Deadly Alpha Battle のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 21 - チャプター 30

Jessica approached from behind, her steps careful. “Lola, you should rest.” I turned to face her, noticing the cuts and bruises scattered across her face. I shook my head. “There’s too much to think about. Rest can wait.” She gave me a tired smile. “There’s always too much to think about, but that doesn’t mean you can keep going like this. Come on. Mike wants to see you.” Reluctantly, I followed her back toward the packhouse. The smell of damp earth clung to the air, mixed with the faint metallic tang of blood. I avoided looking at the ground too much—there were too many reminders of what had just transpired. When we reached the main hall, Mike was standing by the window, staring out at the horizon. His broad shoulders were tense, his posture stiff. For a moment, I hesitated, unsure if I should interrupt. “You’re here,” Mike said without turning around, his voice low. “Yes,” I replied, stepping further into the room. Jessica lingered by the door before quietly excusing h

“Not hungry?” Jessica asked again, her voice low, a faint worry shadowing her eyes. I shook my head, the tension in my shoulders refusing to ease. “There’s too much on my mind.” Jessica nodded, her fingers absently picking at the edges of her bread. She wasn’t eating either, though she pretended to. “Mike’s been locked in his office all night. Whatever’s coming next, it’s big.” “I know,” I murmured, glancing at the untouched food on my plate. “That’s what worries me.” The room seemed too quiet, the silence broken only by the occasional clinking of utensils against plates. A heavy atmosphere weighed on us all, and the faint murmur of conversations at the far end of the dining hall did nothing to ease my growing sense of unease. The door creaked open, and I instinctively turned toward the sound. Mike stepped in, his presence commanding as always, though this time it was different. His hair was disheveled, and the dark circles under his eyes told a story of sleepless nights and

"This thing," she murmured, "it’s at the center of everything. Tom, the witches, even the rogues—they all want it."Mike, seated on the opposite side of the table, looked up from the map he was studying. His expression was hard, his eyes clouded with thought. "It’s more than that," he said. "This relic isn’t just a source of power. It’s a key to something much bigger."Lola frowned. "What do you mean?"He sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Our ancestors hid it for a reason. If Tom wants it so badly, it’s because he believes it will give him dominion over every supernatural creature in Tamsin—and beyond."Jessica entered the room, her expression grim. "We’ve got trouble."Mike’s gaze snapped to her. "What now?""Zara’s gone," Jessica said. "Disappeared sometime after dawn. The patrols didn’t see anything, but the guards at the east gate swear they caught her scent heading toward the forest."Lola’s stomach tightened. "You think she’s gone back to Tom?"Jessica shrugged, though her fac

The journey back to the packhouse was tense. The forest seemed more alive than before, every shadow a potential threat. Zara’s unconscious form lay draped across Mike’s shoulders, her fragile frame a stark contrast to his unyielding determination. Jessica walked beside me, her hands still clenched around her daggers, while the rest of the warriors kept a tight formation around us.We said little during the trek. The attack had drained us, and Zara’s cryptic warning lingered in my thoughts. If the witches no longer needed the relic, what were they after now? And how could we possibly stop them?The packhouse loomed into view just as the first rays of dawn pierced the sky. Exhausted but alert, we crossed the threshold, the familiar scent of wood and stone offering little comfort. Marcus was waiting, his sharp gaze softening as he assessed our state.“Report,” he said briskly.“Zara’s alive,” Mike replied, setting her down gently on a cot in the corner. “But she’s unconscious. And we’ve

“Elara’s disappearance doesn’t mean she’s gone for good,” Mike said from behind me. I turned to face him. He was leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. His presence filled the room, grounding me in a way I couldn’t explain. “I know,” I replied. “She’s regrouping. Planning her next move.” Mike nodded. “And we need to be ahead of her this time. If she’s trying to weaken the veil further, we can’t afford to wait for her to strike.” Jessica entered, her expression grim. “We’ve got scouts reporting strange activity near the northern border. Small groups of rogues and witches, nothing organized yet, but it’s too close for comfort.” “She’s testing us,” I said. Mike straightened. “Then it’s time we pushed back. Jessica, take a team and secure the northern border. I’ll lead another to track down any remnants of her forces.” “And me?” I asked, stepping forward. “You’re staying here,” Mike said firmly. “No, I’m not.” My tone left no room for argument. “I’