CHAPTER FIVE: BREAKING POINT

The damp chill of the dungeon seeps into my bones,wrapping around me,suffocating me. I sat curled on the stone floor,my arms wrapped tightly around my knees as I stared into the darkness.

“Please” I whispered into the darkness,” if you are there,if you are real,I need you “ i said reaching for my wolf. But no warmth came,no stirring of the wolf I so desperately wanted to connect with.

I sighed,resigning myself to fate.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the silent dungeon and I scrambled to my feet in fear. Ethan entered the dungeon,and I was relieved at the sight of him.

Surely he might understand me now that we are alone. “Ethan,” I began,”You need to believe me.” I said my voice was trembling. “ I didn't poison you. I would never do that. My sister….

“Enough.” He cuts me off,his tone cold. His eyes were devoid of the warmth or a hint of the love they had once held.

“Ethan, please.” I pleaded,stepping closer to him,searching his eyes,” I went to the lycan king to get an antidote for you,I almost died just to save you!.”

But his eyes didn't soften,instead,he took several steps back,as if my very presence repulsed him.

“My true mate told me everything, Lea.” He said my name as if it is poison,”How you plotted to take my power. How you tried to ruin us.”

I gasped,despair and pain warring within me,”She's lying!You know me,I can never hurt you.”

“I thought I did,” Ethan said,his voice freezing over. “But now I know I was wrong. You are not the woman I thought you were.”

His words pierced my chest like a blade,and I was short for words. He turned away without another word. His footsteps faded into the distance,and I crumbled to the floor. My tears falling silently on to the cold stone.

Another footsteps echoed through the dungeon soon after,I looked up to see Sophie. Her appearance is a clear and cruel difference from the darkness surrounding me.

“Dear Lea,fancy seeing you here.” She said, smiling happily. “Anyways, time is up.” She said with a smirk. “The executioner is ready,” she added gleefully.

My throat threatened to close in on me,”Why are you doing this?.” I asked her in confusion.

We had never been best of friends,but we had been very civil towards each other.

“What did I ever do to you?.”

She crouched down,her smile widening ,”it's not what you did Lea, it's what you are”.

“What I am?.” I asked,more confused now.

Sophie tilted her head mockingly,”Well,it wouldn't hurt to tell you right?. You are going to die anyway. But you really didn't know,did you?. Mother and father never told you the truth,did they?. I guess I can afford to be merciful” she said, checking her nails. 

She leaned closer,her voice dripping to a whisper,” “You are not my sister Lea,you were adopted. A stray.”

Her words hit me like a well packed blow,making me gasp for air,” No,no,no” I said, shaking my head vehemently .”That's not true”.

“Oh,it's very true,” Sophie said, standing again. “They took you in because they had no choice. But you have always been a burden, Lea. And now you are just a nuisance that needs to be dealt with.”

Her words felt like a blade,each syllable cutting deeper. Not her sister. Not part of the family. It had always been there. Every scornful look,every word of disdain from my parents. But hearing it spoken aloud broke something inside me. 

I was still reeling from her words,when I felt a searing pain in my hands. Sophie stomped on my hand and grind it hard on the floor. I cried out at the pain,and I heard a sickening crack from my fingers.

Sophie laughed evilly,”Enjoy the last moments of your pathetic life sis.” she adjusted her hair and left holding her head high as I whimpered in pain.

*****

I was soon dragged out of the dungeon,my body was weak,and my heart shattered into millions of pieces. But I am not sure which hurts more,my broken finger or my heart. As I was pushed toward the execution stand,chaos erupted.

Guards rushed towards me,”The lycan king is here,” they said panicking “ And he is demanding to see her.”

My heart skipped a beat,hope swirling in my chest. “Alexander?” I whispered disbelievingly.

The grand hall was suffocating with tension,the air thick with unease. The pack leaders stood to one side,exchanging nervous glances,their shoulders stiff and eyes darting away from Alexander.

My parents or adoptive parents rather avoided my gaze. They were huddled together like guilty children whose hands were just caught in a jar.

I would have laughed,but my situation is quiet unpredictable.

There stood Alexander,at the center of the room. His presence filled the room like a storm.His silver hair gleamed under the light of the torch,and his piercing golden eyes swept over the room,burning with quiet fury,with most avoiding his eyes or shifting uneasily,before landing on me.

“It's the second time you've broken your words little wolf.” His voice was low but carrying a weight that silenced the room.

My eyes filled with tears,my guilt mingling with relief.

“What is the meaning of this?,” Ethan demanded,stepping forward,”You cant just walk in here and take my…..” he trailed off.

He was short of words and Alexander raised his eyebrows clearly amused.

“Your what?” Alexander began,his tone mocking,”Mate?,I clearly heard you were about to execute your so-called mate. A strange way to show affection. Don't you think?.”

Ethan's face darkened,”This is pack's business. You have no right…..

Alexander stepped closer to Ethan,his presence towering over him,”No right?.” His voice dropped to a dangerous chilling growl,which reminds me of his snowy mountain.” I have every right when it comes to her.”

They both stared each other down,the tension in the room crackling like lightning.

“Let her choose,” Ethan said through gritted teeth,his eyes shifting to me.

I felt the stares of the pack landing on me,and my 

breath hitched.

“Decide,” he said coldly,”Stay here,or leave with him. But know this,if you leave,you will never be welcome here ever again.

My mind raced. I hated Ethan, hated him for the betrayal that still hurts like fresh wounds. I wanted to leave,but something rooted me in place. If I left,I would never find the answers I needed,the truth about my real parents, about my wolf,and why i had beem casted aside all my life. I needed answers,and I won't find them running away.

“I will not leave,” I said finally. My voice stready despite all the chaos swirling around in my head.

The room erupted into different reactions. Accusations and shouting fills the air,but I couldn't care less.

I felt Alexander's eyes burning into me,I turned and met his gaze, a mixture of frustration and something I couldn't understand.

He stepped through all the chaos,his voice clearly cutting through the noise.

“You've made your choice.” He said softly,his golden eyes locked on to mine. “Let's hope you can survive it,little wolf.”