Chapter 154
Leonard
Before leaving for Red Valley, I beg Freya for something that will make entering Blackwater easier for me and my men. She hands me a small spray bortle filled with a strange liquid.
“Since you’re heading into a city full of rogues, take this,” she says. “It’s a rogue scent. Spray it on yourself and your men–if it works, you’ll be able to walk past the guards without suspicion.”
I nod gripping the bottle tightly.
With no time to waste. I set off for Red Valley. My mission is clear–find Amica and bring her back. She is the only cure for my Alpha, and I will do whatever it takes to get her to him, even if it means I may not return.
The few other remaining Gamma warriors are to accompany me once i reach them at our former hideout.
The journey back is anything but easy. With nothing on me, I am forced to steal, lie, and move in the shadows just to make my way back to where I came from
A day and a half later, I finally reach our hideout, where the other gamma warriors wait for our return.
Thankfully, the Gamma warriors remain steady, Without wasting a moment, I gather them and inform them of what needs to be done.
We have to go back to the Black Castle,” I say firmly. “We need to get the Luna out of there.”
We sit together, strategizing for a while, going over every possible scenario. Entering Blackwater itself may not be a problem—we have no way of knowing who will be guarding the gates. Will it be our own men, or will it be the rogues?
I suppose we will have to find out.
Once the plan is set, we begin our journey toward the city.
We make sure to move only at night, careful not to attract unnecessary attention. But even with all the precautions, I know one thing–we must be ready for anything.
As we get closer to Blackwater, I turn to my men. “Take your positions,” I command, assigning each of them to a different entrance.
There are multiple ways into the city. And one way or another, we will get inside.
Then, we begin
I successfully enter the city, and the moment I step inside, I can tell something has changed. The faces around me look hollow, joyless. Even the intruders, the so–called conquerors, do not bother to guard the city as strictly as I would have expected.
They are arrogant–confident that no one would dare rise against them,
After all Deckard the only one who can defeat thenm is dead.
As I move deeper, I spot a few Gamma warriors. My heart sinks. They seem to have surrendered to this new power. “They look defeated, stripped of the pride they once carried.
I make a conscious effort to avoid eye contact, unsure if any of them have willingly pledged allegiance to Scarface and his army.
Normally, Blackwater’s entrance is heavily fortified, no matter which gate one tries to enter through.
Security here used to be ruthless–searching every person, scrutinizing every arrival, But now? The strict checks are gone. People are hardly leaving, yet many are pouring in freely
I know the news of Blackwater’s fall has spread far and wide. Ordinary people would avoid this place.
The ones entering now? Mostly rogues.
I serve carefully, noting every detail. Then, without hesitation, I continue my journey.
This city used to be beautiful in my eyes. But now? It looks like ruins–even though the buildings still stand.
The fear fills everywhere the closed marketplaces, the eerie silence… it all makes Blackwater feel like a ghost of what it once was.
I guess the people never truly realized what they had when Deckard ruled as Alpha of Alphas. In just one month under this new regime, the city looks like a dump.
I manage to navigate my way toward Blackthorn Castle, moving carefully through the streets. When I arrive, I linger near the outskirts, searching
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Chapter 154
for a familiar scent.
I know our people are inside, being held hostage. If I can get the attention of the right guards–the strong, loyal ones–I know this mission can succeed. But… I can’t smell them.
What have these damned rogues done to them?
Our Gamma warriors are some of the fiercest fighters I’ve ever known. They would never surrender easily to a band of notorious rogues. We’ve fought these kinds of enemies before–and we’ve always won.
Yet now, something feels different.
I teeth stay hidden, determined to figure out my next move.
I know some of our men them have died fighting. Their blood has been spilled for this kingdom, for their honor. But what about the rest? Were they captured? Tortured? Forced to kneel before Scarface and his band of rogues?
It’s impossible that all of our warriors were slain. Or… is that exactly what happened?
Dammit. Our kingdom has fallen hard.
As I reach the back of the castle, I spot some of the men who came with me. They’ve already arrived, waiting in the shadows.
There’s a secret passage hidden within the thick shrubs–one that only a select few know about.
Deckard gave me directions a long time ago, showing me how to navigate this place. Only he and I know of its existence.
Once we are all gathered, we move quickly but carefully.
Through the dense shrubs, we find the hollow tunnel that leads to the hidden entrance. At the end of the passage, an ancient wooden door stands before us.
I place my hand on it, feeling the rough, weathered wood beneath my fingertips. Slowly, I push it open.
The door creaks, the sound echos
Beyond it, a pitch–black tunnel stretches before
us,
swallowed in silence.
The is no power here, leaving us to rely on our night vision instead of lighting a torch. We cannot afford to alert anyone to our presence.
With silent nods to each other, we step inside.
The mission has truly begun.
Slowly, we made our way down the tunnel, taking a turn before continuing forward.
After what felt like an eternity of silent steps, we found a stairway.
Without hesitation, we climbed–each step creaking under our weight–until we reached the top, where a heavy iron cover blocked our path.
It resembled a manhole, thick and rusted with age.
I carefully unlocked it from my end, wincing at the faint groan of metal against stone. Damn it, too loud.
Praying we hadn’t drawn any attention, I motioned for two others to assist me. They understood immediately, stepping forward to help with the weight.
slowly we pushed, inch by inch, until the cover shifted slightly to the side.
I peered through the narrow opening.
The first thing I saw was movement–several pairs of boots patrolling the area above us. Shit. I couldn’t tell how long their rounds would last, so I pressed my ear to the ground, listening.
Fifteen agonizing minutes passed before the footsteps finally faded into the distance.
Wasting no time, we lifted the cover fully, emerging one by one, careful to keep low and hidden behind the thick shrubs surrounding the castle.
Once the last man was out, I sealed the manhole shut, ensuring no trace of our entrance remained.
Just as I turned to regroup, my instincts flared–movement.
Something, or someone, was coming toward us.
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Chapter 154
e
I barely had time to react before I signaled for my men to remain still. Our mission had only just begun, and already, danger was closing in.
