CHAPTER 98: THE PRICE OF POWERMAXIM:I began a count down, my eyes locked on Draven's. Then Draven reached for his phone, and I felt the tension in the room spike. I didn’t need to be a seer like Venus to know something critical was about to shift. He pressed a button and spoke, calm and clipped.I didn’t need to eavesdrop. I knew exactly what was being said. He was caving.Three minutes later, I got a call.“Alpha Maxim,” one of my men said breathlessly, “The shipment’s been released. Everything’s intact. Cargo is en route to Bloodclaw.”I smiled, slow and dangerous.With a flick of my wrist, I signaled my guards to release the boy. The shackles were undone, and he scrambled toward Draven like a rat escaping fire.But Draven was still in a cage. I had to let him out by muttering some ancient words. He howled in anger and lunged towards me. I side stepped and he slammed into one of the posts.I could feel the pulse of power thrumming through my veins as I watched Draven’s boy get sho
CHAPTER 98: THE PRICE OF POWERMAXIM:I began a count down, my eyes locked on Draven's. Then Draven reached for his phone, and I felt the tension in the room spike. I didn’t need to be a seer like Venus to know something critical was about to shift. He pressed a button and spoke, calm and clipped.I didn’t need to eavesdrop. I knew exactly what was being said. He was caving.Three minutes later, I got a call.“Alpha Maxim,” one of my men said breathlessly, “The shipment’s been released. Everything’s intact. Cargo is en route to Bloodclaw.”I smiled, slow and dangerous.With a flick of my wrist, I signaled my guards to release the boy. The shackles were undone, and he scrambled toward Draven like a rat escaping fire.But Draven was still in a cage. I had to let him out by muttering some ancient words. He howled in anger and lunged towards me. I side stepped and he slammed into one of the posts.I could feel the pulse of power thrumming through my veins as I watched Draven’s boy get sho
CHAPTER 97: STAGING AN EXECUTION MAXIM:All through the day, I thought of a way to have Draven wrapped around my fingers without hurting his son. He knew I wouldn't do it unless I was ready to face the wrath of the Alpha King and probably the Moon Goddess herself.But without hurting his son, Draven wasn't going to bulge even when he has said that the boy wasn't important to him.The sun has begun to dive down the horizon and the square was dead silent when I arrived, my boots thudding against the ancient stones like the pulse of vengeance itself. I could feel the fear and anxiety in the air. And all my pack members were here to witness the execution first hand.Perfect.Draven’s son, Elior, dangled from the blackened iron post in the center of the square. His pale arms were chained above his head, silver shackles biting into his skin. The cursed collar I placed around his neck shimmered faintly with violet veins of magic, the kind that seeped into the marrow and hollowed out the sou
CHAPTER 96: THE CONFLICT DEEPENSMAXIM:The ancient blood moon and wolfsbane smoke was being prepared in a particular room set aside in the maid's quarters. I watched from the window, unable to take my eyes away. “What the hell are they doing?” Venus asked, looking appalled.“Preparing the blood moon and wolfsbane smoke, as you have requested.”She nodded and moved closer. “May the Moon Goddess protect the Bloodclaw Pack.”“So be it,” I said as I took her hand and led her inside. We stayed together, discussing, planning and wishing for the best until night fell.It was still early, and Venus curled up in my arms, breathing evenly. Suddenly, my phone vibrated violently on the table beside me. I didn’t bother checking the caller ID—only a few people had this number. I grabbed it, "Speak," I barked into the phone."Alpha Maxim, we have a situation. The cargo… it’s gone."The words felt like acid."Gone? What the hell do you mean gone?""The containers never made it to the port. Our men
CHAPTER 95: PREPARING FOR WARVENUS:When I got to know what Maxine had done, I hurried to his study. “Maxine…”He stood by the liquor tray, pouring himself a drink with the calm of a man who had just sealed a deal, not committed a declaration of war. His sleeves were rolled up, muscles flexing as he stirred the amber liquid.“You kidnapped a child,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper, trembling with something I couldn’t name—was it rage, fear, disbelief?“I did what I had to do.” He took a slow sip. “In our world, playing fair will have you buried before your mate's scent fades from your clothes.”I folded my arms tightly. “So the answer is to stoop to their level?”“No,” he said, walking toward me, eyes gleaming like steel under pressure. “The answer is to win. To survive. To make damn sure Draven knows I’m not here to play house while he plots to rip apart everything I’ve built. If I didn’t act first, you’d be mourning me instead. Or vice versa.”“But the boy—”“Is safe,” he c
CHAPTER 94: YOU KIDNAPPED MEMAXINE:I led Venus upstairs to our room and returned to my study. I can't lie down and slumber away while my pack and my legacy is at stake.I stared at the map sprawled across the oak table in my war room. Every inch of parchment had pins, strings, and red marks. These are all Draven’s territory, his guard routes, and his weak spots. The bastard had gotten too comfortable thinking he could attack me anytime he wanted. He probably knew I was away on a honeymoon. But what he didn’t know is that I could smell his desperation from Paris. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, desperate alphas make reckless moves.I stood in front of the window overlooking the courtyard, the night dense with fog. My breath fogged the glass. Behind me, Conrad, my most trusted Beta and enforcer, stepped into the room with a tablet in hand.“He's just left the west border,” Conrad said, tapping the screen. “Draven’s been frequenting that healer's cottage outside his pack's peri