Chapter 253: Family Dilemma

Lenon's blood boiled hotter than a kettle about to blow its top. The nerve of that cocky human and these dog-faced morons, thinking they could stroll into his village and act like they ran the place.

Help? Help with what? Look at his proud cat warriors, clawing the dogs into submission like it was a damn sport.

Sure, he had a shady deal with the dog tribe behind closed doors, but that didn't mean these furballs could pull this unannounced attack out of their asses without his say-so.

Jacky, that dumb mutt, had the audacity to strike without warning? No signal, no heads-up, nothing. It was like the flea-bitten bastard didn't even fear him anymore.

But still, victory was in his grasp. And Lenon was loving every second of it. He was proving to Jacky that the only reason the village had lost in the past was because he wasn't involved.

It had nothing to do with the strength of the tribe. Lenon was going to show that cocky human, too—the one who swaggered into town thinking they needed his "heroic" bullshit.

Not today, asshole. This place wasn't some playground for wannabe saviors to waltz in and play the part of the white knight.

Lenon was handling it. In fact, he was handling it so well that the human could take his shiny armor and stick it where the sun didn't shine.

"That... stupid... fucks..."

Lenon muttered, grinding his teeth so hard they could probably chew through steel.

"Coming here and thinking they can have a piece of me, huh? Like I need them. They can fuck right off with their hero complex."

He clenched his claws, watching the battlefield with satisfaction as more dogs dropped like flies.

"Guess I'll just have to teach these idiots that this pussy's claws are sharper than they thought."

Lenon smirked as he moved like a shadow on catnip—silent, deadly, and way too smooth for the fumbling mutts in his way.

One second, he was chilling, and the next,bam, he was right in front of a terrified dog who probably didn't expect to see his nine lives flash before his eyes today.

One second, he was chilling, and the next,

bam

, he was right in front of a terrified dog who probably didn't expect to see his nine lives flash before his eyes today.

With a lazy flick of his paw, Lenon delivered a palm strike to the mutt's chest that sent the poor bastard flying a good dozen meters back like a ragdoll tossed into a hurricane. And that wasn't even hisfull strength.

With a lazy flick of his paw, Lenon delivered a palm strike to the mutt's chest that sent the poor bastard flying a good dozen meters back like a ragdoll tossed into a hurricane. And that wasn't even his

full strength

.

Nah, he was justtoyingwith them, reminding these dumbass dogs who was really running the show. A little fear goes a long way in making sure these flea-bitten morons don't come sniffing around uninvited next time.

Nah, he was just

toying

with them, reminding these dumbass dogs who was really running the show. A little fear goes a long way in making sure these flea-bitten morons don't come sniffing around uninvited next time.

The next mutt to face him was practically pissing herself, trembling so hard you'd think she was vibrating on a whole different frequency.

"P-please spare us, Elder Lenon!"

She whimpered, dropping to her knees like she was about to pray to the god of don't fuck me up today.

"It was the boss! He decided to come here, no prep or anything! Said he had something that would surprise your village!"

After all, how could she not get on her knees?

With over twenty warriors sprawled out, some breathing like they've just run a marathon, others taking a permanent nap, Lenon looked like he'd just finished a leisurely stroll. He wasn't even breaking a sweat—these mutts were less of a challenge and more of a warm-up.

"Yes, and that's exactly why this is a teaching moment. Dogs need to learn their place."

Lenon said, strolling over to the trembling canine who looked like she'd just seen her life flash before her eyes. The brute woman was still on her knees, but considering how she was towering over most of his enemies, she was practically on eye level with him.

"Aren't you July? Jacky's girlfriend?"

The plan with the human was the safest bet, and yeah, maybe it was selfish. But today? Today, she'd decided she wasallowedto be selfish.

The plan with the human was the safest bet, and yeah, maybe it was selfish. But today? Today, she'd decided she was

allowed

to be selfish.

If being selfish meant saving her husband and keeping her kids from growing up without a father, then so be it. Selfish as hell. She'd wear it like a crown.

"FUCKING LIARS! All of you!"

Roland bellowed, his voice echoing through the room like a bad hangover.

"I took care of you all—fed you, protected you—and you throw me under the bus for some randomhuman? A goddamn stranger?"

"I took care of you all—fed you, protected you—and you throw me under the bus for some random

human

? A goddamn stranger?"

And then, like the grand finale of this trainwreck of a meltdown, Roland stormed over and slapped Rodalina so hard across the face it sounded like a gunshot.

If she hadn't already been sitting on the floor, she would've been sent flying like a ragdoll. For a moment, the room fell silent, except for the sharp sting echoing in Rodalina's mind.

The situation had officially gone to hell in a handbasket, and for once, Rodalina wasn't going to just sit there andtakeit like she always had.

The situation had officially gone to hell in a handbasket, and for once, Rodalina wasn't going to just sit there and

take

it like she always had.

Oh no, this time, she was done. That slap? That was the final fucking straw.

She'd spent years swallowing his bullshit, convincing herself that she had no choice because, well,husband and wife. But today? Today was the day Roland learned just how badly he'd fucked up.

She'd spent years swallowing his bullshit, convincing herself that she had no choice because, well,

husband and wife

. But today? Today was the day Roland learned just how badly he'd fucked up.

Maybe it was the hormones, maybe it was the pent-up rage from being toyed with by that human earlier, but whatever it was, she was about to lose her shit.

Roland, realizing he'd seriously stepped in it, dropped to his knees like a guy who'd just lost his last poker chip.

"I was pissed off—"

"Shut thefuckup!"

"Shut the

fuck

up!"

Rodalina snapped, her voice like a whip cracking in the air. Then—THUFF—she spit right in his face, like the badass queen she was always meant to be.

Rodalina snapped, her voice like a whip cracking in the air. Then—

THUFF

—she spit right in his face, like the badass queen she was always meant to be.

Even without the Morning Star gracing the scene with his ego, his influence was spreading like wildfire on a meth binge. His plans to tear the family apart were accelerating faster than expected.

It was like he'd injected his schemes with performance-enhancing drugs—everything was happening at warp speed.