My Alpha’s Betrayal: Burning In The Flames Of His Vengeance

69. His Strange Reaction YILEYNA Theon moved away smoothly, yet | didn’t miss how swiftly he had backed away from me. | almost smiled bitterly.

That was all | was to him, something to play with when night falls and darkness blankets the city... something to hide and use when he pleased. A plaything to enjoy and toss aside when he was done so the world never knew.

That is why | was done with him.

All he did was cand go as he pleased, but | couldn't deal with it anymore. How many chances did one person deserve? My gaze snapped to the ice on the ground, it glittered under the moonlight that seeped through one of the tiny gaps in the walls. It was obvious it was spreading from beneath my feet Goddess... How was | going to explain this? | turned my attention to the king, who now stepped into the cells, his hands clasped behind his back. Without his crown, he had lost his regal look, but he now looked even more menacing and dangerous. His glowing eyes were onas if he was trying to look into my soul.

| held his gaze as he approached, but what unnervedmost was the look in them. An emotion that seemed familiar...

| could smell something mixed in with his usual scent when he stopped a foot away, and then it suddenly dawned uponwhat it was.

Fear.

Why though? The king didn’t care for me, nor did he care about Charlene’s attachment to me, so what did he fear? And it was obvious it wasn’t my abilities, as he had approached without care.

“If I say I'm not a traitor, you won't believe me, will you?” | asked quietly.

He didn’t reply for a moment, before he tilted his head slightly.

“Leave us.” The king commanded Theon without turning towards him.

Theon narrowed his eyes, and | saw the distrust in them as he looked at the king.

Why are you confusingTheon, it was almost as if he cared...

He was one of the king's most loyal followers, his reaction made no sense to me. But then again, he only feared another man touching me. Did he think the king would? I doubted that.

| knew the looks of lust, hatred, love and so much more... The only person | was never able to read properly was Theon. His signals were so mixed that | had becentangled with him. | knew better now.

“I will not hurt her.” The king snapped, now glaring at Theon. Like you care, Theon. Theon looked at him sharply, staring at him for a moment before his gaze flicked to me. calculating before he looked back at the king. His frown vanished and a look of understanding dawned upon his handsface as he stared at me. His chest was heaving and the look of pure disbelief on his face unnerved me. He shook his head slowly as if denying something to himself.

My stomach lurched sickeningly. The fear that | had doubted cback towith vengeance. What if they had cto the sconclusion and realised what | may be? Please no...

“Please.” The king said quietly, takingby surprise. Theon looked at the ground, his heart was racing as he glanced atonce again, as if seeingfor the first time, but what shockedthe most was the look of hatred that flashed in his eyes as he did a once-over of me.

What was it? Why was he looking atlike that? 1 Not saying anything, he turned and strode out of the cell. | watched him walk away. He paused at the end of the hall, and my heart skipped a beat when he looked atover his shoulder, but my blood ran cold when | saw the hatred in his eyes.

Theon...

The king sighed heavily, | turned my attention to him.

| knew he hated me... “Yileyna, where did you get that amulet?” “From a merchant in Bellmead, it was filthy and I'm sure he didn’t know its worth. He sold it for a mere few gold coins. Once | had cleaned it | even took it to a jeweller to ask about its value! You can ask him if you want proof.” | said, suddenly realising | had someone to vouch for me. “And Theon! He sawwhen | was cleaning it.” “I'm not asking for an alibi.” He replied, curtly staring atso intensely that it was beginning to unnerve me.

His eyes were boring into my face, as if he too were seeingfor the first time. He was making the link...

| tried to hide my fear as he slowly looked at the ice that covered the floor.

“How long has it been since you discovered this... ability?” His voice was grave and dark.

His eyes were now cold when he looked back at me.

“Not long... since my eighteenth birthday. The cold beceasier to bear as well, but you don’t need to worry; my powers are blocked anyway.” | assured him quickly.

“Blocked?” He asked sharply, something flickering in his eyes.

“Yes, so you have nothing to worry about.” I replied. “Who said they're blocked?” 1 didn’t want to mention Zarian.

“Just someone who was helpingwith my powers. | realised | could be a hybrid of ssort, and so | sought out help.” 1 didn’t trust the king enough to tell him everything. “TellYileyna, what kind of hybrid do you think you are?” My heart thumped, and a sliver of fear rippled throughat the look in his eye.

“I don’t know, Alpha.” | lied quietly.

His eyes darkened dangerously. He reached out, taking a strand of my hair, making my heart thump in fear.

“Hair lighter than most in Westerfell, beauty that is indeed the talk of the town, and the ability to manipulate ice and the weather...” His words were quiet, yet with each one that left his lips, my stomach began to sink.

He knew... Goddess, he knew...

He let go of the strand of my hair and placed his hand on top of my head just as he used to when | was a child.

“How did | not see it..?” | frowned in confusion, but he simply turned away, sighing heavily.

“Speak not of your abilities or your heritage. | will handle this myself.” “My heritage?” | asked quietly. Why did he sound so grave and almost defeated? “We both know what you are, or dare | say it, the three of us including Theon know. TellYileyna, does anyone else know of your abilities?” “Raiden, Charlene and... Zarian, the fae whom | sought help from.” | answered quietly.

“I will have a word with them myself. | will give the order that no one is to cto see you.” Without another word, he left the cell, shutting the door with a loud resounding clang, he locked it before he paused and glanced at me.

“Make sure you speak to no one until | summon you.” He warned once more.

| nodded as his footsteps retreated. | slumped against the wall, letting myself slide to the ground. | locked my arms around my knees and closed my eyes. This was not how | was expecting the night to go...

Raiden, was he ok? It was my fault that he was hurt. It had never been the plan to kiss him for a reaction. That had happened on impulse, and | didn’t hate it. | sighed as | opened my eyes, leaning my head back against the wall.

I'm sorry Raiden.

Theon’s words still rang in my mind... If any man touched me, he would kill them.

A ripple of anger washed through me, and | shook my head.

There was no way | would allow him to dictate what I should do with my life, but before that, | needed to be free from here.

| truly was bad luck...