Zayn lifted his hand, causing Dace to flinch.
For a second, everyone thought Zayn was about to hit him.
But he didn’t. His hand moved past the King’s shoulder—fast. Then came the sound. A low hiss.
Everyone turned just in time to see Zayn grab something long and wriggling—a snake.
A black, poisonous one. It coiled around his arm, fangs ready to strike.
Zayn didn’t even blink. He looked down at the snake with a calm, cold stare. Then slowly, he started to squeeze.
His fingers tightened. The snake twisted and thrashed, wrapping tighter around his arm until it breathed its last.
Zayn let the limp body fall into the waterwith a dull thud.
Then Zayn spoke, his voice calm and even. “My apologies for startling you, your Majesty. You were seconds away from being bitten.”
Dace couldn’t even meet his gaze. He was flustered.. “I... I didn’t hear it.”
“I did,” Zayn replied.
Zayn retreated away from Dace. His expression remained unchanged as he lowered his body back into the water. Finally, he could relax a little. No one dared speak for a while.
Ezra, still quiet in the background, let a tiny smirk slip across his face.
Dace didn’t say a word. His pride had already taken a hit. Now, the man he’d been mocking just saved his life.
Eventually, Zayn broke the silence.
“What were you saying previously, my King?” He asked casually.
Dace, not about to lose, decided to speak up. He was the Alpha King after all, how could he let Zayn steal his thunder?
“We were talking about leadership. Perhaps you would benefit from a mentor of sorts?”
“I assume you have a candidate in mind?” Zayn asked, eyebrow arched.
“I think Xavier Brightpaw would be the perfect candidate. Don’t you agree?” Dace said as he glanced over at the other Alphas who readily agreed.
Zayn let out a light chuckle, surprising the others.
“I don’t think Xavier’s fit to lead. What’s left of him anyway,” He remarked nonchalantly.
The Alphas looked at each other, doubtful.
Revin scoffed. “He was cocky, sure. But strong and smart.”
Zayn nodded. “He was.”
Moren frowned. “He was?”
“Don’t take my word for it. Come see for yourselves.”
No one spoke as they followed him out.
Ezra walked behind him, quietly. The royals came along too, curious but cautious, their footsteps echoing through the dim hallways.
When they reached the big iron door, Zayn paused and took the keys from a guard nearby.
He opened it slowly and the smell hit hard. Thick and sour, like something had been rotting for days.
Inside, the cell was dead silent. The only sound was the faint rattle of chains.
Xavier hung from the ceiling, wrists bound, feet barely touching the floor. He looked nothing like he used to be. His body was thin, bruised, and filthy. Old blood covered his knees and elbows. His back and legs were lined with deep cuts.
Xavier was a hollow husk of what he once was. fr\eewebno vel .c(o)m
Zayn gave the guards a small nod. They moved in and unhooked the chains. Xavier collapsed straight to the floor, shaking all over. He hugged himself. He didn’t fight. He didn’t speak. He just crawled into the corner of the cell, hiding in the shadows like a scared animal. His eyes were wide and wild.
“No more... please,” he whispered, his voice weak and raw. “I’ll be good. I won’t scream again...”
Revin stared. “That’s... that’s Xavier?”
Kade looked away, clearly uncomfortable. “He used to be one of the toughest warriors I knew.”
Zayn didn’t react. He just looked at Xavier.
“He slaughtered his own pack,” Zayn said, voice flat. “Started a rebellion inside Thunder Paw. He tortured Omegas for fun. Made slaves out of his own people.”
He looked at the other Alphas, one by one.
“He poisoned my warriors. Killed my scouts. I had no choice but to stop him.”
Xavier whimpered in the corner, covering his ears and rocking back and forth. His voice was barely a whisper. “No more chains... no more fire...”
King Dace narrowed his eyes. “He’s broken.”
Those words hit hard. Everyone in the room understood what he meant. It would’ve been easier to kill Xavier, but Zayn chose not to.
The King looked down at the mess in the corner, then looked away. “He can never be an Alpha.”
“Not anymore,” Moren said under his breath.
“He’s barely even a wolf,” Revin added, shaking his head.
Dace spoke again, “Xavier can’t lead. But that doesn’t mean you get to claim Thunder Paw.”
Zayn’s jaw tightened.
Dace knew he was getting under Zayn’s skin. As the Alpha King, he had the authority to pressure him into making tough decisions. After Zayn’s little display of power in the springs, he was not about to let him off so easily.
“You weren’t born there. You didn’t grow up with their traditions. You took the pack by force. That gives you control but not the right to lead it. Thunder Paw needs one of their own to lead..”
The other Alphas nodded along. Zayn curled his hands into fists. He knew better than anyone that what he said was a lie. If that was true, why wasn’t the same said when his pack was overthrown? Why did Alpha Grayson get to ruin his pack?
‘Hypocrites, every one of them.’ He thought to himself. f|ree(w)ebn\o.vel.com
But Zayn knew better than to protest now. He had to find a solution that would satisfy everyone. That was what it meant to be an Alpha, a leader.
“I understand your concerns, your Majesty. Give me some time, I will come up with a satisfactory solution.
Moren raised a brow. “So... you’re stepping back?”
“No. But I’m not going to leave them to fall apart either. Letting them rot helps no one.”
Dace watched him carefully. “Then what’s your plan?” fre.ewebnov el.com
“I’ll find someone worthy. If I can’t find one... I’ll make one,” Zayn said.