Chapter 60: The rogue territories

Emmett was shown to a guest room where he could rest, while Andrew and Caroline made their way to the chamber he had once lived in.

Caroline was awestruck the moment she stepped inside. The entire floor was covered with a thick, intricately patterned carpet. The design complemented the wooden furniture and gave the spacious chamber a regal appearance.

Tall windows stretched along one side of the room, draped with heavy curtains that matched the furnishings. Sunlight filtered through the inner layers, falling across the floor and illuminating the delicate carvings on the bedposts and cabinets.

"You should rest for a bit," Andrew said, his tone softening as he looked at her.

"You lived in such a beautiful chamber," Caroline remarked, running her hand along the carved mahogany frame as she finally walked over to the grand bed.

"It may be beautiful, but I always felt suffocated in this room," Andrew replied, following her and easing onto the mattress. Lowering himself onto one side, he sank his head back into the soft, fluffy pillows.

"Their mouths were completely shut the moment you spoke up," Andrew added, looking up at her with admiration.

Caroline finally sat down, slipping off her flats before lying on the bed, turning onto her side to face him. "You gave me the strength to stand up like that," she murmured softly. "I still can’t believe we managed to present the proof before the month even ended."

A subtle smile touched Andrew’s lips before it quickly faded.

"Andrew... what if Victor tries to run away?"

The sudden thought sent a jolt through her, and she bolted upright, panic flaring in her eyes.

"He doesn’t know why he’s being summoned to the capital," Andrew reassured her smoothly, staying calm on the pillows. "Kyran would never disclose the reason behind an unexpected royal summons."

"Hmm," Caroline murmured, though her anxiety refused to settle. "Still, he’s Victor. He manipulates everyone around him and flees the moment he’s cornered. What if he simply refuses to show up? I know... I might be overthinking, but knowing the kind of coward he truly is, I don’t believe he will step foot in this palace."

Andrew sat up immediately, pulling his phone from his trousers and dialing.

"Alpha, I was just about to call you," Jeremy answered on the second ring.

"What’s the situation?" Andrew demanded.

"Victor isn’t heading to the airport, Your Highness," Jeremy reported. "He’s making a break for the border. He’s planning to slip straight into the rogue territories."

Keeping his eyes locked on the road ahead, Jeremy added, "I’m pursuing him now. Miller filled me in on everything that happened at the palace. Victor must have caught wind of what’s waiting for him."

"Bring him down," Andrew commanded. "Do not let him escape. I’ll send the command to the warriors to stop him."

"Understood, Your Highness. We are still a mile away from the border," Jeremy told him.

Andrew hummed in agreement and hung up the call.

"I told you Victor would try to run," Caroline stated, her voice a mix of boiling rage and rising panic. "What do we do now?"

"We need to head straight to the Crystal Moon Pack," Andrew said firmly.

"What? How?" Caroline replied, her brow furrowing. "It takes two hours by flight alone, and another hour just to reach the pack lands from the airfield."

"I am teleporting," Andrew stated, swinging his legs off the bed and slipping on his shoes.

Caroline quickly shoved her feet back into her flats and hurried to his side, holding his arms. "Don’t go alone. Take me with you. Please," she pleaded, looking up at him. "I can transform into my wolf. I know I’m not as fast, but—"

Her words dissolved as Andrew leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss against her lips.

He pulled away slowly, cupping her cheek in his palm. "I know what you are capable of," he whispered softly. "But this isn’t about speed. Let your husband handle this. I promise you, I won’t let him slip away. Trust me."

Caroline nodded quietly, realizing he was right and that she shouldn’t hinder his power.

"I’ll be waiting for you," she said softly.

"Good," Andrew murmured softly before taking a few steps back. In less than a second, he vanished into thin air.

Caroline felt the brief gust of displaced air sweep over her skin as he disappeared, and she sank back down onto the mattress. "Victor, you can’t run away," she muttered to herself, her fists clenching. "You will answer for every single one of your crimes today."

Just then, a series of loud knocks echoed against the chamber doors.

Caroline stood up, walked over, and pulled the heavy door open. Princess Nina stood in the doorway, her eyes rimmed with red and burning with frantic emotion.

"Victor isn’t answering any of my calls," Nina blurted out. "May I come in?"

Caroline stepped aside to let her pass. Nina walked into the room and immediately dropped into an armchair, staring blankly ahead.

"I’ve known Victor since our high school days," Nina began, her voice trembling slightly. "It all started four months ago when I ran into him at the royal ball in the capital. I asked him directly if he was seeing anyone, and he told me that he was single. I always had a crush on him, but back then, I never had the courage to tell him."

Caroline wasn’t surprised by how easily Nina had been fooled by Victor’s lies. "I must say, he’s very good with words," Caroline said softly, her tone devoid of malice. "He never lets you believe he’s in the wrong. But he is a snake in sheep’s clothing."

"I asked him so many times if he was seeing you, or if he was the one who got you pregnant," Nina confessed, tears finally streaming down her flushed cheeks. "Every single time, he lied right to my face. And I was stupid enough to trust him. I’ll never forgive him for what he did."