The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 212: No Choice ()

For a moment, Zariah and Askel both stared at each other, unable to tear their gazes away from one another.

Zariah could feel her heart grow warm, and her stomach did a flip. It was just a stare, but Askel’s gaze was so intense and meaningful.

His eyes seemed to stare right through Zariah, straight into her soul and Zariah feared she would not be able to hide anything from him if he looked any deeper.

The moment stretched on for a short time but was soon interrupted by Askel.

"Then why do you not want me?" Askel asked Zariah.

Zariah stiffened at the question, realising she had slipped up by saying the words she just had.

"That... is not the case and you know it. It was never about if I wanted you or not." Zariah said to Askel.

"What is it about, then? You have said nothing to me, given me no reasons that I can actually understand. I do not know where your head is at or what goes through your mind and I cannot help how unsettled and restless it makes me." Askel said in a pained tone.

The look in his eyes were filled with confusion and helplessness, there were even more emotions Zariah could not figure out at a glance and she did not dare to figure them out either.

"There is nothing I can say to you, Askel. Just let it go." Zariah said blankly, tearing her gaze away from Askel’s.

"Let it go?" Askel asked with a raised brow, his tone low and displeased.

"I am losing my mind just thinking about you and the possibility that I might lose you to another. I can hardly focus on my pack or my duties, you occupy my every thought and leave me feeling helpless..." Askel trailed off briefly.

"I cannot go on like this, Zariah. I just cannot. And I know you care for me, I see it in your eyes, I can hear it in your tone try as you might to hide it... I heard it from your lips as you chanted my name that night we shared in your bed..."

"I know you feel the same way for me as I do for you. I know you want to be with me so why do you keep fighting your feelings?...Your truth? Is he worth so much to you that you would even lie to yourself?" Askel asked Zariah, his tone pained.

Zariah bit down harshly on her bottom lip, drawing blood as she forced herself to maintain her calm.

"Askel, I do not have to explain myself to you... I will not. This...us, you may be certain that we are inevitable but for me, I am not... for me, I can choose another path."

"If the Creator deemed it right to grant me an alternate choice, would it not prove that perhaps we are not as destined as you wish to believe? Is there truly anything set in stone?"

"Even the mate bond is untrustworthy...there is you on one end and there is another on the other end. What makes you the right path and he the wrong? What is genuine and what is not?" Zariah asked blankly.

Askel winced visibly at Zariah’s words and as much as it pained her that she had to say them, Zariah had no intentions of retracting the words she had said.

"A month Askel, in a few days the time will be up and you will know of my decision. But until then, I would appreciate it if you do not do something like this again...or I fear you would be the one making the decision for me. I should go...Caedmon will be looking for me." Zariah said as she got up to her feet

Zariah made to head out but before she could even take a step, a hand took hold of hers and in the next moment, Zariah felt her back pressed against the wall.

Zariah’s eyes widened, a yelp of surprise escaping her. She had not even sensed when Askel had moved but he now stared down at her,

His broad form caged her in against the wall and his breaths came out in deep, heavy pants.

Above all else, his eyes...

A quiet gasp escaped Zariah at the sight of it. Askel’s eyes had turned a pitch black shade, completely different from his usual eye color and the black completely overshadowed the whites of his eyes and his pupils only, leaving nothing but an abyss of darkness.

Zariah was utterly speechless, she had known Askel battled a darker urge on his wolf side, but she had never seen it manifest in this manner before and the aura Askel exuded in this moment... she had never seen anything like this before.

Or maybe Zariah had, but at this moment, Zariah could not quite place a finger on it.

Zariah could only stare up at Askel, her eyes wide with horror as he bared his teeth at her.

"Do not walk away from me, Zariah..." Came a thick, guttural voice.

The tone was strikingly similar to Askel’s but at the same time, much different. Zariah could have sworn if she did not see Askel’s mouth move, she would not have believed these words and that tone came from him at all.

"Let go of me." Zariah said calmly, regaining her voice when the initial shock wore off.

"I love you, Zariah... I love you desperately. I love you to the point of madness...do you not see how much I have lost my mind?" Askel asked in that same tone, ignoring Zariah’s words as though he had not heard them.

"How can you not love me back? How can you choose him time and time again? Do you really want to see me go mad?! I will rip him to shreds!!" Askel roared.

Zariah’s eyes widened, her heart shuddered nervously. She had never seen this side of Askel and it was terrifying.

"I will never forgive it..." Zariah said, attempting to maintain her calm.

"You will not be left with a choice." Askel replied.

Zariah was confused as to Askel’s meaning for a moment but the moment Askel buried his head into her neck and inhaled deeply, Zariah knew what was coming.