Chapter 17: ¹⁷: intruder

"We will never submit to you bastards!" the blood-soaked man roared as another whip lashed across his back. "Even if you force us to eat our own flesh!"

Beside him, his companion remained silent, his tongue having already been cut out for his captors’ convenience.

I watched them without the slightest change in expression.

"You really think I care about your loyalty?" I asked calmly.

The prisoner lifted his head to look at me, nothing but pain and hatred burning in his bloodshot eyes.

"Whoever sent you isn’t even brave enough to face me himself, so he sent the two of you here. For what?" I stopped giving the two men a thorough look to make sure I don’t miss any wue in their body language.

"To collect information about me, right?"

His expression didn’t falter in the slightest.

"...Or about someone else?"

That did it. I caught the tiny shudder in his eyes before he managed to suppress it.

So they weren’t here because of me.

They were here to gather information on someone else. Someone who wasn’t the Alpha of the Starlight Empire.Then who?

"Whatever we’re here for, you’ll never know!" the man screamed the moment he saw me getting to my feet. "Either we die here, or we leave with what we came for!"

I didn’t spare him another glance.

Whoever he was, I didn’t care.

And whoever had sent him wasn’t strong enough for me to care either.

If they truly possessed enough strength to threaten me, their preparations wouldn’t have been this weak.

It wasn’t arrogance.

It was simply the truth.

There wasn’t anyone or anything around my empire capable of challenging me at this moment. For something powerful enough to become a real threat, or even become a concern, it would need time to grow.

Until then...

I had no intention of burdening myself with worthless distractions.

"Kill those two bastards."

I spoke as I stepped out of the dungeon with my Beta, Ryan, following close behind.

"But, Alpha..." Ryan began, matching my pace. "Even though they failed to breach our central pack’s security, they managed to infiltrate the surrounding packs under the Starlight Empire. That’s a serious concern. Whoever is behind them must be someone or something very powerful. If we just kill them now, we’ll lose the only connecting link we have."

I continued walking until I reached my car before finally stopping.

Turning toward Ryan, I found him already stopped in his tracks waiting for my answer.

"I know there’s someone powerful behind them, Ryan. That’s exactly why I’m giving this order."

I crossed my arms. "I saw the resolve in their eyes. Whatever their mission is, they won’t speak. I respect that determination."

I paused before continuing.

"So before they create any more trouble... kill them. The one who sent them will make his next move the moment he learns they’ve died. That’s when we’ll finally get a proper handle on the axe instead of chasing its shadow."

"For now..." I opened the driver’s door. "...I’m not free enough to waste my time on such minor matters."

I got into the car before looking at Ryan one last time.

"I’m heading to the office. Meet me there after you’re done. Make sure this is finished quickly."

Ryan nodded silently as I started the engine and drove away without another glance behind me.

The buildings of the various administrative ministries passed by one after another as I drove through the heart of the Starlight Pack. Even while driving, my eyes instinctively scanned every corner of the streets.

A habit.

One I had developed years ago.

Looking at the prosperous surroundings, I couldn’t help but remember the cursed chain of events that had forced me to become Alpha of the entire Starlight Empire at only seventeen years old.

Back then, the entire council had opposed me. They had refused to believe that an immature teenager could lead an empire as vast as Starlight.

Yet now...

As I watched the peaceful streets stretching before me, I leaned back slightly in my seat.

"I hope you’re proud of me, Dad."

My eyes settled on the enormous statue standing proudly in the center of the roundabout. He wore his battle armor exactly as I remembered him. Even in stone, he still looked invincible.

"Look! Alpha Kael is here!"

The excited shouts of little children pulled me from my thoughts as I stopped outside the main office building.

"Kids, form an orderly line," one of the teachers called out. "Alpha has generously taken time out of his schedule to meet all of you, so let’s use it wisely. Everyone will get a chance to talk to him one by one."

Within seconds, the previously chaotic children organized themselves into a neat line.

I handed my car keys to one of the staff members before walking with the teachers toward the lounge prepared for the meet-and-greet.

"Hello," I said, crouching slightly in front of the first boy. "What’s your name, little guy?"

He wore a gray-and-white T-shirt with a majestic silver wolf printed across the front.

My wolf.

A faint smile tugged at my lips.

"I-I’m Rowan!" he answered, trying to sound brave despite the nervousness shining in his eyes. "And I’m in third grade!"

"I see." I pointed toward his shirt trying to ease his nervousness.

"You’ve got me on your T-shirt." His nervous expression brightened immediately.

He quickly handed me the sketchbook he had been clutching. "I... I’m a huge fan of yours, Alpha! I want to become just like you when I grow up!"

I smiled ruffling his hair before opening the diary, inside were page after page of drawings. Every single one...Was of me.

"You’re really talented." I signed one of the drawings before handing it back. "I hope the next time we meet, you’ll have become an even better artist."

His face lit up with a grin so wide it almost reached his ears as he nodded excitedly like a chick.

His teacher gently led him toward the waiting area reserved for the kids with food and snacks while another child stepped forward.

"Hi," I greeted with another smile. "What’s your name?"

Before the little girl could answer... Something made me turn my head.

Off to the right, a young woman stood near the refreshments table, handing snacks to the children waiting in the back.

Another teacher... perhaps? But...

Why did I suddenly feel that something about her was wrong?

No... Not wrong. Familiar. An odd, nagging sensation pulled at my instincts.

For some reason...I wanted to walk over and see her face clearly.

She was dressed in tailored slacks, a crisp button-down white shirt, and a fitted blazer, her appearance neat enough to blend perfectly with the rest of the staff.

"My name is Riya," the little girl standing in front of me said. Her voice snapped me back to reality,I broke my gaze from the female teacher and looked back at the kid.

I smiled apologetically before continuing our conversation, pushing the strange feeling to the back of my mind.

"It’s nice to meet you, Riya."

She shyly handed me her notebook, and I signed it before exchanging a few more words with her.

Even while talking to the children, however, my mind kept drifting back to that woman.

There was something about her...

Something my instincts refused to ignore.

Yet every time I looked in her direction, she appeared completely ordinary.

Perhaps...

I was simply overthinking.

Soon, the meet-and-greet came to an end.

The children thanked me one after another before gathering near the exit.

I got to my feet, preparing to head upstairs to my office. Before leaving, I called my receptionist over.

"Make sure the children are shown around the entire building," I instructed.

"And ensure every one of them is taken care of. Most importantly, don’t allow any security breaches."

"Yes, Alpha."

She bowed respectfully before leading the teachers and children away.

I watched them disappear down the hallway before turning toward the executive elevators.

...

As soon as I stepped onto my floor, every employee immediately rose from their seats. "Good afternoon, Alpha."

I acknowledged them with a simple nod without breaking my stride. There was no need for unnecessary formalities.

Walking straight through the corridor, I unlocked my office and stepped inside.

The moment the door closed behind me, I loosened my shoulders slightly.

Finally...

Some peace.

My desk stood exactly where I had left it that morning, stacks of neatly arranged files waiting for my attention.

I was just about to sit down when my wolf stirred restlessly inside me. That strange feeling... It was back.

Exactly the same sensation I had felt downstairs while looking at that female teacher.

My brows furrowed. Something wasn’t right. I had felt this exact same instinct before as well... At Louis’s academy.

At the time, I had dismissed it. But now... Inside my own office? Why? My wolf wasn’t the type to react without reason.

I stood still, allowing my senses to spread through the room. Silence. Nothing.

Yet... The feeling only grew stronger.

I was just contemplating when I felt that something was wrong behind the cabinet of my office.

Without changing my expression, I casually walked toward the filing cabinet beside the wall as though I intended to retrieve a document.

Every movement appeared natural, relaxed, unhurried. But every muscle in my body was already prepared to strike.

The instant I reached the cabinet—

I moved. In one swift motion, I stepped behind it, grabbed the hidden figure by the throat, and slammed them against the wall.

"Ah—!"

A feminine yelp escaped as my fingers tightened instinctively around the intruder’s neck. Without giving the person a chance to react, I dragged them out from behind the cabinet and into the light.

The moment I saw the face... My eyes widened.

"Athena Moonvel?"

Disbelief flickered across my face. The outstanding student from Louis’s academy...? What... Was she doing inside my office?