Rejected by the Beta, Claimed by the Alpha

Chapter 205: Chapter 205

The night was thick with silence, but Kimberly’s sleep was anything but peaceful.

Her breaths were heavy, her fists clenched on the bed, and her body twitched with each shift in the dark corners of her dream.

She found herself standing in a place she had never seen but somehow knew all too well, a dark valley, with ash-colored skies and earth that cracked beneath her feet.

The air felt like smoke, thick and cold, and every tree stood leafless like shadows of the dead.

Suddenly, a loud cackle pierced the silence.

"You came," the voice echoed. Kimberly turned sharply.

There, not far off, stood Katherina, pale, hollow-eyed, her black gown floating just above the ground as though it wasn’t touching it.

Her fingers were long, skeletal, and her presence was heavier than ever.

"I didn’t come here by choice," Kimberly said, standing her ground.

"You never had a choice," Katherina sneered. "None of you did."

Kimberly took a step forward. "You’re not the same. Your aura... it’s darker."

"You finally noticed?" Katherina laughed, but it wasn’t joy. It was rage wrapped in madness.

"The darkness feeds me now. Every lie, every betrayal, every ounce of fear in your hearts, I grow stronger."

"You’re going too far. You’re twisting the gifts of the spirits. This... this isn’t who you were meant to be."

"I became who I had to be," Katherina replied, her voice now deeper. "And you... You will break, just like the others."

Kimberly’s hands lit up in defense, the golden light from her core glowing against the darkness.

"Inveniat lux in tenebris!" Kimberly chanted in ancient tongue, hoping to drive the darkness back.

Katherina laughed louder, stretching out her arms.

"Tenebrae vincet lucem!" Her voice thundered, and a black flame burst from her palms, meeting Kimberly’s light.

The two energies clashed violently, throwing them both back. Kimberly fell to the ground, her skin burning, her soul shaking.

She struggled to get up, but Katherina stood already, her form growing taller and her eyes pitch black.

"You can’t stop what’s coming," Katherina hissed. "Even Theo won’t see it until it’s too late."

"I will stop you," Kimberly said, rising despite the pain. "Even if it means giving everything."

"Then be ready," Katherina whispered, and everything turned to dust in a violent gust.

Kimberly screamed.

She jolted awake in her bed, soaked in sweat, her hands trembling uncontrollably.

Her chest heaved as though she had been running for hours. She looked around.

Her room was calm, the moonlight peeking through the curtains, but her body told another story.

Goosebumps covered her skin, her heartbeat was racing, and her head was spinning with echoes of Katherina’s words.

Without wasting a second, she rushed into the bathroom. The cold marble floor met her bare feet, but she didn’t care.

She pulled the knob, and the water burst from the showerhead.

Still dressed in her night robe, she sat under the shower, letting the cold water drench her from head to toe.

*What’s happening or about to happen? What did she mean by "even Theo won’t see it"?

And why does her power feel like it’s coming from somewhere else?* Kimberly’s thoughts spiraled out of control as the water tried and failed to wash away the fear.

before turning the water off and

stared at her reflection.

dry robe, a

It was

Kimberly answered,

someone here to see

now... Who could be

living room shortly," she replied, drying herself up as fast as

descended the stairs and entered the living

arms folded, looking unusually

on the sofa was an aged woman, her

not in an overpowering way, but with something old...

turned to Kimberly as she walked

said there’s something you need to

brows furrowed, and she looked at the

do I know

stood up slowly, her eyes fixed on Kimberly’s. "You don’t," she said

Theo remained silent.

forward. "I’ve waited many years to say this.

unsure whether to be cautious

are you talking

calm but with a hint

The room froze.

Kimberly blinked. "What...?"

shifted to Kimberly, waiting for her response. She looked back and forth between him

when I was a baby. That’s what I was told.

wanted you to believe," the woman

heart pounding again. "This doesn’t make sense.

placing a hand gently on her shoulder. "She came looking for you

shook her head, the floor suddenly feeling unstable. Her nightmare still clung to

Katherina... now a mother I never

sat back down, her hands folded in her lap. "I know it’s a

have a warning. Your powers, the

are connected to something much older,

trembled. She turned away from both of them for a second, fighting

stepped back, giving

you?" Kimberly whispered. "Why

full of sorrow. "Because time is running out

Kimberly’s breathing quickened again.

and placed

heart, Kimberly. Deep down, you

stared at the pendant, her

voice broke the silence. "If what she’s saying is true... then everything is about to

him,

But she said nothing.

turned back

you had

is only the beginning, more dark

that, the air turned

were already

Katherina... My powers... My

staring at the woman, too many questions rising at

nothing would ever be

after this...

★★★

bed, her fingers gently tapping against

constant pushback, Theo’s silence,

my next move?* she asked herself,

when I don’t even know what’s coming next?* Mona

she rubbed her

Then she heard it.