Chapter 98

Zeke sat on the bed, his gaze softening as he looked at Alicia, still fast asleep. His hand gently caressed her cheek, savoring the warmth of her skin before he reluctantly pulled away. His eyes drifted to the window, where the moonlight refracted through the glass, casting a silvery glow in the room.

The night had deepened, and the melodic call of a bird outside signaled the presence of his most trusted ally, Colton. The familiar sound brought a mix of reassurance and sorrow to Zeke’s heart.

With a heavy sigh, he leaned down to place a tender kiss on Alicia’s forehead, then donned his cloak and quietly left the cabin.

As the door closed behind him, Alicia’s eyes fluttered open. A single tear slid down her cheek as she stared at the closed door, then turned her gaze to the window. Silently, she prayed to the Moon Goddess for a miracle, her thoughts reaching out to Zeke.

In that fleeting moment, Zeke felt a whisper of Alicia’s thoughts touch his mind, halting his movement and feeling the throbbing of his heart.

“Alpha Prince?” Colton's voice broke through Zeke's thoughts, sensing his hesitation.

Zeke knew his time with Alicia was fleeting. She was the most important person to him, but his responsibilities as the eldest alpha prince of the West Wood Pack weighed heavily on his mind and heart. Steeling himself, he turned to Colton. “And Leira?”

Colton, familiar with Luna Alicia and her loyal fighter Leira, replied, “She’s waiting by the river. They will return together.”

Zeke nodded. His meeting with Alicia still couldn’t be known by other people. Like what Alicia said, it was forbidden. Even when he desperately wanted to get her, bring her back to his own pack, Zeke knew such a thing was impossible. At least, for the time being, it couldn’t happen yet.

He let out a deep sigh, giving one final glance at the cabin where he left Alicia, and slowly turned back to the road ahead with Colton.

Soon, they were again entering the West Wood Pack territory. Having been to different missions, Zeke’s familiarity with the territory made his movements quick and full of precision. In no time, he had returned to the border tower, just in time before anyone noticed his disappearance. He was about to head back to his quarters when he spotted a group of fighters heading in one direction.

He signaled Colton, prompting the latter to move.

Colton quickly understood. He went to one of the soldiers. Quickly, he returned to Zeke, explaining everything he learned.

“There’s a group of skilled rogues seen by the springs. General Gregor had gone to check. Coincidentally, Alpha Jake was scouting nearby and heard it so he’s also there right now.”

“Alpha is there too?” Zeke asked, a cold flicker of shock, worry, and anger flashing through his eyes. Just how dangerous those rogues were for the Alpha to personally come himself?

Without wasting another second, Zeke turned and followed the path leading to the springs.

When they got there, he was stunned to see about four rogues – all in their human forms – kneeling down before General Gregor and his men.

At the same time, a line of soldiers appeared. Alpha Jake emerged and marched in towards the rogues.

General Gregor made a salute to Alpha Jake. “Alpha, these rogues are seen near the springs. Some of the fighters insist that they are here to steal our goods for the coming winter.”

Alpha Jake had a deep frown on his face. Through exhausted eyes, he looked at the said rogues fiercely.

“Thieves, you say?” he said, his voice deep and dangerous.

“Reveal your truth, rogues! Don’t dare lie to the Alpha!” one of the high-ranking soldiers next to General Gregor exclaimed. He took one of their weapons and shoved it into one of the rogues. “Speak or we’ll cut your throat right this second!”

The rogue slowly lifted his head.

Jeffrey gritted his teeth, determined not to speak alongside Nile, Billy, and Reo.

Even with a blade shoved to his neck, the other three didn’t bat an eye, their heads hanging, their eyes on the ground. Visible cold sweat trickled down the sides of their faces but they held on strong, never revealing anything to the West Wood Pack.

“Speak when you are asked to speak!” General Gregor commanded, his voice akin to thunder.

Zeke, on the other hand, remained on the side, watching the interrogation.

“Did you come here to steal from us again? Huh? Damn rogues!” One of the high-ranking soldiers said.

Finally, Jeffrey snapped. He glared at the soldier and mocked, “What’s there to steal from you? Your spring is empty and your crops no longer produce any food!”

Everyone halted at his words, some even about to choke in anger and shock. Even his companions couldn’t help but turn to look at him in unison.

Zeke also frowned, coldness seeping through his eyes.

“You damn….!”

Before any of the soldiers cut Jeffrey’s head, Alpha Jake stopped them. He took steps closer to the rogues, then looked at them one by one, as though to confirm something. Then he stopped, eyes falling on one of the rogues.

“These rogues are to be kept.”

Everyone fell into confusion but before they could further react, Alpha Jake took a step back and turned around, commanding in a voice full of authority, “Bring them to the main village dungeon to be interrogated.”

Hearing the command, everyone bowed down.

“Yes, Alpha!”

With that, the soldiers dispersed while the rogues were all dragged and taken by General Gregor and his men.

Zeke, who had been watching everything on one side, couldn’t help but stare at the rogues. Then his eyes slowly drifted to Alpha Jake.

He couldn’t be wrong. That time, he saw a change in his father’s eyes when he was looking at those rogues. It was a brief and subtle reaction but Zeke knew what he saw.

Alpha Jake had encountered many rogues in the past but they all were known by the generals of the pack. They were his most trusted confidants after his beta, after all. Yet, General Gregor didn’t reveal any hint of familiarity – unlike Alpha Jake.

Zeke’s eyes narrowed, a foreboding emotion growing in his chest.

Those rogues… Could it be Alpha Jake knew them? But when and how?

It seemed there was something more he knew about those rogues…

“Colton,” Zeke called.

“Yes, Alpha Prince?”

“Who’s assigned to interrogate those rogues?”

“I believe it’s Alpha Prince Lorenzo’s turn, Alpha Prince,” Colton said.

“Can you send him a message tonight?” Zeke said.

He spun to look at Colton, voice and eyes devoid of any humor. “Tell him I will do it instead.”

****

“Luna! Luna Sierra!”

Luna Sierra was in the middle of scolding a female servant when she saw her trusted personal assistant rushing to her from the entrance. She dismissed the stupid servant and turned to the other.

“Why are you here? Didn’t I tell you to deliver a message to Alpha? I will be staying here in Alpha Prince Felix’s house until he recovers!” Luna Sierra exclaimed.

The assistant, a female servant named Lin, said in urgency while catching her breath, “I did just that, Luna! But this is more important. The carriage driver we sent to deliver the tree nut powder to the Crimson Stone Pack… It was ambushed! It didn’t leave the territory at all!”

Luna Sierra frowned. “What?!”

Ever since her talk with Margaux from the Night Ridge Pack, Luna Sierra had an epiphany. She knew having mates from the strongest packs of the world would bring benefits to the new Alpha of the pack. If she wanted to make Alpha Prince Felix the new alpha of the West Wood Pack, this step was essential.

Her first plan was to gain favors from the current Luna of the Crimson Stone Pack. Based on her knowledge from past interactions, Luna Alicia was a woman who loved powders and perfumes a lot. She loved to mix them with milk and apply them on different parts of her body, enhancing her beauty and fragrance.

From what Luna Sierra also remembered, Luna Alicia had a younger sister who still hadn’t met her mate. Bearing the same beauty as her, she also had an almost equal power the same as her sister. Even her status was already special and would give power to her future mate.

It was Luna Sierra’s plan to convince Luna Alicia to get that sister into becoming Felix’s arranged mate. By giving her gifts, she could ask for a meeting and tell her about this proposal.

However, her assistant now told her the carriage didn’t even get to leave their territory. What kind of nonsense was this?

Lin explained everything to her. The more Luna Sierra listened, the more her face turned red. Hot fumes came out of her as she exclaimed angrily, “Where is he? Bring that driver to me right this instant!”

Lin was desperate to cool her mistress down, she pointed at one direction, “Right this way, Luna–”

Yet, it was blocked by a familiar face.

Alpha Prince Felix, with no expression, stood by the door.

“What’s happening here?” he asked, voice calm and distant.

A bit startled, Luna Sierra tried to wear a smile. “I-It’s nothing. You don’t have to worry about anything. Just go and take your rest, Alpha Prince.”

Obviously not convinced, Felix sighed and told Luna Sierra with a serious expression, “Mother, whatever it is you are planning, I ask you to stop it now.”

Luna Sierra’s eyebrows twitched. She side-eyed her assistant, scolding her that sent the other to tears.

“Who’s planning anything? I’m just instructing Lin to give a message to Alpha. Come now, you need to get back your health fast. Remember, you have training in the next three days,” Luna Sierra said, urging her 26-year-old son to return to his chambers.

Felix let out another sigh before he followed his mother’s wishes. As he passed by Lin, he caught the expression in the woman’s eyes, to whom he returned a familiar gesture.

Receiving the familiar message, Lin lowered her head and gripped her clothes.

Later that night, as Luna Sierra fell to sleep, Felix sneaked out of the house. Under the gleaming moon, he pretended to take his midnight stroll with his assistant, Max, and headed to the woods.

Behind the massive stone, a man lay unconscious. Lin was on his side, kneeling down as she performed first aid. Afterward, she checked his pulse and turned to Felix, “He’s unconscious and strangely couldn’t wake up, he’s but alive with a stable heartbeat, Alpha Prince.”

Felix stared at the old man. He bent down, hand touching the old man’s wrist, feeling for his pulse. Instead of a pulse, a series of images flashed inside his head, his ears hearing the sounds of the driver falling from the carriage and gasping as he landed to the ground.

Startled, Felix retracted his hand. With a frown, he looked closer, eyebrows twitching as he swallowed down hard, surprise and confusion filling him in an instant.

What he saw was clearly the driver’s memory.

He was unconscious now because of a person. A man clad in a black cloak with fierce, powerful eyes.

Alpha Prince Zeke.

Felix was certain it was him.

But why?

Why would Zeke attack this carriage driver, his own pack member?