Chapter 21 The king, my mate
KING DARIUS
He was hunched over, his hands bound to silver chains on the walls and his feet encased to a large bolder that didn't look like it was going to move anytime soon. His head hung low as my expensive shoes hitting the ground echoed throughout the space.
He knew I was here, I could smell the fear tickling his spine. Something dark in me had unraveled making me smile wickedly at the lash marks that were evident on his skin. He had been stripped like every other prisoner that was held in the Royal dungeon. I could have wasted him during the ball to show everyone never to mess with what was mine but I didn't want blood on my hands- never again.
His chilly pepper red hair covered half of his face as he stared at the ground trembling. The large chains didn't move an inch, their weight rendered him immobile.
"Now, you're going to tell me everything I need to know about your pack. And my mate, now" I commanded, my tone deep as both Phoenix and I spoke through my vocals. The rumbling of the walls were a testimony to the power that was radiating off me. "If you cooperate this would be over before you know it"
Phoenix had take over, coaxing me to the back of my mind where I sat watching. I could see everything he did and hear all he said but my mind was not my own at the moment.
I could feel the darkness coming, sipping through the cracks and bleeding through. Phoenix was going under, the blood moon would be the worst anyone had ever seen. The council would be more than concerned.
~ AUDREY ~
I watched Faye intently as she chopped the vegetables into little pieces and added them to the pan that sat on fire. I never took an interest in learning how to cook when I was younger, mother always tried to engage me in kitchen chores but I hated them. She would always ask me, "One day when you get married to your mate and he's hungry what would you cook for him if you don't learn how to cook!?"
I was too young to read any meaning into it, my response was always "If he's hungry he'll make something for himself. He wouldn't need to, I would be more than enough for him mama". Immediately after I said that mother would get so annoyed she would chase me around the kitchen with the spatula in her hand. Giggles spilled from my lips as I diverted, running straight into my father's outsretched arms.
He would pick me up, spin me around and throw me over his shoulder just to hear my giggles once again. He settled me on his hip, flicking my nose making me snort as I pushed his hand away.
"You're troubling your mother again aren't you princess"
I giggle again, stealing a glance at my mother's approaching form. "She's going to hit me papa" I squealed, trying my best to wiggle out of his grip but he held me firm.
"Audrey!" Mom called out, stumping towards us.
Dad and I exchanged frightened looks as we waited for mom to come forward.
"Can you imagine your daughter!?" Mother asked father, glaring down at me once he put me down
"Yes she's very pretty and the best charades player ever" he cheered, high-fiving me.
"You spoil her so much" mother sighed, shaking her head at the both of us.
"If I don't who else will" he smiled, pulling mother in to place a lingering kiss to her neck, making me scream and run off covering my eyes.
Ever since I became an Omega it wasn't a question asked that I had the liberty to say yes or no to. If I wanted to survive I had to, it was always to survive, all of it. Mother always dreamed of me meeting my mate, she would tell me the feelings to expect, what to look out for and how wonderful it would be when we acknowledged it to each other and the mate bond would start taking effect.
It was almost comical how my situation turned out so bad. Neither of us saw this coming, everything was just wrong, nothing like mother dreamed it to be.
I couldn't help the lone tear that slid down my cheek. It should have been different, I should be in the kitchen right now watching mother cook and not here, in the King's palace, my mate's palace.
The realisation that Darius was my mate still didn't sit right with me. I am an omega and he the king of werewolf kind, it's impossible that we were fated to be. I was nowhere near queen material, I couldn't even do basic things properly.
Mom would be so disappointed in me if she were to see me like this. I felt horrible, guilty that I had attempted to let myself die back there. I knew what was happening to me, the wolfsbane was acting up.
Nobody knew apart from the Alpha that all Omegas were fed little bits of wolfsbane in their food every single time they ate. We knew, all of us knew but nothing could be done. The Alpha did it so when we were punished we couldn't heal fast or our wolves wouldn't have enough energy to run away. I didn't need to bother about it seeing as I wasn't a wolf myself but it was still toxic.
It was still one big mystery why I wasn't a wolf. Both my parents were wolves, mother was of Alpha blood so it made no sense why I didn't shift once I turned 17. Two years later and I had given up hope. I ruled it out to be that my grandparents may have been half breeds or something. Even still I was given wolfsbane like every other Omega, unlike them as a human the effects were way worse. I didn't intend to feel this way but leaving here would mean I would be free for Hunter to take and I never wanted to go back there- never.
If I was going to have any chance to leave for the Crescent Springs pack then I had to speak with Darius. I hadn't seen him in what felt like forever. If I could somehow convince him that I wasn't a good match then he may let me go. I wouldn't have a reason to lie, I was never raised to be a queen much less the queen of the werewolf kind.
"What are you busy thinking about?" Faye asks, bringing me out of my thoughts.
I plastered a thin smile on my face as I looked up at her, "Nothing, just wondering why I haven't seen Darius"
I could see the surprise clear as day on Faye's face but she quickly hid it under a moderate smile, "He's been very busy my lady. But don't worry you'll see him tomorrow night at the ball". Almost immediately her wide eyes met mine and regret washed over her face.