Chapter 3

Iasha's face went pale. Although she acted bold, she never had an intimate contact with a man, talk more of a kiss. She was shocked, no, she was actually enjoying it, but scratch the thought, she was being kissed, by a man, a man, a masked man at that.

At first, Avarez was just going to kiss her to mark his territory, just like the werewolves did to show possessiveness, what he didn't know was the fact that he will so be drawn to her lips. First, it was the touch of her lips, he could feel her tremble slightly, and he knew both their heartbeats had accelerated. Then when his lips fell on hers, he felt a whole new sensation he never thought he could feel.

It was a whole new experience for Avarez, so much so that his wolf purred in delight. He couldn't stop kissing her until Iasha bit him into realisation, he quickly released her but still held her hands while looking intensely at the guards.

"I have marked my territory, you know the rules" With that he dragged Iasha with him leaving Dere to sort whatever they wanted. They had left the gates of the Demon market and were headed towards Avarez's carriage. 

'Pakkk' Iasha slapped Avarez as soon as they settled in, she was angry at him for kissing her. How many girls had he kissed with that same mouth? Iasha wondered why she was really thinking 'outside the box' today. But most importantly, she was angry at herself because she enjoyed the whole process.

"Have you lost it?" Iasha asked him right after the slap "Were there no other ways to mark your territory than this one method "

"What are you.......2 or something, you think I would bite you, a cheap slave girl, you're not even worthy to be my mistress, talk about being my Luna" Avarez snorted at her, mockery evident in his tone.

Even though Avarez did not regret the kiss one bit, he wasn't going to give this cheap slave girl the satisfaction she wanted. Iasha was amazed at how he could be so bold when he was in the wrong. She lifted her dress and got down from the carriage, walking towards the road.

Avarez came down from the carriage, he wasn't going to let her go, not when he found someone who could actually make his wolf purr in delight. He was going to use her to tame his inner demons. "Stop right there, I command it"

Iasha let out a brief laugh in shock, he was actually commanding her like he was a king "And if I don't......you are going to kiss me again?" 

"You own me so you can't leave now"

"What" Iasha was shocked, so this was what the whole drama was all about, so that she could be indebted to him. "So all the stunt you pulled out there was for this...... I mean how low can you stoop?" 

"If you want, I can actually take you back there and take back my claim" Grabbing his chin and looking the other way in a serious thought "The least that demon lord might do to you is to brand you, rape you after which he pluck out your organs and sell to organ dealers" he paused and quiet observed her "what's the worse that could happen to you?"

Iasha looked at him slightly trembling from fright, did he say the least, the 'least' he talked about so freely was actually death? She still wanted to take revenge on her so-called parents, she couldn't die now. "So tell me, what am I supposed to do if I follow you?"

"You'll be my personal slave in my pack" Avarez answered coldly.

Iasha looked at him for a moment, she quietly released a giggle and after a while, an eruption of laughter followed. He was clearly shameless and dumb. 'His pack' Who was he kidding? He was a masked man to begin with.

"Look, masked man, I do not have time for all this" She flicked her fingers and a dark hue covered her body and like that, she was gone from his sight.

Avarez knew that she had just practised dark magic, only the faes did that, but how could he not tell, the faes usually had a familiar scent, how could he not pick up her scent? Only one thing came to his mind, the bratty girl had not unlocked her dominant yet. He cursed the moment he realised he had been played.

" Alpha Avarez, I have been looking for you, we received word that the council of elders are having yet another argument in the king's court". Derek had been looking for Avarez the moment he finished with guards, they were quite stubborn so he killed and disposed of their body.

"Prepare the carriage, these old cargos are never tired of raising problems" They had covered a distance when Avarez stopped and looked back.

Derek following his line of sight couldn't pinpoint what his Alpha was looking at "Alpha, what of the young lady you saved?"

"She's gone" Avarez entered the carriage leaving a confused Derek outside "Will you come in or you will find your way around?"

"With you Alpha" Derek affirmed before entering into the carriage. The ride to the palace was a quiet one. Avarez and Derek knew that they had a huge problem to settle at the palace. Avarez always knew those bunch of old cargos wanted to overthrow him, they had done all things their old brain could think of, even faking a wolf's bite on another's girl who was not his mate, so that he could step down as a result of sin.

Derek had always been the one saving him. He wondered to what extent they would go if they found out about his night secret. He laughed at the thought, they would probably kill him on the spot, using it as a justification. He had to protect this secret at all costs.

They arrived at the palace and went straight to the king's court. When the council of elders saw him, they comported themselves and sat down.

"My lord, word got to us that you went to the demon market as a commoner" one of the elders finally said after much encouragement.

"I see words travel faster now in the palace," Avarez said while sitting on his throne in the middle "Elder Thomas " after a brief silence for the elder to be sure he was the one being called, he continued "Why don't you tell me more since your expression looks like you're over-eager"

Elder Thomas was scared out of his wits he started stammering while calling Avarez name.  

"Elder Thomas, don't tell me I made you speechless, a while ago, You were the leader of this conversation, and I want you to reciprocate that same energy while talking to me" Avarez was running out of patience and he knew they were aware

"Alpha Avarez, we were only of the opinion that you wouldn't have gone to the demon market. As the Alpha of the BlueMoon pack, it is an abomination to go there, even so, dressed as a commoner, our forefathers forbade us from ever going there, the alpha of....

" Wow, you sure had bottled enough hatred in your bowel you had to release it, Elder Thomas?" Clapping his hands, Avarez stood up and walked towards Elder Thomas " As the Alpha of the BlueMoon pack as you said, is it just going to the demon market or do you just have an internal problem with me?"

Elder Thomas took a step back "No My Lord, it.....it is proper we the elders look out for our young Alpha, don't you agree?"

" I do agree actually Elder Thomas, Looking out for me is a very generous sacrifice I would not fail to repay" Avarez turned to the remaining elders, meeting each and every one of their eyes " Who else is in support of Elder Thomas?"

He walked towards the oldest elder of the pack "Haku, don't you agree with what your fellow elder has just said ?" Avarez asked while giving a devilish smirk, even Haku couldn't help retreating backwards.

"Alpha Avarez, your word remains, whatever you say is law," Haku said with his head hung low 

Avarez walked up to him and held his chin coldly "You still haven't answered my question Haku" he released a harmless smile like he wasn't a devil a few seconds ago "Do you or do you not agree with our very bold elder Thomas over here?"

Haku looked at Elder Thomas, he didn't want to betray his friend, but he had seen first-hand what Avarez could do and he had a feeling he was going to do the same to Elder Thomas. Although he agreed with the point Elder Thomas, he would never admit it in front of the devil's reincarnation. 

" No my Lord, I do not agree. '' He paused and looked at Avarez as if he was waiting for a 'go ahead' from him " he mouthed words foolishly" Haku looked at his friend guiltily. If he got out of the situation alive, he promised to apologise to him.

"So what you rather he said?" Avarez loved the game he was playing, for causing a ruckus and making him stress his mouth to talk more than he could in a day.

"Nothing my Lord," Haku said and fell to the ground

Avarez walked up to Haku and looked at him briefly. What he did next shocked the whole council, but nobody could utter a word, not that they were too shocked but if they did, they would join their friend.

Avarez was holding the heart of Haku which was still beating, he looked at the lifeless body in front of him and kicked it to the other side. He raised the beating heart to his mouth and took the first bite, second bite and then he started rushing it like a hungry beast deprived of food for days.

The elders just watched him consume the heart of their one-time friend. The next they heard was "get lost" from Avarez. As they struggled to move out, Avarez signalled Derek to block the exit. Now the elders were really scared, especially Elder Thomas.

Avarez walked to Elder Thomas and patted his cheek while he smiled with blood plastered on his mouth. Before the elders could register what was happening, they heard a shrill scream coming from Elder Thomas......