The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 195: A Rumour 2 ()

The atmosphere in the Plum Claws, the most popular restaurant in the human town, was tense and unusual, Zariah took note of that the moment she walked in.

And so, Zariah was not surprised when not long after they were seated, muffled conversations resumed around the room.

"Have you not heard of it? The dead rogues were all killed by the Alpha King, and the Royal Lycans are only trying to cover it up." A man conversed in hushed tones with the group seated around him.

His words incited gasps of horror as whispers and murmurs quickly spread around, from table to table.

Zariah frowned slightly, it was that rumour again. The same that had recently gained more and more popularity amongst the common folk and human population.

The swift spread of the rumour had already been suspicious but Zariah had still not expected it would be so far spread in such a short time.

It was all too intentional and coordinated to have been a coincidence.

"The rogues have remained in the unclaimed lands and have not attacked our borders. Slaughtering them unprovoked, is this not calling for trouble? And what becomes of us if the rogues are to attack?" Another man in the group spoke up.

"The Alpha King’s blood thirst is not new knowledge. Do we all not recall how he cruelly killed the Fae prince over a slight discord?" Yet another asked.

"With King Askel, the domain will be seeing many dark days. Brace yourselves, who knows how many of us can survive these times?" Another muttered in a melancholic tone.

Zariah gritted her teeth, her fingers slowly tapped the edge of her seat to restrain herself from lunging at any one of the rumour mongers and reminding them of all Askel had done for the Ethereal Domain.

Zariah mentally reminded herself to maintain her composure, she could not act otherwise when she was not in her own company alone

As rumors of Askel’s hidden beast side being the cause of the untraceable deaths of rogues spread like wildfire through the Royal Lycan lands, fear and unrest gripped the human population.

And fear was a powerful tool for those with much darker intentions, because fear would turn the gullible common folk into the very weapon that would be used to discredit and dishonor their leader.

Whispers in the shadows spoke of a darkness lurking within King Askel, a side that had remained hidden for centuries but now seemed to be awakening with a vengeance and growing more terrible with each day.

Zariah had not realized just how serious the situation was until now, the whispers were everywhere, from the marketplace right down to every shop, she had heard the rumor retold in a hundred different ways multiple times in this day alone.

And Zariah wondered just how much more terrible things were being said of Askel in how many more places?

"Zari? Are you alright?" Caedmon’s concerned tone drew Zariah out of her thoughts.

Zariah glanced up to Caedmon who sat across from her at the table. A quick surge of distaste was stirred within her but she swallowed it down and instead allowed a small smile.

"I am fine." Zariah assured Caedmon, placing her hand flat against the arm rest to put an end to her agitated tapping.

"Shall we leave? If you are not comfortable here, we could..." Caedmon began to offer but Zariah shook her head quickly.

"I am fine. You said you wanted to share a day of normalcy with me, away from duties and titles...we are already out here, it would be right to make the best of it." Zariah said to Caedmon.

"But...with all they are saying, will it truly be okay?" Caedmon asked.

Zariah resisted the urge to hurl at Caedmon’s pretentious concern. How could Caedmon who cared for nothing else but himself be bothered about the damaging rumors to Askel’s reputation?

It was impossible that he cared, the only reason he would be concerned about this situation was if Askel was truly the mastermind, the King Caedmon served and Zariah was growing more and more doubtful of that by the day.

An underlying intent for Zariah had been to test and confirm the ties Askel and Caedmon had, putting herself on the line to know for sure and so far, the rivalry that had been forged between both seemed genuine.

It was becoming harder and harder for Zariah to see Askel as a suspect despite the fact that he did know Caedmon.

But this only left Zariah even more confused as to what was the truth and who exactly was it behind Caedmon?

It was in times like this Zariah longed for the company of her wolf, in times like this where she could not dare share her burdens with anyone else for fear of endangering them,

In times like this, her wolf would have been the one confidant that she could share everything with, the one existence in the world who could carry the burden of knowing the cruel future along with Zariah.

But even that one grace, Zariah had not been given. Zariah’s wolf was lost too... gone.

"It is fine, Caedmon. We should eat, I am starving." Zariah changed the topic of conversation, forcing a smile to her lips.

Caedmon returned the smile and as he glanced down at the menu left on the table to make an order, Zariah’s smile dropped.

There was a dark look in her eyes as she stared at him, her hands tightly clutching the arm rest of her chair.

’He must have stared at me just like this, thinking me a fool as I sat across from him, simply giddy to be in his presence and have his company while in his own heart was a plot for my ruin and that of my family...’

’He must have stared at me just like this...a predator to the unsuspecting prey.’ Zariah thought menacingly.

"What do you say we have roast lamb and a sauce on the side with mashed potatoes?" Caedmon asked, glancing up at Zariah.

"Sounds good." Zariah approved, smiling brightly.