The Alpha's Seeress

Chapter 13

Olivia Isla

"And if I'm not worthy?" I challenged. My hands trembled, but I forced myself to keep walking, moving closer to where the King sat. Fear clawed at me, but I knew I had no choice but to be brave. If this was my fate—if it cost me my life—what mattered now was that I faced it head-on.

"You'll follow the same fate as your mother," he replied, matter-of-fact.

My breath caught in my throat. Nanna Sienna had always told me my mother was alive, working abroad. But everything these people had been saying hinted at something darker, something I hadn’t been prepared for. It suddenly felt like my entire life had been built on lies.

"What did you do to my mother?" I demanded.

For so long, I had buried the thought of her, leaving it untouched, like a forbidden chapter in my life. I’d never asked Nanna Sienna too many questions about my parents, accepting whatever she told me at face value. But now, standing here, in front of this so-called King, I couldn’t ignore the truth anymore. I had to know. I had to uncover the secrets I had been too afraid to confront.

The King’s eyes narrowed. "Your mother was a brave woman. She, too, was meant to serve the prophecy. But she failed. She chose a path of resistance, and it cost her dearly."

My heart sank. Failed? Resistance? What had she been fighting against, and why hadn’t I known about any of this? Was that why Nanna Sienna had kept everything hidden from me?

"You lie," I whispered, though I wasn’t sure I even believed my own words. My mother had left me behind, and I had always been disappointed at her for that. But now... it seemed like there was so much more to the story.

"Believe what you will," the King said. "But your mother paid the price for defying her destiny. And if you choose the same path, you will meet the same end."

The bitterness in my mouth was overwhelming. "Did you kill my mother?" I spat.

I stepped closer, now standing directly before the dais, glaring up at him. The memories of everything Riley had told me flooded my mind—the Walkers were responsible for the death of his parents, for the near destruction of Starfall. I knew the King was capable of every dark and twisted act. He was at the center of this chaos.

Silence stretched between us, so thick I could hear my own heartbeat pounding in my ears. Then, without warning, he laughed—a deep, mocking sound that chilled me to the core.

"What do you think, Olivia?" he asked. "You’ve asked the wrong question."

I clenched my fists, my whole body tense. Wrong question? What could possibly be wrong about wanting to know the truth about my mother’s death?

"It wasn’t me who killed your mother. It was her choice, Olivia. Her choice to defy her destiny, to fight what was meant to be, and that... led her to her death."

My mother had resisted, just like he said, but what exactly had she been resisting? The prophecy? Him? And now I was standing in the same place, facing the same choice. Would I meet the same fate?

"She didn’t fail," I said through gritted teeth. "She fought. And I’ll fight too."

The King smiled again. "Then let's see how long you last, child. The prophecy awaits, and you cannot escape it."

Fuck that prophecy and whoever made it. It's so unfair. How can somebody else decide someone else's future? Can't we just decide and write our own path?

"I will change that prophecy. You just wait and see," I challenged, though I was so unsure.

I have no idea what's literally going on. In the past, all I worried about was using my power just to pass my test and Nanna Sienna figuring it out, then nagging me for it. If only I knew being a seer would give me such responsibility, if only I knew such a gift would lead me to such misery, I would have wished to be born normal, or not at all.

"You're ambitious, Olivia. I don't like that for you... and my son will not like that for you," he said, disappointed.

I don’t care if no one likes me. Nanna Sienna accepted me for who I am. Riley accepted me. That’s all that matters. Not him, or his son.

"Do you think I care if you don’t like me? I’d be more glad if that’s the case," I proudly declared.

But suddenly, a strong force struck my face, sending me crashing to the ground. I could taste the blood in my mouth—that’s how hard the slap had been. Dazed, I looked up, my vision blurred, only to see Myrtle standing over me.

Shock registered on my face, but I tried to hide it, keeping my expression defiant.

Why is she here? I know Myrtle is connected to everything that happened in Sky High, and I had a suspicion she was linked to these people too, but seeing her here still shocked me.

"You are talking to the King. Have some respect, you peasant!" she hissed, her eyes narrowing like a fox ready to pounce.

I couldn’t help it—I laughed. Despite the pain throbbing through my face and the blood on my lips, the absurdity of the situation overwhelmed me. All this time, she’d been hiding behind her prim and proper facade, but now here she was, showing her true colors.

"Respect?" I spat, wiping the blood from my mouth. "That’s rich, coming from you."

Myrtle lunged at me, but before she could strike again, the King raised his hand. "That's enough, Myrtle," he commanded.

I slowly stood up, brushing the dust from my clothes, refusing to let them see my pain. The fear that had gripped me earlier was gone, replaced by something stronger—bravery, defiance. I was done cowering.

I locked eyes with the King. "If I dare defy the prophecy, if I dare refuse your son, then know this—I am already mated. Claiming me would be a sin against the Moon Goddess."

There was a silence as the weight of my words sank in. And with that, everything started to make sense. The confusing pieces of this twisted puzzle began to fall into place. The King wasn’t the one I was meant to serve—it was never him. The man I had seen in my visions was someone else. His son. It had to be his son, as the King had hinted before.

I saw the flash of anger in his eyes, and within seconds, they shifted from the deep black of midnight to a fiery red. That’s when it hit me—he wasn’t just a werewolf. He was something more. A hybrid. Both vampire and werewolf.

Before I could react, he was in front of me in a blur, faster than I could comprehend. His hand shot to my neck, pulling down my collar to check for something. When his eyes landed on the mark etched into my skin, his expression twisted with fury.

Without warning, his hand tightened around my throat, choking me. His grip was merciless, and I could see no trace of kindness in his stare—just pure rage, disappointment, and a lethal desire to kill.

"You are just like your mother!" he snarled.

I gasped for air, my vision blurring as his grip cut off my breath.

"Father, what's going on?" a new voice broke through, cutting the King's fury short.

In that moment, he released me, and I collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, my hands instinctively reaching for my throat. The pressure in my chest eased.

"The b***h is already mated," the King spat angrily. "She’s ruined the prophecy!"

I struggled to stand, still catching my breath as I turned to face the source of the new voice. The son—the one I was supposed to serve.

He stood in the doorway, his cold gaze now locked on me. For a brief moment, I caught a flash of gold in his eyes, but it disappeared as quickly as it had come. His presence was icy, almost as if he were carved from ice, reminding me of the vampires in the movies I'd watched long ago.

"Who?" he demanded.

Every step he took toward me felt like a slow, deliberate torture. I knew exactly what he was asking—who was my mate? But I couldn’t tell them. If they found out it was Riley, they’d kill him without hesitation. Everything I was enduring would be for nothing.

My mind raced as I desperately searched for an answer that wouldn’t lead them to him. I couldn't afford to break now.

"He's dead," I lied. "He was killed. Do you think I'd surrender myself if he were still alive?"

I knew I had to play this carefully. They had physical strength and power, but if I could manipulate their minds, sow doubt and confusion, I might just survive. This was my only weapon in a place like this.

Myrtle stepped forward. "You're lying."

I snapped my glare toward her, the anger burning beneath my skin. How dare she, after everything? I had considered her a close friend, someone I trusted, only for her to betray me like this. The audacity of it made my blood boil.

"You know nothing about my life, Myrtle," I hissed. "Why would I lie about something like this? What could I possibly gain?"

I saw a flicker of doubt cross her face, just for a second. I had to hold onto that, use it to turn this situation in my favor. If they believed me, even for a moment, it might be enough to buy me some time.

"Get Sana, Myrtle. Let her be the judge of this woman. If she's telling the truth, I'll spare her, but if not... you'll follow your mother too soon," the King commanded.

My heart pounded in my chest. I knew this world was full of magic—dangerous, unpredictable power. I had seen enough to know that they could do things I couldn’t even comprehend. There were mind readers, people who could teleport, those with strength beyond measure, and others who could fly. It was like something out of a movie, but this was terrifyingly real.

I swallowed hard. "And if I'm not lying?" I asked.

The King’s eyes darkened. "Then you live... for now."