CHAPTER 260: THEY AREN’T EVEN HANDSOME ENOUGH.

The room became quiet as the Alphas sank into deep thought. They were already restless about their mates’ disappearance, and now with the new revelation about who the Patriarch truly was, fear tightened its grip on them. It made them more scared, yet more determined to find Angela.

They were terrified because none of them had any idea what was happening to her. If she was been treated well or not.

"I think I know why the Patriarch wants her," Kaito said, shifting to the edge of his seat. Everyone turned to him, waiting for him to explain. "Angela has the gift of immortality. People have been trying to get their hands on her for a long time. I believe the Patriarch wants the same thing... unless he’s settling an old score with your family."

"My daughter has that gift?" Marcus rose from his seat, both hands flat on the table. His voice trembled with disbelief. He never imagined that such a power would run in his bloodline.

"Yes. She used it once on a student, and it worked," Hiro said quietly, surprised Marcus didn’t already know. He had assumed they were aware, especially since the Moon Goddess was their mother.

"Oh my... that’s both good and bad news," Bellezza murmured with a sad smile as she placed a hand on her chest. "It means we have to find her quickly, before the Patriarch gets what he wants."

"Is there any way we can slow him down?" Taros asked curiously.

"Not us," Bellezza said, shaking her head. "The process of taking the gift of immortality isn’t easy. It takes time. I’m sure that’s what he plans to do...to take the gift from Angela."

"What if he only needs her blood for something?" Hiro asked, his voice low but filled with worry.

"No," Bellezza said firmly, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "I know the Patriarch. He’s after something much deeper." She turned to her brother. "What do you think, brother?"

Marcus leaned back in the chair, his face tight with worry. His mind was racing. They needed to get Angela back from the Patriarch—alive and unharmed—before it was too late.

"Are you scared of the Patriarch?" Kaito asked. He wanted to understand the kind of man they were about to face. To his surprise, Marcus didn’t flare up. Instead, he slowly shook his head.

"He has always been scared of me and my family," Marcus said quietly. "I just can’t understand why he would go after my daughter, knowing who she is." He sighed and rubbed his forehead. He had been thinking about it for hours, but this wasn’t the time to dwell on it.

"So what are we going to do?" Taros asked. "We can’t just sit here and wait."

"No one is sitting and waiting," Marcus said, standing up again. His hands brushed through his hair as he straightened his shoulders. "Everyone will go in search of my daughter. We’ll find Angela and bring her back. In the meantime, you all stay in the academy."

Kaito’s eyes widened. "And do nothing?" His voice cracked with anger and disbelief. There was no way he and his brothers would stay behind while their mate was in danger.

"Yes, of course," Marcus replied as if he didn’t know the pain they were going through. He had lived through the same pain before, that lonely feeling of breathing even when everything inside was dead.

"We can’t stay here when our mate is out there..." Hiro started, anger rising in his voice.

"That’s your punishment for not being able to protect her. I can’t believe these weaklings are my daughter’s mates," Marcus hissed as he walked to the door. His sister followed him quietly. "They aren’t even handsome enough to be with my girl."

Hiro’s jaw tightened. His hands balled into fists as the sting of Marcus’s words cut deep. He stood to go after him, but his brother grabbed his arm. There was no point in fighting when they were supposed to be on the same side.

"Let him come, and I’ll rip his heart out," Marcus said coldly, meaning every word. "I’ll feed it to the birds and watch them eat it."

Taros swallowed hard as those words echoed in his head. They weren’t even directed at him, yet they made his chest tighten. Then he remembered—Angela once said the same thing when she threatened some students near the dormitory. Hearing her father say the exact words sent a chill down his spine. Maybe she was more like him than anyone thought.

"Won’t that affect your daughter?" Seraphina asked, frowning. She knew a little about how the bond between mates worked.

"It’s better than having those spoiled boys as her mates," Marcus hissed, opening the door for his sister. She stepped out, and he followed, slamming it behind him so hard that everyone in the room covered their ears.

"He’s so annoying!" Hiro shouted, pulling free from his brother’s hold. He walked to the window, his anger burning in his chest as he watched Marcus get into his van and drive away. "That man has been getting on my nerves since morning."

"It’s not his fault. We couldn’t protect his daughter," Kaito said, shaking his head sadly. "Any father in his shoes would act the same way. That’s why I said there’s no point in fighting him. What matters now is finding Angela."

"I don’t blame him, but Principal Valois," Taros said, turning his cold gaze toward her. "If not for you, Angela would still be with us."

"We will deal with you after we get our mate back," Hiro said harshly.

Principal Valois shook her head as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Marcus is going to kill me. I know he will."

The room fell silent. She sounded too certain, too afraid, but none of them wanted to pity her. She caused this mess, and everyone knew it.

"Don’t be so sure," Kaito said as he stood up from his seat. He was ready to prepare himself so that when Marcus returned with Angela’s location, he could move out immediately.

"I know him," Principal Valois whispered weakly. "He doesn’t forgive." She sniffed and tried to stop her nose from running. "I’m already dead. If I can’t protect myself, he’ll kill me."

Kaito looked at her quietly, feeling a strange ache in his chest. She was Renn’s mother, yet she had failed everyone around her, including herself.