Chapter 118
When the time finally came, the manor had already grown quiet. The lanterns in the hallways burned low, and the guards outside had begun their night patrols. Althea stood by her window, her heart thudding softly in her chest.
She wrapped herself in a dark cloak, pulling the hood over her head. Ash lay curled near the door, watching her with alert eyes.
“Stay here,” she whispered, gently patting its head. “I’ll be back soon p>
The wolf gave a low whine but obeyed.
Althea closed her eyes and focused, letting the faint shimmer of her magic rise through her veins. Her aura rippled, blending with the shadows around her until her figure slowly faded from sight. It was a simple concealment spell, a trick she had learned long ago and finally remembered.
Silently, she slipped out of her chamber, moving past the sleeping manor. Every step she took was light and precise, guided by instinct. The faint blue threads of her energy traced the air, bending sound and light just enough to mask her presence.
Once she reached the outer courtyard, Althea paused, her gaze shifting from the forest trail to the stream beyond it—where Rett was waiting.
When she arrived, he was already there. His eyes gleamed with excitement as he grinned. “It’s true! My sister really does have a magical ability! Oh, how I’ve missed you p>
Althea’s stomach churned, but she hid her disgust behind a calm expression. “Brother, where is my mother’s necklace?” she asked quickly.
Rett’s smile widened as he lifted his hand, revealing the familiar necklace and its pendant glinting under the moonlight. The sight made Althea’s heart tighten.
In that instant, she silently chanted the spell she had prepared earlier. The charm she had left behind in her room would begin to glow, her signal to Melva. Once Melva saw it, she would alert Alpha Abner and the guards that Althea had gone to meet Rett, prompting them to send a team to capture him.
Althea stepped closer, her eyes fixed on the necklace. “Thank you,” she said quietly, reaching out to take it from Rett’s hand.
But just as her fingers brushed the pendant, Rett suddenly grabbed her wrist. His grip was firm, his voice low and urgent.
“We should leave now,” he said quickly. “Father’s waiting for us. We can escape before the Alpha King finds out you’re gone. This is our chance, Althea—our only chance p>
Althea’s pulse raced, but she kept her voice calm. “Leave? Now p>
“Yes,” Rett insisted, his eyes shining with excitement. “I’ve prepared everything. We can be gone before anyone even notices. Father will meet us once we cross the border p>
She forced a hesitant smile, stalling for time. “But… I can’t just leave Melva behind. She’s my handmaid, Rett. She’ll be punished if I disappear without her p>
Rett frowned, his grip tightening. “Forget her! She’s just a servant. You don’t need her where we’re going p>
Althea looked down, pretending to hesitate while quietly reading his thoughts. Beneath his words, she sensed the truth, the twisted intent hiding behind his eager tone. He didn’t plan to bring her to their father. He wanted to take her somewhere no one could find her, where he could keep her for himself.
Her stomach clenched, but she forced a gentle tone. “Please, just give me a moment. I’ll fetch Melva p>
‘This girl… she never changes. This is my chance. She managed to sneak away just to meet me, so she could easily escape the Alpha King if she wanted to but she’s not escaping from that bastard! But this time, I’ll make sure she doesn’t escape me p>
Those dark thoughts flashed through Rett’s mind, his expression hardening as he studied her. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by (.)net
Althea tightened her grip on the necklace now resting in her palm, feeling the cool metal press against her skin. Her heart raced as the faint glow from its charm flickered.
Then, a familiar sound cut through the stillness.
Ash’s distant howl echoed from the woods.
Rett’s eyes widened, his jaw tightening. “You’ve been followed?!” he hissed angrily. Then he lunged forward and seized Althea’s arm, his fingers digging painfully into her skin.
“You’re not going anywhere! We must leave and escape now!” he growled, trying to drag her toward the forest path.
Althea struggled, twisting against his grip. “Let me go!” she shouted, her energy flaring. A pulse of light burst from her palm, forcing Rett to stumble back. The ground trembled faintly as her magic rippled through the air, forming a shimmering barrier between them.
But before she could take another step, the light around her dimmed. A sudden surge of dark energy slammed into her barrier, cracking it like glass.
From the shadows behind Rett, a tall figure emerged. His cloak billowed as the air around him thickened with dark mist. Strange symbols glowed faintly across his hands, and his eyes gleamed with unnatural light.
Rett smirked, his tone filled with pride and arrogance. “It’s a good thing I brought Jener with me,” he said. “He’s my most trusted man in the shadows… a warlock p>
Althea’s breath hitched. The air grew cold as Jener raised one hand, twisting his fingers to weave a spell. The darkness crawled forward, swallowing the moonlight, pressing against her light like an unseen storm.
She gritted her teeth, summoning more of her power. Sparks of white and gold danced around her as her barrier struggled to hold.
Rett stepped closer, voice low and taunting. “You can’t win, Althea. Jener’s power is stronger than yours. Just come quietly. Why are you even resisting p>
His face went dark and he spat the words out. “Is this because of the matebond? Have you grown attached to that bastard Gavriel? Come with me now and I’ll have that bond severed p>
Althea glared at him, refusing to give in. “You’ll have to drag me through fire first p>
The warlock’s dark magic clashed against her light, the two forces colliding in a blinding flash that split the night apart. Light and shadow twisted violently, each struggling to overpower the other.
“Open the portal—now!” Rett barked, his tone sharp with urgency.
Althea’s eyes widened. She hadn’t anticipated that.