Secrets

Chapter 4: A Revelation Unveiled

As Victoria reluctantly opened her eyes, she was greeted by a horrific sight. Blood surrounded her, staining her bed and the room. Panic surged through her as she desperately searched for her child, but the baby was nowhere to be found. Confusion swirled in her mind as she realized she was back in the delivery room, the presence of the Alpha King looming over her. The stone walls were damaged, allowing the icy wind to mercilessly rush in, carrying with it flakes of cold that were reminiscent of a frozen tempest. Her heart raced as she called out for her daughter.

"Elaine!" she cried out, her voice filled with desperation, as she threw herself at the door, pounding on it with all her might. She continued to bang on the door until her hands were raw and her skin threatened to bleed. In that moment, a cacophony of mocking laughter filled the air, accompanied by the scent of unfamiliar blood.

Suddenly, the Alpha King emerged from a dark corner of the room, his mouth moving rhythmically as if he were chewing on something. Blood stained his jaws, and his hands held the remnants of a baby.

Her baby.

"I asked for a son," he sneered, turning away and biting into what was left of the child. Overwhelmed with rage, Victoria transformed into her wolf form, her anger fueling her every move. With all her remaining strength, she lunged towards the Alpha King, determined to bring him down.

"Victoria," a calm voice whispered, jolting her from her nightmare. Slowly, she realized she had been dreaming, reliving the same nightmare that had haunted her for weeks since she escaped her clan. Shakily, she got out of bed and rushed to the cradle where her child lay, still sleeping peacefully with a smile that melted away her fear, replacing it with an overwhelming sense of love and adoration.

Her child.

"Are you alright, Victoria?" the voice asked, pulling her from her thoughts. She turned and saw Daniel, her savior and the one who had given her solace in this human realm. With a nod, she reassured him that she was fine, though her eyes still held traces of the nightmare that had plagued her sleep.

Victoria had managed to travel several miles away from her clan, surprised that she hadn't encountered any rogue wolves along the way. Surely, they would have eagerly sought to eliminate the heir of the Alpha who had banished them all. Or so she had thought.

When the pains of childbirth became unbearable, Victoria collapsed on the icy ground, her body weakening from the loss of blood. And it was there, in that moment of vulnerability, that Daniel Peters discovered her. She had been naked, bleeding, and pale, with her newborn child by her side. Daniel, on an exploration mission to uncover the supposed microorganisms the US government was experimenting within the Antarctic region, stumbled upon her. His intentions had been focused on engineering explosives to eradicate these potential threats before they could spread to other parts of the world.

"I should fetch your breakfast before it gets cold," Daniel said, breaking the silence as he left the room.

Victoria gazed around the room, still in awe of the new world she had been introduced to since Daniel had brought her here. It was a stark contrast to the life she had known within her clan. The human world was not superior, per se, but its diversity fascinated her. She had always believed that her kind, the wolves, had chosen to reside in Antarctica and keep their distance from humans due to the rumors of their dangerous, cunning, and self-centered nature. Humans seemed willing to go to any lengths to fulfill their selfish interests. However, her time with Daniel had challenged these preconceived notions, and she was grateful to have met someone who defied her expectations.

Walking up to the window, Victoria stole a glimpse of her sleeping child before allowing her gaze to drift towards the breathtaking morning view of New York. Within her clan's territory, they rarely had the opportunity to witness the beauty of the rising sun, as the landscape was restrictive and provided limited vistas. Besides the cobblestone-lined roads and the palace grounds, Victoria struggled to recall any other place within her clan where she had seen dry earth. Her eyes roamed over the neighboring houses, each standing tall, some even surpassing the height of Augustine's abode.

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Victoria felt a sense of peace. She closed her eyes, savoring the crisp scent of the morning air, which, though not as biting and tormenting as the Arctic winds she was accustomed to, held the promise of a new life in this human world.

* * *

Draco took a deep breath, bracing himself before he made his way towards the King's chambers. Greetings and salutations echoed through the corridors as guards, servants, and handmaidens acknowledged his presence. Draco, as always, politely reciprocated each gesture, though he couldn't help but notice the lingering smiles from the guards and the heightened level of respect from certain royals.

"They seem to prefer you to the Alpha King," a younger Baron had once pointed out.

"That's nonsense. They are merely being cordial," Draco had replied, dismissing the notion.

However, the need for denial had vanished, even if he wasn't ready to divulge his true intentions just yet. But the Alpha King needed to know the truth.

As Draco approached the King's chambers, he noticed that there were fewer guards present than usual. In the midst of their absence, he discerned the sound of grunting coming from within. Pushing open the door, Draco's eyes widened at the sight before him: the Alpha King entwined with a handmaiden, or perhaps a prostitute. They were so engrossed in their passionate exchange that they failed to notice Draco's arrival.

So that's why there are fewer guards.

Clearing his throat to announce his presence, Draco waited, watching as the Alpha King abruptly opened his eyes and glared at him, clearly disappointed to see Draco interrupting his pleasure. Seething with anger, the Alpha King grabbed the woman and forcefully hurled her across the room, his dissatisfaction evident.

"Your life hangs in the balance after what you did with that useless girl, and yet you dare to barge into my chambers now?" the Alpha King spat, his voice dripping with contempt.

Unyielding and patient, Draco remained silent, unfazed by the Alpha King's hostility. He glanced over at the woman, who appeared indifferent to being tossed aside moments earlier. She quickly gathered her silk dressing, scurrying out of the room. Draco caught a whiff of fresh blood, evidence of the Alpha King's claws lingering on her back.

Closing the door behind the departing woman, Draco gestured for the King to sit. "Please, have a seat."

"If this isn't worth my time, you are—" the Alpha King began, his tone laced with annoyance, but Draco's pleading eyes caused him to settle back down, his intense stare diminishing slightly.

"Many months ago, I made a discovery, and it led me back to you. To our father," Draco admitted, his voice filled with a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

The Alpha King propped himself up on the bed, reaching for a robe to cover his exposed form. He knew this was going to be a serious discussion that demanded his full attention.

"What about our father?" he murmured inquisitively.

Draco sighed, building up the courage to reveal the truth. "Lancelot, you are cursed. And it's all because of the mistakes our father made."

The Alpha King stared at Draco, disbelief clouding his features.

"Cursed?"