Chapter 71 71
Phoebe~~
“But you should have explained this to me. Maybe if you had, I would have a change of mind." I said to Princess Avire after she was done narrating to me about her divine abilities. I was a silver wolf when I shifted, but neither my parents nor I saw it as anything different.
She stood up from the seat I had offered her, and a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “I didn't want to say it out when I wasn't very sure, because I didn't expect to meet you, nor was I still interested in finding you. Since my colleague was a werewolf, I didn't bother searching for her until you showed up…which was why I wanted us to be close so I could confirm,” she stated and licked her lips.
“Then how sure are you? A silver wolf is nothing to us…”
“At the library, I found out I was seeing the truth,” she chuckled and closed the distance between us. “Now that you know, are you going to refuse being close to me any longer?”
I took a deep swallow and slowly looked away from her. Of what use were those abilities when they wouldn't save me in my current predicament?
“Actually, I'll only agree to use it if it will save Alpha Knox.” I managed to say and spared her a glance. “But, I doubt you would keep staying with me when you find out who exactly I am…”
“What do you mean?” she asked, brows knitted. “Is there anyone who doesn't know that you're the alpha princess of the Ice Guardians Pack?”
My eyes grew large. How did she get to know? She looked into my background without my consent. That's so unbelievable of her.
“If you're supposed to be dead, Alpha Knox won't let you live. So I guess there's a reason he let you live.” She came again, her expression turning colder. “Not like I love your family, but it's okay that I came to know why you are so desperate to find out his background.”
I bit my lower lip, unsure whether I was getting pissed off or not.
“Alpha Knox is my mate, and you think it's funny watching him do that to my family? He probably let me live because of the matebond." I retorted, and she continued shaking her head. Maybe I shouldn't go ahead with whatever gift she was talking about.
She brushed shoulders past me and started, “The matebond isn't the reason, dear. He probably let you live because you had not even been conceived when your father specifically set his household on fire. He lost his parents and so many servants in that fire, his sister, whom no one is sure if she survived or not, was in there at that time, and Alpha Knox only survived because he had gone to train with his now beta, Levi.”
My body suddenly went stiff. I couldn't feel my blood rushing through my system any longer.
Was I dreaming or hearing things? No way all those she just said were true.
“No one knows why your father took such a step until he took over the deceased rule. So, in conclusion, your father killed Knox’s family, just so he would be the alpha king of the Ice Guardians pack. Now, Alpha Knox created the Fearless Keepers pack, and had avenged his family's death…and the other alphas who supported your father are all after his life, even though they knew the reason for his attack.”
I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat. How on earth was I supposed to believe that my father did that?
No way! My father was so upright, and the other alphas admired and respected him. He couldn't do that to a whole family just so he would take over their rule.
Tears blurred my vision while I was still pondering over her statements. There was no way I was a captive to a man my father made a devil; it would be better if it were not true.
“So you can finally see why you are supposed to risk your life getting that artifact? You're not supposed to be breathing, but he let you…because he thought you were so innocent and shouldn't pay for the crimes of your family.” She started coming closer to me again, this time her gaze pinned on mine. “But he doesn't even want you dead, because he loves you so much. Do you even love him?”
I burst into tears, which I was unable to hold back, my palms covering my face. What kinda question was that? Although I claimed to hate him for what he did to my family, I still found myself drawn to him.
I loved him. I loved him.
So many times, I tried to despise him so much, but couldn't. Now that he was dying and I found out the truth, how would I live with that guilt? He knew he would die someday, and knew I would hate myself if I found out about this, so he hid it from me.
Why? Why must I be the one in this predicament?
I could swear that my father died an innocent man. Who could believe he did such a thing?
Princess Avire slowly took my palms away from my face. Her smiles were so annoying, given how guilty I felt. “You're going to get the artifact, because that's your way to repay him for his kindness. If you set out now, you should have it before the full moon dies.”
I took a hard gulp, not thinking straight, and all I wished was for Knox’s revival.
Now I could tell why his councils didn't want to set eyes on me and always mentioned that I wasn't supposed to live. Of course, I wasn't supposed to breathe the same air as him. And now he was dying all because of me, because if he hadn't awakened the black magic in him, the curse wouldn't have spread so fast.
I didn't mind dying, provided I would get the artifact for him to live. I wanted him to live, and I hoped he wouldn't blame himself for my death when he awakened and didn't find me breathing anymore.
My father caused everything, and since I was his seed, I should get a share of the punishment.
Princess Avire took my hand, and we began leaving my room. As we stepped out of the room, she froze, her expression scowling. She quickly let go of me, her eyes landed on Knox’s doorpost, and she dashed closer.
My heart skipped, because one thing struck me hard—he shouldn't be dead.
Seeing that the princess was about to kick the door, I rushed closer and unlocked it, and she twitched in.
My face drained of blood when I saw Knox lying lifeless on his bed, straightened, and his beta kneeling beside his bed. He had turned red and didn't seem to be breathing. My feet got stuck on the floor while I tried so hard not to break into those heavy sobs building in my chest.
“The full moon isn't yet down, so call a healer…a healer, not a physician.” The princess's commanding voice snapped in my mind, and I flinched.
I turned around instantly to start leaving so I could call a healer when her voice came again, “Come back, Phoebe, your wolf has something to do.” With my chest rising and falling so fast, I turned around, and Beta Levi was already on his feet. “Dear beta, announce the death of your alpha!!”
My knees buckled, and I slumped to the floor.