Chapter 119 Chapter 118
Evelyn.
I groggily opened my eyes, the world around me a blurry haze. Staring dazedly for a while, I realized I was back into my little crib. Amaris sat beside me, her face etched with deep lines of worry, and she was sobbing uncontrollably. My head throbbed, and confusion clouded my thoughts. I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over me, forcing me back onto the bed. How did I get here?
"What... What happened?" I managed to croak out, my voice hoarse and weak.
Amaris looked up, her eyes widening in surprise. "You're awake!" she exclaimed, her tears still flowing. "I thought... I thought you were gone." She whispered as she moved closer to me, visible relief crossing her features.
Gone? The word echoed in my mind, and I frantically looked around, trying to piece together the fragments of my memories. The last thing I recalled was Kieran going rogue, transforming into his wolf form and wreaking havoc upon everything in his path. The chaos that ensued, the screams, and the blood... it all felt like a nightmare. A surreal one. I tried to sit up but the aches coursing through my body prevented that from happening.
"Do you remember anything?" Amaris asked, her voice filled with a mix of relief and sadness.
I furrowed my brow, attempting to sift through the foggy recollections. And then it hit me – the rejection, Kieran's transformation, the devastation that followed. The weight of it all crashed down on me, and I felt a lump form in my throat.
"Yeah," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I remember."
Amaris took a deep breath, composing herself before recounting the events that unfolded after my rejection. Callahan had initiated the 'purge,' unleashing chaos and death upon the kingdom. Duke Ethan was nowhere to be found, and countless lives were lost. The world they once knew had crumbled, and we were left grappling with the aftermath. Tears poured from her eyes as she spoke and it didn't take long for tears to fill mine as well, gently streaming down my cheeks.
"Why did you reject the Alpha King?" Amaris asked, her eyes searching mine for an explanation. "Why would you do such a thing?"
I hesitated for a moment, the weight of my decision settling heavily on my shoulders. "I had no choice," I replied, my voice tinged with resignation. "Callahan would have killed him either way. I couldn't let Kieran die because of me."
Amaris nodded, her expression reflecting a mixture of understanding and sorrow. The reality of our situation sank in – Kieran, the Alpha King, the one we looked to for strength and guidance, was lost to us. The once-mighty kingdom now lay in ruins, and the uncertainty of our future loomed like a dark storm on the horizon.
"Have we lost the Alpha King forever?" Amaris whispered, the question hanging heavy in the air.
I sighed, grappling with the harsh truth. "I don't know. But right now, the future looks bleak for us and the kingdom."
As I spoke those words, the weight of responsibility settled on my shoulders once more. The world outside was marred by chaos, and the road ahead seemed treacherous. Amaris resumed crying and I could only watch her, unable to do anything to help, my heart hurting and mind stressed.
Yet, in the midst of despair, a glimmer of determination sparked within me. The Alpha King wasn't dead yet, so there should be a way to salvage this. Everything would be alright.
.
.
.
In the days following Kieran's disappearance, everything turned into a nightmare under Callahan's rule. The palace, once proud and strong, became a mess. Callahan ruled with no mercy, causing a lot of unnecessary deaths. Fear hung in the air, making everyone terrified. The throne, once a symbol of authority and dignity, had been defiled, tarnished by the cruel strokes of its new occupant. Callahan's ruthless rule cast a shadow over the kingdom, staining its very core.
I witnessed the degradation of the once-proud palace, now a haunting reflection of Callahan's chaotic nature. He ruled with an iron fist, leaving behind a trail of indiscriminate death. The air reeked of fear, a palpable tension that clung to the walls like a ghostly presence. Callahan's banquets, extravagant in their excess, were grotesque displays of power. The council room, once a place of solemn discussion, had devolved into a den of debauchery and orgies, a sinister echo of the corruption that now gripped the kingdom.
Despite the atrocities unfolding around me, Callahan had not yet turned his attention fully to me. And that terrified me greatly.
I refused to join in the crazy parties and weird things happening in the palace. The thought of being part of all that made me sick and I hid away afraid to show my face. Amaris, loyal and concerned, prodded me to eat, emphasizing the need for strength in the face of the unknown. We awaited any glimmer of hope, a sign that Kieran might still be alive and fighting against the darkness that now held us captive. Despite how long we waited, nothing seemed to be forthcoming.
We heard nothing about Kieran, and Duke Ethan was still in hiding. I stared out of the windows, hoping to see something that would give us hope. The bond I shared with Kieran, which used to connect us, was silent. If he was still alive, the bond would tell me something, but it remained quiet.
Amaris tried to be practical, telling me to eat. She said we needed to be strong while waiting for news, any good news. But I couldn't find an appetite in all this craziness. "I can't eat in this madness," I admitted, speaking softly against the noise outside.
"What about the Alpha King?" Amaris whispered to me, a concerned look on her face as she stretched a bowl of soup towards me, prodding me to collect it. Letting out soft sigh, I accepted it from her as cradled it in my hands. "Do you think he's still alive?" She asked, her voice pensive.
"I honestly do not know." I admitted, staring at steam swirling above the bowl. "If he was still alive, I would feel it. The bond would tell me. But I don't think he's dead either, because the connection I have with him isn't yet lost."
"How would you know? Didn't you reject him?!" Amaris snapped suddenly and I glanced at her, surprised. She saw my look and quickly recoiled, her face growing somber. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lash at you that way. It's just... I'm just as worried as you are. I also haven't seen or heard from Duke Ethan and it is driving me crazy. Callahan is hell bent in turning all his subjects into his slaves. It makes me wonder why he even ascended the throne in the first place." Amaris muttered, displeasure filling her voice.