Lahat ng Kabanata ng DEAR EX, I AM YOUR UNCLE'S MATE: Kabanata 161 - Kabanata 170

Annabel staggered backward, her breath hitching as the shadowed figure stepped forward. It was larger than the creature they had just defeated, its presence oppressive and suffocating.“You don’t even know what you’ve unleashed,” the figure said, its voice smooth and calculating, devoid of the raw rage she had come to expect from their enemies.Damian tightened his grip on his weapon and moved closer to Annabel. “What is that?” he whispered.“No idea,” she replied, her voice barely audible, “but it knows us.”The figure tilted its head, studying them like prey. “So much potential squandered. Annabel, you’ve become more than I anticipated, yet you still lack the foresight to see the real war.”Annabel’s jaw clenched. “And you are?”It chuckled, a sound that carried no humor. “Names are trivial. But you, Annabel—your name carries weight. Soon, it will be etched into the bones of history, whether as a savior or a failure depends on what happens next.”“Enough riddles,” Damian growled. “I

“Annabel, you chose him?” Damian’s voice cracked as the chains tightened around him. His eyes burned with betrayal, but his body sagged as the power binding him drained his strength.She stopped mid-step, Elijah leaning on her shoulder. Her heart pounded in her chest as she turned to face Damian fully. “I—there wasn’t time. I had to—”The tormentor appeared behind Damian, its shadowy form solidifying into a grotesque figure. “How touching. You think explanations matter now? You chose who to save, and that choice has consequences.”“Shut up!” Annabel roared, her voice echoing off the endless walls of the chamber. She clenched her fists, but the dagger in her hand felt useless against the entity’s smirk.Elijah stirred weakly beside her, his voice barely audible. “Leave me here. Go back for him.”“Don’t be stupid,” she hissed. “You can barely stand.”Damian let out a pained laugh, cutting through the rising tension. “You always were better at saving him, weren’t you, Annabel?”“Damian—”

Annabel didn’t flinch as Councilor Ash’s icy gaze swept over her, though every instinct screamed for her to move. His power wasn’t just felt—it was impossible to ignore, suffocating the air. She wasn’t sure whether her defiance was bravery or recklessness, but backing down wasn’t an option.Ash’s hand remained raised, his fingers twitching slightly as if deciding whether to crush or spare her. The coldness radiating from him was unnatural, almost alive.“You’ve shown some... promise,” he said finally, his voice smooth, deliberate. “But it’s not potential that matters. It’s loyalty. Tell me, Annabel, where does yours lie?”The question hit harder than any physical blow. Annabel glanced at Elijah, his body tense, ready to leap into action despite their slim odds. Aric stood off to the side, watching with a mixture of unease and calculation, his motives as murky as ever.“My loyalty?” Annabel said slowly, letting the words carry weight. “It’s to the pack, to the lives you’ve threatened.

The howl wasn’t just loud—it resonated deep within Annabel, leaving her gut twisting. It carried a warning, a hunger, and something far worse: familiarity. She gripped Elijah’s arm, but his sharp intake of breath told her he recognized it too.“That’s not Ash,” Elijah muttered, his tone darker than she’d ever heard.“It’s worse,” Aric said, his face pale.The wolves surrounding them exchanged uneasy glances. Some bristled, their ears flattening in readiness, while others took a step back, unsure.“Who?” Annabel demanded.Aric’s lips pressed into a grim line. “Rogues. His first experiments. The ones he cast aside because even he couldn’t control them.”The howls grew louder, accompanied by the unmistakable sound of snapping branches and something dragging across the ground. The group tensed as figures emerged, their shapes distorted. These weren’t wolves. Their twisted forms bore jagged spines and uneven fur. Some stood on two legs, towering over the others. Their eyes glowed, each gaz

"Get away from her!" Elijah's voice roared across the ruins, his hybrid form charging toward the newcomer.The figure didn’t even flinch. With a lazy wave of their hand, Elijah’s momentum slammed to a halt mid-stride. His body seized in midair, limbs straining as though held by invisible chains."Don’t be so hasty, Elijah." The figure’s tone was calm, condescending. "You’ve done well enough for my purposes. No need to ruin the finale."Annabel scrambled to her feet, her blade slipping from her grip. She didn’t have time to retrieve it. Her instincts screamed at her to move, but she forced herself to stand still, studying this intruder.The smile never left their face as they turned toward her. “You must be Annabel. The wolf who destroyed Ash’s carefully crafted plans.”"Carefully crafted?" she spat, her voice steadier than she felt. “He was a puppet. And I don’t take kindly to people pulling strings."The figure chuckled, a sound devoid of warmth. "How charming. But you’re wrong. Ash