Chapter 53: Make a Decision

Words : 1965 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 53: Make a Decision Zane~ A heavy fog clung to my mind, thick and disorienting. It felt like I was drifting in water, my body floating somewhere between consciousness and nothingness. For a moment, I thought I was dreaming, but then the pain registered. A dull ache pulsed in my skull, and my body felt overheated, like I’d been thrown into a furnace and left to simmer. I tried to move, but my limbs were sluggish, weighed down by an unseen force. Then, voices. Muffled at first, then clearer, like a radio station tuning into frequency. "Did you have to practically burn him to unconsciousness?" That was Jacob. I knew his voice anywhere—smooth, laced with amusement, but edged with irritation. A lazy chuckle followed. "Not my fault," another voice replied, smooth and laced with amusement. "I’m a fire spirit. I can’t help it if mortals can’t handle my heat." Fire spirit? Mortals? What the hell? The voice continued, a smirk practically dripping from his words. "Besides, how else were we going to get the hotheaded wolf to talk to us first before demanding to see her?" Her? Who were they talking about? Was it Natalie? My instincts flared, but I kept my breathing even, pretending I was still out cold. If they thought I was unconscious, I could gather more information before making my next move. Jacob sighed. "Fine, you’re right. But you could have done it a little gentler, Fox." A third voice entered the conversation—this one deeper, smoother, and filled with quiet amusement. "Jacob’s just being soft because they’ve always been best friends." Fox chuckled. "Ah, but it seems like someone else is occupying that position now." Laughter rippled through the room. Jacob scoffed. "You idiots need to mind your business." I could almost hear their smirks. Despite my situation, I almost smirked. Jacob getting roasted was very entertaining for me. Then, something stirred inside me. A familiar presence, groggy but there. Red. A wave of relief crashed over me." You’re back." Red groaned, his voice weak but solid. Barely. "I don’t feel like I’m burning alive anymore, so that’s a plus. Where are we?" "No idea," I admitted. "But Jacob is here, and I’m pretending to be asleep to figure out what’s going on." Red chuckled. "Smart. For once." Before I could respond, one of the voices groaned. "How long is he gonna stay unconscious?" Jacob’s voice carried amusement. "He’s already awake." Damn it. Caught. I heard movement—footsteps approaching. Then, a voice right next to my ear. "Stop pretending and wake up." Jacob. I sighed, opening my eyes slowly. The first thing I saw was Jacob’s grinning face way too close to mine. Red snickered. "You’re bad at acting." Fox burst out laughing. "He really is awake." I groaned and turned my head, finally taking in my surroundings. I was lying on a long, modern sofa, bare-chested, my shirt and pants nowhere in sight. Embarrassment prickled my skin. The room was massive—modern, elegant, with sleek black furniture and an expensive-looking fireplace. The kind of place someone with too much money owned. It was too pristine to belong to someone as annoyingly chaotic as Jacob. Across from me stood two men. One had fire-red hair and mesmerizing golden eyes, and the other had long black hair and silver eyes—the same silver eyes I saw before I blacked out. Contact lenses? Maybe. But something in my gut told me otherwise. Red murmured, "I don’t think those are contacts." I squared my shoulders. "Jacob. What the hell happened? Where are my What kind of perverts undress a man they barely know?And more importantly—where is Natalie?" My voice sharpened. "Why did you bring her to France?" The red-haired man scoffed. "You were burning up. I was the one who took your clothes off. Unless you wanted to bake alive in them?" I narrowed my eyes. "And why was I burning up in the first place? Oh, wait—maybe because you did something to me?" He smirked. "Maybe." My jaws clenched. Jacob groaned. "Enough." He turned to me, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Calm down, Your Highness." I froze. All color drained from my face as my brain raced. How the hell did he know that? Was he working with my uncle, Nathan? Had my Uncle finally found out I was his nephew and sent Jacob and these people to finish the work he started? Panic clawed at my chest, but Red’s voice was steady. "Calm down. Maybe he’s just messing with you." I forced myself to breathe. Yeah. Maybe. I met Jacob’s gaze, my expression carefully blank. "Why did you just call me that?" Before Jacob could answer, the silver-eyed man smirked. "Are you not a prince? It’s the correct way to address royalty." Red cursed. "Forget what I said before. They know." I shot up from my reclined position, eyes darting between them. "Who sent you? Was it my uncle?" My voice was sharp, ready for a fight. Jacob laughed, raising his hands. "Relax, Zane. No one’s here to kill you. We just have some questions." My heartbeat thundered. They knew my real name too. I should’ve listened to Sebastian. I should’ve done more recon instead of charging in blind like a crazed bull. I clenched my fists, preparing for the worst. I might be cornered, but I wasn’t weak. I was a Lycan Prince, and that meant I had power. If it came down to it, I’d take them all down, even if I would be doing so in my underwear. Before I could make a move, the door opened. I turned, and my breath caught. Natalie. She walked into the living room, flanked by two men—one with golden-brown hair and the other with pure white hair. I barely glanced at them. My entire focus was on her. "Natalie." My voice was firm, expectant. She didn’t react to my call. She was standing just a few feet away from me, yet she didn’t even glance in my direction. I frowned. "Natalie." Still nothing. Red stirred inside me, unease crackling through my veins. I called her again, louder this time. "Natalie!" Her expression didn’t change. It was as if I wasn’t even there. Frustration flared. I turned sharply toward Jacob and the two men beside him, my patience snapping. "What the hell did you do to her?" My voice was sharp, a growl lurking beneath my words. Jacob sighed dramatically, crossing his arms. "We didn’t do anything." I took a step forward, only to realize— I couldn’t. An invisible force kept me locked in place. Jacob smirked. "She can’t hear you, Zane." "What?" My hands curled into fists. Jacob gestured around us. "You’re inside an air barrier." He shrugged, like it was the most normal thing in the world. "She can’t hear you, she can’t see you, and the only people who can see and hear you right now are us." I blinked. "You’re joking." Jacob grinned. "I don’t joke about serious things, Your Highness." I turned to him, my tone sharp. "And how the hell are you doing this?" Jacob pointed toward the silver-eyed man beside him. "I’m not doing anything. That would be Eagle’s handiwork." The man with silver eyes smirked at me, tilting his head slightly. "Sup, Your Highness. I’m Eagle, the wind spirit." My mouth parted slightly. Red chuckled dryly. "Told you they weren’t normal." Before I could wrap my head around that, the red-haired man beside Eagle smirked, shoving his hands into his pockets. "And I’m Fox, spirit of fire." His golden eyes gleamed with amusement. "You’re welcome." I stared at them. "Spirits." "Yep." "Elemental spirits." "Correct again." I inhaled sharply, glancing at Jacob. "And what about you? What the hell are you?" Jacob’s grin widened. "I’m just Jacob." Red snorted. "Lies." I didn’t believe him either. But my attention quickly snapped back to Natalie. She was sitting comfortably on the couch, a relaxed smile on her lips. My stomach twisted. Because she wasn’t alone. The two men who had walked in with her—the golden-brown-haired man and the white-haired one—were beside her, practically hovering over her. One held out a drink, the other offered her a piece of chocolate, both looking at her like she was some kind of princess. My jaw clenched. I called her name again, but she still didn’t respond. What annoyed me even more was that the white-haired man suddenly turned—and looked straight at me. A slow, knowing smirk spread across his lips. I stiffened. Red bristled. "He can see us." I was about to move forward, but Jacob placed a firm hand on my shoulder, stopping me. I shot him a glare. "Move." Jacob shook his head. "Not yet." His playful demeanor dropped, replaced by something more serious. "Let’s skip the small talk, Zane." His tone was calm but firm. "I know why you came here." My hands clenched at my sides. "And?" "You came to take Natalie." I didn’t deny it. Jacob’s expression didn’t change. "But you need to understand something." He gestured toward her. "She’s not leaving." The words floated into my ears like lava. "She’s staying here," Jacob continued. "She has dreams. Dreams she never got to chase because of everything that happened to her. I’m making sure she gets to live them before she goes anywhere." He arched a brow. "And besides, why would I let her go back to a world where too many people want to hurt her?" My fingers twitched. Jacob took a step closer, his voice lower now. "Right here, right now, I need you to think about something." His gaze was unwavering. "What does Natalie mean to you?" I tensed. Jacob’s eyes searched mine. "Decide that first. Then I’ll decide whether it’s good enough for her." I exhaled sharply. "You—" Jacob raised a hand. "If I decide it isn’t good enough, you’ll say your final goodbye and go back home to your family." Red growled. "He’s testing us." My pulse pounded. He had no right. I stood up, towering over him. "And who the hell are you to decide that for her?" Jacob didn’t even flinch. I took a step forward, my voice steady, lethal. "I don’t know how you found out who I am, but since you know—" I let my words hang, watching him carefully. "Then you should understand what that means." Jacob blinked, feigning innocence. "Oh? Do tell." I lifted my chin. "I’m the Lycan Prince. Soon-to-be King." Jacob tilted his head. "And?" My patience snapped. "You have no idea who you’re dealing with." Jacob’s lips curled into an amused smile. "Oh, I think I do." Then he did something that made my blood boil. He laughed. Not just a chuckle—a full, deep laugh. Red snarled. "Rip him apart." Jacob crossed his arms, still smiling. "You can huff and puff all you want, Your Highness, but here’s the deal." He lifted a hand. Then, he snapped his fingers. Suddenly the room around us disappeared same with Natalie and the men who were with her. My stomach drop. Jacob leaned forward slightly. "I can make Natalie disappear from your life forever." His voice was light, playful even, but there was an unmistakable edge underneath. "Just like that." My breath caught. Jacob smiled lazily then snapped his fingers again and the room, Natalie, and the men with her, reappeared. "So, I suggest you mind your words and actions, unless you want that to happen." The room felt suffocating. For the first time in years, I felt... powerless. And I hated it. I clenched my fists, my entire body tense. Jacob studied me for a moment before shrugging. "So... what’s it gonna be, Zane are you going to do as I say or should we do this the hard way?" Silence stretched between us.

Chapter 53: Make a Decision

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