Chapter One Hundred and Fifty Three
There was something different about the way he looked at me the way he regarded me. I saw it in the way his body tensed the moment I stepped inside. He saw me as a threat, and it took a moment to understand why. Cynthia had taken my form when she approached him, making him believe it was me. The moment his guard dropped, she struck.
But what he remembered was me stabbing him–my face, my hands, delivering the blow.
“Alexander,” I whispered, unable to say anything more. He only stared at me, as if trying to read me. I had wanted to see him so badly, but I hadn’t stopped for even a moment to think about what I would say to him when we met.
“The Cursed Weapon–how did you find it?” he asked.
“I don’t understand.”
“The dagger you used on me.”
The cursed weapon, I’ve heard about that too. History says the Elders had been the original keepers of the steel; that had been before they were killed. The weapon had the ability to take away one’s wolf. It made more sense now, what Cynthia was saying. She told me she knew how to heal him, but he would lose his wolf in the process. She hadn’t tried killing him; I was wrong. She did exactly what she said she would; she healed him.
2
Alexander watched me, still guarded. It would be easy to tell him the truth. He would be furious; perhaps he would go face Cynthia on his own. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t because a part of me knew she hadn’t told me the story about how she burned her village to the ground simply because she was in the mood to tell stories about her past. I could finally see the hidden threat behind her words one I hadn’t noticed before. A threat against the whole pack. That was why she told me that story; she wanted me to know what she was capable of.
“I–I’m so sorry, Alexander. I never meant to hurt you; I only did it to help you. You were dying; you needed help, and that was the only way to help.”
“That wasn’t the only reason you did it. You said it to me yourself.”
“I love you. I would never hurt you–you know that. You know me.”
“And I don’t doubt your love for me, Kaida,” he said, rising from the bed with some difficulty. He walked up to me, placing a hand on my cheek. “I know you love me, and I’d be a fool to deny it–it’s clear in your eyes. But there’s something you want even more, something you’ve dreamt of your whole life. Becoming an Alpha.‘
I should say something. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came forth. I had no idea what Cynthia had told him before she stabbed him. Had she told him that I was doing this to take his place as the Alpha?
“I should be grateful to you.” He said finally when he realized I wasn’t going to say anything. “The pain is all gone now; everything is gone. I feel… like a new person.
“I’m so sorry, but I had to do it. I couldn’t watch you fade away. But now… you’re whole again.”
“I am not whole. A part of me is missing. The physical pain is gone, but there’s still an emptiness inside me- something that should be there, but isn’t.”
“Your wolf. He is gone.” I noted more to myself. “It had to be this way. There was no other option. You would have died; I couldn’t let that happen to you.”
“Sweet, sweet Kaida,” he murmured, placing a kiss on my forehead. I couldn’t stop the tears streaming down my face. “Did it ever occur to you that I deserve a say in what happens to me?” he asked, and I could sense his anger. As much as he tried to mask it, I could tell he was disappointed.
