Chapter 62: Burn the council

"Where did he disappear?"

Andrew shifted back to his human form as the heavy winds died down. He stared at the empty patch of ground where Victor had been lying moments before.

"Where did he go?" Jeremy muttered, stepping up as the pack warriors fanned out to search the area.

"That unknown figure took him. Was that a witch? Who was she?" Andrew frowned, blinking rapidly against the haze.

"I’m sorry, Your Highness. I got here late; that’s why it happened," Jeremy apologized, bowing his head.

"No," Andrew shook his head, his jaw tight as he looked toward the dark tree line of the rogue territory. "Arrest Victor’s parents and his beta," Andrew ordered. "This pack is now under the Alpha King’s direct rule until a new Alpha is appointed."

Andrew turned back, his eyes searching the dark woods beyond the fence line one last time before his form blurred, disappearing entirely from the sight of Jeremy and the warriors.

A second later, he appeared inside the chamber of the palace. Nina was standing near the center of the room alongside Caroline.

"Andrew!" Caroline rushed toward him the moment she saw him, her eyes locking onto the center of his shirt where dark blood had pooled against the fabric. "Why are you injured?" she asked with panic and worry. "Did Victor do this to you?"

"Call the doctor!" Nina commanded, turning sharply to the maidservant standing by the doorway.

Caroline brought Andrew to the bed and quickly removed his upper jacket before unbuttoning his shirt. He stopped her and said, "Victor disappeared. Something unnatural took him away. I tore off his one arm, but before I could drag him out here, this unknown figure appeared and said, ’Victor isn’t mine to kill today’. I couldn’t stand against that force."

"Was it a witch?" Nina immediately asked.

"No. It was something more powerful, something that could control the natural forces," Andrew pronounced.

Caroline’s eyes brimmed with tears. Andrew had never been injured before.

"We heard you’re injured, Andrew. Where have you gone?" Alarick’s voice boomed through the doorway as he walked in, followed by their two more brothers.

"To catch Victor," Nina answered. "According to Andrew, he disappeared. An unknown figure took him away, saying Victor wasn’t his to kill," she added.

"An unknown figure?" Ilias frowned.

"Why did you even go alone?" Julian scolded him this time. "And you’re hurt too," he muttered, looking at his blood-covered clothes.

"I want all of you out," Andrew stated sternly. "Just leave me and Caroline alone."

"The doctor is here, Your Highness," the maidservant announced, stepping aside.

Caroline stood up to give the physician room as Andrew’s siblings silently filed out of the chamber.

"Jereth, ensure no scar remains," Andrew instructed.

"Of course, Your Highness," Jereth bowed, opening his medical kit. He retrieved a pair of surgical scissors and carefully cut away the fabric of Andrew’s shirt as Caroline closed the doors behind. Her heart hammered anxiously against her ribs.

Jereth immediately set to work, wiping away the dark blood from a deep, ragged wound across Andrew’s chest. Andrew did not so much as hiss or flinch. His eyes were on Caroline, trying to study her expression.

"Your Highness, this wound is remarkably deep," Jereth noted, dipping his cloth in antiseptic. "Though I must confess, I am continually astonished by your body’s extraordinary healing ability."

Andrew didn’t say anything because his focus was elsewhere. He failed Caroline, whom he had promised he would bring Victor.

They heard the voices from the outside, which were of the Alpha King and the Luna Queen.

"Caroline, come here. Sit beside me," Andrew requested quietly.

She walked around the bed and climbed up from the opposite side, settling gently near him. "How long will it take for this wound to heal?" she asked in a soft murmur.

"Judging by the depth of the laceration and the speed of His Highness’s constitution, it should close completely within two to three days, Your Highness," Jereth replied professionally.

As the physician finished securing the last layer of bandages and packed his instruments, the doors suddenly swung open. Luna Queen Seraphina stepped into the room.

Jereth turned swiftly, bowing low to the Queen, while Caroline scrambled off the bed and stepped back with a respectful curtsy.

"Your siblings said you went after Victor. Did he hurt you?" Seraphina inquired, her eyes immediately scanning the bed. Behind her, Alpha King Davian strode into the room, his expression darkened with severe displeasure.

"Andrew, I gave no such order," Davian demanded, his voice carrying the weight of royal authority. "If you were not commanded to go, why must you risk your life like this?"

"Your late summons is the very reason I had to go after Victor. If you hadn’t delayed me, I would have punished him with death," Andrew said sternly.

Drawn by the rising voices, his siblings stepped back into the room to watch the confrontation unfold.

"This is what you wanted, isn’t it? You are a curse to this family," Seraphina spat. "You had better leave, or I will pass a resolution in the council for your execution."

"Apologize to her," Andrew said, standing up from the bed.

The maidservant quickly handed him a robe. He slipped it over his bandaged chest and continued, "I will burn the council to the ground before I let you do that, Your Majesty. And before you point fingers at Caroline, the two of you should remember how you both refused to listen to her. If anyone deserves punishment, it is Nina, your beloved daughter."

"Andrew, calm down," Davian interjected, his tone firm. He turned to his wife. "Caroline is not at fault here, Sera."

"What do you mean, Davian? Andrew has lost his mind over this omega!" Seraphina demanded, glaring at her husband. "Name one other time he has allowed himself to be injured like this!"

"You are the one who has lost her mind, Mother," Andrew said, letting out a dark chuckle at her hypocrisy. "Why do you pretend to care whether I live or die? Was I not always the unwanted child? You wanted to abort me before I was even born, and now you stand here acting like a loving, caring mother."