Mated To The Beastly Alpha
Chapter 64

"Hey there, Nicole."

"Garrett!" Nicole gasped.

Garrett rolled his eyes, "You should have left when I asked you to." He emanated dark energy.

Nicole's heart sank as she realized the truth. Garrett, the one she had trusted and considered a friend, was the mastermind behind the attacks and the one who had orchestrated the chaos. It was a revelation that sent shockwaves through her being, shattering the remaining fragments of trust she had held onto.

As she stood in the midst of the enchanted forest, the air thick with magic, she confronted Garrett, her voice trembling with anger and disbelief. "Garrett, how could you? All this time, you were the one pulling the strings?" Garrett's eyes glinted with a sinister gleam as he regarded Nicole, his voice laced with a twisted satisfaction. "Oh, Nicole, my dear, you underestimated me. I've always been ambitious and always yearned for power. It was only a matter of time before I took matters into my own hands."

Nicole's fists clenched at her sides, her gaze unwavering as she faced the betrayer before her. "But why, Garrett? Why would you betray your pack, your Alpha? What do you hope to gain from all this? You were friends!"

A sly smile crept across Garrett's face as he reveled in his newfound power. "Isn't it obvious? I wanted to be Alpha, to have the control and authority that I deserve. Liam was always blind to my potential, always favoring others over me. But no longer. With the chaos I've sown, I can rise to the top and take what is rightfully mine."

Nicole gasped. It wasn't making sense. She sensed that he was lying. In a quick movement, she leapt forward and smacked his face. Her claws dug into his face as she scratched him.

He screamed, his voice echoing different voices.

"Lies!" Nicole growled, "I may be stuck in this trap of a forest, Garrett, but remember your powers hold no water. I deserve the truth!"

"Stupid bitch," Garrett breathed, he was so different from the friend Nicole remembered.

Garrett's breath came in ragged gasps as he struggled to regain his composure. Blood trickled from a cut on his cheek, mirroring the anger that burned in his eyes. He fixed his gaze on Nicole, a bitter sneer twisting his lips.

"You see, Nicole," Garrett began, his voice laced with venomous resentment, "It all started years ago. I stumbled upon a powerful witch, a formidable force I couldn't resist. She held the very essence of magic within her and I craved that power. But I wasn't always like this. I only became bitter after I lost what was mine."

Nicole listened intently, her eyes narrowing as she tried to comprehend the depths of Garrett's betrayal. "You killed her, didn't you?" she asked, her voice barely concealing her disgust. "You killed the witch..."

A malicious grin played on Garrett's face as he confirmed her suspicions. "Yes, I took her life and absorbed her powers. I became the witch, a force to be reckoned with. It was then that I realized the potential I possessed, the ability to shape events and manipulate those around me."

Nicole's fists clenched at her sides, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief. "All for what? Why'd you do all this?"

Garrett laughed," Lilian. I did it for Lilian."

Nicole narrowed her eyes. She didn't quite understand what was happening or what the connection was. "And what about Lilian? Why drag her into this? She had nothing to do with your thirst for power."

Garrett's eyes flashed with a blend of bitterness and longing, "She had everything to do with it. Lilian... She was supposed to be mine. We were destined to be mates, bound by the threads of fate.

But Liam's parents intervened, severing our connection to ensure his path to becoming Alpha. My mate didn't even know that we were mates up until this point!"

A wave of realization washed over Nicole as she connected the dots. The jealousy and resentment she had sensed from Garrett, the way he was angry whenever she was with Liam.

She had thought that he had started developing an attraction to her, but that wasn't the case. Now it all fell into place. Garrett's anger stemmed from the stolen opportunity to be with the one he loved. Things were still not adding up. What did Asha have to do with it? And Garrett had a mate, Lola. What was she to make of what he was saying?

Garrett continued ranting, "I searched for the perfect opportunity. But I was never stronger. So I killed a witch. Yes I did it. Despicable or not, it was a means to an end," he sneered.

"I crave power, Nicole. The power that was denied to me by Liam's parents. They severed my connection with Lilian, the one person I thought I would spend eternity with. And when Liam found you, it was the final straw. I was consumed by anger and a burning desire to tear him down, to take what he has and make him suffer."

Nicole's hands clenched into fists, her voice laced with a mix of anger and sadness. "So, was this all because of jealousy? Because you couldn't have what Liam had? You wanted to ruin both of us?"

Garrett's laughter filled the air, a chilling sound that sent shivers down Nicole's spine. "Oh, it goes deeper than mere jealousy, Nicole. It's about revenge, about proving that I am the one who should have been Alpha.

I wanted to strip Liam of everything he held dear, to crush him beneath the weight of his failures. And you, my dear, you were a pawn in this game. I tried to make you see the truth, to convince you to leave the pack, but you were blinded by your attraction to him." "But why target Liam's mate?" Nicole demanded, her voice sharp with accusation. "Why involve me in your twisted game?"

Garrett's face contorted with anger and sadistic pleasure, "You were a weakness, Nicole. You stood in the way of my plans. I asked you to leave the pack, multiple times, but you never listened. So, I decided to ruin both of you, to strip away everything you hold dear." Nicole's heart sank as she realized the extent of Garrett's manipulations. The games he had played, the lies he had spun-everything had been carefully orchestrated to tear her apart from within.

"What does Asha have to do with all this?" She asked "And you had a mate. Lola loved you!"

Garrett sneered. "My oh my, Nicole. Lola was the reason why I was able to become Beta. I used her. There was nothing more to it. And Asha? Asha wanted Liam so badly. She really thought she could be Luna. I approached her multiple times, but she only took interest when you joined the pack!"

A mixture of anger and determination welled up inside Nicole. She refused to let Garrett's twisted intentions define her. "You may have thought you had me trapped, Garrett, but I won't let your actions control my fate. We will stop you and you will face the consequences of your betrayal."

Garrett's laughter filled the air, a chilling sound that reverberated through the enchanted forest. "Do you truly believe you can defeat me, Nicole? You're still a pawn in this game, no matter how powerful you think you are."

Nicole squared her shoulders, her eyes blazing with defiance. "Maybe I was a pawn, but not anymore. I am more than the sum of your manipulations."

Garrett's eyes narrowed his own powers manifesting in an attempt to overpower Nicole. "You underestimate me, Nicole. I've studied dark magic and harnessed its depths. You won't be able to stop me. I will not stop until I get what I want. You're just a little irritation."

Nicole growled, her wolf was already in a frenzy. It wanted to rip off Garrett's throat. Yet it sensed that many things Garrett said were lies. It warned Nicole that something else was going on.

It tried to tell her that something about Garrett was not normal. There was a bigger power at play. Nicole was too heartbroken to notice what her wolf was saying. She believed everything Garrett said, hook line and sinker.

"You're going to pay for your deceit," Nicole growled.

Garrett cackled, "No. I'm not. Since you refused to leave even after I told you to, and since you love being the centre of attraction, I'm going to leave the fate of both Liam, Dark Moon and yourself in your hands.

Do you think you can escape? I brought you in here on purpose. Like expected, you fell directly into my trap. We are in a sacrifice portal. You can only leave here after a sacrifice has been made. And my dear Nicole, you will make the sacrifice for both of us." Nicole's heart jolted. "What are you talking about?"

"Since I cannot harm you as the witch bane, I began to think of ways to get you to do what I want. None of us can leave this place without a sacrifice from one of us.

And I have the upper hand, my dear. I can still manipulate elements outside here. Like now, I'm guiding Liam to this place. We both know that the moment he steps foot into this place, he'll become the sacrifice for both of us."

A shriek made its way out of Nicole's mouth.

Garrett sighed, "Seeing that you love him so much, irritates me. You have another option. Become the sacrifice and save Liam. We all know that there's nothing you can do to stop Liam from entering here. So sacrifice yourself and save him. Or watch him die." Nicole's heart sank as Garrett revealed Liam's impending death. The weight of his words pressed upon her, threatening to crush her spirit.

She saw the images he projected, Liam fighting with all his might to protect her, to ensure her safety even at the cost of his own life. It tore at her soul, knowing that the man she loved was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Tears welled up in Nicole's eyes as she faced Garrett, her voice filled with anguish and determination. "No... There has to be another way. Liam can't die. I won't let that happen."

"Oh, you won't die if you become the Sacrifice. You'll only lose all memories of him and this place and be transported far away from here. Isn't that what you wanted?"

"I can't... I can't let Liam die," Nicole whispered, her voice choked with sorrow. "But leaving him forever... it feels like tearing out a part of my soul."

Garrett's lips curled into a sinister smile, relishing in Nicole's torment. "Ah, the sacrifices we make for love," he taunted.

Nicole's wolf fought against it. It screamed that Garrett was lying. It was a setup.

Garrett's face twisted into a malicious smile, further relishing Nicole's torment. "Time is ticking, Nicole. Or don't you want Liam to be spared? Choose wisely."

Nicole's heart shattered as she realized the choice she was being forced to make. Her love for Liam was undeniable, but she couldn't bear the thought of him sacrificing himself for her. She took a deep breath, her voice trembling but resolute. "I'll do it. I'll make the sacrifice." Garrett's laughter echoed through the forest, a chilling sound that fueled Nicole's anger. "I knew you would do the sensible thing. Hold my hands and close your eyes. Be fast; Liam approaches. We have to complete it before he arrives."

Nicole feigned compliance, her heart heavy with sorrow as she moved toward him. But as she moved closer to Garrett, determination burned within her. She couldn't let Liam die. She couldn't let Garrett win. If she vanished without an explanation, Garrett would win because Liam would go feral. And even if he didn't go feral, Garrett could still kill him.

Immediately she placed her hands on Garrett's cold palms, the air around them cackled with energy. Garrett laughed, a cruel smile played on his lips.

Nicole didn't like what she felt. A buzz of energy swept over her and she felt memories of the Dark Moon and Liam erasing.

Garrett whispered a couple of spells and her eyes shot open as she realized that it was a lie. The spells he said, were for her death.

With a sudden burst of agility, Nicole pushed herself away from Garrett, rupturing the spell. Garrett growled, his appearance flickering. Unsheathing a hidden silver blade, she lunged at him with lightning-fast precision. Before he could react, she slit his throat, the sound of his gurgling gasp filling the air. Blood poured from his wound as he stumbled backwards, his eyes wide with shock.

"You underestimated me, Garrett," Nicole hissed, her voice filled with a mix of anger and triumph. "I won't be manipulated by your wicked games any longer."

But she was stunned by what she saw. She had attacked Garrett, but it wasn't his body that fell dead to the ground. Fear crept through her body.

Although the spell had been ruptured, she felt her emotions and awareness draining away; she immediately knew that the longer she stayed in that place, the more she was likely to die.

So she immediately sprinted away. She didn't know where she was going, but it had to be as far away from the Dark Moon as possible.

What she didn't know was that with each step she took, her memories of Liam faded. She continued running until the only thing she remembered was when he was wicked and mean to her.