Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Shit… It was like my world was spiraling.
Midnight had come and gone, but I lay curled in bed, trembling as the ache deepened, becoming almost unbearable. Each breath felt like pulling fire into my lungs, and every beat of my heart sent pain clawing through me. I clutched at my chest, desperate, feeling as though my own blood was tearing me apart from the inside, a raging river trapped within a fragile dam.
The moonlight seeped through my window, cold and relentless, casting its silvery glare over everything. It weighed on me, like a silent, cruel witness to my suffering. The raw, unstable energy in my veins pulsed with the moon‘ s rhythm, threatening to shatter me. I fought back nausea as
something vile rose in my throat, my hand instinctively flying to my mouth. When I looked down, my fingers were stained with
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dark, thick blood. My own blood. A shiver of horror twisted through me, sharp and
icy.
No… my own blood rebelling, turning against me.
The realization struck with a terrible finality. I can’t keep doing this. I can’t survive like this. If I didn’t find a mate
soon–if I didn’t let the Alpha King stabilize my blood… I didn’t even want to finish the thought. But it hovered there, a heavy, unforgiving truth. Without a mate, without the bond to anchor my power, this would kill me.
By the time dawn bled into the sky, the worst of the pain had dulled, though a sickly, weak feeling lingered. Pushing myself upright felt like lifting weights, every muscle rebelling, my skin as pale as if the moon had stolen my strength. There was no escaping it now. No more time to defy fate, no more time to cling to pride. I could feel myself slipping, and there was
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only one way to stop it.
It was him… or nothing.
Fear lurked there, an undertone to my every thought. Fear of the Alpha King–of Damon, whose reputation struck dread into the hearts of even the strongest wolves in the pack. But I feared death more. And I wouldn’t die a pointless, wasteful death, leaving my parents‘ sacrifices in vain. Survival demanded a sacrifice of its own.
With that resolve hardening in my chest, I made my way to the packhouse, determined to learn everything I could about the man I’d soon be bound to. He would be my mate, and I would face him— but I needed to understand him first. I sought out the elders, the ones who‘ d seen and endured more of Damon‘ s rule than anyone else.
I found Elder Rhea in the kitchens, her gnarled hands steady as she chopped herbs with ease, her gaze sharp and focused. If anyone knew the truth about Damon, it
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would be her.
“Elder Rhea,” I began, my voice low and steady despite the turmoil inside, “can I ask you something?”
Her gaze flicked up, shrewd and wary.
“Ask,” she replied, though there was an unmistakable tension in her posture.
Taking a deep breath, I chose my words carefully. “What do you know of the Alpha King?”
At the mention of him, her hand stilled, face paling. She glanced around quickly before leaning closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why do you ask about him?”
Because it’s life or death, because I have no choice. “Because… I’m to marry him.
We will form the mate bond between us. My words dropped heavily, like stones, each syllable feeling more real as I spoke it.
“Please, keep this between us.
Shock flashed in her eyes before she
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would be her.
“Elder Rhea,” I began, my voice low and steady despite the turmoil inside, “can I ask you something?”
Her gaze flicked up, shrewd and wary.
“Ask,” she replied, though there was an unmistakable tension in her posture.
Taking a deep breath, I chose my words. carefully. “What do you know of the Alpha King?”
At the mention of him, her hand stilled, face paling. She glanced around quickly before leaning closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why do you ask about him?”
Because it’s life or death, because I have no choice. “Because… I’m to marry him. We will form the mate bond between us.” My words dropped heavily, like stones, each syllable feeling more real as I spoke it.
“Please, keep this between us.”
Shock flashed in her eyes before she
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quickly masked it, her hand gripping my wrist with surprising strength. “The Alpha King….. Damon… he isn‘ t like the others. His power, Malinda–it’s not just strength. It’s dark, carved from battles and bloodshed. He rules with a ruthless hand, and weakness is something he’ll never tolerate.”
I swallowed, a chill creeping through my veins. “So the stories are true?”
Rhea’s gaze turned distant, shadowed with memories. “True and not true. He’s complex, driven by forces we can’t understand. But make no mistake–if he finds you lacking, he won’t hesitate to… remove you.” Her words left little doubt of the outcome she envisioned.
My chest tightened, but I forced myself to nod, thanking her. As I left, her words sank in, heavy as iron. Everywhere I went, it was the same. The mention of Damon‘ s name made even seasoned warriors shift, fear etched into their faces. The thought of
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being bound to him felt like walking willingly into the jaws of a beast.
As I wandered, my mind tangled with these thoughts, I noticed movement near the Alpha‘ s private library. It wasn’t a place just anyone visited without reason. I frowned, catching a glimpse of a figure slipping out, darting down the hallway with a purposeful but furtive stride. My wolf stirred within me, suspicious and
tense. It was Sharon.
I watched her as she moved down the hall, her gaze shifting nervously, alert for anyone who might see her. What was she doing in the Alpha‘ s library? That room held important records, secured documents–things that weren’t meant for prying eyes. Keeping to the shadows, I followed her quietly, heart hammering with suspicion.
Eventually, she rounded a corner, her expression slipping back into innocence. But I saw it–the faint, sharp glint in her
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eyes, something that went beyond
innocence, something that whispered of secrets and schemes,
Determined, I sought out Francis and Kayden, finding them at the training grounds, their laughter and easy
camaraderie a balm, even if brief. But I wasn’t here for comfort. I approached, my voice steeled.
“Kayden, Francis,” I began, “I saw Sharon coming out of the Alpha’s private library. She was sneaking around, acting like she didn’t want to be seen.‘
Francis raised an eyebrow, a small, doubtful smile curving his lips. “Malinda, are you sure? Sharon has no reason to sneak into the Alpha’s library.
“I’m sure,” I said firmly, meeting his
gaze head–on. “I saw her.”
Kayden sighed, crossing his arms, his tone a mixture of patience and exasperation.
“Maybe you saw her near the library, but
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it doesn’t mean she was doing anything wrong. You‘ re letting this whole thing with Sharon get to you, Malinda.”
A spike of frustration rose in me. “This isn’t about Sharon,” I snapped, feeling the heat of it color my cheeks. “This is about the fact that she was somewhere she didn’t belong. Why don’t you see that?”
Francis‘ s expression softened, though his voice remained cautious. “Malinda,
you ve been under a lot of stress. Maybe you‘ re reading too much into things.”
Anger bubbled up, bitter and sharp. Once again, ignored, dismissed. The same as always. I clenched my fists, swallowing the bitter taste of rejection. “Fine,” I said coldly, barely keeping my voice steady.
“Ignore me, as usual.”
I turned, refusing to let them see the hurt that twisted inside me. Every time I reached out, tried to protect them, they brushed me aside as if my words were
nothing but air. And Sharon… Sharon
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lingered, always watching, always smiling, the sweet mask hiding something dark underneath. They couldn’t see it, but I could. And soon, maybe, they’d have no choice but to face the truth.
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