Chapter 03

~EMBER

When I was young, I was unusually different from my peers; dangerously strong and difficult to handle. Keres was a victim of the life I managed to shed off… the life my father wanted for me. He was so young but was tortured day and night, he was a victim of my father’s endless experiment to making me better. I was told he was a dying slave but that didn’t justify everything he went through. My father died the same day Keres was found dead in the prison. Nobody knew about my father’s secret activities so the case was closed mysteriously.

“You’re alive…” I croaked.

“Precisely”

He picked up his robe with a smirk “Your miserable life is a prove that Heaven is on my side. Your mate betrayed you. It wasn’t that hard to convince him you know.” he chuckled, steepling his fingers.

“What did you promise him?” The intensity of the situation dawned on me; I might end up dying before I get my revenge.

“A promise. He said I could take you as long as I don’t attack his pack and help him scare off anyone that tries to attack Moon edge. That’s all you’re worth to him after giving him so much of you” There was nothing short of excitement in his eyes.

“No I don’t believe you. You must have forced him into this” I argued but deep down I know he wasn’t lying. I can’t say I know Teneger anymore after he dared to sleep with another woman. But do I really deserve this?

My body couldn’t take it anymore because then my vision was getting blurry, coupled with a banging headache.

“You were stabbed with a poisonous dagger I made personally for you but guess what? I will save you.” he crouched to my level.

“Why?” I asked him, genuinely confused.

“So I can break you. I will kill you, heal you and break you over and over again until you’re broken beyond repair. You’ll be a walking dead like I am or way worse” His red lips curved cynically.

“Why don’t you use the element you stole from me? With your wolf seriously injured, that fire element is the only chance you have at winning” He placed his hands on my shoulders. His eyes held mine What fire element?

“Are you trying to feign ignorance?” Rage pooled in his eyes, taking my silence for stubbornness. His eyes traveled down my chest, He ripped my clothes off like a thin lining.

The chaos in his eyes stilled when he saw my chest. Embarassed, I slapped him hard across the face before turning away to cover myself. “How dare you?!”

“I can see it… “ he chanted repeatedly like a crazy man.

“If you don’t kill me, I promise to rip you apart myself!” I cried out, shaking violently from humiliation and pain.

“Do you feel humiliated? Oh don’t be. I don’t and will never see you as a woman”

In my entire life, I’ve never felt an emotion this overwhelming. I didn’t know what fear was until now. My wolf is gone, my husband betrayed me and now I have an old enemy from the dead who has come to drag me down with him into the pit of hell. All my hopes to get my pack back… I would do anything for an escape plan right now. Unfortunately for me, my consciousness was starting to slip away.

*****

I slept to what felt like eternity and when I opened my eyes, my environment has changed. I was no longer in a dirty dungeon but a proper place. I pressed against the soft pillows under my head, I could feel the warmth of the bed I’m splayed in. Soothing smell of Vanilla and herbal tea assaulted my senses.

I gasped — Did I make heaven? Am I dead?

“I’ll inform the Alpha you’re awake” I flinched at a voice. The maid was already out of sight before I could say a word.

Immediately, I sprang up to my feet. I need to get out of here by every means possible. It wasn’t until I got to the door that I realized I was no longer in pain. My lips parted in astonishment as I inspect my lower back to find no scar or bandage. How?

“Ember!” My wolf, Aeth called out giddily to me. I could sense her warmth filling me up. She’s healthy, active and excited.

“Do you know what predicament we are in at the moment? I’m glad you’re alive in there but right now we need an escape plan!” I said through the mind link, afraid that someone might hear me talk.

“Escape? Why should we flee from our mate?” I feel her prancing around at this point.

My breath stilled. Could Teneger have come for me? We are not even mates and Aeth has never addressed him that way. What’s she on about? The moon goddess wouldn’t play such a prank on me by giving me a mate from the enemy’s pack.

“Stay down Aeth, I’m not in for it” I tried to get her out of my mind but she didn’t stop fighting.

I resumed my walk to the door but then as my finger poised to pull the knob, an intoxicating smell of Sandalwood and Vanilla hits my nostrils. Just a whiff of it sends my senses on fire, my core included. I staggered back, the scent was getting closer and choking. Aeth on the other hand was on cloud nine, the scent enlivens her.

Frantically, I looked around for any weapon to attack and hopefully get away from this unfortunate mate because surely, Keres would kill both of us. I can only make it hurt less for him.

The door bursted open within seconds and I saw him; his cold yet indecipherable eyes landed on me. Aeth wanted to howl out loud, if possible to rip my chest apart from the inside.

A dark soul that smells like sandalwood and Vanilla— Keres. Keres is my fated mate.