The Apocalyptic Queen's Werewolf Journey (Thora and Darius) novel Chapter 42

**Chapter 42 Into the Fountain**

**Thora’s POV:**

Before the chaotic surge of Shirley’s wolf power could spiral out of control again, Oliver swiftly intervened, pulling her away with urgency. He turned to me, his expression a mix of concern and determination. “Ms. Green, I need to get her out of here.”

I nodded in agreement, my heart racing.

Shirley had managed to sneak out, and with her volatile wolf power, leaving her in this environment felt akin to leaving a ticking time bomb unattended. The tension in the air was palpable, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that danger lurked just beneath the surface.

Yet, I found myself genuinely taken aback. We had only crossed paths once, but she had displayed fierce loyalty, standing up against a group of strangers who posed a threat to me. It was both surprising and oddly heartwarming.

As soon as Oliver and Shirley vanished into the crowd, Hazel leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper that only I could catch. “Thora, you’re quite the character. First, you get involved with that Alpha, Mr. Blackwood, and now you’re flirting with new guys at the banquet.”

Before I could respond, she raised her voice, drawing the attention of several nearby guests. “Thora, you have a fiancé! Isn’t it a bit inappropriate to be so cozy with other men in public like this?”

Her words sliced through the air, and I felt the weight of the onlookers’ gazes shifting toward us. I let out a cold laugh, stepping forward to confront her directly. “Having a fiancé and getting close to other men is still far better than someone who cozies up to another woman’s fiancé, don’t you think?”

This kind of petty trash talk, relying on volume for sympathy, was beneath me, but I refused to let her tarnish my name without a fight.

“What are you implying?” Hazel’s voice turned shrill, tinged with a faux sense of grievance. “I was merely trying to remind you. Even if you’re upset, you can’t slander me and ruin my reputation like this…”

“Look at that. You sure caught on quickly,” I replied, shrugging nonchalantly.

Here was a werewolf from a pureblood Alpha lineage, yet she resorted to these underhanded tactics—playing the victim and slinging mud. It was a shame to see such potential wasted on such trivialities.

“Thora, Caleb doesn’t like you because you have no self-respect,” she shot back, her tone dripping with disdain.

I couldn’t help but laugh coldly at her accusation. “So that’s your excuse for seducing someone else’s fiancé?”

The crowd around us grew larger, whispers of judgment rippling through the air.

“Isn’t that Hazel? Seducing her own sister’s fiancé at such a young age. What will she be like when she grows up?”

**Darius’s POV:**

In my eagerness to see Thora, I had crammed all my work into a tight schedule, sacrificing my rest to finish tasks more swiftly.

Throughout the drive, I pushed Carl to the limit; he drove like a man possessed, the car nearly skidding as we raced toward the banquet.

Finally, we arrived at the venue, and as I stood at the entrance to the banquet hall, I straightened my collar, determined to present myself in the best light possible for Thora.

But as soon as I stepped inside, my heart dropped. There, in the midst of the crowd, I saw Caleb shoving Thora into the fountain.

“Fuck!” The curse slipped from my lips, a rush of anger igniting within me as I sprinted toward the scene.

“Damn it, he actually dared to push Thora! What if she can’t swim?” Panic gripped me as Lorcan, my wolf, slammed against my mental barriers, desperate to take control and save her from this idiot.

I struggled to suppress Lorcan’s impulses, channeling my wolf power to propel myself faster. I reached the edge of the fountain just as Thora fell, and without hesitation, I dove in, plunging into the cool water where she had landed.