Chapter Three

Chapter Three

“I…” No words came out. My heart thudded against my chest. He was a rogue. Was that how close I’d come to dying? I tried to unite the calm and gentle voice of the young man in the forest, with the man who was currently standing at my front, giving me a cold smile that could put an ice terrain to shame. 

I wasn’t sure I knew the true meaning of fear. But I was certain that the straight trickle of sweat moving down my back at that moment was a symptom of helplessness. Goddess help me, but I was afraid of him.

“She is the treaty offer,” I heard my father say above the loud thuds of my heart.

 “You must take us for fools, Alpha Marcus.” He scoffed, his eyes flaring with restrained fury. I blinked in confusion. He didn’t want to take me?

“You’ll find out soon. She’s very useful.” My father said meaningfully. 

“Alpha Marcus,” the white-haired man began, his voice laced with underlying fury. “You don’t seem to be taking this as seriously as you should.” He smiled, the gesture anything but kind. A choking sound from behind me made my heart skip for a moment. I whirled around to see Beta Tris—one of the pack’s Betas—holding onto his neck, eyes rolling over. The sick smile lingered on the culprit’s face, as he twirled his fingers casually. “I’ll ask again. Where is the offer?” He asked, and the choking sound weakened. Evidence that Beta Tris would collapse soon.

“What are you doing?!” I yelled, nausea enveloping me. 

“Relax, sweetheart. This won’t take long.” He winked. 

“Wait, wait,” my father called out, looking flustered. I was startled by his reaction. I’d never witnessed him looking flustered before. Ever. 

“Yes?” The white-haired man, his invisible grip on the Beta’s neck still strong. 

“You can take her alongside our finest weapons.” He offered.

The man chuckled. “Do you think your measly weapons can measure up to Errendor’s?” He asked. Beta Tris collapsed to the ground. But he was still breathing. That, I could tell. I heard my father suck in a relieved breath. I let myself wonder, if I’d been the one in the Beta’s position, if I’d almost been strangled, if the Alpha would care at all. Deep down, I knew the answer. 

My father would never care. 

“I dare not think so. But she’d make all the difference.” He pointed at me again.

The white-haired man looked at me. This time, he seemed to stare right through me. I held his gaze, unwilling to show any hint of fear. I’d been reading books of war in the pack’s library. And if there was anything I learnt, it was never to show fear before an enemy. And this man, was an enemy. “Interesting,” I heard him say.

“We will take her. The weapons too.” He declared.

My stomach plummeted down. For a second, I hoped he’d refuse my father’s offer. That I’d get a chance to escape. His response sealed my fate. My father exhaled in relief. 

I locked eyes with my stepmother, and waited for the familiar feeling of disgust. But there was none. I just felt numb. And something that bore a slight resemblance to pity. She couldn’t even stand up to her husband, how could she possibly intercede for me? Bonded with a yellow inner wolf, the only reason my father had remained faithful to her, was because of my stepsister’s brown inner wolf. Pathetic. She pursed her lips and turned her face away. I let my eyes linger on Garek, and that familiar surge of anger shot up my chest. Bastard. 

“I’m assuming you have a dungeon here.” The white-haired man said again, breaking the thick momentary silence that followed his words earlier on. I blinked and whirled my head upwards. I regarded him carefully, my eyes resting longer on his black boots than they should. 

“We do.” My father replied, his voice cracking. Although I hated the white-haired emissary from Errendor, anyone who could make my cruel father shake in his shoes was automatically a friend. 

“Show me. And bring our new prisoner along.” His cold tone was a sharp contrast to his seemingly harmless words. His time carried no warmth whatsoever.

Alarm bells rang in my head. Nofuckingway. I could’ve sworn I spotted a tense look on my father’s face. When I stared closely, it vanished. 

“As you wish, Your Highness.” My father said. 

Oh shit.

Highness–as–in–motherfucking–royalty–highness. 

“Stand up.” The man ordered, and I remained in my position. I’d take orders from no one. I narrowed my eyes, planting my knees firmly on the ground. 

A cold smile curved his lips. “I’ve met many slow learners, Prisoner. And I’ll be very glad to add you to the list of my students.” He moved closer, each step sounding like a threat. He crouched down in front of me, finally staring at me at eye-level. My breath hitched. Literally. From up close, his features were too good. A scar from my knife would look so good on it. Or perhaps from a dagger—if I could get my hands on one.

“And do you know what your first lesson is?” He asked. 

I didn’t respond. His gloved hand moved faster than I could blink, gripped my jaw, and lifted my head so I was staring up at him. 

“Never ever go against my orders.” He warned. Gone was the man I thought I’d seen in the forest. This man could end my life in a jiffy. He didn’t give a single damn about it. 

“Let go of me!” I breathed harshly, my skin crawling at the contact. How I wanted to smash his balls, break the bones in his fingers, do something to hurt him. My eyes burned. Fuck the rogues and their rumored strength. I’d kill him.

“Feisty, aren’t we? It’d be my utmost pleasure to break you.” He whispered close to my ears, the smile gone from his face. He dragged me up to my feet, and pushed me towards the other rogues. I decided not to resist. There were three others, all of them tall and handsome in their own right. 

No one made contact with  me, but I felt strong curly-like ropes holding me in place as two guards from our pack led the way out of the celebration hall, and down the stairs that led to the west side of the pack mansion. As we climbed down the stone stairs, I held my breath. I’d never been there before. My exploration always ended at the north, east, and southern part of the mansion. The path to the dungeons was forbidden. Yet, here I was. And my first visit there? 

It was probably to be tortured. 

I was so fucked.