Page 46 of Alpha's Exiled Mate
To me, Martha was worth more than any title, any palace, any false promise of security.
It's not an option. It must be done.
"I accept your deal."
Viossi’s lips twisted into a triumphant smirk as she glanced at me with a glint of victory in her eyes.
"Wise choice."
Then she drew a small silver knife from her cloak and sliced her palm, the blood welling up instantly. Before I could react, she grabbed my hand and cut it swiftly, the sharp pain making me gasp. As our hands clasped, a powerful energy surged between us, a violent force tearing at my very being. My wolf thrashed against its barrier, sensing danger, desperate to break free and protect me. The power pulsed, shaking us both, and my legs buckled, but I gripped a chair to steady myself, refusing to fall.
“How pathetic. After all this time, you’re still that shiftless loser.” Viossi sneered, her own face contorted with effort, sweat beading on her brow.
I didn’t respond, holding my breath, focusing on the sensation. I felt the barrier was weakening, cracking ever so slightly, like a dam under pressure. If I could just hold on, my wolf might break through, and I could finally become a true werewolf, free from the chains that bound me—
A sharp snap broke the connection. Viossi gasped in shock, unable to hold on any longer, and collapsed to the ground, dragging me with her. Then, the energy dissipated, and thebarrier held firm, still separating me from my wolf, unyielding as ever.
I was drenched in sweat, my chest heaving, but through the mirror, I saw a reflection—a golden-haired woman, worn and exhausted, yet her eyes burned with a fierce resolve that hadn’t been there before. A tingling sensation drew my gaze to my palm, where a soft golden light enveloped the wound, healing it instantly, leaving no trace of the cut.
My heart skipped.
Could this be… my wolf’s power?
The barrier remained, its grip as strong as ever, but its energy felt lighter, less oppressive. Maybe, just maybe, I could one day break free and fully transform, reclaiming the part of myself that had been locked away.
“I made it.” Viossi said, trembling with excitement as she rose to her feet, her eyes gleaming with triumph. I picked up her cloak and draped it over myself.
“Remember your promise, Viossi,” I said firmly, my voice steady despite the turmoil within.
She waved a hand dismissively, her smirk returning. “Of course. But you’ll disappear, right?”
Viossi leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “The curse kills anyone who reveals the secret, but I don’t want you in the same kingdom as me. I don’t trust you to stay quiet.”
She toyed with her hair, pausing as if struck by a private joke, her lips curling in amusement. “I’ll… keep you updated on Martha,” she said with a smirk, her tone mocking, as if she were humoring a child.
I took nothing with me but some money I had saved during my time as a maid, along with simple clothes and food. Mimicking Viossi’s earlier appearance, I tucked my haircompletely beneath the cloak’s hood, ensuring no one would recognize me as I slipped out into the night.
As I left, Susie called out, her voice tentative. “Hi, Madam...I hope this isn’t too forward, but… could you visit more often?”
I looked at her, surprised, my heart aching at her words. She hadn’t noticed my disguise, believing I was the princess’s cousin. “If you could spend more time with the princess,” she continued softly, her eyes earnest, “I think… it would make her happy. She seems so lonely sometimes.”
A lump rose in my throat, and I fought back tears, my chest tight with emotion. Susie cared about me, even if she didn’t say it outright. She thought I was a friend who could bring comfort to the princess, gently pleading for companionship to lift her spirits.
But I could no longer return her kindness.
I had to leave, to vanish into the shadows and never look back.
Farewell to this chapter of my life. Forever.
Thornfield Manor loomed under the cover of night, its silhouette stark against the starry sky. I slipped past the patrolling guards, my steps silent as I found the hidden gap in the back wall I’d discovered as a child, a secret passage now serving as my only way in. The estate felt quieter than I remembered, an ominous weight hanging in the air, as if the very stones were holding their breath. I crept toward the kitchen, my heart pounding with the hope of finding Martha there, her familiar warmth waiting to welcome me.
A light glowed within, but through the window, I saw an unfamiliar woman bustling about, her movements brisk andefficient. Hiding in the shadows by the window, I observed the scene. Not only was the cook a stranger, but every servant passing through was a new face, their features unfamiliar, their presence jarring. A sinking dread gripped my heart, cold and heavy.
When the kitchen was empty save for the new cook, I approached the back door and knocked three times, my knuckles barely making a sound.
“Who’s there?” the woman asked warily, her voice sharp through the door.
“A hungry traveler,” I said softly, sliding a few silver coins through the crack beneath the door. “I just need some food and information.”