Chapter 3 - Tiberius

I groaned, squinting my eyes, trying to figure out where I was. The last thing I remember was setting off August’s halo of the sun, or flashbang as people with no inspiration call it. Thales and I were lunging to take down Ivan and Gastone.

THALES!

I quickly sat up, wide the fuck awake, looking all around me. Pretty standard shit. A tiny window with silver bars and a cement block cell with silver bars keep me in.

Fuck!

We got captured. But how? I know for a fucking fact that snot-nose little shit Iggy has no gifts despite being an Alpha heir. I also know Ivan and Gastone couldn’t have caused that glow. So who the fuck helped them? And how can I find them to rip their heart out?

I turned to the cell across from mine as I heard a groan. As much as it saddened and angered me, seeing Thales coming around was a relief. He’s still alive. Nebrodi still has a chance.

Wincing with each movement, I went as close to the bars as I dared. Looking in both directions of the dungeon, I realized it was just us. I’m not sure if I should be glad or worried. I’m hoping this means our people were able to get away or, as morbid as it sounds, dead. Death was probably better than being imprisoned or enslaved by Ignazio.

I tried to reach out to Thales through the pack link, but it wasn’t working. I frowned and tried to look inward to find August and see if he had any ideas about what was happening. To my horror, I could see or hear him.

‘AUGUST!!’ I shouted over and over in my mind to no avail. How could he be gone? What witchcraft shit is this? Even with the silver around me, I should still be able to feel August. Over the last seven years, he has always been there.

He’s like my Jiminy Cricket but a wolf. He’s my conscience. I don’t even know how I would function without him. Well, I’ll function, but I’m going to get into a lot of trouble. I love mouthing off at all the wrong times. After August awakened, he would shut me up before I went too far. And now I’m a prisoner of an invasion without August to keep me in check.

Oh, I’m so fucked.

“Tie?” Thales groaned.

“Thales! Hey man, are you doing alright over there? Can you feel your wolf? Cause I’m freaking out over here. I can’t reach August.” I babbled. See, I told you without August, I’m fucked.

Thales winced, holding his head as he sat up. I could tell he was concentrating, probably trying to reach his wolf. Fuck I didn’t even get to meet his wolf officially. I don’t even know his name. I remember he was as big as Alpha Silvano’s wolf Alaric but golden in color like Luna Sherie’s wolf Vivian.

“I… I can’t. Desmond isn’t anywhere that I can see, hear, or feel. It’s like he’s gone, but that’s not possible. Something must be blocking us from our wolves.” Thales rationalized.

“Well, shit, I was hoping it was just me. I’m betting it’s a witch. You remember that weird green glow, right? Right before we could rip into Ivan and Gastone?” I questioned.

“Yes, I remember it. And your logic is sound. However, I can’t imagine witches working with Madonie or any werewolf pack. I only remember the stories of a coven in Sicily, but they hate our kind.” Thales frowned.

“What was that all about anyway? Why was Ignazio attacking us? Alpha Ugo wouldn’t sanction a full-blown assault on another pack. He was a man of peace, from what I remember. And why was he chasing Crista and her sisters?” Thales pondered.

“I don’t know why he was after the girls. But I know I’ll see his head roll for it all, but I’ll make it all the worse if he touches them.” I growled.

“An endeavor I would gladly help become a reality.” Thales frowned.

“I know you didn’t get to talk to her, and it’s not the time, but we were close enough. You should have scented her. Are you mates?” I had to ask. I know sitting imprisoned in a dungeon isn’t the best time, but I have to know.

Thales’s frown deepened as he shook his head. “No. Crista isn’t my mate. But she is still my Beta, and just as I would fight and die to protect my people, I will do that for her.”

Our conversation was cut short as a heavy metal door was thrown open. “Oh, that’s good to know. I intended to kill you anyway, but knowing you aren’t my future Luna’s mate makes it all that easier.” Ignazio sneered as he strolled down to our cells. Gastone and a woman I don’t know followed right behind him.

“Your future Luna?” I scoffed.

Even in pain, I laughed at this notion. This psycho little shit thinks he’s going to take Crista as his mate? Oh, the fool. No one forces a Fayte sister to do anything. I didn’t even stop laughing when Gastone smacked a rod against my cell bars.

I told you that without August, I’m fucked. Or maybe they are. I don’t know. I just know without him, I act exactly as I please without a filter or fuck given.

“Stop laughing! What do you think is so funny? You’re the one in a cell. You’re the one at MY mercy. And I don’t have much of that.” Ignazio growled.

“Tie? What’s gotten into you? I mean, sure, it’s laughable he thinks he can have Crista but, dude.” Thales furrowed his brow.

“I… I can’t help it. It’s just hilarious.” I snickered. “You think you can just take Crista. That she’s going to be cool with that? Dude, she thinks you are the biggest stronzo of all stronzo. You repulse her. She’d rather die than be with you.” I continued to laugh, making Ignazio angrier with each word.

“I will make her! Once I mark her, she will have no choice!” Ignaozie shouted like the little bitch he was.

I didn’t stop laughing when Gastone hit the bars again. I started laughing harder cause this is just ridiculous. I always knew he had delusions of grandeur but thinking he can force Crista into being his mate is like Icarus flying too close to the sun. I only stopped laughing when I was lifted off the ground by a green glow. The air choked out of me.

“O..h. Hello…wi..tch. N..nic…nice of y..you…to… rev…reveal…you..your…yourself.” I gasped.

Honestly, I’d say she was hot if she wasn’t on Ignazio’s side. As she sneered at me, I noticed her face change. I don’t mean like the usual change in how most people’s faces look different when they glare at someone. I mean like a different face, an older haggard face under the pretty shell.

“LET HIM GO!” Thales commanded, managing to get to his feet. He may not be able to connect with Desmond, but he still manages to radiate the power of a Nebrodi Alpha.

“Drop him. He’s of no use if he’s dead. We still need to question them and see what they know of my future mate’s whereabouts.”Ignazio ordered.

The witch snorted and let me drop the three feet to the unforgiving ground. “Fuck, my ass! And that’s not an invitation, Iggy and Gastone. What you two do in private is not my problem, but my ass is an exit only.” I groaned, laughing as I rubbed my ass.

Gastone growled, nearly showing his ignorance as he started to reach for me through the bars. I grinned, waiting for his arm to get through enough to touch the silver bars or that I could grab it and break it.

“Gastone, stop playing into his hands. You’ll hurt yourself on the silver and make yourself vulnerable to him.” Ignazio rolled his eyes at his buttbuddy.

I snapped my fingers. “Damn. I wanted to watch Gastone’s skin sizzle, I was getting hungry, and some grilled flesh could hit the spot. If I dared since I bet Gastone would taste rotten.”

“Tie…” Thales sighed.

“What is wrong with him? I know he’s prone to run his mouth, but I didn’t think it was to this extent. It’s like he’s too stupid to know he will be tortured.” Gastone questioned.

“Your witch has us cut off from our wolves. This is Tie without his wolf.” Thales shrugged.

Of course, he gets it. He grew up with me. He knows the way I was before August. Smart guy, smart Alpha. He’ll find a way to outsmart these fucks and get us out so we can help our pack and protect Crista.

“This is because he can’t connect to his wolf? Who’d have thought being separated from your wolf could affect someone in such a manner. I see you’ve retained your sensibility.” Ignazio wrinkled his nose as he looked at Thales.

“Duh. That’s because, unlike you, Thales was never a fuckwad. How’s your wolf feeling about you wanting to force mark someone? To disregard and spit in the face of the Goddess and the mate she paired you with?” I questioned, rambling once more.

“I mean my deepest sympathies to the poor girl who was fated to you. No one deserves to have a piece of trash for a mate.” I shrugged.

“Shut him up!” Ignazio commanded.

“With pleasure.” Gastone sneered, punching one fist into his other palm.

“He was talking to me, you buffoon.” The witch rolled her brown eyes.

I furrowed my brow, trying to determine what shade of brown I would call that. They aren’t warm or rich. I think the only way to describe it is SHIT!

“That’s it. The witch has SHIT brown eyes. New meaning to the phrase, full of shit.” I laughed as she glared at me, making a zipper motion over her mouth and the sound of my laughter became muffled as my lips were forced shut.

If I can’t talk, I’ll still be a nuisance because guess what? I can make NOISES! So I started to hum the song ‘Baa Baa Black Sheep,’ but in my head, I was singing ‘Baa Baa Shit Witch.’ I have a lovely singing voice. They really should let me sing it for them.

Thales just barely managed to hold in his snicker. I do love to entertain. As the eldest of the heirs, my duty was to keep Thales and the Fayte sisters amused. And I was damn good at my job.

“Forcing his mouth to be closed will only stop the words from coming out. He will keep making a nuisance of himself. It’s just the way Tiberius has always been.” He shrugged.

“Now, I demand to speak with Alpha Ugo. What you did tonight is unforgivable, and as the Alpha of Madonie, he will have to answer for your actions.” Thales insisted.

Ignazio started laughing. It wasn’t one of those fun laughs. This guy was studying all the creepy villain laughs from cartoons. And because he was laughing, Gastone started to laugh, and then the Shit Witch laughed too. But her laugh didn’t sound light and feminine like her facade would indicate. She sounded like an old hag cackling.

I don’t know about you, but generally speaking, in any movie, tv show, or book, when the villains start laughing like this, it’s not good news. And I know what the bad news is; I just didn’t get a chance to tell Thales.

“My father and all the ranked wolves in MY pack have been slain. I am not Alpha, and I think my attack on your pack was justified as it is where my future Luna was being kept from me.” Ignazio boasted.

Who the fuck boasts about killing their parents? Crazy people, that’s who. Ignazio was officially crazy, and someone bat shit crazy shouldn’t be leading a pack. Psychos like him are a danger to us all.

“What kind of monster are you? To kill your parents? People who were only ever kind to you?” Thales shook his head.

“They were keeping what was rightfully mine from me!” Ignazio shouted. “Just as you are keeping what is mine from me. But we will catch her. I will have my Luna.”

“Alpha…” Gaston hesitated, gulping like he was about to deliver bad news.

But bad news for Ignazio is good news for us. Come on, Gastone, give me something to laugh about. Make my fucking day! I need to hear something good.

“What is it?” Ignazio snapped at him.

“I just received word from the unit sent to catch them.” Gastone kept his head down.

Oh, this is going to be good. Come on. I want to hear that Crista tore your people up. I want to hear that Emilia stained her fur red with blood. Crista and her wolf would stop at nothing to keep Persephone and Delilah safe.

“They lost them. The Fayte sisters crossed the Incubi border, and the Incubi wolves attacked our warriors. They stayed to watch, and that hybrid bastard took them.” Gastone reported, his head bowed.

Ignazio roared, taking the rod from Gastone and slamming it into the side of his knee. “I want Crista back! I will not lose her to that old bastard! Knowing his reputation, he will ruin and then kill her.”

Gastone collapsed, holding his knee. “We will find a way to retrieve her. We will find someone willing to turn on Alpha Chesed.” He assured, wincing as he hobbled out of the dungeon.

I don’t know what sounds worse, Crista being dead, being captured by Madonie, or Incubi now capturing her. I’ve never met any of the ranked members of Incubi. They all keep to themselves. But Ignazio isn’t wrong about Alpha Chesed’s reputation. They say he fucks any woman that catches his fancy and kills them when he’s done with them.

“Take them to interrogation. I want to know everything these two know. The better I know my prey, the better I’ll be able to capture Crista.” Ignazio commanded, storming away.

It looks like it’s just the Shit Witch and us. Let’s see what she has in store for us. Depending on how secure we are moved to this interrogation room and how secure we are held in the room, it might be our chance.

“Let’s go have some fun.” The Shit Witch sneered.

With a wave of her hand, our cell doors opened, but before either of us could act, silver collars clicked around our necks, cuffs on our wrists pulling our arms behind us, and anklets on our legs connecting to our wrists to limit our movements.

Fuck she’s prepared. The silver doesn’t burn the way it should since I can’t feel August. But I’m worried all this silver exposure will hurt him long-term. I don’t want to get him back, and he’s too weak to fight. If this permanently damages August, I’m burning Madonie to the ground and roasting the Shit Witch over the flames.