30

"What did you just say?" he spat, stalking towards me with the blooded whip.

I backed away, trembling underneath his burning glare. My body was shaking violently from the fear that is strangling me. I didn't understand, why is he doing this? What did I do wrong?

"I-I s-said...I-I w-want...my m-mommy." I whimpered pathetically.

He laughed, "Oh, you have a lot to learn boy!"

His lifted his arm and the whip swirled in the air before he brought it down. I screamed, the pain sliced through my shoulder. He lifted it again and it cut through my flesh again, this time getting my chest. Tears ran down my pale face as he continued to whip me.

"Stop crying!" he shouted.

I cried even more as he brought the whip down harder.

"Hades!"

What did I do?"

"Hades!"

I don't understand.

"HADES WAKE UP!"

I sat up in the bed and started freaking out, all I could see were those same cement walls. Slowly closing in on me, causing my heart to jump as I awaited his arrival. Suddenly those wall vanished and were replaced by the walls of my room. My breathing relaxed and so did my heart as someone gently placed their hand on my cheek. Sparks flowed through me as I looked over to see Celina's beautiful eyes.

I blinked a few times before finally relaxing all the way, no longer seeing visions of Jackson's father with a whip. Exhaustion suddenly took over as I collapsed back onto the bed, my eyes feeling heavy.

"Hey, are you okay?" Celina whispered, laying beside me.

I closed my eyes and nodded before drifting off to sleep, no matter how hard I fought it. When I woke up again Celina's arms were wrapped around me. Her head was resting on my one shoulder as she slept peacefully. I smiled, thankful for her comfort. I continued to lay there for a few minutes until I knew I had to get up.

I gingerly and quietly removed myself from Celina's grasp and sauntered towards the bathroom. On the way I grabbed a towel and wash cloth, knowing the water should help me wake up. I threw them on the ground and started up the water, I waited until it was warm enough before turning on the shower.

I quickly washed my hair and body before just allowing the warm water to relax me. I was still a little shaken up from the nightmare last night. I haven't had a nightmare about him ever since Celina came, but now they're starting again. I can't go into a relapse while Celina's pregnant, I'll only end up hurting her. I turned the water off and climbed out, after wrapping the towel around my waist I brushed my teeth.

Once I was freshened up I walked back out to the room and smiled as Celina's eyes met mine. She slowly sat up and yawned, stretching out her muscles.

"What do you want for breakfast?" she questioned with a yawn.

I grinned at her cuteness, "I'll have eggs, but I'm cooking, you're staying here."

"But I want to cook too." she refuted, giving me a pout.

I raised an eyebrow, "You're pregnant, you're staying here. I don't want you doing something that you don't need to do. Plus, you've cooked me enough breakfasts, it's my turn."

"Fine, but I want pancakes with butter and syrup on them. Oh and toast with strawberry jelly." she ordered, grinning.

I nodded as I threw on a shirt, "Yes, ma'am."

"Thank you!" she called as I walked out.

"Welcome!"

Once I was finished her breakfast and mine I filled two glasses with orange juice and carried them upstairs. I sat beside her as we ate our breakfast, teasing each other on the way we eat. She burst out laughing when she flicked whip cream at me, causing it to splatter across my face. I playfully glared at her before proceeding to throw grape jelly at her. She gasped and grumbled about loathing grape jelly which I started to argue about.

We ended up laughing, saying how are arguments are stupid. I sighed, smiling as she continued to laugh. Guilt seeped into my heart as my brain decided then to remind me about when I first saw her. I swallowed and forced myself to continue smiling at her. She stopped laughing and furrowed her eyebrows.

"Are you okay? You look upset all of a sudden." she whispered, giving me a troubled look.

I smiled, "Yeah, just thinking."

I quickly kissed her on the lips, snickering when she whined about the grape jelly taste. I rolled my eyes at her, but continued to fall even more in love with her. Once the dishes were washed and put in the drying rack I dragged myself to my office.

I ran my hand through my hair as I read over the reports, looks like Steven still refuses to continue training. I sighed, why can't he just be simple for once? I know he hates my guts for killing his brother, but he had it coming to him. I mind-linked Jackson to take break from his punishment of watching over the pack's pups and find Steven.

I laughed when he started to complain about way too many diapers, but then blocked him. I managed to finish one paper when there was a knock at my door. I called for them to come in and my door swung open. Jackson marched happily into the room as Steven slowly walked in. I thanked Jackson and dismissed him before focusing on Steven.

"Let me guess, you have me here because I refuse to train?" Steven inquired while smirking at me.

I gave him a dark look before ordering him to sit down, using my full Alpha voice. He glared at me before reluctantly taking a seat. I then grinned and put my work aside.

"Now, why aren't you?" I asked.

He frowned, "You killed my brother over something stupid."

"He wanted a fight to the death and he got it."

"You didn't even fight, you just snapped his neck."

"It was to the death, doesn't mean I had to actually fight him. He could have fought back, but he didn't. Instead, he gave me a look of disgust and stayed still."

His eyes narrowed and turned black before he lunched himself across my desk. He tried strangling me, but I quickly dodged him and pinned him down. He twisted and turned, his canines scraped against my flesh before he managed to bite my wrist. I refused to let go though, no matter how far his teeth went. When he broke part of my wrist I still didn't budge, using all my strength to not pull back from the root of pain.

He eventually let go and just laid there, growling and cussing out my name. I rolled my eyes at how pathetic he was before picking him up and throwing him through the wall. He skidded across the hallway floor and slammed into the railing. I then grabbed him by his shirt and smirked at him, pack members watched in shock as I threw him over the railing.

He howled with pain and rolled around on the ground, but I didn't stop there. I jumped over the railing and landed beside him before grabbing him by his hair. I showed everyone his blooded face and looked at them.

"This is what happens when you disrespect me multiple times, refuse to listen to my orders, and risk the pack's safety." I spat.

They were all pale with wide eyes, filled with fear as I easily but slowly broke his neck. I then dropped his limp form to the ground and threw a sheet over him. Once I told them to continue on with whatever they were doing I told Jackson to get rid of Steven's body.

Two pack members in just two days, who so happened to be brothers. I could only imagine what their father would do if he was still in the pack. I remember the day he was exiled, telling my father that he would get his revenge. Unfortunately he was never able to because my father would always find out what he was planning.

"Hades?"

I spun around to see Melody walking towards me, a concerned look on her face. "Are you okay? You've never killed two pack members this easily."

I sighed, "These two...I wouldn't even consider pack members if I were you."

I then walked away, focusing myself on my paperwork and the pack. But as I walked past a mirror I saw his image and froze. I spun around, the feeling of someone watching me surrounded me. I kept scanning the empty hallway, but no one was there. I eventually shook my head and called myself paranoid.