CHAPTER 3

Selene's Point of view

Out of the many stupid things I was expecting my father to blurt out at me, I got to admit that was the stupidest one yet. I guess I hadn't seen that coming, not in the slightest.

“A peace offering?” I hissed. “To the Ash king?”

“That is correct.” My father replied with a straight face.

This was the part where he was supposed to laugh and say it was all a joke, but no. Father was never the one to make jokes, and it would be very weird if he began making some in his old age.

“Tell me you are joking!” I exclaimed. “Tell me you are not serious!”

“Do I look like a clown to you?” He snapped, and his eyes glowed dangerously red with the fury of an Alpha. “You will be sent off to the Ash king as a permanent guest in his house.”

“Why don't you just let it out?” I snapped, unable to keep my anger in check. “Why don't you just state the obvious here. You're clearly sending me off to the Ash king as a breeding mate for him!”

“Watch it, Selene!” Father growled with his nostrils flaring in his rage. “You're my daughter but I wouldn't permit such a talk even from you!”

It was true I had a sharp tongue, and I always tried my best never to use it against my father, of all people, but I felt the situation at hand needed my sharp tongue.

Father's eyes were on mine. He was watching me closely, trying to read off my emotions, trying to glean what I was thinking. I hoped he got the right image, I hoped he knew exactly what I had already decided. I took a firm stance and met his gaze head-on.

“The answer is no,” I said firmly.

“I beg your pardon?” His brows arched questioningly. “I believe I didn't quite hear you correctly.”

“I said no, Father,” I repeated. “I won't be going to the Ash king's territories, talk more of being a breeder for him or in your words, 'a permanent guest.' I won't do it.”

“It wasn't a request, girl..” Father snarled. “I and the…”

“I do not care what you and the council have decided, Father. It's my life, my choice!” I cut him off angrily. “I won't do it! I won't do that! The only time I'll go to Ashen Claw Pack would be when I lead most of our bravest warriors to storm the gates of the ash king, when I meet him head-on with sword in hand and drive my cold blade into his cursed heart!”

A small smile flickered across his lips, a smile that didn't even touch his eyes.

“Of course.” He said softly. “You're your father's daughter after all. Now come. There's something I must show you.”

He began to walk off, and I hesitated. He didn't even look behind him as he walked off, and I slowly contemplated staying back. I was not interested in whatever he wanted to show me. Knowing Father fully well, I knew that didn't even mean well, but I had no other option but to follow him.

Father headed towards the pack house, and I trailed behind slowly, wondering what exactly he was up to this time. We soon entered the house, and he did not stop until we were heading towards my brother's room. What did my brother have to do with any of this?

Father pushed the door open and beckoned for me to enter. I hesitated but slowly stepped into the room where my brother lay on the bed, twisting in agony.

“Leave us!”

Father growled at the maids and servants who were there tending to my brother, and they all filed out of the room immediately, leaving three of us alone.

My brother twisted and writhed and could only do so much to keep himself from crying out in the profound pain that was eating him up. I saw his pain clearly standing out of his body, black and pulsing. I saw his eyes red and swollen, with sweat pouring all over his body, even though it was cold.

“Help me… it... it hurts…” He gasped painfully.

I couldn't bear to watch any longer. I turned to my father questioningly.

“Why did we come here?” I asked angrily. “Why are we here?”

“Your brother Liam, my only son.” Father gestured at my brother as if I were seeing him for the very first time. “Liam is sick. The lupine sickness is getting worse every single day. I fear he wouldn't make it. The healers confirmed he wouldn't last long.”

My hands clenched into tight fists with my knuckles going white with the pressure. It hurt to stand there and watch little Liam in agony while I stood there doing nothing..

“There's a way we can heal your brother,” Father continued. “What if I tell you that I have found a way?”

My eyes narrowed as I looked at him apprehensively.

“What do you mean?”

“My sources tell me about a cure in the Ashen Claw Pack. A cure that could cure the lupine sickness, to heal your weak brother.”

“How... how is that possible? Everyone knows fully well that the Ashen Claw Pack is a barren wasteland!”

“It is.” Father nodded blankly. “But in the volcanic minerals of Ashen Claw, a cure has been found. You could retrieve it yourself, Selene. The power to heal your brother rests with you now.”

My mind froze momentarily. How credible was this? Was this just another ruse from my father to ship me off to the Ash king?

I turned towards my brother, and my heart bled just by looking at him that way in so much pain. What if father wasn't bluffing? What if there was actually a way to save Liam from all this pain?

“Oh... I almost forgot.”

He reached into the folds of his garments and brought out a small dagger. He unceremoniously unsheathed it, and I almost stumbled back from the smell.

“This is a special, poisonous dagger coated with wolfsbane, nightshade, and silver. Enough to take down even a cursed Alpha.”

“What… what do you mean?” I asked.

“You'll be killing two birds at once over there. You'll find the cure for your brother and also end the ash king.”