Chapter 752 Afraid you will die in your sleep?
Kael arrived at the Shadow Pack without pre informing Killian, and the latter seemed rather annoyed by the impromptu visit. His smile was tight, strained at the edges, the welcome of a man who had been caught off guard and was scrambling to regain his footing, irritation simmering just beneath the surface.
“Beta Kael, you came.” Killian forced a smile when he met Kael in front of the office of the Shadow Pack, his voice dripping with false warmth that failed to hide the resentment underneath.
Kael smiled, though there was no warmth in it, only cold calculation that made his eyes hard. “Fortunately, I got the chance to visit, and I am only spending two days, so can we start now?”
Killian looked at the warriors around Kael and asked, his eyes flickering with something unreadable and wary, “Are you sure you do not want to rest first?”
“I am capable of going two days without sleep, and I most certainly will not close my eyes around someone like you.” Kael jabbed, his voice sharp as a blade and full of open distrust.
Killian scoffed, his lip curling with disdain. “Afraid you will die in your sleep?”
“You wish. I have to witness you and Daisy’s coronation as your Luna.”
Killian’s expression changed instantly, his jaw tightening until the muscles in his neck stood out, his eyes flashing with something dark and dangerous. The mention of Daisy was a wound, and Kael had pressed his finger directly into it, sending a surge of raw anger through the Alpha.
“The way I see it, you will be the one mated to Daisy since you rejected your mate.”
“We shall see about that.” Kael said with confidence before Killian led him into the office, the tension between them crackling like static electricity and filling the air with unspoken threats.
“My beta will be here to assist you if you need anything.” He said, about to leave when Kael informed him, his voice casual but firm.
“I shall join your training tomorrow and speak to a few random pack members. I hope you do not mind?”
Killian’s expression changed, his brow furrowing, his composure slipping for just a moment as unease flickered across his face. “Why must you?”
Kael smiled, a knowing curve of his lips that held no humor. “Did you think audit is only about pack finances? Your pack members are now concerns for the king, and he has to make sure they are well taken care of. I shall also take a tour around your pack and pack house. Kindly inform your security to give me access to all places. I need to produce a detailed report.”
Killian did not respond immediately, turning to his beta, his voice clipped with irritation. “Excuse us for a moment.”
He leaned in after his beta left, his voice dropping to something low and conspiratorial, a serpent’s whisper thick with temptation. “Beta Kael, you do not plan to remain a beta all your life, do you?”
Kael frowned, asking with genuine suspicion, “What are you talking about?”
Killian smiled, a serpent’s smile that did not reach his eyes. “You served the king for ages, but he never made you a co Alpha. Corvine appears from nowhere and becomes Co Alpha, then Alpha, and you still remain a beta. What a shame.”
The corner of Kael’s lips twisted, but it was not a smile. It was something harder, colder, a warning that promised consequences. “The affairs of the Grimroot Pack are not your business. Besides, Corvine should have been the king if he was not smart enough to shove the responsibility to Voren. At first, I did not understand why, but after the blood moon festival, I clearly did. Corvine did not want to deal with the likes of you, though from what I heard, he beat you to a pup in Paris and damaged your wolf at the Silver…”
He did not get to finish. Killian punched him hard in the face, his fist connecting with Kael’s jaw with a sickening crack that echoed through the office and sent a burst of pain exploding through Kael’s skull.
“You are just a beta. Know your place.” Killian’s voice shook with fury.
Kael returned the punch squarely, his knuckles splitting Killian’s lip, blood spraying across the polished floor as satisfaction and defiance surged through him. “I am here on behalf of the Alpha King, so you should know your place.”
“I see why you will forever remain a beta. You have no dreams, no vision.” Killian spat the words, blood still dripping from his mouth.
Kael smiled, blood staining his teeth, his eyes blazing with defiance that burned hot and unyielding. “Yes, I am a beta, and yet, I am here to audit you, an Alpha. How ironic.”
Killian’s gaze darkened at this time, the question burning in his mind. Indeed, why did the king not come himself? The silence that followed was thick, suffocating, charged with mutual hatred.
“I was just trying to make you a better deal.”
“You should focus on improving your pack and leave me to do my job.” Kael’s voice was cold and final.
Killian did not speak any more, giving Kael access to the pack accounts. After three hours sipping only water, Kael made the discovery, his eyes narrowing at the numbers on the screen as suspicion coiled tighter in his gut.
“Why this large deposit?”
“I invested some of the pack finances. I got it back a week ago.” Killian’s answer came too quickly, too smooth.
“I see.” Kael sighed, the sound heavy with suspicion that he made no effort to hide. “In that case, why are pack members’ salaries so small? Have they not been working?”
“We pay what they deserve.”
“Hmmm. I think I am done here. I shall submit this report to the king. Can I tour the pack now? By morning, I should be at your training.”
“Since you mentioned training, why do we not have a fight tomorrow?” Killian asked, adding, his voice dripping with challenge and barely contained bloodlust, “Till death.”
Kael smiled but did not give an immediate response. He was here on a mission and could not just accept any challenge, though the offer sent a thrill of anticipation through him. “I shall think about it.”
During his tour around the pack, he took out his phone and called Voren, urgency tightening his voice. “Voren, give me permission to kill Alpha Killian.”
At the end of the line, Voren asked, his voice calm but edged with steel that made Kael’s instincts sharpen. “Care to explain?”
Kael explained everything as Voren advised him. “It is a trap. He is trying to cover up something. Take on the challenge but do not kill him. You know how we do it. Do not let him shift.”
“Thank you.” Kael said and ended the call, determination settling hard in his chest.
Voren and Seraphine met with Bright and Cassandra. Though it was late, they took their time to host the couple together, the warmth of their welcome a stark contrast to the information received from the Shadow Pack.
The next day during breakfast, Bright revealed, his voice grave, his eyes heavy with the weight of what he was about to share, a quiet dread settling over the table. “Some of the Alphas approached us to join hands against you. They are planning to attack the Grimroot Pack with the focus of eliminating you.”
Author’s note:
There will be two more Chapters but it might delay due to network and power issues in my country. Thank you for you amazing support.