The Ultimatum

SELENA'S P.O.V

The dance troupe proceeded to the palace, and I joined, quickly learning their chants as we made the short journey to the palace.

Soon enough, the palace loomed in front of us. I stopped for a second to catch my breath, my chest heaving. I still knew the palace like the back of my hand. Like someone whose life had revolved around this place and not once had I questioned my place till it crumbled around me.

We entered through the servants' entrance after a quick security check that was more of a formality than anything at this point.

We were arranged behind the banquet hall, and I finally stopped to let the emotions crash over me.

Alpha Cole was in there. He was somewhere close, and I might even see him close. There was no chance he would recognize me. But what if...

I shook my head. This is not the time to get distracted. I need to break away from the dancers and go to the dungeons where I knew Mila, Lily, Sarah, and Gabriel would be, and then try to bring them out. That's the only way right now.

I looked around.

The rest of the dancers were all touching up makeup, dresses, and masks, and I took the opportunity and slowly skipped away into the side entrance that led straight to the vast corridor. Right above that corridor was the private balcony that Alpha Cole and I had stood on so many times. Where I had listened to him tell me just how much of a leader he wanted to be.

I crouched, looking around.

The security was even more lax than I remembered, but it was probably because Blackmoon was now more established than it used to be, and it would either take a foolish person to try and invade it, or someone driven by pure hate.

Like me.

I made my way down the corridor till I found the stairs that led down towards the servant's quarters. It was made this way so that the servants coming in and out of the palace would not have to come in contact with the alpha and luna. Alpha Cole used to talk about how much he hated it.

I went into the servant's quarters and froze, my chest heaving. A soldier had one of the servants pressed against the wall, his lips taking hers.

She pushed him away the minute she saw me, and I raised my hand in surrender.

"As long as you consented."

She nodded shyly. "This... is not where the dance troupe is."

"I know," I said, my eyes darting to the soldier who looked unsure if he should run or attack. He was noticeably young and definitely naive, but not enough for him to not know that if word got out, they both could lose their jobs. "But you are not going to say anything, are you?"

"No," the girl said immediately, her eyes meeting the soldier's, who immediately nodded.

I gave them a small smile. "Goodluck."

I turned away, leaving them behind me. I trailed the old path, my heart hammering in my chest. I finally got to the underground stairs, that would lead straight to the dungeons.

I expected the dungeons to have at least a guard. I reached for my dagger, my fingers closing around the handle, as I descended the stairs. It got progressively darker, till the light was just enough for me to see the next step in front of me.

I finally got to the large iron gate. It was locked firmly. I started to reach for a small knife from my stack of weapons when a voice stopped me.

"Who is there?!"

I cursed under my breath and turned in time to see a soldier running towards me. Using the hilt of my dagger, I hit the edge of his neck hard, causing him to pass out immediately.

He fell with a loud thud, and I leaned down, dragging him away. Keys jingled against the floor when I let go of his legs, and I searched his pockets. He had a large punch of labelled keys.

Good. I wouldn't have to pick the lock.

I quickly opened the gate and went in, making sure to pull the gate back so it doesn't look like it was entered.

I checked every dungeon. Some were empty, and most of them were people I had put there myself. They were mostly destitute, and they absolutely deserved it.

My eyes finally reached a single, illuminated dungeon. It was locked, but unlike the rest, it had lights.

I immediately ran to it, my eyes wide as I took in the space. The dungeon was large, one of the bigger ones. There were four beds. Two on each side of the wall, and a large dug in the middle. Remnants of a large tray of food still sat on the rug.

Mila was lying in one bed. Sarah was on the floor, legs crossed, her eyes downcast. Gabriel was in a far corner, his legs pulled to his chest. Lily was lying in the other bed.

It looked very far from the normal dungeon that was left cold and completely ruined. This looked...

"Mila!" I said, my voice low as I looked behind to make sure no body was coming.

They all looked up to me at the same time.

Mila gasped, and immediately ran to the door. Lily followed. Gabriel stayed where he was, but Sarah trailed behind, now sobbing.

"How are you here?!" Mila asked, her voice a furious whisper. "What if someone sees? What if..."

"I came to get you," I said, holding her hand through the bars. "I couldn't just sit there while you were here. I couldn't. And I heard that there would be a public execution for Gabriel. He is just a child. "

Mila gave a long sigh, and she and Lily exchanged glances. Sarah only started crying more.

"All three of the soldiers died, Selena. We really can't blame Alpha Cole."

My lips parted, and my eyes darted towards Sarah and Gabriel. With each soldier that died, my excuses for Gabriel only grew thinner.

"It is sad," Lily said. "Yesterday after we were brought here, Alpha Cole himself came. He assured us that we would be able to leave, but probably not Gabriel. Three soldiers, Selena. We can't keep being biased."

I swallowed hard, tears stinging the back of my eyes. "I can't trust him. I will get you out. I will get all of you out..."

"I won't go with you," Mila said, her voice steady. "I am sorry. Based on everything we heard from you, and we absolutely do not doubt you, we came in expecting a monster. He basically doesn't even care. He just wants someone to pay, and he wants to make sure it is the right person. We can't fault him for that. Three men died."

"Mila," I said. "Look at Sarah. Are you really going to trust Alpha Cole? You can't be that naive."

"I don't know," she said, shrugging. "He hasn't treated us bad at all, Selena. Not even Gabriel. Did Jackson not tell you? He was..."

"That is how he always is! That is why I fell in love with him!"

They went quiet, and I gripped the bars hard.

"I can't do it," I continued. "I can't leave you to his mercy. Not when he changes like that. Not when he switches up like that. What if he decides to execute all of you? Amanda keeps asking of you. Maybe I can understand Gabriel's punishment, but I can't leave you behind. I can't do it."

Mila swallowed hard, her hands wrapping around mine. Lily gave a sigh, but said nothing.

I hated it. Hated that Alpha Cole had gotten them to believe he was anything more than monster I knew he was.

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, then looked back up.

"Are you coming with me?"

Mila and Lily looked at each other. "Even if we do," Lily said. "Sarah will not. She is also innocent."

I gave a small sigh. "Sarah?"

"I can't leave him," she said, her voice teary and broken. "I can't do it. He is the only one I have. It was a mistake. He isn't a murderer. Please, Selena. Please get us out. All of us. I will go with you if he comes."

I turned to Mila, but she slowly moved her hand away from mine.

"Mila."

"If you are taking Gabriel, then I won't becoming with you. We love him, but he murdered three people."

Lily nodded in agreement. There was no way I could leave Mila and Lily behind, especially if I was taking Gabriel. That just meant the people who will be punished would be Mila and Lily.

"Mila, I..." I started to say, just as I heard the creak of the iron gate.

"What happened to this guard?"

My pulse jumped, my heart skipping straight into my throat. That voice.

It was Alpha Cole. No one else.

"I think it's Alpha Cole," Lily said, her eyes wide with panic. "He can't see you here."

I immediately grabbed the keys and opened the dungeon, then quickly slipped under one of the beds, curling up.

Lily locked the gate, but stood there, while Mila ran back to her bed.

There was a tense silence for a long moment, until the footsteps, unhurried, elegant, came.

"Alpha," Lily said, her voice slightly shaky. "You are here."

I moved slightly. I couldn't see his face, but I could see his legs. The ends of a tailored pair of trousers, and shiny dress shoes.

I swallowed hard, his essence filling my nostrils. My wolf gave a small growl. Fuck.

"Is it the food?" He asked, his voice just as beautiful, and still, still it threatened to make me as stupid as I was five years ago. "Something smells funny."

I closed my eyes. Of course, he would pick up on the change of smell.

"Maybe. There was milk and Mila is lactose intolerant."

Alpha Cole gave a small laugh. "It isn't an unpleasant smell. Anyway. I decided to let three of you go early. My hospitality kind of feels... strained."

Lily went silent. "Three?"

"Yes. Three. All except the boy."

Sarah immediately shuffled forward, and went on her knees. I could see her clearly, the way her fingers trembled as she clasped them in front of her, the way her lips quivered.

"I... I will not leave without my son. I can not leave without..."

"Then I will kill you with him," Alpha Cole said, almost like he was saying the weather.

All blood drained from my face. He would... what? I had to physically hold myself back before I do something reckless.

"But Alpha," Mila tried. "Sarah is innocent. It is just Gabriel. And you promised that..."

"I promised, yes. That is why I will let you go. If his mother doesn't leave with you tonight, I will consider it that she wants to make it two lives for three. Seems fair to me."

"You... you are saying... that my son will definitely be killed?"

"Yes."

"And if I choose to stay?"

"Then you will be killed with him."