Chapter 3: Kill me

“...Because you belong to me now.”

The words hung in the air between them, heavier than the storm still raging beyond the walls. Estella stared up at him, uncomprehending, her mind too fractured with grief to fully process what he had just said.

“What?” It was the only word she managed to say at that moment. Her disbelief was almost palpable.

“You heard me, Estella Montharne. You are mine.” Adrian's voice grew lower, and something dangerous simmered beneath it now. “You are not going to die tonight. I would not permit it. Be it by your own hand or by anyone else's.”

“I don't belong to anyone. Least of all you.” Estella said in a shaky whisper. The grief in her heart turned into hatred and rage. She tried to break free again, but her struggle was futile against Adrian's might.

“Wrong.” His grip tightened fractionally around her wrists. Not enough to hurt her much, but enough to remind her exactly how little room she had to fight him. “From the moment I saved your life... Every single fiber of your being became mine.” His pale eyes bore into hers.

Estella stared up at him, speechless.

“I never asked, Adrian! I never asked you to!” Her dry voice broke into a high, brittle pitch. “I belong to you? You delude yourself, you bastard! I am not a prize you can just claim because you happened to pick me up.”

Adrian's lips curved into a cold smirk. “A prize...” He repeated back to her slowly, tilting his head, his tone sliding colder, more mocking with every word. “You flatter yourself, my little she-wolf. Calling yourself a prize is preposterous. Because to the rest of the world, you are already dead. You have nothing left... no Nightbound, no family, no title. Nothing.” He paused to savor the look on her face, the way her chest heaved with exhaustion, shame, hatred and rage. The way she lay wrecked beneath him. Adrian found himself craving more of it.

He felt an indescribable urge to ruin her more.

The Alpha of Frostveil leaned closer, close enough that she could feel his breath against her skin, his voice dropping to a low whisper, like the devil tempting an innocent maiden.

“Do you want to know what happened in Silvervale four days ago?”

Estella's eyes sharpened at the mention of her birthplace and at the same time, her mouth gaped. 'Four days...' She wondered how long she had been unconscious.

“Your dearest father announced you as a traitor to werewolves as a whole. Claiming you were a spy for those bloodsuckers.” He paused at the mention of the last word. “And thus... He had you disposed of.”

Estella went still, disbelief flooding her eyes. But why would she believe a single word from this man's mouth?

“Y-you're lying.” She said, denial evident in her voice.

Adrian gave her a small smile and ran his tongue along one canine while releasing a low growl. “I swear it on my life, and by the Moon Goddess herself... What I've told you is true. And what I'm about to tell you will be true as well.” A glowing symbol appeared on his forehead before fading the next second.

Estella's face drained of color. If he had taken the sacred oath, then every word of it was real. “It can't be...” she said. It suddenly became difficult for her to breathe.

Adrian had no intention of letting her recover from her shock, so he continued.

“Your allies—”

“Don't.”

Adrian arched a brow.

“Please... don't. I don't want to hear it anymore. You've made your point. I have nothing left—so stop. Just stop it.” Estella had an inkling of what he would say next; she just didn't want to hear it from his mouth. She knew what happened to the allies of traitors, especially when they were tied to heirs...

Adrian tilted his head and scrutinized her deeply. His frosty blue eyes flickered with something close to malice, but not quite it. He would have listened to her. He would have spared her from hearing the horrible news, letting her take it in piece by piece... But...

“No.” He wanted her shattered. He wanted to see her break. He wanted to see just how hurt she would be.

“No?” The word cracked out of her, closer to a sob.

Adrian looked down at her, amused. “I'm not inclined to stop just because you told me to.” Estella gazed into his eyes and found nothing kind in them... only that same sadistic cruelty she saw any time she battled with him. In his eyes burned a desire to see her suffer, to see her hurt, as if her agony were something he wanted to savor thoroughly. For a split second, a flicker of fear found its way into her heart before being dispelled by all the spite she had for him.

“Your allies.” He continued as if she hadn't spoken at all. “The ones who stood by your side through thick and thin... Those who swore their allegiance to your name were all captured by your father's orders...” Adrian paused to let his words settle in before he continued.

“And killed. Executed publicly.”

Estella's heart went cold. She had expected something like this. But it still broke her to hear it. The colors of the world suddenly seemed dull through her blurred vision.

“Not for any treason of their own, not for any crime of theirs. Only for swearing their loyalty to you. You, Estella... They died because of you.” His gaze didn't leave her face, savoring every single reaction on it, every single twitch and attempt to suppress her emotions... He savored it all. “Your father made sure to eliminate all those who might avenge you later.”

Estella almost sobbed, but she clenched her teeth to hold it in. However, her eyes were brimming with tears.

“And Darius.” He said the name almost gently. “Your grieving, loyal and devoted Darius... Do you know how long it took him to choose a new Nightbound after you?”

“Three days.” He said as blue flames seemed to dance in his eyes. “Barely long enough for a corpse to decompose in a coffin.”

“W-What...?” Her lips parted. Something in her chest gave way. Her very heart slowed, as if it were trying to reject beating altogether. Her tears continued to flow, but she didn't sob, nor did she scream. She felt that the entire life she had been living, and the life she had been envisioning, was all a lie. Estella felt like she had no value in the world any longer. If Estella's eyes had once held a little light in them, there was nothing left now. She had the eyes of a dead woman.

———————

Adrian's smile was thin as a blade's edge, and just as sharp. She was breaking before him, piece by glittering piece, and nothing had ever pleased him more.

In a way, telling her about Silvervale's deeds was like killing two birds with one stone... Three actually. One, he got to savor Estella's suffering. Two, Estella wouldn't try to commit suicide anymore. Instead, she would avenge them. Three, he would be pitting one of Silvervale's greatest weapons against them.

Or so he thought.

“Kill me.” Estella said, her voice weak, her eyes lacking the will to live. “Adrian, kill me now... I don't deserve to live. Just let me go to hell. I beg of you.” If anything, the news had made her more determined to die, not less. Much to Adrian's displeasure.

Something dark flickered behind his eyes. “You're very eager to die, aren't you?” He drew her wrists together, pinning both within the grip of his left hand alone. “I'm going to have to disappoint you, Estella. Because you aren't dying until I am done with you.”

“Kill me.” she said again, her voice edging toward desperation, as if breathing itself were agony for her.

Estella wanting death so badly only irritated Adrian further. For her to be useful, he needed her living, breathing.

He would have loved the sight of her desperately pleading with him, were it not death she wanted. He didn't want her begging for death yet—not when the reason behind it had nothing to do with him.

At this rate, he had no choice but to use 'that' now. He lifted his free hand and placed it over her head. Slowly, silver light gathered in his palm, and runic symbols appeared, swirling around his hand.

Estella flinched when she saw it. Disbelief flashed in her eyes before apathy swallowed it whole; her will to die overcame the shock. It didn't matter if she died, anyway. Still, whatever Adrian was about to do, she wasn't going to allow it. She thrashed weakly, but her feeble struggles did nothing. Adrian pinned her in place without effort.

“Be still, you mutt.” He said roughly, then the silver light shot out like a beam and sank into her head. Her eyes rolled back, and she passed out, her entire body going limp.

Adrian released her hands. He was about to move again when his eyes caught something.

“Why hasn't she healed yet?” he muttered as he studied Estella's unconscious frame. The wounds that had reopened were still red with blood. For a strong werewolf like Estella, it should have closed within half a minute. But it hadn't.

Adrian scowled. As the one who had wounded Estella more than anyone else in this world, he knew exactly how fast she healed. And right now, her healing was sluggish, exceedingly so. Something was wrong.

Using his telepathic abilities, he summoned the royal werewolf shaman.

A/N: For those who are confused by the new names... In this world, relationships have tiers.

Nightbound: Girlfriend and boyfriend status. You can feel a special connection with your loved one.

Runemarked: Engaged/Eternal dual tattoo. Not necessarily required for a happy, devoted relationship, but done between couples who trust each other. It can be done before or after marriage. After a couple is Runemarked, a unique tattoo that has never been drawn on anyone or anywhere else in the world forms on the body of the lovers. Having a Runemark form on your neck, spine or above the heart is considered a good omen. Undoing the Runemark can be very painful.

Tethered One: Married. Undoing this has grave consequences, such as severing someone's soul thread, which can leave you weakened and vulnerable to things like spiritual possession or corrupting forces for some time.