PUNISH MEALPHA

Chapter 19

Punish me Alpha!!

KAIUS POV

I was in the council chamber when I started pains in my chest, but I kept ignoring it like it didn't matter.

Christine was talking and she was backed up by another council elder, Jonah.

“…the pack’s borders are stable,” she said. “But morale remains fragile.”

I was already planning on how to expel some persons from the council, because of their lousy contributions, but I didn't have to do that in a hurry, lest the pack might start asking questions.

I sat in silence, my hands clenched on the armrest.

Then, the pain came again, but this time around, it twisted my chest violently.

Magnus roared inside me, he was so unsettled that I knew who all the troubles could be for.

HER!

I stood abruptly, the chair scraping loudly behind me as their gaze turned to me.

“My Alpha?” Rafaello, who was standing at my back asked

I pressed my hand against my chest, and I knew that instant that the pain wasn't mine at all.

It was hers. Adelaide.

My heart started pounding so loud in my chest as I turned to face Rafaello who was looking confused.

I didn't utter a word to him, but he understood.

“What is it?” Christine asked, each of the elders exchanging glances at themselves.

I didn’t answer any of them, I just walked out, running in the hallway.

I looked pale, I wondered what must have happened to her after I neglected her.

I didn't know she was going through so much pain and still, I hurt her so much.

Even my legs weren't fast the way I wanted. Rafaello ran behind me, panting heavily.

I didn’t care about the council. Or the elders. All I wanted was for Adelaide to feel better and well, after all, she's still my Luna and my fated mate from the moon goddess.

The pain exploded the more and suddenly it died down a little and all I felt that instant was emptiness.

I stopped running immediately, coming to a halt.

“Is everything alright, alpha?” Rafaello asked, stopping in front of me, gazing directly at me.

“I can't feel it anymore.. Do you think something bad might have happened to her?” I asked, looking a bit helpless, my gaze almost teary.

“We can't conclude now ALPHA, we have to look for her…” Rafaello said, trying to calm me down.

“Did I neglect her so much?! I think I've caused her so much pain …” I said, resting my arms on a nearby tree.

“Alpha…” Rafaello called, walking up to where I was standing.

I hit my fist hard on the tree until I started bleeding.

“She should be in her chambers…” I said, walking away while Rafaello trailed behind me.

___

Adelaide’s POV

I opened my eyes and saw that I was lying on the bed.

I looked closely and noticed that it was my room.

I had fallen outside due to too much pain, but when I touched my chest, I wasn't feeling any pain anymore.

But, how did I get inside?! Who brought me inside.

I looked closely and saw Paula sitting close to my wardrobe. I guess she was exhausted from all the troubles that was why she was sitting.

“Paula…”

My voice came out barely above a whisper as I tried to sit up.

Paula turned immediately, jotting from the chair she was sitting on.

She had been folding my clothes, humming softly like she always did when she was nervous. The sound stopped the moment she saw my face.

“My Luna?” she rushed to me. “How do you feel now? Do you feel better?”

I tried to sit up straight but my body refused.

Then, the pain in my chest came again, slow this time, like fingers tightening around my heart.

“I need… herbs,” I said.

She blinked. “Herbs?”

“Yes,” I nodded slowly. “Strong ones.”

Paula frowned instantly.

“What kind of herbs?” she asked, stepping closer. “The healers already checked you. They said….”

“I know what they said,” I cut in quietly. “But this isn’t normal sickness.”

She hesitated, looking straight at me as though I was speaking something out of line.

“What exactly are you feeling?” she asked, lowering her voice like the walls could hear us as she drew closer.

I pressed my palm to my chest.

“It burns,” I whispered. “And pulls. And sometimes I feel like I’m being torn in half.”

Paula’s eyes widened, as she looked closely at me, studying me more intently.

“That sounds like….”

“The bond,” I finished it for her, to save her the trouble.

She sucked in a sharp breath.

“My Luna… those kinds of sicknesses are not treated with ordinary herbs.”

“I know,” I said again.

She stared at me for a long moment.

Then she asked carefully, “Where did you learn about these herbs?”

I looked away.

“My mother,” I lied.

The word still tasted strange in my mouth, I never felt how it was to have a true mother.

Paula didn’t believe me. I could see it in her eyes. But she didn’t argue.

“Which herbs?” she asked finally.

I hesitated. Then I leaned closer and whispered the names into her ear.

Her body stiffened as she turned to look at my eyes as though verifying what I said.

“No,” she said immediately, shaking her head. “Those are illegal.”

“I know.”

“They’re forbidden,” she continued, panic creeping into her voice. “If anyone finds out…”

“I’m already dying slowly,” I said softly. “What difference does it make?”

Paula’s eyes filled with tears, but it didn't fall out. She held it in.

“My Luna, please… the Alpha…”

“I don’t want him to know,” I said quickly. “Please, Paula.”

She bit her lip hard, as if she was thinking whether to help me or not.

“How many?” she asked reluctantly.

“Just enough to ease the pain,” I replied. “I swear.”

She stood there for a while, sliding one of her fingers to her mouth.

Then she nodded.

“I’ll be back,” she whispered. “Just stay and wait for me here, I'll go look for it at the storage room, that's only where they can be found.”

I felt happy, so I nodded as she opened the door and left.

I sat back on the bed, waiting for her to come.

___

EAST WING

Paula moved through the servants’ corridors not wanting to be seen, to avoid questions or being caught.

She avoided the main halls, slipping past guards when their backs were turned.

She reached the old storage room near the east wing, the one no one used anymore.

Inside, she saw different herbs hanging low from the ceiling.

She searched carefully, murmuring the names under her breath.

“Moonleaf… nightroot… shadow fern…”

Her hands trembled when she found them.

“This is madness,” she whispered to herself.

She wrapped them quickly and hid them under her apron.

On her way back, Sapphire almost caught her.

“Paula?” Sapphire’s sharp voice called.

Paula froze.

“Yes, Head of Staff?” she bowed quickly, looking away from her gaze.

“What are you doing here?” Sapphire asked suspiciously.

“I… I was sent to fetch linen,” Paula lied, trying to smile.

Sapphire’s eyes went over to her apron.

“Be quick,” she said finally and talked away.

Paula didn’t breathe again until she was out of sight.

___

Adelaide’s POV

I waited for Paula to come back, checking the door.

Suddenly, the door opened and it was her. She looked like she had aged ten years.

“Lock the door,” I whispered urgently.

She pulled the herbs out and placed them on the table.

“My Luna… if this goes wrong…”

“I know,” I said.

I crushed the herbs myself. My hands shook as I did.

The moment the mixture touched my skin, heat rushed through me.

I gasped and the pain eased a bit.

I felt a bit of relief and tears slipped down my cheeks.

“Oh…” I breathed. “It’s working.”

Paula fell to her knees.

“Thank the Moon Goddess,” she sobbed.

Just then, the door slammed open.

Kaius stood there and we froze, panic creeped to our bones as we saw him.

“What is this?” he asked, coming closer to where I was standing.

We tried to hide the herbs, but he was faster and he got there before we completely removed everything.

I turned slowly and his eyes locked with the herbs and then, his eyes turned dark.

“You used magic,” he said coldly.

Paula immediately threw herself forward, hitting the floor hard.

“My Alpha!” she cried. “Please, punish me! I forced her….”

“Silence,” Kaius snapped.

He strode toward me.

“You disobeyed me,” he growled. “Again.”

“I had no choice,” I said weakly.

“You always have a choice!” he roared.

His hands clenched.

“Do you know what illegal magic can do to you?” he demanded. “Do you know how dangerous this is?”

“I was dying!” I shouted back.

He froze.

I could see the fear in his eyes as he strode closer to me.

“You will never use magic again,” he said, looking straight at me.

Paula pressed her forehead to the floor.

“It was my fault!” she cried. “Please don’t punish her!”