Chapter 3

The cold feeling of the floor against my body was the first thing I felt as I slowly opened my eyes. Everywhere was pitch dark, and it took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness finally.

The floor was cold against my skin, and I tried to move; that was when I felt the cold feeling of chains against my skin. I was tied in a dungeon like a criminal.

I could feel my anger rising again as memories of earlier started to hit me. My neck was still a bit sore from all the choking that demon had done, but knowing we were no longer mates made me happy. I rejected him and was ready to pay for whatever the consequences were.

Lila whined in my head, and I chose to ignore her. If she refused to see my point for not wanting to mate with a criminal, I would miss her until she realized I was doing this for both of us.

“He’s not that bad of a man, Vesta. You need to give him a chance,” she whined, and I cackled. Like a witch, I knew Lila was speaking from a wolf’s point of view, but it doesn’t make it any funnier.

“This man killed my parents. He’s the reason for the truckload of nightmares, and he’s the reason I would never be tied to a man. We aren’t getting mated to him as long as I’m in control here, and you better get used to it,” I deadpanned, and I felt her go quiet.

I feel bad for being strict with her, and Lila has always been very supportive since I got her, but Lucius isn’t a man I would want to be mated to, not because the mate bond is driving my wolf crazy.

I’ve always had a solid hold on my wolf; everyone thinks it’s because I’m an alpha wolf, but I think it’s because I’ve always had a strong mind.

“I still think you should give him a chance, but I understand what you mean,” she replied after a while, and I didn’t say anything further. I sit in silence, and as if Lila could take the hints too, she disappeared into the far corner of my mind.

“Vesta,” someone called softly, and I was startled. I thought I was the only person here, and I had no idea when he approached me.

The lights came on, and I closed my eyes hurriedly from the intensity. I wonder how long I have been sitting in darkness.

I finally waited for my eyes to adjust to my new reality and slowly opened my eyes. I took a proper look at where I was; it was the dark dungeons—the nerve of that man to throw me into the dark dungeon in my pack.

Uncle Callum stood at the other side of the dungeon; he couldn’t come close because the door was coated in pure silver. This dungeon houses the worst of criminals, not people who don’t want to be mated to monsters.

I guess rejecting that man hurt his fragile ego, and now I’m being kept like a criminal. It doesn’t surprise me, though, and if he thinks this would make me change my mind, he’s in for a surprise—a rude awakening.

“Vesta…” Uncle Callum called again, but I chose that moment to focus on the very high, bland ceiling. I wonder how criminals survive here; I guess I’m about to find out.

I won’t lie; finding out my uncle brought all of this on me hurts like a bitch, and I would have preferred if I was exempted from all of this. I have never wanted a mate one day of my life, and I would never want one, especially if he’s a monster.

“You know I would never do this to you intentionally. I would never lock you in a dungeon made for the toughest criminals; I would never treat you any sort of a princess. You’re family, and I would never ever turn my back against you,” he continued despite me not answering.

I wanted to ask him if he rehearsed that line before coming down here. He practiced it in front of a mirror before coming here and thought it would make me change my mind.

It’s pretty laughable when he tells me that he would never turn his back on me when that’s what he just did to me. He turned his freaking back on me like I wasn’t his blood or like that beast didn’t ruin our family.

“I know you’re still angry at what he did to us. I still am, but he’s way above our powers. We can do nothing to him unless we let fate run its course. He wouldn’t stop until he has you, Vesta. He will tear everything down until he gets you.”

That part was genuine, and I felt it in me. I hated knowing he could do that; a monster like him wanted someone he could control. It was not like he was interested in being a mate; he just wanted someone to continue his wretched lineage.

“An informant just told me he is prepping armies in preparations to shut down our pack. Vesta, everything we have worked together to build over the years will go up in flames because you refused to be with him. Everything your parents—my brother worked to build will no longer exist,” he continued, his voice breaking at the last part.

We never talked about my parents; it was some unspoken rule between us. We mourned in our different ways, but I guess he was still hung over their death, just like me. Maybe he had to be strong because he was the alpha, and our people needed him.

He wasn’t lying; I knew very much because Alpha Lucius had brought down the strongest of packs, and we knew that, too. We didn’t hold a candle to him; he would ruin everything my parents struggled to build. Everything that reminded me of them would be burnt to the ground.

The thoughts of that happening were making me feel weird. I shouldn’t have to deal with that. I didn’t deserve this, and I hate the moon goddess even more for making me have to deal with this. I shouldn’t have to, and I don’t deserve it.

I guess that’s what we get for not being her favorite; she stays up there and watches Lucius ruin everything the realm stands for.

“Vesta please,” he croaked again, and I closed my eyes. Maybe if I pretended this didn’t exist he wo, he would go away, and I would magically disappear.

I desperately want to erase yesterday away from my memory and pretend it never happened, but that was just wishful thinking. It wasn’t a page from a dark fairytale; it was my reality now.

No other words were exchanged for the longest time, and my uncle stood in the corridor of the dungeon in silence with the hope that I would say something affirmative or something that suggested I was willing to cave in and marry the beast.

“I will leave you to your thoughts; I just want you to remember all of us. Me, your auntie Lulu, Aimee, and the rest of the pack members that you’ve spent all your life with. They do not deserve to die like this.”

He walked away slowly, and I could feel the guilt eating me up. He was right about that one thing: the pack members didn’t deserve to die like this and not in the hands of the monster, mainly not because of my defiance. I would go alone if I wanted to go to war with Lucius.

“Wait!” I called out.