Chapter twenty: Werewolf or demon

I gripped my clothes, a cold sensation sweeping through me from within. It was as if I was no longer in control of my body. I dug my nails into the floor, willing myself to get up, but I couldn't.

"You can't escape the prism," the Alpha king approached me, his voice low and menacing. He reeked of the burning incense that filled the room.

"You're a wicked man," I spat, my teeth gritted. "I wish you'd rot in hell."

The Alpha king smiled wildly, his hands trailing my skin. "Don't worry, dear. Everything will be okay soon enough." He stood up, walking towards the table.

I could see a tattoo boldly sprawled across his back – the drawing of a werewolf. It tagged at my curiosity.

"Who is she?" I muttered, my lips moving before I could stop them.

The Alpha king turned, his eyes locking with mine. "You can see it, can't you?"

"There's no one in the room," I replied hotly, turning my gaze away, but I was a little too late.

He approached me, glancing at my fallen form on the floor as if seeing me for who I was for the first time.

"Tell me, what did you see?" he blurted out coldly.

"I swear I didn't see anything," I lied, groaning as the pain pulled at my heart.

"I can make it stop," he said, pointing to the pain in my chest. "Can you?"

"Of course, you just have to tell me what you saw right now.

 Promise me you will." I spoke with labored breathing.

"Yes, I am a man of my words," he raised his brows at me.

"There's a drawing of a werewolf on your back, sprawled with black ink. It's almost as if it's alive."

The Alpha king's eyes sparkled with surprise. "Yes," I nodded my head in agreement.

"So, you are really the child of prophecy, one whose blood controls werewolves and demons alike."

"What are you saying?" I stared at him in shock.

"I will help relieve that pain of yours, but it's only after I take a bit of your power." He grinned.

"See, let me go. I am not a threat to anyone." Tears poured down my face.

He cleaned my tears. "I know you didn't ask for this, neither did my wife. She was just like you, too."

"Your wife?" I gasped.

"Yes, she was very powerful, and I loved her until she was killed in a war that started way before she and I were born."

The Alpha king shook his head. "I tried everything I could to save her, but I couldn't, and she just died." He buried his face in his hands.

"I will never forgive myself for letting her down," he mumbled. "Now I have the time to make it right."

"You can't bring her back from the dead."

"Oh, yes, I can, and I will."His expression returned to normal.

"She's already buried. Allow her to rest in peace." I replied.

"Just shut the fuck up. What do you know about me?" he stared at me.

"Without her, I am nothing," he yelled.

"I don't care if this kills you or not. I will get my Luna back." He pressed his two hands on my chest.

I screamed as his claws clawed at my soul, drops of blood coming from them.

"Don't do this. She's already dead."

"You don't tell me what to do," he pulled his claws deeper. I could feel it inside of me.

"I will die," I clenched my fists, surprised that I hadn't died yet.

"I don't care," he whispered the cold words into my ears. My eyes danced around as my vision blurred, and I slowly lost consciousness.

"Alpha, please stop!" a voice yelled from the door, making him stop his fist still inside of me.

"What is it, Bella?" he growled, obviously pissed off.

"My king, you can't kill her. Her power would be useless if you killed her," the maid said, rushing towards us.

"I remember that I am the king, and you take orders from me," he looked at her, anger dancing in his hands.

"Yes, my king. Nice, now get out," he barked, his eyes glowing faintly.

"My king, the Luna's heart is missing," the maid said.

"What?" he yelled, removing his claws from me as I fell to the floor in pain, the blood dripping all over the floor.

Images of the king and the maid filled my face. I lay still in the circle, not moving, the pain unbearable. Just minutes ago, I swore that I wasn't going to live.

"She has to leave," the maid argued once more

"The hell she is leaving here," the king argued.

I couldn't see or hear them clearly as I passed out on the floor.

******

I fluttered my eyes open. The maid's eyes were the first I met, her anxious glare at me telling me one thing - she was worried.

I sat up on the bed, my whole body aching all over, but it was slowly fleeting, which was surprising. I had never healed that fast under such a short amount of time.

"Where's Derek?" I asked, darting around the room nervously.

"He's safe," she replied quickly, holding my hands.

"How are you?" she asked.

"I am fine. The injuries are healing pretty quickly - never expected it, honestly."

"It's good improvement," she smiled, pouring a glass of water into a cup and offering it to me.

I took the cup in one hand and sipped it.

"I can't stay in this pack for long."

"I know that," she replied, taking the cup from my hand and dropping it.

"I have to escape. This place is not safe."

"It's too late, Ariel," her gaze lingered on my bed sheets.

"What do you mean?" I asked, feeling a sense of unease.