Chapter 17: Phantom Dreams

The afternoon sun shone brightly through the window slabs, bathing the empty throne room in hues of yellow and orange.

Myra tightened her grip on the broom, inhaling slowly before continuing her sweeping.

Sweat dripped down her neck, slipping below her collar. Her legs were stiff, her arms ached yet she didn't slow down.

There was no room for weakness here, she was realizing that as the days turned into weeks. And the hope of gaining freedom also dwindled with each passing hour.

Every task, every humiliation and every night spent in tears pushed her further into hopelessness.

Like the future was bleak.

“Don't" she warned herself, refusing to squash the little hope burning in her.

“I will rise again" she promised herself quietly while wiping sweat off her brow.

She had to believe. Believe in some kind of luck that would help her, because she needed to get out.

She didn't want to imagine her life here, in the presence of these cruel wolves and their damned Alpha.

Myra clenched her jaw at the thought of him. She hated him more than the devil.

“Scratch that, he is the devil" she murmured.

A shiver ran through her when she remembered how close he was to seeing her the other night. He had been right behind that door, just a foot away.

But she was lucky. But for how long?

Myra paused for a moment, heavily lost in her troubled thoughts.

She couldn't hide forever. Sooner or later, they would cross paths and the secret would be blown.

“No" she whispered. She wouldn't be able to bear the humiliation that would follow.

They would mock her, call her a plaything, another conquest of the Alpha. And whatever dignity she had left would be ripped off.

She shook her head to dispel the frightening thoughts.

No one would know. She would make sure of that.

By the time she was done with her chores, the day had descended to night, with dark hues coloring the sky.

She dropped her cleaning tools tiredly and found a quiet, hidden corner to rest.

Her back slid down the cold stone wall until she curled into herself, arms wrapped around her legs.

Her body trembled with hunger but nothing hurt more than the silence.

She hugged herself tighter. It was moments like this that broke her. Moments of hopelessness gnawing at her.

Would she ever escape the claws of the Alpha? Would she reclaim her throne? Would she pull herself out of the nightmare she had been living in for days?

A little voice whispered, “No"

She swallowed deeply and buried her face in her palms, forcing happy thoughts to console her.

A beautiful memory came up. One that had been forgotten to time.

Her father reading stories to her and her sister, back then when she was happy and peaceful.

A smile stretched her lips as a wave of nostalgia hit her. Back to the good days where all she knew was joy.

But the image faded, replaced with screams and blood. Chaos from her wedding day.

She could hear the cries, the terror, the victorious howls of the wolves as they were dragged away.

Then her father dying before her eyes while she couldn't do anything but watch.

Her chest tightened, remembering his lifeless body in her arms.

“He's gone" she whispered as a lone tear fell.

Her father was gone. And it felt like she was dying too.

Meanwhile....

Arthur sat slouched behind his desk, frustration eating up this thoughts. His eyes scanned the papers before him but the words might as well have been smoke. They slipped through his focus, useless and blurred.

His wolf was agitated again and it was driving him mad.

Every night since the banquet, she filled up his thoughts.

The mystery woman. He couldn't remember her face yet he couldn't forget her scent.

Was she even real? He had asked himself but no answer came. No clue. No hint.

“Who the hell are you?" Arthur said aloud, closing his eyes.

He was running mad, he knew it, but he couldn't stop it.

He forced his eyes open and glared at the papers before him. What kind of woman disappeared after a night with the Alpha?

His blood began to boil.

That hurt his ego more than he cared to admit. She had some guts to slip out of his bed and disappear without a trace.

To add to his irritation, Christine stepped in, unannounced.

“Arthur" she purred. “Aren't you happy to see me?"

She crossed over to his desk with a sultry smile. “I've missed you" she said, touching his chest.

Ordinarily, her touches sparked desire but tonight, they disgusted him. Because someone else's touch couldn't leave his skin.

“I'm not in the mood" he replied briskly, brushing her hands off.

Her smile flattened. “What?"

“You heard me"

“You haven't touched me in weeks Arthur. When are you ever going to lighten up?" Christine demanded, not taking 'no' for an answer.

“Leave Christine. When I need you, I'll let you know"

Christine parted her lips for a protest but her eyes alighted upon the necklace sitting on the edge of his table.

She reached for it but he was quicker, snatching it and shoving it inside his pocket.

Christine turned to him with a frown. “That's not yours. Whose is it?"

“Leave Christine. I'm not in the mood for your questions" he said quite calmly for his boiling emotions.

Why couldn't she just get the hint and leave?

She cocked her head to the side with a suspicious stare. “Are you seeing someone else Arthur?"

“No. Now leave"

“Why are you....."

The visions started again, tormenting him. It started with her whispers then her pleas.

'Alpha... don't'

“Christine, you have to leave" he replied coolly.

His mind was wandering back to that moment of passion etched vividly into his mind.

Christine's eyes darkened. “Arthur I don't—"

He couldn't take it anymore. “I said leave!" He roared, standing to his full height.

He glared down at her, his fists clenched so tight as he restrained his anger.

Fear seeped into her, drawing her eyes wide. One look into his wild eyes pushed Christine to take a step back. “A-Arthur I'm sorry—"

“Leave. Before I lose it" he ordered with a tight voice.

Christine didn't need to be told twice. She hurried out of the room, afraid Arthur might harm her.

He dropped into his chair, his breath dropping to harsh pants.

The flashbacks were hitting harder now.

'Alpha... no please' she cried softly, thrashing beneath him. Her pleas fuelled his burning desires....

Arthur slammed his fist into the wall, breathing hard.

For the life of him, why couldn't he remember?

When he crawled back into his bed, they only got worse. It tormented his dreams, taking him back there.

With the faceless woman, only this time her features weren't so hazy.

He could make out her svelte figure wrapped in silk sheets and waves of hair spilling over his arms. Sweat glistened on her curves, turning them golden under the moonlight.

“P-Please" her voice trembled with something close to pain. “Don't..."

He hated the distress she was feeling but he couldn't stop himself. He wasn't even in control of his own body.

'Take her. Touch her. Mine' his wolf urged him.

Arthur's eyes flew open as he sat up with a jolt. His body was hot and feverish, his claws had shot out.

Another dream of her.

“Why can't I forget?" He spoke to the darkness, clutching his tight chest.

A fine sheen of sweat hung on his brows and his sheets were soaked.

'Need her' the wolf told him.

“Shut up" he hissed under his breath.

Arthur flung the sheets and walked unsteadily to his balcony.

The night was calm and peaceful, a stark contrast to his rioting emotions. But the air cooled his heated skin, allowing him a sane second of peace.

Why couldn't he connect the dots? Why? Why couldn't he fking remember?

“I'm mad" he said slowly, retreating back to his room.

He was mad. Now he knew it. Because his brain was just forming illusions to appease his desire.

And he needed to clear his head before he did something he would regret.

The corridors were silent and lit by the moon's glow, dark shadows moving on the walls.

They didn't bother him. She did.

He was so lost in thoughts of her that he didn't see another person coming his way.

He hit a slender, small form. Instinctively, his hands shot and curled around the waist.

Momentarily distracted from his musings, he glanced down.

Gold clashed with blue.