CHAPTER 11: 011

Draven's POV

Pain woke me before the sunlight did not the sharp kind that  kind had become familiar years ago.

This was the dull ache that settled beneath my ribs after every battle, a constant reminder that no matter how many enemies I defeated, the one living inside me never truly lost.

I opened my eyes to the familiar ceiling of infirmary someone had cleaned the blood from my armor.

I pushed myself upright as a dull pull shot through my side where the wound had been stitched outside the room, I could hear the castle waking as boots echoed across the corridors.

I reached for the bandages wrapped around my ribs someone had changed them recently.The memory returned before I could stop it as a pair of careful hands fingers brushing against my shoulder.My hand froze.

Warm? I frowned. I had never felt warm not in years ever since the curse claimed me, I couldn't feel anyone's touch but for one brief moment I had actually felt her.

I shut my eyes.

"Ridiculous." It was because the curse had exhausted itself after the battle.

Nothing more. It had nothing to do with Ashina. The thought only irritated me I hated questions I couldn't answer and  lately every answer seemed to lead back to the same person.

Ashina.

The wolfless girl my father insisted on bringing into the castle. I didn't understand her because she had every reason to hate this place Yet she still looks happy.

a quiet knock interrupted my thoughts.

"Come in." I ordered as the physician stepped inside carrying a tray of clean bandages and herbs.He gave me a tired look.

"I hope you are getting better my king “ he asked while placing the tray on the table.

". Don’t worry about me” I said as He had a look at the wound.

"The wound reopened during the night." He reached for the bandage around my ribs.

"I'll need to replace these." He met my eyes.

"But you won't......" Before I could answer, another knock sounded at the door as I saw him smiled to himself.

"I asked Lady Ashina to bring the fresh herbs." Immediately, I stood.

"No." The movement pulled at the stitches, but I ignored it.

"Send someone else." I ordered.

"Your Majesty "

"I said no." The physician didn't argue.

Instead, he looked at me with the sort of expression people reserved for stubborn children.

" I just to be left alone this morning " I paused as he cleaned the mirror wounds on my arm before I could respond the  door opened as ashina stepped inside, carrying a small wooden bowl filled with steaming herbs. She stopped the instant she saw me standing for a moment as neither of us spoke.

The room fell silent as she stood just beside the doorway, a wooden bowl cradled carefully in her hands. Wisps of steam curled into the air as her amber eyes met mine for only a second before dropping respectfully to the floor.

"I... the physician asked me to bring these." Of course he did. I shot the old man an irritated look. He busied himself arranging bottles on a nearby shelf as though he hadn't orchestrated this.

"I can leave them there," She said quietly, taking a cautious step toward the table.

"Do that and leave” My voice came out colder than I intended as she simply nodded.

"All right." She set the bowl down with surprising care, making sure none of the liquid spilled immediately the  physician glanced between us before clearing his throat.

"I've just remembered the herbs I need are in the drying room." I looked at him as he stood near the door.

"Excuse me my king” he added before I could stop him, he slipped out the door as the click of the latch echoed through the room. I closed my eyes briefly.

Coward

Now   it was just the two of us as neither of us spoke. She  folded her hands in front of her, clearly unsure whether she should stay or leave finally.

"The physician said your bandages need changing." Her voice broke the silence as she walked towards me.

"I'll manage." She hesitated.

"...The wound is on your back." She added

I already knew that.

She looked toward the clean bandages resting on the table.

"If you want me to leave, I will." She never assumed she was welcome always asked as though she expected the answer to be no.

I exhaled slowly.

"...Stay." The word surprised even me as her eyes widened slightly before she gave a small nod.

"I'll be careful. I promise “ She removed the torn bandage from around my ribs and turned my back toward her. The room remained quiet except for the crackling fire a moment later, I felt warm water against my skin.

An unfamiliar feeling settled over me as I could feel her touch and warmth of her hands.

Impossible? My entire body stiffened.

"Did I hurt you?" She paused.

"No." The answer came too quickly.

"You tensed." She asked again.

"I'm fine." She studied me for a brief moment, as though deciding whether to believe me as she simply nodded and continued wrapping the clean bandage around my ribs.

"You don't have to pretend with me." The words were spoken so quietly I almost missed them.

"I know what it's like." My brow furrowed.

"What?"

"To tell people you're fine when you're not." For the first time since she'd entered the room I turned to look at her but She was concentrating on tying the bandage neatly people either feared me or wanted something from me but she was doing neither. She finished tying the knot and stepped back.

"There." I stood up immediately, creating distance between us. It wasn't my imagination the curse had only retreated while she was close.

She picked up the empty bowl.

"I'll let you rest." She turned toward the door.

"...Ashina." She stopped but didn't turn around.

"...Thank you." The words felt foreign and Heavy as she looked over her shoulder, surprise flickering across her face.

"You don't have to thank me.I was only doing what anyone else would."  She smiled politely, then left the room as the  door closed softly behind her.

I remained where I was staring at the empty doorway.

why does the room suddenly fell cold when she left?

Goddamn it!

I hated myself for noticing.

I walked toward the window overlooking the training grounds. Soldiers were already back at work, sparring as though yesterday's battle had never happened.

Life moved on It always did as I rested both hands against the stone ledge.

"Why is she always in my mind” I muttered.

For years, I had never thought of any she wolf like the way I did for her.

She’s just a wolfless girl.

A familiar pressure crept beneath my ribs as my shoulders stiffened. I closed my eyes and forced myself to remember exactly what had happened.

"There has to be another explanation." I spoke the words aloud, hoping they would sound more convincing outside my head.

They didn't.

The curse had survived sacred She wolves, Generations of Luna’s had failed to satisfy it yet a wolfless girl who had spent half her life being told she wasn't enough could silence it with a touch?

Ridiculous I refused to accept it.

A knock interrupted my thoughts as an omega  entered, carrying a leather satchel. He paused when he noticed I was already dressed.

“ Your father orders your presence my king”

“ Alright, I will be there soon” I gestured him away while putting on my shirt.

If anyone found out Ashina held the key to controlling the curse she would stop being a guest. She would become an answer everyone wanted to own.

I stepped into the corridor, the whisper returned, curling through the corners of my mind and for the first time since the curse had claimed me.

I found myself wondering whether it had been watching her or whether She had somehow made it watch her.

I knocked on the doors of my father’s library as the servants bowed as I stepped in. My father sat on the chair as usual talking with Edward, his personal advisor.

Time had bent his back and stolen the strength from his body, but it had never dulled his eyes. They searched my face the moment he entered.

"You should be in bed," I said as He smiled faintly immediately Edward excused us.

"I was about to tell you the same thing." As his smile faded.

"But you insist on acting as though you're trying." I looked away. He had always known how to disarm me not with authority, but with honesty.

He stopped beside the fireplace for  a while, neither of us spoke. The silence between us was familiar.

Finally, he broke it.

"The battle was worse than they told me."

"I've survived more than that father”

"I know." Another pause.

"Your physician tells me the wound is deep." He added.

"He worries too much."

"That's his job." I urged on.

"And making me listen is yours?" A tired chuckle escaped him.

"You've always been stubborn Draven “

"I learned from the best." I added and that earned the smallest laugh I'd heard from him in weeks for  a moment We weren't kings but we were simply father and son.

Then his expression turned serious again.

"I saw Lady Ashina leaving the infirmary." My shoulders stiffened almost imperceptibly.

"She changed your bandages and I was told she assisted the physician. You let her  touch you?”

"It was practical." I defended.

"Was it?" His question wasn't accusing It was curious as I folded my arms.

"Why did you call for me” He studied me for a long moment before speaking.

"When was the last time someone touched you without the curse reacting?" I didn't answer.

"Draven." He asked.

"It doesn't matter Dad. I can’t even feel her touch” I lied.

"Then look me in the eye and tell me you didn't feel it." The room fell silent as I looked into his eyes.

I've lied to councils, to enemies,to myself but never to him.

"...The curse became quiet." The words were barely above a whisper as He nodded slowly, as if he'd already known.

"And?"

"It lasted only a moment." I protested.

"But it happened." I clenched my jaw.

"It means nothing."

"You've repeated that three times." Father yelled.

"I'll repeat it a fourth if I have to." He sighed.

"You sound like your mother." I blinked as a reluctant smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. The smile disappeared as quickly as it came.

"I don't know what you want me to say father.”

"I want you to stop carrying everything alone." He added.

"I have no choice."

"You always have a choice."

"No! Not for this one Father”My voice sharpened.

"I had no choice when the curse chose me,

had no choice when every Luna died trying to redeem the curse so don't tell me I have one now." My father didn't interrupt while He let the anger settle.

Then he spoke quietly.

"You're right." I frowned.

"I couldn't save you." His hands tightened around the arms of his wheelchair.

"I searched kingdoms. I emptied treasuries begged people I'd once called enemies, brought scholars, seers, priests... anyone who claimed they could help to banish the curse” His voice grew heavier.

"And every time I came home with nothing." A lump formed in my throat.

"I watched my son become lonelier every year. I hated myself because I couldn't stop it." I looked away as I tried to hide my emotions.

"I never blamed you.” Silence settled over us again.

"When she touched you,

what did you feel?" The answer escaped before I could stop it.

".Warmth.”  The word lingered in the air. I cursed myself for saying it as i closed my eyes briefly.

"When you were a little boy," he said softly, "you used to grab my hand whenever you were frightened." I frowned as I hated when he reminded me of those days.

"I don't remember."

"I know."

"The curse took many things from you." His eyes met mine again.

"But today You remembered something it couldn't take." I swallowed hard.

"It doesn't change anything." I added.

"I didn't say it did." He rolled his wheelchair toward the door before leaving, he stopped.

"I won't ask you to trust fate. I won't ask you to trust prophecies." He looked back at me.

"You've spent years teaching yourself not to feel." He rested his hand on the door.

"You don't have to learn everything in one day." With that, he left.

I sat down as my father's words refusing to leave my mind for the first time in years...

The silence felt heavier than the curse.

Every servant I passed lowered their head as they stepped aside.

They saw the Alpha King.

The monster,

The man the curse had hollowed out years ago.

None of them saw the crack that had appeared today.

Good It needed to stay that way.

I pushed open the doors to my chambers.

The heavy oak shut behind me with a dull thud, sealing the room in silence.

The fire in the hearth had nearly burned itself out.

My fingers drifted unconsciously to the fresh bandage around my ribs.

I frowned and pulled my hand away as though the thought itself offended me.

"Enough." I wasn't thinking about her.

I was thinking about the curse nothing more.

She wasn't special.

She couldn't be.

The elders had spent generations searching for answers but None of them had accomplished what had happened with a single accidental touch.

It made no sense.

was missing something?

"There has to be another explanation." The words sounded hollow in the empty chamber. I had repeated them so many times that even I no longer believed them.

A familiar pressure stirred beneath my ribs.

The curse was awake again as I closed my eyes.

"What do you want?" For years, it had answered with laughter with  whispers, promises of ruin but It answered with silence tonight.

"Interesting..."  My eyes snapped open as the room was empty. The voice continued inside my mind.

"You felt her." A chill ran through me.

"I've lost my mind." The curse laughed softly.

"No for  the first time you remembered what warmth feels like." My jaw clenched.

"It means nothing." I protested.

"Keep telling yourself that."

"I don't need a lecture from the thing that's killing me." The darkness shifted as

It almost sounded... pleased.

"Good Hate her, push her away and fear what she makes you feel." I frowned.

"What are you talking about?" Another laugh. Then the curse whispered the words that made the blood drain from my face.

"Whatever you do..." A long pause enough for my heartbeat to become deafening in my ears.

"...do not fall in love with her." My breathing stopped.

"Why?" The answer came immediately.

"...because if you do..." The darkness fell silent.

Then, with something dangerously close to satisfaction.

"...You will  die."