Ultimatum

Ultimatum


Thalia's POV

The room was in chaos until the Alpha hit his hand on the table and silenced everyone.

I took a sharp breath. What the heck, and why the hell was a witch here? My forehead broke into sweat.

“What do you want, Celine?” The Alpha’s voice thundered in the quiet room.

My eyes darted to the young beautiful lady who had come forward, standing not too far from where I was.

She bowed slightly. “Good day, Alpha Luis, I'm just here to deliver a message,” she said with a firm voice, then faced me with a gentle smile.

“Do I have the permission to take a look at your nape, dear?” she uttered while looking at me.

My eyes widened as I pointed at my chest. “Are you talking to me?” I asked her with a shocked expression.

The last time I checked, Jax had said he saw a witch, and we would be going to her, but the person in front of me made me unsure of how to feel.

So I snapped my head back, and they all looked surprised as well except for Mr Robert, who smiled and then walked toward me.

“She is an ally of mine,” he whispered close to my ear, patting my shoulder.

My gaze shifted back to the lady and everyone who was patiently waiting to see what was going on.

I sighed as my eyes settled on the lady. “Yes, you may take a look,” I murmured slowly.

Then I saw her smile sweetly before she walked to where I was. Wow, her smile was contagious. As soon as she got to where I was, I turned my back slowly to her.

I raised my hair and revealed my nape.

“Wow, it’s true,” I heard a whisper so close that I could feel her hot breath on my neck.

“You can check and confirm what it means,” I heard Mr Robert say. I wanted to turn, but I felt the witch’s hand on my nape, keeping me in place.

Then, I felt her hand massaging my nape as she spoke a language I didn’t understand.

Suddenly I felt a ticklish sensation on my nape, forcing my eyes closed. Right at that moment was when I heard someone speak.

“You’re finally here,” the voice said with a sweet and soothing voice, but the voice sounded familiar, way too familiar.

I didn’t have to think too far when I realized.

How could I forget the voice that had tormented me for weeks?

“Yes, moon goddess,” I heard Celine’s voice inside my head.

Wait,

How… how was she speaking in my mind?

I wanted to open my eyes, but I couldn’t. Even my body froze. I couldn’t move. It was as though I was no longer in control of my own body just like the last time.

Moreover, I couldn’t hear what the outside world was saying anymore.

All I could hear at that point was the voices in my head. That of the moon goddess and Celine, the witch.

“She has been chosen. She will be the one to end this mystery,” I heard the moon goddess’ voice. My body trembled slightly.

What the hell were they talking about? And if it was me, why were they planning something about my life without telling or asking about my opinion?

“Well understood, Moon goddess. I will make sure to deliver your message,” I heard Celine’s voice, and slowly I felt my body become light, making me able to flutter my eyes open.

I quickly turned with wobbly legs, and I saw people’s eyes widen as they looked at me with curiosity, while some looked with admiration.

I frowned. I wanted to question the witch when she moved away from me to the center of the room.

My gaze shifted to Mr Robert, and just like the few people here, his eyes shone with admiration too.

My brows furrowed because I felt confused until I heard the witch’s voice.

“As you can see, Alpha Luis, Thalia here has been chosen by the moon goddess to end this mystery,” the witch said with a small smile.

Well, I was still confused here. Yes, I knew I had been chosen by their moon goddess, but what did that even mean?

“So you’re telling me she is the one who has been chosen to end the surge we have been suffering from?” Alpha Luis asked calmly.

My heart skipped, I was chosen to end the surge?

I saw the witch who smiled at Alpha Luis. “Yes, my lord. She has been chosen, just like you heard from the moon goddess yourself,” she said with a calm voice.

The whole hall broke into low murmurs. Everyone who had looked with curiosity now looked at me as if they had found their lost hope.

My gaze darted to the Alpha. Even though he tried to mask his expression, I could see he was happy too.

“With the information being passed, I would like to take my leave, my lord,” Celine said.

Then she halted with a slight bow. “For the rites and ritual, you know where to find me.” she said, her voice coated with finalit. Then, she turned started walking out in long fast steps.

My eyes widened. Rites and ritual, Does that mean they will have to perform a ritual before I end the surge? Many questions ran through my mind.

Moreover, with the way Celine came in quietly and left, it seemed like these people knew each other well.

“Wait,” the Alpha said. He raised his hand, stopping the witch from leaving.

“What do you want for this joyous news you have brought to us?” Alpha Luis asked with a calm voice.

I frowned. Do they pay the witches? Staring at the witch, I saw her smile, and for the first time, the smile was laced with hidden sadness.

“You know what to do, Alpha Luis,” she said in a low voice.

I saw a deep silent conversation pass between the Alpha and the Witch.

“I will reach out to you soon, Celine,” Alpha Luis said, waving her off.

Celine bowed again and then left the hall. My breath hitched, when we were all left alone. Again. It seemed she was the person Father had promised to call.

The hall remained silent. I didn’t need anyone to tell me it was time to give judgement.

The Alpha adjusted his seat while staring at us. He cleared his throat before he began.

“With what we just experienced, it seems Robert’s family had been given the honor to save the wolves, and because of this…” the Alpha paused as his gaze shifted to me, staring intently.

“The council removed all charges on the Roberts family,” he said with an authoritative voice.

A smile broke out on my face. I rubbed my sweaty palm. I couldn’t believe we would be going scot-free.

Suddenly an elderly man stood up, with the on his desk, he was Elder Troy, making all eyes snap to him. He bowed slightly to the Alpha. “My lord, aren’t you forgetting something?” he said with a tight face.

Alpha Luis frowned, staring at Elder Troy.

“I mean the forbidden book. We shouldn’t forget it. It’s a taboo, and they knew it wasn't meant to be tampered with, but they still went ahead to steal it,” Elder Troy said. Then he turned and looked at me with a stiff face.

I bit my lips as I clamped my hands together. It was very obvious Elder Troy had something against me or against the brothers because…

The hall went into a pin drop silence again. I held my breath as I twisted my fingers in my hand. I really felt like strangling this Elder Troy. Why would he remember that when we were at the verge of receiving mercy.

“What do you have to say about this, Robert?” Alpha Luis asked Mr Robert while staring at him.

My gaze darted to my stepfather, who exhaled heavily before speaking. “The forbidden book is with us, and we will make sure to return it,” Mr Robert said with a calm voice.

Alpha Luis nodded in understanding. “This is my judgement,” the Alpha said, then placed his hand on the table.

“Because of my trust broken by the Roberts family, I hereby declare that Thalia, your stepdaughter, and one of your sons will be held hostage until you provide the forbidden book,” he said with a stern voice.

I swallowed the invisible lump in my throat. Then the Alpha continued,

“However, you are to provide the book in forty-eight hours. Failure to meet the deadline, your son will be punished for every minute’s delay.” he paused.

“This is my judgement!”

“The words of the alpha is final.” Everyone in the hall echoed.

He stood and walked out of the hall. It was as though the elders had waited for the Alpha to leave before they also stood and left one after the other.

The more I watched them leave, the more my heart sank. My eyes welled up with tears. This was my reality. I wouldn’t be going home.

But then, which of the brothers will be here?

Who is to stay and receive punishment?

Would the others be able to locate Savena and the book in two days?