I will be back
29. Let's do this

Aleida’s POV

Today’s the day. I will have to kill the person who abducted me and become a friend along the way. Don’t get me wrong. I’m mad, pissed even about the deal he made. But at the same time, I can feel compassion for him. He was young and did what he thought was right during the time. It hurts me that I must kill Victor. I’m not mad at him, rather his actions. We joked and talked a lot before the whole killing thing came up. I’ve avoided him since he told me about all of this, and I don’t know why. Maybe because of the betrayal or the force of friendship? And now, when the day is here. All I feel is sadness. Grief because both of us won’t get out of this alive. The one who gets to survive will always have the other one’s blood on their hands. Honestly, I don’t want to exterminate him, but I know that I have no alternative. My family requires me, and not even a friend can stand in my way. I’m sitting right now, staring at myself in the mirror. Even though I didn’t get to sleep last night, I feel full of power. I’m ready for the fate that the moon goddess predicted for me. This needs to happen, and in that regard, it doesn’t matter what I think or feels about it. My eyes twinkle and shift to Lisa’s eye color sometimes. She’s ready to jump in anytime. It isn’t far from her scratching up the surface and forcing her way. But I won’t allow it, not yet. We need to wait until the time comes. First, we need to see our people, family, and friends. When I can see with my own eyes that they’re all right and safe, I gladly take a step back to let Lisa do what she does best. Tear Victor apart. Even though I feel some resistance to kill and hurt him, my wolf doesn’t. She’s furious about everything that has to do with him. I look at the white dress hanging on the closet door. It’s beautiful with embroidery and silvery glitter at the end. As I’ve said before, it’s unfortunate that I have to destroy this dress; what would Vera Vang say about this? I take off my clothes and throw them in a pile on the floor before picking down the dress. My hands gently slide over the soft fabric. With a sigh, I thread it over my head and let gravity do the job. The material dances down and tickles my bare feet. For some reason, I haven’t received any matching shoes; the intention is that I’ll apparently go there barefoot. Blake has also told me that I’ll have handcuffs on me until we arrive. I don’t know why. Isn’t that a little unnecessary, given that we still have a blood pact that prevents me from escaping? Blake also explained that Victor is starting to get nervous and paranoid about what will happen today. Apparently, the concern that he’ll lose has doubled in recent days. I can’t blame him because I know how keen Lisa is. But on the other hand, he shouldn’t take for granted that I’ll win. It’ll be a vulnerability for him that I can easily use. Now I’m not taking advantage of other people’s weaknesses like that without further ado, but if I get so severely forced, I will, even though I’m not too fond of it. I know he’s probably going to psych me out by using my kids and family in his insults, which I have to resist. The second I let his insults affect me, I lose control. If I lose control, I also become sloppy in my movements and observations, leading to my death without him making any effort. Lisa nor I will allow that. Cost whatever it costs. I hear the howling from a distance. My people are approaching by leaps and bounds. Soon they’ll all be in the clearing, and I will be herded there like a sheep to the slaughter. However, none of them know that this will be a fight between us. I hope they don’t put all their hope and faith in me winning and then being disappointed if I lose. That’s the last thing I want that my mates will think that they get to hold me in their arms when, in fact, they won’t, just because I died. How am I supposed to look at them in the afterlife without seeing their disappointment if that happens? I look out the window and see the light coming from the clearing where we’re meeting. The vampires have probably set up torches to make it easier to see during the fight. Neither vampires nor werewolves have any problem seeing in the dark, thanks to our night vision. But it’ll be more difficult to focus if we can’t see correctly. More howls echo in the forest, and this time they’re much louder. So far, I only recognize one roar, and it’s from Nathan, my big brother. I guess his pack is in place. But where are Miliano and Kian? The pain may be too great for them to cope with being present. I do my makeup the same way I did before the alpha gala a few months ago: dark eye shadow, false eyelashes, and curly hair. There’s nothing that says that you can’t look fabulous when fighting for survival. Right? Victor has even requested that I wear a tiara; I have no idea why. I’m done but can’t do much more than either pace or look out the window. Lisa wants to howl and call our mates to us, but I deny her. We don’t know how King reacts if we do. Moreover, the other werewolves can interpret it as the time to attack. Blake comes into the room and looks at me from head to toe. He smiles and nods pleasantly. I guess the way I look is acceptable. He walks up next to me and puts a hand on my shoulder in an attempt to reassure me. I turn around and hug him instead, which he returns.

“Is it time to leave yet?” I ask in a quiet voice.

“I’m afraid so. The others are waiting downstairs to escort you,” Blake says and nods.

“King too?”

“Yes, he’s going to be rough with you when we’re there. He’s not sure that they won’t attack, and if he shows them that he has you, they won’t.”

“But they won’t attack! I ordered them not to.”

“I know that, but King doesn’t trust them and not you either anymore,” Blake explains and puts the handcuffs on my wrists.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t trust me either right now. You know, because he’s going to try to kill me and all,” I say and roll my eyes, which makes Blake chuckle.

“Are you coming down or what!? We need to leave!” King roars from downstairs.

I sigh and let Blake escort me downstairs. King is standing at the front door and stomps his right foot quickly. Someone’s nervous. He grips my upper arm harshly and drags me out the door. I hiss from the pain and growl lowly at him, which he ignores. I shiver from the cold soil beneath my bare feet. Why did we have to do this at night time? Wouldn’t it be much more delightful to feel the sun’s rays touch your body while fighting? What the hell am I thinking? This won’t be pleasant either way; one of us is still going to die. Suddenly I hear five familiar howls. It’s my mates, Jason, and the betas. Before I can stop myself, I howl louder than ever before in happiness. They’re here! And I swear to you, every single werewolf in the area howl in greeting when they hear me. King doesn’t like that, however. Yes, I’m calling Victor King again because he treats me the exact same way he did when I first came here. The cold and vicious person is back. He stops and punches me in the mouth with such force that I fall on my knees. Before I can touch the ground, he drags me up again. Blood is flowing out of my mouth down on the white dress and forms small circles. By instinct, I growl at him, which earns me one more punch, this one on my cheekbone. I feel how blood is oozing out of it. He’s playing dirty, this fucker! Isn’t the handcuffs enough? I see the lights in the clearing and smile when I smell the other werewolves. King is dragging me with such force that I stumble behind him and tries to catch my balance. Suddenly he stops and hands me over to one of the other guards before walking up into the clearing—growls echo in the night.

“Good evening, everyone. I’m pleased to see that so many of you are interested in seeing your queen die tonight! Don’t worry, she will,” he says with a smirk, and everyone is growling at his words.

“How can we trust a leech that says that she’s here? She could be somewhere else,” someone says.

“You all heard her howl a little while ago. She’s near.”

“That doesn’t mean that she’s here now! Show her!” Nathan growls.

“Certainly,” he says and turns to me.

He grabs me by the hair and puts his fangs against my throat before pushing me forward. I want to cry, but I can’t. Not in front of my people. Slowly I open my eyes and look at them all. Other wolves are keeping my mates, brothers, and closest friends from pushing their way to me.

“Ah ah ah, don’t even think about it. This circle is magical, and if anyone else except Aleida or me steps inside, you’ll burn up. No one of us can leave the circle before the other one is dead,” Blake chuckles.

“What did you do to her!? She’s hurt!” Kian screams with anger.

“Oh, she can handle much more than this. Can’t you, Aleida?” Blake says with a smirk and punches me in the gut before pushing me inside the circle.

I hiss from the pain but stands up with a defiant glare. King chuckles at me with such evil that I can’t understand how I ever could see him as a friend. Blake stands in the background and looks worried. Apparently, he didn’t know what precautions King took.

“Now, for all of you to know about what’s going to happen... From the very beginning, I decided that I would simply slaughter Aleida. But this stupid girl used her teenage defiance and made a deal with the devil,” King grits out through clenched teeth, making the others look scared and worried at me. “He agreed to her deal, and she has negotiated her way to a fight until one of us dies. If I win, I’ve repaid my debt, and she goes to hell. If she wins, then I leave mortality, and she can live freely with all of you without worry.”

He jumps into the circle and stares me into the eyes. For a moment, I think I see other eyes within him. It’s only then that I realize why the devil agreed to our deal because it’s he who’s inside the King’s body. In other words, King exposes me to extreme danger. I look towards my mates, and they look ruined. I mimic “I love you” to them with my mouth, giving me two sad smiles in return. I look at my brothers, and Jason cries into Nathan’s shoulder. My body yells at me to run there and hug him. But I can’t.

“Anything to say before we start, my sweet Aleida?” King asks, pokes his finger in my wound on the cheek, and licks it, obviously fond of the taste.

“Firstly, get your fucking hands off me! Secondly, thank you all for being there for me when I needed you. Please understand that I’m doing this for all of you. And lastly... Tell my boys I love them,” I close my eyes when I say the last part, and my tears fall silently.

“That was disgustingly sweet and all. Shall we start?” King snarls.

Once again, I look at all the wolves around me and smile at them, maybe for the last time. I mindlink the ones closest in my life.

I’m proud of you all. If I don’t make it out of here, know that I love you and keep my boys safe.

Lastly, I turn towards King with a toxic smirk, which makes him back away.

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