Chapter 021\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013THEO\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Pack was suffocating without Kaia for some reason.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everywhere I turned, everyone had their eyes on me, watching, waiting patiently for a slip up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Having ruled this pack for three years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I knew my pack members better than they know themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They can\u2019t hide their feelings and thoughts even if they tried.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After an attack that killed my mother years ago, the Shadowclaw Pack didn\u2019t welcome strays and strangers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of course,I don\u2019t blame them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That attack changed the life of every one of them. Mine too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I took over, I made sure no strays were allowed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Imagine their shock when I brought Kaia home that day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They went insane. Completely out of their minds.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Flustered with fear of the unknown.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The council wanted me to get rid of her immediately but I couldn\u2019t let Kaia go.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now, they are doing everything to make her life hell.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They wanted Kaia gone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Or maybe it\u2019s an excuse for what they really want.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They want me gone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And I know who\u2019s behind this.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their whispers still echoed in my head long after the meeting ended.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They just hadn\u2019t decided how yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019d just stepped into my study when Zane\u2019s call came through- sharp and urgent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane says. \u201cTheo you need to hear this. Kaia says the council king is being poisoned\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shocked. I exclaimed. \u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stopped mid\u2013stride, pulse tightening.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane went silent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cActually, Alpha there is something I haven\u2019t told you yet\u201d Zane said, \u201cWe were ambushed\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAmbushed,\u201d my throat caught.\u201cWhy the hell are you just telling me this now? And Kaia,where is she?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry,Alpha Theo,\u201d Zane apologized.\u201dWe were so caught up with saving the injured guard that I didn\u2019t have time to inform you. Also, the Alpha..\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My body shook with pang. \u201cWhat about the Alpha?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fear gripped my heart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If anything happens to the Alpha.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia. Goddess.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Alpha had the same poison residue as the guard.\u201d Zane says, \u201cWhen Kaia attended to him, we almost lost him. Blackbane toxin that\u2019s the poison\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Blackbane toxin. I\u2019ve heard of that before.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shocked. \u201cBlackbane? That\u2019s dangerous! Are you sure about this?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 021\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAbsolutely. Kaia says she\u2019s sure\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDid she tell anyone else about this?\u201d I asked, hoping she did not.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Zane says.\u201cJust me. I\u2019m sure she didn\u2019t tell anyone else about it, Alpha Theo\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Good.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I exhaled slowly. Smart. She knew better than to speak openly about this. Especially not when half the Council already thought she was a threat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is she right now?\u201d I asked, my face grim.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane stopped. Then said, \u201cI left her alone for a few minutes. She must be looking after the king\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I can\u2019t risk it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gritting my teeth, I barked. \u201cKeep her where she is, I\u2019m on my way. If anyone touches her, I will kill them brutally in cold blood\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou won\u2019t make it in time,\u201d Zane pointed out. \u201cThe council made her treat the king. They will observe him for a few more hours before we are allowed to go\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
KMy gut turned to ice. Of course they did.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A test. That was their game plan all along.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Send the outsider to the dying King and if he dies, she\u2019s the scapegoat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Smart. Cunning foxes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Theo: \u201cStay close to her, Zane. Don\u2019t let anyone interfere.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane broke the silence. \u201cTheo, don\u2019t worry about it. I will look after Kaia and bring her back safely\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Safely. I don\u2019t trust whoever is behind these attacks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What if they hurt Kaia again?\u00a0<\/p>\n
My body shook with anger. Uncontrollably.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d I sighed.\u201cKeep an eye on her. Stay with her,\u201d I said quietly. \u201cIf anything happens to her,you\u2019ll answer me. Do you understand?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand,Alpha Theo. I will stay with her\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Softly I added. \u201cInform me if anything comes up again\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zane agreed.\u201cI will do just that, Alpha\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stopped talking. Thinking for a minute.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I instructed calmly. \u201cAlso, first thing in the morning. Return to Shadowclaw with Kaia, Ronan will get the car\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the council. What would they say?\u201d Zane asked, rightfully so.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKaia has completed her task. There\u2019s no reason for her to stay back. I will speak to the council\u201d I said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope they don\u2019t take this the wrong way,Theo\u201d Zane sounds worried.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I understand his concerns. We\u2019ve been through this many times.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The council is against me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Trying to make me fall to prove their point.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t the first time. It\u2019s sad Kaia got caught up in my mess.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand. Still, Kaia saved the king\u2019s life. They have no reason to test her anymore. So,it\u2019s settled,bring her back soon\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was about to cut the call when I recalled something.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOne more time, discreetly investigate the Alpha\u2019s illness\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can count on it, Alpha Theo\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 021\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I finished talking to Zane,my blood boiled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I paced my study,seething, jaw locked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
Every instinct in me screamed to move to run straight to the council hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To accuse them of attempting to kill Kaia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But an Alpha couldn\u2019t act on impulse. Not when the Council was already circling like vultures.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So I waited.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Listened as they questioned my authority.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Half the council didn\u2019t want me as Alpha. My stepmother, Cara wanted her son, Lucien as Alpha but he couldn\u2019t keep up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite this, she wouldn\u2019t stop trying to remove me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019m sure she had something to do with the attacks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I can\u2019t prove it yet. But,I won\u2019t let her get away with this.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I paused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Catching my breath.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019d been so angry I didn\u2019t realise I was clutching my breath.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia might have managed to save the king but the danger isn\u2019t over yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A knot tightens in my chest thinking of this.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stood up, picking up a shawl.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaia\u2019s shawl.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The one she left behind the night she tried to escape.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Escape from Shadowclaw and me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I held it close to my chest, her smell filling my nose.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I could almost feel her through the bond I shouldn\u2019t have. That strange pull that had begun the moment I found her half\u2013dead on my borders.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And now she\u2019d saved the King\u2026 or damned herself trying.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her shawl smells of exile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Something I badly want to change.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I want her as a member of my Pack and rid herself of being an outcast.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Kaia gets back, I will ask her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ask her to be mine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I mean a member of my pack. She deserves safety and security, I will give her that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No matter what it takes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I won\u2019t let her go anywhere. I don\u2019t think I can imagine this pack without Kaia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For someone I met less than two weeks ago, I can\u2019t live without her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Oh shit!\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not in my right senses. The pack and council problem probably have me stressed out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While battling within myself, a knock landed on my door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Calder walks in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlpha Theo. I have a message\u201d Calder says.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me,\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 021\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlpha Draven Stormer..\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing that name piqued my attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlpha Stormer crowned a Luna today.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cA Luna?\u201d I asked,not to Calder. \u201cSo fast\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I found out Draven had an affair. And the new Luna is bearing him an heir soon\u201d Calder reported.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded. \u201cInteresting. Alpha Draven turns out to be worse than I thought\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,Alpha. It hasn\u2019t been a month since he kicked out his first Luna and he got another one already.\u201d Calder says. \u201cDo you need me to do anything?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Speaking of this, Alpha Draven owes me something.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. Get in touch with Alpha Draven Stormer. It\u2019s about time,we meet again\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Draven Stormer,long time, no see.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hope he remembers what he owes me because I didn\u2019t forget it at all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not even for a second.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shadows Follow Lonely Minds \u2014 Christopher Harris 21 Chapter 021\u00a0 \u2013THEO\u2013\u00a0 The Pack was suffocating without Kaia for some reason.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[80],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27266","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-nightshade-heir-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27266","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27266"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27266\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27266"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27266"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27266"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}