Chapter 4

Lea's POV

The painful, loud sound of gut-wrenching screaming pulled me from sleep immediately. Ever since I found the evidence in Damian’s office, I've never been able to really sleep or function normally. I feared for my life with the fact that I don't even know who's next to get sold or killed by my brother, whom I seem to know nothing about. He's definitely not the same Dame who had taught me how to climb trees and ride bicycles as well as hold my breath underwater.

This is like someone else entirely.

I bolted upright, my heart already racing before my mind caught up. The servants' quarters were empty; all the other mattresses were obviously abandoned, with their blankets thrown back in a hurry.

More screams echoed through the pack house, followed by the unmistakable snarls and growling sound of fighting as well as the meaty thud of bodies hitting walls. What in the blood moon was going on?

I stumbled to the doorway and saw wolves running through the corridors while my brother’s Warriors dragged bleeding servants through the floor like they were sacks of trash. The sharp copper smell of blood was everywhere, and it was difficult to breathe.

"Get back inside!" A warrior I didn't recognize shoved me back into the room. "Stay there until someone comes for you."

The door slammed shut, followed by a lock click.

I pressed my ear against the wood, trying to understand what was happening; thankfully, fragments of conversation drifted through soon enough.

"Found them in the storage rooms. They had banned weapons."

"How many?"

"Fifteen, maybe twenty. They were low-ranking."

"The Alpha wants them in the cells; you're free to kill anyone who resists or fights going inside the cell. kill them." The voice added the last part gleefully.

My stomach turned to ice as realization crashed on me. It's the rebellion; Margot and the others had moved tonight instead of waiting. The plan was to wait and get more proof and support, but somehow they went on behind my back.

Hours crawled past, and gradually the sounds of fighting eventually faded to silence. I sat on my mattress, hugging my knees and trying my best not to give in to the tears threatening to fall from my eyes, while I thought about the vial still hidden underneath.

When the door finally opened, gray dawn light was seeping through the high window.

Garrett stood there, his face spattered with blood. "Get up. Alpha wants you ready to leave in twenty minutes."

"What happened? Where's Margot?"

"Dead. Along with the other traitors who thought they could challenge an Alpha." He grabbed my arm and hauled me to my feet. "You're lucky Damian still thinks you're useful; you'd be in the cells with the rest of them."

"I didn't know about any rebellion."

"Don't care." He shoved me toward the washroom. "Clean yourself up and fake being presentable, not like the rat you are."

I washed quickly with cold water, my hands shaking with uncertainty of the future and the fear of the way things turned out. Margot was dead, all her Co planners, all of them were dead.

Because they'd tried to expose Damian and failed.

When I came out, Garrett thrust a bag at me. "Your things. Not that you have much."

Inside was a single change of clothes and nothing else. I thought about the vial under my mattress. Should I take it? But Garrett was watching me too closely.

"Let's go wolfless, Transport's waiting."

He marched me through the pack house, where several bloodied bodies and some incomplete bodies were being dragged out of the main hall. Blood stained the usually white sparkling tiles, which were now bloodied with tears. Warriors stood guard at every corner, their expressions cold.

Damian waited by the main entrance, looking perfectly composed. Like he hadn't just ordered the execution of fifteen pack members.

"Lea. I trust you slept well?"

The casualness of it made my skin crawl. "Well enough."

“Good. I wanted to give you some final instructions before you leave." He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "When you arrive at Royal Shifts, you'll be respectful, even more obedient, and graciously accept whatever treatment Alpha Amreth gives you without complaint. Do you understand?"

"Yes." As long as I'm beyond your reach, I said in my head.

"If he asks about the Eel pack, you'll tell him everything is peaceful and prosperous. You'll not mention any internal pack matters." His black eyes bored into mine. "And if you do anything to embarrass this pack or jeopardize the alliance, I'll make sure what happened to those rebels looks merciful by comparison."

"I understand."

"Excellent." He stepped back, and his expression shifted to something almost pleasant. "Safe travels, sister. I'm sure you'll make us all very proud." It was a threat, and we both knew

Garrett grabbed my arm again and pulled me outside roughly, but not enough to leave marks on my exposed skin. Two other warriors waited by a black vehicle; they didn't bother to hide their distaste and contempt while glaring at me, despite being guards, and I was of alpha bloodline, but at least we would be out of each other's hair soon enough.

"This is what we're escorting? A wolf-less omega?" I swallowed the sharp retort at the tip of my tongue.

"Alpha's orders, Sam, and the instruction is to get her to   Royal Shifts alive and intact with no visible scars." Garrett opened the back door. "Get in bitch."

I climbed in, and he slammed the door barely inches away from my bare feet before coming in through the other door, and he somehow managed to pull out silver chains from somewhere I didn't notice before.

"Hands."

"What? Why?"

"Because Alpha Amreth requested his bride to arrive in chains. Something about making sure everyone knows her place." Garrett's smile was cruel.

Alpha Amreth? My husband to be? Was this some cruel plot twist by the moon goddess? Was this my punishment for the death of Margot and other protesting wolves?

"Hold out your wrists, or I'll break them first."

I held out my hands, and the silver hissed as soon as it came in contact with my skin. It burned when it touched my skin, making me gasp. Garrett locked the chains tight enough to cut into my flesh.

"Perfect. Now you look the part."

Unfortunately, it didn't escape my notice that the freedom I so much desired might be even more painful and rough than my previous cage ever was.