Chapter 76 076

Chapter 76 076
MORGAN

I stood by the window, my fingers lightly brushing against the edge of the curtains as I gazed out at the pack grounds below. Wolves moved about, busy with their daily routines.... training, talking, laughing.... completely unaware of what was coming.
A slow smile crept onto my lips.
This place…
It was all going to be mine.
Every inch of it.
Every soul within it.
There was no way I was going to let anyone take this away from me. Not now. Not when I had come this far.
“This feeling…” I murmured softly, my voice laced with quiet obsession. “I’m going to make sure it stays.”
My eyes narrowed slightly as my gaze shifted, catching sight of two wolves standing off to the side of the field. They leaned toward each other, whispering in hushed tones as if they were sharing something important.
Curiosity flickered within me.
Tilting my head slightly, I strained my hearing, tuning out every other sound until their voices became clearer.
“Did you hear about the rumors going around that the rogues were the ones who attacked the pack?” one of them said.
A pleased smile spread across my face.
Ah.
So that was how things were unfolding.
The rogues planned an attack?
Interesting.
So that was the story Zuri had decided to release.
Smart. Very smart.
I had to give her that much.
It was a clean way to redirect suspicion, to plant chaos while maintaining a sense of control. A subtle manipulation that could grow into something far more dangerous.
And I liked that.
I decided to keep listening, my interest now fully captured.
“Really?” the second wolf replied. “I thought it was just some baseless rumor. I didn’t think it could be true… but what can we do? The Alpha already pointed fingers at that witch rogue.”
My expression darkened slightly.
Irritation prickled beneath my skin.
“What nonsense is he saying?” I muttered under my breath, my lips curling faintly. “Why am I even part of their conversation… I’m a good witch.”
A soft chuckle escaped me almost immediately.
The irony of my own words amused me.
A good witch?
No.
That was the biggest lie anyone could ever tell.
I wasn’t good.
I had never been good.
And I had no intention of becoming anything close to it.
I was born to bring ruin.
To tear down.
To reshape the world in flames if necessary.
And Derrick…
He was going to help me fulfill that prophecy.
Whether he wanted to or not.
“But I don’t think that’s true,” the first wolf continued, pulling my attention back. “The princess doesn’t look like someone who would do something like that. Didn’t you see how she stood up for the pack during the attack?”
My eyes narrowed dangerously.
Annoyance flared within me.
“What is he saying?” I snapped under my breath. “That’s not interesting at all.”
My fingers lifted slightly, flicking through the air with casual precision.
In the next second....
The two wolves suddenly turned on each other.
Confusion twisted their faces before it quickly escalated into aggression. Fists flew. Growls erupted. They lunged at each other without hesitation, their earlier conversation completely forgotten.
And just like that....
Chaos.
Laughter bubbled out of me, uncontrollable and sharp.
“Now… that’s more like it,” I said, my eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
I turned away from the window, leaving them to their pointless fight without a second glance. Their pain, their confusion.... it meant nothing to me.
If anything, it was entertaining.
I stepped out of the room, my movements slow and deliberate as I made my way down the corridor.
My destination was clear.
Derrick. I needed to see him.
More specifically, I needed to feel it again.... the darkness within him.
The last time I tried, I felt almost nothing.
And that… that wasn’t right.
His darkness should have been growing by now. It should have been pulsing, spreading, taking over piece by piece. That was how it was meant to happen.
So why couldn’t I feel it?
“I don’t have much time,” I murmured, a slight edge creeping into my voice. “I need him to take over his body so we can rule together… just like the prophecy states.”
A quiet sigh escaped me as I approached his study.
But then....
I stopped.
A familiar scent drifted toward me.
My lips curled downward as irritation returned.
The rogue.
She was walking toward me. Of all people.
“What are you doing here?” I said sharply, my gaze locking onto her. “If I were you, I wouldn’t even dare show my face to anyone.”
She scoffed immediately, clearly unimpressed.
“Why should I be ashamed?” she shot back. “Aren’t you the ones who did something shameful? I bet you didn’t even know that.... ” She stopped abruptly.
Mid-sentence.
My curiosity piqued instantly.
What had she been about to say?
For a brief moment, I considered pressing her.
But I stopped myself.
No.
I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of thinking she had my attention.
She didn’t matter. Not really.
She was temporary.
A nuisance at best.
“I don’t like seeing your face,” I said instead, forcing a smile onto my lips. “So you might want to watch yourself.”
Without waiting for her response, I walked past her, my posture relaxed, as though she hadn’t affected me in the slightest.
“Then you should watch yourself too.”
Her voice stopped me.
My steps faltered for a split second.
Slowly, I turned back to face her.
Who did this rogue think she was?
Talking to me like that?
“Excuse me?” I said, my tone dropping slightly. “Are you talking to me?”
She nodded.
No hesitation.
No fear.
My brows lifted slightly. Interesting.
“Do you know the kind of people I hate the most?” she asked calmly.
I tilted my head, studying her.
“No,” I replied.
“People who think too highly of themselves,” she continued. “People who are completely talentless but survive by feeding on others’ gullibility. People who manipulate and take advantage whenever they can.”
A chuckle slipped past my lips.
She was amusing.
“If that description applies to me,” I said smoothly, “then I wouldn’t call myself talentless. Taking advantage of people is a talent on its own… don’t you think?” She laughed, and for some reason…
That irritated me.
Something about the way she looked at me.... like she wasn’t impressed.... rubbed me the wrong way.
“You think so?” she said. “Then why did you ask Zuri to do your dirty work? If you’re as capable as you claim, why hide behind someone else?” I rolled my eyes.
So she had already spoken to Zuri.
How disappointing.
That girl really couldn’t keep her mouth shut.
“Competent people don’t waste their energy on insignificant pests like you,” I replied coldly. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
“Really?” she countered immediately. “Then why are you so bothered by this ‘insignificant pest’? You just arrived, and you’re already stirring trouble. Don’t you think that’s risky?”
I felt irritation spike sharply within me.
Enough.
With a subtle flick of my fingers, I cast a small spell, aiming to trip her.... to at least wipe that smug look off her face, but nothing happened.
She didn’t even stumble.
She didn’t react at all.
My eyes narrowed.
‘What is this?’ I thought, a flicker of confusion breaking through my confidence. ‘Why isn’t she affected?’
I tried again, more force this time, still nothing.
Now my frustration began to build.
Fine.
If subtlety wouldn’t work....
I began to chant quietly, pulling deeper into my magic, preparing something stronger.
But before I could finish....
Her voice cut through my focus.
“No matter what you’re trying to do,” she said firmly, “don’t you dare mess with Derrick… or my people.”
I paused.
Slowly, I raised a brow.
What… did she just say?
My thoughts shifted instantly.
‘What does she know about Derrick?’ I wondered. ‘Or am I overthinking this?’
No.
There was something there.
Something she wasn’t saying outright. But it didn’t matter.
Nothing she knew could stop me. Not her.
Not anyone.
Even if there were thousands of her.
“So what if I mess with him?” I said, a dark smile spreading across my face. “What exactly are you going to do about it?”
I stepped closer, my voice dropping into something colder.
“His darkness belongs to me anyway.”
The words left my lips like a declaration. Possessive. Certain.
And the reaction I got....
Was worth it.
Her eyes widened.
Shock.
Pure, unfiltered shock.
“What?”