"Why in the hell did you do that?" I growled. My anger subsided; Lora was calm and had given me the chance to return to my form.
"Why did you jump in front of me that way?" I asked again. A part of me was scolding him for putting himself in danger. The other part of me was upset that he stopped me from satisfying my wolf, from stopping the burning urge and the rage that I was feeling.
I was scared the moment I spotted him in front of me, and then my paws smacked him across the room. For a moment, I thought Lora wasn't going to stop there and might end up inflicting more pain on him for interrupting her, but she took pity on him and gave me the chance to return to my form to help him.
She probably pitied him because he has also helped me a lot in the past, to the point where he risked his life and his kingdom to help me get to Alaric safely. I owe him a lot, yet I just happened to smack him across the filthy cell.
"You shouldn't be going through this much stress," Simon said, groaning in pain as he struggled with the pain from my claws striking him. As he clenched tighter onto the side of his ribs, which were struck by my wolf, there must have been some venom in them. He was trying his best to fight against the pain, but it was too much for him to bear.
"You shouldn't be flinging yourself into something dangerous; is it your new specialty?" I yelled, controlling and steadying my breath.
Seeing him in this condition reminded me of the first dinner I had in Latvera, where he jumped in front of Holland and was struck by the alpha's claws instead. Does he enjoy throwing himself in front of something dangerous?
I could vividly remember how deep and serious his wound was, but after seeing what I have just done to him, his previous wound seems like a scratch compared to what is on him right now.
"Call for the doctor now," I ordered, but quickly remembered that it was just Josh and Alaric here, with Josh still on his knees and avoiding eye contact with us.
"Yes, your majesty." He obeyed, slowly standing up from his knees and swiftly leaving to call a doctor. The moment I heard his voice, my heart ached. I could never have believed Josh would do something as horrible as that to me. I could never have imagined he would one day betray me and that I'd have to fight against him—I'd have to get rid of him—but here we are. I might end up betraying myself if I don't let him go through the same punishment I vowed to make my enemies suffer, but at this point, I am unsure as to whether I might end up betraying myself instead.
"Lenora, let's get you some rest." You won't have to worry about her anymore," Alaric said, walking closer to me as he softly grabbed me by my waist. Planting a kiss on my forehead He didn't stop there; his kisses trailed down my forehead, down to the bridge of my nose, and to the corner of my lips.
"You've done well," he said, connecting his lips to mine as I kissed him back, but the kiss lasted too short as he broke the kiss. His palm found its way to my cheeks as he cupped them in his hands. There was something about the way he was looking at me. The way his eyes were looking into my soul, it was hard to figure out what was going on in his head, but all I could see in his eyes were worries and fear.
He must have been in awe, seeing my anger and that of Lora. The first time he saw me that way was when I saved him from Adolph, but seeing that I might have gained control of my powers might have come as a shock to him. Hell, I am also as shocked as he is, but I should have seen it coming the moment I started to feel something different in me.
"Is she dead?" I asked, breaking the silence between us, as I turned to look at the unconscious body of Jenny laying on the floor with different strikes of my claws in her flesh and her whole body soaked in the pool of her blood. Lora didn’t go easy on her; Lora definitely wanted all the smoke with her, and I'm glad she did. I'm proud of my wolf.
"She will soon," Alaric replied.
"You won't need to be stressed henceforth," he added. We won't have to deal with her anymore, and I'm glad I won't have to worry about her anymore. I'm more than delighted to know that the people who had hurt me so much won't be a problem to me anymore, but a part of me was sad. It was sad that the unborn child who was inside her had to suffer for her evil deeds.
SIMON'S POV
"You know Anselm," I said, as her eyes suspiciously raked over my body before returning their gaze to mine.
"I'm not sure what you're talking about," she lied and denied. It was bound to happen; she wouldn't just openly accept the fact that she knows Anselm because she's hoping to escape this rotten cell, but I doubt she'd have a chance.
I've never seen Lenora this way, but what I can tell is that she has changed and most likely possesses Alaric's trait now. I can see the thirst for blood and the determination in her eyes. It's scary, but I hope I don't end up being her enemy. I hope she doesn't end up killing me, and I hope if I did die, I wouldn't die at her hands.
I hated to let her go, but it was for the best. I had to let her go because I loved her, and I knew no matter how hard I tried to love and protect her, the shadows from my past would hunt us both, and I wouldn't be able to protect her no matter how hard I tried.
"You don't have to lie to me, Jennifer."
"I don't know who the hell you are, and I don't fucking care either, so just leave this place now." She roared, banging on the cell in anger, but she was quick to regret her decision the moment the wolfsbane stung.
"Why the hell are you still here? Leave!" she hissed.
My fingers suddenly started to itch as I looked around in hope that no one else was in the cell with us. How do I tell her that I wanted to help her escape this cell? How do I let her know that I hate her for hurting Lenora, but I am for her, and I need to help her escape here before Lenora gets to her and kills her? How do I let her know that I can't afford to let her die, or else I might as well be dead before Anselm comes to kill me?
"I want to help you," I said, the words leaving my lips like a sharp sword.
"Are you here to mock me?" She scoffed, laughing hysterically while walking back to the corner she sat on.
With a sigh escaping my lips and after making sure that no one else was here or close to this cell, I unbuttoned my pants but received a loud insult from Jenny instead.
"Why in hell do you want to show me your pickle?" She asked, but I ignored her as I unzipped my pants and lowered them right to my v-line.
I returned my gaze to meet hers, and her eyes were filled with bewilderment. She had a perplexed look on her face as she was trying hard to believe that I also have the same symbol engraved on my body. The symbol of an old ship wheel with a ying-yang symbol in the centre of the wheel.
"How…"
"I don't need to tell you that information, but I happen to know about Anselm, and practically, I'm his slave," I said, and instantly zipped my pants back.
I despised having that symbol on my body, and I despised leaving it open for fear of attracting my greatest fear. I fear that the second someone else sees that mark on me, then Anselm's compulsion might end up taking over every single cell in my soulless body.
I've spent years of my life dreading his return, but if I don't save Jenny from being killed right now, then his compulsion will be too strong for me to fight against. I've been fighting against it since I met Lenora. I knew Anselm wanted me to get rid of her, yet I did everything in my power to do the opposite.
"Then why have you been following Lenora all around and saving her countless times just to save me from this place?" She asked. I had an idea that she would be oblivious, and she has just confirmed it with her words.
"I'm saving myself more than I'm saving you," I replied. The only reason I would want to let her go free after what she put Lenora through is because if I don't let her go, I will end up going crazy.
It's something I witnessed a few years ago when an Anselm slave was murdered in my presence. Suddenly, Anselm's compulsion seems to be a hundred times stronger as it commands me to kill whoever hurts one of his slaves. I tried hard to fight the compulsion, but my strength was no match for his; after all, he already possessed my soul, and I had no choice but to kill the person who had killed his slave.
If I let Lenora kill Jenny, then I might not be able to stop myself from killing Lenora no matter where I hide or run; he's always watching. He knows just where I am, and he knows just how to bring me out of my hiding place and make my life a living hell. I don't want to go through the same agony I did a few years ago. I need to free her from this cell.
"What do you mean?" She inquired, her eyes holding confusion as her brows creased. Seeing her face made me spite her even more, as I cannot bring myself to imagine that the only reason she sold her soul to Anselm was to have Alaric all to herself. What sort of obsession could have led her to make the worst decision of her life? Or doesn't she know the consequence that awaits her?
I shouldn't hate her because she sold her soul to Anselm; there's no difference between us as long as we both made a deal with him, and it doesn't matter what my reason is or what hers is.
"Wait here; I'll be right back," I ordered. She was about to say another word, but I gave her lips no time to move before I stormed out of the dungeon after carefully making sure that no one was around. I should buy some time with Lenora while giving her a chance to escape the dungeon. I have no clue about the hidden corners of this place, but she should, and I'm hoping that once I distract Lenora and give her the keys to the dungeon, she should be gone in no time. She should be gone and never return to cause trouble for Lenora.
All I needed to do was find Lenora after I made plans with one of the guards present and convince him to assist me. It might be a lot of work and potentially dangerous, but I am willing to risk it all.
************************
Step by step, my heart racing and my breath short, I made my way to Lenora's room, hoping to find her alone without Alaric. It'll make my work easier with her, and I wouldn't have to face Alaric or give him an explanation as to why I want to take Lenora out of the pack house for some time.
"Lenora," I called her name, placing a knock on the door, but no response came.
"Could she be in there?" I muttered to myself; her scent was still very much present in the room, but on opening the doors, I came face to face with an empty room.
She wasn't in her room, and her scent was still very fresh in the room; where could she have gone to?
It can't be that she's already making her way to the dungeon, can it?
Without giving myself time to think it through, I sprunted away from Lenora's room as I made my way to the dungeon. I had spent way too much time convincing the guard that I had totally forgotten that I had limited time and Lenora could attack Jenny at any given time.
The time had come, and I could already feel a burning ache in my chest, a warning from Anselm that one of his slaves near me was about to die, a warning for me to save that slave or end up killing whoever killed his slave.
I had no choice but to run faster than my legs and feet could carry me as I jumped the stairs and swiftly made my way through corners before getting to the dungeon.
I could already perceive Lenora's scent; she is here and she's not alone. Not only was Lenora's scent filling the atmosphere but also that of Jenny, but hers was worse. It was a stench. The stench of her blood, If I don't stop Lenora right now, she might end up dying, which would be bad for both Lenora and me. I don't want to have to be Lenora's enemy. I don't want to have to hurt her, and I don't want to see a scratch on her body.
"Lenora!" I screamed at the top of my lungs when I saw a mighty white wolf tearing and shredding Jenny's flesh in the cell.
I was terrified—horrified would be the best word to describe how I felt. Never have I seen something as massive and filled with such intense power, but my body seemed to be before my mind as I found myself jumping right in front of her mighty wolf before she could strike Jenny with her rage.
What am I doing? There's no need for me to be scared of failing to protect her anymore. If the compulsion arises, one thing I'm sure of is that she'll take care of it just fine... and with that, I landed across the cell, slamming my body against the concrete walls.