DUSK.
"I... I can explain. It's not what you think it is. It's..." I stammered, and he smashed the potion on the floor. It scattered into pieces, and then he rushed to me at the speed of light and held my throat.
"All I've been going around and doing is due to this?" He asked in anger, and I found myself shaking my head. He raised his claws and brought them down fast to strike me, and I screamed.
~
My eyes flew open, and I screamed again, only to discover the potion clutched tight in my hand. I looked at Lucius, who looked at me in alarm.
"Are you okay?" He asked, and I looked around once more. When I saw there wasn't any shattered potion on the ground, my breathing began to slow down. It was all a dream. I knew I had to destroy the potion quickly.
"Where will I find you tomorrow, Lucius?" I asked, and he held my hand.
"I'll be in a meeting, but you can stay with me. I'll allow that." He said, and I nodded gratefully.
When the morning came, Lucius followed me to my quarters to get my clothes and stayed till I was dressed and ready. Once or twice, I saw two men pass by. They didn't stare at me or Lucius or look suspicious, but what made me suspect them was the fact that I had seen them three times that day.
I was allowed to stay in the meeting with Lucius, and although it was boring, it was better than having my neck ripped out.
Immediately after Lucius was done with the meeting, I excused myself and told him to find me if I wasn't back in five minutes.
He nodded, and I ran off. I went towards the garden, where the thicker leaves and plants grew, and threw the potion on the ground. I looked for a massive rock and smashed the bottle to pieces continuously.
It was my way of making amends. I had made a mistake and was correcting it. One thing was that I had learned from it.
It was better to face my problems head-on than get involved in something I couldn't control.
After smashing it, I scattered it amongst the sand and leaves, and when I was satisfied, I stood up and left it.
However, in the lighter part of the garden with prettier flowers and sweeter scents, Dalia waited with arms folded.
"I saw you go in there minutes ago. What were you doing? You've got some dirt on your dress too. You couldn't have been planting a flower, I'm sure of that." She said. She was looking at my dress.
"It's none of your business whether or not I plant a flower." I said and walked past her.
"Seems like you caught Lucius' fancy again. I hear you guys have been going around together all morning." She said, But I didn't stop walking; I wasn't in the right mood for her words.
I hadn't gone ten steps when Lucius emerged in the garden.
I walked quickly to him.
"You said to look for you if you weren't back in five minutes." He said, and I nodded.
"Thank you so much." I said, and he looked back at Dalia.
I and Lucius continued to go everywhere together that day, and finally, Lucius seemed to notice the men that had been waiting around for me to be alone.
"Cain, Dean!" He called, and they turned to look at him and bowed.
Then they approached us.
"Is the King in his quarters?" Lucius asked, and they nodded.
"I'm going to make myself clear. I don't want a hair on her head to be harmed. If the King sent you to eliminate her, keep in mind that I decide what's to be done about her, and you will not be spared if anything's wrong with her. Now, get back to your duties; I mustn't see you lurking around me anymore." He said, and they bowed and left quickly.
Shortly after that, a servant came and bowed to me and Lucius as we ate Lunch.
"The Alpha calls for her." She made a low bow to Lucius.
I looked at him, and he nodded.
We both left the dining hall.
~
"Lucius." The King said without looking up from the papers he was reading.
"Father," Lucius replied.
"I ask her to come, and you come with her." He said gently.
"I've heard certain rumours, father, and that's why I'm here with her. I'll be right outside." He said and left.
I still felt uncomfortable, even though I knew Lucius was standing right outside.
"You seem to be really resilient." He said and continued. "I give you orders to leave Lucius, and you leave him for a little while only to run right back to him. Tell me, is my order as Alpha not final?" He asked, still looking at his papers.
My voice caught in my throat because I didn't know what to say.
"I asked a question." He said he was finally looking at me.
"Alpha..." I started but couldn't seem to say anything more.
"Maybe you seem to think I'm old and ready to die, and Lucius is the Alpha to you." He said, and I shook my head.
"I do not think that Alpha." I said, and from the corner of my eye, I saw Cain and Dean approach me slowly from opposite sides.
But the Alpha raised a hand.
"One more time. Just one more time, If I hear word of you being with Lucius, it'll be more than just a warning then, and even Lucius would be unable to save you." He dismissed me, and I turned and walked away, and as I did, I heard him say...
"The Future Alpha of this Kingdom cannot be held down by some weak Omega."
It was then that I knew that even with my changed appearance, some people's opinions about me would never change.
~
However, the next morning, there was a drastic turn of events.
Everyone was gathered in the large hall, and there was a kind of gloom in the air.
"What's happening?" I asked a maid, and she looked at me and shook her head.
"The Alpha... He is no more."