THE BAIT

Lia Blake

I heard a rustling and creaking sound in my sleep. I forced my eyes to shut even more. All through the night, the cold had gotten worse and the entire hairs on my body had stood erect as the cold hammered against my body. I was a bit thankful for the wedding dress. The long length had been of help. A typical example of a blessing and curse. 

The air got colder and the terrible stench of the dungeon got worse by the second. 

I couldn't catch a glimpse of sleep even though I had my eyes shut most of the time. I did more stopping myself from breathing than trying to sleep. But each time I squinted my eyes towards the prisoner, he always looked to be sound asleep curled up in one corner of the dungeon. 

I wondered how he could have offended the Lycan King to find himself here, how long he must have been here and how many more days, perhaps weeks or months he had to stay here. Poor him. 

Lia, worry more about yourself. 

The thought of being his prison mate had goosebumps crawling all over my skin. I shook my head pushing the dreadful thought away. 

Oh dear moon goddess, help me. 

Funny, isn't it. I couldn't help but stiffle back laughter. Hell, I left my damn pack to this pack to get a fresh and better start. But what? I'm locked up in some stenchy dungeon by the scariest Lycan King. Isn't my life really interesting…

"Fuck, this is really crazy…" 

"Forgive me, my king! Forgive me! I swear, If you give me one more chance, I will be loyal to you forever!"

I heard a bellowing in the cell room and my eyes squinted open. 

My prisoner mate was on his knees and looked to be begging some tall figure. 

"My king! Give me just one more chance!" He cried. 

What… my king? Did he just say my king?

I  forced my eyes fully open and at that moment it dawned on me it wasn't just a tall man standing there but the Lycan King himself. 

The Lycan king shot the man a deep scowl before he growled to his guards outside.  "Take him out of here!"

Out of here? Does that mean he had forgiven the man?

I thought the prisoner would be delighted but he bellowed pleadingly as he was being dragged away by the guards. The Lycan king's "take him away from here" must have a different meaning I knew nothing about. 

As soon as the man was taken away, he faced me seriously. His scowl had turned into a very deep glare and his burning gaze settled on me. 

I lowered my head, scared I would burn if I let my eyes meet those deadly eyes of his. 

He took strides towards me and the next second I found myself hanging in the air, his strong hand gripping my neck. 

"Who sent you?" He questioned. 

"I..No one…no one sent me…" I struggled to speak. 

"No one?" He scoffed disdainfully, tightening his grip on my neck. 

I was barely hanging on for breath as he increased his grip around my neck.

"Where is Laura?"

 Could this really be the end of me? Laura? Who is Laura? Could the Luna's name be Laura?

"I swear it…No one sent me…please…don't kill me…" I pleaded falteringly. 

I barely heard my own words. I was in-between death and life. Death sought me more and it was just a matter of seconds before it took me. 

Thankfully he let go of me and I dropped to the ground with a clattering sound, panting heavily. 

He bent over to where I was panting and grabbed my hair. 

I cried out in pain. 

"Oh really? No one sent you. You are very loyal. Your sponsors must be proud of you…" he chuckled mockingly. 

I managed to lift my eyes to meet his. They were cold. An  eerie feeling washed down on me as though telling me I should brace up for more hell. 

"Let's see how long you stay loyal to them." He whispered before he got back to his feet. 

"Guards!" He called and in a flash a number of guards rushed into the dungeon room. 

"Take her and torture her until she speaks!" He commanded them. 

The men grabbed me and started to drag me out. 

Lia, tell the truth! Tell the damn truth, why the fuck are you protecting her. She knew what will happen when she put you to this and you still lie for her?!!

My wolf barked within me furiously. 

I wished I could tell him…What if I hurt him I told him his mate never loved him nor wanted him. 

You are one to worry about someone else right now?! You are really crazy, Lia!!

"Oops! Sorry, going somewhere?" A tall fine man blocked the guards. With his height and sturdy shape, I guessed he was equally a Lycan. His Lycan scent breezed into my nostril confirming his identity. 

The guards dipped their heads in respect.

Who is he? He must be someone respected seeing as the guards halted in their steps and bowed their heads on seeing him. 

"What are you doing? Take her away this instant!" The Lycan King roared again seeing as we stopped at the gate. 

"Oops! Did I interrupt something?" The new man said with a grin and poked his head past us towards the Lycan King. 

I looked behind hoping to catch the reaction of the Lycan King to this strange man. 

"Damian? What are you doing here?" The Lycan King asked, taking quick steps towards us. 

Damian, that's his name. Who could he be? Even the Lycan King revered him. I might have known this cold Lycan King for barely a few hours but this was the only time he ever said a word without some perceived coldness attached to it. 

"Well, just taking a look and seeing if any of the prisoners have had a change of heart and turned a new leaf!" Damian said still grinning. "As your good Beta, of course," he added. 

Oh, his Beta. 

The Lycan King got to us. 

"Why are you still here?! Get her out of my sight right now!" He snarled at the guards holding unto me. 

"Not so fast guys! Erm, Derrick, might I have a word with you?" Damian requested. 

The Lycan King frowned at him briefly before he stepped away from us with him. 

"Deceptive bitch! I pray you rot in jail!" One of the guards spat at me after the Lycan King left with his Beta.

I glared at him.

"Look look, she is glaring at you!" Another one of them said and they all stifled back their laughter mockingly. 

"Hey, how about I give you one piece of advice. As a man that has tortured all sorts of people. Why don't you save yourself and spill the truth. You are too weak and I sort…feel pity for ya. I have a daughter, you know.  I promise you, the king won't stop until you tell the truth. Why not save yourself the torture before it's too late. And…" 

He stopped and sized me up with a pitiful look in his face before he continued. "You won't last a few minutes in there. By the time we are done torturing you, every one of your bones would have melted like snow…" he shook his head piteously. 

Maybe you should really tell them the truth, Lia.

My wolf urged me again. 

It wasn't that easy. I still imagined the sad look in the eyes of that woman. How sad it must have been for her putting up with a cold and aloof man as a mate. 

I was going to consider her suggestion but the thudding sound of approaching heavy soles of shoes interrupted my thoughts. 

"You all leave!" The Lycan King ordered the men. 

The men started to lead me away. 

"Except her…" he pointed at me and the guards exchanged surprised looks. 

Except me? Did the moon goddess really come to 

my rescue? I blinked, equally surprised. I let out a silent sigh of relief the instant I got freed from the clutch of the guards.  

"Did you say we shouldn't torture her again?" One of the guards asked but they were soon trotting away seconds later as the glare from the Lycan king met them. When the men left, he turned around to face me. 

I stepped backwards as my eyes met his deadly 

glare. 

Oh shit, I thought he changed his mind from torturing me. Or just maybe he didn't want me free but wanted to torture me by himself…

"Don't scare her too much, Derrick!" The Beta called lightly as he walked past us. He was grinning. 

"I…really don't know where she is…I swear it and I wasn't sent here by anyone…" my lips quivered as I continued to draw backwards fearfully. How could someone's look carry this amount of fear in it? Was he going to kill me here without anyone seeing? Will he…

My back bumped against a hard surface. It dawned on me I had come against the wall and that meant nowhere to run for me. 

In a matter of seconds, he was towering over me with his fiery gaze blazing down on me 

"I will be asking you for the fuvking last time, who sent you?"

I swallowed nervously and dug feebly at the wall. 

All night I thought of what to tell him to save her life, mustering courage but seeing him now this close and enraged before me, I totally lost my voice. 

"I'm sorry…I…" I stuttered shakingly. 

"Fine. If you wouldn't speak, then you are of no use to me. I will kill you with my own hands…" he gritted. 

I immediately fell on my knees. "Please spare my life! I was sent by no one. I swear!"

He sneered as he straightened away from the wall. 

"You dare lie in my presence…how then did you manage to be in a wedding dress not meant for you!!" He roared causing the room to shake violently. 

"I'm sorry…please, I will do anything you ask me to do. Take me as your servant….no, your slave! Take me as your slave and I will serve you forever! Use me as bait to capture all your enemies! Spare my life…please…"

I didn't think much of the words that left my lips until seconds later when an evil smirk appeared in his face. 

"Yes, I will do as you said…" he gripped my hand, pulling me up violently and pinned me against the wall. 

"I will use you as bait and capture all my enemies…" he spat in my face with an evil smirk. 

I gulped hard. His cold stare regarded my body as his fingers found my neck and travelled downwards.

"However, this wouldn't be just any bait…" his hoarse voice spoke after some moments of deadly silence. 

I shivered under his breath. And my legs went weaker by the second. 

In a flash, he pulled me to himself, tightly to his body. 

"You will be my wife…" he whispered into my ears. 

Whatever restraint my leg had finally gave way and like a jelly I pooled to the ground.