Chapter 33
Aurora
Tears flooded my eyes, rolling down my soft cheeks as I bit my dried trembling lips, refusing to draw attention to myself.
My shaky hands covered my mouth and I swallowed a bile forming in my throat.
Guilt clawed its way to my heart, ripping it apart and pointing accusing fingers at me.
I sobbed quietly with my hands clasped to my mouth as I lay on the floor, drowning in self-hatred.
Embalmed in the feeling of disgust, I couldn’t even look at myself in the mirror. I couldn’t bear the horrible face that would stare back at me.
Yes, I was horrible!
I almost killed the King because of my stupidity.
He was in severe pain that had him fighting for his life desperately.
Afraid that my presence brought bad luck to the pack, I was locked up in my room as everyone was banned from making contact with me.
Not even Alex.
Food and drinks were brought to me for my survival, but woe betide whoever tried to pick a conversation with me.
In less than a month of staying in the pack, I had a reputation for almost murdering the King. Everyone treated me like a plague, no one associated himself with me.
But I was fine. I take the blame.
If I had not run away foolishly despite seeing warnings in the sky, I wouldn’t have ended up in this situation.
If only I had stayed according to the King’s instructions. If only I had listened to Alex’s advice.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
A tear rolled down my cheeks, before landing on my lips. The salty taste made me cringe as bitterness overwhelmed me.
Why was I so stubborn?!
Why do I always cause trouble?
Why couldn’t I accept the reality that I was now a mere property?
Speaking of property, I had accepted becoming the Alpha King’s property and satisfying him with anything he wanted, regardless of my feelings.
Nothing else mattered anymore, not even my virginity…I just wanted him to wake up from a coma.
It’s been three weeks since I was locked up in my room to wallow in self-pity.
Three agonizing weeks of praying and hoping that the King would recover…but it seemed the Moon goddess abandoned me to my fate.
Despite trying to ask the maids who brought food to me, they all glared at me with disdain.
It was three weeks of being left in the dark, I didn’t know if the King was alive or dead.
Right now, I didn’t care about his selfish and ruthless behaviour, I just wanted him to heal as quickly as possible, I didn’t mind becoming his for the rest of my life.
Fuck the quest for freedom. It got me into this terrier situation.
It would take a miracle for the king to survive. His chances were slim.
Who survives a silver bullet laced with wolfsbane?
My eyes landed on the moon that stared at me as if mocking me for trying to be foolishly brave. Unable to start a prayer as guilt pricked me hard, I pondered on how to help myself.
I had to cook up a plan before it was too late.
The only person coming to save me was me.
The moment the King was declared dead, no doubt, my head would be hanging on a stake at the entrance of the castle.
That was the last thing on my mind.
Though a huge part of me believed the king was dead but his council members were taking time to announce his death, there was also a silver lining of hope buried within me that convinced me that the King was alive.
“Please. Let him live. Take me instead,” I muttered a silent prayer as my teary eyes were fixed on the full moon that hung in the sky.
A burst of pain exploded in my chest, swallowing me whole at the thought that I had killed the King.
For weeks, the thought drove me insane, as it haunted me even in my sleep.
Soon, I drowned in the bitter ocean of depression that made my spirit sink, draining the tiny bit of hope in my heart.
Lost in thoughts, I didn’t know when the door opened to reveal Alex.
My heart somersaulted as she made her way to me with uncertainty in her heart.
My heart broke into a thousand pieces at the thought of me murdering her.
Why would she think like that?
A dark cloud of sadness descended on me, making me bury my head in shame.
“I brought you food,” she said in a hurry, dropping the tray containing toast bread and eggs on the floor before turning to leave impatiently. Her voice was drained of its excitement. It was just…flat, unwelcoming and distant.
It was like an invisible hand squeezed my bleeding heart, making a great deal of pain radiate through me.
“Alex, please.” I jumped before her, holding her by her arm but she pushed it off immediately, making a teardrop from my eye.
“I am not supposed to do this,” she replied, shaking her head negatively before walking away from me. “You are not supposed to talk to me.”
“I know, but how is the king?” I asked with a racing heart.
“He is awake and he is responding to treatment,” she answered coldly, maintaining her distance between me. But I didn’t let that get to me. The King’s health was my paramount concern.
My hands flew to my chest in surprise as tears of joy cascaded down my eyes, but it was only for a fleeting moment.
Guilt resurfaced within me, pricking my conscience.
Without hesitation, I crashed to my knees, clasping my hands together as I stared deep into her confused eyes.
“Please, take me to the King.”
A gasp rolled from her throat as she stared at me in shock. “So you can put me in trouble?”
Sadness walked up in me at her words but I shoved it aside.
“It’s been weeks. I thought he was dead, but nobody told me anything. Please, Alex, I just want to apologize, then I’ll be back,” I pleaded desperately, pinning her with an emphatic look.
A shrill of relief washed over me as her eyes softened a bit.
“Fine. But for five minutes.”
My teary face lit up in excitement and I almost jumped on Alex as happiness filled me to the brim.
I couldn’t wait to tell him how bad I felt.
I didn’t care if he would order my execution.
Without wasting time, I followed Alex, ignoring the penetrating and accusing looks the guards shot at me.
“Only five minutes. You better not tell anyone I let you out,” she threatened before leaving me alone as I was about to mutter a ‘thank you’.
With a racing heart, I slowly made my way to where King Damon lay, rehearsing my apology.
I took light steps to avoid startling him as I didn’t want to get on his bad side.
Heaving a deep breath, I opened my mouth but words eluded me.
I was about to give him a gentle push when his penetrating eyes flung open at once, glaring at me like he had seen a ghost.
I jumped in fright as fear overtook me, making me almost fall as I lost my balance.
His large hands caught me right in the midair before I landed on the floor and his intense gaze grew passionate, making me stare at him in confusion.
“Ivy,” he muttered, running his rough palm on my face before pulling my fragile body close to his.
Covered in shock, I froze on the spot, unable to make a sound as his soft lips brushed mine before claiming it in a passionate kiss.