Chapter 74
POV: Prince Raven Pierce
“Congratulations. I heard all about it from Elder Zeparu.” He seriously stated as he saw his brother enter the Throne Room.
He was sitting in one of the chairs in the room, bored, and cast a quick glance at his brother, who was walking down the red carpet, before looking down at the glass chess board, where he was playing the glass chess pieces-all by himself. He moved the King and let out a deep sigh before he leaned against the seat and intertwined his fingers as he placed his elbows on his knees while his legs were crossed.
Raven stared at his brother intensely trying to determine what he was thinking right now.
And he almost fell from his seat when Hades gave him a small smile. He let out a low curse under his breath as his eyes widened in surprise.
One thing that was oddly different to his brother’s attitude was that he never smiled. Well, not after they were already in their teenage years. His brother always became grumpy, menacing, and ruthless even to him.
“Calm yourself down, Raven.” Hades smirked at him as he saw how surprised he was.
Raven cleared his throat as he composed himself.
So, it was an odd thing for him to smile especially at times like this. Specifically, in the middle of the war. However, Raven was still happy for him. At least he had found another reason to fight and be victorious.
Although the thing was, everything was still in chaos for now and they needed to settle it first as soon as possible.
He was just hoping that everything would turn out fine in the end. Especially since he heard how Elder Zeparu advised Tamara to be careful and to avoid being too stressed out.
Raven mentally heaved a deep sigh.
“So, let us talk about what you are trying to tell me about Kage, about catching the traitor, and about the war, brother.” He darkly told him.
Hades’ forehead furrowed as he walked towards his golden throne. He placed his elbow on the armrest of his throne and rested his face on his balled fist.
“Let’s not talk about that son of a b*tch, Raven.” His expression suddenly darkened as he said those words.
Raven shook his head as he blankly stared at him.
“But you still need to know about him, brother. You must know something about him.” He seriously insisted.
“I am not interested.” His voice was bored and unbothered.
“I just want you to catch him dead or alive. But it is better to capture him alive, if possible. I will make him pay for what he did to Tamara. As for that wicked Leah, I want you to declare that she is a traitor and capture her, too, with her family.” He seriously ordered him.
“I am already done with Leah and their family. But not with Kage. You still need to hear this.” Raven was trying to calm himself, but Hades was making it hard for him.
“What do I still need to know about him, Raven? You know what, whatever it is, I just don’t really care-”
“He is our brother, Hades.” Raven seriously cut his words and called his name that only meant one thing, that he was already serious, and he must listen to him.
Raven didn’t care whether it was already being insolent for what he did, but his brother must listen to him.
“What the f*ck?!” His eyes darkened like a strong storm was building a catastrophic emotion inside him.
Then, he let out a sardonic chuckle.
“Can you repeat that again? I might have heard it wrong, Raven.” Hades seriously added.
But Raven remained unmoving, and his expression was still unreadable.
“He is our brother.” He repeatedly stated clearer this time.
His left brow shot upwards as he let out another mocking chuckle.
“What the f*ck are you saying, Raven? Stop joking around and be serious.” He unbelievably retorted back.
Gone were the blissful emotions that were clouding him a while ago when he entered the room.
“Unfortunately, I am not kidding. Kage Esmeray. He is our father’s son with another woman. You can confirm it to Elder Zeparu. He is the one who took him from woods.” Raven pursed his lips together as he said those words.
He seemed shocked at his declaration.
“And the worst thing is, his mother is Lamina Darkwood.” He continued his tone was full of bitterness and deep fury.
Hades gritted his teeth, but a loud knock on the Throne Room interrupted them.
Arlan was panting so hard as he entered the Throne Room.
“Y-Your Majesty…” He worriedly called him.
His face looked so terrified of something. His both hands were trembling as if he had witnessed a horrifying scene wherever it was.
“What the hell do you want?” The king seemed like he was still in shock as he was trying to absorb what he had told him.
And yet, his second in command was already here and he might guess that it was not good news.
“Y-Your M-Majesty… Y-You need to s-see this…” Arlan shakingly stated making the both of them look at him like he was a puzzle that couldn’t be solved.
“Speak in clarity, Arlan, or I’ll need to get your tongue out of you.” Hades warningly said.
Arlan swallowed hard as he took a deep breath.
“We are surrounded by unidentified c-creatures, Your Majesty. T-They were all a-around the w-woods.” Arlan was truly perplexed as he said those words.
He and Hades stared at each other briefly before they instantly stormed out of the room. They both gritted their teeth as they were worried that this situation was what they were trying to evade.
Unfortunately, it needed to be done, and they couldn’t do anything but to counter whatever their enemies were trying to do.
The moment they stepped out of the castle; it was officially declared. A war was already being declared whether they liked it or not.
***
POV: King Hades Pierce
His darkened aura instantly intensified as he felt the odd aura that was surrounding the entire castle. The moment they saw he and Raven graced the courtyard, the alpha of the packs that still remained as the Hunting Game halted, instantly went near them,
But they didn’t say a word, for the King and the Prince’s emotionless expression and impeccable strong dark aura effortlessly made their spine shiver.
King Hades gritted his teeth as he saw the odd lycan rogue in front of his sentinels. Elder Zeparu and Dreyson were already looking at the dead strange creatures.
His eyes squinted as he saw how the lycan rogues’ long tongue was already bluish purple. Their dripping fresh blood wasn’t red, but a mix of indigo and black.
The elder and Dreyson stood up and went towards them before they courteously bowed their heads. They didn’t have to speak or to ask questions for they already had a hunch on what the result was. What they only need was the confirmation that their hunch was right.
“Their blood contains poison, Your Majesty.” Elder Zeparu seriously stated making the people around them gasp in horror.
“With all due respect, Your Majesty, but what is happening?” Elder Gioreu, from the Red Sparrow Pack, humbly inquired as he voiced out the question that might be puzzling everyone.
He took a swift glance at Raven, and they instantly shared a knowing look.
Raven let out a deep sigh.
“According to what we have discovered, these odd creatures are experimented on by the Darkwood clan.” He darkly declared.
Everyone gasped, but they continued listening to the prince’ announcement.
“Due to all of this, they had already declared war. Every pack that isn’t here is declared to be punished because of treason. Anyone that is caught or will be caught communicating with the members of these treacherous packs, they will be instantly punished with death.” Raven said with his deep and ominous voice.
“For now, everyone should be alert and get ready. We are going to face a chaotic war.” He seriously stated, as he clenched his jaw and stared at everyone around them with his imposing authority and power.
He slammed his both palms into the table of the meeting room with Arlan and Raven witnessing his deep fury. After talking to the alpha of each pack, to the hunters and sentinels, they immediately went towards the meeting room to discuss their next move.
Now that everything was getting out of hand, it was just proof that their plans were starting to fall apart. And there was something more that was making him worried.
“Arlan…” He darkly called his second in command who instantly stood up firmly.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Arlan automatically replied.
“This is an important task for you, and I believe that it is crucial for everything that is happening.” He seriously started.
Arlan gulped because of pressure, but his determination was visibly seen in his eyes.
“This might require your life-”
“I am ready for any possibility, Your Majesty. Just give your task to this humble subordinate, and I will surely follow it with everything I’ve got.” Arlan politely cut his words, and he pursed his lips together.
He didn’t want to do this to Arlan, but he knew that if there was someone, he could trust this task to, it was him and no one else.
“I want you to go to the South Side and spy on what is happening there. Find out everything about these odd creatures, as well as the possible plans of the Dark Wood Pack. You already know how to send our secret message. Any questions?” He seriously asked.
Arlan determinedly nodded his head.
“I understand, Your Majesty. Is there anymore?” Arlan seriously inquired.
“Just one thing more.” He continued.
“Just make sure to go back here in one piece.” King Hades clenched his jaw as he said those words.
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll go ahead.” He politely bid his goodbye to the King and then to Raven, who was just silently listening to them.
The moment Arlan stepped out of the room, King Hades exhaustedly sat down in his usual seat while Raven stared at him with a bewildered and concerned look.
“Are you okay?” He worriedly asked him.
But he placed his elbow on the wooden table, and he exhaustedly held his face like he was becoming more and more problematic with everything that was happening, which he knew that he really was.
“Is Alpha Mindsor already reported to you?” Raven asked, as he might have thought that it was all the very reason why he was so problematic at the moment.
He shook his head.
“I’ve never heard of him not after our last meeting with him.” He seriously replied.
Silence instantly filled the air between them. It was becoming heavier as he was trying to contemplate what to say and how to say it to his younger brother.
“I have something to say to you, Raven.” He seriously said as he stared directly at his brother’s eyes.
“After what happened to the South Side when I was getting that medicine for Tamara…” He pursed his lips together as he weighed whether or not to tell his brother about it, but he knew that it was the right thing to do.
“I felt that I was suddenly becoming weaker.”
With that, Raven’s eyes widened in both shock and worry. He couldn’t believe that it could happen or that it was even possible, but it was.
And even he was so worried, not for himself, but for Tamara and their child. Because if this continued, he would surely protect Tamara and their unborn child which would surely make him feel that he would be thrown in the pits of hell.
He wouldn’t want that to happen.
He would do everything to protect those who he loved the most.