Chapter 22 Pleas
Dane’s POV
“The Alpha King was found unconscious,” the maid repeated.
This time her voice cracked.
The panic in it was unmistakable.
Darius’s gaze flicked instantly to mine, sharp and questioning, as if he were waiting for me to decide whether the world should keep turning or stop right where it stood.
“Show me,” I said.
My voice did not sound like my own.
The maid turned and hurried down the corridor, nearly tripping over the hem of her dress in her haste. We followed her quickly, our footsteps echoing loudly against the polished marble floors, each step heavier than the last.
Unconscious.
The word rang inside my skull like the strike of a cursed bell.
“Is he in his chambers?” I asked.
The fear in my voice startled me.
I couldn’t tell whether I was afraid of losing my father… or of what his death would mean for me.
Because if he died now—
Everything would fall on my shoulders, and I hadn’t even completed my mission yet.
“Yes, Alpha,” the maid answered breathlessly.
We reached his chambers in moments; I walked in gently, like I wasn’t almost panicking a few months later.
The doors were already open.
A young maiden stood beside the bed with a bowl of steaming water in one hand and a folded towel in the other. Several small jars lay open beside her — ointments, oils, and crushed herbs. The sweet fragrance of medicinal flowers filled the room, thick and dizzying.
Her eyes were wide with terror.
My father lay still on the massive bed, his chest barely rising beneath the fine sheets.
For a moment, I forgot how to move. Then instinct took over.
I crossed the room in two strides and pressed my fingers gently against his neck.
A pulse. It was weak, but it was there.
My breath left me in a rush; I turned sharply to Darius.
“Get the healer,” I ordered.
My voice dropped.
“Quietly. Make sure no one hears.”
He nodded once and disappeared; I turned to the trembling maiden.
“What happened?”
She swallowed hard. “He asked for his morning treatment,” she whispered.
“I was cleaning his body with oil like usual. Then he requested hot water so I could massage his shoulders. He seemed… tired. Then suddenly…”
Her voice broke.
“He stopped responding.” Tears welled in her eyes.
“I tried calling him, but he wouldn’t wake up.” I studied her face for several seconds.
There was no deceit in it, only fear.
“Both of you may leave,” I said calmly.
She hesitated. “But Alpha—”
“Leave.”
They both bowed hurriedly and fled the room. Silence claimed the space like a living thing. I moved closer to the bed and sat down.
For the first time in years… I actually looked at my father.
Not as a king, not as a ruler, not as a tyrant, just as a man.
His face was… peaceful.
No frown, no hard lines, no command in his eyes.
He looked nothing like the figure who had haunted my childhood with rules and expectations.
This man looked… fragile.
Almost Human.
I didn’t know which frightened me more.
Darius returned with the healer moments later.
The older man knelt beside the bed, murmuring soft prayers as he checked my father’s pulse, pressed his fingers against his wrist, and studied his skin.
I paced; my patience burnt thin.
“Anything?” I demanded.
The healer finally looked up. “He will regain consciousness,” he said carefully. “But he is not well, Alpha Prince. Not for long.”
The words struck hard. “How long?” I asked quietly.
He shook his head.
“His body is weakening. The spells that once kept him strong have started to unravel. He needs rest. And hope.”
Hope… I almost laughed.
The healer rubbed warm oil into my father’s temples and arms, whispering under his breath.
“Give him time,” he said. “He will wake.”
After a while, he left.
Darius remained only briefly, long enough to promise he would return after attending to urgent pack matters.
Then I was alone with him. I leaned back in the chair beside the bed. Fatigue dragged my eyelids down, but my mind refused sleep. Minutes passed, an hour, maybe, then I heard a faint sound.
A soft clearing of the throat, My eyes snapped open. He was awake. His gaze drifted slowly until it found me. “Dane…?” he murmured.
My chest tightened. “You were unconscious,” I said hoarsely. “For nearly an hour,” I added.
“Then it is worse than I thought.”
I frowned.
“Worse than what?”
He coughed lightly and turned his face toward the ceiling.
“I have been losing consciousness, Dane,” he admitted quietly.
“For months.”
My jaw tightened.
“And you didn’t tell me?!”
He glanced at me.
A sad smile touched his lips.
“You stopped listening to me years ago.”
The truth stung.
“I never thought it would last this long before…”
His voice trailed off.
“Before what?” I pushed.
“Before my body failed me.”
Silence settled; it was heavy and unforgiving.
Then his hand moved weakly across the bed.
I hesitated… Before placing mine in his, his grip was faint.
Fragile, Nothing like the iron hold of the king I’d grown up with.
He looked at me with eyes that no longer commanded.
They begged.
“Please, Dane,” he whispered.
“You must change your mind.”
My heart clenched.
“About what?”
“About the throne.”
I swallowed hard.
“You have to get better first,” I said.
“No, this is more important,” he said.
You know I don’t want it.”
“You do not get to refuse a kingdom,” he said faintly, reaching for my hand. “This realm is in danger. My time is ending.”
I pulled my hand away. “It’s too soon.”
“I am not asking you to rule tomorrow,” he whispered. “I am asking you… to prepare.”
I shook my head. “I can’t.”
His fingers tightened on the sheet.
“Pick a mate,” he pleaded. Strengthen the bloodline. Give the kingdom stability.” The words tasted bitter.
“I will not marry for duty,” I said quietly.
“Then you will watch this kingdom rot,” he said weakly.
I stood abruptly. “I can’t do this right now.”
He watched me, helpless. The man who once commanded armies… Now begged a son who no longer believed in crowns.
“Just promise me,” he whispered.
“Promise you will consider it.”
Silence… It was thick and painful; I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.