The Future Alpha's Forbidden Love

Chapter 5 : Frozen Time

After the new shifters transform, they must run— run until the blood surges through their veins and reaches their heart. If they don’t, blood will ooze out of their nose and ears as a violent spinning will clench their head, twisting their perception until the world muddles into an abyss.

That was what had begun to transpire for Archelaus. Yet, he stood still, beige paws clutching the dirt as he watched Lysabel grind in pain. He had to do something. He wanted to help her. But all he could do was watch. His plan to take her away from the crowd and into the forest was long forgotten. Frozen to his spot, blood dripping down his nose and ears, his gaze was fixated on his best friend. This couldn’t happen— echoed in his mind. As the dirt mixed with his blood, it turned muddy. Pain tore through his paws, and its tendrils clasped his temples— searing and scorching. His limbs were leaden, his pulse hammering in his ears. He wanted to scream what his mind bellowed— the sound was deafening.

Each person in the crowd rose from their seats, their smiles turning into a deep and horrifying frown. Alphas of the Saprale and the Merxan Kingdom rose from their thrones ever so slowly, their gaze locked on the royal purple wolf, who started screaming and thrashing against the ground. Alpha Landon shifted in his throne, this time not because of his son but because of the scene unfolding before his eyes. A line dragged between his brows, a storm raging in his scrutinizing graphite eyes. Amongst them, Alpha Rendell was the one who was flabbergasted. Dreams shattering, he scoured his mind to fix what was happening.

Prisoner to fear, Iora could feel the heat from the metal chair pressing against her, burning. She let her fear scald her, deciding it to be fitting as she had failed once more. Failure mocked her, it had warned her every night about her daughter since it offered Anzer to Death on a polished golden platter. Its uncontrollable laugh clouded her mind and muffled all the other sounds. Someone pulled at her arm, but wasn’t strong enough to pull her away from terror’s grip. Unblinking, she could see Anzer writhing in pain in the field, his eyes met with hers not long before an arrow sliced through the back of his skull. It jeered— the tip of the arrow defiantly smirked at Iora, announcing in a sing-song voice,” I got your son.”

It was her husband, who shook her by the shoulders, her name scraping from his mouth. Afraid that he would alert the killer of his son if they were near, Santiz Garcia couldn’t yell at his wife to come back to her senses. Although his heart pounded in his ears, he squeezed air into his lungs and willed his wife to snap out of the daze. And she did. Iora’s gaze slowly focused on him, and he took it as his one chance to speak to her.

Staring into her eyes, Santiz searched for her soul. When he did find it, he watched it cradle itself in a tiny corner of her heart. Taking its arms, he pulled. “We have to SAVE our daughter.” He tried to remind her in a firm voice, yet his voice came in rasps as tears pooled in the corners of his eyes. It seemed to have pulled Iora into reality. It was not her son who was in the field; it was her daughter, who was still alive. No weapon had yet touched her. And she would like it to remain that way.

Rising from her seat, eyes set on her daughter, Iora started into a run. Her goal was set— reach Lysabel and hide her somewhere safe for eternity. She could feel Santiz breathing on her neck, which confirmed he wasn’t far. The moment they reached Lysabel, Archelaus shielded her with his broad wolf frame, eyes blazing with opposition. A streak of blood painted thick lines down his nose and ears. His glare focused on Santiz and Iora, heat pouring off of him. Blood started trickling down from his eyes as he stood taller, towering over the Garcias, guarding his best friend from any suspicious threat.

Iora and Santiz paused. Their hearts ached for their future Alpha. Even though he was wrapped in sickening pain, he was guarding their daughter fiercely. But he needed to run in order to live. Santiz could feel he was mere seconds away from collapsing, and if he lost his senses, they might never see him on his rightful throne.

“Archelaus, it is us. Lysabel’s parents. She is in danger, we need to get her away from here. Somewhere safe,” Santiz tried to reason in a calm and careful voice, keeping the distance between them.

The future Alpha of Xandire Kingdom was determined. He dug his paws into the ground and glowered at them. His drowsy mind couldn’t believe or even hear the words from Santiz’s mouth. Baring his teeth, he grunted in a low voice, eyes burning with fury. The Beta knew he would need to act fast because Archelaus was a breath away from pouncing on them. Never in his life had Santiz been unable to come up with an idea. This would be the first time his mind felt like a blank sheet of paper.

“Run, Archelaus. You need to run.” Santiz heard his Alpha’s voice. He could feel the air change, mingling with the Alpha’s commanding voice. It caressed his skin and seemed to have reached Archelaus. Yet, he did not move. He fought through the command and snarled at his father.

Grinding his teeth, Alpha Rendell gritted out, “I said to RUN!”

A whimper curled out of Archelaus as he recoiled. His mind must have snapped into place because in the next few seconds, he glanced at Lysabel, and with a crestfallen look, he ran into the thicket.

When his son was gone, relief flooded through his veins. One problem was solved— Santiz, Iora, and Archelaus would live. Now, it was time to take Lysabel and hide her. He had always seen her as his daughter, so he knew it would crush him if anything happened to her. He couldn't let anyone hurt her.

The air sizzled and shimmered, a perfect circle of swirling violet light hovered in mid-air, warming the air around it with a low vibrating hum. Luna Beatrice stepped out of it, holding a 20-year-old blond in a death grip. The moment they were out of the portal, it disappeared, spiraling into a tightening vortex, leaving the air still and unaltered as if nothing had been there. Wide eyes glinting with worry darted toward her husband as she waited.

Grabbing Santiz’s arm, Alpha Rendell whispered, “ Let’s take her through the portal. It will be fast.”

Santiz shook his head vehemently, clearly incapable of looking away from his daughter.

Alpha Rendell was persistent. He forced Santiz to turn and look at him. “ I am commanding you as your Alpha. We have to take her now.” He didn’t use his Alpha voice, but the determination in his tone was enough to make Santiz think of it as an option.

“But what if he tells someone?” His brows furrowed, and his eyes glistened with helplessness.

“I will erase his memories. Believe me, Santiz. She will be safe.”

Lips pressed in a thin line, Santiz gave a silent nod.

Alpha Rendell hauled her off the ground with the help of Santiz as Iora waited by Beatrice’s side. Providing her with a water bottle, Luna Beatrice stared at her best friend and said, “She will need to drink lots of water.”

With a nod, Iora took the bottle and stared at the trio— two of the men nearly dragging her daughter toward them. Knots tightened in her stomach, and her heart thrashed against her chest. Tension clutched her lungs in its tight grip, squeezing until a lump formed in her throat.

A violet swirl curved into a circle according to the blond’s command. Santiz and Alpha Rendell stepped through the portal with Lysabel, still wailing in pain. Luna Beatrice waited as Iora hesitantly entered through the portal. It vanished the moment Luna Beatrice followed.

The arena was still; no one moved, as if time had cursed them to spend eternity frozen in place.

“ Go back to your houses, people. The ceremony is over. We will take care of everything from here,” Alpha Landon commanded, his voice echoing in the air.

The crowd began to empty the arena when Alpha Landon turned toward the remaining two Alphas. “You two should go too,” He muttered.

“Why? So that you could have all the fun?” Alpha of the Merxan kingdom raised a brow, adjusting his suit button.

Ignoring him, Alpha Landon looked at the only sensible Alpha left on the balcony other than him. ‘Please. I need you to take him with you. This is a serious situation.’ Alpha Landon communicated his thoughts with the Alpha of the Saprale Kingdom through their mind link.

With a nod, he turned to Alpha of the Merxan kingdom, and whispered something in his ears, to which the infuriated Alpha howled,“ I am a King! I will not be dismissed!”

“You are king in your kingdom, Dexter. Fulfill your duties. Don’t shout in front of me, or you know how dirty I can get. Or did you forget high school?” Raising a challenging brow, the right corner of Alpha Landon’s lips curved into a smirk.

Gulping, the Alpha of the Merxan kingdom, looked away. Raising his chin, his fingers snapped, and a portal appeared. “ Are you coming, Lester?”

“Yes, Brother.” Alpha of the Saprale Kingdom offered a smile, patting Alpha Landon’s right shoulder. With a nod, he stepped into the portal, following Alpha Dexter.

Heart wildly beating. Blinding Pain. Cracking of bones. That is what Lysabel remembers before she lost her consciousness. She didn’t expect to wake up in an empty room with walls made of concrete and steel. Cold, thin air drifted through a vent, the only proof she was in a room, not buried in a mausoleum. Limbs throbbing, Lysabel searched for any living person in the room other than herself. As if hearing her voice, the thick slab of reinforced steel for a door opened with a soft hiss, and her mother stepped through. Iora’s eyes met Lysabel’s, widening with the realization that her daughter was awake and safe. She was alive. A breath hitched in her throat.

However, the relief and light soon drained from her face. With disappointment settling in her expression, Iora walked closer to the bed.

" What did you do? You must have done something wrong, " she accused, reaching the bed, her eyes pouring lava, and her lips set in a thin line.