AMAYA'S POV “This is Nelo’s bracelet…how is it here?” Several thoughts had bombarded my head at that moment. When my eyes fell upon Lucius, goosebumps climbed my body and as he had tried to approach me, I drew back. “Yes, it is,” Lucius had agreed and further said Nelo must have mistakenly dropped it on her way out. He said he had called her out to ask her for ways to make me happy and come back to him as she was my best friend and knew me best. His story made sense but Nelo never told me she was out to meet him. The beeping of the clock sounded abruptly, reminding me of my environment. I shook my head as if shaking it would push the many thoughts and questions flooding into them away. This wasn't the time to doubt. If anything, I was the worst of all. I betrayed Damian. I let Lucius use me to bring him down. How could I ever forgive myself for it? My chest tightened with resentment for myself. But I didn't want to keep feeling self pity and doing nothing. Damian's eyes as he w
CRAVEN PACK DUNGEON A guard carrying two trays containing two plates of dried bread and another small plate half filled with water stood before Damian’s cell. He looked at Damian sadly. “You will always be the only Alpha I will bow to,” he said, the veins in his neck surged with determination. “Don't feel bad. I am the one that has failed to protect you,” Damian told him. The guard placed the tray on the ground and pushed one of the plates towards Lucius' cell. Lucius gave him a look. “You will share the water but Alpha Damian will have the first drink,” the guard said and placed the water such that only Damian could reach it. Lucius hissed and kicked the plate of bread away. “I need no food or water. I don't deserve it,” Damian mumbled and pressed his jaw miserably. He then signalled the guard to come closer. “Did you check what I asked you to check?” he asked. The guard glanced around cautiously. “I am still on it. Tommy is very cautious and goes around with all sorts of bu
CRAVEN PACK HOLDING ROOM Amaya’s eyes scanned the room they put her in. It had only one door. Aside from this one door, there was also the main gate to pass through. Her hands were firmly tied to the chair and three unfriendly eyes remained on her. It was obvious there was no way out. She ground her teeth and pressed back a frustrated sigh. A moment later Tommy strode in. “Bring the man out,” he immediately ordered. A hulk, over six feet tall with splitting muscles tracing all over his body lumbered in. Amaya’s chest tightened with alarm as the beast stomped towards her. He towered over her, the facial lines in his face burrowing deeply into his fat face. Awe looked at Tommy. “What are you going to do to me?” She questioned as she sucked in air, trembling with fear. “They don't like you enough, too bad,” Tommy muttered. “They won't give me what I want and you will have to suffer for it.”“I have nothing that you want! Let me go now!” Amaya gritted. “Oh yes, you do…your screams
Lyra headed towards the building the guards had pointed her to. They told her Tommy was in the private chambers. However, they allowed her to go see him there. Very much to her surprise. A few minutes later, she knocked once and entered the house. Again, to her surprise, the entrance door was unlocked. As if her visit was expected. She looked around, vaguely recognizing the house. Damian never let her enter. Although she could see the changes Tommy had made, there wasn't much difference when Damian used it. She swallowed hard, feeling a jolt of guilt at the remembrance of Damian but she shrugged it off and proceeded inside. “Alpha Tommy?” She called, meeting the empty cushions and room. She heard a sound coming from the bedroom and approached it. At the door, her heart skipped. She imagined Tommy getting furious at her unannounced visit. What if he gets furious at her and rejects her advances? She bit her lip and hoped it didn't come to that. She had asked the guards if he was on
“My love, what's wrong?” Jungo asked softly. The frustration and helplessness etched in his face.“I know, the whole takeovers is toiling with everyone–”“I'm sorry, Jungo but we can't continue this,” Nelo muttered, throwing her face away. What was the need? Tommy now ruled Craven and Damian was in jail. The only reason she needed him in the first place was to spy on Damian. Jungo blinked, the confusion arching deeper in his forehead. “What do you mean, my love? Have I made you upset again?” He came closer to take her hand. Just like he had always done each time she got angry at him and always mellowed when he apologized but was roughly pushed away instead. Nelo flared up. She was tired of acting indifferent and yet his dumb self wouldn’t get it. “What part of my words do you not understand? When I said we can't continue whatever this bullshit is, I mean I am done with you! Don't you get it? You are not my type and everything that happened between us was a mistake! How can I possibl
CRAVEN PACK DUNGEON “Please make sure to eat your meal, my Alpha.”Those were the exact words the guard that brought in his meal that very morning had said and for some very odd reason Damian couldn't say, both the food and the manner with which the guard had spoken kept on bothering him. Unable to wave off the bother, he decided to see for himself. Sighing, he lifted the plate and looked at the food. Nothing special. Same horrible choice of food as it had been. Since he got captured, he had tasted nothing that was given. As an Alpha that had fought wars and suffered a lot, his body was no stranger to torture and not getting food for days. As he made to drop the plate back, something white caught his eye. He stopped and glanced around to see if he was being watched–Lucius leaned on the cell rods with eyes shut and none of the guards seemed to be paying attention. He stuck his hand in and carefully drew out a folded piece of paper. He unfolded it and read: “Nelo is a spy. She spied
As it had been ever since he took over, sleep did not come. Not even consuming wine helped and to this Tommy had resigned to the fate that great men sometimes lack sleep because of the great things they have achieved and more that they would go on to achieve. He gaped at the ceiling absentmindedly. Trying to force himself to fall asleep was now a farfetched wish. The one time he had managed to fall asleep, he had woken up screaming and clawing at his bed sheets from a very bad nightmare. For several minutes after that, he had sat at the edge of the bed, drenched in his sweat and teeth gnashing from horror. He climbed out of the bed and marched to the mirror grumpily. Rubbed his eyes feeling a slight ache in his forehead. His eyes were bloodshot and with his knocked off tooth, he could barely recognize the image he was looking at let alone believe it belonged to him. When did he become this gaunt? His jaw slacked. He heard a knock and paused. Surprised at the unexpected knock, he wai
It was as though there was a rule to slaughter whoever said the first word. Each to their thought as they as the three ladies sat around the dining table for breakfast. Icy. But Lyra's eyes watched everyone's movement. At that point, every single one of them was a suspect. The figure she had seen enter Tommy's private chamber bothered her all through the night. Who was it? Nelo? Nelly? Did the person see her? Did Tommy rat her out? Knowing Tommy, he wouldn't be someone to do that. Still she couldn't vouch that he couldn't considering how he’d treated her. It couldn't be Amaya. She was being held in prison. What if it was one of the maids? She shook her head. Tommy may be a bastard but he wouldn't stoop that low. She hoped. However, a tiny fragment of her still had doubts“Why do you keep watching me?” Nelly questioned. “Nothing! Why would I possibly be watching?” Lyra gabbled, startled. “Your eyes keep moving and that too—” She pointed to her food–her fork had poked the life ou
Balus stiffened. Tommy was the last man he was expecting in his house. He shot Luman a look as if to fault him for having weak guards man his gates. But since it had already happened, he would find a way to quickly discard him. It was already enough trouble that he joined hands with him, what would Damian do if he found him hanging in his pack. He cleared his throat. “What a surprise visit. You did not give me a notice.”Tommy walked past him and lowered himself into the nearest cushion. “Well, I figured coming with my two legs would be the best. Get me a drink. Sweet wine preferably,” he said casually as he rested his arms around the seat. “Sure I will have the guards do that. Guards!” Alpha Balus bellowed. “They are probably deep asleep at the moment,” Tommy drawled. He looked at Luman. Then sat up. “Forget the drink. I will have lots of it to drink soon. Balus, let's talk somewhere private.”The way he was very relaxed made Balus coil inside. Did he think he was still some hot s
“Catch him! Don't let him escape!”“Shit!” Tommy dived into the nearest thickest portion of the bush. Leaves slapped across his face and his leg scraped and bumped against dry stumps that stuck out of place. As he ran, his eyes scanned for a place to hide. He'd always known losing his chasers was better than having them keep chasing him behind. Who knew if they had with him one of those silver arrows.He found one. One at a perfert spot. He broke a thick stem from a plant, flung it and diverted the direction of his chasers. Then he crawled into a hole big enough to cover his body but not his head.Quickly he gathered dried leaves nearby and covered his upper body. The men growled past and from where he hid, he could feel their strength and determination. If they had used the same energy and served him he would not be in this situation. “Bastards!” He should have killed them all. They were useless. He had never ran the way he did. Just some hours ago he was the most powerful man in t
“Greetings, my Alpha,” Jaxon greeted Lucius. “Forgive me for being a lacking servant and friend.”Lucius regarded him, along with the parked boxes beside him. Once the chaos died down, Jaxon was the first person he’d asked of. He still didn't understand how he never visited him in the dungeon the entire time despite needing no connections. He wanted to believe he was now fully on the side of Tommy. Until he heard of everything that happened. “How’s the situation of things?” He asked. Jaxon lifted his face. “Are you asking about the situation at Westwood?” When Lucius said nothing, he took the cue to go ahead. “Westwood Pack now under Craven Pack. Tommy made it so,” he explained quietly. Tommy flared up.”What? That bastard…” he gnashed. “Are you saying I just lost my pack?!”Jaxon hesitated. “The elders permitted it and Tommy had probably thought he would lead forever. He was afraid other Alphas would try to make a move.”Lucius fumed. Frustration latched onto him as much as the ange
“Amaya!” Damian called as he barged into the holding cell. But the room was empty at his entrance. His heart skipped one beat at the possibility that Amaya could have gotten hurt. Casting another glance at the empty table and seats, he panted out. He'd breezed out when an equally panting voice echoed his name from behind. He turned sharply. “Nelly?”“My Alpha…” Nelly muffled, her voice breaking. She scurried over to him. “Are you hurt anywhere? And your strength? Are you fully back?” Her eyes roamed over him with deep concern. “It’s all good now,” Damian said calmly. “Are you alright—”She fell into his arms and released a huge sigh. “Thank the goddess…thank the goddess…I thought I wouldn't see you again…” he voice shook with emotions. “What happened? Why are you here?”“That jerk brought me here. Jay’s brow arched. “Wasn't Amaya the one captured?” Then his eyes narrowed in sheer surprise. “Was it you? Did you send the key to me?*Nelly sighed softly. “The key. It wasn't me. I hat
The two threw one last glance at themselves before they each zoomed off. While Lucius proceeded further into the dungeon, Damian exited the dungeon and ran into his first obstacle soon after. A guard. He was a block away from the holding cell. “You are from the dungeon. Where are you going? Who's holding the forte over there?” the guard questioned. “The forte is good over there, boss. I will just grab a cup of water and be on my way back,” Damian replied calmly. His head tilted slightly down. “Make sure to be quick about it,” the guard said after a brief moment. “Wait,” his face crumpled and he turned around. The voice was strange. “Turn around!” he commanded. Damian stopped with a sigh. Why would nothing ever go the way he envisioned? As the guard approached him, his ears stood erect. One…two…three.He rotated rapidly, taking the guard unawares. He hooked his throat and slammed him hard on the wall. Letting his body drop heavily to the ground he advanced forward. He was about t
The eerie silence outside the dungeon matched the thick darkness inside. In his cell, Damian sat at a corner. His usual spot. He opened his palm and although it was thick dark, he was able to outline the shiny key that glinted despite the impenetrable darkness. Amaya had risked her life to bring this in. He must make no mistakes. It crushed him to know she'd go that length to help him. He heard Lucius stir in his cell and a moment later he'd crawled to the demarcation. “Isn't it time you accepted me as your only hope and comrade in this place?”Damian couldn't see him clearly through the dark but he still glanced his way. “Where do you think he would be holding the intruder captured earlier?” he asked in a low voice. “Intruder?” Lucius shot up. “So I was right!” His voice squeaked. “Keep your fucking voice down!” Damain warned. Lucius shrugged. “Well, if he was a man he'd be here with us in one of the cells somewhere. Wouldn't he?”“And if it were a woman?”“A woman? What woman…w
“You think he cares about you? Have you ever wondered how your parents died?”As Damian sprawled in his cell, Tommy's words echoed in his head. Those were the words he had said to him when he made him fight his uncle. He still couldn't believe he'd make him fight his uncle.What did Tommy mean by he knew nothing about his uncle? Tommy was nothing but a traitor and a cunny bastard. He didn't expect him to get that low. He already had him in chains and taken his Pack, what would he gain trying to create a rift between him and his uncle? He wanted to disregard Tommy's words but his eyes kept flashing in his head. Those were not the eyes of a man trying to con someone.While he was dragged to the fighting cage, he had seen someone with a striking resemblance to Amaya. A guard. It couldn't be her. He wasn't sure. Yes, Amaya was very daring and stubborn but would she step foot into Emperor Mansion days after escaping? Tommy would skin her alive. She knew that. She wouldn't dare. And so he h
“Argh!” Jaxon let out a sharp grunt as another strong hand pressed him down. Three guards in total gripped him until he couldn't move a finger. Tommy seethed forward. First thing he did was kick Jaxon repeatedly. “You traitor! How dare you! I treated you like you were worth something but this is what I get!” His widened eyes were swollen from the adrenaline rush. He stopped abruptly, panting. He swirled and his robe swirled with him. Fury latched deep within him. He shook his head and his clenched fist trembled. Jaxon shouldn't betray him. Jaxon shouldn't….He wheeled around again. “How long have you been planning this?”Blood gushed through Jaxon's mouth. A part of his right eyes was swollen from the punches. He struggled to keep the slit open. “You probably know better than me… how long you planned on betraying Lucius?” He smirked. Tommy snarled.“Fool. Take him to the dungeon! No! Kill him! He is worthless to me.”“Kill him?” The guard, first in command, queried. Tommy coiled, ann
AMAYA It wasn't just the bloke but I was already noticing the nosy eyes thrown my way. Most probably due to the guard’s uniform I was putting on and being in the crowd. I left the crowd and lurked around the path back to the dungeon where a couple of other guards were. Luckily they didn't notice anything as I joined them. Although the heavy thudding of my heart would have given me out faster. As the men dragged Damian and his uncle with Lucius back into the dungeon. I lingered for about five seconds. “Stop right there! Who are you? Show your face!” a voice roared behind me the instant I tried to move. Stay calm. They won't notice. Show the pass Jaxon gave you. “Turn around!” the voice came again. I obeyed. “What? Is there a problem.” I tried to sound as natural as I could. The guard approached me. I bent my face. I wasn't sure how effective Jaxon's tanning cream would be. Through my lashes I saw his face wrinkled into a frown. “Your uniform has no name tag. Are you one of the n