Alpha's Cruel Addiction

Chapter 145  What He Was Best At

Killorn would wage war for Ophelia. Ophelia would lay her life on the line for him. Ophelia soon discovered that in the week she had fallen into a coma, Killorn had been unable to locate her. All the men in the town didn't have the ability to communicate with Killorn directly, nor did they realize their Alpha was desperately searching for her. When the news finally reached, they had difficulties reaching out to him, as many couldn't travel past the monsters that swarmed the outskirts of the town.

Ophelia also learned Killorn was branded a traitor who committed treason. The royal family thought he was hiding her, refusing to believe she went missing, despite Everest personally vouching for her absence with the note. Everyone thought it was a trickery of the selfish Direct Descendant.

A bounty was put on Killorn's head. Soon, more money piled in, as contributed by the angered Alphas and Vampire Heads who were scorned by the couple. Now, the prize was practically a tenth of the kingdom's wealth. Fortunately, the Mavez Pack was too loyal. They stuck to their Alpha's side, refusing to betray their Luna, for unknown reasons.

Upon scarfing down her food and getting dressed, Ophelia was quick to rush out.

"Are you certain, my lady?" Meredith worriedly asked, watching as the young woman mounted the enormous dog.

Ophelia exhaled with a backpack of supplies. "More certain than I've ever been, Meredith." She clutched onto Nyx's fur tightly, wondering how the creature hadn't crumbled from her weight already. He was bigger than expected and she began to doubt his true status.

"My mate mindlinked me, the battles have begun, and Alpha Mavez is currently at a clearing not that far from here. The royal family has come with their army of men and monsters!"

Monsters? Ophelia felt the rug being yanked from under her feet. Her heart began to race, beating wildly in her chest. She swallowed hard, finding the idea impossible. How was the royal family able to control the monsters? With what sorcery? She was dizzy with the truth as a final question came to mind—Did Everest know?

With no time to waste, Ophelia quickly held onto Nyx's fur. "To Killorn!" she demanded, praying that he recognized the name, and remembered the smell. By some godforsaken miracle, Nyx dashed out the doors with inhumane speed.

Ophelia squeezed her eyes shut against the biting wind. She lowered her body closer to Nyx, holding onto him for dear life, as he rejected every saddle that Meredith presented the two of them. The whole time, she could hear the distant awe and chatter of children and townsfolk alike. She knew they must've been a wild sight, a girl on a hound that wasn't a wolf.

As they rode out of the town, an uneasy feeling settled in her stomach. The hair stood on the back of Ophelia's neck as goosebumps sprouted from her thin coat. But that was not the real reason. She could feel the frightening presence of monsters, yet they were farther from here than expected.

Ophelia recalled Meredith's words from earlier. The monsters had retreated farther from the town as if lured by something. Could it be her blood? Just the idea of that terrified her.

"We must hurry," Ophelia whispered to Nyx who hadn't even broken out in a sweat yet, despite how long they'd been running for. She leaned even closer to the creature, and suddenly, he seemed to be able to dash faster. She wondered if a boost of strength was also a side effect of her abilities as a Direct Descendant.

No wonder the world wanted Ophelia dead. So long as her blood ran silver and her flesh ailing, Ophelia would be targeted. She was better off devoured than alive. The duo ran for god knew how long, her heart pounding in her lungs, as the blood rushed in her ears. She feared being too late, but knew Nyx was already trying his best. She could only pray they made it in time. In time to prevent a civil war. In time to keep Killorn safe.

- - - - -

Ophelia arrived at a slight slope and was unprepared for the devastating scene that unfolded before her eyes. The air was thick with the clamor of clashing steel and the rancid scent of blood. From the rocky platform she was on, she could see the fallen and the battlefield clearly. Bodies lay strewn on the battlefield, wolves and monsters fighting in bitter combat, as light flew in all directions from magicians controlled by the royal family. The sight was a grotesque painting of a brutal war.

Mavez Pack should've fallen by now, but continued standing.

Ophelia spotted Killorn almost immediately, despite his were-state. Her husband thrived on the battlefield. This was his domain. This was what he was best at. Killorn was a frightening force embroiled in the center of the chaos, fending off both wolves and vampires with a lethal strike of his sword. He used his powerful jaw to gnaw off the head of anyone who approached too close, spitting out their throats to the ground. Ophelia could barely breathe as she saw everything unfold. Her heart pounded in her chest as she witnessed the brutality, almost frozen in her place. The grim reality of the battle laid bare.

Mavez men were valiant warriors, yet still fell to their demise, their lives extinguished in the name of conflict.

"Is that… magic?" Ophelia gasped out, watching as magicians weaved spells during the battle, adding an unpredictable and destructive element. Monsters, drawn by something being wielded by one of the men, were shaking the floor as they dashed forward in the Mavez men's direction.

"We must hurry!" Ophelia encouraged Nyx, nudging him to continue traversing towards Killorn. Desperation clung to her chest as she struggled to contain herself. Suddenly, she saw a flicker of red in the corner of her eyes.

Everest. She could tell by his golden hair and pale skin, but his regal royal cape gave him away directly. Relief surged through her, lifting a boulder off of her shoulders when she saw he was rushing in Killorn's direction. For a fleeting moment, Ophelia believed he was coming to aid her husband.

Reality shattered upon Ophelia when Everest launched a vicious attack on Killorn, betraying everything that she had known. Killorn dodged, but left him wide open as multiple creatures descended upon him, overwhelming the injured warrior.

"NO!" Ophelia wailed, her entire world beginning to crumble, as her heart tore through her chest. Her guttural shrieking tore through the chaos as Nyx decided to not run around the forest to reach the lower level. He began to descend on the rocks directly, despite the drastic slope they were on.

"Stop it!" Ophelia pleaded, but her cries fell on deaf ears. Fear clenched her throat as she witnessed Killorn, battered and outnumbered. Wolves and vampires alike were rushing toward him in large quantities, overwhelming the struggling man.

Without warning, a detached arm swung and spun towards the sky. The world slowed and blurred. Ophelia could hear her heartbeat. Thump. Thump. Thump. Her vision began to fill with black dots.

Time seemed to freeze as Ophelia's heart was plunged. Suddenly, a black werewolf head soared through the air. Strange liquid spewed in all directions. Black fur. Black blood. Killorn. The fur mimicked Killorn.

Ophelia was beginning to black out. Her entire body began to hum to life, her skin burning with the intensity of the heat clawing to get out of her. Everything overwhelmed her all at once.

The cries of the battle, the clash of steel fading into an ominous silence, the tragedy of it all. In the distance, a man called for her. In her darkening vision, she saw her bleak future.

Ophelia felt the unfolding tragedy crush her soul, leaving only the haunting echoes of a shattered reality.

'Give into the light,' a soft voice whispered in her subconscious. 'Give into the darkness.' n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Ophelia did just that, surrendering herself to the inevitable. She closed her eyes, feeling a blinding heat pulsate from inside of her body. Ophelia would never forgive the world if he died. She would never forgive herself. He, who did everything to keep her safe. He, who laid down his life for her, and now, she was prepared to do the same.

"Whatever it takes," Ophelia whispered, as strange words began to leave her mouth. Words that she had never heard of. Words that she had nerve uttered, but knew what they were. The ancient language of the old gods. And through the thick of the chaos, she heard a final call for her.

"OPHELIA!"

Ophelia was long gone.