CHAPTER THREE

“Get her away from him!” someone roared.

Hands pulled me back so hard I hit the ground, knees scraping raw. I screamed, reaching for Dorian but he was already surrounded. Warriors pushed me aside like filth, like I was the toxin tearing through his veins.

“Dorian!” I cried, trying to crawl back, but a boot slammed into my stomach, knocking the wind out of me.

“Restrain her!”

I was bundled up roughly by the arms and dragged on the stony ground.

“I didn’t do anything!” I shouted, thrashing. “Let me go! He needs help!”

“He’s dying because of you!” someone shouted from the crowd.

Blood. There was so much of it. Dorian’s body convulsed, mouth foaming, eyes rolling back. His best friend was pounding on his chest now, shouting commands to the healers who had already gone pale.

“Poison,” one whispered.

“magic?” another questioned.

“He was fine until he touched her…”

“Get her out of here!”

I screamed until my throat burned. But no one listened.

They dragged me away from the grove, past the whispering wolves, the judging eyes, past Cassandra’s smirk.

And all I could hear was his ragged breathing fading in the distance.

Then….nothing.

—

"Still not ready to talk?" one of the guards sneered.

“I told you I didn’t poison him!” I shouted my voice raw from screaming. “I would never hurt him!”

“Wrong answer.”

Pain exploded across my jaw as a backhand threw my head sideways. I hit the stone floor hard, the cold entering into my bones.

“We have ways of pulling the truth out,” another said, kneeling beside me. “And you’re going to confess… or bleed to death.”

They grabbed me again, chaining my wrists to the wall. The shackles were cold, rusted, and already slick with someone else’s blood.

A lash cracked through the air.

Then seared across my back.

I bit down on my scream, but the second strike forced it out of me with blood dripping down my spine.

"You cursed the Alpha’s son,” one growled. “Say it.”

“I didn’t,” I gasped. 

“He’s my mate!”

“That’s not true!” I cried.

They weren’t listening.

Salt was rubbed into the wounds…..literal salt and I screamed until my voice gave out.

—

We need answers now!" 

Alpha Thorne’s voice was thunder across the council chamber, echoing against the stone walls of the room

Pack leaders from across the territory were already crowding the room, tension thick in the air.

"He’s the Alpha’s only son. He cannot die," one councilman snapped, pacing.

"He’s not just the Alpha’s son," another hissed. "He’s the future of this pack. The Claiming Ceremony was supposed to unite us. Instead…"

"Instead we’re in chaos," Beta Gerald growled. 

"And it all started with her! Your daughter Kiera, Beta.”

Another councilman retorted at Beta Gerald. 

He slammed his fist on the table.

A murmur spread through the room. Accusations, Suspicion and Desperation.

"What poison could do this to someone strong as him." 

Someone asked.

"It wasn’t poison," the healer said, entering the room with blood on her hands. Her voice was grave. "It was dark magic. Ancient and Forbidden magic!"

The room fell silent.

"That’s not possible, dark magic has been banned.” Someone said quickly.

"It’s not just possible. It’s happening. Something is attacking his soul. His bond and His wolf. 

He needs more time. He’s stable for now, but the venom is spreading faster than anything I’ve seen.”

“And as for the girl, I believe she doesn’t have the power. Her wolf hasn’t awakened. She wouldn’t be capable of channeling something like this.”

“You're defending her?”

Alpha thundered 

“I’m stating the facts. But facts don’t change the truth, if we don’t find a cure, Dorian won’t make it through the next full moon.”

A cold silence fell over the room.

The healer continued, “There is one… possibility. One being whose blood carries enough ancient magic to counteract what’s inside him.”

“Who?”

The healer looked around the room her voice dropping.

“The Lycan King.”

“That monster?”

“He’s the only one whose blood has resisted the ancient poisons of the rogue lands. If anyone can help Dorian, it’s him.”

He hasn’t been seen in a decade.”

“Then find him,” she said simply.

Gasps erupted.

The doors slammed open.

A guard ran in, breathless. "The girl. She’s resisting. Still hasn’t confessed."

"Take me to her. Now."

---

She looked up when footsteps approached.

"Alpha Thorne." Her voice was hoarse from screaming and pains.

He didn’t speak. Just circled her slowly.

"Tell me what you did to my son."

"Nothing. I didn’t….”

He slapped her hard before she could finish the sentence.

"Lies! You cursed him! You’re no wolf….you’re a disease!"

"I’m his mate!" she cried. "Why would I hurt him?"

“I should be asking you that. He loved you genuinely even when your whole family was against you. He defied my orders to be with you and this is what he gets as an appreciation? Killing him?”

The Alpha asked  his voice dripping with agony.

"Increase the pressure. Break her."

He said suddenly, before slamming the cell door.

---

Upstairs, the healer wiped sweat from Dorian’s brow. His body convulsed again.

"We’re going to lose him if nothing is done on time," she murmured.

Alpha Thorne stood over his son, fists clenched.

"Then it’s time."

He looked at his top warriors. "Assemble a search party. I want a tracker, a witch, and a scout. Find the Lycan King. Beg if you must. Bribe him. Threaten him. I don’t care. He is our only hope."

—

Footsteps clicked against the floor. Familiar.

Cassandra.

Her golden hair was still flawless, her ceremonial gown now replaced with a regal healer’s robe.

“What do you want?” I rasped.

“To gloat,” she smiled. “And to inform you that I’ll be tending to Dorian now. Father says it’s only right someone worthy stands by his side.”

My blood turned to cold.

“You won’t touch him.”

She laughed. “Oh, but I already have. He’s resting peacefully, thanks to me. And soon… he won’t even remember you were his mate.”

I lunged, but the chains jerked me back.

“Don’t worry,” she whispered sweetly, crouching to my level. “I’ll tell him all about the pathetic she-wolf who cursed him. How you broke his heart. How you begged for mercy.”

“Get out!” I screamed.