Chapter 119
Since when did Rett have a warlock? And not just any warlock but one powerful enough to open a portal?
Althea’s thoughts spun as she caught sight of movement through the trees. Ash’s fur glowed faintly under the moonlight as the wolf sprinted toward her, and behind him came three of her guards, Rudy, Ben and Trudis, with Alpha Abner leading the way with his men close behind.
Rett’s expression twisted with anger. “You wretch! I’m your brother, and you brought them here to capture me?!” he shouted, his grip on her tightening.
Before she could react, he yanked her close and pressed a knife against her neck.
“Stop right there!” Rett barked at Alpha Abner and the guards. The blade grazed her skin, cold and sharp.
“Hurry up, Jener!” he snapped over his shoulder.
Althea’s eyes flickered with light as she tried to summon her magic to escape, but Rett moved faster. With a snarl, his form began to shift—bones cracking, muscles stretching, fur sprouting along his arms and neck until his wolfman form towered over her.
Her spell faltered as he wrapped his arms around her, trapping her in an unyielding hold.
The air around them trembled with power and fear as the warlock’s portal began to swirl open behind them, its dark energy rippling like a storm.
Out of nowhere, several shadowed figures emerged from the trees—Rett’s hidden men. They lunged at Alpha Abner and his guards, blades clashing, growls echoing in the night. The sound of battle erupted around them as steel met steel and sparks scattered across the dirt.
Rett’s grin widened, cruel and victorious. “You’re too late,” he sneered, dragging Althea toward the swirling portal that pulsed with dark magic behind them.
Althea struggled, her fingers clawing at his arm, but his strength was monstrous. The air around the portal vibrated, sucking in wind and debris as if the world itself were being torn apart.
Just as Rett was about to step through, a bright flash burst through the clearing—pure, blinding white light that split the shadows apart.
A surge of energy exploded outward, forcing Rett to stumble back. The dark portal flickered, its edges unraveling like smoke.
Althea’s body stiffened. That energy—she recognized it instantly. It was the same presence that had destroyed the portal earlier.
Her eyes darted around the chaotic clearing until she caught sight of a figure standing beyond the trees.
A man with silver, shoulder-length hair tied neatly at the back. He looked calm, almost amused, as if everything unfolding was part of his plan. Their eyes met, and he smirked before giving her a playful wink.
Althea’s breath hitched. “It’s you,” she whispered in horror.
The moment she blinked, he was gone—vanished like mist.
“What are you mumbling about, my dear sister?” Rett’s voice slithered against her ear.
Althea froze as he leaned closer, his breath hot and foul. A shiver of disgust crawled down her spine when his tongue brushed her earlobe.
“Come now,” he murmured hoarsely, his tone twisted and possessive. “I’ll take good care of you from now on p>
“Let go of me, Rett,” she hissed, struggling against his grip, but he only tightened his hold.
“Jener!” Rett snapped over his shoulder, dragging Althea back toward the warlock. “Create another portal and don’t stop until it’s stable p>
The dark warlock growled in response, summoning a surge of black energy as the air around them crackled with dark smoke. Althea could feel the magic pulse in her veins, familiar yet suffocating, as Rett’s knife pressed harder against her skin.
It was then that Uriel appeared from the light, his hand raised, white flames crackling around his fingers as he countered the warlock’s spell. Behind him, Althea’s breath caught when she saw who followed.
Gavriel.
The Alpha King’s presence filled the clearing—his power heavy, his expression carved in fury.
“Rett!” Uriel shouted, his voice laced with authority as he faced the dark warlock. “Your darkness ends here p>
Jener snarled and raised his staff, dark energy swirling like a storm. The two clashed in a violent burst—white and black colliding, the ground trembling beneath their magic.
Rett tightened his hold on Althea, yanking her upright. The blade at her throat pressed deeper, drawing a thin line of blood that ran down her skin. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ.net
“Don’t take another step!” Rett barked at Gavriel, his voice shaking with rage and fear. “I’ll kill her right here if you come any closer p>
Gavriel froze, his icy eyes narrowing. The air around him crackled with restrained power.
Althea could see the hunger in his look, he wanted to tear Rett apart, but he stayed still. One wrong move and Althea would die.
Her pulse hammered in her ears. The smell of blood mixed with smoke and magic as Uriel and Jener’s battle roared on nearby, light and shadow clashing in violent waves.
“Go on, kill her,” Gavriel suddenly said, voice flat. “Do it and you’ll do me a favor. Kill her and the matebond is broken. If you end her, you set me free. I despise the thought of Cain’s blood running through her veins p>
Rett maniacally laughed. “Did you hear that, sister? The Alpha King is just using you, and he will surely disregard you after he’s done with you. You must not hesitate, just come to me and not fight me. Like I said, I will keep you safe p>
Althea bit her inner cheek and looked at Gavriel, whose face was so dark right now. He growled, “I’ll tear you to pieces, and your father Cain will be next p>
Rett’s eyes suddenly went blank, as if something cold had slid down his spine. Panic crawled into him slowly. His grip on Althea tightened painfully, his knife digging against her skin. His eyes darted wildly between Gavriel and the chaos around them.
Then a sharp, feral growl split the air.
Ash lunged out from the shadows, its fangs sinking into Rett’s arm. Rett howled in pain and shock, his hold on the knife faltering. Blood splattered as he tried to shake the wolf off, but Ash only bit harder, growling deep in its throat.