An Alpha's Forbidden Mate-Chapter 25: A SEAT AMONG KINGS

Chapter TWENTY-FOUR

The roar of the arena still echoed in Tom’s ears when his strength finally abandoned him.

The silver-white veins beneath his skin dimmed, their glow fading like dying embers. Blood slipped from his fingers, dripping onto the shattered stone at his feet. His breathing grew shallow, uneven. Slowly—agonizingly slowly—his hair darkened once more, the blinding white retreating as exhaustion reclaimed its debt.

Tom lifted his gaze.

Above him, the sky stretched wide and merciless.

No gods answered.

No mercy came.

But he survived.

" Jokes on them" he said

Then his knees gave out.

He collapsed.

Dust rose around his fallen body, settling like ash over a battlefield that had just birthed a monster. The blood of beast still spraying over the battlefield

High above, the king leaned back in his seat, swirling dark wine inside a crystal goblet. His expression was relaxed—almost amused—as though he had just watched a finely staged play rather than a boy fighting for his life.

"The boy has the potential to become a very powerful supernatural," the king said casually.

Beside him stood the man in the dark suit, hands clasped behind his back. His crimson eyes flickered faintly before sinking back into darkness.

"For once," he replied, voice smooth and low, " I agree with you."

The king raised his hand lazily. "Guards."

Armored figures with no weapons just claws and fangs snapped to attention.

"Retrieve him. Treat his injuries properly this time." The king chuckled, lifting his glass. "Change his room this time and give him a decent bed. He’s earned it."

The man in the dark suit smiled with John at his worried for Tom life. " I’ll have to move the plan forward if not this beast will eventually kill him, how will face Luna later if I just watched her brother get killed"

Silence.

That was the first thing Tom noticed when he woke.

Not the suffocating silence of a dungeon, nor the heavy quiet of fear and smell of death—but something softer. Controlled. Almost peaceful.

His eyelids fluttered open.

Above him stretched a ceiling carved with ancient symbols, pale runes glowing faintly as if breathing in their sleep. The bed beneath him was wide, layered with silk and fur, warmth seeping into his skin.

For a brief, disorienting moment, Tom wondered if he was dead and went to heaven.

Then his body shifted.

No pain.

No weakness.

His eyes widened.

He pushed himself upright as memory flooded back.

The arena.

The beast.

The moment everything changed.

Tom stared at his hands.

They looked the same—but felt different.

Power rested beneath his skin like a beating pulse. No longer wild. No longer chaotic. It was calm now. Dense. Obedient.

Like a blade perfectly sheathed at his side.

But as that thought settled, something else followed.

A tremor.

Not in his body.

In his mind.

Tom swallowed slowly. He could feel it clearly now. The power wasn’t truly his yet. It listened only because it was dormant—restrained by exhaustion and circumstance.

If he tried to draw on it again—fully, recklessly—

His mind would fracture long before his body did.

He had survived the evolution.

That didn’t mean he had mastered it.

Strength without control wasn’t power.

It was suicide.

Understanding came with terrifying clarity.

John’s training hadn’t been senseless cruelty. The endless injuries. The exhaustion. Being forced to heal again and again until both body and mind screamed.

John hadn’t been trying to break him.

He had been forcing evolution.

Tom clenched his fists.

His power hadn’t just multiplied.

It had refined.

A knock sounded.

Sharp. Controlled—but still lacking restraint.

Tom’s body reacted instantly. Muscles tensed. Instincts flared. Even now—even here—he trusted nothing.

"Who is it?" he asked.

"A maid," came a gentle reply. "My name is Olivia. I was sent by His Majesty."

The door opened slowly.

The woman who entered was young, posture perfect, eyes lowered—not out of fear, but discipline. She radiated calm.

"Good morning, Sir Tom," she said softly. "His Majesty requests your presence in the dining hall."

Tom studied her carefully.

No hidden hostility. No suppressed killing intent but something in him felt she was not to be underestimated.

"Alright."

As he stepped forward, Olivia hesitated and raised a hand. Tom quickly entered a battle stance."Please forgive me, sir—but you’ll need appropriate attire."

She gestured toward a neatly arranged set of clothes resting on a nearby shelf. It was then Tom finally relaxed.

"I’ll wait outside."

Minutes later, Tom emerged.

Even he paused.

The attire fit perfectly—dark fabric woven with subtle silver threads. Light yet resilient. His movements felt smoother. Stronger. His stance more grounded.

His reflection stared back at him from a polished surface.

The boy was gone and the man is born.

A faint strand of black cut through his white hair, resting against his forehead like a scar the world itself had carved into him.

Perhaps it was the price of pushing his mind beyond its limits. Tom said to himself staring at his hands before he clenched it" I need hone my mind has fast as possible before they realize I can’t fully control this power "

Evolution hadn’t just changed his power.

It had reshaped him.

They walked through the palace.

Towering pillars lined the halls, etched with scenes of ancient wars and forgotten heroes. Crystals embedded in the walls glowed softly, casting reflections like flowing water. The air smelled of incense and old stone.

This place wasn’t merely hidden.

It was afraid of the outside world.

The moment Tom entered the dining hall, conversation died.

A long table stretched across the room, filled with nobles, generals, scholars, and officials. Their gazes locked onto him instantly.

There was no seat prepared , Tom knew this was no coincidence they wanted to see how he reacts.

Tom scanned the table once—then stopped.

Lothbrok sat close to the king.

Tom walked forward.

"Get up," he said calmly.

Lothbrok blinked. "Me?"

Tom met his eyes.

The air shifted.

Not pressure.

Not aura.

Certainty.

"If I repeat myself," Tom said quietly, "you’ll die."

Lothbrok turned toward the king.

The king didn’t even look at him.

Slowly, Lothbrok stood and stepped away.

Tom took the seat.

No one protested.

"Congratulations," the king said smoothly. "You survived the Trial by Combat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The words were respectful.

His eyes were empty. Tom knew the king never wanted him as a guest in the palace the only reason he was still alive was the king wanted to use Tom as entertainment for his people, he noticed that during his fight in arena.

The king gestured across the table. "This is my daughter, Caroline."

Tom looked up. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

She was stunning—golden hair cascading over her shoulders, sapphire eyes sharp with quiet intelligence.

"I’m Caroline," she said. "It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir Tom."

Tom inclined his head slightly.

"We didn’t invite you merely to dine tom," the king continued.

Of course not.

"There is an upcoming event—the Battle of Saints. In two years, we want you to represent us in the competition."

Tom’s gaze sharpened. "Why me?"

The king leaned back. "i don’t know if you have noticed this but this but my kingdom exists outside the Earth realm—a space carved from reality itself by our ancestors using their domains and life force when they chased down by other supernaturals."

Tom remained silent.

"we have lived here for centuries but nothing last forever the barrier sustaining it started to have cracks four years ago" the king continued. "Within two years, it will surely collapse."

Realization struck.

No wonder the urge to shift felt wrong turns out there wasn’t even a full moon here.

They weren’t even on Earth.

He remembered the elders’ teachings—That domains of blood, fire, space, wind, earth, time, and death. Each terrifying. Each with its own unique abilities. Domains multiplied power tenfold—but the stronger the domain, the heavier the burden.

Death and Time domain user were practically gods when they unleashed their domain.

But even gods shattered if their bodies weren’t strong enough to withstand the ability of their domain.

"We need a champion," the king said. "An ally , someone I can trust."

"And you want me."

"Yes."

Tom’s voice was even. "Why should I help you?"

The king smiled. " we have ancient scrolls filled with Knowledge ,Techniques to control your Silver Crest Omega form."

Then he spoke of the Astex Token.

Tom’s blood ran cold.

His sister.

The hunt.

The blood.

The loss.

The king finished, watching him carefully. Tom said in thought"know this cunning king is up something , once the king is done with me he will kill me without hesitation"

Tom leaned back slightly. "I accept."

Relief rippled through the table.

But inside, Tom smiled.

Once he took the token and the ancient scrolls...

Once his mind was strong enough to command his power...

He would slaughter every last one of them.

He would never be prey again.

Silence settled.

And far beyond the palace walls—

Something unseen began to move.