Reclaimed By The Alpha King-Chapter 215

The air in the sacred grove of the elders was thick with incense.

The flickering flames of the seven oil lamps danced as if whispering secrets.

Mohandria stood between Theo and Kimberly, her palm resting gently on their joined hands.

Around them, the African sorcerers moved in circles, chanting ancient incantations, their voices rising like waves against the dark forces closing in on them.

"The spirits are restless," Mohandria said softly, her eyes rolling shut.

"The bond between you two is strong... but the darkness is coming, and it will test every part of your soul."

Theo didn’t flinch. He held Kimberly’s hand tighter, his grip strong yet trembling beneath his calm.

Kimberly, standing firm beside him, kept her gaze on the flame before her.

"I’ve seen it too," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"A force that doesn’t come through battle, but through deception... through weakness from within."

"Then we must act now," one of the sorcerers, an old man named Bako, spoke as he stepped forward.

"There is a ritual. A rite of soul binding and spiritual fortification. It has only been done once before in our time.

But if successful, no darkness will break you."

Theo looked toward Mohandria. "What does it involve?"

"Sacrifice," she said simply. "You will have to give up something that connects you both to the mortal world.

Something precious. Something that holds you back."

Kimberly’s heart sank. *What could that mean?* Her mind raced through the things she loved, memories, dreams.

"We’re ready," Theo said before she could speak. "Whatever it takes."

Kimberly nodded after a short pause. "We won’t let Derrick tear us apart."

As they prepared for the ritual, the sorcerers formed a wide circle and began to chant.

The drums began slowly, then grew louder. Wind picked up within the grove, swirling only around Theo and Kimberly.

They were told to step into the middle of the flames, where the light wouldn’t burn them, but the truth would.

As soon as they touched the firelight, everything changed.

They weren’t in the grove anymore. Kimberly stood in a dark forest, with nothing but mist and whispers around her. Alone.

"Theo?" she called out. No response.

Suddenly, a familiar figure stepped forward from the mist, it was the late alpha Darwin. But his eyes were dark, his smile cold.

"You’re not real," Kimberly whispered.

"I am the part of you that still longs for the past," the illusion said. "And you need to let go. You cling to pain as if it gives you strength."

Kimberly stepped back, her heart pounding. "That pain reminds me of who I am."

"But who you are is changing," the false alpha Darwin hissed. "And if you don’t let go, you’ll become your own enemy."

Kimberly dropped to her knees, tears threatening. *Is this what Mohandria meant?* Letting go... of the weight she’d carried all her life.

Then suddenly, the illusion shattered, and she was standing again, bathed in light. The mist cleared. A voice, Theo’s voice, called her name.

Meanwhile, Theo found himself in a throne room. Not the one from his home, but a twisted version.

The walls dripped with blood, and sitting on the throne was Derrick. Laughing.

"Welcome, Alpha," Derrick said, mocking.

"This is the future."

Theo stepped forward, fists clenched. "This will never happen."

"Oh, but it already is," Derrick said, disappearing and reappearing behind him.

"You’re too noble, too soft. You protect the weak. That’s not how kings rule."

Theo turned sharply. "I protect what matters. You wouldn’t understand."

"You will have to choose," Derrick’s voice echoed all around. "Power... or love. You can’t have both."

Suddenly, Theo saw Kimberly chained before the throne, weeping. He ran to her, but his hands passed through her like smoke.

An illusion. *This is the test,* he realized.

He closed his eyes and whispered, "I don’t choose power. I choose her."

A flash of white light exploded around him, and the illusion vanished. Theo stood again in the grove, breathless, sweat dripping down his face.

Kimberly stood opposite him, just as shaken.

"It’s done," Mohandria said. "Your spirits are now bound. No force can tear you apart unless you allow it."

Kimberly fell into Theo’s arms. He caught her, holding her tight.

"I saw alpha Darwin," he said, voice cracking.

"And I saw Derrick," he replied, jaw clenched. "He’s coming harder than we think."

Mohandria stepped closer, her tone serious.

"Then we don’t waste time. The next phase begins now.

This ritual has protected your spirits, but we must now fortify your influence.

Derrick has begun dark rituals of his own. The war won’t start with swords... it will start with minds."

★★★

Meanwhile, in the far mountains, Derrick stood within a cold cave. A fire burned before him, but its flame was black.

The sorcerers he had summoned surrounded him in silence. They wore no faces, only hoods. A dark book lay open before them.

"I want to twist their fate," Derrick said. "I want Theo to fall, not by war... but by those closest to him turning against him."

One of the faceless figures raised a hand. "You seek control, not just victory. The price is high."

"I will pay it," Derrick answered without hesitation. "Blood, loyalty, power, whatever it takes."

"Then you will offer one pure soul," the sorcerer said. "Not one taken by force... but one that comes to you willingly."

Derrick paused. *A pure soul?*

His mind raced. Mona? No... she’s already too deep in the darkness. Then his eyes narrowed.

"Elena," he muttered to himself. "She still believes she can fix things."

The sorcerers began chanting as the cave grew darker, colder. A symbol lit up beneath Derrick’s feet, red and violent. He smirked.

"Let the game begin."

Back in Africa, Kimberly sat quietly with Mohandria beside the riverbank close to the temple.

Theo spoke with the sorcerers further down, but Kimberly couldn’t keep her thoughts still.

"Mohandria..." she said softly, "can we really win this?"

Mohandria didn’t answer immediately. She looked out into the water, as if searching for a sign.

"You can," she finally said. "But not everyone will make it through."

Kimberly’s heart dropped.

"Who?" she asked.

"That, I don’t know," Mohandria replied, looking straight into her eyes.

"But I saw a shadow falling over someone who once walked beside you."

Just then, Theo walked over. "What’s going on?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Before Kimberly could answer, Theo’s phone beeped and it was a message from Elijah.

"What is it?" Kimberly asked.

Theo’s face turned pale. "Elijah says the supreme chief priest was attacked last night.

But they were gone before Derrick’s men got there. Someone betrayed Derrick."

Kimberly looked at Mohandria. "This is the beginning, isn’t it?"

Mohandria stood. "The storm is already here."

Meanwhile, far away, Derrick stared into the fire again, this time watching Elena from afar, her image flickering inside the black flame.

He touched the flame gently, and it shimmered.

"I’ll draw you in my dear sister," he whispered.

"And when I do... Theo’s kingdom will fall from the inside, because you will give me that."