“You see, before those corpses ruled the south, several packs had to be annihilated, including the royal pack. Many died, enslaved, while a few lucky survivors managed to escape or weren’t there when it happened. Astraea here was among the latter, and so was her entire family it seemed. By staying in neutral grounds, they were spared a cruel fate… only to suffer a crueler fate in my hands.”
Flick.
Noah lit a cigarette and after a long drag, slowly exhaled the smoke. “I killed her family, spared the grandma and her granddaughters.”
“WHY?” Caelum asked in a low growl.
“Why?” he repeated, thinking for himself. “Ah!”
His palm went to his forehead, throbbing in pain as white flashes formed in his mind’s eye.
A rogue barged in the door without knocking. He was a panicking mess as he bowed and immediately reported, “Alpha, the Blood Moon pack is attacking us. They have us surrounded.”Noah stared at him in disbelief. “Impossible!”Caelum laughed. “You underestimate me, brother. The pack, and I, their Alpha – we’re no longer weak and gullible as you initially took us to be.”The chains rattled as he flexed his arms and legs. Stretching his neck from side to side, a smirk formed on his lips.“Haaa!!!” He screamed as he pulled on the chains, channeling Chase’s energy for as much as he could with his current state.“Chase,” he called, but couldn’t hear him. “Don’t sleep on me now, you lazy wolf. A
Astraea desperately gasped for air; her chest tight. She felt like drowning – icy black waters swallowing her whole and everything around her fading into the background, into nothingness. Somehow, the cold waters were inviting, comforting, that there was an odd sense of peace as she sank deeper and deeper.“As-As!”She smiled.The voice was calling for her – Araceli was calling her. When she reaches the bottom, would she finally see her?It had been too long since she was last allowed to meet her. Araceli – always a fiery ball of energy – gave her hope and strength.The voice called again. “As-As!”Almost there… just a little more… and they’d finally be together again.A
She roared. Not Caelum. Her life was worthless but not Caelum’s – he had to live no matter what – for Luca, for Melanie, for the pack.She bared her sharp canines at her Master who was staring at her with wide eyes and a slack jaw. The man who caused her more than a lifetime’s worth of torment – the man who would take everything and everyone from her. No more.Amethyst growled, the look of fear in Noah’s eyes pure bliss. He almost killed her – she failed Astraea countless times. She was supposed to be her friend through dark times and good, but she could only hang in a thin thread as the monster kept poisoning Astraea. She held on because her death also meant death for Astraea.And now their mate was dying too – Chase had received too much of the poison in less t
Astraea solemnly stared at the sleeping Caelum, the occasional beeping of the machines the tubes were attached to, and the constant ticking of the clock keeping her company. The wound in her abdomen had healed thanks to Melanie, and largely due to Amethyst.It had been five days since then and Caelum was yet to wake up. She tried to use the link to get any response from him but of no use.She held his hand firmly between hers, keeping it close to her face and planting soft kisses as she wiped her tears. For five days she had been beside him, and it took convincing to get her to leave his side for the night when Luca, Melanie, and Gray agreed to take shifts to watch over him and that she would be the first to know when he had woken up.But even when she tried to sleep, she couldn’t – the bed was cold without him, the room too big fo
Caelum finished his meal and decided to shower.Warm water cascaded down his body, no trace of the wounds and injuries he received. He let his muscles relax while his mind was a turmoil of thoughts and his emotions in complete disarray.It was finally over – Noah was dead. Everyone would rest in peace now that the so-called Alpha of a band of rogues had joined them – so why… did it feel like he was missing something important?He pushed the thoughts aside. Right now, he should decide which direction he’d take his relationship with Astraea.For days and nights, it haunted him – memories of Deborah, her betrayal and parting words, and of Astraea, how she was continuously used. He was still undecided, hurt, and confused.
Caelum stalked the premises of his own mansion like he was a thief, waiting for the guards on patrol to leave. Certain that they were safely away, he swiftly went inside without anyone noticing.The first floor was empty and quiet. He headed towards the stairs, thinking that it was too easy to infiltrate his own house – his men better ready themselves for a grueling training once he’s settled things.“I knew it was you watching. You’re getting old, Alpha,” Kaide said from behind him. “You’re not as sneaky as you used to be.”“Kaide,” Caelum said. “You sent them away?”“It was getting late anyway. They had to change shifts.”“What do you want, Kaide?”He sighed. “A
Building 13 was quite a distance from the pack but it didn’t matter for he asked Luca to keep the Gammas clear of the building. With a full moon and the cool night breeze, it was rather calming, tonight was a nice change of pace.“Hey,” Chase said casually.“So much for peace,” Caelum sighed. “Don’t talk me out of it.”“I won’t. I wanted to tell you that I want to have fun, too.”“Do you have anything special in mind?” he asked. “They’re no ordinary prisoners, we should treat them differently. The old routine isn’t fun now.”“Leave it to me,” Chase said. “No one hurts mate.”The building looked abandoned like it was about to collapse on its
Screams pierced the silence.The smell of blood thick in the air as the warm liquid ran down his abdomen to his thighs, drops of red seeping through the ground. His fearful eyes were wide open as the blade plunged deeper into his chest, puncturing his lung.The chains rattled as he struggled to break free. His feet stomped on the ground, the feel of the blade moving inside him significantly more painful than a straight stab. His desperate need to escape made it more painful, and Caelum enjoyed the sight of his helplessness.Caelum took another blade from the array of tools neatly arranged atop a wooden table. The blade’s edge dull – a sharp blade cuts easier, but where’s the fun in that?He waved it around, deciding where to put it, and decided on the man’s nipple. The tip touched right at the