Chapter 69

“What do you mean Aveline is missing?” I rasped, looking at the dumbfounded guards in front of me.

After returning from my trip, I found that Aveline wasn’t in the palace. When the guards searched desperately for her, she was nowhere in sight, and anxiety gnawed at me. I couldn’t help but think she had run off, until a guard brought news.

I ran to the cliff after hearing from one of the palace guards that they had seen Aveline being led out by a maid, which made me uneasy because nothing good ever came from those situations.

And I was right.

The scene that greeted me made my blood run cold. I saw Aveline fighting some men, battered and on the verge of death, and when I called out to her to stop, I froze as I locked eyes with her.

It was just as I had witnessed on the day I was attacked on the mountain, the stunning silver eyes I had glimpsed when she saved me were on full display, but this time they held no warmth.

It was bloodthirst.

I could tell her powers were fully awakening, and even though she hadn’t shifted into her wolf, she was still terrifyingly powerful and dangerous..dangerous enough to make the monster in me whimper anxiously.

“Aveline!” I called in panic as she walked toward someone, those bloodthirst eyes fixed on her target. That was when I realized what had happened.

Yana must have called her to the cliff to bully her. That fool! Why couldn’t she have stayed put and waited for her death?

But I knew I couldn’t let her taint her soul. I tried to pacify her, but it didn’t work. She was being controlled, so I knew I had to step in.

“If you are going to devour her, then you’ll have to go through me first.”

I said it, thinking she would back down, but she became even more offended and lunged at me. I quickly overpowered her.

“Oh goddess, thank you for saving me,” Yana squeaked, but I cut her off.

“Saved you? Don’t flatter yourself,” I said as I carried Aveline away from the cliff, anxious that something worse might happen.

I journeyed back to the palace with Aveline and managed to get her into my chamber without the maids seeing, because if one of them caught a glimpse, the palace would erupt into chaos.

“Zeric, get the pack doctor!” I ordered immediately after getting Aveline to my room. Not long after, the pack doctor arrived to check on her.

“She’s alright, but I don’t know why she looks so pale, and…”

“That’s enough. You can leave,” I interrupted, sending him packing.

Zeric, oblivious to the situation, asked me what had happened, and I told him everything, how Yana had almost tainted Aveline and how I had managed to save her just in time.

“Your majesty, don’t you think this is getting dangerous? At this point, people will know about her and—” Zeric trailed off, but I understood his worries.

If people found out about Aveline’s identity, she wouldn’t be safe. Different forces would come after her, and I might not be able to guarantee her protection. That would not happen, though.

“That’s not going to happen, because whoever is involved will not tell the tale,” I breathed, my voice heavy as I balled my fist tightly.

“Oh, but why didn’t you let her kill those people then?” Zeric asked, and I sighed. It was exhausting that HR hadn’t researched Aveline yet.

“I don’t want to taint her. She’ll only get thirstier,” I retorted. “If she stains her soul with blood, I fear I might not be able to control the inevitable. Or do you think you could protect her then?”

Zeric shook his head, finally understanding my worries. But our conversation was interrupted by Yana’s voice outside my chamber.

“Let’s go outside. We don’t want to wake her up,” I said as I left the room, glancing at Aveline lying peacefully before I stepped out.

“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in your room reflecting on your actions?” I spat, glaring at Yana, and it took a fierce effort to restrain Ryder from striking her.

“What are you saying? Why should I reflect? I’m not the one who tried to kill people,” Yana retorted, her voice shaky with fear. But I felt no remorse for her.

She had brought this on herself, and if it weren’t for my desire to protect Aveline from herself, I would have made sure she was devoured by the fire she had provoked. How could she think of bullying Aveline like that?

She should be grateful she was still breathing, but she wouldn’t be for long.

“Who’s trying to kill people? That didn’t happen,” I denied, hoping she would take the hint.

“That’s not true! I saw everything! That crazy Omega went berserk with silver..”

“Yana!” I growled, cutting her off. She jerked in fright at the sight of my face. She could see I wasn’t playing.

“What… I’m just saying what I saw..”

“You didn’t see anything, Yana! You saw nothing!”

I had decided to protect Aveline no matter what. I wouldn’t allow her to be targeted simply for being different. If word got out, they would label her a monster, just as they had with me.

Maybe I had hurt people, but Aveline was different. I could still save her, and I would. Even if it meant abandoning everyone else.

“Zeric, it seems Consort Yana is not in her right mind. Transfer her to the Cold Palace to recuperate,” I ordered. She gasped in horror.

The Cold Palace was where most royals were abandoned after committing a sin. Anyone banished there never saw the outside world again. That way, Yana wouldn’t speak to anyone, and today’s events could be buried.

“She’s the monster, but I’m the one getting exiled?” Yana asked. Immediately, I wrapped my hands tightly around her neck and slammed her back against the wall.

“You…I just want to rip your lousy mouth off,” I roared, my eyes darkened with anger as my claws grazed her neck. She whimpered, but I didn’t care.

“You should be grateful you’re only being exiled and not killed,” I said, finally loosening my grip. I faced Zeric, who was standing nearby.

“Make sure she never sets foot in the palace again,” I ordered, and he nodded. As I walked back to my room, Yana’s voice halted my steps.

“She’s a monster, and I swear on my life, she’s going to ruin you.”

My fingers curled at her words, and my eyes trailed to Aveline sleeping peacefully on the bed. My resolve crumbled.

“Really? Then she’s permitted to do that…my life belongs to her, after all,” I whispered, walking away without looking back. Her words tugged at my heart, and I wondered:

Would Aveline turn out like me?