Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Ava's POV

"I don't care. I won't sit back and watch you suffer. No!" Stan bawled, and I couldn't help the giggles that escaped my lips on hearing him say this. He just came to see me this evening and after some gists, he began to say all this like he was my knight in shining armor.

"Will you disobey the Alpha just to help me?" I asked with raised brows, and there was silence as he took deep breaths, shutting his eyes and biting his lips.

"You see, the last thing I ever want is to put anyone into trouble. I also like you and appreciate all your kindness, but there are things that are above our power!" I added and hugged him warmly.

Just then, we heard a knock on the door, and that made him jump off of me in panic. I was also struck with fear that I couldn't even respond to the knock.

It came again, harder.

"Who is there?" I stuttered.

"Open this door!" The voice of Eric came in, and a heavy sigh of relief escaped my lips.

I walked over and opened the door only to see him carrying a plate of food, which he handed to me with a frown.

"Who has that?" I inquired as I couldn't understand how he would offer me food.

Without replying, he stormed into the room, pushing me aside.

"Stan!" He exclaimed on seeing him inside my room.

"What are you doing here?" Stan shot at him, staring at the plate in his hand. I quickly locked the door and turned to them.

"I am here to give her this food," Eric replied with a short bow of anxiety as he began to tremble immediately.

"What! To get her heart or what?!! Are you secretly crushing on her!!" Stan yelled in anger, gritting his teeth.

Eric raised his head with a grimace of irritation.

"Crushing on her? I can never do that. Yuck!" He spat with a shrug.

"Then why did you bring the food to her?" Stan seethed, glaring at him.

"Sir, I wanted to keep it a secret, but I am tired of doing all this. Promise me you will help me out if I tell you the secret " Eric mumbled, and Stan wasted no time in making the promise.

"Dan, the bald guard, was killed by a Lycan, and he threatened to kill my family and me if he come back here and see Ava malnourished as she was. He fucking forced me to take care of this wicked girl." Eric spilled with a frown all over his face.

I was shocked to hear this, and for a few seconds, I thought my ears were playing tricks on me, till Stan told him to repeat it, and he said the same thing.

"Are you joking or what? Who is the Lycan and what business do we have?" I asked, getting more flustered.

Stan was about to say something when another knock came in and everyone froze.

"Ava, open this door now!" The Alpha's rough voice came in and every part of me melted. I dare not disobey for a second.

I unlocked the door and he walked in with that hateful look on his face, which later turned to a surprise one on seeing Eric and Stan in there.

"What are the both of you doing here?" He growled, and they were about to reply when he saw the plate of food.

"What??... you are both secretly feeding her? Ohh, I see..." The Alpha bellowed, fury blazing in his eyes.

"No, no, no, it was a ly...." Stan was about to spill the news about the Lycan, but Eric slapped his mouth abruptly.

"He is about to lie to you. Apha, I won't let him lie to you...we are really helping her and she deserves every punishment." Eric cut in sharply, making the Alpha laugh tauntingly.

"Alright, guards!!" He called out and four of them came in.

"Lock both of them till I am ready to deal with them." He commanded, and without any resistance, they were taken away.

The Alpha, my father, faced me now with a smirk, which sent chills down my spine..

"You've got secret helpers. Even the warrior leader is aiding you. Interesting." He chuckled evilly.

"No...no...they..." A slap from him shut my mouth instantly.

"Don't say anything and listen to what brought me to this stinky room." He scoffed, and I nodded, shedding tears and clutching the slapped cheek, which seemed like it was on fire

"Next Monday is not only my late wife's memorial day but also your 18th birthday. I'll be waiting to see if you have your shift. 18 years is for late bloomers, so let's guess you're one of them. I might reduce your torture if you make me happy by shifting into your wolf that day, but I promise you hell if you fail to transform, " he stated curtly, with the coldest voice I had ever heard.

Our eyes were locked for a few seconds before I lost the courage and looked down to the floor.

"Will you let me go to school and treat me a little bit better if I succeed in shifting?" I fumbled without looking up at him as I feared he might smack my face.

My question was not answered for some seconds, forcing me to look up, and I could see him smirking at me.

"If you can shift into the white wolf that every heir to the throne has, then I'll be convinced that the moon goddess really wants you to take over me. Even as I hate you more than anything in this world, I'll know for sure that you're fated to rule. But I doubt you will shift on that day" he scoffed, giving me a mockery look.

"I will." My lips spoke out without much thought.

"None of our generation was ever a late bloomer. And I doubt if the moon goddess will let a murderer rule. You are a curse, so I have no hope for you. Let's see if you will break all the odds and transform on that day. Be rest assured that I'll show you real hell if you fail!" He warned before walking out, while I let out a little smile.

Maybe I had been pitied by the moon goddess. I'll shift that day, and my father might love me again.

I squeaked in excitement, till something flashed into my head, sending omnious chills of terror.

What if I fail to shift that day?

Monday is three days from today. I didn't know if to feel happy or sad as I pondered on every word my father had just said.

If the moon goddess can have mercy on me and make me successfully shift that day, then that would mark the end of my misery. My father won't treat me as badly as he does. I would have the slight opportunity of living that free life I dream of.

There was no reason why I shouldn't be able to transform like others, and since I was born till now, I hadn't felt anything to show that I wasn't a real wolf. As I shut my eyes, something flashed in and forced shudders to run up and down my spine, leaving me in shock and confusion again.

I just recalled the Lycan that Eric mentioned. He said the man came out of nowhere and not only saved me from them but also forced him to take care of me.

Why?

Does magic exist?

Because it's only magic that can explain this. All my life, I had only heard rumours about Lycans and their prowess, how they ranked higher than us. I'd never seen or touched anyone, let alone befriended them. So how did he locate me that day and save me?

This is just so unbelievable, and I wouldn't have accepted it as the truth if I hadn't seen how serious Eric was. Even when Stan was about to tell the Alpha about the Lycan, he had stopped him with a slap because the so-called Lycan had warned him to keep it a secret.

Wow.

All this sounds like those fiction stories in romance books.

My stomach made a long grumble with pain this time, and I gnashed my teeth, trying to push the outburst of tears to escape my lips. I was so hungry and recalled the food Eric had brought for me, which I had just lost. I felt like biting my tongue and dying.

My eyes darted to the clock, and it was almost 10pm, which was the time the Alpha ate his dinner, so I left the bed in a hurry. I have to dish out food for the Alpha while others can serve themselves as much as they want.

On getting to the kitchen, I could already see some of the royal guards filling up their plates, and the aroma alone was making me salivate, but I had to pretend like I felt nothing.

Without saying anything or glancing at anyone, I brought out the Alpha's special dish, which was cooked separately with the best ingredients and all sorts of meat and fish.

All I could do was swallow saliva a thousand times. It was so tempting to eat, but I knew better than to steal the Alpha's food. The punishment of being whipped isn't something bearable as it will hurt for an entire week without ceasing.

"She looks so hungry and pitiful. So bad that the food would be finished and nothing would be left for her..." Someone jeered from behind, erupting laughter from other guards.

Just when I thought they would all keep their smelly mouths shut till I leave. All I could do was secretly roll my eyes as I headed to the Alpha's room, where I was sure he would be.

My legs were very weak, and I had to rest at intervals so I wouldn't trip and fall. After what seemed like a journey around Mount Everest, I got to the room and clicked on the bell beside the door, waiting for his special bodyguard to come out to take the food from me.

Apart from sweeping the room in the morning, there is just no time I am allowed inside the room.

After waiting for some minutes, I pressed the bell again and again, but no one came out. It didn't seem like there was anyone in, so I took the food back to the kitchen.

There were no guards left except those who stayed around to check on me each time I cooked. It was already 10:00 and the Alpha wasn't back in his room, which meant something was wrong.

"Hey, what is happening? Why is the Alpha yet to return to his room?" I asked one of the guards, but got snubbed.