Chapter 66: Play With Lucian’s Game
Remus’ POV
“You fucking idiot!” I seethed, my rage boiling over. A powerful punch landed squarely on Russo’s jaw, causing him to crumple to the floor.
“You had them in your grasp, and you let them slip away?!” I snarled, grabbing his collar as he lay there, blood dripping from his nose and mouth due to my furious blow.
Even in his pain, Russo managed to speak, “Lord Lucian’s men, led by Frank, interrupted us. They took Emilia.” He winced, anticipating my wrath.
“What?” My jaw clenched tightly, the news hitting me like a sledgehammer.
“Lucian’s butler took Emilia,” he repeated, his voice clearer this time.
He took her. Lucian has set his schemes in motion already.
Releasing my grip on Russo, I flung him back to the floor, allowing him to catch his breath.
“Fool!” I cursed under my breath.
The objects on my table bore the brunt of my frustration as I swept them aside. Lucian had remained ominously quiet for the past two months. I had been anticipating his retaliation ever since my men accidentally caused the death of his mother. Although unintentional, the incident fueled his thirst for revenge.
I had been preparing for his attack for months, expecting him to strike at any moment. But instead, he had remained shrouded in mystery, biding his time while I kept my guard up.
I knew better than to underestimate him. Lucian was renowned for his merciless and ruthless nature.
And now he had taken Emilia. For what purpose? To use her as leverage?
“What about Cercei?” I demanded, the thought of my daughter’s safety consuming me.
“Did they take her too?!” I shouted in frustration.
“Another group intervened. We don’t know who they were or which pack they belonged to. They overwhelmed us with their vans and swiftly took Cercei and her aunt,” Russo spilled the words rapidly, desperate to appease me.
Enraged, I delivered a forceful kick to his side, causing him to cough up blood before me.
“Useless!” I bellowed in exasperation. They only had one crucial task, and they failed miserably. I knew Russo well; he had been in my service for half his life. He had a penchant for toying with his victims when he had them cornered. If only he had acted promptly, they would be here with me now.
My head throbbed with the enormous fury burning in my head, surrounded by a group of idiot men who seemed blind to the reality of our situation. Winning this war alone was a pipe dream. Lucian’s reputation as the “King In The North” was well-deserved; he had the entire North and his stern uncle from the West, his mother’s brother, backing him.
Facing them single-handedly would resemble embracing deterioration before the bloody moon could even turn. Realising the need for allies, I reluctantly reached out to packs that had their own grievances with Lucian. Convincing them to join forces was no easy task. Fear of his power was prevalent, but their collective anger drove them to take the risk.
Yet, even with our forces combined, we still fell short. The odds remained stacked against us.
“Find out which pack took them, and bring my daughter back to me!” I commanded. Bleeding and injured, Russo nodded in acknowledgment, his determination driving him to crawl on the floor, with others assisting him to rise.
I poured myself a glass of bourbon and downed it in one swift motion.
***
Vienna entered the room, her brows furrowing as she sensed the gravity of the situation. I motioned for her to take a seat in front of me, and she obliged, cautiously trying to gauge the atmosphere.
“I want you to go South, to the Malroux pack, the original pack of your mother,” I said calmly.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.
“Why?” She asked, crossing her arms and knitting her brows in suspicion.
“I want you to pay them a visit,” I replied, taking a puff of my cigarette.
“And what’s the purpose of this visit?” She asked, her doubt evident.
“You know why, Vienna,” I replied firmly.
“Dad, you can’t just involve other packs in your war!” She exclaimed, her voice rising.
I slammed my hand on the table, shocking her. Fear flickered in her eyes, but I couldn’t afford to be gentle. This was war, and time was of the essence. I was growing desperate. Cercei, meant to be my leverage, had been snatched by a mysterious pack while Emilia was at the mercy of the cunning Lucian Red, and his next move remained shrouded in my knowledge.
“This isn’t just my war, it’s ours. We need all the help we can get if you want to continue living your life,” I declared with urgency, hoping she would grasp the gravity of the situation.
War had a way of pulling everyone into its clutches, regardless of their desires or intentions. I knew I had to make tough choices to protect my family and my legacy. I know that this was only the beginning of a turbulent and dangerous war that might bring me down.
The Shadow pack held a significant connection to Vienna as it was her mother’s original pack before she became part of MoonStone pack after our marriage. Her mother, the oldest daughter of the Alpha, was meant to take the reins, but her younger sister assumed the role after their father’s passing. Her uncle, the current Alpha, held a soft spot for his dear niece.
“But I don’t know them, I haven’t even met them,” Vienna complained, voicing her concerns.
“That’s precisely why you’re visiting. Pack your bags; I’ll have your plane ready in the morning,” I insisted with a sense of finality. She left the room in fury. I took one last drag from my cigarette before placing it delicately in a cigarette holder.
If I couldn’t find allies in the North, I would seek them in the South. Lucian had no connections there, and the truth about my late wife’s death remained concealed. Vienna, as the only living reminder of her mother, would likely be accepted by the Shadow pack with open arms. With some persuasion, they would be at her beck and call, eager to fulfil her commands.
However, I still had to uncover the identity of the pack that had intervened and taken Cercei. Were they an ally, an enemy, or something in between? It was imperative to find them swiftly. If Lucian dared to use Emilia against me, I would have no choice but to use my daughter as leverage against him, a soul-to-soul confrontation.
Of course, I had no intention of harming my own daughter, but a little show of force might be necessary to make the King in the North kneel before me, begging for mercy. War alone was enough to handle; I couldn’t afford to have Emilia’s life hanging in the balance.
As I pondered, a realisation struck me. How did Lucian know about Emilia’s importance to me? Did he dig into my past?
“Get me, Madàm Cece,” I ordered one of my men, desiring answers from Cece. I took another sip of bourbon, pacing back and forth impatiently.
“Monsieur, Madàm Cece is nowhere to be found. We’ve searched everywhere,” my men informed me. My neck tensed with annoyance.
“Bullshit!” I roared, hurling the glass against the wall, my eyes ablaze with anger.
“So, this is the game he wants to play.”
I’d play his little game very well if Lucian thought he could manipulate the situation. But mark my words, I will be the one to dictate the rules, and I’ll see to it that you rue the day you ever dared to cross my path.