Hope was a dangerous thing. But it hit me anyway, sharp and blinding.


    "How soon can you do this ritual?" I demanded.


    "Soon," she said cautiously. "But it requires preparation and ingredients. And I can¡¯t guarantee the connection willst long. If she¡¯s in a magically shielded location, it may only give us fragments."


    "Fragments are more than we have now," I said.


    Janelle¡¯s lips curved slightly. "Then it¡¯s decided. Althea will begin preparations immediately."


    I nodded, already feeling my focus narrowing to a single point.


    This was a lead. Maybe the only one we¡¯d get.


    Marcellus pushed away from the wall, rolling his shoulders. "I¡¯ll start rallying the trackers and scouts. The second we have a location, they¡¯ll be ready to move."


    I met his gaze. "Good. I want the fastest, most disciplined wolves on this. No one breaks formation until I say so."


    He gave me that faint, easy smile again. "You got it."


    We moved toward the door together, but as Althea began murmuring instructions to a maid who stood outside the office, I caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of my eye.


    Marcellus had turned slightly, just enough to nce back toward the high priestess, or maybe toward the mention of the ring.


    His expression was unreadable. Not concern and not quite curiosity either. It was something sharper, lingering on his face for only a breath before it smoothed away.


    I let out a small breath, dismissing it. Still, the faint image lingered in my mind as we stepped out into the corridor.


    "We¡¯reing for you, Odessa," I vowed silently to the blood moon.

 Chapter 312: _The Protection Ring

    <h4>Chapter 312: _The Protection Ring</h4>


    "Alright, I think this would be the perfect space to begin the ritual." I blurted, turning around.


    Walking behind me were Althea and Luna Queen Janelle. We were in an old chamber within a small building outside the main mansion.


    The same one which Althea had created a portal to Mexico months ago.


    The room was dimly lit, and there was a circr hole at the centre of the ceiling from which the blood moon was filtering through.


    It smelled of incense, old herbs and stale air and was also a bit chilly.


    "The blood moon is at its zenith right now. It¡¯s peak." Janelle muttered with a tense expression. "We¡¯re lucky it didn¡¯t mess up with the inner wolves of anyone during the attack."


    I turned to her. "Well, I didn¡¯t have to shift, so I can¡¯t speak for myself."


    "And that¡¯s just the thing, Alpha King Kaelos." Janelle pushed on, her emerald eyes glinting with worry as she stepped closer. "Your wolf... You know how chaotic it ispared to other Alpha Kings."


    Damon growled with disapproval in my mind but I ignored him, tilting my head at Janelle. "What are you driving at Luna Queen?"


    Janelle ced her hands on her waist. "Mwansa was able to keep his transformation stable during the attack despite the blood moon. But now, at its peak, any of us transforming could have unforeseen side effects. Especially you. So if we¡¯re going to track your mate tonight, we need to dial down on transforming until absolutely necessary."


    Yeah... Right.


    As if I haven¡¯t been doing that for most of my life.


    "Ahem." Althea cleared her throat just then, forcing us to swerve our heads to her. "If you may... I¡¯ll need the centre of the room."


    She gestured at us to move away from the room¡¯s centre, and we did just that, resting against the wall at a corner.


    "Do you have all the ingredients you need?" I questioned, trying not to hold my breath as I stared at her anxiously.


    She parted her lips to speak when the door swung open, Caroline stepping in. She held a small box with intricate carvings that looked familiar.


    "Ah, Caroline." Althea¡¯s eyes brightened. "I believe that¡¯s what I asked for?"


    Caroline nodded with a serious expression, handing the box to Althea and then stepping back.


    "Yes, high priestess. A personal belonging of Ma¡¯am Odessa."


    Althea opened the box and brought out what was in it, causing my eyes to widen slightly.


    It was the ruby ne I gave Odessa on her first night in the pack.


    "Perfect." Althea nodded. "I¡¯ll use this to spark the threads of connection between me and her protection ring. Hopefully, she hasn¡¯t taken it off."


    My chest tightened. "And if she has?"


    Janelle patted my shoulder beside me, almost reassuringly. "Let¡¯s hope she hasn¡¯t."


    Right. Hope.


    Finally, Althea brought out a ck chalk from one of the pockets of her robe, squatting and drawing a circle around herself.


    The room was eerily quiet, the air still.


    After drawing the circle, Althea went further to draw some rune symbols before finally straightening her back.


    "Why a ck chalk?" Caroline asked curiously from where she stood, causing me to nce at her.


    I technically owed her an apology for almost choking her to death...


    Sigh, Odessa¡¯s not going to like that if we find her.


    ¡¯WHEN we find her, dude. There¡¯s no if.¡¯ Damon growled in my mind and I couldn¡¯t agree more.


    "A ck chalk has quite a few uses." Althea began with a calm tone, standing at the centre of the circle and then clutching the ruby ne in her right hand. "One notable one is warding off negative energy or influences. From what we know, Ryker is a practitioner of dark magic. I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s somehow going to tamper with the bond of the protection ring to make my tracking ritual... Backfire."


    Goddess, I was losing patience.


    "Let¡¯s just get this over with, High Priestess," Janelle said with a light sigh. "The Alpha Kings and Luna Queens are still waiting in the pack, but we all have our respective continents to head back to. The war with witches and humans is only on hold for as long as the blood moon is up."


    I raised my right hand, staring at a watch on my wrist.


    It was already a few minutes past midnight.


    "Very well." Althea nodded with an understanding smile before dropping the ruby ne just in front of her feet.


    She closed her eyes, pulling out a small dagger from her robe and slitting her palm just a bit. A few drops of blood fell from her palm, falling directly on the ne.


    Suddenly, a pulse of red light spread all around the magic circle before morphing into a blue light.


    Althea spread out her arms, her robes and long ck hair pping around her despite the stillness of the air in the room.


    When she began muttering a spell in anguage I didn¡¯t understand, my jaw tightened, my gaze narrowing on her.


    I caught Janelle and Caroline ncing at each other out of the corner of my eye, but I barely paid them any attention. I didn¡¯t understand how the ritual was supposed to work but I wasn¡¯t willing to peel my eyes away.


    "Under the light of the sacred blood moon, I seek my niece, Odessa Pierce." Althea suddenly yelled out with a loud voice, the ck circle lighting up with an even brighter red hue in sync with her words. "I seek the magic of Seraphina Pierce still within her protection ring. So mote it be!"


    Without warning, a powerful wind began blowing in the room, forcing me to dim my eyes while Janelle used her arms to shield her face.


    "By the moon, are witch rituals always so theatrical?" The Luna Queen mumbled beside me but I barely paid her heed.


    All my attention was on the ck circle as Althea arched, staring at the ceiling. Her eyes shone with a deep blue light, the magic in the air thickening.


    After what felt like an eternity, the light around the ck circle finally dissipated and Althea gasped, the bright light in her eyes disappearing as well.


    She turned her gaze to me. "Canada. I saw her. She¡¯s in Canada."


    I let out an exasperated breath. "But do you know where in Canada?"


    She parted her lips to speak when the chamber doors suddenly swung open, two elderly women with familiar faces walking in.


    They both wore robes with the yellow star symbol of the Luminari coven etched on them.


    Wait... The Luminari coven?


    "The coven elders," I whispered to myself solemnly, knowing exactly why they were here.


    The eldest among the two nced at Althea briefly before fixing her gaze on me. "Wherever your wife is, she¡¯s in trouble for flouting ourw. Using her hybrid abilities in public. She still had two months left to stick to thatw."


    My fists curled as I took a step forward to speak but then the other one continued from where the first stopped:


    "When we felt the energy she used at your festival tonight, we couldn¡¯t believe it at first. Until one of our own contacted us and confirmed it."


    My eyebrows furrowed into a deep frown.


    "One of your own?" Janelle repeated.


    <fnaf1f> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n FindN()vel</fnaf1f>


    At that moment, footsteps echoed behind them, calm, confident and steady.


    And when I saw who stepped into the room next, walking past the coven elders without as much as a bow, my jaw clenched.


    "Good evening, everyone." She said with a sweet smileced with venom, her hazel eyesnding on me.


    Lucinda.


    She took her time, letting the room fall silent before she tilted her head and said. "You must be frantic, Alpha King Kaelos. After all... losing your wife on your own territory? Under your own watch?"


    The corners of her lips curled higher.


    "Seraphina would be so... disappointed."

 Chapter 313: _She’s Still Mine

    <h4>Chapter 313: _She¡¯s Still Mine</h4>


    "Seraphina would be so... disappointed."


    Lucinda¡¯s words hit the air like poison. Damon snarled in my mind instantly, his voice dark and vicious.


    ¡¯Rip her tongue out.¡¯


    My gaze didn¡¯t waver from Lucinda¡¯s smug face.


    "Tread carefully," I said darkly, letting my tone slice. "I might tolerate the elders barging in here uninvited. But you? You¡¯re already on thin ice."


    "Oh?" she purred, stepping fully into the room as if she owned it. "Still so protective of her. Even after she¡¯s broken covenw and after she¡¯s embarrassed you in front of all of North America and the world? How noble."


    Janelle¡¯s head tilted, her eyes narrowing at Lucinda¡¯s gall, but she stayed quiet. I guessed she didn¡¯t want to involve herself much in witch politics.


    Althea, however, bristled, turning her full attention to the elders.


    "Coven head Arachne, you felt the magic because the Vein reacted," Althea said coolly. "And before you start throwing punishments around, remember she¡¯s only alive to be used at all because of that connection. Her magic stopped the wolfbane poisoning from bing deadly."


    The lips of the eldest witch, Arachne, pressed thin. "And you neglected to mention Odessa Pierce¡¯s connection to the Vein all these months. Why? Because you knew the Council would never have approved of her walking free?"


    Althea stepped forward, unflinching. "Because I knew you would twist it into something it isn¡¯t. The girl didn¡¯t seek the Vein... It awakened in her bloodline. Just like it did for Nyx."


    The second elder gasped, her hand flying to her chest. "Nyx was a curse upon us all¡ª"


    "She was a saviour before your stories turned her into a warning," Althea snapped back.


    The tension crackled in the air.


    Lucinda smiled wider, feeding off it. "So it¡¯s true then. The little powerless nobody I remember is now tethered to the most chaotic magic our kind has ever known. Tell me, Alpha King Kaelos..." she fixed her gaze on me, her voice dripping with mockery.


    "How long before she loses control? Or did she already? Is that why she¡¯s with Ryker?"


    My ws slid out before I even realised it, the sound of them scraping together echoing in the small chamber. Damon was a live wire inside me, every muscle coiled.


    Janelle nced at me, her earlier warning about shifting under the blood moon still fresh in my mind.


    But I didn¡¯t need to shift to tear a limb or two to shreds.


    "Say that again," I warned, my voice dropping to a lethal growl.


    Lucinda¡¯s eyes glittered with challenge. "I¡¯m only asking the questions you should be asking yourself."


    "Careful," I stepped toward her, the shadows seeming to thicken with my mood. "Because the only reason you¡¯re still standing in this room is that I promised Odessa I¡¯d try not to make enemies of her coven. But you..." I let my gaze drag over her slowly, "...were never worth the promise."


    The elders exchanged wary nces, clearly unsure if they should rein her in.


    "Enough," Janelle finally cut in, her voice sharp. "This isn¡¯t helping us find Odessa. High Priestess Althea, did you see more than just a country?"


    Althea inhaled deeply, as if grounding herself after the interruption. "Yes. It came in shes. Snowfields... jagged cliffs along a frozen coast... no sign of human settlements nearby. It¡¯s remote, far north and close to the Arctic Circle."


    I stepped toward her. "Can you pinpoint it?"


    She shook her head. "Not without another focus. The connection between the ne and the ring gave me location energy, not coordinates. But if we move quickly, I can track again when we¡¯re closer."


    "That¡¯s dangerous," Arachne warned. "The Vein¡¯s magic will pull harder the closer you get. If Odessa is alreadypromised¡ª"


    "She¡¯s not!" I snapped, my voice booming through the room. "And if you think I¡¯m letting her freeze in some wastnd while you debate coven protocol, you¡¯re worse fools than I thought."


    Lucinda chuckled softly. "And what will you do when you find her, hmm? Put her on trial yourself or tuck her away so no one sees what she¡¯s bing?"


    Damon roared inside me. ¡¯I¡¯m done with her. Rip her throat out or I will.¡¯


    <fn83c9> ?????? ???? F¦Énd£Îovel</fn83c9>


    I closed the distance between us in two strides, every instinct urging me to rip that smug expression off her face. She held her ground, but I saw the flicker in her eyes when my wolf bled through, my Alpha King aura heavy enough to make the air feel colder.


    "Lucinda," I said coldly. "If you value your magic, your life, or whatever sliver of dignity you think you have left... You¡¯ll get out of my sight before I decide neither the elders nor your coven can protect you."


    For a beat, she didn¡¯t move.


    Then she smirked, stepped back, and bowed her head mockingly to the elders. "I¡¯ll leave you to your... delicate situation."


    When she swept out, the tension didn¡¯t lift. It just shifted.


    Coven head Arachne faced me squarely. "You may not want to hear this, Alpha King, but your mate¡¯s survival isn¡¯t the only factor here. If she¡¯s channelling the Vein, she¡¯s a danger to more than herself."


    "And if she isn¡¯t?" I challenged. "If she¡¯s fighting it every second and you¡¯re here wasting time instead of helping me bring her home?"


    They didn¡¯t answer, ncing at themselves.


    How quaint...


    "Then stay out of my way," I finished, turning to Althea. "Prepare whatever you need for the journey. We leave before the hour is out."


    She nodded once, already moving to collect her tools.


    Janelle caught my arm as I turned to leave. "Kaelos. If she¡¯s that far north, the environment alone will be hostile. Wolves or witches aside, it¡¯s survival out there."


    I met her gaze steadily. "Then she¡¯ll know I didn¡¯t stop until I reached her."


    And with Damon pacing in my chest, restless and ready for blood, I stepped out into the cold night to rally my people. Odessa was out there in the ice, in the dark, maybe closer to danger than I could imagine.


    But she was still mine.


    And I wasing for her.

 Chapter 314: _Always Come For Me

    <h4>Chapter 314: _Always Come For Me</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    The first thing that I felt when I woke up was a warm sensation around the index finger of my left hand.


    My mother¡¯s protection ring.


    It wasn¡¯t just warm but it felt like it was reaching into my soul. And I could¡¯ve sworn I heard a voice whispering my name at the corner of my ears.


    I grunted, stirring on the soft surface Iy on, the scent of a simple room air freshener and a cologne hitting me. A palm was resting on my temple, brushing my hair.


    Strong. Rough. But... Oddly calming.


    I fluttered my eyes open weakly, scanning my gaze around... Until I spotted HIM.


    The owner of the palm on my head.


    Not Kaelos and definitely not someone I would want to touch me with a ten-foot pole.


    Ryker.


    "You!" I hissed, quickly raising my right hand and swatting the bastard¡¯s palm away.


    He was sitting calmly beside me, making me realise that I was on top of a bed. How the fuck did I get on top of a bed?


    My breathing hitched as I red at him, shifting away and sitting up. But when I tried adjusting my sitting position more, a sharp pain stung my stomach, making me whimper.


    I clutched my stomach, lowering my head while Ryker sighed.


    "Well, hello to you too." He slowly rose from the bed, sping his hands in front of himself.


    His short ck hair was perfectly styled as usual, his deep silver eyes glinting with an unreadable light.


    A small smirk curled up the corner of his lips as he pointed casually at me. "You were passed out for a little over an hour. After... You know."


    I followed the direction of his finger and saw it pointing at my neck. That¡¯s when I felt the cold metal wrapped around it¡ªa silver ne.


    The same one that had zapped the consciousness out of me when I tried using my wolf abilities to attack Ryker.


    <fn034e> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? Find?Novel</fn034e>


    "Get this trinket off of me." I sneered, wrapping my hands around the ne and trying to pull it off.


    But when I did, it seemed to wrap even tighter around me, causing me to gasp. Things didn¡¯t end there as a searing heat spread over it, forcing me to withdraw my hands.


    "You never give up. Do you?" Ryker asked with a deep snigger, causing me to raise my head slowly.


    My gaze trailed from his perfectly polished ck suit to his smug smirk and the jagged sh mark across his right eye.


    His silver eyes eerily reminded me of Kaelos.


    "Ironically..." He continued casually as I took in the room around us. "That¡¯s one of the things I like about you."


    The walls of the room were stone and painted white. There was nothing else in it apart from the bed I was sitting on and the white light bulb at the centre of the ceiling.


    The window on the other side of the room was ss without any curtains or blinds. The blood moon¡¯s red light still shone through it, bathing that part of the room in red.


    "Your body is still fighting against the remnants of the wolfbane used to poison you." Ryker suddenly revealed casually, his voice reverberating through the chilly room. "But you¡¯re strong. A true hybrid. It wouldn¡¯t be much of a problem."


    Gods... That tears it!


    "You didn¡¯t answer my question before I passed out." I scooted to the edge of the bed, cing my feet on the cold marble floor. "What do you want from me? If you can¡¯t absorb my powers for yourself then what?"


    He stared at me silently, his gaze as unreadable as always.


    My jaw tightened, my gaze scanning the room for an exit strategy.


    ¡¯Oh, so NOW you wanna leave?¡¯ Sirena¡¯s voice suddenly echoed in my mind, causing my eyes to widen.


    My wolf...


    ¡¯Sirena.¡¯ A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips. ¡¯You have no idea how good it is tomunicate with a familiar voice.¡¯


    ¡¯Well, maybe if you stop fainting, we couldmunicate more.¡¯ She said with her usual sass and I could almost imagine her rolling her eyes. ¡¯So, while you were knocked out, I had a view of what was happening around you.¡¯


    My eyes lit up as she continued, the conversation happening within milliseconds.


    ¡¯He and Regina, his artificial hybrid minion, transported you through a portal out of his throne room and then to this room.¡¯ she revealed with a pensive tone. ¡¯I¡¯m just not sure if it¡¯s within the same pce,ir or wherever the fuck he stays.¡¯


    Crap... That was barely any help.


    I drew in a deep breath before focusing my eyes on Ryker.


    "You still don¡¯t want to talk?" I questioned him with a snigger. "Then at least, get the fuck out of here. Leave me alone."


    Silence.


    My chest heaved heavily as I red at him, watching as he seemingly merged with the shadows in the room. He stood in this eerie, cold silence that made me question if perhaps he wanted to sacrifice me.


    At this rate, that didn¡¯t seem out of the realm of possible things this lunatic could do.


    Eventually, Ryker¡¯s lips curved in a slow, knowing smile, finally responding.


    "See... that¡¯s the problem, Odessa." He took a step toward me, hands still sped behind his back. "I don¡¯t want to leave you alone. In fact..." his gaze swept over me like a predator evaluating prey "... I want you right where I can see you."


    I squared my shoulders, ignoring the ache in my stomach. "Why? So you can gloat? So you can chain me up and pretend you¡¯ve won?"


    His silver eyes locked onto mine, unreadable yet charged.


    "No," he said simply. "Because when I dethrone Kaelos... I want you beside me. As my Luna Queen."


    A cold shiver ran down my spine when I heard those words. I almost couldn¡¯t believe it.


    The audacity nearly made meugh but instead, my blood boiled as I spat. "You¡¯ve lost your damn mind."


    And to my annoyance, his smirk deepened.


    "Have I? You and I both know what you are, Odessa. You¡¯re not just a witch. You¡¯re not just a wolf. You are powerful. Raw, unfiltered, the kind that kings dream of possessing." He took another step closer, the air between us tightening. "Kaelos keeps you on a leash. I would set you free."


    I rose fully from the bed despite the burn in my muscles, ring at him like I could set him on fire with my eyes alone. Which I could if it weren¡¯t for the damn ne around my neck.


    "I will never help you take Kaelos¡¯ throne. And if you think for one second I would stand beside you while you hurt him..." my voice cracked with venom "... then you¡¯re dumber than you look."


    For the first time, his smirk faded slightly. His jaw tightened. "You¡¯re loyal to a fault."


    "I¡¯m loyal to my mate," I shot back. "And that¡¯s something you¡¯ll never understand."


    He leaned in just enough for me to catch the subtle scent of his cologne... like spice and smoke. Dangerous and seductive in the way venom gleams before it kills.


    "I understand loyalty," he murmured. "I just know how easily it can break when faced with the truth."


    "I¡¯ve seen the truth," I said, my voice steady. "And it¡¯s you who¡¯s afraid of it. Afraid that no matter what you do, I¡¯ll never choose you."


    For a long moment, we just stared at each other, the tension thick enough to choke on. Then...


    BOOM.


    The walls trembled, dust drifting from the ceiling. My head whipped toward the door as the sharp scent of ozone and smoke filled the air.


    Ryker¡¯s expression darkened instantly.


    Another crash echoed, closer this time, followed by the pounding of feet in the hallway. The door burst open, and two of Ryker¡¯s men stormed in, both armed, both visibly shaken.


    "My lord," one of them said urgently. "We¡¯re under attack. The perimeter¡¯s already breached."


    Regina appeared behind them, sleek as a shadow, her crimson lips curling in a vicious grin. "Wolves," she said simply, her gaze cutting briefly to me. "And not just any pack mutts. HE¡¯S here.".


    My heart stuttered. I didn¡¯t need to ask who she meant because I knew.


    Kaelos.


    Ryker¡¯s eyes flicked back to me, something sharper than amusement glinting in them now.


    "Well," he murmured, almost to himself, "it seems your king hase to collect his queen."


    A thousand things rushed through me at once¡ªrelief, fear, adrenaline so sharp it made my hands tremble. Damon, Kaelos¡¯ wolf, power was close. I could feel it like a storm breaking just beyond the horizon.


    I straightened, ignoring the weight in my throat. "Told you," I said, my voice low but fierce. "He¡¯ll alwayse for me."


    Ryker¡¯s smirk returned, but it was harder this time, edged with something like frustration. "Then let¡¯s see if he can make it through me."

 Chapter 315: _Take Back Control

    <h4>Chapter 315: _Take Back Control</h4>


    "You think you¡¯ll win against Kaelos?" I tried stalling for time with that question, sending it out like bait.


    Meanwhile, I wasmunicating with Sirena mentally. ¡¯It¡¯s time.¡¯


    ¡¯Girl...¡¯ she rasped with uncertainty. ¡¯Our mate has been trying to train us for months, but all we¡¯ve been able to aplish is you using wolf ws, fangs, and then gaining control of the sonic howl ability.¡¯


    ¡¯If we want any chance of getting out of here and being helped by Kaelos... It¡¯s the only way.¡¯ I responded with a heavy breath.


    What were we talking about? Well, me shifting into Sirena.


    It was a long timeing at this point and the only thing stopping me was a mental block which I couldn¡¯t seem to bypass.


    Kaelos once told me that intense emotions could trigger a wolf transformation, especially if it¡¯s a first-time shift.


    And right here, right now, as I red at Ryker¡¯s face while he calmly sent orders to his minions, all I could feel was the intense urge to sink my fangs into his throat.


    "Secure the perimeter but don¡¯t send any of my artificial hybrids," Ryker said calmly, cing his arms behind his back and facing Regina. "You stay here and keep watch of the Luna Queen."


    He paused, and even though I couldn¡¯t see his face from here, I could almost see the smug smirk, which came along with his smug voice.


    "It¡¯s time my baby brother and I saw eye to eye." He added with a snigger, walking away from me and heading out with the guards who had walked in earlier.


    Regina sighed, wiggling her fingers, causing the door to close behind her.


    Just when she folded her arms in front of her chest and fixed her gaze on me, I drew in a ragged breath before speaking.


    "You don¡¯t seem all too enthusiastic to be following hismand."


    She arched an eyebrow, a smirk curling up her lips. "Well, I¡¯m not too keen on babysitting grown ass women."


    I smirked as well, but mine was humourless. "So we¡¯re calling kidnapping babysitting now?"


    As I spoke, I used the opportunity to scan my gaze on her. I could pick up the sound of fighting outside, sts and howls echoing alongside heavy footsteps.


    I need to get out there.


    ¡¯She¡¯s an artificial hybrid.¡¯ Sirena noted in my head. ¡¯Probably one of the most powerful under Ryker¡¯s control.¡¯


    ¡¯Yes, but outside that... She¡¯s also a person.¡¯ I whispered in return, my jaw tightening. ¡¯I¡¯ll dly use that to my advantage here.¡¯


    ¡¯Someone¡¯s in her master maniptor era...¡¯


    "It¡¯s not exactly kidnapping when you¡¯re the one who walked through the portal." Regina scoffed, brushing her right hand through her hair. "I don¡¯t know what she saw in you, really. I mean, other than the fact that you¡¯re... Kinda hot."


    I furrowed my eyebrows, confusion hitting me in the gut.


    "What are you talking about?" I queried, slowly getting off the bed and taking a single step.


    But she raised her right hand, pointing it at me while shaking her head. "Ah, ah, ah. I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you."


    ¡¯Any luck reaching out to Kaelos through the mate bond?¡¯ I asked Sirena just then, trying my best to multitask.


    My fists curled beside me. My wolf was silent for a couple seconds and then...


    ¡¯He¡¯s definitely here. But your little stunt back in Blood Oak before we left messed up the connection. Badly.¡¯ she revealed, causing a shiver to crawl up my spine.


    I¡¯ve noticed how the mate bond always seems to weaken or fluctuate anytime I tap too deeply into my magic or whenever Ryker breaches my mind.


    This further confirmed it.


    "Anyway, I¡¯m surprised she didn¡¯t tell you anything about me at least." Regina continued after the silence drew out between us, her hand lowering. "Your maid."


    My eyes widened, my heart skipping a beat.


    Caroline?


    "Again... What the fuck are you talking about?" I asked coldly, feeling my magic pulse in my veins. The temperature in the room dropped as well, but the ne around my neck stung like an annoying reminder of my current inhibition.


    "Hey, no need to get riled up." Regina chuckled, raising her hands in mock defeat. "I toyed with her for a bit. Was hoping to get some idea of what she truly is."


    The more she spoke, the more confused I was getting.


    My fingers twitched beside me as I tilted my head. "You get a raise for being in control. From manipting people. From using them."


    She smiled with pure sarcasm. "Yeah, and the sky is blue. Your point?"


    My voice dropped low as I took another step forward. "But that¡¯s because that¡¯s the only thing you¡¯ve known all your life. Being under someone¡¯s control. Being under Ryker¡¯s control."


    Her face remained smug but I saw the twitch in her eyes. That told me that I was right and struck a nerve.


    ¡¯Odessa...¡¯ before I could say anything else, a familiar deep voice echoed in my mind, sending warmth through me.


    My heart fluttered, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. I felt the mate bond pulsed stronger than ever, like it was fed new life.


    ¡¯Kaelos.¡¯ I spoke through the mind link, cing my left hand on my chest. ¡¯K¨CKaelos, you¡¯re here. You came for me.¡¯


    ¡¯You scared the shit out of me, Mon ami.¡¯ His voice was cheerful, like someone who struck gold after years of searching.


    My eyes stung with tears, my vision blurring at the edges. My jaw clenched as I red at Regina, my eyes narrowing.


    ¡¯I¡¯m currently upied with Ryker¡¯s goons, but I¡¯ll find you soon,¡¯ he said with reassurance, but I didn¡¯t mind waiting a little.


    ¡¯I¡¯ll find my way to you...¡¯


    "You know nothing about me." Regina sneered coldly, suddenly drawing out a dagger from her side pocket. She took a few steps closer, causing me to stiffen.


    She saw this and smirked. "You think you¡¯re so smart, huh? Ryker offered me power beyond anything I could possibly imagine at first. He gave me control over my life."


    I chuckled dryly, gesturing at her even though my pulse quickened with every step she took.


    "You call this control? You being hisp dog? You can lie to me, bute on..." My voice was firm, my eyes never leaving her or that damn dagger in her hand. "... Don¡¯t lie to yourself."


    Suddenly, she stretched her right hand forward, clenching it into a fist. An invisible force coiled around me like a giant hand, causing me to gasp as air left my lungs.


    I tried fighting back, taking a single step forward but it was no use. I fell to my knees, my head lowering while her voice echoed around the room:


    "I am my own person beyond Ryker¡¯s shadow. Don¡¯t think you cane here and¡ª"


    "Then prove it." I managed to raise my head, looking her dead in the eyes. "Prove it now. Do something outside of what Ryker would want. Kill me."


    She frowned, shaking her head. "You must be out of your¡ª"


    "Come on, you want to, right?" I asked, squinting my eyes defiantly even though my lips trembled. "Do it. I have nothing more to lose."


    As I spoke, something primal twisted in me, coiling hot in my blood. It wasn¡¯t magic. This felt more... Predatory.


    The bond pulsed stronger between Kaelos and me, pushing my werewolf blood beyond what it was formerly capable of.


    ¡¯Time to end this charade.¡¯ Sirena¡¯s voice boomed in my mind all of a sudden.


    I acted in sync with her, embracing the transformation. Silver white fur began sprouting from my arms, my snout elongating and my bones snapping.


    <fnadad> Th?s chapter is updated by Find~Novel</fnadad>


    I grunted, gritting my teeth through the pain as I slowly rose to my feet, pushing through Regina¡¯s telekic hold on me.


    Her eyes widened with disbelief as she gawked at me, shaking her head. "Impossible. You... You couldn¡¯t shift all this while."


    I locked my gaze on her, clutching the ne around my neck as it tried restraining my wolf side.


    My lips parted, my fangs elongating as well as my ws.


    "You¡¯re about to learn what it feels like to take back control." My voice was a mix of mine and Sirena¡¯s, echoing through the room like a divine deration.


    And then, just when the ne around my neck burned with a searing heat that coiled deep into my skin... I yanked it off with the strength of my wolf, a guttural howl escaping my lips as my body mass erged.

 Chapter 316: _Desperation Of A Thousand Nights

    <h4>Chapter 316: _Desperation Of A Thousand Nights</h4>


    "Bloody hell..." Regina cursed, spreading out her hands and going on the defensive.


    But I growled, falling on all fours when I finally shifted fully. Just when she was about to send an attack at me, I lunged, my ws extended.


    "Shit!" She dodged by disappearing into a cloud of ck smoke but I sniffed into the air.


    My senses of smell, sight, hearing and even feeling were heightened to a level I¡¯ve never felt before. My ears made a 180-degree twist, following the movement of the air in the room.


    She appeared behind me, her feet nimble on the marble floor.


    But not nimble enough.


    I spun around, Sirena¡¯s silver white fur blowing around us like clouds as we released a sonic howl at Regina.


    It hit her, but she was quick, creating a dark purple force bubble around herself which shielded her from the rest of the attack.


    ¡¯Screw this. Let¡¯s go find our mate.¡¯ Sirena echoed in our mental space and I couldn¡¯t agree more.


    To my surprise, my magic burned beneath my fur, this time unhindered by that magic ne. But I held back, afraid to tap into the Vein identally.


    I finally closed my mouth, stopping the sonic howl mid-scream. The silence that followed was eerie, almost like the room itself had stopped breathing.


    Regina was crouched low in a corner, her hands braced against the wall, panting heavily. Her force bubble flickered as cracks spiralled across its surface like shattered ss.


    Her eyes met mine¡ªwide, almost fearful.


    Good.


    But I didn¡¯t wait. I bolted toward the metal door, my ws scraping against the tiles, my massive silver-white wolf form practically gleaming with every movement.


    ¡¯The others are near,¡¯ Sirena murmured, sniffing the air. ¡¯Your mate is close.¡¯


    My heart skipped a beat. And then another howl rang out¡ªlow, loud, and dominant.


    But it wasn¡¯t me... It was...


    <fn3873> Discover more novels at find~novel</fn3873>


    Kaelos!


    My muscles twitched with the urge to run faster. I charged through the halls, leaping over scattered furniture, half-dead guards, and copsed pirs. The whole fortress shook like it was being torn apart from the inside.


    I burst through arge metal door and sprinted right into the battlefield outside.


    And what greeted me was the blood moon shining bright as ever in the sky... and chaos.


    Pure chaos.


    Magic and elemental sts lit the night sky. Fireballs soared likeets. The scent of blood, fur, ash, and adrenaline filled the air.


    Wolves shifted mid-leap, jaws shing with bone. Spells crackled and collided. Screams of the wounded mingled with howls of dominance and defiance.


    Above it all, I saw them... Kaelos and the others.


    My breath caught in my throat as I froze.


    They were here.


    Kaelos, Althea, Janelle and the other Alpha Kings. Kaelos¡¯ soldiers as well, all covered in blood and dirt, fighting with grit and desperation.


    My heart flipped violently inside my chest.


    Kaelos was at the centre of it all, shirt torn, fists crackling with silver energy, his canines bared but unable to shift due to the blood moon. His body was raw muscle and fury, punching, shing, throwing enemies across the field like rag dolls.


    And around him:


    Janelle, glowing in full regal fury, fought beside her husband Alpha King Thorian, their synchronised strikes cutting down enemies like scythes through wheat.


    Althea stood behind them, her hands raised to the sky, a glowing golden staff between her fingers. She chanted in an ancientnguage, runes spinning around her like a shield.


    Her magicshed out in pulses¡ªbursting barriers, healing allies, and burning holes through Ryker¡¯s army.


    Even Alpha King Mwansa had blood running down his arms as he mmed two enemies¡¯ heads together, roaring through the battlefield like a god of war.


    Yet despite all that strength, none of them could shift.


    The blood moon hung high, bloated and pulsing, its magic heavy in the air. It gripped the wolves¡¯ blood, suppressing their ability to transform. Only I¡ªonly Sirena¡ªcould break through it.


    Probably because of our true hybrid nature...


    Iunched forward, crashing into a rogue wolf attempting to nk Janelle, tearing through him with my ws. Another lunged, and I twisted midair, ripping through his throat before he even realised I¡¯d moved.


    ¡¯We are rage,¡¯ Sirena growled in my head. ¡¯We are what they fear.¡¯


    A third tried to pounce, but Kaelos was already there. His fist, glowing silver, collided with the rogue¡¯s chest with such force that it exploded into ash and bone. Blood sttered his face, and he didn¡¯t even blink.


    His eyes met mine and at that moment... Time froze.


    "Odessa." His voice was alive with disbelief, rage, and love all tangled together.


    I shifted back mid-leap, falling into his arms like I was born to be there.


    He caught me.


    Gods, he caught me.


    Our lips collided with the desperation of a thousand nights. I gripped the back of his neck, his arms wrapping around my waist as if to fuse us together permanently.


    "I thought I¡¯d lost you," he whispered against my lips, his voice breaking.


    "You didn¡¯t," I murmured. "You never will."


    He pulled me tighter, then suddenly tucked me behind him as a fireball came hurling toward us. He raised a silver-coated fist and punched the damn thing mid-air, causing it to fizzle out in a cloud of sparks.


    "Nice trick," I breathed with a small smirk.


    "I guess it only works when I¡¯m pissed off enough," he muttered, smiling as well.


    "Well, stay pissed." I blurted, scanning my gaze on the battlefield. "We¡¯ve got shit to destroy."


    The battlefield was a nightmare.


    Ryker had released artificial hybrids, stronger and faster than normal werewolves. Their bodies were twisted, muscr, some with extra limbs or eyes.


    They moved erratically¡ªlike puppets driven by madness.


    Kaelos barked orders at the soldiers, his Alpha King aura crashing across the field in waves. The weaker enemies copsed instantly, foaming at the mouth. Others staggered, disoriented, giving our side time to gain ground.


    But it wasn¡¯t enough.


    We were winning skirmishes, not the war.


    I fought beside Kaelos, my ws dripping with blood, Sirena guiding my instincts. Every swipe, every tear, every scream, I met it with feral determination.


    But then... I smelled him.


    Ryker.


    That sickening scent of rot and a cologne that seemed right out of the sixties.


    I turned, expecting to see him leading the charge.


    But no.


    He hadn¡¯t arrived yet.


    Which meant this wasn¡¯t even the real fight.


    Suddenly, a boom echoed through the ground as a wave of power rippled through the field.


    Kaelos staggered, and so did Althea; her staff dimmed.


    "The hell was that?" I asked, bracing my stance.


    Kaelos clenched his jaw. "Something... changed."


    And then, with a crack of ck lightning... Lucinda appeared, floating above the battlefield, blood running from her lips, her eyes pitch-ck.


    "Miss me?" she purred, causing my heart to drop to my stomach.


    I bared my teeth, quickly realising whose side she was on. "You witch-bitch traitor!"


    "Such filthy words from the Vein-borne," she cooed. "Ryker sends his love, by the way."

 Chapter 317: _Child Of Selene

    <h4>Chapter 317: _Child Of Selene</h4>


    "She¡¯s been working for Ryker all along?" Kaelos snarled as we stared wearily at Lucinda floating above us.


    Slowly, an aura of dark green energy surrounded her like a cloak, her hair and robes pping around her like clouds.


    "I knew that witch shouldn¡¯t be trusted." Alpha king Thorian suddenly stepped forward, his fangs bared. "From the moment she stepped into the event hall during the festival."


    "Well, congrattions," Lucinda said with a mocking voice. "But if there¡¯s one thing you should know about witches who make it to the top... We don¡¯t do it by ying with the losing side."


    Without warning, she stretched her right hand toward us, clenching it into a fist.


    As she did, the wind picked up, the clouds above the red night sky twisting and twirling like snakes. ck lightning rained on the snowy field around us, striking down allies and foes.


    "No!" Althea yelled out, stepping in front of me before I could even react.


    She raised her hands toward the heavens, creating a dark blue force bubble around me, Kaelos, her and the other Alpha kings.


    Luna Queen Janelle¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up with a bright silver light as she clutched the purple ring on her finger, locking her gaze on Lucinda.


    "You might want to close your eyes for this one..." She muttered, ncing at me with a mysterious glint in her eyes.


    I did that, clutching close to Kaelos and looking away from her.


    Even though I couldn¡¯t see, I felt the burst of light that followed and then the screams and pained howls all around us.


    The sound of Lucinda¡¯s lightning bolts crackled in the air around us, splitting the sky and raining upon the force bubble. But I held tight to Kaelos, not letting go despite the burst of energy around us.


    When it finally felt like the searing light had stopped shining, Janelle¡¯s voice echoed.


    "Alright. You may open your eyes."


    My eyes fluttered open. I scanned my gaze around us to see the destruction left behind by whatever Janelle just did.


    The battlefield around us was scorched with ckened ash etched on the snow, save for the spot surrounded by Althea¡¯s force bubble.


    And around the scorched area... The charred bodies of the artificial hybrids who had been heading toward the force bubbley in the snow.


    The cause of this destruction, Janelle, stood in front of all of us, withdrawing her hand from her purple ring as her silver hair blew behind her.


    "Well... Ryker warned me about your power." Lucinda¡¯s voice boomed through the eerie silence that came after the devastation at the same moment that Althea¡¯s force bubble finally dissipated.


    ¡¯The soldiers I brought here... they¡¯re all dead.¡¯¡¯ Kaelos¡¯ voice was like a whisper in my mind, forcing me to turn my gaze to him. ¡¯We need to get out of here.¡¯


    I shook my head, clutching his hand even tighter. ¡¯Not without bringing Lucinda down.¡¯


    His silver eyes turned to me, a myriad of emotions swirling in them.


    Meanwhile, Lucinda continued speaking to Janelle, her voice filled with... Reverence?


    "You¡¯re one of thest descendants of the moon goddess herself. A child of Selene. Silver Borne."


    I furrowed my eyebrows, confusion eating me up. And when I nced at Kaelos, he seemed just as confused.


    Eventually, Lucinda added coldly. "It¡¯s quite unfortunate that you have to be in my way. Move. The Vein-borne belongs with Lord Ryker, who¡¯ll use her connection to the Vein to¡ª"


    "Lucinda Silverwing!" My aunt Althea suddenly yelled out with a loud voice, flinging the wooden staff in her hands aside. "So you tapped into the Vein. I can smell its chaotic power all over you."


    My eyes widened.


    ¡¯Well, that exins why she looks like Voldemort and Morgana¡¯s love child up there.¡¯ Sirena echoed in my head. ¡¯Do you want to fight her? She may be tapping into the Vein but you are THE key to the Vein.¡¯


    As tempting as that was, I couldn¡¯t.


    I couldn¡¯t even afford to tap too deeply into my normal magic reserves without risking activating the dark sigils connecting me to the Vein.


    "So what if I tapped into the Vein?" Lucinda thundered as the wind began picking up speed again. "Nyx, your ancestor did the same thing, and that¡¯s what led to Odessa¡¯s current... State. You know what?"


    Suddenly, Althea stiffened, rising into the air under the influence of Lucinda¡¯s magic.


    Her arms iled before Lucinda clenched her fist tighter, freezing Althea midair like a puppet on invisible strings. A pained gasp escaped her lips, and dark green veins snaked across her skin like cracks in porcin.


    "Althea!" I shouted, stepping forward but Kaelos grabbed my arm, holding me back.


    "Wait."


    He was right. I wasn¡¯t ready to face that level of power... Without having to tap into my magic.


    Janelle¡¯s silver eyes narrowed as she stepped up, her body glowing faintly with an ethereal silver hue. "You¡¯re not the only one who¡¯s been busy studying the Vein¡¯s chaos," she said coldly.


    Lucinda hissed, throwing Althea to the ground like discarded trash.


    Before she could strike again, Janelle vanished¡ªliterally vanished¡ªin a streak of silver light and reappeared mid-air, a massive silver construct of a hammer forming in her hands as if summoned by sheer will.


    She mmed it down toward Lucinda.


    Lucinda barely dodged, the impact cracking the air and creating a crater in the snow-covered earth below. The shockwave sent debris flying in all directions, knocking down nearby artificial hybrids that had survived the initial assault.


    Thorian let out a guttural roar, charging forward, ws extended, blue eyes zing.


    "You witches and your games!" He barked.


    <fn20ce> This content belongs to find~novel</fn20ce>


    Lucinda blocked his strike with a shield of green light¡ªbut didn¡¯t expect Alpha King Mwansa to lunge at her from behind. He raked his ws across her back, drawing dark, oily blood that sizzled as it hit the snow.


    Lucinda screamed, spinning and sting them both back with a pulse of corrupt magic.


    "I¡¯ve fought fellow skilled witches ande out on top!" She roared. "Do you seriously think a few dogs and a half-lit moon princess can defeat me?!"


    "You talk too damn much," Kaelos growled, his voice low and deadly.


    And then he moved.


    His body shimmered as he activated his Alpha King aura, a radiant silver light enveloping his fists. He leapt into the air, spinning mid-flight, and punched Lucinda square across the jaw.


    The impact sent a ripple through her protective aura, making it shimmer and crackle. For a moment, her body stuttered like a glitch in reality.


    I didn¡¯t hesitate after that.


    "You wanna burn the world?" I shouted, my voice wild, eyes glowing bright. "Then let¡¯s burn together!"


    mes ignited at my feet as I summoned what little elemental magic I could still harness.


    I extended both arms andunched a st of roaring violet fire directly at Lucinda. It collided with Lucinda¡¯s barrier, cracking it further.


    ¡¯Careful not to tap too deep...¡¯ Sirena growled in my mind as I gritted my teeth, trying to keep control.


    Althea, still on the ground but slowly rising, muttered an incantation under her breath.


    "By the Light of the old gods... By the old roots of Gaia..."


    A deep thrum echoed across the field as the earth itself responded. Cracks split the snow beneath Lucinda, and glowing runes lit up in a circle around her.


    "What is this¡ª?" Lucinda snarled, trying to float higher, but her power faltered. The runes glowed brighter now, imprisoning her in a dome of ancient magic.


    "She¡¯s bound," Althea panted, lifting her hand, palm facing Lucinda. "Now finish her!"


    Kaelos surged forward again, ws coated in silver energy. He shed at Lucinda¡¯s chest and Alpha King Maddox followed up with a punch that knocked her back into the rune cage.


    I managed to send a final fireball that exploded on contact.


    Lucinda screamed, her dark green aura ring violently.


    But still... She stood.


    Bloodied, burned and furious.


    "You little pests think you¡¯ve won," she hissed, dark lightning flickering across her body. "You¡¯re nothing but footnotes in Lord Ryker¡¯s rise to power!"


    And just as she raised her hands again, dark energy swirling, Althea moved.


    With a wave of her hand, her fallen staff reappeared in her grip. She spun it once, nting its tip into the ground, and drew deep into her magic.


    A beam of white-blue magic formed at the tip of her staff, aimed directly at Lucinda¡¯s heart.


    Lucinda turned just as Althea whispered. "You chose the wrong High Priestess."


    Then fired.


    The beam pierced through Lucinda¡¯s chest, shattering thest remnants of her shield.


    Her scream echoed like thunder, the dark green aura around her imploding, ripping the clouds above into a brief clear patch, just enough to let a sliver of red moonlight hit her burning body.


    She disintegrated mid-air, particles of ash scattering like cursed snowkes.


    Silence.


    Just... silence.


    Until Althea finally dropped her staff and copsed to her knees.


    Janelle knelt beside her, the silver light on her body dimming as she ced a steadying hand on her shoulder. "It¡¯s done."


    I panted heavily, withdrawing my arms to myself and staring at them wearily.


    The dark sigils in my blood pulsed faintly, but then slowly dimmed, causing relief to flow through me.


    "We did it..." Kaelos wrapped his arm around my waist, grounding me in his warmth.


    But just when I thought we could finally catch a break to feel our emotions...


    "Bravo!" A deep voice boomed from the top of the snowy fortress Ryker had kept me in, sending a burst of wind that forced me to shield my face with my arms.


    Gods... It was Ryker!

 Chapter 318: _The First Born’s Claim

    <h4>Chapter 318: _The First Born¡¯s im</h4>


    Ryker rose up into the clouds from the top of the fortress, his arms spread wide.


    His gaze was locked on us, a cold grin curling across his face. But what really sent shivers through my soul was the fact that he seemed like he was staring directly at me especially.


    Kaelos held my hand tighter beside me, taking a single step forward. "We finally meet, Lord of the North."


    Ryker sniggered, the sound echoing for miles.


    "Indeed, brother. Sorry, we didn¡¯t meet sooner. Been nning on how to take the throne and all for decades now." Ryker said as if it were the most casual thing to say.


    Yet, I felt Kaelos stiffen, feeling his dread and confusion like it was mine.


    "Brother?" Alpha king Soren echoed, sounding like he was seconds away from ripping someone¡¯s head off.


    After all, the man taunting us was responsible for the death of his father, the previous South American Alpha King.


    He nced first at Kaelos and then back at Ryker, squinting his eyes. Everyone else was probably thinking the same thing I thought when Ryker first told me about being Kaelos¡¯ brother.


    The resemnce.


    "Uncanny resemnce, right?" Ryker chuckled dryly, shaking his head. "Yeah, you could say my father¡¯s genes were pretty good at copy and pasting. But I¡¯m the original. Born decades before Kaelos."


    I clenched my jaw, ring at the bastard. Meanwhile, Kaelos was just silent, his emotions bing more and more uncertain as the others argued.


    "How dare you make such bogus ims?!" Alpha King Thorian snarled, his voice booming through the snowy field. "I can sniff it from all the way here. You¡¯re¡ª"


    "A true hybrid." Ryker chimed with an acknowledging nod, his eyes fleeting to me. "Just like the Vein-born. Except, I don¡¯te from a bloodline with ties to chaotic magic underneath the continent."


    Silence.


    It seemed like everyone was trying to process all that they¡¯d just heard.


    But Ryker was having a field day toying with everyone, his voice echoing again. "What? Do you want us to go mundane and conduct a DNA test? Or, perhaps a blood ritual to prove¡ª"


    "He¡¯s telling the truth." Janelle suddenly spoke up, her voice solemn. Her silver hair blew around her as she nced over her shoulder at us. "Ryker is Kaelos¡¯ brother."


    My gaze fell to her purple ring which glinted with a bright light. That¡¯s how she knows...


    "Thank you, child of Selene." Ryker¡¯s voice was calm, like everything was going ording to script. "This is perfect! With all the Alpha kings present here, you can help do the right thing."


    Alpha King Maddox boomed with his thick ent. "And what could that be?"


    I had a bad feeling about where this was going but most of all, about how calm Kaelos seemed to be.


    "Kaelos?" I called out to him, tightening my grip on his hand but he still remained silent, never looking away from Ryker.


    <fnc3eb> This text is hosted at Find¡ïNovel</fnc3eb>


    Meanwhile, the Lord of the North¡¯s grin became even more smug as he thundered. "I am the true Alpha King of North America by birthright. The firstborn of thete Alpha King Balthazar."


    Alpha King Arakida was sceptical. "Even if you¡¯re Balthazar¡¯s son. Do you carry the Alpha King bloodline? The wolf and might of one?"


    One major difference between Alpha kings and other werewolves apart from their devastating strength and power... Was their wolf.


    I saw Alpha King Mwansa shift back in Blood Oak... Into a simr bipedal beast as Kaelos, except my mate¡¯s wolf stood taller.


    Gamma Zane, Kaelos¡¯ paternal uncle, never showed such transformation, so being born to the bloodline of an Alpha king wasn¡¯t a guarantee of being one.


    Anyway, Ryker clenched his outstretched hands into fists, his voice booming with confidence. "See for yourself."


    Suddenly, a blood-red aura surrounded him, spreading out like a cloak for several meters. The pressuring force that came from the aura was... Oddly recognisable.


    I stiffened subconsciously, my eyes quivering. Sirena howled with hesitation inside me, like she was afraid of what we were staring at.


    "An Alpha King¡¯s aura..." Alpha King Maddox whispered with awe, shaking his head.


    "How can this be?" Thorian added, his voice filled with disbelief.


    "There can only be ONE Alpha king in a continent. It¡¯s been the way for millennia." Ryker said calmly, pointing a finger at Kaelos. "As members of the council of Alpha Kings, I ask that you force Kaelos to step down peacefully."


    I couldn¡¯t take the bullshit anymore, ignoring the pressure from his Alpha king aura and withdrawing my hand from Kaelos.


    "Odessa..." He tried calling me back softly, but I ignored him, ring at Ryker.


    "You¡¯ve got some nerve. You know that?" My voice snapped through the tension, sharp and defiant. "Kaelos has ruled the packs of North America for over a decade. Where have you been during all this? Why didn¡¯t youe forward to challenge him when he was younger?"


    Ryker sniggered. "Well, it wouldn¡¯t have been much of a fair fight now, would it? Besides... You of all people should know the bias against hybrids like us."


    My jaw tightened but I persisted. "Which is more reason why you don¡¯t deserve the title of Alpha King."


    "Low blowing from the Luna Queen of chaos." Ryker sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "If the continent can turn a blind eye to you being Luna Queen then¡ª"


    "Unlike you, Odessa hasn¡¯t been terrorising the continent for years." Kaelos finally spoke up, his voice firm. "She¡¯s been by my side, trying to make a difference."


    I nced at him, smiling warmly and he did the same.


    But that warmth didn¡¯tst long.


    "Terrorising? You mean me gathering rogues and making them something more than rejected wolves?" Ryker snorted. "You mean showing the world who you really are? A fraud who sits on the throne of a man you murdered?"


    Kaelos¡¯ anger suddenly burst out like a flood, taking shape in the form of his Alpha King aura. His was a bright silver, searing and sending cracks on the ground underneath our feet.


    But it was also warm, making me feel... safe. Protected.


    "And YOU sent the witch who caused the death of my mother!" Kaelos boomed, his voice sending shockwaves that blew snow and dust everywhere. "If you want my throne... You¡¯ll have to fight for it."


    The second those words dropped, the wind picked up speed. The night sky and the blood moon seemed to pulse with an almost otherworldly glow, a sickly silver light shining from Ryker¡¯s eyes.


    I scanned my gaze on the faces of the other Alpha Kings. They were all nervous, uncertain, seemingly confused about how to move forward.


    And as for Althea? She slowly rose to her feet, her purple robes pping around her.


    "We have to leave immediately." She warned, her voice like an omen.


    But when the howl of the wind started sounding like the screams of lost souls, the hair on my skin stood on end... I knew something horrible was about to happen.


    "I ept your challenge, little brother." Ryker¡¯s voice was cold, devoid of the yful confidence from earlier.


    Suddenly, the blood moon ckened, shifting from bright red to crimson and then finally... Pitch ck.


    Dread surged through my being, my heart thudding heavily as Ryker pointed his ws at us, an orb of dark energy building up in the middle of his palm.


    "Just know that I, the Lord of the North, was gracious enough to seek peace first."

 Chapter 319: _To Expose You

    <h4>Chapter 319: _To Expose You</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    "By the goddess..." One of the Luna Queens who waited behind gasped beside him, clutching her literal pearls.


    And why? Because of the cosmic spectacle happening in the sky.


    Marcellus stood right outside the ceremonial building Althea used for her spells.


    He watched with the faintest smirk on his lips as the sky turned ck, bloated by the moon itself which was transforming into a darker shade of red before turningpletely ck.


    "What¡¯s going on?" A guard said with a panicked voice, his limbs getting limp like he had given up on life.


    "Is that magic?"


    "I¡¯ve never seen anything like it."


    Suddenly, the two elders from the Luminari coven walked out of the ceremonial building, their eyebrows furrowed. They locked their gazes on Marcellus who looked away and rolled his eyes before wearing a serious expression.


    ¡¯I guess it¡¯s cougar season...¡¯


    "Lucinda." One of them said hastily, staring at Marcellus like that should mean something. "We can¡¯t seem to find her. Do you¡ª"


    "Do I know where your troublesome prodigy went?" Marcellus interrupted, smiling with sarcasm. "No, high Priestesses. And with all due respect, I think we have farrger problems in our hands."


    "The Vein." One of the elders, Nimue, if he recalls correctly, murmured, her voice solemn. "Someone¡¯s tapping into it. I can feel it¡¯s chaotic magic in the air."


    The Vein...


    Interesting.


    Marcellus has heard Lord Ryker talk about it a lot. He also knew that his master was one of the only beings on the who had managed to tap into it... Without running mad or getting destroyed.


    Suddenly, the wind began picking up speed, forcing him to dim his eyes as he turned his gaze to the Luna Queens.


    "All of you, head into the mansion. Your husbands will be back soon." Marcellus yelled out despite his desire to dump their rich bodies in ake.


    But one of them, sharing his dark skin and most definitely Mwansa¡¯s wife, stepped forward, her jewellery jingling as she moved.


    "Our husbands went on a suicide mission. If this is truly the Lord of the North responsible, just how much power is at his disposal that he¡¯s ckened the sky throughout the continent?"


    Marcellus parted his lips to speak when another chimed.


    "What if it¡¯s not him? That hybrid, Odessa. Alpha King Kaelos did reveal her connection to the Vein."


    Marcellus raised his chin, locking his eyes on them. "You mean the Luna Queen of North America. And I¡¯ll appreciate it if you don¡¯t speak ill of her."


    No, of course he didn¡¯t say that because he cared.


    He only did because the Luminari coven leaders were watching him keenly. Too keenly.


    He hated witches only for their intuition, and thest thing he needed was anyone getting suspicious of him. He¡¯d be forced to kill someone again if that bes the case...


    "Speak ill?" Soren¡¯s wife, Cam, folded her arms with a scoff. "Please, we all saw the stunt she pulled with that blood rain. For all we know, she¡¯s the one whomunicated with Ryker to send his rogues. Right on cue."


    Marcellus nced at the elders.


    None of them said anything, choosing to remain silent over someone whom they were already contemting punishing once she came back.


    Poor Odessa.


    She never seemed to catch a break.


    "Alright, enough of this." Marcellus raised his hands, signalling some nearby guards. "For your own good and to ensure I keep my promise to your husbands of safeguarding you all, I insist you head into the mansion."


    The guards stepped in and politely herded them to leave. The Luna Queens showed resistance at first but eventually, theyplied, grumbling and gossiping all the way.


    Just when Marcellus let out a heavy breath, coven head Arachne spoke up behind him.


    "You seem to think so highly of... Luna Queen Odessa."


    He spun around, wearing his kindest smile. "I only stated the truth. I hate seeing all the disapproval she¡¯s been getting simply for who she is."


    "You mean what she is." Arachne blurted, shaking her head. "Everyone knows how unstable a hybrid can be. Talk less of her who has a direct connection to the Vein."


    Marcellus¡¯s jaw tightened slightly as Elder Nimue pointed at the ckened sky. "What Ryker is doing tonight is just the tip of the iceberg of what Odessa is capable of. If he gets her under his control like we fear¡ª"


    "I¡¯m sure Alpha King Kaelos and the others are working their hardest to make sure that doesn¡¯t happen." Marcellus forced a smile, nodding reassuringly at the two of them.


    Eventually, he turned away from them, but not without adding. "Good luck finding Lucinda..."


    .


    .


    The walk back to his residence was... Exciting.


    His favourite part was watching the chaos spreading around the entire pack, wolves from all walks of life pointing at the sky and saying final prayers to the moon goddess.


    But how would such prayers be heard when the moon was nowhere to be found?


    "It¡¯s all over every news station in the world," Cullen reported to him when he stepped into his living room, handing him a ss of vodka. "Some witches are already calling it the beginning of prophecies and¡ª"


    "I have no time for fantasies." Marcellus sniggered, taking a sip from the vodka and sittingfortably on his sofa. "Everything went ording to n. And once Lord Ryker has Odessa under his control, he can use her to do almost anything..."


    He paused, drawing in a deep breath as he felt a nauseating warmth deep within his... Soul.


    A warmth that he¡¯s tried to get rid of for months. Itching. Burning. Reminding him that he wasn¡¯tpletely in control:


    The mark elder Davina left behind with a moonstone explosion before her death.


    He still had no idea what it was, but once Ryker ascends, he¡¯ll be given even more power as his right-hand man.


    That¡¯ll be enough to get rid of anything, including the pesky mark.


    "I guess we should toast to that." Cullen raised his ss while still standing, chuckling. But just when he was about to drink, the doorbell rang.


    Marcellus swerved his head to the living room door, squinting his eyes.


    He wasn¡¯t expecting any visitors...


    <fnc348> Th?s chapter is updated by Find_Novel(.</fnc348>


    "Go check who it is." He muttered to Cullen, crossing one leg on top of the other and continuing with his drink.


    His assistant did just that, his footsteps soft on the marble. After a few seconds at the door, he opened it, letting the person out theree in.


    When Marcellus fixed his gaze on the uninvited guest, his eyebrows furrowed.


    "Caroline?" He mumbled as Odessa¡¯s maid walked in with a small smile, eyeing Cullen briefly.


    When she was standing close to Marcellus, she bowed slightly. "I¡¯m here to see you, Beta Marcellus."


    He nced at Cullen who looked at her with suspicion at the door.


    Hmm...


    "What for?" Marcellus queried, keeping his eyes on her while taking arge gulp from his drink.


    But then...


    "To expose you, of course."


    His eyes widened as he choked on the drink.

 Chapter 320: _So Will She...

    <h4>Chapter 320: _So Will She...</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    "Excuse me?" He cleared his throat, trying to breathe past the drink stuck in his throat as Caroline took a couple of steps forward.


    Her smile was oddly confident but there was something within that Marcellus couldn¡¯t wrap his fingers around.


    HE couldn¡¯t understand someone¡¯s emotions?


    Hell no...


    "To expose how much of a good Beta you are, of course." Caroline continued, sping her hands calmly in front of her. She nced at Cullen from over her shoulder, her smile never disappearing. "May I sit?"


    Marcellus blinked at her like she¡¯d lost her damn mind. Heck, maybe she has.


    People in this pack seem to be on some divine crack more and more these days.


    "Caroline, I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve noticed but it¡¯s an apocalypse out there." Marcellus set his drink aside, adjusting his sitting position. "Now¡¯s not the right time to¡ª"


    "You didn¡¯t let me finish, Beta Marcellus." Caroline chuckled, sitting on the sofa across from him. "Why the rush? I mean, it¡¯s not like it¡¯s rainingets or something."


    Marcellus¡¯ jaw tightened as he stared at her coldly. She was ying something and he knew it.


    He¡¯s always been suspicious of this girl ever since she resisted a mind control spell from him months ago. Back then, he brushed it off as someone interrupting right on time, but now...


    <fne88d> Updates are released by F?nd-Novel</fne88d>


    "La. Her death..." Caroline suddenly remarked, her tone dropping for just a beat. There was a flicker of sadness behind her eyes but it soon disappeared. "... Her death was sudden but suspicious."


    Now she¡¯s mentioning the obvious.


    Marcellus wore his best smile, tilting his head slightly. "Caroline, I really appreciate having someone to talk to but again... Now is not the time to¡ª"


    "You killed La." Caroline suddenly said casually, the words rolling out like venom coated in silk. She raised her chin, her eyes glinting with an unreadable light. "You killed her. And Elder Davina. And the poor guard, ric, whom you used as a scapegoat to make everyone think the culprit was dead. Just to name a few."


    Marcellus¡¯s fingers twitched on hisp, his eyes narrowing. His muscles froze as his mind reeled, going through all possible scenarios.


    He never imagined that someone like Caroline would have the balls to drop such an usation.


    "Those usations are grave, Caroline." He finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "La¡¯s death was tragic but you have to know she was a troubled mind after Elder Davina¡¯s death."


    Caroline sniggered, shaking her head. "Of course, you¡¯ll know she¡¯s a troubled mind. After controlling her mind."


    "No, I know because she came to me for advice. Guidance." Marcellus¡¯ voice and his poker face were without anything suspicious, although he asionally nced at Cullen, who still stood by the door.


    ¡¯Should I kill her?¡¯ Cullen questioned after establishing a mind link.


    ¡¯Don¡¯t be dumb.¡¯ Marcellus snapped mentally, although his expression was stoic. ¡¯She¡¯s too important to Odessa. If shees back¡ª¡¯


    ¡¯What do you mean IF Odessaes back?¡¯ Cullen shot back. ¡¯The Lord of the North has her. We¡¯re winning, Marcellus. One more death tonight, especially a feeble maid wouldn¡¯t¡ª¡¯


    "You boys done talking behind my back?" Caroline suddenly queried with a snigger, shaking her head.


    It¡¯s been a long while since Marcellus felt a shiver run down his spine.


    "What are you¡ª"


    "I can... Read vibes." She said casually, parting strands of her ginger curls. "That¡¯s the easier way of saying it, anyway. I could always tell when ma¡¯am Odessa wasmunicating with the Alpha King through their mate bond without hearing what was being discussed..."


    She paused, her voice and expression bing ice cold as she slowly rose from the sofa. "... Or, in this case, two artificial hybrids probably nning on how to get rid of me."


    Marcellus¡¯ hands clenched into fists as he locked his gaze on Caroline¡¯s face. She was unyielding, her eyes without any trace of fear despite everything she was revealing about them.


    And that usually meant one thing.


    Either she had enough leverage to ensure her safety through a bargain, which was unlikely. Or... She was simply powerful enough.


    "Caroline, you¡¯re being irrational." Marcellus slowly got up as well but Caroline pointed a warning finger.


    "The only reason I haven¡¯t confronted you all these months or reported you to the Alpha King is because I was waiting to gather enough evidence." She revealed with a dryugh. "But after everything tonight. After you hurt ma¡¯am Odessa so bad¡ª"


    "You think I¡¯m behind her miscarriage?" Marcellus scoffed, genuinely taken aback.


    He would have to give credit to someone else for that.


    The Alpha Kings currently suspected La, but there was a problem with that... He never instructed her to do that. So did she perhaps begin acting on her own before his mind control spell caused her death?


    "Does it even matter if you¡¯re behind her miscarriage?" Caroline snorted. "You¡¯re behind all the rotten things happening in this pack for months and possibly years. Who knows what you were up to before Odessa¡¯s arrival?"


    Marcellus¡¯ fingers twitched the more she spoke. She was really making it hard for him not to kill her.


    ¡¯If you¡¯re scared of getting your hands dirty, let me do it.¡¯ Cullen insisted but Marcellus ignored him, straightening his spine.


    "So what now?" Marcellus asked, raising an eyebrow at Caroline. "What else are you going to me me for? Arson? Treason? Because it looks to me that you¡¯re grasping at straws here."


    Silence.


    Caroline remained silent, her jaw clenching. But then, her gazended on Marcellus¡¯ chest, a small smile tugging at her lips.


    "Why, of course not." She shook her head, sighing heavily. "I¡¯ve said enough. Good night, Beta."


    There was a mischievous glint in her eyes as she turned away from him, walking toward the door.


    Marcellus watched her with gritted teeth, the lights in the living room flickering faintly in sync with his agitation.


    Even if no one believes her, her words might increase suspicions about him.


    ¡¯I¡¯m not going down, Marcellus.¡¯ Cullen said firmly in the mind link when Caroline got in front of the door. ¡¯Let me kill her. If she¡ª¡¯


    Suddenly, Marcellus raised his right index finger, sending a beam of destructive dark green energy at Caroline¡¯s back. But just before it could hit her, she spun on her feet, drawing out an object that made Marcellus freeze with dread.


    A moon stone.


    She positioned the stone to tank the st, her hair blowing around her when it did. But then the stone glowed with a bright silver light, illuminating the room.


    At that moment, under the light of the moonstone, Marcellus remembered Elder Davina¡¯s final words to him before he killed her:


    "The moon sees all, Beta... and so will she."


    At first, he thought that was a metaphor to say the moon goddess would expose him.


    But no. The ¡¯she¡¯ wasn¡¯t the moon goddess. It wasn¡¯t even Odessa. It was...


    Caroline!


    Before he could wrap his head around it all, the moon stone exploded with a burst of silver light and energy, mirroring the moment after he killed Elder Davina.


    Marcellus dimmed his eyes, trying to focus on Caroline, but the st sent him backwards, causing him to fall on his back.

 Chapter 321: _Coward!

    <h4>Chapter 321: _Coward!</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    The moment the blood moon ckened, I knew this was no ordinary fight.


    The sky wasn¡¯t just dark, it was choking.


    That silver-red pulse that had been bleeding across the clouds dimmed into something worse, an emptiness that pressed against my skin like a second, suffocatingyer.


    And Ryker¡¯s smirk never faltered.


    When the orb of ck energy swelled between his ws, Damon howled inside me.


    Move!


    I lunged, wrapping an arm around Odessa¡¯s waist and dragging her back, nting my boots deep in the snow. The air around the orb rippled with heat and cold at once, a contradiction that tasted like blood and ash on my tongue.


    Then it hit.


    The st ripped through the field, a wave of force so sharp I felt it shear the topyer of skin from my arms, causing me to snarl with pain. Snow and dirt exploded into the sky.


    A ck crack split the ground between us, jagged and hissing with smoke like the earth itself was scorched from the inside out.


    Odessa¡¯s heart was hammering against my arm. I loosened my grip just enough for her to find her footing, but I never took my eyes off HIM.


    Ryker descended slowly, every step in the air like he was walking down invisible stairs. His blood-red Alpha King aura surrounded him like fire, pulsing in time with my own heartbeat... and that¡¯s what chilled me most.


    It was too close to mine.


    "Still standing, little brother?" He called.


    I didn¡¯t answer.


    Instead, I let the silver Alpha King aura in me ignite. It rushed out from my core in a re so bright the snow around my boots steamed. The ground cracked under the pressure, spiderwebs of silver light burning through the frost.


    Our auras shed midair with a sound like steel screaming against steel.


    <fn6564> Follow current nov?ls on Find[?]ovel</fn6564>


    He grinned wider. "There you are."


    And then he charged.


    We collided with enough force to shake the air.


    My ws met his, the impact sparking silver against crimson. His strength was brutal, almost wild, but there was a precision in the way he struck, like someone who¡¯d been training to fight me for years.


    I shed for his ribs; he caught my wrist and twisted. Pain snapped down my arm but I rode it, pivoting and driving my knee into his gut.


    He barely staggered in response to my attack.


    "Not bad," he rasped, before his boot mmed into my chest, sending me skidding back through the snow.


    Damon snarled, and I stopped holding him back, ignoring Janelle¡¯s previous warning about shifting under the blood moon.


    There was no blood moon now... so what¡¯s the bloody point?


    The shift tore through me ¡ª bones snapping, muscles stretching, blood red fur bursting from skin. My senses sharpened to a knife¡¯s edge.


    The snow¡¯s scent, the blood in the air, even Odessa¡¯s heartbeat became crystal clear.


    To my dismay, Ryker followed suit, his body distorting until the creature before me was a nightmare mirror. Taller than most Alpha Kings, his bipedal form was a wall of ck fur streaked with dark crimson, his eyes glowing like coals in the night.


    For a heartbeat, the sight twisted something deep in my gut.


    But then I leapt.


    ws ripped into fur, fangs snapped inches from throats. His strikes were heavy, meant to break bone, but I gave them back in kind. Every time his blood hit the snow, it steamed like whatever ran in his veins was too hot for this world.


    Meanwhile, behind us, the battlefield erupted.


    His hybrids surged forward, a tide of snarling rogues with mismatched eyes and the stench of dark magic clinging to them.


    The Alpha Kings roared their own war cries ¡ª Mwansa tearing into enemies with his massive wolf form, Thorian¡¯s ws shing silver in the ck air, Maddox¡¯s boomingmands rallying thest remaining pack soldiers.


    But I couldn¡¯t break away.


    Every time I tried to nce toward Odessa, Ryker cut me off... a sh across my jaw, a shove that cracked the ice under me. He wanted my attention, and oh he had it.


    "You¡¯re holding back," he taunted, his voice a guttural growl even in wolf form.


    "I¡¯m not here to impress you," I snapped back. My voice in this form rumbled from deep in my chest, enough to make the hybrids closest to us falter.


    "YOU WILL." He said coldly.


    He mmed his ws into the ground. Darkness erupted upward like a geyser, swallowing three of my soldiers whole before the earth sealed shut again.


    Their screams cut off instantly.


    Rage roared through me.


    I lunged, driving him back, every strike aimed to maim. My ws found his shoulder but instead of faltering, heughed.


    And then he whispered, so only I could hear: "This is the part where you start losing everything."


    Suddenly, lightning ¡ª ck as void ¡ª cracked down from the clouds, striking in a circle around us. The snow boiled into steam, obscuring everything.


    I barely heard Althea¡¯s voice cutting through the chaos. "Kaelos! We have to go!"


    "NO!" I growled, my ws tightening in Ryker¡¯s fur.


    But then I saw it ¡ª Odessa, cutting through hybrids with Sirena¡¯s speed, only to stumble as one of Ryker¡¯s artificial hybrids hurled a spear of shadow at her back.


    I didn¡¯t think at that moment.


    I tore free of Ryker¡¯s grip and bolted across the field, my silver aura sting apart everything in my path. I reached her just as the spear struck, but instead of her, my arm took the blow, searing pain tearing through my muscle.


    Her eyes widened with horror but I ignored it, Damon howling in my head.


    "We¡¯re leaving," I snarled.


    Althea was already forcing the portal open, the air bending inward like reality itself was being peeled back. Beyond it, my throne room glimmered faintly.


    "COWARD!" Ryker¡¯s roar shook the battlefield as I hauled Odessa toward the portal. "Run while you can. I¡¯ll tear everything you hold dear apart!"


    I didn¡¯t look back.


    Thest thing I saw before the portal swallowed us was his silhouette against the ck blood moon, his crimson eyes burning like a promise.


    We hit the marble floor of my throne room on the other side hard, the portal snapping shut behind us.


    The air here smelled clean, but my lungs still burned with the smoke and rot of that battlefield as I slowly shifted back to my human form.


    Odessa pushed herself up beside me, her hands on my arm where the spear had struck. Blood dripped onto the marble floor.


    I flexed my ws, the silver still glowing faintly at the tips. My heart was still racing, not from the fight but from the fact I¡¯d left the bastard breathing.


    Not again.


    Next time, I wouldn¡¯t retreat. I¡¯d end him.

 Chapter 322: _You Were Only A Child

    <h4>Chapter 322: _You Were Only A Child</h4>


    "Ouch!"


    "Hold still, you big baby."


    I winced, my jaw tightening as Odessa applied some potions on my wounds. We were in my room, alone, the lights were turned off and the blood moon was finally back to its... "Normal" colour.


    I was shirtless and she sat on the bed behind me, her soft, cold fingers on my skin a reassurance that she was here with me.


    "You think Ryker changed his mind on ¡¯destroying everything I hold dear¡¯?" I asked Odessa with a dryugh, curling my fists on the bed. "I can¡¯t believe I let him go."


    "I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d want to risk your life like that." She breathed out behind me, her hands slowly tracing from the wounds on my back to the one on my right arm.


    It was still oozing with dried blood, but the moment her fingers, which were tipped with the potions, touched it... I felt a soothing relief from the pain.


    I smiled wryly, letting out a relieved breath as I nced over my shoulder. Her eyes were swollen, probably from all the crying before we found her.


    That caused my heart to clench, the smile on my face disappearing faster than it came.


    "And you didn¡¯t risk your life by going to Ryker?" I asked, even though a voice at the back of my head was telling me not to. She paused, her violet eyes locking with mine.


    Her emotions were all over the ce, but one seemed to shine brighter than the rest.


    Sadness.


    "I was... Tired, Kaelos." She finally spoke, her voice lower than a whisper and cracked with pain. Pain that I wished I could take away in an instant.


    She continued after a few seconds. "My baby, our baby... He took that away like it was nothing. He didn¡¯t even have to reach me directly. I was afraid of what he could do once he showed up."


    I tried adjusting my sitting position to face her fully but stopped when a sharp pain tore through my chest, causing me to groan.


    "Case in point." Odessa sighed, helping me adjust and then making me lie on my back. After the soft bed embraced my skin, she added. "You need to rest. Your wolf should help you heal faster with aid from the potions."


    Speaking of Damon, he was more silent than usual in my head. Probably because of our defeat.


    Odessa stepped down from the bed, about to walk away. But I grabbed her wrist, forcing her to freeze mid-step.


    As I sat up again, she turned her head to me, her eyes welling up with tears that threatened to fall. My heart shattered into a thousand pieces but I ignored it, pulling her into my arms.


    Odessa stiffened in my arms at first. Her heart beat was quick, like someone who¡¯s been running for her life for way too long.


    Like someone who was carrying a heavy burden.


    "Odessa?" I called softly, brushing my hand down her hair. "Is there something you want to tell me? I can... sense it. But I¡¯ll never know if¡ª"


    "Ryker told me you¡¯re the Gamma who killed my parents." She blurted all of a sudden, her voiceing out as a croak.


    I froze, a shiver crawling up my spine. Her hands on my shoulders tightened as she continued, trying hard to steady her breathing.


    "He didn¡¯t just tell me, in fact... he showed me through a vision of sorts. He was able to ess your psyche through our mate bond." She paused again, pulling out of my embrace.


    <fnfcd5> Original content can be found at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fnfcd5>


    She pushed her hands against my shoulders, staring into my eyes like she was searching for something. Anything.


    My heart beat heavily as that night shed through my mind. I¡¯d try so hard to erase itpletely from my memory.


    To tell myself that those people weren¡¯t Odessa¡¯s parents. That little girl wasn¡¯t the woman who would turn out to be my mate and my wife.


    But here I am. History sure has a funny way of biting me in the ass these days.


    "Kaelos, all I want is the truth." She rasped with a shaky voice, her eyes getting moist. "P¨CPlease... I¡¯ve lost too much already and I... I don¡¯t think I can¡ª"


    "Odessa, stop." I couldn¡¯t take it anymore and said firmly, closing my eyes.


    I was too afraid to look into her eyes. Too afraid to tell her that Ryker was indeed telling the truth.


    ¡¯Tell her the story from your perspective, smart ass.¡¯ Damon¡¯s voice was a wee sound in my head just then.


    ¡¯I thought you would go into hibernation after that humiliating defeat.¡¯ I remarked.


    ¡¯The day that happens is the day we¡¯re both dead.¡¯ He growled. ¡¯Now, be afort to our mate.¡¯


    I finally opened my eyes again, my gaze fixed on Odessa¡¯s face. I held both her hands, causing her to jolt at first.


    That was a gut punch, but at this point, I deserved any reaction she had with me.


    "I was fourteen." I began with a low voice, brushing my fingers on her hands tenderly. "I recently acquired my wolf and my father... All he saw was a weapon he could use in his conquests. Sending me as his Gamma was a test of my power... a power which I had no control over."


    Odessa was silent but I didn¡¯t let that stop me, especially when I saw her blinking back her tears.


    The screams of the women and children echoed in the deepest part of my mind which I¡¯d locked away for so long.


    "Your parents were just a few... out of many. Tens, possibly hundreds. By the time I killed Seraphina and shifted back... the destruction. The death." I bit my bottom lip, my chest getting heavy. "I was covered in blood. Mangled bodies littered the roads. Crushed skulls of children. Goddess, I couldn¡¯t live with myself."


    I lowered my head, staring at myp. But when I tried getting a hold of myself, a single tear dropped from my eyes.


    How quaint...


    Suddenly, Odessa¡¯s grip on my hands tightened ever so softly, causing me to hold my breath.


    But then she withdrew her right hand, caressing my face tenderly and guiding my jaw until I looked her in those violet eyes which were now like my salvation.


    "You were... only a child." She smiled wryly, sniffing through the tears and nodding like she was trying to tell herself that and not me. "I... Forgive you. If anything, I should be pissing on your father¡¯s grave, not yours."


    I blinked at first but then smiled warmly.


    "You have no idea how much I love you more now." I shook my head and then we bothughed.


    We actuallyughed.


    Even with the world seemingly in peril, our unborn child lost forever and secrets from the past piling up faster than a bad soap opera... We stillughed through it.


    If that wasn¡¯t proof of how far we¡¯vee, I don¡¯t know what is.


    "Just..." She sat beside me, her eyes still locked on mine. "Just, don¡¯t keep secrets from me anymore. Please."


    I nodded like life depended on it. "I promise with everything in me."


    She smiled, her gaze going from my eyes to my lips. I knew what wasing next and I wanted it more than anything.


    I didn¡¯t know who kissed first but we locked lips, the room seemingly disappearing around us as she pressed her body against me.

 Chapter 323: _Pretend The World Wasn’t On Fire

    <h4>Chapter 323: _Pretend The World Wasn¡¯t On Fire</h4>


    (Warning: Mature Content Ahead)


    The moment her lips left mine, the world came rushing back¡ªdistant murmurings from pack members out there, the sting in my ribs, the faint scent of smoke still clinging to my skin.


    But none of that mattered.


    Not when Odessa¡¯s forehead rested against mine, her warm breath ghosting over my lips like a promise I couldn¡¯t let go.


    <fn4cdb> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? f?ndnovel</fn4cdb>


    Her violet eyes searched mine as if she were still deciding whether she was allowed to need me this much after everything. The way her fingers tightened on my jaw told me the answer before she even whispered it.


    "I don¡¯t want to be anywhere else but here. With you." She whispered, a smile curling up her lips.


    I swallowed hard.


    My chest hurt for more than one reason, but it was nothingpared to the ache in my soul. My hands cupped her face, brushing away the strands of hair that had fallen across her cheeks. "We don¡¯t have to¡ª"


    "Yes," she cut me off gently, her voice trembling but sure. "I want to. I need to."


    Her gaze didn¡¯t waver. There was no hesitation, either. Just raw need... desperation, even. Like touching me was the only way she could convince herself we were still alive, still together.


    I couldn¡¯t deny her that. Hell, I couldn¡¯t deny myself.


    When her lips pressed back to mine, it was deeper, hungrier. I shifted my position on the bed despite the pull in my ribs, ignoring Damon¡¯s low, sarcastic murmur in my head:


    ¡¯Great idea, Romeo. Nothing heals like tearing stitches you don¡¯t even have yet.¡¯


    I shoved him aside mentally.


    My world was Odessa right now. Her mouth was warm and insistent, and when her hands slid down my bare chest, careful around the worst of my wounds, I felt every nerve ending in my bodye alive.


    Her touch was soft, reverent almost, but there was an urgency beneath it.


    I guided her back onto the bed, my body leaning over hers. The mattress dipped under my weight, and she let out a soft sigh against my lips. Her fingers skimmed down my sides, and the warmth they left in their wake made my skin feel like it was catching fire.


    I pulled back just enough to see her face, my thumb brushing her bottom lip. "Are you sure?"


    Her nod was small, but her eyes... they were fierce. "I want to feel something good tonight."


    That broke me in the best and worst way.


    My lips found hers again, slower this time, savouring every second. My injured arm protested when I propped myself over her, but I gritted my teeth and bore it. Her hands slid to my shoulders, pulling me down so our chests pressed together, the thin fabric of her dress brushing against my bare skin.


    I traced my fingers along her hip, then down her thigh, relishing the shiver that ran through her. She shifted under me, her knee brushing between my legs, and I exhaled sharply against her mouth.


    Her breathing quickened as I slid my hand beneath the hem of her dress, my fingertips grazing her soft skin.


    "Kaelos," she whispered, my name sounding like both a prayer and a plea.


    "You have no idea what you do to me," I murmured, my voice low and rough. My fingers found the waistband of her undergarments and tugged gently.


    She lifted her hips just enough for me to pull them down, and the sight of her like this, spread out under me, trusting me, burned itself into my memory.


    My lips left hers to trail along her jaw, then down the curve of her neck. I kissed her throat, feeling her pulse race against my mouth. Her hands threaded into my hair, holding me there for a moment before guiding me lower.


    When my hand slid between her thighs, she gasped, her hips twitching.


    I moved slowly, teasing her until her breath came in sharp, shallow bursts. The soft, wet heat of her against my fingers made my own control fray, but I needed her to fall apart before I even thought of taking her.


    She arched into me when I circled my thumb against her, her lips parting in a soft moan.


    My wolf hummed in approval in the back of my mind. ¡¯There¡¯s my mate. You better make her forget every damn thing else tonight.¡¯


    I pressed a kiss just above her heart, still working her with slow strokes until her legs trembled around me.


    "Kaelos... please..." Her voice was broken, breathless.


    I wanted to hear that sound again and again.


    With a final swirl of my thumb, she cried out, her back arching as pleasure took her.


    I watched her face as she came, her eyes squeezed shut, lips parted, a single tear slipping down her temple.


    I kissed the tear away.


    While she was still shuddering, I shifted back, tugging my pants down just enough. My body ached for her, but I forced myself to go slow, bracing myself on my good arm as I positioned my throbbing dick at her entrance.


    Her eyes fluttered open, locking with mine.


    I waited and she gave the smallest nod of approval.


    I pushed into her slowly, every inch of heat and tightness making me groan deep in my chest. Her gasp was sharp, but her nails dug into my shoulders like she didn¡¯t want me to stop.


    Once I was fully seated inside her, I stilled, breathing hard.


    "You feel..." I couldn¡¯t even finish the sentence, my voice breaking into a low growl.


    Her lips curved faintly, even through the haze in her eyes. "Move."


    I didn¡¯t need to be told twice.


    Every slow thrust was both heaven and hell¡ªheaven because of how perfectly we fit together, hell because I knew I wouldn¡¯tst long at this pace.


    I kept my forehead pressed to hers, gritting my teeth as I fought to keep it slow. Every time her hips met mine, a soft moan escaped her, and I was drowning in the sound.


    Her legs wrapped around my waist, pulling me deeper. My control cracked, and I found a rhythm that made her nails rake down my back. Her head tilted back, lips parting in another gasp.


    "You¡¯re mine, Odessa," I growled against her mouth.


    "Always," she whispered back, her voice trembling with more than just pleasure.


    The air between us grew hotter, heavier.


    My injured ribs ached, but I didn¡¯t care. Not when her body clenched around mine, drawing me deeper into her.


    She was close again... I could feel it in the way her breath caught and in the way her fingers clung to me.


    "Come with me," I murmured against her ear.


    Her moan was the only warning before her body tensed, her walls gripping me in a way that pulled me over the edge with her. My climax tore through me hard enough to make my vision blur, my groan muffled against her shoulder as I emptied into her.


    We stayed tangled together, both of us shaking, our breathing ragged. I felt her lips press against my neck, soft and lingering, and something inside me stilled.


    Maybe, just for tonight, we could pretend the world wasn¡¯t on fire.


    When I finally slipped out of her, Iy beside her, pulling her into my arms. Her head rested on my chest, her hair falling over my skin. My fingers traced idle patterns along her back, grounding myself in the feel of her here.


    Neither of us spoke. We didn¡¯t need to. Her breathing slowed, matching mine, and before long, the weight of exhaustion pulled us under.


    We fell asleep holding each other like the world might end if we let go... but that didn¡¯tst long.


    "Alpha King?" There was a sudden knock on the door, the voice sounding hurried. "There is a situation at the Beta¡¯s residence."

 Chapter 324: _Not Dead... Yet

    <h4>Chapter 324: _Not Dead... Yet</h4>


    Caroline¡¯s POV


    ******


    She had a foolproof n for bringing down Marcellus once and for all.


    Okay, not exactly foolproof, but it was the best she coulde up with.


    Her wolf, Vilda, argued that the "best" n would be to wait patiently to gather more evidence or report directly to Odessa and Kaelos once they returned from Canada.


    But one, she couldn¡¯t wait till they had evidence and two... she wasn¡¯t even sure if Odessa would make it back. And she med herself for that.


    So she went to Marcellus¡¯ residence alone, poked the bear by using him directly and then watched him unravel.


    He did a good job hiding his true thoughts and feelings... that¡¯s if he had any feelings. From what she knows, the man¡¯s a textbook psychopath.


    Masking his true nature was a speciality.


    So when he finally took the bait and attacked her right when she was about to leave... She was most pleased.


    She brought out a moonstone she carried along, let the object of divinity tank the st from Marcellus... and then everything faded to ck.


    But not for long.


    "My daughter." A peaceful voice echoed in her ears, forcing her to open her eyes.


    But her eyebrows furrowed slightly when she looked around and saw the vast whiteness that stretched for miles.


    Caroline slowly sat up, squinting her eyes and rubbing the back of her head. But she froze when she saw who stood several meters ahead.


    Her mouth fell in awe, her heart beat stilling as if even it understood the majesty before her.


    A gorgeous woman wearing a flowing white gown stood there, her long silver hair floating like clouds around her.


    She had a silver halo behind her head, glowing with a light brighter than the moon itself.


    The moon goddess. Selene.


    "My goddess." Caroline quickly got on her knees, only to bow her head, but Selene¡¯s reprimand was sharp.


    "Please, Caroline. We¡¯ve seen enough times to make that far too unnecessary."


    She froze but then slowly raised her head again, staring at the goddess whose smile was weing.


    "Rise. Please." Selene gestured.


    Caroline nodded, getting to her feet and adjusting her dress, but then she paused when she realised something.


    "This is my mental space... isn¡¯t it?" She asked, blinking at the moon goddess. "Not the afterlife. I¡¯m not¡ª"


    "No. You¡¯re not dead." Selene chimed with a knowing smile. "I slipped into your mental space just like I can do with any of my descendants out there. Like Luna Queen Janelle and Alpha King Kaelos."


    Children of Selene.


    Not many people in the world knew about them... and that¡¯s because they didn¡¯t exactly like revealing their identities to just anyone.


    It was theorised that the first werewolves were humans who got transformed by taking the blood of the moon goddess.


    But the children of Selene? They were descendants of the first wolf born directly from the moon goddess¡¯s secret affair with a mortal.


    This was Caroline¡¯s major secret... among a few. She could still remember the first time the moon goddess appeared in her dream as a child.


    "I failed my mission, my goddess." Caroline kept her head bowed despite being told to stand upright. "You tasked me with protecting Odessa Pierce. The Vein Born. And I failed."


    There was a short silence before Selene¡¯s voice echoed:


    "I tasked you with being with her. Watching over her. And you did just that during the times you were together."


    Caroline raised her head, her eyes blurring with tears which she didn¡¯t even know where about to drop.


    Selene¡¯s face scrunched with a frown as she shook her head, spreading her arms and walking forward.


    "No, child." She cooed, pulling Caroline into her motherly embrace. "There¡¯s no need for that. Odessa is okay, I can assure you of that much. She¡¯s safe even."


    Caroline sniffled but then blinked back the tears, letting herself take in the goddess¡¯s scent, which was likevender, honey and everything nice.


    She eventually raised her head, staring at Selene¡¯s ethereal face. There was a hint of sadness within her eyes, causing Caroline¡¯s heart to drop into her stomach.


    Something was wrong...


    "You said I¡¯m not dead," Caroline whispered, her voice almost breaking as she held onto Selene¡¯s shoulders.


    The moon goddess nodded. "Yes, child. Not yet."


    Caroline¡¯s breath hitched.


    Not yet.


    "The physical world..." Caroline suddenly gasped, taking a couple of steps back.


    Her head fell when she felt a wetness blooming on her stomach. When she saw what it was, a cold shiver surged through her entire being.


    Blood.


    "Argh." She grunted, almost stumbling backwards, but Selene¡¯s hands shot forward, keeping her standing firm.


    <fnca7d> Official source is F?nd-Novel</fnca7d>


    Caroline groaned, gritting her teeth from the sharp pain that shot through her.


    "Marcellus Sterling is still standing in the physical world." The moon goddess¡¯s voice was like an anchor, making her fight to stay stable. "Your... Your death will be the final thread holding Kaelos and Odessa¡¯s trust for him."


    Caroline felt like her whole world was crumbling as she shook her head, her lips trembling. "N¨CNo... I... I didn¡¯t want to die. The moon stone explosion wasn¡¯t meant to kill."


    Selene nodded. "No. It was a beacon. One which Odessa and Kaelos will hear. But Marcellus¡¯ st still struck you..."


    Suddenly, Selene began flickering, like a hologram glitching out of reality.


    "We will meet again, child." Selene¡¯s voice was filled with warm reassurance, a proud smile curling up her lips as she caressed Caroline¡¯s cheek. "But the world isn¡¯t done with you. Not yet."


    Those words lingered in the air as she faded like smoke in the wind.


    Slowly, cracks began spreading around the vast white space, and Caroline could feel herself slipping away.


    This time, another voice echoed, familiar and desperate:


    "I¡¯ll kill her before escaping."


    No.


    Caroline closed her eyes and when they opened again, she was back in the physical world, lying in the middle of a crater left behind by the moonstone explosion.


    Dust and smoke filled the air, causing her to cough erratically. Her stomach still had that sharp pain and was still wet with her blood but when her eyes opened fully, she saw HIS face staring back at her.


    Marcellus.


    And raised above his head was a dagger aimed at her face.


    "Oh, good. You¡¯re alive." Marcellus smiled manically, looking like he was a few steps away from insanity and covered in ash. "But not for long."

 Chapter 325: _Run, Marcellus

    <h4>Chapter 325: _Run, Marcellus</h4>


    Caroline¡¯s POV


    *****


    "Get up!" Marcellus snarled, sending a kick straight at her already bleeding stomach.


    Caroline gasped, groaning with pain as tears blurred her eyes. Her right hand clutched her stomach but she refused to die.


    She refused to go down... Without a fight.


    "That¡¯s right." Caroline chuckled dryly, raising her body until she was on her knees, staring at the bastard¡¯s face. "As always, you want to prove that you have power. Control."


    "Shut up." Marcellus shook his head, his jaw clenching as he held the dagger tighter. "You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about."


    Carolineughed even more but then coughed, eyeing him with pure disgust. "Don¡¯t I? First your father, the former Beta. Then your siblings who could¡¯ve done a much better job than you."


    Marcellus¡¯ green eyes glinted with a cold light the more she spoke but Caroline wasn¡¯t backing down.


    "Since you were little, you¡¯ve always been about having power over others. Killing people just because you could. Sexually assaulting women and men just for the fun of it. You¡¯re depraved and you love it."


    Marcellus blinked, his eyes still glinting with a murderous light... But then his expression became stoic. Unreadable.


    "Are you finished with whatever that was?" He asked, sniggering. "What did you expect? That I¡¯ll think about all I¡¯ve done? That your words will somehow make me snap?"


    <fnf7e3> Find the newest release on find{n}ovel</fnf7e3>


    Caroline¡¯s expression tightened as she slowly rose to her feet, her right hand still clutching the wound on her stomach.


    Her eyes flicked to a corner where she saw Marcellus¡¯ assistant, Cullen, lying on his side close to a sofa, groaning as he raised his head from the cold marble floor.


    "No. Of course, I never expected you to have a sudden epiphany." Caroline said with a wry smile... Until her smile disappeared faster than it came. "I just wanted you distracted enough to do this!"


    Under the same breath, she swiped her left hand forward, sending a sharp wave of silver energy meant to cut. It headed straight at Marcellus, who was standing right in front of Cullen.


    The beta dodged, but Cullen wasn¡¯t so lucky.


    Cullen didn¡¯t even have time to scream.


    The silver arc carved through him like a hot de through wax, splitting chest from shoulder in a vicious diagonal sh.


    His body spasmed, eyes going wide before he copsed in a heap, the smell of burned flesh rising into the smoky air. Blood gushed across the marble, pooling beneath him, steaming faintly from the purity of her moon-forged energy.


    Marcellus froze for a heartbeat¡ªjust long enough for Caroline to register the flicker of rage in his eyes¡ªnot because she had killed Cullen, but because she¡¯d dared to touch what was his.


    "You!" His voice broke into a snarl, and the air between them ignited with a sudden rush of dark green magic. It pulsed from his hands in thick, smoky tendrils, each one writhing like a serpent.


    Caroline braced herself, her silver aura ring to life in answer. The moon goddess¡¯s gift burned inside her veins, and Vilda snarled in her mind.


    ¡¯Now!¡¯


    She didn¡¯t hesitate.


    Her ws burst from her fingertips, her muscles tightening with supernatural strength.


    She lunged, her left hand cutting upward toward his face in a deadly arc. Marcellus twisted, his dagger shing, but silver met steel and the dagger hissed like it had touched acid, a thin line of smoke curling from the de.


    He growled, shoving her back with a st of his magic that smashed into her ribs. Pain red white-hot, and she slid across the marble, her shoes scraping until she dug her ws in and stopped herself.


    "You think you can match me?" Marcellus¡¯s voice was cold, almost bored now, but there was a tightness in his jaw. He was feeling it¡ªher strikes, her speed, her refusal to die quietly.


    "I don¡¯t need to match you." Caroline¡¯s voice was raw, but her smirk was sharp. "I just need to leave a scar."


    And then they collided again.


    His dagger shed for her throat, but she ducked, her ws raking across his side. Flesh tore, and dark green sparks burst from the wound as if his blood itself was magic.


    He roared, grabbing her by the neck and mming her into the nearest wall so hard that the stone cracked.


    Her silver energy red instinctively, forcing him to drop her as the divine energy burned into his hand.


    She staggered forward, spitting blood, and Vilda surged forward in her mind:


    ¡¯Let me out. Let me finish him.¡¯


    Her bones cracked and shifted, muscles stretching, fur bursting through her skin as her transformation overtook her. One moment, she was human; the next, a towering white wolf with glowing silver eyes and ws like molten des.


    Marcellus¡¯s magic whipped around him like a storm, but Caroline was faster.


    She darted low, shing his leg open, then spun, ws raking up toward his ribs. He snarled, his dagger plunging downward, grazing her shoulder, burning her with magic so dark it felt like poison.


    Pain wracked her body, but she ignored it, sinking her teeth into his forearm. His blood was bitter, burning her tongue, but she bit harder until she felt bone crunch. He ripped free with a howl, stumbling back, her silver energy sizzling along the wound like wildfire.


    "You¡¯ll regret that," he hissed, his magic surging violently.


    His free hand shot forward, a column of dark green energy mming into her chest. It lifted her from the ground and hurled her across the room. She crashed into the floor, her wolf form flickering before she shifted back to human, coughing blood.


    Her vision blurred, but she pushed herself up on shaking arms. She could smell him¡ªhis pain, his blood.


    She¡¯d hurt him. Badly.


    Caroline¡¯s lips curved into a weak smile. "Run, Marcellus. I¡¯ll make sure Odessa finishes you."


    For the first time, she saw it¡ªthe faintest twitch of unease in his eyes.


    But he didn¡¯t reply.


    Instead, he released a final surge of magic, a concentrated spear of green light that shot straight through her stomach.


    The force pinned her to the cracked marble, her breath leaving her in a sharp gasp. Warmth spread under her as her own blood pooled fast.


    Marcellus clutched his wounded side, ring at her onest time before turning away. His steps were uneven, his breathing ragged, but he didn¡¯t stop until the smoke swallowed him and he was gone.


    Caroliney there, her vision dimming, the divine energy in her veins pulsing faintly like a fading heartbeat. Vilda¡¯s voice was a whisper now, mournful.


    ¡¯We fought well.¡¯


    Her lips trembled, but she managed a rasped sentence. "Odessa... please, stop him."


    In her final moments, she thought about onest person. Someone whom she had once written off as evil and rotten.


    Regina.


    She wasn¡¯t even sure if what she felt for her was "love"... But she had just one hope.


    That she found her way out of Ryker¡¯s ws.


    With that thought, the world around her faded and darkness embraced her, her heart beating for thest time...

 Chapter 326: _Your Plaything Is Dead

    <h4>Chapter 326: _Your ything Is Dead</h4>


    Ryker¡¯s POV


    *****


    "My lord, with all due respect..." Regina¡¯s voice echoed through the throne room when she and Ryker stepped into his main base.


    Of course, the snowy fortress where he¡¯d kept Odessa captive wasn¡¯t his main base. It was far too open, not to mention he wasn¡¯t stupid enough to lead them right to his home.


    Ryker paused for only a second, ncing over his shoulder at Regina who was heaving, battered and agitated after the battle.


    Her audacity...


    "... Why did you give that witch of the Luminari coven, Lucinda, ess to the Vein? ess to our ns?" Regina continued, her voice getting a little shaky.


    Completely out of character for her.


    Ryker squinted his eyes at first but then continued walking toward his throne room without saying a word.


    "Lord Ryker!" Regina yelled out all of a sudden, her voice sharp.


    Ryker froze just when he was about to sit on his throne.


    Well, well, well...


    Regina never calls his name, especially in his presence.


    "Looks like someone¡¯s a little..." Ryker smirked, sitting silently on his throne before fixing his gaze on Regina. "Uptight. So uptight that you¡¯ve forgotten I don¡¯t work with you."


    His eyes shed with a ck light, causing Regina to gasp as an invisible force pressed down on her, forcing her to her knees. She trembled on the floor, her ck gown pooling around her while Ryker gazed down on her.


    With contempt.


    "You work for me, Regina. You and the rest of my artificial hybrids." Ryker¡¯s voice was colder than a cier, sharper than a de.


    He didn¡¯t even flinch when he saw his left hand, one of his most trusted soldiers, panting helplessly for something as simple as breath.


    "You live to serve ME. Or have you gotten so blinded by whatever softness you¡¯ve seemed to grow to remember that?" Ryker finally let go of her, watching with a stoic expression as her shoulders rxed again.


    Regina raised her head, her lips trembling with... Defiance?


    Interesting.


    "Looks like someone¡¯s getting a soul." Ryker sniggered, shaking his head. "You¡¯re hundreds of dead bodies toote for that, though. Don¡¯t you think so?"


    "Luna Queen Janelle. The energy she... Used during the battle." Regina rasped, finally getting on her feet, her eyes never leaving Ryker. "It¡¯s the same energy I saw Caroline use during our¡ª"


    "Passionate encounters?" Rykerpleted the sentence with a knowing smile. "So?"


    Regina shook her head, disbelief in her eyes. "You told Lucinda what it meant. Janelle is a child of Selene, a descendant of the moon goddess herself... And so is Caroline. Isn¡¯t she?"


    Ryker drummed his fingers on the armrests of his throne, his expression showing his boredom. "I still don¡¯t see the point you¡¯re driving at?"


    Regina suddenly took a single step forward, causing Ryker to raise an eyebrow.


    "I spent four months. Four months spying on Caroline to find out what she is." Regina shook her head, betrayal clear in her voice. "And you¡¯ve known all this time? You watched me¡ª"


    "I watched you make a fool of yourself and wanted to see how long the charade wouldst." Ryker interrupted, sping his hands together. "Wanted to see how long before you lost interest in your... Toy."


    Regina was about to speak again but Ryker had had enough. He raised a hand, causing her lips to shut against her will.


    "You¡¯re lucky I haven¡¯t incinerated you already for letting the Vein¡¯s born escape." Ryker¡¯s voice was cold, his silver eyes shifting to ck all over again.


    The shadows in the dimly lit throne room twisted into unnatural shapes, the once still air getting chillier by the second.


    <fn7b44> This update is avable on find[?]ovel</fn7b44>


    Regina¡¯s eyes widened with terror as Ryker continued:


    "I¡¯ll let you off but you better pick yourself back up. This is not the Regina I took under my wing."


    He looked away from her finally, closing his eyes.


    Hell, he had no time for this.


    Suddenly, he felt a tug in his mind that caused his eyes to widen.


    He knew what that feeling was all too well.


    Another of his artificial hybrids had died.


    He was connected to each of them, hence he could sense their deaths. And this one...


    "Looks like Marcellus is in a sticky situation..." He remarked casually, rubbing his forehead. "Cullen is dead."


    Regina seemed stunned, blinking with exasperation.


    But that wasn¡¯t all...


    "Marcellus seems to have escaped, seriously wounded." He continued, squinting his eyes as he let his mind slither into Marcellus¡¯ eyes, seeing what he saw.


    Marcellus was in his living room, which was now covered with blood, ash and debris all over. Rubbles filled the ce and Marcellus seemed to be struggling for breath, gazing at someone pinned with a glowing magic spear through her stomach and into the marble.


    Caroline.


    "Well... This is quite sad." Ryker sniggered, disconnecting from Marcellus¡¯ mind and fixing his gaze on Regina. "It seems you no longer have to worry about any distractions."


    Regina frowned. "W¨CWhat are you talking about?"


    Ryker remained silent for a bit, slowly rising from his throne. He turned around, staring at the ck mirror etched on the wall behind it.


    "Caroline, your ything... Is dead." He said casually, walking to the mirror with slow and steady steps. "Killed by Marcellus."


    The second he said that, even though he was no longer looking at her, he felt something break in Regina.


    Her heart? All these years he thought she didn¡¯t have one.


    There was a long, drawn-out silence. Until...


    "Anyway. We have a lot of things to prepare for so if you¡¯ll be..." Ryker turned his head to her but paused.


    She was gone, her magic lingering behind.


    Teleportation.


    "Pathetic." He shook his head, bringing his gaze back to the ck mirror. "I¡¯ll let her mourn for now. There are bigger things to focus on..."


    Suddenly, a ck energy began swirling within the mirror like a vortex. It rippled, revealing a live image of Kaelos and Odessa rushing out of the mansion and heading straight for Marcellus¡¯ house, followed by guards.


    The determined look in Odessa¡¯s eyes, even after everything she¡¯s lost tonight... Ignited something in the lord of the North.


    "You will be mine someday." He whispered, brushing his fingers on her reflection. "And when that dayes... The world will bleed."

 Chapter 327: _Heart Rejecting The Truth

    <h4>Chapter 327: _Heart Rejecting The Truth</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    "Is Marcellus okay?" I asked, swallowing hard as I, Kaelos and a few guards walked into the night.


    Kaelos held my hand tight, as if he was afraid of a portal opening up and snatching me back to Ryker.


    I smiled faintly, increasing the tightness of my grip as well while a guard cleared his throat and responded to my question.


    "We aren¡¯t sure, ma¡¯am. Someone reported hearing an explosioning from his residence." He remarked, turning around to face me. "We haven¡¯t stepped into the house yet but¡ª"


    "Let¡¯s just go." Kaelos¡¯ voice was firm as we increased our pace.


    When we got to the residence, I smelt it before we even stepped inside.


    Burnt flesh, ash and... Blood.


    The door was battered but still standing¡ªuntil Kaelos kicked it down with a sneer, using his free arm to wave off the smoke that billowed out.


    "Marcellus!" He yelled out as we stepped in, our shoes crunching on the debris littered in the living room.


    I used my free arm to cover my nose as Kaelos and I stepped in closer, scanning our gaze around.


    My heart beat quickened slightly, a cold shiver crawling down my spine.


    Something was wrong.


    "Body!" A guard who had stepped in before us yelled out, pointing at the floor close to the staircase.


    I blinked there for a second, my head swerving to a corner where I saw Cullen¡¯s body, which was cut cleanly from his chest to shoulder, his blood pooling around him.


    "Goddess..." Breathing was strained as I shakily brought my gaze to the spot the guard had previously pointed at.


    Since Kaelos and I got back from Ryker¡¯s base, I had felt like I was forgetting something. Or maybe, someone.


    Now I know who.


    "No." I shook my head, withdrawing my hand from Kaelos¡¯ grip as I ran toward the familiar ginger curls, trying not to focus on the ghastly wound on her stomach.


    "Odessa!" Kaelos yelled out at the same moment that tears began pouring out of my eyes, my chest tightening with despair that ate deep.


    C¨CCaroline...


    My knees buckled beside her, the world narrowing until there was nothing but Caroline¡¯s pale face and the faint silver shimmer still clinging to her skin.


    Her eyes were half-lidded, lips parted as if she¡¯d been about to speak onest word.


    My shaking hands hovered over her, unsure whether to touch her or not. If I touched her, it would be real. If I didn¡¯t... maybe this was still just a nightmare.


    "Caroline... no, no, no," I whispered, brushing a blood-matted curl from her forehead. My voice cracked on every word, the sound scraping against my throat. "You were just... You were just here."


    The faint metallic tang of her blood mixed with the smoky air, choking me.


    Kaelos knelt on the other side, his expression grim but softening at the sight of my tears. He didn¡¯t speak. He didn¡¯t have to.


    I could feel his own tension vibrating in the air.


    "She fought fiercely," one of the guards said quietly from somewhere behind me, his voice respectful but heavy. "The energy signatures here... they¡¯re both silver and dark green. She went against her killer alone."


    Silver and... dark green? My breath hitched.


    Marcellus?


    I blinked through the blur of tears, my heart rejecting the thought. He was our friend. He¡¯d fought beside us. He¡¯dughed with me through the hardest times before.


    Could he be an artificial Hybrid? Scratch that, could he be THE artificial hybrid who¡¯s been causing havoc in this pack for months?


    "Where is he?" My voice was hoarse but sharp, slicing through the heavy air.


    "We haven¡¯t found him yet, mydy," another guard answered just then, running down the stairs with a solemn expression, stepping closer. "We searched the main rooms. No sign of him... yet."


    "Search deeper." My tone left no room for hesitation.


    The guards dispersed quickly, their footsteps echoing faintly through the wrecked house.


    I bent over Caroline again, pressing my forehead to hers.


    Memories stabbed through me... her warm smile there to cheer me up, the way she always managed to make meugh in the worst moments, the quiet confession she¡¯d once made under the moonlight, her voice trembling but brave.


    "I love you, Odessa." She had said.


    And I¡¯d let her down but it never destroyed our friendship.


    The sob that tore through me was ugly and I didn¡¯t even care, my body trembling as the tears flowed out.


    Kaelos¡¯s hand rested lightly on my back, grounding me, but I couldn¡¯t stop shaking.


    "She should¡¯ve been with us," I muttered through clenched teeth. "If I hadn¡¯t been¡ª"


    "This is not your fault," Kaelos interrupted firmly. "Don¡¯t you dare take this on yourself."


    Before I could respond, a shout came from upstairs. "Lord Kaelos! Lady Odessa!"


    We both rose instantly, Kaelos helping me to my feet though my legs felt like lead.


    Two guards descended, their expressions grim.


    "We found signs of a forced exit through the northern wall in thepound," one reported. "There was blood on the floor, a heavy trail. Whoever it was, they were badly wounded... but they¡¯re gone."


    The other guard hesitated before adding, "The blood matches the Beta¡¯s profile. Marcellus."


    The name was a p in the face.


    "No..." My voice was quieter now, but there was a dangerous edge creeping into it. "Marcellus wouldn¡¯t..."


    <fnd7e7> Newest update provided by find?novel</fnd7e7>


    But the magic traces. The fact that he was nowhere to be found.


    Sign of a guilty person, no doubt.


    The truth was already there, I just didn¡¯t want to see it.


    Kaelos¡¯s eyes hardened, his jaw tight. "Send word to every pack soldier. Lock down the pack. I want patrols doubled, and trackers ready within the hour."


    "Yes, my lord," the guard replied with a bow before sprinting out.


    The air between us grew heavier. I could feel the quiet war inside myself, grief dragging me down, rage wing its way up.


    I looked back at Caroline onest time. Her body seemed smaller now, as if death had stolen even her presence. I crouched again, brushing my fingers lightly over her hand.


    "I¡¯ll find him," I whispered, my voice trembling but certain. "I¡¯ll make sure he pays for this."


    Kaelos nodded, resting a hand on my shoulder. "We¡¯ll hunt him together. He won¡¯t get far."


    The guards returned with a stretcher, their movements respectful as they prepared to take Caroline¡¯s body. I stepped aside reluctantly, my hands curling into fists.


    Every step away from her felt like I was leaving a piece of myself behind.


    But if Marcellus thought he could take her from me and vanish into the dark...


    He had no idea what kind of darkness I was willing to walk through to find him.

 Chapter 328: _Bringing That Bastard Down

    <h4>Chapter 328: _Bringing That Bastard Down</h4>


    "So your Beta is a traitor," Janelle remarked once Kaelos and I got to Kaelos¡¯ office to regroup.


    She and her husband were the only ones among the Alpha Kings and Luna Queens who hadn¡¯t returned to their territories, wishing to see how things were sorted after the chaos at the festival.


    Her husband, Alpha King Thorian, stood resting on the wall at a corner, his arms folded in front of his chest while Kaelos and I stood in front of his desk.


    I stared at the white marble floor, my eyes distant as I tried topose myself.


    My mind kept reying all the memories I¡¯ve had with her these past few months.


    How she¡¯d help me make potions. Gossip about Kaelos with me back when I felt like running for my life. She¡¯s been more than a friend... she was a rock.


    And now she¡¯s gone.


    Death was a scary thing.


    Caroline was dead, but we had to keep our heads in the game if we wanted any chance of avenging her.


    "An artificial hybrid has been hidden among your ranks for what? Years?" Alpha king Thorian suddenly spoke with a scoff, fixing his sharp blue eyes on Kaelos and me. "And you¡¯re only discovering¡ª"


    "Marcellus was cunning." Kaelos interrupted sharply, ncing subtly at me before continuing. "He¡¯s managed to fool us all for years but only started being confident with his atrocities after Odessa¡¯s arrival. Probably to make the me go to her."


    Janelle parted her lips to say something but then Thorian snorted.


    "Right. And whose fault is that? Ours?"


    My jaw clenched, my fists curling as I looked away from him, trying to keep my cool.


    But then...


    "Honey, cut them some ck." Janelle chimed with an understanding tone sighing heavily.


    As if there was a lot she wasn¡¯t letting us know.


    I raised my head only to see her walking toward me with a in expression at first. But when she got to me, she ced her hands on my shoulders, causing me to freeze.


    "I should¡¯ve told you about Caroline¡¯s... True origins." She began, causing me to furrow my eyebrows.


    True origins?


    "Honey?" Thorian called with uncertainty but Janelle raised a finger, nodding at him.


    "It¡¯s fine. After all, that witch Ryker had under his control already mentioned it loud and clear during the battle." Janelle said with a shrug.


    She was talking about Lucinda.


    And what did she make ¡¯clear¡¯?


    "Caroline was a Silverborn. A child of Selene." Janelle revealed, her expression filled with acknowledgement. "Just like me. And just like Kaelos."


    I blinked, my lips parting with confusion as I swerved my head to Kaelos who seemed equally confused.


    "What?" He blurted but Janelle shook her head.


    "I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t say anything but I noticed the second we met. Besides, whenever a Silverborn discovers their true nature... We keep it hidden." Janelle paused, ncing briefly at me. "Usually, anyway."


    I didn¡¯t even know what a child of Selene was, but I had a guess that it had something to do with a stronger connection to the moon goddess.


    "Why did she never say anything?" I asked, feeling a twinge of betrayal and sadness. "I trusted her with my Hybrid secret. Why couldn¡¯t she¡ª"


    "As silverborns, we carry the blood of the goddess in our veins. We¡¯re descended from her." Janelle interrupted, shaking her head. "And it seemed Caroline was too set on her mission from the goddess to tell you. It was for your protection."


    Suddenly, Kaelos spoke up, waving his hands. "If the silver borns or whatever are such a secret... How did Ryker know about them enough to give info to Lucinda?"


    "Because he¡¯s Ryker." Thorian stepped forward just then, his footsteps echoing through the office. His expression was tight with actual fear as he continued. "I¡¯ve never seen power of such magnitude. And the fact that he¡¯s an Alpha king as well..."


    He paused, locking his eyes on Kaelos who stiffened beside me.


    "Two Alpha Kings existing within one continent is a recipe for war. One of you will have to go down eventually." Thorian added but Kaelos scoffed.


    "He¡¯s not the Alpha king. I am."


    "Tell that to his bloodline or his aura." Janelle chimed, her voice sharp. "Thest thing to do in this situation is to be overly confident. Ryker isn¡¯t to be underestimated."


    As they went on and on, my mind was distant, thinking about one thing.


    Finding Marcellus.


    Patrols throughout the pack were still in search of him, hoping he hadn¡¯t fled already. The pack was the size of a small city after all.


    ¡¯And once I find him I¡¯ll want to rip out his heart myself.¡¯ I thought to myself, my fists clenching beside me. ¡¯I¡¯ll make him suffer the pain Caroline went through. The pain all his other victims have gone through.¡¯


    I could feel my magic coil inside me like a bomb waiting to pop.


    But I drew in deep breaths to calm myself, especially when I noticed Kaelos staring at me with worry from the corner of my eye.


    ¡¯Don¡¯t let the rage consume you, Odessa.¡¯ his voice echoed in my mind, warm and grounding. ¡¯You¡¯ve already gone through enough tonight.¡¯


    ¡¯Exactly.¡¯ I turned my head to him and gave a nod. ¡¯Which is why I want to take back control of this one thing. When we find Marcellus, promise me that I¡¯ll be the one to end him.¡¯


    Kaelos¡¯ eyes glinted with uncertainty. ¡¯We could still need him for questioning. About Ryker.¡¯


    ¡¯And you think a psychopath like himself who¡¯s remained hidden for so long, smiling, drinking and chatting with us... Wouldply with anything we ask?¡¯ I asked with a mental scoff.


    The look in his eyes told me Kaelos knew I was right.


    ¡¯I don¡¯t want him to hurt you.¡¯ he finally admitted. ¡¯I¡¯m afraid I wouldn¡¯t be able to control myself if that happens. The pack has already seen enough destruction tonight.¡¯


    I smiled warmly, ignoring the scrutiny from Thorian and Janelle who had probably noticed our mental exchange.


    ¡¯There will be no need for that.¡¯ I muttered, cing my hand on his shoulder. "It¡¯s him you¡¯ll need to worry about when we find him."


    Suddenly, right on cue, the office door burst open. We all swerved our heads simultaneously just in time to see Althea walking in, apanied by a few guards.


    Her expression was stern as she spoke. "The soldiers have a visual on Marcellus. Close to the eastern walls."


    <fneec8> Content originallyes from find?novel</fneec8>


    My eyes widened as I nced once at Kaelos before stepping forward. "We need to hurry before he scales the walls or¡ª"


    "I ced a magic ward around the pack." Althea interrupted, giving me a nod. "He wouldn¡¯t be able to teleport and the walls will burn his skin if he attempts climbing. The soldiers have him cornered."


    Thorian sneered just then. "We came here through a portal, witch. Does that mean we wouldn¡¯t be able to leave as well?"


    Althea turned her head to him, silent for a couple of seconds before speaking. "I¡¯ll open one for you. Straight to Europe."


    Janelle parted her lips to speak but Thorian shook his head. "I¡¯ll be damned. How should we trust¡ª"


    "You can either deal with your bias against witches now and trust her or wait until we¡¯re done, Alpha King," I spoke with a firm voice, not even sparing him a nce as I walked toward the exit. "Tonight, we¡¯re bringing that bastard down. Once and for all."

 Chapter 329: _It Ends Tonight

    <h4>Chapter 329: _It Ends Tonight</h4>


    Althea was able to open a portal that led us straight to the eastern walls of the pack.


    Janelle and Thorian tagged in, thetter seeming like he¡¯d rather be anywhere else.


    My jaw clenched as I scanned my gaze around the perimeter, my eyes trailing up therge stone wall which towered over twenty metres high.


    The shouts of soldiers around the area sent shivers down my spine, my eyes flicking to a growing thick fog which was spreading rapidly.


    Marcellus.


    He was definitely in it.


    "It¡¯s a trap!" One pack soldier yelled out, but suddenly got caught by a coiling tendril of dark green energy.


    My breath caught in my throat as I watched it happen, Kaelos grabbing my arm instinctively before I could move any further.


    The soldier was lifted into the air despite his screams, his body lighting up with a dark green energy as if his cells were burning up. His blood-curdling scream tore through the night, but all it took was a few more seconds for him tobust into specks of dark green light.


    "By the goddess..." Janelle whispered behind Kaelos and me.


    Kaelos yelled at a soldier beside us. "What¡¯s the situation?"


    The man¡¯s voice was shaky, filled with terror. "We thought we had him cornered but then when we asked him to surrender... He got surrounded by that fog."


    He pointed at the fog which seemed to be taking the form of a shapeless monster, rising higher into the air. A whoosh echoed through the night, like the cries of tortured souls.


    "He¡¯s absorbing life force." Althea blurted, stepping forward to my left. "If he¡¯s the same culprit who¡¯s been terrorising this pack all these months, that¡¯s how he functions. Life force feeds his magic."


    My muscles tensed up, my eyes locking on the fog.


    Kaelos¡¯ grip on my arm tightened. "Now I can¡¯t let you confront him. He¡¯s too¡ª"


    "He¡¯s still only an artificial hybrid at the end of the day." My tone was firm as I gently yanked my arm free of his grip. "I¡¯m a true hybrid. And I¡¯ll show him the difference tonight."


    Before Kaelos could say anything, I stretched out my arms, preparing myself for a spell.


    "Odessa, the dark sigils connecting you to the Vein are still very much active." Althea¡¯s voice was a warning. "We can¡¯t risk you identally tapping into it."


    I nced at my arms, feeling the ache in my veins. In my blood.


    The dark sigils were asleep but they were still there, waiting for me to tap too deeply into my magic.


    <fndc65> Fresh chapters posted on f?ndnovel</fndc65>


    But I wouldn¡¯t need to.


    "And we can¡¯t risk Marcellus killing any more people." I clenched my hands into fists, ncing at my aunt Althea onest time. "Trust me, Aunt."


    Without another word, my body ignited with violet mes as I flew into the air, my eyes still fixed on the fog.


    The soldiers close to it had backed up, looking into the sky at me as I approached. They froze with a mix of fear and awe but I ignored them, shouting out to Marcellus instead.


    "Marcellus! You may have fooled us for so long but it ends tonight!"


    Suddenly, the air seemed to shift, the pressure increasing for just a second. Then a dome of dark green energy spread around for over a hundred meters, trapping me and the fog.


    "Odessa!" Kaelos yelled behind me as I scanned my gaze around the dark green dome, my pulse spiking.


    ¡¯I guess it¡¯s just you and me in here.¡¯ I said mentally to Sirena who howled in response in my mental space.


    ¡¯And that¡¯ll be more than enough.¡¯ She said with confidence as a maniacalughter boomed from the fog.


    It parted slightly at the centre, revealing Marcellus, who was stepping forward with a crazed look in his eyes. His fists glowed with a dark green light, his tattered clothes pping into the wind.


    "So, it has finallye to this, Dessa." He sniggered, shaking his head. "I¡¯ve always imagined what it would be like to fight you. A true Hybrid. The Vein Born."


    My face remained stoic, the violet mes surrounding me ring brighter. "Oh, trust me... You¡¯ll know soon enough."


    Even now when I stared down at him, all I could see was the first person who epted me in this pack.


    The man who acted as my guide, introducing me to werewolf customs patiently and even defending me whenever I faced the scrutiny of Kaelos¡¯ council.


    And now he stood down there, a monster and a man responsible for so much pain and death. Responsible for taking away my only true friend in the pack.


    Caroline¡¯s blood was still fresh on his clothes, as well as the ash and debris from their battle before he killed her.


    "You think everything is ck and white, Dessa?" Marcellus sneered, his fangs bare at me. "Sooner orter, the wolves of North America will have to decide if they still want to be under your husband¡¯s rule or join Ryker in a new age. When that timees... You¡¯ll be left with a choice."


    My eyes were unblinking as my lips curled into a smile. But it was humourless, my mind¡¯s way of holding me back from snapping.


    "I¡¯ve made my decision already, Marcellus," I said inly, my voice echoing like divine judgment. The wind picked up, blowing my lush hair around me. "And part of that decision involves painting this pack with your blood."


    Suddenly, Marcellus punched his right fist at me, causing dark green energy tendrils to sprout from it before heading for me.


    But I went into the defensive, evading the tendrils by flying, keeping myself above him.


    "You¡¯re beyond naive if you think I¡¯ll go down easily!" Marcellus yelled out, levitating into the air with his arms outstretched. "I am the lord of the North¡¯s right hand! I¡¯ve practised magic while you were still a lowly, powerless witch in your coven."


    I snorted, tilting my head. "You done talking?"


    Marcellus smirked, the glow in his fists swelling until it blinded the fog around him.


    "Very well. Let me show you what your precious Caroline saw in herst seconds."


    Suddenly, the air cracked like thunder and before I could even move, my world went white.

 Chapter 330: _Remind Them Who The Monster Is

    <h4>Chapter 330: _Remind Them Who The Monster Is</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    After killing Caroline, he escaped his residence, walking through the night under the waning blood moon.


    He would¡¯ve teleported out of the pack altogether but found out someone had ced a magic protection ward around the freaking ce.


    Althea.


    It didn¡¯t take long for pack soldiers to begin searching the entire pack to find him, many yelling different things as he walked through the shadows.


    <fn66cf> The source of th?s content is find?novel</fn66cf>


    "The Beta is an artificial hybrid." One said with a whisper when Marcellus stopped under the shadow of a shop, blending in with his magic.


    "No way!" Another gasped.


    "I¡¯m telling you, dude. The guards who went to investigate his residence after that explosion saw traces of moonstone energy... As well as a dark green magic energy."


    He should¡¯ve cleared his tracks like he always does, but he knew the gig was up this time.


    "The Luna Queen talked about personally wanting him." Another chimed, sounding rather pumped up. "Hybrid or not, I¡¯d hate to be on her bad side. Not after the fucking blood rain earlier tonight."


    "Do you think the Beta is responsible for all the atrocities in the pack? All those deaths that were med on thete Sir ric?"


    He¡¯d heard about enough.


    His eyes red with dark green light as he tilted his head, locking his gaze on the three pack soldiers.


    They had their backs facing him, so they didn¡¯t notice on time when he stepped out of the shadows, a thick white fog spreading underneath his feet like a bad omen.


    He stretched his right hand forward, pointing it at them with a cold, detached expression.


    If he was going down tonight... He might as well do that while taking a lot of these pathetic pack soldiers with him.


    "As a parting gift..." He began with a loud enough voice for the three men to jerk with shock before turning to face him. They grabbed their weapons, taking steps back as he inched closer.


    Cute.


    "... I can confirm to you that I indeed killed all those people you¡¯re talking about. Everyst one of them, including ric himself." Marcellus continued, his lips curling into a crazed smile. "Tell them I said hi."


    Without warning, dark green energy tendrils sprouted from his hand before wrapping around them like snakes within a split second.


    Before they could scream, the tendrils coiled around their mouths, causing their eyes to widen as they were raised into the air.


    The snapping of their bones, their muffled groans of pain and the way their bodies flinched as they struggled for survival, kicking and twisting... Ah, it was all so beautiful to Marcellus.


    "I¡¯ve done so many atrocious things for as long as I can remember. All to get me to the power I am today." He whispered, more to himself than them.


    Slowly, the tendrils began sucking out the life force from the men, their skins paling and their eyes bulging until they seemed like they were going to pop out of their sockets.


    "If anyone in this gods forsaken pack thinks that I, Marcellus Sterling, will fall so easily after getting this far," He added, clenching his outstretched hand into a fist.


    When he did, a sickly snap like twigs echoed through the night, the bodies of the pack soldiers stiffening mid-air.


    Their dried-up bodies plopped to the ground, almost reducing into ash upon contact as Marcellus smirked coldly. "Then I¡¯ll paint this pack with more blood than all the days and nights I¡¯ve killedbined. I¡¯ll remind you all who the true monster you should flee from is."


    .


    .


    Those words weren¡¯t just for fancy.


    Marcellus went on a rampage, bringing down any pack soldier who was unfortunate enough to cross his path as he headed for the eastern walls.


    The dark green energy tendrils were just one method. Other times, he decapitated heads, drove his arm through chests or shed stomachs until organs fell out.


    And he did all this under the protection of the shadows until he finally reached the eastern walls, spreading out a thick white fog to cover him.


    Any soldier who tried reaching him was instantly killed, their life force going to him and revitalising him.


    ¡¯Marcellus...¡¯ an all too familiar voice suddenly whispered in his head, causing his eyebrows to furrow into a deep frown.


    ¡¯Lord Ryker.¡¯ Marcellus¡¯ mental voice was alive with glee, a high brought about from all the killing. ¡¯You reaching out to witness my grand fall?¡¯


    There was a small pause, the only sound that he could hear now being his own beating heart and the yells of pack soldiers outside his fog, telling themselves to stay away from it.


    ¡¯I¡¯m reaching out to give you a warning.¡¯ Ryker¡¯s voice was as detached as it could get. ¡¯Whatever you do... Do not harm the Vein Born.¡¯


    Marcellus blinked, almost unable to believe what he just heard.


    This must be a joke.


    ¡¯Odessa? Your hybrid pet?¡¯ Marcellus sniggered, damning respect. ¡¯You must think me an idiot if you think I wouldn¡¯t use everything in me to bring her down.¡¯


    ¡¯Marcellus. My right hand.¡¯ Ryker¡¯s voice held just a little sentiment now. ¡¯I know you¡¯re in a tight situation right now, but killing Odessa, that¡¯s if you can, will only incur my wrath.¡¯


    Marcellus¡¯ jaw tightened, his fists clenching beside him.


    For a while, he¡¯s imagined taking Odessa for himself, simply for the reason of spawning powerful children with her.


    When Ryker showed his interest in her, he naturally stepped back. Now when he was in a fight for his life, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if along the line... He¡¯d actually grown to care for Odessa.


    ... Nah!


    ¡¯Yes, I know your wrath is worse than death, Lord Ryker.¡¯ Marcellus responded calmly, feeling a shift in the air.


    Odessa was close, as well as Kaelos and... Janelle and Thorian.


    What are those two still doing here?


    ¡¯Good.¡¯ Ryker echoed but before he could say anything else, Marcellus snorted.


    ¡¯No, I¡¯m not agreeing to listen to you. This is me telling you for the first time in my life to fuck off.¡¯ Marcellus smiled, letting out a sigh.


    ¡¯And if somehow, I die tonight and Odessa lives, I want you to know Ryker... Your fall will be far more brutal than mine. And swift too.¡¯


    With that, Marcellus cut off the mind link with the lord of the North.


    What was he going to do? Comin to customer service?


    .


    .


    When Marcellus walked out of the fog, creating a dark green energy dome that trapped himself and Odessa in it, he knew only one person was walking out of this alive.


    "Let me show you what your precious Caroline saw in herst seconds." Was thest thing he said to Odessa before going all out.


    He spread out his arms, causing the air around Odessa to ignite with a bright light that disoriented her, forcing her to cover her eyes in the air.


    He cackled,unching himself at her... When the violet mes surrounding her suddenly surged with more power, forcing him toe to an abrupt halt.


    Her eyes glowed with a bright violet light as she swiped her right hand at him, sending a diagonal wave of violet mes which burned the air in its path.


    Marcellus managed to teleport out of its way with barely a second to spare, watching from a distance as it proceeded to hit a corner of his energy dome.


    The energy dome barely held up, the explosion rocking it and sending a searing heat that probably went beyond it.


    "Now THAT¡¯S power." Marcellus grinned, whipping his head to Odessa. "Power that you were born with. But you see mine?"


    A spiral of dark green energy began forming in his right palm, spinning like a death curse. It grew bigger and bigger, the air around it distorting as if reality itself was unravelling.


    Odessa spread out her hands, clenching them into fists but he was already done with his spell and yelled out:


    "My power was born from blood, sweat and tears. Most of it from others. You don¡¯t know what it means to fight for control."


    He released the spiralling energy disk, watching as it headed straight at Odessa, seeming like it could cleave existence itself.


    Odessa¡¯s face flickered with panic as a force bubble of violet energy wrapped around her, taking on the full force of the energy de.


    Marcellus watched the de cut through each force shield Odessa made like a hot knife through butter, and grinned wider.


    He might just be winning this after all.


    Suddenly, a powerful voice boomed, sounding like a divine promation.


    "You definitely don¡¯t know me as much as I thought if you think I don¡¯t know what it means to fight for control!"


    Marcellus¡¯ eyes widened with shock, a shiver running down his spine when the energy disk slowly began changing into a bright violet colour.


    Odessa... She was hijacking his spell and making it her own!


    "I¡¯ve heard enough of your hypocrisy!" She continued, a multi-directional wave of violet mes spreading around her before pulsing with more power.


    Marcellus acted quickly as the mes headed for him, raising his hands to prepare a spell.

 Chapter 331: _What It Means To Fight For Control

    <h4>Chapter 331: _What It Means To Fight For Control</h4>


    Marcellus¡¯ POV


    *****


    The violet mes burned brighter with each breath Odessa took, and for the first time in a long time, Marcellus felt the weight of something foreign press against his chest.


    Fear.


    It didn¡¯t make sense.


    He had fought wars, in monsters in the dark, stolen power from witches, wolves and even humans. He had wed his way up from nothing, reforged himself in stolen blood and forbidden magic.


    Fear was not anguage he spoke anymore.


    And yet, when her eyes glowed with that impossible violet light, he understood in his bones that she was far from the powerless witch everyone mocked.


    She was something more.


    And that made her dangerous.


    Marcellus spat to the side, licking his lips like a man savouring the taste of battle.


    "You think fire will scare me?" He snarled, gathering green-ck energy into his palms. The tendrils writhed like snakes, hungry, eager. "I was born in fire. I bled for every scrap of this power. You? You were handed it like a spoiled child."


    Her gaze sharpened, unwavering. She gave no words, no retorts, no trembling. Just silence, and the mes roaring louder around her.


    The sound alone felt like judgment.


    "Answer me!" Marcellus bellowed, his voice cracking as he flung his hand forward. The tendrils shot out, coiling through the dome surrounding them like vipers.


    Odessa met them with a wave of violet fire, and to his horror, they burned as though her mes could unmake what he had so painstakingly stitched together.


    He recoiled, sweat stinging his eyes. His teeth bared, his chest heaving as he tried again, sending another wave of energy, another dark construct. But each one fell to cinders under her mes.


    This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen.


    She was supposed to falter. To break. To weep under the memory of Caroline¡¯s broken body.


    He had thought her grief would be a weapon he could use, but instead it had hardened into a de pointed squarely at his throat.


    He couldn¡¯t let her see the crack in hisposure.


    So heughed cruelly, the sound of a man already drenched in blood.


    "You think this makes you strong?" His voice echoed in the dome around them. "Caroline begged before she died. Begged me to let her live. Do you think your mes can erase the look in her eyes when she realised she was nothing but meat in my hands?"


    Yes, that was obviously a lie...but Odessa didn¡¯t know that. So he watched as his words affected her in the grandest way possible.


    Her eyes narrowed, the mes around her spiking violently.


    Yes! There it was. The crack.


    "Pathetic," Marcellus hissed. "You¡¯ll burn yourself out like every weakling before you."


    But deep inside, behind the venom, he felt the first threads of panic coil tighter.


    His body was heavy, his magic sluggish. He had spent too much energy battling Caroline before his escape, let alone the moonstone explosion in his residence.


    The fog, the tendrils, the bone-breaking theatrics... it had taken more from him than he wanted to admit.


    Odessa, on the other hand... was growing stronger. Feeding on something deeper than magic. Her fury.


    And fury never ran dry.


    The energy dome shuddered violently above them, cracks of violet light searing through its green-ck surface. Marcellus dug his nails into his palms, forcing more power into it, sweat trickling down his temples.


    He refused to die like a rat in a cage.


    Meanwhile, outside the dome, voices were shouting.


    Kaelos watched his mate with worry, seeming like he wanted to break through the dome and kill him himself. Janelle and Thorian were with him, their silhouettes clear against the fractured green barrier.


    They soon began pounding against it, but Marcellus smiled coldly.


    Let them try.


    This cage was his kingdom.


    His gaze cut back to Odessa.


    "They can¡¯t save you. No one can save you. When I¡¯m done, they¡¯ll be ashes. And you..." He raised both hands, channelling everyst fragment of stolen life force into his core "...you¡¯ll be my masterpiece."


    The air warped as he spoke.


    Green-ck energy spun into a vortex between his hands, howling like a hurricane, its edges razor sharp. It was raw destruction, condensed into a de of reality-rending death.


    The ground trembled beneath his boots as it grewrger, heavier, the dome itself groaning under its weight.


    The strain tore at him. Blood dripped from his nose and even his ears, but he grinned through it.


    "Do you see, Odessa?" His voice rasped, thick with mania. "This is power earned! Not gifted, not born! I bled for this!"


    He stopped talking and hurled it at her.


    The vortex screamed across the dome, cutting through the air, ripping into her shields one after another. Force bubbles shattered like ss, each one a desperate defence torn apart in seconds.


    The st barreled toward her chest, seeming inevitable and unstoppable.


    Marcellus could almost taste the victory.


    And then...


    Her voice rang out like thunder:


    "You think I don¡¯t know what it means to fight for control?"


    The st slowed, causing his eyes to widen. The green-ck energy, his masterpiece, flickered, just for a second, then began to bleed with a violet light.


    No.


    No, no, no...


    Odessa¡¯s mes surged into the vortex, infecting it, warping it and consuming it from the inside out. His creation turned against him, spiralling back with a screech of power as violet overtook green.


    Marcellus screamed, pouring more of himself into it, but the more he fought, the faster it unravelled. His veins lit with pain as his magic rebelled, violet fire eating away at his core.


    He staggered back, choking on smoke. "Stop... STOP!"


    But Odessa didn¡¯t stop.


    She walked forward, mes wreathing her like a goddess of vengeance. Each step shook the ground, her eyes locked on him with unbreakable resolve.


    "This ends tonight," she said, her voice echoing like a prophecy.


    The vortex copsed, a tidal wave of violet fire bursting outward.


    Marcellus raised his arms, screaming as it engulfed him. His own energy shrieked as it burned, twisting and breaking apart. He tried to teleport... but nothing happened . Tried to shield... but it shattered.


    The fire wasn¡¯t just burning his body. It was burning his entire being.


    His stolen life force screeched as it was torn away, decades of stolen souls erupting from his veins, shrieking as they were freed into the mes.


    His knees hit the ground. His arms twisted grotesquely, bones snapping under the sheer pressure of power. His skin peeled, ckened, melted.


    <fnbd22> Read full story at FindN()vel</fnbd22>


    And through the agony, through the blinding violet storm, his mind clung to onest bitter thought:


    ¡¯So this is what control feels like... and it isn¡¯t mine.¡¯


    Then he copsed, the fire consuming him whole.


    And just like that, the great right hand of the lord of the North had fallen.

 Chapter 332: _Burn The World To Protect Her

    <h4>Chapter 332: _Burn The World To Protect Her</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    The world was still burning when I finally forced my legs to move.


    The energy dome was gone¡ªshattered into ash and light¡ªand so was he.


    Marcellus Sterling, the traitor Beta, the man who had broken Caroline, who hadid waste to La, who had dared to touch Odessa... but also the man who¡¯s been my best friend for so long.


    Nothing remained of him but smoke and a stain on the earth.


    And yet, it didn¡¯t feel like a victory.


    The air reeked of charred flesh, and blood.


    Soldiers of my pack stood frozen in the ruins of the battlefield, some with wide eyes, some with tears, some with heads bowed like the weight of what had just happened had crushed them all the same.


    But my gaze was only on her.


    Odessa.


    She was still standing at the epicenter, though barely. Violet mes crackled weakly around her body, thest remnant of the storm she had unleashed.


    Her lush blonde hair clung to her damp face, her eyes dim but unwavering, her skin pale from the sheer drain of what she had done. She had burned Marcellus down to nothing... and nearly herself along with him.


    I didn¡¯t think when I saw her like that.


    My body moved, faster than my heart, and I was at her side in a blink. Her knees buckled the moment my arms wrapped around her, and she sagged into me like a broken wing finally folding.


    "I¡¯ve got you," I whispered, holding her as though my hands alone could anchor her to this world.


    Her body trembled against mine, heat still clinging to her skin like she carried fire in her veins. But beneath the warmth was something else... something brittle.


    Her breaths came shallow, ragged, as though she was both here and somewhere far away, chasing ghosts I couldn¡¯t see.


    The grief that I¡¯d been bottling hit me hard just then.


    Caroline, La... The baby we had never even gotten to meet.


    So much had been taken from us in such a short time that my heart couldn¡¯t decide whether to rage or copse.


    All I knew was that she¡ªmy mate, my queen, my wife¡ªwas still here. And I wasn¡¯t letting the universe steal her too.


    "Kaelos..." Odessa rasped, her voice broken.


    "I¡¯m here." I pressed my forehead to hers, managing a small smile. "I¡¯m here, my love. You did it. It¡¯s over."


    But her eyes, shimmering with tears and exhaustion, told me she didn¡¯t believe it.


    "He¡¯s gone," she whispered, but it wasn¡¯t triumph. It was disbelief. Like she couldn¡¯tprehend it, like if she blinked too long, he¡¯d crawl back out of the ashes.


    I tightened my grip. "He¡¯s gone. And you¡¯re still standing. That¡¯s all that matters."


    She shook her head weakly. "It doesn¡¯t bring Caroline back. Or La. Or..." Her voice cracked.


    She didn¡¯t say it, but I knew.


    The child she had lost before it could even take its first breath.


    A lump rose in my throat but I swallowed it, stayingposed for her.


    "I know," I murmured, my own voice breaking. "I know, Odessa. And I hate it. I hate that all we have tonight is ashes. But you¡¯re not alone in this. You hear me? I¡¯ll carry it with you. Every piece of it."


    She broke down just then, silent tears slipping down her cheeks as her body crumpled further into mine.


    And I let her.


    <fn9dd7> Get full chapters from f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn9dd7>


    I let her bleed grief into my chest because if she couldn¡¯t, it would eat her alive.


    And gods help me, I couldn¡¯t lose her to that too.


    .


    .


    Time blurred after that.


    Thorian and Janelle approached us, their expressions grim. They didn¡¯t speak at first, but only looked down at Marcellus¡¯ ashes like they didn¡¯t quite believe the bastard was truly gone.


    Althea appeared soon after, her hands glowing faintly as she surveyed the battlefield with the sharp, calcting expression of someone already nning the next move.


    We won tonight, but it didn¡¯t feel like victory. It felt like survival.


    And survival always meant the war wasn¡¯t done.


    "We need to return to Europe," Thorian finally said, his deep voice solemn. His blue eyes flicked to Odessa and me, and for once, the arrogance was gone. "Ryker won¡¯t stay quiet after this. He¡¯ll know Marcellus is dead, and he¡¯ll take it as both an insult and opportunity."


    Janelle¡¯s jaw clenched, her usual poise cracked by fatigue. "We¡¯ll regroup our forces. Strengthen the circles. But make no mistake... this won¡¯t end here. Ryker wille for all of us."


    I shifted Odessa in my arms, her head resting against my shoulder, half-asleep from exhaustion.


    Damon growled low in my chest at the thought of Ryker¡¯s name, that cursed tyrant.


    He had already taken too much from me... he had taken my mother all those years ago, my people¡¯s peace, and now indirectly, even our baby.


    "I don¡¯t care what it takes," I said tly, my voice firm. "I¡¯ll tear Ryker apart with my bare hands if I have to."


    Althea stepped forward then, her long fingers weaving through the air.


    Threads of light formed between her hands, coiling into a swirling oval of silver-blue energy. The portal shimmered, reflectingndscapes I didn¡¯t recognize.


    "Go," she told Thorian and Janelle. "Your people need you. When the timees, I do hope we see you back here."


    Janelle hesitated, turning her head to me.


    She stepped closer to me, her expression softening.


    "Kaelos..." She nced at Odessa, then back at me. "You¡¯re going to need allies. When Ryker rises, remember this: we will stand with you. Always."


    It caught me off guard.


    Janelle wasn¡¯t known for her warmth, but there it was, in and unvarnished.


    Thorian inclined his head. "A war ising and as reluctant as I am with... trusting your territory¡¯s alliance with the witches, I want you to know you won¡¯t fight it alone."


    I nodded, the words heavy but wee. "I¡¯ll hold you to that."


    They gave onest look at Odessa, who was still trembling in my arms but safe, before stepping through the portal. The light swallowed them, and then it copsed with a snap, leaving silence in its wake.


    The battlefield was emptier without them, but the weight of what they¡¯d said lingered.


    A war against Ryker. An inevitable storm.


    I looked down at Odessa again, brushing a strand of hair from her face.


    She stirred faintly, her lips parting. "They¡¯re gone?"


    "Yes," I whispered. "Back to Europe. But they¡¯ll stand with us when the timees."


    She gave the faintest nod, her eyes fluttering shut again.


    I kissed her forehead, holding her tighter. "Rest now, love. You¡¯ve given enough tonight."


    As I carried her through the ruins of a battlefield littered with the dead and the broken, I knew one thing with a rity sharper than any de:


    We might have survived tonight, but survival wasn¡¯t enough anymore.


    Ryker wasing.


    And when he did, I would burn the world itself to protect her.

 Chapter 333: _Say You Need Me

    <h4>Chapter 333: _Say You Need Me</h4>


    (Warning: Mature Content Ahead.)


    That night, Odessa and I managed a sound sleep with her in my arms.


    When I woke up, I squinted through the morning sunlight, feeling the bed for her.


    Empty.


    I sat up, scanning my gaze around until I saw the balcony door open wide, a cool breeze blowing into the room through it.


    My eyes flicked to the clock on the wall.


    It was already past ten AM, which was expected since the chaos fromst night ended by midnight.


    "Odessa?" I called out, stepping out of the bed and adjusting my red night robe.


    I followed her sweet scent to the balcony and sighed lightly when I saw her standing there, her left hand on the railing while her right hand held a ss of wine.


    That was one red g...


    She had her back facing me, letting me see her beautiful blonde hair which was tied in a high ponytail. She wore a white night gown which hugged her curves.


    But I didn¡¯t have the time to admire her beauty, even with the golden sunlight kissing her skin like a painting.


    Not when her shoulders were cked and her emotions... Empty.


    Another red g.


    I couldn¡¯t feel anything from her through the bond. No sadness, no anger, no grief... Nothing.


    Just the kind of emptiness someone feels when they no longer have something to live for.


    "Death never felt so real..." She suddenly whispered, her voice trembling. She shook her head, taking a sip from her wine.


    It was then that I noticed two empty bottles on the floor beside her, causing my eyes to widen, dread crawling down my spine.


    Hell no.


    "Odessa¡ª" I stepped forward, stretching my right hand to her shoulder but she continued.


    "It¡¯s ironic. The girl who watched her parents die at such a young age." She let out a dryugh, obviously forced.


    That one was a sting, even though there were no usations behind her words.


    Just raw, unfiltered truth.


    "The powerless witch who watched her people losing their lives in a meaningless war. The scared wife of an Alpha king who watched people die around her while getting med for each death." She paused, croaking like she was struggling to breathe.


    I couldn¡¯t take it anymore and held her shoulder but she was persistent: "The hybrid who ughtered tens of people while trying to earn their trust. The... The mother..."


    An emotion finally broke through her, like the first crack in an icy wall I didn¡¯t even know she had put up.


    Despair.


    "Odessa, stop." I turned her around but then my heart lurched when I saw a single tear drop streaming down the corner of her eye.


    She wasn¡¯t empty.


    She was hiding everything.


    "... The mother who didn¡¯t even get to hold her... Her baby before he was snatched away. Like a pawn in whatever cruel game Ryker is plotting." She shook her head, her lips remaining parted. "And now my best friend. My only friend..."


    Thatst part felt like she was mourning both Caroline and Marcellus.


    As cruel as he was painted before she killed him, even with the fact that he¡¯s killed so many people under our noses all this while... He had still been a great friend.


    It was almost unbelievable that he had faked it all this time.


    "Odessa, I can¡¯t let you spiral," I muttered, cing my other hand on her shoulder as well. "I can¡¯t let you break."


    She shook her head, looking me dead in the eye. Those bright violet eyes which always lit my morning and warmed my nights... Were now empty hollows of their former selves.


    "Why?" She asked, squinting her eyes. "Because the pack needs me? So that I can get ready for whatever judgment or scrutiny the elders of my coven have?"


    I wanted to speak, but she suddenly broke downpletely, tears streaming like a flood down her face.


    "I¡¯m tired, Kaelos." She wept, pressing her face on my chest. "When will it end? When will the pain end? When will life stop hurting?"


    I wrapped my arms around her body, pressing her closer to my chest until she melted, giving in to my hold.


    She wept louder, the ss of wine in her hand dropping to the floor with a crash. But I didn¡¯t flinch, stepping over the shards and guiding her back into the room.


    "My love..." I whispered, cing her on the bed and making her sit. I sat beside her, letting her rest her head on my shoulder as I brushed my hand through her hair.


    "As... Crazy as it sounds, do you know one constant in all these things you¡¯ve listed?" I asked, keeping my voice soft.


    She could barely speak through all the crying but managed a trembling, "W¨CWhat?"


    My lips pressed into a thin line as I wondered if I should say it.


    ¡¯Probably not...¡¯ Damon chimed in my head, his howl hesitant.


    But I ignored, letting out a deep breath. "Me, Odessa."


    She stiffened under my hold, her sobbing stopping as well.


    I blinked, quickly trying to rify. "From your parents¡¯ death, to your first days here in the pack, to the charity Ball, our baby¡¯s death..."


    ¡¯You¡¯re losing her, idiot!¡¯ Damon snapped in my mind, but once again, I ignored him.


    Odessa slowly raised her head from my shoulder as I finally went straight to the point.


    "I¡¯ve been with you through all of this. Yes, I¡¯m the one who killed your parents that night and I¡¯m eternally remorseful of it. But... But maybe it¡¯s proof of the binding fate of the mate bond."


    I grabbed her hands, rubbing them tenderly as I stared into her eyes.


    <fn2f9d> Find the newest release on Find_Novel(.</fn2f9d>


    There was a flicker of something warm, a sh almost impossible to notice.


    But I noticed it.


    "Fate..." She smiled wryly, shaking her head. "Or just a cosmically terrible coincidence?"


    I would¡¯veughed if it weren¡¯t for the solemn air between us. Instead, I blurted. "Same thing, I guess."


    Her smile became warmer as I ced my right hand on her face, wiping off her tears with my fingers.


    And she didn¡¯t look away even for one second.


    Her breath trembled against my cheek when I leaned closer, my thumb still brushing away the trails of her tears.


    "Kaelos..." she whispered, her voice breaking like fragile ss.


    I kissed her.


    Not the kind of kiss meant to distract or silence, but the kind that tried to put broken pieces back together.


    Her lips tasted like salt and wine. They trembled under mine at first, but then she pulled me closer, clutching my robe like she needed to anchor herself in me before the world swallowed her whole.


    I groaned low against her mouth, pulling her into myp. Her nightgown shifted against my skin as she straddled me, and for the first time since the chaos, I felt her need.


    "Odessa..." I murmured against her lips, but she silenced me with another kiss, harder this time.


    Her hands fumbled at my robe, tugging at the fabric until it fell open, baring my chest.


    I felt her palms sy against my skin, her fingers trembling but eager, dragging down from my neck to the ridges of my abs. My blood stirred hot, my body responding before my mind caught up.


    "You don¡¯t get it," she whispered fiercely against my mouth, her tears still wet on her cheeks. "I need to feel something else right now. Something that isn¡¯t grief."


    Her words gutted me but I didn¡¯t stop her. I wouldn¡¯t.


    Instead, I kissed her harder, sliding my hands beneath her nightgown until I touched the soft skin of her thighs.


    She gasped into my mouth when I squeezed, when I dragged my palms upward, urging the gown higher and higher until it bunched at her waist.


    The moment her bare skin pressed flush against me, I groaned, my hips bucking upward instinctively. The friction drew a sharp whimper from her throat¡ªhalf broken, half hungry.


    "Odessa..." My voice was guttural. "Are you sure?"


    She met my gaze, her violet eyes burning through the haze of tears. "I¡¯m drowning, Kaelos. And you¡¯re the only one who can pull me out."


    That was all the answer I needed.


    I surged forward, capturing her lips again while my hands slid up her back, tugging the nightgown over her head. She let it fall to the floor without a care, leaving her naked and trembling in myp.


    My chest tightened at the sight of her.


    Even through all the pain, she was still mine. And I was hers.


    I bent forward, trailing kisses down her neck, tasting the salt of her tears mixed with the sweat of her skin. She tilted her head, granting me more, her breath shuddering every time my lips grazed the hollow of her throat.


    Her fingers tangled in my hair, pulling, guiding, urging me lower.


    But I didn¡¯t rush.


    I wanted her to feel every second, every brush of my lips, every graze of my teeth as I worshipped her skin down to her breasts.


    When I took one into my mouth, her sharp gasp filled the room.


    She arched against me, nails digging into my shoulders as if the sensation was too much and not enough all at once. I groaned against her, suckling, teasing, while my other hand kneaded the softness of her other breast.


    "Kaelos..." Her voice cracked, breathless and needy.


    I pulled back just enough to meet her gaze again, my lips swollen from kissing her. "Say it, love. Say you need me."


    "I¡ª" Her voice faltered, tears brimming again. She swallowed hard. "I need you. Please."


    I growled low, the sound rumbling from my chest as I pressed her back against the mattress.

 Chapter 334: _Against The Gods For Her

    <h4>Chapter 334: _Against The Gods For Her</h4>


    (Warning: More mature Content Ahead.)


    I growled low, the sound rumbling from my chest as I pressed her back against the mattress.


    Her hair spilt out beneath her like golden fire in the morning sunlight, her violet eyes shimmering with both tears and hunger.


    She looked up at me as though I was herst anchor, herst tether to life itself, and gods help me, my chest ached with the weight of it.


    My hands slid over her body, exploring, mapping her curves with reverence I didn¡¯t bother to hide.


    She trembled, but not from fear.


    Her grief sat heavy between us, but so did our bond, pulling us closer, demanding we drown in each other instead of the shadows that wed at her.


    Her lips parted, ragged breaths spilling out as my mouth traced over her corbone, my tongue flicking against the dip of her skin. She moaned softly, the sound broken but desperate, her fingers clutching at the fabric of my robe until it hung uselessly off my shoulders.


    "Kaelos..." she whispered, her voice like a prayer. "Don¡¯t stop."


    I didn¡¯t n to.


    Sliding my hand down her stomach, I felt her tense before she gasped, her back arching as my touch dipped lower. She clung to me, nails scraping down my chest as if she needed the sting to remind herself she was still alive.


    Her tears hadn¡¯t stopped, not fully.


    They streaked down her temples as I kissed them away, tasting the salt of her sorrow even as her body writhed beneath me, begging for something else.


    My lips hovered over hers, my breath mingling with hers, and I whispered. "Let me carry it, Odessa. All of it. The pain, the weight, the emptiness. Let me take it from you, just for this moment."


    Her answer came in the form of a feral kiss, her teeth shing against mine as though she wanted to consume me whole.


    I returned it just as fiercely, my hand slipping between her thighs, parting her before my index finger found her entrance.


    I stroked her until her whimper broke into a sob.


    It wasn¡¯t just lust. It was grief, turned into something scorching and frantic.


    "Kaelos..." she cried against my mouth, her voice unravelling. "I need you inside me. Please. Now."


    Her plea shredded me.


    I yanked the robe offpletely, baring myself to her. Her gaze fell over me, and for a heartbeat, she froze¡ªlike she couldn¡¯t believe she was still capable of wanting.


    But then she reached, her palm sliding over my chest, down my stomach, until I groaned at her touch.


    "You¡¯re mine," I growled, the words breaking as my forehead pressed to hers.


    Her lips trembled into a whisper, "Always."


    And that was all I needed before I positioned myself between her thighs, dragging my tip against her slick heat. She gasped, her body already trembling in anticipation, her nails digging lines into my shoulders.


    Slowly, I pushed the entirety of my length into her.


    Her mouth fell open on a silent cry, her eyes squeezing shut as I filled her, stretching her. I moaned through my teeth, holding back, savouring the molten clutch of her body around mine.


    "Look at me," I rasped, my hand cupping her cheek, urging her eyes open. "Don¡¯t hide. Not from me."


    She obeyed, her violet eyes locking with mine as I buried myself fully inside her. Tears pooled there again, but so did fire.


    We stayed still for a moment, just breathing each other in, our bond humming like a live wire between us.


    Then I moved.


    Slow thrusts at first, meant to remind her that she was alive, that we were alive together. Her body arched with mine, her legs wrapping around my waist to pull me deeper, harder.


    Every roll of my hips dragged a moan from her throat, every kiss stole another broken sob, until grief and pleasure blurred together.


    "Kaelos..." she panted, her voice cracking. "Don¡¯t... don¡¯t let go."


    "Never," I groaned, driving harder into her, iming her, grounding her with every thrust. "I¡¯ve got you. I¡¯ll always have you."


    Her nails raked down my back, a mix of pain and pleasure that only made me thrust harder, faster. The sound of our bodies colliding filled the room, but so did her cries, her whispered pleas, her ragged breaths.


    I kissed her through it all¡ªher lips, her cheeks, her tears, her throat¡ªworshipping every inch of her like she was the only thing keeping me from crumbling too.


    Because she was.


    Her body tightened around mine, her gasps turning into sharp cries as she broke beneath me, pleasure shattering through her grief like lightning splitting the night sky.


    She clung to me desperately, sobbing my name as she came undone.


    I followed, my release tearing through me as I thrust deep onest time, groaning into her mouth as I spilt inside her.


    The world narrowed to her... the warmth of her body, the salt of her tears, the fierce grip of her arms around me like she¡¯d never let me go.


    When it was over, we copsed together, our chests heaving and skin slick with sweat. I held her tightly, refusing to loosen my grip even an inch.


    She buried her face against my neck, her breath still broken, her tears dampening my skin.


    "I¡¯m still here," I murmured into her hair, brushing strands away from her damp face. "We¡¯re still here."


    She let out a tremblingugh, a small one, but real. "For now."


    I pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. "For always."


    Her hand rose, cupping my cheek, her thumb tracing the corner of my mouth. "Don¡¯t promise me forever, Kaelos."


    "I don¡¯t promise," I said firmly, my voice firm. "I vow."


    Her lips curled into the faintest, broken smile before she leaned up, kissing me softly.


    And in that moment, as her tears finally slowed, as her body rxed into mine, I realised this wasn¡¯t just sex.


    It was survival.


    It was love, forged in pain and sharpened by loss, clinging to the only thing that remained constant: each other.


    So I held her, even after the tremors in her body stilled, even after her breath evened out against my chest. I held her as though letting go meant losing her forever.


    Because if there was one thing I knew with certainty, it was that I¡¯d burn the world to keep her here with me.


    And this morning, at least, we had won that battle.


    Together.


    .


    .


    I don¡¯t know how long it took, but a knock on the door was all it took to shatter our peace in the bedroom.


    <fn1d71> Original content can be found at find~novel</fn1d71>


    "Odessa? Alpha King?" Althea¡¯s voice was what came from the other end.


    I growled low, not bothering to mask my irritation. "What is it?"


    "The elders of the Luminari have been waiting sincest night," she said through the door. "Arachne and Nimue. They request to see Odessa... immediately."


    My arm tightened around Odessa¡¯s waist before the words had even fully left her mouth.


    The thought of those self-righteous witches barging into our sanctuary¡ªafter what Odessa had endured, after what she had bled¡ªsent heat through my veins.


    Odessa stirred again, her violet eyes heavy-lidded but already aware. "They came?" she whispered, her voice hoarse from exhaustion.


    "They dare," I muttered, brushing a strand of hair from her damp cheek. "You owe them nothing. Not today."


    Her lips trembled, but her gaze was steady. "If I don¡¯t go... they¡¯ll make it worse. They¡¯ll say I¡¯m hiding. That I¡¯ve lost control."


    I clenched my jaw, hating that she was right.


    The rain of blood, the trembling sky, her use of the Vein¡¯s magic... none of it could be hidden. And they had been waiting for a reason to leash her further.


    "They¡¯ll not speak to you alone," I said, rising from the bed and reaching for my discarded robe. My voice was heavy as I continued. "If they wish to speak ofst night, it will be before my throne. Under my roof."


    Odessa nodded faintly, watching me dress. There was no strength left for argument, only quiet resignation. That alone made my blood boil hotter than fire.


    By the time we entered the throne room, the Luminari elders were already waiting.


    Arachne stood tall, her hair woven into a crown of braids, her robes a glittering ck threaded with gold. Nimue lingered beside her, pale and sharp, her eyes cold as polished stone.


    Their presence reeked of judgment.


    I ascended the steps of my dais slowly, Odessa at my side. But we didn¡¯t sit on our thrones.


    My pack soldiers bowed low, their heads ducked, their eyes flicking warily between me and the witches who dared to summon my wife like she was some child.


    "Your Grace," Arachne began, dipping her head with a courtesy that carried no warmth.


    "Wee at once becausest night¡¯s events cannot be ignored." Her gaze slid to Odessa, cool and calcting. "The blood-storm nearly drowned half the pack and beyond. The Vein¡¯s magic surged thicker than ever. And all of it tied to her grief... and her defiance."


    Odessa flinched beside me.


    I stepped forward before she could form a reply, my voice echoing through the chamber:


    "Careful."


    Arachne¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line.


    Nimue spoke instead, her tone clipped. "We warned her. Six months abstaining from magic... our condition for her safety and for the world¡¯s. She had but two months left. Instead she unraveled, and now the Vein stirs."


    "She miscarried," I snapped, the word hitting the air like thunder. "She bled, she screamed, and the world answered. And you would turn her agony into a tribunal?"


    "She risked us all," Nimue countered, her eyes shing. "You coddle her, Kaelos, but the Vein does not care for your bond. When she draws upon it recklessly, the boundary thins."


    Odessa¡¯s voice, quiet but steady, rose then. "I didn¡¯t call the Vein. It called me. The moment the life left my body, it¡¯s chaotic magic tore through me. You think I wanted this?"


    The chamber fell silent.


    Her words cracked with raw grief, and I could feel her trembling beside me. My hand found hers, curling around it, grounding her as I faced the elders again.


    "You will not shame her for surviving," I said, each syble heavy with menace. "If the Vein stirred, then perhaps you should question why it lies so restless beneath us. Perhaps your coven should spend more time guarding its depths and less time binding my wife like she¡¯s a wayward apprentice."


    Arachne¡¯s nostrils red. "Her power is vtile¡ª"


    "Her power," I cut in, "is mine to shield, not yours to chain. Odessa belongs to me, to this court. If you wish to discuss protections, we will discuss them as equals. But you will not step into my hall and treat her as though she were a criminal."


    Gasps rippled faintly through the chamber. Odessa¡¯s fingers tightened around mine, her head bowing in something close to relief.


    Nimue¡¯s eyes narrowed. "So you would pit yourself against the Luminari for her?"


    I bared my teeth with contempt. "I would pit myself against the gods themselves if they sought to harm her. Do not mistake my civility for weakness."

 Chapter 335: _Drag You Back Into The Light

    <h4>Chapter 335: _Drag You Back Into The Light</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    "I would pit myself against the gods themselves if they sought to harm her. Do not mistake my civility for weakness."


    Hearing Kaelos say those words to the elders of my coven was so... Healing. I don¡¯t know how to exin it.


    With everything I¡¯ve been through¡ªthat we¡¯ve been through¡ªseeing him by my side through it all was a constant that always filled the space in my heart.


    The spaces left behind by Caroline. By Marcellus. By elder Davina. My baby. Heck, even La.


    <fn17f6> Latest content published on </fn17f6>


    I was more broken than I¡¯d like to admit by their deaths and it was showing.


    Even during sex this morning, I couldn¡¯t stop crying... Because deep down, even with Kaelos¡¯ kisses, his words of reassurance and his gentle touches all around my body... There was a nagging voice at the back of my mind.


    A voice asking me: Why am I surviving all of this? Why wasn¡¯t it me?


    Kaelos held my hand tightly just then, bringing my mind back to reality.


    "Odessa Pierce." Coven Head Arachne spoke with a judgmental voice, squinting. "Can¡¯t you speak for yourself? Or is your husband going to do all the talking?"


    Kaelos shook like he was going to bolt forward and mp his hand around her throat but I held him back by tightening my grip on his hand.


    He turned his gaze to me, watching as I gave him a silent nod.


    ¡¯She¡¯s right. This is my trial.¡¯ I said through the mind link but he refused.


    ¡¯This is no trial. It¡¯s my roof and they can¡¯t just barge in here demanding you serve punishment for having emotions.¡¯ Kaelos growled mentally, his eyes softening. ¡¯I wouldn¡¯t let anyone do anything to break you further.¡¯


    My heart swelled, tears stinging my eyes.


    But I held them back, masking it with a smile. ¡¯You wouldn¡¯t need to worry about that...¡¯


    Because there was no way anyone would be able to break me beyond what I felt now.


    I withdrew my hand from his, turning to face the elders of the coven I grew up in.


    Arachne and Nimue stood, unmoving and stern as always.


    Slowly, I took a single step on the dais. Then another.


    I walked down the dais, my steps echoing around the throne room like the countdown to something massive. But deep down, my heart thrummed like it was going to burst.


    "You want me to speak?" I asked, my expression stoic when I finally got to the ground. I looked between them before continuing. "Well, I have nothing to say... Other than the fact that I didn¡¯t choose to be this way."


    Nimue chimed. "Which is why we insisted your aunt Althea trains you on your magic. Not to mention the fact that she hid your connection to the Vein from us."


    I scoffed, shaking my head. "You could barely handle the fact that I¡¯m a hybrid. You expected her to think you could handle me being a Vein Born?"


    "THE Vein Born, Odessa." Arachne corrected, taking a step forward.


    Kaelos¡¯ breathing got heavy and I could sense his readiness to act if she did anything funny.


    But I only needed him by my side for this.


    "You have no idea how important you are." Arachne continued, shaking her head. "There have been prophecies of a hybrid putting an end to the century-long war between witches and wolves. But the Vein Born? A descendant of Nyx who shares her connection to the most chaotic source of magic on the?"


    My fingers twitched beside me, my jaw tightening with barely contained agitation.


    Kaelos felt it and spoke through the mind link. ¡¯I¡¯ll send them away and ban them from ever setting foot on the pack again.¡¯


    But I shook my head, more to myself than him. ¡¯That¡¯ll only put a strain on the truce continent-wide.¡¯


    The Luminari elders held the highest say among all the coven leaders on the continent.


    We needed them, as annoying as it was.


    "I understand the stakes. Trust me." I said finally, cing my hand on my chest. "Ryker made sure to make me understand... But our brief interaction also made me realise how much of a threat he is."


    Arachne tilted her head. "Are you trying to stir our attention to Ryker now?"


    "Yes," I said that with a monotonous voice, my fists clenched beside me. "Lucinda Silverwing was one of the rising witches of your coven. Yet she was swayed to be Ryker¡¯s puppet right under your noses."


    "That¡ª" Nimue tried speaking up but I would be damned before I let them speak over me again.


    "Is proof of how much you¡¯ve underestimated Ryker. How you¡¯ve set your eyes on me as the enemy when Ryker literally represents all the things you think I am." I smiled sarcastically. "In fact, he¡¯s more than that. If Ryker¡¯s ns seed and we don¡¯t do something quickly... Covens, packs, cities... The whole world will suffer it."


    The two elders nced at themselves and their expressions told me they knew I was right.


    "What do you suggest we do then?" Arachne asked, arching an eyebrow. "Ignore you and put our resources on him? What if he gets to you again? Makes you do something worse thanst night?"


    My lips trembled but before I could say anything, Kaelos¡¯ voice echoed behind me.


    "That will never happen. Ryker will get ess to my Luna Queen over my dead body." He let that sink in before adding. "And that goes to anyone else."


    The veiled threat in thatst part was hard to miss.


    Arachne stiffened, her wrinkles seemingly crumpling.


    She and Nimue exchanged nces for a while, causing my heart to beat heavily in my chest.


    Thest thing I needed now was for this to escte.


    "Very well..." Arachne suddenly spoke up with a firm voice. "We pardon Luna Queen Odessa for her use of magic in public. It wasn¡¯t intentional anyway."


    That should¡¯ve been a relief but with everything I¡¯ve been through, I could barely manage a small smile.


    And maybe it was the exhaustion... maybe it was the bond thrumming between Kaelos and me like a drumbeat of war... but something inside me refused to stay quiet.


    "Pardon me if you want," I said, lifting my chin. "Or condemn me. Either way, it doesn¡¯t matter."


    My voice echoed through the chamber, steadier than I thought I was capable of. "Because I will never be your pawn again."


    The silence that followed was loud enough to rattle my bones.


    Nimue stiffened, eyes shing with warning. Kaelos¡¯s presence surged behind me like a shield, his power spiking in the air like static, daring them to respond.


    But it was Arachne who finally broke the silence, and her wrinkled face... softened. Not with kindness but with something worse¡ªpity.


    "You think you¡¯ve imed your freedom, child," she murmured, her voice calm in that eerie way that always carried daggers. "But the Vein does not free anyone. It binds. It consumes. And if you are not careful, it will devour you long before Ryker can."


    Her wordsnded like ice water in my veins. My fists clenched at my sides, but I refused to flinch. I refused to let her see me doubt myself.


    Kaelos growled low, stepping closer to me. "Enough riddles, old witch."


    Arachne¡¯s lips curved into the faintest smile, like she¡¯d gotten what she wanted from this little disy. "Consider this a warning, Luna Queen. We will be watching. Always."


    With that, she and Nimue turned, their robes sweeping behind them as they disappeared into the shadows of the corridor.


    The throne room felt cavernous in their absence, like it had swallowed their venom whole and was still echoing with the poison.


    My knees wobbled.


    I didn¡¯t realise how tightly I¡¯d been holding myself together until Kaelos¡¯s handsnded on my shoulders and I broke.


    "Odessa," he murmured, his voice soft, his eyes searching my face like I might shatter if he blinked too hard.


    And maybe I would.


    "What if she¡¯s right?" I whispered, the mask I¡¯d worn moments ago crumbling. "What if I be worse than Ryker? What if the Vein..." My throat closed as the thought threatened to choke me. "...what if it turns me into a monster you can¡¯t save?"


    His hand tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his silver eyes.


    "Then I¡¯ll drag you back into the light myself." His words were sharp, unyielding. "Odessa, there is no version of this life where I let you fall alone."


    I tried tough, but it came out as a choked sob.


    My chest felt like it was caving in. "You say that now, but you don¡¯t feel what I feel. You don¡¯t hear it. The whispers. The pull."


    "I feel you." He pressed my hand t against his chest, right over his heart. "Every breath. Every crack. Every whisper you think you¡¯re hiding, I hear it. And I will never mistake you for a monster. Do you hear me?"


    Tears burned my eyes again, blurring the sharp edges of his face. "Why? Why do you still believe in me after everything I¡¯ve ruined?"


    "Because," he whispered, pressing his forehead against mine, "you¡¯re mine. And I would pit myself against the gods themselves before I let anyone¡ªnot even you¡ªtake you from me."


    The conviction in his voice wrecked me.


    I folded into him, my body trembling as he wrapped me in his arms.


    The world outside the throne room¡ªthe elders, the coven, Ryker, the Vein¡ªfaded until it was just Kaelos¡¯ warmth anchoring me, his steady heart reminding me I wasn¡¯t as lost as I felt.


    Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the entrance of the throne room, forcing me to swerve my head there.


    It was Elder Yune, the elderly she-wolf, stepping in for Elder Davina.


    Her face was solemn as she muttered. "Alpha King. Luna Queen. You need to see this..."

 Chapter 336: _Diplomacy And Restraint

    <h4>Chapter 336: _Diplomacy And Restraint</h4>


    Elder Yune¡¯s voice was quiet, but it carried the weight of a storm:


    "Alpha King. Luna Queen. You need to see this."


    Her words hit like stones in my stomach, tearing me away from Kaelos¡¯ embrace.


    I turned to face her fully, swallowing down the lump in my throat.


    Yune¡¯s expression was grave, her wrinkled face etched with concern deeper than the usual weariness of her years. Her hands clutched a sealed envelope letter so tightly the paper crackled.


    Kaelos straightened beside me, his grip still firm on my shoulder as if to tether me.


    His silver eyes sharpened with authority. "Speak, Elder Yune."


    The old she-wolf¡¯s gaze flickered to me beforeing back to him. It was subtle, but I felt the hesitation... the weight of knowing her words would only carve fresh wounds into my heart which was already bleeding.


    "It¡¯s best you read it yourselves," she murmured finally, stepping forward to offer the envelope.


    Kaelos epted it without ceremony, tearing it open with a swift movement before pulling the letter out. His jaw clenched as his eyes moved across the letter.


    Each line he read pulled a shadow deeper across his face until it hardened like carved stone.


    ¡¯Oh, snap. What now?¡¯ Sirena, who¡¯s been more silent than usual since Caroline¡¯s death, spoke up in my mind just then.


    I couldn¡¯t stop myself from asking Kaelos. "What is it?"


    His silence stretched too long.


    My heartbeat pounded in my ears, filling the throne room louder than the ghosts of Arachne and Nimue¡¯s voices from earlier.


    "Kaelos," I pressed, my voice cracking.


    Atst, his silver gaze lifted to me, and the fury simmering there made my skin prickle. "Some of the packs in the continent have dered rebellion."


    My breath hitched. "Rebellion?"


    Yune nodded solemnly, stepping closer. "It began as murmurs in the border packs around Canada, whispers of discontent. But now... several Alphas have formally withdrawn their allegiance to the throne. They publicly refuse to answer summons. They im..." She trailed off, her voice tense.


    Kaelos¡¯ ws shredded the paper in his fist as he locked his gaze on her.


    "They im what?" His voice was a growl, the floor beneath him vibrating faintly with the power straining to be unleashed.


    Yune¡¯s eyes lowered. "They im you have grown too lenient. That you¡¯ve allowed chaos to thrive under your reign. That your Luna Queen¡ª"


    "Don¡¯t," Kaelos cut her off, his voice sharp enough to slice air.


    But the words were already crawling into my chest like fire ants. My lips parted, but no sound came. I knew where this was going.


    Of course I did.


    I whispered it for her after Kaelos stopped her. "They me me."


    Silence swallowed the throne room. Yune didn¡¯t deny it.


    Because it was the fucking truth.


    The tears I¡¯d been fighting since the coven trial minutes ago pressed hot against my eyes again, but I forced them back.


    Not here. Not now.


    I wouldn¡¯t let them see me crack... not when that was all anyone seemed to expect from me.


    Kaelos was pacing now, his aura silentlyshing out in waves.


    The guards lining the walls of the throne room all kept their gazes away from him as much as possible, as if they were afraid one wrong look would cause their deaths.


    "Ungrateful cowards." Kaelos grunted. "I gave them peace. I gave them strength. And this is how they repay me? By dragging my queen¡¯s name through mud to excuse their weakness?"


    He was seething, but beneath it all, I felt the mate bond strumming.


    There was rage, yes.


    But it was threaded with fear. Fear of losing control. Fear of losing me...


    "Kaelos..." My voice was soft, but it sliced through his fury. He froze, his head snapping toward me.


    "They¡¯re not just afraid of me," I said quietly, stepping closer. "They¡¯re afraid of what I represent. The Vein. The prophecies. Ryker. Every shadow that has ever threatened to swallow them, they see it in me. And now with Caroline gone... with Marcellus..." My throat clenched, the grief tearing through me again.


    "Everything looks like proof that I¡¯m cursed."


    He was in front of me before I could blink, cupping my face with both hands.


    His ws had retracted, his touch surprisingly gentle for a man carrying so much fury. "You are not cursed. Do you hear me? You are mine. My Luna Queen. And I will tear every pack on this continent to ash before I let them speak otherwise."


    The conviction in his voice burned, but Yune¡¯s voice cooled it immediately.


    "With all due respect, Alpha King, burning them will only prove their point. That you rule with rage instead of reason." Her words were steady, almost too calm. "If you meet rebellion with unchecked violence, more packs will follow. Fear spreads quicker than fire."


    Kaelos turned on her like a predator, his aura surging. But I grabbed his wrist before he could take a step, grounding him.


    "She¡¯s right," I whispered, even though the words scraped my throat. "This isn¡¯t just about us. This is the continent. If we don¡¯t handle this carefully, Ryker won¡¯t even need to make a move. The packs will destroy themselves."


    The mention of Ryker thickened the air. It always did.


    <fnc14c> Discover more novels at f?ndnovel</fnc14c>


    Yune¡¯s gaze lingered on me, softer than usual. Almost pitying.


    "Some Alphas whisper that Ryker waits for the Alpha king to falter." She said, "That he watches, biding his time to strike when we are weakest. With Beta Marcellus gone, his shadow looms greater. Whether hemands them or not, his name fuels their rebellion."


    I flinched, swallowing hard.


    There it was.


    The ghost of Marcellus, haunting me even in death. He was gone, and yet his absence was loud enough to crack the continent in half.


    Kaelos¡¯ voice was thunder. "Let them whisper. Let them wait. I will silence every tongue that dares defy my reign."


    But my chest ached with something heavier than rage.


    "And if they won¡¯t be silenced?" My voice was a tremor, my fists clenched at my sides. "If they rise, Kaelos... it won¡¯t just be them. It¡¯ll be their packs, their mates. Their children. Innocents caught in the crossfire."


    The words tasted like ash. Because wasn¡¯t that what I was? Innocent once, caught in the crossfire of wars bigger than me?


    And look where that had led.


    Kaelos¡¯ jaw tightened, his thumb brushing against my cheek as though trying to soothe me. "What do you suggest?"


    The weight of it nearly crushed me.


    Me, suggest? When I could barely breathe without guilt wing at my ribs?


    But I forced myself to straighten, to lift my chin. If I didn¡¯t, everything Caroline fought for would be for nothing.


    "We don¡¯t fight them," I said slowly. "Not yet. Instead, we listen. We go to them. Show them that their king isn¡¯t just a tyrant sitting on a throne waiting for their obedience. Show them you hear their fears."


    Kaelos¡¯ eyes narrowed. "You want me to bend the knee to traitors?"


    "No," I snapped, sharper than I meant to. "I want you to remind them why they swore allegiance to you in the first ce. Not with threats. Not with blood. But with strength they can trust. With leadership."


    The silence that followed was heavier than anything Arachne or Nimue had thrown at me.


    Kaelos searched my face, his silver eyes burning with conflict.


    Finally, he exhaled, the sound rough. "You ask me to be more patient than I am capable of."


    I almost smiled. "Then let me be patient for both of us."


    Elder Yune cleared her throat, her eyes flicking between us. "The rebellion is not yet unified. Some Alphas hesitate, waiting to see what the Alpha King does next. If you move swiftly¡ªand wisely¡ªyou may still sway them back."


    Her words carved a path I hated but knew we had to take.


    Diplomacy and restraint.


    The two things Kaelos loathed most.


    But for me... for us... he would try.


    I reached for his hand, threading my fingers through his. His aura hummed beneath his skin, wild and untamed, but when he looked at me, it steadied.


    "Then we move swiftly," Kaelos said atst, his voice still edged but firm with resolve. "Summon the loyal Alphas. We will call a Convergence. If the rebellious packs want to test me, they can do it standing before every Alpha on this continent."


    Yune bowed her head. "As youmand, Alpha King."


    As her footsteps retreated from the chamber, the throne room fell silent again, but this time it wasn¡¯t suffocating.


    Kaelos turned to me, cupping my cheek once more. "You should not carry the weight of their hate, Odessa."


    "I already do," I whispered, leaning into his palm. "But maybe... just maybe... I can turn it into something else."


    His lips pressed to my forehead, the vow unspoken but searing all the same: whatever storm came, we would face it together.


    Even if the continent itself rose against us.

 Chapter 337: _I’ve Always Hated Funerals

    <h4>Chapter 337: _I¡¯ve Always Hated Funerals</h4>


    Two dayster, a funeral ceremony was held in honour of Caroline, while simultaneously honouring those who¡¯ve died directly or indirectly because of this war.


    I¡¯m not going to lie... Caroline¡¯s absence left a mark. Scratch that, a whole fucking scar. I realised quickly how Kaelos was the only other person I had with me.


    On the day of the funeral ceremony, I wore a satin ceremonial crimson gown, taking an umbre with me when the heavens themselves began weeping, thunder rumbling.


    Fuck ass weather...


    "You know, I could stop the rain if you want." My aunt Althea spoke beside me as we stepped out of the mansion but I merely shed her a smile.


    "That wouldn¡¯t be necessary, Aunt," I mumbled to her at the same moment that I saw Kaelos standing up ahead, in front of thepound gate.


    He wore a sharp crimson suit, his shoulder-length ck hair falling freely over his face, and his sharp silver eyes fixed on me. When our eyes locked, his softened, making my stomach swirl.


    Standing beside Kaelos was a guard who wore a crimson uniform, holding an umbre of the same colour over him, his expression stoic.


    "Ready?" Kaelos asked with a low voice, stretching out his right hand to me when I got in front of him.


    I stared at his outstretched hand, smiling softly as I took the hand, nodding at him. "Let¡¯s do this..."


    .


    .


    The ceremony was held within the event hall, the building already packed to the brim with pack members.


    Young, old, elite,moners... they were all here, sitting in arranged files in front of the stage. And directly below the steps of the dais were two coffins.


    Caroline¡¯s and La¡¯s.


    Kaelos tried hiding it, but I could tell La¡¯s death hurt him as much as Caroline¡¯s hurt me. He¡¯s known her for years, after all.


    When Kaelos and I stepped into the dimly lit hall, the murmuring and rowdiness seemingly died down as all heads swerved to us.


    I kept my head high, holding my breath subconsciously as I tightened my hold on Kaelos¡¯ arm. A lot of them seemed judgmental, but others seemed exhausted.


    Distant.


    Well, no more of that.


    On the stage, Elder Yune stood solemnly, her staff in hand, as her eyes locked on both of us.


    "The Alpha king and Luna Queen are here." She announced with a loud voice, her gaze scanning through the crowd while Kaelos and I stood behind each coffin.


    Both coffins were open, giving us a view of their bodies.


    My fingers trembled with hesitation as I slowly stretched my neck forward, my eyes falling on Caroline¡¯s body.


    My eyes stung quicker than expected when I saw how she looked, my vision blurring at the edges.


    <fnff2b> This content belongs to find{n}ovel</fnff2b>


    I¡¯d half expected the gash in her stomach to still be present but that wasn¡¯t the case. She seemed so... Peaceful, her ginger curls pooling around the red velvet pillow on which her head rested.


    Her freckles seemed to glisten like constetions under the hall¡¯s dim lighting and she was dressed in a silk white gown, her hands resting on her chest.


    I shook my head, holding myself back from reaching out to her face. It wasn¡¯t till a tear dropped from my eye and on her face that I realised I was going to break down.


    I couldn¡¯t do that here. Not in front of all these people who were also here to mourn their respective loved ones.


    So I sucked it up and straightened my spine, looking away from Caroline¡¯s coffin and hoping to the gods that this ceremony could be over already.


    I nced to my right at Kaelos who stood behind La¡¯s coffin, staring briefly into it, his silver eyes glinting with numerous emotions. It was like he didn¡¯t know how to feel yet was feeling everything all at once.


    I felt like holding his hand but he was too far to reach.


    "Under the blessings of the moon goddess... Let¡¯s begin." Elder Yune¡¯s voice echoed behind us as the lights in the hall dimmed even further.


    We began with Elder Yune giving a eulogy about her predecessor, Elder Davina. The older woman surprisingly got emotional, talking about their time as young girls in the pack.


    Her words mirrored my and Caroline¡¯s friendship for a moment¡ªOr maybe I was just being delusional.


    But my heart ached through it all, so much so that when it got to my turn to say a few words... I couldn¡¯t.


    ¡¯It¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t say anything.¡¯ Kaelos¡¯ voice was reassuring in my mind as I heaved heavily, trying to get my head back in the game.


    But I shook my head, whipping my eyes to him and giving a single nod. ¡¯I¡¯ll be fine. I need to do this. For Caroline.¡¯


    With that, I brought my gaze back to the audience, clearing my throat. "I¡¯ve... I¡¯ve always hated funerals. Even though I¡¯ve experienced lots of them back in my home coven. Death always scared me, growing up..."


    I drew in a deep breath, closing my eyes for a moment. "Until it began iming those close to me one by one. Each of their deaths acted as a reminder in my head that regardless of how powerful we are... Deathes for us all. And that shouldn¡¯t be a thing to be afraid of."


    I brought my eyes to Caroline¡¯s face, staring at her for a long while.


    Every memory I shared with her shed through my mind in quick session, from our very first meeting, to our dance at the charity Ball and each time she¡¯s helped me with brewing potions, gathering ingredients and acting all intrigued.


    "Some things about Caroline are still... A mystery to me. And I guess I¡¯m sad that death imed her too soon before I could get to find out." I rasped, my tears streaming to my lips until I tasted salt. "But... But I know she¡¯s in a better ce. She¡¯s finally at peace."


    I raised my head, my breath shuddering as I tried controlling my tears. "They all are."


    As I looked through the crowd, an odd sense of relief washed through me when I saw the collective silence of everyone.


    There was no judgment. No silent whispers. No malice.


    We were all just connected by our respective grief.


    When I was done, Kaelos gave his own little speech as well, saying only a few things about La. The throb of that one vein on his forehead told me he was also fighting to stayposed.


    At the end of our speech, floating candles were lit all around the event hall and released to the ceiling.


    But as I watched everyone partaking in the ritual, my eyesnded on someone walking into the hall through the main entrance, the sound of their footsteps echoing through the prayers and silent sobs of the audience.


    My heart skipped a beat when I saw who it was, my lips parting with disbelief.


    The person in question was a woman with lush ck hair, donned in a gothic ck gown and high ck heel boots. She had an umbre resting on her right shoulder, her head tilted when she met my gaze.


    My jaw clenched, my fists curling beside me.


    It was Ryker¡¯s "left hand".


    "Regina."

 Chapter 338: _I Have A Spell

    <h4>Chapter 338: _I Have A Spell</h4>


    At the end of the funeral ceremony, I still had most of my attention locked on Regina, ignoring the lingering scent of incense in the hall.


    She definitely noticed my scrutiny from where she sat but pretended not to, seeming distant throughout the ceremony.


    But now that it was over, I sure as hell was ready to face her.


    "Regina," I whispered to Kaelos when he and I stepped away from Caroline and La¡¯s coffins, watching the pack members trooping out.


    He turned his gaze to me, his brows furrowing.


    Oh, right...


    "It¡¯s all a long story but she¡¯s one of Ryker¡¯s main goons. I fought her before my escape that night." I exined, my jaw clenching as I tried holding back Sirena.


    ¡¯Let me out, let¡¯s finish her here and now.¡¯ Sirena growled in my mind, prowling and wing. ¡¯My ws are itching to sink into her throat.¡¯


    ¡¯In front of all these people? No, Sirena.¡¯ I resisted her still, taking a single step forward.


    Meanwhile, Kaelos seemed like he was going to snap as well after hearing my lore drop on dear old Regina.


    "How the fuck did she get into the pack?" He growled, but I ced my right hand in front of his chest before he could make any moves.


    "The same way she probably did during the Charity Ball months ago," I whispered, dimming my eyes when I spotted Regina smiling slightly at me.


    She even dared raise her right hand and gave us a wave!


    Oh, she was asking for it.


    "She told me something about interacting with Caroline." I continued, straightening my spine and drawing in a deep breath. "The fact she hasn¡¯t made any moves yet tells me she¡¯s here to chat."


    Kaelos grabbed my wrist, forcing me to look into his silver gaze. "And you want to hear anything that demon has to say? Any minion of Ryker is bad news."


    Yes, I know that.


    But¡ª


    "Trust me, Kaelos. Let¡¯s hear her out." I said finally, my voice getting cold before I added. "I¡¯ll be the first to incinerate her if she tries anything funny."


    With that, I took the lead, waltzing toward her when the event hall was almost empty. Only a few wolves still lingered around, either makingments about the ceremony or passing rumours that I didn¡¯t care enough to listen to.


    Regina¡¯s ck eyes ironically lit up when Kaelos and I got closer. She got on her feet, cing her umbre in front of her.


    "Alpha King and Luna Queen." She bowed like a respectful subject, her expression in but solemn. "I¡¯m d we¡¯re finally able to meet under... Less tense situations."


    <fnec70> For original chapters go to Find_Novel(.</fnec70>


    I shed a sarcastic smile, stepping closer until I was only a few feet away from her. She raised her head, her eyes like steel as I looked into them, unflinching.


    "How did you get into this pack?" Kaelos queried behind me, his tone colder than ice.


    Regina shrugged. "Well, usually I¡¯d just teleport in but it seems high priestess Althea made some enhancements to the protection energy of the moon stone at the gates. So, I simply used my charms to get in... After flirting with a guard or two."


    My eyes twitched with agitation and I could feel Kaelos¡¯ emotions as well.


    But Regina raised her hands in silent defeat. "Listen, you can fish out the bad eggs in your security teamter. Right now I¡¯m only here to pay my respects to Caroline and¡ª"


    "Why in the name of everything wrong will you have an interest in Caroline?" I snapped, ignoring the nces of an elite couple who walked by. "And why didn¡¯t she tell me anything about it? Did you manipte her mind?"


    Regina scoffed, smiling wryly. "I wouldn¡¯t be able to do that even if I tried. She¡¯s a Silverborn, remember? A part of her I was trying so desperately to fish out and understand that I ended up..."


    She paused, her eyes shing with something I couldn¡¯t quite read.


    ¡¯We¡¯ll be able to read it better once we gouge her eyes out.¡¯ Sirena snarled in my mind but I sucked in a breath to calm my urges.


    Fortunately, or not, Regina continued. "... I ended up getting fascinated by her. I fear I might go as far as saying I... Fell for her."


    My lips parted, a weird feeling coiling in my stomach.


    Oh... Oh wow.


    I nced back at Kaelos, who seemed just as stumped as I, shrugging subtly when our eyes locked.


    ¡¯Caroline¡¯s secret was a... Rtionship with the enemy?¡¯ I asked Kaelos through the mind link.


    ¡¯I don¡¯t know, and the enemy in question is still right there. So let¡¯s ask her.¡¯ Kaelos responded with a mental nod, causing me to sigh.


    I brought my gaze back to Regina, rubbing the bridge of my nose with frustration.


    How did I go from barely holding back tears during the ceremony to... THIS?


    "Listen, Regina. If I¡¯m being honest I don¡¯t even want to fight." I sighed heavily, shaking my head.


    ¡¯Girl, speak for yourself!¡¯ Sirena howled but I ignored her.


    "Yes, I want to bash your head into the nearest wall right now but I¡¯m so fucking drained and if you really had something going on with Caroline¡ª"


    "Oh, Caroline and I were never in any rtionship." Regina waved her hands, although the small crack behind her voice told me...


    She was hurt?


    I squinted as she continued. "I mean, we shared a kiss once but now I wouldn¡¯t get the chance to know if it meant anything because..."


    Her eyes flicked to the end of the hall where Caroline¡¯s bodyy peacefully, lingering there for way too long.


    I stared at her suspiciously, my fingers still twitching beside me just in case.


    "What are you going to do with the body?" She suddenly asked, creeping me all the way out.


    I eyed her, my nostrils ring. "She once told me after elder Davina¡¯s cremation that she wouldn¡¯t like that. So we¡¯ll be burying her. Not like it¡¯s any of your business."


    Regina parted her lips but I¡¯d had about enough and inched closer until her breath ghosted across my face.


    "Don¡¯t mistake my unwillingness to fight as you being on my good side. I promise I¡¯ll rain hell on you and Ryker as soon as I get my shit together." I said firmly, maintaining eye contact.


    When I saw the uneasy sh pass her features, I decided I was done there and brushed past her shoulder, about to walk out of the event hall.


    But then¡ª


    "I have a spell. A ritual which, if you help me cast it..." She began, causing me to pause as my heart skipped a beat.


    My eyes widened at the suspense, cold sweat dripping down my back as I whipped my head back to her.


    Could it be?


    "... It can summon her spirit to us."

 Chapter 339: _Playing With The Dead

    <h4>Chapter 339: _ying With The Dead</h4>


    "A spell meant to summon a spirit?" Aunt Althea repeated what I told her with dread, shaking her head. "No way. Not happening."


    I sighed heavily, rubbing the bridge of my nose.


    After Regina had dropped the information about the spell and left Kaelos and me to "think about it", I had immediately run to Althea and told her.


    We were currently sitting on a bench in the mansion¡¯s garden, our favourite spot.


    "Aunt Althea, I¡ª"


    "No, Odessa." Althea shook her head yet again, this time getting on her feet with a trembling tone. "I understand your grief... But ying with the dead is not the best way to cope with Caroline¡¯s demise."


    I bit my bottom lip, blinking at her back as the wind blew her purple robes into the air.


    It waste in the afternoon but the clouds were still gloomy, coiling like they weren¡¯t done pouring rain on the earth.


    I ignored that, getting on my feet with my fists clenched beside me. "Regina only told us she¡¯ll need my help for the spell. Maybe it¡¯s not as difficult as it seems. I¡¯ll just need to reach into the spirit realm, connect with Caroline¡¯s spirit and summon her."


    Althea suddenly turned her head to me, her purple eyes glinting with clear warning.


    "And you think the Vein wouldn¡¯t respond chaotically to all that?" She queried, arching an eyebrow. "The spell in question borders on necromancy, Odessa. One of the hardest arts of magic. It¡¯s not as easy as ying around with an ouija board or whatever toys humans use."


    That¡¯s the thing though¡ª


    "I know the risk, Aunt. Which is why I¡¯m telling you." I stepped closer to her, cing my hand on her shoulder. "I might need your help with the spell as well."


    She blinked at me like I¡¯d gone mad. "Are you¡ª"


    "Althea, please!" I couldn¡¯t take it anymore and snapped, my voice cracking. "Please, give me this opportunity. Caroline¡¯s death haunts me because I ignored all the warning signs from Marcellus. I... I need to see her¡ª"


    "And then your parents?" Althea interrupted, causing me to choke on my words. "Your husband¡¯s mother? And Elder Davina? La perhaps? After Caroline what assurance do I have that you wouldn¡¯t misuse this spell and try going further?


    My jaw clenched as I subconsciously drew in a deep breath, withdrawing my hand from her.


    Her eyes softened just then, her hand brushing my arm. "My child. You have no idea how much restraint I¡¯ve held simply not to walk the path you¡¯re about to tread. The dead are dead for a reason. Disturbing them usually doesn¡¯t end well."


    I closed my eyes for a moment, going through her words and asking myself deep questions.


    Would I really not get satisfied and try summoning more dead folks? Might I go further and even... Try resurrecting them?


    ¡¯Girl, I barely know shit about magic but I sure as hell know you¡¯re ying with fire if you try that.¡¯ Sirena¡¯s voice was firm in my head just then, losing its usual yfulness. ¡¯You sure you want to do this? Can we even trust Regina?¡¯


    ¡¯No, we can¡¯t.¡¯ I answered, opening my eyes again. ¡¯But that wouldn¡¯t stop me from trying.¡¯


    "I know you¡¯re only trying to look out for me, Althea," I spoke softly, a small smile curling the corner of my lips. "But I¡¯m not going to rest if you refuse. And I might end up meeting Regina behind your back and doing the spell anyway."


    Her eyes shed with shock, and then fear.


    "Odessa, you can¡¯t¡ª"


    "Oh, but I can, Althea," I said firmly, my mind made up.


    Her jaw tightened, and she seemed like she was battling mental demons, trying to ponder my words.


    I waited anxiously, my heart beating heavily until I felt like it was going to give out.


    But eventually¡ª


    "Goddess, you¡¯re so stubborn." She sighed, shaking her head with a defeated look. "Very well, Odessa. Where¡¯s this minion of Ryker so we can begin preparations?"


    My smile widened but truth be told, I was nervous as fuck. Navigating that spell on my own would¡¯ve been problematic and I sure as hell didn¡¯t want to add any new problems into my life.


    "Let¡¯s go..." I grabbed my aunt¡¯s hand, gesturing at her to follow me.


    .


    .


    Later that day, around six in the evening, it was finally time to begin the spell.


    Regina had debriefed us on the requirements¡ªwhile getting an asional suspicious side eye from Althea.


    Safe to say my aunt was both impressed and seemed like she was going to turn Regina into a frog at the same time.


    When the clock rang six o¡¯clock sharp, we gathered inside the ceremonial room where Althea had opened a portal to Mexico. Apparently, it was also the room she used to track me to Ryker¡¯s hideout.


    Regina, Althea and I stood around a magic circle drawn with ck chalk, candles lit at nodal points.


    As for Kaelos... He stood at the side, his arms folded in front of his chest, his face etched with tension.


    "Go over the requirements again let¡¯s get this over with," Kaelos grunted at the side, his silver eyes locked coldly on Regina.


    Thetter parted strands of her ck hair, stepping aside. "I¡¯m currently on the run from Lord Ryker. I can¡¯t risk using my magic to help because it¡¯ll be like a beacon, giving him ess to my mind."


    We all stared at her in silence, causing her to sigh lightly.


    "It¡¯splicated." She muttered before continuing. "Point is, other than me, Odessa had the strongest connection to Caroline. So her doing the summoning is best. High priestess Althea should stand outside the circle."


    Althea frowned while I sucked in a breath, stepping into the circle.


    "Stand outside as what? Moral support?" Althea queried with snark but I brushed her shoulder reassuringly, giving her a silent "I¡¯ll be fine" look.


    I prepared myself, fixing my eyes on Regina who had also stepped away from the circle. "Anything else?"


    She nodded. "Your blood as a sacrifice. Also, you can¡¯t leave the circle no matter what until the spell isplete. If you do, you risk getting possessed by her spirit... Or summoning something else that we wouldn¡¯t want to see."


    I swallowed hard at thatst part, nodding slowly.


    After a few more seconds, I spoke up. "Let¡¯s do this."


    Althea handed me a ceremonial dagger, brushing her fingers on my palm onest time before stepping further away.


    I held the cold de of the dagger gently before bringing it close to my wrist.


    Here goes...


    I slit my left wrist cautiously, gritting my teeth from the sting as my blood fell in drops on the ground within the circle.


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    But as soon as that happened, an ominous force descended in the room, signalling the beginning of the spell and sending a chill down my spine.


    "By the power within me and the guidance of the goddess of the crossroads..." I said with a loud voice, my hair blowing slightly despite the stillness in the room. "I begin this spell."


    The wind suddenly picked up pace, my Bohemian white shirt flowing widely. But I held on, flinging the dagger aside and continuing the words Regina had told me.


    "Under the darkness of night. Here in this sacred room... I call upon one who died unjustly." I yelled out, my voice rough with grief, sorrow¡ªand finality.


    I reached for my back pocket and brought out a small stic bag containing a sprinkle of grave dust.


    Caroline¡¯s grave dust.


    Her grave was dug at the eastern wing of the mansion grounds, but that was beside the point.


    I poured a pinch of the dust inside the circle, keeping the bag aside before continuing.


    "Caroline Runeheart!" I called her name with a sharp cry, all the memories we¡¯ve ever shared shing through my mind in quick session. "Hear me, Silverborn! Child of Selene."


    Suddenly, the ck circle began lighting up with a bright silver shine, warm like an embrace.


    I shivered, trying to control my breathing as the droplets of my blood began levitating off the ground, staying suspended by a few feet.


    She¡¯s close.


    "Caroline. Come to me." I continued with a trembling smile etched on my face, nodding even though I couldn¡¯t see her yet. "I use all the moments we¡¯ve shared as a tether and I summon you to the world of the living."


    My hair began floating like clouds around me, rising into the air.


    I noticed Kaelos stiffen with hesitation, like he was holding back from making a move. But no one said a word, as if their very breaths would break my concentration.


    Before I knew what was happening, the silver light surrounding the ck circle converged into one beam, forming a figure in front of me.


    It was faint and ethereal, seeming transparent.


    I squinted, my eyes flicking to Regina who nodded for me to go ahead.


    "Come to me, Caroline," I whispered, a single tear finally dropping from my eye as a heavy wind blew through the room.


    And then¡ª


    The silver figure brightened up like a mini moon, forcing me to close my eyes as more memories of Caroline shed through my mind.


    Her smile. Her hesitation to gossip about Kaelos. Her bashfulness about anything I brought up about her love life...


    I wanted it all back!


    "Odessa?" A soft but confused voice snapped me out of my reverie just then.


    I opened my eyes, my breath catching in my throat the next second.


    I couldn¡¯t believe it.


    "C¨CCaroline?" I croaked, the tears flowing more as I gawked at her.


    Indeed, Caroline stood in front of me, her ginger curls as real as life, her body draped in a flowy white gown. She shimmered with a faint silver light.


    But before I could say anything or even try to reach out, her eyes flicked to Regina behind me. That¡¯s when her face deformed into an ugly scowl.


    "You." Her voice was icy as she suddenly lunged without any warning.

 Chapter 340: _I Don’t Want To Leave!

    <h4>Chapter 340: _I Don¡¯t Want To Leave!</h4>


    Caroline¡¯s POV


    *****


    She was dead.


    The pain pulling her into death¡¯s dark embrace was real. The agonising loneliness she felt at that moment had been real.


    Her fear of what Marcellus would do next to Odessa and everyone else, and if the damage she left on him had been enough, WAS REAL.


    She even crossed over to the afterlife... A ce of seemingly boundless bliss with lush gardens and evergreen hills that stretched as far as the eye could see.


    For the first time in years... She actually felt at peace. She was free of the mission the moon goddess gave her.


    Caroline had been sitting with Elder Davina in the afterlife, underneath an apple tree, while dead wolf childrenughed and ran in the nearby fields, the moonlight painting thend with silver.


    "Wait, wait, wait... so you dated men back in the day?" Caroline giggled, as the old woman finished telling her a story of her love life. "I thought you were the equivalent of a human nun?"


    Elder Davina chuckled as well, the full moon above bathing strands of her lush white hair which blew into the wind as she shook her head.


    "Even some nuns get a little action before they devote their lives to their faith." Elder Davina remarked with a satisfied sigh. "My friend back then, Elder Yune? She was the more innocent one. Until I got chosen by the moon goddess to be her spiritual representative in North America."


    Ah...


    The two of them became silent after that, Caroline clutching the grass she sat on while staring at the night sky.


    "Are the stars and moon in the sky here the same as the ones on Earth?" She couldn¡¯t help but ask, hoping Davina, who¡¯s been here longer, would have an answer.


    She nced at the elderly wolf who got on her feet with a grace her mortal body didn¡¯t have before her death.


    "I have no clue, Caroline." Davina looked over her shoulder at her, a small smile etched on her face. "There are still so many unknowns in this realm and the goddess... Let¡¯s just say she likes keeping things to imagination."


    Caroline¡¯s eyes widened. "Oh, the goddess lives here?"


    Elder Davina shrugged, plucking a juicy-looking green apple from the tree. "She created this part of the afterlife specifically for us werewolves. She¡¯s popped up a few times."


    Caroline nodded, hugging her knees to her face. Then her mind wandered to something. "I wonder if bad eggs like former Luna Celine and Gamma Zane made it here as well."


    Remembering those two and what they did, Caroline couldn¡¯t believe they moved past them so fast back on earth.


    If they ended up here in this paradise section of the afterlife, it¡¯ll be foul y.


    "Selene¡¯s way and path are quite different from even her fellow Greco-Roman gods, Caroline." Elder Davina bit from her apple as she spoke, lowering herself right back on the ground. "Whether those two ended up here shouldn¡¯t be an issue. Let¡¯s just hope we never run into them."


    The two womenughed at that, Carolina¡¯s shoulders rxing as she slowly rested her back on the ground, taking in a deep breath.


    She didn¡¯t let her mind wander any further, instead living in the moment, taking in the cool breeze on her skin and the chirping night birds.


    Until¡ª


    "I always knew there was something special about you, Caroline." Elder Davina suddenly remarked, forcing Caroline to open her eyes and turn her head to her.


    The old woman smiled wryly, swerving her head to her as well. "You know... You being a Silverborn. A descendant of the goddess herself. I saw the same light in you that I¡¯ve seen in Alpha King Kaelos and his mother before him."


    Caroline let herself crack a smile but thought of something.


    Being a descendant of Selene wasn¡¯t much help against an evil scum like Marcellus. And he was only Ryker¡¯s right-hand man.


    "Odessa and the others have a lot of obstacles to face down there," Caroline muttered, her heart heavy at the thought. "I... I almost feel bad for leaving them."


    Davina blinked at her for a few seconds before stretching out her right hand, holding hers firmly.


    "You had no control over your death, Caroline. And believe me... I¡¯m sure Odessa is capable of handling what¡¯sing." Davina said with reassurance. "We... We wouldn¡¯t just be there to see it happen."


    Caroline nodded, letting out a heavy breath.


    "Elder Davina!" A familiar voice called out from the distance just then, forcing Caroline to sit up.


    Running through the field toward them was La, her brown braided hair flowing in the wind behind her. She had a bright smile, seeming d to see them.


    Caroline raised her hand, about to say hi to her but then¡ª


    "Caroline Runeheart!" Another voice cut through like the crack of a whip, sending a jolt through her being.


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    La seemed to have heard it as well, as she froze in her tracks, scanning her gaze around with confusion.


    That voice... It was raw with grief. Pain. Several deep emotions all coiled into one. But one seemed to cut through the rest like a de.


    Hope.


    And she would know it from anywhere.


    "Odessa?" Caroline got on her feet, her heart pounding heavily as she gawked at the night sky.


    She wasn¡¯t imagining things.


    That was Odessa!


    "A summoning spell?" Davina marvelled with a gasp, also getting on her feet as the air stilled.


    The moon¡¯s luminance heightened, seemingly working in sync with that voice.


    "I¨CI use... all the moments we¡¯ve shared as a tether and I summon you to the world of the living!" The voice continued sharply, and in that moment, Caroline¡¯s head spun.


    Her mind shed with hundreds of memories, most of them from her time with Odessa. All theughs they¡¯ve shared. All the little side missions and shenanigans she¡¯s helped her with.


    All of it.


    "What... What¡¯s happening..." Caroline raised her hands just then, staring at them with shock as they lit up with a bright silver light.


    She turned her head to Davina who was still stunned... But soon shed her a wry smile.


    "Looks like the Luna Queen still wants you by her side." She whispered, nodding slowly. "I¡¯m... I¡¯m sorry, Caroline."


    What?!


    "But... but I don¡¯t want to leave!" Caroline¡¯s voice cracked.


    Before she could react further, her world shed silver, forcing her to close her eyes shut.


    And when she opened them again¡ª


    The first face she saw was one she was trying so hard to forget in the afterlife. Not Odessa¡¯s. Not Kaelos or Althea.


    But HER.


    Regina.


    She stood there with her eyes wide open, but a small smirk curled her lips.


    Caroline¡¯s teeth gritted as she snarled before lunging forward. "You!"

 Chapter 341: _It Could’ve Been An Email

    <h4>Chapter 341: _It Could¡¯ve Been An Email</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    I knew summoning a ghost would be bad news.


    Deep down, I did.


    And when I saw Althea, the literal witch high priestess, agree as well, I felt like pulling Odessa back from the crazy idea. And seizing Regina by the throat while at it.


    It was almost as if the days of me trying to move us forward from our grief after so many losses were going up in mes.


    But when I saw THAT glint in Odessa¡¯s eyes?


    The hope burning brighter than I¡¯ve ever seen since I met her? I knew I might have no choice but to let her go ahead with it.


    And that led us here... To the aftermath of said summoning.


    "Caroline?" Odessa croaked, gawking at the ghost standing in front of her.


    Caroline¡¯s ginger curls blew around her, her skin glistening with a bright silver shine. But she didn¡¯t seem to notice Odessa or anyone else at all.


    Oh no.


    Her hazel eyes were instead locked on Regina who stood behind Odessa. The rage burning in Caroline¡¯s eyes was unmistakable.


    "You!" She snarled before I could even make a reaction, lunging forward with her arms outstretched.


    My eyes widened when she swooshed past Odessa, aiming for Regina.


    However, thetter didn¡¯t even flinch, blinking with a wry smile.


    The next second, Caroline reached her¡ªbut then her hands phased right through her, followed by her entire body.


    Caroline gasped as she stumbled forward, almost falling.


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    "Caroline!" Odessa yelled out, whipping her head backwards and stepping closer to reach her.


    But before she did, I could already see where this was going.


    And I didn¡¯t like it one bit.


    "She¡¯s a ghost now, Odessa," I spoke calmly, my tone solemn.


    All eyes turned to me, including that wretched Regina.


    I should¡¯ve snapped her neck when I had the chance.


    "He¡¯s right," Regina muttered, adding insult to injury. "There might be ways to give her spirit form tangibility of sorts in the future. But she¡¯s still a ghost. Dead."


    Regina turned around to face Caroline who was panting heavily, staring at her own arms with disbelief, confusion... And anger.


    "No." Caroline¡¯s voice cracked as she raised her head. Her eyes were fixed on Odessa this time, a hint of softness shing through them.


    Odessa ces her right hand in front of her, her back facing me as she inched slowly toward Caroline.


    "Car... I know you¡¯re disoriented. Confused." Odessa began in a soft voice, seeming hesitant. "I don¡¯t even know what... What you faced on the other side. But I¡ª"


    "How could you¨Cof all people¨Cdo this to me, Odessa?" Caroline asked with a trembling voice, shaking her head with a bitter smile. "You summoned me back here. Back to see... To see her!"


    Caroline pointed her finger at Regina, her eyes shing withplex emotions.


    "That¡¯s the thing, Caroline." Odessa tried to sound reasonable. "You never told me about what you and Regina had going on. I... I thought we were friends but you were going behind my back frolicking with¡ª"


    "Frolicking?" Caroline¡¯s voice cut like ss, the air in the dark room stilling as ghostly echoes began spreading around the walls.


    I flicked my eyes to Althea, who despite being silent, looked like she was getting ready for whatever troubles an angry ghost could bring.


    "Odessa, Regina was a bane in my life for months. Months!" Caroline sneered, her voice dripping venom. "I hid her visits from you to protect you."


    Regina chuckled darkly just then.


    ¡¯I mustmend you for not ripping out her spine by now.¡¯ Damon snorted in my mind. ¡¯That should be a new record.¡¯


    But for how long?


    "Were you hiding me from her to protect her?" Regina queried, tilting her head. "Or were you trying to gatekeep me until you could understand your feelings?"


    Dear goddess... Have mercy.


    I rubbed the bridge of my nose, stepping away from the wall and walking over to Odessa.


    I grabbed her arm before she could speak, forcing her to bring her eyes to me.


    "They clearly need space," I whispered to her, nodding reassuringly as I pulled her back with me, squinting at the argument between Regina and ghost Caroline.


    "What the heck do you mean I was gatekeeping you?" Caroline snapped at Regina, her eyes twitching with frustration. "You inflicted a curse on my wrist that let you keep track of me. For four bloody months! I had no choice when it came to tolerating your existence."


    Ouch.


    I arched an eyebrow at Regina who scoffed. "Listen, I know you hate me. I know I¡¯m thest face you want to see after everything¡ª"


    "Good for you! Then why the heck am I here?!" Caroline¡¯s voice cracked the air like a whip, the silver light on her body brightening. "Because I can easily tell whose idea it was for Odessa to summon me."


    Regina was silent for a long time and so was everyone else.


    ¡¯Did I... Did I make a mistake summoning her?¡¯ Odessa reached out to me through our mind link, leaning closer to my body as she did. ¡¯She doesn¡¯t seem happy at all to see me.¡¯


    I nced down at her, wrapping my right arm around her body and brushing my fingers on her arm.


    ¡¯You were grieving her. And I can guess you wanted to feel a semnce of control after all we¡¯ve lost.¡¯ I said softly, trying to be careful with my words. ¡¯But as you can see... You weren¡¯t the only one grieving.¡¯


    I pressed my lips into a thin line, my gaze on Regina who finally let out a defeated sigh.


    "I asked Odessa to summon you because... Because I wanted to know if that kiss meant something." Regina lowered her head, her voice shaking. "And to tell you I¡¯ve left Lord Ryker."


    Caroline¡¯s nostrils visibly red¡ªwhich was surprising considering her ghost status.


    But she eventually let out an exasperated breath. "It could¡¯ve been a fucking email, Regina. Do you know what you just did? What you all just did?"


    Caroline scanned her eyes over everyone present, making sure we all saw that disappointment on her face.


    "You just ripped out my only chance at peace for the first time in a long time." Carolinepleted with a heavy voice, shaking her head. "I can¡¯t stand this."


    Without another word, she turned to the closest wall, waltzing toward it.


    "Caroline, please!" Odessa called out but she didn¡¯t listen, phasing through the wall and leaving us in an awkward silence.


    ¡¯Well... That happened.¡¯ Damon chimed in my mind.

 Chapter 342: _Led By Emotions

    <h4>Chapter 342: _Led By Emotions</h4>


    "She just went out there and disappeared." Odessa mmed my room door once we got back inside. "Just like that, Kaelos."


    I rubbed the bridge of my nose at how loudly she mmed that door but drew in a breath. "I can¡¯t stress this fact enough, Odessa... She¡¯s a ghost. I¡¯m not an expert but she¡¯s probably trying to take it all in. The mortal world and spirit world are vastly different."


    She froze, her back facing me as she stood by the door. She took slow, steady breaths before finally turning around to face me.


    "I know you¡¯re right. As usual." She rolled her eyes, kicking her shoes off one by one. "It¡¯s just... I¡¯ve missed her Kaelos. Gravely. And I kinda hoped she missed me too and when I summoned her I thought we¡¯d¡ª"


    "Hug?" I arched an eyebrow with a knowing smile, setting my arms beside me as I waltzed toward her. "That she¡¯ll share her experience there with you under the moonlight over sses of wine?"


    She buried her face in her palms. "I feel like such an idiot. I shouldn¡¯t have summoned her. I shouldn¡¯t¡ª"


    "Hey, hey, hey." My smile faded when I heard the crack in her voice. I rushed to her, quickly pulling her into my arms and shushing her gently, brushing my right hand through her hair.


    "Never call yourself an idiot, Odessa. You hear me?"


    She sniffled, her voice muffled as she spoke into my chest. "But I am, Kaelos. Once again, I let my emotions guide me instead of thinking things through like you always do. And neither you nor Althea tried to stop me because you knew I would do it anyway."


    My jaw clenched, but I didn¡¯t say anything, feeling her heart beat, finally rxing under my arms.


    Her emotions were all over the ce but one seemed to thrum stronger than the rest.


    Exhaustion.


    "You think I... Think things through?" I asked, finally pulling her out of my embrace. I kept my hands on her shoulder, my fingers firm even though her body trembled.


    Her violet eyes sparkled thanks to the moonlight shining through the balcony door behind me. The darkness of the room was non-existent¡ªbecause she was here.


    Standing in front of me; brighter than a mere light bulb or chandelier.


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    "Of course, you do." Odessa nodded, chuckling dryly. "You¡¯re always two steps ahead. You notice¡ª"


    "I¡¯m sorry to burst your bubbles, my love." I interrupted in the softest way possible, my right hand resting on her face. "But I¡¯m led by emotions as well. More than you think, apparently."


    She blinked as if that was the most shocking piece of information she¡¯s ever heard.


    But it was true... Mostly anyway.


    "Each time that the Alphas of North America dared to question my reign, all I¡¯ve wanted is to find each of them and w their bloodline to dust," I said with conviction, meaning every word. "But do you know who¡¯s been there, calming me? Making me see more tactical options?"


    Her cheeks reddened with realisation, but I wasn¡¯t trying to make her flustered.


    Just the in truth.


    "It was you, Odessa. Just so we¡¯re clear." I chuckled softly, my lips curling into a warm smile. "Since I warmed up to you, you¡¯ve proven to be a light. A guiding light. So don¡¯t you dare tell yourself you¡¯re stupid because you¡¯re grieving so many losses."


    Her eyelids fluttered as she wrapped her hands around my wrists. She moved her head, pressing a kiss on my hand and closing her eyes for a few seconds.


    But then¡ª


    "Idiot." She muttered.


    I frowned slightly. "Uh... What?"


    "The word I called myself was ¡¯idiot¡¯. Not stupid." She opened her eyes again with a teasing smirk this time. "You just called me stupid unprovoked."


    My lips parted as I struggled with words.


    She couldn¡¯t be serious right now, right?


    "I¡¯m joking with you, silly!" Sheughed loudly, breaking the distance and wrapping her arms around my neck.


    My heart stopped for a second or two before I let my eyes linger on her face. And that bright smile.


    "Gosh, I¡¯m so lucky to have you in my life." She whispered. "My mind has been in a dark ce these past few days. Ever since we lost... Apollo. And then Caroline. I couldn¡¯t take it all."


    Sadness shed in her eyes, tears brimming behind them.


    But they didn¡¯t seem like sad tears.


    "Caroline might be dead, but you have proof now that she¡¯s out there. That she¡¯s moving on." I pressed my forehead on hers, taking in her sweet scent.


    "And I¡¯m sure she¡¯lle back. Like I said, she needs time to adjust. Seriously, if I died and you summoned my ghost without a physical form I¡¯d haunt you."


    We bothughed at that as I ced my hands firmly on her waist, our lips ghosting over each other now.


    "I love you." She whispered, the room seeming like nothing but an empty space in that moment.


    All that existed, all that mattered, was her and her happiness.


    "I love you more, mi amor."


    She grinned, her breath rough. "Let¡¯s not get ahead of ourselves, my love."


    Without another word, our lips crashed, tender at first... Until it was not.


    Her hands tangled in my curls, her tongue slipping through and finding the walls of my mouth.


    She tasted like strawberry and honey, her scent intoxicating. Our bodies pressed as the kiss deepened into something more sensual, sending my senses on fire.


    It didn¡¯t take long for my loins to ache with arousal and from the looks of things, this wasn¡¯t going to end at just a kiss.


    My right hand trailed from her waist, clutching her back firmly and pushing her closer to me.


    My other hand found her face, lingering there for a few seconds before sliding down to her corbone, working on unstrapping her shirt.


    But then¡ª


    "Goddess, now I need to relearn knocking." A familiar but not so wee voice sounded behind me, causing the hairs on my skin to stand on end.


    My eyes widened as we broke the kiss, turning around to see who the intruder was.

 Chapter 343: _You’re Never Really Alone

    <h4>Chapter 343: _You¡¯re Never Really Alone</h4>


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    "C¨CCaroline!" My chest swelled with relief when Kaelos and I turned to the balcony door and saw it was she who had interrupted.


    Kaelos and I had been in the middle of a moment... One that already had me shaking with arousal.


    Gosh, he just has such a way with words that makes me momentarily forget all my problems and focus only on him.


    ¡¯Ahem! Is that code for you¡¯re a slut for our mate? Or...¡¯ Sirena¡¯s voice chimed in my mind just then, causing my face to heat up.


    ¡¯Shut it.¡¯


    My smile widened as Caroline ced her arms in front of her, fiddling with her fingers while looking between Kaelos and me.


    "Hey... Again." She whispered with a wry smile. "I¡¯m... I¡¯m sorry I ran out on you all that way. But I was so angry and needed space, especially with Re¡ª"


    "Oh, Caroline." I shook my head, walking toward her, attempting to hug her.


    But when I walked right through her, a shiver running down my spine, I remembered one vital thing.


    "She¡¯s a ghost. Remember?" Kaelos blurted behind me as I turned slowly to face them. "And Caroline, you have nothing to apologise for."


    My eyes squinted at Kaelos as he ced his right hand on his chest. "Take it from me... Odessa just wanted to see her friend onest time. She never got to say goodbye. She wept over your body twice, first at the scene of the crime and then at your funeral. Heck, she eradicated Marcellus in the most brutal way possible."


    Caroline visibly stiffened at the mention of Marcellus. "T¨CThe Beta is dead?"


    I nodded. "I couldn¡¯t let that bastard live. Not after everything he¡¯s done."


    She gave onest smile to Kaelos before facing me fully, staring with an unreadable glint in her eyes.


    I smiled as well. "I... I can¡¯t help but me myself for your death. But I now realise that you¡¯ve moved on already and I should do the same. So..."


    I took a few steps backwards, the moonlight shining from behind me stretching out my shadow on the marble floor.


    My eyes flicked to Kaelos briefly, searching for that constant reassurance I always saw.


    When I found it, I cleared my throat.


    "The summoning spell has to have a reversal of sorts. I¡¯ll send you back. I¡¯m just so grateful to have had you here on earth... Even if it was just a few more minutes."


    She smiled a bit before chuckling, lowering her head.


    No words were said for several seconds, making the anxiety eating me inside grow more prominent.


    Until¡ª


    "Your birthday," she suddenly muttered, raising her head and staring into my eyes. "It¡¯s in a few days from now. This is September, right?"


    I furrowed my brows, nodding slowly.


    "Yeah. September eighth. Why?"


    She nced at Kaelos, as if seeking some form of validation. Then she swerved her head back to me, her smile never fading.


    "Then in that case... I¡¯m staying. Till then at least."


    My eyes widened, my lips parting with disbelief. The urge to hug her basically doubled.


    "You¡¯ll... You¡¯re saying you¡ª"


    "I¡¯m saying..." She took a couple of steps forward, her tone firm but gentle. "You still have your best friend for a few more days. And you¡¯ll still have me when I go back. I never truly left you, Odessa."


    She stretched her right hand forward, pointing at my heart. "All the memories we¡¯ve shared are here. You¡¯re never really alone."


    I shook my head, trying to hold back the tears stinging the back of my eyes. "It¡¯s not the same thing. You wouldn¡¯t be here for holidays and ¡¯memories¡¯ wouldn¡¯t tell me my hair looks amazing when I feel it looks like trash."


    Caroline rolled her eyes, much to my surprise.


    But then she gestured at Kaelos. "The Alpha king can tell you. I think it¡¯s high time you two started sleeping in the same rooms. Also, I don¡¯t know, okay? I¡¯m not as good with words as he is."


    I blinked, my lips parting before realisation dawned.


    "You... Caroline, just how long were you standing outside while Kaelos and I were in here?" I pursed my lips, folding my arms in front of my chest.


    She brushed her right hand through her hair, causing the ginger curls to bounce around her in a mesmerising way.


    "Long enough, ma¡¯am Odessa."


    I couldn¡¯t hold back the joy of hearing her call me that.


    Ma¡¯am Odessa.


    "It¡¯s ¡¯Odessa¡¯, Car." My voice cracked, my emotionsing through in waves.


    We both chuckled but mine was in an attempt to hold back the tears threatening to fall.


    Goddess, this sucked!


    I nced at Kaelos who gave me a subtle thumbs up.


    ¡¯See? Told you she¡¯de around.¡¯ he whispered in my mind, further brightening my smile.


    Sadly, that happy moment didn¡¯tst long.


    A sudden knock on the door made all of us freeze, whipping our heads to it in unison.


    "Who is it?" Kaelos asked with a loud tone, arching a brow.


    I squinted as a frail but familiar female voice spoke up. "Pardon, sir. It¡¯s Elder Yune. I¡¯ve got news from the Alphas of North America. They¡¯ll all being tomorrow for the conference."


    My breath hitched slightly as I nced at Kaelos solemnly.


    "Is that all, Elder Yune?" Kaelos asked.


    "Yes, my Lord."


    When the sound of her footsteps leaving echoed, I tilted my head. "Tomorrow? I thought we were going to wait a few more days, at least?"


    Kaelos shook his head. "I¡¯ve already nned it out, don¡¯t worry. The event hall will be ready for the Alphas tomorrow."


    Caroline cut in. "Wait... All the Alphas of North America areing here tomorrow? How long was I freaking dead?"


    I sighed, turning to her. "Not all of them. The ones whose loyalties still lie with Kaelos. If any of them don¡¯t attend tomorrow, without them giving a reason... It¡¯ll most likely be because of one thing."


    There was a short silence, my mind momentarily reeling with nervousness.


    <fnca57> Get full chapters from Find~Novel</fnca57>


    Because we all knew what that one thing was.


    It was a not-so-subtle indicator of where their loyalties lie.


    "Tomorrow will be my first attempt at... Peacefully rallying the support of all the Alphas and their packs." Kaelos walked toward us, cing a hand on my shoulder. "My mercy card will be quite exhausted after that."


    We locked eyes for a few seconds, but that was long enough to pass a message I¡¯de to ept.


    "Mine too," I whispered, turning my head to the moon shining brightly in the starry night sky outside. "It¡¯ll be blood and death after, whether we like it or not."

 Chapter 344: _Murder Mode Already

    <h4>Chapter 344: _Murder Mode Already</h4>


    The next morning, I sat in front of my vanity, brushing my hair after freshening up.


    In the mirror, I spotted Kaelos¡¯ reflection as he adjusted the cufflinks of a silver suit, his shoulder-length ck hair falling on either side of his face.


    His expression was grim... And so was mine.


    Today was the day we¡¯d know where the loyalties of each Alpha in North Americay.


    It would be the first convergence of North American Alphas in centuries ording to Kaelos. To say I was nervous was an understatement¡ªbut I was also ready.


    "You ready?" I drew in a deep breath, rising from the seat after taking onest look at my reflection.


    I clutched the hem of the light cream-sleeved gown I wore, feeling like a queen.


    ¡¯That¡¯s because you are, girl.¡¯ Sirena chimed in my mind at the same moment that Kaelos cleared his throat.


    "Goddess, I love and hate how you always look ravishing in events like this." Kaelos stretched his hands forward, walking toward me with that lovey-dovey smile I was so used to seeing.


    I blushed, trying to y off his words with an eye roll. "Can you be serious for once? Today¡¯s going to be tense. I can feel it."


    "Doesn¡¯t mean we should be tense with it now, does it?" Kaelos grinned, grabbing my shoulders and pulling me closer to himself.


    My body stiffened when I caught a whiff of his intoxicating perfume, my eyes narrowing on his.


    He pressed a kiss on my forehead, closing his eyes before whispering. "I¡¯m trying the best I can to stay level-headed enough. You don¡¯t want me ripping out someone¡¯s head, right?"


    I let out a heavy sigh, wrapping my hands around his arms. "At this rate, I just might join you in doing that."


    He chuckled while my lips twisted into the faintest smirk.


    Just then, a knock sounded on the door, forcing us to turn our heads to it.


    "Come in," I called out.


    The door swung open and a maid walked in, bowing respectfully.


    "Your majesties. Elder Yune sent me to tell you that all the expected Alphas are present and waiting for you at the event hall."


    Dear gods. This is it.


    I nced at Kaelos who nodded at the maid, cing his hand on my back.


    "Very well. We¡¯ll be there shortly."


    The maid bowed again before walking out, closing the door behind her.


    Kaelos and I exchanged onest nce, before walking out of the room hand in hand, ready to face what could possibly be the first step in securing a united front.


    .


    .


    When Kaelos and I arrived at the event hall, my forehead was already sweaty, my nerves wracking.


    Tens and possibly hundreds of cars were packed right outside the event hall, pack soldiers littered all around the pack grounds.


    People threw nces, many whispered and a solemn air filled the Blood oak pack like a miasma.


    Kaelos and I slowly ascended the steps, my heart thudding heavily in my chest, when I picked up the murmuring of hundreds of people within the event hall.


    There were over two hundred Alphas in North America, from the lush forest reserves here in North Carolina to the snowy mountains in Canada and the Aztec ruins in Mexico.


    Meaning several different cultures and traditions.


    At the entrance of the event hall, Elder Yune stood waiting for us with a calm expression, her staff clutched tightly in her hand.


    She bowed before giving us a subtle nod, her eyes trailing to the event hall itself.


    When Kaelos and I got in, I subconsciously held my breath.


    Even though it wasn¡¯t as filled up as the Blood Moon festival, the event hall literally brimmed with power and affluence.


    Alphas, their consorts and their Betas sat on round tables, conversing amongst themselves in hushed tones.


    They were allvishly dressed and many had proud looks on their faces... Until their heads turned to Kaelos and me one by one.


    "Hold your horses... Look." A woman whispered with what sounded like reverence and judgment all at once. "It¡¯s them."


    "The Luna Queen ising out after her miscarriage?" Another, a man, chimed with exasperation.


    "Not just the miscarriage. She was allegedly kidnapped by the lord of the North himself."


    "Goddess... Who knows what he¡¯s done to her?"


    "I heard the ckening of the moon all around North America that night was her doing."


    My jaw tightened but before I could lower my head and pretend like I wasn¡¯t hearing their whispers, a sudden whoosh of air caused my hair to blow around me.


    I gasped at the emptiness I felt after, realising in the next second that Kaelos was no longer by my side. My eyes turned to a nearby pir where he had waltzed to with his enhanced speed.


    He held a man by the neck, raising him into the air with his back facing me. The hall erupted into pandemonium as everyone gasped and pointed.


    <fnc6a1> Th?s chapter is updated by find?novel</fnc6a1>


    ¡¯You two literally just stepped in.¡¯ Sirena remarked in my head, although she didn¡¯t sound like she cared.


    If anything, she sounded excited that our mate was already in murder mode barely a few seconds after we stepped in.


    "Alpha king!" A woman sitting on the same table as the man Kaelos held by the neck gasped.


    She was most definitely his wife and Luna.


    "P¨CPlease. I... I beg of you. What did my husband do?" She pleaded with a cracked voice, getting on her feet and raising her hands in front of Kaelos. "Have mercy. He¡ª"


    "Shut the heck up!" Kaelos sneered, his voice thundering through the hall, brimming with power from his Alpha king aura.


    Just when I was about to reach out to him through the mind link, he said something that instantly made me realise the cause of his reaction.


    "Are you all really so stupid? So dumb that you forget each time that I¡¯m a fucking Alpha King?" He queried with a voice that boomed through the hall. "I hear all your gossip. The whispers. And I keep asking myself when will it fucking end?"


    Silence.


    Everyone was dead silent, so much so that I could barely pick up most of them breathing.


    But Kaelos wasn¡¯t done.


    "The first line of business in this damn convergence is getting one thing clear in case I haven¡¯t been clear enough these past few months... Odessa Pierce is my Luna Queen. Your Luna Queen. She rules by my side and isn¡¯t merely the Alpha king¡¯s witch bride."


    A sudden surge of pride made my body tremble.


    I didn¡¯t realise my eyes had started stinging with tears until a tear drop fell on my corbone. I clenched my fists before wiping my face with my arm, my breath shuddering.


    "This whole meeting should be done within nothing more than an hour." Kaelos continued still, finally releasing the Alpha from his grip.


    The poor guy plopped to the ground and held his throat, coughing erratically while fighting to catch his breath. His face was pale. He looked at Kaelos with terror even when his wife tried helping him up.


    Meanwhile, Kaelos ignored him entirely, ncing at me briefly. "If I hear as much as a wrong sneeze at my wife¡¯s direction, I¡¯ll w out your tongue, so pleading for death will be impossible. Don¡¯t fucking y with me."

 Chapter 345: _If Blood Is Thicker Than Water...

    <h4>Chapter 345: _If Blood Is Thicker Than Water...</h4>


    Kaelos and I settled on our thrones set on the stage, looking down on all the Alphas present.


    I kept my arms on the armrest nervously, drumming my fingers as Kaelos cleared his throat after several minutes of silence.


    "Alright, we all know why we¡¯re here." Kaelos began, scanning his eyes on the faces of the Alphas. "Ryker, or like he likes to call himself... The true lord of the North. His threat to the stability of this continent has be more prominent. More pronounced."


    The Alphas nced among themselves, their Lunas and their Betas but none of them dared to say a word.


    Not yet at least.


    It would be too early after Kaelos¡¯ outburst earlier and tensions were still high from that.


    "It¡¯s be clear that there¡¯s a waring. And in this war, some among the Alphas of this continent are already picking sides." Kaelos¡¯s lips curled into an icy smile, his words heavy. "Which is funny because I didn¡¯t realise that would be an option. Choosing between the man who¡¯s brought peace... Or the man who wishes to plunge the whole world into anarchy."


    He nced at me just then, his eyes lingering for a little bit. But then he looked away.


    "Anything anyone wants to say?" He arched a brow, curling his fingers in front of his face. "Don¡¯t be shy. This is a convergence after all. Just know the boundaries between a conversation and disrespect under my roof."


    The leaders looked at themselves one by one, some at the front ncing behind them. It was as if they were waiting for someone to be the sacrificialmb.


    To test the waters, that was Kaelos¡¯ fluctuating mood.


    "Alpha king Kaelos." A woman was surprisingly the one who spoke up first, her voice echoing through the event hall.


    She rose to her feet, her aura instantly telling me and everyone else that she was an Alpha.


    "I¡¯m Alpha Katherine of the Silver Peak pack. A few other Alphas of packs close to Blood Oak and I attended a meeting here more than four months ago. When sightings of the rogues in support of Ryker were still fresh."


    My mind reeled when I heard that name and saw her head full of brown hair.


    It didn¡¯t take long for me to remember her and when I did, my face flushed with embarrassment.


    Back then it was her car I snuck into, letting me escape into the Blood Oak woods.


    After which I got kidnapped by rogues.


    Ah... Time flies so fast.


    "Yes, Alpha Katherine." Kaelos nodded for her to continue and everyone else had their eyes locked on her.


    After a few more seconds, Katherine nodded. "Well, sir. You can see how much has changed within these four months. From one scandal to another. Not to mention the events at the Charity Ball... Which I also attended."


    Her eyes flicked to me, lingering for a few seconds too long. But I kept my chin held high, even though I low-key felt like sinking into the ground.


    "Is there a point you¡¯re driving at, Alpha Katherine? Or are you doing a recap for your reality TV show?" Kaelos asked with a deadpan tone, not even bothered to sound humorous.


    A few Alphas stifledughter, but none dared make a ruckus.


    Meanwhile, Katherine was surprisingly calm, a small smile curling her lips.


    "Well, Alpha king. My point is that each of these events that have happened in all this time has been monitored by everyone on the continent. Heck, the whole world even." She remarked, gesturing with her right hand. "And Ryker has used that to his advantage to weaken the people¡¯s trust in you. Their trust in your rule."


    My jaw tightened but I knew she was right. And I could sense Kaelos did as well.


    But she wasn¡¯t finished.


    "The recent incident at the Blood Moon festival, I¡¯m sorry to say, may have been the straw that broke the camel¡¯s back. The Luna Queen¡ª"


    "Lost her child." I was the one who spoke up this time, my voice firm as I adjusted my sitting position.


    She arched an eyebrow at me while the rest had well-hidden judgment on their faces.


    But I ignored all that and pushed on.


    "I lost my child after Ryker indirectly caused it. Then he went ahead to lure me out to his grasp after months of lurking in my head. Trying to get me to snap."


    The silence was so deafening, and rightfully so.


    I was done letting them make false narratives about me.


    "You want to know what¡¯s clear to me and should be clear to everyone else?" I asked rhetorically, my voice sharp. "He¡¯s been manipting the narrative to his whim. This man captured and killed the South American Alpha King and then broadcast it to strike fear. Is that really who you want as Alpha King?"


    Katherine parted his lips to say something when a man from the back cleared his throat and got to his feet.


    "If I may, Luna Queen. But the Alphas rising in support of him are saying that fear is simr to the rule ofte Alpha King Balthazar. A man who¡ª"


    "You mean the man who was plotting the Invasion of the South American region in his thirst for power?" I let it slip even though it wasn¡¯t public knowledge.


    Only the Alpha Kings had been informed by Kaelos. But he already gave me the go-aheadst night, so why not?


    "He... He what?" Someone gasped loudly.


    "That¡¯s preposterous!"


    "There were rumours of that back then. Remember? So is the Luna Queen confirming now that it¡¯s true?"


    Their murmurs spread like a ripple made in water, stretching longer than I anticipated.


    Until¡ª


    "Enough." Kaelos boomed, instantly bringing silence. "Ryker¡¯s pestilence will be far worse than anything my father dreamed of doing if he takes the throne. He¡¯s already gaining control of the Vein and hopes to take my wife under his control so that control can be heightened."


    Some of them weren¡¯t all too clear on what the Vein was but the greater message had been passed across:


    Ryker was a threat that shouldn¡¯t be underestimated.


    "Anything else?" Kaelos asked, drumming his fingers on hisp. "The next line of business would be rallying troops in preparation. We need¡ª"


    "Alpha King Kaelos Bloodoak." A voice cut him off,ing from a pir close to the entrance.


    All heads swerved there, and I squinted when I saw who it belonged to.


    A man with ck hair has his head lowered.


    "I have a question for you..." The man continued, his head still lowered and his body frozen in an eerie manner.


    I shifted on my throne with unease, ncing at Kaelos as the leaders whispered.


    "Look me in the eyes before you begin," Kaelos said coldly, his voice dripping with suspicion.


    Even though the man¡¯s head was lowered and he rested on the pir weirdly, I could¡¯ve sworn I saw a smile stretching his lips.


    He slowly raised his head, revealing a face that sent dread through me.


    His eyes... They were pitch ck like twin ck holes.


    And they were locked on me.


    "If blood is truly thicker than water." The man began, raising his right hand and pointing his finger at me.


    I went on high alert, my fingers tingling with magic as the mouring from the leaders increased.


    But the man didn¡¯t care about any of that, carrying on with his question.


    "Then what assurance do we have that Luna Queen Odessa Pierce... Wouldn¡¯t follow the footsteps of the very first Vein Born? Nyx. Mistress of death."


    My heart skipped a beat when I heard that question.


    And also I came to a realisation of what was going on here.


    Ryker was manipting this man.<fn9687> Official source is find?novel</fn9687>

 Chapter 346: _This Is War

    <h4>Chapter 346: _This Is War</h4>


    "Who are you?" I drawled carefully, squinting at the man with ckened eyes. "Or rather... Who has control over you right now?"


    The leaders gasped throughout the event hall, turning their heads to the man and scrutinising him closely due to my words.


    Meanwhile, the man only grinned, keeping his palm glued to the pir. He tilted his head, chuckling darkly. "What gave it away? The dark eyes?"


    The voice that came out was all too familiar to me. Because I¡¯ve heard it in my head for months, pushing me to give in to my darkest desires.


    My eyes twitched as I got on my feet, raising my right hand to the ceiling without saying a word.


    An invisible force held the man in ce before levitating him several feet off the ground, his limbs stiffening like wood.


    Kaelos frowned, staring at me with concern but I was too focused on the rage simmering through me.


    "What¡¯s going on? Why¡¯s she attacking him for asking a question?" A woman squealed from a corner of the hall.


    "Didn¡¯t you see those eyes? He¡¯s possessed!"


    "Is he the only one?"


    The voices all blurred out in my ears as my hair blew around me. "When will the madness end, Ryker? When will you stop hovering over my life?"


    The man dangled helplessly in the air but still managed tough maniacally, his voice booming through the hall.


    "Did that mane alone?" Kaelos¡¯ voice echoed behind me.


    From the looks of things, it seemed that was the case.


    "Oh, yeah. He dide with his Luna and Beta." Ryker¡¯s silky voice came out of the man¡¯s lips, filled with mockery. "But they were a distraction. So I used his body to kill them just to send across this important message to the leaders of the Werewolves of North America."


    My jaw tightened, my breath hitching as I tried keeping my emotions in check.


    I had an urge to break the man limb by limb but it wouldn¡¯t affect Ryker. And to everyone else, I¡¯d be killing an innocent person.


    ¡¯Calm down, Odessa. Calm down...¡¯ I told myself mentally, drawing in steady breaths while Ryker continued.


    "I am infiltrating every pack on the continent as we speak. One by one, my artificial hybrids are taking over positions of power and pretending to be normal civilians."


    My mind went briefly to Marcellus and then I imagined all the chaos that happened with him... Happening at a continent-wide stage.


    Dear goddess...


    "My hybrids are your sisters. Your brothers. Your neighbours... Even some of your council members and Alphas." Ryker cackled, tilting the man¡¯s head like a doll. "But a fallout from all this can be avoided if you all pledge allegiance to me."


    Kaelos was the one who spoke this time, his voice rippling through the air. "You dare! You¡¯re just bluffing, Ryker."


    Ryker sniggered. "Oh, am I, brother?!"


    He said thatst word like it was a slur. As if being Kaelos¡¯ brother was a stain on his reputation.


    But the leaders gathered all had a simr reaction to it.


    "Brother?" A man repeated. "What in the goddess¡¯ name is going on here?"


    "Wait... The True Lord of the North is the Alpha King¡¯s brother?"


    "Unfortunately, that¡¯s correct!" Ryker sighed, the body of the man twitching weirdly in the air. "Balthazar¡¯s seed ended up in the womb of a witch long before Kaelos was born. I am the true Alpha King. I¡¯ve always been."


    I could feel Kaelos¡¯ rage coiling so deep through the bond that I almost couldn¡¯t differentiate it from mine.


    This was going to escte fast if I let this bastard continue talking.


    "That¡¯s enough for you, buddy." I snapped my fingers, twisting my wrist.


    But to my horror, that no longer had an effect on the body as the man plopped to the ground like a rag doll. He slowly rose, his limbs snapping in unnatural angles I didn¡¯t even know were possible.


    When his body was set properly, he sighed, scanning his gaze past the faces of the leaders.


    Many who sat close to him stood up, shifting away with pure terror as the event hall erupted into chaos.


    But the man¡ªRyker¡ªignored all of that and stretched out his arms defiantly. "The few Alphas who¡¯ve joined my use are the enlightened ones. The ones who realise that Kaelos¡¯ making ¡¯peace¡¯ with the witches has made us weak. And that weakness will only continue to spread if we don¡¯t uproot the source."


    He pointed his finger at Kaelos, forcing me to nce over my shoulder at him. We locked eyes, both of us tense with uncertainty.


    ¡¯That man could still be alive in there.¡¯ I whispered through the bond but Kaelos shook his head.


    ¡¯Ryker¡¯s already causing enough damage.¡¯ he blurted. ¡¯I¡¯m putting an end to¡ª¡¯


    "Freeze!" A voice yelled from the entrance of the event hall just then.


    I snapped my head in that direction, my brows furrowing when I saw pack soldiers rushing into the event hall and surrounding the man being used by Ryker.


    Seeing that immediately sent a bad feeling through me.


    "Raise your hands where we can see them." Another pack soldier sneered but Ryker didn¡¯t even bother looking at them.


    "There¡¯s no need for that. I¡¯m done sending my message anyway." Ryker smirked, the ckness in his eyes swirling like ink. "They who seek death shall find it. I implore the leaders of the North American packs to ask themselves... Am I really a force you want to be up against?"


    Without warning, his skin began cracking like ss, ck light seeping through the cracks. The pack soldiers, once gant and ready to attack, took a few steps back, their eyes widening with dread.


    The intensity of the ck light only increased until it bloated out the lights in the hallpletely.


    "Everyone, duck!" Kaelos yelled, grabbing me from behind and pulling me into his arms, using his body to shield me.


    And then¡ª


    BOOM!


    An explosion sounded, sending a gust of wind that blew my hair across my face despite Kaelos shielding me. But he was unmoving, staying that way until the force of the st cleared.


    When we opened our eyes again, my gaze immediately went to the spot where the man had stood a few seconds ago.


    <fn5293> This content belongs to </fn5293>


    There was nothing.


    No blood, no remains... Only a ck scorch mark on the ground with smoke rising from it.


    Fortunately, no one was hurt from the st but everyone was touched by the message Ryker left. By the threat of his power.


    "B¨CBother?" Alpha Katherine spoke with a shivering voice that managed to echo around the hall. "Alpha King Kaelos, what did... What did he mean by that?"


    Others joined in the murmurs andmotion.


    "He was able to infiltrate the seat of the Alpha King. A building where the power houses of the werewolf race in the continent were gathered." A man spoke with fear dripping in his voice.


    "He¡¯s too powerful. This is a failed battle already."


    "He could¡¯ve easily killed us all if he wanted. That explosion¡ª"


    "ENOUGH!" Kaelos thundered, his voice carrying the force of his Alpha King aura. "Pack soldiers, seal all the exits."


    I frowned while still trying to catch my breath, watching as Kaelos finally withdrew his hands from me, stepping forward. He looked down at everyone gathered as the pack soldiers followed his orders, locking the doors in the hall.


    "No one leaves until they pledge allegiance to me." Kaelos continued, his tone leaving no room for resistance. "You want to join my murderous brother, then I¡¯ll send you to him in pieces. This is war."

 Chapter 347: _Birthday Girl

    <h4>Chapter 347: _Birthday Girl</h4>


    "Rise and shine, birthday girl!"


    My eyes jolted open the second I heard that voice close to my ears, but then I shielded my face with my hands when the morning sun shone on my face.


    I groaned softly, a small smile curling up my lips when I saw Kaelos hovering over me, already dressed in a simple ck jacket and a pair of blue jeans.


    The same blue jeans I bought for him a while ago that he¡¯d told me dead in the face he¡¯d never wear.


    Seeing that alone was enough to make my heart melt as I made myself sit on the bed, adjusting the bed clothing and clutching it to my chest.


    "September eighth already?" I blinked weakly as he sat on the bed beside, wrapping an arm around my body. "Thank you so much, Kaelos. I never imagined you¡¯d go out of your way to remember after all the war nning we¡¯ve been doing since that day."


    When Kaelosmanded every Alpha in attendance at the convergence to remain in the event hall until they pledge their allegiance... he meant it.


    Some tried proving stubborn or hesitant but they all yielded eventually and since then he¡¯s been on the clock, making ns, securing the borders of Blood Oak and following up with each Alpha.


    He refused to get a new assistant after La, insisting he was fine and that he could handle all the pressure himself.


    The dark circles around his eyes told a different story...


    "Oh, please." Kaelos chuckled, tightening his grip around me. "All I did was wake you up before you sleep through your big day. It¡¯s your first birthday that we¡¯re spending together. I¡¯ll never miss it for the world."


    He brought his other hand to my chin, bringing my gaze to his silver eyes.


    My face flushed as he leaned closer, leaving a soft kiss on my lips. I closed my eyes, letting myself get lost in the warmth for only a few seconds.


    But then he pulled away, a small grin spreading across his face.


    "Careful. We might get carried away and I already have quite a few things nned for today." He remarked, giving me onest peck on my forehead before he got on his feet. "Come on, freshen up."


    I stared at him for a moment before smirking, hopping off the bed.


    .


    .


    When I was done with freshening up, Kaelos led me downstairs where a small banquet was already waiting for breakfast.


    At the centre of all the delicacies was a white three-step cake, with candles at the top.


    And to my surprise, Caroline was standing there, the soft silver glow around her body reminding me of her ghost status.


    "There she is." She pped her hands excitedly. "I might not have a physical body, but gosh, I¡¯ve been waiting for this since you summoned me. And then the cake... Ugh, I wish I could eat it."


    I smiled, ncing at Kaelos who gripped my hand tighter, leading me to her.


    Caroline had been scarce during the war nning so seeing her here was a wee surprise.


    A few maids were cing finishing touches to the table when I beamed at Caroline. "I swear, I need to find a spell to make you physically interact at this point. You don¡¯t know how to do that? I¡ª"


    "Ahem!" Caroline cleared her throat just then, cing her right hand on my shoulder even though it was intangible. "You might want to lower your voice a bit when talking to me in public."


    I followed her line of sight and noticed the side eye the maids were giving me. I squinted when I noticed none of them were focused on Caroline in the slightest.


    "Wait..." I whispered, whipping my head to Kaelos first before bringing it back to Caroline. "They can¡¯t see you? Then... Then howe Kaelos and I can?"


    Caroline shrugged. "My leading theory is that the Alpha king¡¯s Silverborn abilities give him affinity to the spirit realm. As for you, Althea and she who shall not be named... You all have magic."


    Oh... That makes sense.


    I tilted my head. "Speaking of Regina. Are you two¡ª"


    "I just called her she who shall not be named, girl." Caroline rolled her eyes at the same moment that the maids finally bowed before walking away, ncing at themselves and probably wondering if I¡¯d gone insane.


    "That¡¯s enough talk." Kaelos rubbed my palm just then, leading me to the head of the table. He pulled out the chair, his usual seat, and gestured for me to sit like a queen.


    I felt over the moon as I did just that, cing my right hand on my chest.


    My eyes trailed to the cake while Kaelos sat on a chair beside me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.


    Just when Caroline sat, a familiar voice chimed from behind.


    "Did someone forget their favourite aunty before making birthday wishes?"


    <fnf22d> Original content can be found at find?novel</fnf22d>


    My smile widened as I nced over my shoulder.


    Walking toward the table was my aunt Althea, a vibrant smile on her face. She wore a sleeveless purple gown, her ck hair flowing like waterfalls down her shoulders.


    Her heels clicked with each step she took until she finally got to me, cing a hand on my shoulder.


    "My baby¡¯s turning twenty-two." She gushed with a warmth that stunned me.


    Was this the same aunt who wasn¡¯t big on public disys of affection?


    The candles flickered, their little mes swaying as if they, too, were holding their breath. Everyone¡¯s gaze shifted to me, waiting.


    Kaelos squeezed my hand gently, his silver eyes soft, and I took a deep breath before closing my own.


    Instead of the usual selfish wish ¡ª something small, something silly ¡ª the words that rose inside me felt heavier.


    "Please," I whispered so low it was barely more than a breath, "keep him safe. Let the packs know peace. Just one year without bloodshed... that¡¯s all I ask."


    The room fell utterly silent.


    The warmth of the candles pressed against my eyelids until, with a sharp exhale, I blew them out.


    When I opened my eyes again, I was smiling, filled with a hope so bright it almost ached.


    Across the table, Caroline leaned back with her arms folded, her ghostly glow dimmer than usual.


    She didn¡¯t p or cheer ¡ª just tilted her head.


    Althea, standing beside her, caught that look and returned it with one of her own. Neither spoke, but in that subtle nce an entire conversation passed between them.


    They knew. They both knew. And sadly, deep down... So did I.


    Peace wasn¡¯ting. Not yet.


    But I didn¡¯t dwell on that.


    I was too wrapped up in Kaelos¡¯ warmth beside me, too caught in the illusion of this perfect morning. For one rare moment, I let myself believe in my wish.


    And as I looked down at the cake, cheeks flushed with happiness, my hopeful face stood stark against the shadow of their unspoken fear.

 Chapter 348: _Every Pack Shall Be Cleansed

    <h4>Chapter 348: _Every Pack Shall Be Cleansed</h4>


    Ryker¡¯s POV


    *****


    "My lord." His informant in one of the most powerful packs in Canada bowed before him when he walked through a portal. "Everything is just the way you wanted it. The Alpha and his council are in the pack house."


    It was nighttime and the sky was bloated with dark clouds that rumbled with thunder.


    Ryker scanned his eyes through the pack grounds, from the tarred roads to the houses with all lights turned off.


    This was the Silverfang pack... Ryker¡¯s first step in taking control of all packs in North America.


    His informant, a man with ck hair and ocean blue eyes, was the Beta of the Silverfang pack.


    "You¡¯ve done well, Vincent," Ryker remarked, raising his hands slowly. "Let¡¯s see if this pack can live up to its name and reputation."


    With that, he transformed into a cloud of ck smoke, floating off the ground before flying past Beta Vincent.


    No soul spotted him¡ªevery pack soldier had been dispatched to patrol unimportant parts of the pack, leaving the path leading to the Alpha¡¯s mansion unguarded.


    When Ryker finally got to the pack house, he transformed back into his human form, his eyes swelling ck like ink.


    "Hey!" A guard standing watch close to the entrance of the mansion spotted him, his voice tense as he drew out a silver sword. "Freeze! W¨CWho are¡ª"


    Ryker didn¡¯t even give him the chance to make a coherent sentence, raising his right hand and twisting his wrist. That motion caused an invisible force to grip the guard¡¯s neck before snapping it clean.


    His eyes were cold as the man fell lifelessly like a puppet.


    "Over there!" Another voice pierced through the night, forcing him to swerve his head in its direction.


    A group of five guards ran toward him, all dressed in ck suits and drawing out weapons made of silver. One shifted into his wolf form, snarling as he leapt at him with his ws and fangs outstretched.


    "Mutt." Ryker sniggered, casually swatting his right hand in the air.


    The wolf was hit by an invisible force, whimpering in pain as he was flung mid-air, hitting thepound gate with a loud ng.


    As for the other guards, ck mes erupted from the ground, forming a burning ring that trapped them within.


    Ryker simply tilted his head, causing the ck me to burn hotter until it transformed into an orb that consumed the guards into nothing but ash, their screams barely audible in their final moments.


    He smirked to himself, turning his attention to the entrance of the mansion again.


    "Oh, I¡¯m going to enjoy every second of this." He remarked, his arms outstretched like he was a god here to usher souls to their afterlife.


    .


    .


    At thest floor of the mansion, Ryker made quick work of the guards who tried stopping him from stepping into the Alpha¡¯s meeting room.


    Blood painted the walls of the corridor while mangled corpses littered the floor.


    The meeting room door was sealed off by a protectiveyer of moonstone energy... But Ryker wasn¡¯t bothered in the slightest.


    One flick of his fingers was all it took to shatter the wooden door into splinters, the pieces hurtling into the room like hailstones.


    "Alpha Aemond Silver Fang." Ryker boomed, cing his arms behind his back as he stepped into the room slowly.


    His eyes scanned through the faces of everyone gathered around a round table in the room... But then they locked on a man with short Silver hair and a beard.


    <fned66> Follow current nov?ls on F?ndNovel</fned66>


    The man got on his feet and so did his council members and Luna, all of them seeming absolutely dumbfounded.


    "W¨CWho... Who are you?" The Alpha blurted with utter disbelief. "How did you¡ª"


    "Get past your security?" Ryker pointed outside with a mocking smirk. "Oh, that wasn¡¯t hard, trust me. It appears your pack¡¯s reputation as the strongest pack in Canada is nothing but an exaggeration."


    Suddenly, a man with a thick brown beard drew out a gun and shot at Ryker.


    But thetter blinked, causing the bullet to melt mid-air. On top of that, the gun in the man¡¯s hand melted into molten magma, causing him to yell, dropping it hastily.


    "Cute," Ryker muttered, tilting his head. "Since it¡¯ll be rather sad if everyone here dies, I¡¯ll give you a choice. I am the True Lord of the North. Willingly join me and surrender control of your pack to me."


    The Alpha¡¯s eyes widened with dread but his jaw tightened as he shook his head. "We¡¯ve sworn our loyalty to Alpha King Kaelos."


    Ryker arched his brow. "Oh, yes. I¡¯m aware. Butst I checked, your allegiance didn¡¯t involve any binding magic, did it?"


    They all paused, ncing among themselves as if they were considering it.


    But Ryker didn¡¯t have the patience for their consideration.


    He lifted his right hand, using telekinesis to lift the Luna off the ground. She gasped for breath as the telekic force gradually tightened around her neck until her face became purple.


    "Melissa!" The Alpha roared, attempting to grab her hand but Ryker flicked his other wrist, hitting him with an invisible force that shoved him through the air until he hit the wall.


    "It¡¯s so fun watching you struggle." Ryker chuckled darkly, taking slow steps closer. "You think allegiance to my brother will lead you anywhere other than destruction? If I wanted I could end all your lives in a second."


    He curled his fists tighter, causing the invisible force constricting the Luna to increase in power. The council members stood helplessly while the Alpha groaned, sitting up on the floor.


    "Let my wife go." The man snarled, ring at Ryker with pure hatred.


    The lord of the North nodded. "Of course. Right after you swear allegiance to me as your one true Alpha king. A simple choice for your life, right?"


    The Alpha gritted his teeth but the sound of his choking wife was a reminder that he didn¡¯t have a lot of time to make a decision.


    Ryker watched with cold satisfaction as the Alpha¡¯s loyalty to Kaelos faltered in his eyes.


    And then¡ª


    "I..." The Alpha got on his knees, bowing his head.


    His council members gasped but he ignored them, continuing. "I pledge allegiance to you, Lord Ryker."


    Ryker¡¯s smile sharpened.


    Hmph... Too easy.


    "Good," Ryker muttered but then did something totally unexpected.


    A simple spell caused the Luna to ignite into mes, her agonising screams echoing through the walls of the meeting room.


    "No!" The Alpha shouted, standing up and attempting to charge at Ryker.


    Thetter¡¯s eyes ckened as he whispered. "Every pack that falls under my control shall be cleansed. Starting with you."


    The Alpha got hit by an invisible force but this time, it punctured his chest, causing his heart and blood to stter out of his body.


    As the screams of the Alpha and his council members bled into the night, Ryker couldn¡¯t help but relish one idea:


    One day this would be Kaelos and all who support him...

 Chapter 349: _It’s A Rigged Game

    <h4>Chapter 349: _It¡¯s A Rigged Game</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    The next morning after Odessa¡¯s birthday, we sat on a bench in the mansion¡¯s garden, staring at the flower beds and soaking in the warmth of the sun rays.


    I had my right arm wrapped around her shoulders, taking in the sweet smell of her hair as she talked about so many things.


    She seemed cheerier than she¡¯s ever been... Especially after everything that happened on the night of the Blood Moon festival.


    "So, I was thinking of dropping honey down your butt." She said all of a sudden, snapping me out of my reverie.


    Wait... What?


    I shook my head and gave her a side eye, watching as she giggled.


    "See? I knew you weren¡¯t listening." She scolded, swatting me on my shoulder. "Where¡¯s your mind at? You said we can use today to stay together without worrying about... The looming war and stuff."


    I shifted my sitting position, chuckling. "I... Might¡¯ve spaced out there for a second. But really? Dropping honey down my butt?"


    Her face reddened but she didn¡¯t back down, twirling her fingers on my chest. "Kinky, right? Besides, it grabbed your attention so that says a lot."


    Heck no, it didn¡¯t!


    I pinched her chin teasingly as she giggled louder, heaving heavily before she rested her head on my shoulder.


    "Anyway, I¡¯ll just catch you up." She coughed, slowly cing her right hand on myp. "Thest thing I was talking about was... Children."


    I froze, my heart skipping a beat.


    ¡¯Talk about PTSD fuel.¡¯ Damon chimed in my mind while Odessa quickly sat up, facing me squarely.


    Strands of her blonde hair blew slightly into the wind, her blue eyes glinting with a hope I¡¯d love to catch a glimpse of every waking day.


    I kept eye contact, grabbing her hand on myp as she continued.


    "I... I know my mind has been in a dark ce since we lost Apollo." She whispered, a wry smile curling her lips. "And with everything else happening, I fear for our future more and more..."


    She leaned closer until our faces were inches away from each other. Her scent grounded me, but it also made my insides rumble with need.


    "But one thing I¡¯m certain of is that I still want children with you." Her voice cracked a bit but her smile was firm. "I¡ª"


    "I want you, Odessa." I shushed her, pressing my forehead against hers. "And if in our future children be a possibility again, I¡¯ll want us to have them in a world where they¡¯ll be safe."


    My mind shed back to an image that had basically haunted my nights.


    Odessa, screaming on the floor in pain as blood pooled under her from her own body. Our child... The baby we nned for months...


    Gone.


    Just like that.


    For most of my adult life, I¡¯ve always feared being a father. Why wouldn¡¯t I after the horrid childhood I had to endure with mine after my mother¡¯s murder?


    Odessa brought me hope. She brought me light. And I was willing to hold tight to that hope and light for as long as I breathe.


    "A world where they¡¯re safe," Odessa repeated my words, nodding slowly. "Meaning not just peace in North America. But the whole world as a whole."


    I shrugged with a slow smirk. "Shouldn¡¯t be hard to aplish for the Vein Born and a Silverborn Alpha King, no?"


    She gave a slow smirk of her own. "It¡¯s definitely not impossible. This war has gone on long enough..."


    She trailed her eyes to the skies just then, her gaze following the sparrows that flew past chirping about their day.


    I couldn¡¯t stop myself from staring at her despite the peaceful scenery around us.


    "... We could be ambassadors. For peace." She brought her gaze back to me, tilting her head ever so slightly. "Once we put an end to Ryker¡¯s madness. Travelling to each continent and mediating between both sides."


    That... Didn¡¯t sound like a bad idea. But¡ª


    "That doesn¡¯t sound like too much work?" I groaned dramatically.


    She rolled her eyes. "How then were you hoping to aplish world peace?"


    I shrugged. "Not sure. What I do know is that right now we all have onemon enemy..."


    I pressed a kiss on her forehead, pulling her close to my body again. "If all packs, covens and human governments can realise that everywhere... Peace wouldn¡¯t be far off."


    We remained silent after that, staring at the flower beds. She didn¡¯t need to say anything else and neither did I.


    s, the peace we sought here was cut short rather abruptly.


    "Alpha king Kaelos!" A voice boomed through the garden,ing from behind us.


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    Odessa jolted, whipping her head backwards while I remained still. I let out a light sigh instead.


    I already knew who that was.


    One of the five elders of the pack who has made himself more vocal since Elder Davina¡¯s death.


    "Elder Harkan." I blurted with a tone that clearly carried my disinterest in talking to him. "It¡¯s been a minute. I do hope your reason for disturbing my private moment is justified."


    After a few more seconds of approaching footsteps, he finally showed up in front of us, standing tall.


    His wrinkled face was even rougher due to the deep frown he had, his eyes sharp with urgency that instantly caught my attention.


    "I¡¯m not even going to remind you of the fact that you¡¯re yet to pick a new Beta or military advisor." The older man began, swatting his grey robe aside. "I have a more pressing report..."


    He paused, his features grim. "The silver fang pack in Canada has fallen. Your brother killed the Alpha and his entire council."


    A cold shiver ran down my spine the second those words left his mouth.


    Silver fang pack.


    That was one of the most powerful packs in Canada, if not the most powerful.


    "He¡¯s begun making moves." Odessa tensed up, her voice raw with dread. "Are... Are we prepared enough, Kaelos?"


    I rubbed her palm reassuringly, keeping my eyes on Elder Harkan. "Is there anything else?"


    The old man nodded. "Yes. The only reason I was able to obtain this information is that packs close to Silver Fang sent alerts to us about sightings of their military preparing for something big. Ryker is using their military as his starting point."


    My jaw tightened, my chest rising and falling as I tried to calm myself.


    That absolute bastard!


    I nced at Odessa onest time before withdrawing my hand, getting on my feet. "Silver Fang¡¯s Alpha had my back from the beginning. If there¡¯s a pattern, Ryker will being for my strongest supporters."


    Odessa got up as well. "If he really has people hiding in different packs like he said, he¡¯s controlling the chessboard already. It¡¯s a rigged game."


    She was right.


    "If he¡¯s rigging the game, then we¡¯ll just have to snatch the whole board from underneath his ws," I muttered thoughtfully, my fists clenching. "And what better way to do that than introducing new yers to the loop?"


    My eyes went from Harkan to Odessa, the former seeming confused.


    But Odessa¡¯s eyes shed with realization soon enough.


    "Do you mean¡ª" she hesitated while I nodded.


    "Yes. It¡¯s time to call in favors from our allies. Starting with the witches."

 Chapter 350: _He Won’t Know What Hit Him

    <h4>Chapter 350: _He Won¡¯t Know What Hit Him</h4>


    "Here we are..." Althea mumbled, leading the way as our group walked through a portal leading directly into a territory I hadn¡¯t seen in a long time.


    The Luminari coven¡¯s city.


    Our little "group" in question consisted of me, Odessa and the high priestess, here immediately after getting the news of Ryker¡¯s attacks in Canada.


    I was dressed in a ceremonial crimson suit, my hair falling over my face in soft waves.


    Odessa was dressed in a flowy crimson gown, her lush blonde hair made into a chignon. She interlocked her arm with mine as Althea led us through the streets of the city.


    The city itself seemed to be doing quite well, bustling with cars and a mixed poption of witches and humans going about their daily lives.


    Childrenughed and paraded their parents for toys under the evening air, but many soon nced at us with curiosity.


    It didn¡¯t take long for the whispers to begin rippling.


    "It¡¯s high priestess Althea!" A little girl called out in awe.


    "Shhh. Hush Imelda."


    "What¡¯s going on? Isn¡¯t that Alpha King Kaelos?"


    "And is that... Is that Odessa Pierce?"


    Odessa, for once, didn¡¯t pay any attention to their whispers, despite her history with the city. She didn¡¯t even seem all that excited about being in her original homnd again.


    Why would she when she was bullied here most of her life?


    Althea finally led us to a grand-looking manor with a golden metal star at the top of the building. A fountain stood at the center of thepound and standing in front of thepound gates were a few guards, all witches.


    "E¨CElder Althea." One of them stuttered, bowing like the rest of them but she merely grunted, her robes sweeping across the floor as she kept on walking.


    Odessa and I walked past as well, and just like the first time I stepped foot here to pick a bride, none of them dared raise their heads, keeping their heads lowered until we passed.


    Just when we got closer to the entrance of the manor however, a voice boomed from the building. "Well, well, well..."


    We paused in our tracks, my eyes squinting when two figures materialised in front of us.


    I could recognise those stern wrinkled faces from anywhere.


    The coven leaders of the Luminari.


    "High priestess Althea. d you finally decided to return to your coven." Coven head Arachne deadpanned, not even bothering to nce at me.


    Before Althea could speak, I stepped forward, tilting my head. "Oh, I¡¯m right here too, witches. There¡¯s no need to pretend."


    Arachne finally dragged her old eyes to me, a small smile curling her lips. "Of course. Greetings, Alpha King. I could smell your presence the second Althea¡¯s portal led you in."


    I sucked in a breath, my fists flinching beside me.


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    This was going to be a long evening...


    "I¡¯ll go straight to the point on why we¡¯re here so youdies can go back to your yoga practice and sage cleansing or whatever." I sped my hands in front of me, ncing back at Odessa whom they hadpletely ignored.


    A part of me felt like severing their heads from their bodies... But I knew that "part" was nothing but Damon and would only set back our ns for an alliance.


    ¡¯Hey, I resent that! You know damn well your blood lust is all you this time.¡¯ Damon sneered in my mental space just then.


    ¡¯Can you me me when they¡¯re so fucking annoying without trying?¡¯ I scoffed at him before wearing the most solemn expression I could muster with the old witches. "North America is in danger. And we¡¯re here to strike an alliance before going fully into war."


    Elder Nimue¡¯s eyes widened slightly but Arachne barely flinched, clearly unimpressed.


    "Not the first time North America has been in danger,st I recall." The coven head drawled, definitely poking at a ho¡¯s nest she had no business ying with. "You have to be more specific."


    I smiled sarcastically. "Ryker brought down the most powerful pack in Canada yesterday. And if he hasn¡¯t been clear enough about it, he¡¯s not exactly fond of witches."


    I took a few more steps forward until my shadow loomed over them like a cloak. A warning.


    "Now I¡¯m not going to force you to do anything. But don¡¯t think for one second that the war that¡¯s about to spill over this continent... Wouldn¡¯t affect your doorsteps as much as everyone else."


    The two older women nced at themselves, their jaws clenching with visible deliberation.


    Gosh, they¡¯d better deliberate faster.


    "Even if we were to strengthen our alliance further by joining this war against your brother..." Nimue coughed, her eyes narrowing on me. "What help exactly are we going to offer other than coteral damage?"


    Arachne added. "We¡¯re talking about a hybrid so powerful that he¡¯s somehow learnt how to tap into the Vein at unprecedented levels without the help of the Vein Born. Not to mention his army of an unknown number of artificial hybrids."


    Now this was the part where I¡¯d take a step back and let my wife speak up.


    Odessa¡¯s voice echoed through the evening. "The Luminari Coven sits as one of the most powerful covens in all of North America. If you take the lead, other covens will follow and join us in fighting this war."


    I nced at her, beaming with nothing but pride before bringing my eyes back to the witches.


    "You¡¯ll not be coteral damage," I said reassuringly. "You have prophecies of a hybrid leading the world out of this war, right? Then let Odessa be that key. Your coven and my wolves may not be enough, but if all covens band together with us..."


    I didn¡¯t need toplete that sentence for them to get the message.


    Their jaws were clenched, Nimue tapping her ring while Arachne steadied herself on her staff.


    From the looks of things, they were sold already.


    It didn¡¯t take more than a few more side eyes for them to finallye to an agreement.


    "Very well, Alpha King Kaelos and Luna Queen Odessa. We¡¯ll convene a meeting with the council of High covens." Coven head Arachne nodded stiffly.


    Nimue coughed. "In the meantime, please feel free to pass the night here."


    Odessa and I exchanged a look, nodding without saying anything physically.


    Mentally on the other hand¡ª


    ¡¯The council of high covens is made up of the Elders of the most powerful covens in North America.¡¯ Odessa exined. ¡¯They make and break magicalws. If they agree to help us, we¡¯ve basically gotten the backing of almost every coven on the continent.¡¯


    ¡¯The witches will be a great counter against the artificial hybrids. Ryker won¡¯t know what hit him.¡¯ I gave the equivalent of a mental grin.


    Odessa¡¯s mental voice suddenly became a promise. ¡¯Oh, he will soon enough...¡¯

 Chapter 351: _Stake Claim To This Temple

    <h4>Chapter 351: _Stake im To This Temple</h4>


    (Warning: Mature Content Ahead)


    "I never imagined I¡¯d be sleeping in this coven anytime soon." Odessa chimed behind me as I stood on the balcony of the room the coven elders had assigned to us.


    I stared down at the city below, my eyes trailing through the winding streets lit up by streetmps, humans and witches walking under the evening sky, and a few cars driving home.


    There were no skyscrapers butrge buildings dotted the city, easily dwarfing the pedestrians and their small, simple lives.


    The Luminari city was devoid of the pressing and ominous feeling of war present back in Blood Oak and possibly every other pack in North America.


    "I never imagined I¡¯d be sleeping here at all." I blurted, sighing lightly before I nced over my shoulder.


    However, when my eyesnded inside the room, they almost fell out of their sockets at the sight within.


    Odessa was standing in the middle of the dimly lit room, almostpletely naked save for a silk white robe that clung thinly to her body.


    She had a small smirk which was still visible despite the darkness, her wet blonde hair falling in waves down her shoulders.


    "I remember when a certain someone pulled this same move on me during our trip to Mexico City." She purred, taking slow steps toward me. "I thought I might even things up a bit."


    I swallowed hard, blood rushing through my body as my eyes followed the sensual movement of her waist.


    "Even things up, eh?" I repeated with a slow, deliberate smirk curling my lips. "I like the sound of that. But quick question¡ª"


    "Do you really want to stand out there and ask questions?" She interrupted, grabbing the sides of her robe with a slow movement. "Or are you going toe in here let me show you what you¡¯re missing out on?"


    With a simple movement, she pulled off the robe, the cloth pooling under her feet. Her naked body was more than enough to blow away whatever dignity or restraint I had left.


    Damon growled with need inside me as I broke the distance between me and our mate in a few swift strides. My right hand cupped her face while my left arm wrapped firmly around her waist, causing her to gasp as her body pressed flush against mine.


    "I live for this naughty side of you." I chuckled with a deep growl, my lips ghosting over hers. "What¡¯s the asion tonight?"


    She smiled, but this time it was one filled with warmth. "We¡¯re about to go into a full-on war. One where I¡¯m not sure of our chances."


    My jaw tightened as she wrapped her hand around my right wrist, rubbing my skin tenderly.


    "We¡¯ll barely have the chance to be this intimate again. I say ¡¯barely¡¯ because I know how crazy we can get." She remarked, causing me tough softly.


    I rubbed my thumb across her chin, my lips parted in a broad smile. "Then let¡¯s make the most of it."


    A mischievous glint shed through her violet orbs just then. "So like... Maybe this time we can do it on the roof? Or while flying over the city."


    My teeth shone. "Interesting idea. But I think I¡¯ll pass for now."


    All this talking and fantasising was only making me harder. My length bulged through my pants, poking against her body which radiated with a heat that further turned me on.


    Her lips parted like she was going to say something, but before she could, my fingers found the back of her head, and I pulled her into a deep kiss.


    A soft moan tore past her lips, her shoulders dropping as I maintained my grip on her waist.


    My tongue slipped into her mouth, iming, tasting, devouring like this would be thest time I¡¯d ever have the honour to have her lips on mine.


    Her kiss in return burned with passion, raw and needy, like a woman starved and tired of being silent. Well, tonight I promise to make her anything but silent.


    I¡¯ll make the entire fucking manor know that she¡¯s mine.


    For a breath, I broke the kiss, letting my eyes trail down her body.


    From the gentle curve of her corbone to her full breasts which I wanted to grab so bad. And goddess, her stomach was divine, adding depth to her hips.


    It¡¯ll give me much joy to put another baby in that belly.


    "My queen," I whispered, pressing a kiss on her forehead. "Your body is a temple and I¡¯m its devout worshipper. And tonight..."


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    I lowered my lips toward her chest, flicking my tongue over her nipple, revelling in the way her body vibrated under my hold.


    "... I¡¯ll stake my im to this temple. I¡¯ll make the whole world know it¡¯s mine to keep. And mine to worship."


    Her breathing came out in rash huffs but a soft chuckle left her mouth. "You should really consider a side job as a poet or something. If a career path like that exists anyway."


    I grinned, my eyes fleeting to her face for a moment. "I¡¯ll think about it after the war."


    Yearning for all the pleasure of her body, I grabbed her legs firmly, raising her off the ground. At the same time, I took her right nipple into my mouth, sucking on it reverently.


    She jolted, gasping in shivering breaths as her hands gripped my shoulders.


    I took a few steps forward, searching for the nearest wall through nothing but pure instinct. My mouth was upied, and my eyes sealed to savour the salty taste of her sweat dripping down her breasts.


    Eventually, after several steps too many, I found a wall and pinned her against it, a grunt escaping my lips.


    I brought my mouth to her other nipple, my tongue flicked it gently before I took it in as well.


    At this point, she couldn¡¯t control herself anymore. Her fingers snaked from my shoulders to my chest, finding my buttons with rtive ease.


    She undid them hastily, her moans bing gradually louder until I could barely hear my own heartbeat.


    When she flung my shirt away, the heat of our bodies mingled into one. I brought my mouth away from her nipples, attempting to look her in the eyes but then she gripped my chin with her fingers.


    "Don¡¯t. Stop." She cooed, her tone never more certain.


    That was onemand I was willing to follow till myst breath.

 Chapter 352: _Even If The World Burns Tomorrow

    <h4>Chapter 352: _Even If The World Burns Tomorrow</h4>


    (Warning: Mature Content Ahead.)


    Odessa¡¯s POV


    *****


    "Mmph... Fuck." I gasped through my lips, arching my head toward the ceiling as Kaelos took my nipple into his mouth yet again.


    He had me pinned against the wall but soon grabbed me by my legs firmly, carrying me toward the bed.


    When he dropped me on the bed, I moaned softly, biting my bottom lip. My right foot trailed lines down his naked chest, snaking until it got to his belt buckle.


    With a smug grin, I used my toes to tug at his belt, chuckling softly when it actually pulled off.


    "How much do you want this?" He growled with a broad smirk, grabbing my feet before I could go any further.


    With a few swift movements, he unfastened his belt, tugging it free with a sharp pull that made the muscles in his forearm flex. He tossed it aside carelessly, the metallic ng of the buckle hitting the marble making my stomach flip.


    His eyes never left mine¡ªnot even for a second.


    The hunger in his gaze was terrifying in the most intoxicating way. Kaelos wasn¡¯t just looking at me. He was consuming me.


    "You¡¯re mine tonight," he said, low and certain, as if the whole world had to obey that fact.


    A shiver tore through me. "I¡¯ve always been yours," I whispered back.


    His smirk deepened, wolfish and dangerous. "Then let me remind you."


    He caught my ankles and spread me wide, dragging my body down the sheets so I was sprawled open before him. Heat surged into my cheeks, but I didn¡¯t dare close my legs.


    I wanted his eyes on me, wanted him to see everything I had to give.


    Kaelos¡¯s hand slid up my calf, his rough fingertips raising goosebumps. Then he went higher¡ªover my knee, then my thigh. My breath hitched when his knuckles brushed over my slick folds slowly.


    "You¡¯re soaked already," he murmured, rubbingzily against me with the pad of his thumb. "All this, just from me sucking your tits?"


    "Kaelos..." My hips jerked helplessly against his hand.


    He pressed harder, making me gasp. "Answer me."


    "Yes," I cried. "Yes, gods, yes!"


    That was all it took for his patience to snap. He bent down suddenly, gripping my thighs and spreading them even further as his mouth descended.


    "Oh¡ªfuck!" My back arched as his tongue found my entrance, hot and wet.


    He licked me with hungry strokes, like a wolf at a feast, dragging his tongue up and down my slit until I was shaking. When he closed his lips around my clit and sucked hard, my vision nearly went white.


    I wed at the sheets, then at his hair, pulling him closer. "Don¡¯t stop... don¡¯t you dare stop¡ª"


    His growl vibrated against me, sending shockwaves through my core. He devoured me, sloppy and possessive, until my body was a mess of twitching legs and broken moans.


    The knot in my stomach snapped violently, pleasure ripping through me like a tidal wave.


    "Kaelos!" I screamed his name, my thighs squeezing his head as I came undone.


    But he didn¡¯t stop.


    He licked me through the aftershocks, drinking me down like a man who would never be sated. Only when I whimpered too hard to breathe did he finally lift his head, lips glistening with my cum.


    "Beautiful," he muttered hoarsely, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Fucking beautiful."


    Before I could recover, he was crawling up my body, caging me with his arms. His cock, thick and heavy, pressed against my slick entrance.


    My heart thundered.


    That primal fear mixed with desperate need¡ªthe way only Kaelos could make me feel.


    I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him in. "Please. I need you inside me."


    His eyes darkened. "Beg louder."


    I swallowed, my pride crumbling under the weight of my desire. "Fuck me, Kaelos. im me. I want you¡ªscratch that, I need you."


    That was all he needed.


    He mmed into me in one brutal thrust, burying himself to the hilt.


    I screamed, clutching at his back, nails digging into skin.


    The fullness stole my breath. He stretched me so wide it bordered on pain, but it was a kind of ache that fed my soul.


    He didn¡¯t move right away. He stayed buried deep, forcing me to feel every inch, until I was trembling with the need for more.


    "Look at me," hemanded.


    I opened my eyes¡ªwhen had I closed them?¡ªand met his burning stare.


    "Remember this," he growled. "Remember who you belong to when the wares. No matter what happens out there¡ªyou¡¯re mine here."


    Tears pricked my eyes, but they were chased away when he finally started to move. He withdrew slowly, then mmed back in, making the bed creak and my body jolt.


    "Oh gods!" My cry was ragged.


    He set a merciless rhythm, pounding into me with raw power.


    Every thrust made me bounce beneath him, my breasts swaying, nails scratching down his sweat-slick back. He kissed me through my moans, swallowing my broken sounds as if they fed him.


    "You feel so good," he groaned against my mouth. "So fucking tight, so perfect. Made for me."


    "I am," I gasped. "Only for you... fuck, Kaelos¡ª"


    The pressure built again, stronger this time, pulsing deep inside me where he struck over and over. He grabbed my wrists and pinned them above my head with one massive hand, grinding into me harder and faster, until the headboard rattled against the wall.


    "Yes¡ªyes¡ªdon¡¯t stop!" I begged, thrashing under him, every nerve alight.


    "Mine," he snarled, biting at my neck, marking me with his teeth. "Say it."


    "Yours!" I screamed. "Always yours!"


    That deration sent me over the edge.


    My body convulsed around him, milking him as my climax ripped through me. My scream was hoarse, but I didn¡¯t care¡ªI wanted the entire coven to hear, to know who owned me.


    Kaelos roared in triumph, his thrusts turning erratic.


    With a final, savage drive, he spilt his hot cum deep inside me. The sensation of him filling mepletely drew out another shuddering orgasm, leaving me shaking beneath him.


    We copsed together, tangled in sweat, heat and shaking breaths. His weight pressed me into the mattress, grounding me when everything else felt like it might disappear.


    For a long moment, the only sound was our ragged breathing.


    Then Kaelos kissed the corner of my mouth and whispered. "Even if the world burns tomorrow, I¡¯ll still have this. I¡¯ll still have you."


    I closed my eyes, tears slipping free this time, not from fear but from the way he said it¡ªlike a vow, like a truth that even fate couldn¡¯t rewrite.


    And as his seed settled deep inside me and his arms wrapped me in the safety only he could give, I prayed silently to whatever gods were listening: let this not be thest night we share like this.


    <fn2e95> The source of th?s content is FindN0vel</fn2e95>


    Because if it was, at least I¡¯d die knowing I was imed, loved, and worshipped by the Alpha King himself.

 Chapter 353: _Not Going To Be Silent

    <h4>Chapter 353: _Not Going To Be Silent</h4>


    "We¡¯re under attack!"


    "Evacuate the outer city district now!"


    My eyes shot right open when I heard the shouts and yells piercing through the night outside the manor.


    I was cuddled close to Kaelos who had his arms wrapped around my naked body in bed. But the second I heard those panicked voices, I shifted under his hold.


    He woke up as well, sitting up and barely withdrawing his hands from me.


    "An attack?" He asked, his eyes dimmed as he turned his head around the room.


    I parted my lips to say something when suddenly, it happened.


    BOOM!


    A powerful explosion rocked the building, causing dust and debris to rain from the ceiling.


    I gasped when the dust hit my nose, covering my eyes while Kaelos shielded me with his body.


    When the dust cleared and the building stopped shaking, we both exchanged a knowing nce.


    "Magic," I whispered and he nodded, getting off the bed and grabbing his shirt.


    My eyes fell on the silk white robe I flung on the ground earlier. With a simple wiggle of my fingers, the robe levitated into my palm.


    "Are you seriously going to wear that out there when we¡¯re under attack?" Kaelos asked, already buttoning up his shirt.


    Just when I was about to say something, a knock sounded on the door outside, causing my heart to skip a beat.


    I clutched the bed sheets, pulling them close to my chest while Kaelos took a defensive stance.


    Until...


    "Odessa? Alpha king Kaelos?" My aunt Althea¡¯s voice echoed from the other side, filled with urgency. "We¡¯re under attack. It¡¯s Ryker¡¯s artificial hybrids."


    I furrowed my brows, my eyes flicking to Kaelos who seemed just as confused.


    "How were they able to bypass the city¡¯s protection wards?" I asked with suspicion, my jaw tightening as themotion outside only seemed to increase.


    There were no morerge explosions rocking the building, but smaller explosions echoed in the distance, and so did the terrified screams of innocents.


    "They must¡¯ve used some kind of cloaking ritual." Althea chimed outside. "No time to exin, Odessa. If you aren¡¯ting outside, keep yourselves protected."


    I turned my head to Kaelos again but this time we both gave each other a knowing nod.


    <fne84b> Newest update provided by find~novel</fne84b>


    We weren¡¯t going to be silent.


    "Oh, we¡¯re definitelying outside..."


    .


    .


    I ended up wearing a simple white dress and had my hair tied into a ponytail.


    When Kaelos and I stepped outside with Althea taking the lead in front of us, I gasped when I nced back at the manor and saw the devastation.


    The left wing had arge hole blown into it but the entire building glowed with the power of multiple protection runes.


    Up ahead, beyond the manor gates, the city was on fire.


    Literally.


    Humans ran for safety while witches stayed back, creating force shields to protect them and casting all sorts of elemental spells.


    And the attackers?


    A group of artificial hybrids all donned in ck and huddled together. Each artificial hybrid served a purpose, working with a precision only found in a group that had worked for years.


    "Where are the coven elders?" Kaelos barked at Althea, cracking his knuckles and seeming like he was already ready to charge.


    The second he said that, like some divine sign, a huge bolt of yellow lightning tore through the night skies, crackling with so much power that the air rumbled.


    I raised my head, staring with awe at the spectacle happening above the city.


    A man coated in dark energy levitated hundreds of meters above, like a god of death.


    But despite his fierce appearance, the two figures nking him made his presence seem mediocre.


    Coven head Arachne was in front of him, surrounded by several bright yellow runes eachrger than a duplex.


    Her ck robes pped rapidly around her as she moved her fingers with swift gestures, sending a plethora of attacks at the man.


    As for elder Nimue, she levitated at the man¡¯s left side, wielding her staff and yelling out incantations, each one brimming with more power than thest.


    Each sh from their spells rippled with power that sent gales of wind and bursts of mes, each seeming like they could consume the entire city if left unattended.


    "I guess they¡¯re upied..." Kaelos muttered, grabbing my hand just then.


    I turned my gaze to him and saw the conviction in his silver eyes.


    "Their attack isn¡¯t coincidental." Althea blurted just then, stretching out her arms. "Ryker must have gotten word of your arrival here and figured out you want to strike an alliance."


    Kaelos sneered. "Which brings us back to the question of why your wards weren¡¯t able to detect the appearance of these artificial hybrids."


    Althea didn¡¯t respond to him; instead, she murmured a spell under her breath.


    My eyes trailed past her and went outside the manor, locking on a woman and her two little boys trying desperately to flee from the spell bursts above.


    From the looks of things, they were running in this direction.


    They weren¡¯t going to make it to the manor on time.


    Without a second thought, I withdrew my hand from Kaelos and stormed forward.


    My gaze went above just in time to witness the artificial hybrid the elders were fighting go all out with his most powerful spell yet.


    With a clenched fist raised to the heavens, the sky crackled and the wind picked up speed.


    "In the name of the lord of the North... I¡¯ll raze the Luminari to the ground!" He dered defiantly, his voice booming like thunder.


    Suddenly, the air burned hotter than an oven and the clouds twisted unnaturally for hundreds of meters across.


    "No..." I muttered, fixing my eyes on the woman and her children.


    The roads were almostpletely empty of people, save for the human hunters and warrior witches battling the organised group of artificial hybrids.


    "Odessa, watch out!" Kaelos yelled out behind me at the same moment that it finally happened.


    Balls of fire, each twice the size of a golf ball, dropped from the sky like hail. They hurtled toward the city and began making contact within seconds.


    "Ahhh!" The woman screamed when a fireball fell in front of her, forcing her to stop alongside her children.


    The mes dropped around me as well, surging with a prickling heat.


    But I didn¡¯t give up, stretching my right hand toward the woman and clenching it into a fist.


    A spell was activated, creating a force bubble zing with a bright violet light around her and her children.


    I smiled, breathing out with relief... Until all the hair on my body stood on end and my instincts screamed danger.


    My head whipped to the sky above me just in time to spot a zing fireball, this one almost asrge as a building. It was hundreds of meters above the city but the heat it exuded was already burning the ground around me.


    And it was heading for me. Fast.

 Chapter 354: _Take The Fight To Him

    <h4>Chapter 354: _Take The Fight To Him</h4>


    Just when I thought my life would sh before my eyes, my husband came in clutch with the perfect timing.


    Kaelos was by my side in a second, raising his hands to the sky as therge ball of mes hurtled toward me.


    ¡¯Cover your eyes!¡¯ he yelled through the mate bond and I did just that, keeping the force shield spell I had on the human woman and her children active.


    And then¡ª


    BOOM!


    Arge explosion sounded, so deafening that the mere thought of opening my eyes again was terrifying. I felt a rush of wind that made strands of my hair blow around my face.


    When the noise of the explosion faded, I willed myself to open my eyes and was stunned by what I saw.


    Kaelos had used his silver energy to create a thick force bubble several meters in radius around us.


    His fangs were bared, his shoulder-length hair whipping around him as the mes left behind by the explosion outside slowly died down into nothingness.


    "Are you okay?" He nced at me and asked, his silver eyes softening.


    I smiled, nodding. "I should be asking you that, Superman. You know I could¡¯ve protected myself before the hit, right?"


    The silver force bubble finally blinked out of existence, revealing to me the human family I was protecting.


    Fortunately, the force shield I created around them was still active, only flickering slightly under the brunt of the mes which had ravaged several meters around them.


    I waved my hand at them, causing the shield to disappear.


    "Head to the manor!" I ced my hands beside either side of my mouth and yelled out, causing the woman to swerve her head to me.


    She had a grateful smile and bowed her head to me before grabbing her children and running into the manorpound.


    When I confirmed their safety, I raised my head, squinting at the battle between the coven leaders and the artificial hybrid.


    The fact that he was giving them such a hard time was rming.


    "At this rate, they¡¯re going to destroy the entire city," Kaelos muttered, stepping forward and seeming like he was about to jump into the air.


    But then...


    "Tell Ryker he¡¯ll have to do a lot more than this if he ns on taking over this coven!" An all too familiar voice boomed through the city.


    I nced over my shoulder just in time to witness Althea levitating into the air, her hands glowing with a blinding white light. She pointed her hands at the artificial hybrid, activating a spell.


    Suddenly, Arachne and Nimue backed away from the man, sping their hands in front of their faces like they were conducting a prayer on his behalf.


    But this was no prayer.


    I subconsciously grabbed Kaelos¡¯ palm, my jaw tightening as the air temperature suddenly dropped by several degrees.


    The clouds rumbled as snow began falling, slowly at first. But soon it became so heavy that I had to scrunch my nose from the chilling cold.


    Meanwhile, the artificial hybrid was in a pinch, cing a ck force bubble around himself.


    But when the three most powerful witches in the Luminari surround you with a spell of unknown power, even that wasn¡¯t enough.


    "Shatter!" Arachne yelled with a domineering voice, activating the firstyer of the spell when the falling snow reached its zenith.


    No sooner had she said that than a crystallineyer of ice coated the force bubble surrounding the artificial hybrid. A powerful vibration followed, causing the bubble to shatter into thousands of shards made of pure crystalline ice.


    The man used his arms to cover his face, his grunt echoing from hundreds of meters above.


    "Pierce!" Nimue continued with the secondyer of the spell, stretching out her staff and clenching her free left hand into a fist.


    My lips parted with awe as the shattered shards of crystallised ice converged, levitating around the artificial hybrid who seemed cornered.


    And then¡ª


    The ice shards suddenly merged into hundreds ofrge crystallised white des, eachrger than regr knives.


    "Looks like the old witches don¡¯t need our help after all," Kaelos remarked, sounding both impressed and cautious as Althea rose higher into the sky until she was levitating right above the artificial hybrid.


    Her eyes shed with a bright blue light, the clouds rumbling even louder as she slowly pointed her outstretched right hand at the man.


    "Obliterate!" Althea yelled out like a goddess, her robe pping erratically alongside her lush ck hair.


    With hermand, the floating ice daggers fell in unison, heading straight for the man.


    The whole sequence took a few seconds but the results were devastating.


    "Ahhhh!" The man released a blood-curdling scream as the ice daggers reduced him into minced meat and a rain of blood that fell to the city ground like a cursed offering.


    <fna826> Official source is f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fna826>


    I blinked, stunned while the coven leaders levitated to themselves, holding hands and fixing their eyes on the artificial hybrids still fighting against their soldiers on the ground.


    "Sisters!" Arachne pointed at the hybrids, acting as a signal that made them charge.


    .


    .


    The aftermath of the attack was in favour of the Luminari witches.


    Arachne, Althea and Nimue gathered in front of the manor with solemn expressions while Kaelos and I stood beside them.


    "This attack wasn¡¯t random." Nimue broke the silence, clutching her staff tightly. "And from the look of things... It was merely a distraction."


    Arachne shook her head. "Not just a distraction. It¡¯s also a wake-up call. We might have a traitor in our midst. The protection wards not reacting to the presence of the artificial hybrids is beyond a red g."


    I nced at Kaelos who seemed unfazed. But the storm brewing in his eyes told a different story.


    "If we want a chance of winning this war, being on the defensive wouldn¡¯t cut it." He finally blurted, keeping his chin high. "Which is why we¡¯ll have to take the fight to Ryker."


    My eyes widened, my nerves aching with tension.


    This is it.


    "We¡¯ll continue speaking with the High Council," Althea said solemnly, her eyes lingering on me briefly. "In the meantime, you need to begin war ns. Let¡¯s end this once and for all."

 Chapter 355: _Wouldn’t Do It Alone

    <h4>Chapter 355: _Wouldn¡¯t Do It Alone</h4>


    "Odessa, are you guys okay?" Caroline chirped worriedly when Kaelos and I came back to Blood Oak the following morning. "It¡¯s all over the news. The attack on the Luminari Coven."


    Althea had stayed back in the Luminari to join the other coven leaders in discussing with the council of North American high covens.


    While I¡¯d have loved to stay back and argue my ass off with some old scheming witches¡ªthat¡¯s a lie, I wouldn¡¯t have¡ªI had hopes that Althea and her charms could win the trust of the witches to our side.


    "We¡¯re fine, Car." I smiled, wishing I could hug her as Kaelos and I settled into the seats at the dining table. "Just a little... Riled up actually. There¡¯s been a new change in our war ns."


    Her eyebrows furrowed, her eyes flicking from Kaelos and me.


    My husband had his eyes glued to his phone, the lines on his forehead telling me that he was seeing something he¡¯d rather not have to.


    I nced at him, cing my hand on his before I continued exining to Caroline. "We¡¯re taking the war to Ryker. But our major problem is finding his mainir or wherever a psychopathic hybrid like himself could be hiding."


    Caroline¡¯s eyes glinted, the silver hue on her ghost body brightening slightly as well.


    I arched a brow, curious about what was going on in her mind until Kaelos grunted with frustration.


    "The World Alliance Televisionwork is already buying into the propaganda that the continent is going to be dragged into a war like the rest of the world again." He set his phone aside, looking away from it. "I don¡¯t want a war to begin with. If only we could find Ryker¡¯s hideout, stopping him before he pushes this into a war would¡ª"


    "There¡¯s an easy way of knowing Ryker¡¯s hideout." Caroline finally spoke up, closing her eyes a bit before she opened them. "I¡¯m... Probably going to regret this."


    There indeed was a flicker of regret in her eyes as she ced her translucent hands on the table, leaning against it.


    Kaelos and I exchanged nces but didn¡¯t say anything, waiting for her to speak.


    And she soon did.


    "You literally have one of his closest henchmen in your territory willing to work with you simply to escape him." She blurted like it was obvious.


    My brows furrowed at first, but all it took was a few more seconds for me to realise what she was driving at.


    Or rather, who.


    "Regina." I breathed out, my lips twisting. "That reminds me... She¡¯s still lingering in the pack? Who¡¯s watching her? I don¡¯t trust her one bit even though she says she can¡¯t use her magic anymore."


    Caroline pouted her lips. The storm in her eyes showed the internal battle she was having with herself. With her feelings.


    "Well, I¡¯ve been watching her these past few days." She smiled wryly but then her eyes lit up quickly with embarrassment. "Not in a creepy stalker way. But... We¡¯ve been talking. And I truly believe she wants to start a new leaf."


    Kaelos scoffed, folding his arms in front of his chest. "She sure proved that when she slithered into this pack with the ulterior motive of summoning you."


    Caroline shrugged. "A move you all epted with open arms, remember?"


    Kaelos arched a brow while my lips parted slightly at Caroline¡¯s boldness.


    But she soon sighed lightly. "My Lord... My point is you had so many chances to bash her head into concrete if you really wanted to. Heck, you could¡¯ve thrown her into the dungeons if you wanted."


    Kaelos clicked his tongue, tapping his fingers on his arms. "I¡¯m starting to regret not doing either of those..."


    I grabbed Kaelos¡¯ arm, giving him a side eye that basically told him to let her finish.


    He nced at me, his silver eyes softening as his lips finally pressed into a thin line.


    "Deep down, you trust that Regina means no known harm." Caroline straightened her standing posture, confidence flowing through her voice now. "Let her prove that to you with this. I¡¯m not saying it should redeem her from all she¡¯s done."


    My mind shed through everything we found out Regina was responsible for when she worked for Ryker.


    They weren¡¯t all as diabolical as the things dear old Marcellus did, but they still were sins most would consider unforgivable.


    From assisting Celine and Gamma Zane in their attempt to overthrow Kaelos. To was helping Celine make that fake video showing me and Marcellus¡¯ "affair", igniting a chain of events that led to the Charity Ball tragedy.


    <fna51c> This content belongs to F?nd-Novel</fna51c>


    Heck, I¡¯m pretty sure she tried killing me at the weing ball forte Alpha King Leonard.


    If there¡¯s anyone who should hold a generational grudge against her, it¡¯s me.


    "Caroline is right," I muttered, tightening my grip slightly on Kaelos¡¯ arm. "Regina might be our only shot. As we speak Ryker is encroaching into more packs. We can¡¯t let him gain too much control or the war would be lost before it even begins."


    Kaelos let out a slightly shaky breath, not even trying to hide his exhaustion.


    His eyes lingered on Caroline, who stood silently, her arms ced in front of her body as she waited.


    I knew he was going to give in. And he knew it too.


    "Very well." He nodded, leaning back on his seat. "But if this turns out to be a trap from her... Well, obviously you know I¡¯ll kill her on the spot."


    Caroline and I shared nces alongside a small smile before we spoke simultaneously. "Fair enough."


    Just then, a maid walked into the dining room, her footsteps showing hesitation. She didn¡¯t spot Caroline, as expected, but bowed before Kaelos and me.


    "My lord, you have guests." She announced with a serious tone.


    Kaelos tilted his head. "Who¡¯sing to pay a visit in such a time as this?"


    I squinted, my ears catching another set of iing footsteps behind us.


    A sweet perfume wafted into the dining room, forcing me to whip my head back to see who it was. When I did, my jaw cked with shock at the sight of the gorgeous silver-haireddy stepping in.


    Luna Queen Janelle.


    "I believe now is the perfect time for visits, Alpha King Kaelos." She boomed while Kaelos slowly stood from his seat, seeming as stunned as I was.


    Janelle ced her hands on her waist before continuing. "My husband and I promised to have your back in this fight against Ryker. Well, here we are. Our soldiers are waiting outside..."


    She smiled slowly when her eyes locked with mine. "I do hope you all have a n."


    Kaelos turned his head to me and I did the same.


    Janelle¡¯s face remainedposed... Until her eyes flicked to Caroline. Her lips parted with shock, her eyes widening as well.


    "Isn¡¯t... Isn¡¯t she supposed to be..." She stuttered, pointing at Caroline while the maid who made the announcement stood awkwardly.


    Kaelos waved his hand at the maid to leave, which she did without another second.


    "Luna Queen Janelle... Meet Caroline. Again. She¡¯s back as a ghost." He started with a lopsided smile. "And yes, we do have a n."


    Janelle raised a brow, causing Kaelos to part strands of his hair awkwardly.


    "Fine... We¡¯re in the process of making a n."


    Janelle nodded slowly, her eyes still lingering on Caroline who just smiled wryly.


    After a few seconds or so, the Luna Queen ced her arms beside her body and stepped closer.


    "You guys can exin the ghost situationter. Big mama¡¯s back and eager to drive a stake through that devil brother of yours."


    My shoulders rxed as my lips curled into a warm smile.


    We were taking this fight to Ryker¡¯s door... And unlike what he¡¯d expect, we wouldn¡¯t be doing it alone.

 Chapter 356: _Even In Death

    <h4>Chapter 356: _Even In Death</h4>


    Caroline¡¯s POV


    *****


    Thest few days since she was summoned as a ghost, life hasn¡¯t been easy.


    Oh, right... She technically didn¡¯t have a "life" to make easy anyway.


    Okay, then existing as a ghost wasn¡¯t easy.


    Yeah... That sounds much better. Or worse. Dear goddess.


    Caroline couldn¡¯t feel hungry. Couldn¡¯t feel pain. Heck, emotions seemed distant these days.


    Maybe that¡¯s why she was able to linger in the same pack as Regina without wishing she could bang her head into a wall and get a ticket back to the afterlife.


    Either that or ghosts were capable of delusionally avoiding the fat ass elephant in the room as much as mortals.


    Because each attempt by Regina tomunicate with her was futile.


    Until today.


    "What are you doing here?" Caroline asked with a deep frown when she found Regina at a spot she least expected.


    Standing in front of her freaking grave.


    Caroline¡¯s grave was dug in a secluded and peaceful spot within the Alpha king¡¯s mansion premises. Elm trees shed their leaves, creating a beautiful scenery kissed by the light of the dull evening sun.


    Beside Caroline¡¯s grave was La¡¯s grave, both having headstones with their names on them as well as "forever immortalised by Alpha King Kaelos" written across them.


    Cute... But not so cute with Regina standing there ominously like she was having her own mini funeral service.


    The artificial hybrid slowly turned around to face Caroline, strands of her raven ck hair blowing into the wind.


    But a soft smile settled on her face, taking Caroline off guard.


    "Caroline," Regina whispered, looking almost as ethereal as the actual ghost between them with the ck gothic gown she wore. "This... this is a surprise. Did you track me here?"


    Caroline was still left aback for a few seconds but eventually got back herposure. She shook her head, ring at Regina.


    "It¡¯s literally my grave." She blurted, strutting closer.


    Regina tilted her head slightly. "Right. Still doesn¡¯t answer my question though."


    Argh, gods above!


    Caroline sighed, closing her eyes briefly before she spoke. "Yes, Regina. I was searching for you and this is thest ce I thought to look."


    Regina¡¯s ck eyes lit up, her red-stained lips curling into a wider smile.


    But Caroline was quick to kill those imaginary butterflies in her stomach. "It¡¯s not what you think. I was searching for you because the Alpha king and Luna Queen need you."


    Regina froze, blinking with confusion at first. But then she finally spoke up. "Need me? No offence to them, but what could they possibly need me for?"


    Caroline paused her footsteps when she finally got a few meters in front of Regina.


    They stared at each other for what felt like forever and fleeting seconds simultaneously. Regina¡¯s breath hitched and Caroline didn¡¯t know if she should be amused or further agitated by how flustered the artificial hybrid was.


    Probably thetter.


    "There was an attack on the Luminari Covenst night." Caroline cleared her throat even though she didn¡¯t need to. "Your buddy Ryker sent a group of artificial hybrids to disrupt the witches from meeting with the other high covens."


    Regina¡¯s expression quickly faltered, her eyes darkening slightly. "The lord of the North is not my ¡¯buddy¡¯."


    Caroline shook her head.


    Right...


    "Whatever. The point is, the Alpha king and Luna Queen have decided they¡¯re taking the fight to him before it spills into a war the continent sure as hell doesn¡¯t need." Caroline exined, already tortured by how long this conversation was going on.


    Fortunately, realisation dawned on Regina¡¯s features, her lips parting slightly.


    Thank Selene.


    "I guess you¡¯re getting where I¡¯m going with this," Caroline confirmed and thetter nodded slowly.


    "You want me to lead you to the Lord of the North¡¯s main base?" Regina questioned but Caroline hastily corrected that.


    "The Alpha king, Luna Queen and their allies want you to do that. As we speak, Alpha King Thorian and Luna Queen Janelle of Europe have set up camp in the pack alongside their soldiers."


    Regina nodded but she didn¡¯t seem convinced by Caroline¡¯s im of not wanting her help.


    Caroline¡¯s eyelids fluttered a bit before she shrugged. "There¡¯s a meeting about to happen in the Alpha King¡¯s office. You¡¯re needed there but before we go... You do know where Ryker is, right?"


    Regina clicked her tongue, adjusting the hem of her gown even though it didn¡¯t need adjusting. "Of course, my love. I do."


    Caroline¡¯s eyes widened when she heard what she called her.


    My love?


    The most annoying part was when Regina¡¯s smirk came back. Like she was revelling in getting a reaction from her.


    Well, she could keep doing that.


    "Anyway, follow me. You can tell everyone else what you know so we don¡¯t run around like headless chickens." Caroline turned away from her, about to leave.


    But before she finished taking two steps, something sped around her right wrist, forcing her to stop. It was a heaviness she hadn¡¯t felt in days.


    Wait... SOMETHING CLASPED AROUND HER RIGHT WRIST?!


    Caroline¡¯s eyes widened as she nced back over her shoulder. A gasp left her lips when she saw what was happening.


    Regina.


    She had her grip on Caroline¡¯s wrist. She was actually touching her without her hand phasing through!


    "H¨CHow...?" Caroline stuttered, her chest heaving while Regina took slow steps toward her.


    The closer Regina got, the more anxious Caroline became until the artificial hybrid had her face merely inches away from hers.


    "I knew you¡¯d find a way to make yourself tangible in this form," Regina muttered, her voice brimming with pride. "The question is... Did your apparent hate for me spark it? Or..."


    She drew her words, milking the tension until Caroline, a literal ghost, felt breathless.


    "... Could there be something stronger than even hate you¡¯re hiding beneath the surface?" Regina finally added, withdrawing her hand from Caroline¡¯s wrist.


    They gazed at each other a little more before Regina walked past her, her steps almost victorious.


    Caroline stood there, speechless, flustered, and confused. But most of all... Something surged in her chest. Something she thought should be impossible after her death.


    She craned her neck, her gaze trailing to the sky and the moon slowly peeking as the sun set.


    "Goddess..." A small smile slowly cracked across her face, filled with hope.


    <fne32c> The rightful source is find?novel</fne32c>


    Maybe, even in death, she still had a part to y...

 Chapter 357: _Give Him My Warmest Regards

    <h4>Chapter 357: _Give Him My Warmest Regards</h4>


    Kaelos¡¯ POV


    *****


    "Finally, you¡¯re here." Janelle sped her hands with a relieved sigh when Caroline stepped into my office with Regina leading the way. "We can begin now, right?"


    I sat on my seat, my hands poised on the armrests. Odessa stood behind me with her right hand gripping the back of the seat.


    As for Luna Queen Janelle and Alpha King Thorian, they both sat in front of my desk, swerving their heads back to stare at the door.


    "Wait a minute." Thorian¡¯s clipped British ent cut through when Regina shut the door behind her and Caroline. "Isn¡¯t that one of Ryker¡¯s minions? What¡¯s she doing here?"


    A sigh left my lips as I nced at Odessa who was quick to y mediator as always. "She¡¯s here to help, Alpha King."


    "Pftt. Help us get killed?" Thorian sneered, standing up.


    He turned around to face Regina who stood behind Caroline, a nervous glint in her eyes.


    "Honey, that¡¯s enough." Janelle grabbed her husband¡¯s arm, forcing him to turn his head to her. "Caroline and Odessa can vouch for trusting her. She¡¯s our only shot at finding Ryker¡¯s hideout."


    ¡¯Trust would be a stretch...¡¯ Odessa whispered in my mind just then, causing my lips to twitch for a moment.


    "Who the hell is Caroline?" Thorian furrowed his brows with confusion, his eyes fleeting through all our faces.


    I spoke up this time. "Odessa¡¯s maid, killed by Marcellus. She¡¯s back as a ghost but she can only be seen by magic wielders and silverborns like me and your wife."


    Thorian blinked while the silence in the room stretched thick.


    I nced at Caroline who had her eyes on Regina throughout this ordeal.


    Eventually, Thorian gave up, sighing and dropping to his seat. "Let¡¯s just get this over with."


    I nodded in agreement, giving Regina a wave to begin. "Caroline tells us you might have a clue on where Ryker¡¯s base is."


    Regina nced at Caroline onest time before clearing her throat. She stepped forward with her arms in front of her, her chin raised confidently.


    "Yes. I do." She began. "It¡¯s in Canada, just like the one he took the Vein b..."


    She stopped herself before she could finish that sentence, her ck eyes going from Odessa to me.


    Then her lips curled into a small smile. "Pardon. I meant Luna Queen Odessa. Ryker¡¯s main hideout is located beneath Mount Logan."


    My brows arched. "I guess he didn¡¯t put much thought into making his main base far away from thest one."


    However, Regina shook her head. "He didn¡¯t make his base there coincidentally. There¡¯s a reason behind it. One that could prove to be his final key in winning this battle."


    My jaw tensed. The air in the room suddenly felt suffocating as all eyes remained glued on the artificial hybrid.


    After a few more seconds of silence, Regina continued. "Mount Logan sits at the very heart of the Vein. That region breathes with more chaotic magic from the Vein than anywhere else in the continent."


    A cold shiver crawled down my spine.


    I hated how anything Ryker did seemed to strike this odd feeling of fear in me... But I just couldn¡¯t help it. And this was the pinnacle.


    "Even a blind man would be able to see he¡¯s nning something." Janelle blurted just then. "But what?"


    All eyes went to Regina again but this time, she shook her head with a defeated sigh. "He never shared much on why he chose that mountain. But the Vein energy there is so powerful that the very foundations of space and time are fragile."


    "Could he getting ready for some kind of ritual?" Thorian thought out loud but it was clear everyone was clueless.


    Or so we thought.


    "The heart of the Vein." Odessa muttered, her voice dripping with dread.


    I nced at her as she stepped away from my seat and walked forward, standing in front of the desk. Her violet eyes locked on me.


    "What if he ns to unleash the Vein on to the continent?" She asked grimly. "He¡¯s always talked about wanting to bring change. What if that change involves total transformation?"


    My fists clenched.


    Janelle spoke urgently. "Releasing all the energy from the Vein will be apocalyptic. We aren¡¯t only looking at North America getting tainted. The whole world could copse... And Ryker will be the one holding the paintbrush."


    Caroline spoke up. "C¨CCan he really do that without Odessa?"


    Odessa whipped her head to her. "What if this is a trap? What if he knows Regina will tell us his location and we¡¯ll be forced toe to him? That way he can... Capture me and use me toplete whatever it is he ns to do."


    It was a lot of "what ifs" flying around and little final decisions being made.


    I guess that¡¯s where I¡¯lle in.


    "There¡¯s a simple solution to this." I got on my feet, watching as they all turned their gazes to me.


    Odessa stared at me with curiosity, but there was also hesitation. Like she already knew she wouldn¡¯t like whatever I was about to say next.


    "We can all agree that whatever Ryker hasing will be disastrous." I continued, my tone firm. "We can also agree that we can¡¯t let him get his hands on Odessa again. With all this in mind..."


    I folded my arms in front of my chest. "We¡¯ll n an attack on this base with all our troops and allies involved. But Odessa will not¡ª"


    "You better not say anything about me not following." She snapped before I could finish, her voice sharper than a de. "I¡¯m not going to becent."


    My chest was heavy but I persisted. "We have no other choice, my love. I¡ª"


    "Yes, we do." She waltzed to me, standing only inches away when she got to me. "I¡¯ll be kept hidden. Maybe... Maybe follow behind one of the¡ª"


    "I imagine Ryker will sniff you out the second you step foot in his domain." Janelle chimed just then. "No offence, but you¡¯re the Vein Born. And if Ryker is so in tune with the very heart of the Vein, there¡¯s no way he¡¯s not sensing you."


    Odessa gawked at Janelle speechlessly, but I could decipher the look in her eyes.


    <fn5816> Chapters first released on find(?)ovel</fn5816>


    She knew we were right.


    "Odessa." I moved closer, cing my hands on her shoulders.


    Her head lowered but she slowly raised it, staring into my eyes.


    My face brightened as I continued. "I promised myself I won¡¯t let you fall into Ryker¡¯s ws again. And I¡¯ll stick to that promise."


    I could feel Regina staring at us intently but I didn¡¯t pay any attention to her.


    Odessa¡¯sshes fluttered, her eyes getting wet at the edges. But she didn¡¯t let herself break.


    Instead, she spoke with a shaky voice. "If... If you guys go and I feel like anything is wrong for one second, I¡¯ll be opening a portal."


    My smile widened. "eptable. I¡¯ll be fine."


    Before anything warmer could happen between us, Thorian cleared his throat.


    "Touching and all... But we still need ayout of this base. Entrances, back doors and the likes."


    My eyes flicked to Regina who was quick to speak. "I¡¯ll give all the exnations so we can make a rough map."


    "Perfect." Odessa turned to face her, tilting her head slightly. "And when you all see Ryker, please... Give him my warmest regards."


    The iciness in her voice made it clear what she meant.


    And I was more than ready to burn that traitorous half-brother of mine.


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