Chapter 86
THIRD PERSON POV
The interior of the forsaken cabin reeked of soil and decayed foliage. Ryker drew his worn cloak closer around himself, attempting to ward off the clammy cold. It had been several days since he had escaped from Kael's dungeon, aided by Seraphina. She had gambled everything to secure his release.
He felt appreciative, certainly, and astonished by the extremes she would go to for him. Yet, what mattered most to him was the searing desire for vengeance against Kael.
Seraphina was already in the room, striding back and forth like a trapped beast, awaiting Ryker's arrival.
The moment the door groaned open, she hurried forward. A breath of relief slipped from her as Ryker entered, wearing a self-satisfied expression.
"I was beside myself with worry!" she barked. "How could you roam around so carelessly when you know we're fugitives?!"
Ryker merely shrugged and approached her. "I'm alright," he replied, his features now turning stern. "You don't need to fret over me. Focus on our scheme instead."
"Our scheme?" She frowned at him, her gaze tracking him as he moved about, eventually sinking onto the sofa. "This insane, ridiculous notion is all yours!"
Ryker remained silent, simply gazing at her without a word.
"Furthermore," she went on, "are you certain this is the ideal spot for us to lie low? This place stinks."
"You asked for something inconspicuous. This is inconspicuous," Ryker retorted, shooting her a harsh glare cold enough to quiet her. Not wishing to provoke him more, she exhaled deeply and moved to sit beside him.
Ryker's face was rigid, his demeanor somber, reflecting his deep-seated resentment and exhaustion.
"What's the matter?" Seraphina inquired, laying her hand over his in an effort to provide some solace.
"We can't afford to fail, Seraphina," Ryker stated, his tone strained with irritation. "Moreover, no one will search for us here. Kael believes he's superior to everyone... superior to all of this."
"I still don't understand why you're so fixated on Elara, though," Seraphina remarked, her words dripping with bitterness. The name Elara grated on her like grit in her ears. Since his breakout from the dungeon, Ryker had been obsessed with her, constantly claiming she would be Kael's undoing.
"Elara is Kael's vulnerability," Ryker explained, his jaw tightening. "Injure her, and you devastate him. Severely. And besides," he continued, a malicious smirk spreading across his lips, "it'll be entertaining to see him fall apart."
"Okay..." Seraphina drifted off, her eyes squinting in suspicion. "So essentially, you aim to target Elara to strike at Kael?"
"Haven't you noticed how he gazes at her?"
That query sent a chill through Seraphina's veins. He was correct, and she loathed acknowledging it. She had lingered in the palace for only a few weeks after Elara's return, and she couldn't refute his observation.
Kael was in love with Elara.
His dismissals were merely a facade. And now, he could no longer tolerate being separated from her.
"Fine, fine," she conceded, her gaze turning shadowy. "What do we need to do next?"
Ryker smirked as he pivoted to face her. "I know exactly who to reach out to."
~
Kael's Palace.
Meanwhile, at Kael's palace, peculiar events had unfolded not long after the enigma of the blank letters was unraveled or Ronan's abrupt visit to the Lycan domain. Pack members—wolves—had started vanishing while asleep.
"Sire," a guard declared as he knelt before Kael. Elara stood at Kael's side, hoping the guard had returned with encouraging news.
"Any updates?" Kael questioned, his voice tense.
"No," the guard replied, shaking his head. "More wolves have gone missing; the count rises with each passing day."
Elara exhaled heavily as she sank to her knees on the floor. Shaking her head vigorously, she started whispering to herself.
'It's all my fault. This is all my fault.'
Kael glanced at her, his heart constricting at her anguished look. She appeared devastated and overwhelmed by remorse. Releasing a frustrated breath, he addressed the guard.
"Continue the search," he commanded, his tone infused with command. "And don't cease! Those abducted wolves must be located, along with their abductor!"
The guard nodded and exited the office, shutting the door after him. This allowed Kael to hurry to Elara, enveloping her in his embrace.
"Elara," he murmured gently, running his fingers through her hair. "Don't hold yourself responsible—"
He couldn't complete his thought before Elara erupted.
"What do you mean I shouldn't hold myself responsible?!" she shouted, her eyes brimming with tears, her voice sharp with frustration. "Terrible things are befalling innocent wolves, and it's because of me!"
"No!" Kael asserted firmly. "Don't say that; it's not true. We're not even certain it's Darius—it might be some other adversary—"
He was interrupted as Elara scoffed and shoved his hands aside. "What other adversary?" she demanded, flinging her arms upward. "WHAT OTHER ENEMY DO WE HAVE, KAEL?! Tell me!"
"You can't keep tormenting yourself over this, Elara," Kael said tenderly. "Even if Darius is behind it, the blame isn't yours."
Tears gathered in her eyes as she met his gaze. "But if I weren't here, none of this would occur. They wouldn't be suffering."
Kael sighed and gently swept her hair away from her face. "These are my people, Elara. They won't be overcome so readily. I'll safeguard them—and you as well." He drew nearer and pressed a kiss to her forehead, seeking to alleviate her distress.
"I'll put an end to Darius. I swear it."
What they were unaware of was that the situation was on the verge of deteriorating significantly.
Ryker, that deceitful figure, had at last uncovered the secret surrounding Elara—her abilities and the one who coveted them for his own purposes.
Darius. The rogue Alpha who required Elara's powers to rescue his daughter. Darius couldn't breach Kael's territories, as overcoming the Lycan so effortlessly was unfeasible for him.
Ryker intended to extend his aid to Darius in acquiring Elara... in return for witnessing Kael's realm collapse and assuming the role of Lycan King for good.