Poison.
1275 Words
Who would have guessed the Alpha was keeping vampires by his side? Why would he allow that? What is he really planning? Are we safe?
Vampires are still alive.
I remember my father once telling me he believed they never truly went extinct.
When I asked him why, he said, “Because they’re being kept. Werewolves and humans both know how to kill them. If they were gone, it would be because someone allowed it.”
He never explained what he meant. Back then, I thought he was just trying to scare me so I wouldn’t sneak out at night to play.
So I laughed it off. I never took his words seriously.
No one has ever seen the Alpha's face.
He always sends a speech instead of attending ceremonies or gatherings where the pack invites him, hoping to see him. He claims he is unwell and will not attend.
He has defeated rogues and invaders. He has protected the pack countless times. But no one knows what he looks like.
No one truly knows the Kaeliths either.
People say he hides himself from enemies. They say he has too many to count. By keeping his face unknown, he prevents ambushes. No one can track what they have never seen.
The previous Alphas did the same.
To protect the Alpha, powerful Alphas and Betas from noble families choose to guard him. They swore an oath to protect him with their lives.
They were called the Kaeliths.
Their identities, hidden. A Kaelith could stand beside you at a party. And you would never know.
They were the strongest wolves alive. Rogues never stood a chance against them. Because of them, the clan was powerful. Untouchable.
I used to admire that strength. And now I find out Nero and Elandor are among them.
Rhex. Elthryn.
I’ve already met four of them. There are eighteen Kaeliths. Who is the alpha?
Was he at the mating ceremony that night? And the Alpha in my class… Does he know who I am? Is he one of them, too?
Eighteen.
This is insane.
What about Rhydian? I can’t take this. I just want out.
I need to speak to the alpha. Or tell my father to perform the ritual immediately without the alpha. I don’t know if I’ll survive another night. If he can send a hybrid to kill me, he can do anything.
“I understand how you feel,” Elandor said quietly. “But first, you need to survive. We have to remove the poison before it kills you.”
“You’re staying at my place,” Nero ordered.
“Why?”
“So I can protect you. You can’t shift right now. You’re vulnerable.”
“What about my parents? My mom is—”
“I’ll handle that,” Elandor interrupted. “I can protect them. At least they can shift.”
Nero and I stared at him.
“What? I’m stating facts,” he muttered.
“Just go,” Nero stated.
Elandor waved him off. “Until then, she stays with you. I also want to know who that new student in her class is.”
He left the infirmary.
Nero typed quickly on his phone.
“I told Rhydian. He’ll take care of the body and clean up.” He looked at me. “Can you stand?”
“Maybe, I—”
He slid his arms under my thighs and lifted me.
“What are you doing? People will see,” I whispered.
“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “You won’t be here when he arrives.”
“Why? What would happen if—”
He opened the door with his foot and carried me out. The hallway was empty. Classes were still ongoing.
My head rested against his chest. I felt dizzy. My breathing became shallow as he moved faster.
“You’re getting paler,” he said. “Elandor needs to give you another dose.”
He rushed down the stairs.
My vision blurred.
The last thing I remember was Nero running.
I woke to a white ceiling. I blinked once. Twice.
When I opened my eyes, it was night. I pushed myself up slowly.
My legs trembled violently, as if they didn’t belong to me. Pain spread through my body, sharp and tearing. I screamed as it ripped through my limbs.
The door burst open. Something cold pierced my knee. Warm liquid rushed through me. The pain eased.
I panted.
My fingers twitched. My abdomen felt hollow. It felt raw. I wasn’t myself anymore.
“I want to heal,” I whispered. “Shelia…”
“I hope you know you’ll die if you try to shift.”
My eyes snapped open. He stood above me.
I jolted back. “What are you doing here?!”
“You slept all day,” he said calmly. "Good evening."
I stared at him.
“Is that a question,” he smirked, “or an interrogation?”
It was him. The new guy from my class. How did he get here?
“You’re here.” Elandor rushed into the room. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you, Zyraeth.” He turned to me. “Are you okay?”
“You’re asking that now?” Zyraeth replied coldly.
Elandor frowned at him.
“If I weren’t here,” Zyraeth continued, “she’d probably be dead.”
Elandor looked at me, surprised.
“Don’t call me for something this stupid again,” Zyraeth snapped. “I only came to make sure her wolf was dead. At least you aren't lying to me. She’s been bothering me since the moment she stepped into that class.”
“No,” Elandor shot back. “It started the moment you stepped in. Don’t act like you didn’t know what class she was in.”
Zyraeth’s jaw tightened. “Are you stupid?”
“You’re one of the Kaeliths, aren’t you?” Nero’s voice came from the doorway as he stepped inside.
Zyraeth’s eyes darkened. “Mention that again. I’ll snap your neck.”
“Then who are you?” Nero challenged.
Zyraeth scoffed, glancing at me before looking back at Elandor, hands in his pockets.
His blonde eyebrows matched his hair. Was it natural?
“You called me here for this?” he asked Elandor. “I’m leaving.”
He walked toward the door, but Nero didn’t move.
“The only reason he came,” Elandor said from behind him, “was because of Soraya.”
Because of me?
“Because of Soraya?” Nero repeated.
“Yes.”
Zyraeth let out a long breath. “Yeah. Because of her. I want to get out of this mess.”
Nero frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I’m rejecting her,” Zyraeth said bluntly. “I don’t want a mate. The second we locked eyes, I knew who she was. I came here to end it. Still, her wolf is stuck in a poisoned state. If she dies, I won’t be able to bond with anyone else. So Elandor asked for my help.”
The room went quiet.
“Once she’s cured, I’ll reject her properly,” he continued. “Clean break. No bond. No mate. Done.”
My chest tightened.
“Elandor and I made a deal,” Zyraeth added. “I will protect her tonight. We get Myrel to cure her. After that, I’m gone. And for the record, I’m not a Kaelith. I’m a lone wolf. Remember that.”
He tried to walk past Nero again.
“What do you mean you’re not a Kaelith?” Nero said. “Don’t lie to me.”
- Writer
