Chapter 5: Deadly Encounter

Mabel.

I strolled in the next morning, holding the medicine I had brewed for him. For once, the moon goddess had not abandoned me. After the black blood had dripped from his nose, the black veins had disappeared, and his temperature had returned to normal, though he still had not woken up.

“How’s his temperature?” I asked Cora.

She squeezed the towel and wiped his body once more before tossing it back into the bowl. “I think it’s normal.” Cora placed her hand on his forehead to check his temperature.

I placed the small cup of medicine on the stool beside the bed. “We might have to get the Scordic plant.” I checked his temperature again. “It’s normal.”

“The herbs from the forbidden land?” Cora asked.

“Mmhmm.” I nodded. “This isn’t potent enough for him.”

“I’ll discuss it with the head of Epsilon. You’ll need protection.” Cora rose to her feet, took the bowl, and left the room.

As I stirred the medicine, preparing to give it to him, a quick swipe of his hand sent it flying across the room.

Before I could react, I was pinned against the wall, my back and arms held tight, his cold dark eyes locked onto mine as his breath rolled over my skin.

“What are you doing in my room?” Alpha Lev tightened his grip.

I winced. “Giving you medicine.” I glanced at the spilled medicine on the floor.

“What happened to our pack healers?”

I averted my eyes from his and they landed on his body—hard, toned, and dangerously close. His trousers hung lower than they should. I swallowed hard as my gaze trailed from his Adonis belt to his perfectly sculpted muscles. I had never seen a man so flawlessly carved.

“Are you going to keep admiring my body?” His voice came out deep, velvety.

My eyes widened at the sound of his deep voice. “There’s nothing special about your body that I would admire,” I stammered, yet I couldn’t take my eyes off.

At least not until he raised my chin with his index finger, forcing me to meet his gaze.

My heart rippled like troubled water as my eyes met his. I averted my gaze but tried not to look too far down. I noticed his full lips, the beauty mark above them adding to his allure.

“What about the pack healers?” Alpha Lev reiterated, pinning my chin, leaving me no choice but to stare into his eyes. Eyes that made my stomach tighten in fear and another feeling I dared not name.

“The medicines were no longer working for you.” Cora’s voice cut through the room, a wry smile forming on her lips.

She must be blinded by her desire for me to be her brother’s mate, unable to see that he had nearly killed me.

Malia walked in. “Alpha Lev.” She jumped into his arms, pressing herself against him, earning an eye roll from Cora.

Alpha Lev settled back on his bed, putting on his shirt. “Do you care to explain?” He turned to Cora, who looked at me, causing Alpha Lev to shift his gaze in my direction.

“When you have episodes, do you get weaker?” I asked, my voice tinged with anger. He had no right to make me feel that way.

“Yes,” he replied, puzzled.

“You shouldn’t be. Running wild means your wolf consumes you.” I began. “You should be getting stronger, even as you lose control. Not lying there like a weakling.” The heat in my stomach intensifying for unknown reasons.

Alpha lev flinched at the word as something dark flickered in his eyes. "Weakling,"

“And the black veins are not symptoms of running wild but something else.” I added.

He raised his eyebrows.

“What she’s trying to say is that someone is poisoning you.” Cora sat next to him.

A wicked smile played on his lips. And almost instantly he Alpha Lev lunged at me. “Is this what the great Elders put you up to?” he demanded, his dark eyes flaring with a burning yellow hue. “To turn me against my subjects?”

His fingers curled around my neck, his grip tight enough to block my airway. My face reddened and my hand flew, tapping his, begging for release.

“Please, let her go.” Cora pleaded, gripping her brother’s arm. “Think about it: if you’re running wild and the Elders want to kill you, they can’t do it without a duel. No one wants to battle a Demon Alpha—they would have to poison you slowly to avoid getting caught.” She rushed through her explanation.

Alpha Lev let me go, and I crashed to the ground, a series of ragged cough fleeing from my chest.

“I know you still doubt her intentions, but the mating ceremony is tomorrow. You’ll find your mate, and you won’t need to drink any portion.” Malia assured him, her touch gentle against his cheek. “We won’t need her anymore.”

Using the chair for support, I got up and settled in it, still wondering what relationship he had with Malia. She’s obviously not a sham-mate, or else he wouldn’t be running wild this quickly.

“Not if she’s his mate,” Cora interjected.

I rolled my eyes at Cora's persistence. She hasn’t yet given up on me being his mate. Despite numerous eligible females attending tomorrow's ceremony, she clung to the hope of me being her brother's mate.

“She can’t be his mate.” Malia snapped.

“Why, cause she lacks a beast form?” Cora challenged, turning to Alpha Lev.

“Yes.” He replied without hesitating.

I was relieved we were on the same page—we both don’t want each other as mates.

Cora shot back. “Beggars can't be choosers.”

I stifled a giggle at her audacity. Did she just call her brother a beggar?

“You find this funny?” Alpha Lev’s stern voice cut through.

"No, sir," I managed, struggling to compose myself.

He redirected his attention to his sister, their conversation devolving into a sibling squabble.

“I have something to do.” I interrupted, rising to my feet. “Cora, please tell the elders about the trip to the forbidden land.

Leaving Cora to explain, I departed with a task in mind: planting herbs and visiting the sacrarium to pray to the moon goddess not to play any wild tricks on me tomorrow.

*****

I stepped outside the mansion and saw the black car cloaking against the darkening sky. It was just half past six, yet the sky was already pitch black—a foreboding omen.

Six men, clad in black, armed, and ready, descended the stairs, with Cora leading the way. One of them earned my attention—his green eyes and brown hair that reminded me of chocolate—the same man who had carried me before.

“Are you going with us?” I questioned Cora.

“Of course not.” She chuckled

"Do we have to venture out at night? That's when the Nightingales are most active," the macho man remarked, his tone scornful.

"That's when we can gather Scordic plants. There's a luminescent insect that only appears at night, leading us to the plants," I explained. "Without them, the plants are nearly impossible to find."

"Let's not waste time. We should get moving," I suggested.

“I am coming with you.” Alpha Lev’s voice pierced through the air, raising the nape of my skin.

“Seven of us are enough. We don’t need any more men.” I advised, ignoring his presence.

“Sebastian and Andreas, you are coming with me. The rest stay back.” He commanded before disappearing into the car.

I rolled my eyes and followed suit, the car carrying us toward the forbidden lands.

At the entrance of the forbidden land, the towering trees and dense canopies cast ominous shadows, evoking memories of past encounters.

As Alpha Lev and I approached the forest, the macho man and Andreas stayed behind.

“Aren’t they coming with us? I turned to Alpha Lev.

"It's just the two of us that are going in.”

"What do you mean, just the two of us?" I asked.

"The herbs are for me. I don't want to endanger any pack members for personal reasons," he explained.

"We'd have a better chance of survival with more people," I argued.

But deep down, I knew it wasn't about survival. I simply didn't want to be alone with him, knowing the intense desire to harm him lingered within me. And facing him alone would only worsen the situation. It’s not like a stand-by chance. He would shred me to pieces.

Of course, the moon goddess couldn’t even wait till tomorrow to fuck me up.

.

.

Minutes into the forbidden land, there was still no sign of the insect.

“Are you sure you know where you're going?” Alpha Lev asked, shoving aside branches.

“If you’re just going to keep complaining, you should’ve stayed back and let Mr. Macho Man come with me,” I retorted.

He had asked the question for what felt like the hundredth time. I was getting fed up, so I kept a safe distance between us.

“Sebastian?”

“Shhh.” My gaze darted as I spotted the luminescent insect. “Let’s go.” I chased after the insect and he trailed behind me.

The plants, about fifteen inches high, basked in the light from the insect. I dropped to my knees, pulled out my knife, and skillfully cut the plants, placing them in my bag.

“I’m d—”

My eyes widened as Alpha Lev appeared before me, blocking a blow. With swift movements, he drew his claws and exchanged fierce clashes with the creature. Slash! The creature’s head fell, and I screamed as it bounced on the ground, its black blood raining down on us.

Gasping for air, I saw his eyes gleamed bright yellow in the dark, meeting the red, menacing gaze of the creatures surrounding us.

Ready to fight, he slipped his hair back, and it obeyed.