Chapter 38
{Ryanna’s POV}
Here’s the truth: an Alpha is not just the strongest. Not just the fastest. An Alpha is the embodiment of all that a werewolf could be. Power, fear, legacy. The blood of the gods, some say. And when you face an Alpha — truly stand against one — it earns you respect not because of your strength. But because they think you’re mad. Foolhardiness at its finest.
And as Alphas came, Aurelius was as dangerous as they got.
He wasn’t just power. He was dominant. An unrelenting force in the body of a man. His presence made lesser wolves kneel without command. Made warriors drop their eyes instinctively. And his cunning? Insidious.
Unexpectedly everything started getting clear, not completely, but a little bit. The moon caught his hair, making it look like a blurred smudge of brown and silver. His eyes scorched like two pools of heated steel.
Even in his presence… No, especially in his presence I dared to question; ‘What was he doing here?’
Was this part of the plan? A second attack? Did he send the assassin? Or was he here to make sure the job was finished this time? Most importantly… What happened to Casper?!
I tensed, my fingers flexing into claws again. I had nothing left. But I would fight. Even now. Outnumbered two to one, poisoned and stripped of my senses. Everything burned away into battle-hardened clarity.
He halted his approach, just at the edge of the trees and his presence seemed to press on me with an almost physical force.
The assassin must have felt it, too. Because the moment Aurelius stepped forward, he froze. Well, his scent stilled, for one breath. Then two.
I poured what remained of my already strained concentration to give me all the edge I needed so when Aurelius moved I would be ready.
When he did… I barely saw it, not because of the poison, but the sheer speed.
He became a blur of motion in one simple stride.
He moved towards my direction, and to my tremendous shock, Aurelius wasn't coming for me. He caught the killer by the throat as he hit him to the ground hard enough to clatter the trees and tremble the birds from their nests.
There was no roar or taunt. Just the sickening crunch of bone and that thud of certainty.
The assassin wouldn’t be rising again.
And that was it.
Aurelius dusted his palm like he’d just killed a fly. Still shocked and pressed, I was shaking.
There was a chilling absence of compassion in the way he disregarded the killer’s lifeless body.
He then turned in my direction, calm as ever. Aurelius didn’t even glance at him. His eyes were locked on me.
“What now?” I muttered hoarsely as my knees buckled. I simply have no energy to maintain such wit. He caught me before I hit the ground.
I should have fought him off. Bit him, screamed, something. But my body betrayed me.
That was when I saw him.
Casper.
His eyes locked on the broken body of the assassin, then on me.
"Mom!" He bolted to my side.
I opened my mouth to say something. But I didn’t get the chance.
The adrenaline ran dry. The poison caught up.
And everything went dark.
×××
I awoke to the sound of water dribbling.
My entire body hurt like it had been hemmed together by someone who was probably drunk and angry. Every joint screamed. But I was alive. That fact settled slowly into my skull as I blinked. The thatched roof above me spun for a moment, then steadied. Faint light dared to pour through the pitch-black curtain cloth. Assaulting my eyes.
“She’s awake,” a voice said softly.
I turned my head and winced.
Ophelia sat on a stool, with her hands relaxing on her lap. It looked like she had been there for quite some time. Her usually stern face looked tired, and something told me she hadn't left my side.
"How long?" I groaned, sitting up.
"Three days."
Three days?!
‘How was I out for so long?’ I thought as she handed me a cup. The tea smelled like boiled bark, but I drank without question. It burned down.
"The poison?"
"Flushed out. But it was no easy task… You were shot three times, Ryanna. It’s a miracle by the moon goddess you’re still with us.”
I let my head fall back onto the pillow defeated, as I asked; "Casper?"
She hesitated.
"He's... fine. A bit shaken, but he’s ok."
"And Aurelius?"
"You mean the man who carried you back here? Yeah Ryanna, that's complicated."
I blinked slowly as she leaned forward. "Whatever plan you have, we better start working towards realizing it soon. This is gearing up to be an even more complicated takeover. Aurelius has proved time and time again why he's to be feared.”
I didn’t answer.
What could I say?
The silence hung for a moment too long, a contemplative look plastered on Ophelia’s face, and mine too no doubt.
Then the door creaked open as Casper walked in.
His face looked... cheerful. But his red-rimmed eyes said everything I needed to know. He didn’t speak right away. Just stared at me like I might fade if he blinked.
“You’re here,” I mumbled.
“Don’t frighten me like that again, mom,” Casper said as he walked over to me, sitting on the rim of the bed.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
I met his gaze before I answered. “Could be better, but I’ll be fine.”
“What have you been up to? Hope I didn’t worry you too much.” I tried to sound cheerful.
“Well, about that… I’ve been with Dad these past few days.”
“You what?” I practically screamed, regretting it a second later as I went into a violent coughing fit.
Ophelia handed me some water but I waved it away.
“I know.” He looked down at his hands. “But I think I understand now. Why everyone fear him”
His voice dropped even lower as he continued. “I couldn’t do anything. I was fast, but not fast enough. Strong, but not strong enough. He was! He ended it like it was nothing. Like we were insects fighting over crumbs.”
He looked at me then, like he anticipated me to understand.
“I should have protected you.”
“You tried your best, that doesn’t mean you’re obligated to him. You're powerful and faster, don't let that make you think otherwise.”
He looked away but didn’t pull back. Ophelia stood and moved to the door, giving us space.
Before she left, she turned; “I'd say ‘rest while you can. Whatever this is, it can be handled later.’ But you’re mother and son, it’s not like you’ll listen to me anyway.”
And then she was gone.
Casper and I sat in the hush of the little hut, with only the drip of water and our shared silence filling the space. Neither of us understood the consequences that the dinner had just begun.