The Alpha King's Nemesis-Chapter 253: A Truth Untold ()

"Zari? Zari? Are you okay?!" Allen asked, jumping to his feet as Zariah staggered into his quarters, nearly crumbling to the ground by the door.

Allen was by Zariah’s side the next moment, helping her up to her feet. He assisted Zariah over to a couch and helped her sit before quickly fetching a glass of water.

"Here, have a drink. Calm yourself." Allen catered, handing Zariah the glass.

Zariah took it, absentmindedly taking a sip after which she held it in her hands, staring out into space.

The sound of shattering glass was what drew Zariah back to reality.

"Zari!" Allen exclaimed, taking Zariah’s now injured hand where she had clenched the glass so tightly that it had been crushed.

"I... I’m fine, I’m fine." Zariah said, though the words did not quite reach her eyes.

"Zari... what exactly is going on? You look like you have seen a ghost." Allen observed in concern.

"A ghost?...He is worse than that...he is more terrifying..." Zariah muttered to herself.

"Who caused you such distress? I will kill him, give me a name." Allen said firmly.

Zariah hesitated for a moment before she spoke.

"Morden...his name is Morden." Zariah finally uttered through gritted teeth.

"Morden... the shifter claiming to be Askel’s brother." Allen muttered.

"I will get rid of him so you never have to see him again." Allen vowed,

Zariah grabbed hold of his hand before he could leave.

"It is not that simple. Morden...he has an intricate plot, and the target...is Crimson Moon." Zariah revealed.

At this point, Zariah felt it was right to reveal this danger to her subordinates. Only then could they properly overcome the crisis.

Zariah quickly relayed all that she had overheard to Allen, including the shards but Zariah avoided any hints of her prior knowledge of these events, she could not bear to reveal the fate she had witnessed.

It was a pain and a burden she would bear alone.

"He dares?!" Allen hissed, his eyes flashing with rage as his wolf rose to the surface.

"It is a good thing we are onto him, we do not know how deep his connection runs or how much power he wields in the shadows, but since he is at the center of it all, knowing his identity means we have a chance to stop him." Zariah said in a serious tone.

"But...I do not understand how those shards that can turn people forsaken and even place Askel in such a condition are related to the Crimson Moon."

"Queen Sancia claimed my father tried to retrieve it. Father detested the forsaken, why would he retrieve such a thing?" Zariah asked in confusion.

"Perhaps Alpha Zewin intended to destroy it?" Allen guessed.

Zariah shook her head slightly at that, her heart unsettled.

"If the shard was originally given by the Crimson Moon, why was it not destroyed back then? What manner of gift to entrust to another, is that? I cannot understand it, Allen... I have to know, what those shards are, what exactly they are capable of, where they come from." Zariah said anxiously.

"Darren and Eloneth!" Allen exclaimed.

"They sent word that they will arrive in a few days but the challenge is not far away, I will request their immediate return. They will have the answers." Allen assured Zariah.

"I want them back at dawn, they come to me first and meet no one else." Zariah instructed clearly.

"I understand." Allen accepted the order.

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Zariah stood by her balcony, watching the sun make its slow yet steady ascent and though the sight would usually provide a semblance of calm to her, this time, it simply did not suffice.

"Zari!" Allen called.

Zariah turned around and headed back into her quarters, shutting the balcony doors,

Despite her unease, she was delighted to find Darren standing beside Allen, a concerned expression on his face. Eloneth was there too but Zariah was more keen on the presence of her cousin.

"Zari." Darren said, crossing the room over to Zariah.

Darren pulled Zariah into a hug, holding her tightly and his warmth greatly comforted Zariah.

"I heard everything... about Askel... I am here now, you need only give the order and we will spare no effort to right the wrongs. Even if it requires my life." Darren vowed solemnly.

"You need not risk anything, Ren. I will not have that." Zariah replied firmly, though she returned Darren’s hug.

"You would do the same for me...no, you already did...risk your life to save my mate. Now, do not expect me to stand aside, I will do no such thing." Darren made his stance clear.

"I will do anything I can too. Darren and I can be together today only because of your selfless sacrifice... and it nearly costs your life. How can we watch you lose Askel?" Eloneth asked in dismay.

Zariah breathed a heavy sigh, pulling away, she passed Eloneth a look and nodded slowly.

"The result of your mission will be enough help. Tell me you have the answers we seek." Zariah asked hopefully.

Darren and Eloneth exchanged a look before they nodded.

"The shards, they seem to be pieces of a treasure known as ’the eye of chaos’. There is only one of it known to be in existence and the Fae archives record that this rare treasure belonged to the witches and was said to possess the ability to seal magic." Eloneth began.

"However, many centuries ago, in the time of the forsaken, it was stolen by an earth witch and was since recorded to be lost." She continued.

"The treasure made an appearance again after the war. This was as much as the history recorded." Eloneth finished.

"But there was another secret Fae record hidden away, Queen Heveneth reluctantly revealed it to us. It detailed the true events of the war against the forsaken and...The Fae secret records were kept with the intention of overthrowing the Crimson Moon someday, it provides...damning accounts." Darren spoke this time but he hesitated.

"Ren, out with it. There is no time to mince your words." Zariah ordered.

"History recorded that the Crimson Alpha banished the forsaken with the Crimson flame, but it is not entirely accurate."

"The Crimson flame was indeed the bane of the forsaken, the only thing that could truly kill them. But it was a blessing bestowed on just the Crimson Alpha, how could one man overcome an army of thousands?" Darren muttered.

"The battle was doomed from the start, the only way to defeat darkness was not to fight it with fire...but..." Darren trailed off again.

"With darkness itself. The Crimson Alpha... turned himself forsaken!" Zariah exclaimed in horror.