21

XENIA'S POV

The news of Kaleb's disappearance had hit us like a storm. Marrylen and I had only just returned to Beddington when we were summoned to meet with Octavyous. The moment we heard his name, a feeling of unease settled in the pit of my stomach. There was something dark about the way his power had grown, and as we approached the camp, that unease only intensified.

Octavyous stood at the center of the clearing, his presence commanding, his eyes cold as he looked at me. The pack was quiet, the tension in the air almost suffocating. He had taken control, that much was clear, but it was the way everyone seemed to be on edge that made my skin crawl.

"Xenia," he called out, his voice hard. "Step forward."

I exchanged a glance with Marrylen, her eyes filled with worry, but I nodded and stepped toward him, my heart pounding in my chest. There was something dangerous in his gaze, a glint of something that made my instincts scream to run, but I held my ground.

"Kaleb is gone," Octavyous said, his voice flat. "He is no longer your Alpha. I am." He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "You will swear fealty to me, Xenia. You and Marrylen both. Or you will meet the same fate as Nenyia."

The mention of Nenyia's name sent a jolt of anger through me, my fists clenching at my sides. "What happened to her?" I demanded, my voice shaking with a mix of fear and rage.

Octavyous' lips curled into a smirk, his eyes dark. "She refused to bow to me," he said, his tone casual, as if discussing something inconsequential. "And now, she's gone. You have a choice, Xenia. Submit to me, or join her."

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding, but before I could respond, Octavyous stepped even closer, his eyes locking onto mine. "There's something else," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper, his gaze intense. "I've always wanted you, Xenia. You should have been mine from the start. Kaleb is gone now, and it's time you accepted your place. I want you to come to my bed. Tonight."

His words sent a wave of revulsion through me, my body tensing as I took a step back. "No," I said, my voice firm, my eyes narrowing. "I will never be yours."

Octavyous' expression darkened, his jaw clenching as he reached out, his hand wrapping around my wrist, his grip tight. "You don't have a choice, Xenia," he hissed, his voice filled with anger. "You will do as I say, or you will face the consequences."

I yanked my arm free, my eyes blazing with fury. "I will never be yours," I repeated, my voice shaking with determination. "And I will never bow to you."

I turned and walked away, my heart pounding in my chest as I made my way back to where Marrylen was waiting. Her eyes were wide, her expression filled with fear as she looked at me. "What did he say?" she asked, her voice trembling.

I took a deep breath, my hands still shaking as I reached out, taking her hand in mine. "We need to leave," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "Now."

Marrylen nodded, her eyes filled with understanding, and together we turned, our steps hurried as we left the clearing, the weight of Octavyous' threat hanging over us like a dark cloud. The pack had changed, and we knew that there was no longer a place for us here. Not with Octavyous in control, not with the danger he posed.

We moved through the forest, our hearts pounding, the fear and uncertainty pushing us forward. We had lost Kaleb, lost Nenyia, and now we had lost the pack. But as I held Marrylen's hand, the warmth of her touch grounding me, I knew that we still had each other. And as long as we were together, we would find a way to survive. We would find Kaleb. We would bring him back. And we would take back what was rightfully ours.

For now, though, we had to run. We had to get away from Octavyous, away from the darkness that had taken hold of the pack. And as we disappeared into the forest, the shadows closing in around us, I knew that this was just the beginning. We would fight. We would survive. And we would return—stronger, together, and ready to face whatever came our way.

KALEB'S POV

The world around me was a blur of pain and exhaustion. My body was weak, every breath a struggle as I tried to stay conscious. I had escaped the strays, but at a cost that left me barely able to stand. The forest was dark, the trees looming above me like silent sentinels, their shadows stretching across the ground. I stumbled forward, my vision blurring, my legs threatening to give out beneath me.

I didn't know how long I had been wandering, my thoughts drifting in and out, my mind clouded by the pain. My side ached, the wound from Octavyous' betrayal still fresh, and I knew I couldn't go much further. But I had to keep moving. I had to find a way back to the pack, to Xenia, to Marrylen. They needed me, and I couldn't let them down.

I leaned against a tree, my head resting against the rough bark, my breaths coming in shallow gasps. I closed my eyes, trying to focus, trying to push through the pain. My mind drifted back to Xenia, her face flashing before my eyes. The bond between us was still there, still pulsing with life, and I knew that she was out there, somewhere, waiting for me.

But there was something else—another presence, another bond that was just as strong, just as powerful. Marrylen. My twin. The truth of her identity still weighed heavily on my mind, the realization of who she was and what we had lost all those years ago filling me with a sense of longing and regret. I had to find her. I had to make things right.

As I stumbled through the forest, fragmented memories from the bonding ceremony came back to me. In my weakened state, it was as if I could feel every emotion, every thought that had passed through the pack. I had felt the fear, the confusion, and above all, the unmistakable presence of Octavyous' treachery. The spirits had whispered to me in that moment, their voices faint but undeniable, warning me of the danger Octavyous posed and showing me glimpses of what had transpired after I was left behind.

The spirits had given me knowledge—images of Nenyia confronting Octavyous, her death at his hands, the fear in the pack as Octavyous declared himself Alpha. It had all come in flashes, in fragmented pieces that barely made sense. But it was enough. Enough to know that the pack was in danger, that Octavyous had taken control, and that he had done it by spilling innocent blood.

I pushed myself away from the tree, my legs trembling as I took another step forward. The forest seemed endless, the darkness closing in around me, but I couldn't stop. I had to keep moving. I had to survive. For them. For my family.

Suddenly, a sound caught my attention—a rustling in the underbrush, the faint sound of footsteps approaching. My heart skipped a beat, my senses going on high alert as I turned, my eyes scanning the darkness. A figure emerged from the shadows, their form barely visible in the dim light.

My heart pounded, my body tensing as the figure drew closer. But then, as they stepped into the moonlight, I felt a surge of relief wash over me. It was Cainry, his eyes wide with shock as he took in my battered form.

"Kaleb!" he called out, his voice filled with a mix of relief and disbelief. He rushed forward, his hands reaching out to steady me as I swayed on my feet. "What happened? Where have you been?"

I let out a shaky breath, my body leaning heavily against him as he supported me. "Octavyous," I managed to say, my voice weak, my throat dry. "He betrayed me. He... he left me for dead."

Cainry's expression darkened, his jaw clenching as he looked at me, his eyes filled with anger. "We need to get you back to the pack," he said, his voice firm. "You need to rest, to heal."

I shook my head, my vision blurring as I tried to stay focused. "No," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "We can't go back. Not yet. Octavyous... he's taken control. He won't let me back in."

Cainry's eyes widened, his expression filled with disbelief. "What do you mean?"

I took a deep breath, my body trembling as I tried to explain. "He declared himself Alpha. He... he killed Nenyia. He wants control of the pack, and he'll do anything to keep it. The spirits showed me. I saw what he did."

Cainry's face twisted in anger, his hands tightening on my arms. "We can't let him get away with this," he said, his voice filled with determination. "We have to fight back. We have to take back the pack."

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest, the weight of everything that had happened settling over me like a heavy blanket. "But we can't do it alone," I said, my voice trembling. "We need the others. We need Xenia. Marrylen. We need to be strong. Together."

Cainry nodded, his eyes filled with resolve as he helped me take another step forward, his arm wrapped around my waist to support me. "We'll find them," he said, his voice steady. "We'll bring them back, and we'll take back what belongs to us."

I closed my eyes, my heart swelling with a mix of hope and determination. I had been betrayed, left for dead, but I wasn't going to give up. I had too much to fight for—too much to protect. And with Cainry by my side, I knew that we had a chance. We would find Xenia and Marrylen, and together, we would face whatever came our way.

The night was dark, the forest stretching out before us, but as we moved forward, step by step, I knew that we were on our way back. Back to the pack. Back to the people we loved. And no matter what Octavyous had planned, we would be ready. We would fight. And we would win.

OCTAVYOUS' POV

The air in the camp was thick with tension as the pack prepared for war. The strays had been sighted on the outskirts of the territory, and it was clear that they were gathering their forces, preparing to make their move. I had made it clear to the pack that we would strike first, that we would show the strays no mercy. They had taken enough from us, and it was time to end this once and for all.

I stood at the edge of the clearing, my eyes scanning the pack as they worked, their faces filled with determination, with fear. The pack had changed since I had taken control. There was no room for weakness, no room for doubt. Only strength. Only power. And I would make sure that they understood that.

As night fell, the camp grew quieter, the preparations slowing as the pack settled in for the night. I made my way to my tent, my thoughts filled with the battle to come, with the power that would be mine once I had defeated the strays and solidified my place as Alpha.

But as I entered my tent, I was met with an unexpected sight. Tochex was there, her eyes filled with something dark, something dangerous. She was dressed in a way that made her intentions clear, her lips curling into a seductive smile as she stepped closer.

"Octavyous," she purred, her voice low, her hand reaching out to rest on my chest. "You've been under so much pressure lately. Let me help you relax."

I raised an eyebrow, my gaze narrowing as I looked at her. There was something about her tone, something about the way she moved that made me hesitate. But as her hands moved lower, as her lips brushed against my neck, I felt my body respond, the tension in my muscles beginning to ease.

I let out a low growl, my eyes darkening as I looked down at her. "And what makes you think you can handle me, Tochex?" I asked, my voice filled with challenge.

She smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Why don't you let me show you?" she whispered, her hand sliding down my chest, her fingers grazing against my skin.

Without another word, I grabbed her, pulling her against me, my lips crashing down on hers, the kiss rough, demanding. She responded in kind, her hands roaming over my body, her touch igniting a fire within me. The world around us seemed to fade away, the only thing that mattered was the heat between us, the power struggle that played out in every touch, every kiss.

But as the night wore on, as our bodies moved together, I began to feel something else—something darker, more sinister. Tochex's movements became more deliberate, her hands lingering near my neck, her eyes filled with something that made my instincts scream in warning.

I pulled back, my eyes narrowing as I looked at her, my breathing heavy. "What are you doing, Tochex?" I demanded, my voice low, dangerous.

For a moment, she hesitated, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. But then she smiled, a cold, calculating smile that sent a chill down my spine. "I thought maybe it was time for a change in leadership," she said, her voice dripping with malice.

I growled, my hand wrapping around her throat, my eyes blazing with fury. "You think you can take me down, Tochex? You think you can betray me?" I hissed, my grip tightening.

She struggled, her hands clawing at mine, her eyes wide with fear. But there was something else there too—something defiant, something that told me she wasn't afraid to die if it meant taking me with her.

I tightened my grip, my eyes locked on hers, my body trembling with rage. But then, as I looked at her, as I saw the hatred in her eyes, I realized something. She wasn't the only one who wanted me dead. There were others—others who were waiting for their chance, who were waiting for me to show weakness.

I let her go, shoving her away from me, my chest heaving as I glared at her. "You think you're strong, Tochex? You think you can take me down?" I growled, my voice filled with venom. "You have no idea what you're up against."

She stumbled back, her hand going to her throat, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and fury. "This isn't over, Octavyous," she spat, her voice hoarse. "You may be Alpha now, but your time is running out."

I stepped closer, my eyes locking onto hers, my lips curling into a cold smile. "We'll see about that," I said, my voice low, dangerous. "But for now, you will obey me. And if you ever try something like this again, I will end you."

She held my gaze for a moment longer, her eyes blazing with hatred. But then she turned, storming out of the tent, her footsteps fading into the night.

I stood there, my heart pounding, my body still tense with anger. The threat was real—Tochex had made that clear. But I wasn't going to let anyone take what was mine. I was the Alpha, and I would show them all that I was not to be challenged. The battle was coming, and I would be ready. And anyone who stood in my way would be dealt with—no mercy, no hesitation.

The night was dark, the camp quiet, but I knew that this was just the beginning. The real fight was yet to come, and I would make sure that I came out on top. No matter what it took.