Chapter 8 Heartless
- EMMA'S POV
- I quickly sit up on the bed as the door creaks open and a lady in an opulent green dress and lovely golden necklace walks in.
- She must be a royal and I look like a beggar compared to her. I am in a buggy blue dress that I was given by the servant that brought me food. It's better than the torn, bloody clothes I had on before though.I quickly sit up on the bed as the door creaks open and a lady in an opulent green dress and lovely golden necklace walks in.
- The woman smiles kindly as she walks to the chair beside the bed and sits.
- "How are you feeling?" She asks like a concerned mother but I notice a hint of disdain in her voice. I did not expect genuine respect from a royal like her, not when I look like I escaped from slavery.
- "I think I am well, My lady." I answer, acting like I haven't noticed that her kind smile is fake.
- "I am King Ethan's mother." She reveals in a proud tone.
- I don't see any resemblance between their faces but I am sure she is telling the truth. I would be happy to meet her if only her son didn't seem so disappointed to have me as his mate.
- "I am sorry I didn't come earlier to welcome you in our beautiful home. But I am sure that you have met my son." She says and I nod.
- "Isn't he amazing?" She awkwardly asks and I am forced to lie so that I don't seem ungrateful.
- "Yes. I heard that he is quite powerful." I say and she nods her head in agreement.
- "Many girls dream of being his mate. You should feel proud that you got to be the lucky one." She mutters.
- I bite my lower lip to keep myself from frowning at her words openly. Her son is incredibly powerful and good looking, yes, but I didn't find anything amazing about his stern personality. And how can I be proud of being the mate of a man that already has a lover?
- "Did he tell you about the curse?" She asks and I realize what she is here for.
- "This Kingdom was at war with many packs back when my husband was King. He and his soldiers conquered many enemies and made the kingdom bigger everyday." She narrates in a humble tone but I have heard that story before her husband was the greedy villain. Guess she will never admit that. Anyway I let her carry on with her fake version of the story.
- "One time they fought a small pack in the the west of our Kingdom and managed to end the reign of a troublesome alpha and make the pack a region of our Kingdom. But a bitter woman had cast a deadly curse upon the people of this Kingdom because her son had died in the battle. That curse has killed thousands of our people since then. The woman said that only the death of my first born son or his fated mate will lift it." She says and leans forward in her seat while looking straight at my eyes with a pleading gaze.
- "You're Ethan's fated mate and he saved your life. This is a weird request but I expect you to offer your life to end the curse." She mutters and I openly frown at her.
- I can't believe this is happening. These people speak of my death like it's nothing more than an ordinary gift to the people of their Kingdom. I may have lived a despicable life, but I am not ready to give it up so soon.
- "My son is such a good King. Without him this Kingdom would not have survived this horrific curse for so long." The woman reaches out for my bruised hand and holds it between her palms. "If you die in his place and lift the curse . . . an entire Kingdom will acknowledge your selfless act. You will become a young heroine. Isn't that better than having Ethan reject you because you're weak?"
- Tears gather in my eyes despite my efforts to maintain a calm composure and show them that I am not that weak. I headed up in a palace full of heartless people.
- I couldn't sleep last night because it felt like someone would sneak in and kill me in my sleep. My so called mate hasn't come back to see me again, yet. I am so ready to tell him the truth. He may not love me like a mate should love their partner but he seemed a little nicer than this pretentious woman.
- Her son hasn't decided to reject me yet, but there is no doubt that he will do it. I would prefer that to giving up my life to save his when he clearly doesn't care much about me. He wouldn't even mourn about my death.
- His life is obviously a lot more important than mine. My blood cannot save or heal anyone. But I want to live like everyone else. Otherwise I would have waited to be kicked out of Silver moon pack and be hunted down like every other rogue.
- The moon goddess denied me a wolf. Then I arrived here to find out that the great Goddess Israel paired me with the most powerful Alpha King so I could die in his place.
- Yes, she figured out a way of saving her special being without ending a life that is worth of anything. If I die in place of a powerful Alpha King then my life won't have been completely useless, at least not to the people of this Kingdom.
- But of what use is fame when one is dead?
- "I know giving up your life is a heavy sacrifice. We will give you a few days to make up your mind. Feel free to ask for anything you want until then." The woman let's go of my hand and stands from her seat.
- "Please try to make the right decision." She requests before making her way out of the room.
- I need to speak with my mate. I must leave this place before these people decide to take my life without my consent anyway.