Chapter 36

Reina's POV

“Here is the woman…” He pointed in the dark room; pride and satisfaction laced his voice.

“Isn’t she dead already?” I narrowed my eyes at the motionless body of the woman lying in shackles.

Her whole body was bruised, cut deeply and burnt. She was clothed with wounds and had nothing to cover her naked body.

“No, she is not dead, but I can assure you, death is the only prayer she offers to her god, as it would save her from the intense torture that never ends. It has been years now.”

I stepped closer and squatted in front of her. As if my presence gave a bit of strength, I saw her eyelids flutter and her numb fingers budge.

“You deserve this and even more for what you did to my innocent mother. All the evil you and your people have committed must be accounted for!” I seethed at her and watched as her eyes opened slowly, those eyes all dead.

I couldn’t tell if she could see me clearly because her eyes were red and drooling.

“Your son and husband will join you soon. That is the only thing I can promise you!”

Her lips shivered in an attempt to speak. Every muscle movement seemed to burn her with torture.

“What do you have to say to me?” I sneered, and my father walked closer.

“The same lie they had all been spilling. These evil vampires claimed they weren’t the ones who killed my wife.” He rasped and spat on the woman. “I keep you alive so you will watch your own son join you here and suffer the same fate as you.”

“Yes. Let’s leave here before I angrily crush her head with my boots!” I hissed and made my way out.

“You can go. I have a torture session with her now. It has been my therapy to bear the pain of my murdered mate. Someone I loved with all my heart and soul. They took her away from me.” Kane, my father, said to me with a sad sigh, and I pulled him into a hug.

“Revenge will bring us peace and joy. And she will be proud of us in heaven for bringing justice to her killers.” I consoled him as he sobbed gently in my arms.

“You are right, daughter. Bless the moon goddess for giving me you as a gift. How would my life be without you…?” He pecked my cheek before I walked out of the dungeon that had three iron gates, built with strong magic.

Even if this pack was ambushed and taken over by another mystical being, the dungeon would be the place they would never be able to get entry into, no matter the charm used.

My father really made sure that the woman had no hope of escape and that nobody found out she was a captive. He only showed me because I was his daughter.

As I stepped out of the last door, which was inside his inner chamber, a deep exhale slipped into my mouth.

The dungeon really stinks, but my father seems to have gotten used to it.

I made my way to my room, and the only thing that could fill my head was what Dad told me in the dining room about the demon king.

He told me about the forbidden charms they offered him but didn’t tell me what he gave them or would give them back in return. Everyone knows the demon king doesn’t give out anything for free.

He would definitely take back something as payment which would be bigger than his gift.

What did he request from my father to give him such a highly sensitive charm?

Whatever. I just hope everything works out perfectly.

I slumped on the bed in my room and shook my head, taking another deep breath to calm my nerves.

The only reason I accepted to go on this mission with the vampire with this dark magic from the demon king was just so I could finally meet Diane and rescue her.

There are several ways we could get at the vampires, but he chose this dark path. It never ends well working with the devil. That demon clan is unhinged.

They just want to use my father to break away from the dome. I just hope he is wise enough to play smart. Once I rescue Diane, I would make sure he cut ties with them.

I hope it is possible.

*********

Three days later….

Another night, and I lay awake waiting for midnight to sneak out with the bracelet in search of my secret lover.

I had gone to check on him for the past two days and found no trace of him. I even went further, wandering through different routes hoping I would see him, but he was nowhere to be found.

It was as if he had disappeared from the forest and the entire pack too, because I had searched relentlessly, even in every school.

Doesn’t he enroll in any school or what?

This was the third day of my training with the demon's charm, and I should be resting, but I am up again to look for him in that river.

I thought I would be able to push him out of my mind with all the duties and responsibilities on me, but he still found a way to sneak in and take over my mind every night I lay down to sleep.

Does he know the Alpha's daughter is obsessed with him and would do anything to get his heart and make him love her?

I was sure if he did, he wouldn’t keep hiding away from me. The fact that I don’t even know his name hurts me, so there was no way to ask about him in the pack.

“At least let us meet again, please. What I feel for you is real. If it wasn’t, the feelings would have died since. “Are you scared of me?” I stared at the bracelet, talking to it like it was the guy.

I wished he would be able to hear me. My eyes were wet with tears as I went out in search of him again, sneaking out as usual in the middle of the night with my inner wolf praying and hoping it would be our last try.

The moment I got to the river, the tears in my eyes poured freely, and my weak legs gave way to me as I crashed on the ground with sadness waving through me.

I was heartbroken to see his absence. He seemed to have left the bracelet for me rather than meet me again.

Why won’t he tell me why he doesn’t want to see me again?

I don’t know what to expect after this mission with a charm from the demon. Who knows what it would do to my soul?

“At least, come and meet me just today. If you tell me not to use the charm, I won’t.”

“What did you do to me?! I feel incomplete without you!”

I kept sobbing to myself, holding the bracelet to my chest.

Just then my ears caught the leaf shuffling. I could sense someone's movement, and that made me jump up to my feet immediately.

“Is that you?” My voice echoed in the silence of the wood as my feet pulled me towards the movement.

I reached and checked the shrubs. There was nothing, just little insects cowering.

That wasn’t an insect movement. Someone came here.

“Who is there?!” I called out fearlessly, my wolf ready for any attack.

Just then I heard quick footsteps behind. When I turned, I saw no one.

This time, I was sure it wasn’t him, as the footsteps were many, as though a group of creatures were here.

“Is this an attack?” I smirked. “I hope you know who I am! You don’t dare touch the Alpha daughter!”

I secreted my Alpha scent more, spreading it through to make them all come out and bow.

My guess was that they were hunters keeping watch and had thought I was an enemy. That was why I released those Alpha pheromones, but I was wrong.

These people knew who I was and were here to attack me.

“Come out and fight me if you are brave enough. “Stop hiding behind trees!” I yelled with outrage, my eyes turning red and my body shifting gradually.

Just then an arrow struck me, but I was quick. Another came. Another. And many others from several directions, making it hard to dodge.

Suddenly, my strength was sapping out, and strangely, my wolf couldn’t break out and fight.

I was puzzled, wondering what was wrong with my muscles and inner energy. Something seemed to be sucking it.

Then, from behind, a familiar voice called out, and it made my blood run cold as I turned sharply.

My eyes widened as shivers ran down my spine. There was Jaden and his father standing with incense in their hands, emitting the smoke that was snatching my powers.

Up to twenty werewolves appeared too, surrounding me.

“What a surprise, huh?” Jaden snickered, his eyes glinting evilly at me.

My legs were shaking, and I knew I was no match for twenty men, even if I sucked out every bit of energy in me to fight.

“What are you doing?” I growled, my fists clenched tight as I scrutinized the incense vessel in their hands. It was foreign and looked like one of those I read in a vampire book.

It can’t be what I am thinking!

“Jaden, where did you and your father bring that from? It is nowhere in this pack!” I snarled, fuming.

He chuckled maniacally. “You are really smart. Sure, it is not in this pack. No weapon in the werewolf kingdom can weaken you, so we had to compromise!”

“What do you mean?” I gasped wide-eyed.

“Exactly what you’re thinking. We connived with the vampires!” He replied with a gloating smile. “Nobody can take the throne from me!”