Althea sat in silence inside the carriage with lva beside her. They had resud their journey that morning, and since then, the Alpha King hadn’t checked on her once.
“My Lady,” lva spoke gently, sensing the heaviness in her, “please don’t be too sad. What matters is that the Alpha King is treating you well. I an, it’s already much better than how he’s known to treat those who cross him.”
Althea gave her a faint smile and nodded. That was true. She had braced herself to be paraded in chains like a criminal, the traitor’s daughter humiliated before the world. Instead, Gavriel had let her share his bed. Or... had he?
Last night was a blur. She had fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep and woke up alone. The bed was cold when she stirred. Had he returned after she fell asleep? Or had he stayed away on purpose?
“How’s your body feeling?” lva asked, concern etched on her face. “You shouldn’t be sore anymore, right? The mate bond from a Lycan should’ve started healing you.”
Althea gave a soft laugh. “You keep asking that. I promise I’m fine. The bond is working. I’m fully healed, no pain, no discomfort.”
lva sighed in relief, dramatically pressing a hand to her chest. “I just wanted to be sure. They say being mated to a Lycan changes everything. I’ve always wondered if those rumors were true. Seems like they are. You’re lucky in that sense, my Lady. Being the Alpha King’s mate, especially now that he’s marked you, it ans you’ll be protected no matter what.”
Althea’s smile faltered slightly. She nodded again, but inside, she felt the sting of disappointnt.
Yes, she was safe. Yes, she was healed.
But this wasn’t the kind of love she had ever dread of. This wasn’t a romantic fate. It was instinct. Survival. Obligation.
Gavriel marked her because it was the only way to save her life... not because he wanted her in the way she longed to be wanted.
Althea released a deep, heavy sigh, the words Gavriel had said to her last night still echoing in her mind. ‘You’re nothing more than the traitor’s daughter warming my bed. That’s all this is. Don’t forget it.’
And sohow, that truth hurt more than she expected.
The day’s travel had been smooth. They only stopped again at sunset to make camp. This ti, no tents were built, and Althea was told she would be sleeping inside her carriage with lva.
Now, she sat silently in one corner, sharing a modest al with lva. Around them, the wary, judgntal glances continued. They never stopped.
‘How long will the Alpha King keep her?! She should be in chains, walking barefoot on the road like a criminal!’
‘She’s lucky to be his mate. If not, she’d be begging for death... or she’d have taken her own life by now.’
Althea’s throat tightened. She quickly tore her gaze away from the two whispering servants nearby, their thoughts burning in her mind like poison.
‘If only I could read the Alpha King’s thoughts instead,’ she thought bitterly. ‘If I could just hear what he truly wanted... I could adjust. I could survive.’ That was how she had always done it... anticipate, adapt, and protect herself before the blow ever landed.
Suddenly, a sharp cold spread through her chest, making her flinch and clutch the front of her dress.
“My Lady?” lva rushed to her side, alard. “What is it? Are you alright?”
Althea hesitated, then nodded weakly. “It’s nothing. Just... a strange feeling again.”
“Do you want to ask for a healer?” lva asked in a worried tone. Then she glanced around nervously and lowered her voice. “But... do you think they’ll even send one if we ask?”
Althea didn’t answer right away, not aloud. lva’s worried thoughts filled her head again.
‘Ah, this is frustrating! The Alpha King is terrifying, even if he’s ridiculously handso! What if he lashes out if I tell him My Lady is unwell? But... she’s his mate, maybe he’ll care. Ugh, but he killed Lady Cara without blinking. He could kill if I annoy him. I’m not his mate like she is...’
Althea couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle. “Don’t worry about , lva,” she said gently. “It’s just that sa strange feeling I’ve had before. And besides, have you forgotten? I’m well-versed in dicine. I can take care of myself.”
lva’s face crumpled with doubt. “With all due respect, My Lady,” she huffed, “you know more about poisonous herbs than healing ones. And if I may remind you... you didn’t even realize your wine was poisoned before.”
Althea winced with a laugh. “Fair point.”
“You’re getting rusty,” lva added with a pout, crossing her arms.
Althea smiled at her warmly. lva had always been one of the few genuine people in her life. Maybe it was because she had once saved lva long ago, but even so, the woman had always treated her with kindness and honesty, like a sister. Sotis too honest. She cared for her deeply.
lva was loud, blunt, and anxious most of the ti, but her concern always ca from the heart. And right now, Althea wanted to tell her everything. Her strange ability. The way she could hear thoughts. The mories she didn’t have. The doubts about her lineage. But she held back.
Sohow, Althea knew that knowing too much could put lva in danger. And if that happened, she wouldn’t forgive herself. So for now, she smiled and said nothing more.
lva gently guided her back into the carriage and asked curiously, “My Lady... why didn’t you notice the wine was poisoned? You were never this careless before. I’ve been aning to ask that but it kept slipping my mind.”
Althea paused, lips pressing into a thin line.
It was true. She had studied dicine, but her real focus had always been poisons because she had to. The Luna, the mistresses, even her own half-siblings had all tried to poison her more than once. Her father’s obvious favoritism made her a threat, and they all wanted her gone.
Reviews
All reviews (0)