Esmeralda
My heart jumped into my throat the moment the scent of sandalwood, citrus and honey hit my nostrils.
I got up with a start, hiding behind the small bed when his steps got closer.
I watched how he strode with dominance and power, taking his time to catch me by my scent… but there was also something about the way he walked.
Snap out of it, Esme.
“Why does mate look so scary?” Emerald whispered as if he was going to hear her in my head.
The atmosphere shifted to a more dreadful one as tension rose between us. His aura screamed hatred, rage, and revenge making me want to burrow further under the bed.
Despite his hardened expressionless face, his eyes looked a bit puffy and red.
“Has he been crying?” Emerald gasped.
“Crying, I doubt. Maybe smoking. The Blood Alpha doesn’t cry,” I affirmed.
That bastard’s got a stony heart.
My heart began to beat rapidly as if it was about to explode in my chest as his steps got closer. His eyes roamed the cell, waiting to catch a glimpse of me.
Has he come to punish me? Or to get rid of me permanently?
“Only he could tell,” I replied, keeping my eyes glued on him.
“This is no fucking hide and seek, because I am not here to play sick game with you,” His voice reverberated throughout the cell, causing electric sparks to envelope me.
Except these sparks were not from the effect of the mate bond.
I was scared to death.
My hands clasped tighter unto my mouth to avoid being heard.
“You know you can’t run away from me, right? Because I will sniff you out,” His dreadful voice boomed across the cell again, making my heart skip two beats.
“You’ll be a fool if you think running away can,” He added before striking an object to the wall, making me almost jump in fear.
“What was that?” Emerald asked, but I ignored her.
Maybe he was right after all.
There was no point in hiding and this sick game made no sense.
Looking past his tall and scary frame, my eyes landed on the iron door he had left open and a crazy idea popped into my head.
Maybe I should run. I was tiny, compared to his big frame. He might not be as fast as I presumed.
“Don’t be a fool, Esmeralda, you are not fast enough,” Emerald disapproved.
I could feel the gush of adrenaline in me as my eyes were glued to the door with determination.
“Maybe you can help me,” I blurted, “I need the speed you have,”
“I’ll be no fool to do so. How the fuck do you even want to get past Alpha Kade? Are you even thinking at all?”
A weary sigh escaped my lips slowly.
She was correct. How would I even get past an Alpha whose strength was tripled compared to mine?
“Playtime is over…”
Before he could finish those words, a figure dashed into the room, running swiftly past Alpha Kade, but his long swift hands caught it.
“Leave me alone, you monster, I want to see her!”
My eyes almost popped out of their sockets when I heard the voice.
It only belonged to one person.
Selene.
My Bff.
But why would she risk her life like that for me? What if Alpha Kade punishes her? Because it was glaring that he doesn’t like her.
There was no doubt that he still hated her even after we were together because she was a witch.
“You sneaky bastard!” He yelled, catching her by her hair as she was about to slip from his hands.
My eyes shut at once and my ears rang at the sound of his baritone voice.
Tears hung in my eyes at the way Selene wiggled in pain under his firm grip.
“How are we even mated to a monster?” Emerald lamented, getting furious at the way Selene was mistreated.
“What did you do to her? Where is she, you son of a bitch!” Selene screamed to my surprise.
She had to stop or she would get herself into bigger trouble. And no, she would be punished severely.
But how did she even come up with this crazy idea?
“Because she is nothing like you. She doesn’t cower in fear when a loved one is in danger, even if it will cost her her life,” Emerald snapped sharply, causing me to growl.
I asked the Moon goddess for a wolf, not a freaking conscience that was quick to judge my character.
“You need to mind your business and stay in your lane,” I warned, irritated at her judgy behaviour.
“Because you know that’s the truth. And one thing about the truth is that it stings badly. I mean, what’s even the use of hiding when he will eventually see you? And the fact that you can’t even save your best friend from your monstrous mate. But I am sure Selene would have done more than that if she were in your shoes,”
“Fucking shut up, Emerald, so now he is my mate and not yours, right?”
“You better come out before something nasty happens to your bff,” Alpha Kade threatened, silencing my next words to Emerald.
That sharp-mouthed bitch.
“You heard him,” Emerald yelled, causing me to growl lowly.
Why doesn’t she ever mind her business?
“One,” Alpha Kade resumed counting, throwing me off balance.
What was I supposed to do?
“Come on. Go help her,”
Fucking shut up!
“Two,”
“You don’t even deserve her,” She sneered, “And you call yourself her best friend? What’s the use if you can’t stand up for her?”
“Fine!” I gritted my teeth loudly, coming out of my hiding spot.
“Let her go,” I said weakly.
“There you are, mate,” He said, adding a lot of contempt to the ‘mate’ that made me cringe.
“I want to meet her, leave me alone,” Selene kept struggling in his arms, kicking him all over.
I hope she doesn’t get into trouble.
“Both of you are just alike. Serial killers,” He said, making my heart shatter.
“I did not have a hand in what happened in your Pack. How many times will I tell you?”
“I know you didn’t, but your cousin did and as far as it concerns her, it concerns you,” He threatened.
When was he ever going to understand that I was not like her?
“Why are you even punishing me? Why not find her and kill her instead?”
“Maybe you didn’t hear me, but I’ll repeat myself. As far as it concerns her, it concerns you because she murdered the only family I had,” He clenched his fists and tightened his hold on Selene’s hair.
I could swear that her scalp would be burning by now.
“But that’s in the past!” I screamed, “Let the past be in the past. You have Amelia now. Not your whole family was wiped off. And in sorry she did that to you, but you have to fucking move on. I get your family meant a lot to you, but I must say, your behaviour is a disappointment because you unjustly held me responsible for my cousin’s actions,” I stopped, breathless in anger and shocked at my words.
“Go, girl,” Emerald backed me.
“Not that I even know her or I was aware that she did. You are an Alpha, you should lead by example. I’m sure Silvius, Jade, Amelia, Madam Dora and the pack would be disappointed at your behaviour,” I lashed him angrily with my words as anger stirred up inside me.
A bitter laughter erupted from his throat, “Even those who you were friends with will not hesitate to have your head because of what your cousin had done,”
My brows raised, “I know about Amelia and how she was treated, but she is nothing like you,”
He took measured steps toward me and instead of taking steps backwards, I found myself standing rigid with my eyes glued on his.
Enough of the bully.
Thanks to Emerald for her support. She was really a tough wolf.
“Leave Selene alone. Can’t you see that she is hurting?”
“Forget about Amelia, but are you sure that you still have friends?” He asked, ignoring my question.
“I do, unlike you,” I snapped back, “Even Silvius is mad at you,”
“How would it feel to know that it was your cousin’s actions that led to Madam Dora’s only daughter’s death, Jade’s parents’ death and Amelia’s family’s death?” His hands found my chin and he grabbed them, pinning my gaze on him, while my mouth went ajar in shock.
“You think Lucy only took my family? Maybe you didn’t pay attention to where I said she caused a massacre in the Pack. What about the lives of those she took that you don’t even know about?” He spat in hatred.
“But…” I stammered, not knowing what to say.
“Are you sure you still have friends?” His deadly voice asked again, making me slump.