Chapter 5

ROMAN

"It can wait," I replied to Zamora.

"But—"

"Zamora," I deadpanned. Her sudden intrusion was like the incessant buzzing of bees.

I wanted to enjoy this moment as much as possible. Because for the first time since I was born, the darkness wasn't there.

My mate was a sight to behold. Her colorful curly hair was quite long, flowing down her back.

And her eyes...they glowed brilliantly. Breathtaking.

She looked painfully innocent too.

"W-what's going on?" She croaked, reaching up to trace her fingers over the skin under my eye.

With a trembling hand, she covered her own eye with her palm, squinting slightly. I blinked.

Her eye had replaced mine, granting me sight.

I'd almost forgotten that she was a living sacrifice.

I wasn't supposed to get attached.

“Alpha Roman?" At the sound of her gentle voice, my chest tightened.

Detaching myself from her is supposed to be easy. So, why do I feel uncomfortable? I thought.

“It's a side effect from the ritual. You'll feel better soon," I lied. I should’ve sounded reassuring. Instead, my voice came out flat.

My gaze met Elder Maeve's across the room. She lowered her head in greeting. Then she opened the door and walked away.

When Solana shifted, her nipples brushed against my chest, and an intense wave of heat washed over me. But it vanished just as soon as it came.

The ritual had confirmed that she was the one I had been searching for. The one who could break my curse. But this...

It was still a miracle.

"Does this mean that I won't die?" Solana asked, and I cupped her chin, wondering why she was asking such a question when she was clearly in a terminal state.

You will die, I wanted to say. But how could I when she was staring at me with those big bright eyes?

Was this…guilt?

"Yes."

Another lie.

This time, it left an unpleasant taste in my mouth.

...

I led Solana out of the room, my hand steady at the small of her back. She was still trembling from the ritual, her eyes bright, her lips parted as though she wanted to ask me more questions. I didn't let her.

"You need rest," I told her. "Tomorrow is our wedding."

She looked at me as if she wanted to argue, but exhaustion won. When Anna took her from me and led her into her room, shutting the door behind them, the strange ache in my chest sharpened.

So, I turned down the hallway, keeping my steps light until I reached my study. Then, I opened the door expecting silence. Instead, Zamora rose from the chair in front of my desk.

"Alpha," she breathed, her eyes wide.

I walked past her. "What are you doing here?"

She wrung her hands. "I had a vision. A woman with green eyes... she poisoned you. I saw your death." Her voice broke.

Tears slid down her cheeks.

She was...crying?

"I'm worried for you."

"Worried for me?" I deadpanned. "Or worried that the position you think is yours will belong to someone else?"

Her face crumpled, but I didn't feel remorse. Not even in the slightest. I'd given her enough warning. "The council chose you, Zamora. Not me."

She stared at me in shock, her sadness morphing into fury.

"I won't just watch you walk into your own destruction. Never." She stormed towards the exit, slamming the door shut behind her.

I exhaled hard, suddenly feeling drained. Tonight seemed to have taken its toll on me. Or maybe it was just exhausting lying to the one person whose life could save mine.

Even that was a first for me.

As soon as I sat down, there was a knock on the door. The familiar calmness of Nigel's aura washed over me, and I leaned back in my seat.

"Come in," I said.

He walked in, and I stared at him for a while, only seeing his face for the first time.

"Rough night?" he asked.

I gave him a look. "You heard her."

He nodded. "I did."

For a moment, I said nothing. Then the words slipped out before I could stop them. "Nigel... what color are her eyes?"

He blinked, startled.

"Solana," I clarified. "Her eyes. Her hair. Her skin. Tell me."

Nigel's mouth twitched. "Emerald green eyes. Reddish brown hair. Pale skin almost like the snow. You didn't notice?"

"I noticed," I muttered. "But I don't have the words yet."

He chuckled softly, then the sound faded. His expression sobered. "Don't get attached, Alpha. If you want to live, you can't."

His warning sat heavy between us. I looked towards the fire, its light throwing sharp shapes across the room. I could see it all now, every detail, and still it gave me no comfort.

Because tomorrow, she would stand beside me as my bride.

And soon after, as my sacrifice.

...

Solana was laughing.

Her hand covered her mouth as her friend whispered something in her ear, but the sound still reached me. It was light and unguarded. She looked radiant in her white dress, the fabric flowing around her like it was made only for her.

The vows had been spoken. The binding was complete. Only a handful of witnesses stood with us, but the weight of it pressed on me, hard.

And still, she laughed.

My stomach twisted, bile rising up the back of my throat.

This feeling was rather strange.

Disgust?

Sadness?

Frustration?

I wasn’t sure.

I should have been relieved that she had survived the ritual and I had gained what I needed. But watching her smile at another while my own chest hollowed out...it made me sick.

When the gathering dispersed, I left first. I needed air and space. I was halfway to our room when Elder Maeve stepped out from the shadows.

She’d been hovering close by since the ceremony began. It was possible that there was something important she needed to share with me. Unlike her twin sister, Anna, she was the serious, unflinching one.

"Alpha." Her voice was low and urgent. She leaned close and I lowered my head to hear what she had to say. "Be careful of Solana. Word just reached me. Alpha Elric sent her here to kill you."

Her words struck me like a blade, but I gave her no reaction. My expression stayed blank. I only inclined my head before walking on.

I didn't want to believe it.

Solana was gentle and more trusting than she should be.

She couldn't be Elric's weapon.

By the time I reached the chamber, the knot in my gut had hardened. I opened the door, and there she was.

She sat at the edge of the bed, her gown still perfect, her hands folded in her lap. She looked up at me with wide, expectant eyes.

Those beautiful green eyes I wanted to get lost in.

But then I smelled it.

Wolfsbane. I wasn't sure how much of it was present. My senses were muted after all. Therefore, the scent seemed faint.

My stomach churned. Something hot burned through my veins.

Rage?

I closed the door behind me, tore off my jacket, and began unbuttoning my shirt. My voice was cold when I spoke. "Take off your clothes."

Her eyes widened as she rose to her feet, trembling. "Did I... do something wrong?"

Wrong?

The audacity of this woman.

I crossed the room in quick strides. My hand closed around her throat, tilting her head back so she had no choice but to meet my eyes.

"Isn't this what you wanted?" I asked in a monotonous voice. My grip tightened just enough to remind her how easily I could break her. "Take off your clothes. Or I'll do it for you."