CHAPTER 17

"Even if he did, where did he go? Vanish into thin air?"

"There was no one—no scent except your when I found you."

My heart thuds in my chest. 'What? How can it be possible?'

"I swear, Kael! I saw that man! He—"

"Shut up with your lies, doll. You don't want to make me angrier."

"Stop covering your stupid suicide attempt with your bullshit."

"You were well aware of the repercussions if something happened to you on my territory, yet you pulled a stunt like this."

"You know what? I have a better explanation for your actions."

My heart thuds faster. It can't be good. I just know.

"You and your father planned this. If something happened to you here, the Council would consider it a violation of the barter and strip me of my title."

"Once out of power, your father would attack and take over. Am I right?"

I blink in disbelief. "What the f***? Has he lost his marbles? Me planning with Dad?" I was rendered speechless. At that point, words meant nothing.

This man can go to any extent to find an excuse to hate me. Before I could stop myself, my eyes roll at him.

"Did you dare to roll your eyes at me?" He grips my jaw, seething, and I sigh.

"You think too highly of yourself, Alpha Kael. Do you seriously think I would try to kill myself just to strip you of your power? My life is way more valuable to give away for a bastard like you."

He keeps staring at me, and I hold his stare.

"Then why didn't you kill yourself before marrying me, huh? Why now?"

"Is this man dumb?"

"I f***ing told you it wasn't suicide! A man tried to kill me!"

He lets go of me and starts pacing the room. His veiny fingers run through his hair. After five long minutes of losing himself in deep thought, he nods and stands beside me.

"I will check thoroughly. Until I find proof, you will stay here."

'As if I trust him. He can go and never show me his face again for all I care.' I know Dom told me not to argue with him, but he doesn't help. He starts walking out, and right before his last step, he presses a switch.

Pitch darkness surrounds me, and my throat clogs in fear. "What the hell—"

"It's called the dark room for a reason. And yes, as I promised, your company will join you shortly. Thank your luck—they're edentate."

With this, he slams the door shut, and I am welcomed by pitch darkness. "Company? What company? Edentate? What does that even mean?" The man is going crazier with every passing day.

I tug on my wrists to find them tied above my head. My feet share a similar fate. "Aghh." A little effort, and I already feel drained. Closing my eyes, I decide to get some rest. I barely survived today, and look at him—ready to punish me again. I deserve some rest, at least.

My mind wanders to that killer, and I can't help but replay his words. He said Kael sent him. 'Lie.' Kael wasn't acting. From his reaction, it was clear he knew nothing about this. He hates me, I know, but he wouldn't kill me. And even if one day he decides to do it, it'll be from the front, in my face, by his hands. Not from behind. Or his dear ego would be hurt.

Then why did he lie? 'Think, Astrid. There must be a reason. Think!'

It clicks, and I freeze. It's obvious. He wanted me—and everyone else—to believe that Kael did it and broke the terms of the barter. It was a trap to ruin him using me! But if no one entered the pack, does this mean it's an insider? Or rather, a pack member working as an agent?

I have to find out. The threat is inside! And I know this won't be his last attempt. He failed this time, but he'll try again. But how will I if I'm not released and Kael doesn't trust me?

Dropping my head back, I sigh. Suddenly, I hear a chirp, followed by a hiss. I decide to ignore it, but it resonates again. And then, before I know it, the only sound audible is chirping.

I struggle in the chains, desperate to see what it is, but I am only met with darkness. "What the hell is this now!"

I freeze as I feel something crawling up my legs. And then it happens. Something bites my thigh, and a scream escapes my lips. It doesn't stop. More and more of those creatures start crawling on me, and I thrash desperately. Searing pain hits my feet, then my legs, my chest. And then I see one of them crawling up my face.

"F***ing rats! Kael, you can't be serious!"

That little vixen! She thinks she can fool me? The Alpha of one of the strongest packs in the world? I've checked everywhere. There was no intruder. She was lying to me.

Walking into my office, I settle down in my seat, only to hear hurried footsteps following me.

"Your Highness! The woman is innocent! You're being irrational! She just got out of danger—the dark room is too much for her! The doctor said her heart is too weak—"

I scoff. First my brother, and now him. That bitch really has a way of gaining the sympathy of men around her. Sadly, I am not like others. I can see past her veils clearly.

"She won't die, if that's what you're worried about. A few rat bites aren't going to cause much harm."

"But—"

My receiver rings, and I raise my hand to silence him. Picking up the call, I answer. "Yes? Alpha Kael from the Blood Moon Pack."

"Alpha Kael. Elder Edmund here."

My mind freezes. "Elder?" I look up at Ron and put the call on speaker. He looks at me in confusion.

"Good evening, Elder. How can I help you?"

Ron's face turns ashen. Elders never call unless it's an emergency. And somehow, in my heart, I knew what it was. The bitch's plan had succeeded. The Council got a whiff of the incident.

"We have information that Mrs. Astrid tried to take her own life. Do you confirm this, Alpha Kael?"

I clench my fists. My voice comes out firm as I lie bluntly. "I'm afraid the information is wrong. Last I checked, I left my loving wife peacefully asleep in bed."

The line goes silent. Ron gulps, looking afraid.

"Are you sure—"

"This is ridiculous, Elder. How can you believe such rumors? I'm well aware of the terms of the barter. Only a fool would break it."

The line goes silent again, and then the Elder sighs. "Indeed. You are a wise man, Alpha Kael. I believe you, but we Elders need to verify this ourselves. We will be visiting tomorrow to confirm with Mrs. Astrid."

"Anytime, Elders."

"Good night, Alpha."

I hang up the call and light a cigarette, leaning back in my chair. Ron shakes his head in disbelief. "How did the Council find out about this?"

"David told them. Both father and daughter planned this. Isn't it clear now? Do you believe me?"

"But Mrs. Astrid looks so innocent. Why would she—"

"Looks are deceptive, Ron. Often, the most innocent faces hide the most evil motives. She's no different from her bastard father. Heartless and cowardly."

He drops his head, saying nothing, and I take a drag from my cigarette, closing my eyes.

"But don't worry. Very soon, I'll have David at my feet, begging me. How many packs have joined the western front?"

"Five out of twelve, sir."

"Just one more, and Silvermoon will fall. Willingly or unwillingly, I will become the next Alpha King. And the first pack I'll wipe off the map will be Silvermoon."

It was around midnight when I finished my work and remembered to retrieve my doll from her new dollhouse. Walking to the dark room, I push open the door, only to be greeted by silence. "Well, isn't this a surprise? I thought I'd hear her lovely screams."

I switch on the lights, and the scene that greets me fills me with disappointment. "Isn't she too weak to be an Alpha's daughter? She fainted from this?" She was still tied to the metal bed. The little rodents were all over her body, feeding on her skin like it was their favorite snack. Without teeth, their bites only left faint bruises. One had even sneaked into her top to munch on her chest, and a strange feeling stirs within me.

Before I know it, my hand reaches out to grab the little bastard. Picking it up by its tail, I watch it struggle upside down. "Crossing your limits, are we?" It chirps in reply, and I silence it forever, crushing it in my hand before tossing it aside.

My eyes darken at the bruise visible on her cleavage, and I curse under my breath, turning my back on her. "What's wrong with me? Why do I get so easily distracted?"

Sighing, I walk to the switchboard and press a button. A screeching sound reverberates through the room, and all the mice hurry back into the hole they came from. This room was specifically designed for torture, and this was nothing compared to what had been executed here. I had the little monsters' teeth specifically removed—the last person who suffered here died from mouse bite poisoning.

The room empties, and I approach her. Tugging on the restraints, I free her unconscious body. Dried tears trail down her closed eyes, and my thumb instinctively swipes over them. "It seems I went too far this time, doll," I whisper to myself.

Her lips part, and she begins to whisper something. "Please… no… come back… please!" She was terrified out of her wits. 'Good.'

Smirking, I place one arm under her knees and the other under her back, pulling her to my chest. I freeze when she suddenly latches onto me, her arms wrapping around me like a terrified child clinging to their mother during a thunderstorm. "They're everywhere… take me away… please…"

I stiffen as her hot breath hits my neck. She's still in a half-conscious state, her trembling lips brushing against my skin. A scent of cinnamon and vanilla hits me. *That scent! F***. It's… different.* This was the first time I'd truly noticed her scent, and I won't lie—it wasn't bad. Rather…

I find myself leaning in to sniff her hair again as she clings to me like a koala. "Please… please…"

"Shhh," I whisper, surprising myself. Before I realize it, my hands are caressing her hair. It isn't as rough as it looks—rather, it has a soothing softness. The earlier desire to tug on it to teach her a lesson is replaced by a protective urge to simply caress it, enjoying the feeling of those silken strands slipping through my fingers. Her thudding heart begins to calm. "Shhh, it's fine. You're safe."

"Save… save me from him… please… Dom…"

My hand stops mid-caress. "Did she say Dom?" So, she thinks Dom is here to save her? 'What a rude awakening. She still thinks my brother would go against me to save her pathetic ass?'

I pull back and grab a jar of freezing water, emptying it over her head. She gasps awake, shuddering. Those innocent eyes lock with mine, and I crack my neck, whispering, "So, how many stars for your experience?"

Looking down at her body, covered in bruises, I seethe. "Did you like your new company?"

"You bastard!" Her eyes flare red. Her flimsy hands grip my shirt collar, and I scoff, turning the tables. Pushing her back onto the bed, I pin her beneath me, leaning in close. Her weak body is too vulnerable to even move right now. "I've had enough of your tantrums, doll. Now, you'll listen, and I'll speak. Or I won't mind releasing the mice with teeth next time. Or perhaps spiders. Do you want that?"

Fear flashes in her eyes, and she turns her head to the side. 'A yes, I guess. Perfect.'

"The Council members are coming tonight, and you're going to do exactly as I say."

Her eyes widen. 'What an actor.'

"Don't give me that look, doll. I know you told them about your little suicide attempt."

"I didn't… I swear."

"Enough. No talking. Just listen and do as I say, like the perfect little doll you are. Clear?"

The fire is still in her eyes, but she doesn't argue. A meek nod, and I pull back. 'Perfect.' The stage is set. All that's needed is the execution tomorrow. She's going to be my little puppet, and I'm going to pull all the strings needed to make her dance to my tune.