Chapter 12

Shit… It felt like my whole world was unraveling. Midnight had come and gone, but I still lay curled up in bed, trembling as the pain in my chest grew worse, each pulse a sharp, burning ache that felt almost unbearable. Every breath was like inhaling fire, every beat of my heart sending a jagged wave of pain through my body. I pressed my hand to my chest, desperate, feeling as if my blood was ripping me apart from the inside, a flood threatening to burst through the fragile dam of my skin.

The moonlight poured through my window, cold and unyielding, casting a harsh, silvery glow over everything. It felt like it was watching me, like a silent, cruel observer to my suffering. The raw, unstable energy coursing through my veins pulsed with the rhythm of the moon, threatening to tear me apart. Nausea swelled in my stomach as something vile rose in my throat, and my hand shot up instinctively to cover my mouth. When I looked down, my fingers were smeared with thick, dark blood. My own blood. A shiver of horror twisted through me. No... My blood was rebelling, turning against me.

The weight of the realization hit me like a brick. I couldn't keep doing this. I couldn't survive like this. If I didn't find my mate soon, if I didn't let the Alpha King stabilize my blood... I couldn't even finish the thought. But it lingered, a dark, unforgiving truth. Without a mate, without that bond to anchor my power, this would kill me.

By the time dawn began to creep into the sky, the worst of the pain had dulled, but a sickly, weak feeling still clung to me. Pushing myself upright felt like trying to lift a mountain, my muscles protesting with every movement, my skin pale, drained, as if the moon had stolen all my strength. There was no more time to defy fate, no more time to cling to my pride. I could feel myself slipping, and there was only one way to stop it.

It was him... or nothing.

Fear twisted in my gut, an undercurrent to every thought. Fear of the Alpha King, of Damon, whose name alone struck terror into the hearts of even the fiercest wolves in the pack. But I feared death more. And I wouldn't die a pointless, wasted death, leaving my parents' sacrifices in vain. Survival demanded a sacrifice of its own.

With that resolve hardening inside me, I pushed myself to move, heading straight for the packhouse. I needed to learn everything I could about the man I was about to be bound to. He would be my mate, and I would face him, but I had to understand him first. So I went to the elders, the ones who had lived through more of Damon's rule than anyone else.

I found Elder Rhea in the kitchens, her weathered hands steady as she chopped herbs, her gaze sharp and focused. If anyone knew the truth about Damon, it would be her.

"Elder Rhea," I began, my voice steady despite the chaos in my chest, "can I ask you something?"

She looked up, her eyes wary, her posture stiff with suspicion. "Ask," she replied, but I could see the tension in her.

I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. "What do you know about the Alpha King?"

At the mention of his name, her hand froze, and her face went white. 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." The words came out heavy, like stones sinking in my chest. "Please, keep this between us."

Shock flashed in her eyes before she quickly masked it, gripping my wrist with surprising strength. "The Alpha King... Damon... he's not like the others. His power, Malinda, it's not just strength. It's dark, forged from battles and bloodshed. He rules with an iron fist, and weakness is something he won't tolerate."

A cold shiver ran down my spine. "So the stories are true?"

Rhea's eyes grew distant, a shadow crossing her face as she looked into memories only she could see. "True and not true. He's complex, driven by forces we can't fully understand. But make no mistake, if he finds you lacking, he won't hesitate to... remove you." Her words landed like a death sentence.

My chest tightened, but I forced myself to nod, thanking her before walking away. Her words settled in, weighing me down like iron chains. Everywhere I went, it was the same. The mere mention of Damon's name made even the most seasoned warriors stiffen, fear written on their faces. The thought of being bound to him felt like walking straight into the jaws of a monster.

As I wandered, my mind tangled with all the things I'd learned, I noticed a figure near the Alpha's private library, a place not many people had reason to be. I frowned, catching a glimpse of someone slipping out, moving with an odd mix of purpose and wariness. My wolf stirred within me, uneasy, suspicious. It was Sharon.

I watched her carefully as she moved down the hall, her eyes flicking around nervously, checking for anyone who might be watching. What was she doing in the Alpha's library? That room was full of confidential records, documents meant for no one's eyes but the Alpha's. I slipped into the shadows, following her at a distance, heart pounding with suspicion.

She rounded a corner and, for a moment, her expression slipped back into the mask of innocence. But I saw it, the faint glint in her eyes, something that whispered of secrets, of schemes.

Determined, I found Francis and Kayden at the training grounds, their laughter a temporary comfort, even if it was fleeting. But I wasn't here for comfort. I needed answers. I approached them, my voice unwavering.

"Kayden, Francis," I began, "I saw Sharon coming out of the Alpha's private library. She was sneaking around, trying not to be seen."

Francis raised an eyebrow, a small, skeptical smile tugging at 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. "I saw her."

Kayden sighed, crossing his arms. "Maybe you saw her near the library, but that doesn't mean she was doing anything wrong. You're letting your issues with Sharon cloud your judgment."

Frustration bubbled up inside me. "This isn't about Sharon," I snapped, the heat of anger coloring my voice. "This is about the fact that she was in a place she shouldn't be. Why can't you see that?"

Francis's expression softened, but his tone remained cautious. "Malinda, you've been under a lot of stress. Maybe you're reading too much into this."

The anger burned hotter. Once again, dismissed, ignored. Just like always. I clenched my fists, swallowing down the bitter taste of rejection. "Fine," I said coldly, my voice barely controlled. "Ignore me, as usual."

I turned away, refusing to let them see the hurt that twisted inside me. Every time I tried to reach out, to protect them, they brushed me aside like I was nothing. And Sharon... She was always there, lurking in the background, watching, smiling. But I could see through her mask. And soon, maybe they'd have no choice but to face the truth.