King Killian arched a brow at Elena's words, a heavy sigh slipping from his lips. His gaze shifted to Irene, and without a word, he strode toward her. Bending down slowly, he tried to catch a sound, but Elena's racing heart made it difficult to do so
With a low growl of frustration, he closed his eyes, shutting out every other sound until only one remained. He straightened his voice firm and edged with command. "She's alive. Her heart still beats, though faintly. That means she hasn't let go yet. She's fighting."
Just then, the doctor—a middle-aged woman barged into the room. "King Killian." She bowed in respect, honoring the King before turning to the warrior who had escorted her in. "Thank you for your help."
The warrior nodded in acknowledgment. He bowed before the King before taking his leave.
"What happened to her?" Doctor Fiona asked calmly as she hurriedly brought out her doctor's kit.
"I-I don't know, I met her unconscious. I-I think she had a bad fall." Elena replied as she rose from the bed, giving the doctor enough space to do her job.
"She did not fall." King Killian suddenly uttered, causing Elena to snap her head to his side.
"W-what?"
"Did you not notice the iron candle holder outside?" King Killian asked. He did not wait for Elena's response before he added, "Someone knocked Irene out in an attempt to kill her."
Elena gasped, deeply shocked by the revelation. She had seen the candle holder, but she never imagined that it could be the weapon used on Irene. Who would even do such a thing? Who would dare attempt murder in the palace of a great King? And why Irene?
"D-doctor, can you help her?" Elena asked her tone a mixture of desperation and hope.
"Y-yes my Queen. If she continues holding on to life like this, then I can help her. Besides, her wolf is trying really hard to heal her." Dr. Fiona replied.
Elena heaved a deep sigh of relief after hearing this, then she went to sit at the other side of the bed, the edge close to the wall. She stayed quiet while she watched the doctor do her thing.
"Find warrior Ruko and lock him up in the torture room. I'll be there soon." King Killian mindlinked his Beta.
"My King? Is there a reason why I should lock him up?" Beta Gareth asked, a little concerned about the King's sudden decision.
"Warrior Ruko tried to murder Irene and I want to know why." Before Beta Gareth could ask how the King knew about this, he added. "It was very faint, but I was able to catch warrior Ruko's scent when I leaned in to check Irene's heartbeat. This simply means that warrior Ruko was the last person Irene saw before the incident and he could probably be the culprit. So, go catch him." He ordered.
Beta Gareth nodded in understanding before exiting the room.
King Killian released a sigh for the hundredth time that day as he fixed his gaze on his wife who was trying hard to hold back her tears. In his mind, he vowed to make warrior Ruko's death painful. He made his wife cry so he was going to pay for it.
Killian wasn't doing this because he cared about Elena, but because he hated that he could feel her misery. It was a very annoying feeling.
Okay, maybe he was lying to himself that he did not care about Elena and that her tears weren't piercing into his heart like a sword, but this did not change the fact that he hated how he could share her sorrow and wanted it to end immediately.
"My King, Warrior Ruko is nowhere to be found," Beta Gareth's voice echoed through the mind link.
Killian's expression darkened instantly. "Alert the others. Search every corner, Ruko must not leave this palace!"
"Elena," He said gently, "Something urgent has come up. I need to take care of it, but I'll be back soon." With this, he turned around and left.
"Don't worry my Queen, everything will be fine." The doctor voiced as she continued working in Irene. Normally, she'd take Irene to her hospital but the King had always had his warriors and Omegas treated in the palace.
Meanwhile, outside of the room where Irene was getting treated, warrior Ruko hid in a corner. He had masked his scent so the King didn't sniff him out when he passed by. He couldn't help but take his hands through his hair in annoyance as he moved out from where he was hiding. His eyes grew red with rage as he fixed his gaze on the direction the King had taken.
Warrior Ruko wasn't so foolish, so he knew that the King had caught on to what he had done, and it made him angry. How could this have happened? How would he get past this now?!
"Fuck it!" Warrior Ruko spat as he gently knocked on the brown oak door. There was nothing he could do anyway, so he might as well just have his way with Elena before dying.
"My Queen." Warrior Ruko bowed in respect as he walked into the room. He spared a glance at Irene and cursed her inwardly before turning to face Elena again. "The King has called for you my Queen."
"B-but I want to stay." Elena tried to protest.
"Yes, I understand my Queen. But the King said it's important." Warrior Ruko's voice was calm as he tried to reason, but deep down he was very eager to get this done and over with. If Elena proved stubborn, he would simply kill the stupid doctor and then have his way right there, but it was a senseless plan so he tried to maintain his cool. "You know the King does not like being disobeyed. Please come, I'm sure he will make it quick." He added.
Elena sighed before rising to her feet. "Please take care of her. I'll be back." She said to the doctor before strolling to the warrior's side.
"Where is the King now?" Elena asked as she followed warrior Ruko out of the room. "Please—"
"Argh…" Elena whimpered as something hard slammed against her head, sending a jolt of pain through her skull. Her knees buckled, vision blurring. Just before the darkness swallowed her whole, a cruel voice echoed in her ears. "Today is the day, my beloved."
Then silence.
Warrior Ruko caught Elena before she fell to the ground, and then he dragged her unconscious body into the nearest room, where he laid her gently on the floor.
Suddenly, he began laughing like a madman as he felt proud of his accomplishments. "You're mine beautiful wolf, you're mine." He kept chanting like a fool as he hurriedly took off his clothes. "Oh, my sweet Elena." He murmured softly as he tucked a few strands of hair behind Elena's ear.
"Wow. I never imagined I'd walk in on this," a familiar, smooth voice cut through the air like a blade.
Warrior Ruko froze, his hand hovering inches from Elena's shirt. Slowly, he turned toward the voice, his pulse thundering in his ears. Color drained from his face the moment his eyes landed on the figure by the doorway. He dropped to the floor with a thud, eyes wide in terror as he scrambled backward on his bare butt.
"P-Prince Xavier,"