Page 41 of Protecting His Treasure

Images of his dragon clawing at his mother flashed in his mind. “Stop.” He tried to shut them out, but he couldn’t.

“I’m not showing you what your dragon was up to while you were asleep.”

“Stop it. Witch, stop.”

“Enough,” Onaku yelled. “The pack would have gotten the message by now. They’ll be here soon.”

Hanami clapped her hands together. “It’s time for the next part of our show.” Hanami faced her husband. “You remember your part in this show, right?”

Onaku nodded, but his gaze kept drifting to Kaede’s father.

“Eyes on me, Onaku,” Hanami told him. “This was what you wanted, right? You want to lead this pack? You want to steer the den into a different direction? And you want to do it with me as your beta, right? Eyes on me. Right?”

“Right.”

“Good. Do you remember the next part of the show?”

“I do.”

“Good. Because I can hear the villagers now. Go out and do your part.”

With one last look at Kaede, Onaku turned to leave.

“Onaku,” Kaede called out. “Can’t you see she’s using you. Onaku! Cousin.”

Onaku whirled around. “Don’t call me that. You’ve never treated me like a cousin and your father never treated me like a nephew. The two of you looked down on us. You deserve this.”

“No one deserves this.”

“My father should’ve been alpha. Instead, he was shunned by the pack because he didn’t possess some stupid gene. You never gave him a chance to prove he could lead. You never gave me a chance to prove anything. You all treat me like I’m an outcast. This is what happens when a person gets tired of being stepped on.”

“So, you went and married a witch who could help you claim the title.”

“In my defense,” Hanami said. “He told me he was being the denied the title. I thought it belonged to him already and someone was trying to keep it from him. I had no idea he wasn’t in line to be alpha.”

“I should’ve been,” Onaku argued. “But you’re right, I did go looking for a witch who could help me take the title. And I found her.”

“How did you find her?” Kaede said, trying to buy time to the pack could arrive and overhear what his cousin was saying.”

“I had to dabble in dark magic. But it was worth it.”

“Dark magic always requires a sacrifice.”

“It was worth it.”

“You bastard. Were my parents your sacrifice?”

“No,” Hanami spoke up. “His mate was. I needed a vessel to wear to come into this plane.” Hanami stared down at her body. “And I must say, she’s cute.”

“Onaku,” Kaede groaned. “What have you done?”

“I… I needed to be alpha,” Onaku stuttered. “I had to be. It’s my right. So, I made a deal with a hybrid demon who is also a witch. She promised…”

“You don’t owe him an explanation. Can’t you see what he’s doing? He’s stalling. You’re smart, Kaede. But I’m smarter. I can hear the villagers, Onaku. Go do your part.”

“On it.” Onaku left the room. He didn’t look back this time when Kaede called his name.

“You’re probably wondering how could he sacrifice is mate to become alpha?” Hanami said, moving closer to him.