Elsa's smooth voice sailed, and Axel groaned, his body shaking with deep hatred. The lights turned on, but he refused to look at her.
"What a poor sight," she gasped as she saw the wounds on his back. She had specifically instructed the guards not to touch any other part of his body but his back.
So, while every other part was smooth, his back was an eyesore.
"Little devil, why aren't you manifesting your powers yet?" she asked, raising his chin with one finger, and he trembled.
"Aren't you sick of the beatings? Don't you want to rip the guards' heads off?" she asked slowly, and Axel sniffed.
She burst into another round of laughter.
"I'm not wicked, am I?" she smirked. "I'm just trying to find out something." She added, her mind going back to what she had discovered about Axel.
Ever since that night she had visited him, she had been so invested in finding out who he truly was. One thing was for sure: he was no ordinary pup.
What sort of pup would survive such beatings? She had made sure he was beaten for thirty minutes straight without stopping, and yet... he was alive.
That strength... she wanted it. No matter what, she would find out what he was, and he would be her weapon. A weapon for her son's success.
"So, now, tell me what you are," she said, her smile still on her face.
"Why are you doing this? What have I done to you? Did my mother ever offend you? Why are you so cruel!!" he screamed, and the impact opened the wounds on his back further, making them bleed more.
"Your existence itself is an offence!" she yelled. "But then, your existence might be good for me, don't you think? I can turn your insane strength into something useful. That's why you need to tell me what you are. Nice and easy." She said, and he gulped.
How would he tell her what he was when he had no idea? All he knew was that he was different from others.
"I really don't know," he cried, and for the first time, Elsa actually saw him cry.
He rarely cried. And even if he did, it was usually when he was alone. But this torment... it was just too much for him. It was too painful.
"You don't know what you are? That's sad, isn't it?" she said in a pitiful tone. "That's why I am helping you find what you are. I'm helping you discover yourself, don't you like it?" she giggled, and Axel bit his lips.
He was on the verge of collapsing, but he was holding on to one thing.
The King was coming. His father would be here soon to save him from the shackles of this she-wolf.
Even though that thread of hope was thinning because it was taking longer than expected. The King should have saved him by now, but still, he wouldn't lose hope.
That was the only thread he was hanging on to. The only path to his freedom. The only one who truly cared for him was the King. And he would be here soon. He would be—
As if reading his thoughts, Elsa stood up and turned around.
"Tsk, the King himself should have been here by now if he truly cared about you. I wonder what he's still doing with Darius," she said, and Axel's ears shot up, the last thread of hope breaking.
He must have misheard, right? That must be it. There was no possible way—
"I'm sure the King had missed his true-born son so much that he couldn't wait to see him. He even forgot he has another spare waiting for him." She laughed and took a last look at Axel before leaving the room.
Axel bit his lip so hard that it bled.
"Father has left me too," he mumbled, his lips trembling, and right then, he collapsed on the cold floor.
---
As the carriage carried the King back to the palace, he delved into his thoughts, remembering the night Alpha Seth had asked him to make his decision.
"These are the two options you have, Your Majesty. You want to avoid war, and at the same time, you don't want to cut the destiny of the child short. You'll have to choose one, Your Majesty."
"What's your pick?"
"How about I aim for both?" Alpha Kaden had replied.
"Aim for both? How?" Alpha Seth asked, not knowing what the King was planning.
"I can't afford to shed a child's blood to save my kingdom. He's my pup," he said defensively. "And I also can't afford to lose the kingdom to ruins." He added, and Alpha Seth nodded, wondering what the King had in mind.
"Then, how about I—" He paused, as if having a rethink.
"How about you what, Your Majesty?" Seth inquired, and the King took in a deep breath before replying.
He had thought about it over and over again, and he had come to a conclusion. It was the only better option.
"How about I send Axel somewhere far away from the palace?" he said, and Alpha Seth cocked his head in interest.
"I mean, if he doesn't stay anywhere near the palace, there's no way he's going to be a threat to Darius," he said, and Alpha Seth seemed to think about it for a while.
"But you do know, Your Majesty, destiny can't be avoided. The Moon Goddess has already planned their fate, so no matter what we try to do, what has been planned would still play itself out, one way or the other."
"So, what do you advise I do? I'm quite torn."
"Why don't you let their destiny play out, Your Majesty? Let these matters unfold themselves. I feel if we try to force their destinies to change, it might have an adverse effect—and that includes killing the pup." He advised, and the King nodded slowly.
"Let's watch and see," he concluded.
That was the plan. He would try his best to make sure that the two princes lived in unison. They were close already, anyway. And Elsa would also do a good job in training the two together.
Everything was perfect. Maybe the Moon Goddess would even let go of the punishment, and there would be no cause for disunity. Who knows?
---
Elsa hissed out loud as she paced to and fro in the infirmary. She had been here for hours.
"Is he still unconscious?! Just how incompetent are you all?" she snarled, and continued pacing.
The King had suddenly sent word that he would be returning earlier than planned. "He was the one that said four days, why the change of plans? Gosh!"
Axel had remained unconscious ever since she left him, and she wouldn't have been bothered if the King wasn't returning today. But now, the King was on his way, and she couldn't allow him to know that he was unconscious. What would she say happened to him?
"Your Majesty, he's not giving any response," the head physician said. The look the Queen gave her made her bow her head immediately.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" she scoffed.
"I'm afraid we have to wait for the young prince's body to recover for a while. He isn't giving any sign of waking up anytime soon," she said, and the Luna clenched her fists.
This boy surely wanted to ruin her plans.
"How about his wounds, have you taken care of them?" she asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty. The wounds have been properly treated and bandaged," she answered, and the Queen nodded.
"Still, try your best to wake him up. He needs to be conscious. Do all it takes," she ordered, and the physician blinked.
The pup was too weak already. She doubted he would become conscious today at all. Only a few people could survive the brutality this boy was given, and yet she was expecting him to be conscious and full of life?
Just wow.
But then, anything to satisfy their overbearing Luna.
"Yes, Your Majesty. We'll do our best," she said, her head bowed, and Elsa sneered.
"You'd better. Your family's life might just be on the line," she said out of nowhere, and the physician's brows creased.
"Your Majesty?"
"You have nothing to worry about. You already promised to do your job well, so carry on. Your family would be fine, as long as that boy wakes up," she said, blowing on a finger. Then she turned and walked out of the infirmary.
"The King doesn't know the witch he married," the physician said in her mind.