Chapter 67 67
Phoebe~~
I was done preparing a tomato sauce and boiled rice, so I was taking it to Knox in his room when I saw Vivien being laid in by Levi. I wanted to wait back until she left, but my wolf refused and insisted that we follow them to know what was going on, so I tiptoed behind them until they entered the room.
When Levi came out without her, he locked eyes with me, but said nothing and left, so I enabled my wolf hearing ability so I could hear even whispers from them. I knew damn well that Vivien and her father were up to no good, which was why they were thrown into the dungeon as Angeline had told me, but why she wanted to see Knox piqued my interest.
Minutes elapsed after their discussion, and I didn't realise the amount of tears that had gathered in my eyes until they spilled down my cheeks. How could Vivien say that to the man she wanted to draw his attention? Even if the curse truly made him impotent, should that be her business? She came all the way from the dungeon to tell him all that, just because he refused to crown her his luna.
I stood there, in the corridor, waiting for Vivienne to step out. And once she did, I didn't even stand for a second and reached out to the door.
“Witch!! That's what you are!!” She growled behind me, and I halted midstep. “Now that you've succeeded in claiming even his soul, how do you feel? Who cares if you're his mate? You're his rival and shouldn't be close to him. Yet here you are, parading yourself around all in the name of being his mate, and you think you will succeed?”
A lump rose to my throat, and I turned to her, my expression emotionless. “Vivien, if he's that important to you and your father, why didn't you two come in to help him when he was being attacked?”
“And how is the attack my business? Am I from this pack?”
“Then you shouldn't also be after being his luna, since his pack and welfare have nothing to do with you. You and your father, who aren't in the pack, should have been a backup, but I guess you both know about the attack and wanted it to happen, so spare him those gibberish words of being impotent because of some curse that neither you nor your father knows anything about.” I snapped at her and let out a loud hiss.
She bit her lower lip, her face drained of blood, while I simply made my way into the room.
Knox was standing and backing the door, his two palms in his pockets.
I served the tray of food on the centre table and reached towards him. I took his hand, causing him to turn around and face me, and all I could see were the tears that clouded his eyes, including the ones streaming down his face.
“When we were still dating, you hid your curse and impotency from me. Why did you do that? Did you hate me that much to pretend?” I asked him, but he said nothing other than biting his lips. “You know so well that shedding those tears doesn't suit you.”
He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into an embrace. I felt the hotness of his breath on my skin, and his alpha energy wasn't so active.
How far has the curse gone in him that he was fading away so much? His alpha aura wasn't so dominating and commanding like in the past. His breath was shallow, like he was just hanging on a single thread.
I hate him so much. I wanted him dead, but now, I do not feel that way. How would I stand before my deceased family if I didn't get rid of this emotion towards him? But if he died, my people and I would be roasted. Alpha Dean and beta Drogo will see to it that I regret not dying with my family; they will torture us all as though we were the cause of their problems.
Knox doesn't need to die when I haven't gotten my stand yet. He needs to wait until I can exact my revenge by myself and be able to save myself and everyone around when his enemies strike.
I had finally forgotten about the lycan princess and how she was, or was it the history that took me to the library? All I needed was for him to live for the next few years before I could stand on my own. Even with my alpha rank, I was still vulnerable before Alpha Dean and Beta Drogo.
“You have to eat first, so we can talk about how to save your life. I won't let you die, or I'll be devastated." I said to him, even as I recalled the promise I made to myself never to find the divine artifact that would raise his curse. I wanted this curse to bring an end to him, but not in this manner when I would be helpless too. All I planned was to gather a lot of money from his club, seduce him and make him crown me his luna before his death.
But with the look of things, he had such a short period to live, and being his luna wasn't a guarantee of my survival if he lived.
I helped him get seated, and then I insisted on feeding him. When he was done filling his belly, he dozed off while his head lay on my thighs.
Watching his face stirred the soft side of my wolf. The mate I had, who was like a blessing to me, was dying, the man whom I swore to make sure he faced what he caused my family was going slowly.
What about his sister? I thought it was for the good that they didn't meet when I thought he was really dead. But now, it would be so good if he met his sister. I have to build a strong stand around him before his demise, or there would be no difference between the deceased family if he passes on without me having a backbone.
Alpha Dean had taken back his people in exchange for letting Knox take me, but I doubted that he didn't have plans to destroy him and take me again.
If Knox dies and Beta Drogo and his daughter get away from the dungeon, I would surely pay the price for the sufferings they passed through there.
Soon, I slowly laid his head on the sofa pillow and covered him with a duvet, then took the tray of empty plates away from the room to the kitchen. I wasn't sure what to make for him that night, or maybe I was too weak and bothered to cook. So I went to meet with Angeline. I explained to her what was happening and how I was worried about our fate if Alpha Knox dies.
Her expression changed, and I saw the truth all over it—she doesn't wish him death, either.
“You have a valid point. Vivien and her father are up to no good, nor is Alpha Dean. But then, you wanted vengeance, so I didn't expect you not to side with those foes.”
I shook my head at her statement. “I truly wanted vengeance, but what would my life become if he passed on when I hadn't stood firm? It would have been better if he had truly died, and Alpha Dean hadn't come after me in the lycan clan. His survival is making it difficult for me to decide, because I have to think of the future too.”
“Yes, and your pack members are in your hands as well. So, what about you meet beta Levi and discuss with him if there's any remedy aside from getting the divine artifact? Like, one that could sustain his life for a few years to come while you get ready for his demise?” Angeline suggested, and I decided to go by it.
I met with Beta Levi and discussed it with him, but the response struck me like a blow to my chest.
“Getting the artifact is the only remedy, but that's not the problem. Alpha doesn't want you to do it, because you could lose your life in the line while bringing it.”