Chapter 99 alive

Chapter 99 alive
Chapter 99: Asher

Scarlett's words sliced through me like an arrow that didn't kill, but left just enough damage.

My eyes moved to the knife in her hands, but rather than see the blade, I saw the way her fingers trembled with pain.

I saw the tremors of hurt that shook through her like violent waves...

I saw the love even in her anger... And this was more painful than the death I had wished for myself.

Seconds ago, when I heard her voice, I thought my mind was screaming down another memory.

Even when I opened the door for her, I thought my hallucination had brought the worst out of it. I didn't want to believe that she was real...

That the ritual Fiona had done could wear off...

But when she slapped me, I realized this wasn't a dream or a hallucination. It was real.

She was real. And the ritual had truly worn off.

And right now, as she stood before me with the silver blade trembling in her palms, asking me to take my life again, I felt stupid.

I felt weak and I felt broken over and over again.

It felt like my heart was clawed out of my chest yet glued back in somehow. It felt heavy.

I collapsed before her and did what no Lycan King before me had ever done, I cried.

I cried louder than a child. I cried like a woman who had lost her only child...

"I am so sorry, Scarlett... I am so stupid... I am so sorry..." I cried, my throat hoarse like I had swallowed broken bottles.

Every part of my chest hurt and it wasn't even from the small cut on top of my heart... It was my inner turmoil.

I clutched her feet and cried even harder.

"I am sorry that I hurt you so many times, Scarlett... And more than anything, I am sorry that I took your aunt away from you..."

My shoulders trembled violently as my pain, guilt and remorse crashed heavily over me.

I didn't know how long it took, but I cried buckets of painful tears. Before I felt her warm hands around me as she joined me on the floor.

I could hear her silent sniffles as she slowly dropped that cursed blade and lifted my face, so I could see into her wet eyes.

"I wish that..." She whimpered in a small voice. "I wish that I could say that I hate you. I wish that my heart could close up forever and I— and that I refuse to forgive you..."

Tears filled her eyes and she slowly shook her head to continue. "But I can't... I can't hate you, Asher... Despite everything, I still choose you..."

My patched heart hammered to a sudden pause as I stared at her wide eyes. I searched her face, hoping to see a twitch that this was a lie... But it wasn't.

"I know that Willow had manipulated your blind quest for revenge... I know now, that you truly didn't help her to kidnap my brother... I know that you truly changed... And I know that you love me..."

My own tears returned and she held me even tighter as she sniffled hers.

"But— what we have," She continued, holding my face with her trembling palms. "This bond we share... You will need to earn it again. You will need to prove to me that the era of you being an absent king and mate is over..."

"Because trouble will keep coming... For all we know, even Willow might come back someday—" she said with a small shaky smile. "So that's why you need to work on yourself, Asher... And when you are ready, I will be here..."

She hugged me, placing trembling kisses over my forehead. Then she pulled herself to her feet and walked away.

I stayed there, glued to the ground feeling like the weight of the world had been lifted from my life.

At first, more tears still fell. But then, I smiled— A small tear streaked smile.

Maybe my story wasn't over yet. Maybe the goddess still had a purpose for me... Because this was my second chance.

Though Scarlett wasn't staying, she had made a promise to wait for me. She was giving us a chance...

She was giving me a new reason to live.

And in that moment, I made up my mind to live for it. Every day, every second, like my life depended on it.

Because truly, it did.

If my mate wanted a present King and mate, then that was exactly what she was going to get.

So slowly, I stood up. I wiped my tears and headed to my study room.

Piles of reports that Albert had diligently brought in despite my absence were there. So I started with them.

I made sure to go through every record, every update... And I stumbled upon the orphanage situation.

The state of the building was terrible. And those innocent pups and humans would definitely need a better place to stay.

So I noted it down along with others as the first things I needed to get done by myself.

And days after the Black family returned to the capital. I began the projects.

"Albert, we need to get these kids sorted as soon as possible. But if there is anything else that you think I may have missed, please let me know," I said as I looked over the renovation works.

Albert smiled, certainly happy to see me back on my feet again.

"Actually yes, I was thinking of looking into the harem houses... Children shouldn't be allowed to participate in their—"

The words were barely done leaving his mouth when I raised my hand in shock.

"You think they use children for prostitution in there?" I cut in, utterly shocked.

"Yes they do. The young prince Blade is a product of these places," he replied and my eyes narrowed.

"Then we need to stop this madness immediately!" I growled, burning with anger.

I rushed out of the office and went straight into my car, with Albert following close behind.

The ride through the city blurred past me until we reached the edge of the district I had long ignored. The Harem Quarters.

The moment we arrived, I smelled it. 

The perfume was too sweet, and underneath it, I could tell it was used to mask the stench of sweat, fear, and desperation from those innocent children.

For the first time in weeks, my wolf stirred weakly in me but even he bristled with rage.

This was madness I had allowed and now it was going to stop!

“Surround the block. No one leaves until the king decrees it!” Albert suddenly yelled— and that was when I noticed the trail of soldiers behind us.

A woman with such heavy makeup I could barely tell her true skin hurried forward, smiling too wide.

“My dear King, such an unexpected honor to have you—”

“Spare me the nonsense!” I snarled, shoving past her.

I kicked the doors open myself and the scene inside, twisted my gut.

Young girls barely of age, painted with red lipsticks and dressed in scraps of fabric, pressed themselves into a corner. And that was not all.

Opposite them were a group of young boys. They stared with hollowed eyes confused and too scared to even hide. 

None could have been older than six.

Dear goddess!

A part of me broke in even more guilt as I realized how much I had failed these innocent children.

I was supposed to protect them. But all these years I had been too busy fighting about the wrong war.

But not anymore.

My insides boiled with anger as I turned blazing eyes at the woman who still scurried near-by 

"Albert!" I roared, yet my eyes were fixed on her. "Shut down this hell hole. Get this woman arrested and anyone who benefited from this should be in silver chains!"

A gasp shot through her mouth and she dropped to her knees in tears. "My King! Please... It is not what you think... Some of their parents sold them to me— I didn't—"

"Investigate this madness, Albert!" I growled, stopping her irritating words. "And anyone who is found selling their children will answer in court!"

The woman lost her fake composure and shut back to her feet like a feral, screaming;

“You can’t— this place has existed for centuries. It is tradition! A service to your—”

Blinded by rage, I didn't even realize how fast my feet moved till I had her by the throat.

"My d— my king..." She squeaked, struggling pathetically to breath as her feet dangled above the ground.

I pulled her disgusting face even closer as I hissed; “Tradition is no excuse for evil. And if any man in this kingdom believes otherwise, let him come to me and argue about it with my sword!”

With that I dropped her, and she collapsed coughing as she tried to regain her breath.

Like that was a cue the onlookers were waiting for, the whole place exploded in applause and cheers.

And the guards quickly swept in, picking up the children. They wrapped them in cloaks and took them into the vehicles to be transported to safe shelters where they would be taken care of.

The applause increased as the people now looked at me with hope sparkling in their eyes.

"Long live the king! Long live the king!" They chanted, increasing the sense of fulfillment I was starting to feel inside.

And from that day on, I swore to inspect every establishment myself. 

When we returned home that night, I met Fiona in my office with a large hug of water and a tray filled with food.

With narrowed eyes I slowly circled the table. "What's the celebration, Fiona? Besides, I thought you were at the capital with Scarlett..."

She smiled, that ever knowing smile of hers as she slowly pulled a seat.

“You should eat and drink a lot of water, Asher,” she muttered. “Scarlett will want to see a king, not a corpse when she returns.”

The words lit up a flame inside me and I could barely control the excitement within me.

"I am guessing that she is fine?" I whispered as my stomach knotted in anticipation.

But rather than use her words, she pulled out something from her bag and handed it to me.

"What's this?" I asked, turning the envelope over.

"It's an official invitation to the capital," she added with a grin.

My breath caught as I quickly broke the seal.

And then Fiona added: "The princess wants to meet with you at her brother's coronation..."

My heart skipped twice as though it already knew what the words inside would mean…

For us....