Chapter Forty-OneRhea stepped out of the pack house and into the vast garden, her sandals brushing softly against the cobblestone path. The early morning sun filtered through the trees, casting gentle rays on the lush greenery that surrounded her. Colorful flowers bloomed in every direction, their fragrance fresh and calming as it lingered in the air. The garden was beautifully maintained, with vines trailing over white trellises and butterflies dancing between the petals. It felt like a sanctuary, far removed from the tension of the dining room.Her footsteps slowed as her thoughts drifted back to what had happened earlier. The scene with Diana, Daren’s sudden announcement, and the way Kieran reacted—it all played on her mind. The idea of Kieran getting married stirred something inside her, though she couldn’t quite put a finger on it. Was it discomfort? Jealousy? That would be ridiculous. Maybe it was simply because she didn’t like Diana. The woman was obnoxious and entitled, clear
Chapter Forty"Um, how did you know my name?" Anna asked, raising a brow in confusion. She was sure she hadn’t met anyone here before, this was her first time being in the Golden Pack."Why wouldn’t I?" Margret replied with a warm smile. "You’re Kael’s mate. He told us about you."Anna’s lips curled into a smile as she looked at Kael, who looked happier than she had ever seen him."Oh," she said shyly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear."And you?" Margret asked, her eyes now on Rhea. "What’s your name?""Oh, I’m Rhea," she responded with a polite smile."Well, Rhea, thank you for saving us. What you did for the Golden Pack… we’re truly grateful," Margret said sincerely. "If there’s anything you need, anything at all just say the word. We’ll make sure you have it."Rhea’s smile widened. "Well… I don’t really need anything. I’m just grateful I was able to help everyone."Margret laughed gently. "Come on, don’t be shy. It’d be weird if we didn’t offer you something after all
Chapter Thirty-NineIn a dark, imposing building that loomed like a forgotten relic of the past, a woman descended the wide marble staircase. Her long black dress swayed elegantly with each graceful step. Shadows flickered across the stone walls as torchlight danced behind her, giving the space an eerie, almost ethereal quality. The silence was heavy—broken only by the faint echo of her heels.The Master was seated in the vast, dimly lit living room. Tall, slender, and draped in dark robes, he looked out the towering windows as if waiting for something—or someone. The moment he heard her footsteps, he turned slightly, his gaze sharp and unreadable.She walked to his side and sat beside him, the air between them taut with unspoken tension.“We have a problem,” she said, her voice low, clipped.The Master didn’t look at her immediately. “And that is?” he asked, turning his gaze away from her face and back to the darkness outside.“The plague... it’s gone.”His head turned sharply toward
Chapter Thirty-Eight"Kieran, they’re just suggesting possible explanations. A plague doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. And what do you mean someone is attacking us from the inside? The security in Golden Pack is airtight. If there were a threat, we would’ve known," Darren said, his brows furrowed as he tried to remain rational.Kieran scoffed, his sharp eyes burning with intensity. "You saw it with your own eyes. That plague wasn’t natural. Don’t fool yourself. Someone orchestrated it. And while you all sit comfortably behind this desk throwing around opinions, I’ll be the one uncovering the truth. I’m the Alpha of this pack, and until I find who is behind this, no one, no one will question my authority."He turned on his heel, ready to leave the council room, but the pack beta, his father’s long-time ally stood abruptly."This is exactly why we didn’t want you as Alpha," the man snapped, his voice rising with years of buried resentment. "You're impulsive, unpredictable. Always doi
Chapter Thirty-Seven"Kieran, do you know what you're doing? They could die any minute from now," Daren said sharply, turning to his son with eyes wide in disbelief."Let’s see," Kieran replied coolly, not taking his eyes off Rhea. He didn’t understand it himself, but something deep inside told him to trust her—something unexplainable, something primal. He could feel the weight of her power, the pull of destiny. Rhea was no ordinary girl.Without a word, Rhea reached up and removed her contact lenses. A gasp escaped Anna's lips as the silver of Rhea’s true eyes was revealed glowing softly, almost ethereally. A sudden surge of energy passed through her like lightning, causing the ground beneath her feet to hum.She slowly raised her hand. Her fingertips tingled with raw magic. A small orb, no larger than a soap bubble formed above her palm, shimmering and translucent. It floated upward, glowing with a strange, unearthly light. Her gaze shifted to the afflicted pack members lying helple
Chapter Thirty-SixRhea opened her eyes with a sharp inhale. She was back in her room. The ceiling above her came into focus as she slowly sat up. Her head throbbed painfully, and her heart was racing as if she had just run a marathon. Everything felt too loud, too overwhelming. The dream she had… no, it was more than a dream. It felt like a warning, a premonition.Her hands trembled slightly as she ran them through her hair. A plague. Something terrible was about to happen. She didn’t know where or when it would begin—but she had seen it, experienced the dread and horror in that place. The thought that she might be too late haunted her already.With a heavy sigh, Rhea checked the time on her phone. Morning. She had to resume work today. She closed her eyes briefly, willing herself to push through the confusion and fear. Right now, she needed to focus on the day ahead.Dragging herself out of bed, she went through the motions: a hot shower, brushing her teeth, and getting dressed. She
Chapter Thirty-FiveRhea woke up with a soft groan, lifting her head slowly from the table. Her neck felt stiff and sore from sleeping in such an awkward position. She winced as she moved, immediately raising her hand to massage the side of her neck in slow, circular motions.“Gosh, that’s painful,” she muttered under her breath, gently working the muscles to relieve the tension. After a few moments, the discomfort lessened. She sighed in relief, glancing around the living room that was dimly lit with the warm glow of a single wall sconce. It was already late at night.Rhea stood up, gathered the books she'd been reading, and carried them to her room. As she ascended the stairs, her mind drifted back to the conversation she had earlier with Kieran. There had been something different about his tone—calmer, almost gentle. She was used to him being distant and cold, so his slightly softer demeanor had caught her off guard. He was still distant, yes, but not as cold as usual. A small smi
Chapter Thirty-FourRhea and Anna got smoothies, and after that, they returned home. Rhea walked into the house with the books in her hand. She took off her jacket, placed both the books and her jacket on the couch, and headed straight to the kitchen.She washed her hands and grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator before making her way back to the living room. She sat down on the couch, took a sip, and began flipping through one of the books.As she read, she noticed something peculiar. None of the books clearly specified who had attacked the white witches. The identity of the attackers remained unknown, even after the fall of Sylvaria. It also wasn’t stated whether Queen Madora’s daughter had survived or perished in the attack. That detail was completely omitted—as if her very existence was a mystery they were trying to erase.Rhea frowned, frustrated. So many gaps. She had a million questions, but none of the books gave her any answers. Just when she was beginning to get lo
Chapter Thirty-Three: They opened to the section of the book that discussed witches. As expected, there were different classifications—Black witches, White witches, and a few lesser-known subgroups. Rhea and Anna settled on the floor more comfortably, flipping carefully through the fragile, yellowed pages, trying not to damage the brittle paper.The first section was boldly titled:Black Witches'Centuries ago, Black witches and White witches lived together in peace and harmony. They were equals in power, bound by shared knowledge and mutual respect. For a time, all was well. But eventually, the Black witches desired more—they sought a power that would set them apart, a force darker and older than anything known to the magical world.''Despite the warnings of the elders, the Black witches delved into forbidden magic—ancient, chaotic power hidden away for a reason. This dark force was said to whisper wickedness into the minds of those who summoned it, corrupting their hearts, twisting