**XANDER**

"She has something he wants? What exactly could that be?" And here I am again asking something what I knew he might not know but there was no harm in asking. I could use any information that I get now so I would do anything including hurting my ego and every fucking thing that I believe in.


"I am not certain about this but from what I gathered, she's gifted in some kind of way. And if she is used for the sacrifice that Antonio plans to use her for, he would be immortal and would be in full control of the entire supernatural community. And that's more reason why he needs to be stopped before things get out of hand." The old man stared at me for along while as he finished speaking and without voicing it out, I knew this was my moment to make a decision.

A decision that would change the supernatural community forever either in good or bad.

I couldn't let Antonio use Leila—my beautiful, heavenly mate— for any sort of ritual and I think that is at the top of my list of things that clouded my mind and made me want to stop Antonio the more.


"I have to return to my pack." The man whose attention had left me long one ago as he giggled with his youngest daughter snapped back at me with shock and terror in his eyes as he slowly puts her down from his laps.

"Surely, my Lord isn't thinking of moving head on into challenging Antonio?" He questioned as his eyes looked like they would bulge out of their sockets if enough care wasn't taken.


"That's exactly what I'm going to do. I'm not going to hide away here when my people are somewhere out there, waiting, loosing hope. I have to do something, that's what makes me a leader." I stated more like I was reassuring myself as I tried standing up from the bed but the pain was too much and it just felt like it was hitting me in places that I couldn't imagine.

If the pain was on my arm before then now it has spread to every fucking place, just how am I supposed to survive this? I winced as the pain built up in my core, gritting my teeth so I don't let out a menacing roar.

It would scare the children and I'll be damned if I scare a child.

I wanted to ask why the pain was spreading but then, what less could I expect from poison? A poison that was shot no less by a man who would delight in hearing that I am dead.

"You can't return. Not in your current state, you're weak and incapacitated and if you think of venturing into battle with Antonio, you'd be dead meat. You might be an Alpha Leader but you're no less the age of my son, so boy, try not to get yourself killed and vanquish the hope that your people have in you. The hope that you would come to rescue them." The old man warned and after I sorted out the odds, I think he was right. Maybe I needed to stay here and restrategize. I was fighting a formidable opponent and while they had all the time in the world to plan and to think in order to cause a lasting impact, I didn't have much priviledge.

I needed to think fast and act fast and in order to start embarking on any of the two, I needed to recover as fast as possible.

"Alright, I'll stay and heal. Is there an antidote that would relieve this?" I asked as my whole body jittered, my present temperature would certainly be the exact degree needed to roast a steak and melt some cheese on top of it.

I was sweating heavily yet I felt cold on the inside like I had been locked in a refrigerator for days but outside, my body was as hot as a furnace.

"My wife is an expert in medicine and herbs." She stepped forward and came closer to feel his temperature before shooting her husband a worried glance.

"What's going on?" Their exchanged worried glances had me perk up as I stared at their faces, notwithstanding the pain that flowed inside of me, I was sure able to discern when something was wrong.

"I'm afraid I might not have an antidote to this poison. It's higher above me but I might have someone that might be of help, though I'm not sure if you would like any of it, Alpha Xander." Her gaze was almost petrifying and looked horrible and I wondered who the person was that I wouldn't like or would make her as pale as a corpse just at the thought.

"Who is it? I would do anything to be able to save my pack and my mate." I don't know if I said that a bit too early but that was exactly what I was going to do, something within me nudged me that I would have tried to find out who the person was that they would take me to but none of that mattered when Leila was in the picture.

Only having the thought that she might be harmed in some way was enough to drive me to edge and fucking make me go crazy.

"Never say, never." She urged as she swallowed hard while staring at her husband like she was obtaining permission to divulge such information to me.

"Don't stare at me. Just tell him, he doesn't have much choice as it is and would take whatever he can get. Am I right, Alpha?" I hurriedly nodded my head in affirmation as I stared at her expectantly.

"Alright then. You asked for it." She placed the cup of medicinal herbs that she was bringing to me originally and faced me with a straightened shoulder and a more courageous look.

"Priestess Hera of the Red Fangs."