August assessed the engineered wolf lying on the floor, unconscious and soaked in its own filth.

"This looks like a glob," he murmured as he approached it, while Elias shrugged at the side.

"I’m a generous man," Elias whistled. "He keeps asking for a beating, so I give it to him."

August ignored Elias and kept his focus on the thing. He squatted beside it and checked its pulse.

"Pulse is still there," he muttered, only to hear Elias add from behind, "And that’s after a full night of beatings—from my warriors and from me."

"I see." August withdrew his hand and rested his arms on his knees. He sniffed; the blood coming from the creature was pungent like decay. Even its aura was different from the one he had dealt with not long ago.

On the night of the last full moon, August had been called by his pack over what was supposed to be a trivial matter. Though it hadn’t seemed important at the time, he knew it would bother him later. So he decided to deal with it personally.

But on his way, the pack that had moved into the city with him—since the establishment of this harem to assist him—was attacked.

That was why he had returned, to see for himself what his wolves had reported.

"How long have you known about these things?" August asked as he rose to his feet and faced Elias squarely. "It seems to me you’ve dealt with them quite often."

Elias shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged, not answering.

"Elias Hale," August called firmly. "If you and your pack have anything to do with these—"

"Whoever’s behind this can’t be a wolf," Elias cut him off. "Wolves don’t need to engineer humans into wolves for fun. Even with reasons, there’s no need for us. You of all people should already know that."

He clicked his tongue, snapping his lazy gaze toward the creature on the floor just as it pushed itself up and lunged at August from behind.

However, as expected, August was quick. Without even looking back, he reached out and grabbed the stubborn fake wolf by the neck, stopping it cold.

"We are werewolves, and expanding our pack isn’t difficult," Elias continued, eyeing the thing August was choking. "But this? This is the same plague that struck the North not long ago."

He finally shifted his gaze back to August. "We cleaned up the North—or at least, that’s what I believed. If there are still people like this out there, my pack can handle them without a problem. It’s just that..."

He paused briefly.

"When I came here for the selection, it looked like an isolated case."

Or at least, that was what he had wanted to believe. That illusion didn’t last long because it hadn’t taken much time at all for him to find another engineered wolf like this one.

"I’ve been hunting them down, trying to get information," Elias shrugged. "But as you can see... they turn feral. Getting answers out of them is difficult."

"That’s because you swing first before you ask," August replied coldly, glancing at his catch. "I’ll take him back with me. My people will see if we can determine how their genetics and DNA were engineered."

"Sounds good to me."

With that, August kept his grip on the man’s neck. But unlike Elias’s reckless handling, he carried the creature with ease. Subduing it with a howl or aura wouldn’t work—they were abnormals.

As August turned to leave, he paused when Elias spoke again.

"Ah, by the way." Elias waited until August looked back. "That thing put his hands on the Luna. Don’t ask me how, why, or when. Just make sure he feels everything. He’s been experimented on, so his tolerance might be high."

He smiled and gave August a thumbs-up. "Have fun."

"Hah." August snorted faintly as he resumed walking. "Say less."

*****

Meanwhile, in the Royal Pack’s castle, Virgo lowered his head in the grand private dining area as he entered alongside Lynsandra.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Virgo said, placing a hand over his chest.

The Alpha King, seated at the head of the table, gazed at Virgo, who stood a step behind Lynsandra. Lynsandra, on the other hand, simply tilted her head briefly.

"Virgo, why don’t you join us for luncheon?" the Alpha King suggested. "It’s been a while since you’ve dined with us, boy."

Virgo smiled subtly as he raised his head. "It would be my honor, Your Majesty."

"Virgo has matters to attend to," Lynsandra interjected, almost rolling her eyes. She knew her father didn’t truly want Virgo to join them, and Virgo knew that but couldn’t reject the king’s request.

"Yes," Virgo agreed smoothly. "My apologies, Your Majesty."

"Haha!" The Alpha King waved dismissively. "I suppose my Lysandra works you to the bone."

I do not—rather, it’s the opposite, she wanted to say.

"Then I expect you to join us next time," the Alpha King said magnanimously, dismissing Virgo with the grace befitting a king.

Virgo bowed once more and excused himself, leaving the private dining room to father and daughter. As he departed, Lynsandra turned to watch him go.

Please don’t leave, she told herself blankly, but it was useless.

The moment the door clicked shut, sealing off all sound within the castle’s perfectly insulated walls, she heard the Alpha King stand. What followed stripped away the last remnants of composure from her expression.

"Lizzie~! My beautiful daughter, Lizzie~! How are you? Didn’t you miss Daddy?"

In an instant, the Alpha King transformed—like a child, practically chibi in his enthusiasm. One moment he was on her left, the next on her right, his cheers growing louder, eyes twinkling, cheeks bouncing with excitement.

Yes. This was the Alpha King whom everyone feared.

To the public, he was the perfect Alpha King: strong, strategic, and possessed of a true ruler’s heart. He was respected, admired, and adored by many, even humans who acknowledged him as King.

His only imperfection? Lynsandra. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The Alpha King was perfect... until he had a daughter.

It wasn’t something he had ever said aloud, but others did. And it wasn’t that Lynsandra hated her father. What she hated was hearing others say he was perfect, except that he hadn’t produced a male heir.

That, along with the constant pressure from the royal court, had weighed heavily on her. But her father himself?

Lynsandra glanced at the man who was now behaving like the president of her personal fan club. A helpless smile curved her lips.

"Yes, Dad. I did miss you."

How could she hate a man who loved her unconditionally, even after she had hurt him with her choices in life?