Chapter 52
Chapter 52
52. My Purpose
The moment from earlier still played on my mind. She had gasped, backing away from the ice that was thickest beneath her feet, and then it was gone. I had tried to get her to call upon it again, but she didn’t manage it. She was unnerved and confused, but as for me? I was simply intrigued.
Was she part mage or fae? The odd thing was, usually, you could tell, but with Yileyna, you could only sense her werewolf side. There was something missing… and I needed to know what it was. 2
She had been angry and hostile towards me for the comment I made about her parents. I needed to do some digging into her parents’ past. She may have gotten offended when I stated the truth, but it was obvious she looked nothing like her parents, that surely meant something. Her hair, eyes, facial features, and even build were entirely different. We all inherited something of our parents, even if it was subtle.
She has been distracted since then, asking me not to mention it to the king. I didn’t plan to. If she was part mage or fae, I wondered if the king would want her on his team. I just knew he’d use her as collateral damage and Yileyna would happily agree, simply to feel that she was needed and was able to do something. But I didn’t plan on letting her be killed so soon.
My only issue was Madelia had also seen how she had coped with the cold… 1 Was allowing her to live safe?
For now, I’ll let her live as I need her, but the moment she becomes a threat to Yileyna, I’ll get rid of her.
Another blast of wind slammed against me, and I wrapped the grey fur coat I was wearing around me tighter.
I had received the signal that he was here, ready to meet me. I had told Yileyna I would be back late as I had work to attend to and not to wait up for me.
Although she was still upset about my comments, I did not plan to apologise for stating what was a fair statement.
On the other hand, I was glad that she didn’t ask me where I was going… but the fact that she was simply falling so perfectly into my life…that was beginning to worry me.
From wanting her as my whore, to somehow being concerned when she was upset… to claiming her openly… to the thoughts that crept into my mind that I should claim her by marking her… something I wouldn’t do.
But I couldn’t deny that I enjoyed her presence. I slept better for the most part, despite the constant desire of wanting to fuck her repeatedly.
I trudged along in the snow, the blizzard pushing against me and the howling wind louder than everything else. My footprints wouldn’t remain with this strong wind and snow, and I was glad for it. It would save me time from having to cover my tracks.
I had left the city through a hidden passage, making my way further and further away from the city and into the forest. I hadn’t seen him in eighteen months… but I knew I would have to tell him about Yileyna. She… “Theon.” I froze, not even having sensed his approach. A cold blade pressed against my neck, and I heard his sigh of distaste. “Don’t tell me you have become as weak as the pack you are now part of.”
Shit, I was so distracted by my thoughts.
“Not at all. I didn’t sense an enemy.” I said emotionlessly, turning and looking into a pair of amber eyes that were so similar to my own, yet so different. 1
The man was almost my height, bulky, muscular, and wore a dark coat with his hood up, partially hiding his face. A speckled beard could be seen and an angled jaw.
“Smart answer.” He replied, his deep baritone holding power despite keeping his aura suppressed. “What was so important that you risked calling this meeting?” “There’s been a few problems. That’s why I had to.” I clarified quietly. “I told you not long ago that the princess is the heart, but the problem is – her powers are sealed. There are chances it was a siren’s doing.”
I quickly and quietly began explaining to him everything Andres had told me.
He growled with irritation.
“One step closer and two steps back. Maybe it’s better to simply kill her.” He said, the fury in his voice barely hidden.
“I don’t think that’s going to help us take over the middle kingdom. You want that position, and I plan to get it for you.” I replied quietly. A smile curled his lips, and he slapped my shoulder, sending a fair amount of snow flying.
“To get it for us. Not me, us.” He corrected me, before stepping closer and hugging me.
“Yes. To retake what should have been ours.”
“That’s my son.”
I hugged him back. The familiar feeling I once used to associate with home was no longer there. Yes, he was my father, but things had changed. I guess eighteen months apart did that. He moved back and we both became serious once more.
“How is Thea?”
“Well. She knows not of this meeting.” I frowned and nodded. That made sense. “How is your relationship with Andres?”
“Good, he trusts me more than most.” I replied, smirking coldly. Approval was clear in Dad’s nod.
“You need to get rid of the rest of his confidants. We can set up another attack or do something just like we did last time. The aim is for him to feel that you are his only friend, the only one he needs. Just the way we removed the Beta couple from his side.”
I frowned; a sliver of guilt washed through me. “Yeah.”
“It was smart of you to know exactly where their daughter would be, you timed the attack and gave the signal so precisely. You were sure they would end up dying for her and you were correct.” Dad’s approval was obvious in his voice, but I didn’t feel the satisfaction I once had… “Andres bought the set- up, didn’t he?” 3 “Yes, they think they were traitors.” I replied quietly.
“Good, good. So in your last message, you said you were to become Beta. What happened to their daughter?” “She hasn’t shifted, but I don’t think she’s their real daughter. She’s a hybrid of some kind.”
“Oh?”
The intrigue in his voice made a flash of possessiveness fill me inside, as if I had to make it clear that she was mine. “Yes, however, I’ve taken her as my woman for now.”
He looked at me sharply, his eyes flashing, and I knew he was doing his all to not let his aura out.
“Why would you do that? Are her powers strong? Can she be manipulated or be of any use to
us?”
“I am a man, and I rather not have the reputation of a player if I am to keep the king’s respect and trust. She is useful.” I lied coldly.
He cocked his head, and like always, I felt as if he was peering deep within me.
“I’ve heard she’s a scorned reject, stripped of rank and power. An outcast. That would ruin your reputation with Andres, Theon.” His voice was dangerous, low, menacing even.
“She’s good in bed.” I shot back, my eyes flashing. “I’m keeping her.”
“Keep as many women as you want. If Andres likes you so much, I’m surprised he hasn’t offered you his daughter.”
I looked at him, hatred filling my eyes.
“I would never take her as a mate.” I hissed coldly.
“But becoming potential Alpha before the takeover will help greatly. Having the heart as your chosen mate would be perfect.”
I tried to remain emotionless, my heart betraying me before I managed to quickly regain control of my emotions, but something told me I was too late.
“I can’t even stand being in the same room as her, and you wish for me to take her as my own? That would require a lot of self-control.”
“You have control, Theon. You know it’s a fair point, unless of course, this other woman is the problem.” His voice was calm and nonchalant, yet I knew the underlying threat that lingered.
“She isn’t, I can kill her if need be.” I said coldly.
The moment the words left my lips I knew it was a blatant lie. It left a bitter taste in my mouth, but I also knew that he had the power to have her killed if he wanted. Even from out here, he didn’t need to be in the capital to have it done.
Then I also knew if she knew my truth… She’d want me dead.
“Good. You will get Andres to agree, and I know it won’t be so hard. A little bird has already told me he is extremely fond of you and already hopes you take her as your mate.”
How did he know that? 1
I remained passive, frowning as I pondered on my answer. I needed to be careful… “I am unable to even stay in the same room as her, knowing how her father tried to destroy us. “I tried again.
I was trying to tell myself it wasn’t Yileyna. That she wasn’t the reason… but why was it her face that was at the forefront of my mind? Was it that it was the thought of her that squeezed at my heart? Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g
“Because we need her for the revenge that I have waited for, for years. He owes us so much, but if the heart is a person, then we need that person under our control. Make it happen Theon.
He had a point… To use the heart, we needed her alive…
My mind was a turmoil, I knew I had gotten far too involved with Yileyna than I ever should have.
“Your hesitating, son.” “Not at all, I know what I need to do.”
“When I had your powers sealed for this mission we decided to seal the mate bond alongside it, it was for your benefit, remember? Mates are a weakness. Theon, women are a weakness. I had that spell performed on you so-”
“So, I never fall victim to the mate bond. I won’t feel it, even if she stands before me and proclaims that I am her mate, I won’t feel anything. I know.”
“Good. So don’t let another woman ruin that. You are Theon Alexander Hale, son of Theoden Hale. Make me proud.” His voice was powerful and strong, I turned and gave him a nod. He was right. I was no coward who would let a woman come in the way of my goal… I’ll do the right thing “I will make you proud. We will defeat everyone who has wronged us, from Andres to the Siren who killed Mom and Thalia, The Obsidian Shadow pack is the strongest pack on Kaeladia and we bow to no one.”
Copper eyes met copper, and it felt good to see the burning flames of approval and pride in his eyes.
This was my purpose, the only goal that I had in life.
Vengeance.
And I would destroy anything and anyone who came in the way of it.
No matter what.