Chapter 4
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. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ.net
‘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 p>
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.
Then, turning to Melva, Cara added, “You’re coming too. The entire pack is gathering to swear loyalty to Alpha King p>
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, heading to the ceremonial open pavilion.
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 p>
“That’s Alpha Cain’s favorite daughter p>
“She’s more human, isn’t she? I heard she doesn’t have a wolf p>
“But look at her… she’s beautiful p>
“She’s the reason the Alpha King spared us… We owe her our lives p>
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 p>
Bloodrise Pack 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 p>
The crowd began to kneel, one after another, heads bowed in silent surrender. Althea followed suit, sinking to her knees.
“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 p>
She swallowed hard, forcing her trembling voice to respond. “Yes, Your Majesty p>
Then the Alpha King soon dismissed the pack members. Althea stood to leave as well, but his voice stopped her. “Come with me p>
Biting her lower lip, she followed him in silence as he led her to her father’s hidden chamber. Once inside, 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 p>
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 how her father truly believed he could take the throne.
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.
“I asked you a question,” Gavriel grunted. “Where is your father hiding p>
“I… I’m not sure,” Althea answered, cursing her voice for trembling.
His eyes narrowed as he moved closer, closing the gap gradually with slow, deliberate steps. She gulped nervously when he halted just inches away, close enough to feel his breath against her cheek.
“What a terrible liar,” he murmured.
Her lips parted, but no words came out. His scent of dark cedar, smoke, and something uniquely his was intoxicating and overwhelming. Her heart thundered in her chest, and she clenched her fists at her sides, trying to resist the strange, magnetic pull he had on her.
He reached up, and she instinctively flinched. But instead of hitting, he softly brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, his thumb skimming her cheek’s soft skin. She inhaled sharply as her skin tingled from his touch. His fingers stayed a moment longer, causing a shiver to run down her spine.
“You feel it, don’t you?” His voice was barely above a whisper, but it rumbled through her like thunder.