CHAPTER 212: CHAPTER 212

The morning light poured in gently through the open windows of alpha Theo’s study, but Alpha Theo’s mind was far from calm.

The events of the previous day still echoed in his head, Mona stepping down, Derrick’s dramatic entrance, and the silent war of stares that followed.

Nothing about the situation sat well with him. It felt too easy... too planned.

He sat behind his desk, elbows resting on the polished wood, fingers steepled beneath his chin.

His eyes were fixed on the flames flickering in the small hearth, but his mind was on something else entirely.

*Derrick didn’t return just to reclaim a seat... He’s aiming higher. This is more than a comeback, it’s a takeover.* Theo thought.

Kimberly entered the room quietly, a thick brown leather-bound book in her hand.

She looked tired but strong. Theo glanced up and offered her a faint smile.

"I didn’t sleep much," he said. "Too many pieces on the board, and I can’t see the whole picture yet."

Kimberly placed the book on the table and sat beside him. "That’s because someone’s hiding their hand. And I think it’s Derrick."

Theo nodded slowly. "I know. And I’m not going to let him blindside me. I’ve made the decision, we’ll leave for Africa by tomorrow."

Kimberly looked at him with curiosity. "Are we ready for that? Leaving now, while Derrick’s planting his roots again?"

"That’s why we need eyes here. Constant, sharp eyes. Someone who can’t be fooled by Derrick’s charm or scared by his threats."

Theo picked up the black communicator beside him and pressed the call button. "Elijah. Come to my study. It’s urgent."

Within a few minutes, Elijah entered, dressed in a fitted dark uniform, his demeanor alert as always.

"You called, Alpha?"

Theo stood, walked around the desk, and faced Elijah directly. His tone shifted into a more commanding one.

"Elijah, I trust no one else more than I trust you. Kimberly and I will be gone for a while.

Africa holds answers we can’t ignore anymore. But while we’re away..." Theo stepped closer, his eyes narrowing.

"You will keep watch on Derrick. Every move. Every word. Every meeting. Nothing goes unnoticed."

Elijah straightened, his chest rising with resolve. "Yes, Alpha. I’ll track his movements personally."

"Good." Theo looked over at Kimberly. "We believe he’s not alone. There are others working with him.

Possibly from outside his own pack. You are to identify any new faces near him. Unknown wolves. Strange energy. Anything suspicious."

"I understand. He’s back for more than just power, isn’t he?" Elijah asked.

Theo nodded. "He wants to unseat me. And if he senses we’re off balance, he’ll strike faster than expected. You need to be our eyes and ears."

Kimberly stepped forward, her voice softer but just as firm.

"And Elijah, watch Mona too. She’s no longer Alpha, but that doesn’t make her harmless."

"Yes, Luna. I’ll keep close tabs on both of them," Elijah promised.

Theo exhaled, then placed a strong hand on Elijah’s shoulder. "I trust you with everything. Keep our home safe."

As Elijah exited, Theo’s gaze drifted back to the fireplace. The flames were now lower, but still alive.

"Strange how fire behaves," Theo murmured. "One moment it gives warmth, the next, it burns everything down."

Kimberly placed a hand gently over his. "But it’s not the fire that chooses, it’s the hand that wields it."

★★★

On the far side of the territory, deep in a private estate cloaked in thick forest and secrecy, Derrick stood before a group of unfamiliar faces.

These were not ordinary men. Their presence was heavy, their auras unsettling.

One of them tall, bald, and wearing a dark cloak, stepped forward. His eyes glowed with a pale green hue.

"You summoned us, Alpha Derrick," the man said, his voice deep and unnaturally calm.

"Yes. I need allies who don’t fear the crown... or the moon goddess," Derrick replied coldly.

The room was dimly lit, the shadows dancing across the walls as if alive.

Behind Derrick, Mona watched from a distance, unsure of who these men were.

But she knew they weren’t from the pack. Their energy was ancient, corrupted.

"You were right to call us," another man said. His voice was laced with magic.

"The alpha king crown will fall. But not through brute force... through something far more destructive."

Derrick walked to the center of the room.

"Theo is smart. Strong. Even when I cornered him in the dream realm, he held his ground."

"Yes," said the bald man. "But everyone has a weakness."

Derrick’s eyes darkened as he glanced over his shoulder. "His weakness is loyalty. Love. And belief in fair play. I don’t have those problems."

Mona stepped forward at last. "Are you sure this is the path you want to take, Derrick? These men don’t belong in our world. They are something else entirely."

Derrick turned to her slowly. "Mona... I’m done playing by the rules of our world. Theo had his time. Now it’s mine."

Mona looked at the strange men again, sensing something darker than even Derrick was willing to admit.

*You might get what you want, Derrick... but at what cost?* Mona silently thought to herself.

One of the cloaked men whispered something in an ancient language. A thick, cold wind swept through the room despite the sealed windows.

"We will break the Alpha King," he said.

"Even the moon goddess will not intervene when the balance has already been poisoned."

Derrick nodded, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Let the poison spread."

That evening, Theo and Kimberly finished packing the final items for their trip.

The pack premises felt heavier than usual. As they stood in the hallway, Elijah approached once more.

"Everything is in place," Elijah said. "I’ll be in the shadows. And I won’t let you down."

Theo reached into his coat pocket and handed Elijah a sealed envelope. "If anything happens to us... open this. Only if things go wrong."

Elijah hesitated. "I won’t need it."

"I hope not," Theo replied.

As Kimberly joined them, she gave Elijah a brief hug. "Take care of our people. And yourself."

"I will."

The couple departed quietly. No grand sendoff. Just two leaders carrying the weight of the future on their backs.

Meanwhile, later that night, Derrick stood on the balcony of his temporary estate, overlooking the dark forest.

The strange men had gone, for now. But he could feel their presence lingering in the shadows.

Mona joined him silently.

"You think Theo suspects?" she asked.

Derrick didn’t look at her. "He’s not stupid. But he’s still too noble. That’ll be his undoing."

"And what if he fights harder than expected?"

Derrick smirked. "Then we crush harder than planned."

Mona was silent for a moment, then said, "You’ve changed, Derrick. This isn’t just about power anymore."

"No," he said, turning to her. "It’s about control. Survival. And legacy. I won’t just be Alpha. I will be the last Alpha anyone dares to challenge."

Below the balcony, in the woods, one of the cloaked men moved like a shadow among trees. Watching. Waiting.

★★At Alpha Theo’s Pack ★★

Elijah walked alone through the halls. He stopped by the window and looked out at the distant forest.

He couldn’t shake the feeling in his chest, like something terrible was brewing.

He opened the sealed envelope, unable to wait. Inside was a single sheet of paper. Written in Theo’s hand:

"If you are reading this, then darkness has moved faster than light. Do not trust anyone.

Not even the ones who smile at you daily. The betrayal will come from within."

Elijah’s hand trembled slightly as he folded the paper back.

*From within... but who?* Elijah thought to himself with a curious and confused facial expression.

Behind him, a quiet figure watched, hidden in the dim light of the hallway. Their eyes gleamed with secrets and betrayal.

The game had already begun.

★★Africa★★

The dry wind blew gently across the ancient hills of Africa as Theo and Kimberly stepped out of the black vehicle.

The red soil crunched beneath their feet.

Zack stood waiting at the gate of the sacred compound, a few sorcerers and elders gathered behind him, cloaked in deep-colored robes.

Their faces were solemn, as though they’d already seen what was coming.

"Welcome," Zack said, offering a hand to both of them. "We’ve been waiting."

Theo gave a respectful nod. "We came as fast as we could. What have you found?"

Zack didn’t smile. "It’s not just about what we’ve seen... it’s about what must be done. Come."

Inside the compound, the room was dark, with candles lining the walls. Symbols were drawn on the floor in chalk and ash.

The energy in the air was thick, Kimberly felt it immediately, like a weight on her chest.

An elder stepped forward, her voice calm but heavy.

"The bond between you two must be fortified. There are sacrifices to be made, rites to be fulfilled.

If not... what’s coming will tear you apart before it reaches the throne."

Kimberly’s eyes flicked to Theo’s. "What kind of sacrifices?"

Zack looked between them. "Not just physical... but spiritual. Emotional. Everything that ties you to this world must be tested."

Theo felt a chill run through him. "And if we’re not ready?"

"Then you will fall," the elder said simply. "And your fall will shake both worlds."

They stood in silence.

The fire in the center crackled louder than before. Kimberly clutched Theo’s hand tighter, her mind racing.

*Are we truly ready for this?* Kimberly thought.

Theo’s jaw tightened. *No matter what the cost... We must not fail.*

Outside, the wind picked up, carrying with it something unseen, something hungry.