Chapter 139

After another hour of conversation with Kenzo, he finally agreed to start with a more relaxed, less physical relationship. His sudden change of heart lifted a weight off my shoulders, easing the tension between us and allowing things to unfold naturally. I fought back the urge to press him about his relationship with Bopha—not just for my own peace of mind, but because I knew she was in my group. That meant I’d have ample opportunity to observe how she acted around him. My suspicions lingered, but I had grown weary of unnecessary drama.

The next morning, Kenzo organized training on the grounds, where the entire army was hard at work. He made a point of assigning himself as my sparring partner, making the announcement loud and clear while draping his arm around my shoulders. Fortunately, Icarus was busy training his soldiers elsewhere—if he had seen Kenzo acting so familiarly with me, I had no doubt he would have exploded on the spot.

I stopped resisting Kenzo’s advances. I decided to give him a fair chance, to meet him halfway, but I refused to make excuses for him if he messed up again.

Slowly, the small things he did began to stir something in me, though I wasn’t yet ready to define what it was.

Kenzo and I put on a show for the others, an impromptu performance that had the elite squad watching with interest. I won’t deny the surge of pride I felt when they erupted into cheers, applauding my skills. Their approval gave me a boost of energy I hadn’t realized I needed.

"It's incredible! You can actually keep up with Alpha!" Alistair’s wide-eyed expression was almost comical as he gawked at me when our match ended.

"She nearly took down my wolf before," Kenzo added, smirking.

"You fought Alpha’s wolf?!" A red-haired she-wolf gasped in disbelief.

"Well, yes, I did," I admitted, forcing a nervous smile.

"Wow!" she squealed, practically bouncing in place.

"Teach me!" She suddenly grabbed my hands, her bright blue eyes shining with excitement.

My smile shifted from nervous to awkward. I glanced at Kenzo, hoping he’d intervene, but he only chuckled at my predicament.

"Ivy, let the girl breathe, will ya?" Alistair patted the redhead’s shoulder. "Maybe Thalassa can train you once we win the war." He shot me a wink.

Ivy remained locked onto me, grinning with an almost childlike eagerness. "At least tell me you're in my group. Please?" She fluttered her lashes dramatically.

"She's in Alpha’s group," Bopha interjected sharply, appearing beside me as if she had materialized out of thin air. "Keep dreaming, Ivy. Alpha made her an elite," she sneered, her gaze heavy with meaning as she sized me up.

Bopha was starting to get on my nerves. Every word, every look from her felt like a veiled insult. I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to retaliate. Instead, I offered a tight-lipped smile before turning back to Ivy.

"If Alpha allows it, I'd be happy to help," I said smoothly, flicking my gaze toward Kenzo.

He nodded, and before I could brace myself, Ivy threw her arms around me. "You're the best, Thalassa!"

Her enthusiasm nearly choked me, and I had to gently pry her off before she squeezed the life out of me.

"Sorry!" she giggled, bowing in apology before darting off at the call of her group’s leader.

Bopha gave me a once-over and clicked her tongue in irritation. I had reached my limit. Either I confronted her now, or I’d end up snapping at the worst possible moment—probably in the middle of battle.

Taking a step closer, I lowered my voice to a cold, steady whisper. "Do you have a reason for hating me, Bopha?"

She scoffed. "I just despise people who try to take a place that isn’t theirs."

"I'm not taking anyone’s place." My patience thinned. "I never wanted—"

"You actually think you could ever be a werewolf queen?" She let out a sharp, mocking laugh.

"I never—"

"You will never be accepted! A human will never be Queen or Luna! You should go back to where you came from, vampire whore!"

I snapped.

My fist connected with the side of her jaw before I even had time to process my own actions. Bopha stumbled, then crumpled to her knees. Around us, gasps and growls erupted in unison.

"Thalassa!" Kenzo grabbed my wrist, yanking me around to face him.

His eyes blazed with anger—like I was the one in the wrong. Then, to my utter fury, his gaze flicked toward Bopha, filled with concern.

Blood pounded in my ears. I ripped my arm free from his grasp, my voice as sharp as a blade.

"If you don’t want your precious mutt to get hurt, you’d better keep her away from me," I warned, ensuring the fire in my eyes left no room for doubt. "I will not tolerate anyone disrespecting me, least of all some bitch trying to crawl into your bed."

"Thalassa, stop... Be reasonable," he pleaded, his tone softer now, but no less frustrating.

"Reasonable?" A hollow laugh escaped me. "You know, if a guy is truly interested in a girl, he picks her side—not the side of someone who conveniently seems like his lover. That is what being reasonable looks like."

Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel and walked away, heading straight for the mansion.

He chased after me, his growl rumbling with fury. In a heartbeat, he was in front of me, blocking my path. A second later, I was hoisted over his shoulder, his grip unyielding as he carried me toward the mansion like I weighed nothing. I kicked, thrashed, and pounded against his back with my fists, but it was useless. His hold was like iron—unyielding, painful the more I fought against it. Dangling in his grasp, I felt as helpless as a Chihuahua up against a Rottweiler.

"Put me down!" I roared.

"Stay still, or I'll spank you," he warned, voice laced with irritation.

I stilled—temporarily—my resistance fading into reluctant silence. The murmurs of amusement from those we passed only added to my humiliation.

"Where the hell are you taking me?!" I snarled.

"Quiet." His command reverberated through me, sending a shiver down my spine.

I clenched my jaw but bit back a retort. Self-preservation dictated that I shut up before Kenzo found another way to humiliate me further.

With a sharp slam, he threw open the mansion door and strode inside, his steps pounding against the floor as he climbed the stairs. He didn’t stop until we reached his room, where he kicked the door open and tossed me onto his bed. My breath hitched. I scrambled back, pressing myself against the wall, my pulse hammering. I didn’t know what he intended to do, and the uncertainty made my skin crawl.

I watched as he locked the door, exhaling sharply as if he was barely restraining his frustration. Then he paced, circling the room in silence. The tension grew, coiling tighter with each second that passed. Suddenly, he dropped onto the bed, his gaze locking onto mine.

"The situation with Bopha… it’s complicated," he finally said, grinding his teeth.

I stiffened at the warmth in his eyes as he spoke her name. It was enough to set my blood boiling. Rage curled inside me, and I had to clench my fists to keep from hitting him—just to wipe that look off his face.

"Kenzo," I breathed, barely containing my fury. "Do you truly feel the mate bond when you look at me?"

"Yes," he said without hesitation.

"Yet you still choose to tolerate Bopha’s tantrums instead of standing by your mate?" My voice was tight, my control hanging by a thread.

"Thalassa, it’s just—"

"Complicated?" I cut him off, my irritation bleeding through. "Tell me, then—why am I the one suffering from her insults over something between you two?"

"I know she went too far. I'm sorry." Kenzo lowered his head, looking every bit like a reprimanded child.

"Seriously?" My brows shot up. "I don’t need your apology, Kenzo. I needed you to stand by me. And if you couldn’t do that, then you should’ve stayed out of it!"

"Oh, come on! You’re stronger than she is!" he argued.

"Are you even listening to yourself?" I scoffed. "She’s a wolf. I’m human. If she’s as weak as you claim, then she has even less reason to provoke me!"

I exhaled sharply, cursing under my breath.

"Thalassa…" He reached for my hands, pulling me closer. "Bopha and I… we have history."

I jerked away. "I bet you do," I said coolly. "That so-called ‘history’ is probably what gave her the confidence to walk into your bedroom in the middle of the night."

"It’s not what you think!" Kenzo snapped.

"Then tell me—what the hell does she have on you?" I demanded.

His jaw clenched. Then, in a voice edged with raw pain, he admitted, "I killed her sister."

I flinched. My breath stalled. "What?" I whispered, my mind struggling to process his words.

Grief clouded his expression, a torment so deep it squeezed at something inside my chest. He looked haunted, like the memory was consuming him from the inside out.

"How?" My voice was barely audible.

He swallowed, steadying himself before he spoke. "When my father was murdered and I became Alpha, I was blinded by rage. I wanted revenge. I rallied my entire pack to strike against the Southern Moon Pack. Bopha’s sister, Ava, was our intelligence officer. She acted on a hunch… went in alone… and got caught."

His breath shuddered as if saying the words took everything from him. "They sent her back to us. Just her head. Her eyes had been gouged out, and they left a card pinned to her forehead. It said, ‘She wanted to see too much.’"

I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth.

A sickening chill crept through me. My stomach twisted. For the first time, I began to understand—Bopha had every reason to hate me.

"This is all because of my father… again," I murmured, a wave of grief crashing over me. Tears streamed down my face. "Her sister… your father… they were both killed by my parents’ pack." A bitter laugh bubbled from my throat. "You should hate me too."

Kenzo pulled me into his arms, holding me so tightly I could feel his heartbeat pounding against my own.

"I could never hate you," he whispered. "You’re my mate. You were born to be mine." His lips pressed against my forehead, his fingers brushing away my tears.

I let out a hollow chuckle. "I must be the worst mate any werewolf could have. Not only do I not feel the bond, but my heart still belongs to someone else."

Kenzo smirked, his voice laced with amusement. "Don’t worry," he murmured. "I plan on changing that."

I remained in his embrace until the tears dried and the ache in my chest dulled.

After our… talk, I felt like I understood Kenzo a little better. It didn’t mean I liked Bopha any more than before—but perhaps I hated her a little less. Not that I regretted punching her.

By the time I returned to my room, I had pulled myself together. I was ready to pack, ready to leave for war. But the moment I shut my door, my body tensed.

That scent.

A lingering aura so oppressive it made my breath hitch.

Slowly, my gaze drifted to my bed.

A black rose lay atop my pillow.

Dread slithered down my spine as I stepped forward, my fingers curling into fists. Beneath the rose, a note peeked out. I forced myself to take a steadying breath before reaching for it.

The second I recognized the handwriting, I exhaled sharply, my pulse hammering in my ears.

EH.

The note read:

"Should I kill that little bitch with golden eyes, or would you prefer to do it yourself?"