Chapter 158: CHOOSE ONE

Alex's POV

A freezing shock jolted me awake.

Cold water splashed across my face, seeping into my clothes, making my skin burn against the icy chill. My body ached, throbbing in sharp waves, but the worst pain radiated from my side-right where I had been stabbed.

I gritted my teeth, forcing my eyes open.

The dimly lit room spun for a moment before my vision cleared. Chains. Thick silver chains bound my wrists, wrapping tightly around my arms, burning my skin where they touched. I tested my strength, yanking at them, but the metal bit deeper, sending a searing pain through me.

A low growl rumbled in my throat.

Then I saw him.

My father stood before me, arms crossed, watching me with amusement. His expression held no concern, no regret-just pure satisfaction.

Hatred surged through me like fire in my veins.

"You're awake," he mused, tilting his head as if he were examining a weak animal. "Good. I thought I might have hit you too hard."

I flexed my fingers, my nails threatening to extend into claws, but nothing happened. My wolf-my strength-was trapped. My head snapped up as realization struck.

"Wolfsbane," I spat, feeling the burn deeper in my blood.

He chuckled. "I couldn't have you shifting, now, could I?"

The rage inside me exploded, but my body was weak. I pulled at the chains again, muscles straining, but they didn't budge.

"Where is Scarlet?" The demand left my lips before I could stop myself.

His smirk widened.

Something inside me snapped.

"Don't touch her!" I snarled, my entire body shaking with fury.

He merely raised a brow. "Or what?"

The amusement in his tone made my blood boil. He was enjoying this. Watching me helpless, suffering, chained like an animal-it was exactly what he wanted.

"You wanted power so badly that you let a woman ruin you," he continued, circling me like a predator playing with its prey. "Pathetic."

I forced my breathing to steady. Losing control wouldn't help Scarlet. I needed to think. I needed to get out of these chains, but with the wolfsbane still in my system, my strength was barely half of what it should be.

"You've always been weak, Alex." His voice was laced with disappointment, the same way it always had been when I was a boy. "Too emotional. Too desperate for love." He scoffed. "I should've killed that woman when she was carrying you. Should've gotten rid of you before you grew into this embarrassment."

Rage clawed at my chest.

My mother.

He killed her.

He had admitted to it, not even flinching as he spoke.

I clenched my jaw so tightly it ached, my nails digging into my palms as I fought the urge to lunge at him-even if the chains held me back.

"You killed her," I seethed. "And now you're trying to kill Scarlet. Are you that afraid of losing?"

He let out a cold laugh. "Lose?" He stepped closer, eyes gleaming with something dark. "I never lose."

I spat at his feet. "You already have."

His smile faltered for just a moment before he grabbed my jaw roughly, forcing me to look at him. His grip was bruising, but I refused to look away.

"You still don't get it, do you?" he sneered. "Everything you've done-everything you thought you controlled-I allowed it." His fingers dug deeper, making my skin burn. "I own you, Alex. And I always will."

I ripped my face away from his grip, glaring at him with pure hatred.

"You don't own me," I growled. "Not anymore."

His smirk returned, but this time, it was sharper. Crueler.

"You think love will save you?" He laughed. "You think Scarlet will choose you after everything you've done to her?"

I stiffened.

His eyes flickered with amusement. "You're a fool."

I wouldn't let him get into my head. Not this time.

Scarlet chose to stay. She had seen the worst of me, yet she had still been there, still cried for me, still cared-no matter how much she tried to hide it.

And I would burn the world down before I let him take her away from me.

"Where is she?" I demanded again.

His gaze darkened. "You'll find out soon enough."

That wasn't good enough.

I needed to get to her now.

I pulled at the chains one last time, ignoring the sharp sting as the silver burned into my wrists. Pain was nothing compared to what I would do if he touched her.

"You'll never win," I promised.

He sighed, shaking his head as if I were a disappointment. "We'll see about that, son."

I growled lowly, my breathing heavy as I watched him step back, completely unfazed by my rage.

"I'll come back for you soon," he mused. "But for now, I have other matters to attend to."

He turned toward the door. I yanked at the chains with everything I had left, the metal biting deep, blood trickling down my wrists. I didn't care.

The silver whip cracked against my skin, tearing through flesh, sending a burning sensation straight to my bones. My muscles tensed, my breath came out ragged, but I didn't scream. I refused to give him that satisfaction.

My father stood before me, watching, eyes gleaming with dark amusement.

"You're tougher than I thought," he mused, flicking his wrist as he coiled the whip in his hand. "I expected you to break by now."

I lifted my head slowly, breathing hard, blood dripping from my mouth where I had bitten my tongue to keep from crying out.

"You can do whatever you want to me," I rasped, my voice hoarse from exhaustion and pain. "But let Scarlet go."

His smirk widened. "Still begging for her?"

My fists clenched against the chains restraining me. Every nerve in my body screamed in protest, but I pushed through it. I had to.

"She's pregnant," I forced out. "She has nothing to do with this."

He scoffed. "She has everything to do with this. That woman turned you weak, Alex." His lips curled in disgust. "Look at you. A disgrace."

I swallowed the venomous rage bubbling inside me. Fighting back wouldn't help. Not now.

I needed to get Scarlet out.

"I'll do whatever you want," I said, my voice low but firm. "If you let her go, I won't fight back. I won't try to escape."

His eyes gleamed with cruel satisfaction. "You'd give up your life for her?"

Without hesitation, I nodded.

She was my everything.

He tilted his head, studying me as if I were an insect beneath his shoe. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, he snapped his fingers.

The door creaked open.

And my world stopped.

Scarlet.

She was dragged inside by two men, her body barely able to hold itself up. Her wrists were bound, her clothes torn, blood staining the fabric.

But it was her face that shattered me.

Bruises marred her skin, a cut on her lip, her eyes dull-lifeless.

I thrashed against my chains, but the silver bit into my wrists, keeping me in place.

"Let her go!" I roared, my vision blurring with rage.

My father laughed. "Oh, I never planned on keeping her."

Then, without warning, he pulled out a dagger and pressed it against her throat.

"No!" I bellowed, my entire body lunging forward, but the chains yanked me back.

Scarlet's eyes met mine.

She didn't cry.

Didn't beg.

She just stared at me, as if trying to tell me something.

My father smirked. "You see, Alex, I never intended to honor any deal." He applied more pressure, a thin line of blood appearing on her neck. "But now that I have your full attention, I'll make you a new offer."

I barely heard him through the blood roaring in my ears.

"Give up," he said smoothly. "Die, and I'll let her live."

I didn't hesitate.

"Take me," I rasped, my heart pounding so violently it hurt. "Kill me, and let her go."

Scarlet's eyes widened. She shook her head.

"No," she whispered.

I held her gaze, trying to reassure her.

If it meant she lived, I'd gladly give up my life.

My father hummed, amused. "So noble."

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he slashed downward.

Scarlet gasped, her body arching before collapsing to the ground.

A scream tore through me, raw and filled with agony, as I ripped at the chains with everything I had.

The pain didn't matter.

Nothing mattered.

Except her.

"Scarlet!" I choked, my vision blurring. "No!"

She didn't move.

Blood pooled around her.

A sick laugh echoed in my ears. "You're so predictable, Alex."