The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 146: Hope ()

King Askel sat at Zariah’s side, clutching her hand anxiously as the healer from the fairy tribe rested a hand over Zariah’s forehead, her palm glowing with her magic.

It had been about a half hour since they arrived back at the Floral Palace and King Askel had dismissed everyone else but the Crimson Wolves.

King Askel’s wolf was uneasy and his beast’s unceasing roars clouded his mind, the last thing he needed was anyone who would infuriate him further.

King Askel would have dismissed the Crimson Wolves too if he didn’t know already that they would never be willing to leave their Alpha’s side.

Zariah lay on the bed, a peaceful expression on her face as the healer worked her magic whereas King Askel was the farthest thing from peaceful as anyone could get.

The warm glow of the healing magic encased Zariah completely and King Askel was relieved as he felt Zariah’s breathing soon return to it’s normal pace.

With her unsteady breathing calmed, King Askel knew Zariah’s life was out of danger.

Nile, Darren, Kristen and Allen also stood to the side, waiting for the healer to conclude with her treatment, before Nile could properly examine Zariah’s condition.

Although as spirit guide of Crimson Moon, Nile possesed some attributes of a healer but the fairy healers sourced their power from nature, hence they possesed more skill in the healing arts.

This was why Nile had demanded for a healer immediately, knowing his spirit magic would not suffice to tend to internal injuries.

It took a while before the healer finally stepped back.

"How is she?" King Askel asked in deep concern.

"I will be honest, I have never seen a mortal body serving as host to such powerful magic as the Creator’s flame."

"The power flowing within her veins is more than what I can describe, yet her body is still one of a mortal...to wield the Creator’s flames and remain unharmed, she is a strong one." The healer began with a shake of her head.

"So... she is fine?" King Askel clarified.

"Her life is not in danger. The Crimson Alpha was born to wield the Creator’s flame, she cannot be killed by it."

"Yet even the Crimson Alpha has her limits, such power was not meant to be wielded by a mortal in the first place,"

"To wield the power of gods with a mortal body, the fate of the Crimson Alpha is indeed a difficult one..."

"The Crimson Flame has completely drained her and I fear she shall not recover anytime soon." The healer revealed in a grim tone.

"What do you mean?" King Askel asked, his heart trembling with unease.

"I do not know for what cause, but the Crimson Alpha has pushed beyond her limits. She knew it too... that this would be the result of it."

"Her body will need time to recover it’s strength and has shut down to heal itself, the process will be a slow one... she will live, but for the time being, the Crimson Alpha shall not awaken." The healer explained.

King Askel’s heart sank as he passed a glance to Zariah.

"You mean to say she will remain in a coma, and we cannot tell when she will awaken?! Nile!" Darren exclaimed, turning to the spirit guide to do something about it.

"I was going to report the same, there is nothing I can do... Zariah needs this time to recover her strength, forcing her to awaken will do more harm than good." Nile revealed in a grim tone.

"So we just watch... and wait?" Darren asked in a low tone as he lifted a hand to rub his temple.

"That is all that can be done, at the very least, her life is in no immediate danger. Yet I must add, the process will be even slower as the Crimson Alpha does not possess a wolf." The healer said.

King Askel’s head snapped up at that, his gaze furrowing in confusion.

An Alpha without a wolf? King Askel had never heard of such a thing.

"What do you mean Zariah doesn’t have a wolf?!" King Askel demanded.

"I...I am not certain myself, I did not sense the presence of her wolf side..." The healer stuttered out, taking a step back from a raging King Askel.

"What does that even mean?!" King Askel asked as he turned to the Crimson Wolves.

From the grim expression on their faces, King Askel could see this was not news they found surprising, which meant they already knew of it.

"It is not that she does not have a wolf... she used to..." Darren murmured but then fell quiet, unwilling to complete his sentence.

"Zariah’s wolf was hurt and her presence dispersed, Nile could only retain the attributes of her wolf side, but her wolf itself...is feared dead." Allen revealed when no one spoke up.

King Askel’s heart constricted in pain as his gaze reverted back to his unconscious mate, a cold feeling of despair gripping him.

To think that all along, he had failed to notice the absence of his mate’s wolf made him realize just how insensitive he had been to Zariah.

He had always been focused on earning her approval and gaining her acceptance that he did not see it clearly... what the sadness in her eyes meant.

"Mhíjani... I have already lost a half of you, I cannot loose you too..." King Askel murmured as he rested his head down beside Zariah.

"Without her wolf, the condition of the Crimson Alpha might not see a positive turn for a long time."

"I suggest she is taken back to the High Oracle of the Ethereal Domain, perhaps he will have a method to help restore her consciousness sooner." The healer added before she took her leave.

"The healer is right, getting Zariah to take her wolf form would be the fastest way to restore her strength. The Crimson Flame only became so tasking to wield since Zariah lost her wolf." Allen said with a heavy sigh.

"Truly... Zariah has never been so burdened by the Creator’s flame before, not even in childhood. But what can be done now that Torin is gone?" Darren asked in a frustrated tone.

"Zariah’s wolf is not dead... just in a slumber and restoring her wolf may not be an impossible task." Nile spoke up after a moment of quiet.

King Askel perked up at that, turning to face the spirit guide who looked thoughtful.

"What do you mean? You said yourself Torin was gone for good." Darren reminded, also staring at Nile in surprise.

"I believed so too, all indications show Torin’s presence has completely dispersed and I know not of any method to restore her." Nile said with a nod.

"So what do you mean ’It’s not impossible?" Darren asked again.

"All of this was a conclusion I came to and I was certain of it...but that was until Zariah met King Askel. I cannot restore Torin but just maybe King Askel can." Nile said in a serious tone.

"Tell me what I have to do... anything... I will do anything." King Askel said.

"That is the problem, you are already doing something, yet I cannot tell what exactly it is.It seems as though your mere existence has changed the order of things." Nile said in wonder.

"Can you speak in words we can actually understand?" Darren huffed out in confusion

"Back at the Sea Dome, when King Askel was hurt, Zariah immediately flew into a rage and vowed to kill Lord Imain."

"In that moment, I felt it..that presence, it was unmistakably Torin on the surface. She awakened in that moment to defend King Askel because she was alerted to the danger." Nile revealed.

"Such a thing happened?" Allen asked in wonder.

"I witnessed it too, Zariah changed completely as though a foreign presence came over her..." Kristen supported with a nod.

"Her eyes glowed too and her words were deep and animalistic, I assumed it was her wolf on the surface, it is natural to see a wolf shifter manifest the presence of their wolf so I didn’t think much of it."

"I didn’t know then that her wolf had not surfaced for sometime... that was most definitely Zariah’s wolf side." Kristen said in agreement.

King Askel himself recalled this event, he had witnessed it for himself and had also sensed the presence of Zariah’s wolf in that brief moment.

King Askel was not certain how he knew, but he just knew it without a doubt that Zariah’s wolf had been present and she had surfaced for him.

"She was there...her wolf was there, I felt her." King Askel said with certainty.

"Ever since meeting you, Zariah’s wolf has begun reacting. I have noticed it on more than one occasion but I did not dare believe it until the event in the Sea Dome."

"I believe your bond... the mate bond can heal Torin." Nile said, his eyes shinning with hope.