54

54

Ray POV

I sat in the driveway of the motel where I had gotten the intel that Diane would be at.

It was a cheap-looking motel. Meaning the chances of Diane being here were high.

Seeing as she didn’t have any money on her. And the little she managed to gain access to.

She would spend it on what she could afford. I was glad I had stripped her of any money.

After I learned that she slept with my brother and tried to join him, I have hated her since.

It despised me to know that I could never trust her. And that she would never truly be on my side.

And not just that. She had lost the flash drive—the only chance for me to mount the alpha seat.

She destroyed every one of my plans. I still forgave her over it, but she had to betray me. And that was the last straw.

I had almost killed her the day I found out, but she escaped, and ever since I have been on the lookout for her.

I had also been looking for the flash drive. But it was as though it had disappeared from the face of the earth.

Thanks to the money I stored in a private account. I had been able to survive these past months.

And even if I didn’t do anything for the next fifty years. I would still be able to live well.

I used parts of the money to hire some men. Some traced the whereabouts of the flash drive. While the others looked for Diane.

I also used the money to run away from Adrien. And his wrath.

I wondered how he was doing. I had hoped that since Esmeralda and the children hadn’t died.

That he would be a bit compassionate towards me. However, the man I sent to trail him said he was looking for me. And that too with the stance of someone who wishes to murder.

I entered into the motel. And asked the receptionist for Diane. Using the fake name, she had registered under this place.

“I’m here to pay a visit to Morgan Steve.”

“Oh. Room 107. The gentleman here would see you to the room.” She pointed to a man,

I nodded. Following his leads.

On getting there. He left me. While I knocked on the door.

Diane opened the door on the third knocking.

She was wearing a robe. Shock spread across her face immediately after she saw me.

“Ray.” She mumbled.

“Hello, sweetheart. Fancy seeing you here.”

“What do you want?” She asked in a shakily tone.

“I just came to say hi.”

Her firm on the doorknob was strong. However, I was stronger. And so I was barging into the room.

I could hear her heart beating increasing.

“I must say. It was easier to find you this time around. Have you perhaps decided to give up on running away from me?”

She didn’t respond.

“Just leave, okay.”

“Oh, I will. As soon as I did what I came here for.”

“And what is that?”

“Just this.” I lurched toward her, hitting her hard in the face.

She stumbled and fell on her butt as a result of the impact of my hit.

“Please stop.” She pleaded. Except I didn’t care. So I bunched to the floor. Hovering her. Then, I began hitting her face continuously.

Which at some point spurted out blood.

But healed again. The only thing that kept me not frustrated by that.

It was cause I knew the hitting would cause her pain. So even if it did heal up over and over again. It doesn’t take away the pain.

She eventually blanks out as a result of the pain.

My men hadn’t accompanied me. So I had to do the lifting of her from the floor to the bed.

After which, I tied her hands to the bedpost.

Then, her legs were tied apart from each other.

So she could be more exposed to me.

Then I went on removing the robe from her body. Since she wasn’t wearing anything underneath the robe, she became starkly empty.

It made me erect. The downside, however, was her face. It was bloodied and swollen.

However, I didn’t care about that, for I wished not to look at her face. It only reminds me of her betrayal.

I was pulling her clothes off when the door to her door got barged in.

Different men holding guns came into the room. The gun pointed to me.

Shock and confusion filled me instantly.

“Hands over your head!” One of them screamed.

I wondered what was going on. And why was I being raided? Or were these people also parts of Diane’s enemy?

“Please, I am not-“ a gunshot was fired at me. Hitting me below my stomach.

I screamed from the pain. I guess they weren’t just Diane’s enemy.

“Don’t move!” Another barked.

It seemed like they were closer enemies. I could smell sliver. The bullets were made of silver. Meaning they knew what I was.

Could this perhaps be Adrien's handiwork?

I was eventually tied to the bedpost. But I was made to sit on the floor instead.

While Diane lay on the bed.

My legs and hands had been bounded with wolfsbane. It was weakening me instantly.

The men, however, didn’t stop there. They started hitting me profusely. They poured batches of wolfsbane water on my skin.

It was true torture. And when I couldn’t take it anymore, I passed out.

However, the harsh brush of a hot and itchy substance woke me up.

I had been poured another batch of wolfsbane so that I would awaken.

But the more shocking part was when I saw Adrien, Esmeralda, and Logan all standing in front of me.

As though my day couldn’t get any worse.

“Please tell me that I’m just having a bad nightmare and that you all aren’t here,”
I said with a pained breath.

“It’s not darling. It’s just the sad brass of reality hitting you.” Diane said.

I noticed she wasn’t naked anymore. Her legs weren’t tied apart but together. And they were tied to the bed.

I groaned. “No wonder it was so easy finding you. You led me to you so they would capture me.” I said mostly to myself

“It’s good to see that you still have your brain working fine,” Diane added. I glared at her. I silently wished I had strangled her before I had been rudely interrupted by Adrien’s men.

“Just one question, though. Why did you help them out? I mean, are you still tied like I am?”

“Emphasis on the “like you are” if I go down. You go with me.”

“And yet, when it’s time to throw me under the bus. You don’t seem to remember that.”

“Enough!” Adrien stormed.

“Shut the hell up.” He added. Glaring at us both.

I rolled my eyes in response.

“Hey Esmeralda, dear. I want to know. How does a near-death experience feel?“ Diane asked. Obviously, I'm trying to rile her up.

Adrien motioned for his men to make a move on Diane. But Esmeralda stopped it.

“Oh. It taught me the importance of valuing the people in my life. Of valuing their love and sacrifice. Though I doubt you shall be learning anything. As you wouldn’t be alive to implement it. I wonder what way you would die. Death by stoning. By burning or by being buried alive.”

Esmeralda had successfully riled Diane up instead, as she had her face squared in anger.

Adrien held a look of admiration and pride in her. For the way she handled it.

“So let’s cut to the chase. Why have you had me captured.”

“I’m just trying to ensure you get the punishment that you truly deserve.”

This had me squaring my face in confusion.

“What?”

“Oh. I’m just trying to get you to the pack. The elders and the pack members. So they can all pass a verdict over your sleeping with my wife. the Luna, i.e., precious Diane.” Sarcasm drawled in his tone.

I entered a state of panic; if he had done that, then there was no way I would have remained alive after the meeting with the elders of the pack.

“If this is about the flash drive. Then I assure you that it isn’t with me.”

“I know. But it’s not about that. It was about you harming my wife and my children.”

I missed the time when Adrien was much more forgiving. Now, he was planning on getting me killed just for a murder that didn’t even happen.

“I missed when you were nice and forgiving.”

“Oh. I still am. Just that my forgiveness has a limit. And you crossed it when you hurt her and my kids.”

I swallowed hard as his eyes bore holes into my head.

“Uhm, did you send me a text message?” Esmeralda asked me.

Confusion filled me as I tried to remember if I did.

However, I couldn’t remember much. I had been too busy with the flash drive and chasing after Diane to care for Esmeralda.

“No.”

Esmeralda gave me a wary look.

“I didn’t give two shits about you. Why would I text you? If I wanted to scare you, I wouldn’t do it over a text message. That is just cowardly.

It seemed my words had convinced her that I had nothing to do with it.

“The message wasn’t a threatening one. Meaning it’s not you. As you don’t even know what the message is about. But rest assured, I will be monitoring you.” Adrien commented.

“Are you developing another enemy? I bet that this new enemy would have the flash drive with them. Oh, I do hope they become more successful than we were in bringing you down.” Diane added. But she was ignored by everyone.

After which, Adrien orders his men to take me and Diane back home to the pack.