Chapter 9

As Zeil thought of finally making his move his body tensed. The claws came out. His fangs sprang free, sharp, wild, deadly. His eyes locked on Kael’s back, and for a moment, he saw it: the kill ,the end for Keal.

He leapt.

Kael, at the very same moment, turned the corner. Not to run, not even to fight.

Just to pick up a small stone.

It was one of those strange habits of his. Tossing rocks and carrying a thin stick with two leaves at the bottom of it, on his mouth.

But it saved him.

Because Zeil missed.

Completely.

He hit the ground hard. Face first. Into the thick, wet mud. The splash covered his shirt, his arms, his entire face.

It wasn’t just the mud. It was so humiliating.

Kael turned slowly, stone in hand. He blinked, then burst into laughter.

Not just a chuckle. It was deep. Loud. Uncontrolled. He held his stomach and nearly lost his balance.

“Oh Moon,” he laughed. “As expected. I anticipated a third dance from you, Young Lord!”

The thin stick in his mouth fell off with the force of his laughter.

“My Young Lord Alpha,” he said while pointing at Zeil, still on the ground, “such a clumsy pup.”

Zeil’s body trembled, not from pain, but from fury.

He snapped, the anger that had been boiling finally spilled over.

His growl echoed through the forest. The sky seemed to pause.

He leapt again.

Kael was still laughing when the claws swiped past his head.

“Whoa!” he ducked. “You missed, clumsy pup, wait , you call that a claw? Looks more like a flailing fish!”.

Another swipe.

Another dodge.

Kael danced away like it was a game.

“You missed again!” he teased, laughter still laced in his voice. “You always miss. Is this your secret battle technique?”

Zeil didn’t stop. His face was twisted with rage, teeth gritted, eyes wide.

Kael didn’t even raise a hand.

“Ohhh,” Kael teased again. “Now I see why the old man sent me to guard his pup. He knew his pup needed a babysitter.”

“I’ll rip you apart!” Zeil screamed.

Another dodge.

Another near-hit.

Kael leaned back, his body relaxed, his hands folded behind his head.

“You’ve got to hold your footing first,” he laughed. “Before you talk about ripping someone apart.”

“Shut up!” Zeil roared.

“Oh, look at you,” Kael grinned. “Young Lord Alpha, growling like a kitten who saw his reflection.”

And then—

“Guess you're having a good time, aye?”

Vera’s voice.

They both froze.

Zeil, still swinging.

Kael, now just shifting side to side, easily dodging.

Both turned toward her.

She stood there, arms crossed, brow raised.

She had been standing there for several minutes already, completely confused at the scene unraveling in front of her.

Kael turned to her mid-dodge, still smiling. Zeil lunged again but missed. Kael had folded his arms, looking like this was all a game.

Zeil, still furious, didn’t stop.

He pointed at Kael, claws extended. “Help me catch and kill this rogue. He’s crossed the line!”

His voice was low, but deadly. His fangs out, claws ready to strike again.

The aura around him changed.

Vera’s smile dropped. Her eyes flickered in confusion.

This wasn’t play.

Zeil didn’t look like himself anymore. He looked like something else. Something darker. Something must have gone wrong.

“I think I’ll just take a step back and return to my room,” Vera said.

But Zeil suddenly stood still.

“Come,” he said coldly. “Let’s go to my chambers, I called you earlier.”

His tone had shifted suddenly.

Too calm.

The type of calm that made her even more nervous and confused.

He walked away, not sparing Kael another glance

Kael called to him. “I’ll be back to keep watch, Young Lord Alpha,” he called. “Gotta wash this mud off... if you permit.”

Zeil didn’t answer.

He walked forward, body stiff, shoulders tense.

His lips barely moved, but he whispered, “I’ll rip you... sooner or later. Death is already at your foothold.”

Inside the room, Vera followed closely behind. But once she stepped in, she froze.

It was disorganised.

The room looked like chaos lived there. Clothes everywhere. His stuffs were all overturned. Sheets half off the bed. The smell of stress and something more hung in the air.

It looked like a beast had raged inside.

Zeil rubbed his temple. “I misplaced my pills earlier. That’s all.”

Vera didn’t buy it.

Her eyes locked onto his. “So what happened? It’s breeding season,your heat.”

She stopped.

Her mouth opened. Her words stumbled.

“Your heat...” she whispered.

Her eyes scanned the room again. Then flicked to the window.

She looked in Kael’s direction.

Then back to Zeil.

“Z-Zeil... Young Lord... wha—what ha...pp...pened?”

Her voice was trembling.

He inhaled deeply. “That’s why I called you.”

She blinked.

Then dropped to her knees like all her bones had disappeared.

“We’re done for,” she muttered. “He’s dead. You’re dead. We’re all dead.”

Zeil grabbed her arm. “Nothing happened!”

“You were in heat!” she cried. “It’s breeding season. Zeil, if anything happened”

“Nothing happened,” he repeated, softer now.

Vera slowly got back up, still shaken.

“What exactly happened?”

Zeil sighed.

“He walked in during my heat. Thought I was... doing something stupid. Didn’t realize what was actually going on. But he must die. He can’t speak of it. Not a word.”

Vera stared at him.

“But he didn’t know. Clearly. Zeil, listen—”

“He. Must. Die.”

His voice was steady. Dangerous.

“If he tells anyone ,even by accident ,everything I’ve worked for is gone. My father will disown me. The Council will call me a fraud. An abomination, worse it would ruin the reputation of my father and all he has worked for to keep this a secret”

Silence.

Then Vera nodded. “We’ll watch him. Not now. Not yet. Let’s wait.”

Zeil growled. “He’s too dangerous.”

“You’d be questioned. Investigated. Maybe even—”

Zeil snapped, standing up. His energy spiked.

“I said he must die!”

Vera stood too, but softer.

“You can’t shout things like this, Zeil. Please... let’s just wait. It’s late. I’ve been up all day. You need to rest too.”

Zeil stared at her.

Then nodded once.

She left.

He murmured to himself, “Still the same light-headed girl. In the end, it always falls on me.”

He pulled off his shirt, slipped into shorts, and lay down.

He dropped onto his bed.

But sleep didn’t come.

The room was dark, warm. The scent of heat still lingered, even though the pills had started to kick in.

His body was finally calming.

And then

A faint knock.

No. Not even a knock.

A sound.

Barely there.

Zeil turned his head.

Nothing.

Then he felt it.

The presence.

Someone in the room.

Slowly, his eyes scanned the dark.

And then—

He saw him.

Kael.

Standing by the edge of the bed.

Watching him.

Not speaking.

Just standing there.

Zeil’s heart stopped.

His hand twitched.

His wolf stirred.

The room went still.