Chapter 39

Flora’s P.O.V

“Andre has…Malachi…”

Everything seemed jumbled up inside my mind for an instant; my mind unable to cope with the shock.

Malachi had been captured? Andre was the new Alpha?

If Andre had taken over the pack and the castle, then everything was over right before our eyes.

“Oh God…Emma!”

The sudden yell had me turning to see Emma falling backwards from where she stood, her eyes having rolled back into her head. Daphne and I rushed to catch her before her head hit the floor and we managed to get to her just in time.

“Emma!” I patted her cheeks, her head resting on my shoulders. “Emma, wake up.”

“She’s in shock.” Samuel told us from the doorway, helping me snap out of my shock.

“Daphne, Samuel,” I looked at them both. “Help me move her to the bed. She needs rest.”

Samuel immediately agreed and came inside the room, picking Emma up into his arms and carrying her to the bed single-handedly. Daphne shut the door quietly and we gathered around the bed to take care of Emma.

“How bad is the situation?” I asked Samuel. “Why aren’t Malachi’s army doing anything?”

“Our army isn’t as big as several of us opted to leave earlier this year.” Samuel told us. “It’s why Malachi had to call in the mercenaries since we were short-staffed. But as of now, we have no other option than to obey. Andre killed a common wolf in the pack just for speaking out and now he’s given us the condition that if we do not co-operate, two people dies for each rebellion. One soldier and a commoner.”

“That’s horrible!” Daphne spoke before I could. “Damnit! We always felt something was off about that man!”

“Does Ezra know?” I asked, but Samuel shook his head.

“The Shrine Maiden had retired to her tower early today.” He confirmed. “I don’t think she’s aware.”

“Then one of us need to tell her.” I turned to Daphne. “Go inform Ezra about what is happening. I’ll stay here with Emma.”

“Okay.” Daphne immediately got off the bed and rushed to the door. She was gone the next instant and it showed just how scared she was as well.

“Will the Shrine Maiden be able to help?” Samuel asked almost hopefully.

“No.” I told him as I got off the bed as well. “The Shrine Maiden doesn’t have such power and if anything, Ezra might panic as well. But she needs to be made aware.”

“I understand, Lady Healer.” Samuel bowed, about to leave as well, but I stopped him.

“Samuel, can you do me a favor?” I asked as he stopped half-way.

“Just command, My Lady.”

“Look after Emma for a few moments.” I told him. “I must speak to Andre.”

Samuel’s eyes widened in horror. “My Lady!”

“I’m Andre’s mate.” I told him. “Or so he says. If there is anyone who can speak to him at the moment, it can only be me.”

“Please be careful.” Samuel bowed and I left the room, leaving Emma in his care.

I had lied to Samuel. I wasn’t the best person to be speaking to Andre right now. In fact, I was scared too, just thinking about facing him once again after I rejected him just a few hours ago. Andre was probably waiting for a chance to cut off my head. But I needed this chance. I needed to know what was going on and I needed to find out what had happened to Malachi.

The guards that had once been stationed in the corridors had changed. They were all Andre’s guards now and I felt them monitor my every step as I made my way out of the Maiden’s quarters and to the main building where Malachi’s office was. There were people still moving around, people from the pack that I saw every day, but their faces were ashen as if they had seen a ghost and no one said a word of greeting. The quietness was eerie even though there were several people around. Even Malachi’s soldiers, who were now forced to work under Andre, were dead silent with their heads bowed.

I saw the spot of blood on the concrete before entering the building and balled my hands into fists. How could he? An Alpha who murdered his own packmates was no Alpha. Andre was a tyrant and a murderer and he needed to be stopped!

The sense of dread in my stomach intensified as I neared Malachi’s office. The stares of the soldiers got worse, like they were waiting for their Alpha’s command to rip me to shreds. I felt my skin crawl at their stares and I wanted to run away badly, but I was already here. There was no turning back now.

The two guards stationed outside the office opened the door as soon as they saw me and I entered without a word, only to feel the door slam shut behind me. I grit my teeth to stop myself from panicking. It felt like I had just walked into a trap and it was too late to turn back.

And then my eyes fell on Andre.

“I was waiting for you.” Andre smiled, looking completely out of place inside Malachi’s office as he sat leaning back in his chair. “Come, we have much to discuss.”

“Where is Malachi?” I asked through gritted teeth, not interested in playing games with him. “What did you do to him?”

“Oh, don’t worry, he’s still alive.” Andre got up from his chair and rounded the table to come to stand in front of me. “I figured killing him at this point would be a waste. But I wouldn’t be concerned about Malachi if I were you. You upset me, Flora…now I must find a way to retaliate.”

This time it was my turn to laugh at him.

“What’s so funny?” He asked, his eyes narrowed at me.

“How old are you exactly that you must now ‘retaliate’ for me rejecting you?” I asked him instead. “I throw sand at you so you now have to throw sand at me? Is that how this works, Andre? Even children would be ashamed to play such games. So if you think by removing Malachi, you can now have some kind of control over me, you cannot be further from the truth.”

Before I knew what was happening, I flew back into the wall behind me, slamming into it with teeth-gritting force as all the air was knocked out of my lungs. And even before I had a chance to recover, Andre’s hand came around my neck, squeezing so tight that I knew it would leave bruises.

“Look at you talking like you have some kind of control over me.” He pulled me forward with his grip around my neck before slamming me back against the wall so hard that I saw black spots dance in front of my eyes.

“Malachi was detained for a very specific reason…but you seem eager to take his place, alongside Clay.”

The instant I heard his name come out of Andre’s mouth, I started struggling to break free from his clutches. What did he do to Clay? What was he planning?

But no matter how hard I tried to break free, Andre’s grip was like iron, completely immovable. He laughed at my futile attempts and must have decided to show pity on me because the next instant, he let go of my neck and I crumbled to the floor in a heap, gasping to get air into my lungs.

Why was I so weak? Why couldn’t I have been born a more dominant wolf? A healer hardly had any strength in her body and until now, no man in my life had ever made me feel so small…so helpless.

“If you hadn't rejected me, all this could’ve now been ours,” he spread his hand to point towards the room. “You could’ve been my Luna, ruling alongside me. But I’m a forgiving man so I will give you another chance.”

I looked up into his face as Andre knelt in front of me. I felt myself backing away as he lifted his hand, but he didn’t like the notion. Wrapping his hand in the hair at my nape, Andre pulled me forward, yanking my head back so he could look down at me. A yelp of pain escaped my lips, but he didn’t care.

“There is a Blood Moon next month, exactly thirty one days from now.” He smiled. “I’m sure your Shrine Maiden has already explained to you what it’s for? True love’s sacrifice. Malachi and Ezra.”

“NO!” I whispered in horror. Andre was thinking about sacrificing Malachi and Ezra? It couldn’t be! NO!

“Of course, two sacrifices are better than one.” His laugh was all kinds of wicked as he yanked harder on my hair. “How about I place you and Clay on the list as well?”

“Leave Clay alone!” I yelled at him, trying my best to get free. But the struggle only made it hurt worse; only fueled his ego.

“Then become my mate.” He said simply. “Since I like your spirit so much, I can overlook your little betrayal and give you another chance. Mate with me on the Blood Moon Ritual or die alongside Malachi, Ezra and Clay. The choice is yours.”

“Choice?” I asked him incredulously. “You call this a choice?”

“Of course!” He finally let go of my hair and stood up. “And since I’m feeling generous, I’ll throw in another penny. How about I let Clay live if you Mate with me? It’s too late for Malachi and Ezra, but your little puppy can go free! How fun! I’ll give you time to decide, but don’t take too long, I get impatient easily.”

With that, Andre walked out of the room and the door shut once again behind him.

I wrapped an arm around my middle, feeling my entire body ache in pain. What happened to the man I had met a month ago? Andre seemed like a gentleman, a kind man. But it had all been a façade! He had deceived and betrayed us all!

And now I was left with two choices, none of which were actual choices. Lose the love of my life and die alongside him…or let mate the man who I now despised with all my life to save Clay’s life.