29. GONE FOR GOOD

DAEMON

It had been three days since I confronted my father right here in the throne room. Asher and Jayda were locked up in the dungeons in isolation awaiting the alpha's decision.

I wondered if they were feeding them well or not, I couldn't tell because I was strictly prohibited from visiting them, and this time he had increased the security.

The croaking of the door behind me drew my attention as I turned around. Father and some guards stepped in.

I took a polite bow as he made his way to his seat, barely maintaining eye contact with me. Another set of footsteps met my ears.

This time it was the old people who caused this entire mess in the first place. They walked in, with their eyes, haggard and cavernous as they stole glances at me.

I didn't even bother to acknowledge their presence, they didn't deserve it. They would rather watch Jayda perish because she was a witch than to have her live because she was a good person who has saved many lives, Including their pathetic lives. Unfortunately.

They all began filling the seats in the throne room. He let out a sharp breath and then locked eyes with me.

“Daemon” he called, his voice resonating off the concrete walls. “On your knees” he ordered.

Understanding the customs, I obliged. Dropping to my knee almost immediately. His inhaled and took a step down from his throne.

“Bow” he said.

I bowed to greet him, my forehead touching the ground as I sprawled out before him.

“You may rise” he ordered and then raised his head slightly.

“I am still the alpha, the most powerful member as far as this pack is concerned” he started as he neared me. Our faces were merely inches apart and I could feel the warmth from his breath and the intensity of his gaze.

I averted my eyes from his, to avoid coming off as confrontational. “So I can make whatever decision I deem fit. I cannot be influenced by the silly threats you blurted out in this very room a few days ago, understood?”

I nodded.

“Answer me when I'm talking” he said through gritted teeth.

“Yes sir” I replied.

“Good” he remarked and then turned around. “I have gathered the elders and high ranking warriors here to make an announcement.”

I felt my breath hitch in anticipation as I awaited his judgment. He turned to a guard. “Bring the prisoners in"

The guard left with a quick bow and shortly after returned with Jayda and Asher. The two looked tired and dehydrated. They were made to kneel before the throne.

Greyson looked between the two of them. “I have decided to let them live”

Gasps escaped from some elders with a small smile formed on my face.

“But, on the condition that the witch never ever uses her powers as long as she's here. If she is caught using her powers, that day is the day she will die and there's nothing you can do about it, Daemon”

I swallowed. “You are all dismissed”

We all turned around and the shuffling of feet made us for the background noise. “Except the two of you, I want to have a word” he added, talking to Jayda and Asher.

I wanted to wait but I decided against it, to avoid angering him.

As I stepped out of the throne room, I decided to go see Cassandra. It had been a while since we'd spoken, in fact I doubt that we've spoken after our last argument.

My clinking shoes carried me towards her chamber where I noticed the lack of the two maids that usually hung around her door in case she needed anything.

I began to wonder if she was indeed around or had gone out. As I neared her down, I picked up on a faint sound, it sounded like she was… crying?

I neared the door to hear better. It wasn't crying, it seemed like it was, moans. Without wasting time, I gently tried to twist the door knob but I realized it was locked.

I gathered all the strength I could muster and drive my foot against the door, kicking it open instantly. I barged into the room to find a man, naked on top of Cassandra, her legs wrapped around his waist as she moaned with his hands roamed her body.

My eyes widened as the two of them, startled by my entry, jumped on their feet. The man was Beta Axel.

Cassandra wanted to open her mouth to speak, but it appeared her breath was caught in her throat.

I didn't even realize when I lunged forward and had Axel within my grip. I landed a blow straight to his jaw, sending him crashing on the floor.

Without giving him time to recover, I began to pummel him on the ground, sending a blur of punches his way.

He tried to cover his face to the best of his abilities, but my blows still landed on the exposed parts of his face, delivering critical damage.

I could hear Cassandra crying and calling out my name in between sobs but I was too mad to even listen.

I grabbed the stool in Cassandra's room and rammed it against his head. I heard a distinctive crack sound which I was certain was his skull fracturing.

Axel fell to the ground almost lifelessly. I raised my hand to hit him again but at the moment it was as if the seal blinding my eyes fell off.

He was sprawled on the floor, bleeding with several cuts and fractured bones. I exhaled sharply and left him there.

I threw my eyes around to Cassandra who was struggling to cover her naked form with a blanket. I neared her and raised my hands, almost landing a powerful slap on her face.

She flinched but I caught myself midway and dropped my hands slowly. “I will teach you a lesson you will never forget” I threatened, pointing directly at her face.

She was still sobbing when I walked away. My head was racing with a million thoughts.

How long has this been going on? I glanced at my bloody knuckles and clenched my jaws. I should have killed Axel on the spot.

I made my way to Asher's room in the pack house. I noticed his door was slightly ajar, which would mean that he and Jayda were inside, or at least, he was.

I pushed the door open and walked in, maybe talking to my friend would clear my head a bit.

As soon as I entered, I looked ahead and noticed Jayda seated on the sofa, with one leg stretched out which was placed on the table.

He held a piece of wet cloth which he pressed against her wounds and there was a bowl beside him.

The two didn't notice my presence at first, and they seemed to be deep in a conversation.

Jayda threw her head back and laughed when Asher said something I could barely hear. Something about their interaction added to the inner turmoil was already dealing with.

It wasn't until Asher raised his head before he noticed me. “Daemon, what's up” be called.

Jayda also turned to face me. I was too angry to speak, so instead I just turned around and exited his room feeling a sense of betrayal.

I heard Asher call after me but I ignored, he could frolic with Jayda all he wanted. I decided to go to the throne room to report Cassandra's actions.

In all my life, I don't think I've ever felt this dejected before. I felt so angry and confused, I felt like I was falling apart.

Amidst my fury of thoughts, there was Cassandra who caught up to me in the hallway and grabbed my hand. “Daemon please” She begged, but I snatched my arm away and faced her.

“You cheap prostitute!” I accused her, the words rolling out of my tongue with disgust.

She went down on her knees with tears streaming down profusely from her face. The sight of it just angered me the most.

I grabbed her and yanked her into a stance, then dragged her across the hallway. “Daemon You're hurting me!” She yelled, but I didn't care any longer.

I barged into the throne room which was empty and flung her against the ground. She continued to sob as she stayed there, refusing to get up.

“Cassandra I trusted you!” I screamed at the top of my voice, I was so blinded with rage that I was scared that if I got too close to her, I was going to hurt her badly.

“D- Daemon, Daemon please listen to me, let's talk” she stuttered as tears threatened to choke her.

From the corner of my eyes, I noticed that people had begun to gather. Cassandra raised her head and sprung on her feet.

“Freya, please help me talk to your brother” she pleaded, her voice laced with desperation.

"Daemon please-” Freya tried to plead with me but all her pleas fell to a deaf ear.

“Stay out of this Freya” I warned.

“What's all this ruckus for?” Father asked as he walked into the room.

“My mate is cheating on me with Beta Axel” I announced.

Gasps escaped from the council members who had gathered by the door. Asher and Jayda arrived at the same time, pissing me off even more.

I had to look away from them before my temper would flare.

“Is this true, Cassandra?” Alpha Greyson asked, stepping forward.

Cassandra raised her head. “Please forgive me” he said, shuddering as dry sobs escaped from her throat.

My father sighed and turned to a guard, “Bring Axel here, now!”

“He ran away” Cassandra said sorrowfully. “After Daemon walked in on us, I was still trying to convince Axel to come and beg but he ran ,I couldn't stop him,” she explained.

“He couldn't have gotten too far, I beat him to a pulp. The guards can still catch him.”

Greyson nodded and then ordered his guards to find him.

A few hours later Beta Axel was caught by the guards, apparently he was caught trying to smuggle himself out of the territory. My father hand announced for everyone to convey at the fields. Here Axel and Cassandra would publicly receive their punishment.

They were made to kneel before me and Cassandra already had some bruises from all the wiping that she'd ensured for the last few hours.

“My son will now declare their punishment, and whatever he seems fit will be executed accordingly” Alpha Greyson announced.

All eyes fell on me as whispers ripped through the onlooking crowd. “I Daemon, the next Alpha to the Crystal pack of the west, reject and denounce you, Cassandra as my mate, you will be stripped of all Luna privileges and banished from the Crystal pack” I started, then turned to face Axel, whose face was almost drained of color and covered in bruises.

“As for the Beta, he should be killed” I finished. I locked eyes with my father who nodded.