Chapter 66 Abandoned

• Restlessness consumed him as he paced his private room, fully aware of the chaos unfolding in his territory. The Lycgers were decimating his men, yet fear immobilized him, preventing him from confronting them. He acknowledged his lack of strength to engage in a battle against such formidable foes. His only recourse was to eliminate Dirk, absorbing his powers to bolster his own and be capable of facing any shifter. Malta halted his pacing at the growing howls and snarls of vampires, the sounds intensifying. The overwhelming odors of blood, death, and decay invaded the air, causing his stomach to churn and nearly buckle his knees. He urgently needed reinforcements, and he knew precisely whom to contact.
• In a sudden blaze of light, his private door flung open, revealing his father standing before him, his eyes piercing with the familiar disdain that always belittled him. Each contemptuous glance from his father reinforced his insecurities, fueling his desire to prove himself worthy and dispel the notion of his weakness. However, the reality of the moment only seemed to confirm his father's low opinion of him.
• "Father," he addressed, his voice betraying a trace of vulnerability. "Forgive my abrupt summons and the short notice."