[ At Northleaf Timberland Forest: Nighttime… ]
The gatekeepers were already at the portal gate along with Cedric and his men. Cedric would be joining Dominique and Serena going back to the Kingdom of Phantasia.
Vladimir would be left in the Triple W Headquarters. He would lead them in Cedric's absence. The werewolves prepared a grand banquet tonight for the return of their King and Queen.
They haven't announced yet that they found the real werewolf princess. Even Cedric was kept in the dark. He had no idea that Marceline was the real Stella. Furthermore, Cedric was oblivious to the fact Dylan was alive and he reunited with his parents.
Dominique planned on catching Cedric tonight, putting him in jail. He would be subject to punishment as he tried to assassinate the werewolf prince.
Dominique didn't want to suspect his general but Dylan and Marceline had already spoken up against Cedric. His children's words vs Cedric. Of course, he had to choose and believe Dylan and Marceline.
After a while, Dominique and Serena arrived at the portal gate along with their bodyguards. Cedric introduced Natasha and Enrique who came from the Zhou Family. They were the newly appointed gatekeepers.
"I can't believe this, brother. These people are not ordinary humans. They are werewolves," Natasha whispered to her brother. She wondered if she could ask the help of the werewolves to get her revenge against Marceline and Kira.
"Just behave, Natasha. We can't trust them fully. Remember… Marceline saw werewolves the night our Uncle and Aunt died. Now, I want to believe her… that werewolves had something to do with their deaths." Enrique clenched his fists at that thought.
"Here you are again, Enrique! Why do you still care about that bitch?! She is the one who hurt our parents! Have you forgotten about that?" Natasha wanted to punch her own brother.
But they had no time to argue. They needed to start the ritual now to open the portal gate. The two stepped into the circle that was engraved in the stone. They kneeled and started to recite the chants.
"Cedric, there is a second batch. We are the first batch and you are going with us," Dominique informed Cedric. They had to bring Cedric and his men so that they wouldn't see Dylan and Marceline.
Since the order came from the Werewolf King, Cedric had no choice but to obey. He didn't suspect anything. He was just wondering why he couldn't see the werewolf princess.
'The werewolf princess might be in the second batch of werewolves,' Cedric thought to himself.
He was looking forward to seeing the werewolf princess at the banquet. He would tell Dominique his request tonight. He wanted to marry the werewolf princess.
As the gatekeepers were focusing on their chants, Dominique and Serena patiently waited from the back. All the preparations for tonight's banquet had been coordinated and prepared in the palace.
High-ranking officials of the Werewolf's council together with other powerful creatures such as wizards, witches, and hybrids were gathered in the palace. While the vampire slaves were busy preparing the food and the venue.
*****
Not far away from the portal gate, Dylan, Marceline, Lyca and Little Lowell were hiding from Cedric's men. They were waiting for them to leave. The three of them were wearing masks so that Natasha and Enrique would not recognize them.
"Are you nervous?" Dylan asked both women. This would be their first time coming to Kingdom Phantasia. Of course, Marceline had been there when she was a baby. But she had no recollection of that memory.
"Yeah… I will be surrounded by supernatural creatures so I am so nervous," Lyca responded truthfully.
Dylan just smiled tenderly, grabbing her hand. He intertwined their hands together, trying to comfort her. "Don't be nervous and be afraid. I will be with you all the time. I will protect you with my life."
Hearing those sweet promises from Dylan, Marceline suddenly felt jealous. She couldn't be together with the man she loved, unlike her twin brother. He was with her mate.
Marceline had been searching for Kira around the forests ever since they arrived. She wanted to see him for one last time.
"Sis, are you okay? You look so downcasted tonight." Dylan tapped her shoulder.
Marceline just gave him a faint smile. "I'm just missing someone. Don't mind me. Just focus on Lyca."
Lyca's face reddened as she recalled her intimate moment with Dylan this morning. Marceline didn't confront her but the way she looked at her, it seemed that her best friend had heard something.
The four of them continued watching Dominique, Serena, and Cedric from afar. Just when Marceline thought she would never see a glimpse of Kira, someone appeared from the back.
"Kira?" Marceline smelled his scent so she couldn't be wrong.
"Brother… Please take care of Little Lowell." Marceline mumbled before turning around to leave. Kira was hiding in the big tree just a few meters away from their location.
Dylan could only smile. He didn't have to ask his sister. He also recognized Kira's scent.
"I guess they already reconciled," Dylan mumbled.
"Huh?" Lyca looked at him, wondering whom he was referring to.
"Nothing, Sweety," Dylan mumbled, tapping her nose. Then he smiled at her sweetly. Lyca could only blush and look away. Dylan just pulled her body closer to him. He would never leave her side. He would stick with her all the time.
Meanwhile, Marceline ran in Kira's direction. She threw herself to him as soon as she reached his spot. Kira caught her in his arms as they exchanged a rib-crushing hug.
"I thought you would never come." Marceline buried her face into his chest, holding his body tightly. "I missed you already."
Kira didn't say a word. He just made a little distance between them and cupped her face. To say how much he missed her, Kira chose to show it by his action. His lips descended, capturing Marceline's lips. He began kissing her passionately. His lips covered hers in a long warm kiss that left her short of breath.