Layan felt his breath catch in his throat.
-PRISCILAAAAAAAAAAA-- he shouted standing on the edge of the ravine and looking down.
That was a big, dangerous drop with no chance of coming back. Either god, or god. Priscilla, his Priscilla. If only he'd been more attentive. Hell. No, he couldn't just stand there and watch.
Priscilla was strong, she wouldn't die just because of that would she?
Besides that wolf that had thrown her couldn't be who she thought it was. No, no, no.
Her breathing became agitated but even so she didn't think about it and without thinking she looked for a way to go down the ravine to find a few meters away a depression in the rocks that would help her to descend without breaking her neck in it.
-Wait for me, Priscilla,- Layan was going crazy. He didn't care about anything but saving his she-wolf. If only he had cared more. If only he hadn't stopped tending to her for those seconds.
Why was it that every time he took his eyes off her she was on the verge of death? Why?
It was as if fate was punishing him for not treasuring her enough and taking her away from him so that he would learn his lesson.
He was giving up. He understood. He wouldn't do it again. This was the one to beat but please don't take Priscilla away from him please. That was all he asked as he carefully descended the rocks knowing that one false step and he could break every last bone.
But what if that had happened to Priscilla? No, no...
You stupid...
It's your fault...
You caused this...
My she-wolf is going to die because of your ineptitude, because of your rejection...
It's your fault
Your fault, your...
-CÁLLATEEEE- Layan growled at the voice speaking in his head that he didn't know but for some reason at the same time sounded somewhat familiar. It came from inside him and made those pulses of something wanting to enter fizzle out. Like scaring it away. But he didn't have the head to think about Liam or that voice in his head.
Layan groaned, stopping on one of the stones.
-I know... it's my fault, it's my fault,- he growled to himself, -It's my fault.
He was berating himself so much it hurt but it sure hurt less than the pain he had caused her all this time. And to say that he had given his zeal to another. Just remembering that he had said that made her heart break.
But it would be the last time. He would treasure Priscilla. Yes, he would make her his queen and make her live precisely as a queen. He just hoped it wasn't too late.
When he was several feet away where he could see the ground he lunged although due to the distance one of his legs fractured. Layan barely felt it, he simply used his ability to restore his body and began to move around looking for a scent trail of his she-wolf.
He searched from side to side but found nothing until a faint scent came to him in the distance... the smell of blood.
The fur on Layan's back bristled and he ran over but found only a pool of blood bathing a bush and dry split branches but nothing else. There was no sign of Priscilla, no sign of that wolf.
He wandered around the place. He was getting desperate, where was his wolf, where was Priscilla?
Suddenly a howl. It could be heard far away but not that far. And it was the one he least wanted to see at that moment. That Hades had arrived in that situation was the worst case scenario. Surely he wouldn't want to hear excuses as to where his daughter was. Damn.
Another howl followed and this time it was Victore. They were looking for him. They must be looking for him. And Layan knew that if he kept stalling it would be worse and now what he needed was help finding Priscilla.
Even though she would surely fight with Hades. He just prayed she wasn't next to Nebraska. He couldn't forgive himself for the way she would look at him when she found out everything he had done to her daughter in the belief that he loved her.
For after realizing his feelings he could say that Nebraska he had loved, but not loved. Not as a wolf loves who loves a lifemate.
So he raised his head and howled. And stood there waiting for them to arrive and no sign of Priscilla.
Ten minutes or so he had to wait, at which point he transformed when he noticed that there was no threat in the area, rather, there was nothing. And if he had jumped. Maybe then he would have had more time to find his she-wolf.
He put a hand to his face. If he had done that for sure he wouldn't be alive and he wouldn't be able to find her because he was sure of one thing. If her body wasn't there, she was alive. He could feel it through the ribbon.
And that was the only thing that gave him relief. There was still a chance.
Then he felt him approaching. And as expected Hades transformed into a fury and the first thing he did was to close his fingers around Layan's neck. He didn't lift him up given his weight, but squeezed him with the intention of breaking every single vertebrae.
His eyes were molten silver and fury disfigured his features.
-Where is my daughter?- he growled so loudly that the trees around him shuddered.
He could feel the growls of Victore and the other five wolves with them defending their alpha but they dared not enter Hades' personal space. He could kill them right then and there without any consequences.
Because Hades was really upset. Very annoyed.
-He didn't care that Layan was the leader of the council.
To arrive and find that his daughter was gone and that he had been told a wild story and that his daughter was aimless and with Layan behind him was more than he could bear. And that she didn't imagine the details because she felt like she would explode. He would definitely take his Pris back. If he had known that he would never have let her leave his pack.
Layan simply stood still. He indicated with his eyes to Victore and the others not to do anything, that he would take care of it. For the moment he simply let Hades squeeze his neck until he stopped squeezing with killer instinct. He understood, he wasn't the only one upset. He was upset with himself.
For not having properly protected Priscilla.
-I don't know- and it was the only thing he could answer.
Hades was taken aback by the answer.
-What did you say?
-What you hear, I don't know. Why do you think I'm here? I'm looking for Priscilla. She was pushed down the ravine.- His voice sounded low because of the fingers in his throat.
-Layan, do you want to die,- Hades bared his fangs.
Layan wanted to do the same but it was better not to tempt, they were not in a proper situation to do that. Priscilla's life was in danger and they shouldn't be giving teeth but moving.
-Before you decide to kill me, beat me or bury your fangs in me, listen to me. There's something you need to know.
-The only thing I need to know is where my daughter is,- Hades almost shouted.
Layan knew he had to talk fast or else it would get out of control and he would need Hades' help at that moment.
-Listen to me or I will have to order you,- he said this time showing his fangs showing who was the wolf that commanded over the others.
And luckily Hades was a rational wolf and after a few seconds his fingers were opening. So slowly it was torturous.
-Everything depends on what you say because if you don't convince me I swear I'll kill you- Hades threatened him without caring about the consequences.
Layan rubbed the marks on his neck and cleared his throat. At that point, if they had acted it was because Liam was planning his next move and had grown tired of playing games, so it was better that everyone already knew so they could act.
...
Priscilla felt as if her whole body was on fire but at the same time she felt cold. A strange and unpleasant sensation. And then pain. A dense, suffocating pain that left her breathless.
What had happened?
Ah yes... she was with Layan and then she'd been pushed by something and then... then... then.
She opened her eyes with a start. Where was she?
She didn't know, it looked like a cave, the ceiling was only 10 meters above their heads and it wasn't big, maybe it could hold about 20 people but no more. Despite that there was a slight illumination although she did not know from where because she could see no exit. How the hell had she been taken to that place?
Was she alone?
She stirred to get up to hear a metallic sound and froze. That's when she understood why her body ached and was heavy. Around her wrists and legs were thick shackles that restrained her movements and were so tight they broke her skin.
She was bound and could barely move from the floor where the chains were clamped. She tried to break free by pulling on them but it was useless, in that case she would have to use her powers. But when she tried... nothing.
They didn't work. They didn't even flinch and that made her startle. What the hell?
-They don't work? Don't force yourself to activate them, they won't work!
Suddenly a voice echoed followed by a laugh, and Priscilla became alert. That was Liam's way of talking, there was no doubt about it. It was the same one he used to do it in his mind. So it was there.
She would finally know where Liam was only that yes, it was Liam's way of talking, but that voice... that voice she knew. And she was even more surprised when that person came out of the darkness and stopped near her.
-Let's stop the game and get down to the serious stuff, beautiful. It's time for me to take power once and for all and you will be the way to do it- she smiled showing her fangs.
There she was.
The person where Liam had been all along. The one who had been his true container. The one who didn't have the handle she had given them.
Priscilla could only let the air out of her lungs because it was the one she least imagined.
-Kei-