"My dad?" Naomi couldn't believe what she heard.

Asher stared at her, "yes, what do you think he does in the woods every night?"

Naomi frowned with a shrug, "he is a hunter? I mean, he usually sells his hunt. His men sometimes take their hunts back home and dad do bring his too but not all the time."

Asher smiled then, "your father and his men are wolf hunters under the disguise of regular hunters. People like them has been passed down by generations. From what I know, they had started hunting the werewolves few years after they moved into the woods. In the beginning, they hunt them to kill them for fear that they may kill them too. Like I said, humans are dumb, when they don't understand something, their first thought is always to eliminate it. However, with time, rich people started purchasing their furs to make a fur coat," his eyes turned cold with malice at that and Naomi noticed it and gulped. "And so, they started hunting my people to sell their furs for a fancy coat. Your father is one of them now."

"You hate him," Naomi noticed.

"I hate all wolf hunters, but I hate the people that buys the furs more. I never hesitates to kill whenever I see one of them. Also, they were the reason coming to human realm was forbidden for wolves. Back when wolves and vamps were not in peace, encountering vamps in the human realm was another reason it was forbidden. There is a story that is told in every wolf pack. Over five hundred years ago, three future alphas had come to the human realm, they had encountered some vamps and a fight ensued, they were able to return back alive but they have already committed an offense. Back then, the highest punishment was banishment, turning wolves to rogues. Rogues are wolves without an alpha or a pack and till this day, it is still the biggest punishment. So, obviously, they were to be punished and it was obvious that the alpha blood would end with them because their alpha powers would be taken. However, right before the ritual night, the three future alphas and their pregnant mates took some rogues and left for the human realm. Unfortunately, they encountered wolf hunters and all of them were held hostage. High alpha then thought it was a perfect punishment for them, after all, they defied him so he thought using their furs as coats was the best punishment and so never sent for rescue."

Naomi shuddered at that, "that is cold."

"Yeah, they were not meant to do that but they did and so, High alpha let them serve the worst punishment ever, having their furs worn as coats," Asher shuddered and for a brief moment, he imagined someone wearing his silver fur and he shivered more in fear.

"And your fur is so beautiful," Naomi said, mirroring his thought.

"Well, that is that," he said, closing the chapter, he doesn't want to think of that and he knew he would be killing any human that dares covets his fur. Oh, he would show no mercy. "Want to go back yet?"

Naomi shook her head, resting on him and glancing up at the now dark sky. "The stars are coming out, let's watch them for a while."

"Okay," Asher smiled, and glanced up, watching the tiny light appearing one after the other in the dark sky. His arms wrapped around her torso and like that, they each basked in each other scents and enjoying the silent night.

Down and hidden behind a tree, Gideon stared at the two people standing on top of the tree like they weighed nothing. He was on his way to check if Naomi was back when he stumbled upon them. He had wondered how they had gotten up there because even if the man was the alpha king, he can't necessarily climb up the trees like that. He had wanted to eavesdrop on them but he knew if he went any closer, the alpha king would detect his presence and he couldn't risk that now. Their pack was not far from them and if he doesn't want them to be found by him, he needs to make sure he didn't see him.

He stood there, watching them, seeing how they behaved and wondered if it would ever be possible to sway Naomi's feeling and he knew the answer before he even asked. It was obvious the alpha king was not hiding his identity from her which means that she probably knows everything now, including about their hidden world. He thought about the words of the strange woman, 'the more they are together is the more she is daunting his growth,' which growth? What does she mean? Could it be that there is something about the alpha king that only she knows? Is it something good or bad? But judging from her kind of person and the length she goes to achieve what she wants, it would definitely be something bad. But, is it something he should be worried about? Should he tell the alpha king?

At that, a thought formed in his mind, what if he finds out what the dark woman wants from Naomi and the alpha king and reports to the alpha king, would he use it to buy the freedom of his Eastwood packs? Would the alpha king pardon them because he was diligent and saved his life? Ah forget it, where was he going to find the woman anyway, talk more of finding out her plans. He sighed and stared at the two love birds on the three and knew Alpha Joe was right. Now that he can confirm that Naomi was back, he just needs to find a day that the alpha king is not with her and just kidnap her, that's all. As for making her fall for him, that was impossible judging from the love for the alpha king he could see on her face. Sighing, he turned and went back to his pack.

***

A scrawny looking man curled in a ball at the far end of the room. The room smells so bad like someone had died in it. And it was true. Someone had died in it and not just one but three sisters. Their corpses were still in the room with him and no one had bothered to clear them away and now he could only watch as they decompose right in front of him while making the cell inhabitable for him.

Dark smokes started sipping in from cracks on the wall. He didn't notice at first until the smoke started taking shape and right before his eyes, a woman in dark cloak appeared before him. He was stunned at first before his eyes revealed longing. "It's you, you have finally come for me, at long last. You are here, you are finally here," he cried and crawled to her.

"Hello Kaiden," Catherine smiled. "Long time no see, how has the new demon king been treating you." She glanced around and saw the corpse of the three witch sisters, "I see your witches have met their fate, how sad."

"Why are you only coming now, I have been waiting for you," Kaiden cried.

"Waiting for me? Kaiden, you failed me. You didn't live up to the end of your deal. The plan was that I take the demon king out of the way and you bring his son to me, but you failed, you failed Kaiden."

"He woke up, you told me he wouldn't be waking up anytime soon. How was I to know that he would suddenly wake up?"

"What were you expecting? His mate died, of course he would wake up. Have you no fate in the mating mark? And I also know that she played a role. The two of them are her favorite after all. She created their races just because of the both of them, of course she would play a role."

Kaiden stared at her, he couldn't understand what she was rambling about but he didn't care, all he knows was that she was there and he wouldn't let her go without him.

"Well anyways, I can finally fulfil my own destiny. I can feel the time fast approaching and soon, I will show my worth and they would have no choice but let me back in and I would finally leave this godforsaken world. Do you know how long I have been here? How long I have been cast here for punishment? They rejected my creation but accepted hers in open arms. And to top it up, they took a huge part of me away. But it's okay, he is fighting his way to come back to me, but he doesn't know that. It's good you weren't able to get him when he was a baby, killing him would have been a waste. But now, he is going to help me to attain my throne, he is building me, and with each passing day making me stronger. As long as she doesn't step in, as long as she doesn't learn of her origin, there is nothing stopping me from wining this time."

Kaiden couldn't take her rambling anymore and just asked "what are you talking about?"

Catherine chuckled, "you don't have to know that. You should be more concerned about why I am here."

Kaiden felt the fear in his heart immediately, "why are you here?"

"I know about his curse on you, oh, your dear younger brother sure hates you. Tch tch," she shook her head, "and you thought you took his mate from him but you didn't, and he has been living the best of his life."

"Stop going around in circles, what do you want?"

"How about you put that curse of yours to a great use for me and in turn, I will get you out of this miserable shithole?" she chuckled, her lips curving up to reveal a dangerous smile.