CHAPTER 16

Kael's POV

I leaned back against the wall, staring. Chaos filled the infirmary. Chloe was busy screaming orders while five other doctors injected and pumped her with different medicines. Transparent tubes were rooted in her nose, and her pale lips were covered by an oxygen mask. Five injections had been injected into her frail arm in the past minute, and Chloe looked tense as she stared at the machine displaying her vitals.

The line was red; the digits were dropping.

"Her heart is weak. It's slowing down. Proceed to the artificial pump."

The next thing I knew, the doctors ripped apart the flimsy maid top covering her chest. Chloe placed a handheld pump on her petite chest, and on the count of three, her lifeless body jolted with the electric current. Her back arched, and her entire body convulsed.

"Again!"

The procedure was repeated, and I suddenly felt strange staring at her, struggling between life and death.

"She doesn't deserve it, Kael. It isn't her fault. She is innocent in all this."

Dom's earlier words repeated in my mind, and that feeling in my chest worsened.

Innocent? She saw her father torture my Reb, yet she did nothing. Seeing a sin and not stopping it is a bigger sin. She deserves this. I shouldn't give two fucks if she ends up dying the next second. I'm sure this is another trick to gain sympathy.

A few more minutes passed, and Chloe sighed, wiping the sweat from her forehead. She ordered her team and excused herself to come closer to me.

"Alpha."

My silence permitted her to continue.

"Traces of a heavy toxic substance were found in her bloodstream. It's a case of serious poisoning."

"It could be an attempt at suicide, but nothing can be confirmed until she admits it."

My fists clenched. The little concern I felt for her earlier morphed into rage. This little bitch! She did this herself. Why wasn't I surprised? A pathetic coward, indeed. If she wanted to die, she should have done it before showing up at our marriage. Or was this the plan entirely? She knew if something happened to her on my lands, the council would blame me for it. I would be stripped of my position, and it would be easy for her father to bring down Moonstone.

This shrewd woman! Why didn't I realize it earlier?

A growl escaped my lips, and I saw everyone stepping back from me in fear. Clenching my fists, I stared at her serene face.

"Is she alive?"

"Y-yes, Alpha. We were able to save her, but her heart is too weak. It's suggested to take good care—"

"Ron!"

The Beta rushed in, and I declared, stepping closer to her pale body on the hospital bed, "Prepare the dark room."

A gasp echoed around as everyone stared at me. They were seeing a monster, I knew, but who cared? This girl just brought out the worst in me.

"I said now!"

Ron knew better than to question me. Nodding, he left while Chloe dared to question me.

"Your Highness, the patient is too weak. You shouldn't—"

"Everyone. Out. Now!"

No one dared to argue. Looking at the girl in pity, the staff left, leaving me alone with her.

My fingers involuntarily trailed her freezing cheek, pressing against her lips. A smirk formed on my lips.

She wants to die, huh? She'll be begging for it once I'm done with her.

Wrapping my fingers around her pale wrists, I lifted her hand to tie them with a bandage wrap. Tugging on the tubes attached to her hand, I picked up her feather-light body and proceeded toward my favorite room.

It had been a while since I'd been in the dark room. I could bet it was going to be fun.

Astrid's POV

"Help! Someone help! Please! Nooo!"

My ears were bleeding from hearing a woman's cries. I hid behind a tree, staring at the little hut at the outskirts of our pack. They tortured her every day. The entire pack could hear her screams, but no one did anything.

Tears trailed down my eyes, and my heart churned in her pain. How… how could these people be so heartless?

I knew Dad had given strict orders. No one was to help her. But he was wrong. I would never stand for torturing an innocent. And that too, a woman? What was her sin? Only that she was married to him?

Half an hour passed, and like every night, her screams died down. The old wooden door was pushed open, and out walked three men, arrogant smirks plastered on their faces.

"The bitch has got some nerve. She's too arrogant to submit."

"She still thinks that pretentious bastard Alpha mate of hers will come to save her."

The third one rolled his eyes. "As if? By the time he finds her, she'll be nothing but a broken toy."

They locked the door behind them and left while I sneaked in to reach one of the windows. Patrol was everywhere. I couldn't help her escape, but the least I could do was help her.

Making sure no one was looking, I kicked the window and rolled in. Sighing, I looked up, and I wished I hadn't.

She… she was tied and tortured brutally. Her skin was peeled, and her clothes were torn. Animals. These people were nothing but animals. How could they treat her like this? How could my own father order something like this?

Gulping, I reached her, picking up her head and placing it in my lap. Her beautiful blue eyes opened, and she looked at me blankly.

"Here. Drink this."

And they hadn't given her a drop of water.

I took out a fresh shirt and covered her with it, giving her a little respite from the cold in this freezing room. Opening a casserole, I made a bite and offered her food. She parted her lips, and I fed her.

"Why… why do you… help me… every… day?" she questioned, and I blankly stared at her. Her trust in humanity had long been lost. I could see it.

"Good and evil, angels and monsters, both live in this world. The Moon Goddess made it this way. But sometimes, when one of the Goddess's favorite angels gets surrounded by too many monsters… and she starts losing faith in the Moon Goddess, a messenger is sent to hold on."

"A messenger is sent who tells her to never lose faith in good. To believe in good. It seems I am that messenger, and you? The angel."

She stared blankly at me, and the very next second, tears filled her eyes. Laying on my lap, she sobbed, breaking down.

"I… I just want to live, Astrid. I… just want to see him again. Please… help me… I don't want to die…"

I caressed her head softly, looking into her eyes. Hugging her to my chest, I was about to promise her safety when suddenly the door slammed open. My father's rage-filled green eyes fixed on me, and that's when I knew our doom was near.

"Take her out and put her in the dungeons. I'll deal with her later."

I was ripped apart and dragged out to be led to the dungeons by the guards. I looked back over my shoulder only to find my father crouching down beside her, a knife pinned to her neck.

"There's no use for you now. I guess this is goodbye. Any last wishes?"

"Noooo! Father, noooooo!" I screamed, but my words fell on deaf ears. My thrashing body was no match for the strength of the guards.

"He will come for you… and when he does…" She stared into my father's eyes and chuckled sickly despite her state. I admired her bravery. She was unbreakable—beautiful, brave, and powerful. She was indeed a real Luna.

"You will beg, cry, and plead. But he will have no mercy. He cuts the finger of a person who touches me, yet you did this to me? He is going to burn you and your entire pack alive. You will burn in the fire of hell, and when it happens…"

"No one will be spared! No one!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, and everyone stilled to stare at her. Her aura—I could feel it. It was dread, resembling nothing but death.

"Well, I'll wait for that day," my father replied blankly, his face void of any emotion. The woman only chuckled louder.

"He will come! You all will die! Silver Moon will be eradicated from the very map of the world! And the only name you will ever remember will be… Kael Knight!"

Slash.

Her head rolled over and fell to the ground, and a choked cry left my lips.

My eyes snapped open, and I was brought back to reality.

'Nightmare… it was just a nightmare. It's in the past. I did my best. I couldn't save her.'

I tried to calm my racing heart. I tried to lift my hand when I realized they had been pinned above my head. I panicked, looking around, and that's when my scared eyes met my worst nightmare.

Those grey eyes looked at me, and I wished I had never woken up.

"Wakey, wakey, baby doll. It's not good to keep your mate waiting, now is it?"

"Ka…el," I whispered, and a psychotic look clouded his eyes.

Karma is real, and I couldn't believe in it more after meeting him. He would avenge everything wrong they did to his Reb, and I somehow knew I wouldn't be spared.

"What… what are you doing? Where… where am I?" I looked around to find myself in a dark room. The lamp hanging from the ceiling over my head was the only thing lighting the dimly lit place.

"Well, you can call this place your new room. You'll love it here. Not to forget, you'll even have company here."

I couldn't concentrate on his words. The flashback before I fainted hit me in full force. I was more eager to tell him about the black-masked man. He could be an intruder or, worse, a spy.

"Kael… I have to tell you something. There was a masked man in the mansion. He… he came and grabbed me from behind. I tried to scream, but he muffled me… he injected me with something… probably poison. You need to get him… he could be anywhere right now…"

He blankly stared at me as I desperately explained the situation. And then, when I thought he would help, he started laughing.

"Masked man? Intruder? On my territory?"

"Yes, I swear—aghhh!"

He gripped my hair and tugged on it, making my chin align with his nose. Those grey orbs spat fury.