Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 777

Chapter 122 : The Demise

I shook my head and cradled Helen's tortured body in my lap. “Why? It can't be true! Please, tell meit isn't true... I can't lose you...not when I just lost Soren. I can't lose you again!”

Helen smiled wryly. “Listen to me, before my energy fades completely. Years ago, I thought I didsomething that was righteous and important. I did everything I could to stop an unwanted future.Yet... everything in my prophecy came true..."

“It's okay, it's all in the past now! Don't waste your energy," I whispered.

“Please... for many years, I wondered what would have been different if I'd never acted. But there'sno going back in life."

I sniffled and leaned down, kissing her forehead. I still couldn't believe she'd sacrificed herself with apowerful potion like that! She'd just come back into my life and now she was leaving.

"Ever since then, I've been waiting for this day, Mila. To be able to meet you, and bring all this to anend. Those were the only purposes I had left in life and I accomplished both in one day. It is a goodday."

“You're dying... How is that good?"

“Because I've lived my life and accomplished my goals. I started this, and now I've ended it. I'vefulfilled my purpose and now I am going to be reunited with my beloved sister. Don't weep for me,Mila, be happy for me."

Whatever words I wanted to say died on my lips. I kept shaking my head over and over again. Thiscouldn't be happening!

Helen's lips strained to smile. “My dear, sweet Mila. You are strong and you have to be strong foryour child.”

“I don't know how," I whispered. “Aunt Helen, you can't leave me alone."

“You'll figure it out, Mila, on your own. I promise.” Helen winced slightly and closed her eyes. “Now,there is just one more thing I need to do.

In a whisper, Helen chanted something so low I couldn't hear it.

Suddenly, my fingers tingled and I felt as if a refreshing gust swept through my body, lifting a thinlayer of fog from my brain and invisible weights off my limbs. Whatever had been blocking the restof my power was gone. All my witch ability and strength coursed through me at full force.

I gasped, feeling the last traces of the Blackfire poison leaving my body.

Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes and I leaned down, hugging Helen. My face was rightagainst hers.

Helen turned toward me and kissed my cheek. “Goodbye, my dear niece... may the Goddess lookafter you.” She spoke in a content, peaceful tone.

I felt her life leave her in a final gasp. The sheath of protection, which I'd tossed on the ground,seemed to also exhaust all its power and vanished into ashes at the same time.

"No!" I cried, sobbing as more tears poured from my eyes. I looked up at the roof of the cave,imagining the night sky and kneeling on my knees.

"Goddess above, please hear my prayer. Your light shall guide us and your mercy shall be praised...Amina hasteth corro sinat, amina hasteth corro sinat.”

Again and again, I chanted, “Amina hasteth corro sinat, amina hasteth corro sinat...”

I felt my newly unblocked energy draining from me, but I didn't care. I just needed to do something,anything, in order to hold on to a faint hint of hope.

“Amina hasteth corro sinat, amina hasteth corro sinat..."

What was the point of having magic if I couldn't use it to save the ones I loved?

Ignoring Helen's warnings, I poured my magical energy into Helen and Soren and the cave aroundme.

I knew it was useless, but I continued, and it was like all my energy was sucked into the endlessbowels of the earth. My baby was strong and it would understand. My mother's instinct told me itwould be fine.

My body finally became exhausted. The whole world spun around me in a blur, and I started to losemy senses. I thought it was better to just pass out this way rather than stay awake and face the cruelagony of reality.

“Amina hasteth corro sinat, amina hasteth corro sinat..."

As the spell drained my strength, the world started to fade away from me. Time started to blur. Ididn't know how long it had been. I wasn't even sure whether I was awake or unconscious.

And I didn't care.

"Amina hasteth corro sinat, amina hasteth corro sinat..." was all I could remember saying whenever Iregained consciousness.

Until I felt the tiniest, smallest tug deep inside my womb.

Was it the baby?

I felt the tug again and put a hand over my stomach. It must have been the baby.

“That's right, Mila, you've got to eat... The baby needs food."

My voice was hoarse and raw. I licked my dry lips. They cracked and I tasted coppery blood. Ineeded water...

It was already bright outside. I'd spent an entire night in the cave already.

I glanced down at Helen's body and stopped chanting. It wasn't doing anything, anyway.

Grrrrrggg.

..and I also need food. I hadn't realized how starving I was.

Then I felt another gentle tug. The little one finally started to protest against my reckless actions anddemanded its mother's proper attention.

I couldn't think about Helen and Soren right now. I needed to focus on what was most important,and right now, that was taking care of my baby.

Reaching for the nearest cave wall, I pulled myself into a standing position. My legs shook a little.

I looped an arm around my stomach.

“You're alright, little one," I said. Talking to the baby helped me keep my focus. “I won't die yet. Yourfather might be gone but I'm not going to let anything happen to you... I'd never survive losing youtoo."

Outside the cave, it was quiet. It appeared the Alpha King had given up on trying to replace us. Icouldn't hear any more explosions and the fires were gone or had been put out. After a quick peek,I decided that there was nothing around but the forest.

Ducking into the bushes, I stayed hidden as I collected some berries. I stuffed them into my mouth,licking the juice off my fingers as I kept searching for water.

Luckily, there was a stream nearby. Dropping on my knees, I scooped water into my palms andsucked it down. I refilled my palms and drank again and again, washing down the remaining berriesand satiating my thirst.

After about half an hour, my legs stopped trembling and I felt life and energy return to my body. Icouldn't feel any more tugs, so the little life inside me must be satisfied now that it had gotten somenutrition.

Above me, golden sunshine seeped through layers of leaves and landed on the green grass, makingthe forest look colorful and vibrant. It brought me a brief moment of peacefulness. But soon, Istarted to wonder what I was supposed to do next.

Payne and Thomas were on their way to Pomeni and there was no way for me to get in touch withthem. Even if I could, I should probably stay away for their own sake.

The king would surely keep his blood oath and leave Pomeni pack alone. As for me....it would bebest for him to believe that I was dead and burned to ashes.

In fact, Helen and Soren were...I shook my head and stopped my own thoughts before I wasoverwhelmed by anguish again.

I sighed and stood up, letting my leg carry me back to the cave.

Helen and Soren were lying still on the ground. I swallowed into my tight throat and forced back thetears, but I also knew I couldn't just leave the two of them lying there forever.

Soren was perfectly still and hadn't moved at all. He didn't look dead. The color hadn't left hischeeks. He could have been sleeping.

I looked at his face and moved some of his hair out of the way. I half expected to see him wince theway he did when I tickled him.

He remained motionless and tears stung my eyes. How could I let him go?

I forced my head to turn to Helen.

Bending down, I scooped Helen's fragile, broken body into my arms. She was so light, like her bonesand muscles had already blown away in the wind. Carrying her was easy.

I took her out of the cave and looked for the most peaceful, beautiful place I could replace to lay her torest.

On the other side of the cave was a small meadow. The grass was lush and green and there werelittle white and purple wildflowers in bloom.

A soft breeze rippled through the grass and rustled leaves in the trees that surrounded the meadow.The sun shone down warmly, making the meadow glow with an ethereal halo.

It was a perfect place.

I laid Helen down at the base of a large willow tree. Its branches swayed in the breeze, reaching outlike they were ready to carry Helen home.

It took a while, but I dug a hole in the soft ground and buried Helen under the willow.

"Aunt Helen, I'm so sorry that I can't bring you back to Miltern, your home. I hope you like thismeadow." I said, sitting on my knees beside the fresh grave, laying some flowers on the upturneddirt.

I stayed by the side of her grave all afternoon until the warmth of the day faded and my stomachtugged again. Sighing, I pressed my hand to my belly and placed my other hand on Helen's grave.“I've got to go. I need to feed the baby. Also, Soren is still waiting for me..."

I found some stones to mark the place. If I ever got the chance to come back here, I'd know whereto pay my respects.

Before it got too dark, I went out into the forest again and found some edible mushrooms andsome more berries. When passing the stream, I also got some more water and headed back to thecave for the night.

However, I froze and my heart leaped into my throat as soon as I saw the entrance of the cave.

To keep Soren and my hideout safe, I'd grown roots over the cave. Down the center of myprotective wall, there was a giant split in the roots. Someone had gotten in!

Quietly, I slinked toward the cave.

I heard snarling and heavy breathing coming from inside the cave. No longer caring what dangermight be ahead of me, I shifted and charged into the cave without thinking, and came face to facewith a giant bear!

The bear sniffed at Soren’s body, its big, wet, black nose poking at his arms and his clothes.Immediately, my wolf responded aggressively. How dare another animal approach our mate?"Awoooo!" my wolf howled.

The bear growled and whipped around, staring me right in the eyes.

I snarled and pawed the ground, showing my sharp teeth.

The bear stared back for several moments. If he even made one move close to Soren, I would shredhim into pieces!

Suddenly, the bear whimpered and lumbered out of the cave, running deeper into the forest.

I shifted back. My knees trembled and my heart hammered as I went to check on my mate.

Heart still racing, I ran to Soren. I dropped to my knees and patted him down to make sure the bearhadn't damaged him. Of course, I knew he had passed... in reality, whatever the bear had donewouldn't make a difference. But I just couldn't allow anything to happen to him.

Peeling back the tatters of Soren's ripped shirt, I was surprised to see the dried blood around hiswounds but the crossbow bolt holes were completely healed.

Then I noticed some new scratches on his arms from the bear and the cuts were bleeding!

Tears escaped the corners of my eyes and I gasped. I ran to what supplies I had and found somegauze. Running back to Soren, I started to clean his wounds.

Sniffling, I wiped my tears with the back of my hand.

“I'm sorry... this is all my fault,” I whimpered. “Had I not gone to the palace... had I not been sostubborn... none of this would have happened. And now, I can't even keep your body safe..."

Tears streamed down my cheeks and clung to my chin. They dripped onto Soren's face. I folded thegauze over and wiped my tears off of him too.

"Wait..." I froze and looked at Soren's arms again.

He was bleeding blood! Fresh blood! His body felt like it was getting warmer, not colder!

How was that possible? How was any of this possible?

My stomach tugged again and a swell of hope rose in me like the rising tide. I tried to shove it backdown, too afraid to hope.

Was this really happening? Was I imagining things? Had I lost my mind after losing Soren andHelen? Maybe I was just going insane...

My heart raced and I started breathing faster, hyperventilating.

"Goddess, Great Goddess, please help us...please let him return to us!"

My hand trembled as I brought it over his nose and mouth, feeling for his breath...