4

Elita

Does this mean I am going to die tonight?

“ Oh, shit! ” I blurt. “ I am damned. ”

“ Lana! What language is this? We are already here. Refrain from saying such words. ” Donna whisper-yells but I can not focus on that anymore.

I am walking to my death.

I wince, as I am literally forced down the carriage by Donna.

She pushes me in the direction of the open gates of the Wolveshire Citadel. “ Go on! Best of luck! ”

I take a step forward, preparing myself to face the inevitable.

“ And Lana?! ” Donna calls me out again.

My trance breaks as I hum, not in the mood to reply to her.

“ If Alpha King is anywhere close to killing you, just remind him that you are Nora’s best friend. ” She chimes as if that fact alone can save me from death.

“ Who is this Nora? ” I wonder, completely dumbfounded.

But I receive no answer. When I glance over my shoulder, the carriage is already gone.

I stand there and stare at the bright, golden decorations from afar until a warrior comes to lead me inside the Grand Hall.

My memories clash with my reality as I recall myself walking among the ruins of this magnificent castle.

I twirl around, eyeing the golden chandeliers, the white, blue, and golden decorations. My heart soars, as I take in the sea of girls, of guards, of servers.

The smiling faces. The nervous stances. The laughter.

All these people…

They died because of me.

Regret overwhelms me and suddenly, even while standing among the crowd, I feel like I am alone—Just the lone, filthy wolf they called me.

In my mind, I see everyone turning towards me and asking me why must they die because of my foolishness. And I have no answer to that. I can’t explain why I tricked the Alpha King and brought him to his death.

I stagger a step back but the loud cheers bring me back to my senses.

“ His Highness has arrived. ” A girl screams in excitement, her voice shrill and disturbing.

My breath hitches, and I find myself becoming a stone statue as my head turns in the direction of the stairs.

He is not here yet. But he is coming.

Now the mission [Changing Fate for the Alpha King] is on.

I open the bottle and down the liquid, as others stare in the direction of the stairs, like me. The lights in the Grand Hall suddenly become brighter as the bitter liquid burns down my throat.

And then I see him. His long, thick legs clad in black pants, the blue shirt tight around his lean torso, the black jacket with sparkling blue embroidery. Slowly, my eyes travel higher, to his covered, broad shoulders, to his Adam’s apple.

An itch starts in my hands and my palms sweat. Suddenly, I feel like I am burning from the inside out, like my guts are getting scorched and I can no longer stand still.

He is walking down the stairs, his stance that of a lazy predator but so commanding that there is no ignoring the shift in the air. People stand straighter, hold their breath, keep their eyes on him.

The stone sculpture flashes before my eyes and my gaze lifts to his similar sharp jawline, his thick lips that part just slightly, and his proud nose.

My heartbeat picks its pace, and the bottle drops to the floor. An odd, unbearable urge takes over me—an urge to meet his gaze right away.

But…I am already breathless.

He is here. In the same world—no—the same room as me. Just a few steps away.

I wait, just a moment longer, to calm myself, to prepare myself to see what the eyes of this man look like.

Then, I look up.

Our gazes collide, and my breath whooshes out of my lungs. His eyes are a dark color, the color of a midnight sky on a clear night.

The urge to look into his eyes shifts into something more primal. I am being pulled towards the tall man, the dangerous Alpha King like I am the other half of the magnet that he is.

Before I register my move, I am already standing before him, taking him in from so close. His mesmerizing eyes follow me, a frown etching between his thick brows.

He is…beautiful. So much better than his sculpture.

And I…

I can not stop myself.

What the hell are you doing, Lana? Elita?!

The primal instinct takes over, and I lose control of my limbs as I lift myself on my toes and my lips smash over his parted mouth.

Sparks explode behind my eyes, and gasps erupt all around me, but I grab his collar and pull his head down to deepen the kiss.