CHAPTER 101: CHAPTER 101: MEETING LYCAN PRINCE

Aeron’s eyes grew colder as he stared at Alpha Datters and then at the others who had started echoing his words. His lips curled into a sneer, and a low, mocking laugh slipped out.

"So," Aeron said, his voice sharp and cold, "what are you going to do with me?"

The silence grew heavy. His gaze swept over each of them, daring and provoking.

"If I say it is not my responsibility, then it is not," he continued, his tone full of defiance. "What will you do with that?"

No one answered. The alphas clenched their fists, some grinding their teeth, their faces twisted in anger. Their eyes burned with hatred, but none could find a word to strike back. Because they all knew...his words were true.

He was the strongest among them. Leader of the strongest pack. They could glare at him and curse him in their hearts, but they could do nothing.

Aeron let the silence drag before speaking again. His words cut like ice.

"If I want to capture this witch, I will. If not, then I won’t. It depends on my mood, not yours."

With that, Aeron pushed his chair back. The sharp scrape of wood on stone echoed through the hall. He rose to his feet with calm confidence, his presence towering over their glares.

"I don’t have time for your nonsense," he said flatly. "Don’t call me here again. I have to look for my brother."

Without another glance at them, Aeron turned and began walking toward the doors. His steps were steady, his back straight, his silence louder than any words.

Behind him, the alphas muttered in frustration. Then suddenly, a voice broke out.

From Marcus’s side, one of his family members shouted angrily, "We will complain to the Council! We’ll tell them it was because of your arrogance that the witch was lost! Do you even know how much effort and resources it cost us to capture her?"

The words echoed sharply. But Aeron did not stop. He didn’t even turn his head. He sneered faintly, almost amused, and kept walking, as if the voice behind him wasn’t worth a single reply.

His boots echoed closer to the gates. The heavy silence of the hall mixed with the heat of hatred left hanging in the air.

Then, just as his hand was about to touch the doors, the sound of footsteps entered from the other side.

The doors opened, and a figure stepped inside.

The moment Aeron’s eyes fell on him, his expression darkened. His body stiffened, and a wave of hatred surged in his chest. His jaw clenched, and his cold gaze sharpened like a blade.

It was him.

The Lycan Prince, Vaelen Lysandros.

The air in the hall turned tense, almost choking. For Aeron, it was like the world had narrowed down to only that figure. His blood boiled; his heart throbbed with rage.

At that instant, the scene froze at a cliff’s edge, as if the next breath could shatter everything.

The Lycan prince, Vaelen Lysandros, stepped into the hall with calm steps. The alphas behind him bowed and greeted him with respect. But Aeron did not move. He stood stiff and frozen, refusing to move, his eyes locked on the man in front of him.

He did not bow or greet. He did nothing.

The prince was royalty, and by custom, Aeron should have lowered his head, shown respect, and spoken a greeting. But he couldn’t. Not to this man. Not to one of the reasons behind his pain, behind the scars on his body, behind the condition that haunted him to this day.

Anger slipped through his chest like fire. Why was he here? Why did this man dare to appear before him? Aeron thought, his jaw tightening.

Behind him, the other alphas quickly bowed. Their voices filled the hall in hushed murmurs.

"Did you see that? Alpha Aeron didn’t bow..."

"He has become too arrogant..."

"Power has blinded his eyes... He doesn’t even want to acknowledge royalty..."

"Does he want to challenge the prince himself? Challenge the entire lycan royalty?"

The whispers spread like wildfire, but Aeron ignored them.

Both Aeron and Vaelen could hear every word, but neither reacted. The tension between them was heavy like a blade pressed between their throats.

Then, without a single glance toward the prince, Aeron starts moving. He walked straight forward, calm but firm. His hands were clasped behind his back, his steps steady. He bypassed Vaelen as if he were nothing more than a pest standing in the doorway.

He didn’t greet him. He didn’t look at him. He didn’t even slow down.

Because Aeron knew—if he stopped here, if he let his anger loose for even a moment, he would forget everything and punch this man in the face.

Aeron walked on, his boots echoing on the stone floor. His anger still burned. He wanted nothing more than to leave this hall, to leave the prince behind.

But then—he froze.

Right in front of him stood a man he had never seen before. A stranger. Yet the moment Aeron’s eyes fell on him, his body stiffened.

The man’s silver hair shone under the dim light, the same color that made Aeron’s heart skip for a moment. His aura was heavy, strong, pressing down on Aeron’s shoulders like an invisible weight. Aeron’s head throbbed, and his breath grew tight.

Even he—who was already one of the most powerful alphas—felt his blood run cold under that force.

The stranger’s gaze was sharp and direct, staring straight into Aeron as if seeing through him.

Aeron clenched his fists. He did not know this man. He had never seen him before. So why was he here? Why did his presence feel so suffocating?

And then—out of nowhere—Selene’s face flashed in his mind.

Aeron’s chest tightened. He shook his head hard, pushing the thought away. He could not think of her now. He could not let his mind wander. He had to leave.

So he forced himself to move again, stepping past the stranger. He did not want to stay here for even a second longer.

But just as he took a step, a low whisper brushed against his ear.

"Did you catch the witch?"

The words were soft, almost casual. But they burned into Aeron’s body like fire. His blood boiled. His eyes darkened. His jaw clenched so tight it hurt.

Slowly, Aeron turned his head just enough to glare at the prince. A deadly glare that was enough to kill him.

Vaelen only smirked. His lips curved in a mocking arc. He took two steps back, calm as ever, and then walked further inside the hall, as if nothing had happened.