Chapter 8 8

I didn’t know what I was expecting to see when we got to the capital, but it certainly wasn’t this.

The entire city looked like it had been abandoned. Rogues and ferals filled the streets like flies.

As we rode in, they stared at us with wide eyes, never getting too close but not running off in fear either.

The palace wasn’t much better either. It wasn’t the typical ‘palace’ I had expected to see.

There were no servants rushing to welcome us, no guards lining the entrance, no bells announcing the arrival of the king.

Just silence.

The carriage stopped in front of a massive iron gate that looked like it had not been used in years. Rust covered the metal, and thick vines had twisted themselves around the bars until it was difficult to tell where the gate ended and weeds began.

I stared through the window in disbelief. Was this it?

The carriage door opened and one by one everybody came out.

King Alaric stepped out first, his expression as stoic as it had been the first time I met him.

I looked back at the palace again. The grand stone walls were stained with age, their once-polished surfaces covered in patches of moss.

Weeds had grown so high around the courtyard that they reached the lower steps. Broken statues stood crookedly beneath tangled vines, and several windows were shattered.

A few birds flew from the roof when we approached.

Somewhere beyond the palace walls, something howled.

I swallowed.

I knew there was a time when this place was beautiful and filled with life, but war always comes at a great cost.

Alaric stared at the palace for another moment before turning toward the people who had travelled with us.

“Get to work. Tomorrow is the coronation,” Alaric continued. “I want this place presentable before sunrise," He said, looking intently at each of the Omegas and warriors.

"Everyone?" A guard asked, looking at the large amount of work to be done.

"Except you don't want to have hands by tomorrow. Only my mate is exempted from the work. Move!"

That was all it took to get every single person moving.

Guards began clearing the entrance. Servants hurried toward the palace with whatever supplies they had brought. Men were sent to inspect the walls, while others began cutting through the weeds that had swallowed the courtyard.

It took a few steps for his words to actually register in my head. The coronation?

It couldn’t be me… right? There was no way he was actually thinking of crowning me queen. We barely even knew each other.

He didn’t know anything about me. Not my likes or dislikes, not my favorite food, hell, he didn’t even know my middle name.

He knew nothing.

The only thing he seemed to know was that I didn't have a wolf. That somehow never seemed to escape his notice.

I looked at him now.

He was speaking to one of the guards, his face completely unreadable.

He didn't look at me.

He rarely did.

I had spent so long imagining what it would be like to finally meet my mate. I had imagined warmth. Acceptance. Maybe even a little awkwardness as we learned about each other, but the first mate I had was as affectionate as a marble table.

Then there was him. I still don’t know what to think of him. Maybe he wasn’t as terrible as the rumors said. That was possible, but I still didn’t want to take a chance. I had barely recovered from the last one.

A maid approached me and gave a little bow. I actually had to look behind me to see if she was really bowing to me.

"You need to come inside.” She said. Huh, so this one actually used her words? At least she didn’t grab me roughly and drag me off.

I glanced at Alaric one last time before following the maid.

The inside of the palace was somehow worse.

Dust covered almost every surface. The enormous entrance hall smelled stale, and several chandeliers hung from the ceiling with cobwebs wrapped around them. The marble floor was cracked in places, and weeds had somehow found their way through the gaps.

I could hardly believe anyone had ever lived here, let alone royals.

The maid led me upstairs. A warm bath had already been prepared for me and I released a grateful sigh as soon as the warm water touched my skin.

By the time I was finished, fresh clothes had been laid out for me. They were beautiful, but I felt awkward in them. They were a lot different from what I was used to…

A servant finally brought food and my stomach rumbled in response.

I honestly hadn't realized how hungry I was until that moment.

There was bread, meat, vegetables and a bowl of soup.

I hesitated, I don’t know why, but something felt off. I brushed it off and took a bite of the food.

Warmth spread through my mouth and I almost sighed with relief. It was delicious.

I took another, then before I realised it, I was halfway through the bowl. Then I felt it.

At first, it was just a dull ache in my stomach. I brushed it off as a side effect of eating a little too quickly, but then it only got worse. Soon I was struggling to keep myself upright in my seat.

What on earth was going on? I tried to stand, bad idea. My knees almost gave out beneath me, and the room tilted.

I grabbed the table for support, my heart racing as one terrifying thought after another crashed through my mind.

I looked around the room, but I was all alone.

The door was wide open and there was no one passing through the halls that I could ask for help.

My pulse thundered in my ears.

I thought of what to do, but nothing came to mind.

Dark spots had started to crowd my vision and nothing made sense any more.

I felt my body slump to the ground and I closed my eyes and braced myself for it.