CHAPTER 348: _ EVIL IN THE AIR

~Axel’s Point Of View~

Ever since Luis’s miraculous recovery three days ago, the atmosphere in the villa has been extremely tense. Maybe others couldn’t tell, but I wasn’t oblivious to the hushed whispers that traveled down the corridor. I didn’t miss how my father’s guards looked at him.

That lingering stare that spoke of malice. The way their shoulders tensed when they passed beside him, and their insincere greetings. I was taking everything in. However, I hadn’t confronted my father yet. There was a bigger threat at hand, and I needed to take care of that first.

Looking back, my tense eyebrows softened at the sight of my baby girl. My wife. The love of my life. She sat in the car’s passenger seat, carefully going through a few documents.

There were dark circles underneath her eyes, and it was obvious that the pregnancy was beginning to take a powerful toll on her. Sometimes, she would randomly doze off in the middle of a conversation, and other times she would stagger and be unable to walk.

Yesterday, I had her see a doctor, and even though they said such reactions were normal during pregnancy, I couldn’t help but feel like something was off. I couldn’t be sure of it, but somehow, it felt like the twins in her belly were draining her of strength.

María José was strong. Such exhaustion shouldn’t be possible.

However, there was nothing I could do but keep her in my sights at all times. That was why I had her come with me, even though she looked like she’d prefer to be in bed instead. I simply couldn’t leave her alone in that house, knowing that the bastard who went by the name Ignacio could pop up at any time.

"How are you holding up, my love?" I asked.

María José raised her head. She offered me a smile—weak, but loving—and responded, "A little bit tired, but I’ll manage."

I smiled in return. "That’s good," I said, my tone laced with worry despite how much I tried to put up a courageous front.

There was just something in the air that didn’t feel right. I had been feeling off the entire day, and I couldn’t figure out why. Even Hugo had been unusually quiet today. I wondered if he could also feel the danger in the air.

It felt like the end of days was drawing near.

I sighed and rubbed my forehead. "Goodness, this is driving me crazy."

Just as I said that, a woman popped out of the lonely shack ahead. We were currently on the outskirts of the pack’s territory, where the witch we had allied with settled down.

Lucia wore a layered gown that dragged behind her, and it was adorned with several shells and strange items.

As she approached the car, I noticed a wooden box in her hands. I could feel a strange feeling emanating from the box, and Hugo felt it too because he growled softly.

Lucia stopped before me. She bowed in greeting, "Good afternoon, Señor Axel."

"Good afternoon, Lucia." I exhaled and briefly glanced back to ensure María José was still inside the car. After confirming her well-being, I turned back to Lucia and nudged my head towards the box.

"Is this it? The item that will keep us safe?"

Lucia shook her head with a sigh. Her eyes flickered as she said with a distant gaze, "It is only you who can keep your family safe. This will only point you in the right direction."

"What does it do exactly?" I asked with a grim expression.

Lucia caressed the box with her fingers. She muttered a sentence that danced in the wind like an ethereal being, and the box resonated to her words. It shook slightly, before opening with a click.

I unfolded my arms and glanced forward.

Inside the box were two lockets, each attached to a string woven from metal. The lockets seemed docile and ordinary, however, I could feel a subtle mystical energy emanating from them.

Lucia explained with a sigh, "Given the short time, this was all I was able to come up with. It’s not much, but it’ll have to do for now. Till I return to the coven and plead with the Elder Witches for another powerful artifact."

She then picked out both lockets and placed them in my palm, explaining, "These lockets have been doused with the attribute of sensing malicious intent."

"Malicious intent?" I asked with a confused frown.

The Witch, Lucia nodded. She pursed her lips and said, "Go on. Try thinking about something extremely evil. For example, wanting to murder someone in the cruelest manner possible. I’m sure you have someone like that."

Something extremely evil... My eyes narrowed. I didn’t need to think twice before all the hatred I had for Ignacio came pouring out of me like a furious storm.

That bastard. What I felt for him was greater than hate. And I planned to personally murder him in the most gruesome manner possible.

No! That bastard doesn’t deserve the mercy of death. He needs to suffer eternally.

Just as the thought crossed my mind, the lockets in my hand suddenly began to shake and sizzle, like someone had lit a fire underneath them. I frowned and calmed the raging hatred in me.

The lockets soon calmed down.

Lucia nodded with a faint chuckle. She wiped her palms on her gown and said, "It’s not much, but it’ll have to do for now. We can be sure that the demon has malicious intent, and so, the lockets will alert you to his presence. It doesn’t have that much of a range, but since we’re dealing with a shapeshifter, it will be quite useful."

Indeed...

Not onlywould I be able to detect that detestable fiend’s presence, but I would also be able to determine if Father harbored any evil plans for Luis.

I nodded with great gratitude. "Thank you, Lucia. I promise you, I will not forget all the help you have shown me and my wife."

Lucia smiled faintly. She gazed into the distance and muttered, "Your struggles remind me of my past. Unfortunately, the man whom I loved dearly wasn’t able to see it through. So I hope that both of you can overcome this adversity. I can tell that you love each other very much. I am sure your love will triumph at the end of it all."