3. Condemned by the King

Avery’s POV

I ran for what felt like an eternity, my feet pounding against the forest floor, each step fueled by a mix of fear and determination. Elizabeth's screams still echoed in my ears, a haunting reminder of her sacrifice. Every breath I took was a painful reminder of the wolfsbane coursing through my veins, sapping my strength and slowing my pace.

Just when I thought everyone had turned their backs on me, Elizabeth had given her life to save mine. The pain of her loss was a raw, burning ache in my chest, but it also ignited a fierce resolve within me. I couldn't let her sacrifice be in vain.

My wolf, Sienna, stirred within me, struggling against the poisonous effects of the wolfsbane. She was a powerful presence, her strength a lifeline as I pushed myself forward. Despite the pain, she lent me what little energy she could muster, urging me to keep moving, to reach safety.

I could hear the wolves closing in behind me, their relentless pursuit echoing through the forest. Every beat of their paws against the ground sent a shiver down my spine, a stark reminder of how much faster they were than my two human feet.

I knew I was bound to be caught. Their speed and ferocity were unmatched, and I was certain that my escape was impossible. But then, by some twisted miracle, I managed to outrun them.

Just when I could feel their hot breath on my heels and hear their growls growing louder, the sound of their pounding paws suddenly vanished. One moment, the forest was alive with their pursuit, and the next, an eerie silence enveloped me. It was as if they had never been there at all.

The abrupt quiet was unsettling, sending a chill through my already exhausted body. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, but I had no time or energy to dwell on the mystery. My only focus was to keep moving, to keep putting distance between myself and whatever fate awaited me if I stopped.

The dense forest blurred around me as I ran, branches scratching at my skin, the cool night air biting at my exposed flesh. My muscles screamed in protest, but Sienna's determination was unwavering. We had to reach the Alpha King's pack. He was the only one who could help me reclaim what was rightfully mine.

As dawn began to break, casting a pale light through the trees, I finally spotted the outskirts of the Alpha King's territory. Relief washed over me, mingling with the exhaustion that threatened to pull me under.

The Alpha King's existence serves a crucial purpose: to ensure the werewolf world maintains order. His role is to prevent packs from waging wars against each other or descending into chaos and bloodshed. Despite his reputation as a strong and supposedly just leader, I knew better. I had met the man personally, interacted with him. I knew how dark-hearted he could be, how ruthless he became when his position was threatened or when someone tried to dismantle what he had so carefully built over the years.

"Are you sure this is a good idea? I hate that man, and I know you hate him even more than I do. I don’t think he will agree to help us get the pack back," my wolf, Sienna, voiced her concern.

"A good idea? Not by a long shot," I admitted, my voice tinged with desperation. "But I don’t have anywhere else to go, Sienna. Besides, if he doesn’t agree to help me, maybe... maybe he will." I couldn't even bring myself to say his name aloud, the pain of his loss constricting my heart.

"If the Alpha King won’t help, you can be sure as hell he will not even agree to see your face, let alone hear your voice," Sienna said thoughtfully.

"We’ll see," I replied, my tone reluctant but resolute.

I arrived at the Alpha King's pack, my breath ragged and my legs trembling from exhaustion. Every step felt like a monumental effort, but I pushed through the patrol, demanding a meeting with the Alpha King. The guards exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes sweeping over my appearance with a mix of shock and skepticism.

I knew what I looked like to them: a disheveled mess in a torn, dirty white wedding dress, my hair a tangled mass, and my face undoubtedly streaked with dirt and tears. I felt their stares like daggers, but I forced myself to ignore them, focusing solely on my goal—revenge.

After what felt like an eternity, I was finally granted entrance to the Alpha King's office. The room was a testament to opulence, befitting a ruler of his stature. The walls were lined with rich mahogany panels, adorned with intricate carvings that told the history of our kind. A massive, ornate desk dominated the center of the room, its surface polished to a mirror-like sheen. Behind it, shelves laden with ancient tomes and priceless artifacts stretched to the ceiling. The floor was covered in a luxurious Persian rug, its patterns vibrant and meticulously woven. Soft light filtered through tall, arched windows draped with heavy velvet curtains, casting a warm glow over the space.

Sitting behind the desk was the Alpha King. Despite his age, which I knew to be far greater than appearances suggested, he looked no older than eighty. His hair was a striking silver, neatly combed back, giving him an air of timeless wisdom. His skin, though lined with the marks of age, retained a certain vitality and strength. His eyes were a piercing blue, sharp and unyielding, as if they could see straight into your soul. He wore a finely tailored suit, the dark fabric contrasting starkly with his pale complexion, and a blood-red tie that seemed to hint at the power and authority he wielded.

He looked up as I entered, his gaze assessing and cold. The weight of his presence was almost tangible, filling the room with an aura of dominance and command. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. My fate—and the fate of my pack—hung in the balance.

He was sitting behind his massive desk, an imposing figure of authority. Beside him stood a strikingly handsome young man, whom I vaguely recognized as one of his sons, Andrew. Andrew exuded an effortless charisma, his dark hair perfectly styled, contrasting with his piercing green eyes that seemed to see right through me. His build was athletic and powerful, his tailored suit accentuating broad shoulders and a lean physique. His face was chiseled, with a strong jawline and a playful yet cold grin that tugged at the corners of his mouth, clearly recognizing me.

“Alpha King,” I greeted, placing my right fist on my left shoulder and bowing slightly, my eyes cast down briefly in the proper show of respect.

I straightened, meeting his gaze with unwavering determination. “Thank you for seeing me at this late hour, Alpha.”

His lips twisted into a sneer of disdain. “I don’t have much time, Avery. I agreed to meet you only to remind you of the last words I spoke to you three years ago. It seems you have forgotten them,” he said, his tone menacing and laced with contempt.

I fought back a shudder as I spoke tightly, "I remember your words, Alpha. I know you commanded me never to show my face here again… but I come as an Alpha who has been betrayed by someone in my pack. I seek your help to end them, just like any other Alphas who have come to you over the years."

"Do you think that matters to me, silly girl? An order is an order. No matter what happened, you were not supposed to set foot in this place ever again. Now leave at once and do not dare disturb me again unless you want my wrath to befall you," he barked, his voice sharp and unyielding.

"Please, Alpha, help me get my pack back and you will never see..." I began, fighting back my tears, but he slammed his palm on the desk, the sound echoing through the opulent room and cutting me off mid-sentence.

"You have the audacity to keep talking? Leave... now!" he said coldly, his eyes narrowing with irritation.

"I think she wants to get down on her knees and beg at your feet, Alpha. Why deny her that wish? Maybe she's good at groveling, or perhaps she was expecting to grovel to someone else here," Andrew said sarcastically, his grin widening with malicious amusement.

"That cocky asshole! Just turn around and leave, Avery! They won't help us!" Sienna roared in my head. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, struggling to suppress the urge to respond to that egotistical pig. The room seemed to close in around me, the weight of their disdain pressing heavily on my shoulders. But despite the humiliation, I couldn't leave without trying one last time.

Suddenly, the doors behind me swung open, and the moment I heard the first footstep enter the office, my breath hitched. An intoxicating scent of sandalwood and fresh pine filled the air, a fragrance so familiar and comforting that it seized my heart in an unyielding grip.

Unwillingly, my feet turned on their own accord. My heart pounded fiercely, as if trying to leap from my chest and rush toward him, to bury itself in his presence and scream his name like a lifeline.

Our eyes met, and my screaming heart wept with joy, yearning for that face as if it were my next breath. I hadn’t realized how lifeless I had been these past three years until I saw him standing there, his presence reviving something deep within me.

Liam.

His name echoed through my soul, a desperate cry lighting up the darkness that had enveloped me for so long. His face was as mesmerizing as I remembered—sharp, defined features with a strong jawline. His deep, soulful blue eyes held a depth of emotion that spoke of untold stories and unfulfilled promises. His dark hair, slightly tousled, framed his face perfectly, adding to his rugged, yet refined appearance. Every inch of him radiated strength and a quiet intensity that made my heart ache with longing.

Our eyes lingered on each other as he approached me slowly, each step measured and deliberate. There was no surprise in his gaze; he must have heard I was here and had been expecting to find me.

His lips were pursed into a fine line, his eyes radiating hatred and malice, and my heart constricted in pain at the sight. It was the same look he gave me the last time I saw him, the last time I shattered us both and walked away. That look was forever etched into my memory, the ache of it never leaving, never healing.

“What is she doing here?” he asked darkly, his gaze never wavering from mine, though he didn’t bother to address me directly.

“She has a death wish, dear brother. She’s come to die,” Andrew said lightly from behind me, his tone dripping with mockery.

“I warned you both back then that I never wanted to see her face here again, and now she has the audacity to come to us, to you, for help. Either you kill her, or your brother will, but she doesn’t leave this place alive. I do not take kindly to my orders being challenged, Avery. You seem to have underestimated my resolve,” the Alpha King said, his voice cold and threatening.

“I’d be more than happy to do it on your behalf, Liam,” Andrew offered enthusiastically.

Liam’s face remained impassive, showing no reaction to his father’s impossible ultimatum. His silence felt like a tacit agreement, and I felt as though a dagger had been plunged into my heart.

I took a step closer to him, my eyes desperately searching his for any flicker of the love that once bound us together, the passion that had enveloped us during our time together. But there was nothing left. I had extinguished that flame the day I left him, returning to my pack without looking back.

Well, if I was going to die tonight, I’d rather it be by his hand than anyone else’s. It seemed fitting, considering I held myself responsible for destroying everything good in him. It felt like the proper punishment for breaking his heart.

Summoning the last of my courage, I reached out and took his hand, placing it gently on my neck. My voice softened as I whispered, “Do it then.”

The room fell silent, the weight of my words hanging heavily in the air. His hand felt cold against my skin, a stark contrast to the warmth I once knew. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing the gravity of the moment. I closed my eyes, ready to face whatever came next, knowing that in some twisted way, this was the closure I had been seeking.