The Devil's Son and His Fated Bride
Chapter 58: Shadow

Chapter 58: Shadow

A young, bulky man with fierce brown eyes stood up, smacking the table. He was massive and tall, possibly the heir of the Bear Clan. His voice echoed, sending a shudder down Ren’s spine as he spoke loudly, blaming those who hesitated. "How dare you sit when your King commands you to rise for his Bride? Has he not done enough for Thegara when we were being hunted? When goblins and witches sought to take this land from us, he was the one who brought unity among us."

Ren was now sure that this man was the heir of the Bear Clan. Rail had said he was loyal to Thegara and didn’t care about this trivial marriage matter. His light brown, curly hair matched his dark skin. He was handsome too, likely with many ladies doting on him.

The Cat Clan and three of the Wolf Clans murmured among themselves. Whispers and rising tension made Ren’s stomach churn.

A loud laugh filled the air, drawing all eyes to the silver-haired man sitting at the top of the Serpent’s table. He was middle-aged, with icy gray eyes that made Ren realize just how venomous this reptilian man was. His laughter carried an irony that mocked everyone present, despite the weight of the decision they faced.

That laughter demanded an explanation before his face inevitably met the curled fists of the furious Bear heir. He had his fingers already curled.

As the laughter ceased, a deafening silence settled over the tent, mingling with the suffocating tension. Ren could hardly breathe. She didn’t want them to fight or kill each other.

The slender man, clad in a long, lavish black robe, left his table, goblet in hand. Leisurely swirling its contents, he walked to the front, turning his back to the audience and facing the platform. Daring to meet Thegara’s ruler’s gaze, he went on, "A normal man forges a marriage with love. But a wise ruler forges a marriage that benefits the land. And our beloved Prince has proven time and time again—he always chooses to be a wise ruler!"

Beloved Prince? So the Serpent Clan had not yet accepted him as their King, believing him to be only the King of Wolves. Well, this was a big rift in this society. How, then, would these people accept her? And when the vicious Serpent shifter aimed his devilish gaze at Ren, her heart skipped a beat. The loathing in his eyes was palpable, seeping into her very bones.

"But I refuse to accept her. She is human, and humans are not welcome as royalty in Thegara. They can only be..." His eyes shifted to his handmaiden, dressed in tattered rags to serve him. "Tools to play with!" He licked his lower lip with a nasty expression that stirred Ren’s stomach. As if to seal his insult, he tilted his goblet and poured out the fine beer the Beard Faun had sent.

The hall erupted in an uproar.

Calisa flared up and rushed forward. "How dare you disrespect the King?!" He aimed to strike the Serpent shifter, but Coran left Kai’s side and held him back.

But he couldn’t stop the Bear Heir, who lunged at the Serpent shifter, ready to tear into him. The heirs of each clan jumped to their feet.

Ren clasped her hands over her mouth as shock paralyzed her. ’Stop them. I’m begging you. They shouldn’t kill each other.’

Kai seemed inclined to let them fight until they bleed, but seeing Ren so hurt and frightened, he stood up and slammed his fist onto the table. A massive dark shadow swallowed the tent, snuffing out the candlelight and sending a piercing wave of terror through everyone present.

"Now, you listen to me. Or I choose to kill!"

The voice was wickedly calm, carrying a menace as sharp as a freezing wind slicing through steel, shattering it to pieces.

Ren’s gaze snapped to her husband’s lips, but they hadn’t moved. Yet that voice had been undeniably his.

The thick black shadow suddenly retreated, reforming into a giant wolf, a dire creature with blood-red eyes that could devour souls. She had seen this inky black color before, in that forest when the goblins and the giant demon attacked.

Sweat trickled down Ren’s back. Goosebumps prickled her skin, and she barely stifled a scream. Her husband could... What even was that? He hadn’t shifted. Instead, a shadow had emerged from his body, transforming into a monstrous wolf with red eyes. If it opened its mouth or lifted its deadly claws, even the massive Bear Heir wouldn’t stand a chance. He would be split in half.

She was frozen in her seat, unable to move, unable to reach him and calm him. Dumbfounded, as she was. Her fingers dug into her skirt while her other hand clutched Kai’s.

She wasn’t the only one terrified. Except for Kai’s most trusted men beside them, the others were choking on their fear.

"Gods! I have never seen..." An old Bird shifter gasped.

The Serpent elder grimaced, trying to mask his fear, but his trembling hands betrayed him.

"I once took in a Serpent mistress, and she almost killed me," Kai spoke through gritted teeth, curling his fingers into a fist as he let go of Ren’s hand.

Ren blinked and looked down, unable to witness the extent of his fury.

"And then, the Mountain Wolf Clan offered me a Beta Female. I never promised to marry her or make her my Luna! Yet they dare to defy me."

The Shadow Wolf scraped its claws against the ground, the ominous sound making everyone grab their ears.

Those who had fought for Ren’s seat kneeled, begging him to stop.

The demon wolf advanced on the Serpent elder, forcing him to lean back. "Kneel, or I’ll take your limbs so you’ll kneel forever."

That voice, deep and guttural, commanded him enough to make his knees tremble. The Serpent elder knelt involuntarily. It was not an act of submission but of sheer force, however, the rest of Serpent clans had to submit too.

"I am Shadow, the hunter of hell and if I kill you, your soul will be sent to hell directly, now I dare you to disrespect my woman, then I’m permitted to tear you all to pieces."

His woman?

Ren’s head snapped up to look at Kai. That demon was a part of him. And he had just called her his woman?!

Had he not sworn he didn’t want a human mate? Then why did his beast...

She had no time to process it as the Cat Clan and the rest of the clans dropped to their knees.

Except for the Mountain Clan.

"Say it. Do you accept my woman as the Queen of Thegara or not? Chant your answer out loud."

Coran hurried to his grandfather, whispering something. The old man shot a glare at Elaika before immediately kneeling beside Coran.

"The Mountain Wolves accept Luna Reneira."

And after him, the others chanted. Message received.

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