The Alpha King's Witch Bride
Chapter 196: _Power Vacuum

Chapter 196: _Power Vacuum

Marcellus’ POV

*****

After getting rid of Celine on the night of the attempted coup, which also doubled as the night of the incident at the Charity Ball, Marcellus decided to take a break.

By a "break" he mostly just gave everyone the illusion that he was still healing from Kaelos’ attack on him during the Charity Ball, even though he had pretty much recovered.

The ironic thing was how Kaelos was now the one struggling to recover after Celine AND Gamma Zane stabbed him with silver daggers and he was attacked by traitorous pack soldiers.

Unfortunately, on the evening after the night of the Charity Ball, the Delta and the military advisor paid Marcellus a little welfare visit.

"Well, this is a..." Marcellus paused while sitting in his living room after Cullen ushered in Delta Axel and the Military advisor Jeremiah.

The two men, both at least in their late forties, wore blood red military uniforms with the pack emblem on their pockets.

Marcellus was drinking a glass of margarita when they walked in. Talk about bad timing.

"Sorry to interrupt your healing process, Beta." The Delta cleared his throat, glancing briefly at the military advisor before he continued. "But with the Alpha King still recovering from Gamma Zane’s attack, we need to discuss something."

Marcellus was about to take a sip from the margarita but then paused. He flicked his gaze briefly to Cullen who was standing behind the two men with a knowing smirk on his face.

It would be fun to kill these two lowlives. That way, Kaelos would have to replace his entire Alpha Council.

But Marcellus decided to play things cool and wore a smile as he dropped his glass on the center table in front of him, making sure to fake a pained grunt before he sat upright again.

"Please, sit." Marcellus gestured at the two-seat couch at the other side of the table.

The two men hesitated at first but eventually sat while Marcellus crossed his right leg on top of his left.

"You know, when I saw the Gamma’s betrayal with my own eyes, I was shocked." Marcellus began, using the fingers of his right hand to flick around with his pants.

He clenched his hand into a fist ever so slightly, feeling his magic cracking just underneath, waiting for when he needed it.

"I expected that kind of betrayal from Celine..." Marcellus continued, staring directly at the two men with his head tilted. "But never from the Alpha King’s uncle. It makes me wonder just how many hidden enemies we have in this pack."

There was a long moment of silence after that. Delta Axel eventually cleared his throat, swallowing hard before he spoke.

"That’s exactly why we’re here, Beta. Ever since the arrival of Odessa Pierce into this pack, there has been a string of unexplained deaths. Deaths that have remained a mystery in this pack and that we have just ignored—"

"What do you mean ’we’?" Marcellus asked with a scoff, spreading both his arms on the comfortable sofa he sat on as he tilted his head at the Delta.

The Delta parted his lips, glancing at the military advisor.

The military advisor stroked his bushy brown beard before he continued from where the Delta stopped. "The Gamma’s incompetence was something that we noticed but didn’t think much of because he was our superior. He was slow when it came to investigations on each death."

"And now that we know that that sluggishness was deliberate, we think it’s time there’s a change." Delta Axel stood up just then, puffing his chest proudly despite his protruding stomach.

Marcellus couldn’t take him seriously but had to pretend as usual, raising an eyebrow in feigned interest.

He already had an idea of what these men were going to say.

"The silent execution of the Gamma and the Luna Queen has caused a power vacuum. One that might cause chaos among the pack members if they begin doubting our prowess." The Delta continued, his voice filled with confidence. "Which is why I think I should step up in rank as the new Gamma."

And, there it was...

Werewolves will never change. Such power-hungry creatures.

Marcellus thought about all this but kept a small smile on his face as he nodded once. "That’s... An interesting idea. Why don’t you bring it up to the Alpha King and see what he thinks about it?"

He stretched out his hand after saying that, picking up his margarita glass and sipping from it while staring at the Delta who now stood there like a fool.

The Delta glanced at the military advisor who cleared his throat, adjusting his sitting position and lowering his voice as if he was about to share the secret to eternal stupidity.

Marcellus wouldn’t need that since merely looking at them gave him an idea of it.

"That’s why we came to you, Beta. Despite all the drama at the Charity Ball, you’re still the second most powerful man in the pack right now. The Alpha King’s right-hand man."

Now they’re telling him what he already knows...

Marcellus sighed, showing his boredom unintentionally as he gulped down everything in the glass and let out a satisfied breath.

"Go straight to the point, gentlemen. You’ve managed to interrupt my happy hour and this drink didn’t even hit. I’m too sober for this." Marcellus remarked with a casual tone, smiling to still give that illusion of friendliness.

Even though deep down he felt like chopping both of them into pieces and flushing their remains down a toilet.

Anyway, the Delta, who was still standing, adjusted his uniform and then stretched out his arms dramatically, his protruding stomach seemingly jiggling with each movement.

"With you as the Beta, you could help us even the playing field of power in our favor. Convince the Alpha King to make me the Gamma and Jeremiah the new Delta. And as for the role of Luna Queen..."

He paused, a small smirk curling up his lips before he dropped the bomb.

"My daughter, Hailey."

Suddenly and right on cue, Marcellus caught a whiff of a perfume that made him furrow his eyebrows. A young woman in her early twenties opened the living room door and walked in, adjusting her cream colored gown.

Marcellus turned his head to her and blinked.

How long has she been standing out there?