Chapter 5
Alpha Charles was lost in a maze of his thoughts, each one echoing louder in the silence of the room. His mind was a battlefield, each memory a soldier in an unending war. The figure from the festival revelation kept coming back to his mind; this was too much. He felt as if he was drowning in a sea of confusion and uncertainty.
Suddenly, the silence was broken by the creaking of the door. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing the rhythm of his anxiety. His eyes, wide and alert, were fixed on the door, waiting for the person behind it to reveal themselves.
As the door swung open, Alpha Charles' wolf instincts kicked in. He shifted into his wolf form, ready for a fight. But as the figures stepped into the room, his eyes recognized them - Queen Amelia and Queen Elizabeth.
In his heightened state of anxiety, he mistook them for a threat. He lunged at them, pushing Elizabeth so hard that she fell to the floor. It was only when Amelia screamed, "Alpha Charles, what are you doing?" that he realized his mistake.
He looked down to see Queen Elizabeth on the floor, blood trickling from her nose. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut - he had attacked his own Luna. The room spun around him as the weight of his actions sank in. He had let his fear and paranoia get the best of him, and now, he had hurt one of his own.
A low, mournful howl escaped Alpha Charles, a sound that in the language of wolves, was an apology. But he offered no words, no explanation to either Queen Elizabeth or Queen Amelia. He simply turned and left, leaving the two queens in stunned silence.
Queen Amelia immediately rushed to Queen Elizabeth's side, helping her up from the floor. "Elizabeth, are you alright?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.
Elizabeth touched her nose, wincing as she felt the sticky wetness of blood. "I'll be fine, Amelia," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "But what in the world got into Alpha Charles?"
Amelia shook her head, her brows furrowed in confusion. "I don't know, Elizabeth. He seemed... scared. And that's not like Alpha Charles at all."
Elizabeth nodded, wiping the blood from her nose. "We need to talk to him, Amelia. Find out what's going on."
Amelia agreed, "Yes, we should. But not now, Elizabeth. You need to rest."
Elizabeth sighed, "You're right, Amelia. We'll talk to Charles in the morning."
As they left the room, the silence was heavy with unspoken words and worries. The night had taken an unexpected turn, and they could only hope that the morning would bring some answers.
****
Alpha Charles moved with a heavy gait, his footsteps echoing ominously in the quiet corridor. His howls filled the air, a haunting melody of despair and confusion. As he passed the room of his concubines, they rushed out to comfort him.
But Alpha Charles was lost in his own world, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. When one of the concubines, Ruth, tried to hug him from behind, he reacted instinctively. He spun around, his right hand connecting with Ruth in a swift, reflexive motion.
Ruth was sent flying across the corridor, her body hitting the wall before she crumpled to the floor. The corridor echoed with the sound of her impact, a stark reminder of Alpha Charles' strength and the turmoil he was in.
The second concubine, her face pale with shock, rushed to Ruth's side. "Ruth!" she cried out, her voice echoing in the silent corridor. She knelt beside Ruth, her hands shaking as she tried to help her up.
Alpha Charles turned around, his eyes blazing. He let out a low growl, a warning that sent a chill down the concubine's spine. She quickly dragged Ruth away, disappearing into the shadows of the corridor.
Left alone, Alpha Charles continued his solitary march down the corridor. Each footstep echoed ominously.
As he reached his room, he paused, his hand resting on the doorknob. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the solitude that awaited him.
Alpha Charles collapsed to the floor, a guttural scream tearing from his throat. His body convulsed as if he was in the throes of a terrible nightmare, his mind tormented by unseen demons. His hands clawed at the air, his fingers curled into fists as if trying to fight off an invisible enemy.
He pressed his back against the wall, his body trembling. His claws, sharp and deadly, extended from his fingers. He raked them against the wall, the harsh scraping sound echoing in the silent corridor. Another scream ripped from his throat, raw and filled with pain.
The walls, silent witnesses to his struggle, bore the marks of his claws. The night, once vibrant with the festival's energy, now held a chilling sense of dread.
Alpha Charles was alone, his screams the only sound in the desolate corridor. His body slumped against the wall, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.b
Suddenly, a soft rustling sound broke the silence. Alpha Charles' ears perked up, his body tensing. His eyes, wide and alert, scanned the room. The shadows seemed to dance, each one taking on a life of its own.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw it - a shadow that was darker, more solid than the others. It moved, slowly, deliberately, inching closer towards him. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing the rhythm of his fear.
As the shadow drew closer, Alpha Charles could make out a figure. It was tall, its form humanoid but not quite. Its eyes, glowing in the darkness, were fixed on him.
Alpha Charles tried to move, to get up and defend himself. But his body refused to obey. He was paralyzed, trapped in his own fear.
The figure stopped, standing just a few feet away from him. It tilted its head, as if studying him. Then, it spoke. Its voice was a low growl, each word echoing in the silent room.
"Alpha Charles," it said, its voice sending a chill down his spine. "We need to talk."
And with that, the room plunged into darkness, leaving Alpha Charles alone with the mysterious figure.