Alpha’s Virgin Wife by Baby Charlene
Chapter 260 One Winner, One Death
It had taken the king the whole day to calm himself regarding Shilah’s rash decision. Instead of staying angry at her, he decided to train with her so she could be close to perfect for the challenge. There was no way he was ready to lose his wife.
Later at night, Shilah had gotten to meet with Dyani who had come to get more of her belongings. The king had already briefed her of his decision of sending her away and Shilah couldn’t be more happy. Right from time, she knew the king was not perfect and couldn’t laugh his wives equally. So, Dyani deserved better.
“I am glad you’ve found love at last, Dyani. Someone like you truly deserves better”, Shilah remarked as they walked down the hall, heading outside.
Dyani blushed with a lowered gaze.
“I am equally glad, Shilah. Although, the King is a nice man and I have always respected him, but I am overjoyed for this privilege he has given. Griffin and I have been overjoyed”, she beamed.
She went ahead to tell Shilah of his expression when she had conveyed the King’s message to him. The young man had literally screamed and jumped around for joy. At last, it paid to be a good person.
Finally, she and Shilah got outside to the open field and met the busy servants parading about. But there was something else that caught their attention – a troop of men riding through the gates.
They stopped walking as they paid attention to them, and instantly, Shilah recognized the man in front. That was Lord Achlys – her father.
The men pulled their horses to a stop when they had gotten close enough and came down from it. Shilah kept staring keenly as Lord Achlys walked towards her, his men behind him. What was he doing there? “Shilah”, he called when he stood in front of her.
Shilah bowed her head in reverence. “Greetings”.
Lord Achlys heaved a sigh and looked around.
“Your mother – I heard you found her”, he paused and moved closer, his eyes beaming with so much curiousity. “Is she here?”
Shilah’s instincts had told her at first that he was there to see her mother. But how did the news travel to him so fast? She looked up at him. “You are correct. But I am not sure she would want to see you”.
Lord Achlys took her hand.
“Please, Shilah, I rode all the way here to speak to her. I really really want to see her. Make it happen”, he sounded pleading.
After a deep consideration, Shilah decided to tell her mother about it. And it took a lot of convincing to get her to see him.
Ayita was cold as she walked into the garden where Lord Achlys had been waiting for her. Shilah was behind her and stopped at the entrance of the garden, while Ayita proceeded. The moment Achlys’ eyes found her, they lightened up. It felt just like a dream to him, setting his eyes on the woman he never thought he’d see again. “Ayita”, his voice came out frail.
He budged forward to meet her and took her hand, then touched her cheek. “I cannot believe this is you”.
For a moment, Ayita was almost taken away by his sight. She had been locked up for over twenty years and never thought of seeing him again. His touch on her seemed so strange as it had been long she felt it.
Suddenly, she withdrew her hand from his and looked away.
“Why are you here?” She asked icily. Lord Achlys drew a long breath.
“Ayita, I was worried about you. I… I cannot even believe I am staring at you right now. Goodness! It feels just like a dream”, he took her hand again. “Back then, I always prayed for your safety. And seeing you here is my greatest joy”.
Ayita looked at him and scoffed, withdrawing her hand again.
“My safety?” she taunted. “What level of hypocrisy is this, Achlys? Or has your deep slumber made you forget how you denied me in front of everyone? How you left me and my child to die?”
Lord Achlys had seen that topic coming, but it was a topic he never wanted to face.
“I promise you, it is not what you think. I never wanted things to go the way they did, Ayita”, he entreated.
“Just save me the drama. You, Achlys, asked me to get rid of my child! And when I refused, you denied and abandoned me. You hated us that much!”
Achlys shot a stare at Shilah who was staring back at them. Guilt ate him up.
“I had no choice”, he shook his head. “If I had accepted you when you were caught, do you think we would have been here today? My people would have eliminated me, and your people would have done same. There was so much I would have lost, Ayita. So, I needed to stay back, to help you. I… I had asked Elphaba to help you escape. I… I swear, I did. And I had told her where to bring you – a place we could meet. But she told me you declined and didn’t want to meet with me. Believe me, Ayita, I still looked for you, but you made it so difficult finding you. What was I supposed to do?”
Ayita was silent and just looked away. Pain rested in her eyes. Lord Achlys took her both hands.
“I am so sorry, I never wanted to hurt you. You know how much I loved you, Ayita. All I am asking is your forgiveness. Please”, he cooed.
Ayita still didn’t look at him. She didn’t want to fall for the pity in his eyes. Finally, she pulled her hands from his and turned away.
“As long as I have my daughter with me, I am okay Achlys, and do not need you around. Over the years, I have learned to survive on my own. So please, leave”, and with that said, she walked out of the garden.
Lord Achlys wanted to go after her, but didn’t even know how to do it. He didn’t want the servants around watching the scene.
Shilah was still there, and at that point, she felt something similar to pity for him. But she knew she couldn’t influence her mother’s decision. And maybe she didn’t even want to. Quietly, she bowed and also left.
FEW DAYS LATER.
It was finally time for the fight between Shilah and the queen of witches. The two women had arrived and were getting prepped in their separate rooms. Their various supporters and people who had come to watch the fight were already outside and cheering the spirits.
The witches on Shilah’s side were praying she would defeat Kylie and become the new leader. Or perhaps, appoint someone worthy to become the new leaders. While the witches on Kylie’s side were praying Kylie would defeat Shilah and reclaim her position of the queen of all witches. Either way, just one person had to win. One person had to die.
Ayita had been worried sick, even as she stood before Shilah in the room where she got prepped for the fight. She had nearly caught a fever the previous night, feeling so scared that her daughter might not make it in the challenge. Of course, she had been praying for her daughter to emerge victorious, but as a mother, she still couldn’t help but feel so scared.
She looked at Shilah who stood fiercely as the servants worked on her. Goodness! She couldn’t believe her little girl had grown so much into a fearless warrior. If only she had the opportunity of watching her grow.
“Shilah”, she held her hand when the servants were done preparing her. “You know you can still pull away from this. I am sure if you don’t want to do this, the Alpha King would have his way around Kylie. Please, Shilah”.
Shilah sighed and hugged her. “You have nothing to worry about, mother, for I am certain the spirits are with me on this. If it is their will that Kylie’s rule comes to an end, they will make me defeat her. But if it is their will that she is fit to be the queen, then, let their will be done”. A tear slipped Ayita’s eye as she listened to her daughter. Her fears had increased.
“Wish me luck, mother”, Shilah added in a whisper. And disengaging from the hug, she walked out of the room, headed for the challenge ground.