Griffin’s POV
The realization struck me like a physical blow. Whoever had slaughtered my men was on to me. I had to get out and leave before anyone connected the dots back to me. I turned towards the exit, my pulse racing as I slipped through the gathering darkness.
Just as I was about to push through the last of the crowd, I heard Rolan’s voice, clear and commanding. “I’m going to check the garden,” he told Pandora, who stood beside him, her brow furrowed with worry.
“Rolan, wait! You should take some guards with you,” she insisted, her voice laced with concern.
“I’m the Alpha. I don’t need guards to feel safe,” he replied, dismissing her with a wave of his hand.
A cold thrill shot through me. This was my chance, one last attempt to eliminate Rolan and assume his place as Alpha. I moved quickly but cautiously, tailing him as he made his way toward the garden, my heart hammering in my chest.
The moon hung high and bright above us, illuminating the path like a spotlight on my treachery. Slowly, as I crept into the shadows of the garden, I could see Rolan moving about, seemingly oblivious to my presence.
I took a deep breath, pulling my knife from my pocket. It glinted in the moonlight, and for a brief moment, I hesitated. But then I reminded myself of what was at stake, power, respect, and a future that would belong to me alone.
With a swift motion, I sprang from the shadows, my knife aimed for Rolan’s heart. The shock on his body was priceless as I lunged forward, stabbing him multiple times, each thrust releasing a wave of adrenaline that coursed through my veins.
I could hear the quiet thud of his body hitting the ground, the sound echoing in my ears like a death knell. I looked around, ensuring no one had seen me, and quickly dragged his body into the thick underbrush.
I piled some shrubs over him, hoping to conceal the evidence of my betrayal. As I stepped back, I felt a mixture of triumph and dread; I was finally free from the shadow of Rolan.
But as I re-entered the palace, the world around me shattered. Rolan stood there, his presence as imposing as ever, engaged in a serious discussion with Caleb. I froze, my blood turning to ice in my veins.
This was impossible; I had killed him.
I stumbled back outside, panic clawing at my throat. I had to confirm what I had done; maybe it had been some cruel trick of the light.
Quickly, I rushed to the garden, dread pooling in my stomach, and as I approached the spot where I had left Rolan’s body, a scream shattered the night.
“Griffin!” It was Camila’s voice, rising above the chaos, piercing the air like a siren. My heart dropped as the realization dawned on me: I had been discovered.
I turned on my heel, adrenaline propelling me forward, but it was too late. The commotion drew the attention of everyone around, and soon, guards were rushing toward the garden, Rolan’s commanding presence leading the way.
“Grab him!” Rolan ordered, his eyes fierce and unyielding as he pointed directly at me.
I felt the weight of his accusation, a visceral blow to my gut. I turned to run, but the guards were already upon me, their hands gripping my arms and pulling me back, rendering me helpless.
“Rolan, please! I can explain!” I shouted, desperation clawing at my throat as they dragged me away from the chaos I had created.
But my pleas fell on deaf ears as they escorted me towards the dungeons. The cold stone walls loomed ahead, a grim reminder of my fate.
Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of my betrayal crushing me. The guards threw me into the cell, the door clanging shut with a finality that echoed in my ears.
I slumped against the wall, my breath ragged as I fought to process what had just happened. How could this have gone so wrong? The moonlight filtered through the small barred window, casting eerie shadows that danced along the floor, mocking me.
In the silence of the cell, I could hear the distant sounds of the celebration continuing outside, a cruel reminder of what I had lost. Rolan was alive, and I was trapped, the walls closing in around me as I faced the reality of my failure.
My mind raced as I replayed the events in my head. Had I been set up? Or had Caleb somehow foreseen my plan? The thought of betrayal sent shivers down my spine, and the darkness of the dungeon enveloped me like a cold blanket.
“Griffin” I heard someone call out to me and I jumped.
It was my foster mom, she emerged from the shadows, almost like she had been waiting for me. I knew now, that they had known all along, I was the fool who had played cheaply into their plans.
This was the only way to make sure that I never had a life outside of here. That was if they allowed me to live.
“You should have listened to me when I cautioned you about your ambitiousness. Now, so many lives have gone because of your greed and covetousness.” She spat and walked out, I was too stunned to say another word. It was definitely sure now that they all knew what was going on.
Leaning against the cold stone wall, I knew that the path ahead was fraught with danger. I had to escape the clutches of Rolan and Caleb, but the road to redemption would be long and treacherous.
The water of the womb had nurtured me, and now, it felt as if I was drowning in my own choices.
I had to swim to the surface, to find a way back into the light before the darkness consumed me entirely. The celebration of doom was far from over, and I was determined to turn the tide.