Alpha Jaxon POV
We returned the women to the cells, while Amber's face was stricken. I held up the bag, containing her father's head and flung it into the cell, causing her to look at the bloodstained fabric in revulsion, even as her hand slowly reached out to pull it away, her scream bloodcurdling and music to my ears as she stared down at it.
"Bastard" she screamed, leaping backward while Marigold held her back "How could you? How could you" she screamed hysterically, while the other women looked away, ashamed at their complicity in helping me overtake her father's pack and merge it successfully with my own.
I walked in and took the bag, holding it up as she blanched, her pallor pale, her lower lip quivering as her expression went blank.
"I told you I would bring you a souvenir," I told her coldly as she glared at me "Don't you want something to remember your father by?"
"I hate you" she screamed, as Marigold pulled her back "I swear to god I'll kill you when I get my hands on you. Just you wait" she sobbed, turning to Marigold and putting her head on the woman's shoulder, tears trailing down her cheeks "I won't forget what you've done."
My lip curled "You're not so haughty or proud now are you Amber" I said mockingly, stepping out of the cell while the other women remained quiet, the men glancing away in shame "Weren't you once telling me how once you were Luna you would make this pack something to be proud of?"
She said nothing, continuing to sob. The little girl was in the corner, curled up, her knees up to her face as she avoided looking at what I was holding.
"Did you spare my pack" Amber's voice wobbled slightly.
I chuckled, enjoying the sound of her tears and the pain in her voice. "For the most part. There were a select few" I paused as she raised her head to look at me with glinting eyes "that tried to remain loyal to your father and died for their disrespect. The rest were only too happy to pledge their allegiance to me" I told her with amusement.
She looked broken. Her hand twitched as she put it to her mouth. "Are you happy now?" her voice was barely above a whisper "Is this not enough revenge for you? I'm truly broken. There is nothing more you can do to break me that you haven't already done" she said, her eyes still shimmering with tears "I did nothing to you, other than offer you my body and this is what it gave me."
I smirked "Your father pushed me to mark you and while I tried to forget my first mate, my real mate," I said callously "you are nothing in comparison to her. Your arrogance is what brought you here" I advised.
"We did what you asked" Marigold's voice cut in, sharp and blunt "Now will you let us go?"
The little girl looked up hopefully. I gave her a wicked grin and she ducked her head, hiding her face again. "This was just the beginning," I told the woman as she looked at me in disbelief "You didn't think I would stop at just one pack, did you? Not when there are so many I could overtake and merge with? You did it so easily too" I purred holding up the Alpha's head as Marigold blanched and the other women paled "without losing any of my men's lives. I imagine the next pack will be just as easy" I told them with a crooked grin.
"You're never going to let us go, are you" Marigold challenged, stepping away from a grieving Amber, her eyes narrowing as she stared at me in defiance "no matter what we do."
I cocked my head "Now you're beginning to understand. You all serve a purpose for me" I said deliberately eyeing each and every single one of them "and as long as you continue to serve that purpose, I'll allow you to live."
"You call this living?" Marigold spat out, yanking on the collar that refused to break "being at your beck and call like a damn servant or slave. Forced to help you take over packs and kill innocent Alphas in the name of your greed?"
Reggie made a motion to step forward from behind me, but I shook my head as the woman continued to rage "We are not weapons for your convenience. We are living beings, with hearts and minds. What you are doing, is beyond unconscionable."
"Perhaps, but who is going to stop me?" I asked, handing Reggie the severed head and standing close to the cell, the door still open, as Marigold eyed it uneasily "You? You can't use your voice against me or any member of my pack" I reminded her as she looked at me helplessly "Would you be willing to risk the lives of your people in order to escape?" I asked, my voice soft and chilling as she glanced over her shoulder at her small pack who were looking nervous and restless "Because that's what the punishment would be if somebody were to try and escape. In fact, just so you know exactly what the punishment will be, why don't I tell you?"
Her lips parted. I shook my head and gave her a smug look. "Anybody trying to escape has secured the death of the little girl" I pointed at the one known as Tiana. "But not before she's tortured to death."
"You're a monster" Marigold hissed while the others began to chime in with agreement "How can you be so cold, so cruel as to threaten the life of a little girl who has done nothing to you."
"Because I know it will keep you all in check," I said blithely as Amber stared at me, her own face contorted into an expression of rage and disbelief "and right now I need you all to do what I want. I have another pack in mind. I'm giving you one day to eat, drink, and get your strength back, isn't that chivalrous of me" I said mockingly "before we go on a trip and do the exact same thing we just did. I want the same people as last time" I added glancing around the cell "seeing as you all did such a fantastic job the first time."
"If we refuse," one of the women said looking on the verge of tears.
"It won't just be the little girl I threaten this time. I'll also kill one of the men" I pointed into the cell as the woman's lip twitched "right in front of all of you. One Alpha death in return for the lives of your entire small group here, that's not too much to ask when you think about it, is it?" I asked smiling.
"You're going to meet your death one day," Amber said quietly, her tears having faded to mere stains on her cheeks, her voice tightly controlled "They are going to get wind of what you are doing and they are going to stop you. Nobody is going to let this continue. What you're doing is against the creed of the shifters. Against the very fabric of our being. You're a coward" she told me as I chuckled "and I hope Karma gets you good."
"Nobody can win against a pack of sirens," I said smirking "and as for Karma, I believe it's already come for you, Amber."
"Maybe," she said agreeing, "but you can't hold onto all of us forever, can you Jaxon?"
"Are you asking for me to kill you now?" I asked and she smiled.
"Death would almost be a favor right now," she told me as I laughed "No, but when Karma comes for you, I hope I'm there to see it" she spat out.
I rolled my eyes "So dramatic Amber" I shut the cell door with a slam of my foot, whistling lightly underneath my breath, ignoring the panicked looks on the women's faces as they shot each other glances "Get a good sleep tonight, because we're leaving early tomorrow morning. Reggie make sure they have adequate food and water" I told my Beta who nodded "And go bury that head" I frowned "I no longer wish to look at it. Maybe you could put it on a spike in here for Amber to look at when she feels lonely" I suggested with a tilt of my head as Amber drew in a sharp breath "and as a reminder of what happens to those who attempt to go against me."
"Certainly," Reggie said with a smirk of his own "I'll see to it right away Alpha. What about your mate?" he asked and I could sense the Sirens listening even as they pretended not to be.
"The mating ball will be very soon," I said, examining my nails and frowning at the amount of dirt underneath them "and I need to prepare myself for that. It wouldn't do to see Riley again without the proper costume and of course, I'm going to need some sirens as well. I have every intention of claiming my mate again" I told him calmly "and having her join me as the rightful Luna of this pack. She can be an example to these sirens of what can be accomplished if they begin to do as they are told" I shrugged, turning around and beginning to head out of the dungeon, feeling on a high "and if I have to kill the Lycan King to get to her I will. He won't be immune to these women's songs, even if he's immune to Riley's. I'm immune to all of them" I added with satisfaction and began to head upstairs, my mind abuzz with possibilities.