{6.} Brayden’s Nightmare—6 Years Later.😭

BRAYDEN’S POV.

“You’re the one behind the mask.”

My eyes snapped open, chest heaving as I shot upright, drenched in sweat.

Quickly, I reached for the water jug from my nightstand and poured it over my head, gasping when the cold water ran down my face and neck.

It didn’t help.

I swung my legs off the bed and stumbled across the room, knocking the center table over in the process. The vase crashed against the floor, but I barely noticed.

I sank against the wall, dragging my knees toward my chest as I fought to steady my breathing.

“I died because of you.”

“Stop,” I whispered, pressing my fingers against my temples. “Just stop.”

For six years, those words had followed me into every sleep.

The omega had accused me of being someone I had never understood, then an arrow had struck him before he could explain himself.

Then, I reached for him, but I was too late.

He had fallen into the ravine, and despite searching the river and everything surrounding it, we had never found his body.

{We should have caught him.}

Grey’s voice carried the same guilt I had been carrying all these years.

A soft knock sounded against the door before it opened.

Gina stepped inside and immediately came toward me. She crouched in front of me, her expression tightening when she saw the state I was in.

“Alpha Brayden.”

I forced myself to look at her.

“He’s not here,” she said quietly. “You’re in your room. You’re safe.”

I swallowed and nodded, though my hands were still shaking.

“I saw him again.”

“I know.”

“He said it again.”

Gina sighed and sat beside me. “You have been carrying this for six years, Alpha. We searched everywhere. The river, the forest, the surrounding villages, even the neighboring packs. There was nothing.”

“What if we missed something?”

“We didn’t.”

“What if he survived?”

Gina looked at me for a moment before answering. “Then where has he been for six years that we couldn’t find him?”

I had no answer.

I lowered my gaze to my hands.

“I still don’t know who he thought I was.”

“You may never know.”

That truth hurt more than I wanted to admit.

“He kept looking at me like he knew me,” I said quietly. “Then he said I was the man behind the mask. What was I supposed to think?”

“You were in your rut. He had just escaped from a group of people who wanted him dead. He was terrified and injured.”

“But what if he was telling the truth?”

Gina’s expression softened.

“You saved him from those men.”

“And then he died.”

“You didn’t kill him.”

“I couldn’t save him.”

She reached for my hand and squeezed it.

“You have spent six years punishing yourself for one incident. You need to stop.”

I looked away.

{She’s right,} Grey murmured. {I should have stopped us from chasing him that day. I should have sensed the arrow sooner.}

“You were trying to protect me,” I whispered.

{And you were trying to protect him.}

Gina frowned slightly. “What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

She studied me for another moment before standing.

“Get up. You have an Assembly meeting in less than an hour.”

I groaned.

“I don’t want to go.”

“I know. But you’re the Alpha King, and unfortunately, those ministers don’t care whether you woke up from another nightmare.”

She picked up my robe and dropped it beside me.

“Go bathe.”

I eventually forced myself to stand.

~~~~~~~~~~

By the time I entered the Throne Room, the long table was already occupied by the Royal Assembly. Ten ministers rose as I approached, and their voices filled the hall.

“Long live the Alpha King.”

I sat at the head of the table and motioned for them to sit.

Cedric Holloway, the Prime Minister, was the first to speak.

“Alpha King, we need to discuss the succession.”

My jaw tightened.

“I assumed that was why you summoned me.”

“You have no mate and no heir,” Cedric continued. “It has been three years since your last political mating ended. The Assembly can no longer ignore the situation.”

“I have ruled Crownfang Pack for ten years without an heir.”

“And how long do you expect that to continue?” Roland Ironhart, the Minister of Defense, asked. “You are the Alpha King, not an immortal.”

Sylvia Dawncrest, the Minister of Health and Public Welfare, leaned forward.

“We are not asking this to insult you. We are concerned about the future of the Pack. Your father died suddenly. If something happens to you, there is no successor.”

“I know what happened to my father.”

“And yet you continue to refuse every solution we present.”

My fingers tightened around the armrest.

“I already accepted one political mating.”

Silence settled over the room.

“Three years ago,” I continued, “you chose a female omega for me, and I accepted her.”

No one interrupted.

“She died while still carrying the pup. Many years back, even my own mother died giving birth to me. How many more deaths will satisfy this Assembly simply because you want to give this Pack an heir?”

Cedric folded his hands.

“This is not about satisfying anyone.”

“Then what is it about?”

“The stability of Crownfang Pack.”

I stared at him.

Sylvia spoke carefully. “We understand why you are afraid, but you cannot allow the death of the past women to prevent the Pack from having a future.”

My chest tightened.

“And the stranger?” she asked. “Are you still holding on to him too?”

My eyes hardened.

“It’s not grief.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“It’s my responsibility.”

“You spent one night with an unknown omega six years ago.”

“He was still under my protection.”

“And he is gone.”

I said nothing.

Cedric finally leaned forward.

“The Assembly has agreed to give you one month. Find a suitable mate yourself. Someone you trust. Someone who can stand beside you as Luna and provide the Pack with an heir.”

“And if I don’t?”

Roland answered this time.

“Then the Assembly will choose for you.”

My expression darkened.

“Who?”

“Minister Tyler Ravenclaw has offered his daughter, Mia, as a suitable candidate.”

My hand slammed against the table.

“You cannot be serious.”

“We are.”

“I will not accept another political mating.”

Cedric’s voice remained calm.

“Then find your own mate within one month, Alpha King. Otherwise, Mia Ravenclaw will become your chosen Luna.”

{They’re insane,} Grey snarled.

I pushed myself to my feet, my chair scraping harshly against the floor.

“This meeting is over.”

“Alpha King—”

I turned away from them.

I had spent many years trying to live with the fact that I was the cause of death for so many people. I wasn’t going to let the Assembly decide who would die next.

As I stepped outside, Gina hurried after me.

“Alpha, your next appointment is with the therapist. We need to leave now if you want to make it on time.”

I stopped.

{Maybe I do need to see him,} Grey admitted quietly. {Because this is getting worse. My fragile mental health.}