Passion in the Alpha's Revenge

Chapter 4 Empty Hopes

Inside one of the luxurious rooms in the main castle, Victoria sat in front of a large wolf-carved mirror. Her fingers played with the ivory comb on the dressing table, but her eyes were unfocused. Her eyes were fixed on the door, anxiously waiting for one thing-news.

There was a soft knock on the door. Once. Twice. Then it opened slowly. A maid in a gray uniform entered with almost silent movements. Her face was pale, nervous, but determined.

"Quickly," Victoria hissed. "What did she say?" asked Victoria hopefully.

The maid lowered her head, stepped closer, then whispered the news that had just reached her ears while eavesdropping from behind the pillar of the meeting room.

"Alpha Alfred... refused the elders' request, Miss. He does not approve of marking in the near future."

"What?"

Instantly Victoria's hand, grasping the comb, slammed it down on the table. A small clinking sound was heard as the ivory cracked against the marble surface. Her face changed from curious to angry, from angry about something darker.

"Disapprove?" she repeated, almost incredulously. "After everything I've done? After all the pressure from the elders?"

The maid was silent, not daring to say more. But Victoria rose from her chair, her footsteps hard and full of anger.

"He chose to wait for his fated mate, Miss," the maid said with a shudder. Her face lowered in horror.

"I really don't understand. Why would Alfred do such a thing? I love him so much," Victoria said as she walked away.

"I just want to see your sincerity, Victoria," Alfred said from the doorway. Victoria and the maid immediately turned around. They were momentarily surprised by Alfred's presence and immediately saluted him.

"Alpha." Victoria immediately ran to Alfred and hugged his waist intimately. Meanwhile, the maid immediately left. "You really made me almost faint," Victoria murmured spoiledly. "How could you play me like this?"

Alfred smiled as he released Victoria's embrace.

"What are you worried about? I'm sure even the Moon Goddess believes you are the right woman for me."

"Then how can you keep waiting?"

"Because I want more power than I have now. And that I can get after getting my fated mate from the Moon Goddess."

"Alright. I'm not worried anymore." Victoria hugged Alfred tightly, but Alfred was silent. Instead, his eyes were directed forward. Wondering. Remembering the image of another girl in a different room.

*****

That morning, the mist still shrouded the trees as Alice wandered through the forest with a small rattan basket in her hand. She was looking for moon tree roots and arsil leaves-two essential ingredients for the healing potion the castle healer had requested. Her steps were light, her smile broad and her mind lost in the tranquility of the forest. This activity was the most enjoyable thing for Alice after Alfred ruined her life. Because it was only while searching for potion ingredients in the forest that she had the freedom and pleasure to be herself.

Unfortunately, the pleasure did not last long. When Alice was blowing the weed flowers into flying white flakes. There was a low growl from behind a bush.

Alice instantly stopped. Her eyes swept around. A few birds flew away in panic, and her breath caught as three figures stepped out of the shadow of the tree-Rogues, trouble-making wolves who had long been ostracized and lived without a pack. Their faces were rough, and their eyes blazed with a look of hunger and evil intent.

"Hey, look, who are we meeting here?" said one of them mockingly.

"That weak Alpha kid is dead now, right? Didn't he get his wolf yet?" retorted the other Rogues.

"Hahaha. That's right. It's lucky we met here."

"What do you want?" asked Alice sternly.

Alice took a step back, tightening her grip on her basket with a wary face. Honestly, with her condition of not having a wolf yet. Then she didn't have the ability to fight against those rogues.

"We want you." The Rogue stepped closer.

"Stop! Or I'll scream!" Alice tried to threaten.

"Just do it! No one will help you."

The two Rogues smiled slyly. Their claws began to come out. While continuing to walk towards Alice, who was getting more and more frightened.

Alice gritted her teeth, prepared to fight back as much as she could - but it was all in vain as the Rogues were tougher than Alice thought. Before she could run, the two rogues caught her.

"Let go! Let me go!" screamed Alice as she tried to break free. However, that certainly did not make the Rogues obey her. They kept up the action, almost harassing Alice.

Suddenly, a shadow darted between the trees. In an instant, a loud growl echoed, and one of the Rogues was thrown against a tree trunk. The others turned around-but it was too late.

Alfred stood before them in wolf form, his eyes burning and his Alpha aura exploding like a storm. He said nothing, just moved. Fast. Deadly. To attack them mercilessly. The two finally ran away, staggered, and disappeared into the bush with howls of pain.

Alice fell to her knees, her body weak from the strain.

Alfred approached quickly and held her shoulders. "Are you alright?"

Alice nodded slowly. "Yes. Just... shocked."

He helped Alice up. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world was silent. The look in Alfred's eyes was unusual-a mixture of anger, worry, and... deeper feelings. Their hands remained clasped together longer than they should have. Unfortunately, Alice realized it first. So the girl immediately shook off her hand.

"Didn't I tell you not to go too far alone," Alfred muttered softly.

"Yeah. I didn't expect it either because I was too engrossed in picking up the potion ingredients earlier."

"Apart from being sloppy and lousy, you have no other talents," Alfred taunted.

"I'm not like that."

"Don't deny it. Come on, let's go home! I'll watch over you all the way to the castle," Alfred said as he walked first. Alice gave the man an annoyed look, but a moment later, her lips broke into a small smile.

One thing they didn't realize. If from behind a bush far enough away, Victoria was watching everything. She had originally followed Alfred silently, intending to 'just show up' and chat with him while accompanying him on his run. But what she found was a sight that burned her heart-Alfred who saved Alice like a hero in a legend, then looked at her like... Luna.

Victoria's face hardened. Her hands gripped the tree trunk until her nails dug into the bark. It wasn't just an ordinary rescue. It was a moment Alice could use to tease Alfred and try to find an opening to snatch the man from Victoria. And Victoria knew that if she didn't act now, she would lose the competition.

"Yo

u were wrong to touch mine, Alice," she hissed vengefully. "And I'll make sure you regret it.”