Kael’s POV
Aldric led Kael into the castle’s library.
It housed centuries of precious books and artifacts collected by the Moonlight family, each one radiating ancient, powerful
energy
“Sit,” Aldric gestured to the chair opposite him.
As Kael sat, he felt an immense pressure from all sides. It wasn’t just Aldric’s personal power, but the weight of an entire ancient bloodline.
“Young man, do you know who Clara truly is?” Aldric sat down slowly, his gaze as sharp as a hawk’s.
“She’s the heir of the Red Fang pack…”
“She is the last heir of the Moonlight bloodline,” Aldric cut him off. “Her lineage traces back to the very origin of werewolves, far more noble than your Silver Moon pack.”
“More importantly, she is now my sole heir.”
Aldric stood and walked to an ancient family tree.
“This is the membership list of the European Ancient Covenant. Seven great families, controlling sixty percent of Europe’s werewolf resources.” He tapped his finger on several names. “And I am the covenant’s Chief Elder.”
Kael’s face began to pale.
He was starting to realize he wasn’t facing just any elder, but one of the rulers of the European werewolf world.
“So, a struggling little Alpha from North America,” Aldric turned to him, his eyes full of contempt, “do you really think you are worthy of my granddaughter?”
21
“Worthy?” Kael struggled to maintain his last shred of dignity. “Love isn’t measured by bloodlines or power.”
“Love?” Aldric sneered. “You tortured her for three years, and now you want to talk to me about love?”
“In character, you are a coward and a traitor. In strength, you failed to protect your own mate. In wisdom, you were played for
a fool by a lesser wolf”
Every word was a knife in Kael’s heart.
“Tell me, aside from hurting people, what are you good for?”
“I know I made mistakes in the past,” Kael gritted his teeth. “But I will never give up on Clara. Whatever the cost, I will atone for my mistakes.”
“Is that so?” Aldric looked at him with interest. “And what if I don’t give you the chance?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean,” Aldric sat back down, “I will not allow you any opportunity to get near Clara.”
As he spoke, Kael’s communicator buzzed urgently.
“Alpha!” His Beta’s anxious voice came through. “Something terrible has happened!”
Kael glanced at Aldric before answering.
“What is it?”
Chapter23
+25 BONUS
“All our businesses are under attack!” the Beta’s voice trembled. “Real estate, mining, trade… all of them are being hostilely taken over by a mysterious conglomerate!”
“What?” Kael shot to his feet in shock. “How bad are the losses?”
“At least seventy percent of our assets! And the attacks are ongoing! They seem to have unlimited funding!”
“You need to come back immediately! The pack is about to collapse!”
After the call ended, Kael looked at Aldric, his face ashen.
The ancient elder was calmly sipping his tea, as if he hadn’t heard a thing.
“It was you?” Kael’s voice shook.
“What was me?” Aldric feigned innocence.
“You’re the one attacking my pack!”
“Oh, that,” Aldric set down his teacup, speaking with an air of indifference. “It wasn’t just me. It was a joint operation between the Ancient Covenant and the Moon–Ember pack.”
“Why?”
“Because you hurt someone you shouldn’t have,” Aldric’s eyes glinted coldly. “Harming the heir of the Moonlight bloodline is an unforgivable crime.”
“You’re forcing my hand!”
“Forcing you?” Aldric laughed. “Young man, I am merely making you understand reality.”
“Clara is now the heir to the most powerful force in Europe. And you are just the Alpha of a small pack on the verge of
extinction.”
“The chasm between you is as vast as the earth and sky.”
Kael clenched his fists, but he knew he was powerless.
Against the might of the entire European Ancient Covenant, his Silver Moon pack was like an ant.
“I have to go back to my pack,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Go on, then,” Aldric waved a hand dismissively. “Go back and clean up your mess. Perhaps when your pack is completely gone, you’ll understand what it means to give up.”
Kael hastily left Europe and rushed back to North America.
On the plane, he was bombarded with one piece of bad news after another.
The Silver Moon mining company was bought out.
Real estate projects were forced to a halt.
Trade contracts were unilaterally cancelled.
In just three days, the business empire he had painstakingly built for years was crumbling.
When he returned to the Silver Moon pack headquarters, an atmosphere of despair hung over the building.
“Alpha, you’re finally back!” His Beta met him at the door. “Things are bad. We might not make it through the month.”
Kael wearily walked into his office, ready to devise a rescue plan.
But when he sat down at his desk, he found a document waiting for him.
Chapter 23
A document that made his heart nearly stop.
124
+25 BONUS
Chapter24
Chapter24
