Chapter 56


    56.A Sacrifice


    THEON


    I entered the king’s office, trying to do my best to remain emotionless. The burning rage of resentment


    and hatred bubbling beneath the surface of my skin was growing ever stronger.


    I couldn’t remove the image of her from my mind, in that thin white shirt, as she stood in the cold with


    concern and fear clear in her grey eyes… I hated it, hated that I had left her when I could see her


    breaking before my very eyes. She had only wanted one small gesture of reassurance that I wasn’t


    leaving her, but I was, and I couldn’t string her along any longer than I already had. It was one of the


    hardest things I have ever done in life, but I had to. She was a distraction from my goal.


    “Theon, are you alright?” Andres asked, frowning as he looked up at me from behind his desk I gave a


    curt nod.


    “You wanted to see me?” I said. Never had I detested him as much as I did at this moment.


    He was the reason for all of this. “I did, but if now isn’t the right time, we can postpone our meeting…”


    “Just carry on. I’m fine.” I said through gritted teeth. He observed me for a moment before he nodded.


    “It was regarding your Beta position; I was thinking about the uing ceremony… I wanted to ask you


    a final time… Are you sure?”


    I looked into his grey eyes coldly, and frowned. It was the first fucking time I realised his eyes weren’t


    much of a different shade than Yileyna’s. The only difference was I hated this pair with the same


    vengeance as I did the man they belonged to. A


    “Sure about what?”


    I had a feeling he meant if this was the position I was happy with. Dad’s words rang in my head, but I felt


    sick at the very thought of having this man’s daughter as my mate.


    Remember the goal.


    “About my offer, Charlene may not be the same as Yileyna, I know she is very popr when ites to


    the terms of her beauty and personality, but Charlene would make a good mate. Besides, I know you are


    very chivalrous, Theon, and this is for the betterment of the kingdom. We need someone worthy of being


    Alpha.”


    Alpha., it was the position I needed… I could take her as my mate and then, with me as Alpha… no one


    would be able to disobey… The n was for the attack to happen before this winter passed… That


    wasn’t too long a time… If I just… The unage of Yileyna shed through my mind; her blonde hair, her


    soft plump lips, her


    gorgeous grey eyes… and with it, the rity that I had indeed strayed hit me like a fucking avnche.


    She was ruining everything. “You are right. This kingdom needs a strong Alpha, and despite Charlene


    being your daughter, she doesn’t have the will of an Alpha.” I said coldly. “I guess I will ept this deal.” ;


    The guilt that washed through me as those words left my lips was suffocating. Andres didn’t do anything


    to hide his happiness, his eyes lighting up as he let out a raucousugh, standing up and mming his


    hand down on the table. “Are you agreeing?! Ah, you are! That’s my son!” He walked around the table,


    wrapping his arms around me in a tight hug, only making my hatred re through me viciously. I was no


    fucking son of his. The day I killed him, and his fucking daughter, would be the day I’d be happier than


    ever.


    I clenched my jaw, my eyes shing as I did my all not to shove him away from me. He patted my back,


    his happiness as clear as the blizzard outside. “I’m doing this for the kingdom.” I said coldly, looking into


    his eyes. “Of course! Theon, you know you can keep Yileyna on the side if you so wish-” 2 “Keep her as


    a whore and humiliate her in the process? I don’t think so.” I clenched my jaw, unable to hide the venom


    in my voice.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Andres’s smile vanished as he looked at me with concern that almost looked real. “Do you love her?” He


    asked after a moment.


    I stared at the wooden table in front of me, I knew enough to know that if an Alpha didn’t want something


    or someone in their way, they got rid of it. He could do anything to Yileyna… just as Dad could… “No.” I


    replied without hesitation, instantly seeing how he rxed. “She’s nothing to me, but I prefer not to


    humiliate her.”


    “That’s understandable. Fear not, I’ll keep her busy with work. I realised I haven’t really assigned her


    anything, and after talking to you about itst time, I have decided I will make her a Zeta rank; a warrior.


    I’ll make sure she gets her pay and everything on time. She’ll be happy, and she’ll have the chance to


    keep busy. I have already talked to Raiden to have this all in order by the end of the week.” I


    Zeta rank… just below the royal guards… so she won’t be around the pce… I guess that was better…


    Being Zeta ranked would mean she had some level of protection from bastards like Levin,


    I nodded.


    “That sounds ideal. We will continue with the princess’ training as nned, and hopefully, soon her


    abilities will break free. What exactly are we looking for? What kind of ability is the heart meant to


    possess?” I asked,


    The prophecy never said more than the one that held the heart possessed the ability to control the


    middle kingdom. “We aren’t sure, it has never been said anywhere, but whatever it is, it will bring great


    power and prosperity.” It was too vague… Far too vague for me to know if I needed Charlene alive and


    by my side or if I could just throw her in a cell and use her as a weapon. Although I still had no idea what


    kind of weapon she would be, she was in useless. A sudden thought came to me, and I tilted my


    head, looking at the king calctingly. “Charlene knows of the rtionship I had with Yileyna. Do you


    think she will agree?” I asked. 1 She didn’t have a spine; she was meek and pretty much useless, but I


    had seen her anger when it came to Yileyna. I was sure the one person she wouldn’t want to hurt was


    Yileyna… “Charlene will agree. Before a friend, her duty is to her pack and kingdom.” Andres replied


    dismissively. “She and Yileyna are close.” Charlene was the only person Yileyna had left, but I guess we


    all know that even the closest of friends can betray one another. I was letting Yileynae in the way of


    my revenge… “I will talk to her. Fear not, she will agree. We need to do this for this kingdom. She will


    understand. We will make the announcement at the nned ball at the next full moon.” 1


    I gave a curt nod.


    “Fine.”


    It wouldn’t be for long… Soon this kingdom will bend its knee to me. This pack would be mine and


    the Obsidian Shadow Pack would take its rightful ce as the ruling pack, and then, everyone who had


    wronged us would pay.