Chapter 133: An Offer You Can’t Refuse

With a short but weighty speech, Matthias Halden Graventhal, the Arbiter of the werewolves, instantly commanded the attention of everyone present in the coliseum. Though his tone was measured and formal, each word carried immense authority and reverence. His voice didn’t need to rise above a steady pitch; it simply rippled through the crowd like an unseen force, bringing the chaos to a respectful stillness.

There were no cheers, no claps... only silence. A shared silence that bore the weight of tradition, power, and sacred expectation, as well as admiration.

After finishing his address, Matthias bowed slightly to the audience as a mark of mutual respect and stepped down from the podium. He walked with solemn grace to his seat among the other council members, where the remaining high-ranking werewolf leaders sat in quiet anticipation.

Moments later, the silence was broken by a booming voice that echoed across the coliseum like a sudden thunderclap.

"The Arbiter has spoken," the voice declared. "Now let the challenge commence!"

It was the event announcer, a member of Clan Graventhal himself, though he remained unnamed and unseen. His voice alone was enough to shape the tone of the ceremony. Deep, commanding, and precise... it was a voice carved for coliseums and battlefields.

"Now presenting, Lucian Greymoore of the Greymoore Clan!"

A roar of applause and wild howls erupted from the upper eastern gallery, where the Greymoore Clan proudly stood in unified support. Over a hundred members of the clan leaped to their feet, waving, clapping, and shouting Lucian’s name.

Lucian Greymoore strode into the arena like a conquering prince. His walk was confident, each step purposeful. Dressed in a sleeveless black combat tunic with the Greymoore crest emblazoned across his chest, he looked every bit the prodigious young alpha warrior he was hailed to be. His golden-brown hair was slicked back, revealing a face full of youthful pride and barely restrained arrogance. His muscular frame moved with a panther’s grace, and his fire-lit amber eyes scanned the crowd like a predator surveying his domain.

He raised one arm and waved proudly to his supporters, smirking as their cheers grew louder. He acted as though victory was already his. He acknowledged the crowd, basking in their admiration, and then turned toward the central circle of the arena.

Just as he lowered his hand, the announcer’s voice rang out again:

"Now presenting, Ethan Raynor of the Raynor Clan!"

The cheers diminished into a murmur of curiosity. Everyone leaned forward to catch a glimpse.

Ethan Raynor emerged slowly from a shadowed corridor beneath the galleries. His pace was calm, almost casual. He wore a simple black robe, the hood pulled low over his face so that only the lower half of his jaw and chin were visible. His appearance was starkly different from Lucian’s; there were no ornate crests, no visible muscles or intimidating posture. Just a quiet man in black, walking into the moonlight.

He did not exude the aura of a warrior. If anything, he looked like a mild-mannered scholar or a corporate analyst. Slim and toned, but not powerfully built, Ethan’s demeanor made him seem entirely unfit for a sacred werewolf duel. The murmurs turned into puzzled glances. Some even chuckled.

a tourist who had wandered into

that impression didn’t

could say exactly who started it, but a single

joined in. Then another. And soon, the entire southern and western galleries

"Ethan! Ethan!! Ethan!!!"

stone coliseum. The chorus of support grew so powerful that even those who had doubted him earlier began

glanced around in

They hadn’t expected this. For a so-called underdog to garner this level of support was

take root in his mind. It was small, but it was

now with

solely on yourself and your powers. No external interference is permitted. Clans are permitted to send a representative in

In respectful silence. The time for spectacle had passed. Now it was time

***

Notting Hill,

a majestic detached mansion... an architectural jewel of the 19th century. It was a double-fronted home built in the classic Italianate style, its white stucco façade adorned with finely

enclosed and serene... a green oasis known only to a select few. From the upper windows, one could see the neat

mansion’s rooms soared with high ceilings and heavy crown moldings. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling like frozen waterfalls of crystal. Large windows flooded the rooms with sunlight in daytime, illuminating every detail... the mahogany

Baron John Constantine of Notting Hill inherited from his

a man of logic, Constantine rarely gave in to

crossed his path

fence just after breakfast. Then, while walking through his study corridor, he had accidentally broken a mirror at noon. And just a few minutes

But after the third omen, his mind involuntarily connected the dots. Pagan blood ran through his veins,

stomach churned with dread. A deep, inexplicable fear gnawed at him. Something was coming, something terrible and

his mind, he retreated

leather chair by his mahogany desk and

unknown deep voice of a

open your eyes and look

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255