“Speak, what is it?” Lucius demanded, trying to contain his annoyance. Like what was so urgent Jaxon had to make him leave Amaya at that moment. What better time would he get to be in such proximity and calmness with her again? “It better be something important,” he added, his face wrinkling. “The elders are meeting behind your back,” Jaxon revealed. “What?” Lucius leaned back, forehead burrowing deep. Anxiety etched deep into his face, the irritation on it replaced with a mixture of worry and disappointment. He'd always known they were a bunch of greedy elders but he didn't think they would start this early to show their hidden claws. Things were beginning to look good for him. He stifled a groan. “When did this start? Are you just knowing about it now?” He asked Jaxon. “I'm sorry but we have been so focused with Balus and your mate–”“Who started it? Chief elder? What is their reason for betraying me? Why can't they trust in me?”“Their reason remains that you have yet to fulfil
Lucius sprung from his seat as if suddenly overcome by something and charged outside. Tommy and Jaxon were at the door and just about to get in when he dashed outside. “Call them back!” he yelled. Tommy and Jaxon stared at him, puzzled. “I said call the men back! They are not to kill Damian!” he repeated authoritatively. “What?” Tommy was stiffened as he leaned back stunned. “We can't pull off now,” he said, eyes narrowing. “I didn't say we, I said pull off,” Lucius gritted, emphasizing on the ‘I’. “Call them back. They must return to Westwood immediately.”“You can't pull off the operation now!” Tommy slammed. “Are you challenging me?” Lucius questioned, taken aback. Their gaze held…long, icy, air thickened with unspoken tension. Lucius' jaw was set and firm as fury brewed within him. He could not believe Tommy was talking back to him. His own beta!After a moment, Tommy stepped back and gave a strained chuckle. ”I would never do that, my Alpha. I'm just saying this is the bad
Damian tried to launch an attack but then he stopped. His eyes widened. His body was not feeling the same. Something was wrong. Something was wrong. Was it because of Amaya? His fist curled. The whole set up suggested Lucius must have found out about Amaya's strength and seeing she was away from him decided to strike. He tried not to panic but it was as though the weakness of his body doubled with creating in him the one attribute he detested so much—fear. “Run Damian. Run out of the room and alert the guards.” The warning echoed in his head. But he inwardly shook his head, remembering vividly those words, those words that he had lived by all his life. “I am Alpha Damian. I do not run in the face of adversities. I am the leader and protector of Craven. The day I run from danger is the day I become useless.”No matter how weak his body had become he would not run away.“Did Lucius send you?” He clenched. “Answer me! Did that loser send you!”The men began to circle him like wolves,
AMAYA'S POV I returned to the park and sat on a bench. Outside was calm. Everyone looked so happy and it was like I was the only one feeling this enormous turmoil. Beside me was a family and on my other side were two lovers. They giggled and I couldn't help but notice how they stare affectionately at each other. They saw only themselves. They probably didn't even notice I was beside them. “Mummy! Daddy!” the little kid called out to her parents. She looked so happy as she ran into her father's waiting arm. At that moment, it faintly occured to me the kind of trust children had for their parents. The trust that he would never drop her, that his arms are strong enough to catch her and hold her no matter what. It reminded me of my parents too and it made my heart ache. Everyday I prayed to not wake up one morning and discover that I had forgotten their faces. I clung onto those memories of them I had because they were all I had. I briefly shut my eyes to bask in them. To remind mys
Nelo paced around her room. Every second she stopped and stared out of the window, expecting, hoping and praying that somehow her biggest fear would not happen. She hoped that Amaya would have gotten her letter. Although she would have hoped that somehow she didn't and that Damian would overcome and win the assassins on his own. But that was what she couldn't hope for. She had made sure to drop the Aetherleaf in his study. There was no way he would defeat those assassins after inhaling that. She sighed regretfully. She regretted it. She really did.She didn't want anything happening to Damian. She wished she didn't have to make difficult choices like this one. Damian was her end point. But then again she had to do what she had to do. She'd decided to stay back in her room and waited as everything unfolded. But when she heard Nelly barking orders at the guards and at the maids and everyone she saw, she knew it was better to be out. It would be suspicious if she remained in her room wh
“No…no… Look at me…” Amaya grabbed Damian's arm, eyes widened in shock. There was no way he would forget her. At least not so easily. Not after what they had shared. Not after everything. She swallowed painfully forcing herself to take deep breaths. “Okay. You remember how you saved me from that bar man…remember how you brought me from Westwood …you remember us…how you came back that night and you —you—”“Stop it!” Nelly barked as she stormed forward and pulled Amaya back. “You can’t force him to remember,” she shot. “Yes. He must remember on his own. Even if you try to force him to remember, it won't work,” the seer added, glancing at Amaya. Amaya’s leg weakened and she staggered back. Damian’s face was deeply wrinkled as he watched her. He then looked at Uncle Griffin, the one person he trusted with his life. “Don't think about anything else. The only thing you have to think about is capturing those assassins and their sender now,” Uncle Griffin said and offered a supportive look
“Forgive me my Alpha! I have been a fool! No, punish me my Alpha. I have been a disobedient servant! Punish me, my lord!” Tommy fell on his knees and pleaded. Lucius fumed. He reached for the sheath, drew out the sword and aimed at Tommy's neck. His fingers curled around the sword as his teeth tightened. The veins around his neck bulged and his eyes glowed fiercely. He should slash the lying betrayer before him apart that instant. He should make sure he never sees the light of the day again. “You look down on me Tommy. I give you everything! I took you in as my Beta when you were not half worth it and made your miserable life comfortable!”“Kill me my Alpha. I don't deserve to live. Please kill me–”“Shut up!” Lucius growled. Kill him so he would be termed the heartless Alpha that murdered his own Beta. “Give me one reason why I shouldn't end your life right now,” he demanded with grit. Tommy starred up, eyes clouded with guilt. “Kill me without thinking twice if I ever dare to chal
“Lucius! The goddess must be on your side,” Damian bellowed as he rose from his Alpha seat and began to descend the stairs. When he analyzed the corpse of one of the assassins that attacked him, he'd suspected Lucius as their sender. He had many enemies but none of them would be daring enough to send such highly trained assassins to him. He would have wanted nothing more than to storm over to Westwood Pack himself and capture Lucius but there was no evidence. He scoffed as he sighted not just Alpha Lucius but three other Alphas. All fully dressed in their warrior kit. “You must be guilty of something,” he questioned, his gaze piercing. “Otherwise why would you be here with them? Are you here to confess your sin and make them beg on your behalf?”Alpha Lucuis dismantled the leather strap binding around his sword and threw it on the floor. “This is the verbal declaration of Westwood, Silver and Howl Pack declaring war upon your pack, Alpha Damian,” Lucius dropped. Damian’s brows arch
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