The Witch and Her Four Dangerous Alphas

Chapter 17: Chapter 17: The Royal Letter

Aeron’s POV

Cyrus was still standing by the door, mid-sentence, when both of us felt it—faint at first, but unmistakable. The

scent of iron and pine needles, clipped and cold. Kael.

| glanced toward the entrance before Cyrus even turned. His posture stiffened immediately, his throat bobbing

once. His words stopped altogether, buried under the weight of tension that now filled the room.

| knew what he was thinking. He wasn’t worried about Kael. He was terrified of what would happen if Kael

realized he'd been reporting tobehind his back. | had no fear of my brother knowing.

I didn’t hide my thoughts, and Kael would never confrontdirectly. But for Cyrus, a beta, loyalty ran in a

different current. Reporting on his own Alpha’s brother was as close to treason as one could get in this pack.

He swallowed again as the door opened.

Kael stepped in quietly, his expression composed, but eyes distant. He was holding something—thick parchment,

sealed in wax as red as dried blood. The moment | saw the crest pressed into it, | straightened in my chair.

Cyrus gave a stiff bow, trying to act like he hadn't just been reporting on Kael seconds earlier. "Alpha Kael," he

murmured.

Kael glanced at him and paused, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Why do you look like someone just dragged you

through the swamps?"

Cyrus stiffened more, eyes darting between us. The panic on his face was almost comedic.

"He's fine," | said smoothly before Cyrus could fumble a reply. "Just upset. His girl friend cheated on him. With a

kitchen guard, | believe."

Cyrus made a choking sound. "What—? That's not—!"

But the look | gave him silenced the rest of his outburst. | didn’t even have to speak. His mouth snapped shut

with a quiet click.

Kael turned to me, then back at Cyrus with raised brows. "...Damn. That's rough."

The poor man looked like he was about to faint. Kael even gave him a look that bordered on pity, which only

made it worse.

| could almost hear the curses Cyrus was muttering inside his head as he turned and excused himself with a

stammered bow, mumbling something about reports and patrols and goddess-knows-what else before he

disappeared out the door like a puff of smoke.

| didn’t smirk. But | felt the corner of my mouth twitch.

Kael stepped forward and placed the sealed letter on my desk. "This just arrived. Hand-delivered by a pair of

royal knights."

That pulled the humor out of the air. | stared at the seal again. The Royal Crest of the Lycan Rulers. A crown

surrounded by fangs and a crescent moon. Official. Binding.

| broke the wax with my dagger and unfolded the thick parchment slowly. My eyes scanned the page once. Then

again.

"He's coming here," | said flatly.

Kael sank into the chair across from me, arms crossed. "He, as in the prince?"

"Yes. The heir to the throne. He's coming to attend our coronation in person."

Kael leaned back slightly, brows drawing together. "That's... unusual."

Very."

The letter was written in flowery formal script, filled with unnecessary niceties. It congratulated us on our victory,

praised our ‘resilience and leadership,” and offered the prince’s personal presence to honor our rise to full Alpha

status. It sounded generous, noble and prestigious.

But | didn’t believe a word of it.

Kael didn’t either.

"If it were anyone else," | said slowly, "they'd be celebrating or throwing feasts. Announcing it to the whole

pack."

Kael shook his head. "He's never attended any coronation in the last years. Not even the Central Warden's eldest

son, and that was a big one."

"And he’s coming four days early," | added. "That doesn’t sit right."

Kael was quiet for a moment, his fingers tapping the edge of the desk. "Do you think he suspects something?

About how we handled the Crimson Fang?"

"No," | said firmly. "Our actions were within the law of war. The Council's endorsement secured that."

"Then what?"

| stared at the letter, the ink still shining faintly. "Either he wants something from us... or he wants to observe

something. Maybe someone."

Kael’s gaze darkened. "Selene."

"That would be my guess."

Because both of us knew the history between the royal heir and Selene.

The only thing uncertain now... was just how far the prince was willing to go for her.

Kael exhaled through his nose and looked away. His fingers curled slightly on the armrest. | noticed, but didn’t

comment. We both had reasons to distrust the Royal Pack. Their interest in our affairs never cwithout a

price.

Still... refusing the prince wasn’t an option.

| looked back at him. "We let him cand treat him best. Pretend like we don’t suspect anything."

"Even if he’s here to dig up our past?"

"We have nothing to hide," | said. "And

if he's here for Sele enweli

oni) hignqust RY) as he

atches us." The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

Kael gave a slow nod.

"We'll need proper arrangements

made," | said, standing. "We don't

have a Luna, so Ga pg ThWill

"ode it Let Vif os the prince

arrives within a day. Prepare the best

chambers as royal guest quarters.

Assign elite patrols to the perimeter.

No mistakes." The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

Kael stood as well. "And Selene?"

"Keep her away from him—for now."

He gave a brief nod and exited, the door clicking shut behind him.

| turned my eyes back to the letter,

fingers tightening around the sre

of the parchmept |THrydt séa

stared. Bick atlike a silent

warning, its golden emblem gleaming

under the lantern light. The content is

on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

A royal visit was never just a visit.

It was a message. A reminder. A test.

The heir wouldn't call this way without purpose.

He wanted to see if we were weak, disorganized or divided.

And | had no intention of giving him that satisfaction.

Not now. Not ever.

Not when the fate of the Silver Dawn Pack was still hanging by threads | was barely holding together.