h4Chapter 503: Bring Violet To My Side/h4

    What happened next was Ziva snapping. "No one threatens my father like that!"

    Her magic rose, a blinding pulse of heat and light that mmed into Micah’s chest and hurled him to the floor. The impact stole his breath, painncing through his ribs as he groaned.

    "That’s enough!" Angus thundered.

    "But, Father—" Ziva started, her voice loud and indignant.

    "I said enough!" Angus’s bellow rattled the very walls. "You will not touch my son again!"

    For a moment, one could almost think Angus cared — or maybe he did, in his own twisted, ckened way — but Micah wasn’t about to feel ttered.

    Ziva’s lips pressed into a pout, her magic still sizzling faintly at her fingertips before she forced it to fade. With a sharp exhale, she stepped back, subdued but ring at Micah like she wished she could finish the job when no one was watching.

    Micah forced himself to his feet, saying, "You shouldn’t bother with Violet. You can’t sink your twisted ws into her."

    "But you can," Angus countered without missing a beat.

    He rose from the throne and walked towards him, every step a slow assertion of dominance. He stopped just in front of Micah, close enough that Micah could see the faint, cruel smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

    "You can convince her," Angus said, his voice brimming with conviction, like it was already decided. "Convince her that I’m not so bad, that what I’m doing is for the well-being of the wolves."

    Micah snorted, his lip curling. "Is that what you tell yourself so you can sleep at night? That all this madness is for the future of the wolves and not your own ambition?"

    But Angus’ gaze was cold, and terrifyingly sure. "I am creating the next generation of were-kind. A kind with no limitations, and full of power. The kind that will stand up to humans, because they are not our friends."

    Something in Micah snapped. "Everything has order, and what you’re doing is tearing it apart!" His voice rose, raw, the cracks of old wounds bleeding into every word. "You have no business intentionally creating children who belong to no one — children caught between worlds, never truly imed by either!"

    He took a step closer, his chest heaving, the memories he’d buried wing their way to the surface. "You don’t know what it’s like to be a victim of someone’s madness and still move on with life as if it’s nothing. I lived it, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, especially not on Violet. So you can go fuck yourself, father."

    The silence that followed afterwards was charged, as if even the walls had absorbed those heavy words.

    For a long moment, Angus just stared at him. There was no sign if Micah’s words hadnded anywhere near his heart.

    Then, slowly, that cruel smile returned, stretching with unnerving calm.

    "You mistake me for someone who builds for love, Micah," he said almost like a father soothing an ignorant child. "I don’t care if they feel they belong. I care that they survive and that they are strong enough to crush anyone who dares to stand in their way."

    He began to circle Micah like a predator, his tone low and poisonous.

    "You speak as if pain is the enemy. But Pain shapes us. It breaks the weak and tempers the worthy. You would rather they live soft lives and die soft deaths."

    Angus stopped behind him, leaning in close enough for Micah to feel the heat of his breath at his ear. "I am giving my children power. Never again will humans win a war against our kind, and that is why I need Violet. Her mother was powerful, so you can imagine the kind of force she would wield."

    "I am powerful!" Ziva cut in from her spot, lifting her chin like a spoiled princess demanding acknowledgment.

    "Of course you are, my darling," Angus replied with a dark chortle.

    Even without dipping into his own power, Micah could feel the maniption rolling off this man. He knew what he was doing.

    "What’s your n, exactly? Wipe out all the humans? Humans and werewolves havee too far for this and you want to shatter that peace?"

    Angus gave a derisive snort. "Peace? Is that what you delude yourself with?" His eyes gleamed with mockery. "Do you even know your precious President Roy is working with Patrick Vale? How do you think he managed to keep his identity hidden from my foolish brother, Elijah?"

    Micah froze, the words hitting harder than he wanted to admit. President Roy was working with Patrick? It was absurd. It had to be. Angus was a master at twisting truths to suit his games, and yet Micah couldn’t brush it asidepletely. He would dig into itter.

    "That still isn’t a reason to start a war," Micah said evenly, keeping his voice calm, though his pulse was a drumbeat in his ears.

    Angus grinned. "Who said I’m starting a war? I might as well rule them."

    "What?" Micah stared, not quite sure he understood thatment. Rule them?

    Angus’s gaze slid deliberately to Micah’s neck, and something in his expression shifted. "Oh... interesting. The Matebond."

    Micah’s entire body went rigid. A growl rolled up his throat, his teeth bared instinctively at the man who’d sired him.

    But Angus onlyughed, savoring the reaction. "So it seems my son finally has something to lose." His amusement vanished in an instant, reced by steel. "Don’t test my patience, boy. You know what to do."

    But Micah didn’t flinch. "I’m not lending a shred of help for whatever twisted n you’re running."

    For a moment, Angus actually looked surprised as if he hadn’t expected his son to nt his feet so firmly. "I have a soft spot for you, Micah," he said slowly, almost thoughtfully, only for his voice to harden. "But this will be thest mercy you’ll ever get from me. Next time, we will meet as enemies."

    Micah’s reply was instant. "Have it your way."

    Angus’s eyes flicked to Ziva. She only rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed with the exchange. "Goodbye, brother," she said, her voice dripping with mockery. "Till we meet again."

    And then, without warning, the air swallowed him whole.

    Micah hit reality with a jolt, standing once again in the hospital room. Adele was still there and he let out a relieved breath.

    That was close.

    However, the battle lines has been drawn.