Chapter 0096

Athena.

Three more days passed.

Each day brought new Lycans.

Sometimes one appeared.

Sometimes two.

They never came from the same direction.

But their goal remained identical.

Break through the boundaries.

None succeeded.

They managed a meter.

Maybe two.

Then they were torn apart.

Some approached in human form.

Others had already shifted.

I didn’t recognize the ones who stayed human.

When their bodies were searched, bite marks confirmed it.

They weren’t pure Lycans.

Alpha Alexander grew more agitated.

He paced constantly.

He muttered to himself.

Or rather, to Titan.

Trying to plan the next move.

When he wasn’t talking to Titan, he snapped at everyone.

It worried me.

These Wolves were nearing burnout.

Julian worked them relentlessly.

They got only a few hours of rest.

If they collapsed, we were doomed.

I had to stay by Alpha Alexander’s side.

He never said it aloud.

But I knew.

He would blame himself if I were captured.

“He’s doing it again.” Nyx murmured.

I looked up from the children’s book.

I was attempting to read it.

Alpha Alexander circled his desk.

He strode around it, scowling deeply.

His feet almost wore through the plush gray carpet.

“It doesn’t make any sense.”

I wasn’t sure if he spoke to me or Titan.

I dropped my gaze back to the book.

Sounding out the letters silently in my head.

This wasn’t my area of expertise.

Even if I wanted to contribute, I had little to say.

From the corner of my eye, I watched him.

He snatched the odd paperweight from his desk.

He hurled it at the wall.

I flinched and cowered.

Memories surged forward.

This wasn’t the first time he’d thrown something.

Guilt swelled inside me.

These Lycans were here because of me.

“Sorry.” He muttered. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Has there been another?” I asked softly.

His expression told me the answer.

He nodded.

His crimson eyes avoided mine.

“Julian believes they’re searching for a weak spot.” He said. “A less guarded area. But my pack is exhausted. We have too much territory to cover.”

“They need rest.” I murmured absently.

“I’m well aware.” He scowled.

I hadn’t meant to irritate him.

I quickly changed the subject.

“Why send only one or two at a time?”

“Losing one or two is easier than losing thirty.” He explained. “They lose one, they can always make another.”

I hoped Nyx would have input.

But she just watched him.

She did that often.

“All because of me.” I whispered.

All because my uncle had a twisted plan.

He wanted me to carry a child for him and Victoria.

Disgust twisted my stomach.

I stared down at the book in my lap.

“Why now?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why create more Lycans now? Why not years ago when numbers were dropping? Caleb always said we were a dying breed. They could have made more sooner.”

“They probably never expected to be in this situation.”

“You mean, they never thought they’d lose me.”

He nodded.

“If our roles were reversed, I’d do the same.”

‘He’s right.’ Nyx murmured. ‘It’s a strategic move.’

‘Strategic for Dominic.’ I shot back.

It was one of the few truths Caleb had told.

None of this was Dominic’s doing.

It was all Victoria.

I couldn’t wait to end her.

Alpha Alexander and I hadn’t discussed it.

Not since we had sex in the forest.

It felt like a forbidden topic.

Speaking of the joy I felt seeing that dead Lycan.

That Lycan wasn’t the first.

Each time, Alpha Alexander took me to them.

Asking me to try and identify them.

Each time, I stared at the lifeless body.

The torn-out throat.

A smile touched my lips.

He was right.

I had a dark side.

Or maybe years of trauma were finally boiling over.

I looked up.

Alpha Alexander was prying the paperweight from the wall.

His shoulders were tense.

His crimson eyes darker.

He placed the paperweight back on the desk.

I knew it was only a matter of time before it was embedded in the wall again.