Chapter 62 Traitor
Traitor.
Alicia forced a bitter taste in her mouth. Only moments ago, Damian had called her Darling, and now he spat the word "traitor" at her. Alicia struggled to define the overwhelming emotions swirling within her—loss, sadness, anger, all tangled together. But now, with Damian's disbelief to her, he erected a consciousness barrier, she needed to act strategically to uncover what had happened to Alpha Martin and if Damian had done something to the Golden Moon Pack.
First and foremost, she had to silence her thoughts so Damian couldn't access them. Then, she could utilize the significance of the ring to negotiate with him, ensuring the safety of her father, pack members, and even Alpha Martin and possibly Tobias and Alpha Ellis, shielding them from harm inflicted by the Moon Halo Pack.
As Alicia's thoughts unfolded, Damian sneered, uncertain whether to label his mate as naive or foolish. She was merely a hybrid Alpha, born from the union of an Alpha and an Omega, incapable of erecting the consciousness barrier that protected him. Thus, in both human and wolf forms, as long as she was conscious, thoughts would inevitably arise, scrutinizing her surroundings in different ways. And he believed as long as he continued to mention the ring, she would inadvertently ponder its location.
However, an interesting thing was that thanks to the mate link, Damian discerned that Alicia was wholly oblivious to Alpha Martin's condition. She was even taken aback that he knew about the Sine Moon ring bestowed by Martin. On the other hand, she remained unaware of his true identity.
If, however, her acquisition of the ring from Martin was motivated by a thirst for power and wealth, then he had no rush to eliminate her.
Instead, he aimed to keep her alive to witness his defeat of Alpha Victor and his usurpation of the Wilton Family, which was Alpha Martin's life's work. For a woman who craved power and wealth, the ultimate punishment would be witnessing the loss of the very things she cherished most.
When the time came, Damian thought he would be standing before Alicia, holding a box filled with hundred-dollar bills, igniting them in flames as her greed and yearning unfolded.
"Negotiate? You're mistaken," Damian smiled darkly, "I'm merely offering you a chance to save your life or provide an excuse for me not to kill you. Listen, in the Moon Halo Pack, betrayers have one fate, regardless of their status—they are nailed to a stake under a full moon, and the entire pack rends them apart until their blood runs dry. So, you'd better tell me now where you've hidden the ring." His bass voice resonated like a haunting cello, sending shivers down Alicia's spine.
Damian needed Alicia to surrender the ring not only because he and Ellis required it, but also to prevent his pack members from demanding her execution for betrayal. Though seen as devious, renegades, sociopathic, or anti-secular by other shifters, his rogue pack members, like all shifters, despised betrayal.
Alicia had betrayed him, yet he would not permit anyone but him to exact punishment upon her. Let alone she carried his puppies (well, most likely his). He thought.
"I left the ring in Los Angeles, concealed in a very private place. If you want the ring, then spare my father and Scarlett Pack and pledge not to harm Alpha Martin, Alpha Ellis and Tobias," Alicia conveyed her words to Damian, while successfully blocking her mind from recalling the ring's location.
Failing to obtain the outcome he desired, Damian clenched his back teeth, his jaw tightening. "Very well!" He forced the words through his teeth. Clenching his fists by his side, he declared, "Since you refuse to reveal the ring's location, you'll accompany me back to L.A. If you wish to safeguard your life, your inept father and your pack members, you better not entertain any thoughts of escape."
"Promise you won't harm my family, and I'll go anywhere with you," Alicia replied, feeling a sense of relief that Damian's anger had subsided, at least for now. During their journey back to Los Angeles, she hoped to continue talking to Damian, unravel the relations and conflicts between Alpha Martin and Damian, and her deep concern for Alpha Martin's health.
Damian caught Alicia's thoughts and grunted, "See? That old bastard didn't reveal everything about himself. He's not as kind and trustworthy as you think he is."
It sounded like Damian knew Martin well, even as much as Alpha Ellis and Tobias did about hating him. Alicia recalled the guilty look on Grandpa's face when he mentioned Tobias to her, the genuine way he acted when he saw a friend he hadn't seen in thirty years. She still wanted to believe that Grandpa wasn't entirely bad.
Observing Damian ignore her thoughts and turn towards the forest exit, Alicia rolled her eyes and prepared to shift back into her human form.
Damian noticed Alicia's intention to shift back and clenched his teeth, issuing a firm order, "No shifting back into your human form until we get back to LA." He didn't want his pack members to see her naked; she was still his mate, his woman.
Unable to hear Damian's thoughts, Alicia assumed he was angry again. She snorted, branding him "grumpy" in her mind before scowling and following his lead.
Exiting the forest, Alicia was disheartened to witness Scarlett Pack's transformation into a paradise for rogues. The gnaw marks on the doors of members' houses and road signs marked territory claimed by rogues. Several rogue wolves formed a threatening circle around all Scarlett Pack's members, while Lyon shifted back to his human form and positioned himself in front of them.
As Damian emerged from the forest with the white wolf (Alicia), all eight rogues, except Lyon, displayed aggression, baring their fangs in response.
"Alpha," Lyon breathed a sigh of relief, casting a glance at the white wolf trailing Damian. It seemed that Alpha hadn't succumbed to a fit of rage and harmed Alicia.
Eric sat on the ground with blood on his left leg, while Jason's wolf lay beside him. Mary's fur bore the stains of blood, but she was diligently licking her son's wounds. Eager to check on her family, Alicia rushed forward. But two gray rogues lunged forward to attack her,.
"Stop," Damian commanded the two gray wolves in his Alpha voice, "Release everyone in this pack. It is forbidden for any member to harm this woman except me. I have struck a deal with this traitor. I will spare her and her pack members if she hands over the ring."
One of the gray wolves stepped forward and emitted a series of low growls as if questioning Damian's decision. Two more wolves followed suit from behind the gray wolf, growling at Damian in a manner similar to their packmate.
Damian narrowed his eyes and condescendingly scrutinized the challenging pack members, "I am the Alpha. The rules of this pack are made and altered by me. To question my decisions is to challenge me directly. Tom, Allen, John, do you wish to challenge me?"
The back of the lead Gray Wolf stiffened, then he involuntarily took two steps backward, submitting to Alpha Damian's authority. He prostrated on the ground, displaying unwavering obedience and loyalty. The other rogues mirrored this gesture, showing their deference to Damian.
Seeing no rogue daring to intervene, Alicia darted to Jason's side and noticed several scratches on both her father's and Mary's bodies. Her father's wolf had the deepest wounds on the left forelimb, but thankfully, none of the injuries seemed fatal. The other injured pack members appeared conscious.
Jason could barely muster the strength to shift back into his human form. He heard Damian's words and shook his head at Alicia, signaling her to leave them alone and not follow Damian.
Knowing they couldn't defeat Damian and his rogues, Eric firmly held Alicia's forelimb and declared, "Allie, I'm coming with you, no matter where that guy takes you. I haven't shifted yet, but I can at least assist you in some way."
"My pack doesn't accept trash. Kid, do you want to offer yourself a snack for my pack members on the way back? You're holding yourself in high regard." Damian sneered and taunted Eric. Not wanting to waste too much time in this place, he turned to Alicia, "Traitor, time to leave."
The white wolf shook her head at Eric and then proceeded to her father's wolf, licking the wound on his left forelimb and later attending to Eric and Mary.
Damian frowned as he watched his mate lick the bleeding wounds of her family and other pack members. A wave of annoyance washed over him. The cut on his left wrist, where Alicia had bitten him, ached. This sensation resembled being at prom with an exclusive date who ends up embracing and kissing others while ignoring you.