She realized that Chase possessed extraordinary ntal fortitude, sothing no Alpha could easily emulate. No ordinary werewolf would have survived what he endured, even a normal Alpha would have a hard ti, let alone restraining the primal urge to dominate and wreak havoc. To bow his head, to feign submission before his enemy while suppressing every instinct screaming for blood, for revenge, was nothing short of remarkable.
For soone like Chase to co here and reveal all of this ant only one thing: he was exposing his most vulnerable self. He wasn’t asking for trust through words alone; he was demanding it through action, even going so far as to show them the curse eating away at his own body.
Had he not been born with Alpha blood, that curse would have killed him long ago. Defying that man at all should have been a death sentence. And perhaps that was the greatest irony of all.
The one who believed he had tad a loyal dog never realized that the beast was only pretending to kneel, while baring its fangs in secret, waiting patiently for the perfect mont to sink its teeth into his throat and tear it out.
"As for whether I’m afraid of dying..." Chase smirked.
There was sothing layered in his gaze, sharp and deliberate. Blood still stained the corner of his mouth as he steadied himself, yet even in that state, he never once bowed his head. He stood tall, unwavering, his posture a declaration of conviction, which showed his Alpha pride.
Despite everything he had endured, that pride had not faded. If anything, it had been reforged. Pain and torture had not broken him; they had taught him restraint, patience, and how to beco stronger than before.
And what he was telling Addison and Levi was not deception.
Even if Addison were not his mate, Chase would have co all the sa to deliver this warning. He had not crossed this distance out of desperation, but intent. He wanted to forge a connection, perhaps even a future collaboration, because they shared a common enemy.
After all, they say that ’the enemy of my enemy is my friend.’
And now that a far better possibility had presented itself, Chase saw no reason to turn it down.
Perhaps even the Moon Goddess had seen his unwavering conviction and taken pity on him. That was why he had been gifted a mate like Addison, soone with status, connections, strength, and powerful Alpha mates who could support him just as he could support her.
The more he thought about it, the more it felt arranged, as if every thread had been woven by the Moon Goddess herself. She had connected all of them for a reason. For Chase, that reason had been simple, and that was to give him sothing worth fighting for.
And this ti, it should no longer be just about revenge.
Now, it was about protecting his true mate.
This ti, he could no longer charge headfirst into danger like a man ready to burn himself in the fire. He had to be careful, asured, because his actions no longer affected only himself. Addison now stood beside him, and she was soone he needed to protect.
And more than that, Addison herself would inevitably be drawn into this conflict. She, too, would have to fight because she would be dragged down into their enemies’ twisted sches, even if she liked it or not.
Unfortunately, even after clawing his way up the ranks and becoming that man’s personal killing machine, Chase had never been really trusted. That man was far too cautious, careful enough to keep his intentions buried so deep that no one could uncover them. Chase didn’t know what they were planning, nor why Addison had always been their target.
"Then, what did you co here to tell us?" Levi asked with a serious questioning tone, yanking Chase back to the present. While Chase sank into his thoughts, Levi forced himself and his wolf to calm down. Now that his head was clear, he needed answers. He needed to know why Chase had returned at this point.
"I had a bad premonition," Chase said through a strained breath. "I just... thought I should warn you. Be careful of the locust swarm... they’re not normal... ugh—"
He never got to finish.
Chase’s face twisted violently as the curse churned inside him, his gut tightening as if it were being torn apart and rearranged from the inside. The pain hit him in brutal waves; it was sharp, relentless, and fucking unbearable.
Seeing Chase grit his teeth against the pain, Addison gently rubbed his shoulder again, hoping to ease his pain. After a few seconds, the curse began to subside, slowly, but the damage had already been done, and another mouthful of blood splattered on the ground.
Levi and Addison exchanged a look. If the curse had been triggered just by Chase speaking, then sothing was deeply wrong with the locust swarm, sothing they didn’t yet understand. And the fact that Chase had co all this way despite the risk ant it was serious. Very serious. The question was... what exactly were they facing?
Chase’s breathing grew ragged, each gasp sounding strained, almost unnatural, like a man drowning on dry land. His body was reaching its limit; it couldn’t endure much more of the curse’s assault. Even his wolf seed to be struggling to keep up, unable to fully heal whatever unseen damage was being inflicted from within.
And based on what Chase had managed to say, it was clear he didn’t have answers either, only a warning born from instinct. But sotis, instinct was enough. Especially now, when they were standing at a critical turning point, and ignoring such a warning could cost them everything.
Levi didn’t want to give up so easily. "Do you have any clue —" he started to ask.
Before he could finish, Addison shot him a sharp look, silently telling him not to push. Chase had already gone beyond his limits just to warn them.
Catching Addison’s gaze, Levi pressed his lips together. He knew she wasn’t playing favorites; she was being realistic. Chase’s body truly might not withstand another trigger of the curse.
Still, worry gnawed at him. If Chase’s warning was as serious as it sounded, then ti might not be on their side. But at the sa ti, they were already preparing to deal with the locust swarm. Whether they liked it or not, they would have to move forward with what little information they had.
Levi forced himself to set aside his prejudice against Chase, for now, and spoke evenly. "We’re already planning to deal with the locust swarm. They won’t be able to wreak havoc for long."
Chase shook his head as he struggled to catch his breath. Addison’s hand on his shoulder was grounding, soothing in a way he hadn’t expected. He managed a weak smile in her direction, gratitude flickering through the pain. For that mont alone, the pain felt almost worth it.
"No..." he said hoarsely. "If it’s that man... then it won’t be that easy." He paused, choosing his words with care. "I don’t think dealing with the locust swarm will be simple."
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