Destroy My Life In You-Chapter 102: Nightmare Truly Began [III]

Astrid had no other choice than to tell Finn and Zander the truth but she left out some information. The fact that it was her grandfather who captured her brothers, she just said it was some power-hungry Lycan who wanted her by his side to take over all territories. And he could do that by first eliminating Alaric.

"Can I ask something from both of you?" Astrid lastly asked after.

"What is it?" Finn went ahead to enquire.

"Please don’t tell Alaric any of this."

Both Finn and Zander’s expressions became complicated. Wasn’t it better to inform Alaric? He could help.

"Why not?" It was Zander this time who asked.

Astrid sighed wondering how to explain. If her guess was right, that was what the Lycan King wanted. For her to inform Alaric so that they would lure him to their trap. Even though he had told her to kill Alaric, the Lyacn King knew she couldn’t do it and would rather warn Alaric about it. Kidnapping her brothers was inevitable. Since they were important to Astrid, Alaric would do all to save them.

"Just please don’t if you care for him. Let’s just find a way to save my brothers ourselves." She pleaded hoping they would understand.

"And you think he won’t find out? One glance at you and you’ll give yourself away." Zander who never talked much added. As much as he wanted to help her, hiding this from Alaric was not the best of ideas.

Astrid didn’t know what to say to convince them. So, "Once we find my brothers, I’ll tell him myself." She gave her word, and the two Nightveil brothers agreed, telling themselves it wouldn’t be a hard task to find the three boys.

Three days went by in a blink. Astrid tried as much to stay away from Alaric not to give herself away. Yet, even then, they had not found any clue as to where the Lycan King could have taken her brothers. Not only that, Astrid had gone back to the cottage she used to live with her brothers but Liam was gone. Fear of her brothers, Alaric and now Liam being harmed crushed her fragile heart. She so much hated herself, despised being the Primal Alpha. If only she knew how to control and use the power she had, then maybe things would be easier. But she had no one to guide her. Her parents who were the only ones who could help her were not there anymore.

"Yes! My parents... They..." Astrid’s cracked voice filled in her room as if she had remembered something. "I need to go back home."

And that night, Astrid, with the help of Zander and Finn, she sneaked out of the palace and headed to her hometown. It only took a few hours now that she could run faster in her wolf form. She got there time before midnight and after an hour of searching, she found what she had come there for. The other book detailed on powers of a Primal Alpha. The first one was history of the Primal Alpha and how they came to being, or how they could be reborn, while this one specifically outlined how they could control and use their power.

"I’ll have to learn something useful in a day. I can’t always be a liability," Asteid murmured to herself, gently touching the book cover.

Since she had to be back to the palace before morning, Astrid rushed out and shifted, then set out on her journey back to the palace. Unknown to her, things were not going to be easy as she thought.

Astrid was a forest away from Vetheris when she sensed a presence following her. It was a scent she was somehow familiar with, but couldn’t discern because it was mixed with something else. Blood. Thus, she sped up without looking back but it was only for a moment.

A shadow stopped few steps before her and so she also came to a stop. Astrid let out a low dangerous growl, fearlessly walking towards the person.

"Astrid," a voice she was familiar with called her, and she froze. "It’s me, Liam."

Astrid shifted almost instantly when she heard him. "Liam?" She called out in a whisper, and rushed towards him. "Where did you go? I went back but... Huh. I’m just glad you’re fine."

Liam half heartedly smiled. "I’m also glad you’re fine."

Astrid nodded. "Why... don’t you come with me. I’ll..." She went quiet. It wasn’t her place to invite people to the palace, but in the other hand, she wanted to protect her friend from harm. Though the worst had already happened to him, at least he was alive and she wouldn’t want to mess up his life any further. "Liam... I think... you should leave Vetheris."

Liam expression remained blank as he asked, "Why?"

"I don’t want... those people to hurt you again. You’ve suffered..." Astrid was yet to finish her statement when she sensed another person, precisely quite a number of Lycans and hybrids. "Liam, run!"

Astrid took off and held Liam’s hand but her motion cane to stop when the person she was holding did not move. She turned around worriedly looking at him.

"What are you doing, Liam? We have to leave. Now!" She spoke desperately.

"Ye, we have to leave. You and me... and your brothers," Liam said, his voice laced with something she couldn’t understand.

"What... are you saying? We don’t have time for this. Come with me. If asking Alaric is the only option..." She was cut off by a sharp pain inflicted on her wrist. But that was not what shocked her, rather the person who did it.

Liam’s eyes were crimson red, glaring at her, as of sending a warn or something. His other hand was holding her wrist tightly, and it did hurt.

"Don’t utter that name," He said in low voice, that was anyhting but calm. "Do you hear me!"

Astrid let out a breath of pain, her making racing a thousand miles. This was not the Liam she knew. He used to be gentle, and could had never raised his voice on her let alone hurting her.

"Liam, what’s wrong? Did they do something to you?" Astrid thought of what could have happened ti him, and the only logic explanation she could come up with was, Liam had been compelled. But what he was compelled to do, was what she didn’t know.

Liam’s grip on her wrist "You’ve to come with me before that man gets to you. He’ll... kill you," Liam spoke up, his voice now full of concern.

Astrid blinked in surpirse. "That was what I was trying to say. Come with me ti the palace. Alaric—"

"DON’T!" Liam roared like a beast he was. "I said not to utter that name. Don’t you know he’s going to kill you? That... Vampire King is no good for you. If I knew from the beginning he was your mate, I wouldn’t have let you go that easily. But now, I still have a chance to save you. Come with me. Let’s go far away from here. And also... your brothers... they’re safe. You just have to come along, okay?"

Astrid felt like uced water had been poured on her listening to him. "Liam, what have you done? Were... you the one who... kidnapped them?"

Liam shook his head laughing hysterically as if he had lost his mind, but he never let go of her wrist. "No, I wouldn’t call it kidnapping. I saved them from being killed by that Vampire King. Don’t worry, they didn’t see... my face or else they would hate me. I’m sure they’ll understand too that what I did is for their safety. Come. Come, let’s—"

"Stop it! Just... shut up!" Astrid snapped at the mention of her brothers. "Where are they? Where did you take them?" She asked freeing her hand from his grip.

"They are with me," another voice interrupted.

Astrid turned her head to that direction and was met with the Lycan King’s figure, approaching her.