The Alpha's Blind Fate
Chapter 96: To The Capital Square

Chapter 96: To The Capital Square

MOON

Bella stepped into the moon shrine looking ten times tired and gaunt than when Zina had last seen her. The woman, with her striking very light brown hair, still managed to carry an air of elegance with her as she walked to Zina.

Again, Bella NorthSteed looked exactly as Zina imagined her to be. The perfect amount of haughtiness mixed with a smugness that came with being born into privilege. But there was now a tiredness to her, almost like she hadn’t had a good sleep for some nights.

"Luna Queen." Zina greeted, finding it comical that Sybril had just been discussing the woman’s title as if it was a fair game for all.

"Theta Zina WolfKnight." Bella greeted back with her chin slightly tipped up as she traversed the shallow stream of the moon shrine to approach Zina. "It would seem as though the Arctic Castle is way too stifling for you. If not, for what reason would you have to be staying here instead."

Zina smiled a noncommittal smile. "I wish to connect to the moon goddess in preparation for the full moon that is coming hence why I rest here. I hope I do not offend you."

Bella scoffed lightly, eyes shining with something Zina couldn’t quite describe. Perhaps it was despondency, but that seemed too heavy a word to use in relation to the woman standing before her.

"Do I really appear that stupid?" Bella said, gazing upwards at the glass roof of the shrine that exposed the dark sky giving way to the light of morning.

Zina simply stared at the woman, not knowing how to respond.

"May I ask that Elder Sybril excuse us? I have something important to discuss with the Theta."

The Elder glanced at Zina and then left the shrine without another word. Now, it was just Zina and Bella alone in the shrine. They were both facing each other, and Zina observed that Bella appeared to not look fragile in the least like most powerful ladies were.

"You and I," Bella started, breaking the silence between them, "we are both women who have dutifully performed their role for six years. I, as Eldric’s wife. And you as the Theta of the NorthSteed Pack. Both of us made certain sacrifices to get to the position that we currently hold."

"What are you getting at?" Zina asked because she could see it in the way the other woman’s eyes gleamed that she bore a clear mission in mind before seeking her out.

The woman eyed her with barely sated longing. "I hear you are bonded to Daemon NorthSteed, is that true?"

Zina shifted uncomfortably, although she tried not to show the extent of her discomfort. Bella was someone that had not bothered to disguise her hatred for her over her responsibility for Daemon’s banishment, so understandably, the question stripped her bare.

"We are bonded." She finally answered, staring Bella straight in the eye.

"I know Daemon intends to come back and claim his right. That is the kind of man he is so I expect that much."

Zina tilted her head to the side in confusion. "Why are you telling me this?"

Bella braced herself as if she was about to spew something equally as horrible as it is unheard of. "You and I know that you’ve no right to stand by his side. Continue being Theta while I become his Luna Queen."

Zina had encountered a lot of tongue tying situations, but it was rare when she encountered a situation that turned her brain into a puddle of mess.

"You must be joking, right?" Zina asked, believing her ears heard wrong.

But the steel in Bella’s eyes told her that the woman was hardly joking. "In return, I shall inform Daemon NorthSteed of Eldric’s secret plans and his whereabouts."

Zina didn’t bother telling her that Daemon already possessed said information. "That man is your husband." She managed to gasp, unable to process the fact that such fickleness could exist with close ties.

Bella smiled cynically, almost bordering on pain. "Do not mean to tell me that you think that beast my husband. You’re not exactly a stranger to his cruelty, neither am I. Besides, Eldric NorthSteed simply is a man who stole Daemon’s rightful place. And Daemon NorthSteed happens to be my rightful husband."

Zina blinked back her shock, pacing about the shrine. Her slip dipped into the small stream, becoming heavy against her. After collecting her thoughts, she faced the woman.

"If what you seek is to become Daemon’s wife, then there really is no need to see me. You’ve to meet him yourself in that case, I am afraid I can’t help your cause."

"Your bond is a cursed one," Bella spoke immediately, "you would be better off if you ask the Temple Eldermen to take it away from you."

Zina smiled shrewdly. Not wanting Daemon and subjecting herself to the highest form of pain were two entirely different things.

"I am afraid I will not see you out as I am busy. Be well, Luna Queen."

Zina whirled around, walking down the hall towards her sleeping abode when Bella’s voice interrupted her strides.

"When is he coming back?" She asked.

Even though Zina didn’t have to answer her, she felt compelled to leave her last words with Bella NorthSteed.

"The banished prince might make an appearance today." She said, leaving for her room without hearing Bella’s response if any.

No sooner was Zina in the confines of her warm room did her eyes widen as a vivid vision flashed before her. The world around her came to still as if she was trapped in time and space. Zina almost staggered under the weight of the power that held her captive as she found herself in the flower garden once again.

A sun. And then a moon.

That was the vision Zina saw and it filled her with anticipation for she knew without a doubt that everything would end that day. And the role she had to play had become even clearer to her.

Zina quickly performed her morning ablutions, putting on a vibrant green ceremonial dress that the Theta only wore when she had to summon a powerful vision for her Alpha or King as the case may be. It was studded with blood moonstones that were a vibrant red shaped like the moon.

She had her hair tied into a single bun that drew her face and made her features more prominent. She found that the new strange colour of her eyes fitted her dress wonderfully, which was a shame for she covered her eyes with a red blindfold that matched the moonstones on her dress.

Walking out of her room towards the shrine itself, Zina hesitated, but on second thought picked up her staff. Ablanch rejoined her as she walked out of the shrine. Zina could feel his surprise over the fact that she had a blindfold on. How was she to explain to the warrior that she was currently in her rightful element.

"Where are we going, Theta?" Ablanch asked as the man led her to her way.

"To the Capital Square."

"The Capital Square?" Ablanch repeated, genuinely surprised.

Zina couldn’t fault the man, tha Capital Square was the centre of the Arctic North used for rare ceremonies such as crowning ceremonies. There, the biggest giant statues of the gods stood tall, and without the authority of the Alpha King, the place couldn’t be used or entered even though it was just a big empty space in reality.

"Indeed," Zina responded grimly as the man guided her to a carriage. "And once we get there, you must ring the udong bell."

There was a rightful hesitation on Ablanch’s side at the heaviness of Zina’s request, but finally the man answered determinedly.

"As you command, Theta!"

Udong Bell: A heavy bell struck to summon all the people for an important event.