Chapter 6

Charde's POV

"At every cost, you have to bring Sabrina back. I can't exist without her," Linga worried me the next morning as I woke up to prepare for the resumption of my duty.

"I know. I have heard you. Can you just stop saying that now? Let me get some peace of mind at least," I said to him.

"I need her back today," he growled.

"Can you let me fucking think! I've heard you. I'll get her back. Now, give me some bloody space!” I bashed at him.

With a moanful growl, he backed down and I strode into the bathroom.

As the chill water from the shower drizzled on my bare body, I fell deep into thoughts. I had a lot to do that morning, but I couldn't get off the distraction of thinking about Sabrina.

It'd be a shame if other Alphas found out that I sold my mate to the dark lord. I could already picture them laughing at me and calling me a coward.

I ate breakfast and headed to my office room.

As I walked into the room, my eyes quickly spotted a pile of letters on my desk, definitely waiting for me. I strolled to my chair and sat down.

Heaving off a sigh, I shot one more glance at the pile of letters, so many of which were letters from my dad's reign.

I picked out the Imperial Alpha's letter from the pile, my lips pressing tight as I tore the seal open. I was lucky he replied fast because that egotistical bastard never treated anyone like they had value, not even his fellow Alphas.

“You're summoned to the Imperial Palace,” I read out.

Hmm. A fast response from him, plus an invitation to his palace. Maybe, his beta was in office today.

I dressed up, ready to leave for the Imperial palace.

“I'm coming with you,” Lydia, my late father's mistress, proposed.

“You stay here,” I declared.

She insisted. “I know the Imperial Alpha more than you do.”

“From my father's stories?”

“Not only that. I have served under him. I know what kind of man he is.”

I exhaled softly. Since I was a little boy, she had desperately wanted to assume this role of being a second mother to me, but I always kept distance between us. However, that didn't change the fact that I needed her now.

“I’m not a little child, Lydia,” I said. “Like I told you last week, my father's gone now. Your duty here is over.”

I grabbed Shirley, my brown horse and rode off to the Imperial palace. It took about forty minutes to get there.

Walking past the score of soldiers guarding the entrance as I arrived, I headed into the palace and met the Imperial Alpha in his throne room.

He was seated on his throne, one leg crossed over the other and his chin resting on the back of one fist.

“Alpha of the Gray Mist pack.” He recognized me. “You look just like his father, except you the odour of cowardice oozes out from you.”

As arrogant as I heard he was.

I paused when I reached the foot of his throne where he sat high and ignorant of the fact that he had it all twisted. My father taught me a whole lot before passing away, including how to deal with a man like Rochdale.

“I came seeking your help,” I said to him, like it wasn’t the content of the letter I wrote him initially.

“Do well to tell me how I owe you my help,” he said, leaning forward.

“My mate is in trouble,” I said, “trapped in the hands of the treacherous dark lord. I must rescue her before he harms her.”

“And what makes you feel like she hasn't been harmed already?” He asked, leaning forward.

My fists crumpled beside me. “Sabrina is a strong woman.”

He chuckled. “Look how pitiful you look, as if you weren't the coward who exchanged her for the dark lord's mercy. So hilarious.”

I swallowed a knot in my throat. Although a pang of guilt struck my chest, I wasn't going to fall for his taunts. All that mattered was achieving what I came here for.

“I'd do anything…” I muttered out.

His eyes widened. “Anything, you say?”

“Yes. Anything.”

The corners of his lips stretched into a grim smirk.

“Then let my men farm on the vineyards of the Gray Mist for five years,” he let out, his words shooting a shockwave through me.

“What?”

“You heard me right, Charde. All that is left is your answer,” he said.

My stomach roiled with disgust at the greed of this man old enough to be my father.

Giving him the vineyards for five years was simply giving out the chief source of the Pack's income for that period of time. How were we going to survive then?

With all he had, how could he still make such a greedy offer?

“I can't,” I muttered. “That's a greedy offer. Ask for something else. Something I can do.”

“You said you'd do anything, Alpha Charde. I've made my request and I'm not going back on those words.”

The smirk on his face was just as disgusting as the request he made. I couldn't bear it. I'd have to find another way to save Sabrina.

“I must take my leave then,” I said.

“You're very welcome to do so,” he said. “However, you might not get the chance to come back here as easily as this time around.”

I ignored his words and continued out of his palace room.

As I took the next corridor to my left, where I'd come in from, I noticed an open door. It hadn’t been open while I was coming in.

Walking past the door, someone called my attention.

“Pssst.”

I turned and saw a lady dressed in a purple robe, with a black scarf tied around her neck.

I stopped and she whispered. “Come in, please, before anyone sees me.”

I tried to hesitate, but her eyes were compelling, so I walked up to her.

“What do you want?” I asked.

She grabbed my hand and pulled me deeper into the room, then she closed the door and turned around to face me.

The room was empty, the windows all closed and the curtains were quite dusty.

“I can help you talk to the Imperial Alpha and make him change his mind.” She said, untying the scarf around her mouth.

Blood pulsed in my veins as my eyes met her beautiful face. Hazel eyes that perfectly fitted her blonde hair.

“My name is Georgia,” she said. “I'm the Imperial Alpha's betrothed breeder and I need to give him a son. We have tried five times and it all turned out to be female kids when the doctor checked their gender. I want to give him a male heir.”

“And you expect me to do that?” I asked this desperate beautiful lady.

“Yes. The Imperial Alpha swore an oath to grant anything I asked of him if I could give him an heir.”

“Nonsense.”

“Please…” she clasped her palms over mine. “You must believe me. I believe he can't give birth to a male child, so I want to do it for him.”

“That'd be my own son,” I said. “If you're thinking I'd do that, you must be joking.”

“This is your only chance at saving your mate. You lay with me one night and it'd be over,” Georgia said.

She clasped a pepper into my palms. “Meet me there by dusk.”