Claimed by the Mad Lycan King

Neriah was a close friend of Seara’s; she would be devastated to learn about her death, especially since Neriah came at Seara’s invitation.

And with Seara’s current condition, Zade didn’t think it would be a wise idea to stress her out further.

”Understood,” Ace said; he glanced at Seara, who was sleeping peacefully. Some of her wounds had healed, and her bruises had slowly faded away.

However, Ace was still worried about Zade. He didn’t know how well Seara’s presence could hold back the beast within Zade, because even now he could still feel the murderous intent emanating from the Lycan king.

One wrong move and Zade might end up killing Seara too; even so, separating them at a time like this was not an option. Seeing how obsessed Zade was, he could go berserk with Seara out of his sight.

”Regarding the three packs, Zephyr had been handling the matter, but you still need to make an appearance to resolve the situation.” Ace continued; he reported everything that had been going on and what options they had.

He also told Zade about the wild theory concerning the sudden appearance of a thousand wolves that disappeared without a trace.

Altair and Asher wanted to have a private discussion with him about that issue as well as about him losing control again. This time, it was different, since the era had changed and his madness had caused many more complications.

There were so many things that Zade had to handle, but he couldn’t focus on any of them, since his attention was fully on his mate, who was still recovering after what he had done to her.

Zade was also still pissed at Jane and Leia for bringing Seara away from the protection and causing her harm.

But Ace would defend Leia and say that if it were not for Seara, at some point, Altair and Asher would eventually manage to kill him.

”If there is nothing else, you can leave,” Zade said after he gave some orders to Ace and Zephyr to handle while he couldn’t be present in person.

Ace was a little bit hesitant. ”Zade, I say this not because I am against you, but you need to figure out how to make the alphas support your choice of mate.” Ace glanced at Seara. ”The situation is still heated. Many packs wanted to fill the position that the three main packs left, but not all of them will entirely agree with you having a runt as a mate.”

He put everything on the table about how it would be with the other alphas, and it was not like Zade wouldn’t be aware of that, but right now, he was still a mess and couldn’t think straight.

”I will think about it,” Zade said curtly.

Ace wanted to say something else, but then he held his tongue and chose to leave. He didn’t want to push Zade further; it wouldn’t give a good result.

”Leia will stop by this afternoon to bring lunch.” Ace didn’t ask for permission. He simply stated it as he was about to walk out the door, and when Zade didn’t give any reaction, Ace took it as he agreed with it.

Once Ace left, Zade returned to the chair beside Seara’s bed and held her hand again. He stayed there until morning came.

***

”You killed Neriah,” Oliver said to the red-eyed man who was sitting on his windowsill. He still found it incredibly disturbing that this man could go in and out of someone else’s body, using them as a host.

Whether you were a man or a woman, or a shifter or not, it didn’t matter to him. He could influence them the same.

And when he was not inhabiting someone else’s body, he was like—a ghost? Oliver couldn’t even describe it in words. And whenever it happened, Oliver wouldn’t be able to see his reflection, as if he didn’t exist in the first place.

This red-eyed man still didn’t give him his name; until now, Oliver didn’t know how to address him. He would come and go as he pleased.

The only one he knew was the woman named Lilith, which was the same name as the demon.

”She has served her purpose; I don’t need her anymore.” He wriggled his legs as his hair shone brightly under the light of the sun.

He looked like an angel, but then, the devil was also an angel before they fell.

”You promised her that you would avenge her mate,” Oliver reminded him, because if he could break his promise to Neriah, he could do the same to him, and he had no power to say otherwise.

”Yes, and I will. But I didn’t say anything about her being alive to witness it, right?” He winked playfully at Oliver.

This was what you got when you made a pact with the devil. They would find a way to cheat on you, and you would still be grateful for that until you found out the truth. And when it happened, it was already too late.

”She should have asked in detail about what she wanted.” The devil shrugged his shoulders and then giggled. ”That’s not my fault. She should be smarter than that.”

Oliver clenched his fists. He had fallen into this matter so deeply that he didn’t think he could get out now. ”Will you dispose of me too when I am not useful?” He couldn’t help but ask.

If this was how easy this devil disposed of someone after they were no longer useful, the same thing would happen to him as well.

”Nah, don’t be so dramatic. You will always be useful, Daven,” he said, calling him by his old name. ”The unresolved mate bond between you and her will always be useful.” He grinned from ear to ear.

The mate bond. That was what this devil needed, though Oliver didn’t know what he was going to do with it.

”Do you have a different body to be your host?” Oliver asked after some time.

”Yes.”