Chapter Forty-Two

F L O R E N C E

My heart crawls right inside my throat as I back against the wall and stare at Alpha Isaac. He slowly approaches me, his steps careful and deliberate, like he’s enjoying the whole short journey toward me. That, or he’s enjoying the look on my face.

“It’s good to see you,” he says in a tone that tells me he’s mocking me. “It’s good to see that you finally found your way out.”

I don’t say anything. I just keep my ears alert to hear if there are any sounds indicating that Niccolo is coming or if he’s in trouble. But all throughout, I keep myself aware of every single move that Alpha Isaac is making.

He just gives me a lopsided smile. “I know what you’re trying to do. I know that you’re planning to escape with your mate. I’m not here to stop that.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Because I didn’t get to tell you why I wanted to talk to you during your first night here.” Alpha Isaac looks at me calmly. “I haven’t had the chance to talk to you about the pack you’ve been trapped in and the people who were there with you.”

When I just stare at him, he takes a deep breath and says, “I’m not trying to antagonize Alpha Niccolo. In fact, I’m here to help him. Because I know that you haven’t been completely honest with me when I asked you to tell me everything you know about him and his pack. And he hasn’t been honest to you either.”

A part of me thinks that he’s lying, and that this is just a ploy to get me to stay here and waste time, but another part of me is piqued.

I had this feeling that Niccolo wasn’t being fully transparent with me, but the reason why I never pressed him is because I trusted his judgment. I wanted him to take his own time. I do have to admit that I’ve always wanted to know, though.

Still, I would rather hear it from Niccolo than this old lunatic.

“I don’t care and I don’t wish to speak to you, that’s why you haven’t been able to tell me shit,” I spit out at him. “Have a nice night.”

With that, I turn around and try to leave, aiming to find Niccolo so we can leave—no matter what the consequences are.

But as I turn, Alpha Isaac says, “Your mate is the sole heir of a known killer.”

I freeze in my spot. I tell myself to keep moving, to ignore everything he says, but I’m stuck.

“He thought he was born to a commoner couple,” he continues, the conviction in his voice strong. “Ordinary citizens, like he thought. They were murdered in their own house one night, and you may well know, and Alpha Niccolo was the witness to that. But that young boy fought back. He killed the old Alpha Magnus.”

“I have never heard of him,” I declare. “Stop making up stories.”

“You’ve never heard of him because history tried to bury his name.” Alpha Isaac lets out a soft laugh. “Alpha Magnus was the biggest leader that this state has ever known. He tried to spread the success and prosperity that his pack was experiencing, and he conquered a lot of lands. In fact, the Sacred Grounds used to be small packs. He conquered them and made them the protection of his own home. And he did that by stealing the power of the Moon Goddess.”

I whip around to face him. “All of this has nothing to do with Niccolo.”

He just smiles. “It has everything to do with him, my dear Florence, I assure you. He used the power of the Moon Goddess to conquer, but it was not enough. He wanted more. He needed a vessel for that, and so he sired an heir, Niccolo. But the night Alpha Magnus tried to take back his heir was also the night of his death. Niccolo killed his own father, and that is one reason why his pack was cursed. Why he was cursed.”

“No.” I shake my head, tears running down my cheeks. “He is not cursed. He is trying to save his pack and I am their savior!”

“Have you ever seen his wolf form?” When I stay quiet, his smile gets wider. “That’s right. He carries the stolen power of the Moon Goddess. Do you know why his pack members are plagued with nightmares every time the light gives way to the dark? Because his power, his very being, feeds on them.”

“That’s not his fault,” I hiss at him. “Niccolo’s father is the evil one and he is as much of a victim as his pack members. You don’t know what he does for them, how much he’s willing to take for them—”

“Oh, he did everything, alright.” Alpha Isaac laughs. “He knew that his mate would be the only thing that would save him and his people from this lifelong punishment. He knew that you were his mate the moment he saw you, and that’s why he kept you captive.”

I step forward. “I chose to stay. For him, and for his people.”

Alpha Isaac shakes his head. “You still don’t understand. You weren’t a mere helper in this situation. You were their savior, and he knew that from the start. And you know why you’re the savior? Because the hunger for his power will feed on you. And you... you will die very soon. He used you.”

Every single word hits me hard like continuous punches. I want to deflect them all, but all the pieces are coming together and forming the clearest picture.

Me seeing visions. Me having an access to his memories, the only one who can wake everyone up from their nightmares. Me being the only one who can stand to be close to him at night and not sink into the darkest depths of my mind.

The poison.

No one poisoned me. It’s Niccolo’s curse feeding on me.

My knees feel weak. My chest is hard, and it’s getting harder and harder to breathe. I clench my fists, letting all the emotions settle like silt in moving water, letting everything linger.

This is why he doesn’t want to tell me. This is what he’s been hiding. It’s horrible in the worst of ways, and I can see it for what it is.

Niccolo is a cursed child born from stolen power, and because of that power, he has a hunger for a certain type of energy to be sustained. An energy that only I can provide. But it comes with a price.

I know I should be angry. I know I should be turning on him right now and confronting him about everything he hid from me. But no.

The only feeling in my heart is love. Sympathy. I know there was no way he could have known all of this. I have seen his love for me, and I could never bring myself to doubt him.

Right now, all I want is to see Niccolo and look him in the eye as I tell him that everything will be okay, and that we will find a way to save him and his pack while staying together.

I face Alpha Isaac, wiping the tears from my face. “I don’t know what you want to achieve with that revelation, but I don’t have time for this idle chitchat. Now I need to find my mate and get the fuck out of this hell hole.”

Grinding my teeth, I turn back around to leave, but then I feel his hand on the back of my beck.

I wheel around to elbow him, but he’s too quick; he pins my arms behind my back and presses me face-first against the wall.

I open my mouth to scream, but then I feel the sharp edge of a blade against my neck.