The dungeon door slammed shut behind me, the heavy thud rattling my teeth
Mine. The word echoed in my chest, a possessive growl that felt both infuriating and, against my will, undeniably potent
Leaving her there, a trembling, broken doll in the cold darkness, wasn't just punishment; it was calculated strategy
She needed to understand her place. She needed to feel the absolute weight of my authority, the crushing futility of defiance in my own domain
If fate, in its twisted, mocking wisdom, insisted on shackling me to this fragile human, then I would forge her
I'd break that flicker of defiance in her eyes and rebuild her into something useful, something that served my purpose, my pack, my reign
A muscle in my jaw jumped, a silent testament to the anger still simmering beneath my skin
It was a hot, restless fire fueled by the Goddess's insufferable calm and the bizarre, unprecedented nature of this mate bond
A human — A common thief
The very thought was an insult to my blood, a direct affront to the rigid order I had painstakingly built and maintained within Bert Village
The Elder Council? They'd call it a monumental weakness, a catastrophic distraction
Grace would erupt like a vengeful goddess, all fiery blonde fury
Belinda? She'd probably just sigh, a quiet acceptance that, in its own way, was almost worse than Grace's theatrics
No, this… this anomaly… it had to be contained, controlled, and, somehow, bent to my will
My power was absolute, and no cosmic whims would chip away at it
Not while I still drew breath
I strode through the silent palace corridors, my boots clicking a harsh, almost frantic rhythm against the polished stone
Each step was a deliberate act, radiating my suppressed fury, my desperate need for control
My mind was already racing, plotting
The "service" I'd spoken of would begin at dawn
She'd be stripped of any false pride, assigned the most demeaning, menial tasks.
Every moment would be a stark reminder of her position, her indebtedness, her utter reliance on my… mercy
It was a cruel plan, yes, but necessary. This wasn't about affection; it was about dominion. And I would demonstrate that dominion with cold, unyielding precision, a lesson etched in pain and subservience
My thoughts, though consumed by her, snagged on Emily's parting shot
"The game has only just begun... Beware the phantom limb, Alpha. The part of yourself you severed, yet still aches"
It could only mean him. My half-brother. I'd cut him out of my life, banished him from Bert Village years ago, for consorting with forbidden blood, for embracing the vampiric curse that, while a faint echo in our mother's human lineage, had blossomed fully in his veins
He'd reveled in that dark power. Was he truly stirring now?
Was he the shadow she spoke of, gathering strength in the forgotten corners of the world?
My instincts, honed over decades of leading the pack, flared with an immediate, chilling dread that tasted like old fear and fresh resentment
My brother was cunning, patient, a viper
He wouldn't risk a direct assault he couldn't guarantee
No, he'd find my weaknesses
He'd strike at my heart, at my pack, when I was least prepared
The very air around me seemed to thicken, heavy with unspoken threats
This new complication, Marigold, suddenly felt less like an isolated problem and more like a dangerous, unexpected piece in a larger, unseen game
Was this part of his scheme?
To create an internal rift, to destabilize me with an unwelcome mate at a crucial time?
The idea was infuriating, yet, frustratingly, it made a terrifying kind of sense
I veered towards my study, bypassing my chambers
My mind was already shifting, away from personal outrage, towards strategic defense
This wasn't just about a mate anymore. This was about survival
Marigold's POV
The dungeon door crashed shut behind him, the sound echoing, then dying, leaving me in a silence that pressed down, suffocating me. Mine
His word, harsh and possessive, vibrated through every bone in my body, a chilling claim that stole the last breath from my lungs
My own choked gasp was the only sound in the sudden, absolute silence
He wasn't going to kill me
The sheer, overwhelming relief that surged through me was so potent it made my head spin, almost lightheaded
But it was quickly, brutally, utterly smothered by a fresh wave of terror. You will live, Marigold Calixta And you will serve. Serve.
The word hung heavy, thick with implications I didn't dare fully explore
My mind reeled, trying to grasp what he could possibly want from me, a mere human, a thief
A cold dread seeped into my bones, a premonition of something far, far worse than death
Being bound to this man, this ruthless Alpha, felt like a sentence to a living hell I couldn't escape
I squeezed my eyes shut, but it did little to block the vivid image of his face – the hard, unyielding lines, the cold, burning red in his eyes, the sheer, undeniable power that radiated from him like an inferno
He was a force of nature, untamed and deadly, and I was just a frail leaf caught in his hurricane
The thought of being utterly in his power, completely at his mercy, twisted my stomach into knots
FLASHBACK
Every muscle in my body trembled, not just from the damp chill, but from an instinctive, primal terror that stole my breath
My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drum against the cold stone floor
Tears, hot and uncontrollable, streamed down my face, but these were no longer tears of despair for my father or for my lost freedom
These were tears of pure, unadulterated fear for myself, for whatever dark, terrifying fate awaited me under the Alpha's ruthless command
My future, once a desperate scramble for pennies and medicine, was now a terrifying blank canvas, painted over with his chilling intentions
I could still feel the phantom ache in my hand, a dull throb that was slowly, unnaturally, fading. I lifted my palm in the pitch black
I couldn't see the gash, but I knew it was closing, the raw edges knitting together with impossible speed
The healing. It was real. And utterly horrifying. How could I, a human, possess such a power?
My father. Oh, my poor father
He was alone, fading away in our small hut, completely unaware of the nightmare his daughter had stumbled into
Emily had promised to look after him, but what could she do? What could anyone do against the sheer might of Alpha Gerald?
A surge of bitter resentment flared towards Emily. This was her idea. This was her plan
She had pushed me into this abyss. Was this her grand scheme? To throw me to the wolves? The irony was a punch to the gut. I was literally with the wolves now, chained to their most fearsome leader
A sudden, harsh grating sound echoed through the cell. My breath hitched
The iron door groaned, scraping against the stone floor, and a blinding slice of light ripped through the oppressive darkness
My heart leaped into my throat, hammering wildly against my ribs. Footsteps. Heavy, deliberate, commanding
I squeezed my eyes shut, my entire body rigid with terror. This was it
Gerald's POV
I stood there, a towering shadow framed in the stark light of the corridor, watching the small, trembling figure curled in the corner
Her eyes, squeezed shut, screamed of her fear, a palpable scent that filled the musty air of the dungeon
My wolf, Rhys, gave a low, complex growl, a mix of primal recognition and bewildered confusion
He was as conflicted as I was. Mate. The word still scraped at my throat, a bitter insult to my Alpha status
This wasn't the Luna I'd envisioned—strong, fierce, born of a noble pack
This was a frail human, barely more than a shadow in my own dungeon, a petty criminal caught in my private chambers
"Get up" I commanded, my voice cutting through the stale air like a razor, colder than the stone walls
My jaw was set, a muscle ticking at my temple, my muscles rigid
I watched her flinch, her shoulders tensing further
She didn't move immediately, and impatience simmered, a fresh wave of irritatio
I took a deliberate step into the cell, the heavy door swinging shut behind me with a resounding thud that echoed in the small space, making her jump
Slowly, agonizingly slowly, she unfolded herself
Her head lifted, revealing a face streaked with dirt and fresh tears, her golden hair a disheveled mess around her shoulders
Her eyes, a startling shade of dark blue even in the dim light, were wide with a terror that scraped at something deep within me, an unwelcome tug
Rhys whimpered softly in the back of my mind. I clamped down on him, hard
"Look at me when I'm speaking to you" I snapped, my patience wearing thin, stretched to its limit
I needed answers, not a cowering victim. Her gaze snapped up, meeting mine, and I felt it again – that unsettling jolt, a current passing between us, sharp and undeniable
Her breathing hitched, a soft gasp escaping her lips
The air in the dungeon suddenly felt charged, thick with unspoken things
"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice low and dangerous, each word a stone dropped into a deep well
"And how do you possess such… abilities?" My eyes narrowed, focusing on the faint, reddish line that still lingered on the back of her hand – the wound Grace had inflicted, now almost perfectly healed
How do I know it was Grace? Belinda wouldn't try an act like that. She was too calm — too enduring
It was solid proof of what I'd felt, what the Goddess had claimed. This wasn't just coincidence
This was something undeniable.
She swallowed hard, her Adam's apple bobbing
"Marigold," she whispered, her voice reedy and thin, barely audible
"Marigold Calixta" Her eyes darted around the cell, as if desperately searching for an escape that didn't exist
"I… I don't know what you mean, Alpha. Abilities?"
"Don't lie to me," I growled, taking another step closer, looming over her, my shadow swallowing her completely
"You felt my pain. I felt yours. And you healed me, just as you healed yourself. Explain" My voice was a whip, lashing out, demanding the truth
Her face paled further, her beautiful blue eyes widening even more, a sheen of fresh tears
She was genuinely terrified, genuinely confused. It chafed at my nerves
How could she not know? Or was this a desperate, well-rehearsed act?
Rhys stirred again, nudging at the edges of my control
She's scared, Gerald. Don't press her so hard
I shoved him back, the concern a weakness I couldn't afford
This woman was a mystery, a threat, and impossibly… my mate
That last thought ignited a fresh, scorching wave of fury
"I… I don't understand" she stammered, her voice barely a whisper now
"I just… I just touched your hand and…" She trailed off, her eyes fixed on my face, searching mine for answers, for some glimmer of understanding or mercy
"You were in pain, Alpha. I saw it."
My jaw clenched
"And the necklace?" I pushed, shifting the subject abruptly, watching her expression closely
Her eyes instantly dropped to the floor, a flush of shame coloring her cheeks. Guilt. Good
"Why were you in my chambers? Why did you steal my most valuable possession?" The air crackled with my suppressed rage
My wolf, however, seemed to deflate slightly, a quiet lament for her perceived transgression, for the shame she clearly felt
She remained silent, her shoulders shaking, her head still bowed
"Speak!" I barked, a flash of pure Alpha command, a raw, primal roar
She flinched violently, raising her hands as if to ward off a blow, a helpless gesture
"My father" she blurted out, her voice cracking, desperate, rushing out in a torrent
"He's sick. He needs medicine. I… I had no choice. My friend… she told me I could find something valuable here, something I could sell…" Her words tumbled out, a raw confession, choked with tears, betraying a desperation that was almost pitiable
Almost
A friend. Emily. The Goddess. My eyes narrowed. So, this was part of her grand scheme
Manipulating a desperate human, a naive tool. Anger surged, not just at Marigold, but at the orchestrator of this farc
This woman, this thief, was nothing but a pawn. Yet, she was my pawn. And inexplicably, my mate
The thought was a venomous whisper in my mind
I took another step, closing the distance between us, until I was towering over her
My shadow swallowed her completely
Her scent, surprisingly sweet and earthy despite the dungeon's foulness, filled my nostrils, intoxicating and infuriating all at once
Rhys rumbled, a deep, satisfied purr, instantly recognizing the scent of his other half
I fought him, fought the instinct to lean in, to claim, to do anything but assert my dominance
"You speak of choices" I said, my voice dangerously low, bending slightly to bring my face closer to hers, forcing her to look at me, to meet my gaze
"But theft in my domain has only one consequence, Marigold Calixta" My eyes, I knew, were glowing a fierce, predatory red, reflecting the raw ferocity of my inner struggle
"Death"
Her breath hitched. Her wide, terrified eyes flickered to my lips, then back to my eyes, searching
A single tear escaped, tracing a path down her dirty cheek
I watched it, strangely captivated by the sheer vulnerability of it
"Unless" I continued, my voice a harsh whisper that echoed in the small cell
"I decide otherwise"
A flicker of something – desperate hope? utter confusion? – crossed her features
I straightened, the thought already formed, cold and sharp in my mind, a brutal solution to a humiliating problem
If fate insisted on tying me to this human, then I would make her pay
She would learn the true price of defying an Alpha. And the true price of being his mate
"You will not die," I stated, my words heavy with a promise that was more curse than blessing
"You will live, Marigold Calixta. And you will serve"
Her eyes widened in absolute horror, a silent, raw question forming in their depths
I merely stared back, my gaze unwavering, letting the full, crushing weight of my decision settle upon her
This was the only way to retain my control, to assert my dominance over this unwanted bond
This was the punishment for a thief. And for a mate
I turned sharply, the heavy door groaning as I pushed it open
But before I stepped out, I glanced back at her, still a trembling figure in the corner, a silhouette of terror
Her fear was palpable, a delicious, potent flavor on my tongue
"You are mine now," I growled, the words a primal declaration, thick with possessiveness and menace
Then, I exited, slamming the iron door shut with a final, echoing thud, leaving her to the suffocating darkness and the chilling realization of her new, inescapable fate
Unknown POV
The damp chill of the underground chamber clung to me like a second skin, a welcome embrace after the oppressive heat of the outside world
Moonlight, thin and watery, filtered through a narrow grate high above, casting long, shifting shadows that danced with the dust motes in the air
A low chuckle, dry and rasping, escaped my lips, a sound that scraped against the ancient stone, a predator's purr
"He suspects nothing" my informant whispered, stepping from the deepest shadows
His face was a pale blur, eyes wide and unblinking, betraying the raw, almost debilitating fear he harbored for my presence
A spineless wolf, but useful nonetheless.
I turned slowly, my dark cloak swirling around me like a rising storm
"He suspects everything, little wolf. But he believes he controls it all. That, my dear, is his fatal flaw
" Gerald. My brother. The very thought tasted like ash and revenge, coating my tongue with a bitter, familiar tang
He had banished me, cast me out of the very pack I was born into, simply for embracing the power he feared, the true legacy that pulsed through our veins, a legacy our mother had only ever whispered about
He clung to his Alpha title, his rigid wolfish traditions, while I sought something grander, older. Something more
"The human girl," the informant continued, his voice barely audible, a hesitant whimper.
"She was caught. In his chambers. Trying to… trying to steal from him"
My lips curled into a sneer, a flash of elongated fangs in the dim light
"A mere pawn. An amusing distraction" My gaze fixed on a crude map scratched into the dirt floor, illuminated by a flickering torch held by another loyal, terrified servant
My finger, with its sharp, almost claw-like nail, traced a path from the shadowed forest edge, towards the village's weakest point
"His 'treasures' mean nothing. My prize is far greater." The true treasure wasn't a glittering bauble; it was the throne he sat upon, the power he wielded, the very air he breathed as Alpha
That was what I craved. And it would be mine
"The diversion is ready" I said, my voice low and smooth, utterly devoid of emotion, a silken promise of death
"The old logging road. Barely guarded
They won't expect a thrust from that direction"
"And the timing?" the informant dared to ask, his breath held captive in his chest
My grin widened, a chilling display of predatory anticipation
"When his guard is lowest. When his attention is split. And now, with this human girl causing him such… distress" I purred, savoring the word, letting it roll off my tongue
"the moment draws near. His arrogance will be his undoing" I had my spies, my eyes and ears in every shadowed corner of that suffocating village
I knew his routines, his weaknesses, his pride. And I knew the stirrings of a mate bond, especially an unwelcome one, could shatter even the strongest Alpha's focus, leaving him vulnerable
I looked up at the rough-hewn ceiling, picturing the grand palace above, where my brother now stewed in his righteous anger, unknowingly playing right into my hands
He thought he was untouchable. He thought his bloodline, his brute strength, made him invincible. Fool
The greatest victories were won not with claws and fangs, but with patience, deception, and a precise strike at the heart of an empire
"Tonight," I murmured, the word hanging heavy in the damp air, a promise of impending chaos
"the first stone is truly set. Prepare the scouts. Send word to the others. The hunt begins"
My eyes, now glowing a faint, predatory red in the gloom, fixed on the stone ceiling, as if staring straight through it to the unsuspecting Alpha above
The game had truly begun. And Gerald, my dear brother, had no idea just how many pieces were already moving on my board, destined to dismantle his kingdom from within
His "mate" was merely the first, delightful tremor of the coming earthquake