Chapter 36 36
Denzel’s POV
“As long as she remains on my land, no harm will come to her,” I said firmly. “King Jamar may be ill, but I have a standing treaty with him. Until he draws his last breath, the Lycans are bound to respect it.”
Tyrell exhaled heavily.
“He is sick, Denzel,” he pressed. “What happens if he dies tomorrow? Where does that leave us? You fought tooth and nail against going to war for King Fabian’s sake would you truly go to war for Venessa?”
I shook my head.
“I will never ask anyone to lay down their life for another,” I said, ending the discussion there.
What I didn’t say what I didn’t need to was that while I would never ask it of anyone, I would give my own life for her without hesitation.
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Tyrell said quietly.
I nodded once, then allowed a small smile to touch my lips.
“And I hope you know what you’re doing, Tyrell,” I replied.
He frowned, confused.
“Jalisa reeks of you,” I said bluntly. “You’re spending far too much time together. If the two of you want each other, then say so and she’s yours but this? This is unacceptable. You have no business comforting her.”
He bowed his head.
“I was only being a friend,” he said.
“I know,” I replied evenly. “But this has crossed a line. If you weren’t my Beta, I’d assume you were sleeping together. Be careful.”
I wasn’t jealous if anything, I hoped that was what was happening. But I refused to let Jalisa use Tyrell as a pawn to advance her father’s ambitions. Since I’d rejected Fabian’s cause, they might try to pull Tyrell into their orbit instead.
I wouldn’t let him be that foolish.
Jalisa cared only for herself. King Fabian was no different.
Tyrell eventually left my office, and I returned to the laws spread across my desk.
Unfortunately, according to our statutes, Jalisa’s pregnancy rendered divorce impossible at least for now. I wasn’t ready to surrender, but the future was beginning to look bleak.
I was still seated there when Tyrell and Rayon’s voices cut sharply through the link.
“Alpha,” Tyrell said. “Alpha Keon is here and this doesn’t look like a friendly visit.”
My jaw tightened. The Alpha Bear never came without reason.
“Bring him to my office,” I ordered.
“He insists on meeting you outside, Alpha.”
I straightened and rose from my chair.
There was already a crowd gathered when I stepped out. Alpha Keon stood at the center, wearing nothing but shorts. Fresh claw marks raked across his chest, still red and angry.
His eyes burned crimson.
I knew I was in trouble the moment I saw them.
“Denzel!” he roared.
For a moment, I didn’t know how to respond how to approach a man standing on the edge of violence.
“Keon,” I said carefully. “To what do I owe this visit?”
His fury was palpable.
“You sent your men to attack my northern camp,” he snarled.
I shook my head immediately.
“I did no such thing. I have no reason to.”
“We know of your father-in-law’s ambitions,” he shot back.
I bowed my head slightly. Fabian’s reach had always been a liability I’d known it would come back to haunt me.
“We captured one of your soldiers,” Keon continued. “He claims you gave the order.”
I glanced at Rayon instinctively. He commanded the army but he was loyal. I trusted him with my life.
“If that’s true,” I said steadily, “then they acted alone. I have no quarrel with you.”
Keon roared, stepping closer.
“My warriors were slaughtered in their tents while they slept,” he thundered. “Who pays for their lives, Denzel? What do I tell their families?”
He backed me into a corner with his grief and rage, and for the first time, I had no answer.
“Please,” I said, swallowing hard. “I will uncover the truth. I will see the guilty punished.”
He shook his head.
“Not good enough,” he growled. “Will you bring your father-in-law to justice?”
Silence fell between us.
Keon had a king of his own he knew exactly how impossible that demand was. I lowered my head, shame burning through me as I swallowed my pride.
This wasn’t about me.
It was about my people.
No one deserved to die for another man’s ambition.
“What do you want as compensation?” I asked quietly.
His rage only intensified.
“No payment can bring back the lives your men took,” he said, squaring his shoulders ready for blood.
I knew then that Keon hadn’t come alone.
And I knew I had to think fast because one wrong move would turn the courtyard into a slaughterhouse.