Anxiety

In the darkness, a pair of beautiful-looking eyeballs stared at the building where the Silver Pack lived with a cold gaze. Her feet standing on top of the tall building did not tremble at all as she let her slender body be battered by the cold night wind. Her pale face had no expression whatsoever, as her senses above normal humans detected that the person she was looking for was indeed in that place.

"Ullric ...."

Although her face did not show any expression, the soft tone of her voice was enough to show that the woman had a soft side for the man she had named. In her eyes, reflected a feeling of longing and love that could not be conveyed. The woman smiled slightly, the kind of smile that made others shudder when they saw the creepy smile appear on that beautiful face.

"I finally found you," she whispered to no one in particular.

***

At the same time, Ullric, who had just finished escorting Sophie to get on the elevator that would take her back to her room, immediately looked serious when he smelled someone familiar not far from where he was tall. In an instant, Ullric, who was originally in front of the elevator, had moved to the window on the top floor of the Silver Pack's building. Ullric did not hesitate at all as he descended from the building located on the seventh floor.

Fortunately, because Ullric jumped from the side of the building, no one saw his reckless action. Ignoring the questions of several pack members who were relaxing in front of the building, Ullric walked quickly toward the front of the building. Ullric's sharp eyes looked up at the tall building not far away, then growled as he lost the scent of the figure that had been his nightmare for decades.

"Ullric, is there something wrong?"

Since it was not too late, the few werewolves who were still awake could clearly see the agitation from Ullric's actions. Esben also happened to see Ullric suddenly running toward the front of the building. And on Ullric's face, there was now hatred that he could no longer hide.

"That woman was here before."

With gritted teeth, Ullric began to speak hatefully. The ancient werewolf had not had time to organize his feelings after knowing that Lulla had endangered her own life all this time. His protective feelings were out of control. Yet, under his own watch, that woman, who started the destruction of his pack, dared to be so close to his new pack.

Erika, the human who trapped the pack that had saved her life returned to look for her today. That woman was an immortal slave to the witch who imprisoned him before. Her movements only meant that Jane, the witch of destruction, had also finally begun her own plans.

And from Erika's arrival, it seemed that Jane had indeed switched and targeted the Silver Pack this time.

"Who did you just say was here?"

Ullric turned his head as he saw Jorgen approaching him with furrowed brows. Ever since their sparring, the two had never been able to get along with each other. Jorgen always felt that Ullric was in the Silver Pack to cause trouble, while Ullric was usually too lazy to care about Jorgen's dislike for him.

This time, however, the danger was in front of their eyes, but Jorgen had the attitude that Ullric was just overreacting. Ullric's usually calm face finally took on a slightly annoyed look as he reprimanded Jorgen without his usual restraint.

"You said this place was being watched so closely by pack warriors. But just now, the subordinate of the witch we're looking for just managed to find this place. If that woman reports to the witches, this place will no longer be safe, Gamma."

When Ullric called him Gamma with an annoyed face, Jorgen only felt that Ullric was mocking his position. The anger that Jorgen had previously been trying to contain exploded as he joined Ullric's glare while showing his suppressive aura.

"This place is indeed closely monitored. And for a dozen years, no one has ever managed to escape our surveillance. Ullric, don't you ever feel that your actions are excessive? After decades of being held captive by that witch, are you sure the stories about the witch's great power are not just your imagination? None of us have felt her existence except you. The existence of that woman may only be in your imagination!"

Ullric could not believe that Jorgen was saying that he just imagining things. Ullric may have only been able to sense the woman's presence for a few seconds. But in that time, Ullric could have sworn that she had been here before. Ullric's gaze at Jorgen dropped lower and lower. He really did not expect Stefan could appoint a man like Jorgen to be the Silver Pack's protector.

"If you can't feel it, that means you're not strong enough to sense its presence. With the pack in this state, I'm afraid Alpha will only be in trouble when he has to protect the pack from that witch."

"What are you saying!?"

This time, Jorgen could not contain his anger anymore as he pulled Ullric's collar roughly. However, even if Jorgen used all his strength, in the end, the man still could not make Ullric move an inch. Jorgen felt a great sense of humiliation as Ullric looked at him with a cold face. The man was supposed to be beneath him. Yet, again and again, Ullric had crossed his limits and acted disrespectfully to those above him.

"Hey, do you two want to make Alpha angry with your actions? There should be no fighting in this pack! Ullric, I'm sure that's not how you talk to your superiors. And Jorgen, I'm pretty sure that even the Alpha has warned us to always watch out for that witch. Ullric's words may have some truth to them. Instead of dismissing the rumors out of hand, we should still report everything to Alpha first."

Again, it was Esben who mediated between them. With his position as Silver Pack Beta, Ullric and Jorgen were forced to listen to his words. Jorgen released his grip from Ullric's clothes roughly, before he turned to leave the two.

Seeing Jorgen, who still seemed to be willing to listen to him, made Esben unconsciously breathe a sigh of relief. His gaze now turned to Ullric, who still looked extremely frustrated that no one believed his words.

"As an ancient werewolf, I believe you may still be able to realize something that we cannot. Rest assured, I will report to Alpha that you sensed someone's presence earlier. But Ullric, for once, I hope you can change your attitude when dealing with your superiors. The hierarchy in this pack is clear. And the Alpha has never liked disunity in the pack he leads."

This time, Esben also reprimanded Ullric quite harshly. Ullric listened to everything with pursed lips. But after a while, Ullric finally nodded and spoke to Esben in a low voice.

"I'm sorry. I will try to control myself better after this."

For once, Esben breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that this ancient werewolf in front of him was still willing to listen to his words. Esben patted Ullric lightly on the shoulder before he himself went back inside the building like Jorgen.

"Get some rest, Ullric. I'm sure you're tired too after taking Lulla shopping all day," he said before Esben disappeared from Ullric's sight.

***

After sensing that woman's presence, Ullric couldn't help but be in low spirits. His emotions were a mess, while his mind couldn't stop worrying about Lulla's whereabouts. Although everyone kept trying to convince him that the Silver Pack was different from his old pack, Ullric still couldn't ignore the possibility that his new pack would be destroyed like his old pack. His strength might slowly start to return. But Ullric still couldn't guarantee that his strength was enough to protect Lulla and everyone in the Silver Pack.

Initially, Ullric sought out Stefan only because he didn't want to see another pack destroyed at the hands of that witch. But after Ullric met his mate in the Silver Pack, his feelings of protection grew even greater. The Silver Pack was the place where his mate had grown up. As much as possible, Ullric did not want Lulla to lose the family that was the source of her happiness.

Ullric wanted to protect Lulla's smile. He wanted to protect everything related to the girl so that she would never feel any sadness in her entire life.

When Ullric was daydreaming, his feet unknowingly brought him back to the front of Lulla's room. Every time his feelings were troubled, his instincts kept screaming for him to be by his mate's side. Ullric hesitated for a few moments before he finally entered the girl's room again.

When Ullric entered, the man found that his mate was still in the same sleeping position. Perhaps because the girl was completely exhausted, her expression remained calm even if Ullric had continued to wander in and out of her room today. Ullric's feelings improved slightly when he saw Lulla's face. But when he remembered that Lulla had shortened his life many times before they met, Ullric felt like his heart was being stabbed by a thousand knives again.

With unsteady steps, Ullric walked over to Lulla. In his heart, Ullric kept thinking of all the possibilities. If Stefan had never saved her from the witch's cage back then, would Lulla have continued to use her powers and shortened her life span? If Ullric had never come, would Lulla have died before him?

Imagining that Lulla had to die before him was too scary. No werewolf wanted to lose their mate. And for an ancient werewolf like Ullric, the feeling was even stronger.

His instincts kept tempting Ullric to take Lulla away to a place where there were only the two of them so that the girl could never think of using her powers for anyone else. In that place, Ullric would continue to see Lulla, while Lulla would also only continue to see him. It was an evil wish. But every time Ullric saw Lulla's peaceful face, Ullric sometimes couldn't help but let that desired surface.

Ullric wanted to be the kind of partner Lulla wanted. He wanted Lulla to be happy to be his mate. But every time he was afraid of losing his mate, Ullric began to consider that evil desire again.

Like this moment. Ullric knew it would not be difficult for him to kidnap Lulla and take the girl to a place where no one would ever find them again. That way, Ullric would not have to constantly worry about the witch and the woman or worry about Lulla anymore. Ullric clenched his fists tightly as he tried desperately to ignore that selfish desire.

Ullric did not want Lulla to hate him. For Ullric, it was enough that he had received a rejection from Lulla once. He didn't want to feel that rejection a second time, no matter what.

"Lulla ...."

In order to suppress his evil desires, Ullric continued to softly call Lulla's name like he was chanting a spell. His eyes filled with various emotions continued to stare at Lulla as if he wanted her to wake up and calm her unstable emotions.

Perhaps in truth, Ullric only wanted Lulla to save him from his own evil thoughts.