Chapter 12 fire
"Ok, since you have made your choice in being a fool, walk on it," Kaelrix ordered coldly.
My lungs tightened immediately. What? He wanted me to walk on this fire? Was this a joke? He could not be serious. There was no way he meant that. I stared at him, hoping it was a bluff, but all I saw was a deadly calm expression that told me he meant every word.
"What?" I asked in disbelief, my voice shaking despite my effort to sound strong.
"Do not make me repeat myself. I hate it. Walk on this fire and come back," he yelled. The force of his Alpha voice slammed into me so hard that my wolf immediately bowed in fear. I felt her curl into herself, trembling.
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing. I forced myself to take a slow step toward the fire, but before I could take another, I heard Kaelrix snap sharply.
"I do not have all day to watch someone walk like a snail. Push her in."
Candice’s voice rose instantly. "Please go easy on her."
"You dare question me, Candice? When she was being disrespectful, why did you not stop her?"
Crack.
The sound echoed through the hall like a thunderbolt. I spun around just in time to see Candice stumble backward, clutching his cheek in pain. Kaelrix had punched him. My heart dropped, and for a moment I almost ran to him, wanting to help, wanting to shield him from Kaelrix, but the soldiers by my side stepped forward slightly, reminding me that any sudden movement would earn me more than just a warning.
I froze where I stood, helpless and guilt ridden.
If I had just apologized earlier, maybe Candice would not have been hurt. The thought crushed my chest like a stone.
I looked back at Kaelrix and saw him straightening his fist casually, as if hitting someone was nothing to him. His expression was darker, deadlier, and it made my spine stiffen with fear. I turned to Candice again. Blood dripped from the side of his mouth, but even in pain, he looked at me with soft eyes filled with worry instead of resentment.
"I am sorry," I whispered just loud enough for him to understand.
He gave me a small nod and a reassuring smile despite the blood on his lips. That made guilt burn even deeper inside me.
I hesitated, then finally shut my eyes. The moment my foot stepped onto the fire, I felt my entire body pale. This was not ordinary fire. It was mixed with silver, and silver was poison to werewolves. It burned deeper than flesh. It reached the bones.
Did Kaelrix hate me this much?
"He would not have hated you if you just apologized," my wolf whispered from within, sounding irritated.
"Why do I feel like you hate me too? You always take their side!" I snapped internally.
"It is not about sides. It is about truth. You acted like a stubborn donkey, and honestly, I am happy you are paying the price. Now we are both going to get roasted like meat," she replied, her tone annoyingly smug.
I almost lost my mind out of anger.
"Moon goddess, why did you give me my enemy as a wolf?" I hissed inwardly.
"I think you forgot that we both feel pain. You keep irritating me and dragging us into unnecessary suffering," she clapped back.
I took another step, and this time I felt the sharp jabbing pain shooting up my legs. I could feel my strength draining away with every second. The fire sucked the life out of my feet, burning through layers of flesh and weakening my bones.
I took another step, and I almost screamed. I bit my lower lip so hard that the metallic taste of blood filled my tongue. I took another step again, and the fire burned deeper into my skin. I wanted to scream for help, to beg someone to pull me out, but my pride would not allow it. My dignity hung by a thread, but I refused to let it snap.
Their eyes were on me. I could feel them like needles on my skin. Every soldier. Every brother. Kaelrix. All waiting for me to scream, to fall, to ask for mercy. The hall was dead silent except for the boiling sound of the fire and the soft crunch of my burnt skin touching the surface.
Pain slammed into my brain, sharp and blinding. My knees wobbled. My breathing grew harsher. The silver in the fire weakened my bones and sent sharp stabs of pain through my thighs. Silver should never be mixed with fire. It should never even be touched.
What cruel creature created this Sliver Fire?
Who allowed such a place to exist?
Why did this pack even have something like this?
I kept walking, tears falling down my cheeks before I could stop them. My eyes burned from smoke. My vision blurred. I could barely feel my feet anymore, only pain, only torture that threatened to rip me apart from the inside.
When I finally reached the end of the fire, I turned slowly, trembling, and began walking back. I wanted to run out of it, to leap for safety, to cry in relief, but I forced myself to move slowly. I stared at Candice and saw his expression twisted in pain and pity. When I looked at Kaelrix, his face was still cold. So cold it cut deeper than the fire.
Versus stood beside him, his expression tight with concern, but he said nothing. Maybe he was afraid. Maybe he was ashamed.
I bit my lips hard, fighting back more tears.
At last, when my foot touched the cool floor outside the fire, I lost all strength. I collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. My legs were blistered, red, burned, shaking uncontrollably.
Candice rushed to me immediately. He dropped to his knees and held my legs gently, careful not to hurt me more. He ran a hand through my hair in a soothing motion.
"It is okay," he whispered. "You should have apologized. Do you like what you are going through right now?"
My eyes drifted up to Kaelrix. His face twisted in disgust as he walked toward me. He bent to my level, his golden eyes glimmering with mockery.
"You love the Sliver Fire?" he asked with a dark grin.
My hand twitched. A part of me wanted to slap him into another dimension, but I forced myself to stay still. Hitting an Alpha was suicide. And I did not want to die. Not like this.
"Now apologize," Kaelrix ordered again, his voice sharp.
"Apologize? Did I not walk on the fire you demanded?" I snapped, frustration breaking my voice.
"I see you still do not want to apologize," he said as he straightened. For the first time, genuine fear unfurled inside me. What did he want? How far did he intend to push this?
My whole body burned. Pain pulsed through my veins. I clutched my feet, trying to contain the agony.
"You will go again," Kaelrix said calmly. "This time, you will walk three times."
My lungs seized. I stopped breathing. For a moment, I thought my heart stopped too.
"That is too cruel. Do you want to have her killed?" Candice yelled.
Versus stepped forward as well. "Yes, Kaelrix, this is too much. Do you want her to die?"
"How dare you two speak against me?" Kaelrix snapped. "Shut up. The only way she escapes this is if she apologizes."
His voice was so cold it could freeze water.
Tears gathered at the corners of my eyes but quickly burned away as anger replaced them. I forced myself to stand, shaking uncontrollably. I walked toward the fire again and turned to face him.
"I prefer to die than apologize to an evil person like you. I hate you."
With that, I shut my eyes and stepped onto the fire once more. My legs screamed. My bones trembled. My hands curled into fists so tight my nails stabbed my palm.
I did not care.
I was not going to apologize.
Not now.
Not ever.