Battle

~Alden~

Alden entered his chambers, the weight of the Battle still all over him, his body ached with every step he took, but the soreness from the fight was not what even bothered him but the feeling he had been having since the day before, something he just couldn’t explain.

He sat forcefully on his bed, using his hands to run through his face, trying to make the feelings go away. What was it? Why does everything seem blurry like he was under the effect of something, he wondered.

His mind went back to the war, the chaos, the blood, the growls, the defeat. They were things he had seen countless times in Battles but this time they weighed heavier that was not it, there was something more that he could not understand.

He clenched his fist in frustration, growling in anger, he reached out to a cup of water on his table gulping everything forcefully.

He slammed his hands on the table, facing his head downwards, his head hurting with frustration. He didn’t have time for what was going on with him, he needed to clear his head fast “Tea!.” He called out sharply, a maid rushed in bowing her head with Alden barely acknowledging her.

“ Make me something strong,” he commanded, the maid nodding her head, rushed out While Alden with frustration still clouding his mind went to sit back on his bed.

Seconds dragged into minutes, and His impatience grew. It was unlike him for him to be this unsettled. Something was wrong.

Finally, the maid returned, carrying a tray with a steamy cup on top“Here is your tea, My Alpha. ”she said, handing the cup over to him. Alden responded with a brief nod without glancing at her.

Alden lifted the cup to his lips, hoping the herbal tea would clear what was wrong with him, but the moment the liquid touched his tongue, his instinct was wrong, the taste was off.

He held onto the cup firmly, a slow burn began to rise in his stomach slowly building up to his chest, Alden’s chest tightened as he began to wheeze his muscles weakened.

He slammed the cup on the table nearby causing the sound to echo through the room. His vision began to blur, but he tried to maintain his focus. He glared at the maid who was standing at the door.

“ What… have you done? He asked, his voice low but with a dangerous growl, his eyes were clouded with fury.

“ My Alpha, I do..don’t know .” the maid stammered with fear in her eyes.

“Guards” Alden called out. Two guards entered the chamber immediately.

“ Take her away,” Alden ordered his voice going low as he was already feeling too weak.

“ I swear… I don’t. I don’t know what happened. ” the maid stammered while trying to free herself from the grip of the guards.

“ To the Dungeon. ” Alden completed, his voice growing weaker as the poison worked through him.

The guards dragged the maid away as she continued pleading.

Alden’s body felt weak with each passing seconds, the poison or whatever was in the tea had slowly sapped out his Energy, his vision began to blur again and his legs felt numb.

“Everyone get out,” he ordered, his voice growing weak but still has authority, the remaining servants around the chamber sensed some kind of danger but were afraid to question him. They all gave him a bow and quickly moved away closing the door behind them.

He started wheezing again, the room spinning around him, his mind tried to fight what was going on with him, but his body was unwilling to do so.

He growled in frustration, and his body tightened and began to feel sore, he collapsed onto his bed, and his body tried to resist the effect of the poison as if his Wolf wanted to fight, but it was no use because the effect of the poison pulled with greater force into a deep sleep.

Adria slipped into the chamber, tip-toeing her away inside Alden’s room with calculated steps, her breath below a whisper. She looked around making sure no one saw her as she entered Alden’s room.

Alden was lying down on his bed motionless, Adria gazed at him for a moment—she had to do this successfully to keep the spell working or else Dana would be brought back and her mission to control the pack would go away forever, she thought.

She took a deep breath as she reached into her cloak bringing out what the witch had given to her, a small root tied with strings. The witch's instruction was clear —use the root to round over his head in a circle, mention the incantation and the magic works.

She knelt beside Alden’s bed, her hands began trembling as she held up the root over Alden’s head. She whispered some incantations, her voice barely audible circling the root over Alden’s head.

A glimmer of light shined as she mentioned each word, with Alden’s body twitching up, sweat gathered on his forehead as his eyes fluttered for a bit threatening to open but the magic held him in place.

Adria continued to mention the words, her voice growing intense and cold, her eyes focused on Alden as his chest began to rise and go down rapidly. The ritual was working, she thought, just as the witch had promised.

She finally said the last word, the light around Alden faded and his body relaxed into the bed. Adria stood slowly from beside Alden’s bed gazing at Alden, her heart racing, wondering if the spell had fully clicked In.

Without mentioning another word, she began to leave, taking a once-over look at Alden, she tip-toed her way quietly just as she had entered the room. She closed the door quietly behind her.