Chapter 139|| ALEXIS'S POV ||My door knocked early—too early for anything good. Mercus pushed his way in before I could even make him come in. His face was white, his jaw clenched." You need to see this," he said, clutching a tablet.I pulled back the curtain, letting in the sickly pale grey of dawn. It was security cam footage. I blinked watching our Beta—Jonas—arrive in the transport yard at midnight.He wasn't where he was supposed to be.The video caught him opening the rear of the truck, which had been wedged with Lycan blood vials. My gut plummeted as he reached into his cloak and stashed something among the other crates."Son of a—"I never got to continue. I was furious. I stormed out of the room."Where is he?" I commanded.Mercus stood in behind me. "He's been instructed to be in his quarter. I checked twice."I didn't hesitate to respond. I climbed the stairs two at a time, boots thudding against the chilly floor. The cold of the morning did not disturb me. Jonas had be
Chapter 138|| Elinda's POV ||The color of the sky was "smoky gray," the stars swallowed up by thick clouds that threatened rain but delivered none.I wrapped my cloak tightly around me as I strolled on the deserted back path of the palace grounds. I shouldn't be here—I knew that. But too many things were unsaid, and I couldn't keep ignoring them anymore.The guards never walked this far in the late hour. I reached the broken garden gate, half eaten away by creepers and abandonment. It creaked open.Alberto was standing beneath the twisted back of the tree, where we would climb and race until our arms ached and our lungs were full of summer air. Now he was a stranger cut in stone—back straightened, arms crossed."You came," he said, not glancing about."I had to," I whispered. My voice was too small in this corner of darkness.He faced me. His eyes weren't as furious as I expected. But they weren't kind either. They were exhausted—so miserably tired."You shouldn't be here, Elinda.
Chapter 137|| ALBERTO's POV ||The moment I stepped into the palace, I could already feel the tension clinging to the air like smoke before a fire. The guards bowed down, the servants looking uncomfortable and every set of eyes seemed to pierce me while I strode down the marbled hallway. I didn't need to be reminded twice—the council was already waiting. My boots rang with every step, and the weight of the truth that I hid weighed heavier than ever.Inside the chamber, the air was heavy. Seven members of the council occupied the table, faces appearing cold.I stood before them, not king to them, nor even brother to Elinda."Report," said Elder Torren, his deeply rooted eyes squeezing together under heavy grey brows.I gritted my teeth, curling my fingers at my sides. "There was nothing," I stated flatly, gazing at him. "We searched. Every shipment, crates.Everything matched."I could sense the lie burning down my throat, but I did not allow it to appear. If they discovered what I'd s
Chapter 136|| ALEXIS'S POV ||A whiff of cold metal welcomed me as I stepped onto the border crossing. My boots crunched with each step, my eyes on the row of cargo rigs parked in line under the grey morning sky. The fog hadn't broken yet, and I was thankful for it. Less to see, fewer eyes on me. But even the fog wasn't able to hide the scent of treachery I was beginning to feel clawing at the back of my head.My men huddled eagerly, standing at attention for me to give an order, but I wasn't saying anything yet. Not until I saw him. Alberto.He walked in, his own bearing commanding respect, not just as a king.His armor glinted underneath his mantle, and his men stood behind him, already spreading out through the area like vines. I set my jaw, eyes narrowing."You offered us a deal," I snarled before he had a chance to say a word. My tone was low, but the flame underneath wasn't difficult to ignore.Alberto stopped a few feet away from me, staring. "We did. But deals are renegotiat
Chapter 135|| Alberto's POV ||I didn't sleep well last night.Too many things were piling up -- Elinda's name was swirling around the Mafia rumors, Clara was still with Mikhail, and my mother had suddenly handed me an assistant, Catherine, like I was some bachelor prince waiting for a queen. I didn't trust any of it.I sat at my desk the following morning sorting through security reports when Catherine came in — elegant, and clutching something in her hand."A card was delivered for you, Alpha," she informed me, setting it down on my desk.I arched an eyebrow. The envelope was jet black with a golden serpent symbol etched into the seal. Mikhail.I tore it open and read the words within. A party. Naturally. He had hosted a lavish party and invited me to come. Not invited — the tone was insistent. He would have expected me to come."I'm not going," I said curtly, throwing the card away.Catherine picked it up and flattened it with her fingers. "You should."I stared at her, taken abac
Chapter 134|| Alexis’s POV ||The roar echoed through the hall.One moment, I was standing in front of Kai, my fists clenched, every muscle in my body coiled with fury. The next, he lunged at me with bloodlust in his eyes.I didn’t even flinch. I was ready. If he wanted a war, I’d give him one—right here, right now.But then—“Elinda, NO!”Too late.A blinding silver light erupted beside me. The room trembled as her bones cracked and shifted, fur sprouting like wildfire over her skin. In an instant, Elinda’s Lycan form stood towering between me and Kai, her snarl shaking the walls. Her eyes weren’t just golden—they were glowing. Dominant. Angry.She didn’t hesitate.She launched at Kai.Claws outstretched, teeth bared, fury unleashed.Kai’s eyes widened, but he was quick. He shouted something to his men, and in the blink of an eye, he took an escape. His guards followed like dark shadows, retreating through the shattered window Elinda’s roar had cracked.Gone.The whole hall went sil