Reclaimed By The Alpha King
Chapter 196

Chapter 196: Chapter 196

Lucian sat alone in the garden of his estate, staring at the moonlit sky.

His fingers tapped against the armrest of the stone bench, a restless rhythm that mirrored his racing thoughts.

The scent of damp earth filled the air, but he was too deep in contemplation to notice.

*I’ve won over so many alphas. The Alpha King favors me.

The Moon Goddess wouldn’t have allowed me to come this far if I weren’t meant for the seat.

The path should be clear... but Mona, she’s the problem.*

His jaw tightened at the mere thought of her.

*Mona is reckless, but she’s not stupid. She knows how to play this game. If I underestimate her, I’ll regret it.* Lucian thought to himself.

Frustration burned in his chest as he stood up and began pacing, his boots crushing the fallen leaves beneath him.

"I need to be careful. Every move I make from now on has to be precise.

If I fail, it won’t just be my loss, it’ll be my destruction." Lucian muttered those words to himself under his breath.

The sound of hurried footsteps snapped him out of his thoughts. He turned sharply to see one of his guards approaching, his breathing slightly uneven.

"Boss, you have a parcel," the guard announced, stopping a few feet away.

Lucian’s eyes narrowed. His entire body tensed.

"Who sent it?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with suspicion.

"I... I don’t know, sir," the guard stammered, shifting uneasily. "I found it near the entrance. Your name was on it."

Lucian’s fingers curled into fists. He had received messages before, threats, warnings, false alliances, but something about this unsettled him.

"Give it to me," he ordered.

"Boss, we don’t know what’s inside... Can I open it for you? It might be something dangerous." The guard suggested with a slight shaky voice.

"It’s my name on it... Hand it over to me." Lucian ordered with a cold expression on his face.

The guard hesitated only for a moment before stepping forward and handing him the package.

It was wrapped in plain brown paper, but there was a faint metallic scent in the air.

Lucian carefully tore it open.

The moment he saw what was inside, his blood ran cold.

A rag cloth—soaked in blood.

Beside it, a small, folded note.

His breathing slowed as he reached for the note, unfolding it with steady fingers.

"If you don’t back out... the next blood will be yours."

A long silence stretched between him and the night.

His grip tightened on the paper, crumpling it slightly. The rage that had been simmering beneath the surface exploded into full force.

"Search the entire perimeter!" he barked, his voice slicing through the stillness like a blade.

"Find whoever delivered this and bring them to me! Check all security footage... NOW!"

The guards sprang into action, disappearing into the shadows of the estate. Lucian remained still, his mind racing.

*Mona... was this you? Or was it Derrick?*

His lip curled into a sneer. *Whoever it is... they’ll regret this.*

His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden vibration of his phone in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen. Unknown number.

His instincts screamed at him, but he answered. "Who is this?"

A low chuckle came from the other end.

"Oh, Lucian... You’re such a child," a deep, mocking voice taunted.

"Did you really think the Alpha’s seat was meant for someone like you?"

Lucian clenched his jaw, forcing himself to remain composed. "I may be young, but at least I don’t hide behind anonymous threats."

Another laugh, this one sharper, almost amused.

"Ah, so you have some bite. But it won’t save you. You’re as spineless and gutless as your father."

Lucian’s nostrils flared, his fury barely contained. "Say that again," he growled.

The voice grew cold, emotionless. "This is your last warning. The next time we visit, it won’t be with words."

The call went dead.

Lucian pulled the phone away from his ear, his grip so tight his knuckles turned white.

He stood there, unmoving, as his rage twisted into something darker.

"No one can stop me," he muttered under his breath, his voice thick with fury.

He let out a roar, his anger echoing through the night. "I will claim what is rightfully mine!"

But as he stood there, chest rising and falling with heavy breaths, another thought crept in.

*Mona or Derrick?* His eyes darkened with different thoughts.

*I need to know which of them is playing this game with me.*

With a final glance at the bloodied cloth, he turned on his heel and stormed back into the house.

★★★

Meanwhile, in the Alpha King’s estate, Kimberly sat on a plush chair, watching Theo pour himself a drink.

The air in their chambers was warm, but an unsettling energy lingered between them.

"Alpha Darwin has been buried," Theo mused, swirling the dark liquid in his glass.

"Yet, there’s no movement regarding who will take over his pack. Why is that?"

Kimberly sighed, resting her chin on her hand.

"I guess everyone is playing it safe. No one wants to be the first to act. But soon, the dust will rise... and when it does, chaos will follow."

Theo chuckled, taking a sip. "Chaos is always good for those who know how to control it."

Kimberly arched an eyebrow. "And do you think we have control?"

Theo smirked. "Not yet. But we will."

She studied him for a moment. "Do you think Derrick will come out of hiding to fight for his seat?"

Theo leaned back, his expression unreadable.

"I don’t know. But I do know this, Derrick isn’t the type to sit still. If Lucian is making moves, Derrick has already started making his own."

Kimberly nodded slowly, deep in thought.

*Derrick is a ghost right now, but ghosts don’t stay silent forever.*

She sighed, shifting in her seat. "This is just the beginning, isn’t it?"

Theo smirked. "Oh, definitely."

Kimberly gave him a small smile before leaning forward and resting her head against his chest.

*Let’s see how the chaos plays out.* Kimberly thought.