Chapter 168

Malachi POV..

 I rode back to my castle, my heart heavy with sorrow and anger. George, my trusted friend and ally, had betrayed me. I couldn't understand why he would turn against me, after all we had been through together.

Alpha Ashir rode beside me, his eyes filled with curiosity. "Malachi, what just happened?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. "Why did man turn against you?"

I shook my head, unable to speak. The pain of George's betrayal was too raw, too fresh. I couldn't process it yet.

Ashir nodded sympathetically. "We'll get to the bottom of this, Malachi. Together, we'll find out why the man  betrayed you and we'll make him pay."

I nodded, grateful for Ashir's support. But deep down, I knew that nothing could ease the pain of George's betrayal. Our friendship was broken, and I didn't know if it could ever be repaired.

I stormed into the prison, Alpha Ashir by my side, and found Emma lying unconscious on the floor. My anger boiled over, and I felt a surge of rage towards George. 

"How could he  do this?" I growled, my fists clenched.

But before I could charge out to summon my soldiers and give chase, Emma's weak voice stopped me.

"Malachi, no...not now."

I turned to her, my anger giving way to concern. "Emma, what's going on? Why are you defending them?"

Emma struggled to sit up, her eyes pleading. "This isn't the right time, Malachi. We need to talk...there's something you don't know."

I hesitated, my mind racing with questions. What could Emma possibly know that would change everything? But her words stayed in my hand, and I nodded. "Tell me.”

I listened intently as Emma's words poured out in a weak but urgent tone.

"Malachi, you don't understand...George...he's not just any ordinary soldier...he has powers...magic...and his soldiers...they're all probably empowered too..."

Her words struck me like a thunderbolt. Magic? Empowered soldiers? I had underestimated George and Adara's capabilities.

"To fight magic, one must be powered too," Emma continued, her eyes locked on mine. "Your soldiers...they're no match for George's magic...you'll only be sending them to their deaths..."

I felt a chill run down my spine as the reality of the situation sunk in. I had been so blinded by my anger and desire for revenge that I had forgotten the most basic principle of combat: know your enemy's strengths and weaknesses.

Emma's words were a wake-up call. I needed to regroup, reassess, and come up with a new strategy if I was going to have any hope of defeating George and Adara.

I turned to Alpha Ashir, who was watching me with a curious expression. "Who is this prisoner, Malachi?" he asked, his voice low and even. "And why are you so obsessed with capturing her?"

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But something about Ashir's calm and collected demeanor put me at ease. "Her name is Vill," I said finally. "She's a vampire,  the one Jameson met before the meeting. I caught her finding out what they discussed and she's been a thorn in my side for far two days."

Ashir's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't press for more information. Instead, he nodded thoughtfully. "I see," he said. "And what do you find out?"

I nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude towards Ashir for understanding. "Nothing, she's quite strong,she's a witch vampire. she don't say a word she would have confessed until… .”

Ashir's expression turned thoughtful, and he nodded again. "I trust your judgment, Malachi," he said. "I'm glad to have you by my side"

I felt a warmth spread through my chest at Ashir's words, a sense of gratitude and relief. It was a small gesture, but it meant a lot to me. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I had someone on my side, someone who understood me and my struggles. And deep down, I felt a spark of hope that maybe, just maybe, I wasn't alone in this fight after all. It's almost time to show my true intentions to all.

Ashir POV:

I was still reeling from the events at the rescue scene. I could imagine Adara loudly gazing at me. I felt so hooked and I could hardly believe seeing her fighting so amazing. Adara and her companions had brazenly attempted to rescue Vill, and Malachi's soldiers had been utterly unprepared for the ambush. I had to admit, I was impressed by Adara's cunning and bravery.

But what really surprised me was Malachi's reaction. He had been so consumed by anger and a desire for revenge that he had almost gotten himself killed. It was a side of him I had never seen before, and it made me question my own judgment. The thoughts about what Smith had said, his acquisition against Malachi were off my mind. 

As I rode back to the castle with Malachi, I couldn't help but think about our alliance. I had always had my doubts about Malachi's motives, but seeing him so vulnerable and angry had made me realize that maybe I had misjudged him.

I decided to put aside my doubts and trust him, at least for now. He seemed to genuinely believe that Vill was a threat, and I had to admit that her powers were formidable. Maybe, just maybe, we could work together to achieve our goals.

As we approached the castle, I made a mental note to keep a closer eye on Malachi, but also to give him the benefit of the doubt. Our alliance was fragile, but it was the only way we could hope to defeat our common enemies.

Malachi held my hand just as his mind became a bit at ease after George's heavy weight of betrayal. He's been moody so far, and chanting with him doesn't go quite well, though I tried to give him hope.

“I'm sorry alpha, I should have sent you a message. I know that you'll be so worried". Malachi said, his voice was full of sympathy.

“Hmm" I took a deep breath trying to hide my intention.

“It's alright, I trust you Malachi. I understand that you're busy" 

Malachi looked into my eyes and responded. "No, alpha I knew that you'll be angry, I should really have sent you a message…. But have been busy, been busy chasing after Vill.” 

I  listened as Malachi apologized for his lack of communication, explaining that he had been preoccupied with chasing after Vill. I could sense the frustration and anger in his voice, and I knew that he was still reeling from the rescue attempt.

"Vill was saved by Adara and George," Malachi spat, his words laced with venom. "That traitor, George. I never thought he would turn against me like that."

I nodded sympathetically, understanding the depth of Malachi's betrayal. "I'm sorry, Malachi," I said. "I know how much you valued George's loyalty."

Malachi's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in anger. "I'll make sure he pays for his treachery," he growled. "And Vill...she's still out there, a constant threat to my rule."

I placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him down. "We'll get through this, Malachi. Together, we'll find a way to deal with Vill and George. But first, let's focus on regrouping and reassessing our strategy.”

"Malachi, we need to prepare for battle," I said, my voice firm but urgent. "Adara could attack at any moment, and we can't afford to be caught off guard. Continue training your soldiers, and make sure they're ready for whatever comes our way."

Malachi nodded, his expression determined. "I will, Ashir. I won't let my guard down again."

I placed a hand on his shoulder, my eyes locked on his. "I'm impressed by your security measures, Malachi. But we can't be too careful. There could be more traitors like George among your soldiers. Keep your eyes open, and don't trust anyone too much."

Malachi's face hardened, and he nodded again. "I understand. I'll be more vigilant."

I turned to leave, motioning to Smith, my bodyguard. "I'll head back to my territory now. Keep me updated on any developments, Malachi."

Smith fell in step beside me as we walked away from the castle. "Ashir, do you think Malachi can handle this?" he asked, his voice low.

I glanced at him, my expression thoughtful. "I'm not sure, Smith. But we need to support him, for now. The alternative is too dangerous to consider.”

"Alpha Asher, I don't trust Malachi," Smith said, his voice laced with doubt. "He's been acting strange, and I think he's hiding something from us."

I turned to him, my expression firm. "Smith, I saw what happened on the battlefield today. Adara is a force to be reckoned with, and we need Malachi's help to defeat her. We can't afford to doubt him now."

"But, Alpah Ashir, what if he's working with Adara?" Smith persisted. "What if he's been playing us all along?"

I shook my head, my patience wearing thin. "Smith, I've known Malachi for a long time. He may have his flaws, but he's not a traitor. And even if he was, do you think he'd be so foolish as to betray us in the open like this?"

Smith looked unconvinced, but I continued anyway. "We need to support Malachi, not accuse him. If we don't, we'll be divided and weak, and Adara will destroy us all."

Smith opened his mouth to protest again, but I cut him off. "Smith, I mean it. If you keep accusing Malachi of treason, I'll have no choice but to charge you with treason yourself. Do you understand?"

Smith's eyes widened, and he nodded reluctantly. "Yes, Alpha Ashir. I understand.”