Chapter 160: Poisoned
{Third Person}
The banquet hall descended into complete chaos.
What had begun as a celebration only moments ago had turned into a scene of panic and confusion.
Nobles rose from their seats, voices overlapping as people tried to understand what had just happened.
Servants froze where they stood, many too frightened to move, while others stared in horror at the blood staining the table before the Alpha Prince.
The head of the royal guard reacted first.
"Clear the hall!" he barked. "All guests are to leave immediately. The servants remain where they are!"
His voice cut through the confusion with military precision.
Guards immediately moved into action, escorting guests toward the exits.
Among the Human Kingdom delegation, shock was written plainly across every face.
Anthony Caldwell stood frozen for a moment before Matilda grabbed his arm. Neither could take their eyes off Alexander. Around them, the Human ministers exchanged alarmed glances.
The same thought had occurred to all of them.
Had the Alpha Prince just been poisoned at his own birthday banquet?
The possibility alone was terrifying.
Nearby, Hazel’s face had gone completely pale. "What just happened?" she whispered.
Rachel shook her head. "I don’t know."
Davina looked close to tears. Her attention wasn’t even on Alexander anymore. It was on Amara.
All three girls instinctively searched for their friend through the chaos. Unfortunately, guards were already moving guests toward the exits.
"We need to check on her," Rachel said urgently.
Hazel nodded immediately.
But before any of them could take a single step in Amara’s direction, a guard firmly blocked their path and instructed them to continue moving.
Reluctantly, they were forced toward the doors along with everyone else. The helplessness on their faces was impossible to miss.
Not far away, Elowen looked equally shaken as she watched the scene unfold.
At the centre of the hall, King Sebastian had already reached Alexander’s side.
The sight that greeted him immediately darkened his expression. Alexander was still conscious, but barely.
One hand was braced against the table while he struggled to maintain control of himself. Despite his condition, there was no panic on his face, only grim determination.
The sight somehow infuriated Sebastian even more. His son’s lips were stained with blood at his own birthday banquet.
At a banquet that he, the Alpha King himself had organized.
A banquet whose security arrangements had personally passed through his hands.
The Alpha King’s fury erupted instantly. "WHO DARES?" His roar shook the hall.
Several guests flinched. Even some of the guards visibly stiffened.
"Who dares poison my son under my watch?"
The fury in his voice was unlike anything most people present had ever witnessed.
The hall fell completely silent. No one dared answer. No one even dared breathe too loudly.
Sebastian’s gaze swept across the room. "Everyone leaves." His voice was lower now and far more dangerous.
"I want every person investigated. Every servant questioned. Every tray, every bottle, every glass examined."
Then, his eyes moved toward the shattered remains of Alexander’s wine glass. "Nothing is to be moved."
The command echoed throughout the hall. "Everything remains exactly where it is."
The guards immediately acknowledged the order.
Meanwhile, Elder Mage Seraphina, who had reached Alexander first, was already examining him.
Unlike others around her, she remained calm despite the chaos unfolding throughout the banquet hall. Her sharp eyes quickly examined the blood staining Alexander’s lips and the traces left upon the table.
The more she observed, the graver her expression became.
King Sebastian immediately turned toward her. "Seraphina." The urgency in his voice was unmistakable.
Seraphina did not waste time. "Your Majesty, the Alpha Prince has been poisoned."
The declaration sent another wave of shock through the hall.
Several Werewolf court officials who still remained in the hall exchanged horrified looks while others visibly paled.
Seraphina continued her examination, placing two fingers against Alexander’s wrist as she assessed his condition.
"The poison must be identified immediately," she said. "Without knowing its nature, we cannot determine the correct antidote or treatment."
Her gaze swept briefly across the banquet hall before returning to the King. "This environment is unsuitable for a proper examination."
Sebastian did not hesitate. "Take him back to his residence."
The order came immediately.
Then his eyes settled firmly on Seraphina and the other mages. "Whatever resources you require, you shall have them."
The Alpha King’s voice hardened. "Save my son."
Seraphina rose to her feet and inclined her head. "We will do everything within our power, Your Majesty."
The other mages nodded at once.
At that very moment, another problem emerged.
Amara had been standing only a short distance away, trying to make sense of the chaos around her.
The room felt strange—too warm and too bright.
The nausea that had been building inside her suddenly intensified.
She swayed. The movement immediately caught Barron’s attention. His eyes widened.
"Amara."
But he was too late. The world tilted beneath her feet, then everything went black.
Amara collapsed, and a fresh wave of panic swept through the hall. Even King Sebastian turned sharply toward the commotion.
Barron was already moving. He reached Amara before she struck the floor completely, catching her just in time.
Her body felt unnaturally warm.
For a brief moment, his eyes met Jasper’s. Neither man needed to speak. Both understood the situation clearly.
Barron’s expression hardened. "Stay with Alexander."
Jasper nodded immediately. Without another word, Barron carefully lifted Amara into his arms.
Meanwhile, across the hall, Zarek remained seated, looking completely defeated. The satisfaction that had filled him earlier was gone.
The confidence. The anticipation. The certainty. All of it had vanished.
He stared at the chaos unfolding around him and felt a chill creep down his spine. ’This is not what was supposed to happen.’
Alexander was supposed to lose control, not vomit blood or be rushed away by mages fighting to save his life.
And now Amara had collapsed as well.
Nothing made sense anymore.
Even Queen Lysandra had fallen silent while still in her seat. She was not herself anymore, though her facial expression was far more composed.
