Alpha King Xavier - Chapter 77: Chapter 77

Autumn
I turned suddenly, feeling the soft bedding. But I'm suddenly aware of my surroundings. Yet, I didn't want to open my eyes.
Just then, I remember I was supposed to be in Xavier's room.
I opened my eyes and looked around me. I'm in my room, of course.
How did I get here? I remember I was nursing Xavier.
"Mercury?" I called.
The door opened suddenly, and a maid walked in with her head bowed.
It's definitely not Mercury. If she was, she would have moved closer to me.
"What do you need, my queen?" The maid asked.
Her voice registered in my head instantly. There's no way I would mistake her voice. It's definitely Elixir.
"Elixir?"
She went on her knees. "Please, your Majesty. I want to be back in my position. When I returned, I heard Mercury had been proclaimed as the head of the lady-in-waiting. Please return me to my former glory," she pleaded.
For someone like Elixir, that will definitely be the next thing she would want. How would she monitor me closely? And give whoever she's working for feedback.
I got out of bed. "You want me to reinstall you?"
"Yes, your Majesty! I will really appreciate it!"
I cracked silently. I think I'm getting the whole thing around being a real Gwen.
"Ok, I will do that."
Elixir looked up slowly, shocked. "Really?"
"Yes! You know me better than anyone else; why else will I want someone else? But then, I'm a woman of my word. I've promised to make Mercury the head of my lady-in-waiting for a few months. I can't take that back, can I?"
Elixir shook her head briefly. She seemed scared of me.
"So, I will be having two heads of the ladies. Though the Mercury post will be a bit higher than yours. That will be your punishment until I can remove her. Then, I will put you back to your rightful place. How about that?"
Elixir bowed. "Thank you so much, my queen. I really appreciate it."
I smiled. "You can start your work by getting me my favourite snack. You still know it, right?"
Gwen looked up again, a wide smile suddenly on her face. "Yes, I do!"
I turned away and stepped into the bathroom.
I'm going to keep Elixir close to me to deceive her. At least she would have to be reporting everything to her superior. If we needed any twist, she would do it.
I brushed my teeth and took a bath.
When I stepped inside my room again, Mercury was waiting.
"Autumn," she called softly. She looked sad.
I moved closer to her. "Is something wrong?"
Fear entered my features as I thought of my parents and my pack. Has something happened to them? Did Xavier do anything?
No, he wouldn't. I don't know why I think that way though, but somehow I'm forced to believe what he told me two days ago.
Xavier, as he has been popularly known, isn't the type to go back on his words. What I just find amusing is why Xavier would want to do that. Why would he want to give me his head on a platter? He should fight for his life, not surrender it.
"The maid that poisoned the Alpha has been killed," she revealed.
What!
"Does that mean we can't leave here? When are we leaving?" Mercury sobbed.
I have not actually seen her like this since I met her in Xavier's territory. Though the Mercury I knew was always an emotional person, it looked like her family death took those away from her.
Now she is back again.
I reached for her hand in an instance need to comfort.
"We will leave very soon, I promise," I swore. "I will find a way," I assured her.
"I'm just," her voice trailed off. "The more I stay here, the harder it gets for me to let go."
I stared at her, confused for a moment. "Let go of what?"
She swallowed harder. It felt like the words were the lump in her throat.
"Tell me," I was anxious and scared now.
Mercury is one of my most trusted people here. I can't bear her betraying me.
She looked away and sobbed quietly. "Rick is my mate."
What!
Shock kept me motionless and speechless for what felt like an eternity.
"I'm sorry. I'm deeply sorry for not telling you earlier. I promise I have never kept anything else from you except this. I just didn't want it to look like I was going to choose between you and my mate. So, I planned to tell you when we leave here. When you told me we were finally leaving, I was so happy about it, but now," she sobbed even harder.
"When did you discover?"
"The first time we met. Rick has always worked with the Alpha while I worked with the people in the palace. Our path has never crossed until I started working for you."
I withdrew slowly. I hadn't noticed. I hadn't realised I wasn't the only one suffering. No, I hadn't realised I was going to make Mercury suffer.
How can I take her from this place when this is where she belongs?
"I'm so sorry, Autumn!" she pleaded the more. Apparently, she thought I was angry that she kept it from me.
I'm angry, alright, but that's not the reason. I'm angry at myself. It was just like when I killed the maid the other day. My action is going to kill Mercury. How would she live without her mate?
I turned away and walked to the window side.
"Please, Autumn. Please forgive me."
I blink my eyes to stop the tears, but I fail. Instead, it spilt out of my eyes.
"I should be the one to apologise."
Mercury hesitated, unsure of what she had heard. "What?"
"You belong to the Ocean Howl Pack. Who am I to convince you to leave?"
Mercury took a step closer to me. "You didn't convince me. I wanted to come with you. I've lived half of my life with you anyway, before my family found me. And guess what? My father passed away a few years later, leaving me alone again. And this time, I was so lonely. Then, I had you with me, but I had no one to talk to. It was me alone," she stopped and took in a sharp breath.
"It's my decision to leave. The moon-like pack had become my pack a long time ago."
I looked at Mercury for a moment. "What about Rick? You need to stay with your mate. I won't deprive you of something like that."
Mercury sighed. "I won't be the only person that will suffer that. You will be rejecting Xavier too."
"No,no! No!" I moved closer to Mercury and took her hands in mine. "This is way different."
Mercury sobbed up. "The only difference I see here is the fact that you have to kill your mate. And that fate is even worse than mine."
I looked away quickly when I felt the pain in my heart twist.
"Everyone has a price to pay, Autumn, for peace, for love."
More tears spilt from my eyes. "Not this, Mercury!"
She took a sharp breath in. "I don't have a choice. I'm staying with you no matter what you say! I'm not leaving you again. I shouldn't have in the first place!"
I pulled her into a bear hug. I couldn't stop the tears from coming out. Mercury continued to cry as well, against my shoulders.
I thought I was the only one that had such a sick fate, but I hadn't realised Mercury does as well.
I'm going to kill my mate the day we leave while Mercury will rejects hers.
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