Chapter 37

Chapter 37

I was stunned by what unfolded. Zander's lip was bloodied, while Troy glared at him with a sharp, furious expression. Just as Zander's men were about to rush at Troy, John shifted into a wolf, and chaos erupted as Zander's men charged forward.

“Damn! I should’ve known you’d be good at this, cousin,” Zander laughed, wiping the blood from his lips before getting to his feet. I saw Troy clench his fist, his gaze locked on Zander.

“You should’ve been ready and hidden, Zander,” Troy warned in a dark tone.

“Oh? Because you’re here to kill me?” Zander taunted, trying to provoke him. Troy remained silent, charging at Zander again with a powerful punch. Zander had no chance to dodge and was slammed to the ground once more. The impact was so strong, that it seemed as though the earth nearly cracked beneath him. I felt a chill run through me as I watched. I had seen Troy angry with me before, but never like this. The murderous intent in his eyes was terrifying.

“You... you can’t kill me, Troy... unless you want my father to become king,” Zander gasped through his bloodied face.

What does he mean by that? Would Zander's father really become Alpha King if Troy killed him? Suddenly, I recalled the law governing the imperial werewolf family. It strictly forbids the Alpha King from harming his royal kin—any violation would result in imprisonment. This law was established after the Alpha King of San Isidro murdered a member of the royal family, sparking a kingdom-wide crisis and revolution. That's why Troy can't kill Zander.

"I'll kill you," Troy's cold voice made my blood run cold. As he advanced toward Zander, a wave of panic hit me. No... he can't kill him. There's a proper way for Zander to face justice for all he's done to us.

"Troy... stop..." I tried to plead, but he was so consumed by rage that he couldn't hear me. My anxiety deepened as he reached Zander and landed another brutal punch, blood splattering across the ground. I froze, desperately trying to free my hands and feet from the ropes to intervene. If he keeps this up, Troy could kill Zander with just a few more blows!

"P-Please, Troy! Stop!" I nearly screamed as he struck Zander once again. John was still locked in battle with Zander's men, so I couldn't rely on him to stop Troy. The ropes binding me had some sort of power preventing me from shifting into my wolf form, and I knew I had to get free from removing this!

Tears streamed down my face as I watched Zander coughing up blood. With all my strength, I managed to free the rope from my foot, quickly following with my hands. The surge of adrenaline-fueled me, allowing me to work swiftly and easily. Once free, I rushed to Troy and wrapped my arms around his waist before he could strike Zander again.

"Please... stop... please, Troy," I sobbed, my tears falling uncontrollably. I felt him pause. He released Zander and turned to face me, gripping my shoulders. When our eyes met, the hardness in his gaze softened as he looked at me. It felt like I hadn't seen him in ages, though it had only been weeks. I couldn't deny how much I had missed him. Without a word, he pulled me away from the scene. Zander’s men stopped fighting John and immediately tended to their wounded leader, whose blood was splattered across the ground. But I knew Zander would survive, despite the gruesome scene.

Troy and John exchanged glances, and with a nod from Troy, John left—likely to shift back into his human form.

A carriage awaited us, and Troy guided me inside, sitting down beside me. I stayed close to him in silence during the ride. His fists were still clenched, so I slowly reached out, gently taking his hand in mine. He looked at me, his cold green eyes meeting mine.

"Thank you for saving me again," I said softly, watching him as he swallowed, his Adam’s apple moving. He clenched his jaw and shook his head. "No... I’m sorry for making you Zander’s target," he replied, his words crushing my heart. Tears welled up in my eyes once more.

"It’s okay... it’s only natural since I’m your mate. Besides, it was my fault for coming here without telling you," I said, trying to ease his guilt. He turned away, focusing on my hand resting on his arm.

"Maybe... your brother was right. You’ll always be in danger if I... keep you close to me," he said as if he had just realized something painful. His words tore my heart apart. Doesn’t he understand that despite everything, I’ve already made up my mind?

"I’m still trying to investigate what happened to your parents... but I swear, my father didn’t order anyone to be killed. If he had... I would know. But even if I can prove that, I’m not sure if you’ll ever be safe from the forces around me. I want to protect you, but I’m afraid it might not be enough..." he confessed. Tears fell down my cheeks. I didn’t think Troy was doubting his strength; he was doubting himself because of what happened today. But it was all my fault! And I’ve already decided—I want to marry him!

"I don’t care if it’s enough or not, Troy," I said, reaching for his face, and gently turning it toward me. His green eyes met mine, and once again, I felt like I was floating.

"As long as it's you, I’ll always be fine, Troy. And I don’t care anymore whether your father had any involvement in my parents’ deaths because there’s only one thing I’m sure of right now... I want to marry you. I’m ready to be your Queen," I said with conviction. I felt him freeze at my words. Before he could respond, I leaned in and pressed my lips to his. The warmth of his lips spread through me, and soon he wrapped his arms around my waist, returning my kiss. When I finally pulled away, he did too, staring into my eyes. His gaze was filled with confusion, but I could sense he was both shocked and relieved, even after his earlier doubts.

"Are you sure?" he asked, seeking confirmation. I smiled and gently cupped his jaw.

"This marriage won’t just secure your throne... it will also be the key to uncovering the truth about my parents' deaths. So yes, I’m this sure, Troy," I replied. I saw sadness flicker in his eyes, but he remained silent, pulling me in for another kiss.

I knew it wasn’t the answer he had hoped for. He wanted to hear something more, something about my feelings. But I couldn’t say anything yet, not until I uncovered the truth and sorted out my emotions. For now, my focus was clear—I wanted to protect Troy’s throne and uncover the mystery behind my parents' deaths. And I knew the answers lay here, in the Kingdom of Rema. I could feel it.