The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 204: That Which Can Be Healed ()

The moment Askel was gone, Zariah felt a sharp pang in her heart, it crept up on her so swiftly that Zariah could not have prepared for it.

The mate bond pulsed painfully, it had always been easier for Zariah to ignore it since the loss of her wolf made her sensitivity to her supernatural side dim compared to any normal wolf shifter.

She had been given an easy path so far compared to Askel, Zariah knew this.

But Zariah guessed wolf or no wolf, the mate bond still developed steadily and it was only in times like this she got a real sense of how far developed it had become... and it was frightening.

Zariah’s heart clenched up and did not seem like it would ease up at all, her breaths came out faster and her stomach was cramped.

Zariah’s hand shot up to clutch her chest, a quiet gasp escaped her and she sat up sharply, the sudden movement affected her wounds and Zariah hissed lowly.

Zariah sucked in a deep breath, she got up to her feet with difficulty, intending to make her way to the bathroom but she only got so far from her bed when her knees buckled and Zariah quickly grasped the wall to avoid a fall.

A frustrated sob escaped Zariah and she slid down to a sitting position, sobbing quietly as a fraction of the frustration and despair she constantly tried to suppress slipped out.

Zariah brought her knees up to her chest and sobbed quietly to herself, her shoulders trembling.

It was then the door came open and Nile came in, accompanied by Kristen and Darren.

At first, they did not notice Zariah on the floor by the bed but Darren was the first to find her.

"Zari!" Darren exclaimed in horror to find Zariah in the position that she was.

He dashed over to Zariah, crouching down by her side. Zariah lifted a hand to stop Darren, dissuading him from picking her up.

"I...it hurts..." Zariah sobbed quietly, still clutching her chest tightly.

"What hurts? Where? Nile, do something quickly!" Darren panicked.

Nile came over, also going down to a knee, he reached out to Zariah, brushing her hair away from her face.

"What hurts more? The wounds...or your heart? I can treat the wounds but Zariah, I can do nothing about the other. Why must you hurt yourself so?" Nile asked in a pained tone.

"Did you...with him last night?" Darren asked slowly.

Zariah sucked in a sharp breath, slowly shaking her head.

"I... not what you think." Zariah replied.

"Your bond will only get stronger with him, especially since his presence helps Torin heal... what you have with him is clearly stronger than Caedmon and that will not change. How long do you think you would be able to resist the inevitable?" Nile asked directly.

Zariah leaned her head back against the wall, she knew Nile was always the voice of reason, he would never beat around the bush, not even for her benefit.

"You do not understand..." Zariah murmured, her tone heavy.

"I may not know what is on your mind, Alpha. I may not understand the concerns that burden you that you have been so hard on yourself these past months... but what I do know is, you deserve to be with the one who makes you happy."

"Feelings like this cannot be substituted. I would know...if anyone dropped from the Creator himself and wanted me to part ways with Kris..." Nile trailed off, passing a look to his lover.

Kristen stood leaning against the wall, not too close to avoid prying, he always tended to keep his distance since he knew he and Zariah were yet to develop the level of intimacy she had with the Crimson Wolves,

But as always, he was not too far either. He was never too far from Nile... Zariah had always found their silent support for each other too beautiful for words.

With nothing said, Kristen provided Nile with all the emotional support and Nile did not even need to ask, Kristen just always would be there, some steps away...a hand-reach away, within eye contact and he had even settled naturally into the duty of a healing assistant.

It was a brief moment, but Zariah could practically feel the depth of emotion exchanged between them. At this time, Nile and Kristen’s bond was far more developed than Zariah’s and Askel’s, Zariah could sense it.

"I would rather die." Nile said with all certainty.

"You and I are not the same, Nile." Zariah reminded quietly.

"I do know. And I do know whatever your reasons for pushing Askel away so intently, even when it hurts you so much...it must have something to do with Crimson Moon... with us."

"And you keep it from us because you do not want us involved, or hurt in the process. I trust in your judgement, Zari... and I will support all your decisions, at every turn." Nile paused briefly.

"But I just hope you can think this through, I hope you can place yourself first... for once in your life." Nile said earnestly.

"I did that... once, placing myself first..." Zariah trailed off, catching herself before she could say more than what was necessary.

Nile raised a brow but Zariah shook her head slightly.

"Never mind... just, let it be." Zariah muttered.

She still did not have the ability to explain, neither was she ready to. There would be a right time where she could truly share her truth with her family, but it was not that time yet.

"Come then, I should heal that which I can." Nile said, nodding to Darren.

Darren gently lifted Zariah up into his arms and carried her over to the bed where he helped her sit.

Nile fetched a bowl of tonic which he handed over to Zariah.

"Drink it all up, you will sleep for a while but afterwards, the pain will be gone." Nile assured.