Enslaved To The Alphas-Chapter 278: Under Wraps

"Have you found out yet who is the one helping the Dark Master from within the Stormhold Pack?" Shiqi Stav, the Grand Witch, asked slowly. Her voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge beneath it, one that made it clear she was already displeased with the answer she expected.

Dorothy Green lowered her gaze slightly before shaking her head. "No," she said quietly. "Whoever it is, they have been hiding very carefully. After the attack on Prince Zen yesterday that person seems to have completely withdrawn. There has been no movement since then. Even now, with the news of the Dark Master’s return spreading, that side remains silent."

She paused, then added, "We have been keeping a close watch on all the known descendants of the dark witches. None of them are making any moves either. No secret meetings. No unusual travel. Nothing that would point us in the right direction."

Shiqi’s fingers tightened slowly against the armrest. "So, you still have not been able to find out who supports him, or where he might be hiding. Molly! It has been so many years! If I didn’t trust you the most, I would have thought that you’ve joined hands with the Wolves and the Dark witches! You have been living as the Great Witch! You should have been more useful!"

The Great Witch shook her head again and fell to her knees, "Mistress! I have failed you! Please forgive me! I have tried my best to find out, but everyone seems to be intent on opposing the dark arts!" Then, as if trying to offer something useful, she lifted her eyes.

"But the timing is in our favor. Most of the alphas and their mates will be gathering here for the Golden Moon mating ceremony. With so many powerful figures in one place, we may finally have the chance to carry out your plans-"

"Hush." Shiqi cut her off sharply. "Quiet." Her eyes flicked toward the walls, as though they might be listening. "Do not speak of future plans so openly. Not here. Not yet."

Dorothy immediately fell silent.

"For now," Shiqi continued, her voice lowering, "we focus only on the present." She leaned forward slightly. "Tell me instead-what about the three lords?"

The Great Witch nodded," They have also been under our control since you put them under the spell. They have been mingling and entertaining as expected, and made no contact with the outside world. Even the guards they had sent out have been ordered to return."

Shiqi nodded. "And what about Emira herself? Where is she?"

"She has not yet stepped out of the Ruins, it seems."

Her eyes sharpened then," What do you mean she has not yet left the Ruins? Why is she still there? What about that person? Aldren?"

"He has already set up traps around the pack and even around the airport, so that we will know as soon as she returns. I don’t understand, Mistress. Why are you intent on keeping her alive this time?"

Shiqi smiled. "This this, Emira is even more special than the last time. Previously, she was the only direct descendant of the dark witches.. A pure lineage. This time, her lineage is even more unique... She carries the blood of the dark witches, the white witches and the werewolves. Which means, I don’t need the three lords or the dark lord to establish my rule. All I have to do is defeat Emira and all three of these races will be within my reach.

The Great Witch frowned," Then why do you want the Lords to mate with Ramona Vye? Wouldn’t it be perfect to simply kill them and..."

"We need them to make the wrong choice," Shiqi continued. "Only then will the Golden Goddess be disappointed. Only then will she take away her blessings and be disappointed with the Wolves, weakening them. And only then will I have the chance to seize the power that belongs to me." Her voice dropped even lower. "But if they make the right choice again..."

She did not finish the sentence as she thought of the last time. The win had been so near. And yet...

The Great Witch shuddered as the sentence was left unsaid.. The last time her mistress had spoken in that tone, everything had been destroyed. The entire Stav clan had perished. The three lords had been killed. Even the Dark Lord and Mira had been sacrificed to her fury.

This time... if something went wrong...She could not even bring herself to imagine the outcome.

After all these decades, she had hoped the Mistress might have let go by now. Not of her thirst for power- she would follow the mistress even unto death- but of the agony that ruled her. Of forcing herself, again and again, to watch the Dark Lord choose someone else.

That is where everything had started. If the man had chosen her mistress to begin with, then everything would have been alright.... While the Great Witch was still lost in her thoughts, Shiqi suddenly straightened.

Her fingers curled slowly and her expression tightened. "Something is wrong," she said quietly.

The Great Witch looked up at once. "Mistress?"

"My intuition has not failed me yet," Shiqi said. "And right now, it is screaming." She rose from her seat. "Go. Summon Councilman Raymon Vye immediately."

Dorothy hesitated only a second before bowing deeply. "At once, Mistress."

As the Great Witch hurried away, Shiqi remained standing alone in the chamber, her gaze fixed on nothing at all.

She would have preferred to keep him trapped. She did not like that he had returned before she could seize power. The next time they met, she wanted to look him in the eye and make him regret rejecting her. Make him regret not loving her.

She clenched her hands. This time, she would make sure that he would die at her hands. Every year. Every year she had offered to release him but he had stubbornly clung to that prison telling her that he had no interest in coming out. But now, the moment that Mira sacrificed her blood, he had returned. Since he valued her so much, even in this life, she would let him see her dying again. And only when he was in agony, crying and begging for her forgiveness, would she kill him...