Chapter 6 Chapter 5
Alpha King Kieran
As the moon ascended the night sky, casting an ethereal glow upon the kingdom, I found myself alone in the darkness of my chambers. The silence was deafening, amplifying the haunting whispers of my conscience. My chest tightened, actions pressed upon me, suffocating any semblance of peace.
My mind wandered back to Evelyn and a frown crossed my face, my brows scrunched together. The woman who had dared to challenge my dominance. She possessed a fire within her, a resilience that both infuriated and intrigued me. The thought of her defiance stirred something deep within my being, an inexplicable longing that I refused to acknowledge.
The truth was, I longed for a connection, a bit of comfort in the darkness surrounding me. But the guilt, like poison in my veins, reminded me of the lives I destroyed, including my beloved mate's. I couldn't let myself find solace when the blood on my hands was still fresh.
Standing by the grand window of my chamber, I looked out at the moonlit kingdom. The night whispers echoed my deepest fears and regrets. I was a ruthless ruler, driven by power and vengeance, and Evelyn reminded me of how far I'd fallen.
In the solitude of my sanctuary, my defenses crumbled. The weight of grief bore down on me, threatening to break me. I sank to my knees, letting out a primal roar that echoed through the chamber, expressing my torment.
"I loved you, my mate," I whispered into the night, my voice heavy with sorrow. "I failed you, and now I'm burdened with my sins."
Memories of our time together flooded my mind, tender moments mixed with the haunting image of her lifeless body. I had taken her life, extinguishing the light that once brightened my darkness. Regret consumed me, leaving no room for peace or redemption.
Amidst my anguish, Evelyn's face appeared before me. Her defiant eyes, filled with fire, seemed to pierce through my darkness, defying my attempts to forget her. I realized my actions hadn't crushed her spirit; instead, they ignited a flame that threatened to consume us both.
I reached out to touch the cold glass of the windowpane, seeking solace in its unyielding surface. Her voice echoed in my mind, her defiance and resilience piercing through my hardened heart. It was a reminder that even in darkness, a glimmer of light could emerge.
I didn't know what the future held, if our paths would cross again or lead to more destruction. But for now, I would carry the weight of my regrets and search for redemption in the darkest corners of my soul.
Evelyn.
After the unsettling night with the Alpha King, I returned to my small chamber in the castle. The room, dimly lit by flickering candles, felt both comforting and suffocating. I couldn't help but cry quietly, trying to wash away the feeling of violation that clung to me.
Once I managed to clean myself up, I settled into my meager bed, its cold and hard surface a stark reminder of my place in the werewolf hierarchy. Wrapping a thin, worn-out blanket around my bruised body, I couldn't shake off the disturbing thoughts of revenge, but I knew better than to act on them – danger loomed if I did.
After tossing and turning all night, I finally fell asleep during the wee hours of the morning only to be woken moments later by the same maid who came to see me the day before. My entire body aching from the previous days' event, I stood to my feet, getting dressed. I trudged to the maids' quarters, where a huge pile of clothes was already waiting for me. Without any word, I immediately got to work, fetching water from the well and started washing. As usual, people gossiped around me, but I paid them no mind, beads of sweat coating my forehead as I continued to wash.
Once I was done washing the clothes, I went back to the well to fetch water that I'll use to rinse the clothes. On my way there, passersby would jeer at me, insulting me.
"Murderer! The queen killer!" They called me, their voices filled with laughter. Their words hurt, and tears stung my eyes, but I refused to cry. I would never give them the pleasure of seeing me weak. On my way back from the well with a bowl of water balanced on my head, my steps regal and measured like the royalty I was trained to be, one of the jealous maids placed their feet before me, causing me to stumble and fall, the bowl shattering to pieces, and water spilling everywhere. Laughter broke out as I bit back a groan, my entire body hurting.
"What in the name of the moon goddess are you all doing?! Hurting a Royalty! You know she can have you all killed!" Someone screams, rushing towards me, helping me up to my feet. She turned back to the crowd that had gathered, narrowing her eyes at them. "Even if she isn't a princess anymore, she's still the king's slave! Has he given you the right to touch her!?" She questioned them, her voice loud.
No one answered her, confirming her words. Without another word, they quietly leave the place, some of them still murmuring at the intruder. It's obvious they wanted to have more fun with me. I cleaned off the dirt on my clothes, ready to thank her but she bit me to it.
"Are you okay?" She asked gently, holding my hands tenderly. I nodded and tried to move but discovered that I had twisted my ankle, and it hurt immensely. She noticed as well and came to stand by my side so I could lean on her. "Come, let's get it treated," she told me. I followed her to a shaded spot in the maids' quarters, and she immediately left to bring some ointment that she rubbed on the injured area. I winced at the pain but knew it was only a matter of time before I would heal from it. Werewolves healed quickly.
"Thank you so much for this," I told her once she was done applying the ointment to my ankle.
"It's no trouble, my princess. I'm glad to help," she said, smiling brightly at me.
"What is your name?" I asked when I noted that she didn't seem familiar at all.
"Amaris. Amaris Silvermoon," she told me.