Chapter 129 Chapter 129

Chapter 129 Chapter 129


Damon’s POV

Ares ate as though he hadn't just kidnapped four people.

He cut another piece of meat and looked at us over the table.

"You all look miserable."

Nobody answered.

He sighed.

"I was expecting at least one complaint about the food."

Leo glanced at his plate.

"The potatoes are cold."

Everyone looked at him.

He shrugged.

"They are."

Ares stared at him for a moment before laughing.
"You're definitely Damon's son."

My expression remained hard.

"Get to the point."

"Fine."

Ares put his fork down.

"You've probably spent the last few hours trying to figure out why I'm doing this."

"I don't need to figure it out," Damon said. "You're obsessed with Hayley."

Ares smiled.

"That's one interpretation."

His eyes moved to Zyran.

"And I suppose you've already decided I'm your enemy."

"You kidnapped our family." Zyran said.

"Fair."

He leaned back.

"But there's something you don't know."

Kai, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke.

"You're Alpha Wales' son."

Ares looked at him.

"That's what everyone thinks."

Leo frowned.

"Are you not?"

"Not by blood."

The twins exchanged a glance.

Ares continued.

"Wales adopted me."

My eyes narrowed.

"So you're not Hayley's cousin."

"Not even remotely."

Ares picked up his glass.

"Interesting how quickly people accept whatever powerful men tell them."

Zyran folded his arms.

"Why would Wales adopt you?"

"Because he needed an heir."

Ares took a sip.

"He found a convenient orphan, gave him a name and raised him inside his pack."

"Then why did he banish you? What you did didn't deserve such extreme measure." Kai asked.

Ares smiled without humour.

"Because I stopped being convenient."

I watched him carefully.

Ares's fingers tightened around the glass.

"Wales has always wanted power. Not responsibility. Not peace. Power."

His voice was calmer now.

"He wanted the Seal, the packs and everything that came with them. Anyone who stood between him and that goal became disposable."

"And you stood against him," Zyran said.

"I refused to become his puppet."

Ares looked down at the table.

"So he banished me."

Leo leaned forward.

"That's why you hate him?"

Ares glanced at him.

"Among other things."

"What other things?" Kai asked.

Ares smiled.

"You're inquisitive."

"People say that."

"People are usually right."

I interrupted.

"None of this explains Hayley."

"It does."

Ares looked directly at me.

"I want revenge."

"On Wales?"

"On everyone who helped him."

Zyran's voice was cold.

"And kidnapping Hayley is supposed to accomplish that?"

"No."

Ares leaned forward.

"It gives me leverage."

He placed both hands on the table.

"That's where you come in."

I laughed once.

"You expect us to help you?"

"I'm offering you a deal."

"We're not interested."

"You haven't heard it."

"I don't care."

Ares's eyes sharpened.

"You should."

He glanced towards the door.

"Because Hayley's safety depends on it."

Zyran's jaw tightened.

Ares continued.

"I want to uncover the truth behind the Seal."

Zyran frowned.

"We're already doing that."

"Not properly."

"And you think you'll do better?"

"I know more than you think."

Kai looked at him.

"Then why do you need us?"

"Because the Seal Bearers are you."

He gestured towards them.

"Hayley. Damon. Zyran. Kai. Leo."

His eyes settled on Leo.

"Five people carrying the same mark."

Leo shifted in his seat.

Ares continued.

"You've spent years trying to understand what those marks mean. You've followed old records, listened to stories and chased rumours."

He smiled.

"I have access to information you don't."

Damon leaned forward.

"And what exactly do you want from us?"

Ares didn't hesitate.

"Your positions."

The room became quiet.

"You want us to give up the Alpha positions?"

"Yes."

Zyran shook his head.

"And then?"

"I take control."

Damon laughed.

"You've lost your mind."

"No."

Ares's expression remained calm.

"I've simply stopped pretending I don't want power."

Kai studied him.

"You want the packs."

"I want one authority."

"You?"

"Correct."

Leo frowned.

"And you think we'll agree?"

"I think you'll consider it when you understand what's at stake."

Damon's hand curled into a fist.

"You touch Hayley and—"

Ares raised his hand.

"Again with the threats."

He shook his head.

"You haven't learned."

I stood.

Zyran immediately caught my wrist.

"Sit down."

I glared at Ares.

Ares merely smiled.

"Good."

He turned his attention back to the twins.

"You two are old enough to understand what happens when people fight over power."

Kai nodded slowly.

"And if we refuse?"

Ares leaned back.

"Then we continue searching for the truth without you."

My eyes narrowed.

"Meaning?"

Ares smiled.

"Meaning Hayley stays here."

Leo shot to his feet.

"You can't keep our mum!"

The guards outside shifted.

Ares didn't even look at them.

"Sit down."

Leo remained standing.

Ares looked at him.

"You have your father's temper."

Leo glared.

"And you have too much confidence."

For the first time, Ares looked genuinely amused.

"Perhaps."

Leo sat reluctantly.

Ares turned back to me and Zyran.

"Help me uncover the truth about the Seal."

He paused.

"Give up your Alpha positions."

Another pause.

"And I'll give Hayley back."

I stared at him.

"You expect us to trust you?"

"No."

Ares smiled.

"I expect you to care more about Hayley than you care about trusting me."

Zyran's eyes hardened.

Ares stood.

"Think about it."

He walked towards the door.

Before leaving, he stopped.

"Oh, and one more thing."

He looked back at us.

"If you try to escape, the deal disappears."

The door closed behind him.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Then Leo whispered,

"We're not actually going to give him the pack, are we?"

I looked at Zyran.

"No."

Kai looked toward the door Ares had disappeared through.

"Then we need another plan."

Zyran nodded.

"We do."

My gaze hardened.

"First, we find Hayley."

From somewhere beyond the walls came a faint sound.
A woman's voice.

My head snapped towards it.
"Hayley?”