Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Just a Dog of the Werewolves Council
Vaelen’s POV~
The moment I led her out of that cursed room, I could still feel the weight of every stare burning into my back. My aura hadn’t settled yet. But I didn’t care. All I could think of was the girl trembling beside me.
Serena.
Her breathing was uneven. Every few steps, she stumbled, her small hands clutching at my sleeve as if she feared she might vanish if she let go.
I tightened my arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer as we walked through the long corridor toward a calm place.
The guards we passed lowered their eyes. No one dared to speak. Good. Because if anyone even whispered a word about what happened, I would have silenced them on the spot.
When we reached my quarters, I shut the door softly behind us. The silence that followed was almost unbearable. She stood there, shaking, her face pale and streaked with tears.
"Sit," I said quietly.
She obeyed without a word, sinking onto the couch as though her legs could no longer hold her. For a long moment, I just watched her, the way her fingers clutched the fabric of her dress, the way her lips trembled though she made no sound.
The scent of fear still clung to her. It made my chest tighten.
I knelt in front of her, lowering myself until her wide eyes met mine. "Serena," I said gently, "tell me what happened."
Her lips parted, but no words came. Then, slowly, haltingly, she spoke.
"I... I don’t know," she whispered, her voice raw. "I felt dizzy. I just wanted to rest for a while. I thought one of the rooms was empty."
I stayed still, letting her speak. Every word was like a blade twisting in my gut.
"I lay down... and then he came. He...he pinned me down." Her voice cracked. "I didn’t even know him. He looked angry, like he wanted to kill me."
Her breath hitched. "He tried to choke me, brother. I don’t even know what I did wrong..."
Her words broke apart into sobs then ... small, helpless sounds that made my throat burn. I reached out slowly, placing my hand on her back.
"You did nothing wrong," I said quietly, keeping my tone steady. "You hear me? Nothing."
She nodded weakly, tears spilling over again. I rubbed slow circles on her back until her breathing eased a little.
When I finally spoke again, my voice was calm, but there was no warmth in it. "He’s nobody," I said, the words sharp in my mouth. "Just a dog of the Werewolves Council."
She lifted her head slightly, her eyes still glassy. "The... Werewolves Council?" she repeated.
I nodded. "They call themselves peacekeepers," I said. "A group of pack leaders who claim to prevent wars between packs and races. They monitor alliances, control territory, make sure everyone stays in line."
I let out a low breath. "But that’s not their true purpose."
She blinked at me. "Then what is?"
"To keep us weak," I answered. "To make sure Lycans neved hold all the power. They fear what we are... our strength, our blood. So they wrap their chains in laws and call it peace."
She stared at me, silent. Her eyes, still damp with tears, reflected the light like tiny fragments of glass.
I looked away for a moment, my gaze falling to the floor. The note still weighed on my mind... that blank note that smelled faintly of blood. It hadn’t been an accident.
Someone wanted this. Someone wanted Drevan to snap. Someone wanted me there to witness it. And in all of this my innocent sister was dragged.
And that meant this was more than a simple attack.
When I looked back at Serena, her shoulders had stopped shaking. She was still fragile, still broken from the fear, but she was breathing evenly again. I reached out, brushing away the last of her tears.
"You don’t need to think about it anymore," I told her softly. "You’re safe here. No one will touch you again."
Her eyes flickered up to mine... uncertain, tired, but trusting. That look did something strange to my chest. I wasn’t used to people looking at me like that.
For a while, neither of us spoke. I watched the flames twist and move, thinking of the council, of the blank note, of the stench of blood that still lingered in my hand.
Whoever orchestrated this wanted to send a message. But they’d chosen the wrong target.
I looked down at Serena, her breathing slow, her lashes still wet with tears.
"You’re safe now," I said again, though this time it was more a vow than a comfort.
And I meant it.
Because whatever game had begun tonight, it would end the moment I found out who dared to use her in their schemes.
When her breathing finally steadied, I knew it was time to return. The night had stretched too long already. And Serena had stopped shaking, though her eyes still looked hollow
...too quiet for someone her age.
I stood up slowly. "We’re going back to the palace," I said.
She looked up at me, hesitant, but didn’t argue. I helped her to her feet, making sure she was steady before leading her out. The corridors were silent now, no guards daring to cross our path. The scent of fear and tension still clung to the walls, but I ignored it.
As we stepped outside into the cool night air, I pulled my cloak around her shoulders. She leaned slightly into me, tired, fragile. I didn’t say anything, but I could feel the knot of worry tightening in my chest.
Not just for her.
For what would come next.
If my uncle saw her like this... bruised, shaken, and terrified. he would lose his mind. The old man might look calm most of the time, but I knew his temper. He’d probably kill me first for letting this happen, and then go after Drevan before I could stop him.
And if that happened, the fragile line between the Lycan palace and the Werewolves Council would shatter overnight.
I couldn’t let that happen.
The council already hated us enough. They’ve been waiting for a reason to twist the knife — to call us monsters again, to strip away what little authority we still have left. One mistake, one careless act, and my father would hand them the excuse they’ve been craving.
Father...
I almost laughed, bitterly. The Lycan King, the man who should have been our shield was nothing more than a puppet to the council. He never saw the strings they tied around him. Or maybe he did and just didn’t care.
I would not be surprised if I even found him fucking some whores that were sent by the council for him.
He cares so little about the situation, having drowned himself in a world where only he existed.
For me, it’s just better to end a life like this..
.at least die an honorable death rather than become a person like this.
Either way, it would be me who had to fix this mess when the time came.
As we neared the palace gates, I looked down at Serena. Her head had tilted slightly against my arm. She looked half-asleep, her lashes still wet from tears. For a moment, I softened again — just a little.
"I won’t let anyone touch you again," I murmured quietly.
She didn’t answer, just nodded faintly.
The guards at the gate bowed deeply when they saw us, their eyes wide. They said nothing and opened the way.
Inside the Lycan palace, the air was heavy with the scent of stone and moonlight. Familiar, but tonight it felt colder.
I guided her straight to her chambers. The maid who waited outside almost dropped to her knees when she saw Serena’s state, but I stopped her with a glare. "No word of this leaves the room," I said. "Do you understand?"
She nodded so fast I thought her neck might snap.
When Serena was settled, I lingered by the door for a moment, watching her fall into uneasy sleep. Her small frame was swallowed by the blankets. Even in rest, she looked fragile, like something precious that could break if the world breathed too hard.
I stepped out into the corridor, exhaling slowly. My mind, which had been silent for hours, started to churn again.
The council.
Those old bastards sitting on their high chairs, pretending to be wise, pretending to guide the races toward peace but I knew the truth.
I had seen the records. Every bribe, every secret meeting, every so-called "judgment" that only served their greed. They had been feeding off our power for decades, dressing it up as diplomacy.
They thought I didn’t know.
But I did. I had the lists. Every name, every deal, every sin they had buried.
And I was just waiting.
Waiting for the right time for when I would have enough control, enough backing, to strike without bringing the kingdom down with me.
Now wasn’t the time. Not yet.
I couldn’t afford to make a move while my father still sat on the throne, blind and obedient. The council would crush him before I could act. And if I moved too early, they’d destroy everything... the packs, the palace, everyone I was supposed to protect.
So for now, I had to stay silent.
Let them think I was young. Naive and Unaware prince just like my father has been.
Let them laugh in their chambers, holding their fake peace talks, whispering about how to control the last of the Lycans.
Because when the time came, when the crown was finally mine...none of them would laugh again.
And when I lit the fire, I would make sure every single one of those so-called council saints burned with it.