**Alpha Cedric's POV**
“Estelle! Alpha, Estelle…” the soldier stuttered.
My patience ran out as my eyes widened. "What happened to her?" I snapped. My hands and back were shaking. I wouldn't forgive myself if something bad happens to her. My girl, my mate.
…
I returned to the palace after listening to the soldier's report. I had mixed feelings. My heart was beating chaotically. The ambush of fear was accompanied by suffocating confusion.
My body froze after arriving at the palace. Roland gave the same reaction. Our tensed shoulders instantly relaxed.
Unknowingly my eyes filled with tears. I ran over to Estelle and hugged her really tight. “Estelle!” I whispered in a trembling voice. The tightness in my chest finally lifted. I could breathe easily. The tension in my body faded completely.
**Alpha Cedric's POV**“Estelle!” I snapped. Did she realize how much I worried about her? Why was she still silent and not answering my question?My fears were mounting. I couldn't shake the jealousy that crept in. She must have gone home with Prince, or at least she had met Prince before she confronted the hybrids.Knowing another man was there for her when she needed someone, instead of me, made me sicker. I was not even sure who I was directing this disgust at. Maybe on her or maybe even on myself.If I had been quicker to find her, maybe I would've dissuaded Prince from having a moment with her. Finally, only our memories were printed forever.In a state of shaking and beating, she tried to move her hands. Sweat poured down her face and body, especially whenever she accidentally saw the dead man. "I returned to the pack delivered by him." She pointe
**Alpha Cedric's POV**Alpha Daren snapped at Prince. "What are you doing here? I told you to stay in your room and not come out at all!”I raised an eyebrow. Wow, this was a family fight. I hated it and I wished I could get out of this situation. But it seemed that was impossible since Alpha Daren was my guest. If a member of his family came, then I had to respect him, even if it was my rival."Are you going to close your eyes and ears, Father?" he asked. He looked like a teenager arguing with his father. Tch, he didn't deserve Estelle! He couldn't even defend himself, so how was he going to defend Estelle?And he should have remembered that Estelle had been chased out of his palace by his father. At that time, he couldn't do anything to protect Estelle, not even just to make sure she returned to my palace unharmed. And now he dared to show his face here? Wasn't he ashamed?
**Estelle's POV**I saw Scarlett deliberately lifting her skirt in front of Alpha Cedric. Her panty was seen and she was happy because of that.Wheezing, she begged him. “Help me, Alpha. Ow, I fell!”Disgusting! Why didn't she wake up herself? She was an adult now and her leg wasn't broken!"You slut," my wolf cursed.It was the only thing that was most annoying here. I mean, I was also very upset but I could still manage my emotions.After all, why would I waste my emotions on a woman as crazy as Scarlett? I was just wasting it.I saw Alpha Cedric chuckle as if it was something very amusing.If I didn't see it in person, then I definitely wouldn't believe it. How could he put up with something as disgusting and vulgar as this? He even purposely took a look at Scarlett's e
**Estelle's POV**"That nail clipper belongs to the hybrids."I widened my eyes and subconsciously gaped. "Really?" I covered my mouth without realizing it. As I recall, the car had been inspected by Alpha Cedric's soldiers. But they found nothing.Prince was very smart indeed. I'd always felt he was more suited to be a scholar or a detective than an Alpha.But I had no right to order him to do something, especially if his fate and future had been determined by his father. I would not destroy a family that used to get along well. And even though Alpha Daren seemed pretty mean, I was sure he loved his son very much. Because otherwise, then he wouldn't care if Prince is close to me.Prince nodded confidently. "Yes. Several people including Scarlett have examined the nails.” He cleared his throat when he saw me scowl at the mention of Scarlett's name. He hurriedl
**Estelle's POV**Prince said he remembered something about hybrids. And he told me about it.Then I tried to convey it to Alpha Cedric as best I could. I had to make sure Alpha Cedric didn't know I got it from Prince because Prince wanted to keep this a secret.“Raising hybrids is a crime, Estelle. Moreover, utilizing their poison as a weapon of war. But my grandfather was very greedy back then so he broke the rules,” Prince said while we were still discussing.Even though his grandfather Prince broke the rules and was greedy, he wanted to make sure his grandfather was not looked down upon by anyone. His grandfather had lived quite a hard life in the past, becoming the Alpha who had to protect his demanding and lazy people.They even did many things so that his grandfather was killed and replaced with a new Alpha. But they failed to do so and inst
**Alpha Cedric's POV**I didn't expect to be infatuated with Estelle's body. I couldn't even control myself whenever I was around her. I'd smack her lips like I was thirsty, I'd make her moan like I needed a lullaby to sleep, and I'd sink myself between her slit and like I need a direction to get home.Every time I saw her, I would be in heating. I wouldn't stop until we both smiled at the end of it all.She hugged me and rested her head on my chest. We were still in the water, half submerged and our feet in the mud and pebbles."I'll make sure you get a good memory before you go," I said meaningfully.She smiled and blushed. We swam and joked with each other. I sprinkled her with water and she would do the same.I took her up over the waterfall, together we would jump and fall in the pool. We laughed, and for the first time, I saw how she is ve
Estelle's POV**I finally went to therapy!It was quite far from the pack, maybe we’d get there three days later. Yeah, this made me really nervous. Especially when I knew that the place was very remote.If we brought a car, the other members would have a hard time keeping up with our speed. In addition, the car had limitations to traverse forest areas and steep hills. So Alpha Cedric decided we should ride the horses.I waved at Roland who was looking glumly at me. He must have had a really hard time replacing Alpha Cedric while we were away.“Get well soon, Estelle!” he shouted. “Come back as soon as possible, Alpha!”I chuckled and nodded. After that I faced forward again, feeling my heart going crazy."Are you nervous?" Alpha Cedric suddenly asked. “Just answer! I can see your hand well from here.&r
Estelle's POV**“My name is Gordon, Estelle. Nice to meet you."I looked at Doctor Gordon's wrinkled hands and greeted him kindly. We shook hands and smiled at each other."I'm glad to see you and help you with my treatment method," he began to tell the story. On some of the walls hung photographs and paintings of his old patients.“A case like yours is very unique. But I'm sure I can fix it. I can even heal someone who has been blind since birth or who has been mute since birth. Getting your voice back is no big deal to me.”"Glad to hear that, Doctor," I said happily."Yeah, looks like your hearing isn't a problem."Alpha Cedric interrupted as if he knew everything about me. "That's right, Doctor. Her hearing is perfectly normal. Only her voice is the problem.”“Maybe there is a problem
**Estelle's POV**Someone came to celebrate me and Alpha Cedric's arrival. And she was Scarlett.She came with flowers as if she cared about me. She handed it over to me but her gaze seemed to hate me so much. “Welcome, Estelle! I heard cheers along the way when I was at home. And it turns out you've come back. So, how's your treatment going?"I was sure she thought my therapy was a failure because I came home before my pre-arranged schedule.Alpha Cedric grabbed my hand so I didn't have time to answer him. He whispered, “Ignore her! Come on!"So, I obeyed his orders. As my feet moved away, Scarlett chuckled, "Why are you avoiding me as if I'm a threat to you?"Alpha Cedric frowned. He must have thought Scarlett was crazy. No one here considered her a threat. She was just a useless louse.She walked
**Estelle's POV**“Alpha, why didn't you answer me? You're free from the curse, right?" I was worried when I asked that question, worried that I might end up getting an answer I didn't expect.Oh, we'd found the one who cursed us. Alpha Cedric had beaten them. In the classic case, our curse should have disappeared right? So why didn't he answer me loudly and confidently? He just looked down, looking very sad."You make me think that the curse hasn't been removed from your body." I wanted to cry when he finally looked up and held my fingers as if giving an instant answer.Doctor Gordon left us for a while. He reasoned that he wanted to get drinking water from his earthen jug, which was placed in the kitchen. It gave me time with Alpha Cedric. I thought he did that on purpose so Alpha Cedric could talk to me freely.Alpha Cedric looked me straight
**Alpha Cedric's POV**We were cornered because of the many hybrids surrounding us. And if we sprayed them with a paralytic potion, it might not work completely.Our backs were pressed against each other, keeping no gaps for the enemies.“Alpha, do you think we’re going to die?” he asked. He didn't sound scared at all, instead, he sounded very gentle and calm.I wouldn't believe it if I didn't hear it with my ears."We will not die!" I dodged when a hybrid tried to spit at me. "We will definitely win." I whistled. It echoed across the walls of the cave and must have been heard by all of our soldiers.Soon they appeared, hanging in various places. The cave had holes so they could slip in between. While a few of them charged through the entrance."Attack them!" The Gammas shouted. They sprayed t
**Alpha Cedric's POV**Alpha Daren was standing behind the gate, waiting for Prince and me. Did they already know what I mean? I didn’t think so."Welcome, Alpha," said Alpha Daren welcomingly. He let me in.I got out of the car and followed Alpha Daren. He led me to the guest hall. I was not sure why Prince accompanied him.“Please sit down, Alpha!”I nodded and sat down in a comfortable chair. As usual in front of me was always filled with delicious and fresh food. A pitcher filled with very fresh water. I chugged it all and wiped my mouth."It's amazing that you came without making an appointment, Alpha. Is there a serious problem going on?” he asked.Without responding, I pulled out a report document to him and handed it over. I glanced at Prince, giving him information signals. But
**Alpha Cedric's POV**“Damn Scarlett! I will kill her!” Roland couldn't contain his anger. He had wanted to go to Scarlett's house to slap her.But I endured him. "Don't let her know anything about my mission, Roland!" I said, staring at him seriously.He groaned because he knew there was no way to refute me. “But she almost killed Estelle, Alpha. Are you going to let her do this?” He pointed at the letter in my hand.“She failed to do so.” Although I was also very angry. “If we get too hasty, I'm afraid she might just mess things up. You know I've worked hard to get to this point, right?" And I thought again of Estelle.Finally, Roland gave up. He rubbed his forehead roughly then forgot the letter I had received from Estelle. He packed a few more things and tried to ignore me. It didn't take long before he st
**Estelle's POV**A man emerged from the darkness of the forest with a head full of blood!I suddenly trembled as I wondered who that man was. Two of Doctor Gordon's students grabbed the firewood in each hand. They were agile enough to deal with dangerous situations, indicating that this was not the first time."Go!" snapped Doctor Gordon. His booming voice made the two soldiers who were supposed to be guarding me suddenly startled.Then they turned to Doctor Gordon, turning in the direction where Doctor Gordon was looking. Immediately they knew what we were dealing with.They raised their swords respectively, dashing to approach the bloodied man, probably about to draw their swords to death.But Doctor Gordon forbade them to hurt him. “Bring him here alive! I will ask him something!”Doctor Gordon'
**Estelle's POV**"Why is it interfering with my therapy, Doctor?" I got so nervous when I imagine bad things. Was Doctor Gordon going somewhere that I had to stop getting therapy? Or would this research process injure him so he would have to pause until he recovered?My wolf matched my worries. It even cried when imagining our bleak days back. My ever-growing voice seemed meaningless to it."Are you going to stop doing therapy on Estelle?" It was Alpha Cedric who was most definitely against the idea. I could understand it. He paid for all of this. Besides that, I was sure he hoped I could quickly return to the pack.Doctor Gordon shook his head and denied our worries. "I'm not going to stop the therapy. I'd still do it but maybe some of my therapy schedules would be reduced. I should spend more time on the research I'm doing. This is in the common interest.”
**Estelle's POV**I studied Alpha Cedric's hands. They looked fine, didn't even have a single scratch.Then I turned to Doctor Gordon, trying to come up with an answer."This is very strange." He rubbed his chin occasionally, still studying Alpha Cedric's hands. "Where did you get the poison?""Here." Alpha Cedric pointed at an area in his right hand.I was not very a good observer. But I watched that point with focus. And still, I found nothing. Was he lying? I was sure he was not lying.“You should have been seriously injured from that poison. And even though you won't die, since they've been crippled, at least your hands will leave scars.”Alpha Cedric frowned in surprise. "Really?" He checked his hands. "But it's fine.""Yeah, and that's what confused me."
**Alpha Cedric's POV**Tens of footsteps surrounded us, surrounding us from all directions!The leaves of the gigantic plants blocking the sunlight light us up nicely. It was still the middle of the day, but it felt like we were exploring in the late afternoon.Prince drew his sword and shouted at his members, “Prepare your weapons! Maybe it's the hybrids!”I could see the fear on the members' faces, as well as mine. But I assured them that there was nothing to be afraid of.“Have you guys forgotten that I carry the strongest weapon?” I said to my members. We stood in a circular formation, back to each other. While the footsteps were getting closer, more and more.I looked around warily, trying to find the nearest enemy position. Now neither of us was cutting down those gigantic plants. We focused on saving ourselves.