The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 36: A Glimpse Of A Painful Past ()

Zariah’s eyes narrowed in rage as she slowly rose to her feet, her aura taking a turn for something dark and deadly.

The elders, element lords and all representatives of the Crimson Moon pack present dropped to their knees, tilting their heads down to bare their necks in submission.

They submitted willingly to their Alpha, hoping their display of vulnerability before her would quell her rage enough for her to see reason and pay heed to their appeal,

Yet the fiercely protective look in her eyes revealed to them that their efforts would not bear them any fruits,

Alpha Zariah Torin Moonstone was too far gone, trapped in the emotions spurred by the mate bond.

"What did you just say?" Zariah asked in a slow predatory tone, gazing down at her pack representatives.

The pack wolves exchanged hesitant glances, it was not in their nature to defy their Alpha or intentionally incur her wrath,

They were each fiercely loyal and would rather face any pain than be forced to this,

However the situation called for it, for the good of the pack, they had gathered together to beseech their beloved Alpha to come to her senses and regain control of her emotions.

Amongst the group, the only one who still dared speak even in this situation where Alpha Zariah’s wrath could practically be felt in the atmosphere,

The small flames sparking to life at her finger tips testifying to the extent of her rage, her aura was tyrannical and her dominance overwhelming,

Alpha Zariah no longer cared to restrain her dominance despite knowing there was only so much of it her pack representatives could endure before they were forced to take their wolf forms in submission.

However there was one person who still dared to hold his feet, holding Alpha Zariah’s gaze with his own unyielding gaze.

"Darren...you are my own flesh and blood, the royal blood of Crimson Moon runs through your veins just as it does in mine." Alpha Zariah began in a stiff tone,

"I...I love you more than I love my ownself, you know me better than anyone else does. If anyone else dares stand against me, I never would have believed you would be one." Her voice cracked slightly as for a moment she was unable to restrain her emotions.

"Yet you lead my pack, to my office, to demand of me that I reject my mate? That I choose between Crimson Moon and Caid?"

" How do you even look me in the eye and ask such a thing of me? How could you all do this to me?" Alpha Zariah’s asked in a broken tone, her voice thick with emotions.

Each word Alpha Zariah said felt like daggers pierced through the hearts of her pack wolves who cherished her more than anything.

They knew it was wrong of them to make such a request, they knew how much Alpha Zariah loved her mate, they understood a wolf would rather die than forsake their mate.

But what could be done when the mate in question was someone whose loyalties or origins could not be verified?

How could an omega be so strong and resilient? How could the mate of their Alpha claim to love her yet continuously sow discord within the pack, pushing their Alpha further and further away from them?

Even if Alpha Zariah’s eyes were completely covered by the scales of love, the rest of the pack could still see clearly.

And so, although it was too much to ask and they knew this clearly, they had still come, betting on their Alpha’s unyielding love for her pack members, they had come to request her to make the most difficult sacrifice for the sake of Crimson Moon.

They had come to pit themselves against the mate bond, to ask their Alpha to choose between Crimson Moon or keeping her mate by her side.

They did not dare imagine just what kind of pain this choice brought to their Alpha, the betrayal reflected in her eyes broke their hearts yet they knew this was necessary.

If they did not take this step, the Alpha Zariah they knew and loved would be lost to them forever.

"The council of the Crimson Moon have come to a decision, according to the ancient laws, the Crimson Alpha must abide by the unanimous decision of the council." Darren spoke in a strained tone,

It was clear the words he currently spoke were painful to him yet he pressed forward.

"So you mean to force my hand?" Alpha Zariah laughed hollowly as she slammed a hand down on the table, her eyes glowing as her wolf rose to the surface.

Darren winced visibly at Alpha Zariah’s words, still yet he pressed on, the scene broke the hearts of all present as they watched the cousins who had once been closer than siblings face off against each other, one determined while the other betrayed.

"The council as presided over by the only other royal Crimson other than the Crimson Alpha has unanimously decided that the wolf of unknown origins..." Darren continued

"Don’t do this to me Darren... please..." Alpha Zariah begged, her tone vulnerable.

"Caedmon Grey will be cast out of the Crimson Barrier, never to be granted entry again...will you abide, Alpha Zariah?" Darren continued, his tone trembling as tears dripped down his cheek.

"This is mutiny brother! Darren Holt Moonstone, this is betrayal! You are hurting me! You are breaking me!" Alpha Zariah roared, before she crumbled to the ground, grasping her heart and sobbing,

Her heartwrenching cries ripping at the hearts of her pack wolves.

"Zari... you are My Alpha, my master, my lord. My loyalty to you, even the heavens can attest to it."

"But I am your brother before I am your subordinate and it is because I love you that I cannot let you fall into this, he will ruin you...he will ruin us! Open your eyes and see the truth Zari!" Darren begged, dropping to his knees before Zariah.

"Alpha..." Beta Allen tried.

"Don’t...do not come anywhere near me, none of you." Alpha Zariah spat as she lifted her tear stricken face.

"I Alpha Zariah Torin Moonstone bequeath my rights to rulership to Darren Holt Moonstone,"

"He shall assume my position as Crimson Alpha and I shall perform the ancient procedure to transfer my Crimson Flame to him." Alpha Zariah declared, her words shocking the pack representatives.

Alpha Zariah had made her choice.

"Alpha! No one has survived the procedure! No one! Please Zari! Crimson Moon needs you!" Darren pleaded.

Alpha Zariah rose to her feet slowly, tears flowing freely down her cheeks.

"My life? Caedmon Grey is my life! And if you truly cared about my life...you would not have done this."

"From today henceforth, I severe the fetters of our bond Alpha Darren of Crimson Moon...you are no brother of mine." Alpha Zariah whispered, her eyes fluttering closed in pain as she stormed out to the echo of Darren’s heartwrenching howl of pain.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zariah’s eyes fluttered open with a gasp, she sat up on her bed, lifting a hand to grasp her aching chest as she unconsciously recorded the wetness of her cheeks.

Zariah’s hand dropped to her side, her hand tightening into a fist and eyes ablaze with rage as her heart clenched painfully.

Zariah sucked in a deep breath to calm herself and regain her composure as she heard her door pushed open and a familiar presence approach.

"Alpha... the moon banquet has begun." Allen informed Zariah with a bow.

"Alright... have Dionne bring my robes." Zariah ordered, her gaze dark and deadly.

_________________

"Do not get worked up now My Lady, when you do...you exude more of that suffocating flowery scent." Lord Kriden cut in with a shake of his head.

"One more word and the person who speaks will return to your domain very much quiet and very much dead." Askel promised in a chilling cold tone, his eyes narrowed into a deadly glare.

Although Askel secretly agreed with Lord Kriden’s words as he could barely endure the flowery scent and was certain he would suffocate if it grew anymore potent,

However Askel was not one to tolerate unruliness and indiscipline anywhere around him, his dominance and his nature would never allow it.

The two representatives both gulped audibly, swallowing down their discontent with the other and retreating.

Although Askel was not known to be a man of many words, he was surely known to be a man of his words and he never made threats, only promises he intended to keep.

What was more, Askel was known to be fearless and ruthless and so the representatives did not dare act without restraint while within his territory knowing Askel would very well make good on his promise.

Representative or not, these were not considerations Askel cared for, none of the races dared attack the Ethereal domain and so even if Askel were to kill one of their own,

They could only turn a blind eye to it as the Ethereal domain was still the strongest force in the supernatural realm.

"The..." Askel began to speak but trailed off when that familiar, enchanting scent that had haunted his dreams for days since that night in the forest invaded his senses once again.

A single word rang through Askel’s head, overwhelming every sane thought.

"Mine!!!!"