Chapter 69: Chapter Sixty-Nine

Chapter Sixty-Nine

Theodota

“Drive faster,” Alpha Kiel’s gruff voice cut through my thoughts and pulled me back from the delusions I was basking in. A bitter taste filled my mouth. This wasn’t a dream. This was happening. I was being taken back to where it all began. My body was stiff as I tried to relax in the moving car, my thighs pressed against each other, and my hands crossed on my knees. The car smelt like… I couldn’t even tell what it smelt like.

“We are here, Alpha,” the driver—the other gamma who wasn’t killed—said, as the gates to Sungaze opened up. The guards in front didn’t bother to perform a security check. Alpha Kiel was the only one who drove this car. My lips were tightly pressed, eyes glaring at him anytime he turned to give me a smug smile. I looked through the window as we slowly drove in. The pack members milled about, their expressions serene and calm, despite the hunger going around. It sickened me. And it hurt me to see how they all accepted their fate. Couldn’t they fight? Couldn’t they protest?

I snorted in self-scorn. I didn’t fight when Alpha Kiel and his men took me away from Calvary. I didn’t fight as Alpha Gael and his wife watched with disdain as my Alpha forcefully carried me away. And I didn’t fight as Andreas stood there without doing anything. What right did I have to judge these people?

As the car drove deeper, stumbling on one pothole and making my head hit the top of my seat, I sensed it. It wasn’t that strong, but it was there. I almost tasted it. Something was different about the pack. I couldn’t place what it was, but it made me uncomfortable. It was a weird energy. I shivered subconsciously, and averted my gaze when I felt a stare on me. Alpha Kiel had turned to stare at me again.

“Enjoying the view, I see.” He chuckled.

I ignored him. It irked the likes of him to be ignored. It made them feel like they were being looked down upon. True enough, his face twisted into an angry expression that made me giggle inwardly. Good.

“Answer me.” He demanded.

I decided that he was behaving like a petulant child. “There’s nothing to say.” I merely replied.

“Alpha,” he said, and I frowned.

“Alpha,” he repeated. “I am your Alpha, and you’d address me as such.”

I opened my mouth to reply, to tell him that I was no longer a werewolf under him, and he wasn’t my Alpha. But I snapped my mouth close. He was right. My stomach clenched and unclenched. I hated this. I hated all of this. I eyed his form, longing to scorch him to death, but even if I could, I wouldn’t. I’d never kill. I’d never stain my hands with blood.

Two figures were standing at the bottom of the staircase that led up to the entrance of the castle. I knew who they were even without coming down from the car.

“Behave, Theodota,” Alpha Kiel’s voice sounded from my left as I tried to struggle with the gamma who’d moved to grab my arm and lead me in. I stopped resisting, my chest heaving with stifled fury and annoyance. “I’d hate to snap your neck before the fun even starts.”

The way he said it, made my stomach stumble and made me lose a footing. I regained my step before stumbling to the floor. My training hadn’t been for fancy.

Dressed in an expensive coat that should’ve cost more than Sungaze could afford, Dimitris stood at his straightened height, watching me with sharp eyes, and a cold smile. I matched his smile, and he narrowed his eyes. To the side, eyes alternating between shocked and playing-pretend, dressed in a green gown, was Eleni. The rage mounted again at the sight of her. Months weren’t enough to dull how angry I’d always be at the sight of the two-faced bitch.

“Theodotaaa!” She screamed, running over to hug me but froze in place as Alpha Kiel held out a hand and blocked her. She hurriedly retreated, but sent looks of apology my way. I pretended not to see.

“Alpha,” Dimitris gave his father a quick bow. “I see you have company.” He chuckled, eyes roaming over my body. Anger, mixed with lust shimmered from his eyes, and put me on guard immediately.

“Ah, yes,” his father gestured at me with a satisfied sigh. “Our runaway Omega. She’ll need some reshaping though. Her days at Calvary has changed her mannerisms,” he paused and leaned to pat my shoulder. My skin crawled. “I’ll need to teach her the basics again.” He said.

“Of course,” Dimitris nodded, and approached me. His scent hit my nose, and pleasant it might’ve been in my past life, I had a strong urge to vomit now.

His gaze was full of scorn, the corner of his lips lifting. “Welcome back.” He said.

I was fully disgusted.

From the side, Eleni was on her best actress mode. “I missed you, Theodota.” I could see her calculating eyes searching and observing me, probably wanting to see what was different. I didn’t see any need to pretend. I glared at her, and she flinched.

“Come on now, Theodota. Reunion is over. Son, get a party ready. We must celebrate her arrival.” Alpha Kiel’s heavy footsteps sounded as he grabbed my arm firmly and drew me away. I felt Dimitris’ gaze from behind me. I didn’t look back.

The path was unfamiliar and cold, and each time I was about to miss a step, Alpha Kiel’s grip steadied me. The sun was overhead now, but it didn’t shine down that much here. I looked around warily, trying to figure out where we were, and mentally marking everything that could aid me later when I escaped. Perhaps, sensing my motive, Alpha Kiel laughed from beside me.

“Don’t think about it,” he said, his voice vastly different from his previously humorous one. My heart skipped three beats.

“Where are you taking me to?” I asked, my throat parched.

“A welcoming ground.” He replied, confidence oozing from his voice. We were behind the castle walls, but unlike the other parts, long green tendrils rose up and wrapped themselves on the walls, and there were thick shrubs on the ground. It was every inch a place where you wouldn’t like to pass through. I’d never seen this part of the castle before, not even in my past life.

“Let go of my arm, I can walk by myself,” I said after a while, and a mocking sigh met my words.

“Just the same thing I told my son. Your time at Calvary has made you forget your place. Don’t worry, we have all time to learn. I’m sure you’re a fast learner.” He said, and I didn’t bother to say anything else.

My hair stood on end as we stopped in front of a large circle with a metallic point in the middle and grasses around it.

“What’s this?” My voice didn’t qualify as a whisper.

Alpha Kiel didn’t reply. He crouched, and pulled at the metallic cover with a swift move. My eyes widened. It was an underground place. I barely had time to register this new development before he gripped my arm again, and led me into it. The air was stale and damp, and I took quick breaths in an effort to adapt. The air got colder, and I couldn’t hug myself. We continued walking in a narrow path, our footsteps the only sounds that could be heard, with lit torches in their stands as the source of illumination in whatever this place was. And then I heard voices. I was torn between exhaling in relief that we weren’t the only ones here, and my heart racing in fear that Alpha Kiel was up to nothing good. I spared a quick glance at the man’s side profile, and I couldn’t see much. But I could tell that he was smiling. It seemed to be all he did ever since I was taken away from Calvary.

The source of the noise came into focus as we bended down another path. Four men seated around a table, playing games, and having fun, were the ones whose voices I’d heard. They looked up, hurried off their chairs, and rushed over.

“Alpha Kiel,” they bowed.

“Guard her,” he instructed, but he didn’t take his hand away. Goosebumps peppered my arms. This wasn’t a dungeon, neither was it a prison. And it was underground. What the hell was this place?

“Follow me.” He needn’t have said that, because his hand was still a tight ring around my arm, digging in and making me wince in pain at intervals. The men regarded me with interest, and I sized them up too. They quickly led the way, and their backs met my gaze. From their looks and the rings on their fingers, they were obviously gammas. But I could sense the bloodthirst in their eyes, in their body, in their every move, that was different from other gammas I’d met.

I was led into a wide black and white room with a single chair in the middle and a mirror at the side. Those were the only items. I winced as Alpha Kiel moved and suddenly struck my feet. Fuck. I didn’t even see him move. He was fucking fast too.

“Take off your shoes,” he snarled, and my shoes were kicked out of the room.

His expression was back to a smiling one by the time I regained my composure, and I was startled by how quick he could change looks.

“Welcome to your room,” he said, gesturing around with a wide grin. My eyes roved around the room, my head already feeling heavy at the color tone. To the men at the back, Alpha Kiel raised his voice and waved them over.

“Our guest must be feeling tired from her journey. Give her a bath.” He said, and I gasped.

“Alpha Kiel, I–”

“With pleasure, Alpha,” one of the gammas replied, and I paled. What the fuck? I pushed back, moving out of their reach as two of them advanced towards me. Their teeths bared, and one even winked at me.

“Stay away from me,” I tried to reach out for my dagger.

“Are you looking for this?” Alpha Kiel asked, holding up an object, a teasing lilt to his voice. I blanched.

“That’s mine,” I spat.

He shrugged. “It’s beautiful. I’m keeping it.” He left the room before I could form another sentence.

The gammas were upon me in no time, even though I ran around the room to avoid them, and they pushed me down to my knees. A big wooden bucket was brought in, filled to the brim, and it dawned on me what Alpha Kiel meant.

“No, no,” I whispered in a low voice.

The bucket was dropped in front of me, some of the content spilling on the ground. I didn’t get to scream before my head was dunked into the water. Bubbles rose as my mouth opened and water poured in. I was kept under, water filling my nose and my ears, and I had firsthand experience of getting drowned. Air hit my face as a hand roughly grabbed my hair and pulled me out.

“Nice. Your face is getting some color,” another gamma mocked from the side. I wanted to tell him to fuck off, but my vision changed and I was underwater again. This time, I was kept down for a longer time. I jerked, and tried to move, but strong hands held me from above. My strength failed me, and darkness pulled at me from the other end. My head jerked once in the water again, and my body hung weakly.

I thought I heard someone mutter something above the bubbles in the water. I exhaled sharply as I was pulled out, and my body fell weakly to the white ground.

“Let’s go,” one of the gammas said.