Chapter 198: Chapter 198 Ashes and Exile
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Alpha Zack ’s black Porsche sat hidden behind a cluster of pine trees, just far enough from the ceremony grounds to avoid detection.
He watched Elara step out of the car in that flowing white dress, looking like everything he’d ever wanted and lost.
He stayed there through the entire ceremony. Through the vows, the kiss, the celebration. Until Alpha Dominic and Elara’s convoy finally disappeared down the winding mountain road.
Five hours. He’d tortured himself for five solid hours, watching her be happy with someone else.
Part of him had wanted to storm in there and challenge the Alpha King directly.
Shift right there in front of the entire pack and demand a fight for Elara. Show everyone that Alpha Dominic wasn’t invincible.
But he knew that would be suicide. And it would only make Elara hate him more than she already did.
His face looked ghostly through the haze of cigarette smoke filling the car. He let out a bitter laugh and flicked his cigarette butt out the window.
Just as he reached for the ignition, his father’s voice slammed into his mind through their pack link.
"Zack, please tell me you finalized the mate bond severance."
"Yeah, it’s done." Before the last pack council meeting, Alpha Zack had called in every favor he had to fast-track the bond breaking during the mandatory cooling period.
No way in hell was he staying mated to a criminal. The scandal would destroy their pack’s reputation with the other Alphas.
"Good. That psychotic Vance bitch has outdone herself this time. Planted a bomb at the Alpha King’s mating ceremony. Christ, only she could think up something that insane."
"At least you’re free of her now. The Alpha King won’t let her live to see another full moon. But Zack, don’t you think it’s time we discussed another alliance mating?"
A hollow ache settled in his chest. "Dad, let’s table the mating talk for now."
"Table it? What are you planning to do, wait until Elara births a few Alpha heirs before you move on?" His father’s mental voice cut like silver claws.
The mental image of Elara swollen with the Alpha King’s pups hit Alpha Zack like a physical blow. His hands gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles went white.
"I get it, Dad. I have to go." He slammed their mind link shut.
Maybe if there was another she-wolf in the picture, it might trigger Elara’s possessive instincts. Make her wolf remember what they used to have.
Even now, Alpha Zack still believed this was all just wounded pride.
That eventually, her wolf would call out to his again.
He refused to accept that Elarahad truly chosen the Alpha King as her mate.
--
Alpha Enzo hurled a crystal tumbler against the mahogany paneling of his study. It shattered into a thousand pieces, just like his pack’s standing.
"Tell me the goddamn truth! Did you help your sister?"
He’d cut off Selina’s pack funds for exactly this reason. To prevent her from doing something that would bring Alpha Dominic’s wrath down on them all.
So where the hell had she gotten the resources to pull off attempted murder of Alpha King and his Luna?
This wasn’t just pack politics anymore. This was a death sentence for their entire bloodline.
Attacking an Alpha King and his Luna during their mating ceremony was the highest form of treason in wolf law. His daughter would be executed, and rightfully so.
The thought made his wolf howl with grief and rage.
"Dad," Anthony’s voice cracked, "I swear I didn’t know it would go this far. When Selina begged me for help, I thought she just wanted to disrupt the ceremony or something."
Alpha Enzo thought about Alpha Dominic’s reputation for brutal justice. The Alpha King wouldn’t just execute Selina. He’d hunt down every wolf who’d helped her, and their families too.
"Go upstairs right now and pack a bag. I’ve arranged safe passage to the European territories."
"Don’t even think about returning for at least five years. Our contacts there will provide for you."
"Now! Move!"
He had two pups. If the Moon Goddess was merciful, he might be able to save one of them.
If the investigation traced back to Anthony, their entire bloodline would be marked for death.
"But what about Selina—"
"There is no ’but’! You think being an accessory to attacking Alpha King and his Luna is a game? You want our whole pack wiped out?"
Anthony’s face went white as winter fur.
"Okay, okay. I’ll get my documents."
Alpha Enzo collapsed into his leather chair, crushed by overwhelming despair.
How had everything gone so catastrophically wrong?
He should have never married that unstable Grant bitch in the first place.
