CALIFF
My nose was healed, but Kain went overboard with the blood on my shirt, my face, and around the wrists. It took us a while to go to his rendezvous by foot, where he parked his car.
“This cuff and collar?”
“I altered them. It doesn’t have silver, but once we reached his compound, I had to keep it to maintain my cover and put you in a cage. And you have to play along with our charade. Don’t ever break the character.”
I snorted. “What could go wrong, right?”
“Silver hurts me, too, and gold, that’s why I had to use gloves.”
“And what’s with the sunglasses?”
“Protection from the cameras. My eyes flare.”
“Yeah, right.” I nodded even though the plan was flawed, and there was a great chance Kain would turn against us.
“You have to act and make this believable.”
“Don’t worry. I got it covered. I was once an undercover for months, so I know how it works.” I looked at the woods. Lyon signaled to find a good spot to scout since he was one of the best I had.
The concrete wall became visible. It was a big property- almost like a fortress in the middle of the forest. The gate was a military-grade design. He put so much money, time, and effort into taking my family down when he could just kill me and my parents in our house with all the men under his payroll.
Why did all this? To show he could run a pack? That he was capable of ruling the werewolf underworld? But after all this hassle, I saw nothing but a broken, lost man filled with ego, envy, and greed.
The gate opened once Kain and I arrived.
A human in his twenties whistled. “Who you got there? Another dog?”
“None of your fucking business, boy,” Kain said with a groan.
“Whatever you say, old man. I will find that dog Alpha Aciano had been wanting to get his hands dirty on, and I will kill that animal in front of him.”
“You didn’t mention this, why?” I muttered under my breath.
“Because he is delusional. He’s not an alpha when he mixes humans with werewolves and a werecat, and we don’t share pack links.”
“I hope you’re not a double agent, Kain.”
“I am a double agent.” He scoffed. “But not to you. I may not be the old Kain, but I have his memories, and I promised him to take care of this body and look after Calder. I know you don’t trust me but have a little faith, Alpha.”
We entered the compound, and the countryside-style house in the picture came into view. Giant fire pits, a truck crane, and cages were in front of the house. At least five vehicles were parked at the side.
“Well, well, well.” Son of a bitch. The motherfucker just clapped his hands and grinned as if he had just won the lottery.
I would take that grin off your face, asshole. That’s a promise.
“Look at what we have here. I just came from my mate and to my surprise. She said you went to visit her. How oblivious. How did you capture him?”
“Does it matter?”
“Where are the others with you?”
Kain’s nose flared. “They didn’t make it. This son of a bitch wasn’t alone, but even a Lycan couldn’t run away from the silver bullets.”
I clenched my jaw hard when Kain pulled the chain pretty hard. I let myself fall dramatically to the muddy ground. With a groan, I tried to get up, but Aciano pressed his leather shoe on my head.
“Stay down, Califf. The moment you saved your father, you took his place for his death, you worthless weak alpha. And you didn’t even realize someone from your pack betrayed you because you are too caught up playing house with your mate instead of doing your job and taking advantage of great opportunities like this.”
“Well, what are you waiting for?”
He dug the heel harder, making me groan. “Quick death would be mercy for you and your family. How’s your mate, by the way?”
“I will kill you,” I growled. My body began to burn and shake, scorching through me like a hot flowing lava. My eyes almost glowed- it could ruin our entire plan. I pushed my wolf back forcefully at my outrage reaction.
“Too bad. You are in my territory now. And here, they call me Alpha.”
I laughed out loud and pretended to cough the blood out. “Alpha? You are barely a pack member to be an Alpha. You don’t have alpha blood and quality to call yourself one, Aciano. You are delusional. And you know what happened to the egotistic and greedy alpha like Keane?”
Someone just kicked me on my back.
Fuck.
“You disrespect me, they will kill you slowly, you pathetic piece of shit. I don’t have to bark orders. That’s what makes me a great and strong leader. They fear me, and I have the absolute power to control them.”
“You’re doing all this because of my father and your dead son? Do you know why he died? Because he’s weak and pathetic like-”
“He’s dead because of your arrogant father!” He stomped his foot on my head. My eyes crossed. My wolf stressed out as he felt the pain and violence and wanted to come out. “Say it again, and I will put you in that cage and burn you slowly like the werewolves before you. By then, you will feel everything I felt when I lost my son. You will feel your skin burning, your blood sizzling, your flesh melting until the fire seeps into your bones as you absorb the pain. No matter how hard you want to die, it won’t happen because I will guarantee you suffer in vain.” Anger grabbed ahold of him, growling at me.
“If I’m burned alive, will that satisfy you and give you the justice you crave for so long? Huh, Aciano?”
He ignored my question because he wanted more than just to kill my family. He wanted to put my pack on his knees until all the members betrayed me, crawled to his feet, and joined him. He wanted to break me and show everyone he was capable, that I was weak and could not lead like an Alpha should.
“You went to see my mate? You don’t know we planned this for years? Stupid Califf. You’re nothing but a-”
“A weak and pathetic Alpha. You said that already. I’m waiting for your sweet satisfaction from your mouth, telling me you lost, Califf.” I scoffed and spat out the blood from my mouth. It landed on his minion’s shoe. “You planned all this for years when you could just kill my family and my entire pack. You’ve been embedded with your enemy so you could get your pretty spectacular revenge?”
“I have a bigger plan. You and your family are just small fish in the ocean.”
“Well, that’s pathetic, having all the drama and attention, Aciano-” I got another kick. That one was pretty strong. It came from Kain.
“You talk too much. Calder was more suitable to be an alpha than you, you dipshit, but your father chose to abandon him because his mother is human. And I can’t wait to see miserable Waylon walk in here to save his wretched son.” He did another pull so strong it almost cracked my neck. He bent down to make sure he came close to meet me in the eye. “I can’t wait to hear you scream as you feel the fire scrawling on your skin, boy.” He then dropped me down.
All the men gathered in the circle laughed out loud.
“He thought I was on their side.” He snorted. “Of course, I used their weaknesses, and just like you said, they’re all stupid, so petty, really. Even that Alpha King believes in my shit.” He spat at me. “If I had that power and money like him, I’d already conquered all the packs in the world.”
“Did you meet the witch?”
“Yeah. I think the Alpha King is fucking her, but she only saw what I wanted her to see.” Kain spat on me again. He was pretty convincing if I didn’t know this was a part of the plan. Or was this still a part of his plan, or their plan, and he sold me out?
“Did she use a witch-bound?”
“Yes, but technically, I am bound to the Alpha King and not to this useless dog.”
“Good. You did good, Kain.” I felt the pride in his voice. “Thank you for bringing him to me. Go and shower because I can smell their stinks on you.”
“Thank you for trusting me, Alpha.”
I inwardly scoffed. Aciano was right on one thing, though, that I didn’t realize sooner that someone in my pack had already betrayed me, and yeah, Aciano went rogue, and he stank.
“I know I could count on you. These days, blood is not thicker than water. You proved me right.” Aciano patted his shoulder.
Kain wasn’t done. He pulled me on the collar again and met me eye to eye. “You made a huge mistake for trusting me. Do you really think we didn’t study what kind of man you are? Your weakness is your family and pack and your little pathetic human mate, Alpha asshole.” I growled the moment he mentioned my mate. It mostly came from my wolf. My eyes glowed as anger unfurled in my chest.
Kain scoffed. “And that’s what brings your fucking pack down. What are you gonna do, huh?”
“I will slash your jugular, kitty,” I said through gritted teeth as I ground my jaw.
“That’s enough, Kain. You got what you want. Put him in the cage and hang him. Make sure to assign guards on him and don’t make any mistakes. Despite his stupidity, this werewolf is smart. He could escape without you knowing it,” he ordered his man before he walked away.
“Get this, dickhead.” Kain couldn’t get enough. I felt he wasn’t acting anymore- he just turned side. He punched me so hard in my abdomen. I felt my internal organs shake and bleed.
Until he put something in my pocket, despite the pain, I felt a huge relief. I squeezed my eyes shut and sighed shakily.
Thank Goddess.
Aciano’s man pushed me and stuffed me inside the cage. My head hit the bar. Then, someone went to drive the crane, hooked the cage, and hung it while I was inside. I looked down as I was lifted inch by inch off the ground. Then, men started pilling wood under me.
Shit.
I closed my eyes and drew a painful breath. I tried connecting with Lyon, hoping he was close enough so I could reach out. But if they had a witch, this compound could be spell-protected, then I was doomed to death.
“Lyon?”
Nothing. I drew a deep breath to focus.
“Lyon, are you there? Please tell me you’re there, or I’m fucked.”
“Of course, I’m here. Good to hear your voice, Alpha.”