Chapter 9

• [Jason POV]
• “Jason!”
• My dad blew his top. “How dare you talk to your brother like that!? Apologize to Mark right now! He’s the pride of the Constance family! No one insults him!”
• “Ha ha ha!”
• Mark suddenly burst out laughing, slapping his thigh until tears welled up in his eyes.
• “Jason, Jason, I really didn’t expect you to say something so out of line. Who exactly do you think you’re scaring?”
• His face was dripping with contempt. “You think just because you spent a few years in prison and threw some punches, people are supposed to be afraid of you? You’ve lost your damn mind!”
• “I’ve inherited the family’s beta bloodline. I’ve got the fighting power of a top-tier beta now. And you? You’re just a pathetic omega. There’s a gap between us you’ll never cross in your whole life!”
• As he said that, he suddenly grabbed my neck hard.
• “If I want, I can crush you like a bug!”
• Smack!
• I caught his wrist mid-air, steady and precise.
• I squeezed with all my strength, and Mark’s face drained of color from the pain. His eyes widened in disbelief.
• “You? You think you can hold me down?”
• I threw him off with one sharp move. “I already gave you a chance. Since you don’t know how to appreciate it, don’t blame me next time we meet!”
• With that, I turned and walked away.
• From behind me, I heard my dad’s voice faintly: “He seems a lot stronger now. Could something have happened in prison that wiped out his flaws and restored his beta power?”
• Jason snorted coldly. “Even if that’s true, he still can’t really threaten me! I just slipped up for a second earlier… He better not cause trouble tomorrow. Otherwise, Dad, Mom, I’ll be your only child from now on!”
• ...
• “Jason, I woke up, but why aren’t you here? Why are you so stupid…”
• “Jason, I miss you so much…”
• “Jason…”
• Under the warm yellow light, I flipped through Lucia’s letters.
• Hundreds of letters, every word dripping with love.
• Knock knock knock!
• Someone knocked on the door. Lester came in.
• “Alpha, all the evidence of Mark’s crimes has been gathered. It’s all here.”
• He dropped a stack of files on the table. “Also, Rex has promised to testify against Mark. This is enough to destroy him!”
• I nodded softly. “Are the guys all set?”
• Tomorrow, I’m crashing the wedding. I’m not going alone.
• Lester nodded. “Everything’s set. I’ll have all my brothers show up whenever you need them. And don’t worry—we won’t blow your cover.”
• He paused for a second, then added, “But I gotta admit, I’m a little worried. Our Phantom pack isn’t as strong as the Iron Fang pack right now. Plus, a bunch of Nuremberg’s high society nobles will be there tomorrow. I even heard that Julia, the alpha of the Storm pack, is coming…”
• Julia, the current alpha of the Storm pack, is Helena’s sister. If Julia shows up, does that mean Helena will be there too?
• I mulled it over.
• Shaking my head, I told Lester, “Don’t worry. I’ve got it covered.”
• After Lester left, I pulled a booklet from the drawer, flipped through it, and found a number to call.
• “Is this Chief Burns? This is ‘Poison,’ the one who helped you get healthy again. I need a favor. A friend of mine, Jason, tomorrow…”
• The person I was reaching out to was none other than Burns, the top brass in Nuremberg’s elite, head of the Order Committee, basically the city’s chief of security.
• He’d once been poisoned by a rogue with the infamous, incurable “Moon’s Lament” toxin and was close to death. I was the one who saved his life.
• When I asked for his help, he didn’t hesitate. He was all in. “Don’t worry. Tell your friend Jason to go ahead with whatever he needs to do. With me backing him, no one’s gonna push him around! By the way, I’ve got a friend who’s been dealing with some serious aftereffects from an old injury. I wonder if you could help him…”
• After that, I made a few more calls, reaching out to some other people.
• When I finished, I stood up and walked over to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the thousands of lights flickering across Nuremberg.
• Tomorrow, I’d officially announce my comeback to the world.
• Lucia, I’m gonna make you the happiest princess ever.
• …
• June 18th, Year 298 of the Vost Empire. Clear skies, a light breeze, perfect temperature, fresh air.
• Under the full moon, the Thousand Islands Lake shimmered like a sea of diamonds. The Constance family villa was decked out with lights and decorations.
• High society from Nuremberg’s political, business, and social circles had gathered to witness the union of two people—a grand wedding.
• On my way there, I watched everything live through the surveillance gear my team had set up.
• The Iron Fang pack’s priesthood leader stood solemnly by the Moon God’s stone altar, reading the “Moon God’s Scripture” with reverence. Everyone listened with deep respect.
• Once the other parts of the ceremony were done, Mark and Lucia stood on either side of the high priest.
• “Mark Constance, do you accept Lucia Fields as your mate? Will you stand by her side for life, through pain, sickness, poverty, until death do you part?”
• “I do!” Mark shouted loud and clear.
• He laughed heartily, and the guests below responded with applause.
• The high priest then turned to ask Lucia, but she stayed silent.
• Her eyes kept darting toward the big iron gate of the mansion.
• “Lucia, you’re waiting for me? I knew it! You’d wait for me!”
• At that moment, Lester, sitting behind the wheel, glanced back at me. When I nodded, he slammed the gas pedal down. The engine roared wildly as we charged straight ahead.
• “Boom!”
• The massive iron gate of the Constance family mansion crashed down with a thunderous bang. The guests gasped in shock, all eyes locking onto the car I was riding in.
• The car thundered forward like a wild stallion, stopping right in front of the red carpet. I stepped out, straightened the fancy dress I’d specially picked out for Lucia, and locked eyes with her across the crowd, my gaze full of love and devotion.
• Amid Mark’s furious rage, my parents’ stunned silence, and the guests’ mixed confusion, under the dead quiet sky, I looked at Lucia—the girl I loved most in this world, my most precious treasure—who was covering her mouth, tears sparkling like an angel’s in her eyes.
• “She doesn’t want to!”
• My shout cut through the silence, freezing everyone in place…
• “Jason!”
• Lucia’s tears instantly broke free. Without a second thought, she rushed toward me, just like I was running toward her.
• Right there, in the middle of the red carpet, under the moonlight and the watchful eyes of the moon goddess, we held each other tight.