Chapter 9

A L I N A

My stomach churns, and I fight the urge to look away. When they finally break apart, Magnus glances at me, his expression cold as he stares back at me.

“You see, Alina,” he says calmly. "You were always a part of the plan. Isalda and I have been working toward this for years. You were just an obstacle we had to remove..."

Their betrayal crushes me, threatening to drag me into despair. But soon, hands curl into fists, nails digging into my palms. “You’ll regret this...” I say, my voice trembling as my sadness suddenly turns to rage, “Both of you. I’ll make sure of it..." I let out and at that moment, I am about to race forward and attack the both of them, everything around me moving in slow motion. But as soon as I move, Isalda raises a hand to me, and immediately, olive green vines shoot out of the ground with a great force, wrapping around my body quicker than I can react, each vine having spikes on them, each of them digging into my flesh as they hold me back...

"Argh!!" I shout out loud, as I begin struggling against my restraints, but it seems like every move I make seems to make them worse..."

"You know better than to fight against the vines, Alina..." She says as she keeps her hand out to me, a pale green aura surrounding her as she steps forward.

Of course... the power of the Moryvane family. Each of the noble families possessed some sort of ability... My family, the Xalveria family, could control ice, snow and water. The Vorathiels were telekinetic and had a series of psychic powers, and the Morvayne family had the power of nature, plants and the earth. Powers and abilities varied among different individuals, and not every Lycan had abilities. But Isalda and I were one of the lucky few...

"You fucking bitch..." I seethe out, as I continue to struggle against the vines, every move excruciating as I try to break free, but all I can feel is the spikes digging deeper and deeper into my skin, blood now leaking from my open wounds, my healing process restricted completely.

Isalda laughs, a cold, mocking sound. “I'll need you to stay put for what's about to happen next, Alina...”

She lets out, and I simply stare at her with a deep frown, confusion reigning on my features as I try to figure out what she's getting at. But soon, I figure it out...

Footsteps soon fill the wide hallways, and I struggle to turn and see exactly who it is that has walked in. The colour soon drains from my face once I realise who they are and I begin fighting against the vines, no matter how much pain I'm in... I need to break free...

My father, once unshakable and proud, stumbles as they shove him forward. His clothes are torn, his head bowed, and blood stains his once-pristine tunic. My mother clings to her dignity, but her steps falter, her hair disheveled and her face pale.

“Mother! Father!” I scream, my voice raw with desperation. I try to reach them, but I scream out loud as the vines tighten around me, restricting me completely...

“Let me go!” I scream, my blood now dripping onto the floor and making a puddle around me as I continue fighting...

My parents turn towards me, worry crossing their features as they attempt to walk towards me but instead, they are slashed with silver weapons by the guards around them, keeping them weakened and subdued.

"Alina..." My father lets out as he is forced to his knees along with my mother, my mother crying softly as she looks back at me.

"I'll kill you for this... I'll kill you..." I seethe through clenched teeth, tears streaming down my face as I slowly feel my power surging beneath me, threatening to be let loose

Magnus, standing in the center of the chaos like a king surveying his kingdom, turns toward me with a casual, almost bored expression. “Alina,” he says, his tone calm and cutting, “it’s time you accepted reality...” Magnus says right before he takes out his sword from his side and steps forward, pointing his sword to my parents...

As I realise what Magnus is about to do, panic begins to set in as I glance between him, the sword in his hands and my parents...

It's Rezionite... the one thing that can kill a Lycan...

“Magnus, please.” I find myself pleading with him, my voice breaking as the words barely form past the lump in my throat. “Whatever this is, whatever you want—just stop it. Let them go...”

He smirks, stepping closer. “Do you still not understand? This isn’t about what you want, Alina. It’s never been about that.”

The guards force my parents to their knees in the middle of the hall. My father lifts his head, his piercing gaze meeting mine. Even now, battered and bound, he exudes strength.

“Stay strong, Alina,” he says, his voice steady despite everything.

My heart cracks further, tears blurring my vision. “Magnus!” I scream, my voice raw. “You don’t have to do this! Let them go!”

Magnus ignores me, drawing a sword from his side. The blade glints in the flickering light, its edge wickedly sharp.

“No…” Panic surges through me. “No! Stop!”

Magnus steps toward my parents, the sword raised. My mother turns her head, her eyes locking with mine. There’s no fear in her gaze, only love and quiet acceptance.

“Mother!” I scream, thrashing wildly against the vines holding onto me as my entire body stings in agony.

Then, before I know it, before I can even anticipate it or stop it... the blade comes down, a swift motion across my mother...

The sickening sound of steel meeting flesh fills the hall, and my mother collapses to the ground, lifeless, her throat sliced open as blood spews onto the ground.

“NO!” The scream tears from my throat, raw and guttural, as if the very fabric of my soul is being ripped apart. My knees give out, but the vines hold me upright, their thorns continually digging into my flesh.

My father’s voice rises, filled with anguish and rage. He struggles against the guards holding him, but Magnus doesn’t even pause. He raises the sword again.

“Stop it! Please!” I beg, sobbing. “Magnus, stop!”

The blade falls.

My father’s body slumps beside my mother’s, a large slash across his entire abdomen as he bleeds out onto the floor.

The world seems to tilt on its axis.

And soon, something inside me breaks.