CHAPTER 211: CHAPTER 211

Darkness.

It surrounded Kimberly like thick smoke. Cold wind howled through the air, whispering voices she couldn’t understand.

Her feet were moving, but she didn’t know where she was going, only that something was very wrong.

She found herself standing on the edge of a cliff, staring down at what looked like a battlefield.

Below her, Alpha Theo stood tall and proud, but he was surrounded by five men.

Their faces were hidden under dark hoods, and their eyes glowed red.

The ground beneath them cracked with every step they took. They reeked of dark magic.

*What is this?* Kimberly thought, fear tightening her chest.

Theo didn’t flinch. He stood firm, fists clenched, eyes sharp.

"Whatever it is you’ve come for, you won’t find it here," his voice echoed across the cliff.

One of the men laughed, a cruel, empty sound. "You’re strong, Alpha. But even you have limits."

Theo didn’t reply. He launched forward, meeting the first attacker head-on.

His fists moved with power and grace, knocking one man to the ground.

The second came from behind, throwing fire that Theo dodged narrowly. He grabbed the attacker by the collar and slammed him down with a grunt.

But they kept coming.

From the shadows, another figure emerged. Calm. Confident. Dressed in black. Kimberly’s heart sank.

It was Derrick.

He walked slowly toward Theo with a dangerous calmness in his steps. The other dark warriors stepped back as Derrick approached.

Theo stared at him, chest rising and falling. "So, it’s true. You’ve joined them."

Derrick let out a cold smirk. "I never joined anyone. I lead."

Theo didn’t look surprised. "Then you’ll fall like the rest."

The two alphas charged at each other. Their power shook the ground. Every blow was fierce.

Every movement meant to kill. Theo was holding his own, refusing to fall.

Kimberly felt her own heart racing with each second that passed. *He’s fighting for his life. For all of us...*

Then Derrick jumped back, his expression unreadable. He wiped a small cut from his lip and smirked again, darker this time.

"Why do I need to waste my precious time and energy on you," Derrick said, stepping back, "when you are already dead?"

Before Theo could react, a figure from the shadows behind him raised a gun.

Bang!

Theo jerked forward.

Bang!

Another shot to the back.

Bang!

The final bullet made Theo fall to his knees. His face turned slowly toward the person who shot him.

The shooter’s face was covered, but Kimberly could sense something familiar. A friend. Someone Theo trusted.

"No..." she whispered.

Theo’s body fell completely. Still. Motionless.

Kimberly screamed. "THEO!"

Her eyes flew open. Her room was dark, but not as dark as the world she had just seen. Her chest rose and fell rapidly.

Her skin was soaked in sweat. She gasped for breath like someone who had nearly drowned.

"Kimberly!" Theo burst into the room, his eyes wide and filled with worry.

She didn’t say anything. She was frozen. Trembling.

He rushed to her side and sat on the bed, wrapping his arms around her tightly.

"I’m here. I’m right here," he whispered, pulling her into his chest.

Kimberly clutched his shirt with shaky hands.

Her head rested against his heartbeat, but her own was still racing wildly. Her lips parted, but no words came out.

*It felt real... It felt so real,* she thought, still trying to convince herself it was only a dream.

Theo didn’t pressure her. He just held her.

Minutes passed. Ten... maybe more.

Then slowly, Kimberly pulled back and looked into his eyes.

"I can’t let anyone take you away from me," she whispered, voice filled with determination.

"I need to go to Africa. I need answers. And I need them fast."

Theo blinked, surprised by her sudden decision. "Kimberly... what did you see?"

She shook her head slowly. "Something terrible. Something that felt more like a warning than a dream.

Derrick was there. He’s not alone. He’s building something... something dark."

Theo tightened his jaw, but he didn’t question her. Not even for a second.

"If you’re going," he said firmly, "then I’m going with you. You won’t face anything alone. Not now. Not ever."

Kimberly’s heart warmed at his words, but fear still clung to her.

"Someone close to you will betray you," she said suddenly.

"You were shot in the back. Not by Derrick... but by someone you trusted. I felt it. I saw it."

Theo’s eyes darkened.

"I’ve always known betrayal would come," he said. "But hearing it from you makes it feel... closer."

"We need to move fast," Kimberly added. "Before Derrick strikes. Before that traitor shows their face."

He nodded, placing his hand gently on her cheek. "Then we leave in two days time."

Kimberly leaned into his touch. "There’s something else. The people with Derrick, they’re using magic.

The kind we’ve only heard of in myths. Dark... ancient... broken magic."

"Then we’ll find older power," Theo said, his voice strong. "We’ll find the ones who still hold the truth."

Kimberly nodded slowly, and then she wrapped her arms tightly around him.

*No matter how strong they might be... I won’t let them overcome,* she thought.

*Theo won’t fall. Not while I still breathe.*

Far away, outside their room, in a hidden part of the pack house, someone stood by the window, staring at their reflection in the glass.

They had heard Kimberly’s scream. They had heard every word.

And now, their own eyes glowed faint red.

★★Later That Same Day ★★

The late afternoon sun poured softly through the windows, but the tension inside the pack house was thicker than fog.

Theo stood in the living room, fully dressed in his black tailored suit. His eyes remained fixed on the stairs, his thoughts distant.

*She’s taking too long... I hope she’s ready. This meeting isn’t something we can be late for.*

Just as he took a step toward the stairs, Kimberly appeared.

She wore a long white gown that flowed like the wind itself, her hair pinned up neatly, her eyes calm but sharp.

Theo froze for a moment, admiration flickering in his gaze.

"You look..." he started, searching for a word.

"Focused?" Kimberly asked with a smirk.

"That too," he chuckled. "Let’s go."

Elijah was already waiting outside. No one else followed them. Just the three of them, moving in silence.

The drive to the meeting venue made Kimberly’s heartbeat faster.

*There’s something off about today... I can feel it.* She thought.

The hall was already filled when they arrived.

The room buzzed with low murmurs, everyone wondering why the decision makers had been called so suddenly.

High-ranking alphas, warriors, elders, and spiritual guides all sat around the long, circular table.

At the far end, Mona sat in a royal red gown, legs crossed, arms relaxed.

Kimberly’s eyes met hers.

*Mona looks too calm. Like she’s already won something we don’t know about.*

And then, as if reading her thoughts, Mona gave a slow, cold smile. Kimberly narrowed her eyes, but said nothing.

Theo took his seat beside her, his face unreadable. He leaned slightly toward Kimberly.

"Whatever happens... don’t react too quickly."

"I won’t," she whispered.

The murmurs died down the moment the Supreme Chief Priest stepped forward to the podium.

He was dressed in pure gold, the traditional mark of someone carrying divine instruction.

"Greetings, my people," he began, his voice deep and steady.

"May the moon goddess guide our thoughts today. This meeting was permitted by the Alpha King after divine consultation."

He gave a slight bow to Theo and Kimberly. They nodded in acknowledgment.

The priest continued. "But the reason we are all gathered here... is because Alpha Mona has something urgent to say to us all."

All eyes turned immediately to Mona. She stood up slowly, that same faint smile still on her face.

With grace and pride, she walked to the podium and took her place.

Kimberly tensed. *This is it. Whatever she’s planning... this is where it begins.*

"Thank you, everyone," Mona began. Her voice was sharp, echoing with confidence.

"I won’t waste your time. You all deserve the truth."

Everyone leaned in a little closer.

"I, Mona... will no longer serve as the Alpha of the Night walker Pack. As of today, I am stepping down."

The hall exploded with murmurs and gasps. Even the elders exchanged confused looks.

Elijah, standing behind Theo and Kimberly, clenched his fists slightly in shock.

Theo didn’t flinch. He watched Mona with narrowed eyes.

*She’s finally making her move... but this isn’t surrender. This is strategy.*

Kimberly glanced sideways at him. "She’s not done. Look at her face."

"You don’t need to look for a replacement," Mona continued.

Everyone froze again.

"Because... the rightful Alpha is here."

The hall doors suddenly swung open.

A heavy wave of power swept through the room like a storm. And then, he walked in.

Alpha Derrick.

He wore a black cloak, simple but commanding. His presence filled the space with a suffocating tension.

He didn’t look at anyone else. His eyes locked immediately with Theo’s. He didn’t blink.

Didn’t smile. Just walked in slowly, each step heavier than the last.

Gasps filled the air. Some stood to their feet in shock. Others remained seated, paralyzed by fear or disbelief.

"He’s back?"

"Is this real?"

"I thought he vanished forever..."

Kimberly couldn’t take her eyes off him. Her heart raced, not from fear, but from realization.

*This was her plan all along. Mona never planned to rule alone. She just held the seat long enough for Derrick to return.*

Theo sat still, hands on the armrests of his chair. But his mind was spinning.

*So this is your grand return, Derrick. After all the chaos, you choose to walk in like a king reborn. You’ve been planning this... hiding in the shadows.*

Derrick finally reached the center of the hall. He stopped and scanned the crowd, then looked back at Mona. She gave him a nod.

He turned to the assembly.

"Do not be afraid," Derrick began, his voice calm but carrying a weight that silenced even the whispers.

"I have returned. Not to destroy, but to reclaim."

No one said a word. The silence was now fear.

"You all know who I am," he continued.

"You’ve heard stories. Some true. Some twisted. But what matters now... is that I have returned to fix what was broken."

Mona watched him proudly from the side.

Kimberly leaned closer to Theo, whispering, "He’s not even pretending to be humble."

"He doesn’t need to," Theo whispered back. "He knows fear will do the talking for him."

Derrick turned his eyes back to Theo. Finally, he spoke directly.

"Alpha Theo," he said with a nod. "Or should I say... Alpha king."

A few people gasped again. Theo stood up slowly, and now both men were facing each other, no podium between them.

"It will do you a great favor to acknowledge me with the right terms... Derrick." Alpha Theo said firmly and his voice filled with confidence.

The room felt like it was holding its breath, as the two men locked gazes.