Chapter 96: ⁹⁶: Plan in action.

Kael’s POV:

There were times when being an Alpha meant making decisions that could put everything else at risk. This was one of those times.

If the council wanted answers later, I would give them. If the press wanted explanations, they could wait. Right now, seventy-five lives were hanging in the balance.

Just then, a knock sounded on the door. "Come in," I said, leaning back against the headrest of the bed.

The attendants entered, pushing the necessary equipment into the room, followed by the doctor in charge.

"Alpha, everything is ready. Please move your arm forward," the doctor said.

I pulled up my shirt sleeve, exposing my arm and giving him access to my veins.

I turned toward Ryan just as I felt the sharp prick of the needle. "Make sure you handle everything. I’m putting my faith in you."

"Rest assured, Alpha. I won’t let anything go out of plan," he replied firmly.

I nodded. The needle continued drawing my blood, and I barely paid attention to it.

Taking my blood was the easy part. The real thing would begin once Ryan started using it on the injured warriors.

"We’re done, Alpha," the doctor said after a while, carefully pulling the needle from my arm.

I kept my eyes closed. I didn’t want to waste even a little energy opening them. "Ryan, go and start your work," I said quietly.

Right on cue, Ryan didn’t waste another second. He took the prepared blood and hurried out of the room.

Once he was gone, I knew only the doctor’s team remained with me.

"Make sure your team remains vigilant from now on, Doctor," I said, trying to sound as reassuring as possible. "Even if my body starts showing serious signs a little later, don’t panic. I’ll be fine. Just follow your regular medical procedures and do whatever is necessary to stabilize me."

The doctor exchanged a glance with the attendants before nodding. "We understand, Alpha."

I gave him a faint smile. "Good." I closed my eyes again.

The room gradually became quieter, but my mind remained fixed on the same thought...Please, Ryan. Don’t let a single one of them die.

"It is getting started," I said as I felt the first tug on my body. Ryan had started saving the warriors. I forced myself to keep my eyes open, even though my thoughts were already beginning to blur.

"Remember, no matter what happens, you don’t have to panic. And report everything only to Beta Ryan. No one else." I knew that if the doctors started reporting every change in my condition to everyone, the situation would quickly spiral out of control.

"We will follow your orders, Alpha. Rest assured," I heard the doctor’s voice reply.

My body was beginning to feel heavier with every passing second. The room around me seemed to blur. My breathing grew slower, my thoughts becoming increasingly muddled as though I were sinking into deep water.

"His heart rate is dropping!"

That was the last thing I heard before the remaining sounds faded away and my body went completely limp.

....

"Mom! Mom, I’m here! I can cure you now! I can save you! Uncle found the cure for your wounds!"

The excited voice echoed through the grand house as a fifteen-year-old boy ran through the halls as though his life depended on it.

"Kael! Slow down! You’ll get injured!" Someone ran behind him, struggling to keep up with the boy’s frantic pace.

Kael didn’t listen. He dashed across the enormous hall before pushing open the door to the one room he had been desperate to reach.

"Mom! My blood can cure you!" he exclaimed as soon as he entered.

But soon the smile on his face vanished and his footsteps stopped. The excitement in his eyes disappeared as soon as he saw his father’s expression.

His father was crying, tears were streamed silently down the face of the Alpha King - Edwin Dreven. Kael had never seen his father cry before.

The man who ruled over an entire empire, the man who had always seemed untouchable, was standing beside the bed with tears running down his face.

There was only one thing in this world that could break the Alpha King like this...His mate, Kael’s mother.

Kael felt his legs begin to tremble as he slowly turned his gaze toward the bed. His mother was still there, but something was wrong.

There was no longer any warmth in her face. Her eyes, that always shone when she saw him, were closed. Her hands, which she always lifted to hug him were lying limp at her sides.

She looked as though she were simply sleeping, but the silence surrounding her told Kael something his mind refused to accept.

"Brother..." Kael heard his little brother’s trembling voice. He looked up and saw him standing beside the bed, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Mom isn’t waking up!" The little boy’s voice broke as he looked at his older brother. "Tell her to get up. I’m getting scared! I want Mother!"

Kael’s vision blurred.Tears rolled down his cheeks before he even realized he was crying.

He slowly walked toward the bed and reached for his mother’s hand...It was cold. His fingers tightened around hers as he shook his head desperately.

"Mom..." His voice trembled. "Uncle said I can cure you with my blood. My blood can fight that dark magic." His grip tightened around her hand. "Please get up."

"Please, Mom. Give me just one chance." His voice cracked. "I can save you. Uncle said I can save you. Please don’t leave me."

He looked desperately at her unmoving face, waiting for even the smallest response, there was none. "Please..."

"Kael." His father’s broken voice came from behind him. Kael felt a hand settle on his shoulder and something inside him snapped.

"Don’t touch me!" He violently pushed his father’s hand away. His father stumbled back slightly, staring at him through tear-filled eyes.

"You’re not my dad!" Kael’s voice echoed through the room. "You let those people hurt my mother! You couldn’t save her!"

His chest heaved as anger and grief overwhelmed him. "You’re not my dad! You..."

The words never finished. His strength suddenly disappeared. Kael’s knees gave way, and he collapsed onto the floor.