Their Secret Obsession (A Reverse Harem) by Pippa Moon
Chapter 0168

Knox POV

Panic clawed at my insides, threatening to consume me, sensing the demon's powers invaded my mind once again. It was like being trapped in a nightmare, unable to move or speak, while the world moved around me in slow motion.

"So this is the A-team that wants to try and knock the crown off my head?" Astaroth laughed, clapping slowly. "A Lycan and his... bitch! A few Alphas and A Luna who frankly I think has bigger balls than most of the men in here and... of course, a couple of traitors!" He asked as he strode into the room, exuding power and dominance, and it wasn't just because of the fancy suit he wore or the air of authority he carried. It was the dark energy pulsating from him, wrapping around me like tendrils of darkness, rendering me immobile. "Kane, Pops?" I tried to say, but my lips refused to work, and nothing came out. I could still see them, could still follow Astaroth's movements with my eyes, but everything else was frozen.

"They can't answer you, buddy!" He laughed into the room, but his eyes remained locked on my panic-fueled face. "They are all frozen, like you! So how about we have some fun!" He grinned, malice painting his lips from where he stood behind my father, tall and proud, his hands resting on my Pops' shoulders while he eyed me through his own set of fire-red eyes. I wanted to tear through the room, despite the dread I felt eating at me, but my muscles refused to obey my commands, leaving me helpless in the face of his overwhelming presence.

"What, nothing to say now, Lycan?" Astaroth laughed into the room, his attention shifting from me to Bash. "Cat got your tongue?" My eyes found Sebastian's fear-stricken face, I wanted to ask the cocky shit if he believed me now? But I knew now wasn't the time for I told you so's.

"Ah yeah, you can't speak. Probably not a bad thing... I get the sense you were about to be kicked off the team, and we wouldn't want that now, would we!" Astaroth grinned. Desperation clawed at my throat as I struggled to break free from his hold, to regain control of my own body. But it was like trying to move through molasses, every movement sluggish and heavy.

"Brother, if he is here, where is Charlotte?" Like a lifeline in the darkness, Kane's voice echoed in my mind. Relief flooded through me at the sound of my brother, a beacon of light in the suffocating darkness, until his words registered.

"She's safe! And unharmed. Although blondie, not so much," Astaorth replied, into the room. His head snapped around to look at Adam, and I knew from his reaction that Adam's thoughts had riled Astaroth up.

"Why? Because he is too

good-looking for a start, it was

unnatural, needed to fix that to give us ugly fuckers a chance." Astaroth grinned slowly as he approached Adam, but he paused, side eyeing

Sebastian, before flicking his wrist in Sebastain's direction, his grin

growing.

"Why don't you share that with the group?" Astaroth laughed, his eyes locked on Adam, clearly observing his response.

"Do I have to force it out of you, Lycan?" He laughed, squeezing his hand in the air in union with the scream that left Sebastian's lips followed by blood spluttering down his chin.

"Good! One less for me to kill later!"

Sebastian choked out his eyes heavy with guilt as they met Adams's furious gaze. "But what do you

expect, Adam, you are meant to net

protect ME! Your loyalty should be to ME! The next Ruler!" With another flick of his demonic wrist, he silenced Sebastian and turned to face the group.

"Trouble is angry pants, you're not the heir to the throne, not anymore.. The girl is! And then her pups. And then any pups they have... So unless you can wipe out her entire line..." His lips were pursed tightly as he looked between Sebastian and Lilly. "Which is what you're thinking." He nodded, his lips twisting into a frown. Before they fell on Lilly. "Well, aren't you a jealous bitch!" He added, making me wonder what Lilly had thought.