Althea turned at the sound of footsteps and saw a stunning woman standing in the doorway. Her shoulder-length blonde hair framed a striking face, but her sharp gaze swept over Althea from head to toe with open disdain.
The fitted black and silver uniform clung to her form like armor, and the gleaming insignia over her chest marked her clearly as one of the Alpha King's elite royal warriors.
The woman didn't bother hiding her glare. Her presence was commanding, confident, cold, and clearly not pleased to see Althea.
'This bitch. What does she have that made Gavriel let her into his bed? She's just a weak hybrid. Sure, she's pretty, but that doesn't change the fact that she's not even a full-blooded wolf. I need to find a way to get rid of her. And fast.'
Althea's stomach twisted upon reading her thoughts, and her heart pounded against her ribs. The woman's lips curved into a smile, polite but fake.
"I am Cara Richmond, one of the Alpha King's royal warriors. Allow me to escort you to His Majesty," she said smoothly.
Althea furrowed her brow. If she wasn't mistaken, this woman, Cara, was the daughter of Alpha Ruel of Southeast Territory.
'Great. And this woman's already plotting to get rid of me,' Althea thought wearily, her shoulders tensing as she forced herself to remain composed under Cara's fake smile.
Then, turning to Melva, Cara added, "You're coming too. The entire pack is gathering to swear loyalty to Alpha King."
Althea exchanged a glance with Melva, whose expression had gone pale with worry. Still, she nodded and fell in step behind her. They followed Cara through the stone halls of the fortress. The corridors were eerily quiet, yet the air was filled with tension.
They soon reached the large ceremonial hall. The massive double doors opened, revealing rows of werewolves and pack members already gathered. All eyes turned to her the moment she stepped in, and whispers rippled through the crowd like wildfire, both from her pack and the Alpha King's men. The stares burned her skin.
"She'll be the Alpha King's breeder? Why take her as a breeder?"
"That's Alpha Cain's favorite daughter?"
"She's more human, isn't she? I heard she doesn't have a wolf."
"But look at her… she's beautiful…"
"She's the reason the Alpha King spared us… We owe her our lives."
Althea kept her head high, even as her knees threatened to buckle beneath her. At the far end of the hall stood Alpha King Gavriel with his cold demeanour.
"Bring her forward," Gavriel commanded.
The crowd parted like a tide as Althea was led toward him. Her hands were no longer shackled, but she still felt as if there were a heavy weight of chains dragging behind her.
She stood in front of the Alpha King while the pack members assembled behind her. The once-proud banner of her father had already been taken down, replaced by the fierce crimson emblem of the Alpha King.
Gavriel's deep voice echoed through the gathering. "From this day forward," he began, "Shadowthorn Pack is no more. This land, this territory, and all of you now belong to Bloodrise Pack."
Gasps rippled through the crowd at the announcement. Althea kept her face neutral, even as unease stirred in her chest.
Bloodrise Pack. That name alone carried weight. It was the ruling pack, the Alpha King's own. The royal family's seat of power… feared and revered across all the Werewolf Realm.
Now, her former home no longer belonged to Shadowthorn. It had become part of something much larger, a reminder of who held the power now.
"You will swear your loyalty to me," he continued. "In return, I will give you protection, purpose, and power but defiance will not be tolerated."
Silence fell.
Then, slowly, the crowd began to kneel, one after another, heads bowed in silent surrender.
Althea followed suit, sinking to her knees.
This was it. Her father's legacy, once a proud Alpha, once the leader of Shadowthorn, was now nothing but dust in the wind. A memory. A fallen pack. A traitor's mark etched into history.
"We swear loyalty to Alpha King Gavriel, and we now belong to the Bloodrise Pack," they chanted in unison, their voices echoing across the clearing like a solemn oath carved into stone.
"Althea Grayson." Gavriel's voice was steady, cold.
Althea kept her head bowed, heart thudding.
"Raise your head and look at me," he commanded.
She obeyed, lifting her gaze to meet his. For a brief second, something flickered in his eyes… pride? Satisfaction? Pity? She couldn't tell. None of it mattered.
Frustration bubbled inside her. 'Why can't I read him?' He was the only one whose mind remained shut to her gift.
"From this day forward, you belong to me. But your fate will depend on how well you serve me… and how loyal your heart remains."
She swallowed hard, forcing her trembling voice to respond. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Then the Alpha King soon dismissed the pack members. Althea stood to leave as well, but his voice stopped her.
"Come with me."
Biting her lower lip, she followed him in silence as he led her to her father's hidden chamber. The air grew heavier with each step. Once inside, the door shut behind them with a dull thud. Gavriel turned to face her with an icy stare sharp as a blade.
"So," he said, voice like frost, "where do you think your father is hiding?"
A lump rose in her throat. She didn't know her father's plans directly since he had never trusted her that much. But she knew anyway. Her gift let her read what others kept buried in their minds after all.
And what she saw in her father's thoughts had chilled her more than anything: he truly believed he could take the throne. That he didn't need a backup plan. No escape route for his family. No thought for the consequences.
Althea took a slow breath as she stepped back while he walked closer to her until her back pressed against the cold stone wall of her father's secret chamber. Gavriel stood just a few feet away, his gaze never leaving her.
"I asked you a question," Gavriel grunted. "Where is your father hiding?"
*****
[https://www.patreon.com/eustoma_reyna]