The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 163: Awake ()

Zariah’s words were casual and her tone was still drowsy, but knowing his mate, Askel panicked immediately.

"No... Mhijani, never...I would never..." Askel quickly explained his stance even when he was yet to fully understand what he was being accused of.

Meanwhile, Zariah could not be bothered to fully process what she had just been told, and it was even harder for her to be concerned with it.

There were things Zariah did not need any denial from Askel to know just how unlikely it was... Zariah felt she knew Askel enough to be able to tell that much.

What Zariah found herself most concerned with was the haggard appearance of her mate now that she could see him up close.

His cheeks were sunken and his hair had overgrown it’s usual length. His beards were also unkept and the dark circles underneath his eyes were apparent.

"You look a fright... have you... been eating properly...?" Zariah asked, her words were becoming clearer as the haze of drowsiness slowly wore off.

Askel once again fell quiet, staring at Zariah in surprise. Everyone had expected a different reaction to Dionne’s revelation, even Askel himself.

Zariah was known to be cold and quick tempered, amongst other fierce attributes.

It was hard to imagine she did not find Dionne’s words displeasing at all.

"How can I? Without you?" Askel finally replied honestly.

"You should know better... it would take a lot more than an army of forsaken or a frozen forest to do me in." Zariah chided half heatedly.

"Alpha!" Dionne hissed in disbelief at Zariah’s reaction.

The loud voice only added to the ache in Zariah’s head and she released a quiet groan.

"Too loud..." Zariah grumbled as she sighed quietly and attempted to sit up.

Askel was quick to help Zariah up so her back was rested against the head board.

"He says it’s not...so he’ll handle it D." Zariah said, passing Askel a look.

"I will, rest assured." Askel concurred.

"I’m certain they are still over there...if you intend to handle it, handle it now." Dionne insisted with a frown.

Askel fixed a reluctant gaze, it was difficult for him to leave her side just as soon as she finally awakened.

"I’m fine... I’ll be here, awake..." Zariah assured, with her Crimson wolves, Zariah knew it was best to see to a misunderstanding immediately.

It was more than just Zariah this time, the Crimson wolves would have to approve of Askel as well.

"You can’t go back to sleep...till I’m back." Askel reminded.

Zariah chuckled quietly, nodding her head in agreement.

"I believe I’ve had enough sleep to last a lifetime." Zariah assured.

Askel sighed heavily as he placed a light kiss on Zariah’s lips before he rose to his feet and strode out.

"Those damned elders!" Askel grumbled to himself just as he disappeared from sight.

"How do you feel? Truly?" Nile asked worriedly as he took Askel’s previous place sitting by Zariah’s side.

Zariah did not respond immediately, taking stock of her own state. The pounding ache in her head had not receded in the slightest and Zariah’s throat also felt dry and scratchy.

Beyond that, Zariah could feel her reserve of the Creator’s flame was at an all time low.

Though her flame element was just fine, it would take some time for the Creator’s flame to return to it’s original strength.

But Zariah knew as long as she was breathing, she would recover.

There was something else...a discomfort or an unsettled feeling Zariah could not quite place a hand on.

It was deep within, churning ever so slightly and Zariah was not certain what it was, so she decided to overlook it.

"Drained... aching all over. Most likely drunk on the herbal tonic you all fed me, but I am well." Zariah replied truthfully.

"And Torin?" Darren was quick to ask.

Zariah reached out within her mind to her wolf but got no response, it was no surprise to Zariah... she alone knew exactly what had hurt Torin so severely that it was almost impossible to recover.

Zariah was comforted in the fact that she could now sense Torin’s presence, distant and sparse but Torin was there and she was more present than the past months since Zariah’s rebirth.

Zariah could not tell if Torin would ever recover or not, but she was alive and their mate bond with Askel strengthened her if only a little. That was good enough.

"Let it be Ren..." Zariah finally replied with a shake of her head.

Nile sighed heavily, taking Zariah’s words to mean there were no changes with her wolf.

"Zari... Torin can recover, I’m certain of it. I’ll find a way, just trust me." Nile assured her .

"I do... I do..." Zariah replied with a small smile.

"Now tell me... how long?" Zariah asked, wondering for how long she had been unconscious.

"A month and a half..." Darren replied, the guilt reflected in his tone all too obvious.

"I see..." Zariah murmured, before she coughed slightly.

"Here, have some water. I’ll check on your condition first." Nile offered Zariah a glass of water, helping her down the contents before he began his examination with his spirit element.

"Then, we’ll leave Nile to it for now. Rest Alpha...but do not sleep..." Allen said with a small smirk.

Zariah rolled her eyes, nodding as the Crimson wolves all took their leave, leaving only Nile and Kristen behind.

"Everything seems fine, your magic is greatly weakened...it is best not to summon your element for a while. Not your flame element and certainly not the Creator’s flame." Nile warned.

"Hopefully, there will be no cause for that." Zariah replied.

"No Zari, hopefully is not good enough. You were locked up in the dungeons of the Sea Kingdom for days before the battle, you are in a worse condition than you think." Nile warned sternly.

"No battles, no magic, no fighting, no agitation and certainly no Creator’s flame... not until I say it’s okay." Nile insisted.

"I hear you." Zariah replied with a roll of her eyes.