Trapped with the Alpha King-Chapter 244: Unfair

Elior nodded, his expression calm. “Those are unclean spirits and demons that produced them. They linger close to humans, whispering corruption, seeking to influence, to twist, and sometimes to possess. Do not be deceived, my lady. Those who fell from His grace, the fallen angels who became demons, are far more dangerous. Many of them will not appear terrifying at all. They are masters of deception and often wear faces that seem harmless.”

He turned to her fully then, his voice gentle but firm. “Remember this. Sight alone is not a burden. With faith, it becomes protection. And with faith, it becomes power to stand against them.”

Althea slowly exhaled, absorbing his words. Her gaze then drifted across the courtyard, where she spotted Gavriel in the distance, standing beside Zander. The two men were deep in conversation, unaware they were being watched.

“There’s something around them,” Althea said quietly.

Elior followed her line of sight and gave a knowing smile. “Indeed. Both of them surrendered their lives to the Lord Almighty. They now seek His guidance and His will. Because of that, something greater has been assigned to them. Protection and power born from obedience and faith and in time they would learn how to use it.”

Althea nodded slowly, understanding Elior’s words. Then she turned and studied him more carefully this time. Her brows drew together as a strange sense of familiarity stirred in her chest. She searched his face, his eyes.

“You look... familiar,” she said at last, her voice hesitant.

Elior chuckled softly. “You were still very young the last time I saw you,” he replied. “Barely in your teens.”

Her eyes widened. Memories surfaced all at once. A cold winter day. Crowded streets. A man standing in the marketplace, wrapped in a thick shawl, his voice steady as he spoke of repentance, hope, and the Almighty. People mocked him. Some listened. She had been only thirteen then.

Only half his face had been visible back then. The shawl had hidden the rest.

Althea gasped softly.

“You... you...” She pointed at him, disbelief written all over her face. “You’re that man from the market. The one preaching in the cold. The one everyone called a prophet!”

Elior smiled, eyes crinkling with quiet amusement. “So you remember.”

“I was so young,” she murmured, shaken. “It was winter, and you were covered with a shawl. I only saw your eyes and part of your face. I never thought I’d see you again... much less here.”

“Yet here we are,” Elior said gently. “Paths chosen long ago have a way of crossing again.”

Althea swallowed, her heart racing. Back then, she had not fully understood his words. But she remembered how they made her feel. Safe. Seen. As if someone far greater was watching over her.

She looked at him with renewed awe.

“So you really were a prophet,” she whispered.

Elior’s smile softened. “Only a servant who listens.”

“Are you staying here?” Althea asked curiously. She knew that a man like him rarely stayed in one place for long.

Elior smiled faintly. “Only for a few days. After that, I will travel to Lunaris as well. We will see each other again there.”

He rose to his feet, smoothing his worn cloak. “I’ll leave you now so you can prepare for today’s event. I’ve already handed several copied journals to His Majesty. They should help guide both you and him with your newfound abilities. They may prove useful in the days to come.”

Althea nodded quietly, absorbing his words. “Thank you.”

Elior inclined his head once more before turning away, his steps unhurried as he left.

When he was gone, Althea’s gaze drifted to Gavriel. He was speaking with Beta Osman near the open balcony. Without realizing it, a soft smile curved her lips.

She watched him for a moment longer, her chest warming as she took him in. A king who could have left Velmora the moment she was placed under the Tree of Life. A ruler who had every reason to return to his kingdom and focus on restoring order after the chaos they had endured.

And yet... he stayed.

He sacrificed time, comfort, and peace just to be here with her.

That thought alone stirred something deep inside her. Gratitude. Affection. And a quiet determination...

It was one of the main reasons she wanted everything in Velmora settled as soon as possible. She did not want to keep him here longer than necessary. He had a kingdom waiting for him. Responsibilities only he could shoulder.

She was already physically well enough to travel. Even if fragments of her memories were still missing, her body was strong, her spirit steady. She could return to her normal life, or at least begin again.

And she wanted to walk beside him, not hold him back.

Her smile lingered as she continued to watch Gavriel. Then he turned.

Startled, Althea quickly looked away, her heart skipping. Heat rushed to her face, her cheeks burning red as if she had been caught doing something she shouldn’t. She stood up at once, pretending she had somewhere important to be, and quietly walked toward the bedchamber.

She had barely taken a few steps when she felt it.

A firm grip closed around her wrist.

Althea gasped and instinctively turned, her breath catching when she found herself pulled straight into Gavriel’s chest. One moment she was standing on her own, the next she was pressed against him.

“Gavriel—” she started, but the word came out softer than she intended.

His hand loosened around her wrist, sliding instead to rest at her waist, steadying her. His other hand lifted, hovering for a brief second before gently touching her cheek.

“You were staring,” he said quietly.

Her eyes widened. “I—I wasn’t,” she protested, though her voice lacked conviction.

One corner of his lips lifted, not quite a smile, but something warmer. “You were.”

Her embarrassment deepened. She tried to step back, but his hand at her waist made it impossible. Not forceful. Just firm enough to remind her that he was there, solid and unyielding.

“I didn’t mean to,” she murmured, lowering her gaze.

Gavriel tilted his head, studying her face as if committing every expression to memory. “Why did you stop smiling when I looked at you?”

That question made her heart pound even harder.

“I thought you’d think it was strange,” she admitted after a moment. “Me... watching you like that.”

“Strange?” he echoed softly.

She nodded. “I still don’t remember everything. And yet sometimes I feel things I can’t explain. It’s confusing.”

His thumb brushed lightly against her cheek, slow and careful, as though he was afraid she might break. “You don’t need to understand everything right now.”

Her eyes lifted to meet his. “You don’t have to force yourself to remember,” he continued. “Just... feel. That’s enough for me.”

Her chest tightened. She didn’t know why his words affected her so deeply, but they did.

Standing this close to him felt natural. Safe. As if this was where she was meant to be.

“I was smiling,” she said quietly, “because I was thinking how unfair it is.”

His brows knit slightly. “Unfair?”