CLAIMED

17

"What happened to you?" The concerned Kazan asked the second he set eyes on the badly injured Ezekiel upon his entrance into the living area. "You look like you've been hit by a bus. Are we under attack or something?"

"No. It's nothing." Ezekiel doesn't want to be reminded much more talk about what happened just now. Not only was his pride hurt, but his whole body too. And it seemed his healing abilities had slowed down because of that stray's strange attack. So it's probably going to take some time for his body to return to perfect health.

"Clearly, this is not nothing, bro. You are severely wounded. I can smell your blood too. Is this Danica's doing?" That darn rotten princess! Something tells him she's probably the one responsible for Ziki's bad condition, and he's mad.

"No. Like I said, it's nothing." Ezekiel lashed out. "Just leave me alone, OK." Then he realized what he had done and felt remorse. "Look, I'm sorry, Kaz. It's just been a long day. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to get some rest."

"OK. Sure man." Kazan didn't push him any further, though he still wanted answers. Why is Ziki even refraining from telling him what happened?

Kazan concluded that he probably didn't want to say anything because Ezekiel knows he might do something to that stupid brat that might start a war, which may cause the end of the Azure pack. If that's the case, then Ziki is right. If it is what Kazan is thinking, he will definitely punish that rotten princess.

Kazan watched as Ezekiel, who seemed to be in great agony, struggled to go up to his room. Afterwards, he left to go pay that damn crazy princess a visit.

"My love, you're back." The second he came into his bed chamber, the excited Danica threw her arms around him and kissed him. She's so happy to see him, but from his response, he doesn't seem to feel the same.

"Are you the one responsible for Ziki's injuries?" The furious Kazan forced the princess away from him and asked sternly.

"Injuries?" Danica is puzzled and clueless about what he's accusing her of. "I don't know what you are talking about."

"Don't lie to me." Kazan violently jerked her.

"You dare to lay your hands on me!" Danica slapped his face.

"Ziki is my brother. My right-hand man, and you dare hurt him on my territory. So of course I dare."

"But I didn't hurt him!" Danica snapped. "Sure, I saw him at that stray's place a few minutes ago when I was out looking for you. But I left him there in good health. If anybody hurts your brother, it's that skank of yours."

"Don't call her that!" Kazan seized her throat violently. Then, when he realized what he had done and for whom he had done it, he released the princess. Damn, the symptoms of the claim mark seem to be getting worse.

"So I'm right. You are messing around with that stray." His action just now was enough to further convince Danica of that.

"Of course not." He denied it, despite knowing there was nothing he could say now to convince this crazy girl otherwise. Not that she believed him the first time he denied it this evening. Damn! If things continue like this, then all that is in the dark will definitely come to light. He can't let that happen.

"How could you?" Danica snorted with disgust. "With a stray at that?"

"I said there is nothing between us!" Kazan roared. Even he didn't believe that.

"Then you won't have an issue if I have her killed."

"What did you do?"

"Nothing yet. But I will kill her," she assured him.

"If you dare touch a hair on her head," Kazan threatened.

"Just what is it about her? Why do you choose her over me? She even tried to kill you." Danica felt like she was losing her mind. She hates the way Kazan is treating her—the way he's defensive and overprotective of that stray. He should only be that way about her, not some damn stray. This makes her want that skank dead even more.

"Just go home, Danica." Kazan can no longer bear to go back and forth with this annoying princess. It's a headache, not to mention damn frustrating. Ugh! Why didn't he tell her to leave earlier instead of just ignoring her?

Oh yeah, he wanted so badly to leave so he could apologize to that stray this evening that he wasn't really thinking straight.

Oh well, the past can't be erased. He just has to make sure that no one else doesn't find out his secret, or more importantly, the stray's identity.

"No." She rejects his command. If he thinks he's going to get rid of her to have a happy ever after with that stray, he makes a sad mistake. Over her dead body.

"If you don't leave, I'll be forced to throw you out."

"You know I was foolish to believe that you loved me," Danica said. "But you were only entertaining me because you wanted to increase your political standing. Is she worth that much that you are willing to throw away your ambitions?"

Her statement left Kazan speechless as he thought about her latter statement, more like a question.

You know, there was a time when he would have done anything to stay on her good side for his ambitions. But now he doesn't care so much about her or his ambitions. There are more important things at stake here.

"If you kill that stray and marry me, I'll ensure my father rewards you with a prominent status amongst the high-level packs and helped raise your pack status from mid-level to high-level." Danica tried to persuade him but failed.

Humph, That will never happen. "Just go home, Danica. I don't want you here."

"I'm not going anywhere, Kaz!" The stubborn princess roared.

"Don't let me hurt you," Kazan warned her.

"Do you really think my father would send me here without any form of backup? If even a hair is harmed on my head, this whole pack will burn to the ground."

"Is that a threat?" Kazan snarled.

"No. It's a warning. And you best take it."

This is a waste of his time. "Guards!" Kazan called, and a group of young men barged in, awaiting his order.

"Please don't do this, Kaz." The princess begged. "I'll stay away from the stray if you want me too. Just please don't make me go home."

"Please escort the princess back to her pack." He ordered, and the guards apprehended Danica, who begged Kazan desperately as she was being dragged out of his bed chamber.

Now that's over, it's time for him to go visit that stray—the real culprit behind Ezekiel's injuries.

How did he miss that, by the way? As strong as Danica is, she wouldn't be able to damage Ezekiel that much. Only that stray is strong enough to best Ezekiel in battle and defeat him without even trying to. The poor guy must have felt so embarrassed, hence why he didn't say anything. Ah, Kazan can relate to his pain.