Chapter 13 - Giving up
1236 Words
#musicvibe - I surrender, Celine Dion
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Garrett POV
Valeria screamed and writhed on the floor in agony. Since I was chained too and so far away from her, I could only watch as Tyson betrayed the mate bond.
I knew that Tyson wasn’t doing it willingly, but seeing it with my own eyes, I couldn’t imagine ever hurting someone I loved like that, especially not my own mate.
The thought of my mate made me tear up, and I prayed to the Goddess that she was safe, unlike Valeria.
“Please help her.” I pleaded with the guards.
They looked at me with a solemn expression.
“Before every shift change, the Alpha comes down here and commands us.” One of them replied. “I’m sorry, Gamma. We really want to help her, but we’re not strong enough to fight the commands.”
I groaned in frustration while my heart bled for Valeria. After what felt like an eternity, the screams stopped and Valeria laid still on the floor.
“You still with us, Luna?” I asked softly.
“Not really.” Valeria whispered back. “I can’t do this.”
“You can’t give up.” I replied and tried to get closer to the bars. “Don’t give her the satisfaction.”
Valeria scoffed.
“I just want to die.” She whispered back.
She turned her head, and the pain in her eyes made my eyes fill with tears.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered. “But I’m giving up now.”
*
Alex POV
Violet and I both stared at Evy in complete shock and disbelief while she told us everything that had been going on at the Caniluna Castle. We took her inside, gave her a fresh set of clothes and listened to everything she told us.
”You have to help us.” Evy pleaded. ”Tyson is so strong. He’s the Alpha of all Alphas. With one command, he can make any wolf submit to him.”
She leaned forward and looked at me with determination.
“But you are not part of the Caniluna pack.” She said. “You’re probably the only wolf in the entire country that hasn't submitted to him.”
“Which means that you’re the only one that could challenge him.” Violet finished for her.
“Challenge Tyson?” I repeated. “I’ve only had my wolf for almost two months. I don’t think I could challenge Tyson, who taught me everything I know about shifting, and win.”
“You don’t have to win.” Violet replied. “You just have to keep him busy while we kill the witch.”
”We?” I frowned.
”Yup.” Violet said and stood up. ”I sat back the last battle because you asked me to. But this is my pack. It’s my home too, and Tyson is my brother. There’s no way I’m staying here. I’m going too.”
I stood up too and opened my mouth to argue with her, but Violet held up her hand and her aura washed over me like a cold shower, reminding me that she was a strong lycan too.
”If I hear a single word from you, there will be no s*x for a month.” She growled.
I stared at her, completely speechless while she turned around and walked out of the room.
”Can she do that?” I asked Evy, who gave me a sheepish smile.
”Well…” She replied. ”Maybe.”
I sprinted after Violet and caught up with her in the hallway outside.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“I’m going to find out what these witches know.” Violet replied with determination.
We came back out into the dining hall and saw the witches being served some food.
“How’s the werewolf?” Sister Athena asked.
“She’s okay.” I replied. “But I’m still trying to wrap my head around what she just told us.”
Violet and I quickly told them what Evy had told us and the witches listened intently.
“I’ve been searching my visions for some answers.” Sister Athena said. “I think that Tyson had been subjected to witchcraft.”
“Witchcraft?” Violet echoed. “Do you know what witch could do something like this?”
One of the other witches cleared her throat.
“Your new alliance with the lycans hasn't been good news to all covens.” She said. “There are those that think the alliance makes you too strong, and are afraid that you’ll start claiming territories from other supernaturals.”
“That’s outrageous!” Violet exclaimed. “We would never do that. We just want peace.”
“And we know that.” Sister Athena said. “Which is why we came to help you.”
“I appreciate that.” I replied. “You said that you’ve seen Valeria die. How much time do we have before that happens?”
Sister Athena got a sad look in her eyes, and I felt my stomach drop.
“Not much.” She replied solemnly.
*
Caniluna Castle
October 17th, 2146
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Valeria POV
It didn’t even hurt anymore.
Where I once felt Willow, was just a gaping hole inside. I couldn’t even imagine that I once had lived my life without her, and now she was gone.
The extreme amount of wolfsbane combined with the mate bond being betrayed repeatedly for the past few days have crushed WIllow until she couldn’t come out. She retreated into my mind, whimpering in pain, and after a while I couldn’t feel her at all.
I stared blankly into nothing, trying not to look at Garrett.
“I’m sorry.” I whispered.
Garrett tried to crawl closer to the bars, but was stopped by the chains shackled to his wrists and ankles.
“Sorry about what?” He asked.
“I couldn’t protect you.” I replied while tears trickled down my cheeks. “I’ve failed as Luna, and as queen. I should have kept my guard up. I should have known something was wrong.”
“You couldn’t have known.” Garrett frowned. “You trusted Tyson, and him betraying you was so unexpected that it isn’t humanly possible to be prepared for.”
“But I’m not human!” I snapped. “I’m supposed to be better than this. I was trained to expect an attack from anybody. Why didn’t I see this coming?”
“Because when Tyson met you, you had built walls around yourself to make sure that no one could reach you.” Garrett said. “You distanced yourself from humans because you didn’t think you were allowed to call yourself one of them anymore. You were alone in a room full of people, and since you came here, those walls have started to crumble. You allowed yourself to trust other people. You relaxed and became vulnerable around the people you trusted. And there’s nothing wrong with that.”
I shook my head.
“And yet, it became my downfall.” I whispered.
“Maybe.” Garrett shrugged. “But it wasn’t your fault.”
Before I could reply I heard the sound of the dungeon food open, and coldness spread through my body when I saw Tyson and Celeste walk in.
- Writer
