Chapter 8

Alpha Gabriel

What do you do when your pet bird escapes its confines and soars to freedom? You hunt her down with wild determination, enraged that she dared take flight. When you catch up to her, you rip her wings from her body with a vengeance, taking out any chance of freedom. And that's what I plan to do when I catch my soon to be bride, Victoria. Think she can hide from me forever? I don't fucking think so. 

 Ha! I will find her and when I do, she'll wish she never tried to run away from me!

But I will have to admit, she is a sneaky little thing. She slipped past all my guards and somehow still managed to stay hidden. It's been a few weeks and I'd been looking for her everywhere, but even my keen sense of smell can't seem to track down her scent.

I decide to visit her parents in the dungeon this evening. They claimed not to know where she is, but I could see through their lies with ease; those bastards were determined to protect their daughter from me at all costs.

As I make my way down to the dungeon, I can feel the anger building inside me. How dare Victoria defy me? How dare she think she can escape my grasp? She will soon learn the consequences of her actions.

The cold air in the dungeon sends a shiver down my spine, but I pay it no mind. I approach her parents, who are huddled together in a corner, fear etched across their faces. They know what I am capable of, and they know I will stop at nothing to find Victoria.

"Where is Victoria?" I demand, my voice laced with a dangerous intensity. Their eyes dart nervously between each other, a silent exchange passing between them.

"She's gone, Gabriel," her mother speaks first, her voice trembling. "And we already told you. We do not know where she is."

I scoff, not believing their words for a second. "Do you really expect me to believe that?" I growl, taking a step closer to them. "Your daughter could not have escaped without your help. Tell me the truth, or you will regret it."

They exchange another glance, and her father takes a deep breath, steeling himself. "We had no part in her escape, Gabriel. We love our daughter, but we never supported the way you treated her. She deserves better than you."

His words ignite a fire within me, a mix of anger and betrayal. How dare they question my treatment of Victoria? She is mine, and mine alone. No one else will have her.

With a swift movement, I grab her father by the collar, my grip tightening. "You will not speak ill of me or my actions," I hiss, my voice low and menacing. "You will tell me where she is, or else..."

He stares defiantly into my eyes, refusing to back down. "Or else what, Gabriel? You will keep hurting us? Kill us? Do your worse."

My grip tightens further, and a growl escapes my lips. "You will regret those words, Tobias," I warn, my voice filled with a dangerous edge. "And when I find Victoria, there will be consequences for both her and you."

"Why won't you leave her alone?" her mother sobbed. "You could have any other woman to marry. Why her?"

"Because she is special!" I roar. My lips twist into a smile. "But you already know that about her, don't you?"

She looks down. "I don't know what you're talking about, Alpha. She is just an ordinary wolf."

"Bullshit," I say and chuckle loudly. "You have fooled everyone and even her, I know what she is. And I will make sure she serves me her entire life after I find her."

"Please, Gabriel," she begs, her eyes welling up with tears. "Leave her alone. This is not her fault. She does not deserve this."

"Don't beg, Miranda. We will not bow down to this monster," Victoria's father hisses at me.

A loud growl escapes my lips, and I squeeze Tobias's throat harder. "Where is she? I will kill you both if you continue to protect her."

Her mother looks up, tears streaming down her face. "We told you. We don't know."

I keep squeezing Tobias's throat tighter, determined to get the answers I want. And yet, he refuses to answer.

I can feel his pulse slowing. I have taken him a little too far. I let go of him, and his body crumples to the ground. A pool of blood spreads around him.

"Noooo!" Miranda screams and lunges for him, but I catch her and push her back.

"You will watch him die!" I yell, and she breaks down in sobs.

"Don't kill him, please," she begs. "I will do anything you want, just please, don't kill him."

"How long do you think you can defy me?" I ask her in a chilling tone. "How long do you think you can defy my will?"

She freezes at my words, her eyes darting between me and her dying husband. I can smell the fear radiating off her. She is practically shaking like a leaf.

"If you kill him, I won't tell you where she is," she whispers.

"I know you will," I say in a calm voice. "If you feel your mate's life in danger, you will do anything to save him."

I turn to Tobias, who is struggling to breathe. "You have two days, Tobias. Two days to tell me where Victoria is. If I don't have your answer by then, I will slit your throat and then your wife's. And then I will make Victoria watch as I burn both of your dead bodies."

His eyes dart to his wife, and I know I have him.

Miranda falls to her knees next to her husband. She cradles his head in her lap as blood oozes out of his mouth.

"You will regret this, Gabriel," he pants, coughing up blood.

"I don't think so," I say and smile at him. "I will find Victoria, and we will be married right here on this spot. And you will be forced to watch," I say and walk back up the staircase.

I will make sure Victoria returns to me. When I find her, there will be consequences. I will kill her parents right in front of her.