Deadliest Options

Chapter - 03 - Deadliest Options

Alenna……‘s standpoint

I was weak, my mouth tasted sour, and my system felt sore. Trails of numbness plagued all over my skin, and the cracked lines of cold bathed me in scars.

I coughed, frailed and almost choked out my lungs. This is what has become my life since the arrival of the cruel Alpha.

He’s had half of the kingdom’s population consumed and no more, whilst the few rest of us are now forcefully subjected to his grim rules and reign.

Turns out his darkness refusing to swallow me once spread out was a phenomenon he’s never experienced, and was willing to understand before he plans to take my life.

I’ve been thrown inside this dark dungeon for sometime now, locked away from seeing the sun or the night sky in general.

This is the new fate of a whole nation’s princess. A prisoner locked up, starved and battered with zero regard for whatever happens to her.

I couldn’t check on my siblings or find out what has become of their own fate as well. And I was too weak to summon my wolf to reach out to them.

The reason why I’m conflicted about their survival was me surviving his shadow eater. He also made mention of some others who found a way to protect themselves through relics and spells.

Since his darkness couldn’t consume me, it could’ve been the same for my siblings too and my mother.

Oh my mother! Is she still alive? I last saw her when she demanded I take my brothers to safety.

My ears suddenly picked on approaching footsteps, and soon enough their wretched scents filled the atmosphere. The one torturous thing about these people is their horrid scent.

So far only my mate has managed to extend a distinguished scent. He smelt like a season, like the fresh breeze of autumn. An irony against the aura he’s shrouded in.

The metal bars of my dungeon cell creaked and were forced open. They came in, husky and three in numbers.

“Even battered, she’s still the most beautiful mutt I’ve ever seen.” He smacked his lips, his remark unethical rather than decent.

And did he just label me a mutt? I’d like for him to repeat that without me in chains and the both of us on a battlefield.

“We’re not here to glaze, she’s summoned.” A different voice from the first I heard also spoke up.

The next I heard were their footsteps closing in on me, and a quick adjustment was made to my chains that freed me from the wall strung.

I was still binded, but no longer strung to a wall.

My eyes were too heavy to keep open, but I managed the lids to stay afloat for me to keep vigilant of my whereabouts.

I was dragged up, and aided harshly into movements as we motioned out of the cell.

I haven’t had anything to eat or drink in days. My organs were at the verge of shutting down, and I could feel a faint but steady pain streaming through my body.

I staggered within my movements, but ultimately survived the walk out of the dungeon to the hall where I’ve been summoned.

I arrived at the hall, instantly alarmed by the sight of the rounded up citizens. I searched among them hoping I’d find my siblings, but before my eyes could successfully inspect the whole room; I was pushed to my feet in front of the Night Alpha.

The smell of him like I remembered made a smashing return, stronger than the first time it hit me and definitely sharper.

It was intense, and I was almost feeding on it with the way my nose twitched.

“Which one of these people are worth saving, princess? I need you to take a long and careful look at them all and make a pick.”

His words snapped me out of my reverie as my eyes snapped open and wide. I looked up at his face, terrified at the darkness that exploded through his pupils.

I kept my fear masked, and left my confusion to the surface. What does he mean by that?

Is it possible I’m the only one affected by our mate pull and bond? Or he’s just numb to the attraction because he’s a demon.

What game could the moon goddess be playing when she made me his mate?

“W-what?…” I needed to say something before he’d have a reason to be irrational and go on a rampage.

“For making me repeat myself, I’ve changed my mind. There are two new options, the first is you get to stay alive and remain my slave for as long as I want or you sacrifice your pathetic life right now to save what’s left of your kingdom. Make. Your. Pick.”

I blinked, the cold pause between his prompting statement steaming a fiery heat inside my head.

How did we arrive there so quickly?

“Please…” I found myself resorting to plead. “I beg you in the name of everything you’ve ever loved. I plead to you with the name of the goddess. Please, you’ve taken enough from us all. You came into our homes to take away our homes, our peace, and our safety most of all. We’re at your mercy, and that alone is enough punishment for the rest of your life. Please don’t do this to us.”

I kept our gazes locked, little hints of my dejection visible through my expression. He doesn’t look moved by my words or by the face I had masked to aid my pleas.

Instead he seemed unimpressed, like this wasn’t eventful enough for him. He flicked his gaze off me as he glanced at one of his men.

He gave him a look before his eyes landed on a guy knelt amongst the rest of the people who weren’t consumed by his darkness.

I watched as the guard went over to the guy, dragged him away from his spot and didn’t stop until he had him handed over to the night alpha.

He looked at the innocent guy, and dread knotted my system in suspense of what he was about to do to him.

“You should taste sweet,” he mouthed before he locked eyes with the guy.

I witnessed the horror unfold, the sick sight of him sucking the life out of the poor boy before he dropped dead and lifeless on the floor.

His darkened pupil glistened once he was done consuming him, like the beast in me was content and ready to have more.

“There’s no begging or trying to sway my judgment, princess. It’s either you make a decision or every single one of you dies.”

With that, he signaled for another out of the survivors to be brought to him.

“Wait!” I shouted, no other choice than to make my pick out of his deadliest options.