Trapped with the Alpha King (Althea) novel Chapter 42

Lunaris Dominion

At a secluded clearing near the Southwest borders of the Realm of the Moon, the vast continent ruled by werewolves, Cain, with his son Rett, had arranged a secret meeting with Ruel, Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack.

It was a dangerous move, but Cain was willing to take the risk if it meant securing Ruel’s loyalty.

“Do you still want to support Gavriel after he killed your most beloved daughter, Cara?” Cain’s voice was low, coaxing, his words sharpened to pierce the wound still raw in Ruel’s heart.

He knew how much Alpha Ruel adored Cara. The man had once boasted endlessly about her, certain his precious daughter would rise to become Alpha Queen after being handpicked as one of Gavriel’s elite royal warriors.

Ruel’s eyes burned with grief and fury. “It’s because of your daughter that mine is dead!” he spat.

Cain only smirked. “Is it really? Think, Ruel. Gavriel didn’t have to kill Cara for attempting to poison Althea. Althea is my daughter, the one he despises most. Do you think he truly acted out of justice? No… Gavriel wanted to remind you what he is. A tyrant. A man who kills on a whim, without hesitation. He wants you trembling in fear, knowing he can wipe you out and your entire pack with a single command if you so much as displease him.”

Ruel clenched his fists but said nothing, his silence betraying the truth Cain needed. Cain pressed harder, his voice curling like a serpent.

“We both know Gavriel is becoming uncontrollable. Whenever that damned Lycan in him surfaces, he craves blood, destruction—he is unfit to rule this continent. But me…” Cain leaned closer, his smirk widening. “I also carry Lycan blood. I am far more suited than him.”

It was true. Cain was no ordinary werewolf. Like Gavriel, he bore the blood of the Lycan, but his lineage came from the lesser Lycanthros, a step below the ancient Lunaris Dominion, the most powerful line of all.

Gavriel was the last living heir of that dominion, his Lycan a force rooted in pure, ancient blood. Cain’s power, though formidable, would never reach the same height.

But in Cain’s mind, none of that mattered. He didn’t need Gavriel’s power. He only needed Gavriel gone.

And Althea… she was not a burden but a weapon. Having her as Gavriel’s breeder could turn the tide in his favor. If she bore him a child, that child could become the foundation of his legacy.

Yes. Everything depended on Gavriel’s fall.

“Nobody knows if what you’re saying is even true,” Ruel scorned, his voice sharp. “For years, Gavriel has kept peace and order across our continent. This so-called uncontrollable Lycan you speak of could be nothing more than a lie you’ve invented to tarnish his name.”

Cain chuckled, his smirk sharp with confidence. “Do you really think that will happen when Gavriel’s fated mate is my daughter? Althea is already inside. All we need to do is assist her. With your daughters in the court, I can establish a steady line of communication with her.”

Ruel’s brows knitted together. “And how certain are you that your daughter will even help you? I’ve heard she’s just a mere human. What can she possibly do?!”

Cain’s gaze hardened, his voice dripping with scorn. “Don’t underestimate the power of a woman over a man. Did you forget how easily your daughter perished because of how possessive Gavriel is over my daughter, who is his fated mate? His Lycan heritage will ultimately be his undoing. As his instincts take over, the Lycan soul will dominate him. It’s only a matter of time before Althea has the Alpha King under her grasp.”

Ruel shook his head deliberately and shot back, “Do you think she would harm the Alpha King, knowing her own life would be on the line? The Alpha King marked her. The mate bond is established. If he dies, she dies with him! Are you saying you’d sacrifice your daughter, too, just to bring Gavriel down?”

Cain’s lips curved in a grim smile, his voice laced with certainty. “Althea is my blood, and I trust her completely. She will do whatever I ask of her, even if it means giving her life for me. She’s already done it once, for the sake of her half-siblings and the pack. You know well how she offered herself to spare them.”

Unknown to Cain, a devious smirk tugged at Rett’s lips as he quietly listened to the two Alphas argue about Althea. It had been so long since he last saw his dear, innocent sister. But his smirk slowly faded, his expression darkening at the thought of the Alpha King enjoying what he had long yearned to claim for himself.