The Alpha's Blind Fate
Chapter 278: Who Am I To You?

Chapter 278: Who Am I To You?

ZINA

He called her name like he was more familiar with her than she would ever be with herself. The confidence in his words, how sure of himself he sounded...all of that stunned her and took away her ability to think.

And yet, his voice remained that of a stranger despite how familiar he seemed to be to her. Almost as if he was someone who could change his voice at will should he choose to. That was the only logical conclusion because despite how strange his voice was, that familiarity was still between them.

He claimed he would guide her out of darkness... all that assertion did was make Zina wonder what sort of darkness she was unaware of that this man seemed to be familiar with.

"And who are you?" She asked when the spell his words held over her waned a little bit. "You speak as though you’re familiar with me."

"I do know you, and it’s certainly a shame that the sentiment isn’t mutual." He answered. "However we can change that, we can start to know each other now."

Zina squinted hard at the masked man as though it would make his ominous features any more apparent to her. His words didn’t hold any other worldly passion, but there was an underlying yearning in them that seared at her soul all the same.

She was confused as to how she was feeling. It felt as though there was a certain hole in her heart that only this man could cure.

Abandoning her chaotic thoughts, Zina stared straight into his eyes that were obscured from the shadows of a towering rock. Because she believed she had at least figured his identity out to a good extent, she spoke her next words with all the confidence that even the dead could not muster.

"This darkness you speak of... is it responsible for the reason why you pulled out the tongue of an innocent man?"

The cold in the air seemed to dissolve into freezing points as she and the man became lost in their stares. His stance never changed for once, nor did his body betray that he might know what Zina spoke of.

But he confirmed it nonetheless as he said with a slight scoff, "He was no innocent man."

Zina’s body shook uncontrollably at the realization that she had hit gold with her wild guess. She clenched her fists as she tried to get her reaction under control.

So he was the man. The very one Daemon sought after. The very one who had asked the man she was madly in love with to exchange her with Ten Million Grams of Gold.

That man, the one whose presence in their lives had seemed quite enigmatic and mysterious, was currently standing before her after fighting for her.

His motive had become even more complex and confusing. Zina didn’t know what to make of him. On one hand, one might be audacious enough to say that it seemed the man cared about her. On the other hand, Zina felt rage whenever she thought of what the man’s actions did to Daemon.

The sleepless nights she was sure Daemon had when he tried to crack down his identity, and the strife it had brought between Daemon and Garuk of which the latter was still imprisoned, a consequence of the man that stood before her... all of it was the reason why Zina was so angry at the masked man.

Now realizing just how enigmatic and powerful the mysterious man was, she should be scared. But Zina abandoned her fears as she took a step closer to him.

"Let’s say the man you pulled out his tongue was no innocent man. What about me? You were audacious enough to assert that my life was worth Ten Million Grams of Gold. It’s a big sum indeed, but I would like to know how I’ve offended you to warrant my life to be confined to a price."

"Your life is priceless," the man said immediately, almost as if he was offended by Zina’s accusation. At that moment, it seemed as though his act slipped for his voice became familiar, but that familiarity soon faded.

"Is it now?" Zina said sarcastically, trying hard to resist the spell of genuineness that was inlaid in his words.

"Of course." The man spoke in a more solemn voice, "all I want is to get you out of here. No matter how high the price, I am willing to pay it. Even if the price is my life."

Zina sucked in a deep, shocking breath, and for some reason, tears misted over in her eyes.

"I do not know why you’re convinced I want to escape here, but believe me when I say that I am happy just where I am." She said, hoping to convey to this strange man that somehow held the notion that she was in a bad place that that wasn’t the case for her.

The man shook his head, his rigid posture unbelieving. "Do not fear the Alpha King. No matter how strong he is, I am still capable enough to rescue you from his hands."

He thought Daemon was threatening her? Or worse, he thought that Zina was unable to escape Daemon which was why she was still stuck to him.

But on what grounds did this strange man have to think that? What position did he have in her life to show such care.

In a stronger voice devoid of any emotion, Zina spoke while she held his eyes. "I do not know who you’re or what your mission is... but I must ask you to stop now. There are a lot of things I can stand for, but another man hurting Daemon NorthSteed isn’t one of them."

For the first time, the man before her seemed to show some emotion...anger. It reverberated off him in waves, and Zina felt it deep in her bones.

"You mean the same man that manipulated the rogues to kidnap you and almost caused your death."

Zina staggered back for not even that knowledge was a public one. So how was it that he knew of it?

But he wasn’t done for he gritted further in a voice filled with his barely contained rage, "and I assume you mean the same man that you used your body to shield from an attack that was targeted at him."

In a haze, Zina remembered that afternoon eclipse when the strange deformed had attempted to attack Daemon and then bolted off. It was all instinct to her when she had manipulated their bodies to take the blow, but the truth was that from the first time she had seen that afternoon play out in her visions, her heart hurt at the mere thought that a single harm would befall Daemon.

No matter how strong and infinitely glorious Daemon appeared to be, Zina simply couldn’t stand it. No matter who the attacker would be, she would never stand for it.

In a softer voice, he continued as if to make his point. "You’ve suffered your whole life, all I wish for now is to rescue you. From both the harm that comes today, and to the harm that will come for you tomorrow, I wish to shield you from all of them."

Zina stood, quite at a loss. After a moment, she shook her head as she gained clarity in her chaotic thoughts. She smiled at him. "Already, I’ve someone who has assumed that role." She said, already assuming that the man would know who she spoke of.

The masked man seemed to be in disagreement though, and something about his lack of trust in Daemon annoyed her and put her at a loss at the same time.

"He might be at your side now, but when the time comes for him to make a choice, he will never choose you."

What?

Who did this stranger think he was to say such offensive words? Zina was aghast at the horrible words that were delivered with such confidence that almost shattered hers. She glared at the man as if that would make him disappear.

"Your words are both honey and silver, Stranger," Zina gritted, "you’re certainly not in love with me even though it seems as though you’re intentionally putting yourself out to look like an infatuated lover. I believe we could use some honesty so tell me, who am I to you?"