h4Chapter 204: Chapter 204/h4

It had been two days since Mona received the mysterious note, the one signed by Derrick himself.

The words *"Alpha Derrick saw you in the ck beautiful dress"* still echoed in her mind like a chant.

The backside had held even more weight: *"I will soon be back!"*

Since that moment, Mona had barely slept.

Her nights were haunted by shes of Derrick’s cold re, the tone of his voice when hest warned her about power, and the possibility of him returning to rip everything from her hands.

She had tried to keep up appearances. She smiled at meetings, gavemands with her usual authority, and even joined the warriors during early training sessions.

But behind all that, a storm brewed inside her.

On this new morning, the sun was warm, yet the wind carried a chill.

Mona sat in her private lounge, eyes lost in thought, until a soft knock broke her train of anxiety.

"Come in," she said quietly, already suspecting who it was.

The old physician stepped in with his slow but steady gait.

Dressed in a long brown robe, his face wrinkled with age but still sharp with wisdom, he gave her a small respectful bow.

"Alpha Mona," he said with a gentle smile. "I hope I’m not disturbing."

"Not at all," she replied, trying to straighten up in her seat. "Please, sit. It’s been a while since west spoke properly."

The physician took the seat across from her, watching her closely before speaking again.

"I heard the celebrations were loud, and the wine poured endlessly. But I also heard... you looked distant," he said, his voice soft but probing.

Mona gave a hollow chuckle. "So the physician now deals in gossip?"

"I deal in truth," he corrected kindly. "And in healing. Sometimes, it’s not the body that needs healing."

Mona paused. Then she let out a long breath.

"You’re right. There’s something I need to talk to you about. But first, answer me something... Were you loyal to Derrick or to the seat of power?"

The physician looked at her for a while, then spoke calmly.

"I was loyal to the spirit of the pack... and to anyone who kept it alive. Derrick once did. Now, that mantle is yours."

She nodded slowly, absorbing his answer. "Then I need your wisdom now more than ever."

"I am listening."

Mona stood up, walked to a nearby table, picked up the note, and handed it to him.

"This came two nights ago. No one knows about it. Read it."

The old man read through it silently, his brows narrowing slightly. Then he flipped the note, saw the back, and froze for a second.

"I recognize this handwriting," he said in a low voice. "He’s back."

"You believe it too?" Mona asked, almost desperately. "You think he’s really here?"

"I don’t doubt it," the physician said, handing the note back to her.

"The kind of man Derrick is... He wouldn’t send a message unless he had already made his first move."

Mona’s hands trembled slightly. She clenched them into fists. "He wants his seat back.

But he can’t juste back and take it, right? I’ve earned this. I fought, I suffered, I sacrificed. I led when he vanished."

"Yes, you did," the physician said. "But power... true power... doesn’t care about fairness.

It cares about fear, loyalty, and perception. If Derrick walks back in with enough fear behind him, some of your allies will bow without hesitation."

"Then what do I do?" she asked, voice rising. "Kill him first? Set a trap? Run a smear campaign?"

"None of that," he replied quickly. "Because if you go after him and fail, you be the viin.

But if you wait, learn his moves, understand his alliances, then you gain the upper hand."

Mona paced now. "He said it was going to be for three years, and I’m building something out of nothing.

But still, people whisper his name like it’s sacred. It’s not fair."

"No, it’s not," the physician said gently. "But this is not about fairness. It’s about how strong your roots are."

"And you think mine are weak?" she snapped, stopping in front of him.

"I think they need water," he replied. "Some of your strongest allies only support you because Derrick vanished.

If he returns, they’ll remember his reign. They’llpare. You need to give them something new to believe in."

Mona sank into her chair. "Like what?"

"Like stability. Like transformation. Be the alpha who doesn’t chase ghosts. Be the alpha who builds a future so strong, Derrick bes part of the past."

She leaned back, silent, thinking.

Then she asked, "What if he doesn’te alone?"

"He won’t," the physician said calmly.

"And I don’t believe he’s hiding in shadows just to scare you. He’s waiting for something. Maybe a fracture in your leadership... maybe an invitation."

Mona’s eyes narrowed. "An invitation?"

"Someone close to you could be calling him back," the old man said, locking eyes with her.

"You must watch the ones you trust. One crack, and the whole wall falls."

Her mind began to race. Names flew through her thoughts, Elena, who mocked her just days ago... old council members who were once loyal to Derrick... even a few guards who seemed too quiettely.

"You think someone’s working with him?"

"I think it’s possible," the physician said. "And you can’t afford to ignore the signs."

Mona stood up again, her jaw clenched. "If I find out who it is, I won’t hesitate."

He nodded. "Just make sure when you strike, it’s with precision. Not paranoia."

She turned to him, her expression suddenly softer. "Thank you. For not treating me like a child. Or a failure."

"You’re neither," he said. "But even alphas need reminders."

He slowly stood, adjusted his robe, and gave her a bow.

"I’ll take my leave now, Alpha Mona. But keep that note somewhere safe. It’s not just a message, it’s a warning."

As he turned and walked out, Mona stared down at the note once more. She traced the words with her fingers.

*"Alpha Derrick saw you in the ck beautiful dress."*

That sentence felt more threatening now than ever before.

She went to her drawer, took out a hidden box, ced the note inside, and locked it.

Then she walked over to her window and looked out at the warriors training.

At the servantsughing. At the council members chatting like the world hadn’t changed.

*They think peace is permanent. But they don’t see the storming.*

Her thoughts grew louder.

*Let Derricke. Let him try. But this time, I won’t just fight to lead, I’ll fight to destroy.*

And just as she was about to close the window, she saw something strange in the distance, standing still in the woods.

A tall figure.

Too far to make out clearly. But something about the stance... the way the figure just watched the packhouse.

Her heart skipped a beat.

She mmed the window shut.

*He’s watching already.*

Mona continued staring at the closed window, heart pounding. Her breathing shallow.

And in her chest, not fear, but something sharper.

Rage.

*You made your move, Derrick... Now it’s my turn.*

★★★

Kimberly closed the door behind her gently, but her heart raced.

Theo was standing by the firece, his arms crossed, his back to her. The silence in the room felt thick.

"We need to talk," she said quietly, her voice steady despite the worry in her chest.

Theo didn’t turn. "It’s about Derrick, isn’t it?"

Kimberly walked closer, her footsteps slow.

"Yes. If hees back... if he shows up to im his seat again, we need to be clear on what we’ll do.

You saw what his presence alone did thest time."

Theo turned slightly, just enough for her to see the calm look on his face. "We would do nothing."

Kimberly blinked. "Nothing?" She took a step closer, confusion and concern mixed in her voice.

"Yes. Let’s wait. Let’s stay and watch," Theo said, his tone firm but quiet.

"Let him show his hand first. Let’s see what he wants, what his real intentions are."

Kimberly frowned. "Why should we wait and watch, Theo?

You’ve always been one step ahead of everyone, but this... this feels like a risk. He’s not the kind of threat you turn your back on."

Theo walked slowly toward the window, pulling aside the curtain just enough to nce outside.

The fading light of the day hit his face, casting shadows across it.

"Because I know Derrick," he said, his voice heavy now.

"He won’t stop at Mona. He’ll want more.

The throne... the alpha king’s seat. He’s too hungry to settle for anything less. And I need to be ready for that."

Kimberly crossed her arms, troubled. "So you’re going to let him move freely until he challenges you?"

Theo nodded slowly. "Sometimes, the best trap is silence. If we move too soon, he disappears again.

But if we let him think he has space... he’ll show his weakness."

She stared at him, eyes searching. "You’re not just watching him."

Theo’s expression didn’t change. "No. I’m studying him."

Then he turned back to the window, his face unreadable, his voice now just a whisper in his thoughts.

*Derrick... it’s time for you to get out of your shell. Let’s see what you are up to.*

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