Lyne looked up at Zeidan. She wasn't ready for the marriage yet as she hasn't fully prepared. Looking at her father with a plea in her eyes, she was shocked to hear him say so at such short notice.

Styx raised a brow. "I was not aware you would be interested this much. You must want her badly."

A flush colored Lyne's face, but then it occurred to her that all the wedding arrangements only fall on one reason, to get an army. "I don't even know how to prepare for this. I'm worried sick about this. How do I tell my people?" 

"You need not worry about a huge ceremony. I'll ensure I give her the best celebration once we get to Vampire city. What matters is I fulfill my part of the agreement." He gave her hand a slight squeeze. "My city is in trouble. Please, let me marry her tonight."

"You have my consent." She could hear her siblings mumble behind her. Part of her was jumping in excitement as she would now be free from their teases and bullying. Zeidan observed her from the corner of his eyes and her inner joy excites him.

"This is good news." Korba walks up to them, her eyes not failing to size them both up as she sat beside her father. 

"A good news of two strange people going to live the rest of their lives together. Almost unbelievable. But it's happening to my sister. I hope you can cope." 

"Can you?" Everyone was shocked as she replied Korba sharply. Zeidan also turned to look at her. What an act of defiance.

Korba blinked cluelessly at what Lyne may be trying to say. She's the weak one amongst them all, so she should be the one worrying about leaving. Not them.

In admiration, Zeidan studied the woman beside him who looks lovely with her fair hair, creamy skin, and every profile of classic beauty, with her eyes speaking of intelligence. If this stranger is who he'll be spending the rest of his life with, then there is no harm in committing to it. This was a woman that has brought out his inner dark self and was able to fulfill the fantasies of any man.

"I'm sure you know what you're saying. I hope you can cope." George chipped in, arms folded.

Lyne turned towards him, her face holding no expression.

"I noticed you all breathe and live on bullying other people. If I leave, you'll have no other person to bully. Can you stand a day without the weak girl who does all your work for you and take in all your insults?"

"Stop being rude, Lyne," Styx called.

"I'm not being rude, Dad. I was just asking a harmless question."

"She is right. We can't cope. We enjoy seeing you sulk all day. All the same, we will all miss you, sister." Charles moved forward and hugged her side, his hard gaze fixed on Zeidan.

At once the tense air subsided and they all sat down for breakfast. Lyne stared into Zeidan's eyes and she could sense how secure she could be with him. But outside the wall of the Wolf Pack, what lies ahead in wait for her is what she doesn't know.

"Bloody hell." He strode across the room to the table where papers are scattered. He took one that had scribbled writings on it. His scarred face held rage and hate within. He swore to God under his breath, that woman will pay for everything she has done to him and his men. But with what he'd just heard from one of his men who acted as a spy at Vampire city, he was sure Luana will be at the tip of his fingers soon. He will be able to grasp her easily.

"I hear the King of Vampire city has gone to look for more men."

Shelbrooke ignored Gorge who announced. "Of what use will they be when our men are stronger? We have strategies and we use our heads, not our muscles and jaws. So why should we worry?"

"We should worry." 

"Why?" He eyed Tate cautiously.

"Well..." He looked around the other two men for support but they all looked away leaving him to his fate.

"He went to the wolves."

"What?!" Shelbrooke yelled, his eyes popping as if they would fall out of their sockets. They have never tried meddling with the Wolves because of how ruthless they always fight. In a day, they could lose hundreds of men. 

He paced the room breathlessly, beads of sweat now visible on his forehead.

"I can only suggest we increase the number of men we recruit into the army. Like hundreds more soldiers with strong character and willfulness and strategy and..."

Tate was shut up when Shelbrooke landed a smack on his face. The others flinched and looked down immediately.

"And what?" 

Tate held his cheeks painfully.

"Nothing your Highness."

"Go on!"

"I'm sorry your Highness. I think Tate is saying that because those men will join the Vampire army plus the men from Luana's father. Sum them all up and we don't stand a chance." Reyns chipped in, his voice trailing off.

"You're right." Shelbrooke walked back to his chair and settled down.

"Have someone give me the total number of men we have. That Onyx must be brought home."

"Yes, your highness." They all dismissed.

Shelbrooke stood up and moved to the table and started writing to his inside man.

Luana struggled to rise from the bed and walked to the balcony overlooking the whole city. Harboring up to three thousand citizens, the destruction of the Vampire city will only lead to a full-blown war that might spread to the human city as well. Given that some vampires have now migrated to places like Los Angeles, New York, and several others, humans might get involved and it will be very bloody.

"We can't let that happen." She muttered.

"And that's what we're working on." Luana turned towards the direction of the voice and she was facing Chloe, a short-haired slender thirty-five years old lady who has spent years training in the archery team. She also has the profile of a woman warrior with her height a few inches above Luana's.

"Hey, Chloe." 

The other woman's gaze turned downwards and she pointed towards her stomach. 

"Shelbrooke did that to you?"

Luana nodded. 

"That bastard is back!" Chloe gently pulled her back to her room and made her settle on the bed before discussing what had happened.

"I came here as soon as I heard what happened to you. What on earth happened to you? I had to come to visit you as soon as I heard about the Werecats invasion."

"And I'm sure you know why they were able to overpower us." Luana stared hard at the older woman.

"Lack of military strategy and decrease in the army. When one soldier dies, the army is meant to increase, not decrease."

"Subtraction doesn't quite agree with you, Luana."

"Well, that's the point!" She tried yelling but had to groan as it affected her wounded stomach.

"Uh... What I'm saying is, we need to recruit more vampires into the army."

"We can't just do that and you know it. They have to pass certain tests, endure hardships under training, and also test their willfulness an..."

"Spare me that crap, ol' lady, and do what I ask you to. We don't have time."

Chloe sighed in defeat. Arguing further with the terror queen is quite irrelevant as what she wants to happen will definitely happen.

"But I thought the King..."

"Is busy. And I'm going to be his Queen so I have every right to ask you to do whatever. Increase the army and recruit almost every vampire male above eighteen." Her eyes were now wide as she ordered. 

"What?! We can't possibly force..."

"Do it!" Luana cut in again causing the woman to frown her face in displeasure.

"Now!" 

As Chloe left the room, the wind pushed the window back and forth, and the clouds gathered. Wherever Zeidan is, she hoped he is doing well and has received her letter.

"I'm sure he'll come running now that he knows I'm hurt." She smiled as she said to herself before lying on the bed, her heart expectantly waiting for the love of her life.