True Alpha’s Chosen Mate - Chapter 232

“Rinnie.”

I looked up at Hugo, letting him hold my hand. He had this solemn look plastered on his face, holding me as if he didn’t want to let me go.

I smiled. “Hugh, do you trust me?” I asked softly.

“Don’t go,” he remarked, squeezing my hand lightly. “Don’t go.”

My eyes softened. Ever since Elizabeth proposed to make me a bait to distract Niall in the Hendrik Empire, Hugo never said a word to stop me. Although he and his siblings never let me have a day’s rest from challenging me, Hugo didn’t bring this up.

Only now, after a fortnight of preparation and I was about to set off to Hendrik did he come to say these words. It took him quite some time to speak about what was inside his heart.

“Should I not go?” I chuckled briefly, guiding his hand to my cheek. His hand was warm, as always, very unlike the freezing climate.

“Hugh.” I opened my eyes, locking with his pair of golden eyes. They were beautiful, as always, like the sun that would never get devoured by darkness.

“I won’t die,” I reassured with conviction. “Niall, he can’t kill me. If only he can, he would’ve done it when I was still Rinnie Everfell. So, I will be fine.”

“I know,” he breathed out. “I’m already prepared and I want to honor your decision even if it’s hard. But…” he trailed off as he let out a deep exhale.

“How can I send my wife to the enemy’s territory? I tried not to make a fuss, but now that you’re leaving, I don’t want to let you go.”

“Not holding me physically doesn’t mean you’re letting me go.” My smile remained, leaning my face against his palm. “I’ve said this many times, Hugh. My heart is always with you, always.”

I raised my other hand to cup his jaw, eyes penetrating his soul. “Between you and I, you can’t die before me.”

“Bambi.”

“Hugh.” My voice grew firm as I pressed my lips into a thin line. “I won’t let you die. If you do, I would as well. Literally. I will wait for you in Hendrik Empire, Hugh. Make sure to save me.”

“You don’t have to protect me.”

“You don’t have to, as well, Hugh, but you still do it, anyway.” I chortled before I sighed once again. “I know you are not weak to be protected, but I still do; I want to. Once this is all over, you and I and Toby will go on a vacation.”

His eyes flickered with gentleness and bitterness. “I hate your guts,” came out a low voice, brushing my cheek with his thumb. “I’ll come and fetch you in Hendrik.”

“Just like in Everfell, I’ll wait for you.”

Hugo smiled bitterly before he bent over, claiming my lips as if it was the last time he would. It was not like we didn’t have a choice, but this was the decision we made. And he and I would want to take responsibility for the decision we made as individuals.

Since my destination was the Hendrik Empire, the emperor, Deimos, the crown prince, Daniel, and Elizabeth, offered to assist me on my journey. I refused their offers. Niall wouldn’t hurt me, but there was no telling what he would do to those who would come with me—even if it was just halfway.

Niall was a thorough person. He never left empty-handed. Since becoming the emperor, he wouldn’t waste time and station more vampires in the neighboring country. He would know I was on the way months before I could enter the Hendrik for sure.

So‌ even when everyone offered to assist me on my journey, including the Tarsa tribe and the royal family, I preferred going there alone. Some of the mad wolf pack members were already around the area, anyway.

I could simply regroup with them to know the current state of affairs in Hendrik. That was the plan I had in mind as I fled to Hendrik. The lamb was used to going from one place to another. So it only took me two full weeks to reach my destination.

*

The sound of bells resonated, chorusing in the crackle of the fire. The dread that the night brought embraced the crowd lining up with ropes tied around their hands, connecting everyone to await their time to stand on the gallows.

A mass execution.

Some were mumbling their prayers, others could only stare at the people being hanged per group. The loud thuds of their lifeless bodies were simply being tossed to the carriage like sacks, and then a new batch would stand in the gallows to share the same fate.

“Ahh… Elizabeth is really keen,” I whispered, standing on top of the tower here in Hendrik Empire. near the plaza. “She must’ve known that the reports we were receiving weren’t all the details we needed or simply… what Niall wants to let the outside world know.”

Earlier today, I met with the small pack who were surveying the movements in Hendrik Empire. It was being led by Nathan, Hugo’s aide. With him were Mitch, Winter, and ten more members of the pack.

They told me they couldn’t come any close and they could only move discreetly. It was hard to infiltrate the empire since vampires could smell them even when they already bathed with the blood of the enemies they had taken down.

But that wasn’t the case. When I arrived and laid my eyes on the empire, I already noticed the barrier protecting it. It wasn’t a barrier to hinder any intruder from entering. It was a barrier that showed an illusion, different from what was truly going on.

It wouldn’t affect me. Thus, I could see this mass execution of humans. An empire as huge as Hendrik, there would be humans in it, obviously. But it seemed Niall wanted to exterminate not only werewolves but also all other races and let this world be dominated by vampires.

DING… DING… DING…

My eyes grew icy as I listened to the sound of the bell, watching a new batch of humans stand on the gallows. As they did, the executioner put a bag on their head and tightened the noose around their necks.

“Niall…” I whispered and closed my eyes, loosening my fist as I calmed down. When I opened my eyes, a glint flickered across it.

“How dare you…”

All the torches instantly died by the strong wind, putting a halt to the execution as I jumped down in the middle of the plaza.