I stop dead in my tracks. Frozen.

Something snaps inside me. An odd feeling takes over my body and my mind, clouding my judgments.

The need to protect.

To protect him.

I stare at the sword in Ansel's palm, ready to strike. Rage flowed through my body like hot burning lava, nearly consuming my mind and soul.

"Ahh" Ansel screams, suddenly throwing the sword on the floor as if it burnt him.

At his distraction, I sprint towards the king, kneeling beside him. He lay completely still on the floor, exhausted. "No..noo" I murmur taking in his awful condition.

I hear Ansel moving towards the sword. Thinking quickly, I look around for a potential weapon to use.

Yes!

Seeing the sword belt across the king's waist, I slightly raise his body to draw his sword from the scabbard.

I raise the sword just in time to block Ansel's first strike. Moving forward, I lung at him with full force. He quickly ducks and tries to hack my legs. Expecting his move, I bring my sword down just in time to block his attack.

Jumping back, I stop and look at him, trying to find a weakness.

His head.

I have to end this without killing him.

Running towards him with full force, I raise my sword for a downward strike; he raises his sword just in time and the two blades clash together. He falls onto his knees at the sheer force of my strike. Taking the opportunity, I wrap my leg around his neck, choking him. I punch him straight in the face with the hilt of my sword. He cries out painfully. Anger overpowers me. I did not want to stop. I grab his head and push it down, my knees slamming into his face, hard. Damaging it even more.

"That's enough"

I jump back shocked, hearing the husky voice.

The king slowly stands up from his position on the floor. "You can leave now Ansel," he says, lazily wiping the blood from his lips.

Ansel nods and drops his weapon, tending to his wound before leaving the room quietly.

And I stand there speechless.

What the fuck just happened?

I look back and forth between the now-closed door and the king,

"It was a test" I say, putting two and two together.

"It was, you didn't actually think that we completely believe you, did you?"

Of course, I didn't. Everywhere I went I had felt eyes on me, watching, noting, reporting.

I am a traitor. He wouldn't just let me walk around his castle without having eyes on me.

"So what now? Do you believe me?"

"I believe that you lost your memory, but nothing more"

My chest tightens painfully hearing his words. The feeling of anger replaced with betrayal.

How pathetic.

Why do I care what he thinks of me? And why was I so affected by the thought of him getting hurt? I clench my fist angrily.

"Since you remember nothing, let me summaries it for you," the king says

"Three days before you woke up In the dungeon, the castle was attacked by a group of assassins. Their goal was one, to kill me. Since I am the only royal alive, their actions were obvious; treason. There were seven of you. Four died at the hands of my guards and two took their own life knowing they were about to lose. You are the only one we captured alive"

He stops and looks me dead in the eyes, "Every single one of you was subjects of this kingdom. And you betrayed the land that fed you," he sneers

I lower my eyes, ashamed.

"Why are you telling me all this?" I ask, looking everywhere but at him.

"This was not a work done just by seven people," he says "There is a higher power behind this and whoever it is, I intend to find them and punish them"

I try to discern his words. But still doesn't understand why he is telling me all this.

"My alpha, Malcolm have been investigating this and have come up with some possible tracks to follow" he explains

"And I will need your help to investigate this" he chokes out as if asking for help from me almost hurt him.

"Why are you asking help from the very person who did this? How can you trust me enough to not betray you again?"

"I don't" he pauses, taking a deep breath.

"I still don't trust you. But I know for sure that you won't be able to kill me" his eyes locks with mine, an unexplainable expression flashes across his.

That stupid scent and the possibility of us being mates.

"Killing you will not help me in any way. You are barely a pawn. And to bring an end to this, I have to cut it at the roots. And if getting your assistance is what it requires, I will not shy away from it"

"And what's it in for me?"

"If you successfully help me find who it is, I will let you go free, all charges cleared"

I gasp internally. That was almost too good to be true.

"But you are missing the point here. I don't remember anything, even if I wanted to help, I can't!" I exclaim

"We found you unconscious outside the castle wall in the assassin's carriage. The belongings you had on you that day after some research gave us the exact location you are from" he explains.

I look at him confused. "Where I am from? But you told me I was a subject of this kingdom," I question

"You see, it had been only two years since you registered as a subject of this kingdom. Means you were born and raised somewhere else"

"Although your memories could have been really helpful, I think we can do just fine with your face. With a proper plan, we will be able to find the source of this. So, are you in?" he asks.

I pause, not knowing what to do. If I really was an assassin like he said I was, would I be able to betray the people I worked with? And he said there was a higher power behind all this, that I was barely a pawn, which would mean that I won't easily get away with helping the king. But the king also said he knew where I was from. This could be my chance to find out my past, to remember.

What are my choices here? Help the king and be free or protect the people I worked for and die a slave.

My hands tremble, trying to decide.

It was frustrating, waking up every day not knowing who you are. Deep inside my heart, I knew that what I had done was wrong. High treason and killing innocent soldiers. If I knew and believed this was wrong, even without my memories, would I really have done it?

I make up my mind. If I have done what he claimed, then I need to find out why. This is my chance to find out the truth. And if losing my memory is what helping me differentiate between what's right and wrong, then so be it!

"Okay, I will help. But under one condition" I say slowly

"What is it?"

"You will do a fair investigation. Not a single innocent person must be hurt"

He scoffs hearing me "Look who's talking"

Ouch

My hands clench even tighter, drawing blood. "So what is the plan?"

"I will let you know when its time. For now, you need not be involved"

"Ok, but at least tell me the clue you found from my belongings," I ask, desperate.

He pauses to decide whether or not to tell me. Making up his mind, "We found a ring on your finger, a very rare and antique piece, one that only belongs to a certain group of creatures"

"Who?" I ask, my heart beating against my throat.

"The royal family of the kingdom of Ikkina"

***

Ok...so I know what you all are thinking. what a cliche! but trust me, more is yet to come.

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