CLAIMED

44

"Damn it! Don't do that." The startled Kazan complained.

"Do what exactly?" Nathaniel smiled creepily, and this made young Kazan's heart beat even more out of control. "Turn you into a toad? You know, that doesn't sound like a bad idea."

"Where have you been?" Leah punched Nathaniel's shoulder. "I've been searching for you for days now."

"So I've heard. And now I'm here to help." Nathaniel rubbed the spot where he got hit. Not that it hurt him one bit.

"I'm glad you had a change of heart." Leah felt a bit more confident. With Nathaniel, Silvio, and his soldiers help, she might stand a better chance against her powerful enemies.

"You never left her side, did you?" Silvio smirked. He knew this obsessive old bastard all too well. The princess is the flesh of the late supreme wife that Nathaniel adores and treasures more than anything. Even if he's not there physically, there is no way he will take his eyes off her, especially while she's in danger. The princess is also in possession of the amplifier. This is one of the ten Violet Swan packs' precious items. Nathaniel would never have left such an important item unattended.

"Oh, so you've managed to survive that hellish place, Pipsqueak." Nathaniel rolls his eyes. "How disappointing?"

"What do you mean by he never left?" Leah asked Silvio. But as he was about to respond,

"Unfortunately, we don't have any more time to waste here. As we speak, the White Clover and Green Emerald Pack army is approaching," Nathaniel warned. He then addressed Silvio. "You better go order your underlings to take battle formation and fend them off."

"I will." Silvio laughed briefly before breaking out of the dungeon to go prepare his soldiers for battle.

"As for you, pup," Nathaniel addressed Ezekiel. "Go order the warriors of your pack to retreat to safety. With the level of strength they possess now, they don't stand a chance in this war."

"Don't tell me what to do." Ezekiel voiced his displeasure at Nathaniel's rude and yet truthful remarks. But in the end, he left to do as the bastard commanded after Kazan gave him the go-ahead to do so.

"And you, pup." Nathaniel rested a hand on the tense Kazan's shoulder. "Go find some corner and hide."

"No. I am joining the battle too," Kazan stated firmly.

"And how exactly do you plan to fight Lycan's, who are a hundred times more powerful than you are? You can't even beat the princess," Nathaniel taunted Kazan.

"I know." Kazan felt greatly offended by this bastard remark. "But I can't sit idly by while my woman is out there fighting."

"Your woman?" Nathaniel snorted. "The only reason she's interested in you is because she accidentally claimed you."

"Well, at least she's with me." Kazan clapped back. "And I proposed, and she said yes."

"You know what? I might just turn you into a bug and squash you after all."

"If you two are done measuring dicks, we have a battle to fight." Leah got between the boys before Nathaniel could blast Kazan with his magic. Ugh! Why are men so childish?

"Yes, we do. And for your information, princess, if there was such a competition, your fiancé here would lose for sure," Nathaniel bragged.

"Oh, I doubt that, old man." Kazan scoffed. "And is it even possible for an expired being like you to even get it up anymore?"

"Keep talking smack, little man, and your life just might expire today."

"Enough, you two!" Leah roared before Kazan could continue the childish bickering. She then took a breath before saying to Nathaniel, "Could you please excuse us? I need to have a chat with the pup."

"If you're going to try and convince me not to fight now that you have powerful backups, then don't bother," Kazan voiced furiously. He didn't mean to get mad at her, but she wants him to sit idly by while she goes off to fight to protect his pack. Him. And that he can't do. He would rather be killed while protecting his family. "I will fight for you and our child."

"Please understand, pup." Leah pleaded. She knows where Kazan's heart lies and doesn't want him to sacrifice himself for her and their unborn child. She wants him to live, and hopefully they get married.

"No, I won't. We agreed that we were going to fight together."

"I know. But—"

"I'm weak, right?" Kazan gnashed his teeth and clenched his fist.

"Pathetic and useless too," Nathaniel butted in. "Don't forget to add those to the list of things you are."

"Please don't make this more difficult for me than it already is, pup." Leah felt bad for hurting the pup. However, keeping him out of this battle is for his own good. Why can't he understand that she's doing this to protect him?

"I know I'm not as strong as you are or as your friends, but I will help to protect you and my child." Kazan ignored Nathaniel's rude remarks and continued to focus on his chat with Leah. "But please... don't ask me to standby and do nothing."

"I'm sorry, pup. But I can't let you join the fight. I won't let you sacrifice yourself for me." Leah was about to knock Kazan unconscious, but to her and Kazan's surprise, Nathaniel stopped her. He binds her with a magic so powerful that she is unable to break it. At least for now.

"You bastard, why did you get in my way?" She was furious at Nathaniel.

"So you are determined to help us fight, correct?" Nathaniel addressed Kazan.

"Yes," Kazan replied. He wasn't worried too much about Leah being bound because he knew Nathaniel wouldn't do anything to hurt. Plus, Nathaniel saved him from whatever Leah was about to do to him just now. And he's grateful, but the question is, "Why?"

"Hm... Alright then. I know a method to increase your strength to our level at a rapid pace. But I must warn you: the side effects of this will be severe. In the worst-case scenario, you might even lose your pathetic life. Are you stupid enough to accept my proposal?"

"If this method will make me as strong as Leah or stronger, then I'm willing." Kazan doesn't trust this bastard, but he truly wants to be of use to Leah, his unborn kid, and his precious pack. That is why he accepted Nathaniel's proposal. Without hesitation.

"No. I won't allow you to do this," Leah protested. It's obvious that Nathaniel wants to use the pup's desire to protect her and their unborn child to lead the pup to his demise.

"I've made my decision."

"Nathaniel, please don't do this." Leah struggled to break free from the magic that held her captive.

"I'm sorry, princess, but I must disobey you this once." Nathaniel teleported from the dungeon with Kazan before Leah could free herself from his magic and get in his way.