Alpha Kingsley’s POV
I moved quickly toward the direction where the alarm sounded, and just as I expected, a small crowd had already gathered there.
Andrew, my Beta, came close immediately he saw me.
“We caught this patrol guard trying to escape as we began scrutiny.”
”Interesting,” I muttered, stepping forward.
I squatted down to his level, now face to face with him.
His breathing was uneven.
The moment his eyes locked with mine, fear consumed him completely.
He tried to crawl backward, his hands trembling against the dirt.
He suddenly pulled out a small black knife swiftly and attempted to slash his throat.
But I was faster.
Before the blade could even graze his skin, I snapped my hand forward.
The knife flew out of his grip, clattering across the ground.
In the same motion, I grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off his feet.
“Who sent you?” I questioned coldly.
My aura darkened, pressing down on him like a crushing weight.
The air around us shifted.
He could barely breathe, barely think.
Fear and panic overtook him so violently that he didn’t even realize when he wet himself.
“Alp…ha… I…”
”Speak up before I make you beg for death,” I commanded.
He tried to speak.
But suddenly his body jerked violently.
His eyes widened in terror.
Black blood began dripping from the corner of his mouth.
The smell hit me immediately — corrupted magic.
His body convulsed once more before going limp in my grip.
He died staring at me.
Terror frozen permanently in his eyes.
My expression darkened instantly.
This was far more complicated than I initially thought.
“What happened, Alpha?”
”Why did you let him die?
We could have interrogated him to gather information,” Andrew spoke.
I kept quiet for a while, my head lost in thought.
Things were getting darker every minute, and I was still in the open while my enemies were in the shadows pulling strings.
“Hang him at the front gate of the pack, facing the border,” I commanded and walked away.
Andrew gave out some instructions, and two guards stepped forward to carry out my command while he chased after me.
“Wait, Alpha,” he shouted.
“Let’s talk in my office,” I replied, not stopping as I continued toward the pack house.
My office was located at the far end of the hall, adjacent to my room, which made it easy for me to access anytime I wanted to work, clear my head, or sometimes spend the night there.
I got to the pack house and climbed up to the last floor, which housed my own sanctuary and was restricted to all pack members except my Beta and some senior officials whom I allowed to come up anytime I wanted to discuss something serious or summon them.
As I passed by my room door, I paused for a second and stared at it.
“Maybe she might have slept off,” I whispered to myself as a faint smile rose on my face.
I remembered how terrified she had been earlier — and yet she still stood her ground.
Pretending to be brave.
Trying not to shake.
It was reckless.
And strangely admirable.
I almost kissed her.
If we hadn’t been interrupted, I’m not sure I would have stopped.
“Shit… What am I even thinking?”
I ran a hand through my hair.
“Nothing would have happened. I can’t be with someone like her. It’s just the mate bond messing with me.”
That had to be it.
It was biological.
Instinctual.
Temporary.
But the way she looked at me…
The way she held onto my shirt…
That wasn’t instinct.
And I knew it.
I resisted the urge to go check on her, even though I could hear her steady breathing through the walls.
I knew she was asleep.
I could feel her through the connection.
Still…
For a brief second, I considered walking back.
I didn’t.
I strolled past the room and continued to my office.
I swiped it open with my thumb and went in, leaving the door open.
Everywhere was quiet, clean, and irritatingly calm — just the way I like it.
I walked toward the mini bar in the corner and took out a bottle of whiskey and two glass cups.
Andrew came in shortly after, knocking gently before entering.
He sat opposite me and, taking the spare glass, poured himself a drink and joined me.
Each of us remained in silence, neither speaking a word.
We both continued drinking in silence, refilling our glasses every now and then, each lost in our own thoughts.
After a while, I dropped my empty glass and cleared my throat.
“He was already poisoned by black magic,” I said, my voice low.
Andrew frowned.
“So he was never meant to talk.”
”Exactly.”
”They used him to test us,” Andrew muttered.
“No,” I corrected calmly.
“They used him to distract us.”
Silence fell between us.
“They had everything planned.
No loose ends.
No mistakes.
Whoever we’re dealing with knew we would catch him.”
”And made sure we gained nothing from it,” Andrew added.
I nodded.
“They’re calculated.
Patient.
Watching.”
”And you think it’s connected to the Lycan chairmanship?” he asked.
“I don’t believe in coincidences,” I replied.
“And this feels deliberate.”
I leaned back slightly.
“Earlier I sensed dark magic. Not residue. Not lingering energy. Controlled casting.”
Andrew’s jaw tightened.
“Black magic is forbidden.”
”Yes,” I said evenly.
“And rare.
Only ancient witches and wizards are capable of it.
And the ones we know live in isolation.”
”So why would they target us?”
That was the question.
“We stay alert,” I said firmly.
“We watch everyone.
Senior officials included.”
”You think someone high ranking?”
”If there is a spy among us, it won’t be a low-level guard.
It will be someone close enough to access classified intel.”
”The guard was just a pawn,” Andrew muttered.
“Yes,” I agreed.
“And the ones moving the pieces are still in the shadows.”
I leaned forward slightly.
“But shadows don’t last forever.”