Reclaimed By The Alpha King
Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Chapter 97

Jefferson slipped quietly into the maid’s quarters well after midnight. The three women—Mohandia, Kaitlyn, and Liza—were already waiting.

As instructed earlier in the day, they had gathered in the same room, keeping the door slightly ajar. They knew he would come for them, and now that moment had arrived.

"Are you ready?" Jefferson whispered, glancing around nervously.

"Yes," Mohandia replied with a nod. Kaitlyn and Liza exchanged worried looks but said nothing as they rose from their seats.

Without another word, Jefferson led them through the darkened halls, his steps cautious and measured.

They moved like shadows, weaving through the silent building. Soon, they found themselves in an unfamiliar part of the estate, one that none of them had visited before.

"Where are we going?" Kaitlyn whispered, her voice shaky.

"Somewhere safe," Jefferson answered. "Just follow me."

When they reached the large building, Jefferson motioned for them to stop. "Stay here," he instructed, scanning the area to ensure they weren’t being followed. Once satisfied, he signaled for them to enter.

Inside, the air was cool and heavy. The room was dimly lit, and the stillness was unnerving. Kimberly lay motionless on a mattress at the center of the room, her pale face illuminated by the flickering candlelight.

Around her, the room had been prepared with care—white garments were neatly folded on a nearby table, and candles were arranged in a perfect circle.

Elena stepped forward, her expression resolute. "Everything is ready, just as you requested. Do whatever you need to do."

Mohandia nodded. "Thank you. Please put on the white garments. Purity is essential for this ritual."

Everyone quickly changed into the simple white clothing. When they were ready, Mohandia took her place beside Kimberly, sitting cross-legged.

She closed her eyes and began to chant in a low, melodic voice. The language was foreign, its meaning indecipherable, yet it carried a weight that made the air seem heavier.

"What is she saying?" Liza whispered to Kaitlyn, her voice trembling.

"I don’t know," Kaitlyn replied, clutching Liza’s hand. "But it feels... powerful."

The candles flickered wildly as a gust of wind swept through the room, yet the flames did not go out. The windows rattled, and the air became electric. Mohandia’s voice grew louder, more commanding.

"Let the light of Kinzazu descend! Let the spirits bring healing and restoration!" Mohandia chanted, her voice echoing in the room. "Kimberly, you are chosen. The light within you must shine! Reject the grip of death and rise!"

Her words sent shivers down everyone’s spine. The gusts of wind suddenly ceased, plunging the room into an eerie stillness. Mohandia opened her eyes and stood, her face calm but firm.

"What happens now?" Elena asked, her voice tight with anxiety.

"We wait," Mohandia replied simply. "The spirits will finish what we have started."

"Wait?" Elena’s voice rose. "How can we just leave her here like this? What if it didn’t work?"

"It’s not for us to decide," Mohandia said evenly. "If the spirits accept our offering, Kimberly will return to us. If not..." She paused, her expression darkening. "Then we will know."

"That’s ridiculous!" Elena snapped. "You can’t just leave her! If it failed, you need to fix it!"

"I am not a god, Elena," Mohandia said, her voice steady. "My father taught me this—he never stayed to witness the outcome of his prayers. He said faith doesn’t require observation. If Kimberly’s spirit is strong enough, she will rise."

Elena’s hands trembled with frustration, but she said nothing. Kaitlyn, tears streaming down her face, knelt beside Kimberly. "You’re a fighter," she whispered. "Please fight your way back to us."

Mohandia leaned close to Kimberly, her lips brushing the young woman’s ear. "You were not born for darkness," she murmured. "You are the light. Come back to us and fulfill your destiny."

With that, Mohandia straightened and walked toward the exit. The others hesitated, but one by one, they followed her, casting anxious glances back at Kimberly’s still form.

Outside the building, Elena pulled Mohandia aside. "Is there truly no other way? What if she doesn’t wake up?"

"This is the only way I know," Mohandia said softly. "But have faith, Elena. Kimberly’s spirit is strong. I believe she will return."

Elena sighed heavily, her eyes filled with worry. Kaitlyn and Liza stood nearby, their silence heavy with unspoken fears. None of them could bear the thought of losing Kimberly to an unexplained death.

Meanwhile, Alpha Derrick woke early, his mind restless. He sat on the edge of his bed, his thoughts swirling.

"What is happening?" he muttered. "Is Kimberly really going to die, just like that? And what did the sorcerer mean about waiting for the right time?"

He stood abruptly, pacing the room. "Why do I even care?" he growled. "I have more important matters to deal with!"

But despite his words, Derrick couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at him. Frustrated, he left his quarters and made his way toward the physician’s chambers. When he arrived, he found it empty.

"Where are they?" he demanded of a passing servant.

"They’ve gone to the open field, Alpha," the servant replied nervously.

Without wasting time, Derrick headed for the field. As he approached, he saw a group gathered in the distance. The sight made his chest tighten with dread.

In the field, Elena and the others stood in a circle, their faces pale and anxious. When they saw Derrick approaching, a hush fell over the group.

Alpha Derrick stood amidst the gathering, his sharp eyes scanning the faces before him.

There was tension in the air—a tension that everyone around him seemed to carry but refused to acknowledge outright.

Derrick couldn’t shake the unease that churned within him.

Elena, flanked by the physician, approached him, their movements purposeful yet hesitant. As the three stood face to face, Derrick’s patience wore thin.

"What’s going on here? Speak now," Derrick demanded, his voice sharp and commanding.

"Alpha," Elena began, her voice trembling slightly, "there’s something we need to share with you, but not here. Can we—"

"No," Derrick interrupted, his tone firm. "You’ll tell me everything right now. No more secrets. I’ve had enough of this nonsense."

Elena hesitated, exchanging a quick glance with the physician. Then, she squared her shoulders and took a deep breath.

"Kimberly is awake," Elena said finally, her voice steady but laced with relief.

Derrick’s eyes widened in shock. "What?"

Before Elena could respond, she raised her hand, pointing toward the approaching figure in the distance. Derrick followed her gaze, and his heart nearly stopped.

Kimberly was walking toward them, her steps steady, her face alight with a radiant smile.

"She’s... alive," Derrick whispered, his voice barely audible.

Kimberly’s friends, who had been seated nearby, noticed her too. With joyful cries, they bolted toward her, enveloping her in a tight embrace. Derrick remained rooted in place, watching the reunion with a mixture of awe and disbelief.

As Kimberly finally reached him, Derrick stepped forward. For a moment, he simply stared at her, as if trying to confirm she was real.

"Kimberly," he said softly, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "How are you? And when did you wake up?"

Kimberly opened her mouth to respond, but Elena quickly stepped in.

"She woke up just this morning, Alpha," Elena interjected smoothly. "Not long before you arrived."

Derrick narrowed his eyes at Elena but chose not to press further. Instead, he nodded.

"This calls for a celebration," Derrick announced, his voice regaining its usual authority. "Tonight, we’ll host a banquet in honor of Kimberly’s return."

The gathered crowd erupted in cheers. Kimberly, however, seemed overwhelmed. She glanced at Elena, her eyes silently pleading for an explanation.

"I’ll see you tonight," Derrick said, offering Kimberly a rare smile before turning on his heel and walking away.

As Derrick disappeared into the distance, Kimberly turned to Elena, her confusion evident.

"What’s going on? Why is he celebrating my return?" Kimberly asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and unease.

Elena gestured for Kimberly to follow her. "Come with me. We’ll explain everything in private."

Once inside Elena’s chambers, Kimberly found herself surrounded by her closest friends, the physician, and Elena.

The room buzzed with unspoken questions, but Kimberly broke the silence first.

"What happened to me?" she asked, her voice steady but tinged with urgency. "I woke up in a strange place, and I don’t remember how I got there."

Elena exchanged a glance with the physician before responding. "You were very sick, Kimberly. No one knew what was wrong with you. Your condition was... unusual, to say the least."

"Unusual how?" Kimberly pressed.

The physician stepped forward, his expression serious. "Your body temperature was abnormally high—dangerously so. It was as if your blood was boiling. We tried everything we could, but nothing worked. Honestly, we didn’t think you’d survive."

Kimberly’s eyes widened. "Then how did I...?"

Elena hesitated, then spoke carefully. "We called someone to help—a healer. They performed a ritual. It was... unconventional, but it worked."

Kimberly frowned. "A ritual? What kind of ritual?"

Before Elena could answer, Kimberly’s friends chimed in.

"You have no idea how scared we were," Kaitlyn said, her voice shaking. "We thought we’d lost you."

"But you came back," Liza added, smiling through tears. "You’re here, and that’s all that matters."

Kimberly’s brow furrowed. "I don’t remember any of this. The only thing I recall is... a voice."

Elena leaned forward, her interest piqued. "A voice? What did it say?"

Kimberly closed her eyes, trying to piece together the fragments of her memory. "It said, ’Awaken, you who are the source of all the light in the cosmos.’ And then there was a bright light... and I woke up."

Elena and the physician exchanged a meaningful look.

"That’s... significant," Elena murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

"What’s significant about it?" Kimberly demanded.

Elena smiled gently. "We’ll explain everything in time. For now, you should rest. Tonight is your night, Kimberly. Let’s focus on celebrating your return."

Kimberly wasn’t entirely satisfied with the answer, but she nodded.

**Flashback**

In the hazy recesses of Kimberly’s memory, a scene began to unfold.

"Tell my daughter that I am proud of her," a deep, resonant voice said. The speaker was a tall man with dark skin and an air of authority.

His eyes, kind but firm, bore into Kimberly’s as he spoke. "And remind her of what I told her before I was taken."