Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

Zena's jaw dropped in sheer surprise as her eyes widened in horror. But she didn't want to believe it was true. She shook her head vigorously as she took , not wanting to believe what was happening.

No, this must be a nightmare. Of course, people had very scary nightmares when they were dealing with grief, the loss of a loved one—she knew that experience firsthand as she dealt with the loss of her mother.

However, this felt real. It was real.

Aster was betraying her, leading her right into the enemy's arms. What a bastard. Why? Why had he done that? What was his reason? Her whole mind was a whirlwind of thoughts a she sought to understand the reason behind his action.

"No, Aster, this can't be true. You can't just hand me over to him." She shook her head in disbelief again.

As if on cue, a chilling breeze swept through the forest, and a sinister chuckle filled the air. "Oh, but he can."

Zena's heart pounded as the voice seemed to echo from all directions, and then, from the shadows, a figure emerged. Tall and imposing, with eyes that held a dangerous gleam, Alpha Knox revealed himself.

See, Alpha Knox's decision was final. All he had demanded was that Zena be brought to him. He was going to behead her himself, and only then would he lift the curse.

Well, Aster had no problem with that.

When Alpha Knox had made the ultimatum, he didn't protest one bit. He needed Zena's head? Fine, he would give it to Knox on a platter of gold if that was the only way to ensure he and his people's safety.

Aster had further extended the deal though. He had proposed that should Zena be delivered unto Knox, the blue moon kingdom would seize attacking the rogues and the rogues would do likewise.

Knox agreed to the terms and Aster was quite elated by it. His people were his top priority and Zena was only a mate, a breeder and one to give him an heir.

He never had any romantic feelings for her, but had only decided to accept her as his mate because he perceived something out of the ordinary lurking in her.

He knew she wasn't a normal girl, and whatever it was that was embedded in her, he had wanted his future children to inherit that in some way.

So now that it had come to the point where he had to chose between his people and her, he wasn't even going to hesitate one bit. After all, she was the leader of the Rogues and a leader should be ready at any time to lay down his or her life for her people.

His people came first, and he would do anything to protect them.  

A bitter smile tugged at Knox's lips as he regarded Zena. "Aster has made the right choice. For the sake of his pack, he's chosen to sacrifice you."

Zena's shock turned to anger as she clenched her fists by her sides, "You can't just take me like this, against my will." Tears welled up in her eyes as she loomed at Aster, "I never thought you would do this to me." She sniffled.

Alpha Knox's lips twisted into a cruel smile. "But that's the theory of life. Whatever you do unto someone…" he paused, his smile widening, "will surely return unto you. In ten folds." he gave a sinister chuckle at the end.

Her gaze shifted between Aster and Knox as she thought of what to do next. She had no other choice, she had to defend herself. She knew she won't be able to defeat the both of them, but at least she could be smart enough to cause a diversion and escape.

It was going to be difficult, but that was the only way she could survive this. So, she immediately tried to shift, however she couldn't harness the energy she needed to transform.

She tried again but nothing happened and she remained in her human dorm.

Panic immediately welled in her and h r eyes widened in horror. What was happening?

Aster's mocking laughter cut through the air, knocking h r out of her thoughts. "Having trouble, Zena?"

She shot him a glare, "What did you do, Aster?"

He smirked, his gaze now fixed on the moonstone necklace that hung around her neck. "That necklace you're wearing, the moonstone crystal, it's enchanted. It's designed to prevent you from shifting."

Her fingers instinctively went to the necklace, trying to yank it out "What? No, no, no!" she exclaimed as she tugged on the necklace, but it didn't budge.

But before she could do anything else, Knox's voice sliced through the night air like a blade.

"Seize her!" He commanded.

Zena's head snapped in the direction of where the sudden footsteps where emerging from. Her eyes widened as she saw the royal guards, large and imposing, surrounded her in an instant.

She had tried to back away, but the iron grip of their hands had latched unto her before she could even get the chance to.

"No, let me go!" she shouted, struggling against their hold but their grips were unyielding.

Aster's cold gaze remained fixed on her, unaffected by her distress. His smirk didn't falter and it was glinted in menace underneath the night sky.

She didn't know which was more painful—whatever punishment that awaited her in Knox's hands  or the fact that the love of her life, her destined mate, had betrayed her in the worst possible wag.

Knox stepped forward, his eyes boring into hers, "Struggling ia futile.You've been delivered into my hands, by your own mate. The irony," he chuckled. "The tables have been turned, it's my time to have my own pound of flesh."

Her chest heaved with rage and fear, . "Let me go, Knox." She retorted.

A mirthless smile tugged at his lips. "Oh, I'm afraid it won't work that way."

And within a twinkle of an eye, Knox's amr s extended and his fingers pressed against a pressure point on her neck. Immediately, a wave of dizziness washed over her and vision started to .

"What…what did you do…" she drawled, her limbs grew heavy and her protests faded away as unconsciousness settled in.

Knox's cold laughter echoed in her ears as the darkness started to consume her and then, she fainted and fellImp Into The Hands Of The Guards.

-:-

The pounding ache in her head was what seemed to have propelled her out of unconsciousness.

As she slowly came to be, she found herself in a disorienting haze. Her head throbbed—badly, and the world around her spun in a chaotic whirl.

Gradually, her surroundings came into focus, revealing a scene that sent a chill down her spine.

Gone were the forests and the moonlight. Instead, she was encircled by a throng of unfamiliar people, they were cheering and some were laughing at her in mockery.

Her brows furrowed as her eyes darted about the scormful crowd, trying to understand what was happening.

However, her eyes widened when her gaze fell upon herself. She was no longer wearing her usual attire. Instead, she was draped in rough, tattered fabric that hung from her body like a shroud.

This was prison wear!

Sne tried to move but she felt a sting on her ankles that made her halt. Ropes had bounded her legs and hands.

And then amidst the crowd, a figure stepped forward and she recognized those stone–cold, dead midnight blue eyes anywhere.. It was Knox.

"Behold!" he announced, his voice searing through like a knife being ran down a cloth.. "Today marks a momentous occasion. Our enemy, the leader of the Skull Rogues, stands before us, defeated and powerless."

Her heart pounded in her chest as she absorbed his words. She was the spectacle, the prize for the crowd's amusement. Just a few days ago, she had watched from the shadows how Knox took delight in killing some of her people.

And now, she was in the same fate, or even worse. She didn't know what exactly he was going to do go her  .

He continued, "After years of conflict, after enduring their attacks and their defiance, we finally hold the key to their downfall. Today, she is no longer their leader. Today, she is nothing more than a symbol of their defeat."

The crowd erupted into cheers and jeers as they jubilated. Ber jaw clenched as she glared at Knox, her defiance burning despite her helplessness. Oh no, she wasn't going to let him break her spirit, no matter the circumstances.

"Your punishment won't be a swift death."  he said, his eyes gleaming with sadistic delight. "No. You will not be granted such a mercy. A slow death will fit you perfectly"

A slow death? The thought sent a cold chill through her veins. What exactly was he driving at?

"You will not die by the gallows, like the other rogues," Knox continued. "No, you will become….a  prisoner. My prisoner. You will serve your time with hard labour and immense suffering." he added.

Her fists balled within the ropes upon hearing that. A prisoner? Meaning she would be forced to bow down and be a subject to Knox? He would control her, punish her to satisfy his cruel whim and have possession of her?

How had it all come to this?

"However," Knox's lips curled into a malicious smile, "I cannot take someone who belongs to another. There are certain rules even I must adhere to."

Her heart sank as she understood the meaning of his words immediately. She turned her gaze towards the crowd and she saw that Aster had emereged. His eyes were still cold and unyielding, showing no remourse still.., .

"Aster," Knox called, his voice taunting. "She is the one you once considered a mate, is she not?"

Aster's jaw tightened, and Zena could see the struggle in his eyes. She had known him for so long, seen the depths of his emotions, seemingly known what he was capable of doing and not doing.

But now, she was mocked and betrayed by her previously conceived notions. Yet, her heart ached as she watched him, silently begging for some shred of the person she had known. The person she had believed him to be.

Maybe he would suffice and give a change of heart, somehow setting her free from Knock.

Or maybe this was all an elaborate plan to be able to defeat Knox once and for all. Maybe he was using this as a decoy, a distraction—or whatever it was, she just hoped that it was all just a game of pretence and it wasn't real.

"She was," Aster's voice was flat, devoid of any emotion. "But no longer."

Her heart shattered at his words and she opened her mouth to speak, "But Aster, don't you thi—"

"I, Aster, officially reject you, Zena as my mate!" He declared, cutting her off. Zena's eyes widened in terror as she digested the words that had just been said to her.

Aster was severing their mate bond?

Knox's laughter echoed through the air and brought her out of her thoughts, "There you have it," he proclaimed. "She is no longer bound by the ties of a mate. Now, Zena, you can truly belong to me!"