Reclaimed By The Alpha King
Chapter 178

Chapter 178: Chapter 178

The next morning, Kimberly had already set Theo free with her unimaginable powers.

Theo stood tall beside Kimberly, his stance firm, his gaze sharp as he observed Steve, who was being escorted into the room by Dr. Ashley his friend.

Steve’s hands were bound behind him, but his face was set in defiance, his eyes scanning the room as though he still had some control over the situation.

Kimberly took a step forward, her piercing eyes locking onto his, demanding truth.

"You have been acting like you have the power to call the shots here. Now, let me give you one last chance...

Who sent you, and why did you go after Theo?" Kimberly’s voice was calm, yet it carried a terrifying intensity, making the air around them feel heavy.

Steve, however, let out a low chuckle, shaking his head.

"You think showing up with some petty powers will make me talk to you?

Why don’t you make me talk with your powers or, better still, kill me?" His voice dripped with arrogance, but deep inside, he was calculating.

He had seen what Kimberly was capable of, and that alone sent an uneasy feeling crawling up his spine. Still, he refused to show weakness.

Kimberly exhaled slowly, her gaze never leaving his.

"Yes, I have the power to even read your mind... But I want to give you the benefit of the doubt to redeem yourself." She paused for a second before continuing. "Katherina sent you."

Steve’s composure cracked, his breath hitching slightly.

His eyes widened just enough for Kimberly to notice, though he quickly masked his reaction.

His mind was racing. *How does she know?* He swallowed hard, trying to maintain his indifferent facade.

Theo, who had remained silent, suddenly moved. His steps were deliberate, his presence towering as he stopped right in front of Steve.

Crouching slightly to meet Steve’s gaze, he spoke, his voice low and controlled.

"You said something about my blood being special... What do you mean by that?" His question carried weight, his icy stare boring into Steve.

Steve smirked, though there was no amusement in his expression.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about. You can find out yourself." His voice held defiance, but there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.

*I can’t let them think I’m weak... I need to stay strong.

They don’t seem like the kind to kill me outright. I still have a chance.* Steve thought to himself, trying to keep his mind from spiraling.

Kimberly tilted her head slightly, unimpressed by his resistance.

"Then you leave me no option but to do the unthinkable to get you to talk." Her voice was steady, but there was a cold finality in her tone that sent a shiver through the room.

Ashley, who had been silent until now, suddenly stepped forward, her voice filled with urgency.

"Please, help him... He’s very sick." She pleaded, her eyes filled with desperation.

Steve immediately turned to her with a fierce glare. "Ashley, no! Don’t say anything!" He snapped, but Ashley was unyielding.

"Don’t let Steve’s arrogance deceive you... He’s sick and he needs help." Ashley’s voice wavered, but she continued,

her hands trembling as she lowered herself to her knees before Kimberly. "I have seen what you can do. Please heal him."

Kimberly and Theo exchanged glances, both slightly surprised by Ashley’s outburst.

For the first time, Steve looked genuinely uneasy. He shifted uncomfortably, his jaw tightening as he turned away.

Kimberly took a slow step forward until she was standing directly in front of Steve. "Give me your hands." Her voice held no room for argument.

Steve hesitated for a split second, but his body moved involuntarily. Slowly, he stretched out both hands, palms up, towards Kimberly.

The moment their hands connected, Kimberly closed her eyes, and an odd sensation coursed through Steve’s body.

It wasn’t painful, but it was overwhelming, like an invisible force unlocking something buried deep inside him.

Her eyes suddenly snapped open, glowing faintly as she spoke.

"You are not sick, and if any sickness is within you, it’s because you refuse to accept who you are."

Steve’s breath hitched. He felt something inside him stir, something foreign yet oddly familiar. His pulse quickened as her words echoed in his mind.

*Refuse to accept who I am? What the hell does that mean?* Steve thought.

Theo’s brows furrowed. "What do you mean, Kim?" His voice was cautious, but curiosity laced his tone.

Kimberly exhaled deeply, turning her gaze to Theo. "He’s like us... But he’s fighting it instead of learning to be strong."

Ashley’s eyes widened in shock, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to process Kimberly’s words.

"Wait, what?" She looked between Steve and Kimberly, hoping she had misheard.

Steve’s body stiffened. He tried to take a step back, but his legs felt heavy, as though an invisible force was keeping him rooted to the spot.

His mind was screaming, telling him to deny it, to reject whatever Kimberly was saying.

"That’s a lie." His voice was barely above a whisper, but the crack in his composure was evident.

Kimberly’s gaze softened, though her stance remained firm. "You are not who you think you are, Steve... You are also a werewolf like us."

A deafening silence filled the room. Steve’s breathing grew ragged, his fists clenching involuntarily.

Ashley’s mouth hung slightly open, her mind struggling to wrap around the revelation. Theo, on the other hand, studied Steve with an unreadable expression.

Steve’s thoughts raced. *No... No, that can’t be true. I would have known. I would have felt it. I can’t be like them.*

A sudden wave of anger crashed over him, drowning out his confusion.

His body trembled as his vision blurred. He wanted to lash out, to deny it, to reject everything Kimberly had just said.

"You’re lying!" His voice was a mix of rage and desperation. He yanked his hands away from Kimberly’s grasp, his breathing uneven. "I am not like you!"

Kimberly simply watched him, her expression unreadable. She had seen this reaction before, the denial, the fear, the refusal to accept the truth.

Steve took several shaky steps backward, his mind a whirlwind of emotions.

His entire life, he had believed he was in control, that he knew who he was. But now... now everything felt like a lie.

Ashley moved toward him cautiously, placing a hand on his arm. "Steve..." she said softly, but he shrugged her off, his jaw clenched.

Theo stepped forward. "You can deny it all you want, but it won’t change the truth. Sooner or later, you’ll have to face it."

Steve’s eyes darted between them, his breath shallow.

He wanted to run, to escape from this nightmare. But deep down, he knew there was nowhere to hide from the truth.

Kimberly’s voice cut through the tension once more, her tone unwavering. "No one touches my precious ones."

Her words were final, carrying a weight that sent a chill down Steve’s spine. And for the first time in his life, he felt powerless.

★★★

Alpha Derrick and Mona remained seated before Katherina, but the tension in the air was thick.

It was clear from the looks on their faces that things had not gone according to plan.

Impatience burned in Derrick’s eyes as he clenched his fists. He had expected news by now, news that Theo and Kimberly were dead.

"Why have we not received word that Theo and Kimberly are gone?" Derrick’s voice broke the silence, his tone sharp with frustration. His patience had worn thin.

Katherina’s gaze slowly shifted to him, a look so piercing that it sent an unexpected shiver down his spine.

Her presence alone demanded submission, and Derrick was reminded once again of who he was dealing with.

"We cannot strike now. She will be prepared for it," Katherina stated firmly. "We will strike when they least expect it."

Derrick inhaled sharply, his frustration mounting. "But y—"

"Do you think you can do it better than I can?" Katherina’s voice cut through the room like ice.

The air itself seemed to still as the weight of her words sank in. "Why don’t you go ahead and finish them off yourself?"

Derrick and Mona immediately bowed their heads slightly in submission.

There was no point in challenging her authority; they both knew that.

Katherina was not one to be questioned, not unless one was prepared to suffer the consequences.

"I am sorry, most powerful one," Mona said smoothly, her voice composed and respectful.

"Forgive our eagerness. We only believed that everything should have fallen into place by now."

Katherina rose from her seat in one swift, graceful movement, her piercing gaze never leaving Derrick.

There was something unsettling about her smile, cold and knowing, like she had already foreseen the future and was merely watching them struggle toward it.

"For all I have promised, I will deliver," she declared. "And you will know just how powerful I truly am."

Derrick remained silent, but his jaw tightened. His pride bristled under her words, but he knew better than to challenge her outright. For now, at least.

"Going to war without a proper plan and strategy will only get you killed before the battle even begins," Katherina continued, her voice laced with disdain.

"Be wise, Alpha. Impatience is a weakness, not a strength."

Her words stung Derrick’s ego, but he kept his composure, refusing to let his irritation show.

He needed Katherina, and until he got what he wanted, he would play his role accordingly.

"When is Kimberly’s test coming?" Katherina asked abruptly.

"In about three days’ time," Derrick answered.

A wicked smile stretched across Katherina’s lips.

"Good... We will strike that day. And right before your very eyes, you will witness the fall of Kimberly and Theo." Her laughter rang out, filled with amusement and certainty, sending chills down Mona’s spine.

Derrick felt a dark satisfaction bubbling within him.

*Finally, they will be gone. No more obstacles.

No more challenges to my authority.* His thoughts swirled with anticipation, but before he could fully indulge in them, Katherina’s voice interrupted.

"Yes, they will be gone," she said, looking directly at him as if reading his mind. "And you will finally celebrate."

Derrick’s heart skipped a beat. The way she spoke, so certain, so confident made him uneasy.

But he simply nodded, keeping his expression unreadable.

"Go and prepare to feast and celebrate," Katherina instructed, waving a dismissive hand. "For the doom of your enemies is at hand."

Without hesitation, Derrick and Mona bowed their heads once more before turning to leave her chamber.

As they stepped outside into the cool evening air, Mona immediately turned to Derrick, her voice low but urgent.

"You need to be careful," she warned.

"Whenever we are with her, you must not challenge her authority. We need her now more than ever."

Derrick exhaled deeply, his gaze fixed on the darkening sky. The weight of everything pressed against his chest, but his face remained neutral.

*I will remain calm,* he thought. *I will play the part until I get all that I want. But for now... let them all act as they wish.*

His expression was unreadable as he walked away, the tension in the air leaving behind an ominous silence...