10. Her Will

Inside the study room, Ghilas faced the young man across the table and spoke with firm authority.

“In three days, you will wed a girl from the Howls pack.” He paused, then added, “Bring them the dowries tomorrow.”

That fast? Wasn't it supposed to be next month?

Khalien nodded. “Yes, father.”

Ghilas's gaze hardened further. “I will say this once. Stay away from that useless girl. She is just like her father. They bring shame to the Alpha bloodline.”

Khalien remained obedient. He nodded before he walked outside.

Only after he stepped outside did he see Lysha waiting for him, leaning on the wall with her arms crossed.

There was a time when her presence would not have felt strange, as the three of them grew up together. But since the Alpha died, his father and Lysha's mother became opponents for power, even affecting them.

“You’re getting married,” Lysha said as she joined him. “Don’t look so surprised. I heard it from my mother. You know nothing happens in this pack without her knowing.”

He kept walking. “What do you want to say?”

“No one in this world deserves you more than I do. Not Nalath. Not even that Anais.”

Khalien scoffed at her confidence.

Lysha increased her pace to catch up. “So you should know, Nala and I will have a duel over an omega. And it happens to be tomorrow.” She chuckled. “She is seeking death.”

Khalien halted suddenly and cast her a cold glance. “Try to hurt her… and you will have to face me.”

Lysha bit her lip. “You're such a bastard, Khalien.” Her gaze glistening, she continued, “You really keep taking her side.”

“Alright,” Lysha said, walking away. I might as well kill her right now!

---

Radella was in her room, sitting cross-legged as she stayed focused with her eyes closed.

All she did was try to form a core in that werewolf body, something which was impossible, but she was ready to try.

The realization of those Eons being here made her wish to have her powers. It didn't matter what method she used.

Her forehead drenched in sweat, but nothing changed. She opened her eyes and exhaled deeply from exhaustion.

“Khalien will be here,” Zaphyra reminded her.

That beast. Nothing she thought of other than that man. As at noon, Khalien talked about visiting her, after everything that happened.

“How can I break this curse?” Radella muttered, wishing she had even those werewolf strengths.

“This isn't a curse!” Zaphyra replied.

Forget it. She might as well find herself. Didn't the pack have a library?

At that moment, the door opened.

Radella moved her eyes to Viola's daughter. She seemed... enraged.

Lysha stepped inside and immediately shouted, “Tell me. When was it? When did you find out you were mated to him? When you kept saying Khalien and I were perfect together... were you laughing at me?!”

She had to deal with this too? Radella stood up and casually replied, “What are you talking about?”

“You... of all people... Is it true he rejected you?”

“Hadn't he said so himself?” Radella replied, almost bored.

“It doesn't matter.” Lysha took out a small bottle from her purse. “A witch gave me this. It can remove all emotions. The mate bond would be gone for real.”

Radella's eyes widened slightly before they narrowed. “I'm warning you!”

Lysha walked towards her. “Of course, you wouldn't drink it willingly.”

Radella grabbed Lysha's hand, her eyes bloodshot with anger. “You better stop this nonsense.”

She couldn't even tell whether the potion was real or not, but there was no way she would drink it.

Lysha landed a slap across Radella's face. “You've really lost your mind. Daring to threaten me?"

Radella pushed Lysha, who moved a step back. Then she ran and grabbed her spear, pointing it at her.

Lysha chuckled, then laughed. “You really actually lost it.”

Her face hardened, and she moved at a high speed that Radella couldn't catch up with. She swung her spear, only for it to be broken in half with just Lysha's palm strike.

In no time, Radella found herself being hit over and over as she fought not to drink the potion.

Lysha started to even enjoy it.

“I will kill you!” Zaphyra could only growl threats that no one heard except Radella.

Lysha looked into Radella's burning eyes and frowned. Why didn't she beg for mercy like she always did? Katia was right, Nala changed.

Maybe she should break one of her legs.

But then Lysha was pushed and flew aside, slamming into the wall so hard that it cracked. She fell, her bottle broken. Lysha groaned as she struggled to wake up.

A man stood there, his gray eyes shifting to a deep orange.

Khalien walked toward Radella, who was on the floor on one knee.

Radella stared at him weakly, cursing herself for her situation before her eyes closed. But Khalien caught her.

Lysha bitterly looked at him. “What are you doing, Khalien? What if the pack... or your father finds out?”

Khalien scooped up Radella and put her in bed.

“You said you had nothing to do with her!” Lysha shouted. “You wouldn't want to go against your father!”

Khalien moved towards Lysha at his high speed, grabbed her by the neck, and slammed her against the wall, pinning her. “Why are you even doing this? She is your sister.”

Lysha chuckled. “My sister? That ended years ago when you saved her first in that well!”

“What?”

Her eyes were already filled with tears. “You keep doing this to me. How can I let this go? You can't even be with her!”

Khalien tossed her aside. He couldn't even understand her. “Get lost.”

Lysha held her neck and looked at Radella with anger. She failed now, but there was tomorrow's duel. She walked outside. Your father and my mother should know about this, Khalien.

In no time, Khalien summoned a healer to check on Radella.

It was an old woman wearing large earrings and a headscarf tied around her forehead.

“Elder Coretta, how is she?” Khalien asked.

Coretta sighed. “She was hurt multiple times. But don't worry. This girl's will is strong. She would never allow herself to die.”

Coretta opened her bag, which held her tools and medicine.

“She is really unfortunate. But more unfortunate for you, she is your mate, but she will be your biggest regret. If possible, stay away from her.”

Khalien glanced at Coretta, then frowned.

That was the problem with this woman. With her seer eyes, she always pried into things she wasn't supposed to.

“I’ll leave her in your care,” he said. He had come to speak with Nalath before leaving the pack tomorrow, but it seemed he wouldn’t get the chance.

Unfortunate? It was Nalath who was unfortunate for having him as her mate, not the other way around.