Chapter 112 112
Denzel’s POV
Her silence was answer enough.
It meant no.
The weight of it settled heavily in my chest, twisting my resolve until doubt crept in. For the first time, Eshera’s promises didn’t sound entirely monstrous if they meant I could keep my wife, if Venessa could live a full life beside me. What Atabey was asking felt unbearable. Too much. I wasn’t certain I had the strength to give her what she wanted.
I retreated to my office, needing space to breathe, to think.
Devon joined me shortly after.
Then, to my surprise, Rayon walked in as well.
For a moment, it felt like a miracle until I remembered Venessa laying her hands on them in the infirmary. Of course his recovery had been accelerated. Still, seeing him on his feet stole the air from my lungs.
I stood and pulled him into a tight embrace.
When I had seen him lying there bandaged, wired to machines I’d been certain I was watching him die. That image had haunted me. Holding him now felt unreal.
He hugged me back.
“Alpha,” he said quietly.
I forced my emotions down and stepped back with a smile.
“I’m glad you’re standing,” I said.
He nodded, then lowered his gaze.
“I’m sorry we couldn’t protect them. Devon, Tyrell, Jalisa we tried. But they wouldn’t die…”
I cut him off gently, shaking my head.
“I know. They attacked us on the road to the Lycan Kingdom because the Bears blocked their passage. They only went down after we severed their heads.”
He exhaled heavily.
“Jalisa told us to take their heads. That’s when they finally retreated. Before they left, they told the people to warn you about your witch. It was strange we don’t have a witch in this pack. I thought they were just provoking us. But the pack is afraid.”
That part, I had expected.
Fear was inevitable. They had never faced anything like that creatures that felt alien, wrong, unnatural.
“Early this morning, some pack members protested,” he continued. “We kept it quiet so it wouldn’t reach you. They said if you hadn’t divorced Jalisa, the Werewolf King and his allies might’ve come to our aid.”
He bowed his head, clearly choosing his words carefully.
“They called Venessa useless. Incompetent. Said they didn’t need healing herbs they needed an army. They believe the pack has fallen from grace because of her.”
Rage flared in my chest but beneath it, I understood their fear.
“They would’ve left,” Rayon added, “but the neighboring pack was attacked as well. It’s safe to say the Silver Forest clan is now targeting packs.”
I clenched my jaw.
What those fools didn’t understand was that Venessa wasn’t a liability she was an upgrade. An unstoppable one.
Because of her, I would become the next Lycan King.
Very few knew that truth. Rayon did and he had kept it to himself.
“How did it go with the King?” he asked finally.
I nodded.
“Venessa will be crowned on Sunday.”
Devon’s sharp intake of breath broke the silence.
“So it’s true?”
I nodded again.
“That means you’ll be the next Lycan King,” he said, eyes wide.
Joy lit his face instantly.
Before I could respond, Tyrell entered the office, head bowed.
After everything Venessa had shown me, I couldn’t bring myself to be angry with him or Jalisa. We had all been used. Manipulated. Pawns in a game orchestrated by a being that cared nothing for life.
Eshera destroyed everything she touched.
Tyrell’s eyes were red, swollen. I knew exactly why.
I placed a hand on his shoulder and pulled him into a hug.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Tyrell.”
He broke, sobbing into my shoulder.
He had been holding himself together for far too long maintaining composure out of pride, out of duty. But the loss of a child shattered even the strongest of men. They had endured so much, dreamed of their pup’s arrival, only for it to be stolen from them.
“We will make Tremaine and his people pay,” I promised quietly.
As much as I resented Atabey for allowing this devastation, I swore then and there that Eshera would be exiled from our world bound, imprisoned, never allowed to return.
Tyrell cried openly as I held him.
“All is forgiven,” I said firmly. “And I’m reinstating you as Delta.”
He pulled back, searching my face.
“You’ve earned it,” I added, meeting his gaze before turning to Rayon and Devon.
“This war isn’t what it appears to be,” I said. “Let’s gather the pack. It’s time they know the truth. The Lycan King has fragments of the picture but Venessa and I see it all. The days of fighting blind are over.”
Their expressions sharpened confused, yet eager.
“We can’t defend against what we don’t understand. And we won’t survive a war fought in ignorance. Guard your hearts against corruption. Everything will be revealed.”
I turned back to Tyrell.
“How is Jalisa?”
He nodded slowly.
“She’s struggling but she’s holding on.”
“You both should move back to the packhouse,” I said. “Venessa will tend to her personally. She’ll make sure Jalisa heals properly so when this is over, you can try again.”
He nodded in gratitude.
I then instructed Rayon to summon the pack to the grounds.
Venessa and I would address them together.
It was time to prepare them for what was coming.