Sepekan yang lalu, sejumlah Alpha tiba di wilayah kelompok Silver Moon, dan sebagian dari mereka mencoba menciptakan kesulitan sejak pertama kali mereka menaruh kaki di wilayah ini.
"Raja Jaron, tidak adil bahwa putri kami belum hadir padahal kami berada di sini karenaDia.", suara Alpha Curt penuh dengan kemarahan, kesabarannya sudah habis.
Seraphine telah membuatnya bangkrak karena Corvine, telah merampas segala sesuatu yang pernah ia bangun. Kontes ini adalah satu-satunya kesempatan baginya untuk bangkit kembali, satu-satunya jalan untuk mengembalikan apa yang hilangnya. Ia harus menikahi Athaliah dengan segala cara.
"Ya, dia seharusnya dihukum." Alpha Brad menambah suaranya, ekspresinya memasam, mengikuti perasaan sama.
Alpha Killian tersenyum, ekspresi dingin dan memburunya yang tidak pernah tercapai matanya. Corvine telah memecahkan tulangnya, telah menghancilkannya sepenuhnya, dan hanya setelah ia dibawah ke wilayah pack bahwa serigalanya yang memperbaiki sepenuhnya.
Ia yakin Corvine tidak akan setanding dirinya di wilayah ini, tidak dengan amarahnya mengemakan, tidak dengan ingatan penghinaannya yang masih segar terbakar.
"Apakah itu benar?" Alpha Allan, kontender baru, bertanya, matanya bersender-sender antara para lainnya.
Raja Jaron merasa kepalanya akan meledak, tekanan dari tuduhan mereka semakin mendesak di belakang matanya. "Istriku yang memastikan itu." Suaranya tertekan, hampir tidak menahan kekecewaannya. "Putri kami sedang dalam perjalanan."
"Tentu saja. Pasti dia akan datang bersama Corvine karena dua orang itu sudah bersama.", Alpha Killian berkata dengan sinisme, nada suaranya penuh dengan sindiran. "Ia mencoba untuk memperburuk kebencian Jaron terhadap Corvine, menanam benih keraguan dengan setiap katanya. Dan hal itu bekerja dengan sangat baik."
"Biarkan kami berkata seperti ini." Raja Jaron membebaskan, suaranya mengandung sisi berbahaya. "Jika Corvine muncul dengan putriku, maka ia akan memang benar dihukum."
Semua orang menjadi sunyi setelah itu. Ancaman itu menggantung di udara, tebal dan menyakitkan. Alpha Voren adalah Alpha yang paling ditakuti di antara semua, dan namun ia berbagi gelarnya dengan Corvine, meningkatkan status si serigala muda yang membuat mereka semua tidak nyaman. Tak ada yang senang dengan susunan itu.
Mereka menantikan hukuman Corvine dengan cemas-cemas, menanti-nanti akan segera dilaksanakan.
"Itu adalah helicopternya milik Alpha Voren.", suara Curt penuh semangat, matanya bersinar dengan kepuasan jahat. "Ia memiliki inisialnya."
Mereka semua berlari ke padat pengunjung di helipad, sekelompok Alpha mendorong-dorong satu sama lain, ingin menyaksikan kejatuhan Corvine. Tapi untuk kekecewaan mereka, Damon turun dan membantu Athaliah keluar dari kabin helicopternya. Kehadiran betanya itu tak terduga, ekspresinya tenang dan tidak tersentuh.
Ia berjalan ke Alpha Jaron dan membungkuk sopan, suaranya kokoh dan penuh rasa hormat. "Putri Liah dan Luna kami sangat dekat. Kami memperlakukannya sebagai salah satu dari kami."
Ia tidak tahu apakah mereka mengerti makna kata-katanya bahwa Athaliah berada di bawah perlindungan Voren, bahwa kejahatan yang dilakukan padanya akan disambut dengan penuh amarah dari seluruh kelompok Grimroot.
Tapi para Alpha tidak senang dengan apa yang mereka lihat. Corvine tidak ada di sekitar sini.
"Di mana Corvine?" tanya Raja Jaron, suaranya tajam dengan mencurigakan. Ia berharap serigala muda telah menyerah, telah mundur dari kontes.
Tapi Damon menjawab dengan santai. "Ia sedang melakukan beberapa urusan untuk Alpha Voren. Ia akan tiba segera."
Dengan itu, ia kembali ke helicopternya dan terbang pergi, rotor-helicopter mengangkatnya pergi. Para Alpha menyaksikannya pergi, kekecewaan mereka mendidih di permukaan.
Athaliah memeluk ayahnya dengan penuh kasih, lengan-lengannya memeluknya dengan tulus. "Ayah, aku sangat merindukanmu.", katanya saat ia mundur, matanya menelusuri kerumunan orang. "Di mana Ibuku dan Jasper?"
Raja Jaron menatapnya dengan perasaan yang rumit, tatapannya tajam dan dingin. Ia masih mencari kekurangan, masih mencari alasan untuk memutuskan Corvine. Lalu bertanya padanya, suaranya tegas dan memaksa, "Apakah kamu masih perawan?"
Athaliah hampir tersedak, wajahnya membara. Matanya insting tertuju pada Killian, yang tersenyum melihat ketidaknyamanannya. Jika Corvine tidak telah berjanji untuk menyelesaikan orang bodoh itu untuk kedua kalinya, ia pasti akan mengungkapkan semuanya tepat pada saat itu.
"Ayah.", suaranya stabil meskipun panas naik ke lehernya. "Aku adalah seorang wanita dengan prinsip yang kuat. Bagaimana aku bisa kehilangan keperawananku tanpa pernikahan?"
Itu adalah prinsip keluarganya, dan ayahnya memahaminya. Ia menghela napas lega, bahu-bahu-nya sedikit kendur. Mungkin ia tidak sedang bersama Corvine seperti yang diprediksi. Jika tidak, bagaimana keperawanannya bisa tetap utuh? Liah tidak tampak seperti pembohong dan bukan tipek wanita yang bisa ditolak oleh siapapun.
Tiga jam kemudian, Putra Jasper diajak ke sana, ekspresinya yang sama sekali tidak terungkap. "Aku telah diberi tahu bahwa Co-Alpha Corvine adalah di sini.".",pause."." Ia berhenti sejenak, matanya menelusuri kerumunan. "Aku akan pergi dan mengambilnya."
Saat Corvine tiba, suhu udara berubah secara instant. Udara menjadi tebal dengan ketegangan. Jelas bahwa Corvine tidak memiliki teman di antara para Alpha—semua pengasingannya mengalir dari mereka dalam gelombang. Tapi ia tetap menatap tajam, langkahnya yakin dan tidak tergoyahkan.
Baginya, satu dengan Voren adalah mayoritas. Selama Voren memiliki punggungnya di mana saja ia berada, itu cukup bagi dia. Ia tidak membutuhkan persetujuan mereka, tidak membutuhkan persahabatan.
"Semua peserta telah terkumpul, jadi kami akan dimulai."
"Pertama dan utama, setorannya adalah 5 juta dolar AS dari masing-masing.", suara King Jaron dingin, bisnis. "nasi tetap sejahat. Mereka berdua pasti telah bersama."
"Itu saja."
Damon mengkonfirmasi dengan santai. ""
Athaliah berpelukan ibunya, lengan-lengannya memeluknya dengan tulus. ""
""
"Apakah itu benar?"
""
"Ya, ia seharusnya dihukum."
""
""
Kami pergi ke padat pengunjung di helipad, sekelompok Alpha mendorong-dorong satu sama lain, ingin menyaksikan kejatuhan Corvine. ""
Tapi untuk kekecewaan mereka, Damon turun dan membantu Athaliah keluar dari kabin helicopternya. ""
""
""
""
"",
A week ago, several Alphas arrived at the Silver Moon pack, and some of them tried to create trouble from the moment they set foot on the territory.
"King Jaron, it isn’t fair that the princess is still not here when she’s our reason for being here." Alpha Curt’s voice dripped with annoyance, his patience already worn thin.
Seraphine had bankrupted him because of Corvine, had stripped him of everything he’d built. This contest was his only chance for a comeback, his only path to reclaiming what he had lost. He had to marry Athaliah by all means.
"Yes, he should be punished." Alpha Brad added his voice, his expression darkening with shared grievance. "Who knows if he even slept with her already?"
Alpha Killian smiled, a cold, predatory expression that didn’t reach his eyes. Corvine had broken his bones, had shattered him completely, and it was only after he was brought to the pack land that his wolf healed him entirely.
He was certain Corvine would not match up to him in this territory, not with his anger fueling him, not with the memory of his humiliation burning fresh.
"Is this true?" Alpha Allan, a new contender, asked, his eyes darting between the others.
King Jaron felt like his head was going to explode, the pressure of their accusations building behind his eyes. "My wife confirmed it." His voice was strained, barely containing his frustration. "The princess is on her way."
"Sure." Alpha Killian said mockingly, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "She’s definitely coming with Corvine because the two had been together." He was trying to increase King Jaron’s hatred for Corvine, planting seeds of doubt with every word. And it was working so well.
"Let’s put it this way." King Jaron liberated, his voice carrying a dangerous edge. "If Corvine appears with my daughter, then he’ll indeed get punished."
Everyone went quiet after that. The threat hung in the air, thick and suffocating. Alpha Voren was the most feared Alpha in existence, and yet he shared his title with Corvine, elevating the younger wolf to a status that made them all uneasy. No one was happy with that arrangement.
They waited eagerly for Corvine to be punished, their anticipation building with each passing hour. At the sound of a chopper, they knew their guess was right. The rotors grew louder, the machine descending from the sky like a great metal bird.
"That’s Alpha Voren’s chopper." Curt’s excitement was visible, his eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction. "It has his initials."
They all rushed outside to the helipad, a crowd of Alphas pushing against each other, eager to witness Corvine’s downfall. But to their disappointment, Damon stepped out and helped Athaliah out of the chopper. The beta’s presence was unexpected, his expression calm and unruffled.
He walked over to Alpha Jaron and bowed politely, his voice steady and respectful. "Princess Liah and our Luna are quite close. We treat her as our own."
He did not know if they got the meaning to his words that Athaliah was under Voren’s protection, that any harm to her would be met with the full force of the Grimroot pack’s wrath.
But the Alphas were not happy with what they saw. Corvine was nowhere to be found.
"Where is Corvine?" King Jaron asked, his voice sharp with suspicion. He had hoped the young wolf had given up, had backed out of the contest.
But Damon replied, his tone casual. "He’s been running some errands for Alpha Voren. He’ll be here soon."
At that, he returned to the helicopter and left, the rotors carrying him away. The Alphas watched him go, their frustration simmering beneath the surface.
Athaliah embraced her father, her arms wrapping around him with genuine affection. "Dad, I’ve missed you a lot." She pulled back, her eyes searching the crowd. "Where is Mom and Jasper?"
King Jaron stared at her with complicated emotions, his gaze piercing and cold. He was still looking for a fault, still searching for a reason to disqualify Corvine. Then he asked her, his voice blunt and demanding, "Are you still a virgin?"
Athaliah almost choked on saliva, her face flushing crimson. Her gaze instinctively landed on Killian, who smirked at her discomfort. Had Corvine not promised to deal with the idiot for the second time, she would have spilled the beans right then.
"Dad." Her voice was steady despite the heat creeping up her neck. "I’m a woman with strong principles. How can I lose my virginity without marriage?"
It was their family’s principle, and her father understood. He sighed in relief, his shoulders relaxing slightly. Perhaps she wasn’t with Corvine as they speculated. If not, how could her virginity remain intact? Liah didn’t look like she was lying and she wasn’t the kind of woman any man would resist easily.
Three hours later, Prince Jasper walked up to them, his expression unreadable. "I’ve been informed that Co-Alpha Corvine is here." He paused, his gaze scanning the crowd. "I’ll go and get him."
When Corvine arrived, the atmosphere changed instantly. The temperature seemed to drop, the air growing thick with tension. It was clear that he didn’t have friends among these Alphas—their hostility radiated from them in waves. But he held his head high, his stride confident and unbroken.
To him, one with Voren was majority. For as long as Voren had his back wherever he was, that was enough for him. He didn’t need their approval, didn’t need their friendship.
"All contestants are gathered, so I’ll begin to spell out the rules." King Jaron’s voice was cold, businesslike. "First and foremost, a deposit of 5 million dollars each should be made."
Some of the Alphas were already sweating, their faces paling at the amount. The financial strain of the past weeks had taken its toll, and they had come hoping for a free ride.
Only Corvine asked, his voice steady and calm, "What are the account details?"
"Aren’t you going to ask what the money is for?" King Jaron asked, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. The other Alphas felt that Corvine was showing off. Yeah, he was rich and so what? They would have all been rich if Seraphine had not bankrupted them.
Corvine shrugged, his expression unbothered. "You are Liah’s father, and I didn’t come to freeload." His gaze met King Jaron’s, unwavering. "When it comes to Liah, I can give my life."
Killian’s fingers balled into fists, his knuckles white. Curt’s jaws clenched so tightly his teeth ground together. Brad was furious, his eyes burning with hatred. Allan was weighing his options, his gaze calculating.
Then Prince Jasper appeared again, his expression apologetic. "I’ve been informed that Alpha Ravyn is here." He paused, his voice carrying a note of surprise. "I’ll go and get him."
Everyone was stunned. Ravyn’s arrival was unexpected. He had never expressed interest in the contest before. But seeing how King Jaron smiled at the news, they did not speak until Ravyn appeared with Prince Jasper.
His appearance stunned everyone.
"Alpha Ravyn." King Jaron’s voice was breathless, his surprise evident. "What happened to you?"
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