Kaden's POV
Somewhere Hidden in the palace
I stirred, my eyes snapping open as the sounds of battle outside grew louder, like a storm crashing against the walls. My body felt heavy, each breath labored, and I could barely remember what was happening.
"Zara..." I whispered, my voice hoarse, barely escaping my lips. My body screamed in protest as I tried to push myself up. My legs wobbled beneath me, too weak to support my weight, and I collapsed back onto the bed.
"Stay down, my Alpha," a guard said urgently, his grip firm on my shoulder as I struggled to rise. "You can't go out there. You need to rest."
I glared at him, my gaze hardening despite the weakness in my body. "The pack is in danger. They need me."
I clenched my fists, the frustration boiling inside me. My mind screamed for action, but my body betrayed me. The sound of screams and howls filled the air, the battle raging, and I knew that the kingdom was falling apart without me. I wasn't going to lie here while my people fought for their lives.
"Zara... what's happening?" I muttered, confusion clouding my mind. My thoughts were scattered, and the pain in my chest wasn't just physical. It was the weight of my failure, the fear of being unable to protect what was mine.
The walls trembled beneath me. The ground shook again, more violently this time. My heart skipped a beat as the distant howl echoed louder, rattling everything around me.
Zara's POV
Where is he?,
"Where is he?" I stormed through the palace halls, my voice echoing off the stone walls. The air was thick with tension, and the faces around me were filled with fear. I didn't care. I needed answers. I had to find him. "Has anyone seen the Alpha? Where is Kaden?"
The guards exchanged uneasy glances, their faces tight with worry. "We're still searching, my queen," one of them answered, bowing his head.
"Still searching?" I hissed, my frustration boiling over. "How can he just disappear like that? He's the Alpha!" I paced back and forth, my claws clicking on the stone floor, my rage rising. "If he's alive, we must find him. Now!"
The footsteps of Maris echoed behind me, and I didn't need to turn around to know it was her. She always moved like a shadow. Her calm voice cut through my fury. "Zara, calm down. If he's alive, we'll find him. We've won the battle. You have control now. The pack will follow your lead."
The footsteps of Maris echoed behind me, and I didn't need to turn around to know it was her. She always moved like a shadow. Her calm voice cut through my fury. "Zara, calm down. If he's alive, we'll find him. We've won the battle. You have control now. The pack will follow your lead."
Control.
I stopped mid-step and glared at her, a cold smile curling on my lips. "Control?" I muttered under my breath. "Not until Kaden is out of the way completely. Until I know he's no longer a threat, this pack will be mine, all mine."
Kaden's POV
Somewhere Hidden in the palace,
I lay in a hidden chamber, my body broken from the invaders' assault. I could feel the lingering pain in every part of me, but I knew I was still alive, even if weak. Too weak to lead. Too weak to stop what was coming.
"Alpha, you shouldn't move," one of my guards urged, but I knew better than anyone. I couldn't just lie here, hiding away while the kingdom crumbled.
"Rest?" My voice was hoarse, thick with barely contained fury. "My pack is out there, and I'm hiding like a coward. The pack needs me. I need to go back."
Lira, the second queen, stepped forward, her face unreadable, though the tension in her eyes gave her away. "You can't go back, Kaden," she said softly, her voice calm but firm. "It's too dangerous now. They'll be searching for you."
I snapped at her, trying to push myself to stand, despite my body screaming at me to stop. "I don't care," I growled. "I'm the Alpha. I'm not hiding while my pack is being led by someone else."
Lira moved closer, her hand resting gently on my shoulder. "If you go out there now, you'll be captured. Your best option is to stay hidden, at least until things calm down."
"And what about Zara?" I asked, my tone sharp.
Her face tightened, her jaw set in resolve. "She'll do whatever it takes to take control. She's already got most of the pack's loyalty. If you don't act quickly, she'll have full power."
Zara's POV
Back in the main hall,
My frustration was reaching a boiling point. "Find him!" I screamed at the guards, my voice echoing through the stone. "If you don't find Kaden, I swear I'll make sure none of you see tomorrow!" But as I turned to storm off, Maris walked past me, her eyes dark with unspoken thoughts. "The Alpha is weak. It's only a matter of time before we take control completely," she said, her words laced with the kind of sly smile that made my blood run cold. "What do you mean?" I snapped, my irritation turning to suspicion. "Kaden's no fool," Maris replied with a wicked grin. "He'll realize soon enough that he's not in control anymore. And when he does, he'll make his move." Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, I stood there, the anger inside me bubbling up. I will not let him take control again.
Meanwhile, in the castle, the guards began to search the hidden rooms where Kaden was resting. The tension was thick with every step they took, each moment more unbearable than the last. I could feel the threat closing in.
Lira's POV
The Corridor,
I stepped into the corridor, my mind set on finding out the true situation of the castle. The tension hung in the air, thick with uncertainty. But as I walked, I heard it, the unmistakable sound of footsteps following behind me. My instincts kicked in, and I turned sharply, alert.
Before I could react, a pair of hands grabbed me, yanking me swiftly into a nearby room.
"What are you doing?" I gasped, my heart hammering in my chest. "Let me go! What is this?"
"Quiet." The voice came from the shadows, cold and steady. "The Alpha's alive. We know you know where he's hiding."
My pulse quickened at the words. "What? How?"
The voice, calm but chilling, answered me. "Doesn't matter. What matters is that he's a threat. You need to be fast about this, Lira.
Fear gripped my chest as my heart skipped a beat. "What do you want from me?"
The figure stepped closer, their presence demanding attention. "I'm not asking. I'm telling you. You will take Kaden down, or you will be killed."