Chapter 273

Chapter 273

KANE

The day after the sudden attack in Sky Pride, Asher departed for Yurene to save Cassandra, and not soon after my stepbrother left, Alpha Arthur fell into a coma.

It was a sudden occurrence, even more surprising than the attack on Silas, and though the healers of the remote Pack couldn’t identify the exact cause, they suggested the attack had caused excessive emotional fluctuation.

Arthur’s daughter Kiara was utterly distraught by her father’s loss of consciousness, and just after the Alpha was escorted to a private wing of his castle to be observed, I had to pull her into another room and rub her back as she wept.

I wasn’t sure how long we were there, but time ceased to matter as I rubbed the poor girl’s back and assured her that things would be fine. I wasn’t entirely sure that was true, but I had to keep the hope alive regardless. We needed Sky Pride’s assistance if things we were to go to war against Yurene, but even that aside, I didn’t want Arthur to pass away. He was a little strange, but he was an earnest man, and the last thing this Pack needed was the loss of their leader.

Since Kiara and I hadn’t officially been wed, according to the traditions of the Pack, Darwin was appointed to manage on behalf of the Alpha.

However, despite this technicality, Darwin and I always found ourselves at odds with one another. We were constantly butting heads, and it made things challenging.

For example, Darwin believed that Silas Moses should be sent away immediately, while I countered that the Beta needed proper medical treatment before leaving. I worried that otherwise, Silas could die on the road back to Anemond, but Darwin didn’t seem to care much. He insisted that Silas be sent away at once, and since he had the final decision, I had no choice but to comply.

Thankfully, Darwin agreed to let two healers accompany Silas on his way back to Anemond. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless, so I had to celebrate as much as I could.

Hours later, Silas was sent away to Anemond, and as he was being ushered away to return to the capital, I sent a prayer to the Moon Goddess for both his safety on the road, and for his health to be restored. While Silas and I weren’t exactly the best of friends, I didn’t wish him any ill will.

Once he was gone, we returned to the castle’s meeting room, and the subject of

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Chapter 273

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Roxy was brought up. Darwin thought we had spent too much time and resources watching over the Yurenian sorceress. The Hand of the Alpha pointed out that we had already sent the most elite soldiers away with the Alpha King.

“Why should our men waste their efforts on some Northern sorceress?” he sniffed angrily as he crossed his arms against his chest and raised his nose haughtily, “I see no reason to keep her here.”

“Roxy is dangerous, but useful,” I tried pointing out, but Darwin laughed before I could finish my statement.

“She is not useful to Sky Pride,” he insisted.

Such arguments lasted for almost the whole day. Darwin hardly made any concessions. An unpleasant atmosphere seemed to hand in the air, partly due to the Alpha’s illness, and partly because of the tension between us. Darwin had the utmost authority here, and as much as I hated his declarations, I found it hard to challenge him. Other members of the Pack, despite outwardly appearing to disagree with Darwin’s views, complied with his instruction nonetheless.

It was understandable yet frustrating, and when we adjourned for the day, I headed back to my chambers. Once the door to my room was closed tightly behind me, let out a loud groan of defeat.

I

This had all been more challenging than I’d expected. I thought I could use Sky Pride to combat Oliver Moses, but after the events of the day, this idea seemed impossible because Darwin would surely object to it. The sno oty Hand of the Alpha was far more difficult to deal with than Alpha Arthur, and I had no idea how to handle things here.

When night fell, I heard a knock at my door. I let out a soft sigh, assuming it was Darwin, but much to my surprise, it was Kiara on the other side. She smiled at me warmly and gestured down at the food tray in her arms.

“Hello,” she said softly. “I heard you hadn’t had dinner, so I brought you some

food.”

“You didn’t have to do that” I said. “That was very kind of you. Please, come take a

seat with me.”

The Alpha’s daughter nodded, and then she joined me at the table in the corner of the room. As she arranged the tray in front of me, her hands shook a little, and she bit her full lower l*p.

“How are you doing, Kiara?” I asked after a moment of silence.

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Chapter 273

“I’ve been so worried about my father,” she admitted, and then she tugged on a strand of her long curly hair. “I’ve been praying to the Moon Goddess for his safety. I hope it will help.”

“I’m sure it will,” I assured her. “That was very nice of you.”

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She smiled humbly and then glanced toward the window. As I noticed the regality of her delicate side profile, a strong sense of guilt seized my heart. Kiara was so innocent and pure… and I was using her, wasn’t I?

“I hope I didn’t interrupt your evening,” she spoke up as she turned back to face me. “I just wanted to tell you something.”

I gave her a smile and the warmest voice possible. “You weren’t interrupting, I promise. What did you want to tell me?”

Kiara hesitated a moment and then spoke. “Darwin said something to me a few hours ago…”

She gulped heavily and then her eyes fell to the table.

“What did he tell you?” I asked gently as concern flooded through my mind.

Kiara’s beautiful hazel eyes met mine.

“He told me he loves me,” she admitted. “And that he wants me to reject your proposal.”

My eyebrows shot up, though I wasn’t that surprised. I wasn’t blind. I could see a glint in Darwin’s s when he looked in Kiara’s direction. But obviously, Alpha

Arthur had no intention of marrying Kiara to him.

I was certain that Darwin was taking advantage of the fact that the Alpha was ill to make his move and that my presence only served as a further threat.

“And what did you say to him?” I asked, and then another question escaped me. “How do you feel about his declaration?”

Kiara shook her head. “I… I/don’t feel that way about him.”

I nodded my head and then my eyebrows knitted together. “What made you want to tell me this? I don’t mind you sharing things with me, I’m merely curious.”

She twisted a coil of her hair around her finger nervously and her cheeks flushed. The bit of warmth against her dark skin was lovely, and for a moment, I was in awe of her. She was so effortlessly beautiful.

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Chapter 273

After a moment, her eyes met mine again. “Do you love me, Kane? I… I want an honest answer.”

I sat there frozen for a moment, which she misinterpreted at once.

“I knew it,” she said as she smiled bitterly. “I know the reality of it all. I’ve never been an attractive girl-”

“You’re a very lovely girl,” I interrupted her, and I leaned forward in my seat. “I promise, Kiara, I’m telling you the truth. You’re so much more than you think you

are.”

“That’s kind of you to say,” she remarked, seeming like she didn’t believe me. “My father has always told me that love wasn’t necessary in a marriage. He told me he wasn’t in love with my mother when they got married, but their marriage was good anyway. Is that true? Are loveless marriages able to work?”

I didn’t know what to say. My mind immediately went to my mother. Her first husband, my biological father, was no more than an ambiguous figure. All Margaret had ever told me was that he was an abusive man who left us right after I was born.

And the former King, Asher’s father… though he married Margaret shortly after the queen died, he didn’t love my mother at all.

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