Chapter 7
CHAPTER 7
I raised my head to look at her, my mind trying to process what d just heard. How come I never knew the Alpha had a former mate? 1 should have known though, I mean, he ought to have been married and yet he was still single. I thought the moon goddess had decided to punish him by not giving him his mate but then, it looked like I was the one being punished. First, I discovered we were mates and with the prophecy, it scented like we were really fated and destined mates but with this news now, maybe there was something wrong somewhere.
How come I looked like his former mate or was she teasing me? Was that even possible?
I look like her?” I asked once again and she lifted her shoulders in a shrug.
“Maybe”
My face scrunched up. Maybe?
“You’re not sure:
You just have the same eyes and I feel this similar vibes, that’s all she replied nonchalantly and I stared at her. Wait, what! Was she trying to tease me or what? It sounded so serious earlier and now, she was making it sound like it nothing.
“Who are you?” I asked again and she moved closer to me.
Tm Lyra, your soon to be sister–in–law. We should get you prepared for the mating ceremony,” she said with a wide smile and without waiting for my response or anything, she made her way to the door while I stared at her retreating figure. What the hell! What was that?
“I’m happy you’re here. I just hope Dawn doesn’t see you as Freya and gets obsessed,” she concluded before slamming the door and I shut my eyes for some seconds. Why was she trying to mess with my head? At that moment, I realised, I really needed that confirmation. I had to be sure he only brought me back to fulfill the prophecy.
I had to be certain he didn’t bring me back because he saw her in me. And then, a dark thought surfaced, one I couldn’t ignore. What if he does want to kill me? What if being married to me reminded him too much of her? If Freya had truly died because of him, what’s stopping him from repeating history?
There was only one way to know if what I’d heard was true, or if my mind was playing cruel tricks on me. I needed to see for myself. I scrambled out of the room, my mind in a turmoil.
I wasn’t sure of how to get to the clinic from the mansion but I knew it wouldn’t be hard to ask people around. Padding through the grand halls of the estate, it didn’t take long before I saw a group of familiar people, we’d worked in the vineyard together then and they directed me to the clinic.
The clinic wasn’t far from the mansion, just a short walk along the winding path that led into the heart of the estate. I marched forward, each step heavy with dread, but I couldn’t turn back now. If this illness was real, then maybe, just maybe, I had misunderstood everything. Maybe I wasn’t a replacement for Freya, but someone who could truly help.
When I reached the clinic, the scent of antiseptic and herbs hit me before I even opened the door. Inside, it was eerily quiet except for the faint shuffling of the pack’s doctor. Beds lined the walls, each one occupied by someone pale and weak. Their eyes were closed, their breathing labored, and a few of them were groaning softly in their sleep.
It was real. The illness was real. It was my first time seeing that many sick people. Many of them, I didn’t even know were our pack members, they were mostly highly ranked people.
I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. I had been so wrapped up in my own confusion and heartache that I hadn’t even thought about the pack. They were suffering, and I was supposed to be the one who could help them. It really wasn’t a lie. The pack actually needed me. But how, how will I heal them?
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Chapter 7
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The doctor glanced up as I approached, her face tired and worn Iris,” she greeted me softly with something that felt like a sigh of relief
you’re here, she commented and I nodded.
“… I wanted to see for myself,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. “Is there any progress? Is there anything I can do?”
She sighed, shaking her head. “We’re doing what we can, but the illness is spreading faster than we can control. Alpha Dawn mentioned that… well, he said you were our last hope.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. “Last hope. That’s what I was supposed to be.
“Is Violet here?” I asked as my eyes searched through the room. hadn’t seen her since I arrived, she’d been the sole reason for my decision so….
“No.”
1 creased my brows
“Why? Did something happen to her?” I asked, different thoughts racing through my head.
“No, I heard she went to the company this morning
My eyes widened.
“Company? Is she not sick too?”
The doctor shook her head.
“No, she isn’t
What!
Did he deceive me by lying that Violet was ill too? Quickly, I turned on my heel and left the clinic, storming towards the
mansion.
“Where is the Alpha?” I asked as I bumped into Ruby in the living room.
“In his study,” she replied, pointing towards the hallway.
“Where?”
“The last room down the hallway.”
I followed her description and hurried down the hallway, finally reaching his study, I drew in a deep breath and knocked but there was no response. I didn’t bother knocking again but instead pushed the door open. He was sitting at his desk, scribbling something on a piece of paper, but he looked up sharply at the intrusion.
“What the hell are you doing here?” His voice was cold, but wan’t intimidated.
I need to know why you lied to me,” I started and he slammed his pen on the table
What the hell are you talking about?”
“Violet isn’t sick. You deceived me. You lied to me, Alpha. Why? is it really to heal the people or because I remind you of Freya” I asked, my voice trembling with barely contained fury, don’t even know where I got the courage to face him
His expression darkened instantly, and he stood, his towering frame casting a shadow over me..
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Chapter 7
“What did you just say he inquired, his voice dangerously low,
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“You heard me,” I snapped. “Your sister said I look like her. Is that why you brought me back? You wanted a replacement because you can’t let go of your dead mate! Do you want to kill me too? The doctor never mentioned anything about any prophecy, she only claimed you said I was the last hope, is that true?”
His eyes flashed with anger, and for a moment, I thought he might lash out or even strangle me like the last time. But instead, he laughed–a cold, hollow sound that sent chills down my spine.
“You think too highly of yourself, Iris.” His voice dripped with disdain. “You? Replace Freya? Don’t make me laugh. You’re only here for the job, you’re nothing more than a healing tool to me.”
His words cut through me like a blade, sharper than any physical wound I could have imagined. I felt my heart splintering. into pieces, the weight of his rejection crushing me all over again. I had never felt so small, so insignificant.
I
I swallowed hard, but I didn’t back down. “Healing tool? Do you just want me to heal the pack and disappear?”
“Of course. It would be best if you don’t last more than a day here but darn prophecy!” He slammed his hand on the table and I flinched.
“I need to be sure about the prophecy, I voiced out and he dashed me a scowl.
“Why? Why do you need to be sure of everything?”
“You lied to me about Violet, I don’t trust you. I need to hear from the seer that there’s really something like that.”
He ran his hand through his hair in frustration then he let out some air and leaned closer to me.
“You’re so infuriating. If only you weren’t involved in the prophecy. I would have….” He shook his head and stepped back.
“I wouldn’t lie to someone like you if there wasn’t a reason. If you need to see the seer then so be it, go look for her, deal with whatever you hear over there,” he concluded and with the way he talked, it sounded like there was something I had to be afraid of. How did my life change so much overnight?
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Chapter 8
