Author’s POV
Raider opened his eyes, feeling the cold and damp air against his skin. Fear flooded through him as he pulled unsuccessfully at the chains binding his wrists to the wall. The truth hit him hard. He was in the dungeons and his past choices raced back into his mind like a ghost. Every painful memory came rushing in-Cassandra’s laughter, her deceitful looks and how she had tricked him into believing they could rule together.
“Damn it!” he whispered angrily to himself with fury rising inside him. How could he have been so naive and so stupid? The pain of betrayal felt like a heavy stone in his gut. Cassandra, his wife, the woman he had believed in, had made a fool of him.
She was really Rax Moore’s true mate, and they had planned it all- their marriage and his success were all a clever trap. His hands turned into fists with resentment flooding through him. He had given everything for his dreams, and now he was a trapped prisoner.
The sound of chains clinking interrupted his thoughts and he looked to see a familiar person next to him. His dad, Alpha Rivers, was also chained up, looking older and more tired than when Raider had last seen him.
“See what greed has created,” Alpha Rivers said harshly with his voice filled with anger. “You get what you deserve, my son.”
Raider’s heart pounded in his chest while feeling both anger and shock. “Stop acting so high and mighty. You’re just as guilty as I am. You thought shutting you away would help me, but it was Cassandra the whole time.”
Alpha Rivers frowned, showing many feelings on his face. “You’ve made a mistake Raider. This is what happens when you betray your own family.”
“Don’t lecture me about family!” Raider shouted, totally angry and upset. “You’re the one who ignored me, who let me grow up in your shadow. I did what I had to!”
“By betraying your father?” Alpha Rivers replied as he was clearly shocked. “You really don’t understand, do you? That crown you wear is like a tight rope around your neck now, isn’t it? Your greatest mistake in life shows in how you ruin everything you handle.”
Raider’s teeth tightened. “I don’t regret anything. I took what belonged to me. I had a plan for the Green Forest and Silver Crest packs, a plan to bring us together and make us strong.”
“And see where that dream has brought you,” his father said with anger. “In chains under the control of those who betrayed you.”
For a moment there was silence between them, and it was filled with stress and things left unsaid. Raider’s heart raced as he remembered Cassandra’s clever smile. The betrayal hurt more than he wanted to show. Suddenly, light laughter broke the tense mood, making both men look towards where it came from.
Cassandra walked in looking proud with cruelty in her eyes. “Isn’t this lovely?” she teased while folding her arms with a grin. “The fallen Alphas, father and son, wallowing in misery.”
Raider was furious. “Do you think this is funny?” he shouted while tugging at his chains. “You and your father fooled us Cassandra! I thought we were creating something together and you… you were just playing me!”
Cassandra laughed again, so full of spite. “Oh Raider, how cute. You thought you could actually rule? You’ve always had such a narrow view of things. It’s kind of funny.”
“Adorable?” Raider scoffed. “You controlled everything and made me do what you wanted. This was you and your father’s idea from the start, right? Marrying me was just a way to get what you wanted.”
“Such drama,” Cassandra said while waving her hand. “But you’re right. Marrying you was a smart move. My father, the Alpha of the Silver Crest pack, needs power and control. I had to take that from you, and it wasn’t hard to use your own goals against you.”
Raider looked at her in shock. “So the rumors… It was true? You gave your soul to the Rogue King Augustus?”
“Sold my soul?” Cassandra laughed and shook her head. “No, dear Raider. I just invested in my future. With the Green Forest pack’s resources, I planned to help Augustus in this fight against the Alpha King, Adams. But don’t worry, you were just a tool. Your time is up.”
Raider’s breath cut and a rush of feelings drove him on at the same time, pushing aside the hurt and sadness in his life. “You sly-”
Before he could complete his sentence, guards rushed in from the dark with their sneering faces shining in the dim light. One of them held a whip that was coated with wolvesbane and was swinging it menacingly near Raider.
“Stay back!” one of the guards yelled and lashed Raider with the wipe and Raider felt the warmth leave his body as pain shot through him, knocking him to the ground.
The dark space around him seemed ready to consume him as the poison flowed in his blood. He collapsed onto the floor twisting in pain and unable to protect himself from their laughter.
“Sad,” Cassandra said while moving closer with her eyes shining with pleasure. “You’ve always been weak, Raider, just like your father. That’s why they can control you so easily.”
“That’s enough!” Raider wheezed while struggling through the pain, but it kept pushing down on him. “You’ll regret this!”
Cassandra just laughed like he was telling a funny joke. “Pay? You really can’t make threats, my dear husband.” She leaned in and said quietly, “But do keep your last bit of hope. It’s pretty fun to watch you struggle.”
“Cassandra you-” He tried to get up with the chains rattling against the wall, but every move brought new pain. “You think you’ve won, but you’re leading us to disaster! This war… It will destroy everything!”
“Oh dear Raider,” she said with her smile soft, “it’s already started. When it’s over, you’ll just be a memory-an unnoticed part of this world’s story.”
Raider shot a piercing glare with anger and despair swirling in his chest. “You’re a complete fool if you believe you can manage this. The rogue king will betray you!”
“He could,” she admitted, “but it won’t change anything. By then, I’ll be far away from him ruining this pack from the inside. And you can’t stop me. Not here stuck like you are and definitely not out there,” she waved toward the dungeon door, “where I can claim my rightful place as queen.”
“Cassandra-please let me go! We can still figure it out-”
“Look for a way?” Her laugh sounded sharp. “You don’t really understand how serious this is, do you? You’re the defeated king, and I’m the one who shaped my own future.”
As she started to walk away, Raider used all his energy to call out to her. “You won’t win. This isn’t finished!”
Cassandra stopped and glanced back with a happy smile on her face. “Oh Raider. The game has just started…”