That night, I tossed and turned on Frost’s spare bed, unable to find comfort despite my exhaustion. When sleep finally claimed me. it dragged me into a nightmare so vivid I could taste the metallic tank of fear in my mouth.
I stood in a clearing I didn’t recognize, tall pines surrounding me on all sides. The moon hung low and swollen in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the scene. Before me, Kaius knelt in the dirt, his hands bound behind his back. Blood trickled from a cut on his forehead, but his amber eyes remained defiant as he glared up at his captor.
An ancient–looking man circled him slowly, tapping a familiar blade against his palm–the cursed dagger that could strip a werewolf of their power. I tried to run forward, to warn Kaius, but my feet wet rooted to the ground, my voice locked in my throat.
“All hail the great Alpha King,” the old man sneered, his voice carrying easily across the clearing. “The most feared Alpha who lusts after blood, the murderer of his own father and the elders.”
“What do you want?” Kaius’s voice was steady despite his vulnerable position.
“What do I want? You ask what I want!” The man–Soren, I realized with sudden clarity–circled closer. “You killed my brothers and sisters, and you ask me what I want?”
“Then, if I have nothing to offer you, you could go ahead and kill me Kaius lifted his chin, his courage unmistakable even in defeat.
“Oh, I would kill you,” Soren promised, pressing the tip of the cursed blade against Kaius’s throat. “It would only be just that you die by the same weapon.” The blade traced a line down Kaius’s chest, not cutting but promising. “You would slowly lose your wolf, and just when that happened, I would have more fun with you. This is not over. There’s a girl, Elowen. She is next.”
At the sound of my name, I found my voice. “No!” I screamed, lunging forward as Soren plunged the blade toward Kaius’s heart.
I woke with a gasp, my body drenched in cold sweat. A hand touched my shoulder and I jerked away before recognizing Kaius sitting at my bedside, concern etched on his face.
“Kaius,” I breathed, relief flooding through me at the sight of him whole and unharmed.
“Are you okay?” His voice was gentle, his hand hovering near mine but not touching.
Reality slowly reasserted itself. I was in Frost’s spare room, tangled in sweat–soaked sheets.
“Why are you here?” I asked, pushing damp hair from my face.
“You kept on screaming out my name and crying. Frost had to call my attention.” His brow furrowed with worry.
“I’m so sorry I woke you up.” Embarrassment crept in, displacing some of the lingering fear.
“Elower that is the least of my worries. What was the dream about? He moved to sit on the edge of the bed, careful to maintain a respectful distance.
“It was about you and these elders… you were being stripped of your wolf with the cursed weapon, and then he said he was coming for me next. It was so scary.” Just recounting it brought back the visceral terror.
“I am fine, Elowen.” His voice was reassuring, but did little to dispel my unease.
“You don’t understand; it felt so real. Promise me that you will keep me out of danger.” I clutched at the sheets, the nightmare’s warning still echoing in my mind.
“I would try.” His solemn nod was the best assurance an Alpha King could honestly give.
1/2
Chapter 139
I glanced around the room, suldenly realizing we were alone. “Oh gosh, I’m so sorry, where is Frost?”
“He went to call for a healer.”
“I’m fine!” I protested, not wanting to cause more trouble.
“I can see that now, and he would be back soon. You don’t need to be embarrassed about anything, not with us. His voice gentled. and I noticed something on the nightstand beside him–a familiar paper.
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