Ch. 226..230: The Rogue is a Female Alpha chapter 226-230
Back Where 226
“Lycan, stop…” A giggle slipped from me as I moved away from him, putting a distance I thought was safe. I laughed, smiling at him.
We had just left the chamber after bathing and making love, but it seemed the more we gave into each other, the stronger the thirst grew.
I wondered if it was because of the ring now on my finger, or simply the reality that we were engaged, bound to be married soon.
He wouldn’t stop coming for me, and I wouldn’t stop wanting him until I finally pulled away to find a safe distance, to dress and focus.
He watched me from where he stood, then raised a hand as though surrendering.
“Alright, wife,” he said with a wink before turning to get
dressed.
But I froze. Because the way it sounded was so perfect, so tantalizing. Wife. That I would be his. Swallowing hard, I reached for my gown and began to dress.
I was nearly done, only the zipper remained, when I turned to him for help. Lycannar was standing there, gaze fixed on me. I hadn’t realized he’d been watching all along.
“Can you help me with the zip?” I asked, my eyes on him. He didn’t answer, and somehow his silence thickened the air, turning the moment tense.
“Zephyrine,” he said suddenly, “how about we get married before the next full moon?”
I raised a brow, as though he’d lost his mind.
“That’s just… a week from now, Lycan.” I murmured, but he only stood still, waiting. His silence stretched until I had to swallow. “I… I… maybe we should wait. Until Varyn is strong enough to reclaim his crown as Alpha.” Get full chapters from
He stopped, eyes fixed on me, and after what felt like an eternity, he asked quietly,
“What if your brother never likes me? Will you still be my
wife?”
The question choked the chamber, heavy, suffocating. I smoothed it with a shrug.
“I am the love of Varyn’s life, and I’m not bragging. He’ll love whoever I love.” Smiling, I
walked to him, turning my back so he could help with my gown.
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He came close, his fingers brushing my bare back as he slid the zipper up, then leaned down to whisper,
“But what if he truly is against our marriage, Zephyrine? Will you still
The rawness in his voice startled me. He wanted to know the truth.
I turned to meet his eyes.
go on with it?”
“If your sisters or brother were against our union, would you still go on with it?” I asked.
He stilled.
“They won’t be against anyone who makes me happy.”
“Same for mine,” I whispered. “Varyn will love you. And if he doesn’t at first… he’ll learn to. Because before you today, Lycannar Blood, you will be my husband.”
***
I descended the stairs, ready to begin the day by dropping a bombshell across the empire with Luna Tahlia’s arrival. But when I entered the dining hall, I froze.
Lycannar hadn’t told me his family would be here. Wait. Hadn’t he said he quarreled with his uncle yesterday? Why were they still here?
“Come, take your seat,” my love said gently, guiding me to the chair beside his and pulling it
out for me.
I bowed my head respectfully before his cousins, his aunt, and uncle. They returned the gesture.
To
my
side sat his sisters, and I went to them first, wrapping my arms around each.
“I should have known you were here with my baby brother. He’s in far too good a mood,” Princess Serena teased, and I smiled. Turning to Princess Mearez, I found her staring at me in quiet awe.
“Shouldn’t you be with your brother?” she asked.
“There’s little I can do for him now except watch him rest. He’s in safe hands,” I answered softly, before glancing at her arm, where Varyn had once slashed her. “Are you alright?”
“Perfectly fine. You shouldn’t worry about me and…”
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Her words stopped abruptly. Even Princess Serena, who had been grinning, rushed forward, nearly tripping.
The ring. They had seen it.
Their eyes flew to mine in horror.
“I… I uh… wait,” Princess Serena stammered, her face pale as she tried to piece it together. “Please tell me this is just an engagement ring.”
Hope. They all hoped. Desperately.
I bit my lower lip, then burst into a giggle.
“I said yes,” I confessed softly.
In an instant, Princess Serena, loud as ever, squealed and threw her arms around me.
“My gods, my goddess! Finally. Finally! I love you. I love you so much. Congratulations! No, wait… it’s my baby brother I should congratulate for bagging such a woman!”
I laughed gently, but when I turned, my heart tightened. He was watching me from his chair, eyes locked, pampering, obsessing, loving.
Lycannar.
“Zephyrine.”
Princess Mearez’s voice drew me back. She rose, took my hand gently, her eyes steady on
mine.
“Are you sure this is what you want?”
Her question made me frown. It was almost as if…
“I love him,” I said softly.
She nodded slowly.
“Love and acceptance are not the same. You know how he is. The limits, the flaws, the curse…‘
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“We’ll work on all that, Princess Mearez,” I cut her off gently, grateful for her concern even though her brother’s happiness was at stake. “I love Lycannar, and I want to spend my life with
17:36 Fri, Sep 19 B…
him. In his tower, where I know I’ll find peace.”
“And you
will have no regret?”
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The voice came not from her, but from Dareth, Lycannar’s uncle, cutting through the air. We all turned to him.
“The ring on your finger,” he said, eyes sharp. “Look at it well. It is a symbol of two powers. Dark and light. Do you even understand what that means?”
My heart clenched. I lowered my gaze to the ring. He was right. One side was carved of sacred black quartz, the other of the purest gold, fused together into something ancient, sacred.
I bit my lip, looking back at the man as he continued.
“You have no idea who this king truly is, young lady. I hear you are an Ashmere, from one of the most prestigious families. Will you allow a Blood, no, a man not even fully a Blood to taint you?”
I swallowed hard. Not fully a Blood?
“He is not who you…”
“I think that’s enough.”
The deep voice came from behind, stopping me cold. The air shifted, strange and heavy. Ancient. Almost… unholy.
“I think that’s enough, uncle,” the voice continued. “A couple will work out their own fate. People like you and me have no say when love is involved.”
Slowly, I turned. And for the second time, I saw him.
Hades.
Lycannar’s older brother. Same mother, different father.
He was here.
Dressed in black, eyes sharp and steady, beauty carved too perfectly, as if the moon goddess herself had played favorites. Power radiated off him. And I noticed, with a shiver that he was dripping. Water pooling around his boots.
Back Where 227I have felt a certain energy the first time I saw Lycannar. An energy that seemed to call out to my wolf. I also felt a faint trace of that same energy when I met Chantel for the first time.
Now I feel that energy again, standing before this powerful man. I know he isn’t the King of this kingdom, but I swear he carries the air of a ruler.
From what I have heard so far, he is a man born from another woman, not from the dead Lycan King. Yet staring at him closely, I would bet my life he has a throne waiting for him.
He looks a little like Lycannar, more rugged, and from his posture he certainly carries the air
of a womanizer.
I swallowed, nearly slapping myself for letting that thought cross my mind. Slowly, I bowed my head before him.
Whether he is a King or not, being Lycannar’s half–brother makes him a prince in this kingdom, the eldest sibling. I have seen how Lycannar addresses him with both respect and love. He deserves my bow.
His footsteps drew closer, and I looked up to see him standing before me. His gaze was fixed on me, steady and piercing, and I swallowed under its weight, staring into those striking eyes.
Up close… he was even more stunning. And intimidating.
“You are beautiful,” his voice reached me.
“Thank you.”
His gaze dropped gently to my hand, to the ring on my finger. He reached out, took my hand, and lifted it to inspect the band encircling my finger before looking back at me.
“You said yes?” The question carried weight, as though he wanted to be sure I knew what I had stepped into.
“Yes, I do.”
“You said yes to Apex?” he pressed, more firmly this time. I swallowed, recognizing he was testing my love, my devotion.
“I love him, and I said yes.”
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“You won’t be able to pull that ring off now that it’s on you. It’s still fresh. You can still resist, say no, if you know your commitment will waver once the truth comes out. Because after this very moment, you’ll never be free again.”
He spoke as if this was my last chance to escape hell, and if I failed to take it, I would be doomed forever. I blinked at his face, wondering why he spoke like this.
Tension rose. No one moved. Not even Lycannar.
“If you think the love I have for your younger brother won’t stand the test of time and truth, then you are wrong,” I said firmly, standing before Hades, my heart thudding. “I love him as a King, as a man, and I will love him as my husband.”
He searched my eyes for one long, heart–stopping second, waiting for me to falter. When I didn’t, he leaned in, kissed the back of my palm, and straightened with a smile.
“Welcome to the family, love. Tell me, what do you want for a present?”
I stilled.
“A present?”
“You’ve accepted my little brother as your man. You deserve a present,” he said with a teasing smile.
“You make it sound like he’s a burden, which he never is.”
“Really?” he replied, smiling as his gaze shifted to Lycannar. I followed his eyes, staring at the man I was going to marry. Never had I been more proud.
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I smiled to myself and turned back to Hades, only to see him staring at me, watching, as though studying me.
“You are in love with him. I see it clearly now.”
“My baby brother isn’t that bad,” Princess Serena said, and I was about to smile when Uncle Dareth’s voice cut in.
“But it would do her a lot of good if someone told the poor she–wolf what she’s walking into.”
I froze. Once could be brushed off, but twice now was suspicious. I turned to him, and he smiled at me.
“My dear, won’t you ask questions?”
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“If this is because of what happened last night, Uncle Dareth, you should stop now. Whatever Zephyrine needs to know, her man will tell her,” Princess Serena said hotly, but the man only chuckled dryly before turning back to me.
“A ravaging beast, bound in golden chains at his ankles. Won’t you still ask questions?”
Silence fell. I stared at the man, remembering Lycannar had mentioned they argued yesterday. Did he have to be so blunt?
I frowned at Uncle Dareth.
“You are his uncle. You know how much he has endured. Why are you adding salt to an unhealed wound?” He opened his mouth to reply, but I raised my hand, not letting him finish. “I know he has secrets. I know truths will come later. Some I may even find terrifying, but we will work through them together. I respect you as his uncle and the King’s advisor, but you should not speak of my man like that. To mock his curse, his differences… it is not polite.”
Silence spread again. Uncle Dareth stared at me for what felt like an eternity, clearly not expecting me to take Lycannar’s side so firmly.
“You know he has fangs?” he asked suddenly, and I froze. This time, Hades lost his patience.
“What happened yesterday?” he demanded, to no one in particular. I stepped back, waiting. “Apex?”
“Baron wanted the crown. I asked him to try it on.”
“And?”
“He nearly died, but I saved him. I think my uncle is still angry at me for that.”
At this, Hades turned to Dareth. His wife, Aunt Eiryn, cleared her throat.
“I want to apologize for that incident, Your Majesty,” she said, her eyes first on Lycannar, then on Hades. “My husband and son crossed a line. They should be punished, but I beg forgiveness on their behalf.”
Everyone turned to Lycannar, waiting. He lowered his gaze, silent for a long moment, before murmuring,
“I hold no grudges. They’d be dead if I did.”
The truth of it chilled the air. Everyone shifted uneasily.
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Hades sighed and walked toward Baron. His steps were slow, almost casual, but everyone froze when he paused behind the Beta who had coveted the crown. They stiffened further when Hades leaned in, placed a hand on Baron’s shoulder, and squeezed gently.
“Just because Apex doesn’t speak much doesn’t mean he isn’t dangerous. Be careful, dear cousin. Be careful. We are one big family with the darkest secrets, and we should hold onto one another. The crown is Apex’s burden. If you wear it, you won’t survive ten seconds. That is one of his curses. Consider this a small insight.”
Then he straightened, smiling at me.
“My dear, will you lend me your fiancé for a while?”
I swallowed and nodded. Without another word, Hades walked toward the stairs of the tower. Lycannar rose from his seat.
“You don’t leave without informing me, okay?” he said, and I nodded.
“Okay.”
I watched him disappear up the stairs with his brother. After his departure, I let out a shaky sigh.
The burden. The weight. The hate and secrets. Why does Lycannar carry so much? What was his offense?
Back Where 228
“What?!”
He rolled his eyes.
“Will you keep your voice down? You want to alert my sisters and get them worried?” he scolded, and I stared at him again, still unable to believe my ears. “He is after my life. I can’t stay there. I’m in exile, so I decided I should come here.”
“You have got to be kidding me. This isn’t a place of exile for you. Father will be furious with me if I harbor a fugitive.” I groaned, frustrated, then turned back to him when it struck me. “What about the wedding? I thought you were going to endure a loveless one just so I could be happy.”
This time, he looked at me as if I had completely lost my mind.
“You are the same one who warned me not to get married to that crazy woman because she’d be the end of me on the very night of our wedding. Will you still force me into it?”
“Then how will I marry Zephyrine if you refuse to sacrifice yourself? Father is already mad at
back you. He will think I’m the one supporting you in all this. Why did you have to rebel, go on your word, and flee?”
He sighed, leaning against the wall, raking his fingers through his hair.
“I hate the fact that my father is a King. I hate the idea of sitting on the throne. It’s… boring and filled with madness and unholy nonsense.” He let out another weary breath. “I don’t know why he won’t let me be. I don’t want to be King if it means letting him choose a wife for me. He wouldn’t agree, so I left. He called it treason and ordered me to be executed on sight. Surely you won’t ask me to go back home?”
I swallowed and looked away, helpless.
“So… you’ll be staying here?”
“Right here, in this exile with you, until I figure out how to smooth things out. Maybe you can go home and talk to him on my behalf but… wait.” He paused, frowning. “What’s with Uncle Dareth?”
At that, I leaned back against the wall, groaning.
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“I honestly don’t know why he hates me so much. Yesterday he said straight to my face that I belong nowhere. That…” I swallowed, meeting my brother’s eyes. “That his words cut me deep. Broke me, because… they’re true.”
Silence lingered between us until he suddenly smacked my shoulder hard, making me wince from the sting.
“Say that again and I’ll never speak to you again,” he snapped, making me stare at him. “If he’s getting on your nerves too much, why don’t you just kill him already?”
I shook my head, sighing.
“Zephyrine won’t have it. I tried once, but she looked at me as if I were insane. She told me killing isn’t the solution to every threat.”
“Well, she’s smart. Half–truth though, because sometimes you do have to kill a threat to solve a problem. Not always end their life, but remove them so a solution can be found.”
He studied me again before lowering his gaze to murmur,
“You didn’t tell me you were going to propose to her.”
I swallowed, whispering back,
“I didn’t know I would either.” His eyes searched mine, waiting. “I’m scared, Brother Hades. I’ve never been this scared in my entire life. Father prepared me with harshness to face every battle, but he never prepared me for this kind of… situation. What do I do if her brother wakes from his trance and tells her the truth?”
“Is that why you gave her the ring already?”
I swallowed hard, finally admitting,
“I was afraid I might never have the chance to tell her what I truly want her to be in my life. My wife.” I sighed. “I want her so much, it’s driving me insane.”
Silence fell between us until at last he spoke.
“You will have her.”
I lifted my eyes to him, and he nodded.
“However it happens, Apex, you’ll have her. But honestly, the woman I just spoke to is sharp. She knows what she wants. She isn’t the type to say yes if she isn’t ready to endure your… strangeness.
“I’m strange?”
“Demons are strange. But you, my brother, the first ever hybrid, are the strangest of them all. You don’t speak to strangers, you avoid physical contact, you won’t hold a gaze, and you live alone in a black tower. Of course you’re strange.”
He stepped back, glancing down the hall.
“Is Chantel at home?”
“Yeah.”
“He’s strange too. Inherited that trait from you.” He sighed and looked back at me. “So what’s it going to be? Do I go back to my realm and get slaughtered, or stay here? Am I allowed?”
I narrowed my eyes at him.
“As if you’ve given me a choice. What am I supposed to tell our sisters about why you’re here?”
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“A warlord and the next King who suddenly needs a vacation? Try again.”
“Then tell them whatever you want. Just not the truth, not yet. I can’t deal with Mearez’s silent rage or Serena’s endless nagging.”
“So what about me bringing an Ashmere to Father?” I pressed. “You promised him he’d accept any woman I chose if you agreed to settle down as King. But now you’re a fugitive. How am I supposed to go about my marriage?”
Before he could respond, footsteps sounded, and Zephyrine appeared in the hall. She paused.
“Uhm… I’m sorry if I interrupted. Lycannar, I’ll be on my way now. It’s almost time for me to leave.”
I nodded.
“I’ll walk you to the carriage. You’re heading back to your pack?”
“Not really. I want to go to Blackbridge Pack. There’s something I have to do.”
“Something what?” I asked, surprised she hadn’t told me earlier. “Is everything alright?”
“Certainly. Uhm… Luna Tahlia is making her appearance, taking back her pack. She’s arriving today to stop an execution. I will…”
“Execution?!” I exclaimed. “Something this big, and you didn’t say a word to me about it?”
“We were focused on our engagement, Lycannar. I’m sorry.” She stepped closer and took my hand. “I’m fine. Let me go.”
Silence stretched. I didn’t want her to go. I didn’t want her to go alone. I wanted to accompany her but then my brother’s voice cut in.
“How about this? I’ll accompany her. You can go home on my behalf, speak with Father, and uh… bring me some clothes. How about that?”
I turned to him in disbelief.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. What if he holds me down and demands I be King?”
“Then
you should be. Aren’t you the son of a Queen too?”
I groaned, exhausted, before resigning to fate.
“Fine. But please keep her safe for me.”
“You have my word.” He turned to Zephyrine then, smiling faintly. “Though I doubt she’ll need protecting. She’s an Ashmere after all. An Alpha.”
Back Where 229
“I will come back to say goodbye when I am ready to return home,” she said to my sisters, and Mearez nodded, sighing.
“I apologize for the drama and the scene Uncle Dareth caused. He’s not always that hateful and… we are truly a great family for you to marry into.” She took Zephyrine’s hand. “You’re not upset by his outburst, are you?” Original content can be found at find[ɴ]ovel.net
Zephyrine stared into my sister’s eyes, the way she always did whenever she was surprised by something.
“I don’t understand why everyone acts like Lycannar is someone I must never marry. If you look at it from the bigger picture, I believe I am the lucky one.” She shook her head. “Nothing about him or his family will change how I feel. I’ll take my leave now.”
Serena immediately reached out.
“I already told you, Mearez. Zephyrine is going to be our sister–in–law. I can’t wait to plan the wedding. When is it happening?”
At that, Zephyrine turned to me for help. I stepped forward, gently pulling her away from my sisters‘ loving pressure.
“We’ll discuss that when the time comes. She needs to leave now.” I entwined my fingers with hers and led her toward the exit, stopping by her carriage.
I turned as Hades walked up. His clothes were already drying on him, clinging to his body, and he stood out plainly in the hall.
“Lend me your horse, little brother,” he said. I nodded before turning back to Zephyrine, smiling at her face. My future wife. I was… thrilled.
“My brother will accompany you,” I told her, and she nodded, her gaze slipping past me to Hades as he headed toward the royal stable.
“Your brother… is he a womanizer?” she asked, raising my brows.
I glanced at Hades just as he disappeared around the corner, then turned back to my woman.
“Why… are you curious?” I asked, suspicious.
I pulled back, as though struck by jealousy, but she only laughed and playfully punched me.
“He’s handsome, yes, but no one will ever be as gorgeous as my future husband.”
The way she called me that made me swallow hard. My jealousy melted, and I held her by the waist, tucking her hair gently behind her ear.
“My brother has a harem full of women, but Father wants him married. He’s a womanizer, in a way but only because he’s never committed to one woman. Like I have.”
She chuckled and leaned up on her toes to kiss me.
“I should get going, Lycannar. I don’t want the event to start before I arrive.”
“Then I should let you go,” I whispered, but I couldn’t release her. I held her hostage in my gaze, drinking in her beauty, before leaning in to kiss her again. “I am obsessed with you, Zephyrine Ashmere.”
She swallowed at my confession, and her response came just as heavy.
“I love you, Lycannar Apex Blood.”
***
The door of my stepfather, the Demon King, opened wide as I stepped inside, water dripping from me onto the floor. I lingered at the doorway, watching the last of his servants file out of the chamber, leaving the King and I alone.
Power. That was the first thing I felt in the vast, dimly lit room. After the final maid shut the door, my father lay back against his pillows, sighing before a cough tore through him.
I crossed to the table, poured him a drink, and carefully brought it to his bedside. Helping him sit, I held the cup to his lips, though he barely drank. He coughed it back, weakly sighing, and I eased him down again. I set the cup aside, bowed low, and swallowed.
“Father.”
In response, he reached for a pillow and hurled it at me. It landed short, at my feet. Quietly, I knelt before him, pressing my forehead to the ground.
“Father.”
“Your brother… I will have his head the next time he dares stand before me. He is a fugitive, condemned to death. Anyone harboring him will face the Abyss’s wrath. If by chance he hides. in the Lycan Kingdom, you must cast him out. Otherwise, if you fail…”
“Father,” I interrupted softly, keeping my head bowed. “My brother Hades cannot marry the woman you chose for him. She will kill him the very night of the wedding. I have seen it.”
At that, silence fell. Slowly, I raised my eyes, only to find him watching me. He coughed, sank back into the pillows, and sighed with weary breath.
“Your father… he once said you would be the death of everyone. He sought to destroy you in the war five years ago, and I agreed. Perhaps you know this now, and you punish me for it.”
I dropped back into a bow, my palms flat against the floor.
“I would never harbor such feelings against you, Father,” I murmured, swallowing hard. “Though… it hurts, knowing you complied.”
Another heavy sigh escaped him. Slowly, he spoke.
“There are many things I regret as a King, and as a father. But I will set them right before this sickness takes me. You and your brother if neither of you will sit on the Demon Throne with the bride I’ve chosen, then you must present your fated mates. Only then will I let you both go free.”
I froze. My jaw fell without my knowing.
“Father, but… Hades is the heir, and…”
“You are also an heir!” he snapped, coughing harshly. I bowed again. “Being King of the Lycans does not free you from your responsibility here. You are my son too. You are an Abyss as much as you are a Blood. One of you must take the throne. If Hades refuses, then it will be you. Since you both spurn the woman I chose, bring forth your true mates. You have until the third day of the next full moon. If either of you fail to appear, we will have scores to settle.”
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I had never known I’d welcome the idea of Hades accompanying me until I glanced out the window and saw him riding his horse beside the carriage.
He looked calm, but I swore beneath that expression something dark was brewing.
Lycannar was calm too, but I trusted his calmness more than Hades’s. Something had happened back there and I could feel it. Uncle Dareth had nearly revealed something, something so dark it made me wonder if saying yes to Lycannar was a choice I should rethink.
I sighed gently, closed the window, and leaned back in my seat. Now that we had left the Lycan Kingdom, I realized something was truly brewing beyond its walls.
The carriage rolled into the open, and the first passerby we came across said something that raised my brows.
“You mean Blackwater is no more?”
“Don’t you listen to the news? Apex and an Ashmere did it. Guess what else. They freed thousands of slaves. Now the slaves sing their praises.”
I froze where I sat, raising an eyebrow in awe. The slaves were singing our praises? Truly?
I was just about to push the thought away when another voice rang out.
“Are you sure we’re not late for the execution? We can’t miss the traitor’s death.”
I stiffened, nearly rolling my eyes. Of course Kaela must have lied about Warrior June’s so- called offense to make herself look righteous and saintly.
“But think about it. How could Apex conquer thousands of men in a single night?” another passerby asked. One chuckled.
“I’ve always known he could wield a sword. Don’t you see how handsome he is?”
“Wish he’d host an event, open the Lycan gates for us all. Maybe then we’d have a chance at him.”
A girlish giggle followed, and at last I lost my patience. I pushed forward, parting the curtain, ready to challenge them, only to stop short.
What I thought were just passersby turned out to be a mass of people all moving toward the market square. My jaw dropped.
Was this really just a simple execution or a public one? No, something larger was happening
here.
I closed the curtain, sat back, and thought it through. What had happened overnight? Why was there such a crowd? Why was everyone gathering all at once?
Those questions still burned when the carriage halted, and I leaned forward, wondering why. I was about to call out when the curtain parted and Hades appeared, palm extended.
“Come out, sister–in–law. The carriage can’t go further than this.”
I raised an eyebrow at him but placed my hand in his. He steadied me, his palm brushing my lower back as I stepped out and my jaw fell.open.
Almost the entire populace of the surrounding packs had gathered. All to watch an execution. Ahead, tables and chairs were arranged like a tribunal, the three Council members seated.
Kaela and her father were present, as well as every Alpha from every corner of the Shifter Empire.
And there, unmistakable Warrior June.
Stripped to the waist, clad only in torn trousers, bleeding from countless wounds. Tortured to the very edge of death.
The crowd was so dense my carriage couldn’t have gone further even if it tried. I scanned the square, searching for the Ash Pack’s seat, but found none.
So I turned toward the White Pack’s table instead, drawing Hades with me. His hand stayed firm on my back as the crowd parted to let us through, until we reached Alpha Auedric.
We had barely arrived when Nyroth of the Hue Pack rushed forward, nearly startling me.
“Zeph, what are you doing here?” His voice was sharp. Then his eyes darted to Hades beside me, his brow creasing. “You’ve got a new man now?”
Hades chuckled under his breath.
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“Crazy fellow,” he murmured, his glare so sharp it made Nyroth stumble back in sudden fear.
Before I could speak, another voice rang out. The murmurs of the crowd died with it.
“You. I heard what you did at Blackwater with Apex. Tell me, how will you explain to the Council that you wiped out an entire pack just to save your crazy brother?”
Silence fell. Too much silence. My throat nearly closed as her words sank in. Had I heard right?
I stared into her eyes, a hot urge to strangle her boiling up. But before I could act, Hades’s hand brushed softly at my back. Calming. Steadying. Somehow, it helped.
“I heard your brother is insane and wouldn’t stand trial at the Wolf Fortress. Seems you failed, Ashmere.” Her smirk widened. “Just as you will fail now, watching Warrior June die for the crime of not stopping you and Apex from storming into Blackwater. He will pay for your sins with his blood. You aren’t even a proper Alpha anymore. Your presence here is worthless. You can’t save him.”
Another silence. I searched her eyes, shook my head, goosebumps crawling over my skin. Because I could hear it, the sound of hooves, the wheels of a carriage approaching. The arrival of the true owner of Blackbridge Pack.
At last, I smirked. Straightened my shoulders. And whispered to Kaela’s face.
“Who said I came here to save Warrior June?” I leaned closer to her ear. “I came to watch the Yadevs fall.”
I pulled back, seeing her confusion. She giggled.
“You think you, an Alpha, can do that?”
“Who said I’d waste my strength on you or your thieving father? I can’t meddle with Blackbridge Pack. But she can.”
No sooner had I spoken than the carriage rolled to a stop.
Every head turned. Every murmur ceased.
The guards who flanked it were from Ash Pack. The crest upon it was mine.
When the curtain parted and she descended, gasps rose so loud they shattered the silence.
Luna Tahlia, with Young Black.