Lucian's POV
The sounds of low whimpers and the whistles of air currents were now hidden under my constant loud growls.
I was sure that my eyes were already pitch black, along with my elongated canines and claws, and the bits of timber-brown fur that started sprouting on my skin.
Anger was an understatement to what I was feeling right now. Not only did I feel betrayed by my father, but I hated him for wanting to hurt my mate. And Vilkas wasn't helping. But it's my fault too since I had my doubts.
I was tugging at the cell bars, each time harder than the previous, ignoring the pain from my burning hands because of the silver.
I couldn't care less though, I had to get to April.
I tried mind-linking Freya, but I couldn't reach her no matter how hard I tried. All my calls would just bounce back into my head and after what felt like forever, all the energy was drained from my body.
It was odd though since she was still in the castle when I went to speak to dad.
I slumped against one of the walls with my head in my hands, trying to figure out a way out of this place.
"Prince Lucian." A little girl's soft voice called from the darkness.
I raised my head and searched with my eyes for the source of the sound but to no avail.
"Yes?" I answered despite my situational blindness.
"Is Black Rose going to save us?" The little girl asked.
I furrowed my eyebrows at her question.
"Why do you think she'd do that?" I asked.
"Doesn't she help the innocent people?" The girl asked once again, and once again I was taken aback by her words.
"Don't be so surprised your highness." A man spoke, his sound coming from the left aspect of the cellars. "We might be the serpents that you hate so much but we never hurt your kind in any way. We were taken forcefully from our homes." He explained.
"What are you talking about?" I asked with a light scoff. It was more of an air puff that came out from my disbelief. "Why would we abduct serpents from their homes? These cellars are built to imprison the rogues that atta-"
"Just listen to us, will ya!" I was cut short by a female's hiss.
"Ana." A man scolded gently.
"No! He has to wake up." She replied. "He can't live his life continuing to be so oblivious to everything around him and most importantly, to what his damn father does!"
I growled at her words but then took a deep breath to try and calm myself. If I wanted answers, I had to keep my cool.
"Bottom line your highness, your father has been doing this for a very long time. He abducts serpents like us for experiments, to find our weakness, strengths, what kills us and what doesn't. A lot lost their lives because of it and we have no other hope but for someone to come save us." The man stated with an audible shrug at the end.
"And you're wishing that person is Black Rose?" I asked with a raised eyebrow, knowing well that they can't see me.
"Yes." Came a couple blunt replies.
"How did you even know about her?" I asked in confusion.
"Nothing stays hidden, especially with a bunch of gossiping guards." The same man answered.
Figures.
"But Black Rose doesn't know about this. She can't save you if you didn't help her." I told them matter of factly.
No one said anything for a minute, allowing the whispering of the wind to be heard once again.
"And how do we do that?" The little girl said breaking the silence.
"How about we try to get out of here for a start?" I suggested.
Someone scoffed at my words and I could imagine him rolling his eyes right now, but I chose to ignore it.
"When can you change into your snakes?" I asked.
"We can't until the medicine they've injected into us wears off. These silver bars aren't strong enough to hold us back in snake form." A woman answered.
"And when would-"
"Twenty-four hours." She informed, cutting me off and answering my unasked question.
"Wait. How can we trust him guys? He's one of them." A man said, halting what I was about to say.
"You can't." I replied bluntly. "But I'm the only chance you've got. And as you can see, I'm locked up just as you are."
Once again, silence graced us with its presence.
"What do you have in mine then?" A man, whom I recognised as the little girl's father asked.
I rolled my eyes, but a small smile was tugging at my lips. "A plan." I shrugged.
--
April After Travis and his clan came to help, it only took us fifteen minutes flat to wipe off the rogues who attacked us. Truth be told, those serpents were like weapons of mass destruction with their six-foot lengths and rapid movements. You don't even know what hit you until your body is being squeezed out.
The pack and I were very grateful but still on guard whenever near them.
The better warriors were helping move the severely injured ones to the pack clinic while the dead were being sent to where they'll be cremated.
My heart broke at the sight of the dead men, but I kept an unfazed face on.
Women on the other hand were crying for their mates and family members and unlike me, they didn't hide them.
I had to be strong for the pack since I'm their alpha, even though all I wanted to do was roll up in a corner and cry my heart out.
I looked around for Travis to thank him when I saw the serpents leaving our territory.
I followed his sour scent and it led me straight to the pack house.
With furrowed eyebrows, I rushed inside and followed his scent which led me to Uncle Adam's office.
"Don't lie to me!" I heard Uncle Adam growl before the sound of something hit the wall reached my ear. "Why are you here? Were you the one who sent them?" He asked angrily.
Wait. Was he accusing Travis of sending the rogues? Was he an idiot or what?
I slammed the door open and my suspicions were confirmed when I saw Uncle Adam holding Travis by his throat against the wall.
Travis looked unfazed with a bored look while Uncle Adam's face was crimson.
"What are you doing? Let him go." I all but ordered as I rushed towards them.
Uncle Adam did as was told but his hand found my face instead. I was caught off guard and unfortunately wasn't able to dodge it.
But I was fed up of him now and I'm not shutting up about his actions anymore.
I growled angrily at him as I stood back to my feet.
Uncle Adam was taken aback by my growl, but his eyes returned to their black colour.
"How dare you disrespect me, you filthy wench?" He snarled.
"The same way you dare to disrespect the rightful alpha of this pack." I snarled back as angry.
"What?" He scoffed. "Rightful Alpha? And who exactly is that? You?!" He asked in a very sarcastic way which didn't help with my growing anger.
"Yes. I'm the daughter of Alpha Fields, former alpha of this pack and when my father isn't there anymore then it's my duty to step up." I retorted confidently.
To my surprise, the damned bastard started laughing.
"Daughter? Rightful Alpha?" He repeated between laughter. "I'd believe that if it was true."
I furrowed my eyebrows at him in disgust by his attempts.
"Did you hit your head or something? It is true. I'm the rightful alpha to lead the pack after my parents."
"That is, if they really were your parents." Uncle Adam spoke after his laughing fit ceased down.
"What?" I breathed out in confusion.
"You heard me." He retorted. "You're nothing but an adopted little wench with no alpha blood in you whatsoever." The amusement in his voice was unbelievable, like he was enjoying telling me this. "You were nothing but an abandoned rogue when my brother found you and was too weak to kill you." He finished with disgust lacing his voice like the mere memory of it repulsed him.
Without a second thought I aimed my hardest punch to his already crooked nose, smashing it into his empty skull.
A satisfying crack echoed around the room as Uncle Adam stumbled backwards, almost knocking down an amused looking Travis with him.
Uncle Adam growled loudly at me as he held his broken nose, but I didn't wait for him to say another word and just stormed out the door, down the stairs, and out into the woods.
I ran for so long that I lost all sensations in my bloody feet. My lungs were screaming at me from lack of proper ventilation and my heart was going to die out on me any second. But I couldn't stop. My body wouldn't stop until it reached where it wanted to be, and it seemed that any order from my brain to rest was ignored.
I continued running, mile after mile, not knowing where my feet would take me until I stood in front of a familiar territory and I realised that even though Uncle Adam is a huge prick and there's a huge possibility that he was lying, I still needed answers. I needed confirmation.
Ignoring the fact that patrol might find me or that my scent was all over the place, I started taking hesitant steps forwards.
Just like how I remember it, the smell of freshly baked cookies hit my nose, and it must've done something to my eyes as they started glazing over.
I was afraid, no, terrified of the truth and even Rose wasn't there to help me. Ever since the words came out of Uncle Adam's mouth, she shut herself off.
With shaky hands, I gently knocked on the door.
The motherly, smiling face of my Aunt Janeen greeted me, but I couldn't find it in me to smile back.
"Is it true?" I asked too quickly.
Her smile faltered a bit and a confused expression adorned her face instead.
"What is sweetheart?" She asked.
I looked into her eyes, hoping that she'd know what I meant without me having to say it. But when her confusion didn't disappear, I had nothing else to do but to mouth the words.
"That I'm adopted." I blurted out and for some reason, saying the words made them all the more real to me.
Jane's face turned as white as Christmas snow.
"H-how did yo—?" She started, but I cut her off.
"J-Janeen. I-is it true?" I asked again in a shaky whisper.
Janeen looked at me with sorrow filled eyes and nodded hesitantly.
"I'm really sorry sweetheart."
"Th-then who are...." I trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. But she understood what I meant.
Janeen held my gaze for a couple of seconds, her eyes glazing over.
"Doyle." My eyes widened.
No.
"You're Doyle's illegitimate child."
And that's when I burst into hysterical laughter.
"April pl-" Janeen tried to calm me down but I was too out of it. I was flat out laughing my butt off.
The sounds of my laughter were mixed with those of approaching feet.
With still a couple of chuckles coming out of my lips, I shook my head and turned around to head for the woods, ignoring Janeen's calls for me to listen to her explanation.
Janeen held my hand in an attempt to stop me but I just shook it off and started once again, running into the woods.
This time, I didn't go far though, only enough to be out of the territory.
I stood in the middle of the trees with silent tears running down my face and with no energy left in me, I fell to my knees.
It was cold. I felt really cold and scared that even the slightest sound made me shake in fear.
A running rabbit made my heart beat at a crazy rate, and a flying bird made me gasp and look up in alarm.
I guess I was too caught up in my own hallucinations that I didn't realise the hand coming from behind me, covering my mouth and nose with a cloth.
The strong smell of chloroform hit my nose and up my brain, knocking me out in seconds and indulging me in the deep abyss of darkness.