The Forbidden Heiress At The All Male Alpha Academy-Chapter 224: War Drums

PRESENTLY...

Alpha Cain and Demon Theodora walked hand in hand into the Hallow forest. As expected, the forest reacted to her presence. She had a pleased expression on her face like she had just arrived home.

They walked further into the forest till they looked like they were inside a black and white photograph. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Cain couldn’t seem to contain his excitement. His eyes had transformed into a light red, and his claws were out. Whatever heart he had left pounded in his chest.

With Theo’s body, the Veil would finally open once she’s close enough. And true domination would start.

However, as they finally arrived at the location, they were met with some resistance. Or rather, an army waiting to stop them.

The South wolves had divided their forces into three: the first would attack the east along with the North, the second would stay at home, and the third would follow the top Alphas of the South - Leonard and Vincent - into the Hallow.

The West had also divided itself into three, with the third badge also presently in the forest and William leading them.

The Alphas stood in the frontline as Cain and Theodora approached them calmly, their expression amused. There was no doubt that they had been expecting this. Now that everyone was aware of the Veil and the power that awaited in it, they wouldn’t let them get to it that easily.

Far behind, standing a little closer to the Veil was Aurelius and Celeste.

Celeste was a few steps back, the one closest to the Veil. His presence stabilised it and the whole forest a little, especially now that he had changed to a woman with the sudden occurrence of the Void Moon.

He glanced at Aurelius, who wouldn’t even spare him a glance. It’s been like this between them ever since the night of the attack on Gravemont. Aurelius had stopped looking at him and only spoke to him if the matter was Pack or war-related. To Aurelius, they were not more than comrades bound by territory.

The friendship was gone.

Celeste looked down at his slim, smooth hands. If they do succeed in closing the Veil for good tonight, he would remain in this form for the rest of his life. But to close the Veil, they would need to get a hold of the pendant that was around Theo’s neck.

Speaking of Theo, Celeste’s eyes turned back to her. Why was she willingly holding Cain’s hand and staring at them like that?

Then, his eyes widened.

It could only mean that it was the demon. But how was it possible when she was still wearing the pendant?

Aurelius, who had the same thought as him, also looked confused, and that was the only thing that made him spare him a short, questioning look.

"I’m not hallucinating, am I?" He asked curtly.

"That’s not Theo," Celeste replied, "I don’t know what has happened since he married her, but that’s no longer Theodora Blackthorn,"

Aurelius’s eyes darkened, "What the hell did he do to her?!!"

Up front, Leonard of the South stepped forward first.

He didn’t shift. None of the Alphas did. This wasn’t that kind of confrontation yet, but his aura rolled out anyway, sharpened by decades of command. The wolves behind him stilled in response.

"Cain," Leonard called, voice carrying through the darkness of the forest, "You walk into sacred ground holding a thing that should not exist. Turn around. This ends here,"

Cain smiled almost boyishly in its delight. His claws flexed lazily at his sides, scraping bark as though the forest itself amused him, "You always did like pretending you still had authority here, Leonard," Cain said lightly, "But you’re standing in my way. That makes you obsolete,"

Vincent stepped up beside Leonard, his presence less forgiving than Leonard’s. He stared at Cain with nothing but pure hatred for what he had once done to his son, "You don’t get to claim this forest," He said, "Not you. Not that thing," His eyes cut to Theodora, and his lip curled despite himself, "The Veil was sealed for a reason by the Veilborns hundreds of years ago for a reason!"

Theo tilted her head, and a gentle smile touched her face, one that was almost fond, but it didn’t reach her eyes, "You say my existence offends you," she said softly, "Yet your blood sings at the thought of the curiosity of what lies beyond the Veil. Hypocrites. Every one of you,"

"Curiosity of demons?" Leonard scoffed, "You’re the hypocrite, then,"

"Oh, come on. Let’s all be sincere with ourselves. If you had the power to control what was inside that tear, we wouldn’t be standing here having this discussion,"

"We fight to protect what we know, what is ours," Vincent said, "And you...," He gave her a slow once-over, his face twisted with disgust, "You’re NOT Theodora Blackthorn,"

"She says that name belongs to her," Theo replied, placing a hand over her own chest, "But it also belongs to me. After all, she’s a reincarnation of me,

"

Cain’s grip on her hand tightened possessively, "You see?" Cain said, eyes gleaming, "Isn’t she magnificent? Even bound, even leashed, she’s more honest than any of you."

Vincent took a sharp step forward. "Leashed?" he snarled, "You Unleash a demon in a Blackthorn body and call it partnership?"

Cain’s smile sharpened, "I put a crown on a queen and asked her to rule with me."

Theo’s gaze slid to Vincent then, studying him like prey that hadn’t realised it was already marked, "You’re afraid," she said gently. "Not of me. Of what happens when wolves are no longer the apex. When obedience becomes natural. You’re afraid of extinction and irrelevance,"

Leonard bared his teeth at her, and the Forest groaned in reply as a little mist seeped out of the tear. It was slowly reacting to Theo’s presence - despite Celeste’s efforts - like a wound being torn open again.

"You won’t reach the Veil," Liam stated from the sidelines, his expression rock hard, "Not tonight."

Cain turned to him, his eyebrow lifting, "Ah. The one who betrayed, " His gaze flicked over William with open curiosity, "I wondered how long you’d keep pretending you were on my side,"

"You knew," Liam said.

"I suspected," Cain replied, "But surely, I am surprised you went this far. That’ll make it more appetising once I have my hands wrapped around your neck,"

Then, Cain spread his arms, gesturing to the forest, the Veil, and the night itself.

"The Void Moon rises," He said, his voice reverent now, "Your blood weakens, and hers awakens." He looked at Theo with something dangerously close to worship, "You brought armies to stop inevitability."

Vincent’s voice dropped, "We brought armies to kill you."

Theo smiled wider, "Oh, I hope you try," she murmured. "I hope you are able to give me a fight close enough for me to call a warmup,"

Leonard’s patience snapped. His aura flared fully now, slamming outward like a war drum.

"You will not open the Veil," He growled, "You will not damn this world for your obsession,"

Cain leaned closer to Theo’s ear, murmuring something only she could hear. Her lips curved in response.

Then she looked back at the gathered Alphas.

"You’re already damned," She said softly. "You just haven’t accepted it yet,"

The air thickened, and the Veil pulsed again, a little stronger this time.

Far behind them, Aurelius’s hand tightened into fists while Celeste gripped his twin daggers even tighter.

At the frontline, Leonard lifted his chin, "Then let history remember this," he said coldly, "As the moment the world chose to resist!"