Released

“Stop,” Alexander ordered Sam, who was laughing as he tormented Amari’s limp body. 

“Why?  This bitch had your mate raped and killed.  I think it’s only fitting she befalls the same misery,” Sam said.

Alexander felt his stomach painfully tie in knots, and a slow burn began to smolder in his chest.

“As your Alpha, I’m commanding you to stop!” Alexander snapped. 

A low growl of defiance rumbled in Sam’s chest, causing Alexander to start rolling up his sleeves.  “I suggest you back away from the girl right now, or you’ll find yourself in the cage right next to her with a syringe full of silver jabbed into your heart,” Alexander snarled. 

“As you wish, Alpha,” Sam huffed before attempting to make his exit.  Sam thought he was home free when Alexander snatched him up by his neck.  Sam rapidly kicked his feet as they dangled underneath him.  He couldn’t breathe, and his life began to flash before his eyes as Alexander choked the life out of you. 

“I can see it in your eyes and your body language.  You want to challenge me so bad, don’t you?” Alexander accused.  “You think you’re so smart and such a god damn badass, but you’re not.  You don’t have the balls big enough to lead a pack.  You are destined to submit, and you’ll never be more than a replaceable minion.”

Alexander threw Sam on the floor when he was sure he had enough.

“I invite you to challenge me at any time.  Just know, your challenge will be in vain.  I will tear you apart, limb from limb, and once I’m done, I’ll allow my wolf to devour your flesh.  Keep that in mind the next time you attempt to defy me,” Alexander growled. 

Sam massaged his sore throat as he stared daggers into Alexander’s eyes, making Alexander snort.  He swiped one of the syringes off the metal table and stabbed it into Sam’s leg.  Sam cried out in pain and withered on the floor as the silver rushed through his blood.

“Tracy!”

“Yes, Alpha?”

“Put Sam in the cage next to our guest.”

“Yes, sir,” Tracy answered, not wanting to end up like Sam.  Tracy immediately jumped into action and dragged Sam, who was thrashing and wailing, to the next cell.  Tracy rolled his eyes as Sam begged to make the pain stop.  Sam didn’t have any remorse for the girl he tortured, so he would not receive any from him. 

“Alpha, what should we do about the girl?” Tracy asked once he returned from chaining Sam. 

“I have contacted Alpha Winters, and we will return her.  He said she wasn’t welcomed back on his lands, but she will cease to exist if she remains here.  Wake her up.”

Tracy shook Amari by the shoulders, but she would not waken.  He resorted to slapping Amari in the face, but she remained unconscious.  He squinted his eyes and took note of the ragged rise and fall of her chest. 

“Alpha?”

“What is it now?” Alexander sighed.

“She may need medical attention.”

“I don’t know why you felt the need to inform me of this.  This is a dungeon, not a hospital.  If she needs medical attention, then her father will provide it to her.  Step aside.”

Alexander grabbed a bucket of water and dumped it on Amari’s head.  She gasped from the frigid water that shocked her system.  Now fully conscious, Amari immediately registered the throbbing pain in her left hand.  She dared a glance at her mangled hand and began to cry. 

“Shut up before I send you back with a matching set,” Alexander spat.

Amari sniffled and attempted to hold back her sobs while she trembled from the ice-cold water.  “Y-You’re letting me go?” she asked curiously.

“We are returning you back to your pack.   What they decide to do with you is their business.  Your crimes have severed the ties between the Artemis Pack and the Blood Moon Pack.  We are no longer allies.”

“No!  You can’t do this!” Amari shouted. 

She received a vicious backhand from her mate and something inside of her broke.  Yes, he fractured her jaw, but it was something else that broke.  Something that could not easily be fixed.  It was her heart.  The last shred of hope she had for her mate to see the light had shriveled up and died.  Amari hung her head in defeat.  Her mate might as well toss her out of a moving van on the side of the road because she was 100% certain her father would never accept her back.  He might even kill her.  What was worse?  Being killed by your own flesh and blood, or by the man that was made for you?  The man you’re supposed to share your mind, body, and soul with?

Alexander gripped Amari’s jaw and wrenched her face towards him.  He was prepared to hurl insults at Amari, but he wasn’t prepared to see the deadened look in her eyes.  She appeared completely detached from reality.  He had broken her.  That smolder lit again in his chest.

“Load her into the SUV,” he ordered.

**********

The drive back to the Blood Moon Pack was an hour trek by vehicle.  Amari rested her head against the window and counted the minutes until her untimely death.  She knew it was coming but hoped it would be swift and painless.  She’d suffered enough, she thought as she cradled her deformed hand to her chest.  She wished for the first time that she had remained hidden from the world. 

From the backseat, Amari stared daggers into the back of her mate’s head.  She silently scoffed.  She would no longer refer to Alpha Beaumont as her mate.  He no longer had the privilege to carry the title. 

“We’re here,” the driver announced. 

Moments later, Amari was dragged out of the backseat and thrown onto the ground at her father’s feet.  She didn’t bother to look up and kept her nose touching the dirt.

“Alpha Winters, do you confirm, Amari Rose Winters is your daughter?”

“She is.”

“Then I release her to you.  As of this moment, the Artemis Pack will no longer be faithful allies of the Blood Moon Pack.  We will no longer provide your pack with aid and assistance of any nature.  Have I made myself clear?”

“Yes, Alpha Beaumont,” Alpha Winters growled.

“One more thing, I want Camilla’s body.”

Alpha Winters gave Alpha Beaumont a sinister smirk.  “That won’t be possible.”

“Why not?”

“She has been cremated in your absence.”

“You’re lying!” Alexander snarled.

“I wish I was, but I’m telling the truth.  I would give you her ashes, but as you said, we are no longer allies.  Get off my land.”

“You’ll regret this,” Alexander growled.

Alpha Winters watched as Alpha Beaumont and his flunkies jumped into their SUV and sped off.  Amari cried out when her father stepped on her hand.  “You have brought so much shame and destruction to this pack.  You are not welcomed here.  I have made arrangements for you to leave.”

“Where would I go?!” Amari cried out.  She was scared out of her mind at the thought of being alone.  She did not care for her father, but he, Camilla, and Beta Marco was all that she knew. 

“The Black Crescent Pack.”