The Villains Must Win-Chapter 165: Lyander Wolfhart 15

The intention behind it might’ve been noble—Liora could admit that much. Rhett wanted to unite the wolves, to stop the endless fighting and bring lasting peace among the packs.

A single banner, a single voice. But the method? That’s where everything crumbled. Because instead of rallying them with hope, he was conquering them with fear. Instead of unity, he was forcing submission—through war and bloodshed.

And somewhere along the way, even Talia—the female lead—would begin to question Rhett and the cause they were fighting for. The bloodshed, the forced submission, the growing divide among the packs . . . it wasn’t the future she had imagined when she stood by his side.

Of course, it would become another layer of drama and conflict between them—a political and emotional storm that tested their beliefs, their loyalties, and their love.

But in the end, love would conquer all.

Talia would come to understand that Rhett’s vision, while brutal in execution, stemmed from a genuine desire to protect their kind. His plan to unite all wolves wasn’t just about power or dominance—it was about survival.

In the long run, his empire could bring strength, structure, and peace to a fractured world. And once the war was over, once the wounds had healed, she would stand beside him not only as his mate but as his equal—finally believing in the world he was trying to build.

Romantic? Maybe. Selfish? Definitely.

Why couldn’t they just wage their war on their own and leave the rest of the wolves out of it? The ones who wanted no part in conquest or bloodshed. The ones who simply wished to live their lives in peace—raise their families, hunt in their forests, and protect what was theirs without being dragged into someone else’s vision of unity.

Henry took a deep breath, fingers curling into fists on his lap.

"I promised them," he said suddenly, his voice strained.

Liora tilted her head. "Promised who?"

He exhaled slowly, eyes dropping to the ground. "My parents. Before they died."

"They weren’t just Alphas. They were good leaders. Fair. Strong. They built this pack from nothing, brought peace when no one thought it possible. When they passed . . . I didn’t just inherit their title. I inherited everything they built." He looked up, and there was pain in his gaze that made Liora’s breath catch. "And I promised them I’d protect it."

Silence settled between them, heavy and reverent. Not even the wind dared to interrupt.

"That promise . . ." Henry’s voice cracked. "It’s the only thing I have left of them. It’s the only way I remember them—by honoring what they gave their lives for. But now . . . now I don’t know if I can keep it."

She sat beside him then, their shoulders almost touching.

"I don’t have the strength to fight Rhett," he admitted, quieter now. "His forces are larger. His pack has swallowed up three others already. He doesn’t just lead with brute force—he’s cunning. Strategic. And he’s driven by a relentless goal. While I . . . I’m only fourteen, barely a man—and I can barely shift into my wolf." freewēbnoveℓ.com

Henry’s voice cracked slightly, not from weakness, but from the sheer pressure of carrying a weight no boy his age should ever have to bear.

Liora turned to him. "Do you believe that Rhett have good intentions?"

Henry shook his head. "No. I think he believes he have good intentions. But I also think power like that changes people. He might’ve started out with good intentions, but he’ll crush anyone who gets in his way. And that includes me. My people."

Liora studied him. "Then would you surrender?"

He gave her a bitter smile. "No. Even if I lose, I’d rather fall with my people’s pride intact than kneel and watch everything my parents built become just another cog in Rhett’s machine."

She admired that. The quiet defiance in him. The dignity that clung to his every word.

"And you," he continued, eyes flicking to her, "I thought maybe you were sent to help."

Liora blinked. "Me?"

He nodded, slowly. "I know it sounds crazy, but I’ve heard the old stories. The ones about the Seers—humans with fragments of the future in their minds. Women who crossed into our world during times of greatwar to guide the packs through impossible decisions. You came here with no memory, but you had knowledge no outsider could have. Warnings. Names. You knew about Rhett and his goal. How?"

Because she was a bug and she had a cheat.

She hesitated. "I don’t know. It just . . . came to me when I woke up. Like remembering a dream I didn’t know I had."

Henry’s voice dropped to a whisper. "That’s exactly how the stories said it would happen."

Liora didn’t speak. It was probably for the best to let him believe she was a seer rather than reveal the truth—that she was an elemental nymph. If anyone found out, she’d be locked away, exploited for her powers, or worse . . . used as some rare ingredient in a twisted power-enhancing ritual.

But the look in Henry’s eyes—the flicker of hope, so raw and fragile—felt sacred, like something too pure to shatter. And somewhere deep in her soul, Liora felt a twinge of guilt. A small one. But it was there.

"You think I’m supposed to tell you what to do," she said quietly.

"No," he replied, shaking his head. "I think you’re supposed to help me figure it out."

She saw the lines of exhaustion under his eyes, the flicker of fear behind his strength. And something inside her stirred—not pity, but admiration. He hadn’t run. He hadn’t surrendered. He stood at the edge of something terrifying, and he was still fighting.

"You’re not alone in this," she said softly, her voice steady with quiet conviction. "I’m on your side. And if another vision ever comes to me, I promise—you’ll be the first to know. But right now, there’s only one truth I’m certain of: I came here to save you. That much, I know deep in my bones . . . and I intend to stand by it."