Lyne looked up at him, eyes wide as he narrated the event. He was right when he said he had been traumatized. Was the Onyx that dangerous? He was looking cool and manly with his hands dug in his pockets and eyes facing the window. 

"I'm sorry, Zeidan. I didn't mean to upset you."

"I've always wanted to talk about it. Now, I'm glad I did." He confided. "My father was a strong man. He didn't mean to kill his people but I guess there is more to this stone."

"Like it's cursed?" Lyne asked jokingly, with a chuckle but had to stop when Zeidan shot her a look. 

"I'm sorry."

"No...no, not that. You may be right. What if it's cursed? I mean, we don't even know how it came to be, except for the fact that our ancestors were gifted by the last underground Vampire."

Lyne's mind was spiked as she remembered Maya to be an underground Vampire.

"If the only underground Vampire left had given your people the Onyx, who then is Maya? How is she still existing?"

"I can't tell. In fact, underground Vampires aren't meant to be on the surface." He stopped talking and straightened as if realizing something. She understood as well.

"Because of sunlight." They both chorused.

"This is why most of her acts are done at night," Lyne said.

"Especially every time we see her. Do you think she is the only underground Vampire alive? Like she might wanna get back the Onyx." Zeidan pointed out.

"But it isn't for her."

"You think so? She could be the owner and whether she was or not, it belonged to her people."

"Don't tell me you want to keep it safe with her." Lyne shut her eyes and exhaled slowly.

"No." He turned and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "That would be foolish."

"Give me a shrewd idea." Lyne smiled and Zeidan took her hand, eyes pleading.

"The only good idea I have is you running away. No, I mean, you going to hide somewhere safe."

"Here we go again."

"But it's true! Lyne, it's our baby we're talking about."

"You're concerned now? The last time I checked, you wanted the baby terminated." Lyne snapped back, already upset.

"But then, I changed my mind."

"This isn't a toy, Zeidan. It's my child. One I'm obliged to protect all my life. You rejected the pregnancy at first but now you think you can just waltz in and fit in the picture?"

There was silence for a while, except for her ragged breath.

"I'm doing this for us." He assured her. "Although I can't deny that I asked you to abort the baby, I just want you to know that it's for our good. Do you think it is going to be easy giving birth to a child in the middle of an ongoing war and losing it to the war? I don't want you shattered or heartbroken..."

"Killing my child with my own bare hands is going to be the worst decision I'll ever make. Don't think I'll do it. I will never!" 

"Then, keep her safe by going away. You can't possibly fight with a baby bump."

"You think so? Well, I don't." The tension was building up between them and much as Lyne wouldn't like for them to have a misunderstanding again, she just couldn't help it. 

She turned on her heels and walked out of the Onyx room, mind heavy. Why does everyone think she cannot handle a fight? They always had one excuse or another. But she wasn't going to give in now. She would protect her child with everything and as well her city.

As the sky started clearing gradually, she moved on to the field just as Amber had asked later the previous night by sending her a note. She would leave but only after seeing to it that Shelbrooke is killed. He should be on her number one list of the enemy right before Luana. She could remember when she fought him on the field and he had dug his claws into her side.

She unbuttoned the top part of the gown and revealed the side where she had been slit by Shelbrooke. She was having a hard time healing but it would be useless sitting around. It's high time she learned to be strong. The wound was deep and was in no way looking like it would take days to heal but months. 

"Shelbrooke!" She yelled, her blue eyes turning red.

★★★★★★★★★★

The staff moved around quickly, arranging the dining room and placing flowers in the right places. It was a good thing he had invited them for dinner to talk about the affairs of the pack. Everything is going on so well but the people are complaining about lacking certain necessities in the pack. Like hunting prey and selling them. Most of their people have started migrating to the human city, causing most traders to lose their buyers. Given this, the economy of the Kingdom was in danger.

He saw his son come inside from the corner of his eyes and he felt oddly sorry for him. For not being a good father enough to cater to him. He had always wanted him to know that he was an older brother and should therefore be responsible for taking care of his siblings. Charles, however, thinks otherwise. He is the type that just wants to enjoy life as it is. 

The fair-haired twenty-four years old boy fell in beside his father, his eyes stuck on the young girls moving about. He seemed uninterested unlike before when he wouldn't hesitate to admire either of the girls, not minding whether he was there or not.

"Taking a break?" He asked as he rubbed his hand over his silver embroidered robe.

"No, I'm done." He said, astounding him.

"Really?" He turned to face him, still not believing this. But then his son, who wouldn't give up life enjoyment, as he'd always say, for anything. "Damn, since when have you decided that?" 

"Since you saw it as a criterion for becoming King. As a grooming Alpha, I have to stick to one person. Only for a few years until I become the Alpha and I can gather as many women as I desire. It's easy."

Styx's heart fell at his words. He may be right but that wasn't how he had seen it or wanted it. His mother and stepmother happened to be given to him due to the debt of their parents. The only true love he had was from Tara. But could Charles understand this? Absolutely not. So, keeping it to himself is the best solution yet. 

"I'm sorry you felt neglected all your life but I assure you that you weren't in the least neglected at all. Lyne's was worse. I left her in your hands but you neglected her. You became like me."

"Never. I am nothing like you, Father. I will make sure I do everything within my power to get Lyne back to this pack. She isn't staying with that bastard."

With that, he went away.