Chapter 174: Chapter 174 Walking Dead Alpha

Seraphina’s POV

I pulled the door open wider and gestured for him to enter. "Come in, Caleb."

Caleb stepped into my living room but remained standing. His jacket stayed on, and he ignored the inviting sofa completely. Instead, he began moving restlessly across the carpet like a predator trapped in too small a cage. His fingers raked through his dark hair repeatedly, leaving it disheveled. Every line of his body screamed exhaustion and tension.

"What’s wrong?" I asked, studying his agitated state. "You look like you’ve witnessed something terrible."

He halted mid-stride and faced me directly. Worry darkened his usually bright eyes to almost black.

"Seraphina, I’ve been observing things," he started, his voice barely above a whisper. "Since I began returning to visit the Zenith Fang, something has felt off. Deeply wrong."

His chest rose with a heavy inhale.

"Initially, I couldn’t pinpoint the problem," he continued. "I was constantly traveling between the two packs, so I assumed my exhaustion was playing tricks on my mind. The constant back and forth was draining me, making me see problems where none existed. That’s why I chose to extend my stay this time. I had to determine if I was losing my sanity or if genuine danger was brewing."

"So?" I pressed. "What’s your conclusion?"

He moved closer, his gaze darting around my living room as though expecting eavesdroppers to emerge from every corner.

"Alpha Julian has undergone a dramatic transformation," Caleb stated.

Something cold crawled up my spine at the way he spoke Julian’s name.

"What sort of transformation?" I questioned. "Has illness taken hold of him?"

"No, this transcends physical ailment," Caleb replied, shaking his head emphatically. "This is far more sinister. Seraphina, he moves through life like the walking dead. No emotion crosses his features." His hands moved expressively as he spoke. "Anger doesn’t touch him. Joy has abandoned him completely. Smiles have vanished from his face. He exists with complete emptiness, wearing a mask of indifference. His eyes appear hollow, devoid of the spark that once defined him. Everything about his behavior feels wrong and artificial."

My thoughts began racing because I had been questioning my own perceptions as well.

"That’s not the extent of it," Caleb pressed on. "The most disturbing development is that Luna-mother Vivian has assumed control of most pack decisions. She presides over meetings. She issues commands. Julian simply occupies his seat and agrees with whatever she proposes without resistance. It’s as if she has claimed the Alpha position while he serves as her obedient marionette."

Nausea rolled through my stomach, but I remained silent, processing his revelations.

"There’s additional information," Caleb said, anger now coloring his features. "The Alpha King."

"What about him?" I inquired.

"He arrives and departs at will," Caleb said, his fists clenching. "He strides across our territory as though he holds ownership. He treats the Zenith Fang like his personal domain. Permission means nothing to him. He simply claims whatever catches his interest. His behavior suggests he believes the pack belongs to him now."

I crossed to the window and gazed out at the darkening landscape.

"I sensed it too," I confessed quietly. "Despite being here only briefly, I detected the same wrongness. The pack’s energy feels oppressive, suffocating."

Caleb joined me at the window.

"Precisely," he agreed. "But Seraphina, one final piece of information troubles me more than everything else combined."

I met his concerned gaze. "Continue."

"Everyone has developed an unnatural fixation on Cordelia," he revealed.

My eyes grew wide. "Fixation?"

"Exactly," Caleb confirmed. "Universal adoration surrounds her. They beam when she appears. They hang on her every word. It resembles some form of enchantment."

He paused, his expression growing sympathetic.

"Seraphina, she appears to be deliberately occupying your former position," he said carefully. "She conducts herself as Luna. And the pack accepts her assumption of that role."

Fury blazed through my chest. My kitchen suspicions had been accurate. Cordelia wasn’t merely visiting. She was systematically erasing my presence, claiming my territory, my responsibilities, and my people.

My thoughts accelerated. Cordelia’s presence combined with the pack’s bizarre behavior indicated something significant was approaching.

"Caleb," I said, my voice taking on an authoritative edge. "You must depart."

Confusion crossed his features. "Leave your home?"

"No," I clarified. "You must abandon the Zenith Fang entirely. Tonight. Immediately."

I turned to face him completely.

"Travel to the Shadow Moon Fang without delay," I commanded. "Begin investigating Cordelia and her origins. We require information about her true motivations. We need to understand her activities before arriving here."

Caleb nodded slowly, grasping my strategy.

"My return likely means our adversaries are accelerating their plans. They’re compressing their timeline. Time is becoming our enemy."

"I’ll depart at once," Caleb agreed without hesitation. Then he stopped, worry overwhelming his features. He reached out, his hand gently touching my arm.

"But Seraphina," he said, his voice wavering slightly. "I cannot abandon you here without support. Not with these disturbing developments occurring. Not while the alpha resembles the living dead."

"I’ll manage," I assured him.

"You require someone trustworthy nearby. My departure leaves you isolated. Everyone apparently serves Cordelia and Luna-mother now, including Julian. If circumstances deteriorate, who will protect you? Who will offer assistance?"

"I don’t require protection because I’m perfectly capable of defending myself, Caleb. Your only concern should be safeguarding the Zenith Fang and identifying our approaching enemies, because I will show no mercy to anyone who threatens us."

I desperately hoped I could end this before disaster struck. I should have returned earlier when I first noticed Julian’s changes, because my mate needed me and I had failed him.