NO

Becky's P.O.V



My heart raced in my chest like a drum as I followed Alpha Rian through the dark and dimly lit hallways of the fortress. The atmosphere felt heavy with unspoken tension that wrapped around us like a thick fog.


With each step that Rian took it was clear that he carried an undeniable presence and command over the situation. Even though I felt uncertain and anxious I couldn’t bring myself to stray from his side.


My feelings of unease were always there quietly following me like a shadow making it hard to focus on anything else.


As we walked closer to a big room we noticed that the soft sounds of distant voices became quieter and quieter. The door to this room was not fully closed it was slightly open.


Because of this a small strip of dim light was shining out from the room and falling on the floor in front of us.


“Please stay close to me” Rian softly whispered looking back at me with a worried expression on his face his brow furrowed with concern.


I took a deep breath to push down my feelings of unease and nodded in response doing my best to look calm and composed. Together we stepped into the room side by side.


Inside the room Alpha Karl was lying stretched out on a very large bed. His face looked pale and thin giving him a tired and unhealthy appearance. The dark circles under his eyes showed that he was struggling with a difficult fight one that he seemed to be losing.


Hovering nearby was Healer Sage who stood close to him her hands just a few inches away from his chest. Beside her there was a colorful assortment of herbs arranged together symbolizing the desperation she felt as she sought to help him with his condition.


“What is happening right now Sage?” Rian asked in a strong voice but there was a clear feeling of real worry in his tone.


“The poison that he took into his body is something very unusual.” Sage said in a calm voice though you could hear a hint of concern in her words.


“It is a kind of wolfsbane which is known to be dangerous. The symptoms it causes... well they are quite serious.” She pointed at Karl's hands which were shaking a lot.


“We are going to need some time to help him but even with that I cannot promise that he will fully get better.”


As I glanced over and briefly made eye contact with Karl I felt my throat tighten in a way that made it hard to breathe. In that moment he appeared so vulnerable and fragile so different from the strong man I had once thought could take on any challenge and conquer the world.


The shocking realization that he had been poisoned hit me like a heavy weight resonating deeply within me and causing a rush of emotions.


Without meaning to my eyes were drawn to Jake who was standing near the entrance. He had a smug smirk on his face which only added to the tension of the moment.


An overwhelming wave of anger rushed through my body making it hard for me to think clearly. I took a deep breath and asked “Can I have just one minute of your time?”


My voice came out tight and tense showing just how frustrated I really felt. Without waiting for a response I grabbed Jake by the arm and almost pulled him out of the room with me.


As soon as we were outside I quickly turned to look at him ready to talk things out face to face.


“Jake.” I said abruptly my tone harsher than I meant it to be slicing through the stillness around us with an intensity I hadn't anticipated. “Can you explain to me why you look so… happy or satisfied?”


Jake shrugged his shoulders casually and despite the situation his smile remained bright and steady. “Becky I have to be honest with you. I’m not exactly happy about this. Instead I find myself feeling a bit… amused by it all.”


“Are you really amused?” I said again unable to believe what I was hearing. “Are you actually finding it funny that Alpha Karl is in a serious battle for his life?”


“Let's be honest here he really hurt your feelings didn't he?” Jake said as he crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe. His relaxed attitude was kind of annoying.


“Perhaps it’s finally time for him to experience some consequences for his actions.”


“It really doesn't matter to me what he did to me in the past.” I said with determination shaking my head as I spoke.


“Even if I had a reason to be upset that still does not make it okay for anyone to harm him in such a terrible way by poisoning him. It’s especially not right for you to do something like that. Do you honestly think this is funny or some sort of joke?”


Jake rolled his eyes in annoyance and for just a brief moment his confident smirk slipped away as he took a step closer to Becky. With a teasing tone he said “But let me ask you this Becky What if it really is true? What if I actually enjoy the thought of seeing the powerful Alpha Karl brought down to his knees feeling defeated? Perhaps in some way he deserves it after everything.”


I could feel my anger rising inside me and I had to speak up. “You really don’t understand what you are saying! Do you honestly believe that acting in such a mean and vengeful way makes you look good? Do you think it’s right to hurt someone just because they hurt you or someone you care about? Is that really justified in your mind?”


Jake stood up straight and I could feel the tension building between us almost like the energy of a live wire. He looked at me and said “I didn’t say that it was right or justified. I just meant that it feels in some way satisfying.”


“Are you really asking if this is satisfying?” I exclaimed almost spitting out the words in my disgust. “Jake you really need to understand that you are sick. This is not just some little rivalry between us that can be brushed off. No this situation is much more serious than that. It is about life and death.”


“And what about you Becky? Does he deserve your pity? After everything he put you through?” Jake pressed relentless.


I took a really deep breath because my heart was beating so fast. I looked at you and said “You have no idea what emotions are going through me right now. And just to be clear he absolutely does not deserve my sympathy or compassion—what he really deserves are some serious consequences for his actions. But to be honest I would never wish for something terrible like this to happen to anyone! Poisoning someone? That is completely and totally unacceptable Jake.”


“Then why do you seem so upset?” he responded his voice getting louder. “Are you worried that he might get better and come back to win your affection again?”


“No.” I responded sharply feeling my anger grow. “I really cannot accept this kind of cruelty. Also I've moved on from him. It's actually you who needs to realize that this situation is not something to take lightly or treat as a game.”