Caught in the act

Darius POV

I stayed the long night not going home and recalling seeing the way my sister was dressed. Like a whore. What has that bastard made her do? What pain was my little sister going through?

I returned home the next morning with broken lips and a battered face. The instant mother saw me, she screamed. Only I had made it alive amongst the vampires I had gathered. I did not gather any members of my Clutch. They were afraid of the Lycans and my father had given strict warnings that no one should help me in my mission to save my sister I had gone to other Clutches aside from Edinburgh to find vampires and they came to my aid only for them to die valiantly for my sake.

"Oh Darius," Mother exclaimed. "Why are you so stubborn? Look at what you've done to yourself." She said sounding worried.

"Y'all refused to help me in my cause to save a member of our family when we've heard his tales. When we're very much aware of what he does to women." I said to her.

"Why don't you leave this matter alone? If your father isn't doing anything about it, why are you bothering yourself?" She asked and I stared at her embittered.

"Hear the words coming out of your mouth mother! She's your daughter!" I exclaimed. "She came out of you. You do not care for her any bit." I said to her and pulled away from her endearing arms.

"I do care for her," She said narrowing her eyes at me and I stared at her, into her eyes to see just the little truth in them but I saw none. "You care for her and yet you're comfortable with her being a slave to a man who've heard true rumors about. You've lost your rights as her mother." I said to her getting upset.

"Do not speak to your mother like that!" I heard father's voice from the opposite direction.

"Bravo father," I said clapping my hands. Applauding him for defending his wife but could not defend his daughter. "You can comfortably sit back and relax and your heart gladdened that your spineless vampire daughter has been taken away for months and just a word to your wife, you spring up in action," I said to him and he blazed.

"I will not tolerate your vile words toward me!" He yelled.

"And I would not tolerate you raising your voice at me!" I fired back and he hit me hard in the face.

"I created you and I can kill you with my own bare hands." He said to me vehemently while I stared at him in fury.

"I'm still your father and you have no rights whatsoever to challenge me." He said.

"You've lost your rights to me as a father. The both of you." I said staring at them one after the other and walking away, brushing past Otis in anger.

"Easy, I'm not the one you're at loggerheads with." He said making a mockery out of everything.

I stared at him and walked away without a word. I was at war with all of them including myself. I was trying to salvage this family but none of them wanted any of that. They were all fine living without Ash but I wasn't.

Ashlyn's POV

I was pacing in my room thinking of the best strategy to go about with my plans. It would not be easy because the territory was well guarded. But my brother and the vampires he brought got through the well-protected landscape why then could I not?

Then I recalled they flew in and I could not fly. I only had superspeed and why thinking of my plans, all I wanted was to lay back in bed. Lately, I've been too exhausted for anything but yet Lucifer still would have my legs hanging everywhere.

Roselia walked in and found me pacing. "What is it milady?" She asked worriedly.

I shook my head. "It's nothing." I could not bring myself to tell her of my plans.

"But do tell me, Roselia, where's the shortest route to the river?" I asked her.

"Oh, that's easy. It's the east wing of the pack house." She said then narrowed her brows. "But why? Are you hot? Do you need a cold bath? I can arrange that for you." She said to me.

I shook my head. "No Roselia. I appreciate your kind gesture but the soothing feel of a river would be better than the one in a bathtub." I said to her.

"But you cannot leave this night to the river. If you must, a guard will accompany you and that's the rule." She said.

I held her hand. "I'm not leaving tonight Roselia," I lied gullibly I felt guilty about it but it was for my good. "I'm just asking for the morrow," I said to her and she nodded smiling.

"I've been meaning to ask something Roselia," I said to her.

"Go on my dear." She urged.

"Is Catriona not part of the pack? Why is she a prisoner in.."

"Hush now," She said placing a finger on my lips. "It's forbidden to discuss that here in the pack house. The Lord forbids it. Do not ask about it anymore for your safety my dear." She said with a panicked expression on her face.

I was more curious than ever but I nodded to her.

"Come down soon for dinner hm?" She said and I nodded again smiling she turned to leave and then looked back at me. I raised a brow wondering why.

"Are you feeling any unusual?" She asked me.

"Unusual? No, I guess." I said to her.

"Nobody changes?" She asked staring at my body.

"Why?" I was confused.

She shook her head. "I must be hallucinating." She said walking away. Hallucinating what? I stared at my body and shook my head. I had no clue what she was talking about. I was thinking of the prisoners. What was this about the prisoners in the dungeon? What shocking secret would I unravel in this that would lead me into trouble I would not be able to escape?

I shook my head. There would be no time to unravel the mystery of the prisoners. Tonight I was leaving the pack house.

I walked down the stairs and stumbled upon Lucifer and I shivered in fear. His eyes narrowed at me.

"Watch where you're going." He said to me. What happened to the enthusiastic man of this morning?

"Yes, I will," I said and he brushed past me walking out of the house. I shuddered wondering if I'd be able to carry out my plan without being caught. I waited a few minutes before stepping out and when I did and turned towards the east wing, I heard Ripper's voice.

"Where are you going by this time milady?" He asked me and I stopped dead in my tracks. I turned around.

"Aye Ripper, I'm heading to the stables," I said to him.

He raised a brow. "Lucifer just left with Ruthless on a run." He said.

I took that to my advantage. "I know that Ripper. He asked me to come along secretly after he was gone." I said to him. I did not want to use a horse knowing I'd be slowed down but I had no choice since I was caught.

His eyes twinkled. "Aye, the Helldog and his mistress finna be cuddling in the woods." He said and I chuckled.

"Come," he said taking me to the stables and bringing out Snowball for me who neighed at the sight of me.

"I'm sorry girl that I have not been here to see you," I said whispering in her ears and she neighed again. I realized that Snowball did not just fancy me because I've mated with Lucifer since his other mistresses too had mated with him and from what Ripper told me, she allowed no one to ride her except Lucifer himself.

He helped me in mounting her and she did not flinch.

"Have a good ride with the alpha." He said grinning.

"I will," I said smiling back as I rode out of the stables. With this, I would not be stopped by any lycan on my way. This terrible lie would help me in escaping and for the first time, I was glad Lucifer was useful to me.

I rode Snowball at a steady pace as she galloped into the woods and when I got to the river, I tied her to a tree.

"I'm sorry girl but we have to part ways now. I pray soon that you're found." I said to her and she fluttered her eyes. I placed a kiss on her head and with superspeed, I was out of her sight in a flash.

I did not run far for long when I saw a figure standing a few feet away from me. I did not want to find out who it was so I took the opposite direction. My pursuer was not relentless either and was hot on my heels. His quickness and agility were more than a vampire and were that of a lycan.

Who was after me?

I did not run for long when I was pulled back in a brutal force and I collided with my pursuer falling right on him and I gasped when I stared into the familiar dark eyes glaring at me in murderous fury.