Chapter 650: Face Of The Rebellion

"How do you know all this?" Alexa asked Micah out of nowhere.

"Excuse me?"

Alexa narrowed her gaze. "You’re here spilling a bunch of things nobody knows about, and we’re all just accepting it in good faith?" She turned to the others.

"What’s the probability he’s not working with this Lila? What are the chances we’re not sitting here with the enemy?"

And this, people, was exactly why he never revealed his identity. For a moment, Micah didn’t answer her, he just gave her a blank look that screamed, Bitch, really?

Except when he turned, he caught the look of suspicion on the others’ faces. Alexa must have noticed it too, because it gave her boldness to continue.

"The children of powerful Alphas are missing, and the only person who suddenly ’knows things’ is a half-demon Oracle who admits to getting information from the underworld and some other sources. Surely, I don’t sound crazy right now." She chuckled awkwardly, though the sound carried an edge.

"I really shouldn’t have come here," Micah muttered under his breath. It was natural that someone would suspect him, and that was exactly why he regretted coming.

Nancy lifted her head and looked him straight in the eyes, "This sudden disappearance, it’s related to Violet, isn’t it?"

Micah looked at her and answered simply, "I hundred percent believe it is."

Nancy studied him, thinking. "There’s something you’re not telling us, isn’t there? Is it about Violet? Or is it something you can’t trust us with?"

Micah replied coolly, "Violet’s secret is hers to tell."

At that, Nancy straightened up, addressing the others. "I trust him."

Murmurs rippled through the room. Some agreed, others clearly didn’t.

Undeterred, Nancy went on, "I know my daughter, Violet, and that girl can hide a secret deeper than the ocean trench. The fact that Micah knows something about her means she should be the one saying so, not him. And I won’t let him say anything that could put my daughter in danger in a room full of people I don’t quite trust yet." Her eyes locked on Alexa when she said it.

Of course, everyone understood what she was saying. Violet exhibited powers no one should have — powers that suggested she was something beyond what they could comprehend. It shouldn’t even be surprising that the Alphas disappeared alongside her; they were her mates, after all. With the exception of Asher — but everyone with a brain could tell he would likely join the train. They had chemistry, and Violet, at this point, was creating the impossible.

Leon spoke up, "I understand you, Nancy, but that still doesn’t change the fact that we have no idea where our children are. Heck, how are we even supposed to get them back? Or when they’ll return from whatever ’rendezvous’ they’ve got going on in whatever realm they ended up in?" He gestured with air quotes, frustration in his tone.

"That one’s up to us now," Aeron said firmly. "Micah has given us the information we need. We just have to figure out a way to bring our kids back—"

"If possible," Irene cut in. "What if the kids were taken for a reason, and we can’t get them back until the time is right?"

"Then the seer better confirm that," Aeron replied, his tone hardening.

Ezra leaned forward. "While I hold my ground here, I’d like to believe I have all of your support," he said, glancing at each Alpha in the room.

Right now, the West Pack was in turmoil. Alpha Cane had dared to attempt to assassinate Alpha Asher Nightshade and take his place as Alpha. Except his plan folded when the brilliant Asher saw it coming. But now Asher was missing — and that was a problem.

Members of the pack already believed Asher was dead and that the leadership was hiding it from them. What were they supposed to say anyway? That Asher had been taken into a portal and vanished? No one would believe that.

It didn’t help that Alpha Cane had gathered the other Alphas to his side and already crowned himself as the new Alpha. His forces had begun seizing territories within the West Pack, and it wouldn’t be long before Cane’s army marched straight on them.

Yes, the West Pack was now in the middle of an internal war of its own.

Leon told him, "My warriors might not be as skilled as the West Pack’s, but they’ll fight to the death if it comes to that. Henry was my good friend, and I won’t let some parasite ruin the legacy he built so far...." He rephrased immediately, "We built so far. The Nightshade will remain in power, that’s the way it was designed, and that’s the way it’ll stay."

Ezra saw the determination on his face and nodded, genuine appreciation flashed in his eyes. "Thank you," he said.

Then he turned to Alpha Irene.

"The women fight just as well as the men in my pack," Irene said, her tone filled with pride. "I only hope you don’t underestimate them when they arrive tomorrow."

The South Pack was practically neighbors with the West, which was why they had come readily to their rescue.

Jeremiah, standing near the wall, asked carefully, "What about the Alpha King? Wouldn’t all this end if he said a word?"

At that question, the room fell silent. Every pair of eyes turned to him, pinning him in place. Oh boy.

"Little beta," Aeron rumbled, his deep voice carrying authority, "if we waited for Elijah to solve all our problems, we’d be wiped off the face of this earth before he even lifted a finger."

Jeremiah suddenly felt small, and foolish, for asking.

Ezra’s gaze shifted to Micah. For the first time, there was respect in his eyes. "Thank you for your time today. You can leave immediately, we’ll make sure your transit to Aster City is safe. But if you’re weary, you can stay the night. You’ll be treated well."

"Thank you for the hospitality," Micah said, his voice dry. "But I think I’ll leave immediately." He didn’t want to spend another second here, not before someone decided to accuse him of something else he had nothing to do with.

Nancy told him, "And thank you for looking out for my daughter, Violet. Goddess guide you."

Micah only gave her a small smile before turning to leave.

Except, almost immediately, Violet’s face flashed in his mind — that stubborn, purple-tipped-haired girl who also happened to be his sister. And knowing her, she wouldn’t take kindly to hearing he’d walked away while her mate’s pack was collapsing.

"No, no, no, Micah, don’t turn around. Let them figure this out on their own," the demon on his left shoulder muttered darkly in his head.

Yes, he told himself, they were capable enough. They had the alphas, warriors, strategy, they didn’t need him meddling.

But just as Micah took a step, the figurative little angel appeared on his other shoulder, whispering in a small but annoyingly clear voice, "Don’t you think your sister would be disappointed if she found out you abandoned her mate’s pack in their time of need?"

Micah groaned inwardly. "No, no, no," he argued with the voice in his mind, "They have Alpha Irene and Alpha Leon. They can handle this."

The angel persisted. "Without bloodshed? Can they do what you do? What if they die? Do you really want Violet to cry?"

"Oh, for crying out loud," Micah hissed under his breath, releasing a strangled sound of frustration.

When he turned, he found every pair of eyes in the room already on him.

"Is something the matter, Your Highness Micah?" Irene asked politely, her tone curious but composed.

Micah froze. Don’t say it. Don’t do it.

Yet his mouth betrayed him. "I can win you this fight," he said, "without any loss on your side."

The room went dead silent. Every person stopped moving. Even the air felt still.

Jeremiah gave him a look of disbelief. "You’re kidding, right?"

He knew Micah, and with all due respect, the man knew practically nothing about war.

How could he? Elijah had practically banished him to Lunaris Academy where he’d wasted his time "entertaining" students.

Micah was not surprised when most of them gave him that disbelieving look. It was the image he’d built over the years. Better that people think him the useless heir to the not-so-late king who could never amount to anything. It kept suspicion off him when it mattered. After all, who would believe he was a stone-cold assassin?

Unfortunately, for his sister, Micah would be tearing down those defenses and making himself vulnerable.

Ezra’s gaze went hard. "How so?" he asked.

Micah didn’t hesitate. "People think Asher Nightshade is dead and because of that, Cane is the face of the rebellion. However, cut off the head and the rest will scatter — they have no loyalty beyond the opportunity in front of them. Then they’re easy to pick off."