Adams’ P. O. V
I adjusted my position in the chair, sinking down further into its cushions. I could really feel the heavy burden of the Alpha King’s responsibilities resting heavily on my shoulders, making it hard to relax.
In front of me stood Ronan. Normally, he always appears calm and collected, but this time he looked a bit flustered and not quite like his usual self.
“Your Highness,” he said with his voice calm and steady, “the news from the Green Forest Pack isn’t good.”
I raised an eyebrow, feeling a bit annoyed. “Just say what you mean, Ronan. I don’t have the patience for puzzles tonight.”
“Our informants in the Green Forest Pack have said that there’s been a big change in power, Your Highness,” Ronan added, “Raider Smith the Alpha is out of power now.”
I frowned more. “What in the seven hells is this crazy talk? We recently heard about the old Alpha Rivers dying. What could be wrong with Raider so fast?”
Ronan paused while quickly looking at me before he spoke again. “Your Highness, it seems that it wasn’t sickness that ended Raider’s own rule. It was a betrayal.”
“Treachery?” I leaned in totally curious even though I was still a bit annoyed. “Explain.”
“Our sources say that Cassandra Raider’s partner has taken over. She now leads the Green Forest Pack.”
I gripped the armrests of my chair tightly with the wood creaking from the force. “Cassandra? The one with the smooth words and eyes as cold as ice? Can you explain this more?”
“It looks like, your Highness, that her marriage to Raider was just a trick. A plan made by her father, the Alpha of the Silver Crest Pack.”
I suddenly understood. “The Silver Crest Pack, those sneaky wolves. I should have guessed.”
“Exactly your Highness. It seems the Silver Crest Pack, who have been allies of your brother Ben and the rogue king Augustus, took a chance to gain more power. Now that Green Forest is under their control, their alliance against you is getting stronger,” Ronan explained.
I focused intently, clearly realizing the danger. “They’re working together. Ben and Augustus are always ready to ruin what I’ve created. And now they control Green Forest?” I felt a rush of cold anger and a deep and fierce rage building inside me. My brothers who were each driven by their endless greed and each wanting the Alpha King’s throne.
“And Raider, what about him?” I asked with my voice showing a bit of the strength I had.
“He is in the dungeons, Your Highness. Cassandra has locked him in the dungeons. In a strange turn of events, Rax Moore, the old gamma of the Green Forest Pack, and her true mate, is now the new Alpha.”
The news I received came as a total surprise to me. It was an unexpected change to what I thought would happen. I have to admit that I never really liked Raider.
He was an arrogant boy who often acted in a proud and reckless way. However, what I learned about recently was something quite different. It was a quick and cruel move that took me by surprise.
“Get more information, Ronan,” I ordered with my voice quiet and threatening. “Every detail. Every hint. Don’t miss anything.”
“Sure thing, your Highness.” Ronan nodded and quickly left my room with his steps quiet on the soft carpet.
I sank back into my chair and felt the heavy weight of the news pressing down on me. The fact that the Green Forest Pack was now under the control of Ben and Augustus’s allies was certainly not good news at all.
This situation could mean a lot of serious trouble for our pack. I ran my hand through my hair as my thoughts began to swirl around in my mind. How could I have missed something so important?
How did I manage not to notice the underground schemes and arrangements of my own enemies? It felt diverstasting, and I could not help but feel frustrated with myself for not seeing this coming.
I looked at the fancy clock on the wall. The hands showed it was almost eight at night. Lilith was probably in her room getting ready for bed.
I felt a strong wish to see her and to feel her close to me. I needed to talk to her to share this weight with the only person who really understood.
I stood up from my chair with my body tight with tension. I walked quickly to the door while focused and determined. I felt excited as I got closer to her room. My heart raced as I got to her door.
I expected to smell her sweet perfume. When I reached for the handle, I stopped. I heard low voices inside which were familiar but with a sense of pride.
My blood ran cold.
Bartholomew and Raoul were leaving the room while looking pleased and showing a creepy kind of fun.
I squinted in worry. What were they doing in Lilith’s room? Were they trying to scare her? To hurt her? My wolf Ted growled low as we were both filled with anger and the need to protect. Just thinking about them being near Lilith and trying to hurt her made me boil with rage.
Without saying anything and without hesitating, I released the power within me.
My body reacted with a surprising quickness and I could feel the strong powers flowing through me. In one quick and forceful movement, I grabbed Raoul by the throat and lifted him up high into the air, leaving him effortlessly suspended above the ground.
He was taken aback, and I could see the shock and fear in his wide-open eyes as he fought to catch his breath.
Everything happened very quickly. It was hard to see clearly because there was so much action and energy all around.
It felt like time had come to a complete halt for everyone around me. All the other people seemed to be perfectly still, as if they were characters in an old silent movie unable to move or make any sound.
The only two individuals who were not frozen were Raoul and me. Raoul was hanging in the air struggling to breathe and gasping for the precious air we all need to survive…