*Zander*
Avery averted her eyes, but it wouldn’t lessen the sins she had committed. Elijah had killed my father, and he would pay for his deed, but Avery… I never thought she would betray me. She was my best friend, someone I had known since childhood. I had always counted on her for everything; I even used to discuss every problem with her. But what did I get in return? Betrayal.
“Why, Avery?!” I bit out, the hurt and anger evident in my voice. “I thought you were my best friend. I trusted you more than anyone else. I believed everything you said. So why did you betray me like this?” I yelled, my voice echoing with pain and disbelief.
“Zander… I am… sorry,” she murmured, her voice barely audible as she bowed her head in shame. But her apology did little to quell my anger; I couldn’t bring myself to believe that she truly regretted her actions.
“How could your sorry bring back the people I’ve lost because of your sins? You have committed sins, not crimes, and for sins, there is no forgiveness,” I spat out bitterly, my words laced with venom.
“Cut the crap, Alpha King. Okay, I accept that you and your son are powerful, but you are now in my territory and won’t be able to leave this place alive. Our purpose in calling you here was to kill you and take your pack and power. And today, I’m going to fulfill that purpose,” Elijah declared, motioning for his people to attack me.
But before they could even lay a hand on me, Maddox and my army erupted through the boundaries of this filthy place, charging in with ferocity. The Rogue King’s forces attempted to counter, but my wolves overwhelmed them, swiftly dispatching each rogue one by one.
“Now you will see, Rogue King, who the real king is here,” I declared, my voice filled with authority as I retrieved my silver sword. “This time, you won’t be able to escape. You are trapped, and I have finally caught up to you. There’s nowhere left for you to hide.”
Elijah’s eyes burned with hatred as he attempted to strike me with his magical weapon, but I dodged his attack and swiftly countered with a strike of my own.
“Avery!” I roared in horror as Elijah used her as a shield, pulling her in front of him just as I lunged forward with my silver sword, the blade piercing her stomach.
“No! Avery!” I cried out, wrenching the sword back and throwing it aside before catching her as she began to fall.
“Alpha!” Maddox’s warning shout filled the air as he leaped into action, charging at the rogue king and swiftly dispatching him with a lethal blow, snapping his head.
“I.. I… am sorry, Zander. I… I am truly s…sorry for everything I h…have done to you,” Avery mumbled through gritted teeth, her breathing labored with pain.
“Shh, don’t say anything, Avery. Let me take you to the hospital,” I said urgently, moving to pick her up. But she stopped me with a feeble gesture.
“No, I don’t have time. Let me die like this. I deserve it,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, the pain evident in every breath. I watched helplessly as her blood continued to flow, staining the ground around us.
“Maybe this is what I deserve for my sins. But before I die, I want to do one good thing in my life: tell you the truth,” she whispered, her words barely audible over the sounds of the surrounding chaos.
“What are you talking about?” I asked, my confusion growing as I leaned in to hear her words more clearly.
“Zander, there is a very big conspiracy going on, and Selena is a part of it,” Avery disclosed, her voice strained with urgency.
“What do you mean?” I frowned, feeling a sense of unease settling in the pit of my stomach. Avery’s breathing became labored, her hiccups interrupting her words.
“Damon is not Selena’s mate. Everything is a lie,” she managed to gasp out before her breathing slowed, her eyes turning vacant.
“Avery! Avery!” I shouted, shaking her lifeless body in a futile attempt to rouse her. But she remained still, her last breath escaping her lips. She had left us, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions.
What did she mean by Damon not being Selena’s mate? And what was the truth behind the conspiracy she had alluded to? Despite the doubts swirling in my mind, one thing was certain: a dying person never lied.
______________
*Selena*
Cassandra’s assistant, Alice, had requested my presence at a location she provided the address for. Despite the challenge of evading the bodyguard Damon had assigned to me, I managed to slip away and head straight to the address given by Alice. The Vampire Kingdom was vastly different from the werewolf pack, with its unique housing arrangements and distinct social hierarchy. The address Alice had provided led me to a secluded corner of the kingdom, where opulent villas stood as a testament to the vampires’ aristocratic lifestyle.
I concealed my face with a scarf as I navigated the unfamiliar streets, seeking directions from passersby to reach my destination. Finally, I arrived at the lavish villa indicated by Alice. It exuded an air of grandeur and royalty, unmistakably belonging to the king’s uncle. Alice greeted me outside.
Some guards stood watch at the imposing entrance of the villa, their vigilant eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of trouble. Alice wasted no time, leading me through the ornate corridors lined with opulent tapestries and gilded furnishings, until we reached the grand hall where Sir Nicholas awaited.
As I entered, I had expected to encounter an elderly figure befitting the title of “King’s Uncle,” but Sir Nicholas defied my expectations. Despite his familial connection to royalty, he appeared remarkably youthful, his demeanor exuding an aura of power and authority. Vampires had their charm for sure.
“Hello, Sir Nicholas,” I greeted with a respectful nod, noting the subtle tension in the air.
“Ah, Selena. How delightful to have Damon’s mate gracing us with her presence,” he replied, his words tinged with a hint of sarcasm that did not escape my notice. It made me feel somewhat uncomfortable.