Chapter 20
“Formidable Azure Moon wolves!” Max called out.
Zayron lifted his furious gaze and stared at him.
Max quickly bowed in respect.
Taking advantage of the moment, some warriors rushed forward and tried to drag Cedric away.
Cedric was too weak to run, barely able to lift his head.
But Zayron saw the warriors.
His eyes darkened as he strode toward Cedric.
Without hesitation, he crouched down beside him and spoke in a chilling voice.
“In your next life, remember this, never cross Alpha Zayron. And never, ever stand against a wolf bearing that name.”
Then, without another word, Zayron tightened his lips, drove his claws deep into Cedric’s chest, and ripped through him.
Blood splattered across the ground.
With one final kick, Cedric’s lifeless body was sent flying.
His story ended right there.
Gasps echoed around the courtyard.
The warriors, already shaken, scattered like leaves in the wind.
Zayron turned his attention to Selene.
His face showed no hesitation, no mercy.
He took a step toward her.
Kayla’s heart pounded.
She knew what he was about to do.
Without thinking, she rushed between them, blocking Zayron’s path.
“Stop!” she shouted.
Zayron frowned, his eyes flickering with something Kayla couldn't define before his face twisted in rage.
“Ashokan wolf! What the hell are you doing in Romania?” Zayron roared.
Before Kayla could answer, Zayron shoved her aside.
Hard.
Kayla stumbled backward, straight into Max’s arms.
She clutched his shirt to steady herself, her breath caught in her throat.
That moment, that single, violent push, made her realize just how broken Zayron’s mind truly was.
Then, as if she wasn’t even there, Zayron turned back to Selene.
With a swift, brutal kick, he sent her crashing to the ground.
“Take her back to the cell,” he ordered coldly.
Max hesitated for only a second before nodding.
He bent down, grabbing Selene by the arm.
Zayron didn’t spare Kayla another glance.
Without hesitation, he turned on his heel and walked straight to the car.
He got in, gripping the steering wheel tightly, his gaze locked forward as if nothing had just happened.
Kayla pressed a hand to her chest, trying to slow her racing heart.
“Ana, go get the silver leaf. Now.”
Her voice trembled, but there was no time to dwell on it.
Ana nodded and sprinted off.
Kayla’s eyes found Zayron again.
He still wasn’t looking at her.
He sat in the car, his expression unreadable, waiting for Beta Axel.
Axel finally emerged, stepping toward her.
He placed a firm hand on her shoulder and leaned in close, speaking in a hushed voice.
“Don’t take this to heart, Kayla. The Moon Lord has already ordered all wolves to search for a cure. He even promised to give his position to whoever finds it. But right now, your blood won’t save Zayron anymore.”
“His condition is permanent,” Axel continued. “At this point, the only thing you can do is stay away from him. He’s too aggressive now. If you push him, he might hurt you. In his eyes, you are one of the enemies he was sent to chase out of Romanian territory. You are an Asian wolf.”
Kayla stood frozen.
She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
Stay away from Zayron?
Stay away from the father of her unborn pup?
Kayla couldn’t respond.
She couldn’t even breathe.
All she could do was watch the man she loved sit in that car, distant and unreachable, as if she didn’t exist.
As the car drove out of the pack, Kayla looked around the pack.
Zayron hadn’t just ignored her, he had pushed her aside like she meant nothing.
The looks from the warriors, the whispers that followed her, made it worse.
She didn’t want to answer any questions, so she rushed toward Richard’s car, the same one she and Ana had arrived in.
She climbed into the passenger seat, slammed the door shut, and exhaled shakily.
Minutes passed.
Then, she saw Ana running toward the car, holding the silver leaf tightly in her hand.
Before she could open the door and take the leaf from her, a sudden knock on the glass made her flinch.
Kayla turned and saw her aunt, Seraphina, standing outside, smiling.
Kayla frowned.
Did Seraphina not see what had just happened?
“Why is she laughing?” Kayla thought.
With a sniff, she rolled down the window.
“Aunt Seraphina”
“Moon flower, I saw everything. I have been speaking to different trees concerning the strange vision I had. Last night, I found out the vision has everything to do with Alpha Zayron. This evening, the moon shade tree finally shared the solution with me.”
Kayla’s stomach twisted.
She looked away.
“I don’t want to hear another one of your fake prophecies.”
Seraphina didn’t react.
“You once told me you saw me as Regent Queen, and you saw Alpha Zayron leading the Azure Moon pack, and we were all happy. Now, look at us! We keep ruining things for each other! You and Zayron destroyed the coronation. The Great Southern Council was supposed to meet us, resolve our issues, and set a new date. And now, we have a new problem. A permanent one.”
“Even though I refuse to believe it’s permanent. I can’t live with that,” Kayla muttered under her breath.
Seraphina slowly opened her palm, revealing the Moonshade Leaves she was holding.
“Did you hear what it just said?” Seraphina asked.
Kayla looked at her aunt and frowned.
“What did it say?” she asked nonchalantly.
“If you don’t set your mate free, nobody will.”
Ana looked at the flower she was holding and smiled.
She climbed into the car and started the engine.
Even Kayla, who had doubted Seraphina so many times before, felt something shift inside her.
This time, she believed her.
She took the silver leaf from Ana and waved Seraphina goodbye.
A heavy silence filled the car as they drove off.
Then, Ana spoke.
“So, how do we convince Alpha Zayron to drink the potion?”
She hesitated before adding, “Alpha Denzel told me Zayron isn’t eating anymore. He’s mourning his mate and has vowed to mourn her until he dies.”
“How do we convince him to take the potion?” Ana asked.
Kayla had no answer.
But she knew Zayron must take it.