Tangled Fates

Chapter 5 Rath

****edited 7/28/24****

"Fuck," I curse, my voice barely a growl as I stalk through the halls. I needed to know what all happened to my mate. The air hung thick with unspoken fears, clinging to me like an unwelcome second skin. Her fear and pain haunted me, a specter woven into the very fabric of my being.

I needed to find the nurse and get some answers. My strides lengthened, driven by the primal urgency coursing through my veins. My mate's pain was a blade twisted in my chest, each heartbeat an echo of her suffering. The scent of her distress lingered in the halls, a perfume of torment that spurred me on.

I found the nurse only a few turns down the hall. I thanked the moon goddess that she was not rushing off to tend to any other sick or injured. If she was, she would have been much furth away from my mate and I didn't want to be far from her. With determined steps, I closed the distance between us. "I need to know. What is her condition?" I commanded in a low voice.

Her gaze, wide and brimming with empathy, met mine head-on without flinching. Not many could meet the unwavering stare of an Alpha King seething with barely contained fury, but she did so gracefully, her composure a testament to her experience in facing such trials. "Alpha," she began cautiously, choosing her words with precision. "She will require extensive rest and time to recover. Judging by her physical state and the lingering marks on her body, it is evident she has endured significant trauma. There are bruises in various stages of healing, and although there are no visible signs of broken bones, she has likely suffered them multiple times." The nurse paused, her expression grave as she continued.

"I detected traces of wolfsbane on her skin; considering her condition, it is probable that it courses through her veins. Additionally, there are indications of sexual assault which further compound her ordeal." She exhaled heavily before adding, "My concern lies in the duration of exposure to wolfsbane and its impact on her mental well-being."

"What potential long-term effects?" I ask as I braced myself for the nurse's response.

The nurse hesitates before speaking again. "The wolfsbane has severed her connection to her wolf. Without this bond restored, her recovery will be significantly prolonged." She paused briefly before delivering the devastating blow. "Without her wolf's guidance, she may struggle to recognize you as her mate. With her eyes now deprived of this vital link, you appear as any other man. Her ability to trust has been shattered, expect resistance and possibly rejection."

A surge of anguish gripped me as I grappled with unspoken fears clawing at my insides.

"Sir, she's strong," the nurse assured gently, though the shadow behind her eyes betrayed the uncertainty we both shared. "And you're here. That matters more than you might think."

"Being here isn't enough," I spat, fury and helplessness warring within me. "I need to act. To protect. To avenge. I can't just sit by and watch her suffer. I need to fix this."

"Patience, Alpha," she said, laying a hand briefly on my arm. But there was no solace to be found in patience, not when every moment dripped away like blood from an open wound.

"Patience be damned. I'll go to the witch. Maybe her magic can help my mate if you can not." I seethed, turning on my heel and leaving her standing in the hall.

I stalked through the winding corridors, my steps echoing off the ancient stone walls. I walked a path bordered by tapestries depicting the glorious histories of my ancestors. I could feel the weight of my kingdom on my shoulders and now my fated mate.

The nurse's words haunted me. My mate, my chosen, was robbed of her wolf by the treacherous bite of wolfsbane. How my mate has suffered so much and been left to suffer alone without her wolf. My wolf whined at the thought of it. I would check on my mate before going to see the witch. I needed to be sure that she was still safe. I knew she wouldn't let me near her again, but if she was asleep and resting, I could at least see her unafraid of me.