Chapter 98 98: Final Decision

"Wait!" Yovana yelled at the top of her lungs, seeing Atlas in the distance.

She had managed to come out on time even though she was out of breath by now. Her body was already at its limits.

"You found Lilith?" Atlas stopped in his tracks just a few meters before he could've reached the range of the Guards.

Yovana didn't tell Atlas right away. She raised her hand, gesturing for Atlas to stop. "Stay right where you are. Let me gather my breath."

After a while, Yovana stepped closer to Atlas. She grabbed his hand and started taking him away with her, away from the Kingdom.

"Where are you taking me? Did you find Lilith or not? And where is Lancaster?"

Atlas planted his feet firmly on the ground, resisting the pull. Against his strength, even Yovana failed to pull him back.

She wanted to take him away before telling him the trust to give Lancaster as much time as she could. They were really close to the Danger zone, after all. Unfortunately, Atlas didn't go with her.

Seeing the subtle hesitation on the face of Yovana, it became evident what her answer to the first question was going to be.

"You didn't find Lilith, did you?" Atlas grimaced. "Tell me where Lancaster is! And why are you the one here? Why isn't he here?"

"You're right. We didn't find Lilith. But before you get angry and go there yourself, please listen to me."

Since Yovana couldn't pull Atlas back, she released his hand. Instead, she moved before him, standing between Atlas and the Kingdom of Wolves.

Atlas frowned yet didn't resist her. "Say."

"Six hours were about to be up, and we didn't find Lilith anywhere in the city. That left only one place to be checked. To check that place, Lancaster needs more time. So he sent me here to ask for more time. He just needs two more hours. He's sure he'll find Lilith in the last place."

"Which place?"

Yovana went silent in response, slightly hesitating in answering.

"It's just a place inside the Kingdom that we didn't check," Yovana vaguely answered before she started her distraction. 'Lancaster would check that place and come back with Lilith. Some worry about him. He gave his assurance to you. So you don't need to enter."

"I asked you a question," Atlas repeated. "What place?!"

He didn't understand why Yovana was hesitating. Unless that place was truly dangerous.

There was only one place like that that he could've imagined. "Please tell me Lancaster wasn't stupid enough to go search the Royal Palace?"

"He... He was confident. He just needs two hours. I'm sure you can give him two hours."

Even though Yovana didn't say yes or no, her vague answer was enough to confirm this theory.

"That idiot!" Atlas couldn't help but curse out loud. "If the Werewolves have truly captured Lilith, that means they would know I'm nearby since Lilith is supposed to accompany me always. If Lancaster goes to ask for her return, they would know he's working with me! They might even kill me for siding with me! That idiot!"

Atlas was so frustrated. It was as if one person being in trouble wasn't bad enough that another person had to jump in the flames as well!

Seeing the reaction of Atlas, Yovana couldn't help but feel that Atlas wasn't going to give them the two hours they needed.

Atlas grabbed Yovana's shoulder and moved her aside, clearing his path. "Yovana, stay near the carriage. I'm going in. No matter what happens, stay away from the Kingdom."

Yovana didn't know why but she couldn't gather the courage to say no, noticing the determination and the worries in Atlas' eyes.

She just stood there frozen, watching Atlas leave.

"Lord Castiel..."

Atlas stopped momentarily yet didn't look back.

"May I ask why you care so much to put your own life at risk? I can understand your care about Lady Lilith since you spent centuries with her, but why Lancaster? Why do you care for him? Why don't you give him two hours to save Lady Lilith, even if it places his own life at risk? Why do you care?"

Yovana genuinely couldn't understand just what kind of person Atlas was. If it were anyone else, they would've stayed behind for at least two hours. If Lancaster could save Lilith, even if he died, it wasn't a loss to Atlas, so she didn't understand why Atlas risked himself?

"Why did your father risk himself?" Atlas answered the question with a question. "Why did he get captured instead of telling everyone the truth that you were behind the village destruction? Why did he face everyone alone? The answer to every Single of those questions is the same."

"It wasn't because he was arrogant and ashamed to step back. From what I've known about Atlan, he never cared for anyone but himself. But you changed his life by giving him the family he never understood the value of."

Atlas gazed back at the young lady in the back.

"He did everything because he wanted to protect you, even going as far as risking himself in the process. It was because you were his family."

A myriad of emotions could be felt in the voice of Atlas. "If someone like him can give up everything for his family, why not me?'

Yovana opened her lips but struggled to let the words out. After a long time, she managed to speak. "I was his family. Lancaster isn't your family."

"Family isn't made only from blood. Lancaster and Lilith might not be related to me with the blood, but they are my family. And the only family I have left after Misella was taken from me. It doesn't matter who tries to hurt them. I'll be there to protect my family this time! I won't let even gods hurt my family as long as I'm capable of protecting them."

"Not now... Not ever again..."

Atlas' lone figure started getting distant as he left.

Yovana subconsciously gazed at the Suppression Locket which was in her hand.

"Family..." she softly muttered.

Within a few seconds, Atlas was finally within the range of the Werewolves.

"This scent..."

"A Vampire..."

"No, this scent is more powerful than an Ordinary Vampire. Someone from the blood council?"

"Everyone, prepare to intercept! Someone go inform the King!"

As soon as the Werewolves sensed that scent, they prepared for interception. Instead of abandoning their post to chase after the scent, they stood their ground, waiting for Atlas to come up to them since that seemed to be his aim.

At the same time, the guards sent one of them to inform everyone about this instance, including the King himself.