《The Alpha鈥檚 Forbidden Love》


 Chapter One

    LUCY


    I had always thought of what it would be like when I finally met my mate, I had the perfect scenario yed out in my head but our meeting turned out to be totally different from how I imagined it to be.


    Who would have thought I would meet my mate in such an awkward situation? My home was being attacked by our rivals from the hallowed manes pack, a pack I hated the most. I was taken aback as the pheromones of my mate filled the air, how could my mate be found amid this chaos? That wasn¡¯t the issue right now, I needed to find him before he gets hurt. I was happy that I finally got to meet him, with a smile on my face I followed his scent till I got to the open field where he was.


    I stood and watched as he slew other rogues like me with his sword, he fought with vigor and his movement was swift. I moved closer to know who he was, lo and behold, it was the newly coronated alpha of the hallowed manes pack, Chris Parker, my sworn enemy and an enemy to my family, my smile turned into a big frown.


    Why would the moon goddess choose the enemy of my family as my mate? what would I have done to deserve such grave punishment from the goddess? The sight of him disgusted me, I was filled with rage and hatred and felt the urge to end his life at this instant. There was no way I would have a future with him, the thought of it sent chills down my spine. I drew out my sword and charged towards him hoping to strike him down before he noticed but he was faster than I thought, with his sword, he blocked my sword from piercing his skin, and my sword slipped from my hand while his sword was ced on my neck ready to slit my throat.


    EARLIER ON


    I was half asleep when I heard footsteps approaching my hut, it was quite early and I wasn¡¯t expecting anyone. I picked up my de and hid at the back of the door as the intruder walked into my hut, I grabbed the intruder from behind and almost stabbed him but the intruder yelled,N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°Hey!, Lucy, it¡¯s me.¡± the voice was familiar so I quickly dropped the de and took a few steps back


    ¡°Nathan! Are you crazy? Why did you sneak in like that? I almost killed you right now¡± I yelled at him.


    ¡°Easy tigress, why are you so hostile this morning? Anyways, Maverick wants to see everyone, he says it¡¯s urgent¡± he said to me before leaving my hut. Nathan and I were a bit close, his father was the leader of our little rogue pack.


    I wonder what Maverick wanted to talk about that was so important and couldn¡¯t wait tillter in the day. I rushed out of my hut and made my way to the open field, I met others waiting as well, I asked one of them why we were gathered there but he gave no response, he probably had no idea why we were summoned here or he knew and was just acting like a stupid snobbish punk.


    Maverick finally joined us alongside Nathan¡¯s father, Cade Holcroft, our leader. We all bowed to them as they stood in front of us. Maverick turned to look at Cade who nodded in return. He took a step forward and announced,


    ¡°Information reaching us says that the hallowed manes pack will be coronating their new Alpha in a few days, as we all know, they are enemies to us and what do we do to our enemies!¡±


    ¡°We destroy!!¡± everyone yelled


    ¡°So brace yourself, everyone, we are going tounch an attack after the coronation and take possession of the city,¡± he said. I raised my hand to speak


    ¡°What is it this time Lucy?¡± he asked with a frown on his face. I and Maverick never got along, he was a thorn in my flesh.


    ¡°Why do we have to wait till after the coronation when we can attack the coronation day?¡± I suggested.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you lead us then since you seem to have a perfect idea? We attack after the coronation day and there is nothing you can do about it Lucy¡± he said angrily


    ¡°The celebration is a perfect distraction for us to achieve our aim. Think about that Maverick¡±


    ¡°Enough! We attack after the coronation and that is final! You all may leave now¡±.


    We red at each other as others made their way back to their hut, we were both burning in rage, ready to tear each other apart. Cade intervened and summoned both of us to his chambers.


    ¡°Both of you, my tent now,¡± he said


    We trailed behind Cade like little kids waiting to be scolded by our father, we arrived at his tent, and immediately the tongueshing began.


    ¡°What just happened out there? Why do you two alwayse at each other like sworn enemies?¡± he asked, ¡°the both of you should be ashamed of yourself, that was a show of disgrace out there, right in front of everyone¡±.


    I bowed my head in shame as he spoke, he was right we shouldn¡¯t have behaved that way in public, but it wasn¡¯t my fault, it was his fault, I only made a suggestion he didn¡¯t have to be rude to me.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Cade, it wasn¡¯t my fault, he should learn to control his tongue next time, I¡¯m not his puppet,¡± I said


    ¡°Watch your mouth Lucy else you won¡¯t like what¡¯sing to you¡± Maverick threatened


    ¡°Enough!! Maverick get the men ready for battle, and we go ording to our original n. Lucy go to your hut and cool that steam off before we have a blood bath¡± Cade dismissed us. I scowled at Maverick as we left the tent, a smile smoothened on his lips, he seemed to enjoy every bit of it.


    ¡°You got lucky today, you won¡¯t be so lucky next time,¡± I told him as I approached my hut.


    ¡°Ohh, fierce, now I¡¯m scared. That exins why you don¡¯t have a man in your life¡± he said and with that, he walked away with a smile on his face.


    I wasn¡¯t moved by what he said, I had no time to be with a man. I saw it as a distraction and a total waste of time. I got into the hut and found my dear mother seated on my bed, I sensed trouble.


    ¡°Lucy, I heard what happened earlier, what was that about?¡± she asked


    ¡°Wow, bad news does travel so fast. Well since you want to know what happened, it wasn¡¯t my fault. I only gave a suggestion which I know was the best idea but he-..¡±


    ¡°Why are you so hostile Lucy?¡± she cuts in, she got up from the bed and tried to hug me but I took a step back, I couldn¡¯t handle the fact that she was taking sides with Maverick. Was she scared of him? I knew most of them were scared of him and were afraid to be on his cklist but I never expected my mum to be among them. The fact that she was scared of him angered me the most. I left the hut in anger, she called out to me but I wouldn¡¯t listen, I wanted to be left alone.


    I stood at the end of the cliff and stared at the mountains, the squeaking sounds from the trees helped me rx. I remembered spending time with my father on this cliff, we woulde here often to rx and enjoy the view, I missed him now that he was gone. Tears flowed down my cheek as I thought of him and all we¡¯d been through.


    ¡°Soon father, soon it will all be over¡±

 Chapter Two

    LUCY


    It was the flowers, I always thought, that kept me sane. When I tended to my flowers, they never talked back, never told me I didn¡¯t understand as my mum did, never yanked up their roots, and stalked away in a huff.


    I would prune away the wild parts, those sudden growth sprigs that thought they could go their own way until the nt was shaped as I intended for it to be shaped.


    After tendering my flowers, I took my sword and headed to the field to practice. I did so every morning while others were still asleep. I preferred to train on my own, it was less distracting. I was still training when Nathan came at me from behind. I jolted and almost hurt him before I quickly regained myself.


    ¡°NATHAN! You almost got yourself killed again! Stoping at me like that, you startled me¡± I yelled, heughed and took my sword away from me. returning it to its sheath.


    ¡°what are you doing so early in the morning?¡± he asked as we both sat on the floor


    ¡°Practicing of course¡± I scoffed at him,


    ¡°You seem to take this attack more seriously than the rest of us. Anyways, I don¡¯t think you will be joining us on that day, so I guess you can stop training now and get some rest¡± he said


    ¡°What do you mean? Who told you that?¡± I asked amidst anger, I knew it was Maverick¡¯s idea toy me off. Nathan refused to say anything so I asked again.


    ¡°What makes you think I won¡¯t be joining you guys on that day?¡± I was curious, I wondered why Maverick would want to prevent me from joining others, we have been nning this for months and it was a perfect time to even the score.


    ¡°I heard Maverick talking to my fatherst night aboutying you off. Hey, he mustn¡¯t know I told you this¡±


    ¡°I knew it. Maverick keeps getting on my nerves as each day passes by. No one is going to stop me, not even Maverick nor your father¡± I said while getting up from the ground, I was angry and wanted to go confront Maverick for trying toy me off but I remembered what Nathan said about not telling anyone, with the anger I walked away leaving Nathan there on the field.


    Still furious, I stormed into the hut only to find my mother sobbing, she quickly dried her tears when she saw me.


    ¡°Hey, Lu,¡± she said, faking a smile ¡°you are up early, where have you been?¡± she asked


    ¡°Mother, what happened? Why are you crying? I asked, I sat beside her and held her hand


    ¡°Crying¡± she scoffed ¡°I wasn¡¯t crying, honey,  something got into my eyes, that¡¯s all¡± she added. I knew she wasn¡¯t saying the truth, I knew her too well and could tell when she was telling a lie.


    ¡°I¡¯m no longer a child mother, please talk to me,¡± I said.


    ¡°I miss him so much,¡± she said as she burst into tears, I had never seen my mother cry this way in a long time except during the demise of my father.


    I remember how she cried for weeks, she refused to eat or drink anything. As a little girl I never understood fully what was happening, all I knew was that my mother was wallowing in pain until I was finally told of my father¡¯s death.


    I held my mother as she sobbed in my arms, I missed my father too, I missed the time we spent together.


    ¡°That is where we are from¡± he once told me while pointing to a city as we stood at the hilltop. ¡°That used to be our home, but not anymore¡±


    ¡°Why? What changed? Why can¡¯t we go back home? I don¡¯t like it here¡± Iined


    ¡°We can¡¯t go back honey, they don¡¯t need us there anymore,¡± he said


    I stood at the hilltop now and all I could think of was ways to make them pay for what they did to my family. Watching my mother cry today gave me more than enough reason to y every single member of that pack but my mother wanted otherwise. She wanted me to stay away from that pack, she was scared of losing me and I understood her plight but I wasn¡¯t going to let that stop me from getting my revenge.


    ¡°I want you to stay away from there, I don¡¯t want to lose you like I did your father,¡± she said holding my hands


    ¡°Nothing is going to happen, mother, you worry too much. I¡¯m going to revenge for my father¡¯s death, I know that¡¯s what he has always wanted-¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what he wanted¡± she cuts in, tears flowing from her eyes to her cheek, ¡°he wants you to be happy, find love, get married, and have beautiful children¡± she added, I broke free from her and got up from the bed.


    ¡°I can never be happy until they pay back for what they did to you and father,¡± I said before storming out of the hut.


    I was still lost in thought and didn¡¯t know when Nathan joined me at the hilltop, he called my name but I didn¡¯t respond. He nudged me and I was brought back to reality.


    ¡°Penny for your thought, miss,¡± he said


    I shrugged off hisments and continued staring at the city in front of me. If only I could gain ess to the pack, it would be easy to get to the pce and get my revenge executed.


    ¡°Lucy, what are you thinking of?¡± he asked curiously


    ¡°Do you know how I can get ess to the pack? I heard you have someone inside that gives you information¡±


    ¡°No, No, No. Lucy, that¡¯s risky. Do you know what you are asking me for? You could get killed if you are found¡± he said.


    He was right, if anything goes wrong and I¡¯m found, I¡¯ll be dead.


    ¡°I won¡¯t be there for long I promise, I just want to see what it looks like. I¡¯m not going to cause you any trouble ¡± I said pleadingly


    ¡°Fine, but promise me you won¡¯t do anything stupid,¡± he said


    ¡°I promise, I cross my heart,¡± I said excitedly, ¡°can we go now?¡±


    ¡°You are unbelievable, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m agreeing to this madness. Let¡¯s go now, we need to be back before dusk. We don¡¯t want to get into trouble with my father¡± he said, leaving me behind. I stood there watching him as he went while I chuckled.


    ¡°Finally changed your mind?¡± He said after realizing I wasgging. I quickly joined him and we made our way to the pack.


    It was more beautiful than I imagined it to be, it was well-decorated probably because of the coronation at hand. Everyone seemed to be busy, all hands were on deck in preparation for the coronation, I was in awe.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°So this used to be my home,¡± I thought as we walked around with our faces covered.


    We wandered about for a while, I took note of where the pce was and counted the number of guards securing the entrance and within the pack. We finally decided it was time to leave, it was dark already and soon the gates would be shut. We approached the gate when a husky voice stopped us saying,


    ¡°Stop It right there intruders¡±


    I felt a cold chill run down my spine, we have been caught and It was all my fault, this was the end of the road for both of us. I slowly turned to see who it was as I bit my lips, standing there was someone I never expected to meet, someone I thought was dead long ago.

 Chapter Three

    LUCY


    ¡°Stop right there intruders,¡± said the strange husky voice behind us.


    We turned to see who it was, I was thrown aback by who I saw. It was Lothar, a friend of my father.  He was a member of the hallowed manes pack, and always visited my father frequently. He told me the reason why my family had to leave the pack. He was easily weed to our rogue pack because of his great sense of humor. He took care of me after the demise of my father and had been a father to me, and he taught me most of the things I know.


    We all thought he was dead after the attackunched against him in the woods while he went hunting, we found no trace of him after searching rigorously for him which turned out to be abortive.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be, how is he alive?¡± I thoughtContent from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°Lothar? You are alive!!¡± Nathan said


    ¡°Lothar!¡± I screamed in excitement and rushed to hug him but he moved away from me before I could get to him.


    ¡°What are you doing here? Do you not fear for your life Lucy?¡± He yelled at me ¡°and you Nathan, you should know better. Why did you bring her here?¡± He scolded.


    ¡°It¡¯s my fault, not his,¡± I said quickly, ¡°I can¡¯t believe you are alive, how is that even possible? We thought you were dead¡± I asked curiously, seeing him for the first time in a long time made me excited and frightened at the same time.


    ¡°This is not the time to talk about me right now, you need to get out of here before someone else finds you here,¡± he said.


    He took my hand and led me to a dark corner while Nathan followed behind.


    ¡°Follow the bush track while leaving and be careful, there are guards outside protecting the walls of the city. Do not get caught!¡± He said ¡°cover yourself up, I¡¯ll take you to the gate¡±


    We got to the gate but it was shut already so he went to speak to the guards securing the entrance.


    ¡°Who are these people?¡± One of the guards asked.


    ¡°They are my distant rtives from the neighboring pack, they came to spend some time with me. Let them through¡± Lothar said


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry we can¡¯t let them go through, you know the rules,¡± the other guard said. Lothar tried to convince them but they wouldn¡¯tply.


    Suddenly I heard another voice from afar, we must have drawn the attention of others and that meant more trouble for us.


    ¡°What is going on over there?¡± The voice asked. Lothar turned to face the person speaking and he was easily recognized.


    ¡°Lothar, is everything alright there?¡± The voice asked again


    ¡°My lord, my distant rtives came visiting and wish to leave but the guards won¡¯t open the gate for us¡± Lothar exined


    ¡°My lord,¡± I growled as I turned to see who it was. Rage filled my being, I removed the covering from my face so that he could see me clearly.


    ¡°Let them go¡± he ordered, I stood there staring at him with resentment until our eyes finally met.


    ¡°Yes, this is the face of the person that will bring the end of the beginning of your reign as Alpha. I will make you suffer for everything your family did to mine¡± I thought


    ¡°Thank you, my Lord,¡±  Lothar said, bowing to the Prince.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Lucy,¡± Lothar said as he pulled me out of the gate. It seems he knew I would do something at that moment, I continued staring at the Prince until I was out of the gate and couldn¡¯t see him anymore.


    He saw us off to the woods and turned to leave,


    ¡°This is where I leave you guys, make sure you get home safe,¡± he said


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you visit since you weren¡¯t dead? Why did you stay away?¡± I asked with teary eyes.


    After fruitlessly searching for him, everyone assumed he must have been shredded into pieces by wild beasts. I still didn¡¯t give up on my search, I refused to believe that he was dead. Every day I would go out in search of him hoping to find his body lying lifeless or half alive somewhere, but I found none until I finally came across his ring which now hung on my neck.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I had to stay away. It was the only way to keep you safe¡± he said ¡°I noticed someone was always trailing me anytime I visited so I had to do something about it¡± he added


    ¡°That¡¯s not enough reason to stay away¡± I blurted out. I had cried myself to sleep several times when I thought of the fact that he was dead, I refused to speak to anyone including my mother. I felt unfortunate and angered that those closest to me were dying and I couldn¡¯t do anything about it. I was still young and wouldn¡¯t have been able to do anything at that time.


    ¡°Who attacked that day?¡± I asked him


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter anymore, all I need from you is to be careful and not trust anyone¡±. He said


    He hugged me and whispered something into my ear. I was shocked by what he told me.


    ¡°Go home now you two and don¡¯te back here again. It¡¯s not safe for you¡± he said and returned to the city.


    I and Nathan walked in silence for a long time until he decided to break the silence.


    ¡°What did he tell you that made you so shocked?¡± Nathan asked


    ¡°Nothing important¡± I lied, Lothar had told me not to tell anyone what he told me. Though I never kept anything away from Nathan, I had to do so this time if I wanted to stay alive.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t want to tell me,¡± he said.


    The silence returned as we continued our journey back home. We got home and met our parents waiting impatiently for us, we were in trouble. They must have sent a search party to look for us. Cade was fuming when we walked in.


    ¡°Where the hell have you two been? We¡¯ve searched everywhere for you¡± he screeched


    ¡°We went into the farthest part of the woods and got lost on our way back. It was my idea to go that far not his, so you can punish me all you want but leave Nathan out of this¡± I said bowing my head.


    ¡°It¡¯s my fault, not hers,¡± Nathan said trying to defend me


    ¡°Leave my sight both of you, I¡¯ll think of a better punishment for you two,¡± he said and returned to his tent.


    I turned to face my mother expecting her tosh at me as well but she said nothing and went back to the but. Nathan left also while I stood there all alone. I felt bad for getting Nathan into trouble with his father.


    I stood there for a while before going to the but, it had been a long day and I was exhausted. I had my bath andy on the bed. I hadn¡¯t eaten all day but I was filled,  probably because of the excitement of seeing Lothar again after such a long time.


    My mind drifted back to the event that happened earlier, I finally saw the face of the Prince and he saw mine. I smirked knowing that soon I would end his life. Then I remembered what Lothar had whispered to me, he had told me the name of the person that attacked him that day and the person¡¯s n to y me and my mother.

 Chapter Four

    CHRIS


    Preparations had begun for my coronation, everyone seemed to be busy except me. I tried to help but they kept turning my offer down, they all gave me this special treatment as their alpha-to-be.


    I went back to bed to lie down since no one needed my help, but I couldn¡¯t find It in myself to sleep while others were working their ass off to make my coronation a sess. They all seemed to be more excited than I was, everyone was chatting about it including the pce workers.


    ¡°He¡¯ll make a fine leader,¡± they all said.


    How were they so sure? I could barely take care of myself, I¡¯d had to rely on my mother several times in making critical decisions about my well-being and here I was, being praised by everyone in the city.


    So no, they were all wrong, I¡¯ll never make a fine leader, I¡¯ll lead them to their doom, I am not capable of being a good leader. I can¡¯t make critical decisions on my own.


    I stood by the window and watched as everyone was busy decorating the city, my mother was busy giving orders to everyone


    ¡°Put this there,¡± she said to one.


    ¡°ce that over there,¡± she said to another.


    The pce maids were already tuckered out by the task at hand, one of them was panting heavily after carrying the gigantic flower vase. The pce staff was surely going to take a sick leave after the coronation was over.


    I got tired of watching everyone and decided to take a walk around the city since I was unupied. I quickly got dressed and left my room but I was stopped by the guards at the entrance of my room.


    ¡°My lord, you can¡¯t leave your room, our Luna has ordered that you stay indoors till your coronation,¡± one of the guards said


    ¡°Well she doesn¡¯t have to know anything, does she?¡± I said, leaving the guards there.


    ¡°She¡¯s going to have our head on a tter if she finds you outside. My Lord!!¡± They called out but I paid deaf ears to their pleas.


    I chuckled in excitement when I saw how the pce was beautifully decorated. Everyone seemed to take this coronation more seriously than I thought, the hall runners had been reced with new ones, the same as the chandeliers.


    I walked around the pce for a while before going to check on the city. I was warmly greeted by everyone I came across both young and old. Thedies flushed at the sight of me and whispered to themselves but I paid no attention to them either.


    Suddenly, I came across an older couple helping each other in making sure that their home wasn¡¯t left out in the decoration, I stood and watched them for a while. I could feel the bond between them and wondered how long they have been together. I thought of going to meet them but I changed my mind and walked away.


    I wished for the kind of love that the couple shared, I wished for a perfect life with my mate. Tomorrow I¡¯ll meet my mate and frankly, I wasn¡¯t sure I was ready. I had a lot to achieve on my own and I hadn¡¯t pictured the type of woman I wanted as my mate.


    I shoved the thought off my head and continued to observe everyone as they diligently carried out their duties.


    ¡°My Lord!!¡± A guard called out to me, he was breathing heavily, he must have been running for a long time.


    ¡°Is everything alright?¡± I asked


    ¡°Your mother needs you,¡± he said. I took to my heels immediately while the guard followed. I returned to the pce and found my mother in perfect condition.


    ¡°Why then did he sound like there was trouble in the pce?¡± I thought.


    ¡°Mother is everything alright!¡± I asked


    ¡°Son, you should be resting, tomorrow is a big day for you. You can take a walk after your coronation¡± she said.


    She was overreacting and getting herself worked up over nothing, I knew she was only worried about me, especially the transformation process which I heard was extremely painful but I could handle it on my own.


    ¡°Mother, I¡¯ve rested enough, you worry too much. You should be the one resting, I¡¯ll take over from here¡± I said as I beckoned one of the maids to take her to her chambers. She refused and went back to ordering everyone around before turning back to me.


    ¡°Fine, since you won¡¯t listen, I want you home before dusk,¡± she said and walked away.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a child anymore¡± I mumbled


    I went back to continue my walk, this time my guard was with me. It was getting dark and soon the gates would be locked. I headed to the gate to make sure it was locked and properly guarded, I did that every night before retiring to my chambers.


    The guards at the gate were preventing some people from going out, they must have caught an intruder.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°What is going on over there?¡± I asked. One of them turned to face me, it was Lothar. He was the head of Beta and was a former member of the council.


    ¡°It is I, my Lord,¡± he said bowing to me.


    ¡°Lothar, where have you been all day, and what is happening over there?¡± I asked again.


    ¡°My lord, the guards have refused my rtives to exit the city, they came to visit and wish to leave now,¡± Lothar said. His rtives covered their faces which prevented me from identifying them.


    Suddenly, one of them uncovered her face and red at me like she had seen me before. With the fierce look on her face, she still looked stunning, I was far from her but I could tell she had beautiful eyes, my heart was racing which felt strange. Our eyes met and I suddenly became tense, no one had made me feel so ufortable before. I wondered who she was and why she stared at me in that manner. I never knew Lothar had rtives,  I had heard a rumor that his family had been killed and he was all alone.


    ¡°Let them go,¡± I said to the guards at the gate.


    I walked to the gate and watched as they left, I stood at the entrance until Lothar returned.


    ¡°I never knew you had rtives,¡± I said to him as he walked into the city. He was startled by my presence and said quickly.


    ¡°They are distant rtives from the Lamia Pack. They came to spend some time with me today. I¡¯m sorry for viting thew, I¡¯ll take whatever punishment you have in mind.¡±


    ¡°Did you invite them to my coronation tomorrow?¡± I asked instead. I wanted to see her again, there was something off about her and I wanted to find out what it is. She looked familiar but it was hard to figure out where and when.


    ¡°Uhm, I did. Hopefully, they will be here tomorrow¡± he said, ¡°I have to go now, you should be resting. Tomorrow is a big day for you and everyone in this city,¡± he said


    ¡°Will I make a good Alpha?¡± I asked. I was nervous about bing the Alpha, it came with a lot of responsibilities.


    ¡°Of course, I have faith in you and I know your father is proud of you wherever he is,¡± he said.


    I sighed, everyone had faith in me except me. This is the part when I needed my father the most but he was no more.


    ¡°Do not wish for an easy reign as an Alpha but rather pray to the moon goddess for the strength to endure the difficult times. Always trust your instincts at all times¡± those were my father¡¯sst words before he joined his ancestors two years ago.


    ¡°Thanks, Lothar, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow ¡± I tapped him on the shoulder and returned to the pce. So many thoughts filled my head as I got to my chambers. My bath had already been prepared so I quickly undressed and had a quick bath.


    ¡°My lord, My Lord!¡±


    I was lost in thought and didn¡¯t know when the maid entered the room. She called out to me again, this time she tapped me bringing me back to reality. I jolted when she tapped me and she quickly moved back, apologizing.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but your dinner is set. Luna Maeve is waiting for you¡± she said


    ¡°Tell her I¡¯m not hungry and that I¡¯m too excited to eat anything,¡± I said. She bowed and left my room.


    Iid back on the bed and within a few minutes, I was asleep. I turned to the other side of the bed and noticed someone was lying on the bed with me. I opened my eyes and saw someone whose face was covered but the eyes were familiar.


    ¡°Who are you and how did you get here?¡± I asked, moving away from the bed. I opened the door and found my guards in a pool of their blood. I reached for my sword but it wasn¡¯t there.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± I asked again. The intruder removed the linen covering its face and said.


    ¡°Remember me¡±


    I tried to attack but the intruder was swift, within seconds the intruder pierced the sword in my chest and I fell to the ground.


    ¡°This is for my family,¡± the intruder said


    I jolted from the bed sweating profusely, I had just had a nightmare. The image of the intruder was clearer, it was her, Lothar¡¯s rtive.

 Chapter Five

    CHRIS


    I tossed and turned on the bed, I was too afraid to go back to sleep. The nightmare felt so real, I could still feel the sword pierce through my chest.


    I got up to check the door if it was locked, I wasn¡¯t going to take any chances in case my dream bes a reality. I also needed to know if my guards were safe. I held onto the doorknob and held my breath, opening the door slowly to check, only to find them sleeping on the bare floor. They were snoring and it looked like they had too much to drink.


    I was disappointed by what I saw, how could the guards be sleeping on duty? I kicked both of them and they quickly got up, they were startled by my presence. I shook my head and stormed into the room.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to skin you two alive after my coronation!!¡± I yelled.


    I couldn¡¯t find it in myself to go back to bed, I paced around the room as I pondered on the nightmare I had. Why would Lothar¡¯s rtives want me dead? What did she mean by what she said? I couldn¡¯t find the right answers to the questions in my head.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Snap out of it Chris,¡± I said aloud. ¡°You are exaggerating, it¡¯s just a mere dream¡± I concluded and returned to bed. I dozed off immediately after my head touched the pillow.


    ¡°My Lord, My Lord¡±


    I opened my eyes to see who was disturbing me from finally having a good night¡¯s rest. It was Ka, my childhood friend.


    ¡°Chris!! Wake up. It¡¯s morning already¡±. She said


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not,¡± I said, facing the other side of the bed, and drifting back to sleep. She opened the curtain and rays of the sun shone into the room and on my face. I shielded my face from the sun and quickly got up to check the time on the table clock by my bedside, it was 10 am already. I didn¡¯t know I had slept for a long time.


    ¡°Good morning Ka,¡± I said as I stretched out. I wasn¡¯t surprised to see her in my chambers this morning, I knew she would be here. She had always been by my side all these years and I always felt at ease whenever she was with me. My mother had always wished that she would be my mate but it was different with me, I wasn¡¯t attracted to her in any way, she was like a sister I never had and I knew she felt that way about me too.


    ¡°Good morning sleepyhead. You are going to bete for the meeting with the council elders if you keep yawning like that¡± she said. She was right, the council meeting was to be held before the coronation began and I was runningte.


    ¡°Your bath has been prepared, you need not worry. I¡¯lle back to see you before your coronation begins¡± she said. I kissed her cheek and dashed in to have my bath.


    Within minutes I was dressed and on my way to the great hall. I met Lothar on my way and immediately I remembered the nightmare I had about his rtive, I recalled asking him to invite her to my coronation and almost froze.


    ¡°What if shees? What if my dream bes a reality?¡± I thought aloud.


    ¡°My Lord, are you alright? You look like you just saw a ghost¡± Lothar said. He rested his hand on my shoulder as we continued walking.


    ¡°I know you are worried about your coronation and if you will be able to rule the people, but you don¡¯t have to be. I know you will do a great job¡± he added before turning to leave.


    ¡°Lothar, I¡¯ll like you to be reinstated back as a member of the council and as my adviser,¡± I said. He had a surprised look on his face, he wasn¡¯t expecting it but I felt I needed him close to me. He had worked with my father in the past and my father spoke highly of him.


    ¡°My lord, I can¡¯t ept it. I stepped down from being a member because of the treacherous act by other members of the council, I can¡¯t work with such people. I¡¯m sorry but I beg to decline¡± he said, bowing his head.


    I understood him perfectly. Most of the council elders were deceitful and wanted the throne for themselves, there was no one amongst them that I could trust as my cab member when I became the alpha king.


    ¡°I want you to be my right-hand man and adviser. You are the only one I trust and my father also trusted you too. Please, Lothar, do this for the bond you once had with my father¡± I pleaded.


    After much consideration, Lothar epted and we both continued on our little journey to the great hall. Getting there, the council elders were murmuring. Some wore a frown at the sight of me, while others red at me.


    ¡°It¡¯s wrong to keep noblemen waiting, weren¡¯t you taught that boy?¡± One of the elders named Orvyn said. He was the spokesman for other council members. I never liked him and we were always at loggerheads with each other. He once said I wasn¡¯t befitting to ascend the throne of my ancestors, he called me weak, ipetent, and childish. I was going to prove him otherwise when I finally became his Alpha.


    ¡°Watch your tone, Orvyn. That¡¯s no way to speak to your next alpha,¡± Lothar snapped at him.


    ¡°And who invited you here? This is no ce for people of your ss,¡± Orvyn scowled.


    ¡°I did,¡± I announced. ¡°He is the head of the Beta and has a seat at the table with the rest of us, he will be reinstated as a member of this council once I¡¯m coronated as Alpha.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have the right until we the elders agree to it,¡± another elder said.


    ¡°I have no intention to be here if the prince had not asked me to. I won¡¯t take such insults from treacherous people like you,¡± Lothar snapped and stormed out of the hall.


    I watched as he left, I knew it would take a lot to convince him to return after the humiliation he had received today. I was going to take him back no matter what it would cost.


    ¡°Shall we proceed? We¡¯ve exhausted our time on irrelevant issues¡± Orvyn said.


    My mother walked in as the meetingmenced. As Luna, she was the only woman allowed to sit with members of the council. Everyone rose to bow to her as she graced us with her presence.


    ¡°May we begin?¡± she said, beckoning us to sit.


    ¡°Of course. As we all know, at the full moon tonight our dear prince will be coronated as our next Alpha king. For me, I don¡¯t think he is ready to be crowned king of this pack. Look at him, he¡¯s still a child and doesn¡¯t know what it takes to rule a pack as mighty as ours¡± Orvyn said. Few of the elders agreed with him while others simply murmured to themselves.


    ¡°My son is the heir to the throne and no one, not even you Orvyn can do anything about it. That¡¯s final¡± my mother said in anger.


    No one dared question my mother, Maeve, the Luna of the hallowed manes. She was courageous and dauntless in the face of unbelievable struggle. She was clear about what she wanted without being aggressive. She had been the decision-maker for the pack after the death of my father two years ago.


    They had no choice but to ept the fact that I¡¯ll be their new alpha. ¡°As your lordship pleases, so shall it be,¡± another elder spoke.


    ¡°That will be all for now. See you all at the coronation. The prince needs to get himself ready for his Coronation.¡± She said, rising from her seat. Everyone else rose to acknowledge her before she left. I also joined her and we both exited the great hall.


    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to whatever they have to say to you. Tonight you are going to be coronated as Alpha and you¡¯ll find your mate. You need to learn to stand for rights,¡± she said. ¡°Go and get yourself ready, we¡¯ll be waiting at the arena for you.¡±


    I watched as my mother left, I was more nervous than I had ever been before. I was going to meet my mate today, it hadn¡¯t crossed my mind all this while. I had been so busy thinking of how to be a perfect alpha and leader of the pack that I had forgotten I would be meeting my mate for the first time.


    What if she doesn¡¯t want me? Will she ept me? I thought as I retired to my chambers. The dressmaker and Ka were waiting in my room when I walked in. They began the job of dressing me up for my coronation.


    When they were done, Ka led me to the mirror to see the magic they had done. I was awed when I saw my reflection. I knew I had great looks and a godly physique that all thedies would die for but right now, I looked like a heavenly being and would drool over myself if I was ady.


    ¡°You¡¯re good to go, My Lord,¡± Ka said with a grin.


    My mother walked right in and gasped when she saw how astonishing I looked.


    ¡°You look adorable, my love,¡± sheplimented.


    ¡°I know,¡± I smirked. ¡°I¡¯m nervous mother, what if Orvyn was right? What if I¡¯m not ready to be the new alpha?¡±


    ¡°You are more than ready son, you¡¯re 25 and no longer a child. You are a man now, so man up and prove those elders wrong¡± she said. She was more confident of me than I was of myself.


    She kissed my cheek and led me to the arena where everyone was seated and waiting for me. My transformation to being a werewolf would begin at the full moon and I wasn¡¯t the only one who was going to be transformed tonight. There were about eight of us to be transformed.


    All eight of us were led to a ce where we were given something with an awful smell to drink.


    ¡°I won¡¯t lie to you by telling you it won¡¯t be painful, it will be, but it¡¯s only for a while and the pain will subside,¡± a man said to us.


    I got acquainted with some of them and while we were still discussing, the trumpet blew. It was the full moon and the beginning of our transformation.

 Chapter Six

    CHRIS


    It was time.


    It was difficult to breathe. Furs sprouted from every inch of my body, what was once my normal human hands got mangled and my skin peeled away like a banana. They were reced with therge hairy dangerously wed hands of a beast. My new body parts started popping out, a slimy dog saliva-like substance oozed out along with blood from my snapping joints.


    The color of my eyes changed, and my pupils too. The red glowing orbs of a predator radiated from my eye sockets, and my pupils dted like a wolf¡¯s. my eyes were stripped of all humanity and reced with the eyes of a hunter. My night vision was excellent.


    My entire body starts molding itself into its new werewolf shape, I was a lot taller and broader than a human which made me slouch. My bones began to snap, lengthen, and pop through my skin and back into ce.


    I groaned in pain, the pains were unfathomable, and I couldn¡¯t go on with the process. My bones began to reposition themselves, and my skin had to move too, though skins were pretty stic, they shredded in some ces and stretched in other parts. After the gooey mess was over, a new tightened fully formedyer of skin slides into ce over my now stronger and muscr physique.


    My ears stretched up out of the side of my head like Laffy Taffy before taking their final form, it was extremely painful. My hearing abilities had enhanced.


    The transformation process was almostplete, my face pushed forward and split away as a snout formed, my jaw dislodging to make room for a massive, deadly maw. It was as if someone just grabbed my face and yanked a new one straight out. My old teeth began to elongate while some fell right out of my face as new fangs fit for a flesh-tearing burst through my gums.


    My transformation into a wolf was nowplete.


    ¡°You did good, Chris¡± I heard my wolf through the mind link.


    I howled as I walked around, others had transformed with me but I paid no attention to them, suddenly a white wolf approached me, it stopped when it got close enough and bowed before me.


    ¡°I¡¯m Glen, Glen Stawarski,¡± he said through the mind link ¡°I¡¯m your Beta¡±.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯m Chris, nice to meet you,¡± I said.


    My mother gestured for me toe forward while I spoke with my Beta. Orvyn rose from his seat and walked to the rostrum to make his speech.


    ¡°I wee you all into the coronation of our son, Chris, your new alpha and heir to the throne. ord him with respect as your new Alpha King,¡± he said.


    The sound of apuse filled the air, I howled once more to the crowd showing my appreciation, turning to him I bowed to him.


    ¡°Thank you Orvyn; I promise I¡¯ll never let you down.¡± Then facing the crowd I said to them. ¡°I want to appreciate everyone that hase to witness my coronation. As your new alpha and king, I promise to protect the members of this pack, I¡¯ll ensure no one is in danger under my watch. I only ask that you all cooperate with me in making this pack better,¡± giving speeches wasn¡¯t a big deal, so this was a piece of cake.


    My mother patted my wolf and smiled, then she said


    ¡°Now, to the moment we¡¯ve all been waiting for; the moment the new Alpha searches for his mate among us. If no one from this pack is chosen, then his mate is a member of another pack and we must ept and cherish his Luna like ours¡± she beckoned me to go search for my mate.


    Searching for my mate was the most important thing, no matter who it was going to be, I was willing to learn to love that person.


    I was nervous as I walked around in search of my mate.


    ¡°Are you ready to meet our mate?¡± my wolf asked. ¡°By the way I¡¯m Gavin¡±.


    ¡°Nice to meet you, Gavin¡±


    ¡°So are you ready to meet our mate now?¡± he asked again


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I am, I¡¯m nervous,¡± I said as I scanned the area for my mate. I walked around the arena a couple of times until I eventually gave up, my mate wasn¡¯t among the crowd. I felt disappointed.


    ¡°We¡¯ll find our mate soon, don¡¯t be disappointed. Our mate is beautiful and loving, though she¡¯s stubborn I won¡¯t lie to you. You¡¯ll love her when you see her,¡± Gavin assured me.


    ¡°If you know so well who our mate is then why don¡¯t you tell me so that I can find her,¡± I said excitedly but Gavin shook his head


    ¡°It won¡¯t be fun if I tell you just like that. Be patient Chris, be patient,¡± Gavin said before blocking the link between us.


    Angered, I moved to my mother forfort, she patted my shoulder and said ¡°Don¡¯t be this way, son, because you didn¡¯t find your mate here doesn¡¯t mean you won¡¯t find your mate elsewhere. Be patient¡±


    My mother had a way of calming me down with her soothing words. I was calm again but what I needed at the moment was to be left alone. I needed to sleep and rest my head for a while.


    ¡°Mother, can I go in and rest for a while? I¡¯m exhausted¡± I said to her whilst Lothar approached us. I told him what I wanted to do and he gave me leave.


    ¡°Yes, you can, don¡¯t forget you have a meeting with the council of elders tomorrow where we¡¯ll decide your first assignment,¡± my mother said.


    ¡°Yes Mother, I understand,¡± I said before heading back to my room. Ka saw me leave the arena and quickly rushed toward me.


    ¡°Where are they going? The ceremony is just getting started¡± she said.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Ka, I won¡¯t be joining you, you can carry on without me. I need to retire for the night. I¡¯ll see you in the morning¡± I said as I made my way to my chambers.


    Iy on my bed and in no time I was fast asleep. I felt the sensation of someone¡¯s hand on my face which jolted me awake, I opened my eyes to find Cecilia in my room half naked.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing here?¡± I asked, looking confused.


    Cecilia had been stalking me for years and it wasn¡¯t new to me anymore but finding him in my chambers took me off guard.


    ¡°I came to make you feelfortable, especially now that you don¡¯t have a mate yet,¡± she said, nting a kiss on my forehead. ¡°I can fill that position until you find your mate,¡± she added. I felt her hands move down my chest to my lower limb, I grabbed her hands as she reached out to touch my groin.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to be left alone, Cecilia. I¡¯ve had a long day and I need to rest¡±


    ¡°Shhhh¡± she ced her index finger on my lips ¡°Rx, let me take the stress away, don¡¯t worry I don¡¯t bite,¡± she said while her hands were busy unhooking my trousers. I pushed her away and got out of my bed, walking to the door, I yanked it open in anger.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need yourfort, now get out before I lose my temper!¡± I yelled at him. She quickly grabbed her clothes and dashed out of my room in fear. I¡¯ve never been this rude to my subjects but I had no choice, she needed to be stopped.


    I stood at the door watching as she ran out of my room, I knew how stubborn Cecilia could be and I knew she would show up again one day. The best option was to report to my mother but I knew the repercussions, she would be punished for trying to seduce me and I didn¡¯t want that for her.

 Chapter Seven

    LUCY


    ¡°This is the best time to strike, now that the coronation is still in progress,¡± I said to Nathan as I paced around my hut.


    ¡°You need to rx Lucy, let¡¯s just go ording to  Maverick¡¯s n, can we?¡± he said.


    I simply shrugged, the decision had already been made and there was nothing I could do to change that.


    I heard a knock on the door. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry but Cade wants to see you in his chambers right now,¡± the voice said.


    I turned to face Nathan. ¡°Do you have any idea why your father wants to see me?¡± I asked curiously.


    ¡°I have no idea,¡± he said. I quickly dashed out of my hut to Cade¡¯s chamber. Whatever he wanted to see me for must be very important.


    ¡°Hey wait up,¡± Nathan called out to me as I ran to see Cade. I barged into his chamber and found Maverick seated there too.


    ¡°You called me, am I in any trouble this time?¡± Seeing Maverick and Cade together and me being summoned before them then I knew something was amiss so I had to ask.


    ¡°Someone finally admits that they are a load of trouble,¡± Maverick mocked.


    ¡°Shut up, fool¡± I snapped at him.


    ¡°You both can take your grudge out of my chambers once I¡¯m done with what I have to say,¡± Cade said.


    I rolled my eyes at them as I took a seat beside Nathan.


    ¡°As we know, the hallowed manes pack coronation is ongoing. At nightfall tomorrow we¡¯ll strike,¡±


    ¡°I thought we already discussed that before,¡± I interrupted.


    ¡°Let me finish youngdy,¡± Cade yelled. He huffed a sigh and continued. ¡°As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted. At nightfall, we will attack. I and Maverick will lead the battle, Nathan your duty is to keep watch and secure our exit. Lucy-¡±


    ¡± I already know what I have to do. No one touches the alpha, he is mine,¡± I said with a wicked grin.


    ¡°Lucy, you won¡¯t be joining us in this battle. You have to stay back and ensure the pack is safe until we return,¡± Cade said.


    ¡°That¡¯s not possible, I¡¯m not going to stay here and do nothing. This is an opportunity I¡¯ve been waiting for all my life and you¡¯re going to snatch that away from me,¡± I yelled. Turning to face Maverick because I knew it was his idea, besides Nathan had told me before but I had thought Cade wouldn¡¯t agree to his suggestion. ¡°I know this is all your idea. This is what you¡¯ve always wanted but need I remind you that neither you nor anyone else can stop me,¡± I snapped. I was filled with rage and fought the urge to slit his throat.


    Maverick burst intoughter which made me angrier. ¡°Cade, you can¡¯t do this. You need me out there. Nathan, talk to your father on my behalf,¡± I pleaded.


    ¡°Father, she¡¯s right. We need her expertise, she¡¯s been training vigorously. Her effort can¡¯t be a waste. Think of it Father,¡± Nathan pleaded too on my behalf but his father turned deaf ears to our pleas.


    ¡°I¡¯ve made my decision and that is final. You all can leave,¡± he said.


    We all stepped out of the chamber. Nathan had a sad look on his face, I could tell he felt sorry for me. Maverick on the other hand was grinning from ear to ear, his ns had worked perfectly. I grabbed him by his shirt and ced my small de on his throat.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make you pay for everything you¡¯ve done,¡± I threatened


    ¡°Lucy, don¡¯t. You¡¯ll only make things worse,¡± Nathan pleaded.


    ¡°Let her be. She doesn¡¯t have the guts to try it. Go ahead Lucy, slit my throat, I know that¡¯s what you¡¯ve always wanted,¡± Maverick said. He was calm about everything, he wasn¡¯t scared that I might kill him.


    I knew also that killing him would lead to me and my mother being killed or banished from here. This was the only ce I could call home for now till I found somewhere else to go.


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky I¡¯m in a good mood tonight,¡± I said, shoving him aside.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I was still fuming in rage when I returned to my hut. My mother noticed I was in a bad mood when I walked in, so she tried to get information from me.


    ¡°Honey, are you okay? You look so grumpy,¡± my mother asked. She ced her hand on my shoulder as she stared at me. ¡°What¡¯s the issue this time?¡± she asked again.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing Mother, I need to go for a walk now, I¡¯ll be back before nightfall,¡± I told her before leaving the hut.


    I headed for the cliff which was my usual haven. I was devastated and felt like I had failed my father.


    Why would Cade exempt me from this attack? I¡¯ve been waiting for this moment all my life and now I won¡¯t be able to get the revenge I¡¯ve always wanted, I thought as I sobbed.


    I didn¡¯t notice when my mother and Nathan arrived at the cliff. They stood there watching me for a while before my mum finally spoke up.


    ¡°Lucy-¡± my mother called out to me.


    I jolted and quickly wiped my tears.


    ¡°Darling, you have to get this idea of revenge out of your head. It¡¯s only going to lead you to trouble,¡± she said, wiping my tears off my face.


    I wrapped my hands around her and sobbed in her arms. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Mother, I failed you and Papa, this had always been his goal, and now, I can¡¯t achieve it for him now that he is gone,¡¯ I whimpered.


    ¡± I have you, that¡¯s what¡¯s important to me right now. I lost your father before, I¡¯m not going to lose you this time.¡±


    I held on to my mother tightly as she tried to console me. ¡°Let¡¯s go home Mother,¡± I said to her after I had stopped crying.


    At nightfall the next day, Maverick assembled everyone at the open field to brief them about the attack before they went. I stood by my hut while I listened to him. After the brief assembly, they all matched out of the pack.


    Cade and Maverick led the way while others followed behind. I ran to meet Cade to see if he could change his mind about his decision.


    ¡°Remember when you and Nathan returnedte and got everyone worried,¡± he asked


    ¡°Yeah, what has that got to do with this?¡±


    ¡°You said you¡¯ll take any punishment. This is your punishment so deal with it,¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t fair,¡± I yelled.


    ¡°Nothing is ever fair in this world darling,¡± Maverick mocked. I red at him and returned to the pack. Nathan. Had left earlier to secure passage for them before their arrival.


    I stationed myself at the gate after I had ensured that everyone was in their various huts. I remained there till midnight before I decided to take a break. I returned to my hut and dozed off immediately after my head touched the bed.


    ¡°Open the gate! Open the gate!!!¡±


    I jolted from the bed. I thought I had a dream until I heard those voices again. This was definitely not a dream.


    ¡°Open the gate. Somebody open the gate!!¡±

 Chapter Eight

    CHRIS


    I barely had enough time to rest when one of the guards came to inform me of one of the council elders¡¯ visit.


    ¡°Who is it?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Kazmir, my lord. He says he brings news from the elders of the council,¡±


    Kazmir was Orvyn¡¯s puppet and did as Orvyn instructed. I had my suspicion that Orvyn had something against Kazmir which made him act and do as he pleased.


    ¡°Let him in!¡± I said.


    ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± the guards said and left.


    Kazmir walked into the chambers holding a scroll. ¡°Greetings my Lord,¡± he bowed.


    ¡°It¡¯s not up to a day I was coronated as alpha, you elders are already on my tail. What is it you want to see me for? I¡¯ve got better things to do,¡± I said to him.


    ¡°Sorry for the intrusion, my lord. I have a message from the elders.¡± He opened the scroll and read. ¡°We the elders havee up with a verdict. You Alpha Chris have a year to find a mate who would be our Luna, failure to do so, your reign as alpha wille to an end.¡±


    Orvyn is this the best you coulde up with? I¡¯ll prove you wrong, I thought, clenching my fist.


    ¡°Is that all you have for me? Tell the elders that I agree with their verdict.¡±


    I noticed the smirk on his face as he bowed and left. Orvyn would be excited to hear the news if only he knew the ns I have for him.


    My mother walked right in as Kazmir left. She probably must have heard ande to confirm her suspicions.


    ¡°What is this I¡¯m hearing?¡± she asked.


    ¡°You have nothing to worry about, Mother, their n is not going to work,¡± I told my mother who was already losing her cool.


    ¡°That gobermouch thinks he can dethrone you simply because you haven¡¯t found your mate yet. I¡¯m never going to let that happen, the throne is yours, and that¡¯s final,¡± she screeched.


    ¡°You worry yourself too much mother, I have ns for those greedy council members. No one is going to take this throne away from me,¡± I assured my mother.


    I signaled one of the guards toe forward. ¡°Call Lothar, tell him it¡¯s important,¡± I said to the guard.


    ¡°As you wish, Alpha.¡±


    It didn¡¯t take long before Lothar came running into the pce.


    ¡°You sent for me, my Lord,¡± he bowed and said. ¡°Is everything alright?¡±


    ¡°Members of the council seek to dethrone me simply because I haven¡¯t found my mate, they have given me the ultimatum of one year to find my mate else I¡¯ll be ripped off my position of king and alpha,¡± I exined to him.


    Lothar growled in anger. ¡°I knew those old hags had something up their sleeves, they had it nned all along. But what has that got to do with me, my Lord, how can I be of help to you?¡± Lothar asked.


    ¡°I want you back as a member of the council, I want you to be my eyes and ears from now on. You are the only one I can trust at this point,¡± I said.


    Lothar¡¯s countenance changed. He never wanted anything to do with the council elders and I understood him perfectly but he was my only chance at getting back at all of them.


    ¡°You have to help me, Lothar, otherwise your service to my father would all be in vain,¡± I said to him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do as you please my Lord,¡± Lothar said.


    I was pleased that my n was finally going to be actualized. ¡°You don¡¯t know what this means to me, I¡¯m going to expose them one at a time,¡± I said excitedly.


    ¡°Keep a close eye on those treacherous elders especially Orvyn, their ring leader,¡± I instructed.


    ¡°As you please, my lord,¡± Lothar bowed and left.


    I grinned to myself as I visualized how I was going to punish them for trying to steal the right to the throne from me.


    After taking a walk around the pack like I usually do every evening, I retired to bed after a warm bath.


    ¡°This is for my family,¡± the killer pierced the sword into my chest and blood gushed out of my mouth.


    I sprung out of bed when I realized that it was only a nightmare. I was sweating profusely and panting heavily. The killer was still Lothars rtive. I wondered what I would have done for her to want me dead.


    Her eyes were beautiful but were enveloped with hatred.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I was still pondering on what the dream meant when I heard the sounds of swords nging and people screaming but I wasn¡¯t sure of where it wasing from until I heard the bell ring. It only rang whenever we were under attack. I grabbed my sword and dashed out of my chambers shirtless. The guards at the door of my chambers tried to stop me from going further.


    ¡°Sir, you shouldn¡¯t be out there. We have enough men to defend the gates and the walls of our pack,¡± one of my guards said.


    ¡°You have no right to tell me what to do. My pack is under attack and you want me to sit back and watch it burn to the ground,¡± I yelled at the guard and pushed him aside.


    I wasn¡¯t going to sit back and do nothing, I made a promise to protect them and this was the chance to prove myself.


    I rushed out of the pce and immediately one of the attackers charged his sword at me, I swiftly slit his throat with ease and watched as he bled to death. I charged forward and killed as many as I could.


    Women and children were wailing as they ran for their dear lives. I took it upon myself to make sure they were safe. I led those I met into the pce.


    ¡°Protect the women and children,¡± I said to one of the omegas with me. ¡°Shut the doors, let no one else in except the women and children.¡±


    ¡°Secure the gates, those intruders must not escape,¡± I said to another guard close by.


    Almost everyone had turned by the time I arrived at the field. Two wolves encircled me, ring at me with their dark red eyes as they came closer.


    I turned too and collided with them. We tore at each other, I wiped at one of them, cutting a gash in his ear while the other bit my shoulder. I howled, trying to shake him off but he tried to hold fast. Soon his teeth lost grip and he flew back into the crowd of wolves. The other took off before I got to him.


    I grabbed the other wolf who had bitten me and cut his throat.


    ¡°What gave you the courage to think that a pup like you can defeat an Alpha?¡± I snapped.


    I slew a good number of them before they decided to retreat. I and my men chased after them as they escaped into the woods through a path that led from the city into the woods.


    ¡°Halt!¡± I said. ¡°It could be a trap if we all go after them.¡±


    I pointed at two of my most trusted guards and said to them. ¡°Trail them cautiously and find out where they are headed.¡±


    I returned to the pack with the rest while those two went ahead.


    ¡°Those were rogues that stayed in the woods, I recognized one of them,¡± Glen, my Beta, said as we arrived at the pack.


    ¡°How did they find their way in? Those gates were meant to be locked.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to say this but I think they have someone on the inside,¡± Glen whispered. ¡°We can¡¯t trust anyone from now on, my lord.¡±


    I had my doubts but Glen was right. They probably had help from someone inside and I was going to find out who it was.

 Chapter Nine

    CHRIS


    After the attack that led to the death of one of my pack members, I summoned an emergency meeting with all the elders and guards at the great hall, Lothar was also present.


    ¡°Last night, as we all know, our dear pack was attacked by our enemies, the rogues,¡± I said.


    ¡°This is something that has never happened in our city before,¡± Orvyn snapped at me.


    ¡°Shut your filthy mouth and allow our Alpha to finish his statement,¡± Lothar snapped back at him.


    ¡°Need I remind you that you have no right to speak where noblemen are present,¡± Orvyn said. ¡°This meeting is for all council elders and the guards which you belong to none, leave here else I¡¯ll have your head on a tter.¡±


    ¡°I guess you haven¡¯t heard then, I¡¯ll do the honor of breaking the news to you. I, Lothar have been reinstated as a member of this noble council,¡± he said as a smile smoothened on his lips. He seemed to enjoy himself as Orvyn and the rest stood in shock.


    ¡°This must be a joke,¡± Kazmir screamed. ¡°You have no right to appoint anyone as a member without the consent of the others.¡±


    I tried to hold the smirk on my face as I watched how miserable they had be because of the news.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need your consent to reinstate anybody into the council besides he has always been a member of this council,¡± I snapped. ¡°Now back to why we are here,  I know that one of you is behind the attackst night. Someone led those rogues into our home and it¡¯s only a matter of time before I find out who it was.¡±


    There was a loud murmur at the great hall and they all turned to one another in shock.


    ¡°Who could that fellow be?¡± one of the guards muttered.


    ¡°This is not the time or ce to me anyone, instead you should be out there looking for those outcasts that insulted our pack and people!¡± Orvyn yelled.


    I scoffed. ¡°What would you have me do my elders?¡± I asked.


    They mumbled between themselves and finally, Orvyn rose to speak. ¡°You must find those rogues that invaded our pack and end their lives, this is going to be your first test to prove to us that you¡¯re worthy to be called our alpha,¡± he said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see how you make it out there alive,¡± he also mumbled.


    I knew they woulde up with such an idea. No one had ever gone into the woods in search of the rogues and lived to tell the story which was the same with my father that led to his untimely death, but I didn¡¯t decline which wasn¡¯t what they expected me to do.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do as you have requested, I and my men will go out there and make sure those rogues pay for what they have done.¡±


    ¡°My lord, it¡¯s too dangerous outside these walls. Let me go with the men while you stay here,¡± Lothar suggested.


    ¡°It is my duty to the people to protect them and if this is what they want to prove my worth, so be it,¡± I said to him. Turning to face the rest of the elders I said. ¡°You may leave, that¡¯ll be all. I¡¯d like to have a word with the guards.¡±


    They rose and left but I asked Lothar to stay back while I questioned them.


    ¡°You!¡± I pointed to a guard. ¡°What happenedst night? Who and who were supposed to guard the gates?¡± I asked.


    He pointed at three other guards who stepped forward with their heads bowed. ¡°I found them asleep when the raid began,¡± he said


    I walked to them as they shivered in fear, they could lose their lives for their ipetence. ¡°What happenedst night?¡± I asked again.


    ¡°I-I-I¡¯m sorry,¡± they stuttered.


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I want to hear! What happened?¡± I growled as my eyes suddenly turned red.


    They jolted and fell to the ground with their faces buried. ¡°We don¡¯t know exactly how it happened, we only found ourselves on the floor when the raid began, we¡¯re deeply sorry my Lord. Spare our lives we beg of you,¡± one of the guards who spoke on their behalf pleaded.


    I knew there was something amiss, my guards wouldn¡¯t fall asleep like that if they hadn¡¯t been drugged so I decided to let them go.


    ¡°At nightfall tomorrow, we are going to invade the rogue¡¯s pack, we are going to burn it to the ground and y anyone that crosses our path,¡± I said with so much rage.


    How dare they invade my home? Whoever let them in would pay dearly with their lives, I thought as I stormed out of the great hall and into the courtyard.


    Lothar still thought it was a bad idea for me to go out in search of the rogues and tried his best to convince me but I was adamant and insisted on going.


    ¡°I need to go, if anything happens to me I need you to protect this pack and my mother please,¡± I said.


    While we were still discussing, one of the guards who had fallen asleep on dutyst night came running to us.


    ¡°What is the issue this time?¡± Lothar asked.


    ¡°I remember what happenedst night,¡± the guard said.


    ¡°What do you remember?¡± I asked curiously.


    AT NIGHTFALL THE NEXT DAY, we marched to the rogue¡¯s pack fully prepared and ready for battle. When we arrived at the gate of the pack it wasn¡¯t quite what I expected it to be. The rogues had built a mini-pack of their own and probably had a ruler over them.


    They weren¡¯t expecting us to invade else they would¡¯ve stayed alert. The whole pack was quiet when we wriggled in through the fence.


    ¡°Burn down their homes, y all the men. Take the women and children as captives,¡± I said.


    Suddenly I heard a man scream from behind us. ¡°Intruders! Intruders!!! We are being invaded.¡±


    We took our stance as they charged at us with clubs and swords.


    ¡°y every one of them, spare no one,¡± I said to my soldiers. We set fire to their huts and tents, destroyed everything they owned


    My I and my Beta charged forward, slitting the throat of anyone that crossed our path. Their leader was who I was after, I wanted him alive. I know he had a connection with whoever led them into my pack and I was going to make sure he and whoever it was suffered greatly for what they did.


    A sudden aroma distracted me, I was beginning to feel hot and felt my wolf taking charge of my being. I turned to where the aroma came from but I saw no one that could fit into that aura.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°Our mate is here, we¡¯ve found our mate,¡± Gavin my wolf growled pacing restlessly in my head.


    I turned again to see if I could find this mate but there was no one. From nowhere, some came at me but I was quick enough to prevent the sword from cutting me, I was about to pierce her heart when my wolf howled at me.


    ¡°That¡¯s our mate, Chris, don¡¯t hurt her,¡±  Gavin said.


    I looked at her face and immediately recognized who she was.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be,¡± I muttered as I slowly dropped the sword.

 Chapter Ten

    LUCY


    I stood at the gate waiting for them to return from battle and after a long wait, I retired to my hut. Iy on the bed tossing and turning, I imagined how fierce the battle would be but I could only imagine since I have been restricted from going with them. My only concern was with Nathen, he wasn¡¯t much of a fighter and could get himself harmed, as for the rest especially Maverick, I wished that he got hurt or rather end up dead in battle.


    I became sleepy eventually and dozed right off but my sleep was cut short when I heard someone scream from outside the gate. I rushed out with my sword in hand and to the gates.


    ¡°Open the gates!¡± the male voice kept screaming.


    I immediately recognized the voice, it was Nathan¡¯s. I opened the gate and saw my best friend covered in blood, others too rushed in. Some were injured while others were unharmed like Cade.


    ¡°What the hell happened there? Are you hurt?¡± I asked him.


    ¡°Close the gates, they areing after us. They mustn¡¯t find us here,¡± Cade instructed me.


    I went out to check but I found no trace of them nearby. I had the feeling that they knew where we were, I could feel it in my guts. I quickly shut the gates and returned to help Nathan tender his wounds.


    ¡°What happened out there?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Their new Alpha is tougher than I thought, I watched as he slew our men with ease, I was terrified.¡±


    ¡°What about Maverick? I haven¡¯t seen him yet.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s wounded as well. I¡¯m d they didn¡¯t follow us down here,¡± he said. ¡°Ouch, easy,¡± he whimpered as I continued to dress his wounds.


    ¡°They¡¯lle back for us, we have to be ready,¡± I told Nathan but he wasn¡¯t paying attention to what I was saying. He was still overwhelmed by the shock he must have experienced out there which made me wonder.


    ¡°What exactly happened out there tonight?¡± I asked again.


    ¡°He was like a mini-god, the way he swayed his sword with ease like born ready for battle. What if hees here to attack us?¡± Nathan said, his voice was shaky and I could tell he was scared.


    ¡°They will definitelye here to attack us, I need to speak to your father.¡±


    I stormed into Cade¡¯s chamber where he was tending to Maverick¡¯s wounds. ¡°What do you want, child? you should be tendering to the injured,¡± he said.


    ¡°They wille back for us and I mean soon, we have to be ready for them,¡± I said.


    ¡°There you go again running your mouth, they don¡¯t have the guts toe here. if they did, they would be here by now but they aren¡¯t,¡± Maverick snapped at me.


    ¡°Says the man who the alpha chopped his ear off,¡± I snapped back at him. ¡°Since the both of you won¡¯t listen to me, then watch and see how this ce burns to the ground.¡±


    I left them and returned to my hut to take my mother to a safe ce before the alpha arrived with soldiers.


    ¡°I heard there was a bloodbath there, I¡¯m d you were exempted from the attack,¡± my mother said immediately;y I walked in.


    ¡°I know but we have to leave here. they would be back to have their revenge for attacking their pack. I know that for sure, I need you to be somewhere safe when theye. we¡¯ll leave as early as possible in the morning,¡± I exined.


    ¡°Are you sure of what you just said?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yes, but others think otherwise,¡± I said.


    ¡°We need to tell Cade about what you just said. If they areing for us, we have to be ready,¡± she said and rose to meet Cade herself but I stopped her.


    ¡°And you think I haven¡¯t done that, he and Maverick think I¡¯m exaggerating so I¡¯m going to leave them to face the wrath that ising,¡± I said. ¡°You should rest, we¡¯ll leave before sunrise so that no one sees us.¡±


    My mother tutted her head in approval andid back to sleep while I went out back to meet Nathan in his hut.


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving with my mother before sunrise, you shoulde too before they decide to attack,¡± I said.


    ¡°It¡¯s unlike you to run away from a battle,¡±


    I clicked my teeth. ¡°I¡¯m not running away, I want my mother to be somewhere safe from the chaos and you too. You¡¯re injured and would barely be able to defend yourself,¡± I said convincingly.


    ¡°Go with your mother, make sure the both of you are safe. As for me, I can take care of myself, you don¡¯t have to worry about me.¡±Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    After much convincing, Nathan still insisted on staying so I left his hut and returned to mine. I packed enough food and clothing that wouldst enough till everything returned to normalcy. I had no intention of staying away from the pack with my mother, the n was to keep her safe and return to defend the pack and also get my chance of killing the alpha as I had always dreamt of.


    Before sunrise, my mother and I set out to where I had made avable for her to stay. It was a hut my father had built a long time ago for our safety. We would stay there to rest whenever we went hunting in the woods, it was a bit far from the rogue¡¯s pack and was hard for anyone to locate.


    ¡°What is this ce?¡± my mother asked, staring at me suspiciously.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, it¡¯s ours,¡± I said.


    ¡°Ours? Howe I do not know anything about it?¡±


    ¡°Father built this ce for us, for our safety. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t get to show you before he died but I was the lucky one,¡± I said.


    My mother huffed a sigh, she had a sad look on her face. ¡°Your father always puts the family first before anything else. I wish he was here with us now.¡±


    ¡°I know, that¡¯s why we have to do what he would have done, to keep protecting ourselves. I have to get back before anyone notices that we are gone, I¡¯ll be back to check on you, don¡¯t open the door for anyone else,¡± I said to her.


    As I turned to leave she grabbed my hand. ¡°You don¡¯t have to go back there, if truly they areing back to invade the pack what can you possibly do? We can stay here and be happy, you don¡¯t have to go on with this crazy quest for revenge,¡± she said.


    I pulled my hand away from her in anger and stormed out without saying a word to her. How could she say it was crazy? After everything they had done to her and my father, this was another opportunity to get my revenge at least for my father as he had always wanted.


    By the time I returned to the pack, Nathan was already at my hut waiting for me. I wasn¡¯t surprised to see him, I knew he would be waiting for my return.


    ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t return,¡± he said.


    ¡°Did you miss me already? I knew you couldn¡¯t live without me, you love me too much,¡± I teased.


    Nathan rolled his eyes at me. ¡°Wishful thinking, Lucy. Maverick has been looking for you though, he wishes to speak to you,¡± he said.


    He finally believes me, I thought as I rushed out to meet him.


    ¡°He¡¯s at the field waiting for you,¡± Nathan shouted.


    He was waiting at the field as Nathan said with his arms akimbo. He had a stern look on his face when I approached him.


    ¡°You believe me now, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t. I called you here for something more important,¡± he said.


    ¡°What can be more important than this? I¡¯m telling you that their alpha would storm in here soon to ughter everyone if we don¡¯t take action,¡± I yelled at him.


    He shuddered. ¡°You need to be careful around here, your life and that of your mother is in danger,¡± he said.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not telling you this because I care about you;  I don¡¯t, I hate your guts,¡± he said, brushing my shoulder as he walked away.


    ¡°What do you mean? Who¡¯s after me?¡± I asked as I followed him behind. I continued pestering him for answers until he stopped and red at me.


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough,¡±

 Chapter Eleven

    LUCY


    ¡°Now get lost before I lose my temper,¡± Maverick screeched at me. I was taken aback by his harsh response and decided to let him be. On a regr day I would have snapped at him for being rude to me but today I was going to let it slide.


    All day all I could think of was what Maverick said to me. Lothar had told me about something rted to this and I still couldn¡¯t wrap my head around it but what bothered me most was Maverick, he knew who it was and wouldn¡¯t tell me.


    What if he was the culprit and was trying to deviate my attention from him? I thought. He was the only one that hated me and my family in the pack and I also had my suspicion that he had a hand in my father¡¯s death. I kept pondering over all of these things until I fell asleep.


    I jolted awake when I heard a loud bang on my door. ¡°Lucy, we are under attack!!¡± That was Nathan¡¯s voice so I sprung out of bed and grabbed my sword by my bedside. I was surprised to see that it waste already, I didn¡¯t realize that I had slept for so long. Everyone was running for their lives, huts were burnt to the ground and our soldiers were being in. I felt sad for what had happened, if only Cade had listened to me then our pack wouldn¡¯t be in such a mess.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I lost the will to defend the pack until I heard that their alpha was here on the field, exactly who I have been waiting to meet. I raced down to the field where he was and slew anyone that I came across.


    As I moved closer, a particr pheromone filled the air, my mate was here I could tell because my wolf Maia was howling in my head forcing her way out but I paid no attention to it.


    ¡°Let me out! Our mate is here,¡± Maia kept saying.


    ¡°We can always find whoever it ister, killing the alpha is more important right now,¡± I told her.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be surprised to know who it is, who would have thought we would meet our mate on a battlefield,¡± Maia said.


    My wolf seemed to be more excited to meet this mate of ours. As for me, I wasn¡¯t ready yet to be mated to anyone, so knowing my mate was here only made me nervous but I had to find where he was so he wouldn¡¯t get injured. I followed the scent till I saw who it was.


    ¡°No way, it can¡¯t be. this devil can¡¯t be my mate,¡± I muttered. I frowned and charged towards him, I would rather have him dead than him bing my mate. I struck him with the sword but he was quick and blocked the sword from cutting him. Indeed he was skillful as everyone had said, he grabbed me and ced his sword on my neck.


    I knew he felt it too because he immediately dropped his sword and muttered something to himself, his eyes widened in surprise as he couldn¡¯t stop staring at me. There was no way I would have a future with my enemy so I pushed him and ran out of the pack and into the woods. I ran as fast as I could but he followed behind and beckoned me to stop which I paid no attention to. I bet he stopped chasing me because I didn¡¯t see him again.


    I thought of going to the hut where my mother was in the woods but I immediately changed my mind and decided to wander around the woods till it waste. I was furious that the person I hated the most was my mate, the thought of it sent chills down my spine.


    How could the moon goddess choose the enemy of my family as my mate? What would I have done to receive such grave punishment from the goddess? I thought as I sat at the edge of the cliff.


    ¡°For a minute I thought you were dead already,¡± a voice from behind startled me. It was my mother, she was with Nathan and she had a worried expression on her face.


    ¡°Mother!¡± I cried and ran to her wrapping my arms around her. I sobbed in her arms for a while until I had my fill, I dried my tears and pulled away from her.


    ¡°Lucy darling, is everything alright?¡± she asked. ¡°I looked for you in the pack but I couldn¡¯t find you,¡±


    I didn¡¯t know how to exin to my mother that I had just found my mate and he was the same person I hated the most. ¡°I¡¯m fine, I was just thinking of my father,¡± I lied.  ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here before they find us here.¡±


    ¡°They left already,¡± Nathan said. ¡°Though with a warning never to be seen anywhere near their pack, else, they woulde back for us.¡±


    ¡°Mother, you shouldn¡¯t have gone to look for me, I specifically told you to wait for me at the hut, what if something had happened to you?¡±


    ¡°Stop nagging me, I was only looking out for you as my daughter, it¡¯s my responsibility that you¡¯re safe already,¡± she said.


    We returned to the hut in silence, I pondered on what to do with the alpha if he came back to look for me. I knew he would unless he wanted nothing to do with me as well, besides it was a taboo to mingle with rogues like us and as the alpha, he wouldn¡¯t want to go against the rule.


    My mother, Nathan, and I remained in the hut for a few more days until we believed the pack was safe enough for us to return though my mother insisted we stay a little bit longer.


    ¡°If we remain here, everyone will notice we are gone and soon this ce will no longer be safe for you to hide anymore,¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s right, my father and others would send a search party to look for us, and when they do, this ce would no longer be safe for you again,¡± Nathan said.


    After much persuasion, my mother agreed to return with us. By the time we arrived at the pack, a search party had already been organized to look for those that had gone missing during the attack.


    ¡°Father!¡± Nathan shouted.


    His father, who looked tense when we walked in, suddenly heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Where have you been, son? I¡¯ve searched for you everywhere and you too Lucy what happened? I thought you were dead, I saw him chase after you into the woods,¡± Cade said.


    ¡°Nothing happened, he wasn¡¯t fast enough to get me,¡± I said.


    ¡°Liar, you ran away like the weakling that you have always been,¡± Maverick taunted me which made me furious. I punched him before anyone could stop me. He burst intoughter as he wiped the blood that oozed from his nose. ¡°Feisty as always.¡± he winked and turned to leave.


    ¡°You two will join the search party, there are still others left that we have to find,¡± Cade said to me and Nathan with a frown and also left.


    Nathan huffed a sigh. We joined the rest and set out into the woods in search of others but we couldn¡¯t find anyone lurking around in the woods.


    ¡°We should head back,¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte out here.¡±


    Nathan, who had been unusually quiet, simply nodded in response. ¡°Is everything alright, Nathan?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that you were chased by the alpha?¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t important, that¡¯s why.¡±


    Nathan grabbed my arm and pulled me close. ¡°It¡¯s important, he would have killed you,¡±


    ¡°But he didn¡¯t, and here am I, alive and well,¡± I snapped.


    ¡°Why did he spare you? He wouldn¡¯t have just left you to go like that,¡± he asked suspiciously.


    How do I tell him that the alpha was my mate without making it look suspicious? I thought. There was no way I was going to keep on hiding the truth from him and others, soon the truth would be known.


    ¡°He couldn¡¯t kill me because he¡¯s my mate,¡± I blurted out. It was better than hiding the truth.


    Nathan staggered with his mouth wide open. ¡°What? How is that possible? What are you going to do?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to reject him as my mate,¡± I said.


    ¡°You¡¯ll do no such thing,¡± a voice came from behind us. The alpha and Lothar stood there as we turned to know who it was.


    ¡°You are going to be my Luna.¡±

 Chapter Twelve

    CHRIS


    If I had been told that I would be mated to a rogue, I would have had the person¡¯s tongue cut off and fed to the pce dogs but here I was staring at my rogue mate. Her scent was appealing and it drew me closer to her but I could also feel the rage in her, her eyes were burning with them.


    She had felt the mate bond too so she ran away from me. I chased after her hoping to at least get her name but she wouldn¡¯t stop. I kept chasing her and beckoned her to stop and hear me out but she wouldn¡¯t heed my voice until I ran out of breath and couldn¡¯t go any further.


    ¡°Fine, you can run all you want,¡± I said. ¡°I don¡¯t want you anyways.¡±


    I returned to the pack and ordered my soldiers to retreat. This was my mate¡¯s home and for an unknown reason, I felt bad for destroying it. I let the women and children I had captured go and returned to my pack after leaving a strict warning to them.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to see any of you anywhere near my pack else I won¡¯t be lenient the next time Ie to visit,¡± I said to them.


    At the pce, my mother, Lothar, and some members of the council were waiting for our return. She ran to me when we walked into the courtyard.


    ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t make it. I¡¯m d you¡¯re okay,¡± she cried.


    I noticed the shock on the faces of the council elders when I walked in. I bet they expected me to experience the same fate as my father.


    ¡°How did it go?¡± Kazmir asked.


    ¡°You tell me,¡± I growled and retired to my chamber.


    ¡°Pardon him, he must be very tired, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll brief us in the morning. You may leave now,¡± I heard my mother say.


    I tried to get some sleep but I couldn¡¯t, all I could think of was her. Why her? Why not someone else? I pondered.


    Not only had she tormented me in my dreams, but now she was going to be my mate. I know I had wanted to meet my mate so badly but not like this and not a rogue who constantly gave me nightmares. I couldn¡¯t wrap my head around it, I wondered why she was chosen to be my mate. It was wrong to question the moon goddess else I would¡¯ve done so.


    I thought of rejecting her as my mate but that would mean me risking my throne and if I take her in as my mate, I would be risking my life too. The only way to get her out of my way for good was to reject her as my mate but I knew the consequences. After much consideration, I decided on what to do with her. I decided to make her my Luna for a while and send her off afterward far away from here so that she may never return.


    Pleased with my decision, I closed my eyes to sleep, and in a short while, I dozed off.


    By morning, one of the guards woke me up to remind me of the briefing I was supposed to have with the elders.


    ¡°Tell them that it was sessful and they need not worry anymore. The rogues will nevere anywhere around this pack henceforth,¡± I said to the guard.


    ¡°But you are supp-¡±


    ¡°Go and tell them!¡± I shouted at him.


    ¡°Yes my lord,¡± he bowed and left my chambers in a hurry.


    ¡°Crazy old fools,¡± I muttered. ¡°If they hadn¡¯t sent me there I won¡¯t be going through such torment right now,¡±


    My mother and Ka walked into my chamber just as the guard was leaving.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I asked. ¡°You two can¡¯t just barge in here as you please, what if I was undressed,¡± I grumbled.


    ¡°I was on my way to meet your mother when she told me you had arrivedst night. I heard you returned safely and wanted to confirm by myself,¡± Ka said.


    No one had expected me nor my men toe back alive, in fact, it was suicidal to go anywhere near the rogue¡¯s pack.


    ¡°Did anything unusual happen there?¡± Ka asked.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I heard you let them off with a warning, what if they refuse to heed your warning ande back to attack again,¡± my mother said.


    I understood her worries and of course, I wasn¡¯t expecting them to heed my warning. ¡°They are called rogues for a reason, Mother. They will be back and this time I won¡¯t hesitate to unsheath my sword.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll triple the guards if we must, they mustn¡¯t find their way into this pack again,¡± she said.


    ¡°You have nothing to worry about, Mother. I¡¯ll make sure this pack is safe from now on,¡± I assured.


    After meeting with my mother and Ka, I decided to go for a walk around the pack. I haven¡¯t done so since the attack. I also had to meet with Lothar, he had some exining to do.


    A few momentster, Lothar walked into my chambers just as I was about to leave and bowed at me. I didn¡¯t acknowledge his greeting, rather I moved closer to him, maintaining eye contact with him.


    ¡°How¡¯s your rtive doing? I mean the rogue you brought into my pack,¡± I said, ring at him.


    His body stiffened with shock. ¡°I¡¯m sorry my lord for lying to you, I was only protecting her, I meant no harm to the people of this pack I swear,¡± he pleaded.


    ¡°You brought a rogue into our pack and you expect me to be lenient about it,¡± I shouted.


    ¡°I¡¯ll ept whatever punishment you wish but please spare her life,¡± he pleaded again, bowing his head.


    I huffed a sigh in frustration. His life was at stake and all he could ask for was for me to spare her life, why was he protecting her? Was he obligated to her in any way? I stared at him and didn¡¯t know what to say or do to him.


    ¡°Why are you protecting her? Tell me everything I need to know about her,¡± I finally said after a long silence.


    ¡°Her father was my best friend, he was banished from this pack a long time ago,¡± Lothar said.


    ¡°What do you mean? You said she is from the Lamia pack.¡±


    ¡°I lied, she¡¯s from here. Her father was used wrongly by the elders so your father banished him and his family from the pack,¡± Lothar exined.


    I swallowed hard. Could that be the reason why she wanted me dead so badly? Why would my father banish her family for something they didn¡¯t do? I got confused but then I understood why she must have hated me so much.


    ¡°There¡¯s something you need to know, Lothar, she has been haunting me in my dreams ever since I first set my eyes on her. She must really be out to get revenge on my family,¡± I said.


    Lothar¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°H-how is that possible?¡± he stuttered.


    ¡°I¡¯m as surprised as you are, I know nothing of what happened between her father and mine yet I might have to pay for my father¡¯s crime with my life.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t let that happen. It wasn¡¯t your father¡¯s fault, he had to do what was necessary else he would be tagged vulnerable, that was also why I stepped down as a member of the council,¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I see. You may leave,¡± I said, waving him off.


    I stepped out for my walk with a troubled heart. Knowing the reason why she haunted me made me frightened. Revenge was a deadly weapon and she would stop at nothing to make sure she gets her revenge for what my family did to hers.


    ¡°She must have abhorred the bitterness for so long¡±, I thought.


    I stopped at the infirmary to check on my injured soldiers and was relieved to know that they were speedily recovering. I returned to the pce where I met Orvyn and his fellow cohort waiting in the courtyard.


    ¡°What do you want from me this time?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be arrogant simply because you defeated the rogues,¡± Kazmir blurted out.


    ¡°I won¡¯t allow you to speak to me in that tone,¡± I yelled, bringing out my ws to devour him.


    Orvyn quickly stood forward, preventing me from harming Kazmir. ¡°Ignore him, my lord. I¡¯ll teach him to know his ce,¡± he pleaded on his behalf.


    ¡°You won¡¯t be lucky again, old man,¡± I sneered and brushed past them.


    A few days passed by and I came up with an idea of how to approach my mate. I canceled my original n after Lothar had exined everything to me. I had to be on her good side at least until I found out why her father was wrongfully punished. Lothar promised to take me to her and help talk to her as well since she listened to him more.


    He took me to a hut inside the woods far from the rogue¡¯s pack where he believed she would be but we couldn¡¯t find anyone in there.


    ¡°You said she would be here,¡± I said to him


    ¡°She probably returned to the pack,  she¡¯s not one to hide for a long time,¡± he said.


    We headed to the rogue¡¯s pack hoping to at least find her lurking around somewhere. Luck was on our side, we found her and another male holding hands and speaking softly to each other. I couldn¡¯t stand the sight of her holding hands with another male, my body was burning up in rage and I knew it was my wolf¡¯s doing. He was as furious as I was and tried to force his way out.


    Also, I heard her tell this young male her n to reject me and y me if I evere close to her. Hearing that only ignited the anger in me and I blurted out.


    ¡°You¡¯ll do no such thing, you¡¯re going to be my Luna.¡±


    I was amazed by my own words, I sounded possessive.


    ¡°Be careful of what you wish for young king, you¡¯re standing between death and life, and only I can decide your fate,¡± she said.


    ¡°Lucy, you need to rx and hear him out,¡± Lothar pleaded on my behalf.


    ¡°How can you be by his side? This man and his family are the reason why my father was uwfully dealt with,¡± she screeched. ¡°If you are here to plead with me that I ept him as my mate then you are wrong this time, I won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll have a duel. If I lose, you can go ahead and reject me and also get your revenge for whatever my family did to yours, but if you lose, you have no choice but to be my Luna,¡± I said.


    For the first time, I saw a smile on her face, her eyes sparkled in excitement and I thought her to be the most beautiful woman I¡¯ve ever set my gaze on.

 Chapter 13

    LUCY


    ¡°This is my chance to prove myself and get my revenge, he won¡¯t even see iting,¡± I said to myself as I trained hard for the duel.


    I knew he was a skilled fighter and I wasn¡¯t going to doubt that so the only way to beat him was to train harder. The duel was in ten days and it felt like forever. I barely spent time at home but rather I was in the woods training. Lothar had stopped by severally to talk me out of it but I turned deaf ears to him.


    ¡°You can¡¯t beat the alpha, it¡¯s pointless for you to try,¡± he said to me.


    I rolled my eyes at him. ¡°I¡¯m not going to quit, I¡¯ll rather die trying to get my revenge.¡±


    ¡°Is this what this is about? Revenge,¡± Lothar asked


    ¡°Of course,¡± I scoffed. ¡°You thought I would merely ept a duel simply because I want to avoid being his mate. you should know me better than that, Lothar.¡±


    ¡°You have to stop this, Alpha Chris has nothing to do with what happened to your father.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care, he will pay for his father¡¯s sins,¡± I yelled.


    ¡°If you¡¯ll listen to me, I¡¯ll exin to you what really happened to your father,¡± he said.


    ¡°My father told me everything already,¡± I said and returned to my training. Nothing Lothar would say will make me change my mind about the alpha, he was my enemy and that would remain that way, mate or not.


    Seeing that I wasn¡¯t going to heed his words he bid me goodbye and left for his pack.


    ¡°So this is where you are,¡± a voice said from afar.


    Knowing who it was, I cursed under my breath. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I asked as he got closer.


    ¡°C¡¯mon, you don¡¯t have to be hostile towards me, we are on the side here. I¡¯ll tell you everything you need to know and in return, you do anything I say from today,¡± Maverick said.


    ¡°You must think I¡¯m a fool. I don¡¯t need any information from you anymore, I know everything,¡± I snapped.


    Maverick burst intoughter. ¡°You are too slow-witted to know anything. Do as I say and I¡¯ll give you all the information you need.¡±


    I ignored him and returned to the pack while he followed behind. My mother wasn¡¯t in the hut when I walked in and everywhere was unusually scanty and quiet. I found a youngd lurking around, so I quickly asked.


    ¡°Where is everyone?¡±


    ¡°Cade called for a meeting with everyone at the field about a few minutes ago,¡± thed said.


    I raced down to the field and found Maverick standing at Cade¡¯s right-hand side. ¡°How did he get there so quickly?¡± I mumbled.


    ¡°I called everyone out here to apologize. I failed as your leader to protect this pack from our enemies but I stand here today to make a promise to you all that such will never happen again,¡± Cade said. ¡°I¡¯m going to make sure that they pay dearly for invading our home.¡±


    Wishful thinking, I thought. If they had listened to me when I told them of the attack, things wouldn¡¯t have gone sour the way they did. I had no time for the meeting as I considered it irrelevant since my opinion was of no value.


    The only thing I could think of was the duel happening soon and what Lothar had made mentioned. Yes, he had nothing to do with the death of my father or for punishing them unjustly but he was the son of the man my father spoke highly of and who had banished my father despite his plea. He had to pay for his father¡¯s sins and that was it.


    To concentrate on my training, I had to stay away from others and spend the rest of the days at my father¡¯s hut in the woods.


    Days went by and the D-day was only a few hours away. I barely slept, I pictured his defeat and him begging for me to spare his life. I was so lost in my imagination that I didn¡¯t know it was dawn already.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°You should be alert at all times, little wolf,¡± I heard a voice whisper in my ear. I jolted and grabbed the de by my bedside. It was the Alpha of the hallowed manes pack


    ¡°Get dressed, I¡¯ll be waiting outside to see what you¡¯ve got,¡± he said. A smile smoothened on his lips and I felt disgusted.


    ¡°How did you find me here?¡± I asked.


    Aside from Nathan, no one else knew about this ce, I was sure of it.


    ¡°That¡¯s not important right now. I¡¯ll be waiting,¡± he said and left.


    I quickly got dressed and picked up my sword. I huffed a sigh as I stepped out of the hut to meet him. Lothar was there and another young male whom I presumed to be his Beta.


    I unsheathed my sword and rushed to attack him while he wasn¡¯t paying attention but with a slight punch, I fell to the ground with the tip of his sword pointing at me.


    ¡°Yield!¡± he said ¡°One move and you¡¯re dead.¡±


    ¡°You cheated!¡± I screamed.


    ¡°You lose and I win, mate,¡± he said and pulled me from the floor.


    I refused to be defeated and picked up my sword to challenge him once more.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you daree close! You¡¯re an Omega and that makes you weak, you can¡¯t stand a chance against me, so give up,¡± he said.


    I scoffed. ¡°I see you¡¯re so full of yourself, how about I kill you right now and be the next alpha? Besides I heard it¡¯s possible isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Not only are you naive, but you¡¯re also stupid. Anyways, I admire your courage,¡± he mocked.


    I felt disappointed and belittled for failing to achieve my goal but it still wasn¡¯t going to change my decision. I wasn¡¯t going to be his mate.


    ¡°We had an agreement, you¡¯re going to be my mate at least for a while until I¡¯m able to convince the elders then you can decide to leave afterward,¡± he said.


    I spat on his feet, seething words meant to provoke him but he simply smiled like it was nothing. I took a few steps forward toward him while he moved backward, I red at him and for once I could feel the nervousness in him.


    ¡°Now listen very carefully to the words I have to say so that you¡¯ll understand how much I hate you and your family,¡± I took a deep breath to ensure my voice doesn¡¯t falter as I say the words of him.


    ¡°I, Lucy Garcia, reject you, Chris of the Hallowed Manes pack as my mate,¡± I said hoping that those words would sink in.


    I hoped to feel the disconnection between us but there was nothing of such; rather he moved closer to me, so close that I could feel his breath on my skin as he bent over to whisper into my ear.


    ¡°Sorry mate, we¡¯re bound for life.¡±


    His words sent shivers and I felt my world crumble right before my eyes.

 Chapter Fourteen

    CHRISContent from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    I had hoped for a disconnection of our mate¡¯s bond too when Lucy pronounced those words. At first, I felt like my heart was going to shred apart for a moment but it was gone within seconds. She ran away into the woods with teary eyes when she realized that her rejection wasn¡¯t going to change anything about our fated bond.


    ¡°We need to leave now my lord,¡± Glen said. ¡°We need to leave before anyone notices that you are gone from the pack.¡±


    He was right, besides it was the death ceremony to honor the Omega that had lost his life during the attack on our pack weeks ago. The ceremony was to be held in a few hours and my absence would cause a fuss in the pack so we returned.


    Preparation had begun, everyone painted their nails with charcoal and mud and red y in mourning.


    The time for the ceremonial rite began. The body of thete Omega was brought out andid on the pyre we had prepared. The mage came forward to perform the spiritual rites, then he handed a torch to me.


    Icked words to say that would console the family of the bereaved, instead, I lit the pyre and watched as the body burnt to ashes. The wolves howled theirment and the Mage chanted prayers to the ancestors that they would receive him with open arms.


    ¡°It is customary for the Alpha to honor the fallen memory. Now that we have a new Alpha, he will continue the rest of the ceremony,¡± the Mage said.


    The Mage gathered the ashes of the dead and handed them over to me, then we moved to the sacred oak tree where we believed our ancestors dwell. I poured part of the ashes around the tree, a significance for easy passage to the other world, then I  spread the rest around the park symbolizing his continuous duty to protect the pack forever. On a day like this, we also remembered those who had lost their lives in the past and asked our ancestors to receive their souls.


    ¡°The funeral rite has ended, let¡¯s all go home and be assured that he is always here with us to protect us,¡± I addressed the crowd.


    Everyone departed to their various huts mourning while I returned to the pce with my mother and the rest of the elders


    ¡°By the way, where have you been? I searched for you all day. You can¡¯t be leaving the pce as you please, you are a leader now and a leader must always be avable for his subjects,¡± she said.


    ¡°I had businesses to attend to outside the pack and it was very important,¡± I said.


    How was I supposed to tell her that I was with my mate who was also a rogue without making her re up in anger? I asked myself. I had no answers to my questions so I decided to keep it to myself until I find a way to resolve the issue.


    Iy on my bed to rest but all I could think of at that moment was her. I wondered what must be running through her mind, especially after what had happened earlier.


    I recalled walking into her hut without her noticing my presence. What could have been going on in that little head of hers? Was she thinking of me too? She wore a smile on her face when I walked in. I loved how feisty she was, she was a replica of whom my father had described my mother to be when they had first met.


    Lucy was perfect to be my mate and Luna of this pack if she wasn¡¯t a rogue. There was more to her that I needed to know, especially why she and her family were banished from this pack. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to ask my mother without sounding suspicious. Nevertheless, I was going to find out the truth.


    I stood at the window as these thoughts flooded my mind, then I felt the arms of someone wrapped around my waist. I turned and realized it was Cecilia.


    ¡°What is troubling you, my lord?¡± she said with concern.


    ¡°Who let you in?¡± I asked. ¡°You need to leave immediately.¡±


    ¡°Luna Maeve sent me to you in case you need anything,¡±


    ¡°If I need anything I¡¯ll let you know. You may leave,¡± I said as I tried to remain calm but Garvin was growing impatient, I bet he couldn¡¯t stand the sight of her as I did


    ¡°You¡¯ll need me soon,¡± I heard her mumble as she left.


    I ignored her and continued to wander in my thoughts. I wondered why the bond had not broken even after she had rejected me. I had always heard that a mate bond could be broken if one or both parties involved didn¡¯t want to be together.


    ¡°You fickle-hearted humans, a rejection wouldn¡¯t change your fate, Chris,¡± my wolf said through the mind link. ¡°She¡¯s ours, it¡¯s our destiny.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by destiny? She¡¯s a rogue and it¡¯s taboo to be with one,¡± I said to my wolf.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t change anything, Chris, nothing is going to stop me from being with my mate, not even you. I¡¯d rather end this miserable body if you don¡¯t bring my mate to me!¡± Gavin growled.


    I too wanted my mate by my side but the situations surrounding her were beyond my control. Aside from being a rogue, she hated me and my family and wanted nothing to do with me.


    I hurried out of the pack early the next morning to the rogue¡¯s pack. I took two of my finest guards with me and made them wait a few miles away from the rogue¡¯s territory while I went further.


    I stopped by her hut but she wasn¡¯t there so I waited for her hoping she would return. After a long wait, I decided to go to the rogue¡¯s pack in search of her.


    There she was, mingling with the young man I saw her with before.


    ¡°I knew I would find you here,¡± I said, moving closer to her.


    Her eyes widened with shock when she saw me, she pulled me by the hand until we got to a hut.


    ¡°Are you crazy? What do you think you¡¯re doing here? she snapped.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t at your hut so I came here to look for you, didn¡¯t you miss me? I teased.


    She rolled her eyes at me. ¡± You would be dead by now if anyone had noticed your presence here. You can¡¯t just barge in here like you govern this ce, this is our territory.¡±


    ¡°Are you worried about my safety or you¡¯re worried because someone else might get the chance to kill me before you do?¡± I said.


    ¡°This is not the time for sarcasm, you need to get out of here,¡± she warned.


    ¡°Come with me then,¡± I said, holding her hands but she quickly pulled her hands from mine with a stern look.


    She stuck her head out through the window to check if it was safe to leave.


    ¡°It¡¯s clear, leave now and nevere back here,¡± she said with a fixed re.


    I sighed in frustration. ¡°I just want to talk, you can¡¯t go on hating me for something I know nothing of.¡±


    She ignored me and mmed the door, leaving me to stand outside alone.

 Chapter Fifteen

    LUCY


    ¡°Father, when are we returning home? You said we would go back soon. I miss home,¡± I whined.


    My father faked a smile and lifted me in his arms. ¡°We have to stay here for a while until everything settles down at the pack,¡± he said.


    ¡°What is going on at the pack? Is a war going to break out at the pack?¡± I asked.


    He smiled again, this time it was real. ¡°You are too inquisitive for your age, Lucy. I¡¯ll exin everything to you one day.¡±


    ¡°Why not now? I¡¯m old enough to know anything,¡± I continued whining.


    ¡°I was asked to leave for something I didn¡¯t do. It was a misunderstanding and I¡¯ll make sure I clear my name so that you and mother can return home soon alright?¡±


    ¡°Lucy-


    ¡°Lucy,¡±


    ¡°Hey, Nathan, what are you doing here?¡± I said, wiping the tears off my cheek.


    ¡°Why are you crying? Did anyone hurt you?¡± Nathan asked.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°I¡¯m not crying, something fell into my eye. Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you for days now. Oh, how did the duel go between you and your mate,¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not my mate!¡± I snapped at him


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to stir up anger in you. You can reject him if you don¡¯t want to be with him,¡¯ he said.


    ¡°I did! I fvcking did,¡± I squealed. ¡°It didn¡¯t work.¡±


    The humiliation and disappointment I felt that day was something I wouldn¡¯t forget in a hurry. At first, he looked frightened when I said those words but he regained confidence when he realized those words weren¡¯t going to break our ill-fated bond. then, I saw the smirk on his face, he seemed to be enjoying the torture I was going through.


    I wished I couldy my hands on him but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to do anything. Rather, I raced home and buried my face in the bed, sobbing.


    Standing on this cliff was the only way I could find sce, the memories on this cliff couldst for a lifetime.


    ¡°Lucy, we need to go now, your mother has been worried about you. She said you wouldn¡¯t talk to her,¡± Nathan said.


    ¡°I need to be left alone, Nathan, please can you let me be for now,¡± I pleaded.


    ¡°I¡¯m not leaving you here alone, you areing with me right now and that¡¯s an order, Lucy,¡± Nathan said.


    Muttering a curse, I did my best to ignore him as I pouted all the way home. My mood got better after I mixed up with everyone, I missed the drill, the tension, everything. It felt good to be back home, maybe staying away was a bad idea after all.


    I was having a chat with Nathan and my other folks when Chris showed up in front of me with a charming smile. My eyes widened with shock when I saw you. I grabbed him by the hand and dragged him to my hut before others noticed his presence.


    ¡°What the hell do you think you¡¯re doing here?¡± I snarled.


    ¡°I came to look for you, you weren¡¯t at your hut so I had toe here,¡± he said.


    ¡°I thought you were smarter than this, anyways I¡¯m not surprised. You need to get out of here before anyone finds you lurking around here.¡±


    ¡°Come with me then, I came here because I need to talk to you,¡± he said softly, holding my hands. His dark eyes never left mine.


    I became nervous and avoided his eyes, my jaw tightened, and so did the pit of my stomach.


    ¡°You must leave before someone sees you here,¡± I said and opened the door for him to leave. He pleaded that I go with him but I declined and mmed the door at him.


    I plunged onto the bed, pondering what he had said, I also wondered what he wanted to talk to me about but I resisted the urge to go after him. Whatever he wanted to say wasn¡¯t important to me and nothing he said would change the way I felt about him and his household. He would always remain my enemy, whether we were fated to each other or not.


    The sound from the bell brought me out of my reverie, there was an intruder in the pack. My heart skipped a beat when I thought of the possibility that he had been caught by one of us. I rushed out and joined the others who were on their way to the field to see who the intruder was.


    I froze when I saw him tied up and his face battered. My wolf howled uncontrobly, forcing itself to take control of my body.


    ¡°Let me handle him myself,¡± I said to Cade. ¡°This is the moment I¡¯ve always been waiting for, please let me deal with him by myself.¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t happen, we all know how obsessed you¡¯ve been about attacking the alpha and his pack. I won¡¯t allow you to jeopardize our moment now that we have this son of a bitch,¡± Maverick objected so I turned to Cade for approval and he agreed.


    ¡°Let her do her thing,¡± Cade said. ¡°Don¡¯t screw things up, Lucy.¡±


    I huffed a sigh as everyone returned to their homes. I took him to the dungeon where I was asked to torture him with a silver-tipped cane but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to do it rather I punched him hard in the face. I hated the fact that I couldn¡¯t do the one thing I had been waiting for years to do, I hated the stupid bond that existed between us, and I hated the Moon Goddess for choosing him as my mate.


    Maverick and other young men walked into the cell where I was with Chris. ¡°Do you need help?¡± The smirk on his face made me ufortable, whatever his n was, I knew it was up to no good.


    I declined but he ignored me and went to meet Chris who didn¡¯t seem to care about the situation he was going through.


    Maverick began to administer heavy punches to Chris¡¯ face, he and others tortured Chris with silver metals and all I could do was watch.


    ¡°Are you going to stand here and watch them torture our mate?¡± Maia said through the mind link.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t he leave when I asked him to? What is he trying to prove? I can¡¯t get involved in this else everyone will know that I¡¯m his mate and that automatically makes me their enemy,¡± I said.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to stay here and watch those filthy wolves harm our mate, I don¡¯t mind hurting this weak body if I have to,¡±  Maia said.


    I knew how aggressive my wolf was and the things she would do to Maverick and the others for torturing him.


    ¡°Do something, you human else I will,¡±  Maia threatened.


    ¡°Enough Maverick!¡± I snarled. ¡°He¡¯s mine until I say otherwise.¡±


    ¡°Do your thing, little wolf. I hope you can handle it,¡± Maverick sneered and left with the others.


    Chris was already weak and bleeding from the torture, there was no way I could leave him here to spend another night here. He wouldn¡¯t survive another round of torment and who knows they might decide to behead him and send his head to his people as a gift. We, rogues, were known to be brutal with things like this.


    At midnight, I untied him and led him out of the pack whilst no one was watching. The nearest ce to hide him was my hut in the woods so I took him there. He weighed a ton so it was difficult to carry him.


    I met with his guards who were already searching for him, they charged their swords at me and tried to strike me but he squealed at them.


    ¡°Touch her and you¡¯ll have me to contend with,¡± he said. They apologized and helped me carry him to my hut where I nursed his wounds and was left alone with him to care for him.


    ¡°Go back home before my mother sends a search party after me, let her know that I¡¯m alright. Don¡¯t tell her or anyone of my whereabouts and what happened,¡± he instructed his guards before they left.


    It felt awkward to be alone with the man I grew up to hate, we were supposed to be at loggerheads with each other but here I was nursing his wounds. I felt bad for letting crazy Maverick trash him this way.


    ¡°Why did you help me? You should have just let me die or kill me yourself, besides you hate me,¡± Chris asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ttered, I still hate you and will kill you myself so enjoy my good deeds while theyst big wolf,¡± I scoffed.


    A wide smile smoothened on his lips showing his perfect dentition and cute dimple on his left cheek. I felt butterflies in my core and swallowed hard.


    This is not good, I thought.


    ¡°Oh, this is good, wolfie, this is really good. Look at how alluring he looks, he¡¯s so perfect. He¡¯s strong-willed like us and has a good heart,¡± Maia said.


    ¡°It still doesn¡¯t change the fact that he and his family gave mine hell for something we didn¡¯t do,¡± I snarled.


    ¡°He had nothing to do with what happened to your family, give him a chance and we might find out what really happened to your papa.¡±


    ¡°Enough, Maia!!¡± I screamed aloud and Chris jolted from the bed.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± he asked.


    I ran out of the hut, weeping while he called out to me to return. I turned deaf ears to him and continued running till I grew weary.


    Maia¡¯s words lingered in my head. What if she was right? What if I was being too harsh on the wrong person and what if he knew nothing about his father¡¯s deeds?


    There was only one way to find out and until I did, I wouldn¡¯t approve of him as my mate.

 Chapter Sixteen

    LUCY


    The news of Chris¡¯ escape had gotten to the ears of everyone and a search party was sent to look for him knowing that he wouldn¡¯t have gone far due to the pain inflicted on him by Maverick and the rest. I was asked to remain in the pack while they went out searching for him.


    I noticed how everyone red at me with contempt, some avoided me like the gue, I knew the reason for their behavior so I ignored them. I waited until the rest returned with the hope that they wouldn¡¯t find him.


    There was no way I could warn him since I had been restricted from leaving the pack.


    I was relieved when I realized that they hadn¡¯t found him where he was hidden, I could tell from the devastation written on their faces and I knew there would be consequences for letting him escape but I didn¡¯t care as long as he was safe.


    ¡°I told you she wasn¡¯t up to the task but no one listened to me. I¡¯ve always known that you were ipetent,¡± Maverick yelled.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hear what she has to say about what happenedst night,¡± Cade suggested.


    ¡°He escaped, that¡¯s what happened. I -¡±


    ¡°Liar!¡± Maverick interrupted.


    ¡°Let her speak, Maverick,¡± Cade snapped. ¡°Go ahead, I¡¯m all ears.¡±


    ¡°I was with the alpha all night and then two men broke in and took him away. I barely escaped from them,¡± I said hoping to convince them.


    ¡°Why do I find that hard to believe? You must have been so overwhelmed with your quest for revenge that you let him slip through your fingers. Besides, his men wouldn¡¯t have left like that without causing a scene,¡± Maverick red


    ¡°How do you expect two men to face the number of warriors we have, be smart for once, you ninnyhammer,¡± I snapped.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough both of you. As for you Lucy, we¡¯ll talk about your punishmentter,¡± he grumbled and left. Maverick scowled at me and went also.


    Damn the punishment, his safety was my priority right now. I stayed away from the woods to prevent any form of suspicion while he was there.


    Very early the next day, I set out to meet him with new clothes I had gotten from Nathan and food as well, that was if he was still at the hut. He probably must have left since I didn¡¯t return to see him the previous day.


    As I thought, he was nowhere to be found. I searched for him but couldn¡¯t find him so I packed up to return to the pack when he walked in.


    ¡°I thought you had abandoned me for good,¡± he said with a smirk on his face.


    ¡°Where have you been? You shouldn¡¯t be phndering around, you could get caught. They have people out there in search of you,¡± I said.


    ¡°If you had stayed by my side and not run away as you did, I wouldn¡¯t have wandered away,¡± he said.


    I rolled my eyes. ¡°I think you¡¯ve stayed enough, you need to leave before I get into trouble because of you.¡±


    ¡°We are just getting to know each other and you are kicking me out already,¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care; because I helped you doesn¡¯t mean I want to have anything to do with you,¡± I barked.


    I wasn¡¯t sure why I was angry anymore. Was it because of my hatred for him and his family or because of the way I was beginning to feel about him? but whatever it was, I hated this feeling.


    ¡°I came here so that we can talk, but obviously nothing I say will ever change your mind. I¡¯ll leave here if that¡¯s what you want,¡± he said. He grabbed the clothes I brought for him and left without touching the food. I didn¡¯t stop him from leaving, rather I stood there and watched as he left.


    ¡°You pathetic human, this is your chance to find out all you need to know and you let your chance slip right through you because of your anger. Until you reconcile with him, I have nothing to do with you,¡± Maia bellowed and cut off the connection between us.


    I was left with mixed feelings, happiness, and sadness. I was happy because I had gotten rid of Chris once and for all but I was sad that the onlypanion I had, had chosen my enemy over me. All I could feel at this point was an emptiness inside and it was exhausting, I fought the urge to go after him.


    I wasn¡¯t sure I was ready to reconcile with him like my wolf wanted, he was still an enemy I wanted to get rid of.


    Lost in my oblivion, I didn¡¯t know when I wandered off till I found myself at the outskirt of the pack.


    ¡°Lucy!¡± I heard someone call me but it was faint so I couldn¡¯t detect whose voice it was. I turned and saw Cadee closer.


    What does he want this time? I thought.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be wandering around, it¡¯s not safe out here,¡± he said.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, I just need to clear my head. Maybe Maverick was right, I let him escape due to my carelessness,¡± I said in a sad tone.


    ¡°I don¡¯t me you for anything. I know what it¡¯s like to see the one that caused you pain right in front of you and you can¡¯t do anything,¡± he said. His words came as a surprise to me, I wasn¡¯t expecting him to be kind to me after letting our captive flee. He was a stern man with zero tolerance and never dyed in punishing any offenders.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    ¡°I thought you were here tosh out like the rest of them,¡± I said with a suspicious look.


    ¡°No, the truth is I know what you did. I know you let him out of the dungeon and I know something is going on between you two and I want to know what that is,¡± he said.


    ¡°What are you talking about, I didn¡¯t do anything and nothing is going on between me and the Alpha. How can you possibly think that I¡¯ll let him go? He¡¯s my enemy and an enemy to the pack too,¡± I said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t y smart with me child, I¡¯m not a dunce like Maverick. I saw you sneak out with the Alpha at midnight, I know everything. Now tell me what is going on between you and the Alpha,¡± he grimaced.


    I was aghast and felt the pit of my core tighten. If the news got out to everyone, I would be killed and my mother would be kicked out of the only ce she could call home. I tried to swallow, but couldn¡¯t. My mouth was too dry, and my esophagus had closed up. ¡°I can exin,¡± I croaked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need an exnation. I¡¯ll keep it a secret but you have to do something for me in return,¡± he said with a wicked grin.


    ¡°What would you have me do?¡±


    ¡°Kill the Alpha.¡±

 Chapter Seventeen

    CHRISN?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Everyone was surprised to see me after disappearing from the pce a few days ago, they must¡¯ve thought something bad had happened to me. Two of my guards who had been with me at the time I was captured had been arrested and locked up in the dungeon where they were tortured because it was believed that they had a hand in my disappearance. As loyal as they were, they had refused to reveal the secret of my whereabouts to anyone, not even to my mother even after being tortured. I went immediately to the dungeon to have them released and taken care of before I headed to the courtyard where my mother was, sobbing.


    ¡°What the hell happened to you?¡± my mother asked, wiping her tears off as I walked into the pce, bruised all over. She ran towards me and wrapped her hands around me and began to cry more, it was like she had been waiting for me for years.


    ¡°I had something important to do, Mother,¡± I said.


    ¡°How important was it that you didn¡¯t deem it fit to tell me or anyone? The guards that were seen with you the day you disappeared returned and refused to say a word to me or anyone else,¡±


    ¡°Who did this to you, son?¡± she asked again.


    I ignored her questions and retired to my chambers, my emotions were thrown down in the dumps, and I didn¡¯t wish to speak to anyone. I instructed my guards to prevent anyone froming close to my chambers yet I persisted, she also invited Ka hoping that I would open up to them but I didn¡¯t. My doors remained shut from everyone.


    Whenever I decided to take a walk around the pack, I wore a frown and didn¡¯t respond to anyone¡¯s greeting. I barked orders at the pce staff, not that it was intentional but I couldn¡¯t control my anger.


    They all noticed my behavior change and avoided me. The staff threw a lot to know who would serve me every day. My attitude created a fuss in the pack and they all feared that I was gradually bing a tyrant.


    I heard all the gossip but it didn¡¯t change me from who I had be. Comints came in from the council of elders but I ignored them, all I wanted was to be left alone.


    I wished the rejection she wanted so badly had worked so I wouldn¡¯t have to be so miserable. All I could think of now was her, how she made me feel, and how much she hated me. I knew deep down that she was lovable else she wouldn¡¯t have helped me escape but she was stiff-hearted and allowed hatred to envelop her mind.


    I hated the fact that she was a rogue and it wouldn¡¯t be easy to convince everyone to ept her as my mate but I was willing to try. I wasn¡¯t after her because of the throne, the throne was mine after all and no one dared to take the throne from me regardless of whether I had a mate or not.


    It went on for weeks and I began to realize the damage I was causing to the pack. I decided to let things go and focus on my leadership duty. I called for a meeting with the elders and representatives of each household to apologize for my recent behavior.


    ¡°I know my recent attitude has caused a lot of damage to this pack. I need you to know that it wasn¡¯t intentional, I had a lot going on around me and I poured out my frustration on everyone. I want to apologize to everyone for my shorings and for a chance to serve you all better,¡± I said.


    ¡°You have the temerity to call for a meeting just to b about how stupid you¡¯ve been with controlling your anger. Your apology is not epted, we don¡¯t need an arrogant leader like you,¡± Kazmir stood up to yell.


    ¡°Step down as leader and we¡¯ll appoint someone else to rule,¡± Orvyn said.


    I knew it would result in this. Orvyn had been looking for a perfect opportunity to prove to everyone that I wasn¡¯t capable of ruling the pack and this seemed like the best opportunity to carry out his n.


    ¡°I can only step down if I don¡¯t find my mate in a year that was our agreement,¡± I said. ¡°An agreement is an agreement, Orvyn.¡±


    Orvyn and his cohort frowned and murmured within themselves. My response had taken them by surprise.


    One by one, they quietly left the hall until it was left with myself, my mother, some of the elders who weren¡¯t part of Orvyn¡¯s mischief, and representatives from each household.


    ¡°We¡¯ve heard all you have to say, Alpha. We appreciate your effort in fostering unity in this pack and we ept your apology,¡± one of the representatives said.


    I was about to speak when a guard stormed in. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°We have an intruder, ady from the neighboring pack. She said she has information that would be relevant to the pack,¡± the guard said.


    ¡°What pack?¡±


    ¡°The Lamia Pack, My Lord.¡±


    Lamia Pack, I thought. I knew no one from there nor was I close to the Alpha. We only met at the Council of Alphas meeting held once a year. Who could that be? I asked myself.


    Then it struck me. I turned to Lothar who also had an idea of what was going on.


    ¡°Uhm, I believe we have a mutual understanding now. You all can return to your homes,¡± I dismissed them. Then I said to the guard. ¡°Bring her to my quarters.  Lothar,e with me.¡±


    We arrived at the quarter after everyone had left. She was brought in, bound with chains.


    ¡°Release her and leave us,¡± I notified the guards.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Lothar whispered as the guards left.


    ¡°I¡¯m here for him, not you, Lothar,¡± she sneered.


    ¡°Answer the damn question, what do you want? You made it apparent thest time we met that you wanted nothing to do with me,¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here to strike a deal. I know you need me by your side to secure your ce as the leader. I need you too. Find out the reason why your father kicked my family out of the pack,¡± she said.


    ¡°I told you this already, don¡¯t make things more difficult than it already is for him,¡± Lothar said.


    ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± I replied gloomily. I had expected something else to be her reason for showing up here, knowing the risk of being captured and punished. Maybe a reason that was worth risking her life for, not this.


    ¡°I¡¯ll find out everything I can. You don¡¯t have to be by my side as my mate, I can rule without one,¡± I said. ¡°You should leave.¡±


    ¡°What a relief! Before I go, there¡¯s something you need to know. You are going to be killed, don¡¯t trust anyone, not even me,¡± she said, winking.


    ¡°What are you talking about? Who wants me dead?¡± I asked


    ¡°Find out for yourself, mate.¡±

 Chapter Eighteen

    CHRIS


    Every Alpha had many enemies, both known and unknown so I wasn¡¯t surprised to hear that anyone would want me dead but I was curious about what she knew. There could be someone out there who must be eyeing the throne and would do anything to bring me down, maybe someone from the rogue pack.


    ¡°Why are you telling me this? You¡¯d be happier to hear of my death, won¡¯t you?¡± I said.


    ¡°As much as I would love to be free from this crazy bond, I can¡¯t stand and watch someone else take your life. Find out what I need to know about my father and I¡¯ll let you know all you need to know,¡± she said.


    I became confused, was she concerned about my safety, or was she only concerned about her father¡¯s issue? I thought. ¡°You should leave, I¡¯ll look for you and discuss with you further when I find out everything about your father.¡±


    ¡°You know where to find me,¡± she walked off.


    I instructed the guards to lead her out of the pack safely before returning to my inner chambers to have a word with Lothar alone.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°What do you think?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve known Lucy for as long as I can remember. She may be strong-headed but she always knows what she is doing. She wouldn¡¯t risk it bying here just to b about something as serious as this, she knows something,¡± Lothar said.


    ¡°She won¡¯t say anything until I find out everything she needs to know about her family. You were close to her father, you should know something,¡±


    ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t. Your father was closest to her father, I only became close after he was used of what he did. I had a feeling that he was innocent but there was no way I could prove his innocence until he was kicked out by your father,¡± Lothar exined. ¡°Her father died yearster and ced her in my care.¡±


    Everything became clearer now, her reason for hating my family was justified but what baffled me was how our parents were once close before whatever happened between them. Maybe there was a reason why Lucy and I were fated to be together after all.


    Lothar had suggested that we keep our investigation a secret since it would stir an uproar amongst the elders and the real culprit whom we believed to be an elder would know of our ns. I on the other hand had a lot to discuss with Lucy, I had to convince her that I was on her side.


    It wasn¡¯t possible to sneak her into the pack without being noticed by anyone and it was taboo to be seen meddling with a rogue if they found out who she was. I had to do the sneaking out if I wanted her to be safe. I was also endangering myself by going to meet her, the rogues could find me and kill me and there was nothing anyone could do about it but that was the only possible option avable.


    Locating her wasn¡¯t difficult as I thought it would be, rather it seemed like she had been waiting for me to show up.


    ¡°What do you have for me?¡± she asked before I got closer.


    ¡°I¡¯m here to talk if you can just hear me out,¡± I pleaded.


    she led me into her hut and I began to exin all that Lothar had told me to her. She was shocked as I was when I first heard it. She found it hard to believe and immediately objected to it yet I understood her. I wasn¡¯t going to argue about anything with her.


    Make her feel superior and watch her bend at will to you with time. Lothar had said to me and that was exactly what I nned to do.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you all that I know, It¡¯s your turn,¡± I said to her. She sneered at me and stepped out of the hut, gesturing at me to walk with her white she led us into a thicker part of the woods until we got to a cliff.


    ¡°What are we doing here?¡± I asked in a suspicious tone.


    She chuckled. ¡°Rx, I don¡¯t intend to throw you down here. I still need you.¡± A smile smoothened on my lips as I moved closer, the view at the cliff was beautiful and serene, I also sighted the pack from there too.


    ¡°This is my safe space, my father would bring me here to have a view of what my real home looked like. He taught me everything I know inbat and promised to take me back home after he cleared his name from the allegations against him. He didn¡¯t live to fulfill his promise,¡± she said as tears rolled down her cheeks.


    I felt sorry for her, I knew what it was like to lose a family but not one whom everyone thought to be a traitor and needed to clear his name. If he hadn¡¯t died then the truth about what happened would have been known and she would have been a free wolf. I resisted the urge tofort her knowing how stiff she was when I tried to get close.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about your father and everything you had to go through, I¡¯ll make sure I find out everything you need to know and get you reinstalled as a member of the pack.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going back to that treacherous pack, my home is here with the rogues at least they are the only family I have now,¡± she snapped.


    I understood how she felt, anyone would do the same if they were in her shoes but I had to let her see reasons with me. The pack wouldn¡¯t ept her as their future Luna if she remained a rogue, I, on the other hand, could lose my leadership as Alpha if I presented no one to them as my mate. Howplicated could the situation be?


    ¡°What is it that I need to know? Who wants me dead?¡± I asked.


    ¡°What I¡¯m about to tell you should be between you and me, no one must know about this not even Lothar. You can¡¯t trust anyone from now on,¡± she said in what seemed like a whisper. ¡°My leader, Cade, wants you dead and he wants me to do it.¡±


    ¡°Are you going to?¡± I asked.


    She huffed a sigh and teetered forward to me. ¡°I would have done that if I wanted to but I can¡¯t. I feel obligated to keep you safe and I hate that feeling.¡±


    I kept mute not because I didn¡¯t have the right words to say but because I didn¡¯t want to ruin this first peaceful moment we shared else she would run away like she did thest time. If this was thest time I would spend a moment with her I wanted it to be worthwhile.


    We both stood there savoring the serenity of the cliff, lost in our different oblivion.

 Chapter Nineteen

    LUCY


    All my years of being raised as a rogue, the ideology we¡¯ve always had were that we rogues had equal rights as well as other wolves. That was why we always went to war with other packs, to prove a point. Hearing Cade¡¯s desire to kill the Alpha came as a surprise, all we¡¯ve always wanted was to win our spot as members of our various packs not to ignite more reasons to be seen as ouws.


    ¡°Kill the Alpha, else I¡¯ll let everyone know about what you did,¡± Cade said.


    I could sense the greed in him, he wouldn¡¯t want the Alpha dead if there was nothing in it for him. I was curious to know what it was so I asked.


    ¡°Why do you want the Alpha dead? Is there something in it for you?¡±


    ¡°The Alpha already has enemies amongst his elders, those that want him out of the way. He has been given a year to find his mate or else he would be dethroned,¡± he said.


    I now understood why he was adamant about me being his mate, knowing it was against thew to be with a rogue like me.


    ¡°That¡¯s not enough reason for him to give up the throne, killing him is the only way to get him out of the way.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s in it for you?¡± I asked curiously.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be the new leader of the pack,¡± he said, grinning from ear to ear. ¡°Look at the brighter side, Lucy, you¡¯ll get your revenge and also be a member of the pack again. You¡¯ll have anything you want, you¡¯ll be free again.¡±


    As much as the offer was tempting, I felt obligated to my mate. I had to warn him of the plot against him and at the same time make Cade believe that I was going to do as he had said.


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do it but on one condition,¡± I said.


    ¡°Name your price, child.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t only be reinstated as a member of the pack but I will be given a notable position too,¡± I said.


    ¡°Consider it done, just do as you have been told,¡± Cade said and turned to leave.


    ¡°That throne was mine to begin with,¡± he murmured.


    I heard the words he whispered and couldn¡¯t wrap my head around them. How could the throne be his when he was a rogue? Maybe there was something he was yet to tell me, I thought. Whatever it was could wait, finding a way to sneak into the pack was all I could think of.


    Early the next day, I set out to meet my mate. Knowing the consequences of being caught, I disguised myself and walked in through the main gate that led to the pce.


    ¡°Stop right there!¡± a stern voice said from behind me.


    ¡°Rx, Lucy, you can do this,¡± I kept muttering those words until he got closer.


    ¡°Intruder, who are you and state your business here,¡± he said. His stern voiceplimented his looks, he pointed his sword at me.


    ¡°I¡¯m here to see your Alpha, he is expecting me. Tell him it¡¯s Lothar¡¯s rtive from Lamia¡¯s pack, and he will understand. I mean no harm,¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see about that. Bound her, and wait here for my orders,¡± he said to the other guards. I was bound in chains and made to sit on the floor while he went to meet the Alpha.


    Shortly after, he returned and led me into one of the quarters where Lothar and Chris were waiting for me. I sensed that they weren¡¯t pleased to see me but that wasn¡¯t my concern at the moment, he needed to know every information about his safety.


    ¡°Why are you here, Lucy? Don¡¯t you know the risk ofing here,¡± Chris snarled at me.


    Of course, I knew, I thought.


    ¡°I know you need me as your mate to keep the throne so I¡¯m here to strike a deal. I want to know why my father was kicked out of here, why he was killed.¡± I said.


    I wasn¡¯t expecting him to agree to it but he did which came as a surprise to me. He offered to find out everything I needed to know.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to be by my side as a mate, I can rule without one. They can¡¯t take the throne away from me simply because I don¡¯t have a mate,¡± he said. Now, I wasn¡¯t expecting such a response from him.


    He probably got over the idea of me being his mate and it made me feel ufortable. I was supposed to be happy about it but I wasn¡¯t yet. I pretended not to care.


    ¡°That¡¯s fine by me, mate. By the way, someone wants you killed so don¡¯t trust anyone until you find out who it is, not even me,¡± I said.


    ¡°What are you talking about and why are you telling me this? You would be more than d to know that I¡¯m out of your way for good,¡± he said.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Find out what you need to know about my father. You know where to find me,¡± I winked ¡°See you around.¡±


    I returned to the pack and went to meet Cade to learn more about his ns. He was discussing with others and asked me to wait outside until they left.


    ¡°Come on in, Lucy, what do you have for me?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I should be asking you that, what are your ns?¡± I asked too.


    ¡°As I said, Kill him. If you can¡¯t, lure him here and I¡¯ll do it myself. You have to keep this between us, no one must know about our ns, not even my son,¡± he said


    ¡°He deserves to know your palms, you can¡¯t keep it away from him,¡± I said.


    ¡°Do as I say, young woman. Nathan is weak and doesn¡¯t have the balls to do anything.¡±


    I scowled and left his chambers. On my way to my hut, I met Maverick who seemed to be in a bad mood walking towards me, not like he was ever in a good mood nor had a smile on his face. He was one grumpy piece of shit I hated with a passion.


    ¡°Traitor! I see you¡¯ve found favor with our leader, I hope you know what you¡¯re doing. You seemed to have forgotten all that I told you, it¡¯ll be fun to see you crumble,¡± he sneered.


    I recalled what he had told me, about how the life of my mother and I could be in danger. He could probably be bluffing or just trying to get me scared but I had to tread with caution.


    ¡°Thank you for the advice, dickhead, I can handle myself just fine,¡± I growled.


    ¡°Do as you please, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you,¡± he scowled and left.


    The only ce for me to meet with Chris without us getting caught was in my father¡¯s hut out in the woods that was if he would show up. I visited there daily hoping he would show up but he didn¡¯t so I gave up.


    I packed up to return to the pack never to be seen around here when he showed up at my hut. A part of me was happy to see him, he was beginning to grow on me and I wasn¡¯tfortable with it, being around him or anyone else would distract me from obtaining my goal.


    I resisted the urge to stare, but without staring I could feel the aura of his presence, it was soothing. So many thoughts ran through my mind, lustful thoughts. I became disgusted with myself and left the hut before I embarrassed myself.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go for a walk, I want to show you something,¡± I said and led the way to the deeper part of the woods that led to the cliff, my safe ce.

 Chapter Twenty

    CHRIS


    Over the past few days, I found myself clinging to her. I couldn¡¯t wait for the next time to visit her again, all I could think of was her. I was no longer concerned about her being a rogue, all I wanted was her by my side as my mate. I bottled up my emotions whenever I was around her, that was the only way to not push her away from me but deep inside me, I wanted to tell her how I felt, how I wanted her close to me.


    As usual, I tried to sneak out of the pack when I was caught by my mother. She walked up to me with a frown on her face


    ¡°Where is the alpha of this pack sneaking out at this time? she said.


    ¡°Sneaking out,¡± I scoffed. ¡°Come off it, Mother, I¡¯m only taking a walk, I¡¯ll be back soon.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been observing you for days now, is there something going on that I need to know, son?¡± she asked.


    I huffed a sigh and wrapped my arms around her. ¡°Nothing is going on Mother, I am only going out into the woods for a walk. I have a lot to think oftely. I haven¡¯t found my mate and in no time, I¡¯ll be dethroned. It¡¯s weighing on me and I need to clear my head,¡± I lied.


    It was true that I had a lot going on around me but telling a lie about not finding my mate was necessary. Not that I wanted to but I didn¡¯t know how she would react when she found out about Lucy being a rogue.


    ¡°Oh dear, I understand how you feel. No one can take your right from you, it¡¯s yours. You don¡¯t have to listen to those treacherous councilmen, their words mean nothing,¡± she said, patting my back.


    ¡°Thank you, Mother, I need to leave now so that I can return before dusk,¡± I waved off and left before she said anything else or tried to stop me.


    I got to her hut and there she was, waiting for me. I wasn¡¯t expecting her to show up here but each day we decided to meet she never failed to show up. I wasn¡¯t sure if she was always here because she wanted to see me or to know how I was making progress in solving her father¡¯s case.


    ¡°Make yourself at home,¡± she said.


    Home, I thought. That¡¯s new. Was she nowfortable having me around her?


    ¡°What do you have for me? Have you found anythingtely?¡± I asked. Though within, I wanted to talk about us, I had to tell her how I really felt. Keeping these emotions to myself weighed heavily on me.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Look at her and tell her how you feel. Aren¡¯t you curious to know what our mate tastes like? Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t want to feel her warmth around you. Look at her, that body¡¯s a piece of art, she is by far, the most bodacious woman we¡¯ve set our eyes on, admit it, Chris,¡±  Garvin said through the mind link.


    I could feel the swelling and tension in my lower region and I could tell that I was aroused at the thought of her. I swallowed hard and fought the urge to remain calm. My wolf only made matters worse.


    ¡°Enough wolfie, that¡¯s enough. It¡¯s rather too early to have such desires for her, besides, she doesn¡¯t want to be with us. She doesn¡¯t love us,¡± I said.


    ¡°Speak for yourself, human. I¡¯m not as blind as you are to see the writing on the wall, she wants you, she wants us but you¡¯re too dumb to notice anything, way too dumb.¡±


    I could feel the tension building up inside me, I was restless and sweating profusely. I swallowed hard and fought the lustful thoughts in my head. ¡°Don¡¯t ruin this, Chris, don¡¯t ruin this,¡± I mumbled.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± she asked. ¡°You¡¯ve been acting strange since you got here, is everything okay? Is there something you need to tell me?¡±


    Yes, I need to tell you how you make me feel, Lucy. I want you. Those words were at the tip of my tongue but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to say them, rather I stood there staring at her.


    ¡°Chris-Chris!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I got carried away, I have a lot on my mind right now,¡± I lied.


    ¡°Do you want to talk about it,¡± she asked, cing her hand on my shoulder. I felt a cold chill run down my spine. ¡°Is it about what I told you? You have nothing to worry about, I¡¯m not going to let that happen to you,¡± she said.


    Now I was confused, At first, she acted like she didn¡¯t care about me and now she was so concerned and willing to stand by me.


    ¡°I don¡¯t seem to understand you, Lucy. One minute you hate me and the next you are willing to stand by me,¡± I said.


    ¡°Which would you prefer, Alpha Chris?¡± she said.


    ¡°You want to know what I think,¡± I said, head dipping lower as I tried to get level with her eyes. ¡°I think I prefer you being by my side, Lucy. I want you to be close to me every day, I never want to be apart from you.¡±


    I leaned closer and could see how uneasy she had be, she tried to avoid close eye contact with me. ¡°Don¡¯t you want the same?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I just¨C¡±


    without warning, my mouth was on hers. I kissed her roughly, her body trembling in my arms. ¡°If you want me to stop, tell me now,¡± I whispered. I brushed her mouth against the hollow of her temple. ¡°Should I stop?¡± I traced the line of her cheekbone. ¡°Or now.¡±


    She pulled me closer and kissed me back, and oh, it was good. She knotted her fists in my shirt, pulling me harder against her. I groaned softly, low in my throat, and my arms circled her, gathering her against me, still kissing.


    Suddenly, she pushed away from me. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t,¡± she said in a shaky voice, tears flowing down her cheek. I didn¡¯t know what to say or do, I simply watched as she took off into the woods. I feared that I might never get to see her again.


    ¡°It¡¯s all your fault, now you¡¯ll never see her again,¡±. I muttered. I cursed under my breath as I returned to the pack, downcasted.

 Chapter Twenty One

    CHRIS


    I stood there as I watched her leave, I didn¡¯t know if going after her was a good idea so I stayed back. I med myself for not controlling my emotions around her. Now I wondered if I was ever going to see her again.


    I stayed a while longer hoping that she might return but she didn¡¯t and going to the rogue¡¯s pack wasn¡¯t the best idea so I decided to return home. As I made my way down to the park, I felt I was being followed. but whenever I turned to see who it was, I found no one.


    The scent of this person was so familiar,  I could tell who it was even in my sleep. ¡°Ka, I know it¡¯s you. You cane out now,¡± I said.


    She creeped out of the woods with a smug on her face. ¡°How did you know it was me? Here I was thinking I was doing a good job by watching you,¡± she chuckled.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°What are you doing here? Do you know how dangerous it is to be out here alone?¡± I frowned.


    ¡°I should say the same about you, what were you doing out here alone?¡± she asked, staring at me with those curious eyes.


    ¡°It is personal,¡± I said.


    ¡°So personal that you, the alpha will have to sneak out of the pce. Come on Chris, tell me,¡± she said.


    ¡°I already told you, it¡¯s personal. Let¡¯s go before it gets dark


    ¡°Fine, since you won¡¯t tell me anything. Who is she? Don¡¯t lie to me because I saw her,¡± Ka said.


    ¡°She? What are you talking about Ka?¡± I asked. If Ka had seen Lucy then, I was in trouble because my mother was going to know about her too.


    ¡°The beautifuldy with you in the woods earlier today, who is she?¡± she persisted.


    ¡°Mind your business, Ka,¡± I sneered.


    ¡°Is she your mistress?¡± she persisted


    ¡°She is my mate!!¡± I blurted out. ¡°Please Ka, this is between us, promise you won¡¯t say a word to anyone about this, not even my mother.¡±


    ¡°Why? You¡¯ve found your mate, it¡¯s time to prove to those councilmen that you have the right to the throne. Why do you want to keep her a secret from everyone?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not ready yet and neither is she,¡± I said walking away from her. If the news got out that I¡¯d found my mate, Lucy wouldn¡¯t be safe anymore especially because she was a rogue and I couldn¡¯t bring myself to tell her that I, an alpha, was mated to a rogue. It sounded absurd and impossible.


    Then it struck me. How did she know that I snuck out of the pce? She didn¡¯t live in the pce to know all that happened within. ¡°By the way, what exactly were you doing out here and how did you know that I sneaked out?¡± I asked.


    ¡°So that confirms that you actually sneaked out of the pce, don¡¯t worry your secrets are safe with me,¡± she said curiously.


    ¡°Don¡¯t change the topic Ka, spill,¡± I sneered at her.


    ¡°Ask Lady Maeve, she put me up to this,¡± she rolled her eyes and stormed off.


    I should have known that my mother had a hand in this, she was an inquisitive person. I got home and met my mother with Ka already discussing, they were both beaming with excitement and I could tell that Ka had let the cat out of the bag.


    My mother rushed up to me. grinning from ear to ear. ¡°When are you bringing her home?¡± she said.


    ¡°Ka! I thought we had an agreement, you promised,¡± I squealed.


    ¡°I never did, besides I¡¯m more than excited to meet her as well, bring her over,¡± Ka said, turning her face from me.


    ¡°It¡¯s not going to happen, it¡¯s impossible,¡±  I whined.


    ¡°What do you mean? I can talk to her on your behalf if you want,¡± my mother giggled with excitement.


    Huffing a sigh, I left them, not because I wasn¡¯t excited as they were but because it would create a fuss when they realized who she really was. There would never understand the pain I had to go through by keeping her a secret from everyone. This was the time to im my spot as the alpha fully and I was faced with another problem, falling in love with a rogue.


    Iy on my bed, lost in thought. Asides from keeping her a secret from everyone, I was also faced with the fact that I might never get to meet her today after the crazy stunt I pulled earlier.


    ¡°What is going on with you? You don¡¯t seem so excited about having a mate,¡± my mother said as she walked into my chambers alongside Ka.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Mother, I¡¯ll like to be alone now,¡± I said, turning away from them.


    ¡°Son, this is what you¡¯ve always wanted, why have you suddenly lost interest in your quest to im you¡¯re right?¡± she said. I noticed the concern in her voice but I couldn¡¯t tell her anything about Lucy¡¯s status and her history with my family which I still knew nothing about.


    ¡°We are not the same, Mother. We are two different people and she can never be with someone like me. Mother, you can never understand.¡± I said.


    ¡°Then make me, I need to know,¡± she said


    ¡°I will, when the time is right until then I¡¯ll like to be left alone,¡± I said.


    My mother nodded and left quietly while Ka stayed behind. ¡°Do you want me to leave too?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± I snapped. ¡°You can¡¯t keep a secret so there¡¯s no point talking to you about it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, your mother cajoled me into this, she was worried about you,¡± Ka said, trying to defend herself.


    ¡°Can we talk about thister? I need to clear my head.¡±


    ¡°Promise?¡±


    ¡°Maybe, I don¡¯t know. Just leave Ka, we¡¯ll talk about itter,¡± I said, faking a smile at her.


    I mmed myself on the bed immediately Ka walked out of my chambers and strictly instructed my guards not to let anyone in. My mind drifted back to our kiss, the taste of her lips still lingered on mine. That wasn¡¯t my first kiss but it was the most memorable even though itsted for a short time.


    One thing was certain, she liked me too else she wouldn¡¯t have kissed me back. I understood how difficult it would be for her to finally ept this fate that we share andy aside all grudges she had against my father and my pack.


    I didn¡¯t mind how long it would take for her to ept me, I was willing to wait as long as she wanted.

 Chapter Twenty Two

    LUCYAll content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    I didn¡¯t know why I ran away from him, I wanted it to continue but it felt like I was betraying my father and breaking the promise of having my revenge on Chris¡¯ family. As much as I hated to admit it, I was beginning to develop strong feelings for him, feelings I never expected myself to feel especially for someone like him, someone I¡¯ve always hated so much.


    My eyes were teary as I buried my head in my bed sobbing and wishing that it would all be a dream.


    ¡°It¡¯s unusual to see you here by this time, are you alright, darling?¡± my mother asked as she sat on my bed.


    I quickly wiped the tears off my face but she was quick to notice.


    ¡°Why are you crying? Did anything happen to you?¡± she asked again, concern written all over her face.


    ¡°I¡¯m not crying, mother. Something flew into my eyes, that¡¯s all,¡± I lied. I readjusted myself so she wouldn¡¯t see how much I¡¯d cried.


    ¡°Do I look like a child to you, Lucy? You can always talk to me, I¡¯m your mother and I¡¯ll do anything to see a smile on your beautiful face,¡± she cupped my face in her hands and smiled at me.


    I felt so warm and rxed, it¡¯s been a long time since I and my mother sat this close. We had always been at loggerheads with each other since my father passed away, also, she had always seen my quest for revenge as a stupid idea and I felt she never loved my father enough.


    ¡°I found my mate,¡± I mumbled.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± my mother asked.


    ¡°I found my mate!¡± I said aloud.


    ¡°Oh, dear, that¡¯s great news. Is that why you¡¯ve been crying? You should be happy,¡± my overly excited mother said.


    ¡°It feels so wrong and right at the same time, I don¡¯t know what to do anymore,¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here if you want to talk about it,¡± she said.


    ¡°Why did I have to be mated to him? It just- it just feels so wrong, I feel like I¡¯m betraying Father,¡± I said.


    ¡°What are you talking about darling? I¡¯ll never understand if you don¡¯t exin to me,¡± she said.


    ¡°I¡¯m mated to the alpha, mother,¡± I whimpered. ¡°Alpha Chris is my mate, the alpha of the same pack that did this to us, the pack that rejected us and killed my father.¡±


    My mother couldn¡¯t hide her surprise when she heard me, the excitement she had felt died down and all I could see was sadness in her eyes. Who wouldn¡¯t be sad after knowing that your child had been mated to the same people that had a hand in the death of your husband, it was uneptable and a huge mistake from the moon goddess.


    Though it was believed that the moon goddess has a reason for everything she has predestined. But this, this destiny she had prepared for me was probably a mistake on her end.


    ¡°The goddess never makes a mistake, she has a reason for everything,¡± so they always say. Hell no, she does make mistakes.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a sign that we never had a hand in what we were used of. May the goddess be praised, she finally wants to vindicate us,¡± she said.


    Eww!! What the hell! I was expecting her to be enraged andmand me to reject that traitor as my mate and she was saying that. My doubts were probably right, ever since I took it as a quest to avenge my father¡¯s death, she had always been against it. At first, I thought she had lost her mind due to the heartbreak she had experienced at his death but now I knew that she had really lost her mind.


    ¡°Mother, are you listening to me at all? I¡¯m mated to the alpha of the hallowed manes pack, the pack you and father were kicked out from, the pack that used the both of you wrongly and banished you both, the pack that killed my father, your husband and you¡¯re telling me it¡¯s a sign. It¡¯s either you or the moon goddess that must¡¯ve lost its sanity,¡± I bellowed.


    ¡°Child, I can take whatever nasty word but don¡¯t you ever speak ill of the moon goddess, it¡¯s wrong and can attract her wrath,¡± my mother said.


    ¡°She should have thought better before mating me with him, I hate him,¡± I said, though that was a lie.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think you do, or else you wouldn¡¯t have let him escape when he was caught wandering around the pack,¡± she grinned.


    How did she even know that? ¡°What are you talking about mother? I didn¡¯t let him escape, he tried to kill me,¡± I said, swallowing hard.


    ¡°You¡¯re not a good liar,¡± she said, smiling. ¡°Think of what I said, this is an opportunity to clear your father¡¯s name from all usations,¡± she said, leaving me to ponder on her words.


    All night I longed for him, it felt weird at the beginning but it all began to make sense, maybe this could be what I was looking for, maybe this was the only way to clear my father¡¯s name.


    ording to stories in the past, it was taboo for anyone in the hallowed manes pack or any other pack to mingle or have anything to do with a rogue so I wondered if it would ever be possible for us to be together.


    If he went against the rule, he would be considered a traitor and dered a rogue like me, he would also be ripped off his rank as Alpha and that would be the end for him. I didn¡¯t want that, I didn¡¯t want him to suffer because of me and my status.


    I wasn¡¯t sure if what I felt for him was from within or if it was the mate bond working, but all I know is that it felt so good.


    My tempo began to rise as I imagined his lips on mine, how they traveled down the temple of my neck, how good his hands felt on my skin. I was so intrigued by my fantasies that I didn¡¯t notice when Nathan walked in.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been scarce these days, Lucy,¡± he said. I gave no response to him because I was still lost in my fantasies.


    ¡°Lucy!!¡± he screamed into my ears, causing me to jolt.


    ¡°What the heck, Nathan, have you lost your fvcking mind?¡± I yelled at him.


    Nathan chuckled. ¡°That was the only way to get your attention back, I¡¯m not sorry by the way. Anyways, it¡¯s been a while. Where have you been?¡±


    ¡°In and out, just the usual,¡± I said.


    ¡°With your mate, huh?¡± he winked.


    ¡°Quit the jokes, why are you here?¡± I asked.


    ¡°My father wishes to speak to you, now,¡± he said.


    Immediately, my mind drifted to the stupid deal I had with his father, to kill the Alpha.

 Chapter Twenty Three

    LUCY


    ¡°Lure the Alpha to the pack and I¡¯ll take it from there,¡± Cade¡¯s words kept lingering in my head as I paced around the woods seeking a solution.


    Chris and I hadn¡¯t been on the best of terms but he was my mate and I had to admit, I was drawn to him already. Whatever he was using to capture my attention was working very well.


    There has to be another way, I thought. I also had to warn him of the dangers ahead and for him to stop visiting until I found a way out of this.


    There was no means ofmunicating with him and going to the pack to see him was suicidal, I had only been lucky thest time.


    I was in this mess because the moon goddess had chosen my ene, y and the enemy of the rogues as my mate, one that had never happened before. I wondered how everyone would feel when they learned I was mated to the Alpha. They would hate me for sure and would put me and my mum in harm¡¯s way.


    ¡°There you are,¡± Nathan said from behind, bringing me back from my oblivion. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking everywhere for you, what are you doing here?¡± he asked.


    I ignored his question, pretending not to pay attention. I noticed the frown on his face when I didn¡¯t respond to him. This wasn¡¯t something I was ready to expose to him, also his father had warned that I kept everything away from him until he felt it was right to do so.


    ¡°Lucy, I¡¯m talking to you,¡± he said, nudging me.


    ¡°What do you want, Nathan?¡± I asked. I needed to be alone but he failed to understand.


    ¡°I said that I¡¯ve been looking for you, what are you doing here all alone?¡± he asked,


    ¡°I need some time alone that¡¯s why,¡± I blurted out.


    At this point, I didn¡¯t care about how he felt about my response, besides it was his father who had ced me in such a difficult situation. Everything his father was nning to do was going to be beneficial to him as well and I¡¯ll be the one to suffer the damned consequences.


    I watched as he walked away not minding how angry I had made him, I needed time to think of my problems and how to solve them.


    After hours of thinking withouting up with any possible solution, I returned home. Maybe a good sleep would help me think better so I thought. Getting home I found Cade and my mother chatting andughing, something I had never witnessed before.


    ¡°You¡¯re here, we were just talking about you,¡± Cade said.


    ¡°What are you doing here? You¡¯ve never visited my hut before,¡± I asked. It was rare to see Cade visit anyone in the pack, he barely had time for that and only did when he had something important and private to discuss with such family. Seeing him here meant he had something to say or he came to ask questions he shouldn¡¯t ask.


    ¡°Is everything okay with you, Lucy?¡± he asked. ¡°Nathan told me you¡¯ve been acting strangetely and that you wouldn¡¯t talk to him, so I came to what the problem could be.¡±


    I scoffed. There was no way I was going to believe that crap, since when did he care about my mood or how I felt. There was something he wasn¡¯t saying and I knew it.


    Was he suspicious that I could be having second thoughts about this deal? I thought, or he suspected that I had something to do with the Alpha? Maybe that was why he was here, to find information from my mother.


    ¡°Did you reallye here to know why I haven¡¯t had a conversation with your son or is there more to this visit?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m the leader here and it¡¯s my responsibility to look out for any of my subordinates who aren¡¯t doing well. Stop overthinking things, it¡¯s not healthy,¡± he said.


    ¡°Well, as you can see, I¡¯m doing great you have nothing to worry about,¡± I said.


    ¡°Perfect, I wouldn¡¯t want my finest wolf disrupting my ns because of a little misunderstanding,¡± he said. At this point, I knew he had something in mind and was waiting for the right moment to spill it out. ¡°Do you mind having a word with me outside for a bit?¡± he said to me.


    ¡°Here we go,¡±  I mumbled, huffing a sigh. I followed behind while he led me outside the pack. Where could he be taking me to? I thought. Why wouldn¡¯t he have that discussion in his chambers, why out here?


    ¡°You have nothing to worry about, I¡¯m not going to hurt you,¡± he said like he was reading my thoughts.


    ¡°Why are we here then? Why can¡¯t we discuss whatever this is in the pack?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Is there something I need to know?¡± he asked, raising my suspicion. ¡°You¡¯re the one acting strange so tell me.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, if this is about Nathan, you have nothing to worry about. We had a little argument, that¡¯s it,¡± I said.


    ¡°Is our n still in ce?¡± he asked, I could sense the suspicion in his voice.


    ¡°Of course, everything is set, I¡¯ll lure the Alpha and you can do whatever you like with him,¡± I said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you the honor of killing the Alpha, it¡¯s what you¡¯ve always wanted, now you have the chance to get your revenge,¡± he said. That wasn¡¯t what I was expecting, killing the Alpha wasn¡¯t my goal anymore. Why did he suddenly want me to be his killer? What could he be nning this time?


    I nodded in affirmation. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to handle the rest and let me know when you¡¯re ready,¡± he said and walked away.


    I swallowed hard, how did I let myself get into this mess? I had to find a way to warn Chris, his life was in grave danger and it didn¡¯t matter who his killer would be. If I didn¡¯t do it, there was someone else that would.


    As I pondered on what to do, Maverick came out of his hiding, wearing a smirk on his face. I knew someone had been eavesdropping on our conversation, I had noticed the movement in the bushes but paid no attention to it.


    ¡°How long have you been out there?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Long enough to know that you¡¯re leading yourself to doom,¡± he said. At that very instant, I became really confused.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I asked again.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You know what I¡¯m talking about, Lucy. I see that you¡¯ve formed an allegiance with Cade but don¡¯t forget what I¡¯ve always told you,¡± he said.


    As he turned to walk away, I grabbed his arm. ¡°You¡¯re getting me confused here, what do you mean?¡±


    ¡°History is about to repeat itself,¡± he said, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t harm my mate if I was you.¡±


    He knew. Maverick knew. I stood there in shock as he walked away still wearing that smug he always had on his face.

 Chapter Twenty Four

    LUCY


    Days passed by and I still hadn¡¯t thought of what to do. Maverick hovered around, repeating the exact words he had said before about history repeating itself. No matter how I tried to make him spill the truth, he wouldn¡¯t sumb. All he kept saying was time would reveal itself. When was time going to reveal itself? When Chris dies or what?


    There was no way I would stand and watch anyone hurt my mate, not even Cade. I chose to see him in his pack, though it was risky. I had done it before so I could do it again.


    That evening, I sneaked out of the pack to avoid the prying eyes of Cade and his men, whom I knew had been keeping close tabs on everything I¡¯d been doing. Another person I tried to avoid was Maverick, who continuously gave me the creeps anytime we met. He was gradually bing a psychopath, and everyone could attest to it.


    As I journeyed to the pack, I noticed some unusual movement around me. The crunchy sounds from the leaves gave it away. I knew immediately that I was being followed by somebody or something. I turned to see what it was, but there was no sign of anyone behind.


    Maybe I was thinking too much. I must¡¯ve mistaken the rustling sound for something else, or so I thought. I continued my journey, but I still didn¡¯t feel safe. The crunchy sound continued, and this time, it was getting closer.


    My heart pounded, my head spun, my eyes saw nothing but darkness, and my ears filled with the sounds of the tip tap of their footsteps as they drew even closer. I had never in my life felt scared before. It felt like my heart woulde out of my mouth. I turned again to see if I could figure out who they were, but the darkness made it impossible for me to see anything.


    I overcame my fear and persisted in my journey because they did not scare me anymore and because I believed they couldn¡¯t harm me. If they wanted to, they would have done so already. I believed they wouldn¡¯t harm me; maybe Cade sent them to keep an eye on me.


    ¡°Lucy!¡± I heard a voice call out to me. It was Chris.


    Immediately I froze. He was thest person I was expecting to see on my way to his pack. This wasn¡¯t how I imagined our meeting to be. This was not my n. I had just led Cade¡¯s men to him.


    ¡°Lucy, what are you doing here? I was about to go visit you,¡± he said, smiling.


    If only he knew what was ahead of him, he wouldn¡¯t be smiling at me. He would be running for safety, far away from me.


    ¡°Why do you look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost? It¡¯s me,¡± he said, looking confused. I waspletely shaken, so he couldn¡¯t understand why.


    ¡°You need to leave. You¡¯re not safe here,¡± I whispered.


    ¡°Why are you whispering? We¡¯re the only ones here in the woods,¡± he said.


    I shook my head. ¡°We are not the only ones here. You need to go. It¡¯s not safe here for you,¡± I warned.


    ¡°If there are people out there, then it isn¡¯t safe for you either,¡± he said.


    I tried to convince him to leave at once, but he wouldn¡¯t listen. Rather, he used his body as a shield as he sniffed around. I didn¡¯t understand why he was doing that. Maybe it was an alpha thing, but it looked weird.


    ¡°I can sense three of them,¡± he said. ¡°Stay here. There could be more of them.¡±


    Before I could hold him back, heunched forward, showing off his shiny ws. Just like he said, three men came out from their hiding wearing a smirk on their faces. As I had predicted, they were Cade¡¯s men. There was something about them that I couldn¡¯t quite understand right from the moment Cade brought them into the pack. No one dared cross their path except me, of course, who was stubborn-headed and showed no fear.


    Seeing them now, I had to admit I was really scared. They filled their aura with darkness and danger. They looked fearless as they faced Chris.


    ¡°How dare you try to betray your leader, Lucy?¡± one of them said. His husky voice sent chills down my spine.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, I answer to no one, not even Cade nor your trio,¡± I said, trying to hide my fears.


    ¡°What are they talking about?¡± Chris asked.


    ¡°They asked me to lure you to the pack and kill you, but they knew I wasn¡¯t going to do so they followed me here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure Cade will be pleased to have the alpha¡¯s head and yours alongside his,¡± one of them said as they all burst intoughter.


    ¡°The only head that¡¯ll be rolling tonight will be yours,¡± Chris said.


    He charged toward them with his ws. His movement was swift, like nothing I had ever seen before. Right before my eyes, he ripped the heart of one of them and threw it on the floor.


    Chris was a different person. He was no longer the calm young man that tried to sway me off my feet; he was a beast now. A dreadful beast.


    The others charged at him, shoving their ws at him, he dodged them both. In a split second, the head of the other man came rolling towards me; another man down. The third took to his heels, seeing how impossible it was to defeat Chris.


    There was no way I was going to let him get away. If he did, it was the end for both me and my mother. I ran as fast as I could until I caught up with him. I tried to stop him but like a wave, his mighty hand shoved me aside. I fell backward, settling into a defensive stance. There was a pain in my leg and side from the push: I was wounded but not out of the fight yet. He growled at me, his teeth bared. If I didn¡¯t stop him now, there¡¯s no telling what would happen when he returned to the pack.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I charged at him once more with all the strength I could gather because he was bigger than me and I was no match for him. My ws tore at his face and I saw the rage when he saw his blood drip from his face.


    ¡°You traitor!¡± he yelled.


    Before I knew what was happening, I felt his sharp ws dig deep into my flesh. I fell to the ground, whining in pain as I bled out. My sights were gradually deteriorating, maybe this was the end for me, maybe not but I was certain that I fought a good fight. I tried to keep him safe and I did.

 Chapter Twenty Five

    CHRIS


    ¡°Chris¡­¡±


    I heard the whispers of Lucy¡¯s voice as she called from a distance.  Lucy had chased after one of them that had tried to escape. I searched for her but I couldn¡¯t find her, all I could hear was her voice in the woods.


    Not like she was shouting out my name, I could hear her voice in my head. She was hurt and needed me.


    ¡°Chris, run away,¡± her voice said. ¡°it¡¯s the only way to keep you safe,¡± it kept saying.


    There was no way I would leave her in the woods alone with that dreadful man, it was my duty to protect her even though she didn¡¯t want it.


    I continued my search for her and immediately picked a familiar scent nearby. It was her scent, Lucy¡¯s scent. As I got closer, I felt my body tremble. My heart squeezed up in fright.


    I drew even closer and soon saw her lying on the floor, looking lifeless and covered in her blood.


    My face turned red as I red at the man who had done this to my Lucy. He grinned as he held his hand to his face covering the cut Lucy had given him.


    ¡°I should have known sooner that you two were lovers, that¡¯s why she¡¯s been so skeptical about handing you over to us. I can¡¯t imagine the smile on Cade¡¯s face when I tell him all of this,¡± the man said.


    ¡°That is if you¡¯ll be alive to tell the story,¡± I growled at him. With rage, Iunched at him with everything I¡¯d got. He barely raised a finger at me as I tore at his flesh. His groans made me smile as I watched him struggle to get up.


    ¡°What are you?¡± he asked. I could sense the fright in him. I too was scared of what I was doing. I wasn¡¯t the one in control anymore, it was Gavin my wolf who had taken possession of my being.


    ¡°Your worst nightmare you bastard,¡± I snarled. I separated his head from his body before he had the chance to say another word.


    I rushed to Lucy who stilly on the cold floor, she wasn¡¯t breathing, though her body was still warm.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be dead, Lucy,¡± I cried.


    ¡°We need to get her out of here!!!¡± Gavin yelled at me. I immediately carried her away, bridal style, and raced back to the pack to seek help.


    I was lucky enough to avoid the prying eyes of the people as I snuck into my chambers.


    ¡°Get Ka, now!¡± I screamed at my guards. ¡°Find Lothar,¡± I ordered another.


    ¡°Wake up Lucy, we¡¯re safe now. Please wake up,¡± I said. My voice was a bit shaky, there was no way I would ever forgive myself if anything happened to her. I couldn¡¯t bear the loss of her in my life.


    Ka rushed in, panting. ¡°What is the emergency about? Your guards said you needed to see me urgently,¡± she asked. Turning to see Lucy, she asked again, ¡°Who is she?¡±


    ¡°Do something, Ka, she¡¯s not breathing. Wake her up please,¡± I pleaded.


    Without asking further questions, Ka began to administer treatment to Lucy. I stayed by her side until she was able to revive her.


    ¡°She¡¯s stable now, she¡¯ll wake up soon,¡± Ka finally said in a reassuring tone.


    ¡°How soon?¡± I asked impatiently.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know but soon, she lost a lot of blood and is still unconscious. She needs time to heal,¡± she said.


    ¡°Thank you, Ka. I knew I could count on you.¡± I said.


    ¡°Before you thank me, can I know who she is?¡± Ka asked.


    I sighed. Was it time to tell her about Lucy and who she was? Ka was a persistent woman and wouldn¡¯t take No for an answer. Maybe it was time to reveal Lucy to her.


    ¡°This is Lucy, she was attacked,¡± I said.


    ¡°and¡­..¡± she said.


    ¡°She¡¯s my mate. The one you saw me with,¡± I said. ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t say anything to my mother, keep this between us.¡±


    ¡°What happened to her? Who did this to her?¡± Ka asked.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    I took my time to exin everything to her, how we met, how I¡¯d been sneaking out to meet with her, and most importantly the truth that she was a rogue. Also, the conspiracy about her father¡¯s hand in my father¡¯s death. I told her all of it.


    Ka slowly ced herself on the seat close to her. Perplexion was written all over her face, I knew all I had said was a shock to her.


    ¡°Your mate is a rogue?¡± she said. ¡°Not just a rogue but the daughter of the man that killed your father.¡±


    ¡°What if he didn¡¯t? Besides it¡¯s not her fault that she became a rogue,¡± I said defending Lucy.


    ¡°Do you know how dangerous it is to be found with a rogue? What will the elders do when they find out about her? You¡¯ll lose your throne for sure,¡± Ka said.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to lose my throne, we¡¯re going to uncover the truth about my father¡¯s death together,¡± I said.


    ¡°We..? It¡¯s we now huh? Is that how close you two have been?¡± she kept asking.


    I waved her questions off and sat beside Lucy, holding her hands. I felt my heart break as I watched her, it was all my fault. I couldn¡¯t protect her, I couldn¡¯t keep her safe.


    ¡°She¡¯s going to be alright, trust me,¡± Ka said, noticing the worried look on my face. I wanted her to be alright, I felt guilty enough that she had risked her life in trying to save me. I owed her my life now and would do anything for her, anything she wanted.


    I remained by her side all night waiting for her to wake up but she didn¡¯t. Ka said she was going to wake up soon but why wasn¡¯t she? I prayed to the moon goddess to keep her safe.


    It was on the third day that Lucy eventually regained consciousness. I had fallen asleep by her side when she woke up.


    ¡°Where am I?¡± I heard her ask and immediately jolted from my sleep.


    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re awake,¡± I said excitedly. ¡°Rx, I¡¯ll ask the maidservant to fix something for you to eat.¡±


    ¡°Chris, where am I?¡± she asked again.


    ¡°You¡¯re in my chambers, love. You¡¯re safe here with me,¡± I assured.


    Like a sh, she sprung out of bed and reached for her clothes which were neatly ced by the table.


    ¡°I have to go, my mother might be in trouble,¡± she said.


    ¡°Your mother is safe, I have my guards close by so you have nothing to worry about,¡± I said in a more reassuring tone.


    ¡°How long have I been out?¡±


    ¡°Two days now, you still need to stay here until you¡¯re fully healed,¡± I said.


    Nothing I said was going to make her stay. She dashed into the bathroom with her clothes and dashed out almost immediately.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t healed yet, stay for a few more days then you can return home if you want.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t, my mother is not safe there alone. She needs me to protect her from Cade and his crazy plots,¡± she said.


    Seeing that she had made up her mind to leave, I instructed my beta Glen to lead her back to the pack since she had refused that I didn¡¯t take her home.


    As she left, my mind drifted away from her. I had to do something about this man, Cade before he hatched another n.

 Chapter Twenty Six

    LUCY


    ¡°You traitor!¡±


    Those words jolted me back to life.


    I felt a sharp pain on my side as I lifted myself from the bed, the environment was unfamiliar to me. Thest thing I remembered was passing out in the woods after I was injured by Cade¡¯s men.


    ¡°Shit!!¡± I eximed.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Cade¡¯s men must¡¯ve reported the situation to him and my mother was probably in trouble right now.


    ¡°Where was I?¡± I asked myself as I looked around. A familiar figure was asleep close to me, it was a shirtless masculine figure whose head was buried on the bed.


    I tried to get out of bed without waking him up but I failed. He woke up at the slightest sound and held me down before I got off the bed.


    ¡°Stay, you¡¯re still hurt,¡± he said. It was Chris and I was in his chambers.


    ¡°What am I doing here? How did I get here?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I brought you here, you were injured and needed to be taken care of,¡± he exined.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said, my gaze fixed on his bare chest. I swallowed hard as I fought the urge growing inside me. This wasn¡¯t the first time I¡¯d seen a shirtless man so why was this different?


    ¡°I should go,¡± I finally said, burying my face to the ground. I grabbed my clothes that were neatly ced at the corner of the bed and dashed into the closet. I wondered how I got out of my clothes, my face immediately turned red at the thought.


    ¡°No, you¡¯re staying here until you¡¯re strong enough to go home or you can stay here with mepletely. This is your home too,¡± he said from the room.


    My home, I thought. Of course, this used to be my home but not anymore. I was an outcast now and didn¡¯t belong here.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry but I can¡¯t stay here, I¡¯m not weed here,¡± I said again, hoping that would change his mind. ¡°I need to be sure that my mother is safe out there. One of Cade¡¯s men must¡¯ve told him all that transpired in the woods,¡± I added.


    ¡°Oh, if that¡¯s your concern then you have nothing to worry about. I took care of him, so no one would be saying anything to your leader,¡± he said with a smile.


    I sighed in relief. If truly he meant what he said then I had nothing to worry about but that wouldn¡¯t stop me from leaving here. Another minute here with him alone, I wouldn¡¯t be able to control the desires I had for him.


    His bare skin was weing and pleasing to the eyes. I had always wondered what he looked like underneath those clothes but this right here was far from my imagination of him. This was more than perfect.


    ¡°Get a hold of yourself, Lucy. This is not the time,¡± I muttered as I quickly brushed him out of my thoughts. ¡°I need to leave, I can¡¯t stay here. It¡¯s way too risky for you and me,¡± I added.


    Chris red at me. I knew I could be stiff-necked sometimes but leaving here was for the best. Not like I didn¡¯t want to stay back, this was fancier than the hut I lived in that miserable pack.


    ¡°It¡¯s obvious nothing I say will make you stay, I¡¯ll make sure my beta leads you to the pack safely,¡± he said.


    His beta whose name was Glen walked into the chambers and after a brief discussion between them, he led me out of the pack.


    Our journey was a quiet one and it was very boring. I had a lot of questions to ask him regarding who Chris really was.


    ¡°I¡¯m Lucy, what¡¯s your name?¡± I finally broke the silence.


    ¡°I know who you are,¡± he grunted.


    ¡°I know your name, it¡¯s Glen, right?¡± I asked again.


    ¡°Listen, because you¡¯re my Alpha¡¯s mate doesn¡¯t change the fact that you¡¯re a rogue to me,¡± he snarled at me.


    ¡°well I didn¡¯t choose to be a rogue neither did I choose to be his mate so you had better mind the way you address me,¡± I growled at him in return.


    We red at each other for a while until he turned his gaze away from me.


    Yeah, look away, I thought.


    ¡°you can leave now, I will continue from here,¡± I said as we got closer to the pack.


    ¡°I¡¯m going with you until you walk through those gates,¡± he snapped.


    I never understood why he was rude to me, it was obvious that this was more than just me being a rogue but what did I care, he could hate me all he wanted but it wouldn¡¯t change who I was.


    ¡°This is it, you can turn back now before anyone finds you here,¡± I said, not like I cared if anything happened to him. I was doing this for Chris.


    He snarled again and turned to leave. ¡°Good riddance,¡± I heard him mutter.


    I simply ignored him and walked in. As I expected, Cade had a few of his men waiting for me.


    ¡°Good to see you back, Lucy,¡± I heard Maverick call from a distance. His face beamed with excitement as I was led away by the guards, it seemed like he was enjoying the show.


    Maverick was the least of my concern, there was no sign of my mother anywhere and these damned guards wouldn¡¯t let me go see her.


    Was she imprisoned already? I asked myself.


    ¡°She¡¯s here,¡± one of the guards announced as we walked into Cade¡¯s chambers. Nathan was with him when we walked in and didn¡¯t seem surprised to see me. Maybe he was still angry at the way I spoke to him.


    ¡°Why are your guards treating me like a prisoner? ¡± I blurted.


    ¡°Where the hell have you been?¡± Cade asked calmly.


    ¡°You sent your men to attack me, I thought we had an understanding,¡± I said.


    ¡°Understanding? You were the one acting like a creep so I had to make sure you were following my orders,¡±


    ¡°By asking your men to attack me, right?¡± I snapped.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± he said, bursting intoughter.


    ¡°If you had trusted me, your guards would still be alive and I wouldn¡¯t have been held captive by the Alpha,¡± I lied.


    ¡°You don¡¯t look like you were captured, where the fvck have you been, and don¡¯t you dare lie to me!¡± he yelled.


    ¡°I just told you what happened to me because of yourck of trust. Look at me!!¡± I screeched at him revealing the injury I had gotten from his men. ¡°this is what happened.¡±


    Cade grimaced at me not knowing what to believe. He simply waved me off and flung himself on his couch.


    ¡°Did you see what happened to my guards?¡± he asked as I was about to leave his chambers.


    ¡°They deserved what they got for trying to hurt me. I watched as the Alpha slew them with his bare hands, it was more than pleasing to watch,¡± I grinned.


    I returned to my hut and found my mother asleep. I felt relieved when I saw that she was safe and sound. Keeping her here wasn¡¯t safe anymore, I didn¡¯t trust what Cade would do next.


    As for Cade, I had better ns for him. I was going to win his trust once more and beat him at his own game.

 Chapter Twenty Seven

    LUCY


    Weeks after my return from the hallowed manes packs, my mother made sure she kept her eyes on me always. She prohibited me from leaving the pack and from having any secret meetings with Cade after she heard all that had happened to me.


    It was exhausting being by my mother¡¯s side all the time, I had things to do but she wouldn¡¯t let me. How was I supposed to win the trust of Cade again if I was stuck by her side like a child?


    Nathan and I had reconciled and returned to being best of friends but things had changed. I kept my secrets from him even though he tried to get them out of my mouth. He was his father¡¯s son and not to be trusted. you wouldn¡¯t me me for being so careful around him.


    ¡°A penny for your thoughts,¡± Nathan said, drifting my thoughts away.


    ¡°I¡¯m tired of being stuck here, I need a break from my mother,¡± Iined.


    ¡°Go out then, I¡¯ll cover for you,¡± he winked.


    Daring my mother wasn¡¯t new but I  didn¡¯t want to get her worried again.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pass.¡±


    He looked at me surprised. ¡°What changed? You used to be the daring one,¡± he said. ¡°Did your time away change youpletely?¡±


    I sighed. ¡°Maybe it did,¡± I said.


    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going on with you? You still haven¡¯t told me how you escaped from the alpha,¡± he said.


    ¡°I already told you, he let me go. I¡¯m his mate remember, he wouldn¡¯t do anything to hurt me,¡± I said.


    Nathan had been asking these questions since we got back together and it was beginning to look suspicious. That was why I couldn¡¯t trust him with anything that had to do with me again. He could be leaking information about me to his father and it would ruin everything for me.


    ¡°what about you two? Are you two a thing now?¡± he asked.


    ¡°What are you talking about ?¡± I asked pretending not to know.


    ¡°I meant you and the alpha, Lucy. Have you agreed to be his mate now?¡± he asked curiously.


    I shrugged. ¡°we are not, we can¡¯t be together, and need I remind you that we¡¯re still foes and will always be,¡± I said. ¡°we¡¯ll always be enemies, that¡¯s our fate.¡±


    Nathan looked at me suspiciously. ¡°There¡¯s something you¡¯re not telling me, you never keep secrets from me. What has happened to us?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Us?¡± I scoffed. ¡°there is no us, okay? You¡¯ve been the one acting strange ever since I returned,¡± I said and walked away before he had the chance to exin himself.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I had been outside for too long and I knew my mother was probably worried sick. I walked in to meet her in a feisty mood, her feet tapping the ground and a frown on her face.


    ¡°I was out with Nathan, I didn¡¯t leave the pack I promise,¡± I began to exin myself before her tongueshing began.


    ¡°You got me worried, you need to inform me of your every movement. I can¡¯t afford to lose you again,¡± she said in a worried tone.


    ¡°Mother, I¡¯m fine. Nothing is going to happen to me again, you have nothing to worry about,¡± I said.


    Iy on my bed thinking of my next n. I earlier overheard that they were nning another attack on the hallowed manes pack. This time was going to be different from before.


    Cade had formed an allegiance with other rogue packs and he was out recruiting more fighters for himself. Every day I would see them hold meetings and train in the open field. This attack was going to be massive and would probably be the biggest invasion the hallowed manes pack would ever experience.


    I couldn¡¯t help but wonder why Cade was so interested in the hallowed manes pack, there were other packs out there to invade so I didn¡¯t understand why this pack was so important to him. There was something he was hiding from us and I was going to find out what it was.


    Late at night, I sneaked out of the pack after my mother had fallen asleep. I missed going to the cliff, my safe ce, I was tired of being stuck in the pack doing nothing. I needed a breath of fresh air from everyone, I needed to think.


    As I snuck out, I noticed a figure following from behind, his scent was unfamiliar. I felt my heart race as I increased pace.


    ¡°Rx, it¡¯s just me,¡± the voice said from behind.


    I turned and heaved a long sigh when I saw who it was. It was Chris¡¯ beta, Glen.


    ¡°what are you doing here? It¡¯ste and too risky to be out here, what if someone sees you out here?¡± I asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s good you¡¯re finally out of there, I thought you got into trouble,¡± he said, deadpan. He told me about how he had frequented the pack to ensure my safety.


    ¡°Did Chris put you up to this? He shouldn¡¯t have,¡± I quibbled.


    ¡°He only wanted to make sure that you¡¯re safe, at least I can finally go back home now that I know that you¡¯re safe.¡±


    We walked in silence for a while until we got to the cliff. I pondered on whether or not to tell him about theing invasion or keep it to myself until I got the chance to meet Chris again.


    ¡°How¡¯s he doing? I mean Chris,¡± I asked.


    ¡°You can ask him yourself,¡± Glen said, pointing toward a direction.


    ¡°Hello, mate,¡± I heard Chris say. He came out of his hiding, apanied by two other men, one of whom I recognized as his guard.


    I felt my heart flutter as he held my hands to his mouth and kissed them.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I came to see you, I was worried that something had happened to you in there,¡±


    ¡°As you can see I¡¯m fine, I can take care of myself,¡± I said, rolling my eyes.


    He chuckled. ¡°Of course, you can.¡±


    He held onto me so tight, his arms wrapped around me. His pheromones sent tickling sensations down my spine, I felt at peace in his arms, like I was meant to be with him. Maybe the moon goddess was right about us being together despite the situations surrounding us, she probably had a reason for bringing us together and I wouldn¡¯t fight it anymore.

 Chapter Twenty Eight

    CHRIS


    All I could think of all week was Lucy and how she was fairing with the injury. Glen my beta had offered to keep an eye out for the rogue¡¯s pack to ensure her safety. Each day he returned with no positive results, and she wasn¡¯t seen leaving the pack.


    I found it unusual because Lucy wasn¡¯t the type to be confined to a particr ce, she loved the woods and spent most of her time there. What if she had been imprisoned for going against her leader? I had thought.


    Most of the time, I apanied my beta to see things for myself. Well, luck shone on me this time when I saw her sneak out of that gate that night.


    I heaved a sigh of relief. s, she was alright after all.


    I could see the surprise written all over her when she saw me on the cliff apanied by my guards.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± she asked.


    ¡°To see you of course. I wanted to be sure that you were safe in there, it¡¯s good to see that you¡¯re fine,¡± I said.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine as you can see,¡± she muttered.


    ¡°I can see that,¡± I said moving close to her. I wrapped my arms around her to feel her warmth and be soaked in her aura if she would let me.


    I smiled when I heard her heave a sigh of relief. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re here, I really am,¡± she said as her arms found their way to my midsection.


    ¡°There¡¯s something I need to talk to you about, it¡¯s important,¡± she said, finally breaking the silence between us and pulling herself from my grip.


    ¡°What do you want to talk to me about? ¡± I asked when I saw how serious she was.


    She turned to my guards and ordered. ¡°Leave us.¡±


    This came as a shock to my guards they turned to me perplexed waiting for my reaction.


    ¡°You heard her, leave us now,¡± I said. I grinned as I watched them walk away in utmost disappointment.


    ¡°She sure would make a fine Luna,¡± I thought.


    ¡°Another invasion ising, Chris, a massive one,¡± she said.


    ¡°What are you talking about? What invasion ?¡± I asked, looking confused.


    ¡°Cade is nning another attack on your pack, I don¡¯t know when but you have to be careful. He has formed an allegiance with other notorious rogue packs,¡± she exined.


    I simply nodded because I didn¡¯t know what to say. What had my pack ever done to deserve this? What have I ever done? I thought. I had enemies surrounding me both in the pack and outside.


    My father was a peaceful ruler and Alpha before the cold hands of death snatched him from us. These invaders probably thought I wasn¡¯t capable of ruling with an iron fist, I would prove them wrong. I¡¯ll prove to them that I, CHRIS, would not tolerate any menace in my pack.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I should go, it¡¯s almost dawn,¡± I said. ¡°You should too, before anyone notices your absence.¡±


    ¡°Yeah you¡¯re right, I should get going then,¡± she said and turned to leave.


    ¡°Will I see you again?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Of course, you know where to find me,¡± she giggled before disappearing into the woods.


    I and my guards returned to the pack, my mind was still troubled by what Lucy had told me earlier.  I pondered about it for a long time before I dozed off eventually.


    By the time I woke up, I was alreadyte for a council meeting with my elders. The Alpha¡¯s summit was close at hand and a lot had to be discussed.


    The summit was an annual event where all alphas from different packs assemble to air out theints of their people and seek advice from the alpha of all alphas, Alpha Uther.


    ¡°The elders are waiting at the great hall and you¡¯re still in bed,¡± my mother yelled.


    I groaned, I needed more sleep. ¡°Can you preside the meeting on my behalf, Mother? I¡¯m too tired to get up,¡± I said.


    ¡°This pack has an alpha now and that¡¯s you, son. I have no right to preside at any meeting now that you are here,¡± she said angrily. ¡°You had better hurry before Orvyn and his minions find another reason to dethrone you.¡±


    Immediately, I sprung out of bed, and in a sh, I was all dressed up. I raced down to the great hall, huffing and puffing.


    They all rose and bowed as I walked into the hall, maintainingposure so they wouldn¡¯t realize I had been running.


    ¡°Sit,¡± I said.


    ¡°What was the dy this time? You should know that I hate to be kept waiting,¡± Orvyn grunted. I knew he would be the first to wag his tongue and one day I would cut it off from him.


    ¡°Too bad I¡¯m the Alpha and not you, so deal with it,¡± I sneered. I hated him with everything in me, there was something off about him that gave me concern. I knew he had dark secrets, dark secrets that its revtion would cause a great uproar among the people in the pack. Whatever it was would reveal itself with time.


    The rest of them were in awe at my response. No one had ever spoken to him the way I did, he was respected amongst the other elders and the people but to me, he was nothing but a cunning old fool whose aim was to steal my father¡¯s throne from me. I was done with him barking orders at me like he had control over me.


    I made sure the discussions were as brief as possible, I couldn¡¯t stand being in the same space as them.


    ¡°We need someone to oversee the preparation of the summit at the Crimstone pack and I suggest Lothar should do so, besides he¡¯s the youngest member of the council,¡± Kazmir suggested.


    ¡°Kazmir, I order you to be in charge of every activity concerning the summit at the Crimstone pack and report every update to me daily,¡± I said.


    ¡°How dare you? I¡¯m an elder and one of the oldest members of this council, you can¡¯t do that,¡± he barked.


    ¡°It¡¯s high time you make yourself useful other than looking for reasons to dethrone me,¡± I smirked.


    He had no words to say other than grumble, my decisions were final, and nothing anyone would say or do to change it.

 Chapter Twenty Nine

    LUCY


    My ns to win Cade¡¯s trust were finallying through.  What did it take me to win his trust? Pretty simple, I told him about the alpha¡¯s summit and how it would be a great opportunity to attack.


    Chris had told me of the forting summit and the date. Oh, yeah, I lied about the date to Cade. There was no way I would tell him the exact date. An invasion of the pack with Cade¡¯s absence would be disastrous to the people in it.


    I was now part of the team that would lead the invasion although my mother was against it. She wanted me to have nothing to do with Cade or his evil plot. She wanted me out of the n. I understood her fears and worries but that was the only way to get on his good side.


    ¡°I know you seek revenge for your father¡¯s death but this isn¡¯t worth it,¡± she said.


    ¡°Who said I was seeking revenge? I have my ns, you shouldn¡¯t bother yourself over nothing,¡± I said.


    My mother wasn¡¯t convinced yet, no matter how she tried to talk me out of it it won¡¯t change my decision. The only way to win Cade was to beat him at his own game.


    Speaking of Cade, I had a meeting with him and I was runningte. ¡°Shit,¡± I mumbled. I kissed my mother goodbye and dashed out before she thought of stopping me.


    ¡°Why are youte?¡± Cade inquired.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I had things to do,¡± I said.


    ¡°Things like what?¡± he asked again to my annoyance


    ¡°That¡¯s none of your business, stay away from my personal life and I¡¯ll stay away from yours,¡± I snorted.


    ¡°I see you¡¯re back to wagging your tongue again, that¡¯s good. It reminds me of the fearless girl you used to be,¡± he smirked.


    ¡°Wait till I bring you down, you bastard,¡± I mumbled.


    Maverick and the other troops walked into his chambers before he got the chance to say any other word. They had just finished their training. What surprised me was that Maverick was part of his troop. He was the one acting differently like Cade was a bad guy and he wasn¡¯t. No one could be trusted after all.


    ¡°Now that everyone is here, let¡¯s begin,¡± Cade said. ¡°We all know how important this is to us and its significance, if there is anyone that is against this course say so now or hold your peace.¡±


    I raised my hand to the surprise of anyone. ¡°You want out?¡± Cade asked.


    ¡°Oh, sorry. I thought you were done speaking,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯m in, I just want to know what is in it for us, am I right?¡±


    The rest nodded in affirmation. ¡°Tell us, Cade, we can¡¯t back you up without knowing what we get in return,¡± one of them asked.


    Cade red at me. ¡°Once we take over the pack, you all have a chance at the table with me.


    ¡°So we are risking our lives only to sit at a table with you, that¡¯s not fair enough. We should have a right to the city as well,¡± I said then turning to the others I asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you agree with me?¡±


    ¡°I agree,¡± Maverick said. s, the psychopath agreed with me.


    I knew this wasn¡¯t Cade¡¯s n, he was going to gather enough warriors for himself and when they seeded, he would abandon them. There was nothing Cade would say or do, he had to agree to this new offer else there would be no one on his side.


    The meeting continued after the agreement and it was a long, boring conversation. At the end of it, everyone returned to their tent while Cade asked me to wait behind.


    ¡°What games are you ying with me, child?¡± his nostrils red as he growled at me.


    ¡°What did I do wrong? I only asked a question. You don¡¯t expect me to risk my life out there and get nothing in return,¡± I said.


    ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± a strange voice said.


    ¡°Did you hear that?¡± I asked, there was no other person with us in the chambers but the voice was so loud and clear.


    ¡°Hear what, it¡¯s just the both of us here,¡± Cade answered.


    ¡°I heard something, I¡¯m sure of it,¡± I said, very convinced. I wasn¡¯t going crazy, was I?


    ¡°Lucy,¡± I heard the voice again. I wasn¡¯t going crazy for sure, the voice was clearer and I was the only one hearing it.


    ¡°Is everything alright?¡± Cade asked.


    I ignored his question and stormed out of his chambers, he thought I was crazy. He didn¡¯t need to say it out loud, his expression said it all.


    This person wasmunicating with me through the mind link which was impossible except during the full moon when we shifted forms. It was midday. No one had such abilities, none that I¡¯ve heard of.


    ¡°Over here,¡± the voice said. I turned but there was no one. I raced to the field but there wasn¡¯t anything unusual there, just a group of people training.


    ¡°It¡¯s me, Chris,¡± the voice said again. ¡°Chris!!¡± I screamed.


    Everyone turned to me like I was crazy. I apologized and left the field before I made things worse. How was he talking to me through the mind link? Was it an alpha thing or a mate thing? I was utterly confused.


    I followed his voice till I found myself outside the pack,  his voice continued to lead me until I got to my tent hidden in the woods. His sweet scent of strawberries and citrus filled the ce which created a spark of excitement in me. I didn¡¯t know why I was excited but it felt too good.


    ¡°How are you here? How did you do that?¡± I asked.


    ¡°You¡¯re here. Come, we need to talk,¡± he said. My excitement died down immediately. ¡°You¡¯re here to talk, I thought-¡±


    ¡°You thought what,¡± he cuts in.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Nothing, what did you want to talk about?¡± I said in disappointment. I couldn¡¯t exin why I was sad, maybe I had gotten so used to him or it was this mate thing that made me feel this way.


    ¡°You thought what,¡± he said again, teetering forward while I stepped back until my back touched the wall which halted my movement instantly. He grabbed my hair from behind to expose my neck as he attaches his lips to my exposed skin just below my ear. I gasp as soon as his lips touch my neck and I can feel his smile against my skin.


    Our bodies pressed together heatedly against the wall, breathing heavily as our lips pressed together. I could taste our shared breath, and feel the thud of ourbined heartbeat as we fumbled to take off one another¡¯s clothes.


    ¡°Lucy..¡± a voice called out from outside the tent. I peeped to see who it was that ruined the beautiful moment I was having.


    ¡°Shit!¡± I cursed under my breath. It was Cade, he had found my tent.

 Chapter Thirty

    CHRIS


    My decision had caused a stir in the hearts of the other council members but that wouldn¡¯t make me change my mind. Kazmir had bitten more than he could chew this time, he had iting.


    ¡°Son, I need you to reverse your decision else there will be a problem within the council,¡± my mother pleaded. I turned deaf ears to her as well.


    I was the Alpha and I had the right to appoint anyone I wanted to carry out any task, whether an elder or not. Lothar, too, tried to talk me out of it but I paid no attention to him. What was wrong with appointing an elder to oversee the preparation of the summit?  They all made it look like it was a big deal for him to carry out the task.


    I knew my action would create more enemies for me but I cared less. They could n whatever they wanted in making sure I was dethroned, but it would amount to nothing. Not having a mate was the only thing they could use against me and I had one, it was only a matter of time before I cleared a name and reinstall her as a member of the pack.


    Talking about Lucy and her reinstallment, I still haven¡¯t found out the truth about what happened to her father and mine. Lothar had promised to gather enough proof but there was no news from him since then.


    I sat at the edge of the bed with my thoughts drifting away from me. ¡°Son, I need to speak with you,¡± my mother announced as she walked in. My mind was far away, lost in thoughts, and didn¡¯t notice her or hear her speak.


    ¡°I¡¯m talking to you, young man!¡± she bellowed. I sprung from the bed as she smacked my arm. ¡°Mother, what was that for,¡± I said, rubbing my arm to ease the pain.


    ¡°what hase over you, child? What¡¯s giving you such bravery to act this way?¡±


    ¡°you thought me to be fearless, Mother. It¡¯s time I stood up for myself and this family. I won¡¯t sit and watch those bullocks control me like a puppet,¡± I said, rage building up inside of me.


    ¡°I know son, I understand how you feel but you can¡¯t handle things this way. Remember you still have to present your mate before they can get their eyes off the throne,¡± she said. ¡°why are you hiding her away from me? I have to see her.¡±


    ¡°you will, Mother, not now. I know what I¡¯m doing, trust me,¡± I assured. My mother shrugged and mumbled to herself as she left my chambers, she knew nothing she said could change my mind. I was as strong-headed as my father, so she once said.


    The whole conversation had ignited a fire inside of me, I quickly asked the maidservant to run a bath for me to cool off. I soaked myself in the tub and felt my body rx. I closed my eyes and all I could picture in my head was Lucy, the thought of her gave me peace of mind. Not just peace, my body responded differently whenever I thought of her,  she stirred up something inside of me especially when I was with her. Most times, my lower member hardened with excitement and the hope of taking possession of her.


    It was too early to be thinking of such, I still needed her to trust me and love mepletely.


    After the long bath, I decided it was time to go see my mate. I gave a few instructions to my guards before setting out into the woods. Glen insisted on going with me but I refused. ¡°You¡¯re in control till I return,¡± I ordered.


    I arrived at the gates of the rogue¡¯s pack, pondering on what to do next. I couldn¡¯t just walk in there like I owned the ce, even though they were no match to me but it was a big risk to take. I stood there not knowing what to do, I wasn¡¯t going to leave here until I saw her at least.


    ¡°Use the mind link,¡± my wolf suggested.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible, she wouldn¡¯t be able to hear me,¡± I said.


    ¡°Oh, you human. She¡¯s our mate and we canmunicate with her, try it and stop doubting,¡± my wolf said again.


    I tried calling her but there was no response from her. ¡°this is useless, she can¡¯t hear me,¡± I grunted. ¡°keep trying, she can hear you. She¡¯s just not used to this,¡± my wolf insisted.


    ¡°Lucy¡­¡± I called out to her again using the mind link, yet no response. I gave up immediately, I shouldn¡¯t have listened to my wolf in the first ce. I turned to return to the pack when I heard her voice.


    ¡°Who is this? How can I hear you?¡± she asked. I could feel her fear through the link, I was also dazed. My wolf was right, she could hear me. I never knew werewolves couldmunicate without changing form, it was reserved for only alphas who were given this privilege.


    ¡°She is mated to an alpha so she can hear it,¡± my wolf exined.


    ¡°Lucy,¡± I called to her again. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, it¡¯s Chris.¡±


    I continued tomune with her until I got to our secret ce, her hut. I directed her to where she would find me and she did.


    She walked in looking excited like she had been waiting to see me. ¡°How did you do that? What are doing you here?¡± she asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s an alpha thing,¡± I said, feeling proud.


    ¡°Then how could I hear you? It¡¯s impossible,¡± she asked again.


    ¡°We are connected that¡¯s why. Enough with the questions, I¡¯m d you¡¯re here. I want us to talk,¡± I said. Immediately her excitement died down, her face wore a frown like I had said something wrong.


    ¡°Is that why you are here? To talk? I thought-¡±


    ¡°You thought what?¡± I asked curiously. What was she thinking? I thought. I could sense her desires from the way she reacted and the way she looked at me.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, what did you want to talk about?¡± she said, avoiding my eyes. I took a step forward as she moved backward until her back touched the wall.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Nowhere to run now, Lucy, I thought, my face wearing a grin. ¡°You thought what, Lucy?¡± I asked again, my hand grabbing a handful of her hair to reveal her bare skin. She gasped as my lips touched her skin, I smiled knowing I had such an effect on her.


    Her lips were soft, almost silken, and pillowy against my own.  I could feel the soft tickle of her breath beneath my nose, fingers carding through her hair as we breathed each other in. Our bodies pressed together heatedly against the wall, breathing heavily as our lips pressed together.


    This is wrong, I thought. My body was saying otherwise as I tried to fight the urge building inside me. My hands fumbled through her clothes as I struggled to take them off.


    ¡°Lucy..¡± a voice from outside interrupted us. I groaned in frustration.


    ¡°Why does your friend lurk around you all the time? What does he want?¡± I groaned I hated him already.


    Lucy peeped through the window and froze for a minute. ¡°You need to leave, it¡¯s not Nathan, it¡¯s Cade,¡± she whispered.


    I clenched my fist, this was the man who wanted me dead by all means. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill him,¡± I growled.


    Lucy held me back, pleading. ¡°now is not the time, you will have your chance someday but not today, please,¡± she said. She urged me to be quiet whilst she sorted him out.


    ¡°What do you want? Can¡¯t I be alone?¡± she snarled at him.


    ¡°What is this ce and who were you talking to?¡± he asked. He barged in but found no one in, I had snuck out through the window while Lucy distracted him.


    Now would have been my best chance to end his life if she hadn¡¯t intervened. Maybe she was right, it wouldn¡¯t have been a fair fight after all. I peeped through the bush to have a clear picture of what he looked like.


    I froze when I saw his face, he was thest person I thought I would ever meet again. A man whom we all thought was dead. His name wasn¡¯t Cade, he was Uther Parker, my father¡¯s brother.

 Chapter Thirty One

    LUCY


    My heart skipped a beat when I heard Cade¡¯s voice out the door. He was thest person I expected to see around here and I wondered how he got to know about this ce. Was it Nathan? I thought. No, Nathan wouldn¡¯t betray me like that, would he?


    ¡°Lucy, I know you¡¯re in there. Come out now,¡± Cade said in a harsh tone.


    I didn¡¯t know what to do at that point, if things went wrong, Cade would know about Chris and that would be the end.


    ¡°This is my chance to deal with that scumbag that wants me dead,¡± Chris snarled, clenching his fist as he made his way to the door.


    ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen, this is not the right moment to have your revenge. It won¡¯t be a fair fight after all,¡± I beckoned, hoping he wouldply and he did.


    ¡°What are you going to do now?¡± he said softly. He wasn¡¯t scared of facing Cade, he was only worried about me.


    ¡°Lucy, open the door,¡± Cade¡¯s voice jolted me again. My heart was racing now, if I didn¡¯t respond to his call he would surely break the door down.


    ¡°Go and talk to him, I¡¯ll escape through the window,¡± Chris suggested. He quietly snuck out through the window while I answered Cade.


    ¡°What took you so long to open the door?¡± Cade said, barging into the room. ¡°What is this ce?¡± he asked, his eyes scanning the ce.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°What are you doing here? Can¡¯t I have a time of my own?¡± I snapped.


    ¡°I heard a voice in here, who is in here with you?¡± he peeped through the window but there was no one in sight. I felt my heart throb as he scanned everywhere, I wished the earth would swallow me up.


    ¡°What do you want? There¡¯s no one here, it¡¯s just me here,¡± I said, trying to hide the nervousness in me. Cade didn¡¯t believe me, he stepped out and searched the nearby bushes hoping to find Chris but I guess Chris was long gone.


    ¡°It¡¯s enough that you don¡¯t trust me but barging into my hut like you own this ce is what I won¡¯t take from you,¡± I screeched at him.


    ¡°You were acting weird earlier so I wanted to check on you,¡± he said, pretending to be concerned.


    That was hard to believe, why would he care about me? I wasn¡¯t going to be fooled by him this time. ¡°How did you know I¡¯d be here? Did you follow me down here?¡± I inquired.


    ¡°C¡¯mon, child, why will I do that? Nathan told me I would find you here,¡± he said, grinning. ¡°what is this ce? I never knew you had a ce like this if he hadn¡¯t mentioned it.¡±


    Nathan? How could he betray me? I should have known better than to trust the son of a monster. This ce was no longer safe for me and Chris to meet up again.


    ¡°As you can see, I¡¯m fine. Can you leave now? I need to be alone,¡± I said. I tried to suppress my anger as I watched him leave, I should have allowed Chris to end his life earlier. I knew Cade had his doubt and would keep an eye on me, that is if he hadn¡¯t started already.


    Immediately, I returned to the pack and found Nathan training with the others in the open field. ¡°How could you!?¡± I yelled. ¡°I trusted you, how could you betray me?¡±


    Nathan looked puzzled. ¡°What are you talking about, Lucy?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Pretend all you want but know this, I¡¯ll never forgive you for what you¡¯ve done,¡± I said.


    Nathan pulled me by my hand as I tried to walk away. ¡°You can¡¯t just leave without telling me what I¡¯ve done wrong, you made me look bad in front of all these people,¡± he said. He looked pitiful and acted like he didn¡¯t know what I was talking about.


    ¡°You told your father about my fathers but in the woods after making a promise that you wouldn¡¯t. How could you?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t tell him, why will I do that? I¡¯d never betray your trust, Lucy,¡± he said. I didn¡¯t know what to believe anymore, I know Nathan can be a lot of things but being a betrayer wasn¡¯t part of it.


    ¡°He said you did, enough with the pretense, he told me everything,¡± I snapped.


    ¡°Who is he?


    ¡°Your father! He said you told him about it,¡± I yelled more.


    Nathan took a step back, dumbfounded. ¡°That¡¯s not true, he¡¯s lying to you. I¡¯d never do anything to hurt you.¡±


    What if he was telling the truth? The Nathan I grew up to know wouldn¡¯t do anything to hurt me, he always stood by me no matter what.


    ¡°He said you did, he said you told him,¡± I said, I was confused now. Did Cade lie to me earlier?


    ¡°And you believed him. You should know my father by now, he can be tricky. He probably had someone follow you as he did before,¡± he said. Maybe he was right, Cade was capable of many things, and something as this shouldn¡¯t have taken me by surprise.


    What surprised me more was the fact that Cade used his son to cover up his malfeasance. I could tell that Nathan was disappointed in his father and me too for believing his treacherous father. I didn¡¯t know the right words to say to him at this juncture, who would me me for what I did? Besides, Nathan had been the one acting strangely ofte.


    If Nathan didn¡¯t tell his father about the hut, could that mean that he followed me there? And if he did, he must have seen Chris. No, that wasn¡¯t possible. Chris was already in by the time I got there.


    ¡°Does your father know about Chris and me?¡± I asked.


    ¡°He has his suspicions but that¡¯s just it,¡± Nathan said.


    ¡°I bet he¡¯s curious and would want to know,¡± I said to Nathan. ¡°tell him about us, tell him that I¡¯m mated to the Alpha.¡±


    Nathan¡¯s eyes widened with shock. ¡°Are you crazy? My father would be furious if he finds out.¡±


    ¡°No he wouldn¡¯t, I¡¯ll only be a strong alibi,¡± I smirked.


    The game deceit had begun and I would y it till the very end.

 Chapter Thirty Two

    CHRIS


    As the full moon cast an ethereal glow over the pack and the forest beyond, I found myself standing on the threshold of a revtion that could alter my perception of my past and reshape my future. The revtion that Cade, the man who had ordered Lucy to kill me and the so-called leader of the rogues, was none other than my long-lost uncle.


    A mix of curiosity and nervousness pulsed through my veins as I made my way to my mother¡¯s quarters, determined to confront my mother and unearth the truth about this mysterious connection.


    I pushed open the door and stepped into the dimly lit room. The scent ofvender, my mother¡¯s favorite fragrance, still lingered in the air, bringing a sense of familiarity that brought bothfort and unease.


    ¡°Mother, ¡°I called out, my voice carrying a tinge of nervous anticipation. I found her sitting in her favorite armchair, engrossed in a worn book, its pages filled with the tales of their ancestral werewolf lineage. The lines etched on her face were a testament to the struggles she had experienced as a widow and a protector of her only child and also ruler of the pack.


    Startled by my unexpected arrival, she looked up, her eyes widening with a mix of surprise and concern. ¡°Chris, my dear, what brings you here at this hour? Is something the matter?¡± she asked. I understood her surprise because it was rare to see me in her quarters.


    A solemn expression settled on my face as I sat at her bedside. ¡°I need to talk to you about something, Mother,¡± I said.


    ¡°I knew something was wrong, you nevere here unless you have something to say. What is it this time?¡± she said.


    ¡°There¡¯s a man who has been after me for a while now. He is the leader of the rogues-


    ¡°What?!¡± my mother cuts in. ¡°You never told me about this. Those damned rogues, I¡¯ll make sure they are dealt with,¡± she threatened.


    ¡°That¡¯s not it, mother. Listen I want you to tell me about my uncle, Uther. Where is he now?¡± I asked. ¡°Can you tell me more about him? About his past and his connection with this family?¡±


    My mother¡¯s gaze faltered for a moment as if the weight of the past bore heavily on her. Her hands trembled slightly before she sped them together in herp, her voice carrying a mixture of sorrow and resolve. ¡°Chris, I hoped this day will nevere to talk about that man. I hoped to shield you from the dark legacy that has haunted this family for generations. But I guess it¡¯s time to face the truth.¡±


    She began to narrate the tale of my fractured family, a bloodline marked by betrayal and tragedy. The history of my family was intertwined with power struggles and longsting rivalries and a strong thirst for dominance.


    As she exined, the perception of my identity began to shift. With each revtion, the pieces of the puzzle started falling into ce. The early demise of my father, the banishment of my mate¡¯s family from the pack, and the sudden presence of Cade or should I say Uther all seemed connected to aplex tapestry of familiar secrets.


    ¡°I understand you now, Mother.  It all makes sense to me, I must uncover the truth about my father¡¯s death. The pack needs to know the truth about what happened. Uther killed my father not someone else.¡± I said, my voice tinged in anguish and resolution.


    ¡°Son, we still aren¡¯t sure if he truly killed your father. Someone else was found by your father¡¯s side, covered in his blood. He admitted to his crimes and was banished,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s not bring up the past again, the future is more important.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°I know that Mother but what if that man was innocent? What if he was at the wrong ce at the wrong time? What if he was framed for my father¡¯s murder?¡± I said hoping to seek answers.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know for sure but like he said, he admitted to his deed. What has your uncle got to do with the man that has been after you?¡± she asked. Suddenly her eyes beamed with shock, ¡°Oh my! Is it the same man that was used of killing your father? Is he back to seek revenge on all of us?¡±


    ¡°He is dead mother, I heard he is dead. This man is different, you have nothing to worry about. I know how to deal with people like that,¡± I assured.


    My mother nodded, her eyes filled with pride and concern. ¡°Christopher, my brave son, be cautious out there. I know you want to seek the truth about what happened to your father. The secret you seek to unveil holds the power to shatter lives and reshape destinies but remember you have the strength to rise above this darkness and forge into a new legacy.¡±


    If I seeded in finding the truth and clearing Lucy¡¯s father¡¯s name then she would be able to return to the pack as my mate and Luna. How I was going to go about it was uncertain to me, I didn¡¯t know how to keep the news from my mother. If she knew that the man I made mentioned was my uncle, she would be frightened and lose her cool.


    ¡°Is there something you are not telling me?¡± she stared at me suspiciously. ¡°You are doing that thing you do when you are contemting on if to tell me something. Spit it out, what is it?¡±


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t understand, Mother. I told you everything, I¡¯m just thinking of what to do next,¡± I lied.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do all of this, we¡¯ve moved on from the past, and you should too. Your father died a long time ago, seeking the truth won¡¯t bring him back,¡± she said.


    ¡°At least the truth will help me find peace and get what I want,¡± I sneered.


    ¡°What are you talking about? You said it yourself, the used man is dead, even if he was innocent. It won¡¯t change anything,¡±


    ¡°His daughter is my mate, mother. I can¡¯t be with her if I don¡¯t clear her father¡¯s name,¡± I blurted out.


    ¡°What?! Your mate, her father, what are you talking about?¡± she said, her hands trembling in anxiety.


    I growled. ¡°You heard me, mother. That man¡¯s daughter is my mate. Yes, my mate is a rogue and that¡¯s because of what we did to her family.¡±


    I stormed out of her chambers ignoring her calls. I felt a mixture of ease and anxiety, I was at ease knowing I finally let the cat out of the bag, and also fear of what will happen next.

 Chapter Thirty Three

    LUCY


    I paced back and forth in my small, dimly lit room, my mind spinning with a n I had concocted to outsmart Cade. The moon¡¯s pale light filtered through the window, casting an ethereal glow on my face as I plotted my next move.


    I called Nathan into the room. He entered the room cautiously, his eyes locked with mine, searching for any hint of my true motives.


    ¡°Have you told your father about Chris and I?¡± I inquired.


    ¡°No, I still think this is a bad idea, Lucy. Think about it,¡± he said.


    ¡°What are you waiting for? Tell him,¡± I urged, my voice steady but tinged with determination. ¡°Tell him that I am mated to the Alpha he despises so much. Let him know that I have joined forces with Chris, gained his trust, and have ess to his inner circles. This way he will believe that I am on his side and use me to further his evil ns.¡±


    Nathan¡¯s expression shifted from confusion to disbelief. ¡°Lucy, are you serious? You want me to tell my father that you are mated to his enemy, not just his enemy but an enemy to all of us. You know he hates the alpha with every fiber of his being.¡±


    I nodded, my eyes shimmering with sorrow and determination. ¡°I know, Nathan but that¡¯s the only way to gain your father¡¯s trustpletely. Once he believes me, I would be able to dismantle the Hallowed manes pack and protect our people,¡± I lied.


    Nathan studied my face intently, searching for a trace of deception. ¡°I thought you loved Chris. Are you truly deceiving him as well?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve indeed developed feelings for Chris but it¡¯s only the stupid mate bond thing, it doesn¡¯t change the fact that his pack is the reason why I don¡¯t have a father today,¡± I said, flickers of pain passed through my eyes.


    Nathan remained silent for a moment contemting the weight of my words. Slowly, he nodded in agreement. ¡°Very well, Lucy. I will deliver your message to my father. I hope this n of yours works and remember, if Chris discovers your true intention, the consequences would be dire.¡±


    As Nathan left the room, my mind raced with the intricate steps of my n. I knew that Cade¡¯s trust was a fragile foundation and a dangerous weapon. If I yed my cards well, I could manipte his moves, steering him to the path of destruction I had set for him.


    I continued to pace around the room waiting to be summoned by Cade. I heard the door open and rushed to see who it was at the door, I scowled when I realized that it was just my mother.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°You look like you were expecting someone else,¡± my mother said, her gaze fixed on me. ¡°Where the hell have you been all day? You keep getting me worried sick all the time, be responsible for once.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m responsible, you¡¯re just too distracted to see it. I was spending time with my mate, you told me to get acquainted with him and that¡¯s what I¡¯m doing,¡± I grimaced.


    My mother¡¯s face beamed with excitement, she held my hands and pulled me to the bed. ¡°Has he finally epted you as his mate? What is he like? Rumors have it that he is very charming and women of his pack drool over him.¡±


    My cheeks flushed as she spoke. Truly he was beautiful and his smile was breathtaking. I couldn¡¯t believe I was having such a conversation with my mother. ¡°Mother is this topic inappropriate? You shouldn¡¯t be asking me things like that.¡±


    ¡°Look who is suddenly shy to talk about her love life with her mother. I¡¯m more experienced and I can give you free tips to make him think of you alone,¡± my mother teased.


    I rolled my eyes in disgust. ¡°Mother! Enough with this nasty talk and by the way, he already has eyes for me alone so I don¡¯t need your help,¡± I pouted.


    ¡°I see you took the charms from me. So when do I get to meet him?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, can we drop the topic now? You¡¯re making me ufortable,¡± I said, rushing out of the room before she began another round of teasing.


    ¡°Just the person I was hoping to meet,¡± Maverick said, approaching me. ¡°Cade sent for you, he asks that youe to his study now.¡±


    About time, I thought. I grinned as I made my way to see him.


    Cade stood in his study, his strong features etched with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion as I entered his room. The air crackled with tension, both of us aware that a pivotal moment was about to unfold.


    ¡°Lucy,¡± his voice rumbled, his toneced with a blend of caution and intrigue. ¡°Nathan informed me that you have something important to share.¡±


    I met Cade¡¯s gaze head-on, her eyes shimmering with aplex mix of emotions I had to fake. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation that would seal my fate. ¡°Yes, Cade. I have information that might alter our course and strengthen our alliance.¡±


    Cade¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, his intense gaze never leaving Lucy¡¯s face. ¡°Go on, then. I¡¯m listening.¡±


    With each word, I carefully measured my tone, attempting to strike a bnce between sincerity and deceit. ¡°Cade, just as Nathan had informed you, I need you to know that I am mated to alpha Chris whom we all despise. I have joined forces with him, gained his trust, and have ess to his inner circle.¡±


    Cade¡¯s eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and anger flickering in their depths. ¡°You¡¯re mated to him? That¡¯s impossible! You know how much we loathe him in this pack and everything he stands for. His pack destroyed our families, your family. As your father¡¯s friend, I can¡¯t allow this.¡±


    Lucy nodded her expression a mix of remorse and determination. ¡°I understand your hatred for him, Cade. I hate him too but this is the best way to defeat his pack. You need my help, that¡¯s why I¡¯ve taken this risk, infiltrating his ranks to gather information and protect our pack.¡±


    Cade¡¯s anger simmered, but curiosity exuded into his voice. ¡°Why should I believe you? How can I trust that this isn¡¯t some ploy to deceive me?¡±


    I burst intoughter. ¡°Cade, you know how much I hate the hallowed manes pack, do you think I¡¯ll forgive them simply because of a stupid mate bond after what they did to my father? This is my final chance of getting my revenge on every single one of them.¡±


    Cade¡¯s face softened slightly, his grip on his emotions wavering. ¡°If what you say is true, then prove it. Show me your loyalty, yourmitment to our cause.¡±


    I took a step closer to Cade, my eyes brimming with determination. ¡°I will, Cade. I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to prove my loyalty. I¡¯ll feed you information, disrupt his ns, and ensure our pack¡¯s survival. But we must proceed with warning. Any mistake could reveal our true intentions.¡±


    Cade¡¯s gaze held mine for a moment before a smirk showed on his face. Finally, he nodded, a glint of trust mingling with his suspicion. ¡°Very well, Lucy. I will give you a chance to prove yourself. But remember one false move, and there will be consequences.¡±


    My heart swelled with relief. I had gained Cade¡¯s trust and the delicate dance of deception had begun. I knew I had to navigate it wlessly to protect both her love for Chris and my mother.


    As we parted ways, our fates intertwined by a web of deceit, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if my ns would work smoothly. The path ahead was treacherous, but I  was resolved to see it through, for the love I felt for Chris.

 Chapter Thirty Four

    LUCY


    Gaining the trust of Cade wasn¡¯t as difficult as I thought it would be. He was so blinded by his hatred for Chris and the pack that he was ready to do anything to bring them down. The first phase of my n waspleted, now all I needed to do was inform Chris of this n.


    My heart raced in anticipation as I prepared to meet Chris at his pack. I was lost in thoughts and failed to notice Maverick approach me until he was standing right in front of me. His intense gaze held a mixture of concern and secrecy. Maverick being the most feared person in the pack apart from Cade was known for his ability to sniff out secrets.


    ¡°Maverick,¡± I greeted him, trying to mask my surprise. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    His eyes bore into mine, his voice hushed yet urgent. ¡°Lucy, you¡¯re walking into a dangerous game. Cade may trust you now but there are things he knows that you don¡¯t know. Things that could put you in grave danger.¡±


    My heart skipped a beat. The weight of his words settled upon me. ¡°What are you talking about, Maverick? What dangers are you referring to?¡±Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Maverick shook his head, his lips curling into a half smile, betraying a hint of frustration. ¡°I wish I could tell you, Lucy. But you need to trust me when I say that there are forces at y here that you can¡¯tprehend. Forces that led to your father¡¯s death.¡±


    My eyes widened, shock and grief intertwining within me. My father¡¯s death had always been shrouded with mystery, leaving me with unanswered questions and a deep yearning for justice. His words stirred a tempest of emotions within me and I desperately wanted to know the truth.


    ¡°I deserve to know the truth, Maverick. Why do you keep torturing me?¡± I asserted, my voice quivering with determination. ¡°Why won¡¯t you tell me the truth?¡±


    His features softened, sympathy flickering in his gaze. This was the first time I would see thispassionate side of him. ¡± Lucy, some secrets are better left buried. What you are about to do could lead to pain and danger. All I¡¯m doing is to protect you just as your father requested.¡±


    ¡°If you want to protect me, you will tell me who killed my father,¡± I grimaced. I was tired of the secrecy and needed answers immediately. ¡°Look I appreciate your concern but I have to find my path. I can¡¯t continue to live in the dark anymore, I¡¯ll find out the truth on my own.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you, Lucy,¡± he said, cing his hand on my shoulder. ¡°Promise me one thing, be cautious and trust instincts. Not everything is as it seems.¡±


    As the weight of his words sank in, I nodded solemnly. I knew I couldn¡¯t rely solely on the knowledge Maverick held back. I would have to navigate this treacherous path on my own, armed with the strength of my convictions.


    With Maverick¡¯s warning echoing in my mind, I bid him farewell and set off on my journey to see Chris. But the mystery of my father¡¯s death lingered like a shadow, propelling me forward as I vowed to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.


    As I arrived at the heart of the pack¡¯s territory, she was greeted by the familiar scent of nature and the distant howls that echoed through the air. Chris was waiting for him, his warm smile captivating her heart.


    ¡°Lucy,¡± Chris called out, his voice filled with genuine delight. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you .¡± I felt his hands wrap around me, embracing me tightly.


    ¡°How did you know I wasing?¡± I said.


    ¡°I sensed your presence from afar,¡± he winked. He had the cutest smile that could sweep ady off her feet.


    ¡°You don¡¯t expect me to believe that right?¡± I said, staring at him suspiciously.


    He chuckled, exposing his perfect dentition. ¡°Ok, you got me. I was taking a walk and bumped into you. Happy now?¡±


    As I pulled away from his embrace, I nced around taking in the surroundings. The pack¡¯spound was bustling with activities, everyone engaged with different tasks.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here before someone sees us,¡± he said. He led me through another path that led to the pce.


    ¡°There¡¯s something I need to talk to you about,¡± I said as we got into his chambers. This was the second time I would be in his chambers and also the first time I had a view of what it looked like. The previous time had been too sudden considering the situation that surrounded it.


    ¡°What do you want to talk to me about?¡± Chris asked. His expression carried a mixture of concern and curiosity.


    ¡°I told Cade about us, I told him that we are mated together,¡± I said.


    ¡°Why did you do that? He¡¯s going to hurt you just to get at me. You shouldn¡¯t have done that,¡± he protested.


    ¡°I had my reason, he still thinks I hate you because of our experience. That way I can gain his trust and use it against him,¡± I exined.


    ¡°That¡¯s too risky, what if he finds out?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing, you have nothing to worry about. He¡¯s too engrossed with his hatred for you to even think otherwise,¡± I said in a reassuring tone.


    He ced a hand on my arm, offering reassurance. ¡°I¡¯m with you, Lucy. We¡¯ll navigate this carefully, step by step.¡±


    As we discussed, a figure approached us, her presencemanding attention. It was Chris¡¯s mother, a formidable alpha who exuded strength and wisdom.


    ¡°Chris,¡± she greeted her son with a proud smile before her gaze shifted to me. ¡°And who might this be?¡±


    Chris stood tall, introducing me to his mother. ¡°Mother, this is Lucy. She¡¯s my mate.


    My heart skipped a beat as she met the gaze of Chris¡¯s mother. I knew the significance of this moment, realizing that eptance from his family held great importance in our rtionship. Also, the fact that I was a rogue made it seem impossible for her eptance.


    ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, ma¡¯am,¡± I said respectfully, my voice steady despite the nerves bubbling within me.


    His mother¡¯s eyes softened, and a warm smile graced her face. ¡°The pleasure is mine, Lucy. Chris has spoken of you with great fondness. You¡¯re wee here.¡±


    I was shocked by those words, I was expecting her to tell or better stillmand the guards to seize me and lock me up.


    ¡°Why do you look surprised? Because you¡¯re rogue doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t be together,¡± she said.


    Relief washed over me as I received his mother¡¯s eptance. It gave me hope that our rtionship would have a chance to flourish within the pack.


    As we settled into afortable cadence, I and Chris continued our conversation, discussing the delicate symmetry we needed to maintain to protect our secrets.

 Chapter Thirty Five

    LUCYContent is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    It had been a few weeks since I was introduced to Chris¡¯s mother, Lady Maeve as I fondly called her. Despite my initial reservations, Lady Maeve weed me with open arms, sensing a kindred spirit within me. We spent countless hours together, sharing stories,ughter, and even shedding a few tears. She also told me stories about my father and how he was a friend to the Alpha before his death. She promised to look into the case again and find out the truth.


    As the days went by, my visits to the werewolf pack became more frequent. I couldn¡¯t resist the maic pull I felt toward Chris and his intriguing world. However, I had to be cautious. Being an outsider, I was keenly aware of the prying eyes of the pack members who could easily sniff out my true identity as an intruder and a rogue.


    Since my hut in the woods was no longer safe for us to meet and Chris¡¯s pack was a bad idea. It wouldn¡¯t be long before I eventually got caught by the pack members. We had to think of another way to meet, a ce safer for the both of us.


    Chris led the way as he took me to another part of the woods, close to his pack.


    ¡°Where are you taking me to?¡± I asked. The environment was new to me, some flowers adorned the path we walked.


    ¡°Our new secret spot,¡± he answered, his face wearing a mischievous smile.


    We arrived at a treehouse, it was crafty and well-adorned with flowers. It was one of the best things I ever saw, he took my hand and led me up to the treehouse.


    I was in awe when I saw the inside. It was beautifully decorated, and everything in there seemed to be new. ¡°Did you just build this?¡± I asked.


    ¡°No, my father did. I just changed a few things to suit your taste. Do you like it?¡± he said.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to go through all of that just to please me,¡± I said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go to any length just to make you happy,¡± he said, his hands taking mine. His gaze was locked on mine, I felt my heart flutter as he spoke. ¡°I love you, Lucy.¡±


    My heart raced as I walked away from Chris¡¯s treehouse. I couldn¡¯t shake the intensity of the emotions that swirled within me. The scent of pine and damp earth filled the air, but all I could think about was him and the words he said.


    I had tried to hide my feelings, burying them deep within my soul, afraid of what might happen if I revealed them. But each time I looked into Chris¡¯s eyes, I saw the same longing I felt reflected at me. He had made it clear that he loved me, unconditionally and without reservation. His words, his gestures, and his presence spoke volumes.


    Our shared moments together had been filled withughter, stolen kisses, and whispered promises. He was willing to do anything for me. Yet, despite Chris¡¯s unwavering devotion, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to open up fully. I was gued by insecurities and fears that held me back. What if I wasn¡¯t enough for him? What if I couldn¡¯t measure up to his expectations? What if my father truly killed his father? These doubts gnawed at my heart, clouding my mind with uncertainty. Though his mother had epted me for who I was, it still didn¡¯t change who I was to them, a rogue and the daughter of a murderer even if it hasn¡¯t been proven otherwise.


    As I  returned to my pack, I felt a deep longing for Chris that consumed my every thought. I missed him, his warmth, and his unwavering support. The familiar faces of my rogue mates, usually afort, now only reminded me of the void Chris had left behind.


    My steps grew heavy with regret, and I couldn¡¯t escape the guilt that gnawed at my conscience. I felt like a coward for leaving Chris without an exnation. But the intensity of our connection had overwhelmed me, and I needed time to sort through my conflicting emotions.


    Days turned into weeks, and still, thoughts of Chris consumed my every waking moment. I found sce in the moonlit nights, seekingfort in the soft glow that bathed the forest. The howls of distant wolves echoed through the trees, their mournful cries reminding me of the love I had left behind.


    One evening, as I stood alone beneath the basking sun, my heart heavy with longing, a gentle breeze whispered through the branches above. At that moment, I made up my mind. I couldn¡¯t deny my feelings any longer. It was time to face my fears and confront the depths of my love for Chris.


    Determined, I turned back toward the treehouse, my steps quickening with every beat of my heart. I would find Chris and tell him the truth, risking everything for a chance at happiness. For I knew that true love was worth fighting for, even if it meant facing my vulnerabilities and shedding the cloak of cowardice I had worn for far too long.


    With the sun as her guide, I sprinted through the woods, the scent of pine mingling with my anticipation. I was ready to face my mate, ready to embrace the bond that had been waiting for me all along. And as I approached the treehouse, my heart soared with hope, ready to break free from the chains of fear and seize the love that was rightfully mine.


    My footsteps grew louder as I neared the treehouse, and I  could hear the faint crackling of a fire within. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door and stepped inside, her eyes immediately finding Chris¡¯s warm gaze.


    ¡°Lucy,¡± Chris eximed, his voice filled with a mix of surprise and joy. ¡°You¡¯re back, I knew you would return. I missed you so much.¡±


    A wave of relief washed over me as I  saw the genuine love and happiness in Chris¡¯s eyes. ¡°I missed you too, Chris,¡± I replied, my voice soft but determined. ¡°I couldn¡¯t stay away any longer. I realized that I¡¯ve been hiding my true feelings, and I can¡¯t pretend anymore.¡±


    Chris stood up from the wooden chair where he had been sitting, his face filled with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. ¡°What do you mean, Lucy? What are you trying to say?¡±


    I took a step closer, my heart pounding in my chest. ¡°I love you, Chris. I¡¯ve loved you for so long, but I¡¯ve been scared to admit it. Scared of being vulnerable, scared of losing you. But I can¡¯t keep hiding behind my fears. I want to be with you, fully andpletely.¡±


    Tears glistened in Chris¡¯s eyes as he reached out to take my trembling hands. ¡°Lucy, you have no idea how long I¡¯ve waited to hear those words from you. I love you too, with all my heart. I¡¯ve tried to show you in every way possible, but I¡¯ve always hoped for this moment. You don¡¯t have to be afraid. We¡¯ll face everything together.¡±


    A weight lifted off my shoulders as I felt Chris¡¯s warm touch. The tension that had burdened me for so long started to disperse, reced by a newfound sense of courage and eptance. In that embrace, we found sce and the promise of a love that would transcend any obstacle.


    As we held each other tightly, the sunlight filtered through the branches, casting a gentle glow upon our entwined forms. In that magical moment, the world faded away, leaving only me and Chris, our souls finally united by a shared love and the untamed power of the wolf within.

 Chapter Thirty Six

    CHRIS


    Lucy¡¯s sudden confession came as a surprise to me. It was no news that she was developing feelings but I never expected her to open up to me so soon. The moment I had been waiting for was finally here and the weight of uncertainty that gued me lifted. I gazed into her eyes with love and affection.


    ¡°Lucy,¡± I said, my voice filled with emotions. ¡°You don¡¯t know how happy I am to hear you say these words. I¡¯ve loved you for as long as I remember and I¡¯ve always wished that you felt the same way towards me.¡±


    A smile spread across her face as she reached out to caress my cheek. ¡°I was afraid to admit my feelings to you, Chris, especially with the circumstances that surround us. I felt like I was betraying my father by being with you. But now I¡¯ve realized that my heart belongs to you.¡±


    My heart fluttered with excitement, I felt a sense of contentment. I finally had a mate of my own, the one destined to be by my side as my Luna. I wrapped my arms around her in a tight embrace as we made endless promises to each other.


    Amid the joy, I felt torn between telling her the truth about who Cade was and keeping it a secret. She had the right to know about everything but it could also ruin the ns she had made.


    ¡°Is everything alright?¡± she asked, staring up at me.


    ¡°Lucy,¡± I began, hesitating for a moment. ¡°There is something I need to tell you.¡±


    ¡°You sound troubled, what is it?¡± she asked, her eyes filled with concern.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    ¡°Cade is not who he ims to be, his name is Uther. My father¡¯s brother,¡± I said.


    Lucy burst intoughter. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re talking about? I¡¯ve known Cade since I was little, he was friends with my father before his death. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re mistaken somewhere.¡±


    ¡°I know it sounds ridiculous but it¡¯s true. Cade was nowhere to be found after the death of my father. He and my father were never on good terms and it¡¯s not shocking anymore to see him show up after all these years with the n to hunt me down. He wants the throne for himself,¡± I exined.


    Her jaws dropped in shock, I knew this would hurt her the more but I had to let it out. ¡°How is he your uncle? I¡¯ve known him all my life.¡±


    I sighed. The weight of the past is on my shoulders. ¡°I was baffled as well when I saw him at your hut. We have been looking for him for years and presumed that he was dead since we couldn¡¯t find him.¡±


    ¡± What if he is the one behind your father¡¯s death? What if he ckmailed my father?¡± she asked, her temper rising gradually.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know that yet, Lucy. I promise I¡¯ll find out everything I need to know about that day and clear your father¡¯s name,¡± I assured.


    After I met with Lucy, I returned to my pack with the renowned hope of finding my father¡¯s real killer. I approached Lothar with the hope of getting useful information from him.


    ¡°Lothar,¡± I began, my voice unwavering. ¡°I need to talk to you about something important.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m all ears, young alpha,¡± he said.


    ¡°How long have you known?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I have no idea of what you are talking about, can you be more precise?¡± he said, his countenance changing gradually.


    ¡°How long have you known that the rogue leader was my uncle?¡± I snarled. ¡°How long have you known that Cade was my uncle?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for keeping this away from you for long, I thought I could handle it on my own without your knowledge,¡± he said.


    ¡°How could you keep something as important as this away from me? That traitor killed my father!¡± I yelled.


    Lothar took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on mine. ¡°We aren¡¯t certain for sure that he killed your father, let¡¯s not jump to conclusion,¡± he said.


    ¡°Then I want to know the truth about my father¡¯s death, I¡¯ve heard rumors and I¡¯ve had assumptions but I need to know the whole truth. Who is responsible for his death?¡± I asked.


    Lothars expression softened with sympathy. ¡°Your father¡¯s death was a tragedy and the pain of loss can never fade. As for who the murderer is, I am not certain.¡±


    ¡°I need to find a way to clear Lucy¡¯s father¡¯s name from the charges levied against him,¡± I said, my hopes dashing to the ground.


    His eyes narrowed, and he sighed heavily. ¡°The truth is gloomy and I cannot say for certain. Your father had many enemies including his brother Cade, but without concrete evidence, we can¡¯t point fingers.¡±


    ¡°but it was easy to point fingers at an innocent man a few years ago,¡± I blurted.


    I clenched my fist in frustration. I couldn¡¯t ept this uncertain truth. ¡°I won¡¯t rest until I find the ones responsible for my father¡¯s death.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do what I can to uncover the truth but I advise you to keep what you know a secret. If any of the councilmen find out that you know something, it could ruin your chances of finding out the truth you seek,¡± Lothar advised.


    He spoke the truth, since my father¡¯s demise, those elders had sought ways to steal the throne from me and are still seeking ways to do so. There was something amiss about them, especially Orvyn whom I hated so much.


    I returned to my chambers with a renowned hope of finding my father¡¯s true killer and clearing the name of Lucy¡¯s father. Iy on my bed, my mind scheming at different ways to solve the puzzles around me.


    I took a walk along the path that led to the rogue¡¯s pack. I found myself in a realm of darkness and mist. The air was so heavy and a creepy silence hung in the air. The moon shone so brightly, emitting its ethereal glow on the surrounding. As I looked around, I realized that I was standing in a deste forest, where entwined trees reached out with gnarled branches like skeletal hands.


    Suddenly, a presence stood before me. It was a figure which emerged from the shadows, it was tall and imposing, with glowing red eyes that pierced through the darkness. Its presence sent shivers down my spine.


    For the first time in a long time, I felt fear grip me as the being approached me. I tried to back away from it but . y feet were rooted to the spot. The being busted intoughter, its voice deep and very husky and it resonated in my mind.


    ¡°Chris!¡± it hissed. ¡°You cannot escape your destiny.¡±


    I felt a sense of dread as the being reached out its hand to me, its w-like fingers brushing against my skin. I mustered courage and tried to fight back but my movement was too sluggish and feeble. It was as if an invisible force was draining me of my strength.


    I became desperate as I tried to summon any hidden power inside me. The more I struggled, the more the being seemed to grow. Itughed mockingly at my futile attempts, savoring my vulnerability.


    I continued to struggle for hours until exhaustion weighed heavily on me. I felt defeated, unable to resist the overpowering force before me. It made me doubt my own strength, I felt weak and powerless.


    Just as I was about to sumb, a glimpse of determination sparked within me. Summoning all my willpower, I called upon the strength of my ancestors. Immediately, I felt a surge of energy flow through my veins. I began to transform and grow taller, my senses heightened and I could feel the power surge within me.


    With newfound strength, I fought back against the being. I lunged at it, striking it with a force I had never known before. The Battle raged for hours, with ws and fangs shing in the moonlight. I felt the raw power of it werewolf propelling forward.


    In a decisive final blow, I unleashed my full power at the being, sending it back to the darkness where it came.


    ¡°We¡¯ll meet again, Chris,¡± it hissed again and immediately faded away.


    I jolted from the bed where Iy, sweating profusely. Then I realized that I had been dreaming all along.

 Chapter Thirty Seven

    LUCY


    The revtion of Cade¡¯s true identity came as a shock to me. His interest in taking down Chris and destroying the pack became clearer and clearer. He must have killed Chris¡¯s father to gain the throne and framed my father, his friend for the death.


    With this new information I had about Cade, I knew I had to tread carefully. Despite my fear, I couldn¡¯t ignore the growing urge to confront him. I fought my instincts and concealed my suspicions, acting as though I was unaware of the truth.


    As the full moon drew closer, my heat period threatened, adding to my susceptibility. At a time like this, I chose to be alone, avoiding the watchful eyes of everyone around me. The heat period was a time when Omegas like myself were most fertile and ready to mate. Over the years when I had no mate, I hid in a nest until my heat was over. But things were different now that I had one.


    My heat intensified as the moon reached its peak. I couldn¡¯t help but feel an intense desire to have Chris by my side. I struggled to keep the thoughts of him at bay but it wasn¡¯t helpful, the more I tried to push it away the more the desire grew.


    Soon I found myself standing at the entrance of Chris¡¯ treehouse. How I got there marveled me. I turned to leave but I felt my wolf growling, urging me to stay back. I pushed open the door and walked in, savoring Chris¡¯ scent that he had left behind.


    I felt a sense of relief as I continued to enjoy the sweet scent of him. ¡°I was told you were here,¡± I heard Chris say from behind.


    I froze immediately. I must have misunderstood that the scent wasn¡¯t what was left behind from our previous meeting but his actual presence. I wasn¡¯t expecting him to be anywhere near here and I became short of words. Deep inside me, I was d that he was here with me but I also felt ashamed to meet him at my most vulnerable moment.


    ¡°I-I-I wasn¡¯t expecting you,¡± I stuttered.


    ¡°I know,¡± he said, his face revealing a smirk. ¡°I was informed of your presence so I decided toe see you.¡±


    Without thinking, I took a few steps forwards till I was standing toe to toe with him. I brushed my lips against his and felt the surge of tension in my being.


    I immediately stepped back, avoiding his gaze. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I wasn¡¯t thinking,¡± I muttered.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be,¡± Chris whispered, pulling me into a deeper kiss.


    As our lips met, a tingling sensation ran through my body. I felt his hands gently cup my face as he deepened the kiss, his lips moving against mine with a gentle urgency. At that moment, nothing else mattered ¨C no worries or fears, no past or future. There was only the heat of the moment, the electricity between us, and the pure, unbridled passion of our kiss.


    The kisssted for what felt like an eternity, our lips parting only for brief moments to catch our breath. We explored each other¡¯s mouths with a gentle urgency, our tongues intertwining in a dance of passion and desire.


    ¡°I want you,¡± I whispered. I couldn¡¯t bear the tension anymore, I felt the heat building up inside and felt I would explode if I didn¡¯t feel his touch.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Without saying a word, he came to me suddenly, straddling me and pushing me back hard against the bed. His mouth met mine in a passionate kiss. The wetness of my mouth enfolded him, and he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me tight into him. His cock was hard enough to cut diamonds with, and it pressed painfully against my clothes as I ground my hips into his.


    Our kiss became deeper, more primal. I turned my head, and he moved his mouth to engulf my neck. Kissing and lightly biting his way along my neckline and corbone. His hands slipped inside my shirt, cupping my firm tits. I moaned as he rubbed my nipples, nuzzling in and biting his ear lightly, my tongue tracing along my earlobe.


    It felt so good! My breath wasing hard and fast and he grabbed my hips and ground our d pelvises together, rocking me against him. His lips moved next to my ear, ¡°Will you suck me off? I want to make love to you, but I want it tost our first time, and I feel like I¡¯m going to pop right now.¡±


    I smiled and slid from hisp. He eagerly pulled his pants down, revealing himself to me.


    My innocence was gone at that point, I attacked his cock like a lioness does a gazelle. Instantly my hot wet mouth was around his throbbing cock going straight down my eager throat.  He didn¡¯tst more than a minute in my mouth. He had cum in my mouth, so this time he kept his hands away from my head, and called out just before he exploded, ¡°I¡¯m cumming, baby!¡±


    I never took my mouth away from his cock. He exploded and exploded inside my wet mouth rocking in ecstasy as I sucked him as hard as I could. Finally, the shudders of his orgasm quieted, and hey back breathless.


    He looked down at me, watching as I licked every drop of cum away from the shaft of his penis. Then, I looked up at him, his eyes shining in the light of the room.


    He unbuttoned my shirt and pulled them away from me. Next, he removed my panties, spreading my legs and looking down between my legs. He bent over and began to lick my clit, my hips bucked into his face and I screamed in ecstasy.


    ¡°Oh, fuck!¡± I screamed. Suddenly my hands were tangled in his hair as I thrust my pussy hard against his face. I ground my hips and thrust as he eagerlypped at me. I wasn¡¯t in my right senses anymore, the mate bond and the heat period had taken control of me.


    I guided him to where it felt best, only asionally shifting to move to a new ce to see if it brought me greater enjoyment. Finally, we settled in himpping and sucking my clit. Within minutes I climaxed hard, my muscr thighs wrapping tight around his head. He continued again to dig in, licking and sucking until once again I locked tight and screamed in ecstasy.


    ¡°I want you in me now,¡± I said breathlessly.

 Chapter Thirty Eight

    CHRIS


    ¡°I want you in me now.¡± She said breathlessly. I looked into those beautiful green eyes and I could see an animal hungry there.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± I asked, I wanted the same thing but this was the first time I had seen her this way before. She was in her heat period and I could tell from her sweet scent. The smell of my gave me a rut, I wanted to possess her this instant, I wanted to make her mine forever but I had to be sure that she wanted the same thing.


    ¡°Hurry,¡± shemanded.


    I was so excited as I ditched my clothes. At this point, my cock was solidly doing my thinking for me, and this was the only breath my brain could get into the conversation.


    I hastily moved back to my bed and looked down on the goddess, now sans shirt,ying across my covers. She bit her lower lip and spread her legs for me, and I glided between them feeling like a conquering hero.


    I kissed her passionately as our bodies met. In the back of my mind, I thought about the fact that she had just swallowed my cum, but then again, my face was covered in her juices and she didn¡¯t seem to care. Fuck it, I thought, this is between me and her, and if she doesn¡¯t care and it brings us both pleasure no one can judge me.


    My cock was nestled against her tight opening, and I had the vague wonder that I somehow instinctively knew how to get to her without looking¡­ I could feel my opening thrust beginning, a long deep thrust to spear into the heart of her hot, wet, tightness.


    Her hand was suddenly against my chest. Pushing me away. No! I screamed to myself in agony, I can¡¯t stop! And then my eyes met hers.


    ¡°Go slow please.¡± Again, that nervous lip bit was filling me with a mind-numbing rage to thrust and bite, to spend myself with her. I found her so goddamn sexy with that nervous bite to her lip. ¡°I¡¯ve never had anyone there before.¡± She whispered.


    My heart melted. I could feel something break in me, like a piece of ice crashing from the side of a cier and into the calm waters below. My eyes kept locked tight with hers as I slowly slide myself inside her. Oh fuck, it felt so fucking good! The wolf inside me growled in rage as it told me to thrust myself into her until I was sated, but her eyes kept me locked at the moment. She and I were sharing something sacred, and the calm rational man inside me came quietly to the forefront of my mind, calmly pushing the animal back down. In that moment I caught sight of myself as the man I could be, and it was an image that I wanted in a way that was even more intoxicating than what I was feeling physically.


    I had just got the head of myself inside her when I felt the resistance of her cherry. No wonder I thought wildly of the resistance I had felt upon slipping my finger into her earlier in the day.


    I felt my fangs pulling out as I buried them into her neck, a soft moan mixed with pain and passion escaped her throat. I had just marked her as my mate and I felt a sense of satisfaction well up in me.


    I pushed gently against her, slowly increasing the pressure of my hips against hers. She parted with a feeling like moist paper tearing. Her eyes closed in pain for a brief second, and I pulled her close into me and kissed her with the deepest passion I could summon. In that moment I willed every ounce of the affection I felt for her, and every bit of strength I had within myself to her.


    Soon our hips met, the full length of me now inside her. My mouth was still hot upon hers, and I was terrified that I was hurting her. My cock was pulsing in pleasure and my every instinct was screaming to thrust, but the calmness in my head forced that all back. Instead, I enjoyed the feeling of being fully engulfed inside of her, enjoying every inch of her burning wetness.


    I kissed her until she started to squirm her hips beneath mine. She was ready now. I began to slowly push and pull my way in and out of her. Our mingled sighs were stifled by the burning hot kiss we shared. We moved together, her legs wrapped thighs around me, her hands rubbing the muscles of my neck and shoulders.


    I¡¯d like to say that Isted for hours, but minutes are the reality. I pulled my kiss away from her and looked deep into her face. Her eyes were closed, her breathing in ragged, puffing breaths. I could feel her nipples like tiny diamonds against my chest. She was as close as I was, maybe a little bit further away. I thought wildly that I couldn¡¯t wait, I needed to cum now. For the final time that night, the calmness swept over me. I resolved to hold myself in check.


    I pumped slowly in and out of her, watching and growing more excited as each of my thrusts brought her closer to climax. Suddenly her eyes snapped open, meeting mine in a locking soul gaze, every muscle in her body went suddenly stiff. Her pussy mped down on me like it had been molded to my shaft. She broke first, her head snapping up, her eyes crashing closed, her cry as if someone had touched a branding iron to her skin. The excitement of her orgasm pushed me over the edge.


    My orgasm was stronger than anything I had ever met before. No amount of jerking off could prepare me for the pleasure she gave me. I could contain the beast no longer. I hammered my hips against hers with every ounce of strength I had. I cried in agony the feeling was so intense. She bucked insanely beneath me, her body rising to contour itself against mine, her nails biting into the flesh of my back. She raked against me and the beast howled in victory at the pleasure I gave her.


    Finally spent, I copsed against her, quiet and still¡­ She wrapped her arms around me, and me around her, our hearts pounding, not in rhythm, but strong enough to feel through each other¡¯s flesh. My body gave onest shuddering thrust as our eyes met, and I swept in to kiss her once again.

 Chapter Thirty Nine

    LUCY


    I woke up the next morning to find Chris sleeping peacefully by my side. I couldn¡¯t help but stare at his well-curved jawline and masculinity, the thought of it brought memories ofst night¡¯s event back again. I flushed as I recalled how I had changed into apletely different person.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I sneaked out of his bed while he was still asleep, I couldn¡¯t help but feel torn. The memories of our shared moments lingered in my mind, making me wish for more. I wanted to stay behind till he woke up but I was too shy to face him.


    ¡°I¡¯lle see you again,¡± I whispered, nting a kiss on his forehead before slipping away.


    Back at my rogue pack den, Cade approached me, confronting me about my ns to help him defeat Chris and his pack. I immediately recalled all that Chris had told me about me and I felt the urge to confront him about his true identity.


    ¡°Lucy, we need a more solid strategy to take down Chris and his pack once and for all,¡± he said, his eyes glinting with determination.


    I resisted the urge to mention what I had known to him, rather I chose to pretend not to know anything because if I did, it would only put I and Chris at risk more.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Cade. I have a n,¡± I said, trying to sound confident.


    Cade narrowed his eyes, staring at me intensely like he always did when he sensed something amiss. ¡°Are you sure, Lucy? You seem distractedtely,¡± he said suspiciously.


    I forced a smile on my face, keeping my emotions in check. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Cade. I¡¯m just dealing with a lot on my mind,¡± I said in a reassuring tone. ¡°But you have nothing to worry about, I promise to remainmitted to your cause.¡±


    I scoffed as he left for his chambers. ¡± Wait till I bring you to your knees, you traitor.¡± I returned to my hut where I confronted my mother about Cade¡¯s identity.


    ¡°Where have you been, woman?¡± she asked, furrowing her brows.


    ¡°I was with Chris,¡± I said.


    My mother regarded me with a knowing gaze. ¡°You¡¯ve fallen for Chris, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    My eyes widened in shock. I wasn¡¯t expecting that from my mum. ¡°How did you know?¡± I asked, feeling vulnerable.


    ¡°I¡¯m your mother, Lucy. I¡¯ll always know, besides it¡¯s written all over you,¡± she said, pulling me into an embrace.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about Cade¡¯s true identity?¡± I asked, pulling away from her embrace.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± she said, staring at me in a confused way. It was clear she knew nothing about what I just asked.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that Cade was a member of the royal family? Why didn¡¯t you tell me all of that?¡± I inquired.


    ¡°How did you know about that? No one knows about his true identity not even his son, Nathan,¡± she said in a frightened tone.


    ¡°Chris told me everything, how could you keep something like that away from me?¡± I said in anger.


    My mother sighed, and her expression softened.  ¡°I wanted to protect you, Lucy. I feared that if you knew about him, it would cloud your judgment and lead you to trouble.¡±


    ¡°But keeping secrets like this from me isn¡¯t fair, I deserve to know everything. What if he has a hand in Chris¡¯ father¡¯s death and mine?¡± I said.


    ¡°This is exactly the reason why I refused to tell you anything, these assumptions are going to put you in trouble,¡± my mother snapped.


    I took a deep breath, the weight of my emotions hitting me. ¡°I love Chris, mother and I love my family too. I need to find out the truth about what happened, if I don¡¯t I and Chris cannot be together. I¡¯ll continue to remain the rogue girl whose father killed the alpha,¡± I said, tears welling up in my eyes.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know what happened then but I know that the truth will surely suffice one day,¡± my mother assured. She ced her hand on my shoulder as she tried to console me.


    ¡°Tell me everything I need to know about Cade and the royal family,¡± I said.


    She adjusted on her seat and took a long deep breath before she began to speak. She told me of the conflict between Chris¡¯ father and Cade over the throne which had been going on for years and Chris¡¯ father¡¯s sudden death. She told me about how my father imed to have been summoned by the alpha only to find him dead in his chambers.


    As she exined, my anger sprouted. The more I tried to understand the situation, the moreplicated it became for me. Everyone was a suspect including my father, though I knew he didn¡¯t do it. He had told me all that happened as well, how he found the alpha dead at the time he arrived at his chambers, and how he reprimanded and punished without proper investigation.


    All I wanted was to find out the truth, to clear my father¡¯s name, and have a happy life with Chris as his mate. I was tired of the fighting and hating, I wanted to be happy like my other peers.


    I decided to get my mind off everything and focus on only the moment. To do that, I always head out to the field to train, that way my mind was eased of its stress.


    As I headed out to the field, I noticed Maverick sneak out of the pack. His movement was suspicious so I followed him out of curiosity. Determine to uncover his secret, I trailed him through the dense forest, I was careful not to make a sound.


    He probably heard my footsteps and turned so I hid behind the trees to avoid being caught. He was heading toward the hill and after what felt like forever he finally arrived at the top of the hill. I hid cautiously behind a tree, peering through the leaves as I saw a mane out of his hiding to greet him.


    My breath caught in my throat when I recognized the figure before me.


    It was Lothar, my uncle.

 Chapter Forty

    LUCY


    My mind raced in confusion. Why would Lothar be meeting with a rogue member and not just any rogue but Maverick and in secret? I strained to listen to their conversation but they spoke in hushed tones, making it difficult for me to catch any words.


    I began to feel uneasy as the conversation continued. What if Lothar was involved in something dangerous or plotting against Chris? I had to get closer to understanding the truth.


    Silently, I crept closer, making sure I remained hidden among the bushes. My heart pounded as I caught a snippet of their conversation. They were discussing a n and my name was mentioned.


    ¡°Why involve Lucy in this? She¡¯s just a young girl? Lothar questioned.


    ¡°It was her choice. I don¡¯t know what her n is but I¡¯m sure she¡¯s ying a deceptive game with Cade,¡± Maverick said.


    Lothar shook his head. ¡°She¡¯s as stubborn as her father, I wonder if Chris is aware of this dubious n of hers. Does she even know the gravity of what she¡¯s doing? If Cade finds out that she has been deceiving him, he¡¯s going to make her suffer.¡±


    ¡°I tried to warn her but she wouldn¡¯t listen. She is so strong-headed, I feel like I¡¯m failing in my duties to protect her,¡± Maverick said, his voiceced with emotions.


    Protect me, I thought. What was he talking about? Thest time I checked, Maverick was never nice to me. He hated me and I hated him too. What did he mean by protecting me? The uncertainty and secrecy that surrounded the situation made me anxious and I struggled to make sense of it all.


    Just as I was about to move closer for a better view, a twig snapped under my foot, alerting them of my presence. Maverick¡¯s eyes widened and Lothat turned his head towards me.


    ¡°Lucy, what are you doing here?¡± Maverick eximed, caught off guard.


    My heart raced as I became uncertain of what to say.¡±I-I followed you here. I needed to know what was going on,¡± I stuttered, feeling vulnerable under their stern gazes.


    ¡°Curiosity can be dangerous, Lucy. You might not like what you find,¡± Lothar warned, his expression stoic.


    I squared my shoulders, refusing to back down. ¡°I deserve to know what you both were talking about?¡± I demanded. ¡°Why did you meet Maverick in secret? What is going on?¡±


    ¡°What were you thinking, Lucy? Do you think this is a child¡¯s game? How could you try to deceive Cade?¡± Lothar growled at me. ¡°Cade is a dangerous man; if he finds out that you¡¯ve been deceiving him he¡¯ll kill you.¡±


    ¡°Is he dangerous because he is a rogue in the quest for power or because he is not who he truly is?¡± I said.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Lothar asked.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°Stop acting like you don¡¯t know what I¡¯m talking about,¡± I snapped. ¡°You know who Cade truly is and you¡¯ve been hiding it from all of us.¡±


    Maverick turned to face Lothar, his gaze filled with confusion. ¡°What is she talking about, Lothar? Is there something I need to know?¡±


    ¡°Cade is not who we think he is, he is a member of the royal family. Cade¡¯s real name is Uther Parker, the brother to thete Alpha whom my father was used of killing,¡± I blurted in anger.


    Maverick¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Tell me it isn¡¯t true,¡± he said to Lothar. ¡°How could you keep something like this away from me?¡±


    Lothar¡¯s gaze softened slightly, but he remained determined. ¡°There are things you¡¯re not ready for, Lucy. But know that whatever you do, your family¡¯s legacy must be your priority,¡± he said, enigmatically.


    ¡°I must clear my father¡¯s name and give my mother the life she deserves,¡± I said, my voice etched with determination.


    Lothar nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°I agree with you, child. Now that you¡¯ve been involved in this, you have to tread carefully.  The future of our pack depends on it,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Did Cade really kill my father?¡± I inquired, I was itching to know the truth.


    ¡°If I tell you that I know the answers you seek I would be lying to you. All I know is that with time, the truth will reveal itself,¡± he said, burning his face.


    Before I could press for more answers, Lothar and Maverick exchanged a meaningful nce. ¡°We¡¯ll talk moreter. For now, go back to the pack,¡± Lothar instructed.


    I reluctantly retreated, my mind filled with questions and uncertainty. I felt like I was only scratching the surface of a deeper mystery.


    As I returned to the pack, I couldn¡¯t shake off that feeling. I had a suspicion that they were hiding something from me. Finding out Cade¡¯s true identity opened the doors to another world of mystery for me.


    As the day passed by, I held onto my suspicion that he had a hand in the death of my father. Yes, they had been friends for a long time till his death but that didn¡¯t change anything. Friends could betray each other when they had something to gain or to hide.


    I remained in solitude, pondering on my next line of action. Gaining Cade¡¯s trust wasn¡¯t enough anymore, I wanted to be his closest ally. That was the best way to beat him at his game.


    ¡°Lucy!¡± a voice called out from behind me, bringing me back from my reverie. It was Maverick.


    ¡°What do you want? I want to be alone right now,¡± I said.


    ¡°Hear me out. I know we¡¯ve been on bad terms for so long but I need you to know that all I¡¯ve ever done was protect you,¡± he exined.


    ¡°Really? When you prevented me from joining in the attack against Chris¡¯ pack were you also trying to protect me?¡± I inquired.


    ¡°Yes. Everything I¡¯ve ever done is to protect you as your father instructed me to. I have to admit, I hate your guts but you have always proven to be a tough one and I admire you for that,¡± he said, a smile smoothing on his face. This was the first time I ever saw him smile so genuinely unlike the usual wicked smirk he had on his face.


    He sat beside me, cing his hand on my shoulder. ¡°With time you¡¯ll know all that you need to know about your father¡¯s demise. Until then I need you to trust me,¡± he said.


    Trust him, I thought. How could I trust a man who treated me like a nobody just to be close to Cade? Was all that just a part of his n to get close to Cade and gain his trust?


    ¡°Ease your mind little one,¡± he said. With that, he left my side. Leaving to ponder on all that he had said.

 Chapter Forty One

    CHRIS


    ¡°You cannot escape your destiny!¡±


    Those words hunted me day and night. Those were the same words that being had said in my dream, it haunted me every time I tried to get my mind off it. Most times, the being appeared in my sleep, but this time it wasn¡¯t trying to attack me. It just stood there, repeating those words until I jolted myself awake in fright.


    I got out of bed wearing a frown, I had had the same dream again and it was beginning to weigh me down. I thought of meeting the mage but I was too busy with the summit preparation to go see him.  I hurried my way into the bathroom after my maidservant had prepared my bath.


    As the water dripped down my skin, my mind drifted to the good times I spent with Lucy. She was the only one that kept me sane, she listened to all of myints and was ready to give me a few pieces of advice. She was like my dear mother and I knew she would make a fine Luna when the time was right.


    ¡°My lord!¡± a guard called, drifting my thoughts away. ¡°You are being summoned by the elders.¡±


    Immediately, my smile turned into a big frown. I stepped out of the bathroom with my towel tied around my waist. ¡°What did you say the problem is?¡± I asked.


    ¡°The elders have summoned you for an emergency gathering, they say that you muste at once,¡± the guard said, bowing his head.


    I scoffed. ¡°Who do they think they are to summon their Alpha? I see that they¡¯re beginning to bite more than they can chew.¡±


    I got dressed and made my way to the great hall for this meeting. Lothar was waiting at the courtyard to join me and I could see desperation in his look.


    ¡°Are you aware of this meeting?¡± I asked.


    He shook his head. ¡°I was only informed this morning, I thought you knew about it as well,¡± he said.


    We arrived at the hall where all were seated. My mother too was there and she had a troubled look on her face.  ¡°What is this nonsense about?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Chris,¡± Orvyn said in a stern tone, ¡°time is running out. You made amitment to us and yet there is no sign of a mate.¡±


    I met his gaze without flinching. ¡°Rest assured, Orvyn. I will introduce my mate to you all before the year ends.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve granted you enough time, Chris. But tradition cannot be ignored,¡± Kazmir snarled.


    ¡°Watch your tone, you swine!¡± my mother sneered. ¡°I¡¯m not going to sit here and watch you disrespect my son. He said he will introduce one to you soon so why the pressure.¡±


    ¡°Lady Maeve, you know the traditions that govern us. You know the importance of this matter, an Alpha¡¯s rule must be secured and he needs his mate to do that,¡± Kazmir exined.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    My eyes narrowed, a hint of defiance in my voice. ¡°You all need to know your ce in this pack. Remember, I am the Alpha of this pack. I have the authority to remove anyone of you as an elder in this council if you dare challenge me.¡±


    The elders exchanged nces and murmured amongst themselves, my words sinking in. ¡°Very well then, let¡¯s see who truly has the authority here. We give you till the end of this year and if you don¡¯t produce your mate to us, we will not only strip you of your throne but we will reduce you to amoner. Mark my words, Chris!¡± Orvyn yelled, grimacing at me.


    Iughed theirments off and walked out of there before I lost my temper. I retreated to my chambers, the conversation reying in my head. I needed to act fast, I had to carry out my n and clear Lucy of any charge before I could announce her as my mate. I was running out of options.


    I paced around, trying to think of my next line of action. Suddenly, shes of my recurring dream assaulted my thoughts once more, the vivid image threatened to overpower me. I clutched my head in agony, my eyes began to burn. I struggled to gain bnce but soon I fell to the ground as I cried out in pain. No one came to my help as I screamed though I had guards at my doorpost at all times. It was either they couldn¡¯t hear me or they had left their post.


    I struggled to gain control of myself, I was gradually shifting form. My ws extended involuntarily, and my fangs threatened to reveal themselves. It was like I was shifting form for the first time and it was more painful than the first time. My eyes were burning red and I felt every bone in my body break as I continuously transformed.


    Just then, the door creaked open and my mother entered, her gaze falling upon my disheveled form.


    ¡°Chris, are you alright?¡± she asked, her voiceced with concern.


    Forced to mask my internal struggle, I rose from the floor and managed a shaky smile, beads of sweat forming on my forehead.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, mother. Just lost in thought,¡± I lied.


    ¡°You don¡¯t look fine to me, Chris. You are shifting form, what is going on?¡± she asked. I ignored her question and tucked myself in the bed.


    She sat beside me, my expression files with worry and concern. ¡°Chris, talk to me, what¡¯s going on?¡± she asked. ¡°You¡¯re burning up and you look weak.¡±


    I sighed. I began to exin the dream I had to her and how it had continued to haunt me for days. I made sure I exined everything in detail not leaving anything apart.    Her eyes widened in shock, he mouth wide open as she fought the right words toe out of them.


    ¡°We need to see the mage as soon as possible. Your father had a simr dream as this before he was killed,¡± she said.


    Immediately, she ordered the guards to get the mage, and in no time, the mage appeared. He smiled as he entered my chambers.


    ¡°Thank goodness you are here,¡± my mother said. ¡°It¡¯s happening again. My son is having the same dream his father had before he was killed.¡±


    ¡°History is about to repeat itself again, young Alpha,¡± the Mage said.


    I was stunned. I had no idea of what he was talking about. ¡°What do you mean? What is this dream about?¡± I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.


    ¡°Your death is near!¡±

 Chapter Forty Two

    LUCY


    My thoughts were consumed by the mysterious encounter with Lothar and Maverick. Their cryptic words and the weight of the responsibility they mentioned earlier lingered in my mind. Yet, I made a conscious decision to set aside my doubts for the time being and focus on the present.


    Days went by and I found myself immersed in the day-to-day activity of the rogue pack. Training sessions, patrols, and keeping a watchful eye on our rival pack filled my days. Amidst the activities that surrounded me, my mind remained on the n at hand, the Alpha¡¯s summit.


    Cade had been relentless in his attempt to extract information from me regarding the summit. He believed I had information that would help him gain strategic advantages so he pressed me for any information I might have gathered. However, I could only think of Chris, it felt like I was avoiding him which I wasn¡¯t. I had just been too upied to go see him.


    I sought out Chris with resolve, my heart fluttering as I came face to face with him. But something was off, his usual warm smile was strained.  His eyes seemed to carry a burden that he was struggling to hide. I knew something was amiss and I couldn¡¯t ignore my concerns.


    ¡°Chris, is everything alright?¡± I asked gently, studying his expression.


    He tried to fake a smile but I could still read the sad expression on his face. ¡°Everything is alright, Lucy. I just have a lot going on in my mind at the moment.¡±


    ¡°But you don¡¯t look fine to me, you can tell me anything you know that,¡± I said, hoping to make him talk to me. But he was relentless and refused to talk to me. ¡°I want you to know that I¡¯m always here for you no matter what.¡±


    Chris hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering as if he was debating whether to reveal his secrets to me or not. ¡°Lucy, there¡¯s something I need to tell you,¡± he began, his voice heavy with vulnerability.


    My heart skipped a beat, I could sense the seriousness of the situation n his voice. ¡°What is it?¡± I asked softly, my gaze locked into his.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been having these dreams,¡± he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.


    ¡°Dreams? What are you talking about?¡± I asked out of curiosity. I had heard of the tale of werewolves having dreams and those dreams having significant meanings or prophecies.


    He nodded. ¡°Yes, vivid and unsettling dreams. This being keeps haunting me all the time, threatening me.¡±


    ¡°But dreams aren¡¯t always literal, Chris. They can be symbolic or metaphoric,¡± I reassured him even as concern weighed heavily on me.


    Chris¡¯s lips twisted into a bitter smile. ¡°I thought the same until I met with the Mage.¡±


    ¡°A Mage? What did he say to you?¡± I asked, surprised. Mages were known for their supernatural abilities to interpret signs and omens.


    ¡°He confirmed that my dreams might be a premonition. He said that danger looms ahead and that my death could be near,¡± he said, his voiceced with agony.


    My eyes widened in shock. A heavy silence hung in the air as I absorbed his words. The weight of his revtion settled heavily on my shoulders and I felt sincere empathy for him. I couldn¡¯t afford to lose him just yet, I was still getting used to being with him and now he was about to be snatched away from me.


    ¡°Is there no other way to bypass this? I can¡¯t stand to lose you now, I know it¡¯s a heavy burden to bear, ¡°I said softly, my heart aching for him.


    His gaze held a mix of emotions. ¡°I honestly do not know what to do, Lucy. The thought of my own death terrifies me, but I also need to protect my pack and you too.¡±


    I reached out my arms tofort him. ¡°Nothing is going to happen to you under my watch, you¡¯re not alone in this. We¡¯ll face whateveres together and perhaps there¡¯s going to be a way to change this fate,¡± I said.


    Days passed by and I found myself spending more time with Chris. We discussed strategies for the uing Alpha Summit and also tried to piece together the puzzles of his fate and Cade¡¯s connection to it.


    One evening, while we were together at theke close to his treehouse, I decided to bring up the topic of his tragedy. It had continued to linger in my mind and I feared for his safety.


    ¡°Have you met with the Mage again since yourst encounter?¡±I asked.


    He sighed. ¡°My father had the same dream data before he lost his life and I fear that the same thing is about to happen to me,¡± he said.


    ¡°What if the person that killed your father is still out there and is out to kill you too?¡± I asked, my mind flooded with different thoughts.


    Chris stared at me in amusement. ¡°I never thought of that but who could it be?¡± he asked.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? The only person that wants you dead is your so-called uncle, Cade. It¡¯s all falling into ce now, think about it,¡± I said convincingly.


    Chris shook his head in disapproval. ¡°We can¡¯t be too sure, Lucy. Let¡¯s give it some time, I believe the truth will reveal itself soon enough. I know you¡¯re worried about my safety, but trust me, im not going to leave you.¡±


    After long hours of deep conversations and bonding, I bid him good night and retired to my rogue pack territory, my mind still buzzing with thoughts of our conversation. However, it was abruptly interrupted as I was confronted by my friend Nathan.


    ¡°Lucy, we need to talk,¡±  he said with a serious tone, his expression stern as his gaze fixed on me.


    My eyes flickered in confusion, but I nodded and followed him to a quieter ce to avoid the prying ears. ¡°What is the matter, Nathan?¡±I asked, furrowing my brows.


    His stern look remained and I could tell that it meant trouble. ¡°I know about your deception towards my father. You¡¯re keeping secrets from him and it¡¯s only a matter of time before he finds out about everything.¡±


    I scoffed, rolling my eyes at him. ¡°I have no idea of what you are talking about, I¡¯ve been true to your father and have proven my worth to him,¡± I said, my toneced with anger.


    ¡°Lucy, I understand that you caught between the web of two packs. I know that your loyalty is with our pack and also with Chris but you must know that you can¡¯t fool my father. He¡¯s perceptive and when he finds out, he won¡¯t take it lightly,¡± Nathan warned.


    I understood his worries but there was no way I would reveal my true intentions to him. ¡°My loyalty is to our pack and your father¡¯s course, im not going to allow my infatuation to rip me of the opportunity to avenge my father¡¯s death.¡±


    Nathan fixed his gaze on mine like he was searching for some truth in them. But he found none so he turned his gaze away.


    ¡°If you say so then, I hope you¡¯re telling me the truth. I¡¯ll leave you to rest and ponder on what I¡¯ve spoken to you about,¡± he said and left.


    My heart sank. I had hoped that my actions would remain hidden but it seemed that my actions had not gone unnoticed. Nevertheless, it wasn¡¯t going to change the ns I had hatched and I was going to see it to thest.

 Chapter Forty Three

    CHRIS


    I stood at the edge of the cliff, the words of the mage echoing constantly in my mind. His words had taken root in my mind, a haunting reminder of the fate that awaited me.


    ¡°Your death is near,¡± the mage¡¯s voice echoed in my head. ¡°You need to find a way to avert it from happening.¡± the solution seemed simple in theory but the path to changing my fate was shrouded with uncertainty.


    My mother, Maeve was always my pir of support during these times, she was always by my side tofort and encourage me. She reassured me that she would find a way to avert the fate that awaited me. But most times, I caught her in her chambers crying her eyes out as she cried out to the moon goddess for help.


    ¡°Chris,¡± her voice broke through my reverie. ¡°You¡¯ve been lost in thought for days now, how are you holding up?¡± she said, her eyes holding a mix of concern and motherly warmth.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mother, I¡¯m just trying to figure out a way to avert this ill fate that is about to befall me,¡± I said, faking a faint smile. I was grateful to my mother for her unwavering support so far, I knew the heartbreak she felt even though she tried to hide it.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She ced aforting hand on my arms. ¡°You¡¯re strong, Chris. Remember that. And you have the pack¡¯s support, including mine,¡± she said.


    My gaze was fixed on the woods in the distance, a sense of determination flickering in my eyes. ¡°I¡¯m going to be fine, Mother. I¡¯m not going to allow fear to dictate my destiny.¡±


    ¡°Of course, you shouldn¡¯t let it dictate your future. You are the Alpha of this great pack and no harm wille to you, not under my watch,¡± she said, her smile filled with pride.


    That was all I needed, a support system to help me through the trying times. I knew that it was only a matter of time before everything would eventually fall into ce, I knew this was a driving force to lead to who my father¡¯s true killer was.


    As days turned into weeks, my will remained unshaken. I trained tirelessly, sharpening my skills in preparation for whatever challenges thaty ahead. I also prepared for the Alpha summit that drew closer and also for the rogue pack¡¯s next invasion. I still hadn¡¯t told anyone about the invasion and this was so because I didn¡¯t want to create an uproar among members of the pack and I knew it would also draw the attention of whoever the insider was that was leaking information to the rogues.


    I was taking a walk in the pack when I was approached by Lothar. He had be my most trusted councilman and I didn¡¯t hesitate to reach out to him for any advice, besides he had been my father¡¯s right-hand man before his death.


    ¡°My lord,¡± he said, bowing his head. ¡°Your mother told me that you¡¯ve been going through a rough phase for a while now. What is going on?¡±


    I hesitated, the memory of the mage¡¯s words echoing in my mind again. ¡°Don¡¯t trust anyone.¡±


    I trusted Lothar and valued his guidance but the mage¡¯s warning weighed heavily on me.


    ¡°My young Alpha, you don¡¯t have to face this alone,¡± he said, his voice softening. ¡°We are like a family and I¡¯m here to support you.¡±


    My jaw tightened, I was torn between my instincts to trust Lothar and mymitment to the mage¡¯s advice. ¡°I appreciate your help, Lothar but this is something I can handle on my own.¡±


    He stared at me, his gaze piercing through my defenses. ¡°Very well then, just remember that secrets can be burdensome. Sometimes it is best to share your secrets, it gives you rity,¡± he said.


    I watched as he turned to leave, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The choice between trust and secrecy weighed heavily on me, but I chose to believe that I made the right choice.


    My intense training continued in the following weeks, my determination unwavering. I sought sce in the arms of my mate and most times in the woods, allowing the serenity of nature to calm my mind. The mage¡¯s words, the memory of my dreams, the forting summit, and the attack that was soon to happen in the pack flooded my mind. I was choked up with so many responsibilities as the Alpha.


    I still hadn¡¯t told anyone about the invasion that was soon to happen in the future because I knew it would cause an uproar among the pack members and I also knew that whoever was secretly helping the rogues in my pack would be aware of my knowledge and that would ruin the n I and Lucy had made.


    One evening, as I sat in the garden to enjoy the serenity of the atmosphere, the rustling sound of leaves, the chirping of birds, and the soft hoot of an owl caught my attention. I didn¡¯t notice when Lothar walked into the garden, his presence was unexpected but not unwee.


    ¡°I see that you¡¯ve been training hardtely,¡± he said, his voice gentle as always.


    ¡°Of course, I have to be ready for anything. My duty as the Alpha is to make sure my people are safe and I have to be ready to protect them,¡± I responded.


    ¡°You have been avoiding me, Chris,¡± Lothar said again.


    I met his gaze and felt guilty, he was right. ¡°I haven¡¯t meant to, Lothar. It¡¯s just¡­ I can¡¯t talk about it right now.¡±


    ¡°You now keep secrets from me. A heavy burden that weighs on your shoulder,¡± he said approaching me. ¡°You can always share that burden with me, I promised your father that I would be by your side to protect you.¡±


    I nodded, heaving a long sigh. ¡°I know, but I can¡¯t discuss this with you. I will when the time of right, trust me,¡± I said, hoping to keep his mind at bay.


    I walked away from him with my heart filled with guilt. I had no other choice than to keep this secret away from him, no that I didn¡¯t trust Lothar enough but I had to obey the voice of the mage if I wanted to stay alive.

 Chapter Forty Four

    LUCY


    The weight of secrets and loyalty tugged in my heart and the memory of Nathan¡¯s words echoed in my mind. Nathan had expressed his thoughts and concerns about the path I was treading, reminding me of the consequences I would bring upon myself.


    I paced outside my hut in the woods as I pondered on what to do next. My gaze shifted to the woods where the rustling sound of leaves caught my attention. Two figures emerged from behind the bushes, Cade¡¯s special guards. I knew they had been watching me for days and had followed me wherever I went.


    My jaws clenched, my frustration simmering just below the surface. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± I questioned.


    ¡°You tell me, you slimy bitch!¡± one of them said, charging forward toward me.


    I scoffed. ¡°I bet Cade didn¡¯t tell you what happened to the other guards he sent to trail me. You should go and ask him before you do anything you might regret,¡± I said.


    ¡°We are only following orders, Lucy. Cade wants to ensure the safety of the pack.¡± the second guard said. ¡°We know that your intentions are sincere, but Cade wants to avoid any unforeseen.¡±


    My frustration increased, my voiceced with anger. ¡°Cut the bullshit you two, I know the games you¡¯re ying. I want you to note this down; I won¡¯t be confined by your watchful eyes, I have a purpose and there¡¯s nothing you will do to stop me.¡±


    As I turned to walk away, my steps were halted by their voice. ¡°Wait, Lucy. There¡¯s something you need to know,¡± the other guard said.


    ¡°What is it this time?¡± I bellowed.


    ¡°Cade suspects that someone is leaking information to the hallowed manes pack. He¡¯s just trying to protect our interest,¡± he said.


    My heart quickened. Was that why he had me followed? I thought. ¡°Cade is just been paranoid, no one would dare leak information to our enemy not even me,¡± I said.


    ¡°Be cautious, Lucy. Trust is fragile in these times,¡± he said.


    I absorbed his words as they left me, my thoughts drifting to what Nathan had spoken about earlier. If I did anything to lose Cade¡¯s trust, that would be the end for me. I had to figure out another way to go about my n.


    I stood at the entrance of the treehouse, my heart racing as I waited for Chris to arrive. Momentster, his tall figure emerged from the shadows, his beautiful eyes locking on mine.


    ¡°Lucy,¡± he called out, his melodious voice like a soothing balm to my soul.


    ¡°Chris,¡± I greeted, my eyes filled with longing for him.


    He heaved a long sigh before speaking. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for being away for too long, I¡¯ve had personal issues to deal with.¡±


    ¡°Is it about the dreams you¡¯ve been having? You shouldn¡¯t let it bother you. I¡¯m not going to let anyone hurt you,¡± I assured.


    ¡°Of course, you won¡¯t,¡± he chuckled. ¡°I know that I¡¯m safe with you, my warrior Luna.¡±


    He leaned closer to me, nting a kiss on my lips. Warmth blossomed in my chest, igniting sparks as he leaned in close, his lips brushing mine, tentatively. The smell of his body fragrance was dizzying, butterflies dancing in my stomach. But warmth consumed me as I leaned into the kiss, his lips impossibly soft against mine. His lips were so soft that they parted slightly, allowing my tongue to slip inside. I could feel the soft tickle of his breath beneath my nose, fingers carding through my hair as we breathed each other in.


    I gently pushed him as I gasped for air. ¡°I should go,¡± I said. But he held me still, his gaze locked in mine.


    ¡°You want to torture me, don¡¯t you?¡± he whispered.


    I shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s not it, there¡¯s something I need to talk to you about,¡± I said.


    ¡°Not now, Lucy. All I want to see is your beautiful body naked right now,¡± he whispered into my ears.


    I felt my body tremble as he ran his hands through my skin. Something inside me, maybe it was the smell of his hair or the touch of his hand, I moved without thinking and closed the final inches as my lips found him in the dark.


    ¡°Mmmmmmmm,¡± I moaned softly.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about being inside of you all day,¡± he said. His words made me feel things I never thought I could feel.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you get on with it then?¡±I muttered.  This time it was I who unfastened his buttons, his shirt, then mine. Iid my lips over his heart, on the warm skin and vibrant beat.


    ¡°I¡¯ve had your taste with me since thest time we kissed.¡± While my lips yed over him, I eased the shirt away.


    I trailed my hands over his chest, his belly a quiver up to his shoulders. I peeled my shirt open and let it do to the floor to join his.


    ¡°Touch me now.¡±


    He cupped my breast in his hands, and the warm, soft weight of them, skimmed the nipples with the edges of his thumbs.


    ¡°Like this?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes, like that.¡±My head fell back as heat balled in my belly. ¡°Exactly like that.¡±


    ¡°Whatever you want me to do to you, I¡¯ll do it,¡± he groaned.


    ¡°I want¡­..¡± I moaned.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± he whispered as he gently fondled my breast.


    Heid on me, feeling one of my breasts in the middle of his chest. Our lips met. He touched my lips with his tongue and my tongue shot into his mouth. He began kissing away from my mouth, he could not help spending more time on my tits, but there was more to kiss.


    I slipped away from him before we went too far. It felt so right and wrong at the same time. I was here to talk about something important but here I was tangled up in his embrace.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Chris asked, his arms still holding onto me.


    ¡°We need to talk,¡± I whispered.


    His expression shifted, curiosity mingling with concern. ¡°What is it, Lucy?¡±


    I took a deep breath, my gaze never leaving his. ¡°Cade has me watched, he is beginning to suspect me. I¡¯m worried that things may go sour if he finds out about our ns,¡± I said.


    Chris¡¯s eyes softened, his fingers reaching out to gently cup my cheek. ¡°Lucy, you¡¯ve always been honest with me and I¡¯m d that you trust me. I promise you, I¡¯ll do anything in my power to protect you.¡±


    His kiss on my lips was gentle and soft, andpletely unexpected.


    ¡°Yum, you taste divine,¡± he moaned, and for the first time in a long time, I could hear actual pleasure in his tone. ¡°I must have more.¡±


    I pulled him closer, exploring every inch of his mouth. I made him sit while I knelt on the floor to explore therge size of his member. My face stopped an inch from the tip of his dick. I gingerly extended my tongue until the tip contacted the head of his penis. At the moment of contact, his cock jumped at the sensation. I smiled, then swirled my tongue around the perimeter of Chris¡¯ manhood. I took one hand and cupped his balls again, then enclosed the tip of his penis into my warm mouth.


    ¡°Ah¡­ ohh, fuck, Lucy¡­ that¡­ feels so good,¡± Chris managed to say.

 Chapter Forty Five

    LUCY


    Chris¡¯ encouragement made me feel a little bit more at ease. I took another half inch of his dick into my mouth, then pulled up to its tip. I started to get into a bobbing motion, able to take a little bit more of Chris¡¯ cock into my mouth each time, until I maxed out at a little more than half of his length. I blew him slowly, drawing out my motions as my lips slid along all sides of his cock as I bobbed up and down.


    ¡°I¡¯m about to cum¡­¡± Chris groaned.


    I momentarily popped his dick out of my mouth to ask, ¡°Which is better for you? Do you want me to jack you off as you cum or do you want me to leave it in so you can cum in my mouth?¡±All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    ¡°Leave it in,¡± Chris answered immediately.


    I resumed the blowjob with a new sense of purpose. I was about to make him cum. I had to make this good. She looked up at Chris and made eye contact as I sucked him. His face was scrunching up a bit, and his mouth was hanging open. He rested his hand on the back of my head and loosely grabbed my hair.


    ¡°Alright, Lucy, here ites,¡± he warned.


    I swirled my tongue around the tip of Chris¡¯ cock as the first ribbon of semen spewed from his cock. I continued to suck him in as the second, then third, and fourth spurts of his cum shot into my mouth. I instinctively swallowed the thick liquid that was invading my mouth as I  felt his balls twitching in my hand, feeding his cum into my waiting mouth.


    Chris was mildly bucking his hips at this point, absolutely loving the warm sensation of my mouth enclosing his most prized possession as he came. He shot more semen than he thought he probably ever had before during this seemingly never-ending orgasm. Finally, his orgasm died down, his body copsed, and he let out the breath he had been holding in for several seconds. I gave onest swallow and removed my mouth from his cock, letting it go with a sloppy ¡®pop¡¯. I smiled up at my mate with a small glob of his cum showing on her bottom lip.


    ¡°That was fucking hot!¡± Chris eximed.


    I smiled as I sat back on my heels, tasting his vor in my mouth.


    Chris tenderly reached out and cupped my breasts with both hands. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful, Lucy. So fvcking beautiful.¡±


    He leaned me back until Iy t on the bed, then he bent down and took one of my nipples into his mouth and sucked. I dropped my head to the mattress and let out a sigh. Even after all the fun I and Chris had had this evening, this moment was still the first real sexual pleasure I had ever felt from a man.


    He continued to tenderly suck on my breast as his hands wandered around my chest and abs, then down to my crotch. I jumped a bit at the feeling of his strong hand on my pubic mound but quickly rxed as I realized that I would rather be nowhere else at this moment. As he reached his mouth up to give me another sensual kiss, he unbuttoned his shirt and flung it across the room.


    His wandering hand had full ess to my body, his fingers found the entrance to my vagina as he continued to make out with her. As one of his fingers made its way into my sopping wet pussy, I came out of my stupor and began to rub her hands over his back. I  gripped his shoulders as he began to finger my pussy.


    ¡°Ahh¡­ that feels so nice, Chris¡­¡± I moaned as our mouths parted.


    Chris slid down the bed until he was on his knees on the floor. My ass was on the bed with my pussy at the edge. He positioned himself so my legs were spread and resting on his shoulders and his face was near my crotch. He looked up as I grinned sheepishly down at him, anticipating the pleasure that he was about to bring me. He concentrated his effort back on the task at hand.


    He extended his tongue and let it drag across one of the outside lips of my sex. My abs clenched and I drew a sharp breath in. Yes, this was already so much better than thest time. My hand came down to rest on the side of his head as he teased me. He continued to lick around my pussy without making contact until I broke down and pulled his face towards my pleasure center. He obliged and thrust his tongue into me.


    ¡°Oh fvck Chris, yes!¡± I yelled.


    He swirled his tongue around inside my sex before contacting my clit, which sent me overboard. I  clenched his short hair with both hands and spread my legs wide as he ate me out. The sharp pleasure I felt flooded my head and I lost track of time as his tongue worked wonders on me. Just as my breath began to quicken, he stopped.


    ¡°Why did you stop?¡± I moaned softly, I wanted more of this good pleasure.


    ¡°How about something better?¡± he said with a grin as he lifted his head to look at me.


    Chris gave me onest lick for good measure, then rose to the bed beside me. Hey on his side next to me and rubbed his hand over my stomach and breasts. He lowered his head to mine and forced his tongue into my mouth, where it swirled about with mine. While we kissed, he swung one leg between my knees as he settled himself on top of me, and then he spread my legs with his other knee. He broke the kiss as I reached down and grabbed his hard cock, pointing it toward the entrance to my warm, sopping-wet hole. He lowered his buttocks until his dick was pressed against my opening, then gave a push until the head of his penis was enclosedfortably within me. Both of us stayed in this position as we breathed heavily, our mouths open, waiting for the next step.


    Finally, Chris grabbed my shoulders and pushed all the way inside me, letting out his held breath and nearly copsing on top of me.


    ¡°Ahh¡­ Oh, Chris¡­ fvck¡­ oh fvck,¡± I moaned. I breathed heavily, savoring the feeling of fullness I felt as his long cock was sheathed entirely within me. I relished the feel of his muscr body covering mine, his toned body pressed on my pert breasts, my nipples smashed to his chest, the stubble of his face resting against my smooth cheeks. I wrapped my arms around his body, my hands resting on his shoulder des as wey, growing ustomed to one another.


    He kissed me once again, then withdrew his cock from me. He gently slid it back into my warmth as I moaned, then withdrew once again. My lips were parted and my eyes were tightly shut, concentrating only on our joining. Chris was now getting into a rhythm, pulling out and entering again as my hands slid down to the sides of his rib cage. He sucked on the nape of my neck as he continued his assault on my body. My legs wrapped around his lower back, pulling his cock further into me with every thrust as he continued to fuck my body.


    I loved the feeling of him inside her. Likewise, Chris was certainly enjoying the sensations that my soft, slick, warm pussy was giving him as we were joined on the bed. I reached down and gently grabbed and massaged his balls in my hand as he fucked me. Every time his cock entered my body, it gradually stretched my insides until it bottomed out inside me as my narrow canal squeezed the head of his cock. Then I would feel him pull out until only his engorged head was left inside me.


    By now, I was getting warmed up to the point that my hips were beginning to rise and fall topliment his thrusts. I  began to buck my hips as a warm, tingling sensation started to build up in my loins. My breath began to be sharper and more frequent as his efforts paid off.


    ¡°Oh fvck Chris, this is so¡­ fvcking¡­ GOOD!¡±


    His confidence boosted yet again as he sped up his thrusts. I  wrapped my hands around my brother¡¯s neck and pulled his face to mine, once again interlocking our lips and tongues as we pleasured each other. As the pleasure began to build within me to an almost unbearable level, I spread my legs wide and began to hump my butt off the sheets. All at once, the pleasure crashed down as I began toe.


    My  pussy began to rhythmically clench and release his cock as he pumped into me still. I closed my eyes and let out a soft, prolonged moan as my orgasm took over.


    Chris, realizing that I was cumming, allowed himself to finish as well. He grabbed my shoulders from beneath and pumped into my depths for all that he was worth. He released one strong rope of semen into me as his orgasm took over his body. He managed to pull his spewing cock from its home after the first spurt as he copsed onto me. He continued to thrust as his cock slid, slick from my pussy, between his and my stomachs, pressed tightly together. He squirted three, then four more gradually weaker spurts between our hot bodies until he finallypletely copsed onto me.


    Wey there catching our breath for several moments as we regainedposure from our mutual orgasm, our sweaty cheeks pressed against one another. Finally, he raised up onto his elbows, separating our stomachs and leaving a string of cum connecting us. He rolled onto his side and stared at me, drained and sexually satisfied.


    I  opened my eyes weakly, smiling at him with my hand on his side. I eyed him up and down, from his sweaty matted hair to his heaving toned chest to his gradually softening cock, admiring his features.


    ¡°You have gorgeous eyes, I could look into them forever,¡± Chris said, as he stared into my eyes. ¡°Keep holding me like this.¡±

 Chapter Forty Six

    CHRIS


    Days turned into weeks, and I found sce in Lucy¡¯s presence. The moments we shared gave me peace from the weight of my impending fate, a reminder that amidst the darkness, there was light to be found. My rtionship with Lucy had grown into something profound, a love that knew no bounds and a source of stability that strengthened my determination.


    The moonlight found us in secluded corners of my pack¡¯s territory, our conversations intimate and our bond unbreakable. I admired Lucy a lot, her determination and loyalty to her course were immeasurable despite the challenges she faced. I hade to rely on her inspiration, a reminder that love and unity could conquer even the most threatening circumstances.


    As wey together in bed one evening, the rustling of leaves in the air, her gaze held a mixture of curiosity and concern. ¡°Chris, what about the investigation into my father¡¯s allegations? You said you would find the truth about it, Any progress?¡± she asked.


    I sighed, the weight of the solution evident in my expression. ¡°I¡¯ve been searching, Lucy, but nothing concrete hase up. All evidence still points to your father¡¯s involvement,¡± I exined.


    Lucy groaned in frustration, determination mingling in her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not true, Chris. My father can be anything but he¡¯s not a murderer, he didn¡¯t kill your father.¡±


    My fingers touched hers, giving her some reassurance. I knew it wasn¡¯t her father but what the mage said slightly confirmed that he was responsible. The mage had told me that someone close to my father had killed him and Lucy¡¯s father wasn¡¯t out of the equation. He was my father¡¯s closest friend and was also found beside my father¡¯s corpse. Cade too was a suspect since he was my uncle and had always had a grudge against my father over the throne.


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep searching, dig deeper until I find the truth, and clear your father¡¯s name,¡± I promised.


    Her gaze softened, her smile radiating, evident of her gratitude. ¡°Thank you very much, this means a lot to me,¡± she said.


    My thoughts turned to the mage¡¯s warning. My dreams had continued to haunt me, the mage¡¯s words a continuous echo in my head. But with Lucy by my side, I found the strength to face the uncertainty thaty ahead.


    ¡°I can¡¯t shake the feeling that something greater is at y here. My dreams, the mage warning- they all point to a challenge that I can¡¯tprehend,¡± I said to Lucy. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m about to suffer the same fate as my father.¡±


    Her gaze shifted to me, concern etched in her expression. ¡°You don¡¯t have to go through this alone, we¡¯ll unravel the mysteries together,¡± she said.


    I heaved a long sigh, takingfort in her words. My heart swelled in gratitude as I pulled her into an embrace.


    After spending moments with her I returned to the pack reluctantly, wishing I could spend more time with her. As I stepped into the pce, news reached my ears that my mother had copsed while taking a walk in the pce garden.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    My heart raced as I rushed through the corridors of the pce dwellings, fear enveloping my being. The thought of losing my mother, the only family I had left sent shivers down my spine.


    Finally, I arrived at her chambers, pushing the door open. I gasped for air as I tried to catch my breath. My mothery asleep on the bed, her body rxed in slumber. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of candles casting a soothing light.


    The healer stood nearby, gathering her belongings as she noticed my arrival. ¡°Young Alpha, your mother is resting now. It seems that she was exhausted and needed to regain her strength,¡± she said, offering a sympathetic smile.


    My worry transformed into relief immediately, my gaze softening as looked upon her. ¡°Will she alright?¡± I asked.


    The healer nodded. ¡°I believe so. She just needs rest and time to recover. It¡¯s important to ensure her well-being and relieve her of any stress.¡±


    I approached her bedside, my fingers brushing against her hands gently. My heart swelled up with gratitude for the healer¡¯s concern and help. The sight of my mother¡¯s peaceful slumber brought relief to my being and could think of ways to protect her.


    I turned my attention back to the healer. ¡°Thank you very much for your help. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to ensure her recovery.¡±


    The healer nodded with a smile before exiting the room quietly, leaving me with my mother alone. I fixed my gaze on her, my heart heavy with the realization that the challenges before me extended beyond my fate.


    As I watched her sleep, I knew I had to shoulder the responsibilities of theck just as my mother had done for so long. I remained by her side all through the night waiting for the time she would wake up.


    The next morning, I woke up only to find the bed empty, my mother was nowhere to be found. I searched for her around her chambers and the pce walls until I found her dishing out orders to the pce servants.


    ¡°Christopher, you¡¯re awake. Come and have breakfast with me,¡± she said, her face beaming with excitement.


    I was baffled and speechless. She didn¡¯t look like someone who was regaining her health. She had that glow I always knew her for, that smile that radiated everywhere she went.


    ¡°Mother, what are you doing here? You should be resting,¡± Iined.


    My mother burst intoughter. ¡°Im okay, son. Yesterday¡¯s incident was nothing, I¡¯m fine now.¡±


    I shook my head in disapproval. ¡°You need to go back to bed, I¡¯ll make sure your breakfast is served in your chambers. You don¡¯t have to worry about anything, I¡¯m here to help you with anything you need.¡±


    She scoffed. ¡°What hase over you? I said I¡¯m fine. Okay, fine, I¡¯ll get some rest after I make something for you to eat. You need to be healthy in order to face the trials that await you.¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°Is this what this is about? You¡¯ve been worrying about me because of what the mage said. Losing you is more dreadful than losing my own life, mother. You don¡¯t have to let the mage¡¯s words weigh you down, I need your support to face this trial. If I lose you, I¡¯ve lost everything,¡± I said, my voiceced with concern and anxiety.


    My mother leaned closer, pressing a gentle kiss on my forehead. ¡°I¡¯m not going to die yet, son. You can stop worrying about me now,¡± she said, her beautiful smile radiating over the ce.


    Seeing that nothing I said would make her change her mind, I allowed her to be. As I  walked through the halls of my pack¡¯s dwelling, my thoughts were consumed by my determination to protect not only Lucy and our bond but also my mother and our pack. The healer¡¯s words echoed in my mind, a constant reminder to ensure my mother¡¯s health and happiness.

 Chapter Forty Seven

    LUCY


    I stood at the entrance of my hut, watching the moon cast its ethereal glow over the territory, my thoughts a storm of conflicting emotions. Ever since I returned from my meeting with Chris, my mother had insisted on meeting him. ording to her, he was the one who had ignited a fire within my heart and had sent ripples of uncertainty through me. She wasn¡¯t far from the truth, I felt butterflies in my belly whenever I was with Chris and whenever the thought of him crossed my mind.


    Just as I was lost in thought, I heard a familiar voice behind me which broke through the stillness. ¡°Lucy.¡±


    I turned to see my mother behind, her expression filled with concern. The light from the moon illuminated the worry lines on her face.


    ¡°Mother,¡± I greeted, my voice tinged with uncertainty.


    Her gaze held a soft understanding as she ced a hand on my shoulder. ¡°I know you¡¯re hesitant about what we discussed earlier. But meeting Chris is important to me, you can¡¯t keep him hidden forever.¡±


    My fingers toyed at the edge of my cloak, my gaze distant. ¡°I understand you, mother. But right now I don¡¯t feel it¡¯s necessary. Do you want to see the man that sent us into exile from our home?¡±


    ¡°My mother¡¯s brow furrowed, concern deepening. ¡°What are you talking about? He is the same man you have fallen head over heels for. Why are you still having doubts?¡±


    I took a deep breath, steeling myself to voice the thoughts that had been guing me. ¡°Mother, I still doubt that our love is real. About our family history, about my father and the circumstances that led to our banishment,¡± I exined.


    ¡°I see. You¡¯re worried that his pack is responsible for our banishment,¡± my mother said, her expression shifting from concern to sadness.


    My throat tightened with the weight of my uncertainties. ¡°What if father trulymitted those crimes levied against him? I¡¯m scared of what he might find out.¡±


    ¡°Lucy, what are you talking about? Your father isn¡¯t guilty of all the allegations levied against him, he is innocent,¡± my mother cried. I felt my heart break knowing I was hurting her with my words but as Chris had said before, all fingers pointed toward my father.


    I nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a possibility, mother. Chris told me everything, all fingers still point at my father. And if it¡¯s true, then what would it mean for us?¡± I asked.


    My mother reached out, cing aforting hand on my shoulders. ¡°I understand your concerns, but I want you to know that your father didn¡¯t do it. All fingers might point toward your father but that doesn¡¯t make him the culprit.¡±


    I lifted my gaze to meet hers, searching for answers in the depths of her eyes. ¡°What if I¡¯m wrong to trust him? What if my heart leads me astray?¡±


    My mother said, her voice gentle yet resolute, ¡°Your heart is apass,  my child. It guides you, but you must also listen to your instincts. If you have doubts about the truth, then take the time you need to find rity.¡±


    Tears welled up in my eyes, emotions swirling within me. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt Chris.¡±


    Her fingers brushed away a tear from my cheek. ¡°Chris cares for you deeply, Lucy. If your bond is strong, it will weather this storm. Remember, love is built on trust and mutual understanding, but also trust must be earned.¡±


    I nodded, my heart heavy but determined. ¡± I need time to sort through everything. I want to be sure of my feelings and my decisions,¡± I said.


    ¡°Take all the time you need, my dear. But remember that I¡¯m always here to support you and also remember that your father is innocent. I know that because he was my husband and will always be my husband,¡± she said with a smile.


    My mother enveloped me with aforting embrace, giving me a sense of assurance amidst my uncertainties. I knew my mother¡¯s words held truth and wisdom and I would follow my heart, even if it meant distancing myself from Chris temporarily until I found the truth.


    My mother¡¯s words echoed in my head, urging me to trust my instincts. But my heart wavered, torn between the love I had for Chris and the shadows of doubts that clouded my thoughts. I watched the stars twinkle above, searching for answers that seemed out of reach.


    I had always trusted my instinct, but the events of recent days had shaken my convictions. The allegations against my father, the mage¡¯s warning to Chris, and the unending tension between the rogue pack and Chris¡¯ pack, each piece of the puzzle seemed to fit together in ways I couldn¡¯tprehend.


    My thoughts turned to Chris, his face engraved in my memory. His warm smile, and the sincerity in his eyes all felt genuine. But I feared that it would all change when the truth would be revealed. I feared that my father might have been responsible for his father¡¯s death. Would he ever forgive me and my family if he found out? Would our love still blossom afterward?


    My father¡¯s role in Chris¡¯ father¡¯s death was a chilling possibility that refused to be ignored. Notwithstanding that Chris had feelings for me too it still wouldn¡¯t change who I was to his pack members and I surely won¡¯t be epted as one of them.


    With a heavy sigh, I realized that it was time to make a difficult decision. I couldn¡¯t ignore the shadows of doubts that were clouded by judgment. After much thought, I returned to my hut.


    Inside my hut, I sank onto my bed, my thoughts a whirlwind of confusion. The love I felt for Chris was undeniable, but I couldn¡¯t ignore the likelihood that our love was built on something else.


    As Iy there, a sense of determination settled over me. Distancing myself from Chris might be difficult but that was all I could think of until I found out the truth myself. I couldn¡¯t afford to be blind to the reality that might shatter everything we had shared.


    I rose from the bed and walked to a small wooden table across the room. I picked up a piece of parchment and a quill, my hand steady as I began to write a message to Chris.


    ¡°Chris,


    These days have been a whirlwind, my heart is troubled and torn between the feelings I have for you and the doubts that envelope my being. I fear that my father could truly be responsible for your father¡¯s death and this would ruin the love we¡¯ve shared. I need time to sort through everything, to understand the truth.


    Please understand that this isn¡¯t about abandoning you, but finding the truth that could either strengthen our bond or reveal a rift we can¡¯t ignore. Once I find my answers, we¡¯ll face them together, I promise. I hope you can understand need for rity.


    Yours.


    Lucy¡±


    As I sealed the letter and set it aside, my heart felt heavy with the weight of my decision. I  knew it was the right thing to do, but that didn¡¯t make it any less painful. With a final nce at the letter, I resolved to uncover the truth, to face the shadows that threatened to destroy my love, and to emerge stronger on the other side.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.

 Chapter Forty Eight

    CHRIS


    Days had gone by and the relentless rhythm of training consume me. Each day came with its own challenges, a new skill to master and the urge to be more stronger if I wanted to protect myself, my pack and those I love. This determination fueled my every move, pushing me forward in pursuit of strength.


    During this moments, I found solitude in the ambiance of my treehouse where I shared sweet moments with my mate, Lucy. But of recent, this ce with held our good memories had be as quiet as a graveyard. Lucy¡¯s sudden absence weighed heavily on me, a shadow of uncertainty that refused to fade.


    I knew something had chanwged between us, I couldn¡¯t shake this feeling off. He distance left me with a gnawing worry, unanswered questions echoing in my mind like a haunting chorus. I understood that the situations surrounding her pack needed urgent attention, but a part of me longer for her warmth, her presence and her beautiful smile that gave me all the assurance I needed.


    As the an cast its warm glow upon thend on beautiful evening, I stood at the outside of the treehouse. I gazed at the familiar struture, my heart heavy with question unanswered. The warm whispers of the wind carried the memory of our shareughter and unending promises. But tonight again, there was no sign of Lucy. The treehouse remained still, a silent proof of her absence.


    My fingers traced the railings, my thoughts filled with worry and uncertainty. I had always admired my courage and fierce loyalty for her pack and those she considered family. But the distance between us left me with a deep longing that I couldn¡¯t ignore.


    With a long sigh, I returned to my pack dwellings. I only hoped that Lucy¡¯s silence meant that she was deep in nning, to unravel the crazy mysteries that surrounded us. And yet all I craved for was a moment with her, to share a bond with her, a bond that seemed to slip off my fingers.


    In the heart of my pack¡¯s territory, I moved to my mother¡¯s chambers to seek sce in her presence. I found her in her chambers, skimming through ancient texts and scrolls.


    ¡°Chris,¡± she greeted, a warm smile radiating on her face. It was good to see her in such a hearty mood, the previous event had left me worried and restless. Most night, I took watch over her chambers to make sure she was in safe hands.


    ¡°Mother,¡± I greeted in return.


    My mother lifted her gaze, her eyes softening withpassion. ¡°What is it, Chris? You look distressed.¡±


    I settled on a chair, my fingers tracing the patterns on the table cover. ¡°I¡¯m worried about Lucy, she¡¯s been distanttely.¡±


    ¡°Oh dear! My son is overwhelmed with love. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re looking like a troubled little child because your mate has been busy?¡± my mother mocked.


    I shrugged. ¡°Stop taunting me, mother. I¡¯m actually here to talk to you about something else. My dreams, you said it was simr to that of my father before his passing. The mage¡¯s words echo in my thoughts,¡± I asked, curiosity enveloping my being.


    My mother¡¯s expression shifted, her gaze filled with understanding. ¡± The mage¡¯s words are powerful, Christipher. They are meant to guide you, provide insight on your path and not to scare you.¡±


    ¡°I never said I was afraid,¡± I said, leaning forward. ¡°But the dreams, the mage¡¯s words- they speak of my death and it warns me that my fate is near.¡±


    My mother sighed, her gaze a mixture of concern andpassion. ¡°I know, but remember that fate is not set in stone. It only weaves our actions and choices like a thread, we have the right to shape it into what we want.¡±


    My voice tinged with desperation as I spoke. ¡± But how is all of this connected to my father¡¯s death? The mage¡¯s words, the dreams are all intertwined. I need to understand better,¡± I insisted.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°Your father¡¯s death was tragedy that shook our pack to the core,¡± she began. ¡°The mages words spoke of a trusted friend¡¯s betrayal, a friend who would cause the untimely death of your father.¡± Her expression was somber as she spoke, tears had began to well up in her eyes.


    My heart clenched at the gravity of her words.¡±A trusted friend? Who?¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t know until we found Lucy¡¯s father by your father¡¯s bedside before he breathed hisst. He was a close friend to your father, our former king,¡± she exined, her gaze held mine as she shared everything with me.


    The revtion was a bitter pill for me to swallow. The implications were too deep. Lucy¡¯s father, a fried to my father and a man I had never met, was thest man to be seen with my father before he died. The evidence were too real to be true, yet doubts lingered in my heart.


    ¡°Why did Lucy¡¯s father kill mine if they were truly friends?¡± I asked, my suspicions growing.


    My mother¡¯s eyes held a deep sadness, I knew the thoughts of that day brought sorrow to her heart and I felt bad for making her sad.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Chris. All evidence pointed to him, but I know deep in my heart that he wasn¡¯t responsible. He was your father¡¯s friend and I knew him to be very honourable,¡± my mother said.


    The bond I shared with Lucy, the weight of my father¡¯s death and the mage¡¯s warning seem to create a web of uncertainties that threatened to entrap me. ¡°What can I do now, mother?¡±I asked, looking up to my mother for guidance.


    ¡°Trust your heart, seek the truth and uncover the secrets that shrouds your father¡¯s death ,¡± she said. ¡°Remember this, even in the face of doubts, love has the power to brighten the darkest corners of your journey.¡±


    My heart felt burdened and determined as I listened to her words of advice. I would have to navigate the treacherous path thaty ahead, seeking the truth and protecting those I held dear. I knew the bond I shared with Lucy would be tested but it wouldn¡¯t change how I felt about her. I wasn¡¯t going to abandon her because of the sins of her father, she was my mate and the moon goddess chose her for a reason, a reason that would reveal itself one day.

 Chapter Forty Nine

    LUCY


    After I had written that letter to Chris, my heart weighed heavily for days. Tears had been mypanion for days, the uncertainty of my father¡¯s actions, and the consequences of my emotions consuming me. The conflict within my soul echoed in the solitude of my hut, each moment feeling like a battle.


    Days went by, determination took hold of me. I couldn¡¯t bear the weight if my doubts any longer, I needed answers even if it would shatter the bond I had with Chris. I set out early one morning to Cade¡¯s chambers ..


    As I sought Cade, I heart welled up in determination as I approached him with a sense of resolve. ¡°Cade,¡± I called out, my voice steady and my gaze unflinching. ¡°I need to know about my father and his involvement is Alpha Chris¡¯ father¡¯s death.¡±


    ¡°Lucy, it¡¯s not a simple matter,¡± he said, his gaze meeting mine, his eyes held something that I couldn¡¯t decipher.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    My jaw tightened in anxiousness, but my resolve unwavering. ¡°Cade, tell me what I need to know. I need to know the truth, I can¡¯t live in uncertainty anymore.¡±


    Cade let out a long sigh before motioning me to sit beside him. ¡°Very well then. But you have to understand, Lucy, that this story goes many years ago.¡±


    I settled onto a nearby seat, my heart pounding as I listened. ¡°I know. Tell me,¡± I said, my voice quivering.


    ¡°Your father and Chris¡¯ father were close friends,¡± he began. ¡°Your father was loyal to the former king. But as the pack¡¯s loyalty shifted, tension rose. His father believed in preserving the pack¡¯s tradition, while his uncle advocated for a change.¡±


    He was talking about himself now, Cade was Chris¡¯ uncle. Maybe this was a way to learn more about his true identity.


    ¡°His uncle? Chris has an uncle? Where is he now?¡± I asked, pretending not to know.


    ¡°He¡¯s far gone. He had to leave the pce with the hope of returning one day to im what is rightfully his,¡± he said, his fist clenching. I could see the anger in his eyes, he was fuming in rage even as he tried to keep cool.


    ¡°Bur how does that lead to Chris¡¯ father¡¯s death?¡± I asked, my brows furrowed as I processed the information.


    Cade¡¯s expression grew somber. ¡°One fateful day, Chris¡¯ father was found dead in his chambers. Your father was discovered holding his lifeless body.¡±


    My heart clenched, the weight of the revtion was too much to bear. ¡°But why did my father kill-¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t,¡± he cuts in, his voice filled with conviction. ¡± I investigated and looked into every detail. Your father had gone to his chambers to talk to the king about the growing rift between him and his brother which had led to the pack¡¯s division. But he found him dead already, he held his body out of desperation, trying toprehend what had happened.¡±


    ¡°So he¡¯s innocent?¡± I asked, tears welling up in my eyes, relief and grief coursing through me.


    ¡°Yes, Lucy. He¡¯s innocent of any wrongdoing,¡± Cade nodded, his gaze intense.


    ¡°What about Chris¡¯ uncle? That also makes him a suspect,¡± I said, staring at him suspiciously.


    He scoffed. ¡°You think he killed his brother and fled? Of course, everyone thought the same thing. But he didn¡¯t kill his brother, his brother¡¯s killer is still out there somewhere and his brother is going to im what is rightfully his.¡±


    ¡°You sound like you¡¯ve known him for a long time, Cade. Is there something you¡¯re not telling me?¡± I asked, my suspicion growing by the minute.


    He rose from his seat and began to walk around the room, his fist clenched. He turned to me, his gaze fixed on me like he was boring a hole through me. ¡°I am he. I am that man who would im what is rightfully his.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I asked again.


    ¡°I am Uther Parker, brother to the former king,¡± he said.


    My eyes widened in shock. I wasn¡¯t expecting him to be this open with me about his true identity. Chris was truly right, Cade was of royal blood and the supposed brother to the king. It all made sense to me now, why he mored on taking the throne from Chris, why he wanted Chris dead so bad, I understood better.


    ¡°Why did you run away after your brother was confirmed dead? Why didn¡¯t you stay back and im the throne?¡± I asked.


    He burst intoughter which came as a surprise to me as well. ¡°I¡¯m not stupid, Lucy. Everyone thought I has a hand in his murder, they all thought I sent your father to kill the king. How could I stay back?¡±


    A heavy silence settled between us, the weight of the revtion hanging in the air. Then Cade¡¯s voice took on a more sinister edge. ¡°Lucy, think about what your family endured. Wrongfully used, banished, their honour tarnished. We can be allies, we will make them pay for treating your family in that way.¡±


    My heart raced, my emotions taking control of my being. As much as I had always wanted to make Chris and his family pay for what they did to I and my family, I knew it wasn¡¯t their fault. If my father hadn¡¯t been found by the side of the dead king, he wouldn¡¯t have been used of killing the king.


    Cade¡¯s gaze bore into mine, his voice a whisper that dripped with venom. ¡°It¡¯s time for revenge, Lucy. Time to make Chris¡¯ pack pay for what they did to us.¡±


    ¡°Revenge? What we need is justice, we need to find the truth,¡± I said.


    Cade¡¯s expression hardened, he ced his hand on my shoulder, his grip tight. ¡°You¡¯re naive, Lucy. They banished us without cause, without mercy. Do you think justice will prevail? If they truly cared for justice they would have found out who the true killer was and clear your father¡¯s name.¡±


    A smile smoothed on my lips, it was time to y along as usual. I had a conviction that Cade had a hand in the death of the Chris¡¯ father and my poor father had to take the me. There was something he wasn¡¯t saying and I was going to find it out.


    I nodded my head in agreement. ¡°We¡¯ll make them pay for everything they¡¯ve done to us. We¡¯ll burn the city to the ground and everyone in it,¡± I said.


    As our eyes locked, I felt the weight of my decisions pressing on me. Thhe path ahead was uncertain, but I was determined to face it on my own.

 Chapter Fifty

    CHRIS


    Restless days turned into anxious nights as Lucy¡¯s absence continued to gnaw at my mind. My thoughts were filled with worry and I found it difficult to focus on anything else than the haunting question of where she could be. The weight of uncertainty pressed upon me with each passing moment. And I knew I had to take action.


    Determined to find her, I sought out my Beta, Glen, to help me. He was the only one who could help me without creating any suspicion within the pack.


    My voice was firm as I issued themand. ¡°Glen, I need your help. I need you to find Lucy, she¡¯s been absent for too long and I¡¯m worried about her safety.¡±


    Glen¡¯s expression mirrored my concerns. ¡°When was thest time you saw her?¡±


    ¡°A few days now. It¡¯s unlike her to be absent for this long, I¡¯m worried that something must have happened to her,¡± I said, my voiceced with emotions.


    ¡°You have nothing to worry about, I¡¯ll do everything I can to find her,¡± he said with a reassuring smile.


    Hours turned into a day and Glen returned with no positive remark. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Alpha, I searched everywhere in the woods and close to the rogue¡¯s territory but there was no trace of her.¡±


    My heart sank at the news, her sudden absence had caused a rift in my heart, creating a haunting mystery for me, one that refused to yield an answer. I paced around in my chambers, my thoughts filled with worry and fear.


    One evening, as the sun began to set below the horizon. I took a walk around the pack when my senses heightened. I caught a familiar scent that was carried by the wind, a scent that set my nerves on edge. Lucy¡¯s scent.


    I followed the trail without hesitation, my heart pounding in anticipation. I knew she woulde around soon enough, it was only a matter of time. The set scent led me to the treehouse where it lingered in the air. I felt relieved- she was here and I hoped we could find a way to bridge the gap that had grown between us.


    I quickly climbed the stairs to the treehouse, catching my breath at every step. My eyes scanned the ce, but she was nowhere to be found. I could still smell the scenting from her but she was out of sight. My gazended on the bed where a folded piece of parchment rested. With my heart racing, I rushed over to the bed and picked up the note.


    I read through the note, absorbing every word that conveyed pain and resolution. She had just told me that she needed time, time to seek out the truth and gain rity. She feared that her father¡¯s hand in my father¡¯s death would break our bond. But that didn¡¯t matter to me, what happened between our fathers was in the past to me and it wouldn¡¯t stop me from loving her. The note was a bittersweet reassurance that she was alive but did little to ease the turmoil in my heart.


    Clutching the note in my hand, I rushed out of the treehouse, my eyes searching the surroundings with the hope of finding her. I called out her name, my voice filled with desperation, but there was no response, the woods were silent.


    After hours of searching with no positive result, I retraced my steps back to my pack¡¯s territory. My heart was heavy with longing for her and this made me frustrated. The note I had retrieved from the treehouse remained clutched in my hands, it was a reminder of the bond we shared and a threat to tear everything down.


    I returned to my chambers with a heavy heart. My gaze settled on the disheartening note she had left for me, I unfolded it to nce through one more time as if each word had the key to deciphering the emotions she felt within her. I traced the lines, making a silent promise under my breath not to give up on her and to give her the time she needed to clear her thoughts, I would wait for her until she was ready.


    It was night already, I stood at the entrance of my chambers watching the moon¡¯s light filter through my entrance, casting intricate patterns on the ground. My mind was upied with thoughts, thoughts of Lucy and her mission to rify her doubts. I wished there was more I could do to help her, but no matter how hard I tried, all allegations still pointed at her father. There was no one present at the scene of the murder so it was his words against theirs. But I had a strong conviction that he was innocent, not because he was Lucy¡¯s father, I didn¡¯t know what it was.


    Worrying won¡¯t solve the issue so I decided to let it be. I flung myself on the bed with the hope of getting a good rest but I didn¡¯t. Her note had left my mind heavy, its words a poignant reminder of the uncertainty that flooded my thoughts.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Just then. A gentle knock on the door pulled my thoughts back to me. It was Ka, my dear loyal friend, who had be very scarce.


    ¡°Hey,¡± she greeted, her voice was soft, and her gaze meeting mine.


    ¡°Hey, Ka. What are you doing here?¡± I asked, managing a half-hearted smile.


    Her eyes drifted to the note on the bed beside me. ¡°What is that?¡± she asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± I said, keeping it from her reach.


    ¡°Your mother told me that you¡¯ve been unwell so I came to see you,¡± she said, her eyes filled with concern.


    ¡°She did? But I¡¯m not sick, why will she tell you that?¡± I said I didn¡¯t understand what she meant. Why would my mother say something like that?


    ¡°Well she said you¡¯ve been worried about your mate and asked that I keep youpany,¡± she said, smiling sheepishly.


    My grip on the note tightened as I sighed ¡°You didn¡¯t have toe, I¡¯m doing great on my own.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t look good to me,¡± Ka said.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s been tough. I can¡¯t shake the feeling that something was wrong,¡± I said, concern written all over my face.


    Ka approached me, her presence aforting anchor amidst the turmoil. ¡°Have you tried to talk to her? Maybe there¡¯s more to this than meets the eye.¡±


    ¡°She said she needed time to sort things out, to find rity. I just¡­. I miss her,¡± I said, staring at the note one more time.


    Ka reached out, cing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. ¡°Chris, I know that she cares about you from what you¡¯ve been telling me. She wouldn¡¯t just walk away without a reason.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s harder than you think. I wish I could just see her and talk this through, I don¡¯t care about what happened with our fathers in the past. I just want to focus on this new bond we share,¡± I said, my voice tinged with frustration.


    Ka¡¯s eyes met mine, her expression determined. ¡°Don¡¯t let uncertainty consume you. Let her be for now, I believe she wille around soon enough.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, I¡¯ll give her the time she needs,¡±¡® I said, my gaze softening. ¡°Thank you, Ka. I needed this.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what friends are for, Chris. Remember, fate has a funny way of working things out,¡± she said with a smile.


    As she turned to leave, I watched her go with new-found hope. I knew the path was uncertain, but I was determined to face it with strength and resilience. Lucy¡¯s absence was a challenge, but it was also an opportunity for me as well, an opportunity to seek truth too.

 Chapter Fifty One

    CHRIS


    The days had stretched into an agonizing expanse of time, each day marked with the absence of Lucy. I had followed Ka¡¯s advice on letting her seek the truth she desired while I channeled my worries into my responsibilities as the pack¡¯s leader. Yet, the anxious feeling of concern for Lucy¡¯s safety remained a constant presence in my mind.


    I went on with my daily training to get her off my mind, I took up major responsibilities around the pack but they weren¡¯t helpful. No matter what I did, she remained in my mind.


    One sunny afternoon, as the sun bathed the pack in a warm glow, I found myself wandering the pack¡¯s territory. The rustle of leaves and distant sounds of nature offered a momentary peace from my thoughts. But my solitude was interrupted by the voice of my Beta, Glen, breaking through the stillness.


    ¡°Alpha,¡± Glen called out to me, his voice held a note of urgency. ¡°Lucy is outside the pack¡¯s territory. She¡¯s been waiting for you.¡±


    ¡°Did you say, Lucy?¡± I said, my heart beating in excitement.


    Glen nodded. ¡°Yes, alpha. She¡¯s waiting for you as we speak.¡±


    Without hesitation, I followed Glen¡¯s lead, my steps quickening as I made my way toward the pack¡¯s borders. My heart leaped in my chest, a mixture of relief and anticipation flooding my senses.


    Standing amidst the dappled sunlight was Lucy, her presence a beacon of hope that dispelled the shadows that had clouded my heart.


    ¡°Lucy!¡± I called, my voice a mixture of relief and joy.


    She turned to face me, her meeting mine and filled with emotions. The space between us seemed to vanish, the world fading into the background as our gazes locked.


    ¡°Chris,¡± she replied, her voice holding a warmth that melted my worries away. ¡°I needed to see you.¡±


    I nodded, my gaze unwavering as I spoke. ¡°I¡¯ve been worried about you, Lucy. What happened? Where have you been?¡±


    ¡°I needed time to think, Chris. Time to sort through my thoughts and to find the truth,¡± she exined, her fingers tying with the edge of her cloak.


    My heart ached with understanding, my voice gentle as I spoke. ¡°I understand, Lucy. But you didn¡¯t have to face this alone, we promised to figure this out together.¡±


    Lucy¡¯s eyes held a mixture of gratitude and determination as she continued. ¡°I know, Chris. And that¡¯s why I¡¯m here. I had a conversation with Cade.¡±


    My brows furrowed, the mention of his name made me fume in rage. ¡°Cade? What did he say to you?¡±


    ¡°He told me about my father¡¯s innocence, about what truly happened on the night of your father¡¯s death,¡± she exined. Her voice held a weight of revtion as she spoke.


    A mixture of hope and uncertainty swirled up within me, my heart skipping a beat at every word she uttered. ¡°Tell me, Lucy. What did he say?¡±


    She took a deep breath, her gaze steady as she began to reveal all Cade had told her. ¡°He said that my father had gone to speak with your father that night, to mend the growing divide between him and Cade. He found your father dead, and in his desperation, he held the body, trying toprehend what had happened.¡±


    Everything began to fall in ce, realization dawning as the pieces of the puzzle began to fit together. ¡°So, my father¡¯s death wasn¡¯t his doing. If so, then who did?¡±


    Lucy¡¯s voice held conviction. ¡°No, Chris. He¡¯s innocent. He found your father already gone, my mother said the same thing. They won¡¯t be all sayin¡¯ the same lies over the years.¡±


    A mixture of emotions surged within me, relief, sadness, and a new sense of purpose. But Lucy¡¯s next words sent shockwaves through my being.


    ¡°Chris, there¡¯s more,¡± she said, her voice lowered and her gaze intense. ¡°Cade also revealed his true identity to me as your uncle, Uther Parker.¡±


    My eyes widened in shock at the revtion. ¡°He told you that? Why suddenly?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why he did that, maybe it was to gain my trust as well. But I have a strong conviction that he had a hand in your father¡¯s death. He was present that night, Chris. He had a motive.¡±


    ¡°A motive? What motive would he have?¡± I asked, my mind racing.


    Lucy¡¯s voice was tinged with a mix of suspicion and concern. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, Chris. But he¡¯s the missing link, the one who might hold the answers we¡¯ve been seeking.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    My fists clenched at my sides, my voice determined and filled with anger. ¡°If he¡¯s involved, if he had a hand in my father¡¯s death, I¡¯ll make him pay dearly for it.¡±


    As our conversation continued, a rustling in the nearby bush drew our attention. Our heads turned in unison to see a figure emerging from the trees- a figure whose presence sent a ripple of surprise through us.


    It was Lothar, his expression was inscrutable as he approached us, the shadows of the forest casting intriguing patterns across his features.


    ¡°Chris, Lucy,¡± his voice was calm but held a hint of seriousness as he addressed us. ¡°I couldn¡¯t help but overhear your conversation. I believe it¡¯s time to reveal the truth.¡±


    My eyes narrowed, curiosity filling me.  ¡°The truth, Lothar? About what?¡±


    Lothar¡¯s gaze shifted from me to Lucy, his voice holding a weight of confession. ¡°I¡¯ve had my suspicions about Cade for some time now, suspicions about his involvement in your father¡¯s death.¡±


    Lucy¡¯s eyes widened in shock, her voice trembling at the realization. ¡°You knew, Lothar?¡±


    ¡°I had my doubts, but I didn¡¯t want to use him without concrete evidence. However, now that Cade has revealed his true identity to you, Lucy, it¡¯s clear that he¡¯s hiding something,¡± Lothar said, his gaze unwavering.


    ¡°If he has a hand in my father¡¯s death, I won¡¯t spare him the next time I set my eyes on him,¡± I said, clenching my fists.


    Lothar¡¯s eyes held a steely resolve. ¡°Agreed, Chris. We won¡¯t spare him this time. He has caused enough trouble and I¡¯m sure he ns to take the throne from you.¡±


    Lucy¡¯s voice was tinged with a sense of purpose. ¡°We¡¯ll uncover the truth, no matter how long it takes. My father¡¯s honor deserves to be restored.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure your family is reinstated into the pack once we find the proofs we need,¡± I assured her, cing my hand on her shoulder.


    Suddenly, Lucy¡¯s eyes widened like she remembered something. ¡°I remember now. Lothar, you said he tried to attack you when you confronted him and he had ns to hurt me and my family.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for not telling this to you early enough, Lucy, but there¡¯s something you should know,¡± Lothar said.


    ¡°What is it, Lothar?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Cade killed your father, Lucy.¡±

 Chapter Fifty Two

    LUCY


    The days without Chris had stretched into a relentless battle of emotions for me. My heart ached with longing, and the weight of uncertainty pressed upon me. I knew I couldn¡¯t stay away from him forever but my search for the truth had consumed my thoughts and my every waking moment.


    Each day, I would find myself at the edge of the path leading to Chris¡¯ treehouse, the maic pull of his presence almost too much to resist. But something held me back, a relentless determination to uncover the truth before I could face him again.


    Then came the pivotal conversation with Cade. His revtion of the secrets that had haunted me, the truth about my father¡¯s innocence, and the suspicions that had shrouded Chris¡¯ father¡¯s death over the years. My heart raced with anger and determination as I rushed to find Chris, to share the revtions that had shaken my world.


    I knew those were just mere words until we found proof, but I could tell that Cade meant every word he said. My urgency was palpable as I approached Chris¡¯ territory, my steps quickening. I found Glen, Chris¡¯ Beta, outside the pack, and without hesitation, I approached him.


    ¡°Glen,¡± I greeted.


    ¡°Lucy,¡± he responded, his gaze holding mine. ¡°Where have you been? I¡¯ve searched for you everywhere, but I couldn¡¯t find you. Alpha Chris has been worried about you.¡±


    ¡°I know, I needed time on my own to think and sort things out. But right now, I need to speak with Chris, it¡¯s very important,¡± I said, my voice tinged with determination.


    Glen rushed off to convey my message to Chris. It didn¡¯t take long for Chris to arrive, his eyes widening with surprise and relief as he saw me.


    ¡°Lucy?¡± he said.


    ¡°Chris, hi. I¡¯m sorry for being away for too long, I had to sort-¡±


    ¡°I understand, love,¡± he cuts in. ¡°I got your note and I understand your reason for being away.¡±


    ¡°I came because there¡¯s something I need to let you know,¡± I said. I wasted no time in delving into the revtions Cade had shared with me. I spoke of my growing suspicion that Cade might be responsible for Chris¡¯ father¡¯s death.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    As we spoke, Lothar joined us, his presence a testament to the gravity of our conversations. The weight of the secrets we had cast a shadow over, a shadow that seemed ready to engulf us.


    Lothar¡¯s voice was solemn as he began to speak, giving testimony to my growing suspicion. But then, he revealed a truth that struck me to the core.


    ¡°Lucy, there¡¯s more to this than you know. Cade is not only responsible for Chris¡¯ father¡¯s death; he is also responsible for your father¡¯s  death.¡±


    ¡°What?!!¡± Chris eximed.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I should have told you this all this time. I¡¯m sorry for keeping this away from you.¡±


    Their words faded into the air. My world seemed to spin out of control, the revtion hitting me like a tidal wave. The anger, the frustration, the pain- all unite into a powerful surge of emotion. I felt myself losing control, and the next thing I knew, I had cked out.


    When I opened my eyes, I found myself in Chris¡¯ treehouse, her head resting on a makeshift bed of furs. Chris was by my side, his eyes filled with concern as he held my hands.


    ¡°Lucy,¡± he said, his voice gentle, soothing, ¡°you¡¯re safe. You had a shock.¡±


    My awakening in the treehouse was met with a flood of tears that I couldn¡¯t hold back. I had never imagined Cade to be responsible for my father¡¯s untimely death. He was a lot of things but murdering my father was something I never imagined. My father¡¯s passing had always been shrouded in mystery, a painful wound that refused to heal. He had gone out one day and never returned until his lifeless body was discovered in the depths of the woods.


    Chris reached out to gently wipe away my tears, his voice a soothing whisper. ¡°Lucy, I can¡¯t even begin to imagine how you¡¯re feeling right now. But I need you to know that you are not alone, I¡¯m here with you and we¡¯ll get through this together.¡±


    My sobs continued to wrack my body, the pain and anger swirling within me like a tempest. ¡°I once trusted him, Chris. I trusted him with everything. And he¡­ he took my father away from me.¡±


    Chris embraced me tightly, his own emotions turbulent as he whispered words offort. ¡°We¡¯ll make sure he pays for what he¡¯s done, Lucy. Justice will be served.¡±


    As I clung to him, my tears began to gradually subside, reced by a sense of resolve. All I wanted now was revenge- revenge for what he had done to my family. My quest for revenge ignited a fire within me, a fire that would not be extinguished until I got what I wanted- his head.


    Anger and despair swirled within me, and I gritted my teeth as I spoke. ¡°Cade¡­. He¡¯s responsible for both our father¡¯s death. I swear, Chris, I¡¯ll kill him myself.¡±


    Chris¡¯ grip on my hands tightened, his voice filled with determination. ¡°You can¡¯t do that, not yet. We have to bring him to justice, Lucy. We have to let everyone know his crimes, that will clear your father¡¯s name and get you and your mother reinstated into the pack again. Together. But we must be careful, gather evidence, and expose his crimes.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care if I get reinstated or not, I¡¯m going to have my revenge,¡± I snapped.


    ¡°I do care! I care, Lucy. I want you by my side and no one in this pack will ept you if they keep believing that your fathermitted the crimes he didn¡¯t. Please, Lucy, do this for me,¡± he said, his eyes filled with emotions.


    My anger simmered, knowing he was right. If we didn¡¯t expose his crimes I would forever remain a rogue and no one would want a rogue as a mate to their dear Alpha. ¡°You¡¯re right, Chris.¡±


    Now we shared amon enemy, I and Chris. Cade had bitten more than he could chew and I would make sure he choked on it. Violence for violence is the rule of the beasts, I had be a beast and would not stop until I got my revenge. Until then, I had to follow Chris¡¯ suggestions, not because I wanted to but because he was right.

 Chapter Fifty Three

    LUCY


    My nights were filled with sorrow whenever I remembered Lothar¡¯s words. My heart crushed at the thought of what my father must have gone through.


    ¡°Lucy, darling. You¡¯ve been quiet for a few days now which is unlike you. What is going on?¡± my mother asked one night as she noticed my quietness.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, mother. I¡¯m good, I just need some time alone,¡± I lied. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to tell my mother what I hade to realize, the truth about my father¡¯s death. It would only break her and I couldn¡¯t bear to see her in so much pain as she was when she first realized that he was dead.


    My quietness gave my mother a reason to be concerned so I decided to stop sulking and carry on with my duties.


    As I stepped out of my hut, my eyesnded on Cade. A torrent of anger and grief surged within me, the memories of my father¡¯s death, the pain of betrayal, and the weight of the truth about Cade being involved in his death came crushing in. All I wanted to do at that moment was to crush him, I wanted him dead at all cost, but I held myself back, remembering Chris¡¯ words echoing in my mind.


    I knew that if I acted foolishly, it would only jeopardize my chances of revealing the truth and the extent of Cade¡¯s deception. My heart ached as I tried to suppress the anguish building in, I forced myself to wear a fake smile like all was well and continue to pretend to be an ally while every fiber of my being rebelled against it.


    ¡°Lucy,¡± Cade called out to me, his lips curling into a sinister smile. ¡°Where have you been all these days? Any update from your lover¡¯s pack?¡±


    I clenched my fists, trying to suppress my anger. ¡°Nothing unusual, they have no idea that an invasion ising,¡± I said, my voice filled with a mixture of emotion and anguish.


    ¡°Good. Keep up the work, I have faith in you,¡± he said, cing his hand on my shoulder which made me flinch.


    ¡°Are you alright? You look so uptight, loosen up and have a drink with me in my chambers,¡± he said


    ¡°Why will I want to have a drink with you? You once tried to kill me, remember?¡± I sneered.


    Cade scoffed. ¡°Kill you? I wasn¡¯t trying to kill you, Lucy. All I wanted was to kill Chris not you, my boys must have misread the situation and tried to attack you. I¡¯m on your side and will never try to hurt you, unless you give me a reason to.¡±


    ¡°If you say so,¡± I said, ¡°but I don¡¯t need a drink.¡±


    I rushed off before he said anything else to me. I also avoided Nathan like a gue, I refused to have a conversation whilst giving flimsy excuses. I couldn¡¯t stand the sight of him as well, he was Cade¡¯s son. His father killed mine.


    As days passed by, working alongside Cade became unbearable for me. The mere sight of him, the sound of his voice, grated on my nerves. I clenched my fist and took a deep breath, reminding myself that the path I had chosen required patience and strategy.


    One evening, unable to bear my inner turmoil any longer, I confronted Maverick. There was something he had always wanted to tell me, something that now felt like a key to unraveling the truth about Cade and my father¡¯s death.


    ¡°Maverick,¡± I began. ¡°I need to speak to you about something important. I need to know what you¡¯ve been wanting to tell me for so long. Is it about Cade and my father?¡±


    Maverick hesitated for a while, his eyes filled with concern. I had never seen this side of him before, he was always so feisty and mean. ¡°Yes, Lucy, it¡¯s about Cade. He was involved in your father¡¯s death, but you must be careful. You can¡¯t expose him now else you¡¯ll be putting your life and that of your mother in grave danger.¡±


    ¡°How did you know this? Did you see him kill my father?¡± I asked, the weight of the truth pressing heavily on me.


    He leaned closer, the weight of his words hanging in the air. ¡°I¡¯ve known for a long time now, Lucy, but I chose to keep quiet. I kept quiet because I didn¡¯t know if you were ready to hear it.¡±


    ¡°Tell me everything, Maverick. I need to know,¡± I said, my voice low and filled with anger.


    Maverick took a deep breath, the gravity of the revtion settling over him. ¡°It happened that night when your father went hunting and never returned. Cade was seen near the body. He didn¡¯t know I was watching, but I saw him, I saw everything. Lucy, he¡­. he was covering something.¡±


    My jaws tightened, and my fist clenched. ¡°He was covering what?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what it was, I couldn¡¯t see everything clearly, but I heard him say something about ¡®no loose ends¡¯ and ¡®keep it quiet¡¯. It was so suspicious and I wanted to tell you about it, Lucy, but I was scared for your safety and that of your mother,¡± he exined.


    I nodded, my thoughts racing. The puzzles wereing together but the full picture was still unresolved. ¡°Thank you for telling me this, Maverick. I¡¯ll gather more information and seek justice for my father¡¯s death.¡±


    Maverick¡¯s eyes held a mixture of ease and determination. ¡°I¡¯ll help you in any way I can. We can¡¯t let him get away with this.¡±


    My determination grew after my conversation with Maverick. It was a relief to know that he was on my side now, I didn¡¯t have to worry about him anymore.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    I rushed off to meet Chris with the new information I had gotten from Maverick but he was out of reach. I couldn¡¯t go into the pack without getting caught so I had to return to the pack feeling devastated.


    My blood boiled in rage as my mind drifted back to all of the recent happenings, Cade being Chris¡¯ uncle, him being responsible for both our father¡¯s death, and how I had foolishly trusted him in the past. I wish I could get the opportunity to chop his head off, I would dly do that with a grin on my face.

 Chapter Fifty Four

    CHRIS


    Those words Lothar said got me confused. How could Cade be this cruel to everyone? First, he killed my father out of greed then he killed his close friend, Lucy¡¯s father too. All for what? The throne. A throne that was never his, to begin with, a throne he will never covet.


    There was more to this story about Cade and Lucy¡¯s father that I needed to know. How did Lothar happen to know all of this and keep it a secret from us?


    I approached his with a weighty concern gnawing at my heart. ¡°Lother, I need to know the truth, the whole truth about Cade and Lucy¡¯s father,¡± I said. ¡°You mentioned his involvement, but there¡¯s more, isn¡¯t there?¡±All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Lothar lifted his gaze, his eyes met mine. His gaze was somber. ¡°Yes, Chris. There¡¯s more to it. I didn¡¯t want to say anything considering Lucy¡¯s reaction. But Cade¡¯s actions that night were not just about your father; it was part of arger, darker scenario. Lucy¡¯s father stumbled upon something that posed a threat to some individuals within our worlds.¡±


    I furrowed my brow with concern as I tried to figure out the extent of the ruse. ¡°What was it that he discovered? I mean Lucy¡¯s father. What was so significant that Cade would go to such length to keep hidden?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I still do not know what it was and I¡¯m trying to piece it together, but it¡¯s very clear that her father discovered a hidden truth, something that Cade and a few of the elders were willing to kill to protect,¡± Lothar said, his gaze steady as he spoke, revealing the depths of the conspiracy.


    ¡°The elders!¡± I grimaced. I knew there was something suspicious about them but I couldn¡¯t wrap my head around it.


    ¡°We can¡¯t be certain. We need to be cautious, Chris, and gather more information before we act,¡± Lothar suggested.


    ¡°Why then did you keep something as huge as this hidden from the council? Because of your silence, an innocent man was banished from this pack,¡± I said.


    I couldn¡¯t stop ming my family for Lucy¡¯s father¡¯s death. If he hadn¡¯t been banished, he probably would have been alive to this day.


    ¡°I was too scared to say a word about what I knew back then. That was why I left the council, I couldn¡¯t stand behind in the same room with men whom I suspected to be part of your father¡¯s demise,¡± Lothar exined.


    Everything became clearer now, I now understood why he despised the elders and had initially refused to be a member of the council.


    With Lothar¡¯s words constantly echoing in my head, I was restless. The thought that one of my elders was part of Cade¡¯s evil scheme made my blood rush. That exined why they detested me and deemed me unworthy of the throne.


    After my discussion with Lothar, I returned to my chamber, and to my surprise, I found the mage waiting for me in my chambers, a haunting reminder of the prophecy that shadowed my life.


    ¡°Chris,¡± the mage began before I thought of weing him. ¡°Your fate is a fragile thread, entwined with the past. Your death is drawing near, just as your father¡¯s did. Don¡¯t be like your father and heed to my instructions.¡±


    My body became tense, the weight of the prophecy bearing down on me.


    ¡°Is there nothing I can do to change it? Can I avert this ill fate?¡± I asked, my voice filled with anxiety.


    ¡°This thread of fate is not easily altered, but they can be influenced,¡± the mage said, his eyes holding a hint of sorrow and his voiceden with ancient knowledge. ¡°Your father¡¯s death and yours are tied to a secret, young alpha. Secrets that must be revealed in order to break the cycle.¡±


    A cold shiver ran down my spine as o contemted in the startling similitude between my father¡¯s death and my own impending fate.


    ¡°What secrets, old one? What secret must I uncover to change the course of my destiny?¡± I asked.


    ¡°The answers lie within your reach, Chris. Seek the truth, follow the right path of revtion, and you may yet forge a different fate. Remember this, young Alpha, trust no one in this journey of truth,¡± the mage responded. His words were cryptic as he spoke of the mystery that surrounded my life.


    As the mage faded into the murkiness of the dark, his words left me with a sense of urgency and determination to uncover the mystery that threatened to destroy those I loved and myself.


    Day and night, I pondered on those words. I couldn¡¯t help but think of the mage¡¯s warning and the secret he had mentioned. But even as I tried to put things in ce, I couldn¡¯t find any connection between myself and the dark enigmas that shrouded my fate.


    As I traveled through the dimly lit forest, the weight of my father¡¯s death and the shadows of my own fate bore down heavily on me. Questions stirred in my mind, suspicions taking root. What could the mage mean? How could I uncover the truth that had been hidden in the past that held the power to change my fate?


    The rustling sound of leaves and the distant calls of creatures in the woods whispered the secrets of the forest but that didn¡¯t provide the answers I sought. I knew that the path to finding this truth was treacherous and filled with unknown dangers, and I knew also that I had a lot to learn. I prepared myself for the journey ahead, determined to confront the shadows that enveloped my fate and unveil the truths that could rewrite my destiny.


    I couldn¡¯t do this alone, I needed the help of those around me, those I could trust and Lothar was the only one I could think of. But the mage¡¯s words continued to echo in my head.


    ¡°Trust no one.¡±

 Chapter Fifty Five

    LUCY


    The knowledge that Cade, a man I once trusted and called an ally, would be responsible for my father¡¯s death haunted me, casting a long shadow over my heart. It was a heavy secret that I had to bear alone, a truth that was too painful to share with anyone else, especially my mother.


    Over time, I had found an unexpected ally in Maverick, who was, my supposed enemy, and as our new friendship grew, it became evident to everyone around us. The bond between us was undeniable, and it didn¡¯t go unnoticed in our rogue pack.


    One cold evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the forest in a deep, dusky shade, my mother sensing my distance and the growing intimacy with Maverick decided to confront me and address the matter.


    ¡°Lucy,¡± my mother began. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed you and Maverick have be quite closetely. Is there something you¡¯re not telling me?¡± she asked.


    My heart skipped a beat as I struggled with how to respond. I couldn¡¯t bear the thought of revealing the truth about my father¡¯s death to her. It would open closed wounds and shatter her the more.


    ¡°Mother, Maverick and I are just friends, that¡¯s all. There¡¯s nothing more to it,¡± I said.


    ¡°Friends? You and Maverick have never been friends for as long as I can remember. You have always been at loggerheads with each other,¡± my mother said, regarding me with a searching look, her eyes filled with concern.


    ¡°I know, Mother, but that¡¯s in the past now. We¡¯ve resolved our differences and we are friends now,¡± I said whilst I tried to avoid eye contact with her.


    As much as I tried to avoid her gaze, hers were still fixed on me like she was expecting me to blurt the truth out. ¡°Is this about your mate, Chris? You choose to be with Maverick instead of him because he is our enemy.¡±


    ¡°What?! No! That¡¯s not it. It¡¯s not about Chris, I and Maverick have resolved our long time grievance and we are good now,¡± I said. ¡°Mother, it¡¯splicated. There are things I can¡¯t share right now, but I need you to trust me.¡±


    My mother sighed. ¡°Just be careful, Lucy. Sometimes, secrets and lies can lead to heartache. I trust you, Lucy, but I hope you can confide in me if there¡¯s anything bothering you.¡±


    I managed a weak smile, hiding the turmoil within me. ¡°I know, mother. I promise to tell you if there¡¯s ever anything I need to share.¡±


    My mother nodded, seemingly appeased for the moment, and decided to let the matter be for now. With a gentle tap on my shoulder, she left me alone.


    As the days passed by, I knew Cade had grown to trust me, believing I was firmly on his side. I saw this as an advantage and was determined to use this trust to get closer to him and uncover the evidence I needed to make him pay for my father¡¯s death.


    My connection with Maverick deepened the more. Maverick had been helpful in making me feel better about my father¡¯s death, he also provided me with information regarding my father¡¯s connection with Cade and Lothar. Nathan too had noticed our sudden connection and the growing gap between me and him. I also missed my closeness with Nathan but for some unforeseen reason, I avoided him like a gue. Maybe it was because of his father, Cade, and his involvement with my father¡¯s death.


    I ventured into the woods when I needed to be alone and clear my head from my thoughts. As I was out that evening, I encountered Nathan, his expression was a mix of concern and confusion. I turned to leave hoping he wouldn¡¯t notice my presence but it was toote.


    ¡°Lucy,¡± he called out to me.


    ¡°Nathan, what are you doing out here?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I was waiting for you and I knew you would be out here,¡± he replied. ¡°We need to talk, Lucy,¡± he added.


    ¡°Can we have that discussionter? I need to be somewhere right now,¡± I said, avoiding his gaze.


    ¡°Lucy, we used to be so close. You¡¯ve been distanttely and I can¡¯t help but notice the bond between you and Maverick. What¡¯s going on?¡± he said.


    My heart sank at his words. It was true that I had been avoiding him and it hurt me to see my best friend unhappy but the truth was that I couldn¡¯t stand the thought that his father was the man behind my father¡¯s death. I had known Nathan for years and the thought of deceiving him tore at me.


    ¡°Nathan, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. I¡¯ve been too upied ofte running errands for your father regarding our next invasion,¡± I lied.


    Nathan shook his head in disapproval. ¡°There¡¯s something you¡¯re not telling me, Lucy, and I know it. You can¡¯t even look me in the eyes while you speak, did I do something wrong? Did my father upset you again?¡±


    ¡°Nathan, I wish I could exin. There are things I¡¯m dealing with and it¡¯splicated. But I want you to know that our friendship means the world to me,¡± I said, my voice quivering as I forced the urge not to burst into tears in front of him.


    Nathan¡¯s gaze softened, his concern unwavering. ¡°Whatever it is, Lucy, I hope you¡¯ll confide in me someday. I¡¯ll always be here for you.¡±


    As Natha¡¯s words hung in the air, my internal struggle deepened. I was entangled with a web of secrets, my loyalties divided between my mother, my childhood friend, and the quest for justice thatpelled me.


    The following days that ensued were filled with massive preparations for the invasion Cade was nning against the Hallowed Manes pack. With the allies he had gotten over time, I feared that my n would be sabotaged. The alpha¡¯s summit was approaching rapidly, and I knew that it was


    a critical juncture in me and Chris n.


    I received a message from Chris through his beta, Glen. The message contained valuable information about the summit and his preparation to leave for the event. Cade too had received information from his allies about the summit and I knew he would take advantage of Chris¡¯ absence to strike. I couldn¡¯t let Cade beat us to our game; the summit was a means for us to expose him to the evil deeds he hadmitted.


    I discussed my ns with Maverick, the weight of deception weighing heavily on me.


    ¡°Mucy, are you sure about this? Forging a letter to Cade is risky. He has allies everywhere and would be furious when he finds out that you have been ying him,¡± Maverick said.


    ¡°I know, but it¡¯s the only way to ensure that Chris¡¯ pack is safe during the summit. We can¡¯t afford to let Cade strike in his absence,¡± I said, my voice filled with determination. My moment of revenge was getting closer than I expected.


    I had to deceive Cade into believing me not only him but myself too. I couldn¡¯t afford to falter in this mission, even if it meant continuing aplex web of lies.


    With the forged letter in hand, I approached Cade, who was at the heart of my vengeance and my ultimate quest for justice.


    ¡°Cade, I have some important news. I received word from Chris concerning the alpha summit which had been shifted to ater date. It seems our n will have to wait,¡± I said, handing the fabricated note to him, my voice steady and my expression resolute.


    Cade nced through the note, his features contorted as he read through. His eyes glimmered with frustration but he didn¡¯t suspect that the note could be a deception.


    ¡°This changes everything,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯ll hold off on our move until the summit is back on schedule. Keep this between us, I don¡¯t want the others getting worked up over this,¡± he added.


    My heart pounded with a mixture of relief and trepidation. I had bought some time, ensuring that Chris would be back before the attack. But I knew that the clock was ticking, and the weight of my secrets was growing.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

 Chapter Fifty Six

    CHRIS


    The tormenting dream that had gued my nights still continued but I had learnt to bear its weight without letting it consume me. It was a constant reminder of the danger that loomed over me.


    The alpha summit was at hand and I had been summoned by the council of elders through my guard. It was time for me to be briefed on the preparations they had made on behalf of our pack towards the summit. As much as I hated to be summoned by those vile men, I understood that it was a crucial meeting to attend and to gather support for the actions I was nning.


    In the council chamber, the elders sat in solemn deliberation. Their eyes fixed on me as I took my ce at the table. From their expression, I could tell that their attention was focused on the impending summit and the role I was expected to y.


    ¡°Chris, the alpha summit is by the corner and it is important that you attend as our new alpha. As you know, we need the support of other packs to ensure that our main objectives are met,¡± one of the elders said.


    ¡°What have you done to ensure the pack is safe in your absence?¡± Kazmir said, his voiceced with scorn.


    ¡°Lothar will be in charge of keeping this pack safe in my absence. You elders also, are meant to do the same. We must maintain secrecy about our movement, we don¡¯t want our enemies to catch wind of our ns,¡± I said.


    The elders nodded in agreement, acknowledging the necessity of discretion.


    ¡°We will rely on your leadership, Chris. Do what you must to ensure the sess of this summit,¡± the first elder said.


    After the meeting with the council, I knew my time was running short, and I had to say goodbyes before I departed for the summit. I immediately sent my beta, Glen, to deliver a message to Lucy, requesting her presence. Since the tragic revtion of her father¡¯s death, we had been apart, and I longed for her with each passing day and once more before my departure.


    Later that evening, Glen came to inform me of  Lucy¡¯s arrival. My heart raced as I rushed to the tree house to meet her. Our reunion was charged with emotions and an air of uncertainty that hung over us like a mist.


    ¡°It¡¯s been too long, Lucy. How have you been?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I know. I needed time to think on my own. The news of my father¡¯s alleged killer shook mepletely,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you, but that is not why I am here,¡± she added.


    I stared at her in confusion. Why else would she be here if not to see me and bid me farewell on my trip? Could there be something crucial that needed my attention?


    ¡°Is everything the matter, Lucy?¡± I asked, my voice filled with a mixture of concern and determination.


    ¡°Cade knows about the summit and he is nning to attack in your absence,¡± she exined.


    ¡°How did he know about this?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Cade has allies from other rogue packs and they have been feeding him with useful information. But you need not worry, I have sorted it out,¡± she said.


    ¡°Sorted it out? What did you do, Lucy?¡± I asked, concern written all over me.


    ¡°I lied to him. I told him that the date had been shifted, this will give us enough time until you return,¡± she said. I listened carefully, understanding the dangerous game we were ying.


    ¡°Lucy, you took a huge risk by doing so. What if his allies confirm that you¡¯ve been lying to him?¡± I asked once more.


    ¡°He wouldn¡¯t find out and even if he does, it¡¯ll be that you didn¡¯t trust me enough and gave me the wrong information,¡± she exined, her voice filled with so much confidence.


    I was surprised as to how she was able toe up with such a n on short notice. I feared that she was leading herself into danger and I wouldn¡¯t be there to protect her.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Lucy, you¡¯ve taken a significant risk. Be careful while I¡¯m away. Stay out of my pack¡¯s territory to avoid being captured,¡± I warned.


    As the weight of our separation bore down on us, we held each other, seeking sce in one another¡¯s arms. In the midst of our emotions, we shared a passionate moment of love, a bittersweet gap before the impending challenge and uncertainties thaty ahead.


    The first light of dawn kissed the shy as I bid Lucy farewell. The air hung heavy with anticipation and unease as I retraced my step back to my pack, preparing for the journey that awaited me. As I got to the pack, I sought out my mother and Lothar to share my ns and plead doe their vignce in my absence.


    ¡°Mother, Lothar, as you know, I¡¯m leaving for the alpha summit. I need your support and protection in my absence,¡± I said with concern written over my face.


    My mother embraced me tightly with a mix of pride and concern. ¡°Be safe, son. We will be here, awaiting your return.¡±


    Lothar nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of the taskid on him.  ¡°I¡¯ll look after the pack and your mother, Chris. You have my word,¡± he said.


    After discussing with my mother, I led Lothar into my chambers to have a private exchange with him, away from prying eyes.


    ¡°Lothar, there¡¯s more you need to know. Lucy was here and she told me about what she did with Cade. She took a risky step to deceive him and I fear for her safety. Can you send someone to watch over her discreetly?¡± I pleaded.


    Lothar nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure she is safe, Chris. You focus on the summit, and we¡¯ll handle things here.¡±


    Relieved, I embarked on my journey to the summit with my beta by my side. The path ahead was uncertain, I feared for my pack, my mother, and Lucy.

 Chapter Fifty Seven

    LUCY


    After bidding Chris goodbye, I returned to my rogue pack, the path felt like a solemn march through a storm of conflicting emotions. The weight of my deception wore heavily on me, I was so drowned in my thoughts on how to sessfully carry out my ns. Before I could reach the safety of my haven, I encountered Nathan halfway along the trail.


    His countenance was full of fury and anguish, a torrent of emotions bursting forth as he unleashed his words at me.


    ¡°How could you, Lucy? You knew all along, didn¡¯t you?¡± he blurted.


    ¡°What are you talking about, Nathan?¡± I asked, unaware of his usations.


    ¡°About my father¡­. about everything. And you never breathed a word! Is that why you¡¯ve been avoiding me? Because of what my father did to yours.¡± his voice wasced with hurt, his eyes aze with anger.


    Caught off guard by Nathan¡¯s confrontation, I struggled to find the right words but nothing came forth. I only stared at him watching pain etch on his face. His emotions continued to erupt, a blend of anger and sorrow.


    ¡°Maverick told me. He thought it was amusing to mock me, to reveal what I didn¡¯t know. Why keep me in the dark, Lucy, why?¡± he said, his voice cracked with the weight of his emotions.


    Unable to bear the weight of the conversation any longer, I turned away, leaving him there amidst his emotions. I never nned to let Nathan know of his father¡¯s evil deeds, I knew it would hurt him but also it could ruin my chances of getting my revenge on Cade, his father.


    I sought out Maverick to seek rity for what he had done. He was out in the field when I met him, unbothered about what he had done.


    ¡°Maverick what have you done?¡± I snapped, drawing the attention of others. He pulled me away from the field to a secluded area void of the prying eyes.


    ¡®What are you ranting about?¡± he asked.


    I felt a rush of frustration towards him for spilling the truth and causing Nathan pain. ¡°Why would you tell Nathgan about my father? You knew it would hurt him and also ruin our ns,¡± I said, my voice trembling with anger and disappointment.


    Rather than showing remorse for his actions, Maverick met my gaze with a chilling resolve. ¡°He got what he deserved, Lucy. It wasn¡¯t my fault,¡± he said.


    ¡°Can you hear yourself? It wasn¡¯t your fault you say. How could you let something like this slip from your mouth? This was supposed to be a secret between us,¡± I bellowed.


    ¡°I would have kept my mouth shut if he hadn¡¯t challenged me. Besides, it was about time he knew the truth, don¡¯t you think so, Lucy? Let him face it, let him learn the reality of his father,¡± Maverick retorted, his words cutting deep.


    Enraged by hisck of remorse and the chaos he had unleashed, I stormed away. I felt lost in my emotions as I looked for Nathan, seeking sce and hoping to rectify the issue.


    On seeing me, Nathan began to walk away ignoring my call. I raced towards him, tears already welling up in my eyes.


    ¡°Nathan, I¡­I couldn¡¯t tell you. I didn¡¯t know how it would make you feel. Also, I wasn¡¯t sure what Maverick said was true. I wanted to find the truth first before I could say anything to you,¡± I exined, my voice quivering with uncertainty.


    ¡°And¡­what have you found out now? Tell me,¡± he snapped. ¡°Did my father kill your father? Did he?!¡± his voice quivered too, and his eyes held a mix of hurt and confusion.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°I still don¡¯t know, Nathan. I don¡¯t know what to believe anymore,¡± I said, my heart heavy with despair.


    I med Maverick for exposing our secret to him, I don¡¯t know what he stood to gain by doing so, but I knew he had a reason. Maverick wasn¡¯t the type to be trusted, I should have known that soon enough.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to find out the truth from my father now,¡± Nathan said and began to storm off.


    ¡°You¡¯ll do no such thing, Nathan. What do you think will happen to me and my mother if you do so? Look, Nathan, I am going to seek the truth myself and I need you to remain calm. Ignore whatever Maverick has said to you until it¡¯s confirmed to be true,¡± I suggested.


    Without saying a word, Nathan walked away from me. I grappled with the aftermath of my discussion, I sought sce in the sanctuary of the wild, venturing into the quiet depths of the forest.


    Lost in thought, I leaned against a sturdy trunk, seeking sce and some semnce of guidance amidst the turmoil.


    ¡°Sometimes, I wish things were simpler. But it¡¯s like everything is just spinning out of control,¡± I mumbled.


    ¡°Chaos is part of life, Lucy. It is within chaos that we often find our truest strength,¡± a voice said from the thicket.


    I jolted when I heard the voice. It was a wolf, a silent observer of life¡¯s intricacies. It seemed to sense my distress and sat beside me tofort me. I felt an inexplicable connection with the creature and poured my heart into the wolf.


    I sighed. ¡°I just wanted to protect Nathan.  I didn¡¯t want to hurt him with the truth, but now it¡¯s all spiraling.¡±


    The wolf nudged me gently as if offering a sense of reassurance. ¡°Truth can be a double-edged sword. It has the ultimate power to mend and shatter anything. Yet, revealing it is the only way forward.¡±


    I looked up, searching the wolf¡¯s eye. ¡°But there¡¯s something that keeps bothering me. What if I was wrong? What if the truth I¡¯ve been withholding isn¡¯t the real truth?¡±


    The wolf paused as if contemting my words. ¡°You¡¯ll never know until you seek the truth. Seeking truth is a noble quest. But remember that the truth wears many masks. To seek the truth, it is not just from others, but from within.¡±

 Chapter Fifty Eight

    CHRIS


    I sat amidst a circle of other alphas, their voices blending into an indistinct murmur. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, twirling like an unrelenting hurricane. My focus had wandered far from the tactful negotiations and strategic pacts as the summit¡¯s discussion echoed around me. My pack and Lucy were the only images etched in my mind.


    I was surrounded by older and distinguished alphas and was meant to participate actively, engage in conversations, and assert my presence as the newly crowned alpha of the Hallowed Manes pack. Nevertheless, my mind was lingering with responsibilities and the recent turmoil that had urred within my territory.


    The other alphas noticed the distance in my demeanor and furrowed their brows in displeasure. They attempted to draw my attention to their conversations, steering the discourse toward my pack and the recent challenges we¡¯ve faced.


    ¡°Chris, our new alpha from the Hallowed Manes, we were discussing the rising issues within your territory,¡± said one of the older alphas, a stern but understanding gaze fixed upon him.


    Clearing the fog in my mind, I straightened up. ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve encountered crises in the past and more are still arising since my coronation,¡± I admitted, the weight of my responsibilities very evident in my voice. ¡°I¡¯m deeply concerned about the safety of my people and the recent events troubling ournd.¡±


    They all nodded in understanding, their expressions, a mix ofpassion and a firm resolve that came with years of leadership. They offered to give me advice and shared their own experiences on how they had managed simr challenges and handled their pack crises.


    The meeting progressed for hours but I couldn¡¯t shake off the worries I felt. My loved ones loomedrge in my thoughts, their safety was my priority and it weighed heavily on my mind. I longed to know how they were fairing and hoped they were safe amidst the chaos that was brewing in our homes.


    The summitsted for days with immense discussions after which it eventually came to an end. With haste, I began my preparations to return to my pack but I was summoned by one of the alphas whom I hade to know as my father¡¯s friend and close confidant before his passing, Alpha Dn.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I wasn¡¯t there at your coronation, I was too upied with activities at my pack to attend,¡± Alpha Dn exined.


    Not that I cared if he was present at my coronation, it was good that I had someone who knew my father aside from those in my pack. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Alpha Dn. I understand that you are a busy man. I was hoping I could have a word with you before I return.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good. I was meaning to talk to you as well,¡± Alpha Dn said, concern written all over his face.


    I looked at him suspiciously, wondering what it could be about. ¡°I hope everything is alright. What do you want to talk to me about?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s about my friend, your father. He wanted me to rte a message with you, I should have done that soon enough and I apologize once again for that,¡± Alpha Dn said with sincerity etched over his voice.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Before you speak further, I was wondering if you could share anything about my father. I¡¯m pretty sure that you had a conversation with him before his passing,¡± I said.


    A solemn expression was seen on his face. ¡°Ah, yes. I was going to talk to you about that as well. Your father was a very wise, he shared his concerns with me about the future of our packs,¡± Dn paused, gathering his thoughts before he continued. ¡°He warned me about Uther, his brother, and advised me to watch over you, to be cautious.¡±


    My eyes widened slightly, my heart beating faster at the mention of Uther, Cade as he was called now. ¡°What did he say about Uther?¡±


    ¡°Your father didn¡¯t go into details,¡± he exined, lowering his voice. ¡°He stressed the need for you to be cautious, mentioning that Uther had a history that was cause for concern.¡±


    ¡°Well, I guess you were toote with the warnings ¡¯cause he already attacked my pack and killed a few of my people. That¡¯s not all, he also is nning another raid on my pack,¡± I exined, my blood boiling with rage at the thought of all I had been through at the hands of Cade.


    ¡°Damnit, I should havee sooner. If there is anything you need from me, I¡¯ll be willing to help in any way I can,¡± he said, cing his hand on my shoulder with a reassuring smile.


    ¡°Did my father mention anything else to you about Uther¡¯s intention or why I should be cautious?¡± I said, trying to make sense of my father¡¯s cryptic sense.


    Dn shook his head, regretcing his features. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, Chris. Your father was concerned, but he didn¡¯t provide explicit details. He simply wanted me to make sure you were aware and watchful.¡±


    ¡°Uther killed my father, and another man took the fall for it. Now he ising for me as well, I bet he thinks I¡¯m not good enough for the throne or it¡¯s his to own,¡± I said, my voiceced with anger.


    Taking a deep breath, Dn sat beside me. ¡°Listen, Chris, Uther was many things but killing your father, his brother, I¡¯m not too sure of that.¡±


    ¡°Then why did my father ask you to warn me about him? Look, Uther is a vile man and I¡¯ll make him pay for what he did to my father,¡± I snarled.


    Dn ced a reassuring hand on my shoulder. ¡°Your father cared deeply for you, son. He wanted to ensure your safety and the well-being of your pack. Keep his words and trust your instincts.¡±


    I nodded, a resolve settled within me. My father¡¯s warnings were toote now but I was happy at least that he had me in mind before his passing and that he believed I had the capacity to rule in his absence.


    With a newfound resolve, I prepared to return to my pack. I was ready to face any challenge that woulde ahead with a determination to bnce my duty as an alpha with my love for my mate.

 Chapter Fifty Nine

    LUCYContent from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Days had passed by and I still hadn¡¯t set my eyes on Nathan nor had I heard anything from Maverick as well. I was delirious and didn¡¯t know what to do to salvage the situation at hand. I wasn¡¯t sure if Nathan had confronted his father about what he had heard few days ago.


    My mother too had noticed my difort and was bothered about me. But I kept everything from her, pretending to be alright. I still hadn¡¯t revealed the truth about my father¡¯s death to her. Truth was I found it hard to tell my mother the truth without breaking her, it was better to let the sleeping dog lie than open up old wounds.


    My steps echoed into the forest as I decided to take a walk to clear my head. As I walked, I approached Nathan at a spot, my heart began to race with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. He was standing at the same clearing where he had osted me the day we met. The sun casted its ethereal glow on the trees, elongating it¡¯s shadows.


    ¡°Nathan,¡± I called out, my voice a mixture of eagerness and tension.


    Nathan turned towards me, his expression tensed. ¡°What do you want, Lucy?¡±


    ¡°I have been looking for you for the past few days. Where have you been?¡± I asked, my expression revealing my concern.


    ¡°Quit the caring bullshit, Lucy. What do you really want?¡± Nathan snapped.


    ¡°I wanted to know if you talked to your father,¡± I said, trying to keep my tone steady despite the trouble within me.


    His eyes narrowed, his face contorting with frustration. ¡°Why does it matter to you? You already believe Maverick¡¯s nonsense, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I need the truth, Nathan. I need to know the truth,¡± I pressed, my gaze fixed at his. ¡°Did you confront your father about what Maverick said to  you?¡±


    Nathan clenched his fist in rage. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to confront. Maverick is just trying to stir trouble. My father would never do that, he will never hurt your father.¡±


    My heart sank, a knot forming in my gut. I searched his eyes for the truth, but I found nothing but defiance. I knew Cade killed my father because Lothar said so and I wished I could tell Nathan the truth. Confusion grew within me as I paced around thinking of what to do.


    I was dismayed by Nathan¡¯s response and decided to head back home, hoping to glean more insight. As I approached my hut, Maverick came to me, a grin visible on his face.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been searching for you. Where have you been?¡± he asked.


    ¡°What do you want, Maverick? Haven¡¯t you caused enough harm for me already? You ruined my ns and I won¡¯t forgive you if this gets out,¡± I snapped, my anger very visible.


    ¡°Rx, child. I was only doing you a favour, Nathan needed to know the truth about his father and that was what I did,¡± Maverick said with scorn. ¡°Anyways, you need to know that the summit will be ending soon, so you need to be prepared for your next line of action. Listen, Lucy, I need you to know that I¡¯m always going to be on your side, no matter what.¡±


    I didn¡¯t know what to say to him at this point. I simply walked away from him to avoid being seen by Nathan. not long after my conversation with Maverick, one of Cade¡¯s guards came to inform me of my presence at his chambers.


    As I got to his chambers, voices spilled from inside the chamber. I halted, recognizing Cade¡¯s voice as I got to the door. Curiosity gt the better part f me as I hesitated for a moment. I edged closer, straining to hear the conversation.


    Cade¡¯s voice was low, almost like a whisper and distinct. ¡°The rumours are indeed true. I had a hand in Lucy¡¯s father¡¯s death.¡±


    ¡°Does Lucy know about this? Does she know about what you did to her father?¡± a voice said from inside the chambers, it was difficult to depict who the second speaker was.


    ¡°Lucy doesn¡¯t know anything about her father¡¯s death till death,¡± Cade whispered.


    A shiver ran down my spine, my breathing catching at Cade¡¯s confession. My heart pounded in my chest as I leaned closer, desperate to hear more.


    ¡°He had to be silenced, and it was essential to ensure no one suspected my involvement,¡± Cade continued, his voice sending chill through my veins.


    I covered my mouth, my eyes wide with shock as I tried to absorb the truth of his words. Truly, Lothar was right when he said Cade was responsible for my father¡¯s death.


    A sudden rage enveloped me and all I wanted to do at that point was walk in there and end his life. I clenched my fist as I stood at the entrance of the chambers with my sword in hand. I cared less about any other thing, all I wanted was to get my revenge on the man that killed my father.


    I stormed into Cade¡¯s chambers boiling in fury. ¡°How could you? You killed my father and made me believe that it was an animal attack!!¡±


    ¡°I did what I had to do, child,¡± Cade said with a grin. ¡°He was going to ruin my ns and chances of bing the alpha of the Hallowed Manes pack.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make you pay for what you did,¡± I sneered, removing the sword from its sheathe. All the while, Cade was holding me firmly in his gaze.


    ¡°Don¡¯t hld back or I¡¯m going to break you like I did to your father,¡± Cade snarled at me.


    I rushed at him immediately. I dipped and weaved right as I was about t reach him and shed downwards with his swords. I wasn¡¯t going to give him the chance to defeat me. I parried at him, my des shing against his. I swiftly punched him in the sr plexus, knocking him off to the ground.


    ¡°This is for my father,¡± I hissed, piercing the sword to his heart.


    ¡°Lucy.¡± ¡°Lucy!!¡±


    I jolted and found myself still standing at the entrance of Cade¡¯s chambers. I had being so overwhelmed with my thoughts that it felt too real. I turned to see who it was, Nathan stood right before, hi eyes filled with concern.


    ¡°Lucy, are you alright?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yeah, I-I¡¯m good,¡± I said, my body  trembling.


    ¡°What are you doing out here then? And why are you holding a sword?¡± Nathan asked.


    ¡°Nothing, uhm, I¡¯m here to see your father. He sent for me,¡± I muttered, my voice quivering as I fought the tears that tried to roll down my cheeks.


    ¡°Okay? So why are you ut here then? You¡¯ve been standing there for a while now,¡± he asked again. He came closer fixing his gaze on mine.


    I avoided his gaze so he wouldn¡¯t see the tears that forced their way out. I braced myself and walked into his father¡¯s chambers, pretending like I had heard nothing.


    ¡°You sent for me, Cade,.¡± I said coldly.


    ¡°Information has gotten to me that your mate had gone on that summit and would be returning soon. I guess he didn¡¯t trust you enough to tell you the truth or you lied to me,¡± Cade said, pointing his finger at me. He had a stern look on his face nut I wasn¡¯t afraid of him. I fought everything in me to keep myself from causing havoc in his chambers.


    ¡°No one would trust a rogue despite the bond they share, you should know that, Cade. Leave it to me, I¡¯ll get to the bottom of it,¡± I simply said and stormed out f his chambers, my blood boiling with fury.


    The only thing that kept me from getting my revenge was Chris¡¯ words. Justice wouldn¡¯t prevail if I let revenge get the best of me. He had to be exposed for all he had done and clear my father¡¯s name.


    Unable to hold my rage, I raced to the cliff, my haven where I could ease off the tension building inside me. I could not hold the heartbreak anymore and I fell to the floor in a disheveled heap as my grief poured out in a flood of uncontroble tears.

 Chapter Sixty

    CHRIS


    With a new sense of resolve, I returned to my pack with the hope that things would fall into ce. I, my beta, Glen, and my other guards who had apanied me to the alpha summit journeyed back to our pack territory. Alpha Dn¡¯s words continued to echo in my mind, those words gave me the reassurance I needed. But what troubled me more was the mage¡¯s words which never left my mind for once. I failed to mention it to Dn cause I had felt it wasn¡¯t necessary to do so.


    The air was thick as we rode back to the pack through the dense forest, the distant chirping of birds, rustling of leaves and other sounds of wildlife provided sce. There was a sense of unease in the air as we journeyed like something was amiss.


    I immediately stopped our carriage and began to scan the environments, my instincts heightened. ¡°Glen, something feels off here. Keep your senses sharp,¡± I ordered.


    Glen nodded, his head instinctively resting on the hilt of his sword. ¡°I sense it too, alpha. There¡¯s something wrong here, the woods seem unusually quiet.¡±


    As we proceeded, rustling sounds drew closer. My wolf senses were on high alert, my body was tensed. A group of rogues emerged from the thicket, surrounding us in an ambush.


    ¡°Look who we have here. The alpha of the Hallowed Manes pack. Isn¡¯t it a lucky day for us, boys?¡± the leader of the group said, stepping forward with a wicked grin revealing his teeth. He was a rugged figure who had arge scar etched on his face which was a w mark.


    I clenched my fists, ready for a fight.  ¡°Who are you? What do you want?¡±


    ¡°You tell me, alpha. Why am I here? The rogue leader stepped forward. ¡°We¡¯re not here to harm ya. We know who you are, alpha, and we are just gonna have a little chat.¡±


    I exchanged a cautious nce with Glen, preparing for a sudden suspicious movement from the rogues.


    ¡°What¡¯s this ¡®chat¡¯ about?¡± I asked, my tone cautious but firm.


    The rogue leader smirked. ¡°It¡¯s simple. We know that you¡¯re heading back to your pack after that alpha summit. We¡¯re here to deliver a message to you.¡±


    ¡°What message?¡± Glen asked, eyeing the rogues warily.


    The rogue leader leaned closer, his voice dropping into a low growl. ¡°Let your pack know that we the rogues have eyes everywhere. We are watching your every move and if they step out of line, there will be consequences.¡±


    I scoffed, narrowing my eyes, my instincts sensing a veiled threat.  ¡°My pack doesn¡¯t operate on threat.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± the rogue leader chuckled darkly. ¡°Then maybe you and your people should learn to. Consider this a friendly warning.¡±


    ¡°Who the hell sent you?¡± I sneered.


    ¡°What makes you think we were sent? Focus on my warnings, will you?!¡± the rogue leader snapped.


    ¡°Like I said, we do not operate on threats,¡± I snapped too, my tension rising.


    The rogue leader growled, exposing his ws. ¡°Then you leave me no choice.¡±


    The rogues quickly overpowered us, outnumbering me and my guards. The sh was swift, I fought dauntlessly, but the rogues managed to capture us.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°Let us go, we mean no harm,¡± I demanded, struggling from my captor¡¯s grip.


    Their leader sneered. ¡°You are the new alpha, ain¡¯t ya? Your pack will be willing to pay a handsome ransom for your return.¡±


    ¡°We are not going down without a fight, alpha,¡± Glen growled, his eye fixated on mine.


    I locked eyes with Glen, silently signaling him to prepare for an opportunity to escape. I freed myself from their grip and charged towards the leader. As I faced off against him, my senses heightened the more. The sun cast an eerie glow over the chaotic scene, and the sound of snarling and growling filled the air.


    I and the leader collided, tearing at each other. I swiped at him,  cutting a gash in his ears. He groaned aloud and bit into my unguarded shoulder. I howled and tried to shake him off but he held fast until he eventually lost grip and mmed on the floor.


    I gripped him by the neck, sneaking life out of him until he passed out. The rest of the rogues began to retreat when they realized that their leader was now lying lifeless on the floor.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here,¡± I ordered. I noticed that a few of my guards had sustained injuries during the scuffle. I too had a minor injury but brushed it off, focusing on returning to the safety of my pack.


    ¡°Alpha, you¡¯re hurt,¡± Glen pointed out to his bruised shoulders, concern evident in his voice.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing, just a scratch,¡± I dismissed, my focus set on returning home.


    Upon reaching the pack¡¯s territory, I was met by my ever worried mother, who rushed to my side, worry written all over her face. ¡°Christopher, you¡¯re hurt. What happened? Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mother,¡± I reassured her. ¡°We were ambushed on our way back by rogues, but we managed to escape.¡±


    Lothar joined us, his expression sinister. ¡°Alpha, you must tell us everything.¡±


    I nodded, recounting the encounter that had ensued with the rogues, emphasizing the need for immediate action.


    ¡°We need to convene with the council immediately,¡± I said firmly.


    ¡°You are hurt, you need to heal before anything else,¡± my mother insisted.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, mother. This meeting is more important than anything else,¡± I said and left to prepare for the meeting.


    Gathering the council of elders, I exined the recent rogue attack in detail emphasizing the potential threat it posed to the pack¡¯s safety.


    ¡°It¡¯s your duty to protect the pack, not ours. Besides, since you became the alpha, all we¡¯ve experienced is turmoil in our territory. Maybe it¡¯s time you step down as the leader,¡± one of the council elders said.


    ¡°We must increase our vignce and fortify our defenses,¡± I urged, ignoring the elder¡¯s words. ¡°The rogue¡¯s aggression signifies arger threat.¡±


    Some of them grumbled at my response while others nodded, expressing their concern and support for my ns to strengthen the pack¡¯s security.

 Chapter Sixty One

    LUCY


    Sitting alone in the quiet of my haven, my thoughts drifted back to my childhood. Memories of my father and Cade flooded my mind, the times theyughed together, their camaraderie, and the trust my father had in Cade. It saddened my heart to think that someone so close to my family could be responsible for my family¡¯s tragedy. The weight of betrayal felt so heavy on my heart.


    ¡°How could you do this, Cade?¡± I mused silently, struggling with conflicting emotions of grief and anger.


    My thoughts were interrupted by a soft tap on my shoulder which jolted me, pulling me out of my reverie. Glen, Chris¡¯ beta, stood at my side with an urgent expression.


    ¡°Lucy, Chris has returned. He wishes to speak with you as soon as you can,¡± Glen announced, the urgency in his voice evident.


    My heart skipped a beat at the news. I pushed aside my tumultuous contemtion, bracing myself up for the encounter with Chris. The conflicting emotions of dread and anticipation gnawed at me as I prepared to face him.


    Taking a deep breath, I rose to my feet, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. Despite my inner troubles, I began to feel a sense of resolve blossom within me. I squared my shoulders and steeled myself for the impending conversation ahead.


    I hurried to his pack territory with Glen upon hearing of Chris¡¯ arrival. Rushing into his arms, I found sce in his embrace.


    ¡°I heard about what happened on your way back,¡± I said. ¡°Glen told me about the attack and your injury, are you alright?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, a group of rogues tried to attack me and my guards on our way back from the alpha summit,¡± he said, concern etched on his face.


    ¡°Are you hurt? Did they hurt you?¡± I asked, my voice etched with worry.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me, it was just a scratch, trust me,¡± he assured.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    ¡°Do you have any idea about who sent them?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I can¡¯t shake the feeling that Cade orchestrated this attack,¡± Chris said, his voice edged with frustration.


    I pondered on what he said for a while but it didn¡¯t sit right with me. ¡°I don¡¯t think he did else he would have bragged about it with everyone especially me.¡±


    ¡°You think someone else sent those rogues after me? Who would do that?¡± he asked.


    I shrugged. ¡°You have enemies everywhere so it could be possible that someone else sent those rogues after you.¡±


    In the warmth of our conversation, I divulged the recent turn of events that had urred in my home. ¡°Nathan found out the truth about his father¡¯s deeds through Maverick,¡± I disclosed. ¡°Cade also confessed to murdering my father.¡±


    Chris¡¯ eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Cade confessed? When?¡± his voice grew serious as he processed the unsettling information.


    I hesitated, the gravity of my words settling heavily on me. ¡°I heard him confess his deed to someone in his chambers and I overheard everything. There was no remorse in his voice.¡±


    The discussion about Cade¡¯s confession made me recall everything that had happened in the past and tears began to roll down my cheeks. It was a battle to prevent my mouth from trembling, as my eyes stung with repressed tears


    ¡°Lucy¡­¡± Chris said slightly, reaching for me. ¡°I¡¯m here for you and very soon, Cade will pay for all the things he has done to our families.¡± The agony mirrored on his face appalled me and I rushed to reassure him, impulsively lifting my hand to touch his smooth cheek.


    ¡°This is my fight, not yours,¡± I said.


    ¡°No, my love. Your fight is my fight and I¡¯m going to stay by your side until the end.¡± his mouth curved into a wry smile. His intense eyes mesmerized me as he slid his hand into my hair, forcing my face within inches of his. Was it my own blood drumming in my ears as my pulse increased its rate that made his voice sound slurred? Or was his powerful body less under his control than I had imagined? I made a feeble effort to draw away from him but he pulled me even closer.


    ¡°Chris¡­.¡± I whispered his name, my voice a thread of sound that scarcely reached his ears.


    ¡°Be my Luna, Lucy! Who am I to reject so bountiful a gift from the moon goddess, hmm?¡± his mouth touched the tip of my nose and drifted to my mouth to brush my lips.


    Gasping as I found myself epassed by his arms, my mouth subjected to a deeply passionate kiss. Instinctively my hands rose to his shoulders before stretching to sp round his neck as he drew me intimately against the length of his aroused body.


    I tried to speak, but the words stuck in my dry throat, so I could only stand there while the cool breeze stirred the room as his fingers threaded through my hair, restraining the movement of my head while he pleasured my mouth with the persuasive incursion of his tongue.


    I was breathing heavily, my heart thudding with the agitation of a trapped bird, by the time he released my lips, to trail the wanton caresses across my cheekbone and down the soft expanse of my neck. Breathing in the scent of his hair and skin, a warm sensualnguor beneath the touch of his hands and his mouth, I knew I was lost.


    ¡°Be honest with me, Lucy.¡± his breath was warm against my ear. ¡°I know you still hate me for what my family did to yours, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    He was right. I still hadn¡¯t gotten over what his family did to mine but that was all in the past now considering all of the truth that had been revealed so far.


    ¡°Admit it.¡± his voice was hoarse, his eyes narrowed and searingly powerful as his fingers tangled once more in my hair to hold my head so that I couldn¡¯t turn it away from him


    ¡°Yes,¡¯ I whispered, the word escaping from my throat as a husky sob. ¡°But that is all in the past now.¡±


    His hands moved with deadly purpose down the length of my body, predatory fingers following the curves of my waist and buttocks as he gathered me to him in a tant intimacy.


    With my senses swimming, I ceded to my own needs, running my palms down the damp, silky skin of his now naked back, daring to trace the hard hollows of his loins, experiencing a fierce surge of desire as he bucked beneath my touch as if I had sent several volts of electricity through his flesh.


    I stood motionless, my breathing shallow as my dark eyes swept over the form of the man I loved, absorbing the glossy darkness of his hair, the strong bones of his face, assimting the physical beauty of his tough male body, while my heart beat with the intense concentration f a drum solo. I knew there were lots of things surrounding us, but for now, because I loved him, I would trust him. Trust him with the remainder of my life.

 Chapter Sixty Two

    CHRIS


    The crisp night air echoed with the sounds of preparation as Lucy and I huddled over a map, plotting our strategy against Cade¡¯s impending attack. We discussed tactics, strengths, and weaknesses of both sides, aiming at fortifying my pack against theing threat.


    ¡°Chris, do you think this n is going to work? What if Cade ns ahead of us?¡± Lucy inquired, her eyes reflecting concern and a hint of doubt.


    I nced at Lucy, my expression stern but reassuring. ¡°It¡¯s possible, but not to worry, I¡¯ll take care of it. We have to be prepared for anything. Our pack¡¯s safety is our priority,¡± I affirmed, my voice filled with determination.


    Lucy chuckled. ¡°Our pack? That¡¯s new.¡±


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s our pack. Very soon, you¡¯ll be crowned my Luna once all of this is over,¡± I said.


    ¡°What if they reject me as their Luna? Remember that my father is still to be med for your father¡¯s death,¡± Lucy said, her voice edged with concern.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    I shrugged. ¡°Once Cade is exposed, your father¡¯s name will be cleared. Trust the process, Lucy.¡±


    I pulled her close to me, nting a kiss on her forehead. ¡°No one can take you away from me, you¡¯re mine.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she whispered, the word escaping from her throat as a husky sob. ¡°Yes, Lucy, if you¡¯re sure that¡¯s what you really want, then I¡¯ll always be yours.¡±


    I had no idea how long it was before she broke the embrace that followed my capittion, or any detailed memory of what pleasures we exchanged, just a deep,nguid feeling of bliss as our mouth met and parted and met again and our hands roamed at will, loving, discovering, exciting¡­.


    ¡°Not yet, not now ¡­..¡± it was Lucy who broke the lethargic, sensual magic enthralling me, speaking with an effort, her voice shaky, as she gently released herself from my arms. ¡°We need to keep nning before the attack.¡±


    While we were strategizing, we were interrupted by the arrival of a breathless messenger apanied by Glen at my tree house.


    ¡°Greetings, Alpha Chris. I have an urgent message from Alpha Dn. He requests your presence immediately,¡± the messenger announced, his countenance visibly tense with the weight of the message.


    I exchanged a quick nce at Glen who had brought the messenger, signaling him to lead the way. ¡°Lucy, I¡¯ll be back soon. It seems something urgent hase up. Trust in our ns and be safe until I return,¡± I said, swiftly rising from my seat and preparing to depart, leaving Lucy in a bewildered state.


    I hurried as fast as I could to Dn¡¯s pack and in no time, I arrived at Alpha Dn¡¯s territory. I was ushered into the alpha¡¯s presence in his chambers, the air thick with tension and unease.


    ¡°Apologies for summoning you at such short notice. There is an urgent matter that needs to be addressed before it esctes,¡± Alpha Dn began to speak, urgency evident in his voice.


    I sat on the seat provided, my thoughts running wild at what the urgent matter could be. ¡°What is the matter, Alpha?¡± I asked.


    ¡°First, I heard that you were attacked on your way back from the summit. Did you know who sent those rogues after you?¡± Alpha Dn asked, his eyes searching mine.


    ¡°I have no idea, but I suspect that Cade¡­. I mean Uther could be involved in that attack. He¡­.¡±


    ¡°Did you say Cade? You know who Cade is?¡± Alpha Dn interrupted.


    ¡°Cade is the same person as Uther, my father¡¯s treacherous brother,¡± I said, my anger boiling up at the thought of his name.


    ¡°Cade is a popr rogue leader, not everyone knows his true identity. He controls arge troop of rogues and is known for being a terror to many vulnerable packs,¡± Alpha Dn exined.


    His words took me by surprise. I never knew Cade the way Dn had just exined him to me. A terror to different packs? Not only was he a murderer, but a tyrant who terrorized people for his selfish gain.


    ¡°Very soon, Cade will beunching an attack on my pack, this is not the first time he would attack my pack. But I have devised a n to counter his attack,¡± I said, eager to seek guidance and support from the experienced alpha.


    ¡°If Cade is the same person as your uncle, then you need to be extremely careful. He will stop at nothing just to get what he wants,¡± Alpha Dn said.


    ¡°He ising for my father¡¯s throne isn¡¯t he?¡± I asked, my gaze fixed on him.


    Dn¡¯s expression remained solemn as he nodded, acknowledging my words. ¡°You¡¯ll need reinforcements to safeguard your pack. I¡¯ll lend you some of my guards to go with you,¡± he offered without hesitation, showing his support.


    ¡°I know that there¡¯s more at stake than just this invasion. This is not just about the throne is it?¡± I hesitated sensing a deeper tension. ¡°Is there something I need to know?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. This isn¡¯t just about the throne. Uther and your father had always been at loggerheads with each other for as long as I could remember,¡± Dn exined. ¡°Uther was supposed to be crowned as the alpha but something happened.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.


    Before Dn could respond, a suddenmotion broke outside his pack. The distant sound of a heated dispute broke our conversation. Dn and I exchanged wary nces, realizing something was amiss.


    An aggressive pack of unfamiliar wolves stormed into Dn¡¯s territory, their growls filling the night. Dn¡¯s guard quickly moved out to intercept the invaders, ready to defend their territory.


    ¡°What is the meaning of this? What is going on here?¡± I demanded, my voiceced with a mix of authority and concern for my ally¡¯s safety.


    Before any exnation could be made, the invaders began tounch an attack on the territory. Suddenly, a chilling howl echoed through the night, a signal from afar. The rogue wolves began to retreat, disappearing into the darkness, leaving an air of foreboding and unanswered questions in our wake.

 Chapter Sixty Three

    LUCY


    Since Chris returned, I spent most of my night with him strategizing on how to sabotage Cade¡¯s ns. Things were looking smooth and with the way things were, I had faith that our ns would be a sessful one.


    One evening, while we were making our ns and discussing how to execute them, a stranger rushed in apanied by Glen., breathless and visibly tensed.


    ¡°Alpha Dn requests your presence immediately,¡± the stranger said, his voice expressing the urgency of his message.


    In a rush, Chris hurried off, leaving me alone at the treehouse. I was perplexed and wondered what the urgency was about. Did something happen at the pack? Who was Alpha Dn? Why did he want to meet with Chris so suddenly?


    These thoughts ran through my mind as I departed from the treehouse. My thoughts were entwined in a whirlwind of confusion and concern. I just couldn¡¯t fathom the urgency thatpelled Chris to depart abruptly.


    Yet with a heavy heart, I returned to my routine at the rogue pack while mulling over the lingering distress.


    Not long after I had returned to the pack, Cade had someone summon me to the hall to discuss his ns with me and his other allies.


    I sat among Cade and his assembled allies, engaging in the discussion about the invasion ns, emphasizing on a perfect date I had strategically selected with Chris unknown to them for the attack. Cade eyed me hesitantly, his skepticism veiled behind a mask of contemtion.


    ¡°Are you certain about this date, Lucy? It seems a bit rushed, don¡¯t you think?¡± Cade asked, his gaze suspicious.


    ¡°Absolutely. It¡¯s our best chance to catch them off guard,¡± I said, with the hope of convincing them.


    As we discussed, I noticed Nathan from a distance. His gaze was fixed on me, filled with concern. Suddenly he pulled me aside, voicing his concerns in a hushed tone.


    ¡°Lucy, what are you doing? I know something is off. Are you sure about this? Is this what you truly want¡± he asked.


    ¡°What are you talking about, Nathan? Thest time I checked you didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with me, so why are you bothered about my actions?¡± I snapped at him.


    ¡°I know I was mad at you, but that was in the past. I care about you and I don¡¯t want you to do something you would regret,¡± he said, concern etched on his face.


    ¡°Regret? I don¡¯t know what you are talking about. Nathan, my loyalty lies with our pack. I have to do what¡¯s necessary,¡± I lied, avoiding his gaze.


    Before I could borate, Cade interrupted, sensing the unease between I and Nathan.


    ¡°Is everything alright, Lucy? Nathan? Is there something you would like to share with the rest of us?¡± Cade asked.


    ¡°Uhm, nothing. Everything is fine, we are just having a chat,¡± I hesitated, caught between my deceit and the truth.


    Cade eyed me for a fleeting second before returning to the others. ¡°I guess that settles it then. We¡¯llunch our attack on the Hallowed Manes pack as nned, we need to be ready for anything.¡±Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    While strategizing, the atmosphere was abruptly disrupted by the sudden arrival of Maverick, who shattered the veil of my secrecy in one fell swoop.


    ¡°Cade, Lucy has been lying to you,¡± Maverick announced. ¡°you should hear what your dear Lucy has been hiding.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about, Nathan? Look, I know that you and Lucy have always been at each other¡¯s neck but now is not the time,¡± Cade said to him, shoving his words aside.


    ¡°Oh,e on, Cade. That¡¯s not it,¡± Maverick sneered. ¡°Lucy here has been cozying up to the enemy ¨C Chris Parker! ning vengeance for her father¡¯s death, she is.¡±


    The room fell silent, Maverick¡¯s revtion echoing through the hall, leaving me and everyone stunned, my secrecy exposed in a sh.


    ¡°Maverick, what nonsense is this? Exin yourself!¡± Cade demanded, his voice stern.


    Maverick scoffed. ¡°Your trusted Lucy here has been having secret rendezvous with Chris Parker! nning and Plotting against you, Cade!¡±


    Cade turned to me, fuming with rage. ¡°Lucy, is this true? You¡¯ve been fooling me all this while?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not¡­.. I.. I¡­don¡¯t know what he¡¯s talking about,¡± I denied, my heart racing.


    ¡°Ah, spare us the at,¡± Maverick snapped. ¡°I know all about your deceit. Look, Cade, you and your troupe are walking into your doom if you follow her directions.¡±


    Cade¡¯s fury red, his eyes burning with anger. ¡°Betrayal, Lucy. That¡¯s what this is!¡±


    As the usation flew, my mother walked in, ton by what she had just heard. Nathan too was shocked to the bones, his expression was a mix of disbelief and confusion, struggling toprehend the sudden turn of events.


    ¡°So it¡¯s true, father. You had a hand in Lucy¡¯s father¡¯s death. How could you?¡± Nahan said, his voice trembling as he tried to absorb the news.


    ¡°Stay out of this, son. You¡¯ll understand the reason for my actions soon enough,¡± Cade said. Before the tension could escte further, he turned to his guards, ordering them. ¡°Lock her up her and her mother.¡±


    ¡°Father!¡± Nathan yelled.


    ¡°Nathan, stay by my side,¡± Cade urged.


    Everyone stood in shock as they watched me and my mother being escorted out. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions, questioning the reason for Maverick¡¯s betrayal.


    Confined within the cold damp walls of the cell in the territory, I and my mother sat in a sullen silence. The weight of Maverick¡¯s betrayal hung heavily in the air and I was gripped by a whirlpool of emotions, anger, betrayal, and a sense of istion.


    Breaking the silence, I said. ¡°Mother, I never meant to keep this from you. I was only trying to protect you.¡± My voice trembled as tears began to roll down my cheeks.


    ¡°Hush, child. I understand everything and I can¡¯t me you for keeping this away from me,¡± my motherforted. ¡°Now that we know the truth, it¡¯s not safe for us here anymore.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to keep you safe, mother. I¡¯m not going to let anyone hurt you, not under my watch,¡± I said, my anger brewing.


    We remained in the cell all night, not knowing what fate awaited us. I struggled to keep my emotions in check. I feared for whaty ahead and the dire consequences of Maverick¡¯s betrayal. The weight of my decisions bore heavily on me, wondering if there was a way out of thisbyrinth of deceit. But one thing was sure, I was going to pay each one of them in their own coin.

 Chapter Sixty Four

    LUCY


    Within the confines of the dimly lit cell, my world seemed to be crumbling. The harsh reality of Maverick¡¯s deception and Cade¡¯s impending decisions weighed on my shoulders. I huddled with my mother, the cold walls closing in on us.


    ¡°How long had you known of Cade¡¯s deed?¡± my mother asked.


    ¡°Not too long ago,¡± I responded.


    I exined to my mother about all of the things that had happened in the past few weeks. How I had gotten to know of Lothar¡¯s reappearing and how he had being the one to tell me about Cade¡¯s involvement in my father¡¯s death.


    ¡°Lothar is alive?!¡± my mother eximed. ¡°I thought he was dead, long gone.¡±


    ¡°I thought the same too until I met him again at the Hallowed Manes pack. He told me all I needed to know. Father wasn¡¯t responsible for Chris¡¯ father¡¯s death, Cade was,¡± I exined, my voice etched with concern.


    My mother¡¯s mouth fell open in shock. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have kept something like this from me, your mother. How were you able to bear all of this burden alone?¡±


    As the cell¡¯s shadows danced, I and my mother concocted a desperate n. ¡°Mother, we need to find a way out of this,¡± I suggested.


    ¡°You are right. We must act swiftly,¡± my mother said. ¡°Nathan seemed shaken by what happened. We could use that to our advantage.¡±


    As we nned on what to do in the cold, damp cell, the heavy air carried the weight of an impending storm. Nathan unexpectedly showed up at the cell, his face carrying a mix of relief and trepidation. I could tell that he was still traumatized with all that had happened recently.


    ¡°Nathan, what are you doing here?¡± I asked. ¡°What if your father finds you here? You¡¯ll be in trouble for this.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been a fool, Lucy. I should have taken it easy with you when I first heard the truth,¡± Nathan said, his voice filled with sadness.


    ¡°None of this is your fault, Nathan,¡± I said. ¡°But what we need to do now is stop him before he does something stupid.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe my father would do such things. I¡¯m sorry for doubting you, I was too hard on you,¡± Nathan apologized.


    With Nathan apologies echoing in the confined space, I took a deep breath. It was a fragile moment, a flicker of trust amidst the chaos.


    ¡°Nathan, I need your help. I need to get out of here before things gets out of hand,¡± I said. ¡°I know Cade is your father, but we need to expose his true intentions together.¡±


    ¡°I never imagined¡­.. my father, a murderer. You are right, we need to stop him. Listen, he¡¯s nning to invade the Hallowed Manes pack in a few days and then he is going to harm you and your mother,¡± Nathan said.


    I wasn¡¯t surprised at what he said. Cade was one who would do anything just to prove that he was superior than others. Yes, he was the leader of this damned rogue pack, but that didn¡¯t give him the right to do whatever he pleased. That was going to end. Very soon, he would have to pay for all his crimes.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    As the night wore on, I shared every detail I knew about Cade¡¯s past and his connection to Chris¡¯ family. The wieght of truth settled heavily in the small cell. Nathan was taken aback and I could see the shock on his face as I told him everything.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe this. My father has been lying to me all this years about my identity,¡± Nathan mumbled.


    Seizing the moment, I implored Nathan to secure our release. The night grew darker, and an ominous sound reverberated through the cell.


    ¡°What was that sound?¡± I whispered.


    The sound disturbance left me and Nathan on the edge, uncertainty hanging in the air like an unspoken promise of impeding danger. I lifted my head as the creaking sound of the heavy metal door announced Cade¡¯s arrival. His sinister presence preceded him as he entered, a sly grin ying on his face.


    ¡°Son, what are you doing with this traitor?¡± Cade sneered. ¡°Leave here this minute, you shouldn¡¯t be seen with people like this.¡±


    Cade signalled to his guards to have Nathan out of the cell. ¡°You¡¯re the traitor, father, you¡¯ve been lying to me my whole life,¡± Nathan yelled as he was being dragged out of the cell.


    ¡°Well, well, Lucy Garcia. The little rogue who thought she could outsmart me,¡± Cade sneered, his eyes gleaming with malice.


    I met his gaze defiantly, though confined. ¡°What do you want, Cade? You¡¯ve already exposed your true self. There¡¯s nothing more for you to take from me.¡±


    Cade chuckled as he circled me, his footsteps echoing through the cold cell. ¡°Oh, my dear Lucy, there¡¯s always more. You see darling, secrets have a funny way of unraveling, and I want every threadid before.¡±


    ¡°You treacherous monster!!¡± my mother snickered, her voice trembling as she held unto the cell gate. ¡°You¡¯ll pay forying your hands on my family.¡±


    ¡°Oh dear, what more can you do?¡± Cade scoffed. ¡°Your husband should have known better than trying to get in my way.¡±


    Knowing the danger of withholding information, I decided to tread carefully. ¡°What¡¯s the use, Cade? Your reign is crumbling. Chris knows the truth about your past, and he¡¯s ready to expose you. You already lost, Cade.¡±


    Cade chuckled, and eerie sound reverberating off the cell walls. ¡°Expose me? Oh Lucy, that¡¯s so cute. I¡¯ll have Chris¡¯ head on a tter before he can even utter a word.¡±


    ¡°Why, Cade?¡± I questioned, my toneced with both curiosity and defiance. ¡°Why attack the Hallowed Manes pack? What drives you to such cruelty??


    His eyes glinted with a manic determination. ¡°The throne was mine to begin with, Lucy. Soon, it will be mine again, I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to reim what¡¯s rightfully mine.¡±


    Though trapped, I held my ground. ¡°You¡¯re tearing everything apart. The pack, the lives of innocent wolves¡­..¡±


    Cade interrupted with a frown. ¡°Cut the crap. Innocent? There¡¯s no innocence in this damn world, child. Only power and those who wield it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a psychopath, Cade, that¡¯s what you are.¡± I sneered, my blood boiling in rage.


    As the cell door nged shut behind Cade, I couldn¡¯t shake the foreboding feeling that Cade¡¯s ambitions would leave a trail of devastation in our wake.

 Chapter Sixty Five

    LUCY


    In the early hours of the morning, I heard the cell door creak open and Nathan stealthily approached the cell where I and my mother were held captive. He immediately began to unfasten the chains that held me down and unlocked the cell.


    My heart grew in anticipation as he released me and my mother from the cell. ¡°Thank you, Nathan,¡± I whispered, embracing the urgency of the situation.


    ¡°Time is of the essence. My father¡¯s ns to execute both of you are looming ominously,¡± Nathan said, a sense of urgency in his voice. ¡°I overheard him instruct one of his guards to behead you and send it as a gift to Chris.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how I¡¯m ever going to repay you for what you¡¯ve done,¡± I said, my heart full of gratitude.


    ¡°Nathan, a conflicted expression on his face nodded. ¡°I can¡¯t let my father do this. Get your mother to safety before the guards get here.¡±


    With my mother in tow, I and Nathan ventured out of the rogue pack far from the impending danger. When we got to the boundary that separated the rogue pack from other territories, Nathan stopped urging us to go further.


    ¡°This is where I leave you guys. I need to return to the pack before anyone notices my disappearance,¡± Nathan said.


    I thanked him once more and continued on my journey. I found refuge in a secluded spot beyond Cade¡¯s grasp where we stayed. But I couldn¡¯t remain in hiding forever, my respite was short-lived, burdened by the knowledge that Chris and his pack were unaware of the threatsing to them.


    ¡°Mother, I can¡¯t stay here I have to warn Chris,¡± I asserted, a burning fire in my eyes.


    My mother, concerned for my safety, pleaded. ¡°Lucy, your safety is more important to me than any other thing right now. Whatever you need to tell Chris can wait until our safety is secured,¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t let Cade destroy everything. Chris needs to know,¡± I insisted, torn between filial duty and the impending peril.


    ¡°I understand you, but now is not the time. Cade could be out there searching for us as we speak. It¡¯s too risky, I can¡¯t afford to lose you now,¡± my mother pleaded once more.


    ¡°What if you get caught in his pack? Remember you are a rogue and rogue¡¯s are not allowed anywhere close to the hallowed manes. Stay back for now.¡±


    Ignoring my mother¡¯s pleas, I set out for the Hallowed Manes pack, determination coursing through my veins. On my way, I met some of Cade¡¯s men scurrying the woods in search of me and my mother.


    ¡°She¡¯s nowhere around here,¡± one of them said.


    I hid behind a tree to avoid being caught by them. My mother was right after all, Cade would never relent until he had my head on a tter.


    ¡°Sweep the whole woods if you have to. She couldn¡¯t have gone far with her mother,¡± another bellowed.


    I remained quiet where I was, using the bushes as my shield until they returned to the pack. As I arrived at Chris¡¯ pack, urgency painted across my face as I sought an audience with Chris. I was only met with suspicion.


    I pushed through the pack gate, heedless of the warnings Chris had given me about his pack.


    ¡°I need to speak with Chris immediately. It¡¯s a matter of urgency,¡± I urged, pushing through the guards who secured the gate.


    ¡°What business do you have with the Alpha?¡± the guard responded.


    ¡°That¡¯s not the issue right now. Please, I need to see the alpha. There¡¯s an imminent attack nned by the leader of the rogue,¡± I implored as the pack, cautious and skeptical approached me.


    The hallowed manes took offense at the intrusion of strangers, mostly a rogue, their usatory stares and harsh words building into a crescendo.


    A gruff voice echoed from the crowd. ¡°She¡¯s a rogue. Take her to the council for punishment!¡±


    ¡°Keep her away! She¡¯s probably here to cause trouble, we can¡¯t trust her,¡± another echoed, and soon the crowd began to hurl insults at me, throwing whatever they could find.


    A stern voice emanated from the gathering, interrupting the tumult. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±


    Desperate to convey my urgent message, I pleaded with the man who had interrupted. ¡°Please, you have to believe me. Chris needs to know about the attack!¡±


    ¡°Liar! A rogue warning of an attack? Ridiculous! Lock her up until Alpha Chris returns,¡± dered one of the pack members.


    As the chaos intensified, my pleas for understanding fell on deaf ears. I was thrown into confinement, the dungeon¡¯s cold walls bing my unwee refuge. I found myself at the mercy of indifferent guards in the dungeon.


    My attempts to exin, to convey the imminent danger, fell on deaf ears. ¡°I¡¯m not your enemy! You have to believe me,¡± I implored.


    ¡°Save your breath, rogue. You¡¯re in no position to give orders,¡± retorted one of the guards.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°You can¡¯t keep me here. Wait till your alpha returns,¡± I sneered.


    ¡°Why should we believe anything you say,¡± the second guard said.


    ¡°I¡¯m his mate. I came to warn you,¡± I said, my voice desperate.


    The guards, unmoved, resort to mistreatment. ¡°You¡¯re just like the rest of your kind- troublemakers,¡± the guard snickered, taking a few steps to me. ¡°Maybe a little pain will make you talk sense.¡±


    Despite my attempts to exin my innocence, the guards remained unmoved. One of the guards punched me, his fists meeting me with brutal force. The massive force of the punch caused me to cough out blood.


    Before I knew it, another steel hard fist mmed on my body, knocking me over and causing me to ounce across the floor.  Tried to get back on my feet and it only infuriated them the more.


    ¡°I see you¡¯re a tough one,¡± one of them said, grounding his teeth in anger.


    I was terrified to death as I watched themnd another heavy p on my cheek. They pushed me to the floor and began to kick me, causing sharp pains all over my body.


    Their fist and kicks met me with brutal force, each blow echoing through the dimly lit space. My resilience waned, and as darkness embraced me, the dungeon became a silent witness to the harsh reality of my confinement

 Chapter Sixty Six

    CHRIS


    ¡°What is happening here?¡±


    Dn was as dumbfounded as I was at what had just happened at the pack. The strange howl that had echoed through the woods had made the rogue wolves retreat to the woods, leaving us with unanswered questions in our wake.


    After the invasion had been interrupted by that mysterious howl, I turned to Alpha Dn seeking answers. ¡°What was that howl about, Dn?¡±


    Dn, perplexed, replied. ¡°I have no idea, Chris. That wasn¡¯t from any of my pack members.¡±


    My mind raced, I had recognized one of the invaders as one of those who had attacked me and my guards on our way back from the summit. I kept this information to myself as I and Glen began to prepare for our journey back home.


    ¡°I think you should stay here for a while. They could be out there waiting for another attack,¡± Dn suggested.


    He was right. If I could recognize one of the attackers then it was certain that they were after me and not Dn¡¯s pack.


    Following his suggestion, I remained in his pack while his guards set out to ensure the invaders were nowhere in sight when we returned to our chambers.


    The next day, I began my journey back to my pack, my mind flooded with the discussions I had with Alpha Dn the previous day. Alpha Dn had revealed a shocking news, one that shook the foundation of my being.


    ¡°How long had I been in the dark? How could they keep such vital information away from me?¡± I thought.


    I pondered on what Dn had said to me, keeping my emotions are bay as I and Glen returned to the pack with the guards Dn had provided.


    Upon arrival at the pack, the news of a captured rogue reached me. I immediately hurried to the dungeon to see the infiltrator, expecting another foe. To my astonishment, I found my mate, Lucy, confined and battered.


    ¡°Who did this?!¡± I yelled, my blood boiling in rage.


    ¡°She¡¯s a rogue, alpha. She was caught sneaking into the pack. She got what she deserved,¡± one of the guards sneered.


    ¡°Who gave the order?! how dare you hurt the future Luna of this pack!!,¡± I growled.


    ¡°The elders did, we are only following orders,¡± another of the guards said.


    With my eyes aze with fury, I confronted the elders. ¡°Release her immediately! She¡¯s my mate, the future Luna of the pack.¡± The elders were all taken aback by my revtion and began exchanging nces at each other but remained hesitant.


    ¡®She¡¯s¡¯ a rogue. We can¡¯t simply ignore that,¡± one of the elders argued.


    ¡°RELEASE HER AT ONCE!!!¡± my wolf sneered.


    ¡°You heard the alpha. Release her now!¡± Glen snapped charging forward while he drew his sword from its sheath.


    ¡°You are making a grave mistake,¡± Elder Orvyn said, his voice stern. I ignored him and ordered that she be released at once.


    Immediately, Lucy was released to me, and taking her in my arms, I swiftly carried her to my chambers. The pack healer began administering treatment to her as soon as he could.


    Leaving Lucy in the hands of the healer, I left to meet with the council who had requested my presence.


    ¡°You defile this pack by harboring a rogue in your chambers,¡± Orvyn sneered.


    ¡°That rogue is the future Luna of this damn pack!¡± I blurted, my eyes burning with rage. My anger was brewing but I tried to simmer it down before things got out of hand.


    ¡°Uneptable!!¡± another council elder said. ¡°A rogue can never be the Luna of this pack.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t she the daughter of the traitor that killed your father?¡± Kazmir asked.


    ¡°Her father didn¡¯t kill mine, that¡¯s the lie Uther made us believe. Her father is innocent,¡± I responded.


    They all froze at the mention of his name. I knew they wondered how I got to know who Uther was since no one ever mentioned him to me. I left them in their shock while I returned to my chambers to see how Lucy was fairing.


    On getting to the chambers, I found Lucy sleeping peacefully, she was now conscious but the look on the healer¡¯s face said otherwise.


    ¡°Is everything alright?¡± I asked, my voice a bit shaky.


    ¡°Alpha Chris, there¡¯s something you need to know,¡± the healer said, his voice hesitant. I searched his eyes for clues and I could tell that something was wrong, something he couldn¡¯t bring himself to tell me.


    ¡°What is it? What is wrong with her?¡± I demanded, my body trembling visibly.


    ¡°She lost a baby while she was tortured in the dungeon,¡± the healer revealed. The news delivered by the healer cut through me like a knife.


    ¡°A baby? She was¡­¡±Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°Yes, she was with a child and lost it while in the dungeon. I¡¯m sorry, but she¡¯s going to need you more than ever now,¡± the healer said


    I felt a cold chill run down my spine. ¡°They took everything away from me. They took my happiness.¡± I mumbled.


    A primal rage surged within me. I rose and seethed in anger to deal with those who had ruined my life. Lucy¡¯s trembling hand reached out, pleading for me to let it go.


    ¡°Chris, please don¡¯t,¡± she whispered, tears streaming down her face. She had overheard my conversation with the healer. I couldn¡¯t imagine the pain she was going through at that moment, the turmoil within me only eclipsed her plea.


    Ignoring her call, I stormed out of my chambers, my eyes reflecting the storm of emotions within me. I met Glen, my beta, and together we dragged the guards who had tortured Lucy back to the dungeon. The air thickened with tension as I, fueled by an unrelenting fury took matters into my own hands.


    The screams in the dungeon echoed through the stone walls as I unleashed my wrath on the guards who had tormented Lucy. The darkness within me matched the shadows of the dungeon, and in that moment, I got the revenge I wanted, albeit in a brutal form.


    Returning to Lucy, I found her staring at me, her eyes a mix of concern and fear. I couldn¡¯t me her, I too would be afraid if I had seen myself walk in bathed in the blood of another.


    ¡°What have you done, Chris?¡± she asked, her voice weak but resolute.


    ¡°I killed them. I killed them all.¡±

 Chapter Sixty Seven

    NATHAN


    Growing up, I looked up to my father for everything, he was my world and inspiration as a young child. I had lost my mother whilst I was born, at least that was what I was told. My father single-handedly raised me all by himself and I couldn¡¯t be more proud of everything he had done.


    As the leader of the rogue pack, he was a fierce warrior and leader. He was ever ready to defend the rogues and had brought ruins to so many packs. The name ¡°Cade¡± was feared by everyone. As a young wolf, I admired my father- the strong charismatic alpha of the rogue pack. He was an inspiration to me and I aspired to be like him.


    I had always known that no one was originally a rogue, we all had a pack we belonged to before being turned into rogues and as a young wolf, I was curious to know where I was from. I had once asked my father about my originality, about my history.


    My father had looked at me in the moonlit night and replied, ¡°We¡¯re from a pack far away. A lineage of rogues hunted down for who we are. But now, we¡¯ve found a home here, a ce where we can be free and feared by everyone.¡±


    ¡°But we should have a pack here we originate from, isn¡¯t it¡± I had asked curiously.


    ¡°Not in our case. We have been rogues for as long as I can remember. That¡¯s the uniqueness of this family,¡±


    I believed every word he said and continued to live up to his expectations as his son and heir to this rogue pack.


    It wasn¡¯t too long before Lucy¡¯s family arrived, seeking refuge. My father weed them, promising to help Lucy¡¯s father clear his name and the allegations levied against him. Lucy was an adorable wolf when we met and yed with her, blissfully unaware of the secrets harbored by our families.


    Lucy was a tough one right from the day she moved into the pack. She was so full of life and I enjoyed herpany. Not long after her family moved was her father dered dead. He was found in the woods, battered and torn apart. It was believed that wild animals must have attacked him while he went hunting.


    ¡°What if someone killed my father?¡± Lucy had said while we were going for a walk. ¡°I mean, the bite mark looks more like a wolf bite and not wild animals.¡±


    I had brushed her statement off thinking she was only grieving and due to that, assuming things. Little did we know that she was right all along, someone had killed her father and that person was my father.


    I stood in awe as Maverick began to spill the beans. ¡°Lucy knows about your deed, Cade. She knows that you killed her father and has been plotting with Alpha Chris to bring you to your doom.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t believe my ears when Maverick had first mentioned it to me. I had brushed it off as him simply bluffing and thought he was trying to create a feud between Lucy and me. I stood in shock as my father¡¯s guards led Lucy and her mother to the cell.


    Immediately the issue had simmered, and I confronted my father. ¡°Is this true? That you killed Lucy¡¯s father.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I did. I killed the bastard and will continue to kill anyone who tries to ruin my ns,¡± my father admitted.


    ¡°Tell me the truth about our past!¡± I demanded, a simmering tension in the air.


    My father sighed. ¡°We¡¯re not just rogues. We are from the hallowed manes pack. Listen, son, I¡¯m the heir to the throne, the throne belongs to me.¡±


    A cold realization struck me- that my father, the man I looked up to, was responsible for Lucy¡¯s father¡¯s death. That he had lied about my past and my identity. The father I once admired had be a figure tainted with greed and betrayal.


    I knew Lucy wasn¡¯t safe in the dungeon so I set out very early the next morning to free her before my father did something terrible to her and her mother.


    ¡°Lucy, you have to leave at once, my father intends to kill you and your mother today before attacking the hallowed manes,¡± I said, my eyes filled with guilt. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have been mad at you when I first found out the truth. My father, he¡­he deceived me. He lied about my true identity and I¡¯m so sorry for what he did to your family.¡±


    Lucy met my gaze. ¡°Nathan, it¡¯s not your fault. Thank you for helping us. I¡¯ll find a way to make it right.¡±


    I led her out into the woods until I was sure she was safe, then I returned to my pack hoping they wouldn¡¯t notice. But that wasn¡¯t the case, everyone was on the edge as they searched frantically for Lucy and her mother.


    Fueled by anger and betrayal,  entered the pack, ignoring all they did. My father stopped me before I could go further. ¡°Where are youing from, Nathan?¡±


    ¡°None of your business Cade. Stay out of my path,¡± I sneered. Everyone turned in shock, they had never seen me this angry and rude to my father before.


    ¡°Where is she?¡± he asked, ignoring my words. ¡°Where is Lucy?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t tell you. I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d do such things, deceive me, harm people,¡± I dered, my voice cold, a reflection of the newfound resolve within.


    ¡°It¡¯s for our good, son. Once I take over the throne from Chris, you be the next in line to the throne. Everyone I have ever done is to take what¡¯s rightfully mine,¡± my father protested. ¡°Lucy is dangerous and should not be trusted, you shouldn¡¯t believe anything she says to you.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not the one I¡¯m worried about right now. I won¡¯t be part of your cruelty any longer,¡±  dered, severing the ties that bound me to my father¡¯s misdeeds.


    ¡°You can¡¯t turn your back on your family!¡± my father yelled after me as I walked away, shoulders squared.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    ¡°You stopped being my family when you betrayed everything we stand for. I won¡¯t be part of this pack anymore,¡± I affirmed, stepping into the dense forest, leaving behind a legacy of change.


    ¡°You¡¯ll regret this!¡± my father¡¯s warning echoed through the trees.


    ¡°No, I won¡¯t,¡± I thought, determined to forge a new path free from the shadows of cruelty and deception.

 Chapter Sixty Eight

    LUCY


    My senses gradually emerged from the haze of unconsciousness, greeted by the hushed tones of people. The environment was different from the cold walls of the dungeon where I had been left to rot, it was warm here and for some reason, I felt safe.


    ¡°Lost the baby. She¡¯s been through a lot,¡± a man¡¯s voice murmured, the words prating my fragile awareness.


    The room echoed with a familiar voice now, it was Chris¡¯ voice, a storm of emotions unleashed.


    ¡°How could this happen, mother? She¡¯s my mate. Why didn¡¯t you protect her?¡± Chris said, his words reverberated, carrying a weight of anguish.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know it was her. I was led to the inner chambers for protection when the news of an intruder got to the pce,¡± his mother exined.


    Struggling to form any word, my voice emerged in fragile whispers, ¡°Chris.¡±


    The strange man rushed to me as I tried to sit up but I was too weak to do so. ¡°Lie still, you need to rest,¡± he said.


    ¡°Hey, are you alright?¡± Chris said, holding my hands. I saw the pain in his eyes as he spoke.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Chris. I¡­. I didn¡¯t know about the baby. Please, don¡¯t be mad at me, I should have listened to your warnings and stayed away,¡± I pleaded, tears trickling down my cheeks.


    Without a word, Chris¡¯ fury surged like a thunderstorm, rattling the room.


    ¡°They dared to harm you, to take away something that was ours. I¡¯ll make sure they don¡¯t see another sunrise,¡± he dered and stormed off, leaving a poignant silence in his wake.


    I pleaded with him to stay back but it all turned to deaf ears. Chris was long gone. I knew nothing he did at this point would change anything and I didn¡¯t want him to be lost in vengeance.


    I wept for life lost and the fear of what Chris was nning to do to those who tortured me. Not like I cared about them, I feared that he might sumb to the shadows within.


    Not long after Chris left the chambers, he returned panting and fuming in rage. The scent of iron hung heavy in the air as he walked in, his form marked by the crimson aftermath of his vengeance.


    ¡°What have you done?¡± I asked, my voice quivering.


    Still reeling from the shock, I met his gaze as he knelt before me, enveloping me in a tight embrace.


    ¡°I did it for us,¡± Chris murmured, his voice a mix of weariness and triumph, the weight of his actions etched in his eyes.


    I was so short of words as I clung to his embrace. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you two,¡± the healer said, ¡°Get enough rest while you¡¯re still here.¡±


    Days passed and my strength had returned, though the wounds inflicted on my soul ran deeper than any physical injury. Chris too grieved over the loss of our unborn child, he remained by my side throughout my healing process. Yet, amidst the physical and emotional healing, a storm brewed in the council.


    The council¡¯s cruel stance crystallized, refusing to ept me as in their pack despite Chris¡¯ conviction. They demanded my immediate expulsion from the pack but Chris refused, taking my side.


    ¡°She¡¯s a rogue. We can¡¯t have filth as a member of the pack, neither as our Luna,¡± one of the council members sneered, their disapproval echoed by others.


    ¡°You disappoint us, Chris, you are a disgrace to the throne and to your father. Inhabiting the rogue whose father killed yours,¡± another elder said with scorn.


    Their words were sharp enough to cut through even the strongest resolve. I saw the torment written over Chris¡¯ face though he tried to hide his worries from me.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let them take you from me,¡± he vowed as hey by my side one cool evening, his determination resonating with a flicker of defiance.


    I and Chris were summoned by the council early one morning. The council chamber felt like a frosty battleground as we stood before the elders, disapproval etched over their faces. I pleaded to them to let me by Chris¡¯s side but the weight of my father¡¯s alleged crime hung around my neck like a noose.


    ¡°I¡¯m not the enemy here, your pack will be attacked by rogues again if you don¡¯t listen to me,¡± I said.


    ¡°We the hallowed manes can defend the walls of this pack. We don¡¯t need your help,¡± one of the elders snapped.


    ¡°Your father was a rogue, a murderer. We can¡¯t ept his kin as our Luna,¡± one elder dered, his voice cutting through like tension.


    ¡°My father didn¡¯t ¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Not another word from you, rogue!!¡± another sneered.


    Chris stepped forward to defend me, his presence a shield against the usations. ¡°It wasn¡¯t her father who killed my father. It was Cade, my father¡¯s brother. Uther Paker.¡±


    As Chris unveiled Cade¡¯s true identity, I scanned the faces of the council members and there it was, a flicker of recognition in some eyes. They looked like they knew more about this Uther than they were letting on but I remained silent, my suspicion growing.


    ¡°Uther is alive?¡± one elder muttered, the realization transforming the council chamber into a tangled web of secrets.


    Chris began to exin Cade¡¯s impending attack, his words desperate as he pleaded for understanding.  Felt the tension increase the elders struggled with the newfound revtion. The air hung heavy with unspoken truth.


    I observed the council elder¡¯s reaction holding my tongue. Their unreadable expression hinted at a deeper connection with Cade. I sensed a secret alliance that could pose a threat to Chris and the entire pack.


    Chris Pleas didn¡¯t do anything to change the heart of these suspicious elders which left me with a lingering unease. They exchanged nces, their decision shaping our fate. As we awaited our verdict, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that secrets danced in the corner of their faces.


    I felt the storm gathering, realizing the storm inside mirrored the one brewing beyond the chamber walls. The council had given Chris an ultimatum which became a heavyweight, a threat that loomed over our love.


    I knew what I had to do but it broke my heart. ¡°Chris, for your pack, for our love. I¡¯ll leave. It¡¯s the only way to save your image,¡± I thought, my heart breaking with each word.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

 Chapter Sixty Nine

    CADE


    Born into the Parker family, I was the eldest son and supposed heir to the throne, yet fate¡¯s decree favored my brother as the heir. Was I undeserving of the throne that the moon goddess had to reject me from assuming my rightful position?


    ¡°Why not me?¡± my anguished question echoed within me. A fit of relentless jealousy took root, festering over the years.


    Members of the pack hated me for being cruel, if only they understood my plight. If only they knew what it was for me to watch my right being given to my younger brother. I knew my family never loved me, it was evident in the way they treated my brother with utmost attention, grooming him to be the leader and alpha of the pack.


    My father, the alpha, remained resolute in naming my brother as the sessor. Consumed by bitterness, I confronted my father, challenging him to reverse his decision and give me what was rightfully mine.


    ¡°Your brother has found favor in the eyes of the moon goddess. She has chosen him as the sessor of this pack and there¡¯s nothing anyone can do about it,¡± my father said, his voice resolute and firm.


    ¡°Damn, the moon goddess!!! the throne is mine, my birthright,¡± I snapped.


    ¡°You should be d that the throne hasn¡¯t left our lineage, you ungrateful brat,¡± my father sneered, his eyes red with rage.


    My father¡¯s response fueled a bitter animosity. I watched as my birthright slipped through my fingers, and could feel the disdain of my family etching scars into my soul. The confrontation left me scarred, emotionally and physically.


    As time passed, my resentment grew more into a singr obsession ¨C to dethrone my brother, usurp the throne, and im the mantle of alpha.


    A few years passed and my father died. After his passing, my devious ns began to unfold. I schemed and conspired with allies within the pack to undermine my brother¡¯s rule. However, every strategy we pulled proved abortive, leaving me with a gnawing frustration.


    ¡°Cade¡­¡­ it¡¯s time.¡±


    The gentle tap on my shoulder brought me out of my reverie. I frowned as I recalled all that had been flooding my thoughts. ¡°Why did I have to remember all that now?¡± I mumbled.


    ¡°Sire, the army is ready to meet you,¡± one of my loyal guards said, ¡°you don¡¯t look well, is everything alright?¡±


    I sighed. How was I to exin my torment to him without sounding weak? Remembering all I had to go through again made my blood boil in rage, but it was going to end soon. Another opportunity to seize power had presented itself ¨C  the impending assault on the hallowed manes. My army, a shadowy assembly of rogues and mercenaries, eagerly awaited mymand.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    The eve of the battle was here and it brought forth storms of emotions. I addressed the army with words of encouragement, concealing my inner turmoil beneath a veneer of authority.


    ¡°Tomorrow, we rewrite history, reim what is rightfully ours,¡± I dered, my words a rallying cry that echoed through the camp.


    ¡°What about the girl? She would have told them of our attack,¡± one of them asked.


    ¡°She wouldn¡¯t dare to go to the pack in the Alpha¡¯s absence. She¡¯s probably hiding somewhere in the woods and I¡¯ll find her but now the hallowed manes are more important,¡± I said.


    Returning to my chambers, my thought drifted to my son, Nathan who had disappeared from the camp. The love I harbored for Nathan, a rare softness in my hardened heart, emerged. I regretted my actions, perhaps I had pushed too hard, too soon.


    ¡°My son, Nathan,¡± I muttered, paternal guilt weighing heavily on my shoulders. The impending battle paled inparison to the fear of losing my son, my kin.


    He was right, I shouldn¡¯t have hidden his true identity from him. I should have told him all he needed to know soon enough. Maybe I wouldn¡¯t have lost my son. I failed as a father because of my quest for the throne.


    I struggled with the unvoiced fears and guilt amidst the strategic preparation. I feared that this attack might cost me more than a kingdom ¨C it could im the bond with my son forever.


    ¡°NO!!¡± I said aloud. ¡°I know my son too well. Once I im the throne, he wille back to me. He will be the heir to the throne.¡±


    As dawn approached, my stoic facade belied a tumult of emotions, my joy for my son entangled with my ruthless pursuit of power.


    A surge of anticipation mingled with my unresolved grievances, creating a storm within.


    ¡°Tomorrow, the hallowed manes will fall,¡± I whispered to the cold air, each wordced with a promise of retribution. Yet, a haunting question lingered in my head ¨C was it revenge or retribution I truly sought?


    I stepped into the deepest recesses of my chamber, where shadows danced like specters of my own making. The hushed whispers of the night enveloped me as I thought of my haunted past once more.


    The tent became a confessional of my grievances, the sins of familiar bonds shattered beyond repair. My eyes flickered to a faded portrait on my chamber wall, an artwork from a time whenughter still echoed in the halls of the hallowed manes. My younger self, standing beside my brother, an image that masked the animosity fermenting beneath the facade.


    ¡°He took everything that was rightfully mine,¡± I growled as if my brother could hear me from the portrait.


    The D-day hade and I began to give orders to my army. Amidst the palpable tension, I caught the silhouette of my estranged son. Nathan¡¯s arrival gave me a sense of relief.


    ¡°Nathan, you came,¡± I called out, my tone carrying a blend of stern authority and an undercurrent of longing. The distance between us seemed infinite and infinitesimal.


    ¡°Father, you don¡¯t have to do this,¡± Nathan said with the hope of swaying me from my n. ¡°There¡¯s still a chance to salvage our family and spare the pack from needless bloodshed.¡±


    ¡°This pack, this throne ¨C they are my birthright. You¡¯ll understand one day when you inherit what¡¯s rightfully ours,¡± I insisted, the weight of my ambition eclipsing my fatherly tenderness.


    Nathan persisted, his words cutting through the tense air. ¡°This isn¡¯t the legacy  I want, father. It¡¯s soaked in the blood of vendettas and lost kin. Father, please reconsider.¡±


    Unmoved, I retorted, ¡°You¡¯re too naive to understand the necessity of power. When I¡¯m gone, the throne will be yours, and you¡¯ll learn the cost of benevolence.¡±


    ¡°Then I won¡¯t be part of this,¡± Nathan dered, leaving me with a bitter taste of solitude.


    I stood and watched as my son walked away, the chasm between us widening with each step. A battle awaited me, but the silent battle within echoed the irrevocable choices we¡¯ve made.

 Chapter Seventy

    CHRIS


    Rumors had begun to spread around the pack, whispers of dissent reverberating through the air. I felt the weight of judgment in every gaze that met mine. The pack members knew I harbored a rogue within the walls of the pack and they believed I had betrayed them, but what they didn¡¯t understand was the depth of my love for Lucy.


    I remained resolute beside Lucy, ignoring the murmurs of my people. The stern-faced elders had summoned me a couple of times regarding this issue, their judgment echoing the sentiments of the pack. They dered my leadership unfit, a decision that cut through my determination like a serrated de.


    ¡°Chris,¡± Orvyn spoke, ¡°the pack question your judgment. Trust is eroding.¡±


    Defying the people¡¯s concern, I asserted, ¡°I won¡¯t abandon her. Lucy stays.¡±


    ¡°Then you leave us with no choice. You are not fit to rule this pack if you refuse to keep sentiment aside,¡± another elder said.


    Just as we argued, Lucy stepped forward. ¡°Give me a chance to prove myself, to fight for this pack. I¡¯ll leave once the battle is won,¡± she said, her voice etched with determination.


    ¡°What are you saying, Lucy?¡± I said, my heart racing at her words.


    ¡°I¡¯m doing what is best for everyone. Let¡¯s face it, Chris, they¡¯ll never ept me here,¡± she said, her voice filled with sadness and defeat.


    The elders turned to each other, whispering among themselves. ¡°How are we sure you won¡¯t turn against us when the rogues attack?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll never do anything to hurt Chris or his people. I know that my father¡¯s deed has left a mark on this pack and nothing I do will ever change that but give me this chance to prove myself to you,¡± Lucy pleaded once more.


    My instinct screamed to refuse, but the elders, perhaps swayed by the urgency of the situation, surprisingly agreed.


    After the council session had ended, I returned to my chambers alone with Lucy. I urged her to retract her statement, but she insisted it was the best.


    ¡°We can¡¯t let them dictate our path, Lucy. I won¡¯t let them tear us apart,¡± I said.


    ¡°Chris, this is our chance to make things right. We can¡¯t let Cade win,¡± she said with a mncholic determination.


    ¡°I can¡¯t risk losing you. You are more important to me than anything else,¡± I said, hoping to make her see reason with me.


    Lucy held my hand, her gaze meeting mine, ¡°Sometimes sacrifices are necessary. I¡¯ll fight for your pack, prove my loyalty, and then I¡¯ll be gone.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t lose you, Lucy. We can find another way,¡± I insisted.


    ¡°Sometimes you need to let go to protect what matters,¡± Lucy countered.


    ¡°I¡¯m not letting you go¡­.¡±


    Lucy scoffed. ¡°Nothing you say is ever going to change the heart of your people. I¡¯ll always remain a rogue, that¡¯s who I am.¡±


    ¡°Trust me this once. I¡¯ll prove your father¡¯s innocence, just don¡¯t give up on me yet,¡± I pleaded.


    Lothar¡¯s abrupt arrival disrupted our solitude. ¡°Alpha, the rogues are near. We must prepare.¡±


    ¡°We need to get ready, Lucy find somece safe from all of this. This is my fight and not yours,¡± I said.


    Lucy shook her head in disapproval, ¡°I¡¯m going to be a part of this. This is my fight too, it¡¯s our fight. We have amon enemy ¨C Cade.¡±


    I knew nothing I said would change her mind. Besides, she was right, it was her fight too. Not after all that Cade had done to her and her family.


    Summoning all the warriors in the pack and those Alpha Dn had given to me to assist in this battle, I addressed them.


    ¡°Gather around warriors!¡± my voice resonated,manding attention. ¡°The rogues are approaching, not just seeking a fight but aiming at destroying all that we have built. We must stand united against this evil. Our loyalty will be tested but we must remain unshaken.¡±


    ¡°Lucy fights by our side. I know some may question this, but trust me and my judgment. She¡¯s bound by the same cause as us ¨C to protect this pack.¡±


    ¡°Now, our young and our old, lead them to safety. Warriors, fortify the walls and secure the gates. We¡¯ll catch these rogues unaware. Their arrival will be their downfall.¡±


    ¡°This is our home! Our pack!! let the howls of defiance ring through the night. We fight not just for ourselves but for the legacy of those who came before us. For Hallowed Manes!!¡± my rallying cry echoed, resonating with determination.


    As we mobilized, the distant howls of the rogues hinted at the imminent sh like a haunting symphony. The battleground awaited them, filled with tension.


    Lucy, despite the lingering distrust, took her ce amongst the warriors. I caught my eye on her, her expression a mix of worry and determination. ¡°Lucy, stay close to me. We¡¯ll get through this together.¡±


    I tightened my grip on the hilt of my sword, ncing over the pack gathered for the battle.


    ¡°I¡¯m worried,¡± Lucy said, ¡°What if they don¡¯t believe us even after the battle?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll find a way to clear your father¡¯s name. Let¡¯s focus on winning this battle,¡± I asserted.


    As I moved to discuss with Lothar, I exchanged nces with some skeptical pack members who red at Lucy. A few threw distrustful words her way, their whispers carried by the wind.


    ¡°A rogue among us¡ª- this is trouble,¡± one of the warriors said.


    ¡°Can we really trust her?¡± another whispered.


    I overheard them but refused to say a word. I was determined that Lucy would prove her loyalty to every one of them.


    Amid the uneasy murmur among the warriors, Lothar addressed them. ¡°We face amon enemy, tonight. Trust in each other, trust in our alpha. We¡¯ve trained for a day like this, we¡¯ll protect our own.¡±


    My gaze was fixed on Lucy the whole time, I worried for her safety. I knew she was a warrior but I was obligated to keep her safe as my mate and I knew wouldn¡¯t forgive myself if anything ever happened to her.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    The distant howl echoed again, louder this time, signaling the closeness of the rogues. The warriors braced themselves for battle, weapon-ready, and united in the face of the impending threat.

 Chapter Seventy One

    CADE


    The moon cast its ethereal glow over the rogue pack. My determination as the hour approached flooded my being, my armies were weapon-ready against the hallowed manes. Though a bit disappointed at my son, Nathan for disappointing me and walking away from the one thing I always wished for, to fight by his side against the hallowed manes pack.


    All of this was Lucy¡¯s fault, she had brainwashed my son into believing that I was the evil one. I never was, I was only reiming my position as the alpha of the hallowed manes, and I knew I would get my son back once I reimed the throne.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    With determination, I and my army marched to the hallowed manes, our steps resonated with confidence, every stride echoing the burning desire to conquer.


    As we got close to the hallowed manes pack, I noticed an unusual quietness that raised a concern to me. The unexpected hush settled in, unnerving everyone including me. Something felt amiss but I couldn¡¯t ce what it was, the ominous quietness bothered me.


    ¡°Be on alert! There¡¯s something wrong here, it could be a trap,¡± I instructed.


    We entered the pack and no single soul was found lurking around the pack. Where could everyone have gone? Of course, they weren¡¯t aware of our sudden attack, were they? Lucy had gone into exile after she escaped from my cell and there was no way she had gone to inform Chris to inform him of the attack in his absence. My senses heightened as we approached the pce, my eyes scanning the environment for any possible danger.


    The pce loomed before us, a symbol of power that I chose to im. As we got closer, some figures emerged from the shadows. It was Chris, Lucy, and Lothar, my renowned enemy, armed and defiant with tension hanging in the air.


    ¡°Good to see you again, Uther,¡± Lothar smirked.


    Lothar had always been my enemy for years even before the death of my brother, Chris¡¯ father. After Lucy¡¯s father was med for Chris¡¯ father¡¯s death, he visited him in the rogue pack without my consent. He and Lucy¡¯s father were nning to expose my hideout to the hallowed manes which led to the murder of her father.


    Seeing him again brought memories I thought I had forgotten. Lucy stood by his side which got on my nerves.


    ¡°Look at the weakling, finding sce in the arms of her lover,¡± I mocked Lucy with a predatory grin, taunting her for seeking sanctuary with Chris, underestimating the strength within her.


    ¡°You are the weakling here, trying to reap where you didn¡¯t sow,¡± Chris fired back. ¡°You will meet your doom as you¡¯ve stepped into my territory.¡±


    I growled in fury. ¡°Watch as I send your mate to his early grave,¡± I said to Lucy, then turning to Chris I said again, ¡°I swear by the night sky and the ever-moving moon: Before dusk runs out, I will slit you open and ssh around like a child in a muddy puddle. I¡¯ll string a fiddle with your cores and make you y it while I dance. You know there are no such things as ghouls. There is only my kind. You are not wise enough to fear me as I should be feared. You do not know who you are dealing with yet.¡±


    ¡°You underestimated the power of unity, Cade. Your cruelty won¡¯t prevail here,¡± Chris sneered.


    The confrontation escted and unknown to us, warriors of the hallowed manes had surrounded me and my army. Then the realization dawned on me ¨C we had been outsmarted by Chris¡¯ pack which I sought to conquer, we had walked into a meticulouslyid trap.


    ¡°It¡¯s a trap, everyone, be on guard,¡± I yelled.


    Chris cried out, his voice echoing through the night initiating the beginning of the battle. ¡°FOR THE HALLOWED MANES!!¡±


    The battle cry echoed as the army began to attack. I surgery forward towards Chris in a ferocious assault, ughtering every warrior that crossed my path, a force of destruction leaving chaos in my wake. My singr focus remained on Chris, once I could kill him, the battle would be over for sure.


    Amidst the uproar, my roar pierced through the air. ¡°The throne is mine!¡±


    The more I tried to get close to Chris, the more his warriors surrounded him, protecting him from my assault.


    ¡°Stay close, we need to protect the alpha at all costs,¡± one of the warriors yelled.


    The warriors drew their swords and charged forward. The shing of steel filled the air as the warriors engaged inbat. As a skilled swordsman, I deftly parried every attack thrown my way.


    Lucy lunged at me in a determined counterattack. ¡°Your reign is over, Cade. You are not taking him.¡±


    I scoffed. ¡°This pack is weak! I¡¯ll rip through all of you to get what I want.¡±


    Lucy¡¯s riposte was so swift and precise that I could barely have time to recover from her parry. She had grown better than I thought she used to be, and her skills with the sword were better than before. But I wasn¡¯t going to let that distract me, she wasn¡¯t my main target, Chris was.


    I left her with my warriors to deal with and began to charge towards Chris again, but the more I tried to get close, the more they shielded him from me.


    ¡°The alpha is mine,¡± I thought as I continued to press forward.


    Chris stepped forward, de swinging in a mock offense, an experimental probe into motion. I unched straight into the attack. Left, right¨CI twisted away, jumped back, closed in for the attack again, and then reversed once more. Simply avoiding Chris¡¯ quick parry, I  slipped in on his other side for a feint, and as he dodged the attack and responded I  took his downswing on my angled de, sending it skidding away.


    First engagement, first flurry of blows, and we both yed it rtively safe. This fight would go on until one of us drew the first blood¨Cat this rate, it wouldst until sunset.


    Chris prowled sideways and attacked, pounding at my guards. I warded him off with tight defenses, went on the counter-offensive the moment I had an opening, then disengaged and backed off. He was shifting around me, forwards and backward and sideways, always in motion, his sword weaving in a near-random pattern and his shifting gaze scanning for openings as I turned in ce to match his orbit.


    ¡°Prepare to be outmatched, Cade. I¡¯m not as weak as you think I am,¡± Chris snickered.


    His words made me furious the more, I lunged at him again aiming at his legs. His sword drove into my left leg and I  trapped his sword hand between my side and my arm, wrenching it in sideways and hacking at his neck. He ducked and rolled into me before I couldnd a good blow, sending us both to the ground.

 Chapter Seventy Two

    LUCY


    My heart was troubled after the intense discussion we had with the elders. The decision had been made and there was no going back from it. Staying away was better than allowing Chris to lose his rightful ce as Alpha of the pack, it was the right thing to do if I truly cared about him.


    In the uneasy calm before the storm, the hallowed manes pack prepared for the impending battle against Cade¡¯s army. Their howls drew near, indicating their closeness, and tension hung in the air as warriors sharpened their swords while awaiting the rogue¡¯s arrival.


    In the inner chamber, maps sprawled across the table, depicting the battlefield that would soon be drenched in the blood of friends and foes. Chris addressed the warriors, implementing the importance of the battle at hand.


    Most of the warriors red at me, murmuring to themselves. ¡°The alpha has lost his senses, why should a rogue be amongst us?¡± one of them whispered.


    ¡°I hear she is mated to the alpha. What crime could he havemitted to be punished by the moon goddess?¡± another said.


    I refused to let their words bother me. I knew they would never understand, no matter how much Chris tried to exin to them. There was no point in exchanging words with them, I would be leaving the pack once all of this was over.


    The distant howl pierced the air, the invaders were approaching the gate. The Luna, Chris¡¯ mother, and other members of the pack had been led to a ce safe from the chaos. Every warrior had been stationed at a different part of the pack, awaiting them. Cade and his army marched into the pack, ready to attack unknown to them that they were walking into a trap.


    Chris and I stood at the entrance of the pack as they marched in. Cade, surprised to see me alive, began to fume in rage. Nathan was not in sight, he probably must have abandoned his father¡¯s course after realizing how much of a vile person his father was.


    ¡°Look at the weakling, finding sce in the arms of your lover,¡± he sneered.


    ¡°At least I wasn¡¯t abandoned by those that mattered to me, like your son did.  Guess he has finally realized who you truly are and can¡¯t stand your filth¡± I fired at him.


    Chris too fired at him which only increased his rage. With a loud cry, the warriors surrounded them. There it dawned on Cade that he had led his army into a deadly trap.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make you watch as I slit the throat of your mate,¡± Cade threatened.


    I surged forward but Chris held me back. ¡°Stay behind me, I¡¯ll handle it,¡± he whispered.


    The shing warriors drew their swords and charged forward. I parried my enemy¡¯s strike with ease, sidestepping with eloquence, ughtering anyone that drew close. I wasn¡¯t just against the rogues, some of the hallowed manes warriors wanted me dead as well. My senses were heightened as I paid close attention to those around me.


    In the heart of the raging battle, fear wrapped its icy fingers around my heart. Cade¡¯s army was an unstoppable tide, they had begun to outnumber the hallowed manes, ughtering every one of them. They threatened to engulf the pack in a sea of brutality. I knew how brutal they were, I had trained with them in the past few months. These weren¡¯t ordinary men, they were born rogues from different territories who were allies to Cade and shared in his beliefs.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Maverick too was at Cade¡¯s side and seeing Maverick fight by Cade¡¯s side added fuel to my fury. Though we had our differences in the past, he had be a trusted ally to me only to betray me in the very end. I never expected that he would ever turn back to hurt me the way he did. A surge of rage propelled me toward him, sword in hand, with only one intention ¨C to make him pay for betraying my trust.


    ¡°You bloody traitor!¡± I yelled, lunging towards him. ¡°Why did you break my trust?¡± My relentless thrusting attack caught Maverick off guard, leaving him mortally wounded.


    My strike had drawn the first blood, a visceral satisfaction in the face of deception. ¡°You bitch,¡± Maverick¡¯s curse rang in the air. ¡°You thought I was on your side. I was never on your side and never will.¡±


    He attempted to retaliate but the swift movements of my de left him wounded and bleeding. He whimpered as he tried to gain bnce, but my de had cut deep into his torso, shredding neat rows of bloody ribbons.


    ¡°You caught me this time, Lucy. I underestimated you again,¡± he said, coughing out blood.


    I spat at him and walked off but he held my leg, preventing me from going further. He was in his final moments. ¡°Don¡¯t trust anyone or you¡¯ll end up like your miserable father,¡± he spat out, ¡°Trust is for the weak. Your father knew it too well.¡±


    With those haunting words, he sumbed to death¡¯s embrace. I stood over his lifeless body, confused by his words. What else did he know about my father that he kept from me? I became lost in thought, pondering on his words.


    Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice from behind me which brought me out of my reverie. It was the voice of Nathan, Cade¡¯s son.


    ¡°Nathan!¡± I called out to him. There was no response from him, rather his attention was on his father.


    ¡°Father, please!!¡± he cried out, ¡°Stop this madness! We don¡¯t have to do this.¡± he beckoned to his father.


    ¡°I¡¯m reiming what is ours, if you aren¡¯t going to be a part of  it then you should leave!¡± Cade sneered at his son.


    Nathan¡¯s desperate plea for his father to halt the bloodshed fell on deaf ears as Cade persisted in his ruthless pursuit. The weight of the unfolding tragedy was etched across his features.


    In the heart-wrenching moment, an ominous figure emerged from the crowd behind him.


    ¡°Nathan, watch out¡± I screamed, but my warning to Nathan came toote. A sword pierced the air, finding its mark in his unsuspecting form. The air thickened with grief as his body crumpled, a casualty of this relentless conflict.


    ¡°No¡­.¡±   I said, tears streaming down my face. I prodded his body, feeling his pulse. There was none. ¡°You said you couldn¡¯t be killed!¡±  I cried. ¡°What of your ns? What of me?¡±


    He didn¡¯t move. I had trouble seeing through the tears. It¡¯s impossible. He always said we weren¡¯t invincible¡­. but that meant me. Not him. Not Nathan. He was invincible.

 Chapter Seventy Three

    CADE


    In the heart of the battle, I was filled with pride as my ever-ready army dealt with the warriors of the hallowed manes. The nging of swords fueled my desire the more, if we could win this battle then the city would be ours.


    My singr focus was on Chris who seemed untouchable by my sword. He was swift with the de and had mastered the art so well. My focus wavered when a familiar voice reached me through the chaos. It was the voice of my son, Nathan. I felt my heart skip a beat, ¡®Why was he here now?¡¯ He had sworn not to have anything to do with my course or me.


    ¡°Nathan!!¡± I called out to him. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    His voice filled with resolve, he said to me, pleading that I end this battle. ¡°Father! Enough with this madness, it stops now.¡±


    My fury grew as he spoke. Surely, that wasn¡¯t what I was hoping to hear from him after disappearing from me for a long time. I was fueled by my desire for power and dismissed his plea as a sign of weakness, a sign of a failed son who had refused toprehend my ruthless pursuit of dominance.


    He didn¡¯t know much of the future where he would inherit the throne after Chris failed.


    ¡°You will thank me one day when you be the heir to the throne,¡± I thought, dismissing his warnings.


    As he continued to plead, his words echoing on the battlefield, a sharp de found its mark, piercing through my son¡¯s form. I watched as my son, Nathan crumpled to the ground, life seeping away from him gradually with each passing moment.


    At that moment, my world crumbled. My grand ambitions and thirst for power were crushed. ¡°No! Nathan!!¡± I cried as I rushed to my son¡¯s almost lifeless form. I knelt beside my fallen son, my purpose stripped off me. The battlefield which was once a stage for my triumph, turned into a ce of bitter grief.


    ¡°Father,¡± Nathan whispered, his eyes wide with fright. His skin had turned a pale color, his hair sticking to his forehead as sweat dripped down.


    Laying his head back slowly, he rested his eyes on the blue sky. Before he closed his eyes for the final time, he smiled and said, ¡°What a beautiful view.¡±


    Soon he slipped away into his endless sleep, surrounded by nature. I paid no attention to the chaos around me, none of it mattered anymore to me. My only son and pride were gone. The warriors surrounded me as I clung to Nathan¡¯s lifeless body, struggling with the weight of failure.


    ¡°His blood is on your hands, Cade. You could have stopped this. If you had listened to him, he wouldn¡¯t be dead,¡± Chris said. He wasn¡¯t far from the truth, I killed my son because of my quest for power.


    ¡°Don¡¯t strike the broken man,¡± he ordered his warriors who were around me with their swords in hand. ¡°Take him away from here.¡±


    The rest of my army had fled immediately after I was captured. I was led away, my spirit shattered as the taste of victory became soured by the bitter realization that I had sacrificed my son.


    I was confined to the unforgiving cold walls of the dungeon. Memories of my son flooded my thoughts, the promises I made to myte wife haunting me all through the night. I was paying the consequences of my ruthless action, my soul anguished over the irreceable loss. There was no point in living, those who mattered to me were all gone, my dear wife, my son whom I led to his early grave.


    The walls of the dungeon, cold and unyielding, seemed to close up on me, exposing the suffocation that gripped my heart. I was now a broken man whose only constion was in the good memories of my son. I clutched onto those memories like fragile shards of ss.


    ¡°Who would have thought that the mighty warrior would be confined to a ce like this?¡± I heard a voice say from the darkness.


    As the shadow of the individual drew close, I could sense who it was in the dark. My rage grew and I wished I could strangle him as he got even closer.


    ¡°Are you here to mock me?¡± I said, my voice resolute, hiding the pain I felt within.


    ¡°That would be a childish thing to do,  don¡¯t you think so, Uther?¡± the man said, his shadow drawing even closer.


    The image of this man was visible and it was exactly who I thought it was, Lothar. My fury grew more at every passing minute, my jaw tightened at the sight of me.


    Clenching my fist, I walked close to the cell gate. ¡°What do you want, Lothar? I bet you are here to make fun of me.¡±Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Lothar scoffed. ¡°I have better things to do than to make a mockery of you. You should have stayed in your ce, in the woods where you truly belonged.¡±


    I ground my teeth and all I could think of was how to get a hold of him. ¡°You and I know that the throne was mine to begin with. He stole my rightful position from me.¡±


    ¡°You still don¡¯t get it, Uther. You people never will and I¡¯ll prove it to you all soon enough,¡± he said, his tone determined as he walked out of the dungeon.


    I stared in utter confusion, I couldn¡¯t understand what he meant. I¡¯ll prove it to you all soon enough. His words lingered in my head for a while but I got over it. Whatever it was that he meant, I didn¡¯t care. I had lost something more valuable than the throne, my whole life was gone.


    I sobbed all night, my sobs echoing the depth of my suffering. Each tear held the weight of shattered promises I had failed to fulfill, the vows I had made to my loving mate to protect our son from the harsh realities of life. My sadness wasn¡¯t just physical, it transcended to the very core of my being.


    Everyughter we shared, every pat on the back, and reassurance to be a loving father, yed like a  haunted melody in my mind. I recalled everything,  his first steps, the pride gleaming on his face as he learned to wield the sword.


    The dungeon had be a tomb for unkept promises. ¡°Forgive me, Nathan,¡± I mumbled. The weight of my guilt pressed upon me, a reminder of how my ambitions had cost me the very essence of my existence.

 Chapter Seventy Four

    CHRIS


    The triumphant sight of Cade surrendering willingly to us stirred a mix of satisfaction and vindication in my heart. The once fierce warrior who was feared by everyone was now being led to the dungeon to face his doom. He was now a broken man, a man who had lost everything he held dear due to his greed.


    ¡°Finally, justice begins,¡± I muttered to my beta, Glen, my voice filled with determination.


    Cade¡¯s capture was the first step towards victory, towards revealing the truth behind Lucy¡¯s father¡¯s stained legacy. The next step was to expose Cade¡¯s evil deeds to the elders. It was crucial because the name of an unjustly used man needed to be clear, and it was the only way to make Lucy his Luna.


    ¡°Mount guards around the pack, Cade¡¯s warriors might show up again to rescue him,¡± I ordered. Glen did as he was told and different guards were made to secure the walls of the pack.


    However, despite the echoes of victory that loomed over the pack, there was an unusual quietness around me. Lucy was nowhere to be found and this gave me a reason to be concerned.


    ¡°Where is Lucy?¡± I asked Glen, scanning the faces of the warriors returning from battle.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    He shook his head. ¡°No sign of her. Maybe she needed time after¡­.. you know, Nathan.¡±


    He was right. I knew how close she and Nathan were and I understood how his death would affect her emotionally and physically.


    Nathan¡¯s death had cast a shadow over the battlefield and I wondered if Lucy¡¯s abrupt departure was a testament to the grief that etched across her face.


    ¡°Give her some time,¡± Glen suggested, ¡°she¡¯s been through a lottely,¡± he added, cing a reassuring hand on my shoulder.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± I nodded. ¡°Maybe she needed space to process everything.¡±


    It was almost noon the next day and Lucy hadn¡¯t shown up like I thought she would. It got me distressed after I searched every nook and cranny of the pack in search of her. There was no sign of her anywhere around. Lucy and I were supposed to interrogate Cade, to make him spill the truth before the council of elders. That was our n but she had gone missing in a twink of an eye; this was unlike the Lucy I knew. She wouldn¡¯t disappear from the pack without a word.


    What if she had been captured without my notice? Was she still mourning over the death of Nathan?


    News reached me that Lucy¡¯s sudden disappearance wasn¡¯t just about Nathan¡¯s death but a somber adherence to the agreement with the elders.


    ¡°Why would she leave now?¡± I pondered, frustration clouding my face. ¡°Why did she have to leave now? We were on the brink of exposing Cade¡¯s crimes.¡±


    I paced around my chambers, wondering where she would be.  ¡°Rx, Alpha Chris. I believe that she wouldn¡¯t have gone too far. I¡¯ll send some of the guards to bring her back to you,¡± Glen said.


    ¡°Why did she do this? We agreed to face this together,¡± I mumbled.


    ¡°The elders can be stubborn, and Lucy, well, she¡¯s fiercely loyal to them,¡± Glen said.


    Loyal? Lucy was a hard nut to crack. She couldn¡¯t have possibly left the pack because of the stupid agreement she had with them.


    ¡°Send the guards immediately, I¡¯ll go speak to Cade myself,¡± I ordered.


    Glen bowed. As he turned to leave my chambers, I called out to him. ¡°Glen!¡±


    ¡°Yes, my lord,¡± Glen responded.


    ¡°Find her, please,¡± I begged, my voice etched with utmost concern for Lucy.


    ¡°I¡¯ll bring her back safely. Do all you can to expose that tyrant,¡± Glen said.


    With a slight bow, he left my chambers, leaving me to wallow in my pain. As the dungeon imed Cade, my heart ached for Lucy.


    After a few hours of waiting and no sign of Glen or Lucy, I decided to speak with Cade alone. As I got to the dungeon that held Cade, he burst intoughter which amused me.


    ¡°Are you here to mock me like your counterpart?¡± Cade said. Despite his anguish, I could see the fury in his eyes.


    ¡°Why did you kill my father? What did he ever do to you?¡± I asked, clenching my fist to suppress my anger.


    Cade chuckled. ¡°Your father was a weakling. He didn¡¯t deserve to be King.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t speak ill of my father, you¡­.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do that and worse, child!!¡± Cade interrupted. ¡°Your father should have known better before epting to be king in my ce. The throne was mine!!¡± he bellowed.


    ¡°The throne that has led to your son¡¯s early grave?? Your selfishness has cost the lives of so many people including Lucy¡¯s father whom you framed,¡± I snapped.


    Cade huffed. ¡°Oh, dear Lucian.¡± He rose from where he was seated making his way to the dungeon gate. ¡°Lucian. Lucian. He was too kindhearted and deserved what he got. If only he knew the truth, he wouldn¡¯t have taken the fall for me.¡±


    ¡°What truth?¡± I asked, searching his eyes for answers but I found none.


    ¡°It¡¯s too sad that the truth will nevere out. You¡¯ll end up like your miserable father in no time,¡± Cade said ignoring my question.


    ¡°What fvcking truth?!¡± I yelled again.


    Ignoring me, he continued. ¡°I¡¯m part of your enemy but I¡¯m not your main enemy,¡± heughed. ¡°You and your father are weak. Too weak to be the leader of this pack. The reign of The Parkers will be over soon enough.¡±


    ¡°What fvcking truth are you talking about?¡± I yelled the more.


    ¡°The truth you¡¯ve been searching for. The truth behind your father¡¯s demise.¡± Case said, his voice filled with scorn.


    There was something Cade wasn¡¯t saying ¨C something he wanted me to know. I needed to get the truth out of him before it was toote.


    Frustrated, I returned to my chambers, fuming in rage. Cade had just made me ufortable, my meeting with him was not sessful as I expected it to be.


    What truth was he referring to? I thought. Cade did not for once admit to killing my father or Lucy¡¯s father. All he said was they deserved what they got.


    I pondered on his words for long that I didn¡¯t notice when Glen walked in.


    ¡°You looked troubled, my Lord. How did it go with Cade? Did he confess to his deeds?¡± he asked, bringing me out of my reverie.


    ¡°Did you find her?¡± I asked.


    ¡°We searched everywhere and beyond,  but she¡¯s nowhere to be found. We also searched the rogue pack, she wasn¡¯t there,¡± Glen exined.


    ¡°We need her,¡± I murmured. ¡°Maybe he¡¯ll talk when he sees her.¡±


    Where could she have gone to? Why did she have to leave?


    ¡°We¡¯ll keep searching until we find her,¡± Glen said with a reassuring tone.


    She had to be found, her presence meant everything to me. But the elders wouldn¡¯t allow it. So it was up to me to find out the truth behind my father¡¯s death, clear Lucy¡¯s father of the allegations against him and bring Lucy home to me as my Luna.

 Chapter Seventy Five

    CHRIS


    Days had passed and Lucy was nowhere to be found. Glen hadbed all of the neighboring pack in search of her but she wasn¡¯t there. Where could she have disappeared to?


    Cade on the other hand wasn¡¯t helpful. He refused to say a word despite all attempts to make him speak. An unsettling cloud of uncertainty shrouded me. The elders were on my neck, they demanded proof to clear Lucy¡¯s father¡¯s name like I said I would, a task easier said than done.


    My visit to the dungeon was fruitless, it was a tormenting routine. I sought the truth from him, interrogating him with a zeal fueled by desperation. Yet, he remained adamant and refused to say a word to me.


    ¡°He wouldn¡¯t speak because you are too lenient with him,¡± Glen insisted. ¡°A little bit of torture and he¡¯ll be spilling the truth of his evil deeds.¡±


    Glen was right, he had a valid point. I was too calm with the man who had ruined my family, the man who killed my father out of greed. I assembled a few of my guards to the dungeon to meet Cade again. This time, I was fuming with rage, ready to get the truth out of him.


    ¡°Good to see you again, young alpha,¡± Cade mocked. ¡°What is the purpose of your visit this time? I thought I already told you all you needed to know. I have nothing more to say to you.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see about that. Tie him up,¡± I ordered. ¡°I¡¯m not through with you yet until I get the answers I want from you.¡±


    Cade burst intoughter, causing me to boil in rage. ¡°Nothing you do can break me, child. I already lost everything so you can go ahead and kill me. It¡¯s betterpared to being confined to this shithole.¡±


    Violence was employed but Cade¡¯s defiance held strong. ¡°Listen, Cade, I don¡¯t want to hurt you further than I already did, but if you don¡¯t tell me what I need to hear¡­¡­ well then we are going to have a big problem,¡± I sneered.


    ¡°Go ahead, give me your best shot,¡± Cade mocked again. Holding a hot de, I pierced his side with it. He screamed at the top of his lungs.


    ¡°Why did you kill my father?¡± I yelled, ¡°Why did you kill Lucy¡¯s father?¡±


    ¡°I already told you, they deserve what they got,¡± Cade said, panting. ¡°On the path to leadership, you¡¯ll have many enemies, those who pretend to be your confidant. That¡¯s what your father failed to understand and that is exactly the same path you are walking in.¡±


    Cade whimpered in pain as he spoke. ¡°what else are you waiting for? Kill me already, isn¡¯t that what you desire?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s more to what you are not saying. Why did you do it?¡± I asked again.


    ¡°You think I killed your father,¡± he scoffed. ¡°His foolishness killed him. You¡¯ll end up like him, naive and betrayed.¡± His words were encrypted and echoed another warning from the past.


    The mage¡¯s words came to mind,  ¡°You¡¯ll end up like your father.¡± those were the exact words the mage had said to me a few months ago.


    My thoughts danced between Cade¡¯s prophesy and the enigmatic words of the mage. The resemnce unsettled me; it insinuated that there was someone trusted who would betray me.


    ¡°You have an enemy within and I wished it was just me you had to deal with,¡± Cade said.


    ¡°Who was the enemy within?¡± I mused, wrestling with my thoughts and the realization that my victory was far from over.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here, he¡¯s ying with your mind,¡± Glen said, pulling me out of the dungeon.


    Who was the enemy within? These words ran through my mind all day, what could he possibly mean? Cade hadn¡¯t owned up to his deeds, all he did was put me in a state of confusion.


    I returned to my chambers to have a rethink on all that had happened so far. This wasn¡¯t how I nned for this to go and I had to find a way to fix this.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    The web of trust I had carefully wove seemed to unravel. Everyone in the pack began to look suspicious beginning with the elders whose gaze now bore scrutiny, showing signs of deceit.


    ¡°Someone here knows more,¡± I muttered, torn between loyalty and suspicion.


    ¡°Is there anyone you suspect, Alpha Chris?¡± Glen asked, his tone expressing his concern.


    ¡°No onees to mind except the elders especially those who had been against my reign as alpha, but that doesn¡¯t make them my enemies,¡± I exined.


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep my eyes on them for any suspicious activities,¡± Glen suggested. I couldn¡¯t be more grateful for having a loyal friend and beta by my side. I watched as he left the chambers and began to dish out orders to the other guards.


    As he left, my thoughts returned to the events that had unfolded in the past few days. Lucy¡¯s disappearance and Cade¡¯s resilience under torture had left me wrestling with two adversaries: one in chains, concealing secrets, and another veiled in shadows, concealing intent.


    Cade¡¯s warnings haunted me, causing me to seek sce in the mage¡¯s words of advice. Yet, the mage repeated those ominous words which deepened the uncertainty that shadowed me.


    ¡°Your death is closer than ever,¡± the mage¡¯s prophesy echoed through my thoughts. ¡°Keep my advice with you and you might get lucky.¡±


    On my way back to my chambers, I crossed paths with Lothar, my ever-trusted ally and elder. ¡°How did it go with Cade? Has that bastard confessed to his deed?¡± Lothar inquired.


    ¡°Nothing yet,¡± I said, exempting the other things Cade had said to me.


    ¡°There¡¯s no course for rm, young alpha. I¡¯ll speak to the elders concerning this issue. Anything you need, juste to me,¡± Lothar pledged, his loyalty unwavering.


    Filled by Lothar¡¯s steadfast support, I brushed off the suspicions and warnings. The weight of the burden on my shoulder seemed to lift, reced by a fragile confidence in my trusted friend.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let fear cloud my sense of judgment,¡± I said with a renewed sense of resolve, embracing a newfound peace.


    Yet, despite the alliances and secrets, threats unseen to me lurked around. Posed on the bluff of revtion, I navigated a treacherous path where allies were likely to turn to adversaries, and trust could unravel like fragile threads.

 Chapter Seventy Six

    LUCY


    I watched as Nathan¡¯s lifeless bodyy on the floor of the battlefield. My heart felt as though it had fallen into a cactus and it has been punctured a million times over by tiny pins. I couldn¡¯t hold the heartbreak any longer and I fell to the floor in a disheveled heap as my grief poured out in a flood of uncontroble tears.


    ¡°Nathan¡­¡­ why did it have to be you?¡± I cried.


    Nathan wasn¡¯t just a friend to me, he was a pir of strength, and the void he had left echoed through my soul. Though we had our issues in the past I still loved him a whole lot.


    I saw Cade weeping at his fallen son, a rare vulnerability that I never knew was part of him. I watched as he was led away to the dungeon, his painy bare. At that moment, I saw his love for his son, even in the heart of darkness. I didn¡¯t know if I should pity him considering that his actions led to the death of his son, my dear friend.


    With no one else to give Nathan a proper farewell, I decided to seek the help of an unlikely ally among Cade¡¯s warriors.


    ¡°You¡¯re a traitor to the rogue pack. Why should I help you?¡± the warriors said.


    ¡°I know I don¡¯t deserve to be a part of your pack but remember that Nathan was one of you and he deserves a befitting burial,¡± I pleaded with him.


    ¡°He betrayed his father and chose another path, he deserved what he got,¡± he said again.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t change the fact that he is one of you. Just help me carry him back. That¡¯s all I ask,¡± I pleaded. I persevered until he agreed to help transport Nathan¡¯s body back to the rogue pack.


    Reluctantly, the warrior agreed. ¡°Fine, but don¡¯t think this changes anything.¡±


    I sighed. ¡°Thank you, really.¡±


    In the quiet solitude of the rogue pack, Iid Nathan¡¯s body to rest. I knelt at the foot of the grave, weeping for the loss of my cherished friend. Memories of ourughter and shared secrets flooded my mind, each memory, a constant reminder of a dear friend I had lost. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I whispered my final farewells.


    ¡°Goodbye, my dear friend. I¡¯ll miss you,¡± I cried.


    After spending some time at Nathan¡¯s grave, I sought guidance from the elder members of the rogue pack whom I had been extremely close to. I found myself struggling with the uncertainty of my truth. They condemned my actions and spoke of the consequences of my association with Chris and the hallowed manes pack, warning me to stay away to avoid the dangers ahead.


    I resulted to returning to the hallowed manes to find out how things were going with Cade but I recalled the agreement I had with the elders.


    ¡°You made a promise. You cannot set foot in the hallowed manes pack again once it¡¯s over,¡± the elder¡¯s words kept ringing in my head.


    I had to keep my word, besides I knew nothing I did would change the minds of the council elders. I also couldn¡¯t return to the rogue pack, I was no longer epted in the pack and neither was I interested in going back there. The only ce I sought sce was in the arms of my mother.


    I gathered my belongings which we had abandoned when we eloped from Cade and said my farewells to those I left behind. Each goodbye was filled with sadness and a bittersweet reminder of the bonds I once shared with them.


    Being with my mother was better than going through the saga that unfolded in the hallowed manes pack. I made my way to the neighboring pack where my mother had been in hiding. I didn¡¯t realize how much I had missed my mother until now.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be part of their troubles anymore, Mother,¡± I wept in my mother¡¯s arms.


    Wrapping her arms around me, she consoled me. ¡°You made the right choice, my love,¡± my mother said.


    ¡°Nathan is dead, mother. He died in my arms, I saw the darkness in his eyes as death beckoned him. I can¡¯t help but me myself for his death,¡± I cried.


    ¡°Poor child, his death was never your fault¡­..¡±


    ¡°It was, mother. If I wasn¡¯t keen on getting my revenge from the hallowed manes, he wouldn¡¯t be dead,¡± I interrupted, my voice shaking as I continued to sob. ¡°I can¡¯t stop ming myself for everything.¡±


    ¡°You never sought revenge, Cade did. All you wanted was to find the truth about your father and to clear his name,¡± my mother said, her words calm and consoling.


    ¡°I never cleared his name, I failed. Rogues we shall always be, mother. Maybe, just maybe, we¡¯ll find peace here,¡± I said.


    The ties that bound me to the hallowed were now severed. I, now a wanderer, embraced this new path ahead of me. Every day, I thought of Chris, I knew he would be worried about my absence, but it was never my fault. My stay in the pack would only weaken his chances of remaining the alpha of the pack. We had lost enough, I couldn¡¯t stand and watch him lose the only thing he owned because of me.


    ¡°Chris, I hope you find happiness, free from the storms that already found me,¡± I thought.


    Reuniting with my mother brought a sense of hope,fort, and sce amidst the pain I felt. We shared memories together, memories of connection, finding strength in her embrace.


    I ventured to the woods nearby as I did in the rogue pack, finding sce and pace amidst the chaos that surrounded me. The gentle rustling of leaves and the soothing murmur of the river provided a wee respite from the emotions that churned within me.


    I recalled Maverick¡¯s betrayal and death. A swell of conflicting emotions rose within me. I questioned my ability to ever trust anyone in the midst of my conflict, my heart still heavy with the weight of the betrayal and loss. I had made myself too vulnerable to them and allowed myself to be deceived by them.


    What if all I knew were a lie? What if my father truly killed Chris¡¯ father? I thought.


    ¡°No. That couldn¡¯t be true. Lothar confirmed my father¡¯s innocence,¡± I whispered.


    ¡°What troubles your mind, my child?¡± I heard a voice from behind me.


    It was the voice of an olddy, one who was recognized as the oldest and wisest in the pack where I and my mother dwelt.


    ¡°The past holds secrets that are yet to unravel, you must return to your mate. He needs you by his side,¡± the olddy said.


    ¡°Return? I¡¯m not wanted there, besides my presence will only put him in harms way,¡± I said, my heart racing at my words.


    How could I go back to a ce where I wasn¡¯t wanted? A ce I knew I would never be weed. How then could I return?


    ¡°She is right, our mate needs us now, more than ever,¡± my wolf said through the mind link. ¡°You need to return to him, his life is in danger.¡±


    Danger? He had Cade, our most wanted enemy at the tip of his fingers, how then could he be in danger?


    I pondered for a while, my wolf continuously urging me to return to the hallowed manes pack. The olddy had left, leaving me with that warning.

 Chapter Seventy Seven

    CHRIS


    ¡°Who are you?¡± I asked, panting as the strange figure drew close to me.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    The stranger¡¯s face was too blurry for me to see, he held a sword in his hand as he continued to chase me. I ran as fast as I could but he was faster. His posture was tall and imposing with red glowing eyes that pierced through the darkness.


    ¡°You have nowhere to hide now, young alpha. I warned you but you refused to listen,¡± the strange man said, his voice husky and dreadful.


    ¡°What do you want from me?¡± I felt fear grip me as the strange figure drew closer, raising its sword over me to strike.


    ¡°Chris,¡± the strange figure hissed, ¡°Your death is at hand.¡±


    I jolted from the bed, panting and sweating profusely. It was a dream, simr to the ones I had in the past but this time it felt too real. I could still feel the presence of the strange being hovering around my chambers. It was stillte at night but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to go back to sleep.


    Why was all of this happening to me? First, it was the mage¡¯s awful words, now these dreams haunted me every night. I had Cade locked up in the cell, the man who had been a menace to my family and the pack for years, who else was after my life?


    A sudden tap on my shoulder made me jump in fright. I turned only to find my mother standing behind me, her face filled with fear and distress.


    ¡°Mother, what are you doing here? You should be resting considering your health,¡± I asked.


    ¡°How can I sleep when there are so many people plotting against you, my son? I have had trouble sleeping since I heard the elders plot against you,¡± my mother said, her voice shivering with fear.


    Her countenance showed how distressed and worried she was. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I enquired.


    ¡°The elders are nning to dethrone you, I overheard them make these ns,¡± she said.


    My eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Why would they do such a thing?¡±


    ¡°They me your reign for the misfortunes that have befallen the pack,¡± my mother exined, her voice filled with sadness. ¡°They said it¡¯s time for a change in leadership.¡±


    They wouldn¡¯t dare, I thought. Fury simmered within me as I pondered on my mother¡¯s words. ¡°Return to your chambers, Mother, I¡¯ll handle the situation once the sun rises,¡± I said.


    At first, she refused but after much conviction, she agreed. I led her to her chambers before heading to find my beta.


    ¡°Alpha Chris, what troubles you? It¡¯s toote to be phndering around the pce quarters,¡± Glen said, his eyes searching mine for answers.


    I sighed. ¡°I had a terrible dream which had prompted me to stay awake. Someone is after my life and the throne, someone familiar to us.¡±


    ¡°Could it be one of the elders? Glen suggested. ¡°they seem suspicious to me.¡±


    ¡°I believe so, besides information has gotten to me that they have ns to dethrone me,¡± I said, my thoughts wavering. ¡°Gather the elders at the hall, I¡¯m ending this nonsense here and now.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not be too haste, Alpha, it could ruin whatever ns you might be having,¡± Glen suggested. ¡°I¡¯ll gather the elders like you¡¯ve ordered.¡±


    Early the next day, Glen wasted no time in gathering the elders at the great hall where I was to address the issue at hand. Standing before the council of elders, I demanded an exnation for their treachery.


    ¡°What is this I hear about you treacherous folks? nning to overthrow me, your alpha and leader of the pack. Do you know the consequences of treason? Do you!?¡± I yelled, my temper slowly rising.


    To my dismay, the elders didn¡¯t deny their intentions. Rather, they used me of ipetence and being a failure to the pack.


    ¡°We make the rules, alpha Chris. And you have not kept to the rules since your coronation,¡± Kazmir sneered.


    ¡°Watch your tone, Kazmir!!¡± Lothar gnarled, clenching his fist. ¡°You won¡¯t speak to the alpha in that manner.¡±


    ¡°He is not my alpha!!¡± elder Orvyn scorned. ¡°A deal is a deal, Chris, and your time as ruler of this pack is over.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a year already and you haven¡¯t found your Luna. You can¡¯t continue to sit on the throne without a Luna by your side,¡± another elder said, his tone calm,pared to the others.


    ¡°But what of Lucy?¡± I protested, desperation creeping into my voice. ¡°Lucy is my mate, and she is more than capable of being my Luna.¡±


    Elder Orvyn scoffed at my words. ¡°She will never be our Luna, she is nothing more than a rogue unworthy of our respect. Besides, her father is a traitor to this pack, he killed the previous alpha, your goddamn father!!¡±


    I stepped forward, fuming in rage as their words continued to make me boil in rage. ¡°I don¡¯t bloody care if her father was responsible. She¡¯s my mate and your LUNA!! that¡¯s all that matters.¡±


    ¡°Never! A rogue will never ascend the throne as Luna, not under my watch,¡± Orvyn spat.


    ¡°We¡¯ve animously decided to free Cade from captive and make him Alpha of this pack. There has been no proof that he had a hand in the allegations against him,¡±


    ¡°Not under my watch,¡± Lothar bellowed. ¡°Cade remains in the dungeon until Alpha Chris says otherwise.¡±


    As the truth of their betrayal sank in, I felt anger wash over me. Was this Cade¡¯s n all along? How could they think of making Cade the alpha after all he had done to destroy this pack? NEVER!! not while I¡¯m here.


    ¡°I see. So this was the n all along, to give the throne to that loser,¡± I said in anger. The sudden urge to y all of them gripped me but I held myself back and walked away before I did something drastic.


    ¡°Cade had all of this nned out from the beginning,  he has been working with the elders from day one,¡± Lothar said following behind. ¡°We have to eliminate him before things go south.¡±


    He was right, I had always had my doubts about the elders. I knew they were up to no good from the start. They probably had a hand in the death of my father in order to secure the throne for whom they wanted, Cade.


    At the dungeon, Cade sat quietly as I poured out my anger on him. ¡°So this was the n all along. To kill Your son and gain the throne. You¡¯ve been working secretly with those old fools to steal my father¡¯s throne,¡± I yelled.


    Yet, he remained silent. ¡°Say something!!¡± I yelled again. ¡°If you didn¡¯t kill my father, then they did it for you.¡±


    ¡°First, you used me of killing your father, now the elders. How daft can you be, child? I thought you were wiser than your father,¡± Cade finally said.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to teach you and the rest of those treacherous bastards a lesson you won¡¯t forget in a hurry. I¡¯ll make all of you pay for the crimes you¡¯vemitted against this pack,¡± I gnarled in frustration.


    ¡°Enough with the ranting, Chris. The truth you seek is right in front of you and you are just too blind to see it,¡± Cade snapped. ¡°Yes, I hated your father and had the thought to kill him but someone else did before I got there.¡±


    I froze. What was he saying? ¡°What do you mean someone else did? If you didn¡¯t kill my father then who did?¡±


    ¡°Someone you know.¡±

 Chapter Seventy Eight

    CHRIS


    I couldn¡¯t get Cade¡¯s words out of my head, the more I thought of it, the more it sent hot chills down my spine. Could what he had said be the truth? Could it be that Cade, the man I had always seen as my enemy, actually be innocent of my father¡¯s murder?


    I stood before Cade in the dungeon not knowing what to do, my heart pounding heavily on my chest as I sought answers from him. ¡°What do you know about the man that killed my father?¡± I demanded.


    ¡°I already told you all that you need to know,¡± Cade said, his words leaving me in a state of confusion.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t said anything to salvage the situation. Who is responsible for my father¡¯s death?¡± I asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s for you to find out, Chris. I have done my part,¡± Cade insisted.


    I pondered on his words. Why was he keeping the truth from me? Was it one of the elders?


    Cade sighed. ¡°I know you suspect the elders ¡¯cause they are in league with me. Yes, they have always supported my course from the get-go but they are not smart enough to go against the alpha.¡±Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    The revtion that some of the elders were in league with Cade shook me to the core. It was a betrayal that I never sawing. If some of my elders were responsible for the happenings in the pack then they had to be punished.


    As I left the dungeon, lost in thought, I stumbled on the face of Lucy who had gone missing since the night of the attack. She looked troubled, her eyes filled with a sense of urgency.


    Before I could say a word, she dragged me to a secluded corner of the pce, her grip firm.


    ¡°Why did you leave without saying a word to me?¡± I asked, my toneced with hurt and concern.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Chris. I didn¡¯t know what to do, I only followed the instructions given to me by the elders,¡± Lucy replied in a hushed tone, her voice trembling slightly.


    ¡°I know but why didn¡¯t you confide in me? I was going to protect you from them no matter what,¡± I said.


    ¡°I said I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know who to trust,¡± she said. ¡°The elders med me for causing trouble for you and the pack. My absence was supposed to calm the situation down but I was wrong.¡±


    ¡°You are my mate, Lucy, the Luna of this pack. You can¡¯t just opt out like you did because of what the elders said to you. Your stay in this pack is my decision to make,¡± I said, my brows furrowed in frustration.


    ¡°I was only trying to protect you,¡± she said softly, her eyes downcast.


    I pulled her tight in an embrace, my heart aching at the thought of losing her again. ¡°I understand you, Lucy. But we can¡¯t keep apart from each other. Not now that everything is falling apart.¡±


    ¡°Your life is in danger, that¡¯s why I am here. You have to be careful, those elders are up to no good, I know it,¡± Lucy said, her voice certain.


    I smiled. ¡°I know that already, my love. I know that those elders are up to something, but I have everything under control. I spoke to Cade earlier and he said he wasn¡¯t responsible for my father¡¯s death.¡±


    ¡°And you believe him?¡± she said, her gaze searching mine. ¡°Cade has always been an issue to you and your family from the start and you believe him. Whatever he said are the mere words of a grieved man pleading for a second chance at life.¡±


    ¡°Something in me tells me to believe him. I know it sounds crazy but I feel like he is telling the truth,¡± I insisted.


    Lucy stared at me perplexed and I understood her. I was surprised at my own words too but that was the truth. A part of me wanted to doubt him but his words sounded so true. Cade wasn¡¯t the man who would say what he didn¡¯t mean, he was a man who stood by his words.


    ¡°I do not doubt that whoever is responsible for my father¡¯s death is within the pce,¡± I said.


    ¡°What about mine? Cade killed my father, remember?¡± Lucy said, her voice shaky as she spoke.


    Just then, a distant noise caught our attention. We rushed to where the noise hade from only to realize that the elders were having a heated conversation with Lothar and my guards. I gathered knowledge that they were on their to set Cade free when Lothar and the guards stopped them.


    ¡°What is going on here?¡± I demanded, my voice cutting through the heated exchange.


    Oryn turned to face me, his expression unreadable. ¡°This is none of your concern, Chris. We the elders are handling matters of the pack.¡±


    ¡°I beg to differ, Orvyn,¡± I said, narrowing my eyes. ¡°Anything that concerns the safety of the pack is my concern.¡±


    Before Orvyn could respond, one of the guards stepped forward, his gaze unwavering. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Alpha, forgive us for the chaos, but the elders are trying to release the traitor from the dungeon. We cannot allow that to happen.¡±


    I clenched my fist in fury. ¡°How dare you go against my order? Are you out of your mind?¡± I eximed incredulously.


    ¡°I tried to reason with them but they refused to listen. They are determined to set him free,¡± Lothar said, his expression conflicted.


    Leading me away from the elders, Lothar whispered to me, ¡°We need to do something about Cade before things get out of hand.¡±


    ¡°what do you suggest we do? I asked.


    ¡°We need to get rid of Cade before he takes your ce as alpha of this pack. It would be a taint to your father¡¯s legacy if his killer took your ce as ruler of this pack,¡± Lothar suggested. His words cut deep into my heart, but Cade¡¯s denial of being responsible for my father¡¯s death confused me.


    Was he ying mind games with me? Was all of this a strategy to get the elders to kick me out of my pack? No, for some unforeseen reasons, I trusted his words. If he truly killed my father like Lothar had said, cade wouldn¡¯t hesitate in bragging about it to me and others who wished to know.


    ¡°I¡¯ll think of what to do with Cade. He stays alive until I say otherwise, there is a lot I need to know about before he is executed,¡± I ordered.


    ¡°Cade remains in the dungeon, keep the council elders away from the dungeon. Lock up anyone that tries to unt my orders,¡± I ordered my guards.


    Leading Lucy, I returned to the dungeon to speak with Cade again, this time about his involvement in Lucy¡¯s father¡¯s death.


    ¡°What more do you want?¡± Cade groaned on seeing me again.


    ¡°To seek the truth,¡± I said.


    ¡°I already you the truth. What else do you want?¡±


    ¡°If Chris believes the bullshit you told him, I don¡¯t,¡± Lucy spat, her fury raging. ¡°You killed my father and his, you said so yourself.¡±


    ¡°I told you what you wanted to hear!¡± Cade snapped. ¡°Yes, I killed your father, Lucy. I killed him for trying to expose my intentions to the hallowed manes. I couldn¡¯t let him ruin my chance of getting the throne.¡±


    ¡°As for your father, Chris, I wished I did. I always dreamt of that day and he stole the chance from me. Your father¡¯s killer stole my chance to slice his throat for stealing my position from me,¡± he continued.


    ¡°You are going to pay for hurting my father,¡± Lucy screamed.


    ¡°What more punishment can you offer? I already lost everything, Lucy, nothing matters to me anymore,¡± Cade sobbed.


    ¡°You deserve everything you got. Your greed caused you Nathan¡¯s life,¡± Lucy said, her words biter and full of grief and pain.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here,¡± I urged, pulling Lucy away from the dungeon as she continued to rain curses on Cade. I understood her pain and didn¡¯t know the right words to say to ease her pain. I wrapped my arms around her and whispered in her ear.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure he pays for hurting you and your father.¡±


    I hugged her again so she couldn¡¯t see the hurt in my eyes. They would all pay for causing a rift in our families, Not one would be spared, not even Cade.

 Chapter Seventy Nine

    LUCY


    The thought that Chris could be in danger bothered me for days. After my encounter with the olddy in the woods, I couldn¡¯t keep her warnings off my head. How could I return to a ce where I wasn¡¯t weed? I could be in danger if I returned to the hallowed manes pack and Chris too could lose his position as alpha if I showed up again at the pack. But his life was in danger and going back was the only option I had.


    ¡°What seems to bother you, Lucy? You¡¯ve been lost in thought for a while now,¡± my mother said in a worried tone.


    I didn¡¯t want to bother her with my issues. I had promised her that I would stay away from the hallowed manes until it was right for me to return there. ¡°Nothing is wrong, mother. I just miss the good old days at the rogue pack,¡± I lied.


    My mother sighed, cing a hand on my shoulder. ¡°I miss those days too, I miss those happy days. But it¡¯s good we are here, we get to forget all of the sad memories and create happy memories for ourselves.¡±


    I nodded. Happy memories indeed. How could I ever be happy when I was on the verge of losing everything? My best friend was dead and my mate¡¯s life was in danger. How could I make happy memories here in a strangend?


    ¡°A kiss for your thoughts, darling,¡± my mother said, her eyes searching mine.


    ¡°Mother,¡± I said calmly, ¡°I need to return to the hallowed manes pack.¡±


    My mother¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Why do you want to go back there? You told me all that happened to you and how you weren¡¯t weed there.¡±


    ¡°But Chris needs me. He could be in danger and I have to be there to keep him safe,¡± I replied.


    ¡°What about you? You could be in danger too, our family is not wee in that pack,¡± my mother convinced me, but my mind was made up.


    ¡°I know all of that but I have to. I¡¯m sorry Mother, im going back to help Chris in any way I can. Cade has been captured so there¡¯s a chance that father¡¯s name will be cleared from all allegations,¡± I exined, hoping she would understand.


    She sighed. ¡°I see that you¡¯ve already made up your mind. I¡¯m not stopping you but promise me you¡¯ll return to me safely.¡±


    ¡°I promise,¡± I assured with a hearty smile.


    Early the next day, I kissed my mother goodbye and journeyed back to the hallowed manes pack unaware of what awaited me there. But whatever it was, I was willing to fight tooth and nail just to see Chris safe.


    I arrived at the hallowed manes packte at night. I snuck into the pce under the cover of the darkness. My next n was to confront Cade where he was held in the dungeon before going to meet Chris. I never knew that fate had other ns in store for me.


    As I got close to the dungeon, I bumped into Chris who didn¡¯t seem to be in a good mood. He was apanied by some of his guards and I didn¡¯t want to be seen by those guards.


    Immediately,  I pulled Chris aside to a secluded corner. His presence was like a balm to my troubled soul and I began to pour my worried thoughts to him.


    ¡°Why did you leave without saying a word to me?¡± Chris inquired.


    ¡°I know but I had to. I was following the elder¡¯s instructions,¡± I said in defense.


    ¡°Those traitors have no right to detect what happens in my pack and you should know that,¡± he said. ¡°You are the LUNA of this pack and they have no right to kick you out.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I pleaded. ¡°I¡¯m d you are okay. I thought something had happened to you.¡± My voice was etched with concern as I spoke.


    He pulled me in his arms, his hand caressing my hair. ¡°I understand. It¡¯s a good thing you¡¯re here now ¡¯cause things are about to go sour in this pce.¡±


    ¡°Sour? What do you mean?¡± I asked. My thoughts drifted back to what the olddy had told me. Could his life truly be in danger like she said?


    ¡°Those treacherous elders n to strip me of my position as alpha of this pack and give my throne to Cade,¡± he said.


    ¡°They can¡¯t do that. Cade is an enemy of this pack, he killed your father and mine,¡± I said, my temper rising. My jaw tightened, and my fist clenched in rage as I heard of their evil conduct against Chris and the throne.


    ¡°Cade is not responsible for my father¡¯s death, Lucy. I know it sounds absurd but he isn¡¯t,¡± Chris said to my surprise.


    ¡°What do you mean? He killed your father and now he¡¯s nning to steal the throne from you,¡± I said.


    ¡°For some reason, I believe his words. If he did kill my father, the Cade I know would brag about his deeds just to get on my nerves,¡± Chris exined. Yet, I found no meaning to what he said.


    How could he possibly believe Cade¡¯s words? The words from a man of sorrow seeking a chance to be freed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t believe anything he says, Chris. That man is a liar and a deceiver, he would do anything just to get himself out of there,¡± I said.


    ¡°I know, but something tells me to believe his words,¡± Chris said again.


    I paced around the corridor, thinking of what he had said. Nothing seemed right to me anymore. Chris was here trusting the words of that bloody traitor and criminal rather than listening to me.


    ¡°What about my father then? Did he deny the fact that he killed my father too? Did he?¡± I questioned.


    ¡°Rx, Lucy. I know you have your doubts but just hear me out,¡± Chris said. ¡°We will go back there and get the truth from him about your father, until then you have to calm down.¡±


    I shrugged, not knowing what to say. ¡°I¡¯m not doubting you, it¡¯s just that¡­.¡±


    ¡°Shhhhh. Enough now, okay,¡± he said, cing his index finger on my lips.


    ¡°Good girl,¡± he said again before nting a kiss on my lips.


    We were still reeling in the moment when we heard a loud noise from another corner of the pce. Chris pulled my hand, leading me to where the noise came from.


    To my surprise, Lothar was having an altercation with the elders and the guards. I freed myself from Chris¡¯ grip and hid to avoid being seen by the elders.


    Inaudible conversations had ensued between Cbris and the elders and I was curious to know what it was. I moved closer to get more details on their conversations.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry alpha Chris, these men seek to release Cade without your consent,¡± one of the guards said.


    ¡°What gave you the right to go against my decision? I see that you all have bitten more than you can chew and I¡¯m going to make you all pay for your treacherous act,¡± Chris said, his voiceced with anger.


    ¡°You are not our alpha anymore. It has been unanimously decided that Cade be released and named alpha of the pack. Besides, he remains a member of your bloodline,¡± one of the elders scorned.


    My heart broke when I heard those words. Chris was going to lose his position because of me. I wished there was something I could do to salvage the situation but I couldn¡¯t think of anything. Hot tears rolled down my cheeks as I continued to me myself for his misfortune.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°Why are you crying?¡± Chris said, holding my hands.


    ¡°I heard all they said. How can they think of giving your rightful position to that traitor? I¡¯m sorry for all that is happening, it¡¯s all my fault,¡± I sobbed.


    ¡°What are you saying? None of this is your fault, Lucy. They have always been enemies to the throne and will do all it takes to steal the throne from me,¡± Chrisforted.


    ¡°I need you to stop ming yourself and be by my side. Fight by my side, help me reveal who this traitor truly is,¡± he added.


    Those words were enough to bring back my self-confidence. ¡°We need to get more information from Cade, everything he knows will be helpful at this point.¡±


    We journeyed to the dungeon and the sight of Cade brought painful memories I thought weren¡¯t there.


    ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again, Lucy,¡± Cade said.


    Ignoring his pleasantries, I wasted no time in asking him the question I was there for. ¡°Did you truly kill my father?¡±


    ¡°I did. Your father was a weakling and couldn¡¯t stand to fight for his rights. He broke my trust so I killed him,¡± Cade said with no remorse.


    ¡°You bloody traitor!!¡± I screamed. ¡°My father was nothing but loyal to you, you are the one who broke his trust.¡±


    Cade continued to spill out how much of a weakling my father was which made me boil in rage. I pulled out my de and charged towards him but Chris held me back.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here,¡± he urged. ¡°I¡¯ll make him pay for hurting your family.¡±


    At Chris¡¯ chambers, I couldn¡¯t help but recall all the good times I saw my father share with Cade. They were the perfect duo and were loyal to each other.


    Cade had promised to help my father clear his name. Things had gone sour when they both left the rogue pack only for Cade to arrive covered in blood and with the news of my father¡¯s death.


    I had always thought my father had been attacked by a wild creature unknown to me that Cade was responsible for his death all these years.


    There was no way I would forgive him for betraying my father. He would pay with his life.


    That was a promise.

 Chapter Eighty

    CHRIS


    ¡°Your father¡¯s killer is somewhere in this pce, waiting for the right time to strike.¡±


    Who was the killer? I spent most of my time convincing Cade to spill the truth to me but he kept beating around the bush. I was beginning to doubt that he knew anything about my father¡¯s death. Maybe he could be the killer like Lucy said and was trying to trick me into believing him.


    ¡± I know you have your doubts, Chris, but I¡¯m telling the truth. I didn¡¯t kill your father,¡± Cade had said.


    ¡°If you didn¡¯t then why did you elope from the pce after his death?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I had to else I would be med for his death. As for Lucy¡¯s father, he was set up by the killer. He walked into your father¡¯s chambers right in time to be caught by the guards. He was framed by the killer who was close to both your father and Lucy¡¯s father,¡± Cade exined.


    ¡°Why should I believe you? You tried to kill me before,¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to believe me and yes, I did try to kill you. The throne had always been my priority, it was meant to be mine but your father took it from him. But I won¡¯t allow that killer to steal the throne from our bloodline.¡±


    His words were too convincing and I found myself believing them again. But the question remained: Who was the killer? How could I defend myself and the throne if I didn¡¯t know who I was up against?


    ¡°The night I got to your father¡¯s chambers, I saw the killer sneaking out of his chambers holding a de which I supposed he had used to kill your father. Your father died in my arms before he could reveal to me who the killer was. I ran off immediately after I saw Lucy¡¯s father enter the chambers to avoid being used.¡±


    ¡°But the killer had something significant about him. He had dark hair and was well-built, and he also had a mark on his right arm. From my assumption, he was probably a member of the council who hated your father,¡± Cade added.


    A member of the council. I thought. I knew those elders had something up their sleeves but for one of them to have a hand in my father¡¯s death, that was absurd. Though it wasn¡¯t entirely impossible. They had always been against me and it wasn¡¯t going to be a surprise if they treated my father the same way.


    The bone of contention was finding who amongst the elders was the killer. Cade had made mention of the killer having a mark on his arm but there was none I could think of.


    I returned to my chambers to discuss all I had heard with Lucy and find a way out of it. I exined all I and Cade had discussed while she paid attention.


    ¡°How do we know who this man is? He could be plotting another attempt as we speak,¡± Lucy said, her voice filled with concern for me.


    ¡°We need to speak to Lothar regarding this issue, he should know more about the elders than we do, ¡± she suggested.


    She was right. If there was anyone who could help us get to the bottom of this problem, it was Lothar.


    ¡°Lothar should be of help since he has known the elders for long. He can help us identify who the killer is.¡±


    After much discussion, I decided to go see Lothar but he was nowhere to be found. I waited for a while and when there was no sign of him, I returned to the pce.


    On getting to the pce,  there was amotion and everyone looked frightened. I saw Lothar giving out instructions to some of the guards.


    ¡°Close the gates! Make sure no one leaves the pack unnoticed. Guard the area until we find who did this.¡±


    ¡°What is it this time?¡± I mumbled. ¡°Those elders are bound to make my reign a living hell.¡±


    ¡°What is the fuss about?¡± I hissed. ¡°What is the issue?¡±


    ¡°Someone broke into the pce,¡± Lothar exined. ¡°Cade is dead. He was stabbed multiple times in the dungeon.¡±


    I froze. Dead? How possible could that be? I rushed to the dungeon to find Lucy holding onto him tightly.


    ¡°How did this happen?¡± I asked, my voice shaky.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I found him like this,¡± she said. ¡°Someone must have done this to prevent him from spilling all of the truth.¡±


    I paused for a second. ¡°Could it be¡­¡±


    ¡°The killer!¡± we both said.


    ¡°What are you two talking about? What killer?¡± Lothar asked.


    ¡°Uhm¡­ It¡¯s uh¡­. never mind. It¡¯s nothing important. Cade only mentioned a few things that didn¡¯t seem to be true,¡± I exined, hiding the truth from him.


    Lothar searched our eyes for the truth and after a long stare, he gave up. ¡°The guards are scouting the area, hopefully, we¡¯ll find whoever did this.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. Make sure the killer is found, seal the gates if you have to. I need him found,¡± I said, desperation etched in my voice.


    ¡°You have my word, young alpha,¡± Lothar assured.


    I nodded, leading the rest of them out of the dungeon while I remained inside with Lucy. We stooped over the body to examine the nature of his death.


    ¡°Cade whispered something to me before he died,¡± Lucy said. ¡°He said the killer was here in the pce and that we need to be careful.¡±


    ¡°Did he say who it was?¡± I asked. ¡°I believe he saw the killer¡¯s face.¡±


    ¡°He was going to before he passed away. He only whispered inaudible words that I couldn¡¯t fathom,¡± she exined.


    ¡°What about the guards stationed at the entrance? Didn¡¯t they see anyone walk into this ce?¡± I asked again.


    ¡°No one did. I met them lying unconscious at the entrance,¡± Lucy exined. ¡°He attacked them too.¡±Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    I paced around, confused and devastated. Whoever did this was definitely the person behind my father¡¯s death. He killed Cade to conceal the truth but that wouldn¡¯t stop me. I was going to find out who that bastard was and make him pay.


    ¡°Get me Orvyn,¡± I ordered one of the guards standing close by.


    ¡°What are you thinking, Chris?¡± Lucy asked.


    ¡°Those guards weren¡¯t attacked. There is no sign of bruising on their skin, they were drugged. There¡¯s only one person capable of such an act and that¡¯s Orvyn,¡± I said.


    ¡°And¡­.?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s the killer.¡±

 Chapter Eighty One

    CADE


    My stay in the dungeon had taught me a lot of lessons I wished I had known long ago. My envy and greed had made me lose the people I valued most, friends and family.


    ¡°I know you hate me because of the throne, but I need you to know that I wouldn¡¯t be taking your ce if it hadn¡¯t been assigned to me to do so,¡± my younger brother said.


    I scoffed. ¡°Save me the details, I know you are more than d to be stealing my position as alpha of this pack. I knew Father had always chosen you over me but that will never happen. The throne is mine and there¡¯s nothing you or anyone else can do about it.¡±


    On the day of his coronation, I watched in envy as my brother took my ce as alpha. I wished I could strangle him where he stood with the rest of the elders. I hated my father and brother so much that I rarely spent time in the pce.


    Rather, I built another pack of my own far from the pack, a rogue pack in my name where I could be alpha. I recruited many rogues and formed an army of my own but it didn¡¯t give me the power I desired. I wanted more, I desired the throne of my brother more than the little empire I had built.


    Brewing hate and envy in my heart, I sought out one night to kill him. On that night, I held my de as I tiptoed into the pce and into my brother¡¯s chambers where I supposed heid asleep. On getting to his chambers, a figure rushed out of his chamber in a hurry, holding a knife in his hand.


    I hid in the corridor to see who it was but it waste at night and it was very impossible to see his face. I only saw a distinctive symbol etched into his flesh. I wasn¡¯t sure if the strange man had seen me but I was lucky to be alive that night.


    After he had escaped, I rushed into my brother¡¯s chambers to find him whimpering in pain. He stretched his hand towards me, pleading for help but I stood there not knowing what to do.


    Eventually, I moved closer and held him close to me. ¡°Who did this to you?¡± I asked.


    The murderer had slit his throat so he couldn¡¯t say a word. I watched as blood oozed from his neck. ¡°You would be alive if you had stepped down from that position. You are too weak to rule this pack.¡±


    In my arms, my brother breathed hisst. I felt my heart break as life seeped out of my brother but the deed was done. The distant footsteps caught my attention and I knew I would be in trouble if I remained there. I kissed my brother goodbye and ran out of the chamber before I was caught by the guards.


    Hiding again, Lucian, Lucy¡¯s father, walked into my brother¡¯s chambers. Not long after he entered, the guards arraigned him, using him of killing my brother.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    A few days after my brother was buried, I thought the elders would crown me as alpha but the moon goddess had rejected me again as alpha and chose my brother¡¯s tiny child. My fury increased and I plotted different ways to overthrow the child with the help of some of the elders but none of my ns ever worked.


    ***************************************************


    Maybe the moon goddess was right after all for choosing my brother over me. Maybe if I had be the alpha, this pack would have been in ruins due to myck of resilience.


    Now all I could do was me myself for everything that had happened in the past. If I hadn¡¯t harbored the thoughts of killing my brother, maybe he would be alive to this day. Maybe his son, Chris wouldn¡¯t have gone through half of what he had gone through.


    I sat in the solitude of the dungeon, my head bowed, seeking repentance from the moon goddess this onest time. I cried, hoping my repentant soul would save me. But a part of me convinced me that I was unworthy of repentance.


    Although I had revealed the truth about the real killer, hoping against hope that Chris would believe me, that he would see the truth in what I said. It was the least I could do to atone for my sins, to save the throne and bloodline from being destroyed.


    In the early hours of the next day, the first light of dawn filtered through the narrow windows, exposing the figure of a man standing in front of me. Startled, I scrambled to my feet, my heart pounding in my chest with fear and apprehension.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± I asked, my voice trembling.


    The man¡¯s lip curled into an evil smirk as he drew closer while I teetered back. A glint of his de caught the faint light. ¡°Do you recognize me now, Cade or should I say, Uther?¡± he asked. ¡°Do you recognize this mark?¡±


    He exposed the mark on his right arm and immediately I recalled who it was, Chris¡¯ father¡¯s killer.


    ¡°Y-you¡¯re the one,¡± I stammered, my mind reeling with shock. It turned out that he was someone I knew, someone I never thought would betray the throne. ¡°You¡¯re the man responsible for¡­¡­. his death.¡±


    ¡°Ahh¡­you figured it out already. I guess the Parker¡¯s bloodline isn¡¯t as dumb as I thought they were,¡± the man said. ¡°I knew you would figure it out soon enough, but I guess this is where we draw the line, my dear friend.¡±


    The killer raised his de high above his head while I frantically searched for ways to escape. ¡°There¡¯s nowhere to hide, Cade. It¡¯s just you and me here, there¡¯s no one to save you.¡±


    Desperation wed at my chest as the killer drew closer. I knew deep down that there was no escaping fate. I took a deep breath as I embraced death. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,  Nathan.¡±


    With those words on my lips, I braced myself for the inevitable, knowing that my time had finally run out.


    I mmed into the floor, my sight slowly deteriorating as the killer once again escaped from his deeds.


    Not long, Lucy walked in to find me in a pool of my own blood. With thest strength I had, I whispered the name of the killer before I gave myself away to the darkness.

 Chapter Eighty Two

    CHRIS


    From the moment Cade¡¯s lifeless body was found in the dungeon, I had a deep suspicion that one of the elders was involved in this mischief.


    ¡°Get me Orvyn,¡± I demanded.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    I sat in the courtroom, grappling with the weight of the recent events, my mind churned with suspicion and great uncertainty.


    ¡°Are you sure of what you¡¯re doing?¡± Lucy asked. ¡°Are you sure Orvyn is the killer?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m certain he¡¯s responsible for all that has happened so far,¡± I said.


    I recalled the night, the pack had been attacked under Cade¡¯s lead, how the guards at the gate had been rendered unconscious. One of the guards had informed me that Orvyn had offered them drinks before they had sumbed to unconsciousness. It was a revtion that had fueled my suspicions.


    The guards securing the dungeon had also been poisoned which made me believe that he had a hand in Cade¡¯s death. He probably was hiding something and feared that Cade would reveal the truth.


    Orvyn was led to the courtroom, bound with hands and feet. ¡°What is the meaning of this madness?¡± Orvyn sneered.


    The rest of the elders stood in awe as he was led in. ¡°The young alpha is going against us, ¡°most of them murmured.


    ¡°How long did you think you could hide from me?¡± I asked.


    ¡°What the fvck are you talking about?¡± Orvyn asked.


    I scoffed. Turning to Glen, I signalled him and immediately he smacked Orvyn on the cheek. ¡°Where were you when Cade was found dead?¡±


    Orvyn¡¯s eyes widened in shock, the same with the other elders. ¡°D-dead? How?¡± he stuttered.


    ¡°You killed him didn¡¯t you?¡± I asked.


    ¡°This is madness. I would never hurt my alpha. I can be anything but I¡¯d never betray my true alpha,¡± Orvyn sneered, which irritated me.


    A guard came forward to testify against Orvyn. ¡°The guards at the dungeon were poisoned with the same portion you used on me and my colleagues on the night Cade attacked the pack.¡±


    ¡°And? Does that justify that I killed him? Anyone can make that portion,¡± Orvyn said. ¡°Yes, I poisoned the guards on that night to grant ess to Cade and his army but that was it.¡±


    I eyed him, trying to find the truth in what he said. ¡°I know you killed him just to prevent us from crowning him as our leader,¡± orvyn used.


    Lothar stepped forward,nding a punch on his face. ¡°How brazen of you to speak to the alpha in such a manner.¡±


    Despite the blow, Orvyn remained adamant in his denial, iming he had always been loyal to Cade and his cause.


    My mind raced as I struggled with the contemting truth before me. If he was truly loyal to Cade, he wouldn¡¯t kill him or try to harm him. On the other hand, I couldn¡¯t let go of the fact that he had a hand in the insecurities of the pack. He was going to pay dearly for going against the pack¡¯s rule.


    ¡°Lock him up until we have more evidence,¡± I ordered.


    Returning to my chambers, Lucy was there to calm me down. ¡°Chris, I don¡¯t think he is the killer,¡± she said.


    ¡°If my presumptions are wrong then who is this bloody murderer?¡± I asked.


    ¡°As Cade said,  this killer is someone within and is using everything in his power to hide his true identity,¡± she said again.


    I pondered on what she said for a while. She was right but all evidence pointed to Orvyn. The portion that was used to render the guards unconscious was the same as thest time.


    The only way to figure this out was to wait for the guards to regain consciousness before further investigation would be carried out, until then, Orvyn would remain locked up.


    A sudden knock on the site interrupted my thoughts. I looked up to see Lothar, a grave expression etched on his face.


    ¡°We need to talk, ¡± he said. ¡°The elders are demanding answers and tensions are beginning to rise among the pack. Some say you are holding an elder captive because of a mere traitor¡¯s death.¡±


    ¡°I see. I don¡¯t care what they say. Orvyn will remain locked up until I find out the truth,¡± I insisted.


    ¡°Do you know who this killer is? Is there something significant about him? I need every information I can get to sort this issue,¡± Lothar asked, concern written on his face.


    ¡°I have nothing,¡± I lied. ¡°The portion used on the guards made me assume that he was the killer.¡±


    ¡°Just that? That¡¯s not enough evidence,¡± Lothar said.


    ¡°It still doesn¡¯t change the fact that he betrayed the pack. He must be punished for doing so,¡± I said in a stern tone.


    As we discussed, Kazmir and other guards barged into my chamber demanding Orvyn¡¯s immediate release.


    I met their gaze with steely resolve, my jaw set in determination. ¡°I will not release him until we have uncovered the truth,¡± I dered, my voice ringing with authority.


    ¡°I know most of you are cohorts with him and I¡¯ll make sure I fish all of you out for betraying this noble pack,¡± I added. ¡°I will not let this pack be torn by lies and deceit anymore.¡±


    The elders murmured amongst themselves as they left my chambers. ¡°Keep your eyes on them and double the guards at the dungeon this time. If he isn¡¯t the murderer then he is still out there,¡± I said to Lothar.


    ¡°As you wish,¡± he bowed before leaving.


    ¡°Why do I feel like we are getting it wrong?¡± Lucy said. ¡°I feel like we are going about this the wrong way.¡±


    Frustration gnawed at me as I thought of what to do. If Orvyn wasn¡¯t the killer then whoever it was was bloody smart and one step ahead of us.


    ¡°I think we need to fill Lothar in on what is happening. With the information Cade gave us, I believe that Lothar can be of great help,¡± Lucy suggested.


    Lothar was the only one I could rely on for help. He was the only one who had stood by me and my family from the beginning. Although I was a bit skeptical about telling him because of what Cade had said about the killer being a close member of the council, but I believed I could trust him enough with this little information.


    At dusk, I sought Lothar at his quarter to avoid the prying eyes of people while Lucy had offered to go see the guards who had been poisoned at the infirmary to get more information from them.


    On getting to Lothar¡¯s quarter, I found his door slightly open. A sense of unease gnawed at my gut. I pushed the door open slowly, my heart pounding with trepidation. What I saw sent hot chills down my spine.

 Chapter Eighty Three

    LUCY


    ¡°Cade,¡± I muttered.


    My body was covered in his blood as I tried to stop the bleeding. Cade whimpered and pleaded for forgiveness, but it was toote for that. All I needed was the name of whoever did this.


    Cade tried to speak but I couldn¡¯t figure out what he was saying. ¡°He¡¯s here,¡± that was all I heard.


    His bloodied hand pointed to something ahead of us. I raised my head to see who it was but his face wasn¡¯t clear enough.


    ¡°Looking for me?¡± the man sneered. Before I could say anything or do anything,  he struck me with his sword.


    My eyes fluttered open, the remnant of the nightmare still clinging in my head like a cobweb. I nced around the dimly lit chamber, my heart pounding heavily against my ribs as I tried to shake off the fear.


    ¡°Chris,¡± I called out after I realized that he wasn¡¯t beside me.


    There was no answer and my unease deepened. Where could he be? I recalled that he had gone to see Lothar to further discuss ways of catching the murderer, but I didn¡¯t realize that he had been gone for what felt like forever.


    With shaky hands, I brushed the sweat that formed on my forehead as I tried to calm myself down. The dream had felt so real, fear gripping me in its icy grip. But I couldn¡¯t dwell on that, I had to find Chris.


    As I left the chambers, I recalled my meeting with some of the guards who had been poisoned by the murderer and I must say that there was nothing helpful that came out of it.


    The guards had said that they didn¡¯t notice anyone enter the dungeon and nothing unusual had happened except them losing consciousness. They had been offered their meals like the rest of the guards by the pce maidens.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    I had left them in a state of devastation, but I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that there was something they were missing, a piece of evidence that would unravel the truth of the mysterious killings.


    The cryptic whispers of my dream echoed in my ear, the name Cade had mentioned still eluding my grasp like a fleeting shadow.  It was so hard to figure out who this mystic being was.


    Minutes stretched into hours and my anxiety grew more. Chris still hadn¡¯t returned to the pce, the silence was killing me. I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that danger lurked beyond the walls of the pce, waiting for the right moment to strike.


    Unable to bear the anxiety,  I decided to go in search of Chris. As I approached the door,  I heard voicesing from one of the quarters and I couldn¡¯t help but eavesdrop on the conversation that ensued.


    ¡°No one is to be trusted. We need to keep our guards up,¡± one of the whispered voices said.


    ¡°There¡¯s something off about that man, I¡¯m telling you,¡± another said.


    ¡°Until we find proof, we need to tread carefully,¡± a third voice chimed in.


    My heart was pounding in my chest as I tried to make sense of the conversations. What were they talking about? Where was Chris in all of this?


    I pushed the door without hesitating and stepped into the room. There, I met Lothar with some of the guards, a surprise flickering in my eyes.


    Chris wasn¡¯t in the room with them. Thest time I spoke to him, he had mentioned meeting with Lothar so why was he absent at this meeting?


    ¡°Lucy, what are you doing here?¡± Lothar asked, his brows furrowed in concern.


    ¡°Where is Lothar? He was supposed to be with you,¡± I asked, ignoring his question.


    ¡°Me? I¡¯ve been in the pce the whole time making arrangements with the guards. What are you talking about?¡± Lothar said.


    I was stunned. ¡°Chris went to your quarters hours ago and hasn¡¯t returned since then. Where else could he have gone if not to see you?¡± I questioned, my fear increasing.


    Lothar exchanged nces with the guards before turning to face me. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen him, Lucy. Are you sure he went to see me?¡±


    He quickly instructed the guards to go find Chris while I remained with him. ¡°We were nning safety measures for the pack, I didn¡¯t know Alpha Chris had gone to seek me at my quarters,¡± Lothar exined.


    After a long wait, the guards returned with no positive news. ¡°Alpha Chris is nowhere around your quarters, neither is he anywhere around the pack.¡±


    ¡°What did they mean,¡± I pondered. Where could he have disappeared to? I feared that he could possibly be in danger.


    ¡°Find him, he could be in danger as we speak,¡± I pleaded.


    ¡°You have nothing to worry about, I believe Alpha Chris is safe somewhere,¡± Lothar said.


    He was wrong, I had an odd feeling about it. My instincts had never failed me before, so I knew something wasn¡¯t right.


    I left them and began to solely search for Chris. I called out his name with a trembling voice but there was no response from him. My voice echoed softly in the walkway.


    ¡°Please be okay, please,¡± I cried.


    I continued my search but there was no sign of him around. I searched Lothar¡¯s quarters but he wasn¡¯t there, my heart pounded in my chest as fear enveloped me. I didn¡¯t know what to think anymore,  there was nothing unusual to show if something had happened.


    ¡°Chris!!¡± I called out again. Yet there was no response.


    After searching for a long time, I decided to sort Lothar¡¯s guidance on what to do. On my way back, I came across Chris , his usual strong form now being slumped against his betas shoulder.  My heart lurched at the sight of bloodstains on his clothes , evidence of the turmoil he must have gone through.


    Without a second though, I rushed to him to inspect his wounds. ¡°Who did this?¡± I asked. ¡°What happened?¡±


    Chris winced in pain as he struggled to speak. ¡°Lothar,¡± he said, his gaze flickering at the door.


    ¡°He¡¯s searching for you as we speak. I¡¯ll go tell him I¡¯ve found you,¡± I said. I rushed to go find Lothar but Chris pulled me back.


    ¡°Lothar,¡± he said again. I still couldn¡¯t understand what he meant. His gaze still remained at the door.


    Confused, I turned to nce over my shoulder. Lothar stood there to my horror, an evil sinister smirk on his lips which sent an unusual cold chill down my spine.


    ¡°Lothar¡­. I- I was¡­¡±


    ¡°I found you, didn¡¯t I?¡± Lothar said, his voice filled with terror. His words hung in the air like a dark cloud, his sinister intention clear for all to see.


    Was he who I thought he was?


    Glen moved to stand between me and Lothar, his stance protective as he red at him. ¡°What do you want Lothar?¡± He snarled, his voice a rumble of warning.


    Lothar sneered. ¡°I want what is rightfully mine!!¡±

 Chapter Eighty Four

    CHRIS


    As I got close to Lothar¡¯s quarters,  I had my doubts about telling him what Cade had told me. It was top secret and should remain the same until I was sure of who to trust. Not that I didn¡¯t trust Lothar in any way, as a matter of fact, I did. I trusted Lothar not because he had stood by me but because he was my father¡¯s beta and best friend. But things at the pack were getting overboard and I didn¡¯t know what to do.


    Since Lucy had suggested that I told him, why shouldn¡¯t I? I arrived at his door and found it unusually open. So unlike Lothar, I must say, he kept to himself most times and kept his door shut at all times.


    I peeped into the dark room and found a shirtless figure standing in the room, his chest was bare and his muscles were taut in tension. At first, I couldn¡¯t tell if it was Lothar or someone else.


    ¡°Lothar,¡± I said, my voice filled with uncertainty.


    The shirtless man turned and it turned out to be Lothar as I expected.


    ¡°You¡¯re finally here,¡± he said.


    I didn¡¯t understand what he meant at first but once my eyes set on the mark etched on his left arm, I immediately thought a thought running through my head. He too noticed and nced at the mark on his arm.


    ¡°I see. Cade told you about this mark, didn¡¯t he?¡± Lothar said, his expression fierce, unlike the calm man I used to know.


    ¡°What mark?¡± I asked pretending not to know. ¡°I came to speak to you about this killer that has been terrorising this pack.¡±


    Lothar scoffed. ¡°Quit the pretence, Chris. I know you too well.¡±


    ¡°I knew it wouldn¡¯t be long before I was exposed. I wasn¡¯t expecting it to be this soon.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting it to be you either. My family trusted you, I trusted you. All these while you¡¯ve been the enemy within and¡­¡±


    ¡°You were too damn naive to know,¡± Lothar mocked.


    I clenched my fist trying to suppress my anger. I hated it when they all tagged me as naive


    I had left mine in my chambers and now had to fight with my bare hands. I teetered backwards while Lothar continued to step forward.


    ¡°You know, your father would still be alive if he had listened to me, but he didn¡¯t so I killed him,¡± Lothar said calmly.


    There it was, the truth I had sought for years. Anger and disappointment surged within me as I realised the depth of Lothar¡¯s deceit.


    Before I could react, Lothar lunged at me with his sword in a calcted and swift move. I dodged his attack, my mind racing with fury and determination. I rushed out of his quarters and was met by a few of my guards. Thank goodness!


    ¡°Seize that traitor!¡± Imanded.


    The guards simply stared at me,  without making a move.


    ¡°Seize that bastard!!¡± I yelled again.


    Lothar burst into a peal of wickedughter. I stood there confused and wondering if my pce guards were under a spell. Rather than arrest Lothar,  they began to surround me.


    ¡°They don¡¯t answer to you anymore, Christopher Parker, they are mine now,¡± Lothar mocked.


    My heart pounded with frustration as I struggled to free myself from the guard¡¯s restraining grip.


    ¡°I trusted you, how could you betray us like this?¡± I said.


    Lothar¡¯s smirk widened into a cold grin as he brandished his sword. ¡°Trust is a luxury, my friend. One that you can only afford,¡± he replied, his tone filled with malice.


    ¡°Why? What do you stand to gain from this treachery?¡± I said, still struggling to free myself.


    ¡°Power,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Power, Chris, pure and simple.¡± ¡°The throne belongs to those strong enough to seize it, and I intend to im what is rightfully mine.¡±


    My jaw tightened with resolve and my eyes filled with determination. ¡°You¡¯ll never get away with this, I promise you.¡±


    Lothar scoffed again. ¡°A promise is a debt, young man. We shall see,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll go fetch your little princess to keep youpany while  you cross to the other side.¡±


    Lucy, he was talking about Lucy. I struggled with the guards, my muscles straining against the force that held me captured.


    In a desperate attempt to save Lucy, I unleashed my wolf sense. It was amon approach between Alphas and their betas in the werewolf world, a way of passing information or getting the attention of their beta.


    There was no sign of Glen so I continued to fight my way out of their grip. They used weaponsced with wolfsbane to torture me, but I kept struggling and fighting back with all the strength I had left.


    I was bleeding all over due to the several cuts I had sustained during the fight. My strength was beginning to fail me due to the effect of the wolfsbane used on me. And just when I thought all hope was lost, Glen showed up, his appearance a wee sight amidst the chaos.


    With my beta by my side, we fought against the treacherous guards, des shing in a flurry of steel and fury. I was wounded grievously and lost my strength.


    After dealing with those guards, I with the help of Glen went in search of Lucy. I prayed silently that she be safe and away from Lothar¡¯s terror.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    Soon enough, we found Lucy but my worst fears were realised when Lothar stood right behind her. I tried to warn her but she didn¡¯t seem to understand. As Lothar got closer, he grabbed her, cing his de on her neck.


    Glen rushed towards him to save her but he was shoved aside by Lothar. More of my guards whom Lothar had won over grabbed I and Glen bounding our hands and feet.


    ¡°Stop fighting or your little jewel will be no more,¡± Lothar threatened.


    Struggling to push myself upright, my jaw tightened in fury despite the pain coursing through my body. ¡°You won¡¯t get away with this,¡± I said.


    Lothar simplyughed. ¡°I already have¡± he sneered. ¡°And there¡¯s nothing you can do about it.¡±


    With a heavy heart, I surrendered myself to Lothar. It was the least I could do, else he would kill my mate.  As I was dragged away by the guards, I could only watch as Lucy remained at the mercy of our enemies.


    My heart tore in despair. I had failed to protect my mate, I had failed to protect my pack. Maybe I was naive after all


    Maybe I wasn¡¯t fit to rule.

 Chapter Eighty Five

    CHRIS


    I, Chris Parker, the vibrant leader and alpha of the hallowed manes pack was now subjected to a life of misery. My guards who were once my loyal subordinates were now against me, torturing the hell out of me.


    I endured the torment of the dungeon with only one motive in mind, vengeance. The pain of the wolfsbane coursing my veins only served as fuel to my determination. I gritted my teeth in agony as the wolfsbane began to take its toll on me. But I refused to give my captors the satisfaction of seeing my falter.


    After much torture, Lothar decided to pay me a visit. The scorn on his face infuriated me, causing me to curse under my breath.


    ¡°You look a mess, Chris. I didn¡¯t reckon that my boys would be this harsh to their Alpha,¡± he mocked.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°You bloody traitor. I should give it to you. You yed your game so well,  betraying both father and son,¡± I said.


    ¡°Oh please don¡¯t tter me. I was just one step ahead of you folks in everything. You know,  I wasn¡¯t originally from here. Your father took me in and made me his beta. How could he trust a total stranger?¡± Lothar said.


    ¡°The elders warned him against me but he turned deaf ears to their warnings. He was a foolish man.¡±


    Lothar continued to spin tales of his betrayal and deceit while I listened with a steely resolve. Now I knew the depth of Lothar¡¯s treachery and my blood boiled at his audacity.


    ¡°Renounce the throne for me and I might spare you for old times sake.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy. I¡¯ll never renounce my throne for you, never,¡± I sneered.


    Lotharughed. ¡°This is not a negotiation, Chris.¡±


    ¡°Kill me instead. I¡¯ll never give up my right to you,¡± I said with determination and a new sense of resolve.


    Lothar fumed. ¡°I will give you until nightfall to make up your mind, otherwise I¡¯ll make your little mate a toy for my guards.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll fight you until myst breath,¡± I yelled.


    As I spoke, my heart clenched with fear for Lucy. The thought of her falling into the clutches of those traitors consumed me. I knew I was powerless to save her in my current predicament.


    As Lothar departed, I began to plot ways to escape from this ce. My beta, Glen, weak as well tried toe up with a perfect n to escape. Our minds raced with strategies and contingencies.


    ¡°We will get out of here, I promise,¡± Glen said. ¡°And when we do, we will make Lothar pay for his crimes. No one threatens my pack and gets away with it.¡±


    At nightfall, I expected Lothar to show up like he said he would but he didn¡¯t. That wasn¡¯t my major concern, my main worry was Lucy. I hadn¡¯t set my eyes on my since the day we were captured, Lothar had held her in a separate ce.


    One cold night, while we were asleep, I heard the dangling sound of keys at the gate. At first, I had thought it was Lothar until I sensed the presence of Lucy. Her eyes were filled with tears and fear as she struggled to find the right key to the gates.


    ¡°Lucy, what are you doing here?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m getting you out of here,¡± she said, her voice trembling.


    ¡°No, find a way out of this ce. I¡¯lle find you when all of this is over,¡± I said but she shook her head in disapproval.


    She continued to struggle with the locks, her body shaking visibly. Just then, Lothar and his guards came in. Immediately they grabbed her, taking the keys away from her.


    ¡°You think you can outsmart me,¡± Lothar said, pulling her hair.


    ¡°Get your hands off her. This is between you and I, let her go,¡± I snapped.


    ¡°I will if you renounce your throne for ms,¡± Lothar said.


    ¡°Never!! You¡¯ll have to kill me instead,¡± I said, my voice filled with determination.


    ¡°Alright, if that¡¯s what you want. Boys, she¡¯s all yours,¡± Lothar said, handing Lucy over to them.


    Lucy screamed as she was carried away by the guards. ¡°Let me go!!¡± she cried.


    ¡°Whatever happens to her tonight is your fault,¡± Lothar said and departed.


    I banged the gate in rage as I continued to hear Lucy¡¯s screams. The more her screams grew louder, the more my rage grew.


    My blood boiled in fury, and my wolf too growled in pain as I thought of the things they did to her. The thought of it made my rage grow as I fumed.


    As the chaos erupted around me, I felt my humanity slip away, consumed by the primal rage of my wolf. With each passing moment, the boundaries between man and beast blurred until I was no longer human.


    My transformation was swift and brutal, my muscles rippling as I tore through the dungeon gate with force.


    The sound of Lucy¡¯s screams mingled with the pounding of my heart as I fought to reach her. My mind was consumed with only one purpose; to protect her at all cost. The guards who had dared to touch her were now filled with terror at the sight of my wolf.


    With anger, I carved a path of destruction through my enemies. My dark red eyes red into theirs, I growled ferociously as my w tore at their flesh.


    They screamed and pleaded for mercy but I didn¡¯t listen.


    After I had killed them all, I sought after Lucy, my senses honed to a razor¡¯s edge as I searched for her. Eventually, I found her hiding in a corner, her eyes widened in fear at the monstrous figure before her.


    I gave out a low growl of reassurance, as I nudged her gently with my fur. Gradually I returned to my human form, pulling her close to me.


    ¡°I¡¯m here, nothing is going to happen to you. I¡¯ll protect you,¡± I assured.


    I handed her over to Glen. ¡°Stay with her. I¡¯ll end this madness tonight.¡±


    Leaving them behind, I went in search of Lothar. My anger fumed as I recalled all that the mage told me. All this while he had been the enemy within and I was too blind to see it. I was going to make him pay for betraying my trust.


    ¡°Looking for me,¡± Lothar called from a distance. He stood arms akimbo with a grin on his face. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with.¡±


    My upper lips curled over my sharp incisors. ¡°You traitor!¡± I said in wolf speak.


    Without another word, Iunched at Lothar, ws spread and ready to kill.


    Lothar and I collided, tearing at each other. He swiped at me, cutting a gash in my ear. I bit into his shoulder, he groaned and tried to shake me off but my fangs were pierced deep into his flesh.


    Soon my teeth lost grip and I fell to the ground. ¡°What makes you think a tiny pup like you can go against me?¡± Lothar snapped.


    I yanked him backward and threw him into a thick tree, cracking his ribs. He fell to the ground in a thud, breathing heavily and wincing from the pain.


    I sauntered towards him, a smirk imnted on my face. I towered over him, who kept his head down. He was bleeding and weak so I had the advantage.


    Without any sense of remorse, I struck him with my paw, his blood sttering over my body. ¡°This is for my father,¡± I said.


    Striking him again, I said. ¡°This is for my pack.¡±


    Lotharid there,ughing weakly. ¡°You¡¯re tougher than I thought,¡± he said, whining in pain.


    I stood over him, watching as life slowly slipped out of him. I got the revenge I wanted but this was far from over.

 Chapter Eighty Six

    LUCY


    Few days had passed since Lothar was killed. Normalcy returned in the pack and everything seemed to be going peacefully.


    With Lothar¡¯s tyranny finally vanquished,  the pack could begin to heal from the wounds of betrayal and deceit.


    My mother had returned to the pack after much persuasion from I and Chris. Though she preferred to be away from the pack considering how they had treated her and my father in the past. Her eyes filled up with tears as she recalled the past events.


    ¡°You did it, Lucy. You brought us back home,¡± my mother said, her tears flowing freely down her cheek.


    ¡°No, mother. We did. Without you, I wouldn¡¯t have had the courage to fight back,¡± I said, my voice shaky as I fought the tears.


    Chris¡¯ mother approached us, her expression pained as she apologised for the sins of her family. ¡°I¡¯m greatly sorry, Lucy, for all that my family put you through. We should have done better in finding the truth.¡±


    ¡°None of this is your fault, anyone would do the same if they were in your shoes,¡± my mother said.


    Now that peace had returned to both families, it was time to deal with the rest of those treacherous elders who connived with Cade in the past and brought destruction to the pack.


    Chris took me with him to face the council of the elders. Immediately they saw me, they began to murmur among themselves.


    ¡°What is this rogue doing in our midst? This is a disrespect to the council,¡± one of them uttered.


    ¡°The one who has disrespected the council is you,¡± Chris said, pointing at them. ¡°You all are not deserving of being among my cab members. You chose the enemy over your pack, your people.¡±


    ¡°Cade was never the enemy, he fought for a good course..¡± Orvyn said in a low tone, his head buried in shame.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    ¡°By killing innocent people?¡± Chris cuts in. ¡°Do you know how many lives we have lost in the past few months?¡±


    ¡°We only followed the directives of Orvyn, we had nothing to do with Cade directly,¡± one of the elders said.


    I red at them with disgust as they passed the me among themselves. I couldn¡¯t stand being in their midst so I begged to be excused.


    After his meeting with them, Chris began to reform the pack. The elders who had conspired with Cade were swiftly removed from their position and power and banished from the pack,  their influence forever extinguished.


    Chris also reinstated me and my mother back to the pack. No longer were we to be called rogues but members of the hallowed manes pack.


    ¡°Ask anything of me and I¡¯ll give it to you,¡± Chris said.


    I immediately remembered my friends and families I had left behind at the rogue pack. My stay here and fight for freedom wouldn¡¯t be worth it if I didn¡¯t bring them along.


    ¡°I have friends in the rogue pack who are of good heart, can you pardon their crimes and bring them in as well?¡± I pleaded.


    Chris looked at me in confusion. ¡°You want me to bring rogues to this ce. That¡¯s too much, Lucy¡±


    ¡°You said anything. This is what I want,¡± I pleaded once more.


    Chris nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll do that if that¡¯s what you want.¡±


    Gradually, the people of the pack began to ept us, they treated us with kindness except those who were indifferent about their decision. The hallowed manes pack had be a home for me and my mother.


    I stood at the veranda of the tree house,  my thoughts drifting to events that had unfolded in the past few days. I stood motionless, staring at the trees as the wind caressed the leaves.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been looking all over for you,¡± Chris said, cing his hands on my waist.


    ¡°I needed some time alone. I still can¡¯t believe that it¡¯s all over, my father¡¯s name is cleared all thanks to you,¡± I said passionately,  tears beginning to run down my cheeks.


    Suddenly he was at my side and I was held tightly, my sadness being controlled by his gentle touch. His hand stroked and caressed me to peace, his cheek nuzzling mine, his voice crooning intimate words of love and understanding over and over again until my body shuddered to a trembling halt.


    ¡°It was all you, my love. You fought for the truth, I did nothing,¡± he murmured, his lips caressing my forehead.


    I raised my hand to trace loving fingers over the hard, fine bones of his face, the tender curves of his mouth. ¡°I love you, Chris.¡±


    He seized my trembling hand, kissing my fingers before entwining them with his own.


    ¡°Lucy, I love you,¡± he said tenderly. ¡°Being with you is the best thing that has happened to me.¡±


    He searched my face with tortured eyes then caught me to his, holding me close, his voice rough. I found myself enfolded to the muscr strength of Chris¡¯ vibrant body, waves of heady desire storming through every part of my being.


    He lifted me and took me inside before cing me gently onto the bed. My head propped up on one arm, watching unashamedly as he struggled out of his own clothes, I was bewitched by the scent of his warm skin, the smooth power of his muscled arms, the corrugated leanness of his fkat abdomen, the sheer overpowering beauty of his potent masculinity.


    When he lowered his body to touch mine, I gasped, startled by the power and sped of my own arousal as his hands touched my breaststroke and his mouth worshipped the burgeoning apices.


    ¡°Please¡­¡± I forced the word out from pleasure swollen lips. ¡°Please..¡± my hands reached out, begging for the sce of his body, craving it.


    ¡°My heart, my body,¡± he breathed and gave himself to mepletely.


    A sound from the door jolted us. Glen opened it and immediately stepped out, apologising.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to interrupt but your mother requires your presence in preparation for your coronation, mydy.¡±


    I had totally forgotten,  tonight was my coronation as Luna of the pack and Chris¡¯ mother had been making arrangements for the event.


    ¡°Hold that thought, we¡¯ll get back to this after the coronation, ¡± I said.


    I made to move off the bed, only to be held in ce by one strong , muscr arm, whichtched around my waist.


    ¡°Where¡¯s your sense of priorities,  Luna?¡± Chris growled. ¡°As far as my future luna is concerned,  my needs take precedence over everyone and everything else!¡±


    A long timeter, wey once more in the totally consuming embrace of lovers at peace with themselves and the world. I knew with a deep satisfaction that there was nothing that could separate us from each other and that both I and Chris had truly found happiness and it would be forever.


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