Kade
Pain.
Pain clung to me like a second skin the moment I got chained in the cell.
Being shackled from head to toe in wolfsbane was not new to me, but this level of pain was.
It’s seered from deep within me, with its sharp claws ripping my insides apart mercilessly. It didn’t take long before blood began to ooze from different parts of my body.
But instead of getting weak as I started to lose much blood, my strength doubled and my senses heightened.
Agonizing growls tore off my throat as the wolfsbane laced on the chains began to bite deep into my fur, causing large burns and blisters around it. Another growl rolled off my lips as I struggled to be free, it was so loud, so deep that the impact was felt in the foundation of the dungeon.
This wasn’t pain anymore, this was anguish.
I was in anguish.
“Release me at once!” I howled, giving Silvius a warning tone as I tried to break off the big chains that pinned me to the wall, restricting my movement.
“Don’t worry, Alpha, you’ll be fine in the morning,” His words came out in a huff, “Stay back, don’t move close to him. That’s not him talking,” He warned the guards, as his gaze didn’t leave mine, watching my every move.
Fear lingered in his eyes, and so was pity.
I didn’t need his pity.
I deserved the pain.
“Ahhh!” My voice thundered in agony as I slammed the chains against the wall hoping it would break.
The pain was driving me crazy, so crazy that I began to pull my fur apart not minding that it hurt.
“Alpha,” Silvius’ concerned voice reached me.
Don’t pity me, Silvius. I was paying for my mistake.
The pain was hell, I was in hell.
My personal hell and no one could save me.
My breath came out in pants as I winced in pain, rolling on the floor when the impact of the wolfsbane burnt me deeply. The anguish I felt was indescribable.
I wanted to die.
It was like someone was slicing my skin with a hot knife, then deliberately adding a generous amount of salt to my injuries, stopping them from healing.
It burned so badly, I felt my body was on fire.
I wanted to scream, but my voice failed me.
I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t. Father wouldn’t be proud of me.
I wanted him to be proud of what I had become, but he couldn’t because he was dead. And so was mother and Ava and my…
No!
I let out a dangerous growl as bits of memories sprang up in my head. It was just like yesterday, those bitter memories were as fresh as ever, haunting me whenever they could.
I could see them vividly, I could see their bodies as they lay on the floor covered in their blood with their eyes looking at me, pleading for justice.
I could have saved them.
I could have protected them. But I wandered off.
If I had stayed, my family wouldn’t have been massacred and Amelia wouldn’t have been shut up in the North wing.
Thanks to the bitch for murdering them.
A new wave of anger shot within me when I remembered the bitch was still alive after what she did to my family.
She would pay. I will make sure she pays with her blood, together with that of her family.
She was lucky I hadn’t found her.
A deep howl reigned in the air as I was breathless in rage. I wanted to see that bitch, to make her feel what I felt. To take life from her and her family slowly and painfully.
Raw rage and pain settled in me at the reminiscence, and at once, I saw red!
Hunger hit me like a ton of bricks and I began to salivate.
Hunger for blood.
Driven by bloodthirst and rage, I began to break the chains that held my feet, setting myself free and ignoring the burning sensation caused by the wolfsbane.
I would leave this cell and kill anyone that gets in my way.
That bitch must pay!
I was about to free myself from the chain that held my neck in place when a scent caught my nostrils.
That familiar scent that I couldn’t miss for anything in the world.
Gasps left my throat as a frightened figure ran into the dungeon, ignoring Silvius’ screams.
Was I hallucinating?
Esmeralda was here.
Was she crazy?
Was she gambling with her life?
Driven by anger, I growled, restraining her from coming closer, but her adamant nature pushed her to open the gate of my cell.
Surely, Esmeralda didn’t like her life.
“She is our mate, Kade, we cannot hurt her,” Tyson protested weakly, struggling to get hold of himself.
“She shouldn’t be here!” I declared, silencing him.
“She came for us, Kade, give her a chance to save us,”
“She can do nothing. She is weak,” I replied, watching her keenly as she made her way toward me, fixing those alluring eyes on me.
“Stay back!” I wanted to tell, but it came out as a growl. Her presence suddenly brought calmness into my dark, troubled soul, chasing away the bitter memories and putting me into a relaxing mode. Every bit of anger I felt vanished as her small shaky hands met with Tyson’s forehead and caressed his fur lightly.
What was she doing to me?
How did she do it?
How did she take away my pain and anger with little effort?
Who was she?
Guilt filled me as she broke down in tears at my appalling state, loosening me from the chains that held me bound and ignoring the burns from the wolfsbane laced in it.
She was risking her life for me?! Why?
Slowly, I dropped to the floor heavily, generating a loud noise. Tyson was weak, his strength couldn’t hold it again. Without minding her presence, I began to shift back to my human form.
The whole cell was covered in blood, including Esmeralda’s cloth as she placed my head on her lap, allowing tears to fall past her eyes.
Even if my bloodshot eyes were partly closed and my vision was blurred, I could make out those tears.
Those tears were like clear running waters that shimmered under the illumination of the full moon.
“Mate,” She whispered, stirring up a bit of happiness within me.
“Esmeralda, what… did you… do to… me?” I forced words from my mouth, struggling to catch my breath.
I could feel it.
I was losing consciousness rapidly. I could feel life sapping out of me.
At least, I would die in the arms of my mate.
“I am trying to save you,” She insisted.
Why does she think she can save everybody?
I was too broken to be repaired.
“I’m broken… Esmeralda,” I struggled for words, gasping for breath.
I could feel my eyes brighten for a second before they faded, slowly shutting till all I saw was darkness. Thick darkness as I drifted into another world.
“I’ll heal you, Alpha Kade,” She cried hard, falling against my body.
“Take him to his room,” That was the last thing I heard before I lost consciousness.
***
“Get up, Kade!” An unfamiliar voice called, waking me up from my deep slumber.
My eyes snapped open at once and I sprang to my feet, scanning the strange place I was.
Where was I? Who was that?
Fear and anxiety washed through me as it dawned on me.
I was not awake yet, I was trapped in my head by my demons.
No. This is not real, Kade.
“Fool. Now you are stuck here with no one to save you,” A shadowy figure said, mockingly.
“Show yourself this instant!” I ordered, turning around to get a glimpse of the speaker, but they disappeared immediately.
“No, no. You are not real. This is not real,” I screamed, glancing around but my voice was overshadowed by their burst of wicked laughter.
I was trapped in my head with nobody to save me. And now, my demons won’t hold back in tormenting me mercilessly.