Chapter 51 - Get up, you look weak

HADRIAN

*You're a disgrace, you’ll amount to nothing, you’re weak.*

The words of my father propel through my mind and I’ve never agreed with him more. I roar against the marble wall and punch it hard with my fist. A crack splits in the dense rock and I’m sure I just broke two knuckles with that action. The burn of silver is still visible on my hand and I punch the wall again.

The sound of my howl booms on the walls. I’m certain that every werewolf in the palace will be able to hear it.

I’m at the training field at five in the morning. Sweat drips from my nose and falls on the ground. The energy of the descending moon reinvigorates my tireless muscles.

The moon shouldn’t have this effect already. I shouldn’t have lost control like that. I want to believe that I would never force myself on Emma, but I was gone. I was consumed by the curse and lost control.

It started at the Snow Moon pack. They recognized me and had to settle the score. I had to pay for the death of their Alpha. They didn’t care about the consequences. Fifteen men should’ve been plenty to take me down.

On any other day.

The fight awakened that dark part within me. The curse of my bloodline. That part that thirsts for blood and destruction. Going back to the palace was the last thing I should have done, but I had no active say in the decision.

The searing burn of silver shocked me out of my haze and seeing that fear in her eyes brought me back completely.

Nero is trapped under the same curse. It has taken him even longer to realize what was going on. Now, he’s whimpering in the same pain. We never wanted to hurt her, but we did.

The only thing we can do now is ask for forgiveness.

“Oh dear brother, you don’t look so good.” The silvery voice of my sister comes from behind me. Her words are dripping with mock concern.

I press my broken knuckles in the wall and I suppress a wince. I really can’t handle her right now. I might do something treasonous.

I turn to face my sister. Morana looks at me with a victorious glint in her eyes. The wear of the long days on the road for her mission is non-existent. Everything about her is perfect and I’m here crumbling. She can see it too.

“You’re back,” I grunt. Amity has always been a challenge with my sister.

The first soldiers trickle onto the training field. Their eyes linger on me and they must see the same as my sister.

Morana moves a lock of her hair. The red strand glows in the morning light like fire. “Yes, I am. I’m here for the festival of course.”

The festival. The blood moon. I can feel my stomach roil with the thought of the worst not being over. I hunch over when I feel tiredness seep into my muscles when dawn breaks.

“Get up, you look weak.”

“Go away,” I growl at her and more eyes turn my way. Marius chuckles on the other side of the field and anger burns in my chest.

Morana sighs. “I’m just looking out for you, dear brother.”

I scoff at her and narrow my eyes at her.

“Very well, don’t mind me then.” She waves her hand and turns away from me and away from the training field. “But don’t come crying when you lose your position as General.”

She throws the line and the hook grips me squarely in the chest. “What are you talking about?”

I follow my sister to the palace halls. “Marius of course. You must know he’s out for your position.” Morana takes an isolated staircase to the third floor.

I ball my fists. Of course, I know that he’s out for my position, but I’ve worked for my place and I’m good at what I do.

Morana stops walking when we’re in the privacy of the third floor. She looks me, up and down. “And by the looks of it, He’s going to get it too.”

I’m exhausted, disheveled and whatever else she might see.

“Father won’t do that.”

Morana rolls her eyes. “That’s why Marius entered the tournament. The winner can request anything they want.”

It is the rule of the Blood Moon Tournament. The winner may ask for one thing and it will be granted. Most winners choose something superficial or materialistic, like a house in the inner ring.

“He wants a kiss from Emma,” I say through gritted teeth and the anger in my chest finds new fuel to burn.

“Oh brother, don't be naive. He doesn’t care about your human mate.” Morana chuckles as if the idea is ludicrous. “He’s just trying to get under your skin.”

*Is it true? Who should I believe? Neither of them can be trusted.*

“Well, there is a way to settle this of course...” Morana piques my interest with her pensive ponder. She turns her razor-sharp eyes at me. “If you dare to enter the tournament?”

I’m fueled with anger and irrationality. I’m angry at her, at Marius, at my bloodline and mostly at myself. This is what she wants. I should just walk away from her. Experiences from the past have taught me never to trust my sister.

But there is truth to what she is saying. Marius has a strong chance to win, whatever he might choose as his prize. I can’t stand on the sidelines to watch.

“I’m in.”

But first, I need to beg for the forgiveness of my mate.

——————————

The moon has descended and the sun has started to rise. The adrenaline in my muscles has disappeared and is replaced by exhaustion. I’m waiting in the parlor for Emma to wake up.

I lean my elbows on my knees and let my head sink into my shoulders. I've been awake all night and sleep wants to take over. I rub the sleep from my eye with my palm. Blood is coating my knuckles, but luckily they’re healed.

“Hadrian?” A soft whisper calls.

I look up and see Emma standing at the doorway of the bedroom. I get up from my seat and she steps back in response. It constricts my throat when she flinching away from me.

There are dark circles under her eyes and they’re laced with wariness. She must've not slept anymore after I left.

I open my mouth to tell her I’m sorry, but the door to the hallway opens instead. Paulina and Miles are talking and they stop when they spot me. I was so focused on Emma, that I didn’t hear them outside.

They look me over and pull their attention from me to Emma. They're all wary and that is warranted. I look like a bull standing in a china shop and at any moment I can lose it.

“The kitchen has prepared breakfast, do you want me to serve it now?” Paulina says.

“Do you want to shower first, Hadrian?” Emma asks. She has the same wariness in her eyes.

I’m covered in blood, sweat and grime. A combination of the past twenty-four hours. My mate deserves better than that.

I grumble and nod at my mate. There hangs a painful silence in the room. I can see it in the way she swallows and fidgets with her sleeve. There's a distance between us and it reaches further that the ten feet in the parlor.

“Are you okay Emma?” Miles asks.

Emma nods at Miles. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

She’s lying. I don’t need special abilities to know that.