Screw My Childhood Sweetheart His Alpha Brother Marked Me First novel Chapter 194

Chapter 194

Ivan shook his head. There was a weariness to him. One that spoke of a bone–deep fatigue. “Our world is sick. It has been for generations. The quest for ultimate power has left us out of balance.”

He turned to me. “Has anyone told you how shifters first came to be?”

“No,” I answered quietly.

Ivan’s gaze went unfocused, as if he were seeing a scene play out in front of his eyes. “Generations ago, that delicate balance was at risk. Lands that had once been dominated by animals were being overrun with humans. These humans took and took from the land without giving back. When an entire pack of wolves was slaughtered, the fates were not happy. They weaved their magic, binding wolf with man, and shifters were born.”

He leaned back against the sofa as if needing the support. “For a time, it helped. Man grew to understand animal and there was peace. Balance. The fates rewarded their new creation with gifts. As long as balance remained in their ranks and with the world around them, those gifts would grow.”

“But now they’re dying.” My words slipped out.

“They are. The fates aren’t happy with us. They haven’t been for some time. This is their message to us, but we aren’t heeding it.”

“I can’t imagine they were all that thrilled with the king and court system Kaleb is so obsessed with either.”

Ivan’s eyes flared. “You know about that?”

I let out a chuckle that was void of amusement. “Kaleb won’t shut up about it.”

Ivan’s mouth pressed into a hard line. “There was a time when the royal system worked. It wasn’t as we think of kings and queens today. They took the well–being of the packs on their shoulders, determined to protect and care for their people. They helped broker peace when there were issues and made sure that precious balance remained in place.”

“What happened?”

His knuckles bleached white as he gripped the couch tighter. The quest for power and control. The kings that followed wanted all of the benefits with none of the hard work. They didn’t care for their people’s well–being, only what the people could provide them.”

Knox moved in closer to me. “There was an uprising, which is when the council and Quad were created.”

Ivan smiled at Knox. “You’ve been studying.”

shanos our future.”

-Marked Ma First!

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Chapter 194

“You’ll be a wonderful leader when it’s your time, pup.”

Knox glared at him. “I’m not a pup.”

“Maybe not. But to an old fart like me, you’re all pups.”

Anson stifled a laugh.

“But the Quad is basically a four–pronged king,” I argued. “How is that any better?”

“You have a point there,” Ivan said with a sigh. “The trials were supposed to reveal those destined to lead…”

“But they only show you those who are the strongest or most gifted. That can easily be someone who is power–hungry, not who has the best interests of the shifter world at heart,” I finished for him.

“You’re right.”

“How do we remove Kaleb from the Quad?” I had to believe there was a loophole. Some way to cut him off from any semblance of power.

Ivan’s gaze zeroed in on me. “There’s only one way. You have to kill him.”

Opening the door,I stepped out on to the back porch. Early morning mist swept out from the forests. It swirled in little funnels and then wafted into the air. I pulled Knox’s sweatshirt tighter around me. We’d opted to stay in his old room at the lodge last night, wanting to be close in case anything happened.

“Are you an early riser too, Senna?”

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