Rachel froze in place, her eyes widened and she felt like her heart had just stopped beating. The terror engulfed her so quickly that she couldn't speak or move a muscle.Why was Brandon awake? Was he aware of her movements? Was he not actually asleep and aware of her intentions?How could this be? Rachel had been found out!Brandon just silently stared at her with his knife-sharp gray eyes. His expression was closed. Who knows what was going through his head, but Rachel knew she was in trouble.A very big problem.Cold sweat ran down her neck and down her back. She swallowed hard and tried to gather her strength again."Alpha Brandon, I..." Frantically, Rachel tried to injure the man in order to escape, but Brandon without much strength managed to resist her sword thrust."Sweety, stop with all this," Brandon muttered with a hurt expression. He got up and snatched his sword calmly from Rachel's hand.Rachel recoiled in fear, afraid that Brandon would retaliate or worse, kill her outr
Rachel sobbed into Brandon's chest. Who knows how long she cried, but her mind was like fog on a cold morning. She couldn't think of anything other than the fact that everything Brandon said was true. She couldn't make any defense against Kennedy.What should she do now?She was in a dilemma. Completely confused about what was really going on. On the other hand, she also felt ashamed of Brandon if Kennedy was really just using her. She thought Kennedy cared about her, but judging by what she said, Kennedy was just using her. How could she trust anyone after this?"Sweety, I know you still find it hard to believe everything, but this is the truth," Brandon whispered, rubbing Rachel's shoulder gently. "If you still can't trust me, that's okay. We can take it slowly."Slowly? That meant Brandon would wait for her? Until she could really put all her trust in him? Rachel stared at Brandon's hand that continued to clasp hers, while his other hand rubbed her shoulder. All this small attenti
And sure enough, that man was Kennedy.His chin was up and his face looked arrogant as he approached Brandon. He lowered the hood of his black cloak, then stood directly in front of Brandon."There you are," Brandon said calmly, but his eyes flashed horribly. "What do you mean by invading my territory at this time of night?""I want to war," Kennedy said. "The winner will be the owner of Rachel."Brandon gave him a sardonic look. "Have you forgotten that Rachel chose me herself? What else do you really want?""No, Rachel never chose you. She just doesn't know who her real mate is." Kennedy spoke in a defiant voice, launching her incitement smoothly. "Besides, does Rachel love you? It's not a matter of picking and choosing, but a special woman like Rachel should belong to the strongest Alpha in our federation.""I'm still the strongest Alpha here," Brandon growled, showing the ring around his finger. "But if you feel great enough and think you can beat me, then I won't refuse your offe
Brandon just realized that none of the other packs were on his side.What had Kennedy really told them?Kennedy's incitement had clearly blinded them as to who the King Alpha was in this forest.Thinking about it made the anger in Brandon's chest flare up like wildfire, it really didn't matter that all the alphas wanted his destruction. Brandon knew they didn't like his cruelty and rules, but he never invaded their territory without cause.Now, they were working with Kennedy to take his place?Brandon snorted at the faces of the alphas who were now grinning at him, as if his defeat was written in stone. They thought they could defeat him easily."Alpha Brandon, given your small army, I think you should just raise your hands in surrender rather than fight us," said Alpha Reigo of Pack Moon. His pack was the third most powerful in their federation.Next to him, stood Alpha Calyox of Pack Vioz and Alpha Gemma of Pack Geek. They all made the list of strongest alphas behind the names Brand
"Then go ahead and beat me if you think you can win," Brandon said. Earlier, he had refrained from harming the alphas, so that they could return to their herd and learn their lesson.But apparently, the fallen troops weren't enough to wake them up. This time, Brandon would not hold back anymore.He had tried to change and suppress his wild, bloodthirsty instincts, but they seemed to prefer his ruthless side.Alpha Reigo, Alpha Calyox and Alpha Gemma came forward first to swing their weapons. Brandon parried them easily, throwing Calyox's spear away in a single blow. Brandon then spun around and kicked the man hard in the stomach.Calyox groaned in pain and tried to stand up, but Brandon gave him another cut on the arm. Blood poured out quickly and Calyox hissed. The effect of Brandon's sword brought not only pain, but also a burning sensation that ran through his entire arm.Calyox chose to run away as Brandon intended to attack him again. Kennedy shouted angrily, but Calyox was no lo
Brandon didn't believe Kennedy's confession at all. The man had deceived Rachel and she had done many devious things to get rid of him."You think I'll take your word for it? You're a fraud!" Brandon pulled Kennedy up and dragged his body roughly towards the palace.Not caring that Kennedy was already dying and couldn't stop moaning in pain, Brandon kept dragging the man, leaving a trail of Kennedy's blood that continued to drip onto the floor.At the palace door, Victor had just arrived. He approached quickly to Brandon and stared at Kennedy's terrible condition."Alpha Brandon, we've cleaned up the mess at the border and I-""Right now, go to Pack Leinz's palace and find my Luna there," Brandon interrupted in an annoyed voice. "Check the whole place, and make sure you check on Kennedy's followers too. Tell them that their alpha will die if Rachel is not returned.""Yes, Alpha," Victor said quickly, noticing the rage that flared around Brandon's body. Fear was evident in the Alpha's
An hour ago, while the battle between the packs was still going on, Viviane quickly sneaked into Pack Manowi's palace.She found a room shrouded by a magic barrier and was sure that it was Rachel's room. Viviane knew how protective Alpha Brandon was. She had seen the deep look he gave Rachel at their wedding.Viviane then called the woman out in a low voice. Shortly, Rachel opened the door slightly, then quickly moved away.Rachel had never seen the woman before. Her appearance was so charming and she was definitely not one of the servants in this palace."I know you must be surprised to see me, but I came here because I want to talk about something very important. It's about Alpha Kennedy. And my name is Viviane," Viviane said quickly. Her eyes glanced around, making sure none of the servants were looking."Kennedy? What do you mean by Kennedy?" asked Rachel confused. Was this woman related to Kennedy?"I can't tell you here, but please come with me. You need to know one thing about
"Rachel? Are you okay?" asked Viviane worriedly when Rachel just stayed silent for a long time.The woman kept her head down for almost five minutes and Viviane began to feel anxious, afraid that something might happen. She just wanted to tell Rachel about Kennedy's cunning, not scare the woman."I-I'm fine." Rachel finally spoke in a halting voice. She shook her head, seemingly still unable to believe the reality on display. Her hazel irises glowed dimly as she raised her head and looked at Viviane. "I-just, it's just, I'm... really surprised by the whole thing. I thought Kennedy was really my mate, but it turns out..."Viviane nodded in understanding. Again, she took Rachel's hand and held it. "I'm sorry to say it now. You must be really surprised after all this time, huh? But I have to tell you this or Kennedy will keep using you.""I know, I just need time to think things through," Rachel said."Well, I can understand," Viviane said, slowly pulling her hand away. Her eyes searched
"With this, I, King Alpha Brandon Matthew, officially hand over my leadership to my son—Armani Matthew, on his 20th birthday!"Applause immediately filled the room. Brandon and Rachel stepped forward with wide smiles, placing the crown and the Pack Manowi emblem ring on Armani’s finger.The coronation celebration was held on the exact day of Armani’s birthday. All the members of Pack Manowi, Pack Canis, and Pack Leinz were invited—not just the Alphas with authority.The festive atmosphere filled the grand hall, which had been lavishly decorated. Golden chandeliers illuminated the room, while exquisite food and drinks were served for the guests.The hall was nearly packed; everyone seemed eager to witness the coronation of the heir to the throne.Armani had grown into a strikingly handsome young man, exuding charisma and authority. His strong leadership aura commanded respect, even from much older Alphas.Although only 20, Armani had already won numerous tournaments and duels, proving
The cold wind carried a mist that blurred the view ahead. The forest Viviane traversed grew denser, with towering hawthorn trees lining her path.The sunlight could no longer penetrate the thick canopy of interwoven branches. Though it was still morning, the place resembled a moonless night.Viviane wiped the sweat from her forehead and glanced at Volkov, who was sleeping soundly in her arms. The distinct scent of trees after the rain had lulled him to sleep. The place was damp and quite chilly, prompting her to find a better spot to rest."Where are we heading, Miss Viviane?" Gonder asked, scanning the unfamiliar surroundings. He and his wife were both weary and hungry, but they had found nothing edible along the way.Viviane sighed tiredly. "We should head west, toward where the sun sets."Gonder and Suzy nodded, having no other suggestion for their destination. Leading the way, Viviane secretly felt unsure of where to go, but she couldn’t afford to show her hesitation.Suddenly, so
"Take them all out. Today, they will be taken to the border." That morning, Brandon immediately gave orders to his Beta. Following his claim and official proclamation, Brandon wanted Viviane and her followers to leave Pack Leinz immediately. Victor nodded obediently and hurried to the dungeon. Brandon then turned to Rachel, who was seated beside him. Her face was furrowed, lost in thought. “Sweety, are you alright?” “Mm, yes.” Rachel snapped out of her thoughts and pulled the corners of her lips into a smile. “I was just... just thinking about Viviane's departure and…” “What is it? Are you worried?” Brandon asked, raising an eyebrow. Rachel fiddled with the ribbon of her gown and nodded. “A little. I’m afraid she might do something after Kennedy’s death. She’s skilled at concocting poisons, and... I’m just scared she might seek revenge,” Rachel admitted, rubbing her neck uneasily. She wasn’t sure why she was suddenly dwelling on it, especially since Viviane was just an ordinary
Rachel and Armani sprinted through the forest, their hearts pounding with both anticipation and joy. Rachel had heard from the Moon Goddess that Brandon had triumphed over Kennedy in their duel. He had taken control of Pack Leinz following Kennedy’s death in their battle. Initially, Rachel was deeply worried, knowing Kennedy and Viviane often resorted to underhanded tactics. But she was also aware that Brandon’s strength was unmatched. “Mom, are we almost there?” Armani asked, matching his mother’s pace as they navigated the dense forest. The pungent smell of moss lingered in the air after a light drizzle had fallen just moments before. “Almost there, sweetheart,” Rachel replied. “Are you tired?” “Not at all!” Armani exclaimed, shaking his head with a determined look that made Rachel chuckle. “I’m the heir to Pack Manowi, strong like my father. There’s no way I’d feel tired.” Rachel let out a soft laugh, gently patting the top of Armani’s head, charmed by his confidence. “In th
Brandon made the announcement in a booming voice, addressing the guards, servants, Beta Gonder, Beta Suzy, Viviane, and her nine-year-old son—Volkov Li. He stood before Kennedy’s throne, with Victor positioned just below the steps. Everyone knelt before Brandon, affirming his claim over Pack Leinz. Viviane and Kennedy’s two Betas were forced to kneel under the pressure of Brandon’s overwhelming power. Viviane clenched her fists, her fury still burning deep within. Her tears had dried, but her heart was shattered beyond repair. She knew her life would change drastically after Kennedy’s death, but now she had one single purpose. She had to avenge Kennedy. She had to kill Brandon mercilessly, just as he had done to her husband. Viviane glanced at her son, who was bowing his head beside her. His face was pale and downcast, his lips sealed tight for hours. He was still deeply shaken by Kennedy’s death and Brandon’s claim over the pack that should have been inherited by Volkov. All he
"Viviane..." Kennedy struggled to speak, his voice barely audible. He coughed violently, more blood pouring from his mouth and staining his chin and neck. Viviane was hysterical, her cries echoing in the tense silence. "No! Don’t say that! Healers! Where are the healers?!" she screamed, tears streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks. "Someone call the healers now! Why are all of you just standing there?!" "No... Viviane... I don’t think... I can hold on... any longer," Kennedy stammered, his voice faltering. His trembling hand lay weakly in Viviane’s grip, his chest rising and falling rapidly. Viviane sobbed harder, her tears falling on Kennedy’s pale face. She clung to him desperately, her world unraveling as her husband teetered on the brink of death. Around them, the crowd remained silent, their expressions grim. No one dared move or utter a word; they all knew there was nothing they could do now. Kennedy's defeat was absolute. Blood continued to pour from Kennedy’s mouth, stai
“What did you just say, you bastard?!” Brandon growled deeply. Kennedy chuckled and pressed his hand against Brandon’s chest, forcing him to remain pitifully pinned down. “Yes, because soon enough, that poison will make you wither away, slowly destroying your organs,” Kennedy whispered. Brandon’s eyes widened in shock at those words. He struggled to free himself from Kennedy’s hold, but his strength had mysteriously vanished. Something was wrong in their duel. The poison. It was the poison that had rendered him this weak. Brandon’s gaze darted to the tip of Kennedy’s spear lying beside him, glistening with a clear liquid. He had been so focused on Kennedy that he had failed to notice the details of the weapon. Brandon cursed himself inwardly for being so careless. How could he forget Kennedy’s cunning nature—and that of his wife? Especially after Rachel’s own experience of being struck by a poisoned arrow. Brandon should have realized it earlier. They would do anything to win.
After calming herself, Viviane followed Kennedy to the front courtyard of the palace. There, Brandon stood fully armored, facing off against Kennedy. A silver sword, famed for its magical properties, hung at his waist. His gaze locked onto Kennedy, who didn’t look away either. The tension in the courtyard of Pack Leinz was palpable, creating an eerie atmosphere. Moments passed in silence, intensifying the suspense. A gentle breeze blew, causing the hairs on everyone’s necks to stand on end. Both Betas and the guards watched each other cautiously. Some of them were breathing shallowly, waiting for these two top-ranked Alphas to break the silence. Finally, Brandon let out a sharp breath and spoke, "I’ve come here to challenge you honorably! A one-on-one duel using the full extent of our Alpha powers. Win or lose, the stakes are Pack Manowi and Pack Leinz." Kennedy narrowed his eyes and smirked. "Are you serious about your offer?" "Of course." Brandon grinned. "I’m not one to make f
As usual, Armani was busy with his morning training routine. Rachel was trying to sew a cloak for Armani when Brandon entered the room, his face serious. Rachel quickly set down the fabric in her hands and looked at her husband. “Brandon?” “Sweety, I need to talk to you about something important,” Brandon said, taking a seat in front of Rachel. Rachel frowned. “What is it?” Brandon cleared his throat, hesitating for a moment as if unsure about how to deliver his plan. But his resolve was firm today. “I’m going to the Pack Leinz territory to challenge Kennedy to a duel.” “What?” “I know you might think I’ve let it go, but I haven’t, Rachel. My plan for revenge remains unchanged,” Brandon explained, quickly taking Rachel’s hand in his. “But you don’t need to worry. This isn’t a war involving our entire pack, just a one-on-one duel between me and Kennedy. I can’t let him keep acting recklessly and harassing you.” Rachel looked concerned, biting her lower lip as she gazed at Brand