Home / Werewolf / Breeder or Mate: The Crimson Threshold / Chapter 21 – The Witch's Gambit

Share

Chapter 21 – The Witch's Gambit

Author: Florence Su
last update Last Updated: 2025-04-19 03:04:41

Crown Prince Raul’s Point of View

The sight of Ivor and Lilias glued together was nothing short of unsettling, igniting a burning jealousy within me that I had never felt before.

This witch had practically claimed my Secretary as her prize for aiding us in our covert infiltration of Woodcrest, and then they had disappeared into the forest, laughter and whispers flowing between them like they were destined mates. She had requested some rare herbs only found in our woods, and after a dramatic inspection of our kitchen, she ultimately declared it suitable for brewing her potion.

From my father’s office window, I observed them with a growing sense of envy.

Ivor, usually as stoic as a stone gargoyle, had his arm possessively draped around her waist, defending her like a sacred treasure. This all left me dumbfounded. I had always known him to be attracted to fragile, chestnut-haired beauties, those delicate flowers who seemed like they’d crumble in a gust.

Bu
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter

Related chapters

  • Breeder or Mate: The Crimson Threshold   Chapter 22 – On Another Plan

    As soon as we entered the fast-food restaurant in Human Town, I was overwhelmed by the delicious smells of greasy and sugary food. The sound of people chatting filled the air, a sharp contrast to the tense silence we had in the SUV. My stomach growled loudly, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten a decent meal in a long time.Ivor pointed to the long line at the cash register.There were many humans waiting, mixed with a few wolves trying to blend in. Everyone was eager to get food during their lunch break."Looks like it’ll be a while," he sighed with a hint of impatience. "I should get in line and order before it gets too crowded."Lilias chose a massive salad that was vibrant and fresh, standing out against the greasy options on the menu. She also took a slice of apple pie and a healthy smoothie. Although I found the peculiar eating habits of witches somewhat intriguing, the notion that her obsession with vegetables was a way to stay connected to nature struck me as absolute nonsense.

    Last Updated : 2025-04-20
  • Breeder or Mate: The Crimson Threshold   Chapter 23 – The Beta's Bargain

    "Raul, why don’t we just storm that pack and take your mate with us? That Alpha and his lousy members could never be stronger than you and me. We’re Lycans, for Selene’s sake!"Yeah, I’d seen this coming, Ivor couldn’t keep his composure as he watched his mate sneak glances at the handsome Beta seated two tables away.The man sat there with an infuriating calmness, focused entirely on his meal.He didn’t even acknowledge the group of women attempting to catch his attention, some of whom had leaned provocatively closer to him, offering their company with bright smiles. None of it fazed him. He refused each advance politely but firmly, keeping his eyes locked on the plate in front of him. The sight of his piled chicken and burgers mirrored our own plates, but unlike us, his cool detachment stood out even more among the lively crowd."I wanted to do that the night we realized she was gone from Alpha Jermain’s house in Human Town," I replied steadily, though my frustration lingered just b

    Last Updated : 2025-04-20
  • Breeder or Mate: The Crimson Threshold   Chapter 24 – The Beta's Boast

    Royal Secretary Ivor’s Point of ViewNever before had I felt so insignificant as I did moments ago, sitting at that restaurant table.To be so utterly dismissed, so blatantly ignored, was a new and unwelcome experience.Damn it! Had I possessed even a sliver of foresight that mates could be this annoying, I would have vehemently refused to offer myself to that witch. She had humiliated me in the worst way possible, shamelessly ogling the Beta as if I were invisible. And all of it had transpired before my very eyes!My fists clenched, the knuckles turning white. It was a Herculean task to restrain my temper.She had acted as if I wasn’t there, as if my presence meant nothing. No self-respecting wolf would tolerate such blatant disregard from their mate.Was she testing me? Did she think she could push me around, set the terms of our bond, dictate how things would go between us? A foolish notion. Whatever she had hoped to accomplish with her audacity, it was wasted on me. I couldn’t car

    Last Updated : 2025-04-20
  • Breeder or Mate: The Crimson Threshold   Chapter 25 - The Luna

    As the car rolled into Woodcrest, a startling realization gripped me like a vice.Something was definitely wrong here!I inhaled sharply, expecting the tapestry of scents, the layered musk of wolves, the defining signature of each pack. But nothing happened.My pulse spiked. I could no longer tell them apart. The intricate knowledge I had relied on, the subconscious recognition of scents tied to territories and packs, was completely gone.Damn! My breath hitched.This had to be the potion’s effect. Lilias hadn’t warned about this. But I now knew that just as others couldn’t detect my Lycan, I was stripped of the one crucial tool I needed to navigate enemy ground.Sweat pricked at the back of my neck. My only advantage, my ability to discern friends from foe, was wiped out.This was bad.It made things dangerously complicated. How was I supposed to find Zela now? I forced my breathing to steady while I consoled myself.No panic. No hesitation. I needed another way, another method to id

    Last Updated : 2025-04-21
  • Breeder or Mate: The Crimson Threshold   Chapter 26 - All Mates Stay

    In the calm of his room, Ivor paced anxiously, the rich decor becoming a hazy backdrop to his restless thoughts. He replays his meeting with Alpha Nerville, a nagging suspicion clawing at his thoughts, had the man betrayed Raul? If so, it was a reckless act, one Raul would never let slide without dire consequences. The evening's festivities loomed close, organized by Beta Aren, and Ivor knew it could be his only chance to find Zela.With resolve tightening within him, he activated the mind link with the Crown Prince.‘Ivor! Have you found her?’ Raul immediately asked with urgency.“I’m already in but haven’t seen Zela yet,” Ivor admitted, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “But listen to this. Alpha Jermain is marked and mated to a she-wolf named Chrissy. She doesn’t match Zela at all, and the bond they share feels genuine.”Raul’s confusion rippled through their connection. ‘What? Are you sure you’re not missing something? You need to be alert. Where could she be?’‘I’m

    Last Updated : 2025-04-21
  • Breeder or Mate: The Crimson Threshold   Chapter 27 - Unforeseen Complications

    Standing in the garden, the cool night air did little to soothe the storm brewing in Ivor’s mind. Alpha Jermain’s request was a dangerous gamble, one that threatened everything.‘Damn! I’m already mated. How am I supposed to pull this off?’ raced through his mind.Each breath filled his lungs with a bittersweet longing as he thought of Lilias, the fierce witch waiting for him back in Human Town. They didn’t know each other for long, their bond was forged by Royal decree, but he already loved her deeply.‘No one but she can be my mate,’ he whispered to himself. The thought of her waiting, unaware of the chaos unfolding in Woodcrest, knotted his stomach with unease. He imagined her fiery spirit, her vibrant energy, the loyalty she had promised him.But Lilias wasn’t just anyone, she was a witch, gifted with the ability to see through deception like no other. If she ever found out that he had succumbed to the Alpha’s demand to seek a mate here, she wouldn’t hesitate to deal with him. Th

    Last Updated : 2025-05-01
  • Breeder or Mate: The Crimson Threshold   Chapter 28 – Echoes in the Night

    Alpha Female Zela’s Point of ViewThe night stretched before me like an open canvas, painted in shades of deep blue and shimmering silver.The lake mirrored the moon’s ethereal glow, each ripple carving hypnotic patterns in the stillness, an illusion of peace, mocking my inner turmoil. I had opted to stay behind while the Alpha and Chrissy attended the gaudy party at the packhouse. Parties were not for me at the moment, it would turn out to be a masquerade ball, where I’d be forced to don a mask of feigned joy while secretly scheming my escape.Here I was, a captive in Woodcrest, wrenched from my home, and every soul in that party was complicit in my captivity. No one would dare challenge Alpha Jermain, not even to spare me from his cruel scheme.As I stood on the shore, I tipped my chin toward the moon, my thoughts spiraled into a chaotic maelstrom.I had to act fast. My abduction had to be exposed before I became another pawn in Jermain’s twisted plans. But reaching out to my father

    Last Updated : 2025-05-01
  • Breeder or Mate: The Crimson Threshold   Chapter 29 – The Ticking Clock

    Alpha Female Zela’s Point of ViewWith an unstoppable drive burning within me like wildfire, I urged my wolf, Era, forward toward the packhouse. Amanda sprinted alongside me, her wolf’s fur glistening under the moonlight, the weight of our shared secrets heavy upon us. We were bound by an unspoken urgency, the kind that comes only when you know the ground beneath you is about to shift.As we reached her home, Amanda dashed ahead, her heart racing as she headed for her bedroom. I watched her dive into preparations, packing clothes into her suitcase with an intensity that conveyed her desire to escape, much like someone fleeing a gathering storm.But the grief in her eyes betrayed the fear of abandoning the only life she'd known. Leaving friends and family behind for an unknown future was the hardest decision a werewolf could ever make. I wanted to offer comfort, to promise we’d meet again in Silver Bow, but the words caught in my throat.“I can’t believe I’m actually doing this,” she m

    Last Updated : 2025-05-02

Latest chapter

  • Breeder or Mate: The Crimson Threshold   Chapter 32 – The Chase and the Choice

    ‘Raul! I found her!’ Ivor’s voice exploded through the mind link, bursting with excitement again.‘Zela! She’s here in Woodcrest! I saw her, standing right in front of me, looking straight at me!’ Raul jolted upright in bed, adrenaline surging through the thick fog of sleeplessness that had plagued him for too many nights. Zela’s absence had been a relentless shadow, haunting him like a ghost, and now, a flicker of hope ignited in his chest, illuminating the darkness that had settled over him since she disappeared. ‘Did you talk to her? What did she say? Has she acknowledged I was her mate?’ Each word echoed with eagerness, a reflection of the desperation in his heart. ‘Bring her to the border. I’ll wait for you both there!’ ‘She left the ballroom with Jermain,’ Ivor replied, tension threading through his words like a taut bowstring ready to snap. ‘He confronted her when he caught her looking at me. She’s terrified of him, Raul. I’m certain he’s holding her against her will.’ I

  • Breeder or Mate: The Crimson Threshold   Chapter 31 - The Devil's Game

    As our noses nearly touched, the Alpha tightened his grip in my hair.“Do you want to know what the big wheel is for?” he asked, a sinister gleam in his eye. My gaze darted past him to the old, rusted wheel hanging from a metal pole, seeming capable of spinning. Terrifying images from horror films flashed before my eyes, and I felt a chill creeping over me. Frightened, my eyes snapped back to the man before me.“No, you can’t possibly be planning to…,” I stammered.He chuckled, almost pleased with my reaction.“Don’t worry, it served a very different purpose,” he taunted me. “When the time comes, I will tell you all about it. After all, you will witness it for yourself.” I breathed a sigh of relief, unsure whether his words meant a stroke of luck or merely a delay in execution. One thing was now clear to me, behind the charismatic facade the Alpha presented, lay a true devil.He seized my wrist and pulled me back into the living room. He shoved me onto the sofa, where I collapsed like

  • Breeder or Mate: The Crimson Threshold   Chapter 30 – Fury and Fractures

    As Alpha Jermain trailed a lingering kiss from the side of my face to the taut line of my jaw, a wave of disgust twisted in my stomach. He pressed his body against mine, ensuring I felt the hardness in his jeans.“Goddess, I’ve fantasized about this night for so long,” he murmured, his breath warm against my skin. “If the test results come out positive, I promise you, after tonight, you will only crave for my touch. You'll never want to leave my bed, no other man will have your attention and you’ll always yearning for the feeling of me deeply filling you. Babe, your scent is intoxicating.”Test results? The shock was immediate. Surely, he didn't mean... blood tests?Just then, the elevator doors opened, revealing the luxury of the living room before me. For a moment, I was taken aback by the extravagance that surrounded us.He scooped me up effortlessly and carried me to a sofa. Once he set me down, he slowly peeled off his dark coat, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that ignite

  • Breeder or Mate: The Crimson Threshold   Chapter 29 – The Ticking Clock

    Alpha Female Zela’s Point of ViewWith an unstoppable drive burning within me like wildfire, I urged my wolf, Era, forward toward the packhouse. Amanda sprinted alongside me, her wolf’s fur glistening under the moonlight, the weight of our shared secrets heavy upon us. We were bound by an unspoken urgency, the kind that comes only when you know the ground beneath you is about to shift.As we reached her home, Amanda dashed ahead, her heart racing as she headed for her bedroom. I watched her dive into preparations, packing clothes into her suitcase with an intensity that conveyed her desire to escape, much like someone fleeing a gathering storm.But the grief in her eyes betrayed the fear of abandoning the only life she'd known. Leaving friends and family behind for an unknown future was the hardest decision a werewolf could ever make. I wanted to offer comfort, to promise we’d meet again in Silver Bow, but the words caught in my throat.“I can’t believe I’m actually doing this,” she m

  • Breeder or Mate: The Crimson Threshold   Chapter 28 – Echoes in the Night

    Alpha Female Zela’s Point of ViewThe night stretched before me like an open canvas, painted in shades of deep blue and shimmering silver.The lake mirrored the moon’s ethereal glow, each ripple carving hypnotic patterns in the stillness, an illusion of peace, mocking my inner turmoil. I had opted to stay behind while the Alpha and Chrissy attended the gaudy party at the packhouse. Parties were not for me at the moment, it would turn out to be a masquerade ball, where I’d be forced to don a mask of feigned joy while secretly scheming my escape.Here I was, a captive in Woodcrest, wrenched from my home, and every soul in that party was complicit in my captivity. No one would dare challenge Alpha Jermain, not even to spare me from his cruel scheme.As I stood on the shore, I tipped my chin toward the moon, my thoughts spiraled into a chaotic maelstrom.I had to act fast. My abduction had to be exposed before I became another pawn in Jermain’s twisted plans. But reaching out to my father

  • Breeder or Mate: The Crimson Threshold   Chapter 27 - Unforeseen Complications

    Standing in the garden, the cool night air did little to soothe the storm brewing in Ivor’s mind. Alpha Jermain’s request was a dangerous gamble, one that threatened everything.‘Damn! I’m already mated. How am I supposed to pull this off?’ raced through his mind.Each breath filled his lungs with a bittersweet longing as he thought of Lilias, the fierce witch waiting for him back in Human Town. They didn’t know each other for long, their bond was forged by Royal decree, but he already loved her deeply.‘No one but she can be my mate,’ he whispered to himself. The thought of her waiting, unaware of the chaos unfolding in Woodcrest, knotted his stomach with unease. He imagined her fiery spirit, her vibrant energy, the loyalty she had promised him.But Lilias wasn’t just anyone, she was a witch, gifted with the ability to see through deception like no other. If she ever found out that he had succumbed to the Alpha’s demand to seek a mate here, she wouldn’t hesitate to deal with him. Th

  • Breeder or Mate: The Crimson Threshold   Chapter 26 - All Mates Stay

    In the calm of his room, Ivor paced anxiously, the rich decor becoming a hazy backdrop to his restless thoughts. He replays his meeting with Alpha Nerville, a nagging suspicion clawing at his thoughts, had the man betrayed Raul? If so, it was a reckless act, one Raul would never let slide without dire consequences. The evening's festivities loomed close, organized by Beta Aren, and Ivor knew it could be his only chance to find Zela.With resolve tightening within him, he activated the mind link with the Crown Prince.‘Ivor! Have you found her?’ Raul immediately asked with urgency.“I’m already in but haven’t seen Zela yet,” Ivor admitted, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “But listen to this. Alpha Jermain is marked and mated to a she-wolf named Chrissy. She doesn’t match Zela at all, and the bond they share feels genuine.”Raul’s confusion rippled through their connection. ‘What? Are you sure you’re not missing something? You need to be alert. Where could she be?’‘I’m

  • Breeder or Mate: The Crimson Threshold   Chapter 25 - The Luna

    As the car rolled into Woodcrest, a startling realization gripped me like a vice.Something was definitely wrong here!I inhaled sharply, expecting the tapestry of scents, the layered musk of wolves, the defining signature of each pack. But nothing happened.My pulse spiked. I could no longer tell them apart. The intricate knowledge I had relied on, the subconscious recognition of scents tied to territories and packs, was completely gone.Damn! My breath hitched.This had to be the potion’s effect. Lilias hadn’t warned about this. But I now knew that just as others couldn’t detect my Lycan, I was stripped of the one crucial tool I needed to navigate enemy ground.Sweat pricked at the back of my neck. My only advantage, my ability to discern friends from foe, was wiped out.This was bad.It made things dangerously complicated. How was I supposed to find Zela now? I forced my breathing to steady while I consoled myself.No panic. No hesitation. I needed another way, another method to id

  • Breeder or Mate: The Crimson Threshold   Chapter 24 – The Beta's Boast

    Royal Secretary Ivor’s Point of ViewNever before had I felt so insignificant as I did moments ago, sitting at that restaurant table.To be so utterly dismissed, so blatantly ignored, was a new and unwelcome experience.Damn it! Had I possessed even a sliver of foresight that mates could be this annoying, I would have vehemently refused to offer myself to that witch. She had humiliated me in the worst way possible, shamelessly ogling the Beta as if I were invisible. And all of it had transpired before my very eyes!My fists clenched, the knuckles turning white. It was a Herculean task to restrain my temper.She had acted as if I wasn’t there, as if my presence meant nothing. No self-respecting wolf would tolerate such blatant disregard from their mate.Was she testing me? Did she think she could push me around, set the terms of our bond, dictate how things would go between us? A foolish notion. Whatever she had hoped to accomplish with her audacity, it was wasted on me. I couldn’t car

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status