Chapter 189: Chapter 189

Serena’s POV

I hadn’t slept properly in days.

Not since Lucian nearly tore me in half during one of his cursed rampages. I still remember it vividly—his beast lunging toward me, massive claws glinting under moonlight, eyes glowing like hellfire. If not for the guards, I’d have been crushed, my name scribbled into history as a foolish woman who tried to tame a monster.

Since then, I've kept my distance.

Let Mira be the martyr. I had my own game to play.

Tonight, I turned my attention back to what mattered—my orphanage. If I was going to solidify my place again, I had to renovate the home and make it appealing. Kai wasn’t going to tolerate laziness. And I wasn’t about to let that opportunity slip.

The night was quiet as my carriage pulled up to the old gates. The building stood solemn in the dark, its edges cracked, weeds stretching from between the cobbles. The lanterns that lined the entrance flickered in the wind, as if unsure of my presence.

The moment I stepped out, the “Mother” of the house greeted me, bowed, and launched into chatter about the children’s schedule. I cut her off with a wave of my hand.

“We’ll be relocating them during renovation,” I said curtly, brushing imaginary dust off my coat. “Temporarily.”

“But—where to?” she asked, confused.

“Figure it out,” I snapped. “That’s your job.”

Some of the orphans ran up to greet me, their tiny hands reaching out, wide eyes hoping for affection.

I didn’t even blink as I pushed past them.

Their little gasps and the Mother’s disapproving frown didn’t move me. I wasn’t here to play nursemaid. I was here to reclaim power.

We had just begun discussing logistics when it happened.

A loud, feral howl cracked the sky.

The ground trembled beneath our feet. Screams echoed from the courtyard.

Then chaos erupted.

I rushed out the front doors only to freeze in horror.

The orphanage compound was flooded.

Hundreds—yes, hundreds—of werewolves in black armor had descended, surrounding the building in a sea of snarling, unfamiliar faces. They weren’t from Blackwood. I didn’t know a single one. Their eyes were wild, coats darker than shadows, their stance hostile and organized.

And then I saw him.

Anton.

Mira’s father.

He marched through the pack like a general surveying conquered land. Cloaked in black and gold, surrounded by his personal guards, his expression was grim and cruel.

I dropped to my knees in an instant.

“Chief Anton,” I breathed, lowering my head. “Y-You weren’t expected this soon.”

“No,” he said coldly. “I wasn’t.”

I lifted my head slowly. His gaze pierced through me.

“You’ve failed me, Serena,” he continued. “All this time. All the whispers. All the promises. And still, the Blackwood brothers stand tall.”

“I—I was getting close,” I stammered. “The trading posts—they’re almost mine. I’ve regained the orphanage. The inns—”

“Silence,” he said sharply.

His voice held power. Not magic. Command.

“I gave you months,” he snapped. “You were supposed to weaken the foundation, chip away at the loyalty of their people, and prepare the clan for my takeover. And what did you do instead? Chase a feral prince? Whisper lies and plant fear? That isn’t conquest. That’s cowardice.”

My heart raced. “Please. I can still fix this—”

“You won’t need to,” he said. “It’s no longer your concern.”

He turned to the small cluster of guards at the orphanage entrance. They looked terrified. One of them tried to run. Another reached for his sword.

Anton raised his hand.

In one swift motion, three of them were dead. Slashed down by his soldiers before they even had time to cry out.

Blood pooled on the ground.

Only one remained alive, trembling where he knelt.

“Go,” Anton ordered. “Run to your kings. Tell them what I’ve done here.”

The man nodded frantically and fled into the night, clutching his wound.

Serena’s thoughts spiraled. She stepped forward, trying to mask her panic. “Chief Anton… are you sure this is wise? The Blackwood brothers have more trained warriors. Their power is unmatched. Even with your wolves—”

“You think I came here blind?” he said with a smirk. “I’ve spent weeks setting roots. The inns, the banks, the garrisons—they’re all mine. Every trade post, every western checkpoint. And I own the eastern supply routes. Tonight isn’t the beginning of war, Serena. It’s the end of theirs.”

I swallowed.

For once… I was truly afraid.

Kai’s POV

The council chamber was in chaos.

Councilmen shouted over one another. Advisors scrambled between scrolls. Rowan stood beside me, fists clenched, his jaw tight with fury.

The reports hadn’t stopped all day.

The first came from two guards bleeding out at the palace gates—trading posts in the west overtaken. Then more news poured in: inns captured. Banks shut down. Hostages taken.

And finally, the last blow.

A single orphanage guard—bloodied, breathless—collapsed before us, whispering Anton’s name with terror in his eyes.

He’d taken the orphanage.

He was here.

And we were too late.

“How the hell did he do this under our nose?!” Rowan snapped, slamming a fist on the table.

“Months of planning,” I muttered. “He’s been planting pieces like a slow game of chess. While we chased shadows, he was building an army.”

Ryker, pale, stood shakily. “We underestimated him. All of us.”

“I told you,” I growled. “He wasn’t just some petty chief. He’s a strategist.”

The weight of guilt crushed me.

I should have known.

I’d worked with Anton for years. I had shaken his hand. Done trade deals with him. Trusted him. And now?

Now, he was tearing apart everything I’d sworn to protect.

“Send me to him,” Rowan said suddenly, voice deadly calm. “Just me. A blade and a message.”

“No,” I said, grabbing his arm. “You can’t. He has hostages. He’ll kill them the moment we move.”

“So what do we do?” he hissed. “Let him sink his teeth deeper?”

“We plan,” I said. “Every move. Every counter.”

“We don’t have time,” Ryker added. “The people are panicking. Our banks are frozen. Inns under siege. If word spreads that we’ve lost control, the entire clan will turn to fear.”

I looked at them all. Rowan. Ryker. The councilmen.

I was supposed to lead them.

I was supposed to protect this kingdom.

But tonight, the power felt fragile in my hands.

Anton had made his move.

And Mira… wasn’t here to help us face him.