Chapter 51: A King Revealed
Leo
My entire body went rigid. That wind—it wasn’t natural. It carried something eerie, something watching.
The cold wind swept through the open balcony door, sending a shiver down my spine. But it wasn’t the chill that unsettled me. It was something else—something lurking just beyond the estate walls. The kind of presence that made the hair on the back of my neck rise. The kind of presence that felt… wrong.
I turned my head slightly, my ears tuning out the conversation still unfolding between Ivy and her father. Whatever was out there, it wasn’t ordinary. I could feel it in my bones.
But no one else seemed to notice.
I forced my expression to remain neutral as Richard continued questioning Ivy about her arm. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, restless, alert. I needed to leave. Now.
Clearing my throat, I straightened. “I just remembered,” I said, keeping my voice even, “I have urgent business to attend to. I need to leave.”
Richard barely spared me a glance, too focused on Ivy. “It’s still dark out,” he said gruffly. “I'm not happy that I found you in my room with my daughter but that's not the reason for you to leave now. At least wait until sunrise.”
“I can’t. It’s important.”
Marcus chuckled. “Are you that sacred of your soon-to-be father in-law? Or are you both really hiding something?”
I managed a small smile but shook my head. “I just came to spend some time with Ivy today since I'll be away for a while.”
Ivy reached for my hand. “Can’t you wait until daylight? It’s not safe.”
Did she forget that I'm not entirely human?
I hesitated for half a second. The need to be with her, to find out how she was able to heal quickly made me waver. But my protective instincts warred with my hesitation, the feeling in my gut overruling everything. I wasn’t about to sit here and wait for whatever was lurking outside to make its move.
“I’ll be fine,” I assured her, pulling away.
I moved toward the window instinctively, my wolf urging me to leap out and disappear into the dark, but at the last second, I caught sight of Richard and Marcus watching me with narrowed eyes. Right. They were human. Jumping out of windows wasn’t exactly normal behavior.
Suppressing my frustration, I turned and strode toward the door instead. Just before stepping out, I turned to Ivy, hesitated, then awkwardly pulled her into a stiff side hug. It was all I could manage in front of her father and uncle, but it still felt unnatural.
Ivy looked confused. Marcus smirked. Richard merely observed in silence.
I didn’t wait for any more questions. I stepped out, closing the door behind me, then hurried down the hall.
Once I reached the balcony at the end of the corridor, I leaped over the railing and landed gracefully on the damp earth below. The morning was still cloaked in darkness, the sky a deep navy, the horizon barely beginning to hint at dawn. The air was thick with the scent of wet leaves and something else—something unnatural.
My sharp eyes scanned the area. Nothing.
Then I saw it.
A set of prints in the dirt.
Someone or something got this close? Why didn't the security alarm go off?
As I looked closer, recognition hit me. This was the same print my men and I had found before—the ones that didn’t belong to any wolf or any creature I had ever encountered.
My heart pounded. What is this?
The sheer size of the prints sent a shiver down my spine. They were large, almost monstrous, yet not quite human. And once again, they led toward the dense treeline—but there was no sign of whatever had left them.
My mind was set. I was going to uncover whatever was behind this.
Without another second of hesitation, I let my wolf take over. My body shifted in a seamless ripple of power, bones realigning, fur bursting forth as my senses heightened. Before long, my massive black wolf stood poised under the dim moonlight, muscles coiled.
Then I took off, sprinting through the trees toward my house.
I burst through the back entrance of my estate, shaking off the remnants of my transformation as I shifted back into my human form. I didn’t bother dressing; I was still burning with adrenaline.
Eli stood waiting near the door, his expression sharp.
“I’m leaving,” I announced.
Eli straightened. “For the palace?”
“Yes. And you—” My gaze darkened as I stepped closer. “You are to stay on Ivy. I don’t care where she goes or what she does. You follow from a distance. No one gets near her. Not even a whisper of a threat.”
Eli nodded immediately. “Understood, Alpha.”
I turned to leave but paused. My fingers curled into a fist. I didn’t know what was out there, what force was leaving those prints, but I had a gut feeling that Ivy—whether by fate or misfortune—was tangled up in it.
“Double the watch,” I added. “If anything feels off—even slightly—you alert me.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
With that, I shifted back into my wolf, bolting toward the kingdom.
As I neared my palace, I could hear the commotion before I even arrived. The air crackled with tension, voices raised in frustration.
I let out a low growl, my wolf bristling with impatience.
These fools.
I mind-linked Zane, my Beta.
“Announce to them that I'll be there shortly.”
There was a slight pause before Zane’s voice filled my mind, tinged with amusement.
“They’ve been restless, Alpha. They claim they won’t believe a word until they see you in person.”
My eyes darkened.
"Then tell them this—I will be there soon. They had better have something important to discuss, or they will pay dearly."
Zane let out a low chuckle. “Understood,” Zane responded. “I will gather them.”
I wore my cloak as I shifted back when I got to the palace steps, walking through the grand doors with slow, deliberate strides.
A crowd of Alphas—at least a dozen—stood at the grand entrance of my palace. The Alphas turned immediately, their expressions ranging from frustration to curiosity.
They had surrounded my palace, demanding to see my face. They had no idea what they were asking for.
I exhaled sharply, a final moment of consideration.
For years, I had remained a mystery—only a few trusted individuals had seen my true face due to the curse that bound me. My enemies didn’t even know what I looked like.
But now?
There was no point in hiding anymore. I already knew who my enemies were. And I think it was time I stepped into the light.
The room stilled as I reached for the hood of my cloak.
Then, in one swift motion, I pulled it down.
Gasps rippled through the hall—some in recognition, others in sheer shock that I had actually done it.
A smirk tugged at my lips as I saw the look on my uncle's face. This will be fun.
I met each of their gazes, my piercing eyes holding the weight of a ruler who had seen blood, war, and betrayal. My face was striking—sharp jaw, intense features, a presence that demanded submission.
Several of the Alphas took a step back.
Some even dropped to their knees.
My voice rang out, deep and unwavering.
“You wanted to see your King?” My gaze swept over them, daring anyone to speak.
Silence.
Then, a single Alpha swallowed hard before stepping forward. His voice trembled slightly.
“Your Majesty… forgive us. We—”
I tilted my head, unimpressed. “You gathered like cowards at my gates, demanding my face as if I were some legend to be unraveled. Do you regret your insolence now?”
The Alpha dropped his head instantly.
I stepped forward, my tone dropping to something even more dangerous. “Make no mistake—I am Leo Ashton. Your King. Your curiosity does not grant you the right to question me.”
Another Alpha hesitated before speaking, his voice cautious. “We only wished to know the man who rules us, Your Majesty.”
My gaze locked onto him, sharp and assessing.
“Now you do.” I let the words hang, a silent threat beneath them.
The room remained deathly still.
Then, slowly, the Alphas began lowering their heads in submission.
I exhaled, rolling my shoulders as I stepped forward and took my rightful place at the head of the room.
“Now,” I said, my voice a quiet command. “Speak. And make it worth my time.”