Chapter 128: Chapter 128

TRISTAN:

I looked at Dahlia’s weak form. She was still on her knees. I put an arm tightly around her.

I eyed the rogues and vampires around me and calculated how long it would take for me to kill each of them. Of course, that would mean I have to make sure Dahlia was safely out in a corner when I do that…

“Give it up now. You don’t stand a chance against them,” Samalah said. I look at her, and her face was still cold and emotionless. How can she still look us straight in the eye after selling us off like this?

“Samalah… sister… What does this mean?... Are you cooperating with these people now,” Dahlia said right next to me.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, sister… Surely, you’d understand why I needed to cooperate with them. Didn’t you also break your promise of giving Naskan back to me,” Samalah replied, her eyes fixed on the silver wolf tattoo that was showing on the top left corner of Dahlia’s chest.

“I see you have accepted him as your mate again… I pity you, Dahlly… You are a fool to fall into your husband’s trap once more.”

Dahlia’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

“Let’s save the chitchat later, girls,” a burly vampire who must be the group’s leader spoke up. “Get your mate up now, and let’s get going. We still have a long way to go before we reach Laudicia.”

“Why are you accompanying us there? What do you want?”

“Samalah already explained everything to us. We will take you to Laudicia and help extract the stone from your mate. We promise not to harm you both if you don’t try to run away with her again.”

My eyes darted back and forth from Samalah and the vampire leader. Just what did Samalah promised to them for them to seek partnership with us?

“What if we say no,” I growled. The rogues surrounding us quickly drew their weapons in a defense position.

“Then, we shall take the girl while you die in here, Shadow wolf,” he said dryly. “Either way, we need the woman, so whether you cooperate with us or not, we shall take her. It’s up to you whether you would like to make the process painless or not. Besides,” the vampire added, “working with us will be very beneficial. As we promised Samalah, the Apricus Kingdom will give you the reinforcement that you needed to start the war.”

“A war?”

“Yes, your war against Talandor.”

I gave a sharp look at Samalah. Just what kind of deal did she make with these fools?

“So, are you cooperating with us, or are we taking the she-wolf by force?”

I looked down at Dahlia’s weak and disoriented face. I knew she had a lot of questions on her mind. I could battle with these men, but I was not a hundred percent sure that she would not be harmed in the process…

I have yet to discover the deal Samalah has made with these scoundrels, but the most important thing was to get Dahlia to Laudicia fast.

I looked at Dahlia who was still clutched under my arms.

‘You trust me, right? We have to go with these men for now,’ I told her through our mind-link.

She still looked quite confused. I can feel the fear rising in her chest through our bond.

As such, it was a complete surprise when she nodded at me.

“Let’s go. We don’t have all day…”

I flinched at the cold way Dahlia spoke… Did she remember something, or was she become suspicious at what Samalah had just said?

I nodded at her and quickly transformed in Albus’ form. Dahlia climbed on my back.

The rogues and Samalah also assumed their wolf forms and began trudging next to me and Dahlia, closely monitoring our actions.

Dahlia kept quiet for a long time. I could tell she was thinking of something very intensely.

“Why did you do this?... I thought you wanted us to be safe,” Dahlia said towards Samalah after some time.

“Well, I lied. Sorry.”

“Is that all you’re going to say to us? You sold us off just like that? Did you plan all of these from the beginning?”

“I must say I did have many plans, but your mate here has to go ahead and ruin it. Good thing I had more than one plans. Otherwise, we would really be done for.”

“We?”

“Yes, we…” Samalah turned to us with an evil look. “Have you not discovered it yet? After disappearing on us for three days, I’m surprised he hadn’t told you about it, Lady Hurst.”

“What is it? What do you mean?”

“Naskan here, he -”

“Enough,” I growled at Samalah. The other rogues snarled at us, warning me sharply to stay silent, but I just won’t stand by as she tried to poison Dahlia’s mind against me yet again.

Samalah laughed a wicked laugh. “So you haven’t told her yet, I see… You marked her, but continued to deceive her like this? You really are a bad wolf. Tell me do you enjoy this nasty game of pretend, Naskan?”

“Shut your filthy mouth, Samalah,” I roared. I knew I would be losing in this battle of wits if I let my temper get the best of me, but I won’t let Samalah get an upper hand just like that too.

“Sister, didn’t I tell you your husband was a cruel scoundrel? Not too long ago, he promised to be with me too, but I see he has really chosen to side with you and deceive me all this time…”

Dahlia’s grip against my fur tightened alarmingly. “What are you saying, Samalah?... My husband? What does he have to do with this?”

Samalah laughed again. “You’re an even bigger fool than I think, sister… That’s why I thought you’d be a perfect target for our plan… Isn’t that right, Tristan?”

I tried pouncing at Samalah’s head, but Dahlia held me tightly by the neck and stopped me from sinking my fangs into her flesh.

“I-Is it true,” she asked quietly, although the nails digging against my airways told me she was definitely pissed.

“Dahlly, it’s not what you think…”

“Your name, is it truly Naskan? Or is it something else?”

My heart froze. I knew Dahlia could feel it all – the tightening knots at the pit of my stomach, the bewildered feeling of my heartbeat, and the bitter taste of lie in my mouth should I choose to deny it.

“Tell me the truth! Are you… Are you my husband?”

I felt the trickle of Dahlia’s tears against my back. I knew the extent of pain she was feeling right now, for I could feel it too through our bond.

‘Dahlia… Remember what I told you before? Everything I do, I do for us… Would you trust me with this,’ I said desperately through the mind-link.

There was no answer.

‘Dahlly,’ I pleaded. Both Arthur and Albus were now whimpering, scared of losing our mate once again.

“Go ahead and answer her, Tristan… Tell her about our plans together and the role she must play on our little revenge,” Samalah happily quipped in.