Destroy My Life In You-Chapter 100: Nightmare Truly Began

More days passed by, Astrid and her brothers still taking refuge in the palace. Alaric was kind to her and her brothers, yet somehow, she missed the simple days when she could walk around freely, without guards shadowing her every move. Today, though, she had a chance to slip away. Alaric and his brothers were out, leaving her with a rare moment of solitude. She needed to retrieve something important, something she had left behind in the chaos of that fateful night when they fled. Her parents’ old staffs were still in the cottage, and they held sentimental value, reminders of the life they once had.

She had promised herself she wouldn’t sneak away, that she would remain obedient, but today the urge for freedom overtook her. The moment she stepped outside the palace, the air felt different and lighter. As much as she valued her safety, as much as she knew the palace offered protection, there was something freeing about being outside the confines of walls. And so, without hesitation, she went.

Alaric had warned her the last time she mentioned going anywhere alone. He had asked her to take guards with her. But Astrid had waved off the suggestion. She just needed a little bit of space. Just a few hours to breathe. She had left, determined to get what she needed and return before anyone noticed.

As she walked into the cottage, the memories hit her. The smells, the small creaks of the floorboards, it was all the same. Her brothers’ laughter echoed faintly in her ears. She had missed them. Her hands shook as she reached for their old staffs, carefully wrapping them in cloth before packing them away.

But as she turned to leave, something shifted in the air. A heavy tension settled around her, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Her heart pounded in her chest as she slowly glanced around.

Suddenly, her instincts kicked in. She sensed that familiar, unique scents carried by shifters. They were surrounding her. Werewolves and lycans, their eyes glowing golden. She clutched the fabric of her dress, her pulse quickening with a mixture of fear and confusion. They had found her.

In that moment, she realized the grave mistake she had made. She made to shift, preparing to escape, but before she could move, a deep, commanding voice called her name.

"Astrid."

Her breath hitched as her gaze snapped to the left. There, standing at the entrance of the cottage, was a man — a middle-aged figure, with a coldness in his eyes that made her stomach drop. His face was familiar, yet foreign, a twisted reflection of someone she once knew.

A shudder of recognition passed through her because the man before her looked so much like her father.

Without being told, she already knew who he was. Their grandfather, the Lycan King. The man who had killed her parents.

Fear twisted in her gut, but it was not just fear. It was anger, pain and disbelief. How cruel could this man be to kill his own son? The man who was supposed to be a protector, a leader, had turned his back on his own blood.

Astrid’s gaze hardened, and cold tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them away, steeling herself for what was to come.

"What do you want?" she asked, her voice trembling with the weight of all the emotions she felt.

The Lycan King chuckled darkly, his laugh sending a chill through the room. He stepped closer, his movements predatory, as if every inch of him was a threat. "What’s the hurry, my dear?"

Astrid stood her ground, the anger bubbling up within her. "Why?" she demanded, her voice thick with pain. "Why did you kill your own son? My father... and my mother?"

The Lycan King’s laughter turned hysterical, echoing around the small cottage. "Why? Because he betrayed me. He chose to run away after learning from the Oracle that his firstborn would be the next Primal Alpha. He was a coward, unworthy of being my son."

She clenched her fists, her jaw tight. "What do you want from me? I’ll never be a part of someone as heartless as you."

The Lycan King smiled cruelly, his eyes glinting with malice. "Ah, but you see, you don’t have much of a choice. You see, my dear, I’m giving you an option." He took another step forward, towering over her. "You do as I say, or your brothers will pay the price."

Astrid’s heart skipped a beat. Her brothers were back at the palace. They were safe. Her thoughts raced, trying to calm her, but the unease gnawed at her.

"You don’t scare me," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

The Lycan King’s eyes narrowed, and he chuckled darkly. "Oh, you think so? Don’t be so sure, my dear. I have my ways to get to them. And—" He paused, letting the words sink in, before he moved aside and pointed at something.

Astrid’s eyes followed the Lycan King’s gesture, and a sickening feeling swept over her. There, at the edge of the clearing, Liam was held by two men. His body was limp and his face pale. His clothes were blood stained and from the way he looked, the man was definitely unconscious.

"What have you done to him?" Astrid’s voice trembled, but she forced herself to speak. She couldn’t let the fear take control.

The Lycan King simply shrugged, his lips curling into a sinister smile. "Nothing yet."

At his command, the two men holding Liam, their eyes glowed a deep crimson with a tinge of gold. They were hybrids. Their fangs extended, sharp and deadly, as they sank their teeth into Liam’s neck.

"No!" Astrid let out a shriek of horror, rushing forward, but before she could reach him, the Lycan King’s hand shot out, wrapping around her throat in a vice-like grip. She gasped for breath, struggling against his strength, but her rage surged.

With one swift motion, Astrid gripped his hand and pulled it away. She didn’t hesitate, using all her strength to send the Lycan King flying backward, crashing into the dirt. The force of the blow stunned him for a moment, giving her the chance to rush to Liam.

Her body moved on instinct in a flash she stopped behind the two men hodling Liam. She grabbed their fabrics and sent them flying. They crashed into the trees with bone-crushing force, but they didn’t get back up.

Kneeling beside Liam, Astrid’s heart pounded in her chest.

"Liam... Liam," She called his name softly, shaking his shoulder, her hands trembling. She then pressed her fingers to his neck, feeling for his pulse. It was weak, and growing fainter.

A cold laugh echoed from behind her. The Lycan King had regained his footing, and his manic laughter made Astrid’s blood run cold.

She couldn’t save Liam. She couldn’t save anyone.

"That is just the beginning." The Lycan King declared, now standing before her.

Astrid clenched her fists, her body trembling. She had all the power to stop this, yet she had failed. Again. If only she had been ruthless enough to kill them before they could lay a hand on Liam.

Her grandfather’s voice cut through her thoughts. "Next time, it will be your brothers if you continue being stubborn."

Astrid was breathless due to the overwhelming emotions clouding her chest. She lifted her gaze, hatred burning in her eyes, directed to rhe man who was supposed to be her grandfather. "If it’s me you want, then take me," she said, voice thick with emotion. "Leave them out of this."

The Lycan King stepped toward her, and when he was close enough, he leaned down, his voice a whisper. "That’s not all I want."

Astrid gulped knowing whatever it was, it was out of her imagination. "Then what?"

The man smiled coldly then said, "I want you... to kill Alaric."

Astrid went rigid, the nightmare truly began. Her breath came in ragged gasps, as she felt an urgency of fear, anger, guilt build up, but most of all... over-protectiveness towards Alaric. She lifted her chin her eyes showered with a bright blue colour, and only determination was filled in them. Her conscious seemed to have been possessed by something else. It didn’t matter what she had to do, but she would not allow any one else to be harmed because of her naivety or fear.

"Do your worst." Words left her mouth, her gaze plastered on her grandfather.

The Lycan King smirked. "Remember your words." He glanced at Liam and his lips curled. "Also, when your dear friend wakes up..."

Before Astrid could ask what he meant, he was gone, and the other lycans had disappeared with him.

Her attention snapped back to Liam. She pressed two fingers against his neck but there was no pulse. A restrained gasp let her, as pain and immense guilt seized her heart. First her parents, now her friend. Next, it would be her brothers or Alaric. She let out a scream that echoed through the empty land. Tears flowed endlessly wondering how she could bring herself to face Liam once he woke up as a vampire.

Minutes passed as she waited, barely breathing. Liam’s body jerked suddenly, his eyes snapping open, and fell directly on her. He lunged at her, his crimson gaze wild, hungry. He was a vampire now, driven by thirst. He sank his fangs into her hand, his grip fierce and desperate.

Astrid cried out in shock, but she remained still. It was a natural reaction since Liam had just been turned and needed blood. She breathed through the pain, willing herself not to panic. It was excruciating but she counted it as a part of her redemption.

After a few moments, Liam pulled away. His body trembled as he stumbled back, the transformation taking its toll. His skin burned, his muscles convulsed in pain as the venomous effects of the transformation ravaged him. He screamed, the sound guttural and agonizing.

Astrid stood, moving quickly to help him. "Come inside," she urged, her voice frantic. "You need to get inside, away from the sun." If he didn’t, he would burn to ashes. It was only vampires over a hundred years old who could survive under the sun, she at least knew that basic rule.

Liam seemed not to be himself and tried to resist but she painstakingly managed to get him inside, and lay him down on the mat.

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