Chapter 124

Logan's POV. 

I take a moment to swallow down my beating pulse, my desperation, before uttering. 

"The Slayers have my father hostage in the dungeon." A slight pause. Then, "I'm thinking he is the one the Slayers' eternal life is bound to."

I feel Lester alternating his gaze between me and the witches. Aphrodite scoffs but I don't flinch. 

I'll do all I can to free my father. The thought of him being in that dungeon for the past two centuries clenches my heart.

He wasn't dead all this while I thought I had lost him. I've one family member remaining. One I need to save at all costs. 

"That has nothing to do with us, alpha Logan. We cannot risk our lives for you or any other..." 

I barge forward, teeth gritted. "I...am...willing to do all I can just for you to help me. Anything possible, you name it, Aphrodite." 

My chest is heaving from how hard I breathe. She has to agree. She has to help me. 

"You don't understand, you do?" Her eyes flare when she looks back at me. 

Fiercely, Aphrodite moves into my step. I feel Lester flinch beside me while the rest of the witches bounce from one foot to another, clearly tensed.

"The forces against us are powerful. More powerful than you can imagine!" She roars, the thunder of her voice echoing.

"What about your freedom?" I boom and hearing that makes her pause. A twitch carves the corner of her eye. "I promise to free you from the hold of Ivy and her henchmen. I promise to bring you freedom once you fight by my side, Aphrodite." 

Ivy and her diaries of vampires have shackled the witches for ages. Just like Ivy controls Chicago she equally controls the witches. 

I know that much even though Aphrodite doesn't want to admit to it because of her fear for Ivy. Ivy makes the rules for them but I promise to let these people live in freedom if they ally with me.

A huffing sound echoes, coming from Aphrodite. "You don't know anything about our freedom!" 

"I do know...actually," She startles while I peer deeper into her eyes. "You've forgotten how close I was with Ivy. 

I remember those days when Aphrodite visits Ivy seeking permission to bring her people outside in the dairies. They've been locked away in the mountains for years. Secluded from the outside world. They've no clue what civilization is like.

I see her heart pattering over her chest while she bore her eyes into mine. "I know how Ivy has ripped you away from your life. She controls the use of your good magic. She controls your life...." 

"No...I can't stand this blackmail. I can't, alpha Logan." 

The others bristle around her. Their shimmering eyes glance between me and Aphrodite.

"It is not a blackmail, Aphrodite. If we win against these men and Sinai then I promise your reward will be freedom." I volley back, looking to convince her. 

When her knees buckled, I thought I had managed to convince her.

I watch as she edges over to the boulder in the cave and sits on it. Her head drops between her shoulders. I've never wished to read someone's mind like I wish to do now. 

My ears perk up, listening to the sounds of the pattering hearts of the rest of the witches.

They all turn to look at their leader, something akin to hope flaring in their eyes.

I nearly basked in the victory of the moment, thinking I'd won her over but all that hope dashed when Aphrodite looked up at me, a curl in her lips. 

Slowly, she finds her footing and growls. "Offer declined. We can't partner with you, alpha Logan. We'll stand on our agreement with Ivy. She's the ruler. Our....ruler." 

Hearing that, my heart crushes. I feel it falling to my feet and shattering into a million pieces. 

There's no hope of rescuing my father which means there's hardly any hope of defeating the Slayers. 

If I kill them, I'll kill my father. Their lives are joined. Sealed. 

I backpedal as sorrow surges in my heart. Nothing can be done. 

I whisk one last glance her way, muttering. "Think about this. Really think about it," and then I storm away. 

Lester walks in tow with me, panting as we climb down from the mountain since magic doesn't work around here. 

As we exit the woods, I feel my heart growing heavier. Maybe that omen I feel will happen after all. 

We walk silently to the car and I pause behind the wheel. 

Frustration eats me alive so much that I punch the wheel, growling. In defeat, I tilt my head over the wheel and pant. 

I feel lost. So lost. 

"Alpha...let me take the wheel," Lester offers, his voice croaky. I pull back from the wheel, shaking my head at him. 

"No. I'll drive." 

Driving right now feels like the only way I can kill my pent-up frustration. 

At that, I kick up the engine and step on the brakes. Then I pull away from the woods, swerving with speed past barriers until we bump into a tarred road. 

The tires squeal over the asphalt, bringing up sparks. 

Midway away from the mountainside, my phone rings. I curse out loud, not fucking willing to take the call.

The phone blares relentlessly and with a hiss, I pick up the call without looking at the ID.

"What?" I bark, fisting the wheel. 

"Alpha. The Slayers are all leaving the manor right this minute. I don't know where they are headed." 

Tiago. That's his voice. I swallow thickly and gush. 

"Follow them. Find out where..." 

Ratata! 

The sound of the shot in the background makes me pause. I kill the engine with speed and call. 

"Tiago!?" 

"Tiago!???" 

"What's wrong, alpha?" Lester asks with wide eyes. 

"Tiago....has..."  I begin to speak but then the call tersely ends. 

I curse, punching the wheel as I try to call him back. Nothing worked. His phone has been turned off. 

It takes a while for a private number to call again and excitement rolls through me when I realize it's Tiago. 

"Alpha...I can't follow them..." he croaks out, panting. 

"What? Why? What's going on?" 

"I'm...under...house arrest!" 

I still at his words like a bucket of ice water has been poured on me. 

"What do you mean?" I let out, growing anxious.

Tiago replies with a hiss, "I think the mayors' already know everything about us. I was shot with a wolfbane just now by Zeus before getting locked in their chamber," 

My pulse hammer. Anxiety seeping in. Fuck no, it's already happening. 

I curse and kick at the wheel and brake, making Lester tense. 

"I think someone told them about us, alpha..." 

Oh, fuck. I curse more. My eyes turn red with aggression. it can't be. 

Fucking Ivy! 

I roar to Tiago, "I'm going to be right there, Tiago. Hang on!" 

Just as I cut the call to restart the car, Ivy's call comes in. 

"Hello, Logan," 

Her voice is fucking scornful. 

She fucking exposed me. 

"How dare, Ivy...?" 

"Did you think you could double-cross me, huh? You think I wouldn't find out about your plan to steal the flash drive So you destroy the evidence I have against that little bitch?" 

I growl. Blood pumping with anger in my veins. "Oh, I know about it all. The fake rejection. The double-crossing. The trip to Chicago. Your plan at preemptive strike! I know it all, Logan." She drawls.

Hard breaths. Harsh pants. A growl. All pull from my lips. 

"I told you to leave her and choose me. But you didn't. You prefer that brat over me. I'm sorry but I had to break my promise to you, Logan..." 

"I swear to the moon goddess, Ivy, I'm going to kill you with my bare hands..." 

She tsks, interrupting me. "Not when your little mate will be the first to get killed, Logan Pierce..." 

At her last words, my eyes round into discs, almost plucking out of their sockets.

They fucking have her. 

They fucking have Rain. 

That's the reason they're all leaving town! 

Damn it! 

Instantly, I cut the call and put the car into gear, racing away!

TBC.