The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 162: Awake ()

Darkness... the very moment Zariah’s consciousness gained a measure of awareness, she was faced with the chilling cold and shadowy darkness that encased her from all around.

It pressed down heavily on her, as though attempting to force Zariah back into it’s depths and many times before this, it had been successful.

This was not the first time Zariah would try to confront the darkness and though she had been far too weak on all the other occasions, Zariah was determined to make it through this time.

The whispers of longing from everyday Askel visited, to Darren’s quiet sobs, Allen’s self reassuring words even when his tone revealed how broken he was and Nile’s quiet presence... Zariah heard it all.

Their words sounded faraway, barely audible to Zariah but still, she heard them... every single day for however long this darkness had prevailed.

Zariah was restless, the darkness was unnerving and frustrating, precisely because this was not the first time she was faced with it.

Stuck here, in the coldness of these shadows, it was an unpleasant reminder of the chilling cold grip of death and how it had ferociously tugged on Zariah’s soul, swallowing her up completely.

This feeling of not knowing if she was heading for her death or if truly she still lived was awful, Zariah hated it.

And so she had tried, again and again, at every moment she could gather enough strength, she fought against the darkness.

She had failed many times too, the darkness was much stronger and easily overpowered her, but this time was different...

"To be clear...it is you who is not fitting!" Dionne’s ferocious snarl broke through the dark haze, more audible than it had ever been.

Zariah could recognize Dionne’s voice anywhere and such ferocity was certainly the trademark of her honor guard.

"What are you talking about?" Another voice said.

This voice was also easy to recognize, but for a different reason altogether.

Zariah’s heart did a strange flip and deep within the confines of her mind, a low, weak voice whispered a word of recognition.

’Mate...’ Torin whispered, reminding Zariah of her presence.

Torin’s presence...it was the only thing that had kept Zariah going even when the darkness was determined to overwhelm her.

Torin was weak, so much so that it could be said she was barely there...but still, Zariah could sense her and that much was enough for Zariah.

This would not be the first time Torin responded to the call of her mate, Askel had made it a point of duty to coerce Torin to return to him every single day.

Zariah was not sure how Askel’s words had gotten through to her dying wolf, but they had and this alone proved to Zariah just how strong her bond with Askel was growing.

Even when Zariah fought it, pushed all thoughts of him out of her heart, resisted every urge... every feeling that he stirred...still yet, he had gotten through to her.

’Was this the extent of the power of the mate bond?’ Zariah had found herself wondering more often than not.

Or was it that her heart recognized just how different Askel was from what she feared?

"You mean to say you are are unaware that at this very moment, your council deliberates on who is to be your new mate?" This time, the voice was Allen’s calm, collected baritone.

Askel began to speak again but it was at that moment that the last traces of the darkness faded away, leaving Zariah’s consciousness fully aware of her environment.

The awareness of her environment began with a terrible ache in her head and had Zariah the strength, she would have lurched forwards with a scream of pain.

But there was hardly the strength to do much else but breathe shakily and whisper a few words.

Of all the words Zariah could have said, these were what she felt most appropriate. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"What is this ruckus?" Zariah’s tired grumble sent the entire room into silence.

"Zariah! By the Creator!" Allen exclaimed, his loud voice piercing right through Zariah’s skull.

The pounding in Zariah’s head grew even more severe and a quiet groan of pain escaped her as she struggled to force her eyes open,

"Mhijani?" Askel’s trembling voice called and that was all it took for Zariah to find the strength she needed.

She wanted to see him... Zariah realized. Desperately too...

She wanted to drink in the sight of him for as long as her exhausted state would allow, to be sure that he fared well... that he was fine and unharmed.

The weight on Zariah’s eyelids finally disappeared and Zariah’s eyes fluttered open tiredly, her vision hazy as her head spun.

"Hmmm?" Zariah hummed weakly, a tired sigh following after as her vision steadied only by a slight fraction.

"Creator’s fur! You’re awake... finally." Darren was the first to break out of his frozen state as he knelt by Zariah’s bed and took hold of her hand, grinning from ear to ear.

"I... think I see... two of you...D..." Zariah stuttered drowsily.

"Two... creepy smiles... What in the Creator’s name did you all feed me?... I feel drunk..." Zariah added with another groan.

Darren laughed quietly at Zariah’s words before he leaned down and placed a kiss on Zariah’s forehead.

Darren moved aside, knowing there was someone else who needed to be close to Zariah.

"Mhijani... I..." Askel began but trailed off as he moved closer.

"I asked... what the ruckus was about...you all have said nothing." Zariah murmured.

"Zariah, it’s..." Allen began hesitantly to explain but was interrupted by Askel.

"It’s nothing love... nothing at all." Askel said, passing a glare to Allen who swallowed down his words.

"Alpha King Askel is getting a new mate!" Dionne announced with a scoff.

Askel hissed in annoyance, fixing Dionne with a dark glare before he returned his attention to Zariah, sitting by her bed and taking her hand.

"Oh?" Zariah asked as she shook her head slightly so her gaze settled on Askel.