Chapter 118 BROKEN PROMISES

Chapter 118 BROKEN PROMISES
\- LYCAN KING MUTHERAN -
The blackness in her eyes began to fade like rain clouds after a storm.

I was still, my hands gripping the table, my shoulders hunched. My entire concentration was fixed on her, so much that I didn't remember to ease out of my tense state.

"It won't last."

A voice spoke into the quiet of the room.

I looked to my left. My spirit guide was leaning against the wall, wearing his usual bleak expression.

"The beast is no longer trying to rip her open to crawl out, but it still will. Right now, she and the beast are merging. When the unity is complete, she will awaken as a vessel of the beast proper. The beast will do its will and her will at the same time.

"You should know by now that she wants to kill you, so get ready. You will be the target of the beast soon enough."

I returned my gaze to Lissa without a word.

"Jane will be here soon. I can sense her. She will be coming with the expectation that the power of the beast will be used to raise her foster mother. Remember to tell her that she's hoping in vain.

"Also, about the ritual to gain the power to control the beast, that will be after you fight her and subdue the beast the first time. I'll need you to get someone for me to—"

He paused, perhaps to see if I was still listening.

I wasn't. I heard him huff in disgust.

"Come on, Mutheran. Stop wallowing like a wounded dog. It doesn't suit your dirty heart. She won't die, not anymore. She would have been dead if you didn't call her name the first time when she let the beast try to take her body.

"So the spell of the priestess automatically stopped its real function and had adverse effects on her. The effect being—"

"I know what it is. I understand every fucking thing that's happening."

I stroked Lissa's hair back.

"If you have nothing else to do, go away."

"My name is Alpha Ethan. We met him years ago when we were still looking for the beast. He can help us control it. Find him."

And with that, he vanished.

I dropped to my knees, burying my face in my palms.

"Lissa," I mumbled her name, tears trickling into my palms.

The guilt of all this I was putting her through was daggering my heart, and it hurt so much.

I sucked in a breath and wiped the tears.

I attempted to get up.

At the same time, Jane came through the door with the Left General, Johan, following closely behind.

"My king."

The general rushed to me immediately he saw me rising from the floor.

I jolted him with the motion of my hand, and he stood aside while I helped myself up.

Jane did not move an inch.

She simply stood there wearing a deadpan expression.

"Should I let the rest of the guards in? It's time we do this."

I nodded.

Jane signaled to one of them blocking the doorway. He called out to the others.

They trooped in, filling the seating area, but stayed standing.

I flicked my finger, drawing Johan close.

He bent over, and I whispered into his ear.

"Tie Jane up."

He looked at me. His eyes hinted at obvious surprise.

I moved my jaw, gesturing for him to go on.

He bowed, turned, and walked to Jane.

He bowed to her too.

"What is it?" Jane asked.

"My lady, I apologize, but the orders have been given."

Jane stepped back.

"What? What's going on?"

Johan grabbed her arm immediately.

Jane fought him furiously, but he wrestled her down and tied her up with his belt. Then he jerked her up from the ground.

I remained where I was, watching.

Immediately Jane was on her feet. Her first reaction was to yell at me.

"How dare you? What is this? Tell them to untie me."

She barked.

I heaved a sigh.

"I can't. I need you held down when I tell you this."

I drew close to her, placing my hand on her cheek.

I stroked it gently and tried to smile at her.

"I have come to a decision. I... loved your mother a lot. I loved her with my life. She is forever in my heart. However..."

Jane's eyes grew wider.

She could tell.

She knew where I was getting at.

"I love Lissa now. I can't give Lissa up for your mother. This is my decision."

"Damn you!"

She yelled, raging toward me.

I stepped back.

Not that I had to, because Johan held her firmly.

She screamed at me, her eyes filled with tears.

I kept my face flat the whole time.

"Your anger is understood. I do not blame you. I know that you will probably never understand why I did this, but you need to know... I love her so much."

My words seemed to agitate her all the more.

"I curse you. You are a monster. How could you do this? How could you do this? How could you?"

She crumbled to her knees, her face covered in tears.

There was so much pain in every strain of her voice as she wailed.

She reminded me of my first wife.

When she was dying, she also wept like this, cursing me.

I heaved a sigh.

She was right.

"Jane," I muttered.

"Melissa was right. You are going to have no use for me, and you're going to discard me. She was right. I was such a fool. You never wanted to do it."

She looked up at me.

"You were lying all this while, and I believed you, just like Melissa."

She started laughing.

One hand fisted the clothes around her chest and squeezed tight.

Her laughter was pitiful.

"So this is what it feels like to be betrayed. So this is how Melissa feels."

She hissed.

"Melissa is so tough. This hurts. It hurts so much. Melissa is so tough because this hurts. It hurts so much."

"Take her away. Keep her in one of the rooms in the Wolf Palace. The Luna will guide you."

Johan bowed and led Jane off.

Well, dragged would not be the word, because Jane walked away voluntarily.

She didn't struggle, not even a little bit.

Her eyes were dead.

She looked like her soul had been taken from her and now she was hollow.

"My king, is that supposed to happen?"

A guard called my attention.

I turned to Lissa.

Her eyes were open, and the blackness was creeping back, covering her pupils.

"Brace yourselves."

I stepped back, growing my claws out.

"The beast is coming.”