Chapter 63: Pain

**Alice’s Point of view**


An excruciating pain pierces me and I just want to die. 
So is this what it feels like when your mate dies? I understand why the one left commits suicide or dies of pain within seconds.
*"Let's think about our family, our friends. Think about Elliot. He is our mate, not Derek."* Says Cassie.
*"That's not how I feel right now!"* I say wryly.
After an eternity, the pain becomes bearable and I manage to stand up.
I look down at Derek's body, the body of the man who was my best friend for all his years. 
What he did is unforgivable but I can't help but feel sad that I lost a friend.
*"That's the past."* Cassie tells me. *"We need to focus on the future."*
I nod and leave Derek's body in the room before opening the door to the dressing room. 
I open all the Queen's drawers and explode with laughter after a few minutes. 
What did I think? That the Queen had jeans and tracksuits?
I come out of the dressing room, still completely naked. I consider taking Derek's clothes but the idea of wearing something with his smell on it disgusts me. I walk around the room and spot his bag. 
And in it, I find some of my things. I'm surprised and overjoyed at the same time. I find my daggers, my scarf and the complete outfit of what I wore to hunt in town with Elliot.
Perfect. This is exactly what I needed.
I quickly get dressed, not forgetting to put on my scarf. I look in the mirror and see only a cold determination.
Yes, this is who I am. A warrior.
I leave the room and head for the dungeons with one goal: to kill everyone I meet.
And I meet a lot of them. So much so that I don't count the number of bodies I leave behind. 
I finally reach the basement and find first the Royal family, chained up. I silently kill the guards and set them free.
"Thank you, Alice." The Queen says to me as she takes my bloody hands in hers. "I know why you let him mark you. Few people are as loyal to us as you are."
I hesitate to tell her that I did it mostly for Elliot but I just nod. 
The King also shakes my hand, his face closed, while Benjamin throws himself at my neck.
"Where is he?" He whispers close to my ear.
I swallowed. "Dead. I killed him."
He hugs me tighter. "I'm sorry. I'm sure we'll find a solution for the mark. I'll do everything I can, you have my word on that."
I hug him a little tighter too and release him.
I tell them to get to safety and Ben insists on coming with me. I protest at first, preferring to know he is safe with his family, but I understand that he needs to prove his worth.
We continue together, leaving no survivors. 
We finally arrive at the dungeon of my family and friends, just as a rogue is about to inject something into Alpha Mark's neck. 
I grab him from behind and break his neck. Alpha Mark looks up at me as I cut his bonds.
"Do you know where Elliot is?" He asks.
I shake my head sadly. "Not yet."
"Derek?" Asks my dad, who comes up behind me.
Tears well up in my eyes. "Dead."
They exchange a look.
"You killed your mate?" Alpha Mark asks softly.
Everyone is now standing around me, looking surprised. There are no words to define what a mate means to us. The idea of hurting him unintentionally is unbearable, so killing him is simply physically impossible.
"He's not my mate." I say as I wipe my daggers on the rogue's shirt, avoiding their gaze.
"Alice..." My mother begins.
"I'm going to get Elliot." I say as I leave quickly.
I try to catch his scent but all I can smell his sweat, blood and fear. 
I run past all the dungeons but don't hear any noise.
*"Where is he?"* Cassie worries.
*"I don't know. I don't know where he is, I can't feel him, I can't feel him anymore."* I say, tearing my hair out.
A thud is heard behind one of the doors, which I break down in the next second.
The room is cramped and plunged in the dark. I feel a violent pain in the back of my head and I feel myself falling.
I wake up with a horrible headache and realize that I am standing with my hands and ankles tied. I open my eyes slowly and discover that I am outside.
I shake my head to clear the blurred vision and discover a smiling Rose with a match in her hand, ready to light the pyre she has tied me to.
"Rose..." I begin.
"Don't bother, Alice. I found his body. I know it's you. Mates are for life and death. So we're going to join him." She says as she joins me.
I try to struggle and shift but I can't. She must have injected me with something while I was unconscious.
"Rose, don't do this!"
But she doesn't listen to me and strikes the match.
The fire surrounds us almost immediately and the heat is stifling. I pull on my silver ties, in vain.
The smoke surrounds me and I can't see anything. I start coughing and the heat burns my lungs.
This is it. I am going to die. 
I hear Rose screaming next to me, the smell of burning flesh filling my nostrils. 
As I cough my lungs out, I feel the pole I am tied to shake. Raging screams are heard and the pole shakes again as someone throws his weight on it. 
*"Elliot!"* Cassie screams. 
Fire licks my arm and I scream in pain, almost at the same time as Elliot. The pole shakes more and more and the wood finally gives way, knocking me off the stake. 
Elliot jumps up right behind me, sliding me down the pole to get out.
With my hands and ankles still tied, I cough painfully, my eyes filling with tears.
"Alice! Are you okay?"
I open my eyes to his handsome, soot-stained, blood-stained face. He looks at me with concern and a million feelings come over me.
Relief. Pain. Love. Grief. Joy. Pain.
Did I already say pain? 
I'm not sure what happens next. I hear voices, faces everywhere. Then the dark.