Chapter 34 Chapter 34

Chapter 34 Chapter 34


" I..I killed the queen....It..was..me..."

Alpha Artemis gasped out those words, breaking off the visions without getting deeper any longer. The sight of the queen broke his heart especially when she was referring to the baby in her stomach. Alpha Artemis had always been a loyal man, full of virtues but he never thought he had committed such a big crime unconsciously.

The fact that he couldn't remember everything clearly from the night was because of his wolf. He let his wolf take control of everything, letting him drive wild like a beast. For these reasons, many parts of his memory were scattered which he sometimes regarded. But the truth was that it was all his memory during the time when his wolf was in full control.

He stumbled on his step, going backwards, and fell down on the chair with a plop. His beta was astounded as well. Everyone knew that their Alpha was a man of virtues who never sought violence.

How the hell did he kill the former queen?

Lady Adah let out a heavy sigh. Even though Artemis didn't say everything in words, she understood what he did and left quietly. Her job was done already and it was his responsibility to pay for his mistake.

Edween approached his Alpha, tension flipping through his face too. He asked in a worried voice, " Alpha.. what.. what did you see?"

Alpha Artemis squeezed his eyes shut, tears falling from his closed eyes. The guilt had stabbed his heart too deeply. He owed everyone including his own daughter. His mate died while giving birth to Edwina. Instead of giving time to his daughter, all of his life was spent on the well-being of his pack. Practically, Edwina grew up without the love of her parents but she never blamed her father for that. Because she knew the responsibilities and duties of an Alpha. It was the reason that Alpha Artemis didn't think twice to pass his position to Edwina after him.

Artemis kept groaning in pain and self-anger, " I..I destroyed my daughter's life..She should have been happy with her mate..I was responsible for everything..I should have hung dead. But because of me... Edwina is suffering.. Edween, I have to turn myself in front of the king. It was I who killed his queen. I..I have to go now and save my daughter.."

Edween went on his knees, blocking the path of Alpha Artemis before telling anxiously, " Alpha.. Calm down..You can't do that..How can you be so sure that the king would spare Alpha Edwina's life after you confess? Moreover, her training is incomplete, her mate is on a different land. How will she lead the pack once she returns? You can't do this, Alpha. You have done it by mistake. We..we have to find a way to save both of you. Please think about the members of the Moon Eyed Pack."

Alpha Artemis sobered up a little after Beta's words which made sense. The king was full of vengeance. What if he decided to demolish the entire pack to fulfill his vengeance? But as a father, how could he get his daughter back from that hell?

\---

" What.. what happened to me?", King Hades asked with a groan, his senses were all coming back. Since the time in the market, his wolf was in charge, blocking his humanity, and acted all on its own. So, he couldn't remember the events during that period.

Cohen helped the king get on his feet. Each time his wolf showed dominance, he faced some sort of weakness through his veins. Today was no different and Hades felt lost to discover himself, back to the Red Darkling.

Cohen replied, putting on a pale face, " My king! Your wolf...he..he showed up to protect Mistress Edwina.. from the torture..You were gone for a while."

Edwina held one side of his head, his brows tightening together. Upon recalling the beginning moments in the market, he asked with a growl, " What did Angelina say? Is the Moon Eyed pack held responsible for the attack?"

Cohen was hesitant to say the truth. In reality, he wanted to dig deep into this matter but Angelina made it difficult. She exposed the information even before he could review the truth. Honestly, he didn't want Edwina to go through any torture. It was because he really admired the female Alpha who dared to show his true colors in front of his king, not trying to flatter like other women.

Cohen let out a helpless sigh, mumbling his response weakly, " Ye..Yes..but...."

" I KNEW IT!", Hades snapped out of rage, snarling after jerking away from Cohen. He began to think that it was his fault that he was being kind-hearted to his enemies, giving them opportunities every now and then.

He continued roaring furiously, " I shouldn't have let this happen. They think that I am too kind to let them live peacefully so far. Bring everyone to me whoever is behind the attack. Also, pass my order to them. From today onwards, they aren't allowed to hunt in my entire kingdom. I don't care whether they live or die."

Edwina, who was entering the room, stopped in her tracks after overbearing the order. If her pack were prohibited from hunting in this kingdom, they would be starved to death. Hunting in distant lands would give them physical and emotional damage. The entire process would be stressful for the pack members. In fact, she didn't believe that her father would plot against the king.

Edwina dashed into his room without thinking twice. She fell on his knees straight, crying for their mercy, " Your Highness! Please don't be so cruel to them. I don't believe that my father would try to kill you. He is less powerful than you but he is never a coward. Please don't do this to my pack. I beg you, King Hades."

At that moment, Hades wasn't the king who showed his kindness to her. Surrounded by his mate's memory, blinded by rage and hatred, he heeded no attention to her plea. His hands guided down to grip her hair, forcing a cry out of her mouth. His voice sounded hoarse as he told her word by word, burning in anger, " Mercy??? Did your father show mercy when he killed my mate??? Who do you think you are to me? You are just bait to me. You should be grateful that I saved you in the market. Instead, you are begging me for your pack? Ungrateful!! You are the same as your father!"

He released her hair, his growl resonating in the whole chamber again,

" COHEN!!! Pass my order!!! I won't show any mercy to these people again, nor will I get affected by someone's fake cry."

Edwina stayed on the ground, lost and clueless. All the feelings, complicated emotions that she felt for the king were shattered. She thought of accepting the reality. The only person who genuinely cared for her was her mate. Hades's emotions, care all were just show-offs or another fake act to possess her body probably.

Cohen went on following the king's order. As soon as he crossed the door, Edwina raised her cold voice in front of the king, " In that case, I would.. like you to ask something too..."

Hades turned his head back, narrowing his gaze at her face, so cold and emotionless. His silence meant approval as she continued, swallowing hard the pain, " I want to be treated the same as my pack members too. Lock me up and strip me down from the Mistress position. I don't want any good food when my members will fight for food."

Hades was silent for a while, shock seeping in his cold eyes. With one stride, he was in front of her again, snarling as he gripped her chin up, " You think, I can't do this to you? You want to blackmail me with your actions?"

Edwina merely smiled with her teary eyes, muttered looking deep into his eyes, " I know..you can.. That's why I am asking..do it..Lock me up in your dungeon or anywhere else..Treat me like a prisoner or..slave.. like your favourite woman did."

Hades pushed her chin aside, whirling around angrily. He still didn't forget the matter what Angelina did. It was high time that he needed to show Angelina her position in this castle. However, his anger was still on fire.

Hissing in anger, he shouted his words out loud to be heard by the guards outside,

" Take this woman out. From now on, she will be living in our ground mansion, not allowed to leave the room or see the sunlight. Since she wants to be a prisoner, let her be."

Edwina said nothing to retaliate. She bowed her head longingly and left in staggering footsteps. Her tears didn't stop all the way outside. She couldn't understand whether it was her pa
in for the pack or something unknown that she was trying to hide.