44

"Elbert." She spoke his name with as much disgust as she could.

"Alpha Elbert, my dear. I thought you had figured that out by now," he tutted in a silky yet equally gravelly voice, and paced around her slowly, eyeing her like she was wild game caught for dinner. The man was smooth and sophisticated, but lacking the muscular veracity of a true Alpha. Maybe back in his prime he was considered strong and worthy for the position, but right now he only had aged refinement on his side.

"You have no right to that title. It's Kaiden's," Chesca growled out between clenched teeth.

"Is that so? Indeed," he folded his hands and paused in front of her.

His careful scrutiny of her was unpleasant, making her skin crawl and her stomach heave. She tried wrenching her hands free again, but when a blinding pain shot through her shoulder and down her arm, she remembered the arrow wound. Looking down, she saw that the sharp piece of steel had been removed and crudely bandaged up. Still, blood seeped onto her stained and ripped shirt.

"I did instruct my men not to hurt you too much, but Guard Stanley can be a little...overzealous when it comes to carrying out my orders," Elbert motioned to her shoulder, then glared at something behind her head.

"You didn't tell me she was an Alpha! I had to use more force," the warrior called Stanley argued, clasping a hand to her shoulder and squeezing hard. She cringed but bit her tongue instead of crying out.

"Yes, yes," Elbert chuckled dryly. "I underestimated you, Chesca. You killed two men. Some of my best warriors."

She snickered. "They were your best?"

Elbert's smile froze. "You've made me wait a long time for this conversation, Chesca."

"So sorry. Did dinner get cold?"

Elbert's face remained passive at her cutting remarks. Then in a measured tone, as if weighing his words precisely, he said, "I see the pain doesn't diminish your sarcasm. Perhaps you need something stronger."

"I'm only here for one thing. Give me my mate, then leave us alone." Her vision faded in and out for a moment, and her head throbbed, but she wasn't going to let him know that he was winning in this sick game of his. Whatever he wanted, she didn't care. She only cared about finding Kaiden and getting out of here alive.

"I'm afraid it's not going to be that simple. You see, you've already taken both my sons from me. Why would I give—"

"Taken?" Chesca asked in pure confusion. His choice of words left her head spinning.

"Yes. First Kaiden, when he ran off to be with you, forsaking his pack and duties. Then Elah, when you killed him on your territory."

"I killed him?!" she yelled in shock. "You have some atrocious sources for information. That boy of yours raped a girl. What do you think a protective brother is going to do other than avenge his sister's honour? Elah was asking for it." She spat on his shiny polished floor, her veins seething with righteous anger.

Elbert leaned closer and narrowed his eyes at her. For a moment, she thought he might slap her for her harsh words. But what was one more shame? It didn't matter to her if he strung her up by her toes for calling him out on his son's sins.

"My son would never hurt a woman," was all he said coldly instead, a condemning gleam in his eyes, as if she were the guilty party here.

Her gaze never faltered from his, and besides the hammering of her heart and the many possibilities running through her mind of how he could twist this onto her, she wasn't afraid of him. She hadn't survived hell to be broken now by this piece of trash.

"Tell me where Kaiden is." The command fell weakly from her lips despite her effort to be strong. Strong for herself and for her mate. Because all she wanted right now was to be with Kaiden, and make sure he was okay. She could feel him close by, her wolf was telling her that he was in pain, but the poison from the arrow was dampening most of her senses. Elbert was messing with her head and she hated him for it.

"No. But I can assure you he's in good hands and being well taken care of. I would do anything to protect my son, especially from a bad influence such as you."

"Excuse me?" Chesca blinked. He wasn't making any sense. Why did he think she was bad for Kaiden? Was that was this was all about? He didn't want Kaiden to be her mate and move to her pack, instead of staying here as Alpha of his own? "What are you protecting him from? Your own warriors shot him with an arrow. The scars on his back were inflicted by you," she emphasised and pinned the unreadable wolf with her sternest glare.

Elbert just gave an amused chuckle, causing the wrinkles to deepen around his eyes. Stepping back, he rubbed his beard slowly. "Is that what he told you? I thought I warned you not to believe his lies. Why would a father hurt his own son like that?"

"I have no idea. I was hoping you could tell me."

"My dear, you know so little about me and my family. Don't think you can assume I'm the guilty one here."

"Then why did Kaiden run away and choose to be with me?" It was a good question, because she doubted Elbert was telling her the truth. All this time, she'd thought he was the bad guy—at least that's what Kaiden had been telling her. But maybe ....could it possibly be the other way around? The doubts once more came rushing into her mind, weakening her and chipping away at her resolve and newfound devotion to her mate. Perhaps she was just being manipulated, but by whom she still couldn't tell.

Elbert took a moment before replying, as if digesting her accusations and sifting out a nasty response to make it more polite. "My elder son has made many mistakes, I regret to admit. Mistakes that have nearly led this pack into ruin. I had to step in and make some changes before it was too late."

"Really?"

His words physically hurt for some reason, like there could be some truth to them that was slicing her like a knife. She didn't want to believe Elbert, but her sluggish mind was clutching at anything that made sense. She had always had niggling doubts about Kaiden, so maybe his father was telling the truth?

"Kaiden forced my hand, you see," Elbert continued. "I never wanted it to end like this, hunting him down like a fugitive. I had such high hopes for him, that he could be a mighty Alpha like I was." He stared into the crackling flames, a winsome expression on his face. "But alas, not everyone can meet your expectations."

"I don't believe you." Chesca squeezed her eyes shut briefly and gathered some much needed courage. "Kaiden is brave and strong. He's a good leader." Yes, good enough to lead her pack members against her. But that was beside the point.

"Believe what you will," Elbert shrugged and smirked a little. "Mates are apt to do that—blindly perceive only the good in each other." He said this with a bitterness in his tone, making Chesca wonder about his history with his own mate, Kaiden's mother.

"I want to see Kaiden." Ignoring his comment, she laid out her demand flatly.

"I'm afraid you're in no position to make that request—"

"I want to see my mate!" She repeated harshly with anger flashing in her eyes, pulling on her chains as far as they would allow.

"Actually, you are. You are in the perfect position." Elbert muttered to himself, stepping closer and regarding her carefully with a dark gleam in his eyes. "I have something you want, and you ...." he paused as if for dramatic effect, "have something I want."

"Name it," she spat, tired of his childish games.

"Your pack."

Chesca did a double take. She blinked, took a deep breath, and looked at Elbert again to see if he was serious. The laugh that came from behind her told her that Stanley was still around and watching with amusement.

"Really? It's that simple?" Chesca couldn't believe, after what he'd said about wanting his son, that he'd trade him for a measly bit of land. But did she love Kaiden enough to pay that price for him? The sudden pain in her heart that reminded her Kaiden was near, and indeed in trouble, answered for her. She'd do anything to defend and protect her mate. She'd vowed that to him in front of everyone at the acceptance ceremony. She could do nothing less. Every particle of her being just needed to find him. And then afterwards, deal with Elbert and her pack.

"Of course. Unless you want it more complicated..."

"Fine, you can have my pack," she muttered. "Just give me back my mate."

Elbert's lips lifted in a small smile, and waved a hand for Stanley to take her away. But before she could rise from her unshackled feet, the door across the room slid open slowly.

"Oh yes, there's someone very important who wants to meet you," Elbert halted them and spoke to Chesca. "I do believe you've met my wife."

A woman glided through the door, equally attired in evening dress, a long silver gown and stiletto pumps that announced each delicate step with a heavy staccato beat. She slinked towards Chesca, her platinum hair hanging perfectly around her shoulders.

Chesca swallowed with a dry throat when the woman stopped in front of her and leaned down, tilting up Chesca's chin with icy fingers.

Her steely grey eyes flashed with smugness. "Hello, Sister."

Her feet stumbled down the dark steps as she was roughly pushed along from behind. Chesca's mind swarmed with the events of the past couple hours—searching desperately for her mate, falling into the merciless hands of Elbert's wolves, the deal she had made with Elbert, then coming face to face with the once familiar and now haunting presence of her sister. Nothing made sense anymore, but it didn't take too many guesses to figure out where they were now taking her.

The coldness of the air increased as they twisted their way further down into the earth, its icy fingers crawling over her skin, the dank and dirty smell of dungeons rising to meet her. But why the dungeons? Elbert had said Kaiden was being taken care of...

Yet it wasn't only the usual disgusting smells of a dungeon that churned her stomach. It was the scent of her mate, stronger than anything else that rose up to meet her, embracing her like a jealous enemy. And not just his natural, warm and calming scent. No, it was the coppery scent of his blood that almost undid her.

Chesca nearly tripped and fell flat on her face when they reached the bottom, but for Stanley's vice like grip on her arms. A pale incandescent bulb hanging from the centre of the roof was the only light, and under it Chesca could see a few cells running parallel on either side of her. Her wolf stirred and was getting more and more agitated. At the far back of the huge underground dungeon, as she was pushed closer, she could see a figure draped in shadows and chained to the wall by his outstretched arms.

"Kaiden!" She gasped, her lungs heaving for air as the crude sight completely emptied them. His entire left side was covered in blood, the rest of his bare chest and arms were smeared with dirt, torn jeans hanging low on his hips. What crushed Chesca was the way his head bent down in utter defeat. At the sound of her voice, it snapped up, his eyes taking a moment to search her out and steady their focus.

Chesca froze at the haunted look in his dark eyes. His hair had been shaved to within a quarter inch of his scalp, a few nasty red lines marked his skin, and such anger and hatred burned in his entire posture.

"What did they do to you?" She tried running forward, but Stanley and his partner held her back.

"Chesca? Wha-what are you doing here?" Kaiden rasped in a weak voice. "Did he capture you too? I swear, I'm going to—"

"Kaiden, don't. I came to get you out. We're going to figure this out. Hey, what are you doing?" she yelled as Stanley slammed her against the opposing wall in Kaiden's cell, and chained one wrist to the ring on the wall while his partner fastened her other on the other side of her. "You promised we could both go!"

Stanley smiled a cruel smile. "Just following my Alpha's orders, sweetheart."

"You sick son of a—" Chesca bit down the curse words that ached to be released. Telling herself she was better than that, she clenched her teeth and growled instead.

Stanley and his man left her, walking out with smug swagger as Chesca hung helplessly in between the locked chains, her feet barely touching the floor.

"Why? Why would you come for me? You said you hated me." Kaiden once more slumped against his chains, but his eyes never left hers.

"I was stupid. I was angry and didn't mean it. You're my mate, Kaiden, and I'd never turn my back on you," she spoke in earnestness, her heart aching to reach out and touch him, kiss him, and wrap him in her arms.

"I'm sorry too, for everything I did. You don't deserve such a worthless dog like me, Chesca," Kaiden whispered. "Just save yourself and get out of here before it's too la—"

"Shh, don't say that," she interrupted. "I need you Kaiden," she whimpered, straining against the chains but managing to only hurt her wrists more, causing them to bleed. "We have to get out of here."

"I deserve your hate, Chesca. All along I've been planning ways to become Alpha of your pack. Trying to make you fall in love with me so I could rightfully be in charge. I never really cared for you," he continued in a mournful voice, full of remorse.

"Maybe at the start you didn't, but look at me Kaiden, and tell me you don't feel what's between us. That you don't care for me," Chesca held his gaze steadily and spoke with determination. There was something between them, and she wouldn't let him back out now. His admission to his plans of taking over were no surprise, but there was no denying he'd felt what she'd felt, the connection, the bond, the strong pull that fate had designed to be unbreakable.

"I do care about you Chesca, more deeply than you know."

Her heart raced from his words, and again she just wanted to hold him and kiss everything better.

"But that's why you need to go. I don't want you paying for my mistakes," Kaiden mumbled, but fiercely.

"No, Kaiden. Your father is the one to blame, and I should've trusted you from the start. But I kept doubting you and now look at the mess we're in," she blurted out quickly, wishing they could just get on the same page and get out of here. She needed to be with him, and her body was burning to comfort him more than ever before.

"My father, he had it all planned," Kaiden said miserably, as if he hadn't heard what she'd said. "He expected that in my anger, I'd kill you and take the pack. He wanted to be Alpha, I wanted to be Alpha, so someone had to die for both of us to rule."

"But he didn't know we are mates. And because of that, you didn't kill me. So it all works out," she reasoned. Chesca wasn't too astounded by his words, realising just how untrustworthy and terrible Elbert really was. All her trust she was now placing in Kaiden, her soulmate that she would always love and stand by.

"Now he's dragged me back here, for who knows what. And I couldn't protect you from him. I'm so sorry, Chesca," Kaiden's lips barely moved as he whispered in exhaustion. It was like he'd come to realise the gravity of his past sins, and felt too ashamed to even be in her presence. But nothing could send her running now. The bond they shared was too strong to ignore any longer.

The cell doors screeched open, shattering the otherwise quiet and dank ambience in the dungeons. Footsteps echoed across the grimy floors and a scent that whispered like a ghost from the past reached Chesca. Metal chains rattled as other prisoners shifted about in the cells, eagerly watching this new development in the excitement unfolding before them.

"Cora..." Chesca's throat constricted just saying the name she'd tried so hard to forget.

"You didn't seem too thrilled to see me upstairs, sister," the woman replied as she stepped into Chesca's cell, her tone light and airy but undeniably holding an edge. She now wore black leathers and boots that accentuated her long, toned legs. "After all these years..." she tutted her tongue.

Kaiden emitted a low growl, as if he sensed the threat she presented to Chesca.

"And who's this? Your precious mate?" Cora eyed Chesca before walking towards Kaiden.

"Stay away from him," Chesca warned with deadly precision.

"I'd say he was handsome," Cora traced a finger down his jawline, "but he's just a bloody mess. Such a shame."

"I said stay away from him!" Chesca snapped loudly, yanking at her restraints.

Cora laughed a shrill laugh and stepped away. "Possessive, are we? Don't worry, little sister, I don't want your pathetic mate." Casting one last disgusted look at Kaiden, she then gave all her attention to Chesca.

"Then what do you want? Why are you back after all these years?" It was the first question Chesca really had for her sister, along with how could she leave in the first place. Chesca had always wondered how she'd react if ever she saw Cora again. Would it be with anger, confusion, fury, sadness, unforgiveness, or a combination of everything? Too many different emotions and feelings had visited her over the years, she couldn't figure out which she'd ever let her sister see.

"Oh, I wanted a few things..." Cora inspected her fingernails casually. "Elbert's been able to give them to me."

"Elbert? Why would you marry such an old creep?"

"He's rich and powerful. And he cares about me," Cora tilted her head and regarded Chesca through hooded eyes. "So why wouldn't I? Besides, he's not going to live forever—"

"Yeah, because I'm going to kill him," Chesca snarled and tugged on her chains again. She was almost glad for them, or else her hands might have found their way to Cora's neck on their own accord.

"No you wouldn't, because he's Kaiden's father. Would you really deprive your precious mate of his dad? You of all people know what it's like to lose your parents in such a tragic way."

"Like you care!" Chesca snarled angrily. "You never even showed up for Mom and Dad's memorial service."

"They wouldn't have wanted me there," Cora replied flippantly, as if unaffected by their death; but a slight frown, a crease between her eyebrows, gave evidence of her inner turmoil.

Chesca softened her voice, "You have no idea how much they cared for you..."

"Listen here, you brat!" Cora's eyes flashed with annoyance as her whole demeanour changed, speaking to Chesca like she was seven years old again. "You know nothing about caring or loving someone, so don't try to preach to me. I had to leave. I had to get away and do what I wanted. I wanted freedom—"

"Freedom isn't a luxury for the eldest child of an Alpha," Chesca pointed out.

"I didn't want the pack—"

"The choice wasn't up to you!" Anger welled up within Chesca's stomach, and she tried to control it but her body started shaking. Maybe it was the blood loss, the strain from the day, the lack of water...

"Yes, it was. And aren't you glad to have become Alpha? You've done pretty well with the pack," Cora paced in front of Chesca and flipped her hair over her shoulder casually.

"How would you know?" A chill crept down Chesca's spine, and she fought to lower her breathing and stiffen her body against her wolf's more natural instincts.

"I have my ways of knowing things. But besides, the pack is no longer yours, Button face," Cora poked her on the nose then stepped back with a faint smirk lifting her red lips. "Oh, before I forget, I brought you a gift." Cora reached into her pocket and produced a single red rose. Tucking it between the straps of Chesca's singlet like a brooch, she stepped back to admire her work. "There. Like a beautiful bride."

"You're sick," Chesca wriggled against her restraints despite knowing she was completely powerless.

"You don't like my gift? But you always loved flowers," Cora pouted at the rejection.

"You can't destroy something, then act like nothing happened. You can't think that one little gift can replace everything you took from me," Chesca drilled her with a steely gaze, allowing no softness to seep from her throbbing heart.

"Isn't that what forgiveness is all about?"

Chesca looked at her with incredulity and couldn't contain a weary chuckle. "You have to be sorry to actually earn forgiveness."