Chapter 123 BONUS CHAP. 30 - SURVIVOR
\-CLEO'S POV-
How could I be so stupid? I walked right into a fucking trap. When I called Aunt Sora on the number that she gave me, she pretended to be extremely thrilled and specially requested to see her long-lost niece in Albus City in Washington.
I was aware that Blayne would prohibit me from leaving the territory by myself. I didn't want him to be overbearing and smothering which led me to venture alone.
Blayne had missions coming up and since we were meeting in a city that was neutral territory, I took the risk under the mistaken impression that these were people who cared about me.
Forest Gladiators Pack owned forty percent of Washington and Venomane Krymes possessed thirty percent. Located in the center of the state, Albus City was unclaimed and so anyone could enter. Therefore, I thought that I would meet and greet them and then be back in Dark Wolverson before Blayne returned from his missions. "I warned you, but you never listen to me," My wolf scowled.
"Stop making me feel worse about this." I scolded her. "You know why I met her."
"Mate is all we need, Cleo." She marched around in my head in a combat fashion, ready to fight. "If we survive this, don't do this shit again."
"I won't." Given how badly she wants to reunite with our mate at home, I have faith that my wolf will prevail. "Let's concentrate on a plan."
I didn't look around because Alpha Richard constantly had his eyes on me. I did not know how I ended up in his dungeon. While having lunch with Aunt Sora at the meeting point at a restaurant, a prick at the nape of my neck lulled me into unconsciousness. Someone came behind me as I sat around the table and was waiting for our order.
The betrayal was devastating and created an upwelling of emotions.
Without censure, I let my highly cathartic thoughts and feelings rise. Rage, sadness, bitterness, regret, disappointment, and
embarrassment.
How could my backstabbing Aunt have made a deal with Alpha Richard? I sincerely desired to reconnect with my relatives and it left
me torn.
My ancestors were warriors. Regrettably, Mom was an omega because she failed to shift on her eighteenth birthday. Hence, she was demoted. Then she got mated to Dad, who was also an omega. On the contrary, Aunt Sora acquired her wolf and maintained her warrior status.
Based on Venomane's pack regulations, this led to a schism in their sisterhood. Aunt Sora never mistreated us, though she had to keep her distance. Naturally, I figured that she felt inclined to be close to her own blood when we spoke on the phone. It made sense to me.
Consequently, I was wrong.
My heart beat faster and faster at a paranoid rhythm as I stood in line. There were people standing beside me, in front of me, and behind me in this cage-like place in a large cave. A similar fate was being offered to us. Most of us will be butchered today.
Seemingly frail and weak, the throng of Omegas appeared to have been starved for days. Blanched, thin, and emaciated. White scalds formed at the sides of their chapped lips. The clear longing for freedom from oppression was there.
The cold air was robust with the odor of rotting flesh and bodily fluids, overpowering the scent of mold and soil. Moderate
circumference of light came from the haphazardly strung electrical cords running along the cave walls.
There was a buzz of excitement and anxious energy that was emitted from the pack. Yet, this night was an omen.
Staring at my dirty bare feet, I thought about Blayne. How long would it take him to figure out that I was here? He would surely come to my rescue once I could survive long enough.
Thirty of us were in a rectangular enclosure with diamond-wired mesh fencing. They were all omegas while I stood in the midst. Once the countdown hits zero, a horn will be blown and we have to run into the tunnel to fight against each other to live. Only three are allowed to survive and reemerge from the other end of the tunnel. This game was inhumane.
Aunt Sora, the traitor, stood to the left with Venomane's pack members. The shame on her face spoke volumes. After her deception and handing me over to the Krymes, she's no relative of mine. As of today, my family consists of Eldon, Zoe, Blayne, and his people. A single tear rolled down my cheek. Rightly so, I had a family to
survive for.
The crowd quieted down as Alpha Richard Krymes' footsteps echoed on the stony base to make announcements. "Warriors! Pack Mates! Tonight's episode of Fangryme's Survivor will feature a guest who has voluntarily joined the omegas. There is a rare rogue among you. Any omega who kills her will be promoted."
A dark-haired woman with her hair braided to the side, wearing a yellow sweater, white high-waisted slacks, white platform shoes, and a brown belt, stood next to Alpha Richard. The sweater and shoes were mine.
The lying thieves! They took my stuff and left me in a rust-colored tee and creamy joggers which now had black blotches like I was rolling around in tar. This resulted from sitting on the dungeon floor. But previously, being a mountain rogue, I was accustomed to dirt.
Their snickering Beta and Gamma were stationed behind them. Cut from the same sadistic cloth. While they were rejoicing in our helplessness, their doom was imminent.
The corner of my lip twitched and my lower jaw shifted forward in fury as the pack roared their approval.
The Alpha stood in the center of a small oval wooden stage and ran a
hand through his coily dirty blonde hair. The blame for his brother's death, the former Alpha Daxton, was aimed at me. I was infamously despised over a man who was obsessed with me to the point that when I fled from this pack, he lost himself and perished carelessly in a rogue attack. Daxton brought humiliation to the Krymes family. The liability of it fell on my shoulders.
Under the direction of Alpha Richard's scathing sable eye, all focus landed on me. The Omegas murmured among themselves. He parted his scarred lips to grin at my demise. Repulsed by the discoloration of a yellow tint on his lanky, gangly teeth, I coughed up saliva and spat on the ground. No fear will be seen in me.
One hand clenched a fist and he growled ferociously at my disrespect. "Humph," He blew me off and pulled on his cigar, and puffed circular rings out his mouth. "Bring her head to me and claim your
reward."
The surrounding murmurs grew louder after he put an unknown bounty on my head. The assortment of eyes that scrutinized me
shone with acceptance of the offer.
"Let the countdown begin!" Alpha Richard snarled and the crowd cheered boisterously.
As the time reduced, my heart stopped for a second. I'll have to kill
today. All these innocent omegas were my opponents because I had to survive until Blayne came for me.
Ten - Hope tied to my heart after praying to the moon goddess.
Nine - I inhaled deeply.
Eight - I steel myself because I'm not going down without a fight.
Seven I lengthily exhaled.
Six-five - I glared at treacherous Aunt Sora and prayed for the day I got my hands on her. Her teary face sickened my stomach.
Four - Haunted thoughts of what might be lurking in the shadowed corners of the tunnel piqued.
Three two Goosebumps prickled my skin and I mentally began to strategize. Krymes wanted me dead. None of these omegas could be trusted.
One I cleared my mind and took my sprinting position.
Zero - The horn blared and the telescopic gates to the tunnel opened.
The cheering was almost deafening.
I ran.