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Lahat ng Kabanata ng Claimed By The Darkwood Brother : Kabanata 131 - Kabanata 139

139 Kabanata

131

NATEThe door slammed open and I nearly dropped the glass of whiskey I’d been nursing. It had been hours since I’d last heard anything. So, I settled and my nerves were strained from the waiting.The door opened and George walked into the room. "Nate, there's been news," he began."Gemma?" I asked. I hope that there is good news. But, the look on George's face was anything but I didn't think it was any good news."You're not going to like this," he said, "News just came in: the rebellion failed. They have Gemma."I froze. "What do you mean?" I asked."Astra betrayed them. She was working for Ragnarok all along." George said.My mother, the Luna Queen, walked into the room as we were still speaking. She stood her lips pressed into a thin line. “Why am I hearing around from the servants, Nathaniel?” she demanded. "Why didn’t you tell me about Gemma?”I set the glass down on my desk with a soft thud. “Mother, I’m only just finding out now myself,” I replied. I didn’t have time for this;

132

NATEThe very next morning, I stood in my office, staring at the map spread out on my desk. I was thinking of the best spot to infiltrate their territory. Astra had told us the weak spots but now, I couldn't trust that her information was any good.I had to find a way to bring them all back, no matter what it took. I folded my hands into fists. My nails dug into my palms as I tried to keep my anger in check.Leonard stood, waiting for my next orders. I could see the tension in his eyes. The White Wolf was being held hostage. I knew what everyone expected from me.The whispers had already started. Rumors spread like wildfire through the palace. They think that I, the Alpha King, would bring the full might of our forces down upon Ragnarok’s stronghold and make them pay for capturing the White Wolf.It wasn’t a decision I could make just like that. There were still too many things I didn't know. I could make a wrong move and all the hostages would be killed without a second thought.I to

133

NATEI stared at Ragnarok, his words echoing in my mind. I would never buy the idea that Gemma would betray me to side with him. I wanted to tell him he was delusional but the longer I looked into his eyes, the more I saw that he believed every word he was saying.I suddenly couldn’t help the doubt that I suddenly felt. Gemma had changed. She didn't hate me anymore. There was no need to leave. But, what if there was some truth to his words? What if she insisted on going simply because of that? No. I shouldn't think that way. I knew Gemma. She wouldn't just leave like that.I took a deep breath. I needed to control my emotions. This was what my mother meant. Gemma was clouding my judgment and I needed to think clearly. I needed to figure out what game Ragnarok was playing.Was this all about capturing Gemma or provoking me? There had to be more. It was calculated and evil.“Why are you doing this?” I asked, instead. I wasn't going to flat-out call him out for his lie yet. “What do you

134

NATERagnarok looked me in the eyes, his face mere inches away from mine. "I'd like to see you try," he replied, leaning closer with a growl. He bared his teeth at me, his wolf causing his facial features to change.I raised my hands, signaling at my guards to stand down. "Release them," I repeated.When he saw that I was not scared of how close he was and that he could claw at me and cause a lot of damage, he stepped back, smiling. "Unfortunately, I cannot do that." He said."Why not?" I asked."Simple. They entered my territory without my knowledge and started a fight in my fortress to try and overthrow me." He replied."A trap that you laid," I bit back."Still a trap either way," He added. "I'll see to it that they are punished according to the way of the North.""You mean, kill them?" I asked, trying not to let my anger get the best of me."The way of the North," he repeated, calmly.I took a deep breath. I couldn’t afford to let him rattle me. I needed to keep my composure.“Jus

135

GEMMAI stood my ground and glared into her eyes. "I'd like to see you try," I dared her.Astra growled but then she turned back to pick up the chain. She gathered up the chains in her arms. "You have no idea what it’s like to fight for survival. You have no idea how it feels to be pushed to the edge and you have nowhere and no one to turn to.”I took a step closer. “That’s where you're wrong. I know exactly how it feels. And I never want to find myself there again. It's why I want to fight for something real,” I said. “I want to fight for people who don't have anyone to turn to. Not for your own selfish needs. I know what it means to do what’s right.”Her eyes darkened. She suddenly moved, snapping the chains around my right wrist. It was cold against my skin. She removed the cuffs Ragnarok had put on me back in the throne room.Astra yanked the chain, dragging me across the room back to where the bed was. She took the end of the chain and walked closer to the wall. She fastened the h

136

NATEI asked everyone to meet in the council room. It felt colder than usual. The walls seemed to close in on me.I sat at the head of the long table, tapping my fingers against the armrest of my chair. George sat across from me, his brow furrowed. Leonard tried his best to remain still, keeping his face calm and his lips pressed into a tight line. Each of us was waiting for someone to speak. I had done a brief of the meeting with Ragnarok.We were waiting for someone to suggest the next move. The Luna Queen stood by the fireplace. Her back was straight and she had her hands folded behind her back. Her golden hair was pinned back tightly, and her eyes held that determined look.I've noticed that look since I was a child. She always had it when she was thinking. Even so, I caught a flicker of doubt in her eyes. She turned and scanned the room.Ragnarok had made it public that Gemma, the White Wolf, my mate and the strongest wolf of our kind, was now on his side. He had claimed so and t

137

GEMMAI couldn't get my mind off the fact that I needed to speak to Matteo. My wolf, Nala, was also insisting. I felt that I could get my answers from her.The room was colder now. I was sitting on the ground and it was causing my bones to ache. I shifted slightly, wincing as the cuffs around my wrists tugged against my skin. The chains rattled. I needed to focus.Matteo. I had to talk to Matteo.The idea kept eating at me. He was Astra’s right hand, he was the one person who could’ve seen this coming. If anyone knew what she was planning, it had to be him. But could I trust him to tell me the truth? Was he in on it too?I shifted again, pulling against the chains. I needed to see if they could break. They were solid, I couldn't break them. It was no use. I had to be smart about this. If I could get Matteo to come to me and confront him directly, maybe I could get some answers from him.The door creaked open and I turned in that direction. I was expecting Astra to return, but it wasn’

138

GEMMAI came to talk,” he said, glancing back at the door as he took a few steps towards me, “And I don't have much time.”I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. “Did you know? Did you know about Astra’s plans? Right from the very beginning.” I said quietly.He hesitated. “Gemma, it’s complicated,” he began, but I cut him off right there.“Don’t give me that, Matteo. It's complicated?” I snapped. “I trusted you, Matteo, I believed in you. It wasn't supposed to be complicated until you and Astra stabbed everyone in the back. Did you know what she was planning?”He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I suspected,” he admitted. “But I didn’t know for sure. It came as a bit of a shock to me too. I had my doubts. I thought that Astra was finally starting to leave her brother's shadow but, I was wrong.”I listened to him intently as he spoke. “Astra, she’s been keeping things from me too.” he continued.I don't know why, but I was suddenly angry. “So, you still had an idea

139

GEMMAI watched her. She looked so genuine. But, I couldn't trust her anymore. I could hear the conflict in her voice though.It was the way she was trying to convince herself that she was doing the right thing but her mind was conflicted. She was struggling between duty and doubt. I needed to seize this moment.“There’s still time to make things right,” I said. “You don’t have to go down this path, Astra. You can still choose a different way. You can make this work.”She shook her head, a small smile on her lips. “It’s not that simple, Gemma,” she replied. “There are too many lives at stake. There are too many things already set in motion.”“But you’re the one in control,” I insisted. “You’re the one who can stop this before it goes too far. Think about your people. Think about what they need. Is this what they would want?”She looked away. I saw her jaw tighten. I could see the way her thoughts were turning over and over. For a moment, I dared to hope that maybe I could get through

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