CHAPTER 147: DEMANDS

[ Bloodfang Territories : Velor’s Castle! ]

"NIVA!!!"

Velor’s voice cracked through the castle like a whip.Not once... well, a couple of times.

"NIVA!!! NIVA!...YOU DAMNED WOMAN, WHERE ARE YOU?!"

The servants scattered like mice. Doors slammed. Someone dropped a tray.

"I am here! Right here! For fuck’s sake, Velor!"

Niva came flying down the corridor, apron still tied around her waist, hands coated in flour, face flushed from the kitchen heat. Unlike regular Lunas, Niva took pride in simplicity.

She stopped in front of her husband, annoyed and panting. "Who’s dead now? Or can you not find your shirt again?For fucks sake,Velor! You are a grown ass man! Stop behaving like a baby! "

Velor didn’t laugh.

That was enough warning for Niva to straighten up.

Then he took one long step forward...too fast.

"Apparently," he growled, voice low , "someone who was supposed to be dead... is not."

Niva blinked.

"What...what are you talking about, Velor?You are going to need to be a hell of a lot more specific than that."

Velor didn’t stop moving until her back was pressed against the wall, and she was staring straight at him.

He grabbed her chin roughly, forcing her to tilt her head up.

"I trusted you," he whispered, eyes burning into hers. "You said she was gone. Done. Handled."

Niva arched her brow, even as her face remained locked in his grip.

His face was only inches from hers now. His voice was growing darker with every word. "Why, Niva?" His grip tightened. "Why did you lie to me?Why the hell did you overrule my orders? "

"Because," she finally said, "I did what I believed was right."

Velor staggered back half a step, more from the audacity than the push as her flour streaked hands pressed against his chest . His lips twisted in a snarl.

"She had become a liability ,Niva!"

" She was just a child, Velor. A fucking baby,"her voice was rising now, laced with fury. "There was no reason for her to die!"

"She was only a tool...one that had outlived its use!" His voice echoed, loud enough to rattle the sconces on the wall.

Niva stepped right up to him again, flour smudging across his chest as she grabbed his collars, pulling him close.

" She wasn’t a tool Velor but you did use her. Over and over. Made her crawl through tunnels, half dead,no rest...until she lost her damn hands and couldn’t do it again?!"

"Don’t get all righteous with me , Lady. Pack and politics requires sacrifices... scapegoats... slaves...If you don’t eat,you will get eaten!"

"This case was different,Velor!" Niva didn’t even realise, but she actually yelled...spit flying everywhere! " This was no pack emergency! This was no war! She couldn’t even cry properly when she slept because the pain you inflicted her...never left . You were chasing some stupid fantasy! The Heart of Thenebis,huh? A stupid lore that nobody even knows about except you! You exploited this innocent baby just to fulfill your stupid desire! And when she broke, you wanted her buried...not healed. Like you were too lazy to clean up your mess.You were just being a jerk, Velor! Not an Alpha! "

Suddenly he grabbed her by the hair...yanked her head back hard, and sank his teeth into the mark on her neck...their mate bond...not lovingly, but like a warning shot.

Niva hissed, grabbing his wrist but not pulling away.

"You forget your place, Queen?" he sneered, lips brushing her ear. Then he kissed her viciously.

She bled. But smiled.Then slowly licked the blood off her lips while still holding his gaze.

"You mean the place where I watch you play God while your soul rots under your throne?"

His jaw twitched. Did her words hit home?

She didn’t care to stop.She leaned in, her voice dropping like poison.

"You ever wondered why the universe never gave you a child of your own?"

That rang like a slap without touching skin at all.

"Maybe it’s just fate intervening...doing the world a favor." She took another step forward...slow. " To become a father... you don’t just need sperm, Velor." After a pause she added. " You need a father’s heart! Which clearly you don’t have..."

For a moment, Velor said nothing.His lips curled.

Then suddenly he scoffed. "Are we done with your kitchen lecture, or should I fetch you a podium and an audience?"

Niva opened her mouth to retort...but just then a guard came charging into the corridor, panting.

"Alpha!" He bowed, quick and sharp. "Alpha Kieran is at the gates.He demands your audience!"

The air froze.

Velor’s brows lifted, then he slowly turned to Niva with a mocking sweet smile.

"Demands? My! My! Aren’t everyone getting too ’ demanding’ these days?"

He winked at her, adjusted his cuffs. " Seat him at the guest house. Have some drinks served. I will catch up shortly! "

He turned the other way, grabbing Niva’s wrist... he clearly wasn’t done with their conversation.

But the guard intercepted them... looking actually very scared. " But... but Alpha, he said... he said ’immediately’!"

" Come again? " Velor couldn’t seriously believe his ear.

" He... he took down our front guards. And is holding the entire first gate hostage. He said if you don’t come immediately, he’s going to burn the entire pack down!"

Velor arched a brow. His grip on Niva loosened!

" Hostage? Did he come with his army? "

" No, Alpha! He came all alone? On foot apparently... no cars... nothing! "

" Really?? That’s interesting! What else? "

" His eyes... he looks possessed! All orange... glowing... no hint of gold left in them! "

Velor looked a little lost in his own thoughts. "Hhhmmm! Looks like my old friend is back after a long long time... what might the reason be this time? "

He absentmindedly rubbed both hands together, slowly putting them back in his pocket.

"Alright then!In that case...let’s see what our charming Blackmoon boy wants from me so desperately."

He paused once, tossing over his shoulder with a grin aimed at his wife. "Don’t wait up, darling. Might be blood."