The Alpha’s Forbidden Obsession 의 모든 챕터: 챕터 41 - 챕터 50

"Petra?"I pushed through the celebrating crowd, not quite believing my eyes. But it was her. Really her. Thinner than I remembered. Haunted looking. But alive and here.She saw me coming and tensed, like she was ready to bolt."Wait!" I called out. "Please, don't run."She stopped but didn't move toward me. We stood five feet apart, the distance between us feeling like miles."You came back," I said stupidly."I heard about Helena Blackwood. About The Architect being caught." Her voice was rough, like she'd been crying. "I had to see if it was true.""It's true. She's in custody. It's over.""Is it?" Petra looked around at the celebrating pack. "Because Helena's warning didn't sound like someone who'd lost.""You heard that?""I've been watching. From the woods. For the past three days." She wrapped her arms around herself. "I left because I couldn't handle more death. More pain. But I also couldn't stay away. This is my home.""Then come back. Please. We need you. I need you.""Do y

Lucian's POV"This is unprecedented."I stood in the grand hall where the supernatural summit was being held. Every major Alpha in the region was here. Along with Council members, witch representatives, and vampire delegates.Helena Blackwood's network had forced us all to work together. To set aside territorial disputes and petty grudges in favor of survival."The Architect's influence spread further than we initially believed," Marcus addressed the assembly. "We've identified corrupted wolves in nearly every pack. The mental manipulation runs deep.""How many total?" an Alpha from the East Coast asked."Last count? Three hundred and forty-seven confirmed cases. Likely hundreds more we haven't identified yet."Murmurs of shock and anger rippled through the room. Three hundred and forty-seven wolves. All carrying Helena's poison. All potential threats."What's being done about them?" I asked."Witches are working around the clock to remove the manipulation. But it's slow work. We're a

"This place gives me chills."Petra stood beside me outside an abandoned library on the outskirts of human territory. According to Teddy, this was where Morgana had kept her collection of dark magic texts."We don't have to go in," I said. "I can do this alone.""And let you have all the fun? Not a chance." She checked her weapons. "Besides, someone needs to watch your back. Especially now that you're eating for two."Word about my pregnancy had spread through the pack quickly. Despite everything, wolves were excited. A new heir. A symbol of hope and continuity.If we survived long enough for them to be born."The wards are still active," Celeste said, studying the building with her magical senses. "But they're old. Weakened. I can break through them.""Will it alert anyone?""If anyone was monitoring them, yes. But Morgana is dead. Her network disbanded. I doubt anyone's watching anymore.""Do it."Celeste chanted in Latin, her hands moving in complex patterns. The air shimmered and

"I want every text on dark magic brought here. Everything Morgana had. Everything we can find from other sources."I stood in the library we'd converted into a research center, surrounded by ancient books and scrolls. Two weeks had passed since Helena's death. Two weeks of searching for a way to break whatever curse she'd placed on my unborn child.Teddy worked at a desk piled high with texts, his eyes red from lack of sleep. Celeste consulted with three other witches, all specialists in dark magic and curse breaking."We've been through hundreds of texts," Teddy said wearily. "Nothing specifically mentions the Sleeper's Garden ritual. It's like Helena invented it herself or found it in some lost grimoire we don't have access to.""Then we keep looking. There has to be something.""Hailey." Celeste approached carefully. "We need to consider the possibility that we won't find an answer. Not before the baby is born. Maybe not for years after.""That's not acceptable.""I know. But we ne

"The grimoire opened on its own."Celeste stood in the safe house living room, holding Helena's book. It lay open on the table, pages covered in handwriting I couldn't read."What do you mean, on its own?" I asked."I was examining the protection spell, trying to find a way to break it. Then it just clicked open. Like it was waiting for the right moment.""That's not ominous at all.""The timing is suspicious," Teddy agreed. He'd joined us at the safe house, along with several other magical specialists. "Protection spells don't just release themselves.""Unless Helena designed it that way," I said. "Timed to open after her death. After we'd been captured. When we'd be desperate enough to use what's inside without questioning it.""Another trap," Lucian said. "Of course.""Maybe. Or maybe she knew we'd need it. Left us the key to breaking her own curse.""Helena doesn't strike me as the altruistic type.""No. But she was methodical. Everything she did served a purpose. Maybe leaving us