Chapter 186

Chapter 186 You may be clever, but…

CASSANDRA

It wasn’t difficult at all to find Kaleb.

Not long after I left the clinic, a tall, muscular guard approached me with long, confident strides, and asked me if I was looking for my son. When I nodded, the guard’s expression grew serious and his eyes bore down into mine with intensity, and asked me to follow him

“Someone wants to speak with you before you can see your son,” he stated firmly. His tone was so bold that I was almost scared for a moment but I managed to stay calm.

As I studied the unfamiliar man, I noticed the badge of the Beta family that Becky had mentioned seeing on his shoulder. Anger swelled through me at the thought of the Moses family being involved in this terrible uprising. I had long hated Oliver and Adalyn, but knowing that they had worked with the king of Yurene to bring all of this to fruition… it only made my hatred grow worse.

Despite my rage, I didn’t say anything and followed the guard quietly.

The streets of Anemond were as bustling as usual. The guard led me through the winding streets and my eyes darted around as I tried to remain aware of my surroundings. Luckily, no one seemed to be waiting around the corner, and we were completely unnoticed by crowds.

The guard brought us to the entrance of the lane leading through an open park and then came to a sudden stop.

“Enter,” he stated as he gestured forward. “He’s waiting for you inside.”

I gulped as I stared ahead. From what I could remember, this park had been built in memory of the late queen, Asher’s mother and former Luna of the Crescent Pack. I didn’t have strong memories of it from my youth, since I hadn’t had many chances to visit this place. Asher had never liked it, so we avoided it at all costs.

I took a short breath and then walked forward.

In the distance, I could see Kaleb standing on the wooden bridge that crossed over the man–made lake below. Selena’s Tear, it was called.

As I continued forward, I prayed Queen Selena would send me some of her strength.

Kaleb saw me approach and twitched his l*ps with amusement. He had taken the time to come out his long golden–brown hair and it flared around him dramatically. His otherwise handsome face held an arrogant expression and his navy eyes studied me cruelly.

“Ca*sandra,” he called out to me. “Come enjoy the beautiful scenery with me.”

Behind him, I noticed a single guard standing steadfast and tall. Usually, he was flanked by a trio, so

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Chapter 186 You may be clever, but…

perhaps the other two still hadn’t recovered from the anesthesia. I clenched the small bottle I tucked away in my pocket. I knew it would be a stupid idea to use it again, as I didn’t think Kaleb would fall for the same trick, but just having it there gave me courage. I could protect myself if needed.

As I stepped onto the bridge, Kaleb pointed out a goose swimming freely not far from where we stood.

“I must say this is the most enjoyable spot in Anemond,” he noted. “It’s nice to observe the nature,”

Though he was a villain, he was right. The scenery was indeed enjoyable and was exactly why the place. had been built in the first place. But I wasn’t in the mood to enjoy any of this at all.

“Where are Finnick and Erika?” I asked him directly.

“They’re perfectly fine,” he mused. “Safe and sound.”

y son to threaten me,” I shot back.

“It’s low to use my

1 don’t disagree,” the king of Yurene replied, and then he raised an eyebrow. “But I don’t mind being low if it means I get what I want. People in power have all done something low to maintain their power. It’s the way of the world, Ca*sandra.”

I glared at him. “And what if I don’t want to comply with your request? The Alpha King may be detained now, but he won’t be gone forever.”

“You have a lot of faith in Asher Collins,” Kaleb chuckled, and he shook his head slowly before turning out to face the lake. “Don’t get me wrong. He’s a formidable power, but at the end of the day… he’s weak. He lacks the true discipline required of a king. He’s soft, with no ambition or drive to come to his true potential. It’s sad, really. I pity him.”

“He’s more of a man than you’ll ever be.” I hissed, and my hands balled into fists at my side. “Here you are threatening a woman and her child to get your way. I’d say you’re the more pathetic one.”

“Mind yourself, Ca*sandra,” the foreign king warned with narrowed eyes. “While I need you and your healing expertise, I won’t take your insults lying down. You amuse me, but don’t get too comfortable.”

I’m not scared of you,” I said, and I raised my chin defiantly. “You talk a big game, but I know you aren’t going to hurt me. You said it yourself… you need me.”

“Sure,” he remarked, and then he crossed his arms against his chest, and took a step forward. My heart. thrummed in my chest, and though I’d said I wasn’t afraid, I suddenly had the feeling of a prey being cornered by a predator. It took all of my strength to remain in control of my emotions. “I do need you. But that doesn’t mean I’ll let you walk all over me. Don’t forget, I have your son after all.”

“You wouldn’t hurt him,” I said boldly. “Not if you want me to cooperate. I’m just trying to understand the point of all of this. What was your end game? Once Asher returns, everything is just going to go back to normal. You can’t defeat him.”

Kaleb let out a short, cruel laugh. “You may be clever, but you fail to see the truth. How could everything go back to normal when one of your Packs is suffering from that curious disease?”

Chapter 186 You may be clever, but

He took a step closer. “Since the only sorcerer who could possibly invent a cure is dead, how ever will you be able to save those poor people in that Pack?”

My blood turned to ice in my veins as I stared at him in disbelief. The king of Yurene continued to speak.

“You and your a*sistant are quite good,” he remarked. “I had never expected you to find the source of the disease so quickly. But sadly, you weren’t clever enough.”

Once he finished speaking, his smile widened and he stepped over to the railing of the bridge. He leaned against it and stared out at the water.

I hadn’t noticed it when I had first walked on the bridge, but now, I could see that the foreign king’s entire figure was covered in shadows cast from a tall tree not far away.

While I looked at him from where I stood, I felt as if I was staring at a devil who had just ascended from the abyss. He wasn’t the man I thought he was. He was a villain, through and through.

Mon, 29

Chapter 187 Make the right decision