Chapter 40

I was so excited the next day because later in the evening, Gil would come back with the shaman, Lady Xinxia. I felt slightly light-headed the whole day as a result of my overexcitement because finally, the problem with my wolf would be solved for good. Marcus was right, we had to cut my mating bond with Darren before Darren's wolf awakened. And later, the shaman would do it for us.

I was playing with Zenith in our living room when I received a call from Marcus. "Hello? Milena? Where are you?" he asked, sounding frantic which alarmed me. He was at the Atrium for work, but had promised to get home early so we could welcome Lady Xinxia together.

"I'm home with Zenith. Why? Is there any problem?"

I heard him take a deep breath over the phone. "Milena, please stay inside our house with our son. No matter what happens, no matter what you hear outside, don't leave the house. I'm on my way back."

My heart skipped a beat. "What are you saying? Marcus, tell me what's happening!"

"There's a crowd outside Gloverstone," he replied. He meant outside the high gates of our pack's territory. "Ava says they're people from other packs. And some of them are reporters and writers from the Werewolf Journal Society. They have found out that you are the Purple-Eyed Werewolf, Milena, and now they want to interview you."

I almost dropped my phone when I heard that. "N-No way... But how did they find out?"

"I have no idea. But the news spread like wildfire. They also knew you're my wife, so there is also a crowd here at work, trying to barge in to ambush me for an interview. But don't worry, I had already contacted my men back there. They have already reinforced our security. I instructed Hugo to not let anybody other than me get into town."

"Okay," I mumbled to him. "We'll wait for you."

"Everything will be okay, Milena. I love you."

"I love you too, Marcus," I replied, teary eyed. I was surprised how shallow my tears were these days, but maybe it was the reassurance that after everything bad that was happening, Marcus still loved me. I had never felt this kind of love before, and it only ignited my desire to cut the mating bond more.

After talking to Marcus, I peeked at the balcony where I could see the tall gates at a distance. Our house was still far from the gate so I couldn't see anything, but I swore I could hear loud noises coming from that direction. Maybe some of the reporters were shouting at the guards to let them in? I didn't know, but just to be extra careful I went back to my son to make sure that he was okay. I decided that we’d just watch a movie in my room, but to my surprise I couldn't see him here in the living room.

"Miss Roma, have you seen Zenith?" I asked when I saw Roma in the kitchen. "I can't find him."

"No. I heard him laughing minutes ago, I thought you were playing with him?"

"I was, but Marcus called and I took my eyes off Zenith and then I couldn't find him. He's not in his room or in any other room too. Please help me search for him. Maybe he got out of the house, but we can't let him get far. Not now."

Roma nodded and we went outside to find my son. I was starting to panic because, of all the times that Zenith would disappear from my sight, this wasn't the best. But then we heard his laugh as we went outside to the small greenhouse behind our house where my plants were. This was where I got my ingredients in my potion-making, especially the ones I used to treat common illnesses like colds and skin diseases.

I ran towards the greenhouse's entrance and saw that Zenith was there, playing with a person who turned out to be... Darren.

"YOU! What are you doing here?" I asked Darren and immediately snatched my son's arms from him. The color left my face as I realized that I had to avoid him now at all cost. That's why just like an instinct engraved on my mind, I casted the very same spell that dulled my senses back when we got kidnapped by the Blackholes. And then I did the same thing to him just in case his wolf was now okay.

My spell hit him in the face, causing him to be pushed backwards by an invisible force.

"How dare you come here and sneak up to my son?" I was angry and was tempted to hurt Darren more, but I saw that Zenith got scared at how I raised my voice and glared at Darren — who was now at least ten steps away from us.

"M-Mommy... Don't get mad. We're just playing. We're catching bugs."

"I'm sorry, baby," I said softly and hugged Zenith. "But can you please follow what Mommy tells you right now? Can you play with Miss Roma instead? She'll bake you cookies too."

That lit his eyes up. "Really? Yay! Cookies!" And that was it. I was able to convince my son to leave with Roma, and then when they were gone, I walked to Darren and slapped him hard. He didn't say a word, and I wanted to hit him more for trespassing there but he looked helpless already with his not-so-good vision as a result of my spell.

"Why did you come here? And how did you even get in?"

"I'm Exodus, Milena. I can get in here if I want to."

That earned him another slap from me and he took another step back. "You really are something. Was it you? The one who told the reporters about my other identity?"

"Me? Of course not! Why would I do that? And what identity? I was also surprised that a lot of people were outside your house! That's actually why I went in! I was afraid something bad happened here because people were waiting outside as if waiting for news from here! I got worried that someone came here and attacked you! I was about to knock on your door when I saw your son get out, saying he saw a beetle flying through your window and asked me to help him catch it!"

"Stop lying, Darren. I know it's either you or your mother who's behind this. Your mother told me that she knew everything about Zenith and my husband."

He looked confused at what I said, which in turn confused me too. "What do you mean? What about your husband? And what about your son? My mother didn't tell me anything. I came here on my own accord."

"You really are a good liar," I said, and then I tried to slap him again but this time he shielded his face with his arms. "Stop playing, Darren! You clearly know everything! Your mother would have told you about it already!"

He shook his head. "No, Milena. The only thing that my mother told me was to bring you back to our pack no matter what it costs. But I actually don't want to listen to her anymore. I don't want to think about the pack, nor any of them back home. This time I want to make it right by thinking about you first."

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean I want to be by your side from now on—" But he didn't even finish his sentence because Marcus arrived and, without a word, punched him in the face.