Rejected by the Beta, Claimed by the Alpha

Chapter 186: Chapter 186

The moment Kimberly stepped outside alone, a deafening silence fell upon the room.

Eyes widened in shock, some in awe, others in horror. But one question hung in the air, suffocating the space like a thick fog, where was Alpha Theo?

Kimberly’s face was void of emotion, her hands clenched tightly at her sides.

Her body ached, her soul burned, but nothing compared to the hollowness in her heart.

"Theo..." she whispered under her breath.

The supreme chief priest slowly stood. "Child, where is Alpha Theo?"

Kimberly swallowed the lump in her throat, forcing her voice to remain steady. "He didn’t make it out."

Gasps filled the room. A mixture of murmurs, disbelief, and suppressed glee from the shadows of the crowd.

Then, the silence shattered with Alpha Derrick’s triumphant laughter. He didn’t try to hide his joy, neither did Mona.

"Well, well," Derrick smirked, stepping forward.

"What a tragedy! The mighty Alpha Theo, gone. A shame, truly. But fate has its way of removing the unworthy."

Kimberly’s head snapped up, her piercing gaze landing on him like a blade against his throat. "Mind your words, alpha Derrick."

"Or what?" Mona chimed in, her lips curling. "Will you fight us now? Face it, Kimberly. You’re alone."

"For now," Kimberly replied calmly, turning on her heel. "But even the night knows the moon will rise again."

With those words, she walked away, leaving Derrick and Mona fuming.

Katherina who was in the shadows unknown to others simply smiled, her eyes gleaming with secrets.

Back at their camp, Derrick and Mona celebrated. Wine flowed, laughter echoed.

"One down, one more to go," Derrick declared. "She won’t survive the final test."

Katherina sat in a dark corner, smirking. "She won’t. Not if I have anything to do with it."

★★★

the sorcerers. The weight of the

of the Earth," Elijah murmured. "No one knows what

we prepare

Zack

up for me. If

sorcerers exchanged wary glances. "Kimberly,"

test of strength. If the universe itself is involved, it will

their eyes. "Then I will give it

have to know that even the greatest of sorcerers has no power over the universe." The leader among the sorcerers

agreement to what he

have to do all within me, even losing the quest to just get him back... I will bring Theo back

next morning,

whispering, confident that this was Kimberly’s end.

the others," he warned. "It is a test against

"If that’s what it takes, then

creaked open, revealing an eerie darkness. Without hesitation, Kimberly

★★EARTH TEST★★

an endless white space. A chilling silence settled over

in

echoed in triplets, vibrating through her

You seek to reclaim what is lost.

firm. "At any

they chanted, moving

her stood Theo. His form was whole, yet his presence felt

voice was soft,

Her breath hitched. "Theo!"

spoke. "The test is one of love and sacrifice. One must be given so the other

There must

chose. I traded myself for you. You weren’t meant

If this is about love, then let love decide! I will not

The spirits watched, unyielding.

murmured, taking her hand. "It is also about faith. Do you

then nodded.

the both of you choose?"