05

ZENITH

He paused and turned around, only to see Lionel's ever smiling face. His hands had paused in the air so he dropped them and put on his blank mask.

"Do you sleep walk?" Lionel asked, his brows creasing slightly.

Zenith swallowed. "No, I don't. I was going through my in-laws house. I hope you don't find it annoying." He said.

Lionel smiled again. "No, I don't. Please go back to your room. We will be setting up the meeting during breakfast tomorrow. My sister would not stop pestering me."

"Oh," Zenith's brows jumped up. "I see. No wonder she is your favorite." He added.

Lionel nodded with a smile as Zenith walked back to his room, his mind still fixed on what was behind the wall. He was going to have to find out before he leaves with Selda tomorrow.

••

Zenith's ears twitched as several cheers and howls echoed through the palace.

What was going on?

He tossed to the other side of the bed, trying to tune them out but it was all futile because all the noises kept increasing. Sitting up, he looked out of the window and saw the number of people who were celebrating.

He was beginning to wonder if it was because Griselda was getting married or because of their insatiable taste for food, wine and sex.

He shook his head as he turned back, only to see a maid standing in waiting for him with her head bowed. His left brow twitched.

How come he did not notice her?

"For how long have you been standing there?" He asked her.

She cast a side look at him. She was obviously scared of him.

"S-Since midnight." She stuttered.

He said nothing after as he got into his dress. "You are can leave." He ordered.

"I'm sorry, I can't. I was told to always stay with you." She told him.

Lionel had placed her with him.

He shook his head. "You don't need to worry about that. You can leave. I like my privacy a lot." He said.

She instantly fell to her knees and began pleading, "Please, don't. I will be stoned to death if I leave. Please."

Zenith stared at her with an emotionless look. "I stand by ground. Leave!" He ordered at once, adding a little bit of his lycan's growl. The maid scrambled to her feet and scurried out.

Zenith let out a sigh and slumped back on the bed. He reached out for the golden cup and the kettle. Pouring the water into the cup, his hands shook as the tug came again. This time it slammed into him in full force that if he had not held the kettle tight, it would have fallen to the ground and would have gained unnecessary attention.

He dropped the kettle and drank the water.

What was happening?

Why was someone tugging him?

Who was tugging him?

He did not know anyone here. In fact, he did not want to have any relationship with anyone here if not for the consistent attacks on his pack but... He rose to his feet and held unto the tug. Although it seemed light as if it would vanish soon, he followed it and noticed that there was no one around the corridors, just like yesterday.

Was this Lionel's trap?

He thought about it again but continued on the journey. The nearer he got, the lighter the tug. He reached the wall again and this time, the tug ended there again.

His brows creased in confusion. Was a wall calling unto him? He did not have the power to go through the wall when he was not a spirit or a ghost.

He turned to walk back but the tug came again. Biting a frustrated hiss, he placed a hand on the wall and as if the touch had activated the lock, the wall which was now a visible door slid open and Zenith stood before an underground, where dungeons was just as many as the houses in his pack.

He ventured inside, his steps were feather-like and he looked around cautiously. The door slid back but he did not look back. He saw different colors of furs and he thought that it would be for rogues. But as he walked further, he began to see the bones of wolves and humans.

What the hell was this?

He had to cease his breath often because of the stench coming from the dungeons. Some of the dungeons were empty but as he reached the last section of dungeons. He halted to pause. He was ruthless when he needed to be but all of these that he was seeing was the height of all ruthlessness. Malnourished, naked and starved wolves looked up to him with their eyes almost bulging out of their sockets but he paid no heed to them as he slowed down his pace and stared around. Everyone of the people that sat on the cold and lonely dungeon looked at him and ye began to move farway from him. He did not care about them.

Finally, he stopped at the last part of the dungeon. Opposite the place, was an empty dungeon and one with just one... Lycan.

His eyes went wide instantly as he turned to the place, meeting the golden eyes of... A lycan? In the dungeon of the Alpha King. This lycan's eyes were familiar and yet... No way!

Zenith did not know where the strength came from but he broke the lock on the door and wolves began to cry and whimper.

A hiss slipped past his lips as whatever they might have dipped the lock into bit deep into his palm but he did not care as he entered, his eyes not wanting to believe who was looking at him with all kinds of emotions.

"Z-Zenith." The Lycan's rough and edgy voice called out for the first time in years. Zenith's steps almost faltered as recognition set in.

This lycan was not just a pack member of his... This lycan was his Nephew. Divine. His brother whom he had thought had died in the fire. That fire...

"Divine." He called his name. There were names he did not dare remember. Names that had haunted him for the past years of his life. Names that felt like burdens to him and this name was one of them.

“You have to save her. T-They are going to kill her. You don't have enough time. You have to s-save her.” He said, his words both broken and rough as if he was talking to himself.

Zenith’s mind went back to the cheers and howls he heard earlier but he still did not understand.

“Mate... Mate... You have to save her... They are going to kill her... Save her...” He said again.

Zenith thought he was talking about his mate and he knew he loved her. For a brief second, he contemplated saving his nephew and running away but he knew there was no way. So after giving him a last glance, he rushed out of the dungeon, and the view he met outside was not what he was expecting.

His eyes fell on a lady that knelt before the crowd under the biting sun. The people were busy laughing and celebrating. He also noticed the headsman that was sharpening his sword before he took his gaze to that of Lionel's separated throne. He returned his gaze back to the helpless lady.

This was the lady he had come to save. He was no savior and he dared not try to be but for this lady... He would have to be.