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Chapter 254
~Zade’s POV~
After leaving Zade, I walked outside the palace walls to the garden. The gardens stretched before me, and the soft leaves rustling carried on the cool breeze.
The tranquillity of the moment did little to settle my restless thoughts. Zara was safe, still, the memory of her kidnapping and everything she’d endured gnawed at me.
My footsteps were heavy as I paced, my phone clutched tightly in one hand. The device vibrated as if on cue, the screen lit up with an all-too-familiar name.
Mum.
I sighed, bracing myself as I answered.
"Zade!" Mum’s shrill, worried voice broke through the line, her words tumbling out in a rush. "Zade, what’s happening? I heard Zara was kidnapped! Where is she? Is she okay? Tell me she’s safe!"
"Mum, breathe," I said firmly, my voice cutting through her panic. "She’s safe. We got her back."
The other end of the line went silent for a moment before I heard her exhale shakily. "Thank the Moon Goddes. You have no idea how worried I’ve been. I thought I’d lost her again."
Her heartbeat, once erratic, began to slow, and I could feel her calming down through the phone.
"She’s fine, Mum," I assured her. "Snow, Kaid, and I made sure she’s safe. She’s resting now."
"Where are you?" Mum demanded abruptly. The change in her tone was both shocking and not shocking.
"Mum, Zara is fine."
"Zade... I’m coming. I need to see my daughter."
I pinched the bridge of my nose, already anticipating the argument. "Mum, we’re far away right now. It’s not a good time for you to travel—"
"I don’t care how far away you are!" she interrupted. "Zade, I’m coming to Zara."
"Mum," I tried again, my tone more insistent but since she was not listening, I had to break it to her, "...we’re in the Lycan Territory."
The line went dead silent for a second before her voice erupted, full of shock and anger.
"What?! Why? Zade! What the fuck is my baby doing in the Lycan’s den?"
I winced, pulling the phone slightly away from my ear. "Mum, calm down—"
"Don’t tell me to calm down! Are you insane? The Lycans? Of all places? Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?"
"I do," I replied, my patience thinning. "But it was the best option. Zara was injured, and the Lycan King offered her sanctuary and access to a priestess who could help her heal."
There was a long pause before Mum spoke again. "You know Kaid. He wants her."
"And Snow’s with her. I am here too. He’d have to pass through both of us to get Zara. Remember, Zra doesn’t wat him too."
Mum sighed again, her voice slightly calmer but still tinged with worry. "Since Snow is with my baby, I guess that means she’s safe. For now."
"She is," I said firmly. "You can trust me, Mum. I won’t let anything happen to her."
"You’d better not," she snapped. "Zade, listen to me. Get her home. Soon."
"I will," I promised. "But she needs time to recover."
"Fine," Mum huffed. "But once she’s better, I want her back. Snow’s had his chance. Zara belongs with me now. In her pack with her people too. That’s final."
"Mum—"
The line clicked, cutting me off mid-sentence. I sighed, slipping the phone into my pocket. The conversation had left a bitter taste in my mouth, but I couldn’t dwell on it for long.
My body tensed as I sensed a presence nearby.
"You coming out, or are you going to keep lurking like a coward?" I called out sharply.
A low, sinister laugh echoed through the garden, sending a chill down my spine.
From behind one of the pillars, a figure emerged—a woman. Her strides were confident, her dark eyes gleaming with mischief as she approached. Her long auburn hair framed her sharp features, and a knowing smirk played on her lips.
"Who are you?" I asked, my tone hardening.
The woman stopped a few feet away, her gaze sweeping over me with thinly veiled amusement. "I’m surprised you don’t know me," she said, her voice smooth and mocking. "But then again, you’ve been busy babysitting your sister."
"Answer the question," I snapped.
She chuckled, tilting her head. "I’m Delia. The Lycan King’s cousin."
I frowned, studying her carefully. "What do you want?"
"Relax, Alpha Zade," she said, her smirk widening. "I was just curious. It’s not every day we have a member of the Golden Claw Pack gracing our territory."
Her tone was casual, but there was an undercurrent of something darker.
"Well, now you’ve seen me and this is no place for you to hang out in. Move along," I said, turning my back on her.
"Hmm," she mused, ignoring my dismissal. "It is my cousin’s palace. I belong here. You, on the other hand..." Her voice trailed off and when I turned in her direction, she was already standing close to me, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
"What is it with you?"
"Could ask you the same."
I face palmed and shut my eyes. She wasn’t worth it. But then her seductive voice rang out. "Your sister, Zara. She’s... interesting."
I froze, my hand twitching at my side. Slowly, I turned back to face her. "What about Zara?"
"Oh, nothing," Delia said lightly, though her eyes sparkled with mischief. "It’s just fascinating, isn’t it? The reborn witch, destined to unite us all. Quite the prophecy she’s wrapped up in."
My heart skipped a beat. How did she know about Zara’s prophecy? And what is this I hear about her being reborn?
I masked my initial shock. "What do you know?" I demanded, stepping closer.
Delia smirk widened. "More than you think, Alpha."
"You cannot say a thing to anyone, you know that?"
She chuckled softly as her smile grew. "Hmm..."
Before I could press her further, she turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving me with more questions than answers.
As the wind whispered through the garden, I clenched my fists. "Damn it, Zara, what’s going on," I groaned internally.
This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦