Chapter 114
AS HELGA SET foot in the palace of Narva once again after 15 long years, her heart pounded against her chest. She couldn't believe this day had finally arrived, that she was returning to the place filled with memories of her childhood. The garden and building were almost unrecognizable, yet there was an odd sense of familiarity. Her hand couldn't help but tremblie, not because of anxiety, rather it was from the bittersweet realization that her once vibrant and loving home now lay cold and dead, devoid of all life.
"Is this really the palace now?" she couldn't help but ask as she looked at Riovanni, “It seemed like no one was managing this place,”
"I don't have a mate who would help me manage the palace, but appearances can be deceiving... It may not look like it, but the palace is clean so don't owrry." he answered with a nonchalant shrug, and that somehow baffled her. It wasn't about the cleanliness she was talking about, rather it was the lack of importance given to this place after they took it over. This place held so much history, yet they were treating it as nothing more than a mere shelter. It was such an insult-however, she didn't voice her frustration, knowing nothing would change. She would leave this place soon, and if they were lucky, this place might return to its rightful owner. That is, if it can survive the impending pack war.
"You didn't find your mate yet?"Helga's steps felt heavy and labored as she made her way through the crowd of servants and warriors who had lined up to greet their king's return. Their eyes, once filled with contempt and animosity towards her, now quickly averted to bow before the king. A shiver ran down Helga's spine as she realized that they just saw her as a mere hostage, rather than the Queen of Verdentia.
It was maddening how they continued to act as though they were above her, with no intention of acknowledging her true position in the kingdom. To them, she was just someone who would die soon.
"No, not yet." Riovanni's words snapped Helga back to reality, and she turned to face him as they continued on their path. She was just about to respond when his commanding presence took over, his Alpha aura radiating as he glared at the servants and warriors who couldn't seem to take their eyes off of her. "Keep your heads down!"NôvelDrama.Org © 2024.
Everyone immediately bowed their heads in unison. It seemed that even though their loyalty didn't exactly belong to Riovanni, they still feared his power as the Lycan Alpha and reigning King.
"Why are you getting so worked up as soon as you arrived?" Helga's entire body shuddered in response to the chilling voices that echoed through her ears. They were unfamiliar, yet she knew without a doubt who they belonged to. As her gaze landed on the front door, where the previous Lycan King stood with an air of dominance, her wolf stirred inside her. She gritted her teeth, trying to reign in Stella's wild instincts.
Every fiber of her being longed to transform and lash out at the one who had taken everything away from her - her beloved family, loyal packs, and treasured home. But she knew that giving in to her instincts now would only cause her harm and ruin their plans. So, she stood there, trembling with barely contained rage, as memories flooded back of all that this man
had stolen from her.
"Why are they standing here anyway, father? I told you I don't want them greeting me like this. We're not some kind of Royalty." Riovanni let out a frustrated sigh as he raked his fingers through his disheveled hair. Helga could see the tension in his jaw and the furrow of his brow, and she knew he was struggling to maintain his composure. But then, she winced when he grabbed her wrist with a tight grip and Riovanni pulled her along beside him, ignoring her attempts to break free.
She stumbled slightly on the uneven ground as they approached her father, but Riovanni only released her with a harsh tug, as if trying to prove that he was not treating her any differently than anyone else. In that moment, Helga realized the weight of his actions and understood that he was putting on a facade to deceive his father.
"I did as you told me, I brought her here," he said, causing the previous Lycan King to chuckle with an edge of darkness. His eyes seemed to bore into Helga's soul as if he was trying to provoke her wolf to show itself. But she refused to give in to his attempts at provocation. She stood tall, her chin lifted defiantly as if to show him that she wasn't afraid of his power or his presence.
"Aren't you going to greet me?” Demian's question held a mocking tone, but Helga refused to let it bother her.
"Why would I?" Helga's reply was met with a collective gasp from the members of Riovanni's pack. Even he himself was taken aback by her boldness. In this pack, no one dared to speak so bluntly to their old King, not even him. Riovanni's concern for Helga's safety quickly rose, fearing that her father may react harshly. But to everyone's surprise, Demian let out a deep chuckle, causing Helga to furrow her brow in confusion and disbelief.
"You reminded me of your mother,” He started to reach out and touch her shoulder, but she swiftly moved away, her gaze still locked with his. The intensity of their eye contact sent a shiver down Demian's spine. It was undeniable that she was the daughter of the previous Alpha and Luna of the royal blood pack, making her the rightful heir to the throne. And this courageous woman was born for greatness, he couldn't deny that.
"It's surprising that they were able to keep you hidden for so long." his words carried a certain weight as if to remind Helga that he was still someone of importance. Despite no longer being the King, Demian's presence exuded power and influence that could make her life miserable. "That's just too bad that I managed to find out their secret."
"So what? You think you, finding me would scare me? You, who had been easily fooled by my parents that you couldn't even get rid of?" Helga's brows rose, her wolf instincts threatening to take control. But before things could escalate, Riovanni stepped in, not wanting the situation to escalate any further.
"That's enough!" Helga jolted as he grabbed her wrist again and said, "If you continue to speak to my father in that tone, I will not hesitate to end your life on the spot."
The words were a stark reminder, delivered with a sharp tone. Riovanni's cautioning Helga not to provoke his father echoed in her ears, and she immediately understood the gravity of the situation. Taking a deep breath, she nodded in agreement, but chose to remain silent and simply rolled her eyes in frustration. Demian couldn't help but smirk at her defiance,
finding her both stunningly beautiful and fiercely independent. These traits only made her more alluring in his
eyes...
He had initially planned to dispose of her, to ensure that no one would challenge his son for the throne. But now, as he studied her with interest, his intentions began to shift. No longer just a pawn in his game, he saw her as a potential toy, one that could bring him great satisfactionm and pleasure.