Chapter 136 136
Denzel’s POV
We woke early the next morning and joined the king for breakfast. The atmosphere was calm, almost deceptively so.
Venessa didn’t want me to follow her for the procedure. She tried to convince me she’d be fine on her own, but I refused to budge. I assured her I had come to terms with the situation even if that wasn’t entirely true. I needed to be close. I needed to know she wasn’t alone.
Once it was over, we decided to go sightseeing. We chose a jeep to move around, wanting the freedom to explore without restriction.
Rayon had already returned to the Blood Moon pack earlier that morning. He couldn’t stay away from Tonya for long, and I understood that. I let him go without argument.
He called while Venessa and I were touring the Lycan kingdom, letting me know he’d arrived home safely. I asked him to check on Alpha Carlton Gordon—Venessa’s uncle and he agreed to do so the following day. He promised to call once he got there so Venessa could speak to her uncle directly.
I knew why he didn’t want to go immediately, despite claiming he wasn’t feeling well. Tonya was the real reason, and that was fine. Wanting to spend time with the woman you loved wasn’t a crime. I told him to enjoy himself. He laughed, fully aware that I’d seen through him.
The Lycan kingdom was breathtaking easily the most developed part of our world. Power thrummed through the land itself. I could see why so many coveted the throne.
With everything I’d learned so far, it was clear that no royal bloodline other than the Morrisons could rightfully rule unless that bloodline ended entirely. The throne belonged to them by divine right, as direct descendants of the Moon Goddess herself.
That knowledge strengthened my resolve. It was why I supported Venessa completely. Her actions ensured the bloodline wouldn’t end with her.
Our picnic spot was set near the edge of the woods, and I immediately appreciated the strategy behind it. Once we were finished eating, we could shift and head straight into the forest to hunt.
The man who prepared the location explained that it was ideal for hunting. Animals were usually caught and released a practice identical to what we followed in my pack. We only killed when an animal was wild, dangerous, or beyond control.
His name was Wilson Rohan. There was something slightly off about him an oddness I couldn’t quite place but I later learned he was new to the job, so I dismissed it.
Everything had already been arranged the mat, the basket, the setup so I picked up the bottle of wine and poured us drinks.
“Thank you,” Venessa said softly as I handed her the glass.
I frowned, unsure why she felt the need to thank me for something so simple. She lifted the glass to her lips, then smiled at me.
“For staying by my side,” she said. “For allowing me to experience love. I’m grateful.”
Emotion tightened my chest. I pulled her to me, gently took the glass from her hand, and kissed her deeply.
“Let’s not talk too much, my love,” I murmured against her lips.
We made love right there on the mat, surrounded by nature, then shared the snacks that had been prepared for us. When we were done, we shifted and disappeared into the woods.
The forest was thick, lush, and impossibly green. The canopy was so dense that almost no sunlight reached the ground.
As Nigel took in the towering trees, a thought struck me.
Based on what Venessa had revealed about Eshera’s weakness and the fact that her children inherited it it was entirely possible that the bandits were hiding in a forest like this one.
If tracking them became difficult because her followers were too afraid to reveal her secrets, then the solution was simple. Find a forest like this, and we would find them.
I linked Nyla, sharing my thoughts. She responded with a howl of agreement.
We moved deeper into the woods and then we sensed them.
Three red-eyed Lycans emerged from the shadows, advancing toward us.
I had seen strange wolves. I had faced monstrous bears. But never a Lycan.
We had two choices: fight or run.
Running offered no guarantee of survival.
I glanced at Nyla. She was already growling, muscles taut, eyes locked on the approaching Lycans.
There would be no retreat.
We would fight.