"I can give you everything you lost," the Wraith King's voice echoed in Alistair's mind. "All you have to do is surrender."
Alistair groaned, his head pounding. "I'll never surrender to you."
The Wraith King's voice was calm, almost soothing. "You could have your pack back, Alistair. You could be the Alpha again. Think about it."
Alistair clenched his fists. "I don't want your power."
"You could defeat Grayson. You could save Selene," the Wraith King whispered. "All you have to do is give in."
Alistair's heart raced. "No. I won't let you control me."
The darkness in his mind grew stronger, swirling around him. "You're weak, Alistair. Without me, you'll fail. You'll lose everything."
Alistair struggled to focus, his thoughts jumbled. "I don't need you."
"Don't you want to be powerful again? Don't you want to protect the people you love?" The Wraith King's voice was smooth, tempting.
Alistair gritted his teeth. "I won't betray them."
The Wraith King laughed softly. "Betray them? No, Alistair. You'd be saving them. You could be the hero."
Alistair felt the temptation creeping in, his mind clouded with doubt. "You're lying. You only want control."
"I want what's best for you," the Wraith King said, his voice almost gentle. "I can give you everything you've ever wanted. All you have to do is let go."
Alistair shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. "I'm not like you."
"You are more like me than you realize," the Wraith King replied. "You've been fighting all your life. What have you gained?"
Alistair hesitated, the words sinking in. "I won't give in."
"You've already lost so much," the Wraith King said softly. "Your pack, your home, Selene…"
Alistair's heart ached. "No. I haven't lost her."
"But you will," the Wraith King whispered. "If you keep fighting, you'll lose her. You'll lose everything."
Alistair squeezed his eyes shut, fighting back the doubt. "I can't trust you."
The Wraith King's voice was smooth, convincing. "You don't have to trust me. Just accept my power. Let me help you."
Alistair felt the darkness closing in. His body felt heavy, his mind weak. "I won't... I won't let you in."
"You're already letting me in, Alistair," the Wraith King said with a dark chuckle. "Why fight what you know is true?"
Alistair's breath came in short gasps. He could feel the Wraith King's power tugging at him, tempting him to give in. "Get out of my head."
"Think about Selene," the Wraith King urged. "She's slipping away. She doesn't believe in you anymore. You can feel it, can't you?"
Alistair's heart twisted. "That's not true."
"Isn't it?" the Wraith King's voice was like a whisper in the dark. "She's growing distant. She doesn't think you can win this fight."
Alistair's thoughts spun. He knew Selene cared for him, but doubt crept in. "She... she's with me."
"For now," the Wraith King said, his voice soft. "But for how long? How long until she realizes you're too weak to save her?"
Alistair's chest tightened. He couldn't lose her again. "She won't leave me."
"She will," the Wraith King whispered. "Unless you take the power I'm offering."
Alistair gritted his teeth, shaking his head. "I don't want your power."
"Don't be a fool," the Wraith King growled. "You need my power to survive. Without me, you're nothing."
Alistair's hands trembled. "I won't give in."
"You're already falling, Alistair," the Wraith King said, his voice dark and deep. "Why resist when you know you can't win?"
Alistair's vision blurred, his body felt weak. "I'll... fight you."
"Fight me?" the Wraith King's laughter echoed in his mind. "You can't even fight yourself."
Alistair gasped for breath, feeling his strength draining. "No... I can win this."
"You can't," the Wraith King said firmly. "But with my power, you could defeat Grayson. You could save Selene."
Alistair's heart pounded. "I don't trust you."
"Trust doesn't matter," the Wraith King whispered. "All that matters is power. And I can give it to you."
Alistair's body ached, his mind clouded with doubt. The Wraith King's words were sinking in, pulling him toward the darkness. "I... I can't..."
"Think about it," the Wraith King urged. "You could save everyone. You could be the leader you once were. Strong, respected... feared."
Alistair's fists clenched. "I don't want to be feared."
"You want to be strong," the Wraith King said. "You want to win. And I can make that happen."
Alistair's mind raced. He could feel the Wraith King's power pulling him in, offering him strength he hadn't felt in a long time. "No... I can't."
"Yes, you can," the Wraith King whispered. "All you have to do is surrender. Let me in."
Alistair's heart pounded in his chest. He could feel the temptation growing stronger. The Wraith King's offer was so tempting, so easy. "I... I won't."
"You're lying to yourself, Alistair," the Wraith King said calmly. "You want this. You need this."
Alistair gasped, fighting for control. "I'll never give in to you."
"You already are," the Wraith King said with a smirk in his voice. "Just let go, Alistair. Let me take control."
Alistair's vision blurred, the darkness swirling around him. "Get... out."
The Wraith King laughed. "You're mine, Alistair. You just don't know it yet."
Alistair's knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, his mind spinning. "No... I won't let you win."
"You can't stop me," the Wraith King said softly. "But you can join me. Together, we'll be unstoppable."
Alistair struggled to stay conscious, his breath ragged. "I... I'll fight you."
The Wraith King's voice was smooth, almost mocking. "Why fight when you could have everything you've ever wanted? Power, control, Selene... all of it could be yours."
Alistair's heart twisted. "Selene..."
"She's already slipping away," the Wraith King whispered. "She doesn't believe in you anymore."
Alistair's chest tightened. "That's... not true."
The Wraith King's voice was cold. "Isn't it? She's already preparing for your failure. She knows you're not strong enough to fight me."
Alistair's mind raced. Doubt clouded his thoughts. Was Selene starting to lose faith in him?
"You could prove her wrong," the Wraith King said softly. "Take my power, and you'll be the leader she needs. The alpha she once believed in."
Alistair's body shook. The temptation was so strong, so hard to resist. "I... I can't..."
"You can," the Wraith King urged. "You just have to let go. Accept my power, Alistair. Become what you were meant to be."
Alistair's fists clenched. His mind was spinning, the Wraith King's words sinking deep into his thoughts.
"Alistair..." a soft voice called out from the darkness.
Alistair's heart skipped a beat. "Selene?"
Selene stepped into view, her face filled with concern. "Alistair, don't listen to him."
Alistair's breath caught in his throat. "Selene... I..."
Selene's eyes were sad. "You're not strong enough to fight him."
Alistair's heart sank. "What... do you mean?"
Selene looked away, her voice quiet. "And if you try, you'll lose yourself."