Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Atlas. 

She almost collapsed at the weight of my words. It was nothing she expected. 

My narrowed eyes watched her closely, feeding off the intense fear radiating from her.

Trembling on a spot, her terrified eyes tore off my blank ones. She was unsure whether to bow to me or flee out of fear. 

Trapped between my complicated attributes, I could tell she was more terrified of me than she was terrified of Asael. He was a brutal force whose ruthlessness was openly displayed, and I was a quiet storm, my cruelty lurking beneath a blank gaze, calm yet as deadly as a viper's venom. My next move was unpredictable. It was what Asael loved about me. 

Favours from me were never without a catch. And most importantly, my emotions were dead. 

I looked over her average frame, chucking darkly as an idea popped into my messed-up head. 

She was the perfect pawn for what I had in mind. 

“What do you mean?” her terrified voice asked in a whisper as her body quivered under my intimidating dark aura. 

“You see, mate,” I started, laying emphasis on the last word to drive her into confusion. “We didn't come here to harness Opal wolves' powers. We are not even members of the crusade. We are here for two reasons: to confirm that the Opal wolves exist and to confirm an 18-year-old rumour.” 

I straightened, circling her slowly with my hands clasped behind my back. The heavy thumping of my book hit the floor, and tension pressed hard into her like a dagger. 

I suddenly halted, causing her to flinch as I stared deep into her soul, trying to read her expression. “Rumours have it that Logan's last living relation is an Opal wolf and she lives in this pack.”

I could tell a chill ran down her spine. Her eyes flickered in hesitation, but she tried to hide it. 

Her face was expressionless. I couldn't pick anything that would betray her emotions yet. 

“How does this concern me?” Her voice shook as she swallowed hard, trying to steady her labored breathing.  

“That is where you come in, find her in exchange for your freedom.”

I let those words sink into her like a sharp knife.

“My freedom?” she gasped, her lips parted as realization dawned on her. 

"You gambled with the devil." 

A shrill of terror flushed down her spine as her chest rose and fell rapidly.

"How?" 

“Love, you belong to us now. We are your Masters and you will do as we please.” Alaric added, scoffing. 

“You think saving your life doesn't come at a huge cost?” Asael smirked. 

She blinked hard, her head spiraling in confusion. 

“Find Azara Storm. She is the last living relation of the late Alpha Logan Storm.” 

“Why? What did she do?” she asked, almost choking on fear. 

“She didn't do anything, love. We have an unfinished business with her bastard father, Logan. But since the fucker is dead, she has to answer for her father, meaning she has an unfinished business with us.” I stated, giving her a wicked grin as her face was masked with confusion. 

“I know you know them. Azara Storm has been living in this pack for 18 years with her mother. Does that ring a bell?!” My voice boomed as her reluctance started to irritate me, causing her to jump. 

“I…I don't know what you are talking about…”

My fingers wrapped her neck as I slammed her against the wall in the blink of an eye, adding pressure against her throat and watching her gasp for breath.

“Don't lie to me!” I screamed, struggling against my wolf that kept scolding me for hurting his mate. “I need answers. Where is Azara Storm and her mother?!” 

“Take it easy on her, Atlas. She has just lost her parents…” Arien tried to convince me, but my growls sent him away. 

How dare he embrace emotions?!

“You will kill mate, stop!” Koa screamed in my head, scratching its way and struggling to transform. 

“Now is not the time for sick emotions. I've waited long for this moment.” I said harshly, blocking him as I resumed torturing her. 

“I'll…speak…” She managed to say while a smile appeared on my face swiftly as I unwrapped my fingers from her neck, watching her cough intensely before she could catch her breath. 

“When…when the invasion started,” she stopped briefly, sucking in a deep breath, “Everyone erupted in flames. I'm the only survivor. There is no one left. Azara Storm had died with her mother. Please, believe me.” 

“I will believe you when you tell me why you share a significant resemblance with that bastard Logan.” Alaric suddenly pointed. 

Holyshit! 

I should have known his silence meant he was strictly observing her. 

How did I not notice the girl's resemblance to Alpha Logan Storm? It wasn't striking, yet, it loomed over.

“Lying will make me kill you fast!” I spat, resisting the urge to destroy her. 

“I am not lying. I do not know who Alpha Logan Storm is!”

“What is your name? And who is your father?” I asked, concentrating on her while waiting for her emotions to betray her. 

“Azar…Azalea Hunter. My father is the Alpha of this pack and as you can see, his ashes, together with my mum right there,” 

“You hesitated! She is lying!” Asael blurted, pointing his fingers at her as anger flooded his veins.

“I'm not. I just lost everything. I'm not in the right frame of mind. Please, believe me.” She broke down feebly. 

I watched tears flow effortlessly from her flamy green eyes. But I remained still. Unmoved. 

“Since I've answered your question, I would like to go. I'm in mourning and I'm heartbroken. I need to be by myself.”

Her request made us burst into a series of laughter as she stared at her in disbelief.

She must be bluffing.

“I don't think so, mate. You've forgotten so soon how we own your life. You have no freedom since you couldn't provide Azara Storm.”

“But she is dead, what else do…” she tried to protest while I raised my finger in the air, silencing her. 

“You are coming with us!” I declared with an air of finality, ignoring Asael’s protest and her shocked response. 

My voice was devoid of any shred of humanity. 

“To do what?”...

“To become our slave. You belong to us: your body, soul,, and spirit. You are our property. And you have no life because we own you forever.” 

“Please, don't do this to me. Another option, not this,” she wailed. 

“Accept to become our slave mate, or we will hand you over to Liam and the Rogue King where a fate worse than death awaits you. The choice is yours.”