Chapter 24 - A Secret Uncovered.

-Aurelia-

I wanted to scream.

I wanted to punch something or maybe someone, just to let all the anger that rose in me out but I couldn't, not when I was standing before Beta Ilan and the Healer.

Instead, under my veil I took a quiet breath in and out and tried to steady my raging nerves.

Now it seems I was back to zero because why the fucking hell would that bastard Alpha King get upset and order everyone out?!

Just fucking why?!

I stared at the Beta whose lips were spotting a cut from the punch but one thing that made me curious was that he didn't flinch, he acted as if nothing happened.

“You don't have to look that way,” Beta Ilan said, bringing me out of my thoughts, I stared at him to see he was smiling, just a little smile, “He is just upset. Nothing serious.”

Well…. Tell that to the cut on your lips…. I almost said but instead I nodded.

Elder Sage sighed deeply, “But what are we going to do now? What's the next solution? What do we do?” He asked as he stared from me to the Beta, worry written over his face.

I gave a slight bow, “I don't think we can do anything. His majesty looks really angry that he wasn't informed.”

And then again that made me wonder, why didn't they inform him?

The Beta huffed, “He won't agree to it. He doesn't agree to anything that would make others know.”

Know? Know what?

But before I could ask, Beta Ilan suddenly moved closer us, he looked around to be sure no one was within earshot, he gestured us to move closer, which we did.

“We would sneak the caregiver in.”

My eyes widened, the Healer gasped.

“My lord! We do no such thing.” Elder Sage exclaimed, his eyes rounded in fear, “He just punched you! and now you are saying we defile his command?”

I stared up at the Beta…. He must be crazy to think that, because the Alpha King I had seen moments ago would have his head at the slightest means.

“It's no problem at all.” He said a with a dismissive wave, “Just trust me and follow my lead.”

“But, my lord,” I shook my head slowly, “What if he … he hurt you again or even me since I would be staying alone with him. I don't -”

If Beta Ilan doesn't care that he got beaten up… well I do care for myself, I can not get myself killed before I even have the chance to execute my mission.

“No, he won't.” The Beta cut me off gently, “Well… maybe hurt me? Yes. But you, no, he won't. Not even Elder Sage too. Don't bother about it.”

The Healer didn't look convinced at all, he kept shaking his head.

I sighed quietly.

Beta Ilan turned to the Healer, “So, I need you to intensify the sleep inducing herbs, the ones you are already using, just add more fragrance lanterns and leave the rest to me.”

“My lord.” Elder Sage called, warning and protest clothed his voice.

Beta Ilan patted the older male's shoulders, “Everything is going to be good, just trust me.”

The healer let out a deep breath and nodded reluctantly.

I nodded too but then I wondered why the Beta seems hell-bent on disobeying the Alpha King.

Because didn't history say, they were more like brothers? And that the Beta doesn't joke with whatever the Alpha King says?

And didn't stories tell that the Beta always put the Alpha King's interest first no matter what?

But why Beta Ilan insisting?

“Your gaze burns with question.” Beta Ilan said as he held my gaze.

I looked away quickly and bowed…. Oh goddess! Why do I keep forgetting that this male could read gazes?

“You can ask.”

“Why do you want to disobey his orders? He clearly doesn't want this.”

Silence descended that I had to look up to be sure that they both haven't walked away from me.

Beta Ilan's gaze stared along the corridors, I followed his gaze but there was nothing there, I stared back at the Healer who only gave me a small smile.

“My lord… please forget I said anything.”

The Beta turned to me, a sad expression shadowed his gaze, “Better than himself, I know what's best. And he doesn't always want that for himself.”

My brows creased in confusion…. Now I am more confused than I was in the beginning.

What does he mean by that? How would the Alpha King of the west, the powerful and ruthless, not want what’s best for himself?

He was the selfish, self centered monster right?

He takes by force, I mean the Valerian name is known to take things they want without even asking as long as it benefited them, not caring about others.

So why does his Beta seem to say otherwise? And from that expression, lying wasn't even an option to for me to consider… no one lies with an expression like that.

“You can go ahead to make the herbs, I will come get you both soon.”

He turned and walked away.

“When will the Alpha King learn to even think about himself? Oh goddess.” I heard the Healer say as he began walking away too as I followed behind.

What on the moon do they even mean?

***

It was midnight and I am here laying quietly as I can on the bed that the Alpha King has instructed to be removed from his chamber.

I and the Healer had waited and waited, we began to think Beta Ilan must have given up on what he said but then his summons came and here am I.

I would have closed my eyes and gone to sleep but the Beta last words to me keep bugging my head.

With a blank face and his stern voice, he instructed, “Remember Aurelia, whatever happens in that room, stays there.”

What?

I haven't been able to keep my eyes closed for long, I kept staring around, looking at the Alpha King sleeping on his bed.

If Uncle Diomar had agreed, this would have been the perfect time to kill but then I am certain that before I leave the territory of the west, I would be captured and punished severely.

My eyelids began to force themselves close no matter how I tried to keep them open and finally I succumbed to mother nature.

*

Grunts.

Laboured breathing.

Sudden movements.

I opened my eyes slowly, I am sure I wasn't dreaming, I pulled the cover down from my head and I almost gasped out loud with what my gaze met.

The Alpha King sat at the edge of his bed, his claws out and digging into his arms and then scratching across his chest.

Wait? The Alpha King was-

My thoughts flew out as I remembered his wound.

His wound! If those claws meet his wound, it will not end well.

I stood up to my feet and walked towards him.

My heart began thudding in my chest, one of my hands gripped the knife I had hidden by my side.

If he attacks, I would too.

Suddenly, he turned to me, I halted immediately holding my breath but then….

His eyes were closed, his breathing even… my eyes widened in realization…

The Alpha King was still sleeping… and was hurting himself.

What?

I stepped closer, standing in between his spread out knees, I held his hands away from his body.

Was this why…?

Still with his eyes closed, he leaned forward and sniffed me. I was about to reach for the herbal infused cloth the Healer had placed on his stool, when his arms wrapped around me, his claws already shifted back to his hands.

He pulled me and we both landed on the bed, he turned and turned until we were comfortably laying on the bed, his nose on my bare neck, his arms around me.

I tried to get out of his hold but the strong fragrance of the herbs started to numb me until I slipped into a deep sleep.