Chapter 225
Form Up
Candice let out a long, quiet sigh as she stared out the carriage window, her fingers absently combing through Ash’s soft fur.
The small wolf was curled comfortably on her lap, eyes half closed, completely unaware of the heaviness weighing on her chest.
“What’s wrong?” Melva asked gently. She sat across from Candice, watching her with concern.
Candice usually rode ahead on horseback with Osman, always alert and stubbornly independent. Choosing the carriage today was already unusual.
Candice’s shoulders lifted in a small shrug as she finally turned away from the window. “My stop is nearing…”
Melva tilted her head. “And?”
Candice hesitated, then sighed again. “I don’t know. I understand Osman’s concern. And my father will definitely scold me if I march with the Alpha King into a war against the House of Aetherion.” She paused, her grip tightening slightly on Ash. “But for some reason, I don’t want to just go home and do nothing.”
Melva said nothing, letting her continue.
“You know, my father and our house all felt it,” Candice went on, her voice lowering. “The darkness spreading from Velmora. Even before the Cross Clan took over, there were already whispers. They knew something was wrong. Everyone from our House knew.” Her brows knitted together in frustration. “And yet the other four Houses chose to stay still. Waiting. Watching. Pretending it isn’t their problem.”
Ash shifted slightly, sensing her agitation, and Candice softened her touch, stroking him
again.
“It’s like they’re all standing at the edge of a broken bridge,” she continued bitterly, “and instead of fixing it or turning back, they’re just waiting for it to collapse beneath them. And when it does, they’ll act surprised.”
Melva nodded slowly. “You’re angry.”
“Yes,” Candice admitted. “And scared. But mostly angry.”
She leaned back against the carriage seat, staring at the ceiling for a moment. “Osman wants me safe. I know that. He thinks separating now will protect me from what’s coming.”
Her lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. “But what if staying behind is just another way of letting darkness win?”
Melva folded her hands on her lap. “You feel responsible.”
Candice laughed softly. “Isn’t that ridiculous? I’m not a queen. I’m not a general. I don’t even have magic anymore.” She glanced down at Ash. “All I have is conviction.”
“That’s not nothing,” Melva said quietly.
Candice looked at her, surprised.
Melva met her gaze, her expression calm but firm. “Conviction is what makes people move when everyone else freezes. It’s what makes them choose discomfort over safety.”
Candice swallowed. “Osman won’t understand that.”
“Maybe not right away,” Melva said. “But he will understand that this is who you are.”
Silence settled between them, broken only by the soft creak of the carriage wheels and Ash’s steady breathing.
“I don’t want to be brave just for the sake of being brave,” Candice said at last. “I just don’t want to look back one day and realize I did nothing when I could have done something.”
Melva reached across the small space between them and placed a hand over Candice’s. “Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something you can live with. Not something chosen out of fear.”
Candice nodded slowly, then her smile widened. “I really like you. I feel like the two of us have so many things in common.”
Melva chuckled and gave her a teasing look. “So,” she said, dragging the word playfully, “what’s really going on between you and Osman? For some reason, you two are always bickering. And honestly… you actually look good together. The way you look at each other says a lot.”
Candice shrugged, her expression turning thoughtful. “Well, we’re not really allowed to marry a shifter. My family wouldn’t support it.”
Melva blinked, clearly confused, then pointed out, “But aren’t we all just ordinary humans now?”
Candice hesitated, lips pressing together as if she was weighing how much to say. “That’s true,” she admitted softly. “But old beliefs don’t disappear just because things change. Some families still cling to what used to be, even when it no longer makes sense.”
Melva sighed. “That sounds exhausting.”
“It is,” Candice replied with a small smile. “Especially when your heart doesn’t agree with the rules.”
Melva studied her for a moment, then smiled warmly. “Well… rules have a way of breaking when they’re no longer meant to exist.”
Candice laughed quietly, though her eyes held a mix of hope and uncertainty. “You really have a point. And for some reason, I believe… although everything that happened was sudden and confusing… somehow it’s for the best. Being just an ordinary human, not relying on anything supernatural, is actually nice and—”
She stopped mid sentence when the carriage jolted and came to an abrupt halt.
Her heart skipped.
“What’s wrong?” she murmured.
She carefully lifted Ash and placed the small wolf onto Melva’s lap before pushing the carriage door open just enough to peer outside.
“Ambush!” someone shouted.Candice’s heart slammed against her chest.
The carriage door flew open, and Osman appeared, already drawing his sword with his expression hardened and alert.
“Stay inside,” he commanded. “Both of you.”
Candice’s hands trembled as she nodded. Shouts echoed through the road as armed men poured out from behind rocks and trees, their clothes ragged, faces gaunt, eyes wild with desperation.
There were at least a dozen of them, wielding mismatched blades, clubs, and farming tools sharpened into crude weapons.
Bandits.
Or something close to it.
“Protect the King!” someone yelled.
Candice peeked through the small opening in the carriage curtain, her breath hitching when she saw Gavriel.
Even without his powers, the Alpha King moved with terrifying authority. He was already at the front, sword in hand, positioning his men with sharp, decisive commands.
“Form up!” Gavriel barked. “Shield the rear. Do not let anyone near the carriage.”
Rudy, Ben and Trudis immediately moved to stand guard near Althea’s carriage, their bodies forming a living wall. Gavriel spared one sharp glance in that direction, making sure Althea’s carriage remained untouched, before turning back to the attackers.
Candice watched as he charged forward, his presence alone forcing several of the bandits to hesitate.“Stand down!” Gavriel thundered. “Drop your weapons!”