Chapter 25: Three Days

Alea's POV

My hands trembled as I pushed myself off the cold marble. Every breath I took burned, but I stood, legs unsteady, my head pounding like a war drum. I raised my eyes, my gaze falling on him.

Kairo.

His eyes… they weren’t his anymore.

They were hollow. Empty. Like a stranger had slipped inside and slammed the door shut behind them.

“Kairo…” My voice cracked.

He didn’t flinch. He stayed rooted to the floor and he stared at me like I was a foreigner. Someone he'd never met.

I stepped forward and touched his chin, my fingers shaking,

“Kairo. Look at me. Please.”

He just stared at me. As if I were nothing but a stranger who he was trying hard to understand.

“Kairo,” I said again. Louder this time. “Kairo. It’s me.”

He didn’t blink.

From the corner of my eye, I saw her. Alucard. She sat lazily on the throne like it was always meant for her, one leg crossed over the other, head tilted back as she yawned loudly.

“How exhausting this must be for you,” she said calmly. “Begging a man who doesn't even know you anymore.”

I ignored her.

I closed my eyes and whispered spells beneath my breath. Softly. Desperately. I hadn’t trained enough, I knew that. My magic flickered like a dying candle and faded before it could spark. My lips folded into a thin line, my face draining of all the colors.

“Kairo,” I whispered again. I touched his chest, right over his heart,

“You’re the greatest werewolf to walk the surface of this earth. You’re the Alpha. My Alpha. You don’t answer to her. You protect the pack, you protect me.”

After I dropped the speech, all that I got in response was silence. The type of silence that made me want to cry.

He looked at me like I was speaking another language.

Alucard stood, upright, her spine straightening as she slowly glided down the stairs.

“Poor, sweet thing,” she said. “Still clinging to delusion.”

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Kairo

. “Come now, my beast,” she purred. “Show her who you belong to.”

She smiled at me, a dark satisfactory smirk crossing her lips. I felt the urge to hit the smirk off her face, but I was weak. Too weak to do anything.

“Drag her to my throne.”

My mouth parted immediately,

“You wouldn’t do it, would you?” I whispered. I stepped back. “Kairo... I know you love me. I know you're still in there. We’re mated. You wouldn’t…”

I still Wondered if this was the man who promised me heaven and earth. Who promised to treat me like a goddess. He was different.

His hand shot out like a whip, wrapping around my throat.

My skin paled and I gasped for breath. Then, he slammed me down on the floor and I struggled…fought to free myself from his grip!

The floor cracked beneath me. My skull screamed. Pain burst across my body in waves. I barely managed a cry as he grabbed me by the arm and dragged me, stone scraping my back. I struggled to free myself but it was useless

“Stop…” I begged. My fingers clawed at his wrist, my legs hitting the floor,

“Kairo, please…”

He didn’t blink. He didn’t speak. He just dragged me like I was nothing….maybe I was. With the little power demonstrated by Alucard, I believe I was nothing. All these years, I'd fed myself with the thought that I was powerful, unstoppable, only to be humbled by her.

Alucard’s laughter echoed off the walls.

He dragged me across the room like a corpse, throwing me at her feet.

“Good boy,” she said,, patting his cheek. “Now, come.”

He obeyed.

She pulled out a flask which contained some purpled liquid and gave it to him.

“Force her to drink it.”

“No…” I groaned, trying to crawl, trying to breathe.

But he came for me. He yanked my hair up and lifted me like I weighed nothing.

His fingers pried open my jaw and tilted the vial. The liquid hit my tongue. It tasted bitter.

The taste lingered on my tongue as he emptied the liquid in my mouth, the liquid slowly moving down my throat. Memories I didn't know I had flickered in my mind. I saw my lives in different timelines playing in my mind. I felt like my head was being ripped apart.

I screamed until no sound could escape my throat.

Alucard’s voice echoed above the chaos.

“Behold, the Phantom Queen!”

Then, everything turned to pitch black.

My eyes fluttered open. The putrid scent of something metallic wafter through the air, assaulting my nostrils.

I blinked slowly, trying to sit up, but pain ripped through my bones. My arms gave out. I hit the ground again, groaning.

The floor was damp beneath me. The silence pressed against my ears, broken only by a faint dripping sound.

Where the fuck was I?

I rubbed my temples.

I turned my head and whispered,

“Where am I?”

The clink of chains answered. I stood up and tried to move, but the chains dragged me back. I felt the cold metal on my wrist.

My throat tightened, and I felt a sharp sting in my eyes. Tears.

I had failed.

I failed Kairo. Failed the pack. Failed everyone who ever believed in me.

My body trembled with sob, my knees buckling beneath me. I fell on the floor, allowing the tears to roll down my eyes.

Suddenly, a voice spoke,

“Well, well… didn’t expect the queen herself.”

My breathing hitched and I raised my face whirling around in the direction of the voice. The room was dark, barely illuminated by the dim rays of moon which streamed down through the curtains.

“Who’s there?” My voice was hoarse, barely there.

“Relax,” he replied casually, “Nobody important. Just someone who didn’t kiss the new queen’s boots fast enough.”

I froze. My back pressed against the wall.

Another prisoner.

“How long…” I asked, my voice raspy. “How long have I been out?”

There was a pause.

“Three days.”

I swallowed hard. The taste of the potion still burned in my throat.

My stomach twisted and growled.

He stepped into the dim light, he had shackles on his wrist too.

“Sage,” he said casually. “Name’s Sage. I saved you a slice of prison luxury.”

He held out a piece of stale bread,