Chapter 16

LUCIEN

“Alpha Lucien!” Cressida, the omega who serves me shouted when I almost lost my balance.

In a split second, it feels like my strength was pulled out.

‘Our mate,’ Jaxon spoke. ‘Something happened to our mate, Lucien,’

I tried to act like it didn’t affect me but before I could manipulate my mind, my feet were already moving on their own.

My steps were quick, slicing through the crowded hallway filled with omegas who were busy decorating the grand hall.

“Fucking move!” I growled.

The omegas started moving like scared cats, pressing their body on the wall so they wouldn’t block my path.

My footsteps were fast until they turned into a run. I have navigated each part of this palace but this is the first time I realized how big it is.

Why is it taking me so long to reach the rogue’s chamber?!

After what feels like eternity of running I finally saw the door of her chamber. Omegas are plucking around, like they are watching something interesting.

“What happened?”

“Is she dead?”

“The Royal Physician said she was poisoned,”

Their murmurs echoed in the hallway. Rage surged in my veins hearing their gossip. How can they treat it like fucking show they can freely talk about?

“Leave,” I firmly spoke.

Their heads turn in my direction. I didn’t have to repeat my word. In just a second they ran away and vanished from my sight.

When the door was no longer block I went inside her chamber.

Coldness ran down my spine when I saw the rogue lying on her bed, unconscious. Her skin has turned red, as if she had been burned.

I feel my knees weaken as I stare at her.

Who did this?!

“Alpha Lucien,” they bowed their head but my gaze was glued to the woman lying on the bed.

In my periphery, I can feel them watching me but none of them stopped me from getting near.

I stood beside the rogue’s bed. The burnt mark on her skin made my chest clench.

Ever since I met her all I wanted to do was to kill her. I tried multiple times. I almost ended her life…but seeing her lying on the bed—pale and unconscious, brought me a different kind of fear.

“How is she?” I turned to Cornelius, the Royal physician.

“Your Majesty, the poison has been cleansed from her blood… but we do not know when—if—she will wake. It has caused severe damage…”

I clenched my fist, suppressing Jaxon’s rage. If I failed to control him, I know he wouldn’t hesitate to end anyone in sight.

“She will survive,” I looked at Cornelius intently. “She must survive Cornelius,”

She cannot die like this. I won’t let her die like this. I ought to kill her myself and I have no plan of breaking that promise.

I stared at the helpless rogue for a few seconds before I turned to Alpha Magnus. “Who did this?”

“The Royal guards are still searching—“

“Place the palace under lockdown. No one leaves until the culprit is caught,” I cut him off.

“But we need the Alpha King’s approval—“

“I will deal with the Alpha King,” I responded, my voice firm and cold. “Do what I say, Alpha Magnus,”

Hesitation was evident on his face. He stared at me like he was weighing whether he would follow my order or not but after a few seconds of hesitation he finally nodded.

“I will report to you in an hour, Alpha Lucien,”

When Alpha Magnus left I gave all my attention to my mate. I didn’t even know her real name. I didn’t even ask her real name.

“We will look after her, Alpha Lucien. You should rest,” the old omega who serves her, volunteered.

Instead of listening to her, I pulled a chair beside the rouge’s bed. I don’t care if it was Jaxon's impulsiveness but I am allowing myself to betray the rage that I carry towards her kind.

“Leave us,” I ordered.

Silence filled the room but after a while, I heard their retreating footsteps and the door closing.

When we are alone inside her chamber I allow myself to stare at her without any restrictions.

A chuckle escapes my lips as I look at her longer. “Didn’t I tell you I’d be the one to kill you?” I tucked behind her ear the strands that covered her face. “Why did you let them hurt you, little rouge?”

I reached for her hand and caged it in my palm. She feels cold and that made my rage burn more.

Whoever did this should kill themselves before getting caught.

I stayed beside her, hoping she would wake up. I called her a few times but she remains unresponsive.

“Alpha Lucien,” Draven, my beta, called from the outside.

I carefully placed her hand on her side and rose from my seat. My steps were slow and quiet as I made my way towards the door. I gently pulled it and upon opening the door, I saw Draven standing outside.

“The culprit had been found. We discreetly brought her to the dungeon, Alpha Lucien,”

“Her?”

Draven nodded. “An omega delivered the poisoned gown to your mate’s chamber, Alpha Lucien. Alaric and Elias were forcing her to confess,"

I am torn whether to leave my mate but I have to punish whoever is behind this scheme, myself.

“Guard my mate’s chamber, Draven,” I ordered. “Don’t let anyone step inside unless it’s the Royal Physician.”

Draven nodded.

I glanced inside before I forced myself to walk towards the dungeon. I quietly observed the hallway, checking if someone was tailing me but when the coast was clear, I headed straight to the dungeon.

I navigated the dark and narrow hallway until I reached the cells filled with caught rogues and werewolves who had committed a crime. Some growled upon the sight of me. They held out their claws desperate to reach me while others cried and begged for mercy.

At the end of the hallway, I saw Alaric and Elias, my trusted deltas, who were standing beside a chair where an omega was sitting.

My deltas bowed their head. "Alpha Lucien,"

I ignored them and fixed my gaze on the omega sitting on the torture chair. Her claws were digging into the armrest. Tears mixes on her sweat and her chest was branded with a traitor’s rune — a jagged, glowing red mark etched into her skin. It was a combination of fang-like spikes, claw shapes, and barbed chains that symbolize betrayal.

“D-Don’t k-kill m-me,” she weakly pleaded but I don’t feel any pity towards her.

She tried to hold my hand but before she could reach me I pierced my claws on her neck.

“Who ordered you?”

Her body began to tremble. Fresh tears cascaded down her cheeks as she shook her head. “S-She will k-kill m-me, A-Alpha L-Lucien,”

“And what made you think I won’t?” I pierced my claws deeper. “Who ordered you?!”

Her face was turning pale. Her breath grew weaker as seconds passed but before I could end her, she whispered a name I didn’t expect.

“L-Lady V-Valeria. L-Lady V-Valeria o-ordered me t-to p-poison y-your m-mate,”