Chapter 263: Episode 263

The dining room was already prepared when Torak was brought inside. He knew immediately that something was wrong.

It was the way Alpha Blackfen had arranged the room. There were too many guards.

Torak stopped near the entrance. “I thought we were discussing the information King Elijah sent me for.”

“We are.”

Alpha Blackfen sat at the head of the long table. Then he gestured toward one of the empty chairs.

“Sit.”

Torak didn’t move. He glanced around. “I should return to the Wolf Realm.”

Blackfen’s mouth curved into a smile. It wasn’t friendly. “You’ll eat first.” His voice came out as a threat.

“I’ve eaten.”

“I didn’t ask whether you were hungry.”

The room went silent.

Torak glared at him quietly.

Blackfen stared back.

Torak slowly pulled out the chair. He took a seat. He knew better than to openly challenge the Alpha in his own home without knowing what he was planning.

Blackfen leaned back. “Good.”

He turned toward the servants.

“Begin.”

The doors opened. Servants entered carrying covered dishes. One after another, they placed them across the table.

Everything looked perfectly normal.

Torak didn’t touch anything. His eyes remained on Blackfen.

The Alpha noticed. “You aren’t eating.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“You’ll eat.” Alpha Blackfen warned. “You must eat.”

Torak’s jaw tightened.

Across the table, another chair moved.

Adele entered.

Her footsteps were quiet.

She wore a dark elmard green dress, with her hair falling loosely over one shoulder. She looked composed.

She kooked almost indifferent, until her eyes found him. Her breath caught. She raised a surprised brow. Then it was gone.

Her expression remained perfectly controlled.

Adele walked toward the table.

Blackfen watched her carefully. “Sit.”

She did.

She chose the chair opposite Torak.

For a moment, their eyes met.

Adele looked away first.

The servants continued serving.

Torak’s attention remained fixed on the untouched plate in front of him. He had no appetite.

He could feel Adele looking at him.

She tried to hide it, but she wasn’t very good at it. Every few minutes, her eyes lifted. She stole an occasional quick glance.

Then she away again.

Torak finally spoke. “I would like to return to my Park.”

Blackfen smiled. “Eat, Torak.”

The command was quiet.

Torak didn’t touch his food. “I said—”

“I heard you.” Blackfen’s smile disappeared. “Eat.”

Torak leaned back. “No.”

The servants froze.

Adele’s fingers tightened around the edge of her napkin. She gated

Blackfen studied Torak for a long moment. Then he lifted his glass. “Very well.” He took a slow sip.

Torak watched him.

Blackfen placed the glass down. “Bring it.”

One servant stepped forward.

He carried a small glass bottle. There was nothing remarkable about it.

Torak’s eyes narrowed. He recognised that liquid. It belonged to the humans to be used against the wolves.

“What is that?”

Blackfen didn’t answer.

The servant walked around the table and stopped beside Torak. Then he reached into his pocket.

Torak saw the needle. His entire body stiffened. “What the hell is that?”

A servant grabbed his arm.

Torak moved instantly. He caught the man’s wrist and twisted it. The servant hissed. Torak shoved him backward.

The bottle nearly fell.

Six guards immediately stepped forward.

Blackfen lifted one hand, and they stopped. “Sit down.”

Torak stared at him. “What is in that?” He demanded.

Blackfen’s expression was calm. “Something I would prefer you drank voluntarily.”

“You invited me here to poison me?”

“Poison?” Blackfen tilted his head. “No.”

He looked toward the servant.

Torak’s expression changed. That was human silver. The kind capable of burning through their bodies and weakening their wolf.

Torak’s hands slowly curled into fists. “You’ve lost your mind.”

“Father?”

Blackfen smiled. “Drink.”

“No.”

Blackfen sighed. “I dislike repeating myself.”

Torak leaned forward. “And I dislike being threatened.”

For the first time, dangerous anger flashed across Blackfen’s face. He turned toward Adele who was staring at him in disbelief.

“Tabitha.”

The maid standing behind Adele immediately stiffened.

Blackfen pointed toward the glass. “Bring it to her.” He ordered one of the servants.

Tabitha’s face drained of colour.

Adele looked up. “She…..”

“Drink it.” He ordered Tabitha, cutting Adele off.

Tabitha stared at the glass. Her hands trembled. She looked at Adele with pleading eyes.

Adele turned to her father. “What are you doing?”

Blackfen didn’t look at her. “Drink.”

Tabitha’s lips parted. She couldn’t move.

Blackfen’s voice hardened. “That was an order.”

Tabitha’s entire body trembled. She reached for the glass.

Adele stood quickly. Her chair scraped backwards. “Father.”

Blackfen finally looked at her. “What?”

“What are you doing?”

He smiled. “I invited your secret lover over.”

Adele froze.

“Do you take me for a fool?”

Her throat tightened.

Blackfen leaned forward. “You think I don’t see the way you look at him?”

Adele’s face remained still.

Blackfen’s eyes narrowed with disgust. “You defiled whore.” He cursed.

Adele swallowed.

She didn’t answer.

Torak did. “You might as well be the fool you think you aren’t for calling her a whore.”

Adele’s eyes snapped toward him. “You’d remained shut when I speak to my father.”

Torak didn’t look at her. For all he knew, she didn’t mean that. He hated how conditioned she felt to defending this miserable man.

His gaze remained fixed on Blackfen.

Blackfen slowly turned his head. “Excuse me?”

Torak leaned back. “You heard me.”

Adele whispered, “Torak…”

He ignored her.

Blackfen glanced toward Tabitha. “Leave.”

The maid blinked. “What?”

“Put the glass down.”

Tabitha immediately obeyed. She placed it on the table.

Blackfen leaned back.

His eyes never left Torak.

“Bring more.”

Two servants immediately left.

Adele’s heart began pounding. “Father…”

Blackfen raised one hand, and she stopped speaking. The servants returned carrying several bottles.

Blackfen took one.

He poured the liquid into Adele’s glass. Then he poured another into Torak’s. Adele stared at the glass.

Blackfen looked at Torak.

“You have two choices.”

Torak’s eyes hardened.

“Drink yours.” He nodded toward Adele. “Or she drinks hers.”

Adele’s face went white.

Torak stared at him. “You wouldn’t.”

“Yes, she’s my daughter, but I would.” Blackfen smiled. “I would.”

Adele looked at Torak. “Don’t drink it.”

Torak’s hands tightened.

Blackfen continued. “You have always had one weakness.” His gaze moved toward Adele. “Her.”

Torak’s jaw clenched.

Blackfen leaned closer.

“So let’s see how much you’re willing to sacrifice for it.”

Adele stood. “Father, stop.”

Blackfen looked at her. “You will sit.”

“No.”

His eyes darkened.

Adele held his gaze. “You brought him here because of me.”

“Drink.”

Adele stared at the glass.

Blackfen’s voice became colder. “Or I’ll make Tabitha drink it first.”

Tabitha’s face crumpled.

Adele looked at her.

Her maid was trembling violently.

“Please…” Tabitha whispered.

Adele’s eyes filled with something Torak had never seen in them before. Fear. Not for herself, but for Tabitha.

Adele slowly sat.

Torak looked at her.

She wouldn’t meet his eyes.

Torak finally spoke. “Let her go.”

Blackfen looked at him. “Drink.”

Torak’s breathing became heavier. “I’ll drink.”

Adele looked up sharply. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Torak met her eyes. For the first time that evening, his expression softened.

She shook her head. “Torak.”

He looked away.

Blackfen smiled.

Adele suddenly stood. “Don’t you—”

A backhanded slap cut her off. The sound came before anyone could react.

SMACK!

Blackfen’s backhand struck her across the face. Adele’s head snapped sideways.

Torak froze.

For one heartbeat, he didn’t understand what he’d just seen. His chair shattered backward as he launched himself across the table.

“YOU—”

He didn’t reach Blackfen.

Six men crashed into him at once.

Torak hit the floor hard.

One grabbed his arm, another pinned his shoulder, and a third drove a knee into his back.

Torak snarled. His eyes darkened. “GET OFF ME!”

He threw one guard sideways. Another immediately replaced him.

Blackfen stood calmly.

Adele remained frozen beside the table. Her cheek was already reddening.

Torak saw it. That was all he could see. “Get your hands off me!” His wolf roared beneath his skin.

The guards struggled to hold him.

Blackfen looked at Adele. He walked toward Tabitha, and the maid stepped backward.

“No…”

Blackfen grabbed her throat.

Adele’s eyes widened. “Father.”

He tightened his hand.

Tabitha gasped.

Adele immediately stopped moving. She stared at Tabitha’s frightened face. Her lips trembled.

Torak watched. His breathing became ragged. “You coward.”

Blackfen looked at him.

Torak’s voice dropped. “You hide behind women.”

Blackfen smiled. “And you keep forgetting whose house you’re standing in.”

He released Tabitha. She collapsed against the table, coughing violently.

Adele rushed toward her.

Torak’s eyes burned.

Blackfen returned to the table. He picked up Torak’s glass. He held it out. “Drink.”

Torak closed his eyes. For several seconds, he remained completely still. Then he opened them.

He took the glass.

Adele shook her head. “Torak…”

He looked at her, and lifted the glass.

Adele’s eyes filled with tears. “Don’t do this. I’ll hate you.” A single tear drooped. “Forever, Torak. I’m tired of hating you. Don’t make me do it.”

Torak whispered so quietly only she could hear. “I won’t let him hurt you.”

Then he drank. The liquid burned down his throat. His body reacted immediately.

Torak coughed violently.

His hand slammed against the table.

The guards grabbed him before he could fall.

Adele rose. “Torak!”

Blackfen’s expression remained calm. “Take him.”

The guards dragged Torak away.

His legs were already beginning to weaken. Torak tried to say her name, but nothing came out.

The guards pulled him toward the door.

Blackfen turned toward Adele. “You caused this.”

She said nothing.

The doors opened.

Torak was dragged through them. The smell of damp stone filled his lungs.

A heavy iron door opened after a few corridors, and the air turned cold. Torak was thrown inside a dungeon.

His knees hit the floor.

The door slammed shut, and the lock clicked.

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