Chapter 881: The Odds (Ch.882)
The Eclipse Palace had fallen into a deathly silence. Alessio shifted back into his human form, his claws dripping a steady stream of blood.
An Alpha’s challenge for the throne ant death for the defeated party. There was no in between, and this was known to all.
But between father and son, no one had been certain what the results would be. Until now.
Lothaire lay in a pool of his own blood. He wasn’t dead, not yet. He still twitched ever so slightly. Yet he had suffered too many severe injuries already and his healing speed had been worn down.
If he lived or died would now be up to his own fate. It was already clear who was the stronger contender between the two.
Alessio’s expression was unfazed, nothing like a man who had just driven his own father to death’s door and left him bleeding out at the foot of a throne he’d held for decades.
His eyes scanned the guests. Only then did his expression reveal a change. "Where’s my wife?"
The Eclipse Alphas exchanged glances, but no one dared speak.
"And Lado?" This ti, the question was more rhetorical. His brows furrowed in suspicion and he stord out to the courtyard.
"Neveah!!!" He roared, his voice tinged with fury.
Just then, a voice drew the attention of all the Alphas, Alessio included.
"As the Eclipse Alphas bear witness, Lucas Varleston challenges King Alessio, for the title of Alpha King." Lucas Varleston stepped into view.
Up until now, his arrival had gone unnoticed. But as the Alphas beca aware of his presence, expressions of shock flashed through their faces.
It’d only been so hours since Lucas Varleston’s unlikely escape from the dungeons which had left the whole palace shocked and in a panic.
But now, here he stood. A man who’d narrowly escaped the execution that had already claid the lives of dozens on the death row.
He’d returned like he wasn’t a fugitive on the run. But instead had every rights to a place amongst the Alphas already present on palace grounds.
Lucas was an impressive man, 6ft in height. With a broad fra and limbs that rippled with muscles.
His robes were stained with patches of blood, evidence of the torture he’d been subjected to while locked up in the dungeons.
Still, he stood tall, eyes unyielding as he stared Alessio down.
Anyone who knew the Varlestons, knew of their battle expertise. The only Eclipse Alpha who had co close to defeating Lothaire in the previous tussle for the throne was precisely Alpha Varleston, Lucas’s father.
Lucas himself had shown excellence since childhood and was renowned as the most promising of the younger generation, often asured against Alessio.
Both n had known of each other for the longest ti. An unspoken competition had always existed in the eyes of others, yet there hadn’t been cause for a confrontation between them until this mont.
Alessio turned. His eyes narrowed slightly. "You really must have a death wish, coming back here of your own volition."
Lucas raised a brow. "I’m not your father, Alessio." He tone was dark, dripping with a deathly promise.
"I didn’t sit on a throne and watch people kill for
at the wave of my hand. I have lived for battle... and you will find
a little more difficult to kill."
Alessio raised a brow, but he didn’t get to respond.
"In the event of Lucas Varleston’s death," Dane also stepped forward, "Dane Hunt of Eclipse Hunt challenges King Alessio for the title of Alpha King."
Alessio’s gaze shifted between both Alphas. His expression was unreadable and he took out a kerchief, wiping his hands in a slow, calculated motion.
They weren’t of the sa generation. And so Dane Hunt’s challenge was out of order, but the Eclipse throne was a prize that recognised no rules or guideline of morality.
Only the strong.
"Just the two of you?" He asked, raising a brow. "What is this supposed to be? A rebellion?"
"It can only be a rebellion if your claim was legitimate." Neveah murmured, as she made her presence known, stepping out of the treeline.
Alessio spun around. His eyes revealed his relief as he saw her. But the relief was quickly replaced by displeasure at the sight of Scott trailing behind her.
Neveah approached the courtyard with unhurried strides, stopping a short distance away from Alessio.
She had contemplated a thousand tis how this confrontation would go. But now that she finally stood, opposing him, she realized the result didn’t matter.
Everyone who was present here and had chosen to stand with her were prepared to give their lives if it ant putting even a chink in Alessio’s armour.
Regardless of if they were successful or not, she knew in this mont that she would have absolutely no regrets.
"The Eclipse throne belongs to the one strong enough to claim it..." She paused, her eyes fixed on him. "And keep it."
"You surely do not expect to hold your claim to it unchallenged, do you?"
Alessio’s lips pressed into a thin line, his brows furrowed.
The other Eclipse Alphas seed at a loss. Glancing between Neveah and Alessio.
He’d already faced a challenge to the throne and erged victorious. But there were no rules about how many challenges a King was bound to entertain in a single day.
There had never been a reason for any one King to be challenged on multiple occasions after he’d already won the battle over his predecessor.
But Alessio’s reign had been a first of many since the onset.
"Veah..." Alessio’s tone was low and warning. "Co over here."
Neveah didn’t move. She didnt even flinch. "Now would be the ti to pick a side. Neutrality...is death." She made clear.
The eclipse Alphas seed to have reached their breaking point and in unspoken tandem, the group was splitted.
Alessio’s staunch supporters moved to stand behind him. And those Alphas who’d held back their displeasure and opposition for too long moved to stand with Lucas Varleston and Dane Hunt.
Alessio’s frown deepened. His eyes went unfocused for a mont and when it returned to normal, the sounds of thudding paws echoed from all directions around the Eclipse Palace.
The Eclipse warriors had been summoned. Numbering in dozens, they were the most feared fighting force in the domain and fiercely loyal to the Alpha King.
"Veah... this is not the ti to be stubborn." Alessio warned. "It’s a handful of them. Against hundreds of us."
"The odds are against them."
Neveah sucked in a deep breath, a dim glow radiating around her clenched fists. "Not for long."
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