Chapter 6!Hoping Is For The Weak!

AYLA

“Wake up, wake up!” I heard the sound of Slade’s voice as I struggled to open my eyes. I looked around my elegant room, and no one apart from me was in it.

“Ayla….” his voice trailed from outside the door. I rolled my eyes as I walked to the door, not before hitting my head on the pole of my bed frame.

“Urggg….” I grumbled as I robbed my temple. The door opened, and there he was in his wheelchair again.

“Your highness,” I bowed slightly, trying to keep my eyes off the wheelchair. I thought I healed him days ago. Why is he still using it?

Slade sighed, his deep brown eyes watching me with amusement. "You don’t have to do that every time, Ayla," he said, shaking his head.

I straightened, crossing my arms. “I’m new to all of this. I’m still getting my bearings, so you will have to bear with me,” I said to him, but he wasn’t looking at me. He was, but not my face, where his eyes were supposed to be.

“Hmmm,” I coughed slightly, adjusting my robe. His eyes met mine, and they had a hint of embarrassment in them.

“I’m sorry, can I come in?” he asked like a gentleman. I opened the door a bit wider, and he wheeled himself inside. “Please shut the door,” he said, and I did.

“Is something wrong?” I asked, wondering what’s going on.

“I need you to heal me again,” he said, and my heart fell. It didn’t work.

“No, it does,” he said, and I arched my eyebrow.

“I’m a Lycan. I can read your thoughts, Ayla,” he said. I nodded, but felt violated. “I won’t do it again,” he said, and I scoffed. Don’t know if I should believe that at all.

“Why are my healing abilities just working for a short time?” I asked, but it looks like he doesn’t know the answer to that himself.

“I don’t know the answer to that, Ayla,” he said like he was reading my mind again. “What I do know is that I need your help right now. I have a council meeting in a few hours, and I need to be there,” he said, and I sighed.

“You can be there without me. You have been ruling your kingdom long before I arrived,” I said to him.

“No, I haven’t. I shut myself out. The people can’t see me weak. It will weaken my kingdom as well,” the room was filled with a deafening silence. His words made me remember how angry Asher would be if there were any rumors of him being weak.

Now I know why he knocked on my door this early. He doesn’t want to be seen my his people in a wheelchair. “It will weaken the kingdom,” I rolled my eyes as I remembered his words.

“Are you ready?” He asked.

I ran my hands through my hair. "Alright, let's try again."

Slade nodded, rolling up the sleeves of his tunic. I knelt in front of him, placing my hands gently on his legs. The warmth of my magic tingled at my fingertips as I closed my eyes, focusing. A soft glow radiated from my hands, spreading over his legs like liquid light.

For a moment, everything was still. Then Slade inhaled sharply.

"It’s working," he murmured.

I opened my eyes, watching as the color returned to his skin, his muscles tightening as if coming back to life. A spark of hope flickered in my chest. Maybe this time, it would last.

He flexed his fingers, then his legs. I pulled my hands back, suddenly feeling drained. Healing took a lot out of me, and lately, it wasn’t lasting as it should.

Slade carefully placed his hands on the arms of his wheelchair, bracing himself. Then, with a deep breath, he stood. I bit my lip, watching his expression shift from uncertainty to confidence.

"How do you feel?" I asked softly.

Slade took a cautious step forward. Then another. A slow grin spread across his face, his deep brown eyes meeting mine.

"Like myself again."

I exhaled, relief washing over me. But at the back of my mind, a nagging thought lingered. If my healing wasn’t permanent, something was wrong. Something bigger than either of us.

“I hope this lasts a while,” I said, walking away from him.

“Hoping is for the weak,” he said, and I turned to look at him. He was different. Not the weak man that wheeled into my room, but a strong man ready to take down his enemies.

“I’m just….” I starmmed and he cut me off.

“Hoping was what almost made you get sold in an auction,” he said, and I swallowed hard. 

“What?” I scoffed, my face wrinkling in disbelief. "Where did that come from?"

Slade's expression hardened, and for a moment, I didn’t recognize him. His usual teasing, the quiet amusement in his gaze—it was all gone.

"You were hoping someone would come and save you," he continued, his voice laced with something unreadable. "You were hoping the world would be kind. But it wasn’t, was it?"

I clenched my fists, anger bubbling beneath my skin. "I got out, didn’t I? And I didn’t need you or anyone else to do it for me."

His lips pressed into a thin line. "No, you didn’t. I did. I got you out of there,” he said with authority. His voice, his composure. They all changed. Where is the voice of the man asking me to heal him moments ago?

“Wow, that’s way too low, even for you, Slade,” I said to him, and he exhaled heavily.

“My apologies,” his expression softened. “I didn’t mean that.”

“Of course you did. You don’t have to apologise for your choice of words. You are the King and you did buy me in an auction,” I said to him without blinking.

He was quiet for a long moment before he finally spoke. "I can’t afford to hope, Ayla. I can only act. My kingdom depends on it. My people need a strong leader, not a broken man hoping his legs will hold out long enough to get through a council meeting."

I sighed, my frustration fading slightly. I understood him more than I wanted to admit. "I get it," I said, softer this time. "But I’m not a miracle worker, Slade. If something is interfering with my powers, we need to find out what it is."

His jaw was tensed, and he nodded. “You are right, but even though we find out what’s wrong with your powers, it won’t be worth it if you don’t know how to fight or how to use them,” he said, and I sighed.

“What are you proposing?” I asked with a raised brow, already suspecting where this was going.

Slade smirked, stepping closer. “Training,” he said simply.

I groaned, already regretting asking. “Training?” I repeated, shaking my head. “You want me to train when I can barely stand after healing you?”

His expression didn’t waver. “Yes.”

I crossed my arms. “I don’t need training. I have my magic.”

Slade let out a low chuckle, but there was no amusement in it. “And what happens when it fails you? What happens when you're standing in front of an enemy who doesn’t care about your powers, only your blood?”

I swallowed. He wasn’t wrong. My magic had been unreliable, fading when I needed it the most. But still…

“Fine,” I muttered, not missing the triumphant glint in his eyes. “But if I die from exhaustion, I’m haunting you.”

Slade grinned. “Good. Because the training starts tomorrow.”

I groaned again, but deep down, something inside me stirred. If something was blocking my powers, then I needed to be ready. Because sooner or later, whatever or whoever was behind it would come for me.