Berrilyl's POV
“Where is my mate? What did you do to him?” I screamed at the top of my lungs.
A few hours ago, I was perfectly happy. I was married to my childhood sweetheart and brother's best friend, Owens. Although we were not true mates, we couldn't ask for anything better.
One minute, I was in a carriage, following his to return to his pack, and the next thing, my carriage stopped suddenly, and we were surrounded by masked men.
There was no familiar face in sight and my heart was drumming wildly against my chest.
Until they started lining up the bodies of guards before me. The sight of blood made me want to throw up, but I was more concerned about Owens.
“Answer me, dammit! Where is he?” I screamed.
“Quiet, princess. He will be here soon,” a deep baritone snapped but since they were all in masks, I couldn't tell who was speaking.
Owens was pulled in by two masked men, and my breath hitched.
I tried not to panic as his blue eyes met mine. At least he was alive. That was a good thing, right?
“Is that your groom, princess?” The taunting masculine voice asked again. “It looks like it.”
“What do you want from us?” My voice came out shaky, betraying the terror I felt inside.
“Oh, it's simple,” one of the masked men stepped forward. There was something about him that made him stand out from the rest.
It was either the dark commanding aura surrounding him or his physique.
He took out a pen knife and walked behind Owens. A pit of dread formed in my stomach as he lifted Owen's face from behind.
“Please don't do this…” I sobbed. “please… I'll do anything. Just name whatever you want and if I can't do it, my brother will. I…”
“Exactly!” A humourless chuckle erupted from him. “I was hoping you'd mention your brother.”
“I… I don't understand…” I stuttered.
“Your brother and I have unfinished business but for now, you'll do.”
My heart skipped. Was this a rival Alpha? One of William's enemies?
Oh goddess, I am doomed!
The tears came pouring down my cheeks. I looked desperately at Owens, hoping he would at least say something in his defence. Anything to make them spare him, but the petrified look on his face suggested that he was too terrified to speak.
“Then take me instead,” I blurted. “Take me and spare him, please… I don't know what my brother did to you but please…”
“Bold of you to offer a life that is no longer yours,” the masked man hissed and in a swift movement, he slit Owen's throat.
“No!!!!!!”
A scream tore off my throat as I watched the man I married twenty minutes ago drop dead, his blood gushing out like a fountain.
“What have you done?!!!” I screamed, tears streaming down my cheeks in torrents as I crawled over to him immediately.
“Baby… baby please look at me…” I sobbed. “Don't do this to me, I beg of you… please open your eyes… Owens? Owens? You can't leave me please…”
I shook him with all the strength I could muster but his blood only soaked through my dress as his once pale blue eyes went ice-cold with death.
“No! No please… what have you done?!” I yelled at them. “He was innocent! We had nothing to do with whatever my brother did to you! How could you kill him…”
“You are quite a lousy one,” the irritation in his voice was evident. “No blood spilled is innocent. Not even yours.”
The words managed to pierce through my grief and it made me angrier.
“Who are you? What did I ever do to you to deserve this pain?” I charged towards him, but he simply shoved me away from him like I was dirt.
“Take her,” he ordered.
“You will pay for this!” I yelled. “My brother will crush you to pieces when he finds out about this! You will never get away with this, I promise!”
“Tape that running mouth of hers whilst you're at it,” he added.
A cloth was immediately tied around my mouth and I was blindfolded.
They forced me into my wedding carriage and tears welled up in my eyes again. Were they just going to abandon his body? Leave him on the roadside like he was a nobody?
Nobody deserved to be treated like that, no matter their crime and I was very certain that this was a mistake.
Owens was the sweetest man I know and while my brother might be quite a character, Owens was his polar opposite and I… I could swear before anything that I had never heard that voice in my entire life.
Why did this have to happen to me on my happiest day? Why would the goddess let this happen to me?
I burst into tears but the sobs came out as muffled because of the cloth in my mouth.
Soon, the carriage came to a stop, and I was roughly taken out. I couldn't see a thing so they had to pull me along.
A part of me wanted to resist but with both my hands and eyes tied, I knew I couldn't do much.
After what seemed like forever, the cloth was taken off my eyes, and the dungeon stench became more prominent.
They threw me in without bothering to untie me or even take the cloth off my mouth.
They dispersed leaving me with the one I assumed was their Alpha. My eyes burned with hate and rage as I glared at him.
“Don't worry, princess. You're not going to get a quick death like your lover,” he said. “I am eager to see what your brother will do when he finds out.”
My glare darkened. I wanted to curse him badly but the cloth in my mouth made the words come out muffled.
“I'm sorry, I don't speak muffles,” he stepped closer and pulled down the cloth.
I spat on his stupid mask and a thunderous slap sent me to the ground.
My cheek stung badly, triggering a fresh set of tears. He took a squat to my level and used my dress to wipe the mask.
“The next time you do that, you will lose that hand,” he threatened and my blood ran cold.
Yet the rage within me shut out every form of rationality I had left.
“You killed the only man I loved. There is nothing worse than that, you monster!” I fired.
“There's not?” Amusement laced his voice. “You should ask your brother then. He is quite creative in that aspect.”
I was even more confused.
“Who the hell are you?” My voice broke. “Why are you doing this to me? What did I ever do to you?”
I felt empty. Worthless. Broken.
The only thing that made sense in my life was gone! All because of something I still had no idea about.
“Cage Milton,” he said suddenly. “Ring a bell?”
I stared blankly at him. Who the hell was that and what did he have to do with anything?
A scoff fell off his lips.
“Wow! Not only do you betray me but you have the audacity to forget!” The harshness of his tone made me flinch.
Without another word, he stormed out of the cell.
The days blurred into one long nightmare as I mourned my once-happy life and the love I’d lost—Owens. The stench of the dark cell was nauseating, and the isolation crushed me. No food. No water. No human contact. I was utterly alone in this wretched hole, with no idea of what was happening beyond these walls.
My stomach ached from starvation. Time had become meaningless. Would they really leave me here to die such a cruel death? Just as despair began to consume me, I heard footsteps echoing through the hallway. Relief washed over me as I stumbled to the bars, desperate for salvation.
A masked man appeared, unlocking the cell without a word. He dragged me out with little patience for my frailty and threw me into a small crowd of emaciated people, their bodies bound in chains. They looked sickly and broken, yet their misery didn’t compare to the rage boiling within me.
"Make yourself useful," the masked man barked, signalling to a burly figure. "She’s the new slave. The Alpha wants her kept busy at all times."
Slave?
“I… I am not a slave,” I croaked, my throat raw. “I am a princess, and I will not let you treat me like anything less!”
The burly man gave me a withering smile. "Nobody cares who you are. If you don’t work, you don’t eat—and you will be punished."
“I’d rather starve than be enslaved to the man who murdered my husband!” I spat. “If your Alpha wants me dead, let him do it himself!”
Berrilyl's POV The man’s expression darkened. "Feel free to punish her as you see fit," the masked man muttered, walking away.The burly man stepped closer, towering over me. "From now on, you’ll call me Master Cain. Disobey, and you’ll regret it."“Or what?” I challenged, defiance surging through my exhaustion.The slap was brutal, sending me sprawling to the ground. Before I could recover, Cain ordered whips to be brought, and the lashes came fast and cruel. The pain was unbearable, tearing screams from my throat.“Are you ready to comply?” he demanded.“No,” I sobbed. “I won’t do it.”“Double the whips,” he growled. The beating resumed with relentless ferocity until a voice cut through the air. “You will either comply or die!” “Then kill me! I don't care!” I yelled.“That’s enough.”The guards froze. I looked up through my tears to see a man clad in royal blue, his face concealed by a mask. The Alpha.“What’s going on here?” he asked coldly.“She refuses to join the slaves, Alpha
Berrilyl's POV As soon as I stepped out of the mines, I was seized by the guards. “Wait… wait… where are you taking me?” I asked, struggling to break free from their grip but my efforts were futile. “I have done nothing wrong! Where are you…”“Quiet! The Alpha wants to see you,” one of them snapped. “You could have just said so instead of grabbing me like an animal,” I muttered, and their heads snapped to me. I didn't need to see their faces to tell how much they wanted to strangle me. I couldn't blame them either. I was way too outspoken for my own good. Owens always jokingly said my tongue would be the death of me. Now, I didn't doubt him. By the time I arrived at Alpha Cage's chambers, my mind ran with several thoughts on what he could possibly want from me. On arrival, the guards stopped outside the door and signalled me to go in. I hesitated for a few seconds before turning the knob and stepping in. The room was dimly lit but a beautiful sight nonetheless with dark colour
Berrilyl's POV The raw pain in his eyes told me that it was a memory he'd rather keep buried. But if he was going to punish me, I deserved to know, right?“Cage, I don't what happened to you or why you have those paintings of me –if it is me, that is, but you're going to have to open up at some point. Otherwise, all this is pointless,” I told him.“Fine!” The iciness in his tone startled me. “You came into my pack, pretending to be a wolfless human with no memories. We found you lying at the pack borders and I took you in…”“I hate to interrupt you but now, I am more than certain that wasn't me. First, I am not wolfless and I've certainly been in any form of distress my brother cannot take care of. I have lived in the palace all my life,” I cut him short. “You ask questions, and then argue with the answers,” he hissed, irritated.“Because you seem to have all the wrong answers! Whatever happened to you, I had no hand in it. If this is your revenge, then it is a waste!” I retorted.“
Berrilyl's POVI looked at Liah with disgust as she uttered those words, where was the princess in me now? I was as tattered as they were although not tattered enough to eat that kind of stale food. I was nothing more than a slave to this place."Don't give me that look. This is our world and we are welcoming the lovely princess" Sha said smiling."It's so not funny. This is the worst thing that has ever happened to me. It is the worst. We work tirelessly so we can eat and in the end, we get this. This stale thing that not even a mad person would want to eat" I rebutted."See princess, that means that all of us here are more than mad because all of us eat this stale food. We need it to survive" she said. "I didn't mean to call you guys mad" I said but I still couldn't find it in my heart to believe that this was the food she had to hide so it wasn't eaten by others. "Okay, princess. Well, you have to get used to eating this stale food or you'll die of hunger" "Die of hunger" I repea
Berrilyl's POV"W... w... what do you want... from me?" I stuttered but kept a straight face, I was dying of fear inside."Oh, my darling hypocrite why don't you guess?" He said grinning. I started to think of something that he would want me to do. Perhaps dancing or does he want me to strip like Cain did? Was that going to be my new life– dancing and stripping? The thought sent chills through my bones but I soon dismissed the thought when I remembered what Liah said about him not being with any woman but still he did ask me to dance yesterday."What are you thinking about hypocrite?" He teased "Can't come up with something yet. Is your brain capacity so small that you can't even guess a thing?" He chuckled irritatingly. He stepped closer and I wanted to move back but it felt like my body was attached to the floor with fear.He stood tall looking down at me like he was going to crush me with his feet. I felt uneasy. He had been insulting me and now only goddess knows what he was going
Berrilyl's POV“I’m writing about me and you?” I asked incredulously, staring at him as if he had lost his mind. “What exactly is there to write about? The fact that you loathe me and were responsible for my husband’s death? You claimed it was nothing compared to what my brother and I did!”“Calm down,” he said, a sly smile creeping across his face, deepening the unease fluttering in my stomach. I could feel his intentions oozing with mischief. “There’s more to write.”The next words slipped from his lips, and I felt my heart drop. “You are writing about me and you planning to live together forever.” My heart raced, and panic set in.He had just stated he hated me, so why was I supposed to write anything about our supposed future? It felt as if he was playing with fire, tempting fate to ignite something dreadful.“Me? With you?” I exclaimed, exasperated. “That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. And coming from you, it’s just plain ridiculous! Are you even hearing yourself?” My voi
Berrilyl's POVHis eyes gleamed with malice as he watched me dance, my anger fueling every step. "Twist that waist of yours better. Hypocrite," he said, but I didn't obey him. He gave me a death stare, and My legs trembled beneath me, but I forced myself to stand tall, refusing to give him the satisfactory "I see, you're still as strong-willed as before, but that won't be good for you if you want to live in less torture" he said.I started twisting and turning in all ways I could when he talked, I knew he would not only torture me but also my dead husband, who didn't do anything to him."Good girl", he said, laughing, and then he closed his eyes, and it seemed like he was focusing on the mu, sic, and then little by little, the cunning look on his face was replaced with an angered one. I continued dancing nonstop even though I thought of stopping since he closed his eyes."Get out!" He shouted, and I looked around to be certain I was the one he was talking to. It didn't seem like he wa
Berrilyl's POVI shrieked at the top of my lungs as the whip seared my skin, leaving an instant crimson mark. "Say you're the slave ten times, and this will ease," he sneered, landing another lash. "If you say it well, I might even stop." I glared at him with hatred, and another lash struck me. "Just acknowledge that you're the slave and I'm not, and you might be pardoned," he taunted.As he raised the whip again, I relented. "Stop! Fine, I'll say it." He sneered, "Since you didn't agree quickly, say you're the slave and I'm not fifteen times. Any delay will increase your lashes and how long you must repeat those words."I took a deep breath and spat out the words, "You're the slave! And I'm not." A sly smile spread across my face. Instead of stopping, he whipped me again. I screamed in agony, my voice shaking but I was satisfied as I said, "Isn't that what you said I should say? You can't even keep your word"Just as Cain raised his hand to deliver another lash, a firm grip restraine
Cage's POVThe room had fallen into heavy silence after the rogues were done talking. The words lingered in the air like a thick fog, and the weight of their accusation was choking. The rogues had revealed their truth which made everything shift. It looked like the Great Elder and the elders were trying hard to maintain calm.I glared at the Great Elder, my stare cold, unyielding. They were trying hard to conceal their panic-it was an open book before me. They had been found out, and no denial would cover up what had just transpired.I took a deep breath and let the silence out, my voice firm as I spoke to the room. "Does anybody have anything to say?" My words cut like a knife through tension. "Anything to refute what's just been said?There was silence for a while. The Great Elder's eyes flickered towards the other elders, and I saw them exchange looks subtly. They were waiting for one of them to break the silence, waiting for the Great Elder to answer.Finally, after what felt like
Cage's POVI stayed seated, my eyes fixed on the great Elder as he spat venomous words at me while other Elders watched."You are a traitor. Going behind our backs to do shady things for your selfish benefit. You don't think about us at all. The consequences of your actions. Killing one of my sons was nothing to you and you dare question me. Why?" He lamented woefully.The continuous accusations made some of them, who were satisfied with the ongoing confrontations, feel like they could question me, too. So, one by one, they asked me questions, trying to prove me guilty and suspicious."Why would you question him like that? Making him seem suspicious. What are you trying to insinuate?" One asked."Did you truly kill his son?" Another elder feigned shock. The Elders with him joined in, their voice rising in a cacophony of accusations. But I remained calm, my expression unreadable.The Great Elder bellowed "You are a liar Cage!, You might be planning to betray us this very moment" I did
Cage's POVI sat in the middle chair of the conference room, my fingers steepled in front of me, my face expressionless. A half-circle of Elders sat stiffly to my left and right, some arms crossed, others leaning back as if their time was too precious to be wasted here. Irritation, impatience, and worst of all, disrespect, were mirrored in every pair of eyes."Why have you called this emergency meeting, Alpha?" asked one of the Elders’s wiry men whose tone clipped and dismissed easily. "Some of us do have more important things to deal with rather than indulge your whims."A soft murmur of agreement rustled around the room. My jaw tightened, but I didn't react. Instead, I merely stared at them, letting the weight of my silence press against their arrogance.It was at this point that it dawned on me: I had been so thoroughly hooked up on my desire for vengeance, my urge to squash whatever was in my way, that I had forgotten my Pack. I had let control slip right through my fingers and al
Author's POVThe Great Elder stood firm not scared of Milano's treat, he looked at Milano with anger in his. Still refusing to leave, and the Elders with him agreed. They felt something was wrong, something in the air was off. They didn’t trust Milano or what was happening. But they weren’t going to give in. The Elders kept saying the same thing—Cage should come and meet them personally, not send his messenger. They would not leave until that happened.Well, I am not interested in your demands or whatever you have to say. I am here for a reason, and am not going to waste time. Milano said as he moved slowly toward one of the Great Elder’s sons, the one who had been shouting insults and trying to act tough. He had been yelling at Milano, thinking his position and family power would protect him. But Milano didn’t even flinch. Without saying a word, he moved towards the older son and grabbed his arm, twisting it suddenly with a sharp movement. A loud snap echoed as the bone broke, and th
Author's POVThe Great Elder stood up from his seat, his face showing explicit dissatisfaction. Still, there was more than that dissatisfaction-an uneasy feeling crawled up in his chest, which he couldn't get rid of. His warriors that rushed in spoke in hurried and stuttered words, seemingly scared by whatever had happened.We... we were attacked, Elder. Ambushed. We did not see it coming. The enemy—" One of the warriors tried to conclude, but his eyes were shaking in fear.The room fell silent, as the other Elders stared at each other, incredulous and concerned. No one could believe what they were being told. The mansion of the Great Elder was always a safe place, always secure.Who dares to attack us?" asked another Elder, full of anger and confusion in his tone. "Who has the guts to challenge the Great Elder's mansion?The Great Elder did not waste any time as he ordered his close subordinates to handle it straight away. "Assemble the warriors and find out who did this; take care o
Author's POVThe grand dining hall of the great Elder's mansion shimmered under the glow of golden chandeliers. The long, polished table was adorned with the finest silverware, rich meats and the most exquisite wines that were hard to find.At the head of the table, the great Elder sat, his eyes gleamed with arrogance as he lifted his goblet filled to the brim with a deep crimson wine.The middle-aged men seated with him were all dressed in fine garments, and they looked important. Their faces lit with eager anticipation. Behind them, silent servants stood attentively ready to refill their glasses and plates at any moment.The great Elder laughed heartily as he toasted his guest, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "To our future success!" He exclaimed, with pride and confidence."With Cage and his subordinate finally out of the way, the pack would be ours. Everything in it would become ours. Every single thing" He looked at his wine and laughed at it like a very crazy man. One of the
Cage's POVHe instantly understood what I said and in a jiffy, new secret guards streamed in and surrounded the rouges.The rouges stumbled backwards, their eyes darting wildly as they struggled to process the sudden turn of events. Their leader's face contorted into a mixture of disbelief and fear. His shoulders sagged as his confidence fell. He looked at me with regret, his composure almost slipping."This shouldn't be happening!" He exclaimed, his voice shattering into a thousand pieces. "Fight back. Fight With your best," one of the rogue leaders ordered as he saw his rouge warriors getting overpowered."It's way too late for that. The probability of you guys winning is too thin. You better accept defeat" I looked him straight in the eye and told him.He unleashed a fury of rage, launching himself at me with tremendous force. Anticipating his attack, I swiftly moved away, blocking it. With a loud growl, he sped past me and slammed into the wall."Oops," I grinned with satisfaction
Cage's POVThe instant the scream from Berrilyl reached my ears, my heart contracted in a way it shouldn't have. My body had moved well before my brain kicked in and I turned sharply in the direction of her voice. I caught her running toward me, a look of concern twisting her face, along with something else, it was fear.In That split second, the distraction almost cost me my life.A rogue caught me out of focus and charged at me, his blade was aimed right at my exposed side; I barely had time to react. Instinct kicked in, and I twisted my body in time, the blade grazing across my ribs instead of burying into my flesh. The pain was sharp, but I pushed it aside, countering it with a vicious strike that sent the rogue stumbling back.I hadn't had a chance to finish him off.Berrilyl was too close now, too close."What are you doing?!" I snapped at her, latching onto her arm and yanking her behind me. My grip was firm as my heart still hammered in my chest from the near miss.The rogue
Cage's POVTonight, the air is weighted with unvoiced challenge. I sit at the far edge of Mansion's yard, my body bent and tensed on guard. The torches from behind the stone walls seemed to threaten and would violently hang, casting malicious shadowing alongside me in silence. Miliano stood on my right-hand side, still as a ghoulish smile stretched his tanned skin from nose to neck end."Bring the secret guard and surround the Mansion," I ordered, having my voice drop steady, emotionless when inside me chaos brewed.Miliano nodded profoundly. "Aye." And with that, he turned on his heel and motioned for the men we had trained in secret to take their position. They shifted like ghosts and moved into their positions, efficient but silent; slipping into darkness as if they were spawned from it.Just as we were going to make our move, I felt it, the unnatural shift in the air, followed by the distant yet unmistakable sound of approaching footsteps. Lots of them. My instincts screamed a war