Chapter 30

I wake up, and it’s still early. I can tell because breakfast hasn’t arrived yet.

Anxiety has me pacing the cell. The king is due to hear my decision.

I want to witness the fight. I want my freedom.

I’ve decided to yield to the king, to pledge my loyalty.

The cell door creaks open and I can barely contain my excitement.

No one ever tells you how mind-numbingly dull it is in a cell. At least I’ve been able to pass the time with some exercises, working to regain my strength.

A guard named Morey steps in, holding a long blue dress.

I must have worn my thoughts on my face because Morey bursts into laughter.

“A gift from the king.” I snort as I take the dress from him.

“I’ll be back in fifteen minutes.” He tosses a bag into the cell and leaves.

The door shuts behind him.

I open the bag to find a hairbrush, some makeup, shower gels, dry shampoo, and a bottle of water.

I let out a deep sigh. If my life weren’t hanging in the balance, I’d stay right here.

I quickly slip into the blue dress, apply dark eyeshadow to make my eyes stand out, and groan at the sight of the high heels at the bottom of the bag before reluctantly putting them on.

Just as I’m fastening the second one, the cell door swings open again.

A delicious scent fills the cell and I rush towards Roman in the doorway.

I throw my arms around him and he laughs at my enthusiasm.

He gives me a quick kiss before looking me over several times.

“Are you okay?” His voice is tinged with worry, which makes me grin.

“Don’t go soft on me now. I’m perfectly fine, despite the heels and, you know, being locked in a cell for three days.”

His brows furrow with concern, so I pull him closer, burying my nose in the crook of his neck.

“I’m fine,” I mumble, barely audible. “Just missed you.” He kisses the top of my head and hugs me so tightly I can hardly breathe.

“We have to go.” I inhale his scent one more time before stepping back.

“Let’s go watch our fathers try to kill each other.” Roman gives me a stern look, but I just smile.

My heart is pounding and panic is tightening its grip.

As we leave the dungeon, Roman places his hand on my back. His warmth is comforting, but it doesn’t do much to ease my anxiety.

Now seems like a good time to run and never look back. But I know we can’t.

The noise reaches us long before we reach the room. The panicked shouts die down the moment I step into the room.

It’s the same room where I was whipped, and for a moment, I freeze. Roman gently nudges me forward.

I glance at him before lifting my chin and walking further in, my back straight.

I will show them I am not afraid.

A woman named Larissa, who I recognize from the candy stand at the fair, approaches me.

She bows quickly to Roman before taking my hands.

“Princess, are you okay? I’m sure the Alpha made a mistake by locking you in that awful dungeon.” Her eyes are kind, and I smile at her warmly.

“Thank you for asking, Larissa. I’m fine. Not even a dungeon can dampen my spirit.” Larissa studies me a moment longer before smiling.

“Thank Goddess. You’ll make a wonderful queen one day, Princess.” I give Larissa a kiss on the cheek before waving and walking away.

When we reach the front of the room, my gaze lands on Honora.

I gasp when I see her.

Her once beautiful tan skin is now pale and sweaty.

Her eyes have lost their usual sparkle and look hollow.

I rush over to her; she tries to smile when she sees me coming, but it’s weak.

I take her face in my hands and feel tears welling up in my eyes.

“What happened to you? Are you okay? You look awful.” Honora tries to lower her head, but I hold her gently but firmly.

Her eyes meet mine, and I see tears streaming down her face.

“He’s going to die today. I’m going to lose my mate. Oh Katelynn, I’m so sorry for everything that’s happened.” Her voice breaks, and I pull her into a gentle hug.

Her nails dig into my back as she cries softly.

I can feel the eyes of everyone in the room on us.

The room falls silent as they watch their queen break down.

I pull back from Honora and take her face in my hands again.

“He won’t die. I won’t let that happen, okay? Now I need you to wipe your tears and smile. Smile the biggest smile you’ve ever smiled. Your son needs you to have hope, and so does your pack, okay? Can you do that?”

Honora nods and wipes her tears away.

I take out the lipstick I’ve stashed in my bra and apply it to her lips. I push her hair back from her face and smile at her.

She smiles back, not very convincingly, but it’ll have to do.

I take her hand and stand next to her, my chin held high. I give her hand a gentle squeeze.

Roman joins us, taking my other hand.

The double doors to our left swing open with a loud bang. I don’t flinch or look that way.

From the way people are bowing, I know it’s the king.

I can hear his footsteps echoing through the room.

He stops in front of me. I stare at him, seething inside.

He studies me for a moment before moving on.

I’m tempted to flip him off, but I manage to restrain myself.

Just barely.

The king takes his place on the platform where I was whipped.

“Bring him in.” His voice fills the room, grating on my ears.

A door opens and Lucian walks in, leading my father by a chain.

I grit my teeth as I watch Lucian drag my father across the floor.

People part to make way for them.

My father’s eyes—or rather, eye—find mine.

One of his eyes is so badly bruised it’s swollen shut. Why isn’t he healing?

Tears are threatening to spill over, and I can feel Roman’s hand tighten around mine, but it doesn’t bring me any comfort.

“I AM KING. I’m the one who’s kept you all fed, who’s kept wars at bay. I’m the one who’s protected your pups, giving them a place in MY pack. I don’t deal with traitors.”

My father is sprawled on the platform.

Now it’s clear why he didn’t walk himself. One of his legs is twisted at an unnatural angle.

A sob escapes from Honora’s lips. I watch as tears stream down her face.

She looks at me with an apologetic expression. All my emotions seem to be on lockdown.

I’m eerily calm. My gaze slowly shifts back to my father.

The king turns his attention to my father.

“Any last words, traitor?” Dad looks at me. His face is twisted in pain. A tear slips down my cheek, and I watch it as it falls to the ground.

I don’t feel the pain it represents. I just stare at it, unable to look at the broken body of my father.

“Katelynn...” His voice is soft and filled with pain. “Katelynn... please. Never forget that we loved you. You were our beacon in the darkness, the heartbeat in our chests.”

The realization hits me. My mother wouldn’t survive without her mate.

“I would walk through the depths of hell for you, my beautiful pup. Never forget.”

“That’s enough. Pull him up.” Lucian grabs my father by his hair, forcing him upright.

I still don’t feel anything. My heart beats slowly and my breathing is even.

No more tears fall.

A silver sword materializes out of nowhere. I can see the king’s grip on it is so tight his knuckles are white.

Roman’s thumb gently strokes my hand.

I glance at it quickly before returning my gaze to the king. The king raises the sword. Everything seems to happen in slow motion.

One moment he’s about to strike my father, the next he’s engulfed in flames.

I watch him numbly, his screams blending with the cries of the wolves in the room.

Roman yanks my arm. I tear my gaze away from the king to look at him.

Why is he so panicked?

My brows furrow in confusion before I realize that my view is being obstructed by fire.

I look down at myself, staring at the flames licking my skin. I almost smile at the beauty of it.

I shift my gaze back to the king. He’s surrounded by flames, but they no longer touch him.

The king locks eyes with me in anger and fear. His skin looks charred and raw.

I turn my gaze to my father. He’s sprawled on the floor again but he’s still alive.

Lucian has backed away from him.

Behind him, people are screaming and running to escape. Roman tugs my arm again, capturing my attention.

“What have you done...?” I shake my head at him. “You have to run now! Katelynn, snap out of it. You need to run! He’ll kill you.”

His words reach me but they don’t make sense. Run? Run where? And why should I run? I’m not the one hurt by the flames. I look down at myself to check. No, I’m not hurt.

“Do you hear me?! I don’t want you here! I don’t want you as my mate! Now go away! Run!” A sharp pain pierces my heart as his words sink in.

“But...” I start.

“NO. YOU HAVE RUINED EVERYTHING. GO AWAY.” I gasp, pain shooting through my body. I search his face for any lies, but I don’t see any. Is he rejecting me?

The truth of it hurts so much that I stop breathing. What will I do without him?

“Kate... help...” My father’s voice pulls me back.

Fury surges through me with such force I almost stumble towards him. Lucian steps closer but I hurl a fireball at him.

It hits him square in the chest, sending him flying back and landing on a bench. I kneel down next to my father and place my hands on his leg.

Magic flows through me as I hear his leg snap back into place.

I place my hands on his chains, burning through them. He slowly gets up, now able to stand on his leg.

“I WILL KILL YOU. DO YOU HEAR ME? NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO I WILL FIND YOU AND KILL YOU.” The king, who once sounded so intimidating, now sounds so small. I give him a sad smile.

“I hope you do.” I whisper before grabbing my father’s arm and walking out of the room. I can’t stay here.

“Don’t worry, Baby Girl. I will protect you. Let’s go, they’re already waiting for us.” I don’t ask who they are, numbness once again taking over me.

My heart is lost, shattered and left at Roman’s feet. Outside, I turn around to look at his house one last time.

People are running across the field, trying to escape from me. Larissa’s hair catches my eye.

She nods at me sadly, as if to say goodbye.

I give her a weak smile before I turn to walk away again, a trail of fire following me, reducing the grass to nothing but ashes.