Chapter 21

Amelia's POV.

The rest of the dinner was filled with awkward silence and the sound of cutleries clanking with ceramic plates. The dinner had gone on with tension hanging thick in the air like a storm cloud just waiting to burst.

Despite Luna Bella trying to remedy the already sour situation, it remained awkward and eventually, she gave up and focused on her meal.

As the last course was cleared away, I could see the relief in everyone’s eyes. Even Kaiden released a breath beside me, probably stifled by the oppressive tension that had held everyone captive after Freya’s outburst.

Although I had enjoyed watching Freya shut down and embarrassed by Luna Bella, the rest of the dinner had also been awkward for me. I had struggled to swallow my food at intervals due to the tension that had us all at a choke hold.

Luna Bella and Damien rose hurriedly, probably eager to leave the table and pretend that this dinner had never happened.

I pushed my chair back and stood, ready to make my exit, when the door to the dining room swung open. A maid, her face pale and panicked, rushed in.

“My lady, Alpha Dorovan—he’s convulsing!” she gasped, her voice trembling with fear as she stumbled to Luna Bella’s feet.

A chill ran down my spine. Her distress was evidence of the dire state he must’ve been in. We all froze at first, the news sending a ripple of unease through the group.

I could imagine the Alpha thrashing about on his bed and it was indeed a disturbing image. I had been brought here to ensure his health improves and the realization brought me out of my thoughts.

I snapped out of the trance first, rushing out of the dining room without a second thought, my instincts kicking in before my mind could catch up. 

The others followed closely behind me, even Freya joined us as we rushed through the hallways to his room. Kaiden fell into hurried steps beside me, his large strides keeping pace with my rushed steps.

We were all silent but our steps were hurried, breathing harsh and heavy. The hallways felt too small for the situation at hand. It almost felt like the walls were closing in on us. I could hear the rattling of his bed from a distance away and I picked up my pace.

As we got to his room, we were greeted by the panicked murmurs of confused maids. One of them was in tears as she tried to hold the Alpha steady, trying to ensure he didn't hurt himself from the mighty force of his convulsions.

Dorovan was thrashing about on the bed which shook on its hinges. Sweat slicked his forehead and he gasped in strangled breaths. But it wasn't the physical struggle that made me freeze.

That was bad, but there was something far worse going on in this room, one I believed only I could see. Because if they could see it, they’d be panicked into a frenzy-heck they’d have run out screaming.

It was the mass of darkness hovering above his head. The hairs on the back of my neck stood, goosebumps peppering my skin as I stepped forward.

There was a black mass of darkness hovering over his body. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. There was something deeply unnatural about it and it made my skin prick.

I swallowed hard. No one else seemed to notice it. I knew they couldn’t. My special physique allowed me to see things others couldn’t, and this dark mass was one of them. 

The swirling darkness was slowly seeping into Dorovan’s skin, invading his body through his pores. It was like an infection—poisonous, malevolent. And if I didn’t act fast, it would destroy him. 

“Get me a concoction pot,” I demanded, my voice steadier than I felt. I didn’t have time to explain. I could already feel the oppressive weight of the darkness pressing down on Dorovan’s very essence. This wasn’t just some random illness or curse—it was something far more sinister. 

The maid rushed to fetch the pot, and I wasted no time, immediately starting to prepare the ingredients I needed. Bella stood nearby, her face filled with concern, but she didn’t dare interrupt. Freya, too, hovered in the background, her expression unreadable.

The room seemed to grow colder with every passing second. The darkness was like a thick cloud that refused to dissipate, wrapping itself around the air like a vile snake. 

I gulped visibly, convincing myself that I could do this. The task was daunting and I knew it wasn't going to be easy.

When the maids returned with the herbs I'd requested for, I mixed them with hurried movements, not stopping even when my fingers ached.

It took all my concentration to keep my concentration when Alpha Dorovan continued convulsing on the bed, almost disrupting the small bout of focus I’d conjured.

The ingredients were simple, but the magic required to keep the darkness at bay was complex. I could feel the pull of the blackness as it tried to interfere with my work, but I pushed it back, refusing to lose concentration.

When the potion was ready, I took the vial in my hand and approached Dorovan, whose convulsions hadn't slowed a bit since we arrived. 

The sight of him—so strong, so commanding—reduced to this feeble state sent an insurmountable wave of pity through me. But I pushed it down. I couldn’t afford to be weak now. Not when the fate of his life was in my hands. 

I leaned over him, gently tilting his head back to pour the potion into his mouth. His body shuddered in response, but after a few moments, his convulsions stopped. I felt a flicker of hope. It wasn’t much, but it was something. At least he could breathe again without fighting for air. 

However, that fleeting sense of relief quickly dissolved as I watched the blackness slowly continue its creeping invasion.

It was still there, still pushing itself into his body, little by little. The potion had stopped the immediate threat, but the darkness wasn’t gone. It was just waiting, patiently spreading through him, like a slow poison. 

I felt a cold knot formed in my stomach. 

“It’s not enough,” I murmured, almost to myself. The others were silent, but their eyes were locked on me. They could see the grim expression on my face and knew that this wasn’t just a temporary setback.

“He doesn’t have much time,” I said, finally speaking aloud. My voice was steady, but the weight of the situation pressed down on me. 

“There’s a darkness hovering over him, seeping into his skin and slowly poisoning him. If I don’t make a more powerful potion to stabilize him, he’ll be dead within a few weeks.”

Bella gasped, stepping forward. 

“What do you mean, weeks?” I nodded grimly. 

“Yes. It will invade and corrupt from within, draining his life force. It’s slow, but relentless and if we don't act quickly, Alpha Dorovan will lose this fight. His body won't be able to fight the darkness on its own.” I stated, watching as horror slowly seeped into their features. 

The Alpha's condition was grave, and I hoped I could truly stop the darkness from destroying him from the inside out.